Post by Lady Idril on Sept 22, 2005 0:16:23 GMT -5
Title: Fantasia [pronounced “Fan-tah-see-ah”, not “Fan-tay-zhah”]
Subject: Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)
Genre: General/Drama
Synopsis: A young girl is told a bedtime story - the tale of the Opera
Ghost and his unfortunate circumstances.
Rating: K+ for storytelling drama
Progress: Complete; oneshot; 1,836 words
Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera. No infringement upon the rightful owners is intended.
Fantasia
“Mama, tell me a story,” said the beautiful blonde child to her mother. Her blue eyes held the wonder that so belonged to her seven-year-old being, and her heart was in her words.
The young girl’s mother - a small woman, simple but strikingly beautiful - fixed her daughter with a small smile. She nodded silently as she stared at the girl lying in her bed with the covers pulled high, fighting the chill of winter in France. The woman sat on the foot of the bed and sighed lightly.
“What sort of story would you like to hear, child?” she asked her daughter sweetly.
“A story about ballerinas,” came the child’s reply. She was bouncing slightly as she sat up in her bed. Her mother gently laid her back down and pulled the covers over her again.
“So be it,” the mother acquiesced. “A story of a ballerina and a phantom, perhaps?”
The young girl nodded her blonde head fervidly and closed her eyes as she listened to her mother speaking in a calm, soothing voice.
“Once upon a time,” she began, “there was a beautiful ballerina, a ballerina who had a voice that made the stars. She danced like an angel: graceful, almost floating. She was perfect, or so it seemed, but she longed for one thing: she longed for love. She missed her deceased father so that she felt her heart burn and threaten to explode with love for him, a love that had no where to go to. She longed to find someone to give this love to. Someone to hold her, to protect her from the darkness of the world while she loved him in return.
“She danced in the beautiful opera house in Paris, the Opera Populaire, but she was wasted in the chorus, never receiving the limelight she so truthfully deserved. Until one day, when the prima donna left the performance, the wise ballet mistress quickly evaded disaster and made the ballerina the star of the opera! And, oh, but how wonderful she was! Tres magnifique! Her song carried through the house, alighting the hearts of all who heard it, especially the phantom who resided in the dark, deep catacombs.
“The phantom was a frightening man to most, and those who beheld him rarely lived to tell the tale. His face was horribly distorted, covered on half with a white mask, and some said he was a demon from hell, sent to the opera house in an attempt to remove the beautiful sounds and happiness, the gaiety, the lucid energy that seemed to erupt with every song. This was not true, however, for the phantom was, in fact, a gentle man who wanted nothing more than to love. And, upon hearing this young ballerina’s voice, he knew he wanted her to be his new prima ballerine.
“And so it was that the ballerina performed the lead role in every opera the house saw, and she was soon adored by all. Especially the phantom. One day he came to her and brought her a black rose with a red ribbon tied around it, his symbol of achievement. He led her to his dark catacombs, where he sang softly to her in a voice that belonged to an angel. An angel of music. For that was what the phantom truly was. Not a phantom, but an angel. He loved this ballerina, and he wanted her to love him in return. While the ballerina was entranced by the phantom as if he had a spell upon her, she found love in her childhood friend, the viscount.
“The viscount was a handsome, wealthy, and respected man who had recently become the opera house’s patron. The ballerina had been frightened of the phantom, and the viscount had held her and promised her that she would be safe as long as he was there to protect her, to hold her. And it was then that the ballerina realized this man was the one she loved, and he loved her in return.
“It is the most complete feeling, to love and be loved, and the ballerina was astounded by it, having never felt a love in return for the love she so willingly gave, and she immediately consumed herself in a secret engagement with the viscount. She wanted him with her always, and he wanted nothing more than to see her utmost happiness come to pass.
“However, the phantom found out that this ballerina had betrayed his love, and he grew very angry. His heart burned as he saw the girl kiss the viscount; the only one he had ever loved did not show him love in return, and he watched as she offered the love he so desired to another man, a handsome man, a man with no white mask to cover a horribly disfigured face. The phantom grew unnerved and decided to do away with love, with feelings.
“He wrote a new opera and ordered that the ballerina was to play the lead role. The people of the opera acquiesced and, on the opening night of the new opera, the man who was to play opposite the ballerina had vanished and was replaced by the phantom himself! He sang to the ballerina in a strong, heavenly voice that was unattainable by any other man. His words were true as he sang of the point of no return, the final door of which to close. And it would be the end.
“The ballerina succumbed to the phantom, and she responded in singing her words, which were confident, her voice brilliant as the horn of Gabriel! She sang to him of giving in, forgetting her rebellion and throwing caution to the wind. She sang of passion, that she would cross the final threshold of their love and be willingly consumed by it.
“Then, they erupted, their passion exploded, in a final duet, as they allowed their feelings to be unbridled and run wildly through their hearts and minds. They sang together in a final round, acknowledging the love that seemed so evidently lingering in the rush of the moment.
“The phantom then proclaimed his love for the beautiful ballerina, and he asked her to love him as she loved the viscount. But, the ballerina did something unexpected at this moment. She reached her hand up to the phantom’s face and drew off the mask that hid the disfigurement, allowing the whole of the opera house to see the abhorrent creature they had come to call ‘The Opera Ghost’ or ‘The Phantom of the Opera’!
“In a fleeting moment of madness and passion, the phantom unleashed his wrath upon these undeserving people, and this gayly lit opera house. He cut a rope, and in little time, the beautiful chandelier that rose above the whole of the audience came crashing down! Flames were then born and licked at the seats of the once-beautiful, once garish theater. While some fled for the streets of Paris, others fled to the catacombs to hunt down the beast who had destroyed so many lives.
“The viscount was one of these people. He, led by the wise ballet mistress, found his way to the phantom’s dark lair. He had been nearly killed in his attempts, but finally entered the dark dungeon that was the phantom’s hell.
“The phantom had taken the beautiful ballerina to his lair, and though she had succumbed to him on the stage, she fought him now and wanted nothing more than to be with the viscount once again. When the viscount arrived, the phantom was very angry, and he immediately planned to send the wealthy patron to his death, but he would only spare the man if the ballerina promised to live her life with the phantom for the rest of her days.
“The viscount was brave and told her to free herself from the monster, to answer no and live her life in the beautiful way that she deserved. He told her not to be foolish and fritter her life for his. He begged her to say ‘no’, and that she could not win what she so truly wanted.
“The ballerina was appalled by the behavior of the phantom, shocked that he could treat people so miserably, show such little compassion, but she resolved that he had known a life that was not, in fact, a life at all. She told him that he was not alone, that his life had been merely an existence, and he would love again. She kissed him passionately, his mask removed, and she showed him that his disfigured face, to most abhorrent, was beautiful to her.
“The phantom realized his mistake, and immediately set loose the viscount, goading him, telling him to take the ballerina and leave, to forget him. He heard their voices as they sang together while they rowed through the waters of the underground, and he cursed himself for acting so petulant and losing the only love he could ever know.
“But, the ballerina had finally gotten what she wished; a man who would do anything for her, hold her, keep her hidden from the darkness and only allow the sunshine to sparkle on her. She and the viscount wed, and they lived happily ever after till the end of their days.”
The young girl’s blue eyes were wide and enchanted as she watched her mother with excitement. “What became of the phantom, Mama?” she asked as her mother rose and turned out the light.
“He found a woman who loved him dearly,” her mother returned, “and they married and had a beautiful daughter.”
“Mama, that story was my favorite!” the young girl squealed.
The woman’s eyes flashed with a mysterious spark as she kissed her daughter’s forehead and walked from the room. “Goodnight, my angel,” she whispered as she closed the door.
She woman walked wordlessly across the hall to her own bedroom where her husband was already in the bed. He glanced at her with a knowing smile and she allowed herself to laugh.
“You could not have given me the privilege of telling her that story, my love?” Erik asked softly as she settled into the bed and into his arms.
“I am sorry, Phantom,” Meg replied as she kissed him before drifting to a sound sleep, enveloped protectively in his arms. He lay awake thinking of the days when he had wandered in darkness and smiling at the thought that this woman in his arms did not know: as he seemed to her the strongest man in the world, he was, in fact, the weakest without her.
Subject: Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)
Genre: General/Drama
Synopsis: A young girl is told a bedtime story - the tale of the Opera
Ghost and his unfortunate circumstances.
Rating: K+ for storytelling drama
Progress: Complete; oneshot; 1,836 words
Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera. No infringement upon the rightful owners is intended.
Fantasia
“Mama, tell me a story,” said the beautiful blonde child to her mother. Her blue eyes held the wonder that so belonged to her seven-year-old being, and her heart was in her words.
The young girl’s mother - a small woman, simple but strikingly beautiful - fixed her daughter with a small smile. She nodded silently as she stared at the girl lying in her bed with the covers pulled high, fighting the chill of winter in France. The woman sat on the foot of the bed and sighed lightly.
“What sort of story would you like to hear, child?” she asked her daughter sweetly.
“A story about ballerinas,” came the child’s reply. She was bouncing slightly as she sat up in her bed. Her mother gently laid her back down and pulled the covers over her again.
“So be it,” the mother acquiesced. “A story of a ballerina and a phantom, perhaps?”
The young girl nodded her blonde head fervidly and closed her eyes as she listened to her mother speaking in a calm, soothing voice.
“Once upon a time,” she began, “there was a beautiful ballerina, a ballerina who had a voice that made the stars. She danced like an angel: graceful, almost floating. She was perfect, or so it seemed, but she longed for one thing: she longed for love. She missed her deceased father so that she felt her heart burn and threaten to explode with love for him, a love that had no where to go to. She longed to find someone to give this love to. Someone to hold her, to protect her from the darkness of the world while she loved him in return.
“She danced in the beautiful opera house in Paris, the Opera Populaire, but she was wasted in the chorus, never receiving the limelight she so truthfully deserved. Until one day, when the prima donna left the performance, the wise ballet mistress quickly evaded disaster and made the ballerina the star of the opera! And, oh, but how wonderful she was! Tres magnifique! Her song carried through the house, alighting the hearts of all who heard it, especially the phantom who resided in the dark, deep catacombs.
“The phantom was a frightening man to most, and those who beheld him rarely lived to tell the tale. His face was horribly distorted, covered on half with a white mask, and some said he was a demon from hell, sent to the opera house in an attempt to remove the beautiful sounds and happiness, the gaiety, the lucid energy that seemed to erupt with every song. This was not true, however, for the phantom was, in fact, a gentle man who wanted nothing more than to love. And, upon hearing this young ballerina’s voice, he knew he wanted her to be his new prima ballerine.
“And so it was that the ballerina performed the lead role in every opera the house saw, and she was soon adored by all. Especially the phantom. One day he came to her and brought her a black rose with a red ribbon tied around it, his symbol of achievement. He led her to his dark catacombs, where he sang softly to her in a voice that belonged to an angel. An angel of music. For that was what the phantom truly was. Not a phantom, but an angel. He loved this ballerina, and he wanted her to love him in return. While the ballerina was entranced by the phantom as if he had a spell upon her, she found love in her childhood friend, the viscount.
“The viscount was a handsome, wealthy, and respected man who had recently become the opera house’s patron. The ballerina had been frightened of the phantom, and the viscount had held her and promised her that she would be safe as long as he was there to protect her, to hold her. And it was then that the ballerina realized this man was the one she loved, and he loved her in return.
“It is the most complete feeling, to love and be loved, and the ballerina was astounded by it, having never felt a love in return for the love she so willingly gave, and she immediately consumed herself in a secret engagement with the viscount. She wanted him with her always, and he wanted nothing more than to see her utmost happiness come to pass.
“However, the phantom found out that this ballerina had betrayed his love, and he grew very angry. His heart burned as he saw the girl kiss the viscount; the only one he had ever loved did not show him love in return, and he watched as she offered the love he so desired to another man, a handsome man, a man with no white mask to cover a horribly disfigured face. The phantom grew unnerved and decided to do away with love, with feelings.
“He wrote a new opera and ordered that the ballerina was to play the lead role. The people of the opera acquiesced and, on the opening night of the new opera, the man who was to play opposite the ballerina had vanished and was replaced by the phantom himself! He sang to the ballerina in a strong, heavenly voice that was unattainable by any other man. His words were true as he sang of the point of no return, the final door of which to close. And it would be the end.
“The ballerina succumbed to the phantom, and she responded in singing her words, which were confident, her voice brilliant as the horn of Gabriel! She sang to him of giving in, forgetting her rebellion and throwing caution to the wind. She sang of passion, that she would cross the final threshold of their love and be willingly consumed by it.
“Then, they erupted, their passion exploded, in a final duet, as they allowed their feelings to be unbridled and run wildly through their hearts and minds. They sang together in a final round, acknowledging the love that seemed so evidently lingering in the rush of the moment.
“The phantom then proclaimed his love for the beautiful ballerina, and he asked her to love him as she loved the viscount. But, the ballerina did something unexpected at this moment. She reached her hand up to the phantom’s face and drew off the mask that hid the disfigurement, allowing the whole of the opera house to see the abhorrent creature they had come to call ‘The Opera Ghost’ or ‘The Phantom of the Opera’!
“In a fleeting moment of madness and passion, the phantom unleashed his wrath upon these undeserving people, and this gayly lit opera house. He cut a rope, and in little time, the beautiful chandelier that rose above the whole of the audience came crashing down! Flames were then born and licked at the seats of the once-beautiful, once garish theater. While some fled for the streets of Paris, others fled to the catacombs to hunt down the beast who had destroyed so many lives.
“The viscount was one of these people. He, led by the wise ballet mistress, found his way to the phantom’s dark lair. He had been nearly killed in his attempts, but finally entered the dark dungeon that was the phantom’s hell.
“The phantom had taken the beautiful ballerina to his lair, and though she had succumbed to him on the stage, she fought him now and wanted nothing more than to be with the viscount once again. When the viscount arrived, the phantom was very angry, and he immediately planned to send the wealthy patron to his death, but he would only spare the man if the ballerina promised to live her life with the phantom for the rest of her days.
“The viscount was brave and told her to free herself from the monster, to answer no and live her life in the beautiful way that she deserved. He told her not to be foolish and fritter her life for his. He begged her to say ‘no’, and that she could not win what she so truly wanted.
“The ballerina was appalled by the behavior of the phantom, shocked that he could treat people so miserably, show such little compassion, but she resolved that he had known a life that was not, in fact, a life at all. She told him that he was not alone, that his life had been merely an existence, and he would love again. She kissed him passionately, his mask removed, and she showed him that his disfigured face, to most abhorrent, was beautiful to her.
“The phantom realized his mistake, and immediately set loose the viscount, goading him, telling him to take the ballerina and leave, to forget him. He heard their voices as they sang together while they rowed through the waters of the underground, and he cursed himself for acting so petulant and losing the only love he could ever know.
“But, the ballerina had finally gotten what she wished; a man who would do anything for her, hold her, keep her hidden from the darkness and only allow the sunshine to sparkle on her. She and the viscount wed, and they lived happily ever after till the end of their days.”
The young girl’s blue eyes were wide and enchanted as she watched her mother with excitement. “What became of the phantom, Mama?” she asked as her mother rose and turned out the light.
“He found a woman who loved him dearly,” her mother returned, “and they married and had a beautiful daughter.”
“Mama, that story was my favorite!” the young girl squealed.
The woman’s eyes flashed with a mysterious spark as she kissed her daughter’s forehead and walked from the room. “Goodnight, my angel,” she whispered as she closed the door.
She woman walked wordlessly across the hall to her own bedroom where her husband was already in the bed. He glanced at her with a knowing smile and she allowed herself to laugh.
“You could not have given me the privilege of telling her that story, my love?” Erik asked softly as she settled into the bed and into his arms.
“I am sorry, Phantom,” Meg replied as she kissed him before drifting to a sound sleep, enveloped protectively in his arms. He lay awake thinking of the days when he had wandered in darkness and smiling at the thought that this woman in his arms did not know: as he seemed to her the strongest man in the world, he was, in fact, the weakest without her.
I'll try to post what I've got of that Phantom phic soon!