The Plot thickens... thicker
It was early evening in the skies over Angel Island, when a large plane was flying on a path to the island. Resembling something like a souped-up cargo plane with jet engines, the vehicle was painted a dark green, with the letters C-H-A-O-T-I-X spelled out on the side. Having been built by Tails at Vector's request, the aircraft served as the team's vehicle for overseas missions. Currently in the pilot seat, was a pink-and-white striped teenage butterfly islander about the same size as Charmy, with a green blouse and yellow skirt (copied off of the outfit Amy Rose had wore as a young teenager, which the butterfly had seen in old pictures). The in the other pilot's seat was an orange female echidna,wearing a leopard print Mayan-style dress. The two were flying home to Westside Island from the city-state of Soleanna, where they had just completed a mission under Vector's orders, though they had had a very rough time doing so.
"Ugh, that was like, so totally a nightmare!" The butterfly grumbled. "Can you believe those Destructix creeps were trying to get away with the duke's scepter? It's a good thing we were there to kick their tails in!" She stretched her arms. "I can't wait to so totally get back to the mansion, and soak my wings in a nice hot bath!"
"Hmph, I just wish that Chauvinistic duke had paid us the full amount we were owed!" The angry echidna girl snorted. "Imagine Betty, trying to short change us because we weren't the 'real chaotix'- just because we're girls, that was entirely humiliating!"
"Eh, don't worry about it, Alucion... the duke's daughter Elise secretly forwarded what we were owed to Vector's business account. We'll get full pay for this." Betty laughed. "But I received a call from Vector, and you won't believe what's happening back home!"
"What, did Vector get in trouble again for black market trading with that con man, Wes Weasley?" Alucion inquired, rolling her eyes. "Or did he manage to find Charmy's stash of 'insect illustrated: bikini edition?"
"I.. did not need to hear that about my boyfriend." Betty replied, eye twitching. "No, he told me old Chaotix members Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel have rejoined the team. And best of all, Mighty has brought his wife, trip the Sungazer, with him."
"Oh, good! With Vanilla moving in soon, that's two more women we can rotate cooking duties with." Alucion sighed. "That'll give me more time to practice fight training with Espio, and you more time to work with those flowers of your in the greenhouse, and read those sappy romance novels of yours."
"Hey! I've seen you snag and read a few when you thought no one was looking, Princess!" Betty sneered at her co-pilot. "besides, why don't we actually let the boys try and cook some meals sometimes? Charmy has a honey cake recipe he's just been dying to try."
"Ugh, just what we need, cakes made out of your boyfriend's sugar vomit." The echidna princess stuck her tongue out in disgust. "No, I am not trusting any of those males with preparing our food. Espio is the smart one, and even he burns toast! Do you really think this 'Mighty' and a teen squirrel are going to be any better?"
"...point taken. At least your chameleon ninja boy-toy helps with the cleaning. Vector and Charmy leave dirty socks, gloves, old pizza boxes, and burger wrappers scattered everywhere." Betty sighed, flexing her wings. "Last week, I found something blue and furry behind the couch that I think used to be food.I'm starting to wonder if the boys were raised in a barn."
It was at that moment, that the floating island came into view on the horizon. Alucion looked up at the sight of massive floating chunk of dirt in the heavens, and smiled.
"Ah., Angel Island... the original home of my people." The echidna princess smiled. "My tribe's ancestors migrated from that place centuries ago due to overcrowding, and settled in the forbidden zone where they now dwell. The guardian is doing a fine job of protecting our home and the emerald, the ancestors would be proud."
"Yeah... speaking of Knuckles..." Betty quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on her opinion of Alucion being an echidna princess."I heard though the grapevine from Amy that Rouge is tired of waiting on the knucklehead, and is planning on proposing to him when team dark gets back from it's mission in space."
"Really? That is most pleasing news." Alucion smiled. "Despite being a thief, that bat is very brave. And i can tell from talking with her that she loves the guardian very deeply. I shall have to visit with Knuckles, and ask him what he knows of the wedding customs of our people."
"Well, Angel Island is right there." Betty gestured to the floating island ahead. "Want to stop by, and see your fellow echidna?"
A smile went across both of their faces, as they brought the plane in for a landing.
...
Meanwhile, back at the Chaotix mansion, a sparring session was taking place in the dojo,
"Ha, you are fast, my ninja friend!" Mighty declared, dodging several punches. "But you will find I am much faster!"
"We shall see, my undisciplined gaijin friend!" Espio retorted, dodging a few kicks from the armadillo. "Let'ssee how well you can handle the moves of a true warrior!"
Espio threw several shuriken at the armadillo, which he ducked to avoid, before launching into a spin dash at the chameleon. Espio back flipped out of the way to avoid the attack, then hurled a Kunai at the armadillo, who deftly caught it between his hands.
"So, I was wanting to ask you, what do you think of Trip?" Mighty asked, throwing the kunai back. "I know you have been spending some time with her these past few days, I wanted your personal impression of her, lizard to lizard."
"Your wife is especially devoted to you, Mighty. She spoke highly of you in our conversations. Loyal, caring..." Espio did a spin kick, sending the Armadillo stumbling backwards back. "She is your Aisuru tsuma- your beloved wife, who loves you more than any other living being on this planet."
"That's how I feel about her, too." Mighty replied, getting up and lunging at the ninja with another punch. "How do you think she's taking to life here in the mansion?"
"Well enough. She's started watering and caring for the plants out in Charmy and Betty's be she joined a local crocheting club." Espio was hit by Mighty's blow, and sent flying back into the wall, hard. Gasping for breath, he stared at Mighty. "I am beginning to see her as my Imōto- my little sister. If you hurt her in any way, Mighty the Amadillo..."
The chameleon disappeared, vanishing like a true ninja. Suddenly, he was hit by a flurry of punches and kicks from every direction, knocking Mighty off his guard, and sending him stumbling to the floor.
"... I will personally see to it that you regret it."
"Okay, I get it." Mighty replied with a laugh, as Espio reappeared and helped him back to his feet. "so, what's this I hear about you and an echidna princess...?"
"That... that is a private matter, that I do not feel like discussing." Espio turned away, heading out of the dojo. "Now come on, your wife probably has supper ready by now."
By the time mighty and Espio had gotten to the dining room, the rest of the crew were gathered around the table for an early supper. Trip had already set the table, and set down several plates filled with Barbecue pulled pork, mashed potatoes and gravy, and cherry pie for desert."
"Mmmmm, this looks really good, Trip!" Vector growled happily scarfing the food down messily. "Glad ta see ya know how ta make more than pancakes!"
"T-thank y-you, mister V-vector." Trip bowed to him politely. "I-I a-am afraid I burned j-just as m-much of the i-ingedients as I u-used."
"Awww, don't worry about it Trip!" The bee replied, greedily digging into his pie first. "This desert is yummy!"
"T-thank you, Charmy." She smiled at him, patting him on the head. "T-that means a lot to me."
"Geez Charmy, we're teens. Why are you still acting like a little kid?" Ray shook his head. "Just because we're small and can get away with it, doesn't mean we should."
Asthe ohers all started talking amongst themselves, Trip looked over at Mighty hopefully, her eyes inquiring.
"Oh, yeah, it tastes great!" Mighty replied, drinking his glass of orange juice. "Best I've eaten in ages!"
A frown formed on Trip's face, and Mighty quickly backpedaled.
"No, no! I meant your cooking is the best I've ever eaten as a whole, not just this meal." Mighty smiled at her. "Your food tastes better than anything Ray or I ever cooked up."
She smiled at that, and shook her head.
"Yeah, I kind of figured you were just teasing me." Mighty replied, taking a bite of his pancakes. "By the way, we all wanted to thank you for hwlping to clean the house last night, dear. It was a really big help."
Trip glanced over towards Charmy, a troubled look on her face.
"Wait, what do you mean you found a magazine in Chamy's room called 'grasshopper girls gone wild?!" Mighty yelled angrily, as the look on Trip's face turned to one of disgust. "It had WHAT in it!?"
"Dammit, Charmy! I told you to not leave that junk out where people could see it!" Vector slammed his hand on the table multiple times, angrily. "What if that had been out when Vanilla got here?"
"Vector, don't worry so much about it,the kid won't let it happen again" Mighty added. "Let's talk about something more pleasant... like that royal ball thingy, they mentioned on the news today."
"The annual south island ball? Oh yes, I forgot that was happening this weekend." Espio added, taking another bite of his food. "All the big islander royal families will be there, and all the TV stations will be covering it."
"That annual ball was only started about fifteen years or so ago, when the president of South Island's daughter, Sara, was kidnapped by metal Sonic." Vector explained. "See, Sara was a human-islander hybrid- human on her mom's side, I think- and Robotnik nabbed her, some people think to take her as his wife. Anyway, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles managed to go up to the arctic, and fought both metal Sonic, and Eggman in a mech called Metal Robotnik."
"That's the mission where knuckles first war that silly cowboy hat of his." Charmy chimed in. "And Tails ended up grabbing Sara's b-!"
"We... don't need to talk about that, Charmy!" Espio replied, putting a hand over the teen Bee's mouth. "Anyway, after Sonic rescued his daughter, the President ordered a grand ball to be held every year, and for all the Islander royals and world leaders to be invited every year. The event outlasted that president's time in office, and it's become the Biggest shindig on South Island."
At their words, Trip got a dreamy, faraway look on her face.
"Yeah, I imagine you'd love to go to that, huh?" Mighty shook his head. "Who knows, honey. Perhaps you'll get your chance to go one of these years..."
Before anyone else could say anything, a loud pounding came at the door. Vector went and opened it, and there stood Vanilla, crying her eyes out. Taking a step, the rabbit woman stumbled, and collapsed into his arms.
"Vanilla, baby..." Vector gasped,as Trip came over to help Vanilla to a chair. "What's wrong?"
"She's gone, Vector, my little girl has abandoned me!" Vanilla cried. "She's run off, and I don't know where she's gone!"
As the beleaguered mother continued to bawl and sob, the others, knowing that this was coming, could only shake their heads sadly.
...
The Chaotix's plane had touched down upon Angel island, and Knuckles and Relic were soon out to greet the new the red echidna was suspicious of the Newcomers at first, Knuckles smiled when he saw the Chaotix logo on the side of the plane.
"Greeting guardian, it is a pleasure to see you again." Alucion greeted Knuckles. "How stands the floating island of our people?"
"Oh, hey there, Echidna fangirl." Knuckles returned the greeting sarcastically, still not believing this girl was an echidna. "MY island is just fine, thank you."
Alucion started to get angry again, when her companion stepped off the plane, and greeted the echidna.
"Hey Knux, how's it going?" Betty the butterfly greeted him, as the two girls stepped off of the plane. "been awhile since we last laid eyes upon ya-how's the guardian business going?"
"Oh, I can't complain too much... except for the fact that Rouge betrayed me." The guardian grumbled. "She came right up to the island, and tried to steal the master emerald."
"It was the bloodiest damn thing." Relic added, shaking her head. "I found Knuckle's unconscious after that accursed bat's attack, she would've bloomin' takin the emerald, if it weren't for Chaos stopping her!"
Betty and Alucion looked at each other in surprise, before the female echidna replied.
"But... that's not possible!" Alucion yelled in protest. "Team Dark is on a mission in space, tracking down some remnants of the black arms! There is no way Rouge could've been here!"
Knuckles and Relic barely had time to process this information, when a loud blast suddenly shook the island. The four of them looked up, to see several dark shapes on the horizon.
"Bloody hell..." Relic squeaked out, as the ground shook beneath their feet. "Knuckles, the island... it's under attack!"
as the mysterious attackers' crafts began to land,the four islanders heard a voice call out;
"Priority one, by order of Nagus! Capture the echidna princess, and retrieve the master emerald, if possible!" The hollow, metallic voice commanded. "Tear Angel island Apart, find them!"
Next: The true battle begins!