La Luna

Leonardo looked around the circus. He had come early just to be sure he could find the place. People and actors were everywhere. There were accents and languages he had never heard before. Gypsies belly danced on outdoor stages. Fire-eaters where bellowing out flames in unison. The fire seemed glow brighter in the dusk hour. Freak attractions posters hung in front of the small tent while the bigger tent held the exotic animals. The wind picked up, causing to fire-eater's flames to whip even more and gasp from the crowd, cautious of the close flames. The smell of sweet candy and animals droppings was not a good combination.

Leonardo walked around looking for the acrobat tent. It was the third one to the far left of him. There was a vender, and Leonardo gave him a florin to get inside. When he was inside the tent the temperature was unbelievable. The mass of bodies and the torches to light the event make it feel like midsummer's day. Leonardo could only find a seat higher up. The stage appeared to be a tiny bed from the height of his seat. The lights were dimmed and a spotlight was pointed at the ringmaster.

"Tonight we bring you a special guest, Sigorne e sigorno. La Luna Brillante."

The spotlights hit the figure on top of a crescent moon shaped throne. She was a beautiful woman lying down on white sheets. Her face and body were as pale as the moon. Her short hair was a milky white. She rose and showed off her graceful form. She was high above the stage, on level with the highest seats. Leonardo could not help but think of Mona. In that instance she leaped. It was so sudden the entire crowd gasped. Leonardo was paying so much attention to La Luna he never even noticed the stage had changed into a tangled sea of ropes and platforms. She caught hold of trapeze and flipped a few times before gracefully up righting herself.

"Yet, what is La Luna without her stars?" The ringmaster bellowed. Other acrobats appeared dressed in shining yellow attire descended from above. They were all set on different points. Leonardo could imagine in his head the picture the act was creating. La Luna to begin to swing back and forth gaining momentum. When she leaped she was as gazelle with wings. The closest star grabbed hold of her and handing her off the next star. The speed in which this was going was unreal. The quick passes and flips in mid-air required unreal strength and coordination. The way she seemed to fly and hover with such ease was astounding. This was as mesmerizing as watching Ezio-

Leonardo grimaced a bit. The reality of him being here hit him in the pit of his stomach and caused him to shiver. He would probably have to wait till the show was done if La Luna was really Mona.

"But La Luna cannot play forever. That is why when II Sole raises La Luna must fall." Rising from the dark bottom of the stage, the sun, in shining reds, oranges, and whites stood on the bottom platforms. Mona came down and stood in front of him. They both stood still staring each other down as if they would soon do battle. Yet the sun went to one knee and held out his hand for the moon to take it. Music began to play and the Sun and Moon dances together. They danced with passion and grace. It looked amazing as they were together. Then, they parted the sun going left and the moon going right. They climbed up the pillars to reach the top platforms where the stars waited. They moved to together as both stepped onto the trapeze and jumped towards the stars. A long roped was in the middle and the sun was thrown to it first. The moon jumped towards the sun and was caught in his arms. They twirled while swinging forward and back. The moons legs spread out and the sun seemed to be getting ready. He threw the moon at the peak of the rope swing towards her crescents shaped throne. The crowd's gasp was the only thing heard as she stood in mid-air to look as if she were gliding in a straight line.

"Impossible." Leonardo muttered out loud.

"I'd say." The person sitting next to him answered. The lights flared brightly in a bright red color. The stars hid from view and the moon slowly raised as well.

"Thank you, Sigorne e Sigorno. Please return another day for another spectacular show."

The crowd began to leave. Their voices echoed how wonderful the performance was. Leonardo stayed behind till all was still. When there were no more people the stage handlers came out to put props away. Leonardo went down to the stage. As he approached the vastness of the area was taken in. It was very huge and his eyes deceived him when he was so far away. He went over to one of the handlers.

"Excuse me. I'm looking for a Mona. Well her real name is Lisa Gherardini." The handler did not answer him. In fact he looked completely confused. When he spoke it was definitely not Italian, and much to rapid fire to comprehend what it was.. "Umm…sorry, to brother you then."

"Ahh you must be Leonardo." A tall huge man dressed in a long red coat and top hat stood behind Leonardo. He was the ringmaster he saw earlier.

"Well yes. I-I'm looking for Mona." Leonardo said a bit baffled.

"No worries. Come, Come we were expecting you." The ringmaster placed a hand on Leonardo's shoulder and guided him towards the back of the tent. "Mona speaks highly of you, Leonardo. She says because of you she is able to perform far better than any of the other girls." The ringmaster gave a hearty laugh.

"R-Really? I don't see how I just have her stand still."

"And that's why she is so good." So it truly was Mona that was playing La Luna. From so far away he could not truly tell. Yet, Leonardo didn't get the connection with standing still and acrobatics, but he was happy to at least get to Mona. The ringmaster led him to Mona's trailer with little distraction.

"Here you go." The ringmaster gave him a nod and walk away. Leonardo walked up and knocked on the door.

"Hello?" the soft female voice said through the door.

"Mona. It's Leonardo." The door swung opened quickly.

"You're early Leo." She giggled. Her hair was the long wavy sienna. Her face still had the pale white of make-up and she was still dressed in her costume. "Come in." She grabbed Leonardo by the arm and pulled him inside of her trailer. "Sit down, relax." She moved him towards a seat. She then turned back around and began undressing behind a panel. "I'll get dressed and remove my make up, and then I can show you why I asked you to come."

"You're performance was amazing. I didn't know you could do such things." Leonardo praised.

"Eh, that's right I never did show you how flexible I was."

"Why was that if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well… I do so much of it at practice it was a nice change of pace to do something different."

After a couple of minutes she hopped from behind the panel dress long red dress. Her face the cream color it should be. "Come, I'm so excited let's leave quickly." Mona grabbed Leonardo quickly, excitement beamed making her face glow with luscious youth. She practically ran while dragging him behind her. They then came to another trailer. This one was old and wasn't in as great a condition as Mona's. Mona walked up the small steps which creaked at even the slightest weight change. When Mona knocked at the door it was louder than expected. The butterflies in Leonardo's stomach picked up again. A chill ran up his body when the decrepit old voiced said come in.