Author note: I do not own The Last Story.

Okay...originally I was going to get another chapter of 'Blood Warrior' up, but then this idea got in my head, nagging me worse than usual to start writing it out. Basically, this fic is a Carnival AU, so there will be carnie versions of all of the characters. This should be interesting-like the 'Last Story-Anthology,' it's basically a sort of collection of oneshots that will eventually turn into a multi-chapter story. Unlike previous carnival AU fics I've done, though, this one should be a bit more lighthearted.

Warning: Carnival AU, Carnie!versions of the Last Story characters, various pairings, violence

Constructive Criticism would be great, and I hope that you read, review and enjoy! Thanks!

Carnevale Di Felicità

1. Troubled

Summary: Callista the Acrobat, unable to sleep, needs answers. The Illusionists, Zepha and Zesha, unfortunately only seem to be in the mood to tease her about possible romantic interests.

Performers: Acrobat Callista, Illusionist Zesha, and Illusionist Zepha

The Acrobat let out a sigh as she wandered the carnival grounds, looking up at the dark night sky. Pushing silvery-white locks out of her face, she glanced at the dimming lanterns that hung from the tents. Tonight was the night before the carnival opened tomorrow, and she knew she needed to get some rest.

She couldn't sleep, though, not even when she was watching the stars with Zael. Not tonight. Something troubled her, but she wasn't sure what, exactly. She needed answers-that was apparent-and so she decided to find help.

Ringmaster Asthar was surely busy with finishing things up for tomorrow-she would not disturb him. Others, specifically Ariela, Zoran and Jirall, would probably be asleep already. Mirania was someone to run to for such problems, but Callista didn't really know if she was still awake-it was hard to tell sometimes, with the Fortuneteller. Zael, asleep in his tent, probably didn't want to be woken up-even a Clown needed his rest.

Dagran and Therius were probably still readying their acts for tomorrow. She doubted they would want to be disturbed right now. Yurick was in the process of putting out the fiery lanterns, and she didn't want to spook him accidentally as he finished his work-it would be bad if it ended in setting someone's tent on fire unintentionally. Syrenne was probably drunk and Lowell was probably dragging her back to her tent so she could get some rest, so they were out of the question.

That really only left two people to talk to, and she knew very well that they liked being up late most of the time, doing whatever they did as the Illusionists. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the nearby black-and-white-striped tent, pushing the tent flap aside as she entered.

One of the Illusionists, a red aura emanating from his body, stood with his back to her.

"Zesha?" Callista asked, after a moment of silence. Zesha turned his head to the side, making eye contact with her. "Do you mind if I talk with you for a few moments? I know it's late, but...I need some help."

Zesha merely gave a wry grin. "Look, brother." He murmured softly. "Something wicked this way comes."

"Open locks, whoever knocks." Callista couldn't help but let out a quick gasp as she felt a cold breath linger at the back of her neck, and she turned to see Zepha, standing as an aura of blue flickered around his figure. "Speak."

"Demand..." Zesha drawled from behind the Acrobat, before her vision blurred slightly. As soon as it cleared, she saw only one of them, but both auras of red and blue flickered together as both Gurak brothers spoke.

"We'll answer."

The young acrobat let out a sigh, shaking her head. "Must you both speak in riddles and rhyme all the time?" She asked quietly, resting her hands on her hips. "And I'm serious. I need some advice, and I feel that you're the only ones that can probably help me right now."

Or not, Callista thought afterwards. She knew that both Zesha and Zepha loved to misguide others. She just hoped tonight was a time when they actually didn't mind guiding people for once.

"Help?" Zesha questioned, splitting from his brother as he took a step to the side and ran a hand through his shoulder-length, pale-blond hair. "Help? Mm, what kind of help? Something troubling you?"

"Yes." Callista shivered a bit, wrapping her arms around herself. Was Zesha and Zepha's tent always cold, or was it just a trick of the mind? She could never be sure with those two around.

"What could trouble the dear Acrobat so?" Zepha murmured quietly, glancing downwards at his right hand. "Nervousness?"

"Anxiety." Zesha added as a possibility.

"The cold, cold night?"

Both brothers went silent, contemplating the issue, before Zesha spoke up again, the tone of voice sounding much more teasing, more taunting. "Ah, perhaps it is...?"

They chorused the next word in harmony.

"Love?"

Callista frowned as both of them broke into a small laughing fit, and she folded her arms together as she responded to their answer. She didn't like being played with like this-she liked to make sure to make that clear-and now was no exception. Add in the fact that she was suffering from a lack of sleep, and that only increased her irritation towards them at the moment.

"If that is what's troubling me, what is it about love that troubles me so?" She challenged, glaring at the two. "It could be any sort of love issue, you know, so try to choose one that would make most sense with me. Unless..." She dared to raise an eyebrow. "Are you both secretly attracted to me?"

Zepha just glared back at her. "You?" He hissed, circling her. "We love no human being in existence." Zesha then coughed out something incoherent, and Zepha turned to face him. "What was that, brother? Hm? Speak up, if you have the courage."

The red-aura twin coughed again, before speaking up again. "We love none except for the Fortuneteller." He muttered quietly. "Or at least, I do."

Zepha let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Do you not see the cruelty of humans towards our kind?" He snapped, glaring at Zesha. "They dared to mock us, show scorn towards the blooming, sickly, orchids that linger on our skin."

"If it wasn't for humans," Zesha argued, "We would have no place to call 'home.' Is that not true as well?"

Zepha went silent, and Callista couldn't help but look away for a moment, in shame of what she had caused. Zepha and Zesha had good reasons for hating her kind-when the terrible disease struck the Gurak, it killed off so many. Zesha and Zepha were the only known survivors, as far as she knew. It was thoughtful of Ringmaster Asthar, to let them join the carnival, and she knew that despite him wanting to help them, situations like this corresponding with such actions could act as a double sword. It was stupid of her to bring up anything to them involving humans. She shouldn't have done that.

"Now," Zepha spoke up after a moment, choosing to go back to the previous subject instead of lingering further on the current one, "Perhaps the question that troubles you, Acrobat, is that you're wondering who your heart is captured by. Could it be the Gamemaster Jirall, who will forever try to capture your affection and always fail?"

Zesha let out a laugh. "Not so, brother, not so. Perhaps it's the womanizing Icebreather, but Lowell is far too attached to the drunkard Strongwoman." He responded, folding his arms together.

Zepha shrugged slightly, before responding. "Why not the Strongman Dagran? He's a fine one-as charismatic and determined in work as can be, though, he holds a darkness that no one can hold a light to, not even his closest friends. It is not likely for the dear Callista to fall for him-no, not him..."

"Next is the fiery Yurick," Zesha mused, "With all the flames he can muster, he has a coldness to contrast his abilities. Does he hold any affection for anything? If you were to fall for him, it would be surely difficult to charm him."

Callista watched the two quietly, not saying a word. She didn't really understand why they were trying to evaluate her with all the men in the carnival (save for the Ringmaster, though, because no way they would do that), but she figured they just liked thinking things like this out loud without a care in the world. They didn't really like to solve problems for people-they just liked to supply them with seemingly useless information.

"There are more valid options." Zepha spoke as he glanced at his right hand again, the festering skin blooming into yellow orchids. "Why not the Contortionist Therius, the perfectionist of perfectionists? So strong, though oblivious to love. Nothing could sway him, except the kindness and caring of a certain Acrobat perhaps..."

"Zoran is hardly worth talking about-you know he's into the Ticket Keeper Ariela." Zesha responded, giving a wry grin. A few candles floated into the air, lighting themselves as he continued to speak. "Last but not least is the Clown, Zael. Behind the makeup hides a tragic story, but he smiles enough so that no one can ever see it during the day. Such caring, such tenderness of someone like him...perhaps that has captured Callista's heart?"

"I-" Before Callista could respond, Zesha let out a low yawn, shaking his head and letting it bow a little.

"I tire of this." He muttered quietly, rubbing sleepy eyes with both hands. "To bed, brother. To bed, to bed, to bed..." He turned, and suddenly vanished.

"I suppose I should take my leave." Callista knew that she wasn't going to get any help now. As far as she knew, she should sleep on the issue. She would address it later, when she had more time and when she was far more alert.

"Go ahead." Zepha murmured quietly, smiling a little. "Whenever you need us, call on us. We will come when you call, otherwise not at all."

Callista just shook her head, turning and leaving the tent. She needed sleep. They needed sleep. Everyone needed to sleep.

Besides, if she didn't sleep, she might get infected with the same disease that struck down many of the Gurak. That was a rumour, and no one knew if it was true or false. She didn't want to risk her life, though, to see whether such a rumour was actually true or false. That seemed like a foolish thing to do, and she did not like to engage in any foolish, risky activity like that.

She fell asleep as soon as she entered her tent and let her head hit the pillows on her bed.

Author note: 'Carnevale Di Felicità' means 'carnival of happiness' in Italian, according to Google Translate.

Okay, the way I'm going to explain the carnie roles for each of the characters is that I'm going to do it by order of appearance. For example, since Callista, Zesha and Zepha were the main people in this chapter, I'm going to explain their roles first. The rest will come later.

Callista-Acrobat-I honestly couldn't think of anything else, and that was the first thing that struck my mind when I was thinking of a carnie role for her, hence why she's in that position. I think she'd have the gracefulness to take on the role of Acrobat.

Zesha and Zepha-Illusionists-Who can't see these guys as Illusionists? I imagine that they would be the type to play tricks when they can, to go misguide some and guide others through troubling times. They're going to be speaking a lot together, and they'll probably make some Shakespearean references or say actual lines, so I don't own those lines.

Please note: The first two to three chapters of this fic will take place all at approximately the same time, the night before the carnival opens to visitors. Thank you for your patience, ladies and gentlemen.