To Protect the Past

Chapter 11

People keep leaving me alone in this strange place…


Back with Knuckles and Silver:

"Hm, I thought so…" Mused the Echidna suddenly as they landed on another rooftop that looked far too similar to the others around the two of them.

Silver was panting, sitting on the ground with legs half bent. Showing he had just collapsed there suddenly. Arms were shaking where his hands pressed against the gravel of the rooftop. His head hung downwards, mouth open as he panted into the cool air of the coming night.

"Huh?" The white anthro mused in response, eyes opening once more to look up at the red male on the opposite side of their current perch.

"Come…" A purple iris looked back at him for a long moment, before turning back to whatever it was the Echidna was focused on. "…take a look. Tell me what you see."

Silver half walked, half crawled over next to the other male before stopping and leaning against the Echidna's leg. Then looking over the side he tried to see if he could spot what the other had seen.

There were humans everywhere.

He took in a sharp breath, golden eyes wide as he shrunk back against Knuckles side, trying to hide from them all.

"Kid?"

"Those are human's down there!" Lips bared in a snarl at those creatures, remembering too well what they had done to the Guardian in the past. Those creatures were not to be trusted. Not to say he hadn't found friendship in them before, but most of the ones he had met had turned to hurt and kill those they considered monsters.

"Calm down." A gloved hand pressed down on his crest, stroking backwards and settling wayward quills, while slowly allowing the white hedgehog to settle once more.

"Now I don't care what experiences you have had in the past. But there are a few down there that I trust and I don't want you to suddenly come out and attack them for no reason." That gloved hand then slid under Silver's chin and lifted his gaze up to Knuckles own. "Understand?"

Silver nodded, his anger had somewhat calmed. Much like a fireplace where the coals still simmered with heat, even when the fire had gone out. He pulled his head from the others grip and looked back down at the people below, soon spotting what the Echidna had seen.

It was a blue hedgehog, cuffed and surrounded by the men in black armour.

His ears folded back, though the anthro kept his growling at bay. The human's looked far too similar to those who had haunted the steps of the Guardian and his kin for so long.

They had black helmets on, that surrounded their ears, noses, mouths and necks. A visor that Silver knew had information scrawling across it, categorising everything around the person and putting them into terms of: Threat level, weakness, attack strength, etc.

A skin tight vest and trousers covered them from head to toe, with non-generic armour covering all vital points. Black boots and gloves covered their hands and feet, which were holding guns that were pointed at the chained hedgehog and a human family in a car just across the way.

The white hedgehog squinted leaning forward, in fact those guns were familiar. They were making something inside nervous. He was recognising them and didn't know why.

"That's strange…" Said the echidna who was talking to himself out loud. It broke into Silver's thoughts and made him loose his train of thought. "Where's the boy?"

"Who?" The white hedgehog sat back, looking up at Knuckles who looked almost worried.

Then the red echidna sighed, closing his eyes for a long second. A hand reached up and rubbed the bridge of his nose, before growling to himself in annoyance. "Doesn't matter… I'll ask them when I get down there."

Silver just blinked, unsure before turning his attention back towards the far ground. Then he grabbed the red male's knee and pointed downwards. "Look!"

The blue hedgehog was walking up into the sky-craft. The human's in black were also leaving. Some were in ground vehicles and others in the same sky machine. Behind them all, was the ground vehicle with the other human's and anthro's inside.

Silver could see a male wearing black and white in the driver's seat, with frames on his face and his hair cut short. Beside him, settling back into the seat was a large dark coloured woman. Behind them was a pink hedgehog shouting at a twin tailed fox who was laughing and rubbing the back of his head. Beside the fox was a rabbit, who was giggling at the commotion they were making, holding a strange little creature who was hovering in the air.

"Where they going?" Asked Silver as the car drove off, but Knuckles didn't answer. The white hedgehog instead had to get up and run after the red male. Who jumped off the roof of the building and glided after the car.

Stopping, Silver wilted for a moment.

"I'm going to be so tired by moon-tide…" Shoulders drooped with a sigh. "…and the headache I am going to get is gonna be a killer…"

Then his eyes began to glow and his aura enfolded his body. Lifting off the hedgehog sped off after Knuckles, determined to keep up with the only lifeline he had in this strange world.


Sonic Gang:

"I don't like it!" Shouted the pink hedgehog, gloved hands shaking the fox back and forth. "We shouldn't have left Sonic to those people!"

Tails head snapped back and forth, his own gloved hands clenched around her own.

"A-a-amy. Let go!" The rabbit yelled in response. "It's not Tails fault Sonic left."

Beside her, the Chao nodded in response. Telling to Amy in its own language the exact same thing.

The female rabbit lunged forward, grappling with the hedgehog to stop her from truly hurting Tails. She grasped around the others stomach and chest, forcing Amy to let go in response.

Tails gave a couple of gasps, collapsing back in response as he began to gather his wits about him again.

The pink hedgehog huffed before thumping her back against the car seat. Both hands cradling the rabbit carefully while she turned to look out the window, her face falling in upset.

"Sorry Cream." Cream smiled from where she was still hugging Amy. She gave a squeeze in response before sitting up, back in her seat.

"Your just worried Amy. But Tails will think of something. So don't feel sad. You know Mr Sonic always finds his way back to us." Cream said with her usual confidence in the blue hedgehog who had never let her down.

The pink hedgehog turned away from the window, a slight smile on her own face in response to the rabbit's words and just missed the red and white figures following the limo.

Tails by this time had regained his wits about him and was writing down a plan on a writing pad he had in his usual pocket, his mind working as fast as it could.

"Don't worry Amy, I slipped a tracker on Sonic a long time ago. So if I needed to, I could find him in short notice."

"Then why haven't you used it before?" Amy asked, head tilted.

Tails rubbed the back of his head, laughing awkwardly while holding his pencil between two fingers.

"Err, well… I've never actually had the tracking device on me..? When I've needed it, I sort of left it in my home in the laboratory on the other world."

"What do you mean you left it?!"

"Amy! It's ok. I've been building a new one. It's ready to be tested out as soon as we get back. Plus, I need to update the plane anyway with the new schematics I've been designing with Chuck, in case I go into battle in the walker mode again."

"Tails!" She was seething, all this wondering where Sonic was and when he was coming home, and Tails had a tracking device on him all this time? She was beyond furious.

Her fingers flexed as she glared at the fox.

He in return swallowed, leaning back as something flickered between her hands and he had a good idea what it was.

Then Cream stuck herself in the way. The rabbit was leaning over to poke her head between the seats, talking to Tanaka and Ella at the front of the car. Her little Chao was singing happily to himself, darting back and forth over all their heads.

Then Amy turned away with a growl, arms crossed, glaring out of the window once again.

Tails gave a sigh of relief, for the fox knew he had been lucky for once. Though as he tilted his head towards Cream and saw her smiling gently back at him. Perhaps it was not so much like luck and instead just good friendship that had saved his hide.

"Oh Sonic… Be careful won't you?" Amy had switched from being angry to worried once again. She was only taking her stress out on Tails and half the time didn't mean what she said. But still it made her regret at times that she was so quick to flicker between emotions like she did.

Amy sighed, eyes watery as she nuzzled into Creams hair as the rabbit settled back beside her.

"Soon be back at the Thorndykes Amy."


Silver & the Sonic Gang:

Silver was tired. His aura was beginning to flicker the further they flew and his eyes were threatening to slip shut. The white hedgehog was panting too, his body feeling like he had run miles in a few short minutes. It was not easy using his power this way that was for sure, for it not only took great mental discipline, but a large reservoir of power too and Silver was at his limit.

Then he saw the echidna descend suddenly.

Following, he flew past a large gate towards a massive home and finally let his ability cut out. Feet began to pound the ground as he ran the last bit of momentum from his sudden decent. Slowly, he began to stop and just in time too, for there was a swimming pool right in front of him.

Arms swung round as he bit back an instinctive yelp. One foot was dangling over the water while the other was still on the ground, if he lost his balance he would tumble down into the water. Then gloved hands gripped him round the wrist and tugged him backwards. Finally Silver collapsed onto the ground panting.

"Close call, don't you think kid?" Silver just frowned up at Knuckles, not impressed with the other chuckling at his near mishap.

"Knuckles!" The white hedgehog blinked, tilting his head to look around the Echidna who had also turned to look in the same direction. Out of the house came a pink female hedgehog and a female rabbit with a strange little critter fluttering by her ears.

"Hey." Knuckles raised a hand and waved.

Silver just sat and stared. As the pink hedgehog stopped and put her hands on her hips, a scowl decorating her muzzle.

"Where have you been?! We could have used your help!" Amy shouted at the echidna.

Then a hand waved in front of his face and made the hedgehog jerk back instinctively.

Knuckles growled in response. "Excuse me?"

"Hi there. I'm Cream and this is Cheese." Ears partially went down as he ignored the other hedgehog who was heatedly attacking the echidna verbally.

"You heard me, Knuckles. Why couldn't you put aside your rivalry just once and have helped." Amy replied in an angry tone.

"My name is Silver." He gripped the rabbits hand and got to his feet, still breathing hard from the strain on his powers.

"Well from my perspective, maybe he did something the humans didn't like." Knuckles sarcastically shot back.

"What is… Cheese?" Silver asked attentively, curious.

"Knuckles!" Amy growled.

"Cheese is a Chao, a creature of Chaos. The purest kind." Cream replied as the Chao sang his agreement. Then she grabbed the white hedgehogs hand and began to drag him towards the house.

"By the way where's the kid?" Knuckles questioned in a curious tone of voice.

"Come and meet Ella! You'll like her." Golden eyes were wide as he followed the rabbit.

"Huh?" Amy sounded startled and off balance from the change in conversation.

"Err, sure…" Spoke the white hedgehog uncertainly. He turned to look back at the echidna and saw the alpha was looming over the female hedgehog.

"The boy? The one who follows Sonic around? Maybe that is why the hedgehog got arrested? He did something to him?" Knuckles voice was getting quicker and quicker, not allowing Amy any chance of replying.

The last image he had of the two, before being pulled inside the massive house. The pink hedgehog was curling her hand into a fist behind her back as a hammer materializing within her grip. While the echidna, Knuckles, stood with his arms crossed, scowling at the female.

"What happened Amy? Usually you cannot go anywhere without the kid being there. Yet this time there is no sign of him." And still the Echidna went on.

"Ella! Look, this is Silver. He came here with Knuckles." The hedgehog stumbled, suddenly having been let go by the young female. He fell into the human who had seemed to suddenly appear in front of him. Fingers snagged into the apron the other was wearing, while large hands curved around the hedgehog's body protectively.

"…Knuckles." Amy's voice had dropped to dangerous levels. Most would have gotten away from her before they angered her further, but the echidna didn't notice.

Silver's ears were flat, as he stood there against the human. But some other part of him, recognised the same strong presence that the Guardian always gave off. Blinking the hedgehog looked upwards slowly and met the smiling brown eyes of the gentlest face he had ever seen.

"I should have known, he couldn't be trusted. I told you that hedgehog would cause problems, but did you listen. Nope!" Said Knuckles with a smug tone. Still not noticing the danger signs from the female hedgehog to stop the conversation now.

"Well hello there. Aren't you a sweet little thing?" Spoke the human with a soft tone of voice. His ears perked back up, as he stared upwards at her with a sudden longing for his papa. "My name is Ella. I am the cook and you look like you could do with meal or two dear."

"How dare you say that about Sonic. Get back here!" Silver jumped as Knuckles suddenly ran past him screaming. While the pink hedgehog came up behind the echidna, arms behind her head with a massive poko hammer in hand.

"Amy dear?" The pink hedgehog stopped and gave a gentle smile to the human.

"Yes Ella?"

"Please would you take your rough-housing outside?"

"Ohh I'm sorry." Amy giggled, hammer still held within one hand. Before turning away to hide a dark smile that appeared on her muzzle from the human. "Yes. I shall do so."

"Thank-you Amy." Spoke Ella with a smile, knowing all too well the females temper, yet ignoring it.

Silver watched Amy walk away with wide eyes, remembering all too clearly another female who had a similar temper.

'Blaze.' The white hedgehog thought with a sad frown. Fingers tightened reflectively as he buried his head into soft folds, the scent so familiar yet not.

'Familiar?' He took another deep breath and again, the same scent caused feelings of familiarity. 'Why is it similar to his scent?'

"Now what to do with you little one…" He lifted his head up and looked back into warm brown eyes. Ears flicked back and then forward as Silver stood undecided, wondering if he should answer the question or not.

"Ohh you're a quiet one. Come now, let me bake you something nice, no? To fill that hungry stomach of yours." At the same time, the white hedgehog's tummy rumbled, making the male bite his lip in embarrassment. He shrunk back, letting go of the woman's apron. Fingers twisting against each other as he toed the ground, glancing down and then back up to Ella's face.

"T…thank you. Iwouldbeverygrateful." Silver mumbled.

Ella hummed as she smiled, before turning away and walking up to the fridge. "Cream, would you please go make sure Knuckles will stay for lunch? I don't want you all going on a rescue mission without full bellies now."

Movement out the corner of Silver's eye caught his attention. He turned to see Cream the rabbit jump down off a stool and run out the same way the pink hedgehog had gone. Her little Chao, who was chanting excitedly with a fruit in its paws flew after her.

Licking his lips as the scent of cooking meats began to filter out into the air while they sizzled on the stove. Silver slowly moved over and struggled his way onto the high stool. Soon though the white hedgehog was sitting at the same place that Cream had been, eyes fixated on the food.

Ella noticed this and chopping up some fruit into quarters. Then dropping them on a plate, she set it down in front of the young anthro.

"You seem starved little one. Please enjoy the fruit while I cook something truly scrumptious."

Silver's ears flicked back in shock at the human for coming so close, then they raised as he took in the smell of the fruit in front of him. "Th… thank you."

Then as he reached out and grabbed a piece, the door was suddenly slammed open as Amy walked in, carrying the echidna's legs while Cream had his arms. The white hedgehog's eyes couldn't go any wider, as he gently leaned away from the scary female.

"We've got it!" Said the pink hedgehog with a smile, letting go of the male's legs without thinking.

"Ow…" Groaned the echidna, who lay there with a throbbing skull.

"Tails and I are going to rescue Sonic from Prison Island." Stated Amy with her hands on her hips.

"Amy!" Shouted another male anthro, who had followed the three in, twin tails bristled with agitation. "Did you have to tell everyone?!"

"Don't bark at me Tails! Anyway what does it matter if they all know?!" The female had half turned to look at the fox, scowling at him. "It's not like they are coming with us."

"Well I'm defiantly not." Grumbles the echidna as he pulled himself up with the help of the young rabbit anthro. "I've got a bat to catch."

"Alpha?" Silver called with a slightly worried tone in his voice. The white hedgehog sunk down slightly as those purple eyes stared at him for a long second before glancing over to Tails.

"Hey kid. Take care of this young one will you? I've got things I need to do and can't with someone tagging along." Tails was silent for a long moment in shock while Knuckles walked over and placed his hand on top of Silver's crest. "See-ya later youngling."

Then he turned and walked out. Leaving a shocked household behind.

"Alpha?" A questioning voice followed, as the white hedgehog poked his head out of the back door. But the echidna was gone, as quietly as he had appeared.


And so the young Hedgehog Silver was left with the Sonic Gang, who at that time had only one thing on their mind and that was to save Sonic… Well, Tails wanted to save him. Amy was having different thoughts, mainly on how to get a date with Sonic, but as I was saying.

Tails and Amy readied the Tornado to fly to the Island to rescue the hedgehog, knowing time was against them. If the humans truly thought Sonic was guilty of breaking and entering into that secure facility. The hedgehog would be in grave danger from the scientists and madmen of the human world (not including Eggman).

Silver of course came along. Being placed under the foxes supervision meant the young hedgehog couldn't go far from his current babysitter, no matter how much he resented it. Most of his thoughts was to find the Guardian and Blaze and perhaps find a way home, or maybe stay here where food was plentiful, it was a hard choice.

The three of them flew to the Island in the Tornado, which was far from any sort of civilization. It was then it dawned that maybe this rescue mission wasn't going to be as easy as it had sounded. But Amy wasn't deterred and jumped out the plane, terrifying Tails.

Thankfully for the two, Silver's telekinetic ability had recharged from the meal Ella had insisted they all eat earlier before they left. He was able to grab the feisty female and stop her from splattering across the ground. Though this was a strain, for he wasn't hundred percent yet, and it showed in the sweat that gathered on his skin.

It was then they met Shadow. The hedgehog who was so alike to Sonic, yet completely opposite. Silver though was struck with recognition, for this Shadow looked the same as his mentor in his own time. But personality wise? Very different.

When Shadow looked down at Amy on the ground, who he had thrown there after knocking her off him. All Silver could see was the disgust and hatred the other had towards the world and its occupants. So he stayed silent and out the way.

Then everything picked up. Amy ran off after Shadow into the complex, while Tails and Silver in the tornado faced off with Eggman. The battle was quick and soon the other man retreated, but not before the two of them heard the human talk about a bomb on the island to his associates.

Then it was a race against time. Tails and Silver ended up back in the air looking for Sonic and Amy. Just as it looked as though time was going to run out, Sonic and Amy burst into view on the back of a missile. They had piggybacked onto it.

Catching them, everyone then saw the island go up in flame just seconds later. It was then the group decided to follow Eggman and Shadow. To not only get the emeralds back but to find out where that black hedgehog had come from.

And so the team followed the dark group to the launch centre, where they would meet up with Knuckles once again. Find a rocket that would take them all into space. To finally go to the Arc, Shadow's home.


To be continued… In the next chapter.

How strange things have become. Silver and the Sonic gang are now on their way to Space Station Ark. What will await the anthro's in this newest part of their journey with the dark team against them?

Chris and the Guardian are trapped in what seems like an endless dream, will they escape or will 'help' be needed to release them from their mindscrape?

And what is going on with there being two Shadow's? Things are getting strange with one that hates the world and the other feral after being tortured. How will they deal with meeting one another?

Find out in Chapter 12.