X2.2.5 – A Message to Nowhere

Two teenage boys climbed up the ladder as the crowd cheered. One of them leapt down, grabbing on to one of the ropes, to the 'ooh's' and 'aah's' of the spectators below. The second one did a backflip, his arms landing in the other's hands just in time to avoid falling below to his death. The crowd went wild as they safely landed below.

"Looks like another great show," Rosso smiled, taking a bow.

"Yeah, I have to admit that there is something about making others smile that is just—exhilarating," Roa pointed out, also lowering himself as the spectators cheered them on.

"Lunch is ready!" screamed a large woman from the kitchen.

The two sat at the table with hundreds of other crew members.

"A cheer for the stars of today's show!" said Stalto. "Who would have every guessed that our fine establishment's professional bathroom cleaners would one day become our top performers?" the crew raised their glasses and cheered the boys on.

"You give us too much credit," Roa said.

"We give credit where credit is due," Donzo responded halfway across the table without looking up.

"Now get those instruments out," said Stalto, waving for Indigo to come over. "We want to have some fun!"

Roa used the magical ocarina to poof into Existence drums, tambourines, guitars and several other instruments. They played and played, as Indigo sang, and the rest of the circus troupe listened, raising their glasses while getting more and more inhibited.

Time had passed. Months had turned into years with the blink of an eye, as life often does, and now the two Jumpers had grown out of childhood and into teenagers. After many months attempting to escape, they had finally grown on the troupe, befriending most of them and feeling like they were part of the group. The others were kind, odd rejects of many societies. Together, however, they all somehow belonged. Above all, Roa's kindness and passion for justice, and Rosso's endless desire for truth made the two Jumpers stand out from the rest. They had gained their respect, but even more importantly, their friendship.

The boy from Earth sat down on the floor of their room. Indigo and Rosso joined him.

"Alright, boys. You know the deal. Clear your minds, focus on your breaths, channel your auras. Focus on the memory of the person you are looking for, seek their energy out. Feel the immensity of Existence around you. Don't look for them there, feel them, feel everything around you as if it is all—one thing. And within it, you might find the one you are looking for," Indigo said with her eyes closed and her legs crossed.

Roa took a deep breath and his mind shifted to Eralay.

"If you manage to feel the person you want to contact, then, and only then, speak your message in your mind as if you are speaking directly to them. Try not to lose the connection with their location as you do so. Once the message is complete—channel your aura to your forehead, and launch the Blurr out with your hand. There's no guarantee it will arrive, but that's essentially how the Gift works," Indigo stood up and nodded.

"What if they are really far?" asked Roa.

"The farther they are, the harder it is to find them and for the Blurr to arrive at its destination," Indigo pointed out.

"And the Compass? Does it get affected by distance too?" Rosso wondered.

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"No, the Compass is different because it doesn't have to reach the person. You're not sending anything. It just reveals the direction of what you are seeking most in your heart," Indigo said.

Roa did a thumbs up, pointed it at his friend, and manifested the Compass, its flame dancing on top of his finger. Rosso also manifested the Gift and the two smiled at Indigo.

"Glad to see your auras are coming back, after so long," she said.

The two nodded and smiled as she closed the door behind her.

The Sunflower followed the singer's instructions, and launched a ball of blue energy from his hand. It took on the shape of a bird which flew through the window and out into the open.

"Who did you send that one to?" asked Rosso, not opening his eyes.

"It's for Eralay—but, I can never feel her aura, for some reason. She must be so far away that I can't ever pick up on it," Roa explained. "So, who knows where that one is really headed."

"Where do you think they took her to?"

"Mister Briteside during our fight said that she was taken by the Lord of Default World to the top of the Palace. Since we are just above the Basements of the labyrinth, I imagine that's the reason why I can't pinpoint her aura from here. Too far, perhaps." Roa paused for a moment, and his heart sank. "Or, she's—"

"Don't think about it. I'm sure she's fine," Rosso responded. A few minutes passed and the Sunflower launched another Blurr out. "And that one?" asked Rosso taking a deep breath in.

"That was for Nirvana and the others. I can actually pick up on her aura if I concentrate enough sometimes. She must be much closer than Eralay, which means we are probably still in the worlds connected to the Palace's Grand Market. If the circus crosses through one of the chokepoints, however, we might never be able to return to her, with the Gates being in the way," Roa said also taking in a deep breath.

"Well, we'd just have to take down another Gate, that's all," the young man from the desert smiled. "If you manage to get a hold of the pink-haired lady, ask her where Doctor Katu is. He might be with them. He was with us at Ardor's Forge but then I lost track of him once we escaped," said Rosso.

"Sure."

"You know—it's kind of cool that we've been able to relive childhood, in some ways. I forgot how big and vivid everything was when I was that age," Rosso pointed out. "Being a teenager is a bit messier, but still a cool experience to relive for a second time."

"First time for me," said Roa as he stared at the floor.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't remember my first childhood, or any of the other ones I probably had. I erased my own memories, remember? But yeah—I guess I should be grateful for having the chance to live a childhood I feel I never had."

Rosso looked at his friend without saying anything for some time.

"Anyways, it has been, what—four years since we were kidnapped by Madame Solstice?" asked Roa as he looked up. Rosso nodded. "Four years. I wonder what happened to the chokepoint we freed, to Nirvana, to my girl. I've been sending messages for so long now—and not once, not a single time, did I ever receive one back. Sometimes I wonder—what even is the point?"

"I wonder that myself a lot too. I almost feel like my life in the desert was just some, distant—dream I had. As if it never really happened. Jumping worlds, becoming young again—it really messes with you after a while. It's strange—strange as hell," Rosso rubbed his forehead with his fingers.

"I'm surprised that cat never sold us to anyone. We must have put on some decent shows if he's willing to wait for this long," Roa looked up to the ceiling.

"Well, at least we are almost back to our former power. We are also much more agile than we were back then. All those flips, leaps and acrobatic stunts—they sure helped us move more nimbly," the young man from the desert said, as the Sunflower nodded and smiled. "Plus, other than the witch and her feline, the rest of the crew absolutely loves us."

"They love us become we've shown them something they never received from their societies—love, compassion, and kindness. They've never been accepted," Roa said.

"I guess we also kind of fit in this place, if you think about it. Neither you or I ever fit in our societies either," Rosso scoffed.

"Yeah. Anyway, I think that we definitely missed that tournament Nirvana told us about. The chokepoint already fell, most likely, and Eralay—I wonder if she's even alive, and if she is—if she even thinks of me anymore." Rosso placed his hand on his shoulder without saying anything. "And who the hell knows where Earth is. Of all the worlds we've been through, and all the people we met, not one knew of my home world," Roa sighed. "Maybe it doesn't even exist. Maybe the Shadows implanted that idea in my head too."

The door slammed open. It was Stalto.

"They found one," he said, panting.

"Found what?" said Roa.

"Balter—he found your buyer, Sunflower."

"What? Who?" Rosso said, standing up.

"I don't know but you won't like where we are headed to next," Stalto said with a look of worry in his eyes.

"Where the hell are they taking us?" Roa asked.

"We're going back to Default World. I think the highest bidder--is a Shadow."

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