Circuses.

Unless you have a fear of clowns, circuses are a place full of fun and laughter.

This circus in question stands out from the rest, this circus practically put your mind and senses in a colorful and funny digital plane.

Or well; that is the impression that the circus artists of the place give to the public almost everything seemed to be taken from a virtual reality headset and the acts were equally very different and innovative from each other. However, the most outstanding thing about this circus were the artists so different from the rest.

You could almost say that it was a freak show... A little disturbing to tell the truth.

Even so, with all the remarkable differences, it was admirable how well they worked together and treated each other, they had their flaws like everyone else; but at the end of the day they almost seemed like a family.

And this unusual family was on tour, that's right, welcome to the Amazing Digital Circus!

The biggest (and brightest) stars were taking a well-deserved break from all the showmanship and silliness so they could be ready for the trip to their next destination. The names of these great circus performers are:

Jax, the acrobat rabbit.
Ragatha, the tightrope walker.
Gangle, the ribbon dancer.
Kaufmo, the clown.
Kinger, the equestrian rider.
Zooble, the escape artist.

These fellow circus performers were always ready to put on an unforgettable show for their beloved and beautiful audience and always at the command of their ringmaster Caine and his assistant Bubble.

The performers were in the already empty entertainment area playing with some things that were there, they had been told to get on with cleaning up the audience area but first they wanted to have fun.

After all, entertaining others is not easy and they could bend the rules if they wanted to. The anthropomorphic rabbit and the rag doll were in the middle of the circus ring. The red-haired girl sighed as she closed her umbrella.

Ragatha: For the last show, we didn't do too badly with the light-up toys sales

Jax: *sitting on a ball* I told you that making Gangle dance and Kinger's horse wear them was a great marketing idea

Ragatha: And now Kinger hates you a little more by the way

Jax: Do I care?

Ragatha: I keep wondering why I hang out with you *facepalm* Haven't you seen Kaufmo?

Jax: How would I know, I only saw him go to his dressing room because he didn't even come back to say goodbye to the audience

Ragatha: I'm sure he's just tired, being a clown isn't easy... Happy people are also the ones who suffer the most in secret

Jax: *snorts* the psychologist has already started

Ragatha: Well, excuse me, because I care about what others feel, son of a *censorship*

Jax: *censorship* rag doll

Ragatha: Anyway, we rest a little longer and then we started to arrange the seats and see what things the visitors forgot

Jax: You have a strange obsession with collecting lost objects

Ragatha: And you have a strange obsession with triple backflips, we're even

Jax: Hey, that's separate; I'm doing this for extra applause *folds ears back*

Ragatha: You're going to end up killing yourself one of these days, there's a reason Caine almost doesn't let you use the trapezes

Jax: And I'm doing it anyway *jumps off the ball* Let's start cleaning up and we'll be heading backstage soon

Ragatha: I was hoping you'd say that

Both colleagues left the circus ring and went to organize the audience's seating, they walked between seats and seats tidying and picking up.

One thing was clear, Ragatha already had new hair clips to add to her collection. When the redhead turned to see her big-eared partner she saw the rabbit scratching his back with one of those scratching hands.

Ragatha: Did someone really leave a scratching post? Isn't that a little unhygienic?

Jax: I don't care, I needed one of these

Ragatha: *between teeth* crazy rabbit...

Jax: Oh yeah, this thing scratches too well *starts tapping with its right paw*

The doll rolled her only eye and continued arranging the seats when she heard the sound of someone choking, thinking it was just Jax choking on his own saliva she continued with her thing.

A few seconds passed when she noticed that the noise continued and faced the purple rabbit.

Ragatha: Okay, don't make such a big deal out of it *looks at Jax* But what...?

Jax: Ragatha... Help me *with the hand grabbing his neck* I can't breathe

Ragatha: That's not a scratcher, it's Zooble's left arm

Jax: Don't tell me *almost out of breath*

Zooble: I see that I already know where my arm went

Ragatha: Hi Zooble!

The doll went to hug her asymmetrical-shaped partner to say hello, but the one that seemed to be made of toy parts to assemble withdrew as them were not so fond of physical contact, but they still greeted the tightrope walker.

Ragatha: What a coincidence to see you here

Zooble: Well yes, I came to look for my arm since I had lost it after selling those toys that shine *looking at Jax* but this is more satisfying

Jax: *censors* I'm dying *the arm lets go*

Zooble: You can't even stand anything *repositions the arm*

Jax: I hate you... *panting heavily*

Zooble: Don't hate me for saying that you're weak

Ragatha: What a beautiful coexistence we have here by the way *arms crossed* Are you thinking of invoking your act of escapism?

Zooble: I was thinking of getting into a container of water using a straitjacket, raising the box in the air and having to jump before hitting the ground. Then it's about making an obstacle course and appearing in the middle of the course in one piece... If I'm honest it sounded better in my head

Ragatha: I personally like it, maybe we could act at the same time

Zooble: that could be good

Ragatha: no way it could, it will be good

Jax: *gets up and shakes* thanks for worrying about me

Zooble: I liked you better when you had your mouth shut 7-7

Ragatha: anyway, did you just come for your arm?

Zooble: I also came to find Caine to share the idea with him, don't you know where he is?

Jax: just look for Bubble, chance and there's Caine preventing that bubble from eating the food

Zooble: thanks

And so the escape artist left leaving the other two to finish organizing and cleaning up. They walked around the outside of the circus looking for the ringmaster or at least his assistant to share the great idea of innovation, searching through the cold night air he managed to hear a familiar gallop. So he hurried to get to the source of the sound.

Zooble: *arrives* Did I miss something, gentlemen?

Kinger: Zooble? Strange to see you around here...

Zooble: Can't I come and say hello to the King of chess?

Caine: You come to give a great idea, right?

Zooble: I'm like an open book *anime drop running down forehead*

The asymmetrical one began to talk to her colleague and her boss. The colleague being Kinger, the representative piece of the white King of chess.

The boss being Caine, a human jaw with floating heterochromatic eyes inside his teeth holding a cane and wearing a black top hat with a wine ribbon tied to the hat on his upper gum.

Zooble: and that's the great idea

Kinger: Are you sure? *nervous* not even my act with my horse goes that far...

Zooble: well crazy ideas always take power

Kinger: you can even hurt yourself with any small defect, I'm afraid you'll get hurt

Zooble: nothing will happen to me, I already break myself every *censorship* time

Caine: hey, that vocabulary; this is a family circus and for all ages

Zooble: sorry, boss...

Caine: well, the idea itself is good; but extra security measures should be taken; not only for you, also for the audience. We don't want glass in the faces of the public

Kinger: Well, the water box won't be made of glass

Caine: Are you saying that because you've already broken a window or because of trauma when you were riding a horse?

Kinger: I broke a window once, it was horrible... There was a lot of blood...

Caine: well it'll be a hard plastic container, so we don't have to worry about the glass

Zooble: sounds good to me, what I want is for the show to be unforgettable

Caine: well no more to say, I approve of the innovation of the escape act

Kinger: *shaking Zooble* just promise me you won't hurt yourself

Zooble: *being shaken* I'll be fine, I'm more worried about you and the horse when you two carry us all *Kinger stops shaking her*

Kinger: at least during that trick I'm sure nothing will happen to them, Orion and I always try to be as careful as possible when we have to carry all of you

Zooble: just trust me, I'll be fine. I've escaped in more dangerous ways

Kinger: ... It's okay, I trust you...

Zooble: *grabs her hand* don't worry, I'll be careful

Caine: *takes a picture with the Wacky Watch* it'll go straight to the album

Zooble: *dying of embarrassment* Boss!

Kinger: *nervous* Lord Caine, let me know if you're going to do that •-•"

Caine: And where would be the fun? The best pictures are when you least expect it, and I have excellent eyes for that *prints the photo and keeps it in the suit*

Zooble: Let's just pretend this never happened...

Caine: I can't promise you that, anyway; we already put the horse in its stable and it's better that you go pack, tomorrow morning we're going to change cities early

Kinger: understood, just a question: Will the trip be very long?

Caine: well it will be a bit long, I recommend that you be patient *notices Kinger's nervousness* calm down Kinger, I put a radio in Orion's stable so you have constant communication with him

Kinger: *sighs* thanks... I'm calmer now

Zooble: well see you tomorrow morning early

Caine: rest guys, I'll catch up with you in a moment; I have things to continue checking

The ringmaster disappeared in a puff of smoke, almost as if he had used a smoke bomb.

The chess piece and the interchangeable toy each went off to pack and then sleep to start their journey early tomorrow morning.

At five fifteen in the morning Caine and Bubble went to wake up the members of the circus gang to tell them it was time to leave. And of course, by wake up I mean making noise with a couple of musical cymbals at full volume.

Caine: *clacking cymbals*

Jax: *covers head with pillow*

Zooble: *censor* Let sleep!

Gangle: *comes out of her dressing room as if she were running a marathon* They're shooting at us!

Caine: *drops both cymbals* Great way to wake up Gangle! *takes her by the arm*

Gangle: *breathing heavily*

Bubble: good morning Gangle~

Gangle: good, morning...

Jax: *leaves his dressing room* They don't even let you sleep in this circus

Kinger: *leaves his dressing room shaking* I almost had a heart attack...

Jax: Can you have a heart attack?

Kinger: there's a lot about me you don't know

Ragatha: *leaves her dressing room while stretching* good morning... Are we finally leaving today?

Caine: that's right Ragatha, everyone of you are awake and active. Where are Zooble and Kaufmo? Those two are very light sleepers

Bubble: knowing Zooble they are trying to put aside laziness and the comfort of their bed

Gangle: I saw Kaufmo last night...

Caine: Gangle... *lets go of his arm* Do you know if he's okay? He's been acting really weird these past few weeks

Gangle: Well, we were talking for a while, but...

#Flashback, Gangle's POV#

I was walking around the circus watching them pack up and take down the little tents because I still have insomnia.

A couple of times I went around and ran into Kaufmo and stopped to talk to him for a bit. In a way, it was comforting to know that I'm not the only one who wanders around the circus in the middle of the night...

Gangle: You know, I always thought I was the only weird one who wanders around in the middle of the night

Kaufmo: Well, you see, the ironies of life

Gangle: Did something happen at the show? The audience was dying of laughter

Kaufmo: Oh, nothing; It's just that... I don't know, I just feel really tired, that's why I didn't go back to say goodbye to everyone

Gangle: Ah, I see *hugs him* you know that if something is bothering you, you can tell me without any problem, I know how to keep secrets

Kaufmo: *hugs her* thanks Gangle, but, I'm fine; seriously. Being a clown is just very exhausting... Not to mention the makeup, I hadn't slept well either, so my energy is at rock bottom

Gangle: I understand you, believe me, I know how that feels...

We stopped hugging each other and stayed in a comfortable silence, it wasn't long before he started telling me jokes.

Kaufmo: Gangle, do you know why you can't argue with a DJ?

Gangle: nope

Kaufmo: because they're always changing the theme

Gangle: *starts laughing* that was good *laughs*

Kaufmo: I haven't lost my touch, I haven't lost it at all

Gangle: I'll tell the others as soon as I can, they'll start laughing

After exchanging a few words we each went to our rooms

#End of flashback, omniscient narrator#

The circus gang sighed, apparently the clown was fine.

Gangle ran to Zooble's dressing room to wake them up, knocking on the door many times until the interchangeable toy came out of their dressing room, still in pajamas.

While most of them were there, they went to Kaufmo's dressing room, knocking on the door; but it was not opened.

Ragatha: Is he asleep?

Kinger: I highly doubt it, Kaufmo has always been a light sleeper... This is starting to worry me

Jax: well... *takes a key out of his overalls pocket* I have the key to his dressing room

Ragatha: and you call me the weirdo who collects other people's things

Caine: *worried* this is not the time for this, Jax; open the door

Jax: I'm on it boss

The rabbit put the key in the lock opening the door, he left to let the ringmaster open the door.

What they saw paralyzed them to the core...

They saw Kaufmo, but not in the bed. In the middle of the room was the clown hanging from some festive garlands with a chair lying on its back near Kaufmo.

They were looking at the corpse of the clown hanging from the ceiling of his dressing room, they were in shock, even Jax had lowered his ears from the shock. Caine walked towards the body, he still couldn't believe that Kaufmo, one of his best employees (and with whom he had forged a friendship); had really committed suicide...

When he touched the body he felt it cold and pale, he turned to the others and nodded while looking at the floor. Gangle mask immediately broke aparte and began to cry, neither Jax nor Zooble said anything, Kinger simply watched the scene horrified, Ragatha looked at the floor with clear helplessness... She had failed her role as a psychologist.

Bubble floated over to Caine to see if he was doing well, the ringmaster took off his hat and dropped the cane which fell to the dressing room floor.

Bubble: *dejected* Caine, are you okay?

Caine: *trying to stay strong* let's give him a proper send-off...

Bubble: Sure? Don't you want to vent?

Caine: *shakes his head* tough decisions need strong wills... Kaufmo wouldn't want to see us sad, it doesn't matter if we witnessed how he took his own life

Ragatha: I'll go... I'll go get some scissors...

Jax: I'll update the website...

Caine: Do it, Kinger and Zooble; come with us; Gangle bring an ashtray

Gangle: *sobs* yes sir

In just a little while the gang got back together and after taking down the clown's body they held hands while their eyes were in a sea of tears.

Caine: Well, we're here to say goodbye to a partner... No, a member of our peculiar family, he was the best clown we could have had in the Amazing Digital Circus...

Gangle: *crying* he made funny jokes... He was fun...

Kinger: Why did he have to leave?! I wish it had been me instead!

Jax: *with his ears down* even though it bothered him a lot, he was a partner... I've never felt this guilty...

Bubble: Caine, Kinger, Kaufmo and I were able to see this circus come to life, he was the heart of the circus. Nothing will ever be the same without him around

Zooble: He and I never interacted much if I'm honest; but his act was very funny, even for me. He was the only one who made me laugh

Ragatha: He was a nice person... He loved clowning... Who would have thought that he was suffering all this time? I curse myself for not being able to help him when I could

Caine: With all the pain in our hearts, we will miss you Kaufmo... I hope you can make the new audience laugh... *lights his hand on fire* May the flames of laughter and fun accompany you to the afterlife... Rest in peace *touches the clown's body*

The corpse began to catch fire and quickly ended up being consumed by ashes. The ashes were kept in the ashtray.

Caine was devastated, but he did his best not to let it show; he told everyone to leave, he was going to start removing the main tent, the circus performers left, leaving the master and the assistant to start removing the circus tent...

Several hours later they were already on their way to the new destination, nobody spoke to anyone.

They simply needed time to be able to deal with the grief. Without Kaufmo the clown position was now available...

... But finding someone like him would be impossible...

Unless, perhaps; the perfect replacement would be waiting at the destination.

Well, I think this is the longest first chapter I have written to date, almost three thousand words (the other first chapters have less than 1000).

Before you leave, I wanna give you a few Fun Facts about this Fanfic:

• "The first steps of comedy" have its version in spanish with more chapters.

• Sorry if you notice some gramatic mistakes and inconsistencies in the characters' sentences, English isn't my navite language; I'm mexican.

• The Amazing Digital Circus belong to Gooseworx and Glitch Productions.

• This is a TADC AU, and is called: The Amazing Circus Life!

Bye bye~