The Spirit of giving A Sonic the Hedgehog story by Helen Stansfeld. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sonic the Hedgehog and other affiliations, characters and locations are © Sega Enterprises Ltd. Used without permission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part One - The butterfly's lost it It was a beautiful Spring day in the Green Hill Zone. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and the resident animals were going about their everyday tasks. All was peaceful and calm........... all except one............. "Whoah!" he cried, grabbing hold of a nearby tree. He swung there for a nano-second, then flipped himself high into the air till finally he burst the canopy of the tree and carried on up like an arrow. He feverently looked around, searching for something......... "Aaarrgghhh!" he screamed, looking down. He cartwheeled in the air, took a deep breath and curled into a ball, hoping to minimize damage. "Why me?" he moaned softly to himself. "He knew our practice routine!" He whimpered and gritted his teeth. Suddenly something grabbed his hand and swooped down, aiming for the ground until, at the last possible second, it bee-lined upwards and maintained a stable flight pattern. "That was close!" it gasped, using its free paw to wipe away beads of sweat. "You're telling me!" Sonic said. "Where the heck were you?" "Sorry," Tails hung his head. "I kinda got distracted." "Distracted by what?" Sonic probed. "Well, it was a butterfly...." Tails trailed off. "I was nearly splatted because of a butterfly?" Sonic yelled angrily. "You don't understand!" Tails was adamant. "It looked really strange-" "Yeah, well so do you!" Sonic interrupted. Tails ignored him and carried on. "- and it was almost as if it didn't care about anything anymore. It was really weird!" "And you can tell if a butterfly doesn't care about its life anymore, can you?" Sonic replied sarcastically. "Oh, forget it!" Tails snapped, getting annoyed. Sonic looked startled and then said, "Sorry, I didn't mean that, I was just a little jumpy after nearly getting splatted. Please carry on." Tails looked surprised, but continued. "Do you think there's anything in it?" he asked. "Hmm..." Sonic mused. "I guess it'll probably have a brain, vital fluids, organs.." "Sonic!" "Sorry!" Sonic grinned sheepishly. "You might be onto something there. Maybe we should go check it out." Tails smiled and headed in the direction of the Metropolis Zone to find Robotnik. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Status report, sir," Mecha-Sonic said. "Good, good....." Dr Robotnik muttered, leafing through the pages. "The hedgehog's on his way?" "Affirmative." An evil smile appeared on Robotnik's face and he gave a chuckle. "Shall I monitor security, sir?" Mecha-Sonic asked. "No. I want the hedgehog to have an easy time getting in," Robotnik replied. "I don't want to question your orders sir, but why do you want him to have an easy time entering?" "I never said anything about him getting out, did I?" Robotnik laughed manicly. "Very good sir." Mecha-Sonic hovered out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "The place looks deserted," Tails hissed as he landed by the junk heap on the out-skirts of the city. "Robotnik's expecting us, then," Sonic whispered back. "Either that or he's moved to another zone." They walked slowly towards one of the back doors. "That's funny," Sonic remarked. "The alarms aren't on - look, there's no red light." "Why would he do that?" Tails wondered. "To make us think that he'd forgotten about it and that we'd have an easy time," Sonic replied. "He's definitely expecting us." "Well, are we going in?" Tails inquired. "'Cos if he's expecting us, then the place'll be swarming with badniks!" Sonic grinned. "Makes it more fun!" He stepped back and started spinning on the spot, readying himself for a spin attack on the door. "Wait!" Tails cried. "Maybe we should try-" SMASH! "-opening the door," Tails sighed and followed Sonic inside. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Hmm..." Amy Rose mused, wrinkling her brow. "It has to work now!" She flipped the switch and waited. "Rgghhhh!" she yelled angrily. "What’s wrong with the stupid thing?" "Chip seventeen has a fatal error," the computer reported in a dull monotone. "What?" Amy asked. "Oh no! Where am I gonna get another chip from?" She glared at the monitor for a few seconds and then sighed. "It would be a chip only Robotnik uses anymore, wouldn’t it?" she asked the wall. "There’s no way I can just waltz into robo-town and take one! Oh, why me?" Suddenly a little voice in her head said: "Sonic’ll be able to get it!" Amy smiled and rushed off to find Sonic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sonic and Tails quietly walked inside, suspiciously examining every wall for traps. The corridor was dank and gloomy and smelt horrible. "Do you think Robotnik likes having his fortresses like this?" Tails asked, holding his nose. "I dunno," Sonic replied. "Maybe every bad guy’s hide-out has to smell like this." He made exaggerated puking signs. They continued until they reached a forbidding metal door with a sign on it instructing blue hedgehogs to keep out. "Looks like we’ve arrived," Sonic announced. "But won’t it be a trap?" Tails inquired. "I mean, if it’s got a sign like that on it, he’ll expect you to go in!" "Maybe you’re right," Sonic conceded. "But I don’t want to disappoint our dear friend Robotnik, so come on! Let’s start the party!" Sonic grinned at Tails and added, "Do you think we should knock?" Tails looked blank. "Yeah, let’s knock," Sonic said, raising his fist and slamming it into the door, sending it flying off its hinges. "What?" Sonic exclaimed in surprise. "What is it?" Tails asked from behind him. "There’s a giant model of me in here!" Sonic was astonished. "Why would there be a giant model of you in Robotnik’s hide-out?" Tails questioned. "How should I know?" Sonic shrugged. "Maybe he’s been practising that voodoo stuff, you know, sticking pins in ya and stuff," Tails suggested. "Tails, I would know if he’d been doing that!" Sonic said. "Well, maybe it’s for something else, then," Tails persisted. "Yeah. The question is what, though. I dread to think!" Sonic shuddered. He took one last look at the statue and ran out of the room, Tails hot on his heels. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "The hedgehog is in the building, sir," Mecha-Sonic reported. Dr Robotnik rubbed his hands in glee and grinned. "Where abouts?" he inquired. "Sector 75-G, sir," Mecha-Sonic replied. "Hmm..... that’s.... that’s where the ‘top secret’ plan is!" Robotnik suddenly looked worried. "I correct myself. He is progressing to sector 18-C, sir, and is currently making rude faces and waving through the glass panel of the very door in front of you, sir," Mecha stated. "I can see that!" Robotnik yelled, going purple. "Get him!" Mecha-Sonic lunged at the door. Sonic had anticipated this and opened the door just as Mecha-Sonic was about to hit it, leaving Mecha to smash into the wall opposite in a smoking heap. "Yo, Ro-nutt-nik!" Sonic grinned as he jumped beside the doctor. "Long time no see. I’ve missed ya!" Robotnik had progressed from purple to bright red and stood there spluttering. "Aw, isn’t that sweeeeet?" Sonic exclaimed. "He’s so pleased he’s speechless!" Robotnik finally regained composure. "Why are you here, hedgehog?" he asked suspiciously, pressing a concealed button out of Sonic’s view. "Nothin’ in particular," Sonic said sweetly. "You’re lying to me, hedgehog," Robotnik said menacingly. "You’re right - I am," Sonic replied. "What are you up to this time?" "I can’t think what you mean, dear boy." Robotnik surreptitiously glanced at his watch. "Up to something? Me?" "Yeah, you!" Sonic pointed a finger at him. "Me and Tails will find out another way if you don’t tell us! Mark my words!" "Oh, I will," Robotnik laughed. "Goodbye, hedgehog!" "Goodbye?" Tails mouthed to Sonic. Sonic shrugged in response and looked puzzled. Suddenly his eyes widened and he gave a yell as the floor opened up beneath him. He tried to grab hold of the desk beside him, but the force was too strong and he and Tails were sucked into the swirling void. "Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!" Sonic cried as he disappeared into the multi-coloured vacuum. Robotnik stood at a distance laughing hysterically. He pressed another button and the void disappeared. "I have carried out your orders, sir," Mecha-Knuckles entered carrying a large object covered with a tarpaulin and set it down by the scientist. "Good, very good," Robotnik grinned, tossing the cover over his shoulder. "Now to carry out Project: Spirit. You know the plans. Before, though, I would like you to monitor the re-building of Mecha-Sonic. Dismissed." "I will monitor his re-building very carefully, sir," Mecha-Knuckles smiled. "Very carefully indeed." He hovered out of the room chuckling to himself.