Kaleido Star: The Amazing Ascension

by starcade

Sora Robbins-Naegino is about to return to Kaleido Stage from maternity leave, but what in Rosetta's dreams may begin to trouble her? Episode 5: Can Sora come to terms with what may be in her immediate future?

3. Raise the Roof

"Kaleido Star: The Amazing Ascension"

Chapter 3: "Raise the Roof"

December 29 – 11:55 PM

Kaleido Stage Floor

A weary Kaleido Stage cast and crew, already having performed this night, the final night of the Kaleido Stage Christmas Spectacular, was being called for an impromptu meeting on the floor.

May: "Isn't it enough that we've been performing these shows for the holiday season, and now Yuri wants us to have a meeting right here at midnight?"

Mia: "I'm only the messenger. I know the agenda, but have been sworn to secrecy."

May: "I'm going to swear at you if this turns out to be much ado about nothing..."

Sora: "Calm down, May. I'm sure Yuri has his reasons..."

May: "And shouldn't you be back with Hope?"

Sora: "My husband put her to bed after the show. He's the only one excused."

May: "Yeah, yeah..."

Rosetta yawned...

Rosetta: "It's probably about our next production."

Now May was getting really annoyed.

May: "Then why couldn't it wait until tomorrow? I mean, what did we do wrong to deserve this?"

Just then, Yuri walked to the center of the stage...

Yuri: "Nothing, Miss Wong. In fact, you all have done a wondrously splendid job entertaining our guests."

Leon: "Thank you, Yuri. Now can you please explain..."

Yuri was checking his watch.

Yuri: "You'll find out in about 37 seconds."

Anna: "Why that precise?"

Yuri: "Because it explains our next performance, in a little under 48 hours."

Just then, a hush fell over the stage, as Yuri ordered a few of the lights up...

Yuri: "And.... NOW."

Midnight on the morning of the 30th, and a large digital clock was shown on the stage. It started at 48 hours precisely, and began to immediately count down the time.

Sora: "New Year's!!"

Yuri: "You are quick and correct, Sora. We're going to raise the roof on this place and have a New Year's party for the ages!!"

Anna: "SWEET! So will I get to pie people and..."

Yuri: "Not quite, Anna... In fact, you're going to have to show a little different side of you..."

Anna raised her eyebrow.

Yuri: "In fact, you all are. Sora, you are from Japan, right?"

Sora: "Yes, sir!"

Yuri: "Do you know what they do on New Year's?"

Sora: "We used to go to the temples like everybody else..."

May playfully bonked Sora over the head.

May: "I think he means the night before, silly!"

Yuri chuckled. "Yes, Sora, that's what I meant..."

Sora: "Oh, that's cleaning day, and..."

Rosetta nudged Sora. "I think he means some of those contests you were telling me about."

Yuri: "It sounds like taking care of little Hope has tired you out some."

Sora: "A little. But I would trade it for nothing in the world!"

Leon: "Of course not. But know you have a whole cast and crew of babysitters, should you need us..."

Sora: "Thank you, Leon."

Yuri could see this getting off track, so he spoke up...

Yuri: "Anyway, as Rosetta implied, we are going to hold another free performance on New Year's Eve. This one is actually being subsidized by the Cape Mercy Chamber of Commerce, as part of their 'First Night' initiative."

Mia: "This initiative is to give our citizens a fun New Year's Eve without the overuse of alcohol."

Yuri: "So we plan to have a full day of fun, culminating in a hidden-talent contest of the different members of the Kaleido Stage cast and crew."

May: "And the winner gets what?"

Mia: "Nothing. That's the point. Just to have fun and entertain not only our audience, but each other!"

May: "So what are we to do?"

Sora: "Show us something new about you, May! Can you sing? Dance?? Whatever you can do, let's see it for this New Year's!"

Anna: "Ahhhh... OK."

Yuri: "And it can't really be something we know you for already. Show us a hidden talent."

May: "But I'm talented at everything..."

A generic groan came up from the group, at which May scowled.

Yuri put his arm around the cocky Chinese woman and said, "Then show us something we don't know about!"

"That is all."

And, with that, the cast and crew were quickly off to bed, visions of hidden talents (their own and others') dancing in their heads.

Preparations for the Kaleido Stage Hidden Talent New Year's Eve Extravaganza

Rosetta's Room

Being the natural diabolo champion and now circus champion, Rosetta wanted to really wow everybody on New Year's Eve...

So she threw herself into this project as if it were a full-fledged production...

Sora came by with little Hope to play with Rosetta on the afternoon of December 30th.

Rosetta quickly stopped her preparations when she saw little Hope in her mother's arms!

Sora: "Hey, Rosetta!"

Rosetta: "Sora... And how's the cutest little baby in the whole wide world???"

Hope was a little cranky for most of the day, but settled down with Rosetta to play with some blocks which Sora had left with her. As Leon had said, they all could be called upon to babysit, so Sora made sure that she had taken some toys to Rosetta's room should she be needed.

Sora: "So how's the plans going for tomorrow night?"

Rosetta: "I want to make this the most exciting thing ever..."

Sora: ""You don't have to do that. It's as much to entertain each other as to the audience..."

Rosetta: "Huh?"

Sora: "Look. Forget about every other person there. Just entertain me, as you have countless times when we've been together. I don't care how 'exciting' it is. Just have fun."

Rosetta: "OK. And what do you have in mind?"

Sora: "Something you haven't seen before. Ken gave me the idea!"

Rosetta: "Oh?"

Sora: "But it's a secret. You'll find out before the New Year starts, OK?"

Rosetta: "OK!"

The two hugged, and Sora went off for a little walk while Rosetta played blocks with little Hope.

May's Room

May was in a frenzy, but of a different kind. She was preparing her act for tomorrow night as well.

She was screaming one name for something, then yelling "NO!" at herself, then another, and a third, fourth, and fifth...

Just then, Leon knocked at the door to see what was the matter.

Leon: "They can hear you all the way down the hall..."

May: "Like I care! I want to have the best hidden talent of them all!"

Leon: "Your yelling like that is not hidden to anyone in the entire state of California!"

May: "But I still want to have the best..."

Leon stopped her.

Leon: "Sora's told me about these things. They're meant to absolutely surprise people and show a new side of you for the New Year. Come up with something that shocks me."

May: "Like I can do that!"

Leon: "Oh, I think you can. Just as Layla told you, 'Be you. Be May Wong.'"

May smiled at the thought. Leon knew what might actually get to May.

May: "So what do you have for us tomorrow night? It's not like you don't have talents, but I'm not even sure at how many hidden ones you have..."

Leon: "As I said, then I will surprise you. Surprise me, May. See you tomorrow night."

Leon went off to work on his act, letting May work on hers.

Practice Facility

Dozens of the cast and crew were working on various hidden talents (though not as unwilling to show them to others as May, Leon, Rosetta, Sora, and some of the others were), putting the finishing touches on the show for tomorrow night, New Year's Eve.

Yuri, Mia, and Anna were putting on the finishing touches to their routines when Sora came over from her walk.

Yuri: "So how's Hope?"

Sora: "Was a little cranky this morning, but Rosetta got her to calm down."

Mia: "Speaking of Rosetta, she says she's been having weird dreams lately."

Sora: "I don't know what to make of them either. They appear to involve the Fool, but I can't get him to talk. I haven't seen him since I tried to cajole him into saying something about it."

Yuri: "So you can still see him?"

Sora: "Yes. He seemed surprised too."

Anna: "I don't know what to say, Sora. I mean, Rosetta's done such a wonderful job starring for our company while you were away."

Mia: "But everybody was so happy to see you back!"

Sora: "I just hope that doesn't mean our audiences will reject Rosetta once I start really performing again."

Yuri: "I, as a businessman as well as a former performer, will not let that happen. You both are beautiful women and wondrous performers. You won the Paris title together."

"Nothing will ever separate that."

High in the rafters, though, one entity was not 100% sure he could agree with Yuri's pronouncement.

New Year's Eve

The grounds were alive, as if they were a living being.

Literally thousands of Kaleido Stage fans had descended upon the grounds from the early morning of this New Year's Eve to celebrate and to enjoy the final performance of this year on the Kaleido Stage.

Throughout the grounds, Kids' Stage performers (led by their star, Marion) were leaping and jumping with the kids, giving them a piece of the Kaleido Stage experience.

Various of the crew mingled with the crowd, as every television screen in the complex was fixed on the digital clock counting down the last hours of the year, from the center of the stage complex.

Most every Kaleido Stage performer, with the notable exceptions of Sora and Rosetta, were in photo booths giving autograph sessions for their fans. With Ken going over the final staging for the main event that night, Rosetta was with Sora babysitting Hope for most of the morning, who would (sanity permitting) be staying up for her first New Year.

At noon, there was a ceremony thanking Kaleido Stage for all the events they had put on over the course of that week. Sora brought Hope for the presentation of the Key to Cape Mercy to the entire Kaleido Stage organization from Cape Mercy's mayor.

Sora did a back flip for the cheering crowds, reminding them to be at the main complex later that evening for the hidden-talent show.

While the group rested to be at their best for the performance, the afternoon was filled with videos of past performances and carnival games for the youth and families of Cape Mercy.

By nightfall, the boardwalk to the Kaleido Stage main tent was a sea of humanity. Not nearly everyone could get in, so, once the tent had filled, the main grounds were turned over to the remaining fans, the video screens all still trained on the main stage and the ticking clock.

The Kaleido Stage New Year's Eve Hidden Talent Extravaganza

As soon as the main Kaleido Stage tent had completely filled, Ken gave the signal and went to get ready for his own performance. Yuri Killian strode to the center of the stage, the ticking clock now reading less than four hours until a tentful of balloons and confetti, now clearly held up in the top of the tent, would shower the entire Kaleido Stage audience and performance in the New Year's celebration.

Yuri: "Good evening, and welcome to New Year's Eve at Kaleido Stage!"

"Tonight, as an alternative to the normal New Year's Eve celebrations you may have, Kaleido Stage, in cooperation with the Cape Mercy Chamber of Commerce and Police Department, as part of their 'First Night' initiative, present to you a unique night of entertainment for your enjoyment."

"You know all of us from our circus talents. Tonight, you will see another side of the talents of Kaleido Stage, a side well hidden even from the rest of us. Tonight, our performers are not only performing for your enjoyment, but for their own and each other's. We hope you enjoy this gift from us, and have a safe and happy New Year."

"Now, if you will excuse me, I will have to go get ready for my own performance!"

The crowd laughed as the lights went down and a host of the Academy students took the stage for various group performances. Some sang in choirs. Some danced all over the stage. Some even performed feats of sporting acumen.

But as the time started counting down, the more familiar faces of Kaleido Stage began to assemble stage-side and prepare to go on.

Anna was first. Anna took to the stage, and spoke into the microphone.

Anna: "You know me as the Kaleido Stage resident clown. It is an honor bestowed upon me to make you laugh, given by my father, and which I hope to give when I have children."

"You've also seen me in acrobatic performances and even performing on a motorcycle."

"But what you may not know about me is that I also enjoy performing with my two closest clown comrades. Please welcome Hanna and Barbara to the stage!"

The crowd applauded as Hanna (carrying a guitar) and Barbara (carrying two tambourines) came to stage center to join their friend.

Hanna: "We can never claim to be the talent level of our friend Sarah, the diva of Kaleido Stage."

Barbara: "... but we think we're pretty mean singers ourselves. So let's show you!"

And, at that, they broke into their version of "More Than Words", which the crowd enjoyed completely.

Rosetta: "I didn't know Anna could sing..."

Sora: "She's got such a wonderful voice."

Yuri: "Perhaps she could be the next diva."

May: "Not if I can help it..."

Mia: "May..."

At the end of the song, the three singers bowed, took their instruments, and were quickly replaced by Mia, who was next on the program.

Mia quickly quieted the crowd, as she needed concentration as the three previous performers put a large (mural-sized) easel on one side of the stage, and a copious amount of finger-paint at it's base.

Mia was not really dressed for a New Year's Eve performance, but that was to be made clear by what she was planning to do.

Mia: "I always like to put a lot of passion into my work, whether it be performance, writing, or my passion for art."

"That was why I really enjoyed the opportunity to see a picture like 'The Princess and the Fool', which was the basis for one of our productions."

"Tonight, I wish to show you something I've always wanted to do, but never gotten the chance until right now. Avant-garde art, START!"

With that, dance music came over the speakers as Mia was getting herself 'in the mood' to attack that easel with the finger-paints.

Her face tensed into an intense glare as she literally threw her left hand into the blue paint and her right hand into the yellow. With a shriek, she raised both hands and threw the paint (what didn't get all over herself or the tarp on the floor) at the easel, which saw the paint splatter in all conceivable two-dimensional directions.

Then, left hand in the red, right hand in the black...

Left hand – green, right hand – purple

Then the orange, then the white – then beginning to do other combinations of the colors.

Within five minutes, Mia's entire body (well, the clothing on most of it, her hands, wrists, and face) were unrecognizable, as paint was flying in all directions...

… until the music stopped, and Mia finally took and found one small corner, untouched by the paint, and, with a large magic marker, signed her masterpiece to the thunderous ovation of not only the audience but the other members of Kaleido Stage as well!

Mia bowed with great passion and went to try to clean all the paint off of herself so she could enjoy the other performances.

As Mia quickly scurried her messy self to the nearest showers, she was replaced by Marion and her father, Jean.

Marion fake-pouted and said: "I wanted to do the finger-paint, daddy!"

The crowd roared it's laughter and approval of the cute little munchkin.

Jean: "I know, Pumpkin, but we have our own hidden talent to show them."

Marion: "That's right..."

And so the Kids' Stage star and the head of the stage set crew had a pottery wheel brought onto the stage, and, as the clock ticked down about the next 15 minutes, Jean and Marion had a pottery demonstration for the assembled audience.

Even May had to admit that it was looking like Marion was having fun playing with the muddy clay.

When they were finished, their creations were taken where they could be baked very carefully, and they were replaced on the stage with Yuri and Leon.

Anna: "They're going to do their hidden talent together..."

Yuri: "As you well know, I'm the behind-the-scenes head of this arm of the Kaleido Stage project, and my friend here has been a star here on Kaleido Stage for quite a while now..."

Leon couldn't believe he was being roped into this...

Yuri: "But, for our hidden talent, we're going to need the best-looking woman in the building as a volunteer for a little magic trick..."

Yuri looked around (playfully, for he knew who he was going to pick), while Leon went and rolled onto the stage a large cabinet-like structure...

Yuri finally "found" who he was looking for, and had the short-haired blonde come out of the audience – to wit she immediately took off her outfit and revealed a sexy magician's assistant number.

Layla: "Hey, guys... Miss me?"

The place erupted as they realized it was Layla Hamilton, and more of a few fanboys seemed to really like the outfit.

Mia: "Wow! Layla's still in wonderful shape!"

Marion: "Yeah!! She told me she's still been working in the theater, so she's been working hard. Macquarie has even been able to perform in several Broadway shows."

Anna: "It's wonderful to see that even Macquarie has been able to realize her dream."

Layla pranced across the stage and Leon took Layla's hand and guided her into the box.

The curtain was raised, and with a little presto-change-o, the curtain was lowered, no Layla in sight.

The curtain was then raised again, and then, this time, a bird flew out.

Then a kitty-cat the next time...

This was getting a little annoying, thought Leon...

Then, the next time the curtain was raised, Layla took matters into her own hands...

Err, that should've been put her own long legs, as she basically seduced the crowd, a la the first Crocodile Dundee movie.

She then came out of the box herself, with both men "producing" a bouquet of flowers for her as their final trick.

At that point, the spotlights went over to May Wong, already furiously cooking up a storm. (Literally!)

May: "You know me as the fiery former Paris champion, May Wong."

"But what you may not know is that I am a master of more moves than just the ones above the circus stage."

"Whenever a member of Kaleido Stage needs that special meal to fire them up, I cook them this little masterpiece. The Shooting-Star-Fire-Cooking-Version-4!!!"

As she said this, she spun all around the stove...

She was making a simple Chinese dish, but, of course, it being May, it had three things that most dishes of its like did not have: Flair, style, and way too much fire in them.

So much so that four members of the audience who were offered plates had to be given extra drinks on the house.

And, with that, the stage finally went quiet as the clock began to go below the final 30 minutes of the old year.

There was open murmuring in the audience as to whether Sora would be there.

At precisely 11:45, they got their answer.

A single spotlight came down on two people in dapper three-piece suits.

One was Ken; the other was Sora.

They waltzed across the stage (literally), as both showed off their acumen as ballroom dancers.

Anna: "I didn't know Sora could ballroom dance..."

Mia had stars in her eyes.

Mia: "I didn't know Ken could ballroom dance!"

The entire cast was assembling, as the clock was counting down to the New Year.

With one notable exception...

After the waltz finished, Sora asked for a microphone.

Sora: "That's not the only hidden talent I have. Hey, Layla! I have the hidden talent of being sexy too, when I want to."

With one tug of her waistband, her suit came off to a deliciously sexy ballroom dance outfit as the heat was turned up on Kaleido Stage.

It was a rumba now, and Sora was taking the sensual lead, much to the pleasure of not only Ken, but a lot of Sora's fanboys in the audience.

Sora thought the whole time: If only the Fool could see me now, he'd be satisfied.

At the end of the dance, Sora and Ken kissed passionately stage-center.

The cast and crew began to walk on the stage as the last minutes of the old year were counted down.

Anna: "So Ken has another hidden talent too – he can kiss like a movie star!"

Yuri: "Where'd he get that kind of confidence?"

Mia: "Hey, Sora!! Can Ken save one of those for us at midnight??"

Sora gleamed a smile over to Mia and Anna.

Sora: "He's mine, ladies!!"

Just then, the drum-roll put everyone's attention on the clock...

And then, the last seconds of the old year went away...

5 .. 4.. 3 .. 2 .. 1 ..

And just as the clock hit zero and the crowd began to cheer for the New Year, an ear-piercing scream was heard by a very few, coming from backstage.

Jean ran on to the stage and found Sora.

Jean: "Rosetta passed out backstage. I got Kate with her now. Marion's crying, as she didn't know what happened..."

Even as the balloons and confetti were falling, and the members of the cast and crew who didn't know what that scream (from Marion) was about were celebrating with the audience, Sora and the main members of Kaleido Stage were running back to check on Rosetta.

Yuri's Office

Yuri: "Oh God, that could not have been worse-timed..."

He got back there first. He had seen Rosetta in the fetal position on the other side of the stage, and carried the little Belgian into his office where Kate was looking over her.

The sprint back for the rest of the group seemed like a mile, as they didn't know what had happened...

Just as Sora had gotten back to the office, Rosetta awoke with a scream!

Rosetta: "YOU DON'T NEED ME ANYMORE, DO YOU???"