Author's Note: And welcome back, to the latest installment of I Just Wonder!
Thank you to .94402343, retro mania and Crimson Commander688 for the reviews, I'm glad you both enjoyed the previous chapter, I hope you like this one.
Happy reading one and all!
A little reminder: Sleeping Beauty & Enchanted solely belong to Disney. OCs are retro mania's, while some OCs are mine.
Chapter 9
"Jack and Vanessa will turn out alright, won't they?" Aurora asks the clown performers, as they lead her to their dressing room.
"Of course, they will," Seymour replied.
"Why do you ask, honey?" Peggy asks.
"Jon told me that Vanessa and Jack are in a relationship." Aurora responds. "And someday, they're going to be married. Now, I ruined that by coming between them. And on top of that, Vanessa thinks that Jack and I kissed."
"Oh, don't worry your pretty head over it, child." Bruce advised.
"Vanessa just overreacted," said Seymour.
"Overreacted?" Aurora asks, puzzled.
"Meaning she made a snap judgment, got it all wrong, misunderstood the whole thing." Seymour explained.
"Oh," said Aurora.
"Besides, you didn't do anything wrong." Peggy points out. "Vanessa will come around, Jack just has to give her a chance."
"Well, here we are, our dressing room for us clowns." JoJo announced.
He opens the door and the group goes in. The room is brightly lit. On the right side of the dressing room, there are rows of vanity tables with mirrors outlined by the light bulbs and chairs. There's a dressing screen, a changing room area, clothing racks with clown costumes, open oak chests with props, novelty items, clown shoes and wigs. Aurora found the room to be quite fascinating.
"Hey, Joanna." Seymour greets another clown.
"Hey, Seymour," said Joanna. She's wearing an orange clown wig with a bow on top, full clown makeup, a red nose, a yellow clown costume with multicolored hearts and black and white shoes.
Joanna's eyes land on Aurora.
"Who's that?" She inquired.
"Aurora, this is Joanna, our makeup artist. She also performs with us sometimes." Seymour said. "Joanna, this is Aurora. She did tryouts this morning and is going to perform with us today."
"Well, welcome aboard, dearie." Joanna said warmly.
"Thank you," Aurora said politely.
"Aurora, Joanna is gonna do your clown makeup today. Meanwhile, the rest of us are going to get ready for the show." Seymour informed the blonde.
"Aren't you going to help me get ready as well?" Aurora asks.
"Of course, we will." Peggy responds. "I'll even help you pick out something to wear, by the time I finish doing my makeup."
"Okay then," Aurora smiles.
"All right, have a seat there, Aurora." Joanna points at a chair and Aurora complies.
"Now, what makeup look should I give Aurora?" Joanna asks the others, who are sitting at the individual vanity tables. "White face, Auguste, or character clown look?"
"I say the white face look," Bruce suggests.
"All right." Joanna opens the drawers. She pulls out makeup supplies, brushes, a white skull cap, and a round rubber nose with a little piece of very thin elastic. The makeup artist lays them out on the counter, one by one.
"The first thing I'm going to do is take a paper towel and wipe your face dry." Joanna addressed Aurora.
She tears off a paper towel.
"Close your eyes," Joanna instructs Aurora.
Aurora closed her eyes as Joanna wipe Aurora's face all over with a paper towel.
"Now, keep your eyes closed. I'm going to start putting on your clown makeup." Aurora obeys and Joanna goes to work.
First, she takes some clown white face paint and applies it, starting with Aurora's forehead, gradually spreading it all over her face. She adds another layer. Next, Joanna lightly pats the paint with her hands, nice and even. Then, she wipes out the area where the pink face paint is going to be applied. Joanna takes off the white on the bottom lip. Opening the face powder, Joanna takes the powder puff and powders Aurora's face. Taking a makeup brush, she dusts off the powder from the areas where she'll apply the next colors.
Now, Joanna moves on to the next step. Picking up a clown makeup color palette, she paints Aurora's eyelids blue and the creases yellow. Joanna outlines them in black paint, creating tiny teardrop outlines. Next, she gives Aurora a bright pink mouth and applied black lipstick on the bottom lip; outlining the pink area black. Lastly, Joanna picks up a round, red rubber nose with a little piece of very thin elastic. She puts it on Aurora's nose, with the elastic going around Aurora's head. Wiping her hands with a paper towel, Joanna pulls Aurora's ponytail from the elastic.
"Ta-da! You're a clown!" Joanna declares. "Open your eyes and look."
Aurora opens her eyes and did a double take.
"Wow, I hardly recognize myself!" Aurora exclaimed.
"Do you like it?" Joanna asks.
"Yes, it's very lovely." Aurora responds. "Thank you, you did a marvelous job."
"You're welcome." Joanna beams. "Now that the makeup is done, the next step is putting on a clown wig."
"First, I'm going to redo the ponytail." Joanna unties the hair scarf. She takes an elastic hair band and pulls Aurora's blonde locks into a ponytail. Grabbing a hair pin, she twists the ponytail into a bun and secures it with the pin.
"Next, I'm going to take this knit skull cap made from a white T-shirt and cover your hair." Joanna picks up the skull cap and puts it on Aurora's head. "And that's when the wig goes on. Sit tight, I'm gonna grab a wig. I'm thinking something pink and curly."
Joanna walks off, to go find a wig. Aurora stays in the chair, looking at her reflection. She lightly touches the red nose.
"How's it coming?" Peggy asks, looking over.
She's wearing half clown makeup, a red nose and a cyan blue wig on her head. A yellow hat sits on top as well.
Aurora faced Peggy.
"Good," She answers. "What do you think?"
"Ooh, don't you look adorable," Peggy cooed. "Did you tell Joanna thank you?"
"Yes, I did." Aurora said.
Joanna came over. She's holding a pink clown wig with curly ringlets. Joanna slips it on Aurora's head.
"There you go, you're all set." She said, admiring her handiwork.
"Let's go pick out a clown outfit for you and help you get dressed." Joanna and Peggy lead Aurora to the clothing rack. The trio go over the clothes and select a few. Joanna grabs a pair of clown shoes and a pair of over the knee socks.
Leading Aurora to the dressing screen, Peggy and Joanna drape the clothes over the screen. Aurora slips her skirt off, while Peggy unzips the strapless bustier. Joanna lifts the T-shirt and Peggy helps pulling it off, careful not to smudge the makeup. Joanna adjusts Aurora's wig a bit.
Peggy helps Aurora slide into a yellow, pink, and blue puff-sleeved dress with two blue pomp oms in the center. Next, Joanna puts a colorful, polka dot bubble skirt on Aurora, under the dress; giving the outfit volume. She slides the socks onto Aurora's feet, pulling them past the knees. Lastly, Peggy puts the shoes on Aurora's feet.
"There, you're set." Peggy said.
"Can we see a smile?" Joanna asked.
Aurora flashes them a smile.
"Beautiful. OK, I have to get dressed really quick." Peggy said. "The guys should be finishing up shortly. Just hang tight for a minute and we'll all be ready."
Aurora nods in understanding.
Peggy goes to get ready, with Joanna following behind. Aurora exhales and relaxes a bit, watching the others get ready. Though she had a feeling that being in a circus will be fun, a part of her missed home. While waiting, Aurora picks up the clothes Holly gave her earlier and draped them over the screen.
A couple of minutes' pass and Peggy comes from the changing room area. She beckons for Aurora to come and Aurora emerged.
"Hey boys, look at what Joanna did for Aurora." Peggy said, showcasing Joanna's makeup artistry on Aurora, who twirls around.
Bruce, JoJo, and Seymour take one look at the sixteen-year-old and they looked very impressed.
"Wow, Aurora, you look so pretty." Seymour remarked.
"Thank you," said Aurora.
"I hardly recognize you." Bruce commented.
"Is Joanna going to be performing with us?" Aurora asked.
Seymour smiles. "Oh, sure." He responds.
"Well, let's go put on a show and make people laugh." JoJo said.
Aurora smiles. The clown group of six leave the dressing room and make their way to the Circus, Circus Carnival Midway; where the tryouts had taken place earlier.
"So, what act are we doing, today?" Aurora questions.
"You'll see, honey." Bruce replied.
"All right, they should be finished with setting up the props. The five of us will go in first. When Oswald gives you the signal, you come in from behind that door." Seymour instructs Aurora.
Aurora nods her head.
Once everything is set up; Bruce, Joanna, Seymour, and JoJo take their positions by the midway. Peggy directs Aurora to get behind the door, before joining the quartet.
Soon, Aurora hears Oswald's voice booming.
"Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, the Circus, Circus Carnival Midway is proud to present our comedic clowns!"
From behind the door, Aurora hears chatter from the other performers, as they step out in the center of the midway and take their seats on the couches.
Once she sees the signal from Oswald, Aurora took her cue and opens the door. Upon entering, she sees the clowns lounging on the couches and being lazy. However, it's the sight that surprised Aurora the most.
Aurora looks around and sees that it's messy: clothes lying about, toys on the floor, and dirty pie dishes filled the sink.
"Oh, my. Tsk, tsk, tsk. This just won't do." Aurora said, shaking her head.
The princess claps her hands together three times and the clowns spring up and go into action; causing the audience to laugh.
"All right, everyone! Let's tidy things up!" Aurora announced. She starts to sing.
"Come my little friends,
As we all sing a happy little working song,
Merry little voices clear and strong."
Seymour and a few others turn Aurora's skirt around, tying it back so she'll get started.
"Come and roll your sleeves up,
So, to speak and pitch in."
JoJo hands Aurora a broom. She takes it and uses it to sweep up the floor.
"Cleaning up the crud in the kitchen,
As we sing along,
And you'll trill a cheery tune in the tub,
As we scrub a mildew stain
Pluck a hairball from the shower drain
To the gay refrain,
Of a happy working song." Aurora continues to sing.
The audience is charmed and delighted by Aurora's singing. Even Annie, who's among the crowd looked amazed; while Oswald looked captivated.
Then, Aurora and the other performers scrubbed the floor. Aurora's reflection appears in one of the bubbles, floating above. Even the clowns play with the bubbles, earning laughs from the audience.
"We'll keep singing without fail,
Otherwise we'd spoil it,
Hosing down the garbage pail,
And scrubbing up the toilet;" Aurora adds.
"How we all enjoy letting loose,
With a little 'la da dum, dum, dum'
While we're emptying the vacuum."
Bruce emerged with a vacuum, he accidentally vacuums up a few toys. The mass chuckles. Seeing this, Aurora takes out a dirt container. She takes the toys out.
"It's such fun to hum,
A happy working song,
Mm, mmm, a happy working song."
"Oh, how strange a place to be,
Till Philip, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather comes for me
My heart is sighing,
Still, as long as I am here,
I guess a new experience,
Could be worth trying…" As Aurora walks off to the side, her thoughts drift to her guardians and prince. She remained hopeful that they're searching for her, while making the best of the situation she's in. As Annie listened, she couldn't help but sympathize with Aurora. The eight-year-old hoped that Aurora will be reunited with her aunts and true love, but also wanted Aurora to stick around.
Aurora goes to check on the group. They're cleaning the pie dishes at the sink. Seymour briefly rests.
"Hey! Keep drying!" Aurora commands. Laughs erupt and Seymour resumes drying after noticing Aurora.
Aurora continues to clean the area, with a feather duster in her hand. She dances around quite a bit, knocking over a pile of organized clothes, more laughs ensue. Joanna takes care of it.
"You could do a lot when you got,
Such a happy working tune to hum,"
Meanwhile, Peggy is drying the pie plates clean and passed it along to the others, who put them away. JoJo, Bruce and Joanna juggled the toys and then tossed them into a black trash bag held by Seymour.
"While you're sponging up,
The soapy scum
We adore each filthy chore that we determine,
So, friends, even though you're clowns
We're a happy working song," Aurora resumes singing.
JoJo tries to balance a pie plate, but it falls making a clattering sound on the ground. There's more giggles from the crowd.
"Singing as we fetch the detergent box,
Or the smelly shirts and the stinky socks,
Sing along…
If you cannot sing, then hum along…"
The clowns hum in harmony, arms spread out with glee, earning more laughs.
"As we're finishing,
Our happy working song!" Aurora finished on a high note.
Seymour tossed a bouquet of flowers to Aurora who catches it, smiling brightly. She then tossed the flowers into a vase, nearby. Aurora sighs, feeling very satisfied with having the job done.
"Wasn't this fun?" She asked.
Bruce hands JoJo a cream pie. JoJo turns to Aurora, who sees the dessert.
"Oh, how kind of you…"
JoJo quickly slams the pie into Aurora's face, before she could say another word.
Aurora pulls the pie dish. She licks her lips, tasting and eating the pastry.
"Mm, yummy!" She remarked.
The audience guffaws. They cheer and applauds, as does Aurora. She sends Aurora a wink, who winks back.
The entertainers grin and take their bows, including Aurora.
Time Skip…
Jack is heading towards the clowns' dressing room to see Aurora. He had decided to get rid of Aurora. Jack had been trying to reach Vanessa repeatedly; but unfortunately, she's not answering. He hated having to go behind Oswald's back and let Aurora go, but he didn't have a choice but to solve the problem, he's currently dealing with.
Finally, Jack made it. He knocks on the door.
"Come in!" Aurora's voice called brightly.
Jack opens the door and enters the room.
"Okay, you know what? You've got to go." He said to Aurora through the changing room curtain.
"Look, I don't know what your deal is. If you're waiting for your fairy godmothers and your Prince Charming, or you're just…"
"Prince Philip!" Aurora corrects.
"Whatever!" Jack sighs. "I'll get you a bus, a train, a plane, wherever. Then, that…that's it! I can't…I can't get involved after that."
The curtain is pulled back and Aurora emerged. She's dressed in a light blue, floral dress with a sweetheart neckline and a halter-like strap. The dress had a pink sash tied around the waist (in a bow), while the skirt flared out. On Aurora's feet are a pair of espadrille shoes. Aurora sashays and twirls about.
"Where did you get that?" Jack asked.
"From Peggy," Aurora replied. "I told her that she didn't have to give me something to wear. But, she insisted since Joanna got powder over the clothes, Holly gave me this morning."
"Great," Jack thought to himself. "Does everyone in the circus have to treat Aurora like she's their Barbie doll?"
"Look, you've caused a great deal of inconvenience for me and Vanessa today." Jack began to say.
"I know that." Aurora interrupts. "Jon, Jacinda, and Tami told me about relationship with Vanessa and the plans you have."
"I'm truly sorry and I feel terrible. I know you're unhappy about it…"
"I'm not unhappy, I'm angry." Jack said with a glare.
Aurora blinks. "Angry?"
"Yes. It's an unpleasant emotion, have you ever heard of it?" Jack retorted.
Aurora ponders it over. Come to think of it, she did hear about anger. But she never thought it existed.
"Oh, I have heard of it." Aurora answers.
"Perhaps you could sing to her…rush over to her side, hold her close in your arms and pour out your heart in a love ballad!" Aurora suggests, reiterating what she had told Jon, Tami and Jacinda. She rushes over to Jack and demonstrates it. "And she'll know for sure she's your love."
However, she notices Jack staring at her very strangely.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Aurora asked.
"I don't know," Jack responds. "It's like escaped from a Hallmark greeting card or something."
"Is that a bad thing?"
Jack shook his head. He's quiet for a minute and then he snaps out of it.
"Anyways, enough of that. Let's go," Jack pulls Aurora along and they leave the dressing room.
The pair cut through the carnival midway and head straight for the lobby.
The automatic doors open and Jack approaches Sam, as he let go of Aurora.
"Sam? Sam."
"Hey, Jack what's up?" Sam asked.
"I need you to handle something for me. OK?" Jack said.
He points towards Aurora (who's walking an aquarium) and Sam follows his gaze.
"See this girl?"
"Who is she?" Sam questioned, puzzled.
"No idea." Jack answered. "I'm pretty sure she's from out of town."
Aurora picks up a glass and began to scoop up water to drink.
"What do I do?" Sam asked.
"Find out where she's from, and get her there. And make sure it's cheap." Jack instructs.
Sam nods.
"If Vanessa calls me, I need to talk to her." He adds.
The seventeen-year-old rushed over to the blonde.
"Aurora?" He called. "Don't drink that, okay?" Jack pulls Aurora by her arm. She's holding the glass in her hand and wore a look of confusion.
"I've got some stuff I need to do. Sam is gonna get you home."
"Sam? This is Aurora. Aurora, this is Sam." Jack introduces Aurora to the receptionist. "Stay out of trouble."
"Hi," Sam said, giving the girl a smile. Aurora waves.
After sitting the glass down, Aurora spits a fish out from her mouth. She looks up and grins sweetly.
"Oh…oh," Sam looks disgusted at what just happened.
"It's nice to meet you," Aurora said sincerely.
"It's nice to meet you too," Sam said, feeling rather unsettled by this strange girl's behavior.
Meanwhile, in the fish tank, Maleficent's face appears. She frowns, seething at the sight of Aurora. The dark fairy growls, scaring a fish away. She vanishes.
A/N: My goodness, this chapter was long, but I hoped you enjoyed it!
I added another OC who is part of the clown performer group and there to help Aurora get ready. I looked at various images of clown makeup looks and costumes through Google, and picked out a few for Aurora. I will definitely include another scene with Aurora performing with the clowns a bit later on in the story.
I was going to originally have Seymour slam a cream pie in JoJo's face, but I thought it'd be funny if JoJo did that to Aurora.
The dress Peggy gave Aurora is based on a Disney Bound version of Giselle's blue curtain dress from Enchanted. Now, the only difference from the Enchanted movie is that Aurora won't make dresses out of curtains.
And after much consideration, I decided to include a scene with Aurora interacting with Sam, plus the fish gag.
Anyways, up next, Maleficent gives Diaval three poisoned apples (like Narissa did with Nathaniel in the movie). The three Good Fairies and Philip converse with one another and Merryweather even warns them about Diaval. We'll also check in on Aurora, Jack and Sam; another thing is that Aurora won't be interacting with a divorcing couple.
Until then, see you next time!