It was Thursday.
The day the glee club had been working for since Will took over, the day they had been waiting for, rehearsing long hours for had finally arrived.
It was the day of the national finals.
"Wake up, my handsome prince," Emma cooed softly as she tried to get Will out of bed. He began to stir and finally opened his eyes, sitting up in his bed seeing all the luggage packed and sitting near the door to their room – his on the left side and hers on the right.
"Good morning, Em," he said. "Did you pack all the bags while I was still sleeping?" It suddenly dawned on him that today they would be checking out of the Pop Century Resort and moving to the Grand Floridian. The concierge at the Pop Century helped to arrange the transfer, he would make sure that all their luggage and belongings made it to the other resort safely.
"You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you," Emma said, "so I quietly went around the room and packed our suitcases. Now get dressed, we've got a big day ahead of us."
"Yes ma'am!" Will said, saluting, and he hopped out of bed and walked to the bathroom. He took the world's quickest shower, dried himself off and got dressed. He emerged wearing a black suit jacket over a white T-shirt, jeans and his favorite brown boots. Emma carefully placed their key cards back into its envelope after making the beds. They then picked up their bags and headed out the door to go downstairs to the lobby, prepare for check-out and have breakfast in the restaurant.
"Here's a picture of Mr. Schu when he was our age and competing at nationals," Rachel said to the glee kids, who were crowded at one big table in the restaurant as they were having breakfast. She showed them a photo of Will at the national championships back in 1993 while browsing the American Show Choir Association web site on her laptop, he wasn't that hard to spot.
"Even back then he had that same curly hair," said Matt. "Pretty cool."
"I saw a video of the 1993 team in the school library before we left for Florida," added Artie. "It's no wonder why they won the title back then, they were really good."
"I did some further research," continued Rachel. "Did you know that if we win tonight, our teacher will have made Ohio state show choir history?"
"Get out of town, girl!" exclaimed Mercedes.
"No, it's true," said Rachel. "I checked the list of Ohio state champions, and nobody on that list has won the national title as a member of the winning team and later as the same school's director."
"Let's make a pledge to win this tonight for Mr. Schu," said Finn, "not because of what Rachel just said, but because he believed in all of us. We wouldn't be here at all if it weren't for him." He put his hand out on the table.
"And for Miss P as well," added Tina, adding her hand to Finn's. "Because she believed in us too. It would be a wedding present both of them won't ever forget." Soon, everyone's hand was in the circle as a promise to try and win nationals for Will and Emma – the two people who believed in them the most.
Later that morning, the glee club arrived at the Grand Floridian Resort in the special bus chartered just for them. All their luggage had been sent over separately from the Pop Century Resort, and the Grand Floridian concierge welcomed them warmly. After checking in and finding their rooms, Will encouraged the kids to rest up in preparation for the competition, which was scheduled to begin at 7 that evening.
"I want you all in good spirits for this evening," he reminded them as the kids either went off to the pool or the arcade to relax. Quinn and Mercedes came up to him.
"Hey Mr. Schu, could you do us a huge favor?" asked Mercedes.
"What's up, you two?" Will asked.
"Well, Mercedes and I were wondering if you could help accompany us on our solos," replied Quinn. "It felt good to sing during that rehearsal on Monday when you were playing for us, so we thought with you up there tonight it would feel even better for us."
"Of course," replied Will. "Anything to help the team."
"You rock, Mr. Schu, thanks so much," said Mercedes, and the two girls left. Emma had gone to the hotel salon for a touch-up on her hair, so Will went back to his room alone to practice. It was going to be the biggest night of his life aside from his upcoming wedding.
"Good evening everyone, and welcome to the grand finals of the national high school show choir championships live from the Magic Kingdom here at the Walt Disney World Resort!" announced the emcee to the assembled crowd of thousands of people. All of Main Street had been closed off for the event and a stage had been put up that morning at the top of the street just in front of Cinderella Castle. The judges' table sat just off to the right of the stage, and behind the stage a large tent had been set up for the groups complete with monitors to allow everyone to watch the performances.
"This week, we've been honored to have hosted fifty of the best high school show choirs from across the United States," the emcee continued, "and tonight the ten choirs who were lucky enough to pass their preliminary competitions are here to compete one last time for the honor of being national champions. The ten groups you are about to see tonight are the best of the best, so we hope you enjoy the performances and encourage you to cheer on your favorites."
Backstage in the tent, the ten groups waiting for their turn were either warming up, adjusting their costumes, pacing their area, watching the feed on the monitors or just sitting quietly. In their corner, the members of the McKinley team were all gathered around Will and Emma, listening to their coach give them a pep talk.
"First of all, I want to say how proud I am of you guys for making it this far, and I hope tonight you all go out there and do your best," said Will. "You all believed in each other and in the songs you're singing, and no matter what happens, we're still winners." He looked at his group of kids with a huge smile on his face, all decked out in costumes Emma helped choose – the girls in red-and-black strapless dresses, the boys in black short-sleeve shirts, black jeans and red ties. A draw had been held before the show began to determine the performing order, and they would be going last, so they had quite a while to wait with each group doing a six-song set.
The performance began minutes later, the team from Vermont up first. As the other groups watched the monitors, the Ohio corner was quiet. Santana had taken charge and led the group, including the adults, in a meditation exercise she learned from her mom. The fourteen of them stood together in a circle, hands clasped, eyes closed and heads bowed as she softly gave her instructions. When she finished, the group opened their eyes.
"Man, I feel so calm and relaxed," said Finn.
Time passed, most of the groups had already performed. As the ninth group, the team from New Jersey, performed, a show runner called for the McKinley team to head to the stage.
"This is it," Will said as he grasped Emma's hand. Behind them, the kids were all grouped together, reminding each other of the pledge they had made. The members of the school's jazz band joined them seconds later, and soon they were at the bottom of the stairs leading to the stage. Applause marked the end of the New Jersey team's set, and that group walked off the stage at the other end. Will and the band took their places at the sides of the stage.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen," said the emcee, "please join me in welcoming our final team of the evening. They qualified on the very first day of competition, and their talent and determination are the reasons why they are here tonight. From Lima, Ohio, please welcome McKinley High!" The kids went up and took their places on stage to loud applause, Emma watching from the side. As they looked over the crowd, they saw signs near the front held by their families and friends reading "McKinley High #1", "Titan Power" and "New Directions Rules!" Seconds later, they started into their first song, "Don't Stop Believing". As Finn and Rachel took the lead, the rest of the group got into the performance – as did the crowd. Their first number finished strong as the crowd cheered loudly.
Mercedes took center stage as Will began playing the opening chords of "I'm The Only One", the second song in their set. She owned the stage, driving the crowd wild with her powerful voice and giving the performance everything she had. She belted out her last note to thunderous applause.
Next up were the two group performances. Finn and Artie led the guys through their mash-up number, the crowd enjoying Matt and Mike's new choreography. Then the girls took over for their Shania number, each girl taking two lines in each verse before going into the chorus in harmony while executing the dance steps Santana and Brittany had devised. Both numbers got tons of applause and cheering from the audience.
The rest of the girls re-joined the guys, leaving Quinn at center stage for her solo – the song that her club mates chose especially for her, "The Climb". Will had devised a simple arrangement with the only accompaniment being drums, bass and acoustic guitar. As Quinn sang, the other kids backed her up with a choral arrangement they had come up with themselves. After everything she had been through, all her feelings were released in that one song, and the crowd responded by erupting into deafening applause.
The music changed, and Quinn was joined by Rachel, Finn and Puck for the club's finale, "Come So Far" from the film version of the musical Hairspray. The crowd was clapping and singing along, some dancing in the spots they were standing in. The group finished with their heads up and their hands thrust skyward, breathing hard after nailing the difficult choreography. There was a few seconds of silence from the crowd, then wild applause, loud cheering and whistling. From his spot with the band, Will applauded proudly, and Emma jumped up and down with tears of joy streaming down her face from where she was watching. The kids took their bows and ran off the stage.
"You guys, that was amazing!" Will exclaimed as the group headed back to the performers' tent. While the judges were deliberating their final scores, the organizers arranged for some talent from the park to perform for the crowd.
"We're going to let you in on a little secret, Mr. Schu," Finn said. "Our performance tonight was dedicated to you and Miss Pillsbury. Win or lose."
"Us?" said Emma, looking shocked. "But why?"
"It's very obvious," said Tina, "the two of you were always there for us and believed in us. Finn has said time and time again that we wouldn't be here if it weren't for you guys."
"Think of it as a way of saying thanks for all you've done for us," added Quinn. As they entered the tent, the other groups applauded them and congratulated them on an incredible performance. Now it was in the hands of the judges.
The judges had made their decision twenty minutes later. The show runners called for all the groups to come to the stage. Rachel grabbed Finn's hand nervously and Will's arm was around Emma, who held on to her tightly. The emcee took the stage, who was joined by the president of the American Show Choir Association to help present the trophies to the top three finishers.
"The judges have made their decision," he informed the crowd. "But before we find out who our national champions are, let's give a round of applause to our ten finalists, as well as the other forty groups who competed this week. No matter what, they are all winners." The crowd applauded in agreement. A judge came on stage to hand the emcee the envelope, who tore it open and took out the card with the results.
"Without further ado," he announced, "here are the decisions of our judges. In third place… Crestwood High from Duluth, Minnesota!" The team from Minnesota had done well with their performance, and the rest of the groups applauded as they watched the Minnesota group receive their bronze trophies. They waved them in the air to the delight of their supporters, then stepped back.
"In second place… Vista High from Bangor, Maine!" The McKinley group applauded loudly as they watched their friends from the Pop Century receive their silver trophies. They were genuinely happy for their achievement, their set was amazing.
"And now," said the emcee as a drumroll boomed over the sound system, "the moment we've all been waiting for. First place, and the title of this year's national high school show choir champions goes to…"
"God, I can't listen," said Mercedes under her breath as the emcee paused for suspense.
"McKinley High from Lima, Ohio!"
"WE DID IT!" shouted Finn with jubilation, and he twirled Rachel in the air. Will and Emma embraced each other in celebration as the rest of the glee club were entangled in a huge group hug. In the crowd, the families and friends of the kids celebrated, throwing their signs in the air, cheering and crying while the rest of the crowd roared their appreciation of the judges' decision. The national president stepped forward as the group ran onto the stage and presented Will with the gold trophy, then presented each of the kids with their own smaller versions as two confetti cannons shot red and white confetti into the air and flashbulbs popped everywhere.
"Congratulations," the emcee said to Will, "your victory tonight was well-deserved. Is there anything you would like to say to those who supported you and your group?"
"Wow," Will said, "this has been an incredible experience and I never thought that we would be standing here as national champions. I just want to say thank you to our families and friends for supporting us through this amazing week, to the judges for recognizing the talent of these amazing kids, to the Ohio state show choir board for all the support they've given us, and most of all I want to thank the kids themselves because they believed in themselves and put their hearts and souls into what you just heard tonight. They are amazing young people, and I'm so proud of what they have accomplished." The crowd continued to roar as Will hoisted the trophy skyward for everyone to see.
"I'd also like to point out a little something here," said the national president as he leaned into the microphone. "McKinley High's director, Will Schuester, has made history. In the history of high school show choirs in the state of Ohio, no person has won both as a member of a national champion school and later as a director for the same school…until now. Will is the first person in his state to accomplish this feat, so let's give him a huge round of applause." The ovation was deafening as Will continued to stand center stage while he received a token of his accomplishment. As fireworks erupted over Cinderella Castle, Emma and the glee kids mobbed Will on stage while the crowd continued to cheer.
New Directions had done it. They were national champions.