The next day
„Today is going to be a crazy day. Everybody is preparing for the great show. We are leaving in three days for a quest. Each time a quest is leaving Welcomnes there is a great show. It lasts for a whole day."
"What is the great show?" Taiki asked.
"You haven't heard about it? Many monarchs have decided to take a part in it. It's a chance to say something about your planet. I am going to speak about my planet."
"You didn't tell us about it before."
"I thought you had read about it before you came here."
"I guess we hadn't."
"It's a chance for us and lowers to exchange information in a pleasant way. During a great show everyone can tell about their adventures, home planets, thoughts, feelings, nothing confidential though. We can do it in many ways. Some just say what they want to say, some compose songs or prepare plays. Each group has only up to ten minutes but the show usually lasts until late in the night. Of course it's mostly the lowers' show, but there is a part for monarchs as well. And even if you don't take a part in the it, there is a custom that everybody should watch the whole event."
"So you are going to speak about you planet?"
"Of course, I am so interesting in Middle Planet so I think it's only fair that I will let others to learn about my planet."
"I see. Is it still possible that we take a part in this show?"
"Seiya what are you talking about?"
"We should sing our song from Earth, about searching our princess."
"Why, what for?" Yaten asked.
"I think it's a great idea," Marc exclaimed. "Everyone has a right to have ten minutes in great show, they can't refuse you. That's why sometimes the show lasts for the whole night. Many monarchs talk about their battles with demons on their planets. I think you should do it as well. If you have something ready and it's not confidential you should share it with others. Come with me, we will sing you in. Today is last day to sign in."
"That should be fun, I miss being an idol." Taiki joked.
"Do we really have to do it?" Yaten said impatiently.
His three friends replied in one voice. "Yes!"
The day before the great show was really crazy. Everybody was hurrying. From the behind of the closed doors one could here creatures singing and repeating the lines. Bursts of anger and laughter were to be heard.
Monarchs came to eat the evening meal. Only few lowers attended it. Everybody who could just caught food and run to practice more while eating. Only Aso's team was eating in the main dining room. No one was eager to wash dishes for the half of the night, and Aso was strict about that. More then half of his people sat at one table. They were whispering and bursting out laughing. Then they were looking at Aso who was watching them with impatient look in his eyes. After exchange of gazes there was a moment of silence but afterwards group of lowers started to whisper again and laugh again. Some of Aso's people were more serious and were watching their younger comrades with patronizing smiles. Aso's team ate fast and disappeared into their rooms. Seeing them leaving Seiya sighed. Another day had gone by and he hadn't found any occasion to talk to her. He only saw her during meals but she didn't even give him one hateful look. She was just laughing and joking with her friends. She seemed to by in great mood.
"She won't talk to us." Yaten said guessing Seiya's thoughts. "Let's just forget it and enjoy our time here." Seiya looked at him with anger in his eyes.
The next day
The great show started in the early morning. Breakfast was served three hours earlier then usually and everybody were half awaken during it. Afterwards everybody seemed to get more and more excited. Seiya went early to the place where the show was to be carried. The servants of the Welcomnes with help of lowers had put hundreds of chairs in about forty rows. Seiya wanted to sit near Usagi, so he figured out he would need to be early and act fast. He was watching the people who entered the room and took seats. After a while he noticed the ikarian boy and centaur girl entering the room. They sat in the middle row and put some sweaters on surrounding chairs. He approached them quickly and asked.
"Is this seat taken?" Erst looked at him friendly.
"This one next to me is taken and those four sits in front of me and behind me are taken as well but the rest is vacant." Seiya occupied three seats next to vacant one in the row where Erst was sitting and waited for his friends. They came soon afterwards.
"Why did you take the seats in lower's section" asked Yaten although he knew the answer.
"That is great idea!" said Marc.
"You've heard that's great idea." Seiya answered.
"Let's go somewhere else." Yaten said.
"Just sit down" Taiki said and they sat. Yaten gasped impatiently.
The monarchs and the lowers kept on coming in, and soon afterwards almost all seats were taken. Usagi and Cer came in.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting. Have you kept seats for us?" She said and started to push her way through to Erst. Then suddenly she stood in place when she noticed Seiya sitting next to the empty seat. She was looking at him with anger when Erst spoke to her.
"There is only one seat because it's for Aso" said Erst pointing the vacant seat. "I took seats for both of you in front of us. It will be easier to talk if we sit behind you. There are also seats for others in that row."
"We are not going to talk, but watch what other people want to tell us," said Cer who stood behind Usagi.
"Yeah, yeah, don't bore us Cer," Erst answered. Usagi scowled at Seiya and turned back. She gracefully flew to the next row hitting her friends with her wings which she hid afterwards.
"Watch it," Erst exclaimed. The young centaur had to go around. Usagi turned around remembering to sent Seiya a hateful look and said to her friends.
"What do mean that you kept a seat for Aso, are you out of you mind?" Ceri and Erst looked at her with silly expression on their faces.
"We had no choice. We met him on our way here. He ordered us to keep a seat for him next to us. He said that he wanted to keep an eye on us during the great show so we would behave." Usagi sighed.
"And it was supposed to be a fun day."
"Hello my children." The serious voice made them all jump.
"Hi Aso."
"My dear girl, it seems that you were displeased to sit with you leader during the great show"
"No, of course not! How could I?" She laughed nervously.
"Good, let's enjoy the show then." Aso sat. He turned to his right side and saw young monarchs. He looked at them displeased. He spoke:
"The section for monarchs is in front row." Usagi turned around.
"That's right. Go there."
"Thank you my girl, but I am talking right now," Aso said to her and she turned back towards the stage.
"You said once that monarchs are prejudged against the lowers but it seems other way around. Can't we sit here if we want to?" Seiya replied which made Usagi turned back again and look at him with anger. Aso laughed.
"I didn't say you can't sit here, although it should be this way. We would enjoy ourselves much more if you were not here, but I don't care. I must warn you for the future; it would be wiser if you would stick to your people."
Aso sat straight facing the stage and didn't speak more. His people seemed to be a little embarrassed by their leader's presence and where just whispering between themselves.
The great show started. It was divided into many parts. First part was the for singing the anthems of all the species; one by one. In second part the tales of latest battles were to be told. That was the most important section that's why it was first. Third part was for the stories of monarchs, fourth part was for funny stories and afterwards the love stories. Afterwards another serious part of the great show was suppose to start, the part for praising God. Next part was to commemorate those who died recently during the battles. The last part was to acknowledge the most important legends and histories of Middle Planet.
First the anthems were sang. Each species had its own anthem. Although the members of each spices fought in different teams, they were close to each other. First human's lowers stood and sing the song about hard human's life on Middle Planet. Next all the centaurs stood and sang about the freedom in the forests, about their physical strength and their love to the nature. Erst and Usagi were applauding centaurs loudly. Pegasus' sang about the sky and the wind. Afterwards Aso, Usagi, Erst and other ikarians stood up, spread their wings and sang the song about the freedom of boundless sky, which always awaited them and was the greatest love of each ikarian. Ikarians closed their eyes and even Erst became serious. There was a wind to be heard in the song "…sky take me when I die so I can by one with thy for the end of time." Lowers applauded ikarians. They hid their wings and sat.
"You were singing out of tune," Erst said kicking the seat in front of him. Usagi turned back.
"You are talking about yourself. You couldn't have heard me well, because I am in front of you."
"Ask Ceiri and Cer, they are our friends and they will tell you the painful truth."
"Watch out, the truth may turn out to be painful for someone else then me."
"Be quiet," Aso said.
"Aso she turns around to nag me." said Erst. Aso looked at Usagi and said:
"Turn around"
"Aso he kicked my chair," she said.
"Are you two really looking for troubles? There are people needed to clean the stage afterwards. I can see that you want to volunteer." Usagi sighed and turned around. Erst kicked her chair but Aso sent him a warning look, so he stopped. Seiya smiled seeing that. He whished though he could be in such a good terms with her. At least he could watch her and hear her. she was siting in the row infront of him so he could look at her all the time.
In the meantime other species also sang their anthems. Monarchs were amazed by that. Each species had it's own special power or ability and they felt a strong bound to their group. Monarchs felt like that towards their planet and their planetary systems. After all groups had a chance to sing the show started.
First part seemed to be boring for the monarchs but it was the most important one for the lowers. They could hear about the recent battles and dangers. Each lower who had something interesting to say could speak during that part. That part lasted for a long time and was carried in common lower's language so many monarchs got bored or even fall asleep. It was the custom that everyone should see the whole show, so they kept sitting.
In the second part monarchs were singing the anthems of their planets, or some important songs or stories about the history of their homelands. Marc went to the stage and spoke for ten minutes about the plants on his planet which made everyone yawn.
"I think he is really sweet"- said Alicia who was sitting next to Usagi. She was having a nap during the monarch part. Usagi jumped when hearing that. Alicia was a very beautiful young girl from Aso's team.
"Don't say that. He is a monarch." Usagi replied opening her eyes.
"Monarch can be sweet." Alicia said.
"No he can't. Don't even look at him." Usagi said and tried to cover the eyes of the girl. Girl tried to take Usagi's hand off her eyes.
"What are the two of you doing?" Aso voice made them to calm down.
"Yeah calm down you two, we can't watch." Erst exclaimed.
"Shut up." Usagi said to him.
"Hush." Aso said.
Some other monarch came to the stage. After a group who was singing about their history Seiya and his friends entered the stage. Seiya looked at Usagi and spoke:
"This song was created when we were seeking for our princess who had to escape from her home planet because of the powerful demon. You can hear our recent history in this song. We also wanted to dedicate it to our friends from other planets who helped us. We wanted to tell them that they will be forever in our hearts and we will always love them." She was looking at him with bored gaze but when she realized he was looking and her and talking to her, her eyes clouded, she broke the eye contact, turned back and started to whisper with her friends. Aso noticed that.
"Do you know those three monarchs?" he asked. She looked at him apologetically.
"Unfortunately yes. I met them when I thought I was Serenity. Since I've met them again on Middle Planet I have a feeling that they keep following me."
"You must tell me about it one day. They are not from Earth. Do you feel endangered by them?"
"No. I can handle them by myself. Don't worry Aso."
"That's good. That blacked haired boy asked me if he could talk with one of my people. I didn't know he meant you. Maybe we can use them."
"I'd rather stay away from them"
"I must think about it. Let's enjoy the show for now." Usagi spoke something to Erst and she turned back to stage after three monarchs had finished the song. The audience was charmed by it and everyone was applauding standing. Erst kicked Usagi's chair.
"Hey, something good was on and I haven't heard it because of you."
"Oh hush, you didn't miss anything." She replied to him. Seiya and his friend came back to their seats. Marc came with them.
"I think we are still good." Taiki said. Seyia was disapointed that the girl he cared about turned back during their song.
"Yeah, we could make a career here." Yaten said. Alicia turned back and spoke to Marc.
"I liked your lecture about the plants. It was really interesting."
"Thank you." He said and looked at the beautiful girl.
Usagi pulled Alicia's hair.
"Au!"
"Don't talk with them." She turned to Marc. "Leave her alone. Your speech about plants made us fall asleep." Marc looked surprised at the blond girl. He recognized the ikarian girl who had fallen off the tree because of him. Alicia turned back to Marc and smiled to him. Usagi was about to make her turn back but Seiya spoke to her.
"Odango did you like our song? Are we as good as we were back on Earth?"
"You were singing now? Sorry I didn't notice. I guess I had something more interesting to do!" She said with anger. he was hurt although he tried not to show it.
"You are so unkind to your old friends. Others seemed to like it. I think we got one of the best applauses. And I was dedicating our wonderful song to you. You should have listened and appreicate it." Aso looked at Seiya and Usagi looked at her leader.
"He doesn't mean it Aso." Aso didn't say anything just turned his attention to stage.
"Monarchs aren't my friends. I don't know in what language I should tell you that so you could understand. Monarchs are not my friends. Monarchs are not my friends!" She finished in the language they used on Earth.
"You saved us all." Seiya was thinking fast what to say so she wouldn't turn back to him.
"I helped you because I was used by monarchs of Earth." She said and turned back pulling Alicia who started to talk with Marc. Seiya wanted to tell her so much more but Taiki stopped him. The monarch's part lasted for another hour but Seiya couldn't focus. It seemed to him that Usagi had also problems with focusing. She seemed to be angry but didn't turn back anymore. The monarch's part finished.
"Now the fun part," exclaimed Erst when the break started, "and our turn. Everyone let's prepare."
"Will I have to feel ashamed of you?" Aso asked.
"No of course not Aso!"
"What a silly story will you play this time?"
"Oh it's very serious story. A love story…A true love story. It's a story of love between two humans, but then mad demon turns man into lizards, but woman discovers that being with lizard can be as pleasant as being with human. True love" Aso put his hand to his forehead.
"Next time I must remember to forbid you to take a part in the show. Go now, prepare. But don't say at the beginning that you are from my team." Ten lowers of Aso's team stood up. Cer and Usagi didn't get up but turned to their friends and whished them luck.
"You two are not going with them?" Aso asked.
"Oh no Aso, this year Usi and I made a song together." Cer answered.
"About what?"
"About God, what else? That's the only subject that interests Cer." Cer nodded.
"That's wonderful," Aso said. "Cer I am so happy to have a serious man like you in my team, man who makes me proud and for who I don't have to feel ashamed. I hope you two will clear my name after the performance of this group." Lowers smiled. "Is it a new song? I forgot that you write one song about God each year."
"Lately Usi and I spent a lot of time together just talking. We discovered that we have a lot to tell about the absence of God in our life so I proposed her we should prepare something together for the great show. We've been composing and practicing the song for some time. So it's new one."
"That's great. I'm impressed with you two."
"We are not appreciated, we should go." Erst said pretending to be sad.
"Erst behave or else you should stay out of my sight for a while." Aso added warningly.
The funny part of the great show began. The plays and songs were short but funny. Lowers seemed to be revived after the long monarch part, which was mostly presented in the foreign languages. Usagi forgot about the monarch who was troubling her and was laughing with her friends.
Aso's team was forth one to perform on the stage. Their play was the silliest one. Erst was dressed as a lizard and was running on the stage making silly faces. The members of Aso's team who hadn't take part in the show were laughing loudly some of them even fall to the ground. Aso put the hand to his head and sighed. After he had done that someone whispered:
"Usi, now!" She turned back and when she saw that Aso is not watching she took out big soft fruits from the bag she had brought with her. She checked again if Aso is not looking and threw two fruits towards the stage with blast of energy. One of the fruits hit Erst in his face, another fell at his feet. Everybody laughed. Erst looked angrily, he took the fruit that had fallen down and thrown it back aiming at Usagi. She managed to dock. The fruit hit Aso in the face.
"What the hell!" Aso exclaimed and opened his eyes. He looked at the red pulp that had smashed on his hands and face. He looked at the stage but Erst was already facing another direction and Usagi was sitting straight in her chair watching the show with the full attention. All others member of his team were laughing hysterically. Aso looked suspiciously around; he took the handkerchief and whipped his face and hands.
"That's it my girl, I've had it. The two of you are in serious problems." Usagi turned and looked at Aso with poppy eyes.
"Are you talking to me Aso? I was watching Erst and I wasn't sure if you said something."
"Don't play innocent! We'll talk later on." She looked at him with expression that showed clearly that she didn't understand what he meant.
The group came back from the stage and sat. Everyone congratulated them. It seemed that lowers really liked their show, although it was ultimately silly. There were more silly and romantic shows and songs to be played and everybody were enjoying themselves. Next play was some kind of chese romance. When it was finishing everone seemed to be cheering the couple on the stage.
"How romantic!" Alicia said.
"Kiss her," said Ceiri.
"Yeah be the man!" exclaimed Erst. Aso was watching the play with bored gaze.
"Oh girl run away from there, you'd be better by yourself. You don't need love" Usagi exclaimed and stood up. All her friends became quiet and looked at her astonished. Even actors at the stage heard her and stopped the play for a second. She blushed when she realized that many people were looking at her and sat down. Erst kicked her chair.
"Calm down, watch out what you are saying," She burried her head in her hands.
"I can't watch it, she is so stupid. He is going to use her." Usagi said about the girl in the play.
"It's called love," Erst responded.
"No it's called insanity that makes you suffer later on."
Erst sighed. "Just shut up," he said. Cer intervinied.
"Love between man and woman is a part of God's plan. It's not the only kind of love there is and not everone has to experience it in the life you two, so just stop fighting."
"You see Cer is agreeing with me." Usagi said.
"No, he agreed with me," Erst responded.
"I agree with both of you, no let's watch some more."
Three monarch were listing to her.
"Is it really the same girl," Yaten laughed. "She has changed. She became smarter."
"That's not funny Yaten," Taiki said. Seyia just looked at him with fury.
The play finished. After few plays the next part was about to start.
"I guess it's our turn to prepare" said Cer. Usagi blushed.
"I'm ashamed, go by yourself."
"Being ashamed is unlike you," Erst said. She sent him a hateful look.
"It will be fine, you'll do great." Ceiri said and gave a warm smile.
"Make me proud" Aso said.
"I'm scared"
"You shouldn't be scared, I will applaud you," said Erst and took the red fruits from the bag he had carried with him. "Not only you have come here prepared."
"I don't understand what you are talking about." she said innocently. Erst sent her 'yeah right' look.
"Come, I am sure God will love our song." Cer said and wnet towards the backstage where everyone was preparing. Usagi sent her friend a worried look but went with centaur backstage. The part to praise God began. The sculpture of God was placed in the middle of the stage. There were songs and prayers and few plays. The songs were cheerful and were praising the God's glory. Some monarchs and lower enjoyed that part but many were yawning. Finally the moment have come for which people in the twentieth row were waiting for. Cer and Usagi entered the stage. Cer stood straight and had a confident expressions, but she was blushing. They were looking amazingly and different. They changed to simple white outfits. She took her hair down and she looked very serious and beautiful. Seiya gasped. Centaur was standing full of strength and pride. She looked at her friends and Erst chuckled.
"Oh I have a feeling she's going to make fool of herself. I can't wait to see it."
"Hush, Erst." Ceiri said.
"Have you heard that song before?" Aso asked ikarian and centaur.
"Actually we haven't," they admitted.
Usagi looked at Cer. He nodded. She looked at the sculpture of God. The music started to play. Everyone who knew them was surprised by the sadness of the first accords. The blush diapered from the girl's cheeks. Now both of them seemed to be focused.
*( Evanescence "Bring me to Life")
How can you see into my eyes God like open doors*
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
Without a soul
My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
The whispers where heard. It was unusual for a religious song to be so sad. Her friends looked at each other shocked. Seiya's heart stopped. He was so moved by this sadness. He felt or just could guess now the pain she was feeling and he started to understand the hatred she felt towards monarchs.
(Wake me up God) Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up) Wake me up inside
(Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up) Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up) Before I come undone
(Save me) Save me from the nothing I've become
Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life
(Wake me up) Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up) Wake me up inside
(Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up) Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up) Before I come undone
(Save me) Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
Bring me to life
Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love, oh God
Only you are the life among the dead
She was looking at the sculpture of God while singing and tears started to stream down her face. She looked at her hand with anger. She took a ring she had on her finger and tried to remove it. She succeed. She threw the ring to the ground, but then a second later it appeared on her finger again. She squeezed it and looked at Cer. He was singing.
All of this time I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought without a voice without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to lifeGod) Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up) Wake me up inside
(Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up) Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up) Before I come undone
(Save me) Save me from the nothing I've become
(Wake me up)
Bring me to life
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside (bring me to life)
Bring me to life
They finished the song. Cer smiled and Usagi was looking at him with unconscious gaze. Cer was waiting for applaus but there was only silence for a moment.
"A demon song" someone whispered.
"That is a song to praise God?" Yaten asked. And he looked at Seiya who seemed to be moved.
"A beautiful touching song!" Aso exclaimed and stood up. He started to applaud them. Others stood up, Seiya was the second one, and he had tears in his eyes. Many monarchs were scandalized and didn't even applaud, but lowers seemed to like it. Life on the Middle Planet was more dangerous and full of pain. The closest friends of Usagi and Cer were looking confused at each other and were slightly clapping their hands. Cer bowed and tried to signalize Usagi to do the same but she only looked at him and run off the stage. Cer bowed few times and returned backstage. When he changed back he returned to his friends.
"That was beautiful Cer, I was deeply moved." Aso said and congratulated Cer.
"It was the song about the feeling of being lost we feel without God. I think anyone could say that song was about him." he responded and smiled.
"You are so stupid Cer" Erst said with anger and Cer looked at him surprised.
"Where is the girl?" Aso asked.
"Oh I don't know. I haven't seen her since we exited the stage. I've thought she has already come back to you."
"You aren't too bright Cer," Erst said and he and the Ceiri were ready to stand up.
"I'll talk to her, stay here" Aso said and left. Seiya wanted to go too, it was what he desired the most but he knew she wouldn't talk to him. He decided not to give up though.
"Cer how could you?" Ceiri asked.
"Didn't you like our song? I think it applies to everyone, because everyone is lost without God's love..." Cer replied.
"Just shut up" Erst said.
