Tails flew down to the place where the triplets waited.
Sonic smiled and waved to Tails, "Hey little bro. Enjoy your trip through the city?"
"Yeah!" Tails said, hopping with excitement.
Sonia smiled, "Good, I'm just glad you didn't get lost in the big city. Now, before the ball...what happened to my wallet?"
"W-wallet?" asked Sonic.
"I had ten mobiums in there and now I find an I.O.U? Care to tell me which one of my brothers-" Sonia continued but was interrupted by Manic handing her the missing money.
"Must have fallen out of your wallet," Manic said, smirking at Sonic with a look of 'Don't ask where I got it."
Sonia smiled, "OK then. So, who's going to stay here and make sure Tails is safe while we go to the ball."
"Hey, I think he's fine on his own. The kid's smart," Sonic said.
"The KID is also 10," Sonia said, tapping her foot.
"Well, I have been in my universe's Freedom Fighters for a year." Tails frowned.
"See, perfectly ok," Sonic said with a smirk.
Sonia could only frown in annoyance.
Tails smiled a little, Sonia's a worrywart...
"And besides, the little dude will probably be inventing or looking stuff up while we have fun," Manic said, holding out his fist for a fist bump, "Right bro?"
Tails fist-bumped him back.
Sonia looked at the three of them and began to rub her temples, "You three... are so persistent."
She does remind me of Sally when she gets exasperated by Sonic's antics. Tails thought
"Ok, now that's all set up, let's get moving!" Sonic said, walking out.
Manic walked out next, "Bye little bro, I'll remember to...borrow some stuff for you."
"Try not to do it too much, I don't want us getting kicked out." Tails said.
Sonic and Manic could only wink.
The ball was already bustling as the triplets entered. The animals that weren't dancing at the time were busy mingling or drinking as they caught up on old times. It would bring to mind the days of old back when parties were had before Robotnik's reign had begun.
For the triplets though, this was akin to their first coming-out party. A shame that, for two brothers, this was an uncomfortable experience, "Why." Sonic moaned, tugging at his blue tie and trying to adjust his blue tux.
"Because this is important for us to make a good impression on our competition," Sonia said, holding up a red fan to her face. Her pink dress had a long gown just stopping at her ankles, while her bodice was pink and had sparkles along the front and shoulder straps.
Manic grumbled and put his hands into his green pants, "But we had the banquet. What is this for?"
"A little party to put us all at ease. It's one of those balls that help us mingle with the others and to help foster friendships," Sonia said, smiling. "Think of it as a present to those of us who made it here."
"Oh I get it," Manic said, with a chuckle, "Farrel called them free-range targets."
Sonia blinked for a moment, and began to think, before Sonic said, "He means that they saw them as a chance to steal with wanton abandon."
"I know, I was hoping he wasn't going to think that," Sonia said, resisting the urge to act unladylike.
Sonic chuckled, and patted his sis on the back, "Besides, I get it. Some races have this, a little party to wind down after the opening ceremonies. It's cool."
Sonia nodded, "And besides, this is our chance to finally have a coming out party." she narrowed her eyes at her brothers, daring them to make the obvious joke "Now, let's TRY and be on our best behavior. No robbing, no hogging the chili dogs, and no getting on stage and rocking out a loud rock ballad. Understood?"
"Yes, Ms. Hedgehog. We'll be good," the two brothers said in unison while holding their hands and putting on puppy dog eyes.
"I swear," Sonia said with a growl, "If you two didn't look like me with different fur colors I swear we were all adopted. Just go."
The two brothers walked away with a high five, leaving Sonia alone in the entrance. Sighing, she saw Antonie make his entrance, "Oh, monsieur Antoine. I must thank you for this ball, it is very well done. Um...where is your bodyguard?"
Antoine smiled,"Oh, She eez coming, she had to get ready herself! You look dashing today, by the way."
"Why thank you," Sonia said, smiling, "I love balls like this and a chance to relax."
"I worked real hard on..." Antoine tapered off as he looked beyond Sonia.
"Hmmm, what's wrong?" Sonia asked, turning around to look.
Bunnie was currently at the entrance in a long sparkly blue dress.
Sonia blinked a few times in total amazement at the beauty in front of her. Taking a moment, she shook her head and said, "Miss Rabot, are you sure that's appropriate bodyguard attire?"
"Well, ah ain't gonna go to a ball dressed in somethin' not fancy." She grinned,"'Sides, Ah can fight with mah fists!"
"I understand," she said, looking back at Antoine. Shashaying slowly, Sonia closed his mouth, "It's rude to have your mouth open, monsieur. Now, I will let you two have, bodyguard talks together.
Antoine stammered,"Oh, right..."
Sonia laughed and waved goodbye, "I swear... I can be as bad as them."
Knuckles stammered as he went in,"Alright, play it cool, this is your first ball, don't screw up!"
Sonia walked out and sighed, looking at the various animals talking and mingling. Feeling a bit of loneliness, she began to sing softly to herself.
Knuckles stepped out onto the dancefloor and saw Sonia walking by herself. His eyes froze on her body, seeing a perfect vision of loveliness standing alone. As he heard her sing alone on the floor, he took a breath and stepped out, joining his voice with hers.
Sonia gasped as she heard Knuckles singing behind her. Smiling warmly, she walked up to him before taking his hands into hers. The look she gave him showed that she had but one request, which Knuckles happily returned an answer with a nod.
As the slow guitar and drum played on, the two began to move across the floor. As Knuckles' feet moved with hers, he blushed and noted that his feet occasionally tapped her shoes. Sonia looked back up at Knuckles with a warm smile and began to take the lead. Holding each other's hands, they stepped in time with the music, following along with the music and keeping each other in their sights and songs.
Sonic saw this from a distance and looked to Manic, "He's getting close to her."
"Yep," Manic said, drinking from his punch slowly.
"He kisses her, we'll have to kill him," Sonic said.
"No, too many witnesses. First, we torture him for info, then we execute him publically," Manic said.
Sonia looked up at Knuckles with a smile as she laid her arms on his shoulders and around his neck,"Knuckles, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you on the spot. It's just Ii needed a date and-"
"Well, to be honest, I had something to say to you and this was easy," Knuckles said.
"Oh, and what was that?" asked Sonia.
"Well, I...I..." Knuckles paused and looked into Sonia's eyes. For a moment, he forgot what he SHOULD be saying, and instead, leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips.
Sonia let out a gasp, before kissing him back, "Me too."
"Killing him now?" asked Sonic.
"Killing him now," Manic said, reaching for his medallion.
Reaching out, Sonic stopped his wayward brother, "No, you're right. Too many witnesses. We'll wait. We just need to bide our time until we can get him alone."
"Right," Manic said, putting his hand to his chin. "So, what else can we do?"
Sonic watched as the three sirens walked behind some of the curtains, our of sight. "Want to spy on some chicks?"
"Sonic, I'm an eighteen-year-old hormonal virginal teenager. Just try and stop me." Manic said with a chuckle before high-fiving his brother.
"Remember, be safe and be quiet," Sonic said, looking at his little brother.
"Hey, thieving and stealth are my middle names," Manic said, following the girls behind the curtain.
Sneaking slowly, barely making a sound, he found a small door. Rolling his eyes, he pulled out some lock picks from his pocket and quickly made quick work of the small lock. Slowly opening the door, he slipped in behind some old crates, "Meeting in the storage room. Cliche aren't we."
"Ok, so do we have the plan?" asked Adagio.
Sonata paused, "Um, is it to open our bar and grille?"
Aria sighed,"No, it's to get rid of our chaperone and take over this place."
Sonata looked confused, "But then why did that one guy ask me for a meal?"
"What did he ask you?"Aria asked.
Sonata put a finger to her chin, "Hmmmm, something about eating tacos with me? I told him no, I wasn't in the mood fr a taco.
Aria facepalmed.
Adagio sighed and patted Aria on the shoulder. Then she stepped back, "Yes, the plan is to make sure our handler is out of the picture. Then we need to make sure we win this thing and get the chaos emerald. Once we have that-"
"We can bring everyone a big old party and then we can change our names, move to Soleanna, and then start a band!" Sonata said with a big smile.
Aria sighed,"No, we're going to take over the world!"
"Ohhhhhh, and then what?" asked Sonata.
Adagio sighed, "Aria, don't kill her. We need her strength. Look, we all know that we are the best singers here, next to the underground. However, I think we need to make sure we can even the odds."
"Sabotage?" whispered Manic.
"Yeah!" Sonata said in agreement. "Wait, who was that?"
"A mouse," Manic said.
"Ah, wait, Mickey or Aria's old girlfriend Thunderbolt?" asked Sonata.
Aria moaned,"Not her! She's always up in my case!"
"Maybe you should return her calls?" asked Adagio.
"No, she's crazy!"
"Oh, how is she crazy?"
"She kept wanting a commitment!"
"Oh come on, you gotta commit sooner or later," Manic said, "If she is important to you, then you can handle it. Just go to her."
"Yeah, like the green hedgehog that has been spying on us, hearing about our plans to sabotage the other singers, and take the emerald for our plans has been saying." Sonata said, patting her sister on the shoulder, "You sometimes need to take the plunge."
Aria looked down and sighed, "Yeah maybe-"
"Wait," Adagio said, "What was that you said?"
"Take the plunge?" asked Sonata.
"No, the sentence before that, about the green hedgehog?" asked Adagio.
"Oh, there's been a green hedgehog spying on us this entire time," Sonata said, "I saw him on the way in and thought he might want to know about our plans."
"Our secret plans," Aria said.
"Yeah."
"Our secret not to be told plans," Adagio said.
"Yeppers!" Sonata said, with a big grin on her face.
"Our secret, not to be told, never be discussed, top secret, could land us back in Merbotoplis plans that he now knows?" asked Adagio, eyes narrowed in pure rage.
"Yep, those," Sonata said, before putting a finger to her cheek in pondering, "Or was it secret?"
"No, it was a secret and you didn't want to be spied on and now you are mad at me aren't you," Asked Sonata, looking at her elder sister.
"No, not mad... furious!" Adagio shouted. "Aria, kill our little sister. I'll be back with a green scalp."
"NO!" Manic shouted, "I need my beautiful quills." with that, he leaped out of the shadows and threw one of his drumsticks into the boxes and made some of them fall onto the trio. Then he turned to run out of the room, with Adagio quickly recovering to follow him out of the room.
Panicking, Manic began to look around and try to find a way out. Letting out a gasp, he saw Mina walking away from a table with a drink in her hand. Racing to her, he said, "Mina, sorry, but I need you to make out with me!" he then grabbed Mina in a tight embrace and kissed her deeply.
Mina let out a shocked muffle before holding him.
Adagio ran by, looked around, and then looked at the couple making out. Blinking her eyes, she tried to see if she caught sight of the green quills of her prey. Instead, she saw the long purple hair of Mina. Rolling her eyes, she said, "Get a room you two." the gloved hand held a thumbs up as Adagio left.
Breaking the kiss, Manic said, "Thanks," he took the time to take in a breath of air.
"You're welcome," Mina giggled,"What was that about?"
"Um, long story short? The sirens are up to no good and I need to talk to my sibs about this," Manic said, "But you better be careful, you don't know what they are planning."
"Oh!" Mina said,"Well I'm certain you guys can handle it.
Manic smiled, "Well yeah, Sonia and Sonic are unbeatable you know."
"Wouldn't that include you?" Mina said.
Manic blushed a little at this and smiled, "Only a little.
"Hey, you escaped those sirens easily."
"Yeah, with a little luck," Manic said.
"A little luck can go a long way." Mina smiled.
Manic smiled, "Thanks," and he walked away.
Ash looked down and sighed, "An lost another one."
A walrus patted him on the back,"Don't worry, there's always fish in the sea.,"
"Really?" whimpered Ash.
"Really." The walrus smiled.
Ash then gave the Walrus a hug and then walked away.
Sonic began to tap his feet, "Swear, if Manic doesn't get back in five seconds. 5, 4,3,2-"
"Sonicweneedtobecarefulthesirensaregonnasabotagethecompetiton," Manic said rapidly as he approached his big brother, panting.
Sonic blinked for a few moments as if trying to take in the info. After comprehending what Manic said, he added, "Somehow I knew those girls were up to no good. Probably can't tell their handler."
"Why not?" asked Manic, "He could arrest them."
"On what charge? They haven't done anything and it's our word against theirs." Sonic said, "I say we have a little more fun."
"Tails?" asked Manic,
"Tails," Sonic said.
Tails looked up from the van,"Why do I feel like I just got volunteered to do something?" He flew out of the van, before noticing a platypus standing before him,"Starline!"
Dr. Starline held up a hand,"Parley, please. I'm just here to talk."
Tails landed before glaring at him,"Why should I believe that!?"
Dr. Starline smiled,"If I wanted you dead, I'd have killed you by now. But, in fairness, I don't blame you for your mistrust of me." He walked around Tails,"But I'm telling the truth now. I'm only to scratch your brain." HE frowned,"Even if it is inferior to my own," he said under his breath,"I want to know your story... because I'm quite curious as to why and how you are here?"
Tails thought for a moment. He really shouldn't say anything to this guy, but..."I'll tell you, but I want to ask you a few questions as well."
"Very well... though I will work under the assumption that neither one of us is going to be entirely truthful," Starline said. He pulled out a lawn chair and sat down.
Tails stared at that,"What the-"
"What, I'm not going to sit down on a rock! I'm not a savage!" Starline shouted.
"..." Tails frowned,"Why are you here? Answer me that and I'll answer you."
Starline looked up at the stars,"I'm working on something. A plan." He didn't elaborate.
"Fine. I don't know why I'm here, or why you seem to appear wherever I go!" Tails said.
"The correct term would be, you appear where I go." Starline frowned,"You see, I have a theory. Someone, not you of course, or that meddlesome AI that travels with you, but someone knows I and Finitevus are here. That someone sent you to stop me. I don't know why they're not using the hedgehog, but that's neither here nor there."
"What's your deal with Finitevus anyway?" Tails asked,"Are you his servant?"
"Don't be daft! We are merely working for the same goal. I do plan on betraying him eventually, as I know he plans to do the same to me." Starline got up,"I'm only using him because... he brought me back to life."
"Back to life?" Tails remembered when he punched the platypus and felt something metallic.
"Yes." Starline began to chuckle,"You see... I wanted... I admired Eggman." He walked forward to Tails, a manic grin on his face,"I believed in him! I wanted to walk in his footsteps! But he didn't believe in me... he never listened to me..." He began to chuckle,"So I made my own empire... created my own cyborgs... and my plan would end with him giving me the respect I have for him!" He began to laugh,"But I failed... Eggman didn't like what I did! Eggman... I failed him too many times... so he grabbed me by the leg..." He winced,"He slammed me into the ground..." He winced again,"Again,"He winced some more,"And AGAIN!" He laughed,"And then a rock slammed into me, and I died!" He laughed maniacally.
Tails took a step back in horror.
Starline began to calm down,"Sorry about that. I try not to remember my... trauma." He took his shirt and removed it,"I was found by Finitevus later, and he did something to me... I believe it's called... Legionization." He showed his chest, revealing an orb filled with red, yellow, and blue energy that was embedded within him,"He saved my life... and then showed me the many universes that surround my own."
"..." Tails glared at him,"You know what Legionization does to you, right?"
"Are you speaking of that bomb? Please, I got rid of that." Starline smirked,"I'm not that much of an idiot."
Scourge popped his head in, "Hey Starline, ya done yet? Fiona is ready to leave the party and everyone is gonna find out about the punch in a few minutes."
Tails looked at Starline,"Last Question: Why?"
Starline sighed,"Because I can't get away from green rodents apparently." He walked back to Scourge.
"So, were you bored as I was listening to him?"
Tails looked at Scourge, and smiled,"So, who's the boss, him or you?"
"Me of course!" Scourge said with a smirk.
"Okay,." Tails chuckled, before going back into his van.
"I mean, am, right Starline?" asked Scourge.
"Of course. Let us go." Starline said.
Manic knocked on the door of the van, "Tails, we have some problems."
Tails opened the door,"What is it!? The moon is getting destroyed? Robotnik created a Death Egg? A giant water monster has appeared and you need to gather the rest of the chaos emeralds!?"
"...your world is weird man," Manic said.
"I know." Tails sighed.
"No, nothing like that," Manic said, "The sirens are planning to sabotage the entire show and then win the emerald on their own."
"And you want me to help stop them?" Tails asked.
"Yeah," Manic said with a smirk, "My cunning and your intelligence, I think we can manage."
"Okay." Tails said with a smile.
Sonia cuddled up to Knuckles as she looked out the window, "You know, that dance-"
"I was horrible," Knuckles said with a blush and looking away, "I only learned today and I-"
Sonia leaned up and kissed his cheek, trying to shut him up, "Was about as good as I was when I was learning. At least you didn't break your teacher's leg."
Knuckles laughed at this and smiled at her. Looking at her violet eyes, he said,"You know, I never did say thank you. You know, back when I was feeling down because of the emerald?"
"Eh, it was a group effort. Sometimes when me and the guys come up with out songs we just do it." Sonia played with her pink hair, "I don't know how, I think it's some sort of magic or something like-"
"Listening to music of the heart?" Knuckles suggested.
"You are so lucky Sonic isn't here," Sonia said, a small giggle escaping her lips "He would totally mock you for something so cheesy."
Knuckles nodded before adding, "But it wasn't just that song, it was how you stayed with me and was ready to give me hope when I needed it. Not very many people do that for me."
"Well, it was for someone who needed it and you are a good person deep down," Sonia said, rubbing Knuckle's cheek.
Knuckles smiled at this and looked at Sonia. He breathed slowly as he looked at her in the shining moonlight, wanting to tell her how much he loved her. How she looked so beautiful, and...his mind started to think back, "Sonia, I need to tell you-"
"OK young lady," Sonic said, hooking his arm around Sonia, "Curfew time! Time for good little princesses to go to bed and get ready for the big day tomorrow."
"Sonic, what are you-"
"See ya later Knux!" Sonic said, "Chaperone and virgin alarm specialist coming through and picking up his little sister."
"Sonic! I am 18 and do not need a-" Sonia's voice was muted out by a rushing sound of wind.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Knuckles said, pausing for a moment. Then he growled, "DAMN IT! I FORGOT!" he then punches the wall, cracking it.
Antoine glared at him,"Please don't break my walls!"
"Oops, Sorry," Knuckles said.
"Thank you." Antoine walked away.
Knuckles sighed and looked out the window, "Sonia, I hope you're ready for this."
Robotnik stepped out of the shower, walking towards a few robots that had is clothes prepared. After a few minutes of placing him in his uniform, he paused in front of the mirror and looked at himself. He took some time to pose and stretch his body, admiring his physique. With a smile, he asked, "Sage, have they arrived yet?"
"Yes sir," Sage said.
"Good, make sure that they are appropriately seated," Robotnik said, adjusting his belly and looking back at the mirror again, "Sage, do you think that I need a new look for when I take over the world?"
"A new look would make things more interesting, sir," Sage said.
Robotnik played with his mustache in contemplation and smiled. Nodding, he turned to walk into the large meeting room where several animals all sat. Sitting at the head of the table, he asked, "Gentlemen, I trust you are all comfortable? Have we eaten well?"
One of the nobles smiled,"Oh, you always serve the best dinners. But, you still haven't told us what this meeting is about?"
"It's about the new age that's to come and how well you have been providing your services so far."
"Oh, yes, I think we did well, don't you all?" A haughty elephant said.
They all nodded, subtly clapping their hands. Except for two, a coyote and a young hound. The coyote just clapped and muttered, "Merde, I do not like where this is going."
"What do you mean?" asked Bartleby.
"I do believe, he has something up his sleeve," the coyote said.
Robotnik stood up and nodded, putting his hands behind his back as he walked around the table, "Indeed you have. You have helped to fund my technology, my advancements, and my conquests. We are all a big family here, right?"
"Yeah, family," was the group's call.
"And in the family, we have different tasks. Being the matron, being a father, or even being the breadwinner. All are important to the family and all help each other, right?" Robotnik asks, watching the animals nod and even cheer. "That is why, when I feel like one of you has betrayed me, you have betrayed the family. That is bad and should be punished, right?"
Bartelby began to squirm, "Um, right?"
Robotnik nodded, "And that is why," he pulled out a gun, "You are grounded sir." and in a flash of light, the young dog was robotized. As the dog stood up from the table and walked away to perform his tasks, Robotnik put away the gun, "Now about the new era. As I said, you have all eaten well. Fed from how the lower people were sacrificed to me, working while you grew fat and complacent. Happy to wallow in the wealth you have taken for yourselves while thinking your god will save you."
The group of animals all began to question the speech, looking at one another as he continued, "But as we all know, God died a long time ago. Now, only science and steel rule this world, and I rule science. This means that I have all power, except for that I have given you. That ends today," he then walked out the room, slamming a glass wall around the nobles.
"W-wwhat is this!?" asked a young drake.
"The roboticization chamber," Robotnik said.
"Oh, that's... the WHAT?!"
"You see, I know some of you have been aiding the rebels, and some of you have kept things from me," Robotnik said, looking over his shoulder, "And all of that ends today. After so long, my greatest achievements are done and now it's time for your usefulness to end. Let's consider this, your retirement! Welcome to the working world boys!" and with that he pressed a button on his gauntlet, "Any heroic speeches?"
Armand got up from his seat, and gave a heavy sigh as his legs began to roboticize,"I have only one regret: That is I only have one life to live for Mi Queen! Long live Queen Aleen-" He held up a hand to shout before he was completely taken over by machinery.
"And there we go," Robotnik said with a smile, his mustache raising up as he looked at the robotized animals.
"Sire, we have successfully robotized the other members of their entourage and some of their families are being hunted down as we speak," a robot with three drills said.
Robotnik smiled at this and began to laugh as he walked through his base, "Oh, what a wonderful day! What a grand day. I think I'll...sing a song!"
Happily, he ran a finger along a robotic chicken. Looking into the robot's dead eyes, he sang his next verse.
Behind him a bunch of robots started to play violins at an uptempo speed, matching Robotnik as he moved and danced to the beat. Each lyric he sang was followed by him moving along with the action.
Robotnik bowed slowly to his robot slaves as he walked down the stairs. Making his way to the final step, he took a little bow before extending his arms in a grand gesture, squeezing his fingers in pure glee. Before him, a small hologram appeared.
He watched with glee as the hologram showed the egg fleet launching an attack. All across the field, it showed the possible destruction and wrath that his assault as about to cause. This caused him to laugh as he turned around to head down a hallway with prisoners being loaded on board his main carrier.
Making his way back to the end of the hallway, he turned back to look at his captives and the innocents as they cried and begged. Sounds around him were of people wanting freedom once more and in response, he could only brag and sing.
Spinning around, he walked into a small chamber that led to an elevator. Stretching out his arms, he allowed his robots to begin to undress him as he rode the elevator up towards the main cockpit of the head of the egg fleet.
With his old attire removed new clothes were placed on his body. A short red coat with two sets of zipper pockets on either side of his chest that opened to show long black pants. A pair of boots added to his attire to make it look like one long black leg.
Reaching out with his left hand, he happily took a pair of sunglasses to put on his eyes.
Reaching out to his side, he then grabbed a pair of goggles to place on top of his head, finishing his new look
Stepping out, he began to walk down the hallway that led to the bridge. Images played in his head as he sang the next verse
Stepping out onto the bridge, he began to dance and sing in a bombastic way.
Before making his way to his seat, he stops in front of a set of pictures. One shows an older man with his granddaughter on his lap, and another shows a photo of a young man with his wife and daughter. The picture with the old man was marked "Grandpa and Maria." the other was marked "Bro and Hope.". Then he looked at a photo of an impossibly fat woman wearing a mumu and a mustache that matched his perfect. The words "Mama" scrawled on it. As he touched each photo, he began to look a little forlorn.
After a pause, he grabbed all three pictures and threw them out the window with an evil laugh
As the music died down, he began to laugh evilly and uproariously. Taking a step to the bridge facing the window, he raised a knee and put his hands behind his back, "Launch the Eggfleet Armada! We make our way to Station Square!"
"Sir, isn't singing a big villain number being hypocritical?" Asked a monkey robot. To which he was answered by a small laser blast.
"Remind me to remove the word hypocrite from the dictionary," Robotnik muttered.
Sage nodded,"Commencing word removal."
Sonia walked down to the sound of her brothers talking, "So, what's the plan?"
"Well sadly, we have to wait until noon before te show starts. Which means-"
Sonia rolled her eyes as she kissed Tails good morning while he ate his cereal
as she said "Which means another two hours of torture for our fearless leader. Oh, what will he do besides moan and drive his siblings up the wall?"
Manic laughed a little at this, eating some toast while sitting on the counter. Sonic, in response to his sister, stuck his tongue out at her, "Well, excuse me, princess."
Sonia arched an eyebrow at this and ressited the temptation to take the mayo she had taken out of the fridge for her sandwich and rub a little bit of it on the hedgehog's nose. Instead, she just said, "My Apologies, Princie!"
Manic got off the counter and walked to Tails, "Five mobians on one of them either splattering each other with food or Sonic losing this match."
"You're on!" Tails said.
"Look, I'm just saying if we get there now, we can have a headstart on those Siren girls," Sonic said, taking his plate and then throwing it at the sink.
"And I am saying that we don't know how they are going to perform their subterfuge. We have to wait and let Tails work his magic. We need to tune up and," without missing a beat, Sonia grabbed the thrown plate with two fingers and spun it around before putting it into the sink, "get ready."
"Sonia, our instruments come from magical amulets we wear," Sonic said, getting up and tapping his foot, "They are literally magical. We met our Tails because he tried to figure out our equipment," he pointed to the two-tailed fox for emphasis, "We don't need tuning."
"Practice, remembering the lyrics," Sonia asked, looking at him, "You know, those important things."
"That come from something," Sonic said.
"To quote the cheesy monks," Manic said, "Our harmony creates our lyrics!"
In response, Manic was wrapped in a blur and had a piece of cheese put into his mouth. Standing at the door, Sonic said, "Like he said. We can get there with one second left and we would still be fine!"
"Fine, then just run around the city or-" there was a whoosh of air as Sonic left, "Something. Fine! Me, Manic, and Tails will handle the details you big blue speedy dork!" Sonia yelled out the door.
Sonic raced back and hugged her, "Awwww, you called me speedy! Thank you sis!" and then he ran off again.
"GRRRRRRRR!" Sonia growled, "He's an adopted clone, he has to be! I'll talk to mother and she'll tell me he's a clone and my real big brother is some black hedgehog with familial issues that needs us to bring him back into the light."
"No, he's probably stuck in a base somewhere." Tails muttered.
Sonia paused at this and looked at Tails.
"Uh, never mind." Tails muttered.
"Well, then come on," Sonia said, "Let's get to the stage and see what we're dealing with."
Sonic raced through the town, only pausing at an all too familiar chili dog stand. Pausing he watched as they began to set up.
Sally looked up and waved to him.
Sonic waved back, "Hey there."
"You're early." Sally said,"Or are you impatient?"
Sonic ran behind her, "Mainly column B."
Sally smiled,"I figured that."
Sonic ran around, helping set up, "So, heading to the big music battle?"
"Mmm-hmm. Heard this group called Sonic Underground's playing. Not sure if you've heard of them." Sally gave a wink.
"Eh, I might," Sonic said, waving his hand a little, "They're pretty cool. Especially that headliner.
"Eh, the headliner's okay, I guess." Sally looked at her fingernails.
"Ok? Only ok?" Sonic said, shocked.
"I mean... I'm not sure if he impresses me..."
Sonic lands from fixing the last part of the cart, "Doesn't impress? He's a hero, how doesn't he impress."
Sally got onto the sidewalk,"Well, he's a bit brash, a bit full of himself, and cocky."
"Hey he may be cocky, brash, and full of himself, but he..." Sonic paused, and counted off as he watched Sally walk away, "What was the other one?"
Sally looked back at him with a wink.
Sonic felt a small shudder come through his spines and smiled a little at this. Shaking his head he spun like a little top to stand in the middle of a doorway on a threshold and wearing a red jacket,"You knock me off my feet now baby, WOOO!"
Sonic watched as Sally walked away coyly, almost as if inviting him to follow her. Winking at her and walking behind, he moved to her left and danced around her, before finishing off with his hand in the air. This shifting and moving to a beat only he heard, left Sally very unimpressed as she lightly booped his nose. Standing up from being tilted, Sonic turned around and began to slide his feet along the ground while he followed her.
Sally lightly tucked his chin, and walked ahead, going into the grocery store for supplies. As Sonic watched this, he began to snap his fingers, summoning to his side a fox, a tanuki with a red hat, a wolf with a green tunic, and a ring-tailed lemur. As they joined up with Sonic, they waited for Sally to step out of the grocer's, adding their voice to Sonic's lyrics.
As Sally stepped out of the grocer's, she stepped back in shock when she saw Sonic and his backup dancers. Sighing, she twirled and stepped to the side of the hedgehog and his little team. Making some little taps as she walked away, she too snapped her fingers to bring the attention of a blue fox who began to dance with her as Sonic sang.
Soon three other girls stepped and danced with Sally: a white cat with a pink parasol, a dragon with a long blue and yellow dress, and a shy wolf. They began to move along with Sonic's gang in tune to the beat as it went in a rhythmic motion of dance. The appropriate couples looked back at one another as Sonic continued.
Each member of the gang began to dance with a particular girl, while Sonic and Sally began what one could only call a dance-off.
Sonic and Sally would come close to each other, circling one another while dancing. Soon Sonic would step up close to her, tucking her chin just in time for Sally to spin away from him and playing with his she danced close to him. She could almost hear her friends cheer.
Sally smirked at this and continued to dance with Sonic, their movements in synch as Sonic continued with the next verse of his song.
Sonic ended with one final twirl, taking Sally by the hand, spinning her into a tip, and looking into her cerulean eyes, "Impressed?"
Sally cupped his face,"Okay, a little impressed."
Sonic couldn't help but smile at this as he took Sally's hand in his and began to walk with her back to her cart, "So, is your dad that old king? Cause I had a bet with Sonia."
"I don't know." Sally said,"Dad doesn't talk about his past very much."
"Too embarrassed by it?" Sonic asked walking with her.
"I guess..." Sally sighed,"My brother is the only other one who knows but he dodges me every time I ask."
Sonic looked surprised, "You have a brother? He isn't one of those, I'm-gonna-kill-ya-if-you-touch-my-sister-wrong types is he?
Sally giggled,"No, he's a bit of a dork."
"Ah, so we have something in common," Sonic said, "He would be good friends with my sister."
"I bet."" Sally laughed.
"So does he come around much?" asked Sonic.
"Not as much as he used to. He got married a little while ago, much to the disappointment of a lot of customers." Sally giggled.
Sonic shrugged, "Hey, the customers know what they want. I mean, after all, a little eye candy can help with bringing in the customers."
"Don't I know it." Sally said.
"After all, you are definite proof of that, brains and body," Sonic complimented.
"Thank you, I take pride in my brains."
Sonic smiled, wanting to add what else she could take pride in but chose not to so he didn't get slapped. Instead, he asked, "Tell you what, how about I get you guys to the stadium, real quick?"
"I would like that!" Sally said.
As soon as she said that, She would find herself in the stadium. Another second, and her father was there, followed by the supplies for the chili dogs and a rose for her.
"Ooh, a rose, just for me?" Sally giggled.
Sonic was about to respond in his usual manner, but was ear grabbed by a grumpy triplet, "SO! This is what you were doing while we were working." Sonia said, grabbing Sonic by the ear and pulling him away, "Sorry big brother, but as acting sister and potential virgin alarm, I need to keep you in check. Come along."
"ow ow ow ow, see ya, Sal, ow ow," Sonic winced.
Sally giggled before waving at him.
"You realize, ow," Sonic said as he was being dragged back to Tails, "That as an older, ow, brother, this is my job?"
"Look between you and Manic, I swear your hormones are in overdrive," Sonia said.
"Yeah, and what about you and-" Sonic paused, "Come again,"
Sonia pointed over her shoulder to where Manic was talking to Mina, blushing and laughing. Sonic blinked, "Tails...how long?"
Tails laughed,"I'm guessing since yesterday..."
Sonic smiled a little, and then turned to his little brother, "So, got everything ready?"
Tails nodded,"Yep!"
Scourge was somewhere, napping away.
Starline poked him,"Scourge, we're getting ready to go."
"What? Already?" asked Scourge, "Don't we have time to sleep?"
"You've been sleeping, Scourge," Starline said.
Scourge grumbled as he put on his clothes, "Fine. Let's go do your little ego trip and hear your melodious voice."
"Wonderful!" Starline grinned.
There was a knock on the door, and there was some tea.
"Tea?" Starline cocked an eyebrow.
There was a note.
He picked it up.
Free tea for the most intelligent person here.
Starline stared at the cup for a long time. Before frowning,"How stupid does he think I am!?"
Scourge walked by, "So, you aren't the smartest guy in the room?" .
"Of course I am! But why would I take a random tea cup in that was placed in front of our door!?" Starline said,"It makes no sense unless it's Darjeeling!"
The note read, "It is."
"Damn it." Starline took it.
His throat tightened/
Starline attempted to speak, but couldn't.
Scourge gasped, "Oh gosh, you lost your voice? Don't worry big guy, I've got this." turning back to the van, he shouted, "Fiona? Get, the mix tape."
Fiona squeed,"Ooh, your special mix tape!?"
"The same," Scourge said.
"Goody!" Fiona ran off.
Starline whimpered.
The arena was quiet as the music began. The announcement sounded throughout the stadium, "And now, for our first contestant. The Sci-fi...I'm sorry, I mean, Scourge nand the minions!"
Scourge stepped onto the stage, letting the music play as he threw up his hand.
The crowd began to roar...in a series of boos and yells. Scourge could only stop and watch in horror as the crowd began to turn against him, "Oh come on!" he said as he was dragged off the stage, "We have Nickleback, Linkin Park, and an MLP villain, but BACKSTREET BOYS ARE TOO FAR FOR THIS FIC!?" and with that, Scourge was dragged off the stage.
Adagio clapped her fins, "And that's one down."
"The only one," Sonic said with a smirk, "Anyone else who loses is gonna do that fair and square."
"But, no one is doing any square dancing," Sonata said, with a quirked eyebrow.
"Aria, take your sister for some tacos," Adagio said with a facepalm.
Starline grumbled, grabbing a ring to leave this place immediately.
"Hey, at least we were noticed, "Scourge said.
Starline glared at him for a moment before leaving.
Adagio laughed as she saw this, and then turned to Tails, "Do you think you can save them all?"
Tails looked at her,"Yes."
"Confident aren't you?
"Yep."
Adagio chuckled and walked away. Aria walked up right behind her sister, "They look determined."
"Yeah, what are we gonna do?" Sonata asked.
Adagio smirked and said, "We're gonna rock!"
The triplets found themselves standing in front of several players in the stage, each preparing their work. Tails was in the background, starting up his tech. In the shadows, Adagio smirked cruelly as she watched her plan began to take form.
Some of the bands found themselves with new instruments, or broken strings quickly being fixed. Others, found themselves narrowly avoiding falling rafters or broken floors. As Adagio watched this and her plans beginning to fail slowly, she let out a roar as her turn came up.
The crowd went wild as the second round began, with many of the contestants falling by the wayside. Adagio looked back at Sonic and his siblings. With a smirk, the triplets gave a thumbs up in victory, while Adagio narrowed her eyes and held up a finger in response. Sonata looked at the pixilated blur in confusion, before gasping as she realized the vulgar display her older sister gave.
The next few rounds played out with a high fever, each band giving their all. But none seemed to be ready to wage war as much as the two sets of triplets. Every drumbeat, a cannon being shot off.
Each keystroke of a piano was an arrow being shot and every guitar strum was a sword slash between the two singers. Every time the triplets walked off the stage, they would glare at each other with the full energy of two armies in a pitch war against each other. All around them, new attempts from the sirens to destroy the competition would ring out.
Tails watched their attempts to sabotage each band like a hawk watching his prey. Every time the sirens' plans were about to start, Tails began to foil them. For anyone else, it would be an impossible task. But for Tails, it was easy as next to him, a lynx dressed in goudy 90s garb began to do her best to help Tails with his task.
Manic smiled, "Nice job tails," he said, high-fiving his little bro.
Tails giggled as he reciprocated the high-five,"That was fun!"
Mina let out a breath as she got ready.
"Mina, we might have a problem," one of Mina's band mates said.
"What?" Mina asked.
"It's our drummer," the fox said.
"What's wrong?" Mina asked.
"Some chick offered him a quick trip for some fun," the fox said, "Only to take him someplace where he can't get back in time. We sent for a ride but by the time he gets back we'll be disqualified."
"What!?" Mina slumped over,"What... what-" She thought for a moment,"I know what to do." She ran over to where Manic was.
Manic looked at Mina as she ran to him, "Mina, what's going on?"
"I don't have a drummer! Do... do you think you could fill in?" Mina asked.
Manic's eyes went wide as he said, "Of course!"
"Oh, thank you!" Mina hugged him.
Manic couldn't help but swoon as Mina hugged him and he smiled. Looking back at his siblings, he was about to apologize when Sonic said, "Go, help her. "
Tails was snickering all the while.
Sonia looked to Tails, "What's so funny?"
"Oh, in my universe, she was dating her manager, Ash. He always seems to get his butt kicked though."
"The poor guy, I hope they make it," Sonia said, "I can imagine a lot of guys would be after her.
"Most of the Freedom Fighters." Tails said,"Except for three. Two are married to each other and one swings for the other team."
Sonia could only blink at this, while Sonic chuckled. Then he paused and went, "Wait, even your Sally?
"Yes, surprisingly." Tails said,"She goes both ways."
Sonic could only blink and shrug, "Learn something new..."
Mina handed Manic the music sheet,"I know we've only got ten minutes."
"Plenty of time," Manic said with a confident grin.
"Good!
The stage darkened as the audience began to quiet down and allowed the name to be called out. Mina sighed and stepped out with a smiling confidence in her eyes. Turning to look back at her group, she allowed to music to start. Then she turned to look at Manic and smiled warmly as she started to sing
Manic sighed as he started to find himself losing to the beat and sway of the song. Fr a moment, he saw himself as a child once more, learning to steal on the streets under the watchful eye of his father. Over the years, he watched himself grow from a little boy into the teen he had become. Using his skills to steal from the nobles, but never from the ones who had nothing.
Then his mind moved to the best and worst day in his life. The best because he walked onto a stage away from his father to meet his siblings. The worst because that was the day when his father was robotized. He let his mind wander then, through his good times with his siblings and the bad times. The tragedies and happiness. He then turned his eyes to look at his siblings waiting in the shadows.
He smiled at them warmly and turned to go back to drumming.
"I think we lost him," Sonic said, looking at Sonia.
"Yeah, I think so too," Sonia sighed, "Our little bro is growing up."
As the instrumentals play, Sonic leans back and looked to Sonia and Manic. Deep down, he knew one day they would move on, and he wouldn't have a problem with that. He understood what it meant to move on and live your own life in your own way. For a brief second, he looked back at his shoulder and he could see his Uncle Chuck giving him that lesson.
"He does know, if he wants ot move on, he could..." Sonia began but was interrupted by Sonic.
"He's a little brother. He needs a little reminder that we're always there for him once in a while," Sonic said.
Adagio smiled, "We still will win this, Aria did you remember to have a little talk with one of the judges?"
"If by talk you mean knock them out, yes."
"But Adagio said to talk," said Sonata, blinking.
."... I'll explain later, Sonata."
"AW, ok sissy!" Sonata said, hugging her sister.
Aria mumbled something.
"And ze final two bands are, Sonic Underground and the Sirens," Antoine said.
Sonic paused, "What?"
Tails frowned,"This is bad..."
Sonic smirked, "Don't worry Tails, we got this."
"Yeah..." Tails smiled.
Sonia smiled as she walked behind Tails, "As much as I argue with him, our big brother is right. Those girls don't stand a chance."
"No, they don't."
As the stage began to darken, Adagio said with a smirk, "Ready to watch all you love fall?"
There was a twang,"No. Because we're gonna beat you." Sonic smirk.
The stage began to dim and darken around the two bands. Adagio could feel her magic starting to rise up around her and her sisters while she smirked at Sonic, "Oh, prince...you don't know who you are messing with"
As Adagio sang, Orange energy joined with Aria's Purple and Sonata's blue to unleash three powerful dragons around the three siblings. With snarls, they began to attack.
Sonic shook his head as he strummed his guitar, summoning an image of him as a brave knight wielding a blade. Moving quickly, he began to slash and strike at each dragon in a rapid blur of blue lighting. Speeding up the tempo of his guitar, he started to rock out,
This blast of music magic and energy blew the trio back, causing Adagio to stumble. As she struggled to get back up, Aria stepped in and helped her sister, "Oh, they have tricks. How...cute." she said as the music changed tempo while the animals began to get drained of energy.
The dragons began to dissipate, revealing their true forms as monstrous sirens. The light blue one fired a black of water magic that struck the Sonic knight in the side. The next one, Aria, flew above and hit Sonic with an icy wave, forcing him to freeze and take a knee.
Before the next lyric could finish, a dagger flew out to strike one of the sirens. As the sirens looked to the left, they saw that the knight was soon joined by a rouge wearing green as he helped his brother to his feet. Manic, in the real world, smiled at his older brother as he began to drum out a massive solo.
The rouge and knight began to bob and weave, dodging the magic that the sirens began to fire. Sonata began to giggle with joy as she watched the battle take place between them, "Oh I haven't had this much fun in ages! Me nex me next!"
The three sirens began to bind together, coming with a new attack pattern. With a growl, one of them slashed t the Sonic knight, causing him to trip. Another one whipped her tail at Manic sending him flying back and then hit him with an ice spell.
A shield flew through the air, striking the three sirens in succession as a piano joined in with the instruments. Sonia stepped with her siblings to aid in the music.
The cleric began to help her siblings, her magic healing the two as they smiled at their sister.
The trio began to pitch battle, each blow striking against a particular siren as they split into three. Meanwhile, the actual singers smiled in response, "I'm impressed. I thought the Sonic Underground was all bark, no bite."
"Wait, that makes no sense," Sonata said, putting her thumb to her chin,"They aren't puppies, they're hedgehogs. Oh, maybe their sons and daughters of-"
"Dagi, please, let me hurt her," Aria said.
"Later. Right now, I think it's time to end this little game. It's time to show those three that there is a limit to them and we are it," Adagio said, smirking as she began to charge her magic.
The sirens flew up and began to circle the three hedgehogs. The triplets began to circle up, trying to keep their eyes on their opponents. Then their vision slowly began to become obscured by the icy fog that Sonata began to spread across the stage. Blinded by the fog, the three were unprepared for the sudden grabs by the sirens.
Giggling, the three sirens took their new toys and threw them at each other, causing the three hedgehogs to slam against each other hard. Sonic was the first to recover, and the first to be slashed and bitten by Adagio. Desperate to save his brother, Manic raced out, only to be frozen by Sonata and then slapped to the ground. Sonia struggled to get up as Aria began to electrocute her.
As the music began to die down, Adagio laughed at the fallen trio, "And that's that. Any last notes, heroes?"
Slowly, Sonic began to struggle to get up. Panting, Manic laid down his drumsticks in defeat.
Sonic looked at his siblings and shook his head as he got to his feet and glared at the trio of sirens.
Sonia shook her head
Tails looked at his alt siblings and began to sing as he started up some computer files.
Aria stepped back in horror as Manic began to drum out his beats, "Uh girls..."
"What is it Aria, Antonie about to announce the winner," Adagio said, watching as the coyote slowly got up in shame.
"Maybe you should look around," Aria said, tapping Adagio on the back.
"What is it..." Adagio gasped as their magical sired watched in horror as the three heroes began to slowly get back onto their feet. Their weapons glowed brightly as three golden rings floated down into each of their hands. Looking back at each other, they held up the golden rings into the sky which caused their weapons to glow brightly in time with Sonic's guitar.
The sonic knight turned into a blue blur as he sped off into the three sirens as lighting crackled through his body. Bouncing into the air, he struck each siren with a bolt of lightning before spinning around them in a tornado. Then as he broke the tornado, he summoned seven smaller little balls of speed and struck the three Sirens knocking them to the ground.
Sonia's cleric jumped high in the sky and brought a holy crossbow. As she began to fall back to the ground, she fired shot after shot of holy energy, pinning the sirens to the ground. Landing on her tiptoes, she began to spin around with wind energy flowing around her as she charged at the sirens. Spinning around, she began to kick each in their throats, stopping their singing.
Manic began to slam the ground, causing an earthquake to slowly sink the sirens into the ground. Then he threw his his drumsticks at the real sirens, cutting their hair and stealing their wallets as Tails began to amp up the special effects, adding his voice to the trio and turning it into a quartet.
As the three heroes finished the sirens off, Sonic smirked and grabbed every loose cable he could find. Before the sirens could react, they found themselves trapped in the center of a blue tornado. As the tornado finished, they were quickly bound up in every bit of rope and cable that was there. Sonia finished up with a saunter as she asked, "Any last words... villains?"
"Yeah," Adagio said, growling, "You three are a bunch of Fu-"
"Ah ah," Sonia said, kicking the three out, "Don't swear in front of royalty.
Tails smiled,"Well, that was a good one!" Tails looked around..
A few minutes passed.
He frowned,"Nicole, why haven't I leaped yet?"
At that moment, several egg robots broke through the ceiling.
"Oh boy..."
Off-Topic: Hearsay:
Tails watched as the Sonic Underground played but he didn't hear anything.
Much to his shock, he had gone deaf from listening to their music too much.
"Well, at least I'll be just like Beetlehoven."