FINALLY UPDATED AS OF 11/6/06! WOOOOO!

Disclaimers: I don't own Baten Kaitos or anything else mentioned in this story. Now, let's move on to night two of…

Baten Kaitos Talent Search

Semi Finals: Savyna and Lyude

(Once again, the theater at Komo Mai is jam-packed. There is a great deal of excitement, especially in the front row where, in order, sit AZDAR, REBLYS, SKEED, FOLON with an ice pack on his acrobatics injury, AYME, FADROH, and KAMROH, having a discussion before the show.)

Azdar: I wonder what everyone is going to perform tonight. With the show they put on last night, this will be one hell of a night.

Reblys: I'm simply anxious about Savyna's dance. Her performance last night was top notch, and I can't see how anyone can turn down a woman with such a fine-

Skeed: (interrupting, in an enthusiastic voice) Mizuti's show is gonna rock! And tonight Vallye stayed home to watch "Sex and the City of Perkhad!" Go me!

Folon: (clutches ice pack, stares at SKEED awkwardly) Dude, has anyone told you that you need some serious therapy? Ever since you entered the Imperial army, you were always stern and stuff, but now you're as carefree as a cloudgull! Wait…(eyes SKEED suspiciously) Did you steal my Prozac?

Ayme: No, Folon, he didn't. In fact, you overdosed threefold this morning, but I wasn't gonna tell you that; god knows you still act just as psycho no matter how much you take!

Fadroh: He must be, to come to the show less than twenty-four hours after obtaining a groin injury! (sighs) I talked to the producers this afternoon about getting back to the hosting tonight, but they said that Ana "has more appeal". I ask you, what makes that non-Imperial woman more appealing than a puffy-panted, emo-looking chap as myself?

Kamroh:(pensively) Well, if you consider that most of the finalists you see on stage have some sort of pulchritudinous characteristics about them, it can be concluded that the producers strove for a presence that matched, but not rivaled, the others in physical appearances, which I may note was one of the sacred tactics to the ancient wizards of old, who over one thousand years ago-

Folon: (wincing in pain and screaming) Ahhhg! No more! It hurts! Please make it stop! (All stare at him) No, I wasn't complaining about my crotch! (AYME hits FOLON upside the head while FADROH tries the same to KAMROH, but accidentally breaks his wrist against it instead. The lights dim, and pop music plays as the lights and LCD screen appear. ANA walks onstage to a cheering crowd.)

Ana: What's up, Anuenue! (Crowd cheers) I'm your host, Ana, and welcome to the semi-finals of our inter-island talent competition! (More cheers) Last night, we lost two of our competitors to self-inflicted injury, (I say that only because Xelha had it coming), and two more were voted out. So, tonight, the remaining four will put on their best performances yet in hope to win your votes, and you decide who moves on to the finals, and who has a shot at sky-wide fame! Let's see who our contenders are, in performing order. (The LCD screen turns on) First, we have the elegant, surprisingly feminine Savyna! (SAVYNA is shown doing some stretches on the floor in a long, flowing emerald colored dress. Plenty of male cheers.) And back to steal your hearts, the sweet crooning of Lyude! (Girl fans go nuts as LYUDE is shown in a russet colored buttoned shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and the top partially unbuttoned to reveal a chain with a ruby pendant, jeans, black boots, and a chocolate colored hat in his hand. With a smile at the camera, he smoothly spins his hat before placing it on his head. Several girls in the audience faint.) Then, back to amaze and amuse, the talented magic of Mizuti! (MIZUTI is seen in her usual garb tossing her chakram around and occasionally conjuring a pen, a back scrubber, some of XELHA's self-help books one titled "So You Suck at Monarchy" by Duke Calbren, a potpie, and some random animals.) And to finish the show tonight, we'll get to hear the gnarly tunes of Gibari! (GIBARI can be seen in a full denim outfit, with the top completely unbuttoned, along with a pair of shades. Numerous cheers.) Who will win the grand prize, and who will have their dreams broken? Only two contestants will pass on to the next round, so choose carefully! Now, dancing to "My Heart Will Go On", give it up for Savyna! (Crowd cheers as SAVYNA walks onstage in her sparkly emerald dress and gets in position for her first move. The lights dim and the music starts. She dances even more gracefully and fluidly than the previous night. REBLYS watches intently, then whispers to AZDAR.)

Reblys: Isn't she something? For being a tomboy, she sure knows how to make a man feel weak at the knees. I guess it has to do with her fine-

Azdar: (interrupting in a hushed voice) Reblys, why do you have to be such a pervert? Here's a woman who embraces the art of dancing and all you can think about is her-

Reblys: No, no, no! You have it all wrong! All this time, you or someone else has always cut in just when I'm about to say-

Azdar: What?

Reblys: (grunting) Savyna has nice assets. (AZDAR stares very awkwardly at him) What? She does! I mean, look at that gown! That had to have been about 20 thousand G, and that necklace; genuine diamond and opal…(AZDAR slaps his forehead, and the song comes to an end. There is plenty of cheering from both sexes, and the judges prepare to speak.)

Ladekhan: That was utterly amazing, my dear Savyna! I could go as far as to say that this is your best performance yet! Just how can you still be single? If I could have it my way, you'd be my queen in an instant!

Corellia: You'd have to fight Lyude for her first!

Lyude: (from offstage) I heard that!

Corellia: (giving LADEKHAN a told-you-so look, then turning to SAVYNA) Superb performance, Savyna! The technique was perfect, you captured the style brilliantly, you are truly multi-million G material!

Giacomo: That was good. Tonight, I was actually entertained! There were a few shaky parts, but I wouldn't put it past you to make it to the finals. (Crowd cheers as SAVYNA walks off the stage)

Ana: Wonderful indeed!And now, our next semi-finalist has stolen the hearts of our audience before; let's see if he can do it again! Here to sing "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word", the one and only Lyude! (Earsplitting cheers commence as LYUDE comes on stage in his handsome outfit, complete with his hat. He sits at the piano and after the cheering dies down a bit, he begins to play the delicate opening. Then, he sings in a crooner's voice)

in his handsome outfit, complete with his hat. He sits at the piano and after the cheering dies down a bit, he begins to play the delicate opening. Then, he sings in a crooner's voice)

Lyude: Whad've I gotta do to make you love me?
Whad've I gotta do to make you care?
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there

What do I do to make you want me?
Whad've I gotta do to be heard?
What do I say when it's all over?
Sorry seems to be the hardest word

It's sad
So sad
It's a sad, sad situation
But it's getting more and more absurd

It's sad
So sad
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh, it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word.

(LYUDE repeats chorus, this time with passion and a whole electric guitar shebang)

It's sad
So sad
It's a sad, sad situation
But it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad
So sad
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh, it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word.

(LYUDE sings softer and more tenderly)

Whad've I gotta do to make you love me?
Whad've I gotta do to be heard?
What do I do when lightning strikes me
Whad've I got to do?
Whad've I got to do?
When sorry seems to be the hardest word.

(LYUDE holds out the last note as he plays the final chords, letting them ring. Once again, he receives a standing ovation and the crowd response is overwhelming. This continues for a minute straight before ANA comes to LYUDE's side and speaks.)

Ana: Another phenomenal performance, Lyude! Once again, you've blown the audience away and you have them on their feet! (Crowd cheers again) Now, it's time for the judges' opinions…

(Somewhere behind the theater…)

(MELODIA and KALAS are seen in sparkly disco outfits, watching the guarded backstage door from behind a dumpster)

Kalas: Are these retarded suits really necessary?

Melodia: Shut up! These are a disguise! Besides, you're the Angel of Darkness now! As Malpercio's loyal servant, I have total control over you! There's no turning back once you've been touched by the god!

Kalas: (Silence) Do you know how wrong that sounds?

Melodia: Just shut your trap! (Pulls out Malpercio's Evil Tazer Gun and pokes KALAS, officially turning him into DARK KALAS) Now, are you ready to obey, my dear?

Dark Kalas: Yes, Melodia.

Melodia: The task I am about to charge you with is vital to the success of this plan, this evil, evil plan! This vilely evilish devilish plan!

Dark Kalas: Your wish is my command.

Melodia: Good. I need you to run to Subway and get me one of their six inch subs with tuna, (make sure it's in water, not oil), and have them add lettuce, two slices of tomato, pickles, (polish, not the dill), peppercorns sliced into strips, olive oil, (they'll burn in hell if they ask for vinaigrette dressing) and a large Coke. And then…I want you to stop by the coffee shop and pick up a copy of the Wazn Street Journal. And then, we shall execute "Operation Final Demise"! (Laughs insanely. DARK KALAS rolls his eyes and runs off)