A/N: Here goes the new one. Since each chapter is very large, so I decided to add a brief summary of previous episodes at the beginning from now onwards.

N/B: For a number of reasons, I changed Evil Sierra's name from Mia Blackhole into Bliss Blackhole, and Arthurian Sierra's name from Evangelina Eleanor into Guinevere Gwendoleana. Changes had been done in previous chapters (chapter 5, 6, 7) according to it.

What happened from the beginning till now:

In the earth, the existence of half-human-half-animal creatures or liminal beings (like mermaid, catgirl etc) is found and they have become a part of human society. The main protagonist of the story is their princess Sierra Star, who is a beautiful human-hedgehog hybrid or, hedgehog girl with fair skin, long crimson red hair, blue eyes and hidden abilities. As a part of an inter-species cultural exchange program, she had been assigned to live with four anthropomorphic hedgehogs- Sonic, Shadow, Silver and Scourge. Turns out, this inter-species exchange program was arranged by Sierra's mother and the liminal queen Lilith Lily, and she involved the four Mobians to protect her daughter because Sierra possessed the real Phantom Ruby which had been sealed inside her. Sierra's archenemy is Regina, who is a human-spider hybrid, has her own team Rebel Riders and they never met each other. But her subordinates tried to kidnap the redhead princess in order to have the ruby. Sierra refused to stay with the Mobians at first. But she got attacked by Rebel Riders and the four Mobian hedgehogs saved her, eventually leading her agree to stay with them. When Rouge, Knuckles and Eggman got to know about Sierra possessing the real phantom ruby, they decided to observe the princess and the four hedgehogs.

Like Sonic and his friends, Sierra does have other counterparts in different dimensions too. Arthurian/SATBK Sierra's name is Guinevere Gwendoleana, who is Arthur's wife, current ruler of Camelot and known as Red Knight. Sierra's No Zone counterpart Zierra Ztar is an elite Zone cop and the love interest of Zonic the Zone Cop (No Zone's Sonic). She released Scourge to make him join Sonic's team in order to protect her prime Sierra because her all counterpart's lives and fate depend on her. Meanwhile, No Zone went under attack of Sierra's blonde haired anti counterpart and a demonic hedgehog girl Bliss Blackhole and her sidekick Venice the Hedgehog, who is the evil twin brother of Silver. Venice held a long time grudge against his twin and being provoked by Bliss, he framed both Silver and Steel the Hedgehog (known as anti-Silver and Scourge's crime partner) for his own doings. Bliss and Venice wanted to have Scourge to recruit him in their team. Since Scourge was released before that so they took one of his two cellmates and crime partners, Sanctum the Hedgehog (known as anti-Shadow) with them and left Steel to be blamed for whatever damage Venice had done. Both Bliss and Regina's ultimate target is Sierra.


Grievance

(Continued from the end of the last chapter)

"You should get the laser restrainers ready, Fluffy boy." The evil blonde hedgehog girl Bliss Blackhole said to her Mobian companion, "He is not exactly what he seems to be. No offense, but you possibly won't be able to control him just by telekinesis if he puts a fight."

"What exactly made you think that about him?" Venice the Hedgehog narrowed his eyes in irritation, "If he's just an anti Shadow the Hedgehog-..."

"Which he is actually not." The blonde girl cut him off, "Sanctum the Hedgehog might resemble that ultimate life-form or whatever, but...he is not him. In fact, I'm not sure if he even looks like this."

"...Could you explain more?"

"Didn't you notice the purple stains on his prison suit?"

"Yeah...maybe he got it somehow..."

"Nope..." Bliss paused a second, "It was his blood."

"What...!"

"Look, he's awake."

The hedgehog with black fur and orange streaks, known as Sanctum, finally gained attention when Bliss noticed a pair of crimson red eyes opening.

"Hello Sleeping Beauty." She addressed him. "Finally, you woke up."

"Whe-where am I?"

"Mmm...where're you?" The blonde put a finger on her chin, "Well, that hardly matters I guess. What important is that...you're out of Zone jail, thanks to us." She proudly stated.

Sanctum briefly checked her out. He thought the blonde beauty as human at first, before he noticed her hedgehog ears and small height.

"Are you related to the elite zone cop...Zierra Ztar?"

"No hon, it's Bliss Blackhole. Let's just say...if Zierra is the cop, then I'm the criminal." She sweetly smiled at him, "Now, tell us who you are."

"I am Sanctum the Hedgehog. I am a friend of Scourge-..."

"My pet already informed about your history after escaping from No Zone with Scourge. I want to know what happened before that."

"Finding myself inside the prison cell at No Zone is the last thing I remember. I didn't even remember my name that's why after escaping with Scourge, I named myself Sanctum to get an identity. And..." He had caught her phrases, "...your pet?"

Bliss pointed the white hedgehog with yellow chest fur by turning to him. The black hedgehog stared him for few seconds, before his face twisted by anger. Within a fraction of second, Sanctum was in front of Venice, grabbing him by neck and pushing him to the wall.

"I'll make you pay now for what you did...!" Sanctum growled, "You'll be perished, Silver!"

Of course, that made Venice's aqua blue eyes widened, but he made quick move by shoving him off. He then used his telekinesis to control the dark hedgehog, but suddenly Venice's legs were wrapped by some dark liquid tentacles. He tried to get free but then he got fully immobilized by Sanctum, whose hands and legs were now liquefied. Then the tentacles were ripped off by...Bliss. She had some golden glow emitting around her. The liquefied tentacles went to grab her too, but the blonde girl easily got rid off them. Then she rushed to Sanctum before she beat up and pinned him on the floor by straddling over him and grabbing his hands.

"I told you to take caution, didn't I, fluffy boy?!" Bliss growled tilting her head slightly to a shocked Venice while pinning down Sanctum. "If he were just any Shadow, then he wouldn't have screwed you up like this!"

Venice did not reply, as he heard a sound of falling something. Looking down, he found something glittering near Sanctum and Bliss. He picked up to see, the thing was a bright green crystal. Observing its type and size, he remembered what it was.

"A chaos emerald...? No...it's an anarchy beryl. Did Scourge give it to you-...?"

"Holy shit!"

"Bliss...?!"

Venice's attention immediately turned to hear his leader's scream, which was very unlikely of her. He rushed and picked up the little blonde girl from Sanctum's lap, as the dark hedgehog was putting a weird show. Sanctum's jet black fur turned grayish and edgy like crystals. The orange streaks which resembled Shadow's red streaks, disappeared, replacing white at the tips of his quills, which were bushier than before. His tanned muzzle turned pale, and his mouth just vanished without leaving any trail! But Bliss and Venice felt sick when they saw his eyes...where the white scleras turned deep red and the crimson pair of pupils gained jade green color with pronounced slits. While keeping an arm around Bliss, Venice created a psychokinetic barrier by his free hand to protect themselves.

Bliss was right, Sanctum was nothing like Shadow, not even any normal hedgehog. He was some kind of monster who was related to Solaris and Iblis. He was still laid there, adjusting himself with the impact of transformation. On the other side, Venice was still holding Bliss securely inside his shield. The girl noticed the green gem in his hand that was wrapping around her,

"Isn't it the power emerald that Mobians use? Where did you find it?"

"It's a Moebian version chaos emerald, an anarchy beryl. When you turned on your sapphire, this beryl fell from Sanctum, and then he transformed like that. Scourge is the only Moebian who owns these so Sanctum got it from him probably."

"So...this anarchy beryl was giving Sanctum that 'Shadow' look. And my specter sapphire deactivated the beryl that's why his original form is back, just like phantom ruby deactivates chaos emerald." Bliss thoughtfully said, "And he seems to know Solaris, Iblis, Shadow and Silver."

"Solaris...Iblis..." Sanctum finally mumbled when he heard the names. "...Shadow...Silver..."

"Sounds familiar?" Bliss asked catching his attention.

"How can he talk even without mouth...?!" Venice pointed the weird fact.

The transformed hedgehog closed his eyes and grabbed his own head, trying hard to regain his memories.

"Let go, fluffy boy." Bliss finally demanded to let loose, "If here's someone to be feared, then it's me, not him."

"...Are you sure?"

"Didn't you just see me kicking his ass...? Besides, he seems hurting his head to memorize his past events."

"Fine."

Both the blonde hog girl and the albino hedgehog stood in a safe distance from the crystalline dark hedgehog.

"So, Sanctum-..." Bliss started to talk again,

"No need to address me by that name." He finally looked at her by his demonic green eyes, "I just remembered my real name."

"Ohh~ congratulations!" *clap clap* She sarcastically applauded, "Mind telling us your precious name then?"

"It's...Mephiles the Dark."


Sierra's P.O.V:

It was the day when we were supposed to attend the special opera show. Other than Silver, the rest three hedgies were not exactly thrilled by it. It was not because of money, it was just, the idea of a musical drama played by humans sounded pretty lame to the Mobians. I myself, was not interested either, but since other liminals were supposed to be there, so I thought it would be nice to meet Phelix and Ceska along with my familiars for one last time before we all parted away, at least for me. Because, when the exchange program will be over after a couple of months, everyone will return home and it will be normal again. I am the only one...who does not know how long she is gonna stay with four alien hedgehogs.

Since it is an opera show, so I decided to wear something classy. I selected a light blue laced dress which stopped at my knees and blue heels. I also put on mascara and light red gloss. I tied my upper hair in a short bun and let down the rest. Then I heard a knock on the door.

"Are you done, Sierra?" It was Silver.

"Yes, are you guys ready?"

"Yeah, we're waiting for you."

"Alright." Finally, I was ready to leave so I opened the door, "Let's head-..."

My line trailed off by what my eyes laid on.

General P.O.V:

Sierra stopped on her track as she saw the four anthropomorphic hedgehogs in their usual attire and shoes along with...clothes! Sonic was wearing a maroon hoodie, brown scarf and blue pants, Shadow had kinda formal look with white shirt, black vest and black pants. He still had his inhibitor gold ring bracelets though. Silver was wearing a light grey jacket over a light blue t-shirt and dark blue pants. Scourge had his trademark black jacket over green shirt and black pants. Sierra was surprised, before she had a feeling of admiration. She really did not expect that the hedgehogs from different planet would look this good in clothes. Then she noticed their stare on herself. By their looks, she could tell that they were also impressed by her getup and makeup. A chill went through her spine as she realized that she was blushing like mad. The small redhead beauty pondered though why a bunch of alien hedgehogs were causing her blush.

"So...you know how to wear clothes." Sierra tried hard to sound deadpanning, "Good to see that modesty."

"Yeah...since it's our first outing so, we thought it would be nice to go like everyone else." Sonic said, trying to keep his cool as he had trouble to stop staring her. "By the way, thanks for wearing blue."

"But Princess...with you being there.." It was the flirty green hedgehog, "I don't think anyone is gonna see a single bit of that boring opera show."

"Yes, you look absolutely pretty!" Silver admired.

"Why thank you. To be honest, you guys don't look bad either." She replied coolly, making a failed attempt to cover her blush, "Now, if you excuse me, we're going to be late if we keep chattering." With that the hog girl went out of the door. Scourge scoffed, "Tch...she never takes us seriously."

"Does it matter anyway?" Shadow snorted.

"If it doesn't, then why you were staring at her, Stripes? You don't think her in 'that' way, do you?"

The black hedgehog's tan muzzle turned red like his eyes. But Silver interrupted, "Come on guys, we don't need to waste anymore time." With that, finally the four hedgehogs and the hog girl left for their very first outing together.


Sierra's P.O.V:

When we reached the musical theater, I called both of my friends over phone. Ceska said that her host Hikaru was sick so she did not come. But before hanging up, she asked me to be careful and to stick with the four hedgehogs. Phelix came with the Nelsons, Jet did not come because this was boring to him. She said that the green-feathered talking hawk from Mobius, was not exactly friendly as he seemed to be at first. I told her not to bother about him and to get along with the human couple.

We took our seats that had been booked previously. Seats for us hybrids were fixed on a particular gallery, so I had to get separated from the hedgehogs. I took my seat with Phelix and then suddenly felt my phone's vibration. I checked to see that it was a message from Sonic. He, Shadow and Scourge were going to look around, and Silver would be watching the opera with me. I was not surprised, as I already figured that opera was not their thing. In a while, a show hostess came on the stage and announced about the opera artist who would be coming. She also instructed to switch off our cellphones so the artists did not get disturbed during performance. I did not exactly want to do that, but a volunteer came and checked on us. So, I had to. Then finally, the show started. After a few performances of other artists, the showstopper finally showed up. She was a very beautiful woman with long dark purple hair, enormous breasts and nice skin. Her eyes seemed red in color from afar. She was wearing a very gorgeous red and overly puffy ball gown. She was wearing a black pair of opera gloves, her hands seemed to be very thin below her arms. She started to sing very nicely. For some reason...she did not seem normal. I decided to look at the monitor instead which displayed a clear view of her.

And I froze there when I saw her red eyes...they had no pupils! And her limbs...they ended having no fingers! I gulped to assume that...her unusually puffy ball gown was hiding something. Something like that was only possible...if she were a liminal. They did not announce about any liminal being an artist.

I turned to the non-liminal gallery to find Silver, who was really engrossed in the opera show. I hoped with all my heart for him turning to me just once so that I could give him a signal of danger. But that idiot hedgy seemed to only admire the endangering purple-haired beauty on the stage. I texted him about my suspicion but the failed delivery message made me remember that all phones were switched off. I grabbed my friend's hand.

"Phelix...let's get out of here."

"Is something wrong, Sierra?!" Unlike Ceska, my harpy friend had no idea about my issues.

"Sshh...don't panic like that. Just let's go and I'll tell when we leave."

She nodded and we slowly got up from our seats. We sauntered at the isle. I decided not to call out Silver because that would gain the artist's attention. Besides, he was not the one here who was in risk. So, I swiftly started to walk towards the exit with Phelix before the opera artist could notice. But then I heard my name loudly,

"Hey Sierra, where're you going?!"

That fucking shit-filled-potleaf-headed albino rat!

And then to add fuel in the fire...the opera song was stopped suddenly. The artist clearly heard that and noticed me.

I wanted to strangle Silver right there.

General P.O.V:

"Since when did you start smoking, Stripes?"

"Before you were born..."

Sonic, Shadow and Scourge were outside. The blue hedgehog was consuming a chili dog and the other two were smoking. The green hedgehog was making small chats but the black hedgehog was looking around. His eyes fell on the advertising board in front of the theater house. He stared it for half a minute before dumping his cigarette abruptly, which he just took in his mouth.

"Got smokes in brain, Stripes?"

"Let's get back inside." Scourge noticed the sudden stern tone of Shadow. "I'm having a bad feeling."

"Whoa...!" The green hedgehog did not get any chance to ask as the black one instantly teleported inside the theater using chaos control. So, he called out Sonic, "Hey Blue, you can fill your appetite later. Stripes just ran off to the theater."

"Hmm?" The blue hedgehog casually responded with a mouthful of foods.

"I said Shadow went back inside! We need to go as well."

"Why do we? Maybe he just needed to use the restroom."

"Damn it, Sonic! It must be about Sierra!"

"Ugh...okay, Scourge." Sonic almost choked on his meal, before sighing. "I just forgot that we got a princess to guard."

Sonic and Scourge managed to get Shadow, who was teleported to the entrance since he did not know where the main hall was. The trio started to run, before they suddenly stumbled, by an army of insects in front them. And none of those insects were tiny unlike usual...as all of their upper bodies were like humans!

"Shit!" Shadow groaned in frustration. "I should have realized earlier that the opera melodrama was actually a trap!"


"Aww...the princess is sneaking away. Maybe she didn't like my singing. What a shame..."

Sierra froze in her track when she heard the sing sung female voice. She slowly looked back to find the purple-haired opera singer smirking.

"The princess?!"

"I heard about those liminals having a queen, but princess?"

The humans and other unaware audiences started to buzz. Sierra just clenched her fists. Phelix whispered,

"They seem to know about you, Sier."

"Phel...run."

"Ehh?"

"No time to explain now. Just run and get those hedgehogs outside...for my sake."

"I'm going, but please be safe."

"Don't worry. I will be." The redhead hog girl reassured the bird girl before making her leave. Then Silver came up,

"What happened, Sierra?" The white hedgehog innocently asked as he had no idea what exactly was going on.

"YOU HAPPENED, you useless dumb rodent!" She snarled.

"Huh?"

"Why don't I explain that?"

Both the hedgehog girl and the anthropoid hedgehog turned to find the opera artist off the stage, nearer to them. Now both of them got a clear view of the mysterious woman, the black part of her arms were not any opera gloves, but her forearms. Instead of fingers, her hands contained carapaces ending with sharp pointy needles. "The hedgehog princess is pretty talented I must say." She turned to Silver, "But thanks to you, she got caught...by me."

That left Silver to be frozen, he now realized why Sierra was leaving quietly, she must had sensed something awful about this opera singer. The woman said, "Let me clear your curiosity about myself." With that, suddenly a wind flew over, and that purple-haired woman's bangs swept aside, making all the audiences shocked. Along with the two regular eyes, she had six more pupil-less red eyes on her forehead. She grabbed the hem of her own long red ball gown's lower half, before tearing it...revealing something that actually made everyone gasp and stand up to run away. As per Sierra's suspicion, the woman's lower-half was not of a human, but was of a giant dark spider adorned with a large lavender skull design engraved on it. Undoubtedly, she was none other than...

"Regina..." Sierra Star anxiously mumbled as she met her ultimate enemy.


Sierra's P.O.V:

I really hope that mom does not get to know about this...

Everything started to make sense now. There could be no other reason for putting an opera show to freely invite the liminals. But, even if I realize now, there was not much I could do to hide my identity. I am now officially identified by Regina, she will do anything to pluck the phantom ruby out of me. Before I could even think what to do now, I saw that wasp boy Jess that attacked me at the forest in the beginning, now with a large group of wasps flying around, scaring all the human and non-human viewers there. Some of the wasps blocked the exit. Then I heard Regina speak,

"I feel honored to know that you're informed about me, Princess Sierra Star."

"What exactly do you want?" I tried to keep calm for now, "And as my father's killer, you sure have a lot nerve to talk to me like that."

"I wouldn't have done it, if he had given me the ruby like a gentleman." I heard her voice being maniac, "I wouldn't want to kill you either, if he hadn't planted it inside you. So technically, your father will be the reason for your death."

That made me angry as hell. "Don't you dare to say another word about my father! I swear, you won't have a single of your eight scrawny legs when I'm done with you!"

I was not surprised when the spider-woman laughed, I expected from her a 'I would like to see you try'. But my eyes widened as she said,

"You wouldn't dare that, Princess...if you care about others' lives. Well, since you're a princess, you should put others before yourself, right? So, here's your choice. If you come with me, I promise, I'll find a way to get the ruby without killing you. Because, you'll be useful for me. But...if you refuse, Jess and all the wasps here, will kill everyone in front of your eyes...and you'll be the responsible for that. So...would you like to be the selfish princess, who only cares about her own life?"

I really felt my gut aching by Regina's sickening way of motivation. I was at loss for a while, before I heard,

"There's no way Sierra will do that!" My face turned to meet the albino hedgehog from planet Mobius. "I won't let her do that!"

"Silver the Hedgehog...am I right?" That Mobian wolf Rook must have told Regina about the four hedgehogs living with me. "Well, I offered that I would try not to risk her life-..."

"I don't trust you, not after you killed her father and destroyed their kingdom!" Silver grumbled, "Not to mention, if you get the ruby, you'll destroy all the worlds and make everyone your slaves. But that will never happen! Because..." His golden eyes turned to meet my blue eyes, "...I'm not gonna let anyone lay a finger on Sierra!"

I really did not know how I should feel now. Then I saw Silver raise his hands and use his telekinetic power on the wasps that were blocking the doorway. His power threw them out of the way, and broke the door.

"Everyone...run!"

Fortunately, no people wasted time as the guests immediately ran away. Silver also started to control the other wasps by his power. I got my cue to fight, when I spotted Jess trying to make an attack on the hedgehog from behind. I summoned my weapons (one of my current abilities) and swung towards Jess to keep him away from Silver. Then two of us started to fight the wasps. I used my weapons, whirlpool dash and combat skills. Part of me started to wonder, why Regina was not making any move. But to my horror, she suddenly made a move in a way, for which I had to regret.

"What?!"

Hearing Silver's yell, I turned to see something that left me thundered. His neck, hands, legs were getting wrapped up by some white string like stuffs. I looked to see that white strings were actually silk webs...created from Regina's thin black hands.

Spider Web...

The albino hedgehog tried to use his psychic ability but it did not work, as he was tightly tied up allover, and more and more webs were wrapping him within seconds. I rushed to him but stopped when he said,

"Don't...Sierra! Just run!"

"...what?!"

"Oh my...you just met her few days ago, and you're already up to die for her...?!" Regina smirked, "...Looks like, her calling you 'useless' affected you greatly. Too bad I've to end this little love story right here... I'll tear him into pieces by pulling the webs before you could even move an inch, princess." I could see that she was not lying. "But I can spare him, if you accept my earlier demand-..."

"Don't listen to her, Sierra! Just run! You still have Sonic, Shadow and Scourge." Silver kept yelling to me, not caring about his own state, "You have to live!"

"Silver..." My mind went totally blank. I felt tears rolling down to my cheeks, it was not fair. It was never Silver's fault, how he would know that a simple opera show could have turned out like this? He did not deserve to put his life in this...at least not for a lunatic girl like me. If something happens to him now...I will never be able to face my mother and friends, nor to forgive myself.

"Silver did a mistake, and he fixed it by fighting and putting himself into this only for me... So please...please..." I had no idea to who I was praying...but, I knew I needed to do something seemingly impossible.

Only one chance to fix my own mistake...by saving and protecting Silver...only one, please!


I decided to leave a cliffhanger. Will Sierra be able to save Silver?

Thanks to lightyearpig for the review. You were partially right about Sanctum being related with Mephiles. I guess, you got your answer now. Hope you liked how it turned out.

N/B: Regina's brief description was given at the end of chapter 4. You can always check out if you need to know. Regina's biological features are mostly inspired by 'Rachnera' from Monster Musume / Everyday life with a Monster.