~ Chapter 23 ~
Outside the mansion, the X-Tornado is ready to take off as its wings fold into position.
"Stand by for takeoff!"
The palm trees fold back.
"X-Tornado, let's go!"
The X-Tornado taxis down the runway.
"Lifting off."
It takes off with Amy, Chris, Danny, Y/N, and Sonic aboard.
"Hold on tight, Sonic and Y/N. It's time to deploy our stabilizing wings."
The other wings fold as the X-Tornado flies out of sight.
"Do you think they'll be able to find that seventh Emerald, Mr. Thorndyke?" Frances asked.
"It's possible, but they're not the only one who will be looking for it." Chuck said.
"I hope so, too." Hikaru said, looking to where the X-Tornado had gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Any signs of the Emerald yet, Tails?" Amy asked.
"Nope."
"Wow, this is so great!" Danny exclaimed.
But Chris has a sad expression, and he does not answer. Sonic, who is standing on the wing, is looking around. But Y/N noticed Chris and wondered what's making him so sad.
"Hey, c'mon. Aren't you gonna help look?" Danny looked at Chris.
"Uh, yeah, sure."
As Danny pulls out a pair of binoculars and looks through them, Chris looks down sadly, knowing that may very well be the last day he ever sees Sonic and Y/N.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knuckles is walking through the forest, holding the Chaos Emerald he found in Oriental City.
"This planet isn't so bad, I suppose, but I'd do anything to get back home. What did that voice say?"
~FLASHBACK~
"The servers are the seven chaos."
~FLASHBACK OVER~
Knuckles stops.
"We can only get back home if we find all seven Chaos Emeralds. Well... Sonic, Y/N, and those guys have four, Eggman's got one, and then there's this one I got from Hawk. That makes six in all. But even if we find the last one, we'd still have to convince Eggman to give up his. And since Sonic and Y/N, and Eggman don't seem to see eye-to-eye, we'll never get back home unless I can get them to work together."
He hears a strange beeping noise from nearby.
"What's that?"
He parts the bushes and sees Lucky on its back, struggling to get up. Knuckles runs over and helps it up.
"You must be Eggman's robot."
Lucky nods.
"Yeah? What are you doing around here?"
It points toward the Egg Fort II, which Knuckles now sees. He holds up his Emerald.
"Maybe the Emerald led me here somehow."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Chris' school, the students are doing their work as Mr. Stewart writes on the chalkboard. Chris does not look engaged.
"Lunch time, children."
"Alright!"
"I'm starving!"
"Chris, you wanna eat lunch with us?" Frances asked.
Chris does not answer.
"Yo, wake up!" Danny said.
"Uh, I'm not too hungry right now, guys."
Hikaru frowned, knowing something's wrong.
"Are you sure? You're gonna be okay?"
"It's alright. I'll be fine." Chris assured him.
"'Kay. We'll catch ya later, then." Frances said.
"Yeah, o-okay."
Danny and Frances leave, but Hikaru as he stare at Chris with concern and went after his friends. Mr. Stewart notices Chris' behavior and walks over to him.
"You know, I think you and I should visit the counseling office."
"Uh, no thanks, uhh..."
"Come on, Chris. Let's go."
"Uh..."
He reluctantly gets up and follows Mr. Stewart to the counselling room. Once they're inside, Chris is lying on a couch, while Mr. Stewart sits on a chair nearby.
"Are you ready, Chris?"
"Yeah..."
"Now... tell me, Chris. What's bothering you?"
"I don't know what's wrong with me. Lately I'm feling really confused."
"Like you're... torn?"
"Yeah."
"I think I understand why. Part of you wants to help Sonic, Y/N, and their friends return home, but another part of you doesn't want to lose your new friends."
"Huh?"
"It's quite obvious that this conflict is creating a war deep within you, Chris."
Chris immediately sits up and kneels on the bed.
"You're right! That's just how I feel, Mr. Stewart!"
"It's natural, but you must face that fact that one day your friends are going to return home."
"Hm."
"It's difficult, but you have to think about what's best for them."
"I... know..."
Mr. Stewart lays a hand on Chris' shoulder.
"Everything is going to be okay, I promise you."
He steps outside the counselling room to take a call on his wrist communicator.
"Yes?"
.....
"No, sir... Nothing I can't handle."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris went home and enters the lab, where he sees Ella cleaning the room.
"Hi, Ella."
"Ahh, hi, Chris. Did you have a good day?"
"Yeah. Where is everyone?"
"They're out looking for the Chaos Emerald again, like usual. And Grandpa's gone somewhere looking for new parts for his crazy machines. Thank goodness I can finally clean up this mess now."
As Ella leaves, Chris looks around the now-empty room.
"The place seems empty... This is how it was before they all got here, and what it's gonna be when they go..."
Memories of Sonic, Y/N, and friends flash before his eyes, then fade. Chris heads down the stairs.
"Hello." they greeted.
Chris turned and sees Knuckles and Lucky standing there.
"Hey, Knuckles. What's goin' on?"
"Plenty." Knuckles replied.
"Where'd you get that robot?"
"Well, it's not exactly mine. I think he belongs to Eggman. I found him just roaming around the forest. Seems pretty harmless, though. ... Are Sonic and Y/N around? I've got to talk to them about something."
"Sorry, they're looking out for the last Emerald."
"Then give them this message. We have only one way to get back home. We've got to call a truce with Dr. Eggman."
Chris is taken aback.
"A truce?! That'll never happen!"
"It has to."
"But how? They're sworn enemies! Plus, you know what Y/N warn us about Eggman! Never trust him."
"The only way any of us will get back home is to team up with Eggman. I know it might sound crazy, and it may even be impossible, but I have to convince Sonic and Y/N that this the only chance we've got. We've already been away from home for way too long now, and I'm not about to let anything stand in our way of getting back there."
"Knuckles is right. I'm being selfish. I've got to do whatever I can to help them."
Chris looks up with new determination.
"Alright, Knuckles. I'll give them your message."
"Meanwhile, I'll pay a visit to our friend Eggman."
"How will you know where to find them?" Chris asked.
"Heh. I think I spotted his ship over at Forest Hill. Bye."
Knuckles starts to leave, but Chris stops him.
"Knuckles!"
Knuckles looks back.
"Mind if I come along?"
"Why not?"
Chris ducks under the garage door as he, Knuckles, and Lucky leave the garage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is nighttime, and Cream and Cheese are watching their favorite show.
"Okay, kids, it's that time again! Everybody dance! Dance! Dance! Dance!" Next said on the TV.
Cream and Cheese are dancing along with Next. Chuck, Tails, Amy, Y/N, and Sonic are also present. Just then Chris arrives.
"Hey, I'm home."
"Chris, it's late. Where have you been all this time?" Chuck asked, feeling concerned.
"Sorry, I-I was over at Danny's house studying. Oh, by the way, did you guys find any Chaos Emeralds today?" Chris lied, which Y/N never bought it and could already tell something's not right.
"We didn't find anything, Chris." Tails said.
"Ahh... That's good..."
Chris catches himself, making Y/N raise her eyebrow in confusion of what did he mean by that.
"I-I mean that's bad."
Tails is also confused at what Chris meant. Just then, Chris notices Cream and Cheese crying.
"Guys, what's wrong?"
"Our favorite program won't be on next week!" Cream cried.
"Chao-chao-chao!" Cheese cried out.
"Ah. Is that all?"
He notices that three of the Chaos Emeralds are right there, especially Y/N's crystal, which made her even more confused of why is he looking at her crystal when it's not even Chaos Emerald. Unless...
"We'll find that last Emerald, won't we?" Tails said, cutting Y/N out of her thought.
"You bet we will, Tails." Chuck said.
"Well, I think I'll go for a run." Sonic said and leaps off his hammock and runs out of the room.
"Sonic, wait up!
He runs after Sonic. Everyone is confused at Chris' strange behavior.
"That was strange. Wonder what's wrong?" Chuck questioned.
"I'll go and talk to him." Y/N stood up and followed after Chris.
She then found them talking in the driveway.
"So what's up?" Sonic asked.
"Well... Sonic... I-I guess you get pretty homesick being on a different planet and all."
"Eh... I don't think about it too much. Why?"
Chris fumbles for words.
"Huh? Oh, uh, M-My teacher Mr. Stewart says hi."
"That's nice." Sonic gives him thumbs up with a wink and then he runs off.
"I bet Sonic's just as homesick as the rest of them. He's just afraid to admit it. Poor guy..."
Y/N walks up to Chris.
"Or you're just in denial. I bet you're feeling insecure and sad right now."
Chris jumped and turned.
"Y/N! I didn't see you there!"
"I meant to do that. What's wrong, Chris? You've been acting really odd, lately."
Chris sighs, knowing that he can't lie to her and it will make her mad since she hated lies. He then told her everything, and boy, she was not happy about this.
"Are you kidding me?! You and Knuckles are crazy!! You know that once we trust that Egghead, he'll just stab you both in the back like always! Trust me, Chris. It's a bad idea! We went over with this."
"But this is the only way for you guys to get back home."
"I understand that, but I don't think we should do this."
"I know, but it's our only option."
Y/N pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a sigh.
"Fine. But I'm coming with you. I don't trust that Eggman, though."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that night, Chris reunites with Knuckles at the train station with Y/N with him, carrying the Chaos Emeralds.
"Y/N! What are you doing here?" Knuckles said.
"Chris explain everything to me. I'm only here to make sure that Egghead doesn't do any more tricks and lies. I still don't trust him."
Knuckles nodded, looking down at her crystal that started to glow and turned to Chris.
"Did you get 'em?"
"Mhm. I didn't tell anybody I took 'em though."
"It's not like we're doing anything wrong. Once they find out what we did, they'll probably be grateful. Come on."
They board the train.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sonic races back into the lab.
"Hey, I-- huh?"
He notices that Chuck, Amy, Cream, and Cheese are looking at where the Emeralds used to be.
"Oh, what's up?"
"Chris and Y/N took the Chaos Emeralds..." Cream sadly said.
"Chao-chao-chao..."
"But why?"
Chuck reads aloud a note that Chris had left.
"He left us a letter explaining why. "I'm taking the Emeralds so that you can all get back home very soon." I can't understand why in the world he would do something so foolhardy."
"We'd better go look for him, Chuck." Amy said.
Sonic looks at a picture of Chris.
~FLASHBACK~
"Well... Sonic... I-I guess you get pretty homesick being on a different planet and all."
~FLASHBACK END~
Tails appears in the doorway.
"They took the Chaos Emeralds from inside the X-Tornado too! We can only fly it in normal mode now!"
Sonic runs right past him.
"Where'd he go?" Amy questioned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knuckles, Y/N, and Chris arrive. Eggman's chair descends from above and slides on a track to a table between him and the others.
"Ah, my new friends. Welcome."
Eggman turned to see Y/N surprisingly.
"Ah! Y/N! I'm surprised to see you here."
"Let's just get this over with, Egghead." she scoffed.
"Very well."
"We brought them." Knuckles informed.
Chris places his backpack on the table.
"Let me see."
Chris unzips the backpack, revealing four Chaos Emeralds.
"Oh, my. Aren't they lovely! And I have my Chaos Emerald right here."
He places a small box on the table.
"I could open the box and show it to you, but it's not safe to expose it to the others."
"Not yet."
Eggman holds the box and Chris' backpack containing the Chaos Emeralds.
"I'll hold onto the Emeralds and put them in a safe place."
Chris opens his mouth to protest.
"Okay, Doc."
Just then, Decoe appears on the video screen.
"Excuse me, Doctor? There is an urgent call from Lucky."
The screen switches to Lucky, who communicates to Eggman by beeping.
"Whaaat?! You discovered the last Chaos Emerald in a pile of garbage?! Well done! Stay where you are; I'll come to you!" Eggman exclaimed in excitement.
Chris and Knuckles exchange thumbs-ups. Y/N though is the complete opposite and just stood there with a glare on her face and noticed her crystal started to glow bright. Eggman, Chris, and Knuckles noticed that as it kept on glowing. Eggman wondered how powerful that crystal is that Y/N had been holding the whole time and guessed correctly that it might be connected to the Chaos Emeralds. Y/N held it tight to stop it until it eventually stopped glowing.
"Dr. Eggman, did he really find it?" Chris turned to Eggman.
"Of course he did! Building a robot that brings good luck was my most brilliant stroke of genius! Well, we have them all, don't we?"
"That's great!" Chris smiled.
"Yeah, now I can finally go home!" Knuckles smiled.
Y/N noticed an evil glint in Eggman's eye and was about to warn them, but it was too late.
"Haaah... Oh-kaay."
He presses a button, and Knuckles falls through a trap door.
"Knuckles!" Y/N yelled.
"Aah! What do you think you're doing, Eggman?"
Eggman belts out a laugh, then stands up and towers over Chris. Y/N skidded over and went in front of Chris protectively, glaring up at Eggman.
"Wise up. You didn't really believe that I was homesick like your loser friends, did you? The only thing I care about is establishing the Eggman Empire. I can do that on my planet, or yours. It makes no difference to me."
"Then you... lied to us, didn't you?!" Chris shouted.
"You sneaky son of a-"
"Watch it, Y/N!" Eggman scolded. "Ready the Egg Fort II for takeoff!"
The Egg Fort II's engines roar to life, then the craft begins to lift off the ground. A secret hatch on the craft opens and Knuckles falls out.
"Eggman!"
Sonic arrives.
"Where are Chris and Y/N?"
"Up there. Eggman has them in his ship along with all the Chaos Emeralds."
The Egg Fort II takes off and Sonic runs after it.
"Good luck, Sonic!"
Knuckles then looks down in shame.
"Y/N... I'm sorry... I really messed up. She's right. I should've never trusted Eggman."
He looks up at the sky in determination.
"I'll find you, and I'll save you."
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