Chapter 30: Casino:

Sonic's POV:

I was taking Sally to Vegas.

"Sonic, I feel we should be focusing on stopping Eggman and Shadow," says Sally.

"If Knuckles gets a vision, he can call us," I said, "right now, let's have some fun. I've always wanted to check this place out."

Vegas had a lot to offer.

. . .

First, we checked out this magic show. The magician was messing everything up.

"I didn't even want this job," he says, "I wanted to be a scientist, but my Dad wanted me to run the family business! I DON'T EVEN BELIEVE IN MAGIC!"

. . .

Then we were listening to a famous singer perform. She was good.

. . .

Now we're at a casino.

"You were right," says Sally, "this was fun."

I was hitting the jackpot.

"Well, look who's lucky."

I recognized that voice. "Mr. X!" Mr. X, the head of the Syndicate. We took him down.

"Sonic the Hedgehog as I live and breathe," says X.

"So, this is the man whom Julie-Su was working for," says Sally.

"Yeah, and he's bad news," I said.

"Not bad with the machine," says X, "but maybe you'd like to try your hand."

"Sonic, he's trying to lure you into a trap," says Sally.

"And I ain't buying it," I said, "it was nice catching up, X, but we gotta go."

"Well, I guess if you can't handle it," says X.

I then faced him. "Handling it is my middle name," I said.

. . .

Toast: I thought his middle name was "the".

. . .

"I'm there!"

. . .

I played a game of cards with Mr. X and some other thuggish looking guys.

"Sonic, this is a bad idea," says Sally, "look at your opponents! That's Hammerhead! He's a notorious crime boss! Over there is Valmont! He was the head of the Dark Hand and now he's the Owner of the Dragon's Cave Restaurant! And I have no idea who that guy is, but literally has blood on his hands!"

"I just forgot to wash them... after I killed someone!"

"Place your bets," says X.

"I got this," I said.

. . .

Before we continue with the story, I would just like to say that Valmont is a thing because of the Crisis. In this new multiverse, he was partners with Shen Du, just like the actual Jackie Chan Adventures show. Shen Du and Hammerhead never met here. Don't worry, Lian Nichang is still Shen Du's Witch/Secret Love Interest. Thank you.

. . .

The game was going on and I was winning.

"Sally, dinner's gonna be on me," I said.

"Impressive," says X, "now, how'bout another game?"

"You are not going to be stupid enough to agree to that," says Sally.

"That's where you're wrong," I said. That didn't come out right. Anyway, I then bet... the Pink Chaos Emerald I had.

"Why did you bring that," asks Sally.

"You never know," I said, "relax, with this hand, I can't lose!"

. . .

I lost.

"Sonic, Mr. X was obviously playing you and now he has the Pink Chaos Emerald," says Sally, "how did he even know you had it?"

"I think he was just after my money," I said, "and I gave him a happy coincidence."

"Sonic, that had to have been the dumbest thing ever done on this planet," says Sally.

"You're right," I said, "and we have to get the emerald back from X!"

. . .

X was in a bar. Sally and I were sneaking through.

"Where's Tony," asks X.

"He got drunk married," says a goon.

"Again," asks X, "I swear, the man's been married more often than a rich guy!"

I was reaching for the emerald, but X grabs my hand. "Huhh... uuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh... eeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhh... hey," I said.

"Hedgehog, with the Emerald, I can read your mind," says X, "you can't take it!"

He then throws me. "Sonic, are you alright," asks Sally.

"Boys, kill them," says X.

X's goons were firing at us, and I grabbed Sally, and we booked it.

Mr. X's POV:

Thanks to this emerald's mental powers, I can do whatever I want and no one's going to stop me!

"Boss, I woke up married to a serial killer," says Tony, "help me!"

Sonic's POV:

"Now what do we do," asks Sally.

"Somehow, we need to lure X into a trap," I said, "but how do we do that when he can read our minds?"

"Wait, what if we distract our thoughts," asks Sally, "I'll think about my Father and you think about chili dogs."

"I usually am," I said, "but we still need a way to trap X."

We were thinking. Then Sally sees something. "Sonic, I have a big question for you," says Sally.

Mr. X's POV:

We got word that there was a wedding in a church nearby. There was going to be a lot of loot there. Looks like we're robbing a wedding.

. . .

We arrived, but something wasn't right. For one thing, the bride and groom weren't facing us. For another thing, there was no one else. Not even a Justice of the Peace or one of those wedding officiating Elvises. But the biggest confusion was how short these two were. I used the Pink Emerald to read their minds and then I realized it was a trap. The bride is the chipmunk, and she threw her bouquet right in my face. The groom is the hedgehog and he rammed me out of the church.

Sonic's POV:

I was taking on X, but can Sally's plan work?

"What plan," asks X, "doesn't matter, I'm going to make Chipmunk Girl a sad widow!" I was then thinking about chili dogs. How you put a hotdog in a bun and then cover it in chili. "Hey, focus on the fight here!" The smell and the taste. Sure, it gets spicy, and it makes me a little gassy. "TMI!" But I just love them. X was so distracted, I knocked him out. I then picked up the emerald. "Better help Sally."

. . .

I returned to the church and saw Sally knocked all of them down. "These guys aren't very bright," says Sally.

"That's what I love about you," I said.

We then kissed. "We should probably get out of these costumes before we return to Green Hills," says Sally.

"Good idea," I said, "this tuxedo's starting to get me sweaty. Probably the fur."

"The dress isn't that cool itself," says Sally.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Viva Las Vegas!

In the next chapter, the Purple Emerald is found on Hill Top.