Much to Raphael's discomfort, his father was coming with them to catch Napoleon. Isaac claimed he would slay Napoleon with his bare hands if it meant less reason to play the last song. Raphael couldn't argue with him there. (Besides, they'd used all of Alfred's rope to tie Jean-François up in the cathedral.)

Fondue picked up Napoleon's scent from Marie's violin. He led them as far as Musée Rodin, just west of Raphael's apartment, but then he started whining and moving in circles.

Raphael sighed, "Lost the scent—?"

"Hey, Raphie!"

"Michel?" Raphael gaped at his grey-haired schoolmate. "What are you doing out— you know, never mind. We've gotta go."

Before he could hustle his parents and the others away, someone else hollered, "Hold on a minute!" There was Émile as well. He'd been inspecting one of Rodin's sculptures. Shifting his glasses, he smirked at Raphael. "Have you joined the search for the Phantom Notes?"

"What?" (How did they know about that?)

"Keep up, Raphael! People are looking for the Phantom Notes all over Paris. If you find any, you need to bring them to the Palace of Versailles."

"I'll meet you at the palace later," Raphael said. "First I need to find… this guy who looks like Napoleon Bonaparte, wearing a black hat and a cape. Seen him?"

"Nope." Michel clicked his tongue. "Why are you after someone like that?"

"For a reenactment," Zoé filled in. Raphael and his friends gazed at her. She added, "If I were a disorientated Napoleon, I'd want to retrace my steps from the place that I died."

"Well, Napoleon died in 1831 on St Helena," Émile informed them. "That's a tiny volcanic island in the South Atlantic."

Michel remarked, "Your runaway Napoleon is going to need a boat—"

"I'll bet he's headed for the Seine river," Isaac intervened.

"No wonder Fondue couldn't smell him if he's in the water!" Raphael flashed Michel and Émile a grin. "Thanks guys. See you soon!"

As he explained the situation to Marie, her mother and Alfred, the boys muttered:

"Was that the Duchess Elizabeth?"

"Was that Raphael's dad?"

Elizabeth reasoned, "We should have the song prepared before we face Napoleon."

"Do that and we risk losing him down the river," Isaac argued. "Let me take him out first. Then we'll worry about the song—"

"We're wasting time," Zoé cut in. "Liz, you organize the Phantom Notes at the palace while Isaac and I find Napoleon."

Marie turned to Raphael, biting her lip. "Are you going with your parents?"

Raphael nodded. Who knew how much time he had left with his mother?

Marie hugged him as Zoé hugged Elizabeth.

"Promise you won't hesitate to play the song," Zoé whispered. Elizabeth promised and Zoé kissed her cheek. "Take care of them."

With that, Raphael, his parents and Fondue rushed to Pont Alexandre III, where they had a clear view of the river from the bridge. Only a few boats were out this early, so it didn't take long to pinpoint the one Napoleon had chosen.

"There." Isaac pointed at a small cargo vessel when he heard cries from its crewmembers. The sailors were thrown overboard by the Bracelet of Tiamat.

"Here he comes," Zoé said as the boat passed underneath the bridge. "Get ready to jump."

Isaac pulled out a handgun, checking how many bullets it contained. "I can't jump that far!"

'You're going to have to if you want a decent shot."

Raphael and Fondue hopped onto the bridge's stone railing after Zoé. "We can make it," Raphael said.

Zoé took his hand, and then Isaac's as he clambered up on her other side. When the cargo vessel emerged from beneath the bridge, they jumped.

Lithely, Raphael landed on top of the vessel's control room, as did Zoé. Even Fondue landed next to them on all fours. Isaac hit the deck with a bang.

"Well, he knows we're here now," Isaac muttered. He ripped open the door to the control room, aiming his pistol inside.

"D-don't shoot!" a man cried. "He hijacked the boat— forced me to drive!"

Raphael and Zoé exchanged a glance. Zoé signaled to the front of the control room— to the window. Raphael nodded and peeked through the window. He was met with the terrified face of a crew member, who was driving the boat. Behind him, Napoleon stood with his back to the window, facing Isaac.

To the driver, Raphael mimed zipping his mouth shut. The man bit his lip. Raphael looked up at Zoé again. How could they attack Napoleon without injuring the driver?

Isaac wasn't concerned for the potential casualty. He fired a shot. The driver yelped. A blast of light shattered the control room's windows. Could the Bracelet of Tiamat block a bullet? No time to find out.

Raphael and Zoé helped the driver scramble out of the window and onto the roof.

"M-merci…"

"Get out of here!" Raphael shoved him into the water, assuming the sailor could swim.

Another gunshot. Another burst of gold.

Isaac was launched away from the control room and against the deck. He was unarmed.

Napoleon swept onto the deck, preparing the bracelet for a final blow. He was halted as Zoé leapt at him from behind and wrapped his cape around his head. Raphael kicked him over.

The blinded Napoleon staggered to the edge of the rocking boat. Fondue's jaws latched around his wrist, trying to tear off the bracelet. With a muffled roar, Napoleon threw Fondue overboard.

"Fondue!" Raphael didn't think. He dived in after Fondue as Isaac barreled towards Napoleon.

The Seine wasn't exactly 'clean', but from the way the city's lights shone on the water, Raphael had thought it would be cleaner than this. And warmer.

Holding his breath, he squinted through the murkiness. Where are you, buddy—?

There was an almighty splash above him. The air was knocked out of his lungs as someone— Napoleon?— hit him. Raphael floundered out of his way. But Napoleon didn't strike him again. Napoleon was being dragged down by… by… Dad? Raphael's vision was swimming too much for him to tell.

Arms grabbed his waist, hoisting him up. His head was suddenly above water. He choked out, "F-Fondue?"

"Fondue's fine," Zoé grunted as she swam with him to shore.

Raphael realized that the boats had stopped moving and a crowd had gathered along Pont Alexandre III and the river's edge. Amongst them was Inspector Vergier, who helped Raphael up a ladder and onto the jetty. Charlie was beside her father, holding a shivering Fondue.

At the sight of Raphael, Fondue leapt out of her arms and cuddled up to him. He was soaked through and reeked of that wet dog smell, but he was safe. Raphael released a shaky sigh. "You're ok."

'Are you?" Charlie checked.

"D-Dad's still down there…" Raphael gazed over the water, to where his mother had dived back under.

A minute might have passed. Raphael felt trapped underwater again, unable to breathe. Charlie reminded him to do so. Vergier dropped a coat over his shoulders.

Finally, Zoé burst to the surface, coughing and carrying Isaac. Vergier helped her haul him out. Raphael knelt next to Isaac's body as Zoé forced air into his lungs and pounded on his chest over and over again.

Don't do this to me again, Dad. Don't leave…

Isaac spluttered back to life, spitting up water. Rubbing his back, Zoé sighed and smiled wearily at Raphael.

The crowd of spectators cheered. They may not have understood the end result– Napoleon's demise, the failure of the Mystère Organization and the reunion of Raphael's family— but they were jubilant. There was even a band playing somewhere in the distance…

Raphael heard a gasp. He glanced at his mother. She was holding her neck, choking on tears. Reliving her death.

Raphael's eyes widened. "No! Mom, hold on! We'll get help!" He begged Vergier to call the hospital or Emma or Elizabeth. Napoleon was gone. They didn't need to play the last song anymore. Marie could calm the skeletons like before…

Why wasn't Dad doing something? He was still sprawled across the jetty, staring at Zoé.

She took a step back towards the water. "I'm so glad…" Her breath hitched. "I saw you. But you can't to see me—" She fell into the river before Raphael could reach her.

The crowd went quiet. When the music stopped, Fondue went to nudge Raphael's hand. Charlie touched his shoulder. Vergier offered up an apology.

Isaac mumbled, "I suppose you'll want to arrest me now."

"I should," Vergier admitted. "But I am retiring as of today, so it's no longer my duty. Be warned, however; the rest of the Constabulary are on their way from Les Invalides..."

Slowly, Isaac stood up, turning to his son. "I'll find you, Raphael—"

"Just go."

Isaac disappeared into the crowd.

There's more stuff after the credits, stay tuned!

Ending Credits (Theme: Phantom Notes)

Featured Rhythm Thief Characters Belonging to Sega:

Raphael/Phantom R

Fondue

Isaac

Charlie Vergier

Inspector Vergier

Emma Vergier

Marie

Duchess Elizabeth

Alfred

Jean-François

Leonard Bonar

Josette

Professor Alàn

Charles

Michel

Émile

Eric

Urbain

The Chevaliers Diablolique

OC Stand-in:

Zoé

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A Rhythm Thief AU Fanfic written by:

The Mocking J

Perhaps the orchestra Charles Musson had assembled, led by Marie on the violin, could have tried to resurrect Zoé Laurent. But then, the same could have been done for Professor Alàn, and even Leonard Bonar (someone might be mourning for him).

The cycle would never end.

Duchess Elizabeth had all traces of the Mystère Organization's mark destroyed, along with the Phantom Notes. What little remained of the chevaliers were rounded up, and anyone involved in the 'incident' was sworn to secrecy.

That didn't mean, however, that no one would remember. A memorial was held at the Sorbonne for Professor Alàn, attended by a myriad of students, colleagues and admirers. This included Jean-François, much to the surprise of many. (He was heavily guarded, to the surprise of none.)

A small few saw it as joint memorial. Elizabeth lamented that Paris had lost a 'dear friend'. In honor of the deceased, Marie played a song of her own design.

Raphael didn't condemn her for returning the catacombs' souls to rest. Still, he couldn't stay for the entirety of her performance.

He and Fondue slipped away from the Vergiers— they were still looking out for him, after everything— and stood on the outskirts of the Sorbonne. They were searching for an absent attendee.

Raphael waited, clutching the coin Inspector Vergier had quietly returned to him.

"Heads, he'll be here," Raphael told Fondue. "Tails, he'll bail on us." He flipped the coin, caught it and showed it to Fondue.

Tails.

His father approached from the shadows.

Raphael smiled.