Information

Frangipane
Legacy Name: Frangipane

The Angelic Popoko
Owner: Kaylene

Age: 12 years, 9 months, 2 weeks

Born: July 14th, 2011

Adopted: 12 years, 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Adopted: July 14th, 2011

Pet Spotlight Winner
September 21st, 2013

Statistics

• Level: 1
   
• Strength: 10
   
• Defense: 10
   
• Speed: 16
   
• Health: 10
   
• HP: 0/10
   
• Intelligence: 0
   
• Books Read: 0
• Food Eaten: 0
• Job: Unemployed

There is nothing Frangipane loves more then to dance.

Born into a circus family in Delphi, Frangipane's parents were both acrobatic Popoko who performed high-flying stunts under the big top. Despite encouragement, Frangipane never took a shine to this kind of performance, preferring instead to watch and imitate the human ballerinas who opened each circus performance with their graceful movements. She would sneak into their rehearsals, silently observing from a doorway or from high up on the trapeze platforms. Eventually the Ringmaster noticed her interest and began to let the little Angelic Popoko join in rehearsal with the dancers. From that moment on, there was a new star attraction for the circus - a Popoko ballerina who could dance with more grace then had even been seen.

The years flew past for Frangipane and, though she loved dancing as much as ever, she began to feel bored with the circus. She felt as though the world had to come so far to Delphi to see her. She wanted to go perform to the world. Frangipane longed to travel and take her dancing as far as it could go. She ached to dance at the great ballet and opera houses, to perform with people who could outshine her so that she may learn even more from them. She wanted to branch out from the same old simple routines that she performed again and again at the circus. After a massive argument with her parents and the Ringmaster, none of whom wanted her to leave, Frangipane ran away, boarding a train to Centropolis and the future she hoped awaited her there.

Just as Frangipane had hoped, word had spread of a little Angelic Popoko from Delphi who could dance as well as any classically trained ballerina. Several known ballet houses offered her a place among their troupe. Frangipane decided to join a troupe who toured with their ballet performances to venues across Subeta, even to Atebus. At first, she was as happy as she had imagined she would be. She was traveling the world, working with ballerinas who rivalled her in skill and grace, immersed in the art of dancing she had loved since childhood. But eventually, Frangipane began to notice a strange hollow feeling in her heart. At first she didn't know what it was that left her feeling so unfulfilled and empty inside. After a few months, she realised it was loneliness. Frangipane missed her family. She missed her home, her friends, she missed the portly Ringmaster who had first encouraged her talent. But Frangipane couldn't bear to return home, not after having left the way she did. So she kept dancing and as time went on, the ballet troupe began to notice how her passion and skill diminished and how her misery began to effect the other dancers. After observing this for several months, the leader of the troupe eventually asked her to leave.


Shattered, Frangipane had no idea what to do. She had been left on Atebus, in Ziara city. The rest of the troupe had flown back to Subeta. For hours, Frangipane wandered the streets until she eventually came upon a pretty garden park. There was a beautiful Galactic Kora sitting on a bench, a single rose by her paw. The Kora seemed to be deep in thought. Frangipane silently seated herself on the opposite side of the bench, resting her weary paws. She noticed her prized pink ballet slippers were muddied and scuffed from a hard day of wear and she felt a tear slide down her cheek. The tears didn't stop and soon she was sobbing, curling her knees toward her face and burying it into them.

"Oh, darling, what's wrong?" The Kora had rushed over to Frangipane's side of the bench and placed a paw around her shoulders.
"There now, it's alright, shhh... Cry all you need to, it's okay..." The Kora had a kind, soothing, cultured voice and after a few minutes Frangipane felt herself calming down. Wiping a paw across her eyes, she looked over at the Kora and smiled.
"Thank you. You really helped."
"Not at all, darling," the Kora replied. "If you don't mind my prying, whatever was the matter?"
Frangipane confided in the stranger everything that had happened since she left the circus. A kind ear was sometimes all it took to lift a heavy weight from your chest, and the dainty Kora seemed willing to supply one.

"...So, you see..." Frangipane explained, "I have nowhere to go... None of the other ballet houses will have me after hearing about this. I really can't dance at the moment anyway, not as I am now... And I can't go home. My family must be so disappointed in me for running away. The Ringmaster must hate me. I could never go back."
"Oh, darling," the Kora soothed, "you see, the thing about families is they never hate you. I should know, mine is full of people who try my patience at all times, but I love them anyway. But, if you're really not ready to go back, perhaps I can speak with my owner. I'm sure she will be happy for you to join us for as long as you like."
"Come with you? Really?" Frangipane felt her spirits lifting.
"I'm sure you'll be most welcome. I am Diamonde, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Frangipane. Thank you so much for everything, Diamonde."

Frangipane travelled back to Subeta with Diamonde, her owner Kay, and an eclectic family large enough to make a dance troupe of it's own. In time, Frangipane thought of them as her family too. They welcomed her with open hearts and she felt more at home then ever, leaving her depression behind her and beginning to dance for the joy of dancing again. Kay eventually convinced Frangipane to travel to Delphi with her and visit the circus once again. The Ringmaster and Frangipane's parents were overjoyed to see her. They had followed news about her dancing career with pride, and were worried sick when she disappeared on Atebus. Now, for most of the year Frangipane lives with her owner Kay at her home in the Sacred Lands. But every few months, Frangipane heads down to Delphi, to the circus where she was born. There, she'll dance for a few weeks of each performance season as a guest star - Frangipane, the graceful Popoko ballerina who attracts crowds from across Subeta.

Art

by myself and other wonderful artists...


Header lyrics are from Tiny Dancer by Elton John

Art, layout, and story by Kaylene, unless credited otherwise.