Chapter 124: Overture for the Queen
I've been set up. I've been betrayed and lied to. And as the result, my father is dead and my kingdom is in ruins.
Just as 559 was about to finish me off, I closed my eyes and braced myself for my death… only to hear the familiar music… the Phantom of the Opera's song… only, instead of merely playing the pipe organ, this time it's a full blown orchestra.
Startled by the music, 559 stopped her blade and gazed outside the window. I followed her gaze and saw the Phantom's magic lifting several musical instruments, including the castle's pipe organ which had been removed from its installation, into the air and played them through pure magic alone. The music not only attracted the attention of the both of us but also all the castle staff, who started gazing outside their windows as well. Some of them even went out to the courtyard to witness the floating musical instruments in complete awe.
"What the… What the hell is this magic!?" Even 559 was incredibly startled at the incredible display of magical prowess.
There, floating in the air, we both saw the one who lifted and played all the musical instruments with his magic, the Phantom of the Opera.
He floats slowly towards the window to my father's office and opened it with his magic, facing 559 without truly entering the room.
"So, you're the Phantom of the Opera that I've heard so much about." 559 remarked while hiding how intimidated she is.
"Bonsoir, ma dame. A fine evening to slay someone's father, isn't it?"
"This does not concern you, clown! Leave before I cut you down!"
"Oh no, my dear Fallen Saint. I'm afraid this concerns me a lot..." The moment he uttered the word "Saint", 559's eyes reacted by twitching. What does that mean?
"For this concerns the Opera that I am currently writing."
"What kind of Opera?"
"An Opera called the Golden Rose Triumphant! Of how the country fell into chaos by the schemes of hidden organizations… and how a heroine will rise to save it!"
"Foolishness! The only salvation that this world will obtain is through Lord Shadow!"
"Salvation? Will he bring really salvation? Or will he bring despair when he defeated all his rivals?"
"What blasphemy are you talking about?"
"I'm saying that your Lord Shadow is no different from the Cult leaders and the Necromancer. And you Shadow Garden are no different from the Cult. You all seek world domination for your own selfish purposes and will use anyone or anything to achieve it. The princess is just another pawn of yours."
"You fool. Once the world is united under Lord Shadow, everything will be-"
"Will be ruled by Shadow with an iron fist. Just like how the Cult have always ruled this world for centuries!"
"I've had enough of your blasphemy! Die!" 559, losing her patience, started jumping through the window towards the Phantom, who blocked her sword strike with a floating drum stick.
"What!?" 559 exclaimed in surprise at how her slime sword, which could cut through grown men with ease, was blocked by a wooden stick.
"But Oriana will never bow down to such a devil! A heroine will rise!" The Phantom exclaimed as he raised the pipes of the pipe organ and aimed them at 559.
"And let this be the Overture!" He exclaimed again as he used his magic to play the pipe organ, blowing air to the direction of 559. The air blown by the pipe organ not only produced loud music but also produced strong wind that blew 559 back into my father's room and through several walls.
"That's it! First Alucard… and now you…! I've had enough of you monsters!" 559 stood back up immediately despite being blown through several walls and stepped back into my father's room, angrily facing the Phantom once again.
She flared out her magic, which at this point is on the level of the Seven Shades! But…
"Then why aren't you coming at me?" The Phantom taunted… and sure enough 559 is unable to… afraid to move even with her power level. The Phantom's power simply far surpassed hers.
"…" 559 didn't answer and simply trembled.
"Oh, I know. It's because you're stalling for time, waiting for the Shades to arrive, aren't you?" The Phantom casually revealed 559's plan, causing her to click her tongue in annoyance as she drops her scared act.
"I hate it when my enemies are smart." 559 muttered as she calmly charged at high speed to attack the Phantom. Her moves are on a different level than before but her many strikes are blocked by various musical instruments that the Phantom controls. Drums, trumpets, clarinets, violins… all are used to block her high speed strikes in mid-air.
But soon enough she found an opening and managed to charge towards the Phantom, slicing his cheek as he dodged her attack.
"Heh heh heh." 559 grins as she found the Phantom's weakness. There is a limit to how many musical instruments he can control, especially when he's fighting and playing music at the same time. Despite this, he kept insisting on playing his music.
"Still insisting on playing your music after all that? How mighty arrogant you are, Phantom." 559 taunted him.
"A good musician does not let such a tiny little thing interrupt his performance!" The Phantom replied confidently.
"Then it'll be your doom!" 559 charged again with the same speed as before… but this time she have to face a lot more musical instruments than before, which is no longer merely on the defensive but also on the offensive. She jumps around the castle's towers, battlements and occasionally used his musical instruments as stepping stones in order to dodge his attacks.
"Did you think you already have me figured out from that simple exchange? Don't be so naïve, Fallen Saint." The Phantom remarked as he watched 559 trying her best to dodge his musical instruments.
Violin bows and drum sticks flew like arrows, violins themselves along with cellos tries to hit her like clubs, trumpets sends out air waves that blows everything in its path, drums served as shields, and so on.
But once again, 559 found an opening and charged towards the Phantom once again with a bloodthirsty grin, only to have her sword parried by a sword that the Phantom unsheathed from his hips in response.
"Almost thought that thing is merely decoration." 559 remarked without losing her grin. "But if you think that's enough to defeat me, you have another thing coming!" She shouted as she unleashed several slashes at the Phantom, who blocked all her attacks with his sword. As someone who has clashed blades against him, I can tell that he is skilled even in swordsmanship.
"What… is this…? How can you keep up with me whilst playing this infernal music!?"
"By simply being better than you." That remark managed to elicit real anger out of her, not just a faked one as she drops her grin and began glaring coldly at him.
"You will take that back, you bastard."
"Make me. Heh heh heh."
"Haaaaa!" Shouted 559 as she envelops her sword in reddish lightning and sends them towards him. He tried to block using his drums but the lightning simply jumped from one drum to another until it struck him head on.
"Heh heh heh." 559 grins once again even as she saw the Phantom emerged relatively unharmed from the attack.
"Chain Lightning. Using your sworn enemy's trick, aren't you, No. 046?" The Phantom started referring to her with numbers… and it elicits more anger out of her than his previous taunts… as if that number is a personal insult towards her.
"How did you know of that!?" She exclaimed in anger.
"Let's just say, I've encountered the Necromancer before… and he mentioned you pretty fondly, No. 046."
"Don't you dare call me that!" She shouted angrily as she infused her blade with lightning and charged at him. Her lightning enhanced blade sliced through every musical instruments he used to try and block her advance and when she arrived face to face with him, he parried his sword strike, but the lightning from her sword flows through his sword, shocking him with electricity.
"Take that, you monster!"
She thought she had him cornered when the electricity shocks him, only for him to punch her in the gut with his free hand, sending her crashing against the roof of the castle's keep.
"Your tale is quite tragic. One that could be a side chapter for my Opera perhaps. The story of a Fallen Saint deceived by a black devil who wants to rule the world." The Phantom floats, slowly approaching her as she stood back up immediately and glared at him in anger.
"But it seems that I must retreat for now. I bid you adieu, ma dame." He mockingly bows to 559 as he floats away from her and towards me.
"Hey! Come back here! I'm not finished yet!" 559 shouted but he ignored her. She charged at him with lightning sword in hand but he blocks them with reinforced musical instruments that merely cracks when struck by her sword. The Phantom approaches me and extended his hand towards me.
"Let us retreat, princess." He said with his hand extended towards me. Like before, I hesitated to take his hand… but after all that have happened… I gave in and took his hand and we both escaped from the castle at high speed before two strong presences arrive at the castle.
When 666 and 559 didn't come to the rendezvous spot as planned, I began having a bad feeling. That bad feeling is confirmed when me and Delta heard a terrifying music being played loudly in the castle. I read the musical sheets in the Phantom of the Opera's lair and thus I can confirm that this is his song.
"Delta! We're going to the castle now! Let's go!"
"Y-Yes! Let's go hunting!" As if sensing the mood, Delta replied nervously, but still eager for some action. We both rushed towards the castle, only to find the remnants of a battle, with broken battlements, walls and several musical instruments, including an enormous pipe organ, fallen on the courtyard.
We arrived at the rooftop of the castle's keep and I saw 559 approaching us. She bows before giving her report.
"Lady Epsilon… 666 has betrayed us and he's colluding with the Phantom of the Opera. They escaped together. I'm so sorry that I can neither stall nor stop them."
"I see. And these musical instruments the work of the Phantom?"
"Yes. He was able to keep up with me both in magic and swordsmanship whilst playing that infernal music. I hit him with all I had but… he merely toyed with me and left with the traitor 666."
"Good work, 559. But 666 betraying us? That's surprising. Perhaps Beta's hunch about the Phantom's nature is correct after all. You must write a full report later."
"Yes, Lady Epsilon!"
"For now we must chase after them. Delta! Can you smell…. Delta?" I turned towards Delta, who trembles uncharacteristically.
"H-He.. was here…!" Delta said with her ears down while trembling and curling her tail on her body whilst hugging it.
Those three words sent us all into alarm.
"Wh-Where is he now!?" Before I could ask Delta, 559 beat me to it.
"I dunno… His scent ends here! It's like they disappeared!"
Of course it's not gonna be easy when it comes to him, huh. I have to summon the rest of the Shades. He is closer than we thought and this is no longer a mission that only three of us can handle.
We arrived at the Phantom's underground hideout after passing through the subterranean lake... Though this one looks a bit different than before… Is this a different one? I was in a daze during the whole journey that I didn't even notice when we arrived.
I'm physically and emotionally drained that I said nothing the whole time.
The organization I joined… the organization led by my saviour, Shadow… has betrayed me… and my father died at their hands. The Phantom also remarked that Shadow wants to rule the world and 559 didn't even deny him…
I guess father was right. They gave me a number in order to degrade me… to remove my individuality and identity in order to use me as a pawn… and me being the crown princess and heir to the throne… that means they wanted to put me on the throne as a puppet ruler… one step closer towards world domination.
After all… they already got Claude, the future king of Midgar, on their side. Now they just want to invade Oriana and take it over… or turn us into a vassal state, effectively enslaving us all.
How could I've been so naïve… how could I trust them…?
No… It is difficult not to trust your saviour after all. Shadow… did he planned all this ever since he saved me from kidnappers all those years ago? And when he cured my Possession… Was it all for the sake of his ambition?
Is this all that he wants?
All that work… all that trust I gave them… only to be repaid with betrayal…
Well… it doesn't matter now. I'm tired and defeated. I just wanna lay down and die.
"We are here, your highness." The Phantom said.
"…" I didn't reply him. He held out his hand once again but I didn't take it this time.
"It is not over yet. We can still fight back."
"How…? Oriana is weak… We can't possibly win against the combined might of Midgar and Shadow Garden!"
"Your father has amassed a mighty army before he was killed. His army was strong enough that they achieved victory against soldiers of the Perv faction who's backed by the Cult. Do not underestimate your father, your highness."
"But… I…"
"You are now the Queen of Oriana. You have a duty to your people. Or… have you given up and decide that you'll leave them to their fates?"
"No! Never!"
"Then stand up, Queen of Oriana… and fight for your country."
"Will you… help me?"
"Naturally." He said as he kneeled before me. It's reassuring to have someone as powerful as him on my side… when I have no one else to trust.
"Very well… I'll trust you, Phantom. First… I need your help in rescuing my mother."
"Well… about that… I doubt your mother needs rescuing."
"What do you mean?"
"You need to rest for tonight. Do not burden yourself further with this."
"No. It's my mother! After losing my father, she is all that I have! Tell me what's going on!"
"Then… Let us go to Perv's castle. Instead of telling you, I'll let you see for yourself."
His words gave me a bad feeling. Please… not my mother…!
"Ahh…. Perv… I love you…!"
"Honey… I love you too!"
"You're so much better than that useless husband of mine! After we drugged him, he became a madman instead of being an obedient puppet… Ahh….! And that useless Rose must've inherited his uselessness… that she disobeys you… leaving us with more work than necessary…!"
"Indeed. But don't worry, my darling. Soon she shall return to us… and after she serves her purpose… we can simply remove her and put her "sister" in her place…"
"Ahh…! Why is it so necessary to use "her"? Can't you become king instead so I can become your queen?"
"That foolish king has promoted his relation to the hero Freya… that left us with no choice but to keep someone of royal blood on the throne. Luckily for us, the Cult has prepared an obedient replacement for that foolish daughter of yours."
"I see… Ahhh! Perv…! Your plan is flawless!"
"Soon, the entire kingdom will be ours for the taking!"
"Yes! Ahhh!"
I can't believe what I'm currently seeing and hearing… Even though it's muffled, it's undoubtedly my mother's voice… and the words they spoke are clear as day to me. My mother… My blood related mother… the only family I have left in this world… Is committing infidelity with my enemy… whilst scheming to take over the country from me and my father… And in her own words she is even responsible for drugging my father, leading him to being vulnerable enough to be mind controlled by Necromancer.
My entire body is shaking and sweating… My tears can't stop flowing out… I can't even stop my drool flowing out as I hyperventilate… I can barely even stand up.
Oh Cid… I need you Cid… Help me…!
"What is… this…?" I asked the Phantom whilst using both my hands to cover my mouth to keep myself from throwing up at this disgusting scene.
"This is the truth… Are you okay, my queen?"
"D-Do I look fine…to you…? Urgh…" I asked with a crazed look. I must look so pathetic right now. I even feel like shit. I feel so much like shit that I couldn't hold it back and threw up on the floor of the balcony.
"This is why I don't want you to know the truth yet. You are not ready for this…"
"Of course… not…! I am… not ready… for everything that happens in this horrible night! My father dying… My mother's betrayal… me suddenly becoming queen of a country in ruins… I'm not ready for all this…!" I cried and he pulled me into a hug. His warmth comforts me a little.
"I know. I know. Now let us leave this place. It's been a long night and you need rest."
"Yes… let's do that… after I finish my business here."
"Oh?"
"I need to… remove the poison from my country after… all…"
"Who's there!?" I heard Perv's voice from inside the bedroom. Looks like they've stopped fucking and finally noticed us conversing out here in the balcony.
"They're coming." The Phantom said.
I could've sworn he grinned when I said that I would kill Perv and my mother but at this rate I don't care. My vision is now full of red and I charged in to execute both of them with my own hands.
"What!? Rose!? How did you—GUOHH!"
"What!? PERV! NOOO! Oh no! Rose! You can't do this to me! I'm your mother! I gave birth to you! Please don't—GWAAGH!"
Their words and screams are mere noises to my ears as I stabbed them both. After that, I passed out in the Phantom's arms.
"Rest well… my Angel of Music."
"I'm very sorry, Lord Shadow. Lady Alpha and Lady Gamma aren't here. They received urgent message from Lady Epsilon that they left as soon as possible." Nu answered her lord when he visited Mitsugoshi main building asking to meet Alpha.
"Oh bummer. Oh well. I guess I have to take care of things on my own." Those words hurt every member of Shadow Garden who is present to hear it, Nu included.
"But what is she doing with Gamma in Oriana?"
"T-They received word that Necromancer is there and he has captured 666! Lady Beta, Lady Epsilon and Lady Delta are already there requesting reinforcements and even Lady Zeta and Eta are on the move!"
"666? The Number of the Beast?" Shadow grins. Nu gasps when she heard the word beast out of her lord's mouth.
Holy shit! Did my arch nemesis capture Satan himself? And the Seven Shades wants to hog him all to themselves? No fair! Either way, this is an event I cannot miss! Hopefully I can finish this event and be on time to do something about the Thirteen Night Blades and that ikemen next week.
"Very well. Then I shall immediately catch up with them." Shadow said as he jumped through the window and flew at high speed towards the direction of Oriana.
Author's Note:
The song played in this chapter is obviously the Phantom of the Opera Overture.
Rose had it worse than in canon, in a single night at least. With the Phantom's guidance, where will fate lead her to? Find out on the next episode of The Trauma in Shadow!
TheAbyssWatcher: Oh, this is fire alright. Oriana got played into Necromancer's hand and Zeta squad zealousness could only make things worse from here.
Answer: "All according to keikaku." – Necromancer probably. (Translation note: Keikaku means plan.)
And yes, cracks are beginning to show in Shadow Garden. But before that, the Seven Shades will unite for a joint mission!
Cj The Depressed One: author Lesson to "paint my masterpiece" by Cjbeards. It has some great serial killer Vibe and great for writing or reading about Phantom of opera
Answer: Not a bad song.
A-Yellow-Lizard: Oh fluff nah, I love shorter chapters with 2k~ words. Too much sometimes slogs on.
Also Beta, don't throw stones from glass houses lol. I'm rooting for everyone, though hope someone gets a painful death or injury in the future to really cement the whole idea.
As an aside I kinda imagine Charlotte as Tsurumaki Maki with drills. They seem to fit together lol.
Answer: For now I'll try at 3k words.
For death and injury, there will be soon, though I must choose carefully. Also, killing one of the Shades could make Cid becomes more serious (Cid considers the Shades as his friends) and probably would make the story lose some of its core comedy so I'll hold off on killing them for now.
I dunno that character. Is she a brocon too?
TheVirtualPug: Wait what happened to Rose's mom? I forgot.
Answer: In this fic? Nothing happened up until this chapter.