Chapter 10: A Well-Deserved Rest… Before the Main Course!

Dragon Valley – Lilac's Treehouse, Evening Hours

The warm glow of the setting sun bathed Dragon Valley in a golden hue, painting the treetops in rich shades of orange and red. Torque, after an exhausting day, had finished setting up a large green tent near the treehouse, admiring his handiwork with a satisfied nod. The tent, unusually spacious and sturdy, could easily accommodate their entire group. Torque wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced at the sky, where the last rays of daylight were quickly fading. A flicker of concern crossed his face. "They sure are taking a long time…" he muttered under his breath. "Maybe I should have gone with them. What if something happened—"

"Hey, Torque!" Sonic's voice rang out, cutting through the silence. The familiar blue blur zipped toward him, followed closely by Lilac, Tails, and Carol, who was rolling her motorcycle beside her. They wore triumphant smiles, albeit tired ones, as they approached.

Torque let out a sigh of relief, the weight on his chest lifting as he saw them safe and sound. "They're okay," he thought to himself, returning Sonic's wide smile with one of his own.

"Man! That's a big tent you've got there!" Sonic remarked, his eyes widening at the impressive structure.

Torque chuckled. "Well, I had a lot of stuff in the ship, so I needed a bigger tent." His expression quickly shifted to one of concern as he noticed the group's condition—their clothes were scorched and wet, and they sported various bruises and scratches. "Hey... you guys look beat up."

Sonic glanced down at himself, noticing the wear and tear from their recent battle. He simply shrugged it off. "Eh, we've had worse," he said casually before grinning. "Also, guess who managed to kick not only Egghead's butt but his scaly lackey's as well?" He spread his arms wide, proudly announcing, "These four, baby!"

The group cheered, exchanging high-fives in celebration. Torque blinked in disbelief, still processing the fact that they had actually defeated Doctor Robotnik. "You guys defeated them?" he asked, astonished, they actually did it!

Lilac nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! Sent those two flying away!" She giggled at the memory, clearly relishing the victory.

Torque felt a wave of relief wash over him, but a sinking feeling in his gut made him ask, "Wait, scaly lackey?" His eyes narrowed in concern as he had a sinking feeling about who they might be talking about.

Carol stepped forward, eager to explain. "Yeah, Eggy wasn't alone. He had a partner in crime, called himself, uh, Serpentine or something. He was a snake, but he kinda looked like…" She paused, trying to find the right words.

"A slug?" Tails suggested, tilting his head thoughtfully.

Carol snapped her fingers. "Yeah! One ugly slug!" she laughed.

Torque's eyes widened in shock once more, his beak hanging open in disbelief. They had encountered General Serpentine? And they had won?!

Sonic chuckled, clearly enjoying Torque's surprise. "Never thought Eggman would get a brand-new lackey so soon," he remarked, remembering the last time Robotnik had hired someone—like the Hooligans, a group of mercenaries for hire. Although it was only his leader the last time they met.

"Yeah," Tails added with a chuckle, though his expression soon grew more serious. "But… he did say very clearly that he wasn't working with Eggman because he wanted to." Everyone's interest piqued at this revelation. "He said he was working under someone else… Hey, Carol, didn't Serpentine mention their name during our fight?"

Carol tilted her head, thinking back. "He did?" After a moment, she nodded as the memory resurfaced. "Oh yeah! He said something about, uh, yes, he mentioned that he worked under a guy named… Lord Brevon?" she said, her voice echoing ominously as the swift wind carried the name.

At the mention of Lord Brevon, Torque's laser gun started to rattle furiously in its holster. Torque's heart skipped a beat as he quickly grabbed it, trying to calm it down. Everyone watched him with surprise and concern as he laughed nervously, sweat beading on his brow. "Uhhhh, s-sorry about that!" He forced a smile, trying to hide his unease. "My gun almost fell, heehee," he said, though the way he held the gun tightly suggested there was more to it.

The group's concern deepened, their eyes silently urging Torque to explain. Lilac stepped forward, her voice gentle yet worried. "Torque? Are you… okay?"

"I'm fine!" Torque exclaimed, perhaps a bit too loudly, his tone a little too cheerful. "Just relieved to see you all okay, that's all!"

A moment of awkward silence settled over them as the sun finally dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the valley.

GROWL

The sound startled everyone, and they all turned to see Sonic clutching his stomach with a sheepish grin. "Uhhh, you said there was a thing called ramen, right?" he asked, rubbing his belly, his hunger breaking the tension.

The group burst into laughter, the mood instantly lightening. Carol chuckled as she turned to Sonic. "Don't worry, Bluey, we have a full cabinet, courtesy of a certain dragon," she teased, giving Lilac a playful look.

Lilac crossed her arms. "Hey! I'd like to eat something else, but the budget doesn't cover it," she retorted.

Carol leaned against Lilac. "I keep telling you! Just lend me some gold gems and I'll come back rich at the end of the day!" She waggled her eyebrows.

Lilac rolled her eyes. "I am not letting you gamble our money away!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with exasperation.

"But think of the chances!" Carol countered.

The boys watched the banter with amusement. Sonic finally cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to the matter at hand. "Hello, ladies? Hungry hedgehog here? Would like some tasty nourishment?" he said, his eyes half-closed.

The girls stopped their bickering, Carol scratching her head sheepishly. Lilac blushed, embarrassed by the distraction. "S-sorry. C'mon!" She gestured toward the treehouse. "We'll get you food and a roof to stay under." She added with a smile, "We all need a well-deserved rest after what we pulled off at Iron Valley!"

Sonic smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, Lilac." The group began making their way towards the treehouse, with Sonic following closely behind—except for Torque, who lingered by his tent.

Sonic paused and glanced back at Torque. "Hey, not coming?"

Torque hesitated, his expression conflicted. "Oh no, no. You guys go and rest. I need to revise my inventory," he replied, turning back to his tent. There was still work to be done.

"Suit yourself…" Sonic said, a hint of disappointment in his voice, before heading up the stairs to the treehouse with the others.

Torque suddenly realized something important. "Wait!" he called out, stopping them in their tracks. "What about Robotnik and Serpentine? Shouldn't we be worried about them?" His voice was tinged with anxiety. "You guys just sent them flying away—what if they come back?"

Sonic gave him a confident smile. "Don't worry. If either of them tries to mess with the Kingdom Stone, we'll make sure to keep them far away." His voice was filled with assurance. "No matter how many times they try, as long as we're here, they're not touching the stone."

Torque stared at Sonic's confident expression, the determination in his eyes undeniable. Slowly, he hesitantly nodded. "Alright… I'll trust you then," he said with a smile, feeling a bit more at ease. "Good night, everyone."

"See ya tomorrow, Torqui!" Sonic flashed a grin, and the others chimed in with their goodnights before Sonic slid the wooden door closed behind them.

Torque watched them go, his expression a mix of concern and uncertainty. As the door closed behind the group, his gun murmured softly, a sound of unease. Torque sighed, patting the gun gently. "Don't worry, buddy," he whispered. "Your reaction is justified…" He sighed again as he turned back to his tent, opening it to slip inside. "I think it's better if I keep the costume on tonight, just to be safe." He glanced at the treehouse one more time before disappearing into his tent, the breeze carrying the promise of more challenges to come.

Shang Tu Island – Far Far Away, Night Hours

On the rugged path of Shang Tu Island, the distant figures of Robotnik and Serpentine became clearer under the pale moonlight. Their once-pristine attire was now a mess—Robotnik's red shirt was torn and burned, his goggles cracked, and his mustache disheveled. Serpentine's scales were scratched and bruised, his mechanical arms sparking intermittently. They walked—or, in Serpentine's case, slithered—beside each other, their bickering echoing through the night.

"You. Stupid. Worm!" Robotnik yelled at Serpentine, spitting as he spoke. "Why in the name of Chaos would you press that button?!" He jabbed his finger repeatedly at Serpentine's side, his frustration boiling over.

"If you didn't want someone to press a button, then label it as dangerous! You. Fat. Man!" Serpentine hissed back, his eyes narrowing in anger.

"It's called common sense, you moronic snake! A red button with a skull on it means 'dangerous, do not touch!'" Robotnik snapped, jabbing him more forcefully.

"Like everyone knows your stupid earthling symbols!" Serpentine shot back, jabbing a mechanical fist into Robotnik's gut, causing the doctor to stagger.

Robotnik's patience snapped. "THAT'S IT! I'M MAKING SNAKE SHOES OUT OF YOU TONIGHT!" he growled, lunging for Serpentine's tail.

"NOT IF I USE YOUR SKIN AS A LEATHER JACKET FIRST!" Serpentine retorted, grabbing Robotnik by the collar. The two were now engaged in a ridiculous scuffle, rolling around on the ground, pulling at each other's hair and scales, biting and slapping in a frenzy of absurdity.

Their fight escalated, with Robotnik and Serpentine trading increasingly ludicrous blows. Robotnik yanked on Serpentine's tail, making the snake yelp and retaliate by wrapping his tail around Robotnik's legs, causing him to trip. They bit at each other, poked each other's eyes, and grabbed each other by the neck, rolling around in a cloud of dust as they continued their childish brawl.

"You call that a move, you oversized maggot?!" Robotnik yelled, his face red with exertion.

"I'll turn your whiskers into a toothbrush, you bloated buffoon!" Serpentine spat back, his tail tightening around Robotnik's legs.

Just above them, a hovering robot with a single green eye and metallic tentacles observed the spectacle. Its eye began to glow as it recorded the chaotic scene, a hint of amusement flickering in its mechanical gaze.

"Doctor Ivo Robotnik and General Serpentine localized. Initiating retrieval," a feminine voice emanated from the robot, her tone calm and authoritative.

The drone observed the ridiculous fight for a moment longer, then its green eye glowed brighter before firing a green laser at their feet, creating a bright flash and a loud zap.

"Egad!" Robotnik exclaimed, jumping back and nearly tripping over his own feet.

"Tsya!" Serpentine hissed, recoiling from the laser and glaring up at the robot, his eyes narrowing in recognition.

Both villains stumbled back and fell on their butts, blinking in surprise. Serpentine was the first to recover, shaking his head and squinting at the drone.

"Syntax?" Serpentine asked, his voice a mix of irritation and disbelief.

"Correct," Syntax replied, her voice devoid of emotion. "Incoming call from Lord Brevon." The drone's eye projected a hologram, revealing the imposing figure of Lord Brevon. He stood tall, his expression cold and calculating as he silently observed the two disheveled figures.

"General, Ivo," Brevon began, his voice as cold as steel. His eyes narrowed in displeasure as he took in their sorry state.

"L-l-lord Brevon!" Serpentine straightened up immediately, snapping a sharp salute. "Get up, fatman!" he hissed at Robotnik, nudging him sharply.

Robotnik begrudgingly rose to his feet, brushing off his ruined clothes and cape. "Didn't expect a call from you so soon, Arktivus," he grumbled, trying to maintain a semblance of dignity despite his disheveled appearance.

"Neither did I," Brevon admitted, his gaze piercing. "I assume the 'rodent' gave you a hard time."

"Bah! Trust me, the plan was perfect!" Robotnik yelled, throwing his arms in the air. "If it wasn't for certain variables and a buffoon pressing the wrong button!" He shot a glare at Serpentine, who hissed back, baring his fangs. "I could have gotten rid of Sonic FOREVER!" Robotnik shouted, his face flushing with anger.

Brevon's expression remained stern, his eyes narrowing further. "To believe you were beaten by children is shameful," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. Both Robotnik and especially Serpentine flinched at the harsh words. "But that doesn't matter now. Ignore Sonic and his friends," Brevon commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"B-b-but Arktivus…" Robotnik began.

"NO BUTS, Ivo!" Brevon snapped, his patience wearing thin. "There's no time for your playground activities. It's time for action!" He lifted a cyan gem, catching their attention. It was a Chaos Emerald. "Metal Sonic just retrieved another one of the Chaos Emeralds from the island of Parusa." A wicked smile spread across his face. "I've got to congratulate you on that, Doctor. You did create an efficient machine." In the background, Metal Sonic appeared, one hand covered in a slight tint of red. Brevon handed the emerald back to Metal, who then turned and stormed away, the door closing behind him with a metallic clang.

Robotnik puffed out his chest with a smug grin. "Well, what can I say—"

"Quiet," Brevon cut him off sharply, his gaze hardening. "General, you will go to the kingdom of Shang Mu and hold position there until further orders." Serpentine saluted crisply, his expression serious. "As for you, Doctor, contact your associates as well. It's time to also reach out to our 'dear' helper before you head to Shang Mu as well. The Kingdom Stone is now our top priority."

Robotnik looked momentarily taken aback. "Now? But I thought—"

"We don't think, Doctor. We do," Brevon interrupted, his tone brokering no argument. "Contact the fool. It's time to secure the Kingdom Stone." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "And you better not disappoint me this time. Dismissed!" The hologram vanished, leaving Robotnik, Serpentine, and Syntax standing in the moonlit path, their expressions a mix of frustration and dark determination.

"Tch, you heard what Lord Brevon said. Don't mess it up!" Serpentine snarled, pointing a mechanical finger at Robotnik.

Robotnik glared back, equally defiant. "Same to you, worm!" He tapped a button on his wristwatch, summoning his Egg-mobile, which would soon arrive at his location. As the Egg-mobile approached, Robotnik shot Serpentine a final disdainful look.

Serpentine hissed an order to Syntax, who extended her tendrils for him to grab onto, lifting him into the air and heading toward the east. The two villains exchanged childish gestures, sticking out their tongues at each other as they prepared to part ways.

"…Patience, Robotnik," he muttered to himself with barely-contained frustration as he waited, watching Serpentine leave. "They are allies, for now," he added, his tone dripping with sinister intent as the familiar shape of his Egg-Mobile came into view, descending from the sky with a mechanical whirr.

As Robotnik settled into the Egg-mobile, he pulled out a communicator and dialed a number. He waited for a few moments. When the call connected, his sour demeanor shifted to one of syrupy sweetness. "Hello? Ah, it's good to see you're awake!" he cooed, his voice dripping with false charm. He paused, listening intently to the response on the other end. "I know, I know, sorry for calling you so late! But I have some wonderful news that will make you very happy!" He jumped with fake joy as his smile twisted into a malevolent grin as he prepared to deliver the news.

"It's time to take what's yours, 'dear' mayor…"

The night air grew colder as Robotnik's sinister words echoed through the valley, the promise of a darker plan now set into motion.

{A/N}

And with that, theAdventure Beginsarc is complete! Ideas keep flooding into my mind, and wow, I think this is going to be a long story.

Thanks to everyone who's been reading along!