Author's Note: The ending of this particular chapter required a creative rethinking since Tails was accompanying Wolf, Dave, and Mandu on the treasure hunt and I found this to be the best time to introduce a fan-favorite character.

The song featured here is a parody of "Gotham City Guys" from the Lego Movie 2.

Any and all comments are welcome.

Kipo, Sonic, Sonia, Manic, and Benson just entrusted their friends to find the perfect birthday gifts. While they were off on their Ratland adventure, Wolf, Tails, Dave, and Mandu were roaming through the streets of Las Vistas keeping an eye out.

"Hey! What about this?" Dave asked picking up a hubcap. "We can say this is a hat-frisbee. Kipo likes fashion. Boom! Hat. Kipo likes fun. Boom! Frisbee."

"A frisbee?" Wolf asked skeptically.

"Dave," Tails said, "There's no way that can pass as a hat nor a frisbee."

"Yeah, it can. Watch" Dave turned to throw the hubcap. He sent it flying through the air letting it crash right through the window of the nearest autoparts store.

Right when the crash echoed through the streets, eyes opened up from the shadows all over. Wolf raised her Deathstalker tail up and grouped up with the others realizing they were surrounded. From the dark windows and alleyways, familiar frogs in suits hopped out and surrounded the four.

"Mod Frogs." Wolf growled. "Thanks for ringing the dinner bell, Dave."

"You're welcome." Dave said before realizing what he said. "Wait…"

Some of the frogs parted letting two familiar Mod Frogs approach.

"Well, look who we have here." Kwan said. "The kids who brought the mega-bunny to our lair."

"So the Hooligans failed to capture you?" Harris asked. "That's fine. That means we get to cash in on you ourselves."

As the frogs began to close in, the four kids were pressed up against each other.

"If we're gonna die, there are some things I gotta say." Dave said. "Mandu, you're the best four-eyed pig I've ever met. Tails, you're the best two-tailed fox I've ever met. And Wolf, you're the best girl that wears wolf skin that I've ever met."

"Oh, stop. You're making me cry." Wolf said sarcastically. She raised her Deathstalker tail up ready to strike… but she didn't have to.

All of a sudden, a new figure dropped in from the sky. It was a beautiful bat mute with white fur, tan skin, eyelashes, pink lipstick, pointy ears, and black bat wings on her back. She wore a black unitard with a pink heart chestplate, white boots with pink tips, and white gloves which she reached out to keep the Mod Frogs away.

"Hold on, everyone! Hold on! What do you think you're doing? Do you want to die?"

Everyone was confused at what the bat lady was doing, especially the kids. The bat lady snuck her hand to a puddle of water on the road and slowly approached them.

"This isn't your business, batty." Harris said.

"Aren't you people seeing this?" The bat lady pointed at Tails. "Look at that boy. He has two tails. Do you honestly believe that's natural? It's obvious he's sick. Dualitis tailitis, I believe."

"Duali… What?" Harris asked. "I've never heard of it."

"You sure? I thought everyone heard of that. It's dangerous and highly contagious. You'll know it once you spot spots on the backs of your heads. Everyone, turn around. I'll show you."

The Mod Frogs shrugged at each other before turning around. The bat lady then took the water she just picked up and flicked a bit of it on the back of Kwan's head without her knowing.

"Oh, no!" she feigned fear. "It's already started! Look!"

Harris looked at the back of his partner's head and gasped. Kwan became worried.

"What? What's wrong?"

"She's right! You've got spots!"

"What?!" Kwan gasped in worry. She turned back to the bat mute. "Please, tell me what to do?"

"You gotta go home, take a shower upside down, and then swallow a lemon! The rest of you better do it too just to be safe!"

"RIGHT!" all the Mod Frogs said at once before disappearing into the city. Once they were all

gone, the bat mute broke down in laughter. She cackled hysterically before calming down.

"What a bunch of idiots." She turned back to Wolf, Tails, Dave, and Mandu who were surprised at what they saw. "You kids all right?"

"All right?" Tails asked in disbelief. "How did you do that?"

"Anyone can be fooled given the right circumstances. You just gotta know the right lie." The bat was cut off by Wolf who pointed her Deathstalker tail at her. "Whoa. Take it easy, Fifi."

"Call me Wolf. Now, who are you and why did you save us?"

"Straight to the point. I respect that, kid. So the name's Rouge. And as to why I saved you, would you believe it was my good deed for the day?"

"No." Wolf answered.

"Someone's paranoid." Rouge said. "Well, all right. Be that way. I was just going to ask if you needed some help, but if that's how you feel…"

"Whoa, whoa, hold it." Dave stepped in. "Whoever said we didn't need your help?"

"Dave, what are you doing?" Wolf asked. "We don't know her."

"I actually agree with Wolf." Tails said. "Doesn't it seem a little coincidental that she happened to save us right when we were attacked?"

"I see where you're coming from," Dave said, "But here's my argument… She's pretty."

"Dave!" Wolf growled.

"Well, it looks like somebody has good taste." Rouge said. She flashed a wink toward Dave making him chuckle like an idiot. She then turned back to Wolf. "Look, kid. You clearly need some help. I understand why you don't want to trust me, but I promise you, I will not try to steal anything from you. Besides, you kinda owe me for saving your lives."

Wolf gave a very skeptical look at Rouge. She didn't break it even though she lowered her weapon. "I've got my eye on you."

"Marvelous." Rouge said. "So how can I help you kids?"

After explaining the birthday situation with Rouge, the bat took the kids to a nearby shopping district. Tails wandered off to one store while the rest went to a clothing store.

"And you think we'll find something for Kipo and the hedgehogs here?" Wolf asked.

"Absolutely." Rouge said. "I don't know about the boys, but there's nothing more irresistible to a lady than a fine accessory. Take this for example." Rouge found a hanging necklace with a purple gem on it. "This is quite a find. I have an eye for the shiniest jewels, you see." She caught side of Mandu who glared suspiciously at her. "Hey. Eyes to yourself, porkchop."

"Hey, guys!" Dave called from behind a curtain. "I found the perfect gift… to me. We still gotta find something for Kipo." He opened the curtain to reveal a black leather jacket with spikes on its sleeves. The sight of it made Wolf gasp out a smile.

"That's it! That looks just like the one that Kipo wanted at the Chaotix office! That's definitely her present."

"Well… too bad there's only one." Dave said admiring how he looked in the mirror. "And I say I look good in it."

"Really?" Rouge asked sweetly. She rubbed her finger on Dave's shoulder to get his attention. "'Cause I think you look better without it."

Dave chuckled nervously. "Oh, you think so? All right. Just give me a minute."

Rouge rolled her eyes before leaning back next to Wolf. "Sometimes, boys like him make things too easy."

"How do you do that?" Wolf asked.

"It's easy, really." Rouge said. "Just give them what they think they want. That's all there is to it."

"Uh, guys. We have a problem." Dave called out. "I was about to take it off when suddenly, I grew

and…" He showed that he had already grown into his muscular form, and in the process, ripped most of the jacket into shreds. Only the arm sleeve remained.

Rouge stared in disbelief. "Was he always able to do that?"

"Only in the most inconvenient times." Wolf said in disappointment. "I swear, Dave, you are utterly useless." She walked away to continue searching.

"I'm starting to think she has a problem with all mutes because I am full of uses." Dave said before flexing for the bat. "So Rouge, what do you think of this form?"

Rouge rolled her eyes again. "I think you might be compensating for something."

"Compensating. Good word. I have no idea what that means." Dave said calmly. "I gotta say, I'm surprised to see a bat mute like you."

"What do you mean, like me?"

"Well, my buddies, Benson and Manic, ran into a couple of other bats in the past, and they were nothing like you. They actually thought this little music player we have is an alien radio."

Rouge sighed. "You mean those guano brains. And you thought I was like them? Believe it or not, not all bats are alien-obsessed nerds. That's like saying all bunnies have to be mega mutes or that all frogs have to wear suits. I once met a really big cat who would rather fish than cut down trees, but we don't talk about him."

"All right. I see your point." Dave said.

"Now that you've seen that," Wolf said, "How about we keep seeing out presents."

"Hey, guys! I've got something!" Tails ran into the store with Mandu behind him. The four-eyed pig had a box riding on her back.

"What is it, Tails?" Dave asked.

Tails removed the box off Mandu's back and showed it off to everyone. The box read "Be a Spy! Working equipment for ages 13 and up!"

"Spy stuff?" Wolf asked. "You really think Kipo would like that?"

"Well, she did say she liked games, so I took a swing." Tails said.

"You know," Dave said, "We could go back for that hubcap and I'll consider telling Kipo it's from all of us."

"Is that what you threw into that Parts Etc. store?" Rouge asked. "I wouldn't wish that for a gift for my worst enemy's birthday."

Something in that sentence caught Wolf's attention. She widened her eyes after hearing that. "Hold on. Rouge, what did you say the name of that store was?"

"Parts Etc." Rouge replied. "Why do you ask?"

Wolf's smile returned, and this time, it was bigger than before. She may have a lead on the best present for her friend.

The five of them returned to the same spot where they all started. Wolf looked up at the sign that said "Parts Etc." Except both T's were missing, making it spell…

"Parsec!" Wolf exclaimed happily. "This is it!"

"Holy cow!" Tails shared her joy. "I can't believe I didn't see that!"

"See what?" Rouge asked. "Kids, you dragged me all the way back here, so I think I deserve an explanation."

Normally, Wolf wouldn't disclose that information, but she figured that Rouge earned the right to know. So against her better judgement, she admitted everything.

"My friend, Kipo, got separated from her burrow. We've been helping her get home, but we didn't have any leads. This morning, we found a number that was left by her dad. It's his way of telling us where he and the rest of the burrow escaped to."

"And what does that have to do with this store?" Rouge asked. "I'm pretty sure an entire burrow

wouldn't fit in that tiny store."

"Kipo said that number we found was called a parsec, which was some kind of Astro-thing. I'm not sure exactly. It's a lot of science, but the bottom line is, if this store says parsec, then maybe the lead we're looking for is inside. We're one step closer to finding Kipo's home."

"Really?" Rouge asked hiding a mischievous smile. "How interesting."

"Well, let's get going." Tails said taking the lead and heading inside. The others followed.

Inside the auto-parts store, the five found a clutter of junk all around. They split up to search around the place. After a minute of searching, Wolf found something that caught her eye.

"Hey, guys! Come here!"

Everyone met up with Wolf to see what she found. It was a white, rectangular envelope with a purple mark on it shaped like a ram's head.

"What's that?" Dave asked.

"It's a ram's head." Wolf said. "Like Aries, Kipo's birth sign. It must be a letter meant for her!" She reached down to pick it up, but someone else beat her to it.

"Yoink!" Rouge said as she snatched the envelope from the ground. She then flew off from the ground and landed on top of the nearest shelf.

"Hey! What gives?" Tails asked.

"So you were planning to steal from us after all." Wolf growled.

"No. I kept my word." Rouge said. "I said I wouldn't try to steal anything from you. And technically, this little envelope wasn't yours to begin with. I just claimed it first."

"Beautiful and smart." Dave laughed. "What a woman."

"Dave!" Wolf shouted.

"Why do you even want that letter?" Tails asked. "It's worthless to you."

"Maybe, but it's priceless to you." Rouge replied. "I've been keeping an eye on you kids ever since you went to that billboard, and a few things caught my eye. I just needed the right leverage to convince you to give it to me willingly."

"You want to bargain for the letter?" Wolf asked.

"Listen, kid. I like you. You've got a lot of potential, but the truth is…

Rouge:

I gave you a free pass earlier since you looked fun

I really liked seeing your hijinks, but that part is done

Being nice means being the next mega's snack

Unfortunately for you, real life's not in white and black

I'm not a damsel. I'm the one giving distress

And I've just gotten you kids caught in my own mess

I'm not doing this to be nice

If you want this, make a sacrifice

Just to show you how generous I feel

I'm willing to help you by making a deal

I'm not doing this to be niiiiiiiiiice

"Okay. I see where this is going." Dave said. "How's this for a deal, beautiful?

Dave:

Perhaps a lovely date

It'll be great

And I'll pay

How's about a candlelit dinner

Under the moon on Friday

I'll find someone who can play the violin

And we'll see the waves flow once the nighttime will begin

We'll have mouthwatering food when the plates are set

And it'll be a night that you'll never forget

"What do you say?" Dave asked. All of a sudden, his body changed again, from his muscular form to his elderly form.

Rouge cringed seeing the old Dave. "Ugh. Swipe left." She then pulled out a lighter which she waved around narrowly missing the letter and worrying the others.

Rouge:

I'M NOT DOING THIS TO BE NICE

THIS LETTER HERE NEEDS QUITE A BIG PRICE

AND I'VE GOT MY EYES ON THAT PRETTY GEM YOU GOT

SO PURPLE AND SHINY! I MUST ADMIT, IT'S VERY HOT

THAT'S JUST THE BEST FRIEND A GIRL LIKE ME PREFERS

SO WHY DON'T YOU SURRENDER THAT PRECIOUS GEM THAT I YEARN

BUT IF YOU DO NOT, THEN I'M AFRIAD THAT THIS MESSAGE BUUUUUURNS

"STOP!" Wolf yelled out. She gritted her teeth knowing what Rouge wanted. Very reluctantly, she reached into her bag and pulled out the purple Chaos Emerald Kipo gave her earlier. She held it out for Rouge to admire from afar. "Here! Take it! Just give us the letter!"

"I'll give it to her." Tails said taking the emerald from Wolf's hand. He used his tails to hover up to Rouge's level and place it in her hand. While he did that, he used his other hand to latch onto her arm. "You're going to regret this."

Rouge shrugged confidently. "I've got a million regrets. One more's not going to kill me." She freed her arm and passed the letter to Tails. She took a moment to bask in the purple gem in her hand. "I always did have an eye for the shiniest jewels. Pleasure doing business with you." She spread out her wings before flying out the door. The others watched with angry sneers.

"Kipo's not going to like this." Wolf said. "That emerald was her last gift from her dad, and we…"

"We'll get it back. I promise." Tails assured before pulling out the letter. "But right now, let's get to reading."

Tails placed his thumb into the envelope and opened it. There was a letter inside just as predicted which Tails read aloud.

"Dear Kipo, if you're reading this, then you solved the riddle your father told me to leave. My name is Aleena, and I'm Sonic, Sonia, and Manic's mother as well as an old friend of your father's. By now, I'm sure you've already met my kids and have many questions. Well, I am ready to answer them, but not right now. First, you need to find your father at the second clover. I'll be there too waiting to embrace my children once again. P.S., tell my kids that I love them very much."

"Oh. Someone drew a spaghetti on the back." Dave said pointing at the back of the note.

Tails turned the message around and observed the illustration. "Hang on. This isn't a spaghetti. This is a map. This must lead to the second burrow. This is perfect to give our friends!"

"Yeah." Wolf said not raising her frown. "Still can't believe that bat tricked us. Actually, I shouldn't be surprised."

"Yep. Turns out you were right. People will just pretend to be nice only to use you." Dave said. "Poor Kipo, though. She always sees the best in people. If she finds out somebody took advantage of being nice, it's going to shatter her world."

That left an imprint on Wolf's thought. As old and small-minded as Dave currently was, she knew he was right. This could hurt Kipo more than anything else has so far. So what could she do?

By the time everyone met back at the billboard, Dave had become a baby that Benson went to feed. While he did that, their friends grouped up for an exchange they all awaited.

"So…" Tails said awkwardly, "Before we exchange presents…"

"Hold on. We've got something for Wolf first." Kipo said. She reached over to the little wolf-hooded girl and clipped on a flower-shaped hairpin right into her hair. "There. Now, you don't have to keep brushing the hair off your face."

Wolf was genuinely surprised at this gift. "I… I don't know what to say."

"Don't worry about it." Sonic said. "We've had quite an eventful night."

"But all in all, it was a really productive night." Kipo said. "Thanks to Benson, I now have more hope than ever on making peace for everyone."

At first, Wolf was happy for Kipo. Then, her thoughts returned to Rouge and what she did. She was almost speechless not knowing much of what to say other than, "All right."

"So did you get us any gifts?" Sonic asked. "Please, tell me you got a chili dog."

Tails laughed nervously. "Well, we got some good gifts. For example…" He pulled out the sleeve from the black leather jacket that Dave destroyed earlier.

Kipo gasped in excitement as she took it from him. She placed it on her shoulder fully accepting it. "This is great! Thanks!"

"That's not all though." Tails said. He reached out the envelope with the Aries symbol on it.

Curious, Kipo took the letter and opened it up. She read the note inside before turning to see the map.

"Uh, Kipo," Manic said, "What is it?"

"It's… a message from your mom." Kipo said with a hopeful tone. "She's leaving us clues. She's going to meet us at the second clover with my dad!"

The hedgehogs widened their eyes with light brimming in their irises. "You're serious?" Sonia asked.

"Yes!" Kipo replied. "This is great! We can find both of our parents, have our questions answered, and maybe ask my dad where he got the Chaos Emerald!"

Tails laughed nervously scratching his head. "Yeah, the Chaos Emerald. Listen, there's something you have to know about that."

"Hmm? What is it, buddy?" Sonic asked.

"The thing is… we don't have the Chaos Emerald at the moment." Tails said. "Some bat mute named Rouge took it from us."

"What?" Kipo asked in shock. "How did she take it?"

Tails was about to tell, but Wolf spoke up first. "We don't know. It all happened so fast. She just swooped in and swiped it from us." Both Tails and Mandu gave surprised looks at Wolf.

"Wow." Kipo said before frowning. She then turned to the hedgehogs. "Guys, I know you want to see your mom. I want to see my dad just as much. But that Chaos Emerald is the last thing my dad gave me. We have to get it back."

"I'm in." Sonic said. Sonia and Manic agreed.

While the four talked, Tails leaned over to Wolf. "Hey. Why did you just lie like that?"

"It's… complicated." Wolf said. "Just don't tell them anything until I can figure out how to tell them myself."

Tails arced his eyebrow before shrugging along with Mandu. "All right. If you say so."

"Hey, guys." Benson said. "What is the plan? After all, this bat girl is who knows where by now?"

Tails smiled. "Don't worry, guys. Rouge may have flown the coop, but not before I tagged her." He pulled out a handheld radio and presented it to everyone.

"Where did you get that?" Wolf asked.

"It was in that spy kit I showed you, remember?" Tails asked. "I slipped a tracking device on Rouge before she left. All we have to do is follow the signal and we'll find her. Consider this another birthday present."

"Wow. That's super-cool, little buddy." Sonic said.

"All right." Kipo said. "Let's go get our Chaos Emerald back."

After flying for a good while, Rouge decided to rest her wings and land safely on the ground next to a giant body of water. She then admired the purple Chaos Emerald once more before pulling out a radio she had on her belt. She turned the knobs on it until she found the frequency she was looking for. She just waited for a certain someone to speak from it.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Scarlemagne, old buddy." Rouge greeted the mandril on the other end. "How are things?"

"Rouge, is that you?" Scarlemagne asked. "I told you what would happen if I ever found you!"

"Sheesh, you try to steal one Chaos Emerald, and you get the biggest jerk in Las Vistas putting a bounty on you." Rouge said. "But I've got something that I'm sure will make us even."

"Oh, really? And what might that be?"

"How's about… another Chaos Emerald?"

There was a brief pause of silence. "You have a Chaos Emerald? Where did you find a Chaos Emerald?"

"It doesn't matter. Look, if I give this to you, will you promise to let bygones be bygones and let me return to your ranks?"

"Hmm… Very well. Deliver the Emerald straight to me, and you'll have your place back at my table. Fail to do so, and I'll rip those wings off your back myself and hang them on my wall! HAHAHAHA!" The radio transmission was cut off.

"Yeesh, that guy is nuts. Well, time to go." Rouge said before something caught her eyes. She noticed an intact water fountain on the side of the road. "Well, why not? I could use a refreshment."

Rouge walked over to the water fountain and took a sip from it. It tasted a lot fresher than she expected. Too bad it was a mistake she'd regret taking.