i had a really good dream that a feature length tadc episode 10 was suddenly dropped out of nowhere...
at first it was about the crew's growth and learning how to do and make stuff in the circus, while also nursing Jax back to health. Pomni would enter her subconscious every day for as long as she could handle it, someone would pull her out, and then Caine would fix her up. Eventually she learned how to pull herself out when it became too much, and she learned how to fix herself too.
There was a scene in the montage where Pomni would bring her a hot chocolate from the cafe each time, and each time she returned from Jax's inner world, the cup would be sitting there. Right where she left it. Still filled to the brim.
Until one day, she came back to find it was empty.
The next day, Pomni and Ragatha came to Jax's tent. With another hot chocolate, of course. Pomni planned on doing her thing, and while Ragatha hid and watched the cup get emptied... Except? Abstracted Jax was not her usual abstracted self today. She had taken on a new form: A levitating sphere of inky darkness, decorated with closed eyes that shone with soft light through the narrowed slits. The chaotic waves that made up the surface texture of her skin were calmer than ever, and even totally still at times. But the most remarkable thing about this new form was the subtle, gentle hum that hung around the floating cocoon. It was so quiet, you'd have to be inches away to hear. But the song was undeniable.
Jax would accept no visitors into her mind space today. Not even Pomni could gain entry. But still, each day she would try. And each day, she would bring a hot chocolate. And each day she returned, she would find the previous day's cup somehow emptied. This made Pomni smile.
After a few weeks of this, there was a change. It was immediately felt by every player and in every realm. A quake of the earth, a shift in the wind. Sudden. Sharp. Impatient, yet indecisive. Only Pomni knew what this must mean. She rushed out of Candy World, hastily bidding farewell to Gummygoo, and returned to the circus only to find Jax's tent in total disarray. It had been utterly destroyed. Shards of pillow fluff and cloth fabric blanketed the circus in every direction from where the tent once stood. A crater in the center laid totally bare, save for some curious scorch marks seared into the digital floor. Pomni stared out at this chaotic scene in awe. Then confusion. And then, fear. Where was Jax? Is she okay? Did she-
Interrupting the jester's rising panic was a hand on her shoulder. Pomni turned.
It was her. And not only was it her, but it was her. Long, wild, black hair sat on a purple head with long tubular purple ears jutting out and hanging loosely among her bangs. Thin, short, technicolored stripes sparsely mixed into the darkness of her frayed mop head shone faintly. A red ribbon fastened to her left side ear was the only accessory she wore. Her outfit was unchanged: red overalls with gold buttons and gloves... but the shape of her body was slightly different. It curved slightly inward at the waist, and slightly outward at the center of her chest and hips. But it was more noticeable at the chest. Especially by Pomni.
Pomni was stunned into silence as she took in the sight of her friend. Tears broke through in an instant. She jumped up into Jax's arms and threw hers around her in a tight embrace. She was sobbing, laughing, and smiling, as a teary eyed Jax embraced her back.
"As if you could get rid of me that easily." Jax tried to say, choking up and stumbling over her words as the tears flowed from her face.
"Hehe... Shut up, bunny girl." Pomni finally replied.
Their touching reunion was cut short as their audience made themselves known.
"Jax! You're back!" Ragatha incredulously cried out with joy.
"Took you long enough, man. Or, is it...?" Zooble began, her monotone giving way to a gentle gratitude.
Jax released Pomni and collected herself, standing up and facing her fellow player. "Yeah, I'm a girl now. Must be some kind of game glitch. But I look good, so I'm not complaining. Just don't get any ideas, got that?" Jax's focus shifted from cross armed Zooble to a timid Gangle, wringing her hands while peaking out from behind her partner's back. Jax's sly smirk dropped into a slight frown for a moment. She shook her head.
"I feel so... different. Except, not? This is so weird." She chuckled and gestured vaguely at her body as she looked herself over. "It's different. But somehow it feels. More correct? Like, like... I dunno. I feel so naked and vulnerable. But also, like, okay? Like. Relaxed." An unmistakable anxiety shook in her voice all the same.
She put her hands out straight on each side and fell backwards into a shallow pile of fluff and fabric. She let her eyes stay closed for a moment as she took a deep breath. When she opened them, Pomni, Ragatha, Zooble, and Gangle, stood over her, casting their shadows down onto her face. Jax gulped as her heart began to race. The glowing colors in her hair began to rapidly flash with increasing vibrance. She sat up quickly. She jumped to her feet, breathing fast, and hustled away from the crowd. She nearly broke into a sprint. But she stopped herself. Holding herself back with her hands, Jax waited for someone to say something.
"I..." Gangle stammered, breaking the silence "I think you look good. I'm. Um. Glad you're feeling better."
Gangle didn't truly know how she felt. Her emotions were complicated. But that's just part of being human.
Jax took a deep breath. She clenched her fists as her chest rose, but she kept them tight as she exhaled.
"I'm.... sorry." Jax said.
A powerful silence held the five of them in place.
Jax understood, through her rising tension, that it was still her turn to speak.
"I. I-I... I treated you all terribly. I... I was wrong."
As she fumbled over her words, she wiped tears away with her balled fists. There was so much more she needed to say. But the words weren't coming. She wanted to apologize for the bullying. The harassment. The pain she'd caused. Jax understood, now, that this world - and these people - are all that she has.
Jax's anxiety began to peak. Her wild mane began to shift. Jagged spikes jutted out from the jet black surface as she began to hyperventilate. Then, she felt something close around her hand. She finally opened her eyes. By her side, Pomni stood, with a gentle smile and eyes full of kindness... but also, expectations. Jax closed her eyes again. She took a deep breath. Her hair slowly calmed back to its original form as the flashing eyes within it began to close once more.
Her hand squeeze hard onto Pomni's as she braced for rejection. After all the pain she's caused, she knew better than anyone what she deserved. But, with Pomni's hand in hers, she also knew what she wanted.
"If you'd go so far as to abstract in order to change, then I don't see why we couldn't give you another chance." Zooble said, stepping forward and placing a hand on Jax's shoulder. "We're people. And people can change."
Ragatha stepped in as well. "I'm just glad you're okay, ya big jerk." She caught herself a little. "I-I mean." Ragatha's voice quickened as she stumbled over what she wanted to say. "Yeah, you've been a jerk. Um. But! You weren't always a jerk! So. So... I hope, um. If you're done being a jerk. We can be friends again?"
Jax looked at Ragatha with tears in her eyes. She threw her arms around her in a flash, surprisingly the doll girl. Jax whispered "Rags... I..."
She didn't finish her sentence. Jax squeezed tighter, but was careful not to squeeze too hard. Ragatha returned the hug.
Zooble and Pomni turned their faces to Gangle, who remained still.
Jax let go of Ragatha and took another deep breath. Then, she turned toward Gangle.
"Gangle." Jax tried to start. She was apologizing so much today, and felt ready to issue another. But she still couldn't find the words.
"I just. I. You..." She stumbled and fumbled with her hands as well as her words. She held out her open palms facing up, unsure of what to do. Jax clapped one palm into her face with a loud slap. She groaned.
Suddenly, a pair of red ribbons gently rested on her open hand.
"I can tell that you're trying." Gangle said, her voice unwavering.
"And... I'm glad that you're better. Just. Oh..." Her voice became uncertain as she wiped a tear and choked back a sniffle. She regained her composure. Jax kept her eyes focused on her as Gangle spoke.
"It's going to take time."
Jax's eyes welled up with tears. She fell to her knees. She bit her lip. But nothing could stop her from sobbing. Her hair began to move, gently this time. The edges and fringes of her hair melded in with the central mass. It looked wet. It looked like water, as it moved. Waving softly like calm waters. She tried to wipe her own tears, but they just kept spilling forth.
Zooble noticed how Jax's hair's movements.
"Huh. I guess you've got a gimmick now too."
Gangle and Ragatha noticed it now, too. They chucked, and then they laughed.
As they laughed, Pomni reached a hand out to Jax. Jax looked up at it.
"How... Why are you all so nice to me? I don't deserve it..."
Pomni just smiled, her hand still outstretched.
"Because. We're all we've got in here. And 'We' includes 'You'. You're one of us. No matter what you deserve."
Jax stared ahead at Pomni before finally taking her hand and rising to her feet.
"...Thank you." She said, honestly and humbly. The gratitude she felt right now would become her promise. Her resolve to earn her forgiveness. To deserve her friends. She would protect them, and be there for them, like they were for her. And like She was, back then...
This would only be the beginning, of course.
Jax knew what it meant to be given another chance. It meant that someone else, someone more deserving, someone that she hurt until they were unrecognizable... that that person could be saved, too.
That Ribbit could come back.
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