Rabbit Household

Sonic has forced Tails to the sweetest house on Westside. With a knock, Vanilla opens the door, getting a look at the hedgehog, and that Fox he was talking about. "Welcome back, Sonic." She turns to the Fox, not an ounce of disgust her eyes. "You must be Tails."

Tails looks at his namesakes, and back at her. "Is that a problem?"

"No dear, I just pick up on the details. Come in!"

Sonic leans in. "Her steak is to die for. It's sick! She puts so many spices on there.."

As the two walk in, Cream and Cheese are sat on a brown couch, watching some programming on the T.V. Typical kindergartners. Cream hops off the couch and shakes Sonic's hand. "Welcome back, mister Sonic."

"Good to see ya."

She spots Tails' tails, waving around at the sight of a new person. "You're the Fox he was talking about! I'm glad you can finally join us."

Tails turns to his first friend. Sonic shrugs. "I was worried sick, ok?"

"It's fine. At least someone was worried."

The two park it on the couch, taking in the brainrot that the youth love to stay busy. There's no toilets involved (thankfully), just a furry mascot dancing around. The Chao's really getting into the routine, while Cream sets her sights on the two again.

"Every time you come here, there's always a good story." Her ears droop down. "I don't like missing out. I like to get out of the house sometimes!"

Tails nervously chuckles. "Well..it's…" her pleading eyes don't make it any easier for him. "You wouldn't like it."

"But I would.."

"We deal with a lot of scary stuff. Even the grown ups run away from it." Tails tries explaining. "We would hate for you to get hurt, when you didn't do anything wrong.."

"What if my mom says yes? MOM!" Sonic kicks back, while Vanilla heads in.

"What's the fuss about, sweetheart?"

"I wanna go on their adventures too. Can I? Can I pleeease?"

Vanilla sighs. "You know I can't let you do that, honey. Who knows what some of these bullies will do to you. Maybe when you're older."

Cream has a pouty face, turning back to her programming. "I wish I was.."

Sonic and Tails share a look. If she found out one of them was only eight, she'd be pretty mad. Tails is the exception, but not the rule. He stopped watching kids TV ages ago, plus his high intelligence helps keep him away from high-risk. Cream may get eaten alive out there.

Soon, Vanilla calls them in for dinner. They get seated as she serves some incredibly juicy steak, appetizing at best. "I heard you boys went to Windmill. Did your interview go well, Sonic?"

Sonic winces. "About that…"

She gets the full rundown on events. From Robotnik's immediate return, all the way to Knuckles introducing the hedgehog to his knuckle. Tails gets credited for his knowledge of how cars work, without a driver. Vanilla looks like she's in disbelief hearing all the details. It's like her house is the only beacon of peace. "I hope this ends well for you. Robotnik's worrying all the kids.."

Sonic forces a smirk on, despite how he's feeling now. "Yeah, tell me about it. He hasn't let me breathe. Oh well. Guess I gotta beat him again."

Vanilla takes a seat. "Are you really feeling ok? You look strained.."

"Oh." Sonic's smirk slowly turns neutral. "Well, that Knuckles guy took me to the dark ages for a second. NOT used to getting hit like that! I'll sort it out later."

Vanilla brings a fork to her steak. "If you need to cry, there's tissues on the counter."

Sonic chuckles at the comment. "Hel—heck yeah." Dude had to watch his language.

After the tasty dinner, Sonic gives his thanks, and slides the backyard door open. It's chillier than usual, bringing chills over the hedgehog. This is nothing compared to his next destination. A destination housing memories he has long forgotten since his journey.

Map.

Compass.

POWER.

The same emerald that caused the destruction of his early life, is back to haunt him. The Owls gave him a fresh start, just to avoid their wrath. All that effort, just for Eggman to spin a rare echidna in a web of lies..all for his own benefit. When powers involved, he will do ANYTHING to seize it.

If Eggman gets his hands on that Master Emerald, he'll be too big of a threat to fight head on. Chaos forbid Knuckles get his hands on it's power..nobody would be able stop him. Nobody even knows how he'll use it! This is what he was warned about. He grabs a loose ring laying on the floor, and stares at its good reflection. Now that those two are after the dangerous emerald, he NEEDS to stay ahead of the curve.

It's what she would have wanted…right?

Egg Bunker

Stone gives Knuckles the tour of his job. It's easily the neatest part of the bunker, with no spare tools lying around. Two metal lizards (Newtrons) get their licks in on some sweet, stale treats. The echinda watches Stone access a touchscreen, with a variety of drinks displayed.

Knuckles slams his fist on the table, managing to shake Stone. "Woah.." Stone spins around. "Be gentler next time."

"Really? I was sitting down."

"It's the way you do it.." judging by Knuckles' silence, it's not getting through. "Ok. New topic. What's your taste?"

"My taste in coffee does not matter. Your taste in a boss does."

Stone raises a brow. "What do you mean?"

"He is..an odd human." Knuckles admits. "Good in intent yet delirious in action."

Stone sighs. Here he goes, defending his precious Doctor again. "The doctor gets too much flack. I'm not blind like the others. They just don't understand how complex he is. He can save the world, and be a little..much at the same time. Some people just see things as black and white."

Knuckles looks at his own fists. "Am I..complex too?"

"That.." Stone pauses, just so he doesn't give the animal an existential crisis. "Depends on how you look at it."

Knuckles goes to slam his fist for the next question, but catches himself. "I have adapted!"

"Proud of you."

"Say, Coffee Commander..what are your duties? Do you fend off invasive species? Provide the greatest medical attention? He must keep you around for these duties." Knuckles assumes.

Stone adjusts his collar. "I used to be in the field. Sonic was way too dangerous for me to take on alone. The brutal ways he taught that kid. That poor kid..were too much for me. So the doctor, noble as he is, sent me to the sidelines. He thinks I'm better in the support role anyway."

"What support do you provide?" Knuckles asks.

"I heal the soul. Want to try a Frappe?"

"A…frap?" Knuckles asks, scratching his dreads. "What is this potion?"

Stone pulls up the image on his screen. "I'll hook you up."

"Are there any grapes?"

Stone has to take a look back just to get what he said. "Nobody puts those in their coffee. Now soda on the other hand..that's where the good stuff's at."

Knuckles slams his fist with intent, almost knocking down the man. "I must acquire this 'good stuff'! You are wise in the way of beverages. Where are they?"

The door slides open, as a grinning Robotnik struts in like he owns the place. "Go ahead, Stone. You know what I like."

Stone cancels Knuckles' order, and gets to the doctor's favorite. One latte, with Steamed Austrian Goat Milk. A unique combination all in one drink, not what a normal person would order. Robotnik's not normal, and maybe that's why he's so into it. "Not normal" may be the understatement of the century.

Stone places the latte in his boss' hand. Robotnik goes from sipping, to chugging. "Mmm…" he smacks his lips. "Twenty stars, as per usual. Keep up the good work."

"Thank you.." Stone says, smiling all giddy.

Robotnik turns his attention to Knuckles, for closures sake. "Say, Knuckles..just so I can get a grasp on what we're chasing: What is this Master Emerald capable of? Is it the godfather to the smaller ones?"

"It turns thought into reality. Those Chaos Emeralds will become whatever we desire. We can either power them up, or sap the energy away." Knuckles explains. "Again, I stress: we MUST be careful about how we use it's power."

Robotnik's eyes widen. "This can really shut off the emeralds? Aha! Sonic can't go super with broken emeralds. All that power, in the palm of my hands…"

"Are you listening? Knuckles asks, snapping him from his trance.

"Yes…I was just imagining the beauty of your emerald."

Knuckles grunts. "It is beautiful..but that makes it toxic. A group within my tribe looked to take the power for themselves, but the Owls came in and stole it before my elders could take it back. It wasn't hidden away for long, but a tragedy took place…in the wreckage, one Owl was left to hide it away." Knuckles reveals, getting the doctor to lean in. "It can only be accessed with a compass. I can sense it in my blood, but this world is vast. Sense alone won't help."

"An all out war?" Stone guesses.

"A unseen consequence?" Robotnik asks.

"BOTH." Knuckles puts it sternly. "The disaster is too extensive for me to explain here."

"Hmm..we can prevent another." Robotnik strokes his stache. "That rotten porcupine's searching for the map as we speak. He actually has two braincells."

Knuckles gets up. "If he's the menace you say he is, he cannot get a hold of it! It gives too much power for a normal creature to handle. It's side effects are devastating."

"..how devastating?"

"So devastating it had to be hid away." Knuckles explains. "Now we shall find secure what my bloodline couldn't."

Robotnik rubs a finger over his bald head. "Are you it's parent?"

"When I get the emerald back, it will return to its rightful place. Angel Island WILL float again." Knuckles claims. "Then you can live out your dream of world peace. You WILL stick to that, right?"

"Of course." Robotnik sets those slim hands on his hips. "I don't build my machines to destroy the world around me. That's a pointless waste of my time."

Knuckles wipes his dreads away. "At least you are consistent. The hedgehog cannot decide if he is a fighter or a coward."

Robotnik almost laughs at the insult. Sonic's definitely a fighter, but he'll gladly take the opportunity to slander his nemesis. "He was begging on his knees for those Chaos Emeralds."

"That cowardly?"

"You should have seen the look on his face! The porcupine never looked so vulnerable in his life. He assumed I was a weak old man he could just push over. No no." Robotnik wags his finger, leading Knuckles along further in this trail of deception. "If he could barely scrape out a win over me: he stands no chance against our new squad. Follow me, you two.."

Stone and Knuckles abandon the latte room, following the doctors trail. Robotnik pulls a lever, sliding open a door to the next room. Stone gasps at what he sees. "Doctor..he looks.."

"Like the hedgehog.." Knuckles mutters.

"Why of course! My last duplicate was a test run for that terrorist. THIS is the real deal.." Robotnik steps out of the way, allowing his newest creation to step out. Nearby Motobugs flee at the mere sight of this machine.

His body is similar to Sonic's, with spikier blue quills, blue arms with retractable hands, and an orange visor with a yellow dot in the center. No eyes detected. He's taller than his real counterpart, nabbing the height advantage. "What are my orders, Doctor?"

That puts a grin on his face. "Welcome to earth, Mecha Sonic."

Mecha takes in the environment around him. "This location is brighter than you described."

"Don't worry about where we are now. Worry about where you'll go next," Robotnik suggests. "You and Knuckles will go on a little expedition. Consider it a trust exercise."

The robot turns his mechanical head to the warrior. "It appears we are locked in an alliance. I will not abandon you, if you do not abandon me."

Knuckles steps forward, staring into his visor. "I am as loyal as they come." He puts his hand out. "Let's commence in the shaking of hands."

Mecha shakes it, and despite the crunches, his hand is uninjured. "Your grip is ironclad. You will make for the perfect ally."

"Let's prove ourselves to the world."

Knuckles nods, walking under the opening of the bunker. He starts climbing out his own way, shaking the whole base. Mecha turns his focus back to the doctor. "I am working with this scatterbrain?"

Robotnik sets a finger over his nonexistent lips. "Don't let him hear…I believed the same, Mecha Sonic. He's more useful to us than those pathetic Chaos Emeralds. He has the key to a bigger power. When we take it all, you have second dibs at the power. After me of course. First, we have to humble that prickly thorn on our side."

"He will pay for what he did to me.." Mecha seethes. "I'LL CRUSH HIM!"

Robotnik nods, another big smile. "Show him that Sand Shower was a FLUKE. Try not to kill Knuckles..yet."

Mecha may be silent, but his lack of emotion indicates his obedience. Bottom of his shoes burst into flames, as he flies out, sights set on this temporary relationship with Knuckles. His long term goal takes higher priority though.

This expedition is just a stepping stone to beating Sonic the Hedgehog.

UH OH. Not only does Sonic have to reflect on the past, but his past is coming back for him! Mecha Sonic has joined the list of enemies for Sonic and his friend(s) to fight. Sonic might get asomething going here soon, joining the search for the Master Emerald, but can he even find the map? How will the trust exercise between Mecha Sonic and Knuckles go? Can they co-exist?

Find out as more chapters release. Don't expect a new chapter tomorrow, but I'll still be hard at work :) see you when the next chapter drops.