Good Morning!

Alright so thanks for commenting on this you guys, I like hearing what you think!

To NoOneExpectsDarkBrotherhood, I actually based the description of Eggman's house off of one of my close relatives' home. It is very spacious and I really enjoy being up there (except for their being no internet)

Also, sorry for the filler-ish chapters. I've wanted to start the next big scene but I couldn't justify just going straight to a new arc without clearing up some things about Mrs. Rabbit. Please also keep in mind that this is only my idea and entirely based off of canon (such as with Mr. Rabbit and why he doesn't seem to be present in this story)

Without further ado, here is the newest chapter of Chance Encounters and Where They Lead

Sincerely, Gate Keeper

Chapter 6: Of Resolutions, Redemption and being Reacquainted

Both Eggman and Vanilla sat quietly for a while, readying themselves for the inevitable conversation.

"You know" Eggman began, "I never meant for this. All I wanted was to just start being... Julian. Meeting you was the first crack in my plan and this afternoon... well, it put the last nail in the coffin for me here."

Vanilla put down her cup. "What do you mean?"

"I mean Mrs. Rabbit that there's no hope for me here. Too many people know me, and in the wrong way. I mean I walked 5 minutes into town and I meet you, you of all people who has every right to be afraid of me, and who knows who I'll meet if I stay here! I'd spend every minute everyday waiting for someone to find me out." He took one last sip of tea before setting the cup clacking back onto the saucer

Eggman sighed "It seems you have just made my time here shorter than I expected. After your daughter has come, I'll escort you back to your home and you won't have to worry about me again. I think I'll travel, possibly to Angel Island or to some of the bordering countries." he mused

"No." Vanilla whispered "Please don't leave."

Surprised, Eggman didn't realize what she had said till she was almost to him.

"What? Mrs. Rabbit, surely you can't be serious I mean-"

"I am very serious Mr. Robotnik. I remember the first time I met you." Eggman winced slightly at the memory "And no, it's not the abduction." Vanilla pulled in her arms, crossing them in front of her and then whispered. "It was the original invasion I first met you."

Eggman was shocked. I don't remember her, only the abduction. Was she with the Freedom Fighters or was she...

Oh no!

Vanilla seemed to shrink even further into herself. "Yes, I was one of the robotized. Cream had only been a toddler when I was taken, but the Freedom Fighters had fortunately come soon after, narrowly missing the abduction but had found her. It was the last major round up and abduction under your reign."

Vanilla into Eggman's eyes, with him glancing away from her sad gaze. "I was trapped in that body for less than three months, but I remember it very well. I could tell that you were a monster. I saw it every day, with every gloating victory over the Mobian land, with every anguish filled defeat by Sonic I saw that monster that occupied the space inside you. I always thought that I was in hell with that body and that you were the devil sent to torture us that were underneath your rule."

She took a step forward "But something changed when Snively died. You didn't come out for weeks, hardly eating or sleeping as you arranged the sole funeral of the only family you had left. I saw that where once there was a ice cold glacier in your vision, now all was left was tiny shards of that once great ambition and greed. And then one day... you vanished. We were all sent to the roboticizer and life as Mobians restarted once again."

She took another step, placing a hand on his elbow. "Doctor I know a monster when I see one. You aren't, and haven't been for the longest time. So I insist that you stay, this is as much for me as it is for you. I said before that you aren't a monster anymore, and that's true, but you also aren't quite a man."

She held up her hand, silencing the man. "Ah! No speaking! What I mean is that you have found some good inside yourself and a willingness to change, yes?"

Eggman nodded

"Good. But you don't seem to know where to go from here, is that right?"

Another nod

"Alright. So who could you possibly turn to who, knowing you in some way, could have an idea to help you finally reconcile yourself with what you have done?" Vanilla batted her eyes at Eggman, with a small smile on her face

Eggman, flustered by the motion, meekly pointed at Vanilla who giggled lightly. "Good job! When is Cream supposed to be here?"

"She should be here any second now." Eggman answered

A doorbell rang through the house, and the sound of shoes running answered the light creak of the main door.

"Mommy!" a voice called out, the sound of shoes picking up speed and noise

"Cream!" answered Vanilla as she dashed forward to catch a small brown blur "I was so worried! How are you? Are you okay? How did you get here?" Questions came forth from the worried mother as both Clink and Clank stepped in with wide smiles on their faces.

Clank answered. "I drove her here. She was scared stiff till I mentioned Mr. Kintobor over here." he said nodding to Eggman. "I thought there was something else with her too..."

Immediately following, a blue blur and a cry of "Chao Chao!" echoed as Cheese entered, knocking Clank forwards slightly.

"Oh, right... the Chao." Clank said unimpressed. "I wonder how I ever forgot about him." rolling his eyes.

Cheese responded with sticking out his tongue at the brown hedgehog before nestling into Cream's shoulder again.

Vanilla pulled Cream away and looked back at Eggman. "I can't thank you enough for bringing my daughter to me. You really are a better man then you think."

Eggman looked away again and said meekly "I'm no better than anyone else, they would have done the same thing."

Cream went over and hugged Eggman's leg gently. "Thank you Mr. K for finding my mommy."

Eggman was unsure of what to say, and patted Cream's head lightly. "It's quite alright, I'm happy to help."

Vanilla laughed softly at the scene. She smoothed her dress "Cream dear, would you mind sitting down for a moment? Mr. K has something very important to tell you."

"Okay!" chirped the young rabbit as she plopped onto the nearby couch, patting the seat next to her to show that she wanted Vanilla to sit by her. Eggman sat down in a armchair across from them and began to tell them his story.

"Cream, I need to let you know something." he began

"What is that, Mr. K?"

"I'm... not exactly a stranger to you. I've met you before, dozens of times in fact."

"I don't understand, I only met you yesterday!"

"That's because I had a different name. I... I am the person you know as Doctor Eggman."

A long period of silence followed, Cream's forehead being pulled farther and farther down as she seemed to think deeper and deeper on the subject.

Suddenly, she relaxed and smiled back at Eggman.

"No you're not." She said, with a smile on her face.

Eggman was perplexed. "But... I am Doctor Eggman. Don't you remember me fighting you and your friends? The giant robots? Egg-bot everything?"

"I remember all that, but you aren't Eggman. You're Mr. K." Cream said simply.

Vanilla smiled and giggled a little as Eggman's own face began to frown deeper in understanding. "Cream dear, why don't you explain to Mr. K? He might fall over if he thinks too hard on this for much longer."

Cream giggled as well. "Do you remember what I said when I first met you? That you would be a different person if you acted different from before?"

"I do remember that Miss Cream... but I don't see how it applies here."

Cream shook her head at Eggman, Cheese copying her motion to make a slightly disorienting picture. "No silly, you ARE a different person. Eggman was this big meanie who would always try to hurt me and my friends. You aren't hurting me or my mommy, you FOUND her!" She said jumping off the couch, spreading her arms wide above her head with Cheese copying.

"Right now you're Mr. K! A nice, cool guy who lives in a HUUUUGE mansion who is really nice to me and Mommy and who was nice enough to call when I was getting really sad over not seeing Mommy this morning!"

"Chao Chao!" Cheese chimed in.

Cream came over and pointed right at Eggman's chest. "Mr. K and Eggman might be in the same place right now, sitting inside you, but I only see one right now! And the other can stay away, I like Mr. K better!" With that, Cream flung herself at Eggman with Cheese grabbing the side of his bald head.

The three laughed; and goodbyes were exchanged, apologies given and accepted and a promise to meet later the next day was arranged by all.

Vanilla and Cream left, Ivo was left alone with Clink as Clank had taken to driving the two (and the Chao, but only if it would stay beside Cream) home for the night.

Clink cleaned up the cups of tea and then came back into the room where Ivo Kintobor now sat. "We have captured an intruder sir."

Ivo groaned. "Who is it? I've already had quite a day already, why not make it better?" he said a little cynically.

"We... really don't know actually. He was a hedgehog-"

"Was he blue and made more wise-cracks than anyone you ever knew?"

"No, sir."

"Was he red and black with gravity defying quills?"

"No, sir."

"Well, what did he look like?"

"He was like a shiny white-ish color, with some kind of marijuana looking thing on his head."

"I've never heard of this kind of... wait, did you say shiny?"

"Yes, sir."

"Was he really kinda naive?"

"Very much so."

"Oh, dear. Go check on him, now!" barked Eggman

A quick dash, and a few minutes later a shocked Clink came back upstairs

"He's gone now sir! All the ropes are untied and... neatly coiled for some reason."

A sigh escaped Eggman's lips as he pinched his nose. "Of course he's gone. They're ALWAYS gone right before I can do anything."

"Who's 'they', sir?"

"The three hedgehogs; Sonic, Shadow and Silver. Be on the lookout tomorrow, I think there will be some interesting things happening either by me or at the house."

Eggman started to go upstairs. "I'm going to bed, do what you like but be up by 6 O'clock sharp tomorrow morning!"

Clink answered. "Yes sir!"

Ivo got to his bed. "Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day