Chapter 5: Nice to Meet You, Let's Go for a Run!
Dragon Valley – Lilac's Treehouse, Noon Hours
The group of five found themselves navigating through the lush forest, surrounded by the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves. Carol and Lilac had invited the newcomers to stay at their home in the forest after their respective battles to rest. As they conversed, Carol burst into a fit of laughter.
"Hahaha, Eggman?!" Carol laughed so hard that tears streamed down her cheeks. The wildcat's amusement was so contagious that soon the rest of the group joined 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 explained, a chuckle escaping his lips.
As the laughter began to subside, Sonic's demeanor shifted, becoming more focused. "Alright! Let's start introducing ourselves properly now that eggface is gone for now!" He glanced 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 added with a bright smile, his twin tails flicking in excitement.
"Dude, you look awesome with those two tails on your butt!" Carol complimented, still wiping away some of her tears. Sonic snorted at the comment, amused by Carol's straightforwardness.
"Carol..." Lilac gave her friend a deadpan look.
"Oh no, no, it's fine… uh, thank you," Tails replied with a small, embarrassed smile. It wasn't every day that people pointed out his tails as being cool.
Carol grinned back. "Name's Carol Tea, at your service," she said coolly, giving a small salute.
"I'm Sash Lilac," Lilac added politely. "But please, call me Lilac."
The group seemed pleased with their introductions as they walked deeper into the forest, the atmosphere light and friendly. However, they all collectively turned their attention to the last of the group, the green duck with a shell on his back who looked slightly nervous under their gaze.
"Oh! I, uh, name's Torque. I'm a shell duck," he said curtly, his voice betraying a hint of unease.
"A… shell duck?" Lilac raised an eyebrow. She had never heard of a shell duck before, and judging by the expressions on the others' faces, neither had they.
"Yes… I'm not exactly from around here," Torque explained, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.
"No problem, man," Sonic said 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 asked, trying to ease into the conversation.
Sonic raised an eyebrow at the "Mister," but quickly shrugged it off. "That, and to deal with the mister who just attacked you. Why did he attack you, anyway?"
Torque glanced nervously at the group, his eyes darting between them before he spoke. "Uhhh, it's a tad complicated. It's better if we arrive at the house first," he suggested, his voice tight with apprehension.
Sonic shrugged, accepting the duck's reluctance. "Alright, if you say so."
The group continued their journey until they reached their destination. Lilac stopped, turning to the others with a smile. "We're here. Welcome to our home!" she announced, gesturing proudly.
The treehouse was nestled deep within the tranquil forest of Dragon Valley, a cozy two-story wooden structure with a charming blue roof. It perched atop a large, sturdy tree, blending seamlessly with its natural surroundings. A wooden ladder connected the treehouse to the forest floor, swaying slightly in the breeze.
"Not bad at all! Looks cozy!" Sonic remarked, nodding in approval as he took in the sight. Tails and Torque both nodded in agreement, the house exuding a welcoming aura that instantly made them feel at ease.
"It took us a whooooole year to build it!" Carol exclaimed proudly, her chest puffed out. "But we finally got it all down!" She beamed, clearly proud of their hard work.
Lilac smiled, a wave of nostalgia washing over her as she remembered 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 faltered, but she quickly shook her head, redirecting her focus to Carol to change the topic.
"I can't believe you've been following me all this time," Lilac said as she looked at her friend, gratitude shining in her eyes.
"Duh! I couldn't leave my best friend behind," Carol replied, grinning from ear to ear. "Especially when those dumb Egg-Robos showed up." Her tone shifted to one of playful indignation.
"Heh, and yours truly blew them up," Sonic chimed in with a cocky grin.
"You sure did," Tails acknowledged with a good-natured roll of his eyes. He noticed that Torque was deep in thought, his expression thoughtful and slightly troubled. "Hey, Torque? You okay?"
Torque snapped out of his thoughts, blinking as he looked 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 said, giving Torque a friendly tap on the shoulder.
Torque's smile became more genuine, though a shadow of concern lingered 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 shifted to Torque, puzzled by the gravity in his tone.
"Yeah," Torque continued, his expression growing serious as he spoke. "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 looked at him with surprise.
"The Kingdom Stone? That's impossible!" Lilac exclaimed, her eyes widening with shock. The mention of the stone instantly shifted the mood from lighthearted to tense, the weight of Torque's words settling heavily on them.
Sonic's interest was 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 crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing as he processed the information. "Man, Tails, you really nailed it. He really was here for the Stone," he muttered, glancing at the orange fox.
"Y-yeah," Torque confirmed, 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 muttered, his brows furrowing in thought. "He usually goes straight for what he wants, no detours…"
"Maybe he's trying to change strategies?" Tails suggested, his tone thoughtful. "He does sometimes come up with stuff that isn't just 'take everything by force'... sometimes," he added, though his skepticism was evident.
"We can't let him do that!" Lilac declared, 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 insisted, determination etched on his face. His urgency was clear, but before he could say more, Sonic clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"No need for that, Torqui," Sonic said 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 indicated he was 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 sprinted forward, ready to tackle the new challenge head-on.
"Hold it!" Lilac interjected, her tone firm and commanding as she stepped forward, halting Sonic in his tracks. "You guys only know he's somewhere inside the forest. Can you even locate him?" she questioned, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
Sonic stopped and turned to look at her, surprised by her assertiveness. For a moment, he seemed to consider her words, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Eh, we'll wing it."
Lilac stared at him, a mix of amusement and exasperation on her face. After a moment, she snorted, shaking her head. "We can't let you guys run around all day," she said, moving to stand beside him. "Besides, if Eggman messes with our island, he messes with us too!"
Sonic locked eyes with her for a moment, surprised by the fire and resolve he saw in her gaze. A wide grin spread across his face, clearly pleased by her enthusiasm. "Well, the more the merrier!" he declared, ready to run off. "Hope you can keep up!"
Lilac smiled back, her determination matching his. "Watch me!" she challenged, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. Without another word, she curled into a ball, energy crackling around her as she prepared for a Dragon Boost. In an instant, she shot forward like a comet, her trail of energy illuminating the path ahead.
Sonic's eyes lit up with excitement, matching her energy. "Oh, it's on!" he muttered 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 sighed, shaking her head as she watched the two speedsters disappear into the forest. "And she calls me reckless." She hopped onto her bike, revving the engine with a grin. "You guys coming?"
"Yup," Tails responded, 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 said, waving them off with a reassuring smile. He still had plenty to do, including retrieving items from his damaged ship, and he wasn'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 said, hitting the gas pedal and speeding after the dragon and hedgehog.
"Right behind you," Tails replied, propelling himself into the air. He gave Torque a nod. "See you later, Torque." With that, he took off, following the trail left by Lilac and Sonic.
"Good luck!" Torque called after them, his voice tinged with a note of concern. As the group disappeared into the forest, his smile faded into a thoughtful expression. He sighed deeply, the weight of unspoken worries pressing heavily on his shoulders. Suddenly, his laser gun twitched, emitting a soft, incomprehensible sound.
"I know, I know, I should have told them the whole truth," Torque muttered, his tone heavy with regret as he patted the gun. "But it's just... it's not their fight... We'll get there when we get there, okay, buddy?" The gun emitted an annoyed sound but fell silent, as if grudgingly accepting Torque's reasoning. Torque sighed once more as he turned 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 came from the flickering screens displaying various schematics and security footage. In the center of the room, two figures stood, their frustration palpable.
"Tsyaa! What was that?!" Serpentine hissed, his voice dripping with anger as he glared at the footage of their failed attempts. His magenta eyes narrowed 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, rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Oh, please," he retorted 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 explained, 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 began to retort, his voice rising with indignation, but a sudden beeping from one of the monitors interrupted him. Both of them turned to see a radar screen displaying four rapidly approaching dots.
"No time for your whining!" Robotnik snapped as he tossed the ice pack aside and activated his Egg-Mobile, which hummed to life with a low, mechanical whirr. "Quick, snake-man, activate the new egg prototypes. This is our only opportunity," he commanded, hovering above the ground.
He shot Serpentine a final glare. "And don't break it!" he shouted over his shoulder as he flew down a metal corridor, his vehicle leaving a trail of smoke in its wake.
Serpentine's eyes blazed with fury as he watched Robotnik disappear down the corridor. "Tch, earthlings, such a pain!" he muttered under his breath, his tail lashing in frustration.
Turning sharply, he slithered toward a nearby control panel as the metal doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a long, dimly lit hallway. Serpentine's expression darkened, 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 hissed to himself, as the door slid shut behind him with a final, ominous clang.