Earth's Greatest Circus Proudly Presents,

Fortunata: the luckiest of origins.

An origin is a beginning but where does someone begin? Those of us in the troupe would say our beginning, our true origin can be summed up in one word: Circus.

For us Circus is more than just the suspended bars and taut line you see above you, it's more than the name of any act, more than any single acrobat. Which by the way I overheard one of you earlier struggling with a-cro-bat but don't worry about it! Some of our youngest stumble on it too (pun intended) and you know what I say? Whatever you call them they still fly!

And that's the thing to remember.

Many of us where born here, many of us joined during the journey across the stars but regardless of how we came under its loving wings for all of us Circus is where we are, where we transform ourselves, where we express ourselves, where ourselves reach out to yourselves and together we will have the greatest fortune bestowed upon us.

Ladies and gentlemen, beings of all ages we welcome you to our home, the one and only. Circus!

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This is a short story that through the innocent eyes of one of its initiates introduces Circus — an art long extinct, or one might say selectively forgotten.

While this tale preludes events in the main series — and so is enhanced by having read it — it may be read as a standalone.