It's been a while sicne I've done a chapter about the Three Musketeeers. The two-parter will be about them, though.

Chapter Nine: Good Byes (1)

Beast Boy and Victor were going to the circus one night. Neither were really fond of it, but they were going because Dic's family was the trapese group. Victor had been introudced to Dic in December, and now it was March. Another reason was because Bruce Wayne was attending the circus. He was coming all the way from Gotham City in California. If Steve Dayton was popular in Arizona, Bruce Wayne was popular in the entire Southwest. He was coming because the circus was an extremely popular one and only came to one town every March. This was the first time in 12 years had been so close to Gotham, and he wanted to attend.

Beast Boy and Victor met Dic before he and his family went into the dressing room to prepare. They had known his parents for only a month and a half, but they were very fond of them. They were very, very nice people. However, they seemed rather tense about something today. Beast Boy and Victor wondered why.

Two days before the show, a roughneck name Tony Zucco had been in a spat with the circus owner, Jim Haley. At the end of the argument, Zucco threatened to get revenge on Haley. No one knew how Zucco planned to do this, but they did know one thing: When Tony Zucco threatens someone, he means it.

The circus was actually a better one then Beast Boy and Victor expected for the first half hour. The stunts were quite amazing, and very high quality. Beast Boy and Victor had been to circuses before, but never any this good.

After a while, it was time for Dic and his parents to go on stage as the Flying Graysons. Dic was excited about this; ot was his first time performing. They began their act. Dic was a little nervous, but not much. He had practiced months for this.

Once Dic's turn was over, he realized that the rope was cut. Who had cut it. A thought flashed through his mind. Tony Zucco! He tried to warn his parents, but it was too late... Beast Boy and Victor gasped with fear as they saw what had happened. The circus ended and the police arrived.

Beast Boy and Victor hurried to find Dic. It wasn't long before they managed to. All three were shocked.

"Dic...", said Victor. He was lost for words.

"Dic," said Beast Boy, "I'm so sorry this happened."

"No one expected this," said Victor.

It was a while before Dic spoke. "I'm...leaving Jump City."

"What?"

"You can't"

"Bruce Wayne is taking me to Gotham City to live with him. I'm very sorry this had to happen to us, but I'm leaving now, and I don't expect to ever see you guys again."

"I guess this is good-bye, then," said Beast Boy, trying hard to get the words out.

"I guess so," said Dic. "Good-bye."

To be continued...

October 15, 2005