Sonic, Sonia, and Manic had long since fallen asleep from the exhaustion of the day. Espio and Fortune however, were still both wide awake; sitting on the ground next to each other, near by the fire watching the stars together.
"So who were Mathies and Tikal?" Espio asked as Fortune smiled.
"Well, Tikal was a princess of the clan of echidnas in alliance of the Rainbow Emerald Clan," Fortune began to explain. "She was my best friend, actually she gave birth to Knuckles the same day Sonic, Manic and Sonia were born."
"Your best friend gave birth to Knuckles?" Espio asked shocked as Fortune laughed and nodded.
"Yes she did, and yes he was that hot headed from the very start," Fortune assured him. "And Mathies was my appointed guardian, who I fell in love with, and married shortly after I rescued Sonic."
"Your husband? What happened to him?" Espio asked concerned.
"Well…" Fortune began frowning. "You see, when Sonic and I became outlaws, Mathies found me and promised to help me raise him. We were both just twelve at the time, but we were confident in our love for each other.
He still worked at the castle as the royal messenger, so I visited Tikal and Knuckles with Sonic a lot. One day on our way back though, a few of my father's men found us and tried to kill us both.
I managed to get Sonic through unharmed; I however ended up being grazed by a spear. Mathies came home right as I was bandaging my wound, and he went a little crazy." Fortune paused and held Espio's hand a little tighter.
"He asked what had happened to us, and I told him the truth. That Sonic and I were attacked by guards, and he just turned around and began walking out the door. Mathies always hated my father, and he loved the two of us more than anything. He saw something in Sonic's that I didn't, because as I tried to stop him, telling him that we weren't hurt he looked at me and said: You can look into his eyes and tell me his not hurt?
I looked back at Sonic and realized he was right. Sonic though not physically hurt, was terrified beyond comfort. He said that Sonic couldn't live feeling like everyone was trying to kill him that it would make him go insane, and I realized he was right. Then he promised that he would either take my father to his grave, or die trying…
And he died… I watched him battle my father in disguise, and as he was about to be eliminated he said something strange. He said that he had avenged Sonic, and that the Elite Four would rise again to defeat my father…" Fortune explained as Espio blinked surprised.
"Who is the Elite Four?" Espio asked as Fortune looked down again at the ground.
"They are said to be the hedgehogs that developed the Rainbow Chaos Emerald, and the Rainbow Emerald clan. And also, rumored to be the only ones who can defeat Zandorf…" Fortune explained as she looked back at her siblings.
"I don't know that we'll be able to defeat Zandorf, but we are going to give it our all," Fortune promised before looking at Espio and smiling. "And that will be easier, since you're on our side Espio."
Espio's stomach flipped again as she said this. "Fortune you said earlier, that those who are of the royal family, and those closely entangled with it come back to life at least once… Wouldn't you want to wait for Mathies?"
"No," Fortune said easily. "He told me to find someone else to love, and not to wait for him. He was very strict about that, so even if he were to show up right now, he wouldn't be my husband anymore….
I was his when I was much weaker, I'm stronger now that I have kept Sonic safe, plus I have my other siblings now. I'm different from when I was twelve, and we wouldn't work anymore. But quite frankly I'm okay with that," Fortune assured him smiling and blushing. "Because with you… I feel something stronger…"
Espio was relived at this. He wanted Fortune for himself.
He kissed her again on the lips, hanging there for about two minutes. When they finally parted their heads touched each other and they both looked into each other's eyes.
'I… Can't betray her, I need to save Charmy.' Espio thought before smiling and standing up.
"I should get back to Earth, and listen in to what I can on your father's plans," Espio said as Fortune nodded and stood up as well. The smile bright on her face.
"I'll chaos control you there," Fortune promised as she grabbed his hand and said chaos control.
Then they arrived back in Mystic Ruins, where the sun was just beginning to rise again in the distance.
"Thank you Fortune, don't let Sonic do anything too hard on him, there's no telling how weak he may still be," Espio instructed as Fortune nodded.
"Don't worry," Fortune assured him. "I'll make sure he rests."
"Good," Espio said smiling. "I'll come find you when I have an update." Espio promised as he pulled Fortune in close and gently kissed her.
"I'll be waiting," She replied grinning, before she disappeared with chaos control.
"Just who gave you permission to date my daughter?" an all too familiar hedgehog voice said sending a chill down Espio's spine.
He turned to confirm his suspicions, and sure enough it was Zandorf, standing in darkness.
"But because I don't care about her, I could care less what you do with my daughter, in fact I quite praise this new relationship," Zandorf said walking up to him.
"When are you going to let Charmy go?" Espio demanded, keeping calm.
"Careful Espio, I can still squash him with a mere snap of my fingers. Now listen, I'm glad you have made "good" friends with my daughter, because I need you to do something for me…" Zandorf began grinning as Espio's frown deepened.
"I want you to tell Fortune that in two days, I will be leading an attack on base 92 of GUN. It is likely that Sonic will still be too weak to fight by then," Zandorf said as Espio clenched his teeth.
"How did you know about Sonic?" Espio asked.
"I had a vision of it right before we began the raid, and I saw it could lead to an advantage to my plan," Zandorf explained. "Now then, Manic, Sonia, and Fortune should all come without Sonic, then we will capture them. Once they are in my possession, I will send Sonic a message, telling him that he must bring the rainbow chaos emerald or his siblings all die…"
"I… I can't betray Fortune…" Espio defied as Zandorf laughed.
"I thought you might say something like that…" Zandorf said before snapping his fingers and one of his guards jumped down from the tree with the cage that held Charmy in his arms.
"Espio!" Charmy cried as tears ran down his face.
Espio couldn't believe that state Charmy was in. His cheeks were red with fever, his skin pale… Everything about him looked ill. In all the events with Fortune, Espio hadn't even thought of the effects of being trapped in a cage were doing to Charmy.
"Charmy," Espio said rushing toward him before Zandorf raised a glowing hand to the bee.
"How… How can we guarantee Sonic will even have the emerald in his possession?" Espio asked in forced compliance.
"Espio no don't do what he says!" Charmy begged before being silenced again by Zandorf.
"You'll find out soon enough, if this plan goes through to my satisfaction, Charmy will be set free, but if not, then he will die one way or another," Zandorf finished as Espio let out a single tear.
"Espio I'll be fine! Help Fortune!" Charmy begged as Espio shook his head.
"Charmy I can tell you're sick! You won't last much longer there! I don't have a choice," Espio said not looking at Charmy, only at Zandorf, to make sure he didn't attack the bee.
"But Espio!" Charmy began before Espio looked up and yelled.
"Charmy they hold your life in their hands, I'm not risking that!" Espio yelled making tears come to the bees eyes.
"Remember our plan," Zandorf ordered as they all disappeared and left Espio alone again.
"I have to choose between the life of my love and the life of my partner…" Espio whispered. "I'm sorry Fortune…"
Fortune returned to Sanctuary, to find Sonia and Manic at Sonic's sides, who were still supporting him in the sitting position. He had cleared the poison, but it would be a few days before he would have recovered enough to move around. And from the looks of Sonic, it was obvious he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"There you are, we were starting to joke that you and Espio went off to get married," Sonic said with only a fourth of the energy he normally had.
"Not likely in this crisis, too crazy in town to get married," Fortune replied as Manic laughed.
"Didn't stop you with Mathies," Manic pointed out as Fortune laughed.
"Yes well, anyway, we need to discuss our next move," Fortune announced as she sat down next to Sonia.
"I vote we just show up and kick their ass," Sonia said as Sonic shook his head.
"Love to, but judging on the reception we got back at the white house, everyone will be after our skin." Sonic pointed out as Manic nodded.
"I know, but I'm getting sick of just waiting for them to strike," Manic pointed out.
"Hey bro, I'm supposed to be the impatient one here," Sonic reminded him. "But I do agree, we can't just be a five person resistance, Espio might be caught eventually, and we can't keep this up forever."
"I think what needs to be done, is use the rainbow chaos emerald against him… We need to battle him one on four…" Fortune said suddenly making the three siblings look at her with shock.
"That's out of your character Fortune," Sonic pointed out as Fortune nodded.
"As it has been pointed out to me several times in my life, I am the daughter of Lord Zandorf," Fortune began. "And while this is true, I am only strong in the psychic, moderate at speed, and weak at everything else though I have sections of all of his powers. Sonia, you have his strength, and an ability to super spin, but your psychic, earth, and speed abilities are nothing to speak of. Manic, you can control just about any stone or earth structure with a wave of your hands and are endowed at it. But compared to Sonic and I, you cannot run fast, and can't catch up unless you're on your board. Not only that, your psychic abilities are nearly non-existent. Finally, Sonic, the only psychic ability you have is to sense when someone is in danger, and you don't seem to have any abnormal strength, or control of earth. However you have the best skills in speed out of all of us. Not to mention you have the mysterious power that you keep a lid on." Fortune explained as they watched her confused.
"Zandorf is overly proficient in all of his powers, that's why he is King, none of us alone can defeat him. If we use the power of the Rainbow Chaos Emerald to power the four of us, our abilities will be even more enhanced, and if we band together, we may just have a chance," Fortune said smiling.
"I agree!" Sonia said cheering.
"I like that idea, but if we're going after Zandorf, I think we should also equip ourselves with the Chaos Emeralds," Sonic announced as Sonia dug through her pockets.
"You mean like this?" Sonia asked holding out the red chaos emerald.
"A chaos emerald!" Sonic and Fortune both said at once.
"Sonia where'd you get that?" Manic asked as she smiled.
"I picked it up when I left Zandorf, I sensed power coming from it so I took it. In all of the excitement I forgot to tell you all I had it," Sonia explained as Fortune smiled.
"Then we can use that instead of the rainbow chaos emerald for transport, since using it too much can drain our energy," Fortune said standing up. "Now we need to find the rest!" Fortune announced as Manic stood up as well, careful to make sure Sonia had Sonic supported.
"Then let's go look," Manic agreed as Sonic attempted to follow, only to find he didn't have the energy.
"Alright then, Sonic I'm sorry but I'm going to have to insist you stay behind and rest, Sonia you stay with him to make sure he doesn't over do it. Keep the Rainbow Chaos Emerald here, it's safer in a place Zandorf can't reach it," Fortune ordered as they both nodded.
"You got it sis!" Sonia agreed.
"You both be careful, and I should mention that Tails has one emerald in his Tornado plane, so when the time comes, let me talk to him," Sonic insisted as Fortune nodded. He still worried about seeing his friends again, but he couldn't hide out on Sanctuary forever. Besides, upset or not he shouldn't have jolted from them in their time of need.
"Alright then," Fortune said trading emeralds with Sonia. "Chaos control!"
And in a flash Manic and Fortune were gone.
"Mr. President, we have just received a disturbing message from GUN," the secretary began solemnly as the president looked up from his papers and into the eyes of the secretary. He'd been moved temporarily to a hotel, while they rebuilt the white house from the flames, as if he wasn't busy enough.
"More chaos with the newly arrived hedgehogs?" The president asked.
"I'm afraid so…" The secretary then paused, looking at the floor.
"Well out with it then, we must be completely in check with the situation," the president insisted as the secretary sighed heavily.
"The green hedgehog GUN had captured escaped, with the help of the two toned pink hedegehog, a brown echidna looking hedgehog, and the well-known Sonic the hedgehog…" The secretary finally admitted after many seconds of silence.
"What?!" The president gasped nearly falling over in his chair. "Are they absolutely sure?!"
"I can assure you there is no reason to doubt sir," a deep voice responded making both president and secretary turn their heads to a figure that stood in darkness.
"Who are you?!" The president panicked as the figure came out of the darkness and into the light.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Zaldin, a hedgehog, though I resemble an echidna," Zaldin introduced smiling.
"The one who saved me from the fire, I remember now. But why are you here in my hotel? And how did you get past the secret service?" Demanded the president as Zandorf smiled gently.
"Similar to the one you call Sonic, I have super speed, but I can assure you, that unlike Sonic, and his three comrades, my intentions are good," Zaldin explained in a sincere tone, as the president looked him up and down.
"You see, back in the world I came from, Sonic and his three comrades caused havoc everywhere they went, destroying lives, crushing important monuments. They were quite fearsome, but my wife and I made it our mission to end their rain of terror, by hunting them down and repairing lives where we could. The fact that your world is now under the mercy of these four, torments me, with your permission, I'd like to take over. I do after all have more experience in the means of dealing with them." Zaldin walking over to the hotel window and watching the guards of the president walk about.
"But, Sonic, he never harmed anyone before," the president began to argue as Zaldin turned around in a swift motion.
"That is because Sonic is a manipulative one, he does all sorts of good things to gain trust, but when he deems the time right, he shows his true colors. Those four are dangerous, and cannot be handled by GUN alone. And frankly Mr. President, I think you have enough on your plate without trying to deal with the hedgehog crisis." Zandorf pointed out as the President stood up and walked to the window next to Zandorf.
"I thought that maybe those fires were just a fluke… That Sonic had a reason for it… But the evidence is clear now, that we can no longer trust him," the president said before turning his head to Zandorf.
"I leave their defeat in your hands…" The president agreed as the secretary opened her mouth in shock.
"Thank you, Mr. President."
Cream and Cheese sat in the living room, doing what most children do, watching TV. But this time she watched with purpose! She was ordered by Tails to keep an eye on the news! And despite the fact it was completely and utterly boring to watch the news, and made her fall asleep nearly every time she watched it, she took this mission seriously. She just had to take shifts with Cheese whilst napping.
"Anything important Cheese?" Cream asked rubbing her eyes as Cheese replied with a chin chu version of no.
"Alright then, my turn to watch," Cream said as Cheese snuggled up to Cream and began snoring.
She laid her head on her hands and watched as yet another section of news came on. This time with a reporter who had brown hair, tan skin, a blue top and skirt. She stood in front of a large stage, with thousands of people standing in front of it. On the stage was a podium, with a flag in the background, and coming to the stage was no other than the president himself!
"We come to you live at the center of Station Square, where our president has come to deliver a speech said to shock us all," the reporter explained as the camera switched to a close up view of the president.
"Citizens, as you know, we lost our white house just a day ago thanks to three unidentified hedgehogs, and Sonic… Thanks to several hedgehogs that have surrendered their identities and blood for analysis by Tails and Chuck Thorndike, no lives were lost. It has come to my attention that Sonic and these three mystery hedgehogs have banded together before, and caused many problems for the people who may be around.
So in the best interest of my nation, I am stepping down from power," The president making everyone in the audience gasp, and Cream stand in shock, which in turn made Cheese fall onto the floor.
"What?!" Cream said holding her arms close to her.
"In my place I am leaving the hedgehog who saved me Zandorf, to take over in the commencing of their capture," the president announced as he left the podium and Zandorf walked up smiled.
"Let me start by saying, I know many of you are worried. But back where I came from, I made it my personal misson to keep Sonic's destruction at bay," Zandorf began as the audience watched intensely.
"So if you all do exactly as I say, I can assure you, Sonic and the others will be captured, and peace will be restored to this nation," Zandorf said as everyone cheered.
"But Mr. Sonic isn't a bad guy!" Cream yelled right as Tails came in.
"What happened?" Tails asked confused.
"That Zandorf guy says that Sonic has been a bad guy all along, and that he is going to capture him! He's even over powered the president!" Cream cried as tears began forming in Cheese's eyes.
"No way Sonic could be the bad guy! We already established that!" Tails said determined as he left the room to get back to work.
"I'll prove it somehow!" Tails yelled departing.
"But what about Zandorf?" Cream asked saddened as the News moved onto another story.
"In other news, a chaos emerald has been found down at the Mystic Ruins Jungle, authorities are guarding it from Eggman." The news lady said making Cream turn back to the TV.
"A chaos emerald, maybe that can help Mr. Shadow!" Cream said cheering. "We just have to go get it!"
"Chin chu!" Cheese cheered as Cream crossed her arms and looked at the floor.
"Except Mr. Shadow is busy collecting blood, Amy is out shopping, Tails is testing stuff, and Ella is busy… How do we get it?" Cream thought aloud before snapping her fingers. "I know! I'll just go get it myself! Then no one will have to be bothered!"
"Chu?" Cheese asked slightly panicked.
"Oh don't worry Cheese I'll be careful, you stay here in case anything else important shows up alright?" Cream said as she flew out the open window and began flying in the direction of the Mystic Ruins.
"Finding the chaos emeralds isn't going to be an easy chase," Manic said as he scanned the Mystic ruins from above. He and Fortune separated once they arrived on Earth, the agreement being Manic would scan the areas nearby and Fortune would run on to the farther areas and search there.
"Well I don't think there is any here," Manic said as he began to head toward Silver valley when something yellow caught his eye.
"Hello!" Manic said as he began toward it.
Cream walked about the many trails of the forest with glee. She'd made it to the mystic ruins without trouble, now all she had to do was find the area with the nice policemen and collect the emerald.
It was then that she saw it, sitting there in the middle of the walkway.
"The chaos emerald!" Cream cheered rushing toward it and picking it up in her hands. She looked around for the police men, but didn't see them. "I thought the nice policemen were supposed to be guarding the emerald," Cream said as she looked to her left and right.
"They were!" A dark voice said as Cream turned to find two dark green hedgehogs grinning evilly back at her.
"Ah!" Cream screamed as she began to run only to be caught by the collar.
"Silly little rabbit, so weak and helpless, maybe we should release her?" One teased as she struggled.
"Let me go," Cream begged as both hedgehogs laughed.
"With the seven emeralds, we'll be sure to be able to steal the Rainbow Chaos Emerald!" One of them said as Cream stopped struggling for a moment.
"Rainbow Chaos Emerald…?" Cream said surprised there even was such a thing.
"You idiot, you said too much!" the other yelled making Cream cry. "Now we have to take her!"
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Another voice yelled as the world began to shake.
"Manic!" both hedgehogs shouted at once as they dropped Cream who fell onto the ground. Right as she did, she was lifted again bridal style. She opened her eyes, and found herself in the arms of a lime green hedgehog. The same lime green hedgehog first seen terrorizing Station Square.
"P-Please don't hurt me!" Cream sobbed holding tight onto the emerald.
Manic decided it would be safer to land and comfort the rabbit rather than risk her struggling out his arms and falling to her doom, so he landed on a cliff right beside a mysterious tree house, which was surrounded by water. He put the rabbit down softly, debating what to do with the sobbing child, as he watched her clutch the Emerald close to her. He sighed heavily, sat down and rested his head on his right hand.
"Man I wish Fortune was here," Manic said as he closed his eyes. "I've never dealt with children…" He had to think of something, if she kept crying, those two hedgehogs would track them down, and he would have to fight to defend her, likely bringing a crowd and getting him kidnapped again. He did not want to be in that cell again…
'Well I guess the first step would be to say something…' Manic said as he stood up again. "I'm Manic, what's your name?"
"I-Its Cream," She said refusing to open her eyes. "Please don't hurt me Mr. Manic…"
'Oh yeah, she must recognize me from when I was brainwashed into siding with Zandorf…' Manic realized before he forced a gentle smile. "Hey now, I'm not gonna hurt yeah," Manic assured her as she opened her eyes halfway.
"Y-You're not?" Cream asked not sure whether or not it was okay to believe him.
"Of course not, I'm a good guy," Manic attempted to tell her as her frown deepened.
"Then why were you fighting with Mr. Sonic a while back?" Cream asked as Manic frowned himself.
"Well you see Cream, a little while back, I thought Sonic did something really bad, and I wanted to make him pay for it," Manic began. "But we're buddies now!"
"You're buddies with Mr. Sonic?" Cream asked her eyes glowing now.
"Yep! Heck you could say we're even closer than that," Manic joked as Cream smiled.
"Mr. Sonic is my friend too! But he's run away…" Cream explained as Manic gasped slightly.
'One of Sonic's friends! Meaning I'll have to be extra careful.' Manic thought before smiling again. "I'm sure he'll come back when he's ready, but I need to ask you a favor."
"What is it?" Cream asked calmer now in Manic's presence.
"I need that Chaos Emerald there, if you try to keep it, those mean hedgehogs may come back and try to take you," Manic explained, praying he built enough trust in the rabbit to have her hand it over.
She looked down at the Emerald in her hands again. "I was going to give this to Mr. Shadow to help him…"
"I see, well Cream, if you give it to me, it will help Sonic," Manic said as Cream smiled happily, and looked up into Manic's green eyes.
"Well okay! If it's to help Mr. Sonic, then you can take it!" Cream said handing the emerald out to him. He took it gently and stored it.
"Thanks Cream! Now how about I take you home?" Manic offered as Cream nodded eagerly.
"Okay Mr. Manic!" Cream agreed as Manic set up his air board and motioned Cream onto it.
"Alright you need to hold onto me really tight, otherwise you might fall off," Manic instructed as she held around one of Manic's legs. "Alright we're taking off!"
And like that they were up in the sky flying so high they touched the clouds. It was nothing new for Cream, but the experience of being this high on an air board made her giggle. Until she remembered something the Hedgehogs said.
"Hey Mr. Manic," Cream began.
"Yeah?"
"Do you know anything about the Rainbow Chaos Emerald?" Cream asked.
Manic felt his cheeks go pale, if she even thought something like that existed she would be in danger. "Listen to me Cream, you have to forget everything about the Rainbow Chaos Emerald."
"But why Mr. Manic?" Cream asked confused as Manic shook his head.
"The less you know, the better," Manic said sternly. "Trust me on that."
Fortune had made her way back to the Mystic ruins, having no sort of luck finding the emeralds, and with it becoming sundown again, would have to give up her search for the day.
"Fortune," she heard Espio say as she turned to find her pink Chameleon standing nearby.
"Espio!" Fortune cheered as Espio smiled and walked up to her. "Any luck?"
"They're planning a raid base 92 of Gun in two days. Its where they store most of their weapons," Espio explained as Fortune's smile faded into serious frown.
"In that case we'll have to hurry our on the finding of the Chaos Emeralds," Fortune realized, making Espio uneasy.
'So that's what he meant when he said Sonic would have the Rainbow Emerald in his possession…' Espio thought hiding his fear as a ninja is always trained to do.
"What about the Rainbow Emerald?" Espio asked as Fortune nodded.
"We've decided to fight Zandorf four to one, and we are going to use the Chaos Emeralds and the Rainbow Emerald to fight and defeat him. We don't have a choice," Fortune explained as Espio frowned.
"What about Sonic? Surely he may still be too weak to fight him," Espio suggested as his chest shot with pain. He couldn't believe he was going through with this…
"You're right… In that case, Sonia, Manic and I will have to go and stop the raid ourselves, and buy some time until Sonic is fully recovered," Fortune decided smiling. "You've been such a wonderful help and boyfriend Espio."
She kissed him on the lips, and Espio couldn't help but kiss back, his heart as joyous in this action, but at the same time he was sick to his stomach again.
For Charmy… He had to do it, for Charmy.