Happy New Year guys!

So, I asked last time if you guys were interested in seeing the others in spin off stories or chapters.

Tell me who you'd like to see first: TAV trio, Namine, or Riku? I'm asking on ALL platforms I post on, so I will be taking in all the input I get.

Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy © to Disney and Square Enix!

Kraig and TJ © to YamiChaos27!

Iunia and Nico and other OCs © to me!

Joy © to Njoy!

Akira © to Lucywind!

Chapter 15: Auditions

"Welcome to the first day of drama club!" Jessie Raspberry clapped her hands together. "This is going to be an awesome semester! Most of you know me from class, but I'm Ms. Jessie. This is Ms. Folia; she will be the choreographer in our show this year. And this is Mrs. Lou, the music teacher."

Xion sat next to Fuu, her eyes glancing over at Leblanc on the other side of the room.

Jessie grinned. "So, this semester, we will be doing a play that is very topical. It's called 'High School Musical'(1). And it's about high school students preparing to do a musical. And yes, it's a musical."

Folia held a copy of the script up. "This story is about two students stepping out of the status quo to try something new and do something fun. And it's an encouraging story, giving people courage to step out and try new things, regardless of the status quo around them."

"Our two leads are a romantic couple. The boy is a jock that finds out that he likes to sing and dance, and the other jocks don't approve. The girl is a very smart girl who is a new student and interested in the academic decathlon. She also enjoys singing. We will be handing out the cast list which contains short descriptions of the characters. Next week we will be having auditions; you need to prepare a song as well."

Folia handed out the audition packets to the group of about 25 students.

Xion looked at the list of characters.

Who to audition for? Or just randomly audition.

Jessie smiled at everyone. "We will give you time today in order to read over the audition pages and discuss with friends. You may also practice with each other. If you also want to, you can ask the three of us for our opinion."

The students spread out, finding their friends.

Fuu set the script down, shaking her head. Etta approached, smirking. "Let me guess, Fuu, you want to be the backstage manager again?"

"Yep."

"Figured as much."

Xion looked up at her friend. "Backstage manager? So, you don't do any acting?"

"Nope."

Etta smiled. "Fuu is very organized and is very good at managing backstage, and we're very willing to let people do work in an area they want to grow in. That's the area she wants to grow in."

"If I can't figure out what to audition for, can I help her?"

"You can," Etta sat beside the girl, "but it wouldn't hurt to at least audition. That's part of what this entire play is about."

"You know what I think?" Leaning over from the row in front of them, Cherri glanced back. "I think you and the leading lady in the play have a lot in common. Shy, quiet, new girl." Her gaze flickered over to a certain girl in a lot of pink. "And being messed with by a snooty girl that is the president of a certain club. Honestly, this play was meant for this cast. I think you should aim for the lead role."

"Th-the lead!? I'm nowhere near ready for anything like that."

"You never know until you try."

"But I don't know how to sing at all. I've never sung ever."

Cherri looked at Fuu. "Look, I know you're not into this sort of thing, but you're friends with her, so you're totally invited. Auston!" She called over to the boy nearby. "Wanna go to karaoke tomorrow night? We can practice for auditions."

"Sounds good!"

"And you're coming too." The girl tapped Xion's knee. "We've got you."

Xion shrunk back in her chair. "But what about…?"

Etta put a hand on Xion's shoulder. "Don't let a bully stop you. And if she threatens you in any way, tell us. Don't let her stop you. But, even so, you do what you want. Though, I think this karaoke idea will be great for you anyway to help with singing."

"If you say so."

The girl looked through the cast list.

The lead role, Gabriella, did feel similar to herself, but the role of Kelsey could be fun too.

Though that would depend on who played the character Sharpay because if Leblanc got the role, Xion wouldn't be very comfortable with Leblanc yelling at her, even in character… actually, no matter what role, Leblanc interacting with her wouldn't be fun.

And as the club ended, Xion made sure to stand close to Fuu as they exited.

Until she got close to the large door that led into the forest.

A hand grabbed her shoulder, slamming her into the brick wall, turning Xion face-to-face with Leblanc.

"Listen here, little mouse! Don't you dare even think about auditioning for a lead part." She grit her teeth, seemingly holding back a threat.

Pushing the girl back, Leblanc walked away, leaving Xion standing there.

The girl wrapped her arms around herself and jogged back to the mansion, taking a very deep breath before she went inside.

As she came inside, she could smell dinner cooking, and within moments, Kosho came bolting to the door, barking. He hopped up on his hind legs, making Xion smile as she petted him.

"Hi buddy!"

"Hey, Xion!" Roxas stuck his head out of his room. "Got any news for me?"

"You don't even have club until tomorrow."

"So?"

Isa called from the kitchen. "How did it go?"

The girl, Kosho at her heels, walked into the kitchen. Isa stood at the stove, cooking something that smelled like soup. Axel sat at the table, writing something on a notepad.

"It went alright." She sat down. "Some of the others think I should audition for the lead female role of the play we're doing."

"The lead?"

"Yeah… They said I'm similar to her. But, I don't know how to sing."

Roxas leaned on her chair. "Sing? How do you even do that?"

"Exactly! Cherri said I'm going with them to karaoke tomorrow to learn how to sing."

Axel looked up from his notebook. "Well, you basically say things but to a tune. I can't really sing well, so I'm not an expert. And Isa can't sing worth anything."

"And I'll admit that." Isa looked over at the girl. "But I think it will be a fun thing to try. But don't do anything if you don't want to." Turning off the stove, he smiled at her gently. "But, I know the president of the club has it out for you, so I want to caution you, don't step back because you're afraid of her. Don't let fear stop you. Ok?"

"Ok."

"Alright!" Auston grinned, opening at the door to a karaoke room. "We have two hours to teach you how to sing."

Xion stuck close to Fuu, who sat down immediately.

Cherri and Auston stood in front of the screen, grinning at Xion. "Ready?"

"Sure…"

"You… have an incredible voice." Auston smiled.

Xion blushed. "It's not… not that good."

"You're good." Fuu elbowed her playfully.

"Now," Cherri clapped her hand, "we need to help you pick a song to audition with."

Xion bit her lip. "But you're my competition, Cherri. Why are you helping me?"

"Why? Well, you're a nice girl, and I think you deserve a chance. And… I don't know any details, but I heard you had a hard life before this. And you know, you deserve a shot to do something awesome, and Leblanc shouldn't stop you."

"She scares you." Fuu added.

Auston nodded. "We know she's intense and does have some authority. But, you can't let her control you."

Control?

Xion felt her heartrate spike.

Memories of fighting Roxas assaulted her mind.

"Sh-she's trying to control me!?"

"She wants you to be afraid of her, that way you don't upset the balance she and the others in her little group have set up. And if you are too scared, then she wins. That's how she controls people, with fear and manipulation."

"Xion?" Fuu stood up, gently touching Xion's shoulders as the girl's gaze seemed to get further away.

"I-I don't want to be controlled… not again!"

Xemnas…

Xehanort…

Faces flashed in her mind.

"Xion!" Fuu pulled the girl into a hug as Xion broke down into tears.

Auston and Cherri glanced at one another. "Again?"

The boy ran out of the room. "I'll get her some water."

Cherri stood, looking at the girl sadly. "I'm sorry we can't make Leblanc go away… but we're with you. She's just a bully. And we won't let her hurt you. And if you don't want to audition, that's totally fine." Xion turned her head to look at the girl. "But don't do it because you're scared of her. Then she wins. You can beat her."

"You think I can?"

"Yes."

"Of course." Cherri patted the girl's head. "Look, I don't know you very well, but you seem like such a strong person. I can't imagine what you went through to put you into a state like this just from a single word, but the fact that you're here and standing tall, doing something new and something a little scary- that means you're really brave."

"I don't feel brave."

"But you are. So, screw Leblanc! You do what you want to do. Don't worry about her. You're not alone."

Xion closed her eyes.

She was… brave?

"Of course you're brave, Xion. After what you've endured, many people wouldn't move on. You're trying to as best you can." Jiminy smiled at the girl sitting in his office.

She had the new white teddy bear he'd bought sitting in her lap.

She named it Snowball on the way in.

"Isa said the same thing yesterday."

The cricket leaned back in his chair. "Think about it this way… If you knew someone who had been through immense trauma and yet is trying to start over, and trying new things that may not be comfortable and may be a little scary, would you think they were brave?"

"That's what Roxas is doing. Yes, he's very brave."

"You're doing the very same thing. So, wouldn't that make you brave as well?"

"I guess so." The girl hugged the teddy bear close to her chest.

"Xion, what do you want to do?"

The girl stiffened, burying her face in the bear's fur.

What did she want?

"I want to try… I want to audition for something."

The cricket smiled. "Well, then let's focus on that. I actually have a slight concern about that. Due to your past, I wonder if you have a good grasp on who you are as an individual?"

Was she?

"I don't know."

"Let me phrase it this way: if you were to pretend to be someone else, would you lose your own identity in the character?(2)"

Oh.

That was a good point.

"I don't know."

Jiminy opened his notebook. "Well, then I have an idea. Right now, let's write down all the things that make you, you. Then, if you get a role in the play, we can write down who that character is and compare it to you. Each week we can try and check in and make sure that you're not accidentally becoming the character."

"I like that idea."

"Then let's get started."

Xion, holding the audition packet, walked into the main auditorium. The other students all sat outside, some having already come inside and finished their audition.

Leblanc was the first in, of course.

Now, Xion walked inside, looking up at the large stage with scarlet curtains. Ms. Jessie, Ms. Folia, and Mrs. Lou sat on the first row, clipboards in hand.

The girl stepped up on the stage, looking down at the teachers.

"And what part are you auditioning for, Xion?"

"I'm auditioning for the lead, Gabriella."

Footnotes:

(1) It may seem silly to pick this musical, but I think it's very fitting.

(2) This was a point made by EarthBorn93 on Archive. And they're right.

VAs:

Etta Lou- Brianna Knickerbocker (Rem, Hu Tao, Sakura, Kanao Tsuyuri, Elaine, Kumoko)