Entropy

by Experiment 282

Sonic questions himself with his relationship with Amy Rose after a series of dreams involving Amy look-a-likes lead him down a dangerous path to uncover an ancient conspiracy. Mainly SonAmy, but bits of ShadAmy, VecVan, CharmCream, various ships.

10. Chapter 10 Depth of Soul

10 DEPTH OF SOUL

Life flows like free fall. Once it speeds up it's hard to slow down.

He's had these dreams before, where the ones of no origin spurt out of nowhere come crumbling down into his life for a lack of reason. Most of these were hardly lucid at all, but they let the ball roll into the court. It was his duty to pick it up and throw it in again. A game of it's own rules that changed constantly and yet, you would instantly know what these rules are as soon as you realize what the game is about. We can't change them, but they change themselves.

In the Street, the house's changed into plain, boring everyday homes. Except Amy's. Hers stayed in the luxurious mansion it was supposed to be. The factor came in, saying that there was someone else living in it, but he didn't know who it was, only that their shadow screened on the window curtains. Didn't matter at the moment...there was other more important matters to worry about, then acting on silly suspicions based on lack of proof but on gut feeling...even if most of the time it was never wrong.

Though Sonic had seen this...NiGHTS before. But upon this revelation, it was the Dream Weaver of this world. For now he was glad someone like them was around to help Sonic make sense of what he had been seeing ever since that cold winters night last week. But it was still fresh, but for reasons unknown elsewhere felt old, like he'd been awake forever. Paradoxical at best, like an insomniacs dreams. A disturbance on the Dream Waves was their excuse to interfere, at the request of Illumina, the Goddess of Dreams. It came to him that NiGHTS was in fact leading him to this place to discuss the status of not only the Earth, but himself, a Hedgehogs mentality that was going astray and needed to be mended. Sonic understood that, with his own final self admission, that there was a problem with the way he saw the world, but he couldn't figure out how Amy was factored into this. All he knew was that there, now, was an unsightful edge to her grandmother, alongside the ancestry that they both carried with them. Amy didn't seem the type to be really interested in going back into her own past, she just wanted to get on with her life in peace. Again the topic of stability arose, as it reminded Sonic that he was chaotic at best, at one with the voice of the winds. But Amy...innocent as she was, like her grandmother, had a part of them that was completely unknown, buried in secrecy and denial. Possibly in so deep she'd forgotten about it. As long it didn't worry her it was okay. The issue didn't need to be brought up unless someone mentions something...

This world...of dreams brought in pieces of his own life. And parts of hers. A combination of old starting points and new adventures filled the basis of their surroundings. NiGHTS frolicked with the Chao and the identity of the mysterious creatures alongside them were known as A-Life: the dream world's version of the Chao. The Bloody Amy and the Bloody Sonic were no where to be seen, meanwhile Shizaru and Gabriel chatted amongst themselves, leaving Sonic and Amy with one another, unable to decide on what they were going to do.

Amy had brought up the point of doing what ever the heck they liked. They were asleep so no real body injuries or sickness came into play. Seeing a whole playground of loops and places to run breathed excitement in the young pink Hedgehog, who mentioned she broke another treadmill at the Gym. Sonic laughed at that, having the whole world as his giant treadmill. Plus the whole thing was Amy-liked anyway, giving her romantic ideas for her and Shadow, which, made Sonic's stomach churn. He tried to be happy for their relationship, but truly he was deeply unhappy about it. Sonic kept telling himself that it was okay for that to happen, for it didn't matter to him. Amy was the first to run off into the island resort like surroundings, like Emerald Coast, Ocean Palace and Sunset Hill slopped together to give them the ride of their...dreams...

Sonic eventually caught up and zoomed past her, grinding on vines as the entered a more forestry environment more akin to the jungles of Angel Island. He rolled into a spring and bounced upwards into several more springs pushing him and passed the canopy and into a flock of flickys who flew beside him. Looking over to his left, he could see Amy jumping as well and waved to her. She responded with giving a raspberry. Sonic smirked and made his descent into the thick foliage, landing on a massive log that had to have been from the tallest tree he'd ever seen, running on the moss covered log over a cliff, portraying a bottomless pit below and made it over to the other side. Running in two more loops, a path crossed with another as time slowed down before him, his sonic boom creating a vortex of leaves trailing behind him. As he made it to the intersection, he reacted to a pink and red ball leaping over him, in the most gracefully time-stopping fashion, much like someone he knew who could do such a thing. Time sped up again as he kept running and found himself jumping onto several branches, interweaving with Amy as they jumped from branch to branch. Brushing up against the leaves, Sonic again leaped passed the canopy and into the broad skies, grabbing hold of an abnormally large eagle's talons and gliding across the vastness of the forest. His head turned around, looking to his right and seeing a flock of Stumpwings head down. He tried to angle the Eagle to turn and get rid of them, only to be met with Amy jumping out as well, the size of her Piko Piko Hammer reflecting in his eyes. It was ten times its normal size, with Amy throwing it back, then with all her might slamming down mighty hard on the flock, smashing them as they burnt into ashes and faded away. She swung the hammer to gain momentum for an aerial front flip, then withdrew it and fell to the ground. Sonic let go of the eagle and let himself down as well, free falling before landing on top of Amy.

"Ow..." She complained. Her vision came back, and as a fellow face lingered near hers, her own heated up dramatically.

"Sorry Amy..." Sonic apologized, now also blushing as he was now a little too close to her face for comfort.

Both were in very compromising positions, as Amy lay flat out on the ground with Sonic on top of her. For a moment there was an unheard but certain click that shifted between them. Both of them had a lack of words to spill out of their muzzles, as his nose was just touching the tip of her soft one, their heartbeats elevating, as Sonic's was ringing in his ears as well noticing a weird sort of short breaths. Their eyes were locked into one another but their hearts clogged up their throats, unable to say anything at all.

Amy squinted and rolled Sonic onto his back, making sure she was in control. She had his arms pinned down to ground and a creepy smirk on her face as she playfully glared at him. Sonic lifted his chin at her.

"Now I don't think this is fair at all Amy...sitting on my chest n' all..." He snarked.

"Oh boo hoo..." Amy mocked. "You'll just have to live with it..."

She leaned over until her head was directly above Sonic's, with barely a few centimeters between their faces. "By the way, I was joking...I wasn't really hurt..."

Bah! Sonic remembered it was a dream! How could it hurt if she didn't want it to? That sly pink hedgehog...

"Oh you're gonna get it now!" Sonic announced. He rolled her back over, and fell on her chest. The sounds of the forest died down and instead all that was heard were their inhales and exhales. Their eyes locked together once more. That feeling in his stomach returning, burning more than ever and so much that he let the feeling gently take over his consciousness, his face lowering towards hers as his eyes began to close, her own doing the same, a part of her closing off to let him get his way.

His head stopped at several centimeters away from her lips, feeling the small whispy brush of her breath through her nose. It tickled the fur on Sonic's muzzle, his pulse rapidly racing...

This burning sensation that built a bonfire in the middle of Amy's Mansions backyard, the flames towering to the skies. She stood one side with her hands wrapped around his neck as she wore little black dress, white tights and black high heels. Sonic's own arms were around her waist. The fire that flowed through their veins fueled the light in the middle. Tree's twisted and contorted, even the fire began to spiral upwards. Their eyes lay on one another, not speaking for words would ruin and fail to explain the new found feelings that were even more powerful than before. She took his hand and placed it to heart. The power of the pounds would even shame the fastest drummer.

The forest sounds were still gone, as Sonic shifted his head back and forth ever so slightly as his lips widened and shrank, as if unsure what to do with them or how to do it right as he had a mental lockout of his surroundings. Their noses touched with one another before finally...

Sonic shot up from his bed to see Gemerl vacuuming the room. Sonic wiped his face as the sun shone down on him. No wonder why he was feeling warm. He swung his legs around to sit on the edge of the bed. He was about to rub his eyes, until he saw his reflection in a mirror and remembered the bionic eye. He got off the bed.

"Mornin' to you too..." Sonic said apathetically as he walked out.

–

He rubbed his head and yawned as he wandered towards the kitchen to see Vector reading the paper and Vanilla making breakfast. Sonic slid the chair out and sat on it. Vector lowered the paper.

"Ah good morning Sonic. How was your sleep?" He asked.

Yawning, Sonic leaned his elbow on the table and rested his head onto his hand. "It was..okay...I guess..."

Ignoring that dream, Sonic shrugged. He probably hadn't had a good nights sleep in a while...and now it was catching up to him...

Vanilla made porridge of them all as Gemerl started vacuuming in the lounge. Vanilla read a magazine while Vector kept reading the paper. Sonic toiled as his played around with his breakfast more than he ate it. Something was tearing him from the inside and he didn't know what, but he was beginning to believe that the hunger pains he thought he was having before weren't at all. His eyes read over to the newspaper as he tried to read the paper upside down.

"Ehh...do you really think Shadow will make a good Commander? I mean, not even a week has passed and he's declared war based on delusions." He asked.

Vanilla looked over. "I'd say give him a chance. He's not cold-hearted..."

"But he is hot blooded!" Vector claimed. Sonic jokingly believed it was a bit of both.

Vector took a slurp of his porridge. "This is coming from a guy who had a horrid past, wasn't born like the rest of us, had loved ones killed and had his own agency up against him."

Vanilla paid her attention back to her magazine and rubbed her neck. "The circumstances surrounding his birth are irrelevant Vector. He's been down many roads in which he did not know where they would lead him."

Surprisingly insightful, but true. Although even though there had been a few incidents, Sonic thought that they had to give Shadow enough time to set the record straight and renew his reputation. Give him time to see if he cared enough about the world around him, despite his origins lying elsewhere.

"We shouldn't treat him like an outsider. I read a lot of controversy over his sudden promotion that was more bias than actual facts. And the facts that mattered were taken as a grain of salt." Vanilla continued.

Vector shrugged. "Who knows what goes on in that head of his...as long as he can take care of it then I don't really mind."

Vanilla sighed. "Vector, didn't you say Shadow asked for the Chaotix to be part of the Third Party Program?"

Vector slammed the newspaper on the table. "Grah...I hate talking about it..."

Vanilla frowned. She hadn't seen Vector more annoyed like this. "But it's good pay isn't it?"

Vector rubbed his face and leaned back in his chair. "Team Chaotix is about solving minor cases OR Cases that are worth a good packet. If Shadow is gonna make GUN more commercial than it's own seriousness, he's gonna make it worse in terms of how the public perceive them."

Vanilla got off her chair and made orange juice for them all. Sonic scratched his head.

"Well he is trying to recruit. And they lost a whole bunch of soldiers yesterday."

Vector poked the pages. "Says it in here. Skeptics are condemning that Shadow's gonna reform the entire chain. Promotions, demotions and playing favorites."

Vanilla came back and placed the drinks on the table. "Surely there are standards and rules about that. Or else the humans would get edgy."

Sonic took a sip from the orange juice. All this talk about GUN was boring him. He laughed off as the people believed that Shadow had serious political agendas. Though Sonic wondered what happened to the old Commander.

"The last Commander retired. It's said he shut himself back and moved to Hawaii or wherever."

Informed Vanilla.

Sonic supposed that they come and go. Part of life, part of reality that these things happen. We get older, we get wiser...well, some people do, anyway.

–

After breakfast, Vector prepared himself for work, heading back into the city where his Detective Agency was. Vanilla had to run some errands and left Gemerl to mind the house. Sonic couldn't thank them enough for their hospitality as his mind was left refreshed and raring to go. Saying goodbye, he ran off to GUN Headquarters.

But saying his mind was refreshed was a slight lie. It wasn't as worse as it had been, but a lot of answers were still to be had. Those thoughts were left behind as a reminder of what Tails had asked Sonic to do. He needed to get back to his house to look after the plant and...search for what Tails had left behind. Sonic half-expected a will, but at Tails age it was unlikely, albeit with the amount of dangerous journeys he was on it became less surprising. He diverged from the route and ran down the outskirts of Central City's suburbia and ran to Tails house.

Entering in, the place looked a bit dusty from a lack of maintenance, not unlike Muriel's bookshop. He could see the green plant growing on the window sill. He walked over to it. It was beginning to dry up. Sonic got a glass of water and poured it on gently. This plant was fairly important to Tails. It was strange looking however. The petals were green and the stigma was ruby red. He was afraid it wouldn't survive as it was the only thing left by Tails that was ever special to him. Leaving it be for now, he looked around to find what Tails had mentioned. He checked several drawers which had papers, pencils, pens, rulers and all kinds of generic math aiding equipment and mechanical tools. He knocked his head and tried to think of where Tails had said it was.

Once you get back to Earth, I want you to go to my drawer next to my bed. There should be something in there for you. And take care of my plant okay? I have a feeling it's finally gonna sprout.

He rubbed his face, trying to prevent himself from tearing up again, as pain swelled behind his eyes, the tear ducts beginning to congest. Sucking it up, he went up stairs to where he had once slept and encountered the wooden drawer. Kneeling down, he pulled on the brass handles, seeing an envelope and a box inside. He took out the envelope first and opened it, grabbing the single piece of paper and began to read it.

Hi Sonic, if you're reading this, I probably told you to do so under the circumstances in which I can no longer speak to you in person. First of all, thanks again. I'm most likely thanking too much, or too little. Doesn't matter. Anyway, as you're my best friend, I'm giving you full liberty of my stuff. If you need a home, take mine. You usually sleep over on movie nights and leave your rubbish all over the place. So this home, is now yours.

Sonic looked up and tried so hard to fight back the tears. He didn't care that he owned the house now, it was the fact that it was the first time he realized Tails picked up after him. There was so much he did to aid him in his endeavors that he was losing the battle of tear prevention.

Secondly, to the others, like Amy, she's like a big sister to me...and even you'd probably hate me for saying this but...please take her out for at least one date! You are so completely stubborn in avoiding it! Knuckles and I usually ignore it, but we felt that her anger might quelled if you just made her happy for one day. It would make her world. Great, now I sound selfish. But promise me you will take her out at least once okay?

Sonic looked apathetic as his eyelids dropped, giving off an surface-dwelling annoyance, but deeper down nervousness was taking over.

Knuckles. Oh geez Knuckles. Good guy with best intentions. He compares with you as the most determined person I've ever met. Maybe alongside Amy's infatuation with you but I won't talk about it, knowing it makes you uncomfortable...

Yes, despite speaking about it just before. Tails was mocking him in his will.

Cream...was the little sister. So bright and optimistic she brings the warmth to my heart. I hope her future treats her well.

Indeed. She had many years ahead of her.

And to all the other friends I've met over the years...thank you for being one...

Sonic was on his last straw...he had to bite his lip and squeeze his eyelids, taking a breath in the meanwhile to hold back.

Sonic, this is my latest edition as you can judge by the scribbles. You've been acting weird lately and I can understand why. I've recently hacked into GUNs file and read OPERATION: LUCID. It's pretty intense stuff. Shadow won't reveal it to you, since I suspect he's planning to usurp GUN. Why? Because he'd been with the Commander a lot lately, who's been sick. I'd gone in there a few times to help fix computers...but when the computers can't be fixed by normal means, I call a friend of mine. Inside the box is a special device that allows you to contact this friend. Just mention my name and she will help you.

Sonic lifted the box up. It was wrapped in brown paper and string. Tearing it apart revealed a remote device with a small screen and antennae. He flipped in his hands and started pressing buttons but had no luck with activating it. He checked back to the paper.

There's a red button that allows the transmission to occur, but she will only answer when she wants to.

He couldn't read the rest of it. He dropped both the paper and the device on the ground and wept. He leaned over with his elbows and knees on the floor with his hands on his eyes, his breathing was quick and erratic alongside several sniffs. Sonic was blaming himself entirely for his demise. He looked over to to the paper once more and read the end note.

Sayonara Sonic the Hedgehog!

The page became drenched in hedgehog tears, as he heard but ignored the footsteps and the shadow that were coming up from behind him.

"I thought you would be here."

Sonic looked up and sat on his feet. "H-hey Bazooka...what are you doin' here?"

Bazza kneeled down beside Sonic and picked up the remote. "Just checkin' up on things here. The Commander ordered me to come here to claim any GUN related assets."

Damn Shadow, careless bastard only thought about commercialism and Sonic now thought Vectors opinions were true. Sonic stood up and grabbed the paper.

"That's a remote Tails gave to me in order to see a friend of his...I dunno who she is..." Sonic explained.

Bazza examined it. "It's the Tera-Hack Matter Transferrer." She said. "These things are extremely difficult to make it."

All boggled words went straight through Sonic's head. He manned up and wiped away the tears.

"So what now?"

Bazza's head lifted. "Agent Drainer's gone to the Garden of Voi. The Commander got a call from Olly saying she was feeling better and wanted to come back to work."

Sonic smirked, then turned serious. "What about Eggman? Has he said anything?"

Bazza shook her head. "No. Commander Shadow was going to speak to him again today. Do you wanna come watch?"

–

Sonic couldn't resist the offer. He checked everything else out in the house, before finding the spare key and locked the door. He showed Bazza Tails supposed will, who analyzed it thoroughly, mentioning that since the house was now Sonic's, he'd have to check it out for anything Tails had constructed recently according to GUN protocol. All remnants of his existence would be altered dramatically..especially the way he disappeared.

They made their way to GUN Headquarters once more. Upon arrival, a soldier had announced that Shadow needed to see Sonic immediately. Agent Bazooka was asked to go elsewhere, for Shadow wished to speak to Sonic alone.

Sonic went into Shadow's office and closed the door. His room was dark and dank, with a wooden desk and book shelves behind with him and photo frames and various arch-typical boss like regalia.

Before the desk was someone, who wore a very similar suit to the Fatalex, but had a mark, a symbol of a green chaos emerald surrounded in spikes and a circle on the shoulders. Its helmet wasn't too different from the horned appendages on Drainers, except these were longer, more slanted and lower on the head. It's hands more akin to claws, with two fingers and a thumb protected by latex gloves. Its suit covered with two small silver coloured pipes that extended from the bottom of the neck to the back of it's head. It's feet were large but contained in massive boots that were similar to Olly's. It's torso held black cross straps, while, indeed like the Fatalex, wore a latex/leather combined. A small, white circular canvas was held in by the cross straps that was embedded into the suit.

"Sit down Sonic." Shadow said. Sonic shrugged and did so.

"First off, I want you to meet someone. A new recruit. Probationary Agent Neptune."

Sonic turned his head to the strange new Agent. His visor was more like a pair of attached steam-punk goggles.

"He doesn't say much, but his abilities are astounding. He will be a priceless agent." Shadow explained.

Sonic leaned back in his chair and placed his feet on the desk, much to the ire of Shadow who was not amused. "So...why'd you bring me in here?" Sonic asked, cleaning his ear.

"I'm forming a new group. It doesn't have a name yet, but I'm currently recruiting them for hard hitting missions. While the Femme Fatalex were designed for infiltration missions, I need a team that is not afraid to focus on the heavy security if things go wrong..." Shadow explained.

Sonic rubbed his nose. "So...you want a group to do diversions...if that's what you're saying..."

Shadow nodded. "We haven't yet proved that Eggman's true intention was to grab our attention while someone somewhere else was getting another important job, thus using up most of our resources to one single problem."

"Yeah sounds like a legit strategy..." Sonic said in a monotone, not particularly caring.

Shadow rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I was going to get Neptune to stick with the Femme Fatalex, so he can learn some skills. However, since they themselves have more important tasks to care of..."

Sonic cleaned out his ear. "What?" He wondered, not expecting much.

Shadow shuffled a goldenrod folder. "I want you to help train him.."

Sonic rose an eyebrow. "Come again?"

The Commander walked around and stood behind him as he read the notes in the folder. "Neptune needs someone to set a good example for him. His psychological profile indicates that he doesn't know the difference between right or wrong, but according to our psychologists he has the mental capacity to learn."

Sonic looked at Neptune. "But I'm not a part of GUN!"

Shadow chuckled. "Sonic, I'd had to be the bearer of bad news but..."

Sonic sat up and stared at Shadow. "Don't tell me you..."

Shadow rolled his eyes. "The profile hasn't been completely filled, but my predecessor organized a position for you after some crucial thinking towards the end of the Black Arms incident."

What ever happened to just asking nowadays? Sonic just had to face palm at it. The feeling of belonging to an organization wasn't mutual. He resented, considering his well known reputation, being a representative of violence and war. Sonic knew he was an icon, he was practically a heroic celebrity. He's turned down sponsorship offers and interviews with magazines because he feels his opinions could be taken the wrong way. Sonic also possessed the sole belief that others had to chose their own path and the fear that others would attempt to do what he says even though what ever his said wasn't a suggestion but something that he did. He never does it for the money but for the world's safety. He preferred to be more like a dust speckle in the wind than be plastered on billboards and the like. Avoiding others was more his style, the specific type of loneliness that he didn't mind.

"I don't care if you have a identity to uphold...and I know I won't like it either, considering we're both equals..." Said Shadow. Sonic could hear the reluctance in those words, with Shadow's determination to be better than Sonic strong in his heart. But as a Commander, he had to speak wisely. But the healthy rivalry was still allowed, so both can strive harder to the fastest and strongest thing alive.

But Sonic simply wasn't interested. Shadow received that vibe and asked Neptune to step out of the room for a moment. The Probie complied and followed orders as he left the room and closed the door. Shadow's attention immediately went to Sonic as he charged up and pushed Sonic against the wall, pinching a few still sore nerves that Sonic winched at.

"Listen to me Sonic and listen to me very carefully...you will join GUN. As per the wishes of the last Commander!" He demanded.

Sonic wiggled about and was tempted to spit in Shadow's face. But he was the one being held up so...

"There is a major conspiracy going around. And if you want in to some of the more finer details of our investigations, then you're gonna have to team up with us."

Sonic rolled his eyes but didn't say anything. Shadow's tone was a mixture of desperate and slight sadness, albeit covered in a tone of arrogance and smothered in anger. His eyes told a lot than what he was saying and became a bit suspicious of Shadow's motives. Maybe Vector was right.

"We fixed you..we gave you a new eye dammit! You want me to rip it out?"

Sonic sighed. "I never asked for it anyway. Your doctors were the ones that put it in there."

Shadow's cheeks twitched. "That's because I told them too! I'd rather my own speed rival to have a fair advantage then to not at all...besides...I like the challenge."

Sonic chuckled. "One eye wouldn't disable me for running. Besides, I could have looked like a pirate!"

Shadow dropped Sonic. "I will place you in the Third Party Program for now. And if you make one lil pir-"

"Yarr! We gonna search for this treasure arrrrrGGHH" Sonic mocked, with his neck somehow ending up in Shadow's hand, now back in struggle mode.

"As I was saying...Third Party doesn't get you into what Rouge calls "the most juicy bits" but it'll give you level 2 clearance. Which means you'll have access to basics as well as being allowed to interrogate prisoners and potential suspects, but only if someone with a level 3 or higher clearance is with you. Is that clear?" Shadow stated, letting Sonic go.

Sonic rubbed his neck then looked at Shadow with innocent puppy dog eyes...Shadow saw right through his stupid act and wanted to punch Sonic in the face as Shadow glared at him.

"Although if you refuse, I call always do the honor of tearing the eye right here, right now. But I prefer not to get any blood on my hands..."

Sonic snuffed. "Shadow, I can see stains on your gloves..." He commented with a devious smirk.

Shadow grew frustrated. He didn't appear to be but Sonic could see it as clear as day. Having enough of Sonic's antics and annoyance at how he wasn't taking this seriously, he pulled on a small black square object from his pocket and looked at Sonic.

"Now...Drainer and Bazooka have told me your story about how Tails met his demise..." Said Shadow. Sonic lost his smile and went into stoic mode.

"Yeah what about it?" Sonic retorted in a rude tone.

Shadow held the object out. "Knowing you...you would feel...guilty. In order to...satisfy your feelings and rid yourself of this negative let down is to punish yourself. I've saved you the trouble of doing that..."

Sonic browed. "Uhh...why? I wouldn't harm myself over someones death even if I could have prevented it."

Shadow chuckled. "I know you too well Sonic. You are trying so hard...to protect that image of yours. The image you prefer to make for yourself rather than let everyone else construct a fake one for you. So...harming yourself WOULD be setting a bad example for all your fans..."

Sonic rolled his eyes. "Shadow...I wouldn't slit my wrists and be emo like you. It's the last thing I'd do. I'm not depressed...I'm just trying to get on with my life like Tails would want."

Shadow juggled the object up and down in his hand, as if it were a toy. "I know what pain is like Sonic. All too well...I'm well over my past. And am glad to do what I want without restraint. But...the scar is always there. Within you, is the pain of loss of a loved one. I got to know Tails quite well every time he came here to do some freelance work. The emptiness you feel is normal. I was like that when I lost Maria. But I know her spirit is always with me. The deeds been done..."

Yeah except for the fact that Shadow's turned into a bigger maniac. He didn't need a lecture from Gangsta Hog. Sonic has his own life to live. There is no desk to stand behind or factory to work in. There is no pyramid network to work around or deadlines to meet. Sonic knew what to do with his own freedom without Shadow blabbing on about pain and loss.

"I may feel guilty about it, but there is no need to do anything about it." Sonic assured, hoping to get rid of this pointless issue.

"Of course there isn't..." Said Shadow as he stopped juggling the device. "However, I have the power to bring forth the punishment...from within..."

Sonic crossed his arms. "Yeah, how you gonna do that?"

"Observe..." Muttered Shadow, as he pressed the big red button.

Suddenly Sonic fell over in great pain. His right eye was causing him grief and agony, his vision becoming blurry as he held it. He breathed in and out rather rapidly, gritting his teeth and hissing through the spaces in his teeth. What in Chaos name was this?

Shadow let go. "I saw fit to put a shocker in the bionic eye...just in case problems like this occur..."

Sonic dropped his hand and stood up, glaring at Shadow. "Isn't this black mail?"

Shadow smirked. "I do it because it is necessary." He said, ignoring Sonic's question on purpose.

Sonic cooed. "Necessary my a-"

"Now sign...you're not having a codename. You don't need one."

Sonic glimpsed at the device, as Shadow brought paperwork around. "You can pick your own team name..." Shadow said.

Sonic had one in mind, writing Shadow Sme- before being shocked again and falling to the floor.

"I'm sorry...but I'm afraid you cannot have that one." Shadow stated, obviously having a little too much fun with this. Sonic by far was not amused, but was not gonna let Shadow beat him in a battle of wits.

Sonic got up and leaned over as he snatched the pen. Sonic didn't want to do it, but had no choice. He signed his signature and wrote down a team name. Shadow proceeded to pick the page up.

"Burning Miles. Makes sense." He commented. "Very well...Welcome to GUN!"

Shadow lent out his hand. Sonic just stared at him. "Sonic, don't make this difficult than it already is. I don't wanna do it anymore than you do. I'm just following Commander Protocol...and I can make it more difficult if you'd like."

Sonic huffed and violently shook Shadow's hand. "There. It is done. I will have your uniform, cards and weaponry organized."

His black phone lit up red and started ringing. Shadow whipped it up to his ear. "Commander Shadow...Yes...what? Good...I'll be right done." Said Shadow, before he placed the phone down.

Sonic gave Shadow the dirtiest look. He downright hated being used like this. But Shadow had that power. Shadow placed the device back in his pocket and filed the paperwork away, before grabbing another goldenrod folder and heading out.

"Come...if you want to watch..."

–

Sonic collected Neptune on the way down the interrogation room, following Commander Shadow into the depths of GUN's heavily guarded prison. The deeper they got, the more guards were encountered. Shadow used the retina scanners before the three made it down to an isolated interrogation room...number seven as it would have...Shadow opened the the door into the Observation Room for Sonic and Neptune, giving a little nod to go inside. Sonic hadn't really done this process before, but if he'd seen those shows where they hide in a dark room, watching it from one side, but from the lighter side it was a mirror, then this was most likely the same ordeal.

This room had three seats, a computer with a blank black screen and the only things that lit the room up with the green and orange LEDs from the computer. Other than that, the room was near darkness. Sonic sat down on the middle chair, while Neptune just stood with his hands behind his back. A flash created miserable light from the interrogation room, revealing a hand cuffed Eggman wearing gray prison gear with a number on the left side of his shirt and sitting down, staring at the black table before him. Sonic could see the cuts and bruises on his face and blinked.

Shadow came in and whacked the folder on the table before Eggman, startling him. Had Shadow made a big mess of the bad egg?

"So...let me ask you again...where are the factories?" Shadow asked with complete, yet scary calmness.

Eggman spat on Shadow's face, who, slowly wiped it off with his hand. "The ARK is being incapacitated as we speak. We have...scientists about to dissect those Tails Dolls. Do you want us to dismantle your precious associates as well?"

The gritty look on the Doctors suggested he wasn't going to say anything. Sonic tried to imagine what Shadow had did to him while he was in a coma. He watched Shadow start to walk around Eggman, giving him a deviously ebony snare. "You're lucky we haven't outright executed you for your crimes."

Although Eggman still wore his glasses, Sonic could see the expression on his face, suggestion he was rolling his eyes.

"No? So...you...let yourself be captured...and placed someone else in control of your assets while you're here."

Something was very wrong here...Sonic could feel it. Eggman would be barking at Shadow by now but his silence was definitely out of character. He had a feeling the wounds on his face weren't the only ones he had...

"Our tech guys have seized control of your accounts. We're effectively cut off your supposed infinite funding. At least now the world can afford to rebuild itself after the amount of times you're terrorized it." Shadow proclaimed.

The Doctor breathed in a out like normal, and continued staring at the table. Shadow stopped walking around and grabbed a chair, spun it around and sat on it backwards, with his arms on the backrest.

"Surely good doctor, you wouldn't want your grandfather's name to be tainted even more do you?"

Sonic saw Eggmans mustache twitch. Shadow was deliberately trying to tick him off.

"GUN have brought lies to his name. I'm preparing to wipe the slate clean. With the Presidents full approval..."

And now the irony begins...

The Observation Door opened, with Bazza coming inside. "Hey did I miss anything?" She whispered as she tiptoed her way over to the seat on the other side of Sonic, who shook his head.

"Not really...but Robotnik's acting really weird..." Sonic replied.

Bazza nodded. "Yeah...you should have seen the Commander beat him to a pulp the other day."

Sonic crossed his arms and leaned back. "Why doesn't that surprise me?" He said sarcastically, knowing now where the wounds came from. "But...he's just..."

"Soulless..." Said Bazza.

"What?" Sonic said.

Bazza sighed. "Agent Drainer was with him. He'd made her suck the life out of him, then force it back in. Those screams...you could hear them throughout the complex...they would haunt you for ages."

Drainer? Sounded like...

"She...tortured him?" Sonic muttered with surprise.

Bazza's head fell. "Yeah...she might be our team medic but she can be pretty lethal when ordered."

Sonic was glad he didn't get on her bad side. He kept close on eye on Eggman who continued be leading astray with his devils lips as Shadow began tapping on the table. For the first time, Eggman opened his mouth.

"So how many deaths lay in your hands?" Eggman asked. "one hundred...no..two?"

SLAP!

A red mark grew on Eggmans face as he looked to the side while Shadow withdrew his hand.

"The blood of many!"

Eggman snickered. "Oh really? You know...my intention is not to harm everyone, but take over the world the way it wants me to."

Shadow crossed his arms. "Yeah...did it say that?"

Eggman chuckled. "The general public forces me to take the hard way. If they submit to me then no unnecessary destruction would be done."

Shadow nudged his head. "Heh...because they're not stupid to believe that your reign will be full of sunshine and happy colours."

Eggman sat back. "I never said it was. Besides it's always good to have a challenge on your hands. If it wasn't for Sonic I might have stopped years ago!"

Sonic stood there with a raised eyebrow. Common sense told him that Eggman's motivations were more bull than anything, and if anything, he did everything because he could.

"And now you're here. The endgame of your little ploy." Shadow boasted.

"What do you have to say about that?"

Eggman grinned. "I'm sure you're having such a swell experience here, whilst wasting time and precious resources instead of leading your house of irony, trying to think of complex ways to break me. Well little warthog no. 2, it's not going to happen."

Eggman's will was nearly as strong as Sonic's, if not more. His determination to do what he does takes a lot of patience that had been stockpiled over the years. The Observation door opened once more, a GUN employee who popped his head in to speak to Bazza, handing her a sheet of paper. Nodding, the employee closed the door again as Bazza read.

"What is it?" Sonic asked. Bazza scanned the paper thoroughly.

"It's Drainer. There's trouble on the Garden of Voi." She said. She reached over to the small panel near the screen, and pressed it.

"Commander Shadow we need to speak with you." Bazza announced over the intercom.

The black and red hedgehog didn't look amused as he glared at the doctor, grasping his hands together. "I will be back." He said.

"Take your time..." Eggman replied.

Shadow got off his chair and walked out into the hallway to meet with Bazza. He body language suggested he didn't like to be interrupted. Especially with this sort of trouble in hand.

"Speak." Said Shadow.

Bazza nodded. "Commander, it's Agent Drainer. She's sent a message saying there's the intruder in Prince Hayden's mansion."

Shadow rubbed his face. "Grab Sonic and Neptune and head up there immediantly. By Portal or by else it doesn't matter! We swore we would aid the Prince at any cost!"

–

Getting ready, Bazza suggested they take GUN's method into getting upon the floating space plateau that was the Garden of Voi; Spaceship. Sonic could have easily gotten back to the portal, but this was at Bazza's insistence. Plus the Probationary Agent needed experience in low air pressures...

Using the fighter jet, the three flew over to the countryside, a place east of Central City, at least fifty kilometers away from the CBD or any other notable residential and commercial places Sonic sat there as his vision grew brighter and brighter...

–

"Yo, Sonic!"

Sonic lifted his head. Upon looking around the horizons, the glimpses of grass, trees, flowers and hills below a star scattered sky informed him that he was already there. Weirded out mostly, he ignored the signs of blacking out and carried on with Bazza and Neptune. This wouldn't be the first time things have jumped on him. He checked on the others before speeding off towards the Prince's mansion, with Bazza flying in tow, and Neptune getting on all fours and running like cheetah hunting for it's next meal. In all this, Sonic had this sensation of growing numb towards the madness and that anything from now until when ever was no longer going to have a profound effect on him. He was there to a job and save lives like he always had been.

The Mansion itself was relatively unharmed and pleasantly yet creepily calm in its normalness. Sonic was about to knock the front doors, before Drainer opened it.

"I heard your screech. I'm glad you're here." She stated.

Sonic nodded. "Sure. What's up?"

The others just catching up, Drainer lead them up the stairs and into Prince Haydens main quarters. Again, the destruction of the room looked no different from when Eggman and Abbadonia were here last. Except the for the shanky job someone made of the back wall where the Egg Goliath had smashed through, with wooden planks and blue tarps to stop the breeze coming through. Bazza investigated the broken furniture, while Neptune just had his eyes on everything, seemingly curious.

"We were here before...and where's Hades?" Sonic wondered.

Drainer picked up the Prince's pipe. "The Prince had requested that I go downstairs to check up on the artifacts. I did so, with the Sword, the Box and some new ones...namely the Shell of Emotions that I picked up from the Sea Scroll Zone...and when I came back up the room was a mess and both Lily the Maid and the Prince were gone."

Sonic rubbed his chin. "Do you suspect Abbadonia?" He queried.

Drainer shrugged. "I am not sure. There was a smell of sulfur upon entering, so there were signs that she had some involvement."

Bazza turned around. "We better get these back to GUN Headquarters then. Commander Shadow would have our hides if any of these were stolen." She suggested.

Drainer nodded. "Yes. But before we do so, I need Sonic's help."

Sonic blinked. "Sure. What do you need?"

Drainer shifted her weight on her left side, sitting her hand on her hip. "You have the Ring of Memories still?"

Sonic pulled it from behind. "Yeah. Sure do..."

Bazza smashed her fist into her palm. "Oh I get it!"

Sonic rose an eyebrow. "Care to explain?"

Bazza clasped her hands together. "Sonic, remember what you told Drainer and me? How the Ring focuses on Time Scars?"

Sonic's eyes bounced about. "Yeah..."

Bazza's hands flew to her hips. "If the Prince was attacked, there might have been huge emotional battle that would have ensued, thus a wound that can be easily opened."

Crud, he'd been thinking about Tails and Amy so much he'd almost forgotten the schematics of this important piece of jewelery. He looked at the two, while Neptune was busy crawling around for what ever reason. He took one last embalming stare at the ring, before placing it on his right index finger, and closed his eyes to focus...

–

A small white flash covered his vision, until it faded back to reality, with Prince Hayden sitting behind his desk, mumbling about how cold it was as he tried to fix up part of the wall. He didn't understand why. Surely the Prince had a lot of servants who could do the work for him...

Hammering away, Sonic saw Lily walk into the room and courtsey.

"Excuse me your highness." She said in her husky voice. "But there is someone here who needs to see you..."

The Prince stopped what he was doing and turned around. A white hedgehog, who had a rather weird head crest of spikes, and a tuft of white fur on his chest, and blue markings on his body entered the scene. Sonic instantly recognized him.

"Silver..." He muttered. "But what would he be doing here?"

The Prince nodded as Lily left. He placed his hammer down on the desk and approached Silver.

"Don't mind me asking, but I have never seen your kind before." Hayden commented.

"I've come from the future." Said Silver. Sonic was surprised at how honest and blunt he was being.

But it didn't bat a eyelid from Hayden.

"I see. The only White Hedgehogs you'll ever see are the Albino ones...and you don't seem albino to me..."

There was certainly fresh tension building between them, as Silver felt uneasy and radiating it onto Hayden.

"What can I do for you and your future?" Hayden asked politely. Hayden seemed to be always political focused but more serious and hard when in danger.

Silver pointed at him. "You need to die..."

Hayden kept a stoic face. "Death seems so adamant nowadays..."

Silver's face turned. "You're the reason why my time still burns in reckoning...and all signs point towards you. You're the Dragon Trigger!"

Hayden rested his hands on his hips, unmoved by Silvers words. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

Silver nodded. "Yes. You're Prince Hayden, Last of the Rosoideae and bringer of Purgatory."

"Young man, if you must know...I guide unrisen spirits. If you knew anything about our history you would know that this was already Purgatory even before I was born! Even before my forebears were in the glint of their ancestors eyes! You fail to have properly researched this information!"

Silver glared at him as he grew impatient. "No...you are the source of the pain and misery and everything that is hell in our world!"

Hayden crossed his arms. "And where is your proof? Your evidence of this claim?"

Silver had enough and raised his hands, using his telekinesis to bind Hayden to a wall.

"Why does everyone have such anger issues? At least I can acknowledge mine." Hayden joked.

"Don't play games with me Trigger!" Silver barked, psychically gripping the Prince. "You're hiding your own shame! You feel no regret or remorse! I will...make you pay!" He said, slamming the Prince on the roof.

"So naïve and pathetic." Hayden commented. "Listen kid, I have my own problems to deal with. If it surrounds the Wisers then yes it's my fault. We're trying to find them but unfortunately we have no leads!"

Silver stopped using his powers, dropping Hayden to the floor and stamping his foot onto his chest.

"NO! I have sufficient claims...official claims that the Trigger was a pink hedgehog! And since you appear the most isolated of the ones I know, and since there was mention of your devious past..."

Hayden reached for his sword and swung it to Silver's neck. "You believe I am the only Pink Hedgehog that's threatening? Seriously, who ever gives you this data is a bad researcher." He bated.

Stepping back, Hayden stood back up, holding the end of his sword at Silvers neck. Not having any of it, Silver telekinetically swung the sword away before he bolted off to the other end..

The battle was brutal. Both were at equals...dodging, weaving, swinging blades and force pushing, destroying the new furniture, leaving the Prince in an uncaring loss. "I fight for the spirits of this place. My death would mean my work will be left undone." He stated as he avoiding a psionic blast.

Silver held his hands up in the air and squatted. "Lets keep it that way for the future!" Silver cried out, releasing another Psionic blast.

"You fail to understand the true nature of my work. I am simply trying to soothe the spirits of the past." Said Hayden as he whacked the blast with the edge of his sword, sending it to his chair and smashing it to a million pieces.

Silver browed. "Your spirits will destroy our future! With you releasing them you risk the Earth burning up into the New Hell's Sundering!" He roared.

Prince Hayden used his sword to gain momentum as he turned into a mini hurricane, whisking up debris and throwing them at Silver, who used his ESP to shield himself.

"Boy! Do you even know the original Hell's Sundering? Maybe if you were so smart, you could have gone back in time to the first reckoning of our peoples! Your silly little game is pointless and could end in more of a catastrophe than you have realized!" Hayden said.

In the midst of the fighting, a hole opened up between them, with Abbadonia rising with blue crystal spiked black hedgehog, with a red sclera and green iris.

"Nice work Silver." Said Abbadonia who then turned to Hayden. "Your majesty! My my, I'm sorry this is Silver the Hedgehog! Prince Silver of the House of Eusapian!"

Sonic tilted his head. Silver? Prince? Surely. Why was everyone suddenly seemingly possessing blue blood anyway?

Hayden held his sword out as he was in a jousting position. "Is this my eventually descendant or replacement?"

Abbadonia cackled. "I appointed him myself. Silver is very special for the future is very bleak..."

"I've noticed." Hayden said sarcastically.

Abbadonia grinned. "Indeed. Your death would be much appreciated actually. You no longer have any use to me."

Hayden smirked. "I will fight for my people until the very last breath..." He said boldy.

"You are a young Prince of foolish proportions, but you are worthy enough to put it upon my Gallery of Darkness."

Sonic was puzzled. Silver was naïve as Cream and more gullible than Knuckles. But he was a noble spirit who did what it takes to get his future right. He'd must have come back at least several times now...

"Abbadonia...the vault is underneath in the basement!" Silver stated.

Hayden's face paled but otherwise left untwitched.

"Thank you Silver. You will be rewarded." Abbadonia stated.

Hayden shook his head and jumped into the air with sword held back, then he slashed vertically at her, only to slice off the left hand of the crystal hedgehog.

"Mephiles is my guardian...personally from the Gallery I spoke of." She snarled.

"Deal with him."

"With pleasure dear sister..." Mephiles obeyed, regrowing his hand and spearing Hayden through the chest.

Sonic's eyes widened as Mephiles withdrew the spear and reforming his hand, but Hayden was left bloodless, holding his chest and dropping his sword. Sonic held onto his own chest, weirdly sympathetic as he could imagine the pain he was having, making his wince. He checked over to Silver, who looked just as uncomfortable, as his facial expression screamed out regret.

"Silver. Go down to the Vault. I want to set up a base here as soon as possible."

"Yes ma'am!" Said Silver as he ran down the stairs. Abbadonia floated over to Hayden's corpse.

"What shall you do with him?" Asked Mephiles.

Abbadonia squatted over his body. "A real pity...for a noble. The Rosoideae deceased...their spirits will bolster our forces. I'd forseen this death for quite a while. The last of his House with no one to take his place."

Mephiles floated over to be next to her. "The Dynasty of the House of Eusapian will begin. We need a female to be queen."

Abbadonia chuckled. "Silver will be king...a Queen shouldn't be hard to find. With his gift, he will become a fantastic Pylon.

Mephiles nodded. "Pylon-King Silver of the House of Eusapian. Sounds...devious."

Abbadonia rolled her eyes. "Not really, but it does sound rather...as the current society calls it, 'cool"

–

Light flashed before Sonic's eyes as he pulled of the Ring. He didn't seem to understand what was going on at all. Silver was evil, or most likely being manipulated. And this Mephiles character...he seemed so familiar yet couldn't place him anywhere.

"What did you see?" Asked Drainer.

Sonic had his own questions to ask. "A white hedgehog named Silver went down the Vault. Didn't you say you were down there?"

Drainer nodded, although confused herself. "I was. I'd heard a few sounds before I was approached by Lily. She asked me to help look a set of papers that were hidden in another bomb proof vault. I went in there and she..."

Sonic shook his head. "Okay...I get it...what were the papers?"

Drainer tapped her helmet. "Just some files Prince Hayden was keeping, really old papers from past rulers. He was checking past clues about the location of the other artifacts. But I was gonna tell him that Muriel revealed the location of several unfound ones, but Lily insisted we check over the old papers, as old rulers would probably have better credibility than an older lady."

Bazza checked the floors. "But Muriel has been pretty useful so far. Even though we'd have to save her...twice."

Drainer crossed her arms and walked around. "So...what else happened? Judging from your expressions something went down?"

Sonic nodded. "Well... I have some more bad news..."

After telling them what he witnessed, the women held their heads down in respect.

"Damn...what are we gonna tell the Commander?" Bazza said with deep sorrow.

"We need to tell him that Prince Hay-"

Bazza kicked a plank of wood. "It was a rhetorical question Drainer..."

Sonic looked at Neptune who didn't seem to be listening in at all, but he was fixated with something on the floor.

"So...Abbadonia is gonna make this her new base? And now she has the artifacts! We're screwed!"

Bazza cried out.

"Shadow is going to have our spines..." Said Drainer.

"Seriously Drainer! Shadow is going to have our neck!" Bazza corrected.

"That too..." Drainer replied softly.

The girls kept bickering on about how they going to tell Shadow and Abbadonia's supposed whereabouts, but Sonic became enamored at Neptune who squatted and kept poking at something on the ground

"What's up Probie?" Sonic asked, wandering over to him.

Probie looked at Sonic in a strange way, but kept prodding the floor. Sonic shoved bits of debris away, revealing Haydens beloved sword, embedded with its own set of runes.

"Drainer...Bazza...I think you both better have a look at this..." Sonic muttered.

No answer. The two kept arguing. Sonic just rolled his eyes.

"HEY!" Sonic yelled, grabbing their attention. If he could see their faces, they would definitely be surprised.

"You will tell Shadow the truth! For now! You will come here...and Drainer I need your Mobikian expertise..."

They both shuffled and leaned over the sword. Drainer examined it closely as she picked it up.

"It reads...'In bated breath comes the child's flower, sowing seeds of chaotic order'

A phrase that once whispered into Sonic's mind. "So...what?" He queried.

Drainer ran her fingers across the flat part of the blade. "I do not know. Consult your book?"

Sonic nodded and whipped it out, hoping like heck it would explain what the phrase meant. It automatically whipped itself to one page display a sword print diagram, pointing out the various bits and pieces.

"If anything has this phrase on it, consider it related to Abbadonia." Sonic read.

Neptune looked at all three as they exchanged glances.

"Wait, this blade has blood on it, so it has to be Haydens. Besides, I recognize it anywhere as Haydens as him and me would practice swordfighting together." Said Drainer.

Bazza was confounded. "This isn't the Lance of Love that Muriel mentioned...it's definitely a sword." She said.

"The only thing I can think of it is the Sword of Visions that was taken from the Ninja Village in Sakura." Sonic stated.

Bazza shook her head. "It can't be. That has a different design to this..."

Yes? No? Maybe? It was hard to tell. Abbadonia might have tonnes of artifacts spread across the world. Even some that Muriel might not know about. Floorboards creaked about forcing Sonic to raise his index by his lips to shush them. Drainer found Haydens scabbard in the corner room and grabbed it, placing it above her own and shoving the sword into it. The footsteps got louder. Then Lily walked into the room.

"Oh...what...Sonic? Agent Bazooka?" Lily said, surprised. "Sorry, I was downstairs checking for..."

Sonic raised his hand in a passive motion. "At ease Lily. We're gonna report back to GUN Headquarters. I suggest you come with us...Abbadonia could return at any moment..."

Lily was really jittery as Sonic noticed that she was shaking slightly, giving the impression she was really close to Hayden. Poor girl. Sonic brought forth more determination to bring Abbadonia down once and for all...

–

They returned via...as another blank slate entered Sonic's memories, giving him no recollection how he got back to the Earth. It didn't matter...he didn't care. Lily was interrogated and left to wander with her own devices, GUN gave her a temporary home until they sorted this out. With that dealt with by Drainer, Sonic had gotten to Shadow's office when he could see Shadow's head speaking with who appeared to be Olly. He could see certain gestures that were more aggressive and akin to arguing. Shadow's head fell as his lips moved. Olly nodded, then walked out.

"Hey Olly, how're you feeling?" Sonic asked, forcing a smile.

Olly lifted her head up at him. "Oh hey Sonic. I'm feeling a lot better now thank you."

He was glad. She was primed and ready for the next mission. If there was another mission to attain of course.

"I heard about Tails. I am deeply sorry." She said, sadness in her tone.

Sonic nodded, as his smile faded a bit. "It's okay...I'm sure he's gone to a better place."

SLAP!

A red raw mark was laid on Sonic's cheek, with Olly frantically apologizing for her behaviour.

"I..." She said, before running off. Sonic blinked with surprise, but decided not to follow Olly. She might feel better physically, but mentally, there was still some issues that needed to be addressed...

Sonic sighed and walked into Shadow's office. He had a scowl on his face and his eyes screamed anger yet sadness.

"Uh Shads. I have some bad news..."

0o0

Shadow sat down behind his desk and had his hands together while his elbows rested on the bench while Sonic explained the details to him. Shadow's shoulders tensed, while Sonic grew nervous, he didn't show, but stood there, straight and tall, like a soldier. He was expecting an oncoming shock but Shadow refrained from doing so.

"But Abbadonia failed to get one artifact." Sonic announced.

Shadow's eyes beamed at him. "Which one?" He asked.

"The Sword of Visions." Sonic answered. "Drainer is getting it analyzed at the lab right now. Hopefully we can confirm that it really is the sword."

Shadow rubbed his chin. "What about the one from the Ninja Village?"

Sonic shrugged. "We dunno. A fake? Ceremonial sword?"

Shadow looked down. "That bastard Hayden. He was using the Sword as his own..,"

Shadow was more calm and aloof than anything as if to say that Prince Hayden really wasn't on their high priority list anymore. Better to focus his resources on normal land. He questioned with what Abbadonia would do with the large piece of floating earth and Silvers involvement. Which was the most unexpected person to join Abbadonia's forces.

"At least it's not in her hands...or else we're in big trouble." Sonic assured.

Shadow wasn't easily convinced. "Even if she had just one artifact, it'd still be impossible to retrieve."

Amidst the horrors of Abbadonia's potential, Shadow had no choice but to declare an official war. He rang the President to organize a meeting about it and prepare a statement for national and international news conferences. Shadow didn't look like he enjoyed it, his penchant for pure violence influenced his politics, giving him opportunity to battle. Sonic didn't know what would be worse, Shadow on the field or behind a desk. Either way, there would be bloodshed.

Shadow left in a huff, leaving Sonic to his own devices. He wandered around headquarters before heading outside via the landing pads, roof-hopping afterward. Speeding down the side of a building, Sonic bought a chili dog and a coke, then sitting on bench in a local park, not going to worry about current events for once and forget about struggles for a little while. Hearing the birds chirp and the children in the playground, ignorance playing the part, casting a blanket over pain and problems, but several kept popping up, namely when Shadow was properly going to do the announcement. Sonic would make sure he'd get a cosy spot near the gigantic screen on the Spencer Mall building, presumably up a tree and watch the black hedgehog stand behind the current President and his closest associates as he spoke.

"Can I sit here?"

Sonic looked over. It was Agent Drainer with the Probie Neptune.

"Sure." Sonic replied with a smile.

–

Drainer sat down next to him as Neptune stood by her and watched the kids playing around with utmost curosity. They were in silence, Sonic not wishing to discuss GUN matters.

"I'm going to Westopolis later. Agent Bazooka wants to check out the Church..." Drainer said, breaking the void. Sonic was more concerned about the citizens returning to find everything in rubble and ruin.

"I sure hope the people have somewhere to go..." Sonic sighed.

Drainer's head fell. "GUN Personnel have escorted them to special shelters constructed. I think the world is more prepares nowadays in case Eggman decides to attack again."

Sonic nodded and smiled. There was the small joke that Eggman's madness costs billions in reconstruction efforts, safety precautions and emergency procedures. This was across the world as well with everyone not going to take a second guess. He guessed over the years world leaders have become more savvy and kept a keen eye the narcissistic doctor.

"Do you know anything about OPERATION: LUCID?" Sonic blurted out suddenly.

Drainer began playing with one her blades. "Heard of it. The words were spoken by the Commander once in a red moon."

Sonic face-palmed. "You mean Blue Moon."

"That too..." Drainer replied with her usually steady behavior.

"I suggest the only people who would know are Shadow and possibly Rouge."

Sonic's nose twitched. "She's just locked out the loop as the rest of us."

Drainer nodded. "I would suggest Omega, but..."

Omega was just a sociopath. Who happened to only talk with Rouge and Shadow, but his loyalty was unfailing.

"It's okay. I was just wonderin' anyway." Sonic said. He soon agreed to go to Westopolis with her, as she had mentioned before.

–

Drainer called Bazza along, who was with Olly who insisted she'd tag along for the ride. Sonic remained distant for the time being, with Olly, Probie and Drainer who sat in the jeep, while Sonic ran beside them and Bazza flying above. A slight bite of tension lit the air. Drainer drove the jeep as Olly had her arm resting on the window as she scanned the terrain, not to mention several times unknowingly looking at Sonic, shifting her focus between him and the ruins of Westopolis. Probie sat in the back, minding his own business. Fallen towers, shattered glass and dust still trying to settle down covered the city, with blown up cars and abandoned trolleys, bikes and prams streamed across the streets. It was a very dull day, overcast with brown tinged clouds. It was like taking a trip back in time when the Black Arms were invading. Bits and pieces of robotic junk were spread everywhere, reminders who current and hidden dangers that could still lurk around every corner. Sonic didn't know what did more damage: Eggman's Robots, or GUN's aerial assault.

They arrived outside Ordinal Church as Sonic slowed to a halt and Drainer parked the jeep. Bazza floated down beside the group, and looked longily at the Church doors. Probie started poking a random dead robot that had smoke coming out from one of it's joints. Sonic lead in front of the girls and Probie, but looked back to check if they were ready. With synched nods, he pushed the door...

The Church wasn't damaged at all. Two rows of benches with the aisle in the middle, covered with a long blue velvety and golden striped carpet that lead to the altar. A display that catered for a hundred and eight lit candles created a glow and the only decent light in the church. Stain glass windows on each side, displaying various historical and biblical characters. The lack of sunlight enforged an eerieness in the atmosphere as a voice echoed throughout the tall roofed establishment, an unusual statue of a female figure stood at the end of the altar, alongside an pipe organ.

Sonic scanned over to the left row of benches, seeing someone sitting on the third row from the front, near the aisle, the source of the muttering. Olly walked over and approached her, stepping back after realizing who it was as they raised their head.

"Muriel?" Said Olly, surprised.

The rest of them walked over to her, confused at why she was here of all places.

"What are you doing here?" Asked Sonic.

Muriels joined hands fell into her lap. "Giving my prayers to God." She answered, her voice unusually low.

Olly shifted weight to one side. "There's perfectly good churches in Central City you can go to." She queried.

Muriel smiled. "Ordinal Church is the only one the acknowledges the existence of the Precursors...who are our real Gods."

"This is a restricted area." Said Drainer.

Muriel looked at the candles. "I'm also praying to the souls lost in the battle against Ivo's robotic henchmen. It's such a pity...with that childs skills he could have been a successful businessmen."

Probie stood next to Bazza, who was busy checking out the place, seemingly in awe, while Probie himself was looking around for different reasons, getting unsettling vibes as he raised his arms. Bazza popped out of her trance and noticed Probie's strange behaviour.

"What's the matter Neptune?" Bazza asked sincerely.

Probie snapped into a fighting stance. Something was definitely ticking him off. He could sense it.

Sonic lent his hand to Muriel. "Come on, we can take you home."

Muriel just kept looking at the statue. "The Gods promises were put into a single phrase. "Put order to chaos.'"

Sonic and Olly exchanged puzzled glances. "Muriel, civilians aren't supposed come back here...not until we've checked everything." Said Olly.

"The Demons sought to undo their work, doing it via the Seven Kingdoms...starting with the Rosoideaes."

Olly rested her hand on Muriel's shoulder, before Muriel's head twisted to the side, giving Olly the biggest glare as flames appeared in her eyes.

"I don't think that's Muriel..." Sonic whispered to Olly.

Olly quickly withdrew her hand. "What's the meaning of this?"

Muriel stood up on her own accord. "You children and your warfare. The destruction you cause today is the same as the destruction back then. It seems the world still has a lust for power."

Sonic tried to hold Olly back, who desperately wanted to do something. Drainer stepped in.

"Mrs. Rose, as a local LEO, we must arrest you for resisting to comply." She said calmly.

BANG BANG BANG

All heads turned to the large church doors as the loud noises struck. Probie ran over and held his arms out.

"Careful Neptune!" Said Bazza. She took one last look at the interior and decided she would stand by the Probie. She whipped out her namesake and kneeled down one knee, placing the weapon on her shoulder. "They better pray for mercy!"

Olly's attention went back to Muriel as placed her hands on the back rest and leaned over.

"Muriel, it's dangerous here. We have to leave!" Olly pleaded.

Muriel looked down. "My child...I'm sorry..."

Olly tilted her head. "Sorry for what?"

"This..."

The doors blasted open, with more robots entering the Church. Probie's hands grew several sizes as he slashed a dozen while Bazza supported with destroying another amount...

Holes opened up in the floor, swallowing the benches whole as Badniks jumped out and surrounded them. Olly grabbed hold of Muriel, not caring what she thought as Badniks began shooting them. Sonic jumped and used his homing attack, Drainer sliding out her dual blades and swiping few that had strangely descended from the roof. She jabbed one on the back of the robots backs, and absorbed the energy into it, releasing it into a wave to send more scattering and even more into nothing that a pile of scrap metal. Sonic looked up as a hole was blasted through the roof, noticing the Eggmobile descending down, revealing two unseen for a while characters.

"Bahaha haaa!" Laughed Scratch. "Got ya now hedgehog!"

"Yeah! Now who's a babble of bolts?" Boasted Grounder.

Sonic facepalmed. "Oh great..."

Seeing the others were doing well with the horde of badniks, Sonic headjumped towards the Eggmobile. "What do you guys want?"

"This is gonna be...what, take three of saving Muriel?" Scratch answered.

"I thought it was two?" Grounder thought.

"No you rustbucket!" Scratch barked. "The two skinny morons did it last time, and before that was the small morons."

"Oh yeah..." Said Grounder.

Scratch played with a few levers, as a elongated arm and claw extended from the front of the Eggmobile, heading towards Olly and Muriel who were hiding behind the statue. Olly swung a few with her hammer.

"Muriel, you better tell me what the heck is going on..." Olly demanded.

"Honestly, young child, I cannot." Muriel said apologetically.

Olly tried again as more badniks came her way, slamming one until it was completely flat.

"Why not? Are you working with Eggman?" She brunted, swing two more.

Sonic peeled his way to Scratch and Grounder, kicking both their heads before landing back on the floor. He really wished NiGHTS could be here right about now. He watched as another hole opened up and even more badniks jumped out, with Sonic leaping up and using gravity to force massive stomps on their hides. Scratch and Grounder kept attempting snatch Muriel, who was still rebelling against Olly. Sonic used his homing attack to travel across, one badnik by one in a zig zag fashion and skidded to a halt, raising his arms as he stood to protect the two. He looked over to see Muriel struggling to break free of Olly's grasp. Sonic gave Olly a simple nod, which prompted Olly to take Muriel outside via brown door in the corner that was sparkling slightly. However it wasn't what she wanted, instead there being a set of stairs leading to the basement. Dragging her down there, she found a light switch that revealed a room full of spare plastic chairs, tables and other pieces of furniture and equipment. Throwing Muriel to the back of the basement, Olly was starting to get annoyed. Muriel started cowering over and whimpering with Olly none too convinced.

"Tell me now Muriel...what is going on? Are you working with Eggman?" Olly questioned quite severly.

Muriel sniffed. "My dear child, if you had any idea what I was going through..."

Olly shook her head. "What do they need you for? Besides the fact that you have knowledge...there has to be more than that."

All of a sudden Muriel started to wheeze and splatter, Olly walking back slightly.

"What's the matter?" Asked Olly, now deeply concerned.

Muriel tried holding her mouth. "He should have killed me when he had the chance. Only by the hand of a Stupilite can this atrocity be dealt with."

Olly shook her head, not understanding all this. "Wait...who's trying to kill you?"

Muriel coughing grew heavy. "He was given five attempts and even more crucial encounters to do so...but his morals far outweigh the duties he was given."

"Who are you talking about?" Olly called.

Muriel slunk over and fell on the floor onto her hands, dropping her walking stick. She started to screech, which pierced Olly's ears to no end. The room turned deep red, until there was nothing left but the singular, one shaded colour that served as the backdrop to the two. Olly brought out her Smish Smasher and went into a stance. Her heart began pounding hard, as Muriel's fur turned charcoal and bat wings bursted from her back. The twisted and contorted transformation was making Olly sick, until Muriel arose and started floating, however it was no longer Muriel before her.

"We meet again youngling." Greeted the fiery headed woman. "Surprised to see me?"

Olly gasped. "Abbadonia!"

Abbadonia chuckled. "Muriel has been a good host. I've tried to look after her...but as she's aged, I've gotten weaker, and am seeking a fresh, bodice to incapacitate. The reason being is that she lost that damn necklace. No matter..."

Olly did not hesitate to charge and throwing the hammer at the Pitlord. Abbadonia simply raised her hand and successfully created a barrier between her and a rightfully angered Olly.

"How do you hit an old lady, specifically your..." Abbadonia started, before Olly charged at her again, hitting her leg.

"You shut your mouth right now! I don't care! That is not Muriel!" Olly roared.

Abbadonia cackled. "Oh little Agent Mjöllnir! So tough and head strong! But you are none too bright!"

Abbadonia floated backwards, summoning demons into the pure crimson arena. These were new types, maroon coloured demonic imps with massive black horns and the snarliest of faces.

"These are the Implix, minions from my world. When they're done, you will be begging for death." Abbadonia described.

Alone with the madness, Olly braced herself as hundreds of Implix started crawling towards her. Olly took a deep breath and started flattening each one that came to her. Accosting to more graceful leaps and bounds, Olly kept swinging her Smish Smasher like there was no tomorrow. Her fury grew with each splatter and squash accompanying loud bangs and thumps. Abbadonia floated away from the chaos with her notorious flame driven smile, gleefully watching Olly battle it out with her minions who kept pouring in. She checked her arm for some reason as her grin fell. She summoned a pit underneath her and sunk into it, closing it afterwards but kept the legions of Implix crawling out and harassing Olly. Her grunts were cried out alongside small tears that she could feel running down her face. Soon the pits shut in as well, stopping the numerous demons from coming out. Olly kept swinging along, also decided to use her feet to enforge massive stomps. Not letting fatigue have it's way, Olly didn't slow down until all of them were dead and gone. Flattening the last Implix, she kept her awareness on high as the red backdrop faded, returning back to the basement.

"Hey Olly, they're gone and...what's the matter?" Said Sonic as he walked down the stairs, seeing a rather paranoid Olly. "Where's Muriel?"

Olly spun around as Sonic approached her. She wanted to fall into his comfort, but decided not to. It's not the Agent's way.

"Muriel...it wasn't..." She muttered before clearing her throat. "It wasn't Muriel. It was Abbadonia in disguise."

Sonic blinked. "What?" He said, surprised. "What did she say?"

Olly explained to Sonic what just occurred. It was brought up the fact that it was odd for Muriel to come all this way, and if she'd come in from any direction, would have noticed the sad sorry state that Westopolis was in. There were so many parts that failed to add up in the mysteriousness of it all. Sonic could see, albeit only by body language, that Olly had become distraught by this encounter and having difficulty in hiding it. Her mentioning that Muriel spoke of a Stupilite trying to kill her brought up the discussion with Shizaru about killing her earlier. Since Sonic knew he himself was the more well known Stupilite, he feared that this was the result of his reluctance, but hoped it wasn't.

More footsteps were heard as the rest of the group came down stairs in a hurry.

"Agent Mjöllnir! Sonic! You have to check this out!" Yelled Bazza as she shoved her way through.

"What is it Bazza?" Wondered Olly.

Bazza held out a burnt sided photo. "Neptune found this amongst the candles...I think you better see for yourself."

Olly took the photo and had a good look at it. "Dear chaos..." She dully said, giving it to Sonic who squinted at it, then widened his eyes with surprise.

"This is...Amy..." Sonic commented. "Why would Muriel be burning a photo of her own granddaughter?"

Bazza shrugged. "Dunno...I guess she was lighting up the most important person in her life."

Sonic's eyelids dropped at half-mask at Bazza groan inducing pun. He looked at it again. It was Muzzlebook-esque shot of Amy's face as she blew a kiss to the camera, a high angled shot. He decided to keep it in case. The message was entirely unclear. It's purpose currently unknown, but they would make sure they would get to the bottom of it, one assumption being that the likelihood of Amy being involved raised tenfold. He would need to have a word with her. But what part she played was unsure of. The dream they'd had, suggested a role, as she had Gabriel and a Bloody version of himself appearing to her like Shizaru and the Bloody Amy making themselves known to him at various hours. There was a notification to be sent to the pink Hedgehog. Bazza made notice of Muriel's absence, before being shushed by Olly who made a too long; don't read version of her story, then the argument turned back to Amy.

"We should call her, ask her to have a meeting." Sonic pointed out.

Olly shook her head. "No..."

Sonic raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

Bazza face palmed. "Sonic, she's the Commanders girlfriend. If Shadow found out we were interrogating her, he'd have our hides and wear them as ceremonial clothing!"

Sonic rolled his eyes. "So? She's a civilian. She still has to abide by the law regardless of who her partner is."

Olly withdrew her hammer. "I told you she mentioned a Stupilite that was attempting to murder her...and since you're the only Blue Hedgehog I know..."

Sonic gulped. "Hey look, I was not trying to kill her. I..."

Olly tilted her head, the other ladies doing so as well. "You what? Sonic T. Hedgehog?" Olly prodded.

Sonic sighed. If he told her about Shizaru and the Wisers who were forcing him to do so, but didn't otherwise.

"Honestly, killing her was not even in my mind at the time." He lied. "I escorted her home safely after the whole Blossom Hazard Zone debacle."

"Why would she lie?" Olly argued.

Sonic rubbed his head. "I dunno...maybe because it was Abbadonia speaking!" He retorted.

"There was a hint of truth in her voice...I could tell. You tried to murder an old lady!" Olly barked.

A fire lit in Sonic's eyes. "I had no intention of harming her. I took her home and that's it."

If Olly could spit out her anger she would. "She told me you tried to do it a number amount of times! Please explain that huh?" She barked.

"What are you talking about?" Sonic asked. "I never even touched her! Besides, it was ABBADONIA! SHE'S A DEMON! WHY WOULD YOU BOTHER BELIEVING HER?"

The two continued to babble and yell at one another, Sonic using his defense and Olly using the words of an ambiguously sided woman. Drainer stood beside Bazza and crossed her arms.

"Technically..." Started Drainer. "There is no proof in this instant. Are we supposed to take each of their claims as a grain of sugar?"

Bazza snickered slightly. "Neither are apparently sweet enough...then you boil it down to syrup."

Drainer tapped her helmet. "There wouldn't be much to spread."

Bazza rolled back and forth on her boots. "At least we get a taste of it..."

Sonic and Olly's debate soon turned to Amy in the heat of the moment.

"Shadow knows more about this than any of us!" Sonic commented.

"And I'm saying the Commander wants us to stay out of her way!" Olly cooed.

"Why? Did he even say why he doesn't want her in on it? Don't give me the crud of 'the Commanders girlfriend!' because I simply don't care!"

Olly grunted. "Why? What are ya gonna say? Oh hi Amy, how are you? By the way, have you made any deals with any devils lately?"

Sonic chuckled. "I'd get a slap on the face for sure! But at least then I can probably do something about it."

Olly brought out her hammer. Drainer and Bazza stood back, knowing what Olly did with it. It didn't phase Sonic one bit, growing resistant and gotten skills on how to avoid the common swatter.

"What could you do? Seriously! There's nothing because she knows nothing!" Olly pointed out.

Sonic rolled his eyes. "Amy's my friend! I would figure that if she told me anything remotely close to important, that I could use it and maybe...not gonna be sure regardless of the info she gives to me, or any of us for that matter..."

Now he was rambling and Olly's patience was wearing thin.

"You dare touch her and you will see the end of my mallet!" Olly threatened.

Sonic wanted to rub his eye again, but declined doing so. "I'm trying to protect Amy here! I'm saying the more we know, the easier it's gonna be for all of us and for Amy!"

Olly stayed quiet for a few seconds, before belting out again.

"I'm sure Shadow will have a talk with...her. But don't bother poking out any answers!"

Bazza broke into the fight and split the two up, placing her hands on their heads as they glared at one another. "Great, great...Olly, I'm sure Sonic's got the message that he's not to see Amy. There's no need to for more kerfuffle than need be."

Drainer looked at Neptune. "What is kerfuffle?" She wondered. Probie shrugged.

–

They headed back to GUN Headquarters shortly after, with Sonic and Olly not saying a word to each other on the trip back. Reporting back to Shadow, who got the four to jot down everything they did in saw within the paperwork, although Probie had trouble with controlling the pen. Bazza was glad to help him out in that department. Olly spoke with Shadow first in his office, and both seemed to be speaking for a long while. After that, they sat in one of the lounges and kicked back. Sonic had his arms spread whilst chilling on the couch, Bazza reading a womens magazine, and Probie watching Drainer clean and sharpen her blades.

"You guys have showers here right?" Sonic asked.

Bazza pointed him the right direction and off he went. The mens showers were near the lockers. It was surprisingly empty, the clock on the wall indicated it was only 1:30 PM. It didn't matter, it at least allowed Sonic to be alone. He walked into the showers and turned the hot and cold nobs, allowing the water to sprinkle all over him. Although they weren't as good as at Amy's apartment. He guessed these were used quite frequently and that GUN didn't spend a lot of their expenses on bathroom maintainability. Shutting the door to allow some privacy, even though there was no where, it brought closure comfort, the feeling of being shut in a sealed area and being blocked off from the rest of the world, placing his items on the shelf beforehand before they would get soaked.

It also gave him time to sort out what he had. He brought out the red emerald, the Ring of Memories, Muriels book and the singed photo of Amy. Poor girl. Abbadonia must be plotting something for her. Our Muriel. There wasn't enough data to work with. Stupid Olly, where was it written that Amy couldn't be spoke to about uncertain suspicious behaviours? Another mark to the unseen board of Shadow's buried secrets was drawn. Letting himself get drenched, it temporarily gave Sonic the ability to forget what was going on around him. Pressured and anxious he was desperate to let the pain vanish, but it just kept crawling back. He refused to let it get to him.

He quickly dried himself and put back his various items. He sat on the bench and rubbed his face.

"Ah good you're out."

Sonic looked up. It was Drainer. "Don't you realize these are the mens locker rooms?"

Sonic pointed out. She was with Probie Neptune for some reason.

"What's up?"

"We're heading to Angel Island to speak with Knuckles. He's reported the Master Emerald is acting rather...bizarrely."

Sonic nodded. "Ah I see. What do you want with me then?"

Drainer pulled out a familiar device. "Bazza attempted to analyze the device that you had given her. She said it played unheard of frequencies. She wanted to return it to you, as Tails did give it to you originally for one purpose or another."

Sonic took the strange remote shaped thing. "Thanks. I'll figure it out later. Can I tag along to see Knuckles? I don't think he knows about what happened to our two-failed buddy."

Drainer looked down. "Of course."

–

Drainer lead them both to a landing pad, where Agent Hyperia, also known as Princess Elise, was flying a GUN Transport Helicopter. Drainer explained that Hyperia/Elise has had history with Chaos Emeralds, somewhat in tune to her religious forte, therefore she would prove quite useful if needed. Sonic snuffed, saying that Knuckles has been around the Master Emerald all his life and would know sufficiently the details...minor details but details nonetheless. She was also a polyglot, but only knew ancient languages as opposed to common tongue. Mobikian and Solenac were two, but how many she knew was beyond Sonic, who decided to stay out of stuff he clearly didn't understand and left it to the experts.

The flight over was normal, breezy and fresh. There was nothing quite like a trip up just beneath the clouds, squinting at the ant-sized folk below. He sat on the edge and held on to the side with one hand. Using his bionic eye, he zoomed closer to the farms and fields that they all flew across, a small reader text in the top right corner indicating that he had zoomed in at least 400 times the normal vision...with quite the depth too. Zooming out, he checked that Drainer and Probie Neptune were sitting in the seats, firmly strapped in and glancing outside. He looked over to Elise sitting in the cockpit, firmly holding her grip on the joystick and constantly keeping her eye on her surroundings. No one was really much for talk, let alone connecting eye contact. Sonic enjoyed it as long as he forever witnessed the breath taking view from where he was.

Arriving several hours later, Elise landed the helicopter half a kilometer away from the Emerald Shrine. They walked over and saw Knuckles sitting on the steps with his chin in palm and elbow on his knee, tapping his foot. He looked over and saw the group and shot up to greet them. He turned to Sonic and raised an eyebrow over his right eye.

"Um...dude...what's with the...you know the..." Knuckles asked, stunned.

Sonic smirked. "Don't worry about it Knux, it's a long story."

Knuckles nodded unconvincingly. Ignoring that, he lead the group up the Master Emerald, which started pulsating flunctuating rhythmic glows.

"So..." Started Sonic. "What does it want?"

Knuckles shrugged. "I dunno...I thought that, with what Drainer said last night, that it contained too much energy and she attempted to well...drain it."

Sonic's eyelids were at half-mask. "You don't actually believe that do you?"

Drainer crossed her arms. "You said it was a signal." She said to Knuckles, who nodded.

"Indeed. It's been the unwritten rule if that it starts glowing, it obviously needs to contact someone."

Sonic looked at him. "What did it say last night?" He wondered.

Knuckles rubbed his cheek. "Nothing...Drainer did stuff with it and it stopped. So what it ever it wanted Drainer got it out..."

Elise was more fascinated with the Master Emerald, as was Probie, who began poking it.

"So this is the Master Emerald that the book was talking about...it's so huge...and pretty..." She commented, entranced by the green beauty. "I doubt I would be able to wear it though...maybe if we cut it?"

She looked over at Probie who was looking at her. "What? I was joking!" She said, trying to assure the silent creature, who didn't care much.

Suddenly the pace of the rhythmic fluctuations had smaller intervals, grabbing the attention of the others.

"Woah what now? It's so strange..." Said Knuckles. He walked up to it, and rested his hand on the top of the Emerald, then received a surchage of electrically-themed energy as green sparks surrounded his body as he screeched. Two symmetrical lines of light drew on Knuckles head, diverting by diagonal briefly around his eyes before continuing down his body. Bright streamers of white grew from his shoulders and floated in the air, with the several forming a cape-like appearance.

Sonic rolled his eyes. "Geez...not you too..." He snarked. First Tails, then Muriel...now Knuckles...

Knuckles lifted up and floated, except he had a more positive aura about him. He started speaking in language Sonic couldn't understand, his voice echoing, vibrating, making sure his message was getting through. Sonic just scratched his head in utter confusion. Drainer walked forward and tilted her head, listening to his words.

"He says...seek out the Necklace of the Prophet. Then Head to the Temple of the Prophets in the Garden of Rosales." Drainer translated.

Elise focused as well, checking the lines on his body. " It's Ancient Mobikian...and those runes...I recognize the design. It's not old Solennan...the linear patterns though... Where have I seen them?"

Sonic raised his chin. "So uh...weird...possessing guy, why should we find it?"

Knuckles again muttered the language that Drainer and Elise nodded at.

"He says, bring the 74th Prophet...she is the Lock."

---

Moar weirdness...but I would like moar reviews. lol. Thanks readers and reviewers!