Kaleido Star: Legendary Rose
Part 21: "Amazing Training, Amazing Challenges"
Grand Canyon Training Facility
Layla: "You should remember this cabin. We created magic here, Sora -- even with my fractured shoulder."
Sora drew in a deep breath. She hadn't been feeling well that morning -- she chalked it up to the stress of the announcement, followed by the sudden packing and the stress of beginning the massive training regimen that she and Rosetta would have to endure to successfully complete the Legendary Great Maneuver in Paris on December 7.
Rosetta's eyes were wide. She knew of the cabin from everything that Sora told her, but she couldn't believe that the rudimentary equipment was being replaced by state-of-the-art equipment for the strengthening of their arms for the push-off which would be required to complete the Maneuver.
The rest… A matter of faith and trust, and little more.
Layla: "Rosetta, are you convinced that we are going to do what it takes to get you through this and win in Paris?"
Rosetta: "Yeah…"
Rosetta knew, from what Sora told her, that the process would make her want to quit. But she was determined -- she knew what her dream might cost.
They landed at the cabin and went immediately into a strategy meeting.
Layla: "The first thing you need to know is that, with the two of you, there is a significant weight difference. It's already been decided that Sora will not attempt to starve herself to get down near Rosetta's weight. Rosetta, we've prepared a specialized diet to bulk you up, not only in weight but in muscle, to maximize the chance of success for the Maneuver."
Rosetta: "I understand."
Sora had been quite detailed with Rosetta over her first weeks as a full member of Kaleido Stage as to what the attempt Rosetta dreamed about actually entailed. Two years ago, Rosetta would've fled to Paris (an ironic decision) without second thought. Now, Rosetta was resolute.
This was what she wanted.
This was what she dreamed the whole time since she saw the Fool during Swan Lake.
This was her one goal. Nothing would stop her.
Layla mused to herself: Doubt is not going to be the question here…
Kaleido Stage Training Facility
May and Leon were stuck in the middle of their own strategy session.
They had painted themselves into a corner. Not only were they trying to find a stunt which would top the Demon Spiral, but they had also placed themselves in the position where they would have to top the Legendary Great Maneuver itself.
May: "I don't feel so good. Maybe we shouldn't…"
Leon stopped her with: "You know that we couldn't have denied them the chance. Besides, had we gone ahead and stopped them, we'd have performers from all over the world begging us for the opportunity, and that would compromise our ability to perform."
May: "Yeah… I just still can't believe that Sora would try the Legendary Great Maneuver again…"
Leon: "Rosetta wants this with all her heart. She's willing to risk everything to see it through. The best we can do is to allow it to happen, and hope for the best."
May: "But why are we defending our championship against someone whom we both know will win if they complete and survive their attempt?"
Leon: "Because we love them as partners…"
"… as fellow members of Kaleido Stage…"
"… and as friends …"
Leon walked over to May and, to her shock, embraced her -- as if to say that everything was going to be all right, no matter what would happen.
Yuri's Office
Of course, try telling Yuri that. He was having a heated exchange with the Competition Committee in Paris over the phone.
Yuri: "I'm aware that you don't have the facilities to allow for a Legendary Great Maneuver attempt."
"We have the facilities, the technicians, and the support staff to pull this off…"
Which was responded to with a lengthy rant about the madness of doing the Legendary Great Maneuver in Paris.
Yuri: "Then let us do it here at Kaleido Stage."
And that was responded to with a lengthy rant about that never being allowed before…
Yuri: "You do have international television coverage now, don't you?"
That was responded to with… silence.
Yuri: "All you will need to have is a second feed from Kaleido Stage. We have the capability of that too."
A lengthy dialogue ensued, and, once the waivers were signed, it was decided that Sora and Rosetta would be competing, but not in Paris.
They would be attempting the Legendary Great Maneuver at home -- at Kaleido Stage.
Grand Canyon Training Facility
"NOT HIGH ENOUGH!!!!!"
"Rosetta, your very lives depend on you being strong enough to get enough speed on the trapeze so you can join and to push off to retake the trapeze."
"Sora, you need to concentrate more!!"
Layla was a stern task-mistress. She knew more than anybody the costs of shortcuts in this process.
Rosetta was trying her best. She also had to adjust to trying to put on a rather significant amount of weight and muscle safely, as well as the rigors of the training for the Maneuver itself.
Sora was troubled by something… Something she couldn't put her finger on. A couple days, she could attribute to stress…
Layla knew it might be time to tell her what she suspected, but she needed to be sure. Layla was allowing her to call Ken to try to calm her down, but that didn't seem to do any good.
So, it was on with preparations.
On with the meals, which Rosetta enjoyed.
Sora did as well, but they had to be a bit careful with her. They didn't want to negate the efforts of equalizing Rosetta's weight with Sora's (as much as they safely could) during the preparations.
And, if Layla's suspicions were correct, there was another reason they couldn't completely starve Sora.
Sora's Room
Finally, one night…
Layla knocked and said: "May I come in?"
Sora: "Sure, Layla."
"Where's Rosetta? Shouldn't she be here for this??"
Layla: "No."
Layla closed the door in the manner that implied: Sora, we need to talk.
Layla: "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?"Sora: "Of course!! Why wouldn't I?"
The Fool was just watching in the corner. The time had come for the greatest challenge to this attempt. He knew that Rosetta would probably be ready for just about anything.
But this??
Layla: "I've been noticing an uncharacteristic lack of concentration. I know you haven't been feeling the greatest, and can only come to one conclusion. So, I have something I need you to do for me…"
"But, first…"
Layla went over to the Fool…
Fool: "What did I do now? I need to be around to ensure that I can qualify her for the attempt…"
Layla: "Not for this, you don't. I've prepared a 'special place' for you…"
Fool cringed. He knew this could be bad -- very bad. But for him, not the attempt.
Layla was exquisite in her restraint of the Fool. Even more so than Sora. She knew he had tried to see her naked on more than one occasion out here.
Once that was over, she turned to a surprised Sora.
Layla: "As I said… I have something for you. Because I have a suspicion."
She then leaned next to Sora and whispered something in her ear.
Sora's eyes went wide as saucers and she gasped audibly.
Seconds later, Rosetta ran into the room.
Rosetta: "What's wrong… Sora…"
Sora: "I think I now know what they meant… I have to go and do something right now."
Rosetta knew what Sora meant by "they", but Sora decided not to elaborate to a puzzled Layla.
Layla then took Rosetta aside and explained the situation, ensuring she understood that she could tell no one at the camp, even though she knew that Rosetta would if given the chance.
Rosetta almost had a conniption.
Two Hours Later
Layla also had someone on call to confirm what she had felt.
After being told for sure, Sora was shocked beyond the point of tears.
There was only one thing she could ask for…
The phone…
She quickly dialed the number which would get her in touch with the one person in the world who would understand -- and the one person whom, above all others, needed to know…
Layla was smiling and crying at the same time as the phone connected to Sora to her boyfriend Ken.
Ken: "Sora!!"
Sora: "Hey, Ken… Something's come up. And I need to tell you something."
Ken began to stammer. He knew this could be bad -- very bad.
Ken, after a long silence: "So what's going on?"
Sora gulped. She had to tell him.
Sora: "Ken…."
"…."
"…."
"…."
"That day in Sydney…"
"…"
"…"
With one final deep breath…
Sora: "Ken, honey…"
"… I'm pregnant with our child!!!!!!!!"