Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Green Hill Zone.

A place with... well, like the name says. Green, striped grass. Checkerboard dirt. Lots of wildlife and loop-de-loops... honestly, if you could be on vacation, this could've been the perfect place to be at!

Then came the man of the hour. A blue hedgehog with spiky quills, white gloves, and rad-as-hell red sneakers. Of course, it was none other than Sonic the Hedgehog! But, wait... why are there missiles coming from every corner? Tails the Fox and Knuckles the Echidna, who were behind him, had determined expressions. Then, he stopped and pointed.

"You're not getting away with it this time, Egghead!"

A ship flew by with missile launchers. Boarding it was a fat man with a red suit. He was completely bald, had a wild mustache, and had blue glasses. He looked incredibly ugly as well!

That figure is Dr. Eggman.

For months, years even, Sonic and co. would get attacked by this rotound, bushy-mustache wearing fellow. Every time he initiated a master plan for his empire, he failed. He tried everything. Awakening an ancient water beast. Freeing the world's ultimate life-form. Working with his distant descendant. Splitting the world into pieces and granting Sonic werewolf-like powers. Creating an interstellar amusement park. Tormenting the fabric of time itself. He even went on to create a full-on dictatorship at one point, which lasted MONTHS. Even attempted to research ancient islands, which led to everyone involved with the incident unraveling something much more sinister. Every single attempt ended up with failure. But at least he sometimes gains something out of them. Like his beloved Sonic look-a-like, Metal Sonic, or his AI daughter, Sage.

Today would at least be different.

One week ago, he went with Orbot and Cubot to an ancient cave. He left Sage and Metal Sonic at home, with Metal acting as a babysitter while the mad doctor is out and about. They heard of a crystal that existed for years. So they excavated every nook and cranny to find it. And there it was.

The Opal of Reality.

A opal that, when used, could destroy a thing in the fabric of reality. Making things disappear, transporting people to other universes, you get the idea. However; there is a cooldown. You can't use it for too much, as it could have various consequences.

The Doctor had to think wisely.

"How fast can you run from THIS?! The OPAL OF REALITY! I found this when I was excavating a cave with Orbot and Cubot. And NOW... It's in my hands! The first and most obvious thing I'm going to do is send you all to another universe! That way you can't bug my plans anymore."

"To another universe?" Tails said. "Honestly? I'm kind of mixed on this. It could be a bad universe or a good universe. But there are still bad news: You could be tampering with our home!"

"...That's the point!"

"Whatever you do, whether it be removing the Master Emerald from existence, wiping out all of our friends, or just messing with reality in general, we will not accept it!" Knuckles said, raising his gloved fist.

After that, there was a moment of silence.

"Sonic!" Eggman yelled.

"What is it this time?"

"THINK FAST!"

A white portal appeared in the air. It began sucking up anything around it.

"Oop! I better go!" Eggman said. He drove away in his stupid little vehicle, leaving Team Sonic to suffer. "Hang on tight! Whereever Eggman's going to send us to will not be pretty!" Knuckles said. Tails could try flying away with his two tails, but it could leave him in mid-air and he could easily get sucked in. If Sonic could do a move then he would also be sucked in! Then, the intensity of the portal increased. They could barely hold on. They had to stay strong. Until...

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhh...!!!"

12-year-old Molly Blyndeff was doing well these days. A week ago, there was an incident with her sister, Lorelai. Due to one of her friends, Giovanni, learning about her pathetically lacking home life, he decided to "kidnap" her so that she could live better. However, there was a catch. Her dad is still listed by the school staff. So she had to replace him with Giovanni, who was still on the run from the police after accidentally leaking his actions from a couple weeks ago to the authorities via another incident, which happened somewhere in Redwood Run. She had an idea to cover up his identity. He had to wear a brown wig with a brown beard with a dad-like suit and a fatsuit. They had thought of various last names until Giovanni landed on the idea of "Mr. Lastname".

Molly thought that was a bad idea. But she rolled with it.

Surprisingly, it worked. Another monkey off her back.

Today was the yearly Camping Trip towards whatever camp the school staff decided for the kids to go to next. The yellow school bus bumped down the gravel road, groaning like it resented every rock in its path. Inside, the air smelled faintly of snack wrappers and floor cleaner.

Taiga Country had a way of looking different once you left its most popular city proper. The buildings gave way to thin, spindly trees and stubborn grass that fought its way through stubborn dirt, as though the land itself had gotten tired of pretending to be urban and decided to relax. "Ugh..." Trixie muttered, kicking the gravel. "If the bus had any more potholes to hit, it'd be a rollercoaster. And not the fun kind." Phoenica stepped off the bus with both feet together like she was dismounting from a carriage. "I thought it was nice! It gave me time to daydream about what might happen at camp."

"You mean..." Trixie said with a smirk, "like which poor fool you're gonna shove in your next binder?" Phoenica gasped as though the suggestion were scandalous. "It's not shoving! It's a carefully curated process of romantic consideration."

These two were Molly's odd friends, and yet she platonically loved them for that. She adjusted the straps of her backpack and offered the smallest smile she could manage. The bags under her eyes were lighter than usual today, only partly because she'd gotten even more sleep, but also because there was a strange sense of anticipation humming in her chest. Camping wasn't exactly her idea of "relaxing" but at least's it's what works after a hectic month.

The camp didn't look like much.

In fact, it looked exactly like the kind of place you'd expect from a school trip that had been planned at the very last second. The entrance was a crooked wooden arch with peeling white paint, and beyond it, a scattering of cabins sat in a haphazard ring around a campfire pit. The grass was patchy, the smell of pine trees was sharp in the air, and somewhere far off, a lone bird called like it was mocking them for showing up. "Looks like a horror movie set..." Trixie said with a satisfied nod. "I approve."

Their substitute teacher was already waiting at the gate. A tall yet thick guy with a sunburned nose and a clipboard that looked way too heavy for a normal clipboard. He had a large, bushy beard, looked bald, and had glasses. His voice was deep, and he kind of reminded Molly of a cat that she would see on those newspaper comic strips.

"Alright, class." he said. "I'm Mister..." He flipped the clipboard over like he might find his name written there. "...Mister Johnson. Your usual teacher couldn't make it, so you're stuck with me. Don't worry, I'm basically a fun guy." He said that last part with a sarcastic, bored manner.

Phoenica leaned over to Molly. "He doesn't look like a mushroom to me." Molly blinked at her. "...What???" "You know. Fungus. Fun guy. Fungi?" Phoenica beamed at her own joke before the bells on her bows gave a light jingle in the breeze. The cabins weren't assigned so much as claimed in a chaotic rush of footsteps and luggage dragging across the dirt. The Neo Trio ended up together in one of the smaller cabins near the treeline, the wooden floor creaking beneath their feet. The beds were just thin mattresses on squeaky frames, and the one lamp in the corner buzzed faintly like a lazy insect.

"Not bad." Trixie declared, tossing their backpack onto the bed nearest the window. "If anything creepy happens, I call dibs on first ghost rights." Phoenica was already hanging decorative ribbon from her bedframe. "What's a ghost right?" "Right to talk to it first, obviously." Trixie said. Molly sat down on her bed, closed her eyes, and exhaled slowly. It was nice here. Quiet. She could almost imagine staying like this for the whole trip.

That peace lasted until orientation.

The whole class was herded into the firepit area, where Mister Johnson droned on about rules, safety hazards, and why no one should go into the woods after dark. He talked for so long that half the students were staring off into space, and even Phoenica, whose attention span for people talking about nothing was usually infinite, was drawing little hearts in the dirt with a stick, and was pretty much pouting in boredom.

And that was when Trixie saw it.

Just beyond the ring of campfire stones, where the dirt thinned into dry, cracked patches, something caught the sunlight and flickered. Not like glass. Not like metal. The light was softer, stranger, a pearly white shimmer, almost as if it didn't belong to this world. Trixie's iris seemed to swallow the glint as they tilted their head. "Huh."

Mister Johnson was mid-sentence about poison ivy when Trixie casually snuck off toward the edge of the firepit. No one noticed until they crouched down and started digging with their fingers, nails scraping against something smooth. It wasn't big, maybe the size of a marble. But when they pulled it free, it felt heavier than it should. Not in a "you could use it as a paperweight" way, but in a "this is important, trust me" way.

The fragment was white, almost translucent, with faint cracks running through it like veins. When Trixie turned it in their palm, it seemed to drink in the sunlight instead of reflecting it. And for just a second, they thought they heard something. A faint hum, deep in their ears, like the sound of electricity. They slipped it into their hoodie pocket before anyone could ask questions.

Later, after orientation ended and the camp settled into its slow rhythm of unpacking, Trixie leaned against the cabin railing, watching the sun slip behind the trees. Molly was inside, rearranging her bed to face the window. Phoenica was still trying to tie ribbon to every visible surface.

Trixie pulled the fragment out again and held it up, letting the last light of day spill across its strange, glassy surface. "...Think I found something cool." they muttered to themselves. That was when Molly stepped out onto the porch. "What is it?"

"Dunno. But I bet it does something." Trixie smirked, closing their fist around it. "We should try it tonight. Y'know. When it's more fun." Molly frowned. "Isn't that exactly the kind of thing Mister Johnson said not to do?"

"C'mon, it'll be fun. The three of us will try out what it is capable of." Trixie said. "Okay." Molly replied.

"I'll go find somewhere to put it on. Catch ya on dinner." They said before disappearing.

---

At midnight, everything was quiet and peaceful. That peaceful silence was broken when Trixie whispered into Molly's ear. "Psst... Molly..." They whispered. "Don't forget, Molly... You promised..."

"Wh... Huh?" Molly woke up. "Is this some kind of niche reference I'm not getting?" Phoenica said. Molly groaned and rubbed her eye. "Trixie... what time is it?" she mumbled. "Uh. night time? Come on, both of you."

Phoenica stirred next, blinking in confusion. "Did something happen? Is there an emergency? Did they run out of marshmallows?" Trixie crouched and grinned, eyes glinting in the flashlight beam. "Better. I found somewhere to put the shard." That got Molly sitting up, though not for the reason Trixie probably wanted. "You mean the shiny rock you picked up earlier? The one you wouldn't let anyone touch?" "Exactly." Trixie was already opening the cabin door. "Grab your stuff. This is gonna be awesome." Phoenica hesitated, sitting up and smoothing her dress like she was about to attend a wedding instead of tromp into the woods at midnight. "WaitwaitwaitWAIT. Where are we even going? What if someone sees us? What if the counselors find out we're gone? What if..."

"What if you don't come and miss the coolest thing ever?" Trixie interrupted, stepping outside. Molly exhaled sharply, rubbing both of her eyes now. The whole thing sounded ridiculous, but she knew from experience that Trixie wasn't going to drop it. Besides, if she stayed, she'd probably lie awake wondering what happened. "Fine. But if we get in trouble, I'm blaming you." She said, temptation invading her mind. A few minutes later, the trio was moving single-file through the camp's forest, their path lit only by Trixie's flashlight. The further they went, the darker it became, until the glow from the cabins vanished completely behind them. The night pressed close, heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth. Molly trudged forward, gripping her backpack straps like a lifeline. "There's NO way this works." she told herself. A weird shard working in the woods? That was the kind of thing in comic books, not reality. Though, she's seen weirder things during what she liked to call "The Lorelai Incident".

Phoenica, on the other hand, kept glancing around nervously. "I'm just saying..." she whispered, "if this... thing actually does something, how are we supposed to explain it to everyone? They'll all think we're weird. Or reckless. Or-"

"Relax." Trixie said without looking back. "'Reckless' is my middle name. Plus, nobody's gonna know." They walked for what felt like forever before finally reaching a small clearing. In the center, half-buried in tangled roots and moss, stood a strange archway of stone and rusted metal. At first, Molly thought it was just some forgotten piece of camp equipment, until she noticed the circular indentation near the center, perfectly sized for the shard.

"See?" Trixie said, holding the shard up. Phoenica swallowed. "That looks... uh... dangerous."

"Dangerous is just another word for awesome." Before either of them could stop them, Trixie stepped forward and pressed the shard into the slot.

The effect was instant.

A pulse of light shot through the archway, illuminating the clearing in ghostly white. The air grew heavy, humming with low vibrations. Molly's stomach twisted.

The center of the archway shimmered, then swirled, colors folding into one another until a white, spiraling void yawned open. The wind came next. It came from inside the portal, a sudden rush that pulled at their clothes, their hair, their very footing. Leaves and twigs whipped into the air, vanishing into the light. The thrum turned into a roar.

"Uh... guys?" Phoenica's voice pitched higher as her shoes slid in the dirt. "It's pulling-" "HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE!" Molly shouted, diving for a nearby root and clamping her arms around it. The ground itself seemed to lean toward the portal, tilting them forward like a cruel joke. Trixie braced against the arch, teeth gritted, one sneaker already skidding.

The wind became a living thing, grabbing at them, yanking, refusing to let go.

"WE TOLD YOU THIS WAS A BAD-" Molly's words were stolen away as her fingers slipped from the root. Phoenica screamed, Trixie shouted something she couldn't hear, and then the light took them all.

Back in Green Hill Zone, the portal was still open. Then, it flashed. The Neo Trio appeared from below the portal and fell down to the striped, green grass.

"..AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

They weren't injured. Mainly because this world worked differently. They opened their eyes and saw their surroundings.

"This doesn't look like any other country that I know of..."

Chapter Text

Molly and co. were understandably confused. There were lots of cliffs, monitors, robots, loop-de-loops...

ROBOTS!!

And they were mean, and scary!

"EEK! They have claws!" Phoenica said, pointing at a Motobug. "Uhh-- What am I supposed to do?!" Molly said frantically, looking for a way to get rid of the robot. Quickly.

"What I would do in any sort of situation is step on the robot multiple times and see if it dies!" Trixie said. "Okay... here I go." Molly ran to the robot and stepped on it with all the force she could have. It was quickly destroyed and a Flicky came out.

"It's... a BIRD!!" Feenie said. The bird flew over to her and gave her a nice hug in the face. Her dopamine was through the roof over seeing a bird like this, but also a bit sad. "So you're saying... you were trapped inside those robots?!" The Flicky chirped at her. Feenie couldn't help but shed tears over someone using animals like these as energy. "What kind of... SICK... DESPICABLE MASTERMIND COULD DO THIS?!"

Phoenica sobbed on the grass. The Flicky joined her. Molly couldn't help but give her a little pat on the back. "There, there, Feenie. Let it all out."

After that, they quickly composed themselves and ran through the path. They came across various other things. Bridges, rivers, palmtrees... They were pretty much speeding by like if it's an excited kid's first time here. However, they were a bit confused. Could they ever find a way back home? There has to be a way.

Trixie accidentally jumped on a Palmtree, and a Monitor fell out of the leaves. "OW! What is this?!" The monitor had sparkles on the screen. Whatever is sparkly had to be good, right? Feenie and Molly stopped to check on her. Trixie punched the Monitor. They gained lots of sparkles surrounding them. They touched Molly on the shoulder, but it left a little sting at her.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry--" Trixie quickly apologized. "It's okay." Then they had an idea. The little renegade began running at the robots-now that they know are called Badniks-like there's no tomorrow. Molly and Phoenica had to run behind them, but even then they were a bit too fast. Things turned bad when they crashed through a Monitor with a Red Sneaker on the monitor. They were having too much fun at this point.

After that phase, Trixie quickly slowed down and waited for the other two to arrive. It took 2 minutes for them to arrive, and even then they were tired. "Can we take a break now? All of this is killing my legs now..." Molly said. "Well, there's this sign with these palmtrees. It's gotta be important!" Molly span through the sign with whatever strength she has left.

MOLLY HAS PASSED

ACT 1

SCORE: 35192

TIME BONUS: 1000

RING BONUS: 9000

"Good! Now we can go and take a break while admiring this scenery!" Feenie said. They all nodded. They sat down on one of the palmtrees and took a moment to enjoy the scenery. There were waves crashing. A nice sunset. Animals roaming around. Not just any regular old animals- Tiny animals! It looked like something straight out of a dream...

"Well, I'm recharged. Let's head out." Trixie said, killing the mood.

GREEN HILL ZONE

ACT 2

It was a nice, clear sunset now. Their first time doing all of this was quite rough. Getting distracted by monitors, getting attacked by Badniks, the usual. However, they have gotten a lot more agile at doing this. They dodged and smashed Badniks with ease. They knew where each monitor was. Sure, they weren't experts or anything like that, but they were getting good at it! They accidentally tripped over some rocks and spilled some rings, but it was all fine. In just a matter of 3 minutes, they went to another signpost! "Well, that was easy..." Trixie said. "Indeed it is! It was so fun! This was my first time stomping on robots!" Phoenica did not condone violence. But these Badniks are EVIL! AND MEAN! So it was perfectly fine to stomp on them!

They rested until nighttime. They started at a crossroads. Either the path with the spikes or the path with the collapsing cliff. Both paths were dangerous.

"Umm... Erm... Ummm..." Feenie was stumped.

"The path with the spikes." Trixie said. "Are you sure...? We could get really hurt or something like that." Molly said. "Well, I mean, it's better than falling off a cliff and getting impaled." Trixie reassured.

They hopped onto the platform and made their way through. They came at a stop. 2 floating platforms? Hm...

Then, a floating vehicle came down from the sky! It was a mad, fat scientist! He was cackling maniacally at the two! But what's that from under the vehicle?! A WRECKING BALL?!

He didn't speak a word, but he stared at the Trio with an evil smile. Yeah, this is definitely the guy that "Street Smartz for Kidz" would tell you to avoid.

The Neo Trio were wondering what to do. Should they just jump on him like any other enemy?

Molly attempted this. Dodging the Wrecking Ball, she jumped on the mad doctor's vehicle, causing one part to explode.

"Hey, it actually works!" Molly said.

"Sweet! Let's continue jumping on him!" Trixie said.

They immediately jumped on the grassy platform, and hopped onto the vehicle, stomping on it various times. After a while, it began breaking down. But the doctor had time to fly away with his vehicle!

"Well... That was intense." Phoenica said.

"Yeah... Glad that's over now." Molly said.

"I wanted to continue stomping on the guy." Trixie said.

Then, they see a capsule. Not any signpost or anything. They decided to hop on the big yellow button on top of it. It opened and revealed that many animals were inside the capsule.

Feenie crouched and hugged the animals she could collect. She teared up. She was happy to see them alive, not being turned into Badniks.

MOLLY HAS PASSED

ACT 3

SCORE: 9781

TIME BONUS: 1000

RING BONUS: 10000

"Well... What do we do now? It's nighttime and we don't have a place to stay at..." Molly said.

"Oh, look! A village! And it has these anthropomorphic animal beings! I guess they'll let us stay for a while!" Phoenica said, wiping her tears.

"Sounds good to me. Let's go!" Trixie said.

While heading down to the village, they noticed they're faster than usual. I guess all that running has done something to them, huh?

Chapter Text

Hard concrete.

That's the first thing Sonic felt when he landed on the ground. Tails and Knuckles were the first ones to wake up. Then, Sonic. He looked at his surroundings. He thought he was going to be in Station Square or somewhere like that. But no. Everything seemed... different.

Sure, there are still humans wandering by, minding their own business, but this wasn't any ordinary city...

It was Sweet Jazz City!

"Huh...? What is this place?" Sonic said groggily. He just woke up. Tails pulled out his Miles Electric. A yellow tablet with two cyan antennas that somehow looked like a sort-of controversial videogame console. It looked nice, though! He used it to scan the environment. He expected it take place somewhere in Mobius. But to his surprise?

"UNKNOWN LOCATION".

"Hm..." Tails said. "It seems like this is the alternate universe Eggman said. Doesn't look bad to me, though. But still, we have to go home!"

Knuckles softly bumped his white boxing glove-like glove onto the little fox's shoulder. "Tails..." He said, pointing towards some robots. "Looks like some of the badniks made their way here."

"Eh, we've fought them many times! Perhaps we won't have any problems taking on them in a new reality!" Sonic said, streching.

Sonic got to work on stomping the badniks. Many of the animals were taken out of the robotic shells. Knuckles got to work on punching them. And Tails handled the air badniks.

All this commotion attracted the police. Many cars pulled up to the scene. After all the badniks were defeated, Tails nervously gestured at Sonic, pointing at the cars.

"Look, guys... These robots are dangerous! Badniks! Little animals power these things! They were created by Dr. Eggman!" Sonic said.

"We already know they are dangerous. But we've noticed how well you fare against them."

The person got off the car. Why, it was none other than Percival King, also known as Percy.

"Please, come with us." She said.

"Okay... Why do I have a feeling this is not going to end well?" Knuckles said, feeling a bit suspicious.

"Don't worry. It's nothing bad."

The three got into the car and were taken to a police station. It was a short, 5-minute drive.

"Is it just me, or this whole thing about me meeting up with a police officer look kinda familiar?"

"What are you talking about?" Knuckles said.

"Nothing, Knux."

After that, they got into the Police Station. It was pretty spacious and small at the same time. They were taken to an interrogation room with her. It had a window so no one could feel claustrophobic. It also had some chairs, a table, and a TV. There was a light on top.

"You said something about a Dr. Eggman... What do you know about him? Does he eat eggs?" While she's usually pretty stoic and professional, she has no problem with saying stuff like this.

"Yeah, we come across him every month! Every week! Heck, every day! He's always trying to take over our world by putting animals on robots!" Sonic said, looking annoyed.

"Animal cruelty...? This man is a dangerous force to be reckoned with." Percy said.

"Indeed! But that's not all! He summoned an ancient water being at one point, a literal god, caused the apocalypse... you get the idea. Whenever he's not using robots, he truly is a force to be reckoned with!"

"...Interesting. Check this out." Percy said, holding a black TV remote. She turned the wall TV on. She cycled through various newsflashes regarding the Badniks.

"Sweet Jazz City, and to an extent, Taiga Country, isn't the only place affected. Deepwood Country, Desert Country, Island Country... even Ocean Country. Many white portals have appeared, transporting these robots from your world to our world."

"Yeah... we got an even bigger problem in our hands." Sonic said. He thought it was only going to affect Sweet Jazz City, but to other Countries? Yeah, this is going to be bad.

"We were wondering if you are willing to take action against all of these robots-"

"Badniks." Tails corrected.

"...Badniks, and stop these places from being terrorized."

"We deal with this kind of shtick every week! Don't worry about us!" Sonic said.

"Are you sure? They seem pretty dangerous."

"Just a few hits and we're golden. M'kay?"

"Got it. Good luck out there."

Sonic quickly saluted to Percy and exited the Police Station. Conveniently, various Badniks cornered them. They quickly took care of them and ran off. Thanks to the various portals, loop-de-loops were created using the buildings' rooftops' floors. Item Monitors were also created. They zipped (or flew, in Tails' case) by, smashing them until the only thing that remained of them were a bunch of rubble... and freed animals.

After all that, it seemed normal again. They just have to travel through various countries and they're good. While walking by, they noticed a store. The Blyndeff Toy Emporium. They stopped to take a quick look at it.

"Hm..." Sonic said under his breath.

There were shelves of toys lined up against one another. There were toy chairs and a toy table for roleplaying. A big, brown bear. Overall, the usual thing you'd see in a Toy Store. Then they saw the cashier. A dark-skinned girl, who looked to be around 17-years old. She was nervous about something, kind of distracted. There was also a man that kind of looked like Egghead. But he had a full head of hair, had no mustache, and was blonde. He seemed oblivious to what his daughter was going through.

"This man gives me a bad feeling." Knuckles said.

They ran off to their next destination.

SONIC

MUNDIE???

- #1 Chili Dog Fan

- The only thing he hates is oppression

- Homeless and proud

"Epithet... Erased? Wait, what is that?"

TAILS

MUNDIE

- Child Prodigy and Tech Wiz

- Built a TV out of paperclips

- Reprogrammed a Super-Computer using a dishwashing detergent and a toothpick

"Epithet Erased! I think this is an alternate reality exclusive thing."

Chapter Text

Green Hill was... an interesting experience, to say the least.

They went through many twists and turns and discovered new things. And of course, there were a few mishaps. It was a bit... overwhelming, but hey. It's their first time. All first times are like that!

Now? They get a chance to relax, to warm up before the grand adventure!

Turns out this planet was populated with various anthropomorphic animals. They came in various species. Foxes, hedgehogs, wolfs... okay, literally any animal. It all seemed pretty peaceful!

Then, there was this pink hedgehog in a red dress.

"Oh! I've seen you three in the distance! How are you enjoying your adventure so far?" She said. Amy Rose. One of Sonic's friends. A pretty optimistic girl, who has some experience with tarot cards, her hammer, and of course, romance. Sonic was the victim of all this. She kind of like this corny fangirl, but at the same time, she's his friend.

"Um, it’s been... interesting? A bit overwhelming, honestly." Molly said. "Yeah, I mean, we just came from a portal in the sky. And now there's... all this!" Trixie said. While yeah, it's been exciting, it's getting a bit tiresome for them. It's their first time, of course.

"It’s all so beautiful! I love the colors! You must be from here!" Feenie said. "Indeed! I’ve grown up here, and let me tell you, it never gets boring around here. It’s always full of surprises!" Amy said. "Oh! I haven't introduced myself! I'm Amy Rose, what about you?"

"I’m Molly. This is Trixie and Phoenica, but we like to call her Feenie. All of her friends call her that, ourselves included."

"You know... I'm feeling a bit hungry after all that. Is there a place where we can grab a bite?" Molly said. "Of course! Just follow me! There's a cafe nearby. They sell lots of great food!" Amy chirped.

It was a nice, wooden hut with lots of customers. The Trio of Kids stood out like a sore thumb compared to the colorful animals. A Waiter approaches with some menus.

"Ooh! A Chili Dog?" Phoenica said. "They're Sonic’s favorite! It's a hot dog topped with chili and cheese." Amy explained. "Sounds like something I'd gobble up in a minute." Trixie said. "Can I try it? I mean, does it taste good?" Molly said, still looking at the menu. She bites her lip, contemplating. "Definitely! It's one of those comfort foods you can't miss out on!" Amy recommended. As they waited for their food, Amy asked them questions. "So, what brings you guys to here?"

"We've been here through this weird portal, and... we've been through a lot of weird twists and turns. Very weird."

"Lottle weird." Phoenica continued.

"Axolotl weird." Trixie finished.

"Is that a thing you say?" Amy says. "Yeah, it's exclusive to us." Trixie said.

Once their meals have arrived, Molly picks up the Chili Dog and takes a bite. "Hm. This is actually really good." Amy, Phoenica and Trixie chat animatedly about themselves while Molly quietly savors her food, but her expression shifts from joy to introspection once she hears more about Sonic thanks to Amy.

Sonic is everything Molly couldn't be.

Sonic was that guy. Pretty cool and free-spirited. As for Molly? Pretty shy, pretty introverted. Her old family life with the Blyndeff Toy Emporium was the cause of all this. But in one night in which she got stuck in a museum trip, it was Giovanni who taught her to stand up to herself. But still, she wasn't like him!

"Molly? You okay?" Feenie said. "Oh! Yeah, I’m fine. Just... thinking." "Ooh, what is it?" Trixie teased, but the mood faltered when they found out. "Based on what Amy said, Sonic is a lot like what I wish I could be. So outgoing... and brave. Boss taught me how to sort-of be like him... but... sometimes I just feel so small compared to him." "Hey! You're amazing just the way you are! And you've got your own strengths!" Feenie interrupted. "And besides, Sonic would totally be impressed with how you handled those 'Badniks'!" Trixie chimed in. Molly smiled. She could do this, even if she wasn't like him.

Eventually, the day had to come to an end. The Neo Trio came to Amy's house for shelter. They slept on the main bed while Amy slept on the couch. While she prepared everything, she couldn't help but notice the trio on her bed. They looked like they had the best night to end a rough day.

And they had.

6:00 AM.

As the first rays of sunlight streamed into Amy's cozy home, they painted the room in soft hues of yellow and orange. The Neo Trio stirred awake.

"Mmm... five more minutes..." Trixie mumbled, burrowing deeper into the soft blankets.

"Come on, you guys. The sun's up! We need to get moving!" Molly urged, already sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Phoenica stretched, a wide smile breaking across her face as she yawned. "What a lovely sleep that was! I feel so bright and full of energy!"

"Also, you were totally snoring." Trixie teased, propping herself up on her elbows and giving Feenie a playful poke.

"W-what? I do not snore! I sleep like a sheep! Quiet and peaceful!" Phoenica protested, her cheeks a light shade of pink.

Molly hopped out of bed, feeling the soft embrace of the morning sunlight energizing her. She could hear the gentle sound of birds chirping outside, celebrating the new day. She marveled at the decorations. A blend of cute knick-knacks and Sonic memorabilia.

"Okay, okay! I'll get up!" Trixie groaned, throwing off the covers dramatically. "You don't have to keep poking me, you know!"

As Trixie sat up, Molly quickly went to her backpack and started rummaging through it. In her typically observant manner, she made sure everyone had everything they needed for the day ahead. Her hand brushed against the comforting straps of her trusty backpack as she asked, "So, what's the plan once we leave?"

Phoenica thought for a moment, twirling her long hair around her fingers. "We have to make a stop at that "Wood Zone" that Amy mentioned! Sounds exciting, right?"

Trixie stretched luxuriously, a mischievous smile creeping across their face. "Sounds good."

"Yes! I wonder if this place will have unique food or random things we can explore." Phoenica chirped, her teal eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Molly nodded, igniting a hint of excitement in her own heart. "Let's just hope we don't face anything too dangerous. I can't quite handle any more surprises after yesterday."

Ah, yes.

The wrecking ball of doom.

"Just imagine! Trees that can move and talk!" Phoenica said, clasping her hands together with giddy joy. "What if they have a tree oracle?"

"Or what if we get chased by a sentient log?" Trixie countered, grinning wickedly. "Now that sounds like the perfect adventure."

Molly giggled, appreciating the ease of their banter. It helped dissolve any lingering tension she felt. "Okay, as long as it doesn't involve me having to climb a tree. You two will have to handle that part."

"Deal!" Phoenica replied, standing up and adjusting her pink dress. "What if that just means I get to bring back sweet berries for everyone?"

"Count me in on the berry run!" Molly added, her enthusiasm building.

As they said their goodbyes to Amy, their started their grand adventure!

"Wow! This place is already giving me fairy tale vibes!" Phoenica commented, her eyes wide with wonder as they entered the border of Wood Zone.

Molly found herself gazing at the towering trees. "Will there really be trees that talk?" she wondered aloud. The thought intrigued and unnerved her. While she's heard things like these in Fairy Tales, she never saw a talking tree in real life.

Well, aside from encountering some in Lori's Dream Bubbles.

"Of course! Why wouldn’t they? Just like the squirrels that watch us with those judging eyes!" Trixie interjected, kicking a small pebble and watching it bounce off a nearby log.

"Hey! Do you see that path over there?" Phoenica exclaimed, pointing to a narrow trail that seemed to lead deeper into the woods, flanked by bushes that swayed gently in the breeze.

"Let's check it out!" Trixie said with a grin. "No, wait...!" Molly started, but Trixie's excitement was contagious. She had no choice. With a resigned sigh and a determined heart, she hurried after them, already regretting her decision.

The path twisted and turned, sometimes doubling back around giant tree trunks and winding through patches of wildflowers. The air was filled with sounds: the rustle of small creatures in the underbrush and the occasional flutter of wings above.

"This is amazing!" Phoenica exclaimed as they reached a small clearing bathed in sunlight. "I feel like a fairy princess here!"

"Or at least a woodland critter!" Trixie quipped, striking a pose as they pretended to flick a nonexistent tail.

Suddenly, a loud snapping sound resounded through the air, breaking the lightheartedness. Molly's heart raced as her senses heightened. "Did you guys hear that?" she asked, her nerves fraying.

Bug-eyed with anxiety, they all froze.

"Uh... the trees aren't supposed to snap, are they?" Trixie raised an eyebrow. "Just the branches... right?"

Just as Molly opened her mouth to suggest retreating, a deep, hollow laugh echoed through the trees, causing her to jump. The sound sent chills down her spine as the trio exchanged nervous glances.

"What was that?!" Molly squeaked, her eyes wide with fear.

Suddenly, the bushes rustled ominously, and from the depths of the woods emerged a patch of Tree-themed Badniks, clunky mechanical constructs that resembled twisted trees with hollow bodies and glowing, red eyes. Their metallic bark glinted in the sunlight, and their limbs were designed to resemble thick branches, armed with sharp, wooden-looking spikes.

"Oops! Guess we weren't alone after all...!" Trixie said with a nervous laugh, backing up a step.

Phoenica clenched her fists. "Molly, dear, do you have a plan? We can't just stand here!"

Molly took a quick breath, feeling a surge of determination despite her fear. "Okay, let's... um... use our strengths! Trixie, what's the best way to handle this?"

"Uh, I dunno!" Trixie replied, looking between the advancing badniks and their friends. "Maybe... distract them somehow?"

"Wait! How are we going to keep them busy?" Molly asked, panic rising as she looked around for something to use.

Trixie glanced around the clearing, spotting a nearby stone. "I'll just throw this rock and-" "Distract the-!" Molly started, realizing the plan was a bit risky.

But Trixie was already making their move, throwing the stone with all their might. It sailed through the air and thudded against one of the Badniks, which turned its attention away from the kids. "Hey, over here!" Trixie shouted, waving their arms frantically.

"Uh, Trixie, maybe don't provoke them?" Molly squeaked, her eyes wide as she watched the badniks shuffle towards them, their wooden limbs grinding against each other ominously.

Phoenica started to tremble. She looked like a poor little sheep with a herd of wolves. "We need a plan, now! They look really... dangerous!" Her voice wavered.

Molly clenched her fists, her mind racing. Gathering her courage, she said, "Okay! Trixie, keep distracting them! Feenie, we can use the environment, right? Like... um... what if we find something to trap them or block their way?" "Right! The trees, there has to be something we can use!" Phoenica exclaimed, scanning the area for inspiration.

Trixie’s heart raced as they dodged behind a thick trunk, the Badniks closing in. "C'mon, you lumbering tree stumps! You think you can catch me?" They grinned, adrenaline pumping through them, reveling in the thrill of the chase. Suddenly, one of the Badniks leaped forward, its branch-like arms swinging down like a heavy club. Trixie narrowly avoided it, diving to the side and rolling. "Whoa! Okay! I didn't sign up for dodgeball!"

Meanwhile, Molly turned to Phoenica, who was hyper-fixated on the grass, her fingers trembling slightly. "Feenie! We need a distraction! Anything that can buy us some time!" "I-I'm thinking!" Phoenica stammered, her teal eyes darting around. "What about... um... what if we use some of those branches?" She pointed to a particularly sturdy-looking branch protruding out of the ground, half-buried in the dirt.

"Great idea! Grab it!" Molly encouraged, her own nerves shifting from fear to a sense of resolve. "We just need to hold on until we can corner them."

As Phoenica hurried over to the branch, Trixie continued to evade the badniks, leaping behind trees and dodging their swings with a mix of grace and instinctual agility. "You guys are nearly as slow as your metallic cousins! Come on!" they taunted, a grin etched on their face as they led the mechanical foes deeper into the clearing.

"Come on, just a little longer!" Molly coaxed herself, her fingers curling into fists. She eyed both the advancing badniks and Phoenica, who was valiantly dragging the branch back towards her. "I hope it's heavy enough!" "I got it!" Phoenica exclaimed, her breath coming in heaves from the struggle. Trixie darted over, joining Molly to help steady the branch as Phoenica maneuvered it into position. The plan was to create a makeshift barrier that would sweep the badniks off their feet once they got too close.

"Here they come!" Trixie warned, diving back, their eyes sparkling with adrenaline.

"Now, Feenie!" Molly shouted. With a shared look of determination, they swung the branch down with all their might just as the first badnik stumbled into the clearing, its glowing eyes narrowing on the trio.

CRACK!

The sound echoed through the clearing, the branch slamming into the badnik and sending it crashing backward into its fellow construct. They fell in a jumbled heap of mechanical limbs and creaking wood.

"Yes! Got one!" Phoenica cheered, a laugh escaping her lips despite the chaos.

But there were more badniks approaching, three in total, with vastly unsettling glows in their red eyes. Molly's heart raced. "We can do this! Let's keep going!" She felt a surge of courage after witnessing Phoenica's delight in their first small victory. It was a reminder that the tides of battle could shift in an instant.

They repeated the plan. Grab branch and slam it at the badnik. Eventually, the area was cleared. As the final badnik toppled over, a chorus of victory cheer erupted from the trio.

"We did it! We actually did it!" Phoenica exclaimed, her face beaming with exhilaration. The sweet taste of triumph began to settle in as she hugged her friends one by one. "I can't believe we just fought off a bunch of robot trees!"

Trixie bounced on their heels, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. "And here I thought we were just going to grab berries and ooh and aah at the scenery!"

Still riding the high from their victory, the trio moved deeper into the Wood Zone, the atmosphere shifting to a peaceful vibe. Trees towered over them. Sunlight streamed through the branches.

"Molly, look! Aren't those flowers the cutest?" Phoenica exclaimed, pointing to a cluster of vibrant blue blossoms peeking out from beneath a twisted root.

"Yeah! They look like they could go on a crown or something," Molly replied, admiring the delicate petals. "Maybe they're magical! Or sapient!" She smiled at her own imaginative thought.

"Let's collect some!" Trixie suggested, already crouching down to pick a few of the flowers carefully. "We can make a flower crown!" As Trixie eagerly began to pluck the blooms from the ground, Molly and Feenie followed suit, filling their arms with splashes of blue, pink, and white flowers. The sunlight seemed to imbue them with a sense of vibrancy, and for a moment, everything felt light and carefree.

"Molly! Look at this one!" Feenie exclaimed, holding out a particularly large flower adorned with shimmering petals that shimmered in the sunlight like gemstones. "Could it be magical?"

"Who knows?" Molly smiled, accepting the flower and tucking it behind her ear. "But it sure is beautiful!" "I dare say it would make a fine crown!" Trixie chimed, their arms full of flowers as they waved their arms animatedly. With their spirits lifted, they quickly got to work crafting crowns, weaving the delicate flowers together with the skill of seasoned artisans.

As the trio meticulously fashioned their flower crowns, they occasionally glanced around, marveling at their surroundings. The towering trees loomed over them, their leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze. Vibrant birds flitted among the branches, their melodies mixing into a soft symphony of nature. Trixie broke the moment. "Hey, who's up for a little race?" they challenged, a sparkle of mischief in their eyes. "Let's see how fast we can get through the rest of the zone!"

Phoenica's eyes widened in thrill. "Oh, yes! I'm in!" Molly hesitated for just a moment, a hint of cautiousness creeping back into her mind. But the infectious excitement radiating from her friends was hard to resist. Not when she saw them beaming with eagerness. "Okay, but let's make sure we stick together!" she implored.

"Always!" Trixie exclaimed, already bouncing on their feet, ready to burst into action. They shared a quick glance with Phoenica, who nodded enthusiastically, and with that, they all took a few steps back, though the ground beneath felt alive with energy. "On the count of three!" Trixie called out, raising their hands high, attempting to contain their bubbling anticipation. "One... two... three!"

With a burst of exuberance, they took off, laughter trailing behind them like ribbons as they raced down the winding pathways of Wood Zone. Molly's heart raced with exhilaration as they darted through tall trees, their laughter harmonizing with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant birdsong. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and it felt liberating. Every stride seemed to catapult her further away from her doubts.

Trixie, ever the natural sprinter, took the lead, their pink hair flowing behind like a banner of defiance. "Catch me if you can!" they shouted over their shoulder, determination lighting a fire in their eyes. "Don't think you can outrun me!" Phoenica called, sprinting with unexpected grace, her laughter mingling joyfully with the rush of the wind. Suddenly, a tree root curled up from the earth, rising nearly like a serpent, and Molly instinctively leaped over it. She felt her heart momentarily pause as she cleared the tripping hazard but laughed soon after, exhilaration washing over her.

"Nice jump!" Trixie grinned, glancing back just in time to see Molly land perfectly.

"Thanks!" Molly shouted back, her face beaming with pure, unadulterated joy.

"Race you to that big tree over there!" Phoenica challenged, pointing to an enormous willow that spread its branches wide as if in an embrace.

"Loser has to wear the smallest flower crown!" Trixie chimed in with a snicker, already pushing themselves faster.

As they neared the willow, Molly's focus sharpened. She could see the shimmering sunlight dappling through the branches, creating an almost ethereal glow around it. But just as they reached the final few paces, the unmistakable sound of crackling leaves echoed again, but this time louder and more menacing.

"What was that?" Trixie paused mid-stride, their black eye widening in alarm.

"Not again..." Molly's stomach dropped as the trio skidded to a stop.

Before they could catch their breath, the ground shook slightly, sending tremors through the roots around them. And there it was: looming from behind the willow came a colossal, twisted creature. Its wooden frame pulsated with life, large branches emerging in unpredictable angles, limbs reaching toward the trio with an ominous intent.

"Aaand there's the obligatory boss battle." Trixie said. "RUN!" Phoenica shouted, grabbing Molly's hand tightly just as Trixie swept in to match their pace.

The trio bolted once more, darting back down the path they had just come from. All the excitement from moments before vanished, replaced by a raw instinct to survive. Laughter from before morphed into strained cries as they maneuvered through the trees, weaving expertly but desperately, with the twisted creature crashing through the underbrush behind them.

"We need to find a place to hide!" Molly shouted, her eyes darting around desperately for any form of cover. Wood Zone was beautiful, but at that moment, it felt like a twisted labyrinth, each turn potentially leading to disaster.

Phoenica kept a firm grip on Molly's hand as they maneuvered through the trees, her teal eyes wide with fear but sparkling with determination. "Look over there!" she squeaked, pointing to a shadowy entrance nestled between two giant boulders. "A cave!"

"The perfect escape route!" Trixie cheered, sensing the futility of their situation against the lumbering beast. They made a beeline for the cave entrance, heart racing, their lungs burning with exertion. They could already feel the ground tremble behind them, the creature's attitude shifting from a lumbering menace to a full-blown rampage.

"Go, go, go!" Molly urged them on, her voice a blend of fear and exhilaration. As they reached the cave’s threshold, they dove inside, hastily pulling themselves into the cool darkness.

"Quick! Move further in!" Phoenica squeaked, peering back as daylight began to dwindle behind them. They stumbled deeper into the cave.

The booming footsteps of the creature resounded outside, creating an ominous soundtrack to their frantic escape. Trixie pressed against the rough stone, holding their breath as they listened. "I don't think it's going to follow us in here," they whispered, gaze darting to the cave's opening.

Phoenica peered out cautiously, her heart pounding in her chest. "What if it tries to break through?" she asked, fear creeping into her voice.

Molly closed her eyes, trying to gather her thoughts amidst the chaos. "It can't fit in here," she reasoned, the shadows surrounding them momentarily pressing against her psyche. "Let's just... take a minute to breathe."

Suddenly, the sound of a tree falling resonated in the air. It seems that they caused the creature to topple over and get defeated. "Did we actually trick it?" Phoenica whispered, her eyes widening with disbelief. "Did we just outsmart a monstrous tree?"

"Looks like we did!" Trixie replied with a grin, releasing a breath they didn't realize they'd been holding. "We make one hell of a trio, huh?" Feenie gasped for a bit once she heard the word "Hell".

Molly couldn't help but smile at her friends, feeling a new wave of confidence surging within her. "We really do. Now... let's figure out where we can go from here!"

They delved even deeper into the cave. After a few moments, they managed to find a way out. Who knows where they will go?

MOLLY HAS PASSED

ACT 3

SCORE: 7181

TIME BONUS: 2000

RING BONUS: 20000

Chapter Text

The sky shimmered like glass.

Or at least, that's what Phoenica thought it looked like. Pale blue and sparkling, with clouds so thin they seemed to hum when the wind passed through them. Below, the sea lapped against smooth, azure crystals jutting from the sand like frozen lightning bolts. Every time the waves hit, they chimed softly, making the whole bay sound like a wind chime orchestra that never quite found the rhythm.

"Okay, but, uh... are we sure we're not dead yet?" Trixie asked, squinting at the crystalline shoreline. "Because this looks way too pretty to be real. Like, "tourism poster you find in your dreams" pretty." "If we're dead, then heaven has amazing beach weather!" Feenie said, throwing her arms wide and accidentally smacking Trixie in the shoulder. "Oh- sorry." "Eh, you're good." Trixie muttered, brushing off the sand. "I've been hit by worse. One time someone threw a chair at me."

Molly looked around. Lapis Bay stretched endlessly in both directions, glinting beneath the afternoon sun. Small platforms of glassy, blue lapis rose from the shallows, leading toward the cliffs beyond. Above, bright metallic rings floated lazily in the air, glittering like golden bubbles. The same rings she had been seeing everywhere lately. "...This doesn't look like that forest zone we've been in anymore..." Molly murmured, her voice small but careful. "There's no grass. No loops. Just... sand." Phoenica knelt by the shore, poking a tide pool with a stick. The water inside rippled with rainbow light. "It's so pretty, though! Like if candy learned how to be a body of water." "Yeah, candy that can probably kill us.” Trixie said flatly. "Don't touch anything glowing, Feenie... That's a rule! It's a good rule."

"But what if it's just bioluminescent algae?" she asked innocently.

"It's never just bioluminescent algae!"

Molly smiled faintly despite herself. The other two's banter was a comfort. Normal, even. After everything that had happened, after waking up in a world that didn't seem to run on Epithets anymore, any sense of normalcy was a gift. Still, there was something about this place that made her nervous. The way the horizon shimmered, the faint electronic hum beneath the waves, even the faint sounds that resonated every time one of those weird golden rings spun in the wind. Trixie kicked a loose shard of lapis, watching it skitter across the sand with a faint plink. "Alright, so, question. Where are we supposed to go now? 'Cause unless one of those floaty rings is like, secretly a bus stop, we're... kinda stranded." Phoenica perked up. "Oh! Maybe the rings are portals as well!" "Uh-huh." Trixie said. "And then a giant talking raccoon tells us we're 'too slow'. Right?"

Molly tilted her head, watching one of the golden rings spin lazily in the breeze. Something about them did feel important. "I mean... When we were in that forest, I started to examine one them in detail. It... glowed, and then disappeared." Phoenica gasped. "Like treasure!" "Like disintegration." Trixie corrected. "Y'know, that thing where atoms stop existing?"

Feenie ignored them, already tiptoeing toward one of the floating rings. She reached her hand... and the moment her finger brushed it, the ring sang. A bright chime echoed across the beach as the ring vanished in a swirl of light. For a brief moment, Phoenica's hair floated as if she were underwater.

Then it was gone.

Feenie blinked. "...I think I turned stronger."

Trixie responded. "Or gave yourself radiation poisoning."

"Girls." Molly said softly. "Listen." The hum beneath the waves had changed. It wasn't steady anymore. It pulsed, like a heartbeat made of static. The lapis shards around them shimmered faintly, and deep in the shallows, something stirred. A long shadow slid beneath the crystal-clear water, tracing circles near the edge of the beach.

Feenie took a nervous step back. "Um... please tell me that's just a dolphin."

"Pretty sure dolphins don't have... spikes. They have fins, not... those." Trixie muttered, pointing. The shadow rose higher, splitting into segments. Smooth metal gleaming between glints of blue plating. The creature broke the surface with a hiss of steam. It looked like a cross between a shark and a hovercraft, fins made of crystalline energy and a glowing red sensor where its eyes should've been. The emblem stamped into its side read: EGGDOLPHIN MK. II.

Trixie cracked their knuckles. "O-kay, so definitely not a dolphin." The robot gave a sharp electronic screech and fired a burst of glowing orbs across the sand. The three of them dove for cover as the blasts exploded, scattering sand and shards of crystal. Feenie yelped, tripping over her dress. "It's shooting! WHY IS IT SHOOTING?!" "Because that's what evil robots do! Move, Feenie!" Trixie yelled, grabbing her by the arm and hauling her behind a jut of lapis rock. "Molly, any ideas?!" Molly clutched the straps of her backpack, breathing fast. "Uh, uh..." The humming air around her distorted slightly...

Then, a faint bubble flickered to life between them, muffling the sound of explosions outside. The world beyond dulled into distant vibrations. "Okay." she said, her voice trembling but steady. "We need to get past it. The cliffs there..." she pointed toward a ramp of crystalline platforms rising from the beach, "They lead somewhere higher. Maybe it can't follow."

Trixie peeked out from the bubble, watching the EggDolphin's fins carve through the sand. "You sure it can't fly?"

"No..." Molly admitted. "But I'm sure we can run." The bubble shimmered and popped as they bolted. Crystal shards crunched under their feet, scattering like glass snow. Trixie led the charge up the first platform, sneakers slipping on the slick surface. "This stuff's way too unfit for running! I'm gonna break my face before that thing gets me!" "Then don't trip!" Phoenica said helpfully, clutching her skirt as she climbed after them.

"That's not advice, Feenie!" Molly yelled. Behind them, the EggDolphin whirred and surged forward, its turbine tail slicing through the shallows. Each pulse of its engine sent sprays of sapphire water into the air, glinting like liquid fireworks. Molly followed last, lungs burning, her eyes flicking to the rising trail of rings above the platforms. They hung like breadcrumbs in the air. That blue hedgehog Amy mentioned would've known what to do, she thought, and immediately shook her head. "Okay, Molly, think..."

Molly's boots slipped on the next crystal platform. She stumbled, clutching one of the glowing rings...

...and the moment her hand brushed it, a pulse of gold rippled outward.

The platform beneath her feet solidified, shifting hue from translucent blue to a brighter, firmer turquoise. The air shimmered as if reality had briefly remembered how to make sense.

Molly blinked. "...Did I just... make it appear?"

"Cool, do that again!" Trixie yelled. "Preferably somewhere that isn't collapsing!" The EggDolphin's turbines screamed behind them, scattering glittering shards like rain. One of the energy bolts grazed a platform edge, sending a spray of molten lapis across the air. Feenie squeaked and ducked behind Molly's arm. "It's so shiny and violent at the same time! I don't know whether to run or apologize it for disturbing it!" Molly reached for another ring, then it vanished, chiming, and a faint path of golden hexagons shimmered above the next ledge. "Platforms! Everyone, jump!"

Feenie hesitated. "That's air!"

"It's magic air! Just go!" Trixie didn't wait; they grabbed Feenie's hand and leapt. The hexagons held, humming beneath their feetwear, each one lighting up like a step on a piano. "Okay, this is actually kinda cool." Trixie admitted, grinning. "Like parkour but sponsored by some kind of holographic tech company." Molly landed after them, and for a second she wondered if the rings themselves were... reacting to her power. Some things tended to get simpler using her Epithet, and maybe, just maybe, that included complicated alien tech. Below them, the EggDolphin screeched in mechanical frustration. Then its turbines folded inward. "Oh no..." Molly breathed. "It CAN fly." She whispered. It launched upward in a burst of steam, shattering one of the crystal formation. The trio dove sideways as shards rained around them. Feenie screamed. "I THOUGHT IT COULDN'T DO THAT!!!" "You thought WRONG!" Trixie shouted, sliding down a slope of glassy sand. They landed hard, coughing as blue dust filled the air. Molly scrambled after them, heart pounding. "There!" She pointed toward the cliffs above. A strange structure jutted out. "If we make it there, maybe we can lose it!"

Feenie blinked. "Or maybe that’s where it LIVES!" "I'll take a suspicious ruin entrance over killer robo-dolphins ANY DAY!" Trixie said, already sprinting. The hum of the EggDolphin's engines grew louder. The rings above began to vibrate in sympathy, like the whole zone itself was waking up. The sand started to shift, forming glittering ridges and glowing rails that spiraled upward toward the cliffs. Molly glanced back once. The robot's crimson eye locked on her. Then she looked forward, at the golden rail pulsing beneath her feet.

She ran.

And landed.

The rail lit up as her boots touched it, carrying her forward in a blur of blue light. Feenie screamed behind her, half terror, half exhilaration, as she and Trixie followed suit, riding the glowing trail through the air like a rollercoaster made of crystal. The EggDolphin howled, pursuing them in a stream of white foam.

For the first time since waking up in this strange, ring-filled world, Molly felt something that wasn't fear.

Momentum.

Not forced running. Just riding up and down the strange rail like if it was nothing. The light rail dipped sharply, a flash of turquoise and gold spiraling through the air before leveling out above a glimmering lagoon. For a second, it almost felt like flying. Feenie's face went from terror to excitement laughed as her bells jingled in the wind. "This is AMAZING! I wanna do this every day forever!" Behind them, the EggDolphin screeched again, jet boosters igniting in twin bursts of red fire. The reflected glow turned the whole bay into molten glass. Molly could feel it in her bones. Not the sound, but the vibration. A steady, synthetic thrum that synced with her heartbeat. The rail began to tremble, flickering between solid and see-through like a faulty hologram. "Oh no, oh no, stay real, please stay real...!" she muttered, squeezing her hands together. The moment she focused, the rail stabilized, and the world snapped into sharp clarity again. "Molly!" Trixie called. "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it!" "I am! I think...!"

The rail banked sharply toward the cliffs, twisting into a glowing loop that climbed straight up the rock face. The three of them screamed (for various reasons) as they shot upward, rings jingling past like golden comets.

At the apex, they launched, freefalling for a brief, dizzy moment before landing on the top of the cliffside. The rail disintegrated behind them with a final, airy chime. Phoenica collapsed on the ground, face-down. "I think I left my soul back there..." She said, muffled. "You can pick it up later..." Trixie said, panting. The three of them regained their composure and looked at the entrance. It was a doorway. Huge, ancient, and rocky. Molly stared. "This... looks important, I guess..." Feenie raised her hand weakly. "So we're breaking into someone's house, right?" "Not if we knock first." Trixie said, marching up and giving the door a solid thunk with their fist.

It hummed.

And then, with a sound like a thousand turning gears, the door split open.A faint wind rolled out. Cool, metallic, and faintly dusty. Maybe a little bit sweet. Feenie frowned. "Why does it smell like... cotton candy?" "Because nothing in this world makes sense anymore. I mean, we've got talking animals, anti-gravity loop-de-loops, and all that." Molly said quietly, adjusting her backpack straps. "Let's just... go slow, okay?" Trixie nodded. "Alright, everyone. Let's see what's hiding in the sparkly death cave."

They stepped inside.

And the door closed shut.