Welcome to act two! I would've posted up Sunday but I had no internet... or cable... thanks to hurricane Irene! Hope everyone else who had to go through it is alright.

ILoveRaminKaminloo: I know, I love the pairing too... I almost cried watching POTO for the first time. Hopefully I brought the character's personalities out better in this chapter... It was harder for that in chapter nine. And don't worry about being wired with me... I'm wired too. :)

sandra benson: Yes, I'll keep your secret. I don't like it either, but what are you going to do right? Everyone dies eventually.

Ronnie343: You haven't seen the movie yet? You should, it's really good! And I think I've heard Barbara Streisands version. I like the movie version a lot, and then there's the original casting from London, Sarah Brightman and Claire Moore... Thanks for reviewing, and I'm waiting with anticipation for your update... and hopefully the prequel! :)

I don't own POTO or FN...

~ Act Two Scene One ~

Three months of peace have gone by for the opera house. The mysterious Phantom seems to have disappeared and best of all, every seat has been sold out for those months. Now it was time to celebrate the New Year. The opera houses owners, Jacques and Gurgle have decided to throw a splendid masquerade ball in honor of the peace and success.

Everyone came dressed all fancy like, and each had a mask to either wear or hold up to cover their faces. Everyone had a hard time telling who is who, but that's that fun part of a masquerade ball, right?

Jacques came walking in looking around for his friend. He was dressed in maroon with a navy blue mask on. He found Gurgle, who was wearing a purple costume of what looked like, a fish. His facemask covered almost every inch of his face.

Gurgle recognized Jacques right away. He went over and shook his hand laughing.

"Ah Monsieur Jacques!"

"Monsieur Gurgle! Ha ha!"

They started walking into the opera house. Jacques started beaming at the grand ball they were about to enter into.

"Dear Gurgle what a splendid party!"

Gurgle smiled and nodded,

"The prologue to a bright new year!"

(Jacques)

Quite a night,

I'm impressed!"

(Gurgle)

"Well one does ones best…"

They grab a glass of champagne and 'clink' glasses.

(Both)

"Here's to us!"

(Jacques)

I must say all the same,

That it's a shame,

That 'Phantom' fellow isn't here!"

They step inside and get swept away with the celebration inside. Anyone who was anyone was here at this party. All dressed in different colors, all masked. Somehow everyone was on the same page about this party, and decided to sing about it.

"Masquerade!

Paper faces on parade…

Masquerade!

Hide your face,

So the world will never find you!

Masquerade!

Every face a different shade…

Masquerade!

Look around-

There's another mask behind you!

Flash of mauve…

Splash of puce…

Fool and king…

Ghoul and goose…

Green and black…

Queen and priest…

Trace of rouge…

Face of beast…

Faces…

Take your turn, take a ride,

On the merry-go-round…

In an inhuman race…

Eye of gold…

Thigh of blue…

True is false…

Who is who?

Curl of lip…

Swirl of gown…

Ace of hearts…

Face of clown…

Faces…

Drink it in, drink it up,

Till you've drowned in the light…

In the sound…"

Marlin and Dory arrive and get into the action.

(Both)

"But who can name the face?"

Dory had a short blue dress on, with yellow sleeves and yellow gloves. Her mask was blue with yellow feathers on the top. Her hair was wrapped up in a bun and she had some sparkly clips to hold it up. She looked gorgeous.

Marlin came in a suit that was navy blue, with a shirt that was orange. His hair was smoothed back and he even had a sword on his left hip. He looked handsome.

(All)

"Masquerade!

Grinning yellows,

Spinning reds…

Masquerade!

Take your fill-

Let the spectacle astound you!

Masquerade!

Burning glances,

Turning heads…

Masquerade!

Stop and stare,

At the sea of smiles,

Around You!

Masquerade!

Seething shadows,

Breathing lies…

Masquerade!

You can fool any friend,

Who ever knew you!

Masquerade!

Leering satyrs,

Peering eyes…

Masquerade!

Run and hide-

But a face will,

Still pursue you!"

The entire chorus begins dancing around to the music. Gurgle and Jacques soon find Peach, Deb, Bloat and Darla all decked out, holding up their masks to try and protect their identity to everyone else.

(Peach)

"What a night!"

(Deb)

"What a crowd!"

(Gurgle)

"Makes you glad!"

(Jacques)

"Makes you proud!

All the crème,

De la crème!"

(Darla)

"Watching us, watching them!"

(Peach/Deb)

"And all our fears,

Are in the past!"

(Gurgle)

"Six months…"

(Bloat)

"Of relief!"

(Darla)

"Of delight!"

(Gurgle/Jacques)

"Of Elysian peace!"

(Peach/Deb)

"And we can breathe at last!"

(Darla)

"No more notes!"

(Bloat)

"No more ghost!"

(Peach)

"Here's a health!"

(Gurgle)

"Here's a toast,

To a prosperous year!"

(Jacques)

"To our friends,

Who are here!"

(Bloat/Darla)

"And may its splendor,

Never fade!"

(Jacques)

"Three months!"

(Peach)

"What a joy!"

(Deb)

"What a change!"

(Gurgle/Jacques)

"What a blessed release!"

(Gurgle)

"And what a masquerade!"

They all click their champagne glasses, and head off to join the rest of the fun.

Marlin and Dory come out from a quiet place behind the stairway. Dory was beaming, because Marlin had just proposed to her, and she said yes. She had the on a chain and put it around her neck. She couldn't stop fiddling with it, it was so radiant. It was silver, with blue sapphires around the band, and a bright red ruby shone in the middle of it. She took his hand and giggled.

"Oh think of it Marlin! A secret engagement. Look at me, your future bride!"

Marlin looked and smiled at her. She continued on.

"Just think of it! No one has to know…"

"But why does it have to be a secret? Why must we hide it? Please, you promised me."

He tipped up her chin to kiss her, but she quickly pulled away.

"No Marlin, don't… they'll see-"

Marlin scoffed, "Well, let them see then! It's an engagement, not a crime."

He stopped her and turned her around to face him. He could see some fear in her eyes, but not just any fear. The fear he promised to hide her from three months ago. He smiled confusingly at her.

"Dory what are you afraid of?"

Dory shook her head and took his arm to lead him to the dance floor.

"Let's not argue…"

Marlin followed her, still not convinced.

"Let's not argue…"

(Dory)

"Please pretend…"

(Marlin)

"I can only hope I'll…"

(Dory)

"You will…

(Both)

…Understand in time…"

They get to the dance floor and start dancing gracefully. Dory ignores the sneers from Darla, and the upturned noses of the other rich folk. She only has eyes now for her new fiancé. Maybe he was right, she shouldn't care about what other people think of them. It only matters now that she is free to love the man dancing with her right now. In fact, she has now forgotten the Phantom and his dark songs.

He swings her around once more and pulls her in close. She ends up breaking the space between them with a long passionate kiss. Marlin was surprised, but fell into it nonetheless. When they finished, they walked hand in hand up to the stairway. Everyone fell into place as if they were choreographed there.

(All)

"Masquerade!

Paper faces on parade…

Masquerade!

Hide your face,

So the world will never find you!

Masquerade!

Every face a different shade…

Masquerade!

Look around-

There's another mask behind you!

Masquerade!

Burning glances,

Turning heads…

Masquerade!

Stop and stare,

At the sea of smiles,

Around You!

Masquerade!

Grinning yellows,

Spinning reds…

Masquerade!

Take your fill-

Let the spectacle astound you…"

All of a sudden, the lights started flickering. The music came to a halt, and everyone got this creepy chill down their backs. There was a presence behind them that wasn't invited. Everyone turned, and gasped at the sight on top of the stairs.

There was a man standing up there, clothed in a maroon suit and a maroon cape. But that wasn't the scary part about it. Instead of a mask, he wore a huge skull head that moved whenever he turned his head. This disturbing image could only come from one man… the Phantom.

Dory turned to see why the music stopped, and saw the figure above them. She looked at Marlin confused.

"I thought this was a masquerade ball, not a costume ball."

Marlin shushed her, and continued to stare at the Phantom.

The Phantom started stepping down the stairs dramatically, every step took everyone's breath away. No one could say anything. The Phantom chucked at the two stunned owners. As he began to speak, the bottom of the skull head moved, as if it was speaking, instead of the man underneath.

"Why so silent, good messieurs?

Did you think that I had left you for good?"

Gurgle went to speak.

"Well yes we-"

But was quickly silenced by Jacques. The Phantom continued.

"Have you missed me, good messieurs?

I have written you an opera!"

He pulls out a ginormous manuscript and shows it around to everyone.

"Here I bring the finished score-

'Don Juan Triumphant'!"

He shoves it at Gurgle, who starts cowering in the corner. The Phantom turns to Bloat and Darla.

"I advise you to comply-

My instructions should be clear-

Remember,

There are worse things,

Then a voice that cannot sing!"

He turned to Dory and stepped towards her. She stepped towards him as well, and stuck her hand out.

"Hello it's nice to meet-"

The Phantom snarled at her and yanked the chain, with the ring, off her neck. Hearing that snarl brought her back to that night… the music… his voice… it's HIM. She gasped and grabbed her neck where the chain was. He held it mockingly in front of her, before stuffing it into his pocket.

"Your chains are still mine!

You belong to ME!"

With that a cloud of smoke appeared. He stepped into it, and disappeared. Dory stood wide-eyed, and felt a little lightheaded. She felt everything go black, and felt a pair of familiar strong arms around her. A voice echoed in her head.

"Dory… Dory my darling wake up…"

Seeing that she wasn't waking up, Marlin picked her up and carried her out of the opera house. Gurgle came out of the corner and looked at the giant book that got shoved into his arms. Jacques took it and flipped through it. He slammed it back into his friend's arms, and shook his head.

"What next…"

I wrote every word of this... no copy or pasting... it took a looooong time! Please review... or the Phantom will enchant you and steal your true love away! :) Hee hee...