Ciel! On Stage!

There's so much nature in your time, bro! I guess that's why the air is so sweet!

I used to think my mom's garden was beautiful, but nothing back home compares to this!

I get it. I had a similar reaction to the future. When I first saw it, I couldn't believe it.

Still, I'm happy to hear someone from the future still appreciates how life is like in my time.

Are you kidding? It's amazing here! How could anyone think any different?

Just standing here watching the ocean makes me want to break out innnntooooo sooooooong!

Please! Isn't there something I can do?!

Huh? You hear that?

You can't leave! We can't afford to lose another singer!

I am truly, madly, deeply sorry. I pray that you may find another singer soon.

You doin' okay mister?

It sounded like you were having an argument. Mind telling us what happened?

It wasn't an argument per se... He's a singer who sings at my... ...Used to sing at my tavern.

He just quit out of nowhere. Not just the tavern, but singing altogether! I was just trying to stop him.

Wow, I can't even imagine what that feels like.

At the end of the day, it's up to him, but a lot of my customers came just to hear him sing!

Man... Just what am I going to do.

Hey, if you're in that much of a bind, mister...

Then I'll sing!

You? Sing? Really? You're saying that because you can actually sing, right?

Of course! And I just can't resist a sad old-ish man in need of help!

Mind if we make a detour, bro?

A detour it is! Happy to help you in any way.

But...

Don't worry about the singing. Ciel here used to be in a world-famous choir.

Really? A choir, eh?

Then this might just work... Just to satisfy my curiosity though. Can I hear you sing a few bars?

You mean like a rehearsal? SURE! You got it, mister!

All right, well, we can't very well sing out here, so come on in.

Aw yeah!

Come on, bro! Time to put on a show!

Okay, show me what you got.

EH? WHATS ALL THIS JIBBER JABBERIN' ABOUT.

Who is this?

He's one of my regulars. Spends most of his free time here.

And SINCE you're here, you can help me by listening to this boy sing. If you like it, he gets to sing at the tavern, officially!

Sounds good to me!

WELL, as long as it's singin' I can do my drinkin' to, I dun care.

Just so you know, kiddo, this here geezer's pretty picky about singin', drinkin', and drinkin' while singin'! And listenin' to singin' while drinkin'! And hearin' singin' while drinkin' and listenin' to drinkin'!

WELL THEN! I'll be considerin' that a challenge!

Wow, Ciel, never seen you this motivated before!

Excuse me, mister tavern man? Do you mind if I take a few seconds to get ready?

Sure take all the time you need.

Awesome! I'll be riiiight baaaaaack!

Just how much time does it take to get ready, anyway? He's been gone for forever.

IIIIII'm baaaaaaack!

Well would you look at that...

This is one of my outfits from my choir days! Stunning, right?

You look amazing! Didn't realize you still had your choir clothes!

Tee-hee. Thaaaaank youuuuuu♪ It's an outfit Shannon designed just for li'l ol' me.

Tee-hee. Thaaaaank youuuuuu♪ It's an outfit my sister designed just for li'l ol' me.

Well, it ain't like that outfit is gonna make your singin' any better!

Yeah, I think it's about time we heard you sing!

You got it boys!

Show 'em what you got, Ciel!

Here I go!

Wow, incredible!

His singin' is makin' me feelin' all sorts of ways! How wonderful!

So? How'd I do?

...... Ci...

Uh-oh.

CIEEEEEEEEL!!!!!!!

YIPES!

Here we go...

You're amazing, Ciel... You stole my heart from right out of my chest!

Okay, but how was my singing?!

My heart is still poundin' like a drum! I ain't felt like this since the day I met my ol' mammy!

Wait, is this all because of Ciel's singing? No way! I had heard some things, but those were just rumors...right?

Yes, okay, I get it. But HOW ABOUT MY SINGING?!

Passed with flying colors Ciel. You can even start immediately!

And not just sing, you can wait tables too! Actually, how's about you work here forever?

If that happens, I ain't ever leavin' this here tavern gul dummit!

I, uh, appreciate the offer but...

Bro...what should I do?!

I don't know why all this stuff is happening, but we need to stop whatever THIS is.

Heeeey, I'm back!

What in the world is going on here.

OH MY DARLING CIEL!!!

OH MY DARLING CIEL!!!

Yeah, uh, so, you're not gonna believe this, but...

Oh I think I know very well what is happening you...you...

SNEAKY MAGICIANS!!!

M-Magicians?!

Oh yeah. I'm on to you all right! You were gonna hypnotize him and steal all the money! But you can't put one by me. I'm callin' the KNIGHTS!

What on earth was that all about?!

I'm here cause we got a report that there's a couple of sneaky magicians trying to rob this tavern.

We're not magicians, and we're not robbers! They asked me to sing and that's all I did! I swear!

Yeeeeah but...

How DARE you barge into my tavern and treat my sweet Ciel like he's some two-bit criminal!

THAAAT'S RIGHT! Ciel ain't steal nothin' but my heart!

I'm no magic scholar, but anyone with a pair of eyes can see those two men are under some kind of spell.

So I think we're gonna have to go down to Unigan and have a little talk.

FOR SINGING?!

Ciel, I recommend we do as the man says. I'm sure once we explain the situation, this will all be fine.

All right, bro. If you say so.

We did nothing wrong right? They have to believe us!

All right, now come with me.

Hey. I need to talk to one of the magicians we got in the castle. Think you could bring one out?

Sure. I'll be just a minute.

All right, now from the top, fellas.

Shouldn't we go to the castle first?

Safety precautions. If you did hypnotize those poor folks, I don't want you anywhere near the castle.

Well it's a GOOD THING we're not magicians!

So, the tavern owner asked you to sing, and that's all you did. Right?

Yeah, that's all that happened.

Got a magician for you.

Appreciated.

No problem. I'll be at my post, so let me know if you need anything else.

What is the meaning of this?

These two here are charged with magic hypnotism with the intent to thieve. They say all they did was sing, but I dunno.

So I brought you in for an expert opinion.

FINE. Let me hear this "singing." I will know instantly if magic is involved.

Great! But...what if the same thing happens to you?

HOW DARE YOU compare me to MERE COMMONERS! If you try to hypnotize me I will merely REPEL it with MAGIC!

Right. So do you mind singing a little for us?

Bro, I'm not so sure about this...

It'll be fine, Ciel! You gotta prove you're not a magician somehow, right?

You're right!

Here goes nothing!

So? Believe me now?

What an ENCHANTING voice you have, Ciel!

To think, I was going to put an angel, sent from the heavens above, to JAIL?!

Ahhh... Yup.

Why does this keep happening?!

What is the meaning of this! Explain! Now!

Perfect timing! We need your help bringing these two back to reality.

Er. I'm not exactly sure what's going on here. But OKAY!

......

Welcome back boys. Glad to see you've come to your senses.

Senses? I'm afraid not. Whenever I peer upon the lovely Ciel, I am once again spellbound!

Indeed. My pride as a knight is the only thing holding me together!

Pride as a knight, eh.

So, what do you think? Is this beautiful creature sent down from the heavens a magician, or what?

Absolutely not. Ciel's song was as pure as the driven snow. Not a hint of evil!

We just really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, liked it.

So we're innocent, right?

I am deeply sorry for doubting you. You are free to go.

Well that's a relief.

Yeah...

Something wrong, Ciel?

I think I'm gonna say no to the job at the tavern, bro.

......

Okay, well then, let's go back to Rinde and deliver the news.

Really?!

Thanks, Bro! Before we go back though, I need some time to process all this.

Should we go someplace a little more quiet?

If you don't mind... I'd like to go to the Serena Coast and watch the ocean.

He might be just what we needed.

......

Feelin' better, Ciel?

Yeah. Sorry bout all this...

No need to apologize! If this whole ordeal has been hard on anyone, it's you, Ciel.

It's like, the magician guy said my singing was fine, but it's the way people react. Like my songs have a special power.

I can tell you, for a fact, your songs aren't hypnotizing people, Ciel.

Thanks, bro...

It's just your singing is so incredible, it feels like magic, you know?

......

The reason all those guys went crazy was because you're simply that good a singer!

You think so?

Yeah! So don't be so hard on yourself! Your singing is a gift!

A gift indeed mwhahehuh.

WHO'S THERE?!

And who might you be?

Mwahahuheuheh... Wouldn't YOU like to know? Mwahahu, Fine, I'll show you.

Beasts?!

Beasts! But why?!

DUH! We saw you hypnotize that knight back in Unigan. We want that power for ourselves!

No!

We were hiding out in Unigan to spy on the knights. But mwahaha! How lucky are we! We can just use your singing! And! Mwahaha! Get the info we want, straight from the horse's mouth!

Not sure what's so funny, but I won't let you lay a finger on Ciel!

My voice is no one's weapon!

Then you leave us no choice!

Mwahaha--HUH?

Now's our chance, Ciel!

Hold on!

What?

What are you doing?!

Can we just...stop? I don't want to fight you guys.

Are you saying you're gonna let us go? Is this a joke?! Cause for once, we're not laughing.

Songs are not supposed to be used to hurt others. My teacher used to say, "Music is the string that binds our hearts as one."

And I want to prove that to you!

Are you sure about this?

......

So we're ALL going to Rinde. And the both of you are gonna sit and hear me sing. Got it?!

Why would we ever go anywhere with the likes of YOU?!

Are you sure about this Ciel? Does this mean...

I've been blessed with a gift, right?

All right. Well you know I've got your back, just in case.

Of course!

Tch... Fine. But you'll be sorry!

Rinde it is, then.

Yup! We got a concert to put on!

You going to be okay Ciel? Seems like the whole town showed up.

Thanks, but I'll be fine, bro!

My darling Ciel! I did as you asked and invited everyone I could, but why are we here?

Thank you. But before I go on, I have to apologize for something.

For whatever would an angel such as yourself have to apologize for?!

It's hard for me to say this, but I can't sing at your tavern.

WHAT?! WHY?!

I don't want my singing causing trouble for you, or the good people of this town.

It breaks my heart to hear it, but I understand. I can't force you to stay.

But...then what are we all here for?

I feel bad for rejecting your offer, so to make up for it... No. Not to make up for it. I'm doing this because I want to give back to all the people who believed in me!

My precious Ciel!

An angel if I ever seen one!

So, you'll let him sing again, then?

Ain't no one sayin' no to that!

Who would say no to the chance to hear an actual angel sing?!

Thank you both so much!

Well, what're we waitin' for?! Ciel, everything's ready for you. Go on, and show 'em what you got!

I'll take it from here, guys!

I just want to thank you all for being here.

And I hope this song brings just a little extra joy in your lives...

WOOOOO! CIEL IS THE BEEEEEST!!!!

Any of you youngins give me a pinch? I think I might have died and gone to heaven.

This song is incredible! My heart is so full it could burst!

Dude. This song is, like, the best song ever dude.

WE LOVE YOU CIELLL!!

I knew this would happen, but the crowd is really getting into it.

Drat! We're late!

Wait a minute...

WE CAN TALK LATER! LET US THROUGH!

Our precious Ciel is on stage, and we've already missed too much!

Hey!

CIEL RULES!!!

PUT ME UNDER YOUR SPELL, CIEL!

Can't believe they made it...

MWAHAHUHEHEHHUHHA!

Here we go...

How could I have been so STUPID!

To think, we were going to try and use a voice so pure, so pleasant, so...good, for evil?!

Another happy customer.

What are we doing blabbering with this human! We're missing the song!

WOAH! What are beastfolk doing here?!

I think we all know why they're here...

You're here to see our little slice of heaven, Ciel!

Is there any other reason?

NOPE! Beastfolk, human, doesn't matter how you look on the outside. Cause on the inside, we all love Ciel!

C-I-E-L! PUT US ALL UNDER YOUR SPELL! C-I-E-L! WE WILL NEVER SAY FAREWELL!

Thank you, everyone!

Great job Ciel. Seems like it was a huge success.

Yeah! And I couldn't have done it, if it wasn't for my big bro!

I mean, all I did was watch! Fortunately, everyone managed to keep it together this time.

Oh yeah! The beastfolk came! I'm so glad they could hear me sing. Looks like they had fun, too!

I saw them shaking hands with the Unigan knight at the end. That's something you don't see every day.

Hah! That just proves the power of song is no joke!

Yeah. Just like your teacher said, your singing bound our hearts as one.

Aw. Thanks bro. But, there's one teeny tiny thing that's still bothering me.

What's that?

All these guys go crazy when I sing, but you seem completely unaffected. Why?

Huh. No idea!

Frankly, I'm kind of offended!

Offended?! What, do you want me to pass out or something?

I mean, I wouldn't go THAT far, but...

Listen. If it's okay with you, I'll listen to your singing any time, any place. Is that enough?

Fiiiiiine... Then in that case, I'll have to prepare a song that's just for you!

Hah! Can't wait to hear it. Let me know when it's ready, okay?

Oh, you better believe I will!

I'll have you under my spell in no time♪