"Kaleido Star: Legendary Rose"

Part 11: "The Amazing Phoenix Showdown"

Flashback: Kaleido Stage -- After the Swan Lake Odette Audition

Layla: "Sora…"

Sora: "Yes?"

Layla: "There's one more important thing you have to know. Many challengers will come here, driven by their admiration for you. They will want to be like you and eventually replace you. Your job as the Kaleido Star will be to face them and defeat them as they come. When the time comes for you to be defeated, you must fight with all your might, as I did today, to duly pass the legacy on to the next."

"Facing your challengers is an important duty of yours, Sora… Don't forget…"

The Present -- Sora's Dorm Room

Sora had replayed those moments in her mind. They had meant so much.

Now, every word was like a dagger.

The Diabolo Prodigy… The French super-kid…

And Kalos had Yuri teach her the Golden Phoenix so that she could challenge Sora.

But why now?Especially if…

Just then, the door opened a crack…

Rosetta: "May I come in?"

Sora: "Sure."

Rosetta walked in. The two shared a quick embrace as friends, and sat down at the edge of Sora's bed.

Rosetta: "Don't ask me why he's doing it. He's taken me off of working with May and had me learn The Golden Phoenix. He wants me to take your role."

Sora: "And he's going to fire you if you don't win?"Rosetta: "No. Yuri and the investors will not allow that to happen."

Sora sighed. That's a relief…

Rosetta: "I'm happy for the chance, and I will tell you that I will do my best…"

At that affirmation, Sora embraced her warmly.

Sora: "I will expect no less. I await your performance!"

The two laughed as Rosetta excused herself.

Sora sat in quiet thought.

The Fool stood aside and watched the whole thing.

Fool: "I don't think she has the confidence yet to defeat you at the Golden Phoenix, much less to try the Legendary Great Maneuver with you."

Sora: "What's going on?"Fool: "Kalos is, once again, trying to pit you two against each other in the hopes that the competition will create enough conflict to keep you from doing the Legendary Great Maneuver."

Sora: "But if he truly loved me…"

Fool: "He doesn't. I don't know what his motivations are. His constellation has faded so badly in turmoil and doubt that I may not be able to see it at all. The only person I know of who truly loves you is…"

Sora finished for him: "… Ken."

Fool: "Yes. Ken's constellation is in some doubt, but it definitely is trying to shine through that doubt."

Sora: "He told me a few days ago that his dream was still right in front of him, burning brightly. I know he was speaking of me!"

"So why can't I tell him??"

Fool: "The time is not yet right. You still have to prepare for your audition and for the show."

Sora then asked: "Who do you want to win?"

Fool, after a moment: "Whomever wins, I want it to be a great contest of your skill and of your grace. If you both show that, you'll show me that you are continuing to make progress toward Rosetta's dream."

Sora: "Thanks. Now I have to put you away…"

Fool blinked. He knew what that meant. Sora was going to the shower and the Fool was going for a bit of uncomfortable "storage".

Fool: "You know that I can't fit in…"

His protestations didn't matter. Fool was stuffed into the suitcase.

Kaleido Stage Practice Facility -- 48 Hours Before the Competition

For all her promise, Rosetta was struggling.

She certainly had the grace in the air -- her time as a Diabolo World Champion made that part easier for her than it was for Sora.

But after all the spinning and the graceful pose which would literally "fire up" the entire stage, she still had to re-catch.

It was all Yuri could do to watch her try time and again.

He knew who he was reminded of. Sora was the same way when she challenged to do the Golden Phoenix to get the rest of Kaleido Stage to respect her and her talents. Yuri refused to watch Sora then, but he heard the stories after Sora's near-successful attempt five years ago, and how much respect it won her at Kaleido Stage.

And now, in the present, every time Rosetta fell, she got up and tried again. It was the least she could do…

For herself…

For Sora…

For Kaleido Stage…

Yuri: "Try to extend your arms further after tightening the pose a bit. Not too soon, or else you might not be able to retain enough power to get the necessary distance."

Rosetta: "I know."

She sounded exasperated and very tired. She was, in no way, mad at Yuri. She was frustrated with herself. She expected perfection and would accept nothing less.

But she knew she had to give it one more try. She would only get one chance in the audition, and she wanted it to be her best.

Her last try of the day was the closest. She actually got to the other trapeze -- which she hadn't been for most of the session, but couldn't grasp and retain control of the bar.

As she fell back to the ground, a gasp could be heard from the wings above.

Sora was watching her competitor.

Sora: "That was so close, Rosetta."

Rosetta: "Thank you, Sora."

Yuri: "Remember, when the time comes, you two will be opponents. You two will be rivals. There will be only one role. The loser will have only a small time to learn May's move."

Sora: "We understand, Yuri."

Rosetta: "But it's not going to get in the way of our friendship."

Yuri: "That's good. Because I really believe that's what Kalos wants with this challenge."

Sora: "The Fool told me the same thing. He says he's not otherwise sure of what Kalos has in mind, but he wants to drive a wedge between us."

Rosetta: "But he can't. We're black and white. Blanc et noir. We'll be fine."

Yuri: "That's my Rosetta. Time to take a break for the day."

Yuri then left. Sora and Rosetta talked on the net.

Fool (as an aside): "Aries and Sagittarius are pushing each other to new heights of brilliance. The two constellations are preparing for the showdown. Only one can do what is necessary, though, to be reborn as the Golden Phoenix. Whom??

Two Days Later -- Kaleido Stage -- Day of the Audition

The judges would be Yuri, Mia, and Leon. Kalos was in the office taking care of international affairs.

Both Sora and Rosetta waited in the wings. The task would be simple. The first to complete The Golden Phoenix when the other failed would be the winner of the audition and the role. If both successfully completed the move, then it would be up to the judges.

Sora would go first -- her prerogative as the Kaleido Star.

Sora climbed the ladder to the spinning trapeze. She had seen it many times before. Working with it in the days previous to the audition was like getting back on a familiar bike. She had found what she had sought in New York, and wanted to show the cast that she was more than willing to fulfill the Legend of Phoenix.

But something bothered her…

Why defeat her?

Why do I have to defeat Rosetta?

That said, she took off. She had learned so much over the course of time.

Timing.

Grace.

Execution.

And when she let go and spun between the trapezes, she appeared to unfurl as the fiery Phoenix herself. Her determination and passion were undeniable.

She easily and gracefully caught the opposite trapeze and settled on the opposite platform.

Now for Rosetta to match her…

Rosetta came out. She probably should not have been watching, as it seemed like she had lost a bit of confidence.

Would her hard work pay off?

Would she be able to convince Sora and the Fool that she was capable of doing the Legendary Great Maneuver?

Or would her dream fall to ash?

She took off. May was stunned by the power and grace which Rosetta was able to bring to the trapeze in such a short time.

Mia was so pleased to see Rosetta having learned so much.

Anna was just so proud of Rosetta to fight hard not only against her friend in competition, but for her friend in every real sense.

And, now, time…

As she spun around and around…

And then released…

A spinning, twisting firebrand…

And then unfurled…

The crowd, even Sora, gasped as Rosetta gracefully spread out as her own Phoenix! It was as if she, as Sora had done moments before, had grown wings of fire -- her dream rising out of the ash which her opponents had left before her.

And now, what was left was to re-catch on the other side.

And Rosetta did!!!

Somewhere in the heights, the Fool could be felt by the two exulting in Rosetta's victory -- whether or not she could win the audition was another matter.

But for Rosetta, in some small way, to have learned the Golden Phoenix would even make Layla proud.

Rosetta touched down on the opposite platform and pumped her fist as the crowd applauded both of their auditions.

The three judges had already stood, though.

The decision was made for Sora -- not only on the basis of good business, but also that her Phoenix was much larger and more expansive and far brighter.

Mia made it clear that she was so proud of Rosetta, as she never expected Rosetta to learn so much in so little time. She was reminded of the three-day challenge that Sora made when she came onto Kaleido Stage.

Rosetta cried. She had been duly defeated. Sora put her arm around Rosetta as May, Rosetta's partner now again, came out of the audience.

Leon: "Do not cry. You gave us something truly unexpected, Rosetta. I was truly moved by your efforts in such a short time. It is my continued pleasure to work with you, Mademoiselle Passel."

Yuri: "I have confidence that you have learned more than enough to take that next step toward your dreams. I didn't think you could answer the challenge, and you proved us wrong. Congratulations."

Mia: "You've learned so much. I can't wait to see what you and May come up with for the new show. I'm so proud of you."

May had already come out to stage-side. She smiled at Rosetta -- a rarity not lost on the cast.

May: "I have a wonderful move to show you. We'll light up the entire stage with it."

Rosetta had no doubt that they would, and they went off to take a look at what May had in mind.

And as for the Fool: Such progress. Only a few months remain until Paris, however. Will that day come for Rosetta Passel?