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Azure Dreams: Monsbaiyan Tales
Vivian
Written by Estrelita Farr
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Golden sands, shining like a sea of gold. A vast azure sky, stretching as far as one could see. A gentle wind pulling at her travelling cloak, Vivian stopped at the top of a cliff, eyes focus forward.
The desert town of Monsbaiya. Small and tiny next to the fabled Monster Tower.
A smile spread across her lips.
A new town… a new beginning.
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Unlike other cities where the bars were of a higher class, the one and only bar at Monsbaiya was a small and dim place, filled with rowdy treasure hunters shouting at the top of their lungs. Often they would suddenly launch into an impromptu wrestling match, forcing the stern bartender to silently throw them off the stage, then there would be peace and quiet for a few days.
Though Vivian had passed through many cities and visited their bars, these places were vastly different from here – more quiet, more classy, more… professional. This Monsbaiyan bar, on the other hand, felt like such a drop of standards – such a loud and rowdy place – that she wondered if she should quickly pack up and leave for the bigger cities.
Then, her gaze fell onto the stage, the small stage at the centre of the bat. It was just a raised platform barely the size of a double bed, with blinking lights that were often turned off… but it was a stage nonetheless. It made her heart lighter just looking at it.
She glanced at the clock on the wall. Was it time yet? She could hardly sit still, waiting for the clock to strike six. Waiting and waiting…
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!
There it was, the six calls of the clock.
A sudden hushed silence took over the bar. Every single patron, even the rowdy ones yelling at the top of their lungs before, remained still.
The bar grew dimmer and dimmer, until it was just barely bright enough to see. Then, a bright spotlight shone onto the stage, the edge of the platform blinking like Christmas lights in the nearest city.
And there Vivian stood, eyes closed. With slender body wrapped in a sparkling scarlet dress, hair gleaming like sunset rays. Bright. Dazzling.
The soft sound of a violin. Slow and gentle at first, then gradually growing stronger, faster. Joined by a lively flute, an energetic piano.
Vivian's eyes snapped open. Hands spread like wings, she floated across the stage like a swan. Her body felt light, as though filled with whimsical clouds, and so was her heart. Her shoes made no sounds on the stage.
Everyone watched in hushed silence. Eyes wide, still as though frozen. Mesmerised by the graceful movements.
Then, as she slowed to a stop… the music ended.
Silence.
A moment passed. Another moment passed. Then the entire bar exploded into uproar. Everyone clapped and shouted themselves hoarse.
Vivian's lips curled into a wide, proud smile, and she gave a deep, grateful bow towards her audience.
This was the reason why she was willing to endure the less than ideal atmosphere of the bar. This was the reason she lived for.
Dancing.
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Vivian had been at the bar for a few days when a particular adolescent boy – a frequent visitor – drew her attention. There was nothing really remarkable about him – medium sized with messy red hair – but he drew her attention all the same. Perhaps it was because he was the only one closer to her age – he couldn't be more than fifteen or sixteen. Or perhaps it was because he never shouted at the top of his lungs like the other rowdy patrons. Or perhaps it was because he never ordered anything but one hundred percent pure natural orange juice, which the bartender would grimly squeeze while the boy chatted animatedly with Madam. During her breaks, Vivian would often gaze at him from her table at the corner, smiling inward to herself. The sight of an adolescent boy happily slurping orange juice in a bar was amusing, to say the least.
At that moment, Madam caught her eye and waved her over. "Ah, Vivian, come and join us. I don't believe you've met Koh?"
Vivian sent a quick glance at the boy and shook her head. "No, Madam, I haven't." Taking a seat beside him, she gave a dazzling smile. "Hello, I'm Vivian, the bar's new dancer."
The boy grinned. "Well, nice to meet you, Vivian! I'm Koh, a monster tamer."
"A… monster tamer?"
The bar owner nodded. "You've heard the term a few times, haven't you, Vivian? Most of the guys here are treasure hunters, or monster tamers. They bring a tamed monster – called a familiar – with them into the Monster Tower and hope to strike it rich by finding treasures. Of course, it's not called the Monster Tower for nothing; it's full of wild monsters waiting to eat them." She laughed. "Koh here might not look like it, but he's the best in town! Why, he reached the twenty-sixth floor just yesterday!"
Vivian's eyes widened, staring at Koh. This… boy, the best monster tamer in town? But he couldn't be more than fifteen or sixteen… even younger than her! Was he really better than all these rowdy guys, who were much bigger than him?
Madam suddenly gasped. "Oh, my! Now look at the time! I've got to run to the store before it closes! Now why don't you two youngsters chat a little while I'm gone?" With a knowing smile, she went around the bar left through a door at the back.
The bartender, the only one left behind the bar, stepped a little further away and nonchalantly began wiping a glass with a cloth, as though he hadn't heard a single thing.
Koh and Vivian glanced at each other.
Silence.
The boy rubbed his head. "So, uh… I saw you dancing earlier. You were pretty lively."
Vivian's lips curled into a proud smile. "You've got great sense when it comes to dancing. When I'm on the stage, my body feels lighter… like a bird escaping from its cage." She smirked. "Have you ever felt like a gorilla escaping from a cage?"
A raised eyebrow. "Are you calling me a gorilla?"
She laughed. "Was it that obvious? Sorry."
He grinned. "Well, I've been called plenty of things, but gorilla's a first!" He pretended to scowl. "And why am I a gorilla, of all things? These guys are even bigger than me! I think a better word should be…"
A pause.
"…a chimpanzee!" Suddenly he sprang to his feet and fell into a strange spinning dance. "Look at me, I'm a chimpanzee escaping from the cage! Ooh ooh ah ah!"
Vivian burst into laughter, her high voice drawing several eyes.
Such a good-humoured fellow, never taking insults seriously… it seemed she had just made her first friend in town.
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Days passed. Koh continued to drop by the bar often, placing the same order of one hundred percent pure natural orange juice – was that only thing he would drink? – though this time, he would make an effort to arrive in time before her usual six o'clock dance. Sometimes he arrived way too early, sometimes he came rushing in after the music had already started. Even if he missed the dance entirely, he would still drop in to chat with Madam, Vivian, and sometimes the stern bartender. And, every time he visited, Vivian would learn something new about her new friend.
While he seemed to be someone kind and chatty to everyone, she was wrong to think so – he did have someone that he extremely disliked, judging by the deep scowl on his face the moment this other adolescent boy came striding into the bar. The latter was perhaps a few years older than Koh, with an aura that screamed "I HAVE MONEY AND YOU DON'T!" at the top of its lungs. She knew; she had met many of the sort in posh bars in other cities. Even if she hadn't, well, with an expensive-looking suit made of smooth gleaming silk, a gold-hilted sword in a brightly bejewelled sheath and the frequent order of absurdly expensive mocktail, it wasn't hard to tell.
"Hello, Miss Vivian," he often greeted with a dripping syrupy voice, a greasy lopsided grin on his face. "I bless this day for being able to meet you; you're like a brightly shining star in a great abyss of darkness."
The dancer gave a dazzling smile. "Why, thank you, Mr. Ghosh Rhode. A pleasure to meet you too."
Ignoring a scowling Koh at the side, Ghosh made a show of running a hand through his hair. "This puny little bar is wasted on you, Miss Vivian; why don't we slip away into the night? I'm sure I would be better company than a certain red-headed scum."
Koh clenched his fists. "S-scum?! Why you–"
Vivian's high laugh filled the bar. "Thanks for the offer, Mr. Ghosh, but I'm afraid I'm not done with my work yet. Madam would look unkindly on me if I were to slip away, tempting though it is."
He clicked his tongue. "A pity. Well, in that case, I will ask for your leave. Until another day, Miss Vivian!"
With a deep bow, he left.
Koh stuck out a tongue at Ghosh's back, and continued to glare at the door long after the latter was gone.
Vivian glanced at him. "You really don't like him, do you?"
He gasped. "Who would like him?! He's such a–" Followed by a long string of insults.
Vivian shook her head. She didn't say it out loud, but, well, she didn't find Ghosh too disagreeable. In fact, she rather liked the attention.
But, in the end, everything didn't matter… as long as she could dance.
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While he didn't look it, Koh was an easy person to talk to. He listened quietly to her, the same way he listened when Madam went off on one of her long stories. But of course, he, too, liked to go off on a long story relating to the Monster Tower, given the chance.
Vivian often told him stories of the cities she passed through on the way to Monsbaiya. Often she would see a nostalgic gleam in his eyes and often she would wonder what it meant, but he didn't volunteer an answer, and neither did she ask. As the range of their topics grew wider and wider, she found herself opening more and more of herself to him.
"So, Koh," she said one day, "Do you have a dream?"
"A dream, huh?" The boy crossed his arms. "Well, I hope to reach the top of the Monster Tower one day. I guess you could call it a dream."
"I see. So that's why your eyes reflect hope. You see, I have a dream, too." She spread her hands, eyes shining. "I want to dance on an ENORMOUS stage in front of a thousand people!"
His eyes widened. "Wow, a thousand people?"
"Yes, but…" She shook her head. "I've travelled to many cities, but not one of them has a decent theatre. Rumours said the city of Haruka had one, but sadly, it's gone." She sighed. "It's a pity to have a dream but not the chance. Maybe I'll start travelling again."
Silence. A thoughtful look washed over his face.
Vivian chuckled. "But it won't be so soon. I'd miss your gorilla dance, you know?"
He sprang to his feet, eyes narrowed as though in anger, but a grin spread across his face. "Hey! It's a chimpanzee dance, not a gorilla dance!"
Once again her high laughter filled the bar, drawing several pairs of eyes.
Yes, she would certainly miss him when it was time to travel again… if only Monsbaiya had a theatre.
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Another few days passed, and Vivian continued dancing every day. She drew so many new patrons to the bar that her dance schedule increased from once to several times a day, with a long-enough break in between. Throughout the day the place was filled to the brim with people – treasure hunters, construction workers, farmers, store owners… there seemed to be no end to these people.
Then, one day, after her usual six o'clock dance, a young man approached her.
She blinked.
Wow, what a loud, colourful suit. With a striking blue bowtie that seemed to be even bigger than his face. Wouldn't he see everything in green through those thick green glasses? And what was up with that striking blue hair?
"Good evening, Ms. Vivian!" he greeted cheerily as he handed over a card. "I'm Fon, the manager over at the theatre." His eyes shone. "I've been told the bar has a wonderful dancer, and WOW! Your dancing was GREAT!"
She gave her usual dazzling smile. "Thanks for your complime–" She stopped. "W-wait… did you say 'theatre'? Monsbaiya has a theatre?!"
He scratched his head. "Well… it's not quite a theatre yet, per se. We've just gotten a generous sponsor, but it shouldn't take more than a few more weeks before the construction shop's done with it!"
"How…" She took a deep breath. "How big is it going to be? How many people can it hold?"
"Hm… I'd say about a thousand people. Big, eh?" He grinned. "It's going to have the best comedy show in the entire world, and I'm putting together a dance troupe now! Your wonderful dancing would be a great asset! Would you join us?"
The news hit Vivian like a whirlwind, leaving her stunned and breathless.
A theatre. Here in Monsbaiya. One that would fit a thousand people… and the manager wanted her. It was almost too good to be true.
"Well, Ms. Vivian?" Fon said.
Vivian gasped. "Y-yes! Of course! I'd be glad to!"
Her dream… her lifelong dream of dancing on an enormous stage in front of thousand people… was about to come true.
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Koh, Madam and the stern bartender were as excited as they could be when Vivian told them the good news. Madam gave a cheerful smile and wished her all the best, adding that Fon was a young man passionate about performing. The stern bartender merely nodded as he continued to wipe the glass with a cloth and said, "Good luck." Koh grinned widely and yelled, "CONGRATS!"
Vivian smiled proudly, gratefully. She hadn't been at the bar long, but she was glad she came here. She was glad she was able to dance here.
Days passed. Vivian couldn't wait, couldn't sit still. Only a few more weeks. Only a few more weeks of dancing on the little stage, only a few more weeks before she would find herself on the enormous stage of her dreams. She fidgeted as she counted down on her calendar, waiting for the theatre to be completed.
Then, finally, the day came.
The cool morning sun shining down on her, Vivian couldn't help but to stare upwards.
The Monsbaiyan Theatre. A brand new building of various colours – which reminded her of a certain colourfully dressed manager – with the thick smell of paint still in the air. The gigantic signboard brightly polished, the front gate shining as though painted with gold. It sent a wave of excitement through her – it felt as though the theatre was built just for her.
The side door – presumably for the staff – was unlocked. Eager to see the stage, she stepped in.
The halls were still completely empty and devoid of people, but already she could imagine the vast crowd lining up for tickets. Already she would imagine the shining eyes of her audience, the thunderous clap of their hands.
And there it was. The enormous stage. ENORMOUS, compared to that puny little stage at the bar. Several spotlights focused on the stage, bright and dazzling. In the dim hall, beyond the stage, she could barely make out rows and rows of red upholstered seats, seemingly endless. There was even another level of seats above, as well as the sides of the halls.
ENORMOUS. It felt like there were TEN THOUSAND seats, not a thousand!
A jittery bug jumped in her stomach at the thought. Sent a shiver down her back. Made her heart race. It surprised her.
Was it… nervousness? She… nervous? But, she had been dancing all her life, and she had never felt nervous before…
She shook her head. No, she wasn't nervous. She was just filled with excitement at the sight of her lifelong dream right within reach, ripe for the taking.
…wasn't it?
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Explosive. If Vivian had to use only one word to describe the theatre's opening day, it was that.
Long before the ticketing booth even opened, hundreds and hundreds people gathered to form a line that took up the entire street and the next. And the next. Eager voices filled the air as they waited in anticipation, each hoping to get a good seat. Most of the stores in the entire town closed for day even though it was barely evening, as though it was officially declared a holiday. A few business-minded people even set up stalls outside the shut theatre gates, spreading the delicious scent of food.
As Vivian waited in the dancers' dressing room, she couldn't calm her heart down. She kept glancing into the mirror, checking and double checking her sparkling red dress, her gleaming rose-coloured hair. The jittery bug never left her stomach, even in the last hours before her was due to perform. No, she wasn't nervous… she was just eager.
She glanced at the other dancers. The two in yellow dresses seemed rather nervous, almost white in the face as they huddled at the corner seats, barely speaking. The other two, however, didn't seem fazed at all – Mee, the lead dancer in a sea blue dress, was loudly gossiping with Fal, the second lead dancer in a forest green dress, occasionally bursting into laughter.
A loud knock at the door, making everyone jump. Fon stepped in, wearing yet another loud and colourful suit, grinned widely.
"Well, ladies!" he cried. "It's almost time! Feeling nervous?"
Mee smirked, holding up the skirt of her blue dress as she got to her feet. "Of course not! This is the moment that I've been looking forward to!"
"Yeah, me too!" Fal chipped in, standing up as well.
Fon laughed. "Great! Just dance like how you did during practice, and this show will be SMASHING!"
A loud cheer thundered through the roof of the theatre, as though to bring the entire building down.
The manager grinned. "Well, it's time!"
Throughout the thundering cheer, the dancers made their way to the stage, hidden from the audience by a thick red curtain. They formed an inverted V shape as they waited for the music to start, with Mee at the head, Fal and a yellow-dressed dancer at the second row, Vivian and the other yellow dress dancer at the last row.
Vivian felt her heart racing, banging against her chest. The jittery bug flipped in her stomach, her hands and knees trembled. Even they were about to start dancing, her feet felt heavy. She felt heavy.
Doubt filled her heart. She had always felt light before a dance, as though a single rush of wind would carry her away. Yet, now… she felt heavy, as though she was wearing lead.
Was she… scared? Scared to dance in front of a thousand pairs of eyes? But this was her dream. Her lifelong dream. This was what she lived for. Why would she be scared?
The music abruptly started, making her jump. The curtain slowly rose, allowing bright spotlights to flood onto the stage, allowing the audience to cast their eyes on the shining dresses of the dancers. They clapped for a few short seconds before lapsing into silence.
The sound of a solo violin filled the hall, gentle and soft. Gradually it grew louder and louder, faster and faster. Then, with a loud "BANG!" from a drum, the dancers sprang like budding flowers. A lively flute. An energetic piano. An enthusiastic drum, bringing the stage to life.
But Vivian's feet remained heavy. Slow. As though something was dragging her down, adamant to stop her from dancing.
But the show had to go on. Gritting her teeth, she refused to stop… but the weight was taking its toll on her movements.
A stumble. Another stumble. A left step instead of right. Back instead of front. Her mistakes threw everything off, and even the other dancer on her row started making mistakes. Some of the crowd started murmuring to each other, pointing at the stage.
Then, finally, with a simultaneous pose from the dancers, the music ended. The curtains lowered slowly onto the stage. The audience clapped politely, with much less enthusiasm than before, with uncertainty and disappointment.
Vivian had never felt this glad to stop dancing… and it filled her with dread.
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At the backstage, an exasperated Fon slapped his forehead, shaking his head at the five dancers. "Okay, would someone just tell me WHAT THE HECK happened out there?! You were perfect during practice!"
Mee gave an indignant huff. "Well, MOST of us were perfect out there, until a CERTAIN SOMEONE started making mistakes!"
All eyes fell onto Vivian. She lowered her head and said nothing.
Fal shook her head. "Be more careful, will you?!"
Mee scowled. "Just because the manager personally scouted you doesn't mean you can make as many mistakes as you like! I don't want people thinking we're all bad dancers because of your mistakes!"
"I…" Vivian closed her eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Hmph!" Mee started strutting towards the dressing room when someone crossed paths with her. She gave a loud hiss. "WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE WAY ALREADY?!"
Eyes wide, Koh jumped out of her way.
Without a second glance at him, she stormed into the dressing room. Fal and the two yellow-dressed dancers followed, leaving the three behind at the backstage.
Koh shook his head, bewildered. "What's going on, Fon?"
The theatre manager sighed. "I think you can more or less guess, Koh. Didn't you use the ticket I gave you?"
"Oh, uh… I did."
The heavy weight of dread and shame pressed onto Vivian's heart.
Koh saw it. He saw her horrible dancing. After she had told him all about her dream of dancing, after she had told him her dream came true… she danced horribly.
Silence.
Koh rubbed his head. "Well… I think you did pretty well. It's only the first day, so I'm sure you'll get better the more you dance on that stage."
Vivian tried to smile. "Thank you. I'll be sure to show you better dancing next time."
But, next time… it was even worse.
With each passing minute, Vivian began to make more and more mistakes. A stumble here, a misstep there. It made the entire dance troupe veer out of alignment, and it made people murmur among themselves.
"You went in the OPPOSITE direction again, DIDN'T YOU?!" Mee shrieked as soon as they were backstage.
"Wake up, will you?!" Fal cried.
"We'll all look bad BECAUSE OF YOU! Why don't you just QUIT DANCING already?!" She stormed off without waiting for an answer, then again someone crossed her path. "WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE WAY ALREADY?!"
Koh leaped right out of the way, and she swept past her.
Silence.
Vivian lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Koh… I'll show you better dancing next time. I promise."
His eyes narrowed in concern.
But that next time never came.
Performance after performance was full of mistakes, to the point one could no longer call her movements dancing. To the point less people were coming to the theatre, the empty seats obvious even in the dim lights of the hall.
Then, one day, as the curtains rose… she couldn't move.
She couldn't move. Suddenly she couldn't move. Suddenly her body felt heavy, as though encased in stone.
Even as the music started playing, even as the other dancers moved back and forth before her… she couldn't move. She remained frozen at her original spot, as though she was a statue.
Frozen. Unable to move.
Even as a thousand pairs of eyes burned into her.
Pain. A crushing pain on her heart. Cold. Leaving her breathless.
Tears welled up in her eyes. A sob escaped her lips, then she turned and sped away from the stage. Without heed to the audience's gasps, without heed to Fon's surprised cries… she continued to run. Running and running… away from her shattered dream.
She stumbled, falling to her knees. Shoulders heaving, her legs trembled. Her hands trembled.
Then, as she threw herself to the floor… she sobbed.
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Days passed. A concerned Fon patted Vivian's shoulder and told her to take a few days off. The other four dancers continued to perform on stage, flawlessly despite the incomplete inverted V formation, and the post-performance claps were much more enthusiastic than before.
"Well!" a proud Mee cried loudly as they stepped down from the stage. "Everything went smoothly today, didn't it?"
Fal grinned. "It sure did!"
She gave a knowing smirk towards Vivian. "I wonder why? What do you think, Vivian?" And, without waiting for a response, she laughed and strutted into the dressing room, with the other four behind her.
And Vivian could do nothing but lower her head, unable to say a word.
Why deny it? It was all true. She could no longer dance, and she had ruined the whole show by running away. The others danced better without her… she knew it.
Without dancing… she had nothing.
Days passed. With each passing day, Vivian's heart grew heavier and heavier. Her face grew paler and paler. Unable to eat. Unable to smile. All she could do was to watch from the backstage as the others danced in the spotlight, unable to say a word. Fon often tried to cheer her up by randomly using a line from his stand-up comedy performance, but that would barely even raise her head.
Koh visited often, eyes narrowed in concern, but even he could not make her smile. They sat in a corner of the theatre as he told her stories of his Monster Tower runs, but her mind could not focus for long. Her eyes would always wander back towards the stage… and they would lapse into a thick silence.
One day, after a long silence, Koh suddenly said, "Hey, why don't we go for a walk?"
Vivian slowly looked up at him… then her eyes widened.
Standing before her was not Koh… but a tall young man. The warm, intense eyes, sparkling like a ruby dress in the spotlight. The gleaming ruby-coloured hair, the squared shoulders. Calm, confident.
Who… was he…?
She blinked.
No… it was Koh. The same old Koh. Why did she imagine him to be someone else…?
"Let's go for a walk," he repeated.
She jumped. "O-oh, sure. I've got nothing else to do anyway."
It was probably just her imagination…
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Outside, the afternoon sun was hot, blazing, but the air as cool as they passed by the oasis lake. Vivian stopped, eyes raised towards the windmills gently spinning in the wind. A flock of birds chirped from the roof of the nearby building, then took to the air across the sky.
The sky. She had forgotten how azure it was. The beautiful colour of dreams, warm and gentle… as though telling she could dance once more.
Doubt filled her heart.
Could she… could she really dance again?
Then, at that very moment, Ghosh approached them, the silk suit gleaming in the sun, the greasy lopsided grin on his face. He ran a hand through his hair.
"Hello, Miss Vivian," he greeted with a dripping syrupy voice. "I bless this day for being able to meet you; you're like a brightly shining star in a great abyss of darkness."
Vivian sighed inwardly; she didn't really feel up to handling attention now, but she said, "Thank you, Mr. Ghosh."
"By the way…" He cast a sideways glance. "What is your relationship with that scum beside you?"
Koh gritted his teeth. "S-scum?!"
The dancer frowned. "Are you talking about Koh? He's an important friend of mine."
Ghosh laughed. "Well, he shouldn't be; you're being deceived." He held out a hand towards her. "Here, come to the bar with me. Please let me see your wonderful dancing."
His words made her stop.
The bar… where she used to dance. It was a small and dim place, yet always lively. She had a lot of fun, constantly laughing and smiling with everyone. There, she never had any doubts of her dancing…
But now she no longer belonged there. All she had left of that place were nostalgic memories.
She closed her eyes. "No, I… I work at the theatre now."
"Is that so?" Ghosh shook his head. "No wonder I no longer see you at the bar. I imagine you would be very beautiful dancing on that stage!"
Her heart leaped. In the darkness of despair, a small glimmer of hope.
Could she… dare to hope? Would Madam allow her to dance at the bar once again… even though she had left for the theatre immediately after it opened?
Koh grinned and grabbed her hand. "Well, let's go to the bar!"
She gasped as he started running, pulling her along.
Behind them, Ghosh's eyes widened. "W-wait for me!"
The bar was just as Vivian remembered – small and dim, yet full and lively, with the guys yelling news at the top of their lungs, with the sudden impromptu wrestling matches. With the stern bartender once again quietly telling the guys off, threatening with raised prices, with Madam laughing behind the bar.
Then, a hushed silence. All eyes turned towards the bar entrance as the three stepped in.
Vivian felt her heart race, her eyes drawn to the stage in the middle. A small stage, puny compared to the one at the theatre… but it was where she had danced without any doubts. Memories of the dances rushed into her mind, of the steps, of the spins… already her body fidgeted, as though demanding the music to start.
The bartender gave a short bow towards them. "Welcome, young madam, young sirs."
Madam blinked. "Oh, my! All three of you together? What's the occasion?"
"Madam," Koh said, "May we use the stage for a while?"
"The stage? Of course it's okay." She smiled. "If it's enjoyable, it's fine by me."
Vivian's heart leaped. Her eyes shone.
She could dance… she could finally dance.
As if on cue, the bar grew dimmer and dimmer, until it was just barely bright enough to see. Then, a bright spotlight shone onto the stage, the edge of the platform blinking like Christmas lights in the nearest city.
And there, Vivian stood, eyes closed. With slender body wrapped in a sparkling dress, hair gleaming like sunset rays. Bright. Dazzling.
The soft sound of a violin. Slow and gentle at first, then gradually growing stronger, faster. Joined by a lively flute, an energetic piano.
Vivian's eyes snapped open. Gentle hands spread like wings, she floated across the stage like a swan. Her body felt light, as though filled with whimsical clouds, and so was her heart. Her shoes made no sounds on the stage.
Everyone watched in hushed silence. Eyes wide, still as though frozen. Mesmerised by the graceful movements.
"This is great…" Ghosh muttered.
Koh nodded. "I agree."
"Tsk. That's the first time we ever agreed on anything."
He chuckled. "That's true, and it's not bad."
"I guess you're right."
And they continued to watch Vivian dance.
Then, as she slowed to a stop… the music ended.
Silence.
A moment passed. Another moment passed.
And the entire bar exploded into uproar. Everyone clapped and shouted themselves hoarse.
Vivian couldn't stop smiling as she stepped down from the stage, her heart light.
Dancing… she finally remembered why she loved dancing. The light feeling as she moved about the stage, floating as though supported by whimsical clouds, as though a single rush of wind would carry her away.
She closed her eyes. "I'm so stupid. I love dancing so much, yet I couldn't put my entire soul in it on that enormous stage. If I'm not enjoying it, how can I expect the audience to? I froze when my dream appeared before me, after so many years…" She smiled at everyone, her usual dazzling smile. "But I'm all right now, even on that enormous stage!"
Madam smiled. "I'm glad, Vivian."
Koh grinned. "Go for it!"
Ghosh ran a hand through his hair. "You'll be dazzling wherever you dance."
Vivian glowed. "Thank you, everyone!"
Then, without sparing a moment further, she turned and sped out of the bar, towards the theatre.
There was no more doubt in her heart.
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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A polite round of applause filled the hall of the theatre, as though out of obligation rather than enthusiasm. The dancers made their way to the stage, hidden from the audience by a thick red curtain, waiting for the music to start. Mee and Fal cast a glare over their shoulders at Vivian, as though to tell her, "You'd better not mess up this time!"
But Vivian's heart was calm. Light. The jittery bug in her stomach was gone, as though it was never there. Her hands and legs steady, her body felt light as though a single rush of wind would carry her away.
This was her dream. Her lifelong dream. This was what she lived for, to dance on an enormous stage in front of a thousand people.
And she would face it head on.
The music started, drawing her attention. The curtain slowly rose, allowing bright spotlights to flood onto the stage, allowing the audience to cast their eyes on the shining dresses of the dancers. They clapped for a few short seconds before lapsing into silence.
The sound of a solo violin filled the hall, gentle and soft. Gradually it grew louder and louder, faster and faster. Then, with a loud "BANG!" from a drum, the dancers sprang like budding flowers. A lively flute. An energetic piano. An enthusiastic drum, bringing the stage to life.
And Vivian danced. Danced with her entire being, her entire soul.
A step to the right. A step to the left. A spin, hands spread like wings waiting to fly. The crowd gazed, eyes wide in awe. Mesmerised, without a sound.
Then, with a simultaneous pose from all the dancers, the music ended.
The crowd burst into an uproar, standing and cheering at the top of their lungs. They clapped with all their might, a thunderous roar of applause, as though to bring the entire building down.
And, as the curtains slowly lowered, Vivian could not stop smiling.
.
-o-o-o-o-o-
.
At the backstage, an awkward silence hung in the air. The four dancers stared at Vivian, as though could not believe their eyes. Even Fon stared at her, eyes bulging behind the green lenses of his glasses.
"You know…" Mee began hesitantly, "You were pretty good. I mean… I had to keep up with you."
Fal nodded. "Yeah, I agree."
At that moment, Koh approached them. He cast a wary glance at Mee, knees bent as though ready to jump away… but she didn't shout at him. In fact, she hesitated as she gazed at him.
"Um…" An awkward pause. "E-excuse me, I heard you're the owner of this place… is that true?"
Vivian stopped. Her eyes widened at Koh.
Koh… the owner of the theatre?
A wide grin spread across Fon's face. "Of course he is! But strangely enough, although he went through the trouble of building this place, he lets the staff take full control. Pretty unselfish, huh?"
The dancers gasped, eyes focused on Koh.
"You're kidding!" Fal cried.
Mee lowered her head. "I… I… I might have said some rude things to you in the past…"
Koh shrugged. "Eh, don't worry about it."
Her eyes widened. "Are you… are you sure?"
Fon laughed. "Don't worry! I told you, he's given full control to the staff; that means I, the manager, choose all the performers. Besides, even if he is involved, he's not the type to fire a performer on a personal grudge! He's not stupid!"
A stunned silence.
Mee blushed. "T-thank you." She cleared her throat. "Excuse me, Mr. Koh, would you mind letting me through, please?"
Koh grinned as he stepped aside, and the four dancers entered the dressing room. Fon bid him and Vivian goodbye before leaving as well.
Silence.
"Koh… did you…" Vivian took a deep breath. "Did you build this theatre after I told you my dream?"
Koh gave sheepish grin as he rubbed his head. "Oops… busted, huh?"
So it was true. It was him who built the theatre for her dream… for people to see her dance.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "Thank you, Koh, from the bottom of my heart. Without you, my dream wouldn't have been possible." She whirled gracefully around. "I'll be sure to show you a much better dance next time!"
He grinned. "I'm sure you'd be great!"
She smiled, a dazzling smile befitting a star. As she gazed at him, a warm feeling filled her heart.
Koh stood before her, as dazzling as a star. The warm, intense eyes, sparkling like a ruby dress in the spotlight. The gleaming ruby-coloured hair, the squared shoulders. Calm, confident. She wondered, who was he…?
Then, at that moment, loud footsteps filled the air. The dazzle instantly gone, Koh glanced to the side and scowled.
One hand holding a large bouquet of deep red roses, Ghosh gave a deep bow. "Hello, Miss Vivian, any beautiful thing in the world pales in comparison with you. In search of something that would reflect your beauty, I bought this bouquet of flowers for you."
Vivian smiled as she accepted the bouquet. She took a deep breath, drawing in the sweet fragrance of the roses. "Thank you, Ghosh. The flowers smell wonderful."
He smirked, then ran a hand through his hair. "By the way, why is this nincompoop with you? I, Ghosh Rhode, would have made a much better companion than him."
"W-what?!" Koh cried, then rolled up his sleeves. "Ugh, THAT DOES IT! I'm not gonna take anymore insults from you, you… you… NUMBSKULL!"
Ghosh gave a strangled gasp. "Who… who are you calling a numbskull?!"
"You, you meathead!"
And they launched into an insult-flinging competition.
Vivian chuckled to herself. They might have disliked each other immensely, but she knew they were good people at heart. They were always there for her, supporting her…
Then, she realised.
Dancing was not the only thing she had. She had friends who cared about her, friends who worried about her. Even if she only had eyes for dancing, they continued supporting behind her, with warm smiles and kind hearts. Koh. Ghosh. Fon. Madam. The bartender. The guys at the bar. With their support, she could go on… even if she lost her ability to dance again.
She closed her eyes, then raised them towards the open theatre gates.
Golden sands, shining like a sea of gold. A vast azure sky, stretching as far as one could see. A gentle wind pulling at her hair, she smiled. A warm smile, a beautiful smile.
The desert city of Monsbaiya… a new beginning.
.
End of Azure Dreams: Monsbaiyan Tales – Vivian.
Author's Note:
Man, this one-shot is waaaaay longer than I thought. But since I wrote it right after I finished Okami's, it was much easier to write compared to before! The bar's atmosphere was already established then, so I was no longer stuck at the beginning. :D
When I first reached the part where the other dancers were introduced, I saw the name 'Mee' on the lead dancer and thought, "Hey, that sounds like 'Mi' in 'Do Re Mi'! Why don't I just call the four dancers Do, Re, Mi and Fa?" But I changed my mind because, first, that would be too many names for a short story, so out the window the idea went! But I didn't want to waste the idea, so I named the (nameless in-game) green dancer Fal, after 'Fa'!
And Fon's a theatre manager here rather than a comedian! I didn't have enough space to fit Koh's impromptu comedy stand-in show, so Fon remained a manager until the end. But I guess he's still some kind of a comedic guy, with that loud and colourful suit and all. xP
Review Replies for Okami:
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To Duncan0Idaho:
Yep, I agree! Too bad the game didn't touch much about her story (then again, it didn't touch much story really). I could have expanded the blue warrior's background a bit more, but this is Okami's story and not the blue warrior's. xP
And yeah, Okami's a great game too! :D
Thanks for reviewing!
