After saying goodbyes to Vector and Vanilla's family, Y/N, in an elegant cocktail dress, holds on for dear life as Amy drives like she's on the Indy circuit while shouting at the cars.

"Come on, this isn't your grandma's road! God damn it."

"Thank you for driving me." Y/N nervously said.

"Duh. This is, like, my one chance to see the Shinobi Clan mansion."

They turn off onto a private road.

"At the next intersection, make a U-turn. Make a U-turn." Female GPS said.

"Uh, are you sure you gave me the right address? The GPS says there's, like, nothing here. Like literally nothing." Amy asked.

They pull over on a deserted road.

"I mean, I-I put in the exact address. This is-"

"You copied and you pasted it?"

"Yeah."

"Did you just copy and paste 'jungle' and just kind of threw it in there?"

"No, it says this is the address..."

"Because I feel like that's- You actually used the-"

A black hooded mask ninja Chameleon appears at her side window.

"Okay! Alright. That's a- Hi! So we'll just-"

Amy nervously rolls down the window just a crack.

"Hello, sir. How are you? W-We're here for the party, and we're... We come in peace."

"Do you know where the Shinobi Clan house is?"

Another ninja Chameleon appears at Y/N's window as she didn't notice.

"Espio the Chameleon? I'm, I'm Y/N the Hedgehog. I'm here to, to go his family dinner."

The one ninja carrying a kunai creeps around the car, inspecting it. The other speaks on his walkie-talkie.

"Uh, Y/N the Hedgehog for the list. If there is a list." Amy said, gulping a little.

In the middle of nowhere, a massive gate looms as the ninja Chameleon on the walkie-talkie walks to the gate looking back at Amy and Y/N.

"He's on the phone. He's on the phone. Is that a knife? It's a dagger. It's a-"

The other ninja Chameleon now comes around to Amy's window.

"Okay! And there's a friend. Hi! Very, very nice to-"

The ninja Chameleon who's on walkie-talkie motions them to drive forward.

"We can go through? We're going through? Okay. Don't stab the car."

The gates swing open.

"Okay. Thank you. Bye!"

As Amy drives through the gates, she and Y/N look around, entranced. Streetlights/Lanterns illuminate both sides of the large driveway, which seems to wind endlessly up through a hilly village. Unlike the rest of developed Tokyo, it feels old, untouched. Amy has her mouth hanging open, amazed.

"Oh, my Chaos. It's beautiful." Y/N gasped.

They finally see a vast colonial mansion come into view. (Picture on top)

"Beautiful? It's two hundred mil worth of real estate. ...It's spectacular."

They drive up to the front of the house. Servants are posted in various locations outside. Two of the servants open the front doors and Espio, in a white suit with his yellow horn shiny, walks out. Looking every bit the prince of the manor.

"Dang, Y/N. He's like the Japanese 'Bachelor'."

Espio walks up to the car and opens Y/N's door.

"Hello, gorgeous."

He takes her hand as she exits the car. Espio looks at her outfit, impressed.

"Wow! I think I've just fallen in love with you all over again."

He leans in and kisses her. Amy clears her throat.

"I missed you." Y/N said.

"Missed you, too."

Amy keeps clearing her throat, trying to get Y/N's attention.

"Did you find the house okay? Or is it that you didn't expect that?"

"It was a bit confusing, but above all, it's amazing. I didn't know there was a property like this in Tokyo."

"Well, a family gotta have their secrets."

"Y/N!" Amy hissed, finally catching Y/N's attention.

"Oh, uh, this is my friend, Amy Rose."

"Hello, there." Espio greeted.

"Hi!" Amy greeted back, waving.

"Thank you very much for bringing Y/N."

"Oh, no worries."

"Do you wanna stop by for some dinner?"

"Oh, no, I couldn't impose. It's a-" Amy shook her head.

"No, it's not a problem." Espio interrupted, insisting her to come.

"You know, I had some dinner plans-"

"Seriously, we've got a lot of-"

"Yeah, I'll fucking come to dinner!"

Amy jumps out, pops the trunk, and sorts through several outfits covered in garment bags labeled: Clubbing, Cocktail, and Walk of Shame. She shook her head at the Walk of Shame outfit and pulled out the Cocktail dress and a pair of heels before closing the trunk.

"You have a cocktail dress in your trunk?" Y/N questioned.

"I'm not an animal, Y/N."

As they head in, Y/N and Amy look around at all the guests.

"I thought this was just a family thing." Y/N said to Espio.

"Grandmother invited some of her friends over tonight. Her Chao egg is hatching soon. Every tradition and once the egg then hatch it will choose who will be the one to be taken care of and become attach to the individual. It's a whole thing. You ready for this?"

Y/N nods, holding his hand and then the servant opens the doors. As they enter, Y/N could hear the jazz band playing and singing, amping up the classy atmosphere.

"The good bathrooms are up the stairs, and you can get changed in there." Espio instructed Amy.

"Okay, good, I'll find it. Thank you."

Amy climbs the stairs, then stops to take a selfie, climbs a few more stairs, and takes another selfie.

"You know, when you said you grew up in your grandma's house, I wasn't expecting this."

A waiter approaches carrying finger bowls with flowers floating in them. Y/N immediately recognized this and dipped her fingers into the bowls and pulled away.

"Thank you." she nodded to the waiter who nodded back.

"You're learning." Espio said, after dipping his fingers into the bowls and thanking him before the waiter left.

"Well, I don't just study Japanese language and know manners for nothing."

"Touché. You think it's a little bit much?" he asked, gesturing to this place.

"I mean, this place is gorgeous. And like the rolling green hills. I mean, there are armed ninja Chameleons out there."

Y/N looked at the golden statue of Monkey Khan, mouth open.

"Whoa! Is that Monkey Khan?"

"Yeah. My great grandfather Li Yuen told me story about the Great Golden Lotus King that would bring peace and unity to the Dragon Kingdom after the dragons departed from bringing destruction to the land."

"Wow. That sounds interesting. Do you wanna head in?"

"Actually, I wanted to bring you over to my mother first."

"Oh."

Now this made her nervous about meeting Espio's mom.

"Come on."

Through another round of rooms, each one grander than the last, Espio pushed open the door to the kitchen. They enter a bustling scene with maids plating food, choppers chopping veggies madly, cooks working over woks that burst into flame, children sneaking snacks. Amidst it all is Constant Vigil, presiding over everything. She inspects various dishes, dispatching orders with calm authority.

"薄く切ってください。厚すぎないでください。それを見て、柔らかすぎないでください。唐辛子を加える... 10分だけ。(Cut it thinner. Don't wrap it too thick. Watch it, don't make it too soft. Add chili... Ten minutes only.)"

She's clearly used to running a great house and being obeyed. She pauses when she sees Espio enter. She's delighted, but keeps her composure. Espio walks over and gives his mother a peck on the cheek.

"Mother."

Constant Vigil affectionately touches his cheek.

"You changed. And you look tired from your trip. I'm gonna ask the cook to make you some herbal soup."

She spoke to the cooker in Japanese to cook it right away before turning to him.

"I'll send it to the hotel later."

She then sees Y/N.

"Mother, this is Y/N the Hedgehog."

"Hi! It's an honor to meet you, Bride of Constant Vigil!"

Y/N bowed to Constant Vigil who bowed back to her, smiling, subtly scans Y/N, evaluating her.

"I'm very glad to finally meet you, too. Espio tells me you're a martial art teacher, too. What do you teach?"

"I teach them how to control their emotions and how to defend themselves. Show them wisdom, compassion, and more."

"And she's brilliant. She even beat me to the fight I challenged her to."

To their surprise, Constant Vigil suddenly leaves the conversation to inspect a tray of hors d'oeuvres. She fixes the tray and then returns.

"それを取らないでください。もう1つ。(Don't take that one. Another one.)"

She turns back to Espio and Y/N.

"So, emotions, defense, and wisdom. Sounds challenging. Are your parents martial arts, as well?"

"No, I'm the only who can since I've been training all by myself in my entire life while my parents busy themselves with work and my brother taking care of things as a police officer to protect and save the people who are in danger."

Constant Vigil turns to the cook.

"そこにコリアンダーを入れます。(Put some cilantro there.)"

"Most of all, we've been taking care of each other." Y/N continued.

Espio glances at his mother, gauging her reaction.

"Self-made parents and brother. They must be so proud of you."

Constant Vigil continues fiddling and fussing with the table, inspecting the food, coldly turning her back on the couple.

"Well, they know that I'm passionate about what I do, and they always wanted that for me."

"Pursuing one's passions. How American. Well, family is very open-minded, not like here, where parents are obsessed with shaping the life of their children."

It sounds like a compliment, but Y/N isn't entirely sure. Constant Vigil turns away again to talk to a passing cook before returning to Y/N. Then shoots Espio a look. He shifts, uncomfortable, and is relieved to hear a musical gong from upstairs.

"Hmm. Oh. That's dinner." he said.

"Hmm. Go ahead. I'll be out in a minute. Y/N, it was lovely meeting you."

Constant Vigil then bow to her as Y/N bow back.

"Thank you. You, too."

Y/N smiles as she and Espio head off. Once they turn their back, Y/N looked at Espio.

"Okay, she hates me."

"She takes a little minute to warm up, but we'll get there."

"I sure hope so."

Constant Vigil watches Y/N leave...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N and Espio enter as she is stunned at the expansive "living room" looks more like a glamorous club in Shanghai. Dozens of impeccably-dressed, bejeweled guests cluster in seating areas. A buffet is stacked with gorgeous dishes and desserts.

"Espio!"

"Rouge!"

"Y/N!"

"Hey, good to see you." Espio greeted.

"I'm so glad you could make it."

Rouge, in a perfect cocktail dress, heads for them, followed by Geoffrey. She hugs Espio and Y/N, delighted.

"Geoffrey." Espio greeted him.

"Rouge! So good to see a face I know." Y/N greeted with a kind smile.

"Espio." Geoffrey greeted back.

"This is my husband, Geoffrey." Rouge introduced him to Y/N.

"Nice to meet you. Heard so much about you."

"Nice to meet you, Geoffrey."

Lightning barrels in, smacks Espio too hard on the back.

"Hey, the golden boy's back! Espio!"

He then turns to Y/N.

"And you must be Y/N. I'm Lightning Lynx. This is my wife."

Nicole smiles at Y/N who smiles back and was about to greet her.

"Hi, I'm Ni—"

"Her name is Nicole."

This immediately made Nicole smack him across the face from the floor she brought out before bringing back to where it was.

"Ow! Geez, alright... So, I see you've already met Princess Rouge and her little soldier boy-toy, Geoff. You know Geoff is a big-shot tech startup guy. So if you, uh, forget your password, he's your man. So you're from the Taiwan plastic Hedgehogs, right?"

"Oh, well, actually..."

As Lightning commandeers Y/N, Geoffrey has an aside with Espio.

"Can I punch him in the face? Just once."

"Take a number."

"I always give him that like a hundred of times and he still doesn't take a hint." Nicole rolled her eyes.

"I'll be in my usual corner. Champagne?" Geoffrey asked Rouge.

"Thank you."

"Champagne sounds great. I'll see you guys later."

Nicole waved and headed off as well. Rouge goes over to Espio.

"So, have you prepped Y/N to face the wolves?"

"Y/N is a Hawaiian, and she lectures martial art students for a living. I think she can manage our family."

Rouge looks at Espio like he's crazy.

"You've been way too long. You're right about Y/N being strong and pretty."

She glances at Y/N who's still talking to Lightning as he look at her like she was crazy.

"Okay, sorry, time out. So, you're not from a Taiwan Hedgehog family?"

"Nope."

"Hong Kong telecom Hedgehogs?"

"No."

"Malaysian packing peanut Hedgehogs?"

"Is that really a thing?"

"Yeah, it's everywhere. You just—"

Before Lightning can continue, Espio cuts in.

"I'm gonna stop you there because I'm gonna take her on the rounds. We'll be back, though."

As Espio and Y/N leave, Lightning calls after.

"No, wait. Hang on. You're the sister of the police hero Sonic the Hedgehog. Am I right?"

The couple kept walking, not turning back. The jazz band breaks into a drum section as Espio introduces his family to Y/N, who's anxious to make a good impression.

"This is Auntie Endless Reach and Auntie Rich Nights."

"Hi! It's so nice to meet you. I've never been to a tan hua party before." Y/N said, bowing to them.

"We love any excuse to throw a soirée. Do your parents like to entertain?" Rich Nights asked.

"My parents and my brother never had a big party before. But I would gladly bring them someday."

Next was Conquering Storm.

"Conquering Storm. One of my parents' oldest friends."

"I actually met Constant Vigil at Cambridge. So, what line of work is your mother in?"

"Well, she's actually an agent of special forces along with my dad during the Great War before they retire and have me and my brother."

"Sounds interesting. They must be great warriors."

Conquering Storm sips her wine, gazing her silently as she's actually interested.

Then, came an elder woman in traditional Japanese dress, speaks to Espio, happy to see him.

"エスピオ、これはあなたのガールフレンドですか？急いで結婚するべきですいいですね (Espio, is this your girlfriend? You should hurry up and get married, okay?)"

Espio laughs, blushing at the word 'married' along with Y/N who smiles and asks him.

"Who's this?"

"This is Alicia Acorn, my old nanny."

"私は年を取っているかもしれませんが、それでも若くて美しく見えます。(I may be old, but I still look young and beautiful.)" Alicia joked, making Y/N giggle.

"はじめまして、アリシアさん。(Nice to meet you, Ms. Alicia.)"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rouge

Holding the covered plate, Rouge looks for Geoffrey and sees him in the corner of the library, on his phone.

"Look, now's the time we need all hands on deck. Please, please, just do me this favor. Thank you. Bye-bye."

He hangs up.

"They started clearing away dinner."

Rouge comes in and hands him the plate.

"Your favorites."

Geoffrey smiles and takes the plate, kisses her.

"Thank you."

"You know, if you need bodies at the office, I could always come in and help out. I can even help sneak you out of the office~"

"The glamorous Rouge the Bat working as an assistant?" Geoffrey playfully said.

"Mhm."

He then realizes something.

"Wait, isn't Bunnie's bachelorette party tomorrow?"

"And this would be the perfect excuse to get out of it."

"Thank you. Really. But I've got everything covered."

"Okay... Oh! I forgot to get you a fork. Um..."

"It's okay, you stay. I'll go get it."

Geoffrey winks at her and takes off. Rouge smiles as she watches him go. She hears a buzz from his phone which he's left on the bench.

"Geoffrey, I think it's the office!"

But Geoffrey doesn't hear her. He's gone. There's a ping and a text pops up. She glances at the screen.

The bed feels empty without you

With the name Hershey. Rouge is stricken and drops the phone, her world caving in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N

"Your nanny sounds lovely. I nearly thought she was your grandma at one point." Y/N said.

"You really think she's my grandma?" Espio raised his eyebrow with a smirk.

"Oh, stop that! At least, I asked first before—"

She then accidentally spills her drink down in front of Espio's shirt.

"Oh!!"

"Oh, my Chaos! I am so sorry!"

"It's fine, don't worry about it. Can I have a tissue, please?"

Just then, a yellow that has close-lying orange-yellow fur, a peach muzzle, and long jet-black hair that she keeps in two voluminous ponytails. She also has two triangular perked ears with peach inner ears, a small black nose, large orange eyes, thin arms and legs, and a slim two-tone tail. For her headwear, she wears a red hairband and elaborate white laced cloth-like hair barrettes around her ponytails. She swoops in offering a napkin.

"Oh, go, go. Get changed. I'll keep Y/N company."

Espio smiles to see her.

"Thank you, Honey."

He turns to Y/N.

"You're in good hands. Give me two minutes. I'll change."

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

Espio takes off as Y/N turns and extends her hands to Honey.

"Hi, I'm Y/N."

"Oh, I know."

Amy in her cocktail dress scampers up.

"Y/N! I heard that you thought this Alicia is a grandma."

Y/N sighs, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, come on. I asked first."

"Yep.."

"Uh, on the bright side, you're the talk of the party. People like your dress." Honey assured her.

Amy and Honey take each other in. It's instant fashion chemistry.

"Oh, I did that." Amy said.

"Oh!" Honey raised her eyebrows, feeling interested.

"I know!"

"Such a beautiful peacock."

"I know."

"It's very like what Jasmine from the movie Aladdin would wear."

"That's exactly what I was going for."

"Oh, well. Honey."

"Hi."

"I like your shoes."

"Oh, thank you. I'm Amy Rose. Ditto."

"Cheers."

"There you go."

Y/N looks on, amazed Amy's already made a friend.

"Gosh, these are lovely." Honey said, gesturing to Amy's earrings.

"They're clip-ons. Thank you."

"So, Honey, are you a cousin, too?" Y/N asked.

"Mm, well, I'm one of the poorer relations. The rainbow sheep of the family. But I make myself useful. Whatever the Shinobi want, I procure. Golden koi fish, Huanghuali furniture. A rare Cambodian gong."

"Mm." Amy hummed.

"Why would they want to buy a rare Cambodian gong?" Y/N asked in confusion.

On cue, a resonant gong sounds and all eyes turn to Endless Reach.

"Because they can." Honey said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Espio

Espio opens a closet, sees a row of meticulously pressed shirts hanging in a row. He smiles, takes one out. Constant Vigil walks in.

"Rosie insists all your clothes be washed and pressed every two weeks."

Espio sees his mother standing in the doorway. She walks over, takes the shirt from his hands and selects another shirt for him. She also quietly caters to Nick -- dusting his jacket, etc.

"This one."

As Espio takes off his soiled shirt he looks around at his childhood room filled with pictures and mementoes.

"Everything is exactly as I left it."

Constant Vigil smiles while she fiddles with Espio's clean shirt laying on the bed.

"I keep telling Rosie to put your things away, but she says this room makes her feel like you're still here. Well, I got an earful when you didn't move back last year."

Espio reacts, it's a loaded subject. Constant Vigil helps Espio put on the clean shirt.

"I was really looking forward to having you home. I'm not getting any younger. With you onboard, maybe I'll take a day off once in a while."

"I know, Mother. I'm just not ready yet. There's things in Hawaii that I wanna see through."

It's not the answer Constant Vigil was looking for. She presses on another front

"Well, I'm happy I finally met Y/N. She is very impressive."

"I think so, too. And I thought you might be excited that the first girl that I bring home is a Japanese martial art teacher."

"Japanese-American. You know, bringing her home, introducing her at a large family gathering... Some people may say—"

"When there's something to say about Y/N and me, you'll be first to hear. But some things I need to figure out on my own."

Espio grins as Constant Vigil helps him put on his jacket.

"Is that an American accent I'm hearing?"

He scoffs.

"How do I look?"

Constant Vigil adjusts the pocket square in his jacket pocket, regards her son.

"Perfect."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guests stream into a vast open-air courtyard. Endless Reach and Rich Nights hold court as guests admire the large, spidery, white flowers which are starting to bloom with the egg in the middle that's beginning to hatch as they could see a figure of the Chao

"Everyone! Everyone! The tan hua plants very rarely bloom, and even then only at night."

"Their beauty is spectacular, but fleeting. By dawn they'll be gone." Rich Nights added. "Not only that, the Chao Egg will soon hatch and see who will be worthy to be attach to."

"So... come. Come." Endless Reach said.

The crowd claps. Honey pretends to admire the flowers and the Chao Egg as the social scene to Amy Rose and Y/N.

"Oh! There's the famous singer." Honey pointed out, gesturing to Mina Mongoose, who's entered with Ash Mongoose. "Mina Mongoose. Cousin Ash's first flame. She always sings to bring good messages on how she's feeling while he helps her with the band."

Mina bends down to smell a tan hua, smiling in bliss at the wonderful smell.

"I always love her song. Her singing is amazing."

"Yep."

Y/N though is distracted seeing some young women sneak cold glances at her.

"Is it just me or are people, like, staring at me?"

"Oh, they're just jealous. You nabbed the crown prince." Honey said. "Espio is Rosie's favorite, in line to inherit everything. No surprise there when that's the competition."

Honey looks to Lightning checking himself out on his iPhone cam, and Ash who's loving gaze at Mina who gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, speaking of the grande dame..."

Y/N turns to see guests make way for an elderly lady, Nick's Rosie Woodchuck. She's regal, elegant, but frail, leaning on Constant Vigil to help her walk. She doesn't say a word, but everyone, her own family included, acts in total deference and respect to her. As Y/N takes it in, feeling a little out of place. Espio appears.

"There you are. I've been looking all over for you. You ready to meet my grandmother?"

As Espio takes her by the hand and leads her through the crowd, they reach Rosie who lights up to see her favorite grandson. The veneer of decorum drops as she reaches out to him, hugging him and touching his face.

"Grandmother..."

"エスピオ、あなたは家にいます！おばあちゃんに長い間会いに来ない。まだ生きていてよかったです。もう食べましたか？あなたは痩せすぎています。(Espio, you're home! Not coming to see your grandma for so long. I'm glad I'm still alive. Did you eat yet? You've become too skinny.)"

"それはあなたの料理が恋しいからです。祖母、これは私の親友、Y / Nハリネズミです。(That's because I miss your cooking. Grandmother, this is my good friend, Y/N the Hedgehog.)"

Y/N steps forward, replies in perfect Japanese.

"おばあちゃん、私をあなたの家に招待してくれてありがとう。エスピオはいつもあなたのことを話します。彼は、世界で誰もより良い餃子を作っていない、と言います。(Grandma, thank you for inviting me to your home. Espio always talks about you. He says no one in the world makes better dumplings.)"

The old lady squirrel looks pleased.

"何でもありません。作り方もお見せします。(It's nothing. I can show you how to make them, too.)"

Y/N smiles.

"光栄です。(I would be honored.)"

"あなたはすぐに戻ってくる必要があります、そして、周りにそれほど多くの頭を抱えている首がないとき... (You must come back soon, then, when there are not so many craning necks around...)"

"Look, they're in full bloom." Endless Reach said.

The tan hua plant began to bloom fully beautiful. People clap in awe and then that's when the best part comes. The Chao Egg starts hatching until it fully cracked open as the bright light blinded everyone up. Once it died down, it reveals a fairly regular Angel Chao with normal body proportions. She has primarily white skin with long ears on her head, mitten-like hands, a long tail, and a white halo floating above her head. She has pure blue eyes and pink skin on her belly, ends of her ears and hands, and as spots on her feet. She wears a string with an orange shell around her neck.

"An Angel Chao! Aquarius! Who will she pick?" Rich Nights exclaimed in excitement.

The Angel Chao looks over at everyone who are eager. She flies around them, seeming not interested in anyone, feeling their auras are not good. That's when her eyes lay upon Y/N who flinches in surprise, asking if she's looking at her correctly. Aquarius smiles and flies onto Y/N's head, cuddling her.

"Whoa!"

"She found one!" Endless Reach gasped. "Just like the Web of Fate had foretold me!"

People gave around of applause, not expecting the Angel Chao to choose Y/N out of all people. Espio smiles and stands up to let Y/N sit next to Rosie who's speechless that this cute Chao chose her as she grabs Aquarius and holds her like a baby. On another part of the courtyard where Constant Vigil has been watching with Conquering Storm.

"It's so nice having Espio back home. But he seems... different."

Conquering Storm sees Espio and Y/N embracing, laughing, kissing. Looking every bit the couple in love. With the Aquarius coming in between them, giving them kisses on the cheek.

"When children are away from home too long, they forget who they are." Constant Vigil said, glaring slightly at Y/N.