Songs Bring Happiness

So this is a world different than my own...

I just came to have a look around, but...

Lalalala...

No, that's not right...

Lala... Lalalala?

That's not it at all...

Lala... Lalala... Lalalala?

That girl...

Might I speak with you a moment?

Huh?

I heard you singing, and I could not help but wonder if...

Ah!

Is something the matter?

Ahhh! She can talk! She's talkiiing!

Oh my...

(I wonder why she was spooked. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary.) (...Or did I?)

That little girl let out quite the scream.

Because that long-haired woman approached her.

I wonder what she did to scare her like that...

N-Nothing... I...

(They're looking at me funny... Maybe I should leave.)

(At the very least, I should find that girl and ask her why she ran away.)

There she is.

Lala... Lalala... Lalalala?

Lalalalaaa...

Perhaps that is the melody you seek?

I-It's you again! The princess!

(Princess?!)

(Ohhh, I get it. That's how she sees me.)

(Hehe...)

Huh?

Do you, perhaps, think I look like a princess?

Yeah, and you sound like one too!

Do I?

Uh-huh! You're just like the one in the storybook my mom used to read me!

I see. It must have surprised you to think the tale had come to life.

Could you tell me more about this princess?

She sings like an angel, and everyone loves her songs. I wanna be just like her someday!

Hmm... I quite like the sound of that story.

It seems you admire her greatly. (I know just how she feels.)

Yeah! I love her sooo much! That's why I'm practicing my singing.

Lala... Lalala... Lalalala?

Lalaaa. Lalalaaa. Lalalalaaa.

Wow! That was beautiful! Do you know that song too?

No. I simply guessed the melody based on what you were singing.

Really? How'd you learn to do that? And how'd you get so good?

By practicing, just as you are now.

I wanted to be as good as the princess I admired. I also changed the way I speak and act to be more like her.

You like her a lot, huh? Are you good friends?

I have never met her.

Huh? Then is she...

No, she is not a character from a book. I just have yet to meet her as she is now. Our paths crossed but once when I was young.

Back then...I was no more than a snowman. I was far from human, unable to walk or talk.

But snowmen can't turn into humans. They can't walk or talk, either.

You know not the ways of the world, little one. Snowmen live among us.

They do?

In any case, I imagined what that princess was like and modeled myself after her. I even learned to sing just for her.

So if you continue to practice and work hard, I am certain you will become a wonderful singer in no time.

You can become just like the princess you admire. I am almost certain of it.

Well, to be honest...that's not the whole truth. Y'see, I wanna...

Hey! You!

Ah!

You tryin' to sing that awful song to her? When are you gonna give it up?

Hmph!

Oh...

Well, that was quite rude. Why would you say such a thing?

Her singing is far from awful. All she needs is a little practice.

I didn't mean her singin' was awful.

Then what did you mean?

She's always talkin' about how she wants to control people with her songs.

Don't you think that's awful? And weird?

Control people...with song?

Have you any idea where she may have gone?

Well, the Karek Swampland's that way, so she might be there.

I see. Thank you.

Don't tell me you're going after her.

I am. I must know more about her.

(Songs aren't meant to control people...)

(They're meant to bring happiness.)

I wonder where she went...

Um, hi...

Ahhh!

Ahh... Ahem. There you are. You gave me quite a scare.

(It's bad for my nerves when people pop up out of nowhere when I'm being myself.)

Um... Do you think you could teach me how to sing?

I will not object so long as you have a suitable reason for wanting to learn.

Well, you know that princess I told you about? You're just like her.

So if you teach me how to sing, then...

The people who hear my songs are sure to do what I say, just like in the book!

So you wish to sing...to make people do your bidding?

The people in the story really love the princess's songs.

They want her to sing more, so they ask what they can do for her in exchange.

I wanna be able to sing like that too!

I...

I do not wish to sing like that.

Huh?

But then what about Papa...?

What do you mean?

Hey! You'd better get outta here, quick! There's monsters over thataway!

The knights'll take care of them, but you'd best stay in Unigan 'til they've been dealt with!

Let us return to town.

But...

There's the knights now!

Papa!

Wait! It's too dangerous!

Papa...

Eek!

Stand back!

Wha?!

You will not harm this child, not while I'm around!

The monster is gone now.

(Phew... Can't believe I managed that on my own. That was a close one!)

Thank you for saving me...

Hey, are you, Huh? What are YOU doing here?!

Papa!

Did no one warn you about the monsters?! This place is dangerous. You need to go back to town right now!

I...I'm sorry...

Thank you for saving my daughter.

I'm sorry to ask this of you, but would you take her back to town?

Will you not take her yourself?

I work with the knights as a doctor. There are still more of them fighting monsters out here.

I can't return to town 'til this is all over.

......

...I see. Then I shall see your daughter back to Unigan.

I hope Papa comes home safe...

He has done this before, has he not?

Yeah, but he's been working a lot lately.

He always looks tired... If he doesn't stop, he might end up dying just like Mama...

Sniffle... Waaaaaah!

P-Please! Don't cry!

...Are you all right?

Yeah...

Please, miss! You gotta teach me how to sing!

If I could sing as well as you, then...

Maybe I can get Papa to stay here with me instead of going to work!

So the reason you wish to control people...

It's merely to stop your father from working so hard?

Yeah. I want him to stay home and rest once in a while!

If you teach me how to sing, I'm sure I'll get good enough that people will listen to me and do what I say!

When Mama was still alive, we used to sing together all the time. But I can't do it alone... I'm not any good at it.

Unfortunately, I do not think you could get people to do as you wish, even if I taught you to sing.

Aww...

But you may be able to bring your father happiness.

And that will surely make him want to spend more time with you.

Songs are sung to make people smile.

......

...Very well. I will teach you how to sing.

Really? But...

On one condition. I want you to tell your father how worried you are about him. I believe...your princess would agree.

Y'know...

You really do remind me a lot of her! She's kind of a know-it-all too!

A know-it-all?!

Okay, I'll tell Papa how I feel.

So please, teach me to sing!

(I can't believe she called me a know-it-all! But first things first...)

We have a deal. Listen carefully now.

Lalaaa. Lalalaaa. Lalalalaaa...

Papa!

Ah, were you waiting for me?

There's something I wanna say, Papa!

You need to rest! Please!

You've been working so hard lately, and you always look so tired...

I don't want you to die like Mama!

Oh, my dear...

I practiced a song for you! Wanna hear?

O-Of course.

Okay, here goes...

Did you like it? It's the song Mama and I used to sing together... I can sing it all on my own now.

That was...beautiful...

Papa?

Sniffle... I'm sorry... It just made me think of her...

You used to spend more time at home when Mama was around...

I know... But after she passed, it just hurt so much that I threw myself into my work to distract me from the pain... I knew you were lonely, and yet...

I'm not lonely, Papa. I have you!

But I am worried about you, so promise me you'll stop working so hard!

I promise. Oh, and you'll have to teach me the song on my next day off. Then we can sing it together.

The lady who taught me the song said she'd be right here, but... Where'd she go?

Hmm... Maybe something came up and she had to leave.

Or maybe she really was a princess!

Maybe she came out of my storybook so she could help me!

Haha. Maybe she did!

I...melted...

I mean, of course I did! I'm a snowman! And watching something like that could melt even the coldest of hearts!

But I'm glad they didn't notice me. I'd rather not be seen like this.

It's a relief everything worked out, though.

I'm so happy for them. The bonds of family really are heartwarming...