The mood couldn't have been more awkward. Malina held Kuzco's hands and stared, paralyzed at what might happen next. Her sister was the last person who she wanted to be interrupted by. Kuzco remained amused by her side, he didn't find any shame to the situation. He was visiting his bride-to-be and they were kissing, big deal.

Mia scratched her eyes and put her hands through her short bob. She yawned sleepily and tsked.

"Guys… I know that you are all…blech on each other, but please, do you HAVE to be so loud? Some of us want to get through the night without vomiting." she stated flatly.

"And what are YOU doing here at this hour?" she lazily pointed a finger at Kuzco.

"What are YOU doing up so late? Shouldn't you be in bed? You do have school tomorrow." Malina retorted, making her grab Kuzco on his waist a little too hard for his liking. He grunted.

"Ok, let's get one thing straight. I don't CARE for school as much as my dear old perfect sister did. I am not you and I am never going to be like you, happy?" she stated sassily. "Oh, and I think you are strangling our Emperor."

Malina grunted angrily, ignoring the last statement. At the same time she was poked by Kuzco on her shoulder, who said apprehensively "She's right. Too…much…touchy."

She let go of his body, making Kuzco drop and take a releasing breath. At once she rolled her sleeves up, ready for a fight. Kuzco couldn't have been more excited, as much as he should have done something about it, Malina tumbling with another attractive feisty version of her was way too much to miss.

Malina turned around and caught Kuzco's eager glare, rolling her eyes. She composed herself and approached Mia, stroking her hair.

Mia hated it. She hated whenever she was treated like a child coming from her big sister. She huffed and stumbled apart.

"Look, Mia." Malina stated frankly. "We are never going to get anywhere with us fighting. I love you, you're the best sister a girl could have…"

"Yeah, right."

"No, really! I mean, remember that one time that mom had made those yam muffins for the crop grower's festival and we…"

"…Ended up eating the entire batch and blamed it on…"

"…the llama." They both stated, laughing mischievously.

Kuzco had managed to lift himself up, fixing his robe. "Wait, wait, let me get this straight…you, Malina Malina….did something bad…." He grinned. "…and blamed it on somebody else? How come you never told me about this?"

Malina looked to the floor, blushing. "Well, yeah, I mean, all kids do things like that when they are…young, and reckless…"

Mia was encouraged to take it away from here by nature. She threw herself enthusiastically at Kuzco.

"Oh, Malina is such a hypocrite! I can't believe that she hasn't let you in! Where do I start?!"

"Oh, no." Malina whispered.

"Ooh, ooh! Story time!" Kuzco sat childlishly on the floor, his legs crossed. Mia joined him along as well.

"Ok, when Malina was 9, she really wanted this jade broach that our cousin, Yaluna, owned, right?"

"Hey! I asked for that nicely!"

"And you ended up also breaking into her room at Giftmas and stealing it from her! And when she looked around for it desperately…you innocently stated that you had seen a condor take it. A condor?! What kind of an excuse is that?"

"A…a…"

"I like this new Malina side! Really compliments my irresistible deviousness." Kuzco touched Malina playfully on her arm, growling.

"Oh, Kuzco, stop it. The point is…"

"Yeah, yeah, good morals. More telly!"

"Ok, fast forward to when Malina had just turned 14. She had really liked this…older guy, Pacari, who lived down the hill. Coincidently, they both shared the same birthday and she wanted to take the chance to invite him over to her house, so they could both…you know, celebrate together." Mia winked.

"Mia, I swear, if I ever get ahold of you, I will…"

"You will probably call me stupid or something lame like that. Anyway, Malina, being the shy wallflower she used to be, was having a hard time inviting him over to her birthday party. At the time, Pacari was totally flirting with this other girl, Chasca, who that same day was surprising him with a "special" visit to the lake, that is…after all the adults were asleep. Well, Malina…your Malina…" she smiled at Kuzco. "…convinced Chasca that Pacari had been infected with a zit-causing, bad-breath stinking disease that made your toenails red."

"Look, you are completely over exaggerating the whole thing…"

"Naturally, Malina came to the lake that same night and told Pacari that Chasca never wanted to see his ugly blemished face again, and at his hour of need…."

Malina pulled her hair down. "I go my first kiss! Big Deal! It's not like YOU haven't done anything..."

"Woohoo! Go, Malina! Getting her groove on!..." Kuzco excitedly waved his hands in the air, which made Malina grab them and give him her ever-powerful "Malina Stare."

"Or…not."

"Ah, come on, lighten up! We all know that nobody can be better at being the best than you." Mia nudged her in the shoulder.

Malina nodded, pleased. There was no sense in hiding these things anyway.

"Yeah, it's not like anybody is going to spread rumors about me…"

"Aw, and ruin the fun?" Kuzco sneered, making Malina punch him viciously. "Ow! I'm kidding! I'm kidding!"

The first crow of a rooster was heard from the distance. The sunlight dimly cracked through the carved holes in the walls. As dawn approached, Mia had retreated to her room, considering the fact that maybe her sister didn't deserve that bad of a night.

Malina brushed her hair in her little wall mirror she kept by her bed. Though she hesitated, Kuzco had come up as well and plopped on a nearby sofa, secretly admiring her beauty.

"So…did you really have a reason to come here and wake me up?" Malina giggled, opening her small closet.

"Well, I tried to tell your dad but he went all…"overprotective father" on me." He stood up. "My empress, preparations are complete for your arrival at the palace!"

Malina dropped the hanger she was holding, taken back. Now, so soon?