Cream, Cheese, and Vanilla were outside among the flowers in the garden.
"We'll both have necklaces now, Mama." Cream said as Emerl approached them with a bouquet of freshly-picked flowers. "Oh hi, Emel!" she said as he presented them to Cream, who graciously accepted them. "Wow! Are these for me, Emel? They're lovely!"
Emerl would have blushed if he were not a robot.
"Thank you so much!"
Amy, was standing on a chair on the balcony, looking on sadly.
"Aren't they beautiful, Mama?" Cream asked.
"They certainly are, Cream." Vanilla said.
"I wish Sonic would do that for me..." Amy said envisioned Sonic preparing her a bouquet of flowers.
However, a mosquito distracted her.
She tried to clap at the mosquito, but to no avail. Even chasing it didn't work.
Meanwhile the mosquito had aggravated Amy enough to bring out her Piko Piko Hammer. The insect finally landed on the window, she was just about to hammer it when Tanaka appeared.
"Miss Amy!" he said and she looked at him. "Please don't swing that hammer."
Then the mosquito flew away.
"I almost had him, but thanks to you, he got away!" Amy said.
"I beg your pardon, but I believe you would have smashed both the bug and the window."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I just don't know what's wrong with me, Mr. Tanaka." she said and looked back over the railing. "It seems like I can't get anything I want... especially Sonic."
In the living room Ella moved a pie in front of Amy.
"My chocolate peanut butter pie. It's warm right from the oven." she said and Tanaka poured a cup of tea.
"Do not worry so, Miss Amy. Try to cheer up. Things will be much brighter before you know it. Just when it seems the clouds will never pass, the sun comes shining through your window." he said and set the tea in front of Amy.
"I hope you're right. ...I won't think about him anymore!" Amy said and took a slice of the pie and leaned back to eat it when she saw Sonic run by outside.
She blinked in surprise.
In a warehouse Eggman was hammering on a large object. Bocoe and Decoe were also working on the ground below him.
"Make yourselves useful, you dawdling dunces! I'm out of supplies!" Eggman said and tossed a shopping list down to them.
He tosses a shopping list down to them.
"What's this?" Decoe asked.
"A shopping list?" Bocoe said as Decoe picked up the shopping list and read it.
Decoe picked up the shopping list and read it.
"Three tons of extra large nails, five thousand cans of spit-and-sparkle varnish. When you buy supplies, you do not mess around." he said.
"But how can we get all of that back from the store?"
"With a great degree of difficulty! Now hunt down that hardware or else!" Eggman said and they saluted.
"Yes, sir!" Decoe said.
"Aye-aye!" Bocoe said.
At SSTV Station the military was gathered outside the broadcasting center with Scarlet broadcasting a story.
"Yesterday, SSTV News that the notorious Dr. Eggman had escaped from jail along with his two mechanical henchmen. Officials now believe that Eggman and his robots are hiding underground plotting their next assault. In an effort to undermine the plot, the President has formulated a plan that will involve Sonic, Knuckles, and Rouge the Bat." Scarlet said.
Outside, the President and Christina disembarked from their limo and headed into the building.
"While information is sketchy, it appears some sort of tournament is in the works. Luckily, I've been granted an exclusive interview with the participants to talk about this exciting development." Scarlet said and followed a cameraman into the other room, where Sonic, Knuckles, and Rouge were sitting on a sectional couch.
They appeared bored, and Scarlet blushed.
"Uh... Well, it doesn't appear that Sonic, Knuckles, and Rouge are as excited about this competition as one might expect them to be." she said.
The President rounded the corner, and was shocked to see Scarlet reporting this story. He pushed her and the cameraman aside.
"Maybe once we begin our interview, they'll tell us why they seem so glum." she said.
"Spread out!" the president said and entered the room along with Topaz. "Well, Topaz, are they in or out?" he asked and she saluted.
"Well sir, they-" Topaz said but was cut off.
"I don't know about this plan of yours." Sonic said.
"This tournament idea sounds kinda screwy." Knuckles said.
"How 'bout you?" the president asked Rouge.
"I might consider helping you out with this plan of yours, but if I do, it's gonna cost ya." Rouge said and Sonic rolled her eyes while the President's and Topaz's eyes widened.
"What exactly does that mean?"
"Well, I do have a weakness for jewelry."
"I'll tell you what. If you all agree to battle in our tournament, We'll offer a grand prize to the winner." he said then Christina and Scarlet entered the room. "Whoever wins the competition gets... a Chaos Emerald!" He said catching the Mobians' attention.
"You want me to waste my time for one Chaos Emerald? Sorry, but you can count me out." Knuckles said.
"Ah, could it be Gloomy Gus over here's too chicken? I guess he's afraid I might beat him." Rouge said emphasized her point by poking him, who brushed her hand away.
"Look here. I'm not afraid of anybody, got that?"
"It's too bad. It would have been such an exciting tournament." Scarlet said.
"Well, if he really doesn't want to prove himself, there's no use forcing him to." the president said.
"I suppose not, Mr. President." Topaz said and Scarlet leaned in close to Knuckles.
"Our viewers will be so disappointed, especially the millions of rabid Knuckles fans out there." Scarlet said and Topaz leaned in as well.
"Kids who just want a glimpse of their hero."
A now-irate Knuckles sweatdropped as Rouge also leaned in next to him.
"You don't want 'em to think you're a big scaredy-cat, do ya?" Rouge said as did the president.
"This will be the perfect way to prove just how tough you are. Unless, of course, you're secretly a sniveling coward." he said.
Knuckles yelled in rage and frustration and leapt onto the table and the humans backed away.
"That does it! Nobody calls me a coward and gets away with it!" he said and raised his fist in the air. "I'll enter the competition and win the Chaos Emerald!"
"That was easy." Rouge said as the humans clapped.
"Man, talk about bein' a first-class sucker." Sonic said and Knuckles' sweatdrop again.
"I can't believe he bought all that flattery." Topaz said aside to Rouge.
"He's a knucklehead." Rouge said aside her and Knuckles turned his head to them.
"Just one little detail. Do we have any Emeralds?" the president asked aside Christina who nodded.
At Thorndyke Manor the Thorndykes and Sonic's friends were in the living room watching TV. Scarlet was standing alongside the President.
"This is Scarlet Garcia. The President has just announced that Sonic, Knuckles, and Rouge the Bat will take part in an exciting martial arts tournament. Mr. President, would you like to say a few words to our viewers? ... Here." Scarlet said and handed the microphone to the president.
"In addition, we would like to open the tournament to anyone who feels they would like to participate." the president said and gave a wink and thumbs up. "So sign up today!"
At Station Square the President's message spread through the entire city. Flyers were posted everywhere, and the images of Sonic, Knuckles, and Rouge were stamped on the side of trucks.
"Tell all your friends to tell all their friends! This competition promises to be the most exciting event ever! The grand prize is a genuine Chaos Emerald! So come on down if you think you have what it takes to battle with the best! Yah!" the president said.
On TV, Scarlet was standing in front of several female phone operators.
"Would you like to compete? Operators are standing by, so call today! Uh... We'll be... right back!" she said.
The commercial showed Knuckles smashing a rock and other object to explosive bits. He flexed his muscles.
"Ha! ... Think you're tough enough? Well, what are you waiting for?" he said.
Even Scarlet and the operators were surprised after seeing the commercial.
"Maybe you could win that Chaos Emerald, Tiffany." Operator 1 said.
"If I did, I'd turn it into one awesome earring." Operator 2 said.
At Thorndyke Manor living room those watching were also surprised at Knuckles' message.
"Well, Chris, guess we'd better call that number and enter." Tails said.
"But Tails, are you crazy? Didn't you see that commercial?" Chris asked.
"You know you can't believe everything you see on TV."
The others weren't convinced. Then the phone rang, and Tanaka answered it.
"Hello? ... Yes, I'll put him on, Mr. Thorndyke." he said on the phone. "Here, Chris. Your father, he would like to speak with you." he said off the phone.
"Okay, thanks." Chris said and took the phone. "Hi, Dad. ... Yeah. ... You're signing up for the competition? But how come?" he said on the phone. "You think you have a good chance at winning?" he said surprised. "And you thought it might be a lot of fun to enter me, Amy, Tails, Mr. Tanaka, Grandpa, and Ella too?" he said dismayed and the others were surprised.
"He wants me to battle?" Ella said shocked and Tanaka started practicing his karate skills.
"Listen, may we-" Chris said but was cut off. "Uh... He hung up on me. Well, I guess it's settled." he said off the phone.
"The martial arts tournament planners have just released the official events schedule." Scarlet said showing the tournament bracket. "They've also begun announcing who'll be competing. Slots are fulling up fast, so call now. We'll be right back after this."
"Aaaand... roll commercial." Operator said.
"I'm doing an infomercial. This is gonna kill my credibility." she said off-air.
The technicians shrugged as the operators frantically answer phone called.
At the warehouse Eggman was hammering a nail into a board. Then he accidentally hit his thumb and winced.
After blowing on his wound, he looked down from his perch to see that Decoe and Bocoe still hadn't returned.
"No thanks to those loitering layabouts, my thumb is as flat as a flapjack! How dare those two slowpokes keep me waiting!" Eggman said. "Bokkun, come here right away!" he said to Bokkun.
But Bokkun was behind him on top of a suspended tile.
"Here I am!" Bokkun said. "What is it, Dr. Eggman?"
"Find those two tardy tin cans and step on it!" Eggman said and Bokkun saluted.
"Yes, sir, Doctor!" he said and flew away. "Hahahaha!"
At the tournament building the President stood in the middle of the arena with a microphone as fireworks burst, crowds cheer, and balloons rose into the air.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the first annual Chaos Emerald Martial Arts Mash-Up! ... Today's participants will be competing for this... authentic... Chaoooos Emerald!" the president said and held up the shiny red gem.
Meanwhile, Decoe and Bocoe looked at the tournament match-ups.
"Looks like a picture of my insides." Decoe said.
Cream and Vanilla were attending and Cream waved.
The arena was packed. Scarlet was standing to the side of the battle ring, ready to announce.
"The atmosphere here at the stadium is absolutely electric, and rumor has it that a special surprise is that a special surprise participant is about to kick off this martial arts challenge." Scarlet said and the fans cheered.
The President stood nearby, bumping his boxing gloves together.
"This is a bad idea." Christina said.
"I may have a pudge, but I still got a punch!" the president said and did a few practice punches.
"The crows is cheering for today's master of ceremonies, the owner of Diamond Stadium Elmer Johnson. Let's listen as he introduces our first two competitors." Scarlet said.
Elmer Johnson walked into the ring with a microphone, and waved to the crowd.
"In this corner, the President!" he said and the President waved to the audience with both hands. "And his opponent, in black armor, the Black Knight!"
A mysterious person in a black suit of armor stared down the President.
"Are you sure you wanna do this, Mr. President?" Chrisina asked.
"No." the president said.
Scarlet was standing next to a small table with an open umbrella in the center. A bell was on the table.
"Let the mash-up begin!" she said and rang the bell with a small hammer.
The President approached the Black Knight and laned a flurry of punches on the Black Knight's armor, but he wasn't fazed.
The Black Knight simply stared at the President.
Laughing, the Black Knight raised his hand to attack.
"Oh no!" Christina said.
The President cringed, but was saved when a towel landed on his head. Before he knew it, Elmer raised the Black Knight's hand in victory.
"The Black Knight will move to the second round!" Elmer said.
"The President's aide threw in the towel." Scarlet said.
The President, with the towel still over his head, turned to Christina.
"Why'd you do that?!" he asked.
"I think you have more power lunches than power punches." Christina said.
"Now let's move on to our next exciting match-up." Scarlet said and rang the bell again.
The second match was between Chris and Danny.
"Look out!" Danny said.
"It looks like one of these classmates is ready to rumble." Scarlet said.
Chris hung his head and Danny approached him.
"Chris, what's the matter?" Danny asked.
"I'm sorry. I don't wanna fight." Chris said.
"Yeah, but Chris, we could win that Chaos Emerald." Danny said and Chris looked up with tears in his eyes.
"Uh, I don't wanna get hurt!" Chris said and Danny darted over to another part of the ring.
"Whoa, take it easy! We won't fight, okay? I won't touch you! See? I'm not even near you."
"Perfect." Chris said darkly and lunged at a surprised Danny. "I gotcha!" he said and successfully tackled Danny to the ground.
Danny struggled to get up.
"Aahh! No fair! That's fighting dirty!" he said.
"Who cares? It worked, didn't it?"
Elmer raised Chris' hand in victory.
"From tears to cheers in seconds flat, Christopher Thorndyke wins the match!" he said and Danny pounded the ground in defeat.
Chris walked backstage, where he saw Chuck dressed in wrestling gear. Chuck gave him a thumbs-up.
"Nice work, Chris." he said.
"Hi, Grandpa." Chris said then saw his ridiculous get-up. "Hey, what's with that weird bathrobe?" he asked and Chuck threw off his outfit.
"Back in my day, I was known as Thorndyke the Throttler!" Chuck said and stretched a little too vigorously, and accidentally strained his back.
"Grandpa, what's wrong?"
Chuck was soon loaded into an ambulance.
The ambulance left.
"Professor Thorndkye have been forced to withdraw from completion due to a warm-up injury. Therefore, the winner by forfeit is Lucky." Scarlet said.
Elmer raised the hand of Chuck's would-be opponent, E-77 Lucky.
Decoe and Bocoe looked on dressed in karate garb.
"He won! Lucky certainly is lucky, isn't he?" Decoe said.
"His name says it all. Wish me luck, Decoe. I battle next." Bocoe said.
"Hey, so do I."
Both robots entered the ring.
"Yeah! Bring it!" the crowd said.
"I will not hold back!" Decoe said.
"Neither will I!" Bocoe said si they started wrestling with each other.
Suddenly, the sound of police sirens filled their ears.
"Freeze! You're under arrest! Surrender! You can't escape! We've got you surrounded!" a police officer said.
The camera pans out to show that there are police cars surrounding the entire ring. Decoe and Bocoe break out in a cold sweat.
"We're in trouble." Bocoe said.
"Quick! Run for it!" Decoe said.
"Get 'em!" officer said and the cars chased them out of the stadium.
Scarlet emerged from underneath the umbrella on the table.
"Our next match pits Hawk against everyone's favorite high-flying fox, Tails!" she said and rang the bell.
She rings the bell.
"Ready when you are!" Tails said and Hawk made confusing hand movements to intimidate Tails, then lunged for Tails, attempting to launch a flurry of strikes and punches.
Tails used his namesakes to block the attacks.
"Hawk is on the offense and showering his opponent with lightning-fast moves and fists of fury, but Tails is keeping cool and letting his twin tails take the punishment." Scarlet said as Hawk raised his foot in an attempt to kick Tails. "Here comes the kicker!" she said as Tails sweatdrops and ducked, using his tails in an attempt to block the attack. "Looks like the tails are ready to attack!"
However, he lowered his leg.
"Those things don't scare me." Hawk said and grabbed Tails' tails. "I gotcha!"
"Oh yeah? Think again!" Tails said and used his tails to spin Hawk around, making him dizzy.
Elmer raised his hand in victory.
"Hawk has suffering a dizzying defeat!" Scarlet said.
"And I win!" Tails said.
"That was awesome!" the crowd said.
"They like me... They really like me!"
"Hi there!" Bokkun said and Amy put her hands on her hips.
"No way! They let you enter this thing?" she said causing his eyes to water.
"What's wrong with me?" he asked and broke down and cried.
The spectators started reacting negatively.
"There's nothing wrong with you; you're great, I was joking. Please don't cry, okay?" she said to Bokkun. "Sorry about this, folks. He's just a little bit nervous, that's all. Totally not my fault."
A heart flutters from her as Bokkun looks up.
"Liar..." he said and Amy threw her hammer scaring him and turned to him smirking.
"What did you say?"
Bokkun cowered back as Amy raised her hammer.
"Nothing! Nothing, honest!" he said.
A few minutes later they were outside of the tournament building as Amy delivered Bokkun a smashing blow and Elmer raised her hand in victory.
"And the winner by a knockout is Amy!" Scarlet said.
"I couldn't have done it without the support of all my fans." Amy said and posed for the cheering fans.
"Hey, Amy! We love you!" they said.
"Thanks, everybody. Right back at ya!"
"Well folks, thus ends the first half of this exciting tournament. We'll be taking a short intermission." Scarlet said.
Fans visited the food court, have Knuckles sign his autograph and pictures taken with Tails.
Meanwhile, Eggman was scanning the crowd for his missing robots from the Eggmobile.
"Those loafing lugheads. Where could he be? Just wait 'til I get my hands on them..." Eggman said.
Inside one of the other buildings, Sonic and Chris were drinking.
"Boy, Chris, I couldn't believe that was you out there." Sonic said and Chris appeared guilty.
"Why? Because I lied and cheated a little? So what? Is that so wrong?" Chris asked.
"Kinda."
"It's just... I'm always the good guy! I just wanted to see what it felt like to be bad. It doesn't feel good." he said but she smiled. "You know?"
"Then don't do it again!" she said and he smiled and returned the thumbs-up.
Later, it was time for Round 2. Next standing in the middle of the ring with a sign that read "Round 2".
"Welcome back. We're ready to begin the second round of the first annual Chaos Emerald Martial Arts Mash-Up. First up is tough guy Knuckles vs. the mysterious Black Knight." Scarlet said.
"Let's go, metal man!" Knuckles and the Black Knight laughed. "Tough guy, eh? We'll just see about that!" he said and charged toward a protesting Black Knight and punched him to the ground.
The Black Knight begged for mercy.
"Don't hurt me, Knuckles! Just let me win! Please! I'm begging you!" he said.
"Who are you, anyway?"
"It's me..." he said and removed his helmet, revealing himself to be none other than Jerome.
"You're the Black Knight?" Knuckles said surprised.
"I need that Chaos Emerald! I don't have any money!"
"There's one thing I cannot stand... a whiner!"
Scared out of his wits, Jerome scrambled to get out of the ring. Elmer raised Knuckles' hand in victory.
"The Black Knight turned yellow, so Knuckles wins the match." Scarlet said.
Chris looked around the corner, but was called back.
"Hey Chris." someone said so he turned around and saw Danny.
Chris turns to see Danny there.
"Danny."
"I just wanted to wish you good luck."
"Thank you."
Just then, a helicopter flew over the ring, and Nelson leapt from it. He used a parachute to land safely in the middle of the ring.
"Our next fighter is dropping in just in time for the next match." Scarlet said as Nelson finished landing in the ring.
"Dad?!" Chris said.
"Well, Son, if you want to make it to the quarterfinals, you'll have to beat your old man first. Let's go!" Nelson said while Lindsey and Chuck looked on with concern.
"He'll have a hard time with Nelson. I taught him everything he knows." Chuck said bandaged from head to toe.
In a sudden move, Chris knocked to the ground and pinned his legs to prevent him from getting up.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! I give up! Ow! Ow! Ow!" Nelson said and Elmer waved his hands to stop the match.
"I guess talent must skip a generation." Chuck said.
"Let's see what you got." Mr. Stewart said.
"Okay." Sam said but wrestled him to the ground.
"Uncle Sam, don't!" Chris said.
"I can't go easy on him just because he's your teacher!"
"I know! But they didn't ring the starting bell yet!" Chris said and Sam sweatdrops, waved, climbed into his car that is parked nearby, and left.
"Oh well... I'm in a hurry anyway!" Sam said and Elmer raised Mr. Stewart's hand in victory.
"Saved by the bell, Mr. Stewart is the winner!" Scarlet said.
Lucky's opponent would have been either Decoe or Bocoe, but since they were both on the run from the police, Elmer raised Lucky's hand in victory.
"And since both the robots are on the run, Lucky wins again. Lucky guy." Scarlet said and Lucky left the ring as Tanaka and Topaz took their places.
"Come on!" Topaz said but instead of fighting, Tanaka approached her, pulled out a beautiful necklace, and placed it around her neck. "Is... this for me?"
"Yes... and so am I." he said.
"I'm... so happy!" she said blushing and they hugged.
"Ella, what just happened?" Chris asked.
"It's very simple. You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar." Ella said.
"What does that mean?" Danny asked.
"You'll both understand when you get a little older. Now it's time for my match!" she said and left with her frying pan.
"Emel! I know you can win!" Cream said and Emerl appeared ready to fight. "But whatever happens, be extra gentle with Ella, okay?" she said as he looked conflicted. "What's wrong with Emel?"
"He doesn't know how he can win if he's gentle." Ella said.
"Oh, that's terrible. What should we do, Cheese?"
"Chao." Cheese said and they looked at each other.
"Ah, I have an idea. I'll forfeit the match!" Ella said.
"But... are you sure?" Cream asked.
"Sure I'm sure. After all, I've got dinner to make."
"You're the best, Ella!"
"Chao chao chao!" Cheese said.
"Not exactly what I'd call a challenge, but here goes." Rouge said and swooped at Tails but he dodged and flew into the air at Rouge, who avoided him.
She swoops at him, but he dodged and flew into the air at her, who avoided him.
"Oh yeah?" Tails said.
"This exciting grudge match is off and running! Or should I say flying?" Scarlet said and they exchanged blows in midair before Rouge landed.
"You're not bad... for an amateur." Rouge said as he flew down before charging at her. "Watch out, boy."
As soon as he got close enough, she grabbed him, kissed him, and dumped the embarrassed Tails outside the ring.
"Well, it looks like Rouge the Bat sure gave Tails the kiss-off. That makes her the winner of this match." Scarlet said.
"Sorry to smooch and run, but I've gotta touch up my lipstick." she said and left.
Soon, the last match was set up. The competitors were Amy and Sonic.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're now down to the final battle of the second round. This next match promises to be a real crowd-pleaser. Let's see what happens." Scarlet said.
"I never wanted this to happen. Just think: me... against Sonic." Amy said and Sonic appeared worried. "How can I do this?" she said to herself. "How can I fight someone I care for so much? ... Sonic!" she said aloud.
"This won't work. You gotta think of some way to get her mad at me, Chris." Sonic said.
"Don't look at me!" Chris said.
"And I can tell he doesn't want to fight with me, either. 'Cause he cares." Amy said.
"Chris, please. Help me out." Sonic said.
'I can't use what I got after I left and I don't have my medallion.' she thought.
"When she's acting like this, nothing can get her mad!" Chris said.
Then Eggman hovered above the ring.
"Huh? That's Sonic! I'd better check this out." he said.
Then Amy approached Sonic.
"Sonic, I understand." Amy said.
"Understand what?" Sonic asked and looked up to see Eggman.
"Say goodbye." Eggman said and pushed a button firing a laser at the competitors.
Sonic ran toward Amy, who was delighted, thinking that she was coming to hug her, when it was really a rescue.
Sonic quickly carried her out of the way of the laser, which struck where they were just standing.
"Oh Sonic, you really do care about me!" Amy said.
"Missed!" Eggman said and flew away.
"Where do you think you're goin'?" Sonic asked and lead out of the stadium in pursuit of Eggman.
Amy stood up.
"Sonic... Oh well. At least now I know how he feels about me." she said.
"Huh. More trouble with Eggman." Chris said.
"What a shocker, folks! Our friend Sonic has forfeited the match, and that means we're down to the final eight." Scarlet said.
The eight remaining contestants were Knuckles, Chris, Mr. Stewart, E-77 Lucky, Tanaka, Emerl, Rouge, and Amy.
"Who will be the winner? Tune in next time to find out!"