2889/Beethoven Intensifies

Beethoven Intensifies
Date of Scene:	23 December 2025
Location:	Radiant Heart Academy
Synopsis:	Izou Saitou has stretched himself too thin by signing up for every showing in the Holiday Performance - and at one of their final practices, those overdrawn nerves finally snap. Hawkmoth, of course, is ready to take advantage, and the akuma Anyolite is born. Luckily, Coco, Minako, Mamoru, Usagi, and Amy are on the scene.
Cast of Characters:	Zoisite, Gabriel Agreste, Minako Aino, Usagi Tsukino, Amanda Faust, Mamoru Chiba, Coco Kiumi

---

Zoisite has posed:
There was a quiet hum as the Music Hall was filled with various students practicing for the upcoming Holiday Performances. It wouldn't be one show, oh no. It would be a couple, showcasing the different art departments from choir to dancing to orchestra. So on the stage and among the many fold out chairs scattered about, a cacophony of notes sung out into the air.

And Izou Saitou could pick up on every mistake the others were doing as he sat at the only grand piano in the Music Hall. A black beast, gorgeous monstrosity of polished wood and ivory keys. The sounds immitted were almost perfection, if only he could put his entire focus on it. Since the battle against the screeching vending machines, the young tennou felt as though his ear became more sensitive to any aggravating sounds, including errors from other fellow students he perceived as not putting enough effort into their practices. Mucking about, talking to other students and laughing.

Perhaps it was just the holiday stresses--where everyone seemed excited for the coming festivities. Or perhaps it was the simple fact that Izou decided to sign up for 'all' of the performances. No. No he would not be dancing or singing, but those slots also required a music on the side for the others to perform to... And he did not let one spot free when it came to the grand piano.

It was indeed a choice he made, one where he ate, breathed, bathed and dreamed nothing but musical notes one after another, having to contend with his fellow bandmates. Nothing but music from morning until late evening. Through dance practices and choir songs. And as much as Izou felt he was ready for this kind of responsibility and show of talent, he was barely keeping himself put together at all.

Soft fiery hair that always seemed on point had slight fly-aways. Little hints of sunken color under his green eyes and a sharpness in his eyes that could cut as quickly as a knife, which he barely kept at bay. But gods... GODS...

He could hear the nearby cellist making another blunder, a strong whining too much that it crawled up Izou's back like cat claws. A scream locked tight in his chest, his anger boiling. One more wrong note, and he will more than likely explode.

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
The days are rapidly drawing to the end of the year. Christmas isn't nearly so important a holiday in Japan as it was in France, but New Year's Eve and day were both of them of significantly greater importance, which means that Gabriel Agreste is working hard in the days before Christmas, exactly as he would if he were back in Paris. Another year is going to pass, another holiday, without his beloved Emilie. Another year of failure, another year of his wife's body being maintained solely by machines, another year of Adrien growing without her...

Naturally, he's in a poor mood, and those who work for his fashion label, Gabriel, know it all too well. He demands perfection, and punishes harshly those who fail to meet his high standards.

It's only fitting, then, that the Butterfly pulses with the feeling of someone who echoes his feelings all too well.

Another perfectionist, on the verge of true rage, boiling over with negativity...

In a few moments, Gabriel has slipped away and Hawkmoth stands in his garden of glimmering white butterfly constructs. One slips into his hands, and emerges a shimmering black and purple, flying out the opened glass, towards its target.

It will take some time to get there, but soon...

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino wasn't part of the Christmas show at all but that doesn't stop her from practically dancing her way into the auditorium where the practice was about to begin. In hand she carried one of the little pamphlets that had been put togther by other students for the upcoming concerts having swindled it away as an early 'sneak peek'. Which is why she was skulking in much like her days of following idols.

"I *knew* he was doing something but he didn't even *tell me* he was going to be playing at all these shows!" She hiss-whispers to her unwilling cohort, Artemis. He was riding in her backpack sighing quietly.

"Maybe he wanted it to be a surprise?" Artemis suggests with a wide yawn. "Seriously, do we need to even be here?"

"Yes, we do! It's the point of the matter. Look, there he is!" The pamphlet comes up to 'hide' behind as she mutters.

"It was almost a year ago that he was burning my bow and now he's keeping secrets about playing concerts! It's so real."

Artemis' ear twitches. "Surreal? I mean it's not really that big a deal is it, Mina?"

The pamphlet is clutched to her chest a moment as she simply breathes in the moment. "Well I mean sure it's just practice right now, but he's come so far! This must be what a proud parent feels like."

Her arm shoots up into the air waving the folded pamphlet around as she calls out across the theater, "IZZY-POO WE'RE HERE FOR YOU!"

Artemis drops his head with a sigh. "We're going to get kicked out."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi and Mamoru had been on a date - very successfully, even, for all that there were things unsaid between them. It hadn't gotten in their way - Mamoru knew she needed to think, Usagi knew he would give her time to think, and they were in love.

After the date, though, they'd passed a certain location, and Usagi had remembered -

"Isn't that where they're practicing for the Holiday Performance? You know, with all the acts and bits and things? We should check it out! Coco-chan, and Rihito-kun, and Izou-kun are all going to have parts, right?"

She has no idea how many parts that Izou is going to have.

They enter with no sneaking, just Usagi explaining they'd wanted to see how practice was going and the ushers allowing them in...

Just in time to hear Minako scream her...support... across the stage.

"Mamochan, I think we should leave, actually," she says faintly. "Before he thinks I'm with Minako-chan."

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy happened to be walking past when she heard the sound of musical practice. She misses taking part in it; she likes singing, but for various reasons never really pursued it. Everyone knows it's way harder to make a living at than other things she's good at, for one. But she did enjoy being in Radiant Heart's chorale, until she didn't sign up this year because her music teacher betrayed the world by helping Gaito.

    After wandering into the building in whatever out-of-the-way place someone can listen from -- hallway or audience seating, perhaps -- she listens, wistfully recalls memories of two school lives, and finds herself strongly wishing that she can make taking chorale again senior year work. She already regrets missing out this past year, and she doesn't want to regret more.

    Unlike Izou, she doesn't know the songs and arrangements being practiced, so doesn't even notice a lot of mistakes. And those that do stand out... well, that's why all these students are practicing, after all!

    It's not like she hasn't made the same mistakes, despite natural talent. Breathe in the wrong spot. Vowels not open enough. Voice a consonant for a bit too long, accidentally make the hiss of an 's' stand out, and so on.

    If she knew the arrangement, of course, then she would have such a strong urge to step in and sing it correctly -- but she doesn't.

IZZY-POO WE'RE HERE FOR YOU!
    Amy looks over. Is that Aino-san...?

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Kazuo's been just short of hovering over him, and hell he's still trying to convince his mom not to fuss over him too, because he'll get-- it would be bad, you know? Minako-san doing that..." Mamoru observes, linking his arm through Usagi's, "means I don't want to see or be party to the upcoming carnage."

He starts to slidestep away toward the door with Usagi.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
There were many contributions from several different students, all mixing together with a semblance of order that was fluctuating with the strong and weak points of different students mixing and clashing against each other.

The notes of the Carol of the Bells hang in the air in a different section of the Hotel Augusta ballroom, and both Coco and Rihito are in this group, respectively singing and leading. It was a new piece for Coco, but one she gave it her all to master, and it hadn't taken her long to find her harmony with the piece.

With Rihito in the same room, she would have only been filled with the utmost positivity. Rihito, on his side, had already known the piece they were practicing for, from past years whenever Christmas came around, so his hand was steady even with the disruption of the occasional mistakes.

Coco was having a good time, and she wasn't aware of the nebulous emotions that Izou was currently experiencing. Just breathe in and out, let her instincts guide her, and enjoy the performance.

Zoisite has posed:
For a whole couple of seconds, everything seemed to finally flow smoothly. From his deft fingers to Coco's and Rihito's leading voices to the rest of the assembly. For a heavenly moment, there was harmony in which pressed against his ears like cooling balm. An inhale, deep enough to ache his lungs until he exhaled, trying to let go of the raging scream that was building up within.

They found the flow so needed, with only a few days left before the official opening.

That is--until he heard Minako's loud cheer. In an instant, Izou's face went as red as beets, the blush even reaching his instead as he offered a surprised side glance while his hands still glided over the keys--

And there it it was. A slip of his own fingers. A horrid skip of piano notes, shattering his frail concentration in sheer horror before both of his hands slammed palms first down upon ivory keys in fury, distressing sound echoing. It was loud enough to shock most of the neighboring student musicians into a halt--even the cellist that had been getting on Izou's nerves. Then most of the ballroom followed.

Izou's eyes were wide open, staring down at the keys he slipped on. No... Of everyone in the damned presentation, why now? Why right then? It wasn't like others had not greeted him before, him easily playing along while looking over without issues. The countless times Kazuo came over with soups or teas to help him not waste time on senseless microwaving food or getting some liquid in him. But those were the times he had to make mistakes. Not then--not now. Not in front of so many after he took on the responsibility of being the main pianist for the entire performance.

It stung. It stung how hard he was putting so much of himself into this, that every mistake he heard others make slammed into him like spikes. Maybe he could have shouldered another, ignoring it, ignoring his own health along the way, and ignoring the little painful memories of lonely Christmasses in Switzerland as a child and the weight of it all pressing down on his sleep deprived brain. Maybe. Maybe that was something he could have done one more time, for others. But not for his own mistakes. He was tired of those... So bloody fucking tired of those.

And in the moment of stilled rage, he did not notice the flutter of delicate black wings from a butterfly landing upon the black polish of the grand piano, fusing to the wood--and in turn, black tendrils reaching Izou's frozen fingers.

At first it was whispers. Miraculous lady and noir. An offer, before the heat was all he could feel. Not a moment spared as his jaws clenched, and the mouth of the grand piano snapped open violently to reveal an explosion of wired-like-vines shooting out all directions. Whoever they touched, they coiled around, trapping wrists and ankles and pulling at random musicians and singers and dancers, stringing them up, up, up into the ceiling that now looked more wooden than normal. The walls, windows morphing back and gone as the chandeliers sputtered into ashes, dimming the world around everyone present in that particular space once known as the ballroom.

Whoever was not caught by the piano wires were spared the frightening, violent pull upwards into the sky. In exchange, the floor was not a stable one. Oh no...

Wires, as thick as ropes, was all that was offered as a floor to those remaining. Below, far below, was a sea of coals and Christmas ornaments and burning pine trees and pine cones and tinsels and bows and anything one could identify as remotely holiday-ish and bloody cheery. Kindle to the flames below.

Looking up, to the root of the wires and the dark wooden coffin that was the Grand Piano, was a young man. Izou--or who was Izou. Simple jeans and shirt now gone, and in place was a slim black tuxedo with a very long tail. Hem of color--ruby red. Green ribbon and icy blue gem gone as red wild hair was long and loose.

Zoisite has posed:
He was ready to perform, floating ivory keys set before him as gloved fingers pressed on one. And from one, a long burning hammer uncoils from the coals and lifts high up above, so close those hanging above, before it comes crashing down on one of the many wires on the floor.

"Sonata number 14, Moonlight, movement 3." Anyolite, once Izou, whispers. And what follows are hasty notes of the classical song, chased by more burning hammers that uncoil from below and crashing down towards the remaining few.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
There's the screeching wrong of not just a mistaken key, but an obviously mistaken key, in a way that even Usagi can tell as she's trying to scoot away with Mamoru before the inevitable blow up, and she winces to realize Minako had messed up his practice with her shouting -

But then there's the slam as hands are smashed against the keys and oh shit everyone is looking. oh this is not good. "Never mind, we should not leave, we should get down there and see if-"

The butterfly darts past them so swiftly there's no chance to catch it. No chance to stop it. No chance to do anything but watch as Izou becomes... something else.

The way she had. The way Mamochan had.

Only a lot spookier, as wires snap around the room, yanking people into the air. Screams ring out, and Usagi's is one of them, though she's not captured - she's just freaked out okay?! Still, even with all that, she knows what to do. Her hand goes to her broach.

"Moon Cosmic Power, MAKE UP!"

Sailor Moon doesn't hesitate.

"Kamen-kun, you've got to try and help him - I'll try to help everyone else!"

And she drops to one knee, cupping her hands around her broach as the Silver Crystal's light shines, and at her command, the world changes -

"Moon Space, Crystalize!"

The world changes, but stays the same. There's the piano. There's the burning Christmas trees, the ornaments. The hanging wires.

But there's also a watercolor sky, a gradient of blue and pink and purple, white and gold stars shining overhead. And the people, who were so trapped - vanish in poofs of sparkly star and crescent glitter. Back to the real world, away from Anyolite.

Minako Aino has posed:
That off-key note earns a sharp wince from Minako as soon as it strikes hear ears. So too did the gaze of an embarassed Izou making the mistake, and the sudden slam of hands against the keys.

"Mina... You shouldn't have done that," Artemis intones knowingly. The white Mauan leaps off of his perch on her backpack to bound for the exit deciding discretion was the better part of not-being-on-fire.

Minako doesn't have much more time than that to react as a dark butterfly turns Izou into Dark General Mk.II, Anyolite.

"Oops. Oh well!" At least she's quick to get past it. As the room starts to whip around and change, people becoming entangled in wires and Christmas being put on the roast, she dives down one of the aisles of seats--That weren't there anymore oh well--To raise her hand with a familiar call of her own.

"Venus Power, Make Up!"

Sailor Venus is soon leaping upward to stand upon a few of those precarious wires to pose, pointing toward Anyolite as the world around them changes again under Sailor Moons' powers.

"This isn't the sort of concert people would enjoy! You're better than this!"

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy's head swivels back from Minako at the sound of the keysmash. Oh dear. Poor Saitou-san.

    And then there are wires/vines. Amy just transforms on the spot -- the light and flame not lifting her from the ground and leaving her in the 'cute' magical girl outfit. "Why is it tentacles again?!"

    But the truly concerning thing, as she glances down as she feels floor becoming cables und wires under her feet, is... Already, vines are a target she struggles with. Explosive shockwaves aren't as damaging to bundles of tough rope as they are to other targets, even with homing projectiles trying to cut a rope by shooting through it requires shots to be precisely targeted, and wet, green plant matter is not the best at burning.

    Usually, she has to try and get burning material into whatever sort of center mass a plant monster has and burn it where all the vines come together -- but this time the vines are metal, even harder to burn before magic comes into it.

    And just like last time she fought vines in a concert hall -- when Tellu targeted Hinoiri's themfriend Dianora -- there are bystanders all over and Amy's weapons are violent and prone to collateral damage and there's no one here who can use a Barrier. Amy leaps towards the stage, sweeping her arm and firing a spray of rocket-bullets that will try to home in on some of the wires holding people--

Moon Space, Crystalize!

    --okay so not like last time. Amy lands from her jump and breathes a sigh of relief under the bi-flag-gradient sky.

    "SAITOU-SAN!" Amy calls out. "I know it was kinda embarassing but people will forget! Everyone is more worried about their own performance!"

    Well, she's trying to help...

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco's voice resonated pure and her smile brightened her face, letting the joy in her heart fill her voice, and watching Rihito directing the orchestra with equal enthusiasm. With the crystalline atmosphere, how could anything go wrong?

She doesn't notice the familiar butterfly fluttering with its wings into the room, or perceive the faint magical trace it releases, not until it surges and transforms its target of the day, darkening the Hotel Augusta ballroom with the twisted essence of its energy.

Her eyes open wide, and her thoughts don't express any doubt at who may see her, and they only turn towards Rihito. Curving her hands in a vague x-shape around her shell locket, yellow light radiates in around Coco, and a kaleidoscope of colour flourishes over her form.

"Yellow Pearl Voice!" The rainbow energy glimmers and clings, warping into pale yellow boots that flow into overlapping fabric. Rising up, a golden yellow dress and a short yellow pleated skirt blossom onto her and her pearl gleams and expands, settling comfily into her hand as her trusty E-Pitch microphone, with the yellow jewel nestled safely in the head's center.

With the rapidity of light, a Live Stage forms around her, and a twin sphere follows suit, brightening Rihito's surroundings. With but a snap of her thoughts, Rihito's Live Stage rushes towards hers and merges together with it, allowing the idol of the seas to pull an arm around him.

"Who is this now?", Rihito whispers, watching her with concern in his grey eyes. He is careful to stay well within the boundary of the Live Stage, where he knows Coco's voice would be able to protect them should any flames fall close.

"This is Hawkmoth's doing, and he is turning people to the darkness in his search for the Miraculous", Coco explains to him quickly, not taking her eyes off of Anyolite. She frowns at all those wires pulling people up, and all the places she cannot protect.

The appearance of Moon Space changes the worry she is feeling, and nods enthusiastically at Sailor Moon, and the relief at the people no longer being trapped by the Akumatized Izou is plenty visible on her face.

"Saito-san, please snap out of it!", she addresses him calmly. "We have all been doing well, don't let this confuse you. Trust in your skills, not what the Akuma is making you think: that's what really matters."

Live Stages start multiplying across the Moon Space now, offering elevated platform to any of her allies, and interfering with the falling of the flames.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Not going anywhere," Mamoru agrees, then flinches away from the wires and cables, and then the floor falls away and he swallows his own scream as he fumbles out his pocketwatch. "Earth Crystal Power, Make Up!" he cries out as he hangs on to the cable he's now standing on periously, over the burning ornaments below--

--he runs as he henshins, footsteps in dress shoes light, tap tap tap more like tong tong TONG as his feet hit one note louder and louder, coming down on the same string.

(No no, intrusive thoughts, it would NOT be cool to try and figure out 'chopsticks' on a hammered dulcimer this big.)

He hops, at least, a third up instead of something discordant, then zizzes like sliding on metal corduroy as he skids to a stop in front of Anyolite. "Izou-kun! Please-- please. You've been working so hard, you haven't gotten enough sleep no matter how hard Kazuo-kun's tried to make you..." Bring up Kunzite. Also, try to get a second where he can maybe text Kunzite--

White-gloved hands spread open wide, Tuxedo Kamen's slender caped form balanced on a tightrope, and then he's holding his hands out. "Fire always happens when you don't get enough sleep and you run yourself ragged, Zoi. Tell Hawkmoth to shove it, he doesn't know anything about you except that you're at the end of your rope, and useful to him. Come home and we can rage this out productively?"

He doesn't quite sound pleading, but he does sound warm, he is warm, and he and his held-out hands take another step forward on the wire. "Please."

Zoisite has posed:
A groan of wood as each of Amy's rocket-bullets hit the wooden ceiling, only a handful of debris falling down towards the large wires where the few try to balance themselves upon--and soon nothing more existed of the trapped students of wooden Grand Piano ceiling but the watercolor skies provided by Sailor Moon's Moon Space.

Debris hit some of the rope wires, the out of tune notes making the metal spark on contact and Anyolite's shoulders twitch upwards as he doesn't permit his hands to stop gliding over piano keys.

They are sabotaging you--

Are they?

Of course they are-- It whispers, twisting his already exhausted mind into painful knots. He's tired, so tired. Working like a dog, and yet they find it fit to not put in as much effort as yourself--they don't care--

Just like them. Come rain or shine of screams of acknowledgement, or the pang of fists to an old grand piano left within his mansion sized room, so cold and alone with snow falling beyond locked windows--

Minako's pointed, yet friendly accusations along with Amy's pleas sound like they're underwater. Where each burning hammer hit, metal ropes now glowed a hot hue that were steadily spreading across.

Then Coco's broke in a little clearer, like drops of water against burning stone. Steam, it all melted pieces of whatever shield Anyolite mentally hid behind with caressing, whispering voice.

They don't care for you-- None of them ever have--

Izou-kun--lease---working so har----sleep---Kazuo-kun!

Kazuo.

A hitched beat of his heart, head lifted with ruby pink eyes looking towards Tuxedo Mask. A spot of green gleamed in his irises. But there's a weariness, similar to the boy from years ago that Mamoru found in Europe. A hostile, protective demeanor, all teeth, at wits end.

"What do you know--" Anyolite snaps. "Didn't you want to hear my anger through my music, your Majesty? Then hear it!" And with a crack of rage, Anyolite stops playing only to bring down two fists only several keys, several hammers molding into two giant ones that tong so hard against the wires, sparking molten metal all over the inside of the piano in horrific vibrations.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"You don't want to call me king, not like that," Tuxedo Kamen yells as he jumps away from where the hammers hit, swinging through the air and coming down hard on another note, then poing! going up again and coming down on another note, unintentionally messing up the bass line. "But you're not feeling like yourself, and I haven't got any candy bars--" NO. BE SERIOUS. He needs you to be serious. Which means everybody needs--

"Tuxedo la Smoking HUG YOU!" the one-time King for five hours yells louder as he rockets forward to bodily bowl himself into Anyolite. They all saw the butterfly land on the piano. Let them have a clear shot.

Minako Aino has posed:
Sailor Venus braces herself as the strings vibrate, and bounce, creating the notes to the sweet melody that was playing rather angrily--One even sends her bouncing into the air with a little help.

"Izou!"

Instinctively she forward flips and lands on another wire opting then to try to keep moving before she ends up flipped again over the precarious drop into the Christmas Inferno below.

For once her words don't come as easily as she had hoped. The others were fighting both with words and music and ... "Amy-chan don't *hurt* him!" she calls out perhaps unnecessarily.

The anger that surges from him causing the molten metal to begin splashing around quickly chases away the thought of not defending herself. Dashing from one wire to another she suddenly stops on a few that haven't yet been struck.

"Izou! You don't have to play if it doesn't make you happy! We'll still love you for you, you jerk!"

Gloved hands extend outward holding aloft a glowing form of a heart which she deftly flicks with the fingers of her opposite hand. The heart is sent spinning, sparking with light, as she draws it back to fling it forward.

"Rolling Heart Vibration!"

With the spin on the heart attack it seems as if it's going straight for Anyolite and Tuxedo Mask only to curve to the side toward the piano.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Getting down to one knee had worked great to cast Moon Space and free the other participants (most of whom had slid down a smaller version of the rose-themed blimp to safety before it vanished), but it works terribly when trying to hold balance on wires! As the music is played, Sailor Moon swings and sways, trying to curl around the wires enough to get back up to her feet.

As she's focusing on that, she hears the calls, everyone appealing to Izou's better nature, and she wonders -

Is that really the best approach? Had appeals to her better nature helped, when she was akumatized? Or when Mamochan was? Or had solving the problem helped? Or at least... acknowledging it.

"Izou-kun, thank you for performing for us!" It's a heartfelt thanks as Sailor Moon finally gets to her feet, wobbling as she tries to stay steady on her feet. She sways, and as the music swells the strings dance, and she tries to leap in time with them and inevitably fumbles over her feet, left to grapple with the string.

She doesn't scream, though. She just clings and swings stubbornly back, wrapping her legs and arms around one string so she dangles upside down, her twin tails swaying, long ends trailing towards the flames and the burning, and she frees one hand to summon the Moon Scepter.

"You've worked so hard and your music is wonderful. Thank you for sharing your feelings with us! Thank you for sharing with us." She does not acknowledge her husband's goofy sincerity, instead looking at Anyolite with warmth and bright gratitude in her blue eyes. "Mistakes don't mean your music isn't worthy. Trying hard like this is a sign of how much you care, you know? How much you all want it to go so well! The fire in your heart shouldn't be used for harm, and Hawkmoth... Hawkmoth had better stop playing with the hearts of my friends!"

And with that appeal made - and that warning given, she swings the rod about, with such force that she spins around the strings too, as she calls her attack -

"Moon Princess Halation!"

Beams of silver light and spink spiraling energy strike the piano right alongside piercing shrapnel in the shape of stars and moons.

Sailor Moon clings to the strings.

"I'm looking forward to your performances!"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
This won't do. Anyolite is being pulled too deep by Hawkmoth. They really need to set him free before he spirals too far. "Saito-san, Hawkmoth will never tell you the truth. That's how he is. You are better off miserable for him, but he can't actually take away the wish in your heart", Coco remarks.

She winces when the heat of the flames reach her, and she stumbles at the feeling of the oppressive heat hanging like a canopy. Nonetheless, her fingers wrap tightly around her E-Pitch, and she keeps speaking.

"You have been working hard, you know that. Let your resolve shine bright. That is what will pull you through. Pichi Pichi Voice, Live Start!" The Yellow Mermaid Princess raises her right arm and calls out within herself Aqua Regina's blessing, the bracelet on her wrist shining with white radiance as a halo of yellow light moves downwards from the mermaid princess's head and her clothes change again.

Her left glove now adheres to her arm with a pattern made up of water ripples, while on her left leg a stocking has shown up with the same water ripple pattern, and on her right hand and on her legs a yellow glove and boots with flowy extensions show up.

Bathed in a golden glow, rhythmic pulses of light that give a warm embrace to the pain, soothe all the fatigue and push away the darkness of the heart.

"Pichi Pichi Voice, Live Finale!", the mermaid princess smiles gently.

I wake up, hearing my name in someone's voice.
Floating above the blue waves within the sea's cradle
I dreamt.

Somewhere in this sea, someone's speaking in an arguing voice.
From a crying heart, love can't be born.
Only sadness overflows.
From the fragments of a beautiful wish of the sea,
There are feelings of wanting to be born, embracing light.
In the orange sea, blending into the sunset
the tears of the world sleep.

Was the world being born what called me...?
At the bottom of the deep sea, I could hear a voice.
No matter how dark, or painful place I'm in...

From the fragments of a beautiful wish of the sea,
There are feelings of wanting to be born, opening away from the darkness.
In the purple sea, blending into the morning glow
my wishes broke through.

At the apex of the song, purifying hearts fly out in all directions, the reach of a big circle of love that won't end. "Fine Heart Pitch!", she concludes the performance with a serene smile, extremely strong purification burning the dark energy and providing a sense of serenity to the troubled emotions within.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy winces a bit at the discordant notes playing out as her allies and debris strike the cables underfeet. She wonders if-- no, Amybrain, now is not the time to wonder if you can play Heart & Soul on Akumatize'd Izou's arena!

Amy-chan don't hurt him!
    "What?! I'm not--" but she has bits of burning Christmas tree to dodge; it's as if all the encounters with vines, and the Circus Witch -- with the fire monsters and tightrpope -- that she helped Sailor Moon save Shingo from so long ago, were levels preparing her for this final test level.

    Even if she's done a little of this before, thank goodness for Mahous' enhanced ability to balance on narrow things! Although that doesn't help when the wires start to glow... "Hey! You don't have to burn the rope!" Incandescent metal is for shooting at your enemies at hypersonic speeds, not for standing on! She conjures her launcher and fires a blast of fine, cool mist, but... yeah, it's too thin, and so is the wire. She then fires upward to push herself and the cable downward, and leaps upwards on the rebound...

They don't care for you... None of them ever have...

    Wasn't Amy's first interaction with him after Dark General times, telling Minako off for messing with him after he helped return her heart crystal?

    Now, Amy makes her way closer, moving with the rhythym of Coco's song, conjuring metal gauntlets and boots for brief contact with the hammers as she lands atop one and leaps from it to another.

    "Listen to Sailor Moon!" she shouts, after the other's speech. "She knows you better than I do!"

    Amy lands, finally, on a Live Stage overlooking the stage. She doesn't know what to say.

    But she does know what to shoot. "CANON IN YOUR PIANO!" She didn't know what to shout, either, but she felt like she had to call out something as she conjures and fires artillery at the piano, explosives set to blow it apart and destroy it as seems to be required because of the akuma.

    Amanda frowns from the Live Stage. "...It's a damn crime Hawkmoth made us do that to such an instrument."

Zoisite has posed:
Not like that--Not like that--?! The words ready to unleash a reply or several feel like fire against his tongue and teeth, snarling in heated earnest. It was set to strike deep, cause scars, hurt back the same way he felt ached about his hard work, squandered. But what he did not expect was what happened next.

The body of Tuxedo Mask slams into Anyolite's, all the air pushed out of his lungs as he falls back and away from the floating ivory keys and back towards the roots of the wires. It felt brutal, a jolt of reality that snapped him out momentarily from focused musical notes and rage long enough to hear everything else around him besides the whisperings in his head.

Don't hurt him! Minako's voice called out loud, and he genuine plea was simple yet full of depth of their mutual understanding. The friendship built from emotional trips and burning bows. The hotter the fire, the purer the gold, they say. Perhaps he was being a huge jerk that night.

And Coco's singing vibrating and filling up the insides of the Grand Piano, reaching watercolor skies above and beyond, and deep down into his heart and nerves. He knew Coco the least, but he understood her as one musician to another--they both work to the bone for their passions and talents. Let your resolve shine bright--

My wishes broke through--

Thank you for sharing your feelings with us-- Not long ago, he had despised the Moon Princess more than he wanted to ever admit. And yet, her words reach past his heart and down to the core of what was him. Funny how they both were similar in these moments. The difference being that her voice was calm, while his was usually loud and aggressive.

Finally, Amy's Listen to Sailor Moon had him closing his eyes. Yes, he was listening. He could hear all of them, and it settled so much he could almost cry--were he not so, so tired. He'd apologize for the burning ropes later...

Another groan, like a tall wooden ship breaking and buckling from the assault of Venus' Heart Vibrations, Sailor Moon's Princess Halation, Coco's Fine Heart Pitch of purification that filled every corner with light, and a demolishing CANON from Amy's arsenal. The warped Grand Piano had no chance of resisting the amount of pure care and attentiveness that came from the mahou lot.

A flash of white light.

Then... nothing. Just firm ground below. The fires and burning coals and holiday cheers dissipated into thin air, leaving behind the cool breeze as though nothing had been smoldering second before. And Anyolite?

Well, he was no more. In his place, was Izou Saitou, back to his normal self, and still in Tuxedo Mask's arms. Unconscious. Whatever Hawkmoth did to him took whatever energy he had left. Possibly for the better in the end. He needed to sleep after so much practice.

Later... Later he'd apologize. Yes, later. And say thank you. For now, hopefully, his dreams will not be filled with musical notes.