The Melody of Life

Heheh... Singing again today, are we?

It's quite a mysterious song, isn't it? As pretty as it is, I can't help but feel a tinge of sadness whenever I hear it. Am I just imagining things?

If only you could speak... I would love to ask you who that song is for.

...Y-Yaaawn... Oh dear...

I feel so exhausted all of a sudden... I'm afraid I'll have to turn in early tonight. We're expecting company tomorrow.

Oh, I know! Why don't you join me♪

Sorry to keep you waiting!

Good day, everyone!

Pizzica! Lala! Thanks for inviting us to the concert! I feel like we never get to come visit the Siren's Village anymore...

Stop yer moanin'! You know how busy things've been at the Dragon Palace!

...It's been difficult for us to make the trip. How have you been?

Whoa! Even Mr. Driftwood's here!

Haha! Hi there, kiddo!

The villagers couldn't wait to see you again. I'm so delighted you made it♡

...Oh? Milsha and Minchy aren't with you?

They were running around like a couple of headless sea chickens when we left. Said to go on ahead since they'd probably be a little late.

That shiny thingo... I think ya said it was some kinda relic? Well it sure is convenient!

Oh, is that so? Well, we have plenty to talk about while we wait for them.

And the others...?

Huh? That's weird, they were just behind us...

...Heeeeeey!

Oh my...! There you are!

...Long time no see. Thank you for the invitation.

We, um... We weren't really sure if it was okay to leave our cave. We were worried we might hurt someone again. But at the same time, we were happy that you invited us, so in the end we decided to come. I'm not sure how the creatures of this planet express their gratitude at times like this, but... ...Thank you.

U-Ummm...

...Aren't you friends with Pip? That makes us like cousins or something, right?

Pizzica said we all used to be one big family, so don't worry, I'm not afraid.

Lala...

My name's Lala! It's nice to meet you!

...It seems like we had nothing to worry about. They're getting along swimmingly.

Yes...they really are. Both for their sake and Pip's, I've always wanted to see the children of the stars and oceans come together like this.

Pizzica...

..Now then! May I have your attention, please?

There's someone I'd like you all to meet.

Someone new in town, eh? Well what're ya waitin' for? Bring 'em on out!

Heheh, I'm sure you'll love them♡ Shall we then?

...Ta-dah!

Whoa! Your outfit...!

Ooh! You look incredible!

...Wow, It's just like a fluffy little jellyfish.

Aww! I'm flattered♡

I'm sure Milsha would've given anything to see this! She's gonna be so jealous!

Heheh! She'll get her chance soon enough♡

Now then, let me introduce you...

To my cute little music-loving twins♡

Calling them "creatures" might be a little too generous...

I feel like I've seen something like this before... Maybe in a different era?

I wanna say they're used to amplify sound over long distances. I'm pretty sure they're called "speakers".

"Spica"? How adorable! Pizzica and Spica! It has such a lovely ring to it! We're almost like sisters!

They look pretty happy with their new name!

Hey, do you hear that...? I think they wanna sing for us!

Oh! Is that so, Spica? They usually only sing at night...

I couldn't wait to show you! It's such a wonderful song...but at the same time, parts of it sound a little sad...

...Come then, Spica. Sing for us.

...See!

Wh-What's wrong?!

I don't know! They got like this as soon as the song started...!

I'm so sorry...! Wh-What should I do...?!

Ngh... It's...fine now.

Forgive me...! I never imagined it would turn out like this...

It sounded like a pretty normal song to me...

You mean...we were the only ones who felt it?

If it was only youse and Nagi, then...

...Yeah. It must have something to do with the abyss.

Well since it doesn't seem to affect Pizzica, I think we can narrow it down to having something to do with the children of the heart.

No way...

Do you know anything else about Spica's song, Pizzica?

Nothing at all. I first met them ages ago. One night, countless shooting stars lit up the sky as they fell to the sea. I went to investigate, and that's where I found Spica alongside this dress.

Wait a second! They fell from the sky? The dress, too?!

That's right. Isn't the way it glitters beautiful? It was rather frayed when I found it, but after a little needlework it was good as new.

So we've got a pair of mysterious machines from the sky...and a song that sounds painful to Nagi and the abyss creatures.

...Ugh! Nope! As usual my head hurts just thinking about it.

I haven't got a clue either. Maybe the folks over in Atlantica could tell ya more about it?

...Oh, yeah! Milsha!

Nice, Chiyo! You're a genius!

Eheheh! It's nothin', Sheila!

What a splendid idea! Milsha has helped us with machinery before, after all! Let's ask her.

I'm sorry I had you come all this way just to make you feel bad. Would you mind waiting here in the village for a while longer?

I'll play with you while we wait! Wanna come see my house?

We'll be back in no time. Please look after everyone while we're away, Sheila. Shall we, Aldo?

Heeey! It's Aldo and Pizzica!

...O-Oh my gosh! Check out those garms! You look sooo STUNNIN'!

Oh my...! Thank you♡ I suspected you might like it, Milsha♪

Like it?! I'm in love! Lemme see!

Mmhmm... Oho?! Whatta we 'ave here...?

...U-Uh! I mean, ! M-My bad! I'm guessin' you didn't come here just to show me this.

Ah! Right! Actually we have something we wanted to ask you, Milsha.

But, uh...

Weren't you just in the middle of something?

Oh, that?

Aaargh! This mug again?! Do ya really 'afta be skulkin' around the missus EVERY single day?!

I'm only doing as the guardian asked. I'm learning more about emotions.

Are ya daft, mate?! I got me own feelin's to worry about 'ere! Yer ruinin' me and Milsha's quality time! I can't be 'avin this go on forever...

Yeah... Sorry about that. Those two 'ave been tearin' up the place ever since Seven came to stay with us.

GRAAGH! SEEEVEEEEEEN!!!

Oh, dear... Well, they're certainly lively!

A bit too lively if you ask me...

Bloody hell! Knock it off, you two! What've I told you about hittin'?! HEY! LISTEN WHEN I'M TALKIN' TO YOU!!!

The scenery hasn't changed much since we last came, but the atmosphere is totally different.

Well like, Seven can't really understand concepts like "fun" and "happiness". Poor thing's just been goin' through the motions.

We're tryin' to do somethin' about that, but you can't just teach someone to feel. It's all about experience.

Seven's fam now. I'll stay with 'em for as long as it takes.

I'm sure they'll find something that makes them happy. After all...

No one knows more about how to enjoy life than you, Milsha♪

Hehehe... Thanks, Pizzica, that's...

, Oh crap! The concert! We gotta get ready to go, don't we?! I was up so late playin' with those two that I completely overslept!

Actually, that's not the only reason we came.

Oh yeah? Well what is it then?

Mmhmmm...? So these "Spica" or whatever fell from the sky, and they play some weird song that freaks out the abyss creatures...

Does anything come to mind?

A friend of ours thought that the Spica looked like machines, so we figured you were the one to ask.

Hmmm... I dunno much about the song, but...

As far as, like, the tech itself goes? I can tell you that the Spica are probly playin' sounds that come from somewhere else. I've got a pretty good idea where, too.

You do?!

Yep! I spent some time snoopin' around Judith's Laboratory.

There was a diagram for a machine that looked just like this. Said somethin' about a song that could be used to pacify spirits without harmin' them.

Problem was they needed components that were impossible to manufacture on the surface. So in the end, the project was cancelled.

They must have meant moon technology! If that's the case, we can just go there ourselves and check.

Forgive me, Aldo, but the moon? How exactly you you plan to get there?

Don't worry, I've got my ways. Let's head out.

Many thanks, Milsha. We'll be back shortly. Do you mind waiting for us in the village?

Back shortly? From the moon?

Well, whatevs... Lemme know if anything comes up!

Alright, to the moon we go!

My, oh my! Look at this lovely city! It's unbelievable!

Ah...! My apologies! I can be so clumsy sometimes...

Hm? Huh...? I'm sure I bumped into someone just now...

Oh that? It's just a hologram. The people living on the moon all perished long ago. Everything you see around you is just a recording of their last day.

That's awful... They look real enough to touch, and yet our voices can never reach them...

As if all the moonquakes recently weren't enough, now even the meteor showers are getting worse. What if the prophecy was really true?

You mean all that doom and gloom about the second coming of the great destroyer? People have been bringing that up a lot lately, but if you ask me, they should find some better superstitions. Maybe try putting some faith in the song of warding for once.

You mean the song they used to banish the great destroyer to the blue planet in ancient times?

The great destroyer? I wonder if they're talking about Leviathan...

The few surviving recordings of that monstrosity are truly terrifying. Why do beasts like that exist? We can only pray that shooting them down was enough.

Beasts...?

...They're nothing so cruel as that. I...I know them. They're innocent creatures, Not even capable of feeling malice. They just...

...They just have a different perspective from us.

Yeah... I know. They were just doing everything they could to protect the breech baby of time.

Obviously I didn't agree with their methods, but I could see that they weren't monsters.

Aldo...

...You know! If you're so worried about it, how about I lend you my receiver?

Hey! Isn't that a Spica?!

All you have to do is adjust the frequency like so and...voila! The song of warding! Now you can listen to it whenever you want.

This is the song, Aldo!

Yeah, this is definitely the same song that Spica sang. Which means...

Huh? Something's off with the sound... Are they having problems with the auditory defense system at the castle...?

Hey, don't give me that look! Everything will be fine by tomorrow, trust me. They've got an entire army of technicians at their disposal, not to mention the automated repair system.

Even so... I've got a bad feeling about this. Maybe we should at least go to the castle and check.

Hmmm...

Alright, if you say so. The reception might improve if we head closer anyhow.

"Head closer," huh? I guess that means the song must be coming from somewhere in Schnaud Castle.

......

...Aldo.

Do you think there's any way we can stop the song they were just talking about?

It's probably possible, but...

...Are you sure? If you do that then Spica wont be able to sing anymore.

I'm sure. Music is meant to bring people together, not push them away. I can't bear the thought of Spica's song being used to hurt someone.

...Alright, I understand. The abyss creatures aren't a danger to anyone anymore, and they no longer have any use for Celestial Soul. Milsha and Seven are proof that we can coexist, so I want them to be free to live their own lives.

If the song is getting in the way of that, then I wanna stop it, too.

Aldo... Thank you. Let's head to the castle. For both our friends on the blue planet and Pip's companions traversing the sea of stars, this is something that has to be done.

...All that searching and still nothing. Where could it be? Even after coming all the way to the castle we still can't hear a thing.

I guess they don't necessarily play the song inside the castle walls... What shall we do? I wanted to stop it as quickly as possible... At this rate Spica will have to continue singing that awful song forever.

I can't let that happen to my poor little sisters...

...Wait! That's it!

Huh?

That winged person from before! Didn't they say that the Spica would play the song more clearly as they got closer to the source?

If we just leave the Spica switched on as we walk around, we should be able to track it down.

You're right! What a splendid idea, Aldo! Remind me to give you a big hug later!

I-I think I'll pass! Just go ahead and flip the switch.

...Please show us the way, Spica!

Aldo! The sound is getting clearer!

Yeah, we're definitely getting close.

...Huh?

This one looks a little different... Could this be it? How can we even tell?

Come closer, Aldo! Listen veeery carefully...

...There. Can you hear that?

You're right...! There's a low hum coming from it.

It's been playing the song this whole time...! It's just that we can't understand it without Spica's help!

Then all that's left is to turn this thing off...

Oh dear! Who are they?!

Security Robots! Are they trying to protect this machine?

I see... So you've been protecting this place all this time, even though your masters went away long ago. Don't you worry, we won't harm anything. We just want to turn off the song. Forgive us...

...But we also have something to protect. I'm going to need you to step aside.

...Thank you. I promise I'll treat it with care.

Sleep well, loyal guardians.

Right, then. Let's turn off this machine. Do you mind helping me, Aldo? I don't want to damage anything.

You got it.

Alright, that should do it. But just to be sure, why don't we try and turn Spica on for a sec?

Alright!

Good... Seems like it worked.

You did good, Pizzica. Now no one else will...

...Pizzica?

Ah... Forgive me. It's nothing.

It's fine, but...is something wrong? You looked lost in thought there for a second.

Well, you see...

It just felt very quiet to me. It was a sad song, but it had been playing for so long, traveling to the farthest reaches of our planet.

And now...we've taken that away from Spica. Their voices were so lovely...

...I get what you mean. There was no way we could just leave such a dangerous song playing, but...

Songs are meant to move people. I couldn't stand to hear a song being used like that.

I don't want One and the others to think of music as a source of pain. So in that sense, I don't regret turning it off.

It's just... I can't help but think there might have been a better way to end things.

A happier outcome, huh?

Ah...!

I've got it, Aldo! Could you help me for just a little longer?

I don't mind, but what are you planning?

Heheh♡ Well...

Holy moly! We're really on the moon!

Pretty wild to be standin' right next to my girl Sheila in a place like this...

You and Minchy have been here before, right?

Yep! But uh... Things got a bit dodgy back then.

Incredible... There are so many sparkling lights...

The sea of stars...

...This is your home, One. It's Pizzica's, too. And mine. This is where we all came from. And right now, somewhere out there, Pip and Mother are on their journey.

So this is...

We brought everything you asked for.

We're gonna have the concert here, yeah? You are SUCH a genius, Pizzica!

No kidding. The second we heard what you were planning we knew we had to dress for the occasion.

It was, like, a total mess the last time we were all glammed up. But things are good now! We've gotta give it another shot and enjoy ourselves!

Exactly! And would ya look at these beauties! Sheila, Milsha, Pizzica, Ya look incredible!

Aww, thanks, Chiyo! You're pretty cute yourself♡

You didn't feel like dressing up, Nagi?

...I just thought that since we were coming to the sea of stars my usual outfit was best. I'm sure this is the easiest for them to spot. No matter how far apart we are, I'm sure Pip will find me.

...Yeah. Me, too.

Exactly! So we've gotta make sure this reaches them!

Let's get started. You lead, Pizzica!

Leave it to me! ...Ready your instruments, everyone♪

For all of those who we hold dear;

A melody of love; From city streets, to oceans clear; Our song resounds above;

And for those who sail the starry skies; We let our voices ring;

Our embrace will find you wherever you lie; It's time my friends, Let's sing♡