“Well, here's the limping wonder.” Jasper sighed, unlocking the driver's door to unlock the rest. Shadow gazed at the old car with some caution before going to open the back door.

Marklin opened the truck, and started to do a balancing act of getting stuff in. “Well, she does run fine enough, so we don’t have to worry.” Marklin told, he started to shift the contents to fit more in.

“Yeah, ‘well enough.’” Jasper snarrled.

Shadow looked inside the car. “I presume that Sonic, Amy, and I will sit in the very back then?”

“Bingo.” Marklin called, finishing the packing.

“Whoo! Backseat!” Sonic called as he pushed Shadow out of the way to get to the back. Shadow growled angrily before getting in himself.

“I don’t think the Master Emerald can fit in there….” Amy commented, watching Marklin finish. Marklin took a step back.

“I think I have some nylon cords.” Marklin sighed, thinking of a way to strap the large rock to the roof. “We could strap it to the top, it’s not that large, and it won’t make us too tall.”

Shadow got out of the car, walking back inside. “I’ll go get the emerald then.” Marklin started to pull out the ropes. Shadow came back, holding the giant emerald like it was nothing. The two quickly got it strapped to the top of the car. When finished, Shadow crossed his arms, looking at the emerald. “I assume we are ready to leave now?”

“Yeah.” Jasper sighed, getting to the drivers door. Shadow and Amy crawled into the back with Sonic. Cass, letting Apollo jump in first, got into the vehicle, Chuck following suit on the other side. Once Jasper and Marklin crawled in, they were off. Marklin started to fidget with the radio.

Sonic wrapped an arm around Shadow happily. “I guess it’s a bit crowded back here, but it’s nice.”

“Speak for yourself!” Amy huffed.

Apollo looked back and squawked at them, proceeding to join them on the seat. Cass looked back and smiled, Chuck chuckled lightly. And suddenly, Shadow felt claustrophobic. Apollo squawked at him, then left, sensing the tension. Shadow briefly felt better, but then he realized that he was still squished between his hyperactive boyfriend and a bright pink hedgehog who doesn’t know when to stop.

Marklin finally found a station and turned it up to audible throughout the car. Shadow clutched his ears, already knowing that this was gonna be a loooooonnng trip.

__________________

“Marz it’s only two mile from-”

“FINE!”  Marklin snatched the paper map from his aunt. “Left turn next intersection.” Marklin barked at Jasper as he found their place. Jasper just snorted and did as told.

Sonic tilted his head curiously. “So, where we stopping?”

“No where near a chaos emerald.” Shadow mumbled, rubbing his temples soothingly.

“The start of the new world!” Cass claimed, a gleam in her eyes. Marklin scoffed.

“Next right.” Marklin snapped to Jasper.

“The start of the new world?” Sonic questioned. “You mean, like, where this world began!?”

“The start of the place where everyone belongs, where dreams come true, where opportunity and prosperity soar!”

_________________

“See it’s a fucking rock can we continue.” Marklin sighed, the group stood around a fence that protected a rock.

Sonic blinked. “You really hyped this up too much, Cass….”

“This is where your world started?” Amy tilted her head. “I don’t get it….”

“The start of the great land of America, home of the brave, land of the free, place of stars and cars and dream, and full of filthy American runts!” Cass exclaimed, Apollo was even bored.

“Okay, a few questions.” Sonic said. “What’s America, how did a rock start this world, and what are ‘filthy American runts?’”

Cass went to answer but Marklin clasped a hand over her mouth. “America is a country, and this rock is where the original residents arrived, well, the original permanent european residents, and filthy American runts are people like Jasper-”

“I WAS BORN IN WALES!” Jasper exclaimed, angering slightly. Cass pulled Marklin’s hand off her mouth.

“Jasper is a sweet boy, no those.” Cass pointed at a middle aged couple nearby, hauling along a few screaming children. “Those are filthy American runts.”

“I have so many more questions.” Sonic whispered to Shadow.

Shadow rolled his eyes. “Can we leave now? We have to complete our objective.”

“Live a little, Shads.” Sonic stuck his tongue out childishly. “Don’t you want to know more about this world?”

“No, I want to get back to ours.” Shadow crossed his arms. Marklin just sighed and started to hurd the group back to the car.

“Well, we can’t waste to much time, who knows where the rocks are.” Marklin growled, getting back to the car.

“There is a rock that is-” Marklin shot a glare at his aunt, who wisely shut up.

The teens in their seats and ready to go, sighed in relief. They soon got going again.

“So, Shadow, where do you feel the first one?” Marklin asked, now that he held control of the map.

Shadow closed his eyes, trying to concentrate. “Hm… Approximately 20 miles to the east.”

“Take the next left onto the freeway.” Marklin told Jasper, who nodded and did so.

Sonic smiled, wrapping an arm around Shadow. “With your Ultimate Lifeform-ness, we’ll be home in no time, Shads!”

“Ultimate Lifeform-ness isn’t a word.” Shadow stated to the other, forming yet another headache.

Marklin, at the first sign of radio white noise, started to fiddle with the radio again. He found a station and looked at the map.

“Well, we are just about the 20 miles, were now?” Marklin asked, having now taken out a pencil and marking on the map.

“About 46.7 miles north.” Shadow answered, headache only getting worse.

“Get off in two exits and go right.” Marklin told Jasper, Jasper did as told. “Well, they certainly did scatter, some how.” Marklin mumbled, marking the map.

“They usually spread themselves throughout all parts of our world when they’re brought together.” Sonic said.

“So they could be anywhere?” Cass asked, looking back at the teens.

“Well, yes.” Amy nodded.

“We could go to anywhere, Russia, Madagascar, Antarctica, wait, we could go to-”

“We are NOT going to the ISS or the moon.” Marklin barked back at her.

“The more you talk, the more confused about your world I get.” Sonic blinked towards Cass.

“Oh it’s not that complicated, well it all started with the expansion of-”

_____________________

“Ok where now?” Marklin asked, cutting Cass off at about the late 1800’s.

Shadow rubbed his head. “It’s close….” He looked around the area they were driving in, “That place.” He pointed ahead to a building.

“Oh god.” Jasper exclaimed, Marklin put down the map, and pailed.

“Well.” Marklin took a breath.

“What? What is it?” Sonic asked.

“Better not be a biker.” Jasper told Marklin.

“I think we can find some way to get it from whomever.” Marklin said back, Jasper stopped the car.

“What are you guys talking about?” Sonic tried to ask again, curiosity getting worse.

“Biker bar, a rough sort.” Cass exclaimed.

“Okay, so what do we do?” Amy asked.

“I got this.” Marklin opened the car door, and stepped out of the car. He popped his jacket on and closed the door. Cass opened the door, and let Apollo out to follow him.

“You.” Jasper pointed at Shadow, “You know what the gem looks like, go with him.”

Shadow simply nodded before getting out of the car, Sonic wishing him good luck. He sighed before following Marklin and Apollo in. Just in front of the door, Markin looked at Shadow, ruffled up his hair and straightened his jacket. He grabbed Apollo’s lead and walked in. Shadow crossed his arms and huffed, following behind.

The bar looked over at him, most went back to their own space.

“Oh look, new meat!” A man called, walking over, and clubbing a hand into Marklin back, Marklin looked at him.

“I’m looking for a stolen Jewel.” Marklin barked. Shadow glanced around the area before glaring at the man.

“What’s it like then, sir.” The man asked.

“The jewel in question is large and….” Shadow tried to sense it. “By the amount of radioactivity, green.”

“Radioactive you say….” The man said, he looked over at the wall. “Might explain a few things.”  the light on the wall next to where the gem was mounted.

“That’s it!” Shadow said. “That’s the chaos emerald!”

“That ain’t no emerald! That be a Quartz!” Another man yelled.

Shadow growled to that man, clenching his fists. “Don’t you dare change the name of such great and ancient jewels!”

“If it’s so ancient, then why have we not found a nice ol buyer for it.” The man barked, he leaned closer, Marklin put an arm between the man and Shadow, Apollo started to growl.

“Look, it’s this kids family heirloom I’m just in charge of finding it.” Marklin snapped.

Shadow glanced to Marklin before deciding to calm down. “Yes, it is very important.”

“Well, whatcha gonna do for it.” The man spit.

“Is that a challenge?” Shadow glared at him.

“No.” Marklin snapped to Shadow, he looked at the man. “Whatever you need, my good sir.”

The man snorted. “Why’s the dog in here?” The man asked, he kicked Apollo.

“He’s a SERVICE DOG!” Marklin snapped, he knelt next to Apollo now squawked to breath.

Shadow clenched his fists, glaring at the man. “Are you cruisin’ for a bruisin’!?”

“You need to shut your kid up.” The man barked, Marklin stood and pushed Shadow towards the door. Shadow glared to Marklin before promptly dusting off his shoulder. “I am no one’s kid, ya germ!” The men in the bar just started to laugh.

“Now, why don’t you and your private eye leave, little richie.” The man barked.

“Excuse me, I am and OBGYN and a pediatrician i’m not some wanna be bounty hunter- fuck.” Marklin shuffled Shadow out of the bar as fast as he could.

“What the hell are ya doing!?” Shadow growled out.

Cass got out of the car. “Back in the car children!” Cass called, she snatched Apollo and walked in the bar. Marklin walked back to the car quickly. Shadow got back into the car, sitting in his seat and grumbling.

“So, uh, how’d it go?” Sonic asked.

“That cube don’t know what he’s talkin’ ‘bout.” Shadow huffed.

Sonic looked, confused, at Marklin. “Why’s he talking like that?”

“God only knows whats wrong with him.” Marklin huffed. Suddenly, Cass walked out of the bar, tossing the chaos emerald in her hand, Apollo trotting behind her.

“Alright! Great job, Cass!” Sonic smiled, giving her his signature thumbs up. Cass got in the car, and passed the gem to Shadow.

“That gonna help you, you idiot.” Cass sighed.

Shadow caught it and sighed, feeling better. “I hate how much your world messes with my mind….”

“Well, now you got a rock, and we can find a nice camping spot for the night.” Marklin said, Jasper nodded and started to drive. Shadow held the emerald close, hoping that, with more, the world wouldn’t mess with him.