Shadow of the Opera being continued by ZairaDrayan. Also known as, ckaira77.
ZairaDrayan: Greetings interested people! I know that you were expecting someone else, but I'm taking over. Hey Shadow, nice performance last time! I never knew that you liked Amy so much! You have such a wonderful singing voice.
Shadow: I don't. Please don't tell me that you're making me continue on with this!
Amy: Well, looks like you're out of luck Shadow! I've waited for so long to do chapter four! ZairaDrayan will remove any bad language and replace it if needed. She is not the kind of person who does that. Just to let you know, ZairaDrayan doesn't own the Phantom of the Opera or Sonic. If she did, she'd marry Shadow!
Shadow: WHAT?! REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID!
ZairaDrayan: That comment was unneeded, but the past is in the past. Well, enjoy chapter four! P.S: Big the cat is going to be replaced by Metal Sonic. I'd find it easier to be horrible to a robot than a cat.
That very next morning, Shadow was playing on the organ with fierce concentration. He would sometimes stop to write down some of the music he had played. A music box next to her bed with a green emerald on it began playing causing Amy to wake up, but still she was in a trance as she awoke.
"I remember there was a mist.
Swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake.
There were candles all around
and on the lake there was a boat,
and in it, there was a man…"
Amy rose to her feet and looked over at Shadow who hadn't noticed that she was awake yet. Her curiosity got the best of her. Who was the hedgehog under the mask? What was he hiding? She approached Shadow and reaches for his mask hoping he wouldn't notice. He glanced at her and eyed her suspiciously when she got rather close. This went on for a while until Amy finally simply snatches it. Shadow stood in alarm. Amy was also quite taken aback. Shadow was engulfed in a rage. He put his hand over the normally masked side of his face.
"Burn you!
You little prying Pandora!
Is this what you wanted to see?!
Curse you!
You little lying Delilah!
You little viper!
now you cannot ever be free!"
"Burn you! Curse you!" Shadow yelled at her mercilessly. There was a pause between them after that. Amy was terrified of him now. Half by his face and half by his outburst. Shadow finally broke the silence.
"Stranger than you dreamt it could you ever bear to think of me:
This loathsome gargoyle, who burns in hell, but secretly yearns for heaven, secretly.
Secretly.
But Amy.
Fear can turn to love to see,
to find the man behind the monster: this.
Repulsive carcass, who seems a beast, but secretly dreams of beauty, secretly.
Secretly…
Oh, Amy…"
Amy ran over to get his mask. She handed it over to him. Shadow put it back on. Amy wanted to back away in a heartbeat, but her doing so could have him break out into another outrage. She dared not move. Actually, seeing him in such despair made her sympathize for Shadow. If you had to live in a world of darkness living isolated from everything with a face that would cause people to scream would probably drive you into despair too. Yearning for heaven as he put it.
"Come. We must return. Those two fools who run my opera house will be missing you," said Shadow extending his hand to hers to indicate that they were leaving. Amy didn't hesitate for more than a second. Before she knew clearly what had happened, they were off.
Right as they were in the process of returning Amy, Metal Sonic was showing off in a piece of fabric to act as a cloak. He had a piece of rope known as the Punjab lasso. Of course, he was showing it off to all the ballerinas trying to scare them. He also had a voice! You'll hate me for this I'm sure...
"Like yellow parchment is his skin, a great black hole served as a nose that never grew…," Metal told them all. The ballerinas screamed in terror and excitement from the way Metal Sonic was describing him.
Metal placed the Punjab lasso around one of the necks of a ballerina who was enjoying the show and he pretended to pull it. The ballerinas applauded his story and demonstration.
"You must always be on your guard, or he will strangle you with his magical rope!" Metal Sonic told them.
Right then, Vanilla walked up to Metal Sonic. She was not pleased with the way he was talking about the Shadow of the Opera. Using him to frighten others and for entertainment! Vanilla took the lasso from him.
"Those who speak of what they know
find, too late, that prudent silence is wise.
Metal Sonic, hold your tongue.
He will burn you with the heat of his eyes."
Vanilla smacked him in the face. She grabbed the lasso and placed it over Metal Sonic's head. She pulled it hard and it squeezed Metal's neck. He began to malfunction from it. Vanilla was surprisingly strong. She let him go, however. She had to. One, she'd get fired. Two, Shadow had to deal with him.
At the opera house, everything was chaos. With two of the actresses missing, nothing was working out well. Vector was only one of the people who was panicked by this.
"Mystery after gala night,"
it says,
"Mystery of soprano's flight!"
"Mystified baffled Surete say,
we are mystified we suspect foul play!"
Vector lowered the newspaper that read of the great mystery of Amy disappearing after her beautiful performance the other night. He was in desperate need of finding Amy. There was going to be another performance soon, so if Amy didn't get the main part, Rouge would have to fill in. However, she was gone too. They would be doomed.
"Bad news on soprano scene
first, it's Rouge, and now Amy!
Still, at least, the seats get sold
gossip's worth its weight in gold.
"What a way to run a business!
Spare me these unending trials!
Half your cast disappears,
but the crowd still cheers!
Opera! To heck with Gluck and Handel -It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles!"
Espio then rushed in, in a temper. He ran up to Vector. The recent events couldn't possibly get him more stressed.
"Horrible!
Will they walk out?
This is horrible!"
Vector motioned for him to lower his voice. However, it didn't do much. Espio was still mad all the same.
"Espio, please don't shout.
It's publicity!"
Espio: But we have no cast.
Vector: But Espio, have you seen the queue? It seems that you've got one two.
Vector had sorted through the mail. There was a note from Shadow. It was to Vector. Vector saw the exact same letter in Espio's hand. Espio opened it up. He read it out loud.
Espio:"Dear Espio what a charming gala!
Amy enjoyed a great success!
We were hardly bereft when Rouge left-
otherwise, the chorus was entrancing,
but the dancing was a lamentable mess!"
Vector gets out his and reads from it.
"Dear Vector, just a brief reminder:
my salary has not been paid.
Send it care of the ghost, by return of post.
P.T.O.: No-one likes a debtor,
so it's better if my orders are obeyed!"
Both: Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain!
Vector: These are both signed "O.G.".
Espio: Who in the world is he?!
Vector and Espio looked it over again. They knew immediately what it meant. They were shocked.
"Opera ghost!"
Vector: It's really not amusing.
Espio: He's abusing our position!
Vector: In addition he wants money!
Espio: He's a funny sort of spectre.
Both: To expect a large retainer!
Nothing plainer -he is clearly quite insane!
Sonic stormed into the room waving a letter at them. It was another letter by Shadow. Sonic was, of course, alarmed by the note as well.
Sonic: Where is she?!
Espio: You mean Rouge?
Sonic: I mean Ms. Rose!
Where is she?!
Vector: Well how should we know?
Sonic: I want an answer -
I take it that you sent me this note?
Vector: What's all this nonsense?!
Espio: Of course not!
Vector: Don't look at us!
Sonic: She's not with you then?
Vector: Of course not!
Espio: We're all in the dark.
Sonic: Monsieur, don't argue-
Isn't this the letter you wrote!
Espio: What is it that we are meant to have wrote?
(Realizes his mistake)
Written!
Espio took the note and read it out loud. Everyone listened closely to the note as Vector read it.
"Do not fear for Miss Rose.
The Angel of Music has her under his wing.
Make no attempt to see her again."
The managers looked mystified from the words that Espio told them.
Sonic: If you didn't write it, who did?
Right at that moment, Rouge burst in. She was clearly angry and in a temper. Rouge also had a letter from Shadow that cheered her no more than anyone else. She stormed up to Sonic.
Where is he?!
Espio: Ah, welcome back!
Rouge: Your precious patron. Where is he!?
Sonic: What is it now?
Rouge: I have your letter -a letter which I rather resent!
Rouge held up the letter and glared at Sonic. Sonic had no idea what she was talking about. He didn't send her a letter. It then occurred to him. It was the same person who sent him the letter wasn't it?
Vector: And did you send it?
Sonic: Of course not!
Espio: As if he would!
Rouge: You didn't send it?
Sonic: Of course not!
Vector: What's going on?!
Rouge: You dare to tell me,
that this is not the letter you sent?!
Sonic: And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?
Sonic snagged the letter from her and began to read it.
"Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Amy Rose will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take her place."
The managers were beginning to tire of the intrigue.
Espio and Vector: Far too many notes for my taste
-and most of them about Amy!
Vector and Espio took Rouge by the arm and led her up the other set of stairs after Espio and Vector climbed down the other one they had climbed at the beginning of the song.
All we've heard since we came is Miss Rose's name.
Vanilla walks into the room and has Cream with her. Everyone hoped that they brought good news.
"Miss Rose has returned," Vanilla told them. Sonic looked relieved at the news. Rouge was upset and Vector and Espio were annoyed.
"I trust her midnight oil is well and truly burned," Vector replied dryly.
"Where precisely is she right now?" asked Espio curiously.
"We thought that it would be best if we sent her home," Vanilla told them. Cream nodded in agreement with her mother.
"She needed a rest."
"May I see her?" Sonic demanded hopefully.
"No, monsieur, she will see no-one," Vanilla told him. Sonic's heart sank at those words. He would do anything to see her. There were a million things he wanted to tell her.
"Will she sing?! Will she sing?!" cried Rouge begging to know.
"I have a note," Vanilla said holding it up. Everyone was astonished and each wanted to read it.
"Let me see it!" demanded Sonic, Rouge, and Espio at the same time in perfect sync. However, Vector got to her first.
"Please," Vector said snatching the note from Vanilla. He opened it with great curiosity at what it might say. He read it out loud.
"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance."
As Vector read, they could each just imagine Shadow speaking this with his own words. His voice low and dark as he spoke the words as he wrote them.
"Amy Rose has returned to you, and I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of "Il Muto", you will, therefore, cast Rouge as the Pageboy, and put Miss Rose in the role of Countess. The role which Miss Rose plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the Pageboy is silent -which makes my casting, in a word ideal," Vector read, but the Shadow of the Opera spoke in the minds of the listeners. Rouge was insulted.
"I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G." Everyone was curious about what would happen. Would Shadow do something tragic or was it a threat? Rouge broke their thoughts immediately.
Rouge: Amy!
Espio: Whatever next?!
Rouge: It's all a ploy to help Amy!
Vector: That's insane!
"I know who sent this! The Vicomte -her lover!" Rouge points an accusing finger at Sonic. Nothing was going to convince her that it wasn't him.
"Indeed?" Sonic says ironically. "Can you believe this?" Sonic asked the others.
Espio: Signora!
Rouge: O traditori!
Vector: This is a joke!
Espio: This changes nothing!
Rouge: O mentitori!
Vector: Signora!
Espio: You are our star!
Vector: And always will be!
No matter how hard they tried, Rouge wouldn't calm down. She stormed around the room with Espio and Vector following her absolutely everywhere just to beg her to come back and not be mad. Their pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Espio: Signora.
Vector: The man is mad!
Espio: We don't take orders!
Rouge sat down in a chair once they had all walked to another room. She looked devastated and completely insulted as if her life had been ruined.
"Everyone, Miss Rose will be playing the part of the Pageboy -the silent role!" Vector shouted for everyone to hear. Espio finished his sentence for him.
"Rouge will play the lead!" shouted Espio. It didn't seem to help Rouge any.
"It's useless trying to appease me! You're only saying this to please me! Signori, Š vero? Non, non, non voglio udire! Lasciatemi morire! O padre mio! Dio!" cried Rouge storming down a hallway with a lot of the other actors there. The two managers continued to beg as they reached the stage.
"Who scorn his word, beware to those," Vanilla told them. Nobody listened. They were too busy with other stuff.
"You have reviled me!" cried Rouge.
"The angel sees the angel knows," Vanilla warned.
"Why did Amy fly from my arms?!" demanded Sonic.
"You have rebuked me!" shouted Rouge.
"Signora, pardon us!" cried Vector and Espio.
"You have replaced me!"
"Please, Signora, we beseech you!" the managers begged pathetically before her.
"This hour you shall see your darkest fears!" Vanilla warned once again. Nobody heard once again.
"I must see her!" yelled Sonic and Cream at the same time.
"Abbandonata! Deseredata! O, sventurata!" screamed Rouge in her devastation.
"The angel knows. The angel hears," Vanilla told them with the vain hope that they'd listen. They didn't everyone was yelling over each other.
Rouge went through an exit that led down the stairs and to the door that led out. Espio and Vector knew they had to change her mind before she reached that door.
"Where did she go?!" Sonic cried.
"Abbandonata! Disgraziata!"
"Signora sing for us! Don't be a martyr!"
"Our star!"
"Non vo' cantar!"
Rouge burst out the door to be greeted by many people. At first, she thought that they were cheering for her. A man walks up to her and asked to give a pink rose he was holding to Amy Rose. Rouge was far more than upset. She went back into the opera house and closed the doors.
Everyone looks at Rouge. There's a long silence. Espio finally broke the silence.
"The public needs you."
"We need you too!" Vector added.
"Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?" asked Rouge who was finally settling down. She glared at them expecting them to say yes.
"Signora no! The world wants you!" they both insisted.
The two managers try to adopt the most persuasive attitudes. They brought her to a dressing room with a giant bouquet just for Rouge. Rouge was getting all dolled up as the two managers sang. A man brought in a picture of her and placed it on the wall. They wouldn't stop bringing her stuff!
Espio and Vector: Prima donna first lady of the stage!
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!
Espio: How can you bow out when they are shouting your name?
Vector: Think of how they adore you!
Espio and Vector: Prima donna,
enchant us once again.
Espio: Think of your muse.
Vector: And the queues around the theatre!
Both: Can you deny the triumph in store?
Sing,
prima donna,
once more!
Rouge finally agreed and thought about how she had to do it. For the public, for her audience, for herself. She confidently stood. The managers continued to cajole while the others reflect variously on the situation.
"Amy spoke of an angel…"
Sonic was sort of confused. Did the angel she spoke of have something to do with all this? All he wanted was some answers, but nobody would give him any.
"Prima donna! Your song shall live again!"
Rouge was singing encouragement to herself in the third person along with the two managers happily. She got the lead. Amy did not. She was still getting pampered up as she sang.
Two managers: Think of your public!
Rouge: You took a snub, but there's a public who needs you!
Vanilla: She's heard the voice of the angel of music. (to Amy)
Espio and Vector: Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel!
Rouge: Think of their undying support!
Sonic: Is this her angel of music?
Espio: We get our opera.
Vector: She gets her limelight!.
Rouge: Follow where the limelights lead you!
As Rouge sang, everyone carried her out to the stage in gorgeous clothes that you'd usually wear under a large dress that was completely pink. Hot pink light pink, you name it. Vector and Espio struggled to hang on to her royal bed. However, she got to have an even bigger pink dress put on her. It was big and beautiful.
Cream: Is this ghost an angel or a madman?
Sonic: Angel or a madman?
Sonic was walking up the stairs of the opera house near the entrance that they were just at due to him not following Rouge as she sang. Vanilla was thinking along with Cream how foolish everyone was being.
Espio and Vector: Leading ladies are a trial!
Vanilla: Heaven help you,
those who doubt.
Rouge: You'll sing again, to unending ovation!
Sonic: Orders! Warnings! Lunatic commands!
Vanilla: This miscasting will invite damnation.
Espio and Vector: Tears. Oaths. Lunatic demands are regular occurrences.
Cream: Bliss or damnation? Which has claimed her?
Rouge: Think how you'll shine in that final encore! Sing, prima donna, once more!
Vanilla: Oh fools, who have flouted his warnings!
Sonic: Surely, for his sake.
Cream: Surely he'll strike back.
Espio and Vector: Surely there'll be further scenes -worse than this!
Vanilla: Think, before these demands are rejected.
Sonic: I must see these demands are rejected!
Cream: If his threats and demands are rejected!
Vector and Espio: Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl,
who's gone and slept with the patron?
Raoul and the soubrette
entwined in love's duet!
Although he may demur,
he must have been with her!
Sonic/Cream: Amy must be protected!
Rouge: O, fortunata! Non ancor abbandonata!
Espio/Vector: You'd never get away with all this in a play,
but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue
it's just the sort of story audiences adore,
in fact a perfect opera!
Rouge had more makeup and jewelry than ever. Everyone was readying the opera house for its performance that night with Rouge as the lead and Amy as the Pageboy. Sonic, however, was plotting. He was going to protect Amy if anyone wanted him to or not!
Sonic: His game is over!
Vanilla: This is a game you cannot hope to win.
Sonic: And in Box Five a new game will begin!
Cream/Vanilla: For/But if his curse is on this opera...
Espio/Vector: Prima donna the world is at your feet!
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!
Rouge: The stress that falls upon a famous prima donna!
Terrible diseases, coughs and colds, and sneezes!
Still, the dryest throat will reach the highest note,
in search of perfect opera!
Cream/Vanilla: .then I fear the outcome.
Sonic: Amy plays the Pageboy. Rouge plays the Countess.
Vanilla: .should you dare to.
Cream: .when you once again.
All: Light up the stage with that age old rapport!
Sing, prima donna, once more!
Shadow was watching the whole thing. He didn't like it one bit. They were deliberately going against him. He knew what he had to do. His mission was laid out in front of him.
"So, there is to be a war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur!"
All: Once more!
ZairaDrayan: Alright! Not a bad wrap up! Amy, could you tell the lovely readers what the next chapter will be over?
Amy: I'm not going to give the story away! It will be over Scene 9 and scene 10. In other words, to the end of Act 1!
ZairaDrayan: One chapter away from halfway?! Incredible! It seemed like only three days ago that I decided to start chapter 4. Oh wait, it was. Shadow, have anything to say?
Shadow: I want to kill something. I've never been so uncomfortable in my life.
ZairaDrayan: You'll get to kill something soon enough. Hang on for a while.
Shadow: Do you mean-?
ZairaDrayan: Er- I didn't say that! Well, what did a little foreshadowing do to anyone! Hope you enjoyed it! Chapter 5 should be coming soon!