Circo De la Luna
Me no own SSB in any form! Why you think that?
Special thanks to Merrom Noire for betaing and PitFTW for the great guidance!
Another development chapter, building on the archs we already have and sneaking in a new one!
"Darling. Could you help me with the Ivysaur powder? I find it hard to boil by myself."
The other head smiled as he turned to kiss the brunette's cheek. After listening to his sister's light giggle, Popo raised his right hand and switched on the Bunsen burner, sending a large gold flame up that quickly turned blue. Seamlessly as always, the two reached over and pulled a large, pink bulb up from its jar and squeezed it, letting red grains of pollen out into the vial. It smelt divine as the two placed the glass container over the fire, slowly beginning to melt and break down the grains into a rose-scented liquid.
"Thank you my precious husband."
"Tis not a problem my sweet wife. Anything for you." He kissed her again. "Now we just wait eighteen minutes or eighty? In the past when we do it, I am never sure."
"My husband, it is both. It has been always eighteen for the juice to induce sleep and eighty for it to be solid."
"Ah, I apologise, my dear sister, for forgetting. You are so intelligent as well as beautiful."
"Nay brother, I am only a fraction of the loveliness that you are."
"Oh, Nana..." The male's hand cupped her cheek.
"Popo..." The two leaned in for a kiss.
"I really need to start marketing those posters of you two. Twincest with an extra head... why did that never become official?"
The Ice Jester placed two pairs of eyes on the man behind them. The dark figure wasn't even looking at them, but Popo could tell that the ringmaster was highly amused.
"Do you mind? I'm trying to spend some quality time with my husband."
"If I could do my work somewhere else, I would. I need to watch that Star Warrior instead of letting Sheik and Link display their usual foolishness." The ringmaster picked up a small beaker off the wall and threw its contents on a large sheet of paper, his smile dipping slightly as the formula bubbled.
As much as Popo loved his master, he really wanted him to finish his plans so he could get the hell out of their room. It was Sunday, their special day of rest, and it was usually around this time when Popo and Nana spent some quality time together. They couldn't do all the things they wanted to do while someone was watching... so they settled with getting some work done- much to their chagrin.
While the others had set their rooms in styles that reflected their personalities or in styles they enjoyed, Nana and Popo had set their bedroom to dual-function as a laboratory. They worked in it to aid the group with medical cures and poisons for the enemy. It was understandable given their past lives: when the twins weren't being love-struck, incestuous rabbits, they were studying diligently- particularly the twin sciences of biology and chemistry. The two were accomplished scholars and practitioners with brains that were unaffected when they were sewn together (save for the additional craving for gore). Their idle time in the circus was spent developing new formulae to assist the circus.
The air-conditioner kept their bedroom to almost freezing temperatures (low enough to force Ike to wear a shirt) and gave the room a very unsettling edge to visitors. There was a counter, where the twins were currently working, that used their bed as a stool and was covered completely with stable glass beakers and equipment- all filled with strange mixtures from even stranger ingredients. The walls, painted blue and pink, were also in a state of disarray as needles and more equipment were plastered across the walls, almost like a creepy showcase of a mad scientist's works.
Ike was sitting in the only chair, large with a chin clamp attached to said chair. The chair doubled as a torture device which could hold people in. The ringmaster sat there, staring at his papers and scribbled notes all over the place. It wasn't like Popo could ask him to leave, even if he wanted to. Ike needed their bedroom/lab for the good of their newest mission. He needed the creepy L.E.D light hanging over him so he could test some plans; he needed the strange chemicals to check his work and he needed their homemade, solar-powered computer (the only 'real' technology they had in the circus) to do some quick source-checks.
"Popo? You're tilting the vial."
The brunette snapped out of his thoughts and turned back to his concoction. He helped his sister straighten it. The pollen had not melted but had gone from red to golden.
"I apologise dear sister. I was distracted."
"By what, brother? What troubles you?"
"That we didn't get to do anything... special today."
Nana laughed and kissed his cheek affectionately.
"My husband, you must not be well. Being with you makes everything special."
The two stared at each other and smiled in contented silence. Well... for most part it was silent...
"No... the building's plans were changed last year. I know that the security is tighter than this."
Popo turned his head again to see the black-coated man, mumbling to himself as he scribbled away on the large sheet of paper.
"The schedules look in order but I think I need three more to make sure... and then the employees need to have another cross reference. I think I need to call him again... and I need to find that engineer's plans..." In the past, Ike had spent a lot of time conspiring in the twins room, but this was the longest that he was there. The ringmaster had been lurking in their room for the last twenty-nine hours, not even bothering to eat or sleep. "And that company isn't in service... I wonder if AJ's..."
"Master, what do need us to do? When we're done with the brew, do you need anything soon?" Nana asked suddenly. The ringmaster stared at the short double person before scowling again.
"I need better insight for the next mission. I want to get it done before the end of this week."
Popo raised an eyebrow. Whenever the ringmaster planned a mission, he wanted to take his time and make sure everything was perfect. To see the man actually rush was concerning to the twins. What was so important? And why was he rushing now when nearly half of their circus was unable to do a thing. "But you can get me more Fuzzy Powder."
"We haven't caught a Fuzzy in ages. Our stocks are low." Regardless, Popo pointed to the shelf. Ike grabbed the test tube and pocketed it before sitting back into the chair. "What are you planning master?"
"A heist... my little Heisty." He gave a light chuckle, although the twins didn't get the joke. The man slipped back into seriousness. "We're going to rob Outer Heaven in Galzburg. There are things we need to get before they're transported out."
"Outer Heaven?" Nana asked. "Didn't Snake rob there before he joined the circus? If he could do it, why are you so worried?" Ike raised an eyebrow.
"That was nearly sixty years ago. You do keep up with furry news right? I told everyone to have up to date knowledge on every aspect of our enemies." The twins chuckled nervously and looked away. Only Ike was that paranoid and could be bothered. Half the circus preferred to procrastinate and the other half preferred to screw- who had time to read? "Anyway... according my sources, the place has been renovated so much that it's now more like a fortress then a research facility. That's why I'm 'worried'... any questions?" The ringmaster hissed.
"No sir!"
"Good... now... this should be done by tomorrow if I don't sleep tonight. So I'll debrief you all at noon. Understood?"
"Yes sir!"
"Now let's hope the rest of those morons are ready and all the preparations are set."
At this rate, they weren't going anywhere. The red-head scowled. The ignition system's distributor wasn't working. The old eight wires weren't connected to the spark plugs properly... the damage would take at least a few days to fix because of their lack of resources. Roy grabbed the discarded skateboard and lay back on it so he could check underneath the caravan. Hopefully the problem wasn't as bad as he thought and the problem was just the wild driving of the knife-thrower had dislocated one of the oil tubes.
The teenager analyzed underneath the automobile, occasionally tinkering with the joints, in silence. Roy didn't like the silence. However, with everyone off and about with their own problems, Roy couldn't bring himself to ask someone to hang out with him. Pit was still in depression; Sheik and Link were watching Kay One Bee; Mrs. Mario was meditating and the ringmaster and the Ice Jester were conspiring against the government. That just left Samus and Marth... but he really couldn't talk to them right then.
Marth...
After Marth had described some sort of monster in his head, he had begun clawing at his own skin. Despite the red-head's best efforts to calm him, the clown continued to break down until Roy had to resort to calling for help. Samus immediately came running to his aid. The blonde held Marth and sat him on the bed, reassuring him gently until he was still.
Roy watched as the clown began telling Samus about his life before the circus. He listened in horrible awe as Marth detailed about his heinous crimes against humanity and the terrible pain he had been inflicted. This explained why he freaked out when he killed that Lucario. Roy couldn't begin to imagine how Marth could live with his guilt. He had gotten to the part where Marth was describing his rape when he just completely broke down sobbing. A part of Roy wanted to stay but Samus told him to leave. He complied of course. He couldn't intrude and make Marth uncomfortable, like he knew he would inevitably do.
He then went to the ringmaster to give him a piece of his mind, and a serving of his fist. He failed again- being handed a toolbox and having the door slammed in his face before he got a word out. That's why he was out fixing the cars, giving them another checkup instead of helping where he wanted to help most.
Roy slammed his fist on the metal, not even wincing when the pain started throbbing.
Being in love was too complicated.
There were rules that he had to follow so he didn't look like a complete idiot. There were limits that he had to abide to not appear too clingy to his 'friend'. All Roy wanted was his attention even if he never got his affection. He knew he was a bad person wanting something as selfish as that, especially from the political climate, but he couldn't help it. Learning about Marth's past didn't offset him. In fact, it made him want to be even closer to Marth...
Maybe he was really an idiot.
"Roy? Roy!"
"Gah!" Roy groaned as he hit his head at the sudden voice. "Ow... Pit... don't scare me!"
"Hey bro... have you seen Samus? I need to talk to her." Pit had startled him. Wincing, Roy slid out from underneath the engine of the caravan, only vaguely noticing that oil all over his bare chest and body. He was about to scold his winged friend when he noticed him standing by the engine, looking like a mess. Dark circles were around his eyes (probably due to lack of sleep) and his body was completely pale. Roy's words were lost and he was tempted to hug his younger friend. He withheld the urge when he locked eyes with the strongman- Pit didn't like sympathy. "I said, have you seen Samus?"
"She's with Marth." The red-head began wiping his hands on a rag that had been stashed in his pocket. "I don't think you should disturb them..."
"Oh... okay." For the first time ever, Roy realised that Pit was acting extremely submissive. His eyes were downcast, he was mumbling a little and... he just didn't seem like a strongman. He wasn't holding that confident, playboy attitude that he had grown used to.
Something was wrong.
Pit didn't look well. Although all the circus members were thin, much like Marth, Pit looked very sickly. There were bags around his eyes and he looked like would collapse in exhaustion anytime. Many warning sirens in his head told Roy to go and put that sleep-deprived moron to bed. However, Roy did nothing.
"Is there something I can help with, Pit?" The angel shook his head. "Can Peach help? You know she's good with sorting problems." He shook his head again. Roy frowned.
"Come on Pit, you have to talk to someone if you have a problem."
"It has to be Samus. She's involved with the problem and I want her to fix it." The fiery boy turned away and grabbed a spanner. He gave a small snarl as he began banging on the main truck's carbonator.
Samus.
Samus.
Samus.
Everyone wanted her. Everyone needed her help.
Marth... Pit... everyone he held dear. It was always Samus.
It was starting to annoy Roy.
Pit was quiet but Roy knew he was still there.
He tried to ignore him and focus on fixing the cars. Judging by the mess, Roy knew that it was just Sheik's crazy driving that killed the power. He had to fix it... the machines were the only things that the 'idiot' could fix.
Samus was the one who fixed personal problems if Peach didn't. Roy knew that his jealousy was irrational, but he couldn't help it. He envied her. He really did.
"You can tell me anything..." Roy said aloud. "You know that right bro?"
Pit nodded behind him. "Yeah..."
There was an uncomfortable silence for a few moments. The only sound that passed between them was the tapping and grinding of Roy at work. It was unusual to have such silence in a hectic area. "Hey Roy..."
"What?"
"I'm sorry I haven't talked to you much lately. I know you've been trying to cheer me up but... it's complicated."
"Nah. It's okay. I respect that you have to have some secrets you don't share with me. Sorry if I seem annoying." Why did everyone assume that just because it was 'complicated', he couldn't understand it?
"..."
"I'm fine. You're the one who isn't. As your brother, I want you to go and see Samus tomorrow morning so you can go back to being your happy self and you can go fuck her senseless. My orders." Pit raised his eyebrow when Roy cussed but smirked all the same.
"And here I thought you had no idea of how babies were made. Heaven forbid; Roy knows how to reproduce."
"I'm not that stupid. I might pretend not to know and I might not have a lot of common sense, but I'm not completely stupid."
"...I know I'm the one who needs help... but how 'bout you? You sound pissed Roy. Can I help?"
"Nah." Roy lied. "Stupid shaft isn't moving right."
"Oh. Okay. You sure that's it?"
"Positive brother." The two descended into another silence. There was the slightest layer of tension that just sat there- mostly due to Roy's building thoughts. There were so many changes that Roy hated. He wanted the old circus back: when Sheik was a sociopath who didn't try to kill her sister every twenty seconds; when Link wasn't always trying to find his humanity; when Marth was just a happy, innocent clown; when Pit wasn't depressed; he wanted it all back. He wished that assassin and Zelda never came into the circus so that everyone could be like they used to be. He hated change.
"Hey... Roy?" Pit piped up from nowhere
"Hmm?"
"Do you hear that?" Roy lifted his head from under the caravan's hood. It was gentle music but neither of them had ever heard the instrument before. It was loud, clear and almost indescribable. The melody swayed in the wind, as if it was making the gentle breeze move in time with it.
"Yeah... what is it?" The tempo was slow and filled of mourning. It invaded their ears like cold air and appeased their ears. The pyromaniac slowly put down his tools and sat next to Pit, admiring the complicated music.
"I've never heard this instrument before. Do you think Mrs. M found something?" He whispered, almost scared that his voice would shatter the fragile song.
"I don't know. Most of her musical instruments are old. This one..." The two just sat there, leaning against the caravan, in silence, absorbing the foreign instrument's sound. Pit yawned and lay his head on Roy's shoulder. "It's so sad... it's grey..."
"Yeah..." Roy looked down at his friend. "Get some sleep..."
"It's two in the afternoon... I'm not tired..." croaked Pit as his fatigue finally caught up with him. The slow music lulled him to sleep and Roy smirked as he saw the younger boy slowly shut his eyes.
"Night Pit... sleep well." He sighed as he stared up at the blue skies, listening to the mournful harmony.
Peach loved music. Even as a child, she was adept at playing a wide variety of instruments; the guitar, the flute, the violin and her favourite, the piano. Every moment she had, when her mother wasn't dictating her youth, was spent tapping away on the piano- composing her own eloquent music.
It had been many decades since the woman had even seen a piano; so when she heard the delicate notes being played, she dashed off to find the source.
Music wasn't something often thought about in such dangerous times. Even though they did have a guitar and some bongos for campfire sing-a-longs, no one really had time to listen or learn how to play an instrument. She had taught Ike how to play as many songs as she could, but she knew that he never really took interest. It was understandable, with him being busy, but upsetting that no one really had the same passion that she had. As she ran closer to Samus' shared caravan, she began to recognise the new melody. She slowed her paced and stopped, listening to it for confirmation. Could it really be...?
Astonished, the woman opened the door quietly and crept inside. Usually, she wouldn't do such a thing, but she was cautious. They didn't have a piano in the circus and Samus had no musical ability whatsoever. Who was in the room? Why were they playing those songs?
Light flooded into the dimmed room but the music didn't stop. Gently, the Lucario woman shut the door and turned to look at the yellow-painted room. All the furniture had been pushed to one end, the lights had been switched off and the curtains were drawn. The only light that could be seen was from a few unfamiliar candles, illuminating the faint outline of a keyboard and a figure playing that familiar melody on it.
"You betrayed me.
Again and again...
Now I find that I'll have to move on.
You... you won't find me where you left me.
It will hurt. Yes it will.
But time will heal.
Now I'm moving on.
Goodbye.
I have the stars now to... guide... me home."The notes finally finished and the figure sat in silence for a long period of time, just breathing slowly. Peach waited as long as she deemed polite before she tapped lightly on the wall (although she was sure that the figure was aware of her presence).
"That was amazing, you're a really good player." The figure turned around to see the elderly woman.
"Oh... it's you..." Peach could sense Zelda's resentment to her. She understood it completely just by reading her face and using her aura powers. Peach was practically a furry with her anthropomorphic parts and yet she was fully accepted within the circus. Zelda was a human and she struggled to adapt to her new environment and coworkers. "What do you want?"
"I'm just an old woman who wants to enjoy some music," she said truthfully as she walked over and sat on Samus' bed. "Is that so wrong?"
"...You're not going to say anything to me?" Peach looked at her sympathetically. She was under the impression that Zelda had been alone for a very long time.
"If you don't want me to." The brunette seemed to accept that. She turned back to the keyboard and positioned her fingers.
"Any requests?" She asked, the lightest tone of sarcasm in her voice. The blonde shook her head.
"Play me something you like. I love music in all of its forms." Zelda's open, burnt eyeball swiveled in its socket to look at her.
"And here I was under the impression that everyone here was uncultured." Peach smiled back gently and Zelda began to play more fragile notes.
Peach closed her eyes and allowed herself to be consumed by the familiar melody, smiling as the Hylian's long fingers held and touched the keys. They whispered of hope and desire like the song was meant to be played but it had a little of Zelda's own flair to it. Her anguish, her story was in the song. Zelda may have had a refined composure; but it was only a wall.
As the notes continued, Peach realised how much this song meant to Zelda. Was she really the arrogant woman that the others first assumed? Zelda started playing the bridge. It was a lone melody only played with the left hand. Peach could hear Zelda's struggle to play because of her injuries but admired how she persevered through it. Why did Zelda want to kill her sister so badly? Did she really want revenge? The whole circus had often heard Sheik's psychopathic rant about her pride and her 'ugliness' but Peach could never find herself giving credit to this story. Not because she didn't trust or love Sheik, but because that Sheik was seriously mentally ill. Some of the things Sheik said or did couldn't be accredited for. That wasn't to say Sheik didn't know what happened to her past- it just left Peach thinking that there was a whole other side to the relationship that the Harikan sisters hadn't told anyone. A missing page of the story. It was the final chorus and Zelda had begun singing in her soft, whimsical voice. In a few lines, Peach caught the infectious desire and began harmonizing.
"...And the bare birds still keep crying
'Cause they know they can't fly out.
The children's hearts still are dying
'Cause they don't believe in the world anymore.
But I still believe that I can fight for my cause.
For my cause.
So I'll be the revolution.
I'll be the revolution.
I'll be the revolution and... finally...
Break out of this... cage."
Zelda's hands lifted from the chord and she stared at Peach. Silence followed as the two sets of blue eyes locked with each other.
"How do you know that song?" Zelda demanded. Peach calmly looked at her, the simplest of smiles still on her face.
"I don't know what you're asking of me."
"That song... it's one of the songs from my grandmother's time when humans were still free. I only know it myself because I found some old CDs buried in my basement. I thought no one knew it..." Zelda's voice trailed off.
"Is it now?"
"The artist is my favourite. She was a really big inspiration for me. I think she impacted my life... I think I was listening to one of her songs when I decided to go look for my sister." The blonde nodded. "She disappeared around fifty years ago because apparently some murderer attacked her and her manager with a chainsaw." Peach suddenly frowned, obviously upset with this information. That was the story people had spread?
"I see..."
"You still haven't answered my question." Peach shook her head.
"What was her name?" Zelda looked unimpressed that Peach had avoided her again. "...Her stage name was Princess Toadstool. She was a really big hit in her time... but I think her real name was..." Zelda's right eye widened. She quickly used her magic to flick on the lights and rummaged through the small, seemingly bottomless haversack that the magician had upon her arrival. The diva was pleasantly surprised when Zelda pulled out one of her favourite albums. "No way... you're still alive." The Hylian stared at her, completely shocked. "You're... you're Peach Yamase?"
"I go by Peach Mario now or just Diva now." Peach couldn't help but giggle at Zelda's astonished expression. "I forgive you by the way." She could almost feel the awkward radiate off Zelda and the things she wanted to apologise.
"Who's your husband? Is it one of the circus members?" She obviously had a lot to say to the woman; but a last-ditch effort to control herself only let those two questions out. Peach's expression faltered slightly and she gave a long sigh, more appropriate for a woman of her mental age.
"My sweet Mario... he's... left this world." Zelda widened her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring bad memories out." She paused. "May Nayru watch his soul."
"Thank you dearie..." The half-Lucario woman and the two-faced girl both sat in silence before Peach suddenly stood up, ready to leave. "I'm dreadfully sorry I've interrupted your practice. I'll go now."
"Oh no!" Zelda said. "I mean... I was practicing but you didn't interrupt it! I mean... you seem upset now. I'm sorry... I... can... can I try cheer you up?" Peach turned and noticed that it wasn't just Zelda 'sucking up' to her idol, but she was genuinely apologetic and concerned for the blonde psychic.
"Alright." Suddenly earnest, Zelda waved her arms. The diva watched as all of the furniture moved into their respective places, the keyboard disappeared into the bag and a small radio came out. Peach watched as Zelda quickly placed the CD in and pressed play. A lively tune jammed out that Peach recognised as the dance mix of one of her old songs. Such fond, vivid memories. Zelda began to do clumsy, silly twirls (that seemed very out of character) causing the Lucario woman to laugh at her attempts to dance.
"I remember you said that dancing was one of the few things you enjoyed... in a magazine. I'm not sure if it's still the same as now but..."
"Don't worry Zelda. It still is. Some things never change." Peach laughed.
She smiled as she took Zelda hand and the two began to dance to the groovy tune into the night; the two mourning women enjoying one another's company.
It was the start of a very beautiful friendship.
You do realise that all you know from Nana and Popo's history chapter is that they were in love. Also you realised that Nana isn't the most reliable storyteller...
Updates will be slow- I'm trying to bring my grades up and... well... anyone keeping up with my DeviantArt journals will know the psychological anguish I'm going through now...
So anyway! Enough sad stuff! Kay One Bee action will be in the next chapter as well as more and more development. So review and here are some questions for you.
What do you think is hidden in the Outer Heaven?
Who's the liar? Sheik or Zelda or neither?
What's your favourite pairing as of now?
REVIEWWWWW!