Chapter 6: Getting to Know You
Dragon Valley – Deep Within the Forest, Noon Hours
Tails and Carol moved through the dense forest, their movements in sync despite the difference in their modes of travel. Tails ran alongside Carol as she expertly maneuvered her motorcycle through the underbrush.
"So, the prince went mad after his father got killed? That's horrible!" Tails said, his voice carrying a mix of sympathy and disbelief as he ran beside the wildcat.
"Yeah... after that, he decided to send robots to all of Avalice to try and snatch the other kingdoms' energy," Carol responded, her tone shifting to one of frustration. She revved her bike to catch up with Sonic and Lilac, who had already dashed far ahead. "You sure that Eggman has no involvement?" she asked, glancing sideways at Tails.
Tails shook his head. "As I said, it's not really Eggman's style, especially not to murder someone to start a conflict." His voice was filled with conviction, knowing that despite all of Robotnik's cruel schemes, cold-blooded murder wasn't something he associated with the doctor—at least not yet. He frowned slightly, deep in thought.
"Besides, the robots from Shuigang are way different from his designs, too—less Eggman-y," Tails suggested, 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 raced with questions, each one leading to another as he tried to piece together the puzzle.
Carol blinked, trying to keep up with Tails' analysis, but soon found herself zoning out, overwhelmed by the amount of information. She almost tripped over a root, causing both of them to jump. Tails quickly reached out, his hand gently pushing the bike to stabilize it.
"Carol! Are you okay?" Tails asked, his voice filled with concern as he steadied her.
"Y-yeah, thanks for the save," Carol replied with a sheepish smile as she regained control of her bike. "Sorry, not really into that nerd stuff," she admitted, her ears drooping slightly from embarrassment, which made Tails snort in amusement.
"Ah, don't worry," Tails said with a grin. "Sonic has the same reaction sometimes when I ramble." He glanced ahead, where Sonic and Lilac were already out of sight. "Well, how about something less about thinking?" he suggested, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Sweet," Carol said with a relieved smile, glad she didn'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 asked, her excitement returning as she leaned forward, eager for the story.
Tails chuckled, thinking back on their many adventures. "Well, I do have a fair share of stories, but about how we met Eggman…" Tails' voice trailed off as he looked ahead with a knowing smile. "That… it's better if Sonic tells you," he said, keeping pace with her as they both followed the trails left by Sonic and Lilac.
Farther ahead, in the dense, sun-dappled forest of Dragon Valley, two streaks—one purple, one blue—darted between the trees with astonishing speed and agility, their bodies becoming blurs of color. The wind whistled past them as they navigated the forest effortlessly, weaving around trees, leaping over boulders, and dashing along fallen logs.
"You've been fighting him for how long?" Lilac asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and disbelief as she effortlessly vaulted over a large boulder.
"Crazy, right?" Sonic replied, the excitement in his voice unmistakable. He darted 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 looked at him. "Don't you ever get tired?" she inquired, her curiosity growing as she dashed alongside him.
"Nah," Sonic said with a playful smirk, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "It's honestly quite fun every time. Although..." He paused 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 flashed a charming smile at Lilac.
"You think so?" Lilac tilted her head, intrigued by his perspective. She hopped 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 carried a hint of skepticism.
Sonic shrugged, still smiling. "Hey, again, look at the bright side: for every Chemical Plant, you get an Angel Island."
Lilac froze at the mention of the name, her heart skipping a beat. Her eyes widened as she stared at Sonic, barely able to believe what she had just heard. "A-Angel Island?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she looked at Sonic with wide eyes. Sonic raised an eyebrow, puzzled by her reaction.
"Yeah?" Sonic replied, still confused as he noticed Lilac trembling.
Lilac's eyes lit up even more, her expression one of pure wonder. "Angel Island," she murmured, 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 inched closer to him, her excitement palpable. "You have been to Angel Island?!"
"Y-yes!" Sonic replied, taken aback by her intense reaction. He watched as Lilac's smile grew wider and wider, her whole body trembling with excitement. "Uh, Lilac? Lil? You okay there?"
Suddenly, Lilac let out a joyful laugh, radiating pure happiness. "Yes!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms into the air as she celebrated. "It's real! Angel Island is real! Take that, Carol! Take that, Spade!" She began swinging excitedly on the branch, her energy contagious as she reveled in the confirmation of her dream.
Unfortunately, the branch couldn't withstand the combined weight of her excitement. With a loud crack, it gave way, sending both of them plummeting to the ground below. Lilac yelped in surprise but managed to land gracefully on her feet, while Sonic faceplanted on the grassy ground with a muffled thud.
"S-Sonic!" Lilac quickly rushed over to him, her face filled with concern as she helped him up. "I am so sorry!" she apologized profusely, guilt washing over her.
Sonic spat out some grass, wiping his mouth before looking at her. Lilac braced herself, expecting him to be angry, but to her surprise, he joked, "Well, aren't you quite the super fan?"
She blushed deeply, her purple scales turning a bright shade of red as she tried to explain herself. "I... I... a little bit," she stammered, clearly embarrassed. She looked 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 softened as she recalled those memories, her gaze distant as she was lost in thought. "There are similar floating islands in the south of Avalice, in Parusa, but those don't float naturally." She sighed 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 said excitedly, her eyes shining with the same wonder she felt as a child.
Sonic looked at Lilac, taking in her enthusiasm and the fond memories she shared. A spontaneous idea formed in his mind, and he couldn'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 was casual, but there was a sincerity in his offer that made it clear he meant it.
Lilac stared at him, slightly taken aback by the offer. Her heart skipped a beat yet again—he had just offered her a chance to visit the island of her dreams, just like that! "You… mean it?" Her voice trembled with excitement, her eyes sparkling with hope and disbelief.
"Absolutely! It's a promise!" Sonic said, giving her a playful wink as his grin widened.
Lilac felt her cheeks warm, not from embarrassment, but from appreciation. "T-Thank you! I really appreciate it." She quickly shook her head, mentally chastising herself as she tried to regain her composure.
"Yeah, it'll be great!" Sonic exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. "Although when we get there, we'll have to put up with a certain knucklehead…" He muttered the last part under his breath, more to himself than to her.
Before Lilac could ask who he was referring to, the loud roar of an engine interrupted them. "There you guys are!" Carol shouted as she sped toward them on her motorcycle. She came to a stop beside them as she looked at the two. "Couldn't wait a second, huh?"
"Maybe you should learn how to run, Greenie," Sonic teased, causing Lilac to chuckle.
Carol rolled her eyes dramatically. "Well, sorry, Bluey, not everyone is born with supersonic speed like you two!" she retorted, though her tone was lighthearted. She then glanced around, looking for any signs of Robotnik. "Why are ya two standing here anyway? Did you find him?"
Sonic shook his head. "Nope, just made a little stop to offer your buddy here a chance to visit the land of her dreams." He nudged Lilac playfully, who glared at him in return, her blush returning.
Carol paused for a moment, processing what Sonic had just said. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Don't tell me… Lilac's fantasy land is actually real?" she asked, disbelief coloring her tone as she looked between the two.
"You got it!" Lilac laughed, her grin widening. "See! I told you it was real from the start! I knew it!"
Carol sagged 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 asked, her voice filled with reluctant acceptance as she looked at Sonic for confirmation.
"Been there a couple of times," Sonic said with a nod. "Really neat place."
Carol sighed deeply, unable to believe that Lilac's fantasy was real and had just been revealed so abruptly. She turned to Lilac, who was still grinning. "You're not going to stop mentioning this to me, are you?"
"Never, ever, ever," Lilac replied teasingly as she poked Carol playfully. But then she looked around, her smile fading slightly as she realized something. "Where are Tails and Torque?"
Carol perked 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 explained as the other two nodded in understanding. Just then, they heard the sound of rustling leaves.
"Can confirm!" Tails' voice rang out as he swooped 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 announced.
Everyone's faces lit up at the news, their earlier conversation forgotten as they focused on the task at hand.
"Great job, Tails!" Sonic complimented 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 gleamed with mischief and determination, ready to take on whatever challenge lay ahead.
The girls exchanged a glance before grinning, their resolve matching Sonic's.
"Pff! Yeah, got two complaints ready to slam on his ugly mug, right here," Carol said, lifting both fists with a mischievous grin.
"Got that and two more," Lilac added, her twin tails swaying as she mirrored Carol's expression.
"Well, let's not keep him waiting. Tails, lead the way!" Sonic said, and without further delay, the group set off, following Tails toward the iron gates of Eggman's lair.
Dragon Valley – The Front of the Iron Gates
The group came to a halt in front of a massive iron gate, partially hidden by the thick foliage of the valley. The gate, towering and foreboding, was constructed from solid metal, with Robotnik's emblem prominently displayed at the center. The surrounding terrain was a rugged mix of rocky outcrops and dense forest. The gate itself was set into the side of a mountain, making it look as though it had been carved directly into the rock.
"Well, it sure is Eggman's, alright," Sonic remarked, his tone casual yet focused as he eyed the gate.
"That's Doctor Robotnik to you, rodent!" A loud, grating voice echoed from a nearby tree. The group turned to see a red robot bird—a Balkiry—perched on a branch. Its beak opened, 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 retorted 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 gestured toward Carol and Lilac, who stepped forward confidently.
The bird's mechanical eyes narrowed as it zeroed in on the two girls. "Oh yeah, your new friends," it said with a mix of disappointment and irritation. "Why are those two even here?! Shoo, shoo, out!" The Balkiry flapped its wings in a mock shooing motion.
"We aren't going anywhere, Eggy," Carol declared, ready for a fight. The disdain at the nickname caused the bird to twitch slightly in annoyance.
"You brought this on yourself the moment you involved the Kingdom Stone in your schemes!" Lilac added, her eyes blazing with determination.
"So, the duck decided to talk, huh?" The red bird adjusted itself on the branch, its tone mocking as its eyes narrowed further. "He told you everything?"
Carol stepped in, her fists clenched. "Yeah, he told us how you want to steal the stone for your lame evil plans!" she snapped.
"I see, 'everything,'" Robotnik said 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 said, stepping forward, his voice steady and filled with confidence.
"You're going down this time!" Lilac asserted, stepping up beside Sonic, her expression fierce and unwavering.
"Grrrr," Robotnik's voice growled through the megaphone, clearly irritated by their defiance. "Fine! Be my guest, rodent, goat, as this will soon be your graves!" His voice rang out with a chilling finality, the air around them growing heavier with the threat.
With a loud buzz, the iron gates began to creak open, the heavy metal groaning as it slowly revealed the entrance to Eggman's lair. The Balkiry spread its wings, its jet engines roaring to life as it flew toward the entrance. Robotnik's mocking laughter echoed through the now-open gates, reverberating off the metal walls of the corridor beyond.
As the gates fully opened, Sonic turned to the girls with a raised eyebrow. "Well? First impression?"
"The least threatening guy I've ever met," Carol replied, unimpressed as she inspected her claws. "'tHiS wIlL sOoN bE yOuR gRaVeS,' bleeeh!" She stuck out her tongue, mocking Robotnik's dramatic proclamation. The group burst into laughter at her terrible impression, the tense mood instantly lightened.
"Hehe, well anyway," Sonic said, chuckling before glancing at the now-open doors. He crouched down, ready to sprint. "Y'all ready?"
"Let's get this show on the road!" Carol revved her bike, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"We're right beside you!" Lilac mimicked Sonic's crouch, her face set with resolve.
Tails hesitated for a moment, his ears perking up as he caught a faint sound from inside the corridor. For a split second, it sounded like the rumble of distant thunder, making him shiver slightly. He shook his head, trying to push the unease away.
Sonic noticed his hesitation. "Hey, you okay, little bro?" His voice was soft, filled with concern.
Tails took a deep breath, nodding as he shook off the unsettling feeling. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's teach him a lesson!" His tails whirred to life, spinning rapidly as he prepared to take off.
In an instant, the four of them burst forward, rushing into the heart of Eggman's domain. Robotnik's sinister laughter echoed through the corridor as they charged into the depths of the base.
To Eggman's Iron Valley.