Chapter 5. No Way Out
A dark army of thunderclouds were forming over the carnival, and thunder rumbled in the distance. In the House of Horrors, Lord Fear, Googler and Lady Illusion were in a study. Lord Fear read Googler's report and then slammed it down on the desk. "My evil lord man! What am I going to do with you?" bellowed Lord Fear. "I don't know?" asked Googler. "You've done nothing but screw up!" cried Fear "You've been smashed by Rocky the Elephant, you've walked off walkways, you've been run over by runaway circus balls...you're a clown...be crazy!". Googler frowned. "Now! Buck up and let's see a smile!" ordered Lord Fear. Googler released a mighty big grin.
"Go and take a blood bath and don't come back until you smell better!" said Lord Fear. Googler bounced out the door and down the corridor. Then Dirty Rat burst into, grinning. "Hey boss!" he shouted. "What is it rat!" answered Lord Fear. "Sorry to interrupt you, my mistro of mayhem...but I saw Ace Lightning enter T.H.O.I" explained Dirty Rat. Lord Fear and Staff Head grinned and boomed into a laugh. Lord Fear looked out of the window and looked at a large garden where a large pink mansion stood with a blue roof. "So, our electric friend has stumbled upon the House of Illusion" said Lord Fear with a demented smile "Googler may have been a easy adversary...but Lady Illusion will be a challenge for him...will you have the honour of destroying him my lady?". Lady Illusion approached her lord. "With pleasure my lord, I'll make Ace's stay in my home...a real treat!" she said.
Ace found himself in a large garden. There was a signpost beside the gate that said "Garden of Illusion: Nothing Is At It Seems...". "Ha! Lady Illusion must be daft enough to think her illusions are powerful enough to stop me!" cried Ace looking at the attractions around him: A Hedge Maze and a well. In the distance, he could see the House of Illusion in the distance. "Welcome to my domain, Ace Lightning" said a voice. On the water fountain, Lady Illusion appeared. "Lady Illusion!" cried Ace. "I hope you enjoy my attractions...for you'll never get out alive! Hahahaha!" the mistress laughed. She vanished in a flash of light. Ace approached the maze and entered through the gate. He looked around curiously. A garden gnome carrying a rake and a watercan walked by. "I don't like the look of this place...and that guy is ugly!" said Ace. The gnome looked up at the hero with his freaky orange eyes and growled. "Who are you calling ugly!?" he cried. "Sorry! I didn't know you were listening..." Ace apologised. "No need to worry, you handsome fellow you..." said the gnome. Ace then looked angry and blasted the gnome, who transformed into Lady Illusion. "Lady Illusion! Trying to corrupt me?" questioned Ace. "Don't start flattering yourself Ace Lightning! Welcome to my hedge maze..." said Lady Illusion "Let's see if you can escape my maze and get to my house...hahahaha!". "Just watch me lady!" replied Ace. Lady Illusion snorted and disappeared.
The brave Lightning Knight turned corners and found several dead ends, each holding a deadly trap. Including vicious flycatchers that fired flies from it's sharp toothed mouth. Ace managed to find the centre of the maze, only to run into Pigface. "Ace Lightning make great main course for Pigface!" said Pigface as he snorted. Pigface opened his mouth and a fowl stench emerged from it. Ace backed off, waving his hands around. "Whoa! What died in your mouth!?" asked Ace. "No more jokes...this will be your last course!" cried Pigface and charged at Ace. "That's funny...I was thinking the same with about you!" cried Ace. The two were locked in a fierce battle, but then Ace won by frying Pigface's bum. The pig squealed in pain and ran off. As Ace planned to chase him, he heard a rolling sound. Out of the bushes came a zombie riding a giant bulldozer. Ace let out a yell and ran off down a path, the bulldozer in hot pursuit. Ace dodged all the enemies, statues and plants in his path (the bulldozer crushing them!). Ace turned a corner and then another, and then another. The bulldozer still continued it's rampage. Ace then blasted the machine with lightning, making it explode. Ace then found the exit and came to an astonishing site.
The House of Illusion sat on a hill top. It was pink and had a blue roof. The windows were covered up with shadows and the door was large and wooden. The gate to the house was made of candy canes. Ace pulled out his Lightning Lance, opened the gate and slowly marched for the house. "Okay Lady Illusion, brace yourself for here I come!" said Ace Lightning, Lightning Knight!