"Wow. I have to say this place doesn't look so bad." Miles couldn't help but be captivated by the vibrant atmosphere surrounding him as he entered the Spring Yard Casino.
The lobby was a spacious and grand area with elevators lining the walls on either side. Their sleek metal doors stood ready to whisk guests away to their desired floors. The elevator panels displayed a range of buttons to indicate the various levels.
At the center of the lobby, a grand staircase commanded attention. Its steps, adorned with a plush carpet, ascended gracefully to another level, offering an alternative means of reaching different floors. The staircase was an architectural masterpiece, with intricate railings and ornate detailing, adding elegance to the space.
Toward the rear of the lobby, a bar and lounge area beckoned guests to relax and unwind. The bar boasted a polished counter, behind which rows of sparkling glassware and bottles of fine spirits getting displayed. Skilled bartenders stood ready to craft exquisite cocktails and cater to the patrons.
The lounge area featured comfortable seating arrangements, including plush sofas and armchairs, arranged to encourage conversation and relaxation. Soft lighting illuminated the space, casting a warm and inviting ambiance. The area was tastefully decorated with artwork, adding a touch of sophistication to the surroundings.
Guests could gather in the bar and lounge area to socialize, enjoy a drink, or take in the bustling atmosphere of the lobby. It provided a retreat from the busy world outside, offering comfort and leisure within the hotel.
The sound of clinking slot machines, the cheers and groans from the tables, and the aroma of excitement in the air created an electrifying ambiance. Miles glanced around, observing the diverse crowd of visitors engrossed in their gambling activities. Some became focused on their poker hands, while others inserted coins into the slot machines, hoping for a stroke of fortune. Miles couldn't ignore the occasional shouts of triumph or frustration that echoed through the room.
As he continued walking through the bustling casino, Miles noticed the mesmerizing lights and flashy decorations adorned the walls and ceilings. The casino seemed to spare no expense in creating an enticing environment. All became designed to keep visitors immersed in the gambling world. It was an oasis of entertainment, offering an escape from the outside world, if only for a little while.
"There it is!" The fox boy nearly shouted before sprinting over, staring at a poster of Spring Yard Casino's obstacle course glued to a wall. It even presents written directions on where to buy tickets to watch or sign up to race, which made Miles wag his two tails excitedly. In case he's fortunate, he'll get to see if the Blue Blur were to come to join the obstacle course.
Unbeknownst to Miles, the mere sight of his three bullies interrupted his little fanboyish moment, and then he heard a perpetually angry and foul-mood voice behind him. "Well, well. Look what the casino dragged in."
After almost a second, before the blinking fox boy could turn around, he was shoved against the wall hard and failed to return to his balance. Miles raised his arms to protect himself from whoever pushed him but felt a meaty hand pulling on his hoodie and plowing him to the wall again.
"Ack!" Miles hit his head on the wall, his eyes spinning. What is happening? Who is-?
Miles' eyes were clear but grew wide as he saw his three bullies surrounding him, making him stutter. "H-H-Hiya, guys, how're you doing?"
One of the bullies, who kept a tight grip on Miles' hoodie, was named Bearenger the Grizzly Bear. The large, chubby grizzly bear had brown fur, white chest hair, crimson eyes, grinding sharp teeth, a notch missing from his left ear, a light brown muzzle, and a round tail. He wore a dark orange puffer vest with a plain beanie hat, white gloves with red and green cuffs, and blue shoes with red stripes and white soles.
Standing by Bearenger was another bully named Falke the Wolf. He was a slim blue wolf with four small tufts of fur protruding from both sides at the back of his head, pointed ears curving upward, and a darker furry patch on his chest and the tip of his bushy tail. Other features included tan skin with blue eyes, a bright red nose, and sharp teeth with his tongue lolling out of his mouth. Falke wore a black leather vest with a collar, and his gloves and shoes were navy blue and mustard yellow.
The last bully that came along was Carrotia the Rabbit. She was a young white rabbit with a peach muzzle, a pink nose, a buck tooth, and a round tail. Carrotia's droopy green eyes included light blue eyeshadow with three eyelashes under each eye. Her outfit consisted of a large, pink bow used to tie her long ears together like a ponytail, a sleeveless black tube top with light blue trim, a green skirt, white gloves with pink cuffs, and pink Mary Jane shoes with white socks.
"Whatcha doing here, Miles Per-Hour? This place doesn't allow defects like you to be here." snickered Bearenger, content to see Miles staring at him with fearful eyes. "HA! For a two-tailed nobody, you're stupid, too."
"Barry! N-no…! I just wanted to…! I wanted to go into the casino and check out the obstacle course." Miles tried not to offend his bully in any way, only to instantly put his hands over her mouth because he knew he had just screwed up.
"You!? The obstacle course!?" The grizzly bear snapped, and with that, he shook the poor fox boy roughly without any care. "Do you honestly think a creepazoid like you can bump shoulders with me? To try and win this obstacle course without looking like an idiot when you get crushed in a dogpile?"
Without any mercy, Falke spluttered with laughter. "Ooh, Bearenger here going to get snippy again! You think you can waltz into the casino and enter the obstacle course as we do! Like some casino waltzer?"
"Quit while you're ahead, dweeb," Carrotia said with narrowed eyes, shaking her head.
"I-I wasn't trying to...!" But Miles choked up before he could say any more words further.
"Speak up better this time, loser!" Bearenger sneered, causing his two friends to start chuckling.
"Maybe he wants us to break his arm so he can listen to us?" Falke suggested in a giggling manner.
Miles became trapped in a distressing situation, unable to defend himself or escape the relentless torment of his three lifelong bullies. They consistently subjected him to verbal abuse, hurling derogatory names like "freak," "loser," and "dweeb" his way, exploiting any opportunity to demean him.
The weight of their words wore on Miles, causing emotional distress and leaving him powerless. Each insult chipped away at his self-esteem, creating a toxic cycle of negativity. Despite his best efforts, Miles struggled to find a way to combat or evade their hurtful actions.
Today was another one of the worst days. Miles could get through the day with his bullies picking on him or tripping him in the forests. But sometimes, there would be plans that involve a total beatdown or public humiliation.
It hurt mentally and physically, his eyes stung, trying to hold back the tears, and his emotions were just a train wreck. It almost seemed like the purpose of their existence was making Miles' lowly life a living nightmare, and this daily beating was no different.
"I'm not trying to fight you guys. I want to try and watch the race, even though I might not see all of it. I'm sure you'll top it. I'll try to not get in your way..." Miles looked down on his own cowardice.
There were three measures of silence as Miles only heard his beating heart against his ears until he heard Bearenger chortle. "Good! Because all you'll ever do is get in the way. Tsk, do you really think you can pass? I dare you to try and beat us, shrimp."
Miles couldn't answer the grizzly bear, shuddering when he saw those red eyes burn into him. It seemed that even in this moment of distress, no one was there to offer him support or friendship. The realization hit him hard, intensifying the weight of his situation.
"Nothing to say as always, huh?" Carrotia signaled Bearenger to let Miles go for now. The erratic giggles of the bullies stop. They left the scared fox boy as if they didn't just mass bullied him, threatening to break his limbs.
As the tormentors went to sign up for the obstacle course, leaving Miles on the ground, Bearenger smirked as he walked away. But he doesn't forget to dump his cruel words on Miles as he departs. "You're useless. It's time to wake up from that stupid dream, freak."
As Miles sat on the ground, a wave of shame and frustration washed over him. He couldn't help but feel burdened by how the world judged him based on his deformity. The hurtful words of his tormentors reinforced his feelings of being seen as trash, useless, and incapable of doing anything right. It was an overwhelming experience, causing Miles to question his worth and place in the world.
Feeling disoriented, Miles looked around at his surroundings, where the spinning customers and bustling environment only added to his distress. He felt a sense of unease, afraid that the disorienting motion might make him physically sick.
In an attempt to regain some composure, Miles directed his gaze back toward himself, focusing on his reflection. Closing his eyes, Miles tried to shut out the external stimuli and find solace within himself. It was a moment of self-preservation, a way to shield himself from the harsh realities that seemed determined to belittle him.
Miles' heart sank as the echoes of laughter resounded in his mind, a constant reminder of the ridicule he faced. The belittling stares and sadistic smiles of others cut deep, a painful reminder of their judgment and disdain. He couldn't help but notice how people would back away, their fear and prejudice evident, as soon as they caught sight of his unique two-tailed fox form. However, as Miles heard the echo of someone's footsteps coming closer to him, he looked up in surprise to see a beaming Robecca standing there.
"Hello there. Are you lost?" asked Robecca, tilting her head toward Miles. "Because I couldn't help but notice you look like you're in a racing outfit. Are you here to sign up for the obstacle course? Any competitor is welcome."
Before Miles could say he was not joining, some part of him reeled his words back in for a moment. The fox boy felt confused as to what he was thinking about doing. But letting his thoughts sink in, his eyes widened in realization.
Maybe somehow or someway, Miles COULD win if he managed to register himself for the obstacle course. It could be his chance to showcase his abilities and prove his worth to those who doubted him. Possibly even a chance to meet the Blue Blur that he forever wished he had done the moment he saw him before joining Dr. Robotnik.
The idea of participating in the obstacle course seemed both exciting and daunting. But those bullies were really getting on his nerves for laughing the idea off. And the same goes for Snively in case he doesn't bring back a Chaos Emerald like he said he would. Truth be told, Miles didn't actually want to do this, but at the same time, he was determined to try and prove to everyone that he wasn't just some freakshow.
"Well, what are you here for, young one?" Robecca asked.
The second these words left her mouth, Miles took a deep breath, sat up a little straighter, looked at the robotized cat, and slowly nodded. He was going to participate in this obstacle course, and he was going to do everything that he could to win.
"I'm Turbo Tails, and I'm here to race," he said, staring at her. "Let's do it."
Sally and Bunnie were making their way to finishing a pathway to one of South Island's portions called Jungle Labyrinth. It was an enormous lush rainforest with treacherous waterways, snaking vines, and giant trees. Not to mention a massive waterfall included rocky outcroppings and floating wooden boughs.
With Sally handling Nicole in her hand, they must travel across this area before getting to the submerged maze part of the ancient ruins. As the name would suggest, the environment remains adorned with stone statues, fauna, and flora galore. The sky above has a little more green tint, and bits of floating lush green jungles persist, littering the background. The foreground platforms were slabs of rock with statues and vines decorating around.
"What the heck kind of strange place this is, Sally-Girl?" Bunnie questioned.
"I don't know, Bunnie, but according to Nicole, there must be a Chaos Emerald over yonder," Sally mentioned, putting away her hand-held computer. "And we're not getting any closer to one of Robotnik's Super Badnik if we stand here. Let's go!"
The two ladies began to observe the wildflowers and exotic plants surrounding them in the damp, dark jungle. Especially the turbulent waterfall that they will have to watch their step when they reach it. One false move, and they are gone for good. True to her word of coming along, Bunnie had followed Sally into the first section of Jungle Labyrinth. They saw more Badniks crawl around the place like metallic bugs.
Frowning at the variation of Badniks that the evil genius must have included in this area, Sally and Bunnie followed each other's lead into the fray. Bunnie paused, then experimentally bounces into the air like she was a literal jump spring, giving a spin kick onto one of the Newtrons as Sally aimed her bow to shoot an arrow through a Crab-Meat.
Bunnie barrel-rolled down to the ground, yelling back while running forward. "Come on, Sally-Girl! Time's wastin' for us!"
Trusting her best friend's judgment, Sally sprang forward and jumped up the platforms, shooting an arrow and breaking open the next Badnik she targeted. In enough time, she ran to catch up with Bunnie, who stretched her robotized arm to punch one of the mole-based Badniks called a Burro-Bot, cracking it open and releasing a tiny critter.
Nicole had clarified to Sally and Bunnie that these robot types preferred underground areas, well suited for their unique talents. The two women were on the lookout as Burro-Bots have a habit of jumping out of the ground. Speaking of which, two Burro-Bots suddenly popped from ahead to attack Sally and Bunnie, only to receive either an arrow or a robotic foot to each of their faces, destroying them both.
Back onto the main pathway, the female duo continued on their merry path of destruction, liberating more animals and doing some Badnik-busting. The sounds of nature glistened around Sally and Bunnie for a moment, only for the sounds to be a loud cry for help. Their eyes snapped toward the direction of the noise, and they hurried off through the area to find out whatever was in Jungle Labyrinth.
They stopped to hide behind the bushes and trees as Sally spotted a patrol of Swat-Bots delivering a prisoner transport. Meanwhile, several other Swat-Bots were digging around through various holes in the ground. All of this was by order of a Swat-Bot model almost identical to the standard Swat-Bot, except for a blue and black color scheme with yellow streaks and more pronounced body armor. It went by the name of Commando-Bot, a military officer under Dr. Robotnik's control and coordinating lesser Swat-Bot footsoldiers.
The Commando-Bot turned to one of the Swat-Bots. "Have you located any indication of a Chaos Emerald yet?"
"Negative, Commando-Bot." The Swat-Bot shook its head, followed by a suggestion. "Should we perhaps move on toward the ancient ruins?"
"Affirmative," The Commando-Bot admitted. "The Chaos Emeralds are not burrowed within this section. The units shall continue onward while we still have captured woodland creatures."
Sally's jaw dropped at the mention of the Emeralds, as well as the critters they have captive, taking a step back alongside Bunnie.
"They're looking for a Chaos Emerald, but they also have animals inside that carrier," Sally whispered to her best friend.
"That one Swat-Bot looks as strong as an ox, Sally-Girl. But there's no way we're lettin' Robotnik get any of the little critters!" Bunnie told back in a quiet voice.
Both Sally and Bunnie heard enough to know they had to make a plan for this and quickly. Bunnie casually hopped out behind the tree, getting the Swat-Bots' attention before she stretched her robotized leg and kicked in a wide circle, striking many robotic foes. Sally positioned her bow and tried to focus her aim on the Commando-Bot, as the arrow flew outward fluidly. But she became shaken when the Commando-Bot caught it with no problem.
The Commando-Bot began to speak, "Princess Sally Acornia, surrender now or be terminated-!"
Suddenly, the tip was secretly one of the bomb arrows as it blew up in the Commando-Bot's face, sending it flying throughout and crashing into a tree. Sally then had a smug smile formed on her face as soon as the Commando-Bot fell for that trick but dropped it once she saw the military Badnik manifest a small segmented steel gun, retract out of the forearm, extending at the front, and then fire lasers.
Bunnie dodged left and right to avoid and then charged forward at full speed before throwing herself into a flying kick, slamming both feet into the Commando-Bot's chest. The military Badnik barely flinched at the impact and sent Bunnie flying. The southern belle slammed into a tree with her back before sliding down, shaking her head.
"Hoo-wee! Even the toughest metal has some chinks in it." Bunnie wiped her chin with a grunt, getting back up. "Sally-Girl, you get the big shipper, and I'll handle ol' tough-as-nails over here."
"Be careful, Bunnie!" Sally shouted as she runs her way over to climb the prisoner transport.
With that arranged, the Commando-Bot swung at Bunnie, forcing her to leap to the side before lashing out with a spinning punch that pushed the robot back. The Commando-Bot just shot at Bunnie again, prompting her to bounce out of the way.
The southern belle's dodging game continued until Sally freed the small animals, watching them jump and flee from the prisoner transport in fear.
Just as Sally went to aim and shoot at the other Swat-Bots, some of them strangely began to make a retreat afar. And the same went for the Commando-Bot, who Bunnie looked back over to fight, only to find the military Badnik already gone too.
"The heck...? I guess we must be gettin' good at this easy, but maybe too easy...?" Bunnie raised an eyebrow at the Swat-Bots abandoning their post all of a sudden.
Surprisingly enough, the last captive to emerge was a young and sweet-looking female bear wearing a yellow polka dot dress with a bow on her head.
"Oh, thank you so much! Are you guys the Freedom Fighters that I've heard so much about?" The bear girl asked with a cheerful smile on her face.
Surprised for a moment, yet suspicious, Sally looked at the bear girl. "Um, yes, we are. Are you the only mobian that was inside the prisoner transport?"
"Oh, I am, yes! But thanks to you, Princess Sally, I'm free!" The bear girl answered, causing Bunnie to raise an eyebrow at that statement.
"How'd you know that Sally-Girl here's a princess? Who are you anyway, sweetie?" Bunnie asked.
"My name is...uh, Sunny! Yes, Sunny is like sunshine, happiness, and cheer! I had heard from a few settlers before that a secret resistance leader was a princess somewhere until I found this weird gem that glowed in a cave nearby. But then I was attacked and put into this prison along with those critters. Until you showed up and saved us!" Sunny described the events of her story carefully.
"Wait, do you still know where this gemstone is, Sunny?" Sally asked with interest. "That's a Chaos Emerald, and we're trying to find it somewhere around here."
"Ooh, yes, yes, YES!" Sunny bounces off the prisoner transport. "I can show you where it is right now-!"
Bunnie then cuts in, "Whoa, simmer down now, darlin'. I need to talk to Sally-Girl first before we start lookin' for that Chaos Emerald."
While the bear girl began nodding rapidly in understanding Bunnie's point, the southern belle and her best friend got together into a soft and quiet discussion with each other.
"I don't know about this one, Sally-Girl. The youngster's gettin' to be a tiny bit hinky about us lookin' for the Chaos Emerald. You think we can trust her?" Bunnie whispered, to which Sally responds with a mere sigh.
"I can see that you're worried, and I get it, Bunnie. But we need to see if this girl holds to her word when we find another Emerald before Robotnik does. And besides, Nicole will be able to track down a Chaos Energy signature and its location if what this girl says is true. I need you with me on this one, okay?" Sally replied as she turned her head toward Sunny, who emitted an innocent yet strange behavior.
"Okay, Sally-Girl, I'm with y'all as always." Bunnie sighed, slightly feeling uneasy, and the tension from Sunny's stalkerish smile.
Sally and Bunnie exchanged glances as Sunny eagerly led them forward. Sally held onto Nicole. Despite Sunny's seemingly innocent demeanor, Bunnie couldn't help but feel a sense of skepticism. Something about the bear girl's overly cheerful smile struck her as forced and insincere.
Nonetheless, they couldn't afford to dismiss any potential leads or allies in their quest. Sally's pursuit of the Chaos Emeralds was of utmost importance, and they needed all the help they could get. Sally decided to give Sunny the benefit of the doubt, hoping that her instincts were wrong and that Sunny genuinely wanted to assist them.
As they followed Sunny, Sally kept a watchful eye. The princess observed the bear girl's every move. She hoped to find reassurance that Sunny's intentions were pure, that she could become trusted. Meanwhile, Bunnie maintained her skepticism, her narrowed eyes indicating her wariness.
The group continued their search for another Chaos Emerald to add to their safekeeping. Sally focused on the mission, even as doubts lingered in her mind. The fate of their world depended on their success, and she couldn't afford to let personal suspicions hinder their progress.
Only time would reveal the nature of Sunny's intentions, and Sally and Bunnie would remain vigilant as they ventured forward.
As Sonic gazed at himself in the mirror, he couldn't help but feel frustrated. The new hairstyle, merged into one massive spike pointing upward, was part of a disguise to help him blend in and avoid detection by Dr. Robotnik's Swat-Bots. However, Sonic wasn't particularly pleased with this transformation.
Sonic's iconic blue fur still shimmered under the bathroom lights, contrasting with his emerald-green eyes that sparkled with determination. He adjusted the angle of his spike, trying to find a more comfortable position. Although he understood the necessity of this disguise, he couldn't help but miss his usual individual spines that represented his unique style.
With a sigh, Sonic muttered to himself, "Man, I never thought I'd see the day when I have to resort to this." He clenched his fists, and his frustration was evident in the determined expression on his face. Sonic was always ready for action, but he didn't like having to compromise his appearance for the sake of stealth.
A sullen voice behind the speedy hedgehog speaks up, exiting one of the bathroom stalls with a wet plunger. "Oh, SURE. At least you're not the one cleaning the toilets in this place. Why hire a robot to clean toilets? Robots don't USE toilets!"
When the confused Sonic turns around, he's facing a robot with an appearance similar to a monkey. His body was gray with an orange-red head and a peach-colored face, wearing a janitor jumpsuit with a white shirt underneath. He also had orange-red and white shoes, a crooked tail, a dome-shaped light bulb on the top, and giant screwtops on each side of his head.
"Uh, do I know you?" Sonic asked while raising an eyebrow at the janitor.
"The name's Coconuts. I work for the Big R himself, though, mainly as a janitor." Coconuts casually introduced himself. "But I'm looking for a big promotion soon! My coworkers, Scratch and Grounder, heard that Robotnik is after those Freedom Fighters that have been causing him a lot of pain."
"Riiiiight. If I see them, I'll let you know." Sonic only nodded, trying not to cringe at the gross plunger Coconuts waves around.
Sonic looked bored yet secretly annoyed talking to Coconuts until the monkey-based Badnik thankfully left the backstage restroom. Of course, Sonic wasn't the only person left inside as a hooded fox boy exited a stall to approach a sink next to where Sonic stood. Miles was busy enough to use a rag and started cleaning the stains from his goggles.
Aside from this mundane effort, the young fox could feel himself getting worried about the obstacle course. But he tries to drown it out with a determined look in the mirror and a smile like the speedy hero he cherishes. Miles knew he could believe in himself to do anything when putting his mind to it.
Before the two-tailed fox could ponder some more, Sonic's childish groaning over a poor attempt at a hairstyle soon made his ears flicker. The fox boy's hood blocked his view when he tried to peek at who the person next to him was, so he pulled his hood back afterward.
"Are you okay, sir-r-r-r...?" Miles tried to ask before his eyes widened at the person, breathing in and out in rhythm with his excited heart.
"Eh, I'm cool," Sonic reassured, attempting to adjust his hairstyle. "Man, this hairdo feels so cheap and underwhelming that I'm not even going to look natural to impress the peeps out there. Be real with me, man! You think this style looks like crap, right?"
By the time Sonic turned his eyes toward Miles, who already looked too frozen with a shocked, joyful expression. Sonic could see two of the fox cub's feet tapping insistently and was muttering a seemingly endless stream of thoughts.
"W...What?" said Sonic, feeling a little irked.
The intensity of Miles' thought process and the sheer thickness of his verbosity weighed down the air around him. Sonic saw the boy floating in mid-air above his head, spiraling out of his mind with no restraint. Sonic earned himself a closeup from the two-tailed fox when zipping in front of him, to his shock.
"You're the Blue Blur! Oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh! I never thought this would happen! I can't believe I'm finally meeting you!" Miles shouted out with his gaze stuck rigidly to Sonic, who blinked in surprise at this young fanboy.
"Hey, what's the big idea getting in my face?" Sonic raised an eyebrow, his palm pushing the embarrassed Miles back to the ground.
"I-I'm so sorry. But when I saw you, I couldn't help myself. I never thought that I would meet the fastest, coolest person here of all places." Miles replied joyfully, despite failing to keep his two tails hidden as they started to wag a little bit from excitement.
Sonic couldn't help but scratch his head, snickering for having a recent fanboy this young. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've established that. I get that I'm awesome and all that-!"
But Sonic only became even more stunned by this young fanboy's peculiar feature, his eyes growing wide, and he pointed it out. "Dude, you've got two tails!?"
Miles was surprised by this, and he tried taking a step back, a look of shame appearing on his face. The young fox's ears fell flat. His left leg swung back and forth while his two tails twisted around each other tightly as if hoping to morph into one. Sonic could see the teary fox boy behaving like so, almost as if he were a frightened stray pup.
"I-I'm sorry, I-I'll leave!" Miles hesitated, afraid that Sonic would reprimand him for having two tails.
However, he was surprised at what Sonic said next.
"What do you have to be sorry for?" He asked, confused at why the young fox wanted to leave. Even Miles didn't understand why Sonic was not yelling at him.
Miles gulped a bit when he turned bright red and startled, babbling. "W-Well, the t-thing is...that I-!"
"You're a freak of nature as always, small fry!"
With that one sentence, the restroom grew quiet, and everything changed when Bearenger entered, showing off his awful temper. While Sonic eyed the seemingly pissed grizzly bear, Miles couldn't scramble to say something that would save himself from Bearenger's wrath. The aura inside here was suffocating for Miles, and he swore it was as if a thick haze had blanketed his vision, only allowing him to see a monstrous silhouette that was once his bully.
The fox boy snapped out of his stupor when Bearenger continued to ring out his ridicule. "So you ignored my warning, huh?! You think you're better than me?!"
Miles looked nervous and ticked off, swallowing hard and nervously at Bearenger's unpleasant grin. "H-Hiya, Barry! L-Look, you're mistaken. I-I'm joining the obstacle course b-because I want t-to show everybody how g-good I can be! N-Not everything I-I do has something to do with you-!"
Bearenger then cuts the young fox's words out by snatching him by the throat before smashing him into the nearby wall. Miles got pressed in hard against the sturdy surface as if it would magically let him through for a perfect escape, but not even life would give him that chance.
Miles could try to fly away, but that took time, and he didn't have that chance either. Sonic watched with agitation as Bearenger set himself on the quivering fox boy like a mad dog. His sharp teeth gleamed under the lights above, making the grizzly bear more frightful than he usually was when angry.
Bearenger lifted Miles off his feet against the wall, grinning viciously. "YOU'RE GETTING SMART WITH ME AGAIN, AREN'T YOU?!"
"N-No, wait, Bearenger! I-I'm trying to fight you or anything worse." Miles trembled, holding his arms out defensively as he choked, leaving him with no escape from the grizzly bear's rage. "It's just that I wanted to be friends with you guys. And you won't get to know me better unless you try."
As a shaky smile comes onto Miles' face, daring to make eye contact with his bully, Bearenger's aura becomes even darker than before, radiating off of him in waves as his appearance grows more sinister. "Try?! What do you mean unless I try? To think I would be friends with some freakshow who doesn't know how to be normal?! You are better off dying in a ditch anyway!"
This guy's damned ego was so big it'd be more than the moon by now, and even Sonic wasn't THAT self-centered.
Sonic knew that he had enough of this grade-A bully.
"So what?" The blue hedgehog spoke up, refusing to let this go on any longer as he crossed his arms.
Bearenger whips around, narrowed eyes widening as he realizes who it was that butted in of all people, and of course, it had to be Sonic. His heart wrenched at the proximity, but he successfully covered it all with an angry scowl that did not affect Sonic. The blue hedgehog merely gazed back with those apathetic eyes, a furious glint to them. Even now, Sonic takes a wide stance, placing himself as a barrier between them with folded arms and a cocky smirk.
"What did you just say to me?!" Bearenger snarled.
"So what if he has two tails instead of one?" Sonic challenged, eyes ablaze as he stared at the grizzly bear and dared him to bite back. "He wants to find some friends where he can feel genuinely accepted, just like I do. He's got two tails that can grant him the ability to fly, which is awesome and something your fat, furry butt cannot do for yourself. Plus, it's not up to me or you to choose what he wants in his life."
"SHUT UP! Why are you defending this freak? He makes everyone look stupid by him showing off his creepy gizmos! Nobody is supposed to hang out with low lives like him!" Bearenger grinds his teeth together in his usual rage, but in truth, Sonic's comment stung.
"And what exactly makes the kid a low life, huh? Is it because you think he's a freak? Just because he has an extra tail makes him one! I'm a blue hedgehog. Does that mean I'm a freak too? Why don't you take your half-baked, recycled, uncreative insults and shove them right up your tush so far that you can taste how useless some half-thought-out words and elementary school curses are? Grumps like you always say the same crap; at least make it unique, jeez," Sonic deadpanned, tone like a serrated knife waiting for him to lash out.
The backstage restroom fell into a crushing silence as the two faced off, Bearenger's eyes trembling with rage. Sonic's eyes remained calm, and it was evident that he would not be backing down. Bearenger then releases Miles against the wall, with him watching Bearenger advance toward his hero. Miles winced onto the floor and tried his hardest not to provoke the unstable grizzly bear, who cracked his knuckles and stepped toward Sonic.
"Oh, you're asking for it now!" Bearenger snickered as he lunged to drive a fist after Sonic, who only sidestepped in silent response.
Bearenger's mind was in disarray as he attempted to strike Sonic again. However, fate seemed to have other plans, as one of his feet unexpectedly slipped on a tiny puddle of mop water, causing him to tumble backward with a resounding thud.
Meanwhile, Miles watched with wide-eyed wonder and admiration at Sonic's incredible speed. Bearenger's anger intensified, evident from the fierce expression on his face as he refused to be deterred. He swiftly regained his footing and resumed his assault on Sonic, throwing a barrage of punches.
"STAY STILL!" Bearenger roared, charging forward in an attempt to strike once again. "I'LL RIP YOU TO SHREDS!"
But Sonic dodges all of Bearenger's attacks until the blue hedgehog trips the bully's step, and his face accidentally sticks into one of the stall's toilets. After hearing the toilet flush, alongside Bearenger's grunts and yelling, Sonic and Tails heard somebody giggling at the sight of Bearenger giving himself a swirlie.
Standing by the door was Falke, who clapped his hands over his mouth as if to stop himself from giggling. But couldn't hold it and let loose another hysterical fit of laughter. Carrotia also came in to see whatever the commotion was.
Carrotia looked over with annoyance at Bearenger, the grizzly bear who somehow got stuck in one of the toilets in the bathroom partitions. As Bearenger finally freed himself from the toilet, he still had the toilet seat around his neck, and he was drenched, which made Falke burst into loud cackles.
"Hey, shut up!" Bearenger growled, but Falke couldn't stop laughing.
Ignoring Carrotia's scolding, the two began wrestling on the bathroom floor. Sonic and Miles exchanged glances as they observed the chaotic scene. Eventually, the two of them broke away from their fight, leaving Falke to start gnawing on his leg and Bearenger brooding as usual.
"I'll clobber you for this!" Bearenger growled, pointing a finger toward Sonic.
"Shut up, Barry." Carrotia sighed in exasperation and walked up to Miles, sounding insincere. "We're sorry we made you take that dare, Miles. My friends don't know when to be quiet!"
Sonic blinked as he looked at the white rabbit. "Whoa, wait! What dare?"
"They dared me to join the obstacle course when they thought that I was here to do that in the first place. But still, maybe I could participate with you guys-!" Miles tried to say.
But Carrotia waved a hand dismissively. "You can forget about it and forfeit while you still can, foxy. Lunch is on us for next time. You wouldn't want to get a boo-boo or do anything pitiful as always."
Miles wanted to counter back at Carrotia for saying something like that. But the bullies had already exited the backstage restroom. The last thing Bearenger did before he left was to present a cold scowl toward the sweating fox boy.
"You're dead if you even think about joining," muttered Bearenger before he made his way after Falke and Carrotia.
"Jeez, who the heck were those three stooges, kid?" Sonic turned his head over to Miles, who tried to regain control from a coughing fit earlier.
The fox boy cleared his throat to speak further. "Some of my friends, but I'm sure they didn't mean it-!"
"Friends with them? Are you serious? One of them just tried to attack you and even scolded you for being dared to race," Sonic said, smirking and shaking his head. "Forget about them if they think you're not racing. Today, my friend, we're going to change that."
"I-I'm a friend? To you? But why? Why did you save me? Don't you think I'm a freak? Or anything unwanted?" Miles asked with a shocked look, where his eyes seemed too worried and hazy.
To the twin-tailed fox's further shock, Sonic shook his head before he moved his way to offer Miles a hand to help him up. "Oh, puh-lease! Who would ever tell you something like that when you're not? Besides, you were in trouble, kid. The name's Sonic the Hedgehog, by the way. You can tell me yours if you like."
"Miles." His voice said quietly, accepting Sonic's hand until he stood back up. "Miles Prower, but you can call me Tails."
The fox boy was worried that Sonic would make fun of his name or may have heard about him. Fortunately, the blue hedgehog didn't believe to be that way like all the others. "Tails, huh? Nothing wrong with a name like that, right?" Sonic said when he got the young fox's attention.
"You think so?" Miles asked with a small smile.
"Yeah, so don't be ashamed. I bet those other guys are just jealous. They don't know what they're missing from you, kid. You've got plenty of talent, and I know it! So how about we go out there and show the world who you are from here on out." Sonic finished, trying his hardest to convince the fox boy. All of this kid's potential can't get thrown away because some bully said he was better off dead.
With that becoming said, Miles Prower, who had just now gotten renamed Tails, began to boost his confidence and smiled much more this time. The twin-tailed genius brought a hood over his head, strapping his goggles before his eyes to show his racing persona. Tails nodded to Sonic with a hum, having the blue hedgehog turn to start heading off for the obstacle course.
"O-Oh, wait!" Tails exclaimed in his squeaky voice, filled with desperation. The unfamiliar tone caught Sonic's attention, causing him to stop abruptly and turn around, his eyes fixed on the two-tailed fox approaching him. Uncertain of Tails' intentions, Sonic soon discovered as Tails began fiddling with Sonic's disguised hairstyle.
Within moments, the young fox expertly styled a few of Sonic's quills, giving them a spiky and tidy appearance for Sonic to inspect in the mirror. After examining himself with the revised hairstyle, Sonic flashed a thumbs-up and a wink to his new twin-tailed companion.
"Now THAT looks much better, buddy! Let's go, Tails," Sonic said, smirking at Tails, who smiled back warmly.
"Right behind you, Sonic!"
Following that, the duo hurried out of the backstage restroom, dashing their way toward the race starting point, which would commence shortly.
Sunny was skipping along joyfully to lead Sally and Bunnie to where one of the Chaos Emeralds would be. Bunnie walked along, looking intently for any sign of the populace here. But they found only nothing. Sunny paused her next move. She then pointed directly ahead for the two girls to spot the spiked log bridge and falling logs at the waterfall near the river.
"Nicole, search for the closest Chaos Emerald within range," Sally asked, pulling out her hand-held computer.
"Searching, Sally..." Nicole responded through a couple of beeps. "The closest Chaos Emerald is located in a small cave underneath the spiked log bridge."
"So, the girl was right all along?" Bunnie whispered to Sally.
She nodded. "I guess so. Right now, we'll need to be careful and find our way across this bridge to the Chaos Emerald-!"
"I can go get the Chaos Emerald for you, Princess Sally!" Sunny stated just before she zipped past the two girls, taken aback by her unexpected rush.
"Wait, Sunny!" Sally tried to call out but to no avail.
Sunny's adventure across the spiked log bridge was both daring and skillful. With each hop, she managed to avoid the dangerous protruding studs. The bear girl's next feat involved skipping onto a fallen log from the waterfall, presumably creating a makeshift raft. It began to float along the river, carrying Sunny toward her destination. Standing on the log, Sunny maintained her balance with caution.
But when she attempted to roll, things turned chaotic. She wobbled and nearly lost her footing a few times, making the observers, Sally and Bunnie, worried for her safety. Despite the precarious moments, Sunny persevered, determined to reach the other side. Her persistence paid off, and after a few seconds of uncertainty, a smile adorned Sunny's face as she regained control and continued her journey toward the small cave on the other side.
"I made it!" Sunny cheered, running up inside the cave next.
"Hold on there, Sunny! We're comin'!" Bunnie called out before she hoists Sally over her shoulder and then seized the spiked log bridge with her robotic arm.
As Sally held onto her best friend, Bunnie took a daring leap below the spiked log bridge, soaring above the river. With a swing, she landed gracefully, her feet landing close to the small cave. Meanwhile, inside the cave, Sunny discovered a blue Chaos Emerald, a valuable and powerful artifact. While Sunny's actions were undoubtedly bold and adventurous, it is understandable that they may be reckless.
Taking such risks without careful consideration for any dangers involved can be concerning. Despite Sunny's intentions of saving Sally and Bunnie the trouble, it is essential to prioritize safety and exercise caution in unfamiliar and hazardous environments. Sally and Bunnie, though grateful for Sunny's efforts, might express their concerns about her reckless behavior.
"Look what I found, Princess Sally! I know I could do a good job in helping you since you're all Freedom Fighters! Maybe I could join you and help along the way, princess!" Sunny holds out the blue Chaos Emerald for Sally to observe, much to her uneasiness for the bear girl's safety.
Bunnie nervously smiles, crossing her arms in a sensitive tone of voice. "Well...sweetie, that's very kind of you to ask, but...!"
"Please! I promise I won't do anything bad, I could...!" Sunny tried to plead.
Only for Sally to silence Sunny as she stoops to her height to show honesty. "Sweetie, we know you mean well, but you should've gotten our permission to find this Chaos Emerald. You could've become seriously hurt if something were to happen to you. I'm sorry, but being a Freedom Fighter isn't about having fun or doing things that could bring trouble to the team. You understand, don't you?"
"I... I'll go... If you don't want me here anyway!" Sunny nearly sobbed at Sally's harsh but truthful words before running off with the blue Chaos Emerald in her hands.
"Wait, Sunny! The Chaos Emerald! I didn't mean to...!" Sally yelled out for her, but the bear girl had already disappeared into Jungle Labyrinth's trees.
"Now, now, Sally-Girl. I know you didn't mean to be insensitive to the poor gal." Bunnie said as she patted Sally's shoulder, followed by running off after Sunny. "I'll go after her to see if she's okay and that she'll give back the Emerald."
Bunnie then leaves to pursue after Sunny while Sally was left there frowning at what she caused, yet knowing that she had to tell the truth rather than deceive the bear girl. She'd have to make a point to apologize to Sunny for the way she had acted seconds ago.
Moments later, Bunnie was busy searching around Jungle Labyrinth for Sunny until suddenly hearing a weird static noise nearby. She makes her way through a few trees and bushes before the southern belle spotted Sunny hunched to a log with something else in her hand beside the blue Chaos Emerald.
"Hey, what's she doin'?" Bunnie pondered as she was hidden and began listening to Sunny's words carefully.
Sunny was making a call on a transceiver device to somebody cruelly familiar, her voice now robotic and baleful. "Dr. Robotnik, it's me! The mission is going perfectly! Those gullible fools will soon fall for my act. I will infiltrate Princess Sally's outlaw group, gain their trust, learn their plans, and DESTROY them!"
All of this was the conversation Bunnie had been expecting when she became suspicious. The southern belle pops out of her hiding spot, surprising Sunny in the process.
"Yeah, well, this 'gullible fool' won't! I should've known you're workin' for that nasty ol' Robotnik!" Bunnie said while she glared, approaching the bear girl.
"You've seen too much, mobian!"
And to Bunnie's unforeseen fear, Sunny turned to face the half-robotized rabbit with a creepy, wide shark-like grin and pitch-black robotic eyes. When Bunnie tries to attack Sunny, one of her arms elongates as it transforms into a claw, slamming Bunnie hard against a tree.
Bunnie felt her heart skip a beat or two fearfully when catching the sight of Sunny's freakishly changed arms. "Y-Your arms! What are you?!"
With the deception now discovered, Sunny's appearance begins to take on her original form. Now, starting to convert herself, Sunny's entire body reforms, becoming a good foot taller with pinkish-purple body armor and a bobcat-like face. Her eyes remained pitch black with white pupils, which have now become slits, and her teeth were jagged and sharp.
"There is no further need to pose as some cute-looking brat. Now, I will destroy each of you Freedom Fighters as the latest in Badnik surveillance and infiltration..." The shape-shifting Badnik introduced herself. "...I am Meta-Morphia!"
TO BE CONTINUED...