Underground Masquerade
(Sonic Underground: Theme)
(Ayla's Theme Song - KC Undercover Theme Song)
Queen Aleena:*off-screen* Sometimes you have to take a step back to realize how far you've come. In Manic's case however, that one simple step could turn into a slide of no return.
(Ayla's POV)
*Me, Sonic, Sonia, Manic were currently riding in our van down the street of a city on our way to the mansion belonging to the Duke of Velcronia for our next concert. Sonic was driving. Suddenly, a tan male Mobian, 2 years younger than us, with orange hair, brown eyes, flat pointed ears with gold hoop earrings, a black nose, & wearing a long-sleeved orange jacket over a white shirt, a purple fanny pack, brown pants, & teal boots ran in front of us, holding a miniature statue of Robotnik ran in front of us*
Ayla, Sonia, & Manic: Sonic! Look out!
Sonic: Got it covered.
*He pressed the brake & the van stopped. The van door opened & the Mobian hopped aboard. We all turned to him*
Max: Thanks! Now turn it around and burn rubber! Weirdo geek-ios are after me!
Sonic: Any particular reason we should care?
Ayla: Sonic, does there really need to be a reason?
Max: Here they come!
*We looked & saw Sleet coming towards us on a motorcycle. Dingo was right behind, running*
Sonic: Dingo and Sleet are after you?
Manic: In that case compadre, the Sonic Underground is at your service.
Sonic: Time to juice! *he turned the van around & went in the opposite direction. we zigged & zagged through the alley with Sleet hit on our tail* Take the wheel, Manic. While I take out ol' Dog-Face.
*I got out my board*
Ayla: Don't forget me.
*Sonic & I jumped out of the van & zoomed towards Sleet*
Sonic: Hey, Sleet-Meat! Is that as fast as you can go?
Sleet: It's fast enough to you two, hedgehog!
Ayla: Then knock yourself out, Pizza-Face!
*We then zigg-zagged around Sleet until he couldn't see us anymore & started heading towards a ramp*
Sleet: Oh no!
*He drove up the ramp & went flying*
Sonic: Perfect takeoff.
Ayla: Classic trajectory.
*He landed in a pile of garbage*
Sonia: And what an exquisite landing.
*We went to a back alley where a bunch of people were playing some really catchy music*
Max: Hey, Come on, Manic. I want to meet my posse.
Manic: Oh man, I can't tell you how this takes me back.
Sonia: Ugh! Take a look at all those barbaric ruffians.
Ayla: Sonia, don't be rude.
Sonic: Yeah. Forget look, just listen. Maybe we can use them in our gig tonight at the Duke's Masquerade Ball.
Ayla: Yeah! I bet they'd be a huge hit.
Sonia: No way, guys! You two know that Mother may be at the Ball in disguise. And if she saw an instrument like an accordion in our band, she might disown us all.
Ayla: Sonia, I may not have met Mom yet, but I know she wouldn't care about this sort of thing.
*Nearby, a pink male Mobian with black eyes wearing a yellow & turquoise hat, turquoise & violet jacket, turquoise pants, & gray boots was juggling oranges for a wealthy looking couple*
Clifton: Keep your eyes on the oranges, ladies and gents. *he then swiped the wealthy man's wallet & the lady's diamond necklace* Cause the hand is quicker than the eye.
*He then tossed the wallet & necklace to Max, but Sonic caught them*
Sonic: Whoa! No offense, Max. *he gave them back to the couple* Excuse me, I think you dropped these.
*Later, we were back in the van with Max, driving to another part of the back alley*
Max: Sorry. I didn't mean to get you guys mixed up in a hassel.
Manic: Don't sweat it, Max.
Ayla: Yeah, no big deal.
Sonic: Any place we drop you?
*We went to Max's hideout. We met his friends Clifton & Allegra (a cream female dog with dark orange hair tied into a high ponytail, black eyes with yellow sclera, a dark brown nose, & wearing a spikey hairband, a cropped yellow jacket over a lavender turtleneck dress, a green & purple bead necklace, a pink belt at her waist, pink earrings, a light blue spiked wristband on her left arm & a light blue bracelet on her right arm, blue tights, & tall blue sneakers). All the stuff they had stolen was on a table in front of us*
Max: But guys, we can't give it back. I can't remember who we took it from.
Max: Look, little bro, Sonia and Ayla are right. Stealing's wrong. I know, I've been there.
Ayla: Besides, even if it's to survive, nothing's worth stealing over.
Max: Soon as you can tell me how else we can survive, sign me up. Until then -
Sonia: Wait, Max. We're playing at the Duke's Ball tonight. Maybe he can help find you homes.
Max: Now you're talking, girl. And maybe me, and Allegra, and Clifton can jam with you. Sort of show the Duke what he's getting.
*Allegra took out a violin & Clifton took out an accordion. They started playing & they sounded really good*
Sonia: I had to go and open my mouth.
Sonic: Come on, sis. You gotta admit it, the kids can play.
Ayla: Yeah. They're great.
*Manic then started telling the kids about his pickpocket days*
Manic: Back when I was in circulation, I used to like the sneeze technique for lifting necklaces.
Sonia: Great. We're trying to find homes for these kids and Manic's conducting a clinic for pickpockets.
Ayla: Give him a break, Sonia. He's just making friends.
Manic: Watch carefully. *he pretended to sneeze & took out a handkerchief* Oh, wipeout! Oh, man! Oh, in so sorry. *he pretended to wipe Allegra's shirt* Oh, sorry Ma'am! *he took her necklace right off of her* Check it out! Looks like the Manic-Man's still has the touch.
*He dropped the necklace to the floor*
*Max & his friends clapped as Manic bowed*
Max: That was incredible!
Urchino (Dingo): Not bad! Nothing exceptional, but not bad.
*We looked towards the stairs & saw a yellow male Mobian with big ears & a young orange male dingo with a yellow hair, green eyes, & a silver robot leg wearing a gold earring, rounded purple glasses, a blue shirt, gray bracelets, green pants, & brown shoes at the top of the stairs. I could tell right away it was Dingo in another disguise*
Manic: So I'm out of practice, okay. I suppose you got better.
Tony: Matter of fact, he does. Slickest I've ever seen. Everyone, meet Urchino.
Note: OC name
Urchino (Dingo): Yo!
Max: Cool, Urchino. Welcome. But, check this out. Allegra, Clifton and I are gonna play at the Duke's Masquerade Ball with the Sonic Underground.
*I tapped Sonic, Sonia, & Manic on the shoulders & motioned for them to come with me.
Sonic:*whispering* What's up, little sis?
Ayla:*whispering* I'll give you one guess who Urchino really is.
Sonic, Sonia, & Manic:*whispering* Dingo?
Ayla:*whispering* Yep.
Sonic:*whispering* Ha! Can't get anything past you, huh?
Ayla:*whispering* You learn to be observant in the life I've been living.
Sonia:*whispering* So, what should we do?
Ayla:*whispering* I suggest we play along with the deception for a while, just until we find out what him and Sleet are up to. Once he does, we'll expose them and clobber them.
Manic:*whispering* I like the way you think, little sis.
*We went to another part of the hideout to discuss the plan for tonight*
Sonic: Hey, Manic. Let's close the doors on pickpocket high and teach these kids what they can play at the Ball, okay?
Manic: No problem-o, bro. It's just this whole scene takes me back to my childhood.
Sonia: That's just what we're worried about, Manic.
Ayla: Yeah, this could land you in jail.
*Suddenly, a laser was fired at us, but we dodged. It was Sleet with an army of Swat-Bots*
Sonic: It's Sleet and the Swat-Butts!
Sonia: How'd they find us?
Sleet: That's for me to know and for you to never find out, hedgehog!
Ayla:*in her mind* I already have a pretty good idea how.
*We all dodged the lasers & Max whispered something to Sonic*
Sonic: Hang on to your hairdos, everyone, cause we're spinning outta here!
*Sonic ran fast enough to create a giant tornado & sucked all of us in it. He then took us out of the hideout & went to take care of Sleet & the Swat-Bots. I went back to help him. I arrived just as Sonic summoned his guitar. I summoned my microphone*
Sonic: And now, a word from my guitar.
Ayla: And my microphone.
*We both shot a laser from our instruments, creating falling rocks that blocked the entrance & we made a break for it*
*We climbed out of a manhole that led to another part of the back alleys*
Max: Whoo! Ah, that was some wild ride!
Sonic: Don't thank me. Thank the Sonic Whirlwind Express.
*Sonia looked at her watch*
Sonia: Uh oh! We've got our sound check with Duke in two minutes!
Sonic:*to Manic* Hey, can you and Ayla get our new band members up to speed while Sonia & I are gone?
*Manic summoned his drums & brought my microphone back out*
Manic: Ready to rock, amigas and amigos?
*Max, Allegra, & Clifton took out their instruments*
Max: Let's do it!
Sonic: Later, dudes!
*He grabbed Sonia & zoomed away*
Manic: Here, Max, trade.
*They traded drumsticks*
Tony: Wait a minute! Where's Urchino?
Ayla: Probably making plans with his real gang.
Max: What do you mean?
Ayla: Sorry to say this, but Urchino is really Dingo, one of Robotnik's henchmen, in disguise.
Max, Allegra Clifton, & Tony: What!?
Manic: Hate to break it to you, but it's true. My little sis is never wrong about about these things.
Tony: I . . . I can't believe it. I nearly helped one of Robotnik's goons capture you guys.
Ayla: Hey, don't beat yourself up. His disguises are pretty good.
Max: So, what should we do if Urch - I mean, Dingo comes back?
Manic: Our plan is to play along with his disguise until we find out what him and Sleet are up to. Once he does, we'll expose him and clobber them.
Tony: Sounds like a plan to me.
Urchino (Dingo): What sounds like a plan?
*We turned around & saw Dingo coming towards us*
Max: Uh . . . The plan for the concert at the Ball tonight.
Urchino (Dingo): Oh, okay.
Tony: So, Urchino, how'd you get away from those ugly robo-dudes?
Urchino (Dingo): When you're the main man, you don't ask how. You just do it.
Max: Wow!
Manic: The dude talks a big game, but the question is, do you wanna chat or do you wanna jam?
Max: Ah, no big choice there, Manic. A one, a two, a one, a one, two, three, four!
*Later, Max was playing a solo on Manic's drums & he was sounding great. Dingo then grabbed one of the drumsticks*
Urchino (Dingo): Nice Max. But now it's time to move on to more important affairs.
Manic: You're talking crazy, Urchino.
Ayla: Yeah, what's more important than music?
*Dingo picked up some bottles & juggled them*
Urchino: Would scoring a fortune for the Freedom Fighters Resistance qualify?
*He tossed Manic one of the bottles & he caught it*
Manic: Oh. Can't argue with that.
*They tossed the bottles back & forth*
Urchino (Dingo): Then listen, when I was giving Sleet the skip, I heard about a huge tax payment he collecting from the Duke.
Ayla: But if we steal that, the Duke will be the one taking the heat!
*Dingo grabbed Allegra's violin & juggled it along with the bottles*
Urchino (Dingo): Not if we wait til Sleet takes possession of it. Then, he takes the fall.
Ayla:*in her mind* So, that's it. Sleet and Dingo are after the money the Duke owes in taxes and they're looking for some scapegoats to take the blame.
Manic: I'm starting to like the way you think.
Dingo: The only problem is, I'm not sure you still got what it takes.
*He threw all the bottles & the violin at Manic at the same time. But Manic caught one*
Manic: Try me.
*He suddenly slipped on a bottle, sending the others & the violin flying into the air. They all landed on Manic's head*
Ayla: Manic! Are you okay!?
Manic: Don't worry, little sis. I got a hard head.
Urchino (Dingo): If you can get through the Duke's security system to his treasure room and prove it by bringing back one small meaningless coin. I'll know I can trust you to help me pull off the real thing.
*They shook hands*
Manic: Hey, man. I'll do anything to support the Resistance. Hey, Max, can I count on you to cover me while I'm gone?
Max: From one to ten and back again!
*That night, Sonic, Sonia, Manic, & I were all one stage, wearing costumes (look up "Ayla - Masquerade Costume" by "SwanGirl24" on "DeviantArt"). Max, Allegra, & Clifton were off to the side with their instruments. (I had filled Sonic, Sonia, & the Duke in on what Sleet & Dingo were up to earlier) We summoned our instruments*
Ayla:*whispering* All right, guys. Let's do this. *they nodded & I turned to the guests**out loud* Welcome one and all to Duke of Velcronia's Masquerade Ball. Tonight, anything might happen. Anything might be hidden, behind the masks that surround you.
*Ayla singing*
Everybody wears a mask
Can't tell who is real
Oh, everybody wears a mask
Hiding what they feel
Everybody wears a mask
Isn't it bizarre
Oh, everybody wears a mask
Masking who they are
Who can I believe
They're trying to deceive
I can't tell one from another
(Another)
See the hopeless task underneath each mask
I find another and another
Everybody wears a mask
I feel so confused
Everybody wears a mask
Who should be accused
Everybody wears a mask
Even me sometimes
Everybody wears a mask
Each one plays a role
Everybody wears a mask
Masking heart and soul
*The audience cheered as we all scanned the crowd for Mom*
Sonia: Any sign of Mother?
Sonic: Not yet. *he turned to Max, * You guys ready?
Max: Ready!
Sonia: Sorry about the accordion, Mother
Sonic: Then let the good times roll.
*Sonic singing
Hey, come on everybody
Come and have some fun
Dance to the fiddle 'till the morning comes
Put in some Cajun 'n' Zydeco
*Ayla, Sonic, Sonia, & Manic singing*
Just like down on the bayou
*Sonic singing*
We gotta cover man down in Cajun beat
A Louisiana fiddle turnin' up the heat
*Max came up to Manic*
Manic: Max, it's time.
*He & Max quickly switched costumes & he went backstage*
Accordion sounds oh so sweet
*Ayla, Sonic, Sonia, & Manic singing*
Just like down on the bayou
Let's go!
*We kept the crowd busy while Manic did his magic backstage*
Come on, let the good times roll
Come on, let the music flow
Tell everybody you know
It's time to let go
Hey, come on everybody
Come and have some fun
Dance to the fiddle till 'the morning comes
Put in some Cajun 'n' Zydeco
*Manic came back & switched with Manic again"
*Ayla, Sonic, Sonia, & Manic singing*
Just like down on the bayou
*Sonic singing*
Whoa, just like down on the bayou
*The crowd cheered even louder. The Duke then came up to us (he was a white elderly dog)*
Duke of Velcronia: Fantastic performance! Well done! *he turned to Max & his friends* And kids, you can tell your friends there are good homes waiting for all of you.
Max: Incredible!
*Just then, Sleet came in with two Police Robots*
Sleet: Duke! I thought I had your assurance that your tax payment was present and secure!
Sonic: Who invited him?
Duke of Velcronia: Not me! The money is there! And you'll get it! Now leave my Ball immediately!
Sleet: The money is not there, *Manic & I pretended to be confused* Because the Sonic Underground has already taken it! *he swiped off Manic's mask* Police! Search this hedgehog!
*One of the Police Robots searched Manic until it found a gold coin*
Sonic: Manic!
Sonia: How could you!?
Sleet: A better question would be, where'd you hide the rest of it?
*One of the Robots handcuffed Manic*
Manic: There is no rest of it, I just took the one coin on a dare.
*Sleet turned to the Duke*
Sleet: You'll get the your gold.
Sonic: I hate to say it, Manic bro, but you really let us down.
Sleet: But until you do, you still have to pay your taxes in full.
Duke of Velcronia: But that will ruin me!
Sleet: Tell that to your hedgehog friends.
Duke of Velcronia: Officers, take all of these ingrates to the city jail!
*The police bots closed in on us*
Sonic: I think most of us can do more good outside of jail.
Sonia: I'll second the emotion and give it tune.
*She played her keyboard & the room fill with purple smoke. We then made a break for it*
*We all drove through the streets in the van, laughing the whole way*
Allegra: I still can't believe we pulled that off!
Ayla: I can't wait to see the look on Sleet and Dingo's faces when they find out the money they stole was all fake.
Sonic: While the real stuff is hidden in the Duke's basement.
Sonia: You know, once we defeat Robotnik, maybe I should think about a career in acting.
Clifton: The Duke was pretty convincing too.
Sonic: Now we just have to wait for Max to get the proof we need to arrest Sleet and Dingo and get Manic out of jail.
(Third-Person POV)
*Manic sat in a cell at the city jail*
Manic: Alright, now I just have to stay put until Max gets the dirt on Sleet and Dingo.
*Meanwhile, Max was secretly following Sleet & Dingo to their hideout, with a video camera he had gotten from Ayla. Tony & (OC name) were standing nearby. Tony then noticed Max sneaking in. He hushed him, hid behind a curtain, & started filming*
Sleet: This is so wonderful. That smart-aleck Manic did all the work . . .
*He turned Dingo back into Urchino*
Urchino (Dingo): And now, we're rich and he's in jail. Sleet, this was your sneakiest plot yet.
Sleet: I must say, Urchino, you weren't bad yourself.
*He turned Urchino back into Dingo & they laughed*
Tony: Yeah, and now we're gonna bust the both of ya!
Sleet: And who pray tell, is going to believe a gaggle of underage pickpockets like you?
*Max ran away*
Dingo: Anyone! Max was video tapping us!
Sleet: Grab him!
*They started to follow him, but a hooded figure pushed a barrel down the stairs & it hit them*
(Ayla's POV)
*Sonic & I ran into Max in one of the alleys*
Max: Guys! Perfect timing!
Sonic: You got the dirt?
*Max took out the video camera I lent him*
Max: Enough to fill a plant pot.
Ayla: Awesome! Now, let get out of here!
Dingo: There he is!
*We saw Sleet & Dingo at the end of the alley*
Sleet: Don't let him get away!
Sonic: In that case, it's time to juice and jam!
*He grabbed Max's wrist & zoomed out of there. I was right behind them on my board*
*We pulled up to the jail in the van*
Sonic: Hey, Manic! It's busy out time!
Manic: Ready when you are, bro!
*Sonic summoned his guitar & fired a laser at the cell wall. Manic climbed down & I have him a hug*
Ayla: Glad to have you back, Manic.
Manic: Glad to be back, little sis.
Sonia: Alright, now all we gotta do is wait for the police to show up.
Sonic: Right.
Manic: I know didn't really steal anything, but I'm so sorry guys.
Ayla: One thing at a time, Manic. Right now, we got a show to put on.
*We got in the van & zoomed off. A police ship soon came after us & Sonic started driving the van slowly. We soon arrived at our destination*
Sonic: Everybody out!
*We got out of the van & the police got out of the ship & came running after us. They found Sonic in the hall*
Sonic: I'm waiting!
*He allowed them to chase him until he hid in the shadows with us, Max, Allegra, & Clifton as the police went past us. We then followed them to Sleet & Dingo's hideout. When we got there, Sleet was feeding the police a boatload of bologna*
Sleet: Oh, hello officers. As you can see, through some brilliant detective work, Dingo and I have recovered the stolen loot.
*We then played the video*
Sleet: This is so wonderful. That smart-aleck Manic did all the work . . .
*He turned Dingo back into Urchino*
Urchino (Dingo): And now, we're rich and he's in jail. Sleet, this was your sneakiest plot yet.
Sleet: I must say, Urchino, you weren't bad yourself.
*He turned Urchino back into Dingo & they laughed*
*The police then put Sleet & Dingo in handcuffs*
Sleet: However will we explain this to Dr. Robotnik?
*I decided to
Ayla: Ahem! *they all turned to me* By the way, boys. *I took a coin out of one of the bags* These coins you stole, *I took the gold off the coin, revealing . . .* they're actually chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.
*I ate one ad the police led the shocked & speechless Sleet & Dingo away*
*Later, we were back at the Duke's mansion*
Duke of Velcronia: I must say, that was quite a brilliant plan, young lady.
*I blushed as Sonia hugged me*
Sonia: Yep! That's our genius little sister!
Duke of Velcronia: And a convincing performance from everyone.
Allegra: You weren't too bad yourself, Duke.
Duke of Velcronia: Thank you, my dear. And I hope you all like your new homes.
*They all cheered*
Manic: You didn't steal this one, Max. You really really earned it.
Ayla: Fair and square.
Max: You got that one right, guys. My old thieving ways are history! From now on, I'm a Freedom Fighter! Walking and talking the straight and narrow.
Manic: You and me both.
Sonic: And now that we got that settled . . .
Sonic, Manic, & Max: It's time to juice and jam!
Everybody Wears a Mask - Jem and the Holograms
Let The Good Times Roll - Sonic Underground
