I dedicate this chapter to Midnightmedoly123 for choosing the next character I should hang out with. Now, on with the show!

Chapter 8: Rouge the Bat

I was running through station square, feeling the wind blowing at me. It was another great day at station square. As I was running, I was thinking about what to do next. I stopped at a nearby tree and sat down under the shade. All right, let's see. Tails is working on the X-Tornado, Amy is out shopping, Knuckles is guarding the master emerald, of course, Shadow is doing who knows what and Cream and cheese are probably with Amy. I let out a sigh. Man, everyone has something to do except me

As I was pondering over what to do, a certain batgirl was flying over the city. She was, shall we say, sightseeing through the park. As she was flying, she saw me under the tree in deep thought. "I wonder what he's doing out here." She muttered to herself. She flew to the top of the tree and hanged on one of the branches, watching me.

I couldn't think anymore. I got up and crossed my arms. "Well, sitting around here pondering over something isn't going to get me anywhere. I think I will look around to see if there is anything to do around here." I said to myself. Suddenly, I heard something from the tree, as if it was shaking from an earthquake. I quickly turned around but found nothing. I shook my head and turned back around when I came face to face with Rouge the bat's face. "Hi there." She said.

I stumbled backwards. I was startled to see her in a place like this. "Rouge? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Oh, I was just looking around, seeing people and places and all that. I saw you sitting here under the tree. What were you doing?" she said.

I shrugged. "Just thinking about what to do today. Everyone is busy, except me. I was just about to leave when you showed up."

"Well now, since we're here and all, how about I tell you what I am really doing" she said.

I looked at her with interest. She was probably doing a secret mission for G.U.N.S. then again, if she knew that I had a chaos emerald with me, I would have to make sure not to let her have it. Still, if what I suspect is true, then I would be more than happy to help her. "I'm listening." I said.

Rouge continued. "Well, from what G.U.N.S has told me, Eggman is somewhere in the city, ready to hatch another one of his robots out to wreck havoc. They also said that Eggman is in possession of a chaos emerald that he recently stole from Sonic. I was scouting the area for any sign of him. But now, with your help, we'll be able to track down the good doctor and get the emerald back from him. That is, if you are interested."

I crossed my arms again. I knew for a fact that Rouge only wanted the emerald, not to stop Egghead. Still, I had nothing better to do and from the looks of it, beating Eggman again could really make my day and if could get that chaos emerald before Rouge does, it sure would make Sonic and the others happy about it. I looked at her and grinned. "Alright, I'm in." I said.

Rouge smiled. "Okay then, handsome. Let's get started." She said and we both took off.

We searched the city from building to building, shop to shop. But there was neither sign nor hair of Eggman anyway. Finding a big-round guy with a long hairy mustache was not as easy as I thought. Of course not, he's an evil genius, not some over-weighted guy with a ridiculous long mustache who should go on a diet. Then again, he should try to lose some of that weight.

Rouge and I met back at the park. I was about to tell Rouge but she beat me to it. "So, found anything?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, not a sign nor hair of him."

She sighed. "Well, there's no point in looking if he's not going to show up." Suddenly, as if her words came true, an explosion from nearby was heard. "Well, looks like the good doctor has finally shown up."

We both headed in the direction were the explosion was heard. When we got there, a dozen of Eggman's robots were there, causing chaos over the city. Eggman was flying in his Egg saucer, overlooking it all with joy. "Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho! I always love causing mayhem and destruction and with Sonic not around this time, nothing will stop me!" he continued laughing his head off, unaware that me and Rouge were standing in front of him.

I grinned and shouted "yo Eggbutt! You're forgetting about me! Sonic may not be around right now, but you got me to deal with instead!"

Eggman stopped laughing and looked down to see me and Rouge standing there. "You again? I thought for sure you would be with Sonic! No matter, your road ends here!"

He called forth his robots and they came in formation in front of him. Rouge and I were ready to take them on. "You ready, Rouge?" I asked

"Ready as I will be, handsome." She said.

I turned away. I wish she stopped calling me that. There was no time to ponder on that as the robots were charging at us.

We both charged at them, dodging the bullets that were being shot at us from the robots. When I got close to one of them, I launched a homing attack that took down a lot of them. Rouge was spinning, tearing any robot that she came at into pieces.

Eggman was getting angry over this. "That's it. It's time I put that hedgehog down for good!" he press a red button and out of nowhere came a huge purple robot that looked like a beetle.

When me and Rouge finished the last of the robots, we saw Eggman flying over his new robot. "Behold Austin, my new power! Eggbeetle! Now prepare to be snap, hedgehog!" he landed his Egg saucer in the cockpit. The Eggbeetle snap its pincers at me. I stood my ground.

"Okay Eggbutt, let's see what your Eggbeetle can do." I said. I ran at him as Eggman launched robotic cubes at me. I dodged them with ease and launched a homing attack at the cockpit. But then, a shield came up and my attack was deflected. I fell to the ground, groaning.

"Ho ho ho ho! You didn't think I would fall for that again, did you? I have a chaos emerald in this machine and as long as it's inside it, you can't touch me!" he continued to laugh until he fell from his seat.

I got up. He's right. I can't touch him with the emeralds power running through it. There has to be a way. Rouge came to me saying "what happened? I thought you had him."

I turned to look at her. "I thought I did too. But Eggman has a chaos emerald inside the Eggbeetle. As long as that emerald remains inside, I can't hurt him. Got any ideas?"

Rouge thought about this for a moment and said. "I have one. You distract Eggman while I find a way inside the Eggbeetle. Then, I will find and remove the chaos emerald and tear it apart from the inside. Does that sound like a good plan?"

I started to think about this. Somehow, I knew this wasn't a good idea, seeing as Rouge will get the emerald while I go empty-handed. Still, I had no other choice. If I was going to stop Eggbutt, then I had to stick with this plan. "Alright, let's do it!"

Rouge nodded and we headed in separate directions. Me, heading straight for Eggman. Rouge, sneaking around to find a way inside the Eggbeetle.

Eggman just stared at me. "So, you're not giving up? I thought for sure you would, since you can't hurt me. Either way, I'm going to snap you in half, hedgehog!" The Eggbeetle snap its two long pincers at me. But I jumped just before they hit me. I needed to keep Eggman focused on me. I sure hope Rouge knows what she's doing.

Meanwhile, Rouge slipped under the Eggbeetle and found a hatch that led inside the robot. Rouge busts it open and went inside. It was filled with contraptions and gears working and spinning on machinery. At the center of all this, a green chaos emerald was glowing brightly. It was in a glass case with fluid tubes attached to it. The tubes were sucking its energy and releasing it to different parts of the robot. Rouge started to spin and broke open the glass, grabbing the emerald as it fell. Rouge stared at it for what felt like a long time. "Hello, beautiful. You're such a lovely little emerald." Suddenly, the robot jolted and made Rouge drop the emerald. Rouge tried to find it but couldn't see in the darkness. Rouge was angry, very angry. "That doctor is going to pay for making me lose that emerald!" she said and started destroying everything inside the robot.

Back outside, I was having a hard time against Eggman. All I could do was dodge his attacks until Rouge was done. But now, Eggman had me pinned down and I was struggling to get out of his grip. "You won't escape me this time, hedgehog! Now, prepare to meet your doom!" he lowered the pincers and was ready to snap me when suddenly, the robot started shaking. Sparks were coming out of it and Eggman was in panic. "H-h-how can this be? This can't be happening! NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" the Eggbeetle exploded into a million pieces and Eggman was lying on the ground, coughing and covered in smoke.

I walked toward him smiling. "Well, Eggman, the evil loser, you were saying?"

Eggman looked at me with rage. "This isn't over yet, hedgehog! I will destroy you and I will be victorious! Just you wait!" he called his Egg saucer and flew away.

"Yeah, like I heard that before! You're never going to learn, are you?" I shouted. As Eggman flew away, I started to look for Rouge. I saw her lying on the ground, covered in bruises. I rushed to her and hold her up saying "Rouge! You okay?"

Rouge slowly opened her eyes and started coughing. "I guess I got carried away." she said in a weak voice.

"Don't talk." I said. I looked around to find the chaos emerald lying a few feet in front of me. I quickly got it and went back to Rouge. "Just hang on, Rouge! I'm going to get you to the hospital, okay?"

Rouge smiled weakly. "Sorry, Austin. But that's not going to happen. I'm sorry for trying to still the emerald. I was just doing this to get the emerald. But, I guess sometimes, there are more important things than having gems." She said. She closed her eyes and she was still.

I looked at her body in horror. "Rouge? Rouge! Don't you dare die on me! Don't…. you…dare." I started crying, realizing that she was gone. Tears rolled down my cheek, falling on her body. I put her body down and got up. I looked at my hands. Even though I hardly knew her, she was still someone I would consider a friend and an ally. I squeezed my hands into fists and my eyes were burning with rage. "Eggman is going to pay for this!" I shouted, not caring if anyone heard me.

Suddenly, the two chaos emeralds started glowing, I took them out to look at them. They then rose out of my hands and into the air. Two color beams, one green and one blue, came from the emeralds and went right at me. I suddenly felt a strong surge of energy within me. I didn't know why this was happening, but if it would help Rouge, then I would do it.

I bent down and put my hand over her. I started to feel my energy working. Then, without realize it, as if I was somehow supposed to say it, I shouted. "CHAOS…..HEAL!" her body started to glow as the energy was sweeping over her body. Her bruises were disappearing and when they were all gone, the body stopped glowing. I fell back, exhausted, as the chaos emeralds fell to the ground.

I walked to her and started to look at her. "Rouge?" I said quietly. She opened her eyes and looked at me. I was overflow with joy. She's alive!

"wh-what happened to me? I thought I was dead." She said.

"I thought you were too. I don't what happened. After you were dead, the chaos emeralds started glowing. They poured energy into me and somehow, I was able to revive you. I don't know how or why but I took that chance. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is, your back and that's all I'm concerned about." I said, smiling.

Rouge got up, looked at me and smiled. "Well, I owe you thanks, Austin." Suddenly, she kissed me on the cheek.

I blushed heavily. I wasn't expecting this to happen. "Uh…. No problem, Rouge." I said, rubbing my face to where she kissed me.

"Well, I better get back to headquarters. Nice seeing you again, handsome." She winked and flew off.

I stood there, bewildered. "Does she have to call me that?" I said to myself. I shook that thought out of my head. I pick up the two emeralds and stared at them. How did I do this? Do I have some kind of power within me that has something to do with the emeralds? I looked at a nearby clock. It was 9:30 PM. Uh-oh! This mystery will have to be saved for another day. I better get back to Cream's house. I started running at full speed back to Cream's house. My thoughts still flooding about what happened to me.

Well, there's an interesting twist for ya! I won't tell you about what happened. But don't worry, all will be revealed in time. Until then, please leave a review and tell me which character should be next. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Until next time, catch you on the flipside!