✧ Chao Garden ✧

[bluestreaker]

Welcome to Smash Academy's Chao Garden!

Who: Everyone!
Where: The Lake
When: Backdated to Sonic's flubbed network post on August 23
What: Looks like Smash has been keeping their lake pristine, because the cutest presence to grace Sonic's universe have taken a liking to it!



Chao (pronounced 'chow', sing. & plur.) have found themselves a comfortable little paradise to call their own on Smash Academy's grounds, enjoying their days swimming around, playing games, and taking a gratuitous amount of naps in the warm kindness of the Sun's light.

Most of what you see around the lake now are these little guys in their more neutral, infant forms, and some of the eggs that Sonic was seen holding in his video post are nestled snug and comfy in tall patches of grass. Either way, Chao have an evolutional struggle to contend with, but perhaps a little help from another life form can give them an idea on what they can truly become.


In order to avoid making this the longest log opening possible, please visit this entry in Sonic's journal for all the information you need about how Chao will work! I had to make some adjustments from the original concept, obviously.

As for the log itself, consider it an opportunity to mingle while picking up your Chao (like the dorm log!) You don't need anything from me. But Sonic is going to be watching the crap out of all of you CHAO POLICE

Comments

[obfuskate]

So these are the Chao.

Shadow isn't about to just bury himself in adorable creatures, of course, but he is admittedly curious. They don't seem like very much, but looks can always be deceiving. He takes to the nearest tree to a plant of oran berries, sitting beneath its shade and flipping open a book he brought with him. He crosses one leg over the other, stretching them both out in full, something that catches one certain Chao's attention.

Such a shame that his shoes are so thick and metallic, or else he'd notice the Chao trying to nibble on it.

Care to approach him and any other Chao within his vicinity?

Duh.

[bluestreaker]

What Shadow received was the off-smooth texture of that Chao egg Sonic had been holding earlier, pressed right into his shoulder and cheek. It wasn't a frosty cold pop can, but it'd do!

He pretty much had no doubts that he would show up.

[idealisms]

Guess who has fallen for these cute little creatures? Yes, indeed, it is N Harmonia himself, sitting in the center of a patch of dirt without care. About four Chao surround him now, one resting on his lap, one trying to climb his arm, and the other two sitting at his sides. He doesn't understand them at all like he does Pokemon, but he doesn't mind it too much. He is still able to get the point across that he will do them no harm, and they are taking well to that, hanging around him and getting petted an equal amount.

But hark, what is that on one of the Chao's head? Is that a Joltik? Where did that little guy come from? Surely not from N's roster...?

Wherever it came from, it is sharing a bit of an oran berry with that very same Chao, nibbling wholeheartedly on its blue fruit.

[star_punched]

Welp. Remember this guy? Last time you saw him, he was pretty high off his rockers.

He looks fine now. In fact, he's playing with a large amount of chao. Some were play tackling him and others were just plain demanding attention. Probably six of them if you counted.

He forgot who he was weird in front of when he was high, good place to catch him and tell him.

Or just have fun with all these chao together.

Or both.

[twistedspoon]

Okay, time to see what these Chao things really were. They sounded like they might as well be Pokemon, even if Sonic claimed otherwise. Either that or the egg really was Shadow's and it was all some cover-up.

When she appeared by the lake and found herself surrounded by little blue blobs, she decided that maybe it really was an egg that belonged to these... things. Chao things. Wow, they did not have much on their minds at all. What was even the point of them. Maybe they were just... babies. Babies came out of eggs, and babies were stupid, after all.

Oh god one was touching her tail. WHAT DO...

it's cuter than you, don't be jealous, casey

[bluestreaker]

"Cute, huh?"

Even Sonic was a sucker for these little guys. He had freed his hands through mysterious means HMMM, picking up the Chao that was ready to make a toy out of Casey's tail. Sonic was a little uncertain how she'd handle that, so he didn't want to take any chances.

"We got a ton of Chao back home, but I didn't think they could wind up here, too!"

Well, Sonic's efforts didn't mean too much. One was crawling to figure out what the heck Casey even was, and clearly the only means of an answer was to find its way to her head.

[duodeca]

After her conversation with Sonic, Noel took a trip to the lake so that she could perhaps catch a glimpse of these Chao that he was talking about. It was a good idea to get out and about as well, considering her bad experiences with the lockdown and being stuck with Jin as a partner that left her physically and emotionally exhausted. That was behind her, though.

Upon finding the location in question, the creatures that frolicked around it surprised Noel. She'd never seen anything like the Chao before. Small, blue, round, seemingly without a care in the world. It brought a smile to her face.

Not to mention, they were absolutely adorable. They looked like babies, or so Noel assumed by the familiar eggs that were around. Wow...

She sits down on the grass, at a distance close enough so that she can see and appreciate the Chao while not towering over the little guys. Before she even realized it, one seemed to sneak up on her and start touching her leg!

"Oh, hi there!" She greeted it, not even knowing if it could understand her. But it was just so cute. She couldn't help but let out a small giggle.

Anyone else want to talk to her?

[bluestreaker]

Sonic had spent a good amount of time just observing Noel from a distance. She looked peaceful among the Chao, and it had him taking into consideration her expression. Something about her reminded him of... well, himself. He liked it! Of course he would.

Enough watching, though. More doing!

"I had a feelin' you'd be here!"

Sonic approached from beside Noel, watching some Chao divert their attention to him for only a moment. When they went back to Noel, Sonic's eyebrow rose in amusement. He laughed.

"Huh! Guess I'm not interesting enough! I see how it is."

THE BABY THE BABY THE BABY

[fullunlifeconsequences]

By nightfall, there had been enough buzz about the new arrivals at the lake to reach Blacky's ears. Mysteriously appearing eggs and the cute baby creatures that hatched from them...

She shouldn't. When an egg had appeared in her own bed three years ago, she wasn't ready. She sent it away to someone she knew could raise the Eevee better than she could, and that was that. At least, it was supposed to be. She'd met her son several times since then, although she never told him who she really was. What was the point? The school was no place to raise a child. It was hardly a place to live as an adult.

But sometimes, when she visited Viridian and watched Casca sleep against her... She wished she'd kept him.

Now there were eggs all around the lake, mocking her. Whose were they, anyway? What was this whole Chao business? It would be wisest to just leave them be, or maybe call animal control. Even with the Kraken gone, there was a Gyarados in the lake, so they could get gobbled up. Or something. It was better for them to be as far from the school's crazy bullshit anyway.

The only reason she was out by the lake in the dead of night was to see just how bad this infestation was and figure out how to best deal with it. That was all.

An egg lay at her feet.

You need this, Blacky.

[idowhatilike]

And the only reason Evve was out at this same hour was to wait for the crowds to clear out. The creatures weren't too dissimilar to an Eevee such as herself, unstable DNA just waiting to be manipulated by influence. When she arrived to the lake with a flashlight, keeping it lit for when the Moon was veiled by travelling clouds, she wasn't too surprised to see most of the Chao sleeping.

She was as equally unsurprised to see Blacky out and about at this hour, being dead and all. Ghosts, etc. Heh.

She kept her distance for the time being, clicking off the flashlight and figuring she hadn't gone unnoticed, but she may as well not create a beacon of attention toward herself.

Oh, hey, a Chao was awake. It sat up, rubbing its eyes and staring at Evve. She crossed her arms and stared back at it.

Closed to Sonic...for now, I suppose.

[did_well_enough]

GLaDOS had, of course, seen Sonic's network post thanks to his shoddy performance with locking it (SHE TAUGHT YOU BETTER, DAMMIT). Naturally, being the curious sort she is, she wanted to know more about these strange new creatures. However...she decided against it. Sonic had not replied to her apology thread (if you can call it that) and she really was in no mood for being attacked. Again.

So, she did what she usually did: worked on her computer. As such, she wasn't expected the company that would be arriving shortly...

HE'S GOT FAT FINGERS, GLaDOS.

[bluestreaker]

Shortly, in both terms of time and stature, but that was beside the point.

Sonic didn't knock this time, entering the lab with nothing short of a dim smile and perked ears. He was clearly calm, if not happy to be there, but he held his energy in reserve until he knew how this would play out. He remained in the doorway, fingers curled around the frame.

"Yo, Teach," he announced for his arrival.

[star_punched]

Mac knew what chao were. Pit had one. Mac loved chao so no need of explanation here.

When he heard there was gonna be a haven, he was SO EXCITED. He ran off and surrounded himself with them. Mac's amiable and energetic personality goes well with them apparently and they take to each other right away. Soon enough, Mac was playing with lots of them.

He left for a brief moment and came back with a ball even. Hell, he brought Rocky along to play with them and be more sociable. Which he took to just fine.

He looked like he was having a blast and well, so did the chao.

[assuasive]

Well, there was however one chao in a distant that's not... very happy. In fact, if Mac saw that chao, it pushed another chao and trying to bully the other. And would have, if Harvey didn't run in and scooped the bully up, but even then- the bully chao tries to fight out of Harvey's arms.

[roses_are_blue]

Oh. My. God.

Garry was uncertain when he saw the post about critters he didn't know about but...well, he told himself he had to get used to it. Sonic regarded chao as wonderful things. So...heh, why not. Couldn't hurt. Garry's had a rough few days so really what could hurt-then oh my god.

Holy crap they were the most adorable things on the planet. Their behavior, they acted just like little children. Some hid inside his coat and some played with it. One landed on his head and played with his hair. He must have had ten chao playing around him.

And you know what? Garry didn't mind at all.

[will_be_god]

What unusual creatures. Had Cyrus seen them before, when he had gone to that space structure? They seemed familiar, at any rate.

And they swarmed the lake, sunning themselves in the late summer heat. Were they there to remain? The presence of eggs indicated at least a lengthy stay.

One of them floated up to him, and at first he paid it no mind. When it started fiddling with the end of his jacket, though, was another story. "Begone with you!" he growled.

[after_the_flower]

With any degree of...anything. Sophie stumbled on the chao garden by accident. She came, saw the cute critters hugging her.

?

Well, weren't they affectionate. And yes, Sophie does know what hugs are.

After a period of time, you might catch Sophie sitting with a bunch of chao around her looking at flower books.

"This is a chrysanthemum..."

[monotreme_101]

"Now how did you all get here?"

Knuckles freakin' LOVED Chao. They were pretty much the most adorable things ever. However, he wasn't about to goo and gaa or anything unmanly like that. But if you're quick, you might catch a glimpse of him here and there petting them.

[robinsegg]

What were these strange creatures? If Sig had paid more attention to the network post, he may have gotten a better idea of what they were... But unfortunately, Sig lacked the skills to be more attentive to detail.

"Waaaiiitttt..." Sig called out monotonously as he chased after one poor Chao, his net up in the air and determined to capture it. It was some kind of deformed puyos, at least that's what Sig thought.

[inspector_li]

Certainly curious about these creatures she'd been hearing about, Chun Li would eventually find her way down there only to immediately begin fawning over the whole lot. Where were just indescribably adorable and she'd go about petting different ones, sitting at the water's edge to watch some of them at play.

[pinkgingham]

Oh my, were these creatures even cuter up in person! Sable didn't hesitate to approach the Chao and start patting one of them on the head. Just being in such a peaceful environment was relaxing enough for her, she'd have to come over here when she's taking her breaks!

"How adorable..." she muttered to herself as she made herself more comfortable and continued to pet one of the Chao.

[thelittlestsparky]

"They're sooooooo cute!!"

Watt was sitting down next to a bunch of the little Chao, trying her best to hug and cuddle with all of them at the same time. They were just as cute as those Lil' Oinks from back home! If she could, she would totally take them all back into her dorm room and keep all of them for as long as possible. But for now, she just stayed put, just content that the lake area was full of these adorable little guys.

[iaiai]

A little purple-haired girl, standing much closer to the shore, heard a familiar voice from a few feet away. She'd had her eye on one of the Chao, but hearing Watt was much more distracting. Ai turned quickly on her heel and made her way for the spot of sunshine she called her friend.

"Watt! Hiiii!" she shouted, trotting closer.

[gricklegrass]

Oh look a Chao covered in Chao.

Wait.

What.

Wait.

That was no Chao.

What the.

[skyguardian]

OH GOD

IT'S HER

...

WELP, TIME FOR DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY TIMES.

"...hello Celebi."

[tidalwaves]

What the heck was Marie even doing there.

[gricklegrass]

What the heck was Marie even doing there.

He looked moody.

Moody McMoodypants.

Did Celebi know this was the same Moody McMoodypants that helped take care of Vinnie when he was sick? ... Uh. No, actually. No she didn't.

PLOP ON YOUR HEAD.

[telekinetica]

He isn't entirely sure where he's going but Sonic told him to come to 'the lake' which... should be easy enough to find? He's not entirely sure what it is he's looking for when he gets there but he guesses once he finds Sonic, he'll know he's in the right place!

It isn't Sonic that catches his attention, though.

The area by the lake that's coated in the greenest, softest looking grass he's ever seen. Dappled with beautiful little flowers. Surrounded by the most perfect trees Silver has ever laid eyes on and...

He lands in a careful flare of aqua, eyes already wide, taking in the sight of all the strange, adorable little creatures moving about the area. Some flying, some swimming, some lounging and sleeping in the grass. He's never seen anything like them before!

"... w-wow..!"

[bluestreaker]

"I know, right?"

And so appeared the unintentionally self-assigned host of this now natural habitat to the little guys. Sonic was watching his step as one came tumbling with another right in his path, rolling in playful wrestling until they crashed into a shrub and disappeared. He watched it rustle once before moving his gaze back to Silver.

"They're pretty cool little guys, the Chao." He stopped walking right in front of Silver, smile as natural and welcoming as the atmosphere. "So you really don't recognize me, huh?"