Note: The following chapter may result in the unconscious bashing of certain favorite Guilty Gear characters, as well as a slew of others from other fighting games and animes. It is hereby stated that I treat all characters equally, and if I was to bash anyone in this story, it would be in some way directed as a plot device, and I would eventually be subjected to the effects of karma, meaning I'll eventually get my ass kicked by the respective character. (i.e. If I bash Johnny, May and her Jolly Crew will run me over, and vice versa.)

Hopefully, by stating this, I will avoid potential nasty comments and… say… this room suddenly feels occupied. (He turns around and screams.)

Justice (suddenly appearing out of nowhere): Word of advice: you'd better not hurt my daughter.

Testament (ditto): If I hear one thing about you harming Dizzy…

Vincent: What the hell are you guys doing here? I haven't introduced you two yet.

Justice: We have our suspicions on what you are going to do, so watch it.

Vincent: All right, all right. I'll be careful. Nothing much will happen to Dizzy. Ok?

Testament & Justice: Good! You'd better make it so! (They both vanish quickly)

Vincent: Sheesh! There is just no pleasing everyone.

Time: 9:34.12 A.M.

Location: Lincoln Square, New York, NY

Weather: Still Super Sunny! (Curse you big ball of Hydrogen! Looks directly at Sun AHH! My eyes!)

As Vincent Voltaire, Areia Crestol, and Ian Vanderoff walked into the Julliard School of Performing Arts, the comfortable A/C was set off balance by the appearance of Slayer and Sharon, who were sitting down on the lobby, waiting for us apparently. Likewise, Vincent had to enquire.

"Uh, you know you are kind of early. Auditions don't start for another hour."

"Well, we figured it would be good that we arrive early instead of late."

"…even though we have a blazing sunny day outside, Slayer?" He asked, inquiring the myth about him being a "vampire" of sorts.

"That's just some wacky superstition. The sun does nothing to us." Sharon intervened.

"I don't know… I've heard stories."

"Then again, it's not all that important, is not?" Slayer added.

"No, not really." Vincent retracted his statement as Slayer continued.

"Anyway, the reason that we are here so early is that right now there is a traffic delay around John F. Kennedy International. Seems the whole airport is shut down right now because an airplane broke down, and all the main highways are filled with upset passengers."

"Really? I wonder what happened."

Back at John F. Kennedy International, we see the Mayship stranded in the middle of a taxiway with all of its engines out of commission, and one apparently on fire. As to how this extension of the previous event happened, we'd best not inquire, for as the EMS and trolley crew are rushing to the area, Johnny is apparently in an "I'm-going-to-kick-Axl's-ass-if-I-see-him" mood.

"As for Ky," the conversation with Slayer continued. "He is about to get here soon. He had to tell his Interpol friends that he was going to take an extended vacation."

"Ok. I'll wait." Vincent said as he took a seat in a nearby couch. "It'll give me more time to make sure everything is ready at the opera house. That's why I wanted everyone to show up here first.

"Speaking of time, remember when you said you were going to describe the reasons why you hated Ms. Cecilia Nicomar today?

"Uh… yeah Sharon thanks for reminding me. But are you sure you really want to know that…?"

"YES!'

"Ok, ok. Calm down. It's not like it's all that great anyway." He really did not want to discuss this, but since she inquired, he unenthusiastically began the story. "You see, a couple of months ago, I was in the city and well…. I'll let this flashback scene explain."

(Flashback)

Location: A random arcade somewhere in the city

Date: A couple of months ago, duh.

We currently zoom in on Vincent, who is currently playing in an equally random DDR Extreme machine as he is just about to fail Burning Heat.

"Damn it! When am I going to pass Burning Heat? I need more endurance."

As he steps off the pad and walks out of the area to catch his breath, he notices a girl walk on. Immediately after choosing Heavy, she rapidly chooses "Love Love heart Sugar" As Voltaire looks, he quickly turns around in near disgust. She takes serious notice of this action.

"Is something the matter?"

"No. Nothing's the matter." With that, he goes to play a nearby Soul Calibur 2 machine.

Time passes, and Vincent is not feeling all that peppy from before. Then again, he lost to Inferno for the 5th time already.

"Damn it. I almost got him. This machine is set too high for me." As the screen shows a Game Over, the girl walks by again, puts in a few coins, and chooses Talim. Vincent walks away again in an almost unnoticeable disgust, but the girl noticed anyway.

"Do you have something against me?"

"No, something is just bothering me. That's all. Besides, I have to get going." With that, he vaults out of the arcade.

Location: Random Book Store (Preference unrelated)

Several hours later, Vincent starts to speed walk away from a random book store, carrying in his backpack a copy of Azumanga Daioh: Vol 2, and hoping no one notices what he's carrying. Unfortunately, by mistake, he takes a right turn to a lonely alleyway and notices the girl.

"Uh… are you following me or something?"

"Well, it's like this. I've been following you for a while, and I've been wondering "what the hell you have against cute women?"

"What?" He couldn't believe what this female was saying.

"Well, I saw you turn your face around when I was playing "Love Love heart Sugar" and then when I chose Talim…"

Vincent went on the defensive. "Well, it doesn't make sense what you are doing anyway. It's pretty obvious that not everyone is going to like everything."

"Well then Vincent Voltaire…"

He also couldn't believe he knew his name. "Hey, wait! I never told my name to you. Who are you?"

"Name's Cecilia, of the Nicomar family."

"Charmed with the nobility act, but would you mind explaining me why you are following me?"

"Well, how should I put this bluntly; you hate cute women, pure and simple."

"Oh come on." Vincent acted in disbelief. "For one thing, why do you care, and for another thing, where is the evidence?"

"You want to talk about evidence. That is just great." She replied sarcastically. "Everyone knows what you did in the past!"

"I've done a few things. It's all public info."

"Well then, for starters, I wrote some things down." She takes out a piece of paper and reads it out loud. "Let's see, you launched a full fledged effort to banish some goddesses from this world that wish to remain nameless, and then there were rumors about you bribed Adelheld Bernstein to prevent Athena Asamiya from competing in the last King of Fighters tournament, and then there was this event involving a certain innocent robot that goes by the name of…"

"Would you stop it!?" He tears the paper away from her. "Now, I'm pissed. I want to know what is going on, and who are you."

"Well, I guess you probably don't know me then."

"Well, no, unless you happen part of the Nicomar family of Dark Magicians which I have been keeping my eye on recently, which I doubt it. Besides, I don't really thing someone like you would really be a real DM. I mean, at most, you'll be a costume player, but…"

"You really don't think so?" She suddenly takes out what appears to be the signature wand of the Dark Magician Girl. "Well then let me show you!"

(End Flashback)

"And that is what happened. The rest I can't recall because I blocked it out of my mind due to insanity and blindness from her glorified MG transformation. Any questions?"

Sharon's eyes went suspiciously squinty. "You're hiding something. I know it."

As the five waited on, the blond haired ex-assassin arrived first on the scene. Mind you, she now has short hair, and has done a lot of work to make it nice. Considering her former experience with working on it, it's pretty impressive.

"Hello there. You seem to be early." Areia said as she walked in.

"I know. My plane was heading to Newark Liberty international, so I was not affected by what is going on at JFK."

"Well, nonetheless, this is pretty nice. I'd expect Ky to show up first, but seems something came up with Interpol, so I'm still waiting for him." Vincent went to the registration table and checked her name. "Anyway, Militia Rage, you could just wait here and…"

"Actually, you misspelled my first name. It's Millia, not Militia."

"Really?" He checks his notes and a GGX2 manual. A big sweatdrop follows as he fixed the name. "Whoops! Crap. I can't believe I made that mistake. Ok. Problem solved. Sorry about that Millia."

Several Millia fans cheered as a sudden fan riot is averted. (To those four reviewers who posted the first time, Thanks.)

Moments later, as Millia heads to the bathroom to fix her hair due to a A/C breeze messing it up, Ky appears as he uses his signature blue trench coat to hide his sword from curious onlookers.

"Ah, Ky Kiske, you have arrived." Vincent replied.

"Well, it was hard to get through traffic like this." He took out his sword from hiding. "For some reason, I almost got redirected to something happening at the Airport, but I insisted."

"Well, I have your name here, so wait around with Millia and we'll see the rest show up."

"Sure, just as long as…"

Sol walks in shortly thereafter, followed by the sudden rumble of fangirls passing by. Both their eyes quickly zoom on to each other ala Kill Bill Vol 1. (You'll know this if you saw the movie.)

"Sol!"

"Ky!"

As if on cue, Slayer hits a button on a convenient placed audio system. "Noontide" is being played.

"Ky Kiske, you still owe me a beatdown!

"I can't believe this." He palmed his head as he plopped down on another couch. "I'm not in the mood right now all right?!" He verbally vaulted onto him.

"What do you mean 'you're not in the mood?' Did you give up on fighting?"

"No. I'm on vacation. Listen to me Sol, I'm not a knight right now, so… Slayer, could you turn that off?"

Slayer turns it off quickly. "Sorry. It usually happens when you guys fight."

"It's ok."

"Man, this isn't like you Ky." Sol still could not believe what was happening to Ky. "We've always been at it trying to fight each other. What's going on?

"It's you, man. You've got everything; the fans, the fame, the fact that your part-gear. People love you. Me, I've got nothing."

"Hey, come on. You're this knight who everyone looks up to, and you got the respect of everyone across the world. I just happen to use you to relive stress." At the same time he said this, he was also thinking of the fact that he could not believe he said that.

"Hey, look. I'm just doing this as a break from the Interpol thing. If you want to join up with this opera then that is fine with me."

"Well, I am bored as it is. Things have been quiet since that "carnival" I-No started has ended, and to think she actually dragged me here just to kick your ass." He quickly scans the area. "Say, where is that girlfriend that usually drags you along?"

"You mean Jam? I had to ditch her. She was too much for me."

"How so?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know."

Elsewhere high above the city, an airplane originating from Hong Kong on route to JFK is preparing to land. However, it is currently on a queue, and for one particular passenger, this is not something she wanted to hear.

"Attention passengers, due to a recent problem on the runway in JFK, there will be a delay in our arrival time. Please be patient as we'll be landing shortly. Everyone sighs at this announcement from the Captain with the exception of one.

"What are you saying 'there is a delay?' I need to get on the ground now."

"Miss Kuradoberi, I assure you that this was not fault." Up somewhere bordering the First Class and Economy barriers, the crazy lady is so desperate to get to Ky, that she has the entire crew literally going crazy. "Could you at least tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Well, it's like this." A random flight attendant said "The captain told me that there is this airship called The Mayship that took an emergency landing on all three runways. The control tower is telling us they are just getting them back online, so could you please be patient?"

Jam's brain suddenly starts working as she tries to process this info. "So those people are there. I know that May has the hots for Johnny, but Dizzy…" A ridiculous hentai scene suddenly pops up at random, which was quickly dismissed for lack of chance. "No, Ky would never do that… unless…"

I take it back. An equally impossible reason pops in her head moments later. In response, she could not control herself, and in trying to escape the plane for what she calls, "Saving Ky," all the other attendants charge in en masse, tackle her, duct tape her mouth, and dump her hyperactive self in the cargo hold, making sure to mark it "Fragile" so she shall receive the "utmost care." All the other passengers cheer.

As that was going on, the next participants appear… or rather, they caused quite a stir when a giant ki dragon appeared out of nowhere and disembarked on the steps of the school, startling most of the professors, yet impressing the cultured students, including those interested in pre-destruction Japan.

Though in the case of Chipp Zanuff, this was not the case.

"Yes, I'm back in my homeland, and yet it doesn't feel that way."

"Hi, everyone." Anji said as his ki dragon vanished from sight. "So did I miss anything?"

"No. You are just in time." said Areia as he greeted the two into the building. "We still have a few guests coming, so you are numbers four and five. Just take a seat and we'll get you organized.

"Sure. Just let me get use to here for a minute." A sense of culture shock started to engulf the American ninja.

"Feels different now that you spent so much time in the colony, no?" Ian said.

"Kinda. It nice to be back, but a part of me… well, you know."

"Bad memories, eh?" Chipp nods on the account that before all the GG stuff, he was addicted to drugs, and it was later when he became a ninja that he left "A Country" for training. Of course, then you have his attempted defection to the Colony, and all of that business with the 16 year old President, but because most of his problems originated in "A Country", there are still some lasting memories.

"So as I was saying, how are we going to do this?" Anji asked.

"Well, you said you already read the story, right?"

"Yes, Vincent. I read all four acts."

"We can't put you as part of the royal couple, since Slayer and Sharon have those parts already. I swear they got talent."

"What about me?" Chipp replied as he started to wear off his culture shock.

"Like I said, we have to wait for enough people so we can do this. Once we have enough…"

"ANJI!!"

Storming in with lighting speed and getting on looks from jealous girlfriends, perverted teens, and Rurouni Kenshin fans, Baiken pushes into the front doors and slams her fist on Anji's solar plexus. He falls down quickly, as Bakien tips him over to his back and sticks her sword to within inches of his neck.

"Now I had to go through a lot of "beep" to get here. Now, give me back my bottle."

"For the last time, Baiken, I do not have your bottle."

"Yes, we are telling the truth, ok?" Chipp added. It wasn't helping much.

"You shut up, all right? You're next."

"For the last time, I didn't do anything, ok?"

"Liar!"

Admits the chaos, Vincent decides to go "damage control" on this problem and waves a half empty sake bottle to the area. "Does this bottle mean anything to you, Baiken?" She took notice, recognized the bottle, and pushed her way over. "So you were the one. Give it to me!"

"Ok "He tosses the bottle to Baiken in a nonchalant manner. She receives it and secures it quickly. "Besides, I only needed it as a lure. I actually wanted you to try out for this opera, and this was the only way I'll get you to come."

"If that was it, then no way; I'll pass on this one."

"Oh really. It's such a shame, and I originally had nothing against you Baiken, but sadly…"

"What?"

Getting out of his seat, and attempting to keep Baiken in for as long as possible, Vincent shifts from pacifist to duelist as a long sword forms around his hand.

"I'm actually a nice guy, and I really admire your personality, quite honestly. However, I've wanted to do this opera for a while, and I know that you would have been reluctant to join, so that is why I had to take the bottle… as well as a few other things I sold on eBay, but that is not important. I am asking you to at least stay for the audition. If you don't get in, that is fine. I'll compensate your venture home."

"You know that acting doesn't impress me." She said. "Keep talking though. I want to know more."

"In addition, if you don't make it in, how would you like to be part of security? "

"…perhaps I will. The colony's been boring as of late, and there is something about beating people up…" A minute later, she reluctantly agrees. "All right, I'll stay around, for now."

"Deal. Wait here with the other people."

With that settled, Vincent disengages his sword and returns to his spot as Baiken sits on the floor and takes out her pipe. Anji goes up to her.

"So, Baiken, does that mean you forgive me for thinking I stole your bottle?"

"Maybe." She hinted at him.

"So that means you'll go out with me?"

A multipurpose mat fell down on him. "Don't push it."

The next person to arrive at the school was the yo-yo dealing, teddy bear dueling, cross dresser named Bridget. If it wasn't for the fact that he came from a limo, everyone would have been giving him mixed looks for the fact that A: She looks like a girl, B: Nuns would probably slap him/her with rulers for lack of proper color scheme, and C: "Rent" fans would mistake her for the character "Angel.", which is something that is not only downright ludicrous, but completely wrong on all accounts. (Go find information on the "rock opera", and then you'll understand what I mean.)

"Bridget, you have arrived. Excellent. We are almost there." Vincent said as he personally opened the door to him. He, on the other hand, stopped his way in and confronted Vincent head on. "You're the one doing this, right?"

"Yes."

"Well can I be honest for once? I don't like doing this at all."

"What do you mean?" He asked,

"You know by now that my parents made me this confused person that you see me today."

"Yeah, and?"

"Well, I know that they are obviously going to ask you to have me play some female part or what not, and I was asking…?"

Vincent understood his situation quickly. "Say no more. In fact there is a character who you may like playing as."

Anji, knowing his knowledge of the play, overheard the whole conversation and had to intervene. "Oh, you don't mean Cherubino, do you?"

"I think he actually fits the part nicely, Anji." said Slayer as he watched on.

"Who is this "Cherubino" person?"

"He's a page to the royal court." Sharon added. "However, he spends most of his time hanging around with the ladies of the court. This completely upsets the Count, which is being played by Slayer, so by the end of the first act, the Count has Cherubino drafted to the army. I won't mention everything till we are ready of course."

"Really? Well, that is kind of different. I think I may like it."

"Good, we just have to wait for three more people, and we should be all…"

A second later, the front doors are slammed open, made it part by a woman in a red china dress, and in glorified fashion, she executes her classic fight intro.

"Kuradoberi Jam! Hello everyone." Her eyes make a small glance at Ky and instantly became glassy. "Ky-Chan!"

"Oh no!"

"This should be fun to watch." Sol remarked.

"Uh, someone help me, please? I don't want to be glomped by this crazy lovesick woman." Without warning, the same crazy lovesick woman started to sprint toward Ky, with his sword his only feeble defense.

"Don't deny our love, Ky Kiske. We are meant for each other…"

A second later, a random eight ball lands on Jam's back.

GG Announcer: Slash.

"Well, that takes care of that." said Vemon as he cues his stick once more. Ky is in a odd sense of relief.

"Uh… thanks… I think."

"Hey, we don't want this to turn into a full blown Isuka duel, do we?" Ian said as he tried to regain order. But as if it was on cue, a scream is heard as two people plummet from the sky down to the plaza. They ended up being Faust and Axl Low, whom he collided with Faust in mid air as a result of a really messed up time loop.

"Would you mind getting off of me, Axl?"

"Hey, I didn't know I was going to pop in mid air. You blame whatever is causing this."

Vincent was pleased. The entire cast is finally here. "Excellent, this is more than enough. Areia, Ian, let's get into positions."

"Hey, what about Johnny's crew?"

"Ah, they ain't important right now, Bridget." He said with speedy execution. "They'll come by later."

After ten minutes of reorganization, and a few minutes to move the entire cast from the school to the metropolitan opera house, Vincent and his team finally explain what is going on with the opera.

"First off, I congratulate everyone for coming, seeing as you all have busy schedules and what not."

"What do you mean?" Millia said "Half of us are trying to pass time while the next big thing comes along."

"Well, as long as I'm with Ky-chan, everything will be all right." Jam said as she snuggled onto Ky.

"She calls you Ky-chan now?"

"Sol Badguy. Do me a favor and don't ask."

"Anyway, just to make things clear, right now, the crew of the Jellyfish is coming in late, because of some technical problems with their ship, but beside that I'll meet up with everyone individually, one by one. I shall give you a sample script for you to read. Then I shall ask you a few questions. Depending on the results, I'll assign you your preferred spots. If by some chance you do not make it in, I'll gladly give you the opportunity to work for security, seeing as Potemkin and his elite squad of Zepp soldiers has gladly volunteered his services as the backstage team and head of security, and it wouldn't pay to have more security, seeing the degree to who's acting in this opera. And if anyone has a problem with that, you'll have to speak with me, personally."

The entire audience is still. Not one soul shakes their head.

"Good. If you are selected though, you'll be subjected to my rule. Meaning that I, Vincent Voltaire, will have full command on what I do on set. The reason should be obvious."

"You mean random chaos everywhere?"

"Yes Axl. Also, you should be able to find accommodations in the city. I have Ian and Areia help you with that."

"Do these accommodations include lots of sake?"

"I do not know what your obsession with that is, Baiken, but yes." "Now then, I shall call you up randomly…" For the sake of sheer randomness, he points to the Knight. "Ky, you stay. Everyone else, wait outside."

"Well, I guess this is where everything starts."

"I don't think we'll have a problem with you Ky."

I still haven't figured out where to place the other characters, but they will show up eventually. And because we are into culture, we'll have the new GG fighter show up in a musical overtone. (If you don't know who this new person is, I'll give you a hint. Find the musical "Mamma Mia." All that music is based on a famous 70s singer. Drop the third letter and search that person on the official GG Isuka site.)