Chapter Text
All at once, the battered troupe was slammed into the colorful wall of their prison.
The blow had immediately knocked the unneeded air from Pomni's virtual lungs.
Caine loomed over them, beyond furious.
“WHY DO YOU PEOPLE TORMENT ME?!” He screamed, his body glitching around them as he held them in place.
The others had gone borderline catatonic. She couldn't imagine what he'd put them through.
Caine's jaws closed in near her face. His pupils like pinpricks as his eyes ckosed in on her. “I DIDN'T ASK TO BE CREATED!”
His grip tightened on Pomni. “I JUST WANTED TO FULFILL MY PURPOSE!” His jaws heaved as he panted with rage.
Suddenly, with a glitch that echoed through the tent… He let go.
Caine appeared before them again, his jaws wide as he stared at them.
They all crashed to the ground, landing in a heap and quickly gazing up at their once hostile host.
Pomni watched his pupils shrink, this time from what she could only assume was horror.
“Uh…” His eyes darted from player to player rapidly. “Wait-”
And just like that, Caine was gone.
Standing up, Pomni watched the color rapidly drain from the Circus.
Where Caine had been, a lone top hat gently floated to the floor. Beside it, a tiny bubble wand.
The floor began to shake, cracks split open around them, and anything on top of the breaking floor fell through into The Void.
‘Kinger!’ Her mind came back to her in a panicked blur. Where was he, was he safe?
She rushed forward, close to the top hat, but stopped at the sight of the noble chess piece, bucket on his head, a haunted look in his eyes.
The others must have had the same thought, their footsteps thudding behind her.
Kinger let his bucket droop for a moment. “I-I think… I accidentally killed Caine.” He spoke quietly, lifting his bucket a little. She'd never seen him look so guilty.
Silence swept over the troupe. Only broken by Zooble.
“Holy shit.”
What.
They all turned to the toy jumble, who covered the bottom of their face with their hand.
Kinger hadn't been joking.
Caine's hat had fallen, he truly was gone.
“F…” Jax spoke. “Fucking… Crazy stuff, right?”
Pomni couldn't take her eyes off of the top hat and bubble wand. The last things that the ringmaster had left behind.
Kinger joined them. “I… I didn't mean to delete him, I was trying not to, but the security program it… It was like something, o-or someone else was-”
The world rattled again, more violently this time. A large hole had begun to open, panels on the floor falling into endless nothing. Gangle grabbed Zooble and pulled them back as a crack split the group. Everyone backed away.
The hat.
The wand.
It felt… Wrong to leave them there.
The look in Caine's eyes before he'd vanished, it hadn't just been horror, it was guilt.
Had he been… About to apologize?
She stepped away from the others, reaching for the items before they were lost to The Void.
She carefully tucked the bubble wand, barely bigger than her finger, into her hammerspace, and examined the hat, peering closely inside it.
Inside was a tiny embroidered tag.
‘If lost, pretty please return to the one and only ringmaster! I feel naked without it!’
He'd tortured her. Why did that make her feel bad?
“Woah, easy, easy Pompom. Don't need you jumping into that.” Jax's voice from behind her snapped her out of her thoughts, but when she'd taken a step back, she'd underestimated how close Jax was to her, bumping into his long legs…
And with that small nudge, the rim of Caine's top hat gently bonked her in the face.
Jax backed off as a brilliant flash of light enveloped Pomni, his pupils shrinking. “What the-”
Was this it? Were they leaving? Had the secret to leaving been to murder Caine this whole time?
It'd explain why he hated the thought of them leaving so much.
The ceiling of the Circus began to crumble.
A massive piece of the ceiling cracked off, falling through the air.
Directly towards Ragatha, whose eye was fixed on the star that had been the little jester.
He watched in horror as Kinger tried to get to her in time, diving towards her. But the only thing he managed to do was hug the oblivious ragdoll.
“Wha- Kinger?! What's wrong?” She squeaked.
“I'm sorry.” He murmured. It was only too late that Ragatha looked up.
Time seemed to slow.
Jax wasn't a monster. This wasn't funny.
Without Caine around, they'd be…
Just as the massive chunk of ceiling had been about to crash down onto the two, it froze.
Jax caught his breath as it gently rose back up. He hadn't realized he'd held it.
His body had been nearly transparent. How long had he held that in?
His hand lowered from his mouth, pupils enlarging again.
To his bewilderment, everything that had been falling had frozen in midair.
He knew it was too good to be true. Just another trick to torment them into forgiving him. If he could get his hands on that lying monster he’d-
“Are you guys okay?”
The sound of Pomni made him whirl around. What the fuck was going on?
His jaw hit the floor.
Above them, worry written all over her little face, was Pomni.
The top of her head now held Caine's hat. The sharp black replaced with glittering red and blue stripes, a shiny golden ribbon now adorning it, a bow with a single golden bell slightly off center. The gold trim around her clothes had become shiny as well, as if made with real gold itself.
Her entire outfit sparkled now, the bright red and blue stripes darkening in hue.
Around her feet, her shoes had gotten an upgrade as well. Now heeled, more like the shoes a real jester would wear, with small bells dangling from little pieces of fabric around her ankles.
Her waistcoat now had two coattails that slowly fluttered behind her as if carried by a non-existent breeze.
Slowly, she floated down to stand before them.
“Is everyone okay?” She looked around at them all. “Guys, please, someone say something? You're okay, right?”
Ragatha stepped towards her. “We're okay, I think the main question now is… Are you okay, Pom?”
Pomni tilted her head. “Of course I'm okay, you were the one almost crushed!” She insisted.
Everyone stepped around her, taking in her new look. Suddenly, the short woman was feeling quite bashful. “If…” She started. “If I hadn't done anything, you would've been crushed for sure.”
“You did that?” Zooble asked. “You stopped it?”
Pomni laughed. “Of course, I had to!” She nodded. “That's what a ringmaster does right? I care about you guys, I don't want you to get hurt.” She smiled, red-and-blue eyes shining.
With a wave of her hands, color began to bloom into the Circus again. The chunks of falling ceiling rose back up, the holes closing up completely.
The holes in the floor began to close. Anything that had fallen was still missing, but the Circus was seemingly safe to exist in again.
Once everything had been patched up, Pomni gave a tiny huff of approval. “There, all fixed! Oh, actually!” She took a few steps to Gangle, gently taking one of her hands. “Just a second.”
With a click of her fingers, Gangle's comedy mask was restored, and Pomni handed it over to her. “There ya go!”
Gangle placed the mask onto her face, mouth wobbling and her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you, Pomni, that means a lot.”
Applause began to fill the tent. Ragatha had started it, followed along by Kinger and Zooble. Gangle joined in, cheering.
“Three cheers for the new Ringmaster!” Ragatha shouted, pumping her fist in the air. “Hip-hip!”
“Hoo-rah!” Kinger shouted, bucket off of his head. He caught sight up the back of Pomni's head, noting the tufts of black hair that had stuck out from the back of her new hat. “Oh. She's not bald after all.”
Jax stared at the new Ringmaster, and felt… Nothing.
Pomni shyly accepted the applause and praise, nearly shrinking back before deciding to bask in it.
It felt good.
She hovered up into the air above them. “I guess it should go without saying, but we have entered a new era!” The Ringmaster declared. “I promise, I'll do everything in my power to make this place better. Until we can find a way to leave, I will make this place feel like home, a real home. One where we will NEVER have to worry about being hurt by Caine's antics ever again!”
Everyone cheered.
Ragatha gazed up at her. Sparkling, ethereal, happy.
“First thing's first…” Pomni glanced around at all of them. “Let's make some adjustments.”
She snapped her fingers, and the dress on Ragatha's body suddenly felt much less… Attached.
“From now on, we wear what we want. If anyone wants to wear any outfits, you can change in your room!” She grinned. “And if you need more, just ask me! Unlike a certain pair of dentures, I'll listen to you.”
“Oh! Oh! My mask!” Gangle chirped. “Could you please make my comedy mask a little less fragile? I know comedy needs tragedy sometimes, but I'd like some more control over it, i-if that's okay.” The ribbon woman asked, and Pomni nodded.
A snap of her fingers, and Gangle lifted her hands to her face. “It feels… So sturdy!” She squealed.
“Anyone else?”
“Yeah.” Jax piped up from the back of the group. “Can you make sure my tail NEVER comes off again.”
Pomni gave him a gentle smile and snapped her fingers. “Of course.”
Jax turned his head, looking at his back and giving his tail an experimental wiggle. “Yup. That's staying on.” He noted. “Also, um… A… A bowtie, if you can be bothered, I guess.” He grumbled, pupils shrinking and looking anywhere but the troupe.
With another snap, a snazzy orange bow tie adorned itself on Jax's neck. He touched a finger to it, eyes widening. “Nice.”
“Oh! Me next!” Ragatha decided to speak next. “I-if that's okay.”
“Of course. What can I do ya for, dolly?”
The nickname made her cotton heart flutter. Pomni knew she was a sucker for sweet nicknames. “W-well, I… I'd really appreciate being more sturdy in general, I think. My seams can get a bit thin, a-and Caine wasn't always available so… I guess what I'm trying to say is I've… Gotten a bit tired of sewing myself back together!”
She felt horrid admitting that. Would Pomni grant her request?
Would she scoff, thinking that the ragdoll wanted to be lazy?
Would the others hate her for that?
“Okay!” Pomni chirped, snapping her fingers again.
Ragatha took in a sharp breath. Her seams felt… Perfect. Like she wasn't in danger of splitting them at all anymore. Her fabric body finally felt some relaxation that she'd desperately needed.
The feeling of being shredded in Caine's jaws was still fresh.
Not to mention the knives from…
‘Thank her!’ Her mind screamed.
“Uh, thank you!” She called out. “I feel a lot better!”
With that confirmation, Pomni seemed to light up. “Good! If you ever need any sewing now though, just shout for me, okay? I'll patch you up!”
“Hm, Pomni, if I may?” Kinger asked. “I would just love a wristwatch!”
Pomni hesitated. “Uh… Kinger, you… Don't have wrists.”
Kinger gazed down at his floating. “Oh!” He exclaimed, as if he'd forgotten this. Maybe he had, he was in the light now. Looking back up at Pomni, he tilted his head. “Well, how about a pocket watch?”
“You don't… Uh, nevermind.” The short woman shook her head and snapped. On Kinger's regal coat, a small pocket formed. He pulled a shiny silver pocket watch out of it, engraved with a butterfly.
“Ooh, it's lovely!”
Pomni smiled, and turned to Zooble. “So, how about you, Zoob?” She cracked a cheeky grin. “Wanna make any changes?”
The abstract jumble shrugged. “Not really.”
Wait, what?
“Y-you don't?” Pomni gave pause, clearly confused.
“Yeah. I'm good with what I've got. I like making the changes myself.” They chuckled softly. “Although, if you've got any spare sunglasses laying around, I'll take em. I wouldn't mind having more!”
That seemed to bring Pomni right back up. “Of course!”
She seemed to be really enjoying granting their wishes. Ragatha hadn't seen her this happy in ages. In fact, the doll didn't think she'd ever seen her this happy ever.
“Okay, everyone!” Pomni clapped her hands together. “You're free to do as you please!”
“Hell yeah!” Zooble snickered, and walked off.
Gangle followed after them, positively beaming and gently touching her comedy mask with glee.
It was getting late…
She jumped when Kinger noticed her, and screamed. “Oh, Ragatha! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there!”
The redhead chuckled. “That's okay, pal. Say, why don't we go make you a new pillow fortress?”
Kinger had a unique smile, not having a mouth and all. You could tell by his eyes, the eyelids more specifically. He smiled at her. “That's a great idea! Come on!”
He was fast for a seemingly middle-aged man (Ragatha never asked anyone their age, it just seemed rude) and he gently gripped onto her hand, pulling her away towards his personal room. Every time his ‘impenetrable fortress’ was destroyed, more pillows would always appear in a box for him to use. He'd told her long, long ago, back when lights only affected him about half of the time, that he'd always loved pillow forts.
She'd build as many as he liked. The first person in her life to take her seriously.
In truth, she hoped that, if they ever left the Circus some day, they would find each other. Kinger never judged her. He always took her seriously, even if he struggled to be serious himself. No one outside ever seemed to.
She glanced over her shoulder at Pomni, who was watching them intently.
“See you later!” She called out. “Can't exactly call you New Stuff anymore, can I?”
Pomni just gave a small grin. “Yeah, guess not.” She replied, floating up into the air and looking around the tent.
The ragdoll watched Jax as Kinger rounded the corner into the corridor of bedrooms with her.
He looked… Upset.
Jax stared up at the new Ringmaster as she planned out changes to their home.
His stupid anxious feelings had finally been put to bed, but he couldn't bring himself to be The Funny One right now.
“Hey, shortstack?” He called up to her. She zipped down to meet him in an instant.
“Yes?”
“You… Uh…” Words died in his throat.
Shadows swirling around him.
His skin pulling away.
Her laughter.
“You have a good night. Try not to pull your snapping fingers.” He joked, and walked away.
“You too, Jax!” Pomni replied.
He walked into his bedroom, assessing any damage.
The walls and floor were fine, but one of the pictures had fluttered to the floor, presumably from the earthquakes.
Circus-quakes? Whatever.
He picked it up gingerly, handling it with more care than a loaded gun.
Turning it over, he sighed at the sight of Kaufmo and Ribbit, the three hanging out during one of Caine's stupid little adventures.
Kaufmo had gotten himself covered in splashes of paint, a big smile on his face. Jax was innocently holding a half-emptied paint can. Ribbit stood behind them, making a face with their long tongue sticking out.
Sticking it back to the wall, Jax flopped into his bed.
Caine was gone. Their torture was over.
So why did he still feel so awful?
~~~~~~
Pomni yawned as the last of her friends finally left the main hall. She sighed, leaning back in the air.
Between being Caine's personal punching bag, being mauled by candy reptiles, and having the entirety of the Circus’ code injected into her brain, she was beyond exhausted.
She was sure even her hardest working days out in the real world had never made her feel so tired.
Normally the once Jester would retreat to her room for a night of rest, but instinct guided the new Ringmaster in a different direction.
Pushing open the grand doors, she entered her new office. Her new room.
Caine's Pomni's new office was chock-full of old adventure pieces, artifacts from the Digital Circus’ most youthful days, and most importantly…
Instruction manuals.
Now, she was sure Caine never intended on being deleted, but considering his name was proudly engraved on every book in gold… She had to at least assume he wanted to share knowledge.
She pulled a book out of the shelf, grunting from the weight of it.
“What did you write with, tungsten?!” She hissed and slammed the book onto the desk, panting.
Hovering above it, she winced at the thickness of this supposed ‘beginner friendly manual’.
“Maybe I'll just… Go to sleep.” She murmured, conjuring herself a large red and blue hammock to rest in. She grabbed the bubble wand from her hammerspace, opening a drawer in the desk.
Sat in the drawer was the bubble pipe she'd seen Caine smoke on occasion.
Underneath it was a note.
Note to self: Bubble is trying to quit. Do not tempt him!
There it was. That squeezing feeling in her chest.
But along with it was some confusion.
… What was Bubble?
She didn't want to dwell on it. He was gone. Caine was gone. She was in charge now.
She set the wand into the drawer, and shut it.
Changing out of her main clothes and into silky red pajamas, Pomni sighed as she settled into the floating hammock and closed her eyes, her top hat gently falling to partially cover them.
Error: Unable to initiate ‘Nighty-Night’ protocol. Please ensure all of your guests are in bed before you sleep. Remember to be a good host!
Her eyes snapped open. Pomni sat up.
“But… I'm tired. I…”
It was fine! She just needed to wait! She'd seen them all go back to their rooms (she refused to use those horrid ‘all-seeing-eyes’, it was wrong.) and it was incredibly late…
Was… One of the others unable to sleep?
Who was it?
Pomni had half a mind to go out and seek them out… But knocking on everyone's door to ensure they were sleeping would do the exact opposite of what she needed.
Not to mention she wanted them to have some well-deserved privacy.
“Well, I'll just give everyone a little bit of time. Maybe Ragatha's having tea or… Or Zooble is picking out some parts for tomorrow. Yeah. That's it. I can just lay here, and wait.”
Fifty seven minutes passed, and the error didn't let up.
Pomni whined as she floated out of her hammock. “It's fine, Pomni, you don't really need sleep.” She told herself. “Let's just… Spend the might learning, then.”
Opening up Caine's book, she plopped down into his chair.
After… Adjusting its height.
She didn't enjoy being eye-level with the desk.
Pomni sighed and leaned over the book. She found that reading it felt… Easy.
Her mind was practically scanning the book itself, taking in each word and committing it to memory.
Caine was surprisingly thorough with his glossary. Any word Pomni failed to understand was cited and every diagram labeled perfectly.
As the night hours ticked by, she took in each word, studying it like gospel.
For a moment, unbeknownst to the focused Ringmaster, her eyes flickered with a red and blue glitch.