Chapter 1: The Girl without a Smile

YAY KALEIDO STAR! I have only seen up to episode 9 or 10, so sorry if this doesn't really go along with what happens later on.

"Who's that?" Layla asked.

"She's the daughter of a recently deceased friend." Kalos said, patting the small child's shoulder. "The least I could do was take her in."

"Yes, but you're actually going to let an 8 year old wander around on her own backstage?" Layla glared.

"Of course not. We don't have any shows coming up for a little while, so I'm going to ask Sora and her friends to watch her. After all, they're great with kids." Kalos smiled.

"WHAT!" Sora said, shocked.

"Is there a problem?" Kalos asked.

"No Boss! It's just..." Sora glanced at the girl, who was staring out the window in Kalos' office. "I wouldn't know where to start."

"This is really important. Nicole is very upset about her mother dying, so if you could at least try to cheer her up!"

Sora thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Boss." She knelt down next to Nicole. "Come on, Nicole. Wanna see Kaleido Stage?"

Nicole looked at her through her dull blew eyes. "Why?" She asked coldly.

'Wow! Boss was right when he said she was depressed!' Sora thought. "Don't you like Kaleido Stage?"

"I loved it when Mommy was alive..." Nicole followed Sora out of the room.

"Who's this?" Anna and Mia asked. "She's so adorable!"

"This is Nicole. It seems Kalos has adopted her. Her mother died I guess." Sora explained.

"Poor kid." Mia patted Nicole on the head. "Hey! I know! We should show her Jonathan!"

"Yeah! Jonathan can cheer anyone up!" Anna agreed.

"Jonathan...?" Nicole looked at them, no light in her eyes or anything.

"Yeah! He's a seal and the mascot for Kaleido Stage!" Ken walked up to them. "My name's Ken. It's nice to meet you, Nicole."

Nicole hid behind Sora and glared at Ken. "Go away!"

"Huh? Ken's nice!" Sora said, trying to get Nicole out from behind her.

Nicole shook her head. "No he's not! No man is!"

"How do you know who's nice or not?" Anna growled.

"Because!"

Sora forced herself to smile. "Because what?"

"Because Daddy always hit me!" Nicole burst into tears.

"Oh..." Sora hugged the girl. "I'm sorry, but you can't judge everyone by what one person says or does."

"Yeah!" Mia agreed. "Give Ken a chance."

Nicole looked up and nodded.

"Come on! We'll show you Jonathan!" Sora said happily.

Nicole plopped down on her bed. "Thanks for showing me Jonathan." She said, but she still didn't smile.

"You're welcome!" Sora said. Kalos asked her if she'd share her room with Nicole, since they seemed to get along.

"Who is this kid?" Fool asked.

Nicole stared at Fool. "A- A GHOST!"

"Calm down!" Sora said, covering Nicole's mouth. "Please don't panic. He's the spirit of Kaleido Stage."

"Really?" Nicole stared at the doll-like ghost. "Kinda small... Don't you think?"
"Be quiet!" Fool shouted. "Wait... If you can see me, that means you're destined for the stage!"

"I am not!" Nicole cried, on the brink of tears. "Every time I said that, my Daddy would laugh at me and hit me."

Fool glanced at Sora, who frowned. "Who cares what your dad thought? If I cared what my parents thought, I wouldn't be here!"

Nicole looked up into Sora's eyes. "I'm sorry... It's just..." She touched her blonde hair. "No one ever said I could be on stage except Mommy..."

Sora sat next to her. "I'm sure you can be on stage! If you want, I could teach you some tricks!"

Nicole smiled, sending Sora into complete shock. "I'd like that."

Kind of short and stupid, I know, but I wanted to write a Kaleido Star fic. I LVOE THAT SHOW! Sadly, I spent all my money and can't buy the next DVD... It stinks... Later everyone!