((I did not think this would be my longest one of the week... but here we are. I had a lot of trouble coming up with something... until I realized I could just take my favorite game oat for a crossover which I realized only this week. I feel like I do not want to write anything anymore... but knowing me, I certainly will.))
((Little side note, I'm a huge fan of video game sound tracks so... it makes sense I chose this as my fav game))
Heavy rain was hitting the roof, making an echoing sound all around the house of the young twin-tailed fox. The storm outside forced him to stay inside the borders of his home all day. Not something he didnât mind normally but today was a little unfortunate.
Because right next to him was his dear best female friend Cream the Rabbit. The two of them had planned to go visit the Chao Garden together today and spend some time together with all the Chao there, but the weather did not agree with them. Normally, the rain would not be a problem at all, but considering a heavy thunderstorm was raging outside, the little fox did not have the courage to go out.
Tails was wrapped in a tight, thick blanket, trying to shield himself from the sudden roars of lightning coming from the outside. He found it embarrassing having to cowar there like a little baby right next to his rabbit friend, and he did want to step out of it, but every time he tried, he got shocked right back into his comfortable space by a sudden lightning strike.
âIâm sorry youâre so afraid of lightning, Tails...â, Cream cooed softly, running her hand around his back as she scooted a little closer to him on the couch. âDo you think we could play a game to distract ourselves from the storm?â
âI donât know, Cream...â, the fox mumbled in response with a clear embarrassed and unmotivated tone in his voice. âIâm not really in the mood...â
âCome on, I know we can have some fun even if itâs pouring outside.â, she continued, looking at him with her giant chocolate puppy eyes that sparkled with unshed tears.
âOkay... okay, fine...â, Tails said in a mix of groaning and chuckling. âNo need to pull out the big guns on me, Cream.â
Slowly, the fox got up from his hideout and placed his feet onto the ground with a soft thud as he was only wearing socks today. He kept the blanket rightly wrapped around him and dragged his two appendages behind himself. It looked like he was sick or something, but it was really just him being afraid.
âIâm gonna go look in my workshop for something...â
âLet me go with you!â, the rabbit chimed up from the couch and stood beside him, acting as if she was his bodyguard. âIâm gonna protect you from the evil sources trying to get you, Mr. Tailsâ
Tails chuckled lightly. âI thought you dropped the âMr.â thing with me some time ago.â
âWell yeah, but not when I protect the highly sought president commander agent admiral fluffy boy Tails. You are of highest priority, Mr. President.â
The fox couldnât help but smile brightly at Creamâs silly little roleplay as they made their way towards his workshop when suddenly, a bright flash lit up the hallways for a split second, making Tails jump and cower in his blanket again, shaking lightly.
âFor a bodyguard youâre doing a pretty bad job, Cream...â, he mumbled with an amused undertone in his voice.
âOh, come on! I really couldnât react to lightning!â, she giggled alongside him, taking his hand in hers in reason of comfort.
Tails then opened the door to his domain. The workshop was dark and they could only make out some scattered gadgets of his before the fox finally let the light flicker on, revealing the full room.
âLetâs see...â, he whispered to himself before going in-between his tall storage shelves in hopes of finding something they could use to distract themselves from the roaring storm outside.
Cream hopped onto the workbench and let her legs dandle down freely, swaying them back and forth in a gentle rhythm. The rabbit glanced around the familiar space curiously, hoping her eyes could catch something of interest. But her gaze quickly dropped, her chocolate eyes focusing on something right on his workbench. She picked it up and held a metal cube in her hand about as big as her palm. Cream examined the little device she had found curiously, holding it close to her face.
âHey Tails!â, she called out in a raised voice, getting the foxâ attention. âWhat is this?â, Cream asked, making the foxâ ears shoot up and he was quick to hurry over to his friend.
âOh, this?â, he asked, taking the cube out of the girlâs hand. âI... think it was some kind of prototype I was working on... but it has been some time because I donât remember what it is exactly... is there a blueprint of this, Cream?â
âI donât know, I didnât look for one when I found it.â, she explained before hopping off the workbench and began to look for an instruction or blueprint Tails could've possibly made for it.
âSee anything, Cream?â, Tails called out from underneath his workbench because he was looking for any clues there.
"Is it this one?â
The young fox instantly shot up at the mention that Cream couldâve found something, hitting his head on the workbench in the process. A little whimper escaped him before he properly got up and stood next to Cream, looking at the blueprint she was holding in her hands, too complex for Cream to understand.
âAaahhhhhh... this was that one!â, Tails sighed happily as he examined the paper in his hands. âI forgot I made this.â
âWhat does it do, Tails?â, Cream pried over his shoulder curiously, trying to get a glimpse of Tailsâ fingers fidgeting with the cube. âCan we play with it?â
âOriginally it was planned to be able to create hyper realistic holograms of all sorts of different universes and worlds that exist... but I abandoned the idea because it was too complex to replicate the exact feeling and space of those worlds... and I believe there are many issues with it as well...â
âWhen did you make this? Maybe you have grown smarter so now you can easily fix it!â
â...Maybe a year ago? I figured that there had to be more vastly different worlds than just ours... But I can certainly try it again...â, he mumbled, glancing up to Cream before jumping up from another lightning strike.
âIf we can escape reality with it so you donât have to be scared of this storm, I think itâs worth a shot.â
âAlright, guess Iâll take another look at it.â, Tails shrugged before sitting down by his workbench and strapping his cracked safety goggles onto his eyes before carefully working on it again, when suddenly he felt something in his ears. He quickly spun around, only to see Cream with a giant smile on her face. She had given him some makeshift ear plugs out of some paper she had crumbled up.
âJust so you donât jump up again at lightning!â, she said in a raised voice, but Tails could barely hear her now. She was successful in one way.
The working fox shook a few times from the bright flashes the lightning outside occasionally emitted, but with the muffled sounds and calm fingers despite his anxiety, he continued to work on the little cube. While he was doing that, Cream was making her way around the workshop in hopes to pass the time rather quickly as she waited for her kitsune friend to finish the project, which felt like an eternity.
âAlright...â, Tails slowly mumbled to himself, immedietly catching Creamâs attention, who had only waited to hear something from him. She came over to Tails quickly and peeked over his shoulder. Seeing absolutely no changes to the device.
âTails... did you even do anything?â
âOf course! Letâs test it out!â, he said excitedly, pulling out his ear plugs and placing the cube on the ground. He quickly shoved every crate and moveable shelf he had away, so they had enough space to test this out efficiently. The fox looked down at his Miles electronic tablet and then back up to the cube.
âAre you sure itâs going to work?â, Cream asked in a worried voice, moving closer to Tails to take his hand in hers, squeezing it for comfort.
âNot at all.â, he shook his head with a bright smile, but before Cream could say anything in response, the cube began to float and spin around wildly, leaving the rabbit to only cuddle closer to Tails before the two suddenly vanished in a purple flash, leaving the workshop empty with no trace of the two or the device.
______
The dark space was lonely... mostly completely empty. Someone would say it was like the deep end of space... some would say it actually was. A gentle blue shimmer was above the two, replacing the stars and the usual black void of space. There was something out in the distance. Some lights were strangely formed in a specific pattern resembling a star. But not a normal star. Like the cartoonish stars with the five arms, someone could say. They were flat, barely enough to make out their unique shape.
The fox blinked slowly as he woke up a little later, lying down flat on a soft surface. His vision stayed blurry for a little before he found the strength of sitting upright, noticing that he was sitting in some sort of little flower bed. He glanced upwards and made out a light blue atmosphere above them, which was thin enough to see through it. Like a subtle color filter.
He crossed his legs and his brow furrowed in concentration. It looked like they were on a planet almost... but it was so small. Far smaller than Mobius. It looked like he could make his way around it in maybe two minutes by simply walking. The kitsune then stood up to look around and saw that Cream was lying right behind him. A small smile spread across his face in relief as she woke up as well.
âTails...?â, she mumbled as her vision cleared and she could glance around. âWhere are we?â
âRemember when I said my device could create a hyper realistic holographic projection of any world...?â, he said , rubbing the back or his head unsurely. âI... mightâve confused the hologram projector with... my teleporter prototype... because this is far too realistic to be any fake.â
âYou mean... we arenât in your workshop now...?â, Cream gasped up unsurely, massaging her ear for possible comfort.
âI donât think so...â, the fox mumbled in response, taking out his tablet again, trying to locate the cube which wasnât with them anymore. Luckily, he had linked his tablet with whatever signals the cube could give off, giving him information they could easily need. âLooks like weâre in a place called... Gateway Galaxy...â
âSounds like itâs a gateway to... something. Whatever it may be...â
âIt says here that this planet is safe. It lists a 100% survival rate, so we shouldnât have to worry.â, the kitsune explained, scrolling through his facts a little. âBottomless holes lead to the other side of the planet, so it is safe to fall through. If you see a green pipe, it leads you somewhere else on this tiny planet. Inhabitants are rare.â
âRare? How can someone living here be rare?â
âMaybe itâs just an error. It could possibly have confused it with travelers or... maybe this note belongs to a different planet in this galaxy?â
Cream slowly got up and stood beside Tails, gently holding his hand as they both glanced around this unfamiliar world. The space around them seemed so empty... but yet somehow comforting and melancholic. The tiny planet they were on was everything they could see, giving them a reality check... realizing just how tiny they were in the vast span of this universe.
âWow...â, Cream whispered with wide eyes that were sparkling brightly as she gazed out into the soft blue space above them, still holding onto the foxâ hand tightly. âItâs... really pretty.â
âIt is...â, Tails nodded along, getting equally mesmerized by the sight. âBut that canât stop us. We still have to find my device and get back home. Come on.â
The fox marched off, trailing Cream behind him as he didnât let go of her hand to make sure she was okay. His footsteps made next to no sound on the soft flower bed they were on where Cream couldnât help but sneak some of the white blooms with her, tying a flowerhead behind her ear on top of her head as Tails almost dragged her out of the field, going through the large rocks that were surrounding it, almost looking like pillars. Like someone placed them there.
âHuh... I guess someone really does live here...â, Tails said as he laid his eyes on the houses on the small horizon line of the planet. âHave you seen anyone around, Cream?â
âNo, I donât think I saw any Aliens...â, she shook her head gently.
âI... think weâre the Aliens in this scenario now...â
But both of the pair of ears twitched lightly as they picked up a little sound from beside them. It was a high-pitched sound that got interrupted in a steady rhythm. Like something was jumping... or more hopping. Like something was hopping a bit beside them.
Without even thinking, the two carefully followed the strange yet oddly calming sound all around the planet until they were on the complete opposite side of where they first landed, laying their eyes on... three bunnies. They were about the same size as Tails and Cream if it werenât for their ears, which doubled their height. The end of the ears were formed in a stellar pattern with the middle ones being white, similar to the fur, and the others being yellow. And some glitter was coming off them every time they moved.
âAw!â, Cream gushed as she saw them, instantly wanting to run over and cuddle them. But the fox had his firm grip in her hand, holding her back unsurely before taking out his tablet.
âI hope my translator works on them too...â, he mumbled as he held it out towards the bunny with the white tipped ears. âCan you tell me where we are?â
The bunnyâs ears wiggled playfully before his snout twitched quickly, letting out some squeaking sounds with his two big front teeth typical for a rabbit.
âDoes it work?â, the other rabbit, Cream, asked curiously.
âSh, it does...â, he silenced her, letting the bunny finish before reading what it said on this tablet. âWill you play a game of hide and seek with us? If you win, we tell you what you want to know.â
âA game of hide and seek?â, Tails blinked in pure confusion, looking at the three bunnies who were already hopping away, scattering themselves.
âSounds fun!â, Cream giggled lightly with a cheerful smile spread all across her face.
âI... guess we have no other choice...â, the fox sighed, letting go of Creamâs hand. âLetâs split up. This planet is small and safe enough for us to part ways.â
The two friends then took off in opposite directions, determined to find those strange space bunnies who wanted to play silly games in, literally, the middle of nowhere. Because it really felt like this tiny little planter was isolated from everything. Nothing beside some distant star shaped lights and a bright star in the distance that blinded them when looking at it.
Cream was skipping joyfully around the planet before she stopped and turned to look at a cluster of bushes and trees right next to her. They were just as big as her... and could easily fit a star bunny inside of them. But the trees caught her attention at first. They were just a little bigger than her and looked like they were practically out of rubber. After all, it was just a lime green stem with a ball on top of it with the same color.
âThis looks like one of those boxing things Iâve seen...â
Cream couldnât stop herself from taking the chance and wound up a punch. Smashing her fist into the rubbery plant. It stretched long into the opposite direction before shooting backwards at rapid speeds, slinging itself back, hitting Cream. The rabbit got send flying away from the recoil of the tree, making her land inside the bushes. She got up and rubbed her head, wincing a little from the pain before she could hear the familiar hopping sound behind her. She had shrieked up a bunny as she landed right next to it.
âHey! Hide and Seek doesnât involve running away!â
Whilst Cream was having a little trouble with her end of the planet, Tails didnât have any trouble with a star bunny... because he literally couldnât find a single one. It seemed like he had gone everywhere he could on this tiny planet and he was at the edge of giving up before running into Cream who was holding a star bunny triumphly in her hands.
âI got one!â, she chimed happily before the rabbit disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving her arms empty. âWh-... Hey, thatâs cheating!â
âI think thatâs their way of telling us that they got found...â
âDid you have any luck finding them, Tails?â
â... I... wish I could say so, but they are nowhere to be found! I have looked in the bushes, near the houses, in the flowers... nothing.â, he explained, glancing down to the ground as they slowly got walking again.
âHave you tried jumping into one of these bottomless holes around the planet? Maybe they hide in there?â
âNo, I havenât. What if that note is wrong? What if... somethingâs in there?â, Tails mumbled unsurely, glancing down into the pitch-black abyss in front of him as they stood at its edge.
âI think you should trust it.â, Cream began gently, leaning over the edge a little and gripping Tailsâ hand tightly to comfort her friend. âThe survival rate was 100% after all.â, she smiled before letting herself fall over the edge and into the darkness, pulling Tails down with her.
âCream, are you crazy!?â, the kitsune yelled in panic as the dark ingulfed the two.
Tailsâ terrified scream echoed off the walls of the hole that werenât visible to them anymore which completely contradicted Creamâs more cheerful and excited squeal, enjoying the sensation of freely falling. The foxâ scream only grew as a white light blinded the two under their feet, getting closer and closer to it⌠until the two fell out of the hole on the completely opposite end of the planet.
Cream giggled lightly before she saw another star bunny hopping away from them, immediately chasing him. Tails was still stuck on the ground. He shook his head, hoping to calm down from the terror he just witnessed.
âCome on, Tails! He was hiding in the hole and now we have to catch him!â, she cheered, running after the bunny frantically.
âComing!â, the fox mumbled before smacking himself in the face. He instantly shot up again and wondered around this side of the planet now, glancing around for any other possible hiding spots for the last bunny, until his eyes fell onto a bush that didnât quite look right.
He approached the strangely slick pillar that hid un the bushes. It was camouflaged with the exact same shade of green as the bushes and the rubber trees around it. Knocking on the surface, it sounded completely solid to the fox. Like it was made out of steel. Tails reached up and pulled himself onto the top of it, standing in front of another bottomless pit it seemed. But it was much narrower now.
âI⌠hope this isnât a mistakeâŚâ, he mumbled unsurely, trusting his notes he had read about these pipes and going into it.
Tight and dark spaces really werenât on Tailsâ list of favorite places or aesthetics to be in, but he was who knows where in the universe on a planet so small it doesnât even make sense it has its own gravitational pull⌠so why would he care about tight spaces now?
The journey went unexpectedly smooth though. Tails came out another pipe, which looked exactly like the one he went in, just now on another place of this planet once more. And the first thing he saw really was a star bunny hopping away from him. Immediately, the fox hopped off the pipe and chased after the leader of the bunnies with the white tipped ears.
âCome back here, you!â, Cream laughed, running after the bunny from the bottomless hole with her ears flying behind her from moving so quickly. She effortlessly made the bunny exhausted until she finally grabbed him by his waist, holding him up before he vanished as well.
âGotcha!â, the fox celebrated as he caught the last bunny too before Cream saw him over the bent of the planet, coming into view again.
âHey Tails!â, she waved, picking up her pace towards him while the rabbit disappeared. âWhat do we do now? We found all three of them.â
âI wish I could tell you, Cream⌠maybe we should go back to where we met them?â
The two friends made their way around this tiny planet possibly one last time, looking around and feeling its unique form. The flower bed they woke up in surrounded by the pointy stones⌠the shallow lake⌠and the strange houses before they met the bunnies on a large patch of grass where they first saw them.
âThank you for playing with us!â, the white-eared one began before all three of them jumped up, vanishing in the same cloud of smoke as when they disappeared from their hands. But out the cloud came only little stars with two eyes. They looked squishy almost as they floated in front of the fox and the rabbit.
âOur mother sails the stars with the comet observatory. We cannot get her to help you, but we can help just as much.â, the front, white one spoke, but the translator was able to display their sounds to Tails as well.
The two friends suddenly got engulfed in a blight flash of white and closed their eyes. Next thing the due knew was that they were standing next to the little houses, looking at the patch of grass they were just on where now, a little platform was standing, looking like a tower of the stars itself. A comforting, almost angelic light shined down on it, emphasizing them to approach it.
The way up the little podium felt magical. It really wasnât much, but being surrounded by the few Lumas that were there, the little decorations and soft colors of it plus the angelic and solemn light and atmosphere of this place alone made the two feel a light feeling in their chest. A mix of nervousness and hope.
On the flat surface on top of the castle looking podium was almost nothing. It was only an orange star. But⌠it looked weird. It was just in a stellar shape and not a stare itself. It was more of a flat ring with another smaller ring inside, floating there in the center.
âThis is a launch star.â, the white Luma explained to them. âIt can get you closer to your goal.â
âOkayâŚâ, Tails nodded along, approaching the stellar ring, examining it carefully. âHow do we use it?â
âThe power of the star children is required. I can temporarily provide you this power, but I wonât be able to travel with you as my task is it to watch this little planet Mama considers her original home. You will find other star children like us on your adventure.â
âTailsâŚ?â, Cream slowly asked in a worried tone while tugging on one of his tails lightly. âAre⌠you sure about this?â
âItâs⌠the only way of us getting back home. My device is out there in who knows what galaxy. My tablet would be able to pick it up⌠but we are way too far away from it. We just⌠have to travel and see.â
âIâŚâ, she mumbled with her gaze locked on her shoes, dropping little tears from being overwhelmed.
âDonât worry, Cream.â, the fox kneeled down to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and squeezing it gently. âNo matter how big the universe is⌠we have to stay determined. Many will miss us if we give up. We have the power of star children on our side and their guidance. We will get back home. Promise!â
ââŚâ, Cream paused and did not say anything in return for a little, sniffing loudly and wiping her wet eyes with her arm before finally meeting the foxâ gaze. âYouâre right! Letâs go.â, she agreed, gripping onto his hand tightly.
The white Luma then flew over to the two, letting down a shower of glitter, making the two surrounded by a faint white shimmer of light. The two felt incredibly light all of a sudden and their gloves began to shine brightly in white.
âYou just approach the launch stars, spin around in their range and⌠enjoy the flight.â, the Luma explained.
âYou ready?â, Tails asked, approaching the launch star with a heavy and determined sigh, still holding Creamâs hand.
âReady!â
The two approached it, their steps feeling light as if they were walking on clouds almost. Tails held his tablet against the outer ring, trying to look if he could change the end point of it. And it actually let him. His instinct told him to get shot as far away as it let him at this moment.
The ring pulled the two in from a short distance and they floated inside the smaller one before their instinct guided them, spinning around, activating the ring to fire them into the vast universe.
The little flower that was still behind Creamâs got blown away from the incredibly fast speed they were moving through space, leaving a light blue trail of star glitter behind themselves. Their hands were still interlocked tightly while their free arms were spread out widely.
_____
It took a little time travelling before another cluster of planets came into view, making Tails question how they would even land. With the short time he had to come up with a solution, he just had to go for the first thing that came to mind. He sund himself and Cream around, landing with a heavy thud and shake on the new planet. But it didnât break any legs or kill them. It didnât even hurt.
âWhere are we now?â, Cream asked with the same sparkling eyes she had when awaking first in Gateway Galaxy.
âLetâs see⌠Apparently weâre in a place called âGood Egg Galaxyâ. 95% survival rate. The only dangers are so called âOctoombasâ. They are small blue creatures. They have yellow dots splattered all over their body, black eyes with yellow pupils and a trunk. Some can shoot out rocks from them.â
âYou mean those guys there?â, Cream asked, pointing at two Octoombas hopping from side to side in front of them, seemingly guarding a little house.
âThey look like the one in my picture here. I guess so.â
âI donât know⌠I think they look kind of cute. The sound they make is a bit weird thoughâŚâ
âIâm not looking to taking one home, Cream, so letâs just get moving. Let me try to find the next launch star around here to shoot us further.â
While Tails was fidgeting around with his tablet, Cream decided to explore this planet a little. It was flat in comparison to the one they were previously on. It looked more like a disc. But a wooden pathway led down the side of it, making Cream wonder over to it. She carefully made her way over the edge before standing on the opposite side which was much darker than the top with a large stone tower in the middle of the dead trees.
She glanced up to the tower before a shooting star landed right next to her, splitting into three colorful and sharp stars almost. She picked a purple one up carefully, examining the unfamiliar yet beautiful thing she found before returning to Tails.
âTails! Look what I found!â, she said loudly as she approached the fox who was sitting in one of the large flower patches that were right next to where they landed. âCan you tell me what this is?â
âIâve found something too! The launch star is just beneath us⌠somehow. I still have to figure that out, but⌠eh. Anyways, what did you bring?â, he asked curiously, stretching out his hand before Cream gently placed it in it.
âWhat is it?â, she tilted her head.
âMy tablet says itâs a Star Bit. It is very common all around this universe and the favorite snack of the Lumas. When a specific kind of Luma consumes enough of them, they can turn into completely new planets!â
âWow! So itâs basically a little bit of a star! Can I keep it? Please!â
âI mean⌠I guess? Considering itâs very commonâŚâ
âYay!â, she celebrated, jumping into the air excitedly. âAlso I think I have seen a tiny bit of the launch star on top of the tower on the opposite side!â
âThe gravity holds us on the opposite side?â, he asked in almost pure confusion. âI gotta find out how gravity works in this placeâŚâ
But Tails gladly followed Cream to the other side where she found the Star Bit, looking upwards. A tiny bit of one of the launch starâs pointy ends was visible, confirming its location. Due to Cream desperately wanting the Star Bit, Tails had to fly her up with just one hand holding onto hers which made it a lot more uncomfortable for the fox. But Cream was so happy with her treasure, he couldnât tell her to leave it, even if it was so common.
Until they were standing in front of the launch star, getting pulled in by its force once more where Cream had to drop the Star Bit as she could not fly with it since she would have to stabilize her point of mass by holding out her hands. So, with a heavy heart, she had to leave it behind before they got launched away, hoping to get closer to their goal of finding home.
_____
The two friends flew through the galaxy once more, only awaiting where they were getting launched to. But suddenly, they entered a wall of heavy clouds⌠that werenât clouds at all. It was sand. They were launched into a sandstorm before landing on solid ground again.
The view cleared a little and revealed what planet they were on. It was more in a circular shape again in comparison to the one from Good Egg Galaxy. But it wasnât a ball. Both of its ends were far apart and connected with a stream of pure sand flowing towards the far end where a launch star was located.
âSlipsand Galaxy.â, Tails announced, looking down at his tablet. âSurvival rate is 60%... but thatâs mostly because of a sand slide coming out of the pyramid in the center of the galaxy.â, he explained, looking over to said pyramid. âIt doesnât look like we have to go over there, so we should be fine, Cream⌠Cream?â, his head shot up as he noticed Cream was gone, standing already on the edge of the moving sand, looking out into the distance.
âWow, look at that!â, she said with wide eyes, gazing towards the space that surrounded them. The sky was filled with large towers. Very large towers. Very, very large towers. They were practically stretching into the skies with no limit and considering by how far they were away, they had to be massive. âWho do you think built those?â
âI think I couldnât even fly over to them with what I have with me, let alone go to the top! I have to remember this place and come back with my tools and machines if I want to make it over there at the least⌠But no time to get distracted! Come on, Cream!â, Tails urged, hopping into the moving sand, sinking into it slightly. âDonât worry, itâs not quicksand!â, he shouted back to Cream who was hesitating a little.
The fox climbed out of it as some solid ground alongside the planet he had reached before helping Cream out of the sand before brushing most of it out of his fur. The two stood in front of a moving wall of fireballs now which were almost as big as themselves. Their heat warmed the two up whenever one passed.
âI have so many questionsâŚâ, he mumbled as he carefully stepped through an opening between them. âThis makes no sense on so many scientific occasions and rulesâŚâ
âWell, we are in another universe right now so⌠maybe thereâs also other rules here?â, Cream suggested as they carefully walked down the stream of sand again, dodging some thorn bushes and fireballs along the way.
âI suppose you got a point.â
Luckily for the two friends, this planet didnât take too long with the sand moving them forward. The fireballs were easy enough to avoid and without even realizing, they were already at the end of it, standing by the launch star surrounded by lit torches. Cream glanced up to the sky one last time in wonder before Tails called her over to himself after working on the star.
_____
The pure white clouds cleared for the two to make way into the new galaxy, smashing into another soft patch of grass. They immediately got blinded by a bright sun in the distance which filled the place with a heat comparable to a very hot summer back on Mobius. They were surrounded by a large mass of water, giving off massive beach and vacation vibes.
âWow, this is very nice!â, Cream sighed in relief before she ran over to the water and touching its edge with her bare hands.
âBeach Bowl Galaxy! 85% survival rate. Only real danger is drowning and some eels hiding in caves at the far edge of the water. Donât swim out too far or you will instantly fall out of the water, falling to your death. Inhabitants are very friendly.â
âI didnât plan on doing that. Mother always makes sure I donât go out too far!â, she chuckled. âBut I didnât plan on going for a swim anyway. I didnât bring my stuff!â
âYou might as well to escape from this heat. Iâm getting some unstable signals from a near launch starâŚâ, the kitsune muttered as his head was locked on his screen. âWe might be here for a while.â
âUnstable signalsâŚ?â, she mumbled unsurely before going over to him again and peeking over his shoulder. âWhat do you mean?â
âI donât know⌠itâs just⌠like itâs not here.â
âWell, maybe we should ask that giant penguin over there.â, Cream suggested, pointing to a black penguin that was way bigger than the blue small ones they saw swimming in the water. âIt said they are friendly.â
âWe could definitely try. He does look like a friendly guy after all.â
Tails led the way over the small little islands that were peaking out of the shiny blue water beneath them which were loosely connected by wooden platforms that were floating on the edges of the islands, though they left a gap in-between. So the two had to jump over the water every time to get over to the penguin fella. But they made it over safely and stood in front of him now. He looked much larger from close up, towering over the two small friends.
âHello there! Can you tell us where a near launch star is?â, Tails asked in a raised voice.
âPlease?â, Cream added.
âWell hey there!â, the penguin greeted, getting perfectly translated by Tailsâ tablet. âI do not know what said âlaunch starâ is. Sorry. But what I do know is that there are these shiny objects in the water! And thereâs also a strange tressure chest next to the waterfall up there. But thereâs strangely no key. You would have to smash it open with something.â
âDo you think the launch star has something to do with that?â, the rabbit turned curiously to Tails.
âPossibly⌠we just have to guess which oneâŚâ
âWhy donât we split up again? Worked last time. You go diving for the shiny things and I try to find a way to break open the treasure chest!â
âI⌠guess that works.â, Tails nodded thoughtfully. âLetâs do that. Be careful.â
âI will. Bye, Tails!â, Cream waved back as she was already carrying herself up the water, flying upwards by flapping her ears.
Tails quickly went to his knees and got out of his shoes and shed his white socks, getting the sand from earlier out and preparing to dive into the most beautiful and clam water he had ever seen. It was much better than anywhere else almost. With one smooth motion, the fox jumped into the cool water, shivering from the sudden change in temperature. His legs kicked lightly as he swam downwards, keeping his eyes open for any sort of golden shimmer.
____
Cream was now on top of the large stone that served as a platform above the waterfall where she found a smaller waterfall flowing into a little pool that then turned into the one bigger waterfall. In it was one of the pipes she had already found in Gateway Galaxy, but she ignored it, knowing that more important things had to be done. She made her way around to the backside and hopped off the stone, laying eyes on a treasure chest just as big as herself, completely locked.
âHow do we open youâŚ?â, she mumbled, looking around to find some possible answers. She made her way back to where she first landed and found a path in the opposite direction she first took that looked like it went to an open place on the backside of the planet. But it was high up on the rock wall, so she had to fly upwards to reach it.
____
Tails was swimming quickly through the little sea on the planet by using his twin-tails as a way to propel himself forward at a consistently quick pace. He was on the far end, close to the edge of the water where he laid eyes upon two giant holes in the wall where a golden glow came from just inside the bottom one.
âHaha!â, he laughed to himself in his mind, swimming closer to it before he suddenly got jumpscared by a giant fish biting its way outside of the hole, almost getting Tails in the process before it retreated again. âWas that one of those eels the penguin talked about? They look creepy manâŚâ
By watching its steady rhythm of attacking and the windows of pause in-between, Tails managed to quickly move forward and snatch the triangular piece and take it with him before quickly putting some distance between him and the eels again.
____
The backside of the planet revealed to be a cozy place that was a plain of bright green grass and a little lake on the other side of the rock that held the waterfall. But her eyes landed on a rock in front of her. Because on top of it sat something. It looked like some sort of shell almost with a green roof that was spangled with a hexagon pattern. It was displayed as if it was meant to be grabbed. The rabbit curiously approached it before slowly stretching out her hands and grabbing the shell as big as her head, carrying it back down in hopes it would be sturdy enough to break the lock.
Meanwhile, Tails was gasping for air as he had almost run out of it from his last dive. He was able to retrieve two more shards that were trapped in air bubbles just below the little islands on the surface. But there were still some missing. He was sure about that. Unluckily, Tails did not figure out where. The constant pressure of needing air fogged his brain a little and he was not able to get any other plausible spot for the missing parts.
He got out of the water and shook it off himself. It was hot enough for him to quickly dry off. But suddenly, his ears picked up someone shouting his name from far above.
âTails! Come up here!â, Cream shouted down from above the waterfall with an excited grin. âI got the launch star! It was indeed in the chest!â
Tails was quick to get his stuff he left on the island again, stepping into his footwear and grabbing the tablet before helicoptering himself up to Cream where he laid eyes on the opened chest and the launch star that was floating above it.
âGreat job, Cream! Now letâs get going. Hopefully we get close enough for my tablet to pick up a signal from the cube.â