Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ On the Road Again ❯ Sunset watch ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Sunset watch

When we last looked in on our crew in Louisville, Kentucky, they received some needed help from a young stranger, and now she is on the run with Metal Sonic and Chaos seeking to take her. The young female white fox with the name Jenean Lilian Gibbs, ran as fast as she could, wearing purple sneakers, but the deadly robot was close behind, stalking her. Making sharp turns, reaching high jumps, and avoiding dangerous dead ends, Jenean ran swiftly, but she soon felt breathless, unable to run much longer. She knew the robot was not willing to give up on the hunt, and she was the hunted. She turned for cover in an alley, avoiding another laser weapon fire, but she suddenly tripped over, falling to the street, breathless. Jenean was unharmed, so she climbed up to her hands and knees, trying to stand when suddenly, someone gripped her by the arms, pulling her away. Before she could scream, she saw the emerald green eyes of Sonic the Hedgehog. It was the same hedgehog she helped, and his two friends were with him, standing nearby.

"Hurry, hide in this basket." Sonic whispered, pointing toward it.

"Oh, right." Jenean whispered as she nodded, and then she quickly hopped inside.

Tails closed the top, and he was just in time. Metal Sonic and Chaos arrived, looking for her, but all they found in that alley were three salesmen of baskets, which were secretly Sonic and his two friends in disguise. The enemies did not recognize them, much to the relief of Sonic.

"All right, where's that brat hiding?" Metal asked them, impatiently.

"She went down that way." Sonic pointed, keeping his eyes closed to avoid trouble.

"Yes, indeed. That way." Tails said, nodding and Shadow nodded also, but he kept quiet.

"Let's go, Chaos!" Metal called, and they disappeared together, going the wrong way.

Sonic removed his hat and coat, grinning. "Don't hurry back, losers." He said, winking.

Tails looked toward the basket. "You can come out now. They're gone." He told her.

The top of the basket moved slightly, and then it lifted to show Jenean as she pushed her head up to take a peek. It was safe, and she shyly smiled at her helpers. "Thanks for protecting me."

"You're welcome, and we thank you for saving our skins back there." Sonic said in return.

With one graceful leap, Jenean came out from the basket. "You're very welcome. I'm just glad I was able to help. My name is Jenean Lilian Gibbs. May I know yours?" She asked.

"Sure, kid. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog." He replied, pointing to himself.

"And I'm Shadow the Hedgehog." The black one answered, and then Sonic gulped. The two looked at each other. "No relations." They said it together.

"I'm Miles Tails Prower, but everyone calls me Tails." The young male fox introduced himself.

"Glad to know you." Jenean sweetly said, blushing slightly in her cheeks.

"Say, do you know where we can find a car shop?" Sonic asked the young girl.

"Oh, did your car breakdown somewhere?" Jenean asked him with concern.

"Yeah, it's the RV." Sonic replied. "It needs a fan belt. Do you know where we can find one?"

"You came to the right place," Jenean said to the team. "I own a car shop."

"What? You?" Sonic asked, and his mouth dropped open with total surprise.

"Yeah, me." Jenean chuckled. "I'm very sharp when it comes to machinery, and cars are just one of the many things I can work on. Follow me to my shop, and I'll show you."

"Sounds great!" Tails said with interest. "Lead the way, Miss Gibbs."

"You can call me Jenean. That's how I like it." She told him with a shy smile.

"Then you can call me Tails." He said in return, and not having much of a choice, the two hedgehogs followed. Jenean led the way to a car shop, a home business of hers.

= = = = =

Leaving them to be on their way, we will now return to the RV, to see how the rest of the crew is doing. With watchful eyes, Knuckles the Echidna stood on the RV rooftop, waiting. He became a little concerned when Sonic and the others had not returned yet. Tikal was sweeping inside the RV while Amy fed the little deer Freeway, and Rouge brought an apple for the echidna.

"Here, Knuckles, have an apple. I know you're hungry." The white bat said.

"No, I'm on duty." Knuckles refused it, waving his hand as he continued watching.

"You always say that." Rouge said, and then she climbed up to sit with him.

"Well, it's true, that's all I can say." Knuckles said, as he sat with his arms crossed.

"Will you have a bite if I cut it in half?" Rouge offered the apple again.

"Will you eat the other?" Knuckles asked her, fighting a smile. But it won the battle.

"Okay, sure." Rouge answered, nodding and then the echidna finally agreed.

"I wonder what's taking so long to find a car shop?" Knuckles shared his thoughts.

"Maybe they did find one, but it didn't have the part we need." Rouge guessed.

"If you say so, but I'm worried that maybe they ran into some trouble."

"You think Metal is back, and he's here?" Rouge asked, after swallowing a bite of her apple.

"I don't know." Knuckles shrugged. "But things get strange when I get mad."

"Then I better keep you happy." Rouge chuckled, and Knuckles thought it was a joke.

The red echidna grinned at the bat's words, and then he took a bite of the fruit. When he turned his eyes to the street again, he was surprised to see Sonic and the others, returning. "Sonic is back!" He called to the RV crew with him, and they all stood outside to greet their friends.

"Hey, guys, we're back with a great fan belt, with a spare to go with it." Sonic told them.

"It's always important to have a spare." Jenean said, and Knuckles studied the stranger's face.

"Who is the white kitty cat?" Knuckles asked, pointing to the white fox.

"No, I'm a fox. My name is Jenean." She told him, and then Knuckles shrugged.

"Oh, well, I'm Knuckles." He told her his name, and then he introduced the others with him.

"Hello, everyone." Jenean waved her hand to the RV crew of Sonic.

After everyone greeted each other and welcomed the team back, Sonic explained what happened, and told his friends the adventurous story. "…And that's how it went." He finished.

"That's really something." Knuckles said, after hearing it all. "But I'm glad you made it."

"Yeah, we were watching for you." Rouge said, "For a moment, we thought Metal got you."

"Speaking of Metal, what if he comes back?" Amy asked the team with concern.

"Then it'll be time to fight another fight." Knuckles said, bravely.

"Do not be so fast to use force," Tikal said, gently. "There is a time for peace--"

"And a time for lunch. I'm hungry." Sonic finished for her, licking his lips.

Shadow rolled his eyes. "It's passed lunchtime, blue boy." He said, crossing his arms.

"I know, and that just makes me hungrier." Sonic grinned.

Then Tails stepped up to the blue hedgehog. "Sonic, let me ask you something. Say, yes."

The hedgehog looked down at his best friend. "What is it?" Sonic asked him, gently.

"Well, since Jenean helped us and she's here, can she stay for lunch?" Tails asked.

"I don't see why not. Yeah, she can stay." Sonic answered, and Tails felt his heart jump for joy. Jenean was clearly happy to stay, and Tails showed her around. It was a wonderful thing to see.

"This RV is amazing, Tails. I've never seen anything like it." She said to him.

"That's because there isn't anything like it, Jenean." Tails told her. "It's one of a kind."

Jenean nodded her head, and then she took another bite of her sandwich. Tails took a sip of his grape soda as he sat with her on the RV sofa. Later, he showed her his laptop computer, and she was happy to look at it, learn a few new things from it, in a fun way. Then Sonic came in through the driver's side door, and he saw the two foxes with the computer.

"Hey, Tails! We're going to watch the sunset on the RV. You want to come?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure. I'll be out in a few minutes." Tails replied, and then Sonic closed the door. Tails turned to his new friend. "Come outside with me, Jenean, and watch the sunset." He said.

"What? From up there?" Jenean asked as she pointed up to the RV's ceiling.

"Yes, it's fun to watch it from on the rooftop." Tails said, and then he noticed her fear.

"But I'm afraid of heights." She admitted to him, quietly.

"Don't be; I'm not. I love flying. It's nothing to fear." Tails said, gently to her.

"No, it's too high. I can't do it. I'm scared." Jenean whispered, and then she closed her eyes.

"Come on, I'll go with you." Tails promised, standing up and then he offered his hand.

"O-o-okay." She said, slightly trembling as she reached for his hand, shyly.

"Great, Jenean. Just follow me, and I'll show you to the ladder." Tails led her outside of the RV, and they walked together behind it until they reached the ladder. "See? There it is." He pointed.

"Oh, it's so high. I don't know if I can climb that." Jenean said, quietly when she saw the ladder.

"You can do it, Jenean, I know you can. Come, we'll both climb up." Tails held her hand, and then Jenean finally nodded her head, agreeing to try, even though she was afraid.

Tails led her to the ladder, behind the RV, and he gripped a step. Jenean followed his lead, trembling a little, but she tried her best to be brave. The foxes looked up at the climb ahead.

"Okay, now take a step, pull up, and climb with me." Tails said, instructing her.

Jenean swallowed hard, and then she nodded. She reached for the step, gripped it with her hand, and then Tails took a step ahead of her, encouraging her to follow him. Jenean slowly took another step, and then both of her feet were off the ground and on the ladder with Tails. Jenean followed until Tails reached half way through, and then she stopped, closing her eyes.

"Come on, Jenean. We're so close. It's just a few more steps." Tails encouraged her.

"Okay, Tails. I'll go." Jenean nodded, and then she bravely took another step, climbing.

"That's really good, Jenean. We're almost there." Tails told her, climbing up the ladder. Finally, Tails reached the top, and he turned back to Jenean, who had her eyes closed tight. "Here, take my hand, and I'll pull you up." Tails offered, and then Jenean took it for help. Tails pulled her up, and then at last, they stood on the RV rooftop together with the crew watching the sunset.

"Are we there yet?" Jenean asked, trembling in her legs as Tails helped her stand up.

"Yeah, we made it. We did it together." Tails said, "Open your eyes, and see."

Jenean nodded, and then she slowly opened her eyes. At first, she was facing the ground, and then she faced Tails. He pointed ahead of them, and then Jenean looked to see the sun setting.

"Wow!" She gasped with surprise and amazement of its beauty, a touch of pink and gold.

"It's great, isn't it?" Tails asked, and Jenean nodded in agreement. It was with no doubt.

"This whole day was great, the best I can remember having." She said, still gazing at the sky.

Shadow yawned. "It's strange how you all can just stare at a sky like this." He said.

"It's simple, Shadow, you just watch it and think of things." Sonic told him.

"Yes, you just never know what could come to mind." Knuckles added.

"To travel on the road is quite a journey, it's when one sees new things." Tikal said.

"And besides, the sunset is pink!" Amy said, happily watching it.

Rouge sighed. "Well, whatever you say, it sounds crazy." She said.

"Maybe to some, but to us, it is an adventure." Sonic told his team, "This is a memory."

"That goes double for me." Knuckles agreed with the hedgehog. Freeway nodded, smiling.

Time seemed to pass away like a breeze, like the wind that gently blew in that area and time. When it was dark, the night fell in that place, and so Sonic and his crew said goodbye to their little helper and friend Jenean the fox. Thanks to her, the RV was repaired and restored. They thanked her again for her help, and they also welcomed her to visit someday. Tails felt a little sad to go so soon, but Jenean cheered him up with her smile and bright eyes.

"You helped me face my fear of heights, and I'll never forget that." She told him, gently. "Thank you all for everything. I'll remember this always as a treasure better than gold."

"Thanks, Jenean." Tails said, and then he felt shy all the sudden.

Jenean winked her eye at him. "If you're looking for me, I'll be at the front of the ride."

And so, Sonic and his friends entered the RV together after they all thanked her, said goodbye and wished for the best. The RV's engine turned on once again and it came to life with the turn of a key. Sonic sat as the driver, and everyone waved their hands at Jenean as the RV drove on, to continue in the journey on wheels and the adventure on the road again. The wheels turned around and around at amazing speed and endurance on the street. Under the stars of the night sky, the adventurous RV drove, carrying great travelers inside onward to the next place and time.