Welcome to the Circus of Dreams

Ever since that day of the Circus Dream auditions, Risa could not get the events of what happened out of her head. Performing again in front of an audience and meeting the “Prince of the Circus,” by chance changes everything. Her vow of never performing again might change after rejoining the circus and help her forget her past horrors. In the meantime, she spends the remainder of the week training at home ready with some new routines.

A week later, Risa packs a few more things to take with her to the academy dorm and head over to the Dream stage. “Lara, make sure everything is taken care of here. I left a note to my father about what is going on, but I doubt he will read it,” Risa explains ready to leave. “Of course my lady, please take care,” Lara said saying her good-byes.

“Thank you Lara, take care. Say good-bye to the others for me,” Risa said walking out.

“Of course, my lady,” Lara replies once again.

“Risa are you ready? We have to go!” Sara, Risa’s best friend, shouts outside.

“I am coming. Thank you for coming Sara,” Risa shouted greeting her friend.

“It is fine. I just got here,” Sara replies.

“I was worried I might be late again after I am done packing. There was so much to pack to send to the villas and to the winter castle,” Risa explains.

“The Winter Castle? I thought you hated that castle.”

“I do, but my family is making plans to spend winter there, so I wouldn’t mind to go there for a visit.”

“Are you sure?” Sara questioned even further.

“I am, now let’s go before we are late,” Risa says walking ahead of Sara hoping to avoid the subject any further.

“Ok I am coming. What do you think they are going to make us do on our first day?” Sara asked catching up with Risa.

“I am not sure. We will have to find out when we get there,” Risa vaguely responses.

“I don’t think I ever thanked you for saving me or being here with your help,” Sara said thinking about it.

“I don’t think it was all me. I believe it was you as well and your skills that got you here in the first place, but it was nice helping a friend out when I know you did not need it,” Risa said teasing.

“Thank you again. Risa, I just realized something, if we are going to work for Dream now, what are we going to do about school?” Sara asks concern.

“It is not a problem. I can keep up with my work at the academy besides working for Dream is not going to be hard. Besides, the academy will work on a contract where we can do both, if not we will get tutors to finish our school work,” Risa explains.

“Why do I have a feeling this was all your idea,” Sara slyly said as she was putting the pieces together.

“Of course it was my idea and the headmaster did approve of it once I suggested it,” Risa replies with a sly smile. “Now let’s hurry or we really are late.”

“Hey wait for me!” Sara shouted trying to catch up.

The girls running game lead them all the way to the pier where Dream sent up their new home and see the rest of the newest additions making their way inside. Risa, of course wins the race, but something really has her stunned feeling something magical around.

“Phew, Risa, you can run,” Sara said out of breath. Sara notices Risa was not paying attention and then she says, “Earth to Risa are you there?”

“Oh, um, sorry. Do you feel something magical around here,” Risa says looking around.

“I think so. I always heard the circuses have some sort of magical force on stage, but not everyone knows what it is,” Sara explains.

“Interesting, I wonder what it is.” Risa asks wondering about the idea.

Risa and Sara begin exploring around the pier and the outside of the circus before heading inside, but she does have a strange sense someone was watching them. This was true.

“Well, littl’ darlin’ you better go welcome our new performers before we scare them away,” Cassidy, one of the performers suggested.

“Leave it to me,” Mina, a different performer answered.

Mina makes her way to greet their new additions, but wonder how she will do it.

Risa and Sara continue to explore, but did notice something strange.

“Miss Amané, Miss Azula, I presume,” a girl asks appearing out of nowhere.

“Whoa, where did you come from and who are you?” Risa asked surprised seeing this girl appear out of nowhere.

“My name is Mina Thompson, I am here to formally welcome you to Circus Dream,” Mina said introducing herself.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, thank you for meeting us here,” Risa said introducing her and Sara to Mina.

“The pleasure is all mine. Meeting a former circus star and someone who has potential skill is a dream come true,” Mina begins by saying.

“Yes, thank you, but I would like it to stay between us. Shall we head inside then?” Risa said wanting to leave.

“We cannot leave just yet, there is a secret I have to tell you before we head inside,” Mina vaguely says.

“And what is that?” Risa asked.

“It is about magic.”

“Magic. Magic is real?” Risa asked not believing in it. “That is hard to believe.”

“Yes, well, I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you if it was not real. I am impressed though you can sense magic is here. You might have some magical abilities you do not know about yet, but don’t worry while you are here, we will teach you,” Mina explains.

“We are willing to hear what you have to say, so please continue,” Sara eagerly says.

“Very well. Magic is real. It has been all around us for a very long time. Where magic is the strongest is within the circuses. The reason being is the circuses are the new home of fairies that came from their home Majeca long ago. Their home has invaded by an evil force that forced them to leave their home and retreat here. Now in order to regain their strength, the fairies bond with performers that have great potential. With that strength, they could gather enough energy to return home and gain back their home. Now that you know the truth, I have to ask you to keep this secret as long as you live,” Mina explains in detail.

“We promise,” Sara said answering for the both of them.

“Wait a minute. You are telling me magic is real and fairies do exist,” Risa said coming back to reality from the shock.

“Yes, it is true they do exist,” Mina replied. “Before I forget there is something else I wish to tell you.”

“Please tell us,” Sara asked.

“I should warn you, when the performer stops performing their fairy can die,” Mina said sounding grim.

“Whoa, this is too much to handle. Magic and fairies exist and if we do not perform they can die,” Risa said trying to put the pieces together.

“We get our own fairies,” Sara said kindly.

“Yes. Now let’s introduce you to your fairies,” Mina said. “Clear. Melody. Please come here,” Mina calls out.

“Yes, Mina!” the fairies shouts as they were flying over.

“Risa, you finally came. I knew you would!” Melody shouts flying towards Risa and dodges her advances.

“Ok, who was that?” Risa asks a little freaked out.

“Oh, that is Melody, your fairy. She has been waiting for you for such a long time,” Mina explains laughing a bit. “She will act as your assistant while you are here.”

““She has been waiting for me?”” Risa asks confused.

“Yes, well, when a fairy is born, they await for their lifelong friend and it seems it turns out to be you,” Mina explains.

“Sara this is Clear, she is your fairy assistant. Also, this is my fairy Lyra, a musical and storytelling fairy,” Mina says pointing at the two fairies. “I should mention each fairy has their own magical talent.”

“It is nice to meet you Clear,” Sara says in her kind voice.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too. I must say you have better manners than our friends,” Clear says mocking them.

“Hey!” Risa and Melody shouts hearing Clear’s comment.

“Cute, you two are getting along already, good. Now let’s head inside, I think the performances are about to start,” Mina said laughing and escorting them inside.

As they were heading inside, Risa sees the many performers she once performed with in the past giving her the evil eye which gave her the chills. She ignores them and continues following Mina to the main stage, but also notices Laurel walking by.

“Mina, was that Laurel walking by?” Risa asks a bit scared.

“Oh, yes, it was, she is never really here unless we are putting on a performance. I wonder why she is here,” Mina explains.

“Interesting,” Risa only says.

“Did you say something?” Mina asks hearing Risa’s whisper.

“No, nothing, let’s go,” Risa says covering it up.

Mina continues escorting them to the main stage where the last round of the auditions were on their way. It seems many have failed and were forced to leave. Risa is surprised a handful of students from Rika Academy were able to join Dream. Mina escorts Risa and Sara to their seats, but someone called out Risa’s name.

“Miss Amané, care to sit with me,” Theo said getting her attention.

“Theo, nice to see you again, but shouldn’t you be sitting with your girlfriend,” Risa says kindly rejecting his offer.

“Hi Theo, oh, I see you two met before,” Mina said suspecting them.

“Yes, we met last week at her school,” Theo calmly said as he was flirting a little.

“Oh, you mean that Risa…I get it now,” Mina said getting excitedly as she walks away.

“Yes,” Theo replies blushing a little.

“This is a bit awkward. I better go get ready for my performance,” Risa said walking away heading down.

“Wait, Risa, I just heard that you do not need to perform since you are officially part of Dream,” Theo said flirting a bit.

“You are that confident enough to call me by my first name, that is brave of you. Maybe I will stay and get to know this side of you,” Risa said taking the seat next to Theo.

As the performances were drawing to an end, Risa and Theo are having a conversation trying to learn more about one another. In the meantime, the final routine ended and the boss of Dream appear before the stage to address the audience. “Thank you all for coming and performing your best. In a few moments a list will be posted to see who will be part of our family,” the boss said kindly. The boss left the stage and the performers raced to the lists to see if they made the cut.

“That is my sign to leave, see you around Theo,” Risa says getting up from her seat and walking away.

“Risa, wait,” Theo says, but she did not hear him.

Theo quickly chases after her outside breathing the nice cool air.

“It sure is cold out here,” Theo said walking up to her.

“Oh, it’s you, please tell Sara that I left,” Risa says walking away.

“Risa, are you avoiding me?” Theo asks concern.

“Yes, I am. You have a girlfriend I do not particularly like and you flirting with me makes me uncomfortable, so please excuse me if I am not in the mood to deal with you,” Risa rudely replies, as she walks away.

“Whatever you say will not stop me from pursuing you,” Theo replies, as he watches her walking into the city alone.

“I would love to see you try,” Risa said walking away.