Chapter 1

The Black-Cloaked Man

"SOOOONIC!" Ah, the breeze feels great! I'm running through Soleanna with the grace of a bird. My name's Amy. I'm about 13, pink, and so in love with a certain blue hedgehog that i could just die! "Amy, quit it!" Ah, Sonic. I don't know why, but i'm in love with him. Every time i see him he just lights up my day. He acts all annoyed, but i know he likes me, too. "Amy, stop!" He looks at me. "I'm gonna go take a nap, ok? I've been runnin' all day, so if you want, we'll do something later, but-" I hug him. "Really,Sonic? Like a date?" I ask. "No, i mean, that is, aaah! Bye, Amy!" He leaves. Why must he be so nervous all of the time? Oh, one day he will be mine.

Ah, well. I figure that i'll just go home, too. I'm walking by and i see Soleanna Castle. Maybe i'll just take a tour. It's only two dollars, anyhow. I walk up to the Reception Desk and receive my ticket and call number. The castle is just beautiful! The curtains a lovely shade of red! The carpet nice and soft! But, i wish i could see this with Sonic. It's not fun when it's just me. Oh, well. I wander off from the rest of the tourist groups out of boredom. There must be something COOL around here.

That's when i see a portal. It looks just like the gateways that Sonic and Shadow use when there's trouble. (Foe those who haven't played Sonic Next-Gen, they use portals to get to the various stages. The portals are all over the city of Soleanna.) There's also a warning label near it that says:

"DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE KING OF SOLEANNA. SOLEANNA GUARD."

I better listen to the sign. But, that's when i trip on the carpet that's put there. I stumble past the warning sign and into the portal! Oh God! Oh God! I'm too young to die! Sonic! Help!

I'm alive,somehow. I open my eyes to see a man in a black cloak staring at me. I look outside. Am i in space?! This wasn't mentioned in the brochure! "What is that?" Says an onlooker in a red cloak. "Kill it!" Says another. I look at them. They get out these sticks from their backs, electricity brimming from them. No! I'll be with Sonic! I'm a strong girl! I'm Amy Rose, dammit!

I get out my hammer. They wave the sticks at me, but my speed dodges them. I'm almost as fast as Sonic. I hit one of them. He stumbles backward, but the other one gets me. "Ow!" I stumble back as the guy comes to finish me off. However, the black-cloaked man stops him. "No." He says. He has a really raspy voice. I alos sense an evil to him. "I sense the power of the Force within this creature. Leave it."

"I aplogize, my dear. Please. Let me help you up." He extends his hand. I take it, and he pulls me up. "I apologize for the harsh reception that you received. My name is Darth Sidious."

I look at him angrily. "This is no way to treat a lady! And why am I here?" I ask.

"I apologize. We were trying to summon someone else, but..." He stops abruptly. I see what happened.

"Ok. I see. Well, can you send me home?"

"I can, but i sense the Force within you. I need that." He looks at me evilly."Force?" I ask. "What is that? The new fashion?" I ask."No! It is the energy that makes up everything, from dust to Humans." He replies."Oh. Now i get it. But, what does that have to do with me?" I have a bad feeling...

"I am a Sith Lord." He says. "I teach people to harness this power to help them build better lives. I would like you to become my apprentice. Only then will i help you get home."

I'd do anything for Sonic. But, this guy's got something about him that i just hate. However, he's my only way home right now...

"Fine. I accept your claim."