Author's Notes:

I'm not sure if this is any good, but here you go.

With his present, a copy of Buch’s music, his composition book under his arm while holding onto his walking stick and waving a pencil in the air in the other, Beethoven walked through the town, humming loudly as he conducted the mini-concerto in his head. Over slippery ice and snow that crawled up to his knees, Ludwig trudged through the winter’s day towards the music-themed cottage, completely unaware that the sun was casting a double shadow behind him. Hearths Warming day was still young as it was now the afternoon when Ludwig went up to the door and knocked it with his walking stick.

It was answered by Octavia, “Hello Mr. Beethoven,” she stepped aside to let the giant in. As he did so, he took notice of the mess of wrapping paper that sprawled about on the floor. Over by the couch, the DJ held a garbage bag, stuffing it with one misshapen paper at a time. The Unicorn looked up and gave a wave.

“Frohe Weihnachten für euch beide.” Ludwig began to take off his coat, “I see that I’ve missed some excitement.”

Both mares were confused for a moment before Vinyl took up her notepad.

Nah, this is how this place looks like every year after we’ve opened up all the awesome gifts.

“Speaking of which,” Ludwig took out the brown present that was held together with twine. “Before we get down to business, I have a gift for you two as well.”

Curious, Octavia took hold of the package in her mouth while Ludwig dug into his pockets for the magic scroll. The gray mare hopped over to the couch to which she and Vinyl opened it. After cutting the twine, they pulled off the paper to find three bounded sheet music.

“Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor?” Octavia read aloud, “And you’re giving this to both of us?”

“Of course,” Ludwig said. “Apart from Princess Twilight, you two have been a huge help in this new world. Being musicians yourselves, I thought it was appropriate that I give you both something that is challenging and interesting in of your fields.”

“Speaking of which,” the cellist turned to her roommate, “go get Mr. Beethoven’s present.” While the white unicorn left the room, Octavia approached Ludwig. “Since you’re here, we want to give you a collective gift from us, Fluttershy, and that cow pony from Appaloosa. Vinyl thought it would be a good idea to put all of our Hearths Warming presents into one box.”

Vinyl came back into the room, and in her aura, there was a small red and green box that was tied in a yellow bow. As Ludwig took it into his hands, he untied the bow, pulled off the lid and dumped it out into the palm of his hand. It was about the size of a card, with buttons, some kind of wheel, and a glass-like window just above it. “What is this contraption?” he asked as he looked over the scroll.

“Well, to put it in a nutshell,” Octavia explained. “It’s a portable music player, something that Vinyl has when she wants to listen to her music. You’ve seen it before several months ago, but now you have your very own. It contains hundreds of songs and pieces of music that I have carefully hoof chosen for you. Also, it has Fluttershy’s and a…” she looked over to Vinyl, “What was that bloke’s name again?” The DJ wrote her answer. “Ah right, Braeburn Apple’s records too. This is meant to be used with your new pair of headphones to listen to.”

Beethoven looked at the device once more, “How does this contraption work?”

It was then that Vinyl stepped in. Through her notepad, she wrote and pointed out the workings of the music player. From how to turn it on and off, how to charge the battery, how to access and make playlists, and even selecting a song, after all, this was done, the DJ gave him a pair of earphones as she showed him the message:

You probably want to listen to something called, “Braeburn’s Audition,” I think you might really like it.

After plugging the headphones in and placing it over his skull, Vinyl selected out the particular recording and let it play.

There was a pluck of a violin string before there was a still moment. Then suddenly, through the vibrations, came the first chord of the violin. For the first few seconds, the violin hummed on double stings as if it were tuning or finding an idea to work off of. Then the piano came onto the scene, its minor key gave it a direction towards something mysterious. Braeburn’s violin, curious at the prospect, began its journey, cautiously at first towards the wilderness as the piano walked with it for the start of the journey.

Beethoven closed his eyes and waited, he wanted to hear the part where the violin springs forward, its steps quickening towards a forest of notes. Then suddenly, the duet sprung into a race into the unknown. Every so often in this race, both instruments caught their breath, to take a moment to take in the wondrous scenery of the uncharted land before springing off once more through rocky chords and muddy quick notes.

Such energy was this violinist from a desert town! What lightning and thunder from those hooves that expertly play out even the most difficult of passages with grace! As Beethoven listened, he wondered how come no one in this world has heard his playing like this before.

He felt a tug from his overcoat, cracking an eye, he found the cellist pulling on it with her mouth. Her head tilted towards the scroll, but Ludwig frowned. “What is it? I’m trying to hear the music.”

With a sigh, Octavia got a hold of the scroll, and making sure that the composer was looking at it, she asked, “How did you get that record from Appaloosa in the first place? We know it was addressed to you, but why?”

Putting the violin sonata on hold, Ludwig took off his headphones, “Because I want to put together a string quartet of the finest musicians in the land to play some new work of mine. I have sketches of music that I want to experiment if anyone would like them. This pony in that desert town has very good skills at the violin, and I know about your playing on the cello, but I also need another excellent violin and violist too. As soon as I polished those pieces, I want to assemble this quartet to play it.”

Octavia blinked, “Okay… And when do you expect us to play this?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps by around spring if I’m lucky,” Ludwig then looked at the device again and noticed the other songs listed. “This is such a useful invention, I think it has that Buffalo chants on here too, just as I asked. Though I wonder what else this thing has…” he scrolled through the playlists and spotted the names by the titles. “Ah! This is perfect! There are works of Buch on this thing, work on my symphony is going to be so much…” Then he stopped at a name and raised his eyebrow, “Who is Vifilly?” he shook his head, “Probably no one important. Now, what else does this have?” He scrolled further down until something caught his eye.

Nature – by Fluttershy. 6:27.

“Was ist das?” he pushed a button on the device, and instead of the headphones vibrating sounds of music, what he heard was something surprising.

For the first time in seven years, though it was faint, he could hear the chirping of birds! He nearly dropped the device as he could detect the familiar sound of wind blowing in the trees and the rustle of leaves as someone was walking through a forest. Birds cooed and chirped on his jawbone as Ludwig pressed the headset firmly against his head, trying desperately to hear natures voice once more. Every so often, he could barely hear a dog barking somewhere while the birds continued on with their chat.

Then he quickly took off the headphones and put his hands around his eyes, trying to hold back of what he picked up. It wasn’t until Vinyl tapped on his knee that he looked up.

Is something wrong?

Beethoven shook his head, “No. No. That was the kindest piece of music I’ve ever listened to. Quite thoughtful really, but I’m getting too distracted. We need to discuss future concerts.”

_*_

“Are you absolutely sure you want us to play this?” the pianist asked, looking over his shoulder.

Prince Blueblood raised an eyebrow, “Why? Is there something wrong with it?”

The quartet, a Violinist, Cellist, Pianist, and a Tenor looked at one another, “I wouldn’t say that,” the singer said. “It doesn’t have anything propane to the Royal ear.”

“Now I’m curious,” Luna commented as she leaned back against the couch in the music room. “What has Mr. Beethoven given us that make you four so nervous?”

“Do play anyway,” Celestia told them. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

The other musicians turned to one another before flipping open their copies on their music stands. Both violinist and cellist readied their hooves over the strings, ready to pluck it. The violinist lifted her violin, singling the others to begin. There was a pizzicato of strings and a cascading piano began to play before the violin and cello put their bows to play a Moztrot like melody.

In Prince Blueblood’s mind, he thought that maybe all the suspicions of the giant sending something vulgar were melting away. Maybe this piece is a song of forgiveness for him calling the composer a pig.

Then, the Tenor sang:

“Mark yonder pomp of costly fashion

“Round the wealthy, titled bride:

“But when compared with real passion,

“Poor is all that princely pride.”

Blueblood’s expression quickly turned into a sharp frown.

“What are the showy treasures?

“What are the noisy pleasures?

“The gay, gaudy glare of vanity and art:

“The polished jewels' blaze

“May draw the wondering gaze;

“And courtly grandeur bright

“The fancy may delight,

“But never, never can come near their heart.”

“Stop at once!” the Prince commanded. All the instruments died out before any of them could go onto the second verse. “What was that?”

“We tried to tell you…” the Tenor trailed off.

At his side, Blueblood heard his aunts giggled, “What?”

“Oh nothing,” Celestia mused, “Though I must admit that song is rather an accurate portrait of you.”

“What!”

“It’s true,” the sun princess said. “If anything, knowing your nephew is that Mr. Beethoven’s song perfectly describes you in more ways than one.”

“What do you mean?”

“Really?” Princess Luna chimed in. “In fact, let us see that sheet music,” her horn glowed at the tenor’s copy and floated over to her. “From this thing, it’s right that you’re not that passionate about anything that we know of.”

“Yes, I am!”

Both alicorns raised their eyebrows, “Name one,” they said in unison.

“Well…” Blueblood trailed off, looking at his aunts back and forth, “I’m good at establishing connections with foreign ambassadors?”

“But not with Mr. Beethoven?” Celestia questioned.

The eyes of the prince twitched. “It’s not my fault that he gets offended at a drop of a hat.”

“Even when you called him a… as you say, ‘hotheaded swine?’” Luna interrogated. “Other than that, ‘gaudy glare of vanity and art,’ is another good description of your spending habits.”

“We’re royalty Auntie Luna, we’re supposed to set an example of taste.”

“Especially when you have a bathroom that is a golden leaf, a rococo style where even the ceiling is painted with extremely attractive pegasi? Not to mention that the toilet is covered in large diamonds, the rug is made out of Zebrican lion manes, and the tiles on the floor have been shipped from the Crystal Empire?” Celestia asked. “I understand enjoying extravagance, but that alone is just tacky.”

“It’s not tacky!” the Prince objected. He got up from the couch, harrumphing, “For now on, I don’t want to have anything to do with that deaf ape!” he stormed out of the room, slamming the door for good measure.

“We’re defiantly going to hang on to this, aren’t we?” Luna inquired.

Her elder sister smiled, “But of course, it’s catchy too.”