Okay, the transplant is almost complete.
Narumi's body now carries the aspirations of everybody.
Yeah, but...
Is this even Minghai anymore?
All his limbs are marionette parts.
Mingxia.
Narumi is Narumi.
I'm almost done.
Pantalone got me. But I can still do this.
Let it bloom or let it wither
The setting sun ignites the horizon
And the gears turn
When the horn blows, the flames dance
The story waits for no-one
Off they go, the gears are churning
A red past chases after you
The jester's smile
What's behind the mask?
You can't erase the scars
No matter how they burn
Let it bloom or let it wither
The setting sun ignites the horizon
Alone in the depths of the night
Let out a cry that can cut through fate
That's the cue to begin
The curtain is rising, it's time to dance
Everybody sheds tears at the end
So hold them in now and keep going
Until the day the curtain falls
The gears will keep turning
#14 By the sea, in the dead of night
It's all gone quiet.
Seems like those low-grade automata have been wiped out.
Damn you, Colombine.
I'll end this, even if I have to do it on my own.
He's going to...
Hurry, we must move now!
Move body, move!
Lady Francine didn't tell me to bow down. She never did!
This is not Lady Francine!
I came here to protect my family from ZONAPHA syndrome.
And Narumi gave me hope.
With a man like him, we can overcome ZONAPHA.
I can die at peace.
Let me.
No way.
Narumi told me that not everything needs a reason.
One last stitch.
Just one last stitch.
How beautiful humans are...
This is not Lady Francine!
They're moving! I've got to stop them.
The imposter is no more!
We are free again. We win!
Not so fast!
What's this? Another measly human?
Out of my way.
Wake up, Minghai.
The surgery is over.
Everybody's dead.
You're our only hope.
Hey, what do you think you're doing?
Forgive me, but now I am ready to go.
You don't mean...
Yes, to attack Doll Francine.
That way, the automata will come after me. You'll be safe here.
You can't, Fatima.
It's fine. How else could we save Narumi?
Who thought I'd ever feel like this?
-I guess I'm not a shirogane anymore. -Wait!
Thank you, Mingxia.
Tell Narumi to take care.
Forgive us.
We followed the orders of an imposter.
This will never happen again.
We are loyal only to you, Lady Francine.
Fight me!
Who do you think you are?
Wake up, Minghai!
Don't let everybody's sacrifices go to waste.
It's now or never.
Come on, Minghai.
Get up.
You think that'll work on us?
Woah, now.
How would you like to dance in a rain of fire?
I never told you this.
I liked the way you stood.
I wish I could see it one last time.
Minghai!
Your body... It's...
I know. I heard everything.
These aren't marionette limbs.
They're the souls of our friends!
Then use them to stop the automata.
And save Fatima too.
Leave it to me.
I told you.
Narumi...
Die in front of your friend.
I'm so glad...
You're alive.
Yeah, we've got a lot to catch up on.
But first, I have to crush those two and Doll Francine.
Yes, you have to win.
How dare you punch my face, you lowly human!
One second till death!
My foot...
He's fast.
Impossible...
I'm Pantalone, the strongest puppet ever!
Automata will never lose to a human!
You've only existed for 200 years. You call that undefeated?
Humans have studied the art of combat for 10 times longer than that!
Wow.
Minghai.
Goodnight, Pantalone.
It's getting well past "midnight" for this "circus."
Time for you to go to sleep, Arlequino.
Dear me. I'm disappointed in you.
You were a human who dared challenge us using only martial arts.
I even respected you.
No matter how much humans learn, they die in the end.
That is the beauty of the fleeting lives of humans.
But look at you now.
You can hardly call yourself human.
Let me purify you.
Narumi!
You're wrong.
Humans aren't beautiful because we die.
It's because even in the face of death...
we can smile a great big smile.
Impossible...!
We're almost there...
I got to do what I wanted to do.
I am fulfilled.
Now.
All your puppets are gone.
This is the end for automata and ZONAPHA syndrome.
You there human, this is the first time we meet.
Yeah.
And now, goodbye.
This is for everyone!
It's finally the end...
I was created in 1909 by Lady Francine.
What did you just say?
Don't lie.
I still remember.
The day I was created.
Open your eyes.
Your name will be Francine.
Yes, my name is Francine.
I have traveled for almost 100 years now.
I have led this Midnight Circus.
But I am tired now.
I am going to disappear from this world.
I do not understand. Why?
You will understand someday.
But the other puppets will be severely perplexed.
That is why you must replace me.
Be their leader. Love them, praise them.
I will.
But how do you plan to make yourself disappear?
The shirogane's puppets,
they're all created by a group of puppet makers in the East.
They will know.
Or rather, I am interested in meeting them.
I may be able to understand what my creator was feeling.
I am counting on you.
And so, she left.
That is how I replaced Francine.
I am not her.
And ZONAPHA?
It won't be gone even if I destroy you?
No, only she can do that.
Where is the real Francine?
I understand now how Lady Francine felt that day.
We cannot be humans.
So to travel with puppets who try to make us laugh...
It is very... tiring...
That is why...
I am now...
relieved...
Answer me! Where is Francine!
You mean, this was all for nothing?
"PRAYING FOR VICTORY, ANGELINA SAIGA"
Where can he be now?
I should've kept a closer eye on Mr. Masaru.
Did he ever ask you to?
No, but I must protect him.
Listen well.
A time comes for every boy when he wants to accomplish something by himself.
What is that something?
There's no need for you to know.
All you must know is that there is love in not protecting someone.
Love in not protecting?
Let's go home. The ocean breeze is cold tonight.
I don't understand.
What would Narumi do?
Narumi!
You... You're Narumi Kato.
I'm so glad you're alive.
Arlequin's Blade of Saint George.
Narumi, your body!
This is a symbol of what I've fought for.
A symbol of the strong ties with my friends.
A symbol that makes me who I am.
You're Narumi, aren't you? Why do you attack me?
Yes, that is my name.
Why does the leader of the automata know my name?
You are the true Doll Francine!
What did you say?
Don't play dumb!
You even move like a human.
Not like the fake one I destroyed in the Sahara.
Why does Narumi know about the automata?
And why does he think I'm Doll Francine?
Narumi, it's me, Shirogane.
You protected me. You taught me how to smile.
I'm not the Francine doll. I'm Éléonore!
Éléonore, you say?
I don't know you.
We've never met before.
Now, tell me how to cure ZONAPHA syndrome.
Look, I'm bleeding. I'm human!
That's no proof.
You know how to create synthetic blood.
I know all about it.
And I know that you're Francine!
I don't mind being killed if it's by you.
But not while you misunderstand me.
Who told you such a lie?
A few days ago, the shiroganes and the automata fought a final battle.
But the Francine doll I destroyed was just a decoy.
During my quest to find the real one, a certain man came to me.
A certain man?
A survivor of Clogue Village in Quiberon, the village you ravaged.
Too bad about the war with the Midnight Circus, Narumi.
Not even I realized that was not the real Doll Francine.
Who are you?
The head of Fou Industries.
I'm Fou, a former shirogane.
F-O-U. It's French for "fool."
I'm a fool who has given up being a shirogane to be in the audience.
Audiences want to know everything.
I use my Eye-sect robots.
They're nano-sized camera-equipped automata.
I attached them to all the shiroganes.
So I could watch what went on.
I quit being one of the actors,
but I need to know how this tragedy ends.
So you just sat and did nothing?
When all the shiroganes fought with their lives.
Yes, but I'm not just an ordinary spectator.
I chose a path different from Lucille and the others.
The path of research and business.
Shiroganes age 5 times slower than normal people.
I was able to succeed as a researcher and build a fortune.
Thanks to this, I've been able to amply aid the shiroganes.
Do you understand? The audience is god.
If what you're saying is true, then tell me.
Where is the real Doll Francine?
She goes by the name Shirogane Saiga. Her real name is Éléonore now.
She's in a small circus in Japan.
You became a shirogane when you were young using Aqua Vitae,
but Doll Francine had melted into that Aqua Vitae.
Everything that was her became you.
You are her reincarnation.
No... I don't know anything. I really don't.
Now tell me.
How do you cure ZONAPHA syndrome?
Such heavy feelings are emanating from him.
So much sadder and greater than just distress.
Narumi, you taught me how to smile.
You taught me how to live.
My life was given to me by you.
Shut your nonsense crap.
I want to ease his burden.
I don't care anymore if he still misunderstands me.
I don't mind being killed if it's by you.
Go on. Kill me.
Tell me first how to cure ZONAPHA!
I don't know! The only thing I can do is die for you.
Now, do it. Cut my head off.
Anything to make your load lighter.
You're being defiant? So be it.
Then die! To stop the spread of ZONAPHA.
And for the shiroganes who died for this!
Narumi?
Narumi!
Avoiding the crowds, I walk in the dark
And wait with bated breath in the wings
My expression is calm while I scream inside
On the verge of being torn apart
I dance and beckon you to join me
As a shadow swings across the stage
I tell myself this is the last time
But I can't seem to cut myself free
Too scared to stop for a moment
My impatience hides the cries of somebody left behind
Nobody notices the shadow standing in the sudden rain
Somewhere far away, a memory of you is saying goodbye
I stand here watching, no longer able to reach you