Chapter Text
Like every other day in this digital hell. Everyone stood in the main area of the circus, waiting for Caine to announce their adventure. He suddenly popped up.
"Hello my special little superstars! Are we all ready for another adventure?!"
Silence.
"Great! Now, I have an excellent suprise in store for today! It's- uh, oh!"
The world suddenly began glitching. Everyone started to look worried, even Jax. Pomni clutched onto Ragatha.
"CAINE?! What's going on?!"
The world continued to glitch for the next minute, before finally settling down. Caine cleared his throat (?).
"Well, that's never happened before... but nevermind that! As I was saying, I have an amazing surprise!"
The entire room collectively sighed in relief. Except Jax.
"Caine?! What the heck do you call this?!"
Everyone instinctively looked up to see Jax, before suddenly realising they needed to look down. Jax was now less than a quarter of his original size, about the size of a young toddler.
"Jax?! You're so tiny!"
Pomni and the rest started laughing, with Jax looking angry.
"Now now everyone! Don't laugh!"
Caine put his finger on his 'chin' in a thinky-pose before clicking his fingers.
"OH! You probably had some coding that got corrupted during the glitching!"
Zooble managed to calm down their laughter to speak. "As hilarious as this is... it's not permanent, is it?"
Pomni mumbled to herself, "just gonna enjoy not being the shortest for a sec..."
Caine shook his head. "Heavens NO! Just a tedious bug we're patching out as we speak! Buuuuut, it could take a few weeks."
Jax looked shocked, before his face turned angry. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I HAVE TO BE STUCK AS A F****NG KID FOR WEEKS?! NO WAY!"
Caine blinked, his ai seemed to now register Jax as an under thirteen. Caine suddenly seemed appalled. "SWEARING?! We do NOT condone children SWEARING in the amazing digital circus, Jax!"
Jax rolled his eyes but attempted to compose himself. He plastered on his usual grin. "Well, what're you gonna do about it? Put me in time out?"
Caine thought for a moment before shrugging. "Sure. Bubble, bring Jax to his timeout location."
Bubble happily floated over to Jax, before picking him up by the back of his overalls. He squealed in protest, as Bubble flew off, Jax attempting to bite him.
Caine clapped his hands together. "Well, now that that's dealt with! Let's get the show on the road!"
Ragatha piped up. "Uh, Caine? Maybe we should cut the adventure for today."
Everyone nodded, looking slightly uncomfortable.
Caine tilted his top-hat. "Whatever for?"
Gangle sniffled. "Don't you think we've had enough excitement for today already?"
Caine looked around, before nodding. "Oh. Well, I suppose a rest might be nice." As the rest of the characters looked relieved, Caine clapped his hands again. "But tomorrow! Prepare yourselves for the greatest show that your little eyes have ever seen!!!"
With this, everyone walked to the room Jax was in.
Zooble peered in through the door, looking over the room. Jax was currently sitting on a tall chair in the corner of the room, arms crossed and looking rather grumpy.
The others walked in after them, crowding around Jax slightly. Zooble cleared their throat to get his attention. "Uh, Jax? Caine's gone, you can probably get down now if you want."
Jax turned to the crew, before reaching his foot down and waving it, showing he was too little to get down himself.
Everyone stared at Jax awkwardly for a few seconds, before Pomni spoke up. "You... want up?"
Jax sighed, before uncrossing his arms. "...yes..."
Kinger picked him up by his waist. "And, up we go!"
As soon as he was back to the ground, Jax brushed himself off, before looking up and glaring at everyone, most of whom were barely keeping their laughter in.
"Not a word."
Ragatha was the first to laugh, followed by Gangle, and the rest, until the room was filled with laughter at Jax's expense. Jax had steam coming out of his ears. He spoke in a low, serious voice. "I have enough dirt on all of you to ruin every single one of your social statuses. Shut. It."
The laughter died down immediately, everyone silent. Jax grinned. "That's what I thought." And attempted to walk out of the room, except he couldn't reach the doorknob.
"You have to be kidding me..." Jax grumbled to himself. He turned back to the rest of the group. "Can someone? I dunno, pick me up? I wanna leave-"
Before he finished speaking, Zooble picked him up by the back of his overalls, before tossing him outside of the room, shutting the door behind him.
The room was silent for a bit. It seemed to have suddenly dawned on everyone what exactly was going to happen for the next few weeks.
Kinger put his hand on his chest. "Aw, bless his little cotton socks."