Please title this page. (Page 2)
Chapter 02: Close Encounters of the Chao Kind
Day 2
Somewhere in the Mystic Jungle
5:56 A.M.
If one was a noctornal creature, they would of seen a falling star
off in the distance of the cliffs that surrounded the Mystic Jungle. But
none did. Suddenly, what sounded like a large cannon going on shook the
very foundation of the jungle.
Of all creatures that heard it, a small, ordinary green frog
stirred awake. This frog was sleeping on the belly of a giant purple
cat. Even as loud as the booming sound was, the cat didn't stir awake.
Hopping off the belly of the cat, the frog went to investigate the
sound. Hopping down the steps of the makeshift shelter, the frog
stopped before a puddle of water. Strange, the frog thought. The puddle
was not there before. Even when it rained, a puddle didn't bubble and
shift like the blob. The puddle suddenly shifted forward at an
accelerated rate, racing towards the frog.
After a few minutes, the large cat finally stirred awake and
sat up, yawning. "Huh, er...wha?" The cat stared ahead towards his
frog pal. "Froggy? Is that you? You're looking kinda wierd, good
buddy."
Indeed something HAD changed within the frog. What he had not
had before was a tail growth.
"What's up with the tail?" the cat asked, as Froggy hopped by
him. As the cat slowly turned around to face his friend, he was just
in time to see Froggy swallow a yellow gem.
"Heeeeeey! You swallowed my lucky charm!" the cat cried.
Froggy turned right around, ignoring his buddy, and took off
from the hut.
"Come back here! What's wrong with you!" the cat cried again.
"Something's not right. We've always been friends...for years!"
The cat took off after Froggy. "Froggy! Wait up!"
The cat sighed. "Oh...dear..."
* * *
Robotropolis Engineering Sector
8:09 A.M.
Manic was sleeping inside the cockpit , after working all night
on the modifications for the Tornado. He wanted so badly to see his
brother and sister again. He tried not to rush the job. After all,
HE was going to test the machine himself.
"I see you finished it," a voice called, jarring Manic awake.
"Huh? Wha-?" he called sleepily. Sierra Ranay stepped forward
to inspect.
"What-you've been working all night?" she asked. Manic nodded
sleepily.
"Well, I'm glad you finished. I just got word from Cyrus that
there's some strange seismic down south, where your brother and
sister were heading. He wanted us to send ya down there, a-sap.
Think you can fly this baby down there?" Sierra asked.
Manic gave her the ok sign, but yawned. "Just after I take a
lil nap..."
5 miles north of Mystic Ruins
12:56 P.M.
Manic was looking for a place to land. He had been flying for about 30
minutes, and the engine was powerful and super fast. Whoever built the
engine REALLY wanted her for speed!
Manic spotted a runway ahead. It was a dirt path with palm trees
edging the ends of the cliff. Ahead of that was a hangar. Manic
circled around once and landed on the strip. The place seemd abandoned.
"Hello!" he called. There was no answer. "Hmm....seems to be
abandoned...."
Manic entered the hangar and found all sorts of tools and
equipment he never dreamed. He saw a workdesk and looked over it.
There were a few newpapers and documents, videotapes and other stuff.
But what caught Manic's eye were some framed photographs. One picture
showed a kid fox, msut of been about 7 or 8. A second picture showed,
to Manic's suprise, a picture of Sierra. Whoever lived here knew
Sierra? Who knew. But what shocked Manic was when he found another
picture of Sierra...with his crush, the famous TV Reporter Nellie
Stargazer! They had their arms over each other's shoulder...like
sisters!
"Whoa! Sierra knew Nellie Stargazer?!" he whispered.
"HEY!" a voice cried from behind him. "What're you doing here?!"
"Uh oh!" Manic cried turning around. To his horrid relief, it
was only the fox kid. "Who're you?"
"Nuh-uh." he said. "You answer me first. What are you DOING here?"
"Well, you see, I was testing my new-hey...WAIT A SEC! Why do
I have to tell you ANYthing? You're only a kid!"
And with that, Manic turned tail and marched past the kid
outside to his plane.
"Kid? Oh no you DON'T!" the kid growled and tackled Manic.
"AGGGH!" Manic cried, caught off-guard. The fox, brawled,
kicked, and bit his way for control over the intruder, and to both
the fox's and Manic's suprise, the kid won and tied the hedgehog up
like roped cattle.
"Now, I don't know who you are, but, never, and I mean NEVER,
call me kid!" he growled. Manic gulped.
"When my aunt Shalita gets home, I'll let her kick your butt for
me."
"The name, is MANIC," he growled.
"Call me Miles, TEENAGER," the kid smirked.
"Whatever, k-er...MILES...."
As Miles turned to leave, Manic could see that the fox had TWO
tails. Strange.
* * *
Station Square
2:03 P.M.
A large van pulled up in front of the Station Square hotel. A decal
on the side of the van had a gutair painted on it, with the initials
"SU" with it. A tired blue hedgehog and a depressed pink hedgehog piled
out of the van, to check into the hotel. They had been driving all night.
They would of been here sooner, but a minor earthquake early in the
morning delayed them an hour. After checking in, the two parted comany
to explore the city on their own. Sonic explored the town. The hotel
they checked into had a private patio that overlooked the town beach,
Emerald Coast. Out in the main part of town, there was a dock that
led out towards the ocean. Further ahead, was the entrance to Twinkle
Park, a local indoor amusement park. Behind the entrance was a
canal that led into the town resevior.. Next to Twinkle Park was an
office building, which led to who knows where. Beyond and down the
road led to a shop and City Hall. Circling back on the right was the
Burger Shop. Heading back into the center of Station Square, on the
right was the Train Station. Past the hotel was Casinopolis, a
casino club that featured nightly shows. As Sonic headed back inside
the hotel, he found a growing amount of people entering the elevators,
some holding strange devices. A sign was in front of the eleveators
as Sonic approached it.
"Chao Race. Trial runs today. Last chance to enter. All welcome
to participate."
"Chao? What's a chao?" Sonic said alloud. A woman, heading
towards the elevators, overheard him and called back.
"Oh you'll LOVE them. Chao races are a BIG event here. Even
the media covers them every time there's a major event. Come on!"
Sonic hesitated, but readily agreed. He entered the elevator
with the lady and rode it to the top floor.
The top floor was on the roof, and it was set like a race
course. And it was crowed, with humans and animals alike, those
placing bets on the chao that would win among friends, others there to
cheer on their favorite chao. Chao were little creatures that seemed
to be made of water, yet are flesh like humans...or even animals.
They had onion shaped heads, and were adorably cute. Some taken on
animal characteristics, but most were light blue. Sonic was lost
in the crowd, trying to see the race course. 8 beach balls were
set up on the courses. A test of strength and speed was the goal of
the trial runs. Sonic worked his way to the front and settled himself
there, waiting for the race to start.
"ExCUSE me, people. Reporter coming through!" a hedgehog
called, squeezing pass a couple, holding a wireless michrophone. She
saw the sillouette of another hedgehog near the front of the course.
"Oh THERE you are, Bane! I been LOOKING for you!" she cried,
grabbing Sonic's shoulder and whirling him around.
"HEY lady! What's the big idea!" Sonic growled. He gasped as
he saw her face. She did the same.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I thought you were my cameraman, Bane
Shadow. You know, you look kinda like him..."
"N-no problem. Say, aren't you that TV reporter, Nellie
Stargazer?" Sonic asked.
"One and the same! What's your name?" she asked.
"I'm Sonic. Pleased to meet you Ms. Stargazer!" Sonic said,
shaking her hand.
"Same to you, Mr. Sonic. Say, do you think you can help me
find Bane?" she asked.
"Well...sure! Why not..." Sonic followed Nellie.
"You're new in town?" Nellie asked.
"Yeah. Just got in 3 hours ago. How'd you guess?"
"Anyone who's fasinated at seeing a chao is definitely out of
town. Besides, I been reporting news here in town for 3 years and know
everyone and everything there is to know here." Nellie explained.
"Is it THAT obvoius?" Sonic asked.
"Yep," Nellie replied. They both walked over to where the race
course ended. Several news cameras were set up there, along with-
"Bane! There you are!" Nellie called, seeing her friend. Bane
Shadow was a black hedgehog, to say the least, that had a face
that DID resemble Sonic's.
"Hey Nell! We're all set up here, ready to cover the trial
runs...say, who's your friend?"
"Oh! Yeah, Bane, this is Sonic. Sonic, Bane." Nellie introduced.
The two shook hands. "Nice to meet you, Sonic!"
Sonic noticed that Bane wore a medallion. "Where'd you get that
necklace?" Sonic asked.
Bane held it up. "This? Oh, I always had this since I was
found. I see you have something like it too!"
Sonic nearly choked. "FOUND?"
"Hmm? Yeah. All my foster parents knew was that my name was Bane,
and so they gave me my last name Shadow because I look like a real
shadow at night."
"I...see..." Sonic said. Nellie looked ahead and saw where the
8 participating chao were aligned.
"Hmm...looks like Mrs. Foster has entered the race again. I
can see her chao down in row 1." Nellie pointed.
"Look at the scragly one on row 5. He looks like a baby." Bane
pointed.
"Those stupid officals. That's an unowned chao for sure, and
a baby at that. It's too YOUNG to participate in a trial run like
this!" Nellie complained. Sonic looked ahead to number 5. The chao
were set up and the starting whistle blew. All the chao started
pushing the balls down the rac e course. Most, like #1, were pushing
with their arms. But the younger ones that didn't know how to walk yet
were pushing the ball with their noses, a weak attempt. Sonic
watched #5 struggling with the ball. Half the chao on the course
started falling asleep on the course half way done pushing the ball.
The only ones left were #1, 4,5, and 7. #1 was barely giving an
effort, as he easily pushed the ball down the course. #5 was barely
caught up with the sleeping chao. #5 stopped to take a breather,
when he suddenly looked up at Sonic. For a moment, the two locked
eyes, and something in the the chao snapped. The baby rose to his
feet, and starting pushing on the ball again, giving itself all its
got. It caught up with 4 and 7 at the end of the ball rolling course.
#1 had started running ahead towards the finish line. 4 and 7 were
too tired to go on. They fell asleep. #5 started running ahead at an
incredible rate. Those who had seen the change in #5 started cheering
it on. Even Sonic, who had shown intrest in the chao, started to
cheer it on. Although the crowd favorite, #1, was nearly at the
end. It was nearly over. Just a few more steps...
Suddenly, to everyone's suprise, #1 tripped, falling over. #5
passed #1 in a heartbeat and crossed the finish line. The crowd went
wild after this turn of events. But #5 didn't stop there. It ran
all the way to Sonic and stopped at his feet, staring up at the
hedgehog. The chao had somewhat sensed his friendliness, and already
started rubbing against his leg like a cat.
Sonic, already captured by this chao's adoringness, gently
picked up the chao, and smiled. It cooed and snuggled into Sonic's
chest.
Nellie was awed by this. Never once had she seen a chao take
heart to a complete stranger. Like the chao had captured his heart,
he had captured hers. Bane hissed to her.
"Nellie! We're on air!"
"What'll I do?" she mouthed.
"Interview him!" he suggested.
"Huh....? OH! Right, right!"
Nellie walked up to Sonic and stood next to him. He faced the
camera and held up the winning chao.
"I'm Nellie Stargazer, standing here next to the winner of the
chao trails, along with his apparent new owner Sonic....um, what IS
your last name, Sonic?" Nellie asked.
"Hedgehog," Sonic said casually. "Sonic Hedgehog."
"Ah yes. Sonic Hedgehog, with the winner of the SONIC HEDGEHOG?!"
Nellie yelped loudly, where EVERYONE heard her. This was greeted
with a courus of gasped, and the crowd that was gathered around Sonic
backed away from him, ging him and Nellie breathing room. Nellie
stared at him, dropping her microphone. Bane also stared, as did the
entire crowd.
Sonic wasn't sure what the heck he just did. Only the chao
he was holding continued on as if nothing happened, cuddling Sonic.
Nellie was the first one to react, dropping to one knee,
bowing. Bane followed suit, and the general crowd did the same.
"We....we're very honored by your presence, your highness,"
Nellie whispered in a formal manner.
Sonic, still awed by Nellie and her beauty, took her hand
and had her rise to her feet. "Please. You don't have to be formal
with me. In fact, I should be the one honored...to meet someone
like you..."
Sonic who was usually NOT one to act like a gentleman, suprised
himself with his sheer reaction. He kissed her hand, which made
Nellie blush. Everyone soon rose to their feet, all wanting to meet
the prince.
Sonic spent the rest of his afternoon meeting people. Nellie,
Bane, and the chao were by his side the entire time.