Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Bella P.O.V.

A dark swirling cloud of doom hung precariously over the Cullen Circus crew for the next week.

I had learned from Edward that the Volturi were the Cullen Circus's mortal enemies. Every year since Carlisle started the circus on an underground turkey farm five years ago, the Volturi had always beaten them in the annual circus games.

The games consisted of a showdown between two circuses, each similar act battling against each other in a face-off. A small crowd determined the winner. And the winner had never been the Cullens. The Volturi used bribes and dirty tricks to corrupt the crowd.

But not this year.

Oh no.

There was a new sheriff in town, and her name was Bella Swan.

I refused to let the Cullens be cheated out of the victory that was rightfully theirs! At that thought I jumped up from the couch I was sprawled on and let out a war cry. Esme looked concerned, but then she shrugged and went back to crocheting a pair of pants for the lion, the gossamer material resembling an elongated tube sock.

I skipped down the tour bus hall and into Edward's room. Edward had his magic top hat set up on the bed and was tapping it apprehensively with his wand. Small puffs of pink smoke were wheezing out of it and a few sparkles lay lifeless on the floor. He shook his head morosely. Then he looked up and caught my eye, breaking out into a crooked grin.

"Bella! There you are!" he exclaimed. I nodded, wandering over and kneeling down beside him.

"What are you doing?" I asked curiously. His grin got bigger.

"Trying to pull a pork chop out of this hat."

"And how's that working out?"

"Well…so far I've gotten a lump of mayonnaise, the prize from the Cracker Jack box, dental floss, a mysterious image of a poodle, and a jar of pickles. But no pork chops." he stated with a sigh.

"Oh, and don't show the pickles to Emmett." he warned me gravely. I nodded eagerly, not wanting a repeat of last time.

I gently took his hand and the zing of magic flowed through our touch like being smacked up-side the head with an electric skillet. Except maybe not as painful.

His grin got even wider. I was worried that if his smile kept growing it might eventually turn into a deep black hole of danger…and if you fell in, there would no where to go but down the esophagus… spooky. I shook off the feeling as Edward tapped the hat. He reached in and pulled out a plate of pork chops, laughing manically before setting the plate gently back in, nodding with approval.

"Thank you Bella."

"No problem." I murmured, but just as I finished the last syllable, Carlisle's voice rang clear through the room.

"Are you guys ready? The V-Volturi are here." he stuttered from the doorway. We nodded sagely.

Edward scrambled off the floor and offered me his hand. I grasped it gratefully and we then began our march to the big funky circus tent. It was only as we tripped off the tour bus that I realized where we were. Back in Forks, were this whole crazy bulge of lunacy began. I smiled softly. Forks, and all other utensils for that matter, would always hold a special place in my heart. As we entered the tent Edward bent down to whisper I my ear.

"Come on, we can watch from backstage." he murmured, towing me behind the striped curtains. He leaned against the wall and I leaned against him. Together, we gasped as the show began.

Carlisle came out onto stage but instead of Esme accompanying him, a pale man wearing a dark robe and at least two foot tall high heels came strutting out beside him. He gave the crowd a sickly smile.

"Hello everyone, I am Aro, head of the Volturi circus." he exclaimed grandly, gesticulating vehemently with his cloak covered arms. He turned expectantly to Carlisle.

"I'm C-c-c-Carlisle" he stuttered, staring with wide-eyed fright at Aro. "Head of the Cullen Circus." he finished in a shaky whisper.

"The first act will be the trapeze artists in a heated face-off. Alice and Jane." Aro chuckled deviously. Carlisle screamed a high pitch wail, running off stage. Aro chuckled again, following after.

"Wait Car Car, I still need to paint your nails!" he called before disappearing backstage on the opposite side from Edward and I.

The spot lights flashed down and sprawled across the stage. I was used to seeing Alice's tiny form fling from the shadows, so I was surprised to see a second form beside her. A small girl with light brown hair was hurling herself from bar to bar almost as gracefully as Alice. They weaved nimbly past each other, doing daring flips and spins. Jane looked like she was tiring fast, but Alice was still a ball of energy, lobbing easily through the bars.

Jane stopped and caught her breath, pulling herself into a lazy sitting position on the bar. She sent an evil smirk toward Alice, her eyes boring into her form.

Then I watching in horror as she slipped a tiny electronic button from her sequined leotard and pressed it. Spikes popped from the trapeze bar to the far left. The one Alice was about to grab.

"NOOOOOO!" I screamed, but it was too late.

Alice let out a shout of pain as she touched the bar, her small form plummeting toward the ground. She managed to grasp one of the lower bars but I spotted the small trickle of blood leaking from her palm. The crowd gasped. Jane held her arms up victoriously, going for one last dazzling lap around the stage. The crowd clapped, and the huge score board beeped as the Volturi circus had one point added to their side.

I seethed, shaking my head.

"I'll get them next time." I muttered under my breath. "No one hurts one of us and gets away with it!" I yelled passionately. Edward nodded in definite agreement.

Aro came prancing back out, a broad grin on his face. He looked around in confusion and then chuckled.

"Come on out Carlisle, I won't bite!" he sang merrily from center stage. No reply. Aro chuckled again, striding backstage and forcefully dragging Carlisle by his ankles into the spotlight.

"Noooo! Have mercy!" Carlisle pleaded, his fingernails digging into the dirt as he was yanked along.

'Oh Car Car, what am I going to do with you?" Aro giggled deviously. He dropped him abruptly onto the dirt floor, turning to the crowd.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the next act will be the strong men, Emmett and Felix, in a lift-off!" he bellowed. The crowd cheered.

Carlisle and Aro left stage as Emmett and another massive man came out. Felix went straight to the dumbbells, lifting two in one clenched fist.

Emmett, on the other hand, threw his trademark goofy grin towards the crowd, rolling his eyes toward the other man as he continued to lift the gigantic weights. Emmett sat nonchalantly on the ground, whistling to himself. Felix continued to lift the weights, juggling them now. The crowd looked confused.

Then suddenly Emmett launched off the ground, running to the edge of the stage. He wedged his fingers under the wooden structure of the bleachers, straining and lifting with all of his might. Slowly, inch by inch, the whole bleacher started to lift from the floor until the crowd was clinging to the benches so they wouldn't slide backwards. Then he slowly lowered it back to the ground, letting out a huge sigh.

The crowd cheered and hooted and the score board dinged as a point appeared on the Cullen's side. Not even the Volturi's dirty tricks could halt the unstoppable Emmett! It was a tie game now. I turned to Edward, hugging him tightly.

Carlisle slithered onto stage, his eyes frightened and as wide as flying saucers. Aro ran out beside him, his high heels plowing the dirt floor with their spikes better than a tractor could have. Carlisle took a deep breath and opened his mouth to announce the next act.

To be continued……