Author's Note: Hey, guys! Happy New Year! To celebrate in entering 2022(though to be honest, I'm fully dreading what this year will bring, but I'll try to be optimistic about it *Sweat drops sheepishly*), I have not only started a sequel to one of my finished stories, but also post a new chapter for this story!
Gotta Go Fast! Here we go!
I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog. All rights belong to Sega. I only own the OCs.
Episode 14: Sonic's Sky-High Babysitting.
A week passed since the Silver Valley Lake incident with the ancient monster the Gonloon who turned out to be very friendly, and also attending the President's Party(which was boring and no matter how many times Jerome tried, he kept on failing to have the reporters to take photos and recordings of Sonic who kept on avoiding them while speaking with the President who understood perfectly and was pleased to finally meet the teenage hero in person), things were somewhat quiet.
Yet there was still the concern of the Iron Empire as well as locating the remaining four Chaos Emeralds and rescuing Cream's mother Vanilla along with the Floral Forest Villagers. So far, today was a somewhat peaceful day as Sonic was taking a short nap in the chair in the living room. The fourteen year old blue hedgehog slept peacefully, before Chris came rushing into the room.
"Hey, Sonic!"
"H-huh?" Sonic sleepily blinked his eyes open having been so rudely woken up from his nap and yawned, covering his mouth with his left hand before rubbing his eyes as the voice that called out to him was Chris who, realizing that he had accidentally woke up his friend, approached. "W-what's up, Chris?"
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." The twelve year old boy said apologetically, shrugging. "But I just came to tell you that you're on babysitting duty, today."
That got the cobalt quickster interested as he sat up, blinking in confusion. "Babysitting duty? Whaddya mean?"
"Well, see, the thing is I have to go with Mr. Tanaka to meet with my parents at an important event which is pretty boring but I have no choice, Ella's going out to get grocheries as well as meet up with her sister who's visiting in town, Grandpa and Tails are going to work on getting mechanical parts for the lab and the X Tornado, and I have no idea where Amy's going." The young Thorndyke explained.
Instantly realizing what this meant, Sonic muttered before relaxing once more. "Oh, I get it. Since there's nobody else around to look after Cream and Cheese, I'm the only guy left available to do the job."
"Yep. Now be sure to take care of them and don't go running off 'til we get back." Chris replied with a wink.
Sonic just laughed, and winked back with a thumbs up. "No problem. I'll look after them. How hard can it be?"
"Hey, Chris. It's time to get going." Tails's voice then called out from the doorway.
This made both the preteen and the fourteen year old to gaze at the doorway and found Tails and Amy approach, the female hedgehog folding her arms in annoyance at the only human in the room. "We've been waiting outside for you."
"Oops. I forgot." Chris scratched the back of his head, sheepishly.
"So, Ames. I heard that everybody else is goin' out but Cream, so where are you going?" Sonic asked, curiously.
"We've been searching for the Chaos Emeralds, Cream's Mother, those creeps the Iron Empire, the missing villagers and even the Master Emerald, we hardly had time to do all of the fun stuff Station Square has to offer, so I'm heading out to do some shopping and also to get a special surprise for sweet little Cream." Amy explained proudly. "Now it's time to do some bargain hunting and I'm gonna shop 'til I drop!"
'Again?' This didn't amuse the blue hedgehog at all as he held back the urge to look skeptical with a sweat drop. On the other hand, this answered his second question on why Cream can't go. It was sweet of Amy to buy something for the little girl to help make her feel less lonely.
His self-proclaimed girlfriend then folded her arms and looked at him annoyed. "There's no point waiting for you to take me because I don't even know where you are most of the time!"
"Well, I can't go anywhere today 'cause I'm gonna be babysittin'." Sonic pointed out with a shrug. "Though I'm gonna take a quick run before you guys head off." He then sped off.
"Sonic, what about Cream?" Chris cried out.
The blue hedgehog sped back while ignoring the question and instead said with a mock-salute. "I'll be back shortly. It won't take long." With that, he was gone again in a blue blur, which left his friends shocked and puzzled.
"What was that about?" Chris asked, dumbfounded.
"I guess Sonic wants to run now before he has to stay home and wants to be left alone today despite having to look after Cream." Tails guessed, blinking.
Amy groaned before exclaiming in dismay and rant. "Why can't he be alone with me!?"
As promised, Sonic returned no more than maybe a few minutes afterwards, if not sooner, before the rest of his friend save for Cream and Cheese who stood beside him were outside as the others left. Amy and Ella both took a bus into town while Tails rode with Chuck, and Chris went with Tanaka to meet with Nelson and Lindsey.
"Now be sure to keep an eye on Cream until we get back." Chuck firmly told Sonic despite that the teenage hero was responsible due to his experience in looking after Tails since their meeting three years ago.
"Don't worry, Chuck. We'll be fine." Sonic reassured.
"You both be good children for Mr. Sonic, alright sweetie?" Ella cooed at the young five year old rabbit girl who nodded.
"We will, Miss Ella. Right, Cheese?" Cream promised, with Cheese chirping in agreement.
"You sure you can handle this, Sonic? I know how much you like to go on your runs." Tails asked his big brother figure, feeling a little bit guilty for leaving Sonic behind.
"Don't worry, Tails. I handle this, no sweat." Sonic winked with a wave. "You guys have fun, and be careful out there yourselves."
"Take care, sweeties." Amy waved a goodbye to Cream and Cheese before giving them warm short hugs and then a crushing big hug to Sonic who winced and tried to squirm his way out.
"A-Amy! Let go, will ya?" The blue hedgehog grunted and cringed when his self-proclaimed girlfriend kissed him on the left cheek. "This isn't a kissing booth!"
"I think Amy really likes Mr. Sonic so much." Cream whispered with a nervous sweat drop, with Cheese chirping in confusion.
"She's been like this with him for years. This is normal for them." Tails whispered back with an awkward chuckle.
With that said and done, Amy and Ella went one way as they waved a goodbye to Sonic, Cream and Cheese, Tails and Chuck drove off in another, while Chris and Tanaka took the other car to meet with the former's parents, all waving a goodbye.
"Bye guys! See ya' later!" Sonic called out as he and his two friends he would be looking after today waved as well.
"Bye bye!" Cream called.
"Chao chao!" Cheese squeaked.
As their friends vanished from around the corners, the trio, now left with the house all to themselves, stopped waving and the hero of Mobius turned to his youngest friends, asking. "So, whaddya wanna do today, Cream?"
"I wanna have lots of fun and play games." The five year old rabbit girl said, before asking shyly. "Is it alright, Mr. Sonic?"
"Like I'm gonna say no?" Sonic laughed with a smirk. "I may be fourteen, a hero and a big brother to Tails, I'm still a kid at heart." He then frowned a little and said with a gentle but firm tone. "Though, I will cross the line when it comes having a tea party, so I don't wanna dress up. Okay?"
Thankfully and surprisingly, Cream nodded with a smile. "That's okay. I want you to be yourself, because you're amazing as you are."
"Chao, chao chao!" Cheese smiled in agreement.
Sonic blinked in surprise, before smiling back. "Well then, let's get this day started." And while he knew that tea parties were pretty boring and girly, he had to swallow his pride and oblige for his friend's sake. Plus, he wanted her to be happy while being a responsible caretaker and friend.
He owed Vanilla this when he does find her.
Around ten minutes later, Sonic had carefully set up the toy tea party set in the yard in a safe distance away from the adult swimming pool, helping Cream to place the small toys that Chris' family had been so kind to buy for her. Sonic, Chris, Amy and Tails had even been sweet enough to buy her a doll and a teddy bear for her and Cheese to play with. By then, the three friends and the 'toys' had a little tea party.
"Here you go, Mr. Teddy. I hope you enjoy it." Cream said the teddy bear as she pretended to pour some tea from her toy tea kettle, then asked the blue hedgehog opposite to her. "Would you like some more tea, Mr. Sonic?"
"Sure, Cream. Thanks." Sonic replied, holding out his cup as his youngest friend 'poured' some more and he pretended to sip it, playfully saying. "It's delicious."
The five year old girl giggled. "Thank you for playing with me, Mr. Sonic. I hope it's alright."
"Chao, Chao." Cheese squeaked as he pretended to drink some tea himself.
"It's cool. No offense, but I'm just glad I don't have to play dress up. I mean, I know a lotta kids do that, but ya' know..." The fourteen year old hedgehog replied.
"Well, I think it's kinda silly for girls to make boys dress up when they don't even like it." Cream responded.
"Really?" The teenager asked, blinking in surprise. Even though he got along so well with the young girl as did the rest of his friends, Sonic had been expecting Cream to even have Tails play dress up sometimes even though his little brother didn't seem to complain about it and thought that maybe it was because the seven year old fox cub wanted to hide his embarrassment.
But to actually hear one girl who thinks that dressing up boys was silly...Wow.
Cream nodded. "I saw some kids about my age play one day when Cheese and I were picking flowers, and I saw two girls dress up two poor boys who looked very upset. I even heard how they didn't like it and thought it was a bit mean." She lowered her gaze over the memory. "That was a year ago."
"Chao..." Cheese murmured sympathetically.
"Yeah, I guess I kinda understand that. I never played dress up in my whole life, and Amy's pretty much the first girl I've ever really met besides my Mom. I mean, I have met other kids in Mobotropolis in a few visits, but she and Tails are my first real friends I've ever made." Sonic smiled sympathetically.
"Huh? You mean you never had any other friends, Mr. Sonic?" Cream asked, surprised now herself along with her Chao.
"Well, I kinda did, but I grew up in the Green Hill Zone on South Island, and I've spend most of my time playing outside with the Mobini who kept me company whenever my parents aren't around. Sure, I was happy with my life before I became a hero, but sometimes I felt a little bit lonely." The blue hedgehog shrugged, trying hard not to sound or even look sad, as the memories of his Uncle Chuck lingered in his mind again.
He then sighed and added. "Then again, I shouldn't complain because Tails had it rough when he was younger, and Amy was kinda in a similar situation too, and poor Knuckles' got nobody besides us, even though he doesn't want to admit it."
"Mr. Tails did tell me that you and your family adopted him, and even Amy doesn't know who her family is either." Cream recalled, frowning in sadness before smiling softly. "I think it was very nice of you to be their friend and Tails' big brother, Mr. Sonic."
Sonic ended up blushing a little over the compliment as he scratched his head. "Aw, this is embarrassing."
To his concern however, he noticed that his youngest friend suddenly became all sad again, prompting the blue hedgehog to ask softly even though he had a strong feeling why. "Cream? What's wrong?"
"I just hope my Mommy's okay. I...I miss her so much. I didn't even know my Daddy, 'cause she told he had gone far away and never came home again. I was...I was only a baby when he went to a place really beautiful in the sky..." The five year old admitted, becoming very tearful over the memories of losing her mother, and surely enough she began to cry with Cheese attempting to comfort her with no success.
Feeling guilt rise up in his chest with his heart breaking, Sonic approached her and gave her a comforting, warm and firm hug, allowing her to hug him back as she cried.
"I'm so sorry, Cream. One way or another, I will get your Mom back. I won't stop until I find her and bring her home, back to you. I promise. I'm so sorry that...that's taking me this long." The hero of Mobius whispered, holding back his own tears as he all wanted was to make his friend happy. He gently rocked her back and forth as she cried. "Shhhhh...It's okay. Don't cry."
The cobalt teenager had known that Cream had never knew her father, even though she was still far too young to know what happened to him, and Sonic hoped it wasn't as tragic as him losing his uncle, Chris losing his grandmother, Tails and Amy both losing their parents, and Knuckles being the last of his kind. Heck, even Robotnik had a tragic family life due to his own brother murdering their father out of jealousy and vengeance. But now, the poor girl had lost her only parent because of that monster. Just how much more tragedy did she and Vanilla had to go through? It wasn't fair.
"I'm sor-sorry Mr. Sonic..." Cream wept. "It's all my fault...Mama got caught, everybody got caught because of...because of me...and I asked you to find her when you-you feel so sad...!"
"No, Cream. Don't." Sonic told her firmly, shocked that his friend was blaming herself, and she was such a sweet little girl. "Don't say that. It wasn't your fault."
He gently had her gaze at him as he gazed into her honey brown eyes with his own emerald green ones. "Listen to me. It's not your fault. Julius is just a really big bully who doesn't even like his own family. I don't know why, but he's meaner than Eggman is. They just like to cause nothing but trouble for everybody because they don't care. They're the biggest bullies on the planet and they are the types of people that I really don't like, especially when they hurt others on purpose."
As the five year old rabbit girl gazed at him tearfully, the fourteen year old blue hedgehog's expression softened. "You're the total opposite to those guys, Cream. One of the sweetest kids I've ever met. I'd do anything in my power to protect you, and make you happy."
"You mean it?" She asked, hopefully even though she still felt guilty for making him push himself so hard for her sake.
"You bet, Cream. I wish there were more people like you and the others in the world. It's what Mobius really needs." Sonic confirmed, before sighing. "I'm just sorry I've failed in finding your mother sooner."
Cream could only gaze at Sonic, and the more she and Cheese spent time with him and even Tails and Amy, the more she saw much more of the blue hedgehog than what she heard of him. For a long time he was known for his charismatic, fun-loving, adventurous, care-free, and heroic personality. But those were just part of who he really is; he was kind, caring, having been lonely somewhat himself before he met his friends, disliked bullies and didn't want anyone to be sad or hurt, in more ways than one, and despite his gift of being able to run super fast and being the chosen one to harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds, even he was only a Mobian. His love for his friends and family and for the world was much stronger inside his heart, soul and mind.
It proved that he really is the hero of Mobius.
"It's okay, Mr. Sonic. Thank you...for being our friend." Cream replied, smiling softly return, snuggling her head into his chest and while she felt awful for relying on the blue hedgehog just to find her mother, and while he didn't give up hope, she began to believe that like Tails and Amy and Knuckles who had lost their blood relatives years ago, the same was happening to her and Cheese. But at least they were both in very good company, so neither of them were truly alone.
"You're welcome, Cream. Don't give up hope, okay? And, no more tears for today. I promised to make you happy and take care of you and I never break my promises." The teenage blue hedgehog replied, embracing her back while gently wiping away her tears, as Cheese flew over to join in on the group hug which made the two Mobians laugh.
Little did everyone know that things were not going to do as smoothly today as people would hope. Because at the ruins of Robotnik's base which has been left for two weeks and there still had been no sign of the evil doctor. Even the authorities have come to a conclusion that the mad scientist had finally met his end...
But as the searching squad and construction workers were busy removing the remains of the base, with ships and cranes, suddenly the crew heard a loud rumbling which shook the ground and the water began to bubble violently which caused them to stop what they're doing and looked over to the sea.
"What is that?" One of the workers asked, astonished.
"Something's coming out of the water." Another added, his eyes widened in shock as he suddenly had a bad feeling about this.
Just then, to make matters worse as the ground began to shake even more violently than the potential tsunami, everyone looked to see, as parts of the base were removed and something strange was on the floor, it began to move with the ground opening up and swallowing up the base.
"RUN!" The boss screamed as he and his crew ran away for their lives, when something huge began to emerge from the ground. They all looked up to see a giant battleship fortress half the size of a city emerge, known as the Egg Fort. Everyone stared in disbelief and fear at just how big this thing was.
"That thing is huge!" One of the crew members exclaimed, as they saw the unmistakable symbol of Robotnik's face.
Inside the huge white control cockpit room was the evil scientist himself who, after his latest defeat by Sonic and resting a little, had retreated into his beloved Fortress and was finally making his latest attack for world dominion.
"When will you half wits realize that it's useless to try and trip me up because I'm always ten steps ahead of you? I was expecting your president to order a full scale attack the moment you tried to steal my Chaos Emerald, so I built this flying fortress!" Robotnik declared evilly with a horrible grin. "Now I can escape any further attacks and make a counter attack any time and anywhere. Not even my murderous brother Julius and his stupid little Iron Playschool will beat me this time!"
In front and below him at the control panels were Decoe and Bocoe, who were having a not-so-private conversation despite that they both tried to avoid in their creator from hearing them.
"Dr. Eggm-I mean, Robotnik certainly is a strategic genius." Bocoe remarked to Decoe, nearly making a slip in calling Robotnik 'Eggman' as they had began to, unfortunately, like it better due to how it suited the evil scientist thanks to Sonic and that it just felt wrong to relate the man with his twisted brother Julius 'Iron' Robotnik.
"I only wish some of his strategies worked occasionally." Decoe mumbled with a bit a sigh, as all of Robotnik's strategies never work against Sonic or his friends. A few times it nearly did work, the teenage hedgehog had come out very lucky.
"That's enough from you two and I heard you about to call me Eggman, Bocoe, which I utterly hate with every passion of my body!" Robotnik warned darkly, scaring his two dimwitted creations. "Cut the chatter and get the ship ready. We got work to do."
"He certainly is thin-skinned." Decoe remarked almost silently.
"That is the only place where he is thin." Bocoe replied, knowing how much Robotnik needs to go on a diet.
"Let's get moving!" Robotnik shouted as he had enough about his dumbots talking about him. "Set the ship's course for Station Square! We're paying Sonic and his little friends a visit, for the last time!"
He then cackled to himself as he also muttered silently. "Just you wait, Julius. I'll prove to you that I am the much better ruler than you will ever be. Once I get rid of Sonic and collect all of the Chaos Emeralds, you're finished."
With that, the giant battleship took off with the construction workers left in horrified awe, forgetting about the other danger that was approaching them from the sea.
"He's more dangerous than we thought, even without the rumored Death Egg he launched twice years ago." The construction worker boss murmured fearfully.
Too late as the shock-waves became stronger while everyone nearly lost their balance, they looked up to see a giant submarine shaped like a mixture of an Orca Whale and a Shark as it was half the size of Robotnik's Egg Fort emerge out of the water and anchor itself onto the shores of the island. As the crew could only stare in horrified awe, the robot's mouth opened up and shot fired a missile which exploded and opened up to reveal a giant net.
"Look out!" The head boss warned as they all tried to run away again, only to be captured and trapped in a net like a school of fish before being pulled in along with several of their construction work. The workers could only scream in terror as they were all then engulfed and swallowed whole along with the ship and cranes, everything.
The giant Orca-Shark-Bot then closed it's mouth shut along with the hatch inside before sinking back into the ocean, the logo of the Iron Empire visible on the side.
Viewing this in his office after a week of recovering from a humiliating defeat, Julius, having had orders to capture the crew for his own construction work to up his game, listened in to his assistants reports.
"We have successfully captured the Government's construction crew, sir. However, it appears that Dr. Ivo Robotnik has survived and is now making his way to Station Square again in a giant flying fortress that is seemingly unstoppable." One of the assistants informed.
"So, my second-rated brother has predicted the attack and built himself the fortress for payback." Julius growled to himself, even though he had known that his sibling had been alive all this time. "Monitor that fortress, I want that thing brought down, and bring me that little brat with the Chao. Kill Sonic at all costs."
"Yes, sir." The Iron Empire soldiers and assistants saluted, before heading out of the office to begin their new mission.
The evil Iron Empire Leader growled darkly as he watched the video link. "You think you can outsmart me, Ivo, but you will never succeed me. I am ten steps ahead of you."
While Robotnik prepared to attack Station Square again, Julius was already at the next stage of his new plan.
Back at the Thorndyke Manor, after the emotional moment between Sonic, Cream and Cheese, they had continued the tea party before deciding to head back inside for something to eat where the group headed into the kitchen as he prepared to make lunch.
"Hope you guys don't mind it's hot dogs and chili dogs for today. It's pretty much the main thing I can cook around here since we're pretty low on almost everything else, and I can't cook all of the other stuff Ella can." Sonic apologetically said, as he had gone a little bit of shopping himself.
"It's okay, Mr. Sonic. I'm really surprised you can cook hot dogs and chili dogs, too." Cream assured as she and Cheese set out the plates, and while the blue hedgehog had told her that she didn't have to help, she replied that she wanted to since she would help her mother out in the kitchen voluntarily.
"Yeah, well, Chili Dogs is my all time favorite. I mean, sure I can cook my Mom's pancakes and a few other stuff, but nobody can beat her, or Ella's cooking and I bet your Mom makes great cooking too." Sonic shrugged sheepishly.
The five year old girl giggled. "My Mom makes the yummiest bakeries and sweets. She even makes delicious Pumpkin Pie."
That made the blue hedgehog's mouth water at the mention of it. "Mmmm...That sounds delicious. Wish I could try some."
As he was humming a tune while frying up some hot dogs with the friends falling into a comfortable silence, Cream spoke up again. "Mr. Sonic? Would it be okay if I meet your Mommy and Daddy someday?"
"Sure, Cream. I can even show ya' around Green Hill Zone if you want. That place is great. You and Cheese would love it." Sonic replied as he turned over the sausages in the frying pan. "I used to play around there all the time, and my parents are great. Dad used to work for the royal family in Mobotropolis as a part-time soldier and a pilot before he retired eight years ago and Mom is a nurse."
"Wow! That sounds great." The young girl remarked in awe. "Have you ever been to Mobotropolis before?"
"Maybe a few times, apart from when I first started fighting Eggman." The blue hedgehog shrugged, smiling a bit sadly as he placed the normal hot dogs made for his youngest friend and her Chao, serving them before making his Chili Dogs and carefully but quickly carried them to the dining room table with his friends following him. "Guess we just kinda stopped when I was six."
"How come?" Cream asked, curiously as they sat down ready to eat, with one plate having about three hot dogs with the other having the same amount of Chili Dogs.
Sonic tried not to flinch, his ears drooping a little in sadness. He shouldn't have spoken that way, he had been too lost that he didn't even think to stop himself from going that far down into the memory lane. But he'd feel guilty for lying to her if she found out eventually in the future. His loss was nothing compared to what most of his friends had gone through, and as much as he didn't want to disrespect his late uncle, he still has a mother and father, and an adoptive little brother.
"Well, see...I...I used to have an uncle, who's name is the same as Chris' grandpa. At least that was his nickname. His name was Charles Hedgehog, or Sir Charles since he and Dad were knighted by the King. Everybody else used to call him Chuck or Uncle Chuck." Sonic eventually replied, gazing sadly at his food. "He...He died when I was six."
That shocked Cream and Cheese as the former softly gasped, especially with how sad the hero of Mobius looked despite that he tried hard not to let it get to him. "Oh...I-I'm sorry, Mr. Sonic. I didn't mean to make you sad."
"It's okay, Cream. I just try to avoid in thinking about that day. Plus, my Unc' wouldn't want me to be sad forever. But I think you woulda liked him, too. Like Tails before I met him, Uncle Chuck used to be an inventor and a really kind scientist. He taught me the few things about the Chaos Emeralds, and other cool stuff, but even then he'd put aside his work to spend time with us. He was a great guy, he'd look after me when my parents would go out once and a while, and to me, he was much like what my Dad is; I guess you could say that I used to have two dads instead of just one, if you know what I mean." Sonic explained sadly, but still smiled softly as he then ate, but a slow pace instead how he would gobble them out like he always did.
Cream looked ready to cry again, but she tried not to. Now she felt even more awful for asking the blue hedgehog for help when he too had lost a family member at such a young age.
"I loved him so much, and even now, I still miss him a whole lot. But I know that he's always watching over me and I have to move on because I still got Mom and Dad, and I got Tails and Amy, now Chris, and you guys. I deeply appreciate what I still have." The blue hedgehog continued, quickly wiping away his tears in embarrassment. "Deep down, I know that he's always with me in my heart."
"I think your Uncle is very happy for you, Mr. Sonic." Cream pointed out, surprising him once more. "Please don't feel sad. You lost a family member too like all of us."
Sonic had been expecting Cream to lash out at him like how she did when Chris complained about how his own mother left even though she felt bad about it and how he felt bad a short time later due to how the little girl's mother was still in the clutches of Julius. But while she had apologized to him afterwards and the lessons were learned, the teenage hedgehog didn't expect her to understand and tell him not to feel terrible since while he still had his parents, and gained lots of friends, he still lost a loved one which was a tragedy.
"Thanks, Cream." The blue hedgehog replied sincerely, which made his youngest friend smile, before he gestured. "You'd better eat that before it gets cold."
"I will, and you'd better take it easy and try not to feel bad." The young child teasingly replied with Cheese laughing.
"Yes, ma'am." Sonic snickered, sharing a laugh with the five year old as they ate more calmly and happily this time. It was then that he officially decided that he loved Cream and Cheese. It was easy to get along with her, and even easier to take care of her.
She and Tails were such great little kids.
"What's that!? What do you mean the construction crew vanished, and the fortress is heading this way?" The Mayor of Station Square asked over the phone, after getting reports on what happened when the workers failed to return or even report. He had also been alerted by the return of Dr. Robotnik who survived the destruction, which made everyone believe that the evil scientist had kidnapped them.
Or worse.
Just as he asked for the air force to at least intercept the fortress, the Mayor was suddenly informed to look out of the window. Hesitantly he did so, only for his jaw to drop while his grip on the phone loosened that it dropped onto the floor at the mere size of Robotnik's giant vessel...that was ready to launch it's attack.
"...He's back." The Mayor gulped fearfully.
Meanwhile, Amy was just exiting the Mall with bags full of things she bought for herself as well as something very special for Cream as she surprisingly met up with Tails and Chuck.
"It's been pretty stressful that people were huddling all around me. This never happened before." Amy sighed as while she had enjoyed herself, she had also been somewhat harrassed by fans during her clothes shopping. "They just wouldn't leave me alone."
"I kinda had the same problem when I was out with Chuck getting what we need for the X Tornado." Tails sighed, shuddering as he rubbed his namesakes. "One of the kids thought I was a toy, pulled at my tails and wanted his mother to buy me."
"It's probably due to since you both and Sonic have saved the world that you're more popular here in Station Square, whereas on South Island, Green Hill Zone is fairly an opened area, is it not?" Chuck pointed out at the two youngsters. "It will take a while for people to get used to all three of you."
"Even so, we've been to Mobotropolis with Sonic...then again, it was kinda like what happened today, only less severe." The seven year old cub shook his head.
Amy just sighed in disappointment. "I'm so glad that I didn't take Cream along. She wouldn't like being surrounded by crowds at all." She could just imagine how the little five year old girl would react. The young Mobian rabbit would be so scared and extremely uncomfortable.
Just then, she and the others heard a loud rumbling which was heard through out the whole city, even at the Gala where Chris, his parents and Tanaka were, making everyone look up in alarm as the giant Egg Fort hovered over the city, much to everyone's horror.
"Is that...!?" Chuck exclaimed in disbelief.
"It's Eggman again!" Tails confirmed in horror.
"Of all the rotten luck!" Amy cried out in fear and frustration.
It was clear to them that Robotnik was back with the vengeance, and he wasn't going to hold off this time.
Unaware of what was happening in the city, Sonic, Cream and Cheese headed into the living room when the young girl requested him to read them a story after they finished off lunch. Having been reading the tale of the Wizard of Oz, which was one of Cream's favorites, he was just finishing up.
"..."And as Dorothy repeated these words, she found herself awoken safely in bed inside her room, surrounded by her family as though the Tornado never even happened. Even when she realized her great adventure with all of the friends she made was just a dream, she was happy to be back. Because there was no place like home. The End."" Sonic concluded, only to discover that Cream and Cheese had fallen asleep while taking a nap and unconsciously leaning against him.
The sight of the two made him smile, he gently rubbed the little girl's arm and the tiny Chao's back. 'They're just too adorable. Guess it goes to show that little kids are just darn cute when they're asleep.'
Deciding that things were okay and maybe a little bit of a nap wouldn't hurt, Sonic leaned back as made his two friends more comfortable before closing his eyes to rest for at least maybe a few minutes.
The moment Sonic opened his eyes, to his great confusion he found himself lying on the grass on a small hill on a bright sunny day against a tree in a place that was greatly unfamiliar too him, but still beautiful none the less.
"Huh?" Sitting up in alarm, he found that he was just outside of what it appeared to be an old kingdom that looked new, much like in the fairy-tales. "Where am I? Where'd Cream and Cheese go?"
Panic and worry began to overcome his senses as the blue hedgehog wondered if something happened while he had been asleep. His heart rate beginning to accelerate, the teenager stood up quickly and looked around his surroundings to see where his youngest friends were, and began to wonder if he was dreaming again.
"Hey, Cream! Cheese! Where are you? Please, answer me!" Sonic called out, hoping to hear their response.
Instead, he heard a giggle which at first he thought was coming from his new friend, but when the blue hedgehog looked down at the hill, his eyes widened that he did see a young Mobian rabbit girl, but not who he was hoping for. But one he'd seen recently in his previous dreams, the one who resembled to Cream.
"Huh? Hey, it's that girl! I must be dreaming." Sonic realized, then cupped his chin thoughtfully. "What was her name again?..." He then snapped his fingers in recognition. "Oh yeah! It was Camellia."
The blue hedgehog gazed at the young Camellia who was calling out happily. "Clover? Oh, Clover!"
"Chao chao, chao!" A Chao's squeak filled the air, and as Camellia looked up, she beamed happily while Sonic nearly gasped in shock when he saw a white and blue Chao fly over towards the young girl.
"There you are!" The little girl happily greeted, hugging the cute little creature who flew into her arms and hugged her back. "What do you want to play, today?"
"Chao! Chao-Chao!" Clover the Chao squeaked, covering it's eyes with it's tiny arms and made a mimick movement like it was doing a 'peek-a-boo'.
"You want to play hide and seek?" Camellia asked, and her friend nodded, confirming her answer. "Okay! Let's go to the-"
"Miss Camellia! Where are you, young miss?" A man's voice called out from down the hill, causing both Camellia and Clover to softly gasp while they turned around as Sonic looked to see who was calling them.
"Oh no! It's him!" Camellia softly gasped, which the blue hedgehog could hear, but again the name was somehow muted. She quickly then told the little Chao to hide, which the small creature nodded and flew away, passing by Sonic who moved out of the way, but again no one seemed to even notice him.
The Chao hide behind the tree where Sonic had woken up under, before the blue hedgehog looked ahead again to see who was coming that made the two very worried. To his shock as he softly gasped, the man that appeared in the previous dream was finally identified, and much like Camellia being identical to Cream, the man that appeared, a human man, was identical to another whom he knew terribly.
"Is that-!?" Sonic softly exclaimed, his heart dropping as he recognized the figure that looked horribly like Julius "Iron" Robotnik. But the man in question was wearing those 1800's gentleman kind of tuxedo, almost like Tanaka's, but complete with a top hat.
What began to freak Sonic out the most was the eyes...black with glowing red that looked more like a demon's or a monster's, cold and haunting.
"Ah, there you are, little lady. I believe your mother and father has warned you not to play far from home." The Julius-look-alike cautioned as he stood towering over the nervous Camellia, and the teenage hedgehog had the urge to run in and shield her. He didn't trust this guy, especially not in the first dream.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Jonathan. I just love to play outside." The little girl apologized nervously.
"Jonathan? What's going on here?" Sonic whispered to himself, not liking where this was going.
"I see. And who were you talking to, hmm?" Jonathan questioned, grinning slightly.
Camellia shivered, answering nervously. "Just m-my imaginary friend again."
The human man didn't seem to buy it, because he said. "Oh, really? Because I could have sworn I heard a little squeak or a chirp as you were talking."
"It was because of the flickies passing by. You just missed them. There were babies that were starting to fly. They were so cute." Camellia lied, and as though proving she was telling the truth, she, Jonathan and even Sonic heard different kinds of high-pitched chirping and saw actual baby flickies flying by with their parents near them.
As though convinced by this lie, Jonathan frowned before saying. "Well, in that case, come along, child. It is not safe to be out here."
"Oh...Alright." Camellia sighed, disappointed that she had to go home and not get the chance to play. But as she walked along with the man in charge, Clover the Chao could only saw in sadness, only to hide quickly when Jonathan looked back, and Sonic blinked, wondering if the human guy was seeing him.
And his sensitive ears could pick up what the Julius-look-alike was saying. "I will get that Chao, and all of it's colony. Then I will learn of their secret powers, as well as find the so called Miracle Gems."
"Miracle Gems?" Sonic murmured, only for everything to go white which blinded him, as well as the strange sound of...loud and giant engines?...
"Mr. Sonic! Wake up!"
"Wah!" Sonic yelped in fright upon hearing Cream's voice, sitting up straight and panted, just as his youngest friend and her Chao were now awake themselves and looking at him worriedly. Seeing them made him force himself to calm down as he said, realizing what just happened. "Uh, sorry, Cream. I was only gonna rest my eyes for a few minutes."
But before he could get a response, Cheese was not only frantically looking out of the window to get the others' attentions, but the same weird sound Sonic heard in his dream was heard again in reality, alarming him.
"Huh? What the?"
"Look!" Cream cried out, after she softly gasped while gazing out of the window.
Now worried, the blue hedgehog turned and saw the Egg Fort which made him gasp in shock as his eyes widened at the massive size of the giant flying ship, heading straight towards Station Square.
"It's Eggman! I knew he'd be back sooner or later." Sonic grunted with gritted teeth. Trust his enemy to ruin a perfectly good day.
"What do we do? Our friends could be in trouble!" The five year old girl exclaimed worriedly, fearing for their friends' safeties as they still hadn't come back home yet, with Cheese chirping worriedly in agreement.
Sonic felt torn. He could easily go out there and beat him, but that thing looked like he could use a lift with the X Tornado. Yet as bad luck would have it, Tails was still in town and was in danger along with Amy, Chris, his family, Tanaka, Ella, and everybody else, and at the same time, he couldn't leave Cream and Cheese all by themselves. It was a risk factor and he was actually worried that the Iron Empire could use this to their advantage. He didn't want to risk the same thing that happened at the Emerald Coast and he did promise to look after her today.
Then he thought of something as while he knew it was a bigger risk, the blue hedgehog had no other choice and if he was careful enough(which being careful really wasn't his style), he could find and pick up Tails and the others if possible.
"I have an idea. C'mon." Sonic scooped up Cream and Cheese and sped out of the door.
Few minutes later he had his two friends sit behind him while he took controls of the X Tornado, preparing for take off. Even though he wasn't used to flying this thing, he had thankfully been curious enough to actually watch Tails pilot it enough.
"You're gonna fly Mr. Tails' X Tornado, Mr. Sonic?" Cream asked, surprised. She knew that Sonic was a pilot himself, having flown here in his original Tornado as the X Tornado was originally the New Tornado.
"Chao chao?" Cheese chirped, a bit concerned.
"I usually leave the flying to Tails, but I'll sure try." Sonic replied, fiddling with the controls as he powered up the two engines, including that of the Chaos Emerald and to his relief and delight, it was working as the garage doors opened up and the freeway was large enough for take off. He looked over his shoulder and winked. "It'll be okay. Think of this as a free flight adventure."
"Okay." Cream replied, feeling a little bit better as while she was scared, she put her trust into the blue hedgehog, with Cheese cheering on.
"Alright. Here we go!" The hero of Mobius declared as he flew the plane to take off. It was a little shaky at first as this was like driving a rocket since he never did, but thanks to what he knew so far, he successfully lifted the X Tornado into the air and headed straight towards Station Square for his very first X Tornado air-battle against Robotnik's Egg Fort and whatever attacks would come through.
Back in Station Square, it was already beginning to look chaotic as Robotnik chuckled at the mere sight of the crowd down below. "You losers are about to learn that you can never defeat me! I'm like a rubber ball. Every time you try to slap me down, I just keep bouncing back. Since your government attacked me, and destroyed my base, I'm going to destroy your city, and rebuild my headquarters right here."
He then commanded loudly, "Launch the E-42 Squad!"
The hatch of the ship opened up to drop several said E-42 robots that came landing in the middle of the road which forced the crowd to run away in fear, as the large machines then began to wreak havoc across the city, destroying buildings and cars which exploded into rubble. Tails, Amy and Chuck run out of the building as while in another, Chris, Tanaka, Nelson and Lindsey peered through the window and both Ella, and her sister who were both dressed up for the day stood in shocked silence.
"Get down!" Nelson ordered as he shoved his wife and son to the floor with Tanaka covering all three of the Thorndykes as much as possible. Thankfully they were far from the firing line even as the building was starting to become smashed, but they weren't injured.
"This is bad! I wish Sonic was here." Chris murmured worriedly, knowing that even though Sonic could come, there was no way he could leave Cream and Cheese on their own.
"Yes, but the children need to be looked after and he cannot abandon his post." Tanaka said sternly, confirming the situation.
Back to Tails' group as they tried to run away themselves towards Chuck's car, they soon realized that it was too far and the large robots were beginning to block every exit from where they were.
"Ugh, there's nowhere to go. The whole city will be wrecked if this demolition derby keeps up!" Tails grunted as he and his two friends ran.
"We have to get home somehow so that one of us could get Sonic and the rest would stay to keep an eye on Cream and Cheese!" The elder Thorndyke stated.
"Easier said than done!" Amy cried out, despite that she had her faith in her 'boyfriend's' arrival sooner or later. At least she hoped he would come despite that Chuck was right. There was no way Sonic would leave the young girl home alone and she had been berated for leaving the child and Cheese at the beach house weeks earlier.
"Look! We can get back that way!" The two-tailed fox pointed up ahead towards Chuck's car.
"Excellent! Let's insi-"
Unfortunately before the kindly scientist could finish it, a wrecking ball smashed it cleanly in half and almost as flat as a pancake, much to the trio's horror.
"...There goes insurance." Chuck grumbled blankly.
To make matters worse, several of the huge robots began to corner them, trapping them. Tails was worried while Chuck grunted and Amy, out of defense yet not wanting her things and Cream's surprise to get ruined, showed the bag's into the man's arms.
"Hold these and don't lose them!" She ordered, causing Chuck to almost stumble in alarm while the pink hedgehog summoned her Piko Piko Hammer. "You're not going to stop me, buddy!"
The seven year old cub in the meantime, nervously sweating but realizing that there was no choice but to fight, steeled himself up as much as possible and said. "Stand back, Chuck! It's gonna be a bit tight!"
"Tails, what are you-!?" The elder man demanded.
Tails didn't listen as he did a Spin Dash he learned from Sonic and taught himself, hitting one of the Toroles with a combination of his big brother's skill as well as using his twin appendages to double the damage, narrowly avoiding the wrecking ball and smashing straight through the giant robot which went toppling down and exploded, and Amy smashed at another robot's leg, causing to fall and collapse as well.
"Now's our chance!" The seven year old shouted, pulling Chuck by the arm as the latter tried not to drop Amy's or his and Tails' things, the young kit leading the man and the pink hedgehog as far away from the remaining robots as possible.
"Amazing! I didn't know you could use one of Sonic's fighting skills!" Chuck remarked, never having seen Tails use Sonic's Spin Dash before.
"Well, I learned it from Sonic on our first adventure." Tails bashfully replied, blushing a little.
)-(
"It's that fox brat!" Robotnik grunted in sheer annoyance, growling. "I forgot he can do Sonic's Spin Dash skills. Well, I'll just have to make sure he doesn't get to his precious planes and get rid of Sonic more easily!"
"But if Tails is down there, who is that flying the X Tornado?" Decoe questioned curiously, pointing up ahead which got both Bocoe and Robotnik's attentions as they saw what the tall yellow robot was seeing.
Much to their shock, the aforementioned plane was heading straight towards the city itself, which was also noticed by Tails' group as they saw the young fox's beloved plane which really surprised them.
"The X Tornado!?" Tails exclaimed in disbelief.
"But who's piloting it?" Chuck asked.
It wasn't until Amy noticed a familiar blue figure in the pilot seat and softly gasped in amazement.
)-(
"Here I come, Eggman!" Sonic declared, preparing to take down the robots, with Cream and Cheese holding on with fear as well as excitement at the same time, while the crowd below also saw this and cheered on in relief.
"It's Sonic, and he's got Cream and Cheese with him!" Chris exclaimed in surprise, not having expected to happen.
"Sonic's piloting the X Tornado, and with Cream and Cheese!?" Chuck shouted, once again amazed as well as worried.
"Guess Sonic thought it was safer to bring them with him and the plane to us so he can fight these robots!" Amy realized, both worried as well as relieved.
"Alright, Sonic!" Tails cheered, despite worrying about Cream and Cheese's safeties.
"Ready, guys? It's gonna intense, so hold on!" Sonic instructed his two friends who nodded and braced themselves. Once he got close and saw that the controls were much like his own plane as well as the original New Tornado's modeling, he opened fire at the E-42 robots, knocking them down and despite that he would've prefered to attack them with his speed, he would take what he can do for the time being.
)-(
"So that hedgehog can pilot the plane do, can he? Well, let's see how he can handle this!" Robotnik growled, realizing who was flying the X Tornado. "Let's play, Sonic! For keeps!"
"Bring it on!" Sonic declared, smirking despite that he felt a bit awkward in flying his best friend's/little brother's plane. He just needed to get the right angle to get rid of most of the robots and pick up his friends to rescue them, as well as having Tails take over the controls.
"Ready, steady...Fire!" The evil scientist ordered, as several missiles were fired straight towards the plane.
Luckily, the blue hedgehog maneuvered the X Tornado as hard but carefully as he could, firing more lasers at the missiles which caused them to explode and even took the risk of descending. While feeling terrible for scaring Cream and Cheese, he told them to hang on as he got closer to the robots before quickly moving up which had the missiles instead destory the other Toroles one by one.
"Even without running, Sonic's still winning." Decoe shrugged in exasperation.
After Sonic destroyed the last of the Torole robots, or at least he hoped he did, he tried to reach the point where Tails and the others were as he asked his friends. "Cream, Cheese, you guys doin' alright?"
"We're okay, Mr. Sonic!" Cream called out.
"Chao, chao!" Cheese chirped.
"That's good to hear." Sonic smiled, then smirked at his opponents again as he declared. "Time to go get our friends and finish this!"
It wasn't until they noticed more robots emerging from the Egg Fort and gasped in shock, this time being flying ones called the E-43 Falcons which flew towards them ready to make fire.
"Whoa!" The blue hedgehog yelped with a sweat drop, quickly firing back to block the attacks which collided in mid-air, and he used this chance to move to the side in order to try and escape, while the Falcons quickly followed. "Man, I wish I could trick these guys on the ground! I can't even use my Homing Attack unless Tails takes over for me!"
Robotnik in the meantime laughed evilly, "Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Even if that hedgehog could run on the ground, my Falcon robots all come with special speed seeking detectors! Sonic is running to his doom!"
"Oh no! Sonic's having trouble! I wish I was up there right now!" Tails exclaimed in dismay.
"What are we gonna do?" Amy asked, worriedly.
"There's nothing we can do unless we head back home to at least burrow Sonic's Tornado, but it's really far away." Chuck gravely announced. "I just hope he knows what he is doing."
"C'mon, Sonic...you can do it." Chris softly encouraged worriedly as he, his parents and Tanaka watched on worriedly.
Sonic in the meantime opened fired at more Falcons before having an idea. He smirked and flew the X Tornado straight up towards the Egg Fort. "Don'tcha worry, kids. We're gonna be just fine!" He told Cream and Cheese who looked a bit worried, but tried hard to believe in him.
Robotnik saw what the young hedgehog was doing and gaped in disbelief and horror, realizing what Sonic's plan was. "It can't be!"
"You can blow Sonic out of the sky. If you send in the E-33 Buballs and order both them and the Falcons to self-destruct." Decoe suggested as he approached his creator.
"Excellent idea!" The evil scientist agreed with a grin, pushing a button.
Just as Sonic, Cream and Cheese were closing in on the Egg Fort to open fire and cause serious damage while attempting to trick the Falcon robots to crash into the giant vessel, to their dismay the blue hedgehog's plan quickly failed as more robots flew out of the sky, and to make things worse, they were trapped in the middle and the robots were blinking, ready to explosion.
"OH NO!" Sonic screamed in horror, realizing too late what was going to happen. He gazed at Cream and Cheese who both saw this and screamed in horror, the little girl crying out his name and heavy guilt, fear and sorrow quickly formed in his heart that they were all about to die. In desperation at the last second, he quickly dove the plane to descend while narrowly avoiding in getting hit, though the blast did nearly catch them off-guard.
"AAHHH! C'mon, don't lose altitude on me now!" Sonic grunted, struggling to pull the plane back up while hoping against hope that they would make it even as more E-33 Buballs were flying towards them from behind, ready to attack.
"Mr. Sonic...!" Cream murmured fearfully, hugging Cheese more tightly as she too braced herself while beginning to cry. But as she and Sonic braced themselves with the latter sweating nervously as the robots began to open fire even though he did manage to regain control and was about to maneuver the plane again, as down below their horrified friends screamed out to the trio, Cheese, not willing to let it end this way, and the Chaos Emerald in front of the blue hedgehog glowing more brightly, began to glow himself as though the little Chao was focusing hard.
Just as the two different kinds of robots were about to detonate, Cheese raised his arms as he glowed even brighter along with the Chaos Emerald. This caught the attention of both Sonic and Cream who gaped in surprise. "Huh!?"
The two were then forced to squeeze their eyes shut again when Cheese somehow once again used Chaos Control, the sphere of light engulfing them and the X Tornado which vanished just seconds before the E-33 robots fired, narrowly missing them and destroying the last of the E-42 robots on the ground. Tails, Amy and Chuck as well as everyone else gaped in shock and disbelief at what just happened, while Robotnik and his two cohorts just stared, bewildered. The plane by then reappeared on the ground in a landing position just like before on Seaside Island.
Cheese panted a little before sighing in relief as he and the Chaos Emerald both stopped glowing, while Cream nervously opened her eyes and softly gasped. "Look, Mr. Sonic! We're okay."
Sonic in response opened his eyes and found that she was right, looking around in disbelief. "What's going on? How did that happen?"
"I think Cheese used that Chaos Control like Mr. Tails and Mr. Knuckles said." The five year old girl replied.
"Was it really your doing, Cheese?" The fourteen year old hedgehog asked, astonished, realizing that it was really true; Cheese can use the power of a single Chaos Emerald, and that in turn saved his and Cream's lives. The little Chao nodded, before the cobalt teenager sighed in relief. "Hey, thanks. Don't know how you did it, but you saved us."
)-(
"OH NO! That little rabbit girl's Chao used Chaos Control, just like on the island! I forgot that little pipsqueak could use the Emeralds!" Robotnik shouted in dismay, his hands on his head.
)-(
As Sonic had put the plane into landing gear just in case and opening up the hatch since they landed on the road, Tails, Amy and Chuck hurried over calling out to the trio in the X Tornado.
"You guys okay, Cream?" Sonic asked in concern.
"We're okay, Mr. Sonic." Cream replied, a little nervously but very much relieved that they were alright. But the look of terror in her eyes still lingered, and it ached the teenager's chest.
"I'm sorry for putting you into this kind of danger. I should've just left you guys at home, but I...I was so afraid that the Iron Empire would get to you." The blue hedgehog apologized deeply, lowering his head in guilt and his ears drooping against his head as he realized his biggest mistake. "Some babysitter I make. I promised I'd protect you, and I let you both down."
He felt terrible. Sonic realized then that he hadn't been thinking clearly. The only reason they were lucky now was because if it hadn't been for Cheese, they would both be dead by now.
Cheese, sensing Sonic's sadness and misplaced shame, gently flew out of Cream's arms and landed on top of the blue hedgehog's head, nuzzling his tiny body on the teenager's fur to soothe him while murmuring in Chao language which surprised Sonic who looked up to him.
"Cheese is saying that you shouldn't feel bad, Mr. Sonic." Cream translated, knowing what her best friend was doing, and smiled sympathetically. "And he's right. You did protect us and if we hadn't been here, you would've gotten hurt and so would Mr. Tails and he wouldn't even get to the X Tornado in time."
Even though Sonic still felt awful for putting his youngest friends' lives at serious risk, wishing he'd been better in taking care of them, Cheese's presence was enough to calm him down a little and so he smiled softly and gently plucked the tiny Chao and held him in his arms.
"Thanks, Cheese. You're a brave little guy, just like Cream's a brave little girl." Sonic responded, making the Chao chirp happily and hugged him which made the blue hedgehog laugh as he was being slightly tickled, which made Cream giggle as well.
"Sonic!" Tails called out, making the trio look to see the two-tailed fox cub, Amy and Chuck now stand beside them.
"Hey, Tails! You guys okay?" Sonic greeted, opening up the hatch as he knew that his time as a pilot was over.
"We're okay, but we were so worried!" Amy cried out in relief and concern.
"Sonic the Hedgehog! What were you thinking bringing Cream and Cheese along and using the X Tornado without full flight experience!?" Chuck demanded angrily.
"I know it was a risky idea, but I couldn't leave them behind with the Iron Empire still around. Maybe I should've done so, but it seemed like a good idea at the time." The teenage blue hedgehog nervously smiled with a sweat dropped. "At least I brought the X Tornado."
"That's no excuse, young man." The elder Thorndyke scolded, his arms folded firmly. "You and I are going to have a long chat later on."
"Please don't be mad at him, Mr. Thorndyke. Mr. Sonic was just worried." Cream pleaded worriedly.
"Chao, Chao." Cheese chirped.
"Yes, Cream, but he should be more responsible. You're still too young to be getting into these situations." Chuck said firmly.
"Look, I'm deeply sorry for putting them in danger, Chuck. I didn't know what else to do, and I was worried about them being alone if the Iron Empire attacked too, and I was worried about you guys." Sonic deeply apologized, feeling like he was being scolded by his parents instead of Chris' grandfather. "It won't happen again, I swear."
"It had better not. It's far too dangerous to put children into these situation, let alone putting yourself at risk everyday." The kind scientist replied.
"Wait a minute, Chuck. Are you saying that I'm too young to help out too? I am seven years old." Tails pointed out, firmly.
"Well, you're more responsible Tails, and-"
"Hey, don't blame Sonic! It's not his fault that Eggman is causing more problems! Nobody knew about this, and with the Iron Empire still around, Sonic didn't have much of a choice! What was he supposed to do!?" Amy snapped angrily, her eyes flaring up which actually frightened not just the elder Thorndyke who flinched and held his hands up in surrender, but Sonic, Tails, Cream and Cheese who all sweat dropped nervously.
Plus the more Amy's angry glare gazed into his eyes, the more he began to think that Sonic really didn't have much of a choice, and while it was merely luck that Cheese had risked in using his mysterious power and connection with the Chaos Emerald to save himself, the blue hedgehog and Cream as well as the X Tornado, as much as he hated to admit it, it was a far better scenario then what would have happened if Sonic came all by himself, especially with all of the robots despite being able to destroy them with his speed.
If it had been him leaving Cream and Cheese at home without using the X Tornado, or using it, both cases would be far more severely risky.
"You're right. I am sorry. Just be more careful next time, alright?" Chuck sighed in defeat.
"Right." Sonic nodded, before helping Tails up. "You can take over now, Tails. Sorry I had to burrow your plane."
"That's okay. We do need it anyway." Tails replied as he took control while Sonic helped Amy up since the pink hedgehog obviously wanted to come with. "You'd better get to a safe place, Chuck. We'll be okay with Cream and Cheese."
"Don't worry. We'll all be back." Amy added with a promise.
"Just be careful out there." The elder Thorndyke cautioned.
With that in mind and Sonic now free to stand on the outside of the plane with his little brother in controls, Tails, relieved that his plane didn't receive any kind of damage, controlled the X Tornado to fly as everyone held on with the hatched closed. Now at the better advantage, once the X Tornado was high enough even as the last of the Buballs robots coming in, Sonic used this chance to use his Homing Attack to smash them in mid-air in super speed, destroying them with ease.
"Yeah, now this is more like it!" Sonic cheered, smirking as he landed back onto the nose of the plane which was reaching straight towards the Egg Fort, and needless to say that Robotnik was far from happy.
"Get them now! Blast away!" Robotnik shouted, as the Egg Fort opened fire, but thanks to Tails' more professional skills, none of the attacks hit the X Tornado was the Mayor down below noticed.
Unfortunately the giant flying ship's attacks hit the building the Mayor was in, destroying it even though everyone had braced themselves and were still alive.
"We can't let Dr. Robotnik attack the city anymore! Everybody will get hurt." Cream cried out, worriedly.
"She's right. We've got to get Eggman away from the city somehow." Tails agreed.
Sonic knew that his friends were right, then had an idea and told them. "Right! Leave this to me!"
The blue hedgehog then quickly told his friends of the plan which made the younger Mobians think it was a good idea as well as a bit funny, the two-tailed kit flew the X Tornado straight up to the cockpit in front while avoiding more of the Egg Fort's missiles. While Robotnik growled furiously at them, Sonic playfully taunted him by smacking his rear end with a raspberry. Tails, Amy, Cream and Cheese laughed at the scene before the seven year old cub flew the X Tornado away from the city, prompting the mad doctor to follow.
"I've had it with that hog. That's the last time he'll diss me." Robotnik growled. "Move it! Turn the ship around and go after Sonic!"
Though they knew they had to do as they were told, both robotic minions were getting exasperated and tired over the situation.
"What chance does he have against Sonic?" Decoe asked, facepalming himself.
"I estimate his chance of defeating Sonic at zero." Bocoe shrugged.
As the Egg Fort left Station Square to defeat Sonic once and for all, the Mayor, charred and in a mess within the destroyed building, weakly asked. "Could somebody please call housekeeping?"
Now out at the open ocean, the X Tornado was leading the Egg Fort well away from the city, with Sonic smirking. "It worked. Now we just gotta beat that thing."
The giant fortress opened fired again, but missed as the X Tornado moved out of the way. That was when Robotnik decided to go for the big guns; literally.
"Charge up the blaster cannon!" Robotnik commanded. Decoe and Bocoe did so as a huge cannon opened up from within the ship before he shouted dangerously with every intention on destroying his enemies once and for all. "FIRE!"
A massive blast shot out of the ship, to which Sonic and his friends saw before they all gasped in horror. They all screamed as Tails quickly attempted to move, only to be seemingly hit as the water torrents shot up from the ocean. At first, the evil scientist declared victory to see that the Mobians were gone, only to frown quickly as he then saw that as the water dissipated, the X Tornado and it's pilot and passengers survived.
"Oh no!" Tails cried out as sparks began to start on the panel. "The energy circuit got fried! We're in trouble! In a few seconds we're sitting ducks!"
"What do we do!?" Amy exclaimed fearfully, as Cream and Cheese began to whimper in fear.
Back inside the Egg Fort cockpit, Robotnik was getting impatient, shouting orders once again. "I won't miss Sonic! Get ready for another blast!"
Decoe and Bocoe both quickly tried to get it ready as fast as they could, scrambling about everywhere to get the cannon ready, before panting as they were about to freeze up or malfunction or whatever.
"I could use an oil change." Decoe wiped his forehead.
"He takes care of other robots, but doesn't take care of us." Bocoe complained.
"GET MOVING!" Robotnik shouted right into their faces, frightening the two robotic minions who flinched back.
Back outside, Sonic heard what was going on and asked his friend. "So the X Tornado can only fly at full speed for a few more seconds?"
"Yeah, if we're lucky." Tails replied nervously.
Despite that the hero of Mobius was worried, he then had another idea, hoping that it would work and this time he knew that they had to end this once and for all. "Okay then. Then you should fly full speed at the bridge! Tails, I need two of those Power Rings!"
"Sonic, that's too crazy!" Amy protested as she, Tails, Cream and Cheese were shocked.
"I know you can use two Chaos Emeralds like before, but the Power Rings might be too risky." The two-tailed fox added.
"Trust me, this is our only chance!" Sonic told them. He knew it was a risk as he was still learning how to use the Power Rings, but the Egg Fortress was too strong and they only had one Chaos Emerald in hand.
Reluctantly realizing that he was right, Tails nodded before flying the X Tornado around to hover in front of the larger ship.
"Is the blaster cannon ready?" Robotnik asked.
"Almost, doctor." Decoe replied, only for Bocoe to tell them that they had company. They all looked up to see Sonic standing on the front of the X Tornado with determination, as though he was about to do something.
"What is this?" Robotnik asked in confusion.
Sonic was silent, ready to do this. He held out his arms downward, as Tails shot out two Power Rings which the blue hedgehog caught in both hands. He could feel the intense warm power surge within his body as he crossed his arms, absorbing them as he concentrated. His body then glowed in a mysterious blue aura, his eyes shaking but as the blue hedgehog was empowered by this, he was doing to use this power to defeat Robotnik and his Egg Fort once and for all.
"Hang on! Here we go!" Tails instructed as the two girls and little Chao braced themselves, while he flew the X Tornado at full speed towards the Egg Fort.
"Blow them away!" Robotnik ordered as he saw them coming.
"The cannon is still recharging! There's not enough time!" Decoe informed in a panic, much to the evil scientist's horror.
Sonic by then glowed even brighter as he was covered in golden aura, before jumping into the air and Super Homing Attacked once more. He easily dodged all of the ship's attacks, tearing straight through the ship's cockpit and out again as it began to explode from inside out, much to Robotnik's dismay.
"We have lost all controls, Dr. Robotnik!" Bocoe informed in a panic.
"We have to abandon ship immediately!" Decoe added worriedly.
Furious and full of hate, Robotnik could only shout aloud. "Curse you, Sonic! I'll get you!"
That was the last thing he said for now as the entire Egg Fort exploded and fell into the ocean where it sank. Sonic landed safely back onto the X Tornado as they thankfully still had enough power to make it back to the shores of the Emerald Coast, landing on the still ruins of the Emerald Coast resort with the Royal Navy out in the ocean. Everyone was thankful that things were alright for now.
"You did it, Mr. Sonic!" Cream cheered happily as she and Cheese celebrated.
Sonic gave his youngest friends a wink and a thumbs up, only to cringe as Amy came out and hugged him tightly, cheering. "My hero!"
"Well, we've stopped Eggman again, but I'll bet he'll be back." Tails informed as he and his friends gazed at where the giant airship sank.
"Do you think Dr. Robotnik will ever stop?" Cream asked, worriedly.
"I dunno, Cream. But I'm not gonna stop fighting him." Sonic announced firmly as he and the worried Amy gazed out at the open ocean.
"And with the Iron Empire still around, Eggman's got plenty of tricks up his sleeves. This battle's only just beginning." Tails added in concern.
Sonic knew his best friend/little brother was right, and now that Robotnik was more aware of Cheese's ability to use Chaos Control, it was clear that the evil scientist could really do what his brother Julius would do.
"So, the little Chao used Chaos Control once again, saving the blue hedgehog's life, and now Ivo Eggman's ship has sunk." Julius muttered as he and his men watched the whole thing unfold, with another robot fish spying on Sonic's group as the young Mobians were fully unaware of this. "What is the status report of our new workers?"
"They are in good health within the cells, Sir. Any further orders?" One of the assistants replied.
"Not for now. But very soon they will begin working on the next part of my plans. You're dismissed." The evil Iron Empire Leader replied. Once his workers left the room, he grinned evilly at the monitor once more, whispering to himself. "You and my brother may be against each other, Sonic, but very soon you will both be finished, and that little girl and her Chao, and all of the Chaos Emeralds will be mine."
He chuckled darkly to himself, even though there was a new problem which was now far too close to home.
Robotnik's Egg Fort had sank beneath the sea, which would mean that one way or another, his brother could soon see where his Underwater base is.
And so would Sonic if the hero of Mobius knows about this.
A/N: It has been a struggle with this story, but we are getting on the right track as the parts I've been wanting to write for ages will be coming soon. Sorry that this was late as I originally intended on this chapter being the first or one of the first of 2022, but I got stuck on writer's block and things are still going crazy in the real world.
Until then, hopefully the next episode won't take as long to write, but I'm not sure at this point.
See you later!