Creamed This story is set after my Sonic Adventure 2 adaptation, which you ought to read first as it's completely different from the story in the game. I have never played on Sonic Advance 2, I have no idea what Cream's official story or personality is. All characters are copyright to whoever.

Part 1: Cream

The Hidden Palace was totally destroyed. Knuckles surveyed the glittering wreckage mournfully. The altar that had once displayed the Chaos Emeralds was cracked in two. It had already been in disuse, ever since Robotnik had first stolen from him. He shifted two chunks of masonry. It was lucky he had hesitated to let Rouge hide here- the Palace had been constructed almost entirely of jewels. They split the bright sun into hundreds of little rainbows. Knuckles paused, thinking about the bat. Should he let her stay? Or was he just being stupid and gullible for the umpteenth time?
He pulled away enough rubble to expose the hole in the middle of the altar. There used to be a shining beam of energy sparkling out of this. He jumped down the hole, apprehensive.
He landed softly twenty feet below. His base had faired better then he'd feared. The computers were all mercifully alright- even Porker wouldn't be able to replace them if they were damaged. Knuckles cleared some rocks away from one of the old Zoom Tube entrances. He zoomed straight back to the surface: he'd have to have the Island in the air again before he could properly drain the network of tunnels underground.
The only other really important buildings were Megaopolis City, which had been ruined for years, and the Sky Sanctuary. Knuckles had already rebuilt this once, as a home for his pteranodon. He would have to make it much stronger next time.
Still, all things considered it could have been worse. Knuckles walked quickly over the thick chain that served as a bridge to the beach. He'd fetch some tools and start as soon as possible.
He was suddenly surrounded by robots.

Knuckles didn't waste time thinking. He automatically ducked and dived, driving his fist through the blue armour of the newest G.U.N. model. The others blew its body to pieces as their shots missed him. Knuckles caught its head, red hot, and hurled it at the next victim. The android shattered into sparks.
The two survivors did not move. One spoke instead. "Cease attacking, Mobian."
Knuckles kept his fists ready and did not move.
"You were contacted last night by a wanted criminal. It is your duty to help G.U.N. by giving us all the information you have."
Knuckles inwardly swore. They were closer to Rouge then she realised. Worse, they'd taken advantage of his thinking this and now had two large lasers pointed at his head. He wished he had Sonic's reflexes; he couldn't rely on his own speed at the moment.
He raised his hands and marched when they told him, taking this time size up the soldiers. They were basically human shaped, with cobalt blue armour. Their faces were blank, except for a band of black with two ruby lights glowering out from it. Evil-looking laser guns were mounted on their hands and shoulders. Tough cookies indeed.
Knuckles grew bored of walking, and with a massive fist wrenched a laser of each robot's shoulder. He ducked and let them shoot each other, and tumbled to the ground as a shot clipped his head. Scorched metal thudded in the sand around him. He stood up, and kicked one of them to relieve the pain clawing at the back of his skull. He became aware that he was being watched.
A small girl was regarding him with interest from the shore. She was a rabbit, with beige fur that darkened around her eyes and ears. She was wearing a plain dress and was up to her knees in water. She must have been about seven or eight. A blue chao was paddling next to her, camouflaged by the tropical colour of the ocean. Knuckles nodded an acknowledgement and began to walk away.
She caught him up. "Excuse me, but you should clear those up. It's littering if you don't."
Knuckles stopped. "Pardon?"
"You shouldn't litter, you know. Come on, I'll help you throw those away." Knuckles followed her back along the coast bemusedly. When he smashed robots, people usually either started shooting or cheered. They didn't lecture him on littering. Still, Knuckles humoured her and hefted the two robotic bodies over his shoulder. The girl carefully gathered up the twisted guns and they took them back to the Emerald Hill Zone. Knuckles thought Porker might enjoy examining them. He just hoped Sonic wasn't around when he showed up at the base carrying robot remains at the command of a toddler.

He was. Sonic raised his eyebrows quizzically over the comic he was reading as Knuckles trudged toward the door.
"We're putting these in a safe place," said Knuckles. "We shouldn't be littering, see?" and he deposited them on the lawn.
"Whose this?" asked Sonic. The girl curtseyed.
"My name's Cream. Are you Sonic the Hedgehog?" Sonic grinned and nodded. "Mum talks about you."
"Everyone talks about me. I'm big news."
A large red hammer hit him on the head. "Don't be so arrogant, spikeball." Amy grinned.
Sonic rubbed his head. "Where the heck did you get that?"
"I won it somewhere." Amy threw it in the air and caught it again. "It's been great fun."
"Sonic, make her put that down," called Tails as he approached. He too sported a large bump on his forehead. "Hello," he said as he saw Cream.

"Hello," said Cream. Amy, who hadn't noticed the rabbit, jumped in surprise.
"Hi," she said, feeling idiotic.
Knuckles explained. "She told me to pick up some Badniks I'd smashed. I thought Porker might be interested- you know he loves that kind of thing. I'll go and fetch him."
"Don't worry, I'll do it." She grinned evilly and twiddled her new toy.
"Sonic, you have to make her put that down," began Tails. "She just won't stop playing with it, and it hurts!"
"I know," he said, empathetically. "Where on Mobius did she get that thing anyway?"
"She and Tekno were visiting the new casino they finished a couple of days ago. She one the archery contest and they gave her that."
"Let's go and beat them up."
"Yeah." Tails turned to Cream as he sat down in the shade under the huge tree that was their base. "How d'you do?" he asked Cream.
"I'm okay. Who are you?"
"I'm Tails."
"Hi, Tails. Do you know-"
At that point Porker Lewis interrupted. The pig looked distinctly disgruntled. "Why's Amy going around with that dirty great hammer?" he demanded.
"Did it hurt?"
"Yes!"
"Join the club." Cream stifled a giggle. "Oh yeah, this is Cream. Knuckles found her." Porker nodded a welcome.
Cream smiled back. "Um, Sonic?" she said.
"Yeah?"
"I've been trying to find you. Mum said to give you this." She held out an envelope. Sonic took it, puzzled. He opened it, read it, and stopped.
"What's wrong?" asked Tails. Sonic handed it to him. "Oh dear."
"What is it?" asked Porker.
"It's from someone called Daniel Lightfoot." Porker and Tails looked worriedly at Sonic, who was still gazing at his empty hand. He motioned to walk away, and the pig and the rabbit followed him. Cream was concerned. "He's asking us to let you stay for a while, because his warren's too overcrowded."
Cream nodded. "I know. I'm supposed to stay with my cousin, Johnny."
Tails and Porker glanced hopelessly at each other. "But. there's a complication," Porker said at last. "Johnny's dead."
Cream's eyes widened and filled with tears. The other two felt extremely awkward. "We're sorry." Creamed sniffed and blinked her tears out.
"So, I can't stay?" she managed.
"Oh, you can stay," said Tails hurriedly. "But we'll have to go and tell Daniel. Is he your father?"
"My uncle," Creamed sobbed. Amy appeared at the door. She frowned questioningly at Tails. He indicated the letter.
"Oh dear. has Sonic read this?" They nodded. "He won't take it too well." Nor was Cream. Amy put a hand on her shoulder. The other two felt even more awkward and went inside, leaving Amy to talk to Cream. Amy followed them after a few minutes. "She's out there with Sonic. I think we'd best leave them."

Somewhere else, someone else giggled. It had taken him months. It had cost time and effort. It was worth every tedious second.
Everything was now officially ready, and soon the explosions could begin.