Chapter 6: Getting to Know You
Dragon Valley – Deep Within the Forest, Noon Hours
Tails and Carol move through the dense forest, their movements in sync despite the difference in their modes of travel, Tails running alongside Carol as she expertly maneuvers her motorcycle through the underbrush.
"So, the prince went mad after his father got killed? That's horrible!" Tails says, his voice carrying a mix of sympathy and disbelief as he runs beside the wildcat.
"Yeah... after that, he decided to send robots to all of Avalice to try and snatch the other kingdoms' energy," Carol responds, her tone shifting to one of frustration. She revs her bike to catch up with Sonic and Lilac, who have already dashed far ahead. "You sure that Eggman has no involvement?" she asks, glancing sideways at Tails.
Tails shakes his head. "As I said, it's not really Eggman's style, especially not to murder someone to start a conflict." His voice is filled with conviction, knowing that despite all of Robotnik's cruel schemes, cold-blooded murder isn't something he associates with the doctor—at least not yet. He frowns slightly, deep in thought.
"Besides, the robots from Shuigang are way different from his designs, too—less Eggman-y," Tails suggests, trying to articulate the differences. "And also, the fact that the robots' cores are these weird creatures, these flying eyes... hmmm, are they organic? How do they control the machines inside? Where do they come from? Why does Shuigang have them…?" Tails' mind races with questions, each one leading to another as he tries to piece together the puzzle.
Carol blinks, trying to keep up with Tails' analysis, but soon she finds herself zoning out, overwhelmed by the amount of information. She almost trips over a root, causing both of them to jump. Tails quickly reaches out, his hand gently pushing the bike to stabilize it.
"Carol! You okay?" Tails asks, his voice filled with concern as he steadies her.
"Y-yeah, thanks for the save," Carol replies with a sheepish smile as she regains control of her bike. "Sorry, not really into that nerd stuff," she admits, her ears drooping slightly from embarrassment, which makes Tails snort in amusement.
"Ah, don't worry," Tails says with a grin. "Sonic has the same reaction sometimes when I ramble." He glances ahead, where Sonic and Lilac are already out of sight. "Well, how about something less about thinking?" he suggests, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Sweet," Carol says with a relieved smile, glad she doesn't have to overthink things. "How about telling me about the adventures you guys have from the outside islands? Uh, uh, and how you guys met that Robotnik guy!" she asks, her excitement returning as she leans forward, eager for the story.
Tails chuckles, thinking back on their many adventures. "Well, I do have a fair share of stories, but about how we met Eggman…" Tails' voice trails off as he looks ahead with a knowing smile. "That… it's better if Sonic tells you," he says, keeping pace with her as they both follow the trails left by Sonic and Lilac.
Farther ahead, in the dense, sun-dappled forest of Dragon Valley, two streaks—one purple, one blue—dart between the trees with astonishing speed and agility, their bodies becoming blurs of color. The wind whistles past them as they navigate the forest effortlessly, weaving around trees, leaping over boulders, and dashing along fallen logs.
"You've been fighting him for how long?" Lilac asks, her voice tinged with curiosity and disbelief as she effortlessly vaults over a large boulder.
"Crazy, right?" Sonic replies, the excitement in his voice unmistakable. He darts past her, a confident grin on his face. "Been stopping old Egghead ever since he showed up in my hometown, Christmas Island. Ever since then, I've been putting a wrench in his schemes wherever he goes."
Lilac looks at him. "Don't you ever get tired?" she inquires, her curiosity growing as she dashes alongside him.
"Nah," Sonic says with a playful smirk, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "It's honestly quite fun every time. Although..." He pauses for a moment, hopping onto a tree branch with ease, his eyes scanning the horizon. "It can get annoying sometimes. But hey, look at the bright side: you get to know new places you wouldn't think to explore." He flashes a charming smile at Lilac.
"You think so?" Lilac tilts her head, intrigued by his perspective. She hops onto the same branch as him. "Because I don't think visiting a chemical plant or an underground lava-filled area sounds like fun places to explore." Her tone carries a hint of skepticism.
Sonic shrugs, still smiling. "Hey, again, look at the bright side: for every Chemical Plant, you get an Angel Island."
Lilac freezes at the mention of the name, her heart skipping a beat. Her eyes widen as she stares at Sonic, barely able to believe what she has just heard. "A-Angel Island?" she whispers, her voice trembling slightly as she looks at Sonic with wide eyes. Sonic raises an eyebrow, puzzled by her reaction.
"Yeah?" Sonic replies, still confused as he notices Lilac trembling.
Lilac's eyes light up even more, her expression one of pure wonder. "Angel Island," she murmurs, her voice filled with awe. "The floating island, right? You're referring to that island? The one gigantic island that floats in the vast sky?" She inches closer to him, her excitement palpable. "You have been to Angel Island?!"
"Y-yes!" Sonic replies, taken aback by her intense reaction. He watches as Lilac's smile grows wider and wider, her whole body trembling with excitement. "Uh, Lilac? Lil? You okay there?"
Suddenly, Lilac lets out a joyful laugh, radiating pure happiness. "Yes!" she exclaims, throwing her arms into the air as she celebrates. "It's real! Angel Island is real! Take that, Carol! Take that, Spade!" She begins swinging excitedly on the branch, her energy contagious as she revels in the confirmation of her dream.
Unfortunately, the branch can't withstand the combined weight of her excitement. With a loud crack, it gives way, sending both of them plummeting to the ground below. Lilac yelps in surprise but manages to land gracefully on her feet, while Sonic faceplants on the grassy ground with a muffled thud.
"S-Sonic!" Lilac quickly rushes over to him, her face filled with concern as she helps him up. "I am so sorry!" she apologizes profusely, guilt washing over her.
Sonic spits out some grass, wiping his mouth before looking at her. Lilac braces herself, expecting him to be angry, but to her surprise, he jokes, "Well, aren't you quite the super fan?"
She blushes deeply, her purple scales turning a bright shade of red as she tries to explain herself. "I... I... a little bit," she stammers, clearly embarrassed. She looks away, trying to gather her thoughts. "You see… when I was little, I read about Angel Island in a book that my caretaker used to have on her shelf. It talked about this huge, mysterious island in the middle of the ocean, with a sacred gem within, filled with wonders and mysteries to unfold." Her voice softens as she recalls those memories, her gaze distant as she's lost in thought. "There are similar floating islands in the south of Avalice, in Parusa, but those don't float naturally." She sighs softly, the memory bittersweet. "So when I found out that there was such a wonderful place, I believed it was real, even though everyone thought it was just a fantasy land… but in the end, it was real! And you've been there!" she says excitedly, her eyes shining with the same wonder she felt as a child.
Sonic looks at Lilac, taking in her enthusiasm and the fond memories she shares. A spontaneous idea forms in his mind, and he can't help but grin. "Hey, maybe after all this, we can take you and Carol on a trip to Angel Island. How about it?" His tone is casual, but there's a sincerity in his offer that makes it clear he means it.
Lilac stares at him, slightly taken aback by the offer. Her heart skips a beat yet again—he has just offered her a chance to visit the island of her dreams, just like that! "You… mean it?" Her voice trembles with excitement, her eyes sparkling with hope and disbelief.
"Absolutely! It's a promise!" Sonic says, giving her a playful wink as his grin widens.
Lilac feels her cheeks warm, not from embarrassment, but from appreciation. "T-Thank you! I really appreciate it." She quickly shakes her head, mentally chastising herself as she tries to regain her composure.
"Yeah, it'll be great!" Sonic exclaims, his enthusiasm infectious. "Although when we get there, we'll have to put up with a certain knucklehead…" He mutters the last part under his breath, more to himself than to her.
Before Lilac can ask who he's referring to, the loud roar of an engine interrupts them. "There you guys are!" Carol shouts as she speeds toward them on her motorcycle. She comes to a stop beside them as she looks at the two. "Couldn't wait a second, huh?"
"Maybe you should learn how to run, Greenie," Sonic teases, causing Lilac to chuckle.
Carol rolls her eyes dramatically. "Well, sorry, Bluey, not everyone is born with supersonic speed like you two!" she retorts, though her tone is lighthearted. She then glances around, looking for any signs of Robotnik. "Why are ya two standing here anyways? Did you find him?"
Sonic shakes his head. "Nope, just made a little stop to offer your buddy here a chance to visit the land of her dreams." He nudges Lilac playfully, who glares at him in return, her blush returning.
Carol pauses for a moment, processing what Sonic has just said. Her eyes narrow suspiciously. "Don't tell me… Lilac's fantasy land is actually real?" she asks, disbelief coloring her tone as she looks between the two.
"You got it!" Lilac laughs, her grin widening. "See! I told you it was real from the start! I knew it!"
Carol sags slightly, her ears drooping. "Aw man, when Tails was talking about it, I thought he was pulling a joke or something… It's actually real?" she asks, her voice filled with reluctant acceptance as she looks at Sonic for confirmation.
"Been there a couple of times," Sonic says with a nod. "Really neat place."
Carol sighs deeply, unable to believe that Lilac's fantasy is real and has just been revealed so abruptly. She turns to Lilac, who's still grinning. "You're not going to stop mentioning this to me, are you?"
"Never, ever, ever," Lilac replies teasingly as she pokes Carol playfully. But then she looks around, her smile fading slightly as she realizes something. "Where are Tails and Torque?"
Carol perks up, remembering what Tails had said earlier. "Oh, yeah! Torque decided to sit this one out, and Tails went to fly around to look for a possible clue," she explains as the other two nod in understanding. Just then, they hear the sound of rustling leaves.
"Can confirm!" Tails' voice rings out as he swoops down toward them, his tails spinning rapidly. "I've located Eggman's base! There's a huge metal door two hundred meters northeast from here!" he announces.
Everyone's faces light up at the news, their earlier conversation forgotten as they focus on the task at hand.
"Great job, Tails!" Sonic compliments his little brother, giving him a thumbs-up before turning to the others with a confident smirk. "So, ladies of this land, how about we discuss the floating island at another date and instead focus on giving Eggman a piece of your mind?" His eyes gleam with mischief and determination, ready to take on whatever challenge lies ahead.
The girls exchange a glance before grinning, their resolve matching Sonic's.
"Pff! Yeah, got two complaints ready to slam on his ugly mug, right here," Carol says, lifting both fists with a mischievous grin.
"Got that and two more," Lilac adds, her twin tails swaying as she mirrors Carol's expression.
"Well, let's not keep him waiting. Tails, lead the way!" Sonic says, and without further delay, the group sets off, following Tails toward the iron gates of Eggman's lair.
Dragon Valley – The Front of the Iron Gates
The group comes to a halt in front of a massive iron gate, partially hidden by the thick foliage of the valley. The gate, towering and foreboding, is constructed from solid metal, with Robotnik's emblem prominently displayed at the center. The surrounding terrain is a rugged mix of rocky outcrops and dense forest. The gate itself is set into the side of a mountain, making it look as though it has been carved directly into the rock.
"Well, it sure is Eggman's, alright," Sonic remarks, his tone casual yet focused as he eyes the gate.
"That's Doctor Robotnik to you, rodent!" A loud, grating voice echoes from a nearby tree. The group turns to see a red robot bird—a Balkiry—perched on a branch. Its beak opens, revealing a built-in megaphone. "Well, well, been a 'while,' hasn't it? Miserable rat! Here to disturb my plans yet again?!"
"Good to see you too, Doc," Sonic retorts sarcastically, a smirk playing on his lips. "Let's cut to the chase. How about you step outside for a little chat? Got two locals here who'd like to file a complaint." He gestures toward Carol and Lilac, who step forward confidently.
The bird's mechanical eyes narrow as it zeroes in on the two girls. "Oh yeah, your new friends," it says with a mix of disappointment and irritation. "Why are those two even here?! Shoo, shoo, out!" The Balkiry flaps its wings in a mock shooing motion.
"We aren't going anywhere, Eggy," Carol declares, ready for a fight. The disdain at the nickname causes the bird to twitch slightly in annoyance.
"You brought this on yourself the moment you involved the Kingdom Stone in your schemes!" Lilac adds, her eyes blazing with determination.
"So, the duck decided to talk, huh?" The red bird adjusts itself on the branch, its tone mocking as its eyes narrow further. "He told you everything?"
Carol steps in, her fists clenched. "Yeah, he told us how you want to steal the stone for your lame evil plans!" she snaps.
"I see, 'everything,'" Robotnik says with a low chuckle before looking at them angrily. "No matter. Whatever you do, you will fail to protect it!"
"Whatever you say, Eggman," Sonic says, stepping forward, his voice steady and filled with confidence.
"You're going down this time!" Lilac asserts, stepping up beside Sonic, her expression fierce and unwavering.
"Grrrr," Robotnik's voice growls through the megaphone, clearly irritated by their defiance. "Fine! Be my guest, rodent, goat, as this will soon be your graves!" His voice rings out with a chilling finality, the air around them growing heavier with the threat.
With a loud buzz, the iron gates begin to creak open, the heavy metal groaning as it slowly reveals the entrance to Eggman's lair. The Balkiry spreads its wings, its jet engines roaring to life as it flies toward the entrance. Robotnik's mocking laughter echoes through the now-open gates, reverberating off the metal walls of the corridor beyond.
As the gates fully open, Sonic turns to the girls with a raised eyebrow. "Well? First impression?"
"The least threatening guy I've ever met," Carol replies, unimpressed as she inspects her claws. "'tHiS wIlL sOoN bE yOuR gRaVeS,' bleeeh!" She sticks out her tongue, mocking Robotnik's dramatic proclamation. The group bursts into laughter at her terrible impression, the tense mood instantly lightened.
"Hehe, well anyway," Sonic says, chuckling before glancing at the now-open doors. He crouches down, ready to sprint. "Y'all ready?"
"Let's get this show on the road!" Carol revs her bike, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"We're right beside you!" Lilac mimics Sonic's crouch, her face set with resolve.
Tails hesitates for a moment, his ears perking up as he catches a faint sound from inside the corridor. For a split second, it sounds like the rumble of distant thunder, making him shiver slightly. He shakes his head, trying to push the unease away.
Sonic notices his hesitation. "Hey, you okay, little bro?" His voice is soft, filled with concern.
Tails takes a deep breath, nodding as he shakes off the unsettling feeling. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's teach him a lesson!" His tails whir to life, spinning rapidly as he prepares to take off.
In an instant, the four of them burst forward, rushing into the heart of Eggman's domain. Robotnik's sinister laughter echoes through the corridor as they charge into the depths of the base.
To Eggman's Iron Valley.