Preparing for Hannibal was a tough deal for everyone in the opera house. All the preparation as such now was not going to have them ready for what the people would have to deal with the following time ahead. Monsieur Lefevre walked up with a few men behind him, people started to get off track and look at the group entering the stage.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen..." The poor conductor Monsieur Reyer looked over at the men to get their attention. The current manager was busy talking to the other men in his company to care that the conductor was trying to get his attention.

"Rehearsals, as you see, are under way, for a new production of Chalumeau's 'Hannibal'""Monsieur Lefevre, I am rehearsing" With a little more authority stood up on the stage and looked at the manager. Monsieur Lefevre held up a hand and looked around before speaking to everyone in the room.

"Monsieur Reyer, Madame Giry, ladies and gentlemen, please if I could have your attention, thank you. As you know, for some weeks there have been rumors of my imminent retirement.
I can now tell you that these were all true and it is my pleasure to introduce you to the two gentlemen. Who now own the Opera Populaire, Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre."

The two men with Monsieur Lefevre raised their hands and smiled to everyone. Richard was a tall man with dark colored hair and a mustache that gave him a slightly amusing look. Andre was a short built man with graying white hair his own mustache matched his hair. Both looked to each other before looking to Monsieur Lefevre.

"They recently took the money they used to invest in a junk yard..."

"Scrap Metal…" Andre said with a glowering look to Lefevre, turning away he put on a happy smile. Firmin turned to look at his shorter friend before shaking his head slightly; smiling to the group he called their attention again.

"And we are very proud to introduce our new Patron…"

"The Vicomte De Chagny..." Andre said finishing his friend's sentence. Moving to the side a young in his twenties walked up and bowed slightly.

"My family and I are honored to support the art and the world famous Opera Populaire" The young man gazed around at the people before looking at Monsieur Lefevre who introduced Signora La Carlotta, and Signor Piangi, once the introductions where done the Vicomte took his leave, leaving the two new managers to roam around again and get an idea of what to do.

Erik was above watching and listening from the shadows of the fly. He heard Christine talk to her friend Meg, it seems that Erik's young charge knows the Vicomte from her past life. But for that friend to not acknowledge Christine was a crime. Wealth and a name was all that the young man had besides looks. The young ballet rats started talking about fantasy life with the Vicomte, continuing to look on at the stage, Erik watched as rehearsals picked up again. Taking mental notes Erik saw that the dancing was absolutely enchanting, watching Christine move Erik couldn't help but smile with pride that his Christine, whom had many talents to explore.

Once the dance was over Erik prepared himself for the 'Diva' the singing he found was in need of work on the chorus part and the diva, herself. Letting a shiver go down his spine Erik took a glace at the managers whose eyes where on the dancers and not the diva. Chuckling quietly Erik moved away before he could get caught for making a small sound.

It was interesting because if Erik hadn't moved he would have enjoyed the frog of a diva have one of her more evil fits. Having complained was nothing new but the looks on the new managers faces said that they had no idea what was going on. Watching Carlotta walk off, Monsieur Reyer turned and let his head slam on the podium. Monsieur Lefevre crossed his arms and let his head rest in his propped up arm. Sighing he looked at the two other manager wearily.

"What do we do?" Firmin asked, a little shook the poor man was trying to figure out how to stop Carlotta from leaving. Andre looked at his taller friend trying to understand what was going on, but being he, he figured it out slightly thinking of a plan.

"Grovel… grovel…. Grovel" Said monsieur Lefevre raising his head up looking at the two. Turning the former Manager looked up into the fly's to see that his guest was there watching, sighing he looked down and over at the managers. Carlotta or the Opera Ghost would be the death of him, but it would be more likely the first one.

"Principle Bella diva" Firmin shouted, it earned a stop from Carlotta. Andre stepped up with his plan in mind.

"Goddess of song…" It hurt Andre to say it but they needed her. Without taking his eyes off Carlotta, Andre addressed Monsieur Reyer. "Monsieur Reyer, isn't there a marvelous aria in the act three of Hannibal…"

"Maybe you can give us a showing?" Firmin put up realizing what Andre was doing. Monsieur Reyer looked to Carlotta who was eyeing him.

"Diva?"

"Yes Monsieur Reyer?"

"If my Diva commands…" Monsieur Reyer said, the two managers looked at the conductor and thought about the way Carlotta ran the stage.

"Yes, I do..." Moving to center stage everyone that supported her fell in behind her, the others in the theatre looked at Carlotta and stuffed things into their ears. Madame Giry melted into the shadows closing her eyes against Carlotta's voice.

Once it started up Firmin knew why many plugged their ears. The way Carlotta sang, Firmin put o a pained smile, as Andre shivered and ground his teeth as Carlotta butchered the song. Monsieur Lefevre had to keep himself from plugging his ears. Carlotta would certainly be the death of him and not the opera house companion.

Up in the fly's the Erik looked down and found that he was grinding his teeth like the others. Wrong notes being sung, the ones that were high went too high so in a late ditch effort to shut the noise up Erik went to where the curtains where being held up and untied it leaving before the first scream was heard.

Christine was with her friend Meg and Meg's mother watching the diva sing. Cringing at the way the song was done Christine felt a shiver go up her spine as the high notes where hit horrendously. Cringing again Christine looked up in time to see the curtain fall and collapse on Carlotta, hiding her smile behind her hand it seemed that others where full of relief that Carlotta was shut up. It seemed that Bouquet or the Opera Ghost wasn't too pleased either with the sound that the toad of a Diva was putting out.

Carlotta's supporters went and pulled the flattened Carlotta out from under the curtain as monsieur Lefevre stepped up and looked into the fly's seeing nothing. "For god's sake Bouquet, what's the matter man?"

Bouquet appeared and looked down at the people looked up at him. "I swear with god as my witness I wasn't at my post, there is no up here, if there is, it must be a ghost" Pulling the fallen curtain up. Firmin was looking at Carlotta.

"These things happen…" Firmin was looking at Carlotta with a scared look on his face.

"For the past two years these things do happen, and you stop them from happening now," Looking at Monsieur Lefevre, Carlotta strode up and jabbed her bony looking finger into Lefevre's chest. Addressing the two new managers Carlotta let her fit continues "And you... you two are as bad as him. These things do happen…" Pulling away and heading to the exit, she tried for more words but couldn't think of anything else before an idea popped in her head. "If you can't stop these things from happening, then this thing doesn't happen. Ublado , mi llamo.." with that the Diva left the stage scaring the poor stage hands.

Signor Piangi walked up and pointed to the two and said one word " Amateurs" before walking off to try and calm down his diva. Madame Giry walked into the shadows of the back stage, looking up a letter floated to the ground; it was sealed with the red skull. Picking it up Madame Giry walked out into the light to read it. Chuckling the mallet mistress headed out into the light and up behind the new managers.

"I have a letter from the Opera Ghost" She said happily, the two turned and jumped at the sound of voice of the older woman. Firmin was the first to recover and he looked around as everyone was listening intently.

"God and heaven your all obsessed." Firmin looked around before being smacked by his shorter friend. Madame Giry explained to the two about box five, the salary before handing the note to Andre who looked at the note and the envelope, raising his eyebrow he was very interested in how a ghost would want a salary if he's dead, the box he could understand but the money he had to worry about. Looking around Andre took note that, Monsieur Lefevre left, looking around everyone held their breath at the mention of the opera ghost. There was a certain air of respect for whoever it was.

Taking the letter out of Andre's hands Firmin started fuming, "A salary?" Reading the letter he took them both. And started to rip it to pieces ranting about how the show couldn't go on and how they would have to refund a full house on opening night. Andre was trying to calm his friend down and think of a plan.

Madame Giry looked at Christine who was in the background watching the proceedings, stepping up the ballet mistress got the attention of two managers. "Christine Daaè can do it"

Andre in thought looked at the ballet mistress with a raised eyebrow. "A chorus girl?"

"She has been well taught I can assure you…" Walking over to Christine she stood behind the young girl with her hands on her shoulders. Christine looked at Madame Giry before looking to Andre. Andre looked at Madame Giry and got the impression that whatever the Madame said it was usually a good thing.

"Alright then, come on then young one… don't be shy"

Christine looked at the Madame one last time before moving slowly to center stage. Firmin seemed to frighten Christine because it earned a hard glare from Andre.

"Andre this is doing nothing for my nerves" Firmin said moving off to the side with Andre.

"Well she is very pretty" Andre said softly, looking to Monsieur Reyer he gave a nod. The music started and when Christine opened her mouth to sing, it was as it should be an angel in her place.

"Think of me fondly

When we say good-bye..."

Andre and Firmin looked to each other and to Madame Giry who pointed to the note in the manager's hand. Putting together two larger sections, Firmin and Andre read the last lines of the note.

Oh and as suggestion, any production that you do, Christine Daaè is to take the lead. As La Carlotta can't hold a note to the young Daaè. Please follow my instructions and I guarantee that you will run the most famous opera house in Paris. And please make sure that you pay me for my services.

Your Obedient Servant,

O.G

Looking at the young singer in front of them Andre knew that he would do anything to keep the young singer in lead roles, seeing as this Opera Ghost knew what he was talking about. Firmin on the other hand thought it was some hoax.

The phantom watched from box five at the crowd but more importantly Christine who would take opera to unbelievable new heights. Standing up Erik left and headed to his lair. Christine looked around as everyone clapped their hands after the song was finished. Tonight a new diva would be born.