"How did Ember get out of the Artic?" Danny shook his head as he followed the troop of ghosts, "First Freak Show and now this? What's going on? Ugh, focus!" His hands started to glow green as he sped up, "Hey, Ember, I know your career was over in one day, but not even MC Hammer resorted to this!"
The ghost star growled and turned around, "How very clever of you, Danny, but I don't have time for word games, so why don't you jam to some tunes" Smirking, she strummed her hot pink guitar twice.
He quickly dodged the attacks, "I prefer classic rock to garbage." Narrowing his eyes on the retreating villains, he took up the chase again.
Ember snarled, "Faster, you dipsticks!" The ghosts barely acknowledged her, but their speed increased incredibly.
"I need to start working out more if this keeps up." He sighed and followed them right into a circus tent. He chuckled at the irony, "Sorry, Sam."
A bone chilling laugh came from the center ring, "Danny Phantom, is it? How nice to see you again."
"Can't say the same to you, Freak Show. I'm surprised to see you out from behind bars." He looked around the dark tent for the ringmaster.
A blue orb started to glow out of the corner of Danny's eye, "What are you looking for?"
He spun around, his hands glowing and ready to attack, "Nothing really."
"That is a shame." Freak Show stepped out of the shadows. The sapphire glowed brighter as he walked closer to the ghost boy, "But I guess that when you do find something, you won't have any expectations to compare. That is a plus, isn't it?"
"Depends on what you find." Danny floated backwards, trying not to look at the crystal, "Like finding you at the circus. Not a pleasant surprise if you asked me."
He laughed shallowly and continued his advance. Danny's eyes were drawn to the crystal and locked on it. The green orbs of his eyes narrowed and turned red. Freak Show smirked, "Welcome to the cast of Le Cirque du Diable."
Ember appeared, rolling her eyes, "That is a terrible pun, 'The Circus of the Devil'. We're ghosts, not demons."
"Shut up, minion!" He growled, "I believe you two have some work to do." He gestured to the ghost boy.
She nodded curtly, "Yes, sir. Come on, Phantom. I'll show you the way." She grabbed his hand and they flew out of the tent.
Danny blinked as the crystal's power controlled his mind, "Where are we going?"
"Just keep up." She flew through a billboard, laughing manically and drawing attention to herself. A tune started to echo throughout the city, "Ember! You will remember."
People started to cheer as they fell prey to her charm. Fanatic fans chanted as they ran home to dig out their old t-shirts, CD's, and other trinkets, "Ember McLain! Ember McLain! EMBER MCLAIN!"
"Tell me who you love!"
"Ember! Ember!"
She laughed as power entered her body, "That's right, baby! I'm back! And guess what? You can see me at Le Cirque du Soleil!" The town screamed in approval, "I will be at every show, singing while performing acrobatics with my sexy beau and partner, Danny Phantom!" Girls squealed when they finally noticed their hero.
Danny grinned, wrapping his arms around Ember's waist, "Free performance tonight for all of the couples. Doors open at six, close when filled to the brim. I can't wait to see you there." He winked and the girls screamed at pitches that not even dogs could hear.
"Kiss her! Kiss her!" The chant grew louder and louder, mixing with, "Ember! Ember!"
One violet eyed girl did not chant, instead she watched silently as her boyfriend locked lips with the punk princess, "Danny…" Heartbroken and numb, Sam ran away from the fanatic crowd.
Ember pulled out of the kiss, smiling, "We really must be going, Danny. We have a lot to do to get ready."
"Yes…" He noticed a girl running and his eyes flicked back to green, "Sam?" He flew after her, "Sam!" She barely turned to give him the finger, "Hey! What did I do?"
Sam finally had to stop running and catch her breath. Numbness dissolved into anger as she sensed him land behind her, "What did you do? Are you kidding me? You just made out with Ember McLain in front of the whole damn town!"
"Danny! What the hell? You can't just leave me there! He won't like it if no one comes to the show." The music star floated above him, "Stop playing around."
"Who's 'he'? What the hell is going on?" Danny clenched his fists, "Why can't I remember?"
"Very funny, Phantom. Now come on, we have an act to rehearse."
"The only act that needs rehearsing is the one where I kick your ass!" He jumped into the air, slamming into her from below.
She yelped and dodged his attack, "Did you forget something? They're chanting my name. I'm stronger than you are!"
"Maybe you are, but can you fight more than just one-on-one?" He closed his eyes, and he multiplied within seconds, "How about ten?"
"Oh, fun. A challenge!" She swung her guitar over her shoulder from around her back and pretended to tune it, "I guess I'll just have to turn up the volume!" Ember turned a dial on her instrument and played a powerful chord.
The shock wave hit several of the copies and rebounded towards Sam. Her eyes widened and she ducked to the ground. Danny was by her in a split second and produced an endoplasmic shield to protect them.
McLain started to attack again, but froze as if listening to something. Her red eyes blazed, "Sorry to cut this rock out short, but I have to go. See you losers later." She flew off, grumbling to herself.
Danny turned back into his human form and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder, "Are you all right?"
"Are you?" She glared at him, "You just fought against your new girlfriend after all.
"Ember is not my girlfriend, and you know that. That's even too disgusting to think about." He looked around, noticing that they were beside the school "Why are we here anyways? I thought you were at the park when I left you to follow Ember and her lackeys to…"
"To where? The love shack?" Sam commented dryly.
He shook his head, "No… The circus. She went there. Then Freak Show showed up and… Now I'm here."
"I told you to stay away from there! He controlled you again, Danny. Maybe you should talk to your parents about getting some kind of protection." Sam crossed her arms, "But as for the Ember thing, I'll let this one slide. I thought your eyes looked weird when you were advertising le Cirque du Soleil to your adoring crowd."
"What do you mean?"
She sighed, "Your eyes turn red when you're under his control. It would be cool if it wasn't such a bad thing."
Danny smiled softly, "I'll talk to Mom. Dad may… Well, he'll be Dad. No more mind control, I promise."
"Good." Sam kissed him gently, forgiving him, "Otherwise, I'll be the one to kick your ass."