Yay! Reviewers! RUNOS SISTER: oh, really? I thought it could be called both, but I haven't watched the anime in a long time. Thanks!

So, I decided to continue it, obviously…

Chapter 2

When Sora woke up, the first thing she saw was sunlight streaming through her window. She remained frozen for a moment, then gasped and bolted out of bed, hurriedly reaching for her clothes when a hand grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "Sora, stop. It's over."

She blinked blearily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, then looked up at the shadowy figure leaning over her. Someone flicked on the light, and she realized it was Anna. "An... Anna?" she asked after a second of confusion, slowly getting to her feet. This had to be some new ploy of Leon's, but Sora failed to see how letting her sleep in half the day would do anything towards the Angel's Act at all. "What's going on?" she asked uncertainly.

Mia, who was also in the room, just gave her a small smile, as did Anna. "Sora..." Mia said quietly, then stopped, glancing at Anna.

Anna's smile grew wider, and she started off with, "Sora, you... you..." But she trailed off as well.

Sora looked between Mia and Anna in confusion, growing more and more worried by the second, and was about to demand to know what was going on when the door burst open to reveal Sarah, who was carrying bags of party food and liters of soda and, as usual, was very excited about something. "Sora!" she shouted when she saw her, dropping everything by the door and rushing forward, jumping up and down. "Sora, Sora, Sora, isn't this great? I mean, I knew this would happen in the end, but Leon was taking so long we were starting to wonder if he ever would and then he did and-"

"Wait, wait, wait, just slow down a second!" Sora shouted, then waited until Sarah had calmed down to ask in a slightly quieter voice, "Will someone please tell me what is going on?"

Sarah stared at Anna and Mia, then back at Sora in confusion. "They didn't tell you?" Sora shook her head, and Sarah smiled before clapping her hands together and exclaiming, "Sora, last night, Leon said you were ready. He said that the special training was over; that you two just have to rehearse it on the trapezes for a week or so and you'll be ready to perform!"

Sora's eyes widened in shock, and she looked at her three friends, amazed, before whispering, "He... he passed me? I made it?"

"You made it, Sora," Mia said softly.

Everyone was quiet for one, long moment, then Sarah squealed, "Party!"

Five hours later, the party had spread out into the hall, consisting of Anna, Mia, Sarah, Marion- who had brought along Jonathan- May, Ken, Rosetta, and, of course, Sora. She was still pretty sore, so she spent most of the time lying on the couch, talking with one of her friends. Sarah, as usual, was practically bouncing off the walls, even though it getting rather late- apparently, Sora had slept until 2 in the afternoon. Leon had told everyone to let her take the day off, and, though she back at work tomorrow, that it wouldn't be as hard as the 'special training' had been. Now they just had to master it on the trapeze.

Suddenly, silence fell out in the hallway. Sora sat upright with a quiet groan, straining to see who or what had caused it when Leon appeared in the doorway. "Leon-san!" she gasped, getting quickly to her feet.

Everyone moved out of the way as Leon took a slow step forward except for Jonathan. He crawled curiously on to his foot.

Leon stared down at it in pure shock and Sora cried, "Jonathan!" She hurried forward and pulled the seal back, handing him off to Marion and blushing furiously. "I'm so sorry, Leon-san," she apologized, quickly backing away from him. "That was just Jonathan; he likes to meet new people and..." she trailed off in the uncomfortable silence, biting down on her lower lip anxiously and hoping not to embarrass herself further.

Leon stared at her for another second, then just shook his head and started talking. "First, Mia, the scene director wants to see you, and Anna, May, Rosetta, and Sarah, you all are wanted down at Kaleido Stage. They want to see your comedy act and the Eternal Illusion, and I think Kalos wants to see Sarah." Everybody besides Sora and Marion hurriedly filed out into the hallway, and Marion took one look at Leon before picking up Jonathan and rushing after them. When they were all gone, Leon continued. "Sora. Due to budget constraints, we've had to schedule the first performance for sooner than expected- exactly one week from today."

Sora gasped, staring at him in shock, nearly choking on her water. "Wha- what? One week? But we've never rehearsed this on a stage! And not just us- the show hasn't even been put together yet! We don't have time to-"

"Which is why we have to start practicing now," he interrupted quickly. "As in today. I'm sorry, I really did intend to give you the entire day off, but now we can't afford to relax. Don't worry, it will still be easier than the special training."

Sora nodded quickly, though the new date for the performance still had nervous. "I- so, we're going to start practicing today?"

"Yes. Come on; I'll drive you. That is, if there's nothing else you need to here..." Sora quickly shook her head, so he led her out into the hallway. It was mostly deserted, most people already being down at Kaleido Stage. Leon glanced down at her, then said, "Thank you."

Sora's eyes widened in shock, then she turned to look at him and stammered, "Wha- what?"

"For staying with me this long. Sophie made it this far too. Everyone- even those that I actually started training for the Angel's Act- either quit of their own accord or simply couldn't succeed. The training got so bad that even Layla thought you wouldn't make it."

Sora blinked, stumbling slightly. "Lay... Layla-san said that? Oh..."

When Leon saw her desolate expression, he quickly relented. "Only because it was taking so long to complete; Layla didn't doubt you, she doubted that I would end your training soon enough."

Sora sighed, looked down at her feet again. "Oh," she said softly, unconvinced. Even after all this time, Layla still hadn't been completely sure in her... maybe she wasn't qualified to perform the Angel's Act with Leon at all. Maybe it should be May or Layla, or some other star...

KALEIDO STAR KALEIDO STAR KALEIDO STAR

Layla caught onto Yuri's hand as she soared below him, allowing him to gently throw her skyward. Layla had practiced catching onto trapezes and Yuri without putting too much strain on her shoulder, and while it wasn't foolproof, it allowed her to perform with only minor pain. However, the Angel's Act required little use of her arms, anyway, and she was looking forward to tonight, when she planned to challenge Sora.

When she drifted down and Yuri caught her again, he asked, "Should we call it a night or do it one more time?"

Layla hesitated, then nodded. "We can run it down one more time, but then we should head down to Kaleido Stage if we won't to catch Sora and Leon before they leave. Come on, from the top."

Yuri nodded, then dropped Layla, allowing her to fall down and land safely on the mat as he jumped from trapeze to trapeze, making his way to the lowest one. Layla closed her eyes, then jumped up to him. "You know," he said, catching her with ease, "you never did explain your reasons for challenging Sora. I doubt it's because you want to perform the Angel's Act instead of her."

"Why do you doubt that?" she called as she flew towards the ceiling, flipping over on of the trapeze bars and falling back towards Yuri. "Why do you always assume that I have some ulterior motive?"

"Because, love, you're Layla. Nothing's ever what it seems on the surface with you."

She sighed, shaking her head. Truth to be told, Layla herself wasn't exactly sure why she was going to challenge Sora. She didn't want to beat Sora, like she had felt during the Circus Festival, but she did want to win. And she was looking forward to the audition, because she knew Sora would accept- however, it was different from back when she had first auditioned for a lead part. She had been anxious beforehand and scared out of her mind when she stepped out on that trapeze. Now... there was none of that. Just the fierce need to compete with Sora. Why, though? To prove herself? To have Sora prove herself? Or maybe because she really wanted to perform the Angel's Act?

Well, whatever the reason was, soon, there would be two angels on that stage, competing for the honor of performing the Angel's Act. Of being the True Kaleido Star.

KALEIDO STAR KALEIDO STAR KALEIDO STAR

Leon lowered Sora gently to the floor, smiling slightly in the silence. Everyone watching had just given the pair a standing ovation, after seeing their performance. "Well, that's enough for tonight, Sora. I'll see you here tomorrow morning."

She nodded and the pair was about to part when a familiar voice called out, "Sora!" Sora hesitated, as did Leon. Nobody left as they all waited for the speaker to reveal herself. Layla walked out from where she had been standing at the back of the room, Yuri right behind her. "I have come to challenge you. Do you accept?"

She blinked, confused. "Wha... challenge me? Layla-san? What are you talking about?"

"I am talking about the lead roles in Swan Lake, Siegfried and Odette*. Yuri and I are challenging you and Leon for them. Do you accept? If not, step down from the role." Sora stared at her in shock, unable to understand what was going on. Layla and Yuri walked closer, and Layla said loudly, "Do you still not understand, Sora? I have mastered the Angel's Act, too. Yuri and I are challenging you. We want the next roles in Swan Lake. Your angel versus mine. Do you accept?"

Sora's eyes widened in amazement. Layla-san... is challenging... me? ME? Her angel versus mine? But why? Does Layla truly want to take my place in Swan Lake?Training must have been hard for her, with her shoulder... I should accept, to honor her, at least. She certainly is beyond capable of beating me, though. Well, if that was true, so be it. If Layla had the better angel, then she should perform it in Sora's place. If Layla already doubted Sora... perhaps she should just step down from the role.

But... Leon! He wasn't performing this just to become a True Kaleido Star... it was also for Sophie. She couldn't quit now; Leon needed this! And she hadn't worked so hard for nothing! Becoming a True Kaleido Star had been Layla's dream, but she had passed it onto Sora. If this was what she had to do to accomplish it, then so be it.

Despite Sora's dream of a conflict-free stage... this new challenge had her pulse racing in excitement, and she was already looking forward to it, even though she hadn't accepted it yet. "Surpass me or step down from the role, Sora!" Layla shouted, gazing steadily at her. "Do you accept?"

If Layla wanted Sora to surpass her... I will prove myself to Layla! I WILL win this challenge! "Yes!"

Layla smiled, nodding. "Good. We meet tomorrow morning, Sora, Leon. I look forward to it." Then she turned on her heel and left, Yuri right behind her. Most stared after her in shock and amazement, but not Sora. She didn't know why Layla was doing this, but she knew it didn't matter. Whatever the reason, she would give it her all tomorrow- for Leon, and for herself.

Please review. Note: I have no idea if Odette and Sergfried were the two people in Swan Lake or not; that's just what Wikapedia said. And the reason these chapters are so short is because I like to update daily, because I usually finish stories before I start posting them. But I wasn't planning on continuing this, so I didn't do that with this one. Well, on the upside, it'll have more chapters!