"Now, we have to be really quiet." Roses warned, standing outside of a closed door in a long, dark hallway.

It was the middle of the night at Roseidous' fortress, on its lonely rock in the middle of the ocean. Roses was dressed completely in black, including a hat and black paint on her face. She was carrying a tiny flashlight, which she shone at the door. She also had a black bag, full of her "stuff."

"Of course." Ann replied, sounding bored. "We've been over the whole plan."

"I mean, if he finds out we're doing this, then the whole surprise is ruined."

"I know, I know."

"Okay then. Ready?" Roses put her hand on the door handle.

"Go ahead, oh great secret-mission leader."

Roses turned the handle, crept into the dark room, tripped, and landed on her face. Ann flipped the lights on and applauded.

"Oh, shut up. I forgot about the beanbag chairs. And hey, you wouldn't even play along with the whole 'spy mission' thing." Roses pointed at Ann's 'sunshine-yellow' shirt.

"Yeah, sorry about that." Ann said, offering Roses a hand and pulling her to her feet. She surveyed the room, then looked back towards the door. "You think they got lost?"

"Nah, they'll get here eventually." Roses said, opening her bag. "Help me out here."

***

"If you don't stop laughing, this will never work." Tails whispered, glaring at Holli.

"But you have to admit, it's really funny." Holli handed Tails a fingernail file.

"Roses and Ann are waiting for us." Tyrael looked nervous.

"Yes, but they'll be proud of what we're doing. They won't care that we're late." Holli said.

"But..."

"Besides," Tails interrupted. "Don't you want to do this anyway? It's evil and it's fun."

Holli turned back to her. "Got it yet?"

Tails made a few adjustments with the fingernail file, then grinned. "Yep."

All three Junior Tri-Leaders stepped back from the tall, golden doors. The doors had intricate carvings covering them, catching the light from the candles in the hall. The central design was a phoenix, emerging from a fire.

Holli smiled evilly. "Roseidous' bedroom."

Tails put away the file and pulled out a safety pin. "Let's go."

***

"Ouch!"

"Oops, sorry. Didn't mean to drop that."

"Be careful!"

"You know, Ann, you're in a very bad mood."

"It's 3 o'clock in the morning, what can you expect? At least I'm here."

"True. Hey, you did remember to call everyone, didn't you?"

Ann sighed. "Of course."

Roses climbed off the ladder, covered in glitter. She walked over to her bag and pulled out her list.

"Decorations?"

Ann looked around. "Check. Almost."

"Food?"

"You know Al loves to cook. Check."

"Music?"

"Murry, possibly a bad idea, but check."

"Clones?"

"Vinnie took them shopping for new clothes. Check."

"Security?"

"Check."

"Entertainment?"

"Check. Stan giggled and asked for more cheez crackers, but it's taken care of."

Roses didn't comment. "Present?"

"Mr. Packard delivered it yesterday."

"Bubba?"

"Um..."

"Close enough." Roses glanced up. "Vic?"

"Says he's not coming, but he'll show up."

"Sally?"

"With Rosey, I presume."

"John, Lord of Darkness (dum dum duummm!!)?"

"Hasn't been seen for days."

"Good. Holli, Tails, and Tyrael?"

"No sign of them."

"Yeah, they're supposed to be here by now. Where do you think they are?"

"I'm not gonna ask."

***

Holli and Tails peered around the door.

"You see anything?"

"No, do you?"

"No, but that doesn't mean there aren't traps."

"Good point." Tails looked behind them. "Tyrael? Come here."

"Why?" he asked suspiciously.

Holli grabbed his arm and propelled him towards the open door. "Just in case he wakes up. It won't look bad if you're in there. Just tell him you need some...um...'manly' advice... or something. Yeah, that'll work."

"But, I really don't--" Tyrael's protests were cut off when Holli shoved him through the door. Nothing happened.

"No traps?" Holli said, disappointed.

"He probably figures no one in their right mind would be in the fortress, much less his bedroom."

"Well then. Shall we?"

"After you."

The two girls went into the bedroom and looked around. There were several couches and chairs, a large screen TV, a refrigerator, and a fire in the fireplace. There was also a king-sized, golden, four-post bed with a red velvet canopy. Snores came from behind the curtains.

Tails carefully walked over and pulled the curtains back. Again, nothing happened.

"He doesn't sleep naked, does he?" Tyrael asked, his eyes closed.

"I can't tell, there are too many pillows and blankets."

"How many pillows does one person need?" Holli asked. "I only get one when I stay here."

"You get a pillow? I only get a sleeping bag." Tyrael complained.

Holli walked over to the side of the bed and peered at Roseidous. "He's got Sally." she said, pointing at the plastic doll.

"Well, just grab her and let's go." Tyrael said. "Before he wakes up."

"I'm not touching that."

"Oh, get a pillow. I'll do it." Tails pushed her aside.

Tails cautiously reached out and grabbed Sally's arm. She pulled, and as she did, Holli slid a pillow into her place. They ran back out the doors. Tyrael closed the red velvet curtains back around the bed and followed, shutting the golden doors behind him.

The three Junior Tri-Leaders stood and regarded the plastic doll.

"She's not *that* great." Holli said critically.

"And that pink underwear is just not her color." Tails added.

"Well, I like her." Tyrael said defensively.

"You would."

"Come on, let's go find Ann and Roses." Holli ran off down the hallway.

***

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"I just don't think it's a good idea."

"But I did it last time."

Ann gave Roses a 'look.' "Exactly."

"Oh, come on. You have to admit, it's not that bad." Roses protested.

"Well, that depends."

"What does?" Holli asked, walking into the room. "Eww. Shag carpet?"

Tails appeared behind her. "Disco lights? Abstract art?"

"Oooh!! Beanbag chairs!" Tyrael flung himself onto the nearest one. Everyone stared. "What?"

"Nothing. So where have you three been?" Roses demanded.

Holli and Tails grinned at her.

"What did you do?"

"You'll see soon enough." Tails said innocently.

"Or hear." Holli added in a whisper. Both girls laughed.

"I'm sure we will. Now, help us finish in here. Then we'll go down to the dock and meet everyone else."

***

Roses yawned and opened her eyes. She glanced at the clock. 10 AM. The alarms were set for noon.

"Ann get up." Roses threw a pillow across the room.

A vague "no" came from under the blankets on the other bed.

"Okay, but if you're not ready in time, I"m sending either Bubba or Murry to wake you up. Maybe both."

"Okay, okay, I'm up. I call the shower first."

Half an hour later, they were having coffee in the beanbag chairs. The Junior Tri-Leaders walked in, Tyrael in handcuffs. Roses raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.

"We await your orders, oh secret-mission planner." Ann said.

"Okay then. Girls, unhandcuff Tyrael. Tails, go find Murry and Vinnie. Tell Vinnie to help Murry set up his equipment, then you two go and get the clones. Holli, find Al and help him with his things, and keep a lookout for Vic. Tyrael, go see if Billy Jo found his batteries. Ann, take Stan to the roof with his stuff and take Bubba and the tranquilizer gun with you to keep him out of everyone else's way."

They all stared at her.

"What?"

"That's actually a good plan. I'm impressed." Ann said. "But...what are you going to do?"

"I'm gonna help Mr. Packard wrap the present." Roses smiled evilly.

"Not fair!" The other three girls complained.

"You'll see him later. Now go! Hurry up!"

***

At one minute before noon, everyone was gathered in what was collective decided to be called "The Party Room." At exactly 12, they were met with the sounds of several alarm clocks.

Roses covered her ears and yelled "Ann! How many of those things did you let Stan bring?!"

"I think at last count, it was 93!"

"Make it stop! Make it stop!" Tyrael hid under a beanbag chair.

Murry laughed. Bubba quacked. Vinnie looked at his watch, bored.

Gradually, the sounds lessened, and they were able to hear other noises.

"Okay, how did he already get to the roof and start smashing the clocks? I didn't think he would move that fast." Ann said.

A few minutes later, after all noises of destruction had stopped, the door opened. The room was empty. Vic walked in, carrying a hammer.

"I hate alarm clocks." he announced.

Everyone moved out from their hiding places.

"Vic! So glad you could come!" Roses said, surprised.

Bubba quacked again and moved to go hug Vic. Ann stopped him.

"You know, I knew I shouldn't have---" Vic was interrupted by the door flying open.

Roseidous stormed into the room, walked up to Mr. Packard, shoved him aside, and grabbed Tails.

"What. Did. You. Do. With. Her?"

"Who?" Tails asked, prying him off of her arms.

"Who do you think?!"

"Calm down Rosey." Roses said, walking over to them.

"No, I won't calm down! She has Sally!" he pointed at Tails.

Roses and Ann looked at each other and tried not to laugh. "What makes you so sure Tails has her? You didn't just misplace her?"

"I would never 'just misplace' Sally! And *she's* the one with the safety pin!"

"True. Okay girls, why exactly were you late? Do you have Sally?"

Tyrael peered out from under his beanbag chair. "I told you we'd get in trouble."

Holli stepped on his hand. "Be quiet!"

Tails sighed. "Okay, we did have Sally."

"I knew it!" Roseidous yelled triumphantly.

"We did have Sally. But we don't have her now."

"Where did you put her?!"

"She'll be here later." Holli said mysteriously.

"What exactly is going on here?" Roseidous demanded.

"Well..." Roses said. "Happy Birthday Rosey!"

"Surprise!!!" everyone else yelled.

Roseidous looked around the room. Murry was sitting on top of his sound system, which he turned on. Mr. Packard was holding a brightly wrapped box. Next to him, Al stood proudly behind a table full of food. Vinnie, in his new pink dress, stood in the corner with the clones, all wearing matching new bikinis and party hats. Bubba appeared to be tied in the opposite corner, Vic guarding him with the tranquilizer gun. Billy Jo pointed the video camera in Roseidous' face. The other Tri-Leaders stood beneath a large sign, duct-taped to the wall and surrounded by streamers. It read "Happy Birthday Roseidous!" in giant, glittery letters.

"I got to use the glitter." Tyrael announced. Tails sat on the chair. "Ouch!"

"And we're sorry that they took Sally, that wasn't in my plans." Roses apologized. "But she will be here later. So let's enjoy the party now. Okay?"

Roseidous didn't say anything.

"Rosey? Cake?" Ann asked.

"Okay. But can I get dressed first?"

"Please do."

"I thought you said he didn't sleep naked." Tyrael complained.

Holli sat down on him, next to Tails. "No, I said that I couldn't tell." She whispered something in Tails' ear. Tails winked at Roses, and the three of them laughed. Ann looked confused.

"I'll explain later." Roses promised.

***

Everyone enjoyed the music and food all afternoon. Roseidous loved his stuffed bunny present and the massages from the clones. He was especially surprised and relieved when Sally popped out of the cake in her new, black, leather lingerie.

"To match yours." Tails said.

"Um...how do you...nevermind. Thanks, I guess."

At midnight, everyone moved to the roof for Stan's fireworks show. Tyrael brought his beanbag chair. Tails, Holli, and Vinnie fought over who got to sit by Mr. Packard. Tails and Holli won.

John, Lord of Darkness (dum dum duummm!!!) and his associates Ian and Silent Jim hid behind some of the fireworks.

"So, now what?" Ian asked.

"We wait to make our move, of course." John told him.

"It's really cold up here. I'm gonna start a fire to warm us up. A small one." Ian announced.

"No!"

Ian struck a match, causing the nearest box of fireworks to explode, taking John, Ian, and Jim with them.

"Curses!" John yelled as they fell into the cold water and began swimming back to shore.

Roseidous sat down with Sally, surrounded by the clones. Roses shoved one out of her way, and sat down.

"Having fun?" she asked, looking up at the fireworks.

"Of course. This was your idea?"

"Yeah."

"What do you want?"

"Nothing!"

"Oh."

"Happy birthday Rosey."

"No!" Ann yelled, shoving more clones out of her way. "Do not sing that song!"

Roses glared at her. "It's the birthday song. And you know it's how we all met anyway. I was just gonna sing it for old times' sake."

"You are not."

"I am too!"

"No!" everyone yelled.

"Okay, okay, fine. But if I don't sing it, that means you all have to."

They considered this news.

"But...there's no telling where it will lead. I'm afraid to." Ann said nervously.

Everyone remained silent and stared at each other.

"So..." Roses said to break the silence, "Whose birthday is next?"

"Mine!" Holli yelled. "And I better have a good party! Start planning now!"

"I'm taking a nap first." Ann said.

A sudden noise made them turn around. Vic pushed Bubba off the roof, and Bubba landed in the ocean. The group applauded.

Vic looked around. "*Now* it's been a successful party."

They all turned their attention back to the grand finale of the fireworks show.

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