My apologies for the length of the last chapter, and the erratic nature of updates. This one isn't quite flowing as "cleanly" as "Legendary Rose", but I know I have a Point A and a Point B for the full story (and for chapters like the last one). Read and review, and I might take some of your suggestions to heart.

"Kaleido Star: The Amazing Ascension"

Chapter 4: Jaded

January 1

12:15 AM

Yuri's Office

The group assembled didn't know what to think. Rosetta's outburst caught them all by surprise, until Yuri asked a question...

Yuri: "Who saw Rosetta perform tonight?"

He knew that at least some members of the group were there for every performance of the whole evening.

The performers looked at each other awkwardly, and then it hit them: Rosetta had never performed!

Rosetta was crying, mumbling that Sora no longer wanted her and that she was no longer needed, and just in the way...

Sora tried to put her arms around Rosetta, but was slapped away!

Rosetta: "You don't get it! Everyone wants you, Sora! They never wanted me!! I was only here to keep things in place for you to return!"

Sora: "I don't understand, and what happened?"

Leon: "Tonight, we forgot Rosetta, Sora. Every one of us. And that is all of our responsibilities."

Yuri sighed.

Yuri: "As you probably know, Sora, Rosetta has been the de facto star in your absence. She has performed quite well in the position. Attendance has remained stable, even in this economy."

Rosetta: "Not like that does any good..."

She then slapped May's arm away...

Leon then took charge...

Leon: "Rosetta!"

Leon was not happy, and forcefully took Rosetta's arm before she could strike his.

Leon: "We apologize for not having you in the program, but you weren't with the rest of us, so no one knew where you were..."

Rosetta: "That's not the point... The Fool asked me to see him alone last night..."

Sora winced. This probably meant one of two things.

Either the Fool was going to tell Rosetta something important...

… or the damn pervert was going to make a play on Rosetta.

Flashback: Stage-side, as the New Year's talent show was going on...

Rosetta walked tentatively. She got a message after Yuri's performance to see the Fool alone.

She didn't know what it was, but was hopeful that it could answer a lot of her questions about the dreams she'd been having...

She then heard one word, and the lights went out...

Fool: "Sleep..."

Yuri's Office

Yuri: "So that explains the fetal position and the non-responsiveness..."

Mia: "You have to tell us everything, Rosetta. What happened while you were asleep?"

Rosetta: "I was in a dark place, but I knew I was safe. It was almost as if I had been here before... Then, I saw the Fool... And... Well, the Fool had only one thing to say to me..."

For the next words, it almost sounded as if the Fool was speaking through Rosetta...

Rosetta: "He said: 'You know you have to defeat her...''

Sora, who had been given her clothes by Ken as this was being said, took those words like a gun-shot.

Sora: "No."

Layla, who had also re-dressed in her street clothes and rejoined the group, knew immediately.

Layla: "Yes, Sora... The time is coming. The Fool is telling Rosetta to begin to prepare for the day I told you about..."

Sora: "But that's not possible! We are literally blanc et noir. Nothing can come between us."

Just then, Sora's world grew dizzy, and she passed out.

The last words Sora heard?

The Fool: "Then you must sleep for a moment as well."

???????

Sora did recognize this setting.

It was that kind of amorphous "nothing" that the Fool, Rosetta, and her had been sent to when The Stage tried the Fool before.

But, this time, the Fool himself had brought Sora there – as he had Rosetta just earlier.

Fool: "Who is the bigger Fool, Sora?"

Sora: "What in the living..."

Sora tried to grasp out to the Fool, but the Fool was having none of it.

Fool: "Do you still love The Stage, Sora??"

Sora: "You know I have responsibilities to my daughter too, you idiot!"

Fool: "This is why I was surprised you could still see me."

Sora: "I love Ken. I love my little baby more than my life itself. But that does NOT mean..."

Fool: "Does it not mean you love them more than The Stage? Layla told you what you will be eventually called to do..."

Sora: "Why would I say that if I told you, and you believed me, that I did not fear dying for the sake of The Stage in The Legendary Great Maneuver – twice!!"

Fool crossed his arms. For once, he was not the mischievous pervert he usually was with Sora, and, for once, he was in absolute control.

Sora: "You idiot!!"

Fool: "No, Sora, I think you might be the idiot here..."

"You've been away from the stage for a year now. Rosetta, and rightly so, I believe, believes that, even if you were not to be the impetus behind it, that people will force Rosetta out and put you in her place, since you are the Kaleido Star.

"Sora, she must face you, as Layla said. If you cannot handle that, then you choose something else over what I have given you..."

Sora: "WHAT??"

Fool: "Perhaps you shouldn't have been able to see me in the last few weeks, since your return. But I do not choose of my own accord. The Stage has still chosen you, for some reason – and I firmly believe that reason to be the same reason I saw Layla (and The Stage still had chosen her) when she had to challenge you for the Swan Lake role."

"Until you can figure that out, I cannot help you more than on-stage, and maybe not even then... Your real work is about to begin, Sora..."

And, at that, he faded out, and she faded back in...

Yuri's Office

Just then, she came to – and there were two groups of startled Kaleido Stagers.

One group was standing over in one corner, with a frightened Rosetta.

The other group was standing in the center, as Kate was taking a long look at Sora, as (as Kate put it rather immediately) Sora had passed out in roughly the same manner as Rosetta had done just a little while ago...

Sora then blinked her eyes and realized what had happened...

Sora: "Oh my God! I am so sorry!!"

Sora then quickly got up and grabbed Ken's arm...

Kate: "Get back here! We do not know if you are OK..."

Sora: "We're getting the baby and we're heading back to our living quarters. Ken's parents have got to be worried by now."

Yuri: "We are worried about you right now."

Ken: "Fine. Then send Kate over once we get little Hope to bed."

Kate: "Roger that..."

Kate went to get her bag, and check one final time on Rosetta...

Rosetta stood up and asked Yuri to take her back to the dorms. She was absolutely wooden.

Rosetta said one final thing before she left: "Sora now knows. And she probably hates me for bringing back the competition that she doesn't like..."