"Do we all know why we're here?" Shadow asked the rest of his squad.
"Of course," Rouge replied, "to retrieve the Sol Emerald from this area."
"Right, but we can bet we aren't the only ones looking for it. There's a Freedom Fighters base not far from here," Shadow explained, "and I'm sure that robot-girl has picked up its energy signature by now."
"So what's the plan squad leader?" Rouge asked mockingly.
"First, we get the satellite up-link to the Freedom Fighters' base," Shadow said, ignoring Rouge's taunting tone. Shadow looked at Omega, the mobile armory, who's back opened up to reveal a computer terminal. Shadow walked over to Omega and started up a satellite mapping program, while Rouge updated the eyepiece she was wearing.
"Alright, Rouge, download the map data onto your eyepiece and tell us what you see."
Rouge searched the virtual surroundings until she found her boon.
"There appears to be a group of people heading in the direction of the energy signature," Rouge reported.
"Can you identify them?" Shadow asked, impatiently.
"Ya, ya. Just give me a sec'," Rouge said before returning her attention to the map, "there's a pink one with a hammer, I assume that's Amy; a small one carrying a blue thing, probably that rabbit girl; and, a little farther away from the others, a purplish girl, I can't make her out though."
Shadow thought for a moment about the next course of action, "Those are the Freedom Fighters. Rouge, you tail them, try to get them to cooperate. Stick with them until you find the emerald, then take it and get the hell out of there. Omega and I will cover you."
"Sounds like a plan. That emerald is as good as mine...er...ours." Rouge corrected sheepishly.
"We'll stay in touch," Shadow said, ignoring her comment. Rouge took this as her cue to leave and took off into the thick canopy of the trees overhead.
Meanwhile...
"I told you already, Cream, we don't know what's out here or what that energy signature is." Amy explained rather impatiently.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Rose, but I still don't understand why you need to have the hammer out all the time-"
"Wait!" Amy interrupted, "do you see that?" Amy pointed toward a small glittering object in the distance. "That must be it!" she shouted as she ran towards the object. Suddenly, a burst of flames cut a swath across her path, stopping her in her tracks. A lavender feline appeared in front of the girls, fists engulfed in flames, and amber eyes that looked like dancing orbs of fire.
"If you do not wish to become a pile of ash, I suggest you return to where you came from." The feline said, coldly.
"Now wait just one second!" Amy retorted, "You attacked me, I demand some answers: Firstly, Who are you? and secondly, Why did you just try to kill me?!" The feline crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, challengingly, "To the latter, I did not try to kill you, believe me, if I did you would be dead; to the former, I am Princess Blaze the Cat of the Sol Kingdom. Let it be known, if you come in between and me and the Sol Emeralds, you will meet an untimely death." After that, she turned and started toward the object in the distance.
"Hold on!" Amy shouted at her.
"Now what?" Blaze growled, impatiently.
"You're Blaze the Cat? Sonic told us so much about you!" Amy said energetically
"You know Sonic the Hedgehog? The hero of Mobius?" Blaze asked, rather surprised that this girl knew one of the great heroes.
"Of course! I'm his girlfriend, Amy Rose." Amy stated, matter-of-factly.
"I was unaware Sonic was in a relationship." Blaze stated inquiringly.
"Well, technically I'm not, but only because we've never been on a date." Amy said reluctantly.
"I see..." Blaze said, mentally rolling her eyes.
"Um...Excuse me Ms. Rose," Cream's small voice chimed in, "the object you saw..." Cream held up a shard of glass that appeared to have come from an old bottle.
"This is humiliating," Blaze said stalking away, covering her eyes with her hand, "I apologize for any trouble I caused."
"Hold on, Sonic said your world needs the Sol Emeralds to stay stable, right?" Amy asked.
"That's right."
"That's what the energy signature is, isn't it? Why don't you let us help you find it? We could find it faster as a team."
"If Sonic trusts you, then I guess it would be fine. For the time being." With that, the three girls set out in search of Blaze's missing Sol Emerald. It wasn't long, however, before a voice addressed them from above.
"Hello, girls," Rouge said jumping down from the branch she was perched on. Blaze and Amy got into fighting stances, prepared to deal with the new threat.
"What do you want, Rouge?" Amy asked interrogatively.
"My guess is, the same thing as you. Mind if I lend a hand?" Rouge asked.
Cream Chimed in, "Sure Ms. Rouge-" but was cut off by Amy.
"No, Cream. She's a spy, she can't be trusted."
"A spy for G.U.N. your ally." Rouge returned.
Amy thought it over for a few seconds before turning to Blaze, "Blaze, what do you think?"
"Personally, I prefer to work alone, but since you kept to your word," Blaze said, "I trust your judgment."
"Alright then," Amy responded, "Rouge, you can join us, but don't even think about double-crossing us."
After the brief exchange, the group, once again, began their journey toward the emerald. Amy remained weary of Rouge, who seemed all-to-eager to help, the entire trek through the forest. The group emerged from the treeline only to find themselves facing a massive ravine. Upon closer inspection, the ravine was laced with thick roots seemingly growing from the walls of the canyon. At the floor of the gorge there was a small cavern, made from intertwined roots. The source of the energy signature.
"We found it," Rouge said to no one in particular...
Disclaimer: I own nothing.