Chapter 3: Walking Among Stars
Next morning, I unwillingly woke up at five o'clock and couldn't go back to sleep. I look out the window and sigh, I never felt so torn before. I both looked forward to this day, and dreaded it. I bit my lower lip and got up and dressed. I wore my favorite outfit; a pair of blue cargo pants with several pockets, a grey t-shirt with a western blouse that I tied instead of buttoning it. I put my Touch in my pocket with the headphones on and put on my shoes.
I was listening to 'Listen to your Heart' by DHT. It was a good song and it fit today very well. I activate my shoes and gently glide around the room, checking for bugs or glitches. I was so involved in what I was doing that I didn't hear Sonic enter the room. I nearly fell when I realized he was there and took off my headphones. I look at the blue blur and force a smile. He smiled back, his green eyes bright but with a sad tone to them.
"Morning Sonic," I said, deactivating my shoes. "Everything ready?"
"Yup," Sonic replied. "Tails got up early to check the Blue Typhoon's status. She's charged and ready to go as soon as we stock up. But you don't look ready."
I blushed. Ever since he had come to Christ, Sonic had a knack at knowing what was going on. "Is it that obvious?"
Sonic nodded.
I sighed. "I don't know what to think, Sonic. I want to go home; I miss my family and my friends. And I would like to see my grandparents again. Yet, since I got here to Mobius, it felt just like home, and I can't seem to bring myself to really want to leave."
Sonic grinned understandingly. He came forward flicked the ring on my necklace, making it glint.
"As long as you never forget this place," Sonic said. "This will always be home to you."
I smile at Sonic, I always felt better after talking with Sonic. Just being around Sonic made me feel better. Suddenly, Sonic changed the mood with a quick smile. "I came to see if you wanted one last run around the Great Forest before we shove off. It's a beautiful morning and I saw your light on. Want to go?"
"You bet!" I replied, following him out the door and around the Great Forest.
The wind tugged at my hair as I skated beside Sonic. We weren't going as fast as we usually go, but I didn't mind. It was fun just racing as fast my legs would carry me. Sonic lead me through the Great forest. I stayed by Sonic through the whole run. I leaped over logs and glided between trees with such ease I felt like I was flying.
Soon, Sonic stopped at a clearing where an apple tree was blossoming. Here, he and I sat down in the grass and rested. Sonic brought me here once before, but that was a month after Silver left for training. The apples were so fresh here and the sky seemed to always be bright blue.
I lay back and looked up at the sky, watching the clouds roll by. Sonic lay back too and we lay there in silence. At least until I heard Sonic chuckle. I look at him to see his eyes were closed and his arms supported the back of his head.
"What are you laughing at?" I asked.
"Just a memory," Sonic replied. "Like when you found out that Shadow cooked. Remember? It was they day after we met you. Shadow made breakfast to make up for scaring you."
"How can I forget?" I said. "I was still in those crutches with a bad ankle. I think that was the morning I found out I could sense chaos emeralds."
"That's right," Sonic said. "You should have seen the look on Shadow's face when we fond it in the pasture. He was shocked that you could sense them. Around here, humans are immune to chaos energy."
"I remember the day when Tails gave me the improved iTouch." I said. "He couldn't stop talking about all the things it can do."
Sonic chuckled again. "What about the time when you threw fruit at me?"
"Hey! That was an accident and you know it!" I said defensively, but soon we were both laughing.
"You ran quite a ways before I caught you." Sonic said. "Then Tails dumped a bucket of water on me."
I burst out laughing at the memory. "I wish you could have seen you're face after you uncurled!"
Sonic and I continued laughing until we lapsed into another silence. This time Sonic started the conversation. "Say, you never broke the sound barer, have you?"
I shook my head. "I don't have super speed like you do Sonic. It's only thanks to my shoes that I can keep up with you in the first place."
"Well then," Sonic said, standing up and looking down at me. He smiled and offered a hand. "Want to see what it's like?"
I smile back and take his hand. He hoisted me up to a sitting position. "I'd love to." I answered.
I stood and took both my hands, draping them over his shoulders, much like the way he did for Chris Thorndike. Before I new it, Sonic was speeding away at the speed of sound. I could hear a faint booming behind us as we broke the barer. I look ahead of us. Everything was a blur of light and color, and the feeling that I was flying rushed through my body, making it feel like there were butterflies in every inch of my body.
A moment later, Sonic was skidding to a halt in Knothole, leaving me breathless. My body was trembling and at first Sonic thought I was crying, but then I lifted my head and he found I was simply laughing. He looked at me in confusion at first, but then broke into a grin and laughed with me.
"I take it you had fun?" Sonic asked.
"Had fun?" I asked with bright eyes. "That was the most amazing feeling I've ever had! It was so exciting!"
Sonic grinned. He liked it when he made people smile; it always made him feel good. He let me go and I looked around. The sun was rising, and the left over rain drops on the leaves made everything glisten and the air was heavy with the smell of rain.
"Home sweet Knothole." I said, taking a deep breath of the fresh air.
Sonic smiled. "Now I'm wishing you could stay. It's been great trashing Eggman's toys with you."
I smile back. "I'll miss the adventures. Back home there aren't as many as there is here. I don't know how I'm going to cope with a quiet life."
Sonic chuckled as we walked to the hangar where the Blue Typhoon was. "The I suggest you live every moment to the fullest. Help wherever you can and see as much as you can. Try new things, anything you can think of. There's an adventure in everything ya know, you just have to look hard enough."
I thought about this and realized how right he was. I looked at Sonic and shake my head. "When did you get so wise?"
Sonic shrugged. "When you run around as much as I do, you learn one or two things. You ready to start loading?"
I nodded. "Let me get Izzy, Tails said that he had a small stable set up for her."
"Cool deal," Sonic replied. "I'll see you at the Blue Typhoon."
From a high tree with a pair of binoculars, Creek watched his prey. One target was the human, who was easy to find since she was the only one there. He already knew about her ability to sense danger, so that was why he remained at this distance.
He took his binoculars down and leaped out of his tree, landing nimble to his feet. He remained in a crouched position and listened. Scourge was nearby and he listened as the green hedgehog approached.
"What's new?" Scourge asked.
"The girl and the blue hedgehog just came back from a run." Creek reported, standing upright again.
"His name is Sonic," Scourge said, rolling his eyes. "And from what I gather, her name is Emily. Now what are they doing?"
Creek glared at Scourge. This hedgehog was lucky that Creek needed him alive. "They are preparing to depart. All they need is to stock up on food and other resources."
"And you know this…How?" Scourge asked.
Creek deepened his glare and snarled. "I listened to their conversation last night through a window."
"Without her sensing ya?" Scourge asked. "I'm impressed."
Suddenly, Creek lunged at the hedgehog, grabbed him by the collar of his leather jacket and pinned him to a tree. "I suggest you not get on my nerves hedgehog." Creek growled. "You may have killed your father, but you are far from the killer you think you are. I have killed over a thousand people in my lifetime, and I have now problem adding a green hedgehog to that list. You understand me?"
Quite shaken, Scourge nodded. Creek let him go and started walking off, feeling pleased with himself that he had shown the ignorant hedgehog his place. "Now lets hurry. We need to tell Ixis that they're preparing to leave Mobius."
I was riding Izzy bareback to the Blue Typhoon. I loved riding her through such amazing terrain. The green rose up around me and the branches past me as I rode, but this was slow motion compared to how fast Sonic could go.
I rode up to the Blue Typhoon and dismounted. Izzy seemed nervous about entering the Blue Typhoon, but after a moment she was more than willing to go in. Tails showed me to the make-shift stable he had set up for her; There was a stall that was big enough for her to be in for long periods of time, complete with a water bucket and hey net. There were even shaving for her. There was a water faucet over the bucket, making water chores easy. Her feed and hay where stored out of Izzy's reach and so was a rack for her tack. Sally had let me have the Mobian saddle and that was already hanging there.
After Izzy was put away, I realized that Shadow and Rouge were there. I smile and greet them. Shadow offered a small smile and shook my hand. Rouge offered a larger smile and we embraced.
"You ready for a space odyssey, hon?" She asked, sounding like a Vegas Showgirl.
I laughed. I loved it when she called me Hon. "Sort of." I said truthfully. "Half of me wants to go home and the other half wants to stay. I'll definitely be leaving half my heart on Mobius."
"And I'm sure Mobius won't feel the same after you leave." Shadow said. "We thought we'd come early to help load supplies."
"Thanks," Sonic said. "We need all the help can get getting it all in here. Knuckles said he had everything gathered so all we need to do is load everything."
Shadow lifted his chaos emerald and smirked. "Shall I?"
"I don't think we'll need that," Tails said. "I have the portal set up so we can use that."
Silver was finishing his packing. He was glad that he had only a few personal items that he needed, such as his chaos emerald, tooth brush, and extra pair of boots and a couple of gadgets from Tails.
Knuckles and the Chaotix had been busy gather supplies for the trip. There was a pile wooden crates filled with fruits and nuts and a couple of barrels of water, but Silver guessed that Tails already had a store of water and told Knuckles this, but Knuckles said that the barrels would act as an emergency supply.
Silver filled his backpack and invited Saphron onto his shoulder. The blue parrot was staying with Sally down in Knothole, since she was the only other one Saphron liked.
Silver went downstairs and out the front door, taking a deep breath of the tropical air around him. He walked over to the pile and looked at everything there. He smiled when he saw the pineapples in one crate, and the smile grew when he saw that another crate was completely filled with nothing but grapes.
Suddenly, a pair of hands covered his eyes. He was surprised that Saphron hadn't warned him and went tense for a moment but relaxed again.
"Reveal, my name," A voice hissed.
Silver crossed his arms and thought, sensing that whoever it was wasn't dangerous. "Hmm…" He said. "There are no gloves on you for one thing. There's no fur for another. I'm guessing… Emily Bridgestone."
The hands were removed and Silver turned to see my smiling face. I laughed as Silver and I embrace. While we were still hugging, Saphron squawked and marched to my shoulder. I click my tongue at him and stroke his chest.
"You're hear earlier than I thought," Silver said. "Knuckles and the Chaotix are still gathering stuff."
"We know," I reply. "Sonic, Shadow and Rouge went to find them and told me to see if you were ready."
"I'm ready," Silver said. "I just need to get Saphron to Sally's. What about you?"
I grin at Silver. He had become one of my closest friends during this journey in Mobius. We fought Mephilis together and braved The Valley of Shadow together. While in the Great Desert, Silver had been caught by a Mobian King Cobra along with the Sonic, Tails, and the rest of the guys. Sally, Bunny, Rouge and I had dressed up as dancing girls to rescue them. It was the craziest thing I had ever done, but I was glad we escaped the cobras.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," I answered. "But I'll never forget this place."
"Want to go find Knuckles and the others?" Silver asked. "Mainly just to see the Island?"
"I would love to." I answered, activating my shoes.
Silver smiled and levitated into the air with Saphron flapping beside him. Together we raced through Angel Island, but going slower than usual so I could see each detail. Silver and I were always exploring Angel Island before we left to fight Mephilis and we knew ever nook and cranie (Except Silver knew a few more places being Knuckles apprentice).
Silver and I weaved in and out between the trees and over the streams.
I was soon letting my mind wander. It wandered back to my first Easter here in Mobius. We were resting in Ironlock with a blind mobian hedgehog and his adoptive human mother. Then it turned to my first Christmas here. We spent it at Sonic's hut. It was then I got my new laptop from Tails and a shard of the Master Emerald from Knuckles that I now wore on a chain as a bracelet. I had given Silver a small snow-white crystal I found while exploring Angel Island one day. He wore it around his neck, but it was hard to see in his fur.
Suddenly, I spotted something purple in front of me and had to skid to a stop. It was Espio. He looked at me with his bright golden eyes from around another wooden crate filled with oranges and apples. He smiled as Silver lowered himself down to the ground and stood beside me.
"And where are you two going in such a hurry?" He asked.
"Sight seeing for one last time." I answered. "I've had some good memories here. Like my birthday fiasco."
Espio chuckled. "How could anyone forget that? That was the day you were shot, wasn't it?"
I nodded. It was also the day I got that moon-shaped mark on my wrist along with Silver that marked us as Protectors. That birthday was craziest birthday on record. First a party with seafood and gifts surprised me, then Knuckles took me to see the Master Emerald, then fake Silver attacked and kidnapped me. The rest was myself and Silver saving my parents, and me getting shot while protecting Silver. I still had scares from that day, but they served as a reminder of my adventures and how good God is.
"Is there anything we can help with?" Silver asked.
"This is our last load to gather." Espio said. "But you two can help load the Blue Typhoon."
Silver and I smile at him and walk back to the village to start loading. To my surprise, Knuckles, Sonic, Rouge, Shadow, Vector and Charmy where already there and getting ready to start loading things through the portal. Silver gestured to a few boxes and lifted them with his telekinesis. Shadow took a couple, Sonic took a couple and rushed back and fourth. Knuckles took several at a time, his strength still amazed me at times. Rouge used ropes and flew the packages to the Blue Typhoon. The Chaotix carried several at a time but not as many as Knuckles. Silver carried the most; it wore him out toward the end, but he did good. I on the other hand could only take one at a time. But I made good time. We were done in six trips. After everything was loaded, Tails began prepping the Blue Typhoon for takeoff.
Silver, myself, Knuckles, Sonic, Shadow and Rouge walked back to Knothole to pick up Cream and Amy and to drop Saphron off at Sally's. Sally put him away and came back with an odd look on her face. She stood in front of me, I was a head taller than her so she had to look up.
"It was a pleasure and an honor to have you in the Knothole Freedom Fighters, Emily." She said. "You will be greatly missed."
I smile at the squirrel. Only Sally called me Emily while everyone else called me Em. Even when I told her she could call me Em she insisted on calling me Emily.
"I'm going to miss you guys too." I replied. "It's been an honor fighting along side you and the other Freedom Fighters."
Sally offered a hand to shake, but I embraced her. My movement surprised her, but she hugged me back in the end. I had fought along side of Sally for almost a year Mobius time. I would miss her like I would miss everyone else.
We pull away and start making our way to the Blue Typhoon. My eyes continued to wander over Knothole, silently remembering my time there, like Tails' fifteenth birthday. We surprised him with a new welder and a programming device that Sonic and I stole from Robotnik. We had Sally and Rotor check it out before we gave it to Tails to make sure it didn't cause trouble later.
Then there was my first mission. I had so many jitters that Sonic and I had to go slower than usual. But thankfully, Sonic's encouraging personality kept me going. Plus, be paused mid-mission to pray over me for courage and strength, which made me feel better.
Oh, and I couldn't forget the day that Sally and Sonic came home with Sally as a Christian. I never had a clear sight of Sonic with tears (because he would either hide his face or wipe them away before they fell) but that day, I saw that the fur under his eyes and on his cheeks was wet with them as well as Sally's.
As I said before, Knothole had become my home away from home, just like Angel Island had. I wished I could stay, but I knew I had responsibilities back home.
"EM! Em sugah, wait up!"
I turn to see Bunny and Antoine running up to us. I smile at both of them as they stopped in front of us. Bunny wasn't a bit tired, but Antoine was huffing like he just ran a marathon.
"Didn't think I'd let ch'all go without sayin' good bye, didja?" She asked.
"I wouldn't dream of it." I replied and gave Bunny a hug. Even with all of her metal, it was comfortable embracing her.
"We sure are gonna miss y'all, Em." Bunny said.
"I'm gonna miss you guys too." I answered. "Those missions were great payback to old Egghead for all the trouble he caused me."
"I'll miss seein' ya in action." Bunny said as she and I pulled away.
Antoine cleared his voice, causing me to look at him. He handed me a booklet that was bound in leather. Most books in knothole had leather covers, making them look old. I took it from Antoine and open it, realizing it was a sword-sparing book so I could keep practicing.
"I thought zat you would enjoy zis." Antoine said. "Zinse moi will not be accompanying you on ze journey, zis shall go in moi place."
"Nothing can take you're place, Ant." I said, giving Antoine a hug. "But merci."
Antoine hugged me back. "Vous êtes bienvenu." He replied.
I let go of Antoine and chuckle. "My family is going to flip when they find out I can speak French."
"Eet iz a fine tongue to be speaking," Antoine agreed. "Oh, before I forget, somezing for both you and Silvor."
Silver shook his head. For as long as I have been here, Antoine had always pronounced Silver's name wrong and Silver always tried to correct him, but soon gave up like Sonic did.
Antoine then pulled out two very fine looking sabers. "Just as a parting gift to you two. Hopefully zey will be coming in handy on ze trip."
I took one saber and silver took the other. They were well made and well balanced. And being made for Mobians, my saber fit my hand perfectly (since I'm a short human, most Mobian things fit me fairly well)
"These are great Antoine." Silver said. "I'm sure they'll be useful."
We sank into silence as we walked to the Blue Typhoon. Cream and Amy joined us and we met everyone at the ship. Vector and the other Chaotix were there with a few bags. I look at them and look at the bags. "You guys are coming?"
"Why not?" Vector said. "No one will be interested in Angel Island now that the Master Emerald is on the Blue Typhoon."
"And with Monsoon coming to a close," Espio said. "The plants can take care of themselves by feeding off of the reserves. We thought we'd tag along for this trip."
"On the condition that you guys stay out of trouble!" Tails shouted from the cargo bay as he closed it and walked up to us. "Last time you nearly ruined a party Cosmo and I were planning."
"Not to worry, Tails," Vector said. "We'll be on our best behavior."
"If I remember right that was what you said last time I let you on board." I heard Tails mumble, and I had to fight back a giggle.
"Hey, how about a couple of pictures before you go?" Sally suggested, holding up NICOLE. "Nicole, switch to camera mode set timer for thirty seconds."
"Switching, Sally." NICOLE replied as Sally set NICOLE up on a box and rushed to the others for the picture.
I won't say where we all stood, but I will say we stood in somewhat groups. The Chaotix stood behind us with Charmy and Rouge in the air and Knuckles and Silver in front. I leaned forward with my hands on my knees throwing a peace sign with a wink. I stood between Sonic and Silver. Sonic had al the freedom fighters beside him, and Shadow was standing on the other side of Knuckles. The camera snapped not once but twice. Sally retrieved the picture and smiled as she showed it to us. She gave me the picture with a gentle smile. "I'll copy it for Knuckles and everyone else when they get back."
With one last hug fair-well to everyone, we boarded the Blue Typhoon and made our way to the main deck. Silver was following me at first, but then Knuckles stopped him.
"I need you in the Emerald Room." He said. "We need to get you used to the energy that the Master Emerald gives off and you need to learn how to activate it."
Silver nodded. "See you after the launch."
"Later Silv." I replied as the rest of us continued up.
I had already checked on Izzy, but I felt jittery. I wasn't sure about space travel, and never actually wanted to try it. But this was the easiest way home, so I would take my chances.
Up on the main deck. I took a seat where Chris used to sit and Typed in my name. Immediately a display screen came up on engine status and emerald stability.
"Looks like we're ready for launch Tails." I said. "She charged and ready for flight."
"Alright Knuckles, ready when you are." Tails said over the com.
"Copy that Tails." Knuckles replied and looked at his apprentice. "Ready?"
Silver nodded.
Knuckled turned to the master emerald and raised his palms. "I must remember that the servers are the seven chaos. The Controller unifies the chaos. Master Emerald, lend us your power."
The master emerald began to glow and energize the Blue Typhoon. Silver stood in amazement next to Knuckles as he memorized the words.
The engine hummed to life and the ship began to shake a bit.
Up on deck, Tails hand taken the controls as he looked at Shadow. "Shadow, re-rout the power to the main engine."
Shadow didn't answer but completed the task. I felt the ship lift as it rattled to life. I held onto the controls and squinted as G-forces pressed against my lungs.
"She's purring like a kitten, Tails," Sonic said, who didn't seem to be affected by the G-forces.
"I dose feel good to have her out of the shop." Tails said watching the skies ahead.
Below, back on Mobius, Sally and the other freedom fighters watched as the Blue Typhoon left the planet.
"Lord be with them." Sally prayed. "Take Emily home safely and bring Sonic and the others home safely as well."
"Amen to that, Sally girl." Bunny said. "Lord, I pray that we'll see Em again someday."
"Wi, Bunee." Antoine agreed. "I pray zat as well."
As the G's finally settled and I could open my eyes what I saw shocked and amazed me. There was nothing but a blanket of stars around us, and the glowing planet of Mobius bellow.
"Espio, could you take the wheel for me?" I asked.
The ninja nodded and took my seat as I stood and walked to the front of the deck and leaned against the rail to see the stars. They were brighter than I had ever seen, and with the planet below us, it amazed me on how creative the Lord truly was.
Shadow gave his controls to Amy and walked over to stand beside me. "I have seen that sight for most of my life while on the ARK." He said. "But it looks different knowing who is responsible for such a beautiful sight."
"You can say that again, Shadow." I said.
Shadow looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "Are you trembling?"
I look at my hands and realize that I was. "I've never been in space before," I explained. "I guess I'm scared and excited at the same time."
"Give it time," Shadow said. "Both feelings will fade soon enough."
"At least until we start showing you how to fly the Nova." Sonic chimed in as he stood on my other side. "Trust me, it's one of the best feelings you can get flying one of those."
"I though running at the speed of sound had the best feeling." I teased.
Sonic shrugged. "Flying a space jet takes second place."
Sonic and I laugh as the Blue Typhoon floated away from mobius. Little did we know that following us was a dark colored ship with four new enemies, poised like a stalking fox after a rabbit, watching and waiting for the best moment to strike.
From inside, Creek watched the Blue Typhoon with hungery greed in his eye as he grinned wickedly. 'This will be more fun than I thought,' He thought as the Black Shadow silently followed the Blue Typhoon.
