Reuniting With the Fearsome Four/Meeting and Freeing Kairi and Recruiting Popple

*(Later that same night, it started raining, and at Sonic's group's hideout, in the form of a big shed-like house in an abandoned junkyard, the Fearsome Four was inside, with Megavolt and Quackerjack dressed in their pajamas and sleeping silently in deep sadness and guilt, for they've seen Sonic's group killed by the car running them down in front of their own eyes, and even as they saw the car coming at their friends, the Fearsome Four even noticed too late that Sonic's group, earlier, was drunk. Megavolt is wearing a dark blue long-sleeved pajama jacket with yellow lightning bolts and plain dark blue buttons, dark blue long pajama pants with yellow lightning bolt, and light blue sleep slippers without his plug hat and goggles. And Quackerjack is wearing a purple and red striped long-sleeved pajama jacket with plain purple buttons and orange neck and sleeve rims, purple and red striped long pajama pants, and red sleep slippers without his jester hat. As they slept, they tossed and turned, whimpering softly a bit in fear, visioning the same car that ran down their friends at the docks. Then after they fearfully whimpered a bit some more, they then saw Fat Cat, Meps, Wart, Mole, and Snout push the car right at their view, and as soon as the car connected to their view, they snapped awake with a frightened gasp, and they panted softly a bit, even sweating a bit. Then the four calmly sobbed a bit)*

Bushroot: (Crying softly and calmly) Did you have the same traumatic dream like I did?

Megavolt: (Crying softly and calmly) Yes. *(Sniffles, sobs)* None of us can't believe that they're gone....

Quackerjack: (Crying softly and calmly) What we'd give to have them back again....

Liquidator: (Crying softly and calmly) But it's too late.

Fearsome Four: (Crying softly and calmly) Sonic's group, please forgive us for not saving you on time....

*(Then, from behind them as the quartet sobbed calmly some more, some shadowy figures walked up to them. Then five familiar wet hands gently reached out and touched the Fearsome Four's own shoulders in comfort. Feeling the wet touches, the Fearsome Four stopped crying calmly slowly and got confused as they blinked their tears away. Sure enough, right behind them, the figures are none other than Sonic's group, still soaking wet from not just the river at the docks, but also from the rain)*

Sonic's group: (Soothingly) Hey....

*(Confused even more, the Fearsome Four got speechless at first, but then Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles spoke up)*

Sonic: Apology accepted.

Tails: You did what you could to help us, but....

Knuckles: None of us expected it to happen that fast.

*(Turning around, the Fearsome Four finally saw Sonic's group and gaped in surprise)*

Sonic's group: (Happily waving hello) Hey.

*(A short pause, then the Fearsome Four immediately freaked out, screaming loudly a bit like banshees, startling Sonic's group to the five's surprise. Then just when the freaked out and panicking Fearsome Four was gonna run, Sonic's group quickly restrained them, trying to calm them)*

Fred: (Shushing them harshly) Guys, it *is* us!

Shaggy: Hey, hey! Calm down!

Bushroot: The Ghosts of Sonic's group!

Liquidator: Let's get out of here!

*(Then the Fearsome Four broke free of Sonic's group's grips and rushed out to their house's family room in a panic as Sonic's group followed them in there, trying to calm them)*

Bushroot: (Being chased around with Megavolt, Quackerjack, and Liquidator by Sonic's group) Stay away, Ghosts!

Megavolt: Go away!

Quackerjack: Don't hurt or haunt us with your wrath!

Sonic: Guys, wait!

Fred: Please wait!

Knuckles: Stop it, guys!

Tails: Just come here!

Shaggy: Like, we won't hurt you!

*(Rushing up to their tool kit, the Fearsome Four quickly pulled out a ratchet set, screwdriver, oil can, and hood ornament to try and defend themselves with them)*

Knuckles: (Aghast) Really?

Megavolt: Yeah, really! Instead, take our nine piece ratchet set!

*(He throws the ratchet set at Sonic's group, who dodged it. Next, Quackerjack took his turn with the screwdriver)*

Quackerjack: Or better yet, take our screwdriver! We have plenty more of those along with more ratchet sets!

*(He throws the screwdriver at Sonic's group, but again, the five dodged. Third, Bushroot prepared to throw the oil can)*

Bushroot: Can't forget about our lucky oil can now, can you?!

*(He throws the oil can at Sonic's group. But they dodged it yet again as they approached the Fearsome Four, still trying to calm them. Then Liquidator finally got ready to throw the hood ornament)*

Liquidator: And don't go away without our Rolls-Royce hood ornament!

*(He bangs the hood ornament on Shaggy's head and then threw it at the rest of Sonic's group, who also dodged it)*

Shaggy: Ouch!

*(Recovering, Shaggy rubbed the top of his head a bit in annoyance)*

Shaggy: Like, was that really necessary?!

Fearsome Four: You darn right!

Bushroot: (Grabbing a wooden holy cross hanging on the wall and held it out) The Lord will protect us from your evil hauntings!

*(Having enough in annoyance, Knuckles finally snatched away the cross, panicking the Fearsome Four even more and after he quickly hung the cross gently back on the wall out of respect since that is the holy cross, Knuckles then proceeded to help the rest of Sonic's group grab the Fearsome Four and pin them down on a nearby couch to try and calm them)*

Sonic: Guys, listen and relax!

*(But the Fearsome Four continued to squirm in a panic, trying to break free)*

Sonic's group: (Shouting) RELAX!!

*(Finally stopping, the Fearsome Four's lips and beaks were then gagged by Sonic and Fred's hands to keep them quiet. Then Sonic explained away calmly with his gang)*

Sonic: Listen, we're not dead anymore.

Tails: So keep quiet and listen to us.

Fred: And when Sonic and I take our hands away from your mouths....

Knuckles: You're gonna be quiet and listen, right?

Shaggy: Please?

*(The Fearsome Four, still looking a bit panicked, nods calmly, making a bit of muffled groaning due to being gagged by Sonic and Fred's hands. Then Sonic and Fred removed their hands from the Fearsome Four's lips and beaks)*

Sonic's group: Okay.

*(But then just when Sonic was about to speak, the Fearsome Four almost screamed loudly in a panic again with Bushroot grabbing a nearby stool to hit Sonic's group, until Sonic's group pinned them down again to calm them again)*

Sonic: Hey!

Knuckles: What did we say?!

*(Then pulling out their Watches of Life from underneath Fred and Shaggy's shirt's neck collars and Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles' fur on their neck, Sonic's group decided to prove it to the Fearsome Four)*

Sonic: Look!

Tails: These are our Watches of Life!

Knuckles: Straight from Heaven!

Fred and Shaggy: Literally!

Quackerjack: (Skeptically at first) Oh, right, and we're the Kings of Sheba!

Megavolt: (Skeptically at first) Don't lie to us!

Liquidator: (Skeptically at first) You false advertising imposters!

Bushroot: (Skeptically at first) Like you're gonna flatter with your wat...!

*(Then they stopped immediately and got confused)*

Fearsome Four: Wait, Watches of Life from Heaven?

Sonic: Duh!

Fred: Why else are we alive again?

Tails: We were given a second chance of life.

Knuckles: The Head Oracle Angels of Heaven named Nayru, Din, and Farore realized our death wasn't ready at this moment, so they gave us another chance.

Shaggy: True story.

Fearsome Four: (Looking at the Watches of Life) Prove it, please.

*(Sonic's group then opened their Watches of Life and sure enough, they spoke through it to Nayru, Din, and Farore)*

Tails: Nayru, Din, Farore, we need your help.

Fred: We need to prove to them....

Nayru: (Voice-over, agreeing in approval) Of course.

Din: (Voice-over, agreeing in approval) Like we said, we know everything in Heaven.

Farore: (Voice-over, agreeing in approval) We'll help explain.

*(Surprised upon hearing the three Oracle Angels' voices coming from each member of Sonic's group's own Watches of Life, the Fearsome Four got speechless)*

Farore: (Voice-over) Rest assured, Fearsome Four, what they are saying is the honest-to-God truth.

Din: (Voice-over) We blessed them with another chance because they deserved it by choice.

Nayru: (Voice-over) And in order to earn that chance again, they need to perform one special good deed on Earth.

Farore: (Voice-over) And if they fail by dying again from any of these Watches of Life dying first, then their souls will end being condemned to Hell for eternity.

*(Comprehending this silently, the Fearsome Four, after hearing Nayru, Din, and Farore, looked at Sonic's group, realization slowly sinking in)*

Nayru, Din, and Farore: (Voice-over) And we can sense you four are realizing that now.

Sonic's group: (To Nayru, Din, and Farore) Yep, and thanks.

Nayru, Din, and Farore: (Voice-over) You're welcome, and God bless.

Sonic's group: (Nods) God bless.

*(Then Sonic's group ended the contact by closing their own Watches of Life and tucking them back into their Shaggy and Fred's own shirt's neck rims and Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles' own fur on their necks)*

Knuckles: So, now, do you still think we're ghosts?

Fearsome Four: (Calmly answering in realization) Not anymore....

Sonic's group: Yep!

Sonic: (Nods) Right.

Megavolt: My literal God....

*(Bushroot drops the stool and then he, Megavolt, Quackerjack, and Liquidator slowly turned their speechless reaction to calm amazement and calm emotion)*

Fearsome Four: It is, indeed, you guys.

Megavolt: (Looking like he's gonna cry again in happiness) And to think before that we saw the car at the docks by the river....

Quackerjack: (Looking like he's gonna cry again in happiness) Running you five down like bowling pins....

Bushroot: (Looking like he's gonna cry again in happiness) And your lifeless bodies flying through the air....

Liquidator: (Looking like he's gonna cry again in happiness) And then disappearing into the river with the car.

Sonic: (Reassuringly in comfort) Hey, hey, relax.

Tails: (Agreeing) What matters is that we're here again.

*(Then excited, happy, and composed by now, the Fearsome Four happily lunged at Sonic's group, giving them a tight bear group hug)*

Megavolt: (Excitedly) You darn right that's what matters!

*(They fall off the couch as the bear group hug from the Fearsome Four continued)*

Bushroot: We really missed you when we thought you kicked the bucket good!

Quackerjack and Liquidator: Together again!

Fearsome Four: Best friends to the end!

*(Sonic's group gently ended the bear group hug)*

Sonic's group: Exactly!

Megavolt: So, if we wanna start over and make a business of your own, we can just go under and escape to the Himalayas!

Sonic's group: (Aghast) The Himalayas?

Megavolt: Yeah!

Bushroot: Just so Fat Cat won't know you're alive again.

Sonic: But here, our operation got bigger and bigger.

Knuckles: And then Fat Cat had the selfish murderous audacity to refuse to share and killed me and Sonic's group here for that.

Liquidator: Hence why we gotta go deep for the Himalayas.

Quackerjack: In fact, the Himalayas got some things like New Orleans does; Gambling, races....

Sonic: But it ain't like America, the Land of Opportunity and Freedom.

Liquidator: Fair point, but we could try it.

Megavolt: We could settle in Tibet, which is in the Himalayas. *(Playfully winks)* You know, "To bet?"

*(He chuckles a bit)*

Megavolt: (Composing himself) I crack myself up.

Liquidator: We could also buy us a few llamas, a couple of mountain goats, open a track of our own....

Sonic: It ain't gonna happen.

Megavolt: Yeah, I guess it's too pricey for Tibet and the Himalayas.

Sonic: No, I meant we're *not* going deep or to Tibet or the Himalayas, period!

Fearsome Four: (Confused at first) What?

Knuckles: (Exasperated) Figure it out from what Sonic is telling you.

*(Realizing, the Fearsome Four got reluctant)*

Fearsome Four: You're not seriously...?

Sonic: Yep! Our special good deed is getting even with Fat Cat, secretly.

Shaggy: So he'll never know Sonic's group, including myself, are alive again.

Fred: He'll never know what will hit him.

Knuckles: But first, we need to know what he and his gang have up their sneaky sleeves....

Quackerjack: Yeah, a gun of their own to shoot us with.

Tails: Relax, Quackerjack.

Sonic: As long as our Watches of Life are still ticking, we ain't kickin' the bucket from any mere gunshot wound.

*(Seeing that Tails and Sonic made a fair point that they and the rest of Sonic's group won't die from any wounds or injuries due to their own Watches of Life still ticking and keeping them alive, the Fearsome Four contemplated a bit, not wanting to argue on that)*

Fearsome Four: Fair point on that.

Megavolt: But seriously, do you really think secret vengeance against Fat Cat over him killing you by running him out of business is a good deed?

Sonic: We're certain.

Knuckles: And when the time is right, we're gonna expose him and his gang's scapegoating crimes that sent us to jail earlier.

Fred: Think about it; Our names cleared, we'll live the rich life....

Tails: And as for Fat Cat and his gang, they are unfortunately gonna suffer slowly in jail, like how they tried to do that to us.

Shaggy: And, like, it would come as no surprise that those dodoheads will beg for mercy in prison.

Tails: Fair point, Shaggy.

Bushroot: Well, *we're* begging you.

Megavolt: You definitely have no idea what you're up against.

Quackerjack: Besides, Fat Cat's got thugs, some of them with muscles....

Sonic's group: (Casually while Sonic picks a nearby empty soda can up) We know that.

Liquidator: Knives and guns....

Sonic's group: (Casually while Sonic tightly crushes the can) Again, we know that.

Bushroot: And he's also got a monster in his basement.

Megavolt, Quackerjack, and Liquidator: From what we heard.

Sonic's group: (Casually at first while Sonic discards the crushed can by throwing into a nearby trashcan) Again, we.... *(Realizes something)* Wait, what?

Sonic: "A monster in his basement?"

Fearsome Four: Yep.

Liquidator: And they even feed it.

Fred: (Pondering) A monster....

Megavolt: That's what we just said!

Fearsome Four: A monster!

*(After pondering a bit, Sonic's group looked at each other)*

Fred: Something tells us we have to go investigate this monster.

*(Hearing him say that, the Fearsome Four got aghast)*

Fearsome Four: What?!

Bushroot: You're seriously...?!

Sonic: What other choice do we have, guys?

*(Hearing this is a good point, the Fearsome Four reluctantly gave in)*

Fearsome Four: (Sighs in defeat reluctantly) All right.

Quackerjack: Let's go see who Fat Cat's monster is.

*(Later that same night again as the rain already finished, the Fearsome Four, with Megavolt and Quackerjack in their daytime clothes again, and Sonic's group, all dried and cleaned again, left their hangout and arrived at the now closed casino. As they looked for a way to sneak in, they suddenly spot a figure approaching nearby via its shadow from behind a wall next to the ship's spot they're currently at. Realizing in silent shock that the shadow is approaching them, Sonic's group grabbed Shaggy and the Fearsome Four and were about to get ready to attack and/or retreat, with Shaggy preparing reluctantly despite being held, when they realized, to their surprise, that the figure, who also noticed them, is actually none other than....)*

Popple: (Gasps, then whispering in shock) Sonic, guys?!

Sonic's group: (Whispering in relief, releasing Shaggy and the Fearsome Four) That's us.

Sonic: (Whispering) The one and only.

Fearsome Four: (Whispering flatly, grabbing and quieting Popple quickly just when he freaked out) And we've been through this already.

Megavolt: (Whispering) They ain't dead anymore.

Bushroot: (Whispering) And they're definitely not ghosts.

*(Then they reached a nearby walk-in grated tunnel and after Tails quietly opened the grated door, they go inside, with Tails entering last and quietly closing the grated door from behind. As soon as they're inside and hidden, the Fearsome Four released Popple, as well as ungag his lips from the Fearsome Four's grips and then Popple got surprised again, calming his attempted freakout, unlike how the Fearsome Four did when they reunited with Sonic's group earlier)*

Popple: (Almost loudly at first) I thou...?

*(Everyone shushed him, and realizing, Popple whispered)*

Popple: (Whispering) I thought you five guys kicked the bucket at the docks?

Sonic: (Whispering, shrugs casually) Well, we didn't.

Popple: (Whispering) But how did you come back from the dead suddenly?

*(Later, as they trekked through the grated tunnel some more, all was explained to Popple, who was calmly amazed)*

Popple: (Whispering in amazement) Wow, that sure explains it all. It *has* been said that anybody with near-death experiences do briefly go to Heaven, Hell, or in-between and by choice, with all three areas deciding whether or not their times aren't up yet, so I guess you five could consider yourselves lucky Heaven gave you another chance. But question; Are you really sure getting even with Fat Cat and putting him and his gang out of business and in jail for their crimes against you is a true good deed?

Sonic: (Whispering) We're positive it is.

Tails: (Whispering) Never doubt our prerogatives for another chance of life.

*(Hesitant a bit like the Fearsome Four at first, Popple contemplated. Then Sonic's group and the Fearsome Four spoke up)*

Megavolt: (Whispering) Well, if you want to stay out of it and cover for us, you may.

Quackerjack, Bushroot, and Liquidator: (Whispering) Not squeal on us.

Sonic: (Whispering) It's your choice.

Sonic's group except Sonic: (Whispering) Yeah.

Knuckles: (Whispering) And for the record, we know *and* believe, for a fact, that you didn't want *any* part of our murders. *(Whispering while correcting himself)* Oh! I mean, our *attempted* murders.

*(Then Sonic's group and the Fearsome Four continued on while Popple stayed behind at first. After he looked back towards the way out of the grated tunnel he's still in, Popple, after thinking it over on what the Fearsome Four and Sonic's group just said, got calmly determined and decided to do what's right)*

Popple: (Whispering, calling out to Sonic's group and the Fearsome Four quietly) GUYS!

*(Hearing him, Sonic's group and the Fearsome Four stopped and turned to him)*

Popple: (Whispering, calmly determined) I'm in. What Fat Cat and his goons did to you five was completely unforgivable. And if it's secret vengeance against them you want, then, by the grace of God, it's secret vengeance against them you shall get, with *my* help along with the Fearsome Four's help, see?

*(Glad to hear that, Sonic's group and the Fearsome Four nods in approval and then that that, they, including Popple, trekked down the tunnel some more. As soon as they reached another closed grated door, Popple went up to it)*

Popple: (Whispering) Here's where your "Monster" is.

*(Seeing Bushroot itching himself frantically in a nervous way, Knuckles, Quackerjack, and even Popple savagely grabs Bushroot, making him stop)*

Knuckles, Quackerjack, and Popple: (Whispering savagely) Stop it!

Quackerjack: (Whispering savagely) This is no time for your itching frantics!

Bushroot: (Whispering angrily, upon being released) This is the perfect time for me to itch frantically!

*(Liquidator and Popple shushed them and then Popple points out at something in the basement from the other side of the grated door they found)*

Popple: (Whispering) Look.

*(They looked, and saw a big pile of blankets and pillows with a sock hat sitting on top, resembling the shape of a monster, sitting on a seat nearby a barrel with a cage and a piece of bread sitting on it. Suspicious, Quackerjack, Liquidator, and Sonic's group, except Shaggy, turned to Popple and were about to ask away when Shaggy, Megavolt, and Bushroot, in a calm panic, spoke up quietly)*

Shaggy: (Whispering) Okay, we, like, found the monster. A creepy one to be exact.

Megavolt: (Whispering) Now, let's go home!

Bushroot: (Whispering) Who knows what it eats?

*(Just when Shaggy, Megavolt, and Bushroot were about to run away in a panic, Knuckles, Quackerjack, and Liquidator immediately grabbed them savagely, with Knuckles grabbing Megavolt by his head and as soon as the three were grabbed, they hung upside-down. Shaggy, Megavolt, and Bushroot were about to panic when Knuckles, Quackerjack, and Liquidator calmed them immediately in annoyance)*

Knuckles and Liquidator: (Whispering savagely) Relax!

Quackerjack: (Whispering savagely) *We* grabbed you, Shaggy, and Bushroot, Sparky!

Megavolt: (Whispering angrily, to Knuckles) Why'd you grab me by my head like that?! *(Whispering angrily, to Quackerjack)* And don't call me "Sparky!"

Quackerjack: (Whispering casually) Because how else was Knuckles gonna grab ya with you running like that?

Knuckles: (Whispering reassuringly) You're just freaking out and overreacting because of what you briefly saw.

Liquidator: (Whispering casually and reassuringly while he, Knuckles, and Quackerjack respectively released Bushroot, Megavolt, and Shaggy, dropping them) 10 out of 10 psychological researchers say it's normal.

Megavolt: (Whispering, rubbing his freed head for a bit) Even your hands are cold, too, Knuckles.

Knuckles: (Whispering) Because I'm a little scared as well.

Liquidator: (Whispering) Yet he, along with Sonic's group, Quackie, Popple, and myself, are suspicious because we now know better of this quote, unquote monster.

*(Shaggy, Megavolt, and Bushroot got up in confusion)*

Shaggy, Megavolt, and Bushroot: (Whispering) "Quote, unquote monster?"

Sonic's group, Quackerjack, Liquidator, and Popple: (Whispering) Yeah.

Popple: (Whispering, casually gestures to the grated door in a smug way) Look again, and here's your "Monster," see?

*(They looked again, and sure enough, they realized what Sonic's group, Quackerjack, Liquidator, and Popple meant by their suspicions and what Popple himself really know of already, is that the "Monster" is actually none other than a human girl climbing out of the blanket pile. The human girl is a 4 year old girl with short auburn chin-length hair, blue eyes, and wearing a white stone necklace on a black string, a white sleeveless dress with white straps, a purple lining around the chest rim, and purple flower symbols on the bottom, a pink skirt underneath with a white lining around the skirt, and white slip-on shoes with a purple and pink stripe. As soon as the girl emerged, she took the bread piece and ate it)*

Shaggy, Megavolt, and Bushroot: (Whispering in amazement) Well, I'll be, you're right....

Sonic's group, Quackerjack, and Liquidator: (Whispering) So, this "Monster" is actually...?

Popple: (Whispering with a nod) A human girl.

*(Sonic's group and the Fearsome Four immediately got curious and suspicious)*

Fearsome Four: (Whispering) But why would Fat Cat and his goons have a girl in the basement?

Sonic's group: (Whispering) And who is she?

*(Before Popple was about to speak quietly to explain away, they heard the basement door from the other side of the grated door unlock and then open, cuing him and even Sonic's group and the Fearsome Four to lay low silently and listen while hiding. Then sure enough in the basement itself, the girl noticed five figures coming in the basement by walking down the stairs past the door they unlocked and opened, revealing to be Fat Cat, Meps, Wart, Snout, and Mole entering, and as soon as the five arrived with Fat Cat smugly approaching the girl and cage, the girl asked in a hopeful and curious tone)*

Girl: Hey, Fat Cat, can I go outside today? Please?

*(Fat Cat pulls out a cigar and lights it as he casually replied)*

Fat Cat: Sure you can, kid.

*(Then he eyes a rat inside the cage with a smug evil smirk while putting the cigar in his mouth)*

Fat Cat: But first, you must talk to this rat.

*(The rat squeaked a bit in fear as Fat Cat chuckled wickedly a bit as he puffed his cigar and blew smoke into its face)*

Meps: (Shrugs while the rat sneezed from the smoke, sending it flying towards his, Wart, Snout, and Mole's faces) Well, if you want our opinions, Bosses, I think Mighty Morris is gonna win the race.

Wart, Mole, and Snout: (Agreeing) Yeah.

*(Then the smoke hits Meps, Wart, Mole, and Snout's faces and they begin coughing a bit)*

Mole: (Coughing a bit) Yech! You should cut back on the cigars!

Meps, Wart, and Snout: (Coughing a bit) No kidding, Mole!

*(Then the girl talked with the rat in the cage while she and Fat Cat ignored his gang, who recovered from their coughing)*

Girl: Hi, Mr. Longtail.

*(Then she picks up another piece of bread and hands it to the rat, now revealed to be Mr. Longtail, and she petted him a bit)*

Girl: How are you today?

*(Then Mr. Longtail happily squeaked a bit, as if saying "Fine. And you?", to which the girl responded)*

Girl: (Sighs with a shrug) I'm fine, thank you. Will you be in the race tonight?

*(Mr. Longtail chittered a bit some more, answering the girl's question. Then the girl got shocked)*

Girl: (Gasps) A sore foot? *(Reassuringly)* You shouldn't run for a while.

*(Then Mr. Longtail chittered a bit again, and the girl got sympathetic some more)*

Girl: (Sympathetically) And Twizzle has a cold? *(Reassuringly)* She should drink soup to get better.

*(Mr. Longtail chittered a bit in agreement, and then chittered a bit some more, as if explaining more, making the girl shocked some more)*

Girl: (Sympathetically) Aw, and Squad Car has the flu? Oh, my. *(Reassuringly)* He should get treatment for that.

*(Getting impatient, Fat Cat spoke up in tranquil fury, making Mr. Longtail duck back into his cage in fear while the girl got concerned)*

Fat Cat: (Impatiently in tranquil fury) Will you just hurry it up?!

Girl: (Apologetically in realization) I'm sorry.

*(Then she got to serious matters involving the race with Mr. Longtail)*

Girl: So, who do you think will win?

*(Mr. Longtail chittered a bit some more, and the girl got his answer)*

Girl: (To Mr. Longtail) Oh, okay, thank you. *(To Fat Cat)* He said the Spotted Gray, and that he could definitely win.

*(Feeling satisfied with a smug evil smirk upon hearing that, Fat Cat pretended to be grateful while shaking his cigar's ashes a bit into a nearby ashtray)*

Fat Cat: (In mocking happiness) Aw, thank you for the answer.

*(Then he got serious as he approached his gang and the stairs, taking the cage with Mr. Longtail in there)*

Fat Cat: (Seriously) Fellas?

Meps, Wart, Mole, and Snout: Uh-huh?

Fat Cat: Shift the odds on the Spotted Gray.

*(He almost went upstairs when he stopped nonchalantly and spoke to his gang again)*

Fat Cat: Oh! And have Thundermyte feed this kid.

Snout: (In annoyance) Aw, do we have to?

Fat Cat: (Exhaling smoke from his cigar into his gang's own faces) Yes.

*(Meps, Wart, Mole, and Snout coughed a bit from the smoke)*

Wart: (Coughing a bit) Again with the cigar!

Meps: (Coughing a bit) Where did you buy those?!

Mole and Snout: (Coughing a bit) Yeah?!

*(They coughed a bit some more as they and Fat Cat went upstairs with Mr. Longtail's cage in tow. Hearing them leave, the girl got up and went to the start of the stairs hopefully)*

Girl: So, can I go outside now?

Fat Cat: (In pretend reassurance) Not to worry. All in good time. So until then, just wait here.

Girl: (Annoyed) Aw, you always say that, yet you never let me go outside after that. So, please, please let me....

*(The five villains got calmly surprised and perplexed at the girl's response, and finally, Fat Cat cuts the girl off with a smug response)*

Fat Cat: (Smugly) Fine, if you want to be that way, then consider your next meal as just bread and water instead of cheddar cheese and water, as promised.

Girl: (Shocked) What?! But...!

*(But as the girl ran up to the door, Fat Cat and his gang quickly left and Fat Cat closed the door behind him and his gang in front of the girl's face and locking it again. Then after Fat Cat and his gang's footsteps were heard receding, silence descended. Then in calm anger, the girl slapped the door in a tranquil fury and an angry grunt and then went back downstairs in their basement prison. Once down there, the girl sat down on the floor near the stairs, calmly frustrated. Then she softly sighed sadly)*

Girl: (Sadly) More bread and water as usual, along with not going outside again.

*(Then she silently buried her head in their lap sadly and calmly tears up)*

Girl: (Starting to calmly cry) It's just not fair....

*(Then she calmly and silently breaks down crying and buries her face in her arms above her knees. Seeing the whole thing, Sonic's group, the Fearsome Four, and Popple got silently sympathetic, feeling sorry for what the poor girl is going through right now, being treated like a prisoner by Fat Cat by being used as his betting pawn. Then Sonic's group and the Fearsome Four turned to Popple, and he quietly responded)*

Popple: (Whispering) Yep. That's Fat Cat's plan on how to earn more money for himself through selfish bets by keeping that girl enslaved. And what makes it sad even more.... That girl is apparently lonely.

*(Looking back at the silently crying and huddled girl with his group, Sonic suddenly perked up, an idea striking him)*

Sonic: (Whispering) Wait a minute....

*(The rest of Sonic's group, the Fearsome Four, and Popple got confused by Sonic's perked up behavior suddenly)*

Popple, Fearsome Four, and Sonic's group except Sonic: (Whispering in confusion) What is it?

Sonic: (Whispering) An upgrade for our good deed mission.

*(The Fearsome Four and Popple got shocked)*

Quackerjack: (Whispering) You're gonna use the...?!

Sonic: (Whispering reassuringly) No, relax. We're not only rescuing her, but maybe, just maybe, while we can help her find her way home while she temporally stays with us....

*(Getting it, Popple, the Fearsome Four, and the rest of Sonic's group liked the plan)*

Popple, Fearsome Four, and Sonic's group except Sonic: (Whispering, liking the idea) We can have her animal talking abilities to help us.

Sonic: (Whispering) Exactly!

*(Then he quietly opens the grated door and he and the rest of his group climbed out of the grated tunnel quietly into the basement down a pile of wooden crates. Once down there, they approached the huddled girl, who was still silently crying)*

Sonic's group, Fearsome Four, and Popple: (Softly getting the girl's attention) Hey, there.

*(Hearing them, the girl jumped up with a gasp, seeing Sonic's group, the Fearsome Four, and Popple. At first, she got scared while still looking tearful)*

Girl: (Sniffles, still crying calmly) Who are you, and what do you want?

*(Then Popple approached the girl soothingly, pulling his purple handkerchief out)*

Popple: (Soothingly) Hey, hey, hey. It's alright.

*(He holds out his handkerchief to the girl as he gently placed his other hand on her right shoulder in comfort)*

Quackerjack: No need to cry anymore.

*(Hesitant at first, the girl sobs softly. But Sonic reassured her)*

Sonic: Kid, it'll be fine for you.

Knuckles: Trust us.

*(Feeling somewhat better by their honesty by now, the girl calmly accepted Popple's handkerchief finally and after blowing her nose on it, she wipes her tears away with it with some sniffles)*

Popple: (Reassuringly) Okay?

Girl: (Sniffles, then nods while finishing wiping her tears away, feeling a little better and fiddling Popple's handkerchief for a bit before resting it on her lap) Mm-hm.

Sonic's group: Okay.

Shaggy: We couldn't help but overhear that you're being held against your will, right?

Girl: (Sadly agreeing while still holding Popple's handkerchief on her lap) You have no idea.

Fred: And it strikes us that this is not the kind of place for you.

Girl: Nope. What're your names?

Sonic: Glad you asked. The name's Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog.

Tails: I am Miles Prower. But everyone calls me "Tails."

Knuckles: My name is Knuckles. Knuckles the Echidna.

Fred: I'm Frederick Jones. But you can call me "Fred" for short. How do you do?

Girl: Very well, thank you.

Shaggy: Like, my name is Norville Rogers, but everyone calls me "Shaggy."

Sonic's group: And we consist Sonic's group, thank you very much.

*(The girl got interested)*

Girl: (To Sonic's group) Huh. *(To the Fearsome Four and Popple)* And you guys are...?

Bushroot: My name is Bushroot.

Liquidator: Liquidator's my name, advertising is my game.

Quackerjack: Quackerjack, and I also like to play games and toys.

Megavolt: And mine's Megavolt.

Fearsome Four: And we consist the Fearsome Four.

Bushroot: We're part of Sonic's group.

Quackerjack: And we're also friends of Sonic's group.

Popple: And I'm Popple.

Girl: (Slowly feeling comfortable around them) Pleased to meet you all.

Sonic: Now, onto important matters.

Popple: Where do you live, and who are your parents?

*(That struck a core on the girl that she was calmly on the verge of crying again upon starting to tear up again. Sonic's group noticed in confusion)*

Sonic's group: (Confused) What?

Girl: (Sadly) I'm actually an orphan. *(On the verge of crying again, fiddling Popple's handkerchief again on her lap upon sensing herself getting teary-eyed again)* Lost my parents when I was 3 years old.... *(Sniffles twice)* Lived on my own ever since.... *(Tries to fight her crying as tears flooded her eyes again)* Until two days ago, Fat Cat c-c-came along and-and-and tricked me here...!

*(On "Tricked me here...!", her tears started streaming out of her eyes as she quickly buries her face in Popple's handkerchief on her lap and softly cried hysterically. Calmly shocked upon hearing that, Sonic's group got speechless and sympathetic even more as they listened to the girl crying her eyes out even more)*

Sonic's group, Fearsome Four, and Popple: (Calmly shocked) Huh.

Sonic's group: (To the Fearsome Four and Popple, softly in calm shock) An orphan....

Popple and Fearsome Four: (Agreeing softly in calm shock) Just like you guys....

*(Feeling sorry for the girl even more, Sonic's group, the Fearsome Four, and Popple pondered a bit, thinking of a way to cheer the girl, who is still sobbing uncontrollably, up. Then they perked up that Sonic snapped his fingers in realization)*

Sonic: Hey, I know!

*(The girl slowly and calmly stopped her crying and calmly looked up from Popple's handkerchief in tearful confusion and curiosity)*

Sonic: We can help you!

*(Perking up calmly upon hearing that, the girl got hopeful as she blinked some tears from her eyes)*

Girl: (Hopefully) Really?

Sonic's group, Popple, and Fearsome Four: (Happily and reassuringly) Yeah!

Sonic: So, until we help you find a new home and family....

Quackerjack: You can come live with us temporally.

Liquidator: Consider us your temporary custodians.

Megavolt: And we definitely got a great place we live at than this dump.

*(Slowly getting happy upon hearing that, the girl got up and happily gave Sonic's group a huge bear hug in gratitude, still clutching Popple's handkerchief in her right hand now. Surprised at first at the bear hug suddenly, Sonic's group composed themselves and gently ended the hug)*

Shaggy: So, you'll, like, come live with us until then?

Girl: (Happily accepting the offer) Yes! *(Happily hands Popple his handkerchief back, which he happily accepted and puts away in his pants pocket)* To be free at last instead of being stuck here! *(Points at her belongings laying nearby)* And don't forget my belongings over there.

*(Then Fred lets the girl climb onto his back, piggyback-style, as she giggled a bit while the Fearsome Four, Popple, and the rest of Sonic's group gathered her belongings laying nearby, among them a stuffed unicorn doll)*

Fred: Oh, we almost forgot! What's your name?

Girl: It's Kairi.

*(Sonic's group, the Fearsome Four, and Popple gave impressed smiles)*

Sonic's group, Popple, and Fearsome Four: Then, Kairi, it's nice to meet you.

*(The girl, now revealed to be Kairi, agreed)*

Kairi: Same with me meeting you.

*(Then they climbed up to the grated tunnel with Fred still piggyback carrying Kairi on his back. Then once at the grated tunnel entrance, Kairi climbed off of Fred's back and went in with Sonic's group, Popple, and the Fearsome Four)*

Bushroot: (Whispering) And if we're gonna get out of here, talk quietly like we're doing now.

Kairi: (Whispering in agreement, getting it) Gotcha. *(Excitedly)* Anyway, is your place better than this dump?

Sonic's group: (Whispering) Heck, yeah.

Sonic: (Whispering, closing the grated door from behind him, his group, Popple, Kairi, and the Fearsome Four upon entering the grated tunnel completely) You are going to love it.

Tails: (Whispering) Canopy bed under the stars, open hearth, three square meals a day, radio, heater, white walls.

Fred: (Whispering) Yep-er-reno! *Nuestra casa es su casa*. You know, our house is your house in Spanish.

Sonic's group, Popple, Kairi, and Fearsome Four: (Whispering in agreement as they disappear into the grated tunnel) For now, that is.

*(Then with that, they escaped through the grated tunnel, with Kairi's belongings in tow)*

***Coming up: After Meps, Snout, Mole, and Wart report to Fat Cat of Kairi's sudden disappearance upon finding out her said sudden mysterious disappearance, Fat Cat orders them to rally their goons to go find her. Elsewhere, still unknown to Fat Cat and his gang, Sonic's group, Popple, and the Fearsome Four help Kairi get comfortable in her temporary new home with them in their hangout home in the junkyard via a bedtime story involving Robin Hood and getting Kairi ready for bed with a big day coming ahead of them, where it'll involve their first betting gig on a horse race with Kairi's talking to animals ability's help.***