Blaze Jackson and the Lightning Crook 8

Chapter 8: (Delay at Casino Night Zone)

Later, inside a dinner, with the gang eating their dinner, the news was turned on near the TV.

Voice: We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for this special report.

The group watched the disasters starting to happen while the familiar voices were heard.

Mr. Happy's Voice: As you know, scientists are baffled by what now appears to be a single storm cloud that is expanding over much of Europe and Asia, moving towards the United States.

Miss Sunshine's Voice: And savage winds, rain and mammoth waves are being reported along the coastlines of several continents. I didn't even KNOW that was possible.

It showed the two with Miss Sunshine beginning to worry.

Mr. Happy: Right you are, Miss Sunshine. (to the camera) But so far, no casualties, but countries everywhere are preparing for the worst.

Miss Sunshine: (fearfully) Does it have something to do with the same disaster that nearly occurred like when cows were raining that one time AND when two cats were having troubles with their marriage?

Mr. Happy: Now don't worry about a thing, Miss Sunshine. I'm sure Katz has his own reasons for causing these storms.

Dr. Viper: (frowns) The godsss are angry.

Black Mamba: I have a feeling that they're not the only onesss angry.

She looked at her phone, noticing a message.

Black Mamba: Ugh. Belladonna'sss blog just updated on my phone again.

Meowth: Why do you keep using that?

Black Mamba: Sssometimes her blogs are ussseful.

Silver: We need to get the last pearl. Where's the next location?

Some: Yeah.

Nack took the map, looking at it.

Nack: Well, let's see.

He then smirked at the letters forming.

Nack: Well guys, we got ourselves a good one.

He showed the name location.

Nack: We're going to Vegas!

Psycho: Sweet!! What's the name of the location in Vegas?

Nack: Only the best zone in the side of America: The Casino Night Zone!

Sarah: I dunno. For some reasons, I've heard that anyone who goes to Casino Night Zone, especially to a certain hotel there, never come back.

Psycho: Ah, you worry too much, Sarah.

Sarah: But-

Rouge: Hey if Sonic can get out of there, we can too...

Psycho: Hey if we get free time to spare, maybe we'll go gambling before we stop at Red's.

Blaze: We don't have time for that. The sooner we get the pearl, the sooner I can kick Red, the thief's, AND Dad's asses all in one swoop before I go home with my family, stay in my home, AND not have to deal with this anymore.

Rigby: Yeesh, Blaze.

Mordecai: Stuck in the past with us for a few months AND having amnesia at the time and already you're acting up.

Private: I know.

Julien: Ah don't worry. I'm sure it's just her period talk. (gets hit) Ow!

A bit later, the familiar vehicle drove down the road, passing by the people and wedded couple standing by the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. As they drove through the city, many of them looked amazed.

Marine: (smiles) Wow...I've never been to here before.

The gang watched as they looked at the places and casinos.

Mort: Yo!

Finally, they came to a sign marked "Entrance to Casino Night Zone".

Blaze: (smiles) Hey! There it is.

They stopped near the entrance where it said at the bottom "Home of the Famous Lotus Cuisines; Under New Management".

Blaze: The Casino Night Zone.

Nic: (smiles) I've been looking forward to this!

Sleet: Yeah, me too.

Dingo: Look, guys, remember what Don taught us: always split the eights, never the tens, okay? That's how they get you.

Ryan: We're not here to gamble, remember?

Eager Ones: (looks down) Augh!!

Psycho: But we got blackjack and poker and all the other fun stuff. Why not?

Blaze: Psycho, we're not here to have fun. We just need to grab the pearl and go, okay?

Meowth: Why? What's the big rush? So we got a few extra days with time to spare. Can't we spend at least one day leisuring about?

Blaze: No, because the longer we delay, the more my mother's getting tortured! I don't like fun! I don't like being lazy! (snaps) And I DON'T like you!!

Meowth: (pauses) This is why we don't ask you to come to our adventures anymore.

Blaze: Now then, if I were a pearl, which place would I be in?

At that moment, they saw a familiar figure being kicked out by a servant weasel.

Weasel: (snaps) Beat it, cheapskate! That's for trying to steal from us, you stupid bat!

He departed back inside.

Nack: Hello? Who's this?

They looked at the bat on the ground, groaning.

Fidget: Agh, these stupid tickets I swiped wasted for nothing!

All: (frowns) It's Fidget.

Nack: Whatcha doing here? Trying to get some cash stolen from the Casino Night Zone to try impressing Miss Calamity again?

Fidget: (bitterly) How'd ya know?

Marine: Who's Miss Calamity?

Julien: She's the woman who's scared of bears.

Mort: Like Uncle Br'er Bear!

The bat looked up, noticing the familiar faces

Fidget: (notices) Nack? Psy? Whatcha guys doing out of ACME Loo? Don't ya know you're gonna get expelled?

Nack: Don't worry. Yamaki and the others have us covered.

Blaze: Anyway, we got something more terrible to deal with right now.

Psycho: More than finding out later that you got a cyclops for a half-brother?

Blaze: What?

Psycho: Nothing.

Blaze: Anyway, you said "tickets". Is someone else with you?

Fidget: Yeah, I gave the other tickets to the Dumb Bots, Speedys, and those two mice. Plus they were gonna expire anyway and Grounder was eager to take them, despite it a school week.

Nack: Right. Say, did you happen to see a pearl of some sort hanging around?

He stood up with surprise.

Fidget: (gasps) Is it valuable? Is it glowing brightly? Will it get me back to Miss C's arms?

Nic: Not sure, yes, and YOU need help!

Blaze: Did you see something small and shiny?

Fidget: (pause) Actually, I did see something like that but my head got a little bit fuzzy before those guys kicked me out. I don't recall how long I was in there.

Silver: So can you help us inside?

Fidget: Sure I'll help find it...under one condition though.

Most: What?

Fidget: Get me back inside. Your boss is also here in the Casino Night Zone and ratted me out.

Nack: Hey, hey! Never say 'ratted' in front of weasels who hate being called that.

Psycho: Do it and you got a deal.

Fidget: Deal.

As a jazzy version of the Casino Night Zone music was heard, the gang with Fidget wearing a phony mustache entered.

Rigby: (grins) All right.

Julien: This is nice!

They watched the people partying while a few were playing what appeared to be gold rings into slots, a few winning a few coins and some losing while a snazzy vehicle started spinning slowly around.

Mordecai: (grins) Okay, this place is officially dope.

Rigby: We're all dopes here, Mord!

Oliver: (amazed) Wow, it looks really nice.

Julien: The beat's kinda nice. ESPECIALLY the horn-sounding things.

Sleet: They're saxophones.

Julien: (grins) Even better! They sound so jazzy!

Danny: Be careful, everyone. This place isn't without dangers.

Sawyer: Right, this casino is like the one that existed on Toonlantis before it sunk into the ocean due to a vision of a friend of ours.

Psycho: (scoffs) This is the Casino Night Zone. Sonic got out. What could happen?

Weasel: (arriving) Excuse me.

He showed a book to them.

Weasel: Here's your complimentary Lotus Fun Book.

They took it with Maurice glancing.

Maurice: Thanks, but we're not staying.

Weasel: Please, I insist. It's good for everything in the hotel and casino.

Ryan: Don't comp us. We're not checking in.

Julien: (ponders) Now wait a minute. Wait a minute. Blaze, you need 3 pearls to go to Underworld, right? And it can only bring back few at a time, right?

Blaze: Yes?

Julien: Therefore, perhaps the rest of us that can NOT use the pearls together will be staying here and await for your return after your adventure in Mt. Felonius. (to the weasel) Which in this case, I WILL be checking in myself.

Dingo: Aww no fair!!

Nack: Say, what the hell is a Lotus?

Danny: There's something familiar about that name.

Weasel: (bows) Why thank you, sir.

With that, he departed.

Jesse: (concerned) Okay, that guy was persistent.

Maurice: Unfortunately, it worked on Julien TOO well.

Skipper: Figures with Ringtail over here.

Danny: Seriously, the word 'Lotus'. It sounds familiar.

Fidget: Yeah! Just like how I was about a few hours ago after I entered.

Private: What is a lotus? Is that like Lois or something?

Kowalski: Maybe, but we can't stop to figure it out now.

They began arriving where the fun park-looking area was.

Blaze: (frowns) Yeah, we're here for one thing and one thing only.

Cream: I guess Miss Lotus is gonna have to wait 'til we finish for us to stay here.

They noticed people cheering with a familiar few faces nearby as the fat weasel chuckled.

Fidget: Hey, my groupie's here.

Espio: (frowns) Do I dare ask how Don won the game?

Fidget: He cheats secretly.

Marine then noticed a slot machine nearby the theme park.

Marine: Oh killer!

Charmy: That is really awesome.

Vector: (frowns) Where would we find a green pearl in this place?

Meowth: Or a Blood Ruby in this case?

Dr. Viper: Hmmm...it DOESSS sound familiar, the word "lotusss".

Black Mamba: Where could it be?

They looked at the showgirl passing by with a waitress.

Courage: Maybe on a cocktail waitress or a showgirl. Or someone.

Shirly: This is going to be a while, I am afraid.

They walked through the place with Silver glancing.

Silver: I think we should start there where our friends are at and everywhere this casino has.

Psycho: Oh! I wanna see if it's in the Sonic-shaped slots with the pics of Tails, Eggman, and Sonic on it!

They walked through the area with a cat girl arriving to them.

Cat Girl: Can I get you something?

Blaze: Yes. We're looking for a pearl.

Cat Girl: Ah. There's so many pearls here. What color do you prefer?

Blaze: (groans) There's more than one pearl here?! Augh!

Cat Girl: Lady, I know how stressed out you must be. But I got the solution for frustration.

She showed the item to them.

Cat Girl: Try a lotus flower. They're so good.

Blaze: Lotus flower?

Cat Girl: It's our signature dish.

Blaze: Really? Signature?

Rigby: Is it good?

Cat Girl: They're really good for those that love the taste of it.

Psycho: Ick! I hate vegetables!

Marine: Well I wanna see if it tastes good and-(gasps) Slot machine!

She and the kids walked to the slot machine with Marine putting in a ring, then pulling the lever. It showed three Sonics before out came many rings with the kids cheering just as the weasel from before arrived.

Weasel: Hey, are you kids over 18?

Marine: (frowns) Are YOU over 18?

Weasel: I'm not obliged to answer that, ma'am.

Cream: (sing-songy) We will pay ya just to look the other way.

Batula: (quickly) Uh sir, I can assure you zat it vill be all taken care of. Seriously.

They took the samples.

Blaze: Uh...Thank you.

Fidget: (snatches one) Yoink! Thanks, sucker!

Skipper: (takes it) Yo, do we have to pay for this?

Weasel: Nope.

Kowalski: I guess we don't.

Cat Girl: AND it's free samples.

Psycho: (gasps) Free?! I hate veggies, but I never pass a chance for free samples.

Krypto: Yeah, me either.

Most of them took the samples.

Danny: Uh, Sawyer and I will be looking around.

Sawyer: Right. Just don't do anything stupid while we're gone, okay?

The two cats leave, making the weasel glares as he speaks quietly into a headset.

Weasel: (quietly) Son of Katz and former slave of Red are suspicious. Better make sure they don't get in the way.

Nack: Come on, get your sample, Bat Squirrel.

Batula: Um, no thank you. I um...I don't eat mortal food.

Before he could, he noticed the dogs preparing to take theirs, he snatched the four canines as he hissed.

Weasel: No Dogs Allowed!!

The four yelped, being tossed out as they yelped.

Batula: Vhat are you doing?!

Charmy: Yeah, they're uh...kids like us and-

However, the kids with Batula yelped as they were pulled away and tossed out as well.

Batula: Dammit!!

Marine: (bitterly) Nice work, Charmy.

Weasel: No kids allowed here! Bad for business!

Cream: (frowns) Your casino under YOUR management is bad! At least Eggman's casino had SOME decency!

Mort: Let me in! I can't go without touching the king's feet!

Julien: (shouting) I'm not with him!!

Marine: That's it! We're gonna do something about it, you mean jerk!

Weasel: Yeah, yeah, cry me up a river, bitch. We got too many prisoners as it is.

Group: (shocked) What?!

Weasel: I mean...(gentle) Thanks for visiting! Come back, never!

Batula: (frowns) Something's vrong here.

Charmy: (shouts) And your flowers are stupid!

Krypto: And your martini sucks!

Weasel: Oh yeah? What are you going to do? Start your own casino in your own place and get all your friends to come? I'd like to see that!

Back inside, as Psycho prepared to eat his sample, he stopped, smelling something.

Psycho: Guuuuys...I smell meat here!

The hunters sniffed, dropping their samples before following the insane weasel. As that happened, the remaining ones bit their samples, tasting it.

Blaze: Mmm. That's really good.

The others took their bites, smiling a bit.

Mordecai: Dudes! This is the most delicious thing I've ever consumed!

Silver: Mmmm...Lotus Flower...

Rigby: Feel like I'm on drugs. Wooooooo!

Julien: Me too...so this is what would a bag of weed would be like if Lotus was weed.

The group looked dazed as what appeared to be fog of a sort surrounded the drugged ones with the group laughing.

Silver: Wow!

Blaze: (drugged up) He-he-he...Guys, why don't we stay here for a while?

Rigby: (stupidly) To hell with that. How about we stay here forever?!

Vector: Yeah!

Skipper: (groans) That sounds like an amazing idea.

Rico: Ha-ha-ha.

Espio: (tries to keep calm) But we're on time-sensitive mission right now.

A few laughed a bit.

Espio: (confused) Aren't we...?

Ryan: I can't remember.

Private: (groans) I totally forgot what I was gonna say.

Silver: (grins) I think I figured it out. I think I know why we're here.

Blaze & Jesse: Why are we here?

Silver: (happily) To have fun.

Rigby: Okay. It's like what I said. Let's never leave!

Most: (happily) Yeah!

Mordecai: Let's stay here!

Most: Yeah!

They laughed happily. At the food court, Danny noticed the hunters snatching some food.

Danny: Guys, did you eat the flowers or something?

Sawyer: (frowns) Those things are dangerous...and I don't know why.

Psycho: (scoffs) We didn't eat the stupid flowers. We smelled meat here AND decided to have free meat instead.

Nack: Yeah, besides, those flowers look like something Digit would eat that makes him all doped up.

Dingo: (muffles) It's true. Heck I didn't even KNOW these meat stuff were free as well.

Sawyer: Have you found the pearl?

Sleet: No. There's more than a few blasted pearls. And unfortunately, we can't tell which one is the one we need.

Psycho: And it doesn't help that those guys keep offering us flowers! Hello, we aren't interested!

Nic: Good thing we make sure we toss them away when none of them were looking. Now where did-

Meowth: (arriving/shouting) WHOOO!! We're partying like it's 1999!!

Meowth chuckled stupidly as he hugged his friends and the groaning Pikachu.

Meowth: Pikachu, did I ever tell you that you are an amazing Pokemon?

Pikachu: (laughing) Pikachu!!

The two laughed a bit as they noticed the serpents arriving.

Black Mamba: Well...that wasss interesting.

Sawyer: What do you mean? And how come you and Viper aren't drugged-looking like those two?

Dr. Viper: My DNA like Mamba'sss is very ssstrange. We're mossstly immune to flowersss like that.

He glanced at his sample.

Dr. Viper: And I will tell you thisss now...thisss flower isss not really to my liking either.

Meowth: Can I have it then if you're not gonna eat it?

Nack: Go ahead. I mean, what idiot would eat something called a 'lotus blossom' anyway?

Meowth snatched it while eating it.

Meowth: Oooh so good...let's stay for a while...I mean we got time here in all the world. Besides, I doubt any war's gonna start sooner than later.

Danny: Guuuuys, where are the kids and dogs?

Dr. Viper: Marine illegally gambled and she with the vampire and dogsss were tossed out due to a "no dogsss or children" policccy.

Sawyer: (sighs) Thank goodness for that. But that doesn't explain Batula being kicked out.

Nack: Look, does it matter now? We should relax for a small bit before we continue our search. (pointing) THEY are enjoying themselves.

Fidget only laughed hysterically while knocking Scratch and Grounder to Coconuts and toward the ground.

Fidget: You guys need to get out more!!

Nack: Fidget is getting more batty than usual.

Psycho: Yeeeaaaahhh, I dunno about that...he's already batty enough as it is.

Later, as the Casino Night music (Sonic Generation version) continued playing, it showed the single men walking down the aisle with some ladies with the drugged ones eating the treat. It then showed the hunters with Don's group at a dice rolling table with Psycho tossing the dice on the table, then cheering at the winning numbers.

Psycho: YAY!!

Adelaine: Good show, boys!!

Sarah: Oh my gosh! That's awesome, Psycho!

They cheered with the mice being given the treats and the hunters taking theirs, though the undrugged ones secretly tossed the flowers to the already drugged ones. Outside, the kids were struggling as they were building something with Mort hitting his hand with a toy hammer.

Mort: Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

It then showed the gang riding on the rides as they laughed.

Rouge: (happily) You're awesome!

Nack: Thanks.

It then showed Marine dunking paint on Batula's robe, much to his annoyance, painting a wall with two different colors. It then showed Charmy using a wrench, unknowingly turning the scene with Mort on it to the side.

Mort: Ooooh.

Then, the scene began turning rapidly.

Mort: OOOOOOOHHH!!

He turned it a few times before the scene returned to normal just as the screaming Mort fell to the ground. It then showed Ryan and Jesse in robes with facial masks on.

Ryan: (groans) Thank you!

The claws were filed for the male with the female's were painted.

Jesse: Yeah...thanks.

Back outside, the kids above began hammering rapidly on the sky with the boards. However, below them, unknown to any of them, Mort's hand was it.

Mort: Ow!

He tried moving, though kept getting hit at each location the board fell.

Mort: (moving) Ow! Ow! Ow!

Later, the ones inside watched their friends break dancing a bit.

Speedy: Gracias!!

Hiram: YEAH! You're awesome!

The ones dancing continued while they each took the flower.

Blaze: Hey thanks.

Before the female could eat hers, two familiar voices shouted to her.

Sylvester's Voice: Sufferin' succotash, Blaze! Don't do it!!

Tweety's Voice: No, Blaze. Don't eat the flower. You may be a daughter of the bad puddy tat, but you're gonna lose it all if you keep eating.

Blaze: (confused) Tweety?

She turned, yelping as she saw the familiar canary flying near her.

Tweety: Sorry, I had to come over. I had to stop you.

Blaze: From what? And was that dad I just heard?

Tweety: Yep, pretty much.

Blaze: Tweety Bird, what do you know about this?

Tweety: It's a very bad flower that you shouldn't eat.

Sylvester's Voice: Yeah! It dulls the senses, AND keeps you prisoner here.

Tweety looked at the bottle of soda with Sylvester's picture on it.

Tweety: Just like when YOU try to keep me prisoner during our cartoons?

Sylvester: (frowns) This is different!

Blaze: I don't under...

Sylvester: Just move around a bit. You'll see. Also, the ones who didn't eat the flowers are in danger.

Blaze: (shocked) Dad? Is that you?

Sylvester: (worried) Yes, sweetie. It's me. There's so much I wanted to talk to you about.

Blaze: What are you doing here?

Sylvester: The others are on break and Streaky made sure I got to the pool to contact you. I don't have much time before Katz returns.

Streaky: (peeking) Yeah, and it could be any minute now.

He pointed to the bird as he spoke.

Streaky: We had to send Tweety while they were on break. You have to find Krypto and the others. Please, for our sake!

Blaze: Before what?

Sylvester: Just stop eating the flowers!

Katz's Voice: Streaky, Sylvester, what are you two doing?

Both: Gah! Gotta go!

Finally, the image vanished.

Blaze: (to the drugged ones) Hey, I think I'm gonna go get some air. I'll be right back.

Druggies: Okay.

The two began departing with Tweety flying to the other area before Blaze entered the area, noticing a wedding going on.

Blaze: Guys, what the heck happened?

They looked at the hunters watching the drunk ones getting married.

Psycho: Oh the two guys with drunkiness are getting married.

Blaze: (frowns) Ugh, they ate the flowers too?

Boss: What? No, cat. They got free beer here. 'Sides, I'm not dumb enough to eat that veggie crap! 'Sides, cigars and beer is better.

Blaze: Guys, you aren't going to believe this but I just saw my dad...and Tweety.

Nack: So what did they tell you?

Blaze: They told me to stop eating the flowers.

Psycho: That's what we were doing the whole time.

Dingo: Viper and Mamba were immuned to it, but hey. Being drugged the normal way's better.

Blaze: (snaps) It's NOT what I meant. And who's getting married?

Danny: They drank so much, they don't even KNOW they're getting married.

Sawyer: (frowns) When they stopped eating flowers, they drug up in some other way. (pointing) There they are getting married now.

Priest: Do you take these ladies to be your lawful wedded wives?

Sleet: (drunkingly) Oh hell yes! I do!!

Dr. Viper: (drunkingly) Damn, who wouldn't!?

Priest: I take that as a yes. And do you take these men to be your husbands?

Nic: (drunkingly) Ah shut up and let's just get right to the good stuff, Slick.

Black Mamba: (drunkingly) He-he-he. Sooo buzzed, Viper...kisss me...

Priest: Uh in that case, I pronouse you men and wives. Now get out. You're stinking the place with your beer breaths.

The brides kissed, tossing their make-shift bouquets to the air with Danny catching one that landed on him and Don catching the other.

Danny: (grins) Wow, how lucky can you get?

Sawyer only snatched the bouquet in anger.

Sawyer: (shouts) He's already married!

She tossed it with the other single persons quickly darting to the bouquet, trying to grab it.

Psycho: Awwww. It would've been ironic seeing that Katz and Mirage almost married in Vegas.

Danny: That was BEFORE he eyed a few ladies...again!

Blaze: Well come on. The wedding's over AND we have some people to snap out.

The four drunk ones were carried while Don smiled at his bouquet.

Sarah: (pulling him) Uh Don, we gotta go.

The last bouquet was tossed up with Rouge catching it.

Rouge: Huh. Looks like I'll be next to get married too, huh?

Dingo: Hoo boy. Nic and Sleet may not like it when they recover and learned what happened to themselves.

Blaze: It'll be fine. Let's just-

They came to the pool and arcade area.

Woman: Another lotus flower?

Nack: No, I'm good. Thank you.

They walked down the arcade lot area.

Psycho: Hey, an arcade, but it's not as big as Mr. Litwak's arcade.

Rouge: (glancing) Look around you.

Psycho: Right and focus. Focus! On uh...what were we looking for again?

Nack: Psycho! Did you eat the flower on accident?

Psycho: No, that would be retarded.

Nack: Oh right, short term memory.

They noticed Batula sneaking inside before flopping down before a woman noticed and offered some flowers.

Woman: Another lotus flower?

Batula: No, thank you.

Nack: Bats? Where were you?

Psycho: (notices) And why's your dress-

Batula: Don't ask!!

Lady: (grins) Would you like another one?

Blaze: I'm fine.

At that moment, the insane weasel noticed a teen playing "French Connection".

Psycho: The French Connection?

Man: Yeah. You seen it yet?

Psycho: Yeah, yeah, I think so, on DVD.

Man: (confused) What's DVD?

Psycho: AHHH! Hippie!!

Nack: (frowns) Okay! Seriously?!

Man: (scoffs) Whatever. I think it's the best movie of the year.

Blaze: (confused) What? Wait. This year?

Man: Yeah, this year. 1971.

The group looked stunned, hearing what he said.

Boss: Wait a second! That's not the right date!

Dingo: Yeah, it's the 21st Century bub!

Psycho: Right, I'm the President.

Man: (scoffs) Yeah right. They day you become president is if Hell froze over.

Psycho: It DID and I'm basically that now.

They noticed Blaze starting to look tired.

Blaze: (groans) Yeah, I...

Batula: (gasps) Blaze, vake up.

She was shook awake.

Batula: Zis place is unhealthy. You need to escape. Wake up!

Blaze: Okay, I'm awake!!

They came to the center with the cat girl showing the flower.

Cat Girl: You could really use a lotus flower.

Blaze: I really don't want one. Thank you.

Another came to the group.

Woman: Just one.

Psycho: No!

Just then, they came to the marble where Hiram and Adelaine with the dumb bots were, cheering on the ball landing on black 33.

Nack: (glances) Wait a second...is that...?

Then, the waitress came up to them.

Lady: Another lotus flower?

Dingo: No.

Lady: We insist.

Blaze: (frowns) I really don't want another lotus flower, so please, leave me alone.

The weasel arrived to the group, glancing at them.

Weasel: Is there a problem, Miss Jackson?

Blaze: (pauses) No. Thank you...and how do you know my name?

Psycho: Aha! A psychic! Well, you ain't reading my mind, you rat!

Weasel: Now wait-

Boss: (pointing) Look there!

The duo weasels snatched Hiram with Adelaine and the robots holding the cash. As they were gone, the weasel frowned, glancing back before talking on the mic.

Weasel: Blaze the Cat's awake...and those other idiots with her too.

Inside the dance room, Fidget with Silver and the good guys were dancing happily while giggling.

Meowth: Yeah! Ha-ha-ha-ha!

Blaze: (quickly) Excuse me. Silver. Silver!

Boss: (notices) Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What're you doing with that?

Danny: (slaps the items off) Don't eat that.

Fidget: Awwww!

Hiram: I wasn't done yet!!

Coconuts: We haven't stolen enough cash yet!

Boss: Idiots!

Silver: (confused) What?

Blaze: We have to go. Now.

Vector: What do you mean?

Julien: We're having so much fun!

Blaze: No, no, no, we're not having fun.

Batula: And vhat do you mean by "stolen enough cash"?

Grounder: We pretend to eat that crap they give us robots and we make off with all the loot we steal under their noses. What do you mean "what do you mean"? It's a perfect plan!

Scratch: Grounder...you DO realize...(snaps) THAT YOU TOLD THEM THE ENTIRE PLAN, DIDN'T YOU!?

Speedy: What plan? What are you on about?

They came to the last two wolves talking with the ladies.

Blaze: Ryan! Jesse! Wake up, you two! Guys! Come on, we got to go!

Ryan: (notices) What? (frowns) Look, Blaze, your timing is terrible, okay?

Jesse: Dude, we're heading to the chapel. We're getting married!

Maurice: Awww. How romantic!

Espio: (shakes his head) No, no, no, no, no. (groans) I've been trying to stay focus while eating their flowers...trying to keep focus on what was missing...what we were SUPPOSE to do.

Ryan: Like what?

Blaze: (sarcastic) Like how is it you aren't neutered yet! (normally) We gotta go or we will be trapped here.

Psycho: Like that bum who has been here since 1971!

Vector: He's obviously a hippie.

Rigby: (to the girls) Hey, which of y'all did I propose to?

Mordecai: And which one of you is Margaret?

Psycho: (snaps) Wake up!

Rigby: Yo, man, you're such a buzz kill.

Silver: Blaze, what's wrong with you? Why are you doing this?

Julien: Like I said before: she's in period mode!

Nack: And forget Margaret. She would probably ditch you for a school anyway!

Blaze: All of you need to wake up, now!

Batula: (to Blaze) Let me handle zis. (to the drugged ones) Look at me. Look at me. You're in a trance, okay? Ve're trapped!

Blaze: He's right. Listen to me. If you eat the flowers, you're never gonna want to leave. Okay? We're gonna be stuck here forever!

Drugged Ones: Uh...

Coconuts: It's no use! They're too high. The only way to knock them back to semi-normal is-

At that moment, boxing gloves hit the drugged ones in the back of their heads. To their surprise, they saw the familiar kids and dogs with Tweety.

Tweety: Sorry it took longer. I had to get the kiddies and doggies here somehow.

Cream: (lifts them up) I'm sorry, Mr. Silver...everyone...but you were all acting very weird.

Cheese: (nods) Chao...

Meowth: (groans) Ow...what hit me?

Finally, the drunk ones awoke as they held their heads.

Dr. Viper: Grrr...Meowth, that wasss the last time you tricked me to drinking that much beer.

Black Mamba: (confused) We didn't do anything...ssstupid, did we?

Psycho: (grins) Nothing an exorcism won't fix!

Pikachu: (notices) Pika...

Danny: Too bad I didn't find THAT out until later.

Marine: Anyway, I managed to build a casino that allows everyone while you were all in there.

Mort waved his bandaged hand as he spoke.

Mort: And I helped!

Rigby: (realizes) Oh, no. We got to go.

Hiram: Uh...wh...wasn't I suppose to leave for home and finish my test to graduate?

Adelaine: And weren't one of the Speedys and I SUPPOSE to tutor you fellows when we got home?

Coconuts: He-he-he. (sweatdrops) Funny story there.

Fidget: (notices) Uh oh. The fuzz!

They looked at the weasel talking to the manager, pointing to the group.

Ryan: (worried) Okay, I see your point! Okay.

Blaze: Let's get the green pearl!

Quickly, they began darting.

Oliver: RUN!!

They quickly ran through the dancing crowd. As they ran, the manager weasel chased after them.

Manager: (snaps) Hold it right there! Stop right where you are.

Psycho: Bite me, fatass!!

Ryan kicked the thin weasel down, then used his crutches, then shoved him down.

Jesse: Let's go.

As the ones ahead ran, Blaze shoved one person, then Silver and Skipper took two pool poles, hitting two more, shocking the crowd.

Marine: Killer!!

Cat Girl: Hey! You can't do that, you-

At that moment, Rouge and Sarah kicked the female waitresses down.

Rouge: That's for the flowers we DON'T want!

Quickly, the cat with weasel duo hopped on the roulette table, kicking the guards chasing them and hitting a few with their bags. Blaze quickly took the pearl.

Blaze: Got it!

She hopped off before Nack and Psycho noticed all the money nearby, snatching it quickly.

Weasels: Yoink!!

Psycho: Can't ever forget the cash.

Meowth: (shouts) Move, James Dean! Out of the way!

Mordecai: (pointing) Let's go, guys! Car! Car!

Psycho: Come on, guys! Car!

They darted up to the car before hopping in.

Adelaine: W-what's been happening!?

Hiram: Ugh, I never know what's going on!!

Batula: Get in!

Rigby: (panics) In the car, in the car! Let's go!

They quickly hopped inside with the mirror flipped, showing the keys.

Coconuts: Keys! Got the keys.

Scratch: (fearfully) Come on! Go!

Most: Drive! Drive!

Dingo: (pointing) They're coming! They're coming!

Don snatched the keys, quickly starting the car.

Blaze: Come on, start driving!

Boss: I got this.

Silver: GO!!

Finally, they saw the entrance, zooming toward the exit before the door was broken down. They zoomed away as Marine shouted.

Marine: By the way, (pointing) ya may wanna look at a BETTER casino outside!!

As they zoomed out of the Casino Night Zone, they sharply turned, almost causing the other cars to hit them. They zoomed through with a few yelping.

Boss: (smirks) Now, that's how you get out of a casino! That's how you drive!

Silver: (realizes) Of course. Now that all makes sense.

Some: What?

Danny: Because of what happened with Eggman briefly taking over before the original owners took it back, THAT was the lair of the lotus eaters.

Sawyer: They've been luring people into their trap since ancient times.

Nack: (dryly) That could've been useful DAYS AGO!!

Blaze: (blinks) What do you mean? We were there for a few hours!

They noticed something on the calendar.

Ryan: Nack's right, guys. (pointing) Look, tomorrow is January 21st.

Silver: No. No, no. It can't be. Today's the 15th.

Marine: No, tomorrow is the 21st.

Charmy: You were in there for 5 days while we were building our OWN casino.

Espio: (sighs) It felt like hours.

Vector: (groans) Then tomorrow's the solstice.

Batula: (sadly) Our deadline is tomorrow at midnight.

Hiram: What deadline? What's going on here?

Speedys: Si, why so glum?

Adelaine: And what's with the glowing jewels?

Psycho: As it pains me to say, it's a long story.

Blaze: Okay, look, we've got to move it. Where's Red?

They looked at the map as it showed a peculiar location.

Sleet: It's in Hollywood.

Boss: All right. I can get us there in 4 hours. Maybe three.

Adelaine: (frowns) But in the meantime, will SOMEONE explain what is going on?

Nic: And why do Mamba and I have wedding rings on our fingers?

Nack: (sweatdrop) Well, this is going to sound awkward...but Sleet is now my brother in law.

Nic: (shocked) What?!

Sleet: What did you say?!

Rigby: (pauses) VERY awkward...

They zoomed through the streets, passing by a "Drive Safely: Come Back Soon" sign.

Tweety: Uh guys? You may not like what else we're gonna explain to you.

Cream: Neither will those meaners back there.

Courage: But why build a casino.

Krypto: That was practically a waste of time there anyway.

Marine: Hey, at least it'd be better for the people to go THERE instead of the one with lotus flowers. Besides, we kinda asked for a little help from certain bears of Nack's grandpa's...

Back at the lot, it showed the "Ted Ez. Mafia-Free Casino: Fun for All Ages, Re-Opened" nearby the Lotus Eater building with the drugged ones all dazed and heading inside as the familiar bears shouted in German, motioning a few inside with the workers frowning.

Weasel: (frowns) Augh, those brats sure showed us, huh?

(End of Chapter 8)