Chapter 1: Old Paths Reunite
Tails was just relaxing in his Station Square home after another day helping with the Station Square Arena's refereeing.
He had every reason to relax, after all. No Eggman sightings, deepening the relationship between himself and his girlfriend Amy Rose, and seeing their Pokemon Partners deepen their relationships as well, with Tails in ownership of Rosaline the Audino, and Amy in ownership of Mystique the Roserade.
As he relaxed into his couch, Amy burst through the door, obviously worried as she held envelopes in her hands.
"Amy, what's wrong? It looks like you've seen ghosts…" Tails simply asked, noting her worried expression.
"Tails… We got a problem. Eggman may be back, because another tournament is coming up at the Arena. I wouldn't be surprised if Eggman sponsored this one too." Amy said, with a strained tone to her voice as she handed Tails the mail in question.
He opened up the first envelope, which was a deep dark purple envelope without Eggman's infamous emblem.
'That's strange, I don't see Eggman's emblem anywhere…' Tails thought to himself.
But what he read next started to sound like an Eggman plot. Again.
"Dear my foxy nemesis,
You thought you were done with me after humiliating me in my own tournament a few months ago? You're surely mistaken!
I have cooperated with an associate of mine to bring back "entertainment" to your precious arena…"
Tails could just groan as Amy came over and saw the letter itself.
'Typical Eggman, gloating about his return when we've defeated him so many times before…' Amy thought to herself as Tails regained his composure.
And began to continue the letter.
"This time, I've come better prepared… I have introduced new rules and limitations to handicap your precious team and to add salt into your old wounds, I have even re-recruited some of your friends for the ride!"
"Not again…" Tails simply said as he slumped into the couch.
Amy saw the bit of the letter and groaned with Tails.
They really had to save their friends again? Because Eggman can't keep his grubby hands off of them?
How predictable can Eggman get?
"This is similar to a few months ago, sweetie…" Amy said, validating the thought process they both came to.
Tails simply nodded as he kept reading.
"If you want your friends back again so badly, come back into the hockey fold! Me and my associate will be hosting a new tournament soon… Save your friends again if you dare… The competition will be fiercer than before!"
Tails and Amy both looked at each other with confusion.
Eggman was telling them that the competition was going to be fiercer than what they experienced mere months ago?
Is he joking?
"I will await your… scheduled arrival. You better show up if you know what's good for you!
- Doctor Eggman"
And, as expected, the letter ends with Eggman's infamous laughter laughing in their faces.
Tails had the look of dis-satisfaction. Eggman was really going to pull the same stunt twice?
He just turned and looked at Amy and she had the same look of dis-satisfaction. She too knew just how predictable the demented doctor was getting.
Then they opened another fancy-looking envelope, and as sure as the sun rising in the east, there was another invitation letter mailed to them.
Tails got the invitation letter and started to read it.
"Greetings all who receive this letter! If you got this letter, you're cordially invited to the new Mineral Cup coming up soon at Station Square Arena. We have even better hockey entertainment than ever before!"
'Joy, another hockey tournament Eggman is suckering us into…' Tails and Amy thought together as they read the letter together.
"This time, we've made a few rules changes from before, so let's go over the new rules for registration!"
Tails couldn't even begin reading the rules before facepalming. Of course Eggman had to "level" the playing field for himself and his "associate", whoever they may be.
"Rules for Registration
1. As before, you must have at least 4-5 others to form a hockey team. And as before, the captain of the team who signs their team up will be the Center.
2. Substitutes are still allowed, up to a maximum of 3 subs.
3. Pokemon are now banned from entering in the tournament. You must now win with your own skill and quality, no external help allowed!"
Tails and Amy knew immediately what that meant. They're already facing an uphill battle and they haven't even signed up yet…
"4. As before, villainous entities and robotic entities are banned. Anti-Heroes or non-villainous entities are allowed.
5. You must be willing to play the entire tournament in it's entirety. As before, failure to play the tournament will result in disqualification.
If you want to accept your invitation, please fill out your attached registration form and turn it in at Station Square Arena.
Other teams will also get the chance to register, so don't miss out!
We hope to see you on the rink!
Sincerely, Mineral Cup Management"
'By management, they mean Eggman and his cronie…' Tails thought to himself as he grabbed the attached form.
And, sure enough, it was already bearing the name of the Flyers, as Eggman wanted to get in a dig at Tails by "inviting" him.
The other names were left blank for new or old team members, as well as the pre-checked box from the "willing to play the entire tournament" checkbox.
"Guess we don't have a choice, huh?" Tails simply said to Amy, with form in hand.
Amy simply nodded, knowing that it was time to reunite with their old friends.
And stop Eggman's plot once again, this time without their new partners.
Meanwhile…
"So, now I just have to wait for them to arrive, and then I can offer my… services to them…" A hooded figure said, waiting in an obscure corner of the arena.
Little did Tails and Amy know that this journey wasn't going to be as easy as before.
And little did they know… that Eggman wasn't going to be their main threat… it was going to come from a different, unexpected source, a threat of their own...
End of Chapter
