After their time at the lab, the group – except for Tails - left for the beach. Amy loaned Gwen some better-fitting clothes – though it was a pink dress and black boots. Gwen approved of the boots and their practicality, and disapproved of the dress, though she did not dare to complain. She was not about to refuse a friendly offering. Immediately after getting changed, Amy had offered to do Gwen's makeup, an offer which Gwen quickly declined and diverted away from by saying they would be late to the game.

Gwen huffed and hunched over, exhausted as Sonic scored yet another goal.

"Woo! Yeah, alright!" He cheered as he leapt in the air, then shuffled along in a small victory dance. "And the Blue Blur scored again."

Gwen took a deep breath and straightened. Everyone was pretty good at this game, aside from her. They did not seem to mind though, they were just having fun playing. Maybe football isn't as bad as I thought it was. It's not so bad when people don't kick the ball into your face. She thought, just before the football hit her in the face. She yelped and tumbled over, covering her face. "I regret my horribly coincidental thoughts." She whined and curled up as she heard Sticks yell a 'sorry' over her way.

"Want a hand up?" Sonic asked, offering Gwen some assistance.

Gwen glanced through her fingers at the hedgehog, then removed her hands from her face and took Sonic's. He helped her up, though she did most of the work, and smiled. "Next time, try dodging or hitting the ball when it's flying at you."

"Heh." Gwen set her hand behind her head. "Yeah."

When Sonic turned away, Gwen found herself staring at his back for a few moments before she snapped herself out of it. I shouldn't stare like that! It's rude... and weird. And I don't want to be answering questions if anyone sees me. She pressed her fingers to her chin. Actually, I should probably take some time to get to know this body and pin down some sort of fighting style. If they take me on adventures with them, I need to be helpful. I can't sit by and watch like before... much less, be totally useless. I wasn't even needed to get the device, Robo- Eggman was cooperative. Man, it feels bad to be more useless to the heroes than the villain.

"Earth to Gwen, Earth to Gwen – krrr! – do you copy?" Sonic droned as he waved his hand in front of her eyes. Gwen blinked and leant back slightly, her eyes following his hand before looking at him. "Don't you know it's rude to stare?" He smirked.

Gwen frowned, her face heating up. "I wasn't staring! I zoned out! Completely different. Besides, I wasn't even thinking about anything... here." She puffed out her cheeks slightly and gestured over Sonic's body. She looked away, briefly catching a glimpse of Amy glaring at her.

Sonic leant forward slightly, folding his arms and eyeing Gwen in a playful manner. "'Course not." He took her shoulder and twisted her to face him, much to her surprise. "Now get your head back in the game." He chuckled, zipping back to his striker position.

Gwen walked herself back to defence, inwardly groaning. Oh, sweet life. Why do you hate me?

"Agh! I'm bored now." Sonic whined, sitting himself on the sand. The group had played many rounds of soccer and volleyball, with people simply rotating being on Sonic's team. Sonic won almost every round, and when he did not win he demanded a rematch.

"Well we can't just go." Amy said. "We need to wait for Tails."

"Ahh!" Sticks screamed. "What if he was kidnapped by robots?!" She whipped out her arms, looking around. "They could be anywhere!"

"Sticks," Gwen narrowed her eyes, "I'm pretty sure he's just busy getting the details he needs."

"But why couldn't he get them faster?" Sonic groaned, falling off his rock and on to the sand. He let himself lie on the sand, making no attempt to get up. "I can't wait anymore."

"Hey guys!" Tails waved as he approached. Sonic lifted his head and perked his ears up. He bolted over.

"Thank Chaos!" Sonic shook Tails. Then, he hugged the fox close and folded his ears back. "I've been waiting all day!"

"Okay, okay." Tails gently unlatched Sonic finger-by-finger, then pushed his arms away. "I've got all the information we need. Well, aside from schematics. But basic information, yes. It's going to take a while to piece together everything though. It looks like Gwen's going to be staying with us for however long it takes to build the machine."

Gwen came over. "That's fine with me." She chuckled, "I get to spend my time on a beautiful tropical island getaway and make new friends - I can't complain about that. Might've been rough waves getting here, and rough waves being here at times... but I'd be lying if I said this wasn't the best holiday I've been on in my life."

"Huh." Sonic smirked. "I guess that makes you the sixth official member of Team Sonic." Everyone around him aside from Gwen glared his way. "I-I mean... the sixth official member of Team sonic and friends! Heh."

"Really?" Gwen let her jaw slacken slightly, then shook her head. "But why? I can't fly, nor do I have a weapon or have super strength or run fast or..." Gwen looks at Sticks. "Have... survival skills?" She looked back at Sonic. "I don't have the special skills you all have that... make you heroes."

"Pfft," Sonic waved his hand dismissively, "Like you need any of that to be a hero. You were willing to put your life in danger for mine, when you don't even know me all that well. I'd say that's the hero in you." He lightly punched her arm. "As long as you don't blow your top at Eggman again, you'll fit right in!"

Gwen took a second, but once his words registered a smile crept onto her face. She nodded. "R-right!"

"Sonic!" Amy scolded. He groaned. "You know you're not supposed to make decisions without the team!"

Sonic glanced at her. "What? You don't agree? You were standing there the whole time while I talked, too. Amy, she threw herself in front of a gun for me and I bet she'd do it for others. Of course, she can't be the number one hero on this island, that spot is taken, but she could maybe climb to number two with enough hard work and dedication."

Amy folded her arms. "Sonic T. Hedgehog," she marched beside Gwen, gesturing to her. "This poor soul has gone through the most miserable time and you want to make her fight?"

Gwen raised a hand as if she were in class. Amy looked at her, allowing her time to talk.

"Do I get a say in this?" Gwen asked, lowering her arm. After Amy gave her a nod to continue, Gwen put her own thoughts forward. "Unless there's more complaints about it than just what I've done getting here, then I don't see why I shouldn't join. I mean, you could complain that I could get in the way, that I'm inexperienced, that I'm slow... but you're thinking of my feelings?" Gwen cleared her throat. "Sorry, that sounded a bit harsh. Came out a little wrong. A-anyway, I don't have a great connection with my emotions most of the time. Things tend to blow by me pretty easy... of course, depends on what it is, but that's besides the point. I think that as long as I can keep up, being part of the team would actually be great for me while I'm here. It'll give me something to do. To occupy myself, you know? Like, I mean, when people do nothing, all you end up doing is sitting and moping around and you end up letting everything go straight to your head."

Amy looked rather displeased, but she sighed and relented. "Fine. If you want to come along, then that's that. But you're coming with me."

"Uh? Why?" Gwen took a slight step back, a little intimidated by the statement and tone.

"So that we can go shopping!" Amy squealed.

Gwen inhaled deeply and plastered a grin onto her face. "Oh. That's... that's great Amy! Really great!" Gwen held her hands out in front of herself. "But I think..." She took a step back. "That I need to..." She took another step back. "Explore the nearby area a little bit more. Okay? Thanks! Bye!" She turned and ran. Halfway down the beach she tripped, but scrambled back up and continued to run.

"Ah, you scared her off, Ames." Sonic snorted. "You'll have to catch her another time."

Amy set her hands on her hips, "Why I never!" She fumed. "It's not like I was going to make her go this late in the day!"

Sonic arched a brow at her. He was rather happy that Amy had some other victim to focus on other than himself. He looked at Tails. "You best fix up another communicator. We can't have someone disconnected from the group."

Tails nodded. "I'll be right on it!" Tails declared, "After I get home and get some rest."

Sonic hummed, then nodded. "Go on, we're right behind you buddy."

Tails nodded and began heading back. Knuckles immediately followed, practically glued to Tails' back. Tails stopped, looking back at him.

Sonic stepped over and nudged Knuckles. "But not literally. That would be weird."

"Ohh!" Knuckles nodded. "I get it now."

Tails rolled his eyes and continued home, though rather than backing off, Knuckles grabbed Sonic and Amy and continued to follow like he was stuck to Tails.

The group collectively groaned.