[Null Space]

The team continued watching their surroundings for a while, then, Kobara decided to break the bubble of silence. "It's big." she said.

Everybody nodded in agreement. "How exactly are we going to find Sonic in all of this?" asked Gadget nervously.

"I'm... not completely sure," said Alexis, "I don't even see any other roads. I don't know if there's any way off this blocky island."

"So, we're stuck here?" said Chromia.

Hopscotch looked down and was surprised when another block appeared on the ground. He took a tenative step forward. Instantly, blocks appeared underneath his feet. "Ah don' think we're stuck 'ere. The island grows when we move."

"Well, I guess that's good news," said Chromia, "but it still doesn't say how exactly we're going to find Sonic."

"We come here through our minds, right?" said Alexis.

The squad nodded.

"Well then, we can essentially do whatever we want to. I think. Maybe we can..." She bent down to the ground, touching her hand to one of the purple blocks.

Everyone, except Alexis, jumped as more blocks appeared, lining up into a path that led away from the island. Alexis stood up and said, "Well then, let's follow the yellow brick road."

"Uh, it's purple," said Kobara, confused with her reference.

"Sorry," Alexis said sheepishly, "I have no clue why I'm quoting the 'Wizard of Oz'. Probably because we aren't in our actual world."

"If you're quoting it that much," said Gadget, "I may have to see that movie sometime."

"If you ever go to Earth," she said to him, "then I'll introduce you to a lot of movies. C'mon, let's get going!"

And with that, the team dashed across the bridge of blocks, which grew as they kept on running. It was time to bring Sonic home.

()

[Resistance Base]

Knuckles, Amy and the Chaotix looked at Squad H as they continued to stand around Sonic. Their bodies were now practically glowing with flames, and Sonic was now glowing with a strane red aura.

"That's probably the same aura that Alexis mentioned," said Espio.

"Yeah," agreed Knuckles. "I just hope that they're doing okay in there."

Silver walked into the room then. "So, they're trying to get him out?" he asked.

Amy nodded. "I just wish that we knew what was going on in there," she said in worry.

"Don't worry," said Knuckles, "If anyone can bring Sonic home, it's Squad H. I think it's about time that they live up to their name anyway.

"Let's hope that they can give us hope again."

()

[Null Space]

As the squad continued on the road, Gadget's ears suddenly flicked upwards. "Do you guys hear that?" he asked.

The team came to a stop and listened carefully. "What exactly-" Chromia started to ask, but Alexis said, "Shh! I hear something!"

Chromia stopped talking. Then, the whole team heard the sound. It was a strange electronic, humming noise, one that Alexis and Gadget recognized. "Infinite." snarled Alexis.

"So, 'e's in 'ere?" said Hopscotch nervously.

"And where he is," said Kobara, "Sonic has to be too."

"You gonna be okay, Gadget?" asked Alexis.

Gadget noddded. "I have to face my fears sometime, right?"

"Well then," said Hopscotch, "let's finish this."

"Finish what?" came an echoing voice. The humming noise grew louder, and in a shower of blocks, the masked jackal appeared, hovering in front of the team. "You wish to fight a being more powerful than you? So be it. But you," his gloved hand pointed towards Alexis as he said, "I have a special treat for you." His hand swiped through the air.

Everyone's eyes widdened in undisguised horror as a familliar, blue hedgehog with a dark grey mask materialized in front of them. "Is tha'?" said Hopscotch.

"What did you do to him!" Alexis yelled at Infinite.

"You wished for him to come back, didn't you?" asked Infinite, "Well here he is."

"What do we do now?" said Chromia, "We can't fight Sonic! I can barely hold my own against Silver when we spar! And he doesn't even use his powers!"

"I can handle him," said Alexis. Her hands burst into flames as she said to the rest of her team, "Can you guys deal with Infinite?"

A look of determination flashed in Gadget's eyes. Two Burst Wispons appeared in his hands as he said, "We've got this. Go get him."

The hedgehog nodded to them, then, she charged forward, crashing into the mind-controlled Sonic. A boom echoed through the air as the road in front of them began to stretch onward.

Infinite turned to look at the wolf. "I remember you." he said as the rest of the team summoned wispons into their hands, "You ran away from me before, but you throw it all away now. Curious." He projected a bunch of cannons around the team and said, "This will be goodbye."

"We'll see about that! Let's get him!" yelled Gadget. The squad charged.

()

[Null Space- Alexis POE] (Place of Events)

Soon, another blocky island came into view. As Sonic's hands pummled into her shoulders, she came to a stop on the island, throwing Sonic off. "Sonic," she said as the hedgehog struggled upwards, "I know how strong you are. Fight this! I know you can."

Sonic froze for a few seconds, then charged at Alexis. She barely caught his fist in time and said "Sorry." before she punched Sonic in the stomach, causing him to fall back.

It's a good thing that I took fighting lessons from Topaz and Mr. Tanaka, thought Alexis as Sonic charged forward again, causing her to sidestep and chop him on his back, But I can't go on like this forever. He's pausing when he starts to get up, so I know he's still in there. I just need to give him more motivation. But what- that's it!

Alexis paused for a few moments, concentrating hard. As Sonic charged forward again, she sent up a wall of purple blocks in between them. Sonic screeched to a stop as images started to ripple across the surface. The wall first showed the two of them sitting at the edge of a lake, Alexis as a human and Sonic looking slightly younger. They were on Earth, saying goodbye...

Alexis and Sonic sat on the edge of the lake, looking out across the moonlit waters. Sonic had become stranded when Mr. King, Alexis's adoptive father, had shot at the machine, crippling several components which, from Grandpa Chuck said, would take months to repair or get replacements to. Sonic, however, said that it was okay, saying that he had a backup plan. Then, he had taken Alexis to the lake.

Alexis finally broke the uncomfortable silence that was between them, "You're planning on using the Chaos Emeralds, right?"

"That's right." said Sonic, standing up.

"But I won't be able to go with you, will I?" she said.

Sonic paused and finally said, "Yes."

Once again, they went into an uncomfortable silence. Finally, Alexis said, "I understand." Sonic turned to look at her as she continued, "Now that I think about it, maybe my place is here on Earth, even though I'm actually from Mobius." She sighed and said, "But I wish you didn't have to go either. You're-" She paused and her voice started to break as she said, "You're my greatest friend. I just- I don't want to be alone again."

Sonic turned to look at the crying girl, her aquamarine highlights reflecting in the moonlight. He smiled and walked over to her, taking her arm and putting it around his shoulders.

"Wha-?" she started to ask, but the hedgehog interrupted her, saying, "I'm gonna go fast, so hang on tight!"

The young girl nodded and put her other arm around Sonic's neck, being mindful of his quills. As soon as she was secure, Sonic took off around the edge of the lake.

Alexis closed her eyes, feeling the wind rush past her face and stinging her eyes. As they continued onward, she remembered all the things they had done together. Sonic crashing into her pool, meeting the rest of Sonic's friends, fighting Eggman, discovering who she really was,, and now... saying goodbye.

Suddenly, something wet struck her cheek. Her eyes opened and she looked at Sonic. Drops of water were coming from in front of him. No, not water... tears.

Sonic, the toughest person that she had ever met, was crying.

Tears started to come from her eyes. She clung to Sonic tighter and whispered his name as their tears mingled together. "Sonic..."

When the wall between them dropped, Alexis saw that Sonic had fallen to his knees, his hands struggling to remove the helmet on his face. She rushed forward, pulling off the silver mask, which, once it was off, dissolved into cubes.

Sonic continued to kneel, breathing heavily. Alexis gently took him by the shoulders, and he looked up. The panic and fear on his face was replaced by shock and love and he whispered, "There's only one person besides me that knows what happened at that lake. And there's only one person that I know that has those eyes."

"That's kind of what's giving me away for everyone else." She giggled. The two of them embraced each other tightly. "Welcome home," he whispered.

Alexis gently released Sonic and said, "We're not home yet. Want to go kick Infinite's butt?"

"Do I ever!" he declared. She helped him onto his feet, and they took off down the road back to the others.

()

Gadget barley dodged as the cannons surrounding Infinite fired again. He fired his twin Burst Wispons at the jackal as Hopscotch summoned a few springs, allowing him and Chromia to jump above Infinite, firing their own summoned Wispons at him.

Kobara flew along on an Exreme Gear around Infinite, shooting her Void Wispon at him. He was struggling to get out of the voids that were made, allowing the blue hawk to throw several large, jagged pieces of glass that she summoned at him.

Finally, a wave of red energy pulsed out of Infinite, causing them to fall back. "ENOUGH!" he yelled, "I have had enough of toying with you pitiful insects! Prepare to say- gah!"

Infinite's sentance abruptly ended as two spinning sphere's slammed into his back. They came to a stop and revealed themselves to be Sonic and Alexis. "Prepare to say what now? I didn't quite get that last part!" joked the female hedgehog.

"Yeah!" agreed Sonic, "Because, 'Gah!' doesn't quite seem very threatening! Did you have something stuck in your throat?"

Everyone except Infinite burst out laughing. The jackal raised a hand and cubes suddenly swarmed them, turning into a huge Infinite head, which started to advance towards them.

"Let's go everybody!" yelled Sonic. The team burst back the way that they came, Infinite's head closing in behind them.

"So, how do we get back?" asked Kobara, zooming alongside the team on her Extreme Gear.

"Well, how'd you guys get here?" asked Sonic.

"Through your head. Long story," said Alexis as Sonic cast her a confused look.

"How 'bout we make a door out?" said Hopscotch. He focused in front of him and soon enough, a doorway of white appeared in front of them.

"GO! GO! GO!" yelled Chromia. The husky grabbed Gadget's hand as Kobara grabbed onto Hopscotch and Alexis grabbed Sonic's hand. They zoomed through the doorway, which disappeared a few seconds before Infinite's head destroyed the spot where the doorway was.

Infinite's angry yell filled the empty air of Null Space.

()

[Resistance Base]

Everyone in the room jumped in suprise as Squad H came to life, the fires around them dimming and they looked around them worriedly. "We're back!" yelled Kobara, jumping in excitement.

Alexis breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Sonic worriedly as he gave a moan and slowly started to come back to life. "Alexis..." he said tiredly, "I... I can't..."

"Sonic?" she said worriedly.

He closed his eyes for a bit, then the shot open with a mischevious look in them and he grinned, "Man, you even worry slow!"

Alexis' eyes shot wide in shock, then a glint of relief and playful annoyance filled her eyes as she said, "Oh, you did not just do that!"

"I did," he grinned, sitting up and wincing slightly. He gave a yelp of suprise and pain as a familliar pink hedgehog darted forward and hugged him tightly around the shoulders, screaming, "Oh Sonic! I knew you were alive! I knew it! Thank goodness you're okay!"

"Amy!" gasped out Sonic, "Its good to see you too. But- ribs! Hurt!"

"Oh! Sorry!" she squeaked, quickly releasing the blue hedgehog and stepping back as Sonic rubbed his chest gently.

"How do you feel?" asked Knuckles, coming up to the bed.

"Better than I did a while ago. How long have I been out?" asked Sonic.

"Long enough." said Knuckles, "We're glad you're back."

Sonic nodded, holding up a hand, which the echidna gladly shook. It was time to start taking the world back.

This was hard to write. And the ending is a little crappy. Sorry. But I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far!

Thank you to all of those that are sticking with the story so far. And if any of you guys have ideas, please share!