Uploading this in two parts so it isn't as long. Sorry it's kind of skimpy, I just didn't really know where to take this one. Hopefully I can come back at some point and flesh it out more.

As they ran towards the car, which had survived the attack with only a few dents, Chris and Tanaka came across Ella. Her dress was ripped in mutliple places and she was missing her high-heels, but she was not physically hurt. Being a somewhat large woman, she could only move so quickly, and was gasping for air. Tanaka took her hand and pulled her along, and Chris opened the doors for the both of them. He took his own seat in the back while Tanaka and Ella threw themselves into their seats. The butler cranked the car, backed out without looking, and stomped on the throttle towards a clearing in the parking lot. Chris and Ella held onto the ceiling handles as Tanaka roughly weaved the car around some cinder blocks, cut through the grass and sped down the highway with the gas pedal pinned to the floor.

Having escaped (almost) safely, Chris turned back to the resort, the smoke plume continuing to rise, now staining the white clouds with black and blocking out the sun ever so slightly.

"Do not worry, young master. Sonic will stop Dr. Eggman in a hurry." Tanaka wasn't exactly the best at comforting people, but he did what he could.

Chris nodded, but Eggman wasn't what he was thinking about.

"YOU NEED TO RUN CHRIS, NOW!"

"Yeah, little somethin' called 'privacy', pal."

Episode 8: Emerald Coast Showdown (Part 2)

It was down to Eggman and Sonic once again. This was far from the worst thing Eggman had ever done, but because he had gone after Chris again, Sonic wasn't in the mood for any games.

"Well, Sonic, for once, I'm glad to see you! There's a reason I chose to attack this resort specifically, you know."

Sonic crossed his arms and glared at the Doctor. "The ocean, right?"

"Indeed! But also because I knew that new runt of yours was going to be here. I planned on using him as a bargaining chip, but he got away. No matter, I still have my Octoron, AND the whole OCEAN at my disposal! One wrong move, and you're sunk, Sonic! HOHOHOHOHO!"

Sonic bent over and prepared a spindash. "Let's see what you slimeballs think of this!" He spooled himself up and fired at the beast. Eggman quickly pointed down at the blue bullet, shouting to Octoron, "CRUSH HIM!"

Octoron slammed down three tentacles, which diveted the ground, but not Sonic, who dodged the long rods with ease. He unfurled himself at the last second to smash his leg right on top of the metal octopus' head, cracking it open like an egg, and sending sparks flying. Panicked, Eggman sent out another command.

"GAH! GRAB HIM!"

Before Sonic could drop down, a tentacle encircled him. He groaned as the metallic rubber started crushing him harder than one of Amy's hugs. He pushes up to try to free himself, but its grip was too strong.

Eggman stood atop his Eggmobile in triumph. "I'VE GOT YOU NOW, SONIC! Now, time to put you in the ground, or should I say, the WATER!"

Octoron dropped the tentacle holding Sonic and dunked him into the water. Sonic barely had enough time to grab a small breath to hold, and the tentacle binding his midsection made it harder for him to hold it in. He did everything he could to wriggle out of it, but he wouldn't budge, not even an inch. Sonic could feel his lungs tightening and his ears popping. He grunted and moaned internally from the water entering his lungs through his nose, and he had to keep his hands were busy trying to get out from the huge rope that continued to tighten.

Eggman relented and pulled Sonic back up, wanting to see if he would beg for mercy. The tentacle raised the coughing and gagging hedgehog to be level with his eyes.

"Give in. Or you'll meet your maker."

Sonic, still panting, wearily chuckled. "Give in? 'Come way too far to do that."

The X-Tornado blasted over them at full trot, making Eggman's more vulnerable human ears ring. "GAH! TAILS, YOU RAT! OCTORON!"

A spear was fired at the jet, which barely missed the right wings. Tails and Amy then saw their hero captured in Octoron's arms. Tails' heart sank into their gut.

"DAMMIT! AMY, GET DOWN THERE AND HELP HIM, I'LL BACK YOU UP!"

"Got it!"

Amy leaped out from the X-Tornado's cockpit, her hammer brandished, and fell like a dart onto the octopus, and chopped the tentacle, it thrashed by itself like an amputated lizard tail. Now free from his prison, Sonic blasted off to one side of the complex to build up speed, then came back in a hellish blue streak, cutting through Octoron and blowing it to pieces.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Eggman couldn't believe how easily such a powerful machine had been destroyed by the hedgehogs. Sonic stepped in front of the Eggmobile and glared daggers at the Doctor.

"Alright, Eggface. Show's over, now get outta here."

The Doctor picked himself up and began hovering away. "Next time, Sonic...next time, I'll win!"

The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes, knowing Eggman would lose every time he fought him. Amy then tapped Sonic on the shoulder, making him turn towards her. Her hands were behind her back and she had a nervous look on her face.

"You know, you could keep us all safe if you went on more vacations with us. Battling Eggman all the time has to be stressful for you."

Sonic groaned. "Maybe if you went somewhere other than the ocean."

Amy huffed indignantly. "Come on, Sonic! Can't you just stick around just ONE time! You don't have to swim or anything!"

Sonic closed his eyes and bowed his head. Amy then revealed what was in her hands.

"At least take this. I, uh, made it for you. It's a friendship bracelet. I thought you might like it."

Sonic took the string of shells out from her hand and looked it over, and finally smiled at her. "Alright, alright, I'll come back for a little bit."

Amy beamed with excitement, then stopped when Sonic put up a finger. "But ONLY if you make another one of these for Blaze.

Amy's face turned dark red at the mention of her other, more secret crush.

"Gah, ahhh, Sonic! No fair!"

Sonic laughed maniacally at her antics Tails circled around in preparation to pick them up and head back to the villa.

After some convincing, Chuck agreed to let Team Sonic stay at the villa for Sunday night and return first thing Monday morning. Chris being a little late for school wouldn't kill him. Tanaka and Ella drove back at noon, and Sonic stuck around to act as their pseudo-chaperone along with Amy to make sure the little ones didn't get into any trouble. Later in the afternoon, everyone was outside enjoying the last day of their vacation. Amy was digging around in the water for more shells with Tails and Cream playing in the waves nearby. Sonic sat on the steps with Cheese sleeping in his lap, a protective hand laid on the chao's back. He watched the kids closely in case one of them got thrown under the water and needed saving.

He also occasionally glanced over to the pool just outside the house, where Chris swam by himself. The hedgehog could tell something was up, Chris hadn't been his usual self the last day or so. He was already a quiet kid, but now he was borderline mute. Sonic had grown accustomed to Chris being right next to him at all times. He could tell that Chris felt safe around him, and he didn't mind it as long as Chris didn't invade his personal space. However, Chris had been totally avoiding Sonic, like he had been the one that destroyed the resort and not Dr. Eggman. Sonic was concerned for his friend and wanted answers. When a drenched Amy climbed up the steps with a dozen shells cupped in her palms, he took the opportunity.

"Amy, watch the kids, will ya? I'll be right back."

"Ok, Sonic." She took Cheese into her arms, careful not to wake him, and saw Sonic jog up the steps and over to the pool. Amy sighed and shook her head in frustration.

"Chris again, I'm guessing. I wish he wasn't so needy, you don't see Tails acting like this."

Sonic opened the gate slowly so he wouldn't startle the kid. Chris kept his head down with a blank expression as he sat against the wall of the pool. Sonic smiled softly, removed his boots and slid into the water right next to Chris. The pool wasn't very deep, and Sonic was the taller of the two, so he didn't need to worry about drowning.

"Hey, pal. How you been?"

Chris continued staring into the water and sank down a bit more. "Fine, I guess."

Sonic put his hands behind his head and stretched out his arms with a grunt. After a moment of silence, he put an arm around the kid's shoulders, causing Chris to jump slightly.

Sonic glanced over with a tilted head. "Alright, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, kid, I'm not blind. Somethin's botherin' ya, you've been avoiding me all day. Did I offend you or somethin'?"

Chris' heart dropped and he laid his chin on the surface of the pool. "No. I offended you."

"Offended me? How?"

"I...talked about your fear of water the other day. I didn't know you didn't like to bring it up."

Sonic blinked. "That's what you're upset about?"

"Well, aren't you?"

Sonic shrugged. "I barely even remember that. 'S in the past now."

"Well...I'm sorry. I tried to say that to you when it happened, but you ran off."

"I thought you knew I forgave you."

Chris stood up, exasperated. "Why didn't you say so?"

Sonic sighed. "I dunno, just didn't feel like I needed to. You didn't need to apologize in the first place. Just be a bit more mindful, that's all."

Chris dropped his hands to his sides and nodded sadly before dropping back into the water. "It's also because...you know, you kinda yelled at me back at the resort."

Sonic's eyes tensed. "Chris, you were in serious danger. I had to get you and Tanaka outta there. I didn't want to yell at ya, but I-"

"That's just it! I know you were trying to protect me! I know you had to do it! Why is it screwing with me so much?!" Chris kept his voice down somewhat to not alarm anyone else, but it was loud enough that Sonic knew full well that he was hurt. The boy dropped back into the water, frustrated with himself and his mental state. Sonic wasn't sure how to make him feel better, this sort of self-loathing wasn't one he was used to dealing with. He saw a tear leak from Chris' eye and decided to act on that.

"Don't cry," he said softly, wiping away the tear with his thumb. "Don't cry, Chris. Everything's fine now."

"I just don't know what to do with myself."

Sonic ruffled his hair softly. "Maybe go talk to someone, a therapist, perhaps? I could help ya out with that. I don't mind helping you out, but just know that I'm not a miracle worker."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Everything's fine now." Sonic climbed out the water and held out a hand. "C'mon, let's go for a run. Might help clear your mind a bit."

Chris took his hand and got out of the water. He didn't bother drying off, the wind from Sonic's speed would do that for him. Sonic pulled him onto his back piggyback-style.

"Ready?" He said with a smile.

Chris nodded.

"OK, hold on tight!"

They sped away, which gave Amy a chance to turn on the TV on the patio, as she wanted an update on the search and rescue mission at the resort. The bottom line told her all she needed to know and had to keep from Sonic and Tails.

"270 dead after Emerald Coast Resort attack, Dr. Eggman believed to be responsible"