Finally, chapter one is up! I'm sorry for the long wait. I've been juggling three different Blue Dragon stories in addition to this one, so I've been busy. And that's not even including the other stories that I have planned. I might do a oneshot for an anime or game series sometime soon, but I'm not going to bring out anymore chaptered stories until I either finish one of the ones I'm working on or I get into a comfortable rhythm. Anyway, like I've been doing for the Blue Dragon stories, I'm going to reply to reviews. So, here we go:

EternalSong13: The story should pick up as time goes on. ;) I can't give away too much right now, but it will make more sense as I write more of it. I had thought to put it in the Mystery genre, but I think that it would be a little too adventurous of me (I just joined the site two weeks ago). Plus, the story fit more than two of the genres, so I thought it fit best in General. And these are some of my favorite couples, too, which is the main reason I included them. ;) There is a sort of surprise pairing later on, though I'm not sure you (or I) will like it. I'm not sure whether it will be a permanent pairing, though, so no worries; once we get to that stage, I would like some suggestions from you and everyone else regarding that. I'm sorry it took so long, but here's the next chapter.

Okay, there are the replies. I'd like to give you an example to how I'm replying: Let's say that someone has reviewed chapter one; that means that I will reply in chapter two. And if any new reviews come in, I will go back and reply to them. Anyway, that's how that works. So... after the disclaimer, we can get on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Eternal Sonata. I don't know what I'd do if I did.

It was a typical day in the city of Baroque; people happily went through the daily routine of their lives, and soft, powdery snow continued to constantly fall from the sky. However, in the garden next to the castle, there was one person who was frustrated beyond belief.

"Ah, darn it!" The young boy threw a photograph to the side.

Beat had been trying to get a good photograph of the garden every morning since they had been here in Baroque. He had taken some nice pictures, but none of them seemed good enough to him.

So, Beat resolved himself and tried again. He set his feet, holding his camera to his eye. He watched the pattern of the snow, waiting for just the right moment...

"Hi, Beat!"

"Gah!!" Beat flew back, landing in the snow, taking a picture in the process. The result was a picture of the sky, a little bit of the castle wall, and half of March's head.

"Oh, dear! Beat, I'm so sorry!" she leaned over him, trying to see if he was okay.

"It's fine..." he grumbled, annoyance lacing his voice as he sat up. March cringed at his tone.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah..."

"I thought you heard me coming towards you... The snow's pretty noisy... But, what are you doing out here by yourself?"

"I'm trying to take a picture of the garden." He stood.

"A picture?"

"Yeah." Beat looked at the picture he had taken, then threw it to the side with another groan.

March looked over where he had thrown it, seeing the unintentional pile he had made. "You seem like you've been working pretty hard." she walked over to the pile, then knelt down to start looking through them.

"There's been nothing to do since we got here, so I decided to start trying to take pictures every morning. I had been doing pretty good. Some days I even did more than one. But then I got to this place and I've been stuck ever since." he got into position again.

"You know, Beat, some of these are really good." She had only seen photographs once or twice before she had started traveling with Beat underneath the Mandolin Church, and then had only seen some that he was looking at from a distance. Still, the ones in the pile seemed nice to her. She could see that he had even tried some different angles.

"They're not good enough."

"What's wrong with them?"

"The snow doesn't look right."

She gaped at him disbelievingly. "Beat, it's snow! You can't make it perfect!"

"I can try, though."

"Beat... You shouldn't be like that. It isn't healthy."

"If we could just go somewhere... Somewhere besides here. Just to some place that looked different. In Ritardando, things constantly change. There are always new people coming in and out, since it's a port town. And it doesn't happen as often, but new buildings are made sometimes. There's always something new there, and nothing in this place ever changes! Almost no one comes or goes, and we haven't been, and hopefully won't be, here long enough to see any new buildings."

"Something new... Maybe you need to take a break from the garden and try taking a picture of something else."

"Hm?" He looked away from the camera at her, a quizzical look on his face.

"You know... You couldn't have taken a picture of everything yet. Maybe you could try a person?"

"I guess so... I haven't taken a picture of anyone since we've been here."

"Now, all you need is a person to take a picture of..."

"I would, but I don't know anyone here. I knew everyone I took a picture of in Ritardando."

"I didn't know you were so shy, Beat!"

"I-I'm not, it's just..." his face reddened a little.

"It's okay." March waved a hand in front of her. "You do know the Prince, but I think Jazz is still busy talking to him... I know!" she clapped her hands together. "You could take a picture of me!"

"Of you?"

"Yeah! You haven't taken one of me, yet, have you?"

"No... Well, not any good ones, anyway." he added the last part a little quickly, like an afterthought. March sighed at him.

"Stop worrying about it!"

"Sorry. Anyway, let's do it now."

"Okay. But do we have to do it out here?"

"Why can't we do it here?"

"First of all, you're only going to complain about the snow again. Second of all, it's really cold!" she grabbed her arms, but Beat just laughed; always guarding Agogo Forest, neither March nor Salsa seemed to have much tolerance for the cold climate of Baroque.

"Alright, how about in the audience chamber?"

"Okay! Come on, let's go!" she grabbed his hand and started running for the door.

"Hey, March, wait a minute!" he yelled, but she continued dragging him anyway.

Up ahead, the door was already open, Polka and Viola standing in the doorway.

"Excuse us!"

"Help!" Beat continued his protest, but March squeezed the two of them past, Polka and Viola hugging the wall.

They watched the two of them as they sped past for a second.

"What do think all of that was about, hm?" Viola looked towards Polka a little slyly.

"I have no idea..." Polka started walking out into the garden.

"You don't think that those two are..."

"Are what?"

"You don't think they're an item, do you?"

"An... item?" Polka looked confused.

"You know... Like they're together or something." The look remained. "Involved?" Polka only tilted her head.

"Oh for... Like they're a romantic couple, Polka!"

"Oh!" Polka held a hand in front of her face, blushing. "Viola, you shouldn't be like that."

"Well, it's about time you figured it out. You're kind of dense when it comes to this sort of thing, aren't you?"

"W-what? No, it's just... It isn't very polite to gossip about people like that, especially when you're not sure if it's true."

"Yeah, but it's fun! You'd know if you tried it!"

"I don't want to try it, and I don't think it's very fun."

"Come on, don't you think Beat and March would be cute together? That is, as long as Salsa didn't mind..."

"Why would Salsa mind? She doesn't like Beat much, anyway."

"Hm... Are you sure about that?"

"Oh, Viola, really!"

Note: About a minute or two after this is where the event in the game between Polka and Viola takes place. This next part takes place in the audience chamber, right after Viola talks with Jazz.

"And... we're done!"

"Phew..." March leaned up against the closest wall. "I didn't think it would be so hard to pose for a picture."

"Sorry... Most photographers probably wouldn't want their pictures so perfect." Beat rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Why do you want them so perfect, though?"

"Well... Because of my dad."

"Your dad?"

"Yeah. I mean, he's passed away now, but... Before he died and left me his camera, he used to let me borrow it sometimes. He wasn't really demanding about pictures or anything - he was probably the opposite even - but I always wanted to show him the best that I could. And I still want to do that, even though he's passed on."

"Wow, Beat... I had no idea."

"What are you two doing in here?" Both of them turned to see Salsa, arms akimbo.

"Salsa! What are you doing here?" March tilted her head slightly.

"I came here looking for him." She pointed at Beat. "We're supposed to have a card game with the old lady in a few minutes. And it's not like she's going to play with me by herself. Besides the fact that I'm going to cream both him and her, she doesn't like me enough to play without him."

"Sorry, I forgot... I guess I've got to go..."

"Did you take any pictures that were good enough?"

"Yeah, I think so... You're really good for a picture, so it wasn't that hard to take it."

"What's so good about sis?" Salsa sounded a little annoyed.

"Salsa!"

"Well, some people are just good for taking pictures."

"What about me, huh? We are twins, in case you haven't noticed."

"I don't know... There's something about you that's... just not as good." Beat seemed to be putting it up as sort of a challenge. Salsa glared at him.

"Well, come on, we're already wasting too much time. We're going to be late." She grabbed his arm roughly and started dragging him away.

"Ow! I can walk on my own, you know!"

"See ya, sis."

"Bye, March!" Beat waved a little, but was cut off by a sharp pull from Salsa. "Ouch! Would you let go?!"

"Um, bye..." March waved at them slightly, feeling a little awkward. She sighed. "Well, at least I got to help someone today..."

She sighed in relief as she stepped inside; a warm place at last.

She walked up to the receptionist. "Hello. I'd like a room, please."

"Of course. That'll be 100G."

"Actually, I was only planning on staying here for half a day, so I was wondering if it was possible to pay less."

"Um... I suppose so, but I should ask my boss first." the receptionist laughed a little. "Hang on just a moment, okay?" she walked off towards a door behind the desk, going inside. She was back in a few moments.

"He said it was okay. So that'll be 50G, please." She handed the money to the receptionist, who put it in a small black register. "Here's a key and sign for your room." she accepted the items. "Please enjoy your stay at Hotel Ensemble!" the receptionist bowed.

"Thank you." she headed up the left flight of stairs and began searching for a door that didn't have an "Occupied" sign. She found one in a hallway. She went inside.

The room was furnished like most hotel and inn rooms that she'd been in; furniture, carpets, windows, paintings on the wall. It did have more of a Baroque "flavor", though. She walked over to a window, leaning on the sill.

"It's lovely here, even if it is cold." She eyed the castle. "There... That's my destination."

Well, that took a little longer than I would have liked, but I finished it. I think this one went pretty well. Longer than last time, but that's to be expected, since the first one was the prologue and this is the first chapter. I know this one wasn't that interesting, but I needed to build things up a little. Next chapter should be better. In this chapter, there was a little bit of Beat x Salsa x March, though it was mostly Beat x March. Also, unfortunately, Beat seemed a little out of character. I'll try to work on that more. And the mystery girl has finally arrived in Baroque. And she said her destination was the castle... Since the Count said "son" in the prologue, that would mean that she's after one of the boys. Who is it? Allegretto? Beat? Jazz? Frederic? And are they in danger? Well, we'll see. I'm not going to give anything away. I've already decided who it is, but feel free to guess anyway. I'm going to start working on the next chapter soon, so keep an eye out for it!