Mephiles' POV:

"...Solid ground!" I whispered, putting my hands on the wall of the airport. "It was a good thing I took those airsickness pills."

Alabaster smirked, "You didn't have a problem when I flew you into Timber Creek."

"You were the one driving! I trust you. I don't even know what that pilot looks like!" I smiled at my fiancé as she giggled at my reaction. "Well...we're here."

"Yup...Empire City. You picked an excellent vacationing spot."

"Aw, it was nothing. I'd never been here before." I put an arm around her. "Besides, I thought it would do us some good to get away from all the cold for some sunshine."

"You miss the heat of Soleanna, don't you?"

I blushed. "A little...come on, our bags are looking for us."

Once we'd grabbed our bags, we checked into the hotel nearby and settled in. We still weren't sleeping together, so it was a relief that there were two beds in the room.

She went to shower, and I turned on the TV. Much to my annoyance, it seemed that every other channel had Sonic's face on it. "Why does my enemy have to be famous...?" I groaned. "Solaris, I'd kill you if you weren't already dead."

"Wow, that's harsh." Alabaster stepped out of the bathroom, now dressed in a halter top and jean shorts. "But he did deserve that."

"You showered quick."

"I wasn't covered in bodily fluids and poop this time."

"True." I got up, turning off the TV. "Now, let's go find ourselves something to do."

Alabaster grinned, "I know just the place..."

........................................................................

Sonic's POV:

"Why are you here, Faker?"

I grinned, leaning against the wall. "Come on, Shadz, can't a guy visit his best rival in his home town once in a while...?"

Shadow growled, something I enjoyed causing. "First, don't call me 'Shadz...!'" He said through his teeth. "Second, I don't have time for your joking around. I've got lots of work to do. Papers to organize, orders to give out-"

"Bats to propose to...?"

I'd never seen Shadow's face turn so red, though it was hard to tell whether it was from embarrassment or anger. "Sonic...!"

"You are planning on doing it, right?"

"That is none of your concern!"

"Thought so." Watching him squirm was the best thing ever. "Okay, enough messin' around. I'm here because Tails lost track of Egghead's whereabouts. I was hoping you'd been keeping tabs on him and might know where he went."

Shadow started back into his apartment, "What makes you think I keep tabs on Eggman?"

"Well, he is your nephew."

Shadow paused closing the door in my face. "...I will tell you what I know, if you swear never to refer to Eggman as that again. Ever."

I smirked. "Fine."
Before another word could be said, however, I heard a yelp, and a familiar shape slammed onto the sidewalk below. "SILVER!"

The squirt came from the distant future, and though he could be a pain at times with his frequent visits, he was one of the few people who remembered...that event.

Shadow and I dashed down to the ground, where Silver was attempting to pick himself up. "Silver, are you okay?"

Silver looked up, his left cheek scratched and holding his right side. "Hi Sonic...It's Eggman." He panted. "Eggman traveled to my future somehow...he threw me here and took my Time Stone... If I don't get that back, I'll be trapped here!"

"No doubt he's planning something with that Time Stone..." I murmured. "We'd better get you patched up and find out what he's up to."

I put one of Silver's arms over my shoulders. "Come on, kid."

"I'm not that much younger than you..."

"Two hundred years? Yeah you are... Don't worry, we'll get your rock back."

Good luck with that!

We turned, seeing Eggman's ship coming towards us, but it looked different.

Silver forced himself to stand on his own. "He must've stolen stuff from my era to enhance his ship."

I got into a fighting position. "Then we'd put his new tech out to pasture...!"