A small deployment of single manned pods flew past the flying island of the Battle Kukku Armada and down beneath it where resupply operations were still well under way. Zipping through the air propelled by the rockets that adorned them, they made their way to where Doctor Fukurokov continued to oversee the operation.

     “Doctor Fukurokov, sir!”

     “I see you have returned without the treasure hunter. Then I was right.

     “Yes sir!” The leader of the small deployment answered the statement as though it was a question. In their ignorance, they continued to inform Doctor Fukurokov of the situation. Fortunately, what they said went from obvious to useful and saved them. “The treasure hunter escaped with the hedgehog girl to a Ring Shift before using a Ring Gate to escape. However, the fox’s airship was still grounded when we made our return trip. Even if it has taken to the skies, we can easily outmaneuver it.”

     “Is that so!” Fukurokov shrieked with vengeful excitement and shoved the troop right out of the pod proving they had not saved themselves after all. The other’s watched helplessly as their commander was effectively executed but could say nothing as Doctor Fukurokov pulled out a radio mouthpiece and screamed into it. “We finally have him! All essential personal to battle stations! We’ll claim our prize here once we have the fox’s head. Take wing you flightless savages! Our hour has come!

~~~~~

     “You’re a bit of a sore looser hedgehog,” Fang laughed as he found Sonic sitting cross-legged in the grass a short distance away from the Skyskipper. Sonic looked back over his shoulder and frowned. Fang simply smirked and turned his back to Sonic, leaning on his tail and crossing his arms as he continued. “No reason to make a fuss about it. She’s safe and sound far as you’re concerned right?”

     “It isn’t that simple weasel,” Sonic countered and waved a hand in the air. “It’s that bogus story you came up. Working your butt off to get the Battle Kukku Armada to pretty much take you straight to the kid so you could keep her safe is pretty hard to swallow.”

     “She swallowed it easy enough,” Fang laughed at Sonic’s expense. “And it wasn’t as easy you as you think. Those birds are total cutthroats. And the strings I had to pull with my connections to even know they had found her and the fox hanging out together. I almost didn’t make it.”

     “Would have been better if you hadn’t.”

     “I get it,” Fang started laughing harder and earning a dirty look from Sonic, “It wasn’t that story that got you riled up. It was the one about our first meeting and me trying to off you. Don’t like looking like a villain in her rosy little world?”

     “I’ve got no problem playing the villain if it’ll help people,” Sonic retorted narrowing his eyes, “but I do have a problem with weasels like you pretending to be heroes.”

     “Oh, that’s a good one,” Fang continued to laugh. “What’s wrong with admitting I came after you after she disappeared and was said to be zipping around at your speed. It’s an honest “mistake”.

     The smile Fang donned irritated Sonic to no end, and he put a hand on the ground to prepare to stand up. It was as much a threat as the words that accompanied the action. “Now if only it was a mistake and not the plan of a dishonest crook.”

     “Why do boys always have to fight” Rosy asked as she came up on Sonic and Fang, her presence starting to stay the coming conflict. “Ooh, it doesn’t matter. Sonic, I’ve checked with my cards and they assure me that we can wake up the Rings. Tails and Zooey are doubtful, but I’m sure you can do it. You just need to make a Ring Bond with the Rings here and wake them up. I’m sure if you just connect them all like if you were using your Light Speed Dash it should be enough.”

     “I’m not following you again,” Fang looked quizzically at Rosy. “What exactly is a Ring Bond?”

     With a heavy sigh, Sonic shrugged. You know kid, I get you trust this weasel–”

      “I’m not a weasel,” Fang corrected Sonic mid-sentence. Sonic ignored him and continued as though Fang never spoke.

     “–but I don’t have a reason too.”

     “Sonic, Fang already explained what happened. And you can’t argue that I didn’t get kidnapped by a Sonic.”

     “You’re actually going to defend this crook using Metal Sonic of all things?” Sonic asked incredulously. “That’s low kid.”

     “Ah! Sonic, I’m sorry!” Rosy clasped her hands over her mouth at her own insensitivity, but her apology did not seem to calm Sonic down. To Fang it was the perfect time to try and force a gap between the two hedgehogs.

     “Look at that, even I was forgiving of you for running off without saying anything, and you know you had me worried, right?”

     “I’m sorry Fang,” Rosy turned towards Fang and swayed her body back and forth as she tried to find the means to properly make up for the worry she caused him. Sonic was not having any of it and finally spun to his feet.

     “I’m not buying that.”

     “Buying what,” Fang challenged with a sly grin while faking innocence.

     “A treasure hunter like you and her ability to find just about anything with her cards. I’m pretty sure you just wanted her by your side so you could keep getting richer.”

     “Are you doubting that I was actually worried?” Fang gritted his teeth and snarled as he turned to face Sonic and received a finger to the chest.

     “Worried you weren’t going to make it rich easily anymore.”

     “Sonic! Fang! Please don’t fight!” Rosy tried to wedge herself between them but Fang grabbed Sonic’s hand to get his finger off his chest and Sonic shook him free. Rosy was in the way though as both of their arms flew wide and she was promptly tossed back and landed on her rear with a whimper. They both started to call out to her but caught each other in the act and gave each other a challenging stare. Rosy was at her breaking point with them both and cried out in frustration the line she had entered their conversation with. “Why do boys always have to fight!”

     Rosy’s wailing was enough to stop the two on its own, but she had back up she was not expecting.

     “Come now you two, it’s bad enough getting into a fight, but getting others involved is even worse,” Mighty interjected himself and easily pushed Sonic and Fang away from each other. Sonic had more of his attention though and he turned to his best friend. “And Sonic, it’s not like you to let anyone get under your skin. I’m sure Rosy will forgive you, but…”

     Mighty trailed off looking back at Rosy and Sonic’s eyes followed, a look of hurt in them from the consequences of his own actions. The pain grew compounded with disappointment as he saw it was Tails who came to comfort the troubled girl.

     “It’s okay Rosy, sometimes these things happen. Boys will be boys I guess.”

     “But why does that have to mean fighting?” Rosy continued to sob, more so from her failure to stop the fight than any pain.

     Rosy’s tears struck a chord with Sonic and he clenched his fist and dashed off back towards the Skyskipper. Fang was not sure what happened and looked back at the airship curiously. ‘Couldn’t handle seeing her cry, huh? Looks like I might have a way to push your buttons after all.’

     A sinister smile split Fang’s face, but it was replaced by confusion as Sonic returned with Zooey and Gill in tow. “I can run right fast enough on my own legs!”

     “Yeah, faster to explain here than with you running where you want.”

     “You’ve got trust issues lad,” Gill spat as he pulled his hand away from Sonic and dusted himself off.

     “Not with you for now,” Sonic countered and handed him a camera earning Zooey’s surprise.

     “Huh? My camera? Sonic, what are planning?”

     “Just a little group picture for the kid,” Sonic answered and spun back down onto the grass in a cross-legged position and folded his arms. “Things may not go like we’re hoping, and we’ll all have to retreat via Ring Gate. If we get split up it’d be nice for her to have something to hold on to us with. Can’t let her start crying herself to sleep if something happens.”

     “That wouldn’t happen,” Rosy corrected Sonic while Tails helped her too her feet. “I know you would all be okay and that we’d meet again.”

     “You sure?” Sonic smirked playfully and Rosy puffed up her cheeks in return, but only for a moment before smiling.

     “Of course, I’m sure. My friends are all amazing, and my boyfriend is the most famous hedgehog in the world!”

     “Again with the boyfriend bit?” Sonic groaned and rolled his eyes. Rosy was giggling by now though and Sonic was glad to see her back to normal. He could not let it be so obvious though and turned his eyes on Gill. “Alright Mach, just snap a picture whenever you’re ready. I’m not worried if everyone gets into position or not.”

     “You sure then lad?”

     Though Gill asked, he lifted the camera to his eyes and adjusted the lens to focus on Sonic. Rosy near panicked and shouted at everyone. “Wait! Everyone! Come on!

     Gill smirked himself as he watched them all make a mad dash to get in frame. Everyone except Fang who looked back in surprise as it was not Rosy who called out to him, but rather Sonic.

     “Come on weasel, you too.”

     “What!”

     The photograph was utter chaos, but they were all in frame and Gill gave himself a congratulatory pat on the back. “Not bad at all Mach Frog Gill Bradley. Maybe one day I’ll have the right to be in it. Ha! Who am I trying to kid? It’ll never happen–?!”

     Stopping mid-sentence, Gill froze as he looked up in the distant sky. “Lads. Lasses, I don’t know what you might have been planning, but I’ve doubt you’ve the time for it now.”

     Rising to their feet to see what had Gill on edge a shadow of horror rolled across them as they looked up into the sky. Coming for them was the full might of the Battle Kukku Armada and they were on the ground unprepared for the coming army.

Scene 13 · CLEARED

Photograph, End