Sonic 3

CH.3: A grudge over a distance

Dr. Eggman turned on the television at 8:30 a.m. and was shocked to see the faces of Sonic's friends. As he turned it up he didn't notice Sonic stir on his bed:

"This just in the Hotel known to many

as the "Lazy Heaven" just sank to the

bottom of Station Square. Unusually

high amounts of rain has hit Station

Square along with a lot of hail. The party to

rescue the stranded vacationers were

Station Square's own Chris Thorndyke

and Sonic's sidekick Miles Tail Prower.

No interviews were allowed by the tired

heroes as they headed back to their home

to recuperate. Another note has just been given

to me…it appears the shop belongs to Eggman…"

"What!" By now the two hedgehogs were wide awake and came into the living room rubbing sleep from their eyes. "Sonic, your friends stole my ship without permission and now all of Station Square knows its mine! All the sneakiness is gone and now I need a new form of transportation."

"Try walking,' Sonic suggested. As Shadow and Eggman exchanged confused looks Sonic fell to the floor. He seemed to be running while lying down and his eyes were large. Quickly as he could he dashed from the room and as the two looked out the window they saw him slip in the mud and go sailing into a tree. Apparently the phrase "take it slow" was an accursed word in his vocabulary. Eggman walked over to a bare table and as he pushed a hidden switch a Band-Aid popped up. Shadow gave Eggman a skeptical look. Dr. Eggman held the Band-Aid and all sound was left out.

"Wily must pay for the disastrous results of the machine and the success of Sonic and Mega Man! Also; he shall pay for not returning my two lackeys that were left behind. That tiny, no good, backstabbing, white haired scientist will get what he deserves soon. It will come to an end, I swear on it."

Amy Rose had just gotten back from the rescue mission and her appearance was ungroomed and tired. After they had dropped off the vacationers Eggman's creations attacked leaving them no room to relax or pat one another on the back. Behind her Helen was wet from head to toe and her eyes were alert for anything. Chris Thorndyke had the worst of it by getting hit in the head by hail and was nursing a bump. Big the cat managed to avoid the hail and at the same time the rain was pleasant in nature to him. Tails had just dried off his tails and collapsed as he passed the door. All were accounted for and when Ella came in she was glad they were alive, but not so happy at the puddle mess of their adventure.

"How…look…why?" Mr. Tanaka came in wearing his pajamas and slipped in a puddle of water. Amy rushed over to help him up and as he got up looked down to see his pants all wet. Ella shook her head and instead of lecture the kids on house rules she led Mr. Tanaka to the dryer. "Have you found Sonic?" Mr. Tanaka picked out a dry pair of pajamas and shook his head sadly. "Where can he be?"

"Maybe he is looking for those Chaos emeralds," Tanaka said. Ella kept hopeful and Tanaka gave her a smile to let her know. She wasn't the only one worried. Outside the storm grew worse and Amy and Chris began to pace around the room. Helen went to the phone to call her mom and Tails was pressed against the door wishing to ride out the storm and find his missing friend. "They are so worried, what can we do?"

"I don't know," Ella said sorrowfully. Just then a black figure surrounded in darkness came through the front gate. As Chris and Amy were about to open the door Ella came by and locked the door. "What has gotten into your minds?"

"It could be Sonic," Chris said. As they stared at the figure it began to wobble and then took a nosedive into the pool. Ignoring Ella's warning Amy unlocked the door with her hammer and rushed out into the storm. On the bottom of the pool was a bruised animal, due to the darkness she couldn't tell who it was. "Stand back Amy, I'm going in."

"Chris, what about the hail?" Ignoring her he dove in and regretted it as the cold water hit him. Fighting off the chills he swam down to the unconscious form and to his relief it was Sonic. Holding onto the icicle of Sonic he struggled to the surface and a fishing hook on his shirt. Ella was quick to put a towel around him and Amy started to chip away at the icy cocoon of Sonic.

"Great, just look at the pool!" Chris turned his shaking head to the pool and saw red and brown float on the surface. Amy had just finished her task and held her mouth as she saw on Sonic several cuts and scrapes. Sonic was rushed inside and while his wounds were tended for the group waited in the living room. "Poor Sonic."

"Nice going Helen," Amy said with a dark look. Helen gripped her wheelchair tighter and Chris felt scared. Helen, like Chris, was a good friend of Sonic; by Amy's standards non one should give any interest in Sonic as boyfriend, unless it was her. "I want to know where he's been."

"So do we all Amy," Helen said with anger creeping into her restrained voice. Tails flew in to find Sonic sipping a nice mug of hot chocolate and when he saw him he nodded. Tails sat next to him and the question on the tip of his tongue was what everyone thought. Sonic could tell by Tail's impatience.

"I went out to get some fresh air and got into a scrape with Shadow. I save his life only to bump into Eggman, who I also ended up saving. I dropped them off at Eggman's and, well I sort of fell asleep." Tails took in all this with fascination; just one thing was left out: how did he end up bloody and muddy?

"Sonic, in all the years I've known you have you ever lied to me?" Sonic put his cup down and stared at the Band-Aids on his arms. Tails was about to leave when the hedgehog tapped his arm. "Well Sonic, care to fess up about your trip?"

"Helen told me to slow down due to relationship problems and I stormed off. Shadow and I raced in the storm until he was struck by lightning. I then bumped into Eggman, but you know that part already. While at Eggman's I…sort of…said…walking." Tails held his mouth and tried to hold in bubbling laughter. What his friend relied on was speed, it was just if one took life fast where would it lead him? "Funny…huh?"

"Sorry, I just don't see speed as the answer to life's other problems. Helen misses Mega Man and was thinking of sneaking in to Eggman's house to get the world Band-Aid, since you were there, does he have them?" Sonic jumped down and made his way to the living room where everyone was talking.

"Look, Eggman would think twice before entering Wily's terrain world again. To carry around technology like that could only spell doom to its user. Chuck could you hand me that weird shaped pair of goggles?" Chuck Thorndyke hadn't been present until Sonic addressed him, and when he handed Sonic the goggles it began to emit red violet sparks. "Care to enlighten them?"

"Well, after your side adventure in the world of robots Sonic gave me a Band-Aid. At first I was skeptical knowing I hadn't sustained any injuries lately, but he assured me it had nothing to do with it. After letting a great deal of time lapse I tinkered with the Band-Aid and was in this Wily's word. I met a friendly man, Light I think it was, anyhow he led me back here where I duplicated this Band-Aid." Chris picked up the goggles and was surprised at how light they were. Now it was up to Helen.

"I don't know if I should," she said hesitantly. Amy didn't look at Sonic and Sonic felt he owed her a lot. There weren't many goggles and seeing how Helen wished for someone to accompany her, why not a fast hedgehog? "I feel afraid to go."

"Don't be Helen," Sonic said, "I know it may seem like your putting up all the effort to maintain a relationship, but you also must remember someone over there is keeping alive to see your face. That's why I asked Chuck here to make another pair of goggles," Sonic announced. Chris and Tails were surprised and Amy displeased at this surprising move. Helen seemed a little relieved knowing someone familiar would accompany her.

"What about Shadow and Eggman?" Sonic had kept what he knew a secret, but again it was for the safety of his friends. When Eggman fell asleep he snooped around and found an extra pair of Band-Aids in an empty pizza box. The real reason he would accompany Helen to visit Mega Man was to make sure Eggman kept away from Wily. For now it was a pleasure trip.

"Ah I'm sure they'll lay low for awhile," he said. As he yawned he said his goodnights and headed to bed, just not before Amy blocked his way. "Look Amy, I understand the silent treatment, so if you don't mind I'm going to go to bed."

"Listen buco," Amy began icily, "if you think going to visit Mega Man will get you away from me, then you're wrong. Tomorrow I'm coming too…then I will continue to be silent, so…goodnight." As she left, Sonic shook his head, his plan was in trouble.