Bun waited for Athelas and Stranger to emerge from the tent on the outside. Apparently, Escargon had an accident and was in the break room with Rose while the Dees rolled away the canon into the shadows and cleaned the ring. The young boy— blind due to an accident involving some chemicals— cleared his throat awkwardly, shifting his weight on his feet and keeping an ear out for the two. His bangs covered his eyes and fell over half his face, jagged and shaggy spikes framing his features. A deep scowl was planted upon his lips and the clothes he wore were unkempt, stained, and threadbare. Only a strap covered his freezing chest as it held up his pair of overalls, and his olive green shoes were stained from mud. He let out a sigh and felt the hot air blow back into his face due to the wind.

He heard some steps and heard the tent's fabric ruffle. Suddenly, Athelas emerged from the tent from a flap, holding the flap out for Stranger to pass. The hooded man was so tall he had to scrunch down to pass under Athelas' arm, smiling sweetly at the woman as he let his cowl drape over his shoulders down, coverings his arms from the bitter cold of the night. He seemingly shivered and his breath was a cloud of fog as his head turned to Athelas and he stretched out an arm for her to place herself under. She seemed somewhat taken aback, but she smiled falteringly and scooted closer, letting Stranger wrap his arm over her shoulder, his cowl sheltering them both from the cold.

Bun, however, couldn't see what they were doing, and could only imagine it was the mistress and her disciple due to the shape of their silhouettes on his white vision. Yes, he could only see silhouettes, but in white and depending on the lighting. He almost had the sight of a bat. He saw how Stranger brought Athelas close and then the silhouette of his cowl as it fell newly to the ground, as the man wrapped Athelas with an edge to provide her warmth.

'Aren't those two cozy?' Bun thought to himself, smiling as he uncrossed his arms. He cleared his throat for them to acknowledge his presence and spoke when he felt some eyes on him.

"I'll be entering now, if it's all right with you, Miss Athelas," he spoke almost above a whisper. He saw Athelas' silhouette give a nod before she pulled Stranger towards somewhere. He then took in a deep breath and proceeded to walk carefully into the tent, his hands fumbling with everything to help him know where the cable and tools where to not trip. A sudden, warm, gloved hand grabbed the boy's shoulder, and Bun stopped dead in his tracks to try to guess who it was. The hand was small, firm, warm to the touch, and clad in a mitten. It was male obviously, since it was thick. Maybe it was Meta Knight?

"Fils, where are you headed?" asked Charge knight's unmistakable French purr. Bun gulped as he turned to meet the knight's gaze, though he knew he couldn't see him very well. Charge Knight let his hand fall to his side once more and eyed the boy patiently, knowing he could take his time since the lad was blind and was trying to find Charge's place within his vision's range.

"Well, sir…" the boy finally spoke up, "I'm about to perform, I'm headed to the ring. Though I think I was in the right direction… was I?"

"Oui."

"Then I guess you came over to give me some assistance," Bun answered with a small smile. Charge Knight couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor child and gave him a nod, knowing well the boy knew how to distinguish those.

"Let us move," Charge said, grasping the boy's wrist with gentleness and leading him to the edge of the ring, dodging the many artifacts that laid about the sandy floor.

Bun then heard the unmistakable sound of Rose's heels as the lady approached them both, making them both give a bow and Charge Knight smiled under his mask. The mistress lowered herself so she could meet Bun's eye level and gave his hair a small stroke, like those she gave to Charge Knight. The boy appreciated the act of kindness with a polite smile and a giggle, his wrist being released by Charge as the knight wrapped his tattered cape around himself.

"You'll be up in a few minutes, kiddo!" Rose whispered enthusiastically, a smile spreading her lips.

"And you'll give the intro, right Charge?" Rose said with a coquettish tone, stretching out her lips to give the knight a little kiss atop his head.

"C'est ça, mon cher!" the Knight said with a sigh, melting like butter when her lips met his head. Rose snickered and gave him a pat before raising herself from the ground and straightening out her clothing. She gave them a dismissal nod and snapped her fingers, her trusty staff appearing out of smoke into her hands. She banged the staff against the ground and proceeded to walk to the center of the ring, her confidence reflected one her pose. As a single spotlight shined on her and the crowd gave their usual reaction, she managed to smile with grace and bring the mic to her lips, reclining against her staff.

She began to warm up the crowd with some words and the like as Stranger and Athelas slipped into the shadows to supervise the performance from afar. Athelas' blue eyes glinted in the dim light and Stranger's green eyes stood out next to hers. They could see Rose's back as she shifted her heeled feet.

"How that woman can run around with those shoes amazes me," Athelas muttered, narrowing her eyes in the ringleader's direction. Stranger gave a grunt of agreement to not say anything he'd regret. He never understood Rose very well. To him, she was a mystery that always seemed to vaguely remind him of a girl he met a bit of some long time ago. The way she walked, the confidence she exerted, even her way with words and how she persuaded everyone to fall into her little tricks…

She was somewhat a lot like Al—

"—Stranger," Athelas whispered, turning to him and eyeing him with curiosity.

"Hmm?" he replied with a warm smile as his face turned to meet hers.

They seemed to be inches apart…

"I never did tell you much about Savage Rose," Athelas whispered, her warm breath reaching Stranger's cheek as he stood behind her like custom, irrelatively close to her back. He tried to hide his blush and step a bit back from Athelas before answering.

"Not really…" he muttered, sighing as his gaze turned to Rose. The woman extended her arms outwards and gave a bow, returning to a different part of the shadows. When she disappeared, Charge Knight quietly dashed to the center of the ring, his cape flowing behind him. When he reached the middle, he wrapped the cape around himself, his ivory orbs appeared to be glaring due to his mask's X-crossed visor and with his French accent he said…

"Please welcome our professional knife thrower, Bun!" The knight extended his right arm outwards and in came Bun, running to where the spotlight indicated, saluting in rand directions and bowing at the crowd in front before turning the bow at the crowd at back. Charge Knight then took a step back and gave one last bow to the crowd before throwing a smoke pellet onto the floor and disappearing.

Bun was left alone, but do not fret, he has practiced what to do many times before. He is indeed a professional!

The young lad trotted over to where a long table laid, many daggers and shuriken lying across it. Each was over a different type of fabric: soft, rough, thick, thin, fuzzy… This had its purpose, to let Bun know which weapon lay upon each cloth.

Pretty clever, eh?

The boy then fiddled with his long bangs before hearing the band of violins play an acute sound, an arpeggio, the cue for the mark to be raised. The violins played and raced and the drums began to beat to the rhythm as the mark that was once used in Escargon's performance was placed in a vertical position. Funny enough, the mark was made of thick crystal, and was transparent in exception of the red circles that marked the bull's-eye. That was so the audience could see the bull's-eye from whichever seat they had.

As the mark stood completely straight, the violins stopped in abrupt, leaving the viewers in suspense and all sense of music paused and the audience based in the mark before the knife thrower, who had tied a red scarf around his already covered eyes to ensure the spectators that no cheating was involved. The people were in awe-struck silence as they observed how Bun gave a salute in Athelas' and Stranger's direction. Stranger raised a confused brow, but was pulled out of the shadows by the collar of his shirt by Athelas. They both reappeared form the shadows and Athelas took out a mic form somewhere behind her cowl. She brought it close and began.

"We'd like to see if any brave fellows would volunteer as Bun's new target," she spoke into the microphone. Stranger once again rose a brow in doubt. There was no way someone in the crowd would risk themselves like that. His eyes scanned the sea of people only to see them murmuring, until Athelas' voice cut off his train of thought.

"Or maybe you guys think Stranger will do a good target, eh?"

"I make a good what?" I replied worriedly taking half a step back.

"A good target," Athelas smirked as she whispered her answer, turning off the mic and signaling Stranger to follow her. She took a hold of his hand and dragged him to the mark, patting the steps that lead to where Stranger would be strapped unto.

"Oh Lord…" he whispered as he passed by Athelas, sighing as he glued his wall to the cold crystal surface. He fought the urge to shiver as Athelas closed some clasps clued to the mark. She took out a scarf and stretched it out, unfolding it. Then she leaned close to Stranger and said to his ear…

"This is for you to hide in, in case anything happens," she tied it around his head so it would cover his eyes, "And also, don't worry… the mark won't rotate and won't break." she added as she gave him a grin and dismounted form the stairs.

Stranger started to get worried and began to shift under the clasps, but found it tiring and let his body sag by gravity's force.

Bun gave a nod to Athelas as she stood next to him over the table. The boy then began to finger the cloth before him… thick, fluffy… this is the dagger. His hand closed around the dagger's hilt and he raised it form the table for the audience to see. The people "ooh-ed" at the sight and clapped quietly waiting for him to throw it. Bun then proceeded to take in his surroundings. There was the crowd— that he could tell— Athelas was next to him with a look of confidence washing over herself and the huge mark was before him, with Strange in the middle. Taking note of Stranger's silhouette, Bun flicked his wrist and the dagger flew, lading with a thud atop Stranger's shoulder, barely missing it. Stranger cringed at the presence of the weapon but remained calm.

The people cheered as Bun felt for the other weapon, this was another dagger. He grasped the hilt and flicked his wrist and this one landed on Stranger's other elbow. Cringing again, Stranger breathed deeply to maintain calm.

About a few daggers later and a dozen shuriken then, there was one last weapon atop Bun's arsenal… a huge mace with protruding spikes so long, they seems otherworldly. The boy reached for the mace's hilt and lifted it high as he could, constricting the weapon. Stranger couldn't see very well under the cloth that covered his eyes, but he knew there was something huge waiting for him.

The band began to play some music to add depth and Athelas was actually starting to doubt this… she looked at the weapon from the corner of her eyes and her nails dig on her crossed arms.

Bun threw the mace.

It seemed to move in slow motion.

Flipping and turning slowly yet madly.

Almost like a… butterfly…

As if flapping some sort of spiked wings.

Clank!

It hid right above Stranger's head, missing the man by about two feet…

There was a silence as the sound of the mace hitting against the crystal echoed through the tent.

But the crowd loved it! They howled like animals and applauded like crazy, chanting Bun's name alongside Stranger's. Athelas rushed to Stranger's side and hurried to release him from the shackles that held him unto the mark. As soon as he got out, she wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed a sigh of relief onto his shoulder. From over Stranger's shoulder, Athelas could see the man's form be outlined in the mark with daggers and shuriken, but her eyes were most intent at the mace. She tightened her grip on him and nuzzled his shoulder, thankful he was safe even though she knew he would somehow be. He smiled, one arm wrapping her figure and bringing her closer while the other took off the cloth that covered his eyes. He rubbed Athelas' back and they broke their embrace. When they did, Stranger handed her the cloth. She took it with a smile and folded it to later place it on her belt. She jumped off the stairs, followed by Stranger and they both waved at the audience, giving a bow alongside Bun. The lights dimmed until everything was pitch black and the performers' silhouettes could be made out in the darkness.

"Ladies and Gents, please remain seated, we wouldn't want any accidents while the lights are off!" said the squeaky yet chirpy voice of a Waddle Dee across the intercom.

The usual murmur across the sea of people was heard. Some seconds passed, then in came some Waddle Dees and they rolled away the mark as the orchestra played a merry tune. Some other Dees rolled the table away and the orchestra kept playing the cheery melody as Stranger and Athelas strode out, accompanied by Bun, who was helped by a Waddle Dee. The crowd kept looking around and could spot Savage Rose's from as she came in with Charge Knight on her arm like a hawk. The merry tune eventually faded into one of soothing violins as the lights faded back in and the mistress came into view, sporting one of her usual charming smiles.

"We hoped you enjoyed our performance, give a hand to Stranger, he was brave enough to let all those weapons graze his hot bod!" Rose said with a wink, one hand on her hip while the other remained stretched for Charge to stand in.

The people started to applaud as Rose nodded to Charge, who nodded back.

"Tranquille, tranquille… next up will be none other than the beautiful Silica!" Charge announced emphasizing as he waved his hands around.

"Well that was a good show," Rose muttered as she passed by Athelas' side, smiling as she saw the female Wanderer tiredly resting her head on Stranger's shoulder. Stranger in turn, had his arms crossed and was reclining against the walls of the outside of the break room. Rose stopped in front of the two to let a few Waddle Dees pass by before approaching them.

"I believe it was, and I almost regret putting Stranger up there, Rose," Athelas answered with a pout, looking up at the caring emerald eyes that looked down upon her. Rose chuckled softly and placed her hands on her hips, cocking them to one side.

"He's safe and sound now," the magician said reassuringly. Stranger's eyes flickered to Rose and gave her a smile. She replied with a wink and then she left, her heeled steps marking her every footfall. Athelas waited for Rose to leave before standing still and pulling her hood down. Stranger turned to look at her and was surprised to find Athelas give him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"What… was that for?" he asked timidly.

"For saying yes to the crazy things I put you up to," she answered with honesty, giggling as Stranger brought her close and turned her around so he could hug her from behind.

"It's not easy, but I deem it was worth it," he whispered to Athelas, giving her quick kiss on the cheek before letting her go.

What's this? Two chapter's in a row? Crispy you on fiyah, baby!

And this chapter is dedicated to Sweey! :3 Love ya, girl! Thanks for all the support and chizz~

Rose reminded Stranger of a girl he once met:

The way she walked, the confidence she exerted, even her way with words and how she persuaded everyone to fall into her little tricks…

She was somewhat a lot like Al—

Like who? Leave your guess in the reviews! (Anonymous reviews are welcome :D)