Chapter Text
Expectation set on her, she takes a moment before pronouncing any word.
Doubt? She looks around to meet their faces shortly. Friendly as they come, they're still strangers.
Amy is surrounded by them, in an unknown place, about to spill her knowledge of what is honestly something really crazy to believe. Can she really trust them? Would they take her seriously? —Is not like she has any other option. Pressing her fist to her chest with closed eyes, she allows her heart to take the decision for her.
Yes, this is the right choice.
Eyes open again, she kept her sight low as her voice finally came through. "I guess it all began with a vision. —You see, I'm a fortune reader, so is something that happens to me time to time. Usually it's just brief images, random sounding words or phrases that show up unannounced in the back of my head; left out for interpretation and offering light glimpses on what the future might hold.
...This time, however, it was different. This was... vivid. Nothing like I had ever seen before, clear to an almost discomforting degree."
Pause, she lifted her head just a little. "I saw them. What the future would become if we don't stop them.
...
Nothing good, that's what it is."
Taking a step back, Amy brought her hammer to the center of the improvised stage the Wachowski's living room had turned into. "I didn't want to believe it. For once, out of worry I choose to ignore it..." Held in front of her, she raised her free hand to one of its ends. "Until I saw them just in front of me."
Holding the handle tighter, her nose wrinkled. Fingertips extended, her eyes lighted up bright, electric pink; so did her quills, and the weapon right after.
Everyone observed as the round, flat end suddenly opened like a small futuristic round door, a different colored light within. Not much bigger than a box of matches, a shiny polygonal purple gem emerged slowly, as it floated Amy catched it, thumb and middle.
Hammer down, she lifted the gem high enough so everyone could see.
"This... is a Time Stone." Her voice clear. "A sacred, ancient artifact my people kept for generations." Hand down, she placed it gently on the coffee table before her and kept her eyes on it. "About a month ago, the same robots that ambushed Sonic earlier tonight invaded my town to try and steal it. I've been after them ever since."
Head up, Amy met every set of eyes she encountered. "I managed to follow them back to their base—" Taking hold of her cloak, she took from underneath a few pieces of paper she then placed down too, the rough sketches on them showed building like structures, some forms of vehicles and what it seemed to be the aforementioned robots.
"—They have built this massive complex, crowned by this large tower near the centre." Moving her fingers across her drawings, she accompanied her speech with gestures so they could make the image of what she described. "And with it, more robots. Many, many more..."
Straightening up, all eyes on the different papers. "The thing is completely impenetrable. Troops scout the perimeter constantly, so I barely had any chance to get close. Structurally is well set for defence too; big walls, watchtowers... along with whatever is going on further in.
—What I did get a glimpse of was this large back entrance where they receive materials on these big platform-carts, so I can only imagine there's some kind of factory on the lowest level —underground, even— where I believe is easy to conclude they're multiplying in mass production, if not building something else."
Serious faces growing on her listeners, Tails reached out to inspect the girl's drawings.
"...I can't tell how big their number is, I just know it increases as I speak. —By the hundreds? By the thousands? Your guess is as good as mine. Still, that's actually not the biggest issue..."
Taking another paper, she unfolded it and quickly pressed it down to the table, hand opened. "This is."
It was a blueprint, the image showed the different profiles of a robot. On the corner, everyone noted the name.
[ METAL SONIC ]
Tapping the paper, her sight lifted. "The ones being produced right now are nothing but cheap knockoffs that vary on quality. This whole mess began with this one over here. The original model."
Frowns around set on the paper; dirty and scratched, folding lines all around and traces smudged; the image was clear nonetheless. It was disturbing, the resemblance was undeniable, yet something about it was off putting.
All the features, down to the very frame were there, but as if seen through a sharp, distorted looking glass.
"I found this on an abandoned lab of some sorts. It's the craft of the doctor Ivo Robotnik—"
"But he's-" Tom suddenly spoke.
"Dead." Amy finished, meeting his sight for a moment. "As far as I know, he was in fact the designer, but not the one who built it. Someone —I don't know who— found the project and made it real. And it has been plotting this for a long time now, years most likely."
Years...?
"The thing is, during the few trips I made to their base, I never saw once a person, anyone that wasn't a bot or machine, for that matter.
—Either they're far too deep to be seen, or what concerns me the most, the whole operation is ran by the mind of an AI. —By this guy." She had pointed again at the blueprint.
"Didn't you confronted these machines before? What is it about this one that concerns you?" Knuckles spoke now, as Tails reached to study the blueprint.
"I've only fought copies, the 'cheap' ones. But I saw this one once, from afar. It was quick, but I know what I saw; it wasn't like the others —maybe was the way it flew, or the fact it was all alone... but when it went directly to the tower's top, I knew it was the one."
Amy addressed everyone again. "Along with the blueprint I read the doctor's notes. Is not just a robot that looks like Sonic, it was designed with the goal of being Sonic."
The Blue man himself had approached at this point. Their eyes met and she kept speaking. "Your strength, your agility... your speed. He intended this thing to match all your abilities, and all of you. —I'm not the sharpest when it comes to mechanics, but even I could tell the code written for this tinman is something worryingly elaborated."
Her frown pronounced further. "Built to mimic your moves and gestures, to store your memories for itself. Everything you are, this thing was made to replicate, and surpass..." She kept her eyes on Sonic, a message direct to him. "I'm drawn to believe that what we're confronting is a machine that can do everything you can do, and improve upon it. —A being that isn't aware of it's own nature and for all we know, thinks YOU are the fake one." Point. "So this Metal Sonic will hunt you down until you're GONE. Cause it might have your brain implanted, but was left without your heart."
Sonic's serious expression was her only response. The boy was left speechless, what do you even respond to that?
Silence.
"So. As per usual, Sonic is the groin." Knuckles suddenly spoke.
"Ghg-" Squeal. "THE WHAT—" Amy had jumped.
Panic. "NO-NO-NO!!!" Sonic quickly shouted. "Th-tHats just like an inner jok-"
"I- I don't think I wanna know!!" She shook her hands and avoided his face.
Panic AND embarrassment. "I'm telling you!! It's just—"
"I DON'T WANNA KNOW!"
Gee! What a way to break the mood...!! Well, was getting too serious, I guess.
The girl cleared her throat in an effort to brush off the color on her face. "So—! Other than their personal business with Sonic, I can only imagine they pretend to take over the world or something within the line. You don't built an army unless you plan to go to war.
—It seems they've begun to move just recently, though." Fingers to her chin. "My guess goes back to the Time Stones, they're eight in total and hold great power. They probably plan to gather them all before starting their main attack." Hands to her hips. "So as while as I keep mine out of their claws, we are somewhat safe of the worst, hopefully."
"Okay-okay. Pause. Let me see if I got this right; they have this great base, this massive army, and may or may not be lead by an evil Sonic. So—" Tom intervened. "May I question why they want these magic rocks for...?"
"Power is often seeked by the ones who had the most already." Knuckles voice came. "For some is never enough."
"Is not the case exactly." Amy spoke again. "You see, the transportation of matter is the stones specialty. They probably want them to get their whole number in one go."
"Why don't use portal rings?" Sonic logically asked as he took hold of the gem for a moment, staring at it with one eye.
"Rings don't allow for fourth dimensional travel." Amy turned to answer, a brow slightly lifted.
Ooooh-kay...? Odd answer? Only Tails seemed to perk on the comment. But she kept speaking before he could further question.
"So, well—! That's pretty much everything I know. There was some more useful information in the doctor's lab, presumably. But I might have ah...triggered some security system that blew the whole thing up...!" The girl rolled her head and eyes along. (Small guilt? Shame?)."—I only managed to grab the blueprint... but we can just go back and check again, eventually."
Her odd comments kept piling up. Something about them really didn't make sense; nobody had cared enough to push an interrogation, though.
Amy kept speaking. "—When I encountered the tower I found myself in a bit of a dead end, so I just resorted to go find Sonic. I've been on it for the past... days; and now, here we are...!" She had extended her arms and lowered her sight to the table. The others followed through.
Tsk! "So what's the big deal!" Sonic suddenly spoke, taking one of the sketches. "We go to Sauron's tower, disassemble a bunch of bots, fight my face stealer, get the magic stones and save the world! —Easy peasy!" Nonchalant, cocky and far too carefree was his tone. Almost as he didn't took the weight of the situation. That was Sonic The Hedgehog for you, alright!
Amy spoke again, his seemingly good mood hadn't reached her. "Well...yeah, but we can't even get there...!"
"Yeah-yeah, 'impenetrable fortress'? Don't worry!" Hand waved down. "Tails here will make a scan of the whole thing and we'll find a way to enter!"
"Leave it to me!" Said fox jumped to add.
"But that's—"
"And if we can't find a way...!" Sonic intervened again. "We'll make one!"
Knuckles put his fists together, a grin on his face. "My pleasure!"
"No-no, I mean. We can't —get there." She pointed side to side with two fingers.
Sonic blinked. "Don't you have anymore portal rings...?"
"I told you, we can't use those...!"
Looking to the side for a moment, his confusion grew. "Well, how far is it...?"
"Is not about—!" Amy reacted. "Oh." Looked to the side, finger to her lip. "Oh, I guess I didn't... say it." She looked back. "Amm... the robots come from the future.
...
To get to them we need to time travel."
Absolute utter silence.
Not a breath, not a blink. Everyone around stood completely still.
"Say that again." It was Sonic's voice. Definitely came out if him, yet his lips had barely moved.
"We need to time travel."
Step forward, crossing personal space, eyes an unseen degree of intensity. "Again."
Amy flinched ever so slightly. "...We need to travel through time.
...and space. People often forget that—" She began mumbling that part, Sonic cut through; doubling it down, he grabbed her by the shoulders. "Do NOT mess around with me, lady. Could it be that you're possibly —positively— implying is an ACTUAL, REAL thing...!?"
A little nervous, she kept her eyes on his. "...Yeah."
"How."
"With the Time Stones...!" Looked to the side. "Like... didn't it ring a bell...?"
"—So you have?" And still got closer.
"Jumped? Yes...!"
"—So you're a time traveler?" His eyes were somehow greener.
"...I guess I am...!" She shrugged slightly.
Sonic then just simply stared, she did her best to do the same.
Before anyone could say or do anything, the guy broke the stillness of the scene by the sole movement of his jaw; slowly, almost mechanically opening till it reached its limit. The slowest forming gasp.
Dumb looking gawk transformed three seconds later in a bright, (even dumber looking) ear to ear grin. The boy has BEAMING.
"NO. FREAKING. WAY. WHAAAAAA-AH-HAH-HAAT????" And he finally let go of her. "WHY DIDN'T YOU START WITH THAT!?"
Laughing and running all around, he stood on his tiptoes to grab Tom by the shirt collar. "And YOU said time travel was TOO OUTLANDISH for my bucket list!!" Letting go, he stood in front of the girl again.
"I'm IN. TOTALLY-TOTALLY IN!!! When do we leave!? Do we leave now!? Do I need to pack!? Do I need to dispose of all metallic objects, food items and liquids!? —Do they have chilidogs in the future!? Did they rebooted the DCU!? (Did it work for once...!?) Should I brush my teeth...!?"
Palms up and taken aback again by the small distance between them, Amy blinked, a weird smile on her face. "Ahhh..." She tweaked, brushing off her surprise. "Ahem—! No, as I said; we can't go."
Serious again. "Why."
The girl sighed, still trying to compose herself a little. "In... order to make the jump, the Stones require energy from their user. They contain power of their own, but to be accessed and activated they need a transfer."
Sonic took a step back, arms crossed. She continued as she took hold of the gem once more. "So it has been good enough to carry myself around but— If I were to try and get all of you, well —you know— that could- am, kill me."
Everyone reacted. "—Don't get me wrong!!" Golden bracelets shook along with her palms. "I'm more than willing to do ALL it takes for this mission, down to sacrificing myself!" Fist down. "But even if I did...!" Her determination frailed a little. "I wouldn't be able to get you back so... it's probably not the best idea..."
Hands up, eyes VERY open. "WOAH-WOAH-WOAH." It was Sonic. "Chill a little there, hammer-girl!" A nervous chuckle escaped his mouth. "—Nobody is sacrificing themselves on MY watch!" A palm across, to emphasize his point. "We'll think of something."
Suddenly everyone but Amy adopted a similar, almost cartoony, thinking position.
"Aren't there more of those magic rocks around...?" It was Maddie.
The girl turned to her. "Yeah but, the Metals are after them as well; and they have like a hundred times more resources than us...!" Sight lowered. "For all I know, they could have all the others already...!"
"Can't we all provide our own energy to the Stone?" Knuckles spoke now.
"Not really..." A frown still on her face, she looked at him now. "To activate it, is like with the portal rings, you have to visualize where (and when) you want to go—! And, well..." Shrug. "Only I have seen their base, so it has to be me."
"Hmm..." Tails approached her. "How do you make it work, exactly?"
"Well... I know it's possible to use them directly, but the safest bet is to use them through a vessel. In my case I've been using my hammer." She tapped it lightly. "Then you—"
Gasp. "Your hammer is a time machine...!?" Sonic couldn't help himself. She looked at him, his boyish awe made her smile a little (it was inevitable.)
"I guess...!" Sight back at Tails, her —ever so slightly— lifted up mood remained for a moment. "Takes a hot second to concentrate on the place I want to go, then for the energy to start flowing between me and the gem. When it charges up, I can make the jump."
"By 'vessel' you mean...?" Tails continued.
"A tool, a medium. Anything that installs a safe bridge between the Stone and the user."
"So anything works...?"
Finger to her chin, sight up. "I think? You need a way to attach it, and it has to be somewhat sturdy to be able to handle the power, though. —I might have read somewhere it works best if you have some kind of connection with it...? But I'm not sure."
"Can't we charge it with something else, perhaps? An attached source that could either be connected to it and or flow through you...?"
Amy looked around, eyes slightly squinted. "I guess...?" Wasn't sure. "But it can't be any kind of energy...! It would have to be something compatible, pure to a cosmic level...!"
An idea? "Like Chaos energy?"
"Hmm... that could work, maybe? —But is not like we have a Chaos Emerald laying around...!" Almost smiled again.
Stare.
She looked at them.
Stare. From everyone in the room.
"What?" She kept looking.
Were they beginning to smile?
Amy was trying hard to read them. "...You have one?"
Still staring, some began crossing arms. Definitely smiling.
"Oh shut up, you don't." Disbelief.
Not a word yet.
"...You DO!?" Doubt.
Smiles only grew.
"...ALL of them!??" Flabbergast.
"Well...! I guess that solves the problem!" Arms up, Tails finally broke the one sided silence.
"Hold it." Sonic stepped forward. "We can't keep relying on the Emeralds for every mission...! —Also, the game it's pretty unbalanced already!" He gestured around. "I wouldn't want to imagine what these clankers could do if they got their pointy little robot fingers on the Master Emerald!"
"THE MASTER EM—" Amy jumped. "WOAH there, hedgehog!!" He reacted, eyes back to the girl and her nervous, palms up expression. "Nobody said a thing about the Master Emerald! T-That's TOO much!!" She cleared her throat. "Look, ah— when a Time Stone gets in contact with another, their power increases exponentially." She accompanied her words with gestures. "I can imagine it would work somewhat similar if linked to a Chaos Emerald so—! If it's just the four of us making the jump, I believe just one Emerald would do! Two if you want to be safe!"
"—And we could take all the necessary measures to keep them safe and hidden during the mission!" Fists up, Tails spoke again.
Sonic still didn't seem too convinced. He turned to Knuckles. "What do you think?"
A brief look, the echidna closed his eyes and sunk in thought, arms crossed. He took a moment before he opened his eyes once more; not quite looking at anything, his voice followed. " The odds the pink hedgehog presents are quite bitter on their own... During my time as a warrior I've faced many foes, but never before I'd had to confront an enemy I couldn't reach physically."
The others simply observed him, waiting for his verdict.
He just then looked at Sonic. "I fear we have no choice; but is like how the fox stated!" Fist down. "We'll have to take all precautions. Even a single Emerald contains enough power to cause devastation in the wrong hands."
Sonic smiled, and nodded determined. "It is set then!"
The three of them looked between one another; green on purple, purple on blue. The thrill of a new upcoming adventure sinking in!
Moment cut by the sound of a... a whistle?
It was Amy. Hands to her hips she stared at them in bit of awe. "Woah. You solved it in like... a minute" She bobbed her head, a little smile formed along a lifted frown. "You guys are good...!!"
Smiles returned. "What else did you expect from MY Team!!" It was Sonic, of course.
She giggled. Taking hold of her hammer again. "I guess I'm gonna need a bigger hammer, then...!"
Pointy fox ears perked. "Or maybe..." A grin, a hand to his chin. "...something else entirely!"
"Oh-ho-hoo! I know that look!" Sonic spoke, excited already.
"Guys...?" His grin bigger. "Let's build a time machine."
CUE THE COOL MONTAGE MUSIC
Running into the scrapyard, is a brand new day. Tails passes across the many piles, device on hand, his little orb-like drones scanning the whole place while beams, red, blue or pink highlight different pieces; each color matching member immediately jumping to take it off it's mound.
Tom waits besides the truck, as it gets loaded, begans pressing down.
Lower.
Lower.
Lowe- It's creaking!
GAH! "K' guys! We can make more trips!!"
--- Scene switch! --->
Back at home, on Tails' made up work station. Plays with a 3d model of a futuristic looking aircraft. Moves it around, takes pieces out, zooms in, adds pieces in.
--- Scene switch! --->
Knuckles finishes to clear a large area in the back of the house. Different piles of the gathered stuff lay around. Moving to the center, Tails conducts everyone, pointing at the differents spots and materials.
Smiles and nods. Everyone is moving again. All tools out!
--- Scene switch! --->
Working on some hardware! Table full of cables and all sorts of small pieces. Tom makes his best to keep up and help the kid.
"So amm..." Small talk? Tails doesn't take his eyes of the card he's working on, but he's listening. "Not like I doubt your ability but, how did you manage to design this whole thing so fast?"
"Oh...!" Eyes still on the work, he shrugged. "I really didn't! I just adapted one of my existing models...!"
A small, incredulous head shake. "What'cha mean?"
Now he looked at him. "I... like to design big ships and vehicles! —It's fun!" Aaand, eyes back down. "I've done it for years! Though I've never had a chance to actually build one!" Another shrug, smile wider. "This is exciting!"
The man simply stared, then nodded slowly. Squint, mouth opened. "How old are you again...?"
Tails stops and looks at him.
--- Scene switch! --->
The fuselage is taking shape! Knuckles puts down a metal piece, Amy shows up behind, welding mask on, gets to work.
--- Scene switch! --->
Tom and Maddie on the hardware store, phone in hand they push a shopping card.
"—No, he said solid rivets."
"He said blind!"
"I remember he- Oh, he picked up, wait." Phone to his ear. "—Hi. Tails? You said you needed solid rivets or blind rivets?"
On the speaker. "Both!"
Pause. "Okay then...!" Eyes his wife. "Ahhh, how many, again?"
"As many as you can get!"
Another pause.
"Please!" You could tell he was smiling innocently. "—Oh! And I need a few more things, I'll send you the list! Thank you very much!"
Call ended.
"It's to save the world...!" Maddie suddenly states.
"...It's to save the world." Tom repeats. Smile. "Wanna tell that to the cashier?"
"Ha-hah!"
--- Scene switch! --->
"Tails." And even the music stops. "Please tell me this is not what I think it is." Is Sonic talking.
"Giant hamster wheel? Yes!" Stoods up, tool in hand, as he just finished the last touch of it. The boy shakes his hands and approaches. "I need you to charge these car batteries." Doesn't stop smiling all along.
Sonic just stares at him for a moment.
"Weren't we gonna use Chaos and like, Time energy...?"
Hands to his hips. "Noooooouuu...!" He's still smiling. "—We're only using that for the jump! The ship will run on regular gas and power!"
Another stare, and a blink.
"Ooooh-kay...! But can't I give you a few of my quills or... something...?"
"Unfortunately, no. Your quills react to Chaos energy, so I don't wanna risk them doing something funny during the trip and overload the system." He bent down to gather his tools in a box.
Stare- "Ah, whatever...!" Arm arqued down, he walked over, hopping in the wheel. "I'll charge them up in like, three seconds."
"Oh—! About that...!" Stood again, finger up. On Sonic a 'what now' expression. "Yeah... so! If you charge them too fast you might damage them, sooooo...!" Finger tips joined, his hands making a circular motion as he averted his face for a moment.
"Don't say it. Don't say I need to go slow."
"I installed a meter; if you exceed it, it will began beeping."
A stare in a different key, another kind of blink; the slow, 'you've got to be kidding me' kind.
On return, a little smile. "If it makes you feel better...! The issue here is that you're TOO efficient!" He gestured to him.
Sonic lifted a brow.
Tails finished gathering his things, and began walking away. "Is for the time travel, remember!" This project had him in a VERY good mood, ain't it?
The Blue smiled a little. Ahh, his little bud was right! He looked up and shook his head, a moment later he began trotting. Already eying the big pile of batteries.
"—Do we need this many, though...!?"
Out of the frame, Tails' voice answered. "It's a big ship, Sonic! —Gonna' need a few for the tests and some backups, too!"
"Yeah, yeah. You think of everything, don't you...!?"
Still off frame. "I could've built a bigger battery...! But there's not much time now!"
"—But you had the time to build a giant hamster wheel, didn't you...!?" Spoke between his teeth.
"Just do it...!!"
Eyes shut. "Time travel-time travel-time travel...!!"
--- Scene switch! (An the music's back!) --->
Fast pace sequence!
--- Everyone is working together. Adjusting things here, joining pieces there. --->
--- Knuckles and Amy hold the whole thing up and steady while Tails adjusts the wiring under. --->
--- Back inside the house, Maddie helps them unpack gamer-looking chair parts. Little foam pieces fly all around. --->
--- Sonic— keeps running on the wheel. Looking rather silly. --->
--- Knuckles hands a Chaos Emerald to Tails, with caution he connects it to the prototype engine. Button press on his device from a safe distance.
Test start!
Charges up, blows up.
"...Okay." --->
--- Maddie in the kitchen, making lunch for everybody. Pink pointy ears in the bottom of the frame. Stool placed down and up she goes. "Need any help?"
Maddie smiles at her. --->
--- Tails runs around checking everyone's progress. Determination in his eyes, he is everywhere doing all sorts of adjustments. --->
--- Back to the ship's design, he keeps making tweaks. Checks the system, checks the core and the structure. Even at the dinner table he keeps his notes around. Have you ever seen the little guy this focused? --->
--- Wheel forged. A swoop to the soon-to-be control panel. --->
--- Staying up at night. Getting scolded for it! --->
--- Another engine test!
Charges up, charges up more.
Expectation...! Blows up.
"Oh. Come on, man...!!" --->
--- Screw here, drill there. Swiping off the sweat. --->
--- Insert that classic shot of the big thing held up by wires while someone on the ground is guiding with a 'come here' two arm motion. In this case, a large windshield. --->
--- Tom and Maddie going in an out of the hardware store. --->
--- Knuckles using his own hands to shape the metal structure. --->
--- Even Ozzie is helping out! --->
--- More tests. The mechanics work solving slow but surely.
Oh but the little guy's struggling! Room filled with numbers, calculations and sketches in holographic boards; different models, half build prototipes for the engine and other parts, it's an engineering mess!
Calculator in one hand, he scratches his head. Reaching out to a nearby plate, he grabs a cookie Amy baked earlier, as he takes a bite he opens another aeronautics book. --->
--- Sonic? You guessed it! Still running on the big hamster wheel.
Let's actually slow down a little, music lower too. - - - >
Phone in hand, he tries to keep himself entertained with some series. As the credits roll and the next episode loads, he looks up, quite the bored expression on his face.
Looking to the side, the stack of batteries only seemed to have increased since he began the first day. 'Come on, dude.' And, 'I can do other stuff, not just running yunno!' His grimace reads.
Across the yard, he spots Tails and Amy talking; the pink girl seems to be describing something to him, the time travel deal, maybe? He saw the fox nodding and taking notes on his computer, commenting back and her making faces, hands moving around.
Yeah, he was looking at her again. —I mean, it was a totally normal thing to do, no? New face around and stuff...?
She had been out of that brown cloak of hers for a few days now. The sight of her in that red dress she turned out to hid underneath still ah— sticked out to him. Let's go with that.
Amy was facing the other way, from his angle he saw mostly her side view. He hadn't been staring for THAT long, he could've sworn! —Even so, out of nowhere, she suddenly turned her head. Oh boy, their eyes met automatically, as if she had Spidey-sensed him!!
He jumped a little, lips tweaking upwards just slightly. The girl just smiled at him briefly, before sticking out her tongue.
"...!!!"
Mockery? Not... really(?) More like simple playfulness, he noted.
Oh, but he should've come back to her! Mimic the gesture, double it down, say something smart and funny!! —But he simply couldn't! For any reason he just FROZE!
And by 'FROZE' I mean he locked his sight forward and began running faster. The beeping of the speed meter quickly became present, along with Tails pre-recorded voice: 'Too fast!- too fast!'
"Oh you had time to program THAT in too...!?" Spoke to himself.
--- Scene switch! --->
Another dinner scene, a rather silent one. A bowl of salad is slowly passed and put down, as everyone's stares fall on the blonde furry boy.
Behind the seat, his tails move in wavy patterns, suddenly snapping before slowing down again. A deep, deep frown on his face, at least the part not covered with his hand, smushing his muzzle as he's visibly sinked in thought.
"Ahm..." Someone dares to speak.
Hitting the table, Tails suddenly jumps off his seat, loud and almost violently. "THAT'S IT!!". And before anyone can say a thing he has already waddled away.
--- Reforming the engine, bigger, more sophisticated. Installed and working delightfully. The fox smiles as every piece of his creation is coming together. --->
--- Cable on plug, plug on socket. System lighting up part by part, space by space, his face with it; the sparkle of the many working systems shine in his blue eyes. - - - >
The music eases. As the Team observes from underneath the result of their hard work (not yet fully revealed to us, though!). Tails steps back to join them.
"Eat your HEART OUT, Doc Brown!! —You really out did you this time, bud!" Along with a long whistle, Sonic states, eyes up still.
"There are still a few details to refine, but all the systems are working as intended." Takes out a little note pad, thumb and pointer finger bent on his chin. "Still. I can't help to think something's missing..."
Maddie shows up from behind, arm crossed and coffee mug near her face as she looks up nodding slowly. "Are you gonna paint it...?" Points as she takes a sip.
With different levels of intensity, everyone else reacts. One joint "!!!" Type expression.
--- Cut ---
Arguing noises. The house's living room is one BIG mess.
Little hologram projections of the ship float around, all in different colors. Printed versions too, hand colored; and color swatches, patterns, pictures and references galore.
It's presumably dark outside, so is anyone's guess how long they've been at this.
"—So we go blue for the body, yellow for the wings and red for the legs...!" Tails speaks, holo-model in hand.
"Is gonna look like a piñata." Sonic replies, each word pronounced separately and emphasized by a hand gesture.
"I like it in red." Knuckles states, holding a little model of his own, every part painted the brightest, most blinding shade of it.
"It's too much red!" Tails again.
"Red is a noble color!! —Speaks of power, pride and dignity. And will send a message of fear to our enemies...!!"
Tsk. "Yeah, we're going against Chatgpt's evil cousins, I don't think they will care much for chromatic intimidation, big guy." A sigh and a light grunt, Sonic turns to Tails again. "Why don't we make it yellow and call it a day! I mean, is your brand after all...!"
Frown, small. "Yeah, but—! We ALL built it! I couldn't have done it on my own (Nah, he probably could have, not this fast though!). It's not mine, it belongs to everyone!" Pause. "This is special, so—!" He eyed again the model, his smile a little timid. "I.. want all of us to be represented..."
Tom, sat across the room; plays around with the digital color wheel of one of the little models. "...Shouldn't you include pink, then?"
The boys reacted.
"Ah?" All eyes on a surprised Amy. Sat, legs bent and crossed in a different couch, was looking at some color swatches. "Ah—! Wh-hold it!" She straightened up. "No-no! I mean, sure! Pink is a lovely color.~" The girl smiled as she flipped her hair. "But you don't need to include it just because of me...!" Eyesight down again, she resumed her inspection of the color chart.
"—Besides!" Shrug. "Is not like I'm in the Team! I'm just... helping you guys out!" Head tilted to the side, eyes along. "Or more like- we're fighting towards the same goal!"
"What are you talking about...?" Sonic spoke now. Amy met his face, on it a grin, yet in his voice disbelief. "Of course you're in the Team!" He gestured to her.
Amy blinked, smile gone. "Eh...?"
"Yeah...!!" Tails exclaimed; whilst Knuckles simply smiled and nodded.
"Wait." The girl looked between them, rapid moves that made her quills swung. "R-really...?"
"Yes, really!" Sonic spoke again, resting his head on his wrist; as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, not to her apparently. "Just like that...?"
"Just like that." His grin grew.
Eye contact for once broken. "Woah... I-I don't know what to say...!" She blinked fairly, her smile returned; open, airy. "Hah... I've always fought on my own...! I— I've never been part of a team before...!" And she looked at them again. "This is... great!" Smile shy again. "Thank you..."
Ow she's toucheeeeed <3
Amy was met with endeared expressions. She spoke again, tone changed. "Oh! But still, it doesn't mean you've gotta put pink in there somewhere!" Hand reached out to some of the printings. "I— actually really like the primary colors theme you guys have going on...!"
They looked at her for a moment. Sonic then turned to Tails. "We could put pink inside...!" Announced, almost nonchalant.
He shared his tone. "We could..."
CUT TO MONTAGE AGAIN!
Now everyone on painting duty!
Paint cans, sprayers, masks! Blue, yellow, red, and yes, pink!
YEAH! Bring the beat back! One more round, let's GO!!!
A plain colored surface here, a nice added cool pattern over there. Give me some STRIPES! Throw me some STENCILS, it's coming together, BABY!
Two tails logo inserted as the final touch. (Hey! Is still his brand!)
The Team backs up to admire the grand result! Oh, it looks amazing...!! Insert me some close up shots before the final reveal! RIGHT on the last beat!
(...Might be a good time to say I don't actually have a clear design in mind for the ship. So your mental image is as good as mine, whoops xp)
"Well...! I believe that makes it!" Hands to his hips, the little fox admires the work. "We can start loading the supplies and—"
Gasp, arms out. "WAIT-WAIT-WAIT...!" Sonic spoke. "There's just one more thing—!"
"No." Tom pronounced dryly.
"OHH...!!! Come ON!!" Fists up to his face, he's whining.
The kids stand around the man in the living room, as he's still taking pieces of paper off the floor and furniture, didn't even bothered to look at the blue guy.
"We all worked so HARD in this!! It's only appropriate!!"
Sigh, a tired one. "Sonic." And yes, now he turned to face him. "We're NOT buying a bottle of champagne so you guys can break it into the ship...!"
"It's classy!!" Palms down, a head roll. "You're NO fun...!"
Tom just stared at him for a moment. "No."
"Aughhhh...!! Please! Pretty-pretty pleaaaaaase...!!!~" You know he will not let this one go...
"No." Spoke Maddie now, entering from another room. "You can hang up a red ribbon and cut it with a big pair of scissors, though!"
Sonic grunted.
Lips puckered, Tails stepped up. "Okay, so... What about one of the beer bottles from the fridge...?" Negotiation?
Sight now to him, a mildly contemplative one, as Tom probably wonders if Sonic could be turning into a bad influence for the younger kid. He looks at the other's too. Should he bend? Ahh, he was smiling at that point, just a bit.
"Wouldn't it damage the ship...?"
Tails spoke again, a very unusual cold tone encased in a tight frown and eye squint. "You insult my craftsmanship, Donut Lord."
The man blinked, then sighed (yet again), he exchanged a look with his wife for a moment. "Are you guys gonna clean that up...?"
Ah-hah! Sonic and crew beamed immediately. "Of course! You won't see not even a SPEC of glass in the ground!!"
"Ahh..." Tom straightened up slowly. "You can take an empty bottle from the recycle bin and fill it with water." The kids were already celebrating. "And—" Points. "You better record it...!"
"WOOOO-HOOO!!!"
"It's ready!" Tails exclaimed behind the camera tripod, thumb up.
"All right-all right...!!" Sonic jumped in front. "We're gathered here today to witness the start of what might be our greatest adventure yet! —Knux, if you mind...!~"
The echidna approached, fishing rod in hand, bottle attached to its end, a shiny long red ribbon tied up on the neck.
"Loooove the bow! Nice touch, Ames...!~" Sonic took hold of it and stood next to the ship. As he eyed it he spoke to himself. "Gonna' get this one out of my bucket list!"
"There's no way this was in your bucket list, too...!" Tails scoffed.
Sonic eyed him, grin bigger. "You don't know how long it is!!" Chuckle. "Now, If you allow me to get a little corny for a sec with y'all, I think we've all done a great job here! —If this cool as HECK ship isn't proof enough that we're the BEST team on the galaxy and that there's NOTHING we can't accomplish...!
—Well then, I don't know what it is." His tone had softened slightly. "I'm very proud and I'm very happy, this is literally the coolest thing ever." He faced each of his friends before taking better grip of the bottle. "NOW LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!"
Toss!
Anticipation!
Bounce!
It... it just bounced.
"Wait, hold on." Sonic grabbed it again and cleared his throat. "Okay, now!" He threw it again.
—Bounce!
Back to his hand. "What tha—!" Another toss and fail. "DUDE— Come on, we've got some time travelling to do!!!" Yet another failed attempt. "It can't be that HARD!! You know, this things always seem more fragile on movies...!!"
Knuckles handed the rod to Amy. "You're not putting enough force into it!!" He took the bottle and a step back; and before anyone could stop it, he threw it, anything but shy.
Glass SHATTERED into a million pieces, water sparkling everywhere, completely missing the tarp they had laid on the bottom. The loud CLASH making everyone else jump, crouch and hold their heads. The very ship might have moved a little, too!
Alas. Done.
.
.
.
"WOO...!!" Amy suddenly yelped, arms up.
"K'... that was the last batchhh..." Maddie, along with Tails, walked out the ship's door, empty box in hand. "You sure you got everything?"
He chuckled a bit. "I think we have more than we could possibly need!"
"Did you ran all tests? Made all the necessary adjustments...?"
"It will fly. Guaranteed!"
All gathered in outside. It's time, so it seems! She joined Tom and faced the kids.
"Well...! Guess' you're now off to save the future and whatnot...!"
"You could say it a little bit more enthusiastically!!" Sonic spoke, arms crossed.
The guy chuckled lightly. "Yeah..." He crouched down to meet his face. "It's just... There's no advice in the parenting book about this, you know?"
"Relaaaaax, buddy...!! I've seen every single (important) time travel movie! I think I know EXACTLY what to do! —Or more so, what NOT to do. Trust me, I'm basically an expert!"
"Well...! You know the drill by now! —Take care of eachother, make good decisions, don't do anything careless or stupid...!"
"Hey! You know I can only do two of those things at the same time...!!"
Tom smiled. Sonic smiled too.
He leaned a little closer. "Hey, and...! Keep an eye on the rookie! Don't make her feel excluded from the boy's club...!" He winked.
"Hah, I won't."
"And—! If you wanna ask her if she's singl—"
"No. I'll stop you right there."
"Just saying, just saying...!" Grin cheekier, hand up.
"All right, everybody!" Maddie spoke now, arms out. "I think this calls for a power bump!"
All fists to the centre a moment after, all but Amy's, who stared a little confused. They turned at her. "Come on!" "Get in here!" "Yeah!"
"Oh!" She was quick to smile and join in.
"Okay! Team... ah— good guys on three...!" Maddie spoke. "Three...! Two...! One...!"
"TEAAAM...GOOD GUYS!!!"
Cheering noises eased, some last look exchanges. "—Okay guys!!" Sonic directed his Team. "All aboard!! We've got some HEROING to do!!"
Lights on, engines rumbling. Tom and Maddie held onto one another as they stared up.
Holding to the doorframe, Sonic turned to them. "—And don't worry! It's time travel, remember!? We'll be back last week!! So you better have that welcome home party done by then, you're already late!!"
Scoffs.
"We won't be jumping just yet...!" Tails spoke from the cabin, while adjusting nods and pressing buttons on the control panel. "As we still have little knowledge on who's after all this, there are some places we could go investigate!"
Arm down. "Am I the only one hyped up for travelling through time, guys!? —Like, COME ON!!! How can you just POSTPONE it like that!"
Tails just shook his head, smile on his muzzle.
All systems activated; the engine rumble intensified. Quills agitating, Sonic gave a last salute to his parents before closing the door and join the others.
Soon the ship retrieved it's legs and began floating smoothly, just above the ground. A bigger impulse, a higher leap. Grass around flattening, sound louder and wind stronger. Lighting up brighter before finally taking off.
The couple keeps their eyes on the sky for a moment. Following the luminous trail the ship draws across; a small line soon transformed into another piece of the firmament.
.
.
.
"Tom...?" Sight still up.
"Hmm?"
"Our kids built a time machine in our backyard."
Slow nod. "Yeah...! Is like aeeh— a Phineas and Ferb episode."
Pause.
"Is this how is gonna be, huh...?"
"I think so, yeah."
"As in... forever...?" Slight head shake.
Tongue click. "One could have thought we'd be used to it by now..."
The woman pressed her lips up, nose wrinkling a little. "...I don't think I'll ever will."
They finally looked at eachother. Reluctant smiles that soon turned more sincere, and then into light scoffs.
"Nope!"