Chapter 2: An Unhappy Early Birthday
When the sun is almost down, Rouge the bat as return to the house and glad to see Maria is home before dark. Now the two are getting things ready for dinner. Blackberry is helping gather the forks and knifes and place them on the table.
Maria help make dinner as she sees Rouge carry a few box and place them on the table.
"Aunt Rouge, what are those boxes for?" Maria asks.
Rouge turns to her, and says, "Well, I don't like ruining surprises, but I'll let this one slide. I've decided that tonight we'll celebrate your birthday a little early. I also got you a little present."
"Really?" Maria asks.
"That's right. I know that this is suddenly, but tomorrow we're going on a little trip," Rouge says.
"Really?!" Maria asks with glee.
"That's right," rouge says.
"Where are we going?" Maria asks.
Rouge shows a smile, and says, "You'll see."
Blackberry hears this, and quickly and quietly sneak out of the house and hurry back to the cave to get something. Blackberry loves giving Maria present every year. Now that the party is happening early, she decides to give it to her now. The chao goes into her small cave and pick up a red glowing diamond. Sh then wraps it in leaves, vines, and flowers, and flies back to the house.
Meanwhile, Maria and Rouge are discussing about the trip.
Rouge says, "It will take a few days to get there, but it will be worth it to go see a few different places along the way."
"I can't wait to go. I wonder what I should bring," Maria says.
"Just bring a few clothes and the essentials," Rouge says.
"Sure. Still, can you tell me where we're going? And can Blackberry come too?" Maria asks.
"I told you sweetie, where we're going is going to be a surprise. As for Blackberry, i'm sure she'll want to come if she wants to," rouge says.
Just then, Blackberry flies inside, and places her present on the table.
"Well, it looks like Blackberry has a present for you too," Rouge says.
"Yeah. I wonder where she disappeared to," Maria says.
Maria walks to the chao, and asks, "Blackberry is that for me?"
"Chao chao!" Blackberry answers with a nod.
"Thank you," Maria says.
Rouge walks to the counter, "Alright, let's finish making dinner. We'll have cakes and open presents after that."
"Okay," Maria says.
Rouge and Maria continue to make dinner for the night. Blackberry begins to help out as well.
Outside the house in the cold night, three mysterious figures are walking around in search for something. They hands act as scanners to search around the area, but can't seem to find it.
A fourth figure with glowing yellow eyes, says, "We must keep looking. The emerald must be here somewhere."
The three let out a growl in reply, and continue to find what they're looking for.
Back in the house, the three have finish their dinner and are now having some cake.
"So Aunt Rouge, how was your day in the marketplace?" Maria asks.
"It went well. Spoke with a few friends of mine, and also looked at the newspaper for interesting event around the world," Rouge says.
Maria says, "I wish we can go there, but I'm happy that we're going to go out somewhere."
"Maria, I understand how hard it is for you to not be able to leave the Grass Zone, but i'm glad you understand it's for your safety. Now that you're almost thirteen, I think you're ready to come with me out of the zone and into the real world. But I'm still keeping our location a surprise," Rouge says.
"Okay," Maira says.
Rouge smiles, "Now it's time for you to open your presents."
Blackberry presents her present to Maria.
"I think Blackberry like you to open hers first," Rouge says with laughter.
Maria giggles, "Okay, Blackberry."
Maria takes the present to see it wrapped with leaves and tied with a vine. She unties the vine and unwraps the leaves. Maria lets out a gasp in surprise to see the beautiful glowing red diamond like gem. Even Rouge is surprised to see the gem, and it something she hasn't seen in years.
"Oh, Blackberry… it's… it's so beautiful," Maira says.
"And very rare. That is a chaos emerald," Touge says.
"A chaos emerald?" Maria asks.
Rouge says, "It's a very rare gem, very powerful. It can give the user all sorts of powers and abilities. For you, it will make your chaos control even stronger. You must promise to take good care of it, and never let it out of your sight. Many try to take it and use their powers for no good, so you must never let it fall in the wrong hands."
"I will," Maira answers.
"Reminds me of the old day when the Freedom Fighters were involve," Rouge says.
"You mean the team who always stop this Dr. Eggman from taking over Mobius?" Maria asks.
"That's right. Glad you remember all the stories," Rouge says.
Then she says presenting a purple box, "Now it's time for you to open my present."
Maria opens the box to see something beautiful, make that two beautiful things. There is a necklace with a gold pendant. The pendant is sitting on a blue flower, and attached the flower is a key.
Maria takes the necklace, "It's a locket."
She opens it to reveal the photo of herself as a child and Rouge."
She picks up the key, "What's this for?"
"It's for that flower," Rouge answers.
Maria takes the big flower bud out of the box and puts it on the table. She then notices a key hole. She puts the key in the hole and turns it. Soon enough, music begins to play, and the flower opens up to reveal a dress. Dancing in the dress is a young human girl with blond hair. She looks a little like Maria the young hedgehog, and has white wings on her back.
"Oh Aunt Rouge!" Maria says in amazement.
What they're unaware is that four of the figures from before are heading toward the house.
In the house, Maria watches the girl dance around until the wings and the dredd close and turns back into a flower bud. She picks it up, and give it a hug.
"It's the best present, in the whole world," Maria says with a smile, and gives Rouge a hug.
Rouge hugs her back with a smile on her face.
Suddenly, they hear a strange rattling sound coming from the living room. They look to see that the door knob is rapidly being turned and the door being pushed. Fearing danger, Rouge grabs Maria and and hurry her into the living room. Blackberry becomes scared and hugs Rouge's head.
Maria worriedly asks, "What's that?"
"I… I don't know," Rouge worriedly asks.
Rouge quickly gets her to the kitchen and escort her to the draw. Unaware that she has left the locket on the table.
Rouge opens the cabinet, and places Maria along with Blackberry inside, "Quickly, stay in here and don't come out."
Just then, three giant aliens burst open the door.
Rouge stretches her arms, and legs, "It's been a long time since I dealt with you Black Arms."
Rouge then begins to fight off the Black Arm aliens. She begins to throw punch and kicks at the aliens. Maria continues to hid in the cabinet with her chao and quietly open the door a little to see Rouge fighting the monsters.
Just then, the door to the cabinet slams the door shut knocking the two to the floor in the cabinet.
She can hear Rouge shouts, "Stop! Let me go!"
Maria begins to try opening the door, but it has trouble being pushed forward. She and Blackberry continue to push the cabinet door until they are able to fully open it. When they open the door, they are shocked to see the kitchen is wrecked.
"Aunt Rouge!" Maria calls out.
Maria and Blackberry begin to search around to see if they can find Rouge.
Maria calls out, "Aunt Rouge! Where are you?!"
She goes to the living room to see the place is a mess as well. She goes to the open door opening to call out to her,
"Aunt Rouge… Aunt Rouge!" Maria cries out.
Maria begins to shed tears as she hold the emerald and flower, "Aunt Rouge."
This is a very heartbreaking night, someone has broken into her house and stole her aunt. What's more, she ends up getting a good look to who has done it.
Being dragged away by two of the Black Arm Aliens, Rouge struggles her arms to break free from the alien creatures. However, the Black Arms are proven to be strong for her.
Rouge struggles, "Get your alien hands off of me you scums!"
Rouge tries to pull her arms out of the aliens hands in anger.
"Struggle all you want, they only listen to me," A voice says.
Rouge glare at the source, "You!"
The alien reveals to be a dark blue with red markings on his arms lets, and on the back of his quills.
He evilly says, "Hello Rouge, it's been such a long time hasn't it."
"I thought it might have been you… Eclipse," Rouge says, with a glare in anger.
