Mushroom Valley

Sonic carries Tails through the portal. He rushes further just to dodge a large pile of snow! What he sees first, actually surprises him. It's Vanilla, taking a picture of Cream and Cheese, who are sitting on a shroom. Cheese bounces up and down just to feel a thrill.

When her daughter points them out, Vanilla finally spots them, but mainly eyes the snow. "Snow is not usual this time of year." She gasps seeing the state of Tails. "What happened to the poor boy?"

'That Doctor happened." Sonic says, voice full of frustration. He wants to say SO much worse, but censors himself around the kids. "Remember that hotel you talked about at the table? Is that hotel still here?!"

Vanilla looks out. "You're in luck. They just finished renovations. Just take two lefts and—"

Sonic dashes past the three, no time to talk. Cream scratches an ear. "Why is mister Tails hurt?"

"They ran in with that cruel Doctor again." Vanilla pockets her camera. "

Cream frowns. "I hope they're ok…" those two have been quite nice to her. Shes always wanted to go on the adventures, and seeing them go through that just makes her mad. "That doctor's mean!"

"Chao!"

"I'd love to give him a piece of my mind.."

While the Rabbits hang back for now, Sonic carries his friend into a hotel, with three whole stars at the top. He enters to notes from a piano. He has to stop himself from vibing, and turns to see..Vector the Crocodile at the helm?

"Vector?"

"What's up, Son—" he cuts himself off seeing the state of them. "Oh. Doctors been a real prick, huh?"

"He'll be much worse if my guy can't get a rest. Where's the receptionist?" Sonic asks, with desperation in his eyes. Vector frees a hand to point. "Take a right, go straight, and you got your girl."

Sonic dashes away, not even a "thank you." Vector just ignores the disrespect, letting himself fall into the trap of piano. As Sonic takes the crocodile's directions, he sees loads of these frogs sitting around. Some are playing cards, others are smoking, and it seems the rules of this place are lax.

"We gotta make a reservation. Got anything open?" Sonic asks. The blonde frog uses her tongue to flip through a little book.

"Hmm..first floor, room twelve."

"Cool!"

She throws him the room key. He snags it, and takes the fox upstairs. Upon entering Room 12, he just sets Tails on the bed, snow and all. He pulls the covers up to his neck, letting the kid get a comfortable rest. Instead of the ice hammering him, it's a soft mattress. "Get better, pal." Sonic wishes, leaving him to sleep.

Sonic's already back down to the main lounge, with all the literal Toads around him. He takes a stool, and sees what's on sale. A purple, chameleon bartender walks over, rubbing stains away on a glass. "Hey…"

"I'm exactly who you think I am."

"Espio?" Sonic looks back and forth between him and Vector. "Is this a side hustle?"

"We needed another form of income." Espio admits. "This job's one of the only ones who hire immediately." The chameleon slides that glass over. "Have your order?"

"Just juice."

Espio pours the orange liquid into the glass, sure to cause more stains. "How long do you plan to stay for?"

"Just for the night. I don't know where the good doctor went, but I'm not letting him get…the whole artifact thing's a long story. I'm pressed for time." Sonic admits, starting to gulp the juice down. In no time, the glass is empty. "It's like crunch time on one of those cases you do."

"I would love to join yours, but we're packed this week. The money talks right now. If I leave my post, Vector won't let me hear the end of it.." Espio groans. "Good luck."

"Hey, you make that money, I'll get that emerald, and we'll win together." Sonic encourages, hopping off his stool. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some foxsitting to do."

As the hedgehog walks away, he dwells on the whereabouts of the Master Emerald. If it was hidden anywhere, where would to be? Not at their secret village, no. Maybe the secrets on Westside, but he's toured the island so many times that it can't be true. Then, there's another key place he just remembered.

Christmas Island.

The last place Longclaw sent him. She forced the map, and free getaways onto him. Why else would she just do all that? For fun? She never even checked if the place was a safety net. Sure, he'd have to spend days just clearing out the snow, but Egghead CAN'T get that power. Heck, KNUCKLES could easily misuse it, just like his ancestors.

He HAS to get ahold of it, or else it could be game over for not just him, but all of Mobius.

Egg Bunker

Robotnik and Knuckles float back down in that useful Eggmobile. Robotnik never coined it as that, but maybe he should just to spite that insolent pest. Oh well. It didn't matter. HE and his muscle got that compass before Sonic ever could. Another step ahead that he can dangle over Sonic's head.

"All that talk.." Robotnik mutters, opening his palm to reveal that compass. He squints at the symbols on the outside. "Say, Knuckles: these ancient symbols are much. Even for someone of my intellect. Care to translate?"

Knuckles snatches the compass, and squints for himself. After making words for himself, he pieces them together. "It's on the Island of Christmas!"

"Christmas..Island?" Robotnik scoffs. "It lacks creativity.."

When the doctor turns back to his big screen to log in coordinates, Knuckles walks to his side. "Have you considered any of my ideas?"

Robotnik puts on a happy face. "Why of course! They are just flawed. We can't convert the boy unless it's by force. It's impossible for any of us to reason with Sonic. He's a menace stuck in his own ways. Can't show him mercy either. Have YOU been softening up?"

"Don't make me look weak. I am NOT soft. I am considering other ways to help us." Knuckles explains.

"Look at what he's done to you!" Robotnik kneels, crying on command.. "He's..he's made you think he's the honorable hero. He's trying to drive a wedge between us, Knuckles! Don't you see it?"

"I…"

Robotnik wipes a tear away. "He's fake! Don't you remember how he distracted you? We can't show mercy to such a..a dishonorable manipulator!"

Knuckles mouth hangs open at this sudden emotion.

"I have to go to great lengths to change this world..only for that liar to slander me! Your tribe was unfairly slandered too!" Some will say Robotnik's making this way too personal for a lie. But there's rarely a line he won't cross to get what he wants.

"..you may be right, Doctor." Knuckles admits, getting weaved right back in. "Charisma is deadly too."

"Of course..he can't get a single lick of that power." Robotnik covers his face, hiding a smile again. "He can swindle the whole world under his authoritarian rule."

Knuckles shakes his head, his low grumble showing some frustration with the Doctor. But after this emotional breakdown, how could be be lying? When someone sheds tears, it's genuine, right? "When a man weeps, it's of great concern."

"I'm..glad y-you can see that, Knuckles. Where in this cruel world would I be, without a friend like you?"

"..i do not know."

Robotnik scoffs in his fake pity party. "That was rhetorical."

"What does that mean?"

"…"

Mushroom Valley

Tails lets out a yawn, waking up and stretching his limbs out. His tails are still sore, but he doesn't have a killer headache. Sonic walks right in, with a platter of noodles with mushrooms inside. "Gotcha something."

"Thanks, Sonic.." Tails says, taking the platter. That fork stabs into the meal, grabbing a mixture for the boy. He eats it up..and gags a little.

"You ok?"

"Mushrooms..aren't my thing."

"Me neither." Sonic admits, taking the platter back. "We're goin' for ice cream."

"Yay." Tails stammers, swinging his covers off to leave that cushy bed. "Are we staying the night, or?"

"Oh we're leaving."

"Yeah..I kinda figured." Tails says, brushing his specialties. "Where are we going?"

"Welp, I did some thinking. I think I know where they're hiding this secret emerald. Christmas Island."

"Does Santa live there?"

"No, Tails. But I think the doctors going there to get his wrinkly hands all over it." Sonic explains, digging into his bag and pulling out one last ring. "This is our only chance to get there. How we get back? I dunno, we'll figure it out. Maybe the emerald lets us teleport with it."

"I'd hope so. The Tornado's all the way back at the cave.."

Sonic snaps a finger. "Aha! I've ran off that island before. We're far from screwed. I'll be your Southside tour guide."

Tails rubs his head. "Well we can't turn back."

Christmas Island

Robotnik, Knuckles, Bokkun, and multiple Badniks have to power away the snow just to reach the hotspot. Knuckles has the compass in hand, and watches it flicker. The faster it gets, the closer they are, and fortunately for them, it's going RABID!

"We are close. Have your minions clear the way."

Robotnik whistles, as his Motobugs just mow the snow away. Newtrons fire..fire from their mouths to melt some of the snow. After some work, low and behold, the secret roadblock is right infront of their eyes. "When I place this, we shall see the truth."

Robotnik watches as the echinda places it down. The compass twists and turns in itself, contorting further until the OCEAN itself starts parting ways!

"What's happening?!" Bokkun yells.

Robotnik gasps at this..this defiance of the sea! An underwater hideout? Those Owls did not play. What blows his mind more is the look itself. It's ginormous, having a bright, brownish colors, stacked to tower the sea. There's a large bridge over at the entrance, and last, but certainly not least.

The green glow shooting out into the sky.

"It is not what I imagined." Knuckles admits. "Be wary of traps, Doctor."

"Am wary. Every secret hideout has them."

The Doctor hops back in the Eggmobile to park it closer, juuust incase they need to get out fast. After the mediocre park job, they head in with a clear goal.

Back on the island itself, a ring portal opens. Sonic and Tails step out, and the hedgehog screams at what he sees. "Ok. Did they part the blue sea?"

"They found it.."

'We're not outta the race yet." Sonic gets into a running position. "Follow me."

This chapter is set-up for another big chapter coming up. Chapter 23 will have some pretty important action involved, as well as the next piece getting moved on this furry chessboard. Loyalties WILL be tested, power is on the line, and our heroes better hope they claim the Master Emerald before either Knuckles or Robotnik get their hands on it. The past and present show that neither one may be able to control the power well at all.

See you there for the release! While you wait, the Survivor fans will eat well as Day 16 drops. It won't take too long for the next chapter Sonic fans, but it will probably be a lengthier one, given what will happen. Ticket signing off everyone. Bye bye :)