Chapter 5: Nice to Meet You, Let's Go for a Run!

Dragon Valley – Lilac's Treehouse, Afternoon Hours

The group of five now finds themselves navigating through the lush forest, the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves surrounding them. Carol and Lilac have invited the newcomers to stay at their home in the forest after their respective battles to rest. As they converse, Carol bursts into a fit of laughter.

"Hahaha, Eggman?!" Carol laughs so hard that tears stream down her cheeks. The wildcat's amusement is so contagious that soon the rest of the group joins in, their collective laughter filling the air.

"Yeah! I started calling him that after he sent so many egg-shaped death robots after me. Also helps that he gets annoyed by it," Sonic explains, a chuckle escaping his lips.

As the laughter begins to subside, Sonic's demeanor shifts, becoming more focused. "Alright! Let's start introducing ourselves properly now that eggface is gone for now!" He glances around at the four others, his smile widening. "Name's Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!"

"And I am Miles Prower! But you can call me Tails," the fox adds with a bright smile, his twin tails flicking in excitement.

"Dude, you look awesome with those two tails on your butt!" Carol compliments, still wiping away some of her tears. Sonic snorts at the comment, amused by Carol's straightforwardness.

"Carol..." Lilac gives her friend a deadpan look.

"Oh no, no, it's fine… uh, thank you," Tails replies with a small, embarrassed smile. It isn't every day that people point out his tails as being cool.

Carol grins back. "Name's Carol Tea, at your service," she says coolly, giving a small salute.

"I'm Sash Lilac," Lilac adds politely. "But please, call me Lilac."

The group seems pleased with their introductions as they walk deeper into the forest, the atmosphere light and friendly. However, they all collectively turn their attention to the last of the group, the green duck with a shell on his back who looks slightly nervous under their gaze.

"Oh! I, uh, name's Torque. I'm a shell duck," he says curtly, his voice betraying a hint of unease.

"A… shell duck?" Lilac raises an eyebrow. She has never heard of a shell duck before, and judging by the expressions on the others' faces, neither have they.

"Yes… I'm not exactly from around here," Torque explains, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

"No problem, man," Sonic says reassuringly, giving Torque a confident nod. "Me and my buddy Tails aren't from around the archipelago either."

"Ah, here to get some vacation, Mister Sonic?" Torque asks, trying to ease into the conversation.

Sonic raises an eyebrow at the "Mister," but quickly shrugs it off. "That, and to deal with the mister who just attacked you. Why did he attack you, anyway?"

Torque glances nervously at the group, his eyes darting between them before he speaks. "Uhhh, it's a tad complicated. It's better if we arrive at the house first," he suggests, his voice tight with apprehension.

Sonic shrugs, accepting the duck's reluctance. "Alright, if you say so."

The group continues their journey until they reach their destination. Lilac stops, turning to the others with a smile. "We're here. Welcome to our home!" she announces, gesturing proudly.

The treehouse is nestled deep within the tranquil forest of Dragon Valley, a cozy two-story wooden structure with a charming blue roof. It perches atop a large, sturdy tree, blending seamlessly with its natural surroundings. A wooden ladder connects the treehouse to the forest floor, swaying slightly in the breeze.

"Not bad at all! Looks cozy!" Sonic remarks, nodding in approval as he takes in the sight. Tails and Torque both nod in agreement, the house exuding a welcoming aura that instantly makes them feel at ease.

"It took us a whooooole year to build it!" Carol exclaims proudly, her chest puffed out. "But we finally got it all down!" She beams, clearly proud of their hard work.

Lilac smiles, a wave of nostalgia washing over her as she remembers the countless hours they spent building the treehouse. It had been a long and difficult process, finding the perfect spot… far away from everyone on the island. For a moment, her smile falters, but she quickly shakes her head, redirecting her focus to Carol to change topics.

"I can't believe you've been following me all this time," Lilac says as she looks at her friend, gratitude shining in her eyes.

"Duh! I couldn't leave my best friend behind," Carol replies, grinning from ear to ear. "Especially when those dumb Egg-Robos showed up." Her tone shifts to one of playful indignation.

"Heh, and yours truly blew them up," Sonic chimes in with a cocky grin.

"You sure did," Tails acknowledges with a good-natured roll of his eyes. He notices that Torque is deep in thought, his expression thoughtful and slightly troubled. "Hey, Torque? You okay?"

Torque snaps out of his thoughts, blinking as he looks up with a faint smile. "Huh? Oh, no, it's fine, Mister Tails. Just... thinking, that's all."

"Dude, drop the 'Mister,' we're all friends here," Sonic says, giving Torque a friendly tap on the shoulder.

Torque's smile becomes more genuine, though a shadow of concern lingers in his eyes. "Yeah, sorry. It's just... about that man, Robotnik—or Eggman—before he shot me down, I came here to warn the kingdoms about... him."

"Huh?" The group's attention immediately shifts to Torque, puzzled by the gravity in his tone.

"Yeah," Torque continues, his expression growing serious as he speaks. "He's been here for at least a couple of weeks, and I believe he's trying to steal the Kingdom Stone!" At his words, everyone looks at him with surprise.

"The Kingdom Stone? That's impossible!" Lilac exclaims, her eyes widening with shock. The mention of the stone instantly shifts the mood from lighthearted to tense, the weight of Torque's words settling heavily on them.

Sonic's interest is piqued, his expression turning serious. "You mean the stone that gives energy to the three kingdoms and, if stolen, could leave the whole archipelago in ruins? That one?" He crosses his arms, his gaze narrowing as he processes the information. "Man, Tails, you really nailed it. He really was here for the Stone," he mutters, glancing at the orange fox.

"Y-yeah," Torque confirms, his voice laced with urgency. "With the king of Shuigang's death, he's taking the opportunity to take it for himself."

"Taking advantage in the middle of an impending war? Doesn't really sound like Eggman," Sonic mutters, his brows furrowing in thought. "He usually goes straight for what he wants, no detours…"

"Maybe he's trying to change strategies?" Tails suggests, his tone thoughtful. "He does sometimes come up with stuff that isn't just 'take everything by force'... sometimes," he adds, though his skepticism is evident.

"We can't let him do that!" Lilac declares, her voice firm and resolute. "We have to find him and stop him before he gets anywhere near the Kingdom Stone!"

"That's why I need to go to the kingdom of Shang Tu, to warn them before it's too late," Torque insists, determination etched on his face. His urgency is clear, but before he can say more, Sonic claps a hand on his shoulder.

"No need for that, Torqui," Sonic says confidently, his grin returning. "Me and Tails will make sure to keep Eggy far away from the Stone. C'mon, Tails!" Sonic's playful tone indicates he's ready to dash off, his feet already itching to get moving. "Sorry, girls, but it appears that we have a doctor's appointment ahead of schedule!" With that, he sprints forward, ready to tackle the new challenge head-on.

"Hold it!" Lilac interjects, her tone firm and commanding as she steps forward, halting Sonic in his tracks. "You guys only know he's somewhere inside the forest. Can you even locate him?" she questions, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

Sonic stops and turns to look at her, surprised by her assertiveness. For a moment, he seems to consider her words, then shrugs nonchalantly. "Eh, we'll wing it."

Lilac stares at him, a mix of amusement and exasperation on her face. After a moment, she snorts, shaking her head. "We can't let you guys run around all day," she says, moving to stand beside him. "Besides, if Eggman messes with our island, he messes with us too!"

Sonic locks eyes with her for a moment, surprised by the fire and resolve he sees in her gaze. A wide grin spreads across his face, clearly pleased by her enthusiasm. "Well, the more the merrier!" he declares, ready to run off. "Hope you can keep up!"

Lilac smiles back, her determination matching his. "Watch me!" she challenges, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. Without another word, she curls into a ball, energy crackling around her as she prepares for a Dragon Boost. In an instant, she shoots forward like a comet, her trail of energy illuminating the path ahead.

Sonic's eyes light up with excitement, matching her energy. "Oh, it's on!" he mutters to himself, curling into a ball and spin-dashing after her, the thrill of the chase igniting his competitive spirit.

"Aaaaaand there they go..." Carol sighs, shaking her head as she watches the two speedsters disappear into the forest. "And she calls me reckless." She hops onto her bike, revving the engine with a grin. "You guys coming?"

"Yup," Tails responds, not wanting to be left behind. "Can't let them have all the fun. Torque?"

"I'll stay here and gather my stuff. Also set up my tent," Torque says, waving them off with a reassuring smile. He still has plenty to do, including retrieving items from his damaged ship, and he isn't keen on getting caught up in the doctor's chase just yet.

"If you say so. C'mon, Tails, can't lose sight of them!" Carol says, hitting the gas pedal and speeding after the dragon and hedgehog.

"Right behind you," Tails replies, propelling himself into the air. He gives Torque a nod. "See you later, Torque." With that, he takes off, following the trail left by Lilac and Sonic.

"Good luck!" Torque calls after them, his voice tinged with a note of concern. As the group disappears into the forest, his smile fades into a thoughtful expression. He sighs deeply, the weight of unspoken worries pressing heavily on his shoulders. Suddenly, his laser gun twitches, emitting a soft, incomprehensible sound.

"I know, I know, I should have told them the whole truth," Torque mutters, his tone heavy with regret as he pats the gun. "But it's just... it's not their fight... We'll get there when we get there, okay, buddy?" The gun emits an annoyed sound but falls silent, as if grudgingly accepting Torque's reasoning. Torque sighs once more as he turns to pack his things, his thoughts filled with uncertainty.

Unknown Location – Deep Within Dragon Valley

In a dark, metal-lined room hidden deep within Dragon Valley, the only source of light comes from the flickering screens displaying various schematics and security footage. In the center of the room, two figures stand, their frustration palpable.

"Tsyaa! What was that?!" Serpentine hisses, his voice dripping with anger as he glares at the footage of their failed attempts. His magenta eyes narrow dangerously. "You call yourself a genius?! That was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen! Not only did you lose to a group of kids, but you destroyed one of my favorite mounts!"

Robotnik, sitting in his Egg-Mobile and holding an ice pack to his head, rolls his eyes in exasperation. "Oh, please," he retorts dismissively, waving a hand as if to brush off the accusation. "Your precious snake was part of the plan to finally get rid of the rodent and his friends. I needed to lure them in, and now the duck has probably told them about my plans. They'll try to take me down, just as I expected," he explains, his tone matter-of-fact. "Besides, if it wasn't for the faulty design, it could have crushed Sonic in no time."

"Faulty?! How dare you—" Serpentine begins to retort, his voice rising with indignation, but a sudden beeping from one of the monitors interrupts him. Both of them turn to see a radar screen displaying four rapidly approaching dots.

"No time for your whining!" Robotnik snaps as he tosses the ice pack aside and activates his Egg-Mobile, which hums to life with a low, mechanical whirr. "Quick, snake-man, activate the new egg prototypes. This is our only opportunity," he commands, hovering above the ground.

He shoots Serpentine a final glare. "And don't break it!" he shouts over his shoulder as he flies down a metal corridor, his vehicle leaving a trail of smoke in its wake.

Serpentine's eyes blaze with fury as he watches Robotnik disappear down the corridor. "Tch, earthlings, such a pain!" he mutters under his breath, his tail lashing in frustration.

Turning sharply, he slithers toward a nearby control panel as the metal doors slide open with a soft hiss, revealing a long, dimly lit hallway. Serpentine's expression darkens, his thoughts focused on the impending confrontation. "Let's get rid of these supposed 'problems' so that we can focus on the actual mission!" he hisses to himself, as the door slides shut behind him with a final, ominous clang.

{A/N}

Yep, we are taking a slight detour, I don´t want to just make Freedom Planet 1 but Sonic is there too, want to add some variaty to the story, some slight changes to it.