Chapter 27: Garden
The following day, Sonny and his friends decided to explore near the lake to find the Chao Garden Crème had mentioned. Rouge came along as well, though she didn't come prepared. While the others wore T-shirts, shorts, and hiking boots, Rouge was sporting a pink sundress with lacy heeled sandals.
"How much further do we have to go?" Rouge asked for the second time since they started. "My sandals are killing me."
"Then maybe you should've stayed back at the house if you're so worried about your precious sandals," Amelia replied in an irritated tone of voice.
"Relax, Amelia," Sonny said. "I'm sure we'll find the garden soon enough."
"That's what you said earlier today!" Amelia snapped. "We've been walking around this lake for several hours for any signs of a Chao Garden and so far there's been no sign of one!"
"Maybe we need to take a break," Miles offered wearily.
"Sounds like a good idea," Sonny agreed.
Picking a spot at the edge of the lake, the four set themselves on a cluster of rocks and shared the power bars and water bottles that were in Sonny's backpack between them.
"What time is it?" Amelia asked.
"A few minutes past noon," Miles stated, looking at his wristwatch.
Rouge groaned in response.
Sonny took a large gulp from his water bottle and said, "Maybe after we've rested we should call it day."
"Just because Rouge is tired?" Amelia said. "It was her fault for not wearing the proper clothes and shoes in the first place."
"Why are you so hard on Rouge?" Sonny snapped.
"Why do you seem to care more about her than me?" Amelia snapped back.
"Hey, guys, look!" Miles suddenly exclaimed, pointing towards the forest behind them.
From it emerged Cheese, only he was actually flying. He circled around Sonny and the others' heads for a few seconds and then he pointed his arm toward the forest. After saying, 'Chao!' several times Cheese flew back toward the forest.
"What the heck did that thing say?" Rouge asked.
"I think he wants us to follow," Miles said, and took off after the flying Chao.
The others followed Miles' lead, though Rouge fell behind.
They eventually came into a secluded area consisting of a small pond with clear water running from a tiny spring and several small palm trees. Flying all around and bathing in the pond were dozens of Chao that did indeed look exactly like Cheese only without the signature red bow-tie he sported. Then near the palm trees, a group of Chao were surrounding Crème who was talking cheerfully to each of them in turn. Cheese then flew up to her and pointed his stubby hand toward Sonny and his friends. Initially, Crème was surprised but then she got up and walked over to them.
"Hi, guys, welcome to the Chao Garden!" Crème smiled. "I figured you would come by sooner or later."
"Um, you did?" Sonny asked out loud.
"Of course," Crème replied. "You were going to ask me about why I called you 'Sonic' instead of 'Sonny,' right?"
Sonny scratched his head for a moment before answering. "We actually came up here to see if the Chao Garden you mentioned was real or not."
"But it wouldn't hurt to know why you confused Sonny's name for someone else's," Rouge said as she stumbled into the Garden. After catching her breath, she said, "I'm a little curious about that."
"Allow me to explain," Crème said giddily. "You see, I have a friend named Cream who told me that there are others who have friends of hers within them and she thinks you, Sonny, have one called 'Sonic' inside you."
"Oh, I see," Sonny replied nervously.
Rouge shook her head. "I didn't understand a word you said, honey. Do you know what she's talking about, Sonny?"
"Um, maybe we should be getting back to town," Amelia said taking ahold of Rouge's hand. "It's getting late and I'm sure you're exhausted from all that walking, Rouge."
While Amelia tried to pull Rouge away from the Chao Garden, Rouge hesitated.
"I'm not leaving until I get some answers," Rouge said releasing her hand from Amelia's grasp. "You guys seem to know something that I don't, otherwise you wouldn't be trying to shove me out."
"She's got you there, Amelia," Miles said.
"Shut up, Miles!" Amelia snapped.
"Maybe it would help if I introduce you to Cream," Crème offered and closed her eyes.
Before Sonny or the others could protest, a yellowish-white aura surrounded Crème. The light was so blinding that everyone had to cover their eyes slightly, then when it was over, everyone was surprised including Rouge. In Crème's place stood a girl with the same dress, shoes, and hair, but with white gloves, long cream-colored rabbit ears instead of pigtails and a matching cottontail.
She opened her eyes, which were hazel-colored like Crème's only the pupils were narrower, while Cheese cried for joy and circled around her. In response, the girl with the rabbit ears giggled with delight and caught Cheese in her hands. The two spun around for a little while, until the girl noticed Sonny and the others stare at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry," the girl with the rabbit ears responded nervously. "I didn't see you there. My name is Cream the Rabbit, and I was told that my friends would be here. Do you know where they are?"
Sonny looked at Miles, who nodded. Then he turned to Rouge, who was blinking rapidly as she gazed at Cream, and walked up to her. Next, Sonny put a hand on Rouge's bare shoulder and said, "I know how you're feeling, Rouge. You're confused and baffled by what you see, because there's no rational explanation for it, but you don't need to be."
"How can you say that?" Rouge said nervously. "There's a garden full of strange creatures that have never been seen by anyone until now, and there's a little girl standing a few feet from me with rabbit ears!"
"Take it easy," Sonny said reassuringly. "It's just that—
"Maybe I should explain everything to her," Amelia said abruptly. "It's the least I could do for being hard on her this whole trip."
"All right, but make it quick," Sonny said. "We don't want Cream to wait too long for her 'friends.'"
Amelia nodded, and then she took Rouge to a spot by the palm trees. Once they comfortable, Amelia explained everything to Rouge about Sonic, Dr. Eggman, and the other spirits that seemed to be occupying the bodies of certain individuals. She also briefly described the various adventures they had including what happened on Angel Island and at Station Square. All of this Rouge listened attentively to while adjusting her white wristwatch occasionally.
Then once Amelia's explanation was done, she said, "Now, Sonny, Miles, and I are about to transform into our respective spirits so we can see if Cream really is a friend of theirs. You're free to watch now that you know our secret, but if you don't want to get any more involved you can leave."
"I'll be fine," Rouge said with a calm face. "Nothing should surprise me anymore."
Satisfied, Amelia walked back over to Sonny and Miles. They all closed their eyes and let themselves be enveloped by their respective auras which were pink, blue, and yellow. During this time, Cream was transfixed by the light that emanated from the auras while Rouge reached into her bra and pulled out a miniature camera. She snapped a few quick shots of Sonny and his friends as they transformed, then stopped once Sonic and his friends Amy and Tails were awake.
"Cream!" Amy said and ran towards the rabbit-eared girl.
"Amy!" Cream replied and glided into Amy's arms with her ears flapping up and down.
Sonic and Tails then joined Amy in a group hug with Cream at the center who smiled at each of them.
"I was so scared," Cream said with tears in her eyes. "I never thought I would see you guys again."
"Well, we're here now," Sonic replied. "And that's what matters."
"But why do you look so different?" Cream asked as the group-hug broke up.
"We're not sure either, Cream," Tails said embarrassingly. "Our memories are kind of fuzzy."
"So are mine," Cream exclaimed. "The last thing I remember was seeing that…scary shadow and then everything went dark. I don't know what happened after that."
"I wouldn't worry about it too much," Amy said. "We'll figure it all out eventually. Right, Sonic?"
"Is that Knuckles?" Sonic said, looking up at the sky with sudden interest.
Everyone looked in Sonic's direction, and there was something that glided steadily down towards them. Once it got close enough to the Garden, Sonic and his friends could clearly see that it was Knuckles while Rouge seemed confused and mesmerized by him. After he landed, Knuckles immediately walked up to Sonic with a serious frown on his face.
"Knuckles," Sonic said with mild surprise. "I thought you'd gone back to Angel Island."
"I did yesterday," Knuckles replied. "But then I got attacked by Dr. Eggman. He was after the Master Emerald again, but I managed to fend him off. However, just as he left, Dr. Eggman said he was going to look for the Chaos Emeralds before claiming the Master Emerald."
"So why did you decide to warn me now?"
"This morning I woke up to the sound of the Egg Carrier flying overhead in the direction of South Island, and so I immediately left to warn you."
"Then he's probably found most of the Chaos Emeralds," Tails speculated. "But considering that it's past noon, we would've seen Dr. Eggman's robots searching the island by now."
As if on cue, a legion of robots suddenly flew overhead. The Chao were immediately frightened and hid in the underbrush surrounding the Garden. While Cream went off to comfort them, Rouge stood up and walked over to Sonic and his friends.
"I guess I spoke too soon," Tails said sheepishly.
"All right, we've got to stop Dr. Eggman from finding those last Chaos Emeralds before G. U. N. gets involved," Sonic said. "Knuckles and Amy, you go after the robots. Tails, you'll be in charge of finding the Egg Carrier. Meanwhile, I'll keep G. U. N. distracted for as long as possible. Cream, you stay here and protect the Chao, okay?"
"Got it!" Cream replied.
"What about me?" Rouge asked, getting Sonic and the other's attention.
Sonic scratched his head for a few seconds. Then he said, "You should head back to town and warn the people about Dr. Robotnik. It's going to get pretty hectic around here."
"Understood, Big Blue," Rouge said, walking past Sonic towards the entrance to the Garden. "See you later."
"Big Blue?" Knuckles wondered out loud as he watched Rouge leave. "Isn't that what—
"Come on, Knuckles," Amy said abruptly. "We have to get moving if we're going to beat G. U. N.!"
"Oh, right," Knuckles said and took off in the direction of the robots with Amy right behind him.
To be continued…