KayloCrescendo0825 asked for this one. :) Here you go, Amiga! :) Enjoy! :)

Balan Wonderworld belongs to Square Enix. I own nothing.


A Good Friend Will Always Know How To Help You

Yuri's eyes scanned the pages of her math book as she studied. Her teacher had announced a surprise math test that would cover a little over half of the material the class had covered and she was frantically studying so that she could get a good grade on the test.

But she had been studying for two days straight with no break and it was taking a toll on her body and her sleep. A knock came to her door and her mother came in, looking a bit worried. "Yuri, are you still studying?" She asked.

"Yes, Mama," the young girl said. "I want to get a good grade on my test."

"But you've been studying for two days straight, honey," her mother said. "And I know you haven't been sleeping well."

Yuri sighed as she knew her mother was right. "I'll be okay, Mama," she said reassuringly.

Her mother smiled gently. "Honey, I know you want to keep being a good student, but don't forget to take a break now and again, alright?" She said before setting down a cup of tea on Yuri's desk. "Here, I made you your favorite tea."

"Thank you, Mama," the young girl said before her mother left and she went back to studying, absentmindedly reaching for the teacup about ten minutes later and taking a sip of it. After a moment, she blinked. "Wait, that tasted different," she said to herself before looking at her teacup.

Only to see a familiar rainbow liquid inside.

Yuri's eyes began to droop as she realized Balan was nearby, having switched out her tea for the rainbow liquid that he used as a safe alternative to help people under his care or his friends sleep better.

She tried to keep her eyes open, but her head was nodding heavily and she rested her head on her desk, trying to stay awake. She felt hands gently grasp her shoulders, but was out like a light a moment later.

Balan smiled gently and scooped up the young girl into his arms, holding her protectively as her head rested against his right shoulder. "Come, little one," he said, his voice low and comforting as he carried the child away to the theater.


A couple hours later...

Yuri slowly opened her eyes, about to move her arm when she realized she couldn't and glanced around to see she was tied up on a mushroom like table, her arms secured over her head and her feet secured at the foot of the table. She glanced around to see she was in a sort of classroom that she thought was familiar before she realized with a start she was in her own world in Wonderworld. She was wondering what happened that she would be there when Balan walked in. She turned to him, but paused at seeing him.

The maestro was dressed as a school teacher and he smiled at her. "Ah, you're awake, my dear," he said, gently brushing a gloved hand over her head.

This gesture helped her to relax a bit. "Balan, what's going on?" She asked.

"I'm giving a lesson to some of the younger costumes in Wonderworld and I needed you as an example," Balan explained. "Don't worry, it'll be a fun lesson."

Yuri nodded before looking up at him. "Why am I tied up though?" She asked.

"I'll explain when I do the lesson, young one," he promised.

Just then, a bell rang with a sweet sound. "Ah, the class is arriving," Balan said, smiling again as he gently squeezed Yuri's shoulder reassuringly. Knowing this meant to trust him, she nodded. Though she was wondering what he was up to, she did trust him fully.

Dusk Butterfly came in, along with Gear Prince, Super Skater, Metal Bad Boy, Itsy-Bitsy Elf, and Air Cat. "Welcome, young ones," Balan said warmly to them. "Please take your seats and we'll begin."

"What will we be learning today, Mr. Balan?" Gear Prince asked curiously.

"How To Cheer Up A Human, lesson 3," the maestro replied.

Yuri was now curious herself and turned her attention to Balan, as did the costumes, who looked very curious now as they sat at their desks.

"As you know, the Balan Theater and those of us here work to help humans feel better. Sometimes it can be easy to cheer up a human, but there are times that it isn't easy. Some humans become so sad that not even a joke, a song, or a funny dance can cheer them up," Balan explained.

"They can really become that sad?" Metal Bad Boy asked in concern.

"Yes, Metal Bad Boy," the tall being said with a nod. "But thankfully, there's always other ways to cheer up a human. Any guesses?"

"Making them their favorite meal?" Air Cat asked.

"Taking them out for ice cream?" Itsy-Bitsy Elf guessed.

"Being someone they can talk to?" Super Skater asked.

"Giving them a gift that they will like?" Dusk Butterfly suggested.

"Taking them to see someone they admire, like a favorite singer or author?" Metal Bad Boy asked.

"Or joining them for a favorite activity, like painting or building stuff?" Gear Prince guessed.

Balan smiled. "Those are all very good guesses," he praised them. "And yes, those are other ways to cheer up a human, but there is also one more called tickling."

"What's tickling?" Super Skater asked.

Grinning, the maestro went over to Yuri, winking at her before poking her stomach playfully, making her giggle, which immediately made the young costumes curious. "As you can all see, our Yuri is very ticklish on her stomach," he said. "Just a gentle poke here...,"

The tall being gently poked her stomach again, making Yuri giggle again. "Balan, that tickles!" She managed to say through her giggles.

"...and she laughs as a result," Balan continued, seeing the costumes were paying attention. "Humans can be ticklish in many areas other than the stomach and can be tickled in many ways."

"Where else are humans ticklish, Mr. Balan?" Itsy-Bitsy Elf asked.

"Their ears can be ticklish, as can their neck, underarms, ribs, sides, knees, calves, and even their feet and toes," the maestro explained.

"What can be used to tickle their tickle spots?" Metal Bad Boy asked.

"Feathers, one's own fingers, brushes, soft buffers, and even Tims," Balan answered. "Allow me to demonstrate."

With a snap of his fingers, Balan cloned himself, one clone holding a couple of feathers, another holding two Tims, a third holding a buffer with a soft head, and a fourth holding a couple soft brushes. With a snap of his fingers again, the clone with the feathers moved forward and began stroking the feathers over Yuri's ears and neck.

"Heeheeheeheehee!" She giggled, scrunching up her neck into her shoulders to try and protect it, but that proved futile as the clone continued for a bit before moving away, giving the girl a breather.

Balan smiled. "Doing alright, Yuri?" He asked.

She nodded and he smiled again before turning to his students. "That's another thing, always keep a careful eye on the person you are tickling," he explained. "If you hear them start to gasp for air, stop and give them a chance to catch their breath. Another thing to watch for is if their faces start to turn red. This is another sign that they need a breather and are at their limit."

"In other words, if that happens, stop tickling them at once?" Air Cat asked.

"Yes," Balan nodded. "Otherwise, you can cause that person to either be hurt or pass out on you, which is something you don't want."

The costumes nodded understandingly and Balan nodded to the clone with the Tims, who went up to Yuri and moved the young girl's shirt up to the bottom of her ribcage, taking the two Tims and brushing them gently against the girls stomach and sides.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Yuri laughed, trying to squirm away, but couldn't as the Tims' soft fur tickled like crazy.

Balan chuckled. "Oh, I almost forgot," he said. "Another thing to listen for is if the person asks you to stop. Sometimes they mean it in play, which is usually at the beginning of the tickle session, but further in the session, their pleas will sound more urgent. When that happens, let them up immediately and give them a moment to breathe."

The clone with the Tims moved back, leaving Yuri to let out some leftover giggles before the third clone moved in, turning on the buffer and gently pressing it to the back of Yuri's right knee.

"EEEEEEEE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She squealed as the buffer moved from her knee to her lower leg, making her squeal again.

When the clone moved away, Yuri took some deep breaths and Balan came over, seeing the girl was a bit winded. "Air Cat, can you bring Yuri a glass of water, please?" He asked.

Air Cat nodded and went to do as she was told, bringing some water in a cup with a straw and Balan held it out to Yuri, who gratefully drank the water, feeling better afterwards. She smiled. "Thanks," she said.

"Of course, my dear," the maestro said, brushing a hand over her head before leaning in closer so that only she would hear him. "Do you feel alright to continue with the lesson?" He asked in a whisper.

She nodded. "I'm good," she whispered.

"Alright," he said with a nod before moving back and the clone with the brushes went up to Yuri, carefully removing her shoes and socks before brushing the brushes over her feet.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOHOHOHOHO! NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOT THEHEHEHEHEHEHERE!" She laughed out, another squeal escaping her when the brushes tickled under her toes.

"Wow, humans can be really ticklish," Gear Prince said.

"Yes," Balan said with a nod as the clone moved back and the real maestro came up to her, his fingers poking Yuri's underarms and ribs playfully, making her giggle and laugh again while trying to squirm free, but her bonds held, not hurting her, but keeping her from escaping the tickle torture.

After a bit, the maestro paused in the tickle torture and watched as Yuri caught her breath before looking at the costumes. "Now, my dear young cast, it is your turn," he said.

"We get to tickle Yuri?" Super Skater asked, a grin on his face as the others' faces lit up too, all of them wanting to cheer up Yuri.

Balan nodded. "Split into two groups, please," he said.

Air Cat, Metal Bad Boy, and Itsy-Bitsy Elf teamed up while Gear Prince, Super Skater, and Dusk Butterfly formed the second group. Balan nodded to the first group and they went up to Yuri, grinning at her before using their own powers to tickle her.

Itsy-Bitsy Elf scurried herself all over Yuri's stomach, making her laugh while Metal Bad Boy used his guitar to create a song that made the Tims jump up and tickle Yuri's neck and ears, making her giggle and scrunch up her neck while Air Cat walked back and forth at the end of the table, holding a feather and brushing it over Yuri's feet to make her laugh and squeal.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She laughed out.

"This is fun!" Itsy-Bitsy Elf giggled.

"Yeah, and Yuri's cheering up," said Air Cat.

After a bit, Metal Bad Boy stopped playing his guitar, noticing Yuri was looking like she needed a breather. "Guys, give her a break," he said to his teammates.

They stopped and the second group waited patiently until Yuri's breathing became normal again before they moved closer. Gear Prince placed some soft fluff on the gear around his middle and then spun it carefully as he used it to tickle Yuri's feet, to which she laughed hard.

Super Skater used his speed to his advantage and moved swiftly to each of Yuri's sides, tickling her ribs, sides, and underarms all at once, making her laugh like crazy while Dusk Butterfly gently flapped her wings as she sat beside Yuri with her wings brushing over the girl's stomach, making her laugh even more.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! STOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOP! PLEEHEEHEEHEEHEEASE!" Yuri pleaded after a bit, starting to gasp for air.

Immediately, the costumes stopped and moved back. "You okay, Yuri?" Dusk Butterfly asked.

The girl nodded as she was catching her breath and Balan smiled at the class. "Very good, young ones," he said. "You all have done well and have passed the lesson with flying colors." The same bell from earlier rang again sweetly and he nodded. "Class is dismissed. See you next time."

The costumes headed out, waving farewell to Yuri and Balan and before long, only the maestro and the young girl remained. The tall being went up to Yuri and grinned before leaning down and blowing a playful raspberry right over her belly button, making her squeak and laugh again. "Balan," she giggled out.

"Sorry, my dear. Couldn't resist," he said mischievously. "And now, one more thing."

He reached for a quill on the desk beside him and carefully dipped it into the nearby ink well, lifting it out a moment later to reveal the quill was filled with glowing golden ink. The tall being then drew a large swirl on the bespectacled girl's stomach before drawing two more large swirls on her feet. Yuri squealed as not only did her friend drawing the swirls on her two major tickle spots tickled like crazy, but the ink itself seemed to tickle her as it glowed for a bit longer before fading away, allowing her to catch her breath again.

She felt a hand on her head and looked to see it was the maestro and he chuckled. "How do you feel, my dear?" He asked.

"Better," she replied. "Thanks, Balan."

He smiled, ruffling her hair playfully and she giggled. "Oh, before I forget, while you were busy with the lesson, I talked with your teacher and convinced her to extend the deadline for that test you were worried about," the green-haired maestro said. "Also, that golden ink you saw just gave you the info on everything that you needed to learn for the test."

Yuri smiled. "Thanks, Balan," she said, starting to feel sleepy now.

"You're welcome, my dear," he said, untying her from the table and picking her up, carrying her over to another mushroom, one that was as soft as a bed, and gently laying her down on it. An Itsy-Bitsy Elf came up and gave the bespectacled girl a pillow and an Air Cat came up to her and gave her a blanket.

"Rest well, Yuri," the Itsy-Bitsy Elf said.

"Sleep tight," the Air Cat said.

"Thank you," she said to them, about to fall asleep.

Balan smiled and gently removed Yuri's glasses, setting them aside. "Sweet dreams, little one," he cooed gently, kissing her forehead in affection.

The child smiled at him before falling fast asleep and as the two costumes left, Balan stayed behind to watch over Yuri, making sure nothing disturbed her sleep. He gently brushed a hand over the child's head and she stirred a little, but then settled down, giving a soft sigh.

The maestro nodded, seeing the child who loved bugs was sleeping peacefully, glad he was able to help her out.

He picked up a book to read while staying beside Yuri, who was dreaming happily as she slept.


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