I am SO sorry for the long wait; I was traveling to Rio de Janeiro, and I didn't have time to finish this chapter before my travel.

But now that I'm back today, I've managed to finish it!

Enjoy! ;)

(PS: Thank you so much for 19 reviews and for the users ZeldaHildaSabrina and Magyk-Foal1 for favoring/following! At least I know you're reading and liking the story!)


Chapter 11: Sunken Treasure

The inside of the Kitchen was very warm: the walls and ceiling were peach-colored with green pillars and the wall's bottom had small yellow, red and orange rectangle tiles and the floor was made of wood. There was also a window with green borders on the left wall. Below the window was a lime-green and peach balcony with a sink and a flower pot. There was a clean white cloth dangling out of the balcony's sink. Next to the balcony was an ocher stove that was lit, making this dome warm, and on its side was a wall shelf where a bronze tray was hanged. Finally, on the center of the floor was a star-shaped table.

The two heroes had three destinations that Rosalina mentioned; Beach Bowl, Ghostly and Buoy Base Galaxies. They looked at them on the holographic projection, and decided to choose Beach Bowl Galaxy first. A Launch Star sent them there.

Beach Bowl Galaxy, as the name suggests, is shaped like a huge bowl. This huge bowl was filled with water; so much water that some of it overlaps the corners, dropping like waterfalls. Parts of the huge bowl were some small islands at the middle, and at the left side was a coast, with some hills, rocks, palm trees and a waterfall dropping even more water at the main bowl; its infinite source is unknown, but it was dropping down in a small opening at the mountain.

They landed on an island, where one of the penguins who live here saw them.

"So, are you saying that this place is a great home for penguins?" Mario asked the penguin that approached him and Sonic.

"Yeah, this Beach Bowl is pretty much penguin paradise!" the penguin chirped. "Welcome to Beach Bowl! Where all of the non-penguin visitors can learn how to swim! If you ever have trouble for how to swim, just ask us penguins! We're friendly."

"Thanks for the offer, but we're here for something else." Sonic responded. "Have you seen something or someone that looked a bit…off for you?"

"Well, I've actually seen something, but I can't explain." The penguin said. "You should probably go ask our Coach; he's over there, on that big island at the distance."

"Okay, thanks! Let's go, Mario."

"Okey-dokey!"

They crossed another island by the water's shallow part, since Sonic was afraid of water. They eventually reached the island where the Coach was. He was watching his swimmers swimming quite in an awkward way. The two heroes approached him and he turns to them.

"The students are distracted by the sparklies! Please, do something!" the Coach said in a worried tone.

"Uh oh, looks like we'll have to solve his problem first." Mario said.

"What?! Oh, come on!" Sonic complained.

"Don't-a worry. I'll swim down there and try to find out what those 'sparklies' are. You can wait here if you want, since you don't like water."

"If you say so. But please hurry."

Mario nodded and jumped into the water.

When he was underwater, he saw a Koopa Shell nearby and decides to pick it up. He was now traveling much faster in the water, carrying the Koopa Shell. He looks around and finally saw what those 'sparklies' were: they were Launch Star Chips.

"Ah, sparklies!" one of the penguins from under the water sighs dreamily.

Mario looked around the underwater area to look for the 5 Star Chips, grabbing some air bubbles as well so that he doesn't lose air.

Upon collecting all of the Star Chips, a fully completed Launch Star appears over a rock from underwater.

"I don't think Sonic is going to like this…" He gulped in his thoughts. He then swims back at the surface, where Sonic was waiting for him.

"So, did it go well? Where's the Launch Star?" Sonic asked.

"Yes, I did. And uh…about the Launch Star…" Mario said nervously.

"Yes?"

"…it appeared underwater."

"WHAT?!" Sonic gasped in shock and frustration; he really hates water.

"Yeah, we'll have no choice but to head underwater if we're going to find your friend and the Power Star."

Sonic slowly looks at the water. He and Mario had no other choice; they'll have to head underwater if they want to proceed.

"*sigh* well, I guess you're right, Mario. All right, I'll go down too and try to face my fear. But you'll have to drag me every time we're underwater, because for some reason I sink like a rock when I'm underwater."

"Don't-a worry! I'll do it! We're working together, after all!" Mario answered with thumbs up. Sonic smiled and returned the thumbs up.

With that in mind, Mario grabs hold of Sonic's hand and they both dove into the water. Mario swims to where the Launch Star was, and both used their Spin Attacks to launch them at the surface and to the tallest part of the galaxy: the hills above.

At the top of the hill, all they had to do was to face off against some new enemies like Piranha Plants and Wigglers. They made one last climb and eventually found the Power Star of this galaxy trapped in a huge glass crystal.

"Hey, look! There's the Power Star! But…something's missing…" Sonic pondered.

"What-a?" Mario asked, turning to Sonic.

"Aren't we supposed to find one of my friends here as well?" Sonic shrugged, with a puzzled expression on his face.

"Oh yeah, you're right-a…" Mario thought. "Well, if we're going down there again, we might need to pick this Star first-a."

"But, wouldn't we get transported back to the Observatory? After all, that's what the Stars normally do when we touch 'em."

"We cannot leave the Power Star here no matter what. So I'll just free it."

Mario did his Spin Attack twice to break the crystal, freeing the Power Star. Mario and Sonic looked at each other and shrugged. They reached their hands to touch the Star. The Star glowed so bright that the heroes couldn't see anything that's happening.


For their surprise, they weren't back at the Observatory; they were back at Beach Bowl's lowest level from where they met the Coach!

"What the-?" Sonic was shocked.

"Hey! We're back at the bottom?" Mario asked.

"I guess so; that's the location where we met the Coach. And it looks like he's still there."

"That's strange... How did this happen?" Mario puzzled.

"Well, whatever it happened, now that we're back at the bottom, we can go search for my friend here." Sonic said while shrugging. Mario shrugged too and put the Power Star at his pocket so that they won't lose it.

"Let's-a try to ask the Coach to see if he saw some strange unusual creature that ended up here-a." Mario suggested. Sonic nodded and they both went to the Coach and asked him if he saw something unusual.

"Hmm, I think I just saw a strange creature that landed here at the morning." The Coach said. "I remember that it was a green crocodile that just showed up here. But that crocodile seemed a bit off; he was wearing headphones, gold, and was walking on two legs! That's odd… I didn't know crocodiles could walk on two legs…"

The creature that the Coach described was somehow very familiar to Sonic: "Wait… a crocodile with headphones, gold and walks on two legs… That sounds like Vector!"

"Do you know where he is-a?" Mario asked.

"Yes, I've just saw some bat creatures taking him while he was still unconscious into somewhere around here. One of my students might have a clue to where those batties took that crocodile." The Coach responded.

"Okay, thanks. Let's go, Mario."

"Okey!"

The heroes dove into the water. Mario noticed a Koopa Shell nearby and swam to it to grab it with one hand. The heroes were heading directly towards a wall with a crack. There was a penguin student standing at the side of the crack.

"There IS a crack here, I wonder what's on the other side?" the penguin wondered.

Just then, Mario and Sonic accidentally crashed into the wall with the Koopa Shell. A secret cave was revealed.

"WHOA! A CAVE!" the penguin exclaimed. Mario and Sonic quickly went through the cave and to the surface, where they crawled to the shore. They were a bit injured because of the crash.

"What the heck is wrong with you?! Crashing into the wall like that?!" Sonic argued.

"I didn't know it was going to do that-a!" Mario growled.

"Pffft, whatever chubby." Sonic rolled his eyes. Just then, they heard a scream:

"Help! Somebody help me!"

Sonic's eyes widened; he recognized that voice.

"Vector?" he turned around and saw a cage made with iron bars. There was a green crocodile trapped inside the cage. Sonic rushed to the cage while Mario followed.

Vector was in danger; two of the bat enemies that the Coach mentioned were attacking him.

"Uh oh! We have to save Vector!" Sonic said worriedly.

"We'll have to get inside the cage somehow." Mario said. He looked to his right and saw a bunch of creates blocking one part of the cage. "Aha! Over there!" as he Spin Attacks the creates, revealing a small opening on the cage.

Mario and Sonic quickly took care of the bat enemies, saving Vector's life.

"Whew! That was close! Thanks, Sonic and…" Vector thanked, but didn't know Mario's name.

"…Mario. His name is Mario." Sonic complemented.

Vector got close to Mario and shook his hand.

"Why, it's nice to meet you! I'm Vector, the leader of the Chaotix!" Vector introduced himself.

"It's great to meet you too." Mario replied.

"Alright, now that we've found another one of my friends, we should be able to go back to the Observatory now." Sonic said.

"You're right-a. Let's-a go!" Mario said.

Mario reached his pocket and pulled out the Power Star. The three touches it as it glows brightly.


They were back at the Observatory this time.

"VECTOOOORR!" Charmy screamed from afar, flying towards Vector.

"Charmy! I was quite worried about you!" Vector said happily, hugging Charmy. Then, Rosalina, Polari, Knuckles and Amy came in.

"So you've found another member of the Chaotix Team?" Knuckles said.

"Yup." Sonic nodded.

"Well, I guess it's time to tell your newly found friend all the events, I presume?" Rosalina guessed.

"That's right!" Charmy cheered.

To be continued…


I chose Beach Bowl Galaxy for Vector since crocodiles can swim, and this galaxy has a LOT of water to begin with. I tried to put a bit more humor in this chapter, especially Sonic's fear of water. Also, did you noticed that I've actually managed to combine two Star missions into one? For this galaxy, I've combined the Sunken Treasure and The Secret Undersea Cavern missions.

Next up, Ghostly Galaxy! Stay tuned!