No matter how they searched, or how many times they broke into Eggman's base they never found her, and never did Eggman give away her location. Aleena tried her best to keep everyone positive, and soon her quick mind figured out what happened after Sonic raced Sam Speed and the Vice President was outed.

Victoria was quickly arrested like the treacherous man and the President couldn't apologize enough. And even though the house had been finished, the Royal family didn't set even a toe on the grounds without their cheerful companion.

Sonia and Amy bonded quickly, taking comfort with each other as Manic did with Tails, the two groups spending their free time either searching for Kharis, or shopping or tinkering in the workshop. Aleena also spent time with her children, and spent long hours of the night with Mr. Chuck, who reminded her so much of her brother in law.

No one knew that Kharis was imprisoned on Dr. Robotnik's secret base, being starved till she was to weak to fight back. As time passed the Doctor had placed a device over her mouth and nose and had dropped her body into a tank.

It was like something out of a terrible scifi movie, the liquid she had been submerged in burning her eyes for a few seconds before what ever it was adjusted to her. If only it ended there, as she cried out as needles stabbed into different parts of her body. She knew not what for, as her tears floated around her in the strange liquid, watching the obese Doctor carry the flickering Heart over to another machine where it was encased in a glass Sphere.

"Now, let's see the effects of the Chaos Emeralds on this Heart and your body, shall we?" He said, his voice eager and sadistic. It was clear he had gathered information on her prior to this...and knew about the reactions between the Heart and the Emeralds with Kharis as the intermediary between them.

She was the key...and Dr. Robotnik was all to happy to see what she unlocked. With that thought in mind...the Doctor flipped the switch that sealed her fate. Then, with out a second thought as the machines whirled and began to pump the energy from his sole Emerald into the heart and into Kharis, he turned to work on his latest invention.

Soon it was going to be his Lucky day.

"Do you really think he'll let Kharis go and help you get home, Knuckles?" Ten year old Chris Thorndike asked as they walked through the quiet forest to Eggman's ship.

"Of course, he wants the Chaos Emeralds, so once he has them he will not need to keep her hostage any more. Plus it will take us all home, and you heard what he said, he wants to return to Mobius as much as I do." The Guardian assured the troubled adolescent.

Chris continued to follow quietly, his head down in thought. Everyone had tried so hard to keep a positive attitude after the woman had been kidnapped. Cream helped Ella, Amy and Sonia began to take lessons together with the Queen...Sonic took more runs then before but also stayed at home a lot to spend time with his family...

Family...since the Mobians came to live with Chris he truly felt like he had gained the family he never had. And now they were planning to leave...to leave the young ten year old boy alone and go back to their true home.

Sure, he had a rich family, knew his parents loved him deeply. He also had Mr. Tanaka, Ms. Ella and his Grandpa, but it still felt large house was cold, and his parents always gone as they lived their dream careers. How often had he stayed awake at night wondering what it would be like to be normal?

His friends often wanted to have sleep overs where he could go to their homes, but their parents always told them no. Christopher Thorndike was a sweet kid, but many of the parents of other children refused to let him stay the night at their home in the worry that unsavory fellows would come. Chris knew that...and he agreed that he didn't want anyone hurt because of him.

Then Sonic and his friends came, with warmth and laughter, excitement and light that brightened up the child's dark, dark days. He met Kharis, who counciled the boy at his more vulnerable times and had even tried to save him on occasion. She filled the hole his mother left, and could see the same was true for the orphaned fox.

He didn't want them to leave...he didn't want to lose any of them. As he stared at Knuckle's back, he had to fight back the tears wanting to cascade. He wanted them happy, wanted them to be able to go home and see their friends back on Mobius.

He had felt the scars on them underneath all that pristine fur, had seen the terrible heart-wrenching and haunted gaze of Queen Aleena when he asked about the past. It had occurred to him that if they stayed, they could have a better, calmer future...but he also knew that hundreds of others like them still needed help.

He knew Mobius needed its ruling family.

So with a heavy heart he trodden behind the Guardian with the Chaos Emeralds stabbing painfully into his little back. Towards Eggman, towards the return of Kharis...and to the departing of his closest friends.