Chapter 45: Splitting Up

"Kailee, please," Holly pleaded, "It was just one loss, you can't let one loss determine your failure. You're good, you just lost once, everyone loses sometime."

"I don't care," Kailee grumbled, "I'm never playing tennis again. Get someone else to replace me."

Holly looked at Kai for some moral support, but he just stood with his arms crossed and grunted something that sounded a lot like, "Girls!"

"Forget him," Holly said to Kailee, "We'll practice some more with you Kailee, you'll win your next match if you have a bit more confidence."

"Holly," Kailee said in an exasperated voice, "I've heard enough, please, just drop the tennis subject already. I told you, I'm not playing; Emily and Mariah will be pleased to hear that, so tell them, okay? I've had enough of losing; if I don't play then I can't lose."

"If you don't play you can't win either," Willow protested.

"I don't care," Kailee said, "At least I won't have to lose."

Kai groaned inwardly and decided to ignore his sister, "Can we go to the Dream Realm already?"

"We're still waiting for Carly and Tala," Ray said, looking around, "We can go as soon as they come."

Johnny scoffed, "Ha! I'll bet you that Carly's still in bed. Getting up at 9:00 on a Saturday morning is NOT Carly."

"Can someone give me a hand here?" Holly demanded, "Kailee needs a bit of cheering up."

"Don't look at me," Kai said coldly, "She sulked all last night and I'm sick of telling her that one loss is nothing. She'll just have to figure it out without me."

"Come on Kailee," Cassandra said coaxingly, "When we get to the Dream Realm, we can make some ice cream and forget all about that stupid tennis match."

"Stupid?" Willow said indignantly, "It was hard!"

Holly threw her a warning glance and shook her head slightly.

"Where ARE those two???" Ray complained.

"We can't go without Carly," Enrique said loyally, as always to his best friend.

"Enrique, give me your phone," Hru said, "I'll call Tala." She took Enrique's cell and dialled and waited, "Hello? Tala? No, I'm not selling anything you dimwit except for a free ticket into the vortex to the Dream Realm! Are you still asleep?? You were supposed to be here half an hour ago! Aw, shut it with your excuses, just get down here right this instant!" She clicked the cell off and shook her head in disgust, "What use is that guy??? He's completely irresponsible!"

"My turn," Johnny said, reaching for Enrique's cell, "I'll call Carly." He dialled and waited, and then he clicked off in exasperation, "The phone line's busy. Who could she be talking to??? Man, we'll never get to the Dream Realm."

About twenty minutes later, Carly and Tala both came into the park at the same time. Tala was walking calmly and slowly, taking his time, while Carly zoomed in at top speed.

"Did you both sleep in???" Ray asked.

Tala yawned, "Sorry, I forgot."

"That's all you have to say for yourself???" Hru snapped, "We all got up on time and didn't forget. You and your pathetic excuses!"

"At least I'm awake and not cranky," Tala pointed out.

Hru fumed, "Why you-"

"And what's your excuse???" Johnny demanded to his best friend, "When I'm late a few seconds you spaz out on me, but you get the privilege of being about an hour late!"

"Sorry," Carly said breathlessly, "Michael called and we talked and I lost track of time. He's winning his baseball tournament and I was so excited it kinda slipped my mind. Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go then!" She slid into the vortex without another word.

"I'm going to kill that girl one day," Johnny muttered.

Behind him, Holly gave a snicker of disbelief.

"What??" Johnny demanded, his eyes glinting.

"Yeah right!" Holly laughed, "You'd never do that!" She jumped in before Johnny could snap a comeback.

"IN Kailee," Kai ordered, pointing to the vortex, "And stop this ridiculous sulking, it's not you."

Kailee trudged in, muttering under her breath.

"Sorry we're late," Holly called to the Guardian who smiled at them reassuringly.

"Yeah, SOMEONE overslept!" Hru said loudly, her face was flushed in anger.

Tala shot her his cocky smile, "And SOMEONE got out of the wrong side of their bed."

They stared daggers at each other.

"Sounds like they're married," Ray remarked, laughing quietly as Willow giggled behind him.

"I'm going to beat the brains out of you!" Hru snarled at Ray.

"If you ever get married, you'll be filing for a divorce the next hour!" Cassandra couldn't help putting in.

"Cassie, one day your mouth is going to get you killed," Hru snapped. She looked even more annoyed with Tala was smiling, "What the heck are you grinning about???"

Tala shrugged, his blue eyes sparkled in amusement, "Nothing."

"Maybe we should trap them in a room alone for day," Ray joked, "We'll see who survives. They act like an old married couple."

Nearly everyone laughed, even Kailee smiled.

"WE'RE NOT MARRIED!!!!!" Hru bellowed out as loud as she could, breathing hard at the effort, "Oh, gosh, curse you all."

Tala smiled faintly, he seemed to be enjoying making her mad, "Whatever."

Hru bristled at that word and plopped down on the couch, covering her ears in disgust.

"Okay, enough," the Guardian said softly, "It's time to get back to your Kingdoms. The Chaotic Devil has raised its armies in the various Kingdoms that are under his control. He hasn't been attacking the Kingdoms that we've reclaimed, he's just been concentrating on enforcing the kingdoms that he has conquered presently. We'll have to wait and see which Kingdoms are in need first."

"Kailee," Kai said in disgust, "Grow up!"

Kailee ignored her brother and hugged all her stuffed animals tightly into a bunch.

"Kai," Holly said, "You're making her feel worse."

Kai rolled his eyes and glanced up at the phoenix hovering above his head, "I've already tried talking to her nicely, if that doesn't work, I prefer to be mean! She's a big girl and I'm tired of this attitude."

"She's not you," Max said, coming into Kailee's room and giving her a hug, "It's okay Kailee, no one's forcing you to do anything."

Kailee sniffled and threw her arms around Max instead of the stuffed animals, "You're the only one who understands me."

Kai looked frustrated, "It not that I don't understand you! It's that you're acting like a spoiled child. The trouble with you Max, is that you agree with whatever she wants."

"She's already upset," Max protested, "I just don't want to make it worse!"

"Fine," Kai spat, "Be that way Kailee, you'll always have Max on your side! Instead of practicing harder and showing everyone that you're better than they think, you prefer to sit around and sulk. We'll see if you have Max's approval on everything for the rest of your life!" He spun around and left, his white scarf flapping, his phoenix fluttered after him.

"Don't take what he said too hard," Holly told Kailee when her eyes began to fill with tears, "He's just concerned about you and that's his way of showing it."

"I don't want to play anymore," Kailee said bitterly, "Why can't you all understand that? I'm not good at anything."

"Careful Hru..." Carly said in an excited voice as Hru carefully pulled one piece out of the long tower and placed it on the top. "Great! Your turn Johnny!"

Carly and Hru were playing Jenga against Johnny and Enrique – it's a game where short wooden blocks are piled on top each other and you pull out a block each time during your turn and place it on top, whoever knocks down the tower first loses.

Johnny scowled and quietly poked one piece out and stuck it on top, sighing in relief when the tower didn't topple, "Phew! We're still in the game. Come on Carly, it'll fall on you any minute now!"

Carly stuck out her tongue at Johnny, "In your dreams!" She jabbed a piece until it fell out and place in on top, "Enrique!"
"Don't mess up," Johnny warned, "I'm not losing to Carly again!"

Enrique looked nervous, "Aquana's really good at this game..." He reached out for a piece.

"We know, we know," Johnny said irritably, "That's all we've never heard from you lately, Aquana's this, Aquana's that. For your information, you're my partner, not Aquana." He grinned when Enrique succeeded in carefully taking the piece out and putting in on top.

It was Hru's turn again and she gently tugged at piece with a steady hand, then...

A familiar voice yelled out, "Timbeeeeeeeeeeer!!!!!!!!!!"

Hru shrieked and her hand slipped, the whole tower came crashing down towards her and Carly.

"Thanks Tala!" Johnny called, grinning, "We won!"

"Oh man!" Carly groaned, hitting herself on her head, "I lost!!!!"

"Tala!!!!!!" Hru yelled, looking murderous, "I'm going to kill you!!!!!"

Tala smirked, "All I said was timber."

"You knew I would slip when you yelled out like that!" Hru shouted at him, "You are so immature!!!!"

"Sorry," Tala smirked again, "I didn't think you were that sensitive to my voice."

Hru looked like she would jump up and punch the hell out of him, but Carly pulled her back.

"It's okay, it's just a game," Carly said, trying not to laugh, "Besides, he's not worth your time."

"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you," Hru grumbled, glaring at Johnny and Enrique who were trying not to laugh, "Think it's funny do you? All right, let's go again."

"Tala, why don't YOU take Enrique's place?" Carly asked pointedly, "Let's see how good you are."

Tala shrugged, "Fine, I'll give it a go." He sat down in Enrique's place as Enrique took a seat on the couch to watch.

Hru smiled bitterly at Tala, "You first."

"Why me?" Tala protested, "I don't even know how to play."

"You are so cursed dumb!" Hru spat as Johnny and Carly sweatdropped.

"Thank you," Tala said calmly, "Now do you want to explain to me how to play or not?"

"You take a piece out of anywhere but the top of the tower and put it on the top," Hru said in exasperation, "Now go!"
"I'm not going first, you go," Tala said.

"NO!" Hru snapped, "Carly and I went first last time."

"Fine," Tala said with a shrug, "At least show me how to do this." There was a sparkle in his bright blue eyes.

Unfortunately, Hru didn't notice (A/N: I mean, why would she be looking at his eyes when she's so mad?), "FINE! I'll show you since you're too dumb to understand plain English."

Carly read the mischievous expression on Tala's face, "Hru, wait-"

Hru snatched the middle piece from the very bottom of the tower and threw it carelessly on the top of the tower, "There, like that!"

Tala patiently straightened the piece on the top, "Thank you for going first. My turn now." As he carefully pulled a piece out and put it on top, Hru seethed and fumed.

"Calm down," Carly said, patting her on the shoulder, "I DID try to warn you though."

"Ooooh, I can't believe I fell for his pathetic trick!" Hru growled.

"Hru, calm down! Laugh now Tala," Carly said with a sly wink, "But we'll get the last laugh, I promise you and I never break my promises."

Tala just smirked at Carly, his blue eyes sparkling.

When it was her turn again, Hru was so angry she almost tipped the whole tower down.

"Hru, be careful!" Carly cried, "I ain't losing to Johnny twice in a row!"

Hru glared at Tala who smiled disarmingly at her, "You JERK."

After a few more rounds, Hru stayed quiet without a word while Carly talked up a storm with everybody. Tala concentrated on winning while Johnny couldn't help smiling at Carly's practicality. Soon it was Tala's again and he carefully tried to pry a piece out.

Suddenly Hru let out what was an unmistakeable imitation of Tala's early tactic, but in a higher, mocking voice, "Timbeeeeeeeer!!!!"

And it worked, Tala was so surprised, his hand went flying and the tower crumbled on the table.

"Yippee!" Carly jumped up and down.

"That was a cheap trick," Tala complained.

"Ha!" Hru snapped, "You're the one who first started it!" Both of them glared at each other angrily as Johnny shook his head.

"Awesome food!" Cassandra said with all kinds of cookies stuffed in her mouth, "You really oughta try some Kailee...mmm..."

"No thanks, I'm not hungry," Kailee mumbled.

Holly and Willow both cast their friend sympathetic looks.

Kai, however, was not pleased. "Kailee - eat. Now."

Kailee sulkily picked up her plate and did as she was told. Max looked like he wanted to help but was unsure of how to.

"What happened to you two now?" Ray asked, looking at Hru and Tala's dark glares at each other, "Can't you ever get along?"

"Me?" Tala protested, "I was just walking along minding my own business..."

"With the innocence of a serial killer!" Hru snarled, "You deliberately made me lose that game."

"So I was poking a little fun at you," Tala said, "It's no big deal."
"Bother someone else," Hru snapped, "And leave me alone, I don't need your pathetic attempts for a joke to keep me healthy!"

Nearly everyone sweatdropped except for Carly.

Tala shrugged and said what he always said to dismiss a conversation, "Whatever."

Hru's eyes narrowed in anger, "You - have some nerve saying that word to me! Every time I hear that word from you, I feel like washing your mouth out with some soap and detergent!"

Tala didn't mean to push it, but the word came out naturally, "Whatever Hru."

Carly quickly pulled Tala on a chair, "Sit down and eat and everyone knows that when you eat you should keep your mouth shut, so this is exactly where you should be."

"Kailee," Enrique said kindly, "You shouldn't feel bad because of that one game, I've lost hundreds of times and I'm still playing."

"And you're still losing hundreds of times," Johnny added with a grin.

Holly gave Johnny a LOOK, "Enrique's right Kailee."

Kailee stubbornly say nothing, neither acknowledging Holly or Enrique.

"Kailee -" Holly tried again.
"Holly, just give it up," Kai said coldly, "If she wants to make herself miserable, that's her problem. Don't waste your breath."

"But Kai-" Holly protested, "She needs to know that we care about her right now."

Kai kept eating and said nothing; the stubborn expression on his face didn't change either.

Willow started to say something but she was interrupted by a loud beeping noise.

"What's that?" Max asked, "Sounds like a fire alarm or something."

Then the whole place seemed to have been hit by a giant earthquake because the ground started rumbling and shaking violently. Everyone steadied themselves against the walls except for Cassandra who dove for the platter of cookies that was sliding off the table.

"Nooo!" Cassandra squealed as she rescued the plate of chocolate chip cookies.

"What's happening?" Holly asked in shock as the grounds keep rumbling.

"Let's go find the Guardian," Max said, grabbing Kailee's hand and pulling her safely into the room with the big screen. The others followed.

"What's happening?" Max asked the Guardian, "The grounds are shaking like there's no tomorrow."

"There has to be tomorrow," Enrique protested, "I have a date tomorrow and I can't be late!"

Carly rolled her eyes, "Aw, shut up Enrique. I've heard you mention this date at LEAST ten times!"

"I saved the cookies!" Cassandra announced.

"Two of your Kingdoms are corrupted," the Guardian said worriedly, "The Earth Kingdom has become overloaded with evil and it's starting to attack the Dream Realm. And the Magic Kingdom is rapidly losing power that it's dying inside. It's time to go again, destiny calls."

"That's my Kingdom," Max said, looking worried as well, "And Kailee's. But how will we fix two Kingdoms at the same time?"

"It's not like we can clone ourselves," Johnny pointed out sarcastically, "What do you think? We split up."

Max and Kailee both looked horrified, "NO!"

"Think about what you're saying," Hru said, rolling her eyes, "Six of us can go to each Kingdom. You two will have to go to your own Kingdoms of course."

"But - but," Kailee stammered, "I don't wanna go without Maxie."

"And I'm not going without her," Max said stubbornly.

"Fine," Kai said angrily, "Fine. Don't go, both of you stay here together, then we'll go and try to save your stupid Kingdoms because you two refuse to let each other out of your sight for a day! So don't blame me if we all die in the process!" The phoenix hovered above his head, blinking its large, friendly eyes.

Holly tried to soothe Kai's words, "Let's be reasonable, we have to get going otherwise Max's Kingdom will go out of control and there'll be nothing left of your Kingdom Kailee!"

"Oh fine..." Kailee said, looking even more unhappy.

"I'm going to Max's Kingdom," Tala said immediately, "I cannot STAND being around her!"

"You are SO mean," Willow cried, "Kailee, I'll come to your Kingdom with you."

"Now, I think I should divide you up for this," the Guardian said, "We have to keep your powers balanced. Kai, you must go to Kailee's Kingdom, for your own good, for you are weak against Earth."

"I was planning on going anyways," Kai grumbled.

"Tala, if you feel strongly that you should go with Max, I'll respect your decision. Aside from Tala and Max, I want Hru, Carly, Cassandra, and Enrique to go to the Earth Kingdom. Which mean the rest of you, Willow, Ray, Johnny, and Holly will accompany Kailee and Kai to the Magic Kingdom," the Guardian said firmly in a voice that provoked no arguments. She handed both Max and Kailee a Locater Card for their Kingdoms.

Hru scowled at Tala who gave her the same innocent smile that he had been flashing at her all day. "Jerk," she muttered under her breath.

"It's cruel to keep a girl from her best friend," Carly announced.

"Carly, you'll do fine without me for a day," Johnny assured her, "You have Enrique to keep you company."

"And you have me!" Holly said simply, grabbing Johnny's arm and dragging him along to stand with all the people going to the Magic Kingdom.

"Take care Kailee," Cassandra said, patting her shoulder, "Good luck."

"Take care of Johnny," Carly said to Holly, grinning.

"Oh, I will," Holly said, smiling as Johnny groaned.

"Enrique!" Johnny yelled, "You had better make sure Carly comes out in one piece!"

Enrique nodded vigorously, "Sure thing Johnny."

Max squeezed Kailee's hand and looked in her eyes, "Don't worry, we'll see each other in no time at all. I promise, it won't be as long as you think."

Kailee blinked back tears, "Do you promise?"

"I promise," Max said, giving her a tight hug, "Take care and be careful Kailee."

"You too Maxie," Kailee whispered.

Behind them, Kai gave an impatient grunt.

"Good luck, warriors and warrioresses," the Guardian whirled her staff in the air and they all vanished into the Magic and Earth Kingdoms.

That's my last update until after the exams are over – which is around June 20-ish. I've updated my profile page; it has all my fic status on there as well as fanart people have drew. So if you're ever wondering when I'm due for an update, check my profile, hope you'll enjoy this chapter, don't forget to review, thanks to my previous reviewers! Wish me luck on my exams and thank you to those who wished me a happy birthday.