3 weeks after Black Dooms defeat, coast of Soleanna

Just a few miles off the coast of Soleanna a cruise ship could be seen. Shadow stood on the main deck with his arms folded, looking out at the city of water with a small smile, sunglasses resting on his forehead. The sun shone brightly, only a few clouds in the clear blue sky. Already he was getting that feeling you get when you're on vacation, a sense of calmness and joy, away from the stress and worry of everyday life. He took in a breath of the ocean air and sighed happily. "I can already tell this is going to be very pleasant."

"You're telling me." Sally said as she walked up to Shadow, wearing a short blue t-shirt and white short shorts with sandals on her feet. "The trip here was amazing, I've never been so relaxed before, and we haven't even landed in Soleanna yet."

Shadow gave a small smile before turning back to the view. "Well that's good to hear, after all that's happened I think we all needed something to take our minds off of things."

"Thanks for letting me come with you guys, I know you wanted to have a family vacation so I'm worried that I'm intruding."

Shadow shook his head and placed his hand on her shoulder. "You aren't intruding, besides you've been dealing with a lot lately, if we didn't bring you Pinkie would have forced you to come anyway." He chuckled slightly.

"Where is she anyway?"

"With Omega."

Meanwhile on the top of the ship, Pinkie smirked while Omega retracted one of his claws. She jumped into the now open arm and grinned as Omega aimed up into the air. "You ready Pinkie?" He asked.

"Yep, time to make me fly!" Pinkie answered with enthusiasm.

Rouge flew up to the two and frowned at the sight. "What are you two up to now?"

"We're gonna see how far I can go when shot out of Nanny's arm cannons." Pinkie answered happily. "Alright Nanna, let's do this!"

"Wait stop! She'll land in the ocean! She can't swim!"

Omega ignored Rouge. "Alright, here we go."

Rouge began to panic. "No stop!"

"Do it!"

"Doin' it!"

*boom!*

With a small blast Pinkie was sent flying through the air, giggling happily as she spread her hooves to act like wings. As she flew she began to decend. She smiled, took out a few balloons and quickly crafted a small boat to land on. She held onto the small balloon boat and hit the water, laughing as she did with Gummy latched onto her back.

Rouge sighed in relief before smiling, seeing her daughter happy causing her and everyone else within earshot of her laughter to feel happy. Even that one depressed teen that said he didn't want to go on vacation with his family but really did started to feel happy, and that is one hell of an accomplishment. "You could have told me she had a way of landing safely."

Omega just looked at her from the corner of his eye. "I could have, but then I wouldn't have gotten to see your face when I launched her." He teased with amusement. Rouge growled at him before turning away. "Also, you need to learn that she can handle herself. She defeated Devil Doom and saved the Earth at twelve years old for crying out loud."

"I know that, I just worry is all, I'm a mother, it's my job."

Omega pondered her words for a moment before realising something. At first he was going to be upfront and ask her, but didn't want the topic to ruin the vacation before it really started, so he left it alone and focused on Pinkie happily paddling back to the ship on her tiny balloon boat.

Meanwhile in Eggmanland

Eggman stood staring at the sceptre he had acquired during his search for Chao Fruit Tree seeds. The object floated in place in a secure capsule while Eggman ran tests and studied it with his various robots and aliens working around the facility, with only Shard and Tails Doll with him in the room.

"There seems to be a consciousness inside the sceptre...and it isn't dark energy inside of their, it's similar energy to what Chaos had witchin him...but different at the same time." He stated as he used his machines to analyse the energy within.

"You think it could be related to Chaos?" Shard asked.

"It's a theory, considering it was near one of the Chaos Temples, however its energy is too different and unpredictable to be directly related to him. It's like...whatever is in this sceptre is...thinking. From what the scans have shown its acting similarly to a brain." Eggman answered as he studied it closer.

As he looked closely he saw what appeared to be the symbol of a strange winged being engraved onto the sceptre.

"That's the emblem of the sun God Solaris! Of course!" He exclaimed in excitement before grabbing the sceptre and turning towards the exit. "Shard, tell the control centre to prepare the Egg Carrier, we're going to Soleanna!"

Tails Doll floated behind his creator while Shard smiled. "So we will be seeing Pinkie sooner than we thought? Good enough reason for me to go to that place. Something about it just feels...unfinished." He shook his head and flew out the door towards the main control centre to carry out his orders.

Meanwhile in the sceptre, the being inside caught a glimpse of a photo in the lab. One of Shadow, Eggman, Rouge and Pinkie. "Shadow...The Hedgehog..."

Author's Notes:

Mephiles is starting to wake up