New Year's Theater: Legendary Phantom Sword

 is an event in SINoALICE.

Normal
Parrah:

Happy New Year!

Noya:

The world is on holiday, but SINoALICE is still going.

Parrah:

We can hear the calls from others like us.

Noya:

A holiday is just a name on paper, right?

Parrah:

We've prepared a New Year's gift as a present for you!

Noya:

Using that as pretext, we'll be taking your money!

Parrah:

But anyway!

New Year's is all about kimonos, right?

Noya:

Wow, so grown up. Even when forced.

Parrah:

Yep. the characters are changing without a fuss.

Noya:

Cinderella's eyes are scary.

Parrah:

Alice is silent.

Red Riding Hood doesn't get it.

Noya:

The nightmares have finished changing!

Parrah:

Well then, here's hoping for a story as befitting as our new outfits.

Noya:

New Year's is all about kimonos.

And what else is with a kimono?

Historical dramas!

Parrah:

Lots of masterpieces have been broadcast.

Noya:

So, what kind of masterpiece will we see this time?

Parrah:

This fabulous blade will speak for itself, I think.

Noya:

Whose blade is it?

Parrah:

What kind of story does it tell?

Noya:

Cover it in blood, and perhaps you'll remember.

Parrah:

Until then, in this warped story...

Noya:

It's all kill, kill, kill!

Slay them all!

Parrah:

Of course, if you guess the ending of the story...

Noya:

There's a prize!

Parrah:

The crystal you all love and want.... The twilight crystal!

Verse 1
A heavy kimono restricted my movement

by its heavy layers.

Another outfit forced on me by those

puppets.

I didn't care what they thought. Rather, it

was HIS opinion I wanted.

"You're so  beautiful !

Absolutely stunning!

I looked around for the one who uttered

those words.

Just then, a voice rose from the sword in

my hand.

" Down here !" the sword spoke.

"My...sword?" I asked bewildered.

"Yep! Just think of me as a

 spirit artifact ."

The sword continued. "Anyway, you look

great!

Better than great, you're radiating in it!

How 'bout we take a break somewhere?"

I gently  discarded  the sword and walked away.

Sword:

Please, wait!

Don't leave me behind!

Alice:

...What are you?

Sword:

I'm terribly sorry, but I'm not quite sure.

But I promise I can be useful to you until my memories return.

That's why I called out to you.

Alice:

What'll it take to get them back?

Sword:

Those puppets told you, didn't they?

Feed me blood, like they did in the old days.

The same thing you've been doing for your author.

Alice:

...Fine.

You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.

I slashed my way through the strange

nightmares.

With each slay, the sword let out a

satisfied squeal.

"That's it! it said. "How great it feels to

kill again.

I've got tons of experience slaying

 demons !

"Demons?" I asked. "I wasn't informed.

The puppets only mentioned you're a

sword

from a  historical drama ."

"Oh? Haven't you heard of demon slaying

dramas? There's those, too."

"A New Year's drama exterminating

demons..."

"I'm not sure, but..." the sword began.

"I think my master was in a

great  battle . Maybe I'll

remember more after some more blood!"

A blade begging for life like candy.

I ignored its  simple  request.

Verse 2
"This thing's too tight! How am I

supposed to play now?

Forced into another dumb outfit by those

puppets,

I waddled my way the best I could.

"Oh yeah! I can just cut off the parts I

don't need!"

 Snippety-snip-snip .

Just like I did with the wolf's  belly !

"I would refrain from that,  my 

 lady .

Leave the parts as they be," a voice spoke.

"...Who's there?"

"I am your  sword .

I have no information other than that.

This is because--"

I realized the voice was coming from the

weird weapon beside me.

Without a second thought,

I  attacked  it.

Sword:

You're a wild one, aren't you?

Keep in mind...

If you destroy me, this story will never end!

That means you'll never find a new enemy to hunt and kill!

Red Riding Hood:

Aww, that sounds bad.

Sword:

You see? So instead, I'll ask you to help me recover my memories.

So we can find the truth of this story I'm in.

Red Riding Hood:

So what, it's like a new game?

Yay! This's gonna be fun!

Sword:

Heheh. In that case, present me with more lives.

The more lives I take, the sooner my memories will retrun...

Red Riding Hood:

Killing people? YES!

That's my specialty!

Sword:

Yes, that's a good girl. You remind me of my lady...My lady?

"So, did that help?"

"Yes," the blade said. "Just a little.

My  master  was a modest maiden."

"And then?"

"She...saw her husband as the

 sweetest  person in her life."

"Like candy?"

"No, I'm talking about love."

"Oh! I love my Granny, too!"

The blade giggled. "She must be very

lucky.

However, this is as far as my memory

goes.

I need more--"

"Yeah! More  play !"

The sword giggled again.

I'm just glad I made a new friend!

Verse 3
'Put this on,' the puppets demanded of

me.

On top of these clothes, I was given a

useless sword.

"Well, whatever. Perhaps I'll be

entertained.

Let's see what's up with their little game.

You can speak, right?

So tell me what you want,  sword ."

The blade spoke crossly. "You should feel

honored

to wield me, for I am a

 renowned  blade."

"Whatever you say. And?"

"I wish to recall my  beloved 

''' master. '''

He who disregarded his own life to

protect others.

to protect. And for that, I'll do anything."

Anything for their beloved, huh?

Those words reminded me of a familiar girl,

 bounded  by her disillusioned

love.

"...Heh. All right. I'll give you a hand."

Sword:

Come, feed me with lives!

Cinderella:

What, got a taste for blood this evening?

Sword:

Hardly. This is a forced arrangement, I'll have you know.

Blood has never been a good look for me...

No...Rather than being bloodied in battle, I...

Cinderella:

What, you don't like a good brawl?

Sword:

I'll fight when I must, but not typically, no.

Cinderella:

You'd better get used to it.

I've got my murder face on.

Sword:

What?! No, wait!

Cinderella:

You want your memories back or not?

Because if you do, I'm about to make you a fountain!

The  blood  spattered blade began to

 weep .

"Didn't you say you'd do anything?

What happened to your resolve?"

Regaining her composure, the sword

responded.

"O-Of course! But...not like this..."

"How easy it is to sacrifice others for your

own selfish needs.

Yet you don't want to do any of the dirty work."

"That's..."

The pain in her voice delighted me.

I wanted to wallow in her  torment 

even more.

"And did you remember anything?" I

asked.

"...My master was in love. I was only

 second  in his eyes."

I could hear it. There in her trembling

voice was  malice .

It was irresistibly  enticing .

Verse 4
The blade spoke.

"I've been wielded by many masters

before now.

Though this time, I believe my master

gave me a wonderful name."

Alice's Sword:

...

Red Riding Hood's Sword:

......

Alice's Sword:

Hm, seems like I'm not the only one

who's gotten lost in this world.

Don't be shy. Come on out.

Red Riding Hood's Sword:

...Don't act so familiar with me.

Alice's Sword:

How unfriendly.

Red Riding Hood's Sword:

I've met someone this thick headed before...

Verse 5
My sword told me more of her tale.

"My master escaped with her husband.

But it was then, at the hands of her

beloved that she...

She and her daughter were..."

Verse 6
The blade mourned at my side.

"My master and his beloved became

separated.

After that, he was betrayed by his own

retainers, forcing him to escape into

the mountains..."

Cinderella's Sword:

...

Alice's Sword:

....

As expected, seems like this place is a world for swords.

Which means, you and I...

A world for just the two of us.

Cinderella's Sword:

It's pretty disgusting...and that's being polite.

Alice's Sword:

This rude manner of speaking...is somehow fmailiar.

Cinderella's Sword:

Gross...

Verse 7
"My master and I mean no harm.

He just had a lot of love to give. It's not

his fault he had another woman."

The sword's words made me sick.

One love is all I need.

Verse 8
"My master's husband had an ill-fated

existence.

The feud with his elder brother would

become the talk of many future

generations."

The sword's tale had already bored me.

All I wanted to do was play.

Cinderella's Sword:

...

Red Riding Hood's Sword:

.....

Cinderella's Sword:

......

Red Riding Hood's Sword:

Oh my, you're quite a thin looking sword, aren't you?

Cinderella's Sword:

Even without my memory, I know.

Red Riding Hood's Sword:

Yes, between us

this is quite an extraordinary fate.

Cinderella's Sword:

I get goosebumps just being in the same space as you.

Even though...I'm a sword.

Verse 9
"My master's life was but a tragedy.

Parted from her love and captured by

the enemy. Forced to dance and what's

more...the children..."

I scoffed. How many times have I

heard this cliche before?

Verse 10
The  three  gowned maidens

and the  three  swords came

together.

Lined side by side, the girls

stood brilliantly in their kimonos.

"Look at you three." said the first sword.

"You make a perfect picture indeed."

Next was the alarmed voice of the

second.

"I remember you! I'd never forget that

frivolous tone of yours!"

"As if you have the right to talk!" came

the third.

"...Friends?" asked Alice.

"Looks it!" Red Riding Hood replied.

Cinderella smirked. "Not the best of pals,

eh?"

The swords then spoke up.

Soon they'd have their memories

returned.

But for that they required...more

 blood .

Alice's Sword:

...Oh. I remember now.

Red Riding Hood's Sword:

Yes, as do I.

All of us here...

Cinderella's Sword:

We were all swords in the same story.

Alice:

This is the end of it.

Red Riding Hood:

Aww, I wanted to keep playing...

Cinderella:

I think it's a little early to hang up our sashes, girls.

Their memories returning, the blades

began to speak out the other's names.

"...Damn you! Damn you to hell!

You're the wench last with Yoshitsune

before his death!"

"Jealousy doesn't suit you,  Mumei ."

The response only fueled the anger of the

sword called Mumei.

"Do something,  Usumidori !" she

cried out.

"Why me? This is between you and

Imanotsurugi."

sneered the blade called Usumidori.

And thus, their names were declared,

revealing a tragic monomyth.

The story of an underdog. Escaping to the

Ataka barrier of Mt. Yoshino. And then to

battle at the Koromo River.

It is known as The Tale of

 #%$& 

Hard
Parrah:

You've figured out the sword's name, right?!

Noya:

This is a big hint!

Parrah:

Pretty much the answer, really.

Noya:

I'm adding spice little by little, so...

Parrah:

From noh, kabuki, and novels, to theatre, film, and TV.

Noya:

It's a story beloved by Japanese people.

Parrah:

The victor of the Genpei War, whose name is

Noya:

the tragic Yoshitsune, chased by his brother Yoritomo.

Parrah:

In his hand was the famous blade, the Hizamaru.

Noya:

And his wife, Sato Gozen, who fell along with him in the north-east.

Parrah:

The blade devoted to her lord, the Imanotsurugi.

Noya:

And his love Shizuka Gozen, with whom he he separated with on Mount Yoshino.

Parrah:

In her lap merely rested a decorative sword without a name.

Noya:

And so, the blades' whose memories have been returned,

Parrah:

Well, what do you think they'll do after all this?

Noya:

A celebratory story fit for the New Year?

Parrah:

A bloodstained story fit for the New Year?

Noya:

Which will it be?

Parrah:

Neither!

Noya:

Now, on to their distorted story!

Parrah:

Let's move on to the investigation.

Noya:

If we don't you'll never be able to return.

Parrah:

Stain that gorgeous kimono with blood!

Noya:

But please, pay with your own money to get the blood out

Parrah:

Heehee...

Noya:

Heehee!

Heeheehee!!

Hard Verse 1
Disinterested in getting dragged into

my sword's catfight, I threw down

the blade and began to walk away.

"Wait!" it cried out. "Don't  leave !"

"I don't got time for this. I'm out."

"I'm sorry!" it pleaded. "I'll

stop, I promise! So please...

Please don't  leave me  behind!"

"What's this? Are you

 terrified  of being alone?"

The blade before me began to tremble.

...Heh. Now that's more like it.

Yes. This is the reaction I want to see.

"All right then. Let's have a little chat,

shall we?"

The  kindness  in my voice was

deliberate.

I didn't care in the least about the sword's

memories.

I just wanted to inflict even more

 pain .

Cindellera:

Mind if I call you Mumei? It means "no-name".

Mumei:

Umm...

That's fine by me.

I am a blade that will go unrecorded in history, after all.

Cinderella:

Wait, I thought you said you were celebrated?

Mumei:

F-Forgive me.

That was...untruthful of me.

Cinderella:

Meh, no skin off my teeth.

Anyway, answer some questions for me, would ya?

I've got some questions about your owner.

Lord Yoshitsune had a mistress. A dancer

by the name of Lady Shizuka, at their

home.

When his brother, Yoritomo banished

him from the capital,

the two of them escaped together into the

mountains.

However, upon reaching Mt. Yoshino, the

two were separated.

Once captured, she was forced to dance

before

Yoritomo, all the while thinking of her

beloved Yoshitsune.

Graceful like the wind, you'd whisper my

name.

Spinning me in a veil of your tenderness.

If only time had not abandoned us. I'd

still have you here.

Hiding her feelings of abandonment,

the sword sang its feelings for her

beloved.

Cinderella thought the song and

woman pathetic and mumbled her

distaste.

"How fucking delirious she is."

Hard Verse 2
"We should probably leave them be. Let's

go."

Alice nodded to Usumidori and left.

Wandering through the Library, the

blade spoke again.

"Sorry about that. It's bad blood between

them.

A quarrel between  wife  and

 mistress ."

"...How trifling." Alice responded.

"It's the  Kamakura period. 

What else would you expect?"

"What about your master?"

"He loved them both equally. Not one

over the other.

That's why he had one remain at

home while he left with the other."

... Equally ?

That's not love.

Since when was  love  of equal value

anyway?

Alice's grip on her sword tightened.

Alice:

If it were up to me, I'd choose a fellow traveller.

Usumidori:

You would?

Does your heart tell you that?

Alice:

...it's better than being left behind.

Usumidori:

You're very much like Mumei in that regard.

Alice:

So what about you?

What does your heart tell you?

Usumidori:

What does my heart tell me? Well...

The mountain greenery of Kumano turns

with

the seasons. Lighter with spring and

darker with summer.

If I were to choose which you remind me

of,

the name Usumidori would be befitting.

The blade uttered the words

leading to the  origin  of its name.

"I like this name," it said.

"I've been called some tough names, too.

Like Hizamaru, Kumokiri, and Hoemaru.

But the only master to give me such a

kind

name, as serene as nature itself was Lord

Yoshitsune.

Surely, that's the kind of blade he wanted

me to be."

Alice shook her head. The way this sword

viewed  love  was wrong to her.

Hard Verse 3
"Everyone left," Red Riding Hood said.

"My apologies. Mumei's a

bit...hot-headed."

 Imanotsurugi  gave an elegant

sigh.

"I've always disliked those  dancers .

They're born of a different class from us.

So they feel a need to compete."

"A dancer?" Little Red asked quizzically.

"They live to  entertain  men.

That's just their job. Both in the arts

and with their  body ."

"So they'll  play  with people for

money?"

"Yes, that's how it works."

"hm..." Little Red thought for a moment.

"Then, maybe I should buy her."

"Oh my," the sword giggled.

Although their  meaning  of play

misaligned,

the girl in red and her blade smiled.

Imanotsurugi:

You may call me Imanotsurugi.

I belonged to Lady Sato, lawful wife of Yoshitsune.

Red Riding Hood:

Is she some fancy-pants person, or something?

Imanotsurugi

Oh yes, quite.

And I am quite decorated as a blade, myself.

That is because I...

"I am the blade Lord Yoshitsune used to

honorably take his own  life .

The sword before Little Red gleamed,

proudly

declaring its role in their master's death.

"Mumei wouldn't have it, thus she was

discarded.

As for Usumidori, she was Yoshitsune's

favorite.

He couldn't  choose  her. Not for

this.

I was the one who saw him to the end!"

"So...It was a  suicide ?"

"That's correct."

"He cut himself up!" Red said excitedly.

"that kind of game sounds like fun!"

"I believe our meeting is one of fate. So

please, I would be honored if you used

me the day you take your life as well.

"Yeah! I will!"

Little Red giggled with delight.

Hard Verse 4
"I was Lord Yoshitsune's true love.

He had to make a most difficult

decision. And left me behind in an act

of love."

Cinderella nodded her head. Suuure,

of course he did.

As they say, ignorance is bliss.

Hard Verse 5
"What good is it to be a renowned and a

famous sword if you can't even protect

the one you love?"

The blade gave a low chuckle, realizing

its dedication to its master was all but

meaningless.

Hard Verse 6
"I was his most beloved out of the

three.

I believe the bond between their hearts

was strong because of that. His and

Lady Sato Gozen."

Red Riding Hood furrowed her brows.

Bond?

Between hearts? I don't get it.

Mumei:

....

Imanotsurugi:

.......

Mumei:

Oh, if it isn't the blade who served a master with no renown at all back in his day,

Imanotsurugi.

Imanotsurugi:

How dare you! I would say as much to the no-name!

Your master's descendants slept with the author, did they not?

If that weren't hte case, the tale of "true love" between

Yoshitsune and Shizuka Gozen would not have spread at all!

Mumei:

I don't want to make any false accusations. M#%r.

Imanotsurugi:

What? How dare you, you sh#!$@!

Mumei:

Shut up, you filthy a*#)#)!

Hard Verse 7
I could tell my sword had put its faith

in me. The way it babbled on about

themself was proof of that.

"Time to get this show on the road,"

I thought. I was itching to add fuel to

the flame.

Hard Verse 8
Each blade's memories were

recollections of their departed master.

But I must bring this to an end.

Otherwise, my own story will remain

at a standstill.

Usumidori:

...

Imanotsurugi:

......

Usumidori:

There's no room to doubt that I was the most beloved.

I was the most important, so

before the war got out of hand, I was put away in a safe place.

I'm sure your entire existence was forgotten.

That's the only way you made it to the end.

Imanotsurugi:

How pitiful...

A loser like you couldn't hope to understand your human

husband's way of thinking.

Hard Verse 9
For awhile, it was fun talking to my

sword.

But...

I got bored of it.

Hard Verse 10
Once more the  three  blades

and their  wielders  came together.

Alice was the first to speak.

"If this doesn't end soon, us three

won't be able to return."

"Right," said Usumidori. "Then it's time to

settle things."

"Settle what?" interrupted Imatsurugi.

"I was always Lord Yoshitsune's favorite."

"If it means playtime, then count me in!"

chimed Red.

"I..." Mumei stopped.

The corners of Cinderella's mouth curved

into a grin.

"What? Scared to face the truth?

You'll be better off this way. Trust me."

Each of the six were  different  on

the outside,

yet their desire was  one and 

 the same .

But would the final nightmare give

them the closure they sought?

U

Ah, so that's it.

These are our..

Imanotsurugi

Those are our lingering regrets...Our worldly desires.

Mumei

The warped emotions I held towards my lady and Lord Yoshitsune...

Usumidori:

If only we'd fought together then as we do now.

Imanotsurugi:

We could have exterminated these feelings.

Mumei:

Then let us join with our new mistresses, and--

"The end of worldly desires. A fresh start

for the new year," said a puppet, both

appearing at last.

"This world and its enemies are the

product of the swords' unrequited love!" chimed

the other.

"What do you take us for?" said

Cinderella. "This is all your fault."

"Kee-hee-hee! You got us!"

"...Can we go back now?" Alice asked.

"Sure, whatever you want."

"That sword got lucky," Cinderella said. "I

was waiting

for the right moment to toss it after using

it all up."

A puppet giggled. "That's our Cinderella."

"Hey! Come play with me!" Little Red

called to the pair.

"NO WAY!"

Different on the outside, yet one and the

same.

The three girls in radiant kimonos

turned their backs to the crumbling

world before them.

...They thought their desires and

attachments were put to rest.

However, it was awoken again.

Their joy of killing. Their will to fight.

"Who cares! Take as much blood as you

want then!"

"Lord Yoshitsune would be pleased!"

"Who's to make you change the real you,

am I right?"

...That's right.

Splatters of red showered the crumbling

world.

There wasn't a more beautiful sight.

Than a blade drenched in the blood of an

unresisting nightmare.

Notice from

Parrah-Noya

Dear users,

Thank you for attending the event.

In 2017, stories of dancing

blades

were hugely popular.

This event was

created with that in mind.

Did you enjoy yourselves?

We certainly hope you did.

If you know the answer, please keep the

following in mind

when submitting your responses to us.


 * 1) Include a space at the beginning.
 * 2) Watch out for errors in the text.

(a) It needs a little twist

Hint Slot 1
Alice, Red Riding Hood and Cinderella

all wear this traditional

Japanese clothing.

Hint Slot 3
Answer: Kimono

Parrah:

Ding ding ding!

Noya:

Correct!

Parrah:

I'll grant you a present of 100 crystals!

Noya:

Wait, you were able to get the correct answer so quickly...

Parrah:

I'm shocked.

Noya:

But if you're happy, then everything's okay!

Parrah:

You must've seen teh answer, right?

Noya:

Otherwise you shouldn't have been able to get the correcfv answer!

Parrah:

Or maybe you heard it?

Noya:

Did you hear it?

Parrah:

The intent may be different,

Noya:

but that's fine, too.

Parrah:

Your friends who provided you with the correct information

Noya:

Are good people.

Parrah:

Be sure to build up supportive friendships this year as well!

Noya:

Strive for 100 years of friendship!

Parrah:

And 100 years with us too!

Noya:

For that reason,

Parrah:

please keep us in mind this year, too!

Noya:

Please and thank you!

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