Jail, Palace of Power, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy, Q-niverse.  Stardate 1 049 501.4; December 30, 2994.

"All right, you two," said Ludwig.  "Seeing as how you behave yourselves, I'm going to release you.  I just need to seal your collars so that your friends won't be able to remove them."  He did that with a snap of the fingers.  "Don't get any cute ideas, or you'll be back in a heartbeat."

            Wilykit knew better.  Ludwig had no cognisance of what had transpired two days earlier, and she could make sure of that until Wesley returned.  In the meantime, her brother, Wilykat, could work on returning the Thunder Cats' powers to their rightful owners.  He could also work on the weakness of his sister and himself to super-Thundrainide compounds.  For now, they would go along with the evil one.

            "Yes, sir," said Wilykit.

            "Very well," Ludwig said.  "There are a bunch of newspaper reporters out there.  If you don't want to answer their asinine questions, don't.  I wouldn't.  If you do, do."  He hit the button that opened the cell door to let the Wilytwins leave.  When they had, he led them towards the Wondertwins' cell.  "Wondertwins, you two have been behaving well.  Thus, I've decided to release you and the Wilytwins.  I must first seal your collars so that they are irremovable."  He snapped his fingers, then it was done.  "Any illegal behaviour, and you'll be back quickly.  Just a warning."  He pressed the button opening the cell door, and Zan and Jayna left it.

            "Why, exactly?" Zan asked.

            Ludwig shrugged.  "I don't know exactly.  Some newspaper reporters have come.  Just ignore them if you wish.  I always do.  Would that MotherBrain would permit me to outlaw them, but that's just dreaming."  He led them to the door.  Opening it, he allowed the Wilytwins and the Wondertwins to precede him.  The five managed to navigate through the swamp of reporters to the nearest elevator.  Once inside, Ludwig closed the doors; the five were the only ones in there.  "Newspaper reporters!" he exclaimed with disgust.

            "They can sure be a blasted nuisance," agreed Wilykit.

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power.

            "I see you managed to navigate through that flood of reporters," Lana said.

            "Yes," said Wilykit.

            Ludwig gave Lana a compact disc.  "Here it is, Lana.  You can play it whenever you get the N-Team back together."

            "I shall," replied Lana.  Ludwig teleported himself elsewhere.  "You tricky little devils.  He thinks you four are harmless."

            "What has he just given to you?" Wilykat asked.

            "He has just given me a compact disc with his third symphony, the Universal Empire Symphony," said Lana.

            "I couldn't believe how magnificent his second symphony, the Imperial Symphony, was," Wilykit said.  "It's amazing that he was able to compose a symphony of that complexity."

            Wilykat said, "I agree.  We have not listened to our sisters' symphony, however."

            "You are correct," said Wilykit.  "Lana, where are they?"

            "I don't know," Lana answered.  "Maybe. . ."  The transporter effect took place; Gatinha and Chatonne materialised in the room.  "Hello, Tygra-twins."

            Gatinha replied, "Hello, Princess.  Hi, Wilytwins and Wondertwins."

            "Hi, Chatonne and Gatinha," Wilykit said.  "How are you?"

            "I am well," said Chatonne.

            "Me, too," Gatinha said.  "And you?"

            "We are very well," said Wilykat.

            Wilykit said, "Yes.  We do not need you to inform us about the history of the empire.  The information that Ludwig gave us is correct.  My telepathy told me that."

            "Our father wants us to bring you to him, Wilykit and Wilykat," Chatonne said.  "Our mother and he are in their house in the Galaxy of Leos."

            "Very well.  Let's go there."

            Chatonne tapped her communicator.  "Transporter, transport four a casa di Tygra in the Galaxy of Leos."  She, Gatinha, Wilykit, and Wilykat were transported there.

            * * *

            Casa di Tygra, New Thunderius, Galaxy of Leos, Q-niverse.

            The four arrived at the front door to Tygra's house.  Chatonne opened the door and indicated for the Wilytwins to enter first.  That they did, entering a room branching off to other areas of the house.  Tygra came from another area.

            "Hello, Tygra," said Wilykit.

            "Hello, 'Kit," Tygra said.  "And my dear Wilykat."

            Wilykat asked, "How goes it?"

            Tygra sighed.  "Between two parts of a kingdom and the universal empire," he said, "I'm tired."

            "You overwork yourself," said Chatonne.  "Gatinha and I would gladly relieve you of some of your workload."

            "Well, the position belongs to Wilykit.  She simply lent it to me for the duration of her brother's and her being in jail.  I must return it to her as soon as possible."

            "After you announce that you are going to do it," Wilykit said.

            "Certainly."

            * * *

            Control Room, Tourian, Metroid, VideoLand, Milky Way, Q-niverse.

            "I am convinced that releasing them was a goldurned mistake," said MotherBrain.

            "Oh, hang it up," said Ludwig.  "They can't do a thing to harm me."

            "Your problem is your blasted smugness!  If I were thou, I'd be a heck of a lot more careful, Ludwig."

            "You can be a worrywart, MotherBrain."

            "Maybe, but you aren't careful enough.  I won't be at fault if you are displaced by not following my advice."

            "Bah!  Come off it.  Well, maybe I shall try to be more careful.  After all, it's crazy for one to fall because of one's neglect."

            "Indeed.  We must be ready, lest they cause trouble."

            "Yes.  Even weakened, they can wreak problems."

            "Tygra's going to give Wilykit back her status as Lord of the Thunder Cats.  You and I have been invited to the ceremony at 19.00."

            "Well, then; seeing as how we're going to be busy, we should send Larry as a representative."

            "Certainly."

            * * *

            The Temple of Jaga, New Thundera, Milky Way Galaxy.

            The Temple of Jaga had been the centre of Thunderian government during the era of the Thunderian Empire.  In 2376, it had been reconstructed so that important ceremonies might be held within its walls.  On December 30, 2994, it was to be used to return Wilykit's political power as well as restore the existence of the Extended N-Team, which Ludwig was permitting.  This ceremony would be held without at 19.00, equivalent to our time 7:00 P.M.

            At 18.20, everyone who composed the former Extended N-Team (except, of course, for Lion-O), plus the Tygra-twins, Astutus-twins, and Enterprise-D senior staff, was gathered within in a meeting.  Almost everyone was seated in seats in the main chamber of the temple; Steelheart was at a podium where everyone could see her face.

            "With the dissipation of the N-Team title, the entire command structure officially disintegrated," Steelheart said.  "Thus, technically, I can make none of you to rejoin.  Any who wish not to rejoin should please leave now."  No one left.  Her relief was apparent, and she smiled with thanks.  "Thank you all.  Is there anyone who remembers all the old divisions and exactly who was in them?"  No one lifted hands.  "Does anyone not remember the division to which they belonged?"  Fortunately, everyone remembered that.  "Good.  We'll have to do this the hard way, but that is better than no way at all.  Fortunately, I recall the names of all the divisions.  I also recall who was in the Silver Hawks, Thunder Cats, and Justice Ducks divisions."

            Captain N, or Kevin Keene, arose.  "I recall the others, ma'am.  The local N-Team divisions."  He then sat down again.

            "Ah, good.  Captain Picard, does your petition for entrance into the Extended N-Team still stand officially?"

            Picard stood and said, "Indeed it does, Commander."  He then sat back down.

            "Very well, then.  We shall deal with formalities later.  Of course, I need the leader roster now."

            Mario stood.  "Leader of the Mario-Team and Good Koopas Subdivision of the N-Team Division, ma'am.  Mario Mario."

            "Gotcha, Mario."

            As Mario remained standing, Kevin stood once more and said, "Captain N, or Kevin Keene, leader of the N-Team Base Subdivision of the N-Team Division and that of the entire N-Team Division, as well as former first officer of the Extended N-Team."

            "I recall that most definitely, but thank you for your throroughness."

            Perry Mason, lawyer extraordinaire, stood and said, "Perry Mason, leader of the Mason-Team Subdivision of the N-Team Division."

            "Got it."

            Darkwing Duck stood and said, "Darkwing Duck, leader of the Justice Ducks Division."

            "Ah, yes; the terror that flaps in the night.  The winged scourge that pecks at evildoer's nightmares."

            Picard stood and said, "Captain Jean-Luc Picard, head of the proposed Enterprise-Division."

            "Very well."

            Wilykit stood and announced, "Wilykit, head of the Thunder Cats Division."

            "Good.  Commander Steelheart, leader of the Silver Hawks Division and former leader of the Extended N-Team.  With the introduction of a whole new group, we require a re-election of the leader of the whole group, anyway."  She saw Paul Drake, Sr., getting ready to speak.  "Your speech can come later, Mr. Drake.  We're not electing before Tygra officially returns power to Wilykit."

            "Okay," Drake said.  "I may change my views slightly."

            "That is, indeed, contingent.  Is everyone ready?"  It appeared that everyone was ready.  "Excellent, my friends.  Do well out there, Wilykit."

            "I shall do my best," Wilykit said.

            * * *

            At 19.00, many had gathered in the street in front of the temple, including evil Ludwig's evil brother, Larry.  All were excited; all knew that Tygra's power had been lent to him, and he was going to return it to Wilykit, its true owner.  The Tygra-twins had drawn a submovement from their symphony and entitled it 'The Recoronation March.'  They did not tell Wilykit and Tygra from which of the five movements the march had been taken, but both Tygra and Wilykit approved that they play the piece just before the outdoor ceremony would take place.  Thus, on the lawn on both sides of the temple was the Royal Thunderian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, directed by the Tygra-twins.  Only the best conductors, such as Emperor Ludwig and the Tygra-twins, could lead the group that could sometimes be comprised of as many as a thousand players for works for such unbelievably huge groups.  Often, as was the case that evening, when the Tygra-twins conducted together, the orchestra's sections were all divided equally into two halves, leaving Chatonne to conduct half the players and Gatinha to conduct the other half.  Gatinha's half was on the left of the temple; Chatonne's was on the right.  It was when they conducted in this manner - or when either one or the other or Ludwig conducted the whole thing separately - that the orchestra performed its best.  It was common for the orchestra to perform throughout the empire.  Many times, Imperial Philharmonic Chorus of one hundred singers joined the orchestra; this was one of those times.

            Upon seeing the arrival of the orchestra and the chorus, Tygra knew the march was from one of the final three movements.  Only those involved singing; but which movement included the march?  Everyone present knew the march was from the symphony.  Larry had helped Ludwig on the 'Universal Empire' Symphony, so he was going to see what the Tygra-twins had done.  All five movements of Ludwig's Third Symphony involved choral singing, so singing was already part of the masterpiece.

            The march began quite slowly, only one whole note per second.  The theme was dark, like a funeral march.  Mourning.  Sad.  And with a quiet, repressed subtheme that brought to life a listener's intrigue.  What is happening? Larry wondered.  This is supposed to be a march for recoronation, not death.  Suddenly, after a few moments, the tempo quickened gradually; the main theme began to undergo a transformation, and the subtheme gained importance to battle with a new, third theme; a battle that spawned a fourth theme that helped the metamorphosis of the original, superior theme.  The first theme became joyous and joined the fourth.  As the mysterious second theme continued to develop, the other three merged and transformed the march and made it very, very fast.  The second theme slowed to a quite slow speed but gained the volume to fight the new, rapid theme; the musical battle became a furious and exciting struggle between joy and mystery.  An underlying sixth theme, quiet though noticeable, seemed to be preparing to lunge and end joy and mystery; dark, angry that the sad had changed.  It leapt loudly in moderate walking speed against the mysterious theme and ended it, then it confronted the joyful theme violently.  No one noticed that the two halves of the orchestra were actually confronting each other musically; Gatinha's half played the happy theme, Chatonne's the dark.  Soon, the dark theme regressed.  It disappeared, having battered the happy theme long enough.  The joyous theme gratefully slowed to a moderately fast tempo, which dominated the remaining one and a half minutes of the first three-minute third of the piece.  After the first three minutes had ended, the singing began.  Larry stood in awe; the voices were handled extremely well.  The second third of the march contained a battle much like the one portrayed in the first third.  This battle, however, continued halfway into the third third of the march.  Then, the final, joyous ending began.  Larry knew it was appropriate.  He also knew Ludwig would be utterly flabbergasted at the use of the voices.  How could he revise an eighty-minute symphony two days before the première performance to combat the Tygra-twins' wonderful voice writing?

            Tygra stood in awe as well.  He knew the notes almost by heart, and the words were familiar as well.  But that any symphony orchestra could play or any chorus could sing the extremely complex opening submovement of the Moderately quick movement, the third, of the Tygra-twins' First Symphony with such excellence was baffling.  And that part of the symphony was a piece of cake compared to the rest.  His daughters were just as excellent conductors as they were composers.

            When the nine-minute march was over, Wilykit and 'Kat marched out onto the platform from inside the temple.  Tygra was waiting for them.  "I hope that everyone enjoyed that portion of my twin daughters' First Symphony," said Tygra, a microphone near him.  "Now, I shall gladly do the task that I must.  I shall return the power of being head of the Thunder Cats to Kit Astutus vân Wily."

            "I shall take it back," said Wilykit.

            "Do you swear to uphold and to support the principles of Thunderian society?"

            "Yes, I swear to uphold and support them."

            "Please tell me the principles of the Code of Thundera."

            "Truth, honour, justice, and loyalty."

            "Very well.  I return the Sword of Omens to you."  Carefully holding the blade, Tygra offered the Sword of Omens to Wilykit and knelt before her.  She took it by the handle.  Once he released it, she held it high, and the people cheered.  "You are the first female Lord of the Thunder Cats."

            "It does not matter that I am female," Wilykit said.  "It just matters that I'm a person who wishes to make sure that all people are treated fairly.  Is our emperor here this evening, or has he a representative?  Or did he treat our invitation like one to a Cardassian fiesta?"  Everyone knew how poorly the emperor treated the Cardassians.

            Larry stepped forward and said, "No, he did not treat it so.  Ma'am, Prince Larry 'Cheatsy' (Bowser)Koopa, official representative for the Emperor Ludwig 'Kooky' von(Bowser)Koopa."

            "Ah, yes.  Am I to understand that the Thunderian Kingdom is the only nearly ideal realm in the empire?"

            "Yes, unfortunately.  You see, this is the only realm where all citizens, without exception, can afford to pay every single tax required by His Excellence."

            "And what is the total of a person's taxes?"

            "Exactly forty percent of monthly income.  Thus, taxes vary.  No deductions are taken.  All taxes are collected on the last day of each month, except December, when they are not collected at all.  All payments must be made exactly when they are due. . . no earlier, no later."

            "Or?"

            "Oh, I'd rather not explain the possible punishments."

            "Please do.  Thunderians are not mentally frail people, you know."

            "I'll just tell you that the punishment is torture by ancient methods.  Extremely painful."

            "I think your brother should not be so severe."

            Larry smiled.  "My brother, ma'am, doesn't control taxation.  My Most Just Eminence does."

            Wilykit sensed a jump in tension from everyone present.  "Please calm yourselves, my people.  Unfortunately, we are in no position to mutilate him.  Prince Larry, if your brother is so powerful, why does he require forty percent of everyone's income?"

            "Empress MotherBrain requires money to pay the highly structured government and military."

            "You can't ease up on the people making the least amount of money?"

            "It wouldn't be fair to those making more, Lord Wilykit."

            "A tax on air isn't fair, Prince Larry!"  Her emphasis was intended to remind him that his title of Prince meant absolutely zip in the Thunderian Kingdom.

            "Well, certainly not in the Thunderian Kingdom, where the people run their planets' climate control systems.  However, everywhere else, there are colonies with government-run air purifiers.  People must be paid to make certain that they are properly run."

            Wilykit felt a wave of shock from the entire Thunderian population, including herself.  The thoughts were all the same:  Why did no one tell us?  We've been living in luxury while others have been suffering, and we have never found that out!  We would gladly help for nothing at all in return!  Indeed, she knew then that Tygra had done excellently.  The Thunderians were supposed to help species, races, or individuals in need of assistance, and with pleasure, unless the potential recipient flatly refused.  "Larry, the Thunderians will gladly help."

            "I am most sorry.  It is government-run, Lord Wilykit.  Your people are not allowed to help."  She sensed that he was not at all sorry.  He was simply nasty of heart, but that still wasn't a good enough reason for her people to kill him.  He had to physically provoke them.

            Wilykit felt the rage rising, even that within herself.  Yet, she remained calm.  Her brother became almost overcome with fury; she had to stop him before he charged for Larry by physically restraining him.  "Wilykat, no!" she whispered.

            "Why not?" he snapped back quietly.  "We tell him we can help, yet he refuses to let us."

            "Because I forbid it!  You shall not attack him without active provocation, or I will deal with you personally."  And the look in her eyes conveyed most poignantly that she would deal with him.  "Am I understood?"

            "Yes, Wilykit."

            Loudly to make herself clear, Wilykit said, "Prince Larry, under the circumstances, I must request that you depart.  Immediately."

            "I was just preparing to do that, Lord Wilykit," Larry replied.  "Farewell."  He tapped his communicator.  "Ludwig, I am ready to return.  Energise A.S.A.P., please."  A millisecond thereafter, he was transported elsewhere.

            The tension eased somewhat.  "My people, we must rectify the problems in the empire.  I announce that the Extended N-Team is officially back in business.  We shall support all organisations that intend to ameliorate the conditions throughout the universe, even if our government will not.  Your support shall greatly be appreciated."  She knew that they were with her entirely.  "Of course, I aim to help my fellow Thunderians before anyone else.  To the Thunderian Kingdom!"  She held up the Sword of Omens, in which was the Eye of Thundera.  The Eye shone out the Thunder Cat Signal, the red ray with the Cat's Eye, the symbol of everything Thunderian, on the end.  The Thunder Cat Roar naturally accompanied the symbol.

            * * *

            Casa di Tygra, New Thundera.

            "You were superb, Wilykit," Cheetara said.

            "Thanks," said Wilykit.

            "I should've smacked that stupid Koopaling," Wilykat said.

            "You impulsive little twit," snapped Wilykit.  "If you had, Ludwig would have come.  I can't deal with him so easily."

            "Hm.  I hate it when I act so stupid!"

            Bengali said, "You got it from me, I'm afraid.  Your silliness.  I still haven't gotten rid of it."

            "He got it from an uncle of ours," Tygra said.  "The brother of my beloved grandfather.  I admit, I almost caught it."

            At the grand piano in the middle of the room were Chatonne and Gatinha.  "Well, Father made sure we didn't get it.  By and large, he succeeded," Chatonne said.  "With me, at least."

            "Hang on," said Gatinha.  "Are you implying that I got it?"

            "Not a lot, sis.  You can't doubt that you got a slight bit from our uncle."

            "-Sigh.-  Must you always make sense?"

            Chatonne smiled.  "Yes, dear, because I am the older sister.  And you can't deny that your personality adds a bit of flavour to our music."

            "Yeah, that's true.  Remember my first piano work?"

            "I could never tell you how great it is.  Your music can make anyone feel happy, joyous, or exuberant."

            "As usual, you flatter me.  Nothing compares with your music.  It is so powerful, emotionally and mechanically.  Your compositions in the minor key especially can dig so deep into a person's soul.  Not even the romantic composers could create such moving works."

            "Our symphony could not survive without your bright personality."

            "Nor without your powerful spirit."

            "Neither of you could compose such a great symphony separately," Wilykit said.  "No one person could.  Not even your competitor."

            "Except, possibly, for the great Ludwig van Beethoven," said Chatonne.  "I feel nearly certain that, had he composed his Tenth Symphony, it would have been far too great for anyone to surpass."

            "Maybe you are right."

            * * *

            Control Room, Tourian, Metroid, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy.

            "Great voice writing?" Ludwig asked calmly.

            "Yes, big bro," said Larry.  "And. . . I sensed two personalities in that music."

            "Yes.  It must have been powerful.  Two people composed it."

            "Certainly, they probably played the least complex section of their work.  I really can't compare, bro."

            "Good.  No way shall I rewrite it.  My spirit cannot prevail through the work if I change it.  At any rate, I am no Beethoven."  He raised his brows.  "Beethoven!  Of course!  The greatest composer of all time has yet to complete his work!"

            "Well, how can that matter?" asked MotherBrain.  "The great Ludwig van Beethoven is physically dead."

            "I now see my purpose!" cried Ludwig.  "My one good purpose for being placed in the universe was to bring Ludwig van Beethoven back to mortal existence!  We must go to Austria at once, preferably on the Silver Hawks' home world."  MotherBrain thought he had lost it.

            "Pay attention so that I shall not have to repeat my question, Ludwig.  Are you out of your mind?"

            "No, my dear MotherBrain.  My senses remain with me.  With my power, I can bring him back while rejuvenating his body."

            "Hm!  I see.  Will he be able to adapt?"

            "Yes.  He most certainly shall."

            "How old will you make his body?"

            "Approximately twenty-nine years of age.  He will never deafen again."

            "Very well.  Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo, get in here now!!!"  The door opened to admit Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo.  "Get this planet moving toward second-Earth!  Immediately!"  The two idiots immediately began piloting the planet toward second-Earth.  "Metroid isn't movin' fast enough!  Increase the bloody velocity!"

            * * *

            Classical Museum, Vienna, Austria, second-Earth, Limbo, Milky Way Galaxy.

            Steelheart and her brother were visiting the new Austrian Classical Museum, which housed famous composers' original manuscripts and former possessions, some broken but most intact.  They were in the enormous Beethoven section and in front of the area with the original manuscript of his Heroic Symphony.  "I see," said Steelheart.  "Beethoven blotted out the word, 'Buonaparte,' and wrote, 'Eroica,' beside it."

            "Yes," Steelwill said.  "Now I see it."

            "I would have just disposed of the original title page and created a new one."

            " 'The Heroic Symphony, composed to celebrate the memory of a great man,' " Steelwill read, translating the words from the original Italian written on the page.

            "Yes, little bro.  Unfortunately, like too many people, Napoleon Bonaparte allowed power to overcome him, to turn him into a monster.  Beethoven had every right to do what he did."

            "Sure did."

            "Somehow, the composer's life seems incomplete.  He died before he could complete his task."

            "Exactly.  I know how you feel, Steelheart.  It seems. . . well, I can't describe what it's like."

            "Still, one of my favourite works of his is the Funeral March of the Heroic Symphony.  It just portrays so vividly what happens when insatiable thirst for power so utterly consumes a person.  I find it remarkable that MotherBrain, evil as she is, avoids falling prey to that hunger."

            "I'm glad that she is in charge instead of Ludwig.  He'd let the thirst take him over."

            "Yes.  Beethoven definitely deserves to be considered as one of the world's greatest composers."

            "True, my sister.  You know, now I'm pretty sure you're right.  I think Beethoven didn't complete his task."

            "I wish I knew why we feel this way.  Shall we visit his grave?"

            "Sure."  They left the building and turned right.  Beside the museum was the cemetery of famous composers, where all the great classical composers had been put.  Along the front were Johann Sebastian Bach; George Frederick Handel; Antonio Vivaldi; Joseph Haydn; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky; Johann Strauss, Jr.; and Franz Schubert.  However, the grave in the middle had the largest and most elaborate stone marker; in enormous, ornate letters, it stated, 'Ludwig van Beethoven.'  He lived from 1770 to 1827.  According to the stone, 'he composed nine great symphonies.'  Also, 'Beethoven was and is still the king of classical music.' "

            Suddenly, Ludwig von Koopa appeared with MotherBrain and Larry!  "Ludwig von Koopa," said Steelheart.

            "That is I," von Koopa said.  "Did you come to pay Ludwig van Beethoven your respects?"

            "Yes, my brother and I came to do that," said Steelheart.  In fact, this was the first time they had ever visited Austria on any world named Earth.  "Why?  What are you going to do?"

            "Watch!" he told her.  "Friends, Viennese, countrymen, lend me your ears!  I come not to praise Ludwig van Beethoven but to return him from death!"  This caught everyone's ears.  Bring Beethoven back from death?

            "Emperor Ludwig 'Kooky' von(Bowser)Koopa," called Tygrachatonne's voice, "are you utterly, completely, entirely out of your insane mind?"  Chatonne and Gatinha approached Ludwig.

            "No, I most certainly am not, Chatonne Cheeta van Tygra," Ludwig said.  "Why?"

            "I don't see how anyone can bring someone else back from the dead," Chatonne said.

            "It takes so much power that I can only do it once a century."

            "He's been dead for two millennia and two centuries on this world!" Chatonne exclaimed.  "I mean, his remains. . ."

            "I shall regenerate his body.  He will be, by human standards, in his twenties.  He shall adapt."

            "Von Koopa, no way are you keeping him," said Gatinha.

            "Of course not.  I'm going to let you take him into your care, Tygra-twins.  I know he'd be in too much danger on Metroid."

            "Fair enough," said Chatonne.

            "You may wish to teach him English.  I'm fairly certain that he knows German, French, and Italian.  Hm.  Maybe I could instil engrammatic patterns for the English language into his cerebral cortex."

            "Certainly."

            "And now, everyone, watch while I return Beethoven from the dead!" said Ludwig grandly and ceremonially.  During his chant, his educated English accent was quite pronounced.  He held up his hands.  "Spirit of Beethoven, I call thee!  Leave the eternal haven whither thou wentest when thy body died.  Return to thy body while I return its life to it!  Body of Beethoven, I call thee!  Leave thy grave whilst regenerating thyself.  Spirit and body, reunite and return Ludwig van Beethoven in perfect health!  Do now that which I have commanded!"  The heavens returned Beethoven's spirit in a lightning bolt heading for Ludwig von Koopa.  He absorbed it as the composer Beethoven's body, about twenty-nine years of age appeared floating above the grave.  "Spirit and body, unite!!"  Beethoven's spirit rushed from Ludwig's body to its own.  Beethoven's body was turned so that he was standing on the ground, though unconscious.  "And now, live again, Ludwig van Beethoven!"

            Ludwig van Beethoven awoke, reborn.  Everyone except Ludwig von Koopa was purely astonished.  Ludwig was satisfied; he had resurrected Beethoven!  Beethoven was dark-haired and a little shorter than Dr. Wily would be.  Beethoven looked around to gain his bearings, and he recognised the city of Vienna, even through the modernisation.  "Am I not dead?" asked Beethoven in an educated English accent.

            "You were dead, but you live now," Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa said.  "You died in 1827, almost two thousand one hundred sixty-eight years ago.  It is almost 2995, or 3995 on this world."

            "How is that possible?"  He realised something very suddenly and looked to the heavens.  "My God!  I have not finished my work!"  He turned back to his awakener.  "Sir, what is your name?"

            "My name is Emperor Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa.  And your name is Herr Ludwig van Beethoven?"

            Beethoven replied, "Yes.  I hope that you are not traitorous like Napoleon."

            "No.  I do not lie as he did."

            "Very well.  I would like to see what has happened to Vienna."

            "Very well.  Chatonne!"

            Chatonne replied, "Ludwig!"

            "Will your sister and you occupy yourselves with Beethoven?"

            "Yes!" said Gatinha.  "We don't wish to leave him in your evil hands."

            "Wait," said Chatonne.  "It's Beethoven's decision."

            "In whose hands am I safer?" Beethoven asked.

            "Theirs," Ludwig said.

            "Ours," agreed Chatonne.

            "Very well," Beethoven said.  "I choose you ladies, then."

            "Good choice," said Ludwig.  "They will teach you whatever you want to know about the modern world.  See you later!"

            * * *

            Casa di Tygra, New Thundera, Milky Way Galaxy.

            "He reincarnated Beethoven," Wilykit said upon seeing the composer.  "Ludwig von Koopa is a fool.  He just halved his power for a century."

            "It's good you recognised him," Chatonne said.  "Herr Beethoven, this is Wilykit, Lord of the Thunder Cats."  Beethoven shook hands with Wilykit.

            "Pleased to meet you, Herr Beethoven," said Wilykit.

            "Likewise," said Beethoven.  "I gather I am famous in this era?"

            "Yes.  You are regarded as the greatest symphonic composer ever."

            Beethoven was pleasantly surprised.  "Greater than Haydn and Mozart?"

            "Yes.  Many experts say you began the Romantic Era of music."

            "Hm.  It seems that the emperor took the bite out of my temper.  Who are some of the composers who came after me?"

            Wilykit said, "Franz Schubert; Johannes Brahms; Johann Strauss, Jr.; Richard Wagner; Maurice Ravel; Frédéric Chopin; Hector Berlioz; Giuseppe Verdi; Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky; Gustav Mahler; Richard Strauss; and Igor Stravinsky.  Those are some of the greatest composers who composed within a century after your death.  The most significant classical work done over the next millennium was by two American-born composers who composed ten symphonies.  They are 'anonymous.'  They dedicated pretty darn near all their works to you, and no one for a millennium afterwards dared attempt to surpass their brilliance."

            "Really!"

            "It's known they also wrote most amazing fiction, mostly science-mystery fiction," Wilykit said.  "They practically created the genre!  Anyway, one also taught math.  They composed several music dramas; twelve concert overtures, the last, longest, and most complicated of which is the Beethoven Overture; fifteen piano concerti; organ concerti; guitar concerti; violin concerti; guitar sonatas; violin sonatas; and guitar-and-violin sonatas."

            "I see."

            "Their symphonies make extensive use of every section of the orchestra, and they set some standards, while they put good themes and melodies first; few could surpass their affinity for orchestral colour.  First, in their First Symphony, they introduced the piano as a very important element in the symphonic orchestra.  Their works place the most importance on the strings, the woodwinds, and the piano."

            "Very interesting.  What else?"

            "Five movements per symphony.  Their usual pattern was fast-slow-fast-slow-fast with the third movement being the shortest and the first or last being longest.  Their Third Symphony was the first to use the standard.  Their climax occurred with their Tenth Symphony, the Titanic Symphony, where they made the first movement half the length of the entire work; used the fourth movement as a slow and complex scherzo {skehrt-só}, a continuation of the third; and connected the fast but not complex scherzo, the third movement, to the slow and complex scherzo.  Our emperor stole the credit for those technical advancements in musical form; he also stole the credit for creating submovements within the first movement, normally three of similar length."

            "Hm.  This sounds very interesting.  I was thinking that something like that might suit my Tenth Symphony, but I couldn't put it in my sketches."

            "The thousandth anniversary of the empire is on 1 January 2995, in two days.  Ludwig is conducting a performance of several works, including your nine symphonic masterpieces, before unleashing his ninety-minute-long Third Symphony.  After that, the Tygra-twins will conduct the first performance of their First Symphony."

            "Ah!  Will any symphonies by the 'Anonymous' Composers be played?"

            "No.  Ludwig stole the credit and wiped their names out of existence.  That's why they're 'anonymous.' "

            "Do any copies of their works exist?"

            "Yes, but under tight security.  If you would like, I can order duplicate manuscripts.  My position in government gives me the authority, which is highly rare."

            "I should like that, if you please."

            "Very well.  It will take a couple of hours."

            "I see.  Thank you."  He turned to the Tygra-twins.  "Might I hear your First Symphony?"

            Chatonne and Gatinha were surprised.  The greatest composer ever was asking to hear their work?  "Certainly, sir," Chatonne said.  "Follow us."  They went up stairs to a room where the door opened automatically.

            "Hm!  I see that now you can fix doors to open automatically when you approach."

            "Yes, and that is not all we can do," said Chatonne.  "Heard of Ben Franklin?"

            "Why, yes.  He discovered that lightning was made of untamed electricity, if I recall."

            "That he did.  Well, with an element we call silicon, we can create tiny chips that can direct electricity to do many things.  Create sound, show images on screens, store information.  For information storage, we use chips whose internal structure can be altered."

            "I see."  He was thoroughly intrigued.

            "Here is one great thing computers can do.  Ever want to conduct, but there's no orchestra available?"  Chatonne went to a control panel and hit several self-explanatory buttons.  "Well, no longer.  Here's how Gatinha and I practise composing when Ludwig's busy with the live orchestra."  A symphonic orchestra appeared.  Beethoven saw all that was needed, including two pianos.  He also saw a new instrument in the string section.

            "Are those the guitars that I see?"

            "They certainly are, Beethoven.  Computer, split orchestra in two according to program Gatinha-One."

            Gatinha smiled with pride.  "I'm the one who thought of splitting the orchestra.  It makes our compositions sound more effective."

            "I guess you each conduct a different half of the orchestra?" Beethoven asked.

            "Exactly.  I'm the cheerful type.  Chatonne delves into music that penetrates one's soul and makes one feel emotions that one never knew one had."

            "And I feel them when I'm conducting," Chatonne said.  "That gives the players the cue they need."

            "Yes," Beethoven said.  "It sounds very effective."

            "Computer, chorus."  The chorus appeared behind the orchestra.  They began.