(Final part lol. Also, do yall prefer longer chapters, or multiple smaller ones?)
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Jax was stuck. His body felt heavier than usual, warmer too. Slowly, his eyes blinked open. The sun reflected off the snow, making everything brighter; even for the digital circus. His hand was against something soft. Looking down, his body went ridged. Twinkle was snuggled right against his side, her tail acting as his blanket. His neck was still warm with her scarf.
Jax's first reaction was to panic. He slowly sat up against the headboard, Twinkle didn't move. Her breathing was slow in sleep. Jax's thoughts slowly relaxed, though it took more effort than he'd ever admit. He told himself he was staying still just so Twinkle wouldn't wake up, but his body relaxed. Slowly, his gloved hand petted the fox. Smoothing out her fur was more relaxing that he'd care to admit.
"Oh meow-stress~!" The high pitched call snapped Jax out of it. Quickly, he pulled away and dove under the bed. He held back a hiss as the stone was freezing compared to the soft bed.
"Hm?" Twinkle stirred, sitting up as the cat maid entered.
"Their Meow-jestys are waiting for you in the dining room." As she talked, the cat poured Twinkle a cup of tea.
"Hm? What for? Just breakfast?" Twinkle sipped the tasteless tea, although their warmth was nice.
"No Meow-stress. They wish to discuss matters with you." Her tail swayed behind her, a soft purr building in her throat.
"Ah, I see. Well thank you" Twinkle sipped more tea as the maid bowed, and left.
"You can come up now." Twinkle smirked. Her ears could pick up the soft chattering of Jax's teeth.
Quickly, the rabbit pulled himself out from under the bed.
"How the hell do you stay in this place? It's freezing!"
"Well, I do have furr unlike your- weird smooth skin. I've adjusted to it." Jax deadpanned at the fox as she sipped.
"Yea well- whatever." Jax looked away, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"We need to hide you. I dont wanna see what would happen if anyone saw you. You are the enemies son afterall." Twinkle's smile grew, teasingly. Though, Jax didn't match her. Her ears lowered slightly as she moved closer.
"Yo, you ok? Why were you even in the snow to begin with? For a second I forgot we couldn't die in this damn game, I was worried."
Jax stayed staring at the stone floor, his grip tightened around his arms. Twinkle caught every twitch he made, so she stood up. With a dramatic stretch and yawn, she shook out herself.
"Well whatever, i know nothing could get you off my back. You're always finding someone to screw with us huh Jaxy?" This time, Jax took the bait. Standing, he also stretched his funny cartoon body.
"Yea well, I thought you were missing me by now so" His yellow smile was a weight lifted off Twinkle's shoulders.
"Oh God, yea ok buddy. Come on, lets go before that maid comes back." Twinkle giggled as she lead Jax out of her room. The two quietly tiptoed around. After two close calls, the animals dived into the royal library.
"Ok, if I remember correctly; this is where some hooded weirdos stay."
"Hooded weirdos? Wow, what a good princess you are" Jax snickered as Twinkle's tail hit him upside the head.
"Quiet, it's hard to remember. I think they're some kind of poetic nerds. They write stuff ok? I think my parents use them kinda like jesters, so entertainment"
"Damn well, I had dancers loser."
"Yea well now you're gonna pretend to be a Jester." Twinkle snapped back. She grabbed a hanging up robe and threw it at Jax. Putting it on, it was more like a cloak.
"Ok perfect. I think the NPCs are also fox's so your ears under the hood won't look to suspicious. Just be quiet till the adventure is over ok?"
"Yea, whatever." Jax waved off Twinkle as she bounced out. He was alone now.
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Ragatha and Pomni sat across from eachother in the Jungle's meeting room. NPCs from both territories circled behind the princesses.
"So uh, how ya been the past few days?" Pomni asked, she didn't really know what to say.
"Oh um, actually not to bad. Did you also click the family button?"
"Hm? Oh, actually no I didn't. Did you?"
"Yea, yea I did. It was weird at first but, I kinda like them. They're one of the most intelligent NPCs I've ever seen Caine make." Ragatha couldn't help the giggle that mixed with her words; and Pomni didn't try to look for anything more.
"Well, I've already set up an alliance with Kinger. I honestly think the NPCs are running the show over there. Now we just gotta take out Jax and Twinkle."
"Are ya sure we can't team up with Twinkle?" Ragatha scratched her neck nervously.
"I don't think so. Sure, she's nice but she's kinda like Jax. Right? She's become Caine's number one supporter for these adventures." Pomni shrugged, leaning back in her chair.
The cat maid trotted in with a tray of tea and what looked like cookies.
"My meow-stress, tea is served." Pomni watched the cat pour tea, a laugh barely being contained. When she left, the jester had a giggle fit.
"Meow-stress? Caine really is selling the cat girl thing."
"Awe come on, I think she's kinda cute" Ragatha giggled too, taking her cup.
"But anyway, we could try sending letters but- I highly doubt either will accept." Pomni sipped the warm tea, surprised it had a faint honey taste.
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The log cabin was as snowy as ever. Gangle and Zooble settled happily in the small vacation. Gangle sat on the porch, wrapped in a wool blanket she sketched the terrain. She wasn't very good at backgrounds, or realistic sketches; but Zooble's encouragement got her to try. Speaking of the take apart toy, Zooble opened the sliding door- two cups of hot chocolate in their mismatched hands.
"Do you got room for one more?"
"Heh, always" Gangle sat down her sketchbook. Opening the blanket up in invite, Zooble took it. Both snuggled together on the oak bench, under the blanket. The steam from their drinks momentarily fogged the bottom of her mask.
The silence was nice, neither one felt compelled to fill it. Suddenly, the clouds gently lifted and were replaced with lights. Northern Lights of red, blue, green and yellow wiggled in the sky.
"Oh my gosh, look" Gangle whispered, but Zooble was already looking.
"I always wanted to see these in person" Zooble mumbled.
"This is nice." Gangle hummed, resting their mask on Zooble's shoulder. They didn't say anything, but their arm wrapped around her- pulling her closer.
"Yea, it is."
Silence fell over then again, even between than before. Half way through her hot chocolate though, Gangle sat up, turning to Zooble.
"Do you ever...Just, accept what's happening?"
"What do ya mean?" Zooble sat down their cup.
"Like, the circus..is enough?" Zooble was shocked. Looking down at her, Gangle was focusing on slowly swirling her half melted marshmallows.
"Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer to not be a pile of ribbon." Gangle continued. "But this isn't so bad, especially recently. Ya know? Caine's adventures have gotten way better. I mean, look at this cabin. He hasn't showed up in days."
"I mean..I kinda get it." Zooble leaned back, their eyes going back to the lights.
"But, I can't just accept this as my life. I have so many dreams and goals, how can I give up on those?" Zooble looked back to Gangle. She just nodded.
"Sorry I killed the mood.."
"No, no Gangle. You're fine." Zooble's claw gently took one of her ribbons.
"I'm not gonna get mad you're talking about your feelings. We disagree, that's ok. Doesn't mean I regret sitting with you. I'll give it to Caine, this is the best he's done yet. Cause I get to spend it with you"
Gangle's mask, even though happy- teared up. She quickly wrapped her ribbons around Zooble, her mask nuzzling under their traiangle head.
"I love spending time with you too" Zooble quickly hugged back, pulling her closer as if she'd run away.
Both stayed like that- until a loud voice came from the living room. It was the TV.
"Oh, drama. Should we?.." Gangle nodded toward the door.
"Oh absolutely" without another word, the two quickly got back inside. Jumping on the couch and turning up the volume, the two watched as Twinkle chased after her parents.
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"Mama, Papa, I really don't see a reason for this." Twinkle nervously chuckled, finally catching up to the two foxes.
"We insit love, you've been so stressed these past few days" her mother insisted.
"Yes, besides it's been a moment since we've heard from the royal poets. I want to make sure we aren't housing the untalented."
Twinkle nervously bit at her paw, where a nail would usually be. She could only follow behind as her parents opened the large library doors.
Jax had made his way to the long table were the other NPCs sat. They didn't wake up until the king and queen made an appearance. His eyes nervously darted to Twinkle, all she could do was shrug and mouth an apology.
"Alright, I want you all to write a poem about my lovely daughter. Fail and I'll throw you to the blizzard myself" all of the NPCs and Jax sniffined. He glared at Twinkle, who could only mouth another apology.
Paper and pencils appeared in front of the poets, and it started. Scratching of led and erasing was the only sound that filled the area. Jax was screwed. He nervously picked up the pencil and stayed writing, then erased, and immediately erased again. He tried to remember everything about poetry. Stupid lessons from school, cheesy lines from movies and songs. He was shaking.
"Oh, he's so gonna get caught" Zooble commented, happy to see the rabbit sweat.
It was only five minutes when the king raised his paw, and called up the first NPC. Each NPC was basically the same. Rambling about beauty, grace, pride- it got old fast. Finally the king pointed at Jax.
"You, what did you write?"
Jax nervously stood up. Both people were so scared, they didn't notice Jax was taller than the others. But the King noticed.
"Chaos in her laugh, wildfire in her eyes,
Her smile: a supernova in disguise.
She storms through life with reckless grace, Leaves me yearning for her embrace. Kindness hidden in her mystery's fold, a story I ache to hold.
One look, and I am lost, undone. This wild, untamed, radiant one."
Jax hadn't noticed he was holding his breath. When he looked up, his eyes locked with Twinkle's. Small cartoon sparkled danced in her eyes, her tail gently wagging behind her.
"Well, that was just lovley" her mother sighed, her tail wagging faster. "Honey wasn't that adorable? Honey?"
The Queen watched as her husband walked quietly behind Jax. His attention still on Twinkle left him vulnerable. Quickly, the king grabbed the back of his cloak- ripping it off it made Jax stagger.
"I knew it!" He shouted, grabbing Jax by the throat.
"How did a desert prince get in here?!" The queen shouted, pulling Twinkle to be shielded behind her.
"Wait stop!" Twinkle shouted. Pushing past her mouth she jumped up, wrapping her arms around her father's. He was caught off guard and dropped Jax. The rabbit inhaled a dramatic breath as Twinkle pulled him behind her.
"Papa, don't hurt him" Twinkle pleaded.
"Hes a desert rabbit! Those stuck up stew ingredients have been our enemies for years!" The king yelled as his wife took to his side.
"I bought him in, he means no harm! He was outcasted, please show kindness!"
"Outcasted?!" Her mother gasped. "So even they didn't want him!? Then who knows what kind of trouble he will bring!"
"Mama please! He's not bad! He's k-kind, and gentle! You heard his poem" Twinkle kept her arms held out, blocking any direction attack. Jax stared up from the floor, shocked and frozen.
"How dare you defend this rodent! Let alone bring him into our home! You should've let him to die like the rat he is!" The king's voice boomed out.
Jax felt his chest get tight. His gloved hands gripped at the loose stones on the floor. His ears dropped and his breathing slowly quickend. Only Twinkle's voice snapped his attention back.
"How DARE you! You preach about kindness and yet you hate on him?! For what?! Being a rabbit? A desert prince? Well guess what! I-I saved him because I love him! You hear me?! Papa I love him!" Silence fell of the library as her voice echoed off the stone walls.
Zooble and Gangle's jaws dropped.
"Huh?" Jax whispered.
"Shut up, it was the first thing I thought of." Twinkle hissed back, turning to her parents again she kept her stance.
"You- you cant! I forbid you!" Her father's voice was louder.
"Honey this- this purple freak cant give you the life you deserve!" Her mouth argued.
Jax stood up with a huff, his classic smirk plastered on his face.
"But it's true! Our love is pure!" Jax dramatically laid his arm over his face.
"The [beep] are you doing?!" Twinkle hissed under her breath.
"What? Im acting. I'm not letting you have all the fun. Try to keep up" Jax whispered behind his hand.
"Heh, dumb[beep]" Twinkle shook her head.
Jax wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling the fox closer. Her tail curled around his leg too, making his own tail twitch.
"Get your hands off my daughter!" The kings voice almost shook the shelves.
"Twinkle! Let go of him!" The queen shouted. Both royals breathed heavier
"Prince Jax is a kind man, and the best once I've ever met! I wont stand here and let you disrespect him!"
Gangle and Zooble were eating this UP. Gangle was quickly sketching out the scene of Jax and Twinkle holding eachother.
"Honey, baby please. If you choose this man you can be here! You'll be stripped of your status, your life! We love you baby, What kind of life can this rabbit give you?" The queen stepped forward.
"Youre smart and beautiful! You can have any man, why this one?!" The king stepped too.
"It's funny how you two stand there, saying you love me- but then turn around and try to control me! Im not a robot!" Twinkle's tail tightened around Jax's leg, and he was almost worried. Her voice started to rise and shake, to much raw emotion to be pretend.
"You two are suffocating! You can't treat me like trash a-nd then- and then just act like you're doing me a favor the next second!"
"What are you speaking of?! We have always supported you! If you need something, honey tell us! We'll do it just- just get away from him! Do you want to live in poverty?!" The king was getting desperate.
"I promise, I love your daughter with all of my being. I will treat her like the queen she's meant to be" Jax pulled Twinkle into a hug, nuzzling into her soft furr.
"UNHAND HER!" both parents yelled.
Twinkle was about to yell back when a sound stopped her. Everyone turned to the closed doors, something was happening outside.
"What the-" Jax started, but stopped when the doors were kicked open. NPC manikins with spears and clubs ran in, surrounding the group. Pomni and Ragatha followed behind.
"Sorry, but this is over." Pomni declared.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The king boomed, pulling his queen closer.
"With the support of four nations, we here decree this territory is ours!" Ragatha smiled in victory.
"How is this even possible?" Twinkle looked at the two, quickly unwrapping herself from Jax.
"Well we think Kinger's kingdom was being run by NPCs and we wrote to Jax's, and they accepted an alliance. So, we just kinda stormed your castle" Pomni chuckled, her stance no longer so confident.
Twinkle's eyes drifted to her parents. NPCs yes..but she couldn't help the twist in her chest. She darted out of Jax's arms, and into theirs.
"Im so sorry mama, papa! I love you guys.." immediately they held her back.
"Oh honey" the queen whimpered.
"We love you too." The king pulled his girl's into his arms.
Twinkle sighed, enjoying the hug before pulling back. "I accept and surrender." Was all that was needed to be said.
In a puff of confetti, all the NPCs vanished. At the entrance to the library, the portal back to the circus was there.
"Damn, that was easy." Jax said. With his hands behind his head and a smirk on his lips, he walked through the portal.
Pomni followed him, but Ragatha stayed.
"Hey, you ok?" Ragath offered a hand for Twinkle, and she took it.
"Yea. Yeah I'm fine. Just NPCs."
"Yea..NPCs." Ragatha looked out one of the windows. Even through the snow, she could see her castle. Her heart sank a bit, thinking of her parents being poofed away.
While she was distracted, Twinkle quickly slipped the poem Jax wrote into her chest fluff.
"Hey, let's go. I miss Zooble and Gangle anyway." Twinkle smiled, and Ragatha followed.
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Gangle turned off the TV.
"Well, guess it's over." Zooble sighed, taking off their sweater.
"I don't think we should tell them we watched" Gangle spoke.
"Really? Huh. Yeah probably for the best"
Their own portal opened, and the two re-entered the bright circus; everyone's clothes were finally back to default.
"Whoa wow wee wow!" Caine appeared with a spin. "Now THAT was an adventure! Zooble, did you enjoy yours?"
"Know what? Yea." They grabbed Gangle's hand. "Best one ever Caine"
"I liked ours too. " Twinkle spoke up.
"Yea, it was nice" Ragatha nodded.
Caine's eyes glitched with code before they teared up.
"W-wow everyone, really? I- i can't believe-" he glitched. "Well of course you guys loved it! Hahaha! Adventures are my specialty! This one was about a week, so I gotta go brain storm some more home run hitters~!" His body swirled into nothing.
"Ugh..he better not let that go to his head." Zooble grumbled.
Jax looked toward Twinkle. She looked back, and just winked with a smirk before walking off. He couldn't tell if he was happy or something else at her indifference. It was weird.