Vacation

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters in the story.

Character(s): Dr. Eggman

Smiling narcissistically at the reflection mirrored on the orb-shaped ornament – his perfect figure only slightly distorted in the ruby red surface – Eggman dropped the bauble onto a flimsy branch located in the tree's lower regions, the measly, little twig trembling underneath the decoration's weight. Once pleased with this ornament's placement, the evil doctor turned around to pick up another decoration, humming a few festive songs under his breath, in a voice out-of-tone enough to match the irritating, obnoxious squealing of nails on a chalkboard.

This was the first in quite some years that he actually decided to put up a Christmas tree; typically, at this point of year, Eggman would be plotting his next scheme, outlining and detailing all the steps that would carry him on the path to victory, and beyond that, to world domination! After everything was set, his primary and secondary strategies decided and following through the commencement process, he would look for the most opportune time to launch his plan, vainly hoping that neither that blue hedgehog or any of his friends showed up to rain on his parade.

So far, this wishful thinking has not yet proven true, as – in more cases than not – Sonic arrived just in the nick of time to halt his progress and blow whatever robot he had conjured up to smithereens. Regardless of the location he focused on, or the diversity in his seasonal schemes, or the strength of his machines, that rodent always seem to be a few steps ahead of him (in all seasons, really). Always knowing where he was planning to attack, always figuring out – with the utmost ease – how to disable his robots, and never wasting a single chance to mock Eggman over his countless defeats.

This year, Eggman decided, would not be one ending in his failure, and Sonic's win; he refused to give the hedgehog that satisfaction of ending yet another year on a good note, all the while Eggman's ringing in a solemn, sour pitch that made every listener want to turn away and glue their ears shut.

And that's how the evil doctor ended up digging up the dusty, old Christmas tree that had been locked up in storage for who-knows-how-long. Surprisingly, he actually found the process of decorating the tree quite a calming one; he had complete creative freedom with this tree, able to render any image that he so desired. He had no barriers whatsoever, no overwhelming adversaries or hindrances stopping him from recreating whatever he deemed worthy of the great Eggman Christmas tree.

Soon, this would be the world. Soon, he would also paint in it the perfect image that he had dreamed of for so very long; and, when that point comes, Sonic won't be able to do a thing about it. Eggman will know his tricks by then, and he'll devise the perfect plan to stop that rodent right in his tracks. That will be the time when the Eggman Empire will reign supreme over all the world's nations, at which point everyone (especially those that once criticized him) will realize what a mistake they made in not electing him to become the world's dictat – oops, he meant sovereign ruler – sooner.

However, that can wait; after all, evil geniuses deserve a Christmas vacation, too. Besides, the world's domination will taste sweeter in spring anyway.

Smokestep: So this should be the last chapter for a while that will be published this late. I'm sorry for the inconvenient publishing times, but the schedule should now return to the normal times. If you wish to have the next installment published earlier, be sure to leave a review; each and every one make my day. Hope you liked this chapter!

Response To Reviews:

ShinyShiny9: You would be correct; "snarly" was meant to be snarky. Thanks for alerting me of that; it is now fixed and reads how I intended it to be. Anyhow, thank you – once again – for being so thorough in your reviews; they allow me a different perspective in order to improve, and I really appreciate that. Also, I'm glad I was able to make this story worthwhile; if you mind me asking, what pushed you to add it to your favorites?