Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Sonic the Hedgehog and others.

"Manic! STOP IT!" Manic jumped at the sound of his sister's hiss, right next to his ear. He had been drumming along each of the trees they passed, nodding his head slowly in time to the rhythm in his head.

"Alright, geez," he muttered, slowing down till he was behind his brother and sister. Sonic was leading them silently as possible to where he thought Scourge would be hiding. Yes, they were on Moebius. Manic found it somewhat fascinating, whereas Sonia thought it just plain creepy.

"Sonic," Sonia whispered, pulling up alongside her brother, "do you even know where we're going?" Sonic cast a glance over his shoulder.

"Yes, of course I do," he stated defensively.

"Really?" Manic asked, running to catch up with them. "Where, then?" Sonic sighed and came to an abrupt halt, turning to face them.

"Alright, listen. I don't know exactly where we're going, but I do know that if we keep walking, Scourge will eventually come to us. Then we can deal with him," he finished, watching his siblings closely for their reaction. He got none. Manic just shrugged, his expression impossible to read in his dark amber eyes, and Sonia continued to stare at her brother, face impassive.

"So what do we do?" Sonia queried, reaching out to stroke a vine, twisting around one of the leafy trees. "Just keep walking?" Sonic gave a weak smile and shrugged plaintively.

"Right." He confirmed, turning back to the darker part of the forest.

"Wrong," a singsong voice came floating out from just behind Manic. He whirled around, ready to confront whoever – or whatever – it was. But he didn't get the chance. Two dark hands reached out, and, in one swift movement, grabbed the collar of his red vest and yanked him into the shadows. He didn't have the time to call out; it was all over in a single heartbeat.

"Hey, Manic?" Sonic murmured, turning his head in the direction he thought his brother was. "Manic?" He turned fully, but saw that Manic was gone. "Manic!" He almost forgot to keep his voice down, he was so shocked. "Sonia, Sonia, where's Manic?"

"What?" Sonia hissed, walking back to him with shock flashing in her dark green eyes. Sonic was gesturing aimlessly at the spot where Manic had been, stuttering out nonsensical words. Sonia turned to follow his gaze, and saw that where Manic had been standing - a small empty space in the clustered trees - was devoid of spiky green hedgehogs.

"Well, where'd he go?" she cried, racing over to the trees near where Manic had been previously standing and peering into the gloom.

"I-I don't know," Sonic stuttered, staring blankly at his sister. "One minute he was there, the next he was gone." Sonia looked back at the trees, suspicion lighting her gaze. As soon as her back was to Sonic, dark hands appeared out of the trees behind him and pulled him swiftly in.

"Well, then we should start looking for him," Sonia decided, giving up on her inspection and turning back to her blue brother. "Sonic?" she squeaked. He was nowhere to be seen. "Sonic, where are you?" she called into the shadows. Her fur lifted in fright and she laid her ears flat. "Sonic, this isn't funny. Where'd you go?"

"You'll never find him." Sonia leaped into the air, whipping around, instantly defensive.

"Who's there?" she shouted, clenching her fists. "Interion? Is that you?" No response. "Nero? Scourge?" A giggle ensued, causing Sonia to shiver profusely.

"You'll never find him," the voice repeated. "Unless you come with me."

"Who?" Sonia cried, furious with herself for showing any kind of fear. "Who are you?" As a sort of answer, red eyes glowed from the dark, beckoning Sonia closer with malice gleaming in them.

"Come with me…" the voice repeated, almost gently. Then they disappeared.

"Nero, will you move already?" Interion's voice was raised; anger was vibrating from almost every syllable. "Let Scourge past!" Nero cast his sister a sulky glance and retreated a few steps, letting his green brother past.

"It's not fair," Nero whined to Interion, who simply rolled her magenta eyes. "Why does Scourge get to go?"

"Because he knows this place better than both of us put together!" Interion snapped impatiently. She instantly regretted being so sharp with her beloved brother and rested her hand on his shoulder to take the sting out of her words.

The two hedgehogs stood in silence, Interion was shifting her weight from foot to foot, and Nero was testing the flame power in his gem. He stopped only once he accidently singed the tip of Interion's tail, earning him a savage rebuking for using fire in a confined space in the first place.

"Just… try and sit quietly, okay?" Interion hissed through gritted teeth. She had a limited amount of tolerance for her over-active brothers, and she was reaching the end of it.

"Fine," Nero grumbled, crossing his arms and pouting. Interion peered over his messy amber quills into the gloom where Scourge had disappeared.

"Scourge should be back anytime…"

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~xoxo WinglessAngel