[Disclaimer: ...we obviously don't own Kingdom Hearts...if only we were that good... ;) ]
CHAPTER FIVE
The Talent Show
Appearing in front of Shop'n'Go, the Organization looked upon a place that seemed to have never had any maintenance whatsoever for who knows how long.
The surrounding area was dark and quiet, but eerily so. The paint on the outside was chipping off in some places and completely gone in other places. There was one street light just outside of the parking lot that glowed a fluorescent yellow when it wasn't blinking every so often.
A few wondered who decided this place would be suitable for their food needs.
"This place looks kind of run down…" Leximy said, breaking the silence the group had fallen into. "Is this where you guys usually go shopping? … I think I just heard a gunshot…"
"Don't worry, I'll protect you," Marluxia said, holding out an elbow for her to take.
"Uh… I think when it comes to my safety, I'd rather depend on Xigbar… Pirates or flowers… It's a tough choice. But you understand, right? How much do you bench press, anyway, Xiggy?"
"Oh just a few…little girls," Xigbar replied, picking up Chelly with one hand and lifting her as if she were a five pound barbell.
"Someone get me down from here!" Chelly squealed, covering her eyes with her hands.
"I think I need to learn more about these pirates you keep referring to," Xigbar said, looking at Leximy. "I hear that too often…"
"That looks pretty hard, Xigbar," Xaldin said, smirking.
"Hey! Are you calling me fat?" Chelly asked offended.
"That's nothing, I could lift her easy," Axel said. "You're just weak, Xaldin. Maybe if you spend less time scowling and more time lifting little children…. Wait…"
"Pah, I'd like to see you try!" Xaldin said with a scowl.
"Oh…okay… Hi Chelly," Axel said; he smiled sheepishly and tried to position his hands in a way that would let him pick her up like Xigbar, but failed and it ended up being awkward.
"I don't know when I stopped being a person and started being a substitute for weights," Chelly said with a pout.
"Probably the other day when you were sitting on the big chair in the Grey Area when we were having an obstacle course," Demyx pointed out. "And going under the chair was necessary, so we all tried to pick it up…"
"Heh…" Axel said, struggling to carry Chelly correctly; he finally managed to hold her as though he was carrying his new bride out of the wedding chapel to their car.
Turning to walk inside the store, Leximy started forward, stepping into the run down stores full of aisles of various items. She was stopped in the entrance by Marluxia's hand grabbing her own. "It…doesn't look safe in here. We should go together," he said with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks for coming with me," she said, returning his smile. "Look! Cupcakes with flowers on them!"
Suddenly another gunshot rang outside of the store.
"Okay, that was definitely another gunshot," Axel said. "This place is no good so late at night. Or should I say early?"
"Sorry, that was me… I love weddings," Xigbar said, wiping a tear away from his eye.
"Eh? Someone is getting married? Lucky! I want to get married!" Chelly said, with a sigh before pointing inside of the store where Marluxia and Leximy stood, holding hands. "But I think Leximy is going to beat me to it."
Saix followed her gaze and immediately frowned. "What the…" he said, rushing up to the door; it started to open, but got stuck halfway. "What is this?" he exclaimed, trying to pry them open.
Demyx leaned to Roxas. "Looks like someone needs to lay off the sweets," he whispered.
Saix turned and glared at Demyx while forcing the doors open when they suddenly shot to their respective sides, allowing them passage.
"To the cookies!" Demyx announced, pointing to the desired aisle.
"And the ice cream!" Roxas added.
The group slowly spread out across the floor, getting their own food item.
"Look! Lobsters!" Leximy exclaimed, pressing her finger against the glass where a lobster turned and stared curiously at her. "We should take it home and keep it for a pet! There are no animals in the Castle That Never Was, right? I think we need to get some. I'd bring my pig over, but…I kind of like it at home with me…"
"You should move back to the castle," Marluxia suggested. "Chelly still has an empty bed in her room, and, secretly, I think she's afraid of the dark…"
He glanced up slightly, remembering one night when he heard screaming from her room.
"Oh really? I didn't know that…" Leximy said, thoughtfully.
"I think I can walk now…" Chelly said from another aisle to Axel; she looked down and realized the ground was farther down than she expected. "Wow, you're really tall."
"Thanks," Axel said with a smile.
Walking over to Marluxia and Leximy, Saix took Leximy's other hand. "What's going on?" he demanded.
Marluxia turned and glared at him. "You finally decided to come in, huh?"
"I figured you weren't good enough protection for a fair lady like this."
Leximy took back her hand from Saix's, shooting up a glare at him. "Maybe you're not good enough to protect a fair lady! Come on, Marluxia, I'll protect you, don't' worry," Leximy said, dragging Marluxia away.
Marluxia looked back at Saix with a smirk before turning back to Leximy. "Wait, what? I think he was calling you the fair lady!"
"No," Leximy said simply, continuing to lead him away.
Saix looked down at his rejected hand with an expressionless face.
"Ouch, that must have hurt," a voice behind him said.
Saix turned and met eyes with Axel.
"I don't need your unnecessary comments," Saix hissed.
"Who else would entertain you if I wasn't here?" Axel asked, putting an arm around Saix's shoulder. "We're best friends, after all."
Saix pushed his arm off of his shoulder. "Friends? I don't think so."
"Aw, that's too bad. I was going to help you with your girl problem, too. Marluxia likes flowers, right?" he asked, holding out his palm with a small flame hovering over it, before making it disappear. "But I guess you can handle it on your own."
Axel turned on his heel and was about to start walking away when Saix's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Wait…"
Axel smiled at Saix's tone before turning to him.
"Maybe we should get something healthy…" Leximy said thoughtfully before picking up something round and blue. "Do these apples look any good?"
"Sure," Marluxia said, sniffing the air. "Do you smell something burning?"
"What do you want to get?" Chelly asked Zexion who followed her, his nose buried in his book.
"I like bread," he said, glancing up at her.
"Me, too!" Chelly said happily; she paused and sighed. "Oh…please don't tell me Axel is burning something…"
"How reckless," Zexion said, shaking his head disapprovingly.
"They have a deluxe pack," Demyx said, holding up a box of cookies for Roxas to see.
Roxas was too busy looking at the giant container of Sea Salt ice cream in his own hands. "I am so happy right now…"
"Me, too!"
"Hey, Marluxia, can I…ask you something?" Leximy asked; she played with her sleeve nervously, seemingly avoiding eye contact with the pink haired man. "It's been on my mind for a while now, and I think I'm ready to share it with you…"
Marluxia's eyes lit up. "Of course you can, Leximy. What is it?" he asked, taking both of her hands in his own.
"Well…I've had this weird feeling… ever since I came into the store with you…"
"Go on…"
"Well, I was wondering… do you think it's weird that there are no cashiers?"
Marluxia quickly dropped her hands. "What? Oh…sure, I hadn't even noticed… but…that is strange…"
Poking her head out of one of the aisles and looking around sneakily, Chelly surveyed the area. "I don't see anything…"
"…what are you looking for?" Zexion inquired.
"Suspicious characters…"
Suddenly Axel walked by, and Chelly shot out of the aisle and tackled him. "Ah-ha!"
"What the…" Axel said, looking up and seeing Chelly was on him. "Can I help you?"
"What were you burning?" Chelly asked.
Axel couldn't hold back a grin. "Nothing…"
"I think something inside of me just died…" Marluxia said sadly.
"Oh? That's too bad," Leximy said. "Was it your heart? Oh wait, my bad…"
"No… No, it was something else… I can't put my finger on it, but it's something important to me… It's kind of a…burning feeling… Huh, suspicious…" he replied with a perplexed frown on his face.
They looked outside of the aisle where Vexen walked by with a cart full of cleaning products.
"What're you doing with those?" Leximy asked. "Don't tell me you've been promoted to maid…"
"Oh, no, it's nothing like that…" Vexen said with an evil grin.
Picking himself and Chelly up, Axel brushed off his robe. "Were you looking for something?"
"Uh…" Chelly turned back and saw Zexion behind her. "Bread…"
"That's down that aisle," Axel said, taking her hand and walking down the aisle.
"So really…what were you burning?"
"Let's just say Marluxia won't be very happy when we leave here…"
"Oh dear…" Chelly said, putting the last item on the list into the shopping cart she had. "We should go find everyone else…" she said, walking out of the aisles and spotting Leximy. "Oh! Are you ready to go?"
"Yep. You have the munny?" Leximy replied with a smile.
"Yep, yep!" she said, walking over to the secret cashier in the back; she placed the wallet of munny down on the counter as the cashier rang up the purchases. "So…weather…"
"I don't do small talk," the cashier curtly replied.
"Oh…" Chelly said, turning to Axel, Leximy, Marluxia and Zexion. "Do any of you do small talk…?"
Leximy shook her head, Axel looked the other way, Marluxia began whistling, and Zexion lifted his book to cover his face.
Chelly sighed, saddened by the reaction. "Aww…" she said, noticing Xigbar and Xaldin heading their way. "How about you two? Do you do small talk?"
Xigbar smirked and Xaldin scowled.
"There has to be someone…"
Demyx walked up then, followed by Roxas. "Hey everyone," Demyx said, adding his and Roxas' items to the cart.
"Do you do small talk?"
Demyx nodded. "Weather's nice…"
"And gas is pretty cheap," Chelly said.
"The flowers outside smell nice…"
As soon as Demyx finished his sentence, Axel coughed really loudly.
Marluxia did a spin, and a flip, and ended with his scythe at Axel's throat. "Alright, what did you do?" he demanded with a glare.
"Whoa, down boy…" Leximy said.
"That was so graceful!" Demyx complimented Marluxia while clapping.
"Okay, okay…everyone just calm down…" Chelly said, stepping in between Axel and Marluxia. "No one has to get hurt here…"
"Why are you assuming I did something?" Axel asked.
"That cough wasn't real."
"How do you know I don't have…lung cancer, or something?"
Chelly gasped and turned to Axel. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? We need to get you to the hospital!" she exclaimed, attempting to push him out the door but failed due to her lack of strength.
"Yeah, Axel, did you know that was serious? My goodness, people these days, so uneducated…" Leximy said, assisting Chelly push him out the door, ignoring his protests.
As the three made it outside, they saw rows upon rows of burnt flowers. "What happened to all the flowers…?" she asked, turning to Axel. "What did you do?"
"Saix and I had a little fun, that's all…"
Xigbar walked out with all the groceries in his hands. "Looks like there was a flower fire…"
Next out walked Saix, who looked as though he had nothing to do with it.
"What have you done?" Marluxia asked, rushing over and putting his hands down on the flowers. "My babies…"
Demyx and Roxas snickered as Leximy kneeled down by Marluxia. "It's okay, Marly," she said, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll get them back for this…"
"How?" he asked with a sigh of defeat.
"I don't know…we'll…blow up the moon! And…oh, I know, we can put a dry ice machine in Axel's room!"
"Revenge doesn't work if I can hear you plotting…" Axel pointed out.
"Shh, quit eavesdropping!"
"Let's get this dinner party started!" Demyx said, continuing to sing along to the Black Eyed Peas' song.
"Sounds good, come on Marluxia," Leximy said, taking his arm; as they walked by Saix, Leximy glared at him.
Chelly opened a portal and everyone walked through.
In a large, empty room in the castle, one by one the Organization members emerged from the portal before everyone was present. Chelly transmuted a large stage on the far side of the room and turned to everyone. "Everyone knows what they're doing, right?"
Saix took Marluxia's hand and pulled him aside. "We have to settle this."
"I'm pretty sure we already did, and the victor was yours truly," Marluxia countered with a smile.
"I'm so excited Chelly! I can't wait to see what everyone decides to perform," Leximy said. "You know what would be fun…? Ah, never mind…"
When she smiled, Chelly leaned closer to her. "No, no! You should tell me!"
"Secrets don't make friends!" Demyx said, pointing accusingly at the two.
"But friends make secrets," Chelly pointed out with a knowing nod.
"Aw, I want to share secrets, too!"
"Okay!" Chelly said, walking over to him; the two began whispering to each other.
"Do you think we can pull it off?" Demyx asked.
Chelly nodded. "We're the best of the best!"
Axel walked over by Leximy. "Do you know what they're talking about?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course I do!" Leximy said, turning to glare challengingly at him. "What's it to you, Mr. 'I'm gonna burn up some flowers to hurt poor, sensitive Marluxia for no reason just because I decided to choose the side of Mr. 'I'm gonna kick Leximy out of the Organization because I'm stupid and have blue hair''?"
"Wow, that is the longest nickname I've ever gotten…" Axel said.
Saix looked over at Leximy. "I'm stupid…?"
Marluxia smirked until Leximy turned to them, when he immediately went into a sad face. "My flowers…my poor flowers…"
Chelly turned to the group as a top appeared in her hand, full of scraps of papers and pens. "I thought it'd be fair this way, rather than go in order of numbers in the Organization. We can write our names into this amazing top hat!" she said, flipping the top hat around and putting it on her head.
"No, I think going in order would be perfectly fair…" Leximy said. "Oh, but then I wouldn't get a chance to perform," she said, throwing a glare at Saix, who sighed.
"Actually, wouldn't you go when it was my turn?" Xigbar asked. "We are acting together…"
"Oh, it's not an act, we really are sword fighting, but yes, I suppose you're right…"
Chelly sighed and placed the top hat on a nearby and table. "Have it your way," she said, slamming her fist on the table as the top hat disappeared.
"It's okay," Axel said, patting her shoulder.
"What are you reading?" Chelly asked Zexion.
"I'm practicing for my turn."
"What are you going to do?"
"It's…a secret…"
"I guess that would make Xemnas number one," Leximy said. "I wonder what tricks he's got up his sleeves…"
Demyx leaned over and peeked into Xemnas' sleeve. Xemnas jerked his arm away. "What do you think you're doing?"
Demyx sighed. "I couldn't see anything… It was too dark."
Xemnas frowned at him as he made his way on the stage.
"Hey…where'd Saix go?" Leximy asked.
"Who cares?" Marluxia asked.
On stage, the group saw Saix appear wearing a black T-shirt, black dress pants, and a sparkly tiara.
Xemnas leaned to Saix. "I thought we agreed you'd wear the other outfit," he hissed under his breath.
"There is no way anything is worth wearing that outfit. It had too many sequins, too much pink, and it was a skirt!" Saix retorted in a soft, horrified tone.
"I thought it was perfect…" Xemnas mumbled, taking out a top hat and placing it on his own head and looking at Saix expectantly. "…well?"
Saix sighed. "And now introducing the magnificent…Xemnas."
A cloud of smoke appeared out of nowhere, making the audience feel slightly mystified for a moment.
Xemnas coughed. "For my first trick, I will need a volunteer. How about…you!" he said, pointing at Xaldin.
Xaldin scowled as Saix grudgingly went into the crowd to escort Xaldin on stage. The audience applauded.
"Tch, if you're going to cut anyone in half, save that trick for Demyx," Larxene said.
Demyx scooted on the other side of Chelly to further the distance between himself and Larxene.
"It'll be okay, she can't hurt you," Chelly said, patting him comfortingly on the shoulder.
Axel smirked as he watched Xaldin take orders from Saix. "This should be interesting…"
"I didn't know the Superior knew magic…" Zexion said, looking up from his book.
Xemnas persisted to hide Xaldin behind a sheet.
"I can still see his hair…" Leximy pointed out from the crowd.
"Silence!" Xemnas shouted.
Saix stood in front of Xaldin in order to hide his hair.
"And now I will make Xaldin…disappear! Alacazoom!" Xemnas aid, pulling the sheet away.
"Wow, neat trick," Xaldin said, scowling at the fact that he still stood in the same place, completely visible.
"You could have at least pushed him into a portal or something…" Chelly muttered. "Or ask for Luxord's assistance. He's good with card tricks…"
Luxord smirked. "Don't bet on it."
"Okay, next trick," Xemnas said, pointing at Saix who rolled out a box for him to lie on. "Please, get inside this box."
"You honestly want me to let you saw me in half…with no training?" Xaldin asked in horror.
"Yes."
"Just do it! I want to go!" Leximy shouted from the audience.
Xaldin sighed as Saix helped him into the box and shut it.
Xemnas turned around and picked up the saw on the table behind him. "Okay!" he said, sawing through the box and moved a step back so Saix could separate them.
"Great…" Xaldin said, looking down to see his legs in the other box.
"Now, I'll reattach them!"
Saix pushed the boxes back together, Xemnas did a little chant, and opened the box. Helping Xaldin out of the box, Saix helped him off the stage to sit back with everyone else.
Xemnas and Saix exited the stage as well, Xemnas not letting go of Saix's hand.
"Okay Xiggy, you ready?" Leximy asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be, Luv Pea. Though I'm not wearing the costume," Xigbar replied.
"You have to…I spent days making it for you…"
"You didn't know we were doing this until a few hours ago…"
"Hey, I knew we'd need one eventually. I was just thinking ahead."
"You shouldn't waste all her creativity and hard work," Chelly scolded with a wag of her finger.
Xigbar sighed. "Let's just have at it."
Everyone clapped as the two went behind stage to get ready.
"I hope Leximy wins," Chelly said.
"I don't know…Xigbar is a pirate after all," Demyx reminded her.
"I think it'll be a tie," Axel added.
"Xigbar for sure," Xaldin said.
"I think Leximy will win!" Marluxia said.
Luxord smiled. "Shall we take bets?"
Suddenly Leximy walked out on stage, dressed normally with a sword in hand. This was much different than Xigbar's attire. He followed her wearing stripped pirate pants, complete with a red waist band, shirtless with a vest, and a parrot on his shoulder. "I had my doubts but I'm starting to think…maybe this isn't such a bad look for me?" he said.
Suddenly Leximy thrust the sword at Xigbar, aiming at his bare stomach.
"Whoa there, Luv Pea," he said, blocking her attack.
The two of them began to duel for what seemed like endless hours.
"Okay…" Leximy said finally. "That's good enough, it's a tie."
"Good…duel?" Xigbar agreed.
"Yes, yes it was!" Leximy said, holding out her hand to shake; when he reached out his hand, she hit him with her sword. "I lied! It was a great duel because I win!"
"I should have known you would be playing dirty…"
"Dirty! Dirty!" the parrot on Xigbar's shoulder agreed.
Leximy turned and glared at the parrot.
"What are you glaring at shortie!" he asked.
"No, no, you're supposed to say that to Chelly, not me!" Leximy exclaimed.
The parrot turned over to the audience and looked at Chelly. "Shortie! Shortie!" he repeated mockingly.
"What?" Chelly shouted, trying to jump on stage; she was stopped by Axel and Zexion. "That parrot is a dead bird!"
"Chelly!" Demyx exclaimed. "You need to save your energy!"
Chelly sat back down and nodded. "Understood."
Everyone clapped as Xigbar and Leximy sat back down in the audience.
"You did wonderful, Leximy," Marluxia complimented with a smile.
"Next time, I'll win," Xigbar said with a smile.
"Next up!" Chelly announced.
"I…skip…" Xaldin said.
"You can't skip!" Leximy said. "You have to show us your talent. I know we're all dying to see what it is."
Xaldin sighed and walked behind stage. A few moments later he pulled out a cart full of un-inflated balloons. "For my talent…I'll make you all balloon animals…"
"Do you take requests?" Chelly asked.
Xaldin scowled. "I guess I can take a couple…"
"I want a cow!"
"I want a fish!"
"I want a giant hat!"
"Can you make one of Marluxia?" Leximy asked.
"Huh?"
"Guess not…"
Xaldin took the first balloon, and turned away from everyone, making twisting noises; he turned around again and handed Chelly a balloon that didn't appear to be a normal animal at all, except maybe a worm or a snake, or, if you want to be exotic, an eel.
Demyx gasped. "It's a panda bear!"
"Oh my gosh, you're right! Thanks Xaldin!"
"Me next! Me next!"
"Hey, I'm number one, I should go next!" Xemnas said.
"But I asked first!" Demyx whined.
Xaldin went along and made balloons for everyone, not smiling once.
"Next up is Vexen!" Chelly said.
Everyone clapped as he walked up with a glass of water and a tooth brush. "Eh hem… watch closely as I demonstrate…the correct and effective way to brush your teeth, scientifically proven!" he said with a wink.
"It's like he's Eiji…" Chelly muttered, shaking her head sadly.
"Should I be taking notes?" Demyx asked, looking around unsurely.
"Nah, you've just gotta watch. Got it memorized?" Axel asked.
"I hope so…"
"Finally, something practical," Larxene said.
"The point of these performances is to entertain! Not to teach!" Chelly said. "But it's still good information to know?"
A few minutes later, Vexen finished brushing and exited the stage.
"Best performance so far, don't you agree, Marluxia?" Leximy asked.
"No, you and Xigbar had the best show," Marluxia said with a smile.
"Correct answer!" Leximy said, patting him on the head.
Lexaeus walked on stage with no explanation – who would have guessed? The room went silent with anticipation.
Chelly leaned to Axel. "It's like he's a dog…" she said, gesturing toward Marluxia, who turned and glared.
Suddenly a music began playing as all eyes turned on Lexaeus who began to dance.
"That's…so beautiful," Leximy said, wiping away a tear.
Xigbar accepted a tissue from Marluxia, and blew his nose in it, obviously moved by the performance.
"I feel inspired…" Chelly agreed, sniffling slightly.
Axel looked at the three in confusion as Zexion rolled his eyes.
"Uh…" Marluxia said, handing Leximy a tissue.
"Thanks…" Leximy said. "I wish I could move that gracefully…he's so flexible…"
"You've got to be kidding me," Marluxia muttered.
"This is an outrage…" Saix agreed quietly.
Lexaeus finished his dance and bowed as the music turned off. He silently sat back down and joined the group once more as Chelly and Leximy stood up applauding.
Zexion looked up from his book. "I guess I'm next…" he said, standing up and walking on stage with his book.
"Ooh, are you going to sing?" Leximy asked.
"What? Why would I sing?"
"I don't know…I thought you used to sing Opera…" Leximy said before leaning to Marluxia. "I think he's going to sing."
"That would be a first," Marluxia said.
"Whatever," Axel said, rolling his eyes. "Whatever it is, it can't be that great…"
"Shh! I can't hear him!" Chelly whispered.
"That's because he's not talking yet!"
"How would you know? You're being too loud to hear!"
"Now you're being too loud!"
Demyx leaned over and covered both of their mouths. "I want to hear what he has to say!"
Zexion cleared his throat and began to speak. "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore…"
"Sing it!" Leximy demanded.
"Shush!" Demyx reprimanded.
"While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping. As if someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."
Demyx suddenly jumped up. "Don't answer it!"
Zexion looked up from his book at Demyx.
"Heh…sorry…" Demyx apologized, slowly sitting back down.
"Why shouldn't he answer it?" Chelly whispered.
Demyx shrugged. "It's Zexion, so I figured it'd be a horror story…"
"'Tis some visitor' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door- only this and nothing more'."
Demyx let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness…"
"See, it's okay, it's just a visitor," Chelly said, patting Demyx on the shoulder.
Demyx nodded and smiled. "I was getting worried."
Leximy let out a soft yawn, prompting Marluxia to turn to her. "Oh, are you tired, Leximy?"
"Yes…I think I'll just rest my eyes… and lean on your shoulder for a few minutes," she replied, leaning over.
Saix scowled with jealousy, which caused Xaldin to turn to him curiously. "Hey, that's my line…" he said, referring to the scowl.
"Are you getting tired, too, Chelly?" Axel asked.
She shook her head. "Demyx and I have our…turn after yours, and I have to be wide awake for it!" she said, opening her eyes wider.
"You look pretty tired…"
"N-no, I am not!" she said, crossing her arms and turning away from him. "I don't know where you're getting that idea!"
Leximy snored lightly and Marluxia smirked at Saix. At the same moment, Zexion moved finished up and taking his place on the stage were Axel and Roxas.
"Nice work," Chelly said as Zexion took the seat next to her. "Simply lovely."
"Thanks," Zexion said, a faint smile playing on his thin face.
Axel and Roxas took out a large set of juggling pins as the audience turned their attention to the two best friends. Axel smiled and lit them on fire, handing Roxas a few of them.
"They'd better be careful!" Chelly said in a worried tone.
Xemnas nodded in agreement. "I can't afford to lose the Keyblade wielder!"
"Axel, on the other hand, may be expendable," Zexion said while reading his book.
"High-five!" Marluxia said.
"Don't move, you'll wake me up," Leximy said, her eyes still closed.
"Oh sorry," Marluxia said, patting her head gently.
Chelly took Leximy's example and leaned on Zexion's shoulder. "Don't be mean to Axel," she said with a yawn. "He's an important member of this group."
"If you say so," Zexion said while he turned the page and tried to hide his smile.
The two up on stage had already started juggling as Roxas whispered, "Do you ever feel like no one's watching?"
Axel looked out into the crowd and saw that only Demyx was paying attention. "I don't know what you mean…"
"Let's go guys!" Chelly said as she sat up and clapped, trying to keep herself awake.
"Hopefully they don't burn down the castle…" Zexion said.
"I wonder when those two learned to juggle…I wish they would've asked me to join," Demyx said, then paused. "Wait, that would involve practice, which is work…those two know me…" he said with a smile.
"Chelly, you should go next! I'd wake up to see you!" Leximy said.
"I think it's getting light outside," Xigbar said.
"You know what that means," Xemnas added.
"Time to get back to work," Saix finished.
"Not before we do our super secret surprise!" Demyx said.
Chelly jumped up. "Yeah! It's finally our turn!" she said, high fiving Axel and Roxas as they walk by.
"I've got the CD!" Demyx said, running to the back and starting the music.
"Anything you can do, I can do better! I can do anything better than you!" Chelly sang.
Demyx laughed. "No you can't."
"Yes, I can."
"No you can't."
"Any note you can sing, I can sing higher."
"I can sing any note higher than you!"
"No you can't!" Demyx sang, his pitch going higher.
"Yes I can!"
"No you caaan't!"
"Yeees I caaaaan!"
"How can you sing that high?"
"I'm a girl!"
"I can do most anything."
"Can you bake a pie?"
"No."
"Neither can I…"
They sang through the song until it came to the last part.
"Yes I can!"
"No you can't!"
They finished in synch and took a bow.
Leximy jumped out of her seat and clapped in a standing ovation. "Yeah! Go Chelly! Demyx, you were okay, too!"
"What? Just okay?" Demyx asked, his face showing the shock he felt.
"That was funny," Axel said; he coughed when he received a glare from Chelly. "I mean, you were amazing Chelly."
"Thank you," she replied, smiling and taking her place between Axel and Zexion.
"Am I next?" Luxord asked.
"If you insist, I suppose we can squeeze in one more," Xemnas said.
"Great, you guys will love this card trick."
"I take it back, you can sit down again."
"But…you forced me to go up," Xaldin said, furious. "You cannot allow him to pass on his turn!"
"Someone just go before Leximy passes out!" Chelly said, leaning on Axel's shoulder.
"Don't you mean you?" Axel asked.
"I don't know what you mean," she said with a yawn.
"Would you like a bed time story?" Zexion asked.
"Would I!" she said, sitting up and looking at him. "After this is over, I want a Moogle love story! Since someone didn't tell me the ending yet," she said, glaring at Axel.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" Axel said with a laugh. "Next thing you know, she'll be talking about tennis players and rich white boys with boats of their own."
"I'll read you that story, don't worry," Zexion said, smirking at Axel who glared at him.
"I think it's time to put these children to bed, then it's back to work for all of you," Xemnas said with an evil laugh.
"I don't like the sound of that…" Chelly said, glancing nervously at Xemnas.
"It's just work," Axel said with a shrug.
"Hey, Larxene never went!" Leximy pointed out. "You're always supposed to go to bed with a good laugh!"
"What? You've got to be joking," Larxene said.
"Yeah, please say you're kidding, man," Demyx added.
Larxene stared at everyone's expectant faces.
"…"
Larxene looked over at Lexaeus, and nodded. "You're right…" she said, walking up on stage.
"But…he didn't say anything…" Axel said.
"I don't understand…" Saix said.
"It looks like those three girls are the only ones who do…" Marluxia said.
Larxene stepped up to the mic and tapped it. Leximy and Chelly snickered.
Larxene coughed. "Okay…so…comedy…"
The room burst out in a fit of laughter.
"Uh…it's…something, huh?"
"My gosh, she's so funny," Chelly said, laughing.
"She found her calling…" Axel said, trying to hold back his snickering.
Larxene got a sudden boost of confidence from everyone's laughter. "So…have you guys heard this one before?" she asked with a smile. "What do you call a sheep with no legs? …a cloud!"
The group was silent as a group of crickets' calls could be heard.
"Where are the crickets?" Chelly asked, stepping out into the other room.
"She's going to get lost in the castle…" Axel said with a sigh. "She couldn't find my room when she left hers…and it's next door…"
Zexion paused. "If she doesn't come back in ten minutes, we'll go find her…"
Larxene sighed. "So…weather…"
Demyx snickered. "That's some funny small talk joke…"
"I think I'm going to find Chelly," Leximy said. "She might get kidnapped… not that you guys care. Chelly! Stranger danger! Stranger danger! If Vexen tries to give you candy, don't listen to him! Run away!" she exclaimed, running out of the room.
"What do you mean I don't care?" Axel exclaimed, running after her.
Zexion sighed, closed his book, and hastened out of the room.
"Wait, Leximy!" Marluxia exclaimed, booking it out of the room.
"No way…" Saix muttered, close behind Marluxia.
Roxas looked over at Xemnas who smiled at him; his eyes widened and he ran out of the room.
"HEY! I'm trying to tell jokes here!"
The rest of the group that remained cracked up.
"Thank you, thank you," Larxene said, bowing; when she stood up straight from her bow, she realized everyone was gone.
"Ha, Chelly, I found you! Where are you going?" Leximy asked. "I know you're not really looking for crickets…"
Chelly opened her mouth to reply, but instead dragged Leximy in a nearby room while everyone else ran by. "I guess we're playing hide and seek now!" she whispered before flashing a smile.