CHAPTER 4 RACING THE PAST
"Are you sure you don't want me to race? I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!" Sonic had a yellow smile and was begging on his knees, while Tails and Knuckles strapped the tape around their legs.
"No." Knuckles replied.
"Please! I'm the fastest there is! I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!"
"Everyone knows that. That's why you can't participate in this one!" Tails was checking if there weren't any air bubbles on the tape, "The tape would rip as soon as the race started! Sorry, Sonic!"
"But I can slow down!"
Tails raised his eyebrow,"Huh huh."
"It's true! Wait just a moment! I'll bring someone that can prove this!" he speed away.
"Even after that we won't let him run, right?"
"Yup." Knuckles replied.
"Almost there!" Lanolin was about to finish strapping the tape around the legs of her two teammates, when Sonic arrived, "There it's finished. Hey Sonic, do you need something?" she was still on her knees inspecting, Tangle was excited, while Whisper was a little bit uncomfortable.
"I need to borrow Tangle for a moment!"
"-Why?" Whisper was alert.
"I need her to prove to Tails and Knuckles that I can slow down."
"I can go, but Whisper has to come to. Since, you know, were both united!" she passed her arm around the wolf, that let out a sigh, that the lemur understood and immediately removed her arm, "Do you agree Whisper?"
"-Yes." she recover some cool, seeing that Sonic was indeed Sonic.
"Let's go; quickly!" he was about to speed away when Tangle hold him with her tail.
"If you want to prove that you can slow down don't run, trust me I know what I'm talking about!"
"-Self-experience?"
"Yup!"
They walked away.
"Just don't be late for the start!" Lanolin now had nothing to do and because there was nothing to do, she noticed someone disappearing, whoever they were it was wearing a robe behind a stand, "Weird." she went to investigate.
"So Big, is it stuck?" Amy asked.
"Yes. It's a very strong tape, I would say it's probably Flex tape, so it will stay glued even underwater."
"How do you know that?" Cream was hugging Cheese.
"Once, my fish line broke, I got sad, so I went into a store to buy some duck tape, I asked a worker there for which one should I buy, and he went on for hours talking about the different duck tapes that exist!"
"And what did you do?" Amy and Cream were sitting on the floor.
"I listen, because it made him happy."
"Big, you're just too pure!" Amy had a tear in the corner of her eye.
"Hmm! This is going to be more difficult than I imagine, even for him, he's too good! I need to find a way to..." she was so distracted that she didn't saw the sheep behind her.
"Excuse me! You shouldn't be here!" the gazelle jumped, making her hoody fall, she turned, Lanolin was holding her bell.
"And you are you? The security?"
"Something like that, yes. My name is Lanolin." she looked at the gazelle from up to bottom, she could see that she was carrying something around her waist.
The gazelle pondered her options, she could definitely win in a fight against the sheep, as long as she didn't have any unknown tactic, she could use one of her flask to take her out, but wasting it on only one opponent didn't seem the best course of action and they were too close to the stands, if they fought, somebody would hear and the rest of the heroes would join in the fight, leaving her in trouble, so she decided to play it cool, "I'm Judy."
Lanolin entered her game, "And what are you doing here?"
"Sorry, but mind your own business." she reached under the robe.
"Stop it!" she pointed her bell at her.
"Don't worry." she pulled out a flask with a grey smoke inside, "This doesn't harm people, it's only a distraction!" she throw it at her feet, creating a smoke cloud.
Lanolin covered her eyes, she coughed, once it was settled, she was gone, "This is not good, she wasn't looking for a fight, she was clearly looking for something or someone!" she let out her wisp from her wispon, "She was looking at the field and the only ones that are there are Team Rose and Blaze, Silver and Marine. She was talking about a he, which means it's either Big or Silver, they were trying to infiltrate in! I've got to warn Whisper and Tangle!"
"Attention everybody! The race will begin soon, may the contestants move to the starting line!" the voice behind the speakers shouted.
"Guess I'm out of time. I can't tell them now, it will stressed them out, Whisper the most, but what if Mimic tries to act during the race?" she heard rustling, coming from the forest behind her, but she didn't turn around, she had a plan, "No, there's no way, Judy was clearly a scout to analyze the surroundings, maybe looking for a target, to get rid of one of us and put Mimic in their place, she was saying he was too good even for him, so that means she was talking of Big! Of course, so I can relax and tell them once the race is finished!" she walked away.
Judy raised from behind the bush she was hidden, she clapped, "By solving your cunodrom you gave me one, do I tell them what happen and risk the consequences or respect you, pretend nothing happen and proceed with the mission?" she exhaled, "It may sound simple, but it's not really that simple, both have consequences, now which is worst?" she closed her eyes thinking, "I'll stay here a bit longer, she knows I alone don't oppose a threat, so I can find a way to bring him!"
"Froggy! Do you want to go to get something to eat?" Big got up from the floor.
"Ribbit!"
"Let's get something to eat for the both of us."
"Hmm! I think I got an idea." she pulled out a empty flask.
Jet, Sonic, Silver and Shadow were sitting on the first row, "I'm bored!" said Jet.
"Yeah! Tell me about it." Sonic was laying down.
"They said I couldn't compete because I was too fast!"
"They said that to all of us, so suck it up." Shadow had is arms crossed.
"All we can do is sit back and watch." Silver was the least worried of the four.
"I hate watching!"
"Sometimes it do be like that!"
"C'mon guys! We can still cheer up for our teams!" Silver grabbed two pompoms with his telekinesis, "Let's go Blaze! Let's go Marine! If someone can do it, it's my team!"
"I'm not doing that." Jet got out and walked away.
"I'm going to grab a chili dog."
Silver looked at Shadow, "And you?"
"I have nothing better to do, but I won't cheer." he remained with his arms crossed.
"Then don't complain when my team wins!"
"Everyone to the starting line! The course will pass through Spiral Hill, then once they reach the museum they have to go back, the first team to cross the finish line wins! Now introducing the teams, racing for Team Rose we have Amy Rose and Cream the Rabbit and Cheese the Chao!"
"It's just Cheese." Cream corrected.
"ForTeam Chaotix we have Vector the Alligator and Espio the Chameleon."
"I'm a crocodile, my cousin is an alligator!"
"For Team Sonic we have Tails the Fox and Knuckles the Echidna, no wait Ech... It's Knuckles!"
"I'm going to crush that stupid robot!" he started walking to the robot Chao.
"Knuckles, calm down! He is just a stupid robot that doesn't know what his saying! Sonic, help me!" the poor fox was trying to hold the echidna back, but was not being successful.
"What's going on? This better be good, I lost my place in the queue for the chili dogs!" Sonic was a little bit upset.
"It's Knuckles!" Tails was flying two centimeters off the ground and pulling back his friend.
"Hey Knuckles, what's the matter?" Sonic hopped in front of him.
"This piece of junk disrespected my kind!"
"There he is, surprisingly for a team whose name is Sonic, we have no Sonic participating. Isn't it funny?" the robot Chao asked the audience, nobody laughed.
"Save it for later, once this is finished you can go at him!"
Knuckles stopped, "For real?"
"You have my word!"
Knuckles and Tails returned to their position.
"For Team Dark we have Rouge the Bat and this robot."
"Hey, I have a name!"
"It's not in the list, sorry!"
"Bull..."
"Omega, language sweetie!"
"... Crap!"
"I'm not seeing it!" Omochao was looking through the list.
Omega pulled out his machine gun arm and pointed to Omochao, "If you don't say my name I will expose your search history in any way possible, I'll cancel you on Twitter and then I'll shoot until there's nothing left! Now... SAY... MY... NAME!"
"Go Omega!" Shadow screamed.
"So what was it about not cheering up your teammates?" Silver hit him in the shoulder.
"This is different, free threats for someone who deserves it are awesome, it's my kind of show."
"What reality shows and celebrity shows?" Silver asked.
"No, it was just an expression." Shadow negated.
"Sure thing!"
"I've found it, Omega." the Chao was sweating.
"Good."
"Next up for Team Babylon Rogues we have Storm the Fat Albatross and Wave the Swallow, more like Shalow!" nobody was laughing.
"It looks like we have to get in the line to beat him up." Wave throw a wrench at the annoying Chao.
"I'm going to pummel him!"
"For Team Wisps..." he got yoinked by Tangle's tail right into Whisper's wispon.
"-Go ahead Funny Man. Tell... A joke!" she opened her eyes.
Omochao buffered.
"That's what you get!" Tangle throw him back into his pedestal.
"Whisper and Tangle."
"And finally for Team... Hmm, what is your team's name?"
"What do you mean?" Blaze asked.
Silver gulped.
"You messed up, didn't you?"
"What? Hahaha!... Yes." he made an embarrassed face.
"Did you forgot to do something?"
"I may have been the responsible one to give the name for the team, you know present the name of the team." he touched his index fingers.
"Ok, and how did you messed that up? Did you forget?" Shadow hit a therapist pose.
"No, it's even worse than that!"
"Silver!" Blaze was annoyed.
"I didn't even had one!" he screamed.
"And why didn't you tell us mate?"
"I thought I could come up with a name alone." Blaze and Marine approached their friend.
"Hey, it's okay Silver. We're not angry at you." Blaze was now more calm.
"Only upset." Blaze elbowed Marine, "What? I'm not wrong!"
Blaze hold Silver's hands, "We're a team and we'll figure a name together."
"Ok, thank you Blaze!" Silver cleared a tear.
"So what are your suggestions?"
"Team Future was the best one I come up with!"
"It doesn't sound good to me! What about Team Dimension!" Marine hugged the two.
"That's... Better than every idea I've had last night!" Silver was happy.
"I guess it's settled then, were Team Dimension!" Blaze closed her fist, extinguishing the flame on her hand.
"For Team Dimension we have Blaze the Cat and Marine the Raccoon. With that we have all the teams, now follow the path mark by the arrows, you cannot touch the arrows and cannot split from your partner. And GO!"
Everyone left immediately, except Blaze and Marine.
"That isn't fair."
"You are a bugger!" Marine and Blaze ran off.
"Wanna bet that your team is going to loose?" Shadow was eating a chili dog and smiling.
"It's on! Where'd you get that?" Silver pointed to the chili dog.
"I bought the last one, right in front of Sonic!"
"That's why you are smiling?"
"Yup! Now if I win you have to wear one of Blaze's dresses!"
"Easy!" he smiled.
"But she has to see it!"
Silver's smiled disappeared, "Please no!"
"To late! Now give me your best shot, bro!" he opened his arms.
"I'm not very good at creative thinking!" Sonic passed by, "Hey, Sonic! Can you give me an idea for a dare for Shadow?"
"Yes, play dress up with Cream and post pictures on the internet." Sonic was grumpy, "Now I have to go to the nearest fast food place that is in Mobotropolis, you two can put me up to par to what I will miss."
se"But your the fastest hedgehog of the world." Silver scratched his head.
"But even I have to wait in a line and wait for my food to get ready, just have to get lucky with the guy preparing my order. See ya!" he speed off.
"He's not going to have a good time!" Shadow leaned back.
"What do you know that I don't?" Silver questioned.
"Recently, I went there with Cream's family to dinner and we saw a familiar face working there."
"Who?"
"Think!"
"Ooooh! No way!"
Whisper and Tangle were neck and neck with Amy and Cream, they were now going up the bridge.
"Hey, Cream! Why didn't you just flied up?" Tangle asked.
"Miss Amy said it was better to do that in the descent. It's less tiring flying down then it is to fly up."
"-See. I told you."
"Yeah, I got it. We are in the lead, there's no point into using the wisps right now."
"Tangle? Can I ask you a question?" Amy stopped at the doors of the village.
"Sure!" she jumped with her tail, Whisper grabbed the lemur's weist.
"What is that thing?" she pointed to a tall building in the middle of the forest.
"A bad investment from someone that wanted to build a hotel! It flopped immediately, the only reason it still stands is because children use it as a hide and seek place. Plus it didn't cut any trees."
Whisper looked behind, the others were on their way here, but she noticed someone on top of the bridge tower, a purple cat was crouched, looking at them.
She put her mask on and prepared to fire, but he was gone.
"Whisper? Are you ok?" Tangle was worried for her friend.
"-Yes." she twisted her mask, "-Let's go."
"We can talk while we walk!" Tangle pulled her, the wolf made a worried face.
"Do you really think we should go in there?!" Blaze pointed to the giant pipe.
They were under the bridge, looking at the entrance for the sewers.
"How else are we suppose to catch up to the others? Besides, you were the one that told me about this town, this is the fastest way to reach the town center!" Marine pushed her in.
"And I'm now regreating it! Immensely!" Blaze bristled her fur .
"Pffh! I've been in worse places than this, and besides this will be a fun adventure, just us two, c'mon!" she made cute, big eyes.
Blaze gave in, "Fine, but let's not be here for long."
They bailed.
A whistle came from outside, a hand twisted the red valve on a rock.
Blaze and Marine were running up the sewers, "Wait!" Marine stopped, her ear was pointed to the front, "Did you heard that?"
"Yes! Some sort of rumbling?"
They looked at each other, a rumbling is never good.
"Quick! We've got to get to the surface before the water get us!" Marine started to climb a lader.
"We've got the security doors, Tangle told me that they were made for situations like this one." Blaze pointed at a red metal door.
"Good call Blaze! Blaze?" her friend was petrified, the water was coming fast, they had no time left.
Marine, without exetation, jumped in front of her friend. The two were washed away by the torrent of water.
Blaze closed her eyes, they needed a miracle to get out of there alive, she could fell the water pushing them down, until she stopped felling, in fact she opened one eye, the water was around her, but she was standing on solid dry ground. She raised her hand to touch the water above, it dip into it, she removed it, it was wet and dirty.
"I'm definetly getting a bath after this!"she agitate her hand and looked at her friend, Marine was controling the water with her hands, "So you have been following my advice I see."
"I've been training with my powers during my free time. Now hold on to me, this time I'm the one boosting!" she said with a smile on her face, "Just hold your breath!"
Blaze followed her friend's lead.
"Now we are a cork..." she focused on the water behind them, "Now we pop!" they propelled trough the murky waters.
"Let's hit the main street. It's the third fastest route!"
"What are the other two?" Cream asked.
"The roofs are the second, but with tape it's risky, it might break, and we've already passed the stepung stools to get there and the first one is trough..." the four girls stopped, the manhole cover was shaking, Cream hide behind Amy; Tangle, Whisper and the pink hedgehog were ready to fight. Then the manhole was launched to the sky in flames, Blaze emerged through the hole, "Never again! We will never repeat this!" she was visibly stressed and was breathing heavily, Marine popped up.
"Ah come on Blaze! It was fun!"
"We almost died!" the cat was annoyed.
"Yes, that part wasn't so good, but we lived! Oi, there mates!" she greeted her friends that were on the surface.
"And the sewers are the fastest way to reach the museum, you only have to pick the right one, you failed by two." Tangle pulled the two out of the hole.
"We appreciate your help, we almost drowned in there!" Blaze regain a bit of her composure.
"C'mon Espio! We have to win. that money!" Vector's voice was getting closer.
"It's better we talk while we run." Amy lead the way.
Sonic was in the drive-thru, he reached for the speaker, "Hello! I would like a chili dog with all condiments!"
From inside the booth the employer snickered, "Sure! What kind of bread?"
The blue hedgehog was caught of guard, "Ah! Normal bread!"
"What kind of meat do you want?"
"What? Your voice seems oddly familiar, do I know you?"
"Come to the window! I have your order ready!"
Sonic jogged to the window, only to see Dr. Eggman.
"What, Egg head? You work here?! Shouldn't you be in prison or worst!"
"Well yes, but has a single father they gave me this job. You know I can't let the kids alone!" he opened his arms.
"Kids!? What kids!?" Sonic grabbed his chili dog, after paying.
"Metal and Sage!"
"Only you to find loopholes in the justice. So you've been doing good?" Sonic bite his food.
"I have to! It's mandatory, I cannot exercise any evil/illegal activities. But only if they discover something!"
"So you're not up to something?" Sonic finished his meal, throwing the paper inside the kitchen.
"Not right now! I'm limited by the law, very limited. Since you and your friends, destroyed everything. I can't rebuild any evil robot, but they let me keep Metal, Orbot and Cubot, but I had to deweaponize Metal Sonic. And Sage, she is at home!"
"I still have so many questions, but now I need to get back to watch the race. See ya around Eggman!"
"Whatever, you are lucky there isn't poison in here, now get out, you are occupying a drive-thru without being in a vehicle!"
"But I am faster than one!" Sonic complained.
Eggman placed his hands on Sonic's shoulders, "Are you a car?"
"No."
"Then stop acting like one and get out of my sight!"
Sonic complied to his demand.
"I hate that Hedgehog!"
The six girls reached the museum.
"We were on the running on the concrete, I remembered that Tangle said this was the quickest route to reach the city." Blaze twisted the bottom of her clothes, they were still drenched.
"It's risky on working days, it's always safe on the weekends!" Tangle was helping the Dimension Team getting on the roof.
"Today might be weekend, but it wasn't safe at all!" Marine laughed.
Tangle looked at Whisper, the wolf was uneasy, "Whisper, you saw him. Didn't you?"
"-Yes." she looked down.
"Who is the hooligan?"
"A bad guy, very bad. He used to work with Whisper until he betrayed her team! He's a an octopus, shapeshifter, very dangerous, he tried to enter in our team pretending to a purple cat named Duo, we tossed is slimy butt into jail, but he escaped and brought some extra troubles with him! We think he's going to try to get his revenge on us!" Tangle talked as they jumped onto the roofs.
"And he was the one that did this?" Blaze was concerned.
"-There was no one around. It could only be him." Whisper tighten her grip around her wispon.
"And why say nothing?" Blaze raised a valid point.
"I was outvoted, two for one, and the less people know, the more chances of caught them by surprise increased. He knows we are waiting for him, so we'll wait!" Tangle was confident.
"That's an awful plan, how does that give you the upper hand?" Blaze shook her head, negatively.
Tangle raised his tail, like a finger, and then she put it back down, "It's not the best, but I had nothing and we just discover it today, it's not Whisper or Lanolin fault!" she defended her friends, "And now that you know what's going on, your all part of the team now!"
"-Tangle. It's too dangerous." Whisper grabbed her shoulder.
"Exactly! That's why we need all the help we can have, our friends!"
Whisper sighed,"Just don't tell the others. The less people know about this, the better."
"Everyone duck!" Cream warned them.
"A duck where?" Tangle looked around, she was almost hit by a hoverboard, but Whisper pulled her down.
Storm was riding it, while Wave was holding to the hoverboard, she was facing the back of it, "Sorry, but we are winning this one!" she taunt them.
"Wait, how are you holding?" Amy asked.
"Storm, stop! We are winning either way, so let's explain why!"
"Sure, I love showing off!" he turned around, stopping next to the roof.
"You see, it's actually quite simple, I installed handles on each of our hoverboards. And this one is the XXL version, so it can hold more than one. That is all! Goodbye!"
Storm proceed to fly away, but before he looked back,"So long you dusty..." he was hit by the falling manhold, right on his head, making him lose balance, "Aaah!"
Wave was holding on, "You're to heavy!"
"Ahoy! To the approach!" Marine jumped to the hoverboard.
Blaze grabbed the Shallow's fingers, "Now give us your hoverboard and your fingers won't be blazed!" she had an intimidating aura surrounding her.
Wave gulped, "Fine!" she let go, making her and Storm fall on top of the roof.
"Ouch!"
Blaze smirked, "Now any of you need a ride?"
"We could use one!" Amy agreed.
"Why not!" Tangle wrapped her tail around Whisper.
"Then all aboard! Next stop, the finish line!" Marine pointed towards it.
"Good luck controlling it with six a board!" Wave smirked, she looked at Blaze, the cat smirked back.
"I was captain of a ship, I thinkI have it under control, specially with Marine backing me up."
"Do you hear that? So long mates!" Marine waved them goodbye.
Everyone waved while Blaze piloted.
"We can cut the tape." Wave said in a defeated tone.
"Hold on! I'm still seeing stars!" Storm was still dizzy from all.
Vector and Espio were watching this show unfold from the ground.
"So we are not going up there. Any suggestions?" Espio asked Vector.
The croc looked at the hole that lead to the sewer, "For how long can you hold your breath?"
"As a ninja I can hold it for several minutes. You're thinking in using the sewers!"
"Yup!"
"Worth a shoot, I guess." the two dive in.
Tails and Knuckles were flying over the bridge, "I think we are in the lead, for now!" Knuckles pointed out, "At least it's good to know that Rouge is in last place!" he looked behind him seeing the Bat carrying the Robot.
"She may be strong enough to carry Omega, but his height slows them down!" Tails explained.
"I would go like to mess with her, but we should focus on winning first, then I can rub it on her face!"
"You two seem to be enjoying annoying each other, more than usual! Is there any particular reason why?" Tails let out a tiny smirk.
"She has, recently been showing up at Angle Island, even more then usual, just to annoy me and to try to steal the Master Emerald!"
"You know, Knuckles. When someone likes to mess with only you, that might imply that she likes you!" he pointed to the Echidna.
"You're the second one to tell me that, so let me say what I said to her. That's wrong!" he was pissed.
"Who was the first?"
"Forget it." he shut, promptly.
Then a shadow covered the two, it was the hoverboard carrying three of the teams, Tangle was looking down at them, "Hi boys! Bye boys!" she waved.
"We need to hurry up!" Knuckles began to fly faster.
Then to their side, to the right they saw Vector and Espio being spitted out of the sewer, flying trough the air.
"So this is what Charmy must fell all the time!" Vector flapped his arms.
"How do we land? Have you thought about that?" Espio raised his eyebrow.
"Dude, relax. I've got everything covered, I'm a tuff guy, we will use my belly has a sled, then once the slope ends we just run across the finish line, and win!"
"Good plan, but may I suggest something instead?" Espio pointed forward.
"Tails, spin your tails faster!" Knuckles ordered.
"I'm going as fast as I can!" the Fox was putting a lot of endeavor in his physical skills.
"Blaze, turn on the boosts!" Marine shouted.
"On it!" Blaze fire up her fists, but she wasn't able to release the fire in time, because the hoverboard shake causing her to almost fall, luckly, Tangle caught her in time.
"We've got visits!" Amy looked at the handles.
"Who? Tails and Knuckles? Rouge and Omega? Those two birds?" she looked behind her.
"Hello Blaze! Nice weather we're having!" Vector greeted her.
"Excuse me?" Blaze was confused.
"It was Espio's idea. He said it was normal to open a conversation by talking about the time!" he pointed to his partner, that was holding to the right handle.
"It's true! Almost everyone does that!" he closed his eyes.
"No, it's not that! How are you here? None of you can fly!"
"They used the sewers. Right?" Tangle got down to their level.
"Indeed."
"Yeah!"
"How did you know?" Cream asked.
"Let's just say, that when I was your age, I wasn't as well behaved as you!" she winked at the small rabbit.
"-I believe that."
"Welcome aboard, we are competing, but also on the lookout for a dangerous shapeshifter Octopus named Mimic, he can attack at any moment with his team of prisoners, and he tried to drown Blaze and Marine!" she shake their free hands.
"Prisoners? Hmm! We heard about a prison break on the last week, two prisoners escaped." Espio pointed out.
"-Two? But there's more than two!" Whisper felt a chill down her spine, something was horribly wrong, things weren't making sense.
"Blaze, the fire!" Marine had a worried face.
"Right." she projected flames out of her hands, giving them more height, "Is this enough?"
Marine looked down, put her finger in her mouth and checked the direction of the wind, they were going against it, "Not exactly my area of expertise, but I think we are going short of the finish line mates! We need to throw weight overboard!"
Everyone began brainstorming a solution, until Vector snapped his fingers on his free hand, "I can throw you all to the direction of the finish line, since there's one of each team that can fly! Me and Espio will stay here, hoping for this thing to not crash!" Vector got up, Tangle grabbed the handle with her tail to give him room, holding Whisper, the Lemur was blushing a bit, he then grabbed Blaze and Marine with both hands, "I think the captain should go first and win!"
Everyone else agreed.
"Throwing only two at a time is not enough." Blaze noted, "You need to find a way to throw at least four at a time."
"I have a solution!" Tangle smiled, "Pull my tail!"
Jet returned with a calzone in his hands, Shadow, Silver, Charmy, Lanolin and Big were all looking up at the sky, "Hey guys. What's going on?" he looked up and dropped the calzone, "Aaaaah?!"
Sonic arrived, "Hey guys! What did I miss?"
Silver pointed up, Sonic looked and saw the flying circus, "That looks cool!"
"At least it's not my board."
"And yeet!" Vector tossed them, Blaze projected flames, moving forward like a jet, Marine was holding to her torso.
"Yoooo-hoooo!"
Knuckles and Tails passed the hoverboard, they caught up to them.
Marine looked at Tails, "Hey,Tails! Let's do a guardian race!"
"A what?"
"You rest your tails and let Knuckles flies for you and we'll guide them. What do you say?"
"I'll pass." he ignored her trap.
"I understand mate. You are helping Knuckles fly faster, because he would loose against Blaze!" she faked a sad face.
"Tails, stop!"
"What? They are trying to trick us!"
"I know. But, I won't let falae rumours spread." he looked at Blaze, "Ready to lose?"
"I won't falter!"
"Well, since we are already here, let's have some fun!" Tails entered in the spirit for compete.
"Aces! Let's do it then!"
"NOW PULL MY TAIL!" Tangle ordered.
"Jeez! Ok lady! You have a thing for this, don't you?" Vector pulled her tail, she spin back into the board, her tail wrapped around Amy and Cream.
"I do. Now throw us!"
"Alright! And yeet!"
As they were falling, Espio and Vector were trying to elevate the hoverboard.
"Now we fly!"
"-Tangle. We're still tangled here." Whisper mumbled.
"Ups! Ah, ah! Sorry!" she released everyone, Cream started to fly with her ears and Whisper pulled out her green wisp, giving her a green hover ability.
Vector and Espio had managed to control the machine.
"It can be control by two at the same time."
"This is awesome!"
Then behind them the air started to make a weird sound, but it wasn't the air, it was Omega using a flamethrower to boost himself forward.
"Ciao, darlings!" Rouge wave them goodbye.
"I am the one doing all the work here! She is just flying. I'm doing 99% of all the work."
"Omega, darling! Do you want me to drop you? Mr. I'm doing all the work!"
"Fine! I'm doing 70% of work."
"That's better."
They zoomed after victory.
"Should we stop them?" Tangle asked Vector.
"Nah! Knuckles will do everything in his power to stop that Bat, even throw their chances of winning, just to make sure she loses!" Vector removed her worries.
"Now what?" Amy was a bit bored.
"Since we were able to control this, I think you can join us up here." Espio invited.
"Good, thank you Mr. Espio. Cheese is getting tired." Cream placed her Chao on the board.
Knuckles and Blaze were side by side, 'Not bad mate! But I'm not done yet, not by a long shot!" Marine was on Blaze's back (that's some quality tape), Tails was sitting on Knuckles back, with his tails protecting him from the Echidna's quills.
"Go up, mate!"
"To the left!"
"Dive!"
"Cut to the right!"
Knuckles heard something approaching them from behind, he peeked over his shoulder,"We have company."
"What?" Marine turned around.
Rouge and Omega were catching up to them flying even faster, thanks to the two flamethrowers in each hand.
"Omega, let's burn their tapes off! And just the tapes." Rouge pointed to the two teams ahead.
"Engaging just burning the tape!" he switch for his left hand, but his middle finger retracted giving his place for a blowtorch.
"Tails! What have you done?!" Knuckles yelled at him.
"I may have given to much upgrades to Omega, he was so excited to have news things that he excited me!" Tails had his ears down.
Marine passed her hand on Tails forehead, the drops of sweat started to float to her palm, she began to form a ball of water, floating above her hand, "Thanks for being nervous Tails, now let's fight fire with water!"
"Marine, are you sure you got this?" Blaze asked.
"Don't worry Blaze, I've been training, just like you suggested! But I'm still going to need a hand."
"And we'll provied that hand, if she goes I'm happy, we'll try to slower down, then you shoot and win." Knuckles and Tails were now flying side by side.
"We have to go under him, then we grab him by the arms." Tails thought for a moment, "But we still have Rouge!"
"I can take her." Blaze hovered, Marine hugging her with her free hand to not fall.
"You just have to give me enough time to mold this, it has to have the perfect size and shape." she locked her legs around Blaze's and started to mold the water with her two hands.
"It's getting serious up there!" Sonic squinted to see better.
"We are having an air show today!" Jet was sitting, eating popcorn.
"Wait a moment, where's Charmy?" Lanolin looked around.
"I see him."
"Where is he, Big?"
"Up there." he pointed to the sky.
Charmy was flying up to fight.
"Silver, go stop him!" Lanolin shook the Hedgehog by his shoulders.
"Why do I have to be the one to go?!" he was eating popcorn to.
"Because you can fly and Jet doesn't care!"
"She's right." the Hawk tossed more popcorn into his mouth.
"But it's no use!" he made his popcorn levitate, "Charmy influenced by sugar is extremely hard to catch, last time I needed help from the rest of the Chaotix, Knuckles and Amy! Besides, I don't want to by stung by him! It hurts, a lot!"
Lanolin sighed, "Let's just hope he doesn't cause any trouble."
"Like he ever would do something like that!" Shadow said, sarcastily, while eating popcorn too.
Knuckles was holding Omega arms, the Robot was trying to burn his fingers, Tails was trying to stop Rouge, key word being "trying", she was ignoring him.
"Tails! Punch her in the face!"
"You can't do that."
"Punch her right in the middle!"
"He doesn't have the guts for that."
"You see her nose? Right there. Hit her!"
"Oh, Knuckles! Let the kid alone, why don't you come here and punch me yourself?"
"You now what? You are right, I'll do it myself!" he climbed Omega to reach the Bat.
"How can you deal with her every day?" Tails asked to Omega.
"Not all days are bad, just the majority!" he answered, "Big part of the problems occur in our apartment."
"OMEGA!! Stop talking and burn their tape, now!"
"Right." he burn it and then threw Knuckles upwards.
Blaze was flying away, while Marine was still working her magic, while being upside down.
Omega boosted forward, Tails was holding on to his arm.
"Marine!I don't want to pressure you, but they are getting closer!"
"It's all finished, I just need to find an opening!" she closed one eye, "Tails! Can you do something?"
"Not much, if only I had my tools!"
"That's why you should never come out unprepared hon!" Rouge pulled one of her bat bombs.
"Rouge! Don't you dare do it!" Blaze frowned.
"Oh come one, this one is a safe one. The explosion is not that big." Rouge assured.
"This still is wrong, Rouge!" Tails didn't approve.
"Rouge, the young Fox is right!"
"But Omega, you love violence!"
"On Eggman, they are not Eggman!"
"And since when did you become a softy? You've been hanging with Gemerel too much!" she closed her eyes.
Then Charmy the Bee crashed into them.
"Ouch!" Rouge was hit in the head.
Tails grabbed Charmy by the legs, "Calm down Charmy!" he was struggling at keeping him on one spot.
"Hold still!" Marine fired the sweat ball.
It travelled, landing on Rouge's open mouth.
She opened her eyes, shocked.
"Thanks fer standin' still, mate!"
"What was that? Was that?" her eyes were wide open, she was trembling.
"Tails's sweat! I'm so sorry!! I didn't meant to hit you!" Marine apologized.
Rouge fainted, making them plumeting out of the sky.
Tails was strugling to prevent the fall alone.
"We should help them, Blaze!"
Blaze looked up, "Help is on the way. Let's go and win this!"
Knuckles flied down, catching the Bat on his arms, ripped the tape off.
She woke up, "Let me say, you look extra handsome!"
"I can drop you at any point, stop trying to play games with me!"
Omega and Tails slapped their faces.
"I have to win this race now!"
"I cut your tape."
"Why did you do it? You dense Echidna!"
"Do you think you deserve to win? After that?"
Rouge deviate her eyes away from Knuckles, he was right.
"Get burned!"
"Shut up, Omega!"
"Now ladys and getleman, that was a show! And let's see who is about to cross the finish line!" Omochao was in the big screen, "And it's Team Dimension!"
"Yes!" said Silver and Sonic.
"No!" Shadow placed his hands on his head.
Blaze and Marine gracefully glided down, consequentely burning the ground around, they ran togheter and crossed the finish line.
"Crikey! We did it Blaze!" she hugged the Cat.
"Yes, we did, and all thanks to you!" Blaze returned the hug.
"And even more someone else will be wearing a dress." Silver glide to join in the hug.
"What?"
"Oh, me and Shadow made a bet and now he has to pay." Silver pointed at him.
Marine and Blaze traded comprehensive looks.
"Good on ya, mate!"
"Silver, what would have happen if you lose?" Blaze asked.
"The same thing, having to play dress up with Cream." he was nervous, but managed to control his nerves, "Let's celebrate with some food!"
"Sounds good!"
"I'm quite hungry as well."
As they were leaving the others arrived, "I might get one of this for me!" Vector landed.
He throw the board to Jet, "Here I believe this is yours!"
"Finnaly! Wave wouldn't let me rode this new board, it for adults she said, your too young she said! I'm going for a test drive!" Jet zoomed off.
"Wanna bet his going to crash?!" Tangle elbowed Whisper.
"-No. We all know his going to crash." she rubbed her elbow.
"You're right." Tangle accepted reality.
Knuckles and Tails arrived later, Tails was still holdong Charmy and Omega, while Knuckles was still carrying Rouge.
"Hey guys! Wow, that up there was crazy!" Sonic went to congratulate his friends.
"I got a little carried away. What can I say, this time I want the money to get new gear for me" Rouge was still sprawled on Knuckles arms.
"I'm going to deliever Charmy back to his team." Tails was still holding a semi-awake Bee.
"So Knuckles, did you have fun?"
"I'll admit it was quite the experience."
"I have to agree." Rouge waved his legs.
"Soo... You two doing anything after?" Sonic teased them.
"What?! No!" the two were indignant.
"Is just that, you're still holding her." he pointed to Rouge.
The two stared at eaach other, then Knuckles placed her on the ground.
"There since you have legs, you can stand on them."
"And everyone knows that you have muscles, so stop using them." the two were a bit embarassed.
"The next challenge is a stregh one. Get some rest, we will be right back!" Omochao annouced.
"Sorry, but this one is made for our team!" Amy said.
"Your overconfidence will be your downfall." Espio didn't approve her cockiness.
"Hum... Espio!" Vector scrubbed the back of his head.
"Yes, Vector?"
"She is kind of right! Big is big, we know what Amy is capable of and Cream..."
"Yes?"
"Let's say, she is a box full of suprises!"
"Thanks, Mr. Vector!"
"No problem kid!"
"Hm! Interisting!"
"Vector! I have Charmy!" Tails offered him the now more calm Charmy.
"Charmy! Did you have any idea of the ruckus you caused?"
"I know, I know! I would like to apologize!" he lifted his hands in defense.
"Fortunally, everyone is ok. And you've maybe prevent a worst outcome, accidentaly, but you did." Espio gave him some credit.
"So I'm good?" Charmy asked, hapilly.
"Yeah! You are off the hook, but next time don't abuse on the cookies!"
"Alright, but next time boss, hide the cookies better!"
"I will. Hey, who wants to eat something? It's on me!" Vector marched to the food trucks.
"Yes!!!"
"Tails, you should come with us. It's not every day Vector decides to open his pockets." Espio invited him.
"Sure, thanks!"
Whisper and Tangle were walking searching for Lanolin, "-Where is she?" the Wolf was uneasy.
"Don't worry! She can take care of herself! I'll search next to the stands. I need to find Jewel as well. I didn't saw her in the crowd when we were up there!"
"-Ok." Whisper placed her mask, while Tangle jumped away, "-She's right there's no need to worry. She's fine. Mimic wouldn't be reckless to attack with witnesses around. Relax!" she puffed.
"Thanks for coming fishing with me." Big was sitting next to Lanolin, Froogy was on his head.
"I needed to release some anxiety! I figured you would know a lot about relaxansion."
"I like to the things I like. What do you like to do?"
"I like to organize things, helping the comunity and making sure my friends are safe!" she peeked behind her, by the corner of her eye she caught a par of anthlers poking behind a bush.
CONTINUE...
