Who Framed Sonic The Hedgehog

Chapter 6

Yes It Can Get Worse

"Dip can kill me!"

Shadow shook his head in confusion, "What do you mean it can kill you?"

"There is not much to explain!" Sonic hissed, "Kill me is kill me Shadow."

"But you're an Animation-"

"Yes," Sonic said desperately, "But I was once a Toon, I still have Toon in me! It never went away! Dip can hurt me Shadow! And since I'm an Animation it's a much longer, more painful death!"

Shadow didn't have a chance to respond because, the wall exploded.

Literally exploded.

While Shadow had been busy quieting Sonic. Greasy on the other side of the wall -under the order of the judge- had placed a small explosive in the peep hole that had swung open by itself after Shadow had left it.

The explosive was small enough not to cause wide spread damage, but strong enough to blast a fairly decent hole in the wall.

Debris pelted the two hidden hedgehogs as the room exploded into noise and dust. Customers cried out in surprise and some even scrambled for the exit, only to be stopped by a wall of Weasels.

Shadow coughed, his eyes watering and his lungs filled with dust as he reached around blindly for some support. He had to blink a few more times before the dust cleared from his vision. Standing shakily he moved towards the hole in the wall, only have a gun pointed at his face.

"Looks who is in trouble now Valiant," Smarty sneered from the other side of the wall's hole. He was the one holding the gun.

"Good to see you to Smart Ass," Shadow said smugly.

"Watch it Valiant," Smarty snapped, "Or you'll find led in your brain.

Shadow's eyes drifted across the room, inspecting the damage, Nack was helping Rouge slowly get up from her place behind the counter. She was dusty and coughing, but she looked fine. That fact alone made him slightly more at ease. Next to him, Sonic was dragged roughing into the main room by Stupid and Greasy and pulled towards the triumphant Doom. Unable to resist much a Greasy shoved the barrel of a gun harshly into his back.

"How long did you expect to hide from the law Mr. Sonic?" Doom said, almost smiling.

"I didn't kill Acme!"

"Running from the police isn't the best way to prove that is it?"

"I -"

"What shall we do with the wall flower boss?" Smarty asked, tipping his gun at Shadow.

Doom turned, "We'll deal with him later," he tilted his head, "I'm rather disappointed with you Mr. Valiant. I presumed someone with a reputation for catching crime wouldn't link hands with a criminal."

"I'm pretty sure he ain't the criminal." Shadow calmly replied.

"And he told you that did he?" Doom said.

"You can't do anything here Doom, Sonic deserves a trial."

"Yes a trail would be nice," Sonic chimed in.

Judge Doom was silent for a moment, "I suppose a trail would be required." He turned to Sonic, "You Sonic Hedgehog have been accused to the crime of the murder of Snively Acme."

Shadow growled, "That's not what we meant Doom."

"And on behalf of the people of Toon Town," Doom continued, "I Judge Doom deem you guilty. The sentance is the death penalty and will be carried out immediantly."

"Doom!"

Doom's eyes narrowed, "Bring me the Dip."

Come on Valiant think of something, Shadow thought as he was shoved behind the bar next to Rouge. He had to give it to Doom though, that man wasted no time.

"Does the condemned have anything to say before his sentence is carried out?" Doom was asking Sonic as he moved towards the steaming barrel of Dip.

"Actually-"

Doom cut the azure hedgehog off by swiftly reaching up and grabbing his throat, squeezing with an iron grip. Sonic let out a gasp and squirmed but couldn't break free.

"I didn't think so," Doom said, as he began pushing Sonic down towards the deadly liquid. Under normal circumstances a Toon would be lowered into a large vat of Dip, quick and fast, as to speed up the destruction of the Toon. But the barrel went barely up to Sonic's waist. He would have to go in, slowly, one part at a time. A fact everyone in the room knew, would be painful if not agonizing. And if what Sonic had said was true about a former Toons death being painful, this was surely going to be more gruesome than a safe to the brain.

The entire diner was silent, woman turned away and men took off their hats, grimly waiting for the expected screams of pain to begin. They all were made differently, but all shared the same distaste for Dip, and the same sorrow for the poor soul to die by it.

Dammit think Shadow, you're smarter than this! Shadow looked around the room making a last minute attempt for a distraction, when his eyes fell upon the Weasel, Psycho.

Psycho, with his trademark straight jacket and his insane eyes, was giggling curiously at a spilt glass of brandy. The demented creature was sniffing the liquid, but making no attempts to taste it. That's when Shadow got an idea, an idea so clever that if he had been a Toon, there would be a light bulb hanging of his head. A very bright light bulb.

"Rouge..." He whispered.

She turned to him, "What?"

"Get me a bottle of scotch," he paused, "Make that two."

She glanced at Sonic who was pushing himself away from the barrel as hard as he could, trying so hard to postpone his death. She looked back at Shadow a furious gleam in her eye. "Fine time for a drink Shadow!" she hissed. "Maybe you'd like bowl of pretzels to go with it?!"

"Just give me the bottles Rouge!"

Rouge paused, then quickly reached onto the nearest shelf and brought down two bottles of the strongest brandy the diner had to offer. Shadow grabbed them and quickly tore off the corks.

Sonic's arms looked just about ready to give away, when Shadow shouted out, "Hey Judge!"

The sinister human stopped pushing against the convicted and looked over.

"Doesn't the dying hedgehog deserve one last request?" Shadow asked, glancing at Sonic.

Sonic nodded, "Yeah a bullet to the brain instead of this might be nice." his voice was raspy. "Or at least nose plugs."

Shadow smiled, "I think you," He held out a bottle, "want a drink." He looked up at Doom, "How bout it Judge?"

Doom paused before pulling Sonic away from the Dip, "Oh why not. I don't mind prolonging the execution." He smiled, squeezing Sonic's throat for emphasis. Sonic gasped softly and bit his lip in discomfort but made not other indication.

Shadow moved around the bar and walked up to Sonic, he held out the bottle, "Happy trails."

Sonic gave him a look, "Thanks Shadow, but I'm trying to cut down."

"It'll make the ride smoother trust me."

"I don't need the drink," Sonic said.

"I think you do," Shadow urged.

"I don't-"

"He doesn't want the drink," Doom snapped.

"Trust me it will help," Shadow said quietly. Shadow looked at Sonic long and hard, and the azure hedgehog stared back. Valiant watched as his eyes squinted then widen a little. Then Sonic slowly nodded. He wasn't sure Shadow could tell, hell, Shadow didn't feel sure himself. But the former star still nodded, as best as he could with Doom's hand partially cutting off his air.

Sonic licked his lips nervously, his eyes shifting back and forth between Doom and Shadow. "Um, on second thought I'll take the drink."

Shadow smiled and lifted the bottle, but Doom reached out with his free hand suddenly and grabbed Shadow's wrist with surprising strength. Shadow winced as pain shot up his arm, if his arm was hurting this bad. What did Sonic's throat feel like?

"What is the second bottle for?" Doom asked cautiously.

Shadow looked down at the bottle, "Oh this?" He held it up, "I just thought I'd have one myself!" On the last word, Shadow swung the bottle round and shoved the opening into the nearest Weasel's mouth, Psycho.

Now one thing Shadow learned in his years of crime solving was that not a single Toon in the world could drink. They weren't light weights, but it was in their nature to be funny. And funny things happened the second alcohol of any kind goes down a Toons throat. The effects varied for every Toon, but all of them were loud, drastic, and possibly dangerous.

The minute the strong liquid was in Psycho's mouth, his eyes lit up like a warning light. The bottle flew out and landed onto the floor, shattering into millions of pieces. The Weasel began to shake, his limbs twisting into knots then unwinding. He changed colors, from green, to pink, to even polka dots. Shadow quickly backed away, shoving Rouge down to the floor with him. And then, with a loud scream, Psycho exploded into a ear piercing, siren imitating screech.

Glasses shattered, Animations and humans alike fell backward in pain. They covered their ears and screamed in terror. Doom stumbled back releasing his grip on the azure hedgehog. Sonic fell to the floor next to the Dip, gasping for air and tucking his ears down in pain.

Trying his best to ignore the screech, Shadow dashed forward, tackling Smarty and hitting him hard on the head with the last bottle. He jumped up and punched Stupid, before grabbing a chair and slamming both Greasy and Wheezy back through the hole in the wall. Just as Psycho stopped screaming, Shadow swung around and kicked, sending the last weasel into a table.

He reached down and pulled up Sonic, "I gotcha."

Doom scrambled up, reaching for the pair, but Shadow quickly grabbed the barrel of Dip and shoved it over, towards Doom's direction. Doom and a few other Animations and Humans scrambled back, avoiding the disgusting green concoction. They were all immune, but that didn't mean they wanted to touch it.

"Come on Sonic let's go!" Shadow yelled, grabbing Sonic's arm they made a dash for the exit. Dip splashed everywhere, staining the floor, the tables, the chairs and the walls. Shadow saw a drop fly past his face. A small portion flew up and landed on Sonic's arm. The liquid splashed onto the coat the Shadow had lent and splashed a second time onto his neck the fur bubbled and sizzled as if touched by acid. Sonic let out a cry of pain but kept running.

Shadow shoved past two people entering the building and he and Sonic raced out onto the street.

"Quick thinking Shads," Sonic said out of breath as they looked for a spot to get away. "But where now,"

Shadow pointed at the Toon Patrol car, "Let's use that!"

They raced for the vehicle, Shadow yanked open the driver's door and Sonic leaped into passenger. "Let's get out of here!" Sonic urged, slapping the ebony hedgehog's shoulder.

Shadow's fingers reached wildly for the ignition. But he merely felt the empty slot of the ignition. He felt panic rise up in his throat and checked again. He checked the sun protector, the coffee holder, even under the chair.

No keys.

"Shadow hurry!"

"There are no damn keys!"

"Hey you weasels let me out of here!"

Shadow and Sonic froze, and slowly turned their heads towards the slot behind the seat. "Did you hear that?" Shadow said.

Sonic nodded.

"Let me out of here right now!"

Sonic frowned, "Wait I know that voice." He slid open the slot, "Dulcy is that you?"

"No it's the Road Runner, now let me out of here!"

Sonic turned to Shadow, "Get out of the car, I have an idea!"

Shadow rolled his eyes, "That's a first!"

"No I'm serious. Open the back; we've got ourselves a ride!"

The duo jumped out of the van, and raced around to the rear. Shadow grabbed hold of the door and gave it one sharp tug. The door swung free and out jumped a large green -

"Dragon!" Shadow gasped.

"Yeah that's Dulcy," Sonic explained, "She's an old co-worker of mine when we worked at Archie Comics."

Dulcy the Dragon scrambled onto the street and stretched her wings, "Aw that's better! I can't believe those Weasels locked me up for flying on the side walk!"

"It's a dragon." Shadow said.

"Come on Shad's!" Sonic cheered, hoping right onto Dulcy's worn leather saddle. "Hop on!"

"It was only a few blocks anyway," Dulcy mumbled.

"That is a dragon."

Sonic looked at Shadow, "Well yeah, now come on! Let's go!"

"That. Is. A. Dragon." Shadow stated, his voice rising, "We can not make a get-a-way on a dragon!"

"Of course we can," Sonic said with a roll of his eyes, "Now hurry! I'll drive."

Shadow rectuantly hopped up, "I don't trust you to drive!"

"Well good," Dulcy said, "Because I'm driving myself thank you very much." She bounded off down the road, nearly plowing over a pedestrian, "Oh of the way pencil head."

Just as they took off, the Weasels came bursting out of the diner entrance, "There they go! They sprung the dragon." yelled Smarty. "Get in the van! I'm driving" the Toon Patrol leapt into their van and quickly followed the escapees.

"Talk about this weather huh?" Dulcy yelled, over the blaring horns of traffic as she raced down the lane. "And did you see the game last night? Holy Dragon's fire that was lame!"

Sonic looked behind, "Dulcy hurry they're following us!"

Dulcy didn't hear, she was too busy dissing the drivers in front of her, "Look at these two loons," she raced past a car, "Move it lady get out of my way."

Shadow cursed too many words to count as the large dragon barely squeezed between the two cars.

"Jesus," Dulcy sighed, "Talk about a couple of road hogs."

Sonic and Shadow both flinched as a gun shot off, and a bullet whizzed by. They looked back to see the Weasels close behind, Smarty hung out the window firing the gun.

"I'm going to blow your head of Valiant!" Smarty yelled.

Shadow looked forward again at Dulcy. "Why the hell aren't you flying?" Shadow yelled.

Dulcy looked back, glaring, "Would you be flying after having your wings cramped in a small van all night and half the day?"

"No I guess I -"

"Dulcy watch the road!" Sonic squeaked, his voice rose into a scream, "Watch out for the bus!"

Shadow found himself screaming as well as Dulcy barreled into an intersection, and headed right for a trolley cab. His stomach flew into his throat as Dulcy did the sharpest U-turn he probably ever had been or probably ever will be on, and the dragon raced back up the street.

The Toon Patrol also U-turned, but failed to make it as quickly, Shadow looked back to see the vicious toons banging heads from turning so hard.

Sirens blared as Dulcy's attempts to get away, attracted the attention of two cops on motorcycles. Shadow groaned, last thing he needed was the 'actual' police force on his tail. Vector would have his head when he heard about this.

"Dulcy, we have cops on out tail," Sonic warned the dragon.

Dulcy ran backwards into an alley, "Not for long Sonic." the motorcycles followed quickly after, "Not they're right in front of us!" Dulcy laughed.

"This is not the time for jokes!" Shadow snapped.

"Dulcy turn around!"

The dragon jumped up and faced forward again, racing down the long alley. Shadow looked back, the cops still following in hot pursuit.

"They're still after us!" Sonic yelled. "Shadow!"

"I know the cops our on our tail! Quit yelling at me!" Shadow yelled back.

There was a screech of tires and the three runaways looked forward. It was the Toon Patrol, speeding down the other end of the alley. Shadow and Sonic screamed. "Oh my god we're gonna die!" Sonic cried.

Shadow could hear Smarty ahead, "I'm gonna ram him!"

"We are going to die!
The yelling continued, until suddenly Shadow's stomach lurched, followed quickly by his body, and Shadow quickly grabbed onto Sonic for support. One second he could see the Toon Patrol van, the next there was nothing but blue sky as Dulcy jumped up and flipped out her wings.

They were flying!

Shadow warily looked down as the Toon Patrol skidded to a stop, and the cops, with weaker reflexes, crashed into the van with a scream. They flew over the vehicle and landed on the street.

Shadow could almost laugh as they flew across the road finally safe from the Toon Patrol.

"Hey Sonic," Dulcy said, "What do you call the middle of a song?"

Sonic scratched his head, "Wait I know this one," His eyes lit up, "Oh right, it's a -Oh my God a BRIDGE!"

Shadow and Sonic yelled in terror as Dulcy barely missed a bridge, she flew up, then dipped down, Landing with a hard thump she continued running down the road, "OW! Wing cramp!"

"Get me off of this thing!" Shadow gasped, trying to breath.

"Where can I take you guys," Dulcy asked.

Sonic gasping as well, "Somewhere we can hide!"

"Somewhere solid would work nicely." Shadow added.

Dulcy thought for a moment , "Let me think, probably somewhere the Toons 'Patrol' can't find you am I right?"

"That's the point of hiding Dulcy," Sonic sighed.

"Hmmmm..."

"Soon would be nice." Shadow said. "He is wanted for murder you know, we can't stay on the road forever."

"You're telling me!" Dulcy laughed, "You two are heaaavvvy!"

"Dulcy," Sonic said.

A light bulb appeared over Dulcy's head, "Wait I got it! It's the perfect spot." she picked up speed, "I'll take you there right now."

Sonic let out a breath of relief, "Thanks pal, I owe you one."

"You let me out of that smelly cab, consider us even." Dulcy replied. "But if you ever need my help, just stick out your thumb okay. Believe it or not I work for the Taxi service now."

"Oh I believe it," Shadow mumbled, as Dulcy raced by another car.

Sonic laughed and gave him a wink as they bounded off down the road.

Yawn...12:26 a.m.

I apologize if this chapter is crappy in any which way.

Good n- I 'm morning...No scratch that. Good night to those who actually have night right now, and good morning to those actually getting up.

Here you guys go! Enjoy!

See you for the next action packed (not as much as this one) chapter.

Later!