Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

Chapter 10

Tails finally found what he was looking for. Hanging on the wall was a painting of Sonic. Like the one with Shadow, it was an odd one. A white ruffle collar hung to about halfway down his chest, overlapping his jacket. White gloves typical of noblemen of older times encased his hands. Pants tucked into knee-length black and orange boots. Gold designs decorated all three major sections of the outfit, standing out against the dark purple. A golden crown sat up between his ears. If Tails' hunch was correct, this was where they would find the portal. he left the room and yelled to the others.

"I think I found it!"

Shadow and Knuckles hurried to his location. When he pointed to the picture, they each had to keep from laughing. The outfit was one of the last things they'd expect to see on Sonic. Knuckles moved the painting and uncovered the second portal. Turning to Shadow he said;

"You get Sonic. I doubt either of us could get him to come."

With a huff of slight annoyance, Shadow left the room. It didn't take long to find Sonic; he hadn't moved. When he saw Shadow coming over he turned and stuck his little black nose farther in the air.

"I'm not moving, Shadow." He was still pouting, now with his arms and legs crossed. Shadow crossed his own arms and stared down at him. It was times like these when he especially hated his blue lover. Stubborn pride was something they both had. Something they both should let go of once in a while.

"You have to," Shadow growled. He couldn't deal with this right now. "I don't care how much like Mario it is. I'm sure the plumber won't care."

"He was my rival Shadow. I can't just-"

"That means what, exactly?" Shadow uncrossed his arms. "I was your rival at one time as well. You mimicked my Chaos Control."

"This is different, Shadow." Sonic shook his head as he spoke. "The only way to prove I'm better than him is by not mimicking him."

"You're not exactly rivals anymore." Shadow took Sonic's cheeks in his hands and looked into his eyes. "I don't know why you still dislike him so much, and I don't care. But you need to go through that portal. Think of it as showing you're better than him. He does it to save his princess. You do it to save the planet."

Sonic chuckled. "Actually, Shads... I only do stuff for the adventure." A blush of shame reddened his cheeks. "I just happen to come across situations I can't ignore."

"Well if you don't hurry it up, the Doctor could take control of Mobius. We don't have much farther to go."

Sonic stared back at Shadow. The look in Shadow's eyes was one he didn't enjoy playing with.

"Fine, fine." Sonic stood and stretched. "I'll stop acting like a child... Hey!"

Shadow swept Sonic up into his arms. A smirk was his only response when Sonic began yelling.

"Put me down! I can walk!" The actions Sonic made when he began fidgeting reminded Shadow of a Chao who didn't want held any longer. Except for the foot continuously hitting him in the side. "I don't need to be carried like some useless princess."

"I feel like tossing you into the portal." Shadow's tone was serious despite how ridiculous his statement was. It just wasn't something anyone would expect from Shadow.

Sonic pouted, crossed his arms, and remained still. It didn't take long for them to reach the room with the portal within it. The portal was still open and waiting for the hedgehog. A sound of shocked annoyance was heard from Sonic the moment he laid eyes on the painting. The sound went ignored by everyone in the room. Shadow moved to the swirling vortex and tossed Sonic through.

-In the portal-

"That hurt." Sonic whined as he picked himself up off the ground. He had managed to skid across the dirt and hit his head on a rock. As a result, he hurt in various places. "Shads just wants to get me dirty 'cause he is. He can be so immature sometimes." Sonic dusted off his legs and torso before looking around.

There wasn't much to see. Just randomly scattered rock formations and dirt. Lots and lots of dirt. It didn't look inviting, or the kind of place he'd want to hang around in. Like a desert, minus all the heat. Boredom urged the blue hedgehog to get moving through the wasteland, in search of whatever he was supposed to be finding. It wouldn't be that hard, right?

"How'm I supposed to know what to look for? Shads didn't tell me anything..."

Out of nowhere, a ray of light shined down from the heavens. Within the light, a key descended to float a few feet off the floor. Smirk slapping itself in place, Sonic crouched down to start a run. He'd get that key in a few seconds flat. He hadn't gotten farther than three steps before a loud rumbling began. Sections of land began raising from the earth below. Jumping to avoid a crevice, the smirk on Sonic's face grew wider.

"Been a while since I've been in a maze," he announced to the earth. Walls of stone lined his entire view of the area. Sonic started down the path laid out before him. Looking around obviously wouldn't help anything, though keeping himself alert would. So he focused on his sense of hearing and hoped whatever attacked him could be heard. All the quills on his back stood on end, ready to slice into anything he hit with them. His feet were a blur, taking him down corridor after corridor. Dead end after dead end met him. At the rate he was going, it was going to take too long for him to reach that key. "I can't climb like Knuckles... Or fly like Tails..." Sonic looked at the height of the walls surrounding him. No way he could jump that high.

Rushing around a corner, he slammed against the oddly hard form of a giant Toad. It looked down at him with it's oval-shaped, black eyes. It's huge mouth opened and a freakishly deep voice emerged from it.

"I can't let you pass," it said. Sonic stared at it. He couldn't believe his luck. "In order to pass, you must answer a few questions."

"Fine. What are they?" Sonic crossed his arms and tapped his foot. He really didn't have time for this.

"What is the name of the woman you hold the most love for?"

"Woman?" Sonic was confused. When the Toad nodded, he thought a few minutes. "I don't know... Shadina!"

The Toad stared at him a few minutes before replying, "Incorrect. The answer is Sally Acorn."

"I don't know any-"

"What is your full name?"

"Sonic Maurice Hedgehog. How many more of these-"

"Correct. What is your birthday?"

"June twenty-third.."

"Correct." The Toad was silent a few moments before shuffling to the side and motioning past itself. "You may continue."

Sonic smiled at the Toad and waved as he ran off. Why he had to do a trivia test was beyond him. Smart stuff was usually Tails's department. Sonic snatched the key from where it was floating and found himself standing back in the room with the others. Giving them one of his trademark smiles, he held the key for all to see. When he lowered the key his smile went with it.

"Any of you now a Sally Acorn?"

The other three exchanged glances with each other. They'd never heard of someone with that name before. When all three shook their heads Sonic looked a little disappointed.

"Well, let's get outta here."

The group left the room and made their way back to the staircase. At the top Sonic shoved the key in the keyhole and turned it. The door swung open as the key vanished from his hand. Beyond was a rom with a large clock directly across from the door. Whatever had to be done in this room was a complete mystery to all of them.