Hello! I'm actually alive and I'm updating because today is New Year's Eve and I just can. …umm…I don't feel like explaining my absence again so just read the bottom of my profile.

Now, on with the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Emperor's New School, blah blah blah.


Chapter Nine

Dress Rehearsal

Kuzco leaps on screen.

"Hello everyone! It is I, Kuzco, your super awesome, yummilicious Emperor. I've just been awarded the most super awesome and yummilicious Emperor of the year award! Yay me! Aaaand, theme music!"

K-U-Z-C-O! Kuzco, Kuzco! Go, go!


Malina sighed and gathered up her scrolls. Somehow, she had not run into Kuzco for a couple of days. (Ask me nothing! It's a fanfic, let me be creative) And the play was still going to happen, so she wasn't sure what to do.

The rehearsals were now dedicated to creating the backdrops and props and such, but she was too depressed to help out. But she was needed to be measured for her costume again before the dress rehearsal tomorrow night, followed promptly by the final performance.

She listened to the bell ring and watched her classroom run out of the room. Her eyes were red and irritated from sleep deprivation and she was struggling to keep up in her classes. Her conscience kept her up at night, but she had given up on apologizing because Kuzco was never home.

And seeing as she no longer saw him in class (for reasons unknown), she assumed he'd either changed his schedule or transferred. Both thoughts completely and utterly depressed her.

"Yo, Malina." She looked up.

"Hi Moxie."

"Dude, you look pretty bad. What happened?"

"I just haven't been sleeping very well lately."

"Hmm, I see."

"Yeah. I gotta go get measured for my costume." She walked past her, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Moxie watched Malina walked away and frowned.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said that stuff about Kuzco and whatnot." She sighed. "I hate it when this kind of crud comes back to bite me in the butt."


Malina trudged into the auditorium, her thin frame looking about ready to collapse onto the floor. She was so freaking tired, it wasn't even funny. Kronk looked up from his script.

"Hey Malina."

"Hi Kronk…" she said quietly as she approached Mr. Malaguaco. "Sir? I'm here to get measured for my costume."

"That's great, Malina. Just go- sweet mercy! What's happened to you?" he asked. She yawned.

"I'm sorry. I haven't been getting much sleep lately…"

"Well, that explains why you're not paying attention in my class. Are you going to be alright, Malina." She nodded tiredly.

"I think so. I'll go to bed when I get home and take a nap or something."

"Well, Yatta is in charge of measurements. She's backstage."

"Thank you." Malina forced her weary body to walk backstage where the familiar, southern red-head was currently measuring Kavo.

"Hey Malina!" she greeted, smiling and waving. Malina walked over to her.

"Hi Yatta. I need to get measured."

"Okie dokie. Lift your arms." Malina did as she was told and Yatta took the measuring tape and measured her. "You feeling ok?"

"I'm just tired."

"You sure that's it?"

"What do you mean?" Yatta sighed.

"I heard about what happened with Kuzco from Kronk." Malina groaned, her face starting to burn with humiliation. "I don't see why you freaked out like that. I mean, I thought you liked him."

"I don't know, Yatta. I really don't know. I mean, one minute he's all conceited and rude and annoying, and then another he's sweet and smart and poetic and I'm just confused!" she snapped. Yatta nodded.

"That's love, darling. It turns you inside out."

"So what do I do?"

"Did you apologize to him?"

"I want to! But I can't ever find him."

"Well, shoot, he's been here." Malina blinked.

"Wait, what?" Yatta blinked up at her.

"Didn't you hear? He's back in the play. Where've you been?"

"Lying awake at night and dozing off in class and searching for him everywhere but here!" Yatta sighed.

"Malina sweetie, you need to get your head on right." She stood up. "Ok, you're all measured. Now, you should go home and catch a wink or two. You've got some bad bags under your eyes."

"But Kuzco-"

"Honey, it can wait until tomorrow. You look like you're about ready to pass out. Besides, Kuzco ain't even here today. He probably had something else to do." Malina sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, ok."

Meanwhile…

"Malina? Malina!" Kuzco yelled, knocking on the door. He sighed. "That's strange, I thought she'd be home from school by now." He looked at his sundial. "Well, I'm supposed to be at rehearsal. Guess I'll talk to her some other time."

Kuzco walked back to Pacha and Chicha's hut to get his supplies. No sooner had he gone, Malina trudged to her hut and entered it. There was a note on the table along with a sandwich.

Her mom was working later tonight so she had left her a sandwich and chips for her to eat. If she needed anything, there was food in the fridge.

Malina wasn't hungry, so she changed out of her uniform into her pink pajamas and braided her long, ebony hair before collapsing into bed. She was out like a light in a matter of seconds.


"Everyone, tonight is our dress rehearsal! Be in the auditorium promptly at seven and make sure you are in full costume and make up." Mr. Malaguaco looked around. "Has anyone seen Malina?" he asked.

The entire class looked around and shrugged.

"Oh no! Don't tell me our Juliet is sick!" he cried. "That's all I need now."

At Malina's hut, she was still in bed. Slowly, she opened her eyes and sat up, yawning. For the first time in days, she felt refreshed. But the moment she laid eyes on the sundial, that changed.

"I'M LATE!" she screamed before leaping out of time and getting ready at light speed. She made a run for Kuzco Academy and ran smack into the hall monitor.

"Hall pass!" he said.

"I-I don't have one."

"Then that's a demerit." He wrote something down and handed it to her. "And running, that's another demerit."

"Look, I gotta go! I'm late for class!"

"And that's a third demerit." She smacked her forehead.

"Of course." He wrote up the demerits and handed them to her.

"Have a nice day." She power walked out of his sight before running to Malaguaco's class.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" she cried. "I overslept."

"Well, normally tardiness is completely unacceptable, Malina, I suppose it can't be helped. Please take your seat." She hung her head.

"Yes sir." And he continued on with the lesson. On her way to her desk, Malina noticed Kuzco for the first time in days. He was reading a Pajama Llama scroll again today. She wanted to say something, but didn't need to get into more trouble so she sat mutely.

But, once again, she couldn't focus on class. Not because she sleeping, but because she was preoccupied thinking about her classmate sitting in the back of the classroom, reading a comic scroll.

The final bell soon rang and everyone started to race out of the classroom.

"Don't forget about the Dress Rehearsal tonight! Seven sharp!" Malina gasped.

"Dress Rehearsal?! I completely forgot!"

That evening, the auditorium had a decent sized audience, mostly composed of students and a few parents. Tomorrow the real crowd would come in.

Yatta was helping Malina into her costume. The scarlet dress looked absolutely stunning on her. She did her hair and put the elaborate hat on and grinned in satisfaction.

"Now there's a Juliet."

"Yatta…I'm really nervous. I haven't practiced in about a week."

"Aw, sweetie, you'll be fine. You're a good actress and you know those lines cold. Besides, if it helps you feel better, you don't have to kiss Kuzco in this performance. Mr. Malaguaco told me you two can fake it if you want. Tomorrow…then you can worry." Malina groaned.

"But…Yatta…"

"What is it?" Malina fiddled her thumbs.

"I…I remember when I first had to kiss Kuzco in that one rehearsal…I really liked it." Yatta leaned forward, eyes wide with interest.

"Really?" Malina turned red.

"Y-yeah."

"So you do like him."

"No!" Yatta arched an eyebrow.

"No?"

"Well…I don't know."

"Aw, Malina. You better make up your mind about that quick before Kuzco's the one who's not into you. Who knows? Maybe he'll get himself another girl."

"What? But he can't!"

"Hey, he might. He might've given up after what you said." Malina slapped her forehead.

"Aw, this is such a mess."

"Now, try not to worry. What do I know? Maybe what's going on with you two is true love. And all that cheesy romance stuff is true, and love is the strongest power in the universe, blah blah blah." Malina couldn't help but crack a smile. "Now there you go! And just think, you can talk to Kuzco all you want at the end of the play and fix it."

"Yeah." She stood up, a new smile budding on her face. "You're right. Thanks Yatta."

"Anytime." Malina walked out of the dressing room and Yatta hummed "So this is love" quietly to herself.

"Hey Malina, you ready?" Kronk asked.

"Yeah. You look nice, Kronk." He smiled and bowed.

"Thank you, fair Juliet. You are a vision yourself." She laughed, for what felt like the first time in years.

"Thank you, Paris."

"Are you excited?"

"To be honest, I'm really nervous."

"Well don't be, you're gonna be great!"

"I really hope so." Kronk pat her on the shoulder.

"Don't worry about it."

"What's up, people?" They both turned and Malina stared.

"Kuzco?" She almost didn't recognize him. The way he was dressed and how his hair was pulled back into a (manly) ponytail, he looked so different. Stronger somehow and very handsome.

She almost blushed as that thought came to mind, but was able to prevent her face from turning red.

"Well, my first scene is approaching. Catch you two on the stage."

"Yeah, I should go too. Break a leg, Malina."

"Uh, you too…" She watched the two walked away and quickly felt her face to see if it was hotter than usual.

A little warm, but not on fire. She sighed with relief and went over some lines quietly to herself.

The performance was a huge success. Kuzco had kissed the far corners of her mouth instead of really kissing her, but his lips still jumbled her thoughts and emotions and it took her a moment to remember her next line.

Everyone clapped and cheered as the cast came out for their bows. Malina tried to focus on the praise, and not on Kuzco's warm hand gripping hers. When she went backstage, Yatta ran up along with a few other friends of hers to congratulate her on the great performance.

She tried to get away as quickly as possible so she could talk to Kuzco.

"Kuzco?" She ran out and saw him with Pacha and Chicha. "Kuzco!" He looked at her as she ran up to him.

"Um, Pacha? Why don't we go and wait for Kuzco outside?" Chicha asked.

"Um…sure." The two walked away, leaving Kuzco and Malina alone.

"Yeah?" he asked, tilting his head at her. She inhaled nervously and looked up at him.

"I-I'm really sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it, Kuzco. And I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Moxie was just getting to me and I was getting irritated so I spoke without thinking." Kuzco seemed taken aback by the apology.

He was silent for a while. Malina began to panic, worried that he wouldn't forgive her. But, finally, he lightly pat her shoulder and smiled.

"Hey, thanks. So…can we still be friends?" She expected to be filled with joy at those words, but she was filled with disappointment for some reason.

"Y-yes. Of course." She tried smiling, but felt crooked. He didn't seem to notice as she grinned at her one more time before departing.

She brought her hand to her chest and frowned, trying to understand what was wrong with her.

Could it be that…she didn't want to be Kuzco's friend?

After rejecting his affections over and over again…was it possible that…she wanted to be something more than friends?

Was there a chance that Malina had fallen in love with Kuzco?


Yzma and Kronk walk onscreen and stare at the viewers.

"Hi people." Kronk smiled and waved. Yzma put on a sickly smile and clasped her hands together.

"We're doing the end credits because Kuzco didn't feel like it."

"Hey wait, didn't you tie him up and shove him in a clos-" Yzma shoved a sock into his mouth.

"Quiet, Kronk. I did no such thing." She laughed nervously and the camera moves to a shot a closed door, where you hear thumps against the door.

"Yzma! Kronk! Let me out of here!"

End credit logos.


Yay! Wasn't that a fun chapter! I was so great to update this again. I'm probably ending it next chappie or the chappie after it because I don't want to drag it out.

I hope you liked reading the update and have a happy New Year!