N/N chuckled as Ray and Mighty's shinanigans, Mighty hearing N/N, it put a smile to his muzzle seeing him like that.

They have been hanging out for hours as Ray look between the two then smirked getting the idea on what's going on.

Mighty open his mouth to say something.

"Yo! Mighty! Ray!"

The trio heard someone for Mighty and Ray they recognized it but for N/N he didn't know who it is, but it's loud which made the flicky move in N/N's dreads.

They look over and sees who it was, Ray smiled seeing his old friends as well Mighty, but N/N however narrowed his eyes...

The one who called them is none other than...

...

...Sonic and the others

N/N look like he seen them somewhere, not personal but somewhere...he tried to remember where he seen them...

...

...

...

"N/N!" The Echidna arrived as when Eggman called him, running over to him to see what the doctor want.

"yes Dr. Eggman?" asked N/N stepping inside the room.

Eggman is just standing there, infront of him with his hands behind his back, it made N/N nervous thinking he did something that cause the doctor to be mad.

"...i have a mission for you" he said which made N/N blink but relief, although he is looking forward for that mission.

N/N is silent for the doctor to continue and listen to what his first mission will be.

"but before that!" he suddenly said making N/N tensed up a bit.

"i want you to warn about something...or someone.." he said as N/N can hear the anger in Eggman's voice.

Soon a hollgram of mobians appeared infront of N/N, he doesn't recognize any of them but one caught his attention.

"these are the ones you should stay away from and don't fight them until i say so" said Eggman which made N/N to raise a brow.

"and why Doctor?" asked N/N as Eggman turn to look at him.

"...because your not ready yet.." he said which made N/N to raise a brow again, ready? Ready for what?

Sadly his questions didn't get a answer.

"this three are the ones you should stay away from, make sure to stay away from any of them..."he said as N/N stared at the holograms infront of him.

A hedgehog, a fox and the one that caught his attention...a echidna that looks like him...

" they don't look that strong, i can take them down"he said with determination with his hands into fists.

"i said no!" Eggman yelled causing N/N to tensed up putting his fists down.

Eggman glared at him which made N/N feel small.

"you will fight them...but not now...when i say you can then you will" he said turning away from him and now N/N is looking at his back.

N/N is silent starring down, doesn't want Eggman to feel angry towards him again.

N/N have his eyes widen, he quickly turn around, but Ray notice him.

"hey N/N what are yo-" he didn't finish when N/N suddenly took off but making sure the flicky won't fell out of his dreads.

Mighty heard it as he look over and sees N/N running away.

"hey, wait! N/N!" Mighty shouted for him, he was about to run after him but sees him already gone which made Mighty feel...upset.

(i have a urge to draw it lol)

"who was that?" Sonic asked walking over to them.

"...that's..." Mighty began to speak but stop himself again, as if his thinking.

"...it's just a...friend we met..." Ray look over at Mighty when he said that, Ray can see pain in his eyes but decided to not say anything about.

"really? Then why they ran off?" Tails asked tilting his head.

"...i..i don't know.." Mighty said with slight hesitation...Knuckles however have his arms cross not looking at Mighty or Ray, his looking where N/N run off to..

...

He swear he saw a echidna ran that way...

"where's the other?" N/N tensed up a bit at the question.

Eggman is holding the white emerald that Cream gave him, the Doctor is starring at the echidna right infront of him.

N/N can feel the flicky shaking inside of his dreads, he slightly bit his bottom lip.

"N/N...where's the other emerald?.." Eggman questioned again, this time though N/N have no strength to respond.

He feels stupid, stupid to have a nice day at Cream's house, stupid to finally eat something, stupid to get carried away with Mighty and Ray...

N/N doesn't like this...he felt like...he failed...and he doesn't like it.

He turn his hands into fists, tightening it.

"...i..i.." N/N started trying to look for some words to tell the news to his boss.

Eggman stood there but his loosing his patience which cause N/N to feel scared.

"...i failed...to get it.." he quitely said

"pardon?"

"... I... I f-failed"

Ugh, he hate this.

"ge-getting it..."

He hate this feeling.

Eggman is silent but N/N knew he isn't happy..his.....angry.

Eggman tight his grip on the emerald before letting it go to the glass container.

N/N is silent, afraid to say anymore.

"usually i would immediately think your punishment, but since this is your first time and you've been doing good this past days I'll let you off for now..." Eggman said which made N/N very relief.

"But i expect this will be the last time, you hear?" Eggman said as N/N nodded.

"...yes Dr. Eggman....." N/N replied, want to get out of the room.

"...your free to go" he said which made N/N immediately straight towards the exit.

N/N entered his room and quickly closed it before letting out a deep sigh.

The flicky pop it's head out of N/N's dreads looking worried.

N/N gently reach towards the flicky and hold it, his now starring at the blue small bird that have a bandaged wing starring at him with concern.

N/N manages to give a small smile to his small friend.

"...it's okay small one...i'm fine.." he softly said slowly sitting down and leaning against the metal door.

The flicky let out a worried noise which N/N shakes his head in respond.

"it's alright...it's my own fault for not focusing on the mission.." he said as the flicky shakes it's head and snuggled on N/N's chest.

N/N is silent holding the small bird gently, he let out a deep sigh before closing his eyes.

He hate failures...