La danse macabre - Stage 2

[shionstear]

La danse macabre

Episode 6 – The Tenshi’s miracle (I+II)

The ground.

Arme:

Whoa! A rabbit! It’s a rabbit!

It’s the first time I saw a real one… It’s much rounder than what I thought. White… and round…

Libel:

…

Arme:

Is it okay for me to touch it?

Libel:

…better don’t. You might get sick from touching wild animals.

Cura:

Our sonny really doesn’t know anything, huh? Kinda cute.

Fuga:

…I don’t like it one bit. He’s being all carefree without taking us into consideration.

Cura:

Well, isn’t it fine? It’ll be some days until our hideout. That’s better than getting all dark and broody.

And we’re kinda kidnapping him. So the more fun he has, the less we have to feel guilty, right?

Fuga:

What are you talking about? There’s no need to feel guilty, is there? Ark’s the main culprit for having oppressed us all the time.

Cura:

…

Fuga:

Not knowing what we went through, he’s just taking it easy, it’s annoying. We have to at least make sure he knows the situation he’s in…

Cura:

…well. It’s not like I don’t get what you’re saying.

Let’s see… It’s probably better if we explained it to him.

Hey, Libel, sonny. Get over here for a sec.

Libel:

…?

Short cut.

Cura:

So yeah that’s why the difference between Ark and the ground is so desperate. We don’t have enough resources and are fighting each other. Meanwhile the people on Ark are living in tranquillity and peace.

And even though Ark is prospering, they pretend to not notice how the ground is on its way to ruin. Well, not like they care either way.

But we’ve been wanting reach out to Ark. We’ve been asking for negotiations for them to support the ground, but they just keep on ignoring us.

Arme:

I… see…

Cura:

So, uhm, yeah… this is kinda hard to say, but…

Libel:

That’s why we kidnapped you. If someone important like you was taken hostage, we thought they’d be sure to answer us.

Arme:

Ahh!

I understand! You’re clever!

Cura:

…he’s kinda throwing me off.

Arme:

Yes… So that’s how it was. I’m sorry, I really didn’t know that the ground was dealing with something like that…

Cura:

You did say that you were always confined to your room, right?

Arme:

Yes. I am the Tenshi. I’ve lived while being told that I’m the symbol of the church, humanity, and hope.

I was made aware of it whenever I appeared before people once every 4 years. Their eyes would sparkle as soon as they saw me.

That alone was my life…

Fuga:

…weren’t you bored like that? Except for this one day nothing ever changed.

Arme:

Haha. Rather than that, if times where you’re not bored don’t even exist, can you really call it boredom?

Well, I did read books. And it’s not like I had no one to talk to. That’s just how it was.

Fuga:

Hmm…

Libel:

Arme…

 

Arme:

But I see… For such a beautiful land to be heading towards destruction…

Fuga:

As. I. Said. How is this beautiful?! Everything is destroyed!

Arme:

…!

I-if I angered you, I apologize. But… that’s how I really feel.

The way that the land, vegetation and animals strive to survive is very beautiful to me.

Fuga:

…what even…

Libel:

I think so too.

Arme:

Of course, you people are beautiful too, for having come up with a plan to take me away so you can survive!

Fuga:

Do you realize what you’re saying?

Cura:

Haha… What an odd sonny he is, seriously.

Arme:

I decided… I’ll ask them too. If there’s something they can do for the ground…

Cura:

…seriously?

Arme:

Seriously! I’ll try asking Lord Eternea myself. Though I don’t know of how much help this will be…

Libel:

Eternea… The top of the Church of Nerve, huh?

Arme:

Indeed. Lord Eternea is a very kind person!

Cura:

Now that’s helpful! Seems like the difficulty for negotiations just dropped a bunch.

Arme:

Really? Then I’m glad…

Cura:

Well we gotta head back to our hideout for us to contact Nerve. But now I feel much more relieved…

Libel:

Thank you, Arme.

Arme:

Y-yes! Think nothing of it, Libel!

Fuga:

Well, if that’s gonna help out then I don’t mind.

Arme:

Ah right… There’s something I’ve been wondering about.

Cura:

What is it, sonny?

Arme:

Hmm… Maybe it’s not something for me to ask from your perspective, but…

…why does Ark have resources? There’s none on the ground, but there are in the sky…

Libel:

…?

Fuga:

Huh? What’re you saying?

Arme:

Why do the people of Ark know no hunger? I too ate every day.

If the ground is starving, why is there enough food in the sky? There’s no land and no rivers…

Fuga:

But why are you asking that?

Arme:

…eh? What do you mean?

Fuga:

…what do you mean what do I mean?

Cura:

Isn’t it… because of the Tenshi’s miracle?

Arme:

What…?

Cura:

The fact that Ark is floating in the sky…! That it’s sparkling with lights even on starless nights…! That all of its people have more than enough food…!

Isn’t that because of the Tenshi’s miracle bestowed upon Ark!?

Libel:

That’s what is being said here on the ground…

Arme:

Miracle…

What… is that… I don’t know anything… about that…

Episode 7 – Proud pursuer (I+II)

Unity Order briefing room.

Reue:

How come it’s so noisy? What happened?

Leiden:

Gahaha! Something interesting happened while we were sleeping carefreely, General.

Reue:

Ehhhh…

Nah, no way it’s fun. You guys have a thing for making everything complicated for me. I noticed you know.

Schau:

Qual descended. Probably to chase after Lord Tenshi.

He also took some subordinates with him. Well, thought he’d do it.

Reue:

Huuuh…!?

…haaah… Gimme a break…

Leiden:

So, what shall we do, General? We can’t just leave it like this, right?

Reue:

Hmm…

Hmm… Leiden-kun, go and bring Qual-kun back at once. You can take like 10 men with you.

Leiden:

Understood.

Ahh! Finally, back to the ground after so long! I'd be happy if there are as many fights as possible!

Schau:

Savage.

Leiden:

The job on Ark is too peaceful I can’t help it. My arm is tingling…!

Schau:

Have funsies.

Reue:

Schau-kun, you’ll be working to help the people, got it?

Schau:

Yes yes.

Leiden:

Do your best, wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Schau:

Oh shut up…

Reue:

Hah… this Qual-kun.

Tch… Don’t make more work for me.

Cut to the ground.

Qual:

So, this is the lesser world… It’s the first time I descended.

…how unsightly.

Unity Order Soldier:

Lord Qual, I think it’d be best to head to Unity Order’s base on the ground first.

The soldiers of the base have skirmishes with Rebellion every day. They could have more information.

Qual:

Yes…

…I need to apologize to all of you. I made you disregard orders.

Unity Order Soldier:

No sir, you’ve done quite a lot for us. And we can’t forgive the people that stole Lord Tenshi away either.

Unity Order Soldier:

Exactly. For Lord Qual’s sake, going against some orders is no big deal.

Qual:

You guys… Alright, understood. Let us take back our Lord Tenshi.

Unity Order Soldier:

In that regard, please take in all of Captain Reue’s anger too.

Qual:

Hahaha, you’re right. But it’s okay. If we bring back our Lord Tenshi, I’m sure even Captain Reue will make big eyes.

???:

…

 

Qual:

It’s devastated huh…

Unity Order Soldier:

And it smells terribly… Can people really live in this environment?

Qual:

Yes. To bring Lord Tenshi to such a place… Unforgivable.

Gun shot.

Unity Order Soldier:

Ugh!

Qual:

What…!?

Unity Order Soldier:

I-it’s the enemy, Lord Qual!

Qual:

Are you okay!?

Unity Order Soldier:

…I’m fine. It’s not a fatal wound…

Person of the ground:

As expected, Ark people. They’re easy targets.

Person of the ground:

Walking around in such small numbers, they sure are underestimating us.

Qual:

…who are you bastards?

Unity Order Soldier:

I-I believe they’re part of one of the resistance organizations. But their numbers are too vast, we had better retreat.

Qual:

…run?

Foolish. What human would run from insects?

Unity Order Soldier:

Lord Qual…!

Person of the ground:

Don’t let ‘em escape! Go at ‘em!

Unity Order Soldier:

They’re coming!

Swinging sound.

Qual:

Stand back…!

Sword clanging.

Person of the ground:

What!?

Qual:

Ha!

Swinging sound.

Person of the ground:

Gah!

Person of the ground:

How fast…! Keep your distance! Close combat is dangerous!

Qual:

Hmm… how many are there of you? 10… maybe about 20?

You’re all swarming around. There’s no shred of character.

You vermin grovelling in dirt…!

Swinging sound.

Person of the ground:

Whoa!

Qual:

For the sin of stealing Lord Tenshi, humanity’s symbol of hope, you bunch will pay with your lives.

Person of the ground:

H-Huh? What are you talking about?!

Qual:

Shut your mouth.

Swinging sound.

Person of the ground:

Wait… what do you mean stealing the Tenshi? We don’t know anything!

Qual:

Doesn’t matter.

Swinging sound.

Qual:

One insect harmed a person. It’s only natural to exterminate every one of them on sight.

Unity Order Soldier:

…

Qual:

Proud soldiers of the Unity Order!

Unity Order Soldiers:

Y-yes!

Qual:

Do not fear. Outwardly they may look like us, but they are like mere bugs.

Hideous. Repulsive. I understand why you’d want to turn away from them. …that’s your reality, your diminutive existence.

They are not our enemy.

Unity Order Soldier:

Yes!

Person of the ground:

S-stop fucking with me!!

Qual:

Trample them!!

Unity Order Soldiers:

Understood!!

Gun shots.

Swords swinging.

Qual:

Please wait for me, Lord Tenshi. I will definitely come and save you.

I shall be the one to protect you.

Episode 8 – The Church of Nerve (I+II)

The cathedral.

Schau, through loudspeakers:

Everyone, please rest reassured. Unity Order will protect Ark’s peace.

The scoundrels that intruded on the recent festival and ruined it have been caught and executed by Unity Order yesterday.

So that no more savage people from the lesser world can come onto Ark, security has been tightened severely.

Let’s do our best today as well!

Cut to a hallway.

Reue:

Kukuku. You’re doing great, Schau-kun.

Alrighty. Guess I’ll do my best too.

Knocking.

Reue:

Pardon my intrusion.

Cut to a hall.

???:

My, if it isn’t Captain Reue. We’re in the middle of a conversation. Would you mind waiting a bit.

Reue:

Yes…

???:

Since we are prepared for the worst-case scenario, I think we will be able to make it without any major harm.

In fact, it may also be perceived as a good time, even in the meaning of raking over the coals.

Eternea:

…I see. That may be true.

Excuse us, we made you wait, Captain Reue.

Reue:

The handling of Lord Tenshi remains the same, I assume? We’ve been guiding the people according to your orders, Lord Misericorde, but…

Eternea:

Yes, you do not need to chase after him. Eventually, he shall come back on his own two feet.

Misericorde:

Indeed, it is as Lord Eternea speaks. More than that, the humans from the lesser world will probably regret having stolen our Lord Tenshi.

Reue:

…I don’t… quite understand.

Eternea:

That’s just how it is. May Unity Order continue to work to maintain public order.

Rather than putting fighting force onto the ground, it’d be much wiser to make sure our people can live peacefully.

Misericorde:

No person from the lesser world should ever set foot on Ark again. I’d like you to strengthen security in that matter.

Reue:

Yes…

Misericorde:

Is that all? Then return to your work already.

We’re giving you all more than enough necessities of life. If you don’t work for them, we’d be troubled.

Reue:

Ahh, about that…

Misericorde:

What is it?

Reue:

One of my subordinates descended in chase of Lord Tenshi.

Misericorde:

Huh?

Eternea:

…oh.

Misericorde:

Hah… you can’t even control your own subordinates, Captain Reue?

Reue:

You are absolutely correct. It was due to my negligence.

Misericorde:

Hmph. …so. Who descended?

Reue:

Qual.

Eternea:

…!

Misericorde:

…Qual, huh.

 

Misericorde:

Well, it’s alright if it’s him.

Reue:

…?

Eternea:

I worry whether Qual is exposed to any danger due to the people of the ground. Please do bring him back.

Reue:

Y-yes. I’ve had Leiden go fetch him…

But I’m surprised. I was expecting more reprimanding.

Eternea:

…

Misericorde:

Hmm. Well, we too do know him very well after all. We understand that his light of faith has not vanished, taking that into consideration it should be no problem.

Reue:

…right, Qual was the “retainer”.

Eternea:

Yes. He did very well.

Misericorde:

Indeed. Therefore… There is absolutely no need to worry.

Reue:

…

Cut to briefing room.

Reue:

They’re hiding something, huh… Thanks…

…hmm.

Schau:

Ah, Captain Reue! Welcome back!!

Reue:

…

Schau-kun, you’re still in your role.

Schau:

…!?

Ahh… Shit. Once I’m in that mode it takes time to go away.

Reue:

Hahaha, glad that you’re so passionate about work.

Schau:

…something happened? You look unusually quiet.

Reue:

…!

I really can’t hide it from you. Just thinking about something.

Schau:

Hmm. Well, not like I care either way.

Reue:

…Schau-kun. Are you happy at the moment?

Schau:

Huh? What’s that all of a sudden?

…well. I guess? I can live freely.

Reue:

…

I see. You’re right.

Schau:

How come?

Reue:

Nothing. Just realized I don’t need to think about unnecessary things.

Schau:

…?

Episode 9 – A peaceful time (I+II)

At an oasis.

Arme:

Th…

This is…! This is one of those oasis things!? I read about them in a book!

Libel:

Yes. To get to our hideout we have to pass through this desert.

Libel:

We’ll be camping here for the night. Travelling through the desert at night is dangerous.

Arme:

…

Libel:

…Arme?

Arme:

…as far as the eye can see there is desert, and in the middle of it is this lake, like an accent. It’s as if it’s reflecting the sky, like a mirror. Ah, what is this… So beautiful!

Whoa… Whoa. What is this feeling… It’s soft… Like my feet aren’t on the ground…

I can’t put it into words…

Libel:

…that’s what you call to be in high spirits.

Arme:

I-I see! To be in high spirits!

Fuga:

Isn’t Libel-san taking too much care of that guy…?

Cura:

Hey now, don’t get jealous. It’s not like I can’t understand Libel either.

Fuga:

Eh… Seriously?

Cura:

He’s been desperately trying to love and protect this land. Of course he’d be happy if sonny were to compliment it.

Like, when you have a treasure, but no one understands its worth and then suddenly someone appears who does.

Fuga:

…

Well to us, this dirty world is our daily life…

Cura:

Yup. He’s the weird one for loving this land. He’s just got different eyes than we do. …rest reassured, we’re not the unclean ones.

Fuga:

…no. It’s like I’m being blamed. Like I can’t seem to understand Libel-san…

Like I’m being told I can’t become like him.

Cut to night.

Arme:

…whoa, the stars.

Cura:

Let’s stay here for the night and depart once the sun rises.

Fuga:

Eh, why do we gotta hurry so much? We’re faster than I thought, why not take it more easil---

Cura:

We’re close to the 12^th district.

Libel:

…Kokujoh Yako.

Fuga:

I see. Now that you say it, you’re right. It’d be bad if they caught us when we’re such a small group.

Arme:

Kokujoh Yako?

Cura:

Ah. Where to start explaining. On the ground there’s various people and organizations. And thanks to the poverty they all take from each other.

Fuga:

More than that, everything’s just chaos. Everyone’s acting according to their own ideas and is constantly taking food from each other.

Cura:

Yeah, it’s only natural for different beliefs to clash. Some just want to do their best while living in poverty. Others want to try and expand their territories to get every little bit of resources they can.

There’s even some that fight against Ark. Everyone thinks differently. The one thing we have in common though is our empty bellies.

Arme:

I see… Then what about your organization?

Cura:

Yup. We’re the super weird ones. We just want Ark to support the ground. We’re the super romantic group.

We’re being treated like weirdos, really.

Libel:

Even though it’s so simple. If Ark has food, they just need to share.

Arme:

Oh… You’re right!

Cura:

And well, the aforementioned Kokujoh Yako… among all the organizations, they’re the absolute worst.

Arme:

The worst…

Fuga:

They have no beliefs and no rules. They live by stealing everything from their surroundings.

They eat everything they lay their eyes on, like a bunch of starving wild dogs.

And if that weren’t enough, even though they’re small in numbers they’re stupidly strong. We’ve had a go at them several times already too, but each time our numbers were reduced by half.

Cura:

Their leader Vida is especially bad. Legends and stories say that there’s no one on the ground that can best him.

Arme:

…stronger than Libel?

Libel:

Yes.

Arme:

…that much.

Cura:

So that’s why we should get away before they can find u---what’s wrong sonny. Why’re you grinning?

Arme:

Ah… sorry.

Fuga:

Hey. Were you even listening? They’re real dangerous!

Arme:

No, how do I put it… From your perspective it might be obvious, but…

It’s nice that there are so many different people on the ground. Of course, it’d be better without fighting, but the fact that there’s so many people with different ways of thinking, trying their best to survive…

Cura:

…hmm.

Fuga:

…that view from above is seriously pissing me off. Are you on a sightseeing tour, you bastard…?

Arme:

I-I’m sorry. Uhm, as I told, for as long as I can remember I’ve been trapped in a simple room and…

There were several people to bring me food and take care of me.

And once every 4 years I got to appear before people. I got to see all of their expressions then.

…but the people of Ark all look the same. They all believe in the teachings of the church and they all believe in me.

…

…to be frank, to me, they all had the same face.

Libel:

Arme…

Arme:

But you people from the ground are different! You’re all overflowing with passion from within, have different thoughts, are living!

Libel is different from Cura! Even Fuga who doesn’t like me thinks differently. Precisely because you all think differently!

Fuga:

…

Arme:

I think that’s wonderful…

Cura:

I see… I’ll take that as a compliment then.

Arme:

Yes, it’s a compliment! I am ignorant to the way of the world after all!

Fuga:

…pff. The hell, fight back at least.

Arme:

Hahaha, please forgive me. As embarrassing as it sounds, it’s the first time I’m watching stars like this as well.

Libel:

…

 

Arme:

…

Fuga:

Zzz…

Libel:

Cura, are you still awake?

Cura:

Thanks to a certain leader I’m always worried about stuff. I’ll be an insomniac for all eternity.

Libel:

…hey, Cura. I want to show Arme a bit more of the ground.

Cura:

…huh?

Libel:

He was so confined that he never even saw the stars. Once negotiations are over, he’ll go back to the church. He’ll return to the life he had before.

If he misses this opportunity, Arme will never be able to see the world. Even if only for a bit, I want him to taste freedom…

Cura:

And here we go again…

So what, you wanna take a detour to the hideout? Postpone the negotiations and his return?

It’s not like I don’t get it. And I feel him for his situation. But… I’m telling you to think of our priorities.

What was our goal? Remember it. To get support from Ark. Don’t suggest anything that gets in the way of it.

Libel:

I won’t change the priorities. I’ll show you that I can accomplish either.

Cura:

Shut up. I’m looking up paths, taking Kokujoh Yako into account. Things are piling up. Don’t put more work on me.

Libel:

Cura, but…

Cura:

Let’s put it off for now. We’re basically walking around with a huge amount of money right now. We’ll continue this talk at the hideout.

Let’s sleep. You too. I told you, we got an early morning.

Libel:

…yeah, understood.

Fuga:

…

A moment of freedom, huh.

Flashback.

Arme:

Haha. Rather than that, if times where you’re not bored don’t even exist, can you really call it boredom?

Back to present.

Fuga:

…won’t that be cruel for him in the end?

???:

….fouuuund ya.

To be continued…