=================================================================
A/N: FYI, there are 3 "lost" episodes of AoStH... DIC had started making the 2nd season but quit when the "Sonic the Hedgehog" (Better known as SAT-AM by the fans) series started up. I have vowed to find them! :D Once I get into the cartoon business that is. ;)
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CHAPTER 11: Plots and Plans
"This is all my fault," I said, kicking some ashes that had strayed from the campfire, "If I hadn't have run-"
"Let's not start the blame game again," Sonic interrupted me, "I just wonder how Robotnik found us."
I thought about that for a moment, "You don't think he planted some kind of homing device on me, do you?"
"Hmm... Could be," Sonic considered this.
I began checking over myself. I ran a hand over my clothes and I took off my shoes and looked in my socks. Finding absolutely diddly-squat, I replaced them and folded my arms in dismay. I then discovered the ugly black band-aid on my arm that Robotnik had put there, "I think I may have found it!"
"What did he do to you?" Sonic asked as he peered at the bandaid.
"He gave me some kind of truth serum - at least that's what I think it was," I said as I gently peeled off the band-aid. The wound the needle left had somewhat healed though I was a little bruised on the spot.
I held the thick band-aid in my hands and tore it apart. Sure enough, a tiny microchip-looking thing fell out onto the ground.
Sonic smashed it with his foot, "At least Buttnik can't follow us anymore."
"But now what do we do?"
"WE?" Sonic repeated.
"Uh... yeah."
"Uh, no," he said, "This is too dangerous. You've been through enough already."
"But Sonic, I want to help!" I said, "Besides, you can't just leave me here - what if Robotnik comes back here?" I hoped he would see my point.
"Well..." he stared at the ground for a moment, "I've got a bad feeling about this... but okay."
I breathed a short sigh. The last thing I wanted was to be left alone while he was off saving Tails, "So what's the plan?"
"I wish we could wait til daylight, but I don't wanna give Robotnik any more time to cook up a scheme..." Sonic turned and watched the twin moons rising over the horizon, "We gotta take him by surprise - but that's going to be hard since he knows we're coming..."
"But he doesn't know when we're coming..." I added with some emphasis.
"Good point," he sighed and looked at me, "I suppose now is as good a time as any... You ready?" he asked.
"Yep - Let's do it to it!" I exclaimed. I always wanted to say that!
Sonic looked at me funny, "What?"
"Oops, wrong show..." I blushed, "Nevermind!" You'd think I would've gotten my catchphrases straight by now, I thought to myself.
"Then we're up," he picked me up, "Over," his feet furiously hit the ground til they became a blur of rapid motion, "And gone!" He launched and soon we were again flying across the ground.
This time, my stomach was better prepared. The night wind again rumbled in my ears, but this time I could see the rolling hills and trees and farms that we passed by. Sonic turned onto a long stretch of paved road and we raced past a few stunned Mobian drivers.
Now I could see cities and towns lining the edge of the road. We blasted through a beautiful city that was lit up like Christmas at the Plaza in my hometown. A few of the buildings I spotted reminded me of the ones at home; even a beautiful fountain that too closely resembled one from the Plaza.
Sonic turned again and we entered onto another rural dirt road, a few dimly-lit farms dotting the dark, hilly countryside.
"How far is it to the fortress?" I asked Sonic loudly over the roaring wind.
"About a minute from here," he answered.
Sonic gasped suddenly and screeched to a halt in the moist road, kicking up clods of dirt. In front of us was a towering stone wall barricade rising out of the ground. Sonic had stopped just in time before we smacked into it. He let me down as we checked it out, standing in it's shadow.
"Uh-oh," he commented, running his hand along the wall, "This looks like a badnik trap to me."
"Ditto," I agreed, "But where's the badniks?"
I received an answer as the ground beneath us rumbled violently and split open. Sonic and I yelled out as we tumbled down into the dirt pit. Those cartoon physics must have worked because I didn't feel too hurt. Luckily for me, I had landed on my rear. I pushed myself up to my feet and brushed off some loose dirt that had clung to my shorts. The hole was pitch dark and I couldn't see anything at all, save for the light near the mouth of the hole high above us.
"Sonic! Are you alright?" I called into the darkness.
He grumbled and I heard him stand up. He touched my hand, "Is that you?"
"Yes. Are you hurt?"
"I'm okay - okay that is for having just fallen into a trap. I think I've scratched my arm up though..."
I looked up and tried to judge how deep the hole was. I estimated it to be a good 20ft, at least. I had no idea how we were going to get out.
Three figures slowly gathered around the edge of the hole - it was none other than the SSSSS Squad! It felt good to see a few more familiar faces.
"Guys!" I yelled up, "It's me - Joanie! Let us out!" I hoped they would help me - after all, why wouldn't they?
They looked at each other and said something, though I couldn't make out what it was. They threw a weighted rope net down at us, "HEY!" I called out as it fell on top of us. Sonic and I struggled to get it off, but we only managed to get more tangled up within it.
I didn't have time to say much else as the net dragged Sonic and I up into the air. Soon, we were out of the hole - though hopelessly stuck in the net. The robots then hung the net from a tree.
"What's going on?" I asked, worried that they hadn't let us out yet. I then realized something. Something was missing. It was Electra! "Where's Electra?"
They stayed silent.
Sonic moved his arm around and almost bopped me in the nose, "You dunce-bots better give up Tails or I'm gonna-"
"Sonic!" I whispered, "Don't make them mad!"
"We don't got your stupid sidekick, Hedgehog!" Coconuts replied.
"Guys, talk to me! I'm your friend!" I yelled down to them.
"Some friend," Scratch said, "You abandoned us!"
"No, I didn't!"
"She's right!" Sonic spoke up, "I was the one who took her away from you." I was glad to know Sonic was trying to help now.
Grounder tapped Scratch on the shoulder, "He's got a point, Scratch."
"Don't trust that Hedgehog!" Scratch said, "He's just trying to trick us!"
"Scratch, please!" I said, "I am your friend. I wouldn't lie to you guys..."
"Let's put 'em down, Scratch," Grounder pleaded, "Joanie's not lying."
"But what about the Hedgehog!" Coconuts yelled, "He'll beat us up for sure!"
"No he won't!" I said, "Will you Sonic?"
"What?!" he exclaimed, his eyes burst wide open, "But I-"
"If they let us down, will you promise not to hurt them?" I asked him.
He lowered his voice, "I only trust those guys about as far as I can kick 'em."
"Sonic!"
"Oh! Well... Oh, all right!" he shouted finally, "But I don't like it," he added softly.
"You see guys!" I said, "He won't do anything!"
"Come on Scratch," Grounder said.
"Well... okay..." Scratch answered, "But if he tries anything funny..."
"I won't already!" Sonic yelled, "Sheesh!"
They quickly pulled us down from the tree. Grounder untangled the net so I could crawl out, but then they closed it up.
"Guys? What are-" and before I could stop them - they strung the net back up into the tree.
"HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?" Sonic shouted, thrashing about in the net. Now he was really tangled up. He could barely move at all.
"Let him down!" I ordered.
"We trust you," Scratch said, "But he's another thing... You don't know what he's put us through!"
"What I'VE put YOU through?" Sonic yelled, "Why you-"
"Sonic!" I turned to them, "Why won't you tell me what's going on?"
"It's embarrassing..." Coconuts whispered, "We don't wanna talk in front of... him..."
I sighed. Everybody has to have their way, don't they? "Well, then let's go to the other side of the wall," I suggested.
"Okay, that works," Grounder replied and started heading that way. Coconuts and Scratch followed close behind.
I called up to Sonic, "Sonic, I'm going to talk to them and-"
"Joanie! You can't leave me like this!" He again tried to get out of the net, but accidentally kicked off one of his shoes, which fell to the ground below him, "URGH! This has not been a good day..."
"Don't worry, I will be right back! I promise! Just... just hang in there!"
He stopped moving around and sighed heavily, "Looks like I don't have much choice..."
* * * *
I walked around the mammoth wall sticking out of the road, and sure enough, Grounder, Scratch and Coconuts were waiting for me on the other side.
"Now, what's going on?" I asked, folding my arms.
"After you left," Grounder started, "Those robo-soldiers defeated us. They brought us back to Dr. Robotnik and-"
"He was sooooooo mad!" Coconuts interrupted, "We thought we were goners for sure!"
"Coconuts, be quiet!" Scratch smacked him, "Let Grounder finish!"
Grounder continued, "Anyways, like Coconuts said, he was REALLY mad! He was about to punish us - like he always does - but then he decided not too. Instead, he took Electra from us and locked her in the dungeon. He told us if we didn't want to see her be torn into scrap parts that we had to catch Sonic for him."
That wasn't what I had meant when I told Robotnik they needed motivation. I couldn't help feeling responsible for their problem too. I just didn't know what I would do if Robotnik had hurt Electra - or Tails for that matter.
"We can help you rescue Electra," I said, "But you guys have got to trust Sonic."
They all looked at the dirt, afraid to make eye contact with me.
"Come on," I pleaded, "I will talk to him. He will help."
"I don't know," Coconuts said, tracing a circle in the dirt with his foot, "He didn't trust us back there..."
"Yes he did!" I stamped my foot, "Then you guys went back on your word!"
"We're sorry," Scratch said, "But we had good reason to!"
"Guys, I see where you're coming from... But, if you want to save Electra, you're going to have to trust him and me. Then Sonic can help you guys find Scrap Valley," They still refused to look at me, "I won't leave until he does."
Now their attention turned to me, "Really? You mean it?" Coconuts asked.
"Would I lie to my three favorite robots in the entire world?" I answered with a smile.
They blushed, "Okay then, I'm in!" Coconuts leaped into the air.
"Me too!" Grounder said.
We looked at Scratch, "Well, I guess..." he sighed, "Fine."
"Then let's hurry - it's getting too late already." The twin moons were climbing higher into the sky, giving us a bit more light.
We headed back around the monsterous wall. I ran ahead to Sonic, who was thankfully right where we left him. He called out to me, "Hey! What happened? Are you alright?"
"Yes! They are going to help us now!"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive!"
The robots, under my direction, carefully lowered Sonic down from the tree. I helped them untangle the net and pulled him out of the mess. Sonic stretched out his muscles eagerly, and collected his fallen shoe, replacing it on his sock-covered foot, "Alright, so what's the plan?"
I hadn't thought about that yet - but it didn't take me long to formulate one. Finally, all those cartoon shows in my head were coming into good use!
"Why don't we act like they captured you?" I said to Sonic, then turned to the SSSSS Squad, "You guys will be able to get into the fortress without any problem," then I talked to all of them at once, "Then Sonic, you can be the decoy, while me and one of you guys frees Tails and Electra. How's that sound?"
"Hmm... Sounds like a plan," Sonic said, "A bit risky - but that's what being a hero is all about," he smiled.
I turned to the bots, "How about you guys? You in?"
"You can count on us," Grounder said, patting the back of Scratch who nodded.
"Yeah, Yeah!" Coconuts said, "And I could help you rescue Electra!"
Grounder and Scratch snarled at him.
"Okay, then it's settled," I said, "And you guys will bring Sonic in, okay?" I asked Scratch and Grounder.
"Fine," Scratch answered, though his angry gaze was still on Coconuts. I had enough of these bad feelings floating around the group. If I didn't do something, they were going to keep fighting behind my back.
"Look... I know you guys don't like this - but we've gotta work together to get out of this mess. Let's put the past behind us and focus on saving our friends, okay? Why don't you guys shake on it. I want to know that all of you aren't just acting nice because I'm standing here."
Everybody gaped at me as if I had told them to jump into a volcano, "Don't look at me like that. We're not doing anything else until you guys shake hands... All of you."
Scratch and Grounder shook hands and smiled innocently at me.
I frowned, "You know what I meant."
They scrambled over to Coconuts, and after a moment of silence, they shook hands with him.
"A-hem," I said, tapping my foot and pointing to Sonic, "That's a good start - but I meant with Sonic."
Sonic sighed, walked over to Scratch and stuck out his hand, "Okay, I'm gonna trust you - got it?"
Scratch nodded and grabbed his hand. They stood still for a moment, staring at each other. I hoped it wouldn't turn into some kind of arm wrestling match. After a long silence, they shook hands. Grounder pulled in his drill and extended out a hand and then he shook Sonic's hand. Finally, Coconuts approached Sonic and nervously shook his hand as well. They collectively sighed.
"See how much better you feel? And if we stick together then Robotnik can't stop us. You just gotta trust each other."
I felt more confident in our team - though I still worried about everyone getting along. I could tell that they all had some outstanding grudges against each other. They had good reasons to. I closed my eyes. Lord, I just hope my little pep talk is enough to keep them together until our plan goes under way. Guess I gotta trust you on this too, I prayed silently.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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A/N: Due to School projects - I may be delayed for a few days before Chapter 12 is done. Though I promise to get it up as soon as I am done.
Thanks for your patience and as always for your reviews.
(I can't believe I have TWO pages of them now! That's more than I've ever gotten! Thank you!)
- Joanie /^ (aka Falconess)
=============================================================================
A/N: FYI, there are 3 "lost" episodes of AoStH... DIC had started making the 2nd season but quit when the "Sonic the Hedgehog" (Better known as SAT-AM by the fans) series started up. I have vowed to find them! :D Once I get into the cartoon business that is. ;)
=================================================================
CHAPTER 11: Plots and Plans
"This is all my fault," I said, kicking some ashes that had strayed from the campfire, "If I hadn't have run-"
"Let's not start the blame game again," Sonic interrupted me, "I just wonder how Robotnik found us."
I thought about that for a moment, "You don't think he planted some kind of homing device on me, do you?"
"Hmm... Could be," Sonic considered this.
I began checking over myself. I ran a hand over my clothes and I took off my shoes and looked in my socks. Finding absolutely diddly-squat, I replaced them and folded my arms in dismay. I then discovered the ugly black band-aid on my arm that Robotnik had put there, "I think I may have found it!"
"What did he do to you?" Sonic asked as he peered at the bandaid.
"He gave me some kind of truth serum - at least that's what I think it was," I said as I gently peeled off the band-aid. The wound the needle left had somewhat healed though I was a little bruised on the spot.
I held the thick band-aid in my hands and tore it apart. Sure enough, a tiny microchip-looking thing fell out onto the ground.
Sonic smashed it with his foot, "At least Buttnik can't follow us anymore."
"But now what do we do?"
"WE?" Sonic repeated.
"Uh... yeah."
"Uh, no," he said, "This is too dangerous. You've been through enough already."
"But Sonic, I want to help!" I said, "Besides, you can't just leave me here - what if Robotnik comes back here?" I hoped he would see my point.
"Well..." he stared at the ground for a moment, "I've got a bad feeling about this... but okay."
I breathed a short sigh. The last thing I wanted was to be left alone while he was off saving Tails, "So what's the plan?"
"I wish we could wait til daylight, but I don't wanna give Robotnik any more time to cook up a scheme..." Sonic turned and watched the twin moons rising over the horizon, "We gotta take him by surprise - but that's going to be hard since he knows we're coming..."
"But he doesn't know when we're coming..." I added with some emphasis.
"Good point," he sighed and looked at me, "I suppose now is as good a time as any... You ready?" he asked.
"Yep - Let's do it to it!" I exclaimed. I always wanted to say that!
Sonic looked at me funny, "What?"
"Oops, wrong show..." I blushed, "Nevermind!" You'd think I would've gotten my catchphrases straight by now, I thought to myself.
"Then we're up," he picked me up, "Over," his feet furiously hit the ground til they became a blur of rapid motion, "And gone!" He launched and soon we were again flying across the ground.
This time, my stomach was better prepared. The night wind again rumbled in my ears, but this time I could see the rolling hills and trees and farms that we passed by. Sonic turned onto a long stretch of paved road and we raced past a few stunned Mobian drivers.
Now I could see cities and towns lining the edge of the road. We blasted through a beautiful city that was lit up like Christmas at the Plaza in my hometown. A few of the buildings I spotted reminded me of the ones at home; even a beautiful fountain that too closely resembled one from the Plaza.
Sonic turned again and we entered onto another rural dirt road, a few dimly-lit farms dotting the dark, hilly countryside.
"How far is it to the fortress?" I asked Sonic loudly over the roaring wind.
"About a minute from here," he answered.
Sonic gasped suddenly and screeched to a halt in the moist road, kicking up clods of dirt. In front of us was a towering stone wall barricade rising out of the ground. Sonic had stopped just in time before we smacked into it. He let me down as we checked it out, standing in it's shadow.
"Uh-oh," he commented, running his hand along the wall, "This looks like a badnik trap to me."
"Ditto," I agreed, "But where's the badniks?"
I received an answer as the ground beneath us rumbled violently and split open. Sonic and I yelled out as we tumbled down into the dirt pit. Those cartoon physics must have worked because I didn't feel too hurt. Luckily for me, I had landed on my rear. I pushed myself up to my feet and brushed off some loose dirt that had clung to my shorts. The hole was pitch dark and I couldn't see anything at all, save for the light near the mouth of the hole high above us.
"Sonic! Are you alright?" I called into the darkness.
He grumbled and I heard him stand up. He touched my hand, "Is that you?"
"Yes. Are you hurt?"
"I'm okay - okay that is for having just fallen into a trap. I think I've scratched my arm up though..."
I looked up and tried to judge how deep the hole was. I estimated it to be a good 20ft, at least. I had no idea how we were going to get out.
Three figures slowly gathered around the edge of the hole - it was none other than the SSSSS Squad! It felt good to see a few more familiar faces.
"Guys!" I yelled up, "It's me - Joanie! Let us out!" I hoped they would help me - after all, why wouldn't they?
They looked at each other and said something, though I couldn't make out what it was. They threw a weighted rope net down at us, "HEY!" I called out as it fell on top of us. Sonic and I struggled to get it off, but we only managed to get more tangled up within it.
I didn't have time to say much else as the net dragged Sonic and I up into the air. Soon, we were out of the hole - though hopelessly stuck in the net. The robots then hung the net from a tree.
"What's going on?" I asked, worried that they hadn't let us out yet. I then realized something. Something was missing. It was Electra! "Where's Electra?"
They stayed silent.
Sonic moved his arm around and almost bopped me in the nose, "You dunce-bots better give up Tails or I'm gonna-"
"Sonic!" I whispered, "Don't make them mad!"
"We don't got your stupid sidekick, Hedgehog!" Coconuts replied.
"Guys, talk to me! I'm your friend!" I yelled down to them.
"Some friend," Scratch said, "You abandoned us!"
"No, I didn't!"
"She's right!" Sonic spoke up, "I was the one who took her away from you." I was glad to know Sonic was trying to help now.
Grounder tapped Scratch on the shoulder, "He's got a point, Scratch."
"Don't trust that Hedgehog!" Scratch said, "He's just trying to trick us!"
"Scratch, please!" I said, "I am your friend. I wouldn't lie to you guys..."
"Let's put 'em down, Scratch," Grounder pleaded, "Joanie's not lying."
"But what about the Hedgehog!" Coconuts yelled, "He'll beat us up for sure!"
"No he won't!" I said, "Will you Sonic?"
"What?!" he exclaimed, his eyes burst wide open, "But I-"
"If they let us down, will you promise not to hurt them?" I asked him.
He lowered his voice, "I only trust those guys about as far as I can kick 'em."
"Sonic!"
"Oh! Well... Oh, all right!" he shouted finally, "But I don't like it," he added softly.
"You see guys!" I said, "He won't do anything!"
"Come on Scratch," Grounder said.
"Well... okay..." Scratch answered, "But if he tries anything funny..."
"I won't already!" Sonic yelled, "Sheesh!"
They quickly pulled us down from the tree. Grounder untangled the net so I could crawl out, but then they closed it up.
"Guys? What are-" and before I could stop them - they strung the net back up into the tree.
"HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?" Sonic shouted, thrashing about in the net. Now he was really tangled up. He could barely move at all.
"Let him down!" I ordered.
"We trust you," Scratch said, "But he's another thing... You don't know what he's put us through!"
"What I'VE put YOU through?" Sonic yelled, "Why you-"
"Sonic!" I turned to them, "Why won't you tell me what's going on?"
"It's embarrassing..." Coconuts whispered, "We don't wanna talk in front of... him..."
I sighed. Everybody has to have their way, don't they? "Well, then let's go to the other side of the wall," I suggested.
"Okay, that works," Grounder replied and started heading that way. Coconuts and Scratch followed close behind.
I called up to Sonic, "Sonic, I'm going to talk to them and-"
"Joanie! You can't leave me like this!" He again tried to get out of the net, but accidentally kicked off one of his shoes, which fell to the ground below him, "URGH! This has not been a good day..."
"Don't worry, I will be right back! I promise! Just... just hang in there!"
He stopped moving around and sighed heavily, "Looks like I don't have much choice..."
* * * *
I walked around the mammoth wall sticking out of the road, and sure enough, Grounder, Scratch and Coconuts were waiting for me on the other side.
"Now, what's going on?" I asked, folding my arms.
"After you left," Grounder started, "Those robo-soldiers defeated us. They brought us back to Dr. Robotnik and-"
"He was sooooooo mad!" Coconuts interrupted, "We thought we were goners for sure!"
"Coconuts, be quiet!" Scratch smacked him, "Let Grounder finish!"
Grounder continued, "Anyways, like Coconuts said, he was REALLY mad! He was about to punish us - like he always does - but then he decided not too. Instead, he took Electra from us and locked her in the dungeon. He told us if we didn't want to see her be torn into scrap parts that we had to catch Sonic for him."
That wasn't what I had meant when I told Robotnik they needed motivation. I couldn't help feeling responsible for their problem too. I just didn't know what I would do if Robotnik had hurt Electra - or Tails for that matter.
"We can help you rescue Electra," I said, "But you guys have got to trust Sonic."
They all looked at the dirt, afraid to make eye contact with me.
"Come on," I pleaded, "I will talk to him. He will help."
"I don't know," Coconuts said, tracing a circle in the dirt with his foot, "He didn't trust us back there..."
"Yes he did!" I stamped my foot, "Then you guys went back on your word!"
"We're sorry," Scratch said, "But we had good reason to!"
"Guys, I see where you're coming from... But, if you want to save Electra, you're going to have to trust him and me. Then Sonic can help you guys find Scrap Valley," They still refused to look at me, "I won't leave until he does."
Now their attention turned to me, "Really? You mean it?" Coconuts asked.
"Would I lie to my three favorite robots in the entire world?" I answered with a smile.
They blushed, "Okay then, I'm in!" Coconuts leaped into the air.
"Me too!" Grounder said.
We looked at Scratch, "Well, I guess..." he sighed, "Fine."
"Then let's hurry - it's getting too late already." The twin moons were climbing higher into the sky, giving us a bit more light.
We headed back around the monsterous wall. I ran ahead to Sonic, who was thankfully right where we left him. He called out to me, "Hey! What happened? Are you alright?"
"Yes! They are going to help us now!"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive!"
The robots, under my direction, carefully lowered Sonic down from the tree. I helped them untangle the net and pulled him out of the mess. Sonic stretched out his muscles eagerly, and collected his fallen shoe, replacing it on his sock-covered foot, "Alright, so what's the plan?"
I hadn't thought about that yet - but it didn't take me long to formulate one. Finally, all those cartoon shows in my head were coming into good use!
"Why don't we act like they captured you?" I said to Sonic, then turned to the SSSSS Squad, "You guys will be able to get into the fortress without any problem," then I talked to all of them at once, "Then Sonic, you can be the decoy, while me and one of you guys frees Tails and Electra. How's that sound?"
"Hmm... Sounds like a plan," Sonic said, "A bit risky - but that's what being a hero is all about," he smiled.
I turned to the bots, "How about you guys? You in?"
"You can count on us," Grounder said, patting the back of Scratch who nodded.
"Yeah, Yeah!" Coconuts said, "And I could help you rescue Electra!"
Grounder and Scratch snarled at him.
"Okay, then it's settled," I said, "And you guys will bring Sonic in, okay?" I asked Scratch and Grounder.
"Fine," Scratch answered, though his angry gaze was still on Coconuts. I had enough of these bad feelings floating around the group. If I didn't do something, they were going to keep fighting behind my back.
"Look... I know you guys don't like this - but we've gotta work together to get out of this mess. Let's put the past behind us and focus on saving our friends, okay? Why don't you guys shake on it. I want to know that all of you aren't just acting nice because I'm standing here."
Everybody gaped at me as if I had told them to jump into a volcano, "Don't look at me like that. We're not doing anything else until you guys shake hands... All of you."
Scratch and Grounder shook hands and smiled innocently at me.
I frowned, "You know what I meant."
They scrambled over to Coconuts, and after a moment of silence, they shook hands with him.
"A-hem," I said, tapping my foot and pointing to Sonic, "That's a good start - but I meant with Sonic."
Sonic sighed, walked over to Scratch and stuck out his hand, "Okay, I'm gonna trust you - got it?"
Scratch nodded and grabbed his hand. They stood still for a moment, staring at each other. I hoped it wouldn't turn into some kind of arm wrestling match. After a long silence, they shook hands. Grounder pulled in his drill and extended out a hand and then he shook Sonic's hand. Finally, Coconuts approached Sonic and nervously shook his hand as well. They collectively sighed.
"See how much better you feel? And if we stick together then Robotnik can't stop us. You just gotta trust each other."
I felt more confident in our team - though I still worried about everyone getting along. I could tell that they all had some outstanding grudges against each other. They had good reasons to. I closed my eyes. Lord, I just hope my little pep talk is enough to keep them together until our plan goes under way. Guess I gotta trust you on this too, I prayed silently.
TO BE CONTINUED...
=============================================================================
A/N: Due to School projects - I may be delayed for a few days before Chapter 12 is done. Though I promise to get it up as soon as I am done.
Thanks for your patience and as always for your reviews.
(I can't believe I have TWO pages of them now! That's more than I've ever gotten! Thank you!)
- Joanie /^ (aka Falconess)
=============================================================================