— Woofa’s Apartment (Downtown District) —

  “If you guys were desperately chasing Eggman back in Mobius, why didn’t Tails use his plane? That could be way easier when chasing him down with that… thing.” Tricky questions specifically for Tails, wondering why he even used some random jetpack in one of their important missions rather than the iconic Tornado.

  “You meant my trustworthy Tornado? Because it broke down at the worst time! I was testing some upgrades I had implemented; it was a smooth ride, but I accidentally hit some tree branches at a low altitude, causing one of my engines to get damaged. Miraculously, it flew back to my workshop; at the same time, the Master Emerald was stolen by Eggman. So, I had to use an alternative… a totally purposeless, but fun jetpack that didn’t even have a name.” Still remembering that crucial day, Tails’s mind lingers on what would have happened if his plane never broken down at all. At its potential, maybe he would’ve caught up to Eggman in no time, creating a totally different outcome. However, he’s glad that this is the outcome, because at the end of the day, they’re happy they’ve discovered this world and made new friends.

  Despite getting dizzy from the jetpack ride, Sonic will never forget about that action-packed moment, hilariously finding it exciting. “Though that jetpack ride was crazy! Bro, I was getting dizzy when you dodged all those missiles. You were twisting and turning, my eyes couldn’t handle it! Plus, you were dodging stuff back there like you were racing against me! It felt like a roller coaster, except when our lives were on the line. The worst part is when Knuckles threw us like a baseball, y’know?”

  “You think I had any choice?! Besides, we were falling behind, and we needed something to catch up!” Knuckles leans back on the chair and crosses his arms, proud of what he had to do to keep the moment alive. “You’re lucky I’m strong, otherwise that throw would send nowhere.”

  The porcupine immediately rolls his eyes, finding the echidna’s response amusing. “I bet someone needs to improve their throwing. If they were a baseball, that should’ve been a direct fastball, not a curve-”

  “I DON’T CARE IF IT’S SOME FASTBALL OR CURVEBALL, WE DID OUR BEST TO STOP HIM, THAT’S WHAT MATTERS!!!”

  Sigh… “Give Knuckles some credit, without you two being thrown like a baseball, I wouldn’t have caught up and demolished that mech.” Despite the teasing, Amy defends the echidna for his decision-making, understanding that what he had to do was the only viable choice.

  “Plus, if you took over Knuckles’s place, what would you do, Tricky?” Woofa starts teasing the porcupine with a knowing smirk, crossing her legs and anticipating a hilarious response.

  Tricky’s mood gradually falters, finding out that all the teasing is directed towards him. So much so, he decides to impress them with what he thought could be his greatest answer. “Not only would I use my speed, but I would also use my teleportation to bring myself close-”

  “Bro, this guy!” Sonic laughs, making the porcupine’s answer sound like an entire joke. “Even if you have my speed, you’d still wouldn’t be able to get him! If anything, Tails should’ve built more of his inventions and made you use them to catch up!” Everyone switched up on the porcupine, gratefully embarrassing him while all he could do was mutter to himself like Shadow.

  “Come on…! That’s supposed to be a great plan! Right? Right?!” Futile, the porcupine goes to the fridge to drink some soda, in an attempt to settle himself down. Though rethinking about what he had said… he eventually laughs alongside them, finding his own response laughable.

  On a Sunday morning, everyone is chilling around, having the most random conversations. Nothing much in mind, just the usual weekend mood that everyone’s having. Even then, despite the casual and diabolical discussions, they’re still down a friend.

  Solid is still wearing his ankle monitor, chilling on the couch. He scrolls through the media, noting that the Council President is serving as the Acting Mayor and has actually promoted Min to a higher position. Seeing the news and hearing his friend's laughter makes him smile, but the sight of the ankle monitor instantly wipes the smile away, still disappointed by the outcome of his arrest. All he could do was sigh and continue to scroll through his phone, letting time pass by.

  While they had a great time conversing with each other as a group, it didn’t help when Woofa saw her best friend sitting alone and completely being left out. Recognizing his situation, he needs some comfort, someone to uplift his mood. So based on her instincts, she instantly walks towards him and sits down next to the orange hedgehog, staring at the ankle monitor while keeping him in check. She understands that when he’s scrolling through his phone, he's doing it to let time pass by. She remains patient for quite some time until she eventually asks him a simple question. “You still disappointed?”

  “I don’t know... I don’t know if I’m disappointed.” The orange hedgehog glances at her, particularly her eyes. When he sees her determined eyes, it’s an immediate indicator that whatever she’s witnessing right now is concerning to her, and she’ll do something to resolve the issue.“I know they got this, but…” He looks back at his ankle monitor, shaking his head as he rests his chin on his hand. “… I’m already missing the vibes of being part of a team, helping everyone out, and now I’m suddenly benched by being on house arrest. No peer pressure, I’m just expressing my feelings. It’s just… hard… when someone like me… gets the treatment, you feel me?”

  Despite her best friend’s calm nature, it still isn’t enough to satisfy the dog, instinctively understanding the deep feelings within him. “Solid… Don’t let yourself down. You know that this is only three days; you’ll be back eventually. Besides, how many do we still have left… like six more bases to take care of? Although it’s been saying only five more, because Northern District apparently doesn’t have one, based on the notes I’ve discovered back from the last mission. You can finish it up with the last two remaining bases with us! Still… I don’t want you like this. I-it… It hurts me.”

  The orange hedgehog can only look at her with guilt; his ears drooped, knowing how much it affects his best friend. He feels wrong being this way; he wants her to be happy. The sound of his friends around the apartment fades away, nothing but silence. It feels like he’s alone again; he stares at the dark TV screen, seeing himself alone. It’s the point where he self-reflects, wondering why he’s like this, why he brings himself down. Maybe due to his humility, or he’s blaming himself for the wrongs that he didn’t deserve. Whatever it is, it’s a hard feeling to contain. But whenever he’s feeling down, there’s only one person who comes to comfort him.

  Woofa.

  Even if his step-mother and Tricky do provide the support and comfort for him, it doesn’t have the same feeling as his best friend allows. It’s almost as if she fully understands his personality, or maybe she does? Protective instincts because she trusts her best friend? Whatever happens, it works for her, no matter the consequences, uplifting every single interaction with each other. And this interaction alone is not an exception. “I swear, if you decide to abandon me-”

  “I won’t, I promise!” Both Woofa and Solid chuckle; she successfully lightens the mood for him, happy to see him happy. They continue to chuckle for quite some time before they take the time to calm themselves down. “You expect me to do something like that?!”

  “I mean, anything can happen! I don’t know the future, I only know the past and the present.” He proudly and casually shrugs, knowing he doesn’t have much to say for his response. Seeing her beam her smile makes his heart warm, overshadowing the guilt he had earlier. “I never deserve a best friend like you… Once again… I’m still constantly reminding myself this…”

  “Hey, lovebirds! Stop making out and listen to this.” On a beautiful Sunday morning, Tricky yells out to the two before asking everyone. “Should we go to the Playa District? You know those beaches are gonna be amazing on the great weekend and for our usual base hunting, especially if those bases are deep inside the water…”

  “HELL NAH!!!” Sonic instantly sits next to Solid, playfully trying his best to opt out of this mission, dramatically scared. “Speaking about beaches… Not even one minuscule of the water.” Of course, his fear of swimming gets the best of him, already knowing how bad the mission will be if he participates. “That doesn’t mean I dislike going to the beaches, I just hate swimming! That’s all.”

  “You always let the fear of water get over you.” Amy finds his response comical. Ironically, she grabs a bottle of water, oddly enough, for their discussion. “I understand your situation, and luckily, you’re not alone!” She points at Solid, knowing about his situation from the dog. “Our dear friend doesn’t know how to swim, like you, Sonic! Isn’t that right?”

  Tricky, Tails, and Knuckles are shocked by the revelation, not knowing that both hedgehogs can swim, which almost seems like a coincidence. This is especially shocking to the fox, reminding him of the odd connection between the two. “Is there a connection between him and the three hedgehogs?” Though he eventually asks him the same question, just for clarification. “Do you seriously not know how to swim, Solid?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. It gets to the point where I haven’t gone to the pool for the past fifteen years, because I’ll immediately drown. Not even three seconds, and I fall like a rock.” Solid can only painstakingly imagine himself swimming again, already knowing the worst.

  “For real?!” The Blue Blur daps up the orange hedgehog, no longer embarrassed by being the only person in the apartment for the same fear. “We’re more alike than I thought! Bet… We can eat a ton of Chili Dogs after our mission. You know? You know?”

  “... Anyways, make sure my little brother doesn’t make a mess so that the dog won’t get mad.” The porcupine does the same peace sign that the Blue Blur does, eventually leaving. Once the door is left open, it prompts the others to do the same, everyone saying their goodbyes to their friend for the day.

  “Hey, I know it sucks that you’re not going to participate, but think about the good things that’ll happen to you, like not getting injured! We’ll do our best to save this world while you relax inside here!” Tails happily waves goodbye, grabbing his backpack to leave for the day.

  Knuckles comes up to the orange hedgehog, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Should I call you a strong warrior? Still, stay strong here, you’ll be back in no time. I’ll do my part to be the menacing figure I am.” A rare, yet genuine soft smile presents on the echidna’s face, both nodding at each other until he eventually leaves.

  “Sonic, you’re glad that you’re on high ground, cause I don’t know what to provide you… Other than sleeping bags. Even though you’re essentially coming with us.” Woofa gets up from the couch, looking at the stacks of sleeping bags she had provided to her friends. The only friend who has the privilege of sleeping on her couch is quite literally her best friend. It’s not say the sleeping bags were bad, in fact, those sleeping bags were way more comfortable than the couch. Speaking of her best friend… “Don’t die here like what you did when you were captured. If you did… I’ll make sure to fight and get my revenge on you until I die...”

  Solid can only look at Sonic and Amy to see their reactions. Both of them with a knowing smirk before he looks back at his best friend. “A bit too dramatic, Woofa. Not gonna lie.”

  She understands how dramatic she feels; she just wants a reaction out of him. Other than that, “In other words… Be safe. And I know you, orange furball… will make yourself comfortable in my place! Tons of food await you inside this apartment! Okay?” She casually ruffles his quills and pinches his cheek before she happily skips outside of her own apartment, ready to start her day at the beach. “I can’t wait to swim!”

  “Still can’t prove that they’re a couple, but I just have a feeling! Then again, they’re like on and off most of the time…” Whilst Amy continues to think about each outcome related to the two best friends, she watches Sonic leave. Seeing his appearance, she wishes that the dynamic between Solid and Woofa was like hers and the Blue Blur. “I wish Sonic at least showed submission to my end… I don’t know.” Until then, she politely waves at Solid, “Bye, Solid! Stay safe here and stay comfy! Maybe next time we’ll visit the malls after your house arrest is over!” Yet, she still wishes she spent more free time in this city. Even though she has, it’s mostly ruined by encountering or crossing paths with the base itself, especially from yesterday’s mission.

  “Come on, Ames! We need to stop by the beach and prevent whatever Eggman is doing!” While the fear of water and drowning gets him, he knows how important this mission is without the iconic Blue Blur. And yes, he was definitely being a bit too dramatic about opting out, but that was just him teasing the team. Once Amy leaves the apartment, Sonic tells the orange hedgehog, “Solid… You’re a strong hedgehog. If anyone tries to get you, fight em’ off like the hedgehog you are.”

  For the orange hedgehog, it doesn’t matter anymore; being locked up inside here meant a time to relax. Presenting a soft smile, he’s genuinely happy for the positive vibes his friends gave him, appreciating how valuable he still is to the team. Ultimately, such times as his house arrest may happen out of the blue. “Yeah, I’ll make sure to stay safe. Keeping an eye out for some anomalies while I quarantine myself here.” He relaxes on the couch, no longer minding what his friends do out there. If they’ll create a scene, mess, or whatever the hell happens at the beach, it’s at least not his fault. What matters is that he’s safe if he listens to everyone. “Hey… Even if it takes some injuries, setbacks, or… some house arrest, you’ll still manage to keep it up. You, your friends, and mine, that is… Except for Tricky, he wouldn’t care too much.” Although both chuckled, he thought about the greatest three days of the main mission, grateful for his contribution to the team. “... Thanks, Sonic. I don’t know what I am as a teammate—no… what I am as a friend without you. Have a beach day out there, cause I believe in you guys.”

  “Even if you’re down a friend.”

  — Sunset Beach (Playa District) —

  On a breezy, yet warm day at Haven City, many people take their chances this weekend to enjoy their Sunday at the beach. Although not everyone has the will to spend time there, it’s their day to do so before they eventually return to their regular activities. Playa District is located on the west side of the city, offering stunning views of the vast ocean from afar—no wonder it’s expensive as hell.

  The most popular beach, Sunset Beach, is packed; there is really no open space to set up some beach essentials to relax, as far as they know. Around the beach, a variety of attractions and events; the team reacts in awe. Like Safe Haven Park, many people participate in their regular activities. Many notable ones include swimming or exercising; literally anything. Sunset Beach is a household name for Haven City, attracting many tourists, especially when the sun sets. When the sun sets, it’s definitely one of the most spectacular views throughout the kingdom. Despite the abundance of activities, they’re actually here for one thing: to find the base.

  Or so they thought.

  All they’re doing is strolling through the boardwalk, licking the ice creams they had recently bought from a popular ice cream store, whilst they’re casually conversing. “Does this beach usually get this busy?” Asks Tails, who’s surprised at the sheer number of people relaxing.

  “Hell yeah!” The porcupine looks excited for the beach experience, knowing that he hasn’t been to one in a while. “You know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment? A long… long time!” Anticipating what he’s about to do on this perfect sunny day, looking at the lively beach. “Just mesmerizing what things I can do while I relax on the beach… You know?”

  Casually shrugging, Sonic smirked, agreeing with the porcupine. “The beach is lit. The problem is that there are way too many people here. Does it ruin the vibes? I don’t know. Other than that, keep me out of the water, just saying.” Staring at the sheer number of the crowd, he imagines what it would be like if the beach were empty, and how fast he would run from point A to point B.

  “That’s… a bit impossible. This beach is always crowded, no matter what. And even if the beach does manage to be empty, which it rarely does, it’ll probably be because of weather conditions, or it’s late at night.” From Woofa’s response, it somewhat disappoints Sonic, who wishes the beach were free for him.

  “Ehh… I can handle the weather! It doesn’t mean I’ll get to enjoy the view, but at least I’ll enjoy Mother Nature while I’m at it.” The Blue Blur briefly dashes momentarily, wanting to feel the breeze blowing at him. Though his ice cream immediately fell, the entire scoop landed onto the wooden planks. “My ice cream! Ahh… I’ll never forget about you… Those… uhh… five minutes of our life at the beach.” Funny enough, he mourns the fallen scoop, remembering those fond five minutes of his relationship with it. Hearing his friends chuckling from afar, he takes a look at each of their scoops, clearly plotting something devious. Eventually, once he approaches all of them, he stops right in front of the echidna, slowly raising his hands… “Whoops!” The entire scoop of ice cream gets knocked over, triggering the echidna. Whistling… “I guess I’ll… get my CHILI DOGS!!!” DASH!!!

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “I SWEAR, SONIC, YOU’LL PAY FOR MY ICE CREAM!!!”

  The rest of the team laughs at their playful interaction, and a few of them wipe tears as they disappear from their sight. “Oh… Typical Sonic and Knuckles, always getting at it with each other.” Their interaction is an entire comedy skit, already known to everyone. “There’s nothing better than those two being the two I know and love.” Amy contentedly chuckles whilst licking her ice cream.

  “I’m glad that I wasn’t Sonic! Or else, my heart would be ferociously beating while getting chased by that redhead!” Tricky instead takes a bite of his own ice cream, not wanting to be a victim. “Bet that he’ll steal the rings that I made from betting if he does manage to knock me down!”

  Eventually, everyone calms down, wiping their last remaining tears away. They continue to walk the boardwalk, wondering where the two friends have gone. “Lucky that someone decided to think about the beach rather than boiling Knuckles’s head.” Woofa imagines the outcome if the porcupine and the Blue Blur had switched bodies.

  "Speaking of the porcupine…" Tails notices the number of things he's carrying, looking confused about how he's holding them. "Is that the reason why you're carrying umbrellas, tons of towels, and foldable seats?" Obviously, someone's excited, and seeing the sheer number of things being carried, the porcupine is determined to have a great day at the beach.

  “Back, guys!” Sonic joyfully waves his hand, casually eating his chili dog while Knuckles eats his newly bought ice cream. Thankfully, no fight had actually ensued, with the Blue Blur actually buying the echidna another ice cream for him. While he still has resentment towards his friend for the behavior, eating his ice cream had settled him down.

  “I still dislike you for that.” Knuckles quietly mutters to himself, no one catching a single word that he said.

  Despite the confusion from the echidna’s muttering, the porcupine decides to answer Tails’s observation. “Are you really going to talk about my plans? Usually, those missions last for a few hours; might as well use that time to help us relax! Isn’t that right, Knuckles? Huh? Huh?” He nudges his elbow against the echidna’s arm, causing him to drop his ice cream. “Oh…” Slowly glancing back at Knuckles, the echidna presents the same death stare. “... Sorry…”

  Finding an open spot, they ultimately settle down and place their essentials, finally fulfilling Tricky’s plans. Despite having a mission, they actually have a lot of time to spare, especially since their missions go for a few hours. After a variety of activities, such as swimming, sunbathing, or conversing, Tricky finds the volleyball equipment, realizing that they could do something fun with their time. Deciding to put it to great use, he uses his time to play volleyball. Following their unanimous decision to play volleyball, they set up the court, putting up the net and drawing the outlines. It’s not accurate, but it’s manageable for them, which they hope will make their day. For the teams, they have Sonic, Amy, and Tricky. vs. Knuckles, Tails, and Woofa… for obvious reasons.

  “Did you think that I was going to team up with that echidna?” Tricky whispers to the hedgehogs, knowing how bad it would’ve been if they actually teamed up. “My man actively hates me like I even insulted him!”

  “Or you stole almost all of his rings while betting. From our point, we did manage to make him… upset…” Sonic nervously says, looking at the other side of the court. Knuckles looks like he’s planning to destroy them in this match alone. “Maybe we’ve done it too much…”

  “Don’t worry, as I heard from Solid earlier… no peer pressure! We don’t want to let his expression affect the way we play, right?” Although the atmosphere remains tense, Amy does her best to be optimistic, bringing them closer for a group huddle. “I know Knuckles… he probably has a death sentence for you two, but don’t let that get into us, we can do this together if we…” It’s not until she slowly glances at the echidna, finally understanding why they’re worried. “Oh yeah… W-We still got this! I’ll… do my best to be the team leader!”

  At the other side of the net, Woofa readily plays with the volleyball, awaiting the others to start. It’s been some time since Sonic’s team had huddled, and now, they’re getting impatient (not Tails). “Hurry up, you two! I’m waiting for your national embarrassment!” Knuckles not only yells but mocks them, cracking his own knuckles to prepare for a showdown. “Ain’t that right, guys?!”

  “Hell yeah!” The dog spins the volleyball like a basketball, showing off her skills. In fact, she had played competitive volleyball before and had won several local tournaments with her friends (Not with Solid and Tricky, her other friends). Yet, she hadn’t told the two brothers of her history with this sport, making the porcupine genuinely nervous. “Tricky, you’re gonna feel the pain I’ll bring during this first to fifteen!”

  However, Tails reacts differently, not with the same hyped attitude as Woofa and Knuckles. He only wants a respectful and entertaining game, and although he enjoys rivalries, he wants a clean and fair showdown. “Good luck! I hope we have a great game of volleyball here!” Nervously, yet happily waving at them for a show of sportsmanship. Thankfully, Sonic waves at him back, showing support for their game.

  Once they finally break up the huddle, the game is finally ready. Sonic’s team has mixed emotions, a combination of confidence and worry. When they all settled into their positions, they all focused on Woofa and the volleyball, waiting for her to serve at any time. “You guys ready to bring on the heat?!” Her competitive attitude takes over, and she flexes herself by dribbling the ball like a basketball. But, with their unanimous approval, the dog tosses it into the air…

  STRIKE!!!

  The ball flies over to the other side of the net, where, in utter panic, Tricky digs the ball back into the air. The porcupine hadn’t played volleyball in a while; for him to suddenly focus and show his rustiness provides substantial evidence. Afterwards, Sonic lifts the ball, awaiting the pink hedgehog to leap and directly spike it. The Blue Blur watches the volleyball afloat into the air, blocking the sun that glares directly into his eye. Just the ball itself…

  Until a shadowed figure reaches for the ball, attempting to strike a massive blow.

  SPIKEEEEE!!!

  Although the dog tries her best to dig the ball, the volleyball crashes onto the sand, giving Sonic’s team a 1-0 lead, and they immediately huddle together in celebration. “LET’S GO!!! I KNEW WE GOT THIS!!!” Sonic exclaimed as they jumped around and celebrated, boosting the team’s confidence.

  “... They don’t know what they’re dealing with now...” Woofa now strategizes the entire gameplan with Knuckles and Tails, remaining silent to concentrate on their improvements for next time.

  Sonic’s team eventually stopped cheering and fistbumped each other, focused on their next games. As Tricky grabbed the ball to start their next game, he couldn’t help but tease them. “What happened? Are you two silent?” Excluding Tails because he’s innocent, the porcupine mockingly questions the echidna and dog, who have no words to exchange. “Aww… did the boo-boo hurt? You wished you dug that, huh? You need the orange furball for your comfort…?”

  STRIKE!!!

  Immediately, Woofa digs it into the air, followed by Tails lifting the ball, allowing Knuckles to spike the volleyball. Both the echidna and the dog are already annoyed by the other team, especially that damn porcupine. The porcupine was already a nuisance; it didn’t help that he was already worse. As the fellow echidna leaps into the air, Sonic realizes danger and takes immediate action. “WATCH OUT, GUYS-!!!”

  SPIKEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

  A small crater formed around the volleyball, marking the now 1-1 game. Knuckles, Tails, and Woofa cheered themselves, praising the effort the echidna put into that spike. All that anger built from Sonic and Tricky pushed him to this result, like an active volcano.

  How the tables have turned, especially when compared to Sonic. His team is nothing more than a mixture of shock and disappointment, all of them wiping off the sand from their fur. The Blue Blur immediately inspects the impact of the spike, already having a feeling of difficulty, this volleyball game will be. “... This is gonna be a long match, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, I think we understand… That’s Knuckles that you two upset…” All Amy could do was respond, still stunned by what had happened.

  …

  Team Sonic: 1

  Team Knuckles: 5

  Tension remains high, with the Blue Blur and porcupine still anxious about the echidna’s attitude within this hectic match. With the dog serving, Sonic hopes that his team retains the same strategy, focusing on the ball and their opponent’s movement. Playing out normally, both teams seemed focused, no longer the mocking that had happened earlier. The porcupine was rather humbled by the echidna, forcing him to shut himself up. Following Amy’s failed spike, Woofa and Tails helped Knuckles spike the ball yet again.

  Tricky understands that throughout the past five matches, they had prevented themselves from digging Knuckles’s ball. At every instance, those spikes create a crater, something he’s been noticing. Those spikes are menacing as hell, probably because of the anger that the echidna still retained. This time, he wants a change, tired of being afraid, and with some encouragement from Sonic and Amy, he decides to do the unthinkable. Once the echidna spikes the ball, the porcupine attempts to dig it. “W-WHY IS IT?!” Although it feels noticeably weaker than what he had seen, it’s still strong enough to the point where his forearms were almost completely crushed, causing him to wince in pain. In the end, he gives up and lets the other team gain a win, completely focusing on what just happened.

  Everyone immediately approached him, checking on his injuries, but thankfully, he’s alright. “I’m fine. I’m fine…” Eventually, standing up, he looks at the echidna with profound shock. Maybe Knuckles could be holding back, or he wasn’t trying. “Geez… That was really… powerful, man!” But there wasn’t any exchange of any anger or hatred; instead, he’s impressed. “Don’t back down, I’ll remember how strong you spike those balls. For once, you made me humble like my brother!”

  While Knuckles knew that his power dwindled throughout each spike he had ensued, he smirks at the porcupine’s reaction, feeling his competitive spirit take over him. “Don’t you dare be weak! Even if I’m upset, I wanna see that same attitude of yours!” He points and nods at the porcupine, eventually returning to his side of the net, where he winks at the Blue Blur. “I hate you, but as rivals. I’m still your friend, don’t forget that.”

  “Typical Knuckles…” Sonic shakes his head, amusingly chuckling while relieved. He hands the ball to Woofa to continue their game. “Now what’s the score?”

  …

  Team Sonic: 1

  Team Knuckles: 10

  Self-reflecting on Knuckles’s spike, the porcupine needs to strategize how to do so. It’s not easy, especially as he already tried multiple rounds; the strength overpowers him. And those failures result in his team giving up games to them. Despite all of those costly losses, he’s determined to dig the ball, and he means it.

  “Be prepared, Tricky! Are you ready to see if you can handle one again?!” Knuckles yells, preparing himself to spike the ball yet again.

  SPIKE!!!

  “Bruh, what ’cha talking about?! I’m well prepared for a weak spike!” Even though it was the same old powerful spike, Tricky FINALLY digs the powerful spike. “Told ya! You think I’d be less powerful?! I got that in that bag, man!” He does a slight celebration, flexing himself for the dig he had finally overcome. Although this mocking was intended for Knuckles, he teases Woofa for his dig. “You wanna be like me, huh? The greatest defender here in this sport called volleyball! Might as well play defender at football or baseball!” “Hopefully my ankles won’t break…”

  Sigh… “Weird-ass porcupine…”

  As they’re distracted by Tricky, Amy lunges forward and surveys around her opponent’s field, inspecting where to land the ball. Thanks to that, the hedgehog is given more time to prepare where to aim it. Knowing that Woofa is defending one side, Amy aims at the other side, where the dog finally realizes her vulnerable position.

  SPIKE!!!

  “Damn it! That damn porcupine is going to get it soon if we do blow this lead!” In an attempt to prevent giving up a game, Woofa lunges herself, hoping she’ll reach it in time. She does her best, but the ball never reaches her fingertips. However, it may land out of bounds, giving her team a win.

  Or so they thought.

  When she finally checked the spot… “Damnnnnn! You are accurate! How did you manage to land a tiny portion on the line?! I knew something was different when you had that ball!” Reacting in awe, she’s surprised by her friend’s skills, wondering if Amy had those volleyball skills within her. “Still… SCREW YOU, TRICKY!!!”

  Despite Woofa’s brief, yet playful outrage, everyone takes a peek at the ball placement, stunned. They haven’t really seen her play volleyball, but when she does, not only does she feel like a leader, she’s probably the best player, if not for her friend. “Typical me, how am I able to pull that off? Well… never failed to disappoint you, Woofa! We can play some friendlies in the future! I hope it’ll be with some professionals and not these boys.” Amy winks at the dog, both girls giggling.

  …

  Team Sonic: 10

  Team Knuckles: 10

  Following up with more games, Sonic’s team eventually catches up, making this volleyball even and entertaining rather than a blowout. While missions hype up the team, the worry about injuries or death is nonexistent. Something like this is something they can enjoy; something they needed after two (possibly three if they count rescuing Solid as a mission). Until then, the porcupine planned to enjoy a nice, relaxing beach day, and it’s panning out.

  For now.

  The game proceeds, and both teams are prepared for each shot, successfully blocking and digging it. While in the game, Tricky continuously mocks the other team, dancing around as part of the game. Not only as a distraction, but as a strategy to shift their annoyance to the porcupine. “Hey, don’t you blow a 1-10 lead! I’ve seen worse blown leads than this!”

  Woofa ignores him while Knuckles gets the opportunity to spike the ball, yet again, still testing out Tricky’s arms after that powerful exchange. After the porcupine’s first successful dig, he has remained consistent, causing the lead to gradually even out. Not only that, but combined with Amy’s precise strikes, the lead gradually got blown to a now 9-10 game.

  Realizing the situation, Knuckles decides to rework his spike, basically what Amy did earlier, aiming at the line and away from him. Confident that his shot will be dead accurate, he spikes the ball. Instead, he spikes the ball way out of bounds, rolling over near the shore. “Knuckles, you are not Amy.” Sonic hilariously reacts, watching as the ball steers to the ocean. “I’ve seen better spikes than that, but this… You’re scared of Tricky! What’cha think, guys?”

  Giggling. “It’s an attempt. I’ve seen failed spikes before, and this seems to be… a little too thirsty for some water.” Woofa watches the ball stopping at its track, where the waves continuously hit the ball. She rests her back against the pole, crossing her arms and taking in the scenery.

  Amusingly rolling his eyes, the Tails finds her response priceless. “Way too creative. I’d say… way too… Knucklesphobic? I dunno. Maybe that ball was deliberately trying to make him lose. Either that or he had something with that spike.” He rubs his chin, hilariously trying to make things curious.

  “When’s the last time you spiked the ball?” Knuckles immediately questions Sonic.

  “... Uhh… Forgot. You can ask Tangle, Whisper, or Jewel... Maybe even Jet, Wave, or Storm? They’ve seen me spike a volleyball before. I think the last time I did one was at the olym-”

  “Olympics? Yeah, right. The only thing I did when the Olympics were involved was bet… And still lost to that dog…” Tricky’s amused attitude gradually falters, and he angrily mutters to himself, glaring at the dog for the amount of money he had lost to her. Whereas the dog’s giggle transitions to laughter, knowing that’s actually the last time the porcupine bet against Woofa. “Lost about… fifty-thousand-”

  They all laugh at the porcupine, truly an embarrassing moment than Knuckles losing a lot of rings to the same porcupine. “Losing a lot from a bet to Woofa is crazy work! Oh, how I feel bad for you…! At least you tried your best, Tricky.” Although she does her best to calm herself down, Amy suppresses her laughter, trying to respect her friend.

  Tricky simultaneously rolls his eyes and shakes his head in disappointment, genuinely embarrassed by sharing such a moment with the team. Maybe if he hadn’t just muttered like the porcupine he is. “At least no one will know how many Lunars I’ve lost to my brother… Thank god for his humble personality that he doesn’t share such information…”

  Sonic decides to retrieve the ball, but Tails insists on doing so. “Tails? I was gonna—actually…” Since it’s the ocean that he’s approaching… “Thanks, Tails! I honestly forgot that that’s the ocean I’m approaching.” Giving him the iconic thumbs up, appreciating his best friend.

  “No problem, Sonic!” Tails quickly retrieves the ball, doing his best to wipe the water and sand off it. “Just making sure the ball doesn’t roll into the ocean, or else Tricky would go snorkeling!” Adding a bit more nonsensical jokes, he appreciates the team’s humor, feeling more lively without them. While he does walk back to the team, he momentarily stops himself to look back at the ocean, mesmerized by the vast, endless sea.

  The ocean is never disappointing to look at, with its never-ending coastline. Furthermore, the sun reflects the beautiful weather that this city provides, making things feel refreshing. Although… he notices something weird… A ship from afar, and it isn’t moving, unlike the other vessels that seemingly passed it without difficulty. Squinting his eyes, he stares at it for quite some time- “You looking at that ship?”

  Some random anthropomorphic rhino asks, alerting the fox as he slightly jumps from his sudden question, juggling and dropping the ball. “W-Whao…! Yeah, I was...” Slowly picking up the ball, taking a deep breath of relief. “It’s just sitting there… menacingly, like it’s a phantom ship. It’s probably abandoned, but… is the city trying to do something about it?”

  “The city has done nothing to it! It’s just… there! Usually, it’ll drift along with the current, but in this case, literally no movement. Someone had attached an anchor to it and left it there. I wish someone had done something to it, but nooooooooo… nothing. I bet it’s one of those bases from the Peak Haven or City Hall. I swear, they’re at the weirdest places! I guess that’s why the former mayor didn’t do anything; it could’ve been one of her teammates’ bases, but I don’t know anymore. I hope the new mayor does some thorough investigation…” Eventually, he leaves to spend time with his family, who pack up their belongings for the time being.

  However, his words intrigue Tails, wondering if that abandoned ship is really the base that they’re looking for. And even if the rhino may not be factually right, it’s been a common trend that most of these bases are located somewhere popular, and the ocean is no exception. “Tails!” Sonic yells, wondering why his best friend hasn’t returned. “Buddy… You alright? You’ve been staring at the ocean for a while. Is there something that you need to explain to us?” When approaching him, he puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder, understanding what’s happening.

  Tails points at the abandoned ship; not only did he make Sonic look at it, but he also made the others look. “One of the civilians mentioned that the ship could be Eggman’s base. I’m not sure, but I’ve been noticing trends in the locations of these bases. One was located underneath the tallest building, and underneath the city hall. Don’t you think it’s… a coincidence…?”

  “Thinking about it, you’re not wrong. It’s something we have noticed. But placing it at the ocean… I understand why they’ll have a base there.” The Blue Blur looks at himself, knowing he’s the reason for their unique location. “I don’t care if I’ll drown in less than a millisecond; we have a mission to do, and it’s called investigating.” Returning to the team, he finally makes the important decision, something he has been awaiting for this day. “Pack it up, guys! We have a mission to complete first!”

  Tricky instantly slumps, their exciting volleyball match halted by an important mission. GROANS!!! “Oh, come on! I don’t want some mission that’ll bore me out! I want my beach time-”

  Punch. “We have a mission to save our world, Tricky!” Although irritated, Woofa playfully punches him on his arm, knowing how long he had anticipated going back to the beach and spending his time relaxing. Yet, she understands the importance of a mission like this and immediately concentrates on what to do now.

  “Ugh… fine…” The porcupine slowly but surely forces himself to pack all the equipment up.

  Tap. Tap. Tap.

  “Excuse me?” Hearing the voice of a customer, the anthropomorphic seagull staff worker spins her chair, seeing that six people are ordering something. The worker chews some gum and simultaneously scrolls her phone; it’s probably because she doesn’t really care about her job; she’s trying to make some money. “May we rent a boat for six people?”

  “Hol’ up… Geez… What’s up with The Weekdy on a hiatus?! He’s supposed to make more music!” To prevent herself from getting fired, she ultimately sets her phone down on the table and painfully listens to them. “... Yeah. There are different types of boats, especially one for six people. Which boat would you want?” The worker asks, sliding a picture full of types of boats that the company offers.

  The team curiously checks every type of boat they have at their disposal, checking each boat for their interest. Sonic’s eyes slowly gazed at each type listed on the menu, immediately catching the hedgehog’s attention. “The speed boat, for sure! We need something fast for our mission. Definitely need one right-!“

  “Alright! Alright…! Hold your horses, not like those horse customers I’ve literally talked to earlier, but-” The worker clears her throat, trying to stay back on topic. “... Whatever some mission is for you guys… It’ll cost you, guys, around… eight hundred Lunars hourly.”

  “Eight-hund…” Sigh… “At least I have Solid’s money to spare. He’s way too kind when it comes to handing out his money… like taking care of those homeless people physically and mentally.” Woofa reluctantly hands out her debit card, paying for it. “Tricky, you owe me three thousand Lunars.”

  “WHAT?!”

  …

  “ ?? Coasting through the ocean! … Uh… I can’t create some lyrics in my head… … Uh… ?? … I’m just going to focus on controlling this rather than singing…” With Tails piloting the speed boat for the entire team, something felt relaxing and exciting for the fox. “Feels like I’m controlling my Tornado again. Oh, I really missed my precious plane!” Overall, it’s a smooth ride; although the waves somewhat make the entire ride a bit nauseous, especially for Tricky, who’s literally nauseatic. “This is somewhat worse, because I’m controlling something that involves water, which Sonic dislikes-”

  “Really?” Sonic instantly looks at Tails from the passenger seat, playfully looking hurt by his sudden joke. “Obviously, that’s true and all of that, but I’m not the only one who’s scared of water!” He looks behind and stares at the echidna with a knowing smirk.

  “You're putting everything on me! I’m not scared of any nonsensical water!” Knuckles closes his eyes and crosses his arms in an attempt to look tough.

  “If so, go stare at the water for me, and try to keep your eyes on it.” The Blue Blur points at the vast ocean, which is the side without the cityscape, making things difficult for the echidna.

  “Easier said than done.” Accepting his challenge, he stares directly into the water. Seeing the empty ocean rather than the land nearby troubled him to the point where he couldn’t handle it and looked back at the other side. “Ah, I was getting dizzy, for real!”

  Scoffs. “Yeah, right. The only nauseated person here is Tricky, and he can stare at the ocean perfectly fine!” The porcupine instantly holds his mouth and pukes into the ocean, feeling relieved but still nauseated. “Just admit it, you’re scared-”

  “STOP TEASING ME AND FOCUS ON THE MISSION WE’RE GOING TO DOOOOOOOOO!!!”