X2.2.7 – Run Away, Boys!

"Well, then," the Lord of Lords said to Roa. "Now that one of my Gates was defeated by your hands, do you truly believe that you're any closer to the end—to me? Just how many more do you think stand in your way? One more? Or is it a hundred more? A thousand?"

The Sunflower listened, without saying a word. His eyebrows curled and his eyes burned with anger.

"And as you move forward, you insignificant nobody, do you really think that I will just stand around, and not replace the ones behind you that have fallen? They are just--chess pieces to me, just like--everyone else. One is just as worth as another. Your ridiculous fight is a hopeless one, one only worthy of an idealistic, dreaming fool!" said the Lord of Default World, mocking the boy.

Barely able to catch his breath Roa felt his heart sink at the idea of there being countless Gates both before him and behind. He felt powerless, at the mercy of everything and everyone. Gathering his courage he replied, ever defiant, "you keep sending them, but next time, pick one a bit stronger. The first one barely left a dent."

Lord Perfect let out a groan. Something he rarely did, revealing his frustration. He had lost one of his most powerful men to an enemy that he considered infinitely inferior to him. The Sunflower knew this and used it against his biggest weakness—his ego.

"Groan all you want you bastard. Nothing lasts forever. You let a nobody take out one of your greatest men. What does that say about you as a leader?" Roa asked, pointing his finger at the eye. "I don't care if there are a million Gates. I'm going to make sure that every single one falls until I find you in your little corner, hiding like the coward that you are. Now come fight me, or go away!"

The Lord's eyes narrowed, focusing on the boy without speaking a word. The eyeballs then turned to the only two Shadows present, Lady Comet's bodyguards, and the Patriarch said to them, "men, remember who's Shadows you are. Prove to me your loyalty now, or forever feel my wrath."

The two Shadows standing behind Lady Comet bowed and said, "Yes, Lord Patriarch."

"Good. I order you to take these two—traitors, as prisoners, until they will be taken back to the capital for prosecution. And this one—" he said, staring at Roa for a moment, "this one shall be taken prisoner as well, until he too will be taken to the appropriate location."

"Yes, Lord Patriarch," the two Shadows bowed again.

"You will be paid handsomely for your loyalty, Balter. You may continue to run the circus as your own, enjoying the same benefits that I—erroneously had awarded to this—snake," he said, staring at Madame Solstice, who was now shaking in her throne. "My will be done!"

The two Shadows put their hands on Lady Comet and Madame Solstice, who struggling, attempted to plead with them and escape. It was no use. They were soon overpowered and taken away.

"Your life and reward depend on this boy remaining in your care until we return," one of the Shadows said to Balter, who nodded nervously.

"Where is she, coward? Why are you keeping Eralay prisoner? She has nothing to do with any of this," the Sunflower yelled at the Lord.

"Quiet, boy," Balter said.

"If you are keeping her to get to me, I will do what we did last time. You can have me in exchange. Just tell me how to get to you," the young man from Earth said.

The Lord laughed out loud. "You must think of me so simple, fool," he said. After a long pause he added, "she's exactly where she is supposed to be. And soon—you will be too."

The Lord's Gaze disappeared, as thousands of eyelids closed.

Roa and Rosso were brought into Lady Solstice's wagon. They were surrounded by his largest and strongest goons, big men from the Clown Squad. Indigo was also there, listening in with a worried look in her eyes.

"At last—the circus is mine again," the cat-man said. "After so long, it is finally mine again."

"You dirty, rotten, bastard!" Rosso said, attempting to break through the wall of bodyguards standing in the way.

"Sorry boys, but I'm not dumb enough to make the most powerful man in the Innerverse my enemy. You're going back to Default World, to the one who has given me what I wanted. My circus. You see? There is no need for the Dreamer—my wish already came true," Balter said, taking in a deep, satisfied breath. "The lesson here is—stick with those stronger than you, and you will go far in life."

"You're what's wrong with the world, you parasite," Roa screamed at him as the bodyguards inched closer, blocking the way.

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"Balter, I know someone who will pay even more than the Patriarch will," Indigo shouted all of the sudden, causing everyone to freeze and the cat's eyebrows to raise.

"Who in all of the worlds, could possibly pay more than the most powerful man?" Balter asked.

"Azzurra's Domain," she responded.

"Really? And how could you possibly know this?" he asked.

"Because—" Indigo hesitated. "Because, I'm Empress Azzurra's—daughter."

The bodyguards stared at each other, incredulous.

Balter laughed. "Sure, and I'm the Dreamer in disguise."

"I'm serious. I will bring you to her myself, if you decide to sell the boy to her. She will pay you whatever the Lord will give you, and then some. You have my word."

"Your word is worthless to me, Indigo. You should know better than anyone that I don't trust anyone's word. Only these matter," Balter said, rubbing his fingers together.

"You'll get your money, but you need to trust me enough for me to get them to you first," Indigo pleaded.

Rosso and Roa exchanged looks.

"No," Balter slammed his hands on the desk, and then shook his head. "No. It would be unwise of me to go against the will of the Lord. Even a greater sum would not be worth his fury. The boy is going to Default World, and that's that."

"Then I quit," Indigo said.

"You can't quit. You're the star of our—my show! The circus is mine, Indigo. You'll get a big promotion, how about that?"

"No, Balter. I'm out."

The cat sighed. "Well, have it your way, then. You can be—promoted to a volunteer. Take her to the cell along with these two. I want all of you guarding them until the Shadows return."

There was a scuffle, but it didn't take long for the circus guards to overpower the three Jumpers.

"Come on Roa, I've seen you unleash some ridiculous amounts of auras before. You need to bring that all out, now," Rosso said passionately.

"I'm trying, man. But, it's not like I have mastered how to bring it out at will. It just—sort of happens," the boy from Earth answered.

"Why are you helping us, Indigo? It won't make any difference," asked Rosso.

"Because, through the years I've realized my own foolishness, thanks to you two," she said as the others stared.

"What's Azzurra's Domain? Is it true what you said? Are you really some—princess?" Roa asked.

"Empress Azzurra is my mother, and she runs one of Free Society's last standing nations," she said.

"Why the hell are you in the circus, then?" asked Rosso.

"I ran away from home. I did not want to be who my mother wanted me to be, with all of the pageantries, the lack of privacy, the constant eyes staring my way." She paused for a moment. "I just wanted to be free—and do whatever I wanted to do, for once. Which is to be an artist—to sing." She looked down. "But then you two showed up, and I realized how selfish I have been."

"There's nothing selfish in wanting to be yourself," Roa said.

"No, I know. But, I realized that there is more to life than just—doing what you want. You two have been fighting this—Greatest Fight, for the sake of others, while I've been here, singing, like some big—immature child."

"Ok…" Rosso said.

"I want to help," she said, looking up with a smile that soon faded. "But, I guess I'm in a bit of a pickle now too."

"Not if we can help it," said someone outside of the cell's window.

Roa and the others glanced outside and saw Stalto, Donzo, Kalia and many of their friends outside. They ran towards Balter's guards and a battle began. Flashes of light flew and punches and kicks landed on bodies. The guards were stronger, but their friends outnumbered them, until the last of the enemies was incapacitated.

"We don't have much time. The Shadows are coming back as we speak. They might be too strong to overpower, even with all of us," said Stalto.

"Thank you, guys. How can we ever repay you?" asked Roa.

"You've already helped us. We learned to love ourselves for the first time in our lives. We gave ourselves the one thing the world never gave us. For that, we will forever be grateful to you, my friend," Donzo said as the others nodded.

"We broke into Madame Solstice's wagon and forced Balter to give us the route of the circus," Kalia said, winking. "Come with us. We know where the closest Exit is."

"Are you saying—we are free?" Rosso said, almost letting a tear fall from his eyes.

"Let's go!"

The friendly crew flew away, using Pan's gift, leading the three Jumpers to the portal, through a large, misty swamp filled with giant water worms that kept leaping out of the mud, snapping at them from below.

"The Exit is over there! Don't look into its eye or we'll lose the way out," screamed Kalia.

The group landed in front of the portal.

"Come with us. We need all the friends we can gather," said Roa. "The revolution needs good people like you."

"We can't, Sunflower. We're staying here. We've dedicated our lives to the circus. It's a part of who we are. It's our home. And now, more than ever, it's ours," said Stalto.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that we're taking over the circus. From now on it won't be 'Madame Solstice' or 'Balter' Impossible Circus, but Circus Solitaire."

"You mean—"

"We told Balter to take a hike. It's our show now. Which means no more ransoms, no more kidnappings," Kalia said with a smile.

"We were followed!" said one of the crew, landing from above. "The two Shadows—they're with Balter and a bunch more of his goons. They're coming!"

Two dark figures appeared behind Roa, their hands reaching out for him like poisonous snakes ready to strike. Rosso used Haste and pivoted his body, catching one of the hands, repelling it with a chop. Indigo did the same, responding with a kick to the other enemy's side.

"Help the boys out!" screamed the crew, launching themselves on the Shadows who took them all on.

"Stop! I'll give you whatever you want," said Balter, landing between them and the Exit. "I promise."

Roa's heart filled with anger. His aura spiked, and he launched himself at the cat. His fist landed on his face, slamming him to the ground with force.

"No deal, Balter. We've had enough of empty promises. The show must go on—it just will go on without you," Roa said.

"Twenty Shadows, incoming!" screamed Stalto. "Run away, boys! Run as far as you can. Maybe one day we will meet again!"

"We'll close the portal behind you!" shouted Kalia as she slammed a plank of wood on one of Balter's men.

Roa and Rosso used Haste, and launched themselves towards the Exit.

"This is coming with me," said Indigo, taking something from Balter's pocket. "Do better, you miserable little cat."

The two of them jumped into the Exit.

"Thank you!" they screamed as the battle grew fiercer and the portal shut behind them.

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