-Chapter 239-
Dragon's Day Out, Part 1
The scene opened up in an unknown city. People were on their way to work. Children were out playing. The weather was absolutely lovely. Everything was so peaceful… Until it wasn't. The city's tranquility was disturbed by the sounds of loud, mechanical stomping. People shrieked and ran in terror as a huge, mechanical walker stomped through the city; crushing cars, street signs, and even the occasional cat.
"I'm okay!" one such cat shouted, giving a weak thumbs up.
Eventually, the walker opened up, allowing its occupants to gaze upon the carnage they had unleashed. Said occupants? The Super Special Sonic Search & Smash Squad, and their malicious master, Dr. Robotnik, Supreme Dictator, Industrial Polluter, Megalomaniac, Corrupt Politician, Underhanded Reprobate, Rainforest Ravager, Puppy Kicker, Oil Spill Coordinator, Holiday Hater, and Insurance Salesman. (Rights violated while U wait!)
"Muuu Hahahahahahaha Aaaaa! That's right, puny citizens of Sunshine City," the mad doctor laughed, "Cower and run in fear! For today, your beautiful city belongs to me!"
"Not today, Eggman!"
Robotnik and his goons stopped. Out in the distance, a blue streak could be seen running toward them. The blue streak stopped in front of the mech, revealing… Sonic the Hedgehog, Freedom Fighter, Blue Blur, Superhero, Speed Demon, Bot Buster, Steel Scrapper, Chili Dog Aficionado, and Cool, but Rude Totally Rad Party Dude.
"Sonic the Hedgehog, my archnemesis!"
"Stop what you're doing right now! Sunshine City is not yours to take!"
"That's where you're wrong, you Spiny Simpleton! Sunshine City is most certainly mine to take!"
"Yeah? Says who!?"
"Says my patented Ultra, Egg-O-Matic Robo-Stomper 9000 TM!"
Sonic got squished by the Robo-Stomper.
"Muhahahahaha! Like taking candy from a baby!"
"I like candy!" Scratch declared.
"Don't you know that too much sweets will rot your teeth?"
Robotnik and his goons turned to find Sonic standing on the Robo-Stomper's shoulder, waving at them.
"I...you...how...!?"
"Fastest Thing Alive, remember? Alright, let's do it to it!"
Sonic started ripping around the Robo-Stomper with his signature hedgehog speed. After a few seconds, the Robo-Stomper fell to pieces, leaving Eggman and S-6 hanging in the air.
"I hate that hedgehog!"
Eggman and his goons fell to the ground, screaming. The villains hit the ground with a loud thud, leaving them all discombobulated; complete with little Sonic's running around their heads.
"Heh! Look at that, scrambled eggman!" Sonic said, eliciting cheers from the citizens.
"He did it!"
"He saved the city!"
"Yay, Sonic!"
"No need to thank me, folks!" Sonic declared, waving them down. "Just doin' my job! But now, I must be on my way! Up, over, and GONE!"
Sonic ran off.
"There goes one, brave hedgehog."
"When will they learn that crime doesn't pay?"
And with that, the credits rolled.
Station Square
"And that's the show!" Breezie said with a flourish, "So, what do you think?"
The Freedom Fighters were all sitting in the home theater in Chris' mansion...and none of them looked too good. Their expressions ranged from tired to uncomfortable to borderline braindead.
"Um... well… it's..." Sonic began.
"What the heck did we just watch?" Knuckles asked.
"I have no idea…" Sally sighed.
"Why are we doing this again?" Amy asked.
"Breezie wanted to help boost morale, so her and Sonic's parents made some Sonic-themed cartoons and PSAs," Tails explained.
"Sonic's folks made these?!" Johnny exclaimed.
"That explains a lot, actually," Shorty groused.
A thud sounded. They turned to see Kat asleep, snoring lightly, and Sticks bashing her head with her boomerang.
"Come! On!" Sticks cried. "Shut! Down! Already! Stupid! Brain!"
"Oh, come on!" Breezie objected. "Jules, Bernie, and I worked really hard on this!"
"I'm sorry, Breeze," Sonic began. "But it's just so...so..."
"I got this, Sonic," Sally insisted. She put her hands together, took a deep breath, looked Breezie straight in the eye, and gently broke the news to her. "It's bad. I'm sorry, it's just bad."
"The writing is corny, the art direction's cheesy, and the animation is so choppy, you could make a pulled pork sandwich out of it." Porker added.
"Great, now I'm crazy and hungry!" Sticks whined.
"I mean, I know it's a rough draft but…" Breezie gestured to Kat, "to fall asleep in the middle of it?"
"You're right... that's the quitters' way out!" Sticks grabbed Kat, shaking her. "Wake up! Suffer with the rest of us!"
"Hey!" Keith objected. "Stop it!"
"Seriously, I'm worried," Chris remarked. "This is the seventh time this week she's conked out like this."
"And then there's her on-and-off fever," Hope added as she felt Kat's head. "I mean I know she runs hot, but seriously, this is getting ridiculous."
"They're right," Knuckles mused. "This isn't healthy."
"I see…" Breezie said, concerned. "In that case, you should probably get her home."
"Thanks, Breezie," Keith said.
"C'mon Kat, let's go..." Knuckles helped her up.
"Wait!" Sticks screamed. "You can't just leave us here! Take me with you!"
"Sorry," Knuckles said apologetically.
"Give us the highlights when you get back," Keith added as they left.
"Poor thing..." Breezie said sympathetically, only to clap her hands, instantly perking up. "Well then, who's up for another cartoon!?"
The Freedom Fighters all groaned, with Sticks bashing herself with her boomerang even more.
"Out! Out, damned brain! Out!"
-X-
Outside of the mansion, Kat cracked an eye open, looking around subtly.
"Is the coast clear?" she asked, surprising them.
"Kat!?" Chris exclaimed.
"Whew!" Kat sighed, standing up. "Thank Gaia! I can't believe that actually worked!"
"You're okay!?" Knuckles asked.
"I am now that we're out of that damn viewing. Aiyah…"
"You mean… you were just faking it to get out of watching Breezie's cartoons?" Hope asked, getting a blank look in response.
"I don't know whether to be mad for you making us worry, or impressed you were able to stay out even with Sticks shaking you," Keith mused.
Kat shrugged. "It's a talent."
"Soooo...now what?" Knuckles asked.
They paused. The viewing was scheduled for two hours, meaning they wouldn't be seeing their friends for a while.
"Who wants ice cream?" Chris asked.
"Me!" Keith agreed.
"Yes!" Hope cheered.
"I'm game if you are," Knuckles said.
"Well, I am feeling a little warm," Kat remarked. "Ice cream sounds perfect."
"Ice cream it is! Onward!" Chris dramatically flung a Warp Ring and strutted through it.
At the western port entrance of the city, citizens were going about their day. The man at the customs booth was watching a goofy Sonic Sez on a portable TV. He shook his head and chuckled to himself.
"Kids, there's nothing more cool than being hugged by someone you like. But, if someone touches you in a place or in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, that's no good! It's your body! No one has the right to touch you if you don't want them to! So what do you do? First, you say 'No!', then you get out of there! Most importantly, you gotta tell someone you trust. Like your parents, a teacher, a police officer."
"This message was brought to you by Breeze Media," a narrator announced at the end.
"Oh brother," the man chuckled.
His viewing was interrupted by the sound of powerful wingbeats. He looked up to see what it was and saw something flying toward him.
"What the...? Is that…?"
The thing landed, causing the man to fall backward.
"Hello, are you the Customs officer for this port?"
The officer got up and looked up to see a black dragon in Chun-ese robes, a smaller, red dragon in similar clothes clinging to her back. The dragon dwarfed the man, being around nine feet tall, her passenger being about four foot three.
"Uhhhhh..." The officer blinked dumbly, both because there was a dragon talking to him and because he couldn't understand a word she was saying.
"Oh," Cinder cleared her throat. "My apologies. I asked if you were the custom's officer of this port?"
"Oh! Uhhhh...y-yes!"
"Excellent." She set down two passports. "My son and I are visiting from Dragon's Nest on the borders of Chun-an and the Dragon Kingdom."
"Are you here for business or pleasure? Obvious question, but..."
"Pleasure, mostly."
"I see..." The officer examined their passports and wrote down their names in his records: Huǒlóng Cinder and Huǒlóng Kaen. "Alright, everything seems to check out."
He stamped both passports. "Enjoy your stay in the Federation, ma'am."
"Thank you, sir. Come along, Kaen."
Kaen waved at the man as they walked away. With customs out of the way, Cinder and Kaen made their way to the city. Kaen gaped in awe at how big and bright everything was. There were so many lights and sounds and people!
"This city is much larger than the nest," Cinder remarked. "You must be careful and stay with me at all times, understand?"
Kaen nodded, this was the first time he'd been out of the Dragon's Nest; he wasn't about to ruin it. As Cinder walked, several people stopped and stared.
"Holy crap..."
"Is that a...dragon?"
"No way..."
"She's huge!"
"Yeah..."
"Dude, quit staring!"
"Seriously, she has a kid."
"What's with that outfit?"
"Do you think she's with Eggman?"
"No, there's no symbol."
"I dunno..."
"Mama, why they staring?" Kaen asked.
"This is a human city, like the Dragon Kingdom. They're not used to us yet." Cinder looked around. "Now let's see...it should be around here somewhere…"
"Afternoon, Miss!" a voice called out, "You new in town?"
Cinder turned to see a husky man with a paper hat and mustache running a food cart. She smiled, addressing him in common. "I am indeed, yes."
"Well, welcome to Station Square." The man looked over Cinder's armor/outfit. "Gotta say, that's...quite the get-up you got there."
"My clan believes in being prepared, especially in this day and age."
"Wise policy." the man said seriously, "You here on vacation or..."
"A vacation of sorts, as well as a chance for my son to see where his Shijie lives."
The man blinked. "Uhhhh… His...Shi...?"
"Essentially, his elder sister," Cinder explained, "Not by blood."
"Ahhhh...okay, that makes sense. Well, while you're here, why don't you try some local cuisine?" The man lifted some lids off his cart, revealing a collection of chili dog ingredients. "Want a Sonic dog? Only five Mobiums a pop."
"Food?!" Kaen exclaimed, his eyes sparkling and tail wagging excitedly.
Cinder opened her mouth to tell Kaen that they didn't come here to sightsee (yet), only to be cut off by her rumbling stomach. She blushed a little bit. Kaen just looked at his mother.
"Mama hungy..."
Cinder sighed. "Indeed I am." she said. "I think we'll try some."
"Two Sonics, comin' up!" Cinder watched as the man got everything set up. "So...where are you from? I'm guessin' you're Yurashian from your… outfit."
"I am from the Dragon's Nest. It is indeed in Yurashia."
"In the Dragon Kingdom?"
"Chun-nan, actually."
"Chun-ese, huh makes sense." the man said as he scooped up a ladle of chili, taking extra care to pour it over the hotdogs nice and evenly. "So who's the little guy's sister you're hoping to find? Cuz I ain't never seen any dragons here… til now at least. And I know pretty much everyone."
"She is no dragon, not in blood at least. She is a human child."
"Interesting. Bet there's a story behind that." he got to work adding chili to a second hotdog. "If I run into you again, you'll have to tell me sometime I'm off the clock. Onions or no onions?"
"It is a story indeed, and perhaps I can regale you with it in the future." Cinder replied. "Also, I will try it with onions."
"And the little guy?"
Kaen stuck his tongue out, disgusted.
"None for him, please," Cinder answered.
"Gotcha. Grated cheese?" The man held up a handful of yellow cheese.
"Cheese!" Kaen cheered.
"Yes, please."
The man chuckled and started adding the finishing touches. "Alright, that's two Sonics. That'll be ten Mobiums, Miss… Uhhh..."
"Huǒlóng Cinder." She handed over ten Mobiums. "And this is Kaen, my son."
"Carson...Carson Taylor."
Cinder took the dogs, handing one to Kaen. The dragon pup immediately stuffed the whole thing in his mouth, much to Carson and Cinder's shock (especially Carson).
"Whoa!" the hotdog vendor let out.
"Kaen!" Cinder cried, shocked at her son's gluttony.
Kaen chewed and swallowed, burping loudly. "Yummy!"
"Wow..." Carson said in surprise.
Cinder sighed and took a bite of her own, her own eyes lighting up as well. "Hmm, this is interesting and quite tasty! You're a talented chef, Carson."
"Carson good!" Kaen cheered.
"Well...ehhhh...thanks..." Carson said sheepishly.
"Can bring Aunt Kitty here?" Kaen asked.
"Perhaps if she is hungry, we can come back," Cinder mused.
"I'll...look forward to it. Enjoy your visit."
Cinder bowed slightly before walking off, Carson took his cart and did the same, trying desperately to hide his blushing.
"Wow...what a gal..."
In another part of the city, Team Thorndyke and Knuckles had arrived at Blue Ice Creamery, the city's second most popular ice cream parlor (they wanted to change things up). The others had already ordered and had begun enjoying their frozen treats, while Knuckles was still looking over the menu intently.
"Do you have anything that's grape flavored?"
"No sir, we do not," the guy behind the counter replied.
"What about grape flavored toppings?" the Echidna asked. "Candies? Syrup? Whole grapes?"
"No, we don't have grape toppings either," the guy said, his tone a little more exasperated.
Knuckles thought hard, he was getting desperate. "Grape soda?"
The guy behind the counter bit his lower lip and trembled in barely contained annoyance. "No sir, we do not carry grape soda."
"Seriously? You have flavors like Tutti Fruiti and Rocky Road, but no grape?"
"This isn't Robbin's Basket, sir. I'm sorry."
Knuckles grumbled. "Fine, just gimme a vanilla scoop then."
"Coming right up."
Knuckles got his ice cream and went to join the others, shaking his head the whole time.
"Can you believe these people?" the Echidna groused, "All these flavors and no GRAPE? Every flavor under the sun, my zigzaggy tail…"
Chris shrugged, double chocolate cone in one hand. "Hey, you can't win them all."
"Seriously, you and your grapes." Kat deadpanned, taking another bite of her sundae.
"I like grapes. They're good."
"I'm well aware they're good, but seriously."
"Let him gripe, Kat," Keith advised, stopping for a moment to enjoy his cookie dough ice cream. "He's never gonna stop until he gets it out of his system."
"It's true," Chris agreed.
"Hey, I do not gripe!" Knuckles griped.
"Yeah, you do."
"No, I don't. I grouse," Knuckles explained, "Children and old ladies gripe, Keith. Real men grouse, and don't you forget that."
"So does that make Locke an old lady or a child?" Keith said slyly.
"It makes him Locke the Echidna," Kat answered.
That got everybody laughing.
"Seriously, you two are never going to stop, are you?" Chris asked.
"We got about one more year of jokes at his expense to make, Chris," Knuckles said, "And we intend to use all of it."
"Man, we really needed this," Hope sighed.
"You said it," said Kat. "These past few weeks have been... Gaia, where do I begin?"
"I know what you mean," Keith said. "Between Akhlut, Thunderbolt, and Breezie's cartoons, it's been a madhouse."
"Ironically, I think the cartoons are the worst bit," Hope mused. "No offense to Sonic's dad, but I don't think he's cut out to be a voice actor."
"Agreed," Chris nodded.
"He shouldn't quit his day job," Kat mused.
Knuckles perked in realization. "Wait, what does Sonic's dad do for a living?"
That got everyone to pause.
"I... don't know…" Chris admitted.
-X-
Back in the city, several peoples' heads turned as a group of five kids around Team Thorndyke's age walked down the sidewalk. They were led by a snobby girl with blonde hair and green eyes wearing a fancy pink blouse, purple skirt, and sunglasses, all very expensive-looking.
"'Scuse me! Pardon me! Coming through! Watch the blouse!"
The girl was accompanied by a boy with brown hair and a varsity jacket, a pair of girls in trendy, designer brand clothing, one dark-skinned and one fair-skinned, and a pasty-looking boy in a black shirt, jeans, and sneakers, with black, stringy, shoulder length hair, a long, black coat covered in different colored stitches, slouched posture, dark circles under his eyes, and a neutral expression.
"Honestly, are these people blind or something?" the blonde demanded. "When someone's walking down the sidewalk you're supposed to move!"
"Tell me about it," the dark-skinned girl said. "The nerve of some people."
"The nerve of them even more!" the fair-skinned one declared.
"I know, right!?" the varsity boy declared.
"Some people are just so inconsiderate," the blonde said as she shook her head, "Right, Kieran?"
She turned to the pasty boy, but he just stared ahead, vacantly. "Kieran! I'm talking to you!"
"Hm?" Kieran perked. "Oh… yeah… sure..."
"Milan, look," the dark-skinned girl piped up. "In the creamery."
The blonde, Milan, turned toward the creamery, lowering her sunglasses. She narrowed her eyes.
"Isn't that Chris Thorndyke?" the fair-skinned girl asked.
"Looks like," said the dark skinned girl.
"Ugh, and look who's with him," the varsity boy remarked with a sneer, looking at Knuckles and Kat.
"Seriously, as if his choice in friends wasn't bad enough already," the fair-skinned girl mused.
"Never mind that, Regina!" Milan cut in. "Him and his grubby, little friends are sitting at my table!"
Regina gasped. "OMA, you're right!"
"The nerve of them!" the dark-skinned girl exclaimed.
"The nerve of them even more, Heather!" Regina exclaimed.
"It's just a table..." Kieran said quietly, getting smacked upside the head by the varsity boy.
Milan gasped, turning to Kieran like he had just insulted her mother.
"Just a table?" she demanded. "Just a TABLE?!"
"Yeah, it's a table, you sit at it," he plainly explained.
"Marcus, again," Milan ordered.
Marcus, the varsity boy, promptly slapped him once more.
"Thank you, Marcus." Milan turned to Kieran. "It is not just a table, Kieran. It's my table. In the winter, that seat is close enough to the vents to remain warm, and yet not so close as to make me sweat. In the summer, it's directly in the path of a cross breeze created by them propping their door open. It faces the entirety of the shop at an angle that is neither direct, thus discouraging conversation, nor so far wide to keep me from missing anyone and everyone that walks in. Ergo, it is my table." She leaned in closer, sneering at him. "Do try to keep up, you pasty-faced, ring-eyed buffoon!"
"Right, sorry."
"You want we should have a word with them, Milan?" Marcus asked.
"Yes, Marcus," Milan spat, "I. Want."
-X-
Back in the creamery, Knuckles was sharing a story.
"So then Cobar says, 'If you hate how modern hip-hop music sounds so much, why don't you just make your own?'. So I say, 'Well, maybe I will!'."
"You, a hip-hop artist?" Kat scoffed. "I'm sorry, but I just don't see it."
"I'm more surprised you listen to hip-hop music at all," Chris remarked. "Figured you'd be more into heavy metal or tribal jungle beats."
"Nah, that's Shadow's thing," said Hope. "The heavy metal bit, at least. Rough may have been a jerkwad, but he wasn't wrong when he called him an Edgehog."
"Oh Aurora, can you imagine if he made a song?" Keith asked.
"It'd probably go something like this!" Knuckles was silent for a moment. "I see no, hear no evil/ Black writings on the wall/ Unleashed a million faces/ And one by one they fall!"
The group laughed.
"Oh yeah, we definitely needed this," Chris sighed. "No Eggman, no Egg Bosses, no stupid cartoons! This is gonna be a good day."
"Might've spoken too soon, cuz," Keith pointed. "Look who's here."
Chris turned around to where Keith was pointing, and promptly grimaced. "Oh great… her."
Milan and her posse entered the creamery, eliciting surprised reactions and hushed gossip from the crowd. As they entered, they made a beeline for where Team Thorndyke was sitting.
"Christopher Thorndyke," Milan spat, removing her glasses so Chris could better see her look of contempt.
Chris looked up, sighing in annoyance.
"Milan Ramada," he said, his tone somewhere between exhausted and bored. "Long time, no desire whatsoever to see."
At Knuckles and Kat's confused look, Keith leaned in.
"She's the daughter of Socrates Ramada, one of Uncle Nelson's major competitors," he explained. "Second richest kid in Station Square, and Chris' rival and exact opposite."
Knuckles nodded in understanding. "Ah, gotcha."
"Second?!" Milan exclaimed. "I'll have you know we are tied, Kent! Seriously, I thought you were a genius."
"Wow, she even sounds like a rich, self-entitled princess." Kat smirked. "Hey, Milan, do me a favor." She took on an exaggerated, whiny voice. "Say 'But Daddy, I want another Pasha!'"
Kieran quietly snickered while Heather and Regina gasped and 'ooooooh'ed in shock. Milan simply scowled, doing her best to keep her temper in check. "Marcus, be a sweetheart and get me a sparkling cranberry soda, would you?"
"Sure thing," Marcus turned to Kieran. "Kieran, get her a sparkling soda."
"She told you to do it." That got him a stomped-on foot and a cry of pain. "Yeah, 'kay."
He stalked off, Kat growling as he went.
"What do you want, Milan?" Chris asked. "I'm way too tired to put up with you right now."
"Three things," Milan began counting down. "Prima, your hair looks stupid and you should feel bad. Seconda, your friends are disgusting and you should feel worse. And terza, your stupid hair and disgusting friends are sitting at my personal table. So quarto, grab your hair, grab your friends, and get lost!"
"I don't see your name on it," Hope retorted.
"Yeah, it's just a table," Keith added. "And we were here first."
"My friends are disgusting, eh?" Chris asked. "At least I have some, not a clown posse who leech off me for my money and status."
Heather and Regina gasped.
"OMA!" Heather exclaimed.
"Disaster in the making, right there," Regina added.
"You want a disaster, go look in the mirror," Kat told them. "Seriously, I've seen clowns with better make-up than that."
"Eggman has better make-up than that," Knuckles chimed in.
Heather and Regina gasped once more.
"And those clothes and shoes?" Kat scoffed. "What, if a fashion magazine told you to wear Pockies strapped to your feet, would you?"
"I will have you know that Pocky fur is soft and very comfortable!" Milan declared. "And at any rate, it's better than your 'ensemble', jungle girl."
"Alright," Kat began counting down. "Yi, I live on an island, not a jungle. Er, my clothes are from Honey Clothing, picked out by Honey the Cat herself, thank you very much. And san, you got some schmutz on your hand."
"What?!" Milan looked at her hand. "Where?"
Kat grabbed her hand and licked a broad stripe, complete with exaggerated noises. "There."
Milan recoiled in disgust, squealing in horror while her friends recoiled as well.
"Kieran!" Milan shouted.
Kieran returned. "Yes, Milan?"
As soon as he arrived, Milan wiped her slobber-covered hand off on his shirt, much to his disgust.
"Now get back in line and get me my drink!" she ordered.
"But…"
"Now! You albino, Bleeding Edge (1) raccoon!"
"Yeah, kay…" With that, Kieran returned to the back of the line, sagging in defeat.
"And as for you, you disgusting, little street urchin!" Milan screamed. "Do you know who I am?!"
"No, and I don't care," Kat deadpanned. "Also, I just established that I live on an island. Maybe some filth got in your ears as well. Or maybe you just can't hear over the hot air you're spouting."
"You…" Milan hissed. "You parassiti…"
"Let it go, Milan," Marcus insisted. "She ain't worth it."
Milan composed herself. "Right, of course. Honestly, the Freedom Fighters really have fallen if they're letting riff-raff like them into their ranks."
"No wonder everyone says we're doomed." Heather scoffed, getting a nod from Regina.
"Wait, doomed?" Hope raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Oh please, Kintobor," Milan scoffed. "Everyone saw you get curb-stomped by that orca and dingo in Station Square. How Dr. Robotnik himself is the only reason you're still breathing. Sonic's losing his edge, and so are the rest of you."
"My dad's a cop at the SSPD," Marcus added. "He's been getting slammed with calls about missing people. One of his co-workers even quit to move to Robotropolis in hopes of getting a good deal and leniency in the Egg Army."
"The 'Call-For-Help' Hotline has been getting so many calls, one the counselors needed to call one himself," Regina added.
"Seriously, how do you not know about this?" Heather questioned.
"We've been busy!" Chris defended.
"Oh yes, clearly," Milan deadpanned. "Busy sitting here stuffing your faces without a care in the world, while all of Mobius is being turned into robots! Some heroes, am I right?"
Milan and her goons laughed. Knuckles growled, as did Kat. Suddenly, they felt a sharp, stinging sensation in their heads.
"What the...?"
Kat and Knuckles turned to the side and saw Kieran, the pale boy having just picked up Milan's drink. Though he appeared indifferent as ever, the way he was staring directly at her and the death grip he had on her soda spoke volumes. Shaking it off, Kat turned to Milan.
"You know what?" she began. "You don't get to judge us or try to belittle us. You don't know half of the things we go through on a daily basis, the pain and trauma we have to swallow. You're nothing more than a filthy rich spoiled brat who thinks having money makes her just plain better than everyone else. Well I for one am sick of it. So take your bragging somewhere else, because this is how much I care."
She blew a prolonged raspberry right at Milan. However, as Kat's raspberry petered out, she started to waver, sounding like a boat engine losing power. She fell forward, Keith moving her ice cream just in time as she passed out.
"Oh no..." Hope gasped.
"What just happened?" Milan demanded.
"I think she fell asleep on you." said Marcus.
"Seriously!?" Heather exclaimed. "The nerve of her!"
"The nerve of her even more!" Regina agreed.
"Marcus, wake her up," Milan ordered.
"Gladly." Marcus grabbed Kat's ice cream.
"Hey, wait-!" Knuckles shouted.
"Move it, anteater!" Marcus ordered. "Wake up call for Jungle Jane!"
Marcus promptly turned the bowl over and dropped it and its contents onto Kat's head, only for her to remain out of it.
"What the hell?!" Keith shouted.
"What? A nice, cold dip always wakes me up." Marcus smirked, chuckling. "Get it?"
"I get it..." Milan sighed
"You pompous, no-good...!" Knuckles winced, feeling another sharp, spiking sensation in his head. "What the...?"
"Knuckles, you okay?" Hope asked.
"I'm...not sure...I just felt… something in my head."
"It's called a 'brain'," Milan laughed mockingly. "Sounds like yours is broken."
"Least I have one," Knuckles shot back.
At that moment, Kieran walked over with Milan's drink. "Here's your soda, MilaaaaaAAAAH!"
Kieran stumbled about, flailing his arms wildly, and splashing soda all over Milan and her friends. Milan cried out in disgust as Kieran regained his bearings.
"Oops…" he said.
"My Limited Edition Honey Brand Shorts!" Heather screamed. "They're ruined!"
"He got some in my purse!" Regina cried. "He got soda in my purse!"
"And yet, life goes on," Keith said flatly.
Milan whirled on Kieran. "Kieran, you klutzy, tanuki-faced idiot! Do you have any idea how expensive this blouse was!?"
"Ummmm…" Kieran looked around nervously, showing more emotion than he ever had, "...very?"
"It was a thousand Mobiums! And you ruined it! Why, I have half a mind to sue you and your worthless family for everything they're worth, you pasty-faced, pencil-necked, stringy-haired, patchy-coated, baggy-eyed piece of-!"
Before she could say anything further, there was a heavy thunk. Everyone turned, Milan and her sycophants going wide-eyed when they saw Hope had put her pistol on the table.
"Milan... you need to leave," she said, calm but cold. "Please take your friends, turn around, and walk away, now."
"Y-you don't tell me what to do, Kintobor!" Milan stammered. "I'm-"
"I don't care who you are. I'm a GUN agent with a literal license to kill. Don't make me exercise it."
Milan sweated nervously before scoffing. "Fine! Everyone, we're leaving!"
She stormed out, followed by Heather, Regina, and Marcus. Kieran just stood there, a barely noticeable smirk on his face. Knuckles took a moment to look him over. Despite his passive, lethargic demeanor, the echidna sensed something… off about him.
"Move it, zombie-boy!" Marcus shouted as he grabbed Kieran by his coat collar and dragged him outside. The boy gave a small wave as he's yanked out of the creamery.
"Huh," Keith let out. "Seems at least one of them isn't a complete jerkwad."
"Is Kat okay?" Hope questioned, looking down at her friend in concern.
"She's not hurt, but…" Chris pointed to the ice cream still in her hair, which was melting like butter on a hot skillet, "I think her fever is getting worse…"
Knuckles put a hand to her forehead, wincing slightly before scooping her up. "Come on, we'd better get her home."
They got up and left the creamery, their good mood ruined by what had transpired and what they'd learned..
-X-
Station Square
Meanwhile, in another part of the city Kaen and Cinder were attempting to find their way around.
"Let's see…" Cinder mused. "It should be around here somewhere…"
"Where we goin, mama?" Kaen asked.
"We're going to see Aunt Kitty at Angel Island…" Cinder sighed. "Wherever that is."
"Then why we in city, not island?"
"Because the island is close to the city."
"Do we ask direshens?"
"Well…" Cinder saw a guide station. "Ahh! Maybe this nice lady can help us!" She walked over to the stand with Kaen in hand. "Pardon me, Miss, but can you give us directions to Angel Island?"
"Angel Island?" the guide asked. "Well, you'll need to head for the pier and see if you can rent some sort of air travel. Given the time of day, the island should be near the southern pier.
"I see..."
As this was going on, Kaen was looking around. He saw a stray cat walking around.
"Kitty!" He cheered before running off to go pet the kitty. The kitty saw the little dragon heading, and with a loud screech, took off down the alley with Kaen in hot pursuit.
-X-
"Alright, I see," Cinder said at last. "Thank you again for your help."
The guide smiled. "Of course. Anytime, ma'am."
"Come along, Kaen. I know where to-" She froze up when she saw her son was gone. "Kaen? Kaen?!" Cinder began hyperventilating. "KAEN!"
Author's Note:
(1): Mobian Hot Topic.
Well, things are heating up. Will Kaen be found safe and sound?
Milan Ramada is from Archie's Sonic X comic, while her posse is largely OCs. Kieran Taylor is property of WindstarOsprey, used with his permission.
Voice cast for this chapter:
* Milan - Rachel Wilson (Heather from Total Drama, Tamira Goldstein in Breaker High)
* Heather - Jessica Keenan Wynn (Heather Chandler from Broadway's Heathers, Collette in the 2021 Clifford the Big Red Dog movie)
* Regina - Reneé Rapp (Regina George from Broadway's Mean Girls, Leighton Murray in The Sex Lives of College Girls)
* Marcus - Trevor Tordjman (Bucky from ZOMBIES 1 and 2, Parker Preston in Bunk'd, James in The Next Step)
* Kieran - Griffin Burns (Vinegar Doppio from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Dendritic Cell from Cells at Work!, Zeph from Octopath Traveler)
* Carson - Brad Garrett (Bibbo from Superman: The Animated Series, Robert Barone in Everyone Loves Raymond, Dim in A Bug's Life)
Please R&R. Until next time!