The beat of the tune was absolutely infectious, and Twilight Sparkle couldn't stop her hoof from tapping in sync with the band's music playing out in front of her. The flare of the trombones accompanied the heavy-set bass drums marvelously, and the violins seemed to lead it all in the best of ways.

As the song continued, the noises from all the instruments came together in perfect harmony, instigating unbridled elation from the assembled ponies. When the tune ended, the assembled Ponyfolk in the auditorium moved to the edges of their seats, waiting in anticipation for the next song to come.

If the pamphlet tucked away in Twilight's Saddlebag was true, Vinyl Scratch, Aka. DJ P0n3, would be performing an original solo piece next. Before the show could continue however the mayor walked onstage. The lights- prior bleaching the whole area -had centered on the highly respected pony then, drawing the assembled audience’s attention.

“Let’s hear a round of applause for the Canterlot Orchestra!” A round of hoots and hollers reverberated around the coliseum-like building, accompanied by the clippity-clop of hooves on the metal sitting area as countless ponies expressed their satisfaction. Being the good host she was, the Mayor waited for the audience to settle down before speaking again.

“Next up we have the much anticipated original by none other than Vinyl Scratch herself! But before we get into that and I surrender the stage, I would like to say ‘thank you’ to everypony in the audience. Without your presence, there wouldn’t be any show to begin with!” As the audience erupted again, Mayor Mare smiled.

The concert was a biyearly gig, and it always drew such a good reception. Being the capable worker she was, Twilight Sparkle had stage managed the production and couldn’t help but feel some of the contentment emanating from the mayor rub off on her.

“Without further ado, let me offer the stage to the one and only Vinyl Scratch! Enjoy!” The lights spread around the stage and there, headphone askew and glasses on, was DJ P0n3. A fog leaking out of a hidden machine beneath the stage set the mood as the goddess of techno began her original.

Synths hummed, treble wavered, bass boomed and then- minutes in -a sudden burst of lightning from above struck Vinyl’s synthesizer- before spreading to Vinyl herself -shorting out the council and throwing the DJ into the tightly closed curtains at the back of the stage. As the white filly got up, shaking her head, a horrid laugh drew the attention of the stadium heavenwards. Storm clouds had crept across the sky, obscuring it's cyan depths in a murky haze. A heavy wind blew across the auditorium, distorting the wavering laugh and throwing it in tatters among the dumbstruck ponies. A figure appeared from the midst of the storm.

“You call that music?” the intruder mused, landing awkwardly on his hooves. A wicked smile playing across his face. In a field of unicorn magic a large instrument of sorts –something crossed between a piano and a drum set –was folded.

Without a word of explanation, the intruder unfolded the device and struck an off tune key. A ray of pure energy steamed out of his instrument, manifesting into a sheet that spread to cover the entire stage and freeze the rousing DJ

“I am the one and only Mozart: performer extraordinaire!” Twilight noticed with a start how volatile Mozart’s voice was. It kept reaching exceptionally high pitches, before giving way to lower ones at seemingly random intervals. “Admire me for the musician I am!” And with that, he began to play. Whatever it was that came out of his instrument clearly was not music, hay; it was more like a screech uttered from a dying cat, or tough hooves on a chalkboard.

Clenching her teeth in agony, Twilight turned to her friends. Pinkie Pie and Rarity had their eyes tightly shut and were covering their ears. Fluttershy was hiding behind Rainbow Dash, who was looking at the stage in absolute disgust. Applejack, prior munching on an apple strudel, had dropped the delectable snack from her mouth to throw Twilight an incredulous sort of look. Twilight returned it and went back to gazing at Mozart, who had begun to sing along with his playing.

“Filly, filly, filly oh, singing filly…” Mozart's voice attacked the cringing audience, assaulting their eardrums with its horribly off tune and amateur pitch. At about the point in which Twilight Sparkle could scarcely take it any longer, Mozart stopped. There was an audible breath of relief as the last of the unicorn's voice reverberated across the auditorium.

“Booo! We want Vinyl back!” a single male voice rang out after a minute, echoing off the walls and reaching Mozart's perked ears. A pegasus colt at the far back of the auditorium stood up. His nostrils were flared in agitation. A charged second of silence, and another pony from the audience stood up.

“We want Vinyl back!” From then on, the chant was picked up by the whole of the auditorium.

“We want Vinyl back! We want Vinyl back! We want…”

“Enough!” Mozart's shrill voice sliced through the angry audience, throwing the stadium into gradual silence. “Enough.” The unicorn looked wounded, and for a moment, Twilight couldn't help but feel bad for joining in on the riotous chant. This regret was short lived however, as Mozart continued.

“You’re all deaf as rocks! You ponies wouldn't recognize talent if it bit you on the muzzle!”

“I think you're the deaf one!” somepony shouted.

“What did you say! You're even more foolish then I suspected." Mozart had turned his seething attention to the protester, “However, if you think my music is that bad, you're clearly not matured enough to embrace it. I have no time for foalery, I’ll just... leave.” a small smile was splayed across his face. "However, before I do..." he tapped something on his keydrum and played a very deep note.

The same arcane energy as before emerged out of his instrument. This time, however, it spanned over an area roughly four times larger and settled across the audience like a veil.

When Twilight saw the curtain descend, she felt her heart contract in despair. She was almost certain that she too would be frozen like Vinyl had been. However, as the vale fell over her- going straight through to the ground -all she felt was a tingling at her very core before a wrenching sensation. By the time the sheet of energy had disappeared, so had Mozart.

The sky had returned to its previous midday azure and Vinyl Scratch could move once more

The basement of Sugar Cube corner was cozy enough, with a cool draft that fended off the stifling heat of summer up above. Rainbow Dash sat comfortably on an old box of cooking utensils, fanning herself with an outstretched wing.

Scattered across the stone floor in pairs, Rainbow Dash's four other friends sat among one another, talking idly. Pinkie was behind a makeshift curtain at the back of the basement, tuning her instrument– a wicked hybrid that represented all the musical families at once. In all reality, only the filly wielding the complex looking device could tell you for certain what went together to make the impressive noisemaker.

“Okie dokey!” she said, still hidden behind the curtains. “Dash, can you turn off the lights now?” Nodding to nopony in particular, Rainbow Dash got off the box and cantered over to the switches at the base of the stairs, clicking all but one off. “Thank you! Applejack, could you get the curtains?”

“Ahm on it Sugarcube.” The mock-apron was slowly pulled open as the earth pony tugged on a pulley system off to the side. When the two hanging bed sheets were fully cleared, Pinkie Pie, sporting a trim drummer costume, appeared on the basement floor. Her instrument was mounted on her back, glistening as the lone light fixture highlighted the new layer of polish.

Suddenly all business, she breathed in and gave each of her friends a determined look before clenching down on the lip of a protruding trombone. A rough growling noise came out of her instrument as she exhaled into it, making Rainbow Dash’s eyes widen in confusion. In response to Pinkie’s poor attempt at music, and despite herself, the cyan filly couldn't fend off the reemergence of the feelings she had experienced the night Mozart had played his horrible tune.

After hearing the noise that she had just produced, Pinkie Pie looked angrily at her instrument. Her brow cringed momentarily as she pondered what had gone wrong. This look quickly faded however as she laughed at herself, putting off her poor start with a roll of her eyes.

“Sorry everypony! Let’s try it again.” She brought a hoof up and struck one of her drums. It gave off a dull plop with absolutely no reverb. A fine layer of sweat began to form on the party pony’s brow. Clenching her teeth she began to play again, starting off slow but then speeding up in desperation as she continuously struck the wrong notes. At one point the playing had become so frantic that Twilight had to intervene with a friendly, yet firm comment.

“I think you should stop, Pinkie, you’re… really working yourself up.” Pinkie hardly registered her friend’s interjection and continued to play, transfixed. Her eyes had gone wide as an inner turmoil overcame her, a tug-o-war between horror and determination.

“Pinkie…”Twilight's tone dropped to something along the lines of caution… things were getting out of hoof, and quickly at that.

Frustrated by her friend’s tame approach, Rainbow Dash cantered up and intervened with a firm hoof on Twilight shoulder.

"Let me handle this." She turned away from the lavender unicorn and addressed the panicked filly directly.

“Pinkie!” she hollered, stopping the pink filly in her tracks. Gasping for air, Pinkie Pie turned to her rainbow streaked friend.

“Yes?” her voice was labored.

“You've got to stop this freaking out business.” and then, as an afterthought; “what’s up with your instrument?”

“I don’t know!” Pinkie exclaimed. Her hair went flat. “I’ve tuned it, polished it, even sang to it!”

“What?” Rainbow Dash cocked her eyebrow in bewilderment. “You sang to it?” Pinkie nodded slowly. The cyan filly was about to question; but then she remembered who exactly she was talking too. “Oh, never mind."

“Could there be something wrong with your instrument, beyond tuning, I mean?”Twilight picked up the conversation after giving Rainbow Dash a grateful nod.

“Like something I’d have to bring it to the shop for?” Pinkie questioned, picking up on what Twilight was suggesting.

“That’s what I was thinking. If you’re fast enough, you could probably run over to the music shop, get your instrument fixed, and then return in the hour. I’m basing my calculations off of the theory that all your instrument needs is a quick fix mind you.”

Momentarily Pinkie Pie sat back, using the mounted instrument as a headrest. It was obvious from the way that the filly puckered up her lips that she was thinking over her options. Looking back at Twilight Sparkle, her frown turned upside-down.

In a flash her hair popped back up, and her step regained that spring that was o-so-Pinkie. The sight brought hope to her friends eyes.

“Good idea Twilight! I’ll head out to get it fixed right away… be back in jiffy!” In two leaps the energetic filly had launched herself across the basement floor and up the stairs, dragging her instrument behind her. When Twilight was certain Pinkie had gone, she let out a shaky sigh of relief.

“Disaster… averted.” The assembled ponies broke apart, filing out of the basement in a single line.

***

Skipping along, Pinkie Pie ran into the rump of a standing pony. The jolt of contact shook her out of her day-dream state and back to the reality at hoof.

“Sorry!” she said with a smile, trotting past the peeved colt and towards the music shop.

Turning around a final corner she noticed that a large crowd had amassed outside of ‘Tune’, the musical repair shop. Screwing up her eyes in curiosity, Pinkie weaved her way through the angry crowd and arrived at the front of the herd. Halftone, the owner of the shop, could be seen frantically running between the assembled groups of frustrated ponies, shouting out ‘I’ll be right with you’ and ‘one moment please’. The blazing sun did little to help the poor stallion, and he was drenched in sweat. As the shop owner brushed by Pinkie Pie, she stopped him with a hoof on his shoulder.

“Halftone, what’s going on?”

“I’ll be right with you!” he replied, preparing to run off, but then stopping in his tracks as he registered what the party pony had said. Turning back to Pinkie, he shrugged.

“Beats me Pinkie! It seems as though everypony’s instrument has decided to die on them at the same time! I’m guessing you have a problem with yours as well?”

“Yup!”

“Well I’m sorry then. I can’t help you.”

“But you haven’t even…”

“Listen Pinkie, everypony is experiencing the same problem. It’s as if the instruments
have lost their ability to make music! Hay, I even had to turn back Octavia!”

“Octavia…” Pinkie Pie was promptly cut off as the noise of a single thunder boom exploded in the sky. All ponies stopped and looked around, gazing at the horizon to find the source. Strangely enough, the sky was clear.

Just as the Ponyfolk were about to return to their complaining, a figure appeared on the roof of ‘Tune’. It was Mozart, and he was laughing triumphantly.

“Did I not warn you?What did I say!”

“I forgot!” Pinkie chirped. Mozart ignored her and continued.

“When I arrived at the concert, all of you were not… in tune with my refined sense, so I had to, uh, correct that.” Every word the evil unicorn spoke sounded as though he was reading it off a script. It was obvious that he was enjoying himself, but he probably could of brushed off on some of his public speaking skills prior arriving to terrorize the Ponyfolk.

“What did you do to us!” a terrified voice from somewhere in the audience wailed.

“Nothing much.” and then, as an afterthought; “just took your musical talent away.”

“What!” Pinkie shrieked. A chorus of panicked whispers sprung up behind her.

“I took your talent away… ha! Even when we’re talking normally you’re deaf.” Mozart turned from Pinkie Pie to address the whole crowd. “You are all deaf! I presented you with only the most sublime, and you resented it!” Pressing silence met his words. Now was the time for him to leave, causing a very effective cliffhanger.

“That’s all folks!” He chuckled to himself. “I’ll leave and let you get used to your new… musical deduction.” A blue aura began to surround him and he lifted himself into the summer sky. Little did the Ponyfolk know of what was in store for them.

***

Twilight was in her library- frantically scribbling on a piece of parchment -when she heard a rapid knocking noise at her second story window. Slightly miffed, she got up and made her way up to her study on the second floor. The only friend of hers that would do something like that was Pinkie Pie, but she was off at Tune, so…

As Twilight opened the window pane to gaze out, Pinkie Pie, from the ground below, jumped up through the frame. She was sweating profusely, and trying to talk and catch her breath at the same time. Confronted by her friends energetic presence, Twilight strove to remain calm for the both of them.

“Pinkie? Why are you coming in through my window?"

“Because doors are for squares.” She replied simply. Twilight was about to point out logic, but then stopped herself; choosing instead to start a new segue that addressed the problem at hoof.

“I’m surprised you’re back; it’s only been fifteen minutes! Did you get your instrument fixed?”

“No!” The scholarly unicorn tipped her head in confusion.

“Then why are you…”

“I have some really, really, realrealyrealy bad news to tell you.” Pinkie Pie said.

“And what’s that?” Twilight felt her chest seize up, and she leaned in attentively. What could have possibly gone wrong?

“Well. I was at Halftone's, and there was this really, really big crowd outside. And I mean big! So big in fact, that if I was to bake a cake for them all I’d have to use over a hundred…

“Get to the point Pinkie!”

“Oh… sorry.” she said bashfully. “I’m just so confuzzled right now!”

“Confuzzled?” Twilight replied, trying in vain to translate what Pinkie had said.

“Confused and puzzled! Geez Twilight; I thought you were the egghead of the group.”

"But those two words are both synonyms! You cant combined the two, it's grammatically incorrect." Twilight exclaimed.

"Your point?" Pinkie replied, eliciting a drawn out groan from Twilight.

“Never mind... did you get your instrument fixed?” She asked again in a desperate bid to get a straight answer out of her friend.

“No. Not even close!”

“Why?”

“Because it’s not my instrument that’s out of tune…it’s me!”

“So you need to practice more? And you came all the way here to tell me that? Well, I could give you this one book…” Twilight’s horn glowed as she cast her magical energy throughout her library on the floor below. When she finally acquired the desired tome, she levitated it to float in front of the party pony.

“Noooo. I don’t need that!” Pinkie groaned, pushing away Twilights offering. “No matter how much I practice now, it won’t do anything.”

“But then…

“It’s Mozarts fault!” The name stopped Twilight Sparkle in her tracks.

“Mozart? Didn’t he leave Ponyville?”

“Nope! He appeared on the roof of the music shop and told us what he did.” Twilight's jaw went slack. The memory of the sheet of magical energy that had descended upon the audience back at the concert returned to her and suddenly, it all made sense.

“Oh my, this is a problem.” Twilight turned away from her friend and ran down the stairs, pulling books off shelves and gazing at titles. “Pinkie, I need some time to think.” she said over her shoulder. The earth pony ducked to avoid a sailing book on trigonometry before uttering an enthusiastic 'okie dokey!'

“Thank you” Twilight said, “Get all the rest of our friends together and meet me back here in ten minutes. I should have a plan by then.”

After nodding to Twilight Sparkle’s back, Pinkie leapt through the window again and onto the ground below.

...What I mean to say, is that this is a pressing matter, everypony. Ponyville with no music isn't Ponyville at all!”

“I agree,” Rainbow Dash replied. “Which makes my idea so much more awesome! Listen; if we get our hooves on the Elements of Harmony we could take out this jerk before he makes another appearance. He deserves it! Not only did he cast a spell on everypony, he zapped Vinyl and crashed the concert!"

“I have ta agree with Dash, Sugar Cube.” Applejack, who up to this point had been holding her tongue, couldn’t help but interject with her own two bits' worth. “This Mozart fella is a powerful one. We can’t jus’ canter up to ‘em and fend em off! We need the elements! Did ya see that thingamajigger he was holdin’?”

“Yes!” Twilight said desperately. “I saw it! I just don’t like the idea of harming anypony if we don’t have to.”

“I... um, I agree,.” Fluttershy whispered, almost too low to be heard.

“But look at what he’s done to us… to the whole of Ponyville! Hay, that should be enough to convince you. We don’t know what will happen if the town is deprived of music for much longer. It’s just like you said Twi! ‘Ponyville wouldn’t be Ponyville if there wasn’t any music!’” Rainbow Dash explained. Twilight, unable to make the decision, turned to Rarity.

“Rarity, what are your thoughts on all of this? You can be the tie breaker.” Rarity rose from her sitting positioned and stood up.

“Darling, I’m so sorry, but I have to agree with Dash and Applejack. The sooner we can get this nuisance out of Ponyville, the quicker things will get back to normal. The entire town has fallen into a sort of depression, and it is absolutely dreadful for business!”

“Oh, you must know!’ Pinkie Pie, who had decided to take the backseat on the debate, finally piped up. “Sugar Cube Corner hasn't seen a single customer today!” Suddenly, the pink filly looked grave. “I bet even my party cannon couldn’t liven Ponyville’s mood up now.”

Closing her eyes Twilight sighed.

“Very well. Tomorrow, I'll head off to Canterlot and retrieve the Elements of Harmony for us. You all should stay behind to keep sentry... who knows what Mozart has up his sleeve. Besides, I would hate to leave Ponyville undefended." The others nodded understandingly in response. The meeting was adjourned.

***

As the traveling party arrived at the entrance to the Auditorium that following evening, Mozart's horrid composing blared from the main entrance. The garbage from last week’s musical performance still littered the ground.

“Alright everypony,” Twilight said, addressing her friends. Her voice did little to betray her inner conflict. “Here we are. There is no going back now... are we set?” she was met by five nodding heads. Everypony had their respectable elemental necklace on, and Twilight reached into her Saddlebag to pull out her tiara. They were indeed set.

“Now, before we go in, I want to run through the plan again.” Five pairs of eyes gazed back at Twilight attentively. “Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy… you two keep to the sky, in the cloud cover if possible. You’ll be my first round of backup.” The pegasi took off. “Rarity…"

“Yes Dear?”

“Take Pinkie Pie and sneak around to the other exit. You’ll be hidden until you’re needed. If you’re needed.” And then, as an after though; “the smaller our group, the less suspicious Mozart should be.” The unicorn and the earth pony nodded in confirmation and disappeared around the curve of the building. Turning now to Applejack, Twilight spoke.

“We’d best be heading in now.”

“Yep.”

“Keep in mind Applejack, that we need to try and ask him to leave first. If he turns our proposal down… well you know what we’ve got to do.”

“Ah do Sugarcube. Let’s get buckin’.”

***

As Twilight and Applejack made their way under the arched entrance and onto the main floor, the organ stopped and Mozart turned.

"Visitors? Finally decided to recognize my talent?. ” his voice had gone from high to low- and then back up again -in a matter of seconds.

Twilight shook her head.

“Listen Mozart, we’re here to give you a single chance to leave Ponyville without a struggle,” Twilight continued, putting on her bravest face. “You’re encroaching in our city, and you’re unwelcome. Leave. Now.” she made sure to emphasize her command by pointing behind her back at the exit.

“How about no?!” Mozart replied rudely. “I came here out of the kindness of my heart, and what do I get in return? Disrespect?” The colt stepped down from his orchestrating podium and approached Twilight. His brown eyes were pinpricks of anger. "This town is like all the others, heartless!”

With that, his horn glowed and a lightning bolt shot out to strike Twilight. She acted quickly, and conjured a quick defensive shield around her and Applejack. The bot hit and rebounded, striking a wall behind them.

“How about I give you a final warning, little filly. Leave this auditorium immediately or I’ll…” Mozart was interrupted by a sharp cry.

“Ye haw!” Applejack bucked the assailant, sending him flying. Shaken but otherwise visibly unharmed, Mozart got up and sent a lightning bolt in the earth pony’s direction. Applejack dodged the bolt deftly, and it sailed by her, striking the ground several hooves away.

A wholehearted battle cry from above, and Rainbow Dash tackled the unicorn before he could let off another one of his spells. The two of them wrestled around on the floor until they were pulled apart by a combination of Twilight and Rarity’s magic. Separated at least, the scenario became clear to all. It was six against one; any ounce of resistance Mozart could muster would only lead to his downfall. Picking up on this, Mozart looked around for an escape plan. After a few moments of scrambling, a wild grin spread across his face. Taking off at a dead gallop, he ran towards the stage where his instrument was resting.

“Stop him Rainbow Dash!” Twilight hollered, motioning for the idle pony to beat the fleeing Unicorn. “He can’t get his hooves on that instrument!” with a nod she broke away from the group and sped towards the keydrum.

Mozart had used his magic however, and in doing so, reached the device before the speeding filly could. With a frustrated groan Rainbow Dash had pulled back and regrouped with the others.

Laughing hysterically, Mozart clicked a button on his keydrum and began to play. Rays of neon green and sickly yellow exploded from the device in a fury of light, breaking away from the keydrum and speeding towards the bracing ponies.

Conjuring as much willpower and concentration as she could muster, Twilight cast a defensive bubble around her friends, warding off the initial attack and allowing them to take formation.

“You can’t defend yourself forever!” Mozart howled, sending another violent wave of energy at the group. Twilight tensed and continued to ward off the assault.

“I can’t hold his attacks off for much longer! Is everypony ready to cast their element?” The group nodded.

“Good, I’m putting the shield down now; we’ve only got one chance at this, so make it count!” The signets at her friend’s chests began to glow as they powered up. Praying to Celestia, Twilight dropped the shield and willed her own element to unite the others. Nothing happened.

A heavy despair flooded into her body… what the hay was going on?!
Picking up on the problem at hoof, the others gazed at Twilight with a combination of horror, panic, and expectation.

“Oh Luna! I don’t know what’s wrong! My, my signet… it won’t charge!” the panic was threatening to overcome her completely. Another wave of energy was approaching the shaken ponies; it was glowing a vibrant orange…they had to act quickly.

“Retreat!” Rarity screamed, breaking the formation and heading for the exit.

“I’m behind you Rarity!” Twilight replied, hot on the fleeing purple tail. “Everypony retreat!” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy took off into the sky, while Applejack and Pinkie Pie ran for the main entrance. They had broken formation just in time to avoid the magnitude of the assault.

The fleeing Twilight, trying to see properly through watery eyes, could only repeat one thing.

“I knew it.”

Another week had gone by, and PonyVille’s condition had gone from bad- to worse -to outright terrible. The lack of music was taking a toll on the town. Weary figures cantered with their heads down, ears flat against their heads… even the birds wouldn’t sing! Depression was rampant, a rather contradictory theme to how nice the conditions outside were.

And amidst the dreary crowds, a single yellow filly took it all in. Cantering silently among the townsponies, Fluttershy, for what must have been the thousandth time, counted her blessings for being on the outskirts of town; she only really had to mingle with the dreary ponyfolk once a week to buy groceries.

Shops had been re-opened twenty-four-seven to allow the ebbing customers to buy merchandise. This was a good thing for Fluttershy, because it meant that the market place was open all week; instead of just the weekends.

When the yellow pegasi arrived at the marketplace- a large area in the center of town –she couldn’t shake the feeling of unnerve. It was practically a ghost town… and she was terrified of ghosts.

Shuffling up to the fresh vegetable stand, she dropped ten bits onto the stalls countertop and bought a few heads of lettuce and some cherry tomatoes for Angle. Making haste, she moved efficiently from stand to stand, checking off the groceries from her list in a very twilight-esc fashion as she went.

Finally coming to the end, she took note that her final stop would be the apple stand. If things were as they normally were, Applejack would be running it today. Smiling to herself, she made her way through the sparse crowd to the far back of the market, where the familiar sight of glistening red and green apples greeted her.

Behind the counter, Applejack was snoring softly, using a sack of apples as her pillow. She looked peaceful lying there, and Fluttershy decided to turn tail and leave her friend undisturbed. As she turned to leave however, a southern accented voice made her snap back around.

“Fluttershy?” The yellow filly blushed. If only she had been quieter!

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to wake you and…”

“Aw shucks, it aint’ a problem Sugar. I was just closin’ ma’ eyes… this lack o’ customers is leavin’ me with too much time on ma’ hooves.” Fluttershy nodded understandingly.

“I know. Without music, everypony is just so… dreary. I’m glad that I’m living on the outskirts of town. Have you sold anything today? I mean if that’s my business…”

“You stop yer frettin’ Fluttershy. Yer’ ma’ friend… ya’ deserve ta’ know!” Applejack righted herself so that her neck and head rested above the wooden countertop. “Besides, any company is good company with how things have been.” After yawning once and blinking the sleep out of her eyes, she began.

“Cherilee came by in the mornin’ and bought a bushel. A few others were in the mornin’ as well… what’s most interestin’ though, is that fella Mozart made an appearance.”

“Mozart. Oh my. Was it scary? What did he do?” Fluttershy was shocked.

“Nothin’ really, he just bought some apples if you believe that. I’d be darned if he was feelin’ bad for what he did; but that’s what he seemed to be actin’ like. Hay, I saw that bugger goin’ around to all the stalls and buyin’ their merchandise. Now aint’ that somethin’ special?”

“It really is Applejack. I’m surprised, in all truth.” Fluttershy rummaged in her Saddlepack and pulled out three bits – Applejack gave her a glistening bushel of apples.

“Yer’ tellin’ me! But I aint’ done yet.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Please continue.” The yellow pegasi pony shifted into a more alert position.

“You’d only imagine that Mozart’s presence drew some attention, and he announced to the crowd then and there that he was puttin’ on some sort a concert tomorrow night at the auditorium. He had that darned keydrum with him, and he played a little tune of sorts. A teaser, he said.”

“Oh, that must have been… terrible.” Fluttershy cringed visibly, shrinking to the ground.
“Did he get booed at again?”

“The thing is he didn’t. I mean, no one cheered or nothin’, but they weren’t exactly hostile. The thing is, is that he can play better than us now, and everypony’s getting’ real desperate. Shoot, I’d bet ya a shiny bit that he’s goin’ ta’ get an audience at his performance. We need music, plain and simple, and if he’s gonna’ be the only source of it from now on, we gonna’ have ta’ get used to it!”

“You’re right Applejack… but are you going?”

“You bet! I got nothin’ better to do.” Applejack shrugged nonchalantly before continuing, “And I’m craving music as much as the next pony.”

Fluttershy could see the reasoning behind it all. Mozart had been smart. By taking away everypony else’s musical talent he put himself up on top by default. Sure, he didn’t make the best music, but it was above average now, and that’s all it needed to be.

“I guess I’ll come as well.” Fluttershy said conclusively.

***

“Fillies and Gentlecolts please put your hooves together for tonight’s solo performer… Mozart.” a round of less than satisfactory clippity clopping echoed around the circular auditorium, ending abruptly as the Mayor continued.

Twilight sat amongst her friends expecting only the worse. Although, being the morally righteous filly that she was, she knew that it would be plain disrespectful to not turn up tonight. It was her way of saying sorry for the conflict that had occurred when they confronted Mozart and tried to bully him out of PonyVille last week. Her attention returned to the stage.

The Mayor had walked off, and everypony’s attention had been drawn towards the gradually growing stream of light emanating from the separating curtains. A fog had been pumped across the stage, and Mozart stood dead center, wielding his key drum. A set of twenty violins hovering in a glowing aura backed the maroon unicorn.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Mozart nodded his head to the left, using his magical prowess to stroke a dozen of the horsehair violins at once. The first note that was created was surprisingly satisfactory. It was a haunting noise, slow, but melodious non-the-less. Either that or the musical deprivation that Twilight had been suffering from was taking its toll. This alternative quickly became perverted however, as Mozart began to move into the rising crescendo of his song.

The tune that came forth pierced into Twilight’s memory bank, ripping her from the present to back when the unicorn had descended from the heavens a few weeks ago and played his first ‘work of art’. The conclusiveness that came along with the realization that Mozart had not improved was wrenching. She truthfully felt sorry for the struggling musician, but really, what could she do?

With a sorry sigh she turned her gaze from the stage to the assembled audience. From the looks cast upon their conflicted faces, she realized that it was just a matter of time before they’d break under the pressure.

Her eyes then fell to rest on her friends. Gratification filled her as she observed their determination to not plug their ears or leave the auditorium… even Rainbow Dash was resisting temptation. She had suddenly become very interested with one of her shed feathers, and was twirling it reflectively.

***

“I can’t take it! I just can’t. I’ll go the rest of my life without music, I can make it! I CAN MAKE IT!” the maniacal shout arose from a very distraught looking colt two rows down. Twilight Sparkle was not surprised by the comment, but instead of how long it had taken to arrive.

Somehow, the audience had made it through the first and second songs; even conjuring enough strength at the end of each to give a few clippity clops of applause. When the third song had come about however, one where Mozart began to sing, it had been the straw that broke the camel’s… er, colt’s back.

Now, the whole audience had been set off and began to join in to the infectious panic. In response to the dissatisfaction, Mozart had stopped playing, using the microphone so that his voice could be heard over top of the banter.

“Where are you all going!?”

“Anywhere but here!” a fleeing pony with bloodshot eyes hollered over her shoulder, “I agree with Dawnfire, I can go the rest of my life without music.”

“But, but” Mozart sniveled, “It was just getting good! You were all being so cooperative… why leave now…?” The audience was no longer paying attention to the scrambling composer.
Up above Twilight had turned to her friends; they were getting up to leave as well.

“Listen up everypony, we should stay behind, even if we’re the only ones left… it’s the least we can do for the poor colt.”

“But his music…” Rainbow Dash began, cringing involuntarily.

“I know! I know. He really can’t compose… I just feel so bad with what we did last week, and I think it would be best if out of respect we stick around. We don’t want to look like jerks again, right?” Rainbow Dash nodded reluctantly and sat back down. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie followed suit.

***

As the audience finally dissipated, Mozart stopped shouting and collapsed on the stage.

“I’ll never be great.” he said to himself, and his voice echoed hollowly up the bleachers of the now empty auditorium. “I was only kidding myself.” Standing up, the distraught musician began to collect the scattered violins. Lost so deeply in his own bitter despair, he hadn’t taken note of the six remaining ponies that had begun to descend from the bleachers. As they approached, he looked over his shoulder at the group.

“Oh, it’s you guys.” He murmured, returning his attention back to his keydrum and folding it up. “I’ve got good news, I’m leaving. You were right; I shouldn’t have even come here in the first place. It’s just that… oh, never mind.” Closing his eyes tightly shut he pushed down on his sleek keydrum, clicking the latches in place. He was ready to go, but then he remembered the single thing he still had to address. Turning to the small group that had collected in front of him, he spoke;

“The curse will fade off by the evening, so you needn’t worry.”

“Wait, it was all only temporary?” the purple filly seemed miffed and slightly embarrassed. Mozart shook his head.

“Not exactly… I could have held it up as long as my instrument was in the area. When casting such a powerful spell, one of the complexities that arise is the need to refresh it every now and then. Each day, my device would send out a wave of invisible ultraviolet… and that would do the trick.” Ok, so maybe he needed to address two more things.

“By the way, I’m sorry for attacking you last week. I just get so caught up in it all that I lose myself. I’m not asking you to understand or…”

“I do.” The purple filly’s sincerity had interrupted him politely. “I think we all got a little caught up as well, right girls?” nods of wholehearted agreement from each of them.

“If we never decided ta’ force ya’ out in the first place, this woulda’ never happened. Shucks, I’m guilty…I was in favor of bullyin’ ya out, an’… an’ now I’m regrettin’ it.” The southern accented earth pony had picked up the flow.

“I was the one who started this all.” The cyan colored pegasi spoke next. “I suggested that we should use the Elements of Harmony to kick you out… we’ve all seen the power that those things can release, and I think it got to my head. So I’m sorry as well.”

“We’re all sorry, Mozart.” The lavender unicorn had collected the floating apologies and sent them straight at the maroon colt. “But words are always lesser than actions. Pinkie?”

“We want to teach you how to play!” the pink unicorn began bouncing up and down in
excitement. “Will you give it a try if you’re taught by Pinkie Pie!? I’m a really good teacher!”

“I… I couldn’t, I…” the sudden turn of events had left Mozart reeling. Were his ears betraying him?

“But I insist! Let’s knock on it.” The pink pony offered her hoof for him to bump. He raised his hoof in return, but then hesitated.

“Are you sure…? I can’t believe I’m admitting this to you, but I’m not the greatest musician, definitely not as great as I see myself to be. I’m a poor learner and…”

“Oh you!” Pinkie Pie brought her hoof and zipped Mozarts mouth shut with a stroke. “Shhh! We wouldn’t have offered to help silly if we weren’t ready to give it!” she unzipped him.
“So…?” An unsteady chuckle came from the unicorn, and he took a good long look at his soon to be teachers.

“You’ve got a deal.” He brought his hoof up and pounded. “When do we begin?”

The town was in a state of pure thrill. For the first time in a month, the sound of real music soothed the ears of the spectators; mending the damage Mozart had done all those weeks before. The Mane 6 sat amongst the rallied audience, nodding in satisfaction.
After the sudden emergence of talent the week before, things in PonyVille had slowly gotten back to how they used to be. The crowds returned to the market, the birds began to chirp… but most importantly, the bi yearly concert came back for its second round.

As the song finally ended and Octavia disappeared behind the closing curtain, the Mayor stepped onto the stage ceremoniously and introduced the final performance; a solo by a mystery musician. Curious about whom exactly it was, the audience quieted in anticipation.
As the apron began to pull apart, Twilight could hardly keep down her anxiety. She knew exactly who would be making an appearance, and she was afraid that the sight alone would be a natural deterrent. If only everypony would stay long enough…

As the curtains fully opened, and the stage lights flared to life, a collective groan of ‘not again!’ rose up from the audience. There off to the left of the stage Mozart stood, eyes closed, face serious. Twilight knew for a fact that he was as nervous as she was, but she trusted that he wouldn’t break under all the pessimism that was being directed at him. If only he would start playing…

The audience began to get up to leave; anger unmasked across their faces. Mozart had to act quickly or all would be lost. His training from Pinkie Pie, from Vinyl, from Octavia… it all would be in vain if he didn’t get things off the ground…

And so he began to play.

The first note that came out from the keydrum was as crisp and pure as light itself.

Dear Princess Celestia,

This last month has really opened my eyes to potential; and I’m talking on multiple levels. I’ve come to realize that Everypony has the potential to become the stuff of their dreams, and with a little patience and practice, anything can be achievable. As living proof of this proclamation, we have Mozart. He dusted up wonderfully after being rigorously taught by Pinkie, Vinyl, and Octavia… to tell you the truth; I thought any attempts to turn Mozart’s musical life around would be in vain, so I was deeply pleased with the outcome.

But I also think I should mention that I learned about a different potential. That is, the potential to do great harm or great good. The six of us had acted irrationally, thinking that we could solve our problems only through violence. How wrong were we! I think I know why the elements never fired now. When a pony is in need, try talking it out first and attempting to help… you never know what could come out of a little generosity!

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle

Before I get into the meat of this, I’d like to mention something real quick.
One might have noticed the quicker pace that my story implied... this was intentional.
I formatted the story as though it would be converted into an actual MLP episode, and therefore had to structure the story so that it could fit into a twenty-five minuet long span. I do have plans… but momentarily they are only speculations, so I’m not going to express them.

I’d love to know in the comment section if the pace of the story was too fast!
Anywho…

Bear with me as I drop an analogy.

For those of you that have been in a theatrical production, you’ll know how much goes on in the background to make the play successful. You have your Grip, your Tech crew, your Stage Managers and Prompters and Ringers and… well, you get the point. However, all the audience sees is the actors onstage.

This is just like story writing. The readers only see the polished results, and never really get to know all the effort put in behind the scenes to make it possible in the first place!

I’d like to expose my own background to whoever has taken the time to read this section.
The idea for Tune-Your-Tone developed and changed drastically throughout the whole process of development. Initially, I had an idea of some cool, extremist ruled, alternate reality Manehatten, where Vinyl and Octavia were featured as the main characters. They find a way to harness musical sound waves and transfer them into physical power.

I remember sitting on the city bus with a friend, bouncing ideas off of him to get feedback. Between the two of us, we came up with a believable theory behind the whole sound wave-to-energy deal. But I digress…

It was when I tried to find a main antagonist that my idea took a turn and began traveling down a completely new path. The name Offchord came to my mind, and that reminded me of Discord, and that reminded me of the MLP episode. Sparked by that notion, a fresh idea came to me and I pulled out my notebook and scribbled down the soft outline.

I was at a relative’s house at the time, and it’d been the morning after I came up with the soft outline. The rising sun had woke me up at 6 in the morning, and this damn TV my uncle fell asleep watching kept me up till 3 the night before. Unable to fall asleep and running on 3 hours of ZZZZ, I looked back at my soft outline and started to write a more in-depth version.
This took me about three days.

When I began to write the rough copy some of my concepts changed… ultimately leading to a more refined version of what I’d initially thought. For an example, Offchords name changed to Zartmo (Mozart all scrambled) and then finally, Mozart after a friends gave some good advice. I also cut down some of the extra plot I didn’t think was needed (One where Vinyl and Octavia had some time to shine)

Things were looking good, and I spent a week and some being antisocial and writing the whole thing out.
My final copy had three drafts before it, because each time I vigorously re-read (Guided by the Editors Omnibus), I picked out new errors. However, now that I’m done, that extra 2-3 hour session of self editing has paid off!
I suppose that concludes it!

The rest is history, and when that history occurs… I shall add it below!

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