The Phantom of the Opera

(This is a two part series and as such I'll be splitting this part of the story in half so it may take a little longer to get part two done. Aside from this and the fact it may not be the best representation of the movie, I hope you enjoy my alternated version of 'The Phantom of the Opera'.)

As Alan and Nadia arrived in the next world, it seemed to be dull, listless, black and white in colour. They saw automobiles puffing out their gasoline outside and they found themselves in an opera theatre. But it was not just any opera theatre. It was the Opera Garnier. As Nadia grew shocked, Alan tried to comfort her saying, "It's okay. We'll be alright Nadia." Yet even as he spoke, they heard people auctioning off some items. One item, which was a music box with a monkey attached to it, was sold for thirty francs to a man in a primitive handicap wheelchair of the early 20th century. Even as they watched, the entire place around them started to change. Nadia then asked as a brisk wind came in, "What's happening?" "I'm not sure. We'd better stick close together. There's no telling what kind of witchcraft is about here." The entire place was turned from a beat up abandoned theatre, to an orchestra of life. The chairs were coloured in fine red silk, the opera theatre was coloured in a golden fragrance. As Nadia and Alan looked around, they also saw many people in costumes of the sort, preparing for a play. Alan asked, "What is going on here man?" He asked a man dressed in fine French clothing, but the man obviously couldn't hear him. Even before Alan could ask again, Nadia heard and voice and then told Alan to listen closely.

Before they could comprehend the place that they were in and what was going on, they heard the most beautiful of songs sung, by a lovely red headed girl in a white dress. Alan and Nadia were amongst an audience listening in:

"Think of me, think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me once in a while -
please promise me you'll try.
When you find that, once again, you long
to take your heart back and be free -
if you ever find a moment,
spare a thought for me

We never said our love was evergreen,
or as unchanging as the sea -
but if you can still remember
stop and think of me . . .

Think of all the things
we've shared and seen -
don't think about the things
which might have been . . .

Think of me, think of me waking,
silent and resigned.
Imagine me, trying too hard
to put you from my mind.
Recall those days
look back on all those times,
think of the things we'll never do -
there will never be a day,
when I won't think of you . . ."

Then Alan and Nadia heard another voice.

"Can it be? Can it be Christine?
Bravo!
Long ago, it seems so long ago
How young and innocent we were...
She may not remember me,
but I remember her...", a man in the top theatre balcony had sung.

"Flowers fades,
The fruits of summer fade,
They have decisions, so do we
but please promise me, that sometimes
you will think of me!"

Then there was applause. They heard many people around clapping, many from far and wide who enjoyed this display. Yet Alan then replied saying, "Who was that? She had the voice of an angel!" Nadia then said as best she could over the audience of French citizenry, "I don't know, but I agree. She was fantastic." Alan then noticed a gold knight head across the stage wooden supports where the lighting for the stage was and Alan tapped Nadia's shoulder and pointed to the gold knight rushing to the other side. Alan then said, "No time to lose. The Knights of the Realm must have come here as well. Alan and Nadia then rushed past many crowds of citizenry and past the back stage and followed Grogonopse all the way to a particular room. It in fact, as they opened the door slightly was the same room as that redheaded girl they heard sing.


"Where in the world have you been hiding
Really, you were perfect
I only wish I knew your secret
Who is your great tutor?", Meg inquired.

"Meg
When your mother brought me here to live
Whenever I'd come down here alone
To light a candle for my father
A voice from above
And in my dreams
He was always there
You see, when my father lay dying
He told me I will be protected by an angel
An angel of music", Christine explained.

"Christine, do you believe?
Do you think the spirit of your father is coaching you?", Meg had wondered.

"who else, meg?
Father once spoke of an angel
I used to dream he'd appear
Now as I sing, I can sense him
And I know he's here
Here in this room he calls me softly
Somewhere inside hiding
Somehow I know he's always with me
He, the unseen genius", Christine had sung.

"Christine, you must have been dreaming
Stories like this can't come true
Christine, you are talking in riddles
And it's not like you", Meg had pondered.

As Meg and Christine left, Alan and Nadia hid behind the door as Nadia asked, "Well that's now done. So where is Grogonopse then?" "Right here.", a stunning voice proclaimed. Alan then asked Grogonopse as he steadied his keyblade for a fight, "What are you guys planning to do here?" Grogonopse then replied snidely, "Nothing of course. This world is useless to us. If you won't take my word for it, then perhaps you haven't heard of…the Phantom of the Opera." Nadia then lost the blood to her face and she turned pale as she said, "Oh no!! Not this place. I knew this was all to familiar." Alan then said, "You'd better not be trying anything dumb on us Grogonopse." The gold knight laughed as he said, "Say what you want, but I'd got protect the redhead if I were you. She alone has the power to summon the Heart of the World. And even now…" the light of the Opera theatre disappeared. "…he's approaching her with a quick pace." Grogonopse used a smoke bomb, and Alan and Nadia rushed down the stairs of the theatre and followed Christine along with an elderly woman nearly twice her age to her room. Yet even as they entered, it was too late. The Phantom of the Opera enticed the girl and Alan and Nadia rushed in the dark room covered with roses everywhere to find…nothing. The only thing they found was a mirror in the centre of the room.

Nadia then heard singing as did Alan and she said, "Into the mirror! He's taken her down into the mirror!" Alan and Nadia rushed into the mirror and found in reality it was a long sewer channel beneath the lovely Opera house obviously seen as recently built since the 1850s. Even as Alan and Nadia followed the music down below, they found themselves trudging through brooks which were clean and free of debris (rhymes lol!). Nadia then said, "Uggh. This is so gross, you can't believe what I…" "Quiet! The singing's stopped.", Alan protested. They finally reached inside a dungeon looking part of the sewer system and found a small cavern with candles lit, a coffin for a bed to their far right. They headed up the rocky path of the cavern and up the stairs towards the bed and there they found Christine. Alan looked around as Nadia opened the drapes covering her and he said, "It's too quiet around here." Then even as Alan said this a sword was right at his neck. "Indeed it is.", said a youthful brunette man about Alan's age. He then asked as Nadia closed the drapes on the sleeping Christine, "What's your business here Heathen!" "We mean you no harm. Just put down your sword, and…", Alan replied. "Answer the question!", the man yelled. "We're here to save Christine. It's very urgent that we do. You see she has mystical powers like none you've ever seen.", Nadia urged. "But I have seen her power. Her voice is the key. Legend has it that this world was born of a heart, just like many others. Like a child breaking through of his or her mother's physical grip, beings came into being and thus began to populate this world we call France from the capital Paris. The Heart of the World as it's called can only be summoned by a powerful singing voice. The Knights of the Realm are also planning on taking her from me, but I won't let her."

Alan and Nadia then went on to explain after they got his trust, that they wanted the same thing and then they explained who they were and the Phantom of the Opera explained who he was. Erik as he was called, born with an imperfective face. Because of this, he was treated as the devil himself and from there lived in the sewers ever since, terrorizing the people of the theatre. Alan then said, "I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune. But you can't keep Christine here though. What if people caught on to where she is? They'd want your head for this." The Phantom of the Opera then said, "Not if my life has anything to say of it. Now go then. You have my trust key wielders. Mark my words, if you protect Christine and I, you will be handsomely rewarded for this!!" Alan shook his hand and then took Nadia and rushed up the back door behind the Phantom's main mirror to escape suspicion. Days later, Nadia asked as they were hiding out in the theatre house, "Why are we still here Alan? Do you think we can trust Erik?" "To answer that, we have to make sure that our buddy Erik gets what he bargains for and yes we can trust him. He's a man who doesn't know how to love. That's as tough for us as it is for a woman you know. Besides, I don't trust Grogonopse. He might have a trick up his sleeve. We gotta keep an eye for him." Then they of course heard some voices below them, and it was the same man they saw during Christine's performance of Faust.

ANDRE & FIRMIN
"Prima donna first lady of the stage!
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!
Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?
Think of how they all adore you!

Prima donna, enchant us once again!
Think of your muse... And of the queues round the theatre!
Can you deny us the triumph in store?
Sing, prima donna, once more!"

RAOUL
"Christine spoke of an angel..."

CARLOTTA
"Prima donna, your song shall live again!"

ANDRE & FIRMIN
"Think of your public!"

CARLOTTA
"You took a snub, but there's a public who needs you!"

MME. GIRY
"She has heard the voice of the angel of music..."

ANDRE & FIRMIN
"Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel!"

CARLOTTA
"Think of their cry of undying support!"

ANDRE
"We get our opera"

CARLOTTA
"Follow where the limelight leads you!"

FIRMIN
"She gets her limelight!"

ANDRE & FIRMIN
"Leading ladies are a trial!"

CARLOTTA
"Prima donna, your song shall never die!
You'll sing again, and to unending ovation!"

RAOUL
"Orders! Warnings!Lunatic demands!"

ANDRE & FIRMIN
"Tears... oaths... lunatic demands are regular occurrences!"

CARLOTTA
"Think how you'll shine in that final encore!"

ANDRE & FIRMIN
"Surely there'll be further scenes worse than this!"

RAOUL
"Think, before these demands are rejected!"

ANDRE & FIRMIN
"Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl,
who's gone and slept with the patron?
Raoul and the soubrette,
entwined in love's duet!
Although he may demur,
he must have been with her!
You'd never get away with all this in a play,
but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue
it's just the sort of story audiences adore,
in fact a perfect opera!"

ALL
"Prima donna the world is at your feet!
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!
Light up the stage with that age old rapport!
Sing, prima donna, once more!."

Although they couldn't comprehend what occurred, Alan and Nadia knew that they were about to find out. Hours later, after they searched for any signs of Viraltroopers, and no success, apparently, another play had just begun. This time though Christine was in a lesser role of that of a pauper boy (not sure if that's what the role was called from the movie.). Alan and Nadia were up on top of the banisters right near the chandelier and low and behold, the Phantom of the Opera was up there with them. Alan saw a gleaming look in his eye and asked, "Is something the matter?" "I give them a chance. Play Christine as the countess I tell them, and do they listen?" Then they heard pieces of the play go through.

They say that this youth has set my Lady's heart aflame!
His Lordship, sure, would die of shock
His Lordship is a laughing-stock!
Should he suspect her, God protect her!
Shame! Shame! Shame!
This faithless lady's bound for HADES!
Shame! Shame!! Shame!
Serafimo - your disguise is perfect.
Who can this be?
Gentle wife, admit your loving husband.
My love - I am called to England on affairs of State,
And must leave you with your new maid.
Though I'd happily take the maid with me.
"The old fool's leaving!"
Serafimo - away with this pretence!
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence!
Poor fool, he makes me laugh!
Haha, Haha...
Time I tried to get a better better half!
Poor fool, he doesn't know!
"Hoho, Hoho..."
If he knew the truth, he'd never, ever go!
Then the Phantom began to speak.

"Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be kept empty?", he asked.
"He's here: the Phantom of the Opera ...", Meg said.
"It's him.", Christine replied.
"Your part is silent, little toad!", Carlotta said.
"A toad, Madame? Perhaps it is you who are the toad ...", The Phantom replied in silence.
"Serafimo, away with this pretence!
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my ...
Poor fool, he makes me laugh -
Hahahahaha!
Croak, croak, croak, croak, croak, croak

Alan and Nadia couldn't help, but laugh as Alan replied saying, "Serves her right I think." Nadia then said, "We got company Alan." For the first time, there were actually Viraltroopers. They began fighting, while at the same time listening to the various stuff happening at this time. "I knew it was too convenient of the Knights of the Realm taking a break.", Alan replied. They summoned their keyblades and slashed about to the left and right as Viraltroopers in the form of French soldiers covered the place.
Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize, the performance will continue in ten minutes' time ...
... when the role of the Countess will be played by Miss Christine Daae.
Meanwhile, we'd like to give you the ballet from Act Three of tonight's opera.
Alan smacked a Viraltrooper to pieces, just as Nadia zapped a couple more and then she screamed and pointed as Alan gazed upon what she was looking at. A man was hung and the people began to panic as the people on stage ran for their lives. "The trust is over Nadia. Now it's personal." Nadia nodded and then trashed their way through Viraltroopers to find a way out of the banisters.

"Are you alright?", Raoul asked.
"Raoul, we're not safe here.", Christine told her concerned man.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats.", Armand Moncharmin replied.
"Do not panic.", Firmin Richard assured.
"It was an accident ... simply an accident.", Armand Moncharmin assured as well.

Alan then said, "There's too many of them. We have to take them to the roof." Nadia nodded and then they headed into a small door they saw The Phantom go into. They then headed up the stairs and found themselves on a snowy covered roof surrounded by armies of the Viraltroopers and beginning to exhaust themselves, Grogonopse appeared and said, "Getting tired kiddies?" Alan then said, "Don't get too comfortable Grogonopse. When we get out of here, you're a dead man for hanging that guy." The knight laughed as he said, "Yet I didn't hang him. If you want to know who really did it, why not ask your precious friend? We know about your alliance with him. Believe me, you guys would be better off just giving him to us." Then before they knew it, the Phantom appeared, took out his sword and slashed the Viraltroopers and part of Grogonopse's armour causing him pain. He stood in front of Alan and Nadia as he stabbed Grogonopse through his armour at his heart, yet before he could kill him, Grogonopse then said, "Believe me Erik when I say this. Your lover will betray you. How could she ever love such a monster?" Alan then slashed Grogonope's body and he disappeared into a fog of smoke. Alan then said, "He'll be back. That I know of for sure." Yet Erik was too badly hit by that remark and came to explain to Alan about letting the girl go after she was convinced to only love him and no other man. Nadia then said, "You can't just force a girl to do that though. She needs freedom to be herself you know." Alan nodded in agreement as Erik asked, "You don't trust me do you? You don't have to say it, killing that man wasn't on the agenda, but he found me." Alan then told them to be quiet as they gazed upon Christine and Raoul together.

RAOUL
There is no Phantom of the Opera...

CHRISTINE
Raoul, I've been there
to his world of unending night
To a world with the daylight dissolves into darkness...
darkness...
Raoul, I've seen him!
Can I ever forget that sight?
Can I ever escape from that face?
So distorted, deformed, it was hardly a face
in that darkness...
darkness...
But his voice filled my spirit
with a strange, sweet sound...
In that night there was music in my mind...
And through music my soul began to soar!
And I heard as I'd never heard before...

RAOUL
What you heard was a dream and nothing more...

CHRISTINE
Yet in his eyes
all the sadness of the world
Those pleading eyes,
that both threaten and adore

RAOUL
Christine...
Christine...

PHANTOM
Christine...

After their singing, an unfortunate event had occurred. Raoul and Christine locked lips, much to the dismay of Erik. Even as they left, he fell to his knees and couldn't move. He had been crushed. There was little Alan and Nadia could do. Alan then said as the couple left reassured, "I'm sorry Erik." Erik then said, "I gave her a chance to shine in a place where people would've never have thought to look in music. I trained her to sing with a voice like an angel. And this is how she repays my kindness." Nadia then said, "Let's not get too hasty here Erik." Erik then ran to a stone gargoyle and yelled to the heavens, "Now they'll all pay for this!!" Before Alan and Nadia realized, they were swiftly transported into the lobby room of the Opera Garnier, a large set of stairways and golden arches here and there with people dressed in masquerade masks. Nadia then asked Alan, "You don't think he took it too hard did he?" Alan then said, "Oh no, take a look down there." Beyond the group of people there was, the Phantom of the Opera was there himself.

"Why so silent, good messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good messieurs?
I have written you an opera!
(He takes from under his robe an enormous bound
manuscript)
Here I bring the finished score -
"Don Juan Triumphant" !

I advise you
to comply -
my instructions
should be clear -
Remember
there are worse things
than a shattered chandelier . . .", The Phantom proclaimed.

Then Erik yanked off the necklace pendant Raoul gave Christine from her neck.

"Your chains are still mine -
you will sing for me!", The Phantom proclaimed once more.

Even as Raoul returned to face the Phantom, he disappeared into a deep thicket of smoke and fog, and then Alan ran off outside and Nadia asked as they went outside, "Where are we going?" Alan then said, "I got a really bad feeling. He's into art right? Sometimes some of the greatest minds, have all had tragic events happen. There's only one place where tragedy can happen. We have to hurry though. I got a feeling we'll be too late if we don't." So Alan and Nadia rushed on off to their place of desire, and overlooking their progress was Grogonopse from the banisters, slightly beat up, but still alive nevertheless. 'Run you little cretins run. Mark my words though, when your little buddy gets his heart broken, I will be the one victorious.' With that the man disappeared into a blanket of fog like Erik just as Raoul followed him into the floor of the stairway.

(Long chapter I know. Also it isn't the best part, but the best of the best of this movie will show up next chapter as Raoul and the Phantom of the Opera fight, also Alan and Nadia will fight him as well making this a fight not to miss. What Grogonopse has up his sleeve is anyone's guess, but there is only one way to find out.)

(Next time: A Fight to Freedom.)

(Review.)