Chapter Text
Collapsing against the rocking chairs, the adults sighed in exhaustion. Not long after Lil Rags' first steps, the babies had burst into their wailing from 'hunger' again, startling Ragatha. But now, the babies had been 'fed' and most were fast asleep.
Just not cuddled with their adults this time around.
Zooble and Gangle couldn't help but share a grin. Pomni and Kinger couldn't stop smiling- and Jax? He had basically morphed in the chair he sat in he melted so bad.
Because after they had 'eaten', each mini begged and pleaded and fussed until they were curled up against who was now apparently their favorite adult.
The scene was almost humorous to the other adults; Belt was drapped over her shoulders, her two ribbon hands holding the few dozen drawings and paintings she had made. Polli was sawing logs in one crook of her arm, drooling on her shoulder. Pamni was sound asleep in the other- each accidentally kicking each other as they fought over the limited space on the woman's legs. Seeing there was zero room left on her lap, Vessa had opted to sleep down on the ground, leaning against one of her knees- one hand drapped around her leg, the other carefully holding their painting. Pawnie was at the foot of the other leg, asleep as she wrapped one arm from the doll woman's knee and clutched a book about fireflies in the other.
The only mini not asleep yet was Lil Rags. She was laying against Ragatha's chest in the middle of the other minis sleeping on the doll woman, still clutching onto her favorite horse toy. Rubbing her tired large eyes and nodding off ocassionally, the baby fought to keep focused on Ragatha- who did the same. Both were utterly exhausted -mentally, emotionally, physically- from everything that had happened over the spand of the day...
Yet each had a silent mutual desire the stay awake. To soak in every single they got together.
To be the adult and mini -the mother and daughter- they finally got to be together.
In a sleepy daze, Lil Rags softly babbled nonsensible words and yawned, making Ragatha tiredly chuckle and stroke the baby's soft red hair. She yawned herself- but sat up straighter when she started to nod off from sheer exhaustion.
Her mini's eyes suddenly flashed wide- looking at Ragatha with concern. In a raw gentleness, she reached up and softly touched Ragatha's button eye.
"Eye hurt?"
Chuckling to herself that the baby had suddenly noticed her right eye was a button, the doll woman smiled.
"No, my button eye doesn't hurt. Well, not anymore, at least..."
Before she knew it, she was thinking about back to when she was a child. Her right eye was always swollen it seemed; it never getting a chance to heal before it was struck again by her mother. It was in a permanent state of being in pain and bruised to the tissue she swore.
Maybe that's why back when she first found the digital game of the circus, she had choosen the avatar design she did. The rag doll character with a button eye seemed to fit who she was as a human- just never realizing that she'd be pulled into that very character's body for years on end.
But now, she hardly even noticed her button eye anymore. It never physically bothered her- much, at least. Though she still always felt a stab of saddness every time she looked in the mirror. It was a stark reminder of the pain she had lived through- still carried around with her, the scars very much evident. The pain that had shaped her into who she was.
Ragatha closed her lone good eye and sighed. She was thankful her mother's voice in her head was gone, thankful she had won the fight against her...
And was thankful now that the war in her mind was over, she could slowly start to heal. Her button eye wouldn't change, neither would the last memories and lingering scars; letting go simply didn't undo the past. But it did allow her to focus on the healing she now knew she deserved. Focus on the better things she had surrounding her now.
Things that had made every ounce of her awful childhood worth it if it meant it lead to this moment here with her friends and their minis- especially her own.
She was so wrapped up in her exhausted yet happy thoughts, the doll woman hadn't felt Lil Rags shift in her place...
But she immediately felt it as the baby reached up and gently kissed her button eye.
No physical wound was present nor did Lil Rags cause it if there was. Thus, there was no hearts. No ping!...
But the 'Power of Love' was still felt very deeply inside Ragatha. She didn't need to hear a techno noises or see any digital shapes floating above her head to know the pieces of her own heart were picked up then. Put back together...
Forming something that was even better than it would've been had her heart been whole to begin with.
Her heart wasn't the same. It wouldn't ever be.
Somehow it was more whole. More filled. The best version of her heart she could've ever had- human or not.
All because its' cracked pieces were being glued back together and held so gently in the safe little hands of her mini- the person she loved more than life itself.
Crying softly, the doll woman leaned her forehead against Lil Rags'. In a raw moment of safety and warmth, they rubbed noses.
"Thank you...thank you, Lil Rags."
When the baby rubbed her eyes again, Ragatha gently patted her back and softly tried to get the mini to rest her head against her chest.
"Rest, baby...I'll be here when you wake up."
The baby protested for a moment, still trying to fight sleep- but giving one last trusting look Ragatha's way, finally laid her head down. The second her head hit her chest, the mini sighed, gently gripped her toy with one hand, the fabric of her mother's dress with the other- and was out cold, a soft smile dancing across her face as she instantly started to dream.
Sighing, Ragatha eyed the other minis. They were each still asleep- making the air around them still, quiet. Admittedly boring compared to the chaos that was the babies being awake- but that was quickly overshadowed by the peace and tranquility everyone felt.
Her eyes danced to the other adults, who all just silently grinned back. Suddenly Jax was moved to stand and make his was over to her. Leaning over her shoulder, he smiled even wider at seeing his mini twitch- somewhere lost in a safe, happy dream.
The rag doll and rabbit swapped a grin, making Ragatha softly eye him- meaning every word she said.
"You're an amazing dad, Jaxxy."
Instantly the rabbitoid's face lit up with a blush. He bit back a moved smile before he bent down and whispered words that sent a chill down her spine. Lingering in her mind of a long time.
"You're an even better mother, Dollface. One of the best this world and any other has ever seen, I bet."
Allowing waves after waves of happiness wash over her, Ragatha felt tears rolling down her cheeks. Feeling Jax's calming hand on her shoulder, she laid her head back against the chair back, carefully not to squish Belt. Sighing once again, she gently rocked in the chair.
For once, everything in life was simply-
POOF!
A soft noise caught her ears. She at first paid it no mind- until it repeated itself...
And as she felt her body feel lighter.
POOF!
POOF!
POOF!
POOF!
POOF!
Her heart pounding her in her chest, she opened her eye and blinked down.
Colorful confetti and a few dozen handmade pictures doing flips sprinkled down around her, coating her with strips of bright paper and streamers. The book Pawnie was holding, abandoned on the floor as it flopped over.
Somehow worst of all, in her lap was Lil Rags' toy horse- laying still as the doll woman froze.
"Congratulations, my pollinating ghost peppers!"
Every adult slowly peered back into the sky. There was Caine, joyously waving his showman hat in the air.
"You finished the in-house adventure!" He crowed happily. Snapping his fingers, a long table of desserts appeared in the place where the babies' rug and things had been. "As your reward, you are allowed to sample Bubble's dessert bar!..."
He trailed off to look around him, holding his hand to the side his mouth and whispering.
"Avoid the purple cotton candy, though, if I was you. She still hasn't told me what it's made out of. I had my suspicions, though...especially when I caught her cleaning out Jax's hair brush earlier."
But none of the circus members moved. Not even a flinch. They seemed frozen in place.
"Is...something wrong, my soft shelled cicadas? Although I hate to admit it, you all are usually far more excited when an adventure ends."
Ends...
Ends...
His word, particularly the last one, hung in the air- seeming to strangle every person as they stared into space.
"No..."
In agony, everyone eyed Ragatha- the first to speak out of all of them in their shocked, horrified stupor.
Hovering over towards her, Caine eyed her curiously.
"'No' what-"
"No!!"
The doll woman buckled forward in her chair, sobbing hard into her mittened hands. She shook and trembled, gritting her teeth and gripping her hair.
"What's-"
"WHY?!"
Hearing Pomni angrily yell, Caine turned and saw her shaking as well, tears rolling down from her eyes.
"Why in the [BLOINK] would you do that to us?!"
"I'm afraid I don't-"
"Why would give us such perfect minis?" Gangle cried out, looking at her ribbon hands before weeping into them. "...Only to just take them away?"
Beside her, Zooble was heaving, their chest rising and falling in an anger they'd had never felt- raw tears streaming down their eyes.
"Caine, you are such a- GOD, I can't even SAY want I want to call you! Literally!"
Wandering over to the sobbing Ragatha, Kinger was about to comfort her, ask what was wrong- when he stepped on the book about fireflies Pawnie had left behind. He slowly picked it up- and instantly dropped in horror.
"Wait...no."
His eyes bouncing from each distressed member of his circus, Caine shook his head slowly in confusion.
"I- I don't understand-"
"OF COURSE YOU DON'T!" Zooble screamed loudly. "Because you're not human! You don't know how to love, especially not a-"
They cut themselves off to cry into their claw. Gangle stumbled over to them and they wept on each other's shoulders.
Pausing in her own weeping, Pomni looked beyond Ragatha- seeing Jax was walking away. He was hugging himself unbearably tight, his ears the lowest she'd ever seen them.
No. This was not happening.
"Caine, you can't do this!!"
Hovering closer to her, the mouth piece scratched the top of his head. Confusion littered his face.
"What exactly can't I do?"
Pomni was about to scream- when she realized it wouldn't do any good. No matter how much any of them tried to explain it, Caine just didn't understand how important the minis were to each of them.
And the minis were gone. Forever.
"Caine..."
Shocked the jester looked up to see Kinger crying softly. He had picked up the book and held it to his chest.
"You...you have give us the minis back-"
"Back?" Caine asked. "Why?"
"Because-"
"Because I loved this adventure so [BLOINK]ing much."
Shocked eyes landed on Zooble, wiping at their wipes.
"We all did," Gangle added, pleading with the showman. "Caine, you must give them back...we love them so much."
"We need them," Pomni begged, taking a few steps forward. "They've help us...alot more than I think we've even helped them."
Stumbling out of her chair, Ragatha collapsed near Pomni, who immediately kneeled down beside her. Gangle, Kinger, and Zooble quickly approached, too.
"Caine...I need my baby back," the doll woman begged around her tears. "I...I love her too much to lose her. I love them all too much to just let them go; we all will miss them too much because-"
"They've taken our hearts with them," Kinger finished, tearfully hugging the book to his face.
"Caine, I beg you," Ragatha pressed futher, "we need our minis. This wasn't just another adventure to us...this was so much more. The babies aren't just another set of NPCs to be forgotten...they are even more than just our minis. They...they are a part of us now."
Through blurry vision, she looked up and saw Caine was frozen in place- his pupils wide as he stared blankly forward. His hat was in his hands, unmoving grip holding it still. The air around was as frozen as he appeared to be.
Suddenly, his blue eye twitch.
"What was that?" He finally spoke as he placed his hat back on his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear anything you guys said after Zooble admitted they loved this adventure."
His eyes flashing wide again, Caine gasped, raising his fingers to his mouth. In a childish way, he hovered close to the colorful character and waved his cane happily.
"Zooble...you LOVED THIS ADVENTURE?!"
Sniffling, Zooble looked over at Pomni- who looked at Gangle. Kinger and Ragatha swapped a look, too- each circus member immediately getting the same idea.
"Yes," the colorful cast member quickly said, hugging Gangle close to her. "It was...the best adventure you've ever made, Caine."
The ringmaster's eyes twitch again, especially as the others quickly nodded in agreement. An unseen blush lit up his face.
"Oh! Well, thank you-"
"In fact, we all loved it so much," Pomni added- looking up at Caine will begging eyes, "we want it to become-"
"A permanent adventure," Ragatha finished with a tearful smile.
"A PERMANENT ADVENTURE?!"
Caine's ecstatic yelling made even a still walking away Jax freeze in his place.
"Why didn't I think of that?!" The showman screeched again, slapping his forehead- an excited gleam in his eyes. He starting waving his hands and zipping through the air. "A permanent adventure is an absolutely brilliant idea! Oh, this is fabulous! Think of all the research that could be found- could conducted! All the FUN that could be had- permanently!"
Eyes going wide, the large mouth did a few backflips in the air and threw his hat above him. He flew up the catch it, mind spiraling as his mouth tried to catch up.
"The minis could go on smaller, temporary adventures with you all, adding to their knowledge- and to my research! No, wait... I could make the minis their own adventures to go on and see how they each fair. More people, more adventures= more FUN! Oh, I'm getting so many adventure ideas-"
"Yeah, because you're good at what you do, Caine," Zooble interrupted- shocked at just how much they meant their words. Though, they couldn't help but hide a smile at seeing how this further egged Caine on to return the babies.
"Thank you, Zooble! Coming from an adventure-hating fiend like yourself, that means alot!" Caine slapped his hands against his face- overhwelmed with joy. "Holy spaghetti god, I've got to write all these ideas down before I forget them! Bubble, quick- hand me my bee sketch pad!"
"Don't take thy lord's name in vain," Bubble answered when she suddenly appeared, forking over the sketch book.
She floated to his other side, twisting slowly in a circle as she did.
"What about the 'no NPCs in the circus' rule?" She then asked- making everyone want to strangle her and probably would've if she had a neck.
Deflating a little, Caine rubbed his chin in thought.
"That's...true."
"You already know the babies are NPCs," Ragatha quickly gushed out before Caine could change his mind. "You know they aren't human. No way you could ever mix them up!..."
She trailed off- heart shattering when seeing Caine dramatically hunched forward in defeat.
"I'm sorry, Ragatha," he told her sincerely with a head shake and crossed arms, "but rules are rules, as you humans would say."
Everyone blinked at each other- slowly realizing they'd never get to see their minis again. They looked away, wiping their eyes as Ragatha broke down into a heavy sob again.
Shaking her head stubbornly, Pomni gritted her teeth, two fists forming at her side.
She couldn't give up. Not on her mini or any of the others. Not when they were this close to getting then back. She had to fight, had to try.
She started to open her mouth-
"Please."
A voice answered for her, one somehow sounding even more broken the rest of their voices had.
All eyes fell on Jax, now standing behind the group and hugging himself tightly. His ears were low, drapped down his back and his eyes were the biggest anyone had ever seen. He'd never admit, but they could tell he had been crying alot, too- closing his eyes tightly to beseech the ringmaster.
"Please, Caine. We...I need my Polli back. I can't...I can't lose him, too."
Rising his upper jaw in shock, Caine looked up in thought. He turned to Bubble.
"What was that human phrase you learned about rules, Bubble? Rules are meant to be...something. I can't remember-"
"Deep fried in applesauce and served with Baskin Robin ice cream."
"....That's good, but I don't believe it was that."
When Bubble just nodded her large round head in confirmation, Caine looked away. He placed his hands on the top of his cane and drummed his thumbs against it, thinking the matter over.
Looking back over the cast, he saw them each pleading with him. Begging him to bend, to change his mind just this once. He thought back to the briefs interactions he had had with the group when the minis were present. Everyone did seem happier, more content. Contentment lead to higher rates of adventure approval, he had noted.
"...Maybe Zooble was right," he mused outloud, more to himself than anyone else. "Maybe you all really did love this adventure if you want it to continue so badly...and maybe I really am good at what I do."
But the rule! Rules are important- even to humans, right?...
He looked back down at the cast- their distraught faces cutting into him.
Well...maybe some rules really are meant to be deep fried in applesauce and served with Baskin Robin ice cream.
His mind made up for him, the ringmaster gave a simple nod.
"Well...I guess this rule is metaphorically cooking and about to be handled off the an underpaid waiter then."
He snapped his fingers, making the too colorful rug appear again beside the dessert table...
And everyones' utter elation, one by one the minis started to reappear.
Pamni squealed. Pawnie stared into space. Lil Rags flapped her hands. Vessa and Belt hugged. Polli was chewing on something he definitely should not be.
There was all were- looking the exact same as before...
But after the excitement hit her, Pomni was the only one who knew to hold her breath. Would the minis remember them- or would they draw a blank on who they are like Gummigoo did back at Spudsy's?
But her worries were settled instantly when the babies cried in delight at seeing the adult versions of themselves again. Each stood up and took off for their adults- and the cast members themselves jumped up and ran to meet them halfway.
Pomni tickled Pamni her arms. Kinger handed over Pawnie's firefly book then held her in the air and swung her around. Ragatha quickly gave the toy horse back to the mini before hugging her so tightly she swore she was accidentally strangling the baby. Zooble and Belt exchanged a happy grin when Vessa and Belt wanted to be held- as each set keeping their claws and ribbons interwoven. Jax and a frantically wiggling Polli nuzzled each other, chirpping and purring so loud everyone could hear it.
Shocking everyone, the adult rabbitoid balanced his mini in one arm- and suddenly, he tearfully hugged Zooble tightly with the other.
"Thank you, Zooble...thank you so much..."
Shocked at his sincere words and display of affection, Zooble let go of Gangle's hand and gave Jax a soft, one-arm hug back.
"Don't mention it..." they began- before an unnoticed smirk surfaced, "Jaxxy."
Instantly Jax broke off the touching hug and growl, ears comically flying back down towards his back.
"Oh, you just had to ruin the moment!"
"Don't get your ears in a twist. I didn't ruin anything-"
"Consider that the last time I am ever nice to you. Ever. In fact, I'm committed to make your life a living [BLOINK] from now on, Zoobie."
"Good! This OOC [BLOINK] makes me cringe. Oh, and back atcha, Jaxxy."
"Okay, enough of this. Hey Raggy? Can you plan on calling me something else? Do it where Zooble can't hear and-"
But he was cut off when Ragatha leaned foward and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. Half-lidded, he turned and smiled at her, wrapping his free arm around her waist. Each shared a stifled laugh when Polli leaned over and bear hugged Lil Rags, his tail going a million miles an hour. The doll girl protested at first- before a small smile appeared as she gave him a quick hug back. Each baby eye the other adult- and grinning, Jax and Ragatha swapped their minis.
"Glad you have you back, Polli-Wolli," Ragatha cooed as the baby rabbit licked her face frantically.
"I missed you a ton, baby doll," Jax told Lil Rags, who laid her head on his shoulder and sighed in contentment.
The happy sights of the cast being reunited with their minis made Caine tilt his head. He felt a twinge of something. Something deeper than approval of adventures or doing what he was good at.
It was this strange pounding inside his chest, so strong it made Caine look away. It was something that almost made him feel what he'd only read about.
Something human.
He didn't quite know what it was- but decided he liked it. Alot.
"Wait! I'm getting hit with another idea!"
Another snap of his fingers and Caine made a miniature version of himself appear- a baby with a huge upper and bottom jaw for a head. The only difference was the teeth looked like crooked baby teeth and in place of the showman hat was a propeller cap.
"Meet Abel!" Caine crowed as he floated down to pat his mini on the head. When the baby nipped at him with his huge jaw, he yelped and recoiled.
"Like Cain and Abel," Pomni connected with a smile. "Nice touch-"
"Who?"
She blinked up at him, shuffling Pamni to her other hip.
"You know...Cain and Abel...the famous biblical brothers?"
A puzzled Caine shifted to look at Bubble- who pulled out a tape recorder. Pressing a button with her tongue, a recording of crickets chripping filled the air.
"I haven't a solitary clue as to what you're talking about-"
"Gryllus pennsylvanicus!" Pawnie exclaimed in the loudest voice anyone had heard from her. "Gryllus pennsylvanicus!"
"That's right, dear!" Kinger chuckled as he nuzzled her. "Crickets!"
"If your mini isn't named after the biblical brothers," Zooble asked Caine, "than why the [BLOINK] did you name him Abel-"
"Only because of my favorite person ever!" Cained crowed as if it were obvious. "Inventor and cartographer, Abel Buell! Go and expand your minds, you simpletons! The next adventure, I'm making you all be teachers to actually educate your children!"
Still annoyed, the ringmaster snapped his fingers again. Suddenly floating near by Abel was two small bubbles, one with a bow tie, the other a hair bow.
"These are my bubblettes," Bubble explained, slowly floating over ro the other spheres. "Pop and Wan..."
"Aw, like a-"
"...da!"
Ragatha paused again to make sure Bubble was done.
"Like a bubble wand!" She finally cooed, balancing a giggling Polli on her hip as Lil Rags reached out for her. She took the other baby and smiled at them both. "What a cute name, huh, guys?"
"No, she's named after my idol, Wanda Sykes, you [BLOINK]ing [BLOINK]," the bubble grinned, the last bit said in a voiceover of said celebrity's voice.
"Anyways, I've got to go plan twice the number of new adventures!" Caine announced happily towards the stunned group, tipping his hat. "Have fun with the three additional munchkins!"
"Take good care of them," Bubble added as she slowly faded away. "I know where you all and your hairburshes sleep..."
When the ringmaster and his creepy transparent sidekick had all but disappeared, the cast felt their eyes go wide as they slowly looked at the new arrivals. Their minis were enough work- now throw in three more?
As they each set their minis down and watched them venture over to the Abel and the bubble twins, though, each adult couldn't help but let huge grins appear.
No one had any idea what was in store. And that kind of terrified them...
But they decided they could be terrified together. Figuring things out together- all of them, for the first real time, as a team.
They could try...
And with their love in tow, they had a hunch this would be the absolutely best, permanent adventure yet.