Volume I: Forged

Chapter 27: This is My Circus, These are My Monkeys

"Schlatt, no—" Bad whined, putting his foot down. A gentleman from a nearby both gave him a look, but minded his own business.

"Lighten up, demon," Schlatt rolled his eyes, looking down as Tubbo grabbed his hand, the little avian's eyes wide at the swirling crowd. The normally obnoxious boy was uncharacteristically quiet and subdued—probably worn out after the two weeks of non-stop traveling.

"You lighten up!" Bad pouted, crossing his arms and pulling his cloak tighter around his shoulders, pale fingers gripping the dark fabric.

"Bad's just grumpy because he wants his emotional-support Skeppy," Punz scoffed, moving to step in front of Tubbo to help him hide while glaring at a nearby group of travelers that were staring at Tubbo just a little too much for his liking. The boy's wings, though they shouldn't be visible to non-hybrids, were securely hidden away under a thick bee-striped cloak that had been a gift from Schlatt.

"And you're not missing Ponk at all," Bad grumped, giving Punz the stink-eye.

"Knock it off," Sam suddenly broke in, electric-green eyes carefully scanning the crowd for any possible danger. "I've had enough of your arguing."

"Sam—?" Tubbo poked his head out from Schlatt's grey cloak he had wrapped himself up in. "Can we go somewhere else? I don't like it here—"

Schlatt huffed, but picked the kid up to help him get some height as Sam chuckled at the look on his face.

"Yeah, let's go to the circus," Sapnap pointed to the gaudy poster on the lamppost.

...

Phil had sent his six sons—Sam, Schlatt, Punz, Tubbo Bad, and Sapnap—on a mission.

An old friend of Phil's had sent a raven to the Minecraft home with a note about a month ago.

The friend had information.

Sensitive information.

Phil had sent his boys to retrieve that information.

From El Tortura.

It was a two weeks journey one way on horseback though some of the nicer territory of the Kingdom. Mostly flat, with wide paths and roads and lower-than-average bandit activity. Safe enough that Phil had allowed Tubbo to go along with—much to Tommy's jealousy, Ranboo's chagrin, Jack's petulance, Charlie's annoyance, and Purpled's anxiety—under the promise of his older brothers that they would keep him safe.

Now, the packet of papers was securely tucked in the bottom of Sam's bag, disguised as old sandwich wrappers.

All they had to do was get back home.

Easy enough, right?

No.

Schlatt and Sapnap wanted to go to the circus.

...

"This is a dumb idea, I'm calling it now," Bad groaned, playing nervously with the back of Tubbo's cloak, the little avian sitting on Sapnap's shoulders in front of Bad to help the boy get some air.

"Yes Bad, we know—" Sam sighed, wondering how he let his brothers convince him into doing this. The line was moving pathetically slow—the crowd was rude and jostling them at every angle. The air smelled thick with sweat and body odor, and the dim lighting was giving him a headache.

"What'd you expect?" Tubbo pointed out, tapping Sapnap's fluffy hair as he spoke. "It was Sapnap's idea after all."

"Ima sell you to the circus," Sapnap growled, "that's what Ima do."