The flight across the ocean after leaving South America behind felt like it lasted eternity by the time they were close to English airspace, Sonic, still dirty and caked with monster blood, fell asleep on the wings.

He was glad Tails didn't do anything reckless with the plane, the blue hedgehog didn't want to take a dip in the sea, he couldn't swim and was afraid of water, despite having taken beach trips loads of times.

Many attractive girls, whom Sonic had been dating at the time, would always offer to give Sonic swimming lessons only for him to politely decline, saying that he would be interested in swim lessons one day.

Sonic didn't feel prepared during those times, but when the time came, he would make his choice. After all, his last girlfriend and Tails did make a valid point that the doc could use Sonic's aqua phobia against him.

As Sonic slept and his thoughts drifted, he dreamed that he'd just sent Eggman into full retreat, the mad doctor angrily shouting that he would return with an even bigger robot, one that would defeat the blue hedgehog.

As the dream progressed, Sonic would race off to a large house where the girl of his dreams was waiting for him with a tray of chili dogs and their kids welcoming him home, asking Sonic how his day was.

Sonic had that dream so many times, he loved to dream of the day he got the girl he wanted and the days he would spend with his family while still doing some adventuring and doing the hero thing.

He would think of when he would get to bounce one of his kids upon his knee, telling them stories of his adventures he'd shared with his friends and the toughest of times he had faced.

But the future was a long ways away, in the meantime, Sonic had to ancient treasures to hunt down and there were more adventures waiting.

"Sonic, we've passed over the English channel and we're in English airspace!"

The blue hedgehog opened his eyes and sat up, hearing his buddy Tails, telling him that they had reached British airspace. Sonic breathed in the breezy fresh air and looked at his surroundings, there was nothing much in sight, just clouds and birds, a green countryside and the outline of a city in the distance.

Judging by the outline of Big Ben, it was London. Sonic knew England like the back of his hands, he'd been there, even visited the Scottish Highlands and Ireland.

"Man, I do love England." Sonic said with a smile, "I'll never forget New Market and all those other locations, not gonna forget the times I've gone on a tour of every British Landmark.

"I will also never forget the times I toured Glasgow and visited Cardiff. Golly, Cardiff has a great community. I wish I could see Cardiff again soon."

Lara called to Sonic, "I've visited Cardiff a lot and I have been to many landmarks here, I'm good friends with the curator of the Cultural Museum in London."

Sarah was shrieking with excitement, "Oh, Tails. I can't believe this, we're actually visiting the nation of England. I've always wanted to come here, visit London and see the sights, maybe have some tea with the queen herself, explore the Scottish highlands and meet so many people."

Tails chuckled, "Well, my love. If you're up for a little date where we can explore something like a British city, I'll be happy to do something like that." Sarah squealed happily, "Oh, how can I say thank you, my dearest Tails?"

"We'll kiss and make out after we get clean," Tails replied, which made Sarah giggle, "Ok, fox boy, But we're having fox cake too, ok?"

Oskar raised his hand, "Uh, what's all of this about fox cake?" Lara laughed, "Lets not bother, Oskar." Sonic coughed a bit, "Thanks, Lara."

The fiver adventurers fell silent as they flew over London, past Big Ben and over Buckingham Palace. Down below, a handful of tourists watched as the big biplane flew over, guessing that it was the biplane of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Many took out their cameras and started flashing pictures at the plane, eager to post it on social media pages like Flutter, Spacebook or Instaphoto, show it to their friends and pen pals throughout the whole world.

"So let us know when your mansion's just up ahead, ok?" Tails told Lara.

"Got it, Tails." Lara replied, she called to Sonic, "HEY SONIC! BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR A BIG HOUSE IN THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE!"

The blue hedgehog turned and winked at Lara, flashing his signature thumbs up, "You got it, Ms. Croft."

The intrepid speedster ignored the nineteen year old adventurer giggling as he scanned their surroundings, the city of London passed and they were flying over more countryside, over a dirt road.

"See anything yet?" Lara called, eager to know something.

"Not yet!" Sonic replied, shaking his head in response.

"Let us know when you do!"

It didn't take too long, Sonic knelt down over the edge of the plane's wing, careful not to fall off. A few minutes ticked by, nothing much happened, then Sonic saw it, the Croft Mansion.

Given the fact that he was on a plane high in the sky and the mansion was down below on the ground, the blue hedgehog could hardly see the structure, but given the shape and size, the intrepid adventurer could tell it was a mansion. "I see it!" Sonic called to his companions.

"You see my mansion?" Lara replied with a sarcastic laugh, "My, that was quick, isn't that right, Oskar!"

Oskar was giggling, "That was quick, especially when Sonic is fast and furious as we're dealing with the fastest and most skilled person on the planet."

Tails and Sarah rolled their eyes, "We know, lets not remind ourselves."

Sonic gave a thumbs up, "You can try landing the plane, Tails. But lets not get too close to that mansion or we'll overshoot our landing, alright?"

Tails nodded, "You got it, landing mode on."

Tails pressed the blue landing gear button and slowly tilted the plane downward as they descended, flying over one last mountain and trying not to crash and wreck The Tornado.

Who wanted to see the plane crash and burn again, especially after heavy modifications and after all that hard work repairing it?

"Tails, I would like to know if all of your landings are smooth our rough!" Lara asked, "Can you tell us? I've actually had a few rough landings before."

"To be fair, Lara." Tails replied nervously, "We've had a few crash landings." Sarah gulped, "Well, be glad I wasn't there for those landings. I am absolutely scared of crash landings, I've watched them very few times as a little girl."

Lara cusped her hands together and said, "May the creator watch over us." Oskar was praying quietly to himself, praying a prayer his mum had taught him when he was young, a prayer to nature and the universe for protection. A good three minutes later, the plane jolted as it touched solid ground.

Tails hit the brakes and the Tornado came to a solid halt upon the grassy field, right by the mansion.

Sonic jumped off and breathed in the apple-smelling grass, walking towards the mansion. Oskar and Lara climbed out at the same time, being very careful.

Tails climbed out before assisting Sarah like the perfect man he was before wiping some sweat off his forehead, along with a some remaining monster bits and drops of monster blood, "That was close for comfort, but in the end, another happy landing as they say."

—–

Walking towards the mansion, Sonic and the others took in the sight of pink roses and tall palm trees decorating the mansion garden, also respecting the design and architecture of the building, it had been built well and stood like a proud magnificent castle where the monarchs resided.

"The fact that your mansion is in the middle of nowhere out in the countryside is wild, no gates or parking lots n' stuff, Lara." The hedgehog commented in a sassy tone, "Besides, does your family have any automobiles?"

Lara laughed, "Of course, despite our partial isolation away from society over the many centuries, my family has acquired many forms of transportation. Well before the automobile was invented, we still used horses and carriages.

"Later, during the early 20th century, when things changed, that's when me family began using cars and bikes, planes occasionally. Starting half a century ago, we began use of motorcycles too. I hope I explained it well."

"Nah, I think we're cool." Sonic shrugged, "I'm ok, right, Tails?" Tails nodded, Sarah gave a thumbs up, the two foxes agreeing with Sonic that everything was absolutely fine and superb.

"If you don't mind," Lara offered, "I can try to show you about the place, having guests is very rare, but I don't mind. After all, we have a lot of places for you guys to stay if you wish."

That would actually be a nice idea. Sonic thought, I actually like it, me staying here would also give the two of us the opportunity to know each other before we decide that we're perfect for each other. You just might be the one I want.

"That's a rad offer, Ms. Croft." The blue hedgehog said aloud as they walked up the steps towards the front door of the house, "My friends and I would be honored to stay with you, given that there's ancient treasure out there and we can work as a team. Together, you and me could stand a chance."

Lara was surprised. Well, she thought, I'm not surprised. Of course you'd accept my offer, you are handsome.

"How very generous of you to take me up on my offer, Sonic." Lara said, "I like your thinking. Of course you can stay here at my place, you and your friends can either bunk in the living room or sleep in one of the bedrooms.

"Either way, I am generous like you, Mr. Hedgehog. But enough chat, time to rest and take care of the Ratakyan scrolls that are most important" The group stopped at the entrance to the house and Lara knocked on the brown door.

"TOM!" Lara shouted, "WE'RE BACK! Are you in there?"

Footsteps on the other side of the door, a man replying in a British accented voice more crispier than Lara's, it sounded Welsh, "Comin'."

The sound of keys jingling as the footsteps stopped made Sonic's ears perk up a bit, he tapped his foot and looked at his watch upon his wrist.

Sarah tried to get some monster bits out of her hair to try and look decent, Tails helping out a little bit. The door opened and there stood a man with combed brown hair and dark green eyes in a black suit, smiling.

"Ah, Lara and Oskar." He said with delight, beckoning the group to enter the house, "Welcome back, I hope things went well."

"Sort of." Lara replied solemnly, "First off, Tom, we lost the Croft Enterprises plane, it blew up."

The butler, Tom, was shocked, "What happened to the pilot?"

"Louis is gone. He went down with his plane a heroic war veteran and a courageous friend. He will be missed as he still lives with us in spirit."

"Hiccup number three?"

"That's about it, Tom. Unless you count that a few somebodies basically beat us to the treasure in the Ratakyan ruins."

As Lara was talking to the butler, Sonic took in the view of the house itself, the entrance hall was decorated nicely with red carpets upon the floor, glass chandeliers dangling from the ceiling, columns and pillars holding up the roof on each side of the room next to a glass ceiling.

As for the floor itself, completely made from marble, which was part of the mansion just like the stone used to construct it. The room they stood in was very wide, with a few doors on the left and right, leading to different rooms.

"That explains quite a bit." The butler said, once Lara was done talking, he looked at Sonic and then at Tails and Sarah, "Lara, you are really good at making new friends."

Lara blushed, "I try my best, Tom."

She looked at Sonic, "Sonic, as you can tell, this is the family butler Tom Terivankle. Tom, this is Sonic the Hedgehog," she gestured to Tails and Sarah, "This is Miles Tails Prower and his girlfriend Sarah Ann Vulpine, they were looking for treasure too..."

"Which we got our hands on," Tails interjected, "Then, during our bump in with Lara and Oskar, we came under attack from these weird creatures from who knows where who were populating the ruins and we fought back.

"Things did get a bit messy and after all of that, we're a bit tired and dusty, caked with blood and monster shards."

Sonic pulled out the bundled Ratakyan scrolls and handed them to Lara, "Yeah, so maybe its best to clean up before we go after any treasures out there in the world, eh?"

"Good point!" Lara gave the items to Tom, "Tom, could you hold on to these for a bit while we get cleaned up and I show 'em around the mansion, it would be appreciated."

Tom nodded, "I will make sure nothing happens to these while you and your pals get clean and get a new pair of clothes."

Lara nodded, "Thank you, Tom. Come on, guys. I'll show you the bathrooms and the bedrooms."

"You're gonna love this place in no time." Oskar told Sonic as they headed for the stairs. "I like this cool place already." The blue hedgehog replied.