The Mad One: Part One (rough draft)

In the City of Red Tide, far from the Grand Hall, in a stretch of buildings known as the Broken Nails, there is a small restaurant. From the outside, the small establishment looked like any other of the Broken Nail buildings. It was narrow, squat, and had a garden growing on the roof. The sign out front advertised the place as the ‘Happy Bunny’, with a small cartoon of a bunny waving eagerly for patrons to come inside. This is where the place was different from the rest of the Broken Nails. Inside was not much different, but it was the contents it held which made it different.

Inside the Happy Bunny, behind the counter, inside the kitchen, was a woman with a height that was a tad over six feet, a physique built to make statues cry, and a face like a cherub. It wasn’t her appearance that made her special, although some would beg to differ. No, this business owner was different because of who she is, where she was born, and what will be happening to her.

This woman’s name is Madelyn, and though her body is hardened by years of effort, covered by scars well earned, and maintains a smile as shining as the sea, she will strike you down if you call her that. She prefers to go by Mad One. Not Maddie. Not Lyn. Just Mad One. I bet you’re wondering now why her charming little eatery is called ‘Happy Bunny’ when she insists on being called Mad One. Well, Mad One wasn’t alwaysalso a cook, she had once been one of the most powerful thaumaturgists of the City of Red Tide. In fact, Mad One was a princess, daughter of the even more powerful Red Witch, Queen of the Red Tide. Sounds like a lot to cover, so let’s begin.

Mad One was cleaning the kitchen, preparing for the day like always. For the past few years she had taken up residence in the Broken Nails, creating her restaurant, and distancing herself away from the life she knew before. Having once been the next in line for the throne, she had been doted on, and been expected to become even more powerful than her mother, Red Witch. Mad One was said to be blessed by magic, as if she was chosen to be something even more than her mother. But this was what Mad One was trying to forget. She was more focused on the food she cooked, and the few strands of gray hair that had appeared in her part. Although she was fretting such a thing, her husband assured her it was nothing, and that one day, a mane of silver hair would suit her.

Yes, Mad One was married, happily so to a LA-Pin Unit, a special series of automatons that ran on excess magic debris in the air. Because of this, the LA-Pin Units had their own personalities, minds, and were to a degree conscious depending on the amount of debris in the air. Thanks to Mad One’s gifts, her husband was exceptionally special too. Huni Buni, as he was called, was the same height as his wife with his ears, but his head was at level with his wife’s bosom. Something he enjoyed immensely. Huni Buni was supportive of his wife, and of her endeavours to distance herself from what was once their home. Without him, Mad One would have been lost during her recovery. The restaurant had been named after him, as Mad One was so grateful for Huni Buni’s love and loyalty.

You see, Huni Buni hadn’t been Mad One’s only partner. Before she left her home, as the heir to the throne, Mad One had several partners. In the Cities it was expected for the Queens to have several husbands or wives to show their strength, power, and unity with the other cities. But, before Mad One left home, they all had left her. But that is both behind and too soon to explain. Anyways, Mad One was cleaning in the kitchen and worrying about the gray in her hair. Huni Buni was coming from their upstairs apartment, dressed in the uniform he made for himself. Small pink dress, little frilly apron, and a small hat that wrapped around the base of his ears.

“We’re going to be busy today, I just feel it!” He says, his voice having a slight metallic ring to it. Most of his body was a pearly pink, but his face was a monitor that often projected images of a pixelated face.

“We’re never busy,” Mad One replies simply. “We have our regulars and then we’re lucky.” She throws the carafe into the coffee maker without looking and it begins to boil water immediately.

Huni Buni leans over the counter to the look at her. “You have to have a little hope, my love, or else, what are we even here for?”

Mad One looks at him, not annoyed, not pressed, but gently. She smiles slightly, the scar on her lip tugs tight, pulling the corner of her lip down slightly. “You know why.” She dips down, kissing the smooth screen of his face. “It’s quiet.”

Huni Buni sighs softly, images of hearts flickering on his face monitor. “But if we are busy-”

“That’s a big ‘if’.” Mad One chuckles. “Aside from the others in the Broken Nails, what do you expect to happen today? Some caravan from another City? Thaumaturgists coming to challenge Red Witch?”

“Well,” Huni Buni mumbles under his breath. “I just feel like there is something going to happen today!”

Mad One smirks down at him, giving him a wink. “You look very cute today.”

Huni Buni huffs and slaps his hand to his chest. “I am always cute.”

“Yes you are,” Mad One giggles. “So why don’t you use that adorableness to go lure some unsuspecting customers to my cooking?”

Huni Buni’s tail twitches underneath his skirt. “Yes, my darling love. I will go and be cute to the masses. Will that make you jealous?”

“No,” Mad One blows him a kiss. “I like it when people find my husband to be the cutest LA-Pin unit in the whole City.”

Huni Buni’s screen flashes hues of red and pink. “You’re trying to get a rise out of me! It will work.” He blows a kiss back before stepping outside the door to set up the signs.

Mad One’s smile fades slowly, not because of Huni Buni, but because she mentioned her mother. Part of her knew being here was the right thing, but she still longed for her mother and family like any child would. She had adored her life in the Grand Hall, it was great. She had lots of fathers and other mothers who doted upon her, lots of siblings she got to play with. But, it was a sibling that was the problem. Mad One turned to the griddle to take her mind away from those thoughts. She began frying and egg, if only to focus on making it the most perfect sunny side up egg ever.

The door opened and closed with the chiming of bells, and since Mad One Expected Huni Buni to be the one who opened the door, she did not look away from her egg. So when a man sat down at the counter, Mad One was quite surprised. She looked up from her griddle, and for a split second, her mind short circuited. The hissing and sizzling pop from the griddle would have been the exact sound her brain made as she looked at this man. Huni Buni came back in, not having seen anyone enter. He stood still, also surprised by who had come into the Happy Bunny.

“It's good to see you,” the man said with a nervous, uncertain, smile. “You look well. I’m glad.”

“Dad,” Mad One stood erect, staring down at the man who had the same hair as she did, the same cherubic features. “What are you doing here?”

Her father sighed heavily. His eyes were red and swollen, there was a plaidness to his skin that suggested lack of sleep. “She’s dead, Mad One.”

Mad One’s eyes opened up, unblinking, her jaw fell from it’s hinge but she quickly picked it up to swallow. “Dad-”

“Father Adlai?” Huni Buni’s screen went completely blank and black.

“No one is aware yet,” he tried to clear his throat. “We’ve kept it secret to protect the Ride Tide. But, we need you to come home.”

Mad One shook her head slowly. “I can’t, not what happened after-” She was trying hard to process this, to react in a way. Her mother was dead. “What happened?” She finally asked, not able to confront her reasons for leaving. “Mom was so strong, so healthy. What could have possibly-”

“You sister,” Adlai said simply. “She came back.”

Mad One’s heart could have stopped and she wouldn’t have noticed. “Sasha?” She said this like something had wrapped long, spindly fingers around her lungs and squeezed really hard. Huni Buni came to her side, placing one hand upon her back, while gripping her hand with the other.

“She got into a fight with Red Witch over the succession,” Adlai replied, keeping his voice low and quiet. “It turned ugly when Sasha didn’t get the answer she wanted.”

Mad One swallowed down something hard in her throat. “Where is she now?”

“It was chaos when Red Witch died. Sasha was able to escape. I’m not sure where, but I would suspect she went back to the Island of Corpses, like she did before.”

Mad One was reminded of the grill and she looked down at the little egg she had been cooking which was becoming more brown and burnt around the edges. She took it quickly off the grill, but her hand was shaking so bad, it dropped and splatted upon the ground.

“Don’t worry about it,” Huni Buni tried to coax.

“I know it is a lot to ask of you to come back, but the rest of your parents and siblings agreed you should come home. Even after your defeat, you were still the one Red Witch wanted as her heir.”

Mad One walked around the counter, sitting down beside her father with her head hung down. It was then she missed having long hair so she could hide her face. “Sasha beat me, I can’t come back. All I have is Huni Buni-”

Adlai put his hand over his child’s and squeezed tight. “She killed your mother, she killed our Queen. The City of Red Tide has nothing, and your whole family agrees that you are the only one who should rule.”

Mad One isn’t processing anything. Her mind is stuck, repeating and stuck on it’s record player. “But Sasha took all my partners. How can I rule with only Huni Buni?”

“Just come home,” Adlai urged. “Your family is in danger. Sasha will come back, she will try to take us all out. She knows she won’t be accepted like you. She will take the Grand Hall and all of Red Tide by force.”

“She beat me-”

“If you let her!” Huni Buni suddenly snapped. “No one said you couldn’t fight her again. No one said you were defeated forever. Only you did!”

“But everyone left me-” Mad One’s voice cracked.

“Because they were faithless morons! Your partners were attracted to the power and you let them leech! When you were dying, none of them stayed because they were afraid of losing their comfort. Not you! I was terrified I wouldn’t have my wife, my best friend, and they all ran away with Sasha because she was the next big meal ticket!” Huni Buni’s screen flashing red with a frowning black face. “You deserve better than them even if you had won! And I am tired of you bemoaning them! They didn’t leave because you were unworthy, they left because they were!”

That suddenly broke the dam and Mad One began to weep. Her mother was dead, her sister had caused it, and her family wanted her home. She left with Adlai, and Huni Buni wore a red dress for mourning.

Mad One had not been home for years, but nothing had changed. Everything was as she remembered it. Her childhood, her adolescence, all had been spent in the Grand Hall of the City of Red Tide. Her siblings greeted her eagerly, hugging her until every tear was spilt. She kisses her fathers and other mothers, all before coming to the door of her mother’s chambers. She thought to herself how many times she had come to these doors, seeking her mother, wanting comfort or to sit upon her lap, to watch her mother simply out of the awe and love she had for her.

Mad One stepped inside through a crack, afraid to open the door too wide. She gazed at the bed where her mother was laid out, surrounded by a thick cloud of her magic debris. It hadn’t left her yet. Mad One slowly approached, looking down at her mother who looked so much unlike herself, but was painfully recognizable.

“You came home.” The magic debris whispered. “I’m glad.”

Mad One’s eyes filled with tears, and her chest hurt too much to speak.

“I just wish I had been here when you returned.”

Laying her head upon the bed, Mad One began to weep uncontrollably.

“I’m glad you’re here regardless. I’ll be going soon. Out into the world, spreading myself out to all the corners,” the magic debris sighed dreamily. “It will be nice.”

“I’m so sorry-” Mad One wept.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Madelyn. I wish I had reached out sooner. But I know the pride we both hold. It’s all so silly now.” The magic debris shifts, becoming less thick and breaking apart. “I’ve been laughing a lot since I died.”

“You laughed a lot alive,” Mad One whimpered.

“Laughing and crying are sort of similar in a way. Both are healing.” The magic debris is spreading out through the room. “Madelyn dear, could you open the window for me?”

Mad One gazed up, slightly terrified. “Now?”

“I know. But you will be able to find me everywhere now, my darling. Is Huni Buni still with you?”

Mad One wiped at her eyes. “Please, Mama-”

“You know this is the way. My debris goes out upon the winds, it spreads, it brings life into the earth. It keeps magic flowing strong. And let’s face it, there is a lot of me to go around.” The magic debris presses to the window, clouding up the glass. “It’s time, Madelyn that I repay our ancestors.”

Mad One stood up and stared to the clouded window. “I haven’t been called Madelyn in years.” At the window, she undid the latch and opened it wide. The debris floated out into the air, catching a breeze and creating a trail that spiraled up into the sky.

“I was the only one who could.” The voice became thinner and fainter. Eventually vanishing as the debris left the room.

Mad One stood there, gazing up into the beyond as the cloud flickered with red lightning. That was it then, Red Witch was dead, but now she was everywhere. After a while of sitting in the bed room, Mad One left, going to find her family gathered in the throne room. They looked at her expectantly, but Mad One could only gaze back at them with uncertainty in return.

“I don’t know how I can take her seat,” Mad One spoke with uncertainty. “How I can stand where she stood. But you all seem to think I can so-” She took a deep breath before the throne filled her gaze. “I will not take it until Sasha has been dealt with.”

A ripple of murmurs filled the room and Huni Buni came from the crowd to take her hand. He looked at her, screen blank save for two wide, pink eyes. “What are you going to do?”

“I am going to travel to the Island of One Thousand Corpses and defeat her. I will also find new partners, so that when I return, my power will be seen before I sit upon the throne of Red Tide.” Mad One stiffened her jaw. “I just ask you to wait until I return.”

Adlai separated from the crowd. “Then who will hold Red Tide until then?”

Mad One put on a smile. “I have many sisters, surely there is one of you willing to hold the city up until I can return? Dead Eye? Perhaps even Strawberry?”

A sister stepped from the others. “How long will you be gone?”

Mad One shook her head. “I cannot say for certain. Could be a long time.” She then held her hand out to this sister. “But I promise I will return this time, Dead Eye.”

Dead Eye took Mad One’s hand and glared at her. “You best do that, because if Sasha comes back to this door, then Red Tide is doomed.”

“I’m sure she is aware that I will be coming, nownot that Mom’s debris is in the air, I’m sure she’s waiting.” Mad One smiled and shook Dead Eye’s hand, creating a circle of glyphs around their hands, which spun and spun until they settled down upon their skin to create and lock the promise.

“It’s your word now.” Dead Eye sniffed.

“It’s our bond. I will leave in the morning. Tonight I would like to see my family and celebrate the life of Red Witch.” She then walked back into the arms of her family. After that, she did not know how long it would be until she saw them again.

As the evening wore on, Mad One sat in company of some of her parents, discussing which route would be best to go. It was agreed upon that she would travel in the Neon City where she would try to win favor of the Neon Acolytes and find her first new partner there.