Note: Another thanks to Tethys for the beta read.

Another day of adventure went between the young trio. They'd ventured so far into the forest, Jewel was afraid they'd never find their way back. But…Somehow, they'd returned just in time before the sun was about to set.

Sonic patted his tummy, "I'm getting hungry. Where can I get a good chili dog?"

Jewel shrugged, "I dunno."

Tangle, meanwhile, agreed with Sonic, eyes lighting up, "I know just the guy! Follow me!"

Sonic, unsurprisingly, did, to Jewel's frustration. Tangle used her long tail to tap on the back of the rabbit running the hot-dog stand, "Hey mister!"

The hotdog guy turned around, "Huh?" He turned around to see a child trio of a little boy hedgehog, girl lemur, and girl beetle. The hedgehog and lemur were doing their most adorable begging child eyes. The rabbit asked, "What do you kids want?"

The hedgehog begged, "Could we get some food?"

The lemur joined in, "And me too? We're very hungry."

The guy raised an eyebrow, "Uh…Kids…You know gotta buy those. Where are your parents?"

Sonic explained, "I'm an orphan. I never knew my parents…"

Tangle shrugged, "Mine aren't around often."

Jewel sighed, "I guess I'll call mine…"

He rolled his eyes and sighed, "Just this once, I'll do it. But you can't just ask me for free meals, kids."

The lemur and hedgehog both lit up, speaking simultaneously, "THANK YOU, SIR!"

He giggled, starting to assemble their chili-dogs, "I'm Ron." He finished them for the trio, "Have a nice night, kiddos!"

Sonic grabbed his, thanking Tangle, "Thank you Tangle, you're a life saver!"

Tangle winked back, "Any time!"

Jewel grimaced, "You two are lucky he was so generous…"

The three went to the castle wall of town to sit as the sun was setting, Sonic noting, "I'm glad I came here. What a view!"

Tangle agreed, "I know, right! I think I can see a cloud that looks like my head!" As she pointed into the sky.

Jewel was concerned yet again, "Is this really where we should eat?"

But no answer came. Sonic took a bite of the chili dog, and instantly, he fell in love with it. The spices, the meats, the tinges of salt and sugar, they all combined to make this the most…heavenly thing he'd ever eaten. His eyes became stars, salivating at the chili dog as his little tail began wagging, "This…IS THE GREATEST THING EVER!"

Tangle and Jewel were caught a bit off guard by this. Tangle smiled though, "...Glad you like it." Taking a bit out of one herself. She liked it a lot, and would take a long time to get sick of it. But best thing ever…She wasn't so sure.

Jewel giggled though, "Awww…your tail's wagging. Glad to know Tangle's not the only one with an expressive tail here."

Sonic was confused, "What?" He looked behind him, "I don't see no tail wagging. Less talking, more eating!" He took another bite, tail wagging again.

Tangle now noticed too, "I see it now too! You must really love that thing!"

Sonic checked behind him again, stopping barely as he looked back. He shrugged, getting back to eating, which of course caused it to wag again. Tangle giggled now too, getting back to eating it herself, her tail showing how content she was with this meal.

Jewel ate hers now too. She didn't understand what was so special about this thing. It was fine, but she could probably live without it. Still, it was clear her friends were loving theirs, so she kept the thought to herself. The trio finished their foods, Sonic exclaiming, "Ah…That hit the spot! Catch you later!" And he disappeared, off to his orphanage.

Jewel grimaced, "We've known him for days, and yet each time he suddenly disappears, I'm still surprised."

Tangle stood up, "That's just who he is. Later Jewel!" As she began to swing around back to her place.

Jewel closed her eyes, Kindred spirits indeed… She flew back to her house next.

After the excursion they had finished, the Spiral Hill trio had made it back to their home. Jewel knew what to expect from these returns so she sarcastically asked, "What are we doing next you two?"

Sonic winked, "Chili dogs, of course!" They ran over to their favorite hot dog vendor: Ron.

He greeted them happily, "Hey, it's my #1, #2, and #5 customers!"

Sonic and Tangle giggled as they winked opposite eyes, "You know it!"

He quickly started preparing chili dogs for Sonic and Tangle, asking Jewel, "You want one today, Jewel?"

She shook her head, "Nah. I'll go grab myself some chicken wings."

The two of her friends gave thumbs ups in response, Sonic suggesting, "Ah well. I can respect that."

Tangle agreed, "Me too."

The two of them got their chili dogs, waving Ron goodbye. He looked at his cash from them and smiled, I'll be able to purchase a permanent store location with the money these 3 have given me. Nice kids, glad my generosity all those years ago paid off so handsomely…

They caught up to Jewel in her favorite chicken wings place: An indoor restaurant close to where Ron ran his stand. They ate around a table, musing about their day. Sonic stretched, "Ooooooooooohhh, what a day you guys."

Tangle agreed, "Tell me about it. Even compared to our past adventures, that was nuts!"

Jewel sipped her tea, sarcastically noting, "You can say that again." Jewel then put up a hand to stop Tangle before she did. "They don't usually involve crazy scientists…"

Sonic chuckled, "That's a new one."

Tangle wondered, "How many animal rights violations did he commit with his 'stuff animals into machines' anyway?"

Jewel, who'd done cursory research on it, remarked, "Too many. Easier to list the ones he didn't."

Tangle laughed hard at that, wiping a tear from her eye when finished, "Oh, Jewel, your dry wit gets me every time."

Sonic admitted, "Gotta have someone to keep us alive, eh?"

Jewel smirked, "You two seem a little too eager to throw your lives away."

Sonic and Tangle put arms around each other and recited together, "We live life to the fullest? Would you expect anything less?"

Jewel softly smiled after sipping tea some more, "Nah." She looked at the time, "It's getting late you two…"

Tangle asked them, "What's the plan for our next big adventure?"

Sonic wondered, "Jewel, didn't you say something about a small planet that appears over some lake?"

Tangle wondered, "That sounds pretty far fetched…"

Jewel insisted, "I know, but I swear it's been corroborated by several sources. In a few weeks, it will be over Never Lake. If we can visit it and come back in time, we might secure some unique rarely-before-seen gemstones."

Sonic winked, "Sounds great!"

Tangle wondered, "You gonna fly us there and back?"

Jewel shrugged, "Maybe if Sonic didn't own a plane."

He scratched his head, "Oh yeah. Good idea."

The trio waved goodbye for the night, getting to rest.