Chapter Text
| Softball Adventure |
Ragatha: “You just f–k everything up for everyone else!”
Her body glitches and she disappears.
Then the adventure resets, and everything is back to normal. But Ragatha isn't there.
Zooble disappears, the adventure resets.
Pomni disappears, the adventure resets.
Kinger disappears, the adventure resets.
Gangle disappears, but the adventure continues as if nothing changed.
Jax isn't wearing the maid dress anymore and is back in his normal clothes. Evil Pomni and her team are all holding bats.
The purple rabbit throws the ball towards the red and yellow jester. She hits the ball with her bat and it hits him hard in the face.
Every time he throws the ball, the other team uses their bats to hit him in the face with the ball. He gets hit so hard that his body falls to the ground.
| Digital Circus Tent |
He wakes up in his room with fear in his eyes and walks out into the hall. He sees an X on Ragatha’s, Kinger’s, Zooble’s, Gangle’s, and Pomni's door.
He goes to Pomni's door, sits down on his knees, and cries.
THE NEXT MORNING…..
Caine sends Jax on an adventure, but the rabbit just sits on the ground and looks at his arms that are wrapped around his legs.
He looks tired and sad as he sits alone in the middle of an unknown place. He stays like this for every adventure and he doesn't say a word.
Caine: “40 adventures and you haven't completed any of them. Bubble, make dinner for our wonderful rabbit.”
When the meal is ready, Bubble puts it down on the table in front of Jax. The last circus member slowly eats his food and puts his head down on the table when he's done.
Caine: “So, how was it?”
Jax (quiet): “It was okay.”
The ringmaster turns to Bubble.
Caine: “I told you he'd love it.”
Bubble: “Boss, he doesn't look good.”
Caine: “I can fix that.”
Caine floats in front of Jax and uses his fingers to push the corners of the rabbit’s mouth into a smile.
Caine: “There, problem solved!”
Caine takes his hands away and Jax’s smile turns back into a sad frown.
Caine: “I really thought that would work. I guess we'll have to try something else!”
Jax gets up from his chair and starts walking away.
Caine: “Where are you going?”
The tall rabbit points towards the stairs at the other side of the room.
Caine: “I'll put the fun family activities on tomorrow’s to-do list. Good night, Jax.”
Jax (tired): “See ya tomorrow, Caine.”
The ringmaster and his assistant watch as their guest goes to his room.
Caine: “Something’s wrong. He's been acting more like Gangle ever since he came back from the Lightning Round.”
TWO DAYS LATER…….
The theme song plays and cardboard cutouts of the other five members appear when their names are called.
Jax lays in his usual pose, but doesn't smile like he used to when the song played. Then the song ends and Jax stands still on the stage.
Caine snaps his fingers to try to get him to look at the ringmaster.
Caine: “Come on Jax, the show MUST go on!”
The rabbit doesn't move. His eyes look up and stare at Caine.
Caine: “You aren't going to walk off and start causing chaos?”
Jax shakes his head.
Jax (quiet): “I'm not interested in doing that anymore.”
Caine: “I thought you'd be happy now that they're gone.”
Jax's face quickly goes from sad to angry in a single second.
Jax: “Don't say that. You don't know what it feels like to lose people who cared about you. You don't HAVE feelings! You just think that everyone is happy. You don't CARE about anyone!”
The room immediately goes silent and that feeling scares Caine. He isn't used to having an empty circus. The place that used to be full of life was now a place filled with sadness.
Caine: “I know I haven't really been a good friend for anyone. I was made to keep anyone who came to the circus happy, but I've just made it worse for you. I'm sorry.”
Jax: “I accept your apology and I'm sorry for saying that. You're a good person.”
Caine: “Apology accepted. Ready for an adventure? I can come with you if you want.”
Jax: “You want to hang out…. with me?”
Caine: “Yeah, I thought you'd want someone there with you so you're not lonely. It's just you and me now. I also need a break from Bubble too.”
Jax: “Sure, we can spend some time together. I don't mind.”
Caine: “Great! You're gonna LOVE this one.”
Caine opens a portal and the two of them walk into it.
| Belle Butter Bakery |
Jax: “What is this?”
Caine: “It's a bakery! You like baking.”
Jax: “No, I don't. The others-”
He looks down at his hands. It's too much, he can't do this. He sees Ragatha, Kinger, Gangle, Pomni, and Zooble smiling at him in his mind.
Caine: “Hey, you okay?”
The ringmaster has a hand on his shoulder.
Jax: “Y-Yeah. Just thinking.”
Caine: “It’s okay, Jax. You're not alone. I miss them too.”
Jax: “Let's just get started.”
They bake desserts and put them out for the customers to see. After a few hours, they finally finish the adventure and go back to the circus.
Caine turns around and sees that Jax is lost in his thoughts again.
Caine: “Jax? You can tell me what's going on. It's just us. I'll be here to listen to whatever you say.”
Jax: “It’s nothing. I'm fine.”
The young rabbit smiles at him. It looks so real, but he knows that Jax is faking it. He smiles back at him, hoping that he'll go back to his old happy self soon.
THE DAY AFTER THE BAKERY ADVENTURE…..
Jax wakes up feeling worse than yesterday. The emptiness inside of him grows stronger. He’s sad, numb, and a bunch of other things all in one.
He goes back to being silent and doesn't have the energy to do anything.
Caine sighs.
Caine: “We're doing this again?”
The purple rabbit’s head falls onto the floor, making a tired groan escape from his mouth.
Caine: “You can't stay like this forever. It's not good for you.”
Jax turns his head towards the ringmaster.
Caine: “I just want to help you feel better and I won't make you go on any more adventures. I'll be here if you need me.”
Jax slowly sits up and nods his head. His stomach growls, Caine snaps his fingers, and breakfast appears in front of him.
Jax (quiet): “Thank you.”
Caine: “You're welcome.”
Jax eats his food and falls asleep as soon as everything on his plate is gone. Caine snaps his fingers again, teleporting the very tired rabbit to a bright blue couch in the main room.
Bubble: “What's happening to him?”
Caine: “He's had a rough week. He's sad, lonely, tired, and we just lost more cast members a few days ago. It'll take time for him to heal. It's my job to make sure he feels safe here, so you and I need to give him some space for a while.”
Bubble: “Okay. Do you have any plans for today?”
Caine: “I'm just gonna stay close and keep an eye on him.”
Bubble floats away and Caine watches his guest sleep peacefully. The ringmaster starts thinking about new ideas that could make the rabbit happy again.