The Day of the Clown

Attic…

Jared Shay is sitting down on a chair, mentally and emotionally broken, as Martha Jones entered the room.

"How's my patient?" Martha asked, walking towards Jared to examine him. She placed her stethoscope near his pulse to check. "Vitals are normal. Nanoha, is he?"

"He's doing a lot worse." Nanoha said, sadly. "Jared needs cheering up. And a shock. But we couldn't find anyone he likes."

"If only if was true love's kiss." Hayate said, frowning.

"True love's kiss?" Clara asked, entering the room. "Martha Smith-Jones. Good to see you."

"And you, Clara Oswald." Martha said, looking at the immortal brunette. "What are you…"

"C…" Jared said, his hand twitching a bit. "C…"

"Clara." Fate said, moving out of the way. "Jared, he wants you. He only let his telepathic connection open to us three. And us three alone. Me, Nanoha, and Hayate."

"Jared." Clara said, running up to Jared. "What happened to you? You mentioned you were broken in 2009. But I never imagined this."

Nanoha, Fate, Hayate, and Martha moved out of the way for Clara to approach Jared personally. Jared then placed his hand on Clara's when the brunette hugged him, and he began letting out some tears.

Clara let go of Jared, as she began kissing him, and the fanboy's emotions and mental state are opening up slowly again. After a couple years of stress, of course.

Martha and Clara then left the room together, feeling like their work is done for the day, and that they know Jared is in safe hands for the next couple of months.

"Clara." Jared said, looking over at Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate. "She was here. Clara! My Clara!"

"Yeah." Nanoha said, happily. "She was. We made a promise to you, right? To help you get back to your footing."

"You did." Jared said, smiling. "So, what's going on? Because I'm totally out of the loop."

���According to Sarah Jane." Hayate said. "It's now September 2009. You were in a coma for five months."

"Five months? That's impossible." Jared said. "You need to tell me what's going on."

"How's this for starters?" Fate asked. "While you were in that state. The Magical Girls in Japan are in danger."

"How? The Wings of Magius? What were they up to? Um, I need more information than that."

"They said they stopped being nice." Fate said. "Whatever that means. That's all we know."

"And they got Tsuruno back too, Iroha and the others..."

Jared exited the attic with Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate.

Kitchen...

Clyde bounces in, as Jared, Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate are entering the room.

"Morning people. This is Clyde Langer reporting live from Bannerman Road where, at this precise moment there's a new family moving in at number 36." Clyde said.

Bannerman Road…

"Boy, they have no idea what they're moving in over the road from." Clyde said.

"Clyde, you're not gonna tell them." Jared said, looking at Clyde. "You too, Luke. They can't find out, okay?"

Jared is standing next to Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate.

"Jared's right, they can't know. Promise us you'll never breathe a word about what we do, Mister Smith, any of it." Sarah said.

"Why would we? It's not like it's Maria, is it? Come on, we're going to be late." Luke said.

"Yeah, sure. Don't worry, we won't say anything. We'd just better hope Maria never left anything lying around when she went." Clyde said.

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked.

"Well, you know, we've been hanging with some pretty random intergalactic sorts. Who knows what might have rubbed off and still be over there?"

Park Vale locker room…

"I did not fancy Maria." Luke said.

"Boy, I taught you well, didn't I? Clyde's Cool Rule Number Two, deny all emotion, especially when involving girls." Clyde said. "Jared's pretty bad at that, hiding his emotions, and he's older than us. He's childish, reckless, and a flirt."

"I just miss her, okay? Don't you?"

"Course I miss her, but people move on, Luke. Ask my mum and dad."

"I've never lost anyone before."

"Well, it's not going to be the same without her, that's for sure. I mean, who am I going to have to save from Sontarans, the Slitheen and Gorgons now?" Clyde asked, as a girl bumps into him and drops her books. "Hey! Watch where you're…" Then he notices that she is pretty. "Don't, don't mention it. It's no problem."

"Sorry. I'm looking for Mister Cunningham's form." Rani said.

"That's our class." Luke said.

"I start today."

"And you run into me. Now that's what I call a start." Clyde said.

"Yeah, like starting the hundred metres in the Olympics and tripping over your laces." Rani said.

"This is Clyde. He thinks he's cool. I'm Luke." Luke said.

"Who isn't." Clyde said, scoffing.

"Rani. My family just moved in to Bannerman Road." Rani said.

"Bannerman Road?" Luke asked.

"Of course. Where else? Sarah Jane's right, the universe never stops weirding you out." Clyde said. "And Jared's right too, the universe loves to prove you right. After you open up too much."

"Sarah and Jared who?" Rani asked.

"Never mind. Come on, I'll take you to class." Luke said.

At then end of a corridor is a glimpse of very bright striped pajamas.

"Did you just see that?" Rani asked.

"See what?" Clyde asked.

"Never mind. Come on, I'd better not be late."

Classroom...

"So the football team has been knocked out of the Inter-Schools Challenge, by West Hill after a 4-0 mauling last night." Cunningham said.

"Boo!" Every student in the classroom yelled.

"Yeah, all right, settle down, settle down. So we'll be looking for better news in the National Schools Science Challenge. Anybody who wants to sign up for the team should see Miss Webster. I'll be expecting to see your name on the list, Luke."

"Lukey!" Clyde said, happily.

"Lukey! Lukey!" Every student in the classroom cheered.

"You a bit of a brain-box then, Luke?" Rani asked.

"They haven't got a box big enough." Clyde said.

"That's enough! Silence, the lot of you. This is a classroom, not the home end at Stamford Bridge." Haresh said.

"Class, this is Mister Chandra, our new Head." Cunningham said.

"This is a school. My school. And you come here to learn, not to play about. You, boy, sit up straight and pay attention! And that goes for all of you. I know it's been a while since your last head teacher, Mister Blakeman, disappeared, and it looks like standards around here vanished with him. But, listen up. Park Vale has a new captain on the bridge now." Haresh said.

"I'm getting a very serious sinking feeling." Clyde said.

"I'm a fair captain but believe me, I run a very tight ship."

"Aye, aye, Skipper."

The class giggle.

"Ah, the joker in the pack." Haresh said.

"I do my best." Clyde said.

"Well, Clyde Langer, I hope your classwork is as sharp as your wit."

Rani sees a clown with a red balloon at the window.

"It takes brains to be this funny."

"No, Langer. It takes brains to know when to shut up and listen. Now, a third child has gone missing. I'm speaking to all classes today, reminding you all to be careful, and just as importantly, telling you all that if you see anything or anyone suspicious, to tell the police immediately."

Outside the Chandra home…

Sarah Jane and Jared ring the bell.

"We could have came." Fate said, telepathically.

Sarah has a thermos and a plate of cup cakes with her, and Jared has some chocolate chip cookies and some bubble tea with him.

"I, I know. But you guys are here for me, right?" Jared asked, telepathically.

"Yes? Hello?" Gita asked.

"Oh, hello. I live over the road." Sarah said.

"And I was, I was um, visiting her for a while." Jared said, happily. "The two of us saw you moving in."

"Thought maybe you hadn't had time to find the kettle yet."

"Oh, tell me, do you save the world every day, or is it just on Mondays? Oh, come on in, come in." Gita said, moving out of the way.

Chandra home…

"Sorry it's such a state. I had a plan, a list, you know, of what was what and where it was going. But then you have to go and use removal men, don't you? And frankly my darling, you might as well give in to chaos. Oh, I'm Gita by the way." Gita said.

"Sarah Jane." Sarah said.

"I'm Jared." Jared said, happily.

"Well, I'm very pleased to meet you, Sarah, Jared." Gita said.

"Sarah Jane." Sarah said, quietly.

"Lovely. Shall I see if I can find some cups?" Gita asked.

"Perfect."

"I could do with some Early Gray, Sarah." Jared said, placing his hand on top of Sarah's.

"So, Sarah, that's your house, is it? The big one right opposite?" Gita asked.

"Umi, is this house infested with aliens?" Jared asked, telepathically.

"There seems to not be any aliens on the premises." Umi said, telepathically.

Sarah Jane does a quick scan with her watch, "Yes."

"Do you have kids, Sarah?" Gita asked.

"Sarah Jane. All clear." Sarah said.

"I know. Umi also scanned the area." Jared said, squeezing Sarah's hand. "This place is safe, after 5 months. Of Maria Jackson leaving you, Sarah."

"Sorry?" Gita asked.

"Oh, just my son, Luke. There's just the two of us." Sarah said.

"Ah. We've got a girl, Rani. She's very clever." Gita said, happily.

Playground…

"So what were the last people like that lived in our house? Mister Jackson and his daughter." Rani said.

"Nice. I miss Maria. Like how Jared misses Team RWBY. He still does." Luke said, sadly.

"Oh, yeah?" Rani asked.

"I mean, we were friends. Maria, Clyde and me." Luke said. "And Jared was friends with Team RWBY. Clyde recently came up with a group name for them. The Rainbow Legends."

"We can be friends."

"Yeah. But it wouldn't be the same, for me. It doesn't feel the same for Jared, after losing the four people he was closest to."

"Oh. Sorry I suggested it."

"No, I didn't mean it like that. I can't explain. Inter-personal relationships is something I haven't mastered yet."

"You know, I hope you don't mind me telling you, but you do know you're a bit weird, don't you? I mean, I think you're all right, just a bit strange." Rani said.

"I'm not strange, I'm just different. There's a difference." Luke said.

"Yeah. I suppose. These kids going missing, though, that is weird. Three in two weeks. And the police just don't have a clue."

"Don't worry, statistically the chances of you being abducted are extremely remote."

"I'm not worried. I'm interested, that's all. It's weird. I'm into weird. Have you ever seen anything strange? I mean around the school?"

"Like what?" Luke asked.

Clyde thumps a red balloon, and it hits Mister Chandra.

"Langer! My office, now!" Haresh said, angrily.

Chandra kitchen…

"So what do you do for a living, Sarah?" Gita asked.

"I'm a freelance journalist." Sarah said.

"A journalist? My Rani wants to be a journalist. What a coincidence. Perhaps she should come round? You could give her some tips." Gita said. "And what about you, Jared?"

"Tell her you're the same as Sarah Jane." Fate said, telepathically.

"Thank you, I was gonna go with e-sports. But it wasn't a thing in 2009." Jared said, telepathically.

"Jared?" Gita asked.

"Sorry, I, um. I'm a freelance journalist too. I took a break for a bit, started to travel for a while. But I settled down." Jared said.

"Well, our work tends to be rather specialised. And we're very busy. In fact, we really should be getting on now." Sarah said.

"She'll be so excited. And she and your Luke are bound to be friends. Oh, you'll love her. She's very curious, wants to know everything about everybody." Gita said.

"She doesn't seem like a bad girl." Nanoha said, telepathically. "Rani Chandra. Can't wait to meet her."

Jared nodded his head in agreement.

"Does she? Oh, good." Sarah said.

Outside the Headmaster's office…

"He still got you here? But it was an accident." Finney said.

"Yeah, well, we didn't exactly hit it off from the start. I think Mister Chandra's jealous of my popularity." Clyde said.

"Your trouble is you don't know when to lay off."

"Yeah? Being funny is a curse. It's like me and the Wolfman. Life's just one big shaggy dog story."

"I need some stuff for art club." Finney said, going into the Stationary cupboard.

Clyde sees a clown reflected in the trophy cabinet, "Dave? Finney, are you in there?"

Laughter from the cupboard.

Stationary cupboard…

No one is in here. Laughter again.

"Finney, are you messing me around?" Clyde asked.

Outside the Headmaster's office…

Clyde sees a clown with a balloon standing at the end of the corridor, "Hey!"

Clyde runs toward him, but he waves a large handkerchief and vanishes. The male toilet door closes.

Toilets...

Clyde goes in and checks all the stalls are empty, then he sees the clown in the mirror, "What are you?"

"All I want to do is give you a balloon." Odd Bob said.

The clown's arm comes out of the mirror.

"Langer! I've been looking for you. Why aren't you outside my office?" Haresh asked.

The clown has vanished.

Headmaster's office...

"A clown." Haresh said.

"That's what I saw. Look, if I'm making this up, tell me, where is Finney? I mean Dave?" Clyde asked.

"He's been kidnapped by a clown from the stationery cupboard. Langer, I don't know what sort of game you're playing, but this is not the way to make an impression on me."

"Yeah, I should've kept my mouth shut."

"Children are disappearing and you think that's something to joke about?"

"But you said, you told us, if we see anything suspicious to sing out. Well, I am. Look, I tell jokes, not lies, sir."

"David Finn has probably just bunked off school early."

"He wouldn't. Ask anyone." Clyde said.

"So how come no one else has seen this clown? Not even our CCTV cameras?" Haresh asked.

"Oh, what's the use? I knew I was wasting my time even talking to you. You're never going to believe me. It's a good thing there are people who will."

Playground…

"So you think we should tell Mum, Jared, and Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate?" Luke asked.

"What do you think? Mister Chandra's called the police in, but they're not exactly going to be looking for a clown that comes at you out of a mirror, are they?" Clyde asked.

"You didn't tell him that part, did you?"

"What am I? Mr Thicko from Thicksville? Course I didn't. But we know aliens have nabbed kids before. Do you remember Kudlak?"

"Yes. Aliens. That was a clown. Why would an alien be dressed as a clown?" Luke asked.

"So you don't believe me, either. Thanks a lot, mate." Clyde said.

"I do believe you. I just don't understand."

"Well, there's a first." Clyde said, seeing the clown in the park across the road.

"There it is!"

"Where?"

"Oh, come on." Clyde said, running away with Luke.

Alleyway…

"He's there!" Clyde said.

But not when Luke looks.

"Come on." Clyde said.

They run after the now you see him now you don't clown.

"Where is he?" Luke asked.

"Search me. But he was here. Look." Clyde said.

The balloon is tied to a wheelie bin.

"Don't touch it!" Rani said.

"Why?" Clyde asked.

"I don't know why, just don't."

The balloon bursts.

Bannerman Road…

"How's Jared?" Clara asked, standing outside with Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate.

"He's doing much better." Hayate said, smiling.

"That kiss helped." Nanoha said. "He hasn't met you yet. So, when are you?"

"Oh, Jared defeated Hades with Pit. He has his happy ending for a little while." Clara said, laughing a little. "Like, the look on his face. So innocent and pure."

"Hades? As in the lord of the underworld?" Fate asked.

"That's the one."

"Were we there for that?" Nanoha asked. "Because that sounds a bit dangerous."

"Oh, it was. Jared fought against you, Nanoha, an alternative you. And Hibiki. He won."

"He won against Nanoha?" Fate asked. "That's something I never thought I would hear. The three of us are even in power."

"That means I was holding back, and so was he." Nanoha said. "What for?"

"Spoilers. I should probably go." Clara said, typing in coordinates into her vortex manipulator. "I've been here way too long. Tell Jared, I love him, always. I'll be there, when he needs me."

"I will."

Clara disappeared in a flash of blue light.

"Sarah Jane and Jared are going to love this one. Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate too, those three have never fought against a clown before." Clyde said, looking back to see Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate there. "Speaking of the Devil. Oi! You three!"

"Look, there's something I've got to tell you. Something about me you ought to know." Rani said.

"You're from another planet. I already guessed." Clyde said.

"Actually, Clyde, it's worse than that." Luke said.

Mister Chandra gets out of his car.

"Oh, no. Rani, please tell me there's a good reason why our new head just pulled up outside your house that doesn't involve the word dad." Clyde said.

"Honestly, he's all right, really. It's just his job." Rani said.

"Yeah, that's what they said about Doctor Frankenstein."

"Rani." Haresh said.

"Hi, Dad." Rani said, happily.

"Haresh! Don't worry, there's still plenty of boxes for you to open. Rani, how was your first day at school? Did your dad go all Captain Bligh again?" Gita asked.

"I do not go Captain Bligh." Haresh said.

"Yeah, just a bit. This is Luke and Clyde." Rani said, excitedly.

"Luke Smith. Pleased to meet you." Luke said.

"Luke Smith?" Haresh asked.

"He's my son. I'm Sarah Jane Smith, this is Jared, Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate." Sarah said.

"Hi." Jared said, happily.

"Hey." Nanoha said, smiling.

"Hi." Fate said.

"Hello." Hayate said.

"I've been looking at his results for the past year. Very, very impressive. Remarkable, in fact." Haresh said.

"Yes, well, he's very gifted." Sarah said.

"Sarah and Jared are journalists." Gita said.

"For real? I'm really interested in becoming a reporter. Maybe I can come over some time?" Rani asked.

"Nah, we don't want things to go to Rani proportions." Jared said, smirking. "Sarah and I are busy as is."

"Did you make a pun?" Hayate asked.

"Clyde Langer, the joker in the pack, apparently. Oh, and I see clowns that don't exist." Clyde said.

Attic…

"Of course your head teacher was never going to believe you, Clyde. Nor would the police. Children don't vanish out of closed rooms. It's impossible as far as they are concerned." Sarah said.

"But what about the clown? If it's an alien taking these kids, a clown disguise isn't exactly low profile, is it?" Clyde asked.

"Aren't kids supposed to like clowns?" Nanoha asked.

"Looks like someone haven't watched It." Jared said, sadly.

"Personally, they always gave me nightmares." Sarah said.

"I'm afraid of Angel statues. Now those give me nightmares." Jared said. "I can't even blink while looking at one."

"Coulrophobia. It's the fear of clowns. Johnny Depp has it. And utomatonophobia, the fear of anything resembling humans." Luke said.

"Jared, you're afraid of angel statues?" Fate asked. "Like what?"

"Oh, the ones that are Weeping." Jared said, frowning. "Never liked them. I wish Yang was here so she can punch it."

"Now we need to talk to someone close to this boy that went missing today. Now, his parents will be too busy with the police by now. What about any of his other friends?" Sarah asked.

"It's Monday, so they'll be at football training." Clyde said.

"Wait, Rani." Nanoha said, placing her hand on top of Jared's. "She has seen the clown too. Maybe she can help."

"No, I like Rani. And I don't want her interfering with our work." Jared said, moving his hand away from Nanoha's. "She's a sweet kid."

"Rani wants to know what's going on." Fate said. "She could be in danger."

"True. Someone should keep an eye on Rani. Clani, wait, that hasn't happened yet."

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll do that." Clyde said, as he looked back at Jared. "Clani?"

"I don't think her dad would let you go anywhere near her." Luke said. "Come on Hayate."

Chandra kitchen…

"So, it looks as if the boy disappeared like the others." Haresh said.

"His poor parents, must be going out of their minds. Urgh, makes me ill just thinking about it. You watch yourself, won't you, Rani?" Gita asked.

"She'll be fine, as long as she stays away from that Langer boy."

"David Finn is one of Clyde's best friends, Dad. He wasn't making it up. Clyde saw a clown. Why would he lie?" Rani asked.

"I don't know. But a clown, it's ridiculous. I was thinking the police should take a look at Finn's school books. There's still a chance that something was worrying him and he ran away. If so, there may be a clue there." Haresh said.

"Before that, you can help me move the bed. Those removal men didn't listen to a word I said." Gita said.

"And they got out alive?"

"Come on, I'll show you."

Haresh and Gita leave. Rani gets Finney's exercise books out of the bag and looks at them. There is the face of a clown drawn on the back of each of them, and that clown in peering in at the window.

Rani shuts her eyes, "No. You're not there."

When she opens them, it is not at the window, it is standing next to her.

"Rani, you've got visitors." Gita said.

"Hi." Hayate said, smiling.

"Thought you might need a hand unpacking." Luke said.

Football practice…

"My dad says journalists are scum. They're like crows picking at road-kill." Steve said.

"Well, I guess he only buys a newspaper to look at the pictures then. Oh, come on, Steve. Sarah Jane, Jared, Nanoha, and Fate are trying to help find Finney." Clyde said.

"I don't know anything." Steve said.

"Come on, has he been acting strange?" Jared asked. "Like possession or something. Like, out of this world."

"No, not that I saw."

"Clowns?" Nanoha asked. "Did he bring those up?"

"No. Hang on. There was this clown handing out tickets by the station." Steve said.

"Clowns, I wish it was Grimm, Witches, or Noise." Jared said, kicking his foot back and forth. "This really does feel like It."

"So Tony Warner, the boy that went missing in the park, he took a ticket as well?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah. But they were just tickets from a clown. It doesn't mean anything, does it?" Steve asked.

"What were the tickets for?" Fate asked. "Any idea?"

"Just a minute. I'd forgotten all about this. My mum picked it up for me at the shops." Clyde said, taking a crumpled ticket from his pocket.

"Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus." Sarah said.

"Like I'd want to go." Clyde said.

Rani's bedroom…

"It was in the kitchen, Luke, Hayate. It's getting closer to me." Rani said.

"Don't worry, it's gone now." Hayate said, walking towards Rani. "You're safe, we're here. Me and Luke. I can protect the both of you, if I need to."

"There's more. Look at this. Dad's taking Finney's books to the police. They're looking for clues, but I don't think they'll be looking for size twenty footprints." Rani siad.

"If they do take this seriously, there might not be anything they can do." Luke said.

"You see! This isn't natural. None of it. It's, it's supernatural!" Rani said, angrily.

"I doubt it's supernatural." Luke said.

"You've got such a closed mind. The supernatural is only science we don't know yet, like life on other planets."

"That's different."

"I've got to do something, Luke. Look at those pictures. Finney was seeing the clown the same as I am."

"Guys." Hayate said, opening the sketch book. "Look at this."

Then they find his ticket in Finney's sketch book.

"Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus?" Luke asked.

Rani gets hers out of her rucksack, "People were handing these out by the Tube."

"I think you should talk to my mum, Jared, Nanoha, and Fate." Luke said.

"I can't talk to anyone, Luke. Don't you get it? You and Hayate haven't seen the clown. I think only kids that get one of these can see it, and then they disappear." Rani said.

"Clyde saw it." Hayate said, recalling what happened. "I know, because Rein did a search of the area."

"I did." Rein said, appearing in the room.

"That's a fairy." Rani said, looking at Reinforce Zwei. "Then he must have a ticket."

"Believe me, Mum, Jared, Nanoha, and Fate understands things like this." Luke said.

"I do too." Hayate said, as Reinforce Zwei goes back into hiding. "We try and stop the supernatural and aliens back home. Mostly aliens."

"Luke, Hayate, whatever's going on here, no one understands things like this. But this ticket, it's got to be a clue. Are you coming?" Rani asked.

Outside the Museum of the Circus…

"Welcome to the Circus of Horrors." Clyde said, happily.

"Seriously, that's the joke you came up with." Jared said, as Fate places grabs his hand. "Thank god we're not against shadows or angels."

"Jared's right, he shouldn't be impressed by your jokes either. You know, Clyde, occasionally your sense of humour really leaves something to be desired." Sarah said.

"Who said I was joking? Are you all right?" Clyde asked.

"Clowns make my skin crawl. Come on." Sarah said.

Museum…

"Clowns in a museum." Nanoha said, sadly. "This is a bit creepy. Yet sad, at the same time."

"Tell me about it." Jared said, frowning. "I avoid horror for a reason. It being one of them."

Laughing clowns in cases, stuffed bears and elephants, wall displays.

"Like, museums don't normally creep me out. All those stuffed animals, old bones and mummies. But this place doesn't just take the biscuit, this place gets the whole Christmas tin." Clyde said.

A Ringmaster in traditional hunting pink, top hat, riding boots and whip appears. He has a slight Teutonic accent.

"Welcome, welcome to Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus and the story of the most wondrous family entertainment in the world. From the tumblers and jugglers of Ancient Rome to the father of the modern circus, believe it or not, a Sergeant Major in the 15th Light Dragoons." Spellman said.

"Mister Spellman, I presume." Sarah said.

"Elijah Spellman at your service."

"My name is Sarah Jane Smith. This is Jared Shay. We're journalists. These are our friends, Clyde, Nanoha, and Fate. We're here to talk to you about clowns."

"Ah, the princes of the sawdust ring. This way, please."

Clown room…

"Clowns." Jared said, looking at three shelves of painted eggs on one wall. "After knowing about It and Pennywise, I'm like, oh."

"Yeah. Creepy." Nanoha said, as lots of mannequins dressed in various clown styles...whitefaces and various famous augustes like Coco. "Um, why do they need all the face paint?"

"Mankind has always needed someone to make them laugh, slave or king." Spellman said.

"Can you do me a favour and drop a note to my head teacher?" Clyde asked.

"The Pharaohs had fools. So did the Native Americans. We had harlequins, and, in the Middle Ages, the jester." Spellman said.

"It's not so much the clown's showbiz history that we're interested in, as their reputation for scaring people." Sarah said.

"The fear of the painted smile."

"It's not as simple as that, Mister Spellman. They used to paint clowns on the walls of children's wards, but when they were asked, every child said the pictures scared them. Children sense things. I know."

Outside the Museum of the Circus…

"Come on!" Hayate said, walking next to Rani. "Things could be bad in there. I can sense it."

"I really don't think we should be doing this." Luke said.

"Okay, we won't. I'll go in with Hayate." Rani said, walking with Hayate.

Clown room…

Clyde is looking at a naive painting of a man in striped clothes playing a wind instrument, "Sarah Jane, Jared, Nanoha, Fate, look at this. These are the same colours as the clown I saw. Red, yellow and blue."

"I prefer it if you would say, Red, Blue, and Yellow." Jared said, smiling. "But that's mostly a Pokémon thing."

"This isn't a clown, this is the Pied Piper. The story goes he rid Hamelin of its plague of rats, then when the town refused to pay him he came back and took all their children." Sarah said.

"The oldest, and most accurate picture of the Pied Piper. The colours of his costume signify he was a travelling entertainer. But, I'm afraid, even clowns have their dark days." Spellman said.

"And that's exactly the sort of clown we're interested in, Mister Spellman. One that makes children disappear."

"But the Pied Piper was a fairy tale." Nanoha said. "There's no way he could be real, right?"

"Come on, a couple years ago, I would have believed that this was ridiculous." Jared said, laughing a little. "Myths, legends, fairy tales. I literally defeat monsters with fairy tales for god's sake. That being with Team RNJR. Every story has its inspiration, and in this reality, Tart, I mean Jeanne d'Arc, she's a Magical Girl."

"Jared, he's gone." Fate said, looking around. "Where'd he go?"

"I don't know, but something tells me we should get out of here, too, quickly. Come on!" Sarah said, and enter Luke, Rani, and Hayate. "Luke? Hayate?"

"Hayate." Jared said, looking at the wielder of the Book of Darkness. "What are you doing here?"

"Do you need any help?" Hayate asked.

"No. We were good."

"Um. No we weren't." Nanoha said, frowning.

"Yes. We were."

"Yeah, and keep her out of the action." Clyde said.

"What action?" Rani asked, screaming as a clown grabs her arm.

"What's happening?" Fate asked.

"Crap, they're moving." Jared said, removing Umi from around his neck. "In 3, 2, 1."

Jared, Nanoha, Fate, held out their devices and did their phrases. They transformed with Hayate to put on their combat armor, and they looked at Rani who is speechless.

"Now wasn't the time to do that. Something's animating the clowns." Luke said.

"Look out!" Nanoha said.

"They're alive!" Rani said.

"Run!" Sarah said.

Museum…

"What happened to Spellman?" Clyde asked.

"He's controlling them. Like Autons, those walking mannequins back in 2005. But these, they're puppets under some mind control. Maybe telekinetic control." Jared said, holding Hayate's hand.

"Walking puppets? Telekinetic control?" Rani asked.

"He's controlling them with his mind." Fate said.

"I know what it means, Fate. Who's Spellman?" Rani asked.

"Probably an alien." Luke said.

"Crap, you know what to do, Umi." Jared said, letting go of Hayate's hand.

"Ebb and Flow. Dual Pistols Mode." Umi said, and the weapons appeared in Jared's hand. "Would you like to use electric Dust cartridges?"

"Yes please." Jared said, and more clowns come to cut them off from the entrance.

"Everyone, stand back!" Jared said, as electric Dust cartridges popped up from inside the suit, he placed them into the dual pistols before shooting bullets to the clowns to zap them, and sparks fly.

"What was that?" Rani asked.

"Oh, a bit of magic from the world of Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate. A bit of technology from this world, I got some help from S.O.N.G. And some elemental Dust from the world of my best friends." Jared said, laughing a lot. "I never leave home without Umi. This stopped them for a bit, shut them off. Come on, let's get out of here!"

They walk a gauntlet of twitching clowns.

"Aliens. Luke said aliens." Rani said.

"Well, he said alien." Hayate said.

"And it could still be around here somewhere. Come on. There's no time for explanations." Sarah said.

"She's right. And from what I've seen, one alien can be as much trouble as a whole invasion. Come on." Clyde said.

Museum entrance…

Sarah Jane can't get the street doors open, "He's sealed the doors."

"Telekinesis. The same way he animated the clown mannequins." Luke said.

"Whatever we're dealing with here, it is extremely powerful." Sarah said.

"More powerful than any magic we've encountered back home." Nanoha said, her eyes widening.

"What did I tell you?" Clyde asked.

"And it's got us trapped." Rani said.

"Nope, it thinks it has us trapped." Jared said, as Umi changed Ebb and Flow into bow form. "And I know trapped, this isn't it."

"Oh no, Mister Shay. I'm convinced of it." Spellman said.

"Are you really an alien?" Rani asked.

"Rani, don't touch it. Neither should you, Luke, Clyde, Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate." Jared said, walking towards Spellman. "Just leave this to me, okay? Who are you? And what do you want? It's been a long five months, and I forgot what happens here for the most part. When Rani showed up, it��s all blank to me."

"Who am I?" Spellman asked.

He transforms from Ring Master into the Pied Piper.

"I am the Pied Piper, who conjured away a whole town's infants, and has chilled the hearts of parents for more than seven centuries." The Pied Piper said.

Another change.

"And now I am Odd Bob the Clown, who snatches children in the heartbeat their mother's back is turned. I am the thing that lives in the darkest corners. I am all these things and more. I am all that you fear the most. And you are mine to feed on! Fear me! You are mine!" Odd Bob said.

"Don't let him touch you!" Sarah said, grabbing the CO2 fire extinguisher and fires it at Spellman.

"Oh, sweet, sweet fear." Odd Bob said, lunging for Rani.

"Luke, Nanoha, Fate, give me a hand." Clyde said.

Clyde, Luke, Nanoha, and Fate put their shoulders to the main doors.

"Why are you coming after me?" Rani asked.

"You have a ticket. You are mine." Odd Bob said.

"Get away from her! I'm not scared of you." Sarah said.

"And neither am I!" Jared said, aiming the bow at Odd Bob. "Don't you dare touch my friends."

"But you are scared of me, Sarah Jane Smith and Jared Shay. Of all the things you have seen, of all the things out of the dark you have fought, it's me that lives in your nightmares. The painted face of a clown." Odd Bob said. "The Weeping Angels and the Incubators may scare you Jared Shay, but not as much as me."

"Mum! Jared!" Luke said.

Rani's phone rings.

"Quick, we're out. Come on." Clyde said.

"Run!" Sarah said.

"He's frozen!" Rani said.

Road…

They run back to Sarah Jane's car.

"The phone's electromagnetic wave must have temporarily interfered with Spellman's energies. They must have a similar frequency. But it won't last." Sarah said.

"Isn't somebody going to tell me what's going on?" Rani asked.

"Yes, yes there is." Jared said, looking back at Rani. "But not now! Because an alien clown is chasing us."

"Rani!" Luke said, angrily.

"Just get in the car." Clyde said, and Rani gets in the car.

She does. As Sarah Jane and her hang drive past the museum and Jared with his friends fly past the museum too, the fanboy hears Odd Bob laughing.

"I, I really really hate clowns as much as statues, maybe even more." Jared said, looking back at Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate. "We have to get back to 13 Bannerman Road. And fast!"

Outside Sarah Jane's home…

Jared, Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate landed in front of Sarah's house. And the green car approached the house.

"Okay, annoying ring tones have their uses. I think we've all learnt that today. But they're still annoying." Clyde said.

"It's my mum. What do I tell her?" Rani asked.

"That you're on the way home." Sarah said.

"What, you expect me to go just home like that?"

"Sarah, it's time we tell her the truth." Jared said, walking towards Sarah. "Like, she's an essential part of your team."

"Jared, you know the future." Sarah said, looking at Jared. "Why do I need her? By my side. She's not Maria Jackson."

"No, she's not. She's Rani Chandra. She's as awesome as her!"

"Please, Sarah Jane. That phone is doing my head in!" Clyde said.

Sarah Jane takes Rani's ringing phone and turns it off, "I'm going to offer you a choice, Rani. Cross over the road, go back to your parents and the life you lived before you moved here, and nothing will have changed. Or you can come with us. If you do that, nothing will ever be the same again."

"Like Jared said, I want to know the truth." Rani said.

"Then tell your mum Jared and I are giving you a little work experience." Sarah said.

Entrance hall…

"This is my favorite part." Jared said, entering the house with Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate. "Whether it's the Doctor showing people the TARDIS, Jack showing someone the Hub, or Sarah Jane showing her attic. Come on, Rani, this way!"

"This place is huge." Rani said.

"You ain't seen nothin' yet." Clyde said.

They go up the stairs. Luke pauses to look at the group photo of him, Sarah Jane Smith, Clyde Langer, and Maria Jackson.

Attic…

"Like I said, my favorite part." Jared said, smiling. "Welcome to one of my favorite spots in the universe."

"How cool is this. This is where you work?" Rani asked.

"That's right." Sarah said. "And Jared helps me from time to time. He suffered losses that hurt him, but now he's recovering from it. By staying with me."

"What's this?" Rani asked, walking towards a device.

"That's a distress beacon from a Silithean scout ship. Careful. You'll have an inter-galactic rescue team landing on the corner of Bannerman Road."

"I thought you and Jared were journalists?"

"We are, well, I'm trying to become a huntsman." Jared said, laughing a lot. "I almost forgot. Basically, I'm trying to become a superhero. I almost forgot. A journalist is my cover story to get into places."

"While I'm really a journalist." Sarah said.

"Not with alien gizmos in her attic, who doesn't bat an eyelid at a shape-changing alien clown Pied Piper thing?" Rani asked.

"That's more of a hobby."

"And it was what I used to do, but now, it's a hobby." Jared said, taking out some chocolate chip cookies to eat them. "A good hobby. I was trying to isolate myself, but then you showed up."

"Okay. Any second now, my alarm will go off and it's my second day at Park Vale. A new school with your dad as Head Teacher? Anyone would have nutty dreams." Rani said.

"All right, Rani, this is what we do, Luke, Clyde and me. Jared does it too, with Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate. When aliens come to Earth, and they do, all the time, if they're friendly and they need help, we're here to give it." Sarah said.

"And if they're looking for trouble." Fate said, standing in between Nanoha and Hayate. "We'll give them that too."

"Fate." Nanoha said, sadly. "Not like that."

"Yeah, but we have saved the world twelve times now. Even so, Jared has done it as much as Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate. Those three have done it together in their world, while Jared did it with Team RWBY in theirs." Luke said.

"For real?" Rani asked.

"No one is keeping score of what we defeat." Hayate said.

"Except Luke, because he's the smart one." Jared said, still snacking on the cookies. "I don't keep track, because why would I? I have other things to worry about."

Jared looked down at his winter wonderland hoodie that has the colors white and blue on it. A forest is showing on it.

"What's important are the rules. We look after each other. We respect all life, whatever planet it's from, and we tell no one what we do. Do you understand? No one." Sarah said. "Jared has stopped doing that. Telling everyone. Because it got too noisy, and it put his friends in danger."

"Yes, I understand." Rani said.

"Mister Smith, I need you." Sarah said.

"What's happening?" Rani asked.

"It's okay." Jared said, looking over at Rani. "It's Mr Smith."

"Yes, Sarah Jane, Jared. How can I help both of you?" Mr Smith asked.

"It's a computer. A talking computer. Sarah Jane, you've got a talking computer in your wall!" Rani said, excitedly.

"Actually, he's a Xylok. A crystalline life form, just about the smartest in the Galaxy. But computer's close enough. Super computer. He's not as portable as Kirito and Asuna's daughter, but he's more hands on." Luke said.

"Mister Smith, we want you to tell us everything you know about the Pied Piper and a clown called Odd Bob." Sarah said.

"And this has to do with the children who have gone missing? Across America in the period 1932 to 1940 there were disappearances of children connected to a travelling clown known as Odd Bob." Mr Smith said.

"So many." Sarah said, her eyes widening.

"And this is why I don't like clowns." Jared said, tossing the cookies into the trash can. "Especially those that are similar to Witches. God, that pisses me off so much."

"What about the Pied Piper?" Rani asked.

"I'm sorry, I don't think we've been introduced." Mr Smith said.

"That's Rani, one of Sarah's future companions." Jared said, leaning against the pole. "Right now, she's visiting. What about the Pied Piper?"

"A legendary figure who in 1284 rid the German town of Hamelin of rats by means of a magical tune. When the town refused to pay his fee, he enchanted away all its children."

"Could there be any truth in the story?" Sarah asked.

"It's a matter of historical fact that Hamelin lost its children."

"Whoa. You mean it's true?" Rani asked.

"I want you to scan this, Mister Smith." Sarah said, taking out one of the tickets.

"I'm detecting traces of an alien energy." Mr Smith said.

"What kind of energy?" Nanoha asked. "Is it magic from our world?"

"I can find no comparable data for analysis."

"So, this is something from this universe." Hayate said. "That must be it."

"Mr Smith, show us the alien records from the 13th century. Lower Saxony time period." Jared said, crossing his arms. "That's all I need to know, okay?"

"What's that, in the Weserbergand mountains?" Fate asked.

"A meteorite fragment which landed in 1283." Mr Smith said.

"The year before the Piper arrived. Yes! The Piper was in the meteor. Result!" Rani said, happily.

"The meteorite had a diameter of thirty point one two centimetres. An unlikely spacecraft, Rani."

"Still, what do we know about it?" Sarah asked.

"The meteorite is on loan for scientific research from the University of Munich to the UK."

"You mean it's here?" Clyde asked.

"And he came with it." Luke said.

"Perhaps if I were able to analyse a fragment, I could provide some information on the energy sample." Mr Smith said.

"Of course. Where is it?" Sarah asked.

"The Pharos Institute."

Bannerman Road…

"So, are the both of you going to get this meteorite for Mister Smith?" Rani asked.

"Yup, we will." Jared said, sipping on some bubble tea. "It's the only way to stop Spellman.

"I have a contact at the Pharos Institute. I think they'll help me and Jared." Sarah said.

"I'd like to help you, Sarah Jane and Jared." Rani said.

"Rani, the last thing we wanted was for you to get involved in all of this, in what we do. Up there, among the stars, there are fantastic civilizations. Life forms beyond our imagination. But there are those are dangerous, that for whatever reason mean us harm." Sarah said.

"We stop them, always have and always will. It's what we do, as heroes. The both of us have done it forever, Rani. If I could rewind time like Homura Akemi, if I was able to. Everyone we know and care about, they wouldn't be involved. The worst thing is, Sarah and I don't know if we'll always be able to protect them." Jared said, looking down at the ground.

"You don't need another kid to worry about, is that it?" Rani asked.

"Yes, it is." Sarah said.

"But I'm already involved. Odd Bob is after me and every other kid that has one of those tickets." Rani said.

"This is a Vorgatt defence field emitter. Turn it on, place it in the middle of your room. It'll throw up a force field that will stop anything getting in to harm you." Sarah said.

"Hayate, make sure to watch over Rani for me." Jared said, waiting for a response from the owner of the Book of Darkness.

"Okay." Hayate said, telepathically. "I will. On top of the force field, right?"

"Yeah." Jared said, happily. "I don't want Rani to be alone."

"Is that it?" Rani asked.

"And we promise you, Rani, we will stop Spellman." Sarah said.

"Even if you do, you lot can't expect me to live across the road and forget about all of this."

"No, but I expect you to keep it a secret and never tell anyone."

"Not even Mum and Dad?"

"Will they believe you?" Jared asked. "Your parents? That aliens exist."

"No."

"Goodnight, Rani." Sarah said.

"It's incredible, isn't it. The universe, aliens and everything. I mean, it's scary, but it's all real. That's amazing." Rani said.

"Yes, Rani. Yes, it is."

Kirito and Asuna's home…

Jared is sitting down on the couch as Yui floated towards him. Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate are in the room too.

"Jared, what's wrong?" Yui asked. "Is it because of the clowns? Why are you scared of them?"

"Jared, you told me you were afraid of the Weeping Angels." Hayate said, looking at Jared. "And the Daleks or the Cybermen. Why clowns?"

"Y'know the movie It or Ronald McDonald. Well, I found Pennywise terrifying. And Ronald McDonald representing that burger joint scared me. I never liked clowns, even if they made balloon animals. The chills I get from looking at one." Jared said, kicking his foot back and forth. "I know how to conquer my fear for most things, if I had people to support me from getting scared. But clowns, no way."

Jared closed his eyes to remember the time he saw the trailers for both It films.

"What happened?" Nanoha asked.

"Maybe I was scared of clowns the most for a reason." Jared said, looking at the three people who's there for him. "It must have been my mind playing things on me. I, I don't know. But I'm glad that you guys are here for me. Seeing a clown after so long, I didn't know how to react."

Rani's bedroom…

"Rise and shine. Morning!" Gita said, walking into the forcefield and steps back, stunned.

Rani leaps out of bed and turns it off, "Mum! Mum, are you all right?"

"Oh, I don't know." Gita said.

"Is it one of your migraines coming on?" Rani asked.

"I suppose. It aches like I walked into a brick wall. It feels like I did, too."

"Maybe you've been over-doing it." Rani said.

"Yeah. Yeah, I suppose. There's your tea. Hurry up, your breakfast is on. Oh, and your new friend Hayate is waiting for you downstairs." Gita said, leaving the room.

Rani draws her curtains and sees a red balloon fastened to a bush outside, "So Hayate is here. It looks like she kept her promise."

Pharos Institute…

"Sarah, it's okay." Jared said, placing his hand on top of Sarah's. "I'm here."

"Yeah." Sarah said. "I know."

While they are waiting at reception, Sarah Jane and Jared Shay think they see Odd Bob again.

"Miss Smith. So good to see you again. And Jared Shay, it's nice to meet you." Celeste said.

"Professor Rivers." Sarah said.

"Do come this way. Of course, we owe you a great debt of gratitude over that business with Nathan Goss. I mean, if anything had appeared in the media, it would have been the end of the Institute." Celeste said.

"We did lose Torchwood a while back." Jared said, sadly. "Also, I did help save the Earth a while back with them. And those 27 planets in the sky, the Sontarans, the living fat, that was me and the Doctor saving the day."

"You stopped those?" Celeste asked. "Thank you for that."

"We may be journalists, Professor Rivers, but there are some things it's best the public don't know." Sarah said.

"Oh, thank you, Miss Smith, Mister Shay. But your interest in the Weserbergland meteorite. It's not dangerous, is it?" Celeste asked.

"On the contrary. We hope it can help end something that is."

"Ah, thank you."

Laboratory…

"We think it came from deep, deep space. But the samples we've seen from Mars offer far more evidence of extra-terrestrial life. But the both of you won't take much, will you? This is highly irregular. Normally, I would never allow it, but…" Celeste said.

"We'll only take a small sliver of it." Jared said, happily. "You'll hardly notice the difference."

"Well, I think it's best if I wasn't here." Celeste said.

"If you wish." Sarah said, and Celeste leaves.

"Alright, time to get to work." Jared said, leaning against the wall. "After you."

Sarah Jane uses her sonic screwdriver to remove a protruding nodule from the massive meteorite.

"What are you doing, Miss Smith, Mister Shay?" Spellman asked, and he is in his Ring master's outfit. "I didn't want to frighten the two of you."

Then he changes into the clown.

"Here's what's going to happen. We're going to find out what you are and why you're doing this, and if we don't like it, we will come back and we will stop you. We will stop all forms of you!" Jared said, angrily.

"Jared's right, he did the threatening speech for me. We're only scared of what we don't understand." Sarah said, grabbing Jared's hand.

"Suppose there isn't anything to be understood? Suppose I am beyond understanding? Suppose as the thunder crashed and the lightning flashed, your aunt's clown really did come to life? And Jared, suppose as you saw those trailers and commercials involving clowns, they did stare at you?" Odd Bob asked.

"How could you know about that? It was a trick of the light." Sarah said.

"Why do you know that?" Jared asked. "How? I'm not from the same universe as you."

The Ring master is back.

"Then why are you still so scared?" Spellman asked.

"I know what you're trying to do. You need people to be frightened of you. That's why you take the children. That's the thing that scares us most, the thing that it's almost impossible to understand." Sarah said.

"And today, just for you, Miss Smith, Mister Shay, I will chill the blood of a nation. A thousand families will ache with loss and millions will shudder, sleepless with a bone-gnawing fear." Spellman said.

"What are you going to do?"

"Are you finished, Miss Smith, Mister Shay?" Celeste asked.

Playground…

Red balloons are floating above the buildings.

"Hayate walked me to school, which was sweet of her. But I can't believe we're still at school with that alien still out there." Rani said.

"Welcome to our world. We're the fearless alien hunters, defenders of Earth, but everything stops for the school bell like what it does for Symphogear. Tell me about it." Clyde said.

"So was Maria one of you, then? A fearless alien hunter." Rani said.

"Yes." Luke said.

"And that's what you meant when you said we couldn't be friends in the same way." Rani said, hearing the clown's laugh, and sees children grabbing red balloons. "He's here. The balloons. It's Odd Bob. He's here."

"What's going on?" Clyde asked, when the children take hold of the balloon strings, their faces go blank.

"It's as if the balloons are taking controlling of them." Luke said.

All the school children walk out of the playground.

"Okay, this does not feel good." Clyde said.

School...

Haresh looks out of his office window then goes running down a corridor. He meets a teacher.

"Where are the kids?" Haresh asked.

Outside the school...

"He's leading them away, like the Pied Piper. Come on!" Rani said, angrily.

Attic…

"The meteorite originated in the Jeggorabax cluster." Mr Smith said.

"Oh, something new." Jared said, happily. "I like it. But I've never heard of it. Where is it?"

"It is a dark nebula on the cusp of the Bezita Boudax system."

"What about the type of energy? The one from the meteorite?" Fate asked.

"There is a residue matching the sample I analysed."

"What else do you have?" Nanoha asked.

"There are stories of entities in this region which are created by emotions such as fear." Mr Smith said.

"And this energy came here in a meteor that fell near Hamelin where the people were terrified by a plague of rats. And this fear manifested as the Pied Piper." Sarah said.

"And once manifested, the entity required more fear for its survival." Nanoha said, her eyes widened.

"It took the children to create fear. And it's been doing the same thing ever since." Hayate said, and Sarah's phone rings.

"I hope Iroha and the others are okay. Back in Kamihama. I have to call them at some point." Jared said, sadly.

Street…

"Mum, I think you'd better get down here with Jared, Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate." Luke said.

"Hey, turn around. You don't know what you're doing!" Clyde said, angrily.

"You're in danger, all of you! Don't you understand?" Rani asked.

"Come on, stop, come back. Where are you going?"

"I think they're headed for the Circus Museum." Luke said.

Attic…

"Oh, god, I was so slow. Man, why can't I remember any of the Sarah Jane Adventures?" Jared asked, pacing back and forth. "That clown, he was talking about this. He's gonna make the whole school vanish."

"Luke, whatever you do, don't follow them into the museum. We'll be there as soon as we can." Sarah said, ending the call.

"Yui." Jared said, taking out the Augma headset he had inside his pocket. He placed it on his head, with the AI daughter of Kirito and Asuna appearing in the dashboard. "Yui, I have a job for you. Umi can only help me out in combat with magic. But you're a hacker. Mind giving me a hand?"

Street…

"We tried to get them to turn back, but they won't listen." Rani said.

"It's like they're zombies." Hayate said.

"I think Spellman is controlling them, like he did with the clown mannequins." Jared said, crossing his arms.

"So what's he going to do with them? It's practically the whole school." Luke said.

"They'll vanish like the others, without a trace. It isn't interested the children he's really interested in, it's the fear their disappearance causes. Spellman is an energy entity that feeds on fear." Sarah said.

Outside the museum…

"Roll up, roll up! Welcome to Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus. Just step this way." Spellman said.

"I don't think so, Mister Spellman." Sarah said.

"Not gonna happen, at our watch." Jared said, looking at Yui Kirigaya who is floating right in front of him. "I had to kill one kid months ago. I'm not losing hundreds."

"I don't think you have any say in the matter, Miss Smith, Mister Shay." Spellman said.

"Maybe I should phone a friend." Jared said, watching Yui close her eyes. "Who's right here. You can't see her."

"I got it." Yui said, her eyes still closed.

The children all stop when their phones ring.

"Yui, now that's a really smart AI." Nanoha said, happily. "Like Raising Heart. Or Bardiche. Or Reinforce Zwei. Her line's busy."

"You're right, Nanoha, it must be Yui. She's scanned the school records and rung every pupil." Luke said.

The children let go of the red balloons.

"The phone signals are interfering with Spellman's power." Clyde said.

"The both of you meddle with me at your cost, Sarah Jane Smith and Jared Shay." Spellman said.

"We're not scared of you, or Odd Bob." Sarah said.

"The both of you think you have conquered your fear, Miss Smith, Mister Shay? I will show you fear."

"Sounds like a bad loser to me." Clyde said.

"Everyone's going back to school." Fate said, looking at the children.

"Wait, Luke, Hayate." Jared said, looking around. "Where are they?"

"He was right next to me." Clyde said. "And Hayate was next to Fate."

"Where did they go?" Nanoha asked.

"Luke!" Jared said, placing his Augma back inside his pocket. "Hayate!"

Jared then removed Umi off of his neck, "Umi, set up!"

The magical device removed the nice winter wonderland hoodie and jeans Jared was wearing and it then put on the armor that comes with the suit, a nice blue and white armor. It then proceeded to build Ebb and Flow, and it put it into bow form.

"No. I'm not having this." Clyde said.

"No, Clyde. This is my fault." Jared said, holding Ebb and Flow. "You stay here with Rani. Nanoha, Fate, look after them."

"Luke is my son. And Hayate has the Book of Darkness. Jared and I are going after them together." Sarah said.

"No way. We're coming to help you." Rani said.

"She's right." Fate said. "We can't leave you."

"Please." Nanoha said, sadly.

"We're not going to risk losing you lot as well. Stay here." Sarah said.

Sarah Jane goes inside the museum with Jared and she sonics the outside doors.

"They've locked us out!" Clyde said, annoyed.

"So what are we going to do? They might need us." Rani said.

"We've got to find another way in. Come on." Nanoha said, happily. "Jared needs me. I'm what he used to be."

Museum…

Sonic lipstick at the ready for Sarah, and Ebb and Flow in bow form at the ready for Jared.

"Mister Spellman, where are you? I've come for my son!" Sarah said.

"And I've come for Hayate!" Jared said, holding the bow. "You're not keeping her, and the Book of Darkness is dangerous in the wrong hands!"

Hall of Mirrors…

"Help, help!" Luke said.

"Someone!" Hayate said.

"Luke!" Sarah said.

"Hayate!" Jared said, running up to the brunette. "Oh, Hayate…"

Luke and Hayate seem to be trapped inside two of the distorting mirrors.

"Help!" Luke said.

"Luke!" Sarah said.

"Help!" Hayate said.

"Would you like me to change forms?" Umi asked, her voice coming out of the music note carved into the bow. "For Ebb and Flow."

"No." Jared said, holding the bow. "I hope I can convince him to let them go. Spellman, where are you?"

Odd Bob is also in the mirrors.

"Not scared of me, Miss Smith, Mister Shay? Oh, I think you are." Spellman said.

"If you've hurt my son or Hayate Yagami, Spellman, if you've done anything to them, we will destroy you!" Sarah said, grabbing Jared's hand.

"Yeah, we will." Jared said, as Sarah squeezed his hand. "You're lucky that I have Nanoha and Fate here. They're here to stop me."

"The fear of a mother for her young. And the fear of a huntsman in training. The strongest fears of all." Spellman said.

"You'd better believe it." Sarah said.

"You got that right." Jared said, smirking. "Umi, which one?"

"On your left." Umi said, and Jared shattered a mirror with his bow and walked through the door behind it with Sarah.

Outside the museum…

"Come on." Fate said.

Round the side or back, with lots of scaffolding and a handy sash window.

"Give us a hand." Rani said.

"Maybe you should stay here with Fate. It's going to be dangerous in there." Clyde said.

"Would Maria have stayed out here?" Rani asked.

"No."

"This is quick." Nanoha said, and the window opens easily. "And easy."

Museum…

"Come on, Spellman, no more smoke and mirrors. If you're looking at getting fat on our fear, you're looking at a low cal lunch." Sarah said.

"Yeah." Jared said, as he is holding his bow. "I'm not scared of anything."

Odd Bob pops out from behind a mannequin, "Tastes like fear to me. Especially, you, Jared. You're the most scared. Ever since you killed Captain Jack Harkness' grandson, Steven Carter."

"Um, what have, what have you done with Luke and Hayate?" Jared asked.

"Oh, they're with the others." Odd Bob said.

"The others?" Sarah asked.

"The boy in the stationery cupboard. The boy playing football. If you really want me to count them all, I would pull up a chair. It has been over seven hundred years, don't you know."

"The hell are they?!" Jared exclaimed.

"Ebb and Flow. Dual pistol mode." Umi said, and she made it possible for Jared to separate Ebb and Flow.

The fanboy then watched the dual swords turn into dual pistols.

"Somewhere between this world and another. They are sleeping. I don't want to harm them. I don't need to." Odd Bob said.

"All the kids are fine?" Jared asked. "You didn't harm them. That's good."

"Well, after a while, they just fade away."

"No way! They're not fading like Magical Girls! Bring them back now!"

"He's right!" Sarah said, angrily. "Bring them back now!"

"Oh, I can't do that. Can you imagine a bogeyman that brings children back from Never Never Land? Who would be scared of me then? Boo. I would cease…" Odd Bob said.

"...To be." Spellman said.

"And if you don't exist any more, all the harm you've done is reversed. The children you've taken will be returned, at least the ones taken from here. Luke. Hayate." Sarah said.

"I've spent months feeling hopeless." Jared said, aiming his dual pistols at the clown. "And I got too reckless. Being around Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate. Being around those three girls, they brought me back. Even my Impossible Girl, Clara Oswald. You can't exist, I won't let you. I helped defeat the Devil. Way back when Rose Tyler was around."

Rani, Clyde, Nanoha, and Fate sneak in.

"But you cannot destroy me, Miss Smith, Mister Shay. No one can destroy fear. It is part of you all. I am part of you all." Spellman said.

"How do you fight fear? What can we do?" Nanoha asked.

"Yeah." Nanoha said, looking at Rani.

"I'll tell you what you can do." Rani said. "Clyde, you love to make jokes. And Nanoha, have you ever made bad puns before?"

"Puns." Fate said. "That was Jared's speciality with Yang Xiao Long. When he was with Team RWBY. The five of them together."

"Now, Miss Smith, if you are so concerned for your son, and Mister Shay, if you are so concerned for Hayate and the Book of Darkness, let me take you to join them. I'm sure your disappearances, in time, will give me much nourishment." Spellman said.

"All right, Mister Spellman, listen to this. Two aerials got married. You should've seen the reception." Clyde said.

"Don't you mean you'll show me the strands?" Nanoha asked.

"Clyde!" Sarah said, angrily.

"Nanoha!" Jared said, annoyed.

"Not only that, but he also seems to sew evil." Nanoha said, Raising Heart around her neck.

"Another child, another frightened mother. Yes, you have a ticket, Clyde Langer." Spellman said.

"Keep away from him." Sarah said.

"Don't you dare touch him." Jared said.

"What do you call a sheep with no legs? A cloud." Clyde said.

"Water you waiting for?" Nanoha asked.

"Police toilet stolen. The cops have nothing to go on."

"Dish is more like it!"

"What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh." Clyde said.

"Mind if I sock it to ya!"

"A magician was driving down the road and he turns, into his house."

"Who's pulling your strings now?"

Sarah Jane and Jared start giggling.

"What is this?" Spellman asked.

"Classic Chugga." Jared said, laughing a lot. "Kirby's Epic Yarn. Man, I haven't thought about that Let's Play in ages."

"Come on, folks, how about a bit of audience participation?" Clyde asked.

"He's right." Nanoha said. "Fate, mind giving me a hand with the bad puns? Since Jared loves them so much."

"What's invisible and smells like carrots? Rabbit farts. Thank you, thank you." Clyde said.

"You'll need more than Bluster to beat me." Nanoha said, happily.

"Where would you find a one-legged dog? Where you left him." Rani said.

"Mister Spellman, it's time you faced your punishment." Fate said.

"Hey, what's this? Rani's nicking my material. And Nanoha and Fate are nicking Chuggaconroy's material." Clyde said.

"Stop this. Stop it now." Spellman said.

"From 2008 to present day." Jared said, walking towards Spellman. "This is why I watch Chuggaaconroy. He makes me laugh with all of his bad puns and jokes. I'm not scared. I forgot I had everyone here by my side."

"What's wrong, Mister Spellman? Does the sound of laughter upset you? Does it frighten you?" Sarah asked.

"You will fear me!" Spellman said, and for a moment Spellman is both the ring master and Odd Bob.

"He's getting weaker." Rani said.

"Two fish in a tank. One says to the other, do you know how to drive this?" Clyde asked.

"I guess that he's hot under to collar." Nanoha said.

"An Optician tells a guy he's colour blind. Well, that's a bolt out of the green."

"The Pied Piper really egZerted himself."

"How did Count Dracula escape from Transylvania? He used a blood vessel. Ha, ha!"

"What's wrong, Mister Spellman? Not game for a laugh?" Sarah asked.

"People have shuddered with fear in my shadow for over seven hundred years." Spellman said.

"And now they're rocking with laughter. I think that's a real kick in the ego." Jared said, laughing a lot. "This is one hell of a battle. That you can't win. Because you didn't sharpen your claws. You are a clown after all."

"Sarah Jane, your pocket." Rani said.

"I went to the dentist. He said, say ah. I said, why? He said, my dog's dead." Clyde said.

"We seem to have taken an Ebb and Flow. Due to bad puns and jokes, we have a Raising Heart of hope. And Bardiche didn't axe you for this. Because you had a Book of Darkness." Jared said, while the piece of meteorite is glowing.

"Of course. That's it." Sarah said.

"You think you can destroy me with these pathetic jokes and bad puns?" Spellman asked.

"No, this is classic material." Clyde said.

"I guess you can call this, comedy gold." Jared said, smirking. "Because Bardiche has a golden hue!"

"I'm not going to destroy you, Mister Spellman. I'm just going to put you back where you belong. Where you don't need anyone's fear to survive." Sarah said.

"No!" Spellman said, terrified.

Sarah holds out the meteorite, "This is where you belong. The meteor that brought you to Earth. You've always been attached to it, but you were strong enough to resist its pull. But not any more. The nightmare is over."

Spellman / Odd Bob dissolves into light and streams into the piece of rock, which then goes dark.

"Thank you! The joker in the pack. Every alien busting team should have one." Clyde said.

"Why did you give up bad puns in the first place?" Nanoha asked. "That was a lot of fun. It was pun-ny."

"That was good thinking, Clyde, Nanoha." Sarah said.

"Well, it was Rani's idea." Clyde said.

"It was." Nanoha said.

"Yeah, but I told Clyde to be funny." Rani said. "And Jared loved making bad puns back then. According to Nanoha and Fate. He needed to be reminded of his time with Team RWBY."

"Mum!" Luke said.

"Oh, Luke! Luke! Luke, you're all right." Sarah said, running up to Luke.

"Hayate." Jared said, running up to Hayate. "You okay?"

"What happened? Where's Spellman?" Hayate asked.

"I guess you can say, he's finally paid the Piper."

Attic...

"The children taken in recent weeks have all been found safe and well. They have no memory of what happened to them, but were clearly released when the energy entity was returned to the meteor fragment." Mr Smith said.

"Thank you, Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate. It was because of you three I got my spark back." Jared said.

The fanboy is looking at the three mages from another universe.

"What are you gonna do?" Nanoha asked.

"You sure you'll be okay?" Fate asked.

"The Holy Quintet got Mami Tomoe back, right?" Jared asked.

"They did." Hayate said. "But Iroha's captured. Walpurgisnacht came yesterday."

"I know. I'll just pick them after that. I'm feeling a picnic in place. A picnic at Asgard. With the Puella Magi Holy Quintet, the Doctor, and River Song."

"Want us to open a portal for you?" Nanoha asked. "When you're done with the picnic."

"Yeah." Jared said, smiling. "Drop us off a couple days after this. I've got some Magical Girls to pick up."

Sarah Jane uses tweezers to put the fragment into a metal box, "And that is going in here. Halkonite steel. Nothing can get through it. Not even thoughts."

Outside Sarah Jane's home…

"So what happens now? Do you trust me to keep all this secret?" Rani asked.

"When it comes to getting a true glimpse of the universe, there are two types of people. Those who refuse to believe, that would tell themselves anything to deny the evidence of their eyes, and those that embrace the universe and just how special life is, and want it to stay that way by keeping it safe and secret." Sarah said.

"And that's me?"

"That's all of us, Rani Chandra." Jared said, squeezing Nanoha's hand. "Hayate, do you think you could pack me a picnic?"

"Okay." Hayate said, walking back inside the house.

"Rani, where do you think you've been? I thought you would have had more sense than to get involved in this walk out." Haresh said.

"A walk out?" Jared asked. "Sorry, I've been out of it. Forgot about British slang and stuff."

"A stupid prank. The whole school went walkabout then wanders back claiming not to have known what they'd been doing. Obviously some bright spark thought it'd be a good way of winding up the new Head Teacher." Haresh said.

"Yeah, of course, because I'm the joker in the pack, aren't I?" Clyde asked.

"We had free periods this afternoon. We've been at the library in town researching for a project. Clyde, Luke and me. Some friends of ours, Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate were helping us out. They're good with stuff at a young age. See?" Rani asked.

"That's why she wasn't answering her phone." Gita said.

"Sarah and I were at the library." Jared said, sipping on some bubble tea. "She brought her home in her car. And I ordered a Lyft, I mean cab. I called a cab and brought them back here."

"I thought I'd take your advice, sir, and try applying my brain to something other than being funny." Clyde said.

"Oh, by the way, I saw it on the news. All those kids turned up like nothing ever happened. Very happy ever after, but I can't help thinking weird." Gita said.

"Not weird, Mum. Surprising. The universe is a surprising place." Rani said.

"Anyway, Haresh is making veggie chilli for tea. You're all welcome to share." Gita said.

"Oh, I'd love to, but Jared and I really have to get on with work. But Luke." Sarah said.

"Nanoha, Fate." Jared said, looking at the two mages.

"Yeah, please." Luke said.

"Sure." Fate said.

"I'm okay with it." Nanoha said, smiling. "I bet it can't beat Hayate's cooking. Hers is so good."

"Come on. Haresh is always cooking far too much food. He's got this thing about Dawn French. His mother always said I was far too skinny." Gita said.

Gita, Luke, and Nanoha walk off arm in arm, with Rani, Haresh, and Fate.

"Look at me, with my new Head Teacher cooking me tea. The universe really is a surprising place." Clyde said.

"Yes, it really is." Sarah said.

"Hayate?" Jared asked, popping back inside 13 Bannerman Road. "How's it going with the packing?"

"It's doing good." Hayate said.