It was a normal hot July day for all the freaks in Coney Island. Though to Lucy, this felt like the hottest July she'd ever felt. But Lucy could only guess the actual temperature, because she was blind. Not entirely blind though, she could see shadows, make out the dark outlines of people as they passed through the light.

But in the shaded, dark tent where the freaks were kept, the world was dark to her, and she could see nothing. "There are some new freaks coming today I heard" a young voice spoke from her side. She recognized the voice of Ariel Fleck, her best friend, who, of all people to be stuck in a cage with, she was grateful it was her.

Lucy sighed "Yes, I know. I wonder what is wrong with these ones that they are coming here to be stuck like the rest of us" she said sadly. Ariel nudged her gently "There's nothing wrong with being different" she told her gently, Lucy blinked, or at least she thought she did "At least you can see though" was all she replied with.

She listened quietly as people began to enter the tent, signaling the start of the day. She could tell from the amount of voices that there weren't that many people here, not yet anyway. She listened as Ariel shuffled around the cage and began showing her backwards leg to people. Lucy wondered what it looked like, she could only see from it's dark outline that it didn't bend the right way.

"Daddy! How much longer do we have to sit here?" Ariel called over to the cage next to theirs. Lucy couldn't help but smile as she recognized the growly voice of Ariel's father answer "A couple hours. It's not even noon yet baby". Ariel flopped into the straw beside her "That stinks, that means it's only going ot get hotter!" she moaned.

Lucy chuckled "Well at least we're in the shade of a tent, and not out in the blaring sun" she reminded her, to this Ariel only huffed "Bet there'd be a lot more to see outside this tent though" she replied. "There isn't much out there Ariel. From what I can hear, there's nothing but noise and crowds out there" Lucy told her simply.

Suddenly Ariel stood up and went over to the front of the cage as two ladies, from the sounds of their voices, came through. Ariel showed them her leg, but she could hear one of the ladies speaking to her "What's wrong with your friend dear? She looked normal to me" one of them said.

Another voice, the other lady, spoke next "No Mary, look at her eyes. They're not focused on anything. Just staring straight ahead" she remarked. She crawled forward til she could feel Ariel next to her "That's right miss, I'm blind" she told them "But if there were light I'd be able to see your shadows" she informed them.

She didn't realize how close she'd come to the front of the cage until she felt one of the ladies hand's reach through the bars of the cage and take her hand. She pressed something into it "Here you two girls go. Make sure to keep it safe" they told the two freaks. They nodded eagerly "We will" they assured before the ladies left.

Luzy scooted backwards so she was away from the front of the bars. Ariel took Lucy's hand and took whatever object had been placed there "What is it?" Luzy asked curiously. Ariel laughed "Oh it's a little toy soldier. How handsome he is!" she said, placing it back in Lucy's hands.

She wrapped her hand around it carefully, feeling it all around and finding it's face "Yes, I'm sure he looks very handsome" she murmered, almost sadly. She'd gotten used to things like this though, recieving small toys and other things from people, but not ever being able to see them.

Finally the day ended, she knew because the noise outside got louder but the noise inside the tent was much quieter. Ariel went to the side of the cage and began speaking with her father, who was in the cage next to them "Daddy did you see what we got? A toy soldier! Isn't he nice?" she asked.

"Yes he's fine" her father replied gruffly. They were cut off by their master entering the tent "Alright freaks! The new arrivals are here! May I intoduce to you Mr. Y, and Mr. De Rossi" he announced. Lucy crawled forward towards her master's voice until the hit the bars of the cage.

Her master laughed at her "Watch where you're going Lucy" he mocked. She sat and bowed her head shamefully, what must the new arrivals think of her now that she'd already made a fool of herself? She was surprised to hear the cage next to theirs open, and someone being pushed in.

She became even more surprised when their own cage was opened, and someone entered, the door slammed shut behind them "Rest up freaks! We're not earning nearly as much as we should. Tomorrow you better put on a show!" he barked.

Lucy trembled slightly and waited until she was sure he was gone before feeling on the ground and looking for Ariel. She found her friend at the side of their cage, she seemed to be looking at something interesting in her father's cage "Well Daddy, looks like you got a new cagemate!" she said cheerfully.

Her father grunted "Yes, looks like I won't be so lonely anymore" he replied to his daughter. Lucy wished there was more light in the tent so she could see him, who had been placed into his cage? Mr. Y or Mr. De Rossi? Ariel answered her question for her when she called out "Hello Mr. De Rossi! I'm Ariel!".

Quietly, they waited for an answer, but they recieved none. Lucy could hear Ariel's father move around his cage, probably to approach this Mr. De Rossi "Well?" he growled. The man, still didn't speak. Lucy jumped and hit the bars of the cage again when a voice spoke out from directly behind her "He's mute" it simply said.

So, she thought, if Mr. De Rossi was next door, that must mean that Mr. Y fellow was in their cage. Lucy suddenly felt very nervous, a man in their cage? Sometimes she felt her master was just too cruel. But maybe this man was nice, and had no bad intentions like she thought.

She turned and patted around until she found something behind her. She patted around some more andn began to move up it's front. She knew she reached his chest when she could feel his heart thumping against her palm. Suddenly a hand grabbed her wrist, and gently held it before she could reach his face "You're blind aren't you" he said simply.

Lucy sighed sadly "Yes, I'm blind" she replied. He patted her hand "Well, let me just inform you now, that you are not to touch my face" he told her, his words weren't harsh or angry sounding, but they were firm. Lucy swallowed a bit nervously "Can I just touch it once? It would help me get to know you better" she said in a small voice.

He gently took her hand and moved it up until she was touching the side of his face. He guided her hand gently and she nearly reeled back in surprise when her hand touched cold porcelin "You're wearing a mask, on the right side of your face" she commented.

Once he'd decided she'd felt enough he lowered her hand back down "Yes, and you will never feel that side of my face without the mask there" he told her gently "It's better that way". Lucy pulled her hand away from this Mr. Y fellow and crawled until she hit the bars at the other end of the cage. Feeling for her corner, she repiled the straw and curled up.

Sometimes it was hard to tell whether her eyes were open or closed, because either way there was nothing but darkness. Especially at night, when there is no light to even let her see a shadow. She felt around until she found her stuffed pony, a treasure she'd kept with her since the day her mother had given her to the freak show.

"Well it was nice meeting you Mr. Y, I will hear you in the morning" she said sleepily before closing her eyes, and falling asleep. The next morning she could feel Ariel curled up close to her, but Mr. Y was nowhere near them from what she could feel "Where is he?" Lucy whispered.

Ariel rolled over "Hm?" she asked sleepily "Where did he sleep last night?" Lucy whispered again. She could tell it was very early in the morning, and she hoped this Mr. Y fellow was still sleeping, or at least couldn't hear here. Ariel sighed "He slept in the opposide corner. Now would you let me sleep a little more? There's not even light outside the tent!" Ariel told her.

Lucy crawled over Ariel "Nah, I'd like to stay up now. You go ahead and sleep though. I'll wake you when it's close to opening. She listened as Ariel moved into where she'd just been lying "Alright" she muttered drowsily before she fell silent.

Sighing, Lucy pulled her knees up to her chest and listened to the sounds outside the tent. Seagulls chattering, ocean waves crashing against the beach, workers sweeping the boardwalk in preperation for the guests, the roller coaster being pulled up the lift hill in a test run.

This was broken by the sound of someone moving behind her. She sighed "Good Morning Mr. Y" she said quietly. She felt as he moved and sat beside her "How did you know it was me?" he asked her, she shrugged "Ariel insisted on sleeping longer. And you are quite larger than her. So when you move around it's easy to tell the different in mass" she replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

He seemed interested though, and continued to ask her things "Do you see anything?". She sighed "No, not here in this tent. It's too dark, but if there were some light in here. I'd be able to make out shapes and outlines of people. They look like shadows" she explained.

They sat in silence until Lucy suddenly sprung to her hands and knees, hearing the familiar noises associated with opening. She turned and crawled around the cage, her shoulder knocking into the bars of the cage and hurting her.

Finally she reached who she was looking for "Ariel! Ariel the park is opening. You gotta wake up now" she told her, shaking her friend. Ariel moaned and turned over "Tell them to wait five more minutes!" she told her, Lucy shook her harder "Do I need to tell your daddy?" she asked.

At this Ariel sprung up and ran over to the middle of the cage, plotting down next to Mr. Y "Good Morning Mr. Y!" she said quickly as she began to brush the straw off her dress and comb her fingers through her hair. Lucy huffed and crawled back over, feeling around until she found someone, Ariel, and sat down next to her.

Once Ariel was done grooming herself as best she could she began to work on her friend "You slept restlessly! There's so much straw in your hair!" she commented. Finally she finished, and just in time. Once she was seated she turned to Mr. Y "Hey! You're gonna have to take your mask off now!" she said, sounding excited.

Mr. Y however, did not share her enthusiasm "You won't be so thrilled at it when I take it off" he told her, sounding almost regretful. Lucy turned her head to where his voice had come from, so that her blank, empty eyes were at least directed at him "We're all freaks here Mr. Y, There's nothing too horrible for us" she told him.

His movements were slow and shaky as he reached up to his face. Lucy could feel Ariel trembling with anticipation as he quickly pulled the mask off his face. She gasped "Wow! It's so interesting looking! That's the neatest deformity I've ever seen. Much more interesting than mine, I mean, a backwards leg? Nothing compares to you!" she told him.

"I'm hidious!" he told them, turning away and covering his face with his hands. Lucy crawled and felt around, coming to the other side of him "Mr. Y, you're not hidious. Look around you, all us freaks, we're not hidious. We're unique, one of a kinds. And one of a kinds are the most valuable" she told him gently.

She felt his hand take hers "You speak with well meaning. But I'm a monster, and, and you're no better off than I am! You should be grateful that you're blind and cannot see my shameful ugliness!" he told her, almost harshly. This, was too much for her and she scrambled away from him, running into the bars of the cage until she found her corner, where she curled up and began to cry.

Grateful to be blind? She accepted she was blind, but to be grateful for such a thing? Why would she be grateful? If she could see she'd be the happiest girl on the face of the planet, she'd never ask for anything ever again.

Suddenly she heard Ariel's voice "That wasn't very nice! You made a poor girl cry! It's not your face that sends people running! It's your rotten personality!" she scolded him, as though he were five years old. Before any of them could say anymore the first waves of people began to enter the tent.

Lucy stayed curled up in the curner, burying her face so nobody could see her eyes. She stayed that way, simply listening to the crowds gawking and laughing at Ariel, Mr. Y, and the rest of the freaks who shared the tent with her. It was towards the end of the day, when she park was beginning to close, that she realized her mistake.

Before she could try to cover up she heard the master enter the tent "LUCY!" he yelled harshly, coming to stand in front of their cage. She lifted her head and looked at him, beginning to tremble "Y... Yes sir?" she asked, fear creeping into her little voice.

She scrambled to where his voice came from, running face first into the bars of the cage by the door. In a split second she heard the door of their cage open, and felt him grabbing the collar of her dress, yanking her out of the cage and throwing her to the ground.

"Not sick or injured are you?" he demanded. She swallowed, shaking horribly as she answered "N... No Sir!" she replied. She couldn't tell where he was, which only added to her fear. Suddenly his foot connected with her stomach and she doubled over on the dirt ground "Then WHY WEREN'T YOU SHOWING OFF?" he demanded.

He didn't give her a chance to answer, and she could hear his whip as it cracked above her head, and then began to come in contact with her little body. She cried out in pain, the other freaks were silently watching, but she knew from listening to other freaks get beaten, that they were all horrified.

After what seemed like an eternity, he grabbed her harshly by the collar and threw her back in the cage "That'll teach you to not work! Hope this is a lesson to you all! Especially you two new ones. If you don't work, you'll be whipped!". With that the master stormed out of the tent, and the freaks began to quietly murmur to each other.

"Lucy!" she heard Ariel call worriedly. Lucy couldn't move, and she could hardly breath. The smallest movements left her in agony "How bad is she?" a voice called from one end of the cage. It was their other neighbor, a small midget named Dorothy "How much blood?".

Ariel began poking her body, which caused Lucy to whimper in pain "A bit, it seems to have stopped though. Throw us a wet cloth to clean her up though" Ariel answered after a while. The fire eater, who was a couple of cages down, wet a cloth and passed it down.

Lucy cried out as she felt the cold wet cloth touch her stinging wounds. Ariel hushed her "Shhh, if you cry out too much he'll come back and we'll get in more trouble. Hold still now" she told her gently. She tried again and Lucy wriggled away, yelping in pain "Stop! It hurts!" she cried.

For the first time all evening Lucy heard Mr. Y's voice "Let me try" he said gently. Lucy trembled in fear as the cloth was pressed against her wounds. She began to wimper again, but Mr. Y's touch was gentle as he cleaned her "I'm sorry child, if I hadn't said those things before this wouldn't have happened to you" he said sadly.

Now that she'd been given a chance to calm down, and she hurt less, she spoke "It's not your fault Mr. Y, I should have known better. I knew what would happened if I didn't do what I was supposed to" she replied quietly. He stopped dabbing her wounds for a moment "You mean this has happened before?" he asked.

She nodded "Oh yes, lots of times. But our master doesn't beat us as badly as some others do. I heard at one of the other freak shows their master beat one of the freaks until he didn't cry out anymore. He bled to death in his cage" she informed him.

Lucy sighed "This is more my fault than yours Mr. Y, I get so frustrated over being blind. So when you said I should be grateful..." she trailed off as she felt him gently tip her chin so she looked up at him "I say things I don't mean when I'm angry. I've come to find that every human being does" he admitted to her.

Suddenly she began to grow drowsy and found herself leaning against Mr. Y, as he continued to speak "It's unfortunate that we, who are like normal human beings in all but appearance, are forced to be locked up in cages and treated this way. But one day..." he trailed off and Lucy realized the whole tent had grown silent, all the freaks listening intently to his words.

"One day, when I've saved enough money. I'm going to build a place, a place where everybody is equal. A wonderland, where freaks and regular people alike can be together. Everyone will be welcome, from everywhere" he spoke with such passion, that Lucy couldn't help but believe every word he said.

As she drifted off to sleep, her head resting on his lap, she heard him say "Yes I'm going to build a city, a City of Wonders".

My new LND story. Do you like? Dislike? Some inspiration from City of Wonders. That's like, the greatest LND fanfiction ever written. Go read that, you won't regret it!

So, no horses yet. SURPRISE! Will there be horses later? YES! But not just any horses, there will be DIVING HORSES like from before, and, a SEEING EYE PONY! Like, a seeing eye dog but it's a pony. YES they actually exist! Look them up, they're adorable!

Please review, I really don't know where I'm going with this story just yet. But I'm liking the beginning I've set up here so, this story officially has POTENTIAL! YAY! Alright, so Review, and THANKS FOR READING!