EMERALD FOREST

Disclaimer:

I don't own any characters in this story

CHAPTER 12: THE INVITATION

Knuckles looked around. 'That's strange,' he said to himself. He got up off the couch, and slowly made his way into the dark kitchen to find the Coke bottle had been tipped over, soaking the floor. 'Ah crap, I only just bought that yesterday.' He grabbed the bottle and put it upright, then looked at the mess. It was then that he saw the body on the ground.

'Sh-Sh-Shadow? Is...is that you?' Knuckles crouched over and rolled Shadow out of the way of the Coke puddle. 'Shadow, are you awake?' Shadow didn't reply.

Knuckles felt for a pulse, then sighed with relief. 'At least he's still alive.' He slowly picked Shadow up, slung him over his shoulder and dragged him over to the couch. 'I never thought Shadow was that scared of power shortages.'

He stood in darkness for a while, then the power came back on. Shortly after, Shadow woke up too. 'What happened?'

'I think you fainted.'

'Why do I feel sticky?'

The sun shone as Sonic, Tails, Shadow and Knuckles were hanging outside Shadow's house.

'Hey Sonic,' said Shadow, 'what was that letter you got in the mail?'

Sonic reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. 'This?'

'Yeah.'

'I haven't opened it, I forgot I had it.' Sonic ripped the top off the envelope, and took out the letter inside. ' "Dear Sonic, you have been invited to the Mason Hotel for two nights. You and a friend may use this voucher to spend those two days, all expenses paid."'

'Cool!' said Tails. 'Can I come can I come can I come?'

'Sure,' said Sonic.

'What's it for?' Shadow asked.

'What do you mean? It's for two nights all expenses paid.'

'No, I mean why are you getting the voucher?'

'Huh?'

'You must've done something, right?'

'Well...I'm not sure.' Sonic looked around in confusion. 'Maybe it's for defeating Robotnik.'

'Maybe...'

Knuckles stopped for a while and looked around Emerald Forest. 'Where is it...'

He turned to his right and continued walking, climbing over fallen trees, avoiding dangerous-looking plants and animals.

He walked for roughly half an hour in what seemed to be circles, then stopped. 'Good. It works...'

'Well, this is it Tails,' said Sonic.

Tails looked up at the huge skyscraper. 'Wow Sonic, this building goes up into heaven!'

Sonic laughed. 'I'm not so sure about that.' He walked up to the front door and entered Mason Hotel, with Tails following closely behind.

'Hello, how may I help you?' said the lady hedgehog behind the front desk.

Sonic showed the voucher. 'I see,' said the hedgehog. 'Someone'll be with you in a moment.' As she picked up the phone on her desk, Sonic and Tails sat down on some comfy chairs in the lobby.

'Why are we doing this now?' Tails asked. 'Why can't we save it for some other time?'

'It expires next week,' Sonic replied.

'Oh, I see.'