10: The New Sun Cycle

Branches Of Sunshire

Chapter 10

New Sun Cycle

Andreas stood across from Craig as fireworks exploded in the sky above them. Blake was too stunned to speak, and Ashley gave Andreas a sympathetic look. Makayla glared at Andreas, and Madelyn smiled and nodded at Andreas. Ashley jolted and recoiled at the loud crackling of fireworks. They gazed up at the vibrant display of greens, yellows, and reds rippling through the night sky above them.

Ashley: “O-oh my stars! What’s that?!”

Ashley gasped and gazed up at the sky with startled curiosity. Blake looked just as perplexed. Andreas turned to Ashley and Blake.

Andreas: “The end of a cycle and beginning of a new one.”

He turned to them, turning his back to Craig. Craig’s bottom lip trembled.

Madelyn: “You never saw fireworks before?”

She smiled at them. Ashley shook their head.

Ashley: “Is it Majique?”

They asked, gazing up at the sky, wide-eyed and curious.

Madelyn: “Nah, I dunno what it is though! It’s with some kind of explosives! They go BANG and then release tiny lights in the sky!”

She explained and spread her arms. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “OH! Light huh?! I could totally wield something like that then!”

They exclaimed, clasping their hands together.

Madelyn: “Really?! I’d love to see that!”

She smiled widely at them. Ashley summoned their staff, casting tiny glowing warm balls of light into the sky, trying to imitate the fireworks, but falling short in their explosive nature.

Ashley: “Happy New Sun Cycle, everyone!”

They beamed at them all. Madelyn smiled up at the light with awe. Andreas gazed up at it like a star of hope.

Blake: “Put that away, Ashley!”

He grabbed their staff from their hands.

Ashley: “Aww… I was trying to cheer up Andreas and show Madelyn something nice!”

They knitted their eyebrows. Madelyn smiled, and Ashley and Andreas turned to them. Makayla’s bottom lip trembled.

Andreas: “Thank you, Ashley, but I’m ok… better than ok.”

He quietly nodded and smiled a bit, surprised at himself. He thought he would feel sad, but he felt a sense of relief wash over him. Blake gazed at him and smiled.

Madelyn: “Good for you, walking away from the circus, Andreas!”

She cheered.

Blake: “Where will you go now?”

He asked him.

Andreas: “I don’t know; anywhere is better.”

He shrugged.

Blake: “Well, if you don’t have anywhere to stay… you can stay with us… if you want.”

He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Andreas’ eyebrows rose surprisingly. Madelyn and Ashley’s faces lit up.

Craig: “FUCK NO!”

He interjected, stamping his feet like a mad bull.

Craig: “You stay away from him! C’mon Andreas, we’re goin’ home!”

He demanded, grabbing his arm and leading him to the van.

Andreas: “NO, Craig! I’m NOT going with you!”

He snapped and yanked away from him.

Andreas: “I told you I’m DONE with you and this joke of a band!”

He reiterated. Craig knit his eyebrows, and his demeanour deflated like a balloon.

Craig: “C’mon Andreas, let’s go home ‘n talk about this!”

He pleaded with him, sliding the van door open so he could get in.

Andreas: “There’s nothing to talk about. I’ve made my decision.”

He shook his head and turned his back on him.

Makayla: “Fine, be that way! Let’s just go home, Craig! We don’t need him! He’s a TRAITOR! He tore the band apart, and he cheated on you!”

She pouted, climbing into the van. Craig trembled and clenched his fists. Andreas gaped at her.

Andreas: “You’re right, Makayla, you will be fine without me, and talking to another man is cheating apparently.”

He said dryly. Craig glared at Blake.

Craig: “YEAH, IT IS! HE WANTS TO FUCK YOU!”

He countered, pointing at Blake. Blake froze and redenned. Ashley winced awkwardly, covering their ears.

Blake: “You’re so vulgar!”

He rolled his eyes at him.

Andreas: “And you wanted to ‘fuck’ him, but he wanted to ‘fuck’ me and your ego couldn’t handle it, because he didn’t want to ‘fuck’ you.”

He said sardonically, making air quotation marks.

Andreas: “But that’s okay, there’s other guys out there who want to ‘fuck’ you at the gym, right?”

He challenged. Craig shifted his eyes.

Madelyn: “OHHHHH!”

She gasped.

Craig: “...W-who told you?!”

He stammered. Andreas paused to gape at him, confirming his intuitive suspicions.

Andreas: “You did just now!”

He laughed bitterly and shook his head at him.

Andreas: “Goodbye, Craig.”

He turned on his heel and walked down the road; Ashley, Madelyn, and Blake followed him.

Craig: “WAIT! ANDREAS!”

He hastily climbed into his van and revved up the engine. He peeled out of the driveway, following them all down the road.

Craig: “Come on, Andreas, don’t be like that! I was just joking! Can’t you take a joke?”

He pleaded with him. Andreas rolled his eyes.

Andreas: “If the joke is you. No, I can’t.”

He quipped dryly. Madelyn burst out laughing. Craig gripped his steering wheel tightly.

Craig: “W-WHAT?!”

He rasped.

Makayla: “Forget about that traitor, Craig! Come on, Ashley!”

She signalled for Ashley to get in. Madelyn laughed and shook her head at Makayla.

Ashley: “What about Blake and Madelyn and Andreas?”

They knitted their eyebrows, gazing up at them beside them.

Madelyn: “Yeah, what about us?!”

She signalled to them.

Makayla: “Forget them and come with us!”

She pleaded with them. Ashley paused and slowly shook their head.

Ashley: “Blake is my brother and Madelyn is my friend, and Andreas doesn’t want to go with you!”

They declared.

Makayla: “So?!”

She scoffed.

Madelyn: “Shoo! Shoo! They don’t want to go with you!”

She summoned her staff, waving it at her face as if she were batting away mosquitoes. Makayla recoiled and glared at Madelyn.

Blake: “FUCK OFF!”

He snapped at Craig and Makayla.

Craig: “Don’t tell ME to fuck off! YOU fuck off!”

He snapped back at him.

Andreas: “NO, You ‘fuck’ off Craig! Just go away and leave us alone!”

He snapped, holding his hand up at him. Craig’s bottom lip trembled.

Craig: “F-Fine!”

He sobbed and floored the accelerator, his tires screeching down the street as he drove off.

Andreas watched as the rusty green van disappeared into the night, leaving them behind in silence.

Andreas: “Sure, I’d be delighted to stay with you for a bit if you will have me.”

He turned to Blake and nodded. Blake’s eyes widened, and he reddened a bit.

Blake: “Of course!”

He nodded. Ashley’s eyes lit up.

Ashley: “Yay! This is gonna be fun! Welcome aboard to the Majique Manor!”

They hugged Andreas.

Andreas: “Majique Manor, huh?”

He chuckled a bit.

Madelyn: “I like it! Good thing Nari likes you, so there won’t be problems there!”

She smiled and nodded.

Ashley: “Oh? I didn’t think Nari liked anyone?”

They tilted their head.

Madelyn: “HA, ha, that’s what she WANTS you to think! Nah, she likes us and thinks we’re super cool! She just doesn’t wanna admit it!”

She declared with a grin.

Ashley: “Really? Even me and Blake?”

They asked, looking up at Blake. Blake looked away, thinking of the other day.

Madelyn: “Well, before she knew you were Sole-Wielders, she tickled you! She only tickles people she likes!”

She laughed. Ashley chuckled and reddened.

Ashley: “Oh yeah, that was fun!”

They exclaimed.

Madelyn: “And she was talking with Blake a lot when you passed out under Jacqueline’s spell, so she must like him, too!”

She added. Ashley’s eyebrows rose surprisingly, and they turned to Blake.

Ashley: “Really?! What were you talking about?”

They smiled. Blake paused.

Blake: “Oh… just house stuff…”

His voice trailed off. Andreas gave him an incredulous look. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Oh, uh, okay! That’s good!”

They scratched their head. Andreas narrowed his gaze on Blake. He’s hiding something, he thought.

Ashley: “Oh no! Where’s all the stars?! How do we get home now? ”

They spun on their heel, gazing up at the light pollution in the sky from the fireworks, blocking the stars from view.

Andreas: “Don’t worry, I know the way. Follow my lead.”

He led them towards the riverbank, towards the glowing red sign of Voyage Burger.

Ashley: “How do you know where to go without the stars?!”

They asked Andreas.

Andreas: “Because… we’ve driven these roads to here from home many times before.”

He frowned as he thought of the many nights Nuklear Intoxikation would drive to and from Hellbent and how the night would always end with Andreas driving them all home because they were too drunk.

Andreas: “So, you read the stars, huh?”

He asked Blake and Ashley.

Ashley: “Yes! The stars are all little suns guiding our souls on our life path with their Majique!”

They chirped with joy.

Blake: “It’s a celestial navigation map. There’s the Southern Cross, so that is south.”

He pointed in the direction of a bright star on the horizon through a clear patch of sky. They all looked in the direction of it.

Madelyn: “Ooh, that’s so cool! It’s old Majique!”

She exclaimed.

Blake: “It’s not Majique. Sailors and other ancient civilisations have been doing it for centuries. My dad told me that.”

He explained. Andreas smiled at him.

Andreas: “That’s pretty cool. I don’t know much about the stars, only the moon.”

He gazed up at the shining crescent moon in the sky.

Ashley: “I used to be scared of the moon as a little kid… but now I see it as something beautiful!”

They laughed, awkwardly scratching their head and gazing up at the moon. Madelyn laughed.

Madelyn: “WHAT? How could you be scared of the moon?!”

She gaped at them.

Ashley: “Because my cousin told me the moon was cursed to Sole-Wielders and that I would freeze to stone if I stood under it!”

They shuddered.

Madelyn: “Wow, what a beach!”

She shook her head.

Blake: “Yes, very.”

Andreas: “So, what made you realise she was wrong?”

He asked them.

Ashley: “Because I saw her go outside one night and she didn’t turn to stone!”

They huffed.

Andreas: “Well, the moon is about illusions, after all.”

His voice trailed off.

Andreas: “Things aren’t always what they seem and may appear differently to your perception.”

He mused.

Madelyn: “Like what?”

She pressed him.

Andreas: “...People, mostly.”

He frowned.

Madelyn: “I dunno, Craig is exactly what he seems and appears to be! If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck!”

She laughed and made duck gestures with her arms. Ashley visualised Craig as a duck in their head and giggled.

Blake: “What did you see in that asshole?”

He turned to ask him that burning question on his mind.

Andreas: “He wasn’t always an asshole… or maybe he was, but I just didn’t see it until now?”

He pondered, thinking of how Craig seemed good to him in the beginning, but over time it was like he just stopped caring, but now he wondered if he ever cared at all.

Andreas: “I was young when we met, and I guess I didn’t know better?

He began.

Andreas: “When I first moved here, I didn’t know anyone, and Craig was the only person to give me the time of day, and he liked music, too, so we made a band, and then I moved in with him and Makayla, and then I guess I got trapped? I didn’t have anyone else and nowhere else to go.”

He pursed his lips. Madelyn locked her gaze on the Voyage Burger in the distance.

Madelyn: “Oh, I get it now! You only ever had burgers from Voyage Burger, but you never tried a gourmet burger to know there’s better burgers out there, but now that you know that, you realise that burger sucks and you never wanna go back to Voyage Burger again!”

She exclaimed. Andreas paused for a moment at her abstract analogy.

Andreas: “...I never thought of it like that, but I guess so?”

Ashley chuckled.

Ashley: “Oh, there’s better burgers out there than Voyage Burger?!”

They tilted their head.

Madelyn: “Of course, Ashley! The world is full of better burgs!”

She placed her hands on their shoulders. Ashley laughed.

Madelyn: “I have much to show you about the world!”

She exclaimed. Ashley’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Ashley: “Ooh, I’d love to see it!”

They clasped their hands.

Andreas: “This way.”

He led them towards the bridge, bending across the river of twinkling lights reflecting on the water’s surface.

Madelyn: “Watch out for trolls under the bridge!”

She whispered to Ashley, placing her arms on their shoulders.

Ashley: “There’s trolls here?!”

They anxiously looked around, clinging to her arm.

Andreas: “Craig isn’t under the bridge, don’t worry.”

He said dryly. Madelyn laughed.

Madelyn: “No, no, not that kind of troll! Bridge trolls that jump out and tickle you!”

She lunged forward, grabbing Ashley and tickling their sides as they crossed to the other end of the bridge.

Ashley: “HAAHAHAHAH HEEHEEHEHEHEHE HEHEHEHEHEEEE!”

They laughed and squirmed, dropping to their knees. Their laughter echoed through the empty streets of Selene Valley. Blake rolled his eyes.

Blake: “Why do you keep doing that to Ashley?!”

He hissed at her.

Madelyn: “Because they’re super ticklish and it’s fun!”

She patted Ashley’s head.

Ashley: “Meow! That’s right!”

They beamed and marvelled at the sight before their eyes. Victorian-era buildings were encumbered by the mountains and the streets were dimly lit with a warm glow of Victorian street lamps.

Ashley: “Oooh, I wanna come back here during the day!”

They looked up at the strip of shops as they walked through the town.

Madelyn: “YES, let’s have a day out!”

She exclaimed, swinging around a lamppost.

Blake: “Ashley is not going anywhere without me!”

He interjected, folding his arms across his chest.

Madelyn: “Oh, you wanna hang out with us, too?!”

She teased, running up to the next lamppost and swinging around it.

Blake: “No, I just don’t trust you alone with Ashley!”

He countered.

Madelyn: “Fine, fine! Then I’ll invite Juniper and Nari along then, so then I won’t be alone with Ashley!”

She waved her hand and laughed. Ashley’s eyes lit up.

Ashley: “Ooh! That will be extra fun!”

Blake: “That’s not what I meant!”

He huffed.

Andreas: “Why don’t you trust them alone with Ashley?”

He asked Blake.

Blake: “It’s not just them, it’s anyone.”

He frowned. Ashley pouted.

Andreas: “Even me?”

He challenged him. Blake paused and turned to him.

Blake: “Well... I don’t know.”

He mumbled.

Blake: “It’s nothing personal, I just don’t know you well enough.”

He added.

Andreas: “So, maybe get to know them and me better then.”

He smiled a bit. Blake swung his gaze to him.

Madelyn: “Yeah, Blake, get to know Andreas better!”

She teased and nudged his arm. Ashley chuckled.

Blake: “I guess so….”

He said earnestly. Andreas smiled.

Andreas led them down a dark, tree-lined road, leading to a winding path up through the mountains.

Ashley: “W-we gotta go up through there?!”

They swallowed hard at the dark bushland surrounding them.

Andreas: “Yes. ‘Celestial Crescent’ is up there.”

He nodded, pointing up the mountain.

Ashley: “We’re gonna need some light!”

They exclaimed, summoning their staff, lighting it up like a warm lantern.

Blake: “No, Ashley, put that away!”

He sighed, waving his hand.

Andreas: “Why are you suppressing them from using their Majique?!”

He frowned.

Blake: “I’m not, I’m protecting them!”

He countered. Andreas drew a long breath, thinking of how Craig suppressed his Majique and claimed to ‘protect’ him.

Andreas: “You’re not…”

He pursed his lips. Blake paused and turned to him.

As they ventured further down the highway, they could hear faint music blaring in the distance among the trees.

Ashley: “What’s that?!”

They turned in the direction of the pounding bass through the trees.

Madelyn: “Sounds like someone’s having a party!”

She exclaimed.

Ashley: “Ooh, can we go to the party?”

They clasped their hands together.

Blake: “No, Ashley!”

He frowned and shook his head. Madelyn poked her tongue at him.

Madelyn: “Okay, Ashley, let’s go!”

She summoned her staff and took their hand. Ashley brightened and redenned to her soft grip as she led them into the woods, towards the exciting noise. Ashley giggled with excitement and adrenaline as they kicked up leaves and felt as if they were gliding through the air with her.

Blake: “HEY! NO! What are you doing?! Get back here!”

He ran after them, taken aback by how fast she was getting ahead of them. Andreas twisted his mouth when he saw them run into the dirt driveway with the broken mailbox with birthday candles crudely glued on for the numbers.

Andreas: “Oh, great. Not there.”

He groused at the mailbox. Blake turned to Andreas.

Blake: “What do you mean by that?”

He pressed him.

Andreas: “Another circus.”

He rolled his eyes. Blake frowned, not liking that answer.

Ashley and Madelyn arrived at a green weatherboard shack house submerged amongst the trees and a bonfire on the lawn with crowds of people dressed in colourful attire, a stark contrast to the denim and leather of Hellbent nightclub. Ashley looked around at the smiling and happy people and smiled, too. It reminded them of home.

Ashley: “Wow, they’re so happy they’re falling over from all their happiness!”

They remarked as they watched people stumbling and laughing.

Madelyn: “I think they’re just high and drunk, Ashley.”

She chuckled with amusement.

Ashley: “Oh? High on what?”

They tilted their head. A familiar nasally voice loomed over their shoulders.

Maxx: “Owwwh, Maxxy will get you high, baby!”

He purred at Ashley and Madelyn.

Ashley: “Oh, it’s the jester guy!”

They laughed.

Madelyn: “Oh, not you again!”

She pouted.

Maxx: “NAH-AH! I’m NOT a clown!”

He huffed, stamping his feet.

Ashley: “Oh? Then why do you dress like one?”

They pressed him, tilting their head with curiosity.

Maxx: “I’m NOT dressed like a stupid clown! I’m a sexy rebel rocker, gosh!”

He whined. Madelyn laughed at him.

Madelyn: “Hahah, okay.”

Ashley: “What are you doing here?”

They asked him.

Maxx: “This is my rockin’ pad! Wanna cum inside?! Get it?”

He gloated with a toothy grin and a wink, gesturing towards the dumpy house.

Ashley: “No thanks.”

They smiled, holding their hand up.

Maxx: “No?! What do you mean no?! Come on, ladies, there’s plenty ‘o Maxxy to go around! We can have a threesome!”

He purred. Ashley shifted uncomfortably, running their fingers through their hair.

Madelyn: “Eww, why do we need a gross clown for that? We said no, dude. Go away.”

She groused and laughed in his face.

Maxx: “Cos, you need a Sex Beest!”

He purred, pulling his pink leopard pants down his scrawny legs to reveal his tiny orange member to them, grinning at them with pride. Ashley recoiled as it felt like a neon orange light blinding their eyes.

Ashley: “WHAT IS THAT?!”

They groused. Madelyn burst out laughing.

Madelyn: “Beast? That’s a baby carrot!”

She laughed and summoned her staff.

Madelyn: “Shape shifter this drifter stifler into a baby carrot, as I will it so shall it be!”

She cackled, whacking him over the head with her staff. Suddenly, a floral breeze swept over him, transforming his crotch into a baby carrot. Ashley cupped their mouth and giggled.

Maxx: “YARRGHHH NOOOO! MY SEX BEEST!”

He screeched and bolted away from them, cupping his crotch. Trickles of laughter followed him through the party. Madelyn laughed at him.

A familiar voice approached them from the bushes behind.

Juniper: “Oh no, not again! When will he ever learn?”

She laughed. They both turned to see Juniper.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! Juniper! Happy New sun cycle!”

They beamed, hugging her.

Madelyn: “Juniper?! What are you doing here?!”

She laughed.

Juniper: “Oh, Brad brought me here… but then he just, like, left me here?”

She looked around the party. Brad huh? Ashley thought.

Ashley: “Why would he do that?”

They knitted their eyebrows.

Madelyn: “Because he’s a shaggy parasol!”

She shook her head. Ashley gazed at the flames of the bonfire, feeling a familiar energy.

Suddenly, Ashley felt a hand on their shoulder and turned to see Blake.

Blake: “ASHLEY! There you are! Let’s get out of here!”

Ashley jolted and slowly nodded.

Ashley: “Alright.”

They sighed.

~

Later, they arrived back home after a long walk through the woods.

Blake: “Don’t EVER do THAT again!”

He scolded Ashley and Madelyn, slamming the door behind them all as they entered the foyer.

Ashley: “S-sorry, Blake, but if we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have found Juniper and saved her from the bad party!”

They pleaded, stepping on their tiptoes, placing their hand on Juniper’s shoulders.

Juniper: “Everything happens for a reason.”

Madelyn: “What’s the problem? Nothing bad happened! I made sure of that with the creepy clown!”

She laughed. Blake paused.

Blake: “That creep was there?!”

His temper soared. Andreas frowned and nodded.

Andreas: “He lives there with Brad.”

He rolled his eyes. Ashley turned to him. Wow, he sure hates Brad, they pondered.

Madelyn: “Yeah, but no big deal, I turned his tiny carrot into a tiny carrot!”

She laughed and waved her hand.

Blake: “...What is THAT supposed to mean?”

He blinked mutely, not wanting to think it meant what he thought it did.

Ashley: “...Well… he showed us something really scary in his pants, and then Madelyn used her Majique to make it into a carrot ‘cause it looked like one!”

They explained, awkwardly fiddling with their hands.

Blake: “WHAT?! He did THAT?! If I EVER see that clown again, I’m going to kick his ass!”

His fury soared through the roof. Ashley pursed their lips.

Nari emerged from the basement stairs and approached them.

Nari: “So, how was the circus tonight?”

She deadpanned, and they all turned to her.

Nari: “This I need to hear.”

~

They all sat together in the backyard around the table, relaying the events of the night together.

Nari: “This is precisely why I stay home with Dalnim!”

She shook her head, petting Dalnim’s head as she rubbed up against her like a cat.

Madelyn: “Come on, Nari, where’s your sense of adventure?”

She spread out her arms.

Nari: “If adventure means being around clowns, I want no part in it.”

She shook her head. Blake twisted his mouth thinking of Maxx.

Andreas: “Neither do I...”

He frowned at the dumpy white weatherboard house next door, regretting not leaving sooner. I’m not going to be that man anymore, he thought to himself. There’s got to be something more and better out there, he thought to himself, gazing up at the skies. From the corner of his eye, he could feel the gaze of deep blue eyes on him and turned to see Blake sitting beside him.