The Phantom of the Chaos Opera

Moonlight Chaos slowly opened her eyes. Another day of music, art, and drama. Slowly the Alicorn crawled out of her bed. Her mind drifted off to the events of last night. She had heard a voice, it was the same voice she had always heard every night. It had called her name softly, and spoke to her in her dreams. A dark figure would appear, and would wrap it's arms around her. It would enchant her and mystify her. Soon she was going to find out who the voice belonged to, but for now she needed to get to work. Moonlight Chaos opened the doors and saw a small handful of ponies in front of her. A familiar pink Pegasus walked towards her. "Moony! You're awake, we need to go. We need to practice." It was Cotton Feathers her best friend. Ever since Moonlight had gone to the Maris Opera House; Opera Populaire, she had been accepted as an actress. Singing and drama was something Moonlight was good at, but she had another talent that she kept a secret from everypony. Only Cotton Feathers and her mother, Madame Silk Wings knew. Moonlight and Cotton Feathers walked together towards the stage. There they found another actress, Star Dim singing. She was a very big diva and got fussy when she didn't get what she wanted. To almost everyone she was very rude to, but on occasions if she was in a good mood she could be friendly. But today Star Dim did not look happy. "This is getting ridiculous! I need YOU to do YOUR job so that I can do MY job. And if you can't do that then I can just walk out the door now!" The maestro tried to calm her down. "I apologize Star Dim, please forgive me. Can we try again?" Star Dim sighed. "I suppose.....but you had better not make anymore mistakes!" Just then the owner of the Opera House walked into the room, two gentlecolts were behind him. Moonlight and Cotton Feathers got into their costumes and joined the small crowd. The owner, Monsieur Long Note clapped his hooves. "Could I have your attention for a moment fillies and gentlecolts? As I'm sure you have heard, there have been rumors about my retirement and I can tell that these were all true." Then Long Note turned to the two stallions. "These two stallions are the new owners of the Opera Populaire, Monsieur Silverpants and Monsieur Bitter Tart." Everypony clapped their hooves. Star Dim walked towards them. Silverpants took her hoof and gently kissed it. Long Note smiled. "This is Star Dim, our lead soprano." Star Dim smiled. Just then a third stallion stepped up from behind them. Moonlight's eyes widened. "It's Ink Illustration, I remember him from when I was younger. He was a very vain stallion, and always got what he wanted." She said to Cotton Feathers. "It certainly looks like it." Cotton replied. It was true, Ink Illustration was wearing a very expensive vest, and his dark mane was well groomed. "I look forward to seeing all of you tonight and sharing in your triumph." Ink Illustration said in a charming voice. He smiled and turned to leave. The maestro sighed. "Thank you, now lets get back to rehearsal." Everyone got in position, and the music started up again. Star Dim started singing and many ponies began dancing. Silk Wings, Cotton Feathers mother began to talk to Silverpants and Bitter Tart. "As you can see we take great pride in our performance, we make sure everything is perfect." Silverpants nodded. "I can see that, who is that young filly?" He said pointing towards Cotton Feathers. "My daughter Cotten Feathers." Bitter Tart pointed towards Moonlight. "And what about that exceptional beauty?" Silk Wings smiled. "Moonlight Chaos, very promising talent. She is like a daughter to me." Just as the rehearsal was about to end somepony stepped on Star Dim's costume causing it to rip. The Unicorn grew angry. Just as the song ended and everyone was ready to take a break Star Dim walked towards the two. "You two are my new mangers correct?" Silverpants nodded. "Indeed we are." Star Dim grit her teeth. "Well then I can bring you my issues, because I am not going to be singing!" Star Dim stormed off in anger. Silverpants and Bitter Tart raced after her. "My dear Star Dim, wait. There is no need to get angry over nothing!" Star Dim frowned. "Over nothing! My dress is ruined, my hat is awful, and the maestro is being completely careless!" Bitter Tart tried to reassure the Unicorn. "Could you try one more time, just relax and sing for us?" Star Dim sighed. "Very well. Everypony be quiet!" She turned towards the maestro. The music began playing again. And Star Dim began to sing. "Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye! Remember me, once in a while, please promise me you'll try......" But Star Dim could not finish. A cloaked figure had untied a role that was holding up a scenery poster. It fell on Star Dim knocking her down. Silverpants helped her get up. "What was that?"  Cotton Feathers gasped. "He's here, the Phantom of the Opera." One of the ponies named Joseph working on the set, began to pull the scenery poster back up. "So sorry Monsieur! I wasn't at my post. There is nopony there! And if there is..........well then, maybe it's a ghost....." Silk Wings noticed a letter that had fallen on the ground. The seal on the envelope was in the shape of a skull. Silverpants smiled nervously. "Madame, these things to happen........" Star Dim was furious. "For the past three years "these things do happen." Really!" She turned to Long Note. "Did you stop these things from happening? NO! And you two! You are as bad as him! "Theses things do happen." Oh please! Until you stop these things from happening, this thing DOES NOT HAPPEN!" Star Dim stormed off once more. Bitter Tart turned to Long Note. "Monsieur she will be coming back won't she?" Long Note shrugged. "I'm not sure, now if you two need me, I shall be in Las Pegasus." Silverpants sighed. Silk Wings held the open letter. "Gentlemen, I have a message from the Opera Ghost." Silverpants shook his head. "Oh you're all obsessed." Silk Wings continued. "He welcomes you to his Opera House......." Silverpants interrupted once more. "HIS Opera House?" Silk Wings sighed. "And he asks that you continue to leave Box Five open for his use. And reminds you that his salary is due." Bitter Tart was surprised. "His salary!" Silk Wings handed them the note. "Well Monsieur Long Note used to give him twenty thousand bits a month." Silverpants looked at the note. "TWENTY THOUSAND BITS?" Silk Wings nodded. Silverpants frowned. "Well, I had hoped to make all the announcements at the gala tonight, but it appears that we shall have to cancel as it appears we have lost our star!" Bitter Tart tried to think. "Surely there must be an understudy?" The maestro shook his head. "Understudy! There is no understudy!" Silverpants was frustrated. "Bitter Tart, we shall have to refund a full house!" Silk Wings spoke up. "Moonlight Chaos could sing it for you." Bitter Tart did not look so sure. "Don't be silly." Silk Wings kept trying. "Let her try Monsieur, she has been well taught." Bitter Tart looked at the Alicorn. "By who?" Moonlight sighed. "I don't know his name Monsieur." Bitter Tart motioned for her to walk towards him. "Alright, come on. Don't be shy."  Moonlight looked at Cotton Feathers. Her friend gave her a gentle shove. Moonlight walked towards the center of the stage. Silverpants put a hoof up to his head. "Bitter Tart this doing nothing for my nerves." Then Moonlight started to sing. "Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye. Remember me once in a while please promise me you'll try........."

Moonlight Chaos stood on the stage looking over hundreds of ponies. The small crystal flowers pinned in her hair, along with the long necklace sparkled in the lights that shone on her. Her voice filled the entire room. "When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free......" As she sang she thought about the lyrics. Would their be someone who she would always think about? Would their be someone she would always care about? In the audience Ink Illustration was listening to her sing. Her sweet voice was like honey in his mouth. But he was not the only one who could hear. Deep beneath the Opera House the cloaked figure froze as the sound of Moonlight's voice made its way to his ears. Never before had he heard a voice like this, it was so beautiful but there was something else about it that made him listen. Why was this pony that seemed to draw his attention? Meanwhile Ink Illustration was listening to the last few words of the song. He clapped his hooves. "Bravo!" He left his seat and ran off to find her. Moonlight watched everypony in the audience clapped. Moonlight turned to the side of the stage. She saw Cotton Feathers smile at her. When Moonlight walked towards her, Cotton gave her friend a warm hug. "I knew you could do it." Moonlight smiled. "Well done." The voice said in a quiet tone. Moonlight Chaos looked around to see if anyone was there, she saw nopony.

Everyone was celebrating. Ponies were talking and laughing, some were dancing, others were just relaxing. Cotton Feathers began looking for Moonlight. "Where could she be?" The Pegasus asked herself. Then she got an idea, she rushed down a small staircase, and went through a long hallway. She found Moonlight sitting in a small room full of candles, there were stained glass windows on the walls, and a small fountain. "I knew I would find you here." Cotton

said. Moonlight blushed. "Sorry, but this one of my favorite rooms." Cotton Feathers laughed. "Thinking about your parents?" Moonlight nodded. "Well sort of, I mean I haven't seen them in five years. I'm actually thinking about what my Dad told me." Cotton nodded. "What did he tell you?" Moonlight sighed. "He told me that no matter where I went, someone would always be watching me. I used to think about it all the time. When I first came here, I heard a voice that always seemed to call me. Somewhere in this room I know he's hiding. He always seems to appear in my dreams. I know he's here.…." Cotton Feathers smiled. "There you go again talking in riddles and rhymes. Whoever HE is, like you said you see him dreams. So he may not be real. What does he look like?" Moonlight shook her head. "That's just it, I can't see his face. He's always hiding behind a cloak, and if there is enough light showing I can tell he's wearing a mask. He's hiding himself from me." Cotton Feathers sighed. "Well you don't need to worry about it now. Come on, there are hundreds of ponies waiting to tell you how amazing you were." Moonlight smiled. "Alright. Lets go."

Madame Silk Wings led Moonlight into a room filled with roses. In here she could get out of her dress, and relax for a moment. Silk Wings smiled at her. "You did very well my dear," She handed Moonlight a rose. "He is pleased with you." Slowly she left the room. Moonlight held the rose with her magic. Tied to the stem was a black ribbon. From the outside of the door, she could hear many ponies talking. Two of them was Silverpants and Bitter Tart. Ink Illustration walked by and was stopped. "Ah Ink Illustration, I hoped you enjoyed yourself this evening." The black Unicorn nodded. "Indeed I did. If you'll excuse me, I would like to talk to Moonlight please." Bitter Tart laughed. "Of course sir." Ink Illustration smiled and slowly walked into Moonlight's room. Moonlight heard him come in and turned towards him. "Ink, what are you doing here?" Ink gave her a small hug. "I wanted to congratulate you, tonight you sang like an angel." Moonlight didn't really want to be around him right now, but she managed to keep a smile on her face. "Thank you, if you don't mind I'm just going to get out of this dress and then get some sleep." Ink Illustration shook his head. "Oh no, no, no, it's still to early for you to sleep. I'll take you out into the city tonight!" Moonlight shook her head. "No Ink, I can't." Ink Illustration laughed. "Nonsense, change your clothes. I can get my carriage." Moonlight tried to stop him but Ink Illustration left already. From the outside of the door where the key was, an eagle claw took the key and locked the door. Then the key was taken away. Moonlight was locked inside. Silk Wings had been watching.