Before I continue, I would like to bring out a big reminder how I am NOT interested in commissions. Whether art related or anything in those lines! For the past few days, I have been getting hate reviews from a random user bully who has nothing better to do and several art-commissioned reviews by users who think I'm dumb enough to take the bait! I am up to my neck in dealing with these no good scammers! Let me remind everyone that this is a website to share stories to encourage people. If you hate it, then don't bother reviewing in the first place. The next time this happens again I am not going to give them a chance at all! One commission review and the user's out the door! In other words…blocked and reported! So, Art Commission Scammer Sharks, be warned.
Now, back to the story. Thank you.
One week later...
The Gotham Grimtales have already set up their little surprise at the abandoned amusement park. Harry was able to gather some valuable intel on what works by spending time with Izzy for the past week. He gave the interests to Pauline on what to design as much as recommend the best songs for Greg to work in his mixes. Evan also helped out Harry in making the right chemistry components for baking some food. He may be the next Scarecrow but it doesn't mean he can't work on baking sweet and salty stuff. Also, the fact that Harry's not allowed to be around anything fabric nor hat related under Pauline's instructions. Better safe than sorry if Harry ever gets that little habit from Jervis in leaving his little mind control chips...which he would most likely not.
All that remains is for Harry to meet with Izzy at the place they first met to pay respects with two new boutiques of carnations. Only this time, they're both for Izzy's parents and Harry's. One bouquet for each.
Later...
Harry found the same bench Izzy was sitting on last week. But she wasn't around. He must've arrived early, so he sat down and waited. The dirty blonde boy waited for the young girl while holding the bouquets.
'As soon as I help give my respects with Izzy, I'll proceed to sending the invitation tonight for her on finding the party,' Harry thought to himself.
"Harry?" A familiar voice said. "Oh, it is you."
Harry turned to the left to see Izzy walking towards the bench and noticed him.
"Hello, Izzy. I was wondering when you would arrive," Harry replied, politely
"You came here pretty early than I did. But I did say I do want to see you again." Izzy said. "But I didn't know it will be at the same place again."
"To be fair, I wasn't sure where you wanted us to meet and figured the first time we met would be the best option," Harry explained, before giving one of the bouquets to Izzy and standing up. "Here you go. Thought you'd like to have a bouquet to give to your parents instead of just two like I promised last week."
Izzy was in awe when looking at the bouquet of flowers she was given. "Ooooh, more carnations? Where did you get them?" She asked the boy.
"I have an aunt who specializes in plants and owns her private greenhouse. She's been more than kind enough to lend me her fresh batch of carnations to pay my respects," Harry said. "While not too big in letting anyone near her hard work while keeping her garden beautiful, she trusts me enough to use them for special reasons."
"You have an aunt?" Izzy asked. "I thought you were an orphan like me."
"I am. You see, after I lost my parents, I was later taken in by a few people that I consider my aunts and uncles," Harry clarified. "One of them was like a father-figure to me from the rest. I've come across different families to adopt me yet, out of all of them, he was the only good guardian not treating me poorly. I consider myself lucky to be his kid."
"So, you've been in different families? Is that what's going to happen to me? Because I don't want to forget my parents," Izzy asked, while worried.
"What's happened to me doesn't apply the same path as you or anyone else," The young boy stated, walking down to drop his bouquet near the same steps from last week. "I became who I am in my own way. For you, it could be better than how I started. You might find a loving and understanding family who immediately accepts you for you. They won't be exactly like your birth parents but that's okay. Your birth parents will never be replaced. They'll always be a part of you and want you to be happy."
Izzy felt relieved. She was almost worried that she wouldn't stay with one family. "Thanks, Harry. I really hope the family that adopts me will be very caring." She then looks at the bouquet and places them at her parents' tombstone. "Well, I got nothing planned. Usually, I just sit on the bench talking to my parents and just go home."
"If it's okay with you, I would like to treat you somewhere fun and exciting," Harry invited the young girl.
"Really?" Izzy asked.
"Really. And I promise to get you back home in time safely where the people in charge of the orphanage will not lose their heads," Harry stated, being noble in his words.
"Okay, then. I hope it's something fun like you said," Izzy said, following Harry.
"Splendid," The young boy responded, taking the lead while keeping Izzy next to him from being lost. "Believe me. Where we're heading should be beyond your wildest dreams. A place full of wonder and imagination."
'Please let It be the circus, please, let it be the circus!' Izzy thought to herself.
The two continued walking for five minutes. They stayed on the main path while avoiding any scary streets that seemed uninviting. It is Gotham, after all.
"So where are we going?" Izzy asked. "All I just see is a bunch of bad stuff."
"To find our destination, we must first seek the Fox of Spades," Harry replied, using his left hand to look around.
"The Fox of Spades?" Izzy asked in confusion.
"Yes. Red furred, eyes reversed in color features, and has a spot on the chest resembling a spade," Harry answered, still looking. "There are several meanings behind the fox and the spade. In this case, both represent wisdom and cleverness. The same goes with being compassionate as much as helping those in need…which is us."
Izzy then noticed something where she pointed at it. "Isn't it that over there?" She said to Harry.
Turning his head, the blonde boy spotted the fox he described sitting in the distance.
"Why, yes. That's the Fox of Spades," Harry clarified. "Majestic, is it not?"
"It's so adorable!" Izzy commented, as she wanted to reach out her hand and pet it.
Harry kept Izzy from going any further. "Whoa! Easy there, Izzy. I wouldn't advise getting too close to touch. Not yet, at least."
"Why not?" Izzy asked, feeling upset that she couldn't pet the Fox of Spades.
"We don't want to scare our guide. If we go up to the fox now, we'll lose our chance to locate our destination," Harry explained, lowering his voice. "We need to have patience and show her we mean no harm by letting her take the lead. Okay?"
Izzy pouted. "Okay," She said.
Harry nodded, subtly signaling the fox to go forward to the plan before looking at Izzy. "All right! The Fox of Spades trusts us enough to follow. Let's move before we lose the trail."
"Okay." Izzy said, following Harry as they follow the fox.
The two kids kept up with the fox going through town. It didn't take long for the fox come to a complete stop and lied down while staring at her followers.
Izzy stopped and caught her breath. She was small and had to run with Harry. "The fox has stopped. Does that mean..." She then looks around to see where they are.
Harry stayed by Izzy's side while looking around the area. "It would seem that we arrived at where we wanted to be."
"Is this a creepy old fair?" Izzy asked, while her body was quivering with anxiety.
"The Fox of Spades would never steer us wrong," Harry stated, secretly aware of knowing the fox personally as his animal companion. "If I had to guess, this place used to be someone else's quarters until the said individual was evicted from here."
"When my dad was alive, I went to his office and read papers about this place," Izzy stated, still concerned. "It looks just like the clubhouse of that scary bad clown,"
"Looks can be deceiving, my dear Izzy," Harry said, smirking at the young girl. "You need to use your imagination to find the wonder in front of you."
"My imagination?" Izzy asked. "Okay..." She then closed her eyes and tried to think of what she wanted to see in front of her.
Although not what he had in mind, Harry just smiled lightly and carefully walked over to the fox before kneeling towards the creature.
"Keep Izzy company, Spade," Harry whispered to the fox, petting her in a friendly manner. "Make sure you give her something to help calm her down first before leading her to the main entrance."
The fox nodded while going over to the young girl. After seeing the fox in position, Harry grabbed his crystal staff from his back pocket and focused it to glow purple.
"Remember! You're never really alone!" Harry called out, before vanishing out of sight in a flash. "Keep following the fox!"
"What?" As Izzy opened her eyes... Harry was gone. "Harry? Where are you? Did you abandon me?"
Izzy started hyperventilating until she saw that the Fox of Spades was still beside her. The fox gave her permission to pet it. Izzy rubbed her hand across the fox's head and back. She started to calm down a little. She still had tears in her eyes, so the fox started walking and signaling Izzy to follow it. Izzy agreed and she started walking, following the fox.
After passing the fox, Izzy found herself in complete darkness. She was starting to get scared but could still feel the fox by her side.
Suddenly...there was a flash of light, and what Izzy saw...blew her mind.
The amusement park she saw was bright, colorful, and functional. Everything looked rebuilt like it was new. It was more than just a circus; it was a carnival. It was like celebrating the 4th of July or a pleasure Island or even the anniversary of Gotham's birth.
"Whoa..." Izzy said in awe. "This is...amazing!"
She then looks at the Fox of Spades, who keeps signaling her to keep following. So, Izzy continued looking around, seeing all the fun rides. She then sees a puff of smoke and finds Harry in a cool-looking magician-like get-up. Dressed in an elegant suit of black, white, and red mixed with gold highlights. Even had the cape, hat, and black gloves plus matching boots.
"I told you that you're never alone," Harry stated, unable to stop smiling. "Not in here."
"Harry, what is all this?" Izzy asked.
"I said I would take you somewhere fun and I meant it," Harry explained, placing a hand on his chest. "A young girl like you deserves happiness. And what better way than a magical night like a carnival event."
"You did all of this...for me?" Izzy asked.
"Of course. But the show has yet to begin," Harry stated, bringing out a magician's wand and pointing it to a certain spot. "Let me introduce to you my dazzling assistant for tonight…Pauline!"
On cue, Pauline then appeared in a puff of smoke, as well. She had on a showgirl dress outfit that matched Harry's attire yet had one unique color standing out. It was a little poofy around the skirt area above her knees yet slender on the top complimented with sleeves. Even had on gloves as much as stockings and black short boots. While having black and white, there was lavender replacing the red as the color scheme. Even some butterfly prints and black hearts.
"Why, hello, my dear! You must be Izzy," Pauline replied, making the young girl surprised. "Lovely to meet you for the first time. Harry told us about you and we wanted to help him."
"We?" Izzy asked.
Harry and Pauline nodded together and they held hands and raised their free hands to create two more puffs of smoke to reveal two more people Izzy's never met before: Evan and Greg! Like Harry and Pauline, they wore fancy attire black and white yet with a different unique color standing out. Evan's outfit was a hay tuxedo, which was black and white yet had orange in the mix. Greg's outfit was a musical-like tuxedo with the same color scheme yet the notes were green.
"Meet the rest of my best friends. Evan and Greg," Harry introduced to the young girl.
"Hi, there," Evan replied, waving.
"Hope you're ready for some epic beats that are sure to get you moving," Greg stated, playing it cool. "Because we got the whole night planned just for you."
Izzy was very excited. She cheered with glee. "Yes! This is going to be so fun."
"Of course, it's going to be fun," Pauline assured, smiling at Harry. "However, we have one more thing before we truly start this extravaganza. Harry?"
"Right. Give me a second," Harry cleared his throat before waving his wand. "Bellus medicus habitu!"
With Harry's magic, Izzy sees herself in a cute outfit. "Oh, my...What am I wearing?"
The young girl found herself in a turquoise long-sleeved dress accustomed to pink ribbons and gold highlights on the upper sleeves. She even had on a nurse cap with cute bunny-like ears. There were even heart prints around the skirt area and short white gloves in her hands. The only thing that remained was her purple fire necklace hanging on top of the ribbon bow around her neck.
"A little something I put together," Pauline responded, proudly. "Harry told me a bit about you and I came up with this. Went around the lines of a cute nurse, bunny rabbit, and Little Bo Peep. Thought of the brand as 'Kawaii Healer', of course."
"We figured you shouldn't be the only one without a fun costume like the rest of us," Evan shrugged. "That, and Pauline wanted us to follow the dress code."
"Now are you ready to enjoy the festivities?" Greg questioned.
"I'm most definitely ready now!" Izzy said. "Thank you for doing this for me. Even though you didn't have to."
"Don't be ridiculous. After everything that's been going on, you more than deserve such a splendid evening," Harry assured, lending his hand forward to Izzy. "Like I said earlier; you're never alone. Not when we're around."
Pauline cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. "Right. Since we're all dressed and accounted for…Let the grand carnival of fun…BEGIN!"
When Pauline said that, Harry got that as his signal to use his wand in making what looked like blue fireworks that turned into butterflies flying around the group.
"Yay!" Izzy cheered, as the Grimtales gave her a night to remember.
To be continued…
The grand festivities are about to begin!
A few facts I should mention. Pauline's outfit is inspired by Lynette's KFC-themed design from the Genshin Impact advertisement. Only with light purple colors instead of red. The other outfits Greg and Evan are wearing are from my drawing designs yet in black and white plus a signature color that goes with them each. And yes, the outfit Harry is using is the same one as what I made for him in the story 'The Greatest Show Thrill'. Last but not least, Izzy's outfit is inspired by the character Sigewinne from Genshin Impact.
I hope you enjoyed this story. No flamed or fake reviews, please.