I gave up on recieving reviews and decided to post the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog. I am making no money from this piece.

Dillemas and Disasters

Tails' Lab

Tails awoke to a pain, a deep-set, throbbing pain. He looked down at himself. A single patch of fur on his arm drew his attention immediately. Underneath a small patch of metal shone out. It was from here the pain originated. To say that Tails panicked would be the understatement of the century. "Sonic!" he shouted, "Come quickly."

Rushing in, Sonic immediately began questioning Tails. "What did he do to you? What is happening? Are you alright?"

Wincing, Tails began to explain "Eggman wanted revenge against you. He poisoned me in an attempt to do just that. I am now infected with a prototype form of a virus that he intended to use on all of us. It was before he figured out how to seamlessly transform tissue to robotic parts. Originally he intended to release a disease that would do it. This is not the first time I have seen this disease. One unfortunate animal once came to me after being infected by it. I immediately began working on countermeasures, in case it was not just an isolated incident. The initial stage is a single patch on the skin. After exactly one week the disease had spread itself to all tissue in the host and consumed him in a matter of minutes. I have less that a week to finish developing a cure." Sonic, to stunned to move, simply stared.

"Eggman" murmured Sonic, rage flooding into his voice. "Eggman!" He shouted at no-one in particular. Walking over to the latest of Tails' inventions, he removed the yellow Chaos Emerald. One by one the Chaos Emeralds were torn from their various pedestals. Transforming to Super Sonic he stared down at his friend. "CHAOS HEAL!" he bellowed. The patch of metal remained as it was. Desperation. Hopelessness. Anger. All of these and more blossomed in his chest. Pulling a scalpel from a nearby table he scraped a shred of metal from the patch on Tails' arm. Shining with power he Glanced over at Tails.

"Were are you going?"

"I must leave for Station Square. If Chris still lives I will find him and tell him of our plight." With that power lanced out "CHAOS CONTROL!"

Station Square: Chris' lab.

Chris reflected on his life. A full 120 years had passed since he had seen Sonic. "By rights I should be dead" he muttered. "and yet only ten years will have passed in Sonic's world." Staring at his youthfull eighteen year old body he laughed and whispered "My life extension formula certainly has served me well. 138 years old and still young." As he burst into laughter, a light lanced out from behind him.

Angel Island

All was peaceful on Angel Island. Birds sang. The young animals cavorted gaily. A band of rabbits marched boldly across the island. Then a gunshot broke the silence. "HOW COULD YOU LOSE IT!"

"Calm down Rouge," Knuckles nervously stuttered. "I want to find it as much as you do."

A little bribery might help thought Knuckles' desperate mind.

"Before I forget, this is for you!" He cried emphatically, holding out a diamond the size of a coconut.

"For me? You are to kind," Rouge gushed, the Master Emerald forgotten for the moment. A cold gleam entered her eyes, "Don't you dare think I've forgiven you, Knuckles. Once we get it back I am going to ..."

Tails' Lab

Tails jumped out of bed thinking, I cannot die before I finish my project. It means everything to me. I want to see her one last time. Even if I die when it is finished. He glanced over at the glass case. Within it sat a small white seed. "Cosmo, our circumstances separated us. This I WILL rectify. Even if it kills me." Picking up a wrench he set grimly to work.

Cream's House

"Well Cream," Vanilla queried "Would you like to hear a bedtime story?"

"Yes please!" Cream answered enthusiastically.

Vanilla opened the book and began to read:

The Necropolis

Long ago a great civilization lived on this planet. At the height of their power they created the Chaos Emeralds. However, Legend tells of e second set of Crystals made by these craftsmen: The Dark Rubies. Their power was greater that The Chaos Emeralds but came at a great price. The owner of all seven would be true evil. He would hate all life. He would possess all power. He could not be stopped or destroyed. In fear of what they had created the Ancients locked the Dark Rubies away in another dimension. Their power consumed, the Ancients disapeared. This dimension: the Necropolis, which quickly became corrupted by the Dark Rubies and twisted itself to fit them. Many evils emerged from the darkness. First came Narru. He taught another ancient civilization the power of the Chaos Emeralds and created the immensely destructive Gizoid. Later, a shape-shifter, Gerann, caused the destruction of the Echidna tribe and almost released Chaos upon the world. Many followed them until the final Ancient, Magnus, sealed the portal between the worlds with an unbreakable spell. It is said that the one who enters this lost world and survives the four tests will have the power to destroy the Dark Rubies and shatter that evil realm. The first test is dueling ring of mammoth proportions. In order to advance, the hero must possess power and skill. The second test is a perilous labyrinth. Traps and fiendish monsters guard the dark, cold depths of the place. It tests wisdom and intelligence. The third is the test of willpower. Only one who is truly determined will withstand the polls of lava, the wraiths, and the other unspeakable horrors of the place. The final test tries the very heart of the hero. Whispers of power, fame, riches beyond imagining lure the weak away to be buried alive in the dark silence.

"Well cream," Vanilla exclaimed, "That certainly captured the imagination. Good night"

"Good night mother!" Cream happily squealed. As she fell asleep, A shadow in the corner of the room detached itself from the wall. "So Magnus, Mage of Necropolis, you are not entirely forgotten. You saved this world once, can you do it again? Especially after I twist the tales to cast you as the greatest villain who ever lived." Whispered the shadow and ghosted off into the night.

So marriage has not mellowed Rouge, Chris still lives after over 100 years, and Tails now assumes the role of desperate scientist.