Author's Note: This chapter has something special. Usually, I include one song, but for this one, I'm having two. I have two reasons for this. One is because the second song is sung by the Hooligans, who I so far haven't come up with an opportunity to have a musical number. And the second reason is that the second song is a song about scaring, which is meant to celebrate Halloween. I just thought it'd fit.
The first song is "The Mobius Stomp" from Sonic Underground. I had to change the title of it obviously because this is Las Vistas, not Mobius.
The second song is a parody of "Panic and Run" from the Lion Guard.
Anyway, onto the story. Any and all comments are welcome.
One year ago
After escaping from the home he grew up in, Sonic made a mad dash to random places all over town trying to make sure no one would follow him. This went on all night. Eventually, he got tired and skidded on a wide, sandy environment which was the foundation for a ruined little town. He took a few deep breaths trying to gather himself.
"Oh, boy. I never had to run that long before in my life." Sonic exclaimed.
As soon as he got his breath back, Sonic took a moment to examine his environment. He scanned the stores surrounding him until his eyes caught onto a music store window. There, he locked his eyes on an electric guitar displayed like a beacon in the night, and like a moth, Sonic was drawn to it.
"Sweet." Sonic used his elbow to smash the window so he could reach in and grab the guitar. He then turned it on and started to play his music. He wasn't as good as he was in present day, but he was still talented. He strummed excitedly as if it was his destiny to play it. Once he was done, he smiled completely forgetting about his troubles.
"Oh, yeah. Nothing but shred. Not a bad job if I do say so myself."
Sonic's worries came back when he heard a distant sound from around him. He continued to search the area recognizing it as a hissing sound. One hiss then changed to several. Sonic kept his guard up until the moonlight revealed him to be covered in several thin shadows at once. He turned and gasped in both surprise and fear.
Present day
"Attention, Timbercats!" Yumyan declared to his feline brethren as they entered the desert on a hot morning. "This is it! The fearsome Mega Mute invaded our home and stole our sacred Scratching Tree! But the tracks indicate that we are close and it is currently in Cactus Town! We shall hunt it down and reclaim what is rightfully ours!"
"So the Mega Mute's in Cactus Town?" Sonic asked. "Interesting."
While Yumyan continued to preach to the other Timbercats, Wolf pulled Kipo away from them. The rest of the gang followed.
"Listen, Kipo, we're heading into Cactus Town." Wolf said. "That's the home of the Umlaut Snakes. They'll attack us as soon as they hear us, and these cats aren't exactly the quiet types. Our best hope is to ditch them and find the Mega Mute ourselves."
"What?" Kipo asked. "I can't do that. Besides, what about Yumyan's secret? The reason he's not loyal to Scarlemagne."
"I couldn't care less what the secret is." Wolf said. "If we don't get going, the Umlaut Snakes will eat us."
"Normally, I'd argue with the mute-hater here," Manic said, "But she does have a point. I heard these snakes are just as territorial as the Timbercats."
"And they're even more disgusting." Sonia said. "I mean, they shed their skin regularly. Yuck."
"Hey, don't worry about it." Sonic said confidently. "I have a feeling we'll get out of this smoothly."
"Forgive me if I don't share your optimism, hedgehog." Wolf said.
"It ain't optimism, Wolfy." Sonic said. "Just trust me. We'll all get through this town, find that Mega Mute, and… Wait, that's right. Kipo, what is the plan when we catch it?"
"Well, I was thinking that we'd just ask it what happened to my people."
"What?" Sonia asked. "Kipo, that's impossible. The Mega Mutes aren't like most other mutes."
"She's right. They're just mindless animals." Tails said. "It's not just going to tell you anything."
"Well, it's the best plan I have." Kipo said.
"Hey, Manic," Dave said pulling the green hedgehog away, "So… Me and Benson have been talking and…"
"And what?" Manic asked.
"Well…" Benson said nervously, "Look, I know that it's super important that we find Kipo's people because that's also where your mom's going to be… But… You do realize that we're going to go after a Mega Mute strong enough to destroy an entire burrow with just one tree. And Kipo's going to try and reason with it."
"Nobody said this would be easy." Manic said. "I get it. You two are scared. Just try and bear it, please? For me?"
Though they were still scared, Benson and Dave sighed and nodded agreeing to Manic's proposition.
The Timbercats began their journey through Cactus Town following the very large handprints imprinted into the ground. They kept walking until the sound of hissing made them all stop. Yumyan shifted his eyes with high alert.
"I know that hiss anywhere." Yumyan whipped out his axe-banjo and readied himself.
From the far end of the road, many things slithered out of a building. They were snakes of all kinds carrying electric guitars. Their leader strummed hers with her forked tongue before glaring at the Timbercat leader.
"Yumyan Hammerpaw."
"Cotton."
"You've got a lot of nerve showing up here on your two feet." Cotton said. "Do you know how loud you were being?"
"I was dreaming about toast." Another snake said.
At that moment, both the Timbercats and the Umlaut Snakes hissed at each other with intense ferocity. The tension was beginning to build.
"I told you this was a mistake." Wolf said before realizing that Kipo wasn't next to her.
"She's over there." Sonic said pointing at Kipo who was walking past the Timbercats.
Kipo pushed herself hard until she ended up between Yumyan and Cotton interrupting their hissing. "Hey. Great hiss-off, guys. Look, Ms. Cotton, I'm really sorry for walking on your turf and waking you up. But perhaps if you can let us through this one time? I promise we'll be really quiet."
"Ugh. Now, you're keeping humans and fleas, Hammerpaw?" Cotton asked in disgust. She turned to the other snakes. "Ladies, it's time to…" She was interrupted by the flash of blue light.
Everyone saw Sonic leaping out of the Timbercat crowd and landing right beside Kipo. With great passion, he played his electric guitar bringing a smile on the snake leader's single-fanged face. Once he was done, most of the Timbercats and gang were confused, but all the Umlaut Snakes cheered.
"Little blue dude!" Cotton greeted extending her tail for Sonic to shake with his hand.
"Been ages, Cotton." Sonic said.
"Say what now?" Yumyan asked.
Cotton raised her eyes to the Timbercats before turning her attention back at Sonic. "These fleabags with you?"
"Pretty much." Sonic answered nervously. "But hey, they're not all bad. In fact…" He ran back into the crowd before returning with Sonia and Manic latched to his arms. "These two are my brother and sister that I never knew I had."
"Really?" Cotton asked.
"Okay, hold on a second!" Sonia shouted. "Sonic, what's the meaning of this? Do you know these guys?"
"Kinda."
"Why didn't you say something before?" Benson asked.
"I wanted it to be a surprise." Sonic said. "You see, it was just after I got separated from Uncle Chuck. I ran all over Las Vistas until I took a break here in Cactus Town. I found a guitar and was drawn to it. I played it just for fun or something when the Umlaut Snakes caught up to me. But…"
"DON'T EAT ME!" Sonic panicked.
"Eat you?" Cotton asked. "We just heard you play and we don't want to eat you anymore?"
Sonic stopped getting nervous and eased up. "Really?"
"Of course not." Another snake said. "You, dude, have the hands of an angel."
"Not to mention, you've just used the rift I've been looking for." Cotton spun her guitar and played it in the same style as Sonic did. Sonic smiled and played along with her. They made a big finish before laughing.
"Boy, I needed that." Sonic said. "I've had quite a day. Is it all right if I spend the night here?"
"Little blue dude, with a musical talent like yours, you can pass through here any time you'd like." Cotton answered.
"After that, I stopped by every once in a while to exchange music notes with these snakes." Sonic finished.
"I don't believe it." Kipo cheered. "So, Cotton, if you're already friends with Sonic, then does that mean you'll let us through?"
Cotton raised an eyebrow. "You vouch for them, Sonic?"
"Of course." Sonic said. "Even the Timbercats. I can tell things are hostile, but I'd like you to put that aside for the day."
"Then you can," Cotton said, "IF you can play us a song. I take it that you guys are in a band too?"
"Oh, yeah." Kipo said. "What do you say, guys?"
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt." Sonia said.
"Count me in." Manic said.
The band summoned all their instruments before playing rock music which the snakes enjoyed, but kinda annoyed the Timbercats.
Sonic:
We're gonna tear down the house
Rip up the joint
Band:
Doing the Las Vistas Stomp
Sonic:
We're gonna shake up the street
Blast out the beat
Band:
Doing the Las Vistas Stomp
Gonna turn up the amp 'til the speakers are blown
Rock off the roof 'til the cows come home
Come on, come on, come on
THE THING'S READY TO BLOOOOOOW
Sonic:
We're gonna tear down the house
Rip up the joint
Band:
Doing the Las Vistas Stomp
Sonic:
We're gonna shake up the street
Blast out the beat
Band:
Doing the Las Vistas Stomp
Come on, do the Las Vistas Stomp
Come on, do the Las Vistas Stomp
DO THE LAS VISTAS STOOOOOOOOOOMP
"Ah, music to my ears." Cotton sighed blissfully.
"You're welcome." Kipo said. "So… by any chance, have you seen a giant Mega Mute go by here? Six arms? Maybe likes destroying things for fun?"
"Oh, yeah. Totally wrecked our tour bus." Cotton said. "I mean, we already trashed it, but still. There's a giant cactus forest just a not too far from here. We'll take you there."
"I cannot believe that worked." Tails said.
"It shouldn't have." Wolf sneered.
"I believe the words you're looking for are 'Thank you, Sonic'." Sonic said.
"Well, as long as it got us through." Yumyan said. "You kids are just full of surprises. Timbercats, forward!"
"Ugh, does he have to be so loud?" Cotton asked.
Looking through his sniper scope, Fang could see the interaction with the Umlaut Snakes from miles away. "Hmm. So they've got both Timbercats and Umlaut Snakes on their side. These blighters are more resourceful than advertised. But luckily for us, I'm smarter." He turned to Bean and Bark who stood by their bikes. "Hand me some loud ammo."
"Um… I thought Scarlemagne told us to bring the targets to him alive an unharmed." Bean said. "He did make a pretty big deal of it. Like Mega Mute big."
"Just hand me the ammo, you dingus." Fang ordered.
Bark was about to toss his leader a clip, but Bean snatched it first. Fang sighed in annoyance as the duck stood on top of the motorcycle.
"No! We may be mercenaries! We may be psychos! I may be a bomb-crazy duck mute with sociopathic tendencies, but… Wait, I forgot my point."
"Look, I'm not going to use it to kill them, you bird-brain." Fang said. "The Timbercats are strong, but they have a crazy wild alert meter. One loud noise will throw them into a hissing frenzy of paranoia. And while they're all distracted, we'll swoop in and snatch the targets from the chaos."
"Oh. That makes sense." Bean said tossing the clip to Fang.
"Thank you. Now, let's move onto a new vantage point. Once they're inside the cactus forest, they'll only have one exit to run out of once the chaos begins. That's where we'll catch them unawares. Move out, Hooligans!"
The three mercs went on their bikes and rode off. Bean was so excited, he started scatting his own song.
Bean:
Spook 'em, spook 'em
We're gonna spook 'em
Spook 'em, spook 'em
We're gonna spook 'em
Fang:
The human and hogs are a resourceful lot
Check out the Timbercat army that they've got
They think they're safe with a guard to tight
But all that we need is a little fright
Give 'em a scare
Give 'em a scare
Catch them while they're unaware
Before they even have time to prepare
We will give 'em, give 'em, give 'em a scare
Bean:
Spook 'em, spook 'em
We're gonna spook 'em
Spook 'em, spook 'em
We're gonna spook 'em
Fang:
The Timbercats aren't complicated
They're just so easily agitated
Just one shot and that'll be all
Then we'll snatch our targets from the catterbrawl
Give 'em a scare
Give 'em a scare
Catch them while they're unaware
Before they even have time to prepare
We will give 'em, give 'em, give 'em a scare
Bean:
Oh, we're gonna get ya
Yeah, we're gonna get ya
Get ya, get ya, GET YA
HAHAHAHA
Fang:
Give 'em a scare
Give 'em a scare
Catch them while they're unaware
Before they even have time to prepare
We will give 'em, give 'em, give 'em a scare
GIVE 'EM A SCARE
GIVE 'EM A SCARE
CATCH THEM WHILE THEY'RE UNAWARE
BEFORE THEY EVEN HAVE TIME TO PREPARE
WE WILL GIVE 'EM…
WE WILL GIVE 'EM…
WE WILL GIVE 'EM, GIVE 'EM, GIVE 'EM A SCARE