Year 3236, Day 147:

The skies over Kntohole were clear until the helibirds suddenly materialized out of thin air. They let down their ladders so the Freedom Fighters could safely get to the walkways hung between the tree trunks, since forest was too dense to go down to the ground itself. The residents of Knothole took notice of the ships immediately, and either flocked toward them to see what was going on, or running away as fast as they could. It took about fifteen minutes of explaining from both the verifexes that came with them, Sonic, and Sally to keep the others from getting too worked up; but the members of the Filii Rubrum bid goodbye and went back up into their helicopters, which quickly phased out of sight as they flew back toward Megapolis.

Trystan looked in the direction of the retreating stealth-birds. "Hot damn, what a day," he sighed. He was about to lean backward and stretch when someone else slapped his back.

"Well, it ain't over yet," came Sonic's cocky response. "We still gotta run over to Switch Nightmare City."

Sally even walked up to the both of them, and everyone else circled up around them to hear what she had to say. "Sonic's right...but I think we can stand to take it easy for awhile."

Antoine sighed through clenched teeth. "Zat eez zee best news I 'ave 'eard all day," he whispered.

"How about a party, then?" Sally asked with a smile.

Everyone began to whisper excitedly amongst themselves, but Trystan cocked his head, squinted, and flipped the hood of his sweatshirt back. "A party? Really? Now?"

"What, are ya complaining?" Sonic joked.

"No," he replied as he scratched his head, "I'm just...surprised, is all."

Sally pursed her lips and added, "I mean, it's not gonna be a full-blown...y'know...soiree or anything, but we can just set up speakers in the main plaza and relax for a night. I certainly don't see any harm in it."

"Awesome!" Sonic laughed, "'Bout time ya gave us some time off, Sal."

Bunnie walked up to her and exclaimed, "Shoot, sugah, Ah oughta git my rear in gear an' make some food fer this."

"What? No, Bunnie, it's fine, we don't need anyone to make anything. We can-" Bunnie was gone before Sally could finish protesting, running away back to her cabin. Trystan, meanwhile, placed a finger on his lips thoughtfully. Sally sighed and exhaled. "...Okay, then. Uh, Antoine?"

Antoine stood rigid and at attention, saluting for good measure. "Yes, my princess...?"

"Would you go put an announcement on telling everyone to meet in the central plaza at...about eight tonight, if they can manage?" she asked, ignoring his formalities.

"But of course! I will use such enticing words zat none will be able to resist attending!" and he scampered off excitedly.

Tails began to walk away next, toward his workshop. "I better go keep working on the plane before we head out next," he said.

"Think you can find the time to help me set up some killer decorations, bud?" Sonic called.

"Yeah I can!"

"Well, don't make it fancy, you two!" Sally exclaimed. "Remember, this is just supposed to be a night off, not anything big!" Sonic only gave her a salute and dashed off, and she turned around to address the only other two people around. Sally stopped short when she realized something rather crucial about that point. "Wait...where'd Trystan go…?"

Sonic and Tails had just finished throwing some streamers up into the branches of the trees and stood back to admire their work. Sonic gave them a once-over and leaned down to whisper, "I like the green ones, bud. Which crate did'ja find those in?"

"Sonic, they're yours from your birthday party last year!" Tails exclaimed, smiling. Sonic laughed along with him and trussed his hair.

"Guys!"

Sonic and Tails turned their heads to see Sally running up to them, and as per usual, Sonic was the first to wave back and say, "Heya, Sal! Whatcha think of the decor? Personally, I think we coulda done Knothole up a bit better, but ya kinda put a fast deadline on us."

"It looks great you two, but I thought I specifically said, and I quote: 'Nothing fancy,'" she replied.

Tails rolled his eyes. "Well, you should know Sonic's gonna go all out when you're giving the orders, Sally."

"Hey!" Sally crossed her arms and smiled as Sonic poked Tails playfully, causing him to laugh. He looked back up and grinned sheepishly. "I mean...come on, Sal, what's a party without the right party fixin's?"

Sally only glanced up and shook her head. "Well…" she sighed, "you already went through all the trouble, so I can't really blame you...and it does look nice. Good work, you two."

After placing the announcement, Antoine had gone back to the kitchen, as he had considered making his own desert plate for the party. The fact that Knothole only supported around three-hundred people, Freedom Fighters included, meant that not all that much food needed to be provided, and he had run into Bunnie along the way. She hadn't cooked anything by then because, according to her, she was "on the fence" on what dessert to make; a sentiment Antoine shared. The both of them immediately started tossing ideas back and forth between them. It was going about as well as expected.

"Ehh, I was thinking somezing more along ze lines of...cerise gȃteau basque," Antoine surmised.

"Ah'm tellin' ya, 'Twan," Bunnie replied as she shook her head, "we don' need no fancy-schmancy foreign cuisayn. Jus' git enough fer a peach cobbler 'r apple pie an' we're set!"

"I am thinking not! Any party, no matter ze size, is in need of a fitting dessairt," Antoine declared.

"An-twan…"

"Bunnie, all I am saying eez zat we do not need sometheeng so seemple," Antoine insisted.

This made Bunnie freeze in place, and her head whipped around to glare at him. Antoine froze in shock from her sudden movements, but rather than yell at him...a wry smirk crossed her face. "Oh, really…?" Antoine tried to stammer out a deflection from the subject, then an apology, but Bunnie cut him off. "Y'all think my cookin's simple, huh?" She leaned in close to his face and continued, "Ah take that 's a challenge, mistah."

Antoine blinked. "A...challenge…?"

"Mm-hm," she affirmed, "You'n me. In our el'ment. Mano-a-woman, facin' off to see who's really got the rights to call each other's cookin' simple."

There was complete silence between them as Antoine tried to wrap his head around what to do next (and the fact that Bunnie hadn't hit him). Quickly enough, though, his mind willed courage into him, and he puffed up his chest. "Ha, ha! Oui! Very well!" he boasted, "I am accepting your challenge, and we shall duel not with swords or wairds, but with domestic skill!"

"Y'all better not think'a chickenin' out on me," Bunnie teased as she walked away.

Antoine threw his head back and laughed. "You had best to be accepting defeat! I will knock your socks off...!"

"Ah don't even wear socks, 'Twan!" Bunnie shot back.

Trystan had run off at the first chance he got and had been experimenting in the kitchen the whole day. He'd made sure to lock the door to the room he was using. Couldn't risk spoiling the surprise. But finally, after hours of trial-and-error, endless back-and-forth, he believed he'd finally found the perfect combination. He poured out a small volume of cider he'd found in one of the cabinets and then added his own fruit juice mixture to said glass, picked it up, and swirled it around before he drank it.

He breathed out. It was tangy and went down smooth; the feeling of a summer night with his siblings and all their old friends hanging out in the alley behind his house. He sighed, smiled and opened his eyes to relish the taste before he packed the cider and his juice up and cleaned everything he had used before he went back to his cabin.

The dimming light of the sun had already been blotted out by the magnificent trees that towered above Knothole, lending the whole village to being bathed in a halo of deep red and orange. It was getting dark, but not completely night; most of the civilians had come out to the village square.

The streamers were blowing in a gentle breeze, speakers had been set up, and lights shone brightly around the plaza. The civilians were already out and mingling, taking casually to each other. Of course, Bunnie was getting other things arranged; more important things. She had a table set up and two peach cobblers on it, and had just finished putting everything together, wiping her forehead and nodding. "Like ta see An-twan beat this," she chuckled. She looked up to see none other than Antoine himself carrying a couple trays and a small table to the other side of the plaza. Bunnie only paused a moment before she left her table to walk over to him. When she was within his cone of vision he stopped abruptly and turned to look at her.

"There y'are, 'Twan!" she exclaimed. "An' 'bout time, too. Party's almost kickin' in full-swing."

Antoine chuckled as he readjusted his grip on the folded table he was holding. "Yes, but of course! I...I would not miss zis chance to relax!"

Bunnie paused, and then smirked a she put her hands on her hips and leaned in closer. "Would'a preferred missin' gettin' yer posterior kicked in tha cookin' department, Ah bet?" she replied.

That comment made Antoine straighten up and, surprisingly, put on a serious expression as he exclaimed, "Why, I zink not! I will have you know I have pairfected my cherry cake recipe, and eet will blow whatevair you have out of zee watair!"

Bunnie smirked and walked away, back to her table which was in clear sight of Antoine, and gestured for him to come over. This, understandably, surprised him, and when he got close enough he asked, "Erm, may I be asking why you called me over here?"

"Ta set yerself up!" Bunnie replied. "Ain't gonna be much've a competition if ya ain't close by." Antoine stuttered for a minute, at a complete loss for words, before he stared back at Bunnie, sighed, and took a step back. He set the table on the ground and folded it out, and briskly placed his dessert on top. "Wasn't all that bad, now, was it, 'Twan?"

Antoine adjusted the cuffs on his uniform and replied, "Perhaps eet eez just as well. My arms were getting quite, how do you say...accosted, I think."

Bunnie quirked an eyebrow. "Y'all mean 'exhausted?'"

"Oui, je vous remercie."

"You two work fast." Bunnie and Antoine both looked up to see Sally, Sonic, and Amy approaching them.

"Bunnie waved, and when they all got closer she said, "Glad ta see y'all out heah. An' just in time, too!"

Sonic leaned back, holding his arms behind his head and grinned. "C'mon, you know I wouldn't miss a party. Tails is comin' too, he just needs to do some touch-ups on his and Rotor's new plane project," he explained.

"Well, y'all know I'll save some'a mah cobbler fer 'im." She paused to glance at Antoine and added, "Y'all'll save a piece'a that cake too, wont'cha?"

"Um, yes, of course, but I don't see why-"

"Gonna need Tails' input t' see who's got the best dessert-cookin' skills," Bunnie said with another sly grin. Antoine bit his nails for a second, then murmured to himself, nodding accordingly. "Speakin' of, Ah bet y'all're done waitin'," Bunnie continued. "...Ready, An-twan?"

Almost on reflex, Antoine stood up straight and at attention. The corners of his mouth curled into a cocky grin as he boasted, "Ah-ha, yes, always ready to throw down at zee kitchen table."

"Great. Now he's not gonna shut up for weeks," Sonic whispered to Bunnie, causing her to giggle. The three of them each took a piece of the dessert that was baked; Amy was the only one who tried Antoine's cherry cake, which disappointed him, but he tried not to let it show. It only took a moment for them to chow down on one course, and then immediately go for the next plate.

"Welp…" Sonic muttered as he kept chewing, "I have'ta say Bunnie wins here, clearly."

"Oh, be out zee front entrance!" Antoine challenged. He quickly recomposed himself, and cleared his throat. "Eh-herm. You would not know zee pairfect dessairt eef eet punched you in zee face anyway."

"They were both great, but the cobbler's breading was a bit too soft for me. It felt too wet, but the peaches were cooked perfectly, and the batter was extra creamy and smooth," Amy lectured. "That being said, Antoine's cherry cake felt sort of dry, and I thought the cherries he put in were overripe. It tasted a little bitter, but actually, it added to the taste to balance it all out, so overall, I-"

"Amy, I didn't know you were a restaurant critic," Sally interrupted her with a small laugh.

Amy chuckled a little too and added, "Well, what I'm getting at is that it's hard to pick."

"Sally-girl, what'cha thank?" Bunnie asked.

Sally had been taking her time chewing on each piece of the confection she'd had thoroughly. To say it was a close call was an understatement. "Mmm…They're both pretty good..."

"Would you save a piece for me, please?" Nicole piped up from inside the front pocket on Sally's jacket.

"Oh, ha, ha, very funny," Sally retorted. "I never should've sent you and Sonic in together to take out that underground secondary reactor."

"You were sick that day, Sally. Besides, we all make honest mistakes."

While Sally busied herself with pulling Nicole out and flipping her monitor open to glare at the screen, Sonic was busy devouring a couple extra, albeit smaller, pieces of Bunnie's cobbler. He chewed on them for about seven second before muttering, "All I know ith I shoulda grabbed somebin' to drink when I had the chanch, anfd now I regret it," through a full mouth.

No sooner had Sonic swallowed then he saw a hand appear over his shoulder, holding a plastic cup. His eyes widened and he turned around to see Trystan, grinning and holding a large thermos and a bag of more plastic cups in his of-hand. "I heard there was a lack of drinks, so I came runnin'."

"So that's where you been all day," Sonic chuckled as he took the cup.

"Yeah, what were you doing?" Sally added.

Trystan gave him a half-smirk and looked around. "Oh, y'know. Little bit of this, little bit of that," he said. He paused for a second before hoisting up the thermos triumphantly and bragging, "And makin' the best damn party cocktail on the face of the planet, of course."

"You sound pretty confident," Sonic pointed out.

"Hey, if you wanted a sampler, you could've said so," Trystan chuckled. He stepped over to Antoine's table in a flash and barely even got out the words, "Mind if I use this?" before dumping his supplies on the table and opening up his thermos. He snatched several plastic cups, laid them out in a line, and tipped the thermos. An amber-tinted liquid spilled out, and Trystan barely lingered on one cup before moving his arm to the next, but in a manner of seconds, he'd filled up the cups just slightly under halfway. There were six in total, and he held up two. "Any takers?"

Nobody said a word for a moment before Bunnie shrugged and reached out to take it, so Trystan handed it off. And then Sonic held out his hand, so Trystan picked up another cup and gave it over to him, too. "I should warn ya, though, I tested it and it's got some kick to it-"

"Whoo...!" Everyone froze to stare at Bunnie, who was glancing from her drink to Trystan and grinning. "Sugah, that there's a git-up-an'-kiss-me drink!"

The pause that followed was destined to be cut short as Bunnie, Sally, Trystan, and Sonic started laughing. Sonic quickly broke it up by joking, "Welp, bottoms up!" and he chugged as much of his drink as possible before he brought it back down and gagged. "Woah…! Trys, what'ja put in this stuff?"

"Hard cider with added fruit juice. Artificially fermented, of course," he explained.

"I guessed," Sonic commented as he dumped the rest of his drink out.

This garnered attention from Sally, who gasped and slapped Sonic's arm. "Rude…!" she hissed. "Trystan probably worked hard on that, staying cooped up in the kitchen all day."

"Ah, relax, kid," he told Sally with a dismissive wave of his hand. He paused, crossed his arms and sighed. "Do kinda wish I had more time, it doesn't taste the same."

"Sugah, if yer callin' this yer worst, Ah can't wait ta see yer best!" Bunnie exclaimed.

Her interjection made Trystan snap around and he quickly noticed there was still some cobbler left over. "Hey, speaking of your best…" he began, though he stoped himself when he realized he was leaning over and approaching the table. He glanced up. "...May I, uh…?"

"Oh mah stars, go 'head, sugah. Plenty ta go 'round," Bunnie said.

Trystan was still motionless for a couple seconds before a grabbed a small piece of the cobbler and stuffed it in his mouth. His eyes widened and then he closed them, seemingly lost in bliss. It was surprisingly good; probably better than some of the stuff his mom had left behind, although that was because Z had been the one cooking, and not their mother. "Wow," Trystan muttered. "...Pretty good…" he added nodding his head.

"Hey, if you're gonna eat Bunnie's cobbler, you gotta try Antoine's cherry cake," Amy insisted.

Trystan stopped short and turned his head around to glance at Antoine's table; the mobian himself straightened up when Trystan looked at him. After a minute of awkward silence, Trystan shrugged and grabbed the spatula resting on the plate, and ate the cake in about two bites. It was a small cake, to be fair. He chewed for a second before his tongue got hit with a wave of flavor and sweetness. The fact that it was slightly dry did nothing to detract from the experience. He paused for another minute, then swallowed, letting the taste linger before he talked.

"Who's gonna be mad at me if I nominate Antoine?"

Sonic casually raised his hand.

"...'Kay, Antoine's got my vote." Trystan smirked as he heard Sonic choke. He didn't look behind him, but he could feel Antoine absolutely beaming with happiness.

"Seriously, man?" Sonic exclaimed.

"I'm a sucker for exotic desserts, okay? Sue me."

By now, the sun had gone down completely, and the lights strung up shone dimly, lending to an atmosphere of calm. The music began to play. It wasn't any kind of dancing music, something calmer, an ambience of chill-out music over the canopy of tall oaks. The stars broke through the clouds far above in the sky; for once, the night would be quiet.