Allergy Season
"Do you think this is the place?" Amy asked as she and Marine had approached the Gaia Temple with a darkened chaos emerald in hand.
"It must be." Marine answered. "When this emerald gets on its alter, it'll relight from what I heard from Sonic." As they approached they were stopped by, two robots, one shaped like a sphere and the other in the shape of a cube. They also saw a green duck with a pack on his back with a sprayer.
"Well, if it isn't the palsies of Team Sonic." Bean stated.
"Oh great, it's that crazy duck." Amy said to the raccoon.
"Who's he?" Marine asked.
"I'm Bean the Dynamite Duck." The duck stated. "These two robots I'm working with right now are Or-bot and Cu-bot."
"Hey, why do they call us Or-bot and Cu-bot?" The cube asked.
"I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with our shape?" Or-bot asked.
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense."
"At least, it's better than being named Urkel-bot."
"We've got no time for you." Amy stated. "Can you be nice and just let us through?"
"No chance, hedgehog." Bean replied. "I'm going to take you down."
"You're saying you can beat us?" Marine asked. "With what?"
"With this." The duck stated as he pulled the trigger. He sprayed out a yellow powder at the two surprised girls. As the dust was clearing, the duck pointed to Marine. "Now, you're Amy Rose." Then, he pointed to Amy. "And you're Marine the Raccoon."
"Don't be absurd." Amy rebuked. "I'm not…" She ended up crossing her eyes. "Marine?"
"What's wrong?" Marine asked, then she ended up crossing her eyes as well. Cu-bot reached for the emerald but ended up shorting out.
"Blast the pollen got me." Cu-bot said.
"We're not to get in the blast area." Or-bot said as Bean took the darkened emerald right out of the girls' hands.
"Let's get out of here." He stated, picking up and dragging Cu-bot. The group went away from the two girls. Amy and Marine shook their head.
"What's going on?" Marine asked. Then, she looked down into her hands. "Oh no, the emerald is gone."
"Crickey, where is it?" Amy replied.
"That duck must have took it." Marine stated.
"I'll be stuffed. We need to get that emerald back." Amy added.
"Here, you need this." The raccoon said, tossing her boomerang to Amy who caught it.
"Same here." Amy tossed her hammer over to Marine. She got the hammer but couldn't lift it as they moved Marine just dragged the hammer on the ground. At that moment, the two came across Sonic and Tails.
"Amy, Marine, what happened?" Sonic asked.
"We noticed that Bean took the emerald." Tails replied.
"We ended up being jumped by the crazy duck." Amy answered.
"We need to hurry." The blue blur said.
"Sonic, can you help me with this thing?" Marine asked Sonic. Then, he looked at the raccoon in confusion.
"Uh Marine? Why are you carrying Amy's hammer?" The blue blur asked her.
"What are you talking about Sonic? This is my hammer." Marine answered.
"No, that hammer belongs to Amy Rose."
"Sonic, I am Amy Rose, your betrothed, remember?" The raccoon girl stated. Sonic just chuckled at the idea.
"Good one, Marine." Tails replied, pointing to Amy Rose with his thumb. "But you should note that is Amy Rose."
"No, no, you silly goose. I'm Marine." Amy stated. The blue blur's jaw hit the floor.
"What the…!?" Sonic stated. "What is going on here?"
"Sonic? My boy, can you read me?" Silver's voice stated over the communicator on the blue blur's wrist. Sonic looked down and switched the communicator.
"Pops, what do you need?" Sonic asked.
"We are going to need you guys back at the Apatos Convention Hall." Silver replied. "We have a bit of an issue."
"We have a bit of an issue here as well; something that needs to be shown." Sonic answered.
"Well, bring it over and we can look at it." The albino stated. "I'll see you when you arrive."
"Thanks, pops." Sonic said.
"Anytime." Silver answered.
The party of four got back to the Convention Hall. Silver was able to get a room for the five to discuss the situation. Doctor Von Schlemmer looked over the two girls.
"Well, what's the situation?" Sonic asked.
"It seems they have been effected by some strange powder." The doctor stated. "And it is affecting their brain."
"Things have gotten interesting now." Silver said.
"What do you mean?" Tails asked.
"I had heard that one of the scientists had disappeared recently." Silver explained. "I was able to get a hand on the notes in which he had." He pulled out a notebook. "These were a back-up he had in case his tablet went down." He laid it on the table.
"Which one?" Sonic asked, as Silver opened the book up. There was a picture of a skunk in an orange floral shirt.
"His name is Colonel Stinkande Stench." The albino explained. "He was working on a formula intended to help mobians that had a body odor problem. He was trying to find the perfect ingredients by cross-breeding flowers and other chemical methods."
"What was the end result?" Tails continued.
"He unintentionally created a pollen which can affect the mind of mobians who get exposed to the pollen. The first suggestion they hear, they now behave in that manner." Silver concluded. "Or in other words, hypno-pollen. He disappeared when he was working on an antidote." At that moment, a badger wearing tribal clothing came barging into the room.
"Where is the concession stand?" The badger stated and she looked up. "It's good to see you again."
" 'Ang on there. Sticks?" Amy asked. "What are you doing here?"
"What? No. This can't be." The badger stated. "They now have the technology needed for brain-swapping?" She ran away, screaming. "Got to get my tin foil hat."
"What was that?" Tails replied.
"That's Marine's crazy cousin." Marine answered.
"She lives out in woop woop of Bygone Island." Amy continued explained.
"Ugh, I don't get it." Sonic asked. "How can Amy… er… Marine… I mean…" He paused. "How can the both of you sound like Aussies?"
"Amy and I were two shelias who became friends during Robotnik's rule." Amy said, wrapping her arm around Marine. "We made a great team like you and Tails."
"Ehem, as I was saying." Silver stated, getting their attention. "I had heard that there was sightings of Eggman in the area."
"If he's in the area, then he might have Colonel Stench." Marine said.
"We're going to have to rescue him." Amy added.
"Chip," Silver stated. "Go with them."
"I can go?" Chip answered. "Yeah. I can do it."
The party that was lead by Sonic had rushed to where the trail of evidence to an abandoned warehouse within Apatos. They looked around until they found a chamber.
"Hello, is anyone out there?" a voice called out.
"Colonel Stench, is that you?" The blue blur asked.
"Yes, it's me." The voice said. "Help me." The four heroes went into the chamber, seeing a figure tied up.
"Don't worry, we'll get you out." Tails said.
"Bonza, that was easy." Amy said.
"A bit too easy." Marine replied.
"WHAT!?" Sonic shouted. They found a dummy there with a recording.
"Hello, is anyone out there?" the recording repeated as the iron doors slammed shut behind them. They heard the sound of laughter coming out of the loudspeakers.
"OH-hohohoho." The voice chuckled. "It seems you fell right into my trap." Then, multiple video screens came on to face them.
"EGGMAN!" the four of them shouted.
"Correct you are." The doctor said. "But it doesn't seem like things are going to end well for the four of you."
"Where is Colonel Stench?" Sonic demanded.
"Don't worry, he's right here." Eggman stated, stepping aside revealing the skunk mobian tied up. Then, he had two egg pawns chuck him into a broom closet. "As you can see, he is safe with me."
"So, what do you intend to do with us?" Tails asked.
"As of right now, I'm just going to keep you locked in there until I can find out a way to properly dispose of you."
"So, you're making up on the fly?" Marine asked.
"Right." Eggman answered.
"You deadhead, you have buckley's chance of keeping us in here forever." Amy said, pulling out the boomerang.
"I don't have to." The doctor said. "I just need to keep you in here long enough to fulfill my plan." Then, he turned the screens over to the Apatos Science Convention rooms. "As you can see I have hijacked the security cameras in the convention hall, while you were chasing me around I had Bean and my two companion robots take a giant tank of that hypno-pollen and hook it up to the ventilation system." The doctor turned to the communications.
"Oh crap…" Sonic stated. "This ain't good."
"Release the pollen." Eggman stated. Then, the vents turned on and loads of pollen filled the air in the convention center.
"Can I say it?" Cu-bot asked over the intercom.
"I'm the one to say the phrase." Or-bot stated replied. "Attention, you are now admirers of the Great Doctor Eggman. Would please turn to the cameras and salute? Your great leader is watching." It showed that everyone faced the camera and saluted.
"This is fantastic." Eggman stated with glee. "Not only did I get all the scientists, but I also got all security personal and all the convention attendees in one go." He did a little dance. "Now that I have all the most brilliant minds under my command, taking over this whole world will be a piece of cake." He turned to the captive Sonic. "Not even you will be able to stop me."
"Huh, what's going on here?" A voice stated on the video. They turned and saw Silver coming out of the men's restroom with a piece of toilet paper stuck to his shoe. "Why is everyone saluting to the security camera? Is there some significance to doing this?"
"Hmm, it seems that we missed one." Eggman stated. "Robots, tell them to get him and anyone else we missed."
"Servants of Eggman, would you be so nice as to round up anyone who has yet to follow him in the building?" Or-bot asked.
"Hey, I want to give the command." Cu-bot stated.
"Can you get your hands off the microphone?" There was some sizzling heard over the intercom system.
"Oh pingas, the microphone is sizzling out."
"Cu-bot, watch your vocal processor." Then, the vocals over the intercom faded out.
"Blast, I can't talk to them anymore." Eggman stated as he continued to watch. The ones in the convention noticed Silver and raised their arms.
"PINGAS! PINGAS!" They stated in the manner of a mantra. The mobians and humans started to chase Silver. The eyes of Eggman and Team Sonic went wide in shock.
"Well… I guess we can't micromanage things." Eggman replied. "I know what to do. I'll make another batch of pollen. One with your name on it. I'll be back to you when I'm finished." Then, the doctor laughed as he turned off the communication system.
"Bonza, we're going to need to find a way out of here." Amy stated.
"Or we're going to say that word for the rest of our lives." Marine replied.
"Stay calm, you two. We'll think of something." Tails answered. Sonic tried to buzz saw out of the door, but it was no good.
"There's got to be a way out of here." Sonic said.
Meanwhile at the convention center, Silver had a shield up as he barricaded the restrooms from the horde of con-goers. He was able to find Dr. Von Schlemmer and Sticks the Badger unaffected in the area. The two of them were in the shield.
"I told them that there was mind-control technology in our midst." Sticks stated, hysterically. "But no… they thought I was crazy. They thought… I was crazy."
"That's the thing that kept you and the good doctor here from being affected by the pollen." Silver replied to her.
"So, what is the plan?" Von Schlemmer asked.
"We are going to need to create an antidote for the pollen using the notes from Colonel Stench's notebook." Silver explained.
"I'll get Doctor Von Schlemmer. I know he'll be able to help us." The doctor said.
"You are Doctor Von Schlemmer." The albino groaned.
"Oh, I am. Excellent, I'll get started right away." The doctor answered.
"Hey, what am I to do?" Sticks asked.
"I know robots stall out from the pollen. So, someone immune to the pollen is around." Silver said. "I want you to find the person and prevent anymore pollen from being released."
"You can count on it, Kingliness." Sticks said, pulling out a wooden boomerang. "I'll show him what I'm made of." She let out a battle cry and charged into the fray.
"Wow, she really is… something." Silver commented. After battling her way through the horde, she found herself next to Or-bot and Cu-bot.
"Uh oh." The two robots answered as Sticks knocked them away.
"There go the two bots." The badger said.
"So, who are you?" A voice stated. Sticks turned and saw a green duck. "Who are you supposed to be?"
"I'm Sticks the Badger." The badger girl answered.
"They call me Bean." The duck replied.
"Well, since your spreading the hypno-pollen, I'm going to have to fight you." Sticks replied.
"Bring it on." The duck answered. The two lunged towards each other...
The four members of Team Sonic searched for a way out, when Eggman came on the screen again to see them.
"I have some good news." Eggman said to the four of them. "I have just got another batch of the pollen ready." Then, the four noticed Chip sneaking up to behind the doctor, sticking two of his fingers in his mouth. "Pretty soon, you will soon meet the fate of…"
"WET WILLY!" Chip shouted. He stuck his wet fingers into Eggman's ears. The doctor screamed from shock and he flailed his arms. He looked away from the screen to face the little creature.
"Who are you?" Eggman demanded. "ROBOTS, GET HIM!" Then, the robots grabbed their lances to charge at the plushie. Then, the doctor turned back to the screen. "You thought you could flank me, did you?" Chip moved towards Eggman's rear. The bots rushed toward the doll. "Well, your plan didn't work." The bots lunged their spears and Chip dodged out of the way.
"YOUCH!" He leapt into the air and faced the robots holding his rear. "DON'T SPEAR MY BUTT! SPEAR THE PLUSHIE!" The robots turned to find the plushie. They began to search the place. "That thing is really getting on my nerves." Chip came back with a waste basket and dumped the old papers on him. Then, he chucked the basket onto his head. The doctor's face turned completely red.
"Nah-nah." Chip stated.
"THAT DOES IT!" Eggman shouted as he tried to grab the little guy. "YOU'RE DEAD, YOU LITTLE RUNT!" The doctor began to chase after the plushie around and around. Eggman continued to follow the same pattern as Chip stepped out and flipped the switch. The door behind Team Sonic opened up.
"There's our way out." Tails answered.
"Looks like Chip really was useful." Sonic added as the four rushed out of the room.
The four mobians went up into the control room while Eggman was still chasing Chip. Opening the closet door, they were able to free Colonel Stench. As they fled, Colonel Stench grabbed the canister of pollen and took it with him. When Chip saw that they had fled, he himself escaped.
"And don't come back you little punk." Eggman answered. He returned to the panel. "Sorry about that, now where was I…?" He saw he was talking into an empty room. "WHAT!? THEY GOT OUT!?" He turned and saw the closet door open and the hostage missing. "CAN STENCH IS GONE!?" He turned to the robots. "GET THE POLLEN!"
"The pollen is gone." A robot stated. Then, Eggman glared at the window.
"I. hate. that. hedgehog." He stated coldly. "very. very. much."
Meanwhile back at the convention, Von Schlemmer was finished with making the antidote.
"I think I just have it finished." Von Schlemmer said, holding up a canister of the antidote. "But unfortunately, it has to be taken orally." Then, Silver thought for a moment.
"I got it." The albino stated, grabbing the canister.
"What are you planning to do?" The doctor asked.
"You'll see." Silver commented. Then, some moments later. The albino hedgehog returned with a giant glass bowl filled with an orange liquid. "HEY, EVERYBODY!" Then, the entire horde turned to face the albino. "Doctor Eggman had told me to give you guys a treat for helping him out." The horde grunted in confusion. "He told me to give you this entire bowl of Kool-Aid. Just let me add the sweetener." Silver popped the top of the canister and poured the antidote in. He stirred it up. "And it's done." Silver got a glass and drank it. "Ah, delicious."
"KOOL-AID! KOOL-AID!" The horde stated in a mantra as they headed to the punch bowl.
"One at a time. One at a time." Silver stated, passing out glasses. "There's enough for everyone."
"Mixing the antidote with Kool-Aid? Excellent, I wonder why Doctor Von Schlemmer didn't think of that earlier." The same doctor asked himself. "I'll add it to the notebook."
When Team Sonic got back to the convention hall, it was like they had originally left it. They got back into the room with Von Schlemmer. Colonel Stench made another batch of antidote for Amy and Marine.
"Well, here's the antidote." Colonel Stench stated, handing the antidote to Amy and Marine.
"Are you sure this is going to make me better?" Marine asked.
"This will work. Trust me, it was tested." The skunk said.
"I guess bottom's up." Amy replied. Everyone was looking with eagerness. Then, the two girls spat the antidote out. "By Crickey, this is nasty."
"You're telling me." Marine answered, but nothing happened to the people's shock.
"What? I don't understand." Stinkande Stench said. "You said it would work."
"It did work earlier." Von Schlemmer replied. "What allowed it to work earlier?"
"What did you put down in the notebook?" Tails asked as he looked at it. "You need to add Kool-Aid to the mix."
"Kool-Aid?" Sonic asked in surprise. "Really? That's got to be the most ridiculous thing I ever heard."
"Where are we going to find some?" Von Schlemmer asked. Then, Silver came into the room.
"Hey, I distributed the stuff." Silver stated. "And I have two glasses to spare."
"Thanks, pops." Sonic grabbed the two glasses and gave them to Amy and Marine to drink. And it worked.
"Huh, wha? Why are we back here?" Marine asked.
"Marine, what just happened?" Amy asked her in confusion.
"Looks like everything's returned to normal." Sonic said. "Now, all that's needed to do is get that chaos emerald recharged and we can head out."
"Oh yeah." Silver said. After a minute, the albino realized something and zoomed out the door. "Wait a minute, what happened to Sticks?" Then, he noticed a boomerang on the ground with a note on it. Silver picked it up off the ground and then he read the note. "Well… that's not what I expected. But it works at least."
The note stated:
"Sorry I can't make it back to ya. I'm going to head to the Casino Nights Zone with my new boyfriend. I think I found my dream guy. Okay, bye-bye now. Sincerely, Sticks."