"Whoo!" Shouted Tails. "This is fun!" He landed on a tree after a small ramp.
"Yeah!" Said Sonic. "That's the spirit, Tails!" He made a smooth turn.
Shadow shoved his way past Sonic. "Outta my way!"
He was followed by Jet.
"Hey!" Said Sonic. "Watch it!"
Storm and Wave were more at ease now that Rouge was gone. It kind of made things easier for them.
"What kind of race track is this?" Scoffed Wave. "It's a stupid messed up forest. "You can go anywhere for this."
Storm laughed. "You got that right. Here, follow me." He punched his way through a bunch of grapes making a path for him and his partner.
"Uck!" Said Wave as she wiped the fruit juice from her body.
Meanwhile, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles were keeping a close eye on Shadow and Jet. Who were at each others throats.
"We better make sure Jet doesn't try any funny stuff." Said Knuckles.
Sonic nodded. "Gotcha."
Tails agreed. "Don't worry, I'm watching."
Sonic smiled. "Okay."
Shadow and Jet flew off of a ramp. Performing about three tricks they handed smoothly. There was a sharp turn, and then another ramp.
"Do you really think you can beat me?" Asked Shadow.
"You're only beating me by four points." Said Jet. "I have plenty of time to catch up."
Shadow didn't seem to be affected by Jet. "Okay then, we'll just have to find out."
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles came up from behind Shadow and Jet.
"Don't worry Shadow, we've got your back." Said Sonic.
"I don't need your help to win." Said Shadow. "I'm the ultimate!" He sped off.
Tails sighed. "Can someone please explain to me why he always acts like that?"
Sonic and Knuckles shrugged. "Nope." They both said flatly.
"I'll tell you why." Said Jet who was listening to them. "Because he's afraid of me. He knows I'll win."
They all laughed.
Jet sped up to catch Shadow.
Wave and Storm were now neck and neck with Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails.
They tried to pass them.
"Okay! It looks like Shadow and Jet are now on their second laps! Followed by Sonic, Wave, Tails,
Knuckles, and Storm. Keep it up everybody!"
Everybody was trying to stay focused on the race.
Tails tried to pass Wave.
"You can't pass me." Said Wave. "Let alone beat me. The emeralds are ours!"
"That's it." Knuckles came up from behind Wave and rammed her.
"Aaaah!" Wave drastically slowed down but kept going.
Back in first. Shadow and Jet were still keeping up with each other.
Shadow tried to hit Jet but he blocked and threw a counter attack. Shadow fell off his baord for a couple seconds and then continued the race. But by the time that happened, some of the others had already passed him.
Sonic and Tails looked back at Shadow as they passed him.
Knuckles was now riding next to him. "Hey, Shadow. Hurry, we need to get back in the race."
Shadow didn't answer.
Wave and Storm were now directly behind Shadow, riding his turbulence.
Shadow did a three sixty and the two caught caught in a small tornado.
"Nice." Said Knuckles impressed.
Shadow smirked. "Hmph." He tried to catch up to the others.
Knuckles followed before he was left alone with Wave and Storm.
But somehow they were already coming up fast.
Wave and Storm whooshed passed them into the group of others racers.
Shadow quickly caught up.
Knuckles was riding his turbulence.
Wave and Storm quickly caught up to Jet.
"It's about time!" Jet said.
Sonic and Tails looked at the three racers in front of them.
"How did they pass us so fast?" Asked Sonic.
Tails shrugged. "Beats me."
Knuckles and Shadow caught up to Sonic and Tails.
"Hey." Said Sonic. "You guys finally caught up."
Shadow didn't really pay attention. "We need to beat them."
"We know, Shadow." Said Knuckles.
Shadow sped up behind the three thieves.
"Oh great." Said Sonic. "Now he's gonna do something stupid again."
"It looks like Jet is now on his final lap!" Said Omochao. "He's followed by Wave, Storm, Shadow, Sonic,
Knuckles, and Tails! You're almost done! Keep it up!"
Shadow was riding Storm's turbulence. As soon as he had enough speed he jumped over all three of them.
They all went wide-eyed.
"Told you." Said Sonic.
"We can't let him win!" Said Jet.
"Uh oh." Said Knuckles. "I think we better help Shadow out."
Sonic held him back. "Only if he really needs it. He's been doing good on his own for pretty much the whole tournament."
Jet, Wave, and Storm were trying to catch up to Shadow.
"How about now?" Asked Tails.
"Yeah." Said Sonic.
They were behind Wave, Storm, adnd Jet.
"Who do we try to get rid of boss?" Storm looked in front and then in back.
"Let's handle the pests behind us first." Jet said.
They began trying to eliminate them one by one, fighting them off.
"Whoa!" Shouted Sonic. He was trying to pass Jet.
Knuckles was throwing punch combos at Storm. It was easy for him to get past.
Tails was using tactics to try to get around Wave. He flew above her while dodging her attacks.
Sonic used a speed boost and went right passed Jet. Leaving them all in the dust.
Shadow was watching the whole thing. "Impressive..."
Sonic heard Shadow's compliment. "Thanks,"
But Jet, Wave, and Storm bounced right back into the race. They were behind everybody, but close.
"It looks like they want more." Said Knuckles.
"Don't get to cocky." Said Shadow.
Knuckles rolled his eyes. "And this is coming from the guy who invented cockiness?"
Shadow ignored his remark.
Everyone was coming close to the finish line.
"We need to keep these positions." Said Sonic.
Jet zoomed passed him. "Well you're gonna have to work for them!"
Everyone started fighting and trying to get past one another. It broke up everybody's groups.
Shadow had lost first place and tried to get it back.
Jet was in front of the pack.
Shadow hit Jet and knocked him off of his board.
"Boss!" Storm hesitated to finish the race.
"Finish you idiot!" Jet hopped back on his board.
Storm's hesitation had given Tails, Sonic, and Knuckles enough time to pass him.
But Wave didn't stop at all. She ended up getting first.
Tails weaved through everybody and got second.
"They're catching up." Said Knuckles. He turned and saw Jet and Storm.
"They can't catch us, don't worry. The finish line is right here." Sonic said as he was the next to cross.
Followed by Shadow and Knuckles. And finally, Jet and Storm.
"Good race, everybody!" Omochao announced. "After tallying up the total points so far, it comes out to be,
a two way tie for first! Which is between Wave and Tails with twenty eight points, Sonic is in third with twenty three
points, Shadow is in fourth with eighteen points, Jet is in fifth with twelve points, and there's a two way tie for sixth
between Knuckles and Storm, with ten points. The final race will be held at Dark Desert. Good luck to everyone!"
Sonic looked at the scoreboard, then at Tails.
"You need to win this next race, Tails." Said Sonic. "Or at least beat Wave. I have a chance at winning, but it's a very slim one."
Tails nodded. "Don't worry Sonic! I won't let you down!"
Sonic gave him a thumbs up. "Cool. Now let's head to Dark Desert."
Sonic, Knuckles, Shadow, and Tails all went to Dark Desert to prepare.
"Sorry, fox boy. But there's no way you'll be winning this next race." Wave said from behind him. She was posted up on her board.
Tails tried to relax. "You never know."
Wave scoffed and then walked away.
"We better win!" Demanded Jet. He looked at the scoreboard. "I couldn't be doing any worse!"
"Calm down, boss." Said Storm.
"The final race is now going to begin!" Said Omochao. "Will all the racers please line up?"
This was it. The final race, to determine who would be champion.
Tails was nervous. It was all on him now. He looked at Wave. She looked back with a smirk on her face.
"3!"
Tails wiped a drop of sweat from his face.
"2!"
Wave didn't look nervous at all. So why should he be?
"1!"
"You can do this Tails," said Sonic in a comforting way. "Just relax. You look tense."
Tails nodded.
"Go!"
Everyone headed off into the race.
"This is it!" Announced Omochao. "The final race in the Extreme Gear Tournament!"