The Rabbit that Wanted to Help: Balan Wonderworld & Vib Ribbon/Ripple Crossover

Ch. 2: The Mysterious Theater

Vibri knew that she was in another world the moment she shut the door behind her. Particularly, one of the many that was completely multicolored and 3d. Vibri's lines glowed a bright white as she looked around with wonder. 

The entryway looked very quaint, with wooden chairs with comfortable looking red cushions, and small side tables. Each table had a beautiful vase on it, holding peculiar but pretty rainbow flowers. There were also a few small shelves with a few books in them. Vibri noticed that these books were actually play scripts, and essays on interpretation of some famous plays. The floor was a tiled black & white checkerboard. 

The sun shone brightly through the windows of this room, and the wooden door to the next room was open. As Vibri was about to cautiously wander in, she noticed the empty ticket booth next to the door. 

"[I really am in a theater,]" Vibri whispered to herself, still cautious, but filled with excitement. 

She wandered up to get a closer look at the booth. It looked pretty standard, with an old-fashioned cash register, a ticket printer, and a light-up sign. However, there was also a printed note:

Hello! We're so excited to meet you, Vibri! 

Please come in, he's waiting for you in the next room. 

Sincerely, the Cast

And all over this note, were the hand-scribbled signatures of all 81 or so cast members. 

(Side note: Vibri can read, write, and understand all languages, she just prefers to speak Japanese, the language of her world.) 

"[He's waiting for me?]" Vibri asked herself. "[What's going on? He who? ]"

Desperate to answer her own question, she crept up, hiding around the doorframe, and took a peek into the next room. 

That room could be described as a waiting room of sorts, with tables, chairs and a calming, friendly atmosphere. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, bathing the room in the same amber glow as before. Then Vibri held in a gasp as she saw who was waiting for her. 

The lanky figure was sitting on one of the chairs mentioned earlier facing away from the door, calmly observing a light blue, faceted teardrop gem. He wore a dramatic white and red magician's costume, and the white fabric faintly reflected rainbow colors. Mint green dreadlocks protruded from under his white hat with a red band, and his sleeves, pant legs, and gloves had golden accents. There were also red ruffles at the end of his pants and his sleeves. It was all very extravagant, and Vibri realized this guy must be the head of the theater she was in. 

It was a shock to Vibri when the person noticed her in the reflection of the gem. "Eyah-oh?" 

Vibri trembled both in fear and curiosity as the figure slowly stood up, then suddenly whirling around and striking a pose in front of her. "Well, hello, little one... and WELCOME!"

Letting out a startled "EEK!" Vibri shapeshifted into a frog and hid under a side table in the other room.  "Oh, dear me..." the tall figure dropped his pose, walked over, and sat in the chair next to Vibri's side table. 

"Sorry, I don't mean you any harm," he looks underneath the table (causing Vibri to transform into a caterpillar), "Vibri Vector, was it? 'Tis both and an honor and pleasure to meet someone of such young charm, such sharp wit." 

Vibri's first thought was of the figure's habit of rhyming. Then she thought, [Holy crap, his golden eyes are peeking out of his hat band like a mask!]

And it was true: the figure did wear his hat like a mask. The rest of his face was completely black, except for a completely harmless, friendly-looking grin. His jacket also had a small white-tailed cape with a golden border, and his jacket collar also sported golden trim and swirl accents as well as a red cravat with a golden border and gold Fleur de Lis insignia. Underneath the jacket was a black vest with gold buttons, also with the same insignia. 

Vibri gave a nervous, embarrassed chuckle. "[Yeah, that's me.]" Reserving some caution as well as mustering up some respect, she crawled out from underneath the table and turned back into her normal rabbit form. "[So, um, not to sound rude or anything, ha-ha! but an explanation would be nice, if you please.]" 

"Of course!" It seemed the figure understood Japanese, but spoke in English, which was fine with Vibri. He took a small bow while plucking a small card from out of thin air and gave it to her. "Please, take my business card, here. The name's Balan, and I am the Maestro of this magic Theater. It bears the same name as me, I think you can see." 

[Of course,] Vibri thought. On the wall above the door to the waiting room hung a banner which read in colorful cursive script: Welcome to the Balan Theater! We hope you enjoy your visit in here and in Wonderworld beyond! 

[Except, what's Wonderworld? Is this theater a doorway to another dimension?]

"That's it in a nutshell, yes." [Holy crap he can read my thoughts.]  "But of course you are clever enough to guess. Wonderworld shapes itself around the hearts and experiences of those who visit. I use their stage, as it is called, to help them through what trouble's got them in debt. 

"As for why you are here, I heard you had a predicament, a theory that upset you. I want to help you move past it, like in that race you do."

"[Oh. So you also heard the realization that I made? That I might be... ]" Vibri's ears drooped a bit, "[ ...alone?]"

Balan sighed. "Of course I did, my dear. I always know when the heart cries out in fear. It's what led me to you, and the power that lies in your Soul so true." 

He gently puts his long arm on Vibri's shoulders, leading her through the other room, through the amber glowing hallway ahead of it to a set of double doors with a small sign that said, Main Auditorium. Two other hallways branched off to her right and left from these doors, one of which Vibri assumed, led to the dressing rooms behind the scenes. But Balan walked in front of her vision and crouched down to her eye level with a reassuring smile on his face. 

"I know that you feel lonely, but with a show, a chat, and perhaps a song, my dear, I want to prove your theory completely wrong." 

The doors to the auditorium swung open, and Vibri was guided into a chair at the front of the stage. "So, Vibri, feel free to sit down and settle in." Balan paused to check a golden pocket watch. "I do believe it's time, so..." suddenly as quick as greased lightning, he raced up the stage's set of stairs and snapping his fingers. As the lights turned off and the spotlights turned on, downstage-and-center to where Balan struck a pose. Vibri's crystalline eyes widened, her heart beat faster. 

"LET THE SHOW BEGIN!!!"