Battleon High

Hiya. Welcome to the second chapter of Battleon High, written by Xenolord, Flame, and I. Hope ya enjoy it. Mind you, this is an AU, if you didn't already know. Trip, howsa bout the disclaimer?

Trip: Disclaimer - DA owns Rayne, Lizzie, Trip, and Blaze. Flame owns Shiro and the other guy. Flame and DA own Felix. Xenolord owns Maria, Natalya, and Serras. Otherwise, everyone else does not belong to them.

Rayne gave a confused look at her watch. "That can't be right." She mumbled to herself, as she stared at the face. Tapping it with a fingertip, she pulled her wrist up to her ear, and listened carefully. The watch seemed to be fine, and was ticking merrily. Pulling it away, she tapped it again, and gave it a disbelieving look.

"Something wrong Rayne?"

Rayne turned around to look at Lizzie, who had her chin propped up on one hand, and was eyeing her with an odd look. The said girl shook her head.

"Nothing really….but…haven't you noticed the Miss Aquella isn't here yet?" Lizzie's eyebrows furrowed. "You're right." She mumbled, as she gently took Rayne's wrist within her hand, to look at the watch. Rayne felt the heat rising in her face, but she fought it down, and looked at the watch too.

"You don't think anything happened, do you?" Trip's voice came, loudly, from right beside their ears. Rayne gasped, and took in a deep breath. Lizzie, being probably even more surprised than Rayne, had squeaked, jumped a few feet into the air, and landed right into Rayne's lap. Unconsciously, she had wrapped her arms around Rayne's neck for support.

Both females glared at Trip, who just shrugged, and laughed. The rest of the class laughed too, except for Shiro, who seemed to be staring at Lizzie, and wishing that it was her in his arms, instead of Rayne's.

"Anyways, d'you think anything happened?" Trip questioned, as she got a hold of herself.

At that moment, their teacher burst in through the door. Holding a cup of tea in her hand, she walked over to the front of the classroom.

"Sorry I'm late; just forgot something." She said sheepishly to them, as she set down her tea, and gave them all apologetic looks.

"No problem Miss Aquella!" Felix called out cheerfully.

Aquella looked at them approvingly, before clearing her throat.

"Morning class."

"Morning Miss Aquella." They chanted back at her.

Aquella picked her drink up again, took a sip, and set it down.

"Now then…"

She picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote down two words, in neat, large handwriting on the board.

SCHOOL PLAY

She turned around, with her arms crossed to look at them all.

"As you know, every year, one of my classes are chosen, to put on a play for the school." She smirked at them, before speaking again "Guess which one's doing it this year?"

The class groaned slightly, and Felix was grumbling to herself. Aquella simply picked up her tea, took a sip, and threw the piece of chalk at Felix, hard.

It hit her forehead, with deadly accuracy. Felix fell out of her chair, 'Nyaa-ing' loudly on the floor. The class looked at her, with wide eyes, and shut up quickly.

"That's better." She said. Finishing what tea she had left, she turned around to look at them.

"Any suggestions for which one?"

A few students raised their hands, including Lizzie, Rayne, and Felix. Aquella looked around, before pointing at the three.

"How about Wicked?" Rayne asked, scratching her head slightly. Aquella mm-ed. " It's not bad, but there is singing in it, and trust me, some people CANNOT sing in this class." She threw a knowing look to Shiro, who blushed, and slunk down in his seat.

Felix came next "How about Barney's magical adventure? We can paint an egg rainbow, and we can get a suit, and-" Felix shut her mouth, as she realized that everyone, including her teacher, was staring at her. She slunk down in her seat, before looking around.

"What?"

Aquella shook her head violently. "DEFINITELY NOT."

She closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples, before nodding for Lizzie to go on.

She smiled slightly, before adjusting her position (she was still sitting on Rayne's lap, even though neither of them had noticed)

"Maybe we can do Romeo and Juliet. Not too childish, no singing, and a really good play." The rest of the class murmured in agreement.

Aquella, raised her head, and smiled tiredly back at her, "Good thinking Lizzie."

She looked at the whole class.

"So…Romeo and Juliet. Is everyone in agreement?" The whole class yelled out an 'Aye!'

Aquella beamed. "Well, then, to the auditorium! Tryouts will begin today!"

5 minutes later…

Aquella took a seat at a table in front of the stage. "All the people who would like to try out for the roles in the play, please line up here." She called, as she pointed to the stairs near the stage. Many people lined up. Including Trip.

Rayne blinked, as she stared at her friend. "Trip; YOU want to act?"

Trip huffed, and tugged at the end of her shirt "Yup. Acting's fun!"

Lizzie, who hadn't wanted to, along with Felix, Rayne, Shiro, and a handful of others, shrugged, "Alright then. Miss Aquella?" She called out.

Aquella turned to look at the redheaded girl "Yes Lizzie?"

Lizzie looked around herself. "I don't think that we'll finish in time with only this many people."

Aquella smiled mysteriously. "I knew that would happen. So, I had a little help, brought in from another class."

At that moment, Maria, Natalya, Serras, Safiria, Valencia, Robina, and others walked in through the door.

"You wanted us to help you Miss Aquella?" Maria called out to her. Aquella nodded. "You'll be helping the rest of the people here do the background for our play, alright?"

Serras shrugged. "Beats class work."

The Despair sisters and Serras and Safiria took their seats in the audience, next to Lizzie and Rayne and Felix. "Hey." Natalya greeted them. They nodded, and waved to them.

"So…which play ya doing?" Maria asked, as she pulled Safiria into her lap.

"Romeo and Juliet." Rayne said simply.

Safiria nodded. "It's quite a good play; I saw it once, and I read the book."

A powerful, emotion ridden voice suddenly broke into their conversation.

What storm is this that blows so contrary?

All conversation in the room stop, as everyone turned slowly, to look at who was speaking.

There, on the stage, was Aria. Although she was usually quiet and pleasant most of the time, on the stage, she had a ferocity, and passion of which no one had ever seen before. She seemed to be pouring her soul into the words of Shakespeare. It looked like she was BORN for the stage.

Is Romeo slaughter'd, and is Tybalt dead?

Her eyes were closed, and the words poured from her mouth smoothly.

My dear-loved cousin and my dearer lord?
Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom!

One could clearly tell that she was definitely meant for the role, of which she was speaking the lines of.

For who is living, if those two are gone.

The place was silent for a minute, before Felix stood up in the crowd, and cheered, loudly. The rest of the auditorium was filled with the sounds of applause, whistling, and cheering.

Aria opened her eyes in shock, as she saw that everyone, even the people who wanted the role themselves, cheering for her. Aria blushed, and grinned, her eyes hidden behind her hair.

Aquella herself was smiling and clapping, standing up.

"Wonderful my dear, you're a shoo-in!" Although the others were a bit sad at the thought, they all had to agree that she was Aria, was really, really good.

The noise came back, gradually.

Rayne whistled a low note, amazed. "She's definitely going to be our Juliet, eh?" Her company could just nod, seeing as the rest of them were speechless.

"I wonder what part Trip will get?" Lizzie questioned, as she looked at the line up. Trip's turn was soon approaching.

Natalya blinked, as she heard the words. "Trip's trying out for the play?"

Rayne rolled her eyes, and gave her a look. "I believe we just established that Natalya."

Natalya scowled at Rayne, before looking back to the rest of them.

"There's nothing wrong with that, but she doesn't really strike me as the play type."

Maria and Serras had to agree with Natalya. Felix popped up, and cocked her head. "Yeah, same for us. But still, I wonder how good she is?"

Yet again, another emotion-filled voice, rang strongly through the room.

But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?

Once again, all motion, and sound through the room stopped. The group of friends, turned to see who was onstage. Their mouths dropped open, and their eyes bugged, as they realized that it was TRIP, who was saying the words, which were causing a pin-drop silence.

It is the East and Juliet is the sun!

Trip, like Aria, was pouring her soul into every word and syllable coming from her mouth.

Arise fair sun and kill the envious moon.

Trip's friends couldn't believe their eyes. "Who ever knew Trip could act?" Serras whispered quietly.

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Silence reigned the domain, before Applause and wild cheering, just as loud as the ones for Aria, exploded in the room. Trip looked taken aback, but grinned anyways, and flashed the peace sign with her fingers. Jumping offstage, and running to her friends, Trip smiled like a Cheshire cat at them.

"Think I was any good?"

"No; it was horrible!" Serras and Rayne said, sarcastic, at the same time.

"Of course you were good!" They all yelled at her, after. Trip looked taken aback again, but her trademark silly gin spread over her face.

"Then for sure I'll get Tybalt!" She yelled, as she pumped her fist in the air.

"Definitely." The rest of them agreed.

(A/N: I think you all know where this is going.)

1 hour later…

The rest of the tryouts went relatively fast. Some people were pretty good, but none were as powerful as Trip and Aria's.

Aquella cleared her throat before yelling. "Attention!"

The sound quieted down, as everyone looked at the teacher.

"I'd like to thank all those who tried out. Some of you showed talent that I've never seen from any of you before! The cast list will be put up tomorrow, in my room."

All the people who tried out pumped their fist, and hissed a 'yes!'

"Remember, if you didn't get a part, you can still help us out backstage. Now, shoo! Away with you all!"

Everyone left the room, leaving a certain water elf to her thoughts.

Outside

Maria and co. walked down the hall. "Trip, you were amazing!" Felix cheered, as she patted Trip on the back.

"Really? I didn't think so." She said mildly.

"Normally, I would have some sarcastic comment about your modesty, but even I have to admit that you cant be modest about this Hitai." Serras said seriously.

Trip blinked. "Thanks Serras…I think."

Next day, Music Room

Even from a distance, people could see the large gaggle of people crowding outside of the Music room. Trip, Rayne, Lizzie, and Felix met right at the edge of them.

"Wonder what their here for?" Felix wondered absently.

Rayne glared at her. "Their here because they all flunked Music, and want to re do it."

Felix blinked. "I didn't know people in Battleon High were so stupid!"

Rayne rolled her eyes, and Lizzie merely giggled. Trip tried to get though, but ended up being pushed back out, right into-

"Aria!" Trip yelled as she nearly knocked the shorter girl over. "I'm so sorry." She apologized. Aria smiled sweetly at Trip. "It's okay." If one looked closely at Trip, you could see the faint blush on her cheeks.

"Here, let me help you…" Trip leaned down to pick up Aria's dropped books. She gathered them up in her arms, and just as she stood straight, and was about to hand them to her…

"GOOD JOB, TRIP AND ARIA!"

Maria's loud voice pierced through the crowd. Aria and Trip blinked. "Huh?"

The crowd grabbed both of them, and jostled them over to the cast list.

Aria and Trip gasped, and the books slipped from Trip's grasp, as they saw what was printed on the sheet,

Romeo – Saya Hitai

Juliet – Aria Petaker,

To be continued…

Haha! How'd you like that? Well, Ja ne!

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