Chapter 2: Soul Food
"You should see the pictures. They turned out pretty well considering I took them while I was hanging upside down." I talked on the phone as I pulled the final photo from the water in my dark room.
"I'll have to see them the next time I stop by." Rouge replied.
"By the way, did you get your TiVo fixed?" She continued.
"Yea, it was fine once the weather cleared up last night."
"What about you Tails? Have you recovered from your little fall?" She chided me.
I laughed hesitantly.
"Yea. I was just a little woozy there for a while. I'm not exactly used to hanging upside down."
I heard her laugh too.
"Maybe we'll have to try it again sometime." She added.
"You mean more spying?" I wasn't sure if she was joking around or not.
"Of course. I mean, maybe this time we won't actually get caught. It'll be fun."
I shook my head in amazement but accepted Rouge's invitation. What could it hurt? Besides, she is kind of fun to hang out with.
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"Wake up! It's already eight thirty!" I heard mom yell without opening the door to my room.
I pushed the covers back and jumped to the floor. I was brimming with energy today. I got dressed quickly and headed downstairs for breakfast.
Mom had already set out a bowl of cereal and some fruit when I arrived.
"Good morning Cream. Sleep well?" She asked me kindly.
I nodded, rubbing my eye a little.
"Cream, that's a beautiful necklace! Where'd you get it from?" Mom asked me in amazement.
"Oh, just a friend gave it to me." I felt my heart start to beat faster.
I was nervous. What was the big deal. I should just tell mom the truth. She will remember Shadow right?
"When did a friend give it to you Cream? Yesterday?" She asked suspiciously. "You know no one except Amy can come over when I'm not here."
"I'm so sorry mom." I quickly jumped up from the table and wrapped my arms around, putting my head against her stomach.
"Shadow stopped by last night and he was really worried and upset and asked me I could help him." I cried as I explained.
"Well that's ok dear. But why did Shadow give that necklace to you?" She asked as she petted my ears.
"Because he needs my help." I pulled back from her embrace. My eyes locked with hers as I felt the pendant glow around my neck.
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"Hello? Oh, hey Tails. What's up?" I greeted him simply.
"Hey Amy! You guys have to come over to my hangar. I've got a little surprise for everybody." He sounded full of excitement.
"Ok Tails, we'll be over there later. Sonic's still sleeping." I told him, glancing at the couch to see Sonic shuffle slightly beneath his blanket.
"Don't worry about it, I'll give you guys a ride if you want?" He suggested.
"Really?! That's great. Thanks so much Tails! You know I love your car!" I laughed.
"I'll be over there in a few minutes. I've got to call Cream and Rouge first. Bye!"
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"Hello?" I heard Cream's voice.
"Hey Cream. It's Tails. I was wondering if you could come over to my house? I've got a surprise for everybody."
Cream didn't respond.
"Cream? Can you come? I'll give you a ride if you want?" She seemed strangely quiet today.
"No, that's alright Tails. Is Knuckles coming? I'll just ride with him." She explained.
"That's cool. I haven't called him yet, would you mind letting him know what this is all about?"
"Sure Tails. I'll see you later."
"Bye!"
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I got off the phone with Tails and picked up the ear piece to talk with Shadow.
"Shadow, this is Cream, do you copy?" I called him.
"What is it Cream?" He sounded annoyed.
"Tails is inviting everyone over to give us a surprise. Is it alright if I go? I was going to 'visit' Knuckles first....."
"That sounds fine Cream. Normally I'd be worried, but Tails is too kind to do anything suspicious."
"Alright Shadow, I'll contact you again after we get back."
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"So Sonic, any idea what's going on at Tails' house this afternoon?" Amy asked me as she poked her head out from behind the newspaper.
"Nope, I never ask questions about what he works on in that hangar of his." I rested my hands behind my head on the pillow as I still had the covers on top of me.
I heard the gravel outside rattle as a car turned into the driveway.
Tails was quickly at the door. Amy and I gathered our things and joined him and Rouge in the car.
"Tails, this is an awesome car!" Rouge commented at the sleek and shiny black Mitsubishi Spider as we zipped down the highway.
Amy and I enthusiastically nodded in agreement from the backseat.
"Is Cream coming?" Amy asked as we meandered through Station Square.
"Yea, I think so. She said she was going to see Knuckles about something first. So hopefully he'll be there too. He's getting a surprise too ya know." Tails chuckled a little.
"Ughhh........" Rouge groaned at Tails' mention of Knuckles.
"What?" Tails smiled widely at Rouge's reaction.
"Nothing." She looked at the crowded sidewalks, turning away.
"Hey Rouge, maybe we should spy on him next." I heard Tails whisper to her.
She laughed a little as Amy and I looked at each other, very concerned at their apparently newly adopted hobby.
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"Knuckles! Knuckles!" I heard a girl's voice faintly from across the canyon of Angel Island.
I shook my head in disgust at my lack of luck and hopped off the concrete steps of the Master Emerald alter to greet the annoyingly polite rabbit.
"Cream, what are you doing here?" I let my full resentment show as she stepped off the bridge.
"Mr. Knuckles, Tails has a big surprise for everyone and we've got to go over there now." She told me as she took a few deep breaths.
"I don't want a surprise." I told her, crossing my arms.
"But it might be goooood." She argued.
"Fine, I'll go. No sense in ruining my good reputation as a people person." I caved in.
"Hey Cream." She stopped and turned to face me. "Where's that chao of yours? Isn't he always bouncing around your shoulder."
Cream looked at me strangely, as if I wasn't speaking her language. I just grunted and shook my head, starting to walk again. I could care less about the little blue puff balls to begin with.
"Mr. Knuckles." Cream interrupted my thoughts again as we stepped off the bridge that leads to the alter.
"What?" I was not happy to be doing this and I desperately wanted her to shut up.
"Look!" Her eyes glowed a dim red as she locked her gaze on me.
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"This is Cream to Shadow, over."
"What is it now Cream?" I was again incredibly annoyed to be interrupted.
"I've now added two souls to the necklace. Knuckles and I are headed over to Tails' house to find out what this big surprise is."
"Very good Cream. Keep me informed, but don't try anything while you're there. You and Knuckles just keep your cover for now. Being able to infiltrate their group can help us immensely." I was very shocked at what she'd accomplished so far, but I kept my enthusiasm to myself.
"How many souls does the necklace need before we can activate it?" She asked me.
"We aren't activating anything. You're just along for the ride." I thought as I stood up.
I looked out the window at a hawk gliding through the sky of the virtually deserted canyon I was residing in at the moment.
"It needs four souls Cream." I told her. "But don't worry about that. Just keep me informed."
"Shadow, is there anything you want me to do with this giant green emerald Knuckles was pacing around earlier?"
"Don't worry about it Cream. I'll take care of it." I told her.
"Yes Shadow." She ended her radio transmission.
"It's kind of sad." I shook my head, tisking as I walked.
"Chao Chao!" 'My' slowly evolving dark chao chimed in from behind my shoulder as I spoke.
"I miss her calling me Mr. Shadow." I grinned evilly as I took off down the empty red clay path.
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Knuckles soon after motioned for Cream to climb onto his back and she held on as they glided through the late morning sky.