Chapter 4: Confusion

I spent the rest of that morning sitting by the lake, pondering what I had seen and heard. The blue liquid in front of me glowed brightly, sparkling under the daylight. I wasn't sure what it was: it was so blue and beautiful. And that blindingly bright circle in the sky: what was that? I had so many questions that I worried I might never find answers to. After all, where could I go?

"There you are."

I started on hearing the voice, but I remained calm, smiling slightly. "Dawn."

The bluenette came and sat beside me, still smiling. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Same here," I replied.

"So, did you have any luck?" she asked. I proceeded to recall the events of the morning to her. She looked surprised by what I said. "So you found him?"

"Yes," I nodded. "But he got away." I clenched my fist in anger. "I was so close, darn it!"

"Easy, Silver," she put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "It's just a minor setback." When I calmed down, she continued, "So, why are you out here when you have a mission to complete?" I could tell she was slightly teasing me.

"I was just thinking," I sighed. "Is it really okay to kill someone just because they're going to destroy the future? I don't think I could enjoy killing someone."

"No kidding," Dawn nodded. "I don't know what it is, but something about that blue hedgehog seemed familiar to me. I feel like I've seen him before."

I tapped my fingers together, trying to figure out what to do. Then a thought struck me.

"What about that Eggman person? Do you think he might have a lead for us?"

Dawn shivered slightly at that. "I don't know, Silver. He doesn't look too friendly, and I don't think he can be trusted."

"I wasn't suggesting trusting him," I replied. "I just think maybe we could salvage some information from him. After all, the Disturbance seems to have enmity with him"

She nodded. "Then let's go find him."

Eggman was currently hiding out in a battleship, apparently determined to return to some sort of base. Getting through the security was no trouble; certainly nothing of the likes of what Dawn and I had been through in our time.

I still find it hard to believe that stuff like this existed so long ago. This ship was massive, and its intricacies were incredibly detailed. How did they do this? Would restoring the future allow us to create similar vehicles?

I wasn't interested in finding out the answers to those questions. Not yet. I had to figure out what to do, and I had to figure it out soon.

We managed to find out way to a vault of sorts, in which we found a wealth of information, along with a mysterious red orb. I don't know if it was just me, but there seemed to be a small flame inside it.

"What is this?" I wondered. It looked almost ethereal.

"Could this be...the Fire Orb?" Dawn wondered as she held it.

"The what?"

"The Fire Orb. It's one of three treasures used in an annual ritual commemorating the coming of the Chosen One."

"The who?"

"The Chosen One: the subject of an ancient prophecy about the end of the world." She looked into his eyes seriously. "Perhaps that prophecy could help us figure out how that blue hedgehog is responsible for the destruction of our world."

"Hm," I mused. "Maybe. But where would we find it?"

"I don't know," she shook her head. "But I don't think we have time to find out. Let's keep this on hand, just in case it comes in handy."

I nodded, and we looked over the information we had on hand, only to come up empty-handed. We stole out of the battleship and assessed our situation.

"I guess we hit a dead-end," Dawn sighed.

"Love of Iblis," I cursed under my breath. "We can't keep looking for dead-ends. There's only one path that will lead to results, and I intend to follow it." With new resolve in my eyes, I started back for Cerulean City, Dawn right behind me.

When we arrived, we were surprised to find Mephiles there, his back turned to us. I looked at Dawn a moment, and she nodded. Then I stepped forward.

"Mephiles," I began. Maybe it was just my imagination, but he seemed to tense up when I spoke. He turned around, his face still obscured by his hat. "Who is the Disturbance? Why does he want to destroy the world?"

Mephiles merely stood there, apparently not registering my question.

"Mephiles," I repeated, more straightforward this time. "Who is he? Please. I want to know."

I'm not sure why, but he looked uncomfortable as he huffed. Finally, he spoke:

"Why does it matter to you?"

"Well, it's just –"

"Unless you complete your task," he interrupted me, "unless you finish him off, then your world will never change...ever."

Those last words rang with some kind of disgust that made me shudder. That was when a thought struck me, one that probably should have come to me a lot sooner...or later. Wait, what?

This game is confusing.

Why was Mephiles helping us in the first place? Why did he want us to kill the Disturbance? Was there an ulterior motive that he wasn't sharing with us?

"The Magnet Train is running out of control," Mephiles stopped my train of thought. "He's over there. This may be your last chance to do this." When I blinked again, he was gone.

Maybe I can't trust him I nodded, clenching my fist. But he's the only lead I've got right now. With that, I headed for the Magnet Train which I quickly found out was only slightly south of here.

"You're not getting away this time, Disturbance," I growled. "This time, you're mine."