AN: Just to let people know, this fic follows on from Into the Void; if you haven't read that one, then a couple of things may not make complete sense :)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of Sega's characters. Again, I really wish I did own Shadow and Knuckles (or at least had some kind of timeshare deal) but I don't. Any characters that crop up that aren't in any Sega franchise are mine, however.

Guardian's Log no. 11503

It's been two weeks since I last saw Tails. Espio told me he's with Sonic again. Well, good! Those two deserve each other.

Now I just have to find a way back to Angel Island.

--Knuckles the Echidna

My Memoirs by Me I don't believe it! I really don't BELIEVE it! Me and Tails are back on speaking terms again! Oh man, how cool is that? I've missed the little guy big time!

Not only that, but I finally got around to doing that gig in Sky High Zone. Man, this place really knows how to party!

--Sonic the Hedgehog

Dear Diary

Wow. I haven't been to this Zone since me and Sonic freed it from Robotnik ages ago. It hasn't changed much; they're still building on mountain ledges. I don't know how they get the grass to grow this far up, but it still looks really cool! Kinda like Hill Top Zone without the whole molten lava stuff.

--Tails

"Are you ready to par-tay?"

A chorus of squeals and shrieks from the crowd gathered on the green indicated that yes, they were indeed ready to party. Behind the deck, Sonic grinned broadly.

"Al-right! Let's rock this joint!"

Reaching down, the hedgehog retrieved a disc and slotted it into place with one hand while the other flicked various buttons to turn on the strobe lights and start the smoke machine going. At least two disco balls were hovering above the crowd, rotating gently and throwing down a shower of reflected light.

Despite Sonic's words, things had already been in full swing even before he'd got there. Sky High Zone was famous for its nightclubs and wild parties; there were always two or three going on at any one time. The one Sonic was DJ-ing for was being held in one of the larger sites; the top of a mountain that had somehow been flattened and seeded with grass and trees to hang party lights from. Only the six foot barriers around the edge lessened the effect, although someone had thought to paint each bar a different colour in luminous paint. Even now, Sonic still wasn't sure if that was to make it easier to spot in the darkness or just to make it look cool, or possibly both.

The track finished and Sonic loaded another two, mixing them together and switching the strobe lighting for the flashing colours that had been strung from tree to tree.

Sonic had been behind the deck for all of three hours when Tails raced over to him, giddy with exhilaration and one too many trips to the punch bowl.

"This has gotta be the best gig ever!" Swaying slightly, the fox blinked and shook his head. "Hey, when'd you get a clone, Sonic?"

The hedgehog shook his head wryly, surreptitiously moving his own drink out of Tails' reach. "How much punch have you had, lil bro?"

"Uh…" Tails frowned in concentration. "I think 'bout six glasses," he said, holding up seven fingers, eyes not quite focusing. "It's pretty neat, huh Sonic?"

Yeah, the punch was neat alright, Sonic thought, a slight smile quirking his lips. Pretty much neat alcohol if the taste was anything to go by; someone must have spiked it.

"Six glasses, huh?" he said aloud. "You think maybe that's enough?"

Tails hiccuped, then beamed at him. "Sure do!"

Just let me get my hands on the jerk who spiked it, the hedgehog added grimly in his own mind. He supposed it wasn't too surprising to find alcohol here – with the exception of Tails and himself, the youngest person here was seventeen – but even so...

An oddly familiar silhouette, dark against the night sky, clambered up over the edge and onto the green. Catching sight of it, Sonic frowned.

"Hey, isn't that—"

"Knux!" Abandoning Sonic, Tails hurtled towards the echidna, burying him in a hug that almost knocked him back down the mountain again. "You're outta Scrap Brain! Didja get the Master Em'rald? Huh? Didja?"

Knuckles tensed and looked away. "Not yet. I'll pick it up before I go back to Angel Island."

Tails beamed at him. "You mean you still left it in that dragon desk?" He giggled. "Boy, you better hope nobody gets to it before you, huh Knux?"

"Zip it!" the echidna instructed him.

"Huh? Ohhh, yeah." Tails' beam became, if it was possible, even wider. "Secret, right?" He tried to tap the side of his nose but missed, eventually giving it up as a bad job.

"Exactly. Where's Sonic? I want to talk to him about something."

"Over here!" Tails seized Knuckles' arm tightly, hugging it to him and hauled the echidna through the mass of packed bodies. "Scuse...scuse...oops, sorry 'bout that...scuse..."

By dint of several stepped-on feet and half a dozen judiciously placed elbows, Tails and Knuckles eventually arrived at the record deck where Sonic had just accepted another glass of punch from a reveller with a thanks. Catching sight of the echidna, his face split into a huge grin.

"Knuckles! Man, I never thought I'd see you in this Zone!"

The echidna nodded curtly – the loud music and close atmosphere was rapidly doing his head in – then raised his voice. "What's the occasion?"

"Huh? Oh, you mean the party?" Sonic shrugged. "Someone's eighteenth. I guess it's kinda a belated sixteenth for me too."

Knuckles frowned. "I thought your birthday was in June."

"Sure it is, but things being as they were back then, I didn't get a chance to party! Anyway, nobody here knows about it."

Tails blinked up at Sonic owlishly, and also somewhat unfocusedly. "I know 'bout it, Sonic."

The hedgehog took one hand off the controls long enough to ruffle Tails' fur. "I know, lil bro. I know."

"Knux missed my birthday too." Tails leaned against Sonic with a wistful expression. "I was in the Chaos Caves then." He sighed loudly. "I wish you coulda been there, Sonic. It was real pretty; there were shining lights and Chaos rocks in ev'ry wall, right Knux?"

"There won't be if you keep telling the world about them," Knuckles said, his voice gruffer than usual.

"Yeah, but that doesn't matter 'cause ol' Scarface already knows where they are so he's prob'ly digging 'em all out right now, huh?" Tails lifted his cup, squinted at it in a vaguely puzzled fashion when no liquid arrived in his mouth and then tossed it away disgustedly.

"Chaos rocks?" Sonic echoed.

"Yeah! See, the Master Em'rald's jus' a giant lump of Chaos matter that the echidnas cut into the shape of an emerald 'cause they think it looked cooler!" Tails looked from one to the other, swaying, then sat down abruptly. "Sonic?"

"Yeah, lil buddy?"

"I think...I think I'm gonna pass out now," Tails said, and did.

"What's his deal?" Knuckles demanded, staring down at the fox, who was already starting to snore.

"Someone spiked the punch," Sonic answered. "Be a buddy and go get a blanket from somewhere, okay? I don't want him getting cold and I'm stuck behind this deck for a few hours."

Knuckles stared at the hedgehog, then around at the tightly packed dance green. "Where the hell am I supposed to get a blanket?"

Sonic turned him around and gave him a shove. "That's your problem, Knux! And while you're at it, can you pick me up a chili dog or three? I think my stomach's gonna go on strike if I don't get some food into it soon."

The echidna spun around, mouth already open for an acid retort, but Sonic had increased the volume of the music and replaced his ear protectors and the words were lost in the rock music.

A little exploration in and around various empty houses eventually yielded a woollen blanket and Knuckles dragged it back to Sonic and dumped it on top of Tails with bad grace.

"You happy now?"

"You better believe it." Sonic dumped a third song into the mix and turned. "So whaddaya think of this Zone, Knux?"

Looking around the gyrating bodies, the echidna snorted. "I think the lack of oxygen up here's driving the inhabitants nuts."

Sonic rolled his eyes. "I figured you'd say that. Jeez, would it kill you to cut loose once in a while, Knucklehead?"

Knuckles fixed Sonic with a look. "You're in a good mood."

"What? Well, sure I am. I kicked ol' Robotnik's butt again, made a daring escape, got another royalty cheque earlier this week and I'm back with Tails! And speaking of which..." Sonic glanced down at the unconscious fox. "Be a gasball and take him to Mount Parrot Hotel, wouldja?"

"Be a what?" Knuckles demanded.

"Gasball. Ball of gas. You know, a star."

Knuckles folded his arms. "I didn't come here to run your errands, Sonic!"

"Tell you what. You take Tails back to our hotel and I'll forget all about those three chili dogs you owe me, how's that sound?"

Judging from the echidna's expression, it sounded insane, but Sonic grinned broadly and said, "Great!" without waiting for an answer, then returned his attention to the music.

From inside a concealed, vacuum-sealed building, two people stood watching as the echidna stamped off with the fox in his arms, then one turned to the other with an air of desperation.

"Oh man, Knux, I can't believe Tails thinks that's us!"

Okay, sorry about the delay, but it's finally up and running! Hope you liked it and if you read, please review!