The MPB stops at a roadside Carnival of Wonders for a little R&R and revelations abound. Ned reveals something we all knew already - that he's just a big kid at heart. Irene reveals a secret passion for cotton candy - as Carey discovers when his mother refuses to share any of the three bags that she bought. Molly talks Annie into entering one of her own songs in the talent contest that the carnival is running. With Molly's band backing her up a rather nervous Annie gives this singing-in-public thing a try - and discovers that she enjoys it. Apparently the audience and judges do too and Annie wins the contest. We won't mention the fact that Annie also seems to be the only person to enter said contest. First prize is an offer to tour with the carnival for the rest of the season. Annie politely declines this offer as she is already on tour.
The carnival manager is extremely disappointed by her refusal and takes it out on the rest of her makeshift family by giving them tickets to the Fun House. Inside the Fun House are "hungry" mirrors that not only distort people's reflections, but transform the people themselves into distorted forms. Carey's clowning with a warped mirror results in his transformation into a drooling Wild Man straight out of the Bronze Age. Irene becomes a hot coal walker and Jack ironically becomes a crystal ball reader.
Carey and Irene end up as exhibits in the freak show and do not seem to recognize Annie when she finds them locked up. Jack, on the other hand, is apparently left free to roam the carnival and gives a very confused Annie a peculiar reading - beware the looking glass - before vanishing in the requisite puff of smoke. Meanwhile, Ned and Molly have wandered into the Fun House and become a miniature Strong Man and the Incredible Melting Woman. When Annie realizes that Molly is going to have serious problems once the melting starts in earnest she heads out to look for answers. She is aided by one of the carnival workers whose brother is also one of the exhibits - the Petrified Man. Although the girl does not provide much physical assistance she does direct Annie toward the Fun House with it's "hungry" mirrors.
Inside the Fun House Annie is confronted by several images of herself which urge her to just let it all go. Annie ignores them, instead relying on her own inner strength, and begins smashing mirrors. Though the old saying admonishes that it is seven years of bad luck to break a mirror, this only applies to "good" mirrors. When Annie shatters the warped looking glasses their captive images are set free. Naturally, the former side show acts have no memory of their captivity and head out to enjoy the rest of the carnival.
Notes:
The song that Annie sings in the talent contest was actually written by Alexz herself.