DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN DANNY PHANTOM
Smoke and Mirrors
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! ARE YOU READY FOR A FANTASTIC DISPLAY OF WONDER FUN AND MERRIMENT!" Freakshow addressed the crowd. The crowd began cheered excitedly. "WELL YOU'RE CERTAINLY IN THE WRONG PLACE! WELCOME TO YOUR NIGHTMARE, WELCOME TO CIRCUS GOTHICA!" Freakshow then exploded in flash of lights and smoke. Followed by a parade of freaks as well as X-tremes riding in with makeshift devices like boards with wheels on them giving the audience a preview of what's to come.
Backstage Freakshow made his way over to Val. "Well, I warmed up the crowd," Freakshow taunted. "Now let's see what you can do."
"Oh you'll see what we can do," Val promised as she signaled Radical and Adrenaline to get ready. The two grinned eagerly as they each rode off in their new invention. A special one man two wheel vehicle that they call a bicycle. The crowd roared and cheered watching the two riding the strange devices maneuvering around obstacles at high speeds and then finishing off by using special rockets to jump the entire arena.
"Not bad," Freakshow said slow clapping. "But watch a professional at work," he directed her attention to a tall skinny woman (snake woman) and a short round man (ball man) who took the stage. The snake woman quickly displayed double joints and dislocated limbs as she began to twist her body in unnatural ways. Ball man curled up into a ball and began bouncing around her. Snake women would then grab him and dribble him around the stage like a basketball all the while continuously twisting her body. The audience gagged at the grotesque display but at the same time applauded louder than for the previous act.
"It ain't over yet," Val promised.
The next act came from Thrash and Vid, who performed a knife juggling act. But they weren't just standing still throwing knives at each other. They were also running the same obstacle course that Radical and Adrenaline used for their act, while throwing knives at each other! The crowd stood in silent gasping at disbelief and amazement as Thrash did a flip jump over a barrel, catching Vid's knife in midair, and throwing them back at her right before he landed. Vid's performance also stunned the audience by doing cartwheels on a balancing beam, but still managing to catch and return the knives Thrash threw. The two rushed through the course neither slowing down or missing any knives. At the end of the course they both stopped and threw all their knives at each other at the same time. The knives all collided between them landing on the ground. "EXTREME!" Thrash and Vid screamed at the same time presenting their knives which formed an X shape on the ground between them.
"A great act before intermission wouldn't you say," Val smirked. Freakshow growled as he left to inform the audience that they would be taking a short break in order to set up the next act.
During the intermission Danny took the time to go back stage to see how his cousin was doing. "Hey Val how's Dani doing?" he asked.
"See for yourself," Val chuckled directing him to her dressing room. Danny found his cousin in the corner, dressed in a clown outfit, crouching in a fetal position, and chanting "don't screw up, don't screw up" over and over again.
"Hey there," Danny greeted the little girl.
"Danny!" Dani cried hugging him.
"What's wrong? Nervous." Danny teased.
"YES!" Dani screamed. "I've never been so scared in all my life! This act will take me high into the sky! What if I fall? What if mess up? What if Val hates me for messing up the act? Maybe I should go through with this."
"Come on," Danny said patting Dani on the back. "What's to be scared about? It's not like you haven't flown before, and even if you fall and break your legs...we can get matching crutches." Danny joked. Even though his leg is fully healed he wanted to tell everyone after the show, so to not steal Dani's moment.
"One I can fly because of a magic crown. I'm not wearing my crown now. I'm wearing a CLOWN HAT!" Dani screamed pointing to the ridiculous head piece. Even going so far as to show that she didn't have the magic crown hidden inside. "Two, I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about letting Valerie down." Dani sulked back into depression . "I know how important this show is for her and I don't want to be the one who disappoints her."
Danny sighed. He knows how much his little cousin looks up to Val, and he knows how fond Val is of Dani. Making him worry what will happen if she ever finds out about her secret, and he means that in both ways. "Look Dani, you worked really hard for this. Besides even if you do screw up I'm sure Val will forgive you," he said hoping to comfort her.
"Yes but I don't want to let her down," Dani said.
"Then don't!" Danny said sternly. "If you want to make her proud then go out there and give the performance of a lifetime! If you mess up then mess up with style. That way the audience will think that it's just part of the show. But I do know that if you just stay here hiding in the corner you will be letting Val down."
"You're right Danny," Dani stood up with determination. "If I'm going to screw up I'll make sure it'll be a spectacle the like which they've never seen before! A grand performance that will put Val's troupe on the map!"
"And I look forward to seeing you make a fool of yourself," Danny teased. Dani laughed as she threw a pillow at her cousin who quickly darted out the door.
"Congratulation, you cured her butterflies," Val complimented.
"Just don't hurt her," Danny pleaded as he made his way back to his seat. On the way back he noticed the snake woman and the ball man acting suspicious. Carefully following them he soon found them sneaking into the castle. Using their weird acrobatics and magic to quickly and quietly take out the guards. The two soon made their way to the vaults. Danny saw enough and moved in to confront them. "Halt in the name of the Princess!" he demanded. Which in retrospect he learns was a stupid thing to do.
The ball man rolled himself into a ball shape while the snake lady sling him straight at Danny! Danny raised his crutch in order to defend himself but the ball man broke right through the crutch, hitting Danny square in the chest. The man may bounce like he's made of rubber but he also hits like he's made of steel! "Hey Val thanks for fixing my leg. Now can you fix the rest of my bones." Danny joked trying to ignore the pain. The snake lady then moved in for the kill. Luckily Danny managed to move out of the way in time and ducked around the corner. Not having many options Danny grabbed his ring and placed it on his finger! With a flash of green flames Danny Paladin now stood in front of the two thieves!
Dani gulped as she saw this impressive display of some weird woman whose tattoos came to life and were now flying around scaring and amazing the crowds. "How can I top that?" Dani whispered to herself.
"Nervous?" Val asked the little clown girl. Dani shook her head but anyone could clearly see that she was. "Well then get ready, we're on after her," Val smiled. It took everything Dani to keep from passing out.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU ENJOYED TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE AS MUCH AS WE ENJOYED PERFORMING!" The audience all applauded their approval. "SADLY ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END, BUT BEFORE WE SAY ADIEU WE HAVE ONE LAST SPECIAL PERFORMANCE!" Freakshow turned everyone's attention to the high wire above their heads. At one end Valerie stood wearing a white cloak and holding a large balancing stick. Slowly began to walk over on high wire. On occasion she would make it appear that she was losing her balance and wobble her stick around to regain her balance. While seemingly impressive the crowds began to express their disapproval for such a simple act for the finale and demanded more. As Val reached the center of the wire she gave them just that! A small blade extended out of one end of her balancing stick which she used to cut the very wire she was standing on! The audience gasped as they watched her fall only to be amazed that she managed grab one of the wires and was now swinging over everyone's heads. The cloak fluttered behind her making it almost look like she had wings. Val also threw glitter and confetti around for added effects. Right on cue the X-tremes rushed out and fired their cable to some preset post so that they could join her in the air. The aerial acrobatics they performs consisted of them swing near each other, doing flips while jumping to another cable, and tying the cables on to their foot so the could fly hands free.
Dani took a deep breath trying to muster ever bit of courage she had. For now is the moment of truth! Seeing her cue Dani ran out there as fast as she could. Meeting her half way Janus (a.k.a. Skulker) would then grab her and toss her up with the others. Unlike the X-tremes, Dani wouldn't get a cable. Instead the X-tremes would simply grab her in midair and pass her around to each other. While this made Dani feel like a rag doll, it also gave her the sensation of flight that she enjoyed when she is Dani Phantom. She was almost lost in her thoughts when Thrash reminded her that her big moment was up! Dani reach up and grabbed the cable Thrash was using before he jumped off. In fact the rest of the X-tremes were also abandoning the skies as well. This is Dani's big moment, "Don't mess up, don't mess up." Dani whispered to her self. All she had to do is swing over to Val, the two will leap at towards other, two would grab each other in midair, falling to the ground, and just before the hit the ground Janus will catch them. At least that was the plan they told her, but the Hunters had an alternate plan. Since they needed to lose this bet. Instead of catching her, Val would deliberately miss ruining the act. Not wanting to hurt the little girl Skulker would be ready to catch Dani. Val on the other hand will fall, faking an injury, forcing her to ask Freakshow to finish the finale.
"Sorry Dani," Val thought to herself as she leaped toward the little girl. But just as was about to 'miss' a loud explosion followed by two strange objects came flying out of the castle, knocking both Val and Dani off trajectory. "Oh no Dani!" Val screamed knowing that there's no way for Skulker to reach the girl in time. Val made a desperate grab for her in midair and used her own body to cushion the little girl's fall.
"Are you alright?" Skulker asked.
"I'm fine but Dani?" Val responded. Thankfully the outfit she was wearing is a special hunter's garb designed to protect one from falls.
"I'm good," Dani said getting back up. "What happened?" Dani's clown outfit was also made of the same fabric as Val's.
"That's what I want to know," Princess Sam demanded. The two objects that ruined the act were revealed to be the snake woman and the ball man. "What is the meaning of this!" Sam asked Freakshow.
"I'll tell you," the Paladin said as he slowly approached. "These two were planning to rob the royal vault, and would have succeeded if I hadn't been there."
"And just what were you doing at my vault," Sam demanded.
"I spotted these two entering the castle so I followed them," Paladin explained.
"Now that's ridiculous, how do we know that you're not the one who was sneaking into the place and my performers were the once who spotted you?" Freakshow countered.
"True," Sam agreed. "Until I find out the truth you are all under arrest. Guards!" Sam ordered. Not wanting to get caught Danny tried to sneak away. "Where do you think you are going?" Sam asked after spotting the Paladin trying to sneak away. "Guards use of force is authorized," Sam ordered not wanting to lose the Paladin most of all.
"I don't have time for this," Danny said. Then just as he moved one of the guards swung his sword at him. The blade shattered the moment it made contact with the armor. The Paladin then jumped high into the sky disappearing over the rooftops.
"AFTER HIM!" Sam ordered. Several guards soon gave chase.
"Well that was interesting," Freakshow chuckled after the Paladin's big exit. "I for one will abide by your laws, but first maybe we should conclude the show?" Freakshow suggested.
"Of course," Sam agreed seeing how restless the crowd was becoming.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WASN'T THAT A FINE PERFORMANCE OF OUT ALL PARTICIPANTS!" Freakshow announced making it sound like this was all part of the act. And it worked, the audience began to calm down and started applauding. "AND WITH THIS FINAL ACT I BID THE ADIEU!" Freakshow tapped his staff onto the ground and a large horde of monsters came flying out! Chasing the crowds away.
"Summons," Val gasped. "I didn't think Freakshow was this powerful!"
"He isn't. This is just an illusion spell. All just smoke and mirrors nothing more." Skulker explain though sounding very concerned.
"Is something wrong, Master?" Val asked.
"This encounter proves that the Paladin is more powerful that we surmise. We will need the sword reforge if we are to have any chance of defeating him." Skulker said.
"But that requires special equipment," Val pointed out. "Are you going back to Sanctuary?"
"No there is another option," Skulker grinned.