[track-original]the devil himself.[/b]

Beethoven, totally exhausted, mutters his consent but is unable to write the words that will
bring about the destruction of his beloved Tenth. Fate, sensing his dilemma, offers to write down
the agreement for him and he hands the paper to her. As he stares out the window Fate writes,

It is agreed upon this night, March 26, 1827, between the undersigned, that the music of the Tenth
Symphony, composed by Ludwig von Beethoven, first born son of Johann and Maria von Beethoven, of
the city of Bonn, shall henceforth be the property of Mephistopheles, Lord of Darkness and first
fallen from the grace of God. It is also understood that it is his intention to remove any signs of
this music from the memory of man for all eternity. In exchange for the destruction of the
aforementioned music it is also agreed that Mephistopheles and all his minions will remove
themselves from the life of the child presently sleeping in the gutter directly across from the
window of this room. This removal of influence is to be commenced immediately upon signing and to
be enforced for all eternity.
_____________________
Ludwig Von Beethoven
_____________________
Mephistopheles

Mephistopheles reads the paper, signs it and pushes it in front of Beethoven. Without even looking
at the document the composer signs the paper. Immediately, Mephistopheles reaches over the piano,
seizes the Tenth's manuscript and thrusts it over a lit candle. The papers are engulfed in a wall
of flames. But when the flames have died down the devil is stunned to find that not only does the
manuscript still exist, it is not even singed. Thrusting it back over the candle it is once again
engulfed in flames only to emerge unscathed.

Sensing that he has been tricked, he screams for an explanation but Beethoven's expression tells
him that he is as shocked at the turn of events as the Devil himself. As Mephistopheles is glancing
once more at the manuscript he hears the sound of Twist giggling in the darkness.

When he demands to know what the dwarf is laughing at, Twist can hardly conceal his delight as he
explains that the composer's parents gave birth to a son prior to the maestro's birth. They had
named him Ludwig von Beethoven but the child died within his first year. They then named their
second son Ludwig as well. Twist continues, "The man before you is that Ludwig Von Beethoven, the
second born son of Johann & Maria Von Beethoven. You have purchased a Tenth Symphony of Ludwig Von
Beethoven, first born of Johann & Maria, if he ever writes one." Mephistopheles glares at Fate, who
smiles back at him demurely. Then, throwing the music back at Beethoven, he screams in frustration
and disappears in an explosion of smoke and flame.

Beethoven is surprised by Mephistopheles' rapid departure and asks if he is not coming back to
collect his soul. To which Fate replies that he never had any claim to his soul.

"But Mephistopheles said..."

"He is the devil," Fate replies, "He lies."

"But, there were times when I was rude and cruel to people," Beethoven stutters.

"True, the frustration of your deafness did cause you at times to lash out unfairly at others, but
later you would always regret it and apologize. You often went through great lengths to make amends
for any hurts you had caused. Believe me Ludwig, you have done well."

And with those words a warm feeling of peace spreads throughout Beethoven's body and across his
soul.

When he asks Fate what is to happen next, she gently tells him that it is time for him to rest, for
tonight he will dream a new dream within the gates of paradise. And as the words weave their way
into his soul, Beethoven lies down on the couch near his piano and begins a new dream.

A Final Dream

(Fate[/track-original]

Lay your head down
and sleep on my shoulder
lay your head down
and start a new dream
and for tonight
the moment is over
drift in a lullaby
here where the stars reside
and angels are always seen

And lay your head down
the stars they have whispered
hear what they say
and know that it means
the moon is your guide
the stars they have kissed her
as she goes gently by
light as a baby's sigh
safe on a fairy tale stream

And start a new dream

With the departure of his soul the storm begins to break and a stillness settles over the room as
one by one the ghosts and shadows fade away. All seems at peace until the sudden re-appearance of
Twist returning through a window. He gazes about the room, a look of mischievous delight spreading
across his face. Scampering over to the piano, he takes the manuscript for the Tenth Symphony and
then climbing up a bookcase, carefully slips it behind a wall. Here it will remain hidden, the
world blissfully unaware of its existence until that one day in the future when it will be
discovered and the music will once more live again.

The End