CHAPTER IV
GRANDE VALSE BRILLANTE
In a snowy garden surrounded by high castle walls, flowers bloom in spite of the cold. A gentle snowfall dusts the ground as Beat wanders around the grounds.
'Oh, Polka! There you are! I've been looking all over the place for you, you know?'
Noticing her leaning against the wrought iron gate, Beat goes to greet her. White mist comes out of his mouth as he speaks in the cold weather.
'Oh. Hi, Beat. I'm sorry about that.'
Polka has been looking at flowers a lot lately. Even a child like Beat can tell that her mind is obviously on other things.
'You don't have to be worried. I'm sure Retto and the others are doing okay! He's not the type to croak from just falling off a bridge.'
Polka's eyebrows loosen.
'You have a point there. I'm sure you're right. Thank you, Beat.'
Her smile is just like the sun in winter. Beat also leans against the iron gate beside her. The reason there is no one except them in a garden this size is that it is privately owned by the one who rescued them.
'Still we were pretty lucky back there, don't you think?'
'If we hadn't been picked up by him, I don't know what would've happened.'
Eyes gazing into distance, her mind flies back to four days ago…
*****
'Thank you so much for helping us like this.'
Sitting on a sofa looking very like to be used for nobles, Frederic bows to the young man opposite. Beside the musician are Polka, Beat and Salsa, who is too busy observing the luxurious surroundings.
'Don't mention it. It was nothing.'
'Is there any way we can repay you?' Polka asks. 'You did save our lives.'
'Yeah, you've already done so much for us. Is there anything we can do to help out? This little squirt here can wash dishes for you or something.'
Beat casts an eye on the elder Agogo Forest guardian. The black hat that once covered that layered pink hair is gone.
'Hey, no fair! You can't start calling me "little squirt" just because my hat washed away!'
Beat looks terribly pleased with himself as he pretends to ignore Salsa's little fist gesturing to punch him.
After being carried away by Fusion River, she and the rest three people here were found in the sea by the sailors on this ship. Thinking it as just an ordinary merchant ship, the four of them climbed onboard, happy that they could finally get out of the wet. By the time they were invited to the waiting room to be greeted (Frederic dried all their clothes with a flick of his wand, deeply impressing Salsa), everything around them from the carpet to small objects like clocks are all at first-class, not matter how they put it, this ship should not be of any ordinary merchant ship.
The young man good-naturedly at the funny entertainment. His clothes are mostly in shades of white and gold, apparently someone regal.
'At least it sounds like you're all in good spirits. But I'm afraid there's nothing you could help with. Really, you should probably get some rest.'
He stands up and delivers some instructions to the sailors outside the room before suddenly remembering something.
'Oh, and allow me to introduce myself. My name is Crescendo. I suppose you could say I'm the captain of this ship.'
No wonder everyone listens to his words here.
'Cre-Cresh-shendo?' Beat repeats, but no matter how he tries has problem in pronouncing the 'sh' sound. 'Gee. That's kind of a tough name to say. Couldn't we call you something else? Something easier to say?'
If these words had come out from an adult it would have sounded rather offensive, however from an eight-year-old innocent child it would be different. Still Polka thinks Beat had better to be more polite in front of this unusual captain.
'Beat, please, don't be silly. Besides, I thought you said you were good at remembering people's names.'
Though putting up a smile, there is a power in her words that Beat knows that Polka is being serious, so he says no more. Frederic observes Crescendo in a polite manner.
'I must say, you're very young to be the captain of a ship.'
Salsa jumps at the word 'captain', looking as if she has never had a good look at Crescendo before.
'You're a captain?'
She gets up and walks over to him and, while he watches on in surprise, inspects his hands.
'Hey, hold on now. This guy doesn't even have a hook or an eye patch. There's no way he's a real captain!'
Her words clearly shock everyone.
'Guy'…?
Just what does she think she's saying to the one that saved her?
Afraid that Salsa may upset Crescendo, Beat attempts to apologize for her behaviour.
'I'm sorry, Captain. She doesn't know her manners sometimes.'
Just as the words left his mouth, he thinks he has just found the most suitable title for Crescendo.
'Hey, maybe I'll just call you Captain for now. I could remember your name no problem, but you need to show respect to the ship's captain.'
Beat raises his right hand and salutes to Crescendo, who laughs again at his cute posture.
'Hahaha. Feel free to call me whatever you'd like. Well then, for the time I suggest you get some rest.'
Frederic knows that they are dismissed, and the four of them gets to their feet and leave. The sailors waiting outside lead the way to their respective rooms. Polka and Salsa shares one, while Frederic and Beat shares another one. Once in contact of the comfortable bed Salsa is quickly out like a light. Her tiny chest rises and falls in repose rhythm.
Polka however is not in the mood to sleep.
I wonder if Allegretto and the others are all right.
Along with him should be Jazz, Falsetto, Claves and Viola. All of them are better fighters than she is. Getting out of Fusion River should not be much of a problem to them.
But…
Pressing down her anxious, Polka sits up on her bed.
Maybe some fresh air will cheer me up.
Not hoping to wake Salsa up, Polka closes the door silently and walks out. She takes the stairway up to the deck. The ship is sailing before the wind, revealing its hexagonal insignia referencing a snowflake. At the prow is an exquisite sculpture of some kind of God figure.
It is night time already. Snow floats down onto the deck and into the sea. This is the first time she sees snow since she was born. Though chillingly cold, the beauty of the scenery is like that from a fairy tale.
She takes a deep breath of the refreshing air. There is a salty smell of the ocean, reminding her of the breezes back in Tenuto.
Is mum doing okay?
Counting on her finger, she has left home almost two weeks already. Her mother must be very worried about her, wondering whether she is eating properly or being treated well by other people. In her heart, Polka swears that if she can make it back to Tenuto, she must be nice to her mother for the rest of her life.
Unexpectedly she is not the only one out here at the night.
'So the world is all just Frederic's dream, is it?'
Polka approaches the musician, who is at the prow, seemingly meditating.
'Good evening, Frederic. You still haven't woken up from your dream yet?'
Polka giggles as she says. Upon hearing her voice Frederic looks up.
'Oh, hello, Polka. Are you having trouble sleeping?'
'… Yes. I'm still worried about the others.'
Polka speaks out her feelings. In front of Frederic, she somehow believes that she can trust him.
'Polka, there was something I said to you before… about the way everything in the world slowly fades away, gradually losing its colour.'
She recalls their first met in Tenuto.
'Yes, I can remember.'
'But, since I've come to this place, I have begun to feel as if that is somehow being reversed.'
'Hmm?' Polka says, puzzled. 'What do you mean?'
'Well, compared to when I first came to this world… now, when I look around, I feel as if everything in this world is becoming more vivid, more clear.'
Knowing that Polka is listening closely without interrupting, he continues, looking at the sea as he says.
'Could that be the proof I sought? Does it mean that this world, that I believe to be a dream, is slowly becoming reality? Or is it only proof that I, myself, am slipping away? Fading away at a speed faster than the world is fading?'
Polka looks mildly dismayed by this.
'For example, I find myself wondering about whether the others are all right. Not long ago, I really wouldn't have cared what happened to them. After all, this was just a dream to me. But now, I'm genuinely concerned. I don't know why, but I feel a strong sense of solidarity, a connection with the people of this world.'
The ship sails past a few icebergs. Frederic closes his eyes, waiting for Polka to laugh again for his dream theory or blaming his cold-heartedness.
'That's okay.' She says gently and calmly. 'I think that's probably normal. After all, it's only natural to worry about companions you've spent a lot of time with.'
'You know, before I was afflicted with illness, everything around me seemed so meaningless. But ever since I learned I didn't have much longer to live, even the little things in the world around me began to shine.'
Like the sound of wood crackling in a fireplace, the smell of a campfire, leaves slowly floating down a stream, the gentle sound of falling snow.
'Now that I think about it, it was probably because I had begun to fade rapidly. Because I, myself, was approaching my death… just like Emilia did.'
'Emilia?'
Judging from Frederic's expression, Polka can tell that this name must be related to someone very important to him.
'My sister.' Frederic this time looks into Polka's eyes. 'She was fourteen when she was struck down by tuberculosis and passed away. The same age as you.'
Polka lowers her head.
'Your sister was fourteen, just like me when she… I'm sorry.'
'How disheartening must it have been for her to be forced to accept inescapable fate? She must have had so many hopes and dreams.'
There is a moment of reflection. Frederic's brows furrows, his hands clench into fists.
Why does God allow such things happen to good people? Taking away even her chance to live.
Why?
Polka looks at him sympathetically. This feeling of losing a dear family member, her mother may soon have to bear that also.
Poor Frederic…
'It is sad, but everyone dies eventually. It's just that for some people, like Emilia and me, it happens a little bit earlier, that's all. Besides, in a way Emilia still lives on, doesn't she?
Lives on?
Frederic looks at her, calmer now, but hoping for an answer to this. Polka smiles.
'She lives on inside your heart, Frederic, and she lives in the wonderful music that your heart creates. She also lives on inside all the people of the world whose hearts are moved when they listen to your music.'
Through her brother's melodies, Emilia will never really die, and will touch the hearts of every generation to come. She will live on, forever.
'I think that's simply wonderful. Frederic, do you need any more proof that she's still alive than the thought of that?'
Frederic has a strange feeling at this moment. This girl in front of him overlaps with the shadow of Emilia – their age, their personality, their fate…
Can she possibly be…?
'You know, Polka, whenever I am with you, I feel like I'm talking to Emilia. I think that perhaps Emilia is saying the very same thing to me. Thank you, Polka. I believe you've taught me something very important tonight.'
Very important, indeed.
Frederic raises his top hat and leaves. Polka watches him departs in silence.
Frederic, I don't know what it is, but there's a mysterious appeal about you.
Since I met you, my way of thinking has changed quite a bit. Although I didn't realize it before, I think I've just been dwelling on the past, and ignoring the future, because thinking about the future is just too painful when I know I'm going to die soon.
But you told me when we met that this whole word existed inside your dream, right?
At first I thought were teasing me by saying that this was your dream, but now, I actually think that it's a really beautiful idea.
And now I realize, that by believing in you, it's the same as believing in the future. It's especially true for someone like me, someone who can use magic. Knowing you helps me be more positive about the future, and what I need to do.
I'm the one who should be thanking you, Frederic. You've taught me something very important too.
Suddenly there is a loud crash, shaking the entire ship. Polka almost loses her balance.
What was that?
This vibration did not seem to be coming from the inside of the ship. The warning immediately wails while she sees sailors in the cabin dash up to the deck, all holding weapons. Among the flock of white sailor clothing she spots out a blue long coat and a yellow raincoat.
'Frederic! Beat!'
She runs to her two companions, who see her as well.
'What's going on?'
'They say we have trouble! Come on!'
The three of them join the other sailors to the upper quarterdeck. It is a ghastly scene. The tail of the ship is crashed directly by the prow of another ship. All wooden boards in the collided area are broken. The main sail of that ship is marked by crossbones beneath a huge skull.
Pirates?
Frederic's assumption is soon proved to be correct. Flooding onto their deck from the hostile ship are men wearing eye patches and holding long cutlasses. All of them have the trademark of skull-crossbones on their chests. Without waiting for any signal they quickly move in for the kill.
Though caught-off in surprise, the white sailors disciplinarily set up a defence line across the quarterdeck immediately.
'Men of Baroque! Charge!'
Like the roaring of a lion, a determined voice unifies the sailors' heart as they also raise their weapons and charge ahead. Both sides start a fierce fight at the quarterdeck, advancing and retreating in equal turns.
'Captain Crescendo!'
Frederic yells over the battle cries and metal clanging as he, Beat and Polka squeezes their way through.
'We'll keep them occupied!'
'It's far too dangerous! These pirates, even their underlings are very strong!'
They are no soldiers, and they are his guests. He has the responsibility to keep them safe!
Beat turns his clarinet to a rifle, and shows it to Crescendo.
'Hey, that's no way for a captain to talk! Don't worry about a thing. Just leave to us!'
'If they get here none of us will survive.' Frederic draws his wand. 'We do this for you, as well as us.'
Crescendo hesitates, but deep in his heart he knows that what Frederic says is correct. Even the pirates do not kill them they would make them captives or torture them to death.
Time is running out.
'All right. I'll do everything I can. Good luck!'
Crescendo returns to the crowd of people. Beat and Polka listen to Frederic's orders.
'Right, our first priority is to keep the pirates from boarding. Beat, you find a good spot to get clear shots. Polka, you stay at the back and heal anyone hurt.'
'I understand!'
'I will'
Beat runs to the foot of the main mast and climbs up. There are already wounded sailors lying on the deck, and more are being carried away from the frontline. Polka summons her magic to help every one of them. Frederic marches into the frontline, not a trace of mercy in his eyes.
No one is going to die in war in my dream.
Even facing strong resistance the pirates are attacking wave after wave without ceasing. From their number of men they are no common gang.
'Looks like Baroque has no men to fight! This is no place for you, sissy!'
Thinking Frederic as an easy target, several pirates aggressively turns their cutlasses to him.
This is a big mistake.
You foolish creatures…!
'There's power within my melodies, listen!'
Wand-arm pulled backward, a magical circle appears under Frederic's feet. Within ten feet of radius the deck surface is dyed in a hellish green hue, from which black vapour is rising.
'Piu Grave!'
The wand is thrusted upward. There is like an echo of valkryies magically reaching everyone's ears to their hearts. A dome of bone-chilling green energy erupts upward, illuminating the dark sea into a shade of death. Pirates that are caught in the dome are all thrown away, some falling to the water at no hope of being recovered, but the most horrifying part is those who land on the deck and have survived long enough for others to see that blood is spurting out of their eyes, ears, nostrils and mouths in an unstoppable manner. Limbs twitching uncontrollably, their faces are distorted, skin covered in burnt blisters. Witnessing the power, both sides are too shocked to continue the fight.
Piu Grave is basically an alternation of Frederic's signature move Orzel Bialy. The wand movements and magic mechanisms are both very similar. The differences are that Piu Grave makes use of dark energy while Orzel Bialy uses pure, positive energy of nature, and the former can hit all targets within the effective range when the later one is a one-on-one move.
In just one around, Frederic has cleared fifteen pirates out of the way. The pirates are stunned – there should not be anyone so powerful on Baroque Ship!
This man is no sissy!
Those who are ready to strike quickly coward out of the way, no one dare to try out that torment on their body. Seeing the whole gang is intimidated by merely one man who is not even a soldier, their leader (distinguished by his blue headband) is simply furious.
'What are you afraid of? Attack! The one that kills him will be promoted two ranks! TWO…!'
His thought stops here as blood gashes out from his forehead. His corpse falls to the deck and moves no more, apparently hit by something small which drilled into his brain and killed him.
'Watch out for snipers!'
A pirate shouts out to warn the others. His decision has successfully captured his fellow pirates' attention, and the sniper on Baroque Ship as well. A sniper bullet burst out from his right temple, his fresh corpse joining his former leader.
All pirates are now in disarray as they try to find shelters, which is not easy on the deck. Standing in open area means being the perfect target practice for snipers. Not to say they cannot locate them in the dark, none of them carry long-range weapon to counterfire!
'Ha! This is gonna hurt, Mr. pirates!'
Sitting on the main sail taking aim, Beat is amused by the looks on those pirates as they push, shove or try to use others as shields. Beat snipes and reloads and snipes again, every time the trigger is pulled the target falls down to be stepped onto by others. The true nature of these sea thieves is simple – they do not care about each other.
This is our chance!
'Prepare to board! Kill all the pirates!'
Holding his personal mace and shield, Crescendo and Frederic leads the sailors at the front and jumps aboard. The side has turned from now on. In another flash of green light the valkyries mourn for those caught in the dome. Frederic is about to unleash the third Piu Grave when a voice coverers the commotion down.
'Who dares crossing me Captain Dolce?'
The speaker turns out to be a female. Out come from behind the pirates is a woman in her early thirties, wearing a black pirate hat and eye patch over her right eye. In replace of her left hand is a metal hook, hidden behind the feminine mask is iron-hard cruelty. She has two bodyguards with her, their headbands are in red and white respectively.
Once in the sight of her, all the pirates immediately rearranged into formations around her. The term 'dolce' means 'sweet' in English. If it had not been the eye patch, Dolce might have looked pretty beautiful, but using it on a pirate it on the contrary adds thrills, especially when her normal right hand is not holding a cutlass but a long-barrelled hand cannon. Crescendo's sailors also form ranks behind him.
'So, you've been having your way with my men, have you?'
'Dolce! She's the boss of this gang of pirates!' Crescendo adds the last sentence for Frederic.
'At last we met. Who do you wish to fight? Me? Or my lieutenants? Or you want us all to take you on?'
She raises her cannon, moving between Frederic and Crescendo. Her two guards are like a pair of hungry werewolves waiting for their master to give the signal to sink their teeth into the preys. Dolce's gang is Baroque's biggest threat in the sea, capturing her would no doubt be a blessing to Baroque's citizens. Crescendo thinks hard on how to achieve so, his eyes keep focusing on the big muzzle.
Frederic can use magic, he knows once he saw that, but now they are almost two-to-sixty.
'I'm sure you don't want to lose anymore man, Dolce! I'll make you a deal in my name of the prince of Baroque, if you are willing to surrender and disband, I can spare everyone's lives!'
He raises his volume so that the rest can hear as well. He can see through some pirates' eyes that they are slightly moved by the offer.
Dolce's cannon points at Crescendo's chest.
'You don't think I may accidentally blow a hole in you?'
'No, because I'm sure Frederic here will take care of you.'
Dolce too saw what her men became when they caught in Frederic's spell attack. She smiles a 'sweet' smile – always a dangerous sign.
'Very well. Dead Man's Tale!'
Without warning fire burst out from the muzzle along with an ear-deafening bang. As soon as Crescendo and Frederic see the firelight both of them reflectively dives away to two sides. Bullets' travelling speed is too fast for naked eyes to see, yet there are still ways to stay alive. The time for Dolce to pull the trigger is short, however her pointer finger has to move no matter what, which is the most important signal.
But the cannonball-sized bullet passed above them.
Dolce was never planning to shoot them. Realizing what her real target is, Frederic and Crescendo subconsciously turn to look at where the bullet is heading.
'BEAT!'
A fireball erupts at where the bullet hit the sail pole, which explodes into pieces. The sail catches the fire and burns, falling down along with the debris. Before they can locate whether Beat is among them, Frederic's magical ability senses something coming at their back.
'Crescendo, behind!'
Maintaining at an impossible angle, Frederic leans his upper body backward, face facing the dark sky above, just in time for a dozen of large needle-pikes passing inches just above their noses. A smell of rotten fish flows into his nostrils, hinting that these trinkets are fed with powerful poison. Hearing Frederic's warning, Crescendo quickly holds his broad shield up to protect his back. The pikes nail through the aluminium outer layer to the inner wood level. Such small weapons can deal this damage, this is out of both men's prediction.
The attack Dolce used is called Shark Bite. The needle-pikes are smeared with a kind of venom made from a highly toxic sea plant. Once hit there is no cure. The trigger of firing them is hidden in her hook. Believing this should have taken the two of them off guard, Dolce is also taken back by the reaction of Frederic. This man can use magic, the longer he lives the greater dangerous they will be in.
Got to take him down right now!
'Dead Man's…!'
But Frederic is prepared for this. The same move will not work twice.
I'll take you all down!
'This will be a hard lesson!'
Below Frederic's feet a different magical circle appears, whose markings are emitting a sea-blue light. He reaches out his left hand where a ring of orbits appears out of thin air on his palm. He locks it onto the main sail of Dolce's ship.
'Legion Fulminante!'
There is an eye-piercing flash of light followed by a thunderous bang. Everyone but Frederic shut their eyes tight, not before a huge lightning bolts down from the dark sky above. Lightning is attracted to objects relatively higher to others, and masts are the perfect targets. What the thunderbolt destroyed is not only the pole and the crossbones sail, it descends straight through the deck, into the cabin area and out of the strake, instantly chopping the pirate ship into two, in which the strong vibration detaches the two halves from Baroque Ship. Piu Grave is already terrifying enough, but this lightning move is even hundred times more powerful and destructive.
Since clouds are the essential media in forming lightning, the only limit for Legion Fulminante is that it cannot be cast in sunny weather.
Induced by the extreme high temperature, the hit area burns and fire begins to dance as they feed on the deck. Without asking for Dolce's permission, other pirates abandon their weapons and jump off into the sea. Sea water begins to rush into the cabin compartments, pulling the two halves of the pirate ship into Blue Sea's abyss. On the broken deck the battle has reached the climax. Frederic is duelling with Dolce's two lieutenants at the same time. Roaring like angry tigers, Crescendo is taking on Dolce. The mace clashes against the long-barrel cannon, the shield blocks the hook from tearing down the prince's neck. The deck is now inclining more and more to one side, yet the five of them refuse to abandon ship.
The long enmity between pirates and Baroque, will be settled now, and here.
Diagonally holding the wand, Frederic blocks the red-headband lieutenant's slash from the left. From a moment ago, it has only been him in front of Frederic's eyes.
In the same technique when facing the ogre in Agogo Forest, Frederic backhandedly slashes his wand outward. The cutlass of his opponent is knocked away. Seizing the moment Frederic moves in for the death blow, his wand tip giving out a rose light. Its corresponding magical circle shines below his feet.
Hound them, stab them, consume them!
'Coup de…!'
The wand is driven into the pirate, who feels an overwhelming force piercing through his chest, through the flesh, ribs, lungs, heart and out of his back. In this instant, Frederic rapidly withdraws his outstretched right arm and flings backward.
'… Jarnac!'
Along with blood and torn organs, the pink power body halfway through the pirate's dead body abruptly changes course to flow in the opposite direction in current form, killing the other lieutenant who is planning to stealth-stab him from behind. The two corpses slump and roll out of the deck, disappearing below the sea level.
Coup de Jarnac, the alternation for Frederic's most basic move Coup de Grace. The first halves of the two moves employ the same mechanism, but Coup de Jarnac can make use of the energy to hit one more target at the user's back. This is truly the stealthiest kind of attack Frederic has ever used.
He hears Dolce howling in fury at the loss of her two most useful men. The cannon in her hand is wielded more and more rapid, but Crescendo is like he is specially trained in defending more than his mace skills. Using both her cannon and hook, still she cannot crush down his broad shield. It is really irritating. Each time she wants to pull away the distance to use Dead Man's Tale, Crescendo will immediately close in and attack with his long mace.
'I will be the shield that protects my people! Crystal Judgement!'
In a speed totally unexpected by Dolce, Crescendo's mace launches an attack wave of eight moves, the crystal at its head deals his justice upon the pirate boss, whose cannon is too clumsy and heavy to block fast attacks. Teeth gritted, Dolce attempts to use her hook to hook the mace out of Crescendo's hand, only to feel a sharp pain on her left forearm – her metal hook, which is sealed into her forearm bone, is knocked off to the deck, but Crescendo's mace has not received even a scratch. It turns out its whole body is not made of metal, but the hardest material in the world.
It's made of diamond?
Defenceless, Dolce watches Crescendo aims the crystal on his mace to her.
'This is the end for you and your crime, Dolce!'
The final and ninth blow hit her squarely in her abdomen.
This is impossible! Slipping pass Baroque's navy and Crescendo for so many times, always able to pull through the dangers, how come I'm dying in such place?
She feels her body falling. In her last breath, she still refuses to admit her end. Dolce, the biggest menace on the sea to Baroque, is received by Blue Sea. It is over, finally.
But Frederic and Crescendo's problem is not over yet – they are now only twelve feet above the sea. With its temperature merely a few minutes can chill them to death.
'Captain, Frederic!'
The two men look back. Baroque Ship is coming to their direction. Noticing them alive and in danger it turns around to rescue them. The voice is not from any of the Baroque sailors but a small girl's.
Salsa is standing on the bow statue. In her hands are two life rings, probably obtained from the ship. Two pieces of long string are tied to both rings.
'Grab these!'
Taking careful aim, Salsa throws the rings to them in perfect accuracy. Once they hold onto them, the Baroque sailors begin to pull them back onto the ship. Frederic and Crescendo are dangling halfway up when suddenly they hear her exclaims.
'Look there! Look there! What's that on the sea? Over there!'
With the help of moonlight, everyone sees that there seems to be a large chest floating up and down along with the waves. Though wood floats on water, usually chests or boxes sink as water flows in, yet this one manages to stay on water surface, suggesting that it is completely waterproof.
In other words, what this chest holds must be something really valuable or important.
'Frederic, can you get it? Get it before it sinks!'
Once Salsa said that, immediately there are waves of complaining. Those sailors do not know that Frederic can do magic, their dissatisfaction at Salsa's blunt sense cannot be helped. As soon as he and Crescendo return they are surrounded by applauses. Frederic points his wand at the chest and without long it zooms across the air onto the deck.
'As expected from the captain and Frederic,' says Salsa, clapping. 'That small fry still has much to learn.'
'What did you say? What about you? You didn't help a bit all the way until the last minute!'
This voice…!
Frederic looks at the sound source. There stands Polka and Beat, who is fine and alive.
'Beat! How come… you fell from that height!'
'It's Polka. One moment I thought I was about to die, the next moment she used a green light on me and I was feeling better than ever. Not only me, everyone is also healed by that spell in one round.'
Polka blushes at Beat's praise.
'I… at that time I only told myself that I couldn't let Beat die, then somehow, the light of my spell turned from orange to green.'
Being the same as a magic caster, Frederic knows that the stronger the will one has the stronger one's magic becomes. Polka must have found the inner strength in herself that her power increased, thus evolving her spell.
While everyone is congratulating him and Crescendo on eliminating Dolce and her gang, Salsa opens the large chest. Its contents shed a golden light on her face.
'Oh! Wow!'
Gold coins, gemstones, pearls, jades, corals, emeralds, cat's-eyes…
Everyone's attention is drawn to the golden light.
'Well, it looks like we've actually managed to find the pirates' treasure.'
Frederic smiles at Salsa, who is extremely pleased with herself.
'You see, if it wasn't me you would never have found it.'
'But wait. Is it really okay for us to take it?' There is a guilty expression on Polka's face. 'I mean, this is an awful lot of treasure. It's not rightfully ours no matter what.'
Salsa picks up a handful of gold coins and intends to put them into Polka's hand.
'Come on! You'll never become a big shot if you say silly things like that! Take this much treasure is no big deal at all.'
'Crescendo,' Frederic says, 'what do you think?'
'I'm quite sure these items were all stolen in the first place, so I doubt anyone will complain.' He thinks for a while. 'How about this, we shall bring it to Baroque and use it as the expenditure of social welfare.'
This solution receives universal agreement, except for Salsa's. As she searches the bottom of the pile of treasure, to her surprise, she digs out a black pirate hat, identical to Dolce's.
'Look! I got the ultimate treasure!'
Brandishing, she places it on her head. The one that is most displeased is none other than Beat, who looks flatly at the elated Salsa. Polka knows what is on his mind.
'Oh, poor Beat. I guess now you go back to being the short one again.'
Sure enough, Salsa slyly looks at him and demands him standing next to her. Exasperated, Beat sighs while everyone laughs…
*****
'… I just remembered something I wish I hadn't.'
Beat shakes his head as he whispers to himself.
'What's wrong,' Polka says, concerned. 'Did something happen?'
'It's nothing. Never mind.'
It is already annoying enough to have that Salsa character on his mind, Beat just hopes the whole thing can be erased from his memory. Then he just remembers the reason for coming out to the cold to find her.
'Oh, you should come in soon, too, okay? It's probably gonna start any minute now.'
The 'it' must be referring to the dance party thrown out by Crescendo. After the defeat of Dolce, the four of them were retreated as guests of honour in their effort in recovering the stolen treasure and cracking down the pirates. The news soon spread in all over Baroque City, and Crescendo decides that these all merits a good party to celebrate. Most from the high society are present, and naturally Frederic, Beat, Salsa and she are too invited to enjoy the night. It is rumoured that the climax should be a waltz dance in accompaniment of the performance of a highly skilled pianist.
This is something too good for Polka to miss, so she and Beat returns to the grand hall of Baroque Castle.
*****
Op.18
Grande Valse Brillante
This is a work composed in 1833, when Chopin was twenty-three years old.
In Chopin's homeland of Poland, the insurrection that started in Warsaw in 1830, had ended in defeated.
At this time, Chopin was in Paris, and a strong supporter of Poland.
Referencing to "The Revolutionary Etude," it is known that Chopin received the news of the fall of Warsaw, while en route to Vienna, in Stuttgart, Germany.
This song was composed after Chopin had left Vienna to live in Paris.
At the time, Austria was opposed to Polish independence.
It was partly because Austria was one of the nations that had divided up Poland, but also because they feared the uprising would spread to Austria.
Because of this, living in Vienna had been difficult for the Polish Chopin.
In Vienna, waltzes designed for dancing were in fashion. This piece, while unquestionably a masterpiece, is something of a contrast to Chopin's other works. It seems to reflect the atmosphere in Vienna at that time.
Though it was probably not meant to be danced to.
In order for the Polish Chopin to live in the adverse winds of that time, he may have made an effort to be popular.
Chopin appeared at salons and dinner parties, performing music for small audiences.
It is said that after these performances, Chopin returned to his room and played his piano furiously.
He must have felt a frustrating anger towards himself, forced to suppress his true feelings, put on a mask, and perform music to please people.
In contrast to the cheerful style of this piece, Chopin's heart was most likely not nearly as high-spirited.
*****
The applause is long and loud. Polka claps enthusiastically along with others.
'That was wonderful! Everyone danced so beautifully! I wish I could dance like that.'
Attending dance parties is always a dream for girls, including Polka. Not to say functions large-scaled like this one, there is hardly any dance party in Tenuto. This is the first time she is so immersed into the atmosphere, dancing and singing and letting free of herself.
'Yeah, and wow, I never knew Frederic was that good either.'
Beat says next to Polka. Come to think of it, she did not see him around throughout the party.
'Huh? Good at what?'
'At the piano, of course. Weren't you watching? Didn't you see him playing?' Beat points to the piano at the end of the hall, where the orchestra was. 'They way he played was just so amazing! Way better than any piano player I've ever heard before. It was almost like he was a real professional pianist.'
Back then in Mandolin Church there was also piano accompaniment to the hymn sing, and Beat was actually a clarinet performer himself. The way Frederic moved his fingers, the way he touched the keys, the melody, all possessed a mysterious charm that can draw everyone's attention and admiration.
Polka's eyes widen.
'What? Are you saying Frederic was playing that music? I was watching the people dancing the whole time. I didn't pay attention to who was playing the music.'
How could I have missed that!
A magic expert, and on top of that a professional pianist. This man is truly inconceivable, but regarding his history or where he comes from, Frederic always remains tight-lipped. Polka has to ask herself how much she knows about him.
Just then, among the people out comes Salsa. She locates them.
'Hey! We have to go see the captain! Hurry!'
Why the sudden…?
'See the captain?' Beat repeats.
'You two need to stop calling him the captain.' Polka says in a mother-to-son manner. 'You should call him Prince Crescendo for he is the prince of Baroque.'
Salsa is still as energetic as ever.
'I'll bet the captain's going to have a feast prepared to thank Frederic for playing the piano! It isn't fair if they get a head start!'
'Oh, so Frederic has already gone to join Prince Crescendo?'
Polka finally realizes that she was really too occupied by the brilliant dancers that she had no idea whatever happened around her. Even Beat and Salsa, two eight-year-old children, are better than her.
'Yeah, and if we don't hurry up, they'll eat all the food.'
'Oh, I wonder if they're gonna feed us something really good?' Being a street urchin, feasts are something never written Beat's dictionary. 'Come on, let's go! I don't want to miss out on that!'
The three of them leave the hall along with the guests. Polka can hear many of them hoping that the party can go longer, and many Frederic's admirers (mostly females) are asking if he may perform in other parties soon, and that if so they will surely attend.
Before I die, I have to listen to him playing.
Crescendo's office is on the second floor at the east wing. Polka, Beat and Salsa present their identities to the soldier outside the room and are allowed to enter. Contrary to the luxury impression of what a prince usually gives, the room is decorated in a classical way.
Frederic and Crescendo are speaking. Sitting beside him is a finely dressed woman, whose eyes are as blue as sapphire. The prince sees the three of them and invites them to sit down.
'Mr. Chopin, thank you for your stellar performance. May I ask who the composer was?'
If the one who created this masterpiece is still alive, maybe he can subsidize him or her to continue creating other pieces for his people and the world.
Frederic takes off his hat and bows.
'It's me.'
His answer has started a small wave of applause. Crescendo looks highly delighted.
'I'm very honoured to get the chance to listen to Mr. Chopin's work. Oh, allow me to introduce my fiancée, Serenade.'
'Hello. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.'
The voice of Serenade is nothing but elegant. Her choice of words and manners are obviously specially trained to match her identity.
This situation is completely not what Beat expects.
'Hey, what's going on here, Salsa? They're just talking about boring stuff. I don't see any food anywhere.'
'Well, I just thought they were probably gonna eat all the good stuff before we could get here.'
Salsa whispers back. Beat cannot believe what he hears.
So the food and the feast, are invented in your head?
Oh, great…
But in front of a prince and future princess, Beat knows his manner.
'There is something I wanted to tell all of you, about the position Baroque is in right now.' Crescendo says. 'Count Waltz is using mineral powder to convert his population into soldiers who fear nothing, not even death.'
Before falling down to Fusion River, Polka has learnt this from Andantino.
'We know. As soon as his preparations are complete, it is almost certain that he and his armies will invade Baroque.'
'However, if Baroque were to pre-emptively challenge Forte, many innocent civilians would surely get caught up in the resulting all-out war.'
Frederic is too a victim of war. The suffering of innocents is one of the greatest tragedies of war. Those sitting at the back commanding are only focusing on the number of kills they get that day, while turning a blind eye to those who die because of those few ones.
The topic now relates Beat's life as well, so he thinks he can join the discussion.
'So, what are you gonna do now?'
'Well, I thought that the solution to the problem would be to find a way to assassinate Count Waltz to avoid any other casualties. So… I aided Andantino.'
So the backup of Andantino is Baroque. That's why Waltz does not dare making any move on it yet.
Silent until now, Serenade looks worrier than Crescendo.
'But you see, I'm opposed to that plan. I believe assassination would be equivalent of a declaration of war against Forte, and if we were to do that, would it not be the same kind of evil for which Count Waltz is responsible?'
The rest five people fall silent.
'History always repeats itself. Even if we managed to succeed in assassinating Count Waltz, another Count Waltz would appear, then another. The problem itself would still remain. If we throw all our support behind a band of rebels, I believe it will be Baroque that is disgraced in the end.'
Looking back in history, mankind does repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Claiming war to be evil, people still fight against each other, refusing to understand other points of view. Sadly the passage of time tends to allow people to forget tragic and painful events. Once these memories are let go they continue on with their own lives, turning their backs on the blood shred on the ground.
'Therefore I have a favour to ask. I understand that all of you are acquainted with Jazz. There is a message I would like you to pass on to him. It is this: "Baroque can no longer provide you with any assistance." No matter how much of a tyrant Count Waltz may be, we cannot be absolutely certain that he is ever going to attack us. To attack him first would be a classic example of man's suspicious nature leading to war.'
This is a really serious matter. Unsure whether this is Crescendo's intention or not, Frederic looks at the prince for confirmation, who nods very reluctantly.
'We must achieve true peace. Not simply the appearance of it. But, because of the current situation with Forte, there is no way I can leave Baroque at the present time. Besides, if I were to be seen making contact with Andantino, the very thing alone could act as a trigger for war.' Crescendo lets out a long sigh. 'Could you perhaps meet with Jazz, and tell him for me, that this struggle itself is the very thing that's leading the world into chaos?'
Frederic instantly knows what Crescendo means.
'You would like us to inform Andantino that Baroque can no longer provide support for its actions. Is that correct?'
'I'm sorry to have to ask you to do this.'
In fact whether it is Crescendo's real wish or simply using them to get rid of the dirty job of facing Jazz in person to cut the alliance, Frederic does not know.
Those who start a war or conflict and make people suffer, that is no question wrong in all history' record. The thing that is fishy is, from the way Serenade puts it, she sounds like that Andantino and Baroque should leave Forte alone, without doing anything to rescue Ritardando and Agogo Forest. So does she suggest that nothing should be done to stop Waltz mining Mt. Rock and destroying the forest, or him using his people as subjects to test mineral powder turning them into half-dead berserkers? What about the thousands of civilians in Ritardando, still consuming mineral powder without knowing the conspiracy?
Is she really hoping to solve the tension?
Or does she have anything more than that…?
Beat however does not think that deep.
'Oh, is that all? Deliver a message? That's nothing. Retto and the others are probably already looking for us anyway.'
Jazz, Falsetto and Claves should be with Allegretto if they got off Fusion River together, then if they can make their way back to Ritardando somehow, delivering Crescendo's words should not be much of a problem.
It sounds like it is finally time for them to go back no matter what.
'That's true, Beat.' Polka says. 'We certainly can't just stay here like this forever.'
I'm sure mother is worried about me too.
'Then allow me to thank you all again. It's late now, so why don't you join us at the dining hall? Meanwhile I'll get rooms prepared for you. Please get completely rested tonight.'
Food?
'At last! I knew there is going to be a feast!'
Manners all gone, Salsa holds up a victorious fist in the air before Polka can stop her, but brought up by her the group suddenly realizes how hungry they are.
'Oh, Prince Crescendo, I don't know what to say, but, thank you.'
Polka tries to put it in the most polite way she can think of. Frederic and Beat also decide to accept Crescendo's generous hospitality.
'Then it's settled. Please come with me, this way.'
The group follows Crescendo and Serenade behind, with Salsa bouncing all along the way.
*****
The group set out next morning.
Crescendo has given them two weeks' worth of food and a very detailed map on the landscape of Baroque and Forte. According to the map there are two ways to go back to Ritardando – through Forte territory and Cabasa Bridge, or up the mountain range, Sharp Mountain, on the east of the two cities.
Unfortunately Cabasa Bridge has become nothing but some floating wood in Blue Sea now, and their identities are too sensitive to be seen in Forte.
That basically leaves them no choice.
The majestic scenery is great. Large and ancient rocks, undeveloped landscape covered in grass and rubbles, trees witnessing the dynasties of Baroque, cactuses struggles to survive in thin soil, ruins that may once belonged to extinct clan. Yet the challenge has not come yet. Because of the height, the peak areas of Sharp Mountain are covered in snow of millennium.
The mountain itself is not at very high difficulty in climbing up, but the snow is so thick that their knees are often half-buried in white solid water, draining their precious energy every step they make. Sometimes they need almost a full day to gain only around several ten metres above the ground level. Physical fatigue is not their only enemy, the higher they get, the air becomes thinner and colder. During daytime, the smooth snow surface reflects the sunlight which burns their eyes. At night while the temperature dives, the snow turns into hard ice that can slip them down for all they have worked up for the past days if they lose their guards.
'It's so cold up in this mountain. My nose won't stop running.'
Shivering and sniffing, Salsa is looking utterly miserable for good reason, as her dress is for the warm weather in Agogo Forest. Likewise, Beat is shaking like a leaf, even Polka is unhappily cold.
Regarding Frederic, he is the most appropriately dressed for this in a long coat and hat. The weather of his home country Poland has always been colder during winter. The mountain has already been merciful to them that there is no blizzard these days. This sort of coldness and snow never bothers him a bit.
As if a miracle happened, stood up on the way in front of their eyes, is a little lodge.
'Why don't we all rest for a while in this little lodge?'
Polka suggests. To Salsa, she does not want to rest for a while – a day please, she thinks.
Beat certain wants to get out of the cold, yet the advantage being a street urchin and spending years with Allegretto is that he is trained to be cautious about unfamiliar environment.
'Who in the world would live here?'
There is no other residence within miles. Why would one choose to be isolated from friends and shops to live like hidden tribe? Moreover there is no field or animals around it.
'Who cares about these at a time like this? Let's just go inside already.'
Without asking the rest's opinions Salsa leads the way into the lodge. Frederic, at the back, looks concerned as Beat and Polka exchange a few words and also go in.
There is a strange air coming from within. Something like magic, but he is not entirely sure.
How come I would create this in my dream?
Hoping to find the answer, Frederic decides that he nevertheless has to step into the lodge.
*****
Waltz reclines on his throne.
'So Claves did betray us for real, that ungrateful bitch.'
But he soon dismisses his grave, obviously caring little about the matter.
'Oh, well. Once we have an endless supply of insane soldiers, there'll be no need to spy on Andantino.'
'What about the one in Baroque?'
Cold as ice, same as the two triangular blades on her back, Rondo asks her master.
'Her? No, she's very dependable. And besides, her interests coincide with mine.'
'What do you mean?'
Short and precise, that is the way of Rondo's speech.
'Forte would be in a difficult position if we were to be attacked before we finished developing a more powerful mineral powder. Even when she marries into Baroque, she's still a princess of Forte. She's the perfect person to prevent Baroque from starting a war with us. She won't let them follow a path that could harm Forte.'
At this point, Waltz stands up from his throne.
'More importantly, Fugue should be searching Agogo Forest for glowing agogos. I want you to go there as well and if he's slacking off, give him some… encouragement.'
Waltz reaches out a hand to Rondo and punches the air. The meaning of 'encouragement' here cannot be clearer.
Not to kill him, but I don't care if you craft a tortoise on his back, with your swords.
'Yes.'
Rondo backs up, turns around, and leaves.
*****
The lodge is small, but homey. Every piece of furniture is made of wood. Loaves of bread and several bottles of wine are already set on the table. There is a fire burning in the large fireplace by the wall. On the mantelpiece are ornaments and china, though not first-class but clearly specially selected. The party is instantly cheered by the warmth.
'It's so warm in here!'
Salsa gratefully embraces the warmth near the fire. Polka also steps closer to warm her hands.
'There's something familiar about this place. It reminds me of my home in Tenuto.'
Yet the most important thing now is not to walk around as if this place is theirs. Frederic raises his voice and asks aloud.
'Please excuse us for the intrusion. Is anyone here?'
The fire is burning before they entered. There should be someone in the house or not far away. Frederic is about to ask again when he hears footsteps from the inner area. Apart from the sound of shoes against the wooden floor, there are clunks of wood against wood as well.
An old man?
But it turns out it is an old woman, whose silvery white hair set into braid rings on two sides of her head. Usually people would look alarmed when strangers appear in their house. This old woman however actually smiles.
'I knew you would be coming sooner or later, Polka dear.'
Frederic, Beat and Salsa turns to Polka, who is the most shocked among them.
'How do you know my name?'
'It's certainly been a long time, hasn't it? 10 years, and how many years has it been since I first saw you? It feels like it could have been only yesterday, but I suppose it also could have been hundreds of years ago.'
Beat leans towards Polka, asking her quietly.
'You know her?'
'No, I don't. I'm sorry, have we met somewhere before?'
The old woman goes over to the fireplace, and replenishes some firewood. The merry fire reflects in her pupils.
'Not somewhere, my dear. We've met before right here, in this very place. Because, you and your friends are the only one who can see me here. Other travellers will only find this an empty cabin.'
Polka finds it hard to believe. She is sure that she has no impression of this old woman, yet she can call her by her name.
'We met here? Excuse me, but this is the first time I've ever been to this place. How is it that you know about me?'
'My dear, I'm afraid you wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you. And even if you knew everything, there's nothing you can do.' The old woman turns around. 'You know what, Polka dear, you were never alone every time you came. I guess you are just born to be able to attract others to help you in your journeys.'
Every time?
This is all way too strange, even Salsa forgets about the fire and listens to the old woman's words.
'Then what're you doing here anyway? Don't tell me it's your job to just to wait here for her to show up?'
The old woman does not answer as she backs into the inner area. Shortly afterward she returns with a small box with a slot.
'First, dear, you are going to draw the fortune of bad luck.'
Beat looks positively amazed by her prediction.
'Wait, does that mean you know what she's going to draw?'
'Yes, I know very well. You see my job is to witness whether or not she ties that fortune to the sacred tree.'
'Sacred tree?' Polka asks.
'The tree standing right behind this house. Its real name is the Cello Tree. It has stood on this land for thousands and thousands of years. For the tree, it's as if time is standing still, for it never grows any bigger and it also never withers. Baroque citizens think it is blessed, because it doesn't age.'
The old woman steps closer to Polka.
'Now, go ahead, draw your fortune. You will soon know whether I have told you is the truth or not.'
She puts down the box on the table and steps aside. Beat whispers to Frederic for his opinion (talking to Salsa is pointless, he thinks).
'What do you think? Should Polka do it? This whole thing is kind of weird.'
'I'll do it. I'll draw one. There's no way she could know what I'm going to draw before I do it. It just doesn't make any sense.' Polka digs her hand into the slot. 'It's because you don't know what you're going to get before you draw, that you can have hope for the future.'
She draws a fortune and picks it out. It is tied with a blue teardrop crystal. She shows it to the old woman.
'Now then, my dear, go over to the sacred tree, and if it is indeed a bad fortune, you should tie it to one of the branches of the tree. By doing that you will drive away the bad luck.'
Polka nods and heads out of the lodge. Frederic, Beat and Salsa remain inside waiting. The fortune belongs to Polka alone and no one else. They should not know its content unless Polka talks about it herself.
The sudden change in temperature makes Polka sneezes as she opens her fortune in the wind.
The stars that float in the sky are sunken lower than the moon.
They actually shine very bright, but no one knows that.
They are in a place no one can reach. So no one notices.
The stars never come near us. Their light is too brilliant. It would take away our sight.
But someone is crying, screaming in a dark place.
Then she casts out her frightened heart. Look, she is standing right there.
Polka does not know exactly what it means, but no one can deny that it is not something good. The pronoun used here is not a universal 'he' but a 'she', as though it is meant for Polka herself.
Frightened heart… crying… screaming…
I hate to admit it but the old woman is correct.
The only thing to do now is to tie it to the tree, which is just behind the lodge. No question that the Cello Tree is very old, where its branches and trunks are twisting. The strange thing is that there is no other tree in such height and weather, this one however has stood here for thousands of years according to that old woman.
Polka looks up for a branch low enough for her to tie it on, but she gasps, not because there is no leaves.
Every available space are almost tied by fortunes, covering almost the whole tree in paper.
All of them are bad luck?
Who in the world is that old woman?
If this is a joke it is not funny. Did that woman play a trick on her? Those fortunes in that box, are they all bad fortunes?
Polka returns to the lodge.
'Well, Polka? How did it go?'
But from her expression, Frederic thinks he knows the outcome. Polka passes by the three of them and looks around the lodge.
'Where did she go?'
Salsa looks behind her where the old woman has been, but what she sees is only the wall of the lodge.
'Hey, she was here just a minute ago!'
'What?'
There is no other exit except from the front door. How can someone just disappears without them knowing?
'Hey! Old lady! Where did you go?'
Beat searches around, but Polka realizes there is no need for that already.
'Beat, I don't think she's going to come even if you shout. She doesn't have a reason to be here anymore. Her duty is over.'
Salsa sees that the fortune Polka just drew is not in her hand.
'Anyway, what did your fortune say?'
Polka hesitates at first, but decides to say it.
'Well, it was just as she predicted.'
'Really? Oh, well, I wouldn't worry about it. It's just a scrap of paper after all.'
Salsa offers her own way of consolation. This girl really has no whatsoever people call manner or etiquette, and she says what comes up in her mind, but in this case, Polka thinks, the knot in her heart has loosened quite a lot.
They are now the only people in the house. The fire is still going in the fireplace. The food is on the table same as before. If it is not the fortune box, the party might think what they saw must have been an illusion.
They rest in the house and set out again next morning, and it proves that a good sleep away from the cold is the best way to recover their energy. They have passed through the steepest part on their journey to the top of Sharp Mountains, feeling even less tired than before. The rest of the way will be going down back to the ground level, which is certainly good news to them. Snow again is replaced by green plants and grass, and Beat takes this chance to take pictures of the sceneries below. Judging from the flat, vast plain they should have reached the Chorus Plains.
Viola's house is like a toy block looking from here. Beat uses the zooming function of his camera and sees that there are white dots moving around the house area.
Is she back?
According to the map the foot of Sharp Mountain is neighbouring Agogo Forest. At their pace they will be back to Ritardando territory the next day.
Polka watches Beat capturing everything here and there under his camera. She knows that in Ritardando people can sell pictures for money to professional photographers, depending on their quality level and rarity. Since people seldom travel this far just to take pictures on Chorus Plains' scenery, what Beat has taken may fetch a nice price.
'You really love that camera, don't you Beat?'
'Yes I do. It's the most important thing in the whole world to me. It was my father's. This camera is the only thing he left to me.'
Beat holds up his camera showing it to Polka.
'Yeah, every time I look at it, I remember my father. But it's more than just that. When he gave it to me, this is what he said, "This is a very special camera. The pictures it takes are different depending on who uses it".'
'Well of course, Obviously, if someone who's good at photography uses it, they'll take better pictures.'
Salsa deliberately puts an accent on the word 'good' as if hinting that Beat is not at the standard.
'Hey, don't make fun of my father's camera! Besides that's not what he meant. It can show things in the pictures you wouldn't be able to see otherwise.'
Polka observes the camera closely. No matter how she looks, it does not look like it has any special powers.
'Well, some things we only understand by experience. There are a lot of things we can't understand until we look at them later objectively. Although most of what we consciously experience is vital, in reality, we are using so many other senses. Even so, people are often misled from the truth because they rely far too much on what they see with their eyes.'
Exactly how Ritardando is now, exactly why people are using mineral powder.
'Pictures can capture a single moment in time, and sometimes they can hold a truth beyond just the image itself. I can't be sure, but Beat, I think that's probably what your father was trying to say to you.'
She gives the camera back to Beat. Salsa looks deeply impressed.
'Man, you're really getting all philosophical, aren't you? Well, whatever.'
Beat bets that she does not understand a single word, and goes back to his business of taking more pictures. He understands that he still needs plenty more experience, and he does not want to let go of any chance which he can practice.
'Anyway, pictures are visual reflections of reality, right? So, do you think music can do something like that too?'
Frederic, who has been walking behind them this whole time, is surprised to be so suddenly drawn into the conversation.
'What?'
'What I mean is, if there was music that "performs" reality, what would it be like?'
… Music that performs reality?
Frederic continues to think about Polka's question all the way along. Two days later they walk past Ritardando and finally return to the ground surface at the entrance of a green forest. As the guardian of this place, this is no obstacle to Salsa. In two hours the party emerges in a clearing. Wooden houses, small stream, wooden statues of faces and animals.
Salsa's home.
'Well, look at that, we're back in Agogo Village. I must be a genius if I do say so myself.'
She strikes a self-congratulatory pose that no one pays attention to. In a nearby patch, a small figure with layered lilac hair is picking mushrooms. It is dressed in the same way Salsa is.
'Hey, isn't that your sister March?'
Salsa looks at where Beat points at.
'You're right! It is! Hey!'
Salsa waves her hand as she runs. Her identical twin March turns around as she hears the call.
'Salsa! Welcome home!'
'I'm glad to see you're okay.'
Frederic, Polka and Beat come up to them. Salsa and March look really alike – same height, same hairstyle, same clothing.
'I know you're totally hopeless without me around, so I was a little worried about you. But goodness, I sure ran into a lot of trouble on this trip. First I was thrown into a scary dungeon, and then I climbed a frozen mountain. I'm telling you, it was a spectacle, a truly astoundingly big adventure!'
March listens all the way through quietly. Her personality is far more staid then Salsa. Even for the most thrilling part she only responds with a smile. Though interrupting is not polite, but Salsa is still excitedly talking about her story that she does not notice something happening around her.
'Um, uh, Salsa? More importantly, you should probably take a look at that?'
Salsa cannot believe that there is something else more important than the story of her trip. Impatiently she looks at where March points.
A large crowd of agogos have started to gather around Polka. Those nearest to her are glowing brightly.
'Oh my goodness! The agogos are glowing! In all the time I've lived here, I've never seen anything like that.'
Beat takes out his camera. Last time the agogo ran away before he got the chance to take a picture of it. Now there are so many he can take as many as he likes. Knowing that they are shy creatures, Beat makes sure he has turned off the flash light. Apart from just the agogos, Polka also becomes a model in some of his pictures.
'I think they're trying to tell us something. Just look at how excited they are.'
Yet a dreadfully familiar voice ends all the excitement.
'I came to find out the secret of the glowing agogos, but I never expected to find the place where they lived. I suppose luck is on my side today.'
Frederic and Polka tensed up at the voice. They look up and see a man coming to them, murmuring while surveying the surroundings.
'Now that I think about it, I never did check around here before.'
Frederic's eyes narrow at the sight of that royal guard armour and that monocle on his right eye.
'You again!'
Beat hears the anger in his voice.
'Frederic? Do you know who this person is?'
'He attacked us for no reason at all in Agogo Forest!'
Polka glares at Fugue. She can still feel the spot at the back of her neck where she was knocked out by him.
'Did I really? I'm afraid I do tend to forget unimportant little details like that.'
Frederic and Polka are absolutely sure that Fugue is mocking, but the way he tilts his head pretending he has forgotten what he has done makes them sick. If Beat had not heard what Polka said he would even have thought that this man could be a gentleman. Hearing that he is coming for the agogos, Salsa alertly looks at him.
'But I have to tell you, today is not only my lucky day, it's all of yours as well. I had intended to take you all to Forte Castle. There, you would have been made to suffer, until you revealed the secret location of the glowing agogos.'
Fugue unleashes his katana, still talking with that mock polite voice, the joy to kill shines from his eyes.
'But now that I know where they live, well, there's simply no need for extended torture.'
Alarmed, Salsa retrieves the two orange rings on her back, each hand holds one.
'Everyone step back. I'll kick his butt alone!'
'I'll just put you out of your misery right now. After all I really have no need for you anymore, guardians of Agogo Forest!'
'I won't let you lay a finger on the agogos!'
The katana brushes across from sideway, striking at Salsa's waist. An ominous black shade shines from the blade. Salsa takes a step backward, allowing the blade tip sweeping past in front of her waist. Unexpectedly Fugue does not wait for the katana's tendency to turn rigid and exerts force onto his wrists, the horizontal sweep abruptly changes to a vertical push, jabbing towards Salsa's stomach. A katana made of steel is never light, but Fugue can make it change course in midway. This is out of everyone's prediction, same for Salsa who quickly presses the Solar Rings onto the katana and, with the help of action-reaction force, leaps upward.
Fugue does not wait for Salsa to land and pursues. Salsa's rings press onto the katana again and she takes off the second time. Fugue is annoyed by this.
'Down!'
The katana resolutely follows. Hanging in midway it is not easy for Salsa to dodge.
No good!
Salsa grabs the ridge of the katana and knocks the rings down onto Fugue. If she had the strength of a fully grown adult, the katana would have snatched away from his hand. Yet Fugue's physical strength is much stronger than Salsa's and manages to hold it firmly. As he retreats backward Salsa also let go of the katana and lands swiftly. Though unable to steal the enemy's weapon, nevertheless the danger is lifted. The one that is most relieved is none other than her sister March.
At this time, Salsa suddenly raises the Solar Rings and slices at Fugue. He at first thought that he could dispatch her within three moves, Salsa's agility is out of his calculation. He quickly jumps backward. The slice almost cut him on the thighs.
I'm losing to this little brat?
'Stop messing with me!'
In a roar, Fugue directs the katana to Salsa and attacks madly. Salsa is forced to back away unceasingly. The holes in her defence are gradually exposed. Seeing the weak points in her Solar Rings, Fugue retrieves the katana to his left waist, grinning wickedly.
You bugs can never appreciate beauty of this kind!
There is no way Frederic can ever forget that stance.
'Get down, Salsa!'
'J'accuse!'
The same vacuum-blade that knocked Frederic out in Agogo Forest darts straight to Salsa. The moment she heard his warning she has already braced herself for what will come. A lunar-shaped nonphysical attack is never what she expects. It is coming so fast that it is too late for her to dodge. Under reflex action Salsa can only use the Solar Rings as shield. As the vacuum-blade gets contact with the rings, she feels an overpowering force vibrating in her wrists. Her tiny body flies off under the momentum and, in a snap, one of the rings breaks into half.
Salsa's managed to stay alive is both surprised to the party and Fugue. From what they see the two Solar Rings have nothing special to suggest what kind of material they are made of. Frederic has tasted the power of J'accuse before, and the rings, though one broken, actually managed to block it.
Salsa does not seem winced by that. She chucks the broken ring to Fugue, who ducks sideway. Salsa closes in with the remaining Solar Ring. Fugue does not dare letting his guard down and defences with his katana. Salsa utilizes her incomparable speediness to attack among the gaps of the katana. Though it often seems to threaten her life, turns out it is unable to touch any part of her body.
Fugue gets more and more impatient as the fight goes on. By this time he would have dispatched most of his previous opponents, but up till now he still is unable to win over an eight-year-old girl.
'Enjoy the dark roses! Blood Scent!'
Fugue holds the katana in two hands and waves. Now with the power from his two hands and waist, the sound of wind on the blade is doubled than before. Blood Scent does not have many variations, comprised of only diagonal slashes and pierces, but while they are repeatedly dished out Salsa is forced to back away and away. Not to say taking him head-on, she does not even dare getting caught in the wind on the blade.
Normally speaking Fugue would never have liked to use this final move of his in this trivial battle, needless to say on a child, but at this point he cannot care more about that. The only thing he wants is to cut this troublesome brat into half. Salsa can only rely on her agility to jump around, concentrating on nothing but dodging. There is no room for her to fight back. March's heart palpitates with anxiety and fear, while Fugue yells 'good!' in his heart.
Under the tight pursue of the katana Salsa has no choice but to shrink, and without long she feels her back against a tree. Seeing that she has no more space to retreat, a wicked grin twists on Fugue's lips.
'This will be short and sweet!'
The katana sweeps horizontally. The moment the tree trunk meets the blade it is instantly sliced into two. Following a loud 'BOOM!' the broken tree falls onto the ground.
At the last second, Salsa leaps over Fugue's head and lands behind him. It takes more than a second for Fugue to take in what has happened. Even for a fully trained soldier, that overhead leap is deemed impossible to anyone. Who would have thought that a little girl of barely a metre tall could jump up more than triple of her height?
Having just escaped the gate of hell, Salsa does not hesitate as she vertically holds the Solar Ring above her head and dives for the back of Fugue's head.
'Solar Flare!'
Not to say the Solar Ring, if the brain is knocked by any hard object it can induce instant kill. The ring edge cracks Fugue's skull and sinks deep into his hindbrain. If Salsa had the strength of an adult, that cut would even have chopped his head into two from between, but nevertheless that blow is already fatal to anyone. Fugue silently falls facedown onto the ground, apparently dead.
Ha, I'm fabulous and talented!
March runs up to her sister.
'Salsa, are you okay? You are not hurt, are you?'
Salsa is very proud of herself.
'Certainly not. See? You can always rely on me. That's why you're hopeless without me. You still have lots more to learn from me, March.'
Beat knows that soon Salsa is going to brag about this on him, so he quickly asks.
'So, what did that guy want anyway?'
'He said something about the secret of the agogos.' Salsa says loudly. 'It didn't make any sense!'
Frederic recalls that Fugue said about 'the secret location of the glowing agogos'.
'It sounded as though he wanted to find where the glowing agogos live.'
'Yeah, exactly!' Salsa interrupts. '"Glowing agogos"? Who ever heard of such a ridiculous thing?'
Clearly her triumph mood is still in effect that she does not think twice what she says, because more than a hundred agogos are glowing right beside them. Beat hears a different meaning in Salsa's words.
'Huh? Wait, you mean agogos don't usually glow?'
'Of course they don't glow! Geez, if you don't know that much, you're even more of a baby than I thought you were.'
Beat is about to shout when March gives him an apologetic expression. Salsa, who does not know that and thinks that Beat cannot find any excuse to argue back, smiles smugly.
'Actually,' March says quietly, 'I've been doing a little research about it, and I've made a rather interesting discovery.'
She looks at Polka.
'The first time you came into the forest, you saw an agogo that was glowing. Isn't that what you told me?'
'Yes, that's right. It was definitely glowing.'
Salsa gazes at Polka as though she has never seen her plainly before.
'What? Are you serious? I just can't believe it.'
'I know. At first, I didn't believe it either, but when I looked into the tales passed down in our ancestors, I came across an old legend that talks about glowing agogos. "Agogos are mirrors of the forest, and mirrors of the heart. Reflecting the gleam of the shimmering jewel, when they glow, you will know the time has come. They shall become a light that comforts the dearest wish of the maiden's tears.'
Salsa thinks hard about it.
'Hmm. Very interesting…'
'Come on then!' Beat eyes eagerly at her. 'What does all that mean?'
'It means…' Salsa turns her back on him. 'I've got no clue.'
She puts her hands up in a surrendering gesture. Expecting her to reveal the answer, Beat is disappointed and dissatisfied.
'What? You were acting like you understood it!'
'My preliminary estimate,' March says again, 'is that it could be referring to one's purity in the heart. In other words, the glow of the agogos is the light reflection from our heart.'
'Then if it's really the case, then our hearts must be very pure to reflect that much light, right?'
Frederic looks around him. It is true that the agogos are glowing like crazy, even more than the light from diamonds, as if each of them is a small sun.
'It's not so much the agogos around us as it is the ones around Polka, that appears to glow.'
Polka feels the gazes from everyone.
If they are talking about heart's purity, there should be plenty others that have a good and kind heart as well. Why do agogos never glow around them, but particularly for Polka?
Apparently, Polka must have something everyone else does not…
'But this makes me wonder all the more about that thug we encountered. And didn't we hear that Count Waltz is searching for glowing agogos?'
'Oh I get it.' Beat says. 'Do you think maybe that guy coulda been working for Count Waltz or something?'
'It is a possibility. After all, Salsa was imprisoned for doing nothing more than going to Forte and asking for speaking with the Count.'
Salsa even gets to look serious for the first time.
'This is starting to sound kind of dangerous. I don't wanna leave March alone, so I think I'll keep an eye on things here for a while, okay?'
'Actually, I'd really like to go and see my mom.' Polka says. 'So I'm going to stop in Tenuto for a while.'
Hearing that she wants to go home, Beat also thinks he should check on the orphans in the sewers while he and Allegretto were away. Since they last separated in Fusion River he has not heard any news from him.
'I'm gonna head back to my hideout in Ritardando and see what's up. If Retto is back he might already be there waiting by now.'
'Then perhaps I'll go along with you, Beat.' Frederic says. 'I must find Jazz, and Ritardando is where he's likely to be.'
Crescendo has asked him to tell Andantino that Baroque can no longer aid them in opposing Waltz. It is already more than a week since that day, and he has to tell Jazz as soon as possible.
Beat looks very pleased that he has Frederic as accompany.
'All right. Then let's pick a time for us to meet up again in Ritardando.'
Unknown to them, their whole discussion and that battle between Salsa and Fugue were already spied by someone from the cover of the trees.
Huh, so much for Fugue, can't even beat a kid.
Hair tied into a ponytail by a rose, unmoved by the death of her former colleague, Rondo expressionlessly observes the party parts way.
Now, as for that young girl. The agogos only seem to glow when they're around her.
Why? And who is she?
But what makes the difference? As long as she can complete Waltz's mission, who cares? At the thought of this, she cannot help but laugh in her heart.
No wonder she could not find them all this time. It turns out where they live is not important.
It must be the girl. She, is the key to everything.
Rondo casts a disdainful eye at Fugue's body, which is being moved away by the two forest guardians.
Mission failed and gets killed in action, Waltz has no need for such rubbish.
Only the strongest can survive.
Don't hold a grudge against me, Fugue. But it looks like I'm going to get credit for this one.
Haste makes waste. The most important thing now is to report what she has seen to Count Waltz. After all, capturing a girl alive is as easy as killing an ant.
