Chapter 4

"Ready Klaus?" Francine asked, coming into his German class.

"Is it that time already?" He asked. He looked at his watch, and then looked at his students. "Okay kinds, once you are done with your worksheet on German numbers, class can be dismissed. You all were such wundarbar students, but I got to leave now. Auf Wiedersehen!" He then left with Francine. All of the students got to work, all but two. Both alien kids got out of their desks and went over to their teacher.

"Where are you going?" The boy alien wanted to know. Klaus stopped in his tracks. Francine stopped too. They both looked at the two kids.

"We, uh…" Klaus started, but didn't know what to say. He could say 'bathroom', but they be confused to why Francine had to be there as well.

"Its okay." The girl alien assured him. "We know you don't belong here. We won't tell." Both Klaus and Francine were confused.

"Really?"

"Yeah." The boy put in. "Just go do what you have to do with your girlfriend. We'll get you covered.' Klaus smiled.

"Danke, Zolton." He thanked the boy. He looked at the girl. "Danke, Xira." He looked at both of them. "You two get extra stars for this. Auf Wiedersehen!"

"Yeah, yeah!" The boy said. "Auf…whatever! Now, go before you two get caught."

"Right!" He looked at Francine. "Come on Francine, let's go." And with that Klaus and Francine left.

"Can we trust those two kids?" Francine asked Klaus when they left the school, but still in the spaceship.

"Ja." Klaus told her. "Zolton and Xira are good kids. I trust them."

"But, you only just met them."

"Ja, but I can tell they're good kids. All of my students are. I'm kind of sad to have to leave them."

"Well, why don't you and your new family move here, so you can work here after your honeymoon?"

"Nein, as much as I love these children, I'd rather educate Earth kids."

"I hear you. I'd rather teach Earth children too."

"Monica." Klaus said when he and Francine got to the restaurants. "Monica, are you here?"

"I'm here." Monica spoke. Klaus smiled up at her.

"Perfect; let's go." They all went off.

Steve was by the jail cells when they arrived. Stan was already at the church. It was his job to make sure that the wedding was going to go smoothly. He knew all about the plan through.

"Roger's not here yet?" Klaus asked.

"Well, do you see him?" Steve said to him.

"Well, where is that alien? My future depends on him."

"Don't worry, he'll get here."

"Are you sure?"

"He better, otherwise us meeting here would be a complete waste of our time."

"Ja; a complete waste."

Roger came ten minutes to eleven.

"Roger!" Klaus scolded him, looking at his watch. "It's ten minutes to eleven. Francine told us to meet here at ten thirty."

"Sorry." Roger apologized. "Well, better late then never, huh? Huh?" The humans didn't look amused.

"Let's just go and get this over with. Lead the way, Roger." Roger led the way.

While they were on their way, several TVs lowered from the spaceship ceiling from all around. Monica, Steve, Francine and Klaus didn't have to ask what the TVs were about. They already knew because the guards and their bosses had told them. Everyone on the entire ship was forced to watch a live broadcast of the emperor's wedding. If they didn't, they could go to jail because in the emperor's eyes, that meant that they were disrespecting him. Even the Smiths and Klaus had to see it, but they didn't have to watch the TVs, They were going to watch it live. Klaus then recognized something.

"Crap!" He cursed.

"What is it?" Francine wanted to know.

"I didn't lead my kids to the auditorium to watch the wedding. If they don't watch the wedding, they're go to jail, and it'll be my fault."

"Yes." Roger agreed. "Yes, it will."

"You're worried about that?" Steve questioned him. "We have an emperor to save, there's no time to worry about that. They know they got to watch it. If they don't, they don't and get arrested. I know it's a stupid law, but that's how it is here." Klaus sighed.

"I guess. But, still, they're good kinder. They don't deserve jail time." Steve was puzzled. Klaus noticed this."

"Oh, 'kinder' means 'children.' That's why we call Kindergarten, well, Kindergarten."

"No, I knew that." Steve stated. "It's just why do we call it 'kindergarten', why not 'Zero Grade'. Or then I guess Preschool will have to be 'Negative Zero Grade'? Zero is a number too, you know." Klaus just looked at him.

"That's just stupid, Steve." Steve sighed.

"Yeah, I guess it is."

They just made it after the first 'I do," from the emperor. Klaus looked at his watch.

"They shouldn't be doing the 'I dos' yet. It's only 11:05."

"That's what my planet does." Roger explained. "They rush through things to get it over with so the workers can keep working and the kids can continue learning. After that is the husband toasts to the new bride, and then they drink. That part is not televised. The workers continue their jobs and the kids continue school. The bride and groom then go wherever, and that's it. There're no receptions, except for important weddings, like this one." Klaus was hurt.

"Every wedding's important."

"Not to the emperor. You got to be of royalty to be important."

"That's not fair. Everyone's important." Roger shrugged.

"Hey, I didn't make the laws. I just break them if I don't like them, which is mostly all of them." Klaus then changed the subject.

"So, the kids aren't in the auditorium that long?"

"That's right."

"Well, I don't think I would like bringing my kids in for just a few minutes, and then back to the classroom." Roger just shrugged.

"Well, that's just how it is sometimes."

"Your planet just keeps getting weirder and weirder." Steve spoke. Roger looked at him.

"I know." They then went inside, and ducked behind pews, so they wouldn't be seen. They all saw Stan was there, ready to protect at a moment's notice.

They all, except Roger, looked all around the church. It wasn't a church that he was used to. He looked at Roger.

"What kind of church is this?" Francine asked.

"We only have one church and we only use it for weddings and funerals. My race isn't religious. I guess you can say that we're all atheists."

"And now," The priest announced. "To the reception!" Everyone got out of their pews, and left the church, none of them noticing Roger and the humans.

"We could've just gone to the reception." Steve said.

"We could've." Roger agreed. "But we didn't."

"Where is the reception?" Francine asked.

"Next door. Come on; follow me." He cracked his knuckles. "Let ol' Roger show you the way." And so, they went after Roger.

Roger got past the guards at the reception, but blocked Klaus, Steve, and Francine.

"Names, please." One told them. Francine was about to speak, when Roger broke in.

"They're the entertainers." The alien lied to them.

"Okay." The first one just said.

"Go get your clothes on." The second one added. The two let them pass and they all went into the reception. In the center was a table with an ice sculpture of the emperor. Steve noticed Marik under the punch and cake table.

"Marik's under the table." He whispered to the others. The others saw that Marik was indeed, under the table, poison in hand.

"We need to confront the Emperor." Klaus said. "Then it's out of here, then to my wedding."

"Whoa, hey there eager beaver!" Roger said. "You're the entertainers. To blend in, you need your clothes."

"Okay, as long as I get to my wedding on time."

"Oh, no." Monica said when they were getting into their colorful outfits in the dressing room. "I'm not getting in that. I'll look silly."

"Monica, please." Klaus begged her. "I know it's stupid, but if you want to blend in, you have to wear this." Monica sighed. She grabbed her outfit.

"Fine! But these outfits reminds me of the clowns at my fifth birthday party." Klaus smiled.

"Thatta girl!"

"Okay," Roger said once his friends were all dressed. "Hopefully we'll get through this before the real entertainers get here." Francine was confused.

"Real entertainers?" She asked. "Roger, what were you thinking?! We could get caught."

"And that would be awkward." Steve added.

"Right." Roger agreed. "Look, don't worry about that. Just be glad that you're here. Now, onwards!" He clapped his hands. "Come on; chop, chop! Your public awaits." They followed him out of the door.

"Uh," Steve began as they walked. "What kinds of entertainment are we going to do?" Roger

"Oh yeah," Roger remembered. "I guess, you do need to know." He looked at each human as he talked to them. Steve, you tell jokes. Monica and Francine are clowns. And Klaus is the daredevil."

"I knew these looked like clown outfits!" Monica said. Klaus was confused.

"Did you say daredevil?" He wanted to know. Roger nodded.

"So, you got to be brave. The last dare devil died in the hospital after jumping over a vicious shark on his motorcycle. It's very life risky." Klaus gulped.

"I don't know if I'm up to that."

"Well, you have to. The audience is expecting something, and you don't want to disappoint them, do you?"

"Well, no, but do I have to do something dangerous?"

"The more deadlier it seems, the better. And don't worry, you go last, after Monica and Francine."

"Danke, that makes me feel a millions times better!" Roger smiled.

"That's the spirit!"

"I was being sarcastic."

"I know."

The emperor held up his glass of beer that Marik had put the poison in. The humans gasped.

"And now," The emperor began. "A toast to a promise of a happy marriage!" Everyone clapped and cheered.

"He's going to drink the poison!" Francine said in a panicked tone.

"Not yet." Roger told her.

"But first," The emperor continued. "Our entertainers: The Entertainers!" Cheers and claps could be heard.

"The Entertainers?" Monica asked. "What a very stupid name."

"I know." Roger agreed. "My race isn't very creative. Why, our football team is called 'The Football Team'." He looked at Steve. "Okay Steve, you're first. Don't make them boo you and throw food at you." Steve nodded.

"Got you!" He responded.

"And now," The emperor began again. "Our first entertainer!" Everyone clapped and cheered as Steve smiled weakly at them as he made his way in the middle of the room. He sat on the tall stool that was put out for him. He picked up the mike that was on it and smiled weakly again at his audience.

"Hello!" He greeted. "Gee, it's an honor to be here at the emperor's wedding, isn't it? Let's give a nice round of applause to him and the bride, for I wouldn't be here without them." There was applause as the emperor stood up and bowed.

"Thank you, thank you!" He glanced at Steve as he sat down. "Okay, begin!"

"Right!" He looked at the audience. "Um, the weather's nice, right? Oh that's right, we're in a spaceship. But, I bet it's nice."

"Boo!" An alien shouted. "Get on with the jokes."

"Oh, right. So, what's the deal with airline food?"

"BOOOOO!"

"Uh, so why did the chicken cross the road? To get on the other side!" More boos.

"Where do cows go in their spare time? To the mooooovies!" Even more boos." Steve began to sweat. He laughed nervously.

"Oh right, maybe you don't know what cows and chickens are. So, knock-knock!"

"No one's knocking, you idiot!" The same alien from before shouted.

'No, no, you're supposed to all say 'who's there?'"

"But, no one's knocking at the door."

"I know, but it's a knock-knock joke and…" He sighed. "You know what? Never mind. You wouldn't get it." They booed him and threw thier food at him. Steve shielded himself from the oncoming foods.

"GET OFF THE STAGE!" An alien shouted. The emperor pointed a mean finger at Steve.

"Get off the stage." He echoed. "Come on, you heard the public. I will not have you ruin my night." Steve went off the stage and sat in his chair.

"You know," Roger told him. "You did suck." Steve glared at him.

"Shut up, Roger!" He said to him.

"Well, you did." He looked at Francine and Monica.

"Okay clowns; you're up. Try not to disappoint me." Francine grinned nervously.

"We'll try our best."

"Klaus, I'm nervous." Monica spoke to him. "What if Francine and I don't 'wow' them?"

"Don't worry." Klaus assured her. "As long as you try your best, that's all that matters. Und even if you don't 'wow' them, I'll still be proud of you." Monica smiled.

"Thanks; that makes me feel a whole lot better." Klaus smiled back.

"Of course it does." He patted her back. "Now, go get them, kiddo!" Monica nodded.

"Come on." Francine said to Monica. "Let's get this over with." And with that, Monica and Francine went on the stage.

"Where are your unicycles?" The emperor asked. Francine was confused.

"Excuse me?" She wanted to know.

"Your unicycles. You know, you juggle and you throw pies at each other."

"Oh, right." Roger went onstage. In his hands were two unicycles, balls, bowling pins, lit torches, and pies. "Here you go, guys." Francine glared at him and she grabbed hers. Monica grabbed hers as well.

"Thanks, Roger." Francine said in a sarcastic tone.

"Yeah, thanks." Monica added, also sarcastic.

"No problem!" Roger replied. "Good luck!" He leaned towards Francine and clenched his teeth. "You two are gonna need it." He then left the stage.

"That Roger." The emperor said. "Always being prepared." He looked at Francine and Monica. "Now, don't fail me." Francine grinned nervously again and she and Monica began their clown act.

Like Steve, they got booed, had food thrown at them, and got shouted to get off the stage by Roger. They got off the stage and glared at Roger.

"What?" Roger questioned. "I couldn't help it if you both suck."

"You didn't suck, sweetie." Klaus told Monica.

"Yeah, yeah!" Monica responded as she took her seat. "You're just saying that. Don't forget, you're next." Klaus gulped.

"Daredevil!" Zing barked at him. "You're next." Klaus gave him a lame smile.

"You know what?" He questioned, pretending to be sick. "I don't feel so good. I think I should to go home."

"Hmmm, you don't look sick. Come on, perhaps its just fear talking, though I don't know why you'd be scared. You done this and many other life threatening acts plenty of times before without any problems. Just get on the stage." Klaus nodded and got on stage. He looked at the emperor.

"Well?" The emperor questioned. "What are you going to do?" Klaus grinned his lame grin again.

"I seem to have forgot my equipment. I'm sorry. But I can't do it." He was about to go off stage when he saw Roger coming up with a hoop stand, a lit torch, and a motorcycle. He gave them to Roger. "Here you go." Klaus glared at him, and then was confused.

"What about a helmet? Don't your race believe in safety?"

"Oh, yes, but daredevils don't need helmets. The more deadlier it seems,"

"I know, I know." Klaus interrupted. "the better."

"There you go! Here, I'll set you up."

"Um, Roger, what am I going to do?'

"You're going to jump into a flaming hoop on a motorcycle."

"What?!" Roger left the stage. A moment later, he pushed a skateboard ramp onto the stage.

"Do you need help?" Monica asked him.

"No, no." Roger said, not looking at her. "I…can…do…this…myself." When it was where he wanted, he fell to catch his breath. He then stood up and put the hoop stand in the center of the stage. He went back to Klaus with the motorcycle after he lit the hoop on fire. He put the torch aside and went to Klaus.

"Okay, get on the motorcycle and go through the hoop."

"No." Roger looked at him.

"Excuse me?"

"No. Roger, I can't do this. This is, what the kids are saying nowadays, cray cray-crazy!" Roger sighed.

"Look Klaus, I didn't push a skateboard ramp up here and got you the other equipment for no reason.

"Und you didn't need to. You didn't need to do any of this! I can be a daredevil, but do I need to do something so dangerous like this?"

"Yes, because that's what daredevils do. They risk their life for amusement.

Now, be good, and give the audience what they want." Klaus shook his head.

"Look Roger, I didn't ask to be a daredevil. I don't want to do this, I won't." He

folded his arms across his chest to show that he really meant it. Roger sighed again. He looked at the audience.

"Who wants to see Klaus jump through a flaming hoop on a motorcycle?"

"KLAUS, KLAUS, KLAUS!" The audience chanted. "KLAUS, KLAUS, KLAUS!"

"Look," Klaus told the audience. "Can't you make Roger do it?"

"NO!" The audience said.

"Come on!" Emperor Zing urged. "This is the highlight of my whole wedding!" He then looked at Zeng, and blushed. "Second highlight!"

"So, you really want me to do it?" Klaus asked.

"YES!" Replied the audience.

"Are you sure."

"YES!"

"Are you certain th…" The audience got impatient.

"JUST DO IT!" Klaus sighed.

"Okay, I'll do it." The audience cheered as Klaus got on the motorcycle. Monica went up to him.

"You don't have to do this." She told him. Klaus looked at her.

"I really don't, but I'm going to do this."

"NO!" She stated to cry. "I lost too dads. I don't want to lose a other without even marring."

"Und, you don't have to. Listen Monica, I'm scared as heck, but I have to give the audience what they want. You can tell yourself that you believe I can over and over in your head. If you do that, I think I have a chance. Can you do that?" Monica sniffed, nodded, and wiped away a tear. Klaus smiled.

"Atta girl!" Monica hugged him.

"I love you." Klaus hugged her back.

"I love you too." Zing groaned loudly.

"Can we get on with this, already?" Monica withdrew from Klaus.

"We sure can!" Monica ran off the stage. Klaus rode his motorcycle to the top of the skateboard ramp, and looked at the blazing hoop. He could feel the heat of the flames. He gulped.

Klaus, what are you doing?! He asked himself in his mind. Only a dummkoph would go through with this. You aren't a dummkoph, are you? He went down the slope at intense speed. Yep; you're a dummkoph. He went off the rump and shut his eyes. The audience gasped as they watched as it was in slow motion. Monica had her eyes closed and crossed her fingers.

'You can do it, Klaus. You can do it, Klaus. Monica repeated over and over in her mind. I believe in you. I believe in you. I believe in you.

Klaus got closer and closer to the hoop…and made it through. The audience cheered as he landed on the other ramp. He didn't notice a bit of his hair was on fire. Monica smiled and felt relieved. Roger had his eyes wide.

"Wow!" He breathed. "I didn't think he make it." Klaus opened his eyes and realize he was still alive.

"WHOO-HOO!" He cheered. "I'M STILL ALIVE!" He zoomed around the ramp on the motorcycle. "That's right B-words, I'M STILL ALIVE!"

"Uh, Klaus?" Monica spoke. Klaus looked at her.

"Not now, sweetie. I'm celebrating." He rode and rode, yelling with glee. "WHOO-HOO!"

"But Klaus…"

"Not now!"

"What's happening?" An alien wanted to know, who just came in with a dummy alien, and three other aliens. Two of the aliens were dressed as clown, and the third one was with a motorcycle. He looked at Klaus.

"What are you doing up there?" He wanted to know. Klaus stopped riding and looked at them.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"We're The Entertainers." The first alien replied.

"Uh, no you're not, we're The Entertainers. You guys are imposters." He looked at Zing. "Zing, we have impostors!" Zing stood up.

"You know," He responded. "Now that I think about it, you're the prisoners. What're you doing here? You're supposed to be all working. GARDS!" The guards came all at once, and grabbed all of the imposters, who all tried to get free, but to no avail.

"Oh," The leader of The Entertainers began, pointing at Klaus. "Your hair's on fire." Klaus was confused.

"What?" He then felt it and screamed. "MY HAIR'S ON FIRE! WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME?!" He drove off the stage in a hurry and jumped over some tables. Aliens screamed, and ran from their tables so the motorcycle wouldn't accidently fall on them.

"EVERYONE CALM DOWN!" Zing shouted over all of his screaming guests. "YOU WILL SIT DOWN, AND ENJOY THE REST OF MY RECEPTION!" He sighed and got up. "I got to stop this idiot from ruining my party." He went in front of the motorcycle's path. Stan's eyes widened.

"Your majesty!" He cautioned. "Get out of the way!" He lunged at him as the motorcycle was about to run him over. The motorcycle crashed into the whine table and shattered the ice sculpture of the emperor. Klaus sighed in relief as all of the wine doused the fire. Emperor Zing gasped as he the shattered pieces fell onto the floor.

"My ice sculpture!" He shot a look at him, angry. He pointed a mean finger at him. "You; you ruined my reception!" He pointed at Francine, Monica, and Steve. "You all ruined my reception!"

"But, I did good, right?" Stan asked.

"Yeah, yeah, you did good." Stan pumped his fist in triumph. "As the rest of you, I want you all get back to your jobs. Gaurds, take them away!"

"Wait!" Francine cried out. Everyone looked at her. "We're very sorry we ruined your reception, but there's something that you should know. Your brother is going to poison you to death and become the new ruler with your wife." The emperor broke out laughing. The guests laughed too.

"How is that possible? He's not even here." Francine shook her head.

"Yes he is." She pointed to the table that he was hiding under. "He's hiding under that table."

"No, he's not. True, I don't know where he is. I got guards out hunting him down, but he's not there." Francine sighed. She walked to the table. Marik quickly moved on all fours. Francine noticed this.

"Look under the tables; he's moving!"

"Yeah right, take them away. The guard grabbed Francine and took her towards the exit. The others took Steve, Klaus, and Monica.

"YOU'RE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE!" Francine shouted. "YOUR EMPEROR IS GOING TO GET POISONED BY HIS BROTHER!" She looked at Roger. "Roger, tell them!" Roger shrugged.

"I have no idea what she's talking about." Francine glared at Roger as she, Monica, Steve, and Klaus, were being taken away.