Chapter seven: release this child

Knuckles led Sonic far into the forest, after an hour or to Sonic asked Knuckles if he really knew where he was going.

"Yes," Knuckles answered.
"How do you know?" Sonic asked again, shifting Iphigenia to a more comfortable position.

"Because, we're here," Knuckles moved some foliage aside, reviling a large Castile like building.

"Oh," Sonic shifted Iphigenia again and walked towards the building, followed closely by Knuckles.

Sonic placed his hand on the large door. It opened on its own accord.

"Usually, when a door does that, the house is haunted," Sonic said, lightheartedly.

Iphigenia hugged Sonic tighter.

"Don't worry," Sonic reassured, "I won't let any ghosts hurt you."

They entered another room. Tails stood on a pedestal in the center of the white colored room, wearing a toga like garment.

"Tails!" Sonic put Iphigenia down and ran over to Tails and embraced him. Tails didn't return the gesture, "Tails?" Tails stood stiff, staring forward, like he was in a trance, "Tails," Sonic shook the fox lightly, "wake up, it's me, Sonic," Tails didn't react, "Tails!" Sonic shook him a little harder.

"Sonic stop," Knuckles placed a hand on Sonic's shoulder, "only the Highers can wake him up."

"Where are they?"

There was a bright flash of light, "we are here friend of fire."

"We brought you Iphigenia, now give Tails back," Sonic said commandingly.

"Why should we give you what you wish," the Highers said, "You do not respect us."

"Why should I respect you vicious, arrogant, false Gods?"

The Highers looked at Sonic with rage, "how dare you insult us? Feel our wrath!"

Knuckles got in between Sonic and the Highers, crossed his arms over his chest and bowed low, "please have mercy on him; he does not fully understand our customs."

The Highers calmed their fury, "you shall be spared child of the sun, but next time we shall not hold back," the Highers turned to Iphigenia, "you are ready?"

"My I say goodbye?" Iphigenia turned to Sonic.

"You may."

Iphigenia turned to Sonic. Sonic got down on his knees and embraced the young echidna, "you be brave okay?" his voice broke.

"Okay," Iphigenia whispered back, she turned back to the Highers, "I'm ready."

The Highers placed their hand on Iphigenia's head. Light engulfed her. When the light subsided, she was wearing a toga. She walked stiffly to the pedestal in the center of the room. Tails stepped down and Iphigenia replaced him. She stood as still as a statue, and Sonic knew, she was gone. He pressed his lips together, holding in his tears.

"Why do you care for this girl?" the Highers asked, "you barley know her."

"I care because she had her whole life ahead of her, and you took it all away, for your own selfish reasons, what is she to you? A trophy? A nick knack? A reminder of the control you have over these people?"

The Highers looked puzzled, like they had never thought about it that way. They looked at the motionless girl, "your wisdom astounds us, Child of the Sun," they went over to Iphigenia, "this child is not vital to our survival," they passed their hand over Iphigenia's head, she left the pedestal, and walked over to Sonic, she stood in front of him next to Tails.

"We release this child and her descendents from our power; they no longer need to give up their children."

"That's it?" Knuckles asked, "No more sacrifice?"

"No, we still will call for a sacrifice," the Highers said, "but they shall never be a living being," the turned to Sonic, "thank you for opening our eyes, you truly worthy of your title." The Highers disappeared in a flash of light, and Tails and Iphigenia snapped out of their trance.

"Hun?" Tails shook his head.

"What happened?" Iphigenia asked Sonic.

"The Highers set you and your family free," Sonic smiled, "you never have to give up a child again."

Iphigenia