Chapter 3: Resting Easy (Or Maybe Not)

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Three months later....

The cool ocean water lapped onto the beach. It was a tropical paradise. It was far removed from the hustle and bustle of "civilization". But, there was a place that was far more remote than that. And the view was spectacular, bird's eye even. Being able to look from on high from one beach to another seemed rather absurd, but Sonic the Hedgehog didn't mind it one bit. He simply looked down from the edge of the world's only floating island, and shrugged it off. Instead, his attention was more focused on getting over to the beach chairs that Tails had just finished setting up.

"Hey, looking great Tails!" Sonic remarked on the really comfortable chairs and large umbrella creating an even more comfortable shade. "Thanks Sonic," as Tails eased into one of the chairs. Sonic quickly dropped down onto his. And the chair turned out to be as comfortable as it looked. As a matter of fact, everything was going really cozy for Sonic and Tails during their little vacation.

About a month ago they had taken on Dr. Eggman's latest plot to collect the Chaos Emeralds and dealt the madman his latest defeat. Not only had they once again saved the day, but they'd also teamed up with Knuckles the Echidna again. And to Sonic and Tails' collective surprise, Knuckles offered permission for them to visit his home. Though he had danced around a direct invite with such lines as "seeing as how we've been on better terms lately," and "I'd say you guys would be the only ones that could set foot on my island without causing MUCH mischief," Sonic and Tails could read him loud and clear.

So, giving prior notice (a week in advance) Sonic and Tails had flown to the island in the Tornado 2 and even got a chance to fly over the Master Emerald shrine and wave to Knuckles who simply threw his hand up and a slight smile in response. With their arrival announced, and assurance that Knuckles wouldn't ambush them that night by mistake, they found a place to land and set up a small campsite. With the perfect company, the perfect site, and the perfect gear, the two decided to doze right where they were.

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Meanwhile, Knuckles was at his usual post in front of the Master Emerald, wondering if allowing Sonic and Tails to be around was a good idea. He weighed his thoughts carefully. On the one-hand, Sonic and Tails had proved invaluable in helping him thwart Dr. Eggman's earliest attempts to steal the Master Emerald. There was also the fact that he'd rushed into fighting them several times because he was more often than not brash in his decision-making. However, Sonic wasn't Knuckles' best friend either.

How many times did Sonic and Tails' appearance signal trouble on Knuckles' part? Enough that was for sure. Sure, it typically wound up with them hashing things over and teaming up to save the world, but there were some times Knuckles really couldn't stomach them. Like how he'd tagged along on their trip into the desert and had to do their dirty work of finding keys. That little mission also introduced him to the supernatural, in an all too close for comfort manner. But, the most arrogant thing Sonic had ever done was blow off the Master Emerald shards he had with him as "only". That sorry excuse of a pincushion! What nerve to say they were "only" Master Emerald shards, and was ready to leave them adrift in space. Knuckles smirked when he thought of how they were the "only" way of saving the world a short time later. But, Knuckles' indignation sank a few moments later, as he remembered that it was Super-Sonic and Super-Shadow who'd stopped the Space Colony ARK from crashing. Knuckles felt a little ashamed of himself, after all he had always been an honorable fighter, and he always carried a sense of goodwill to those who displayed heroism. And he knew Sonic was NO exception, nor was Tails.

It was his sense of honor that led him to team up with them yet again. That was certainly a wild adventure that month ago. But, weren't they all? Dr. Eggman was never slow at tossing death-dealing devices at his enemies; Knuckles learned that a long time ago. But, believing in himself (and more importantly in his on-again-off-again-partners) always pulled them through. A pleasant bonus was that time they even got to make a new friend.

She was an adorable kid. Being six though, entitled Cream to such a luxury. Though none too strong, Cream was certainly determined to help her newfound friends. With her limited ability to fly by flapping her ears, she came through in a pinch. What really surprised everyone about Cream was the fact that she had a Chao. Though numerous people kept Chaos, Cream didn't "own" hers, she was a best friend to hers. She never forgot to introduce Cheese as a friend, not a pet. Thinking of such a "lovable" pair got him to thinking of another more "lovely" individual.

Just what had Rouge been up to ever since she and Knuckles had gone their separate ways? The way she acted before they'd last see each other, Knuckles was thinking she might have actually given up her line of work as a treasure hunter. But, Knuckles was far from being THAT naïve. He knew that anyone who would go to such lengths and obsess so much about gems like she did/does, couldn't quit cold turkey. There was just no way. So, he wondered even more, where in the world was she and how was she? However, his aggressive disciplinarian side invaded his thoughts. There was no time to think about Rouge, or being her friend, or worse yet anything further.

He was guardian to this island, this emerald, and that was all he should think about. So, that's all he did think about, until sunset came a few minutes later, when thoughts of sleep began to pour like sand over his eyes. Before he got too far along though, he asked himself one more time, "What HAS become of Rouge?"

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Well, if Knuckles had psychic powers among his abilities, then he'd know for sure that Rouge was hunting for treasure. As it turned out, it wasn't for herself this time, strange as that may seem. She'd been hired yet again to track down leads for a very generous employer. Another shocking difference was that it was Dr. Eggman who'd hired her. As Rouge was neck deep in her newest assignment, she couldn't help but giggle to herself.

"How odd that the good doctor would hire me," she thought wistfully. "I mean, I play him like an old violin and he actually insists that I take this mission on for him," Rouge paused her thoughts a second, then resumed more seriously, "but, he knows as well as I do that I'm a mercenary, not a "one team" player. How else could even "I" explain why I took the assignment? She answered herself with a review of the actual event itself.

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She WAS on vacation, driving through the countryside about three weeks ago. It was a rather beautiful day; it seemed so perfect, that it dared to rival her own flawlessness she thought. But, the good times ended when the road suddenly vanished in front of her. She wrecked and totaled her precious car in the gaping hole. Only after she crawled out of it, she realized that it was a crater blatantly caused by an explosion. That's when he appeared.

Dr. Eggman floated down to within a few feet of Rouge, inside one of his Egg Flyers, laughing heartily. It was no doubt because he managed to surprise Rouge for once. He just got lucky was all it was to Rouge. "What do you want?" she had asked in a huff, starting to get in a fighting stance.

"Ah," began the doctor with an evil grin, "Always wanting to get down to business. Eh, Rouge?"

Rouge turned her nose up and crossed her arms, "What makes you think you and I could do business?" The doctor chuckled. "Why is it mad scientists are always in such good moods?" Rouge asked herself.

Pointing an accusing finger Eggman stated quickly, "Why, because you're a gun for hire, and you and I both know it!"

"Well," Rouge continued in utter snobbery, "you ARE a genius."

"You'd best learn to respect that fact," Eggman said coldly as he brought his finger back inside the Egg Flyer and began searching for, and finding, something, "because it can lead to rich rewards." Eggman held the same hand out, this time it was filled with many precious stones.

Rouge let her arms drop, along with her jaw. She tried to reach out and touch, maybe even snatch one, but Dr. Eggman was wise to her. "Ah, ah, ah," he scolded, "you can have these AFTER you get ME the Chaos Emeralds."

Rouge, placed her hands on her hips and looked cynically at Eggman, "Oh, so that's your little game. Well, it's going to cost you more than that for that much work!" She shot an easily understood look over to her high-speed junk pile.

"Ah yes, well, I intend to be very generous," the doctor went on in a benign attitude, "You'll be paid your full price for each, separate, Emerald. It'll be like going on seven separate missions!"

Rouge almost lost her composure a third time, but she managed to hide her schoolgirl excitement at that many precious gems. She even managed to give off the appearance of someone in deep thought. After a few moments of silence, "Very well, you have yourself a deal."

Eggman smiled from ear to ear, "Excellent," then he frowned, "but remember this, I'm not entirely trusting you, so you had best deliver each Emerald to me ONE at a time, then you'll collect your pay for each ONE. And we'll meet here whenever you find any of them. I don't want to risk YOU getting anywhere near my headquarters."

As Eggman began to hover away, Rouge couldn't resist a snide comment, I heard about your latest battle with Sonic! Lost again, eh?"

Unfazed, and unseen, Eggman called back, "That's why I just hired you! You'll do the job without attracting as much attention to yourself!" With that he was gone both visually and audibly. Taking a cue from that, Rouge abandoned the mess in the road and flew away, which proved to be more refreshing anyway.

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End Chapter Sonic Shout-Out

Hope everyone's enjoying my little tale! Today's Shout-Out goes to:

Formerly Known As!

By the way, the United Sonic Fandom Guide is aimed at just trying to get people to say, "Hey, it's Sonic, should we be having these huge fights?" However, I'm into the Sonic timeline idea, I'm thinking of making that a big project before too long.

That's a wrap for today. See everyone tomorrow!