- Chapter 27 -

Carnival of Horrors

Launch Base

The minute he returned to the Launch Base and disembarked the Egg Mobile, Robotnik quickly contacted Brutus.

"Fair warning, Commander, Sonic and Tails are on their way to your position as we speak."

"Understood, sir," Brutus assured. "I'll make sure they're dealt with swiftly."

"See that you do, and try to keep damage to a minimum. The park does need to be presentable."

Brutus nodded. "As you command, sir."

With that, he ended communication. Robotnik went back to overseeing the repairs.

"If Sonic thinks he can beat me this time, he's in for a real surprise."

Carnival Night

Sonic and Tails finally touched down in the next area. They were surprised to see a full blown carnival filled with balloons, rides, pinball bumpers and cannons to launch from.

"Okay, this is definitely no Echidna ruin," Sonic said flatly.

"Not unless the Echidnas had carnivals," Tails offered.

"No way," Sonic shook his head. "I don't think that knucklehead even knows the definition of fun."

An evil laugh sounded, and they looked up to see Brutus hovering overhead.

"Sonic! Tails!" he greeted casually. "You're just in time to join in the festivities."

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my least favorite tin can," Sonic deadpanned.

"I'm not too fond of you either, hedgehog," Brutus retorted. "Twice now, you've made me taste bitter defeat."

"So, you going for three?" Sonic asked, getting a laugh from Tails.

Ignoring Sonic's taunts, Brutus went on.

"Welcome to Carnival Night. The doctor's latest source of income. And we've whipped up a very special treat for you two."

On cue, a merry-go-round nearby activated. The horses' mouths opened up, revealing fully active missiles that were shot at Sonic and Tails. The two scrambled to dodge.

"It's a missile-go-round!" Tails exclaimed.

"And that's just the first of many rides we have in store for you, Sonic," Brutus gloated. "You won't leave Carnival Night unhappy, I assure you. Because you won't leave this park alive!"

"Sonic, maybe we should just leave," Tails suggested.

"No way," Sonic insisted. "I'm gonna smash every ride so no one else gets hurt. Who knows? Maybe it'll earn me some brownie points with Redface McAngry."

"You're welcome to try," Brutus taunted. "But if you think you can get in good with Knuckles, forget it."

"Knuckles will figure out Robotnik lied to him eventually," Tails swore.

Brutus scoffed. "In case you haven't noticed, that knucklehead echidna is deeply stupid."

He laughed as he flew away, into the local House of Mirrors.

"Hey, come back here!" Sonic shouted, pursuing him.

"Sonic, wait!" Tails yelled, following him in.

As he entered, he saw several versions of Brutus, as well as Sonic.

"Good luck finding your way out!" Brutus mocked, cackling as the door slammed shut, locking them in.

"I've got a bad feeling about this…" Tails let out.

"Relax," Sonic soothed. "What's the worst that can happen in here? They're just mirrors."

As if on cue, they heard a blaster shot, and suddenly a laser beam was bouncing off the mirrors toward them. They quickly hit the deck.

"That's the worst that can happen, Sonic," Tails deadpanned.

"Sorry I asked."

Brutus just started cackling, letting off another shot. Sonic quickly vaulted over it.

"So... follow the sound of the laughing, and hope it leads out?" he suggested.

"It's as good a plan as any," Tails decided.

With that, Sonic grabbed Tails and bolted. They went along the maze, dodging bouncing laser beams as they went. Eventually, they came out in a wide open room, seeing Brutus standing there, reflecting off numerous mirrors.

"Well, looks like you found me," the Badnik mused. "But which one of us is the real Commander Brutus, and not just an illusion?"

"Only one way to find out," Sonic decided.

With that, he started running around, plowing through the mirrors until he hit the actual Brutus. He went flying, rebounding off the wall. After a minute, he got up, dusting himself off.

"Isn't that just like you, Sonic?" he snarked. "Why use any intellectual means when you can just throw your flea-bitten spines at all your problems?"

"Why waste brain power on the brainless?" Sonic retorted.

Brutus growled, clenching his fists. "Joke while you can. But the fun's just starting!"

With that, he took off flying, Sonic and Tails in hot pursuit. He eventually led them to a drop tower, simply labeled "Drop of Doom".

"Aw, man…" Sonic groaned. "Always hated those rides."

He let out a resigned sigh. "Let's get this over with."

"Right," Tails agreed.

They boarded the ride, and it began to slowly rise up. Once it got to the top, two boosters suddenly emerged from the sides.

"Oh, this is gonna su-" Sonic's remark was cut off by a scream as the ride rocketed at full speed to the ground. It stopped mere inches from the ground, before shooting back up as high as it went before shooting down once more.

"Tails?!" Sonic managed. "If you have a plan, now's a good time!"

"Uh…" Tails let out, clearly not having one.

Sonic perked. "Wait! I got it!"

He grabbed his harness with one hand and Tails' in the other, rapidly vibrating both hands at super-speed to loosen them. Both harnesses snapped and Tails quickly grabbed Sonic, the two jumping to safety as the ride came crashing down.

"That was too damn close…" Sonic managed.

"Impossible!" Brutus shrieked from above, glaring down at them. "You should have been crushed! I calculated the harness strength and speed of the ride precisely! I've GOT THE EQUATIONS RIGHT HERE!"

"That's the problem with you robots," Sonic retorted. "All thought, no action."

"I don't understand it! How did you escape!" Brutus suddenly perked. "Oh, of course. You got lucky, didn't you?"

Sonic just smirked. "You doubt my skills?"

Brutus scowled. "These rides will be your undoing, or my name isn't Commander Brutus!"

He flew away once more, leading the duo to a cylindrical ride.

"Oh, it's one of those rides," Sonic realized. "When they spin around so fast you're smushed against the walls."

"Aw, man," Tails sighed. "I always throw up on those rides."

Sonic patted his back. "The sooner we get through this, the sooner we can kick Brutus' butt and move on."

They got on board, and the ride began spinning. They were soon pinned to the wall."

"Whoaaaaa!" Tails screamed. "G-Force in my faaaaace!"

"It's fun, right?!" Sonic questioned, clearly having the time of his life.

"Hoooow do you live like thiiiiis?!" Tails demanded.

Once they were at full speed, the floor sunk down, and was immediately electrified.

"Uh-oh!" Tails managed.

"Okay, electrified floor," Sonic mused casually. "Weird. I was expecting a pit of spikes."

"How cliché do you think I am?" Brutus demanded.

"You really want me to answer that question?" Sonic asked rhetorically.

"How I'll miss your rapier wit when you're gone," Brutus deadpanned. "Prepare for the shock of your life, hedgehog!"

As Tails kept his eyes on their impending doom, Sonic, with a phenomenal effort on his part, twisted around and got his feet on the wall.

"No! No, no, no, no, no!" Brutus shrieked. "This isn't right! This isn't possible! This. Isn't. Happening. I am Commander Brutus, and you shall not defeat me!"

"That's what you think, pal!" Sonic shot back. "You're gonna stop, 'cause that's what you do when you're faced with an irresistible force!"

He began running against the direction of the ride, which began to spark and sputter. The engine completely blew and the ride slowed down, the electrified floor giving out. Sonic skidded to a stop as Tails slid down, his face green as he moaned.

"What a blast!" the hedgehog cheered.

Tails gagged, putting a hand to his mouth before running out and to a nearby trash can. Sonic winced and turned away from the sound of the retching, while Brutus pulsed with rage.

"Stop. Not. DYING." he hissed.

"How about you stop using half baked tricks to try and kill us?" Sonic shot back. "Or better yet, just stop trying to kill us!"

Brutus reluctantly composed himself. "Oh, but I've saved the best for last, Sonic. Just follow me."

They chased after him, soon reaching an attraction marked "Hell House."

"Welcome to the Hell House!" Brutus boasted. "Part-haunted house, part-roller coaster! Abandon all hope, ye who enter here!"

Sonic just yawned in response. "Man, that sounds like something from a Saturday morning cartoon."

"Why not put your Mobiums where your mouth is?" Brutus offered. "If you survive the Hell House, you'll have the privilege of facing me head-on. Because clearly, the rides can't be counted on to kill you."

"You make it sound so inviting," Sonic deadpanned.

Nevertheless, he got on the front car of the coaster. "Alright, let's see what this baby's got."

Brutus smirked. "I assure you, it's to die for."

The coaster began, soon entering the house. Almost immediately, a knight appeared and attacked Sonic with an axe. He quickly ducked, the axe embedding itself in the cart mere inches behind his head.

"You call this a kill coaster?" he mocked. "I've seen more threatening kiddie rides!"

Once he entered another room, he was set upon by what appeared to be mud monsters.

"Y'know what?" he decided. "I'm done sitting back and trying to relax. It's time for smashing!"

And that's just what he did. As the mud monsters approached, Sonic knocked them aside with a few well-placed kicks.

"Dullsville!" he taunted. "Come on, Brutus! It's like you're not even trying!"

The next room featured ghosts, skeletons, and bats. Sonic just rolled his eyes.

"Spooky, scary skeletons?" he said aloud. "Now I know you're not even trying."

Once the coaster exited the house, Brutus howled with rage and charged at Sonic directly, pressing a few buttons.

"That's it!" he screamed. "I've set you on a course to the unfinished parts of the track! Either I'll kill you myself, or the fall from Angel Island off the coaster will! Whichever happens, I'll put you out of my misery once and for all, Sonic!"

"Well, alright then," Sonic decided. "Better make myself scarce."

He reached for the axe still embedded in the car. With it, he began hacking through his harness. Just as the coaster careened off the track, Sonic leapt to safety, dusting himself off.

"Well, that's it for your rides of death, Brutus," he remarked. "Ready to face me now?"

By now, Brutus was steaming mad.

"You know what?! Fine!" he screamed. "If you're so intent on hurrying to your grave, I'm more than happy to show you the way!"

"Bring it on!" Sonic shouted. "Tails! Ring me!"

Tails tossed him a Power Ring, which he caught with ease.

"Power Rings again?" Brutus spat. "Well, they just prove you can't take me without a boost! I'm still the better man!"

"Oh, shut up," Sonic spat.

The two clashed, Sonic's Power Ring-enhanced strength allowing him to easily keep up with Brutus' Megatal armor and abilities.

"Not so tough now, are you, Brutus?"

He ran at full speed around Brutus, whipping up a Blue Tornado that lifted him up into the air. Once he was airborne, Sonic jumped up, slamming him back down with a mighty punch before dropping down with a Spin Attack that blasted Brutus to pieces. His head rolled away, still intact and active.

"I hate that hedgehog…" he grumbled.

Sonic skidded to a stop, smirking, while Tails came running up, grinning.

"Sonic, I reprogrammed the missile go round," he informed him. "Once we leave, it'll destroy every ride left standing."

"Good thinking," Sonic remarked.

"This isn't the end, Sonic!" Brutus ranted. "Dr. Robotnik will rebuild me! Make me stronger! And once he does, you'll never know a day of peace until I put a blaster shot between your eyes!"

Sonic turned to him. "Hey. What's that you got on your face?"

Brutus had just enough time to look confused before Sonic punted his head like a soccer ball. As he landed with perfect precision in a garbage can, he screamed one last threat:

"You haven't seen the last of me!"

"Whatever," Sonic rolled his eyes. "Tails, do it."

They walked out as Tails pulled out a remote, hitting the big red button. The missile go round began spinning, firing dozens of missiles all across the park.

"So, where to now?" Sonic asked.

"I'm gonna bet Eggman's somewhere either on or behind that mountain," Tails theorized. "We could see the Death Egg in that general area from the Tornado."

"Then that's where we head next," Sonic stretched. "I do wish that place had some food, though. I would kill for a chili dog right now."

"With all the health code violations that place had, I wouldn't trust any food they offered," Tails said simply.

"True," Sonic conceded.

With that, the two headed off to continue their search.

Launch Base

Robotnik scowled, glaring at his communicator, which was now flashing "NO SIGNAL". With an angry growl, he slammed his fists on the console.

"Damn it! Sonic's on his way here now, and Brutus is down for the count!"

He pressed a few buttons on his glove controller, summoning a massive legion of Badniks. A horde of different bots appeared, each of them making their way up the mountain.

"Hear me, my loyal drones!" Robotnik proclaimed. "The repairs are nearly complete! The Death Egg rises again! Until then, you will keep Sonic from interfering with its relaunch! I don't care if the whole lot of you get lodged on the end of his spines! You will buy me the time I need! Do not fear the hedgehog! Fear my wrath if you fail me!"

As the Badniks marched up the mountain, Robotnik turned back to the Death Egg.

"Even if they don't kill Sonic, they'll at least delay him and wear him down. With any luck, Knuckles will finish the job."

Author's Note:

Now wasn't that a rush?

Next chapter, Sonic and Tails fight through a Badnik army on the Ice Cap to get to Launch Base. Will the Dynamic Duo succeed at stopping the Death Egg's relaunch?

Please R&R. Until next time!