Chapter 5 Part 2 Painting of Charlatur!

(Klack)
(bzzzzzzz)

Announcer (female): Hello, dear ones. Today we’re showing you a very lovely drink called Pinos! It’s so sweet and refreshing, and in warm weather it’s simply fantastic. Not only that—it costs only 50 coins. And don’t forget… it features the advertisement and poster of the clown’s magic hat… the Guardian… It tastes fantastic, and of course it’s healthy since it’s made of fruits…

(bzzzz… bzzzz…)
(fffp!)

Clara: (Yawns) … hahhhh… An old commercial then…
Miwa: Meow!
Clara: So you’re here, Miwa… does that mean there’s a job?
Miwa: (Meow!)…

Suddenly it transformed into a large creepy cat with an evil grin.

Miwa: You must find the painting before the Dark Umbrella organization finds it.
Clara: Sure…
Miwa: I hope we understand each other…
Clara: I do… I just didn’t know you had such a deep voice.
Miwa: Oh…

It transforms back.

Miwa: (Meow!) That’s perfectly normal—after all, I’m a dead cat… a mix of dead cats who were killed by humans…
Klara: Nohh… that’s sad.
Miwa: Focus already… Oh… the clown warns you about a certain detective named Fiona…
Klara: Oh… her…
Miwa: And of course also about Cruella…
Klara: …ghhhhhh… The traitor is with them?!
Miwa: Exactly…
Klara: I see… finally I can see her again…
Miwa: Be careful…

The cat disappeared.

Klara: hmmm…

(A few minutes later)

Cruella: So we have to go into the castle now.
Fiona: With Noelle…
Noelle: Mhm…

They went inside.

Cruella: hmm.
Fiona: Hmm.

She rubbed her finger along the castle walls.

Fiona: Seems to have been abandoned for a long time…
Cruella: Mhm…
Noelle: (Cough) (cough)… you can tell it’s so stuffy in here…
Fiona: Hmmm…

She opened one of the doors.

(Bzzzzzz)
(FfffF)

Noelle: What…
Cruella: Fiona, do you see that?
Fiona: A… television…

She pressed it.

(Klack!)

(ffpfs!)

It was a commercial with an old-fashioned song.

Announcer: Welcome, my dear viewers. How nice to see you. It’s so warm… phew… and cold at night… So what is nicer than a theater in a place that is neither cold nor warm… Of course, there are drinks and food there too… Look…

Hey!

“Hey!” keeps shouting in between.

Announcer: We have wonderful dancers who’ll make your wives jealous, or make the women envious because they’re so pretty.

Hey!

Announcer: Of course we mustn’t forget our incredibly clever animals… like the cat Tom and the little mouse, Jerry.

Hey!

Announcer: And of course the music… beautiful music…

Hey!

Announcer: And of course the most important member… Klara… Look how pretty she is, just look at that beautiful figure… Be careful, she may be pretty but she can be really scary… hahahahaha…

Hey!

Announcer: So, my dears, what are you waiting for… visit our theater, the Red Mice… and have fun!

(Klack!)

Fiona: Hmm.
Noelle: That was… weird…
Cruella: hmmm.
Fiona: Well… commercials were always like that…

They moved on.

Cruella: mhm…
Fiona: What is it?
Cruella: Nothing… nothing at all…
Noelle: hmm?

They kept going.

Fiona: Be careful… we don’t know what can happen…

(Crash!)

Noelle: Ouch… this picture fell on me.
Fiona: That’s what I meant…
Noelle: Hmm.

She picked up the picture.

Noelle: hmm… hey… this picture… is strange.
Fiona: Hmm?
Cruela: Hmm?

They looked at each other; it was a man with an angry look.

Fiona: That’s… the old prince… Bethevoen.
Noelle: Oh…
Fiona: He looks really angry… But that’s not him… that’s his son…
Noelle: He had a son?
Fiona: Yes… The truth is that Bethoven was more of a magician. He died early and then his son took over, but he had no desire for magic—rather, he wanted to mix magic with music… That’s why they called him the magician symphonist… Theodor Bethoven…
Noelle: And why does he look so angry?
Fiona: How should I know… no idea… Maybe he has an annoying neighbor… or maybe he’s just like that.
Noelle: hmmm…

They moved on… They searched.

Noelle: I can’t find this painting.
Fiona: Hahhh…

(old-fashioned music!)

Fiona: Quick, cover your ears!

They did so immediately.

Cruella: That must be her…
Fiona: Exactly…
Noelle: How are we supposed to deal with the shawl now…
Fiona: Hmmm…

Bob appeared.

Fiona: Bob… shoot me in the head.

(Bang!)

Noelle: ugh.
Cruella: What?
Noelle: Don’t worry… that’s her ability.

She turned into a ghost.

Fiona: Curses can’t hit me like this.

She went in.

Fiona: huh…

But… there was no painting; it was a radio playing an old song.

Fiona: What… no… no.

She quickly returned.

Fiona: Noelle!… Cruella!

But they were gone… She quickly returned to her body.

Fiona: Hah.

She stood up.

Fiona: I have to find them…

Suddenly she heard a scream.

Fiona: Huh…

Cruella appeared.

Cruella: Fiona… quickly… Noelle saw the painting.
Fiona: ugh.

She hurried to her, but the music might still be on, so she closed her eyes and ears.

Fiona: Crane… do you see her.
Crane: …yes… I see her… she’s lying on the floor.
Fiona: Bob!

Bob appeared; with his sword he stabbed Noelle’s suit and pulled her out. Then Fiona quickly closed the door with her foot.

Fiona: We have to get out of here.

They went to a place where the music should be completely gone.

Fiona: Hahhh…

She opened her eyes.

Fiona: Hey… Noelle… Noelle.

Noelle lay on the ground. Blood leeches came out of her ears.

Fiona: Hang in there…
Cruella: What do we do now…
Fiona: Take her back… I’ll take care of the painting.
Cruella: Okay…

She went back to the castle.

Fiona: Again.

(Bang!)

She shot herself in the head.

Fiona: I have to get to the painting… and find a way to deal with it… Without that I can’t do it; as a ghost I can only have the spiritual vision of the painting… that’s not enough…

She went back in and returned to the painting.

Fiona: There…
Crane: hmm.
Fiona: Do you have an idea?
Crane: hmmm… Bob can’t take it… and you can’t hold it in your ghost form…
Fiona: And if I return to my body… I can neither see the picture nor hear the music.
Crane: So first the music…
Fiona: Hmmm…
Crane: How about earplugs?
Fiona: Do you have any?
Crane: Use something… to cover your ears…
Fiona: hmm.

She returned to her body. She searched the rooms on the lower floor.

Fiona: There we go… what… cloths… But they’re not enough… so…

She found pens.

Crane: No… no… no, Fiona… that hurts a lot…
Fiona: I’ll heal anyway.
Crane: It could take a long time, and there’s no insurance.

(Splach!)

Fiona: Urk… ghhhhhhhhhhh…

She stuck the pens into her ears after stuffing the cloths in, so they wouldn’t fall out.

Fiona: It’s fine… I… did it on purpose so it can’t get dangerous…
Crane: But you can still hear.
Fiona: Not so strongly… the effect only works when you hear too much…

She went in with her eyes closed… quickly she put the scarf—rather, the blanket—over it and ran off, but almost fell down the stairs.

(Crash!)

Fiona: Urk…
Crane: Hah… are you okay?
Fiona: Yes…

She got up. She took the picture.

Fiona: huh…
Crane: You have it.

She quickly stuffed the painting into the bag…

Fiona: Hahhhh… Come on, quickly, we have to find Cruella and Noelle.

(Runs)

Fiona: ugh…

She saw Cruella lying on the ground, Noelle lying beside her.

Fiona: hey!

(Patch!) (Patch!)

Klara: …hello… my dear.
Fiona: ugh…

She turned around… a woman stood behind the tree.

Fiona: Ugh… that’s the woman… the one from the TV commercial… but… how can that be… it’s more than 50 years ago… and she still looks so young.
Klara: Hahahaha…

She pulled out a card… Card of Eternal Youth.

Fiona: Ugh.
Klara: I don’t age. It’s like you… with your card, the Card of the Mysterious…
Fiona: What do you want.
Klara: That painting there… my dear… Give it to me… and I’ll leave you alone…
Fiona: …What if I refuse?
Klara: Then I’ll have to kill those two over there…
Fiona: …hmm…
Klara: Hehehe… All right then…
Fiona: Hmm?
Klara: You probably don’t know that a being lives in the picture… do you?
Fiona: ugh…
Klara: The Charlatur being… I just have to manage to get blood on it.
Fiona: Go ahead, try…
Klara: Hehehe… Who said it would be your blood…
Fiona: Ugh…

Cruella and Noelle stood up… they looked exhausted.

Fiona: ugh…
Klara: All right… You have to kill them… so they don’t touch the picture… If they touch it with their bloody hand…
Fiona: ghhhhh…
Klara: Come on, what are you waiting for… (grins)…

She dodged their attacks.

Fiona: Noelle… it’s me… Fiona.
Noelle: picture… picture…
Fiona: fggghhh…

She kicked her away.

Noelle: ow…
Fiona: gghhhh…
Noelle: hmmm… you’re always mean… give it to me…
Fiona: Stay where you are…
Cruella: Hahh.

She tried to attack her.

Fiona: …damn…

Both held her tight…

Fiona: ghhhhhh…
Cruella: hmm.
Noelle: Hold still.
Fiona: Let go.

Klara walked slowly and calmly toward her… She took Fiona’s hand.

Klara: … how about blood… hmm.
Fiona: …ghhh.
Klara: Ghh.

She opened her mouth and bit Fiona’s hand.

Fiona: ghhh…

The blood flowed toward the picture.

Klara: Hehe… you taste good…
Fiona: you… are… insane…
Klara: Hehehe…

She held Fiona’s cheeks.

Klara: You’re really cute… and pretty… I’d love… to have a taste of you…
Fiona: ghhh…
Klara: Hehehe… Maybe another time… if you survive the monster.

Klara ran off and vanished.

Fiona: ugh…

(grrrrrr)

Fiona: Huh!

She turned just then and was hurled away.

Fiona: Urk…

The creature looked at Fiona… It was a dark figure with four hands and a big open mouth.

Fiona: ghhhh…

She picked up Noelle and Cruella.

Fiona: Nothing but get out of here…

Fiona ran.

Fiona: ghhhh…

She stumbled.

(Crash!)

Fiona: ghhhh…

The monster approached…

Fiona: ghh.

She closed her eyes…

Noelle: Wait…
Fiona: Ugh…

(Splach!)

Fiona: hahhhh…

She saw the monster’s hand pierce Noelle’s chest.

Noelle: … I’m sorry, Fiona… Go… run… away…
Fiona: But…
Noelle: Run… away… Quickly… take Cruella with you…
Fiona: hahh.

She held Cruella.

Fiona: Noelle.
Noelle: … I’m as good as dead… so… run.
Fiona: ghh.

She ran off; she turned back.

Fiona: Hhh…
Noelle: Tell my brother I’m sorry…

And suddenly she was sliced apart.

(Splach!)

Fiona: ugh…

The monster began to eat her body.

Fiona: hhhh…

(A few hours later)

Parzival: … huh…
Pinnochio: ugh…
Fiona: … I’m… sorry…
Parzival: What’s that supposed to mean, huh!

He grabbed her by the suit.

Parzival: Damn it… what do you mean my sister is dead… That can’t be… just because she was left there.
Fiona: If you think a person can live after being sliced apart and eaten, be my guest!!
Parzival: ughhh…
Fiona: … I saw it…
Parzival: But there was never any mention of… a monster…
Fiona: I know… that’s why I was shocked myself…
Edwardson: hmmm…

(Ringing!)

Lady Natasha: Yes, hello.
Edwardson: Miss Natasha… as you said I should inform you… we had the painting… well… we had it… but… there was something we didn’t know, which is why a monster emerged from the picture…
Lady Natasha: Oh.
Edwardson: Noelle… is dead…
Lady Natasha: I understand…

(A little later)

(Dong!)… (Dong!)… (dong!)

Lady Natasha: Ladies and gentlemen… a wonderful girl has… unfortunately left us… Noelle Williams… was a great person… she cared for her friends and family…

They brought out her grave.
Lady Natasha: All right then…

Parzival: ghhh…
Fiona: hmmm…

Lady Natasha: … a minute of silence for her… would be nice…

Parzival: ghhhh…

(A few minutes later)

Fiona: hmm?

She saw that Parzival was no longer there.

Fiona: hmmm hahhh.

She walked toward the forest.

Fiona: There you are… I thought so.
Parzival: What do you want?
Fiona: Are you okay…?
Parzival: No…
Fiona: Hmmm…

She leaned against the tree.

Fiona: … hmm.
Parzival: I’m sorry… I know it wasn’t your fault.
Fiona: It was… I should have saved her…
Parzival: Hahhh… it’s like Noelle said… You always blame yourself…
Fiona: hmmm.
Parzival: When you work for Dark Umbrella… it’s clear… that you could end up like this…
Fiona: hmm.

It was quiet…

Parzival: hmmm.
Fiona: Hm?
Parzival: Noelle wanted us to be friends again…
Fiona: Hh…
Parzival: Actually… I loved you.
Fiona: I know it.
Parzival: How do you know that.
Fiona: You kept staring at me and even asked the teacher if I was single… Silly question… we were only 12.
Parzival: Hehehehe… You were popular… Every boy wanted to be with the girl with the beautiful blue eyes and the calm, lovely voice…
Fiona: You guys were really like that?
Parzival: Hehe… Have you forgotten how often people gave you flowers.
Fiona: oh… right…
Parzival: That reminds me… what did you do with them.
Fiona: Burned and tossed them…
Parzival: What?
Fiona: Did you want to kill me? I said I don’t like flowers because of the allergy…
Parzival: oh… that’s right…
Fiona: That’s why I burned them; I thought you wanted to kill me and not say you’d like to talk to me.
Parzival: (Sweats)… I guess flowers aren’t always… well… good… hehe…
Fiona: hmmm…
Parzival: hahhh… let’s head back…
Fiona: Okay…

(A few hours later)

Klara: Hahhhh…

(splach!)

Several corpses of women.

Klara: and bam… that’s that.

A statue made from the dead bodies of women.

Klara: oh oh yoy yoy… you are beautiful… hehehe… Hehehe.
Clown of Envy: You crazy bitch…

He attacked her.

Klara: What is it, then.
Clown of Envy: Why did you do that… you awakened the monster… that wasn’t part of the plan…
Klara: Oh, calm down, Clown of Envy…
Clown of Envy: Hahhhh… What am I supposed to tell the… clown now.
Klara: Just tell him…
Clown of Envy: As you wish… but don’t be surprised if this is your last statue…
Klara: Hehehe…

He disappeared.

Klara: Hehehe…