So, I spent too long on this chapter, particularly Indy's portion. I didn't really know why her power wasn't working. i just write at whatever comes to mind and eventually the reason comes to me... Boy did it show up. Anyway, We're nearing the end of this arc y'all. I imagine just a few more chapters to go. Then we gotta move on to the next one. Thank you all who have supported me this far and all who have brought both valuable criticism and neat suggestions. also, the compliments were very helpful. Knowing this story is being appreciated helps me push to the finish. I've never committed to a story like this before. But this one has been very important me. Just like the show its based off of. I hope like myself, you learn a few things too. Thank you very much for your support. I can't thank all of you enough.

Rusty looked at the meager reward in his hands. He and Valerie only took one job, and it lasted the whole day. It sounded easy when they read it off the wall but upon further investigation they found that things weren't so simple. Which meant they only had thirty shekels to show for their work. "Do you think Bluey had better luck than us?"

"I do hope so." Valerie sighed. She looked at the silver in her hand and scratched her neck. "We managed to get enough to buy another night at the inn, at least…"

"Maybe Jack and Indy will be okay alone. They just have to find out which tent the urczars are. Then we can figure out how to help them escape."

"Speaking of which," Valerie said as she pocketed the money, "Indy said she was going to look for Beauty. We didn't run into them on the way back so I think they might have returned to the inn already. Good news, yes?"

"I guess," Rusty shrugged looking around the town. It felt as though the town was livelier with the circus nearly open. Even if it was the hour after dinner, it was much more populated than last night. "Maybe we just didn't see them."

"Yes, we didn't look very hard," Valerie nodded. She reached the door of the inn first, "I do hope she comes to understand this power very soon. It'll make this quite difficult if she can't."

Inside, they were greeted by an old woman who was trying to leave. Valerie squeaked as she had nearly run into her. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, madam. Please, after you."

"Oh, that's alright, love," the older woman smiled as she adjusted her glasses and covered her mouth, making a strange sound. "I was on my way to the market. You wouldn't happen to know they way, would'ye, sweetheart?"

"Just straight that way," Rusty gestured down the road passed the stick-bridge leading to the inn, "It's not hard to see from here."

"Oh, lovely," The lady smiled as she began walking, "Come on, Rita, let's go buy something nice for Larn."

"I'm coming, Janet," smiled a smaller old lady they had not noticed.

"Oh, please," Valerie moved aside once again and awkwardly giggled as she held the door for her longer.

Suddenly both stopped. "Eh, I changed my mind."

"Pardon?" Rita asked as she lifted a hand.

Valerie tilted her head in confusion. Something felt off. And the feeling only got worse when she noticed Snickers and Chloe laughing at her in the distance. "Er… what is… Wait a minute!"

Janet and Rita uncovered themselves and Janet took off her glasses. Immediately the wrinkles had left them both revealing the peculiar old women to be Bluey and Bingo.

"It worked! It actually worked!" Bingo jumped up and down excitedly.

"I know, we had them fooled!" Bluey laughed.

"Whaaa?" Rusty's mouth dropped open as he stared at them, bewildered. "How did you do that?

"The glasses," Bluey raised the pair of spectacles in her hand to show them, "They help disguise you! We got them from an old lamp seller. She knows magic."

"How did you afford them?" Valerie asked, the surprise not quite wearing off yet. "That's not a cheap item."

"Well…" Bluey thought for a moment. "She didn't charge us anything. She just gave them to us."

"Chloe says she gave her a fish lamp too. But it keeps disappearing," Snickers added.

Chloe nodded affirmatively. "Yeah, she said she was good at illusion magic."

"An illusionist? Hmm," Valerie rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Well, did she want anything? Anything at all?"

"Nope," Bingo shook her head and shrugged. "She just disappeared. But she's very nice."

Rusty scratched his head and looked around the inn. "Where's Indy and Jack?"

"They haven't come back yet," Snicker replied. "I think they just left a few minutes ago."

"That explains why we didn't see them earlier. We must have passed them in the crowd," Valerie said to Rusty.

"I'll go after them," Rusty nodded then ran out the door.

Valerie turned and faced Bluey and Bingo. "So, any chance on hearing why your disguising yourselves as old women?"

"Bingo and I are going to sneak into the circus with Indy and Jack," Bluey smiled, "They said Grannies and Grandads get in free. So we're going to be grannies. I'm going to pretend to be a kind granny." Bluey lifted the table cloth over her head.

"And I'm going to be a can't-hear-anything granny," Bingo smiled as she covered her head too. The girls giggled.

Bluey placed the glasses back on and both of them looked old and wrinkly again. It's a lovely night for a walk, Rita."

"What's that, Janet?" Bingo asked putting a hand to her ear.

Valerie stifled a laugh while the others snickered at them. "Well, that's certainly creative. I wouldn't have thought of that. Lucky you were given those glasses, Bluey. I suppose all that's left is to see if Indy can still talk to animals."

The room looked slightly concerned. Indy had been practicing the whole day. And thus far, she didn't have any luck. With the circus beginning the next evening, they couldn't help but feel as nervous as Valerie was.

Indy stared at the forest outside the city limits. Jack was beside her, waiting for her to say she was ready. She had been quietly standing there for a little while now. Jack was fidgeting awkwardly. He wondered if it would be rude to ask her what was wrong. Especially seeing her so lost in thought.

Eventually the boredom outweighed the shame, and he cleared his throat to speak. "Indy, are you okay?"

"What if it doesn't work?" Her question surprised him. He expected her to sit on the answer, but she had asked so quickly he felt he interrupted her before she had the chance to ask it in the first place.

"Huh?"

"What if I can't talk to animals anymore?" Indy opened her closed fist and stared at the glowing crystal in her hand. "What if, Beauty can't understand me… What if we can't do this! We promised but maybe we can't. What are we going to do, Jack?"

Jack scratched his head nervously. He didn't know how to answer. He wanted to give her the answers, but he just didn't know anything. "Um…" However, he didn't want her to give up. Which meant he couldn't. They needed to figure this out. "Well, maybe it's not you… or the crystal. Maybe animals should want to talk to you too."

Indy scrunched her brows. That got her wheels turning. "Maybe… but beauty didn't want us to talk to her. She wanted us to go away…"

"Then maybe… it was because of how you felt," Jack shrugged. "How did you feel when you started talking to her?"

Indy fiddled with the crystal in both of her hands as she stared at it. "Well, first the crystal started to glow and ring. And it just got brighter and louder. Then suddenly I started understanding everything she was saying! I felt…excited. Like I could help her…"

"I mean before the crystal glowed," Jack clarified. He was glad the discussion was taking a different turn. Maybe Indy would discover why her power wasn't working before.

Indy thought about it. She looked sadder now. Jack wanted to apologize fearing he may have offended her. His dad told he didn't think like other people. He usually asked questions of things he was curious about, but he didn't always realize they were offensive. He felt maybe this question was such a question, but Indy had spoke before he could retract anything. "Jack, can I tell you something secret?"

Jack straightened his back. "Um… I'm not good at keeping secrets…" He scratched his head and looked around. Indy looked as though she really needed this. "Maybe… if it's a little one…"

Indy looked around and motioned him closer. "Sometimes… when it was late at night, my mum used to lay on our couch and cry. I couldn't sleep one night, and I saw her. I was very little, and I tried to cheer her up. She says its nothing, and that I don't have to worry… But I can't ignore it anymore. I'm a big girl now, but I still wake up at night and see her crying…" Indy looked at the ground sniffed. "When I saw Beauty… lying in that hole… I saw my mum…" Indy suddenly broke down and sat on the ground. "I just… I wanted to understand… why she was crying. I wanted to know what was wrong. I just thought if… I could understand why she was so upset… in that hole… then when I saw my mum again I…" Indy whimpered and hid her face in her arms. "I just want to know what's wrong!"

Jack sat down next to her and put an arm around her. He didn't know what else to do. He wasn't very good at this. He looked around and noticed Rusty watching sadly too. He had heard everything. Jack gave him a nod and Rusty nodded back. Motioning him to keep going.

Jack bit a lip, looking for something to say. Rusty always told him to say the first thing that came to his mind in these situations. So, he did. "Maybe, that's why the crystal let you talk to her. Because you want to understand, not because you want to talk."

Indy raised her head. Maybe what he said worked! And thinking about it now, he felt proud of what he said. And by the smile on Rusty's face, he knew it had to be the right thing.

"Because I want to understand them…" Indy echoed. She started cleaning her eyes and straightened her back. "Wait… maybe… your right!" She stood up and cleaned her face off. "That has to be it! Jack, you're a generous!"

"I am?" Jack asked excitedly. He couldn't believe he had helped her become so confident. He stood up and looked at Rusty, but Rusty put a finger on his lips as if to hush him. He didn't want him telling her he was there.

"I'm going in that forest, and I'm talking to Beauty. Wait here," Indy cleaned her eyes and wiped her face clean on last time. "I'm goin in alone."

"Uh, are you sure?" Jack asked nervously.

"I'll be fine," Indy smiled at him. "Just wait right here." She pointed at the ground they were standing on then marched into the forest.

Rusty closed the distance between them and pat Jack's back as they stared at the colorful trees Indy had disappeared into. "Great work, Jack. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Rusty." Jack smiled, patting Rusty's back in response.

Indy fought with the low hanging branches and looked around with newfound vigor. She approached this with timidity at first, but she felt like a predator in the woods, searching for its prey now. "Beauty!" She called. she said she'd answer that word. She gripped the crystal in her hand. "Please, help me understand… please… Beauty!"

Indy started going deeper in the forest and froze in place. There was another set of footsteps. "…Jack? I thought I told you to wait there!" But there answer. "B-beauty?" Indy steppes back then heard the steps behind her. they echoed through the colorful forest. The birds were still flying about, the trees shuffled in the wind but the steps were still loud enough to drown it all out. "Hello? Anyone?"

She gasped again, hearing the footsteps approach her from behind. She called out again. "Beauty!" This time sounding a little scared. It was probably a mistake to go alone. "Jack!"

"It does not need to call so loud." Indy squealed and fell back as she heard a voice from behind her. She let out a sigh of relief as a giant urzcar was crawling down a steep hill to her. it clumsily slid down then rolled forward. Indy couldn't help but laugh. She was so relieved it was her. Beauty shook her head clean of the dust and leaves then apprached her. "Has it found my joys? Has is come to take despair away?"

"I'm sorry," Indy shook her head. "I just came to tell you that we found the colorful people. They're a bunch of circus performers that have come to the town nearby. They are going to make a show tomorrow. Me and Jack and going to try and find your joys. I just wanted to tell you so you know we didn't forget you. And we're keeping our promise."

Beauty bobbed her head and started to walk away. "It is very good. Yes yes. Very good to think of me." Indy started to walk beside her. "My joys are with them. Find them. return them to me. Then I find your joys. Yes yes. I will find them. yes."

"We'll do our best. I promise," Indy smiled. She didn't want to end their conversation now. But she didn't know what to talk about. But then she realized something. "Oh! Wait! What should we tell them if they don't believe us? How do I get them to trust me?"

Beauty stopped and turned her head. "Speak the words to them. yes. Speak the words that I speak. And they will know you are one of us. Yes. Say to my joys their big joy is waiting. And say to by greatest joy, his greatest joy is waiting. Yes yes. They will know. They will understand you. Because you are one of us, yes." The urczar rubbed her head into Indy's chest. Indy giggled and hugged her head instinctively but recomposed and let her go, realizing she wasn't trying to be affectionate. Beauty sniffed her and stepped back. "My scent. My joys will smell it. They must believe you. Yes. They must now. Yes yes. Hunger, I do. I must become strong again. My joys are soon to come. My despair will go away. Must eat, must get strength. Yes yes."

Indy smiled and waved. "Okay, it was good to talk to you. You have given me a lot of joy when we talked."

"Yes yes. It gives me joy that it has come to trade words. My despair is a little far away now. Yes. Far away now. Must eat now. Must go." Beauty slowly tromped away leaving Indy alone.

"Indy!" Jack suddenly appeared through the brush. Then Rusty behind him. "We heard you scream!"

"Are you okay?" Rusty asked, his sword drawn, "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, boys, really," Indy smiled. "Thanks for coming after me," She smiled at Rusty in particular, who smiled back and sheathed his sword. "Beauty startled me. That's all. Bit it worked! We talked. I can talk to… no wait. I can understand animals now."

"Great!" Rusty cheered, "It's getting dark. We should go back."

"Yes, you're right," Indy nodded as they began to walk, "Jack, we have a lot of work to do tomorrow. So, we must get plenty of rest."

"It won't be just us," smiled Lack.

Indy stopped in her tracks and tilted her head. "It won't? Are you coming too, Rusty?"

Rusty shook his head. "No. Bluey and Bingo found a way in."

Having fed the animals the last time, Honey and Coco were preparing themselves for what they were about to do. Oliver had full confidence in Honey that she could handle Victor out of a cage. However, he was awful dodgy when he was pressed on a guarantee they'd be alright. Victor was unpredictable to most, but Honey trusted Oliver's judgment.

"You're sure this is a good idea?" Coco asked as she nervously twiddled her paws.

"Oliver knows Victor better than anyone. Besides, lunchtime went great! Victor really enjoyed the brushing. I think he'll enjoy some time out of the cage."

Coco hugged herself nervously. "I hope so… Maybe we should feed him first, just in case."

Honey shrugged. "Maybe… I guess we'll do that first."

Coco nodded and rested her head on her propped arms. "…Good."

Honey looked at Coco a bit puzzled by her tone. "Coco…? Is something wrong?" Something was bothering her, and it wasn't Victor.

Coco was quiet at first but jumped on her feet and crossed her arms. "Aren't you concerned about Mackenzie? Didn't you see how he looked? He was so sad!"

She sounded upset. Honey wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. "I'm too focused on Victor again, aren't I…?"

Coco dropped her shoulders. "I'm sorry, I didn't try to be mean. Its just… I'm scared for Mackenzie. Don't you remember what Oliver said? And what you said? And then how he acted? Mackenzie looked so sad and…" Coco stopped so she could stop herself from crying. "She's making him do things he doesn't. And we aren't helping him. He helped us in the wilderness, but we aren't helping him… But I want to… I don't know what to do."

Honey was always concerned for Mackenzie. She actually didn't stop thinking about him all day. It took a lot more focus to think about Victor than it did Mackenzie. Honey saw everything Coco did, and she didn't forget it. "Coco… right now, there's nothing we can do… Mackenzie is doing everything he can so we can have this chance with Victor… I didn't forget what he did. I haven't even stopped thinking about it. It's all I think about. I want to help him too but… I don't know how either. So, I'm going to do everything I can with what I have now. Then we can help him later. We'll find a way. I promise."

Coco smiled weakly and nodded. "Okay…"

Honey and Coco hugged and detached only when they heard Oliver whistling in. "Ah, ready for the big moment then?"

Honey nodded. "Yeah… I'm ready."

Oliver gave an enthusiastic thumbs up. "Right then! Good. Listen, here's a little somethin' to help you out if you get scared. Come on gather in, it's a secret." Oliver motioned them to get closer and looked around. "Don't. Because he can smell fear. Alright, let's go!"

Honey and Coco dropped their jaws and looked at each other. Was he just teasing or was that really supposed to help? He didn't turn around, so it was probably safe to assume the latter. They looked at each other then followed him to Victor's spot. Oliver stopped in his usual hiding place and smiled at them. "Okay, whenever you're ready. Go ahead and unlock the cage. Now remember, you need to be confident, but show trust. Be calm but… firm. And don't back down if he runs at you, okay? He's just testing you. If you flinch or guard yourself, he'll just run off because he knows you can't stop him. If you stand as still as a tree, he'll lose confidence and stop short." Oliver looked like he was about to add a "usually" at the end but opted not to. "Um… any questions?" Coco tried to lift her hand. "No? Great. Hop to, go on."

Honey and Coco looked at each other. "You're not coming?"

"What? No. I've done my due, now you just have to put the work in. You'll be fine, I'm tellin ya, it'll be alright."

"Why not?" Honey argued, "He was your friend! You know him better than we do. We could really use your help."

"Have you forgotten everything I told ya?" Oliver asked as he shook his hands at her in frustration. "He'd go berserk if we opened the door while I'm around. This is about you and him, not me. My time is over."

"So, all of this isn't just to try and be friends with him again?" Honey asked.

"Huh?" Where was this leap of logic coming from? Oliver was befuddled by her question.

"You're just using us to see if Victor will be nice again. That's why you want us to open the cage. Isn't it?" Honey crossed her arms.

Oliver stared at her and scoffed. "Okay, so you didn't listen." He stammered, trying to say ten things at once then taking a deep breath. "You… do realize I'm only doing this because I made a deal with Mackenzie, right?"

"What deal?" Coco asked looking up at him in realization. "You said he should work for Donna because it might help us, but now he's sad! You just decided to start teaching Honey how to make friends with Victor. And we were always going to help you with the animals. We have to if we want to eat. So, what are you really getting out of this?" Oliver stared at her. She waited for a response, but he said nothing.

"What are you getting out of this, Oliver?" asked Honey. Both girls waited for an answer, but Oliver still said nothing. They were silent for too long. But neither broke it. These girls were smart, he had to give them that. He hoped that the awkward silence would eventually bore them but he realized that if the silence was to be broken, he'd have to do it. They were going to wait all night if they had to.

Oliver sighed. "I…" Oliver rolled his eyes and groaned. "Okay, okay fine. I get it. Yes, I was using you to test some waters. But I meant what I said, you were bonding with him faster than I anticipated…" Oliver sat on a stool and sighed again, rubbing his face. "I'm scared of him. Terrified. But not because he's a big scary leafine that could rip me in half, but because I thought I could never get back what we both broke. When he took out my eye… I knew he didn't mean to and when I beat him into that cage with the whip I hoped maybe he and I could look past those things and mend everythin' but we can't…! We can't… I still haven't forgiven him… and maybe because of that he hasn't forgiven me, I don't know. I thought he was a lost cause… Then you came along and… I saw a side of him I hadn't seen in such a long time that…" Oliver sighed and rubbed the area near his eyepatch. "I saw a chance to make things right. I just needed to know how he felt with a complete stranger… I was gonna show up sooner or later, I just… needed time… I hoped that maybe if he could make a friend out of a complete stranger like you then… He'd remember what we had as friends… things would smooth over, happy ending, then I wouldn't have to tip toe around the circus like a lacky who kisses boots for a living…"

Honey and Coco smiled softly. Honey sat near him, cross-legged and wore a big grin. He looked up at her and sighed. "Now what?"

"Help us with the cage," Honey said eagerly, "Victor wants to say sorry too. I know it. I've bene talking about you all the time. He understands. He's been living with that regret for a long time now. That's why he was so mean. I can't help him be nice again. You have to. Because if I was mad at an old friend, I would never want a friend again. I wouldn't want to get hurt again. But if my old friend and I said sorry to each other, then… I think I'd be happier."

Oliver's glare softened. He took a deep breath and looked at the ground. There was yet another long pause. "…How are you two so smart?" Honey and Coco giggled and waited for what he'd say next. "Alright, fine. Let's get this over with… I'm going to regret this…"

"It'll be okay, he's probably nervous too," Coco giggled.

Oliver gulped, "That's why I'm nervous. Nervous leafines don't react all that great."

"Don't worry," Honey smiled, "I'll be right here."

They came into view with the cage. Oliver froze as soon as he and Victor saw each other. They stared at each other motionlessly before Honey gave him a tug. Coco got the keys and they got closer and closer to the cage. Oliver took a shacky breath and looked up at Victor who stared down at him stoically.

"Okay, Oliver, are you ready?" Honey smiled, somehow sounding much more confident and casual than he ever did.

"Uh… just give us a second, eh," Oliver said, with an obviously shacky voice. "I uh… I just…" He tried using hand motions to convey what he wanted as words failed him.

"Do you want to be alone?" Coco offered.

"Nah, no need. Just… wait." Oliver took a deep breath then started to make hand signals at Victor. He had made motions towards his chest, and different points then clasped his hands together and shook them. He paused and stared at Victor but kept his hands clasped, shook them then passed the interlined fingers against his chest and dragged them down to his belly. After that, he kept them in front of his stomach and stared at him for some time.

Honey filled the silence when she thought they were done. "What was that?"

Oliver remained quiet until he relaxed his hands. "Nothing… he understands." He positioned himself in front of the cage door and took a deep breath. "Alright… let's just get this over with or I might back out."

Coco gave Honey the keys. Honey climbed on top of the cage and smiled at Victor then leaned in to whisper to him. "Victor, Oliver's a very nice person… please forgive him." She looked at Oliver as she put the key in. "I trust you. He trusts you. Because you're a good leafine…" Victor let out a low rumbling growl. "If you do forgive him… could you turn invisible… just to surprise him?" She turned the key and looked at Oliver who looked away and was already accepting he was probably about to die. She then turned the latch and opened the cage. Everyone braced for the next thing that happened, but Victor didn't move a muscle. Not yet.

Oliver opened his eyes and looked up but was surprised to see the leafine in place. He tilted his head and shook it. "Uh, Victor?" Victor didn't respond, but he finally moved and got into a position to pounce. "Victor…?" Honey and Coco were suddenly not so confident. Honey debated if she should shut the cage, but she waited. She had to trust him. "Victor, easy…" Oliver's hand raised he kept the other in the open so Victor could see his hands were empty. No weapon, no whip. Just him and him only. Victor made a loud growl that made all of them nervous. "Uh… oh boy." Oliver took a step back.

Honey clasped the bars, ready to shut the door. She didn't know if she was strong enough. Or if she'd even be fast enough, but if it came down to it, she'd have to try. But she relaxed. No, just trust him. He'll do the right thing. She kept reminding herself. She knew Victor would do the right thing… at least, she hoped she knew… Now she was losing confidence.

But then, the leafine had suddenly faded out of existence. Oliver's mouth dropped and the girls gasped. Honey smiled. Unlike Oliver, she now knew there was nothing to worry about.

"No…no, Victor, don't do that! Come on, be reasonea-aaack!" The girls squealed as Victor jumped on top of Oliver and started to lick him. "Ack! Victor! No! stop it, you! Argh!" Victor hopped off and got back into a pouncing position. "Aaaargh! You know that doesn't wash out! You cheeky! No good… daw, what am I sayin'? Come 'er you!" He gave the leafine a big hug and rustled his leafy mane. "I knew you'd understand… I knew you would." Honey and Coco rushed over to them and waited patiently. Oliver finally pulled away after a long hug, a few tears straying from his eyes. "Alright, now… brush his mane or something. And give him a bath. He stinks." Victor shot up and growled a complaint. "Oh no you don't, you know you have to get a bath! You absolutely stink, you!" Oliver jumped on top of him before he ran off. "Victor! You are getting a bath! Just because we're palls now don't mean I'm gonna let ya go without a bath. The girls laughed as he ran a circle around the cage before finally shaking him off. Victor made a bit of a chuckle and circled back around the girls, rubbing himself on them like a overgrown cat. Honey and Coco giggled in response running their hands through his grassy fur and leafy mane. "Alright, fine, no bath. Just a brush."

"We'll take care of him," Honey promised, pressing her head on Victor's forehead. "Don't worry."

Later that night, while everyone was asleep, Honey had come back to see Victor before she turned in for the night. Victor sat up hearing her steps nearby. Honey smiled as she grabbed the keys, unlocked the cage and stepped inside. "Sorry to bother you this late. I… just wanted to give you something. You don't have to if you don't want to…" Honey pulled out the little bracelet she and Coco had made. It was a little better, but not by much. "I know you didn't want it before, but…" Victor pressed his head into her stomach and made her giggle. She knelt down and wrapped the bracelet around his right paw then secured it with a good but relatively loose knot. "There. It looks good on you!" Honey pulled her wrist to his eye level. "Me and Coco have one too. I hope you don't mind if ours match. Anyway, goodnight." Victor nibbled at the fur at the back and stopped her from leaving. "Huh? Don't want to be alone?" She shrugged. "I can stay for a little." Victor laid down and Honey laid on top of him. Comfortably as they looked up at the star lit sky.

"Wow… I never really stopped to… look up at the stars at night…" It wasn't just starts though. Honey saw planets in full form. Too. A planet that was purple with a thin ring around it. Another that looked akin to Jupiter but had more spots. Then there was a third planet that was much farther, looking blue and reflective. Finally, there was a large moon that covered maybe an inch's worth of the ringed planet. "It's beautiful." Honey had been so enamored by the sky she hardly noticed as her eyes slowly began to close and eventually she fell asleep.