Arcana Arcadia (play)

*It brims with love for every story that has ever existed and will be handed down for all eternity. […] A play about the stage girls' way of life. Charming those who watch with an overflow of brilliance. Every time they stand on stage, they revive and continue to shine. To live for the stage and be alive on the stage – Stage Girls.*  ― Elle Nishino

Arcana Arcadia, also called the "Timeless Play," is a play written over the course of Arcana Arcadia, the third part of Revue Starlight Re LIVE's Main Story. It features all the Stage Girls from Seisho Music Academy, Rinmeikan Girls School, Frontier School of Arts, and Siegfeld Institute of Music selected for the Performance Festival.

## Creation of Arcana Arcadia

The Performance Festival’s scriptwriting team wrote a play about the 25 Major Arcana. Prior to the reveal of its title, it was called the “’Performance Festival’ Play." Meanwhile, the five-year-old Elle. wrote an untitled play referred to as "Play A." Its events were inspired by the Revues which take place in the arc Arcana Arcadia. While these two plays developed separately, Amemiya met Elle and was inspired by some of her ideas, which changed the course of the Performance Festival's Play. After Elle saw Arcana Arcadia performed at the Performance Festival, she decided to write the Star's lines, which the Performance Festival had left blank, and complete Arcana Arcadia.

## Plot Summary

### Act 1

The Girl wakes up in a desert with no memories, other than that she made a promise to meet someone “at the end of the moonlight… at the promised place—the secret paradise.” The first person she sees after she comes to is the Doctor. He says she’d come down with a disease called delusional fever, but he helped cure her, and she is now staying in his clinic. Soon, the High Priestess comes to arrest the Doctor for tricking people into taking his cure for delusional fever and, consequently, not believing in God. The High Priestess believes that only God can save people, so to her, the Doctor cannot actually be curing people of this disease and has to be lying. The High Priestess has the Doctor brought to the Vatican and locked up, and she goes to chat with the Magician she has in her service. The Magician gets the High Priestess sleepy with some wine, and she goes to visit the Doctor in jail. The Magician tells the Doctor that he will be hanged the next day, but she offers him a way to go free and continue his work, as long as he understands the hardships of the life he is about to take on. The Doctor agrees so that he can continue saving people, and the Magician tells him a sentence to say when he is about to die.

The day of the Doctor’s trial, he is hung upside down pelted by rocks as the High Priestess accuses him of spreading lies to make people doubt the existence of God. The Girl, who is present at the trial, protests that the Doctor saved her life and many others, making this hanging unjust, but the Magician tells her to quiet down and believe in him. A fire is lit under the Doctor, and the Hanged complains about the unfairness of his trial. He reasserts his determination to keep saving people andsays the phrase the Magician told him to say—"I am not going to stop walking.” The Devil appears, summoned by his words. He explains that the Doctor had once cured the Magician’s granddaughter of delusional fever, meaning that she knew of the Doctor’s skills. Wanting to change the world, she decided to sacrifice her soul so the Doctor could keep curing others. The Devil admonishes the High Priestess for using threat of punishment to gather faith and claiming that only God can save people before sending the High Priestess and her knights to Hell. The Doctor invites the Girl to come with him on his journey, but the Girl says she has to continue on her own journey, and they part ways.

### Act 2

Wheel of Fortune and Strength talk about what fate and strength are. They also talk about the Girl and how she never grows old and always perseveres on her journey. Meanwhile, the Girl reveals that a war has broken out during her journey, so she had to stop and stay at a seaside town governed by the love of God and law. Doubting that the end of the moonlight actually exists, she becomes a military nurse for the soldiers in this town. Meanwhile, soldiers are panicking because they don’t know where their reinforcements are and they have heard rumors of a new weapon developed by the enemy. The Hierophant, who is the town’s protector, comforts them and tells them to remember that they are loved by God. The Hierophant notices an evening primrose in the church and asks who planted it, to which the Girl responds that she did.

Then, the Chariot arrives at the town and wreaks mass destruction, causing the townspeople to panic. The Hierophant tries to get the Chariot to abandon violence and to believe in love and in God, and they put the evening primrose the Girl planted in the Chariot’s turret. However, the Chariot shoots the Hierophant in the chest, calling their sentiments about God and love meaningless in comparison to the reason it was created: to destroy. The Chariot continues to wreak mass destruction, and the people continue to panic. The Girl falls when the Chariot shoots her in the heart, seemingly about die. Strength and Wheel of Fortune comment that this seems to be the end of the Girl’s journey. As she dies, the Girl looks up at the moonlight and remembers the journey she’d given up on, and her desire to reach the end of the moonlight is renewed. Wheel of Fortune’s hourglass turns, signaling that the Girl is going against fate. The Girl decides to keep living and keep going on her journey. Later, while she’s still in the Girl runs into the Chariot again, who asks her if she’s from the Hierophant’s town. The Girl denies that she is and tells the Chariot that she is heading to the end of the moonlight. The Chariot lets her go since she’s not a target, and the Girl keeps walking. Strength and Wheel of Fortune talk about fate again, and they remark on how the Girl has changed her own fate.

### Act 3

The act opens on the jury of a court assembling, most of them complaining about jury duty. The trial, said to be the 99th retrial of this particular case, starts, and the Girl comes in, as she is the person on trial. The Prosecutor asks the Girl some questions, none of which the Girl can answer to the Prosecutor’s satisfaction, so the Prosecutor concludes that the girl is lying. The Part-timer, one of the members of the jury, feels bad for the Girl and wants to help her, but she does not want to look bad in front of the court by disrupting, so she stays silent. The Judge tells offers to let the Girl’s case go if she moves to the city permanently and adheres to their way of life. The Girl says no, and the jury finds her guilty. The Girl appeals against the jury’s decision, setting up the 100th retrial of this case. Later, Staff visits the Girl in her prison cell to bring her food and explains to her no one in Happiness City could understand why someone would leave and willingly face the dangers of the outside world.

Sometime after that, the 100th retrial begins, where the same questioning as the previous day’s trial occurs. The Part-timer becomes even more frustrated with how meaningless the trial is when she gets a text with the message “The show must go on.” The Girl says she refuses to give up on her journey and stay in Happiness City, and she tells the Prosecutor that she’d rather go through hardship and grow as a person than confine herself somewhere where she’d always be happy. The Part-timer stands up and agrees with the Girl, saying that she also wants to be able to push her limits and that she hates how unchanging Happiness City is. Staff joins the trial as a witness, which causes the Judge to freak out since she doesn’t understand why people don’t want to accept the security Happiness City provides. The Judge and the Prosecutor start talking in a loop of “No exceptions” and “Indeed, Your Honor,” ending the case.

Staff explains that Happiness City was built by a refugee from a city destroyed by the Chariot. The refugee, wanting to keep all their loved ones safe, built a city with high walls to keep all potential dangers out. The Judge is revealed to be a machine made to oversee the management of the city. The humans all died out from Happiness City and were replaced by Korosu, who now act out the daily proceedings of humans. The Staff, the only remaining human in Happiness City, wanted to keep Happiness City going in case it could be of use again, but the Girl made them realize that it was truly an artificial, inhuman city. The Girl says goodbye to Staff and continues on her journey, but when she exits the city, she discovers that the moon is no longer in the sky.

### Act 4

The Girl talks about her loneliness in her youth and her passion for magic. Since she wasn’t accepted by those around her, she became more resentful until she isolated herself in studying magic and became known as the “Witch of the West.” Then, Dorothy Ann and the “Wild Pirates” came into her world. She was captivated by Dorothy Ann, who praised her magic when no one else had. Dorothy Ann tells the Girl that she will be waiting for her “at the end of the moonlight… at the promised place—at the secret paradise.” The Girl says that her self as the “Witch of the West” died, reborn as “Star Girl.” She reflects on the people she’s met on her journey so far. She determines to seek out the moon, even though it’s disappeared from the night sky.

The play cuts to Dorothy Ann, who talks about how she lives a happy life, but she doesn’t know anything about herself. She talks about how she arrived in the Land of Oz” with her dog Toto, where she met the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion, and about the journey she went on with her new friends to defeat the Witch of the West. However, once she went back home, she was unhappy that she no longer had the adventure she experienced with Oz, and she realizes she has nothing in her current life.The Girl shows up. Dorothy Ann doesn’t recognize her, but the Girl claims that she’s Dorothy Ann’s daughter and tells Dorothy Ann that her existence is proof that Dorothy Ann does have something. Judgement, Hope, Charity, and Faith arrive and tell Dorothy Ann about how she’s helped them determine what they want in life. They tell Dorothy Ann that she’s the Moon, and that if she doesn’t come back to the stage, the role of the Moon will be lost forever, and Dorothy Ann will never be able to experience the joys of the stage again. Everyone encourages Dorothy Ann to come back to the stage, telling her that a lot of things are waiting for her there.

Act 4 is also considered a chapter of Wild Pirates.

### Act 5

To celebrate Emperor's now complete conquest of the whole galaxy, Empress calls him. She seems happy for him, and they talk about their future marriage before proclaiming that the Moon will never fall under his control, breaking their engagement, and ordering her fleets to fire on his flagship. Emperor asks Empress what caused her to become so rebellious, and she tells him that, while she was on earth, she met Fool, Moon, and Star Girl, who all inspired her to regain her passion. Emperor then retaliates, intending to destroy the moon. In the midst of this chaos, Deputy Captain and Tower are trying to get Star Girl to a wormhole at the back of the moon. They believe the wormhole may be a gateway to Star Girl's promised paradise, though they are not certain at all. They worry about getting hit by a neutron mine, but right before they do, a barrier called Magician protects them.

Tower recognizes the Magician barrier as unique to one person's ship: Death's. Death offers to help Deputy Captain and Tower deliver Star Girl to the secret paradise since she represents all of their hopes for passion and creativity, things that Emperor will eradicate when he takes over the galaxy. Deputy Captain begrudgingly accepts Death's help, and Deputy Captain, Tower, and Star Girl follow Death through Emperor's fleet. Meanwhile, the Moon Empire, including Empress herself, has suffered great casualties, but she still refuses to surrender to Emperor. Emperor asks her why she would go he realizes that she's trying to help Star Girl. Emperor fires on Lovers, heavily damaging it. Deputy Captain has Star Girl ejected so she can get to the wormhole safely while everyone else (including Empress) take a brave last stand against Emperor. Star Girl lands in a desert.

### Act 6

Star Girl wakes up in the desert, which is empty, save for white sand of the bones and ashes of people who died there. Star Girl starts to wonder if her whole journey was meaningless if this was the destination she had been looking for for so long when the Fool rises from the sand. He asks Star Girl to recount her journey for him, which she does. The Fool is inspired by Star Girl's tales and resolves to go on a journey of his own.

World tells Star Girl that the Fool is the Fool Arcana and explains that an Arcana, or Stage Girl, is someone who "burn[s] their lives to give off brilliance...they are reborn no matter how many times they die... The 'main character' who continues on a journey in their own play in order to be the lead." World also explains that this secret paradise Star Girl has reached is where all Arcana end up at the end of their journeys before they are reborn. Star Girl envies how Arcana have something so meaningful to them that they continue to go through this cycle of death and rebirth. Fool points out that Star Girl was very passionate about telling the story of her journey, and World affirms that Star Girl's journey has meaning. Star Girl realizes that she wants to keep telling the story of her journey, and World pronounces her to be the Star Arcana. The Wheel of Fortune welcomes Star Girl home, and the Moon encourages Star Girl to be reborn and go on a new journey. All the other Arcana encourage Star Girl as well, and the Moon promises that they will be waiting at this desert when she has completed her new journey.

## Roles and Cast

* Fool: The Lovers’s partner. He is on a journey to find something, although he does not know what he is looking for yet. Played by Yachiyo Tsuruhime.
* Magician: A magician seemingly incapable of performing actual magic. She is employed to the High Priestess and sucks up to her until the Hanged Man arrives. Played by Yuyuko Tanaka.
* High Priestess: A high priestess employed at the Vatican. She believes strongly in God and abuses her power against anyone who she believes to be blaspheming against God, such as the Hanged Man. Played by Junna Hoshimi.
* Empress: The ruler of the Moon Empire. She is engaged to Emperor and rules over the solar system while he is conquering the galaxy. Played by Liu Mei Fan.
* Emperor: The authoritarian ruler of the Galactic Empire, determined to conquer the entire galaxy. Played by Akira Yukishiro.
* Hierophant: A prophet who looks after a small town on the coast. They encourage the townspeople to believe in God's love. Played by Michiru Otori.
* Lovers (Deputy Captain): The poster actress and deputy captain of a ship made to spread the art of theater across the galaxy, as well as the Fool's romantic partner. Played by Claudine Saijo.
* Chariot: A newly developed iron war machine created to destroy the Hierophant’s town. Described as a steel horse. In the first draft of the “Performance Festival” Play, the Chariot was a noble hero who rode a two-horse carriage before being rewritten by Masai. Played by Shiori Yumeoji.
* Strength: An otherworldly force who embodies strength. It is one of the three wardens of natural principles, alongside Wheel of Fortune and World. Played by Futaba Isurugi.
* Hermit (Staff): A staff member of the court who brings Star Girl her food while she is in prison. They become a witness in Star Girl’s case and reveal the sinister truth behind Happiness City. Played by Mahiru Tsuyuzaki.
* Wheel of Fortune: An otherworldly force who oversees fate. It is one of the three wardens of natural principles, alongside Strength and World. Played by Karen Aijo.
* Justice (Judge): The judge for Star Girl’s trial and all of her retrials. She believes in Happiness City’s ability to protect its members from harm and sees any disruptions to its status quo as a threat. Played by Nana Daiba.
* Hanged Man (Doctor): A doctor who travels around the nation. He created a cure to a new disease called delusional fever after the disease killed some of his family. Played by Rui Akikaze.
* Death: Deputy Captain describes it as "the biggest villain in the entire solar system." In an earlier draft, he makes a contract with the Fool to let him live, and it is accompanying the Fool in his journey until he finds what he is looking for. Death and Fool are familiar with each other in the final draft, although it is not stated if they have created the same contract. Tamao describes it as a philosopher and a cynic. Played by Tamao Tomoe.
* Temperance (Prosecutor): The prosecution for Star Girl’s trial and all of her retrials. He sucks up to Justice and promotes the same ideas about Happiness City. Played by Fumi Yumeoji.
* Devil: The devil. Played by Kaoruko Hanayagi.
* Tower: A machine intelligence aboard Lovers, the Deputy Captain's ship. It is implied to have been built by Fool. Played by Hikari Kagura.
* Star Girl: The young girl who is on a journey to reach the end of the moonlight. Only present in Play A.
* Moon (Dorothy Ann): The Moon. Star Girl considers the Moon her mother. Played by Aruru Otsuki. Ten years after the Performance Festival, Elle names Aruru as the lead of Arcana Arcadia.
* Sun (Part-timer): A part-time worker who sings in front of a station. She is called to the jury for Star Girl’s court case and is frustrated with the proceedings. In the “Performance Festival” Play, the Sun was originally a more serious character before Ichie adlibbed and made the Sun more cheerful. Played by Ichie Otonashi.
* Judgement: Captain Leona from Wild Pirates reborn as an archangel. She will blow the trumpet on behalf of the Wardens of Natural Principles on the day of judgement. Played by Shizuha Kocho.
* World: The chief administrator of the Garden of Nature’s Law. One of the three wardens of natural principles, alongside Wheel of Fortune and Strength. Played by Maya Tendo.
* Faith: Mary Bow from Wild Pirates reborn. Played by Misora Kano.
* Charity: Straw Ma'am from Wild Pirates reborn. A woman who falls into despair after she loses everything during a war. After meeting the Moon and regaining her spirit, she dedicates herself to making the lives of war orphans and survivors better. Played by Tsukasa Ebisu.
* Hope: Rabbit Steel from Wild Pirates reborn. Played by Lalafin Nonomiya.

## Troupe A

Troupe A was formed in order to help Elle create her play. The first member of Troupe A was Michiru, who was recruited by Andrew when Elle was struggling with writing. She recruited Junna, who explained to Elle what the Major Arcana are, and Misora. The three of them, with the help of Maya, introduce Amemiya and Elle to each other so that the two can exchange ideas.

Everyone else who lost a Revue over the course of Arcana Arcadia joins Troupe A by Main Story 18 and help produce the audition for the Unknown Lead. Their positions are:

* Directing: Junna Hoshimi
* Script Writer Assistant: Yuyuko Tanaka
* Music: Mahiru Tsuyuzaki
* Audio: Ichie Otonashi
* Stage Design: Hikari Kagura
* Lighting: Nana Daiba
* Costume: Rui Akikaze
* Hair and Makeup: Shizuha Kocho
* Small Props: Tsukasa Ebisu
* Big Props: Liu Mei Fan
* Stunts: Futaba Isurugi
* Special Effects: Lalafin Nonomiya
* Stage Director: Akira Yukishiro
* Production: Misora Kano
* Producer: Michiru Otori

## Trivia

* In Latin, Arcana Arcadia can be loosely translated as "secret paradise," which is the thing Star Girl is trying to reach throughout the whole play.
	+ While "Arcana" is likely a reference to the Major Arcana, it is also a Latin adjective meaning "secret."
	+ Arcadia was originally a region of Ancient Greece, thought to be home to the Greek god of the wild Pan. Over time, particularly during the European Renaissance, it became known as a utopia where nature flourished. Unlike other utopias, Arcadia was seen as unattainable and a lost form of life.

## Known Passages

### Script for Play A

* Act 1: Main Story 13: Curtain Rises - The Journey Begins Parts 10-12
* Act 2: Main Story 14: Wandering Girls Parts 11-13
* Act 3: Main Story 15: Where Are the Stars Parts 10-13
* Act 4: Main Story 16: Glittering Children Parts 6-8
* Act 5: Main Story 17: Stage Before Dawn Parts 14-15
* Act 6: Main Story 18: Arcana Arcadia Parts 13-beginning of 15

### Excerpts from the Performance Festival's Play's script drafts

> Hermit: Yes, it's true. I grew tired of people and abandoned the world—
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> Hermit: Therefore my testimony has no meaning or value, you say...?
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> Hermit: Starting with the witness, the defense, or even the “crime” – none of these exist to begin with in this court...
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> Hermit: This court that repeatedly punishes young girls is the most sinful nonsense, don't you think?
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> Hermit: I, the “Hermit” will make an accusation against that sin, right here!
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Act 3, from Hermit Intermission Part 1

> Empress: ...And so it is that another night has passed...
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> Empress: The pouring light is dim, and the wind feels stale.
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> Empress: Yet another day has passed where many old warriors have lost their lives on the battlefield. New warriors will take their places today.
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> Empress I cannot remember when this war started... I can’t see when it will end...
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> Empress: And yet I put on my crimson dress, and wear this golden crown...
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> Empress: I see the flashing lights of the cannons around the Moon’s orbit as usual. I did so yesterday and I will do so tomorrow, for who knows how much longer.
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> Empress: When did this war start...?
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> Empress: How much longer will I have to wait on this throne for “someone”...?
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Act 5, from Empress Intermission Part 1

> Tower: Luminescence has been hit. Navigation is impossible. All crew to evacuate the ship immediately.
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> Tower: I repeat. Luminescence has been hit. Navigation is impossible. All crew to evacuate the ship immediately.
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> Tower: ...Now, you should go too, “Star Girl”.
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> Tower: Don’t worry... I’ll definitely make sure to get you there.
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> Tower: ...Huh?
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> Tower: Don’t be sad... I was created. I don’t have a body; therefore, I don’t fear death.
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> Tower: However...
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> Tower: I do feel a little lonely...about not being able to talk with you like this anymore.
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> Tower: Now go, young girl.
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> Tower: I understand now. I was made in that factory...so that I could meet you.
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> Tower: My mission... My destiny... “Star Girl”... You—
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Act 5, from Tower Intermission Part 2

> Hope: "I won't let you pass, Wheel of Fortune!"
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> Hope: I won't let you lay a finger on...Star Girl and Moon!
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> Wheel of Fortune: ...Back off, Hope.
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> Wheel of Fortune: Turning back time, overcoming death, revealing the truth... Star Girl is starting to deviate from the fate of humans.
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> Wheel of Fortune: I cannot allow a mere human being to corrupt the natural course of things and change their fate.
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> Wheel of Fortune: As a warden of natural principles, it is my duty to investigate the mystery surrounding Star Girl...and her guide Moon.
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> Hope: There is no mystery to be found.
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> Wheel of Fortune: What?
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> Hope: Fate is something that brings one's soul to where they are supposed to be'... That's what the most beloved person in this world once said.
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> Hope: Star Girl finally found who she wants to become, and in order to achieve that...she's only following what her soul said.
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> Hope: And Moon is also seeking Paradise all the while helping her, and being helped by her.
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> Hope: Our duty is to protect them, and see that their journey reaches its destination.
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> Hope: Emptiness...is more frightening than despair and hope. I will continue to shine this light so that they won't be kept in darkness!
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> Wheel of Fortune: How foolish... You dare confront me?
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> Hope: I won't let you get in the way, even if it means going against fate!
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> Hope: Faith's belief, Charity's love, Judgement's courage, and my Hope—together with them I will protect Star Girl and Moon!
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Unknown act, from Hope Intermission Part 1

Longer excerpts can be found:

* Main Story 13: Curtain Rises - The Journey Begins Part 1
* Main Story 14: Wandering Girls Part 1
* Main Story 15: Where Are the Stars Part 1
* Main Story 17: Stage Before Dawn Part 1

### Etudes featuring Play A characters

* High Priestess and Emperor: High Priestess Junna Hoshimi Bond Story end of Part 1 and Part 2
* Hierophant and Faith: Faith Misora Kano Bond Story Part 2
* World and Charity: Charity Tsukasa Ebisu Bond Story Part 2
* Hermit and Judgement: Judgement Shizuha Kocho Bond Story end of Part 1 and Part 2

Other lines from Play A can be found in homescreen and My Theater lines from each character’s Arcana series card.

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcadia\_%28utopia%29