X2.1.6 – A Disappearing Act

Inside of the wagon, the air was thick with smoke and as hot as a sauna. The place was completely cluttered with colorful lanterns, although they barely lit up the space. It was busy, with too much furniture, and all sorts of riches and strange items, so much that they could barely move within it. The made their way deeper in, the rooster waiting for them outside, slowly closing the door behind them.

Someone was singing softly—a young woman, who upon noticing them stopped all of the sudden. She had long, blue hair, and must have been around twenty years old. A man's raspy voice then spoke.

"Well—if it isn't the Free's most notorious crime boss. Fastest Gunhand in Farthest West, one of the last, surviving leaders of the failed revolution, and probably--one of the richest Free Women in the Innerverse. Nirvana." A short figure appeared out of the darkness. He was wearing a red and gold coat in the style of Earth's 19th century Europe, such as something someone like Beethoven might have worn. He had knee-high boots, a ruffled, white shirt, and a wide, elaborate ruff around his neck--a stiff, pleated collar made of linen, starched to a ridiculous degree. On top of his head was a tall, red top-hat and his face was that of a white cat.

"Big. Bucks. Balter. Madame Solstice's right hand man, and head manager of the most spectacular spectacle in Existence," responded Nirvana with a hint of scorn in her voice. "What brings you—circus folk--to little, insignificant Calyxx Town?"

"Oh, you know—a little show here, and little show there. That's all," he said as his eyes glistened in the darkness as they narrowed. "Care for a drink?"

The crime boss shook her head, but the children were already sipping on their glasses.

Nirvana shot them an angry look, then turned to Balter and continued, "considering there are much larger, more lucrative places in Existence for your enterprise to—entertain, I'm surprised to find you here, that's all. Looking for something—in particular?" Nirvana continued.

"Should we be looking for—something in particular, here?" the cat-man tilted his head, causing his top hat to sway.

"Depends what you are looking for," she blurted back.

Balter laughed out loud. "Nirvana—my dear, dear Nirvana. We are entertainers! All we want to do—is entertain," he said, opening his arms wide open and smiling.

The pink-haired Jumper scoffed. "Alright then, we'd like tickets to the show. I am a very busy woman, and tonight's the only night that I will be able to attend."

"Your wish is my command," Balter said with a bow.

"Great. This has been pleasant. I wish you all the best with your tour," Nirvana said as she turned around and headed for the door.

"Not so fast—girl," said an old woman's voice in the background. The Jumper stood in place as a serious look appeared on Nirvana's face. Her fists clenched. Roa and the others also froze, looking around. "You wouldn't happen to be harboring any—hard feelings, concerning what happened last time we met?"

Nirvana smirked and turned around. "You and I are both—business women. There are no hard feelings in our professions. Just—business, Madame Solstice."

"Good," a large, dark figure moved in the background. "Balter—make sure our guest of honor, and her friends, receive tickets. Free of charge," she said as the cat-man bowed. "A sign of peace between us."

Nirvana raised an eyebrow. "Thank you. Your present is well-received."

"Good," Madame Solstice said as the Jumpers walked out of her wagon.

"Well, that went better than expected, no?" asked Roa.

"I don't trust the witch, I don't trust her one bit. She's up to something—I can feel it," Nirvana said, shaking her fist as she led the group to one of the large tents. "She never gives those stupid tickets out for free. She's too greedy. What angle is she playing?" The Jumper's face grew red as her eyes darted in all directions, her mind racing, attempting to understand her rival's next move. "Let's get this over with. Ladies," she said to her fighters, "I want you back at HQ. I can take care of myself here. They won't pick a fight with me, out in the open. I need you to keep the stash safe—just in case these circus folk are trying to pull a fast one on us."

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"Yes, Miss Nobody," the women disappeared in an instant.

Roa, Rosso, C-Saw, Nirvana and Shiro entered a large tent and were met with lights, song and a cheering crowd of locals.

"And for our next performance—a magic show!" Balter's voice echoed from the speakers. "Give a hand of applause to Donzo, the magician!" The Jumpers sat among the cheering crowd.

"I adore magic shows!" said C-Saw, unable to sit still in her seat.

Nirvana rolled her eyes.

"Maybe it's just a coincidence that she's in town," Shiro said to his boss.

"There are no coincidences. Not with that lady," Nirvana said.

"Donzo, the magician says that he needs a volunteer!" screamed Balter, causing the crowd to cheer again.

"Oh, me, me me me!" said C-Saw standing up. "I always wanted to be part of a circus!"

"We have a volunteer!" Balter screamed from the speakers as the little girl ran down to the center, towards the magician.

"Damn idiot," Nirvana said.

"Should I go grab her?" Shiro asked.

"No, if she wants to get sawed in half or something, let her. I don't even know who she is," Nirvana pointed out.

Roa suddenly felt sick, his stomach rumbling as piercing pain caused him to bend down.

"I think I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'm not feeling too hot," he said, standing up as the pain in his abdomen got worse.

"I'm coming with you. I'm not feeling great either," Rosso said, sweat trickling down his forehead as he followed him up the stairs.

"Should I?" asked Shiro. His boss nodded, and the rabbit-man stood up and went after the boys.

Outside of the tent, Shiro saw the two kids heading back his way.

"You done already?" he asked confused as they nodded. He looked at them suspiciously for a moment, but then followed them back to their seats.

"Why are you back?" Nirvana asked, surprised. Shiro shrugged his shoulders as the children clapped, watching the magician do all sorts of tricks as C-Saw giggled on stage. "I hate kids," she said with a sigh.

The show went on for another few minutes when suddenly the mic screeched and Balter made an announcement.

"Dear ladies and gentlemen," he said in a hurried tone, "due to—unforeseen circumstances, we regret to inform you that the show has been cancelled!"

The crowd let out a loud "aww," as people began to stand up.

"Please vacate the premises, immediately!" Balter said in a hurry, turning on all the lights. "For anyone looking for a refund—here it is!" Cash began to fall from the top of the tent, causing the spectators to rush out of their seats and try to catch as much of it as they could.

Nirvana and Shiro looked at each other when the entire tent above them shrunk and disappeared with a poof in thin air. The performers all grabbed their stuff and scuttled away, taking everything apart in record time.

"What the hell is going on? The circus never leaves until they've finished plundering a place," Shiro said. Nirvana's eyes darted around.

C-Saw ran back up to them. "It's too bad the show got cancelled! But at least, did you see when he made those flowers appear from behind me?"

"Yeah, that was cool!" the other two kids answered.

"Everyone, follow me," Nirvana commanded as she stood up.

The Jumpers flew to the top of a tall tower in the middle of the city, staring below as a long line of circus performers, wagons, and animals made their way to one point.

"They're jumping through an Exit. This doesn't make any sense," said Nirvana. "They're leaving Grand Market altogether. I don't understand."

"Maybe they got word the Lord's Army is about to arrive," Shiro pointed out.

"Yeah but—Solstice wouldn't fear the Shadows. What the hell is happening?" Nirvana said. "Something's fishy—let's go!" She ran towards the edge and leapt with such force that she flew across the whole of Calyxx Town, towards the Exit.

"Time to fly," Shiro said, grabbing the three children under his long, furry arms, following behind his boss.

"Wohoo!" C-Saw screamed as they shot in the sky.

The long circus caravan was almost at its end, most having already disappeared inside of the portal. Above it, the large, ominous eye of the Exit was covered by two floating clowns holding up a large, colorful banner that read "THANKS FOR COMING TO THE SHOW!"

Madame Solstice's ornate wagon passed by, and Big Bucks Balter smiled and waved goodbye at them from a small window on its side. Nirvana ran up to him.

"Leaving already?" she asked.

"Change of plans, Miss Nirvana! The show must go on—in the Elsewhere!" he answered back, shutting closed the square, wooden window and disappearing into the Exit.

The pink-haired Jumper stood there, confused, still unable to figure out what was happening. Then her eyes shot wide open. She manifested the Compass and pointed it at Roa.

"No—it can't be," she said staring at a weak flame. Her arm moved away, and in the direction of the Exit. The flame grew larger, brighter and wilder. "No!" she screamed.

The two floating clowns dropped the banner and leapt into the portal in a hurry as the last performers disappeared inside.

"Thanks for coming to the most spectacular spectacle in Existence," said Rosso with an evil grin.

"Madame Solstice sends her regards," said Roa.

The two kids morphed, revealing their true forms. Two jesters giggled as they ran towards the Exit in a goofy manner, hopping around acrobatically as they laughed at the Jumpers.

"They tricked us! They kidnapped the Sunflower!" screamed Nirvana running after them.

It was too late, however. The last two circus folk jumped inside the magical gateway, but not before doing one last thing. They stared at the portal's large eye, locking sights with it. The Exit vanished a few seconds later, leaving Shiro and Nirvana standing in the middle of Grand Market.

"They closed the Exit behind them," said the white rabbit, frozen in place. "We can't go after them."

"Damn you, Solstice!" screamed Nirvana as loud as she could. "I'm going to kill you, you dirty, backstabbing witch!"

After a long bout of silence, C-Saw crossed her arms and said, pouting, "why did they take those two? I'm the one that wanted to join the circus since I was a kid."

"You are a kid!" screamed the other two in unison.

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