Chapter 7:

"Hmph. Sonic, you fool. What the hell have you gotten us into this time?" Shadow interrupted his broody monologue to glower rather nastily at a small child, who immediately clung to his mother, bawling. "If only that foolish faker had just easily given me that damn fourth chaos emerald…"

His black, red-rimmed fabric-clad leg shot out automatically, sending a small pebble shooting off into the distance. He scowled at the sky.

"I'll find you yet, Faker. And you're going to get us out of this mess."


"This is perfect…" A figure twitched, sending waves down rolls of fat.

"If I may so humbly ask…" Whirring sounds, then beeps. "How can being stranded on an unknown planet be of any help to us, your deviousness?"

"Foolish Orbot." Grumbling, then shifting. "Wouldn't have expected you to understand."

A metallic face, devoid of any emotion, watched from afar, awaiting an explanation as its plump creator sat himself rather comfortably on his plush seat. The figure was only completely comfortable before he began again. "This planet is not as unknown as you may think." A smirk crept its way into his voice, but his face remained neutral. "This is Earth, home of my people. And my people are…rather close-minded." A short, stagnant silence. "Once they realize that I am the one they can trust, they'll turn to me, begging me to halt that blue mutt right in his tracks."

Metal Sonic waited, but his creator said no more. Without a sound, he turned to carry out the unspoken orders.


"So…"

Sonic, whose eyes had been previously trained on the television and was sitting directly in front of the couch, quickly looked up to catch the wayward translating device as it fell into her hands. Mellissa was upside-down and on the couch, mindlessly playing with her ears.

"'Sup?"

"I'm wondering why you're so small."

"Why are you humans so big?" Sonic countered playfully, and, after a slight pause for the translating, felt Melissa stiffen. "I'm kidding, kidding," she chided. "Must be an animal thing."

"Hm," Melissa conceded. "So what kind of animal are you infused with, anyway? I don't know any blue animals."

"Hedgehog. Mutation from running." Sonic shrugged helplessly.

"How fast can you go?"

"Dunno."

"A helluva lot faster than his brain, that's for sure," Knuckles interjected, plopping himself onto the couch beside Melissa. "And he's blue because he's chaos-infused."

Sonic sighed dreamily as Melissa continued to rub her ears. "Didn't understand that, but it had better be good. Little lower, please."

Melissa complied and Knuckles rolled his eyes. She turned her attention on him. "How come you can speak English, Knuckles?"

The echidna-hybrid shrugged helplessly. "I kind of took it upon myself to learn. Many wayward travelers come upon my island."

Melissa still had a slight disbelief that the hybrid lived alone on a floating island guarding a huge emerald, but she nodded quickly to show she was listening. Something about this guy demanded respect, and she really didn't want to see what would happen if those requirements were not fulfilled. He still seemed like a good guy, though. Just…rather hardcore.

She looked back to Sonic, which was a little uncomfortable in her inverted position. This boy seemed to be the complete antithesis of his comrade. Sure, they were both pretty emotionally hardened, but where Knuckles was toughened by responsibility, dutifulness, and dignity, Sonic was made of complete experience. Easy acceptance, too.

Tails was a little bit different, she noticed, watching him demonstrate his flying to Kevin, who was rapt with attention. He was the epitome of innocence (despite his staggering genius). Of course, he seemed to know much more than any child his age should, experience-wise, but what really struck Melissa was that it didn't really affect him. He still retained a sweet, childish nature.

Melissa let out a breathy sigh. She considered herself rather observant; her quiet calmness lent nicely to that attribute. However, these new creatures certainly had an unearthly, yet learned air about them. They were enigmas, and although Melissa (a young woman of science) usually tended to shy away from things she did not understand, she felt herself drawn to them, fascinated.

She gasped when Sonic's ears suddenly flicked out of her grasp. "Sonic—"

"Shh," Sonic hushed her, ears swiveled attentively to the screen.

Knuckles' harsh, guttural whispers reached Melissa's ears, and judging by the way Sonic was nodding, a grim look on his face, Knuckles was probably translating.

"Shadow," Sonic spoke, and the very name sent spiraling chills down Melissa's spine. What a scary name.

"Who is Shadow?" she prompted Knuckles.

Knuckles looked as if he had swallowed something very bitter. "An asshole."

With a cocky grin, Sonic quickly rose (Melissa did too, she was starting to get a headache). Turning to Knuckles, she said two words in English:

"Let's go!"

Blue and black, boot-like shoes landed neatly on the grass, pale arms setting a certain purple-haired cat hybrid down. "Silver…" Golden, slit-pupil eyes staring searchingly into her partner's.


"It'll be fine, Blaze," Silver let his hand drop away from Blaze's waist and come to rest upon his crown of wayward silver spikes. Alabaster ears flicked uncertainly. "Earth is where she has come. The Iblis Trigger. We'll find her, Blaze, don't you worry."

I know, I know. I suck. But hey! At least you got an update! (shot)

Okay. Okay. Sorry about the cliffhanger, you guys. I promise the next chapter will be coming soon! Also, please PLEASE tell me if the events in this story are being a little too rushed and if I should slow down a bit.