Chariot Shiori Yumeoji/Bond Story

*"I'm a lump of iron created to kill humans!" The "Chariot" follows orders and hunts down the citizens. Just when the iron weapon is about to fire...someone puts an evening primrose into the mouth of the cannon. From "Performance Festival" Play - Act 2.*

*(Part 1 and Part 2 of Arcana Arcadia Stage Girl bond stories are viewable in the Gallery under Arcana Arcadia - Intermission.)*

* Part 1
* Part 2
* Bond Level 15 Talk
* Bond Level 30 Talk

Follow the Sound of Hooves Part 1

 **Shiori:**Hm... "Powerless and helpless... Yet you fools continue to struggle desperately...."

 **Shiori:**"No matter how big your numbers are, you'll never be able to stop me!"

 **Shiori:**You f-fools...

 **Shiori:**"Ignorant and insolent. These useless lives can just fall with regrets!"

 **Shiori:**Whew...

 **Shiori:**Ngh... It's kind of...

 **Shiori:**These lines sound scary... This second draft of the "Performance Festival" script...

 **Shiori:**No matter how many times I read it... I get so embarrassed... My face feels like it's burning...

 **Shiori:**In the first draft, the "Chariot" was a dignified hero on a two-horse carriage...

 **Shiori:**So why did it change so much in the second draft...?

 **Shiori:**A steel horse that tramples over everything...

 **Shiori:**The "Chariot" Arcana. The upright position stands for things like "victory", "breakthrough", "problem solving"...

 **Shiori:**The reverse position means "hardship", "accident", and "desperate struggle". I understand that much...

 **Shiori:**But to say, "You'll never be able to stop me!"...

 **Shiori:**Why did the script team give such me such lines...?

 **Shiori:**They should have watched our past performances and practices closely...

 **Shiori:**There's even the rumor of the casting being based not only on the actor's acting skill and expressive skill, but also their lifestyle and personality...

 **Shiori:**Has someone been watching me...? In which case...

 **Shiori:**Then I really don't understand why I've been casted as the "Chariot"...

 **Shiori:**And why the "Chariot's" personality and lines turned out like this...

 **Shiori:**My similarity with the "Chariot"...

 **Shiori:**...It has to be the horse... I guess? Hmm...

 **Shiori:**Just what happened between the first and second drafts...?

 **Shiori:**......

 **Shiori:**But the fact that the second draft is finished means...

 **Shiori:**Another "Performance Festival" script reading...

 **Shiori:**And that rehearsal room again...with Fumi...

 **Shiori:**And on top of that...we'll be in the scene together.

 **Shiori:**"Chariot", "Hierophant", "Lovers"... And then "Temperance" and "Death".

 **Shiori:**Tomoe-san and Fumi...

 **Shiori:**And there's also the confrontation scene between the "Chariot" and "Temperance"...

 **Shiori:**......

 **Shiori:**I'm getting nervous...

 **Shiori:**But I have to be brave.

 **Shiori:**Because I'm an Edel of Siegfeld Institute of Music... I am Frau Jade...

 **Shiori:**But... What should I do? My heart won't stop racing.

 **Shiori:**...At this rate, I won't be able to sleep until after the script reading.

 **Shiori:**Oh...that's right.

***Clip-clop-clip-clop...***

 **Shiori:**Walk... Trot!

 **Shiori:**Yes, good girl.

***Clip-clop-clip-clop...***

 **Shiori:**Phew... This feels nice...

 **Shiori:**It's been a long time since I've ridden. I've been so busy with the "Performance Festival" preparations that I haven't been able to come.

 **Shiori:**It's relaxing to ride a horse... I can forget all the bad things.

***Neigh!***

 **Shiori:**Yes, I know. After we walk for a while longer, okay? I'll give you a carrot when we go back.

 **Shiori:**When we go back...

 **Shiori:**Once I get off the horse...the "Performance Festival" script reading...

 **Shiori:**The rehearsal day with Fumi...

 **Shiori:**No, stop... I'm thinking about it again...

***Squeal!***

 **Shiori:**Huh?

**Staff A:**Hey! What are you doing?!

**Staff B:**I'm sorry, I let go of the reins!

 **Shiori:**That's... A white...foal?

 **Shiori:**It's heading this way!

***Squeal!***

 **Shiori:**Aah!

***Clip-clop-clip-clop...!***

 **Shiori:**Whoa, what's the matter?!

 **Shiori:**Whoa! Whoa! Easy now... Easy!

 **Shiori:**Oh no... It's agitated and won't calm down...!

 **Shiori:**I'm gonna fall off...!

 **Shiori:**Aaaaaaaah!

***Thud!***

 **Shiori:**Ugh...

**????:**Phew... Made it.

**????:**Managed a sliding catch just in the nick of time!

 **Shiori:**Wh–... Huh? Didn't I fall off the horse...?

**????:**It'd be terrible if you were to injure yourself before the "Performance Festival".

 **Shiori:**Oh yes, you're right... Huh?!

 **Mahiru:**Are you okay, Yumeoji-san?

 **Shiori:**T-Tsuyuzaki-san?!

Follow the Sound of Hooves Part 2

 **Shiori:**Um... Are you okay?

 **Mahiru:**Don't worry about it. I'm totally fine!

 **Mahiru:**The dirt on the riding grounds is soft and I've been training in my lessons, so this is nothing!

 **Shiori:**Th-Thank you very much.

 **Shiori:**But still... What are you doing here, Tsuyuzaki-san...?

 **Mahiru:**Well...

 **Mahiru:**Actually, my family back in Hokkaido does farming.

 **Mahiru:**Our neighbor... I say neighbor, but they're actually a few kilometers away... There's a ranch there.

 **Mahiru:**They have a lot of horses there, so I used to ride horses a lot.

 **Mahiru:**From thoroughbred to quarter horse. Pony, draft horse...

 **Shiori:**How wonderful... I'd love to be there.

 **Mahiru:**It's just ranches and farms wherever you look.

 **Mahiru:**But... That's the scenery I grew up looking at, so I started missing wide grassy fields and open skies.

 **Mahiru:**I sometimes go to the riding ranch when I go on walks. It's the closest place to school that reminds me of Hokkaido.

 **Shiori:**I see.

 **Mahiru:**And I also got this yesterday.

 **Shiori:**A picture...? Aw, cute.

 **Mahiru:**Heh heh, that's my little sister.

 **Shiori:**Really? She looks exactly like you. Especially her hairstyle and...

 **Shiori:**Oh, she's riding a horse...!

 **Mahiru:**That's right. She wrote to tell me about her first time riding a horse.

 **Mahiru:**After seeing the photo and reading the letter... I had to come here.

 **Mahiru:**When I got to the riding ranch, I found you...

 **Mahiru:**And there was that accident... I was surprised.

 **Shiori:**I'm sorry... I caused you trouble...

 **Shiori:**Tsuyuzaki-san, you saved my life.

 **Mahiru:**It's fine, don't mention it. I'm just glad you're okay.

 **Mahiru:**But...

 **Mahiru:**Did something happen?

 **Shiori:**Huh...?

 **Mahiru:**You looked like your mind was somewhere else when you were riding.

 **Shiori:**Tsuyuzaki-san...

 **Mahiru:**I see...

 **Mahiru:**I suppose you would meet your sister, Yumeoji-san, at the "Performance Festival" script reading.

 **Shiori:**Yes.

 **Shiori:**Since Fumi changed schools, we've had the chance to stand on the same stage a few times...

 **Shiori:**We were standing side by side then...

 **Shiori:**But this time with the "Performance Festival"... My role is...that thing.

 **Mahiru:**That thing?

 **Mahiru:**Oh... Your "Chariot"... If I remember, from the second draft...

 **Shiori:**Yes... That happened...

 **Mahiru:**Hm... Right.

 **Shiori:**We'll be having our second script reading soon. But...

 **Shiori:**I can't seem to get into the role I was given... I can't say my lines properly either...

 **Shiori:**There's no way I could do the script reading in this state...

 **Mahiru:**So that's why you had such a troubled look.

 **Shiori:**Yes... And also...

 **Shiori:**I thought...I was able to communicate better with Fumi compared to before.

 **Shiori:**But...

 **Shiori:**The moment the "Performance Festival" script reading began...she somehow looked even more stern than before...

 **Shiori:**I'm not going to be able to face Fumi at the script reading...

 **Mahiru:**...Yumeoji-san. I see.

 **Shiori:**...It sucks to be the younger sister, huh.

 **Mahiru:**Huh?

 **Shiori:**Ever since birth... all you can do is chase after your older sister.

 **Shiori:**She doesn't stop to wait... Neither does she turn to look my way.

 **Mahiru:**......

 **Shiori:**Fumi from a while back would look at me and smile... All she will show me now is her back.

 **Shiori:**Younger sister...

 **Mahiru:**You love your sister, don't you.

 **Shiori:**Huh...?

 **Mahiru:**You know...

 **Mahiru:**A foal ran over to the horse you were riding earlier, right?

 **Shiori:**Huh? Oh, yes.

 **Shiori:**The foal chased after my horse and startled her.

 **Mahiru:**Yes, that one. I heard about it from the staff at the riding ranch...

 **Mahiru:**That foal is the younger sister of the horse you were riding.

 **Shiori:**Huh...? Younger sister...?

 **Shiori:**My horse and that foal...are sisters?

 **Mahiru:**That's right.

 **Mahiru:**You were riding the older sister.

 **Mahiru:**The reason why the older sister took off all of a sudden like that...

 **Mahiru:**I thought maybe...

 **Mahiru:**It's because she wanted to show her younger sister...

 **Mahiru:**How much faster she is.

 **Mahiru:**How much stronger and farther she can run.

 **Shiori:**What...

 **Shiori:**The sister horse...towards the sister foal...?

 **Mahiru:**Heh heh. Well, that's just what I think anyway.

 **Mahiru:**...It sucks to be the older sister too.

 **Mahiru:**Because, you see... You can never just stand and wait.

 **Shiori:**...Huh.

 **Mahiru:**Because you can't afford to show...a lazy or wavering side.

 **Mahiru:**Because an older sister...will always be the older sister.

 **Mahiru:**Even if you wanted to talk about it, you can't... You can't show your weakness either.

 **Mahiru:**Earlier, you said your sister will only show you her back, but...

 **Mahiru:**I think that's because she's facing forward and running against the head wind.

 **Shiori:**Head wind...

 **Mahiru:**She has to always be her best self for the ones chasing after her...

 **Mahiru:**That's why...she can't stand and wait.

 **Shiori:**Tsuyuzaki-san...

 **Mahiru:**Oh, that reminds me.

***\*rustle rustle\****

 **Shiori:**Hm? That's...the "Performance Festival" script...?

 **Mahiru:**Let's see... Here we go.

 **Mahiru:**\*inhale\*

 **Mahiru:****("Chariot")**
"Hahahahaha!"

 **Mahiru:****("Chariot")**
"Powerless and helpless... Yet you fools continue to struggle desperately!"

 **Mahiru:****("Chariot")**
"No matter how big your numbers are, you'll never be able to stop meee!"

 **Shiori:**T-Tsuyuzaki-san?!

 **Shiori:**Those are...my... The "Chariot's" lines...!

 **Shiori:**But... Why all of a sudden?

 **Mahiru:**What do you think about that?

 **Mahiru:**You know... I used to do this in front of my sisters a lot. Playing theater.

 **Shiori:**Playing theater...?

 **Mahiru:**My grandma is happy whenever I pretend to be a star...

 **Mahiru:**And now it's my younger sister's turn to play pretend and sing.

 **Mahiru:**That's why when I continue to sing with all my might—

 **Mahiru:**My sister also does the same...

 **Mahiru:**And when I noticed, she became really good at singing.

 **Mahiru:**That's why I have to be even better.

 **Mahiru:**That...must be your sister too.

 **Mahiru:**Now, go on. Give it a try, Yumeoji-san.

 **Mahiru:**Give an even stronger and bigger performance than me.

 **Mahiru:**If you stand still and stop chasing...you'll never be able to catch up.

 **Shiori:**......!

 **Shiori:**Huh...

 **Shiori:**Um...!

 **Shiori:****("Chariot")**
"Ah... Hahaha..."

 **Shiori:****("Chariot")**
"Hahahahaha!"

 **Shiori:****("Chariot")**
"Powerless and helpless... Yet you fools continue to struggle desperately!"

 **Mahiru:**More!

 **Mahiru:****("Chariot")**
"Hahahahaha!"

 **Shiori:****("Chariot")**
"Hahahahaha!"

 **Shiori:****("Chariot")**
"Powerless and helpless... Yet you fools continue to struggle desperately!"

 **Mahiru:**That's it! But even bigger! A voice big enough to make your sister turn to look!

 **Shiori:****("Chariot")**
"Powerless and helpless... Yet you fools continue to struggle desperately!"

 **Shiori:****("Chariot")**
"No matter how big your numbers are—!"

 **Mahiru:**Just like that, with even deeper hatred!

 **Shiori:****("Chariot")**
"No matter how big your numbers are, you'll never be able to stop meee!"

 **Shiori:**\*huff\*... \*huff\*...

 **Mahiru:**Yeah, that was great! Your "Chariot" feels...evil and hateful!

 **Shiori:**Huff... Huff... Th-Thank you very much.

 **Mahiru:**I'm sorry... I know it's not any of my business...

 **Mahiru:**But I just couldn't leave you alone after seeing how troubled you were. It's my bad habit as an older sister.

 **Shiori:**...No... Not at all...

 **Shiori:**I'm shocked... I didn't think I had that kind of voice in me...

 **Mahiru:**I was surprised too!

 **Mahiru:**Siegfeld's "Frau Jade"... That was amazing.

 **Shiori:**Huff... Huff... I feel so much lighter. As if I'd just ridden a horse at full speed...

 **Shiori:**I've never said things like this before... But it felt so good...

 **Mahiru:**I was captivated!

 **Mahiru:**Oh... I wonder if that's why.

 **Shiori:**Huh?

 **Mahiru:**The reason why the "Chariot's" character changed.

 **Mahiru:**I think everyone wants to see how far you can go.

 **Mahiru:**Your possibilities. Everyone feels like the older sister...

 **Shiori:**Everyone as the older sister...

 **Shiori:**Aw... It really does suck to be the younger sister.

 **Shiori:**But... There are merits too.

 **Mahiru:**Huh...?

 **Shiori:**The younger sister will never get lost.

 **Shiori:**Because I have many older sisters to show me the way... To teach me the path I must chase after.

 **Shiori:**I'll be able to get through the "Performance Festival" script reading with this. Tsuyuzaki-san, you really are my lifesaver.

 **Mahiru:**Yumeoji-san...

 **Shiori:**Just call me Shiori.

 **Mahiru:**Huh...

 **Shiori:**Thank you so much for today.

 **Shiori:**Just watch...my "Chariot".

 **Mahiru:**Shiori-chan...

 **Mahiru:**Yeah, I can't wait!

 **Shiori:**I've never played this kind of wild character before, but...I find it kind of cute. Even the costume is like a horse...

 **Shiori:**At first, I thought I wouldn't be able to pull off such a character... But I got attached as I played the role...

 **Shiori:**There are a lot of rude lines, but...this character is actually very innocent inside and charges ahead toward that one goal...

 **Shiori:**Perhaps I've always had a "Chariot" within me... Just kidding. D-Don't call me scary or anything, okay?