Chapter 7 – Finding the dorm and talking with Eggman

The day has turn to night as the sun has already set and rest up until the first minute of tomorrow morning. Today for a certain few has been one unexpected but rather disappointed day for them. And that certain few are the Furious Five. They are walking through the hallways that leads them to their designated rooms. Since they are training under the tutelage of Master Espio, they lived in the Jade Tower and have their own rooms. In their minds were the events that took place today. First, neither of them were chosen to be the Dragon Warrior and then they just witness their new saviour to be an clumsy, untrained doof-bag who doesn't take it seriously like they do.

"No words to describes how embarrassing that was," Chip was the first one to speak, flying in the air with the help of his little wings.

"No doubt about it, Chip," Tails agreed, walking beside the flying dog-like creature. Of course, they were referring to the training that Sonic had performed earlier.

"But still, it was really funny that he keeps ramming into the wooden dummies a lot!" Chip added, bursting out laughing but was interrupted by Katherine who slaps him on the back of his head.

"It was not funny, Chip," Kate scolds her fellow Kung-Fu fighter. Then, her voice was replaced with a hint of concern. "But still, I don't know what Master Eggman was thinking. The poor guy is going to himself killed."

The echidna fighter jumps in front of them. "Yeah, not he is so mighty." Knuckle then begins to mock their new hero as the others stopped. "The Dragon Warrior fell out of the sky on a ball of fire!"

"Yeah, and when he walks, the very ground somehow shakes!" Chip joins in. "And everyone would be like, 'Was that an earthquake made by a bozo?'" Once he made the fat joke, he and Knuckle share a laugh together. Kate and Tails look on with a deadpan expression while shaking their head.

The only one who has spoken was behind the pack. Master Amy was in twine with two known feelings inside herself: concern and anger. Concerned about the pain and suffering that Sonic was going through, and angry that Sonic stole what was rightfully hers. Despite feeling the first emotion for the first time for him, she is fuel up mostly with the second one.

The pink hedgehog walks past her comrades. "I still wanted to know why Master Eggman chooses him instead someone who actually knew Kung Fu."

The others began to follow her. "Or at least, someone who can run a mile," said Tails.

"Or even can last a mile," Knuckles joked once again. This caused him and Chip to laugh again but both end up getting a whack on the head by the Dradian herself.

As the others walk off to their own room, unbeknownst to them, Sonic has been trailing right behind them. During the entire time, he has overheard the whole conversation. Hurt has taken over his face. He looks down at his stomach. Due to his state, like what they said, he doesn't know if he can outlast a mile. That and can't quite see his shoes completely while looking down. Not just because of his weight, he was also curious to know on why his name is Sonic. With one of the main question rattling through mind, he decided to rest it through a good night sleep. He lets out a sign before walking towards to the rooms. Even though he was hurt from the insults; to him, they are pretty much true. And he was used to it.

After turning a few corners and taking a floor down, Sonic finally arrives the hallway where the bedrooms are located. It was already lights out; meaning the Furious Five were probably fast asleep. He decided to find an empty room to sleep in. So, in order to get to his room, he has to be extremely quiet.

"Okay," Sonic quietly whisper. He takes the first step, causing it squeak. Taking the second, it squeaks again. So much for being quiet.

"Great," he grumbled. For his next step, he decided to take nice and slowly. He lifted his left foot and gently touches the ground. This causes to make a loud but long creak... and sends Sonic's foot through the floor.

The noisy hedgehog quickly pulls his foot out and tip-top nervously. But every step he makes still creaks up the place. As he picks up the pace, Sonic loses his balance and trips into a room. Unfortunately, it was not the room that he was looking for. Because it was already occupied by Tails.

Sonic sees the twin-tailed fox who was already wearing his nightgown and a nightcap. He was sleeping in his bed… until Sonic woke him up. Tails then stared back at him while removing his nightcap off his eyes.

"Oh hey…um,hi. You're,uh…, you're up," he nervously chuckles. Luckily for him, Tails didn't seem too angry at him. It was either he was a bit too tired to be mad or he shouldn't give the hedgehog a hard time since he's new here.

Tails rubs his eyes. "I am now."

The hedgehog was now embarrassed that he walked into one of his heroes' room and disturb them. Sonic scratches his head.

"Sorry about that, man. I was... just trying to find my room, that's all," he answered as the fox nodded. "Well, some day, huh? That Kung Fu stuff is hard work and all. I'm surprised that your tails aren't sore yet from all that work out." Tails then looked at his tails and pulled one over in front of him.

"Yeah, I know and, um…, listen. We pretty much had a long and... rather disappointing day. And we need sleep, so uh… that's what I'm going to do. Try and get some sleep," he said, calmly. He was trying his best not to hurt Sonic's feeling but it was true. He and the others had a busy day and they would love to get some sleep.

Sonic understands what he meant. "Oh! Sure, sure. No problem. I see. You're just trying to get some rest." He turns away and proceed to the door.

"Oh, thanks," Tails acknowledges. Finally, he was getting some rest. He reach up to pulled down his nightcap...

"Oh, man. It's just... I'm a huge fan, ok?" Sonic turns back to him full of excitement.

Disappointed, Tails lets go of his nightcap. "Oh, really?" The fox wonders, raising an eyebrow. He knew that Sonic wasn't going to leave that easy and anytime soon.

"You guys are so amazing battling the Burrowing Moles Squad from attacking Station Square orphanage and…and, uh, I just couldn't sleep for days! Oh and believe me, I almost got a heart attack from it," Sonic mused on with awe. Tails continues to listen to him and couldn't help but feel a mixture of both surprised and touched. Never in his training years to hear something like that to him from a fan like Sonic.

The hedgehog pressed on about one of their past achievements. "You guys were outnumbered 1000 to one, but you never stopped for one second, and then you just…" Sonic then demonstrates some Kung Fu moves that were copied on that day to Tails. After the third punch, Sonic's right hand went through the paper wall right beside him. Sonic retracted his hand and peeks through the "new little window". The hedgehog finds out that the newly-made hole leads to Knuckles' room where he was busy meditating…until now.

"Oh, sorry about that," Sonic apologise. The echidna is now very miffed and just glares at the hedgehog. Man, does that hedgehog have the ability to annoy them or what?

"Look, hedgehog. I'm flattered," the fox acknowledges him and then begins to scratches his head in uncomfortable state. "Really, I am but... you don't belong here, okay?"

Sonic became very shocked and then became depressed. It looks like he's pretty stung about what he just heard from one of his heroes.

He lets a disappointed sign. "I know. You're right. I shouldn't be here. It's just…my whole life I've always wanted to be-"

"No, no, no. I didn't mean it like that, really," Tails stops him before he keeps embarrassing himself even more. "I was meant to say was you don't belong here, in this room. This is my room." He motion Sonic around the room. "Property of Tails."

Sonic was now mortified but he quickly covers it up. It was because he realized the facts: he was definitely in Tails' room and the fox here just want to go to sleep.

"Oh, right. I see. You wanna go to sleep," Sonic opens the door and begins to walk out. "And I'm keeping you up. We got big things tomorrow." Tails nods. "You're awesome. Last thing I'm going to say. Okay, see ya." Sonic does a peace sign before he closes the door, disconnecting the visual of Tails. A second later, Tails lets out a sign. Another second later, Sonic opens the door.

"Did ya say something?" he asked.

"Uh…No, I did not," answered Tails.

Must be his imagination. "Well, alright then. Goodnight and sleep tight," he finished, closing the doors again.

Once he's outside the room, Sonic thought that was pretty much the most awkward moment that he had ever experience. He also figure that his new room is right beside Tails. So, with the help of the wall, Sonic carefully tip-top to the next room. Just when he was about to reach for the door, another door behind him whipped open, revealing a very annoyed Amy who glares at the sight of the new neighbour.

Sonic gasps in surprised when she made her appearance. "Oh, Master Amy. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He points to his left. "I was ju—"

"Look, I'll be straightforward with you: you don't belong here," she tensely interrupted him. Sonic pretty understands what she meant like before with Tails.

"Yeah, of course. This is your room an-" But Amy steps forward before he could even finish which causes him to be a bit scared.

"That's not what I meant, hedgehog. I was meant to say was you don't belong in the Jade Tower," Amy clarified.

Sonic couldn't believe what he was hearing. Amy was his favourite member of the Furious Five. He had always admire and respected her but never in his life, she had to say something like that to him. To his face. Amy then continues on.

"Look, I appreciate any fans like yourself and our work but…you're not the Dragon Warrior, and you know that too," she added.

Sonic sadly looks down. "Well, you're right about that," he couldn't help but agreed.

"Then why are you still here and would not let me be the Dragon Warrior?" Amy harshly demanded.

Sonic looks up to face her. "It's just,...well,...because I love Kung Fu. Ever since I was little. I have always dreamed to be trained by the greatest masters off all time. But even though I'm not good, I was wondering if... you guys would have the little bit oust of kindness and decency to support me, please?" he asked her in a pleading way.

Amy looks to the floor for a moment and looks back to face him. "We would…but we won't, ok?" Sonic's smile dropped. He was about to speak up but Amy bet him to it.

"Listen, hedgehog. Let's get one thing clear: you're pretty much a disgrace to Kung Fu. So, if you want to stay, that's fine. But, if you have any respect for who we are or our ways, it would be wise for you to leave by morning," she finishes, slamming the door on Sonic. The hedgehog slumps sadly all alone in the hallway.

Not able to sleep after what has happen here today, Sonic finds himself under a peach tree. The tree itself was in the garden near the dojo. What is unique about this tree is that it was hanging over the edge of the Jade Tower and it is very ancient; more older than this city itself. Sonic himself had his head down.

Never in his entire life felt so embarrassed and awful. First, Espio had made him look like a fool, and then, the Furious Five - his idols - have insulted him. If they have the nerve to hurt him like this, then why was he chosen to be the Dragon Warrior? Was it all part of a trick? To make fun of him? Because if that's true, they are doing one heck of a job. But the great Master Eggman can't be lying about choosing him to be the Dragon Warrior. He himself would never made a mistake.

Speaking of the master, unbeknownst to Sonic, Master Eggman was approaching from behind, holding a lantern in one hand and his stick in the other. He has noticed the hedgehog earlier and decided to check on him.

"I see you have found the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, Dragon Warrior?" he answered. The hedgehog was again surprised by his presence and quickly turns around. Eggman sees him carrying a huge amount of peaches in his arms and a couple in his mouth. At the sight of the great master, Sonic couldn't help but drop them in shock. Now, he's mortified.

"Is this was it is? Oh, man! I'm so, so, SO sorry. I—I thought it was just a normal peace tree to me!" he apologise as one peach falled out of his mouth. He spits out the rest over the edge of the building which falls into the streets below. Eggman chuckles at this scene and comes to a stop. By the look on his face and what he has heard after he has made the announcement he made, he seems to know what is on the hedgehog's mind.

"I see. You eat when you're upset, don't ya?" he clarified, kneeling to Sonic's height.

Sonic quickly removed the last peach from his mouth. "Upset? Really, me? Who says I'm upset? What makes you think I'm upset?" He brushed it off.

Eggman continue to stare at him. The master could see through his lying. "Then, why are you upset?"

Sonic just signs. There was no point of lying to the great master. He might as well tell him. "I just sucked, ok! I probably sucked more anyone else today in the history of Kung Fu, in Mobius and even in the history of sucking."

"Absolutely" Eggman agreed with him.

"And on top of that, the Five hates me! Oh man, you should have seen them," Sonic continued.

"Right about that," the master agreed once more.

"And how is Master Espio is going to turn me into the Dragon Warrior? I'm not like the Five! I don't have wings, no spikes on my hands, a weapon. Even Tails' tails can fly." He looks away as he sits down on the ground, sadly. He knew this was a mistake. He was never meant to be the Dragon Warrior and never will. "I should give up, go home and go back to making Chili Dogs."

Eggman never knew Espio was giving him a hard time today, even his students. And he was not expecting the hedgehog to give up. Maybe there was something to help Sonic so he can achieve his dream as the world's final of a sudden, an idea came to his head. On how to encourage the Dragon Warrior. He smiles as he uses his staff for support to get up on his feet.

"Quit or don't quit. Chili Dog or don't Chili Dog," Eggman spoke up. The confused hedgehog turns back to face him. Eggman than continued on. "You are pretty much too concerned with what was and what will be. It's like the old saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is gift. That is why it is called the present." He finishes as he leaves with the bit of wisdom for the Dragon Warrior. As he walks away, he gently hits the tree with his staff; causing a peach to fall directly into Sonic's open hand.

Sonic then looks up after witnessing the fallen peach. And for the first time in hours, he puts on a big smile. Eggman's words must've cheer him up a bit. It had also made him realises something. Despite what happened here today, he must forget all the pain and move forward. He decided that in order to make his dream come true, he can't quit no matter what.

And he'd better hurry. Because danger lurks in the horizon.

Author's Notes: Man! Most of the characters can be mean to Sonic, especially Amy. But don't worry, she'll revert back to her kind usual self near the end and hopefully, in the sequel if you guys want me to do it. I wouldn't mind consider doing the sequel. But I won't be starting that until next year at the latest. Not until a few of my FanFics is out of the way and dusted.

First off, today was my little sister's first day of high school. From what I have heard from was pretty much a lot better than primary school. Believe me, I know how she feels. I've been to that school before for high school and I'm starting to miss it. I did spend lots of great years there. Some of my friends are still there and if I remember correctly, it's their last year there. Man, time fly so fast these days.

I guess that's pretty much it for me, so, don't forget to review, comment or PM me. I'll be uploading on Sunday nights at 8:30 from now on. Either that, enjoy!

Until we meet again,

TheDragonLord2912

I do not own any Kung Fu Panda or Sonic related characters. They are property of Dreamworks and Sega. Other character who appeared in this FanFic belong to me.