Jazzerman here, I do not own any of these characters, they are owned by their respected companies, blah, blah, blah. You've heard this sht before.
But I do own this story.
A/N: Proof read by JayManney4Life.
A Wily tale
Part 34
"You sure you'll be leaving Lupe? It's only been three days." Jonny asked.
Lupe shook her head and looked up at the sky, the sun was nearing it'd zenith on this cloudless day. "Your hospitality has been magnificent. You've given us food and supplies, and even provided entertainment for us. We are all very grateful to you."
The wolf pack that stood behind Lupe all gave a slight bow.
"Come on, cut it out before I get a swelled head." Jonny grinned sheepishly, rubbing his head. Jonny then noticed two small figures staring up at him. "Hi girls."
Jonny bent down and gave the Overlander girls a quick hug. "Bye Aerial, bye Athena. You promise to be good for Lupe?"
"Uh-huh!" Aerial said. Athena nodded, reading Jonny's lips.
"Well, I'll hold you to your word." Jonny dug into his pocket and took out two brightly colored pieces of candy and handed them to the children. "These came from my world, they're very good just don't spoil your dinner okay?"
"We won't! Thank you!" Aerial ran back over to the wolf pack as they began to leave.
"Something wrong Athena?" Jonny asked, noticing that Athena was still standing there in front of him.
Athena gave Jonny a hug, then looked up at him smiling widely before running to join her sister. Within minutes the pack ha disappeared into the woods.
"Well, she seemed to like you." Sally said smiling lightly.
"She's nice. I simply adore children." Jonny said.
Sally looked the human with a smirk. "Really?"
"Yeah, but I could never eat a whole one." Jonny smiled wickedly. (A/N: 50 to the one who can guess where that line came from. ((I wish I had that kind of cash... XD)) )
"You're... joking right?" Sally asked slowly, giving the human a disturbed look.
Jonny laughed. "Of course. I'd never do anything like that. Sally, is everything ready for Ali-Su's birthday?"
Sally nodded. "I talked to the rest of the gang, they're ready too."
Jonny sighed. "I know this was a lot of trouble to set up, I really appreciate this Sal."
"It's no trouble." Sally said, shaking her head. "You better go find the birthday girl."
Jonny nodded and walked back into the tower. Sally smiled, glad to see her friend had found someone he liked.
"So Sally, when are you going to find someone?" Asked Rosie, who had been silent the whole time.
Sally froze. The old woman had impeccable hearing for a woman of her age. "I'm uh... going to go see how... Tails is doing with his studies..." Sally managed to grind out a reason to dodge the old chipmunk's question before slinking into the towers corridors.
Rosie just chuckled before returning to the children. "Ah... To be young again..."
"Lupe, I think we're being followed." Lobo whispered to his wife. He didn't know what was following them, or for how long, his gut just told him that they were being tailed.
Lupe turned to look at Lobo. "Oh? By who?"
"By me." A large stump said.
"... Is that a talking tree?" Leeta asked, staring at where the voice had come.
The 'stump' turned, obviously not what it seemed. For what kind of tree had legs and arms a face?
"I am not a tree. My name is Wood man, one of Jonny's Robot Masters." Wood man's voice was deep like someone speaking through a hollow log. The look on his face was hard to describe, it seemed calm and seemed full of care in his eyes but yet it didn't seemed directed towards them.
"Why do you stalk us?" Lobo asked crossly, narrowing his eyes at the wooden robot.
"I am just escorting you through the forest." Wood man looked at the wolf with a slight frown. "The boss gave me the freedom to do as I wish in these woods."
"I trust you don't plan on try anything..."
Wood man shook his head. "I'm just making sure your passage through is a safe one. I prefer being out doors than inside that tower."
"We have something in common there my wooden friend." Lupe said, smiling up at Wood man. "Let's talk, I'd like to hear your opinion on these current events."
As they walked a large woodpecker perched on Wood man's head and began to peck at the robot's cedar head.
"Um... You do know there's a woodpecker on your head?" Aerial asked.
Wood man nodded, shaking the bird a little in the process. "He comes and goes."
"Hey Ali, I got something for ya."
Ali-Su turned to see Jonny behind her. "What is it?"
"A surprise." He said, holding up a black strip of cloth. "Put this on."
Ali-Su mentally shrugged and took the blindfold, taking her time putting it on. She felt Jonny take her hand.
"Follow me." He said calmly.
Ali-Su herself being lead down the hallway and then they stopped at an elevator. She could tell they had stopped at an elevator because she heard the 'ping' sound as the elevator stopped at their floor. Jonny then lead her on to it and she then felt the slight yank as they headed upward.
"So what's this surprise?" Ali-Su asked.
Jonny smiled, even though he knew Ali-Su couldn't see it. "You'll find out."
"Can I take off this blind fold now?" Ali-Su said, she was starting to get a little impatient.
"Just a second." Jonny mused, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Ali-Su fought back the urge to giggle. She liked surprises, but no one had ever done something like this for her birthday or anything.
Ali-Su felt the elevator come to a stop. She was surprised to feel sunlight hit her face...
"You can take the blindfold off now Ali." Jonny said, a sense of eagerness could be heard in his voice, he hoped that Ali-Su would like her present.
Ali-Su reached behind her and removed the black piece of cloth from her face and was shocked to see that she was on the top of the tower. In front of her was Jonny's vehicle, the Skulker, Sonic and the main Freedom fighter gang stood in front of it.
Ali-Su gave Jonny a confused look. "What's this? I don't understand..."
"We're going on a short trip for your birthday." Jonny said.
"Where to?" Ali-Su was confused, she had never done anything like this for her birthday.
Jonny smiled. "The Floating island. I know how much you missed your home so I-" Jonny was cut off as Ali-Su hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Jonny..." She whispered.
"Well... I, um..." Jonny stammered, blushing slightly. Jonny coughed, regaining his composure. "You're welcome Ali-Su. Well, let's get going."
Each member of the group got in the skull shaped ship and buckled up. Jonny took the controls and fired the engines, taking them into the air.
"Sally, can you give me the coordinates for the island?" Jonny asked.
Sally flipped open her palm sized computer. "Nicole?"
"One moment Sally." The miniature computer said, calculations flashed quickly on the small screen. "Head North 52.8 miles, the island will be off our starboard side."
"Okay, everyone make sure you're buckled in, I'm going to open her up and see what we can do."
Every one of the passengers looked nervously at each other and clung onto their seats as Jonny hit the gas pedal and the ship shook as the engines increased their thrust power.
Not long later the image of the Floating Island appeared in the window on their right side. Jonny reduced the speed of the Skulker as they approached.
"Hey Sal, I'm new here. Where exactly do we land?" Jonny asked.
Sally turned to her friend, "I made a call to an old friend before we left."
"What old friend?" Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow at Sally.
"Just a sec, we got something on the radio." Jonny said, pressing a flashing yellow button on his control panel.
"Attention unidentified craft!" Came a loud and slightly annoyed voice. "Please reduce speed to 15 knots and proceed to these coordinates."
Jonny frowned, whoever it was that told them to do this was kinda rude. But he did as the voice on the radio requested. A section of the island seemed to disappear to reveal a large hanger, the design was much different than anything Jonny had seen since he had came to Mobius.
Jonny took the Skulker in and landed in the hanger, landing as gently as possible.
"Hi Knuckles!" Sally said, giving the guardian a quick hug. "It's been a long time."
"Yeah. And I see you brought some other guests." Knuckles huffed, looking at Sonic, then at the Skulker. "What the heck is this thing?"
"It's my ship. And I'd prefer if you didn't insult it." Jonny said crossly, stepping out the skull-shaped ship.
Knuckles frowned and crossed his arms. "Well that explains the bad taste. Sally, why did you bring an Overlander here to my Island?"
"He's the guy I told you about Knux, so don't start." Sally snapped, now even more cross than Knuckles.
Knuckles raised his hands in defense and took a step away from the squirrel.
Jonny walked up to Knuckles and offered him his hand. "I'm a human, a creature from a world called Earth. So please don't call me an Overlander."
Knuckles smirked and took the human's hand, after looking at the bulges under his sleeves. "Nice to know there's someone I can trust. Quite the grip there..."
"Thanks... But I guess that's what happens when you have an 'accident' with a roboticizer." Jonny said admittedly.
"So your arm was mechanized huh?" Knuckles said, the smirk on his face disappeared. "Sorry to hear that."
Jonny shrugged. "It's not so bad. Good for breaking Swatbots with."
"He got it trying to save me." Ali-Su said, stepping up next to Jonny. "It's an honor to meet you Knuckles."
Knuckles blushed a little. "Um... Thanks. I got nothing up for the next few hours, care to get a movie?"
Ali-Su giggled, her childhood hero was asking her out. But she shook her head and leaned against Jonny. "I'm seeing someone."
Knuckles's jaw dropped. "You... and him?" Knuckles stammered, pointing Ali-Su and Jonny respectfully.
"Well, I'm glad she IS taken and don't forget Knux, You are too. Unless you don't want to be." Julie-Su said.
"Cybernetic implants... Interesting..." Jonny took a closer look at Julie-Su, then quickly drew back. "Sorry, I'm always fascinated by any kind machine I've never seen before."
Julie-Su smiled. "It's okay. Um is something wrong miss?"
"Yeah... Fine..." Ali-Su said slowly.
Julie-Su frowned, pretty annoyed at Ali-Su's response. "Is this because you think I'm part of the Legion? Well don't worry, I'm not with them anymore."
"It's... Not that." Ali-Su said, putting an arm around Jonny.
Julie-Su took a step closer to the yellow echidna, squinting her eyes a little. "Do I know you? I feel like I've seen you before."
Ali-Su let go of Jonny, seemingly calmer than before. "I doubt it, I haven't been on the Island for few years, and Echindaopolis is a big city after all.
Julie-Su shrugged. "Oh well... How long you plan on staying?"
"A week at most." Jonny said. "I asked King Acorn to look after things while I was gone. And since Robotnik's going to be having a long, tiresome, and most importantly preoccupying time rebuilding his capital, I thought this would be the best time to take a break from my tower."
Knuckles gave Jonny a look. "Okay then, WHERE you gonna be staying? My parents won't have nearly enough room."
"There's a hotel in the city I thought would be a good place." Sally said.
"Good thinking Sal, but I don't have any money. Well, not any that's good here anyway."
Sally smirked. "Then it's a good thing I came. You can put this little expense on my tab, think of it as my way of repaying you for helping us Jonny."
"Thanks Sal... This means a lot to me." Jonny said, smiling at the Princess. "I owe you."
Sally shook her head. "It's okay. You can pay me back later." She laughed, Jonny hoped she kidding about that...
Knuckles grinned. "I got some errands to run. We'll meet you later."
"Um... Red, where SHOULD we meet you at?" Sonic asked, laughing mentally laughed. He had gotten so used to calling Quick man that, it almost sounded weird calling Knux 'Red'.
"My mother's place. You know how to get there?" Knuckles asked.
"Yes, I have the address you gave me right here." Sally held up a piece of paper.
"Well, let's get goin! I don't know bout ya'll, but I'm hungry." Bunnie said, placing her hand on Sally's shoulder.
"Yeah!" Tails agreed.
Knuckles smiled. No matter how well he tried to hide it, he really liked Tails. "Well, you guys go ahead. We'll be along shortly."
"No one's gonna take my ship for a joy ride are they?" Jonny laughed, knowing full well they wouldn't even TRY to fly his ship.
Knuckles looked at the Skulker, then back at Jonny. "Not if my life depended on it."
Jonny smiled as he walked off with the others, engaged in small talk.
"That Ali-Su, she's hiding something..." Knuckles thought out loud.
"Well, it's nice to know you're growing a brain Knuckles." The pink echidna said, smirking.
"Take that back!" Knuckles growled.
Julie-Su stuck her tongue out playfully at her boyfriend. "Make me."
Knuckles smiled and took her hand. "Come on, they're waiting for us."
Julie-Su could never truly understand Knuckles, but perhaps that's why she liked him so much.
To be continued...
