(Sonic Adventure 2 - Character Select/Story)
I'm Knuckles the Echidna, but you can call me Knuckles.
A friendly race quickly turns into what this mysterious tanuki of all things thinks to entice Sonic, Tails and I into this race. I'm keeping my wits to myself on his suspicious purpose.
I'm not the only one that thinks this way. When Team Rose fell into the same trap, Amy had mixed feelings as did I. He's up to something.
Even with Sally and Honey along the ride as team mechanics, it isn't quite enough to classify this as a competitive race.
I can't just let that invitation go to waste and give him low expectations of me. I have to win this for Sonic and Tails!
(/)
CHAPTER 1: A MYSTERIOUS INVITE
Act 2: III - I'm A Survivor
[SEASIDE HILL WAREHOUSE, SEASIDE HILL]
The racing enthusiasm persisted for Dodon Pa's sake, an audacious Sonic curiosity took this as a key mission for his satisfaction. He became the only mobian outside of his circle of friends to appreciate his actions. Plentiful did his races slowly dawned on the racers than did the frantic and delicate inspections of their vehicles. Within the main garage of the Seaside Hill Warehouse were Sonic, Knuckles and Sally, the latter walking around Team Sonic's racing machines and inspecting any problems that could be a detriment to her team's success. The blue hedgehog and the red echidna were away from the chipmunk as if they were discussing something confidential. However, they were only concerned about their win rate fluctuating from Amy's sudden determination.
"I have to admit, Knux." The heroic hedgehog began, a slanted elbow resting the same table as Knuckles' body was. "Amy and her team are coming back from their defeats by not worrying about Dodon Pa as much as they were last time. I think she's warmed up to her now."
"I don't know about that, Sonic." Knuckles opened his eyelids, a charming hero in front of his line of vision. "I still have suspicion on the guy. The only time we was able to win these races was because of you motivating Tails and I into focusing on what we as a team do best."
"Exactly! My enthusiasm is the perfect ingredient for our triumph!"
However, as he may seem to copy the hedgehog's 'get it done' attitude, Knuckles merely held his head down, thought-provocative way, citing his memory of distrust.
"Not everything goes the way we want all of the time. The probability of us winning the races are half. 50/50 odds. Amy might have something up on her sleeve to make that happen."
"So what? It's either uncertainty or certainty. No big deal if she beats us again." The blue hedgehog retorted. "Heh, we can always make a pleasant comeback."
"That's not the whole point of this, Sonic. You are the only one out of all of us that can carry Team Sonic right now. Despite Amy's perception of Dodon Pa at the start of the tournament, I think her mood is starting to warm up to the vehicles presented to her."
"How do you know?" The hero placed a gloved hand, resting on the table next to the gullible echidna.
"I was tricked by Eggman many times to calculate when he will do the same. I've adopted a careful approach to his tactics. To be honest, despite being the only guy that has no regrets of the tanuki, he sure does not have the same intellect as Tails or I."
The hedgehog rotated to face his rested body.
"I'll take that as an understatement. The only reason I'm not as wary of the guy and carrying you guys is because when he decides to be a massive pain in the butt to us, I will have your back as always."
He winked, as to prove his self-centered nature a little.
"Sure. Whatever you say, Sonic."
The echidna didn't bother to fight between friends. Infact, this was a nice little debate among the two of them as the blue hedgehog pushed his hand off the table, noticing Sally walk up to him. They both met at the centre of the garage.
"I've been meaning to ask you this, Sonic." Sally held her wrench in one hand, wrapping up her brief and yet careful inspection on all three vehicles. "I may be gone before the next race just for Tails' sake."
"Oh, what does he need you for, exactly?" The hedgehog leaned over.
"He's going to develop a mechanism on the Whirlwind Sport that allows you and Knuckles to track him down when he's not around us. He says he's trusted enough for the extra credibility."
"Tails has got that under control." He snickered in delight. "He's gotta do what he's gotta do. But why does he need you?"
Sally merely flinched, he didn't specify an assistance, the princess thought it was nice to be his accomplice like a guard in case of emergencies such as the normal Eggman attack.
"I could offer to fly with him back to Mystic Ruins again just for company.
"Okay, good idea!" The blue hedgehog smiled and gave a thumbs up to the chipmunk. He was eager to show enthusiasm during these intervals, not only to keep his team's morale high, but for the other team too.
Suddenly, the door burst ajar, following with it Dodon Pa and soon Espio as he followed inside. The chameleon halted his movement, scanning in awe at the garages appropriate appearance of a mechanics workshop. He was taken back by its walls of a dull colour palette, complimented by stacks of mounted brown-ish shelves line across half of one side. It was at this time, Tails and Team Rose entered from relaxing outside of the garage.
"Listen up, racers and mechanics!" The tanuki braced for his forecoming news. "Your skills show no sign of my disappointment. However, as it may be, I have a surprise awaiting you!"
The peak interest was on the purple chameleon, entering with surprised looks on each racers' faces, some subtle. How did Espio know about this? If so, why was he here?
"Espio?" Amy thunderbolted in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Vector closed the Chaotix Detective Agency and left me to speak with Mr. Dodon Pa for some work." He explained with great detail. "I agreed to check out the team mechanic role to keep working under him."
"That was an excellent move by him. He's only the second mobian to volunteer for us." The tanuki spectated the gathering between Amy and Espio.
"Where's Charmy? What about him?"
"Charmy was sent off to sleepover at Vanilla and Cream's home so he can't bother me or the boss, though it might feel weird without him."
"Yeah... too weird..." Sonic scratched his forehead with a single finger. "Can't say I'm not surprised that a kid like Charmy would knock over barrels of oil and mechanical tools by accident."
"This 'Vector guy' is of an intriguing asset to my curious minds. His mind shows no boundaries of defeat." Dodon Pa responded in his nebby state of mind, anything that could benefit his tournaments.
"He has a tendency to focus his mind on the money, strange creature." The chameleon responded, prompting him to turn in his direction.
"Please, call me Dodon Pa."
"As you wish..."
"I better go organise what is going to become of the next race. Hohohoho!" That was his cue to depart from the racing crew, directing the sturdy mobile away from them as the racers watched it fade from the back of the warehouse.
Sally and Honey picked up their wrenches and drew closer to the vacant vehicles, offering a keen inspection before the so-called 'Survival' race. Espio, meanwhile felt a unwelcomed energy of aura surrounding the host tanuki, as he strolled over to the pink hedgehog.
"Amy. Can I talk to you for a moment." The purple chameleon offered private attention. The Survival thought had creeped into his mind long enough for him to speak up. The pink hedgehog however, was surprised Espio was willing to talk to her.
In response, she nodded, preferring to break away from her team and the rest of the group in favour of speaking confidentially. He didn't want to spill the entire secret to Sonic, but found mild suspicion that Amy wasn't in great cahoots with the tanuki.
"I volunteered myself to be in Vector's shoes again because I believe this Dodon Pa mobian is giving me a strange feeling." He started.
"It only takes a first impression to see how terrible he is, doesn't it?" Amy responded in relation to the distrust against the host.
"I don't know what it is about the guy, but he must have been enough for Vector to investigate. I was talking to him on the racetrack and I picked up a key detail in my findings of my job application."
"Yeah." The pink hedgehog merely breathed a sigh, ensuring she was strong. "He never tells us anything. Why is he even putting us in this dangerous race?"
"I know, but his quote on quote "Survival Races" is giving me second thoughts on this whole thing."
"Survival Races? What even is he planning now?".
"No clue, that's why I offered to speak with you so Sonic doesn't know about what he's planning."
"Sonic wouldn't bother to keep this a secret. He's always the guy that would tackle anything."
"I think he knows now Tails has offered us the gateway into this tournament." Espio divulged another key element. "His voice on the phone to us sounded a little too concerning. Who else is suspicious of him?"
"Knuckles, though I don't think he's wary as much as Tails and I." The pink hedgehog answered.
"Hmmmm..." Espio draped a finger on his chin, pondering over Dodon Pa's behaviour and how well planned this was all becoming. "I'm assuming that's half of the current racers out there, and he doesn't know about how honest and faithful you are to him."
He retracted his position away from Amy, choosing to join the other mobians in the main garage area.
"Anyway, this is good information to tell Vector about. I'll make sure he is aware of Dodon's mastery."
Amy followed him from the backroom of the garage and was in plain view of Sonic and company. Espio's information gave her adequate insight on Dodon Pa's upcoming plans for his tournaments, be it for the good or bad. She was the only one that knew about his Survival Race intent and as eager as she was to spill the beans, she was forced to keep it to herself to avoid spoiling everyone involved in the race. Assuming the worst from her mindset, she ensured herself that the tanuki was away from her before retreating to Sally's area and began to inspect her vehicle for any faults, with Honey devoting her role as team mechanic to dig deeper.
[VANILLA'S HOUSE, FLORAL FOREST ZONE]
(Sonic and the Black Knight - Knave the Hedgehog and an Oversized Letter Opener)
The door swung open, gently turning its wooden hinges out in the Floral Forest breeze. Out revealed Vanilla the Rabbit releasing her gloved fingers from the doorknob as she trembled into her cozy abode. With her, Cream and Charmy following her from behind like little ducklings to her mother goose. Charmy pondered to himself - was it really worth Vector taking his own colleague to a babysitter just so the boss could investigate alone? He wasn't so sure. All he could think of was how he could be racing with him with Espio repairing their cars. His food for thought was halted by the elated Cream right beside the bee as they, too stepped inside.
"Welcome to our home!" The young rabbit girl squealed to the mobian boy. "Mother said I couldn't have another person to babysit. She was always too worried about me."
"Gee." Charmy briefly scratched his nervous head, opting to close the door behind him. He was tempting to reference his colleagues. "Vector was always worried about my health too."
Cream politely giggled, her mother entering the kitchen to prepare something for the bee.
"Well then, I just know we are going to get along together!"
Charmy didn't respond, mainly for his colleague's decision to shaft him to the sidelines due to his age. Even though they considered it the best approach, the bee felt as he would've investigated Dodon Pa even with Vector's parenting decision. He, along with Cream strolled into the kitchen to discuss an activity that they could share together. However, Charmy's mind was still used to his crocodile boss roaming beside him and not Vanilla. This was definitely needing some getting used to.
"I'm used to hanging around Vector and Espio. It feels weird without the two." Charmy discussed. "I want to learn about this strange tanuki too, but he's insistent with both the guy and the money."
"Well, I'm sure we can watch more of his races in person." Vanilla softly giggled a tone of sympathetic hope, hinting at the possibility of inspecting from the stands as intended.
"I have a bunch of colouring books for you to try." Cream suggested a keen hobby of hers as Vanilla walked into the kitchen area to fetch a snack for the mobian bee.
Charmy's engrossment flipped 180 degrees at the mention of colouring books. He always used to draw and colour in his spare time away from the detective work. Whenever Espio or Vector weren't hassling him, he would colour. And he would always choose the kiddie detective books he was so used to. The mobian bee's expression changed from misery to curious over the bunny's choice of books.
"Aw' right! I love colouring!" He whizzed past the rabbit girl in excitement.
Cream giggled softly and followed him up to her bedroom, a perfect storage area for her colouring books.
"Wait for me, Charmy!" The soft rabbit girl echoed behind him. Vanilla could hear the two mobians as they wandered towards her daughter's room as she rustled up some dinner in the kitchen. There was always a charm to having guests over with her to accompany Cream, whether sentinel or not. She was always too happy and innocent to notice the imminent dangers even when it they were shoved in her face. Even with Amy, her friend was able to identify the hazards while still enjoying their bonding. Cream and Charmy's friendship was starting to be born, and within Vanilla's tidy abode adorned with colourful imagery was that friendship about to flourish.
(/)
[THE IMPERIAL PALACE, SOL DIMENSION]
Inside another world where nothing reeked of humans and planetary aliens, a tranquil sense of will was prominent throughout the land. Every nation on this alternative Earth taught the current sphere it wished it could be this reposed. It was always a myth for these other rulers to step up to the plate of one however. Her royal harness was always so busy filling out paperwork for her subjects. It was kind of a hobby for her to be honest. She never minded the business strategy of running things around in her beautiful, ornate castle of purple and white. For her manageable Sol Empire, it was compulsory.
Likewise, The princess of her empire, Blaze the Cat never really fought with anyone as often as her friends. She was always the peaceful, noble princess she ought to represent. Never was she too hot-headed either, as proved her royal attitude of sorts. She would never cut corners and would always think a straight and complex mind. Even when her closest friends were doubted, she would just shake their worries off with words of wisdom. She hadn't grasped what regret felt like in comparison to her friends in the other world.
"What a pleasant discovery you have made..." The cat scavenged her eyes through another bragged envelope of one of the princess' closest Sol underling, a marvellous milestone in their lives upon the main island in which the palace rests. "I'll place it with all of the other letters."
Blaze filed it to an organised pile of paperwork and occasional letters of appreciation. She was perhaps the tidiest when it came to her role on top of her pensive attitude. As she was filing the last important document that determined the policies of her kingdom, an emissive glow suddenly blinded the cat, briefly screaming as if disturbed. She had no idea what was coming as she uncovered her eyes from the front view of her body.
"Huh..." The feline interpret a new kind of trouble laying in her wake; she wasn't sure what it was. Upon closer inspection of this strange letter appearing so randomly to the fore, scooping it up revealed a baffling request. "What is this?"
This was odd, she never received any letters from the other world. The only kind of mobian one would possess throughout the worlds was her best friend Silver. But this wasn't written by him, nor at the request of his other friends. Nevertheless, she unlocked its contents; an envelope eternally folded to reveal its passage.
Ah, I've see you opened the invitation to the world of the blue blur, Blaze the Cat. A testament to my amazing communication and powerful skills, isn't it? Anyway, I'm giving you a request to join my marvellous racing tournament. Care to accept? - Dodon Pa.
Blaze lowered the parchment down, her mind frazzled on the tanuki's ability to transport objects to other dimensions. Again, Silver was only capable of such feat, but he was loyal and trusted to the princess. Who was this Dodon Pa guy anyway? The feline ejected herself from her throne, preparing to fetch one of her loyal guardsman to inspect as she dragged the invitation along with her.
A lone Gardon - Blaze's number one personal guard was placing a bucket of water and a mop away upon cleaning the Imperial Palace hallways. The koala wasn't too much of a troublemaker to Blaze anyway. Infact, he quite liked having the balance of protecting and spending quality time with the princess. It was something that he enjoyed living through. Even when she was out of the palace walls, he ensured to keep the place spotless. Dead air often rung around the castle as he sought no company, an atmosphere he was quite used to at this point. He leaned up, inspecting the closet in which he was familiar with the placing of his cleaning duties. A satisfied look drew on his face as the koala guard gently closed the closet upon Blaze's entrance towards him.
"Who is this... "Dodon Pa"?" A dazzled princess demanded to know.
The guard's head was directed towards the curious princess. He didn't have a definite answer either. Neither of them have heard of this guy. This was strange for both of them.
"Who?" Gardon was just as confused as Blaze was, the number one guard stepped from the closet.
"This is strange. Nobody else should be able to contact me through portals. I hold good faith in my good friend Silver to be the exception."
The koala remained confused, unaware that the mobian cat girl was referring to her acquaintance from the future.
"I- uhh... don't even know what's going on over there - I mean in Sonic's world."
Blaze's eyes were locked onto the mysterious envelope once more, her ponderance maturing to a state where this spelt a serious mission at stake.
"Well, if it's that serious, I better go see what the fuss is about, then." The cat gave way for Gardon to think about fetching the Sol Emeralds - the gateway into the other dimension. Marine the Raccoon, in preparation for her adventures within the seven seas stared at the departing guard as he left with a feeling of curiosity and contemplation.
"I better protect you while I'm there." The male responded with conservation.
Blaze folded her arms in a curious mode of controlled emotion. Even she was confused about why Dodon Pa specifically invited her through dimensions. It was always Silver whom she trusted. This was indeed out of the ordinary. Marine was still concealed behind a hallway pillar, staring at a lone Blaze the Cat she once assisted when Sonic and Tails became trapped in Sol dimension.
"This is really weird that Dodon Pa asked me to join this strange event..." She thought in a pensive mood her subconsciousness was commonly associated with.
It didn't take long for Gardon to return, with the addition of a briefcase he buttressed. Dropping the leather container on the clean, pristine floor, he stared at Blaze with an outré story of who they might come up against.
"Seems to me like this Dodon Pa fella' is of great mystery to you and me, sire." He stated as he unlocked the case, revealing its contents - the seven Sol Emeralds.
"A mystery indeed." Blaze merely sniffed the air of conspiracy, thus it became baffling why he would target some mobian in another dimension to say the least. She was worried about something else other than the wellbeing of being around this Dodon Pa mobian?
"Who's going to look after the castle while you're with me?" The princess curiously wondered with concern for her abode.
"Hmmm..." The guard draped his chin in response. A complicated guess was on his mind. "I can't quite fathom the possibility of another Eggman Nega attack. Even if he does want to form an interdimensional Eggmanland again, the Sol Emeralds are kept safe in our hands."
"I don't think the guy has been attacking for quite some time, as uncanny as he might be. This tanuki is a bigger fish to fry than Eggman. Would he be behind this?"
"You're saying that like you want it to happen, your highness." Gardon was mere frightened.
Blaze stared up, the yellow outline on the palace's ceiling complemented the purple interior paint. She had to be pensive, a rather risky job for her to leave the safety of her world and into the unknown. Even when she was away from the palace, Gardon was protecting the place. But this was different. Upon realizing about the probability of Eggman Nega waking up being fictitious, the cat lowered her head, barely noticing a shadow slowly creeping up some distance behind her. Sporting a light green, white trimmed tube top and black shorts along with her default shoe-wear and signature tan gloves, the voice echoed at the sight of a strange omen.
"Strewth! What is this?" The figure was awestruck, staring at the strange gathering between the two higher-ups, furthermore so by the briefcase containing all seven Sol Emeralds.
Blaze overhead a familiar dialect intervene with her conversation with Gardon. Turning to her in the same way Sonic would do to Tails, the cat knew the raccoon very well in her comprehension, despite the thick language barrier.
"Oh... Marine." The princess reminded her of her long-achieving goal. "Weren't you going to start preparing to sail the Seven Seas?"
The sole goal keeping the energetic young girl at her best was reminded at the kindest regards of her only friend. The orange raccoon stopped and pondered briefly.
"I was gonna', but then I overhear'd something 'bout this mysterious bloke. He is interesting to me."
Blaze glanced at her in a familiar, yet merely delineate about Dodon Pa's presence.
"Y-yes... Dodon Pa is quite a new addition to our circle of friends. Quite frankly, he is far from what Eggman is judging by the friendly invitation delivered to us."
"Ah, right, mate!" She responded, understanding the new mobian Blaze had name-dropped.
Seeing this opportunity come to her many aspirations and Blaze's enlivened situation, Marine was curious to say the least.
"What is this mighty tourney I'm 'earing 'bout? I need to gander at this, less'n you want me putt."
This was a difficult choice for Blaze. She was always use to Marine sailing around the seas in this dimensions, locating treasure and fighting pirates twice her size. This felt like a much appreciated option, but at the same time, she pondered over the girl having done so and would favour more to explore a dimension with much less islands and bad guys in her wake. After a hard thought, her chin draped across her face in a wave of critical thinking, she decided to opt for Marine to venture with them.
"No, no. I think you're ready now." the princess gladly wanted to give the pirate girl a chance to venture into the other dimension - somewhere where this was new territory for the seven year old, much to the apprehension of Gardon.
"Are you sure Marine is trusted enough to support you in Dodon Pa's races?" Gardon expressed concern in the 7 year old's character.
"I'm willing to take the risk, my loyal subject." Blaze opted immediately that she had been better behaved since the last time Sonic visited.
"No drama, Gardy, mate." The raccoon brushed aside the worries and scooted over to the cat. "I'm a natural at maturin'."
The purple princess took one soft glance at the 7 year old and smiled. Knowing that she had matured greatly was all it ever took for her to trust the once troubled raccoon girl.
"She's developed a lot since Sonic last met. She's ready to plunge into the unknown."
"I am, mate!" Marine added proudly to her character development. "I'm ready to see Sonic again!"
"Well..." Gardon stood beside the briefcase and pushing his hand toward two Sol Emerald. "Let's see how she gets along in the other dimension considering it's her new venture into the unknown."
"I agree." The feline princess responded with assent, therefore strolling over to the briefcase before glancing at the pirate girl. "Are you ready, Marine?"
"I'm ready to shoot through!"
Blaze nodded, pulling out two Sol Emeralds. Marine and Gardon repeated as the amount of unlimited power were sighted within crossed arms. Their bodies were radiated with the corresponding glow of each emeralds' colour, a sign that the gems enabled them with transportation. As soon as any of the bodies were engulfed entirely within its aura, they were interrupted abruptly, taking the mobians with them.
[DOCTOR'S MINE, PLANET WISP]
Doctor's Mine played host to a special and new kind of race Dodon Pa envisioned within his apt brain, something he grew quite fond of. The tanuki heeded to return to his ultimate avocation, as inconsistent it became to his subjects. Within their worries that lead them to a track so familiar from last time around, Team Sonic and Team Rose had blindly accepted their fortune as they did upon signing up these tournaments. Again, with the help of the team over at SSTV's default Channel 5 News, a perfect balance between the professionalisms of Dodon Pa and Scarlet Garcia brought the broadcasted race back home on Earth.
"Hohohoho!" Dodon Pa cackled menacingly, his plan for today's race teeming with motivation. "Welcome one and all to our next tournament race! I am surely excited for what we have in store for this one! It's to die for!".
"You said it, Mr. Pa." The anchor-woman from Station Square aided and abetted the prime host. "I cannot wait for what you have for us today. Plenty of preparation was needed for this race in particular. Even the racers have no idea what you've have for them."
"I like to keep surprises to myself until the time does come. They are about to get the surprise of their racing careers, Hohohoho!"
"Who do you think will come out with the gold medal this time?" Scarlet wondered, hovering the black adamantine microphone over the tanuki's lips.
"Races are often gifting with surprises, Ms. These racers are always competitive, don't forget." He answered cryptically.
Devoting to her role, Scarlet Garcia wouldn't budge on his statement, duelling the broadcast with him.
"I'm surprised too, Mr. Pa!". She laughed. "Everybody's nervous too!"
"That's what makes it so engaging." The tanuki politely concluded, hovering away from the anchor-woman with dearest affection. Departing onto the track, he was heading in the direction of the two teams scattered around the area of the pitstops.
"There you have it, folks. Dodon Pa has provided a nice updated interview for his new addition to his tournaments." Scarlet Garcia proclaimed through her microphone, a crowd of dozens behind her, only separated by a wall of blue that functioned as both the commentary box's exterior and interior. "We can't wait for what he will bring to the table. We will all have to wait and see. For those watching at home, we will join you after a short break!"
(Team Sonic Racing - Pre-Race)
"All right, racers." The tanuki brought the attention of everybody on the track, as he hovered over. "The easy part is over."
"That was easy?" Omochao questioned, a mere hover towards the host in curiosity.
Dodon Pa eased himself, preparing for the secret. However, only Espio, the same mobian who wasn't on the track knew this.
"Compared to what comes next, that was child's play, child. Prepare yourselves for the punishing Survival Race!"
Tails' fear heightened, his eyes widened for just a split second.
"Survival Race?". He wasn't ready for this kind of brutality. The kitsune hid the thought of speaking to Espio as soon as he did in the back of his big brainy mind.
"Indeed. The last racer in every lap will be eliminated until only the fastest remains."
An angry introspection made its way into the fox boy's speech as he processed his sentence.
""Punishing?" "Eliminating?" You use a lot of disturbing words."
"I'm not disturbed. I'm intrigued!" Sonic reassured the crew, lightening their hopes.
Dodon Pa analysed the blue hedgehog's willingness and shows an example of what it's capable of doing whatever it takes for one to accept his image as a racing genius. His outcome presented a smile from which the tanuki was satisfied anew.
(/)
[BEHIND THE MAIN STAND...]
Barricaded between the track and the fauna beneath the main stand, Vector was initiating his prime detective work, quickly scanning the area for a good vantage point. He made sure his detective work stayed true to his image, one wrong move and it could be all over for him; for Espio too. He concealed himself behind a precariously placed bush to the left of the larger stand, the supports of the bleachers gave him an imperative leeway from his profession and perspective.
"I never really understand why Planet Wisp races have to be so prepared so carefully. This Dodon guy sure is organised."
The crocodile rummaged through the shrub within him, uncovering a pair of binoculars to spy on the tanuki host. He pressed his eyes against the smooth glass of the ocular lenses and scanned from his vantage position.
"Hmmm... Dodon Pa's gotta be around here somewhere." Vector failed to locate the host in his spot. Something about the guy hovering in his mobile just gave the detective boss arduous time to distinguish him.
However, Vector saw something else that favoured his curiosity. What appeared to resemble a collection of podiums and spare motor parts along a spare piece of track connecting both ends of the track with the start line sandwiching between. He sought to suspect Espio may be working there for his satisfaction. But wait, Vector could also spot Sally Acorn and Honey the Cat in new mechanic garment supporting what was of the two teams currently.
"What's Sally doing there?". The crocodile ejected his eyes from the binoculars, draping his chin in contemplation. His intuition deceived the crocodile furthermore. "What is Dodon Pa really doing with her?"
That theory only dragged the detective boss into delving deep into his mission. Eying the tanuki as he came into clear view of Vector through the black, rubber-coated binoculars, his question were too interesting to abort as his green, scaly skin was camouflaged in the Planet Wisp bushes with full attentiveness. Apart from a notebook to which he was writing notes in, he was truly hidden.
[BACK ON THE TRACK...]
"I'm sure these Survival Races will be of good use to you as a sign of things to come." The tanuki paced around the group, his back turned against his mobile. "Besides, I've been planning this since I conceptualized this grand profession."
Not one mobian bothered to question him on the new race mode, likely to keep their innocence intact and secured. Not even the team mechanics who were stood near their pitstops. Thus, the tanuki moved onto the next topic before a very important detail was missed.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, your team mechanics are accompanied on the track by my friendly sentinel robots that holster a quick tire replacement quip and refuel mechanic within them."
Both Sally and Honey checked the pitstop area. White, Egg-pawn-shaped robots with green outlines on their heads and grey tinted bodies roamed in packs of four, each for the two teams. However, this raised a serious question with the tanuki's decision to partially make the team mechanics roles redundant.
"So Honey isn't going to fix our cars?!" Amy snarled.
"Oh no! They are completely optional, my friend. With a press of the button that is located on the mechanic's pitstop podium, you can have to option to call for them if needed. There is however an edge to having them around, as it can boost your pitstop time dramatically."
"Heh, anything to win another game." Sonic bragged, ironic how his team had lost the previous few races.
Amy, however glared at the hedgehog in annoyance. Her perspective on Sonic's easy approach to Dodon Pa only merely tested her, but she kept cool as a team leader she was. The pink hedgehog departed for her vehicle as all of the other racers were as Sally walked up to Honey's pitstop podium with something in her grasp.
"Here, Honey." Sally gifted the feline a headset that matched her own. "This is for communicating with Amy and her team."
"Hey, thanks Sally." Honey grabbed the cloned headset that fed information through the vehicles' dashboard.
"Dodon Pa wanted us to communicate through the racer's dashboards for instructions to improve. I hope you might find it useful."
"Amy's going to need my help if she wants to win the race, so I'll use it!" Honey concluded, lifting the headset upwards and carefully aligning the speakers with her cat ears.
Hovering her gloved finger over the mic wheel, her eyes gazed over to the racetrack, noticing Amy walk towards her vehicle. The pink hedgehog's expectations couldn't be more lower, as she leaped into the Pink Cabriolet upon initiating the first ever Survival Race.
Burdened by her absence in the Grand Prix, Honey felt the necessity to scan her surroundings and breathe in her mechanic role. She was nevertheless used to being surrounded and spotlighted by countless mobians who adored her. But that was when Dodon Pa wasn't the focal point. This was different. She felt concerned to be the second banana in an overwise healthy fruit bowl. That thought was edged into the back of her mind as she holstered herself up to her pitstop podium and scanned the main stand opposite her. From there, waves of colours were separated from the grey concrete ground of its tiered structure. She remembered Tiara's presence within the crowd of dozens of mobians each with their unique stories. With a gloved hand covering her eyes from the Planet Wisp sun, she scanned the main stand for her manx friend. Upon scores of mobian arms flailing, a straight arm rapidly caught Honey's attention and screened the limb closely. Tiara was calling out to Honey with arm gestures, the happy manx smiling like the sun beaming down on the race itself. The yellow feline removed her headset briefly and quickly waved back to her to denote her loyalty.
"Yes! She noticed me through this energetic crowd!" She retorted with a positive clenched fist hidden beneath the back of the mobian in front, more like a fist pump.
"I'll do my best, Tiara!" The cat yelled back to boost her motivation and morality. Not least the pink hedgehog would notice she was referring to her best friend.
Through all of the emotional excitement from the cat, she had remembered to give Amy an indicated thumbs up to show she was ready. The pink hedgehog heeded the response well, as did Big and Omochao's willingness to put faith into the fashion designer. Both retreated to the front view, the tanuki already hovered to the side of the race line to begin counting the seconds down. Within the Pink Cabriolet, a young mobian's mind was focused as she gripped tightly on the rubber steering wheel.
"C'mon, Amy. You got this! Honey's waited for this moment to step into the pitstop station." She thought to herself with great devotion. "If I can't do it for her, I can do it for Big and Omochao instead."
She gripped the hardened steering wheel of the Pink Cabriolet, anticipating the moment the countdown strikes zero for her vehicle to roar loudly across the track. She was sandwiched between Sonic and Knuckles on the track, stationary as Dodon Pa flew over to the starting line and directed the race. With three gestures of his finger, each counting down the seconds to initiate the race, he determined the dexterity of both teams in handling a head start. His racers stepped on the gas prematurely as to achieve this outcome. Only a few would step on it too long for their car to stall as the race had begun.
(Team Sonic Racing - Doctor's Mine)
Dust spewed all across the track, the vehicles roaring away as every race jolted for first place. The crowd cheered on tenterhooks, the supercars fading from their view. Dodon Pa retracted to the large billboard displaying the map, each racer's head represented on the interface. Tails' activated his slipstream after succeeding with the first banked right turn of the course, sending Sonic and Knuckle's straight through towards the kitsune's prized position of 1st place. Whizzing past an eager Amy that longed to suppress another one of their oppositions winning streaks. She was currently beside her own team as they hatched up a plan while strolling at a a comfortable and equally competitive pace while being separated by the fork in the road.
"I'll go after Sonic." The Pink Cabriolet's user acknowledged, targeting the Speed Star as it opened up the gap between them. She was following Big's slipstream as eager as her desire to win another gold victory from his grasp.
"I'll attack Knuckles." Big stated with little enthusiasm as he guided the Frog Cruiser towards the Land Breaker as their cars were intercepting Tails' slipstream.
The racers were soon starting to enter the 90 degree twist on the side of the canyon where the purple waterfalls oozed above the track. It was the perfect place for Knuckles to speed up, but he carelessly took the option and fell down the many holes of the section of track. Amy's mindset was her motivation to get another gold victory from something as new as the Survival Race. Her focus lay upon the hazards that would be sandwiched between her and the prize - Team Sonic. She briefly caught a glimpse of Big attacking Knuckles with the Crimson Wisp and smiled, pressing harder on the gas. Sonic would notice the Pink Cabriolet gaining up on him and swerved to try and block her from passing, smirking as he performed them.
"Oh, Amy. How you try to win another race." He rammed into a item capsule and attempted to halt her momentum with a Cube Wisp, but she swerved abruptly to the left, merely missing a hole that she had no idea was there. Amy had her own weapon - a pink Spike Wisp allowing her car to become a death machine, ramming Sonic and speeding beyond his position until the wisp ran out.
"And Amy has overtaken Sonic with a daring Spike Wisp!" Dodon Pa announced throughout the main grandstand area. All of the spectators, including Vector, Tangle, DonutSteel and many other mobians could see Amy's progression through the large screen that towered over the grandstand.
The pink hedgehog felt proud of herself for gaining enough courage to become better at racing against the blue hedgehog. Sonic was not done there, as he daringly tried to bump the Pink Cabriolet into the many holes that awaited the side of the canyon near the end of the track.
"Hey! Watch it!" She felt the impact of the bump as she soon noticed a smell of burning rubber emanating from her vehicle. She sniffed the air and came to a horrible relation. That was when Honey spoke with her leader through the dashboard intercom speakers.
"Amy, are you doing okay out there?" Honey spoke calmly through her headset, the feline prepared to give her first shot at the pitstop. Fortunately for her, her vehicles was need of a improvement.
"I'm fine, Honey. The tires look like they need replacing. How are you quickly replacing them?"
"Uh..." The yellow feline was empty in thought. She never did this type of thing before. Her perception on relearning the basics from Dodon Pa started to bloom, as she holstered her lug wrench in her left hand. "I'll try my best."
"Good, I'm gonna head to your station in a second." The communication went quiet from the hedgehog's dashboard, the Pink Cabriolet performing a bumpy presentation as evident by the bouncy ride she was enduring. Nevertheless, she was still in the fighting mood despite this.
Amy scanned her side mirror, Sonic's Speed Star gaining some questionable distance amidst the holes in the ground far deep into the racetrack. This only pushed Amy to press her foot on the acceleration much harder for her vehicle to drift away from the blue hedgehog. She rammed into an item box and attempted to punish his progress with some Cube Wisps. Unfortunately for her, Sonic masterfully dodged them and gained more speed on the Pink Cabriolet. Not only was Sonic trying to impede her streak, but he was stopping the pink hedgehog from safely departing the track to change wheels as the Team Rose leader wanted a safe distance to maintain her lead after exiting the pitstop. Her other option was letting Big or Omochao keep the blue blur company while she sped away, thus she activated her slipstream for her teammates to stop Sonic from interrupting her.
"Big! Omochao!" She spoke via the dashboard's intercom. "I need your assistances ASAP!".
"I'm on my way, Amy!" The chao entered her slipstream.
"Okay!" Big comprehended, the Frog Cruiser gaining some addition speed thanks to the slipstream.
Omochao rammed through an item box and pulled out a Crimson Wisp, allowing him to shoot projectiles.
"What do you want me to do with Sonic, Amy?" He asked fiercely.
"Give me as much distance from him as possible! I need to enter the pitstop!"
"As you wish!" The chao nonchalantly aimed the eagle wisp at the Speed Star as it was released from the Chao Pod.
"Huh...?" The blue hedgehog scanned behind him rapidly, only reacting too late as the wisp impacted his vehicle, sending it into a front flip with a exponential speed loss.
"Got you!" Omochao taunted as he sped right past the iconic hero.
"Nice one Omochao!" Amy congratulated him as the Pink Cabriolet slowed down slightly for the chao to use his slipstream on her for the added momentum. It wouldn't take her that long to reach the last stretch of track before the finish line, as she expertly executed successful turns within the forest section.
"Thanks for that Omochao! She congratulated once more as she caught glimpse of the finish line drawing closer to her.
She guided the Pink Cabriolet into the pitstop to the side of the finish line, an eager Honey the Cat was waiting passionately for her. She was well ahead of the pack to consider doing this. Not only was she first, but her vehicle needed a tire replacement. The feline clenched a lug wrench in her right hand and jumped from her podium, spinning the tool on the tip of her finger. The Pink Cabriolet stopped, the hedgehog hopping out to inspect Honey's first attempt.
"Make this quick." Amy rushed. "Sonic may catch up to me."
"You are pretty far ahead." Honey inserted the lug wrench into the rims of the vehicle. This enabled her to access the worn-out tires in need of new ones. Despite limited knowledge of her role, she was confident where the lug wrench needed to be connected.
Upon removing all four tires from the car, she quickly rummaged behind her podium and fetched four new tires individually. Sonic was speeding up towards the female hero, a quick glance at the giant map that overlooked the finish line and main stand areas.
"Sonic's slowly gaining on Amy as she stops briefly at the pitstop!" Dodon Pa proclaimed through the intercom.
Honey had just finished installing the new tires on the Pink Cabriolet. Her quick cat-like reflexes were put to the test in a make-or-break situation like this. Amy jumped back in her vehicles and signalled a thumbs up at her mechanic.
"Thanks, Honey." She quickly sped off past the finish line and onto the main track, just as Sonic was seen in view by the feline.
"What's this?! Amy had enough time to replace her wheels just in time for Sonic to be seen racing towards the main area!" Dodon Pa trumpeted through the intercom speakers dotted throughout Doctor's Mine. "She will have to when if she wants the victory! Hohohoho!"
By the time Tails, Omochao and Sonic reached the main area of the track, the Pink Cabriolet was already leaping off of crevices towards the first banked curve. The blue hedgehog pressed harder on the Speed Star's acceleration pedal and whizzed past the finish line in the same fashion as he would do on foot.
"And Sonic the Hedgehog is going to overtake Amy Rose in competitive fashion! This is going to be exciting indeed! Hohohoho!"
"Oh no, you don't!" Amy overheard Dodon's intercom speakers from further down the track towards the first curve and rammed into a vacant item box, a reward was the Cube Wispon that was hastily laid down by the pink Hedgehog in an attempt to maintain her lead.
As it turns out, Big and Omochao's assistance slowly built up their Ultimate gauge, Amy scanning the meter briefly for use later and smirked. She would obviously use this to her advantage. Sonic, despite overhearing Knuckle's elimination in the first half was un-phased, picking up a Wispon item box with a Jade Wisp inside. He pressed his feet harder on the acceleration and activated the Wispon, creeping up the front of the pack while remaining stealthy. The pink hedgehog activated her Ultimate, Big and Omochao darting away from last place and leaving Knuckles in the dust, the echidna eliminated in the first lap.
"Oh no! Knuckles has exited the first lap out of style! Hohohoho!" The host tanuki responded to the result.
The announcement only did enough to push the blue hedgehog more as he reverted back to being focused on the track. Along with Tails, they ensured their dominance over the already-driven Team Rose, whom saw this as a great advantage. Sonic darted around the first set of curves in an attempt to overthrow Amy, Tails not far behind his teammate. The blue hedgehog slammed his gloved hand on the full Ultimate gauge and granted both racers a boost of speed.
"What the-" Amy only saw the Speed Star close the gap between them, as she narrowly avoided being shoved to the side. Tails had briefly done the same as the Pink Cabriolet maintained her top speed throughout the second lap. "Sorry, Tails. But this is Team Rose's victory!"
"Are you sure about that, Amy?" The kitsune winked, eagerly entering the blue hedgehog's slipstream, giving him the advantage. Unfortunately for him, Big had been following the hedgehog's slipstream and impacted him with the rocket wisp, choosing his targets wisely as he struck Sonic as well, rewarding him first place.
"Alright Big!" Amy cheered, the purple cat giving him a thumbs up before Sonic soon trailed behind him at the expense of Amy's realization.
Sonic rammed into a wisp capsule and pulled out a Cube Wisp, throwing it beyond the Frog Cruiser that was inevitably going to impact it.
"Ha! In your face, Big!" The blue hedgehog sped right past the purple cat as he waved back. Chuckling back, he retracted to the front, only tasting the victory that laid waiting for him. Only thing is, his team mechanic didn't think so.
"Sonic." Sally held a sudden yelp through the headset mic, the chipmunk frantically staring towards the race map that painted the towering big screen over the starting line. "Looks like you got some opposition catching up to you."
"Huh..." He rapidly turned back to find the pink hedgehog following what was left of Big's slipstream. The hedgehog rammed into an item capsule, his present for Amy a Rocket Wisp to throw behind. The pink hedgehog's eyesight begged to differ, as she swiftly turned her steering wheel allowing her to jolt to dodge the incoming rockets. Amy had her eyes solely set on not getting eliminated, as Sonic had already passed the finish line. Amy had to help her fellow teammate here.
"Big, follow my slipstream quick!" She offered a helping hand that focused their attention on Sonic and Tails' competitive spirits. However, as keen as the purple cat was to ride in the Pink Cabriolet's slipstream, Tails' had done the same thing with the Speed Star's stream, the kitsune's boost was all that it needed to take for him to overtake Big and eliminate him in the second lap.
"Big the Cat has just been eliminated!" Dodon Pa proclaimed, his voice echoed throughout the grandstand area of the finish line. "Now Team Sonic and Team Rose are equal! Who will snatch the winning victory here!"
"Oh no, Big got eliminated!" Amy soon came to a realization that, despite the pink hedgehog attempting her upmost personal best in the race, the same couldn't be said for one of her teammates. Honey could hear her downcast through the headset.
"Don't let one little mistake drag you down, Amy. Team Sonic has already lost one of its members. You and Omochao must maintain our winning streak." The feline prompted the hedgehog to drive in their faith and step on more gas.
Amy didn't respond, as eager as she was to retain Team Rose's victorious streak as the Pink Cabriolet gained some speed. Darting past the first bank in the final lap, she rammed into the row of item boxes that greeted her with open arms. Her reward for such endeavours was a Cube Wisp, attempting to leave it sporadically across the track away from any other major hazards.
"Heh..." She smirked as she guided the Pink Cabriolet along the curves towards the forked section of the track.
Both Sonic and Tails were gaining fast on the pink hedgehog, determined to grace victory once more. Amy sped ahead, knowing that the two mobians weren't about to end Team Rose's streak once and for all. Omochao was way ahead so far that the Pink Cabriolet was of a fortress to them of sorts. All she needed was to maintain her position and not plunge into last place.
"Omochao. I need assistance!" The female hero focused on the back of her vehicle, witnessing the Speed Star and Whirlwind Sport among the horizon quickly closing the gap.
Fortunately for her, Omohao had landed inside of an item box and gave the Cube Wispon to Amy, laying the power-ups in an attempt to halt their progression. The Pink Cabriolet banked on a curve as Amy threw the blue power-up behind as a little gift for Sonic and Tails. Unfortunately and unsurprising to her and Omochao, they bypassed the Wispon in rapid succession, opting to speed up and close the gap.
"Hmph! Nice try, Amy!" The blue hedgehog cocked an expression associated with showing mettle within the tournament.
Seeing Big was eliminated in the 2nd lap, he wanted to win by knocking out another Team Rose member from the track. His determination accumulated in desperation and resilience often fuelled by how fast he would be able to easily win the race on foot. The hedgehog longed to equal the comparison in speed. Following Tails' slipstream, he exponentially caught up with the rear of Amy's vehicle and attempted to ram her into the many holes in the road as possible. Within eyesight on the gold victory, she employed a quick thinking strategy - what if she targeted Tails instead of the blue hedgehog? Granted, he was providing the slipstream for the two to race ahead and surely win the Survival Race for their team, but Amy wasn't about to be hesitant.
"Omochao! Give me your slipstream!" She ordered, knowing that Sonic and Tails would've reached metres of the finish line by the time Team Rose executed this keen stratagem.
Tails pressed on his feet on the gas knowing at what he saw from the Whirlwind Sport's side mirror forced him to keep a distance away from Amy's enthusiasm.
"Did you really think I was going to let you pass me that easily, Amy?" He chuckled, merely catching up to his good pal.
"Let's see about that!" The pink hedgehog delivered a comeback that ultimately and ensured she would blithely fall within Omochao's slipstream and boost her speed enough for Tails to reconsider his thought. Ramming into an item box that gifted the kitsune a kind Orange Wisp, he patiently waited for the hedgehog to overtake to execute his trial and error strategy.
"Eat this!" He launched the rockets straight at Amy, attempting to push her back to be eliminated for Team Sonic to grab the clutch victory.
Fortunately for the Team Rose leader, she caught the rockets drawing close to her through her side mirror and abruptly swerved to the side, merely avoiding the many holes of the track's latter half and re-joined Omochao's slipstream once more to bid the kitsune farewell.
"What in the heck?!" He responded with astonishment, how the hedgehog became so experienced at this with Sonic attacking is ironic.
"C'mon, Omochao! We got this! I'll give you a boost!" Amy had adequate amount of speed to overtake her teammate, the two switching roles as Omochao suddenly became the target on Tails' agenda.
Sonic was too far ahead to notice his pal trailing at the back of the pack, a little too late as he crossed the finish line swiftly in fashion. Amy and Omochao agreed to activate their Ultimate as a finisher, leaving behind a sorrowful kitsune that attempted to clutch his team's victory, the Pink Cabriolet and the Chao Pod boosting away swiftly towards the finish line.
"Ooh! What's this? Team Rose are activating their Ultimate's to finish Tails off!" The tanuki expressed the details.
Tails, unfortunate enough to be the last racer passing the finish line merely cocked a sigh of defeat, knowing Team Rose's Ultimate had forced him to succumb to 4th place and ensured their victory. Nevertheless, the Whirlwind Sport crossed the finish line, prompting the conclusion of the first ever Survival Race.
(/)
Amy held her foot hard on the brake as the Pink Cabriolet swerved past the pitstop scouting for a perfect parallel park. She couldn't believe her eyes - she had won the race and for Honey's delight for her to see her own team grab the gold in her view. This was amazing for the girl, as she jumped in the air, cheering as if she was in the crowd with her best friend. Amy leaped out of the vehicle to witness Sonic stroll to her in a sportsman-like manner.
"I'm afraid to admit I'd say this, but congrats, Amy." The blue hedgehog shook his hand with the one mobian he thought he would never stay around for too long. Without reluctance, Amy gladly shook his hand like a ragdoll.
"You did great too, Sonic!" She yelped in in exuberance as Tails and Knuckles walked over.
"Shucks, you put up another good race for us, Amy." Knuckles merely huffed, showing his passion for sportsmanship. He had his gloved knuckles crossed in his arms.
"Hey, a fair race is a fair race." Tails responded, destined to keep his echidna friend from going feral.
(Team Sonic Racing - Pre-Race)
"Indeed, my kitsune friend." Dodon Pa was concluding his leaderboard inspection and tallied the points, a clear win for Team Rose yet again was on his open-minded head. "Congratulations to Amy and her team to bring home another gold from this exciting series. Eh, now will you be able to trust me?"
"I wish..." Amy scoffed, disinterested in his kindest offer.
"Hohohoho! See, that's how a real racer acts - always in their mind about winning and thus succeeding with pride."
"That's not what I was thinking at all, Dodon Pa."
"Imagination is the essence of discovery, pink hedgehog." He cocked a a cunning turn-around to her dissatisfaction. "That is what we look to in the end."
"Winning is only part of it!" Sonic lifted the incoming suspicion surrounding the tournament host, as if it wasn't obviously predicted coming from the blue blur. However, he was un-phased by it.
"Hohohoho! Better than to say you're up for the challenges rather than sneer at your hesitation." The tanuki concluded, heading for his spaceship. "I'll be around to prepare for our next race. It's up to the blue and pink hedgehogs respectively to lift their team spirits high."
"That was kind of brutal, Dodon Pa. Why are you putting us through all of this?" Amy fretted.
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it, young hedgehog. It's technical." The host responded, but that only made her more angry.
"That's the most condescending thing I've heard all day."
"And the day is young!" Sonic stated with little worry.
"Hohohoho!"
(/)
The tanuki began to depart for his spaceship, their distance gaining exponentially as the vessel's doors were moved. For a confident craftsman like Dodon Pa, he certainly wasted no time and rather intolerant of his racers' beliefs. He was a no-talk, get-it-done kind of host that Sonic truly took a keen interest to. Even if Amy still had concerns over his trust, the tanuki was adamant she would slowly grow to like him. Sonic watched as the host boarded his spaceship orderly, a sign that he longed to join.
"I think we better follow him to Casino Park then..." The blue hedgehog kindly concluded, with the confidence and curiosity of the friends he knew the most.
As such, he took his leave towards the spaceship that was bound for a new area, but one that was instantaneously familiar with everybody else. Knuckles and Amy stared at his departure, apparently still in their mind's view about Dodon Pa's trust. It reached mere precipitation that occur to them, as Sonic had already demonstrated that the tanuki host was trustworthy in his merits. Again, this was getting all too familiar and all too conspicuous to ignore, not least yearn to adapt to Casino Park's raceway. As Big, Omochao, Sally, Honey and more surprisingly Tails were in front, the two nodded at each other and joined their expedition. It wouldn't take that long t transport the vehicles either, as the spaceship's cargo had covered all of that in a jiffy. With no hesitation, Dodon Pa retracted from his humble cockpit and signalled his racers. With one push of a button, the vessel's cargo, now full with their racecars closed, bound for Casino Park.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Dodon Pa's Tournament - Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, Tails Miles Prower, Amy Rose, Big the Cat, Omochao.
Team Mechanics - Sally Acorn, Honey the Cat, Espio the Chameleon.
References:
Destiny's Child - Survivor - The title of the chapter is a lyric in the chorus of the 2002 hit single.
Overwatch - Dodon Pa quotes a line said by one of the heroes (Winston) in the 2016 team-based multiplayer first-person shooter Overwatch, during a conversation with Amy after the Survival Race. The line in question is when the hero is selected and ready to be playable.
Nine months later and this chapter is finally done. Sorry it took so long to finish this one. University was alot more challenging than I hoped it would be. I spent the last few months trying to get back into the zone of writing this story, and try to pick back up and the detail I'm attempting, though it is gradually becoming challenging since the next few chapters is where Blaze's team would slowly start to form. Other than that, I hope you enjoyed this, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
Please review.