Author's Note: Please read this before reading the story.

First of all, I'd like to sincerely apologize for the delay of this chapter. I have quite a number of reasons for this. First of all, it was hard for me to find the right song to feature here and when to put it. Secondly, I had a lot of other stories to work on. Lastly, my personal life has been a bit of a challenge. I've recently had a personal loss. In any case, I'm glad I managed to make this chapter and that so many people have expressed their love for it. I hope you like it.

The song featured here is "Learn to Overcome" from Sonic Underground.

Any and all comments are welcome.

Scarlemagne has lost all patience. After his hired bounty hunters have failed in capturing the hedgehogs and the burrow girl, he announced open season with the promise of utopia for the gang who brings them to him. Naturally, every bad gang in Las Vistas went combing the streets for them. Thankfully, they were easy to detect.

As soon as Kipo Underground realized the presence of passing gangs, Wolf guided them all into an abandoned car. They stayed in just until the Scooter Skunks and the Hummingbombers passed by. They stuck their heads out to peek out for incoming danger.

"I think the coast is clear." Manic said.

"Dang. That's the second and third gang we hid from today." Sonic said. "Why don't I just spin-dash at them. I've been quite known for bending the beaks of a few Hummingbombers."

"Attacking them now will mean alerting the other packs of our presence." Wolf said. "Don't worry. The sooner we find Kipo's burrow, the sooner we can go our separate ways."

"Our separate ways?" Kipo asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"Our deal was, I get you back to your people, and then I move on." Wolf answered.

"What?" Kipo asked. "After all we've been through, you still feel that way?"

"I don't do burrows."

"Why not?" Kipo asked. "They're safe, warm, and you have this great community of people."

"I hate most people."

"Real dead set on your short arguments, huh?" Sonic asked. "Come on, Wolf. Most of the people we've met have been cool with us. And imagine how friendly they must be at Kipo's burrow."

"Yeah. It's really fun." Kipo agreed. "I promise. I will change your mind, Wolfatha Christie IV. You wait and see."

"Wolfatha Christie IV?" Wolf asked.

"Well, you don't have a full name and I needed one for emphasis. The point is, I will convince you to come with us."

"Well, if Kipo can convince a Mega-Monkey to calm down in the middle of a big fight, this should be no problem for her." Sonia said. "By the way, Manic, how are Benson and Dave doing? They still excited about their Mulholland dream?"

"Well, Dave is, but now, Benson is depressed 'cause he might not feel happy again." Manic said.

Cream stuck her head up and something caught her eye. "Um, Ms. Kipo, doesn't that sign there look like the drawing on your map?"

Everyone got out of the car and looked at the same direction that Manic was seeing. Hanging above the edge over a large garbage dump, there was a large pole with a big taco on top. It wasn't real of course. It was just a sign. But on top of that sign was a red lunchbox with a very familiar insignia on it.

"Hey, isn't that the ram symbol?" Benson asked.

"That must be it! The next clue!" Kipo said excitedly.

"What does all that mean?" Amy asked.

"Oh, right. You weren't here for that." Sonic said. "See, Kipo has this ram as a spirit animal or something, so that's her dad's way of telling her it's a clue."

"Shall I fly on up and get it?" Tails asked preparing his tails.

"No need, my foxy friend." Dave said. "This bug's got this." He closed his eyes and strained himself. His expression of constipation was evidence of that. Eventually, his skin molted off revealing his muscular form… or at least part of it. Only his upper-left arm had evolved.

"Um… You sure that's right?" Sonia asked.

"I can still get it. Just watch." Dave proceeded with using his muscular arm to climb up the taco sign. Once he made it to the right height, he picked it up and showed it off to everyone below him.

"Wow. Guess he really came through." Sonic said.

"Toss it down, Dave!" Benson cried out.

Dave gave a gentle toss with his strong arm, but a gentle toss was too much for him. Instead, he threw the lunchbox far enough to land right in the middle of the garbage dump behind the gang.

"I spoke too soon." Sonic sighed.

"My bad!" Dave yelled as he climbed back down to the others. They approached the edge of the cliff to get a better look at the junk pile before them.

Sonia took a few whiffs before covering her nose. "Peeyew! Why did it have to be a garbage dump?"

"Hey. I don't have a problem with it." Manic said.

"You were raised by Dave. That's disgusting enough."

At the front of the group, Mandu fixed her four eyes at a sparkling light in the distance. She squealed before jumping into the junk pile.

"Mandu!" Kipo cried out chasing after the mute pig. Everyone else followed with Sonia being the most reluctant. The whole group slid down the slope of garbage behind Mandu.

"This dump does have a bottom, right?" Benson asked.

"Sure!" Dave answered. "Let's just hope it's made of soft, fluffy pillows and not sharp, pointy rocks!"

All of a sudden, holes were ripped open right below the gang dropping each of them down into a dark, secluded area. They landed on another pile of garbage with a much softer landing. They emerged back to their feet.

"We're alive!" Dave said. "We're alive, everyone!"

"Good." Sonia said turning to the bug. "Because now… I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Suddenly, she was stopped when Sonic jumped right in front of her.

"Whoa. Easy. Take a chill pill, sis."

"Easy for you to say! You don't have my sense of smell! And now, we're inside a large pile of garbage!"

"Uh, Sonia," Benson said, "There's not a lot of garbage here."

"What?" Sonia asked. She and the others looked the whole area and saw that while there were piles of garbage on the sides, there was a large, flat area with a stage and pedaling machines, and other workout equipment.

"This 'dump' looks more like a gym." Sonic said.

Wolf pulled everyone into hiding when suspicious figures entered from the far side of the area. What came out were several bipedal raccoons dressed in colorful leotards.

The large, muscular raccoon looked over with a suspicious look in her eyes. "Something's wrong here." She climbed up to the stage only to press the play button on a nearby boombox that then played energetic music. "You guys aren't moving! Let's go!" Just then, she and the rest of the raccoons began dancing in an aerobics session. They kicked up their knees and legs while flowing their arms and shoulders.

All the while, Kipo Underground watched with surprised expressions on their faces. "Wasn't expecting that." Dave said.

Everyone took a step back away from the stage until Manic slipped on something in the garbage. In his collapse, a loud cluttering of garbage interrupted the workout in the gym area and the raccoons stopped to check it out. Soon enough, Kipo Underground found themselves surrounded by the raccoons… who greeted them with smiles.

"I don't believe it! Humans!" said one raccoon with a pink and yellow leotard. "This is amazing!"

"You're… welcoming us?" Kipo asked.

"Are you guys with the Freedom Fighters?" Sonic asked.

"The Freedom Fighters?" the same raccoon asked. "Oh, no. We don't want to get involved in all that violence and fighting. That's why we Fitness Raccoons made our own little sanctuary here in this

dump. I'm Carton. This is Label and Tongue Depressor…"

"Those are some… interesting names." Benson said.

"Our names come to us organically." Tongue Depressor said. "In the first year, our energy bonds with a…"

"We find our names in the trash." Label said.

"Okay. Well, my name is Kipo. This is Sonic, Sonia, Manic, Wolf, Benson, Dave, Tails, Amy, Cream, Cheese and Mandu."

"Namaste." Tongue Depressor bowed his head.

"We've never met actual humans! I can't believe it!" Carton said. "You're just like the posters we were inspired from… except you don't have muscles or leotards or cool big hair."

"What's wrong with my hair?" Sonic asked stroking his quills.

"So what brings you here?" Label asked.

"We're looking for a lunchbox." Kipo answered. "We were looking for it when we fell into your home. It could be anywhere really."

"Sounds like you're in a jam." Carton said. "But we can help you out! Why don't we show you where everything is so we can get extra steps, and then we can all help look?"

"No!" Wolf refused. "We can do this…"

Sonic interrupted her by rushing toward her and placing his hand over her mouth. "Don't mind her. She's not a people-person. But we'd be glad to have your help looking everywhere."

"Everywhere?" Sonia asked with widened eyes. "As in, where all the trash is? You can't be serious."

"Come on, Sonia. Live a little." Manic said.

"Live a little? You seem excited about digging through garbage."

Carton guided the group across the studio where all sorts of different rooms were. There was a cardio corner where the raccoons would work out, move their bodies, and other exercises. Label then brought everyone over to a large wall full of different snacks which were used for "cheat day". All the while, Kipo was trying to show Wolf how great communities could be, but she always brushed them off.

During the tour, Cream and Cheese looked over toward Benson and noticed his frown. They approached him, Dave, and Manic.

"Are you okay, Mr. Benson?" Cream asked.

"I guess." Benson sighed.

"Benson's been a little down ever since waking up form Mulholland's fantasy." Dave said. "He thinks he can never be happy again after that experience."

"Well, that's not good. Everyone needs to be happy." Cream said. "How about Cheese and I help you smile again?"

"Chao, chao."

"That's be a miracle, little bunny girl." Benson said.

"So Cream," Manic said, "I gotta ask… What up with the dumpling fairy? It's no mute I've ever seen before."

"You mean Cheese?" Cream asked. "I don't really know. All I know is that he's my best friend and he's been with me for as long as I can remember."

"That's cool." Dave commented.

"Hey!" Wolf cried out. "We should really find that lunchbox and get out of here."

"Well, what does it look like?" Label asked.

"It's a red lunchbox with a ram-shaped symbol on it." Sonic answered.

"Okay." Label said. "Everyone, let's go lunchbox hunting."

Many of the Fitness Raccoons scattered around the hills of garbage looking around for what they were seeking. Half of the gang looked with them, but Sonia kept a distance from any hill leading her standing right next to Amy.

"You people just… Good luck." Sonia said. "Guess it's just us girls, huh, Amy? …Amy?" Sonia turned to see her fellow female hedgehog looking up at a certain hill. She caught Amy smiling as her eyes were fixed on Sonic as he dug through the garbage. That's when Sonia realized. "Hold up. Do you have a crush on Sonic?"

Amy's eyes dilated and she stammered with a blush in her cheeks. "What? No. I mean, sure after he saved me back at Ratland, I couldn't stop thinking at how brave and heroic and cute and talented and funny and… That's too many adjectives, isn't it?"

"Yep." Sonia said.

Amy sighed. "I know it's crazy since we just met, but I just can't stop thinking about it. I don't know what it is, but…"

"Well, when you do, let me know." Sonia said. "I can help you out."

Amy smiled. "Thanks."

At the same time, Sonic dashed off of his hill and raced toward Kipo and Wolf. "Any luck?"

"No." Wolf said. "Kipo's just wasting time trying to change my mind."

"What?" Kipo asked. "If these super nice raccoons want to help, it's not they're fault they're awesome, and show you how communities like burrows are also awesome. Hold on." She broke off from the conversation to help search leaving Sonic to have histurn to talk.

"So you're still planning to leave Kipo hanging? What kind of friend are you?"

"What are you talking about?" Wolf asked. "She'll still have you and the rest of the clowns."

"You're calling us clowns? You're the one with the freaky get-up." Sonic said. "But that's not the point. Kipo wants you to be with her just as much as she wants the rest of us to. It's just not complete without everyone. Look, you're her friend, and as much as you don't show it, you consider her a friend too. Is it really that hard to say goodbye to her?"

"Well, no, but…"

"Then don't. I know you won't do it for me, but at least do it for Kipo."

Wolf lowered her head in deep thought.

During the search, Cream rushed over toward Benson. "Mr. Benson. Mr. Benson. I found something that can help you. You like music, right?"

"Well, who doesn't?" Benson replied. "What's up?"

"Follow me."

Cream lead Benson, Dave, and Manic to the front of the studio with an empty DJ booth. All around the area were several miserable raccoons working their cardio and riding on their pedaling machines sadly.

"Oh, that is just sad." Benson said. "Where's the DJ?"

"That's why I brought you here." Cream said. She and Cheese extended their arms toward the empty booth.

"Oh, I get it." Dave said with a proud smile.

"Right." Manic agreed. "Give it a whirl, Benson."

Deciding to follow their lead, Benson headed to the booth and played a record. What came out was upbeat music that lifted the spirits of all the raccoons that were working out there. Their attitude became much more upbeat and worked out much more enthusiastically. All the while, with Dave and Manic's lead, they cheered for the DJ's name.

"BENSON! BENSON! BENSON!"

Cream walked on over to Benson. "You feel better now?"

"I guess." Benson said with an unconvinced tone. "I mean, I should be just as happy as I was in the fantasy dream, but I don't know why this isn't working. Sorry, Cream."

The giant sounds of two birds squaking filled he room as a single giant bird head poked through the garbage tarp from above. This life-sized pigeon had both of its eyes, but a matching pair of beaks. The sight of it startled Kipo Underground, but the Fitness Raccoons didn't lose their focus in their workout, even when the bird plucked away two of their own. It disappeared leaving everyone who wasn't a raccoon stunned.

"What was that?" Manic asked.

"A giant bird, that's what!" Dave said. "Everyone, how are you still exercising?"

"Because we've barely broken a sweat." Carton replied.

"Are you nuts?" Amy asked. "What about the giant pigeon that just ate two of your friends?"

"Oh, that's just Beak Beak." Carton said. "Comes here all the time. Every now and then, it takes an energy snack. It's kind of big, if you didn't notice. Not much we can do about it."

"There's a lot you can do about it." Kipo said. "You can get rid of Beak Beak."

"Some of us tried a long time ago, and they're gone now." Label said.

"We're no match for Beak Beak, and that's OK." Tongue Depressor said. "Once you accept the world as it is and stop hoping for what it could be, you find peace."

"We'll miss you, Hod Dog Bun!" Carton cried out. "And Rusted Can, and Fish Bone, and Dirty Daiper, and DJ Crowbar!"

"That's what happened to the DJ?" Benson asked freaked out.

"Dude, letting this happen isn't finding peace, it's giving up!" Sonic objected. But his words fell onto the deaf ears of the raccoons that began patching up the hole Beak Beak left.

"Wolf, I know you're gonna object," Kipo said, 'But we have to help these raccoons."

"I agree." Wolf said much to everyone's surprise.

"Really?" Kipo asked. "Does that mean you've changed your mind about being part of a community that…"

"No." Wolf said. "It means we can'd find that lunchbox if a giant bird could eat us at any moment."

"Oh." Kipo said. "But we're on the same page about Beak Beak. And if this is one of the last things we do together, let's make it fun."

Tails turned to the rest of the raccoons. "Well, if you're too afraid to face Beak Beak, can you at least tell us where we can find him? Fighting giant mutes is kinda our specialty"

"Legend has it," Tongue Depressor said, "You must walk past Yoga Yurt Village and through the tunnel of sweat."

"Ew." Sonia commented.

"In the Pit of Despair." Label continued.

"Yikes." Tails said.

"Uh, that's not so much a 'pit of despair' as it is a fat bird on a wire." Dave commented after he and the rest of Kipo Underground reached outside and set their eyes on the giant pigeon. There, they found Beak Beak planting himself on top of a telephone cable.

"Come on, there's a dozen of us." Sonic said. "Surely, we can outmatch one dumb bird."

"You heard Label, Sonic." Sonia said. "They sent a lot of their own to try and fight Beak Beak, but they were lost. We need to be smart about this."

Wolf kept her eyes fixed on Beak Beak, who flapped its wings to shake off some of the garbage in its feathers. One such garbage was a shining rearview mirror. The glare from the reflective surface caught Beak Beak's attention and it slammed its head down in response to it. Seeing it, Wolf had an idea in her head.

"Do you have a plan?" Kipo asked noticing Wolf's scheming smile. "That's your 'I have a plan' face."

"I have a plan, but we're going to need those raccoons." Wolf said. "We're going to split into three teams, each consisting of Fitness Raccoons. Beak Beak is clearly attracted to bright lights, so the Team A will lead it away by holding up mirrors to get its attention. While it's away, Team B stands above those wooden poles and hangs up a strong rope. Once all that is done, Team C will take the rope and set it up to be stretched back like a slingshot. We could use a metal stake. Once we lead Beak Beak right in front of the rope, we release the slingshot and send him flying away."

"Great plan," Tails said, "But there's one problem. The Fitness Raccoons will never agree to help. They're too scared of Beak Beak to even try."

"Well, we could hide the truth by making all that seem like new exercises for them to try out." Amy said.

"Sounds perfect." Kipo said.

"Except for one problem." Benson said. "As soon as those racoons hear Beak Beak's squaking, they're going to turn around and run back into the dump."

"Hmm… I got it!" Sonia said snapping her fingers. "We could try drowning out the squaks with a sound of our own." She held up her keyboard pendant sharing her idea with the others.

"I see." Sonic said. "A little music to cover the truth. By the time those racoons realize what's going on, it'll be too late to back out."

"Great." Wolf said. "Now, let's get to work. Hedgehogs, as soon as all three teams are outside, play your music."

Sonic, Sonia, and Manic waited outside. They searched all the points of exit where the three teams were to leave from. Benson, Cream, and Cheese left on one side with Tongue Depressor behind them. Dave and Amy guided Label and the other massive raccoons from the other side. Lastly, Kipo, Wolf, Tails, and Mandu ran out of the last side with raccoons behind them, every one of them lifting mirrors over their heads.

"That's our cue." Sonic said. "Let's get Beak Beak out of their ears."

While everyone was setting up the trap and luring away Beak Beak, Sonic, Sonia, and Manic summoned their instruments and played music. They played loudly as they could to drown out Beak Beak's squaking.

Kipo Underground:

OH, YEAH

When things are going bad

Don't be angry! Don't be sad

We find our strength in each other

If our world is upside down

Keep our feet on the ground

Learn to rely on one another

We have to learn to fight

Learn to overcome

Resist with all our might

Learn to overcome

And we can make things right

If we learn to overcome

Nananananana

Nananananana

Nana

WE HAVE TO LEARN TO FIGHT

LEARN TO OVERCOME

RESIST WITH ALL OUR MIGHT

LEARN TO COVERCOME

AND WE CAN MAKE THINGS RIGHT

IF WE LEARN TO OVER COOOOOOOOME

NANANANANANA

NANANANANANA

NANA

LEARN TO OVERCOME

All the while, the plan was working and everyone was setting up their plan perfectly. The only hitch was that Dave had quickly gone through his muscular stage and turned into an old man. The trap was all set up, so the mirror team ran over to the slingshot trap with Beak Beak in tow.

Kipo looked over and realized that the red lunchbox she was looking for was stuck on Beak Beak's underside. Instinctively, she rushed toward it at an impressive amount of speed. Sonic noticed her speed and joined her. Together, they managed to snatch away the lunchbox and evade Beak Beak. Once they landed, Kipo gasped seeing purple fur in her legs.

"Sonic! It's my arm and my legs this time!" Kipo said.

"I saw. That was too fast for a human, and that's coming from someone who's too fast for a hedgehog."

While Beak Beak was distracted, Label realized the situation and ran toward the slingshot on all fours. She gripped the metal stake keeping the slingshot from shooting and pried it off. Quick as a flash, the slingshot sent Beak Beak off the ground sending it across the air. It disappeared in a crash leaving the Fitness Racoons to celebrate.

"Now, if Beak Beak ever shows back up, you know what to do." Wolf said.

"More than that, we know we can." Tongue Depressor said. "Our minds had to believe in order to achieve."

Cream looked over to Benson and Dave (who just regressed into his baby form). The two of them were carried by the raccoons hailed as heroes. After seeing the genuine smile on his face, Cream smiled and joined him.

"Are you happy now, Mr. Benson?" Cream asked.

"Yeah. I really am. I just got that feeling I've been chasing. I guess it means something when you earn the cheers. Thanks, Cream."

"You're welcome."

"Chao, chao."

After the cheering ended, the Fitness Raccoons returned to their dump. Kipo Underground returned to the sign where they originally found the lunchbox and opened it. Inside, Kipo found a pair of 3D glasses with only one blue lense.

"What are these for?" Kipo asked picking up the glasses.

"I've heard of these things." Sonic said. "My Uncle Chuck picked up a few tips. These were called 3D glasses. Back in the day, humans used them to watch movies and make it seem like it was happening right in front of them. It's some kind of visual trick or something. Maybe you have to look at something with them."

Kipo nodded and climbed up to the top of the sign. She put on her glasses and looked into the distance toward a wide, green field with three gigantic dogs rolling around in it.

"Aw, look. Those are dogs. Such little cuties. I've always wanted to pet one."

"Pet a mega dog?" Sonia asked. "Don't tell me you're actually considering it."

Kipo kept looking until one of the mega dogs moved out of the way. She gasped seeing a luminescent shape of a clover in the field, one that could only be seen with the glasses.

"It's the Second Clover! We found it!" Kipo said happily as she returned with the group. "My dad! Sonic, Sonia, and Manic's mom! My people! They're all there, in that field!"

"And they expect us to get in there?" Wolf asked. "They're just as crazy as you are."

"It's almost over." Sonia said nearly choked up. "Everything we could ever want is just a mile away."

After looking out into the field, Kipo looked back at Wolf with a frown on her face. "Once we get there, is it really over for us, Wolf?"

Wolf shared Kipo's frown before answering. "No. Look, burrows are stupid. But I guess if I'm with you… it could be fun."

"Wolfatha Christie IV, that's the sweetest thing you ever said." Kipo said with happy tears.

"Hear that, everyone! We're all going to the burrow!" Sonic cheered.

"No promises." Wolf said. "If I hate it, I'm leaving."

"Bring it in!" Kipo wrapped her arms around her best friend who then actually returned her embrace. For the first time in a long time, Wolf actually felt happy…

…That is, until her eyes fixed on Kipo's arm. Underneath the ripped jacket sleeve, she saw a glimpse of purple fur that made her question everything. She gripped the jacket sleeve and removed it without warning revealing the purple fur all over Kipo's arm. The purple girl gave her scared friend a shameful look.

"Um… I've been trying to tell you about this." Kipo said nervously. "Well, at first, I didn't know what was happening. It was like fur-poof! But after my vision from Mulholland, I'm pretty sure that I'm… part mute."

With eyes as wide as dinner plates, Wolf took a step back. "You're a mute?"

"I'm still me." Kipo said offering her hand. But Wolf gasped and kept moving back. She looked like she had seen a horrible ghost.

"NO!" Wolf yelled as she ran off leaving the others to stand there and Kipo was left with tears.

"It's gonna be okay." Benson said. "She just needs a little time to process."

"She needs time to process?" Tails asked. "What about us? I didn't know about all this either!"

"Neither did we." Amy said. "What's going on?"

"We don't know." Sonic said. "We didn't want to say anything until we got more answers from Kipo's dad."

"Look. How about we go get her back." Benson asked.

"Me and my sibs will stick with Kipo to keep her company." Manic said taking baby Dave in his arms.

"Okay. We'll be right back." Benson said leaving with the others. Once they were all gone, everyone noticed that the fur in Kipo's arm changes back into human skin.

"Oh, sure. Now, it goes away." Kipo said.

"Look on the bright side." Sonic said. "At least it can't get worse."

He immediately ate his words when an elastic tongue shot toward him and wrapped around his waist. Sonic was taken off guard as he was pulled away right in front of the others.

"Sonic!" Sonia cried out before the same tongue ensnared around her. "Ew! Gross, gross, gross!"

After she was caught and trapped, it was Manic's turn. He was still holding onto Dave. Lastly, Kipo was caught. The four of them were all tied up by their captor: Jamack.

"Hehehe. Burrow girl and the hedgehogs."

Out in the distance, Fang saw the kidnapping through his sniper scope. He gritted his teeth seeing Jamack on his dragonfly with the prisoners tied up behind him. He lowered his gun and turned to his partners, Bean and Bark.

"It looks like Jamack's got the targets." Fang said.

"What do we do, Fang?" Bean asked.

"Isn't it obvious? We need those kids to lead us to that human burrow. They can't do that if they're tied up and brought to Scarlemagne. So…" He readied his gun. "We're going to rescue them."