Last Act, I spoke to my The Phantom of the Opera readers, so this time I extend a paragraph to my Final Fantasy Seven homies. First things first, I am a huge FF7 fan, some might say obsessively so. It's my favorite Final Fantasy game, and it's not just the game I love; the characters were so amazingly real to me. Though I philosophize about Sephiroth the most, Vincent is second because he's just so damn hott! (Joslyn had claimed the one I had figured out first before I could, so she fixed my torn admiration.) Those two guys are my homies, and I love their angst. (I'm an angst vampire. He he he…) I believed that Vincent's angst was more relent to The Phantom's than Sepher-sama's because Vincent's had love involved. Plus, I already have a Sephiroth story, but it had to have the stupid Ancient in it. This story takes place over a century after the game; so basically, it happens the way it would if you didn't pick up Vincent in the basement and left him in his coffin to dream his nightmares. (Poor Vincent! TT) Anyway, you guys aren't here to read my rants, so enjoy Act III!
I, Jade the Inujin, do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor do I own Final Fantasy Seven. The story lines were changed to make this story my own. If you are a fan of The Phantom of the Opera or Final Fantasy Seven, bare with me on these changes. Italics mean singing.
The Phantom of Nibelheim: Act III
Scene One: "Collision"
Dark eyes fluttered open as the sunrise awoke the sleeping girl. The young maiden sighed heavily, wondering if the past few months had been real or just a dream. For the last four months, her mysterious angel of the night, Vincent Valentine, had taken her to his home in the basement of Shinra Mansion every night, and every morning, she awoke in her bed. He was so romantic and gentle, yet he also seemed a bit shy. After four months, they still hadn't kissed or done anything physical, except – well – hug. Even still, Chelsea felt they became one every time they sang one of their songs together. Rising from her pillow, the love stricken girl clasped her hands together. "Oh, Deity of Love," she prayed, "If these nights have been nothing but dreams, strike me with eternal sleep to be with my angel."
At work, Chelsea sped around with her unending energy, as she'd done for the past four months. Jade and Jason blinked in confusion, trying to figure out what had gotten into their younger sister. In her bouncy mood, Chelsea didn't notice as two hands came from behind and covered her eyes. She froze instantly. "Guess who?" a voice from behind asked. Her fear melted immediately and she answered, "Joshua Eros Grazer." The officer dropped his hands in shock. "You promised never to say my full name," he whispered. Making a cute face, Chelsea looked behind her, "You asked me to guess who you were… and I guessed right!"
As the waitress giggled at her old friend's embarrassment, Jade glared at the young man. "How dare he show his face in here," she fumed silently, "After he betrayed us all like that?" Jason saw her glare again from where he was washing dishes – for smacking Chelsea's butt – in the kitchen. He became serious all of a sudden, which was something he hadn't done in fifteen years. Being her twin brother, the twenty-seven year old man knew Jade better than anyone. He could feel when something was up – positively or negatively – with her. That wasn't what was bothering him though, Jade always talked to him, but on this issue, she had closed herself off. "What's wrong, Jade?" he mentally pleaded, "You used to rant about everything with me, even girlly things. Why have you turned me away all of a sudden?"
Taking his usual seat, Josh noticed the cold stare from the bar. Jade didn't look away; instead, she locked his gaze. The young man didn't take well to threats, and Jade's eyes held pure anger in them. After about sixty seconds, Josh couldn't take anymore. "God, what is your problem, Jade? You haven't even yelled at me since I got back! What did I do to get the cold shoulder, huh!" Closing her eyes, Jade bit back at him, "Don't you dare talk to me about what you did, you traitor." Josh gave her an angry, confused face, unaware of what she was talking about. Jason exited the kitchen to see everyone staring at the two quarrelers. He walked up to his sister and reached his arm across her chest to her opposite shoulder. "Jade, relax. Everything's alright-"
"No," Jade yelled, "Everything is not alright, Jason!" All eyes fell on Jade, head hung. Pushing her twin back, she looked directly at Josh as she yelled at him. "You dare walk in here, wearing that uniform and insignia! Don't you realize what you've done, or does Shinra brainwash their employees so they don't notice they've become lapdogs!" Jason and Chelsea gaped at their sister and her hateful words. Josh's face softened a bit. "Wait," he thought, "She's Shinra bashing again. Why does she do that all the time?" Jade began to tremble as she tried desperately not to cry. "Heartless bastards, that's all the Shinra are! They don't care about anything except their own asses! They don't care what it takes to protect themselves! They don't care about the innocent lives in their crossfire!"
Crossfire? Josh gasped as he suddenly remembered such an event fifteen years previously. Gaping at the angry woman struggling against her twin, Josh listened to her last words before halling ass out of the tavern. "You're all scum! I hate Shinra; I hate you all! I hope Red takes all of your heads!"
Scene Two: "Agent Heart-Throb"
Josh, cursing himself for not seeing the real issue, dropped into the desk chair in the office he'd been given. "God damn it, Joshua, can't you do anything right?" he yelled at himself, "You know their not Shinra fans, Why'd you have to dig up those old memories!" Sighing heavily, the lieutenant decided to try working on his case again. The past five months he'd been there had turned up nothing, so he changed his approach. Instead of talking to people, Josh turned to the Shinra data base; though he didn't expect much, he thought what did he have to lose?
As he searched the data bank, he hummed a song Chelsea had sung a while ago. It reminded him he'd run out on breakfast, but he thought he'd could skip a meal or two for a change. The song was about a valentine from a vampire. He couldn't help but chuckle at the woman's supernatural lyrics. Since he was in a bored mood, the young officer decided to do a search of Valentine Vampires. He grinned at the random junk he found in the results about Valentines' Day crimes and vampire monsters made in reactors. Taking a sip of his coffee, Josh almost choked at the sight of a Turks' name in the search results. "What the devil? You don't see the name Turk unless it's serious."
Clicking the file, he was asked for security clearance to which he typed his password. After a wait, the history file of an agent appeared before him. Agent Vincent Valentine's picture loaded beside his file. Josh read a bit into it and found his codename was Agent Heart-Throb, and looking at the file picture, the lieutenant had to agree with the nickname. "This guy was one of the best at age… 18! He wasn't a push-over either. There's no deceased date recorded, but it says he was born a hundred and fifty years ago." Scrolling down the file, Josh saw a link to another file. "Operation: Heart-Throb, huh?" There was something about the Turk's brown eyes that goaded him. Grinning, the young man thanked his dear Chelsea for her divine intervention. "Now," he said, pressing the print button before clinking on the link, "I can finally start working."
Scene Three: "Memories"
Jason called Chelsea to the bar. "What's up, Bro?" asked the waitress. Looking at the stairs, the man whispered, "It's after lunch, and Jade still hasn't come down since Josh left." Chelsea nodded and sighed heavily. "I'm gonna go check on her. If anyone asks for a drink, get Cook." The singer bit her lip and whimpered, "But… but… but… that would poison them." Jason patted the girl's head innocently. "We'll blame the customer," he grinned, "Now I'll be back in a little while, okay?" Chelsea nodded in her cute way that Jason worried would turn him straight one day. After he left, Chelsea gazed at the few customers and hoped they wouldn't order a drink.
Jason climbed the stairs, two at a time as usual, to the bedrooms. He made his way to Jade's room, which had at one time had been their parents' room, and knocked softly. "Jade," he called inside, "You okay in there?" There was a clicking noise heard, and the door opened, slowly. A tired-looking Jade looked up at him, eyes bloodshot from crying. "Come on in, Jason." The man closed the door behind him as he entered. Walking over to a stool, he asked in a quiet voice, "You feel like talking yet? I don't have a problem sitting a while." She didn't look at him; she just kept her mouth covered with her palm and stared into the abyss. Jason continued to sit silently, waiting. Suddenly, Jade broke down, "How can he do that!" Jason looked over at her calmly, "Do what, Jade?" She looked at him from her bed, tears streaming her face, "I remember it like it was yesterday, fifteen years ago…
"I remember I was back to the storage room. Dad used to send me back there to learn patience; now that I think about it, I guess I did learn something out of it. I heard the gunshots faintly outside the tavern. Mom was yelling about the damn Shinra taking their fights any where they wanted. Dad just said to calm down. But for some reason, he walked outside. I watched from the kitchen… his body fell to the ground. That was when Mom ran out. Dad didn't make a sound, but I can still hear our mother's screams ringing in my ears. You wouldn't let me go out until the shooting stopped. That's what angered me the most; they just kept shooting. By the time they'd finished, our parents were lying dead in a pool of their own blood, and for what? …A god damn man hunt that they weren't supposed to be shooting in!"
As the tears flowed from her eyes, Jason wrapped his arms around his sister. "Why?" she asked, pleadingly, "Why is he working for their murderers; how can he work for the same people that killed our parents!" The man rocked his sister gently, recalling the day their parents died. "It pains me, too," he whispered in her ear, "I miss them every day. I wish they could have been there for me as I grew up, but it was their time. We have to accept that." Jade stopped her crying, remembering something else, "Red will get us our revenge. I know he will." Jason looked down at her, "Who is this Red person you've been talking about lately? Yet another secret you've kept from me, I'm hurt."
Grinning, Jade sat up to look at her brother. "Jason," she started, "You remember that day, before Mom and Dad died, I was acting like a smart-ass?" Jason thought how he could never forget. It was a preview of her PMS years. "Well, that night, I was sweeping outside the tavern, near the ally. Down the street, a cloaked man in red and black was running from some Shinra Soldiers. I called to him, pointing for the alley. He looked at the alley, then the corner where the Soldiers were coming from. He eventually jumped over me into the alley just before the men rounded the corner.
"I told him I'd handle them; he just stayed quiet. When the Soldiers saw me, one looked at me and asked if I'd seen a red caped figure come my way. I gave my 'duh' face, and I told him no one had come my way for a while. One of the other Soldiers came up to me and said I'd better not be holding him. He threatened me, saying he could beat me up for that." Jason snickered at the Soldier's words. Everyone knew that Jade Streeter was a kick-boxing champ, and she had no problem educating idiots from a young age. "I stared up at him, unafraid, and I told him if he was going to try something, I'd get my father. He tried to hit me, but the first officer stopped him. He said I wasn't worth it.
"As they left, the Soldier that didn't like me flicked me off. I stuck my tongue out at him and pulled my eyelid down a little. I was so proud of myself. That's when the man came out from behind me and started walking away. I noticed he'd dropped his headband next to my foot, so I picked it up. I called to him, and he turned his head to look at me. I held out the piece of cloth to him. His red eyes got big, and he covered his face with his cloak. I thought his face looked quite handsome: red eyes, a pretty face, and a pale complexion. I gave him the headband and smiled up at him. I said he must have trusted me a lot to stay behind me till those creeps left. He gave me one of those 'oh really' faces and said he stayed cause the alley was a dead end. Needless to say, my pride was crushed. He smiled a little grin as he knelt in front of me. He thanked me, saying it wasn't everyday a pretty, young lady saved him. I giggled and told him to go get them for us. He stood, bowed, and told me he would, just for me. He ran off quicker then lightning into the night. I never saw him again, but I'll never forget him."
Sitting next to the large candle in the back of his room, Vincent thought about his beautiful angel. "She's the second person to be so kind to me, Phellep," he said to the bat on his knee. The little creature tilted his head as if the last statement had been unclear to him. Smiling, the man stroked the little animal's back with his finger. "You wouldn't remember the other person, little one. I met her sixteen years ago; that was before you were born."
The bat sat up and squeaked at him, the bat's form of laughing. Vincent felt sweat forming on the back of his neck. "She was a child, a little girl! For the love of the gods, Phellep, I'm not depraved!" The mischievous bat seemed to laugh at his friend's awkward comeback. Chuckling at himself, Vincent petted his little friend on the head. Shaking his head, he said, "Very funny little one.
"Your antics are most amusing when thought about for a while. That child was not so much unlike you. She used her raw sarcasm to throw the Shinra off my trail. When she saw my face, she was unafraid of me. All she said to me was, 'Get them for us.' She wanted me to get Shinra for the people of Nibelheim, and I intend to do that. I can't allow Shinra to destroy more people's lives. That is why I must fight. I can't falter for a moment if I want to protect those two girls."
Vincent could feel a sense of calmness had come over him since he had met Chelsea. A calm he had thought he'd lost many years ago. The rage-filled vengeance was pacified by her memory alone. It baffled his superior intellect, yet the cause didn't matter to him. Leaning against the cold stone wall, he prayed to the gods that he would never loose her.
Scene Four: "True Colors"
Dinner time came for The Midnight Star, and everything seemed to have gone back to normal. Well, Jade was at least in a good mood and back behind the bar. Other then that, things were rocky in the tavern. Jason kept a close eye on the Shinra group in the center of the room. They'd had a little too much to drink, and it showed. Poor little Chelsea seemed swamped by them and their lurid comments. Jade, holding her emotions in check, kept telling him that they hadn't done anything yet, but the young man felt something as going to happen if they stayed much longer. As if to eat up Jade's patience, Josh arrived for dinner. Now it was Jason's turn to hold his twin back.
"Hey there, Miss Foxy Lady," one of the drunken Soldiers called to Chelsea, "Go get Big Daddy another beer!" The waitress gulped in disgust, "Coming, sir." Approaching the bar, she asked Jade for another pint of beer. Josh took a seat near the door and watched as Chelsea brought the new mug over to the loud table. "Here you are, sir. One-" She stopped short as a hand traveled down her back. Jason would have leapt from his seat if Jade hadn't stopped him. Josh just sat in his chair, watching and wishing he had the guts to do something. "Now then," said the Soldier, "Why don't you sit on Papa's lap?" All eyes descended on the waitress for a reaction.
"Don't call yourself such an innocent name and act like a sex gluten." The man dropped his hand at her statement. "I'm here to serve up your meals and drinks," Chelsea glanced at him, "I'm no whore off the start to help you with your aching dick!" She then turned to serve another customer. The entire room was amazed that Chelsea had gone easy on him. Jason blinked, "I thought I was going to have to pull her off. Still, our little Chelsea has quite a tongue and boy does it hurt." Josh just continued to sit and made mental note never to tick her off.
Some time later, the Soldier made a comeback. Standing from his seat, he called to Chelsea. "What do you want Shinra drunk?" she asked, sick and tired of the whole group. The man made an angry expression at her. "Is that it?" he asked angrily, "You a Shinra hater, pretty girl? All you Shinra haters are all alike! I bet you're all behind those Phantom attacks and made up that stupid ghost story to get away with it!" Several other customers shouted denials and said the Phantom really did exist. Even Josh upheld the legend. "If that's true," the drunk countered, "Then one day he's gonna turn on all your asses and show his monster that he is! You'll see! You'll all-" He was cut off as Chelsea's serving tray hit him in the head. Her body trembled with anger as she stood up from throwing her tray. "Don't you ever say anything against the Phantom, you heartless, drunken murderer!"
She ran for the stairs, crying. Joe blinked from his stool at the bar after her. The dressmaker sighed lightly, "This day will be remembered as 'The Day of Tears' in my book." Josh, on the other hand, stood and approached the twins at the bar. "Please, let me go see her." Jade glared at him coldly. "I know I don't have any right to ask, but I want to help Chelsea, please." Jason and Joe looked at Jade for her answer. Narrowing her eyes, Jade locked the young officer's gaze, "Go."
Scene Five: "All I Ask of You"
As soon as he'd gotten the word, Josh halled ass up the stairs. He remembered exactly where the girl's room was, and he didn't waist any time getting there. He could hear her crying inside. "This is your chance, Joshua. Don't screw it up," he told himself silently. Opening the door slowly, he saw Chelsea sitting in front of her vanity, crying. "Why, Angel? Why are people so dark and yet they still blame others for their sins? Oh, my angel, come for me, my angel of music. Come for me." Some thing inside Josh moved at her heart felt words and pleading voice. He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulders as he began to sing to her.
"No more talk of darkness; forget these wide eyed fears. I'm here, nothing can harm you. My words will warm and calm you. Let me be your freedom. Let daylight dry your tears. I'm here – with you, beside you – to guard you and to guide you."
Chelsea heard words enter her soul. They were so beautiful and heart-felt; they had to be her angel's. Without opening her eyes, she sang her reply. "Say you'll love me every waking moment. Turn my head with talk of better times. Say you'll need me with you now and always. Promise me that all you say is true. That's all I ask of you…"
Josh took her hand as he kneeled to look at her dreaming face, continuing. "Let me be your shelter. Let me be your light. You're safe, no one will find you. Your fears are far behind you." Chelsea fell captive to the lyrics that caressed her spirit. "All I want is freedom to say here in your arms, and you always beside me to hold me and to hide me!"
Forcing her to stand, Josh stroked his beloved's cheek. In a pleading voice, he sang, "Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Let me lead you from your solitude. Say you need me with you, here beside you. Anywhere you go let me go too. Chelsea… that's all I ask of you."
Chelsea was so taken by the words. She truly believed she was with her angel of music. That's what he would say to her. Had he come to take her at last? "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime! Say the word and I will follow you!" Josh held her close to him and joined in her song. "Share each day with me each night each morning!"
Nestling into his chest, she sang, "Say you love me…" "You know I do." As they held each other, their hearts became one for that single moment. "Anywhere you go let me go too! Love me, that's all I ask of you." With the girl in his arms, Josh leaned in for the kiss to make the moment complete. "This is it," he thought wildly, "She's finally mine." Suddenly, something in Chelsea's soul screeched in horror, breaking the connection, and she jerked backward.
Staring at the officer, Chelsea blinked, "Josh? What are you doing? What are you doing here?" The young man looked at her a bit confused. "I was about to kiss you," he decided to explain, "I came to see if you were alright after downstairs." The singer gaped at him, "Where is he! He was just here! I was just in his arms!" Josh stared at her and insisted that she had been with him the whole time. "Was it all a dream?" she mused aloud, "Did just imagine I was singing with him?" Josh got defensive at the statement. "No, it wasn't a dream," he declared, "We were singing together. I held you! You held me! I was about to kiss you! It was all real! Goddamn it, it was real!"
Chelsea stared at him, "You came up here?" "Yes." She pointed at him, "You were the one singing with me?" "Yes!" Josh was getting edgier by the question. "You," Chelsea asked, "You tried to kiss me?" Josh clasped her head in his hands. "Yes, and I'd do it again; Chelsea, I love you…" "YOU JERK!" The waitress slapped him across the face, "How dare you take advantage of me like that! Don't tell me you still have that crush on me! Get out! Don't you ever try to make me betray him!" Slamming the door, Josh just stood there, trying to figure out what had just happened.
Scene Six: "Curses"
Seeing the Shinra seduce Chelsea with song, Vincent's heart shattered at the sight of him closing in on the kiss. He flew home immediately, tears in his eyes. When he reached the mansion, he didn't even bother taking the time to land. The broken man fell on his face, trying not to cry. "Why?" he cried out to the cruel gods of fate, "Why do you do this to me again? Have I not atoned for my sins enough? Why a Shinra! Of all the men in the world to take her from me, why did it have to a Shinra officer?" Grasping his head in agony, he fought the tears a moment more.
Turning to the stars above, Vincent sang to the keeper of his soul. "I gave you my music, made your song take wing. And now how you've repaid me, denied me and betrayed me." Thinking about the young man that dared touch Chelsea, he realized he must have seen her mood change. "He was made to love you when he heard you sing. Chelsea-" Vincent dropped his face and let the tears flow. It was happening again. The woman he cared for more than his life was being taken by Shinra. He could see it all now, just like last time. She'd be happy for a while, yet in the end, the Shinra would ultimately destroy her, just like Lucrecia.
The very thought of that brought their voices to his ears. "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Say the word and I will follow you. Share each day with me, each night, each morning…" Vincent gasped in pain. He could feel his body trembling; the pain in his chest grew along with the pain in his heart. He rose to his knees, grabbing his chest. He would not let that Shinra man kill Chelsea. That's right, he had to destroy Shinra, destroy it before it destroyed her. In his fading sanity, Vincent Valentine saw the face of the Soldier that had been with Chelsea. As if he were speaking to him, Vincent cried out, in vengeful song, a curse upon the man. "You will curse the day you did not do… all that the Phantom asked of you!"
As he screamed, Vincent's shaking body transformed into a huge, purple creature. Red bat-like wings sprouted from his back. With the morph complete, the goblin-like monster spoke to his host, "Your rage and pain are pure, Vincent. I, Chaos, shall spill the red blood of those who created us as I vowed!" The goblin, Chaos, rose into the sky and howled his evil cry as he flew toward his hit for the night.