He's here! The Phantom of the OPERAAAAAAAA! Haha, well. Close enough. This is it though! Abastor 2.0! Aren't you all excited? I know I am. So, without further ado. Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, Children and Phantom Phans of all ages! I bring you, Abastor! Son of the Phantom's Stallion!
"Cesar, isn't it wonderful?" Gabriella asked one fall day. She was currently kneeling in front of Cesar's grave, talking softly like she did every so often now. Abastor stood not too far off, waiting for her so they could go to the opera.
She smiled and looked down at her stomach "Erik doesn't know yet, but we're expecting again. I wish you could see this next child, but I'm sure Abastor will take good care of it, just like you took good care of Daniel and Anne" she said. Finally she stood "I'm going to tell him when I return. Better to tell him than have him notice I'm bigger right?" she asked.
Abastor nickered and she turned and went to him, pulling herself up into the sidesaddle with ease and collecting her reins "Alright Abastor. Let's go". With a click of her heel the grey stallion was off cantering down the road towards the Paris Opera House.
As they reached the stables Daniel came out, a small chestnut pony following out behind him "Hello Mother" he greeted as she dismounted. "Daniel, shouldn't you be home helping your father?" she asked, he tossed the pony's reins over it's head and got ready to mount "That's where I'm going now Mother" he replied.
The little pony nudged his master as the boy pulled himself up onto it's back. He was a handsome little pony, with a white blaze going down his face and 4 white socks. "Come on Blaze, Father will be angry if we don't hurry" he told his pony. Before Gabriella could ask him another thing the boy and his pony were barreling down the streets of Paris towards home.
Sighing, she lead Abastor into the stable area, handing him to one of the stablehands to be untacked and cooled. She then proceeded to examine every horse, making sure they were all being taken care of properly. Satisfied with what she saw, she went inside to the stage where the rehearsals for the next opera were to begin.
"Mother!" a young voice called, running up to her. Gabriella smiled at her daughter "Yes Anne?" she asked. The girl sighed "When's father coming to see the show? I haven't seen him in months!" she told her. From the way Anne was looking at her, she could tell her daughter had been waiting to ask her this a long time.
She sighed "Anne, you know your father is busy. He WILL come soon, alright?" she asked. Anne looked hopeful "Do you promise?" she asked, this made her tense a little bit but she nodded "I promise. Now, where is Isabelle? We're starting now!" she called.
At the sound of her voice the ballerinas all scampered to the stage and lined up and began to stretch. Gabriella began to stretch a bit herself. Though Erik resented it, she still prefered to wear her pointe shoes so she could demonstrate for her dancers.
Suddenly the managers came out, coming up to Gabriella "Have you decided on the Prima Ballerina yet?" they demanded "Monsieur Montel wants to know" they told her. When Monsieur Reyer had retired after the fire, Monsieur Montel had taken his place.
Monsieur Montel was younger, and had a keen ear for music. He was no Erik, but he was better than Monsieur Reyer had been. Though Gabriella had to admit, she missed the old conductor sometimes, he'd been there in front of the stage for her entire career, right up to the disaster.
She nodded after a moment "Yes, I've selected my Prima Ballerina" she told them. Monsieur Firmin nodded "Thank you Madame. Who is she?" he asked, she turned around "Maria! Come here!" she called. A tall girl with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes bounced up to them "Yes Madame Destler?" she asked.
Andre raised an eyebrow "Her?" he asked. Gabriella nodded "Yes, she's the Prima Ballerina I've chosen" she announced, making Maria gasp "Me? Really? Oh Thank you so much Madame I'll work very very hard!" she told her eagerly. She smiled and nodded "I'm sure you will child. Now go and finish warming up so we can begin" she told the girl, who jumped and ran off to tell her friends.
The managers simply shrugged and went away, once they were out of sight Gabriella began chuckling after them. A disaster still hadn't taught them to stay out of opera affairs had it? Suddenly she heard a familiar voice "Gabriella!" she called, causing her to look up. She smiled brightly "Why Christine, it's good to see you" she said as the prima donna came to her.
"Oh Raoul is going to be so happy!" she said "I'm expecting a son! Oh won't he be happy?" she asked. Gabriella chuckled "Oh yes, Raoul will be very excited" she replied, suddenly Christine gasped "You didn't tell me YOU were expecting again" she whispered so the others couldn't hear.
She smiled and laughed softly "I know, I've yet to tell, him" she whispered in reply. Christine sighed, her eyes softening "Tell my angel I'll be coming to visit soon alright? I've been doing a lot of paper work and negotiating my leave of absence while I'm having my son. Once everything is set, I'll come".
Before Gabriella could respond the rehearsal started, and the two women parted ways. When rehearsal was done she insructed her ballerinas before going to the stables and taking Abastor, riding him back home as fast as she could. She was so excited to tell Erik her news, so very very excited.
Meanwhile, Anne sat up on one of the swinging walkways, thinking. Her father hadn't seen her perform in so long, not since they moved out of the opera house. Her attention was snatched by one of the stage hands. He was new, and most of the ballet dancers didn't trust him.
"Hey there. You shouldn't be up here" he said. Anne merely laughed at him "What difference does it make. If I fell and got hurt it still wouldn't solve my problems" she told him sadly. He began retying one of the backdrops that had come loose "What problems you be havin?" he asked curiously.
She looked up at him "My father, he probably doesn't know I exist. And even my mother doesn't seem to love me anymore" she explained to him. Once he'd retyed the backdrop he turned and looked at her "What you need to do little lady, is get their attention" he told her. She sighed "How?" she asked.
He pulled something out of his pocket, taking her hand and pressing it into her palm "Go to America, and become a star" he whispered, "If they care about you, they'll go bring you home. If they don't, you'll have started a new life without them. You'll be a sensation!".
His idea, what a wonderful idea it was! She never would have thought of it herself "How do I get there?" she asked, springing to her feet. He smirked "That ticket is to a ship that leaves Calais in 2 days time. Be on the ship, you'll get to America" he replied before turning and heading off.
Excitement coarsed through her veins as she raced down to the dormitories, the ticket clenched tightly in her little grasp. She burst in, most of the ballerinas were asleep or out for the night, but the few that were awake stared up at her curiously.
Isabelle looked up "What are you doing Anne?" she asked. Anne began scribbling on a piece of paper before pulling out her small suitcase and throwing all her belongings into it "I'm going on a trip" she announced. Some of the ballerinas gasped "A trip? To where?" they asked.
She held up her ticket "America! The land of possibilities! I'm gonna be a star!" she told them all. Quickly Anne threw on her coat, Isabelle standing and trying to stop her "Wait, what about us? What about Jacob? Won't you miss us? And your mother..." Anne cut her off "I'll miss you all a bunch, but I have to do this!" she told them.
Finally she hugged Isabelle tightly "I'll write to you, and Jacob and Daniel. But now I must go. My ship leaves in 2 days!" she told them. They all gathered around her, ushering her out the door "Good Luck Anne! Don't forget us when you're famous!" they said.
Quickly and quietly she scampered out into the lobby of the Opera House. Stepping out the front door, she took a deep breath "Good Bye Paris" she said before turning and walking in the direction of Calais.
"Erik?" Gabriella called as she entered the house. No answer, big surprise, but that didn't mean he wasn't in the house. Sighing, she went into the library, and found him sitting in his armchair, his full attention on the text in front of him "Erik!" she said.
He looked up at her and smiled "Ah, my love. You've finally returned!" he said, rising and going to meet her. As he wrapped his arms around her she laughed "Erik, Erik wait I need to tell you something" she told him. He took a step back and smiled at her "Yes?" he asked.
She swallowed almost nervously, he seemed in such a good mood for once, either this news would ruin it or make him even better. She sighed "Erik, we're expecting again" she admitted to him quietly. He stared at her in shock "Expecting what?" he asked slowly.
Gabriella took a step to him "Another child Erik" she told him gently. He began to tremble slightly "A... Another baby? Why you can't be serious! We agreed no more..." she cut him off "Erik, I know we agreed no more. But we're going to have another. I promise" she took his hand "I promise this will be the last one".
For what seemed like an eternity he simply stared at her, before wrapping his arms around her and beginning to cry a little "Another child, oh this is wonderful news" he said happily. She laughed "Don't get worked up Erik" she teased him "It's not even here yet".
Suddenly Daniel came into the door and peeked in "You told him?" he asked, when he saw the look on his father's face he smiled sheepishly and began backing out and towards the stairs before turning and darting upstairs to his room. Erik looked back at her "Am I the last to know?" he asked.
She sighed and put her hand on the good side of his face, stroking his cheek with her thumb "I didn't know how you'd take the news. I fully intended on telling you. I have told you haven't I?" she asked. He nodded "Yes, you did".
Suddenly Daniel came back down the stairs and raced out the door. Gabriella and Erik gave each other looks before following him out. When they caught up to him he was in the stables, tacking Blaze as quick as he could. "Daniel where do you think you're going? It's late you know" she told him. He shook his head "Anne's leaving! I have to stop her!" he said frantically.
Erik laughed before putting a hand on his son's shoulder "Daniel, I'm sure you just imagined something. Anne was at the Opera this morning, and through the whole rehearsal. Why would she suddenly leave?" he asked. Daniel shook his head "I... I don't..." he sighed "I guess you're right father" he said.
Gabriella smiled as she rubbed Blaze's nose "What gave you such silly ideas Daniel?" she asked. He shook his head "I don't know mother, I was in my room looking for something, and all the sudden I just thought of her, leaving. I had to go make sure for myself" he explained. Erik smiled "What if I went to check alright?" he asked.
Daniel nodded and Erik went into the stall across from Blaze's, where his prized friesian mare was kept. She snorted and pawed the ground as he tacked her and led her out "I'll be right back" he told them. With that, he swung onto his black horse and disappeared down the road towards Paris.
The two of them went and began feeding the horses "Anne wouldn't leave would she mother?" Daniel asked as he fed one of the ponies an apple. His mother was quiet for a moment before she looked at him "I never thought of her as being one to go anywhere by herself. But she's older now, I suppose".
Just as they were finishing thundering hooves were heard fast approaching. The black mare and rider who'd just vanished not even an hour ago had returned. Erik pulled his mare up, it was clear the horse had been run at her fastest.
He swallowed and looked her in the eyes "Daniel's right, she's gone" he told her. Gabriella trembled and he dismounted, taking her hand "Tomorrow, you must talk with the ballerinas and see if they know where she went" he told her gently.
Daniel quietly took his father's horse, who nearly snapped at him, and lead her away. She fell into him "Erik, this is all my fault" she began to cry. He hushed her "We'll get her back, once we find out where she went, I'll go get her myself" he told her "I promise".
Hmmmm, quite a way to start this off hm? Well guess what? There's more adventure in store. But I'll actually admit now, what'll happen to Anne is NOT going to be what you expect! And I bet you're all expecting something BAD! Haha, well, if you have any suggestions, feel free to message me. REVIEW PLEASE! Good reviews will hopefully keep this story from falling into the gutter like it did last time. Thanks for Reading!