Episode 17

Previously on Sonic The Hedgehog - Chaos on Mobius...
Shadow cut his duel with Sir Lancelot short when he saw the Egg Carrier fly overhead. "We shall meet again, Shadow the Hedgehog..." Meanwhile, Knuckles and Sir Gawain called a truce so they could learn more about each other. After getting help from Dame Percival and Sir Galahad, Sonic managed to destroy Egg Santa, and he learned of the Knights of Mercia. Meanwhile, TodStar managed to defeat his 'old girlfriend' Lily, though he still wasn't sure why she attacked him.
After Percival and Galahad left Station Square, Sonic raced off in the direction of the Egg Carrier to rescue his new friend Hope.
Can Sonic rescue Hope, or will his father Shadow beat him to it? Will Percival and Galahad be successful in reuniting all of the Knights of Mercia? And will TodStar figure out Lily's motives? Find out next on Sonic The Hedgehog - Chaos on Mobius!

Chapter Seventeen: The Egg Grinch (Final Part of A Mobian Christmas)

Sonic was racing along Mobius, trying to catch the Egg Carrier.
"I've gotta rescue Hope before it's too late!" He said as he continued running at super-sonic speed.

At that moment, Hope was still shocked after what Dr. Eggman had told her...
"Heh heh heh... still can't get your head around it, eh?" He asked her.
"...CONTROL!" Yelled a familiar voice as a black hedgehog, a bat and a large robot appeared out of thin air before Hope could respond.
"Ahh, Shadow. I wondered when you would return to me..." Said Eggman, recognizing the Ultimate Lifeform right away. "And you've brought Omega with you."
"EGGMAN. YOUR LIFE ENDS HERE." Said Omega as he armed his machine guns.
"Hmph. Done some re-programming, have you?" Eggman asked.
"Meh. Just enough to protect me." Said Rouge, flicking her wrist around.
"You've recruited one of Mobius's well known thieves? I envy you, Shadow." Eggman told Shadow.
"Enough with the flattery, Doctor. What are you doing with this ship?" Asked the Ultimate Lifeform.
"Sonic! You came!" Hope yelled, mistaking the black hedgehog for the blue one.
"Huh? Maria?" Asked Shadow as he turned around and saw Hope, mistaking her for an old friend that made him reminise...
"Don't let them get away!"
"Shadow! Help me!"
"Maria!" *gunshot*
Shadow suddenly fell to the floor and started holding his head in pain.
"Shadow? What's wrong?" Rouge asked him as she knelt down to help, but he didn't answer.
"THIS OVERLANDER HAS COMPROMISED SHADOW." Announced Omega, aiming his machine guns at Hope, which made her gasp in fear. "REQUEST PERMISSION TO ANNIHILATE."
"Granted, my robot slave!" Eggman told the robot.
"NOT YOU." Omega replied before activating his flamethrower at Eggman, which made him run away.
"This isn't over, Shadow!" Yelled Eggman. Shadow didn't reply, as he was still holding his head in agony.
"Hold your fire, Omega." Rouge told him. "Obviously, this girl reminds Shadow of someone he knew."
"Shadow..." Hope repeated.
"Maria..." Shadow groaned.
"Shadow, I know you're in pain, but you've got to use Chaos Control to get us all out of here!" Rouge told him. Shadow still didn't respond.
"Shadow..." Hope called out, which made him raise his head to see her.
"...Maria?" He asked, but she shook her head, which confused Shadow.
"My name is Hope." She replied.
"Hope..."
"Yeah. Now, if you can get us out of here, we can talk a little more."
"Yeah... Chaos... CONTROL!" Shadow yelled as he placed his hand on the part of Omega that the Chaos Emerald was held, and used Chaos Control one more time. Leaving Eggman alone on his ship with his henchbots.
"Finally. I thought they'd never leave!" He said.
"But boss, they escaped with the girl you captured." Orbot told him.
"That doesn't matter." Eggman replied. "She'll be too traumitized to leave her home now." He then started cackling before Cubot flew in.
"We've got trouble on the range!" He said. "Ah mean, vault."
"What? Someone's broken into my vault?" Eggman angrily asked before he ran towards the vault, only to find that it was open, an it's contents were gone. "NO! The rod is gone!"
"Not only that boss, but you're Mobian clone has been released." Cubot pointed out.
"WHAT? Who on Mobius would do such a thing?" Eggman asked again, unaware that the green hedgehog he was planning to unleash was staring at the stolen rod in his hand with an evil grin...
"Hah... what a fool..." He said with a voice similar to Sonic's. "The Scepter of Darkness belongs to me and my master. Not too much longer, Master... until I can release you onto Mobius... and reduce this whole planet to nothing but shadows!" As he said that, he allowed the rod to create a hole of space-time that he jumped through.

At that moment, Percival and Galahad had just returned to Mercia, where their King (the hooded hedgehog from earlier) was waiting for them.
"Ahh... Percival and Galahad." Said the King with great joy to see them return. "Pray tell, how goes the search for the Knights of Mercia?"
"Forgive us, Your Majesty..." Galahad pleaded as he and Percival knelt before their King. "...but we have been unable to find any of them."
"However... we did come across a warrior who wields the Sword of Acorns." Added Percival, which made the King jump, and reveal his face.
"The Sword of Acorns? Are you absolutely sure?" He asked.
"Yes, my King." Percival replied. "For this warrior resembled the late Jules Hedgehog during his final battle whilst holding the sword."
"Hmm... Lancelot, were you listening?" Asked the King.
"Yes, Your Highness." The knight resembling Shadow replied.
"Inform the Lady of Never Lake of this news..." Said the King before Lancelot bowed to him. "Percival, I need you to bring this warrior here at once."
"At once, my King." Percival replied before running away to find the wielder of the Sword of Acorns.
"Galahad, continue the search for the Knights of Mercia..." The King told Galahad. "...but take Macho with you."
"Macho? Your Highness, surely you jest?" Said Galahad, wanting to leave alone.
"I am sorry, Sir Galahad, but he needs to see Mobius while he is still training. And you cannot find the Knights of Mercia on your own. Now, you had better find him before you leave."
"*sigh* Yes, my King." Galahad then left his King's presence to find his accomplice...

Meanwhile on the way back to Freedom HQ, TodStar and Amy were talking about the Mobian they just came across...
"So she's your old girlfriend, huh?" Asked Amy while elbowing TodStar.
"Yeah..." He quietly replied.
"Wait... what happened that split you two up?" She asked again.
"That's the thing, Amy... I dunno..." TodStar replied. "I mean, the two of us were inseperable back in the days of the Downunda Orphanage... Why's she mad at me now?"
"Maybe Eggman has something to do with it?"
"Yeah, maybe..."
"C'mon TodStar, let's just go home."
"Sounds good to me." As Amy walked ahead, TodStar was lost in thought. "(Lily, why are you so mad at me? I would never hurt you. At least, not emotionally.)"

Sonic was close to Robotropolis, when a sudden flash of light stopped him.
"What the?"
"...CONTROL!" Yelled a familiar voice.
"Shadow? Hope!" Sonic shouted when he saw his new friend.
"Sonic!" Yelled Hope before she ran over and hugged Sonic.
"Hmph. You're welcome, little boy blue." Rouge said sarcastically.
"Rouge the Bat. Never thought I'd see you again..." Sonic replied, giving her a cold look.
"You two know each other?" Asked Shadow.
"Let's just say we've crossed paths, and leave it at that." Rouge replied, giving Sonic a flirty look.
"Sounds good to me." Said Sonic, still staring at Rouge. "C'mon Hope, I'll take you back to Freedom HQ for now. And... Dad?"
"Yes, Sonic?" Shadow asked as Sonic got his attention.
"Keep your eye on that bat and that robot."
"No need, Sonic. I trust them."
"Whatever." Sonic then raced towards Freedom HQ while holding Hope.
"Let's go." Said Shadow as he walked in another direction. Rouge and Omega quickly followed.

At that moment, back in Mercia, Sir Galahad had just found Macho: A small, black shih-tzu boy wearing armor (with a cape) and holding a sword & shield (with Chaos Emerald and star markings on them), who dreams of becoming a Knight of Mercia.
"Macho! I've come to speak with you." He told the little Mobian dog.
"Sir Galahad! It's an honor!" He replied whilst kneeling before the hedgehog knight.
"Rise, little one."
"Hey! Don't call me little!"
"*groan* Very well. (This journey shall not be easy...) Macho, King Rob 'O the Hedge has requested that you come with me in my search for the Knights of Mercia." When Macho heard this, his eyes lit up with excitement.
"Really? You really want me on your journey?" He asked.
"*sigh* This is not about what I want..." Galahad said while groaning. "...the KING has asked that you accompany me."
"YES! So we are exploring Mobius?" Macho asked Galahad.
"Yes, but it will be dangerous, so you must do everything I sa-"
"Yes, I can hardly wait to reveal my skill unto all of Mobius!" Macho said as he started swinging his sword.
"*sigh* Oh mighty Chaos... why have you forsaken me?" Galahad complained as he followed after little Macho.

Later that night on Angel Island, all of the Chaotix had gathered within Hidden Palace to include Julie-Su into the team.
"Hey Knuckles, what happened to your armored fake?" Mighty asked the Guardian.
"Oh, Gawain? He's still on the island, but he's agreed to not come down here." Knuckles replied.
"Knux, can we get this over with?" Asked Julie-Su. "I'm getting more nervous by the second."
"Sure." Knuckles replied. "All right guys, let the inclusion process begin." What the inclusion process entailed was this: Each current member of the Chaotix would place their hand on the Master Emerald for a brief period, then they would grab the new member's arm with that same hand. First was Mighty. "Not too tight, Mighty." Knuckles told after he removed his hand from the Master Emerald.
"*gulp* Here goes..." Mighty said as he grabbed Julie-Su's hand with as little force as he could muster. "Hey... I touched someone without hurting them!" Mighty cheered after he let go. Next was Espio.
"Welcome to the Chaotix." He told Julie-Su calmly.
"Thanks." She replied.
"Good to have you onboard." Vector added as he grabbed her arm. Next was a Mobian bee around the same size as Macho.
"I'm Charmy. Nice to have you on the team!" He said in a childish voice.
"Uhh, nice to meet you, Charmy." Julie-Su replied. After Charmy was a yellow flying squirrel who was about the same size as Charmy.
"M-m-my n-n-name is R-Ray." He stuttered. "N-n-nice to m-m-meet you."
"Same here." Said Julie-Su, thinking it was cute that Ray stuttered. After Ray was the leader of the Chaotix: Knuckles.
"Good to have you in the Chaotix, Julie-Su." He told her.
"Feels good, Knuckles..." She replied as she felt his hand on her arm.

At that moment, back in Freedom HQ, the Freedom Fighters (and Cosmo & Hope) had finished exchanging gifts. Almost.
"Hey Sonic, where's MY present?" Amy asked him before he grabbed her arm and held her under the mistletoe. Without hesitating, Sonic then pressed his lips up against Amy's for a brief kiss. Everyone was as shocked as Amy was!
"There's your present, Amy. Merry Christmas." Said Sonic after he broke the kiss.
"Uhh... Merry Christmas, Sonic." Amy replied. "(Sonic does love me! I knew it!)" While Sally looked at the two hedgehogs, she felt a great deal of jealousy.

Meanwhile, a certain green hedgehog had arrived on Angel Island, holding the same rod.
"What now, Master?" He asked while looking at the rod.
"Paitence, Scourge..." Said a deep, evil voice from within the rod. "You should rest for now. For soon, we shall begin Operation: Enerjak."

END OF CHAPTER

Emerald Count:
Metal Sonic - Purple Chaos Emerald
Sonic - Blue Chaos Emerald
Omega - Yellow Chaos Emerald
Shadow - Green Chaos Emerald
Cosmo - Grey Chaos Emerald
TOTAL - 5 Chaos Emeralds

Special Thanks to CCgonzo12 on deviantART who let me include her character, Macho the Shih-tsu, in this story.