Hats off to Calvin and Hobbs.
Name and design of Cream's dad by JayFoxFire.
http://netraptor.org/gallery/profile.php?uid=63
Can someone please contact her and say thank you for me?
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It was video day, and Charlotte and Kevin ventured into the Video Rental store with their mother Angela tagging close behind.
"Wait up kids!" Angela called.
"But Mom, we have to get here soon before all the good movies are taken!" Charlotte defended.
"Yeah, before they're all taken, cause we don't want that to happen!" Kevin added.
Charlotte and Kevin were twins; both aged ten and liked most kids their age, hyperactive.
They tended to do a lot together, if it wasn't for their being opposite genders, they'd even dress the same. While Charlotte often amused herself at the thought of her brother in a dress, Kevin was usually able to convince her to go the route of shorts or jeans and a shirt of some kind, as they were now. They ran into the video store, nearly knocking over several other customers and narrowly avoiding an gofer arms loaded with beverages and other hot foods like soups and sandwiches.
"Kids, please be careful," Angela warned, folding her arms in front of her in an attempt to stay calm.
It seemed to fall on deaf ears as Kevin and Charlotte ran towards the video game section, seeing a free console system. Kevin practically jumped over the first player's controller and Charlotte walked over to the second player's. Angela watched with caution just in case it was a violent game; she didn't want them exposed to idle carnage. She noticed that Charlotte seemed upset; the game was apparently only single player. She saw three characters on the screen, a large cat like one, a orange bunny and some other pink creature she couldn't identify. Kevin seemed to be having a good time, Charlotte seemed annoyed but had a grin on her face. Angela walked over to them to see what game they were playing.
"It's only single player but I made him select this team cause it had two girls on it! And I like the cat, he's funny," Charlotte explained.
"That's nice dear. Why don't we see if there are any children's movies while your brother plays?"
"Okay!" Charlotte answered, jumping up a single time.
Angela had a feeling Charlotte knew what movie she wanted to rent.
"We'll be in the kids movies section when you're done dear," Angela spoke to Kevin
"Um yeah," Kevin mumbled, too busy with the game to be paying any attention to them.
Angela walked with Charlotte practically skipping ahead of her towards the kid's section. Charlotte nearly knocked over a few customers.
"Be careful honey, you don't want to get us sued do you?" she asked.
Charlotte looked back at her mother, her expression confusion.
"Sued, what's that?" she responded.
"I'll tell you later, just be careful. A good girl looks where she's going young lady!"
"Okay Mom, I'll be good," Charlotte promised.
Arriving in the kid's section, Angela looked at the demo monitor, seeing a movie with a kid getting turned into a cartoon fox then flying around his neighborhood, before playing a basketball game. She looked away when she heard Charlotte say she'd found an interesting movie. When she looked back, the screen was black.
'That's weird, maybe just the guys screwing with my mind or something.' She thought to herself.
She walked over to see Charlotte looking at a movie showing a picture of what appeared to be the same rabbit from the video-game wearing a cute pink kids bathing suit with hearts on it and eating an ice-cream cone on the beach. A fox looking like the one from the movie she thought she'd seen was sitting on a towel with someone coaxing him to talk to the girl. It looked cute enough and it was in the bargain bin. It would probably only keep Charlotte occupied for an hour or so, but if she liked it and the price was right, then why not? She picked the movie out of Charlotte hands and looked at it. It was called "Cream's Day At The Beach", on the back was a picture of her like from the front as well as a picture of that same fox standing in front of her blushing as he handed her a purple snow cone.
He was wearing a blue bathing suit. There was what looked like another character in the back ground, maybe his babysitter smiling as though he found the situation cute. She didn't recognize his species.
"Who's cream dear?" she asked.
"She's a character from that game! She's a creamy bunny and she's really cute. That fox is Tails and in this video they becomes good friends and go out on a date! I don't know who the other guys is, but maybe he's going with 'dem of something,"
"How cute, like a chaperone or something," Angela smiled.
"A what?" Charlotte blinked.
"Oh, you'll find out when you're older. So this is the one you want to get?" Angela dodged.
"Yep!" Charlotte said, smiling.
"All right then, let's go find your brother," Angela agreed. There didn't seem to be a price on the video but there were no other copies. Angela found that bit odd but chose to ignore it. She noticed the video made her feel a strange sense of peace when she held it, but assumed it was like the fox in that video, just her imagination. When they arrived back at the video-games, Kevin was playing the same game, and they heard the bunny say, "Cheese Cannon!" as she threw yet another character at some large machine, presumably a bad guy.
"Come on Kevin, let's go. You can play games at home." His mother pulled him away.
"Aw, okay," Kevin surrendered.
Kevin reluctantly paused the game for the next kid to enjoy and followed his sister and mother as the woman paid for the discount video. They were lucky there was no else in line at the time. The man behind the register had wild hair that put Angela on guard, but she knew better than to let such things control her thinking.
"Heh. I remember putting this in there, well, I can tell from those youngsters behind you that this video is just right for you. Special occasion?"
"My sister is coming in from out of town. I thought it might be a nice thing to do for Kevin and Charlotte." The kids were too distracted by a game demo screen to hear.
"Your sister eh? Well, this should make things even better. I saw this film myself; it really is entertainment for the whole family, pardon the cliché. I know your entire house hold will love it." The teen bar scanned the video and brought up the discount price.
Angela was impressed, even for a discount video it was easy buying.
"Are you sure? With a price like that-"
"Don't worry, the producers just didn't think it would sell well so had it at a low price to begin with. They think kids are all into giant fighting robots these days."
"Oh I see." Apologized Angela as she was handed back the video, almost swearing that she felt the same feeling of peace sweep over her as she got it back.
"I'd say enjoy your movie, but I already know you will." Remarked the clerk grinning.
Angela might have wondered about that, but she truly didn't want to upset things. So she merely thanked the lad for his services, and lead her two munchkins back to their waiting car outside. She handed the video to Charlotte and Kevin in the back seats beginning the short drive home. The kids bore the images on the video's casing into his retinas in anticipation of their viewing pleasure.
On the way home, Angela decided to tell her kids some good news, "Kids, your Aunt Bianca is coming over today."
"YAY!" The kids chorused. They liked their aunt, and only got to see her once a year. Her coming twice, such as this year, was a rare treat indeed.
Although, like her kids, Angela and Bianca were twins, they were much different than they were. Their tastes differed in many things, but they still cared for each other.
The thing was, none of them found it strange that she WAS coming a second time this year. Usually, her job kept her from doing that. They were all just too glad that she was coming.
The kids were so focused on their mother's latest purchase they didn't realize they were home into their mother opened the side door. The kids looked to see a familiar mini-van already waiting in the driveway. They both knew what they meant.
Their conclusion was confirmed when the door to their house opened to reveal a smiling blond woman who bore a strong resemblance to their mother.
"Aunt Bianca!" The twins cheered together as the beautiful lady kneeled down to accept a double hug from the both of them.
"It's nice to see you too! This was almost as much a surprise me for me as it was for you. These few free days off came out of nowhere, not that I'd look a gift horse in the mouth of course."
"It's wonderful to see you too sis." Angela spoke seeing her sibling.
"Not half as wonderful as me Angel'." She replied standing up. "So how are the sweat things treating you?"
"Same as always, like two sides of a mirror."
"Well, I'm sure as they get older they'll develop differently on their own." Bianca assured.
"I know." She answered, the two forgetting the topic of discussion was just below them at the moment.
"Look what we got Aunt Bianca." Displayed Charlotte. "A new video for us to watch."
"The man at the store seemed pretty adamant that all of us could enjoy it." Angela explained.
"Where'd you find it?"
"Bargain bin."
"And you believed him?"
"It's rated G, and the TV show doesn't have anything too risqué."
"I think we should all watch it together like the man said," Charlotte suggested.
"Yeah, then we can enjoy it as a family. You're always saying we should do more as a family!" Kevin added.
"How can I say no to that?" Bianca asked.
"Say no to what?" Their father Tailor asked, walking up to the small crowd.
"Watching 'dis video we got from the store," Charlotte announced, holding it high so her father could see it.
"Yeah, the store guy said it would be fun for the whole family!" Kevin added.
"Store Clerk, Kevin," Tailor corrected, reaching into his shirt pocket and putting his reading glasses on before taking the video from Charlotte's hands and looking it over. "Cartoon animals in swimwear?" he wondered.
"Oh, Tailor, it's just a fun movie. You should watch it too; it would be nice for you think something less serious for a while. Besides, what can it hurt?" Angela tempted fate.
"I dunno, I have stuff I need to read over for a meeting on Monday," Tailor considered.
"Aw, come on dad, just for a little while. If ya don't like it," Kevin started. "Then you can always leave," Charlotte finished.
"Well, all right let's see what this is all about," Tailor agreed.
The group put their shoes and coats away before walking into the living room. Charlotte plucked the video from her father's hand and sprinted for the VCR. Kevin ran for the TV Controller, turning the TV on and putting it to channel three before grabbing the VCR controller. As was usual for kids, they had mastered the controls within minutes of the family getting the equipment set up. Their parents on the other hand, were still learning how to use them. Tailor went into the kitchen to make some popcorn with Angela and get some soft drinks as the kids watched previews and other commercials that tend to come on the video. Before the movie started, there was a teaser of sorts. It shows the same twin tailed fox throwing a beach all to the rabbit. He was wearing sunglasses and had a towel draped over his shoulders.
"Cute," Bianca commented, folding her arms.
"And he gets to hang out with Sonic all day," Kevin added.
"And he gets to be Creams girlfriend!" Charlotte smiled, not sure where that thought came from or the feelings of a child like innocent crush for the character.
A second later, they heard of the sound of the tags of their dog as he raced downstairs, apparently having been asleep upstairs. He ran to the kids and they petted him and the other ways of greeting kids usually did with a canine. The characters on the video said something that seemed to have even the dog mesmerized.
"Come and join us on the beach in this upcoming video!" the fox and rabbit yelled out. "We'll be waiting for you," he said, the 'camera' zooming in on his eyes as he took his sunglasses off and winked at the camera. A few seconds later, Tailor brought in the popcorn and Angela the drinks and everyone sat down to watch the video as the opening sequence began to play.
Sonic sped one way across the screen then the other, leaving behind half the word 'Sega' each time. The word was spoke out digitally a moment later. Then a copyright appeared at the bottom of the TV screen, one for the films original creation and again for its translation.
Tailor was a little surprised to see the film itself was less than a year old before it's translation. Unusual for something to come over seas that fast.
The kids were surprised when the opening credits weren't of the Sonic X cartoon they knew, and they couldn't understand the lyrics, though there were words underneath.
"It's in Japanese?" Bianca asked confused.
"Hold on . . ." Said Tailor fiddling with the remote for the player. "There should be an alternate audio track on here somewhere." He pressed a button on the remote that made it say 'tape 2' for a second in the corner of the screen. The sound switched instantly to English.
Tailor had thought for a moment maybe that was how the video got out so fast, but it seemed to have a dub track after all.
However now there were gibberish words underneath the main screen, however, none of the controls seemed to get them off so they just let them be. S-O-N-I-C, etc.
The kids were overjoyed, they hadn't reached the age were they could really enjoy theme music for it's own sake if they couldn't understand the words. Angela however was fairly impressed how they had kept the pacing of the words perfectly with the music in the translation.
The kids however were rather entertained how the opening didn't use any clips from the actual show unlike all the dubbed opening titles they were used to seeing on Saturday mourning.
The music however was so catchy that the kids were rocking their heads side to side by the time the characters all collected together on the title splash and every being in the room, even their dog and Tailor had their eyes glued on the screen.
The screen went black for a few seconds before opening with a shot of the sun; it panned down to a beach where a figure was walking alone. The camera slowly zoomed in on her, eventually getting close enough that the group could see that it was Cream. She was wearing a pink swimsuit and the sun was at her back. Charlotte felt a tingling at the top of her head and in her ears as the character moved. The camera zoomed down on the rabbit, she had a slightly mischievous smile on her face. Charlotte still felt funny and for a second, she couldn't hear! Then, she could again and she felt something touching her back. She felt the sides of her head and in shock realized her ears were gone! In a panic, she felt around he head, eventually finding them on top of her head. Or were they her ears? These ears were long and furry! As Cream walked through the sand, Charlotte's face felt warm, she touched her cheeks only to feel strands of fur pushing through her skin. "What's going on?" she gasped.
"What's wrong honey?" Angela asked.
"Mom! My ears and my face, what's happening to me?" Charlotte yelled.
"Shhhhhh!" Kevin said, frowning at Charlotte.
"What about them honey?" Angela asked, petting her daughter's head and stroking her ears. "Do they hurt or something?"
"Mommy! They're rabbit ears and I'm growin' fur! What's going on?" Charlotte yelled.
"What do you mean dear? They always looked like this. We went over that remember?"
Charlotte was about to say something when the video panned over Cream and onto her little chao, Cheese. He was floating in front of her, as though he were scouting ahead. Charlotte looked at Kevin in shock when she saw the skin on his face turning blue and shinny!
"Kevin!" she yelled. "You're changing too!" She realized the changes to her body had stopped. But as Cheese floated on screen, the color marched over Kevin's face, turning yellow at the top of his head as his hair receded into the fur. Soon, no pink was visible and his eyes were changing color, turning from their normal green to a large purple.
On the video, Cheese seemed to point something out. It panned to Cream's parents in swimwear with a picnic basket. Kevin's changes stopped. Tailor and Angela however were not so lucky. Charlotte's eyes went wide as pink fur started growing on *their faces*. Oddly, no one but her seemed to notice. She rubbed her eyes, her new ears feeling strange atop her head as she tried to collect her thoughts. Her parents soon had long ears just like hers and their faces were getting fuzzier by the second. They were hypnotized by the video. As Cream ran into the shot, Charlotte felt warm and itchy on her arms and legs; it was starting up again!
Charlotte watched shocked and stunned, but not as surprised as she should have been as light orange fur coated her bare limbs reaching up under her short sleeves and up into her shorts.
Cream on the TV was hugging her parents, her mother Vanilla, and her father referred to as Ice. Charlotte remembered that Cream's dad had never been shown in any of the cartoons or games she had seen. Was he from the comics? Right now he was wearing a pair of bright red swim trunks. She wondered what he normally wore? Maybe a tie like Cream's? Yes, a tie with the coolly designed shoes all the males in the Sonic world seemed to wear. Though her experience was mostly through the games, and thus the idea of a guy wearing a jacket should have seemed odd, a formal thin white and red jacket popped into her head as an idea for what he must have normally worn.
His eyes were the same color as Cream's unlike her mother's brown. As the rabbits asked if their child was having a good day at the beach so far, Charlotte didn't know her eyes had shifted to the same color as Cream's as well.
Vanilla looked out over a very well painted image of the waving ocean with the character out of frame. Charlotte couldn't believe she had let himself think about the clothing choices of a cartoon character with what was happening to herself and her family. It was so, so, improper! Where had that thought come from? With her attention away from the video Charlotte now saw her entire body was covered in orange fur. Just like Cream. She felt her head was relieved to find her hair was still there: the same bright orange as ever. She looked at her parents and gasped. Her parents were covered in beige and brown fur respectively to go along with their new ear. Aunt Bianca actually looked rather out of place now. Kevin just sat their cross-legged smiling dumbly.
"Aunt Bianca!" Charlotte said as the camera moved on the TV showing other animals (including another set of rabbits and a pair of foxes) on the beach and showing off the white skyscrapers on the far distant inland.
Everyone took a moment to glare at her before going back to watching the film. "Yes dear?"
"Can't you see what's happen?"
"Of course I can, the little rabbit is having a fun day with her mom and dad."
Charlotte didn't understand, couldn't anyone see what was going on but her? She got the idea to run for it when Cream came on screen again behind her for a moment. No, it would be rude to just walk out on her family at a time like this.
"Don't you see what's happening to everyone?" Charlotte asked.
"What are you talking about? What's happening?" Bianca counter asked.
Charlotte's eyes went wide, it seemed impossible to her that no one could notice what was happening to them.
"Our bodies, they're ... changing!" Charlotte exclaimed.
Bianca looked at Charlotte as though she were insane.
"How so?" she humored.
Charlotte was about to respond when she heard Cream speaking. The camera panned over and Charlotte knew Cream was about to appear on screen. Her jaw felt warm and achy. She didn't wait for anything else to happen and jumped off the couch, running for the controller. She felt something pushing against the back of her pants and they felt a bit confining. She tried to ignore the thoughts of just what was pushing, and grabbed the controller. Unfortunately, when she pressed the stop button, nothing happened. She shook the controller before trying again, once again ... nothing.
"What's wrong dear?" Angela asked.
As cream spoke, Charlotte could feel the changes creeping over her body, while her back was to the screen; she saw both her parents' changes progressing. Their jaws were starting to change, becoming short muzzles and she saw the socks stretching as their feet swelled. In fact, Charlotte herself noticed her socks felt confining. There was still that feeling in her pants and it was getting more annoying by the second.
"That video is turning us into those characters!" Charlotte pointed out.
"Don't be silly Charlotte; we both know that's impossible!" Angela concluded.
Charlotte cringed in annoyance; her parents were looking more and more like the characters she knew they were becoming. *Or are they? Maybe they're just getting rid of these silly human forms for their *real* bodies*. Charlotte didn't know where that thought came from and didn't really want to know. In fact, when her clothes changed shape a moment later, becoming a dress rather then pants and a tee-shirt, she didn't feel surprised and simply noticed it had happened. She saw Kevin's changes start up again as she heard Cheese's voice. Now, he was floating off of the couch and both his arms and legs were shirking into stubby appendages. He was losing size rapidly, but seemed blissfully ignorant of his metamorphoses.
"Come on Kevin! Don't you see what it's doing to you?" Charlotte yelled, gasping when she noticed her voice sounded different; as though she were younger. She looked at Bianca and gasped when she noticed light orange fur growing on *her* body, all accept her left arm, at least from what she could see. Bianca's left arm was turning an almost metallic color and was swelling, taking on a hard sheen. Charlotte looked back at the screen to see Bunnie Rabbot walking into the scene.
"Now it's happening to you!" she yelled.
"What is dear?" Bianca asked.
Charlotte could only watch as her aunt's left arm became robotic, looking just like the characters. On her right arm and upper torso, light orange fur was growing and her hair was shrinking into her head and its' color changing to match her fur. What started as two buds on top of her head blossomed into long ears as her human ears receded into her head and soon, her aunt had the face of Bunnie, complete with the tuft of light brown hair on top of her head.
"Okay, this is not happening, it's my imagination! It *has* to be!" Charlotte ranted.
A wave of something seemed to hit her. It was like a tranquilizer. Rather then panic, she suddenly felt calmer. Her worries were melting away alike to cheese on a grill. She wanted to fight it for a few seconds then ... she just lost interest. This wasn't scary ... this was totally cool! She knew it wasn't right but she didn't know any better then to find it fun and fascinating.
Charlotte was amazed at how if she had lost a few years (and losing more, oh how many was she going to lose? She couldn't wait to see!) Her parents were each losing at least a decade, going from middle aged, from their thirties into their late twenties even as she watched. Her attention now split between the video and the show of herself and her family changing. Bunnie meanwhile posed in her swimsuit, a rubber version of her normal purple dress really, even if it was only in front of her family. Charlotte remembered how Bunnie Rabbot had been part of the Sonic The Hedgehog cartoon from the DVD collection she knew was from the show back when she was a baby. She wasn't part of the conniti, contiuet, not the same story as Cream.
Charlotte wondered excitedly if this meant anyone else surprising was going to show up! As Vanilla and Ice greeted Bunnie, Charlotte saw Cream jump into the older rabbit's arms and referred to her as 'Aunt Bunnie.' Charlotte instantly knew it wasn't just a nickname of affection like Tails would call her. Charlotte smiled knowing that it now made perfect sense for Bianca to become Bunnie. She also saw her aunt's figure was changing, becoming even younger than her mom's, her dress and blouse were loose on the now teenage girl.
Bunnie had given Cream a couple friendly throws in the air, that Cream was able to extend on her own, using her ears to emulate Tails' talent. Bunnie laughed impressed with her niece's trick, saying how much it reminded her of Tails. Cream blushed for some reason at the reference. The rabbit landed softly on her own and Bunnie kindly messed with her niece's head fur with her flesh and blood arm.
A chao identical to Cheese except for he was brown where Cheese was blue and had a blue tie instead of red popped out of a handbag on the beach towel the rabbits had set up.
Cheese cheered and rushed towards the other Chao, the two met and began to spin around each other happily. "Ah see ya brought' tha flyin' chocolat' puddin' sis!" Bunnie laughed.
"Chaocola can't stand to be far from Cheese." Vanilla explained.
An idea struck Charlotte and she wondered who was or what was going to change into Chaocola.
No one else was in the room so who could, Charlotte couldn't believe Rofus' luck when the dog's brown fur turned a solid color, more smooth and more shinny than it had been in years.
The dog shrank down to the size of a puppy as Charlotte watched eagerly. His paws turned yellow and his ears vanished.
If she hadn't been so focused on Rufus' changes, she would have noticed her brother's. But finally as he was floating in the air she saw the top of his head turn into a whip up shape, a yellow ball hovered just over his head, turning into a heart every time he smiled. His emotion dot! He had his emotion dot! Charlotte was so happy for him!
More than that, his cloths, which had already been on the floor except for his shirt hanging down from his body, became zero gravity puddy, turning a bright red color shrink and morphing into his bow tie. Amazing!
He sadly still had all his fingers and toes and his ears and face were still human, but she knew would change just as soon was Cheese came back on the screen so she had nothing to worry about.
Cream ran straight for the waves and waved at her auntie to follow her. Charlotte look down at her dress to see a blue tie morph out of the fabric as the rest of her cloths turned a bright orange like Cream's dress. Her perception got larger, she had no idea it was because the size of her eyes had increased.
Bunnie reluctant declined, explaining she'd sink to the bottom or rust, if she tried. And even if she wanted to go to the trouble of disconnecting her robotic limbs, she really didn't want to be the that helpless, of course she didn't say all this to Cream, but the still images and internal monologue explained it well enough.
Cream was disappointed but accepted her aunt's decision and raced head first into the water. While not yet Cream's dress, Charlotte's shirt and shorts were now a solid piece of cloth. Bianca's cloths were already mostly changed. Her attire had greatly shrunk in on itself, turning purple, her sleeves and shoulders going onto the trunk, the remainder hugging at her attractive figure of a girl who had just crossed the border into womanhood. Her legs were still flesh and blood underneath her silk stockings and shoes, but even as Charlotte watched those pesky cloths melted, the skin turning purple metallic reflective and smooth, joints and bolts forming at the knees.
Her parents were still dressed as they had when the video started, but that was just because Ice and Vanilla had only had a bit of screen time.
As if on queue, Charlotte heard the voices of Ice and Vanilla as they ran onto the surf behind Cream. Cheese was floating over her right shoulder as he came onto the screen. She looked at her brother to see his fingers and toes vanishing into his limbs. She couldn't help but beam ... he was getting closer by the second! His nose was dissolving into his face and soon, there was no sigh it had ever existed. A sound of shifting of cloth had Charlotte looking in her parents' direction. Charlotte looked back at the video to notice Vanilla wearing a copy of Bunnie's swimsuit. She looked back at her parents, watching with joy and fascination as their clothes began to shift and change. Her father's almost melted as his pants vanished, (not that he needed them anymore). His shirt formed into a blue vest and tie, the ties matching the ones on her own dress. Her mother's clothes shifted until they became a large semi-formal dress, pink on top, purple on the bottom. She felt something on her hands and looked down to see gloves on both of them, an accessory that the rest of her family now had. Wondering how the dog was doing, she looked at him, only at first to not be able to find him. She giggled when she saw Chaocola floating in the air, it finding the situation amusing by the heart shape dot above its head. Another strange feeling began to wash over her as the video felt different somehow. She didn't know where the thoughts were coming from but she now saw the video as a home movie instead of as a rented video, in fact her families comments seem to attest to them feeling the same way. She watched as Ice on the video walked up to the water.
"I love how you test the water here," her mother smiled to her husband.
Sure enough, seconds later, Ice dipped his right toe into the water while Cream laughed. Charlotte felt different about this. Now, she remembered that moment, not as something on a video but as something that actually happened to her. The memory was as clear as her own memories. At first that frightened her, but she again felt calm. Looking at her altered family members; she started having trouble seeing them as altered. In fact, she was starting to have trouble remembering getting the video or as seeing her family members as humans. The oddness of this had her so distracted that she didn't notice the furniture, in fact, everything in the house changing. Now, she new exactly what was coming next on the video. It didn't feel like a premonition; it felt like a normal memory, she had lived these events. Her body no longer felt different or altered, it now felt as natural as her human body ... the concept that she used to have one seemingly more silly by the minute.
By now, the house looked little like it had, but to Charlotte, this didn't seem wrong. If anything it was going back to the way it should have been. Even thinking of herself as Charlotte seemed wrong now. She may have used that name if she were pretending to be human to play make believe, but she knew she was Cream. She felt rather embarrassed with taking her game too far while watching the family video. As light from the warm beach outside poured into the windows, Cream didn't just want to watch the video anymore, she wanted to play outside!
She couldn't wait any longer and bolted for the door as Cheese floated after her. She ran outside into the warm sun … she always loved the feeling of the sun against her fur. The beach was already bursting with activity. There were both humans and anthros of all shapes and colors populating it. Some were relaxing; others were playing while yet others talked.
Cream saw a group of familiar ones playing volleyball by the shore. On one side was Tails and Sonic and on the other was Big and Amy. Tails was wearing a blue bathing suit, Sonic a red one, Amy a pink full body one and Big a black speedo. Amy was distracted by Sonic and someone Cream didn’t recognize was watching them play, he looked like a raccoon. He wore charcoal gray swim trunks and Baseball cap. Amy’s distraction was affecting her game, which made Cream giggled.
"Hey Amy, ‘da cute bunny is back!" Big blurted, looking right at Cream when he turned to see her (the ears weren't just for show).
Cream saw Big running up to her and Amy approaching her. Her teammates, her comrades, her buddies! Well, Amy sometimes scared her a bit but when it came time to get serious, but she went back to moral right after.
Cream ran right over to Big and gave the huge cat a hug, not even going half way around him.
"Where did ya go?" Big asked.
"I just had to go away for a while but I’m back now Mr. Big!" she responded.
She looked at Tails and released her hug on Big and ran straight to Miles and gave him a huge hug. She always had a crush on him and loved everything about him. He was smart and so adorable and his fur was so soft. Tails looked at her, his blue eyes wide. Cream always suspected he was just a bit afraid of her and maybe felt she was too young for him. Not didn’t want to scare him, she kissed him on the cheek and released the hug.
Kyle felt a little nervous. When Cream had hugged and kissed him, he’d suddenly remembered her. Oh, he knew who Cream was from the games, but now he knew her. He remembered being on a few innocent dates with her. Sure, both of their parents were there as chaperones but the fun was still there.
He felt what started out as a feeling. Oh no! He was developing a crush on her, all over the course of a few seconds!
"Hey Tails dude; you all right?" Sonic asked spying Kyle's reaction.
Tails looked at his friend, seeing Rings walk to him. Rings knew Cream as well and he knew how Tails felt about her.
"I think he’s going to be in la la land for a while bro," Rings winked.
"Whose your friend?" Cream asked.
"Oh, that’s Rings. He and his brother are staying with me while my folks are away," Tails answered.
"Don’t get any ideas, he’s mine!" Amy yelled, zipping in front of Rings and hugging him.
Cream giggled, Amy could be so obsessive at times. She wondered why Amy liked this raccoon guy so much. She thought Sonic was the only one for Amy.
"So, where is your brother Rings?" Cream wondered.
"He’s visiting Knuckles' island. Something about the leaves there are special or something," Rings wondered.
"Yeah, just what we don’t need!" Sonic dreaded.
"Oh, don’t worry. I have a few tricks up my sleeve in case he tries anything. Besides, Knuckles is likely to strip search him before he leaves."
Cream’s parents and Bunnie ran out behind her a few seconds later, greeting everyone.
Tails felt a little depressed. Cream had her entire family with her, even Rings had Tricky now. The little guy may have driven him insane at times, but Kyle had noticed Rings emotional state was far happier and more causal with his little brother with him. He wondered if his family was ever going to join him.
He noticed that with Cream, her team was complete now as well and perked up a bit.
"Hey, we’ve got enough for three versus three now!" He said.
"Yeah, we do!" Rings said. He looked down at Amy and carefully petted the top of her head. Those quills were sharp.
Amy sighed before taking her place between Big and Cream while rings did the same between Tails and Sonic.
The video inside Cream's house had run it's course, completing the minor changes still needed among the chao and rabbits, such as Chaocola's tie from his collar bow-ties. The tape still reading 'Cream's Day At the Beach' but in hand writing now rather than colored print.
"This adda be an interestin' match." Bunnie commented.
"I hope Cream does well." Vanilla said formally.
"On no ya don't!" Ice smiled as he took hold of Chaocola and Cheese to prevent them from interfering like they usually would.
Sonic honestly considered his side at a disadvantage, (not that he minded), Knuckles was no more apt at sports than Rings, but Knuckles was able to mentally exchange it for combat training, Rings was not. And just to make things more interesting:
"Why don't you serve?" Sonic tossed the ball to Team Rose.
The three looked at each for a split before deciding whom to serve. "The cute rabbit could do it." Big suggested.
"I'll do my best!" There was no rule in the game about flying and Cream took full advantage of that fact taking into the air with the ball. Kyle honestly cringed at the game references. He didn't have a girl friend in the real world, (if this domain was any less real) unlike Ben, so it doubtful Cream had been anyone he knew, it was also doubtful she was any different from Amy. You just don't get turned into a rabbit and fall in love with a two-tailed fox on sight.
Cream finally made her serve but Tails used his namesake to get into the air and returned her serve. The way things went between them; their two-team mates might as well have not been there, the volleyball match was totally an aerial battle.
Kyle had to admit, he did have fun, Cream also being air born left him smiling as he used his own talent to counter her. However while Cream was ultimately just playing for fun, Kyle couldn't sack his drive to win.
The ball high in the sky at this point sailed right between Amy and Big. Thankfully the rules prevented them from using their props to send the ball flying back. But Big's girth bounced the ball easily enough, however the angle sent it straight into the net.
"That's one for us." Sonic declared.
Tails serve proved too much for Cream and ultimately carried Team Sonic to victory. While Amy was a bit bitter over losing, Big was really indifferent to which side won and Cream had just enjoyed playing period.
Kyle found, that while Cream was hardly obsessive compulsive like Amy was in her relationships, the little rabbit was hard to dodge once she had a lock-on; Kyle ultimately offered to get her some ice cream and dragged along Ben for the ride.
"Ben, it happened again." He whispered.
"What did?"
"Remember when Tricky showed up? And those memories just came into my head like a floodgate? The same thing happened again, this time with Cream. I -remember- going out with her."
"Shouldn't she still be at the 'the opposite sex is icky' stage?"
"I should be too, remember? . . . What if this keeps happening? What if I end up like Mark? What if I just forget?"
"I won't let that happen Bro', and if it does, I promise I'll still be there for ya."
"Yea, I guess, I do wonder." Kyle refused to open up his mouth again to his friend as he purchased previously stated ice cream.
"It is weird though." Said Ben knowing he had to change the subject. "Since when did Cream have a dad in the games, and since when was she related to Bunnie Rabbot?"
Kyle shrugged. "I guess this throws out our 'Sega Project' theory, the game company would never change things like this if they wanted to attract the fan base."
Ben pointed out. "Unless they're experimenting."
Kyle wasn't so sure of that. "Come on, they'd never be that creative. They always keep things simple. Family back grounds were only ever explained with Shadow."
"In the video games, the comics did a pretty good job."
"Depends on who you ask."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Ben asked.
"Oh, nothing … just that the comics sometimes seemed meaner to the characters," Kyle answered. "But I guess they did give more background."
"Hey, if it wasn't for the comics, you’re buddy Rotor wouldn't exist," Ben said, licking his ice cream.
"Rotor was from the old cartoon series, but I see your point. But, what if this isn’t some kind of conspiracy by Sega? What if there’s more going on here? I mean, how could a company create a universe and do this to us?"
"I dunno bro, those things really aren’t my field," Ben confessed.
"Seriously, if they were doing this for a game, don’t you think we’d have less … free will. Wouldn't they want us to do something specifically?"
"Maybe that’s why the others can’t remember, so they will do things like what’s normal for their characters?"
"What about Rings and Tricky? I don’t remember them from any games or the comics," Kyle asked.
"Not much we can do about it. If who or whatever did this to us and teleported us here has these powers … then they must know what they’re doing."
"Yeah … I hope so," Kyle dared to be optimistic, but Tails always was.
They walked back with the ice cream to see Rings talking to Cream and Big while appearing to be trying to hold off Amy. Kyle handed Rings a mint-chocolate chip cone and Rings thanked him, grinning at him.
"What?" Kyle blinked.
"Sounds like you’re quite the charmer with the ladies," Rings winked.
Kyle felt the blood rushing to his cheeks and feared the others were going to see him blush. He knew Rings was just kidding him around but he also remembered those dates with Cream. He had a feeling the raccoon was going to encourage him to date her more. It seemed the playful and mischievous side of both Tricky and Ring’s non-anthro cousins was rubbing off on Rings more each day.
"You know," Rings started as Kyle handed a vanilla cone to Big, a chocolate one to Amy and a mint one to Rings. Don’t say it man! "I know you usually use your folks as chaperones for a date but if you want … I could do that while they’re away." No!
"Well, I dunno if my parents would approve," Kyle said, looking at the ground.
"Come on Tails, don’t be silly. We can have lots of fun together!" Cream encouraged, running up to him and hugging him, accidentally getting some ice cream on his back fur. Of course, he didn’t really feel the chill of it through his fur, but he knew it would get sticky.
He looked back and saw the stick mess on his back. Cream looked at him and shrugged her shoulders.
"Sorry," she bowed as always.
"I," he started, about to say something but feeling a strange sensation of empathy for Cream. He didn’t want to risk saying anything that might hurt her feelings and he had feelings for her. He tried to resist it, but it was impossible. Whatever part of him that was Tails obviously loved or at least felt strongly towards Cream and something like a little ice cream on his fur was nothing compared to the great times he had with her and looked forward to having with her. "It’s okay, its just a little ice cream, it’ll wash off. Come on, let’s go for a walk!" he suggested.
"Okay," Cream responded with a huge smile.
He took Cream’s free hand and they walked off together holding hands. He loved how her hand felt in his; it made him feel close to her, which seemed odd considering his age. Normally someone his age SHOULD have considered girls icky, but there was something special about Cream. He knew he wasn't really eight years old but being this age was starting to feel natural. Or was he not really nineteen anymore?
As he liked his ice cream, he wondered if maybe that meant he was starting to become Tails in mind as well as in body again. That scared him but just having Cream beside him seemed to calm him, as though having her with him meant things would be all right no matter what happened to him.
He looked back to see Rings tagging a moderate distance behind them, that was fine, he knew Rings was protective of him and felt obligated to act as their chaperone. He felt happy and a part of him wished that moment could last forever as they walked along the beach.
But was it truly him who wanted these things, or was it just Tails? Was there still a difference between them aside from Kyle's memories of another life on Earth? His Earth? Did it matter? All Kyle knew was, he didn't want to die. He looked at Cream, smiling blissfully, who had died to bring her into the world? What was the point of all this?! Cream must have sensed his distress and looked at her concerned. "Tails-kun. What's wrong?"
Kyle breathed in deep, in spite of everything, if there was one thing both sides of him knew, he didn't want to be cruel to this little girl, who was ultimately innocent in all of this. "Don't worry Cream, I'm just happy you're back."
"Thank you, and I hope your parents come home soon too!"
"Me too Cream, me too," Kyle answered.
He did feel a sense of foreboding. He had Tails' knowledge and at least some of his memories now. There had to be a reason for this. At first it was just a strange case of him being a guy that played far too many videogames becoming a character from one of them. Was he *really* Tails and this was why he loved the character so much? Maybe he needed to be away from this Earth in order to save him from some disaster or possibly to train him for an impending one. No, he couldn't let himself think those thoughts, not at least until he knew more about what was going on. Maybe the others would regain their memories at some point, he just didn't know. Maybe, he thought, he should just allow himself to be happy and enjoy the moment. Whatever force had done this to him and the others undoubtedly knew what he, she or maybe even it was doing. This force had given him an opportunity few experienced, the chance at a second childhood and to become something else and experience life under a whole new perspective. Even though he couldn't help but wonder: why him and the others? Was it right to make him be Tails to the point where he was getting memories that weren't truly his? And of the others who were losing their identities, was it right in their cases?
Someone touched his shoulder and he looked back to see Rings standing over him. He realized he'd stopped walking and even Cream was looking concerned.
"You okay Miles?" Rings asked.
Even that name sent shivers down his spine. Kyle didn't have anything against it, but *Tails* did. Was his reaction of annoyance 'real' or just manufactured? He couldn't help but cowl at Rings.
"Sorry ... Tails," the raccoon corrected.
"Yeah ... I'm okay guys. I was just worried about an invention ... that it wasn't going to work," he answered. A lie but he couldn't bear to tell them the truth. Even if they didn't call him crazy, knowing what'd they'd lost could break their hearts.
He looked at Cream her cute eyes showing concern that calmed him. He decided not to let his worries over whether these were Tails feelings or his own ruin the moment. He smiled back at her and reassured her he was fine and they resumed walking. Whatever the coming days, weeks and possibly months had in store for him ... he hoped that things would work out. For now, he choose to be happy, and allow whatever part of him had the childlike innocent of Tails to guide him into enjoying this moment and not worrying about something he had no control over. Somehow, even if he did eventually forget, maybe there *was* a good reason for it, or at least *a* reason. At least he did have his friends with him and would have his family: even if they would look a little weird. Maybe that was what mattered. For now, he allowed that to comfort him. Somehow, he ... *they* would get through whatever was going to happen and however it would effect them. He planned on being there for them, as he knew they'd be there for him.
"Cream?"
"Yes Tails-kun?"
"I don't feel like walking-" Her face wilted, "-Feel like flying!" Tails shot into the air, still holding Cream's little gloved hand, the look of surprise turning into joy as she took flight under her own power. Flying hand in hand, the two kids flew across the bright sky; it was almost as bright as their cheer.
~Fin