Me: I'M SORRY THAT I'M GETTING BACK INTO MY HABIT OF NOT UPDATING FAST! I've been kinda busy, but I'm gonna try to get back to updating faster...it's my New Year's resolution ^_^ As well, it's official guys, my poll is closed. Looking at the results, it looks like it's going to be a surprise ending. We are standing at 1 vote for everybody dies, 2 votes for happy ending, and 3 votes for a surprise ending…which I've started planning, and might have possibly started writing ;) As well…you lot are going to really hate me with this chapter, after all…I never did say what task Dark Sonic had to take care of *smirks and laughs evilly*

Brightshadow: Why do I have to deal with you?

Me: Because, you are me, I am you, now go do the disclaimer then sit in a corner and shut up.

Brightshadow: The only thing Idalia owns are her OC's, Idalia, Pyre and Sonia.

Review Replies

Purest of the Hearts: Well let's find out, eh?

UltimateLifeFormACYP: Sorry, no dice on Shadow being a Chaotic One or going Dark. I have plans for him. *smirks darkly*

The Chuckinator: You'll see….soon enough.

VFMH: I can only assume you're VanFullMoonHelsing…am I right? Anyways, thanks, it's going to get better still yet!

Copykat101: I thought I told you to bugger off about criticising my story…I explained why Dark Sonic is so overpowered -_- I will poke you, falling asleep in class or not, once we get back from break…watch yourself. I WILL GET YOU! ;)

Ashley the Fox: I think you forgot you reviewed once already this chapter :D But to answer the question in your first review…yes, when I mentioned the Doctor, it is the guy from Doctor Who ^_^ And yes…there was another cliffhanger…not nearly as bad as the one at the end of this chapter thought :)

WARNING: CHARACTER DEATH

Beta Base, 8:59 PM

Shadow looked around carefully before moving across the clearing. Stopping at a rock wall, he pried part of it back, revealing a keypad set in it. Entering a code, there was a grinding sound as part of the rock wall opened up. Beckoning to the others hidden around the clearing, he walked in. The rest followed, unaware of the dark figure watching them from the sky.

Kythira Island 9:12 PM

Blaze sighed as she followed Fiona. The vixen had shown up a few hours ago, and was showing them around the island. Blaze had to admit, the island was beautiful. It was also very well protected. It was no wonder in all the years of searching they had never found Dark Sonics' base of operations. Fiona had left them to do what they wanted about an hour ago, and Blaze made the most of it by exploring the small city in more detail. Pyre and Sonia had run off, saying something about seeing if there were any other kids their age around. Out of the corner of her eyes, Blaze noticed Rouge sneaking around. Subtly nodding to Rouge, Blaze continued on her way. She could only hope Rouge would follow through with their contingency plan. Shaking her head, Blaze tried to forget seeing Rouge. Looking around, Blaze realized she had wandered into the housing part of the city. The homes were all nice, and a decent size. Noticing a small building that was neither home nor a shop, Blaze looked around discreetly before moving closer. There was a small sign outside, and Blaze shook her head in amazement when she read it. It seemed that her children were right…there was most definitely a part of Dark Sonic that was still the old Sonic. Turning her back on the embassy sign, Blaze moved further into the city.

With Sonia and Pyre

Sonia and Pyre sat in the soft grass staring at each other. Pyre smirked at Sonia, who only smirked back.

"So brother…which of us shall yield first today? I'm still on a winning streak…you haven't beaten me for a good 13 attempts."

Pyre growled at her.

"I will not lose this contest of will! I shall prove myself the champion once again!"

Sonia giggled when her brother blinked and he scowled.

"Looks like you lose again Pyre. You should know by now I always win these staring contests of ours."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go do something else; we've been sitting here for awhile now. We told mom we'd explore, so let's do that."

"Alright. I want to find Idalia after though, she was hurt real bad by Shadow, and I want to make sure she's going to be all right."

At the worried look on Sonia's face, Pyre pulled her into a tight hug.

"She'll be alright Sonia…you know Idalia, she's tough. She always won in training bouts. I know we've recently found out she's our sister, but that only changes the fact that we're all closer than we thought we were. Siblings look out for each other…no matter what. Tell you what, how about we go find Idalia before exploring?"

Medical Center, 9:35 PM

When Sonia and Pyre walked into the reception at the medical center, they were a bit surprised when one of the doctors came up to them right when they walked in.

"Dark Sonic told us to expect you two. You're here to see Idalia, yes?"

Pyre nodded.

"We found out recently she was our sister, but before that she was our best friend. We wanted to make sure she's alright."

"I'm afraid we can't let you see her just yet, she just had surgery to reset some broken bones. She won't be lucid for awhile. Why don't you come back in the morning?"

Sonia sighed unhappily.

"Is she at least going to be alright?"

The doctor smiled gently at the female hedgehog.

"Yes, she's expected to make a full recovery. She's got the same rapid healing as her father, so she should be out of here, fully healed, within the week. The fact that the medical equipment here is so advanced is a big help too."

"Thank you doctor."

Sonia and Pyre shared a glance before going back outside. They noticed Rouge flying off in the distance, but took no heed of it as they wandered further into the small city.

Beta Base, 10:11 PM

Knuckles watched Shadow pace, starting to get annoyed.

"Shadow…you might as well head to the rendezvous point. Rouge and the Chaotix will be there soon, you don't want to miss them. You know they can't stay long if they want to keep their cover."

Shadow glared at Knuckles before heading to the hidden entrance.

"I'll be back within the hour. If I'm not, wait until morning and you 5 come look for me. If all of this goes good, this war might be over soon."

Knuckles grimaced.

"I don't know. I wouldn't count the Dark Hunter out so quickly…you know how stubborn he was before…well…all this happened."

Shadow smirked at Knuckles.

"Don't worry, I won't break your girlfriends cover Guardian."

Knuckles turned red very quickly.

"She's not my girlfriend! She's a no good thief!"

Shadow's smirk just grew wider.

"Whatever you say Guardian…and call Dark Sonic by his name, we are not going to back out of this because of who he used to be."

Knuckles scowled.

"I know that. Now get out of here, they're probably waiting for you."

With one final nod to Knuckles, Shadow made his way out of the base and to the rendezvous point. As he got close, he could sense the Chaos Energy signatures of Rouge and the Chaotix. It didn't look like anyone had followed them, so he made his way out into the clearing. Shadow couldn't help but smirk when he saw all 4 in the clearing jump.

"Expecting someone else?"

Rouge grinned at Shadow.

"We were worried we might have been followed. The good thing is, the cloaking devices we found work perfectly, Dark Sonic didn't suspect a thing when the Chaotix here piggy-backed on the Babylon Rogues. We've found out the general layout of Kythira Island, as well as where most of the crucial things in the city are. We've also discovered it's impossible to get there without someone with at least a bit of Chaotic One blood in them. Looks like a direct attack on the island is out."

At the significant look from Espio, Shadow sighed.

"Not quite…when we were trying to protect Station Square a few years ago, Dark Sonic let something slip in the hopes of getting me depressed or on his side. When Professor Gerald made me all those years ago, he used one of Sonic's quills. Because of that, I have at least a little Chaotic One blood in me."

Rouge's grin was blinding.

"This is perfect then! We just need to find Robotnik's old robot army and reprogram it to fight for us, then we can attack the island."

All 5 sapients froze at the dark laughter above them. Vector and Charmy looked into one of the trees above them, right into Dark Sonic's eyes.

"I don't think so. I'm going to end most of my problems here and now. I do believe I owe you a very one-sided fight Shadow…my children interrupted me last time. As for you Rouge…you betrayed me. I don't take well to that…and of course, the Chaotix. How could I forget about the "greatest detective team out there"?"

Before anyone could move, they were engulfed by Chaos Energy chains.

"Do you like the chains? I've discovered recently how to make them. It would have made it so much easier wiping out my people back then with this ability. Instead, I get to eliminate some slight pains."

Dark Sonic smirked at Shadow.

"I wouldn't try getting out of those. The only way to break them is to break my will. Not to mention these chains slowly drain your body of any Chaos Energy. It's a very slow and painful way to die. I don't plan for you to be alive long enough to feel the effects though. No, I have a much better way for you all to die. I believe a few years ago I said something. What was it…oh yes. This world will BURN in the fires of my rage."

With those last words, Dark Sonic hit the leaf litter on the ground with a blast of Chaos Energy. The leaves caught quickly, and spread to the trees in no time. The 5 sapients below him struggled to escape the flames, but Dark Sonic made doubly sure that they would die this time. Knocking them unconscious, Dark Sonic flew off, his laughter echoing across the burning forest.

Unknown Location, 10:45 PM

A figure rose to its feet, eyes glowing in the darkly, mechanical voice echoing in the small building.

"OPERATION AWAKENING IS A GO"

There we go…all done. *looks around nervously* I'm…uh…gonna leave now. *dashes away at high speed*