Chapter 10

The last few fights of round one today. Soon, the real matches would start and Sonic was looking forward to it. He knew there was danger, but he simply didn't care. It was who he was. Anyway, the team made their way to the stadium and the commentator welocmed the day to them.

"Hello everybody. Today is the last day of fighting, so here goes...Sonia the Hedgehog vs. Metal Starlight!"

Shocks went to everyone except Starlight, who was watching the games from somewhere unknown at this time. He had a worried look on his face though. A robot that could control light was bad news.

"Metal Starlight? What's going on?" asked Knuckles. No one could answer it though. They were all mystified.

Sonia the Hedgehog vs. Metal Starlight

The Silver robot stepped out quickly. It was a silver colour with blue streaks on it. It looked very similar to Starlight. It also looked scary in a way.

"Target, Sonia the Hedgehog: destroy" it said as it ran around the arena. It used a booster like Metal Sonic, but skated like Shadow. It suddenly jumped into the air and shot light at Sonia. The hedgehog was quick to react and dodged before using her medallion to attack the robot. No use. Metal Starlight then blasted at Sonia, who wasn't so lucky this time. Sonia got up quick and tried tricking it. The robot started laughing at the attepts of attacking by the purple hedgehog. Metal Starlight then teleported to the other side of the arena and attacked Sonia once again. Sonia spun into a ball and threw herself at Metal Starlight. It surprised the robot, and was forced back a little bit. Metal Starlight reacted by building up some sort of portal and throwing at Sonia and it disoriented her. The robot smiled.

"Good, huh? I call it Chaos Swirl" it said. Somewhere though it was being watched by that mysterious person. "Chaos Swirl...copied"

Sonia got herself back up and went for Metal Starlight again, but the robot disappeared. It reappeared again and attacked Sonia. Using her power ring now was neccessary, so she got back and summoned it. She spun into a purple ball and attacked Metal Starlight and made a small mark. The robot drew his own power ring, but it turned black and the chaos swirl appeared only this time, it was black. It hurt Sonia really badly. Metal Starlight had the upper hand now, but kept it easy. Sonia used one final attack, and that was to strike the core of the robot. She readied, but as she shot, the robot shot his light and it easily destroyed Sonia's attack. She gave in so she wouldn't be hurt anymore.

"The winner is Metal Starlight!"

After this fight the rest was pretty boring. 7 more characters won their fights. These were the ones that won.

Zinc the Hedgehog

Reaper the Echidna

Owfl the Rabbit

Neon the Tiger

Syron the Cat

Thirmo the Hedgehog

Sensi the Chameleon

"Ok folks, round one has finished finally! Tomorrow will be the start round 2! Bye for now" said the commentator, as everyone cleared out.

The Sonic Team went their seprate ways. Sonic and Cream went to see Amy and Tails. Shadow and Silver went to talk with Tikal and Blaze. Knuckles and Rouge went somewhere else and the Chaotix hung out with other people. The fights had finished early today so there would be enough time for a nice night out. Tails and Amy would be allowed out now, and Starlight was discovered by Espio.

"Hey Starlight!" called Espio. The glowing, silver hedgehog turns to the chameleon.

"Hey Espio, what's happening?" he replied.

"I think the question is, what's happening to you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, we haven't see you in 3 days"

"Well I've been fine" there was no way he was telling Espio what he had been doing. He just had to wait until him and Shadow were out. Then it hit him. He couldn't win the emeralds if he was out. So why did Mephiles offer a sixth? He had been tricked once again. His face went angry.

"Are you alright?" asked Espio.

"Yes. I just...need some time to think" he ran off soon after.

Sonic was losing himself. There was too much happening. So many villains, so many suspects it was unbelievable. Metal Starlight only added to the the long list. Tonight, however he was going to pretend there was no tomorrow. He was tired of treating this as an adventure. Well, it kinda was. But what adventure involves staying at a 5 star hotel and watching other people beat the crap out of each other. It was still confusing though. He was smiling now but tomorrow he would be worried. He shook it off and started talking to Tails.

Amy wasn't doing to well though. She was still shaking since Mephiles tried to kill her. It was a sense of fear, looking him in the eyes. He had to be involved somehow. But what with? She was at least a little happy, knowing she was now safely in Sonic's hands. Watching the other fighters had made her realise something. This was fun. Though competitive, fun. It made her giggle assuming that she almost was killed yet thinking it was fun. Her thoughts were broken when she saw Cream come in.

Shadow was getting ready for his first 'proper' date with Blaze. He was eager about it. He realised then that, if this tournament never happened he would have never discovered the feeling of love. He smiled on the fact for one of the first times ever he was having fun. Not once had he threatened the faker, make fun of Tails, piss off Knuckles or laugh at the Chaotix for being morons. It was such a relief for him. A new life with no haunted past. He knew his life was now.

Blaze was eager to go with Shadow as well. It was funny. She didn't even know him untill about a week ago when Sonic introduced all of them yet she almost felt like she was in love with them. She then realised what she was saying and giggled. Blaze was in the room with Tikal, who likewise was getting ready for a date with Silver. Almost everyone had hooked up on this trip. She knew that whatever the outcome, this was one of their best times together ever.

Tikal was very nervous. She had never heard of dating before she had been freed from the master emerald. Silver was very honest and kind as well as kinda cute. To Tikal, that was probably what you want from a man. She had always been confused with people telling her of love and how you become attached with them. Tikal was fascinated with this, but she knew what if felt like. And to be honest, she loved it!

Silver was calm as usual. He had no problem with girls because he had something most men don't have around girls: confidence. That of course meant he wasn't a show off or a player but relaxing and soothing. He liked Tikal because she wasn't in your face like Amy or flirty like Rouge or angry and moany like Blaze or even too kind like Cream. Tikal was just right. He and Knuckles were getting ready together and were making light conversation about the tournament and the night ahead...

Knuckles was drowned in his own thoughts, "Wow, me...and the bat girl...the one I refer to as a thief. Truth be told I fell for her ages ago. At first I let it go but when I saved her life, I saw something between us but pride got in the way. I then thought I'd lose her when Shadow was back but I think he has Blaze now. That really shocked me but what shocked me more than that was the fact Rouge said yes to me. I think she really cares for me and I care for her. I just hope she is as good as she says she is" Knuckles grinned. He was knew to all this, but that wasn't going to stop him.

Rouge wasn't at all nervous. This, unlike Knuckles, wasn't new to her and she knew what she was doing. She always liked Knuckles and therefore didn't hesitate to say yes to him. But the feeling she got with him was different than what she got around Shadow or Sonic or any other man like that. Knuckles was never a jerk. It was the fact his emerald was so precious and so important that she never actually did anything. She knew that and she said that she'd never take his emerald off him. Ever. It was just she liked being around Knuckles is all.

It was 8pm and the couples met outside the restraunt and waited for some seats. It would be the 8 of them. The chaotix were doing hell knows what, Tails and Cream were doing there own thing and Starlight's whereabouts was unknown. It could only mean...

Starlight was walking outside. Mephiles had told him to meet here at 8pm. At exactly 8 on the dot, a purple smoke appeared and Mephiles came out. He had 5 chaos emeralds around him.

"The emeralds! How?" asked Starlight. Mephiles started laughing.

"I think it's time we met our master" Starlight was a bit worried now. He just wanted to run but Mephiles had him now.

"Alright, lets go" was all he said. Mephiles took Starlight and the two teleported to another area. Starlight looked around. They were in some sort of chamber with a bright light in the midle.

"Go ahead, Starlight. You will be pleseantly surprised" Mephiles said. Starlight walked up to the light, energy buolding in his hand in case this was a trap. Starlght then saw the outline of the thing. He recognised the two spikes.

"No, it can't be! Not you!" he said.

"Hahaham, you fools thought you could stop me! Ha, using Mephiles I manipulated you, and it worked. I'll spare you the details for now but one thing to I will tell you: Geneva Zernos" Starlight thought what that meant for a moment before realising how he was talking to.

"No, you're going to be discovered" Starlight started running but was suddenely electrocuted.

"Ahh, what's happening?" The thing chuckled at this.

"Listen up, you even think about telling your friends, I will roast you in seconds, got it?" Starlight had to agree. He didn't like it but being alive mattered.

"Mephiles, take him away"

"Yes master" said Mephiles, as he and Starlight disappeared.

"Haha, this is it" said the thing, as the emeralds circled him once again.

Things are sure heating up now! Next chapter will be the start of Round two. r&r PLEASE!