241Here's the next chapter! Cause Squishy fingers, my cousin, keeps bugging me about it. Enjoy! ^.^
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this chapter at all! Not the Phantom, not the songs, NOTHING!
Interview with the POTO Characters
~Sing Along~
"Do you think they'll ever figure it out?" Era asked her friend from where she sat beside the closed door of her office. Ds shrugged as he listened more carefully to the characters inside the room discussing ways to break out, or in Raoul's case, to get rid of the dangerous beast that is Don Juan the beaver.
"Maybe…"
"I'm surprised they haven't tried the front door yet," 21 added in from where she sat at her desk.
"Erik thinks it's too easy," Era answered while standing and stretching her arms high above her head. "Besides, the front door won't lead them back to the nineteenth century,"
"I don't think they really care about that as long as they get out," Ds pointed out while standing and walking over to 21's desk.
"You know, I've been thinking…they're getting more creative in their 'escape plans' in there…especially Erik…I think it's because he's been inside for too long, and he's getting too comfortable with it…I should probably bring him out on a walk, just to give him some fresh air," Era commented.
"He's not a dog, Era," Ds pointed out flatly.
"I got a leash you can use if you want to take him to the park," 21 suggested. "You could throw a Frisbee for him and watch him not get it,"
"You guys are boring me~," Ds whined.
"But-"
"Bored!"
"Fine, then what do you want to do?" Era asked with crossed arms. There was a moment of silence as they thought about it.
"We could…go an hour with only singing?" Ds suggested.
"Oh, that sounds like fun!" Era beamed.
"If that won't annoy Erik, I don't know what will," 21 commented while picking her book back up from her desk and opening it, pretending to read.
"Let's make it easier for ourselves and instead of standing there trying to think of a song to sing, we'll let our minds pick it for us," Era suggested.
"How does that work?"
"You'll see; now this will only last for an hour so let's hope it's as enjoyable as we think it is," she said as she closed her eyes and concentrated really hard. 21 and Ds looked at her strangely in anticipation.
"…Is it working?" 21 asked.
"Christine, I didn't mean it like that!" Raoul's voice was heard. Era, Ds, and 21 all watched as the door to Era's office opened revealing a very angry Christine storming out, fixing the snow cap over her bald head. Raoul quickly chased after her, Erik following quickly behind.
"What I meant is that it doesn't look bad," Raoul tried. Christine stopped and turned violently to face her ex-husband.
"I'm bald! My hair is gone! And you made fun of me!" she cried.
"You still look beautiful to me," Erik interjected, earning a glare from Raoul.
"When he sees your face, there's not a thing that he would change. Cause you're amazing just the way you are," Era sang. All eyes turned to her in confusion and Era couldn't help blinking surprised.
"I think that spell worked," 21 commented. "Yay for Fanfiction powers,"
"I look hideous," Christine continued, ignoring 21 completely.
"She's an ugly girl, her face will make you hurl. Sad to have it, she should bag it," Ds sang. He paused before giving a look at Era, the girl just shrugging in response.
"Are you two alright?" Raoul asked concerned.
"Why do you care?" Erik questioned condescendingly.
"I don't care about him, but if Era dies from whatever singing disease they have, then we're stuck here," Raoul pointed out.
"It's beautiful, so very beautiful. Hear how each note seems to float. Hear how they all die and fall, just like the night!" Era sang matter-of-factly.
"…I think she's sending us a message," Christine pointed out.
"Just pat their head, tell them how good they've been and put them to sleep, they'll be fine," 21 advised, flipping the page of her book.
"…Isn't that instructions for dogs?" Raoul wondered out loud.
~oOo~
"…This is awkward," Meg pointed out from where she sat at Era's desk. Era and Ds were sitting beside each other on the couch, being inspected by the other characters.
"If we leave them be, they won't sing," Christine advised. Erik nodded in agreement from where he stood at the office window.
"I have to admit," he started, looking out at the night time sky, "It's beautiful here, wherever we are. I've never seen a more beautiful night,"
"Once there was a night, beneath a moonless sky. Too dark to see a thing, too dark to even try," Era sang with a suggestive look to the phantom.
"…And it was just ruined," Erik said bitterly, giving the girl a glare.
"Let's not talk about anything remotely related to that particular song…hearing it once was enough for me," Daroga suggested.
"I agree…that song's not appropriate…unless you're in love or something," Meg said with a shrug.
"And I loved you, yes I loved you. I'd have followed anywhere you led," Ds sang.
"I woke to swear my love, but found you gone instead," Era finished. An awkward silence passed the room and Ds slapped the girl across the arm angrily, hating that song. Era gave a little sniffle.
"…What do we do?" Christine whispered to Raoul.
"…Pat her on the head and tell her what a good girl she is?" Raoul suggested. Christine rolled her eyes.
"I wonder…" Meg started, "Why did they make a sequel to our story? Especially one so ridiculous?"
"I liked the idea of me dying over Christine," Erik pointed out.
"Thank you, Erik," Christine said with a smile.
"…I bet the kid is still his…" Raoul mumbled.
"Stop it, Raoul! I told you already, the kid is yours!" Christine snapped angrily.
"Are you sure?" Era sang.
"What?" Raoul questioned.
"Are you so sure? Such a child, strange to see: different, musical. Is he more, you or him?" Era pointed at Erik. "Which one do you find most?"
"You lie!" Christine exclaimed.
"You see!" Raoul cried.
"Raoul, as much as I would have loved for it to happen, I never had the indecency to take advantage of you wife and sleep with her," Erik said seriously.
"And I touch you," Era sang.
"And I felt you," Ds added on.
"And I heard those ravishing refrains,"
"The music of your pulse,"
"The singing in your veins,"
"Stop it!" Erik snapped. Another silence fell over the room.
"…Why so silent good messieurs?" Era asked.
"Dear Lord," Meg sighed.
"Can't you two give us any respect?" Christine asked.
"R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me. R-E-S-P-E-C-T,-"
"Shut it!" Erik cut Ds off, making the other cross his arms angrily.
"Erik, they can't help it," Daroga defended.
"I'm sure they can, they'll do anything to annoy us. I hate them," Erik grumbled.
"Do you know the enemy?" Era asked. "Do you know your enemy? Well, gotta know the enemy-"
"Wa-hey!" Ds added in.
"…Can we shoot them yet?" Raoul asked. "I'm sure there's a gun here somewhere,"
"One, 21 guns! Lay down your arms, give up the fight," Ds sang. A chorus of groans filled the room.
~oOo~
The Persian and Meg couldn't help giving a sigh as they watch Era and Ds play their video games, singing as they go.
"Look at you," Era sang while looking at Ds' character condescendingly, "Deep in debt, sticking drunk, pitiful. Shall we to make a bet? Devil take the hindmost,"
"Look at you, foul in sin, hideous, horrible. Call the stakes, deal me in. Devil take the hindmost," Ds agreed with a smirk.
"Our people shall fight tonight," Era pointed to their characters.
"Let them fight,"
"Will it be yours or mine?"
"Draw the line,"
"If it dies, you lost tonight,"
"I won't lose,"
"You'll upgrade me here,"
"Fine,"
"Disappear," Era blinked, unable to come up with a better word to use.
"And if I don't? If I win?" Ds asked.
"I'll let you prank away,"
"Very well, let's begin,"
"Devil take the hindmost," Both of their attentions were brought back to the game as they slammed their fingers on the remote violently.
"…I hope it's not contagious, whatever they have," Daroga commented from the doorway. Meg nodded beside him.
"I can't believe we have to babysit them," Meg complained.
"Would you rather be in whatever spat Raoul and Christine are in right now while Erik takes Christine's side?" the Persian asked.
"…No…"
"…I wonder…do you think I can somehow take advantage of this situation and get Era into getting Erik and I divorced?"
"Divorce?" Meg echoed. "How?"
"If they can only sing, and I ask to get a divorce, and they can't find a song that says 'no', then they'll have to do it," Daroga explained logically.
"…I really don't think that'll work,"
"Just watch," the Persian then walked over to the couch the other two were on, followed by a curious Meg. Era reluctantly paused the game as both she and Ds looked at the Persian expectantly.
"Era? I'm divorcing Erik whether you like it or not, so make it happen," Daroga said straightforward. Era sat in silence, having stumped look on her face as she thought desperately for something to say. Suddenly she looked up happily.
"Pity comes too late, turn around and face your fate, and eternity of him before your eyes," she sang with a smile. Daroga opened his mouth to retort but Ds quickly interjected.
"Say you love him every waking moment. Turn his head with talk of summer time. Say you need him with you now and always. Promise him that all you say is true, that's all we ask of you," he sang. Meg giggled at the baffled look the Persian had on his face.
"I'm not gay!" he finally exclaimed.
"Stay married, that's all I ask of you," Era said with a pleading look.
"No!"
"Say you love him,"
"You know you do," Ds finished.
"I don't love him!" the Persian snapped.
"You don't love who?" a voice asked and everyone turned shocked to see Erik walk in. Era and Ds both giggled as the Persian look at the phantom panicked, unsure of what to say.
"N-No one, you must have misheard me," he quickly covered.
"I didn't," Erik replied flatly. "You're in love? I'm hurt that you didn't tell me. Bought time though, I never thought you would love again after your wife died. I always imagined you as the solitary type,"
"I am! It's nothing, Era and Ds are just twisting my words-"
"A heart full of love, a heart full of you, he's doing everything all wrong," Era looked at Daroga with a shake of her head. "Oh God for shame, he doesn't even know what to say,"
"N-No! Don't listen to them!" the Persian said quickly. Erik just looked from the suggestive look Era gave him to the panicked Persian in suspicion.
"What's going on, Daroga?" he asked while crossing his arms.
"Nothing!"
"What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing!"
"Mamma Mia, here we go again," Ds sighed.
"My my, how can he resist him?" Era asked, Ds just shrugging in response.
"Stop it! There's nothing going on!" Daroga exclaimed.
"Look with your heart, and not with your eyes-"
"Stop it!" Era gave a huff and crossed her arms unhappily.
"…I have a feeling I really don't want to know what's going on," Erik finally said.
"I think it's hilarious," Meg commented with a snicker.
"Can't you all just leave me-" the Persian was cut off by Raoul bursting into the room.
"Hey guys! Look what I found-" Raoul gave a squeal when he tripped over his own feet and went crashing to the ground, the shiny crystal ball in his hands crashing onto the ground by Erik's feet, casting a large cloud of smoke to cover the entire room. Everyone began hacking and coughing, trying to get some air. It took a while but the smoke slowly started to subside.
"Is everyone alright?" Meg asked concerned, looking at everyone. Era and Ds just nodded their heads in response.
"You should be more careful, Vicomte," Daroga advised as he helped Raoul to his feet.
"My crystal ball broke," Raoul whimpered unhappily. A loud gasp was suddenly heard as Era grabbed Ds by his sleeve and pointed madly at where Erik was. Everyone looked surprised to find that Erik was no longer the fearsome Opera Ghost, but had been turned by the crystal ball into a five year old version of himself.
"How did no one notice?" Meg questioned shocked.
"Evidently Era did," the Persian corrected.
"Is everyone alright? I thought I heard a crash-" Christine paused in the doorway as she saw little Erik. "Oh mon Dieu, what happened?"
"Mamma mia," Era answered slowly, Ds nodding his head in agreement. Everyone watched as little Erik looked at them all with frightened amber eyes, holding the clothes that were now too big for him around his little body.
"…Erik?" Daroga called uncertain.
"I…don't think he recognizes us," Meg pointed out when Erik just stared at them as though they were four eyes monsters trying to eat him. The Persian slowly began walking over to Erik, trying to not to scare him.
"Erik, I'm a friend, I'm not going to hurt you," he said slowly. Erik quickly bundled up the shirt he was in and ran away from the Persian and hid behind the other side of the couch.
"You're frightening him," Meg criticized, waking the Persian on the arm.
"I tried," he defended.
"Aww, he's so cute!" Christine gushed as she saw the younger Erik, his oversized shirt barely holding onto his small shoulders, and even though the mask had already fallen off when he had ran, his young age made the deformity look endearing and innocent.
"He's so very beautiful," Era agreed.
"No he's not," Raoul disagreed.
"Erik, come here," Christine ushered while motioning for the boy to come.
"H-How do you know my name?" Erik asked frightened.
"Uhh…we're…friends of the family," Daroga tried.
"W-Where's my mother?"
"Who cares," Era mumbled before giving a large gasp. "I can speak normally again!"
"Finally!" Ds praised.
"What was wrong with you two?" Meg asked.
"Era put a spell on us so we could only sing," Ds replied.
"I was trying to pass the time," Era defended.
"I think we have a more pressing matter to worry about," the Persian said, motioning to little Erik.
"W-Where's my mother?" Erik asked, hiding more behind the couch.
"She…went out for a bit, and asked us to look after you," Christine explained.
"You can trust us," Daroga ensured.
"Who would trust a tall guy with a natural frown on his face?" Ds questioned while raising a brow at the Persian.
"Hey, Erik," Era said in a childish voice, leaning over the side of the couch to look down at the young phantom. "You can come sit beside me if you want; my friend and I will protect you from anyone you don't like,"
"Raoul," Ds said between coughs. Erik looked at the girl indecisively before looking at everyone in the room. There was one tall person with a frown, a girl who hasn't yet talked to him, a girl who looks like she just wanted to squish him, a man glaring at him, and the two people on the couch who didn't look weird.
Erik nodded and quickly went around the couch and scamper on top of the seat in-between Era and Ds, making sure his shirt stayed on.
"Good boy," Era said while wrapping an arm around little Erik and letting him rest his head against her.
"What?" the Persian exclaimed shocked.
"Weird that he picked Era over Christine considering he hates Era," Meg commented.
"He doesn't know that," Era said in a sing song voice before snickering.
"Great, now we got a kid," Ds said with a smile.
"And soon he will be all grown up," Era said with a fake sniffle.
"What are we going to do now? The Phantom of the Opera turned into a snobby, ignorant kid," Raoul said while motioning to Erik. Erik gave a little whimper at the tone Raoul gave and snuggled closer to Era.
"Raoul, he's just a kid, leave him alone," Era retorted.
"…I could always put him back in the torture chamber," Ds suggested. Raoul gave a terrified gasp and hid behind Christine.
"Daroga," Meg whispered, tugging at the Persian's sleeve. "Do you feel rejected that Erik subconsciously chose Era over you?"
"Excuse me?" Daroga asked confused.
"I know I would feel bad if my husband turned into a kid and chose someone else over me," Meg continued.
"I don't care who he chooses," Daroga retorted.
"…Then there's nothing to explain the jealous look on your face,"
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing!"
A/N- Hope you liked it! Reviews please?