Everyone has a purpose. Hopefully, that's been firmly established in your mind because believe it or not, it's true. Every single being on this planet has a destiny to fulfill…for some, it's a small act of kindness that will forever change another person's life. For others, it may be a bigger concept—like saving someone's life one day…or saving both sides of an entire planet…
Yes, I pray that you, my reader, have read about Destiny, Mika, Bridget, Rachael, Raquel, KT, Kogome, and Tia's adventure. But sadly, some of them aren't in on this new journey. What with being on Christmas Break and all…and let me tell you, reader: anything can happen on Christmas Break…
Anything.
………………..
Shelby tapped her fingers against the wooden desk impatiently.
Oh, come on, Luke! Finish writing, already! She thought, casting occasional glances to her right. After confirming that he WAS still writing, she finally rested her head in her hand, listening to her Language Arts teacher talk endlessly.
"…and these events in the story we call 'falling action'…" the teacher rambled on.
Ugh… Shelby rolled her hazel eyes. I can't believe it's the last day of school before Christmas break and she's STILL teaching!
Just then, she felt a tap on her arm. Without looking, Shelby straightened her back, reached down, and took the note from Luke.
She carefully opened it and read:
Gosh….when does it end?
Shelby smirked and wrote: In one second.
She secretly handed it back, and watched her friend read the note. Luke seemed confused. He looked up just as the bell rung—confirming her statement.
The eighth grader felt a smile spread on her face as she thought, I just love it when I'm right!
Luke smiled as well, standing up and gathering his things. Shelby walked the few steps to his desk and said, "Well…?"
The black-haired boy's smile grew. "All right…all right…you're good."
Shelby then leaned over with her ear facing him. "Could you say it again? I don't think I heard."
Luke gave her a look that said, 'nice try.' "C'mon, ego pants. Let's get out of here."
Shelby smirked. "Whatever. You should just consider yourself lucky that the teacher didn't catch our notes."
Luke rolled his cobalt eyes. "So what?"
"So? C'mon, Luke!" Shelby turned around so then she was facing the fourteen-year-old boy as they continued walking down the hall. "Everyone here knows about you and your bad luck!"
"Hey! It's not bad luck! Besides, there's no such thing as 'luck,'" Luke pointed out to the one-year-younger-than-him girl.
Now it was Shelby's turn to roll her eyes. "Whatever you have to tell yourself," she said, turning around once more so they could exit the building.
"It's the truth!" Luke argued.
"If it is, why are you walking straight into a tree?" Shelby challenged.
"I am not!" and to prove his point, Luke took a step to his right to avoid the 'tree'—but ended up walking straight into the one Shelby was talking about.
The light-brown haired girl crossed her arms over her chest. "See?"
Luke pointed a finger at Shelby, with his face still against the bark. His muffled voice said, "You tricked me!"
The girl only shrugged. "So what if I did? That still doesn't prove that you're not bad-luck infected."
Luke pulled himself away from the tree, as the two began walking again. A blanket of silence fell over them as he rubbed his nose. Finally, he muttered, "I hate my life…"
Shelby's arms dropped to her sides. She tried to find some words of encouragement, but all she could say was, "Don't worry, Luke. Someday, something really lucky will happen. You just wait and see."
That did the trick. The teenager looked at her and said, "You're right. Thanks, Shelby."
"What are friends for?" Shelby smiled and winked.
But suddenly, the smile faded. Shelby froze, her hazel eyes wide with discomfort. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, her face a lighter shade of peach. Luke noticed this, and stopped walking as well, turning around to face his friend.
"What's wrong, Shelby?" he asked.
"Don't you feel it?" she whispered.
Luke was confused. "Feel what?"
Shelby's hazel eyes looked to her right and left, as if to see if anyone was eavesdropping. Then, she mumbled in the same quiet tone, "Like we're being watched."
At first, Luke thought his friend had gone crazy. He looked around them, but found nobody. "It's probably your imagination," he said finally.
Shelby pondered this, the color in her face slowly returning. He might be right…after all, she was known at school for being a daydreamer; always dreaming about adventure.
No. She couldn't shake it. Someone was watching them. She was positive.
Firmly, she shook her head, the hairs on the back of her neck still on end. "This time, it's not me. I'm sure of it."
Luke debated. Could Shelby be right? Was someone really watching them? Was it his bad luck that had brought this upon them?
Silence lasted. No one said anything, and it seemed like no one was breathing. Finally, Luke shook his head. "There's no one watching us, Shelby. Take a breather."
With that, he continued walking.
Shelby, not totally convinced, lingered behind a little, her head swinging back and forth to make sure. Finally, she ran to catch up with Luke to change the subject.
But behind them, somewhere high in the leafless trees, sat a shadowed figure. It let out a sigh of relief, inwardly kicking itself for being so careless. It had a job to do, and it intended to do it at all costs.
"That was too close."
"So…you going anywhere for vacation?"
Rachael and Bridget walked down the sidewalk as snowflakes rested in their hair. Both of them were excited to have a vacation, needless to say.
"Actually, yes. We got an invitation to go to Florida at some nice hotel…I think it's near Vero Beach, or something…" Bridget answered.
Rachael had to restrain herself from jumping with joy. "Really? Me too!"
"You guys got an invite?" Bridget asked.
Her friend nodded.
"Way past cool!" the blonde-haired 12-year-old exclaimed.
Rachael laughed. "I know who you learned that from!"
The two stopped abruptly in silence, memories instantly flooding back into their minds.
Bridget smirked, and slowly continued walking. "Yeah…I do, too…"
Rachael giggled. "Of course you would, silly! Why wouldn't you remember who taught you something?"
Her friend blushed. "Because…I'd have bad memory?" she guessed blindly.
Rachael laughed, and soon Bridget joined in. But the teenager stopped, an idea coming to her mind.
"Hey…Bridge…do you think the others got the invite as well?" Rachael inquired.
Bridget thought a minute. "Well…I know KT can't come because he left early to go skiing at some resort with his family…"
"Yeah…what about Tia?"
"She skipped today because they were going to Hawaii."
"Destiny?"
"She might…"
"Raquel?"
"Most likely."
"Mika?"
"Hopefully!"
"Kogome?"
"Left to go to Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg," Bridget answered.
"That sounds fun!" Rachael exclaimed.
"Yeah…I just wish I knew if the others were going…" Bridget said, thoughtfully.
"Going where?"
Bridget and Rachael screamed, turning around. To their surprise, there stood one of the well-known tomboys at school, Torrin.
"Oh…hi, Torrin!" Bridget greeted with slight wave.
A shadow crossed over the dark brown haired teenager's face. "Don't call me 'Torrin'. It's either 'Rin', 'Rina', or you do not abide by my rules and I murder you."
Bridget and Rachael exchanged nervous glances.
"Okay…well…um…Rin…it was nice seeing you today—have a great Christmas Va—"
"Not so fast, Bridget!" Torrin interrupted.
The 12-year-old froze, her hand on her friend's arm.
"Answer my question: where were you hoping the 'others' were going?" Torrin asked, her arms crossed over her chest.
Rachael sighed. "We were hoping are other friends were going to Florida as well as us…"
"Florida? Where in Florida?"
"We think Vero Beach. Can't remember."
Torrin nodded, and then turned to look at Bridget who instinctively hid behind her sandy-blonde haired friend.
"Now…was it that hard, Rachael, to answer my question?" she asked. "Or is it just that your friend here is a scardy-cat?"
"Don't talk about Bridget that way!" Rachael barked.
Torrin raised her eyebrows as if she were impressed. "So…you defend your cowardly friend?"
"She's not a coward!" Rachael fired back.
"Oh, she isn't? Then how come she hides behind you like a shadow?"
Rachael and Bridget felt a shiver go down their spine at the word. Torrin noticed this.
"Something wrong with what I said, idiots?" she asked.
"Nothing's wrong! Just leave us alone! You know nothing, Rin!" Bridget yelled.
Silence.
"So…the scardy-cat can talk…"
"You bet I can!" Bridget stood in front of Rachael, now.
"Then can you explain why you are such a coward?"
"Be quiet, Rin!" Rachael blurted, coming to stand beside her friend. "You don't know what we've been through—so I—"
Torrin narrowed her forest green eyes. "Try me."
Bridget grabbed Rachael's arm. "No—try us!" And in the snap of two fingers, the friends were gone.
Torrin blinked. How did they…?
"That does it!" She stomped through the inches deep snow, following the direction where she thought they went. "Those guys are hiding something—and I'm going to figure out what!"
"WHOA, NELLIE!"
Bridget then came to a stop, and just fell into the snow, laughing her head off. Rachael stood up, a bit wobbly, but was able to stare at her friend in shock.
"How…did…you…do that?" she asked, panting. "The only time you could run THAT fast was in Sonic's world…."
Bridget smiled up at her. "That's my secret."
Rachael put her hands on her hips. "Okay…spill."
The blonde haired girl then sat up and began her tale. "Well…actually, it was Mira's idea. She got the idea of how time didn't pass when we were gone because of the alternate dimensions…"
"Somebody's been doing their homework!" Rachael joked, unintentionally crossing her arms over her chest.
Bridget gave a few laughs before continuing. "And now…the reason why I can still run fast is because…" With a snicker, she pulled out a familiar purple jewel from her coat…
"A CHAOS EMERALD?" Rachael nearly flipped, her arms falling to her sides. "BRIDGET!"
Her friend only laughed. "Calm down, Rachael! I didn't get it the way you thought I did!"
Rachael blinked her sapphire eyes a few times. "What do you mean?"
"This emerald…came with the invitation to go to Vero Beach!"
Everything was a blur.
She couldn't understand anything. The only thing she knew was that she had to get away from…from…
…it.
It had no name, and it certainly didn't deserve one. It was only a black nothingness that followed her everywhere she went. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't loose it. It was like her shadow. A horrifying shadow.
She had been here before. She remembered it distinctly…and what was going to happen frightened her. How she prayed with her whole heart that it wouldn't happen…but just as the thoughts entered her mind, she tripped.
NO! her mind screamed. It was all happening again…
She turned over on her back and looked above her, seeing the horrifying black abyss. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. All she could do was gape at the…thing…towering over her…
…and then, she saw them…
They were there again. Her friends. Standing there, glowing with a pure essence, looking as if they were royalty.
And then, it happened once more.
The black nothingness raised an unformed part of itself, which Mika could guess was its hand, and in it, suddenly, formed a dagger.
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! Mika's mind yelled.
Her heart was beating at a rapid pace as she saw it over her. She tried to find her voice, in hope that she could before it was too late.
Finally, as it was about to strike her, she yelled, "Please! Stop!"
Mika closed her sky blue eyes tight, accepting her fate…but it never came. Instead, she was surprised to hear a familiar adult male voice command, "Mika, WAKE UP!"
Mika's eyes shot open like a lightning bolt, and she instantly sat straight up in her chair, her breathing harsh. The class burst into laughter, and the now 12-year-old felt embarrassed.
She dared to look up, seeing her 6 grade history teacher, Mr. Lance, staring at her with stern brown eyes. She immediately looked away.
"Mika Kurosawa, I would like to speak to you after class," he said firmly.
Mika hesitantly nodded. "Yes, sir." She felt like she was about to cry. She hated getting in trouble.
Mr. Lance nodded, and walked back to the front of the class. As they learned more about Europe, Mika could feel taunting glances being shot at her. She felt like she wanted to disappear. Slowly, she hunched over and slid down in her seat, hoping the glances would go away, but they wouldn't.
Every day it was the same thing…she'd fall asleep in history, and have that horrid dream. Everyone would laugh at her, and make fun of her for it; but little did they know the story behind it…
Mika sighed. She looked around, making sure nobody was watching, and then pulled her dark blue sleeve slightly back. Almost like a habit, her fingers started rubbing against the gold surface of Shadow's bracelet.
Once again, she sighed. She almost wished that they hadn't gone to Sonic's world. Almost. Before they had, she had been so shy; she hadn't been noticed by anybody. She barely spoke to anyone, only her friends. And now…she almost wished that she had that 'secret life' back.
It's hard keeping a secret about your crush on somebody, but it's even harder keeping a secret that you saved the world.
Mika could feel a smile cross her face. Yep. She was a hero. And so were her friends: KT, Rachael, Bridget, Destiny, Raquel, Kogome, and Tia. She had to keep herself from laughing at the jokes her mind was telling her.
Student by day…hero by night…
Nobody knows that a hero is sitting among them in this classroom—the exact person who saved their lives.
Nobody knows that I was friends with the fastest hedgehog himself.
Nobody knows that I fell in love with another speedy hedgehog, too.
Mika sat up straight in her chair, as that thought hit her hard.
Nobody knew what it felt like to know your love died to save the lives of many.
Nobody knew what if felt like to have your last hope of them living crushed.
Nobody knew. And nobody knows.
Mika looked around her, biting her lip. What was she thinking? She was only 12! And she had already fallen in love with someone; for a split second, the pre-teen felt ashamed…but another voice in her head soon said:
Do not worry. Your love is something that is precious. Hold on to it tightly. It's going to be a bumpy ride.
At that, she smiled, straitening herself. The voice was right. Her love was precious…but wait. Mika hunched back over, her mind once again reeling. But what did the voice mean? She was never going to see Shadow again! What did it mean by "it's going to be a bumpy ride"? Wasn't the ride "over"?
The 12 year old was so deep in thought that she hardly heard the bell ring. It wasn't until she saw the kids all around her packing their stuff and standing up, that she finally took notice. Immediately, Mika packed her books in her single-shoulder strap light blue bag, and headed towards Mr. Lance's desk. She kept her long blonde haired head low, and awaited what he would say.
Mr. Lance wrote a few more things down on a notebook. Then, he looked up, taking his reading glasses off. He sighed, before saying, "Mika…I don't know what to say…"
The pre-teen kept quiet.
"I guess all that I can say is that I'm worried for you…your grades are doing amazingly well, even though you've been falling asleep so many times in my class. But that's not what makes me concerned…it's what you do in your dreams," Mr. Lance got her attention.
But still, the girl said nothing.
"It sounds horrible…your face twists like you're in a lot of pain, you pant heavily as if you were running as fast as you could, you twitch every once in a while, and then when towards the end, you start crying out, Mika. What's happened that's causing you to have these dreams?"
The blonde paused.
"Mika?"
Finally, she mumbled quietly, "I can't tell you."
"What?"
Mika took a deep breath, and looked up. "Mr. Lance…I can't tell you. I'm sorry, but I can't."
The history teacher stared at her a while. Mika held her breath, until to her surprise, he said, "I understand. Pre-teens like you never want to open up to teachers like me." With a sigh, he waved his hand, putting his reading glasses back on. "Go ahead…have a great Christmas Break…"
Mika's mouth slightly opened, not believing her luck. With that, she turned around, beaming. As she walked to the doorway, she saw Raquel, along with a new friend of theirs, named Michael, waiting for her.
"Looks like you got lucky," Michael commented.
Mika smiled. "Yep."
"I'm just glad you didn't have to tell him!" Raquel breathed.
Mika nodded. "Me too."
Michael looked back and forth between the two females. Out of the three of them, he was the oldest and tallest, and that gave him a privilege to see the looks they'd give each other.
"Okay…I don't get it…" he began as they walked towards Mika's locker. Raquel and Michael's stuff was already put away; they had no homework over Christmas break. "Why is this dream causing you guys to be so…" he struggled to find the word.
"Cautious?" Raquel guessed.
"No."
"Paranoid?" Mika inquired, closing her locker door.
"No."
"Secretive?" the two girls asked in unison.
"Yeah! I mean, you've told me about your dream, so why can't you tell anyone else?" Michael walked between them as they headed down the now-empty hallway.
The girls sighed.
"You don't know the full story…" Mika whispered under her breath while looking away.
Michael didn't hear. "What?"
"We'd rather not talk about it…" Raquel informed quickly.
"C'mon. You two know I hate secrets, and I know you two are hiding one!" the teenager exclaimed.
Yeah, an awfully big one, Mika thought, once again rubbing her fingers against Shadow's bracelet.
Michael noticed this. "Whoa, what's that?" he asked, reaching out for it.
But the reaction he got was not what he thought he'd get.
"DON'T TOUCH IT!" Mika barked, holding her arm away.
All three of them stopped walking. By now, they were outside, where snow was gently falling.
"Whoa…overreacting, don't you think, M?" Michael asked, using his nickname for her.
Mika just glared at him, waiting for him to change the subject so she could trust that he would not reach for it again.
"Why won't you let me see it? It's not like its special or anything…it's just a bracelet…"
Mika trembled slightly. "Not special? Just a bracelet!"
"Mika…" Raquel called.
In response, the girl looked behind Michael, and saw her friend giving her a look with her hazel eyes that said, 'he doesn't know—don't listen to him.'
Once again, Michael looked between the two. "Okay…now I REALLY want to know what you two are hiding from me, and if you don't tell me"-- In a flash, he had pulled the bracelet off of Mika's wrist, and held it in both hands – "then the 'special' bracelet breaks."
"NO!" Mika went into a frenzy; she tried to grab it from her friend, but he was too tall, and held it up where she couldn't reach it. "PLEASE! GIVE IT BACK!"
Raquel gasped.
"I'm not going to give it back, unless you tell me the secret—and if you refuse, then it will break!" the older one challenged.
"NO! PLEASE, NO!" Mika kept screaming as she jumped and did whatever she thought possible to get the bracelet.
"Then tell me why this bracelet is so special!" Michael exclaimed.
"IT'S THE LAST THING I HAVE OF HIM!" the pre-teen cried, not even thinking about what she was saying. All she wanted was it back.
"MIKA!" Raquel cried at the top of her lungs, but it was no use. Her friend was in a blind rage.
"Who?" Michael inquired.
"SHADOW! Now--!" Mika stopped jumping, and froze, gasping and realizing what she had done.
Raquel couldn't say anything as her hazel eyes widened.
"Shadow?" Michael repeated.
No answer.
"Tell me: what 'Shadow' are we talking about?" Michael questioned.
No answer.
"M—"
"GO AHEAD!" Mika finally blurted, cheeks streaming down her cheeks. "Break it! Break the bracelet if you must, but I can't tell you ANYTHING!"
Raquel was shocked.
Michael stared at his friend long and hard. Finally, he said, "It's that black hedgehog, isn't it? THAT'S the Shadow that you're talking about."
Mika sobbed, feeling a mixture of guilt and loss.
The older one brought the object down so he could see it with his brown eyes clearly. "But…how can that be? You must be insane, because Shadow isn't real."
Raquel bit her lip. It was obvious Mika wasn't going to say anything, so it was her decision. Should they tell Michael or not? Well…Shadow's bracelet was what hung in the balance, and even she didn't want that to break.
"Mike…" she began, walking up to him. "For a minute, just look at the sky."
"…'kay…" the older one did as told.
"Even though it is still around 4 p.m., you can still see the moon, right?"
"Yeah…but that's because it's winter. The sun sets earlier in this season than in summer."
"Right. But just look at the moon."
"Okay…but I don't see what you're getting at…"
"Just stare at it. Focus on it."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
Michael pouted, but waited, staring at the moon. Nothing was happening; he couldn't understand what his friend was talking about. And just as that thought crossed his mind, something did indeed happen.
A part of the moon dissolved from view!
"HOLY PYJAMAS!" he exclaimed. "WHAT HAPPENED?"
"You should know that," Mika said coldly. "You play the Sonic Games all the time."
"Wait a sec…but that's impossible! If what happened in Sonic Adventure 2: Battle did happen…then everyone should know about it!" Michael looked down at his friends.
"What you're seeing, Michael, is Sonic's side of the moon," Raquel informed.
"…say WHAT?"
"What she means is that there are TWO sides to Earth: one, which is our side, and two, which is Sonic's side," Mika clarified.
Silence.
"Okay, now I know that you two are OFFICIALLY crazy!" Michael was about to walk off, when Raquel cleared her throat.
"What?" the boy looked behind him at the light brown haired girl.
"Shadow's bracelet…?" Mika held her hand out.
Michael looked at the gold object in his hand. Reluctantly, he walked back towards them, still staring at it.
Once he reached them, they could hear him mumble, "How did you meet him?"
Mika and Raquel exchanged smiling glances.
"Let's just say it was—"
"—the same way you met me!"
Fear struck all three of them at the sound of the new voice. Used to this action, Mika and Raquel instantly turned around, half of them prepared, the other too frightened to move.
And who they saw didn't help them, either.
"Dr. Eggman!" Mika and Raquel screamed.
Michael was too stunned to speak.
The fat man grinned while he sat in his walker. "Greetings MJ and Krystal…I was hoping I'd find you here…"
MJ? Krystal? Who is he talking to? Michael thought.
On the other hand, Raquel and Mika were worried for other reasons.
"Mika…he knows who we are in human form!" Raquel whispered.
"I know! And what's even worse—he knows how to get here from Sonic's side! He can come over here whenever he wants!" Mika whispered back.
The doctor 's evil grin. "I'm afraid there isn't any time to chat, girls. I've a plan to carry out—and I must make sure you and your friends don't get in my way again."
Michael's brown eyes widened. They stopped Eggman as well? Wait…the moon…
Despite their fears, Mika and Raquel gave grins as well.
"Keep dreamin' Eggy," Mika announced.
The nickname seemed to go in on ear and out the other, for the doctor didn't move a muscle.
That's strange… Raquel thought.
"Enough chit-chat. Let's go!" With that, Eggman's walker unleashed two metallic claws that resembled those of a crab.
Michael felt his legs go weak, but Raquel and Mika prepared themselves.
Eggman just laughed. "Fear me? You'd better!"
Michael felt his grip tighten on the bracelet in his hand. Raquel and Mika seemed to sense his fear, for they looked behind them.
Raquel was the first to speak "Don't worry, we won't let anything happen to you."
"Yeah!" Mika agreed. "Just leave the fighting to us."
Michael wasn't so sure about that. It felt odd to be protected by two girls younger than him…
Without warning, Eggman launched out one of his claws at Raquel. The small-for-her-age girl quickly dogged with a side step.
Eggman then sent the other one flying towards Mika. She side stepped as well, and as a result, the claw was firmly stuck in the ground.
"Ha! You may be able to dodge, but you won't be able to cause any damage!" the madman claimed.
It was then the two knew the awful truth. They exchanged glances, brainstorming.
"How are we going to beat him?" Raquel asked the question that was in both of their minds.
Mika felt sweat start to dampen her long blonde hair. She had an idea, but she wasn't too sure it would work. If Michael DID see Sonic's side of the moon…was it possible…?
The 12-year-old was snapped out of her thoughts as she heard Raquel scream. She lifted her eyes to see her friend clutching her right arm in pain, the claw that had attacked her swinging in the air.
And Eggman only laughed.
It's now or never, Mika! Let's do it to it! She told herself. Gathering up her courage and strength, Mika backed up, and then ran full throttle towards the claw that was stuck in the ground.
"Hey, Egghead!" she cried. "Watch this!"
All attention was suddenly fixed upon her as she jumped on the mechanical arm and did a flip.
Then, it was as if time had stopped.
Mika closed her eyes, recalling Sonic's dimension. She remembered being her fancharacter, and all the adventures that she had encountered with her friends…and she remembered Shadow. Before her closed sky blue eyes, she saw everything again: Earth, the colony ARK, the Biolizard, the Master Emerald…and then…
"WHAT IN THE WORLD?" she heard Michael cry.
"All right, MJ!" Raquel cheered.
MJ…? Oh my gosh! It worked! Mika opened her now ice blue eyes as she landed on the ground, no longer human.
She was a white seal once more. But not just any seal wearing an orange T-shirt, blue jean shorts, sky blue and white tennis shoes, and long flowing white hair. No, she was her fancharacter. MJ the Seal.
"Impossible!" Eggman gasped.
MJ felt a smile overcome her face as she stood up. "When will you learn that nothing's impossible, doc?"
The seal winked at Raquel, and her friend gave a thumbs-up, having forgotten about the scar on her arm.
"YOU may be able to defeat me, but your friend here, won't!" Eggman then launched his other claw at Raquel again, but the girl quickly turned around, and ran towards the snow-covered tree behind her.
"Come back here!" the doctor exclaimed, redirecting the arm to follow her.
But Raquel was quicker, and reached up with both hands to grab a limb above. Using all her momentum, she swung herself upward, narrowly missing the claw. She then did a flip, swinging herself completely over the branch. As she landed, her figure changed, and MJ watched her friend become the white hedgehog, wearing a sky blue gown with white neck cuffs, sky blue and black shoes and black bangs covering her left eye, she once knew from what seemed like a faint dream.
Michael was too stunned to speak. Everything was happening too fast! The first thing he knew was that his friends were their normal human selves—but now they were a seal and a hedgehog!
"Well…it seems that Krystal wants to join the party as well, hum?" Eggman scowled.
"When it comes down to it, I'm a party animal!" the now-Krystal stood up.
Michael stepped back, frightened. It was like his friends were possessed!
"Well, then. I guess it's time to get this 'party' started!" Eggman raised both of the crab-like metallic claws threateningly.
In return, Krystal and MJ got in defensive positions. There was no way they could back down on their promise to Michael—let alone just hand him over to the fat creep in front of them!
Michael, on the other hand, was having problems of his own. He didn't want to admit he was scared; he convinced himself he wasn't. But he couldn't stop himself from gripping the bracelet in his hands like it was life itself.
And before he knew it, the fight began.
Shelby stopped again in the snow as she heard a sound. Or make that sounds.
"NOW what?" Luke turned around, agitated.
"I heard something!" Shelby informed.
At least THAT'S more likely to believe! The black-haired boy thought as he strained his ear to hear what his friend currently was.
Nothing.
He waited for a while, but still couldn't hear anything. Finally, he straightened his back, about to tell Shelby to keep walking, when she suddenly ran past him!
"Whoa--!" was all he got out. He turned around to see the fading figure of his friend running away.
"Shelby!" he called, but she didn't hear.
Luke rolled his cobalt eyes, muttering a "why me", before running after his friend.
Torrin stomped her way along the snow-covered sidewalk, when she saw the exact two people she was looking for before in front of her. She grinned, and stopped, trying to listen to their conversation. She couldn't hear. All she saw were a few worried glances, and a few determined looks here and there. But finally, they broke out into a run away from her.
"What?" she cried. How did they know I was there?
Torrin didn't give herself time to answer. Instead, she ran also, following Bridget and Rachael, to, what she didn't know, was an adventure.
Michael kicked frantically, trying to get out of the claw's grasp. He couldn't remember how it happened; the only thing he knew was that he had to get free.
Krystal kicked away the other claw again, feeling like she should kick herself instead. She and MJ both had made the statement that they would protect Michael. Shows how reliable THEY are!
MJ yelled at Michael, but he wouldn't pay attention. He was caught in a blind panic, so to speak.
"Mike! Stop squirming!" she shouted, but it was to no avail.
The seal shook her head in frustration, but wasn't about to give up. She cuffed her hands around her mouth as she yelled once more, "Mike, stop—"
"MJ?"
MJ turned around and saw, to her surprise, Bridget and Rachael standing there. She smiled. "Hey guys!"
But it wasn't her they were staring at, now. It was the walker and who was in it behind her that had their attention.
MJ shrugged, and turned around again to focus once more on the task at hand. She kept shouting at her friend, but he wouldn't listen.
Meanwhile, Bridget and Rachael stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them.
"Am I dreaming…? Or is this real?" Bridget whispered.
Rachael held out her arm without looking. "Pinch me."
Bridget did as told.
"OW! It was just a joke! I didn't mean it!" Rachael clutched her hurting arm.
Her friend only shrugged. "Sorry."
Rachael then turned to face the fight again, running the sore spot on her arm. "You're pinches hurt…ow…" Definitely wearing green on St. Patrick's Day next year! She added silently.
Suddenly, Bridget felt someone bump into her from behind. The push caused her to stumble forward, towards the fight.
"Hey! Watch it!" the person yelled.
Rachael turned to her right to see who had run into her friend. It was Torrin.
"Rin, YOU watch it!" she exclaimed.
"It's your fault you guys were standing there!" Torrin fired back.
Rachael substituted her retort with a glare. Torrin glared as well.
Bridget, meanwhile, had problems of her own; because of the push, she found herself about to run into MJ. Quickly, she stopped herself, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw she had succeeded.
"Phew…" she whipped the sweat away from her forehead.
MJ heard her, and turned around. She smiled, and waved, despite the danger that was behind her. "Hi, again!"
"Hi!" Bridget greeted, at first cheerfully, but then her grip on reality began to kick in. "So…what's going on?"
"What does it look like?" MJ's retort was quick.
Bridget paused, knowing her friend was right. Eggman was here, on their side of earth. How? Save that for another time, Bridge! She reminded herself, and then continued. Mika was now MJ, Raquel was now Krystal, and Mike was….Mike.
Wait a sec…Bridget paused her thoughts. Mike's here?
The blonde girl then lifted her head, just in time to have a gold bracelet smack her in the face and tumble to the ground.
"OW!" she complained, holding her nose.
She looked to the white snow below her, and saw the gold of Shadow's bracelet shining, as if greeting her. On instinct, she reached down to grab it, forgetting about her bruised nose. But just as her fingers got a grip on it, she heard another voice cry, "WHAT IN THE WORLD?"
Bridget turned her head to see, coming from the other direction, Shelby and Luke standing there with wide, unbelieving eyes. Without thinking, she ran over, and then came to a halt in front of the two. They stared at her, with the same expressions.
Again, without giving another thought, Bridget began to improvise, waving her hands in front of her face as she said, "You don't see anything."
Luke was the first to snap himself out of his shock. He shook his head and blinked his cobalt eyes as if he had just woken up. After blinking yet another time, he saw the gold object Bridget held.
"Why are you holding a bracelet?" he suddenly asked.
Bridget then stopped waving her hands, her face evidently showing that the 'light bulb' had turned on. "Oh, yeah! I completely forgot!" With that, she turned around. Just as she was about to head back and hand MJ the bracelet, she saw the seal get caught by Eggman's other mechanical claw.
She gasped. "MJ!"
Her cry broke the glares Rachael and Torrin were firing at each other. They both turned in time to see Bridget running towards the claw that grasped the seal.
Krystal got up from her place on the ground. No…she thought. He'll leave any moment, now…
It was then that Shelby broke from her trance, and ran towards the claw as well.
"Shelby!" Luke called, running after her.
As Bridget reached MJ, the claw was moved upward, just out of her reach.
"No!" she yelled as she heard the rockets on the end of the walker's feet turn on.
Eggman laughed. "I'm afraid I don't have room for you on this trip, Shani!"
Torrin was confused. Shani?
"MJ!" Bridget jumped up as high as she could, but it was no use. Her friend was being carried away.
Krystal, meanwhile, wasted no time. While no one paid attention to her, she quickly ran over to the flying walker, and jumped, managing to get a strong hold on it. No one noticed.
"MJ!" Bridget yelled again.
MJ made no response; she could only watch as her friend started fading from view and listen to as her voice got quieter and quieter. She felt tears start to silently cascade down her cheeks. What was going to happen to her now? Where was Eggman taking her? Would she ever see her side of earth again?
It was at that moment, that MJ the Seal felt fear like she had never known it before.
"MJ!" Bridget called one last time before falling to her knees in despair.
She felt Shadow's bracelet fall from her fingers, and looked down at it once more. Picking it up, Bridget stared at its golden surface, seeing her reflection upon it…such a hurt and lonely reflection…
She then held the bracelet close, feeling like it was the last thing she had of her friend. And for some odd, unexplainable reason, she felt like it was her fault Mika and Michael were gone.
Shelby slowed down as she neared Bridget. She wasn't completely sure what she was doing, but she went ahead and knelt down beside her in the snow, hugging her.
Luke slowed down as well, but stood standing. He watched as Shelby comforted Bridget, and then found his cobalt eyes trailing to the sky. Nothing was there; it was as if nothing had happened at all. Puzzling…was all he thought.
"Who was that?"
Everyone turned to see Torrin and Rachael walk up to them.
"That was Dr. Eggman…" Bridget replied, sniffing and rubbing a finger under her nose.
"…and by the looks of it, you haven't played the Sonic games," Rachael continued, turning to the dark brown haired girl beside her and placing her hands on her hips.
Torrin narrowed her forest green eyes. "For your information, yes I have!"
"Then how come you didn't know that was him?"
Torrin turned a complete 90 degrees and said, "Look, coward. I don't need someone always questioning me the 'whys'. I have my reasons, and my reasons are a good enough answer!"
Rachael glared at her, about to retort, when Shelby interrupted.
"We don't need a fight right now!" she said firmly.
Rachael and Torrin turned back to the kneeling light brown haired girl, still ready to fire a comeback at each other if needed.
"Shelby's right, you know," Luke informed. "I don't know what in the world was going on, but I'd sure like to find out!"
"No need…" Bridget informed quietly. "I know, already."
Rachael noticed the depression in her best friend's voice, and knelt down to her level, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Bridge…we'll get them back."
"But how?" Bridget looked into her friend's sapphire eyes. "I mean, they're back in Sonic's dimension by now!"
"…and that one white hedgehog is gone, too!" Luke pointed out.
Everyone looked around them, and realized the teenager was right.
"Yeah…who were they?" Shelby questioned, now standing up.
"The white hedgehog, believe it or not, was Raquel Martinez. The white seal was Mika Kurosawa," Rachael informed.
"What?" Luke, Shelby and even Torrin's face showed that they were majorly confused.
"You mean the small, light brown haired, kinda tan, Raquel?" Luke questioned.
"And the long blonde haired, fair, used to be shy, Mika?" Shelby asked.
Bridget and Rachael exchanged smiling glances.
"Yep. That's them, all right," Rachael confirmed, turning back to look at the three.
"Then how in the world did they do that?" Shelby exclaimed, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Silence.
Rachael and Bridget exchanged pondering glances. They stared at each other, as if the other could give them the answer just by a look. Suddenly, Rachael's face started to light up.
"It was the same way you ran Shani's speed!" she said eagerly.
Who IS this Shani? Torrin thought, but remained quiet as the two talked it out.
Bridget furrowed her eyebrows. "But they didn't have a chaos emerald!"
"No, silly! I mean the disturbance in the veil!"
Then, it was Bridget's turn for her face to start beaming. "Rachael! You're a genius!"
The girl gave a slight bow. "Why, thank you!"
After hearing silence behind them, the two turned around to be met with three very confused faces staring at them.
Bridget cleared her throat. "…you want answers, don't you?"
"Is it THAT hard to figure out?" Torrin burst.
"Not if you turn down your volume!" Rachael retorted.
Torrin stepped forward, about to punch Rachael in the face. The sandy blonde haired girl stood, up, ready to take on the fight. But just as it was about to begin, a single arm shot between the two.
It was Shelby.
"How many times to I have to tell you guys that what we don't need are fights?" she inquired sternly.
Hesitantly, both let their arms fall to their sides. But their eyes met, and glared daggers at each other.
Shelby sighed, shaking her head.
Bridget, seeing the weight of the situation on Shelby, quickly spoke up. "How about I tell you guys everything we know so then we can rescue Mike, MJ, and Krystal?"
"What?" Luke exclaimed. "We're going on a rescue mission?"
Shelby's face instantly went from frustrated, to excitement. "Really?"
"Of course!" Bridget said, but immediately turned to her best friend. "Aren't we?"
Rachael smiled. "Yep!"
"But HOW? I mean, we don't even know where they are yet!" Luke told them.
"You will once we tell you the story!" Bridget answered.
Torrin rolled her eyes. "One thing, idiot: we don't even have any way to get to where ever they are."
Bridget's heart sank, but Rachael spoke up happily. "Yes we do!"
Everyone turned to stare at the sandy blonde haired girl, surprised.
"We do?" Bridget asked.
Her best friend nodded. "Remember the letter?"
Bridget's heart soared. "OH YEAH!"
"I get the feeling we need to hear the whole story, so then everyone here can know what you guys are talking about," Shelby said.
"Oh, this part is pretty easy to understand," Rachael informed. "You see, me and Bridget—"
"Bridget and I," Torrin intervened, a smug grin on her face.
Rachael glared at her rival, before continuing, "Fine. Bridget and I both got a letter from someone in Vero Beach, inviting us there for four days. But in Bridget's letter, there was a chaos emerald!"
Bridget smiled, and nodded. "In other words, the guy who invited us knows how to get to Sonic's side of earth!"
Silence.
But then, Luke abruptly shattered it by saying, "Yeah, we DEFINITELY need to hear the whole story."
Rachael and Bridget exchanged almost-laughing glances. Finally, Rachael sat down, taking control of the situation. "Okay, okay…sit down, sit down, and listen closely, as I tell a tale with no magic and folly. Brace yourselves for a wild adventure, with emeralds and diamonds, and a mysterious creature…"
"Lame," was all Torrin said as she took a spot on the snow covered sidewalk.
Rachael ignored the comment when she noticed that Shelby and Luke, both sitting down as well, were focused on her and her words alone.
Smiling, she began the tale.
"It all started on Mika's birthday…"