beauty & the beast

by Ornery-chan

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy IX and all its characters are owned by *dum de dum* SQUARESOFT! I am determined to work there someday ^_^ "Beauty and the Beast" is also not mine. The story which the play is based on is Disney's.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. (And sorry that this chapter is long!) School is taking the rest of my youth away, and that includes my writing time. The next chapter, though, will be out sooner. Thanks for reading this! P.S. It's hard to write in Blank's POV! ^^

Chapter 4

This was a bit too paranoid already, but I was still wondering if Miki had arrived in her designated seat by now, while laughing like a damned hyena with the gang.

Suddenly, a loud crisp knock emanated across the room. Startled, we all shut up. Well, almost all.

"What's going-ulp!" Cinna spluttered when Ruby covered his mouth.

The knock came again, this time accompanied with a single commanding voice: "Lindblum soldiers. Open up."

The silence that followed was overwhelming, I could hear my every breath. Or maybe I was just breathing too hard from dread. What would Lindblum's military force want with a bunch of ragtag actors (and part-time thieves...) right now, at this very moment?

The boss let out a growl, his fang-like teeth gleaming. "If I find out who's causing this..." He pointed at me. I jumped. "Open it", he ordered.

I shrugged, trying to hide my nervousness. Slowly, I walked to the door and turned the knob. Then everything slipped into a blur. Next thing I knew, something small - and purple - had collided with me.

"Oof!" I fell to the floor.

"Owww!" A little girl yelled seconds later.

Everyone crowded around me and the purple thing, which I assumed to be a little girl (I had not opened my eyes yet). Marcus tapped me on the shoulder and offered me a hand, which I took, muttering a thanks.

Ruby gasped. "Why, if it isn't the regent's little lady!" She gave a quick glance at the soldiers stationed at the door.

"Who is she again?" The boss asked. "Erika?"

Eiko (yes, I knew her name), gave a cry of mixed horror and indignation. "Eiko! My name is EIKO, you...you big ninny!" The Nero brothers had to restrain the boss after that, but everyone else was stifling a giggle.

"Is it alright to come in?" a mild voice asked from the outside.

"Lady Hilda!" Ruby gasped, for the second time. "What brings you two 'ere?"

"Oh...Eiko wanted to mingle with all of you, before the play starts." The tall regal woman gestured at the still-fuming little girl. Then she set her eyes upon me.

"You are Blank, right? From Cid's description...a young man with red hair and a belt covering his poetic eyes." She asked me with a genuine smile.

I managed to answer with a small nod. Royalty had a certain effect on me.

"I believe you wrote the play. Eiko and I will be sure to enjoy it."

Flushing, I stammered, "Thank you, Ma'am." Ruby elbowed me. "Ow." I noticed someone was missing, and gathered up my courage. "Where's the regent?"

"Cid?" Lady Hilda rolled her eyes. I didn't know that ladies could do that. "He got another idea for an airship after lunch, and wild horses can't drag him off his worktable now." She frowned.

"Really?" I feigned offense. "He owes me a favor then."

Ruby engaged the regent's wife with small chat, and I was left alone. I turned to Eiko, a question still hanging over me.

"Your grace..." I started. Zidane had mentioned once that the girl demanded respect.

She stared at me. "You needn't call me that."

So Zidane was wrong about her, I thought. Maybe he was just too ornery. (:P)

"You can call me, 'Princess'!" she finished happily. I take it back. But I still had to humor the girl.

"Say, Princess..." I asked, trying to be casual (and trying not to squirm at the name), "Have you seen Mikoto inside the theatre?"

Eiko looked confused. "Who's that?"

"You know her. Blonde hair, Zidane's-"

She brightened up. "Oh, the blonde weirdo!"

Something snapped inside me. What...what did she call Miki?

This girl was getting in my nerves. Princess or no princess...fortunately, Marcus came to her rescue.

"I wouldn't call Miki that, Princess. She's really nice..." he looked at me, "once you get to know her."

Apparently the Princess wasn't listening. "Anyway, I haven't seen her. Where does she sit?"

"Front row center." I mechanically replied.

Her eyes widened. "Wow. You guys must really like her."

Marcus grinned, his eyes casually turning to me. "Oh, we do." I glared at him. I hate being teased for no reason.

"Well, she wasn't there, before I went down here." She eyed me curiously. "Why do you want to know so badly?"

"I just asked once! Is that badly!?" I replied hotly. Nosy kid!

"My apologies, Lady Hilda, but we must start now." And THAT, was the first time I heard the boss speak with a civil tongue. Lady Hilda nodded, and called for the nosy 'princess'. "Dear, you heard the man. We must go back to our box now."

We waved good-bye as the two left, taking their soldiers with them. Then, as we were getting ready again, Marcus was being a wise guy.

"I think you're getting a bit too obvious, bro." He grinned slyly.

I groaned. "Shut up, Marcus." Everyone was just into my private life these days!

***

Being the writer, I only had two scenes to act in. The first was my wooing of Rubella, the beautiful town girl played by Ruby. The second was the battle with Marcus the beast. Those weren't my favorite scenes though. My masterpiece, my pièce de résistance, was at the end; when the beast was about to die with Rubella at his side. There was something different about those verses. While I was writing them, I could even say that I was...inspired.

Only a few of us were left at the backstage, since the play started fifteen minutes ago. Benero and Zenero were busy tending to the effects. The orchestra, I could hear, was playing soundly (get it? Soundly...).

"Psst! Blank, you're on!" Cinna whispered loudly, waking me up. My mind had drifted off for quite a while. I saw that he had changed costumes already.

The lights almost blinded me when I dashed to the stage. Rubella, or should I say, Ruby was there. I cleared my throat, but not before glancing at the front row center.

She wasn't there. A horde of different thoughts plagued me. Why? Why isn't Miki here?

She couldn't have been lost. She knows this place. I brought her here one too many times. She's not the one to forget. Could it be that?

My throat dried up.

Could it be that she doesn't care? Even if...even if I told her how much this means to me?

Ruby's look of outrage brought me back to the present. I was staging a play. My God! I was supposed to say something!

"Mister Blank?" She improvised. Her voice was sweet, but her tone dangerous. "Whatever is thy reason to block me in my path?"

I racked my brain for the verse*.

Thy love is like a flowing river, Rubella, peaceful and deep

Thy soul is like a secret, that even the greatest man in the world, I, never could keep

When I gaze into thine viridian eyes, oh! The heavens know, 'tis true.

The Lord above must 'ave spent, more time in making thee.

I finished it with every inch of flourish, but that didn't remove Ruby's steely gaze. "Why thank you, Mister Blank, however; that dost not make thee appear greater to me."

She said it a bit too harshly, I gulped. Things weren't going exactly as we practiced. "Ah, but that is where thou art wrong, my sweet." I stood up from my kneeling position. "Thou shalt be mine. And let the heavens know it! The most beautiful woman deserves to be together with the handsomest man. 'Til the next time we cross paths."

I returned, no, I flew backstage. Cinna gave me a look and asked, "What happened to you?"

Ruby stomped in after. "Look 'ere, Blank. My eyes aren't GREEN."

Something was definitely wrong. With me.

***

The play dragged on. But I was barely watching it. Somehow, my original enthusiasm, my streak of inspiration, had evaporated. How could I let this happen? And how...how could SHE let this happen!

I was affecting the whole play, I knew that much. They were lucky I only had two parts.

Finally, it was my second scene. My jaw set, as I resolved not to let the previous incident repeat. Genero looked at me approvingly, hands raised. I crossed my fingers, and walked in.

I appeared on the upper part. Though it was a bit painful, yes, I averted my eyes to focus on Marcus climbing the stage staircase.

"Halt beast!" I yelled, when he was at the same level as me. "Thou darest to keep my sweet Rubella in your monstrous clutches! Now, thou shalt taste the steel of my sword!"

Marcus growled. "Where is Rubella?!"

"Ah, but the lady is safe with me! Why dost thou ask?!" My voice had a stiff ring to it, but I couldn't do anything. I had to keep my mind off some things. "The beast intends to feed on her!"

I turned to the audience, as it was required.

And I couldn't help it. I had to check her seat. Her empty seat.

My throat dried up again. Disappointment, maybe? No, it felt more than that. It was like being crumpled up, many times, then discarded. Rejected. But...why?

I willed myself to say the next line.

"Hear me, my dear townspeople..." My voice faltered. "This beast, this monster, will get thee and thy children...shall we have this peril last longer than it should?!" I faced Marcus again. He had a grim look, but I could see it in his eyes...did he actually pity me? "Have at thee!"

He roared.

An intense battle followed. All my energy, all my emotions, seemed to have burst and poured into my whole body. I swiped, I dodged, I slammed my sword into Marcus's with a noticeable force. He was startled at my strength, but he adjusted quickly. Thank God for professionals like him.

"Blank, slip up NOW!" The fight was taking longer than we practiced, though the audience was still cheering us on. I lost myself, again, in the fight. So I pushed myself, and toppled off ("Whoa!"), to dangle at the edge of the balcony.

"Help me!" I pleaded like a good actor.

The audience gasped when Marcus pulled me up. After a deceitful grin, I pulled out a dagger - and play-stabbed the beast. The audience shrieked.

My end was near. As it was supposed to happen, Marcus roared again, and threw me off to the backstage. A safety net waited there. I gave a final scream, to signify that my role as Blank the conniving suitor, had ended.

Blank the crushed young writer hadn't, though.

Always timestamp your works!

1/15/2002 -8:45 PM

*Yes, I know. That verse is the chorus of N'Sync's "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You"! Edited, though. The song doesn't belong to me. Hear that out.