Champions 1/4
(Theme song - Kim Possible by Disney Channel on YouTube)
(Abigail's POV)
*It's been a few hours since Sonic returned from his training with Moss. Right now, Sonic was telling us a story of one of his adventures during the early days of the Freedom Fighters*
Sonic: . . . And that's how I know the "lovely" Madam Breezie.
Tails: Grrr . . . It still makes me mad! She was working with Eggman from the beginning!
Amy: And why are we just hearing about her now?
Sonic: Relax. This was long ago. Besides, I haven't told everyone all of my adventures . . . *Amy pouted & turned away with a "Hmph!"* Especially not ones that go: "Hey, guys! Wanna hear about the time I got played for a total chump!? Deep!"
*None of us could hold in our giggles after that*
Antoine: I am thinking I would enjoy zose stories.
*Bunnie slapped him on the shoulder*
Bunnie: Shush! Be nice.
*Even Nicole was giggling*
Sally: Another time, perhaps. *multiple holographic images showed a teal female hedgehog with purple tips in her quills, purple eyes, peach skin & wearing makeup on her eyelids, a red & white business suit, white gloves, gold bracelets, & red high heels* Breezie's come a long way from being a double agent. She runs the largest entertainment network in the world. Her next publicity stunt is a fighting tournament. With a Chaos Emerald as the prize. Sonic, Tails, and Amy will be Team Fighters. I got you spots on the roster.
Tails: Cool!
Amy: You can count on us!
*Lacey, Rotor, & Antoine all pouted at that*
Bunnie: Sal . . . I know we got whupped earlier. But we'd like another shot at a Chaos Emerald too.
Sally: I tried to get us all on the roster, but the cut off for registration had already passed and Breezie would only concede to Sonic, Amy, Tails, and Abby specifically.
*That left me confused*
Abigail: Me? Why me?
Huckleberry: Chao-Chao?
Sally: I don't know. When I asked her, all she told me was "She won't be participating in the tournament, but I have something extra special planned for her." Or something like that.
Rotor: Isn't Breezie connected to a lot of shady stuff? We're trying to save the world! Why don't we just take the Emerald?
Sonic: I do enjoy the direct route . . .
Amy: Because we don't do that! She's isn't like Eggman! It'd look like we'd be stealing from her!
Lacey: She does have a point there.
Rotor: Again. Saving the world!
*Sally made the "time-out" symbol with her hands*
Sally: Amy's right. The world looks to us for hope, now more than ever. If we act like we're above the law, we're only sowing trouble for ourselves later. Regardless of whether Breezie is a criminal kingpin or a legitimate business woman, I did offer to buy the Emerald off her. She wouldn't sell it.
Sonic: Hiring the Chaoticx, paying off Breezie . . . Are your parents cool with using the Kingdom's treasury to bankroll us?
Sally: Mother and Daddy are . . . Pragmatic. Ahem! *Nicole, Lacey, Huck, & I smirked at her* Anyway! The tournament starts tomorrow. Good luck team members.
*Me, Huck, Sonic, Tails, & Amy all left the briefing room to get ready to leave*
Tails: Breezie advertised this event everywhere. We may be playing it straight, but what's stopping Eggman from invading Casino Park?
Abigail: I can think of a few things.
Huckleberry: Chao-Chao.
(Third-Person POV)
*Meanwhile, at Casino Park, a robot monkey with a big, dome-shaped light-bulb on the top of his orangey-red head, gray plattings that resembles giant screw-tops on each side of his head, a mostly gray body, a gray, seemingly crooked tail & wearing a red tuxedo jacket over a white shirt & black pants was holding a voice at arms length as a voice at the other end yelled*
Dr. Eggman:*off-screen* Breezie! I'll invade every one of your precious casinos! I'll carpet bomb every property you own! I'll launch a missile at every media satellite you have! No - ten missiles!
*The monkey robot held his ear in pain as he held the phone out for Breezie*
Coconuts: EGGMAN FOR YOU ON LINE ONE. ALSO, SCRATCH SAYS HE NEEDS YOU TO LOOK AT SOMETHING.
Breezie:*sigh* Thank you, Coconuts. Bring the limo around.
*She took the phone & answered it while getting in her flying limousine*
Dr. Eggman:*off-screen* Hello? Don't you dare ignore me!
Breezie: Hello, Doctor. You were saying - ?
Dr. Eggman:*off-screen* I was threatening! You will give me the Emerald, or I'll - !
Breezie: You'll do jack squat. Your forces are spread thin containing the global crisis. And anything you could scrape together wouldn't make it past my defenses. *the limousine soon stopped & Coconuts let her out* And besides, you're like me. You love your creations! You hate to see robot-on-robot violence.
Dr. Eggman:*off-screen* You want to talk robots? Give me the Emerald, or I won't offload any more of my old Badnik stock on you!
*She & Coconuts walked through one of her casinos*
Breezie: I rescue those poor robots. You'd lose one of your most lucrative exports.
Dr. Eggman:*off-screen* Grrr . . . Fine! I'll be generous. How much do you want for it?
*Breezie laughed as she & Coconuts got in an elevator*
Breezie: You don't have enough!
Dr. Eggman:*off-screen* What!?
Breezie: Panem et circenses, Doctor. The world is in ruins and it's people are miserable. I will give them a show like no other. And they will pay out the nose for the distraction. *she & Coconuts entered a security room full of Egg-Swats working the computers* You can't harm me, threaten me, or buy me. I learned a lot from you, Ivo. But I've long since graduated from your school of hard knocks.
Dr. Eggman:*off-screen* You can't talk to me that way, you -
*Breezie put the phone on hold as she approached a short teal robot with gray antennae behind his head, eyes that resemble screw tops, a drill for a nose, two more where his hands should be, & wearing a black & white tuxedo with a giant red bow tie was typing at a computer & a tall metallic gray mechanical rooster robot with a red strootal atop his head, red tail feathers, a red wattle, a yellow serated beak, a dark gray feather-like design surrounding his neck, dark gray coloring around his lower torso, yellow chicken legs, & wearing a black & white tuxedo with a giant red tie was standing behind him*
Breezie: Something needed my attention?
Scratch: YES, MA'AM! SOMEBODY MESSED WITH THE ROSTER FOR THE TOURNAMENT. SWAPPED OUT TWO CONTENDERS FOR TWO NEW ONES.
Breezie: So? You caught them. Change them back
Scratch: I thought you'd want to see who was added first.
*Coconuts pulled the drill robot away while Breezie looked over the names*
Breezie: Oh. Oh! Nevermind! They'll definitely make for a much better show! *she returned to Dr. Eggman on the phone* Are you still there?
Dr. Eggman:*off-screen* - Command the Eggman Empire! An Empire! You can't -
Breezie: I have work to do. Buh-bye.
*She handed the phone to Coconuts, who hung up*
(Abigail's POV)
*A few hours later, me, Huck, Sonic, Tails, & Amy arrived at Casino Park in Tails' latest invention, a flying car. He handed the keys to a Valet Robot*
Tails: Not one scratch! I just built it!
*We walked past some paparazzi as we made our way to Breezie herself*
Breezie: There they are! The stars of the show!
*Sonic took her hand as if he was about to kiss it*
Sonic: It's been a long time, Breezie. Seems like you're doing well for yourself.
Breezie: You as well, Mister World-Wide Hero.
Amy: Um . . . Didn't she try to get you and Tails killed?
Sonic: Yeah, but she's a classy lady. Fight fire with fire, right?
Breezie: "Fight?" You've done nothing but help! Paid programming orders have tripled since it was announced that you three would be contending.
Abigail: Uh . . . Yeah. About that. Why did you want me here if I'm participating in the tournament?
Breezie: Ah, you must be Abigail Catz. *she shook my hand* So nice to finally meet you. As for why you're here, that's simple. I want you to sing during the half-time show.
Abigail: Me? Really?
Huckleberry: Chao-Chao?
Breezie: Originally, I wanted the Forget-Me-Nots. But, according to their manager, they were booked completely solid despite the world breaking apart. That's when Mina herself recommend you to perform in her place. At first, I wasn't sure about using some unknown, but when she showed me some videos of you performing on stage with her, I immediately jumped at the chance. You, my dear, have quite a lovely set of pipes.
Abigail: Um . . . Thanks. I guess.
*She took us to the casino, which was full of old models Eggman's Badniks. We all got ready to fight, just in case*
Breezie: You have full access to all facilities, unlimited trips to the buffet and so on. There's a stack of chips waiting for each of you at the counter, on the house. *she turned to me* And you, my little Starlet, will have you're own private dressing room for the performance.
Abigail: Uh . . . Thank you.
*I really didn't like the way she was looking at me*
Breezie: And, of them, there are a few rules. Once things get started, there's to be no fighting outside of the ring. Save it for the cameras. No helping your buddies in the ring and show up in time for your matches. Did you get all that? Or was I too fast for you?
Sonic: Nah. One rule of my own. You don't schedule me at night.
Breezie: Oh-ho-ho, darling! You don't make the rules, I do. You are prime time all the way.
*Then Sonic headed towards the door*
Sonic: I guess I'm out, then. I know these two can handle things within me! Later!
Breezie: Wait! Daytime it is.
Sonic: Pleasure doing business with you, as always.
*Breezie gave him a glare*
Breezie: Don't forget. If you try to beat the house, the house beats you.
*Then she left*
Tails:*laugh* Wow! If looks could kill . . .
Sonic: Seriously, I'd feel bad if she weren't profiting from a world catastrophe. Thanks for making sure she didn't knife me in the by, Amy. *she didn't answer him* . . . Amy?
*She looked completely shocked at something*
Amy: Oh. My. Gosh! She's here!
*We all looked where she was looking & saw a yellow female cat with long black hair in pigtails, orange eyes, a peach muzzle, & wearing a red headband, a red & black dress with white laces, white wings on her back, red & white gloves, & red boots was posing for the paparazzi*
Tails: Huh?
Abigail:*in her mind* Who is that? She looks familiar.
Huckleberry: Chao?
*Amy made a beeline for the cat, plowing through the paparazzi*
Amy: It's really you! Honey the Cat! Founder, CEO, and designer for Honey Brand Clothes and Accessorieeeeeees!
Honey: I know you! You're Amy Rose! Freedom Fighter! World traveler and hero!
Amy:*gasp* I gotta tell you, I love you're stuff . . .
*They both did a pose together*
Amy & Honey: Because of you don't look sweet, you're not wearing honey!
*Sonic, Tails, & Huck clapped awkwardly*
Sonic: What's terrifying is, I know they didn't rehearse that.
*I slapped my fist into the palm of my hand*
Abigail: Oh. So that's where I know her. Lacey's is just a big a fan of her brand as Amy is.
*Honey got a closer look at Amy's outfit (the same one she's been wearing ever since I first met her)*
Honey: Hmm . . . This outfit is from my old "Dream-Casters" line.
Amy:*laugh* Yep! I love it! I practically wear nothing else!
Abigail:*in her mind* Yeah. No kidding.
Honey: Tell you what's happening. I'm relaunching it as the "Rose Collection." You will model and be my spokeswoman, of course.
*Amy's smile grew so big, I thought it was going to swallow her whole face*
Amy: Eeee! Yes!
Honey: And yo help sales . . . Don't you know a Princess?
Amy: I know two!
*Sonic then interrupted her smile fest*
Sonic: So, what brings a fashion diva to a fighting tournament?
Honey: I'm competing!
*That left all of us surprised*
Tails: Really?
Honey: You'd better believe it! I'm all about self-promotion, and the events don't get any bigger than this! What about you three? Aren't you high profile email already?
Tails: We've come to win a Chaos Emerald. It's a crucial part of our plan to save the world!
Honey: Is that a fact? *she & Tails shook hands* Like I said, I'm just here to advertise. If I win, I'll hand the gem over to you guys.
Tails: Really!? Thank you so much!
Honey: And in return, the Freedom Fighters, will help promote my next line, riiiiiiiiight?
*Tails started to look nervous*
Tails: . . . I only wear shoes, socks, and gloves?
Honey: You can accessorize.
*Now was he was really nervous*
Amy: Ohmygosh! Cream would look so cute in your kids' clothing!
*Then Honey turned to me*
Honey: What about you? Why are you competing?
Abigail: Oh. I'm not really competing. But Breezie does want me to perform during the tournament half-time show.
Honey: Really? Are you some kind of up-and-coming popstar?
Abigail: N - Not really. I'm more of a stand-in for Mina and the Forget-Me-Nots. I'm actually a member of the Freedom Fighters. I'm not as well known as these three, but I'm doing my part.
Honey: Wow. *she pulled out a card that said "Honey Brand Clothes and Accessories"* But if you do ever decide to become famous, I hope you'll consider using my brand for all of your concerts.
Abigail: Uh . . . I'll think about it.
Sonic: Oh, boy. It's nice to have someone else on our side, at least . . . Since we don't know who we're facing yet.
(Third-Person POV)
*Nearby the Hooligans were walking by*
Bean: Shiny . . . Overload . . .
*Suddenly, Nack noticed the Freedom Fighters*
Nack:*whispering* Get down, you morons! *he pushed Bean & Bark behind some slot-machines* Nobody's said anything about fighting those three. Running into Knuckles, Julie-Su, and the Chaotix was just bad luck, but this . . .
Bean: Maybe they're just here to play poker?
Nack: The only thing they do is fight Eggman and save people. For free. They're here for the Emerald.
Bean: Oh, well. I bet Tails counts cards, anyway. *he went to push a red button on his wrist* Better call BaldyMcNosehair and tell him we're moving straight to Plan B!
*Suddenly, Nack stopped him*
Nack: Are you crazy!?
Bean: Clinically or figuratively?
Nack: You can't talk Eggman!
Bean: Why? He's gonna fine out anyway.
*A crowd started to gather around them*
Nack:*whispering* Yeah, and by then we'll be fighting and completing the job! Think about our professional pride!
Bean: We still have that!?
Nack:*whispering* Shut up. C'mon. Let's just keep a low profile until the fights. Maybe we can take them by surprise.
*The crowd dispersed as they left. Among the crowd was Espio. As soon as the Hooligans were gone, he went outside to use a payphone*
Espio:*whispering* Vector, it's me. I'm making my first report. I must be brief, I only have enough change for one minute.
Vector:*off-screen* What!? I sent you there with five bucks in quarters!
Espio:*whispering* . . . The slots here are rigged, I'm sure of it . . .
Vector:*off-screen* Oy. Fine. What's your report?
Espio:*whispering* Both the Hooligans and the Freedom Fighters have entered the tournament. I'll do what I can to help the latter. But since I didn't know they'd arrive, I managed to sneak two more friendly faces onto the roster . . .
(Julie-Su's POV)
*Me, Knuckles, & Chip had just arrived at Casino Park & Chip was already having a blast*
Chip: I don't think I'd ever get tired of this place! All the lights! All the sounds! All the smells! The sign said "All you can eat buffet!" Do they really mean it!? *he realized he was getting too excited* I'm sorry . . . Here I am going on and on when I should be helping you guys look for the Master Emerald shards . . .
Julie-Su: Don't sweat it. Just leave the finding to Knuckles.
Knuckles: Right. I can sense the Chaos Energy. There's gotta be a shard here!
To be Continued . . .
Note: To everyone confused by my actions lately. I've decided I'm just going to publish a chapter to a story whenever I have one ready.