The Trickster’s Hat

Suddenly a mysterious ball of energy shot out from within the hat, sending pulses of purple energy to wash over the theatre.

WHOOSH

In a blast of purple energy, the ball collided unto the stage floor, as the purple cyst slowly began to burn off, revealing the introduced figure.

"WHAT A PAIN IN THE TAIL—" The summoned rabbit gave a weary sigh as he arranged the purple scarf that gently covered his neck in place.

"You guys never seem to grow tired of dragging me into your lame shows." Athanasios voiced out in sheer discontentment, opening up his bright purple eyes.

"But—"

"I guess I'll play along this time." He stepped his foot on the ground sending visible, yet colourful clouds of aura to sway through everyone's seats.

The audience's frightened estate quickly transformed into gasps of joy as everyone began to touch the brightly colored clouds that surrounded their seats.

Everyone except for—

Obviously Trick, all the rabbit did was throw him a derisive grin much to the child's dismay, before swiftly transforming it into a teasing taunt.

"What did I do to that vile bunny this time?" Trick sobbed, disappointed that he couldn't experience the glimmering clouds like everyone else.

The rabbit immediately tore his gaze from the boy, turning his attention back to the show at hand.

"The clouds which ought to drift above, in the sky's breeze can also be conjured up before your very eyes." Athanasios rubbed his pure white fur as he yelled into the air, the mystifying rabbit walking around the stage on two legs.

"We can yet again reach higher, higher than even the sky where the clouds take form—"

Astravan swiftly added, proceeding to walk to the side of the mysterious rabbit.

"And grab…" Condensed streams of purple energy then emanated from his already glowing hat as it made its way down to the trickster's hands.

"The very stars themselves." Flashes of bright colored balls of energy then escaped from Astravan's arms, flickering in the air as their ends became pointed, their corners forming five sharp ends—

As they adopted the form of an uncountable number of glowing stars that danced shakily in the air.

With a swift sign from the master trickster himself, a multitude of glowing stars moved across the theatre house, giving rise to a magnificent starry display.

Everyone in the theatre house observed the breathtaking sight with immeasurable joy, some even catching a star or two and watching in delight the manner at which the shimmering balls of energy danced in their palms.

The bright stars continued to fly all around the theatre house, bathing the room with a radiant purple glow and an even greater level of mirth.

Trick impatiently sat at the edge of his seat while waiting in expectancy for one of the charming stars to pass by him.

He rejoiced in jubilation as he watched a star drift past him.

With a greedy smile the 13 year old quickly snatched the innocent star, subjecting it into the confinement of his backpack before grabbing another star for good measure.

As Trick expressed his adoration for the star by happily rubbing it across his face in delight, his eyes glinted in pure shock as he saw—

His master signaling him to look down below. 

'Huh?' Trick wondered as he instinctively peered down, to behold what exactly his master wished for him to see.

His crimson eyes glittered brightly, expressing the unbridled feelings of euphoria he currently felt for the majestic display below him.

Down below Trick's containment lied a once in a lifetime display. The enchanting clouds stretched throughout the entire theatre house forming an artistic pattern with glistening stars which flew across the room and danced within the cloudy mist.

On Astravan's face grew a warm smile as he watched Trick's eyes glow in pure elation. And of all the smirks the showman had donned throughout the entire show—

This was the most salient.

Astravan turned his attention away from the boy, redirecting it towards the ecstatic crowd whose people were completely immersed in the show, lost in the artistic wonder of the clouds and stars.

"Now, for our final trick!" The bizarre bunny slowly floated atop the trickster's shoulders.

Suddenly, the clouds rapidly escaped from the seating of the crowd and the stars retreated, both swirling rapidly around the showman and his odd talking rabbit.

The starry mix of clouds and stars then flowed from the circle of Astravan, heading above the crowd and creating a stunning beauty almost similar to that of the Milky Way above.

"Thank you for attending—" The shimmering mixture then began to glow even more, separating into various parts until few but stunning words were drawn. These words were…

"THE GREATEST TRICK SHOW OF ALL TIME."

With a bow from both the illustrious trickster and a yawn from his peculiar bunny, the lights faded and the scarlet curtains slowly closed up, indicating to everyone's disappointment the end of the show.

But the single thing on everyone's mind at the end of the incredible show was that—

It was indeed the greatest trick show of all time.

"Thanks for playing along bud." Astravan expressed his gratitude to the bunny that layed in rest on the man's shoulders, as the curtains completely closed off, cutting short the gaze of the audience.

"You really made it even more spectacular"

The weary rabbit covered its large ears at Astravan's fits of gratitude.

"Yeah yeah, anytime kiddo." Athan sunk himself even deeper into Astravan's wide shoulders for a rest.

"Kiddo?" Astravan asked, breaking into a hearty laugh.

"Really Athan? You do know I'm already in my fifties right?" 

The bunny instantly jittered wide awake at the shocking statement, observing the man before pinching both his cheeks.

He was indeed in his early fifties, but no one would know unless they were told, since Astravan walked, spoke, acted and looked like he was still in his early forties. 

It was such a shocker that some even started to wonder if the master trickster had tricked them too of his age.

"You humans really do age fast, you're almost as old as Aisla now aren't you?" Athan finally let go of the man's cheeks as he walked further into the backstage area.

"Master Aisling huh?" Astravan's voice took a saddened countenance.

Immediately noticing his sorrow, Athan then tip toed atop his shoulders, stretching his arms towards Astravan's head.

And when the mysterious rabbit's hands finally reached his head, he patted it, ruffling the trickster's hair with his tiny paws.

Astravan's mood then transformed, gleaming back with joy.

"Thanks for everything bud." Astravan chucked mirthfully in a style more suiting of his.

"That show was incredible." Trick walked past a crowd of pleased people that stood in wait for the arrival of the master trickster himself, after he delivered such a wonderful show.

Trick slithered past the dense crowds, as he continued his trek towards his destination.

'So these guys have to wait just to get a closer glimpse of master?' Trick wondered in thanks that his loving master was such a revered figure.

He tightly clenched unto his golden backstage ticket, shrugging his shoulders to let his backpack rest better on his back.

"Where was that backstage area again?" Trick muttered in question, looking above in thought before being jerked out from his mind by an unexpected collision.

Trick turned his attention to the little girl his shoulder accidentally made contact with, quickly smiling at her for an apology.

"Oh sorry kid, I didn't—" He was interrupted by the sight of the little girl strangely move past him, her face completely overturned with an angered frown.

The little girl paid Trick no mind, she uttered no words and didn't even spare him a glance.

All she did was move with so much urgency, her hasty steps giving off the feeling that she needed to do something of utmost importance—

Like her life depended on it.

Trick stood, shocked at her instant retreat, but only being able to note two key details about the child before she went past him; her furious frown and—

Her ominous red glowing eyes.

"Hmm, what a strange kid." Trick muttered, completely confused by the girls strange actions.

He then ruffled through the back of his hair, letting out a tired sigh.

"I've gotta go find master!" Trick's eyes widened in remembrance.

After a short stroll, Trick finally made it to a wide inconspicuous hall far into the backstage area, there he saw a well decorated hall that stood filled with people of noble heritage.

A victory feast after the show. Just like every other time Trick had gone on a show with his master, a little party was usually conducted for only the high class members of the audience.

To them it was a means to bloat their already swollen ego even more. But to Astravan it was no more than a complete waste of time, hence the reason he didn't usually attend it—

But today, he stayed behind for a different reason.

"Amazing sir Astravan, simply astounding, you really outdid yourself this time again." A prominently dressed man vigorously shook Astravan's hand as he congratulated him for a job well done.

Astravan returned his pleasantries, laughing heartily with the man until his eyes met Trick's.

"Ahh Trick, this way kiddo!" Astravan happily yelled, signaling Trick to swiftly head his way.

The man quickly bid Astravan farewell as his wife who'd evidently had a little too much to drink snatched him away to go for a dance.

"Master!" Trick's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"The show was incredible, the stars, the clouds, ohh when you turned that paper bird into a real one or even—" The boy muttered endlessly with unbridled enjoyment for the earlier trick show.

With his palm against Trick's mouth, Astravan finally silenced the child's legendary fist step; endless rambling.

"I take it that you loved the show, didn't you Trick?" Astravan rewardingly patted Trick's head, ruffling his golden hair under his large palms.

"That's right, it was the best mast—"

Trick was in a state of infinite joy at the presence of his master, but in an unexpected manner, that gleeful demeanor was suddenly stripped from him and replaced with a dark grim feeling, from out of nowhere.

'What is this dreadful tingling all of a sudden?' Trick's face contorted into a bitter look. Revealing his mind that had been completely jumbled up in puzzling confusion.

'It's somehow familiar.' Trick squinted his eyes, trying so desperately hard to reminisce this ugly feeling.

During this time Astravan still continued to pat the boy's head. His eyes shut, his master continued to laugh heartily.

Trick was lost, stranded in a world of thought as he begged his mind to remember where he had felt this same concerning feeling before…

'It's the same ominous sensation I had at night!' Trick voiced aloud in absolute shock.

WHOOSH 

Suddenly a dark paralyzing aura washed over the room.

Trick's entire body began to quiver, feeling the great pressure that welled through the room.

Strangely it seemed that only Trick had felt this hideous presence, it seemed like only he had felt this chocking feeling and it felt like right now, only Trick had the answers to what was going on.

'How could I have failed to notice!'

"Master!" Trick finally yelled out to Astravan.

"It's voi—" But it was too late.

In the instant Trick blinked, everything went dark, and when the child's eyes tore open, what he saw planted within his heart an island of fear and an unsolvable puzzle of confusion.

Trick alone now stood in a desecrated battlefield soiled with the corpses of bloody beasts, and above it stood a scarlet sky that seemed to reflect the sorrows of the land.

But what Trick found most creepy was that within the madness—

A woman sat, singing a strange lullaby to her child.

With just a glance Trick knew his situation was not just bad—

IT WAS HORRIFIC.

He heaved in huge breaths, each one echoing louder and louder across the paranormal world.

The loud sounds of panicked breathing still echoed through the world each passing moment until he finally caught a breather, just enough to ask one single question…

"WHERE THE HECK AM I?"