Notes: been a bit busy, but here we are

Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Ch. 2: That déjà vu feeling

Sonic and Tails were looking around the lush, green area. It was a typical tropical island sort of place, with palm trees, waterfalls, and rolling hills.

"This place is just as beautiful as Green Hill, but seems more…shiny."

"Then maybe you should give it a name, Sonic."

"I'm way ahead of you, Tails. This place is now Emerald Hill."

"Now that's fitting. Speaking of which, I wonder how we'll find the Emeralds now."

"It always involves the rings, but I'm not sure. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Just as he said this, they walked across a bridge that was over a waterfall. Then something leaped out from the water. It was a piranha-like Badnik called Masher. As it leapt out of the water, it snapped it jaws at the heroes. Having missed, it fell back into the water, but another leapt out in its place.

"These guys are already annoying."

"But they can't leave the water, Sonic. They're fish."

"Well I'm about to shoot these fish before they find a way out of their barrel."

As soon as the pair of Mashers leapt out again, he freed the animals inside.

"That wasn't so bad, right, Sonic?"

"Think again, buddy."

A swarm of red, black, and yellow wasp-like Badniks were heading their direction. An upgrade of Buzz Bomber, these were Buzzers. Like their predecessor, they had a blaster for a stinger, and a rocket pack for wings.

"Let's do some exterminating, pal."

As the Buzzers drew near, they began firing. Sonic and Tails split up to confuse them, then began taking them out, one by one.

"Well, that was fun. Let's keep going."

They ran through the hills, observing all the untouched beauty of the bay. There were even loop-de-loops and corkscrew speedway, which made no sense in design, but it sure was fun to run through. Sonic slowed down a bit as they passed a group of palm trees.

"This looks like a nice spot for a nap."

"Is this the best time, Sonic?"

"Why not? OW!"

"What?"

"Something hit me on the head!"

They looked up to see several monkey Badniks called Coconuts. True to their name, they threw coconuts as projectiles.

"Come down here and fight, you dirty apes!"

"While monkeys and apes are both primates, they're not the same thing."

"Now's not a good time to nitpick, Tails. Let's get these stupid Badniks."

Tails flew up and, with a whip of his tails, took out the Coconuts that were higher up the trees. Sonic jumped as high as he could to take out the ones lower on the trees. The little animals made a run for it after being freed.

"Now that's more like it. Come on, Tails, let's run!"

They spent the next hour or so just running. It was usually in the right direction, but Sonic would get a bit distracted and zig zag.

"Sonic, where are we going?"

"I can't help it, Tails. This place is just so gorgeous, I had to take some time to enjoy myself. There's just so much space to run!"

"I can understand that, but the sun is starting to set."

"In which case, there's one more thing I have to do before we go."

"You mean…?"

"The Chaos Emeralds. Still not sure how to find them though."

"What's that thing in front of us?"

It was a metal post, looking rather out of place in the otherwise natural environment.

"Looks like an ordinary post to me, Tails."

"But why would a post be in the middle of nowhere? There must be a reason. Look at the star emblem on the top. It must mean something."

"If you say so. Let's hit it."

Sonic hit the star post. The star disc spun around once and stopped, except now it was flashing.

"Can't say we didn't try, buddy."

Just then, several small stars appeared and circled the post.

"You have at least fifty rings, Sonic. Might as well give this a try."

"What have we got to lose?"

Sonic reached up and touched the star circle.

*FLASH*

Special

"Whoa! Where are we?"

"It looks like a half pipe, Sonic, but I'm guessing this is one of those alternate dimensions."

"Tails? You were brought here too? That's a first."

"From what you told me, we have to gather rings to obtain the Emerald from this pocket dimension. Let's have a team effort to get things done quicker."

"You're speaking my language, pal!"

They took off down the half pipe. The pipe was a light blue color with orange borders. As they raced through the pipe, the pair began collecting as many rings as possible. Occasionally, they also had to avoid floating mines.

"This half pipe looks like it'd be perfect for skateboarding."

"Maybe, but there's one problem: who would put mines in a place like this?"

"Don't bother questioning anything that happens in these dimension things, Tails. We left behind all sense of reality when we got here."

"Good point, but this would be a lot more fun without the mines."

"Don't I know it, but here's some good news: we're done."

They had in fact reached the end of the pipe. Awaiting them was the cyan Chaos Emerald.

"Well that's one down."

"That wasn't so bad, Sonic."

"Believe me, they get harder."

"I wonder if we could do that again. That way we can get the Emeralds quicker."

"Good idea, buddy. Look around for more rings."

The two split up and tried to obtain more rings, fighting Badniks along the way. Sadly, there didn't seem to be any more rings in the area.

"Well, it just a thought."

"We'll find them all, pal. Until then, we need to get moving."

"What's the hurry, Hedgehog?!"

There was Robotnik, waiting in his Eggmobile.

"Finally doing your own dirty work after the last few times?"

"Well if I was going to destroy you, I'd rather do it firsthand."

The doctor pushed a button in his mobile. An armored vehicle rolled forward. On the front was a large drill. The Eggmobile set down inside the vehicle.

"Let this drill pierce your puny body!"

The vehicle lurched forward.

"That thing is way too slow. Ready, Tails?"

"You got it!"

Tails leapt out of the way of the drill. Sonic also jumped up, but only enough so that when he came down, he came down onto the vehicle, giving it a very hard hit. Tails had been revving up a spin dash, his tails twirling like a helicopter.

"Now, Tails!"

Tails zoomed after the vehicle, and gave it another good slam.

"A double team. How cute, but it won't help you."

He turned the drill around as fast as he could, but it was no match for the duo's speed. He quickly received several more hits.

"That's it! Last resort time!"

He took aim at the two and fired off the drill.

"Duck, Tails!"

They managed to dodge the large drill.

"I think you meant to say dodge, Sonic, but it was good pun."

"Thanks, but now…"

He ran straight for the vehicle, spun into a ball, and gave it one last hit. The wheels fell off and the vehicle caught fire.

"I went easy on you," Robotnik said, as he detached the Eggmobile, "Next time will be different!"

"I'm sure it will, Eggman, but the two of us can take anything you throw."

"You've got that right, Sonic."

"Come on, Tails, let's see what lies ahead."

The grassy area seemed to give way to a more urban setting.

"Do you smell something, Sonic?"

"I do, in fact. Must be up ahead."

As they ascended the next hill, they got a good look at what was in store. It was a very large building, and it seemed to be beckoning them forward.