longer.blue

Punch the Opossum As he walked away from the sirens, he thought about what happened, ditching his red stained gloves in a nervous panic, picking up speed to a run and trying to shake what he did from his head. “It was all that new act’s fault,” he thought- letting his tail catch on the brambles before untangling it. A flashlight beaming on his face. “Ma and Pa!” He muttered, feeling ashamed of himself before noticing deranged smiles on their faces. The sound of heavy footsteps crunched behind him “We have a survivor, this way.” The past couple of hours were a blur, but he could remember bits and pieces, it all started when a certain Black Boar wrapped in a dark red robe entered with Papa O‘possum, with the latter looking off. _______________________________________________________________________________________ “This is our new act… He’s a master of elixirs and will be taking over the Snack Bar.” Punch and Mama raised an eyebrow. “Starting Immediately…” He mumbled walking past the two. With Punch glancing at the Boar, watching his devious grin smile. “Wait I wanna ask ya about ta goods!” Punch raised his hand out, a terrible feeling in his gut. He felt Mama Punch place a hand on one shoulder. “Right, Muh show’s about ta start.” He muttered. Taking off his apron, he headed to the tent, seeing potions and pots already set up. It was odd to get a new member set up during a day, even odder to Punch though- was the odd purple glow and black fog ebbing from under the tent where the mix’in’s and ingredients were stored. Furrowing his brow, Punch resolved to check it out later when his mother wasn’t watching over him like a hawk. He swiftly got dressed into his brightly colored and sequined jumpsuit before heading to the main tent. As he climbed the mass, he watched as people devoured purple buttered popcorn and glowing black drinks, a growing unease settling in his stomach. He got to the top and watched as people finished their food, their eyes began to glaze over, he shook his head clear and focused- gripping the bar with a firm tightness as he lifted off; He swung doing a flip, his gaze watching Papa Punch with a huge grin on his face shoving some of the foul looking popcorn into Mama Punch’s Mouth, her eyes closing and her face twisting in pain before her face grew devious. He glanced around the now silent tent, the eerie sound of the trapeze bar being taut as it moves being the only sound as every face that was watching him, grinning wildly but not uttering a single word. Punch lost his grip, falling he watched as several people began cutting the safety net. Thinking fast, he wrapped his tail around one of the poles, and allowing him to land safely. Punch raced out of the tent watching as the crowd got up and chased after him. “Whut do I do ta fix this?!” He thought, hiding behind a barrel and making his way to a phone, calling the police. Before he could say something the crowd had found him again, forcing him to run into the funhouse. “Tis isn’t funny!” he cried before feeling a sharp pull in a direction, not physically of course, but he could hear a feint whisper of his name. He followed the sound coming to a door that, under any normal circumstance, was a wall- but there were now traces of being able to open the wall. Tilting his head, He pushed in, A vicious but joyful laughter filled his ears, surrounding him as he was now floating in a very festive place. Colorful polka dots swirling around but all logic showing an endless abyss. “Poor Opossum.” A Joyus voice cried, “You seem so SAD!” It laughed. “Sad clowns are never funny. What is wrong?” Punch, aimlessly floating without control, frowned. “There’s this Boar in a dark red robe.” He started, “As soon as he showed up, people started acting strange, Even Pa. Like some kinda mindless husk!” Punch placed his fist in his palm. “Now I know I have a bad habit of being too kind and lovin’, but I have a gut feelin’ that I have ta put tis right!” The voice boomed with laughter. “Sounds like some clown magic could do some good for everyone. Carnivals are no place for terror- They’re for merriment!” As if guided by an invisible hand, a giant balloon floated to him, absorbing him inside before shrinking and exploding into confetti his outfit changing and fur going from a pale brown to vibrant pastel purple, Punch seeing his reflection, looked in awe, taking note of the colorful patches on his fur. “Your conviction called to us,” The voice echoed, “So we gave you the power to do so!” It Chimed, “though we’ll drop you safely outside the carnival, as the funhouse is crawling with the horde.” It exclaimed as the room began to grow fluorescent before forcing Punch to close his eyes. Everything went dark. Upon opening his eyes and letting them adjust, he saw a cold, lifeless body lying in the grassy turf, his hands drenched in what he was hoping was ketchup. A bit of fear crawling on his as he could hear police sirens coming up. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ “Ma, Pa, Please!” Punch Pleaded seeing tears well on their faces. “Tis doesn’t make sense. If I was dreaming… Then how did I…” Punches eyes glance to his Ma and Pa holding out popcorn. Thinking fast, Punch reached behind his back and pulled out a bottle of seltzer spraying them in the face- The two of them coughing and trying to dry themselves off. “MA! PA!” He exclaimed, watching as they looked around. Papa O’Possum, Clutching his hand, growled. “Tat dumb Boa!” Time ta teach ‘im a lesson.” He muttered, Looking at Punches relief. “Kinda glad Brutha ‘Possum was practicin’ his play dead.” He scratched the back of his head, glancing as the Brother ‘Possum walked up with his empty Ketchup bottle. “You two stay here… we’ll go-” Punch walked past, not questioning how he pulled out a seltzer bottle from thin air. He turned around, resolute. “No, Y’all just be overpowered again, y’all here, I’ll deal with tat Boarbutt.” He realized how dumb that sounded, “I’ll work on tat.” He muttered, racing into The Punch Family Carnival. Patron after Patron, he bounced off their heads- making and stepping on balloons in-between leaps- causing the balloons he would summon to explode in confetti once he hopped off of them; With each explosion knocking down a huge crowd before he would summon another and repeat, getting all the way to the Snack Court. “Hey Tooth face, you’re about to be chucked… in the trash…” He pointed to the Boar, who was seemingly expecting him, slightly embarrassed at his fumble. “Ah yes, the one that got away. I have other methods than feeding to make people my minions.” He turned on a screen and revealed a slow-moving spiral on it. “Please, keep this hero-shtick, it’s amusing, especially since the sound is also worming into your subconscious. You will fall hopelessly in love, obsessed, and unrefutably infatuated with the next person you see.” He chimed as he watched Punch slowly stagger and swirl. “Like a coin swaying back and forth, you can’t resist, this is permanent, unlike my confections- after all, this was a test of my poison.” The Swirling glitched out to a public broadcast from The Charged Tech Company with a Blue Bird Speaking on the Screen. “WHAT?!” The Boar barked, surprised at the interruption. “Attention, Metal City, Studiopolis and Surrounding areas, The Charged Technologies Company would like to make a statement regarding the recent event given this ‘Phantom Ruby’ and the destruction and fire to our building in Metal City, we are relocating to Studiopolis and re-enforcing our building with even more security measures to provide a bastion to all who need refuge in worrisome times. I admit that this is the first time anyone has seen my face and I must admit, I was nervous- but no longer, I know my place and I will provide aide to anyone seeking it. Now that the war has subsided, I will be taking a more active role in the stance against Eggman.” “I apologize for interrupting any public broadcast, but I felt that this was an important statement to make. Thank you” The screen quickly went back to the swirl as the Boar watched as the Opossum shook his head, the deed was done, but not with his intentions in mind. The next thing he knew, there was a giant confetti popper in his face exploding and sending him flying away and into a roller coaster- knocking him unconscious. “Now that what I call, a colorful finish!” Punch nodded, quickly realizing people needed to be saved. He took to the snack station quickly and began making his famous Punch Twisters, imbuing a bit of clown magic to make them glow and making them super fizzy. Loading three trays up, he sighed as he felt the pressure climb before watching nine more trays clatter before him. “This is our carnival hun, let’s show ‘em what good food ‘n customer service looks like!” Mama O’possum stated, a bright smile on her face. “We took the back entrance. You really doubtin’ the O’possum family?” She chuckled, a gentle grin forming on Punch’s face before Punch made more Magic Punch Twisters and loading them up. They all raced to give them to the poor Mind-controlled customers. _______________________________________________________________________________________ As Pa O'Possum sat talking to the police about what happened, Punch looking longingly at the sunrise, with Ma O'Possum pulling up in the truck, With Brother O'Possum and Several suitcases in the back with the wooden siding holding fast. Seeing his raised eyebrow, Mama O'Possum smiled warmly. “I know that look, you fell in love and their nothing we can do to stop you. I was the same when I saw your Pa. We’ll help ya find a place and come back to run the carnival.” She beamed, watching as Punch’s face grew big and slide into the passenger seat...