Uncle Bill, Aunt Connie, Little Mary, Old Harold ...
The people of Cross Street stand gathered at the front of the stage, hammers and saws in their hands. Old Harold discreetly moves a shovel out of sight.
Perched on a tree, a canary nervously swivels its head to watch the crowd assembled on this bleak winter day.
Brimley: Leave it to me, darl.
Tooth Fairy gives a slight nod, and Brimley ascends the makeshift wooden podium.
Brimley: Testing. Testing.
Brimley: Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please! Today marks the beginning of the London Uluru Exhibition Games.
Brimley: As you can see, the weather isn't looking great. The smog still sits heavy in the sky.
The crowd beneath the platform looks up at Brimley, cement stains and coal smudges on their faces.
Brimley: There's no wind, no sunshine, no warmth, and even my brim is soggy from the damp. It's truly miserable out here.
Brimley: On top of that, the stadium's shabby, and we only have a limited number of athletes.
Brimley: To many, these games would be seen as disappointing.
Brimley: However, even without the support of the Foundation, we've managed to rebuild this stadium with nothing but our own hands and determination!
Brimley: I've confirmed that our stadium meets all the standards required by the government, and there's no doubt that it matches the Foundation's, too!
Brimley: As for the operation of our Games, we've built a reliable team consisting of various Uluru professionals and supporters.
Brimley: They are currently in every corner of the stadium, working their hardest to prepare for the upcoming event.
Brimley: They will be our backbone, supporting the entire Games to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Brimley: As we all come together, I believe the passion of our Games will burn as hot as the sacred fire of Uluru itself!
Brimley: So, without further ado, I hereby declare ...
Brimley: That the London Uluru Exhibition Games have begun!
The crowd bustles and chatters like a flock of birds.
Tooth Fairy, Brimley, and Flutterpage are quickly bombarded by a flood of questions.
Judge I: Ms. Tooth Fairy! We don't have enough judges for the Winged Key Archery! Frantz has been put on to umpire two events at the same time, so he left to do the other one!
Tooth Fairy: Two events at the same time?
Tooth Fairy: The other event starts tomorrow. He must've mixed up the schedule. Get him to come back.
Broadcast: All athletes participating in the 1500-Meter Weighted Run, please report to the third preparation area. I repeat, please report to the third preparation area.
Player I: Umm. Excuse me. I-I lost my name tag. Can I get a new one?
Tooth Fairy: Certainly. Go straight ahead, and take the first left to get to the player office. There's a girl called Flutterpage in there. Show her your ID, and she'll give you a new tag.
Judge II: I'll take you there. Follow me, friend.
Player I: Sure. Thanks.
Brimley: Oi, hold on a minute. "Friend," why haven't I seen you before?
Brimley examines the judge suspiciously before pulling his ID card directly from the inside of his coat.
Brimley: This ID is fake. Security!
Judge II: I-I'm just a big fan. Please, don't kick me out! I just—
The volunteer security team quickly swoops in and removes the impersonator.
One of them whispers a few words to Brimley.
Brimley: Tooth Fairy, my darl.
Tooth Fairy: What is it, Head of Security?
Brimley: I've been told that a mate of ours would like to post some fliers in the stadium.
Tooth Fairy: We already have a sponsor. I'm afraid you'll have to turn him down.
Brimley: By mate, I mean Arthur.
Tooth Fairy glances over to where Brimley is looking and catches sight of a black-and-white banner at the entrance to the venue.
Smog Kills.
Tooth Fairy: Has he been sitting all this time under that banner with his machine?
Brimley: Yeah. He's using it to show everyone what could happen if they breathe in too much smog.
Tooth Fairy: I don't know if I should call him wavering in his principles or completely stubborn in them.
Brimley: Arthur's always been a righteous official. He truly cares about the people. He's tough, tenacious, and has a powerful ability to influence others.
Tooth Fairy: You sound more like an official than he does.
Tooth Fairy looks over at the athletes preparing to race and the crowd cheering them on enthusiastically.
Spectator I: Come on! Go for it!
Spectator II: First place! Yes!
Spectator III: Waahhh ... No ...
Player II: Thank you! Thank you!
The athlete blows kisses at the spectators, triggering another wave of excitement.
Tooth Fairy: Not even the smog can stop the people's enthusiasm for sports. No matter the obstacle, they will always find a way to enjoy it.
Tooth Fairy: I suppose Mr. Fog is still refusing to take one of Flutterpage's sheets?
Brimley: Of course, he is. Arthur said he'd never run away from the smog. As Fogwalker, he has to "confront" it.
Brimley: He's stubborn, just as you said.
Broadcast: Floor Ritual competitors, please report to the fifth preparation area. I repeat, please report to the fifth preparation area.
Brimley: Oh! That's Ms. O'Hagan's event.
Tooth Fairy: Yeah.
Brimley: Do you think she'll show up?
Flutterpage: Ms. Tooth Fairy, Mr. Brimley, did you hear that? The Floor Ritual's about to start!
Flutterpage: But where's Ms. Willow?
Tooth Fairy looks at Brimley. Though he has no eyes for her to read, the slight shifting of his brim carries a sense of trepidation.
Neither knows how to respond to the child, hesitating between igniting her hopes and destroying her dreams.
Or perhaps the truth is exactly what she's hoping for?
Tooth Fairy: Go check the Floor Ritual venue, Flutterpage.
Flutterpage: What for? Is Ms. Willow there?
She looks directly at Tooth Fairy. Her eyes widen as they begin to sparkle.
Flutterpage: She's there, isn't she?!
Tooth Fairy: You'll have to go there to find out.
She can't help but give a slight smile.
Brimley: I'll cover for you at the player office. Just go, little tacker.
Tooth Fairy: Go on, then.
Flutterpage starts to smile, but a flicker of doubt quickly clouds her expression.
Flutterpage: This time, I won't disappoint her.
Flutterpage: I've brought her a real game. No need to climb the tower and hide away anymore. This is real.
She raises her hand and waves to Tooth Fairy and Brimley, a determined look on her face.
Flutterpage: See you later!
With that, Flutterpage turns and runs off.
At the fifth preparation area, the Floor Ritual competitors are warming up.
Player No. 2401: Look at this place. You could find a better venue at any school in the city. These Games are really something.
Caroline Bartley: They built it in a matter of days. We can't ask for much.
Player No. 2401: Oh my! It's an honor to meet you, Ms. Bartley.
The competitor hurriedly wipes her hands before extending one to Caroline.
Caroline Bartley: Take care warming up. You wouldn't want to get hurt just before the competition.
Player No. 2401: You're very kind. Thank you.
A staff member with a volunteer ID strides in from the doorway.
Volunteer I: Floor Ritual competitors, the event will start in one minute. Please confirm your numbers, as I will be calling you to enter the floor in numerical order.
Volunteer I: Competitor No. 2401, please enter the floor. Competitors 2402 and 2403, please wait in the locker room.
Player No. 2402: Good luck!
The first competitor receives a few well-wishes before waving goodbye as she makes her way to the competition floor.
Now that the event has begun, Caroline stops warming up.
Caroline Bartley: Hmm. What about Charlotte?
Willow: deep breath
Caroline Bartley: Charlotte, you're here. I knew you wouldn't be able to stay away. You haven't changed a bit.
Willow: Hmm?
Willow pauses in the middle of her stretch.
Willow: What do you want from me?
Caroline Bartley: What do I want? Have you forgotten about the challenge?
Caroline Bartley: What's your number?
Willow: I don't think that's any of your concern, or are you trying to win over the organizers with a little goody-two-shoes act? The ever-so-helpful competitor-turned-volunteer, Ms. Bartley?
Caroline Bartley: Oh, I didn't know you could be so sarcastic.
Willow: You better get used to it.
Caroline Bartley: Really? You mean we'll chat again in the future?
Willow: ...
Willow turns her head away from her.
Willow: I'm not the Charlotte you used to know. Stop trying to bond with me.
Caroline walks toward her.
Caroline Bartley: But you are the Charlotte I used to know.
Caroline Bartley: You're still that black swan I've always chased after. When I saw your performance, the grace, the beauty of it, it inspired me to become a Floor Ritualist. But you just disappeared after you became champion.
Caroline Bartley: Well, as long as you're back ... Heh heh.
Willow: What's so funny?
Caroline looks at Willow with a quiet composure, her lips forming a slight smile.
Caroline Bartley: See you on the floor.
Caroline heads back to the preparation area.
Volunteer I: Player No. 2406, Caroline Bartley, please enter the floor.
The sound of the volunteer's voice filters into the room, muffled and distorted by the walls.
Willow stamps her slightly stiff right leg.
Willow: Time for me to head in, too.
Willow: Excuse me.
She finds her way to the spectator seats, settling into a corner.
Caroline gracefully strides onto the floor, pausing to give a gentle bow to the judges. Then, she brushes her hand across the didgeriwood, and positions herself in the center, ready to begin.
Broadcast: Player No. 2406, Caroline Bartley, whenever you're ready.
Caroline starts to dance. Receiving her channeled energy, the didgeriwood produces a rich, resonant sound.
