Chloe sprinted through the three ring circus, hoping she could jump up to the other ledge, and kill the demon king of the pirates once and for all.

Unfortunately for her, she and her allies of Sunny, Monica, Vinnie and John Lion were immediately surrounded by a cabal of clowns and acrobats.

"James Clown," Fienmond hissed through his hood. "Now is time for your clowns to prove their mettle."

The funky clownman pressed his thumbs against his oversized pants. "Good sir," he rasped. "I had not realized you were Helldritch abomination. If I knew that, I wouldn't have so kindly formed a deal with you."

"Well then," Fienmond said, knowingly. "Perhaps you'd like them to join my army of demollusk infected beings? I can easily change that as well!"

James Clown bobbed his red nose. "Well I'll be danged. You hoodwinked me."

"Weeeeelll," Fienmond said positioning to his overhead cloth. "I am wearing a hood, after all."

"Touche," James sighed, before he cried, "Circus performers. I want you to flip, flop and skewer these interlopers like your lives depended on it....because they do."

"Ay dio mios," Monica whimpered as several creepy clowns sported daggers and loomed towards them. "This is bringing back my childhood fear in full force."

"Come on, swordslady," Chloe grinned back. "You aren't scared of nothin' normally. Use this an excuse to get over your fears!"

Monica sighed. "Easier said than done when we're face to painted face!"

Vinnie leaped off of John Lion and flashed his eel fingers with an equally flashy grin. "Don't worry, chica! I will be your brave knight in shining armor. I shall restore dat brave honor of yours, since you just admitted you have none!"

Monica pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. She slid down from John Lion too and drew her sword. "Ay carumba. Guess I'm gonna have to fight or else I'll have to say I hid behind you, eel boy!"

"Dats what I like to hear!" Vinnie bragged. "I calls it a bit of reverse psychology." Vinnie turned his head to Sunny and John Lion. "How bout yous, kid?"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"John and I are gonna kick clownie frownies up here!" Sunny exclaimed. "So I can become a pep talker."

"Indubitably," John Lion added. "And I can become an accountant! Tally-ho!"

All of the clowns looked at each other and their odd challengers before roaring, "Charge!!!"

Knife wielding clowns, flipping acrobats and feral circus animals all lunged forward with anger in their eyes. A dagger soared at Chloe, and she carefully used her Rosemary induced, demon reflexes to catch it. She spun around and hurled it back right into the clown who had chucked it.

Two other clowns with giant flower carnations leaped towards Monica. She brandished her sword on the level of both of them. Suddenly, they removed a pair of pumps from their shirts and blasted Monica with water. It splashed in her face. "Ay," she screamed. "Why does it sting my eyes so much!"

"It's salt water," one of the clowns snickered. "Are you getting a bit salty?"

"This is why I hate clowns!" Monica cried.

"Here..." One of the clowns remarked. "Hold my hand...that'll help you keep your balance."

Monica staggered a grasp and soon as she held his hand, a loud buzz rang out. She cried again as she realized his hand sported a joy buzzer.

"Nothing gives me more of a buzz!" the clown laughed. "Than giving someone that old routine!"

Vinnie leaped in front of them with a bold expression on his face. "Listen here, you loafers. It's ungentlemanly to hurt a lady. Especially in a lowdown trickster way like dat. If I were yous, I'd watch your back..."

"Why?" One of the clowns asked.

"Cuz I'm comin' for yous!" Vinnie shouted and threw two fists at their heads. Both clowns stopped his barage with little effort. Both Monica and the clowns stared at Vinnie.

"That's it?" the first clown asked.

Without warning, both clowns were electrocuted from Vinnie's electric eel fingers. They dropped to the ground in a smoking heap.

"I don't even need joy buzzers!" Vinnie snickered. "Just know, dat ocean gangsters are the ultimate form o' tricksters in dis world!"

Vinnie turned to Monica who had managed to wipe her eyes. "You okay there, chica?"

"I am and I'm not!" Monica said with a smile. "I'm happy you saved me but..." She smirked boldly, "The next pack of jokers are mine! I will redeem my fear of clowns before this night is over!"

As the heroes bravely fought, Sunny and the enormous John Lion charged through the ring, bucking clowns and performers left and right.

"Can someone get the license number of that lion!" one of the acrobats cried.

"It is," Sunny exclaimed. "FR33D0M!"

Soon, there were groaning piles of performers every where. James Clown bit his fingers nervously. "Yowsa!" he screamed. "Those guys are really strong."

"Of course," Fienmond laughed. "They have the demon pirate queen on their side. But...that will soon change. I've created a special Demollusk to take her down. And its name...is Leroy!"

He clapped his clammy hands. "Come on Leroy, that's a good abomination."

Suddenly, the ground shook. There was a horrifying shriek from outside the tents. Vinnie started to shiver and hid behind Monica. "Ok, chica," he told her. "Now it's time for you to be mommy! I hate Demollusks!"

"Brace yourself," Rosemary warned Chloe. "The mollusk cometh!"

And then, it appeared. "Mother puffer!"

Chloe could not believe what emerged from the curtain,