Kaleido Star: Legendary Rose

Part 22: "Two Amazing Complications"

Sora: "… I'm pregnant with our child!"

Ken gasped. He was flying off the walls at this point.

Ken: "I'm on my way… But where…"

Sora: "I can't tell you. I'm sorry. We'll talk about plans soon…"

Sora then hung up.

Kaleido Stage

Ken was elated, yet puzzled.

A child…

HIS child…

He couldn't believe it. Even before they could make plans to marry…

But then he thought: Why would Sora not want to tell me where she was?

He then looked at the caller ID on the phone.

Ken: "Where's that area code?"

He picked up a phone book and turned to the national map of area codes…

… and then dropped the book in shock.

Not only did he now know exactly where Sora was, but he also knew what she was going to be doing.

He then ran through the halls - as quickly as he could - but could only get so far as Mia…

Ken (out of breath): "Why didn't you tell me?"

Mia: "Tell you wh…"

In mid-statement, Mia knew immediately.

Mia: "How did you find out what Sora was doing?"

Ken: "Sora called me to tell me something. Sora is pregnant!"

Just then, just as May and Leon had walked over to meet Mia, May fainted at the news.

It was as if the news had energized Rosetta further.

Essentially, three people would be now attempting the Legendary Great Maneuver.

Sora…

Rosetta…

And Sora's baby…

And Layla knew it too. So she had to walk on eggshells. She knew she had to push Sora to the brink, but had to be careful to push her no further.

At least Sora would be in her first trimester - and most of the work in the LGM would be done with arms (pushing off) and legs (to gain momentum).

All knew that Sora had to see this through with Rosetta - regardless of what it might cost her or her baby.

Rosetta knew the onus was on her - even with Sora's pregnancy, she knew that Sora could work as hard as she needed to, mustering up the necessary strength for that one day that Sora and Rosetta would soar in competition to try to gain Kaleido Stage's third consecutive Paris championship.

Yuri's Office

Ken: "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?"

Yuri: "Tell you what? This is the first I knew of it."

Mia: "Ken! We didn't know about it until just now, when Sora told us. Layla called me and told me that she had become suspicious of what was Sora's morning sickness. So she had a doctor check on her, as well as had a pregnancy test done."

Ken actually thought, in his frustration, that most of Kaleido Stage had already known of Sora's pregnancy.

Now, Yuri had a hard decision. He knew that, one way or the other, Ken would quit Kaleido Stage if he had to - Sora was that important to him now. So he knew that Ken would go to the Grand Canyon whether or not Yuri consented.

Yuri: "Ken, I want you to breathe. I've called Kate in…"

Just then, Kate came through the open door.

Yuri: "I need a monitor on Ken - now…"

Ken: "THIS IS CRAZY!"

Mia: "It's for your own good. What good will Sora having the child be if his or her father keels over due to this whole situation?"

Ken: "But you don't understand… Sora's going to attempt the Legendary Great Maneuver…"

Yuri tensed. Ken had found out. Yuri cursed Ken for being so smart to figure it out - knowing that no one had told him. He had just figured it out…

Kate (putting a monitor on Ken): "By the way, May is all right. She just fainted."

Yuri: "Fainted?"Kate: "Yeah. She's as shocked as anyone at the news."

May (walking in): "Yeah, yeah… I'm fine. Just a bit shaken up."

Leon: "Ken, you know what you have to do."

Kate: "His heart cannot take a plane flight in his condition. I'm afraid I might have to see him to hospital if he tries."

Ken: "Kate, you know I have to go."Kate: "Ken, I know. I know you love Sora and that baby more than anything. You'd quit Kaleido Stage before we would be able to bar you from going."

Yuri: "But I need to tell you one thing before you go…"

"Actually, two…"

"First, don't worry about anything here. We've had some interns prepared to work under you in the physical training division and this can give them the opportunity to work with the new recruits."

"Second, I need one promise from you - and one alone."

Ken: "Yes?"

Yuri: "You know that everyone around the team that is to attempt the Legendary Great Maneuver must have as unshakable of confidence of success as the two who shall attempt it."

"Anything short of that opens the door to failure and catastrophe, because the attempt, now, must take place."

"And it will take place… at Kaleido Stage."

"Ken… Do you promise me, with all your heart, that you will support Sora in her decision to attempt the Legendary Great Maneuver with Rosetta? If you can't, I will forbid you if I have to go to court to do so."

Ken cried. It wasn't that he didn't think Sora would do it - he just was scared for the baby…

Ken: "I just am scared that they might push it too far and, even with success, Sora might miscarry down the road."

Mia put her arms around Ken and held him tightly.

Mia: "The Hamilton Foundation has dispatched a team of doctors to the training site. At first, it was only to check on injury. Now they will keep an eye on the baby. Sora, Layla, and the head doctor told me as such."

Ken stopped crying and righted himself.

Ken: "Kate, please come with me to Arizona."

Yuri: "So you do promise to support Sora with everything you have and leave all doubts aside?"Ken: "My only doubts are about the baby. Sora can do this - I am certain, and I could not stop her even if I wanted to."

"Yuri, you have your promise."

Yuri: "Then it is done. I will see you 72 hours before the attempt - here are two plane tickets. I figured someone would have to join you to look after you until you at least got to the Grand Canyon."

"Just remember to breathe and relax, and everything will take care of itself."

Yuri then embraced Ken, and everyone soon joined in the group hug of the expectant father.

Grand Canyon Training Facility

One of the rooms of the cabin complex was made into a make-shift medical ward.

Nothing was really wrong with either Sora nor Rosetta on the surface, but, now especially with the baby on the way, Layla was too concerned from what happened after her own attempt not to have full care be taken of both Sora and Rosetta against any possible hyper-over-stress or any strain to the child.

So a requirement of both of them was to come in - not only for medical check-ups (which also included early ultrasounds for Sora), but also as a place for the pair to relax and unwind. Layla even barred herself from the room, so that she would not interfere with continued "training encouragement".

Layla also knew that Ken was flying in. She kind of knew that Ken would do this, and was told by Yuri that Ken had sworn to support Sora and not to doubt her abilities. Layla made it a point to give Ken a huge hug when he got to the complex - not only for the baby, but for how much he has grown over the years himself. She knew the toll that this had already taken on him, and would continue to take on him in the future.

Training was actually going fairly well. Rosetta was bulking up slowly (they still had another six weeks or so at this point), and some defined muscle was seen on her arms and legs. She actually was able to climb the rock face a lot more smoothly than anyone could've expected.

The one concern that they had about Rosetta was the possibility that her tendons might not take the added bulk as they continued to slowly add on weight and muscle through Rosetta's diet.

Much like when a steroid user bulks up too quickly, the doctors were concerned that Rosetta, as such a frail and thin girl, might not take well in her framework to being bulked up in both weight and muscle to try to equalize weight with Sora as much as they could.

As for the technical work, it was coming along almost too smoothly. Rosetta still had to work a lot more on getting sufficient height and power to meet Sora over the middle of the huge setup which had been constructed to simulate (as much as possible) the setup that Kaleido Stage would build once again for their attempt.

But, each day, it appeared that Rosetta would get closer and closer to meeting Sora and clasping hands over the middle of the setup (the first real step to the completion of the maneuver - something that Layla almost forgot to train for herself in all of what had happened during her attempt with Sora) - even if their attempts would end with them quickly falling to the soft nets below.

So, just outside the complex, Layla heard her cell phone ring.

It was Kate's cell phone. What could she want?

Kate: "Layla! It's Ken… We're on our way to the hospital in Phoenix, Arizona…"

Layla tensed. "What's up?", she said.

Kate: "It's as I feared. Ken passed out on the plane and we were ordered to land in Phoenix. His heart was going crazy, and he has not come to yet. I'm scared he might be in a coma…"

Layla: "Oh, dear…"

Sora peeked her head out. Layla knew immediately that she had to tell her - and that she would leave until Ken was all right.

Layla: "Sora, I know this is the last thing you need to hear and the last thing you'd expect me to say…"

Rosetta peeked her head out as well.

Layla: "Ken's plane flight did not go well, and he's in the hospital in Phoenix, Arizona."

Sora gasped and sank to her knees in tears. Rosetta covered her with a hug.

Layla came forward to embrace them both.

Layla: "Sora, you know you have to go see him to calm him."

Sora ran to gather a small "go bag" as a car was prepared to take Sora to Phoenix.

That just left Layla and Rosetta alone.

Layla: "Rosetta, we will have to continue to work alone. I have worked to maintain a weight close to Sora's. I know as much as anyone, other than Sora, about this maneuver. But I need you to swear that you will work twice as hard until Sora returns…"

Rosetta: "But won't Sora lose ground…"

Layla quickly silenced her.

Layla: "What have I told you about 'no doubt' about the success of this attempt? I have faith in Sora. And I ask the same of you. It's the only way you will survive this."

"Even with the baby, I do believe Sora would do this, or I wouldn't give you guys the entire breadth of resources which the Hamilton Foundation has provided this attempt."

"Do you understand?

Rosetta, without a second thought: "Yes."

Layla: "Then let's see Sora off."

One Long Car Ride Later - Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix General Hospital

Sora couldn't help but cry in the back seat.

Her love…

The father of her baby…

Heart literally broken at concern that both mother and child will survive this attempt…

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Sora was allowed into Ken's room.

Ken was motionless. He was considered in "serious but stable condition", as he had basically slipped into a deep sleep (almost a coma) with serious heart problems. The heart was stabilized now - but when would Ken wake up to see if it would remain that way?

Sora joined Kate in the hospital chapel.