Fantasia of the Dream-Protecting Acrobats ~Western Country & Central Country~

Chloe: When I was much less of an experienced tailor than I am now, a dear friend of mine asked me to make an outfit for him.

Chloe: I was delighted, and immediately told him that I would do my best. He laughed, and he told me that he was looking forward to it. And I remember being terrified in that moment.

Chloe: My friend was kind, and graceful, and cool... I worried that I couldn't possibly make clothes wonderful enough to suit him.

Chloe: I felt so worried, and so lost... I didn't know what to do, and in the end, I gave up on the design.

Marie: ...

Chloe: But my friend noticed that I was withdrawing from him and hiding my feelings, and he reached out to me.

Chloe: He said, "do you like making clothes, Chloe?" And I was so surprised by the question that I didn't have an answer for him.

Chloe: But I realized then that I was too focused on the end product. I had been so fixated on the idea of making something impressive and beautiful that I had neglected to make something that I loved.

Chloe: That was when I got the courage to tell him what had been bothering me, all my doubts and all my fears.

Chloe: And then I told him that I did love making clothes, and that I wanted most of all to make clothes that would make my precious friend happy.

Chloe looks back at Rustica and smiles happily, proud of his precious friend.

Rustica: ...

Marie: ... so did you finish the outfit?

Chloe: Yeah. It took me a little while, but I think the experience made me a lot more confident.

Chloe: And, I like making clothes now more than ever!

Chloe: And maybe you feel the same way. Maybe that's why the lion statue is...

Marie: ...

Then, we heard some familiar footsteps echoing through the square.

Cain: Oh, what a relief! We found them!

Akira: Everybody...

Riquet: Well? Does she like the outfit you made her, Chloe?

Chloe: Well, about that... you see...

Marie: ... it's fine. I'll tell them. So...

...

Arthur: I see. That's certainly a predicament.

Riquet: Why don't you just ask the townspeople not to destroy the statue?

Riquet: If it's for the sake of your dear friend, they might understand.

Riquet: And if they don't tear the statue down, then you should be able to enjoy performing in the circus without any worries, right?

Marie seemed reluctant to answer Riquet's question.

The one who broke the silence was, of course, Murr.

Murr: I mean, even if they don't tear it down, it's not going to change much.

Shylock: Murr.

Cain, Riquet: Huh...?

I didn't understand what Murr was saying either, but Shylock smiled bitterly and explained.

Shylock: The statue is very old, and nearing the end of its life. It's likely going to crumble of its own accord soon even if they don't tear it down.

Marie: I know... I guess I had noticed that already.

Marie: Even just while I've been coming to visit him, he's been getting more cracked and chipped, and he can barely speak anymore.

Marie: So I want to at least be with him until the end.

Akira: Isn't there something we can do about this? Like, shouldn't we be able to restore him with magic?

Oz: Restoration is child's play. It would be trivial to make it look as good as new.

Oz: But the magic that inhabits the statue due to the Great Calamity would also be reverted to its original state.

Akira: Which is to say... the anomalies the Calamity caused in the statue will stop...?

Shylock: Indeed. Everything will go back to the way it's supposed to be, and the talking lion statue will be back to being a silent, unremarkable lion statue.

Shylock: ... but that wouldn't be the fellow who Marie befriended.

Shylock glanced at Murr. Murr met his gaze and smiled like a mischievous cat.

Murr: Huh? What'cha talking about?

Shylock: Hmm. I wonder.

Shylock sighed.

Shylock: Regardless. Whether we fix the statue or not, the inevitable outcome is Marie losing her talkative little friend.

Akira: That's...

Even if they didn't actually communicate with each other, Marie was still saved by the lion's words.

Marie: I...

Marie's voice trailed off into nothingness. And then, when the entire area was silent...

Lion Statue: ... fun. Not...

Lion Statue: Not having fun. Not having fun. Not having...

The lion statue was repeating itself much louder than before, but this was the exact opposite of what it was supposed to say.

Lion Statue: Not having fun! Not having fun! Not having fun! Not having fun!

Cain: What in the world!? Isn't this guy supposed to only talk about "having fun"?

Marie: I've never heard him raise his voice this loud, or say something like this...! What's wrong with him!?

Marie patted his paw with tender concern, but his cries didn't stop.

Lion Statue: Not having fun! Not having fun! Not having fun! Not having fun! Not having fun! Not having fun!

Riquet: O-Oz. Is this the work of the Calamity?

Oz: ...

Rustica: ... I think he's sad.

Rustica: I'm sure that he cares for his dear friend Marie as much as Marie cares for him.

Rustica: He's sad that she can't perform because she's upset over his departure.

Marie: Is that why he's saying he's not having fun...? But... but I–!

Her anguish began to seep into her voice, making it quaver.

Chloe: ... ah!

Chloe, who had been watching Marie with concern in his eyes, looked up, as though he had just had an epiphany.

Chloe: How about we have the lion come see Marie's trapeze show up close?

Chloe: That way, Marie could perform in the show and not have to worry about leaving her friend alone.

Chloe: And best of all, she could share her beloved circus with her beloved lion.

Marie: ... it's a nice idea, but I don't know if the ringleader would allow it...

Chloe: You just have to explain the circumstances to him. If you're afraid to do it by yourself, then I'll go with you. I want to help you out.

Chloe: So Marie, you just have to be brave. For the sake of your precious friend.

Marie: ... yeah!