— Woofa’s Apartment (Downtown District) —

  Yawns…

  “Hmm…? W-Where in the hell am I…?”

  I had instant shock from where I was. I was on the bed, sleeping in some kind of random room. When I looked out at the window, it was the usual streets of Haven City. I didn’t know why I was in a random apartment, but when I looked around, I took a peek at a photo frame, and I knew where I was.

  “I’m at this mutt’s apartment…” Filled with photos of her and her friends, it’s pretty obvious. Especially when I woke up to a photo with her and Solid. Oh yeah, I have a question. Does she always wake up to a photo of her and her best friend? Like, come on, just kiss already!

  Eventually, after thinking for some time, I approached the door and opened it, where I quietly sneaked my way out to the living room, while everyone was asleep. Weirdly, the porcupine is on the couch while everyone is on the sleeping bag, though the sleeping bag looks more comfortable than the couch. I’ll take that as credit. Oddly enough, there isn’t the orange hedgehog that the doctor told me to hunt down. For now, I have some thoughts about what I should be doing now that I’m basically free. My first instinct is to use the bathroom, because I have the urge right now.

  Quietly tiptoeing to the bathroom, I stop at the door, slowly reaching for the handle. However, someone opened the door, and it was none other than Solid. We both stared down at each other, shocked and not making any sudden movements. My heart literally dropped like a meteor, but that’s how I felt. Still, we only stared at each other, nothing in exchange, before he whispered.

  “You tryna use the bathroom…?”

  Thankfully, he understands the situation with the team: they’re keeping me here just for safety, not for literal interrogations. Contrary to what the doctor said, he isn’t really evil. In fact, he’s definitely the opposite of what evil would represent. I can’t believe I got outplayed by the doctor on that part. Maybe all the pure evil is how tired he is. Other than that… I really have nothing much to speak about other than a simple, tiredish reply.

  “... Yeah… May I…?”

  “Go ahead. I don’t know who you are, but I’d guess you’re that one leader of that base at Playa District, since my friends looked like they went through hell. Sad enough for me because of my house arrest, I didn’t get to participate, but I don’t have much of a choice.” All he did was shrug and walk to the kitchen, casually seeing me as some roommate. I guess Sonic was right… Maybe the doctor did try to manipulate me… If it weren’t part of that porcupine’s antics to save me from sinking into the ocean… Though I can use my water powers to not even drown! What the hell?! But maybe I should use the bathroom right now.

  “Why did you guys save me?”

  A few hours later, everyone is awake, and they are all inside the dog’s bedroom, checking in on me. Thankfully, I’m okay, but that doesn’t stop me from questioning the entire team’s decision. “Why didn’t you guys let me drown to death? Why did you let me live like my other teammates?” Now, I lied. I can literally use my water powers to prevent drowning myself, but let’s make things dramatic for now, make things more complicated between them and me, for fun. You know?

  “Because people don’t deserve to die, including you. I know we’re enemies, and I know what Eggman gave you is something to live for, but you can’t trust him.” Sonic, understanding her point of view from past experiences, had been in similar situations back in Mobius. “I’ve seen those in similar situations to yours, and I can agree he did something positive for you. In reality, you’re doing something that’s harming this world and may soon harm your family.”

  Honestly, I’m still not sure why they decided to save me. I can’t confirm whether they’re lying, but I responded to them immediately. “... How would you know that? You don’t live here, Sonic. Only those three do.” I pointed at Tricky, Woofa, and Solid. They live here, but don’t dare to speak out just yet. I wanted to make them raise their voices, but I had to be a bit creative with the conversation. “Especially that porcupine. You love me, huh? Say that you do just because you saved me.”

  “L-Love you?! As if!” The porcupine crosses his arms, taking this unexpected moment weirdly. “I only saved you because we don’t want anyone to die! This is for the team… It’s for the city… It’s for the world! I don’t care if Sonic, Amy, Tails, and Knuckles are from another world; we’re still friends! And if you’re from a distant island in the middle of nowhere, we’re glad to be your friend! It’s open arms!”

  The porcupine’s reaction was hilarious; it made my day. But when I looked at everyone around the room, it’s safe to say that the team wasn’t joking. They don’t want people to die; they want people to live. The only worst-case scenario for me is being arrested, but even I know that my identity is already hidden from the mission, so I’m practically in the clear. Although relieved, I still had some nervousness. “... You guys are different… If it were someone else, they would’ve written me off and left me abandoned. Unlike you guys… you’re different. Maybe there’s something I haven’t learned yet…”

  “And that’s okay. We learn from others by hanging around. With Eggman and your teammates, you barely got a chance to hang out with him. But for us, we’re glad to talk as long as you don’t do anything bad! You gotta give yourself time, and no one… I mean, no one in those streets will write you off and abandon you.” Optimistically, Tails may have the chance to help me become the person I can be. His words were something to me. I wanted attention too fast, but it was wearing down my patience; I don’t know why, but that’s who I am. At the end of the day, this morning, I can get through with whatever they’ll do with me today on a typical Monday.

  — Playa District (Morning) —

  Returning to the district I’ve been way too many times, the ship that was once under my control has been fully submerged, no longer the menacing sight that attracts the people’s attention. Now, the vast, endless ocean is what most people are finally seeing, rather than the empty ship that raises questions and concerns for those relaxing. Until then, the mission here is already taken care of, so what else?

  I continue to stare at the ocean, wondering how far I’ve been since the day I left my family and went to get hired by Doctor Eggman. I took a deep breath of the city’s atmosphere, and although the air is ten times worse, probably polluted with whatever industrial stuff is in this, I slowly grew accustomed to this air. Still, one obscure question popped into my mind for one apparent reason or another. “... Why isn’t Solid here?”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Because he’s in house arrest after quite literally helping us against your former teammate.” Hearing the hedgehog’s situation angers the dog every time; Woofa wished he were free based on this mission alone, but here we are, without him. “Pisses me off every time… He didn’t deserve this kind of arrest.”

  I genuinely look shocked, not realizing he’s even on house arrest. I saw the ankle, but never realized it was an ankle monitor… probably because I never even heard of one. However, realizing how she thinks of her orange furball every time, I immediately resorted to a knowing smirk. “Solid and Woofa kiss-”

  Immediately, Woofa covers my mouth with her own gloves, growing in frustration. “Don’t. Even. Think about it. I got tired of the song, and I still am.”

  Immediately, we all laugh, teasingly reacting to her reaction. “Woofa… Always thinking about her best friend’s situation. I can help you two out, you know?” Despite Amy’s teasing and giggling, she’s out here for some genuine help for her friend, something odd but pleasant. For me, all I could do was laugh in my head. Seeing her reaction was priceless, and even a slight blush on her face. Maybe I can write a fanfiction about those two together, but I think Tricky was already doing it, so I’ll read his instead.

  While the rest of the team chuckles at the hilarious exchange between the two, my mind suddenly resorts to thinking about my situation in this city. I wanted something to kickstart my life here, but I don’t know where to start. Glancing everywhere, I watched as those around me had their fun. But not me. All I can do is mask my own feelings and continue the personality I’ve retained from the outside. “What am I supposed to do in this city…?”

  Although he chuckled, Tails noticed my lost thoughts, seeing me trying my best to think for a moment. He approached me with some deep thoughts about himself. “Sometimes people count you out. When I was young, I was bullied for having two tails. I was lucky I got Sonic by my side…”

  I didn’t look enthusiastic about his message; I rolled my eyes. Clearly, it just made me a bit more jealous of what he had gotten compared to what I’ve got. “Would you think this moment would ever happen to me?”

  The fox instantly freezes. He doesn’t know what to say or act next, now looking lost, just like what I had experienced. All he can tell himself is, “What would Dao take to get something fortunate to happen to her?” And within those thoughts, he’s unsure if this would help me. I’m in a different situation than Tails experienced; I don’t know whether mine would equate to the life he has.

  Even more unfortunately, because I’ve been here for an entire week. I barely ate anything due to the lack of money, so I’m quite literally starving. Luckily, at the same time, Sonic has the urge to eat. Having the urge for some food, he asks everyone. “I am starving here! You guys wanna eat? If so, hit me up and give me suggestions! Or else I’ll choose.”

  Immediately to his question, I responded excitedly, my stomach couldn’t remain patient. “Hell yeah! Anything works!” Though my response was a bit too unexpected, as it startled the entire team, I quickly apologized and composed myself. “Ahem… Sorry about that… I haven’t eaten in a while… So… What are we getting?”

  — Afternoon —

  Walking around the pier, the team eats some delicious chili dogs for lunch, after someone’s usual request and decision. I wonder who wants chili dogs the most, if you ask me. Anyways, it relieves me by a substantial amount; I don’t have the urge to eat now that I’ve got what I’ve gotten. Other than the food, the view remains stunning, no matter the location; the ocean and the cityscape dominate the entire view. With the carnivals, shops, and restaurants available, this pier is packed as always, despite a Monday.

  “We should’ve appreciated the views of Haven City for more time, if it weren’t for Eggman and the Master Emerald we’re trying to save.” Knuckles crosses his arms, his thoughts still lingering on the missions every passing second.

  I understand what the Master Emerald is, based on what the doctor told me. I know that Knuckles has a long history with it. Yet, I still don’t understand why he’s so closely tied to it. Seeing him in this problematic moment makes me wonder if there were some things closely tied to my life, because both the echidna and I lived on an isolated island, now out here with some missions to tackle. Yet we had different objectives, centered on the same iconic emerald. I couldn’t help but ask him a question about the emerald. “You still have the Master Emerald stuck in your head? How valuable is it to you?”

  Without hesitation, Knuckles immediately answers the history behind him and the Master Emerald. No hesitation. A literal straight-to-the-point answer. “As the last remaining kind of the Echidna Clan, the Master Emerald holds something special for us. My tribe was what the emerald kept our kind moving forward. Even if what I’ve learned about what it could do to my own kind, I still have a reason to protect the emerald. To protect my family. My responsibility is to do so. That power is something no one should manipulate or take advantage of.”

  The thing is, that nothing precious in my island is notable of doing such destruction that had just happened to Knuckles’s own bloodline. There was no Master Emerald that held the power of such chaos. There was no sacred object that controlled what her family had to offer.

  None of that.

  Just water powers that my family and I can at least control. Although it’s certainly unique, no one in the family wanted to be the dominant one. They would rather live in peace. Furthermore, being in his situation trips me up even more; being the last of his own kind? If that’s the case, I would’ve done more or tried my hardest out here. Maybe showing off my water powers to a huge city alone, since no one even controls water here other than those water supply treatment plants. But I’m fortunate none of this emerald ever existed in this world alone.

  — Evening —

  It wasn’t the prettiest day for me, but I did have some noteworthy time with the team, even if it meant realizing how much they went through. They’re not evil, from what Eggman had taught me. Instead, they have taught me a valuable lesson throughout life. Life doesn’t favor everyone. It’s all about the hardships and challenges we have to endure before being the person we want to be… or not. Sonic and his Mobian friends are already recognized. I’m not there yet, and I’m learning from the others; they need time before officially being recognized.

  Although the rest of them aren’t here, I wish they were. I’d be the first person to be talking to Rouge like some sister. I’ve heard how flirtatious she is from those two robots' words, so I’ll be the judge of that soon. Other than that, I can’t deny that their hardships led to them becoming recognizable heroes, and look where they are.

  Here.

  And to those Haveners, they have seen some success… I believe. Solid is Solid. Woofa is some dog receptionist who’s living her life. Not only that, but those two are “best friends”… What a lie. Finally, we have Tricky.

  … I really don’t know what Tricky is known for other than being a legitimate dumbass.

  The only thing successful about Tricky… was his dedication to save me. He wanted me to live, despite all those insults that we had exchanged. Deep down, he’s a caring guy, but doesn’t express it with that attitude. You know, maybe I should give him a thank-you gift… but I need to wait for the right timing.

  Walking back to the beach, I walked ahead of everyone, where the team followed me. They all wonder what I’ll do now that they’ve spent the whole day with me. To be honest, I don’t know what to do. All we did was hang out, not even attempting to find something to set a foundation for where to start my career. I was more invested in learning more about them…

  Except Sonic and Tricky, because those two are absolutely ridiculous.

  “So… Mrs. Dao Lao, the leopard seal from a remote island in the middle of nowhere. What do ya think? Anything to say or praise for the team?” Tricky asks me, wondering how my day went now that I’ve hung around with them. His question felt unserious, but those words truly meant more than just some typical friends having a day.

  It wasn’t much, but it was an experience to enjoy. It’s my first time hanging out with other people, not my family. That team the doctor made me hang out with was just a manipulation to advance the Master Emerald for his own. Truly, I want to hang out with an actual person or group. Socially hang out instead of missions and separating with others like a bored leader who directs recruiters like I’m some bitch who’s stuck as some soldier.

  And don’t forget… without Tricky being Tricky… I wouldn’t have experienced something like this… which is hanging out with them… on a Monday.

  Yeah, lemme give him the thank-you gift.

  “Thank you… for everything, you guys… But, to you, Tricky… there’s one gift for you.” Without any… ANY thoughts of hesitation, I kissed his cheek. A soft affection to the porcupine before I departed, leaving them behind to live for my own destiny… To live a life to achieve.

  The team is simultaneously shocked and excited. Everyone around the porcupine with a knowing face and watches as his face burns like a literal tomato. He tries his best to keep himself composed and normal, but whatever that interaction was, it was never going to escape the team’s minds.

  Exactly out of his control.

  “OHHHHH!!! TRICKY ACTUALLY GOT KISSED!!! NO WAY!!!” Exclaims and laughs, Sonic, as he nudges the porcupine’s shoulder, playfully teasing him.

  Tricky pushes the Blue Blur away, but that doesn’t stop the nonstop surge of teasing received from his team. Usually, this stuff only happens with Solid and Woofa, but this is on a whole other level, almost like getting flamed in basketball for getting his ankles broken, definitely one of his worst experiences.

  “Glad I did that part well.”