A/n: Another update for you. I've finally finished writing the story! I spent nearly all of yesterday typing it up. Now all I have left to do is finish posting it.

Chapter 8 - On the trail

"I think I know why you stopped riding these things!" Sparx yelled to Ace.

They had been riding for half an hour, following the tracks, and the bad suspension of the Kittens had made it a pretty uncomfortable journey.

"I know what you mean," winced Ace. "Randy's sure come a long way since he built these!"

Randy, riding in front, suddenly slowed down and killed his engine. Ace followed suit.

A strange, multi-coloured light shone out in the distance. The rhino tracks led straight to it.

"What is it?" asked Sparx.

Ace looked over at Randy. "Do you think it's . . .?"

"The Carnival of Doom?"

Their fathers were always talking about the carnival; it was a hotspot for the scum of the Sixth dimension to hang out at.

"I've heard of that place," said Sparx. "I just never thought it was an actual carnival."

"These creeps are full of surprises." said Ace.

"So I'd gathered."

"We'd better hide the bikes and walk the rest of the way. There's no way we can sneak in on these." Randy dismounted.

"Can't we just bust in and . . . uhhh, take it from there?"

"I don't think that will achieve much, Sparx. So let's talk strategy," said Ace. "Our best hope is to find out where they're keeping dad and the others, and what their numbers are."

"What makes you so sure your dads and Salvatore are still . . . alive?" Sparx hated to ask, but she needed to know what to expect.

"Only the fact that if all they wanted to do was kill them, they could have done it at home. Why go to the bother of dragging them all over the dimension, unless you need them for something?"

"Time to go." Randy had finished hiding the Kittens.

"Keep it quiet guys, and don't draw attention to yourselves. We're out in the open, remember." Ace cautioned.

The three of them crept silently towards the carnival, their apprehension growing with every step.

Ace, meanwhile, was also coming to terms with the fact that he was finally leading his Knights on their first mission, even if they weren't officially Knights yet. He'd never fully realised just how much responsibility he was going to have to shoulder. Still, if his father could handle it, so could he. Thinking of his father reminded Ace of the task at hand. He hoped what he had told Sparx was true, that the men were still alive.

Ace felt Randy's hand on his shoulder.

"It's going to be fine, Ace."

"I know, Rand. It's just a little nerve-racking, that's all."

"You're telling me!"

Sparx, oblivious to the little heart-to-heart the guys were having, suddenly whispered.

"The tracks lead in there."

Randy and Ace looked up. They almost at the walls running the perimeter of the carnival. The rhino tracks went through a gate. There didn't appear to be anyone guarding it.

"Right," Ace summed up, "we know that there's at least two of them, the rhino and whatever was attached to that hand. And probably more. Any one who sees another one needs to tell the other two and we'll keep count. Also look for somewhere you think they'd keep prisoners. Ready?"

Randy and Sparx nodded.

"Let's go."

They snuck in, all three of them edgy with nerves.

Hiding behind a red and white striped stall, they were suddenly engulfed by an over-powering stench.

"Oh, Ace! That's disgusting!" chocked out Sparx, standing behind him.

"That wasn't me!" Ace defended himself.

"'Scuse me." said a voice behind them.

All three turned around, then looked down. Standing at about half a meter high was the ugliest baby pig they had ever seen.

He burped, and a green coloured cloud erupted from his mouth. Randy, Ace and Sparx all started coughing.

"Man, that's nasty!" gasped Randy, fanning his face.

"Shoo, little pig." Sparx tried to wave it away. It didn't move. "I said, shoo!" This time the pig did move, not away, but by jumping on Sparx. It was surprisingly heavy for its age, and Sparx staggered backwards.

"Mffft mmpt ffatooe!" whatever she was saying was muffled by the pig, which was firmly attached to her head. But judging by her tone, they were probably better off not hearing it, thought Ace, searching for something to get the pig off with.

"Ah ha!" Randy found a large bit of timber and took a swing at the pig.

"screeee!" came its babyish squeal. But instead of letting go, the pig grabbed on harder.

"Raaft." Instead of trying to pull it of, Sparx started pounding it with her fists.

"The pig squealed louder, Randy swung harder, and Sparx pounded faster.

"Everybody STOP!" yelled Ace.

Miraculously, even the pig stoped squealing, although it kept its hold on Sparx.

"Little piggy, would you let go of Sparx if I promised you a snack?"

"Mmmmmm, snack. Yummy!" The pig let go of Sparx and went off in search of something good to eat, not even bothering to wait for Ace.

Finally freed, Sparx started wiping slobber off her face with her sleeve.

"It was trying to eat me!"

"We underestimated it because of its size." said Ace. "From now on, anything that moves is a threat."