Chapter three: Disaster Strikes
The next night was the big night for Nadir. His special audience had arrived not more than an hour ago. The audience consisted of several men and a couple women, all dressed fancy like they were presidents of different lands. Besides the spotlights on the stage, the only lights in the whole Tavern were the flames of several torches scattered around the floor of the Tavern, placed to add to the feeling of being in a big theater. Everyone was gathered in the tavern, and Anne had said to Nadir that she had almost never been this busy since she opened.
Toppo and Mio stood backstage, each dressed in full uniform for their respective character. Toppo felt a little uneasy dressed the way he was, but if it was to impress Nadir's audience, he figured it was worth it. Toppo looked over at Mio. She looked like a whole new woman dressed like Juliet.
'Romeo and Juliet' was going to be the last play Nadir was going to do, so everyone else was going ahead of Toppo and Mio.
'Hamlet' was done first, and by the time it was finished, Nadir's audience was cheering wildly at Juan's performance. If Nadir wasn't wearing the mask, Toppo would bet that he was smiling proudly.
Throughout the night, Nadir's plays continually pleased the audience. Every last one of Nadir's plays was amazing. Eventually, it was time for 'Romeo and Juliet'.
As the play went on, Toppo and Mio waited patiently for their entrances. Soon, it was Juliet's cue to come on stage. Toppo silently wished Mio luck as she walked onstage.
Mio said her lines perfectly and skillfully. The stage lights that shined down on Mio seems to make her hair shine and her eyes sparkle. Toppo's mouth hung open as he watched Mio saying her lines.
{She's so beautiful.} Toppo thought. {I can't believe no one here's asked her out yet!} He was silent in his thought for a few more seconds. {Maybe I should ask her out after this. I really enjoyed practicing with her.} His eyes sprang open. {Am I actually taking a liking to Mio?!}
Toppo was brought out of his thoughts when he saw Nadir wave him onto the stage. Toppo nodded at the director and walked onto the stage for his first scene.
The play went on smoothly. Nadir smiled behind his mask. It seemed like it couldn't get any better. His audience loved the plays, the actor's performances, and even the service Ann gave them.
Little did he know that things were about to take a drastic turn for the worse.
The play went by smoothly, and was almost finished. And the whole audience was staring at Toppo and Mio with rapt attention.
However, unknown to anyone, a shadowy figure stood outside the Tavern, staring in through the window. He looked around the Tavern, looking at everything in the room. Suddenly, his eyes focused on something that caught his attention: The curtains on the stage. He smirked evilly as he waved his hand in front of the window, focusing on the stage's curtains.
The final act in the play had just finished. All of Nadir's audience stood up and instantly gave all the actors, Toppo and Mio especially, a standing ovation. On the stage, Toppo and Mio stood side by side, bowing to the audience. After doing so, Toppo looked over at Mio, who smiled at him. The look in her eyes told Toppo she was having the time of her life. Toppo smirked back.
Suddenly, before anything else happened, the curtain on the left side of the stage burst into a pillar of fire! Everyone in the Tavern froze, staring at the flaming curtain, wondering how it could simply do that for no apparent reason. Everyone stayed calm, however, as the fire didn't seem to be spreading.
The man outside increased his smirk. He waved his hand several more times before vanishing into thin air.
Inside, everyone was starting to calm down when the curtain fire looked like it was dying down thanks to Anne throwing a bucket of water over it.
However, everyone would quickly regain his or her fear.
Little by little, the roof started to catch fire. Soon afterwards, the walls did the same. By now, everyone was freaked out. Everyone rushed towards a door, screaming as they ran out into Budehuc Castle. Nadir, Mio, Toppo and Anne all made sure they got everyone out before escaping themselves. Luckily, because of an old plan from the Budehuc staff, a special wall was separating the castle and Tavern, meaning that if the Tavern burned, the castle would be unharmed.
After Nadir and Anne got everyone out, they both ran out as well. The only people left in the Tavern were Toppo and Mio. By now, the only part of the Tavern not burning was the floor. After double checking to make sure everyone had escaped, Mio looked over at Toppo.
"That's everyone! Let's get out of here!" Mio said.
Toppo nodded as he and Mio ran towards the door that would lead them outside.
Unfortunately, the situation just got worse. Mio tripped over a fallen chair and fell to the ground. And if that weren't enough, she landed on her foot, twisting it. Mio let out a cry of pain as she held onto her foot.
Mio's cry caused Toppo to freeze. He spun around and saw Mio on the floor, clutching her injured foot. Toppo was about to rush over to her to pick her up, but he stopped when he heard a loud crack coming from the roof. He looked up at the roof, and saw one of the beams almost ready to fall from the roof. What was so bad about it?
Mio was directly underneath it.
Toppo's eyes sprang open as, for the first time in what seemed like forever, he shouted. "MIO!" He cried. He knew that he wasn't going to be able to reach her in time, so he quickly lashed out his right hand, casting the quickest and most defensive Earth magic he could.
Almost right after Toppo lashed out his hand and started the magic, it started to take effect. Mio became surrounded in a bright light that soon faded from sight. And not a moment too soon either, as the beam had just separated from the roof. The piece of flaming wood fell on top of Mio, but it split in two as both halves fell on either side of Mio, whom was unharmed the whole time. Seeing Mio alright, Toppo sighed in relief.
However, just as Toppo was about to rush over to carry Mio out of the Tavern, something struck him hard against the back of the head. By protecting Mio, he had failed to notice a smaller beam partially fall from the roof swing down and hit him in the head. Toppo blacked out before he hit the floor.
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Toppo groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. His vision was a little blurry, but he quickly tried to focus. As soon as he could see, he noticed a pair of big, wide, adorable eyes staring down at him.
"TOPPO!" Shabon cried as she lunged at Toppo and threw her small arms around him. She started crying tears of happiness and she continued to hug him. "Oh, I'm SO glad to see you alright, Toppo!"
As Shabon hugged him, Toppo looked around. Not only was he lying on a bed in the Infirmary, but it was also daytime. He quickly noticed his aqua- haired elf friend running over to him. Like Shabon, Nei threw her arms around the juggler.
"Toppo, you scared us all half to death! You've been out for two full days!" Nei exclaimed. "Boy, if Borus and Percival didn't come back to check the Tavern, you and Mio wouldn't have made it out!"
Toppo's eyes sprang open, remembering Mio. "Is she alright?" He asked.
"I'm fine, Toppo." A voice said. Toppo looked at the source of the voice and saw a brown-haired nurse limping over to him. Mio smiled. "I twisted my ankle, but it should be better by tomorrow." She paused for a few seconds. "Well, if you hadn't done what you did, my injuries could've been worse."
Toppo blushed as Nei and Shabon released their grips on him. Nei looked down at Shabon. "Let's go, Shabon." She said. "Toppo's had a rough time."
"Okay, Nei!" Shabon said brightly.
Both Nei and Shabon bid farewell to Toppo and Mio as they left the Infirmary. After they were gone, Mio looked down at Toppo. "Thank you so much for saving me, Toppo." She said with a warm smile. "Is there any way I can repay you?"
Toppo smiled. Mio said that her ankle would be better by tomorrow. This was his big chance! "...Are you doing anything tomorrow night?" He asked softly.
Mio raised an eyebrow. "I don't think so."
Toppo's smile increased. "You wanna go out tomorrow night?" He asked.
Mio's eyes widened as she grinned. "I'd love to, Toppo!" She said. "But I'm not off work until seven."
"Fine by me." Toppo replied softly.
"Great!" Mio said. She picked up a small container that was sitting on a table "Well, I need to deliver this medicine to Yumi. I'll see you tomorrow."
Toppo was taken aback, hearing that Mio was going to walk. "You're alright to walk?" He asked.
"I said I was fine, Toppo." Mio chuckled. "Stop worrying about me."
Saying a final goodbye, Mio left the Infirmary.
Mio walked through Budehuc Castle, heading towards the Inn to deliver the medicine. She realized that walking actually helped her ankle. However, as she was approaching the Inn, she heard a voice behind her.
"Hey, Mio! Wait up!"
Mio turned around and saw a young man with glasses running over to her. Mio smiled. "Hey, Mike." She greeted.
"Hey, Mio." Mike said with a smile. He was silent for a little bit. "Look, I was going to ask you this the night of the plays, but the fire kinda held me back."
Mio raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Mike gulped before saying what he wanted to say. "You wanna go out tomorrow night?"
The nurse's eyes widened in shock. That was exactly what Toppo had asked her! She paused until she gave Mike her answer. "I-I-I'm sorry, Mike. But Toppo already asked me out."
Mike's eyes sprang open in shock as he stared at Mio. "Toppo?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, Mike." Mio said. "But Toppo asked me out first."
Muttering a final apology, Mio turned around and continued limping towards the Inn, leaving a shocked Mike behind.
Mike stood in silence for a few seconds before turning around and running towards the front gate. He didn't want anyone to see him like this. He was upset because someone beat him to asking Mio out, and he was furious that it turned out to be Toppo.
The man tore past Cecile, ran out of the castle and darted into Yaza Plains. Once he was a good deal away from Budehuc, Mike started pacing around angrily.
"I don't believe it!" Mike growled. "My one chance to go out with Mio and I lose to a silent juggler!" He paused for a few seconds as he stopped pacing. "I wish there was something I could do about it."
"There is." A voice said from behind.
Mike spun around and found himself staring at a cloaked figure slowly walking out of the woods. The hood of the cloak was covering the figures head, preventing Mike from identifying it.
"Come over here." The figure said.
Although Mike was hesitant, he slowly walked over to the figure. "Who are you and what do you want?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.
"My name is unimportant." The person said. "And I just want to help you."
Mike was still a little suspicious, but decided to go along with it. "I'm listening."
"I know that you have feelings for the nurse, but the juggler just seemed to beat you to it." The man explained. "So I think you should do something to the juggler to get your nurse friend back."
Mike kept his guard up. He felt uneasy around this person. "How?"
The figure leaned over and started whispering into Mike's ear. However, once he was finished, Mike's eyes sprang open in horror.
"WHAT?!" Mike shouted. "There's no way in heck I'll do something like that! I know I want to get back at Toppo, but that is just evil!" Mike started backing away. "Sorry, but I'll have NO part in it!"
"Unfortunately...you have no choice whatsoever." The figure said calmly.
In the blink of an eye, the figure lashed out his left hand, firing a ball of energy at the unsuspecting man. The energy ball made contact with Mike's head as he was sent to the ground.
The cloaked person smiled evilly as Mike slowly stood to his feet. While he looked normal, the only major difference was that he had a small shape embedded in his forehead.
"My servant," The figure said. "You will return to Budehuc and act as if nothing happened to you." Mike, whom was now under the figure's control, nodded slowly. "Tomorrow afternoon, you will take action."
Mike grinned evilly, nodded, turned around and walked towards Budehuc, putting on his cheerful smile and acting as if nothing happened.
To be continued...
Author's notes: What's the figure's plan? Find out in the next chapter! Please read and review!
The next night was the big night for Nadir. His special audience had arrived not more than an hour ago. The audience consisted of several men and a couple women, all dressed fancy like they were presidents of different lands. Besides the spotlights on the stage, the only lights in the whole Tavern were the flames of several torches scattered around the floor of the Tavern, placed to add to the feeling of being in a big theater. Everyone was gathered in the tavern, and Anne had said to Nadir that she had almost never been this busy since she opened.
Toppo and Mio stood backstage, each dressed in full uniform for their respective character. Toppo felt a little uneasy dressed the way he was, but if it was to impress Nadir's audience, he figured it was worth it. Toppo looked over at Mio. She looked like a whole new woman dressed like Juliet.
'Romeo and Juliet' was going to be the last play Nadir was going to do, so everyone else was going ahead of Toppo and Mio.
'Hamlet' was done first, and by the time it was finished, Nadir's audience was cheering wildly at Juan's performance. If Nadir wasn't wearing the mask, Toppo would bet that he was smiling proudly.
Throughout the night, Nadir's plays continually pleased the audience. Every last one of Nadir's plays was amazing. Eventually, it was time for 'Romeo and Juliet'.
As the play went on, Toppo and Mio waited patiently for their entrances. Soon, it was Juliet's cue to come on stage. Toppo silently wished Mio luck as she walked onstage.
Mio said her lines perfectly and skillfully. The stage lights that shined down on Mio seems to make her hair shine and her eyes sparkle. Toppo's mouth hung open as he watched Mio saying her lines.
{She's so beautiful.} Toppo thought. {I can't believe no one here's asked her out yet!} He was silent in his thought for a few more seconds. {Maybe I should ask her out after this. I really enjoyed practicing with her.} His eyes sprang open. {Am I actually taking a liking to Mio?!}
Toppo was brought out of his thoughts when he saw Nadir wave him onto the stage. Toppo nodded at the director and walked onto the stage for his first scene.
The play went on smoothly. Nadir smiled behind his mask. It seemed like it couldn't get any better. His audience loved the plays, the actor's performances, and even the service Ann gave them.
Little did he know that things were about to take a drastic turn for the worse.
The play went by smoothly, and was almost finished. And the whole audience was staring at Toppo and Mio with rapt attention.
However, unknown to anyone, a shadowy figure stood outside the Tavern, staring in through the window. He looked around the Tavern, looking at everything in the room. Suddenly, his eyes focused on something that caught his attention: The curtains on the stage. He smirked evilly as he waved his hand in front of the window, focusing on the stage's curtains.
The final act in the play had just finished. All of Nadir's audience stood up and instantly gave all the actors, Toppo and Mio especially, a standing ovation. On the stage, Toppo and Mio stood side by side, bowing to the audience. After doing so, Toppo looked over at Mio, who smiled at him. The look in her eyes told Toppo she was having the time of her life. Toppo smirked back.
Suddenly, before anything else happened, the curtain on the left side of the stage burst into a pillar of fire! Everyone in the Tavern froze, staring at the flaming curtain, wondering how it could simply do that for no apparent reason. Everyone stayed calm, however, as the fire didn't seem to be spreading.
The man outside increased his smirk. He waved his hand several more times before vanishing into thin air.
Inside, everyone was starting to calm down when the curtain fire looked like it was dying down thanks to Anne throwing a bucket of water over it.
However, everyone would quickly regain his or her fear.
Little by little, the roof started to catch fire. Soon afterwards, the walls did the same. By now, everyone was freaked out. Everyone rushed towards a door, screaming as they ran out into Budehuc Castle. Nadir, Mio, Toppo and Anne all made sure they got everyone out before escaping themselves. Luckily, because of an old plan from the Budehuc staff, a special wall was separating the castle and Tavern, meaning that if the Tavern burned, the castle would be unharmed.
After Nadir and Anne got everyone out, they both ran out as well. The only people left in the Tavern were Toppo and Mio. By now, the only part of the Tavern not burning was the floor. After double checking to make sure everyone had escaped, Mio looked over at Toppo.
"That's everyone! Let's get out of here!" Mio said.
Toppo nodded as he and Mio ran towards the door that would lead them outside.
Unfortunately, the situation just got worse. Mio tripped over a fallen chair and fell to the ground. And if that weren't enough, she landed on her foot, twisting it. Mio let out a cry of pain as she held onto her foot.
Mio's cry caused Toppo to freeze. He spun around and saw Mio on the floor, clutching her injured foot. Toppo was about to rush over to her to pick her up, but he stopped when he heard a loud crack coming from the roof. He looked up at the roof, and saw one of the beams almost ready to fall from the roof. What was so bad about it?
Mio was directly underneath it.
Toppo's eyes sprang open as, for the first time in what seemed like forever, he shouted. "MIO!" He cried. He knew that he wasn't going to be able to reach her in time, so he quickly lashed out his right hand, casting the quickest and most defensive Earth magic he could.
Almost right after Toppo lashed out his hand and started the magic, it started to take effect. Mio became surrounded in a bright light that soon faded from sight. And not a moment too soon either, as the beam had just separated from the roof. The piece of flaming wood fell on top of Mio, but it split in two as both halves fell on either side of Mio, whom was unharmed the whole time. Seeing Mio alright, Toppo sighed in relief.
However, just as Toppo was about to rush over to carry Mio out of the Tavern, something struck him hard against the back of the head. By protecting Mio, he had failed to notice a smaller beam partially fall from the roof swing down and hit him in the head. Toppo blacked out before he hit the floor.
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Toppo groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. His vision was a little blurry, but he quickly tried to focus. As soon as he could see, he noticed a pair of big, wide, adorable eyes staring down at him.
"TOPPO!" Shabon cried as she lunged at Toppo and threw her small arms around him. She started crying tears of happiness and she continued to hug him. "Oh, I'm SO glad to see you alright, Toppo!"
As Shabon hugged him, Toppo looked around. Not only was he lying on a bed in the Infirmary, but it was also daytime. He quickly noticed his aqua- haired elf friend running over to him. Like Shabon, Nei threw her arms around the juggler.
"Toppo, you scared us all half to death! You've been out for two full days!" Nei exclaimed. "Boy, if Borus and Percival didn't come back to check the Tavern, you and Mio wouldn't have made it out!"
Toppo's eyes sprang open, remembering Mio. "Is she alright?" He asked.
"I'm fine, Toppo." A voice said. Toppo looked at the source of the voice and saw a brown-haired nurse limping over to him. Mio smiled. "I twisted my ankle, but it should be better by tomorrow." She paused for a few seconds. "Well, if you hadn't done what you did, my injuries could've been worse."
Toppo blushed as Nei and Shabon released their grips on him. Nei looked down at Shabon. "Let's go, Shabon." She said. "Toppo's had a rough time."
"Okay, Nei!" Shabon said brightly.
Both Nei and Shabon bid farewell to Toppo and Mio as they left the Infirmary. After they were gone, Mio looked down at Toppo. "Thank you so much for saving me, Toppo." She said with a warm smile. "Is there any way I can repay you?"
Toppo smiled. Mio said that her ankle would be better by tomorrow. This was his big chance! "...Are you doing anything tomorrow night?" He asked softly.
Mio raised an eyebrow. "I don't think so."
Toppo's smile increased. "You wanna go out tomorrow night?" He asked.
Mio's eyes widened as she grinned. "I'd love to, Toppo!" She said. "But I'm not off work until seven."
"Fine by me." Toppo replied softly.
"Great!" Mio said. She picked up a small container that was sitting on a table "Well, I need to deliver this medicine to Yumi. I'll see you tomorrow."
Toppo was taken aback, hearing that Mio was going to walk. "You're alright to walk?" He asked.
"I said I was fine, Toppo." Mio chuckled. "Stop worrying about me."
Saying a final goodbye, Mio left the Infirmary.
Mio walked through Budehuc Castle, heading towards the Inn to deliver the medicine. She realized that walking actually helped her ankle. However, as she was approaching the Inn, she heard a voice behind her.
"Hey, Mio! Wait up!"
Mio turned around and saw a young man with glasses running over to her. Mio smiled. "Hey, Mike." She greeted.
"Hey, Mio." Mike said with a smile. He was silent for a little bit. "Look, I was going to ask you this the night of the plays, but the fire kinda held me back."
Mio raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Mike gulped before saying what he wanted to say. "You wanna go out tomorrow night?"
The nurse's eyes widened in shock. That was exactly what Toppo had asked her! She paused until she gave Mike her answer. "I-I-I'm sorry, Mike. But Toppo already asked me out."
Mike's eyes sprang open in shock as he stared at Mio. "Toppo?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, Mike." Mio said. "But Toppo asked me out first."
Muttering a final apology, Mio turned around and continued limping towards the Inn, leaving a shocked Mike behind.
Mike stood in silence for a few seconds before turning around and running towards the front gate. He didn't want anyone to see him like this. He was upset because someone beat him to asking Mio out, and he was furious that it turned out to be Toppo.
The man tore past Cecile, ran out of the castle and darted into Yaza Plains. Once he was a good deal away from Budehuc, Mike started pacing around angrily.
"I don't believe it!" Mike growled. "My one chance to go out with Mio and I lose to a silent juggler!" He paused for a few seconds as he stopped pacing. "I wish there was something I could do about it."
"There is." A voice said from behind.
Mike spun around and found himself staring at a cloaked figure slowly walking out of the woods. The hood of the cloak was covering the figures head, preventing Mike from identifying it.
"Come over here." The figure said.
Although Mike was hesitant, he slowly walked over to the figure. "Who are you and what do you want?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.
"My name is unimportant." The person said. "And I just want to help you."
Mike was still a little suspicious, but decided to go along with it. "I'm listening."
"I know that you have feelings for the nurse, but the juggler just seemed to beat you to it." The man explained. "So I think you should do something to the juggler to get your nurse friend back."
Mike kept his guard up. He felt uneasy around this person. "How?"
The figure leaned over and started whispering into Mike's ear. However, once he was finished, Mike's eyes sprang open in horror.
"WHAT?!" Mike shouted. "There's no way in heck I'll do something like that! I know I want to get back at Toppo, but that is just evil!" Mike started backing away. "Sorry, but I'll have NO part in it!"
"Unfortunately...you have no choice whatsoever." The figure said calmly.
In the blink of an eye, the figure lashed out his left hand, firing a ball of energy at the unsuspecting man. The energy ball made contact with Mike's head as he was sent to the ground.
The cloaked person smiled evilly as Mike slowly stood to his feet. While he looked normal, the only major difference was that he had a small shape embedded in his forehead.
"My servant," The figure said. "You will return to Budehuc and act as if nothing happened to you." Mike, whom was now under the figure's control, nodded slowly. "Tomorrow afternoon, you will take action."
Mike grinned evilly, nodded, turned around and walked towards Budehuc, putting on his cheerful smile and acting as if nothing happened.
To be continued...
Author's notes: What's the figure's plan? Find out in the next chapter! Please read and review!