After checking into a hotel, the heroes began deciding their next move, using the map of the city from Backpack.
"As you can see, there aren't many places around here a group of villains could hide very easily" Gear explained "no abandoned warehouses or factories or whatever."
"What is up with that anyway?" Sonic wondered "it seems like, no matter where we go, there always seems to be a warehouse for E.V.I.L to set up shop. Maybe they have 'instant warehouses', or something that they bring with them so they set up a base."
"Who knows?" Jake replied.
"Anyway, Jake here is the expert on magic, so I figured he could clue us in on any magical hotspots" Gear added.
"Yo, don't look at me" Jake explained "I know as much about this place as you do. Gramps and Fu didn't exactly elaborate on where all the magical craziness is going down."
"Well then, unless you have some kind of magic tracker, I guess we'll have to start from scratch" Gear replied.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving" Sonic chimed in "there any good places to eat around here? Preferably ones that serve chili dogs."
"I really don't think we should be using our technology to search for restaurants" Static replied.
"No it's fine, to be fair we could all use a little something to eat" Gear said "you'd think a high-tech jet like ours could supply an in-flight meal."
He typed a few keys on the keyboard and the hologram displayed several locations in the city.
"Okay, I'm not seeing anyplace that might have chili dogs" he said "but this place sounds interesting, 'the Silver Dragon.'"
"Sounds Chinese" Jake said "maybe somebody there knows my gramps."
"Then it sounds like that's our next destination, um, provided it's okay with our fearless leader" Gear added.
"Fine with me" Leonardo said "although I suppose Sonic and myself will have to wait outside."
"Maybe not" Gear said "I may have something to fix your problem of not blending in."
A few minutes later, our heroes headed to the Silver Dragon, unaware that the incognito Weather Vane was also on her way there.
"I have to give you credit, not even Donny could think up something like this" Leonardo told Gear.
The turtle and his hedgehog pal were currently camouflaged by handheld holographic devices, which made them resemble normal humans. Leo looked like a normal person wearing a green turtleneck (obviously), and light green sweatpants.
Sonic's human disguise included his gloves and shoes, but gave him a blue hooded jacket and pants, plus a spiky hairstyle, although he retained his short stature.
Both were wearing devices on their wrists that resembled a gray, high-tech watch. Buttons on the watch controlled the holograms, allowing them to be turned on or off at will.
"Not bad gadget boy" Sonic said, admiring himself in a nearby window "of course, it's not as good as the real thing."
"I do amaze even myself sometimes" Gear replied proudly.
After what seemed like forever, they finally arrived. "Hmm, pretty quaint looking place" Leonardo replied "it looks like somewhere my Master Splinter would hang out."
"As long as it has good food, I don't care" Sonic replied, "let's go inside and see if we can get some menus or something."
The assorted band of heroes stepped inside, and were soon greeted by a young Chinese girl with long ponytails.
"Hello, my name is Hay Lin" she said "and welcome to the Silver Dragon. You've arrived just in time for the lunch special."
"Sounds good" Leonardo replied.
"Hey, what do you have around here that's hot dog related?" the disguised Sonic asked.
"Nothing I'm afraid" Hay Lin replied "we serve only Asian cuisine here."
Sonic felt his rumbling belly "I should complain, but I'm super hungry" he replied.
"So, has this place been here long?" Leonardo asked.
"As long as my grandmother's lived here" Hay Lin explained "she founded it years ago."
"Is she here?"
"Yeah. She's in the back" Hay Lin replied "did you want to speak with her?"
"No, I was just curious if she were still around" Leonardo replied.
"Oh" Hay Lin said. She led them to an empty table and handed them menus "please wait and someone shall be with you shortly" she added, before heading off.
"She seems nice" Gear replied.
"Never mind that" Leonardo replied "we need to start keeping an eye out for anything suspicious."
"Hey, easy there boss man" Static said, "we're in a restaurant, it's not like the bad guys are gonna come in here and wreck up the place."
As usual though, Static didn't know how wrong he was. For soon after he made his comment, the in-disguise Weather Vane arrived at the restaurant.
"Hello, welcome to the Silver Dragon" Hay Lin greeted her cheerfully "may I seat you?"
"Thanks, that would be, wonderful" Weather Vane lied.
The Chinese girl took the disguised villainess to a nearby table. "Our waiter will be right with you" she explained before leaving.
"That works for me" Weather Vane replied "it'll give me a chance to scope out this place."
Checking to make sure no one was watching, she slipped from her seat and headed towards the backroom. Unlucky for her, that didn't go unnoticed.
"Hey, did you guys just see that?" Sonic asked "that lady just got up and headed in the back."
"So? Maybe she works here" Gear suggested.
"I don't think so" Static replied "I saw that peppy girl lead her to a seat."
"You think she may be up to something?" Leonardo asked.
"Possibly" Static replied, "why else would she want to look around?"
"Well, she could be harmless, but we can't take that chance" Leonardo replied "Sonic, you're the fastest of all of us, zoom back there and check things out."
"Can do" Sonic replied "remember to save some food for me" he said, as he dashed off.
"What was that?" Hay Lin asked, noticing the cloud of dust that was kicked up.
"Our friend really had to go to the bathroom" Gear replied.
He really had to go, but he made a big cloud of dust doing so Hay Lin thought to herself and only something with really fast speed could make a cloud like that. And something tells me, it might not be human. I'd better check it out.
Meanwhile, the disguised Weather Vane was making her way through the kitchen.
"That amulet has to be in this place somewhere" she said "and I'll bet that little Chinese girl knows where. I'll wait till she comes in here, then grab her; it'll save me the trouble of having to ransack this place."
"I don't think the owners would appreciate that" Sonic said, causing the villain to turn and look at him.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Ya probably don't recognize me 'cause I'm in disguise, like you, I'll bet" Sonic said "but I'm the fastest thing alive."
"That annoying little hedgehog" Weather Vane remarked "so that means you heroes must be on to Huntsman's plan."
"You could say that" Sonic replied "now, how about giving yourself up? It'll make this much easier."
"Sorry rodent, but you're about to be on the menu!" Weather Vane retorted, firing a bolt of lightning.
Sonic effortlessly avoided it "you'll have to do better than that" he mocked.
"Oh, I intend to" Weather Vane told him, and conjured up a snow cloud "let's see how fast you are when there's no traction!"
Sonic dodged two more bolts of lightning, but found the now slippery floor to be difficult to maneuver on.
"It won't be long now" Weather Vane shouted, as she kept attempting to blast him.
Meanwhile, drawn by the noise, Hay Lin entered the kitchen to see what all the fuss was.
"What is going…" she asked, before noticing the two "hey, you two don't belong in here!"
Weather Vane was distracted by her long enough for Sonic to grab a pot; "soup's on!" he said and, using the slippery floor to his advantage, slid towards Weather Vane, jumped up on the nearby counter, and put the pot over her head.
"What is this? Get this thing off me!" she screamed.
Sonic then grabbed a ladle from off the counter and jumped up, using his spinning power to remain in the air, and hitting the pot with the ladle.
"I always wanted to do that" he commented.
"What are you doing?" Hay Lin asked, in complete shock "you can't treat a customer like that!"
"Hate to break it to you, but this girl is no customer" Sonic said "she's a villain here to steal some amulet thingy."
"Yeah right, why should I believe you?" Hay Lin asked "you trashed the kitchen and you've assaulted a customer. Do you have any idea how long this is going to take to clean up? Not to mention what my mom and dad will do to me when they find out?"
"I'm telling the truth kid" Sonic said "but if ya don't believe me, see for yourself."
With that, he turned off his holo-disguise, revealing his true hedgehog form.
"Y-y-y-you're a…" Hay Lin began.
"A hedgehog" Sonic completed "Sonic the hedgehog to be precise, at your service" he added, taking a little bow.
"I've seen a lot of strange creatures in Meridian, but never a talking hedgehog" Hay Lin replied.
"I hate ta break it to ya, but I've never heard of this Meridian" Sonic said "however, I am here on an important mission. Is there somewhere we can talk, in private?"
"Okay, but help me clean up in here first" Hay Lin said "a talking hedgehog is hard enough to explain, let alone snow indoors."
Sonic zoomed out to get a mop, leaving the unconscious Weather Vane on the kitchen floor.
In the next chapter, the Guardians learn of the danger after them, while Huntsman receives help from an unwanted ally.