Tifa was still lying on the demons bed, when she woke up she saw a musical box with a figure of a dragon in Chinese playing a very familiar tune. She got out of bed and approached a small balcony above the small lake; Tifa remembered what happened the other night: She was in her dressing room, she heard a strange voice and followed a cloaked creature into the unknown.
Tifa:
I remember there was mist...
Swirling mist upon a vast glassy lake
There were candles all around,
and on the lake there was a boat
And in the boat there was a creature
She saw Drago near the lake, just standing there alone, staring at the reflecting light of the lake still wearing his black cloak. He seemed happier than before.
Tifa:
Who was that shape in the shadows?
Whose is the face in the hood?
She starts to remove his cloak, but before she could look at him, Drago attacked her and hid behind the white curtain. Only his shadow appearing in the white silk.
Drago:
Damn you
You little prying Kyogre
You little demon
Is this what you wanted to see?
Curse you, you little lying Delilah
You little Seviper
Now you cannot ever be free
Damn you, curse you...
Stranger than you dreamt it
Can you even dare to look, or bear to think of me
This loathsome Demon
Who burns in hell, But secretly yearns for heaven
Secretly, secretly...
Tifa...
Fear can turn to love
You'll learn to see, to find the man behind the monster
This repulsive carcass
Who seems a beast but secretly dreams of beauty,
Secretly, secretly...
Oh, Tifa...
Tifa felt ashamed of removing his cloak, he sounded pretty sad of what he said. She approached the white curtain without going to the back of it where Drago was, she handed him his cloak, Drago took it and put it on. He stood out from the white curtain and looked at Tifa. "Come, we must return, those two fools who run my theatre will be missing you."
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It was morning in Halloween Town, many of the towns people were starting a line to buy their tickets to the new opera named Il Muto, that was part opera, part comedy. One of the owners, Firmin, came to the entrance of the Opera House, noticing some creatures sweeping and cleaning the Opera Populaire.
Firmin:
Mystery after gala night
It says mystery of soprano's flight
Mystified all the papers say
We are mystified, we suspect foul play
Bad news on soprano's scene
First Carlotta now Tifa
Still, at least, the seats get sold
Gossip's worth its weight in gold
What a way to run a business
Spare me these unending trials
Half your cast disappears but the crowd still cheers
Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel
Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit!
Andre:(interrupting)
Damnable!
Will they all walk out?
This is damnable!
Firmin:
Andre, please don't shout!
It's publicity!
And the take is vast
Free publicity!
Andre:
But we have no cast!
Firmin:
Andre, have you seen the queue?
Ah, it seems you've got one too
Andre:
Dear Andre what a charming gala,
Christine was, in a word, sublime
We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left
On that note, the diva's a disaster, must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime!
Firmin:
Dear, Firmin
Just a brief reminder
My salary has not been paid
Send it care of the ghost by return of post
P.T.O
No one likes a debtor so it's better if my orders are obeyed!
Both:
Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain
Firmin:
These are both signed F.D.
Andre:
Who the hell is he?
Both:
Fire Demon!
Firmin:
It's nothing short of shocking
Andre:
He is mocking our position!
Firmin:
In addition he wants money!
Andre:
What a funny apparition!
Both:
To expect a large retainer
Nothing plainer, he is clearly quite insane!
LDK Sparda:
Where is she?
Firmin:
You mean Carlotta?
James:
He means Miss 'le Strange
Where is she?
Andre:
Well how should we know?
James, LDK:
We want an answer!
Sparda:
I take it that you sent us these notes!
Firmin:
What's all this nonsense?
Andre:
Of course not!
Firmin:
Don't look at us!
James:
She's not with you then?
Andre:
Of course not!
Firmin:
We're in the dark!
Sparda:
Monsieur don't argue!
Aren't these the letters you wrote?
Firmin:
And what is it that we're meant to have wrote? (Realising his mistake)Written!
Monsieur Andre took the notes that LDK Sparda had and started to read one of them, even if both of the notes had the same lecture.
Do not fear for Miss 'le Strange
The Demon of Fire has her under his wing.
Make no attempt to see her again.
"If you didn't write them, then who did?" said James before he was interrupted.
Carlotta:
Where is he?
Firmin:
Ah, welcome back!
Carlotta:
Your precious patron
Where is he?
James:
What is it now?
Carlotta:
I have your letter
A letter which I rather resent
Sparda:
And did you send it?
James:
Of course not!
Andre:
As if he would!
Carlotta:
You didn't send it?
James:
Of course not!
Firmin:
What's going on?
Carlotta:
You dare to tell me that this is not the letter you sent?
Sparda:
And what is it that he's meant to have sent?
James read the note that the red Gargoyless had in her claw, she seemed pretty pissed of at the moment. "Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Tifa the Strange..."
"Tifa, the Strange! It's always about her this time around" she said angrily interrupting James, before long he continued. "Tifa, the Strange will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune. Should you attempt to take her place." Carlotta just growled before Firmin and Andre walked away from the small crowd.
Firmin and Andre:
Far too many notes for my taste
And most of them about Tifa!
All we've heard since we came is Miss 'le Strange's name--!
Emily, Katie and Kye Skellington appeared from out of nowhere, making everyone get spooked.
Emily:
Miss 'le Strange has returned.
Firmin:
I hope no worse for wear as far as we're concerned
Andre:
Where precisely is she now?
Emily:
I thought it best she was alone
Katie and Kye:
She needed rest
Sparda:
May we see her?
Emily:
No, Sparda
She will see no one
Carlotta, James:
Will she sing, will she sing?
Emily:
Here, I have a note
Andre, Carlotta and James:
Let me see it!
"Please!" Monsieur Firmin said while snatching the note, Monsieur Andre approached Firmin while he read out loud the note.
Gentlemen,
I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature
Detailing how my theatre is to be run
You have not...
(Fading to Drago's voice in the underground chambers)
Followed my instructions
I shall give you one last chance
Drago:
Tifa, the Strange has returned to you
And I am anxious her career should progress
In the new production of Il Muto
You will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy
And put Miss Tifa in the role of Countess
The role which Miss 'le Strange plays calls for charm and appeal
The role of the pageboy is silent, which makes my casting, in a word, ideal
"I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in box five. Which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored. A disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant.
F. D.