Mr. Carter and the Magic Flute finale

The curtain rose to reveal a temple decorated with ornate, gilded sun imagery, Synastro herself sprawled across a leisurely padded bench, her fiery red hair splayed out as she looks out at the audience, positioned ostentatiously in the center of the stage between the Summer and Crystal priests, with Speaker Suki standing behind them, singing serenely.

"O Isis und Osiris..."

O Isis and Osiris... Well, the subtitles weren't the most needed for that line, but the rest of the song was a short aria sung by Speaker Suki to the Summer Priest, representing Isis, and the Crystal Priest, representing Osiris, asking the gods to bless the union of Damino and Gabima. Synastro didn't have any singing lines, or really any reason to be there other than being the head of the temple, but she still positioned herself at the center of attention, preening and posing like a model. In the audience Damien felt his hand gripped a bit tighter by Gabriella, her soft, slender digits entwined within his larger grasp as Syn's lookalike appeared to gobble up all the attention especially as the song ended and attention given to Speaker Suki was returned to her.

"Now that Damino has been stripped, washed, trimmed, shaved, and fluffed, I think he's ready to prove himself worthy of entering into Gabima's good...graces," Synastro purred seductively, her knees lifting into the air, pressed tightly together as she rocked excitedly back and forth on her bench. Gabriella's fingers pulled Damien's hand closer to her, she didn't even seem conscious she was doing it.

"You okay?" Damien whispered as Synastro began to summarize what happened in the end of Act 1, Damino and Gabima were to undergo trials of purity to prove their love for each other in the eyes of the gods of Isis and Osiris, represented by the Priests of Summer and Crystal respectively. Gabriella didn't really seem to be listening, just staring forward at Synastro with anger and, as a result, a bit of lust.

"She's just so effortlessly pretty..." Gabriella muttered back, chewing her lip a little. "I never really liked her personally back when we cheered together, though I wouldn't say I disliked her either...but she always gets on my nerves as someone who puts in so little effort for such high returns. As someone who's had to work very hard to get where I am, seeing her be successful just by turning on a webcam and flashing her tits makes me... Well I can't say I'm not envious, but it makes me mad when I put in all that effort for myself.

Damien thought back to Syn's rundown house, the complex computer setup, lighting rig, microphone system, and editing software. "I think she works harder than you realize," he said softly, then quieted down after noting that his comment was met with more intense scowling. Gabriella didn't let go of his hand though, so he didn't feel the comment was too bad.

"Oh this is so great!" Priest Summer exclaimed happily, bouncing up and down with her hands clasped together giddily.

"Hmph, we'll see if they're worthy. Love at first sight, what a joke. The more they find out about each other the more they'll realize how silly they were to rush into a relationship based on nothing except their looks." Damien smirked a little as he was reminded that Crystal was essentially a divorce lawyer. Nymeera really did seem to know them...that was interesting.

"Hey, looks can mean a lot," Synastro said, sitting up and flipping her perfect red locks through the air, an action that made Gabriella shift in her seat. "But you're right that they aren't everything. Bring in the trial bearers!" she called out loudly, perching herself on the bench in a way that made her effortlessly pretty... Actually, Gabriella might've had a point about that.

Speaker Suki nodded once, remaining silent despite her stage name, and left the stage, her mesmerizing bust bouncing hypnotically with every step. Damien glanced over at Gabriella, but she didn't seem too upset at Suki. If there was someone who really was 'effortlessly gorgeous' it was certainly Suki, not Syn, in his opinion. She even had the transformation for it too! All Eyes on Me. Yet, Gabriella didn't seem to get upset about that, so Damien had a hunch that the bigger issue for Gabriella was Syn's lack of apparent work ethic, not so much her looks. She pretty much admitted as much earlier, but he wondered if her fixation with Syn's appearance was more due to her own transformation, Latin Blood, than jealousy or envy... How much did the transformation affect them? It was unnerving to think that these transformations could change them so subtly they wouldn't even notice, or worse, wouldn't recognize the changes as done by an external ****. Not for the first time Damien worried all this was too much for him, but he didn't have time to dwell on that, but Speaker Suki returned almost immediately.

Damino, looking fiercely determined with his hands clenched tightly by his sides, was right behind her. Danageno entered moments later, feathers falling to the ground and looking...less so, twiddling her thumbs nervously like a child who knew she was about to be chastised.

"Welcome love birds," Synastro purred, standing and strutting over to the duo, plucking a feather from Danageno's shoulders and placing it behind her ear in a gesture that could be nothing except seductive.

"Would you marry-"

"Shhhh..." Synastro preened, placing a slender finger upon Danageno's lips. "We're about to find out just how marriage material the two of you are." Danageno swooned, her face going concerningly pale. Damien wondered if there was a makeup trick to that or if the actress playing Dana's role was just really good... "Now that you've been...purified," Synastro giggled softly as Damino awkwardly shifted his posture, adjusting the front of his pants, at the same time that Danageno started obsessively smoothing the front of her dress, "the trials will officially begin. My priests will instruct you in your trials, and unless you complete all of them, I will not permit you to leave." Synastro's voice becomes deathly serious for a moment, and the music that was accompanying the scene sputters off into an uncomfortable silence, broken almost immediately when Syn smiles brightly and waves. "Good luck!" she sings as she heads off stage, leaving Damino and Danageno alone with the Priest twins and Speaker.

The Summer Priest beamed brightly, while Speaker Suki smiled gently at the duo, who shuffled a little awkwardly for a moment. Then Danageno opened her mouth and took a large intake of breath.

"Silence," said Priest Crystal immediately, causing Danageno to stand there with her mouth open. "That's your first trial. You will take a vow of silence starting now."

"What kind of trial is that?!" Danageno says immediately, looking to Damino, flabbergasted, who looks back with a stern frown before looking directly at the Crystal Priest and nodding once, determination filling his expression. Crystal Priest's look softens for a moment, a hint of a smile forming before she's back to her usual, cold expression.

"This is a trial to focus your minds and prove your mental fortitude. It is also a trial designed to test how well you can resist temptation. There will be many times you will feel compelled to speak, believing the reason for words is worth the breaking of this vow, at least in the moment, but that is the test, whether or not you can resist that urge and deny yourself the easy road, the gratifying path in the moment, in order to strive towards the grander, more fulfilling goal in the future. You will be tempted, but you must not listen to temptation, or you will not be granted that which you desire..." Crystal Priest looked over Damino and Danageno with stern, icy blue eyes as a hush fell over the theater.

"Vow of silence huh?" Damien whispered to Gabriella, "Don't the men in these older plays usually have to make big, loud proclamations of love? Or is that a more modern interpretation?"

"Well, the theme of this is more in line with divinity and purity versus simple happiness...but here I think Nymeera is just trying to tell us, subtly of course, that a man is much prettier when he's quiet."

"Can't say I disagree," Gabriella teased lightly, giving Damien a naughty smile that made him smile back.

"Is that your subtle way of telling me to shut up and let you watch the Opera?" Damien grinned back.

"No, that's my subtle way of saying I don't mind having your tongue down my throat...again. But I do want to finish watching. I'm kinda curious about how things will wrap up...and whether Nymeera really will let herself, well the Queen of Night, go down as the villain." Damien frowned a bit, thinking of the purple haired fox woman who pulled him and these eight women into this situation. Against their wills, with no regard for their comfort or keeping their lives or bodies intact. All for the purpose of entertainment, and with no remorse for who she hurt along the way. Or how badly. His thoughts inadvertently drifted to Victoria...

"I don't think she particularly cares... In fact, I think she prefers to be the villain. Defeated or not..." Damien said quietly, mulling over his own thoughts as the Priest twins sang to Damino and Danageno.

"Bewahret euch von Weibertücken..."

"Keep yourselves from women's tricks..."

The age of the play was definitely showing itself, but the song was more about resisting temptation as a whole than specifically the temptation of women and their feminine wiles. Though somehow Damien felt that this song was speaking directly to him. This was his third 'date' with a former student in just two days. The pace and nature of the show had made it all seem normal, after all compared to the ludicrous magic of transformations and the host who looked like she'd just stepped out of an erotic fantasy novel, the dates felt...safe. A way for him to drop his guard and not have to worry about the fates of these eight women he knew from 10 years ago, when they were in his class, learning ethics. Was this all just another trick then? A ploy by Nymeera to keep him invested in the women, the contestants, and trick him into developing real feelings for them...cause it was definitely working. His natural empathy made him want to help people in need, his biological instincts made beautiful women even easier to justify going out of his way to help, and being in these intimate situations with beautiful women his emotional core told him he was helping by doing his was...nice. Nymeera was pretty up front about how she viewed her role in all this. The antagonist that forces everyone to band together to generate maximum entertainment value, or even just to make sure a show happened at all...in that sense her playing the Queen of the Night was perfect casting.

The song had ended and the priests and Speaker had departed, but no sooner did they step off stage than three familiar purple fox girls appeared, rising out of the scenery to confront Damino and Danageno. Giggling and almost seeming to dance around the duo.

"Are you really so naive?" one of the girls asked, smiling seductively and leaning towards Damino, who frowned at them but held his tongue. "The Queen of the Night warned you that Synastro was a demon."

"I don't know she's been kinda nice so far...though that whip was... Oh right!" Danageno said, before covering her mouth at a sharp look from Damino. The fox girls just giggled coquettishly.

"What do you plan to do here?" Asked another fox, working to surround Damino alongside the third.

"Gabima is the daughter of the Queen of Night, not Synastro. Getting Synastro's favor won't give you Gabima's hand."

"Don't you want to marry her?"

"Oh yeah..." Danageno said with a wistful sigh, looking off into the distance stage left. Damien could almost imagine she was staring directly at the actress playing Gabima offstage... "Ow!" Danageno flinched as Damino wacked her upside the head with a look of frustration upon his face.

"Hey... What's wrong with him?" one of the fox girls asked. "He's not saying anything..."

"Tell us what you're planning to do. We can help you."

"Yes, hasn't the Queen been helpful already? Did she not give you the flute to turn her sorrow at Pamina's imprisonment into the joy of reuniting with her daughter?" Damino looks down at the flute, the absurdly long thing tucked into his belt, and frowns for a moment, but takes a breath and refuses to answer, moving to sit down, facing away from the fox women. Danageno finds no such restraint, however.

"Wait, is that why the Queen of the Night did this? Gah! I don't know what's right or wrong anymore! I just want a wife! Is that so much to ask?!" Danageno wailed loudly causing Damino to clear his throat very loudly in return. Danageno pouted and crossed her arms under her breasts and huffed, feeling less chagrined about speaking the more she did it.

"If you won't speak to us we'll just have to tell the Queen you've betrayed her..."

"Joined Synastro's side."

"You'll never be with your love."

"You must answer."

"Speak."

"Only the Queen of the Night can fulfill your desires..."

The fox women circled around Damino, the music swelling, intense and foreboding, becoming a heart pounding orchestra of rising tension, and yet through it all Damino remained silent, mouth and ears closed to the women's promises, then threats... Finally, the fox girls slowed, looking to each other in confusion, the music slowing down to a crawl as Damino sat resolute, and silent. With a shrug they slowly left the stage, each one looking back at Damino as he continued to sit silently, ignoring their departure as much as he had their words.

Speaker Suki and Summer Priest returned soon after, smiling at Damino and congratulating him on resisting temptation. To Danageno they merely wished her better luck next time, which had the feathered woman looking dejected as they were lead off stage towards the next trial. The audience applauded as the lights dimmed and the stage began to change, stagehands rushing about to set up the next scene quickly, moving pews and an altar for a bed and wardrobe. A large doorframe was set up near the edge of the stage and as the stage hands moved away Damien saw that on the bed lay Gabima, looking beautiful as ever, with eyes closed in apparent sleep. Then, as the lights began to come up, a familiar figure crept up slowly on the unsuspecting Gabima, peering in at her from the wooden doorframe. Victostatos had returned.

"Oh fuck, I forgot about this part of the scene..." Gabriella muttered to herself, crossing her arms and frowning heavily. Damien was about to ask what she meant, but it turned out he didn't need to, as Victostatos began to sing, the music quick paced and eager, much like Victostatos herself as she pressed herself against the door, lustfully staring after Gabima as she slept, even licking her lips exaggeratedly during the pauses. A bright spotlight shone over Gabima, bathing her in radiant light as Victostatos sang from the shadows.

"Alles fühlt der Liebe Freuden..."

"All feel the joys of love..." the subtitles said, but Damien was having a hard time looking at them because Victostatos was slipping into Gabima's room, closing the door behind her, and dancing over to Gabima her fingers caressing the sleeping woman's exposed body sensually as shadowy hands slid over Gabima's body, the stage hands using the overly bright spotlight to create shadows that crawled across Gabima's body as Victostatos sang and caressed her. The production was actually very impressive, more and more shadow hands being added to the mix until Gabima was positively covered in them. Gabriella bristled next to him, and Damien couldn't really blame her as Victostatos's own hands stroked gently, teasingly across Gabima's legs, thighs, all the way up to her breasts, an evil smile upon her face as she leaned forward to give the sleeping Gabima a kiss...

Suddenly a the music cut out as a loud banging sounded at the door, which was shrouded in shadow, and Victostatos jumped back in shock, just before she could touch her lips to Gabima's. All those shadowy hands suddenly leapt back, like cockroaches fleeing from a bright light and Gabima herself shot awake, startled, but facing away from Victostatos who fearfully looked around before stealthily sliding down to hide under Gabima's bed. At the door was a figure, shrouded in shadow and unseen, but it was quite obvious who it was. No one else had that silhouette after all...

"Gabima!" The Queen of Night cried out in glee, opening the door and seeing her daughter there.

"M-mommy?" Gabima says, causing Gabriella to suddenly start **** next to Damien, who supposed that line wasn't in the true Opera.

"There you are. Quickly, come with me, I'm getting you out of here." Nymeera's character was saying the right words, but her tone was commanding, imperial, a voice to be obeyed without question, not a savior to rescue a maiden. "That Damino prince was obviously a failure, and though it may be hopeless I'm not letting Synastro have you for one second longer." Damien frowned, the actress playing the Queen of the Night, possibly Nymeera herself, was doing a fantastic job portraying someone who was presenting as saving her daughter, but her tone and word choice made it feel like she just wanted Gabima under her control.

"Oh well...actually..." Gabima said, looking down and smiling fondly, which caused the Queen of the Night's smile to disappear completely. "Damino did come to rescue me...but after speaking with Synastro. Well I think he plans to join her brotherhood and...I'd like to join him. Marrying under Synastro's authority means I won't be bound here any longer, and having a handsome prince like Damino as a husband...with such a long flute..." Gabima blushed brightly and hid her face in her hands. Gabriella sputtered again, clearly at the line obviously not found in any other rendition of the Magic Flute in all history.

"I swear...that fox bitch..."

"Gabima." The Queen of the Night's voice was deathly cold, silencing Gabima, and even Gabriella stopped talking. "Perhaps you simply don't understand. Synastro is a demonic woman who stole all of this from me," The Queen of Night said, gesturing to the room around them. "My husband, the previous owner of this temple, was seduced by that red haired harlot and on his **** bed gave her the temple instead of me! I will not be betrayed again, not by my own daughter!"

The Queen of the Night suddenly drew a dagger from somewhere inside her dress, red and cruelly sharp, causing Gabima and the audience, including Damien himself, to gasp.

"M-mommy?"

"My power died alongside my husband, giving Synastro all the authority I should've wielded, but this imbalance can be rectified," she said, holding out the knife to Gabima. "Take this. Kill Synastro. The bitch won't expect my sweet, darling daughter to stab her through her homewrecking heart!" Gabima looked absolutely terrified as the knife, almost glowing it was so red, was pushed into her hands, music swelling with the moment, and the Queen of the Night, easily the most powerful singer in the cast, began to sing a fast paced song of terror and ****.

"Der Hölle **** kocht in meinem Herzen..."

"Hell's vengeance boils in my heart..."

Damien's mouth fell open as the notes, coming so quick paced, were so high he almost couldn't believe a human could ever hit them... Though Nymeera was certainly the least human among them all, but even still. When Gabriella had said the Queen of the Night was one of the hardest roles to sing in all of Opera he had believed her and politely nodded along, but now...with rapid fire high notes that take a traditional scale and rip it to shreds, he found himself finally understanding just what she had meant.

"Do it. Or you will no longer be my daughter," Nymeera said, venom oozing out of each word, Gabima looking like she was about to cry, or even faint, as the Queen spun on her heel and stalked away. The audience erupted in applause, and Damien found himself lifted to his feet to join them. This was why Opera had endured for so long. This feeling.

Gabriella stood beside him and applauded politely, smiling at him with a knowing smile on her face.

"Not bad for a fox bitch I suppose..." she said, and Damien found himself staring at the gorgeous Latina woman, overwhelmed by emotions. He wanted to kiss her suddenly, he wanted to hold her in his arms and kiss her deeply and passionately in front of everyone, and judging by the look on her face...

...she knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Hahahahahaha!"

Alas, the show must go on, and Victostatos' laugh of pure malice cut through the applause and put the audience back in their seats as she emerged from under the bed.

"Well well, what do we have here? An assassin sent to **** our beloved Synastro? I wonder...what kind of reward I might get from turning to over to her ire? Her whip is quite painful...trust me."

"W-wh- Victostatos! No! I didn't agree to..."

"Do you really think it matters? The only thing that matters is that knife in your hand." Gabima suddenly dropped the knife like a poisonous snake, the bright red weapon falling onto the bed as Gabima jumped off of it, looking terrified as the spotlight moved to keep her in focus with Victostatos circling around her in the shadows like a predator. Shadow hands suddenly appeared, crawling up and down Gabima's body as Victostatos licked her lips. Gabima tried to brush off the hands but, as shadows, noting she did made a difference.

"What do you want?"

"I want you baby girl," Victostatos purred devilishly. "Renounce that Damino idiot, and marry me instead. I'll fuck that hot little body of yours so good every night, and this little act of treason...will be our secret. I swear. Synastro will never know your mother ordered you to kill her, and not only will you be safe...but she will be too..."

Gabima's eyes widened in horror as those sensual shadows continued to crawl along her body before combining into one hand that slowly slid its way up to her throat...

"Already after another kiss of my whip?" Called Syn's voice from offstage, the shadowy hand scattering again and the lights brightening noticeably as Synastro strutted confidently onto the stage. "What a devoted follower... I'll have to reward you properly later," she continued, the playful mirth disappearing from her tone with every word.

"Mistress!" Victostatos yelped in surprise. "This girl was-"

"Out!" Synastro interrupted with a shout, pointing back the way she'd come. Victostatos didn't need to be told twice, running past Synastro who gave her a firm slap on the backside as she ran offstage. With Victostatos gone Synastro heaved a heavy sigh and walked toward the bed, where the sinister red knife lay, picking it up and looking it over.

"Synastro!" Gabima shouted, falling down to her knees, hands clasped together in prayer. "Forgive my mother! I was never going to use it, I swear! Ple-" but Synastro merely held up her free hand and tossed the dagger away.

"Be at ease my sweet Gabima. I assure you, **** and cruelty have no place in these halls. That's why your father couldn't give it to your mother. Her fate will ultimately be her own, but I shall not seek vengeance for something that didn't even happen. I'm not her, after all," Synastro said with a sly grin.

"Then, do you mean..."

"Did I fuck your daddy? Ha, not at all! Not that I'd have minded a threesome, but the man was fully committed to your mother, and this temple...it would not have tolerated such a cruel and spiteful mistress. He did all he could to spare her from that fate, but you can't save people from themselves unless they want to be saved. He was a close friend, and I promised to watch over you until you are married. So Damino better be a good man or I'll fuck him over, and not in the good way," Synastro said with a naughty grin on her face as she turned to leave and the lights dimmed.

As the scene began to change Damien leaned over to Gabriella and whispered. "Maybe Syn isn't so bad after all," he teased, causing Gabriella to roll her eyes.

"It's a play, Synastro is a character and isn't the same as Syn despite some...artistic liberties. Trust me, I was her captain for years on the squad. She'd have no trouble fucking her way to an easier time." Damien thought back to her seduction of him for a better grade and decided Gabriella was definitely right about that. "It is sweet though... The original play isn't like this, but Sarastro, the REAL Sarastro, is actually trying to protect Pamina, and does seem to care for her like his own daughter. **** her and keeping her locked away in his temple is a bit much though." Again, Damien had to agree, smiling at Gabriella as the lights came back up and the next scene started.

The scene started with Damino and Danageno being led on stage by Crystal Priest, who coldly reminds them to remain silent and to wait for the next trial here. Then she leaves without another word, leaving Damino to stand solemnly, holding his large wood...flute, and Danageno to look around the elegantly decorated stage, full of flowers and vases restlessly but, this time, silently...

"I'm thirsty!" Danageno complained loudly, breaking the brief silence. Damino looked over to her and just sighed, going back to fingering his massive wood...en flute some more.

"You certainly are dear," said a voice from offstage and Damien didn't recognize. A short old woman appeared holding a carafe and giving Danageno a kind smile.

"Huh..." Gabriella frowned at the old woman, "I thought it'd be Lauren but... Who is that?" Damien had no idea what she was talking about, but figured it'd be spoilers to ask and the Opera would probably be wrapping up soon.

"Your throat is probably parched from speaking too much. Here you are, thirsty girl," the kindly old woman chuckled, though Danageno didn't seem to understand the slight ribbing she was recieving.

"Oh! Thank you!" Danageno said, happily taking the carafe and drinking deeply from it before handing it back to the old lady. "You're very kind. You have a boyfriend yet?" Danageno asked with a wink.

"No I have a girlfriend," the old woman replied with a wink of her own. "Her name is Danageno." This caused Danageno to freeze in place, quickly looking over to Damino, who was pointedly ignoring the chattering of the two ladies, and then to look back at the old woman, who was already turning and walking back offstage.

"W-wait a minute! Who are you?" Danageno shouts out, starting to run after her, only to be stopped by two very familiar faces entering from the direction the old woman exited, blocking Danageno's path.

"Well done on your trials so far Damino!" said the Lauren guard, completely ignoring Danageno, who was looking very intimidated by the tall, muscular, and very scary looking Patika guard.

"You've still got a long way to go, but you're doing well," Patika guard said, nodding respectfully at Damino. Both guards smiled approvingly as Damino continued to remain silent.

"What about me?" Danageno asks, finally stepping back and no longer trying to chase after the old woman. The Lauren and Patika guards look to her, sigh, then turn back to Damino.

"It is almost time for the second trial. The Priest of Nature's trial of silence is nearly over...for one of you at least, but remain vigilant. The trial will not end until the Priest of Nature, or the Speaker herself ends it. The second trial, from the Priest of Reason, is a bit more...**** though." Patika looked rather uncomfortable for a moment before continuing. "So before you undergo that trial, you should give your beloved your final farewell. Just in case you don't make it."

"Don't make it!?" Danageno screamed out at the top of her lungs. "What do you mean by that!?! ****? Is it deadly? I... I'm gonna sit this one out Damino. I'm sure you understand!"

"Yes, I think that'd be for the best..." Guard Lauren said with a small, placating smile. Danageno's outburst suddenly deflated as she realized both guards thought she'd just hold Damino back...then that realization turned to embarrassment, and finally...shame.

"Well... Uh...I should be going anyway... Those wives won't find themselves you know!" she says quickly, rushing off stage with her head hung low. Meanwhile Damino is processing everything, silently but a range of emotions washes across his face one by one. Apprehension...despair...resolve...nervousness...and finally, determination as he brings the flute to his lips and begins to play.

The long, slow notes ring out over the theater, the only music or even sound in the building for a precious few, beautiful moments, until from offstage, as though draw in by the music, Gabima arrives, beaming brightly at Damino.

"Oh Damino! I knew that sound could only be you! How go your trials? Are you close? I don't think I can wait much longer, things are...there have been some trying times for me too recently..." Gabima said softly, walking towards Damino, who smiled at her, but remained quiet, looking over to the guards. "Damino? Why do you not speak?"

"Damino has but one final trial to face, but it is highly dangerous...and so he is giving you his final farewell," Guard Patika said solemnly, causing Gabima to whirl towards her in shock, then back to Damino.

"Final... What are you saying? Damino, is this true?" Damino closed his eyes and took a breath, then nodded once. "But I... We... What about..." Gabima stuttered and clutched her hands together tightly. The lights faded until everyone except Gabima was in shadow, and the music for another song began to play...

"Soll ich dich, Teurer, nicht mehr sehn?"

"Shall I see you no more, dear one?" she sang, a terribly sad song about losing the one she loves and fearing never to see him again, painfully lamenting that he doesn't love her anymore. Damien felt pain in his heart at the misunderstanding, but he couldn't help but also feel annoyed by the contrived situation. Gabriella was obviously feeling the same way because she was starting to suck on her fingers again...

"Stupid fox bitch...using my voice and face to sound this pathetic over a guy... Fuck she's even gonna try to commit suicide because of this isn't she? Damn it..." she muttered angrily to herself. Or maybe she was upset for different reasons.

When Gabima finished singing she reaches out a hand to Damino and pleads with him. "Please, say you love me my Damino! Just say this isn't the end!" However, Damino remains silent and the guards surround him.

"It's time to go..." Damino nods and gives Gabima one final, longing gaze, which she misses as her head is hung in despair, and exits with the guards, leaving Gabima to run off stage in the opposite direction in tears.

Danageno reappears on stage, looking scared and even a little depressed. It was the saddest Damien had seen this character yet, which was never a good feeling for the comic relief being brought this low.

"Fuck!" Danageno shouted. "What is the point of all this!"

The Summer and Crystal priests appeared to Danageno, looking at her apologetically and contemptuously, Damien wasn't really surprised which was which.

"The point is to be recognized as pure by the gods of the temple."

"There is a special magic this temple embodies you see, and if you can gain the gods' favor your relationship will be divinely ordained and protected. It's really quite an honor!"

"What if I don't care about any of that? I just want to find a wife to love me. I don't need divine ordainment or holy permission. I just need..." Danageno sighed loudly, plopping down on one of the temple pews. "Honestly I just need some wine. Can I have some to drink?" The Crystal and Summer priests turned to look at each other, and with a smile the Summer priest happily agreed, leading Crystal offstage while Danageno lounged fitfully.

"You'll be trapped here you know..." said the voice of the mysterious old woman, causing Danageno to jump out of her seat and fall over, feathers flying everywhere.

"W-what?"

"This temple, for those that cannot, or will not complete the trials and find someone to devote their life to, they're doomed to devote their life instead to the temple itself, and Synastro. But I can spare you that fate my thirsty girl... Promise to marry me. Pledge your love to me...and you will be free."

Danageno paused for a moment, then looked out at the audience. "Is this what they call, a honey trap?" before turning back to the old woman, looking her up and down, and turning away from her, towards the audience, making a very unpleasant face, before schooling her features and turning around. "I promise to marry you, to treasure you, and to love you faithfully..."

"...at least until something better comes around..." she stage whispers to the audience. "So...let's get out of here! Honey!"

Music began to play, echoing from all around the theater as stage hands rush onto the stage with large pieces of fabric trailing behind them, all of them running around the old woman, obscuring her from view as Danageno backs away slowly, looking around nervously before...the stagehands run back offstage, still trailing their long pieces of obscuring fabrics, but when they leave it is no longer and old woman standing there in a plain old robe, but...

"Dana!" Gabriella says way too loudly. She's shushed immediately, but Damien has a hard time blaming her. It's Dana, but in her original body, before her Isekai'd transformation.

"Well..." Danageno says, awestruck. "What do you know? Something better came along quicker than I thought. At last! A wife!" she cries out in pure joy, rushing forward to embrace her...only for the Priest twins to rush in front from offstage and block Danageno's path. "Oh come on!"

"Sorry..."

"Not sorry..."

"But you aren't yet worthy of Danagena here."

"Not only did you not pass any trials, but you clearly only love her for her looks!"

"That's not true! Uh...she also gave me water!" Summer and Crystal both look at each other, then shoo Danageno away, taking Danagena by the shoulders, who looks sad, and leading her offstage. "Noooo! Am I destined to be alone forever!?" Danageno wails as Danagena disappears from view, driving Danagena down to her knees in despair. "And I didn't even get that wine..."

Danageno gets up and starts to walk in place, stage hands moving the scenery to create the illusion of motion from the interior of the temple, to a garden with a large tree in its center, where Gabima is standing, affixing a rope to a tree branch, tears in her eyes. Danageno stops, and the scenery stops with her as she looks on at Gabima.

"What're you doing?" Danageno asks, startling Gabima who looks back at her with tear filled eyes.

"I... Damino no longer loves me... My mother will disown me... The only one who loves me is a creep who makes me feel unsafe... I just... I can't go on anymore..." Gabima says, crying deeply.

"What are you talking about?" Danageno asks, confused. "Damino underwent the trial of silence so stoically for you...and now he's going to take on a trial that could literally kill him, just to make you his bride. What the hell did I miss?" Danageno asked, feathers falling out from her hair as she scratched the top of her head.

"T-trial of silence? Wait... Is that what he meant by final farewell?" Gabima's sobbing slowly ceased, and a crazed smile appeared on her face. "He still loves me..."

"More than is probably healthy considering your history..." Danageno muttered.

"And he's going to undergo an extremely dangerous trial!" Gabima's smile vanished and she hopped down from the ladder where she was hanging the rope. "I have to go to him! Now! I won't let him do such a thing alone!" she states firmly, running off stage and leaving a flabbergasted Danageno alone. Slowly Danageno's gaze trails upward to the tree's branch, and the robe hanging there. She stares at it as the lights fade to black and the scene changes once again...

"That's...very dark for a comedy..." Damien muttered, unable to help but be drawn in as the opera almost seemed to be speeding up, picking up pace as it rushed toward its inevitable conclusion. Gabriella just sat back in her seat, watching him with an amused expression on her gorgeous face as the finale began in earnest.

"This is your second, and final trial," Speaker Suki explained to Damino, standing underneath a signpost as the back of the theater lit up a screen showing a massive pair of mountains, one a volcano spewing fire, and the other featuring a massive waterfall. "These are the Mountains of Ordeal, and only those who can overcome the fear of **** can reach the enlightenment needed to earn the ordainment of the gods Isis and Osiris. At this point, your trial of silence is over. Are you ready to face **** itself?" Suki asked, leaning forward and creating a captivating valley of cleavage.

"They're pretty massive..." Damino said, staring at the wrong mountains. "But to ensure Gabima lives free and happy...I will do this. I'm ready to be tested!" Damino says firmly, holding his magic flute high.

"Damino!" Gabima calls from offstage, running to him and all but leaping into his arms. "I..." she takes a breath. "I want to go with you! I want us to face this trial together. You and I... If we are to risk our lives, let it be for each other!" Damino looks towards Speaker Suki, the guards Lauren and Patika, all of whom smile and nod approvingly. Damino holds up the magic flute as the lights dim and the music swells, beautiful and triumphant.

"For you. Anything. I love you Gabima."

"I love you too Damino."

"Tamino mein, o welch ein Glück!"

"Oh, what luck, my Tamino!" Gabima starts to sing as Damino plays his flute, the pair of them stride together across the stage. The screen in the back changes to show fire and lava, and suddenly objects are falling down from the ceiling. Red pieces of debris that are painted to look like fiery rocks. As Damino and Gabima proceed these rocks start to fall even more fervently, some even heading directly for them! However, just before the rocks can hit their target, stagehands rise from the floor, their dark outfits making them almost invisible in the dark light of the glowing red stage, lifting a blanket made of dark black material, but sown with golden pieces that glitter in the low light, almost like the very air is sparkling around the duo singing and playing and smiling together. The rocks fall away harmlessly, bouncing off the blanket and onto the stage, leaving Damino and Gabima able to continue unharmed.

As they reach the end of the stage the lights change to a blue hue, the image in the background changing from fire to water and those fiery rocks change to streams of long blue tassels that careen down towards our heroes, threatening to crush them under a cascade of water. In a critical moment, Damino falters, the magic flute falling from his lips as he has to take a deep breath. The blanket of sparkling protection suddenly descends back down to the floor alongside the stagehands as Gabima and Damino fall to their knees, a massive streamer of water falling upon them as the music fades and the lights grow even dimmer...

Then Gabima reaches for Damino's flute and begins to play it herself. The music swells, the lights brighten, and the stagehands lift that sparkling barrier of protection again. Damino and Gabima stand and Damino smiles at her, face full of love. He then begins to sing, picking up right where Gabima left off and the two continue their journey to the other side of the stage where Speaker Suki is waiting for them.

"You did it!" she shouts, her normally subdued tone breaking into one of pure joy. "Please. Come! Enter the temple. You have overcome the trials of Isis and Osiris, and now there is nothing that can stop the two of you from being together forever." Damino and Gabima look at each other with love in their eyes, and kiss.

Damien let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and unconsciously, moved to hold Gabriella's hand in his own, surprised to find that her own hand was already moving towards his. He smiled as the scene transitioned back to Danageno in the garden mournfully climbing the ladder to the now tied noose, singing somberly to herself as the lights began to grow dimmer and dimmer.

"Papagena! Papagena! Papagena! Weibchen, Täubchen, meine Schöne..."

"Papagena! Papagena! Papagena! Dear woman, dear dove, my beauty..."

And then, as she is about to put the noose around her neck, the music is overwhelmed by something familiar. The sound of Danageno's magical bells that she used to escape from Victostatos with Gabima... Those very bells were now being played offstage, drawing Danageno's gaze away from the noose, to where Danagena stood, a spotlight filling the darkness that was slowly overtaking the stage.

"Pa!" she chirped out happily.

"Pa!" Danageno responded, putting the noose down as the music started to turn, becoming happy, even whimsical.

"Pa-Pa-Pa-Papageno!"

Danageno climbed down from the ladder, smiling and continuing to make bird-like courting noises at each other, a new song replacing the old as stage hands subtly moved the tree and noose off stage, letting it be forgotten as Danageno and Danagena started to give each other butterfly kisses, rubbing their noses together affectionately.

"Damino wasn't the only one gifted with a magical item to turn sorrow into joy," Danagena said, presenting Danageno with her magic bells. "Remember, you promised to marry me, and love me faithfully. You should keep your promises Danageno. Thirsty girl..." Danageno said, laughing musically.

"Of course! Enlightenment, ordainment by the gods...who cares! I have a beautiful wife to spend my life making happy!" Danageno said enthusiastically, picking up Danagena and twirling her around, feathers flying absolutely everywhere! Completely covering the stage and making whoever has to clean all that up hate their job. "We'll live on a peaceful little hill outside a village, overlooking a large bird reservoir!"

"We'll have seven children."

"Three girls and four boys!"

"Four girls and three boys!"

"Well we'll see what the gods give us."

"...I think we'll have to adopt."

"Well, we have our entire lives to figure out the details. For now, I just want to kiss my beautiful wife!"

"Thirsty girl..."

And with a kiss the lights turn off and the audience erupts in applause...premature applause it seems, because the lights come back up on Nymeera, the Queen of the Night alongside Victostatos and the three fox girls all trudging along through the dark with a brooding, menacing tone playing behind them.

"That slut thinks she can steal my family from me again. I'll show her... I'll show that whole fucking temple..." the Queen of Night says, her red eyes almost glowing on the dark stage.

"Synastro has mistreated me too long after all my loyal service," Victostatos says eagerly, licking her lips as she follows after the Queen. "I know being under your authority will be much more...rewarding, my Queen."

"Yes, you will have Gabima for yourself, to do whatever you please," the Queen of Night said, almost distractedly, to a very excited Victostatos. "But first, we'll burn that fucking temple to the ground, and I dare Isis and Osiris to stop me!"

Lightning flashed across the stage, causing the 5 to halt, blinded as thunder suddenly erupted, powerfully echoing throughout the theater as the sound of rocks shifting sounded and the 5 would be desecraters suddenly found their footing unstable, and their bodies tumbling backward...

"Wha- NOOOOOOO!" Screamed the Queen of the Night as she, and her four cohorts were pulled backwards into a pitch black curtain on the back of the stage, probably with wires, disappearing beneath it as the music, and their screams, cut off suddenly.

The audience applause resumes as the final scene played out. Gabima and Damino were wed by Synastro in the temple's most holy chamber. The priests, guards, Speaker, and of course Danageno and Danagena, looked on as Synastro claimed the sun's victory over the night, and led the chorus in hailing the newly consecrated Gabima and Damino, giving thanks to Isis and Osiris for protecting their marriage for the rest of their days.

With that, the Opera was over, and despite himself Damien felt moved to stand and applaud, even Gabriella was on her feet and smiling.

"Not bad," she said, "Some notes here and there but...fox bitch did a pretty good job," she shrugged.

"You think it'll be good enough to get you a good ranking from the audience?" Damien asked, still applauding.

"Well, I hope so...but I had a good time too," Gabriella said halting her applause to lean over and kiss Damien on the lips. He smiled.

"I had fun too, and I feel like I got to know a whole other side of you...not Gabima obviously," he chuckled, offering her his arm.

"Honestly...I feel the same way. I thought you'd be some dorky old man who couldn't connect with me but...you impressed me. I feel better about my plan to return the favor tonight," Gabriella said with a sultry grin. Damien blinked.

"Tonight? You mean..."

"That's right, I talked to the other girls," Well, most of the other girls, "And I'll be seeing you again. So don't make any plans now," Gabriella whispered huskily as she allowed Damien to escort her out of the theater and back to the parking lot where their limo awaited. Alongside their captor.

"Have fun?" Nymeera asks with a playful swish of her tail.

"S-should you really be looking like that in public?" Damien asked, startled that Nymeera was no longer in her Nina disguise.

"Wow! Great Queen of the Night costume!" some random passerby said. "You look just like her!"

"Thanks!" Nymeera cheered, giving the man a wink before turning back to Damien. "You'll do well not to underestimate me. After all, this date you both enjoyed so much is basically something I made myself. I'm just allowing Gabby here to ride my coat tails...but we'll see how the audience reacts to it, knowing that all she did is sit on her tight little ass and make commentary. At least Syn actually bothered to do something, even if her date wasn't even her idea."

"H-hey! Going to see a movie or a play or an Opera is a long standing date tradition!"

"Sure. It's totally not the same as just giving a child an iPad to watch while babysitting. Minimal interaction, minimal risk. Very safe. I wonder if the audience likes safe..."

"Nymeera." Damien stood firm in front of the all powerful fox woman, frowning down at her from his new height. "I had a wonderful time. If the audience is going to judge anything, let that be first in their minds."

"Well, it's up to the audience anyway, I don't get to veto things like dates...or nights," Nymeera said giving Gabriella a knowing smile.

"I think you've blathered on long enough!" Gabriella said firmly, a light blush on her face. "Take us back, that's what you're here for right?"

"As you wish, madame Secretary," Nymeera purred with a confident smile, even tipping her hat.

And with that Damien knew the date was officially over.