It's back! I rewrote this chapter three times! Three time guys! I lost the first one, but that's fine. It honestly didn't make sense so no problem. The second one though? Ugh, even worse. Creative bankruptcy never looked so bad. I really wanted to focus in on Mackenzie and Donna. But I couldn't figure out why I even put Mackenzie in that situation. That was literally a spur of the moment thing... Then this chapter happened. Now I finally get it. Sorry it's short in comparison to how much time I've been gone. I really wanted to continue this, but that problem alone wouldn't let me move on. but Now I got something to go off of. We should be back to the regular weekly updates. See you soon, I hope!
Even if the circus was in town, the markets never closed. And for Rusty and Valerie, that was good news. Rusty picked out a bag and showed Valerie while she browsed another stand for the same thing.
"Is this big enough?" Rusty played with the brown leather bag that was just fitted to his size. It wasn't anything to look at. It had a big holding pocket that might hold a few large books secured only by brass buckles. But it was also cheap.
Valerie eyed the bag and hummed skeptically. "Well… I suppose it might do. It's more of a school bag, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Rusty nodded, "But it'll hold the cloaks and the glasses, right?"
Valerie nodded. "Yes, and I don't think we can afford to be picky. Excuse me, sir, we'll take this one."
"That one?" asked the vender, "It's not really for you adventuring types. But if you're sure…"
"It'll do, thank you," Valerie smiled. She placed a few shekels on the stand and the vendor took only what he was owed and pushed the rest back.
"A pleasure doing business adventurers," The frog said, tipping his leafy hat and proudly gripping his suspender straps. "Hope your travels go well."
"My thanks, friend," Valerie saluted, "Have a good day."
"So long."
"Bye," Rusty waved. "Too bad we couldn't get another ticket."
"I don't think we could get the money on time. The jobs listed here just don't pay well enough. And they'd take too much time, I'm afraid."
Rusty scratched his neck and adjusted his leather armor. His black iron sword rested on his back. He shouldered the new bag over it and looked up at her again. "Maybe, while Indy and Jack look for the urczars and we do some jobs, we split up."
Valeire tensed uncomfortably. "I thought about that… I just don't know. You only just discovered your class, Rusty. I think we should stick together so you can get stronger. I've heard its not wise to do jobs alone…"
Rusty and Valerie were only a short distance from the inn. The market was practically next to it were it not the equivalent of a city block in distance. As such, it didn't take them long to reach the stick bridge. Rusty and Valerie stopped just before crossing.
Rusty adjusted himself again and hummed. "Yeah… okay… Do you think it'll take them a long time to find the urczars?"
Valerie shook her head. "I'm not sure. I've heard circuses often present shows every now and then. But for such dangerous animals, I think they might keep them caged in a separate quarter so that guests don't stumble upon them when they are wild… Then there are crueler rumors… I don't suppose you've heard of a bear beating, have you?"
Rusty shook his head innocently. Valerie nodded. "Let's say that Indy would have a right to distain the circus and leave that thought alone." Rusty and Valerie went silent. They could hear some of the children laughing inside. "Well, I have a feeling it'll be alright. I'm sure that kind of circus isn't tolerated here. Lilytown is quite a nature-caring place."
They entered the inn and stepped into one of the rented rooms. Bluey and Bingo were once again pretending to be old women while the others laughed at them.
"Okay, okay," Indy said, calming the others so they could listen to her, "How about you pretend you're my granny and Jack is just an adopted brother. And you're trying to buy us a ticket in, but you can't hear anything!"
"Oh, okay," Bluey smiled as she fixed her magic glasses. Her young voice made it white jarring when combined with her wrinkly appearance. "Hello, love," she said approaching Snickers for what might have been the tenth time. "I'm trying to go to the circus with my lovely granddaughter… and her adopted brother. Jack, dear, stop hiding behind your sister." The children giggled.
"Hey what about me?" Bingo asked, her voice also a little jarring as the enchantment had extended to her.
"What's all this now?" Valerie smiled, "Practicing your parts?"
"Yup," Chloe smiled, "Bluey and Bingo are really great and playing grannies. But we can't decide if Indy and Jack should be their adopted grandchildren or their pretend grandchildren. They don't look a lot alike."
"Hmm," Valerie scratched her chin. "Well if the glasses worked for Bingo and Bluey, why not try making Indy and Jack look different?"
"We already tried," Bluey replied taking the glasses off. The wrinkles immediately disappeared. "But it only works for two people. And it only makes you look old."
Valerie frowned. "Oh, I see."
Rusty took the new bag from his shoulder and gripped it with his two hands. "Jack, we got a bag so that when Bluey and Bingo are done playing as grannies, they can put the stuff in here."
"Oh, okay! I'll hold it," Jack smiled as he put the bag on.
"Good, now, let's go over the plan again," Valerie said, huddling the children together. They sat in a circle. "Bluey, Bingo, Indy, and Jack will go inside the Circus and look for the urczars."
"But we're not there for the show," Indy added.
"Aw," Bingo frowned. "Not even for a little bit?"
"No, Bingo," Indy rebuked, "We have to find the urczars as quickly as we can then try and get them free. We can't be distracted."
"It would be nice to see," Bluey said fiddling with the pattern of her disguise cloak, "But… Indy is right. We should focus on finding the urczars. Then she'll help us find Mackenzie, Coco, and Honey."
"They're counting on us," Indy finished.
Bingo sighed. "Okay…"
"Very good," Valerie nodded, "Snickers, you'll be waiting in the market?"
"Yup," Snickers nodded. "I'll wait for them so they can tell us where the urczars are."
"Right. Rusty and I will keep doing jobs here in town to try and earn more money. Once we find out where the urczars are, we can make a plan for breaking them out. But for now, just focus on finding them… Don't do anything rash, you lot. Understand?" She looked Indy in the eye.
"We'll be careful," Jack assured her.
"Good. And Chloe? What will you do?" Valerie asked.
Chloe shrugged. "Just wait with Snickers, I guess. There isn't much to do here… Oh! We could wait at the lamp store- place. You should really see the lamps there, Snickers."
"Oh, okay," Snickers nodded.
"Great! Then we'll know where to find you," Bluey smiled.
"Alright. It looks like we know what all we need to do. Let's get some lunch while we wait." The others agreed and stood up to leave the room. Valerie stayed behind to watch the others leave then eyed Bingo who was sitting quietly still. "Bingo, are you alright?"
Bingo tucked her legs to her chest and hugged them. "I wanted to watch the circus show. I've never been to a circus before."
"Oh, I see," Valerie smiled fondly as she approached to sit beside her. "Bingo, I'm sorry that this isn't a real visit to the Circus. I'm sure this would have been a really spectacular show too. I've never been to the Circus here in this world either. But I've heard they are quite amazing… Er, if you can stomach the snakes…" She shivered. "I never could myself."
Bingo giggled a little. "Snakes aren't that bad."
"You think snakes aren't that bad. But until you see a baskiserp, don't tell me I didn't warn you. Snakes are the creepiest things the world has ever seen. Not a single bug or spider can convince me otherwise… And I should know, I've talked to a few."
They laughed again. "Bugs don't talk… oh wait."
"Some of them can, here in this world," Valerie smiled. "Don't feel bad, Bingo. There are many wonderful things this world has yet to show you. You just haven't seen them yet."
"The sky is pretty at night," Bingo smiled. "There's more stars then the real world and there are actual planets too."
"Oh yes!" Valerie smiled, "There are, aren't there. I remember the first time I saw that night sky… One of my friends… She loved space so much… She used to try and see what was on the planets by building a telescope, but she never made it strong enough. They have names, you know. Just like the ones in the real world."
"What are they?" Bingo asked curiously.
Valerie hummed then took some parchment and a quill and drew the three planets neatly. The smallest one is called Archimedes. He was the first adventurer to name the classes. He studied them and gave them all names. So, most adventurers honor him by naming it after him. The locals may call it something else, but to us, it's Archimedes."
"Ooh. What's the big one?" Bingo pointed at the spotted planet.
"That's Volos," Names after the home of first party to rise in the great need of the world. Many parties are famous in small places and others in multiple countries. But few every gain the status as the Volos Crusaders. They were a group of children like you and your friends actually. I don't know much about them though…"
"And what about this one?" Bingo pointed at the one with a ring.
Valerie smiled softly at it and sighed. She stared at it for some time but caught a tear she had no idea she had shed. "Oh, goodness. I'm sorry I… I didn't mean to…"
Bingo felt a bit guilty. But she wasn't sure what she had done wrong. "What wrong? Is this planet sad?"
"Not the planet but… I suppose the story behind it. It had a name once but… no one who knew it can say it. And I guess I… feel for it…" Valerie put down her quill and sighed. "Every night I look up at it and feel like this. When there was a time it had a name it often spread joy to everyone who heard it. Its name belonged to…" Valerie shook her head. "I don't… recall… It feels as though I had learned the name yesterday, yet… I also feel like I had known it for years… its complicated… hard to explain. But the planet has always been so personal to me. If you had asked me a month ago… I think I could have told you why… But now I have nothing left but the feelings it gives me. The adventures call it Lost. Because those who once knew it, such as myself… can only say we lost the name. Eh, not forgotten, oddly enough. It doesn't feel right to say that. But lost… and I can't find it anywhere."
"How do you lose a name?" Bingo asked as she tilted her head.
"I wish I could tell you," Valerie sighed, "But then… maybe that would mean I'd know how to find it again…" Valerie and Bingo sat in silence. Valerie placed a hand on the planet a slightly lost gaze and smile crept on her face.
Bingo reached over and touched it as well. Their hands met and brought Valerie back to the moment at hand. "Maybe I can help you find it. When me or Bluey lose something, we ask each other for help. And if we can't find it, we go to out mum and dad. They can find anything."
Valerie giggled. "I'm not sure my mother or father will be able to help me this time."
Bingo shrugged. "We can still try. If you want to."
Valerie pat the little hand that rested on her own then gave it a squeeze. "Maybe some other time. When we don't have any more lost friends. Then we can worry about lost names for planets… Why don't we join the others? I think a good meal is the best we can do to finding any lost thing right now."
"Okay," Bingo and Valerie left the room the parchment still on the desk they had drawn it on. "Are you going to teach us manners again?"
Valerie laughed. "Well… only if you need them. Be well behaved and I won't have to, I suppose."
"Next!"
At the command, Mackenzie quickly rushed away with the first ensemble and traded it with the circus seamstress.
"Ah, purple and gold!" Sheffield exclaimed. "S'like when I saw you dance f'r the first time! Maybe somethin' so reminiscent would be nice f'r such 'n ol' town, yes?"
"Hmm, yes, the best colors do always seem to be on the ugliest costumes, next!" Mackenzie took it away and again came back with something different. "Ugh! What is that color?! Absolutely not, take it back, assistant."
Mackenzie rolled his eyes and groaned. Make up your mind! You said that for the purple costume last time! He thought. He traded the costume for another. It was the same costume sixteen runs ago. She hadn't even noticed they were cycling through seven ensembles in the last hour or two. Mackenzie didn't get a chance to look at his watch, so he wasn't sure. And it wasn't any better when Sheffield had entered only twenty minutes ago to compliment her just in hopes she'd decide.
"I don' know… er… the mustard color might bring out the… er…green in Lucy." His attempt was pitifully obvious and Mackenzie and the seamstress both facepalmed. Mackenzie and the seamstress had made fast friends, even though they had yet to know each other's names.
"Does she do this every show?" Mackenzie whispered.
"She'll pick ze purple and gol' vone, she alvays picks ze purple an' gol' once she finally starts paying a-tten-tion."
Mackenzie sighed and picked up a patterned blue costume then presented it to her. She looked over and barely paid any attention to as she continued to put on her makeup. "Much to plain. Too plain! I want something that will make me stand out in the crowd, not just the stage. Let is compliment my figure, tease the men, draw envy from the married girls! I want to be the envy of the show not the last act."
"But Donna, Love, you are the envy of the show and the last act!" Sheffield chuckled nervously and adjusted his tailcoat's collar. "You jus' need to try them on is all. Then you'll see what I see, and why I fell so madly in love with you…! Come on, try one!"
Mackenzie made a loud sigh as he wiped the sweat off his head. It was louder then he intended and drew the room's attention. When he noticed Donna and Sheffield eyeing him in different ways he straightened his back and cleared his throat. "Uh… its a hot day out. And it feels a bit stuffy in here…" The seamstress tried to fan herself to sell his excuse thought she didn't really have to.
"Hmm, yes," Donna agreed. "Much to stuffy in this stuffy tent, Isn't it? Not like yours, is it? Dar-ling?"
"Err," Sheffield was now the embarrassed one. Mackenzie had long moved on to fetch the same red costume he had fetched so many times already. "Well, magic tents 're so expensive! I'll get you one right after this town, whatd'you say? We can head back to the capital cities, and you can pick whichever one you want."
"Hmm," Donna examined herself and popped her lips then made a few kissing faces and stared at her eyes. "I suppose that'll do."
"Excellent!" Sheffield smiled.
"I wasn't talking to you!" Donna spat as she pointed at Mackenzie and beckoned him with the gold and purple costume in his hands. "I'll try this one on. I want honest opinions only, Assistant. I already know you will absolutely adore me in it. So, no holding back."
Mackenzie rolled his eyes without anyone looking. "Yes, Miss Donna." He thought of a quick compliment so he could get his third compliment of the hour out of the way. "You'd look lovely in anything anyway."
"Hmm, your right, but I can't leave anything to doubt!" She sung and then giggled.
"I never doubted your beauty, Donna, my love!," Sheffield smiled as he approached her dressing divider slowly.
"Sheffield," Donna called.
"Yes, love?" Sheffield smiled.
"Not one…step…closer," she said in an annoyed voice.
Sheffield frowned and wandered to another part of the room. He sighed and crossed his arms, a hand starting to fidget with the hilt of his whip. Mackenzie began to stare at it. He had gotten to know the whip so closely having seen it almost every other day when Donna visited Sheffield's tent for some business or another. Usually to yell at him lately. But after a while, guilt started to creep its way into the back of his mind. He recalled a day when he had a chance to take it and hide it in his bag. Sheffield would probably have not noticed until it was too late. But He couldn't do it. Not after that look Donna gave him. To this day, Mackenzie couldn't understand what she was. How she had simply moved a large heavy desk with the flick of her hand. How the storm and cloud of dust just appeared out of thin air around her. He tensed and balled his hand into a fist as he remembered it all. He couldn't stop thinking about it.
"What're you sterin' at?" Sheffield glared.
Mackenzie gasped and looked away. "N-nohting."
He saw Sheffield out of the corner of his eye flick the whip out of its holster. He straightened it out and flicked it, the tip making a light snap but not like the cracks he had heard the day they took him, Honey, and Coco away from the forest. He still thought about whether or not they were better off in the forest…
"Come 'ere," Sheffield commanded.
"Wh-what?" Mackenzie straightened his back nervously.
"Come on, I'm not goin' to use it on yuh. Come 'ere. Hold it."
Mackenzie widened his eyes. "Wh-what?!"
"Ugh, don' give me tha'. You heard me. Hold it." He bounced the handle towards him. Mackenzie reluctantly approached then slowly and carefully reached for the handle. "It's not gonna bite you, lad." He took Mackenzie's hand and forced the handle and his hand together. "See? It's all fine. Now, y're goin' to wind back and throw out y'r hand. Like this." Sheffield used his empty hand to show him the technique. "Go on. Go ahead."
Mackenzie made some distance and tried it. He wound back and threw his hadn only for the whip to barely move and plop in front of him. Sheffield sighed. "No, put y'r back into it! You don't just throw y'r arm you use your body. Square up. Gain some traction. Balance. Good. Now try."
Mackenzie tried and this tip got a little bit of a pop unlike his first attempt.
"Stop bein' scared of it. You pitiful…" Sheffield sighed in annoyance and threw the access back behind Mackenzie and forced him into position again. "Now use y'r full arm and stop tryin' to duck under it. If you do it right, you won't nick y'rself. Go."
Mackenzie almost had a crack that time. Once he had finished his attempt, Donna had come around her devider and saw the scene then clapped and squealed with joy. "Ooh! How manly! Such a commanding figure!" Sheffield stood proudly as Donna came rushing to his side only to immediately start adjusting Mackenzie and ignore him. "The whip won't respond to you like that," She laughed. "Draw back. Posture yourself! Imagine a wild beast in front of you, it thursts for you blood..." Donna messaged Mackenzie's shoulders then began to speak quietly in his floppy ear. "But you and I both know you are in charge of it, yes? You must focus on it. show no fear. You are the master, it is worthless…" Mackenzie tensed. He didn't like this. It felt all wrong. He kept thinking about Honey and how gentle she was with Victor. Even when she was scared. Victor didn't harm her… But he could have, that was for certain… Mackenzie recalled the story Oliver had told him. Victor was wild but not untamable. This whip had nothing to do with it and yet…
He imagined Victor on the other end of the tent. He was glaring at him but neither Donna nor Sheffield were there to take the whip and take the matter in their own hands. Victor was closing in slowly. He gasped quietly as the vision felt oh so real. "It's approaching you. What will you do? Command the whip and it will command the beat for you. That's all…you have… to do…"
Victor started to charge. Mackenzie gripped the handle hard then immediately, by some instinct he didn't know he had, managed to crack the whip, sharp and crisp. The crack sent a shiver down his spine. Anger? Guilt? He couldn't say. Images of a belt folded in half and pulled tightly together to make a similar snap flashed through his head. Two older children. A large intimidating adult. Then Victor suddenly seemed to rear back and retreat. Mackenzie watched as the world around him was slowly went by. The whip rested on the ground and the feelings from when he had cracked it still lingered. He felt empowered and imposing yet guilty and… traitorous. He stared at Victor as he seemed to whimper then turn to face him. One of his eyes were closed, a read mark quite apparent on it. Mackenzie watched in horror as Victor stared at him. He shut his eyes tightly then opened them to see that not a second had passed since the crack of the whip.
"Well done. Well done!" Donna squealed happily.
"There, see? Not that hard," Sheffield muttered audibly to both of them. "Now, give it here."
"No, wait a moment," Donna stopped him and started to push him out. "We'll just borrow it for a moment longer. Don't' worry, you'll have it back soon, love!"
"B-but, but…!" Sheffled was silenced with a quick kiss then a shove.
"Go on, you'll get it back! And you," She pointed at the seamstress who was already finished packing the other costumes, "Scoot! Away!" The seamstress was too happy to oblige.
Mackenzie was still processing what he felt. He was so lost in thought he didn't realize Donna was sitting next to him.
"Well?" she asked quietly. "What was it like?"
Mackenzie was silent. He tried to find the words, but his eyes misted, and he had to force himself to recompose. "It… it felt…" What could he say? He searched longer for the words until something came out. "I felt… strong but… like I was forcing someone to… do something they didn't want… I feel like I hurt someone."
Donna rolled her eyes as though he had told a joke. "You felt power, Mackenzie." He gasped quietly as her tone seemed to change. "A power you have never felt before. That power can be imposing. Intimidating. And though you feel guilt now, you might find it to be… exhilarating in time." Mackenzie looked at the whip in his hand. The purple gem inside gleamed a strange green color then returned to the purple color. Donna took hold of his hand softly then traced it up his arm then under his chin, so he'd look at her. "Don't be afraid of it. Someone as weak as Sheffield could never unlock the whips potential… but you?" She chuckled quietly. "No, not yet." She took the whip from his hand.
That was the first thing she had done he genuinely would have thanked her for. He hated the feeling of it in his hand; the feeling it gave him when he cracked it. He didn't want this. That's all he knew. He didn't want any of this. Why was she doing this to him?
"Well, I think we'd best be getting ready for the show, hmm? Let's give Sheffield 'his' whip back… and we'll discuss more important things later." She smiled and brushed his cheek. "Now, be a good assistant and fetch me my cloak. No one can see me in all my glory until I make my appearance on stage." Mackenzie gave her a red cloak with gold trim and a fastener. He was still shivering from the whip, but he was grateful they were doing something else. Anything to take his mind off what he had seen and felt. He tried to think of something better. Honey and Coco maybe. But all he could think of was Victor when he thought of them. He thought about Bluey. He had to chuckle. He hadn't seen her since they had entered this new world, but he didn't think about that. Instead, he thought about their games of Barky Boats and their playful arguments and… Captain and Mia… He was feeling better already.
"Bluey…" He muttered her name under his breath. "I hope you're okay…"
"Hmm? What was that?" Donna asked with a vain smile on her face as she delicately fixed her hood atop her head.
"Huh? O-oh, I was just… compliment how the red looks good on you, miss Donna."
Donna clicked her tongue. "Such a charmer, you are. But yes, you are right. Red and Gold really do suit me. But purple just goes so much better with my fur, I think. Come, I'm sure Sheffield is throwing a fit by now, the pitiful fool… Hurry now."
Mackenzie followed quickly and rushed to her side. He lost himself in his thoughts almost as quickly as he was drawn out of them. They went back to the feeling he had after cracking the whip and the guilt he felt when he struck Victor. Then that large dog with a belt. Pulling it tight and snapping it. But he closed his eyes and quickly started to shift his mind to different things. I don't have to go back. I already know what there. I don't have to go back. I already know what there… Bluey… He took a deep breath. Bluey… He smiled. "Rusty… Jack…I hope you're all okay… I'll try and take care of Honey and Coco… just please, be safe, wherever you are…"