Hello, all! This is my first fanfic, which I would have posted earlier, but there's a 3 frickin' day wait. Anyway, like I said, this is my first fanfic, so be nice. No flames, but if you have some constructive criticism that you want to give, I'm all ears (perks ears up). Well, anyway, I hope you like it. The rest will be updated as soon as I get a few reviews. Let me know you like it, and I might finish it D. This story will be co-written by Cam3leon in later chapters.

Disclaimer: We own nothing. Sega owns all the characters, and this is for the whole fanfic, so you can't sue P.

Nothin' But A Number

Chapter 1

The Game

DING DONG!

"I'll get it!" yelled Tails as he flew to the door. He was anxious for his test subject to arrive. He flung the door open. "Oh," he stated flatly, "it's just you, Charmy."

"Well 'hi' to you too, Tails," Charmy remarked sarcastically as he hovered in. Tails closed the door behind him.

"I didn't mean it like that. I thought you were someone else."

"Who were you expecting?"

"Cream."

"Why!"

"I have an experiment to test and Sonic and Knuckles won't have anything to do with it. So, Cream being Cream and all, I invited her over for a 'play date'."

"Wow. Clever. But don't you think that's kinda mean? Not to mention dangerous."

"Well, that's what tests are for." Charmy sighed. He realized that there was no discouraging a determined mad scientist.

"What is it, anyway?"

"I thought you would never ask! Follow me," Tails said with a new found enthusiasm. He led Charmy down the steps to the basement, A.K.A Tails' lab. They stopped in front of a huge machine. It was tall and square-shaped with a door that let down like a drawbridge. It basically looked like a big oven.

"You're gonna cook her!" Charmy yelled, suddenly scared for Cream's life.

"What? Of course NOT!" Tails said as he powered up the machine. "This machine is age defying."

"It's what?"

Tails sighed. "It makes you older or younger."

"Oh. Ok, sounds cool." Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Hey, Tails!" Sonic's voice could be heard, calling to his friend. "Cream's here!"

"Ok! We're in my lab. Send her down." Seconds later, Cream's cream and orange figure could be seen descending the steps to Tails' workshop.

"Hi Tails!" Cream piped cheerfully as she came upon Tails and Charmy.

"Hi. Hey, I have a cool idea; for our play date, let's play a game!"

"YEAH, a game! I love games."

"Can I 'play'?" Charmy asked.

"Sure," Tails said, "I need a witness," He whispered to Charmy. "If this works, I'll be famous."

"How do you play?" Cream asked, more than ready to begin.

"Well, it's simple. The person who's it has to stand in the machine. The first one who says 'Not it' has to watch."

"Not it!" Charmy called.

"Ok, the second has to push all the buttons. Not it! Ok, so that leaves you, Cream. You're it. You have to get in the machine and follow all my instructions."

Cream sighed. Usually being "it" was a bad thing in most games. "Ok." She got into the huge machine. "Like this?"

"Yeah. You see those handle-bars? Grab 'em. And hold on tight!"

"Ok. Now what?"

"Put your feet through those two little handles down there. Done?"

"Yes. How do I win?"

"Don't cry."

"What, I don't cry."

"I hope you don't." With that, Tails shut the door to the machine. "Let's cross our fingers." Tails said tossing Charmy a pair of goggles. "Put 'em on." Charmy obeyed. "Cream, you may feel a sliiiiiiiiight pinch." Tails pushed a few buttons, turned a few knobs and set the dial to 14. "If this works, when Cream comes out of there, she'll be a 14-year-old."

"Cool!" Charmy said. "Let her rip!" Tails threw the switch to initiate the start of the machine. It hummed and beeped as it powered up. Then a flash of light came from within the machine.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Cream screamed.

"HANG ON, CREAM! What ever you do, don't cry!" Tails yelled. After about a minute, the light dimmed, and the machine powered down.

"Is she ok?" Charmy asked.

"I don't know. I sure hope so." With that he lowered the door and smoke filled the room. The three of them began to cough. "Cream... are y-you ok?" Tails said between fits of coughing.

"I'll tell you when I can breath," came a voice, but it was unfamiliar to both Tails and Charmy.

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So, how'd you like it? Review and I'll post chapter 2.- CR