(This is the second of three chapters that has to be redone.)

It's time for the final Survival Race.

As you all know, Knuckles won the last race, and Galeon and Rector managed to get enough points to automatically move on.

Let's see who all makes it to the final race. (Even though you already know.)

Disclaimer: You know it already.

Chapter 26: Illusionary Finish.

It was nighttime in Station Square. The carnival race had been done earlier in the day, so there was only one Survival Race left in the schedule.

The standings at this time, excluding Rector and Galeon, were: Raine (32),Armand (31), Sonic (30), Jet (29), Basil (29), Knuckles (25), Rampage (21), and Wave (18). But those point totals wouldn't last long.

The 8 remaining competitors were lined up in the Sega Illusion course's starting block, waiting for the pre-race announcements. They didn't have to wait long, because Gerald started talking.

"It's time for the final Survival Race of the tournament. As you all know, Rector and Galeon have already moved on, and will not have to participate in this race. Now, any points gained throughout the second half of this tournament will not count for this race because in this one, all 8 racers fight for the top three positions."

The crowd gasped, and the racers were taken by surprise. How would that play out? Damien had the answer to that.

"In case you all want to know," Damien began. "The race works out this way: Racers battle for points as usual, but there is no point limit, and the three racers with the most points at the end of three minutes will move on. Since there's no point limit, the amount of time has been cut off. It's simple to follow. Standard Survival Race rules apply, and I hope you all remember them. Now, let's get this race started."

Damien and Gerald headed towards the announcer's booth, and the racers got ready for the Survival Race.

3…2…1…

GO!

The Survival Race began with Raine being the first out of the starting block, followed by the others. The gate located at the starting line would not count until they returned after completing a lap since the emerald was located before the first ramp. Raine picked it up, and launched off of the ramp as the others followed her. With three guaranteed positions on the line, everyone was determined to gain as many points as possible. Raine moved through the first area to reach the first gate, located before the turn. Everyone recognized the first area, because it was also the first area in the previous track.

"Not this area again!" Sonic complained.

Raine passed through the first gate to score the first point in the race, but it wasn't long before Basil attacked and took the emerald. Basil then boosted as they entered another familiar area. It was the NiGHTS area, which was the third area in the previous track. The track here had a purple tint on it, and there were several orange balls in the air that formed rings. Nobody could reach them, however, because they were located too high in the air. But nobody cared, since this wasn't a normal race.

Basil reached the upcoming turn, which was a slight left followed by a sharp right that led to a ramp. The next gate was located before the ramp, and Basil passed through it to score his first point, then launched off of the ramp and landed on the next part of the track. If this were a normal race, if a racer launched high enough, then a trail of purple energy would appear as an alternate track.

Not long after Basil landed, he was attacked by Jet, who also stole the emerald. He boosted ahead while Basil recovered and headed towards the next couple of sharp corners located after the light left turn. The others were catching up, but Jet wasn't worried. He was the master of Extreme Gear, after all. He rounded the sharp turns and came upon the next gate. He passed through it, earning him his first point. He then made another left turn and started heading into what looked like a space port. He entered and grabbed onto a nearby rocket which was starting to take off. The others followed a few seconds behind him. Jet looked on the side of his rocket.

"Space Channel 5? What the hell?" Jet asked.

The rocket took him around a nearby radio tower at high speeds, even faster than his board. He landed in a different space port which had two quarter-pipes, two lower paths near a large hole, two upper paths located next to the quarter-pipes, and if it were a normal race, 8 drones firing energy waves. The next gate was located at the end of the area, just before the next turn. Jet bypassed the hole by taking the upper path on the right so the chance he would fall into a hole would be reduced.

Jet made it to the end of the area and passed through the next gate to take the lead in points scored. He made the turn and launched off of the ramp into the next area.

"What is this place?" Jet asked himself.

Armand had caught up, and was running his scanner.

"Apparently, this place is from something called Chu Chu Rocket. Whatever that is." Armand replied.

"Okay, thanks." Jet replied. Then he realized that he was in danger. "Hey, wait a…OOF!"

Armand took that time to attack Jet and steal the emerald. Jet couldn't believe it.

"Very clever, Armand." Jet remarked.

Armand made his way through the area by hitting a green panel, which propelled him across other green panels to the end of the area, where he turned right and headed straight towards the start/finish line. The next gate was located at the line, and Armand passed through it to score his first point. Just before hitting the ramp at the beginning of the first area, he laid a tornado. Jet, who was trying to catch up and retake the emerald, got caught up in it and was slowed down. Armand boosted ahead and passed through the gate before the turn, gaining his second point. He launched off of the ramp and landed perfectly before boosting ahead. He made the turns up ahead and boosted through the next gate, which earned him his third point, and therefore giving him the lead.

He didn't keep the emerald any longer, though, because Rampage had caught up, passed Jet, then attacked Armand to take the emerald. He entered the space port and caught a rocket which took him to the other space port. But before he could get through the entrance to the inside, he was attacked by Jet, who had caught up. He really wanted to increase his points, since Armand had the lead. But Jet was so arrogant in his desire that he forgot about the large pit, and he fell into it, which caused him to lose the emerald. It was reset just beyond the starting line.

"How could I have been so ignorant about the pit?" Jet asked himself.

"I guess it's because you were too busy wondering about how you'd get back into the lead." Sonic said as he passed him.

Sonic did a couple of boosts to increase his lead on Jet. He rounded the corner and launched off of the ramp into the next area, then used the green dash panels to get to the other end. He made the turn and headed towards the line. As he passed it, the time left was 1:00. Sonic had only one minute to score at least 3 points. Sonic managed to reach the emerald and launched off of the ramp into the course without any problems. Boosting once, he reached the first gate to score his first point. After making the next couple of turns, he reached the next gate to score a second point.

"Come on. Just two more and I'll be in first." Sonic said to himself.

Sonic continued racing. He managed to do a good job at keeping ahead of the other racers as he rounded the next couple of turns. He passed through the gate to score a third point, which tied him with Jet and Armand.

"One more point, and I'll have the lead." Sonic said to himself. He would have to speed it up, though, because there was only 30 seconds left on the clock as he entered the space port. The rocket he grabbed only took 3 seconds to drop him off at the next space port. He boosted through the port, but he missed the next gate by mere inches.

"No way!" Sonic complained.

As Sonic sped through the final area, there was only 10 seconds left on the clock. He quickly made it through the area and entered the starting block. He was running out of time.

8…7…6…

Sonic had the gate in his sight.

5…4…

He stretched out towards it.

3…2…1…

Sonic boosted through the gate at the exact moment the timer hit zero. Unfortunately, he kicked the booster at the moment all boards were to stop in place. The momentum of the boost plus the force of the boards stopping tossed Sonic from his board. He landed on the ground, and as he landed, he heard a snap as he suddenly felt immense pain in his right leg.

"Ow! My leg!" Sonic yelled.

Amy and some of the others ran over to Sonic's position. Amy, of course, was the first one.

"Sonic, are you okay?" Amy asked, concerned.

"I…I think I broke my leg." Sonic told her.

Gerald had just reached Sonic.

"What's happened, bro?" Gerald asked.

Sonic told him.

"That's not good. I'm afraid you won't be able to participate in the final race." Gerald told him. "The rules say that if someone gets injured during the tournament, they're out for the rest of it. You'll have to get someone to sub in for you."

"But who's going to replace me in the race?" Sonic asked.

For a moment, nobody answered. Then…

"I'll race for him." Someone spoke up.

Everyone looked around until they saw that Amy had said it.

"I'll race for Sonic." Amy made it clearer.

"Amy, no. I won't allow it." Rector said.

"But I want to."

"No. You're not going to risk getting hurt in this tournament."

"But I…"

Sonic was tired of this argument.

"SHUT UP!" Sonic yelled.

Both Amy and Rector quieted down, believe it or not.

"Rector, go ahead and let her race. If something happens to her during the race, I'll take responsibility." Sonic told him.

Rector thought for a moment, then he gave his reply.

"Alright, I'll let her race. But you brought it upon yourself if something happens to her." Rector told him.

"Deal."

Gerald then announced the results.

"Well, Sonic, Jet, and Armand finished in the top 3, so they move on. But Sonic cannot race due to a broken leg, so Amy has taken his place. Now, meet us at Station Square Coliseum in 1 hour for the final Survival Race."

Gerald and Damien took their leave. Raine gave Sonic a healing potion that would help his leg recover more quickly. But even though that would happen, Sonic wouldn't be racing in the final race.

Everyone headed to the coliseum to see which two racers would join the other 5 in the final race.

End of Chapter 26.

Yes! Only one chapter to go and I'll be caught up.

Read, and you may review if you want.