A Dasardly Deed
(Ayla's POV)
*It's been a week since Lindsey & Nelson's anniversary*
Tails: Stand by for take-off! *the palm trees in the driveway moved to one side* X Tornado, let's go! Take off! *my brother was sitting on the nose of the X Tornado as it took to the sky & I followed on my board* Hold on, Sonic! It's time to deploy our stabilizing wing!
*The planes bottom wings opened & we were off on another Emerald hunt*
Amy: Any signs of the Emerald yet, Tails?
Tails: Nope.
Danny: Wow. This is great! *I looked at Chris & noticed him looking a little glum**to Chris* Hey, come on, aren't you gonna help look?
Chris: Uh . . . Yeah. Sure.
*He then looked ahead at Sonic*
Ayla:*in her mind* What's eating, Chris? I'll have to ask later.
(Gotta Go Fast!)
(Ayla's Theme song - KC Undercover Theme Song)
(Chris' POV) (the next day)
*I was in class, but I wasn't really paying attention. Not even when the lunch bell rang*
Mr. Stewart: Lunchtime, children.
*All my classmates cheered*
Frances: Chris, you wanna eat lunch with us?
*But I didn't really hear her*
Danny: Yo. Wake up.
*I snapped out of my thoughts & turned to them*
Chris: Uh, I'm not too hungry right now, guys.
Frances: Kay. We'll catch you later then.
Chris: Yeah, okay.
*Then Mr. Stewart came up to me*
Mr. Stewart: You know, I think you and I should visit the Counseling Office.
Chris: Ah, no thanks.
Mr. Stewart: Come on, Chris, let's go. *I reluctantly got up & followed him. We went to the Counseling Office & I laid down* Are you ready, Chris?
Chris: Yeah.
Mr. Stewart: Now, tell me, Chris. What's bothering you?
Chris: I don't know what's wrong with me. Lately, I'm feeling really confused.
Mr. Stewart: You are torn.
Chris: Yeah.
Mr. Stewart: I think we understand why. Part of you wants to help Sonic, Ayla, and their friends return home *I looked at him confused* However, the other part of you does not want to lose your new friends. It is apparent that this situation is producing a war deep within you, Chris, and I honestly believe -
*I sat up*
Chris: You're right! That's just how I feel, Mr. Stewart!
Mr. Stewart: It's natural, but you must face the fact that one day your friends are going to return home.
Chris: I . . . Know.
*He put his hand on my shoulder*
Mr. Stewart: Everything's going to be okay, I promise you.
*I went home & found Ella vacuuming Grandpa's room*
Chris: Hi Ella.
Ella: Hi Chris. Did you have a good day?
Chris: Yeah, where is everyone?
Ella: They're out looking for the Chaos Emerald again, like usual, and Grandpa's gone somewhere looking for new parts for his crazy machines. Thank goodness I can finally clean up this mess now.
*She picked up her vacuum & left the room. I looked around the room*
Chris:*in his mind* The place seems empty. This is how it was before they all got here, and how it's gonna be . . . When they go.
*I imagined Amy, Cream, & Cheese playing. Tails & Ayla reading. And Sonic sitting in Grandpa's chair, giving me a thumbs up. I sadly went downstairs*
Knuckles:*off-screen* Hello.
*I looked up to see Knuckles with a robot with purple eyes & had a large gold bell for a body & was decorated with lucky charms, including a four leaf clover, a horseshoe, rabbits feet, & a number 7*
Chris: Hey Knuckles, what's going on?
Knuckles: Plenty.
Chris: Where'd you get that robot?
Knuckles: Well, it's not exactly mine. I think he belongs to Eggman. I found him just roaming around the forest. Seems pretty harmless, though. Are Sonic and Ayla around? I've gotta talk to them about something.
Chris: Sorry, they're out looking for the last Emerald.
Knuckles: Then give them this message. We have only one way to get back home. We've got to call a truce with Dr. Eggman.
*That shocked me*
Chris: A truce!? That'll never happen!
Knuckles: It has to.
Chris: But how!? They're sworn enemies!
Knuckles: The only way any of us will get back home is to team up with Eggman. I know it might sound crazy, and it may even be impossible, but I have to convince Sonic and Ayla that this is the only chance we've got! We've all been away from home for WAY too long now. And I'm not about to let anything stand in our way of getting back there!
Chris:*in his mind* Knuckles is right. I'm being selfish. I've gotta do whatever I can to help them! *out loud* Alright, Knuckles. I'll give them your message
Knuckles: Meanwhile, I'll pay a visit to our friend Eggman.
Chris: How will you know where to find him?
Knuckles: Heh, I think I spotted his ship over at Forest Hill. Bye!
*He was about to leave, but I stopped him*
Chris: Knuckles, mind if I come along?
Knuckles: Why not?
(Ayla's POV)
*It was night by the time we made it back to the Mansion. Cream & Cheese were watching their favorite show. Chuck, Tails, & Amy were watching with them. Sonic was napping in a hammock & I was reading as usual*
Next:*on the TV* Okay kids! It's that time again! Everybody dance! Dance, dance!
*Chris then walked in*
Chris: Hey, I'm home.
Chuck: Chris, it's late. Where have you been all this time?
Chris: Sorry, I was over at Danny's house studying. *to Tails* Oh, by the way, did you guys find any Chaos Emeralds today?
Tails: We didn't find anything, Chris.
Chris: That's good. I mean, that's bad! *Tails & I looked at Chris confused. Cream & Cheese started crying. I put down my book & ran over to them, wrapping my arms around both of them* Guys, what's wrong?
Cream: Our favorite program won't be on next week!
Cheese: Chao-Chao-Chao.
Chris: Is that all?
*I looked up at Chris & saw him looking at the Chaos Emeralds we had*
Tails: We'll find that Emerald, won't we?
Chuck: You bet we will, Tails.
Sonic: Well, I think I'll go for a run.
*He ran out of the room & Chris went after him*
Chris: Sonic, wait up!
Chuck: That was strange. Wonder what's wrong.
Ayla: I'll go see.
*I ran after them & found them talking in the driveway*
Sonic: So what's up?
Chris: Well . . . Sonic, I guess you must get pretty homesick being on a different planet and all.
Sonic: Eh, I don't think about it too much. Why?
*Chris started looking nervous*
Chris: Huh? Oh, uh...my teacher Mr. Stewart says hi.
Sonic: That's nice.
*My brother then ran off down the road*
Chris:*to himself* I bet Sonic's just as homesick as the rest of them. He's just afraid to admit it. Poor guy.
*I walked up to him*
Ayla: Or maybe you're just in denial.
*Chris jumped & turned to me*
Chris: Ayla! I didn't see you there!
Ayla: That was kind of the idea. So, Chris. What's really going on?
Chris: Well . . . It's like this . . .
*He explained everything to me. When he was finished, let's just say I was anything but happy*
Ayla: An alliance with Eggman! Are you crazy!? We can't trust that maniac!
Chris: But this might be the only way for you guys get home.
Ayla: How so?
Chris: If we work together to find the last Emerald & combine the Emeralds we have with the one has & the one Knuckles has you guys might be able to get home.
*I thought for a bit*
Ayla:*in her mind* He has a point. We do need all seven to get home. *out loud* I still don't know if this is a good idea.
Chris: I know. But it's the only way.
Ayla: Fine. But I'm coming with you.
*We gathered the Chaos Emeralds & went to the train station to meet up with Knuckles*
Knuckles: Ayla! What are you doing here?
Ayla: Chris explained everything to me. I'm going along to make sure Eggman isn't up to one of his tricks.
Knuckles: All right. *to Chris* Did you get 'em?
Chris: I didn't tell anybody I took 'em, though.
Knuckles: It's not like we're doing anything wrong. Once they find out what we did, they'll probably be grateful. Come on.
*We got on board the train*
Ayla:*in her mind* I just hope they're not too mad at us first.
(Sonic's POV)
*I came back to the Mansion from my run & went upstairs to Chuck's room*
Sonic: Hey, I - oh. *I stopped when I saw everyone looking nervous* Oh, what's up?
Cream: Chris and Ayla took the Chaos Emeralds.
Cheese: Chao-Chao-Chao.
Sonic: But why?
Chuck: Chris left us a letter explaining why. 'I'm taking the Emeralds so that you can all get back home very soon.' Huh, I can't understand why in the world they would do something so foolhardy.
Amy: We better go look for them, Chuck.
*I went over to a picture of Chris & thought about what he asked me earlier*
(Flashback)
Chris: Well, Sonic . . . I guess you must get pretty homesick being on a different planet and all.
(Present Time)
*Then Tails came into the room*
Tails: They took the chaos emeralds from inside the X Tornado too. We can only fly it in normal mode now.
*I zoomed past him, out of the garage, & down the street*
Sonic:*in his mind* What were those two thinking? How could they do something so stupid?
(Ayla's POV)
*Me, Chris, & Knuckles entered Eggman's ship. He came down to greet us*
Dr. Eggman: Ah, my new friends. Welcome. *he looked surprised when he saw me* Ayla! What a surprise to see you here.
Ayla: Let's just cut to the chase, Egghead.
Dr. Eggman: Very well.
Knuckles: We brought them.
*Chris put his backpack on the table in front of us*
Dr. Eggman: Let me see. *Chris opened it, revealing the Chaos Emeralds* Oh my, aren't they lovely? And I have my Chaos Emerald right here. *he took out a little blue box* I could open the box and show it to you, but it's not safe to expose it to the others.
Knuckles: Not yet.
*Eggman then picked up Chris' backpack & the box*
Dr. Eggman: I'll hold onto the Emeralds and put them in a safe place.
*Chris started to get worried*
Knuckles: Okay, Doc.
*A screen next to us turned on & Decoe's face appeared*
Decoe: EXCUSE ME, DOCTOR. THERE IS AN URGENT CALL FROM LUCKY.
*The screen then changed to a weird looking robot that looked like a purple eyed robot with a body shaped like a gold bell. It was holding a telephone & making frantic beeping sounds*
Dr. Eggman: WHAT?! You've discovered the last Chaos Emerald in a pile of garbage? Well done. Stay wherever you are, I'll come to you.
*That's when I felt it. Rapid heartbeat followed by a massive headache. I fell to one knee & clutched my head in pain*
Chris: Ayla!
*He knelt down next to me*
(Knuckles POV)
Knuckles:*in his mind* So Ayla really can sense the Chaos Emeralds. But how? Could it be?
(Ayla's POV)
*Chris then turned to Eggman*
Chris: Dr. Eggman, did he really find it?
Dr. Eggman: Of course he did. Building a robot who bring good luck was my most brilliant stroke of genius. Well, we have them all, don't we?
Chris:*to Knuckles* That's great!
Knuckles: Yeah. Now I can finally go home.
*I looked up at Eggman & saw a mischievous glint in his eye*
Dr. Eggman: Ha! Okay.
*Suddenly, the floor opened underneath Knuckles & he fell through*
Chris: What do you think you're doing, Eggman?
Dr. Eggman:*laughing* Wise up. You didn't really believe that I was homesick like your loser friends, did you? The only thing I care about is establishing the Eggman Empire. I can do that on my planet or yours. If there's no difference to me.
Chris: Then you . . . lied to us, didn't you?
Ayla:*still in pain* You . . . Snake.
*He ignored me*
Dr. Eggman: Ready the Egg Fort 2 for takeoff.
*The whole ship shook & I knew we were taking off*
(Third-person POV)
*Knuckles came tumbling out of an opening in the bottom of the ship & landed in the grass*
Knuckles: EGGMAN!
*He watched the ship take off. Sonic then appeared next to him*
Sonic: Where are Chris and Ayla?
Knuckles: Up there. Eggman has them in his ship along with all the Chaos Emeralds. *the ship flew off towards town & Sonic went after it* Good luck, Sonic!
Will Sonic stop Eggman in time to save Chris and his sister? Find out next time!
