Chapter 17: The Secret of the Dragon Scroll Pt. 2

Shadow's arrival will be very soon. And the warning has already flooded the streets of Station Square.

Once the warning has been made, the citizens were already scrambling to get out of the city and far away from the danger as possible. Years ago, many have fear of the annihilation made by their once hero. They begin to collect their necessities that they need on their travel.

The Five were already at the base of the Jade Tower's stairs. After saying farewell to their master which would probably be the last time, they vowed on his last wish that they would protect Station Square with their lives. Although they were still injured from their battle with the runaway hedgehog hours ago, they manage to regain few more energy; enabling them to walk on their two feet. Even Chip who has managed to get his wings moving.

"We have got to get them out of the city safety," Amy pointed out while carrying a lit lantern in her gloved hand. She was still enduring the pain in her chest where it hurts the most from one of Shadow's attacks.

At the corner of her eye, Kate spotted a crying baby tiger cub sitting on the street curb; all alone. Tear streaks were already strained her furry face as the Dradian approached the child. The kind warrior took pity of her; picking the creature up and hold her gentle in her arms.

She extended out her wings. "Come, little one. Let's find your mother." The Dradian leaps in the air and let her wings do the magic as she flies in the air that was blanket in the same clouds that surrounded the area at the Rope Bridge of Hope. Although she too was hurt, her wings were still strong enough for her to travel in the sky but low enough to find the kid's family in the bustling crowd.

As the pink hedgehog watches the flying human-dragon hybrid fly off, it was time for the leader of the Five to fill her role and began to lead the evacuation in spite of her sadness. She turned to the three remaining team-mates. "Knuckles, you gather up the citizens from the southern region. Chip, you get the northern. Tails, you light the way."

Amy passes him her lantern. Tails takes the light in his grasp, twirls his tails around and flies in the air. The pink hedgehog looks in the distance to see Kate has already located the kid's family and goes off to help everyone else. With all her team-mates spilt up and helping the community to evacuate, Amy does the same thing. She decided to help a family who are close to her with their belongings. Approaching the family, the pink leader helps carry their bags and leads them to the city's exit.

The only person who was left on the stairs and not far behind Amy was a certain hedgehog. Not just the Five but he too was overwhelmed by this event. All by himself on stairs, he stops to watch the others go off to do their own part in order to help the city. Under any circumstances, they knew they were ready for this. Letting out a sad sign, he moves off the steps and keeps on walking.

He makes his way through the active city of Station Square. As others panic through the streets, he shared a mixture of sadness and depression with his head down. With all these emotions rattling inside of him, he really wants to go somewhere where he can forget all of his troubles. And he knew just the place.

His home.

His real home.

It has only been more than a week since he has last rested in his own room, where he has served a meal due to the business that he works and where… he has last seen his dad. It wasn't that long since he has last seen his dad. It was before he was announced as the Dragon Warrior. He didn't have a chance to come down and see him. After all this time, he felt bad for seeing his dad for so long and more importantly, shameful to see his dad; leaving him unexpected.

Just when he was a few steps away from the shops entrance, the same leopard and the pig; the ones from the day of the tournament, were carrying their belongings. The leopard then spotted the hedgehog and nudged his friend beside him.

"Look, it's the Dragon Warrior," he scoffs. His friend nods in agreement.

Dishearten hedgehog glances at them. Some hero I turned out to be. Rather than take on Shadow which he was supposed to do but instead, Espio will take his place. He couldn't help but feel like he is part of the blame. Why did Espio have to force the entire city to evacuate in order to prevent Shadow from harming anyone? Was it to because to fix the mistake he made all those years ago? Well, yes. But wasn't this Sonic's destiny. To defeat Shadow and to bring to Station Square?

While he continued to think, he finds himself at the entrance of the shop. He looks up to see the one person he knew all his life. His father. Vector the Crocodile was packing most of his belongings on his cart. Most of them were the store's items. It looks like Vector wants the business to continue in a new location. As he continued to pack wasn't expecting a customer. More like a familiar face.

At first, Sonic couldn't bring himself to see his dad after been gone for a while; more than he has been in all of his life. But he can't hide himself forever. One of these days, he has to face it head-on. Well, here goes nothing.

After taking a deep breath, Sonic takes few steps inside. "H-hey, Dad," he spoke up before looking down again; not wanting to see his father's reaction.

The sound of his voice caught Vector off guard. The croc turns around and to his surprise, standing a few feet away from him was his hedgehog son; looking all shameful. Shock has taken over face when he saw Sonic but another emotion has now taken over his face: Joyful.

"Sonic!" Vector cried out. What would be the first thing as a father like Vector to do when he haven't seen his son like Sonic for so long? Simple, he rushed over, picks him up and pulls him into tight hug. Sonic was surprised that his father was hugging him rather than scowling him. Guess Vector missed his waiter – no, his son so much. Just like Vector, Sonic missed him as well. Touched by this, Sonic smiles and hugs his reptile guardian back. Right now, he was glad to be with his only family.

While still in the embrace, a rustling was heard. Sonic's eyes whip open to see Vector puts him down, pulls him out of the hug and straighten… his apron?

"It great to have you back, son," Vector said; beaming with a smile. He goes back to his loaded cart. Vector must have fastened the apron around his son's waist while they were hugging. Looks like he did miss his waiter son after all. Great. Back to square one. Guess Vector knew Sonic's dream of being a Kung Fu warrior didn't work out so he comes back to where he was meant to be. The Chilli Dog dream lives on.

The blue hedgehog looks down once again; listlessly. "Good to be back."

Vector grabs the handle of the cart and faces his son. "Let's go, Sonic." He begins to pull the cart out of the shop with Sonic trailing behind. They both leave the home and their shop, possibly forever. As he walks out of the entrance, Sonic glances back at the Jade Tower with a wretched expression.

Goodbye, Espio. And... I'm sorry.

As they walk, Vector came up with ideas for their future. "So for our next shop, I think it's time for a new change," the croc begins. "The future of Chilli Dogs will have not just Chilli but Tofu mixture as well. I know I did mention before that Tofu was stupid but if you think about it, it's a great way to bring in vegetarian customers to our store." The head chef was unaware that Sonic is slowing down. Miserably, the blue hedgehog looks down at the scroll in his hand as Vector continues to rant about the changes of their new restaurant.

He was so close. So close of achieving his dream as a Kung Fu master. Just like in his dreams. Frighting side-by-side with the Five. Being the greatest hero that the world has ever known. But now, his dream was shattered and was back where it all started. All his hope was crushed. As Sonic comes to a stop, many people and creatures moved around him and continued to press on for the exit.

"Also, I was thinking, maybe this time we'll have a separate bathroom for you to have," Vector suggested. "Hmm? You like that?" Vector turns around and notices that Sonic has stopped following him. The croc also noticed the gloomy look on his face. A while back, Sonic admits to his father that he loves Kung Fu which at first surprised him but knows that dream would never happen. He had a dream before when he was a young croc but to him, it was a stupid dream. But for Sonic's, it looks like he really wants his dream to come true. Vector felt so bad for him.

He walks back to his son sympathetically. "Er, Sonic..." he spoke up as Sonic looks up to see him. "I'm sorry things didn't work out. It just... wasn't meant to be."

Sonic slumps down on the floor. Great moral support, Dad. That really helps me. A lot.

Vector lets out a sign. He couldn't bother to see his son all gloomy. "Sonic, please. Forget everything else. Your destiny still awaits. We are Chilli Dog folk. Spicy food runs deep through our veins!" Vector was hoping his little speech would cheer him up but it didn't.

Sonic looks away. He was not encouraged by this. "I don't know, Dad. To tell ya the truth, sometimes…" he was having trouble to say what was next, "I can't believe I'm actually your son."

Wow. Vector was taken aback by this statement. Sonic was ashamed… to be his son. Vector tries to speak but couldn't find the words.

Maybe… just maybe… it was time. Time to tell him… important.

Vector steps towards his son.

"Sonic…"

The hedgehog glances at his father. By the look on Vector's face, it looks important. "There is something… I should have told you… a long time ago..."

This brings Sonic's attention. He stands up. "Okay..."

The croc opens his mouth but quickly shuts it. He looks to the side; in case anyone is around. Finding out that they are the only ones here, he turns back to his son. He motions his son to come closer. Sonic moves forward. Vector motion again and Sonic moves more closely. Vector places his hand beside his mouth and begins to say what his son really wants to hear. Vector opens his mouth again—

"The secret ingredient of my Secret Ingredient Mixture for Chilli Dogs," Vector whisper.

Sonic's face fell flat. He was NOT expecting this.

"Oh," Sonic uttered. He fakes the excitement; not wanting to disappoint his father. On the other hand, he will finally know the secret ingredient he has heard for so long so he continued to listen.

"Ok. The secret ingredient is..." the croc pauses dramatically while taking a deep breath, "…nothing."

And Sonic was NOT expecting that either. He taken completely by surprised.

"Huh?"

Vector nodded. "You heard me. Nothing. There is no secret ingredient! I just made it all up!" The croc admits his secret to his son.

Sonic was still confused than ever. "So, wait. Hold on. It's just the original mixture? You don't add some kind of special spice or different meat or something?

"You don't have to." Vector places a hand on the hedgehog's shoulder. "Listen son, in order to make something special, you just have to believe it's special. That is the secret."

So, to make something special, you have to believe in it. Or in other words, to be something special, you have to believ—

Just then, Sonic looks at his father with dawning realization. He picks up the scroll and removed it from its container. He unrolls it to reveal the same golden reflection. Sonic looks down at the surface which shows a reflection. Of himself.

He understands now.

The secret to limitless power.

His eyes become wide as Sonic looks at his father. "There is no secret ingredient…"

Vector raised his eyebrow in confused as Sonic turns back to look at the Jade Tower. Thunder clouds begin to gather around the building. Sonic puts the scroll back in its container.

Now knowing the secret, Sonic runs back to the Jade Tower. The croc was surprised that his son was heading for the other way that he started to freak out. "SONIC! What are you doing?"

Sonic doesn't stop running but he looks back to see his dad. "Don't worry, Dad! Just go with everyone else and get out of the city. I KNOW what I'm doing!"

Vector wanted to remind him that the last time he said something like that; he almost got himself killed from that 'firework experiment' a while back. But it was too late as Sonic has already made his way to the base of the Jade Tower.

He halts in front of the stairs and looks up to the building. The stormy clouds have already draped around the city in a matter of seconds. Looking down at the Dragon Scroll in his hands and with a new shade of confidence appeared on his face, Sonic starts to race up the stairs.

I know what I must do.

Author's Notes: Now's this is the moment you all been waiting for …..…..…...

ESPIO VS. SHADOW!

Then, it's the epic two part chapters – Sonic vs. Shadow!

Only five more chapters to go! Sorry for the wait. I was busy yesterday and I didn't have time to finish it. But I promise that won't happen again.

First off, Vector is BACK! It's has been like what, 14 chapters! YIKES! That croc sure has been gone for a long time. At first, when I saw this movie, I though Mr. Ping was going to tell Po that he was adopted but he tells him about the Secret Soup instead. Well, at least he told him about his origin in the second movie – which I WILL write up next year (I hope; depends on time but we'll see). But we will get to see him very soon.

Anyway, I had my job interview on Friday and guess what? I GOT THE JOB! Which means more time gaining experiences & money and less time writing my FanFics. But I can't let that happened. They will probably night time shift so I'll get more time in the day-time. But I won't find out until next week where I'll get the time for my shifts

Also, went to a friend of my 21st birthday bash! Wow, first mine and then someone else's. The theme was also Harry Potter so I end up taking my sister's colourful owl that she made in primary school. The night was a great one and it was good to catch up with my friends that night.

Before I forgot, I do want to answer your reviews/PMs but I wanted to do that at the last chapter. It'll save me time, that's all.

So, that's it for me. Don't forget to review, comment, favourite, PM me or whatever and I'll get back to you.

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.