Disclaimer: Sonic and co. don't belong to me. They belong to the dudes and dudettes at SEGA.

Author: Ah, finally got to posting this. I'm sorry for disappearing for 3 months straight. One's personal life can be such a bother sometimes. I AM SO SORRY. I know the possibilities of being tied up with torture is deserving, but please... Think of the children! Anywho, I hope my writing skills haven't been tainted by my absence. And, again, I'd like to apologize to those who I left hanging for so long. But I'll just stop myself there, and say what needs to be said. Read on!

Brief Note:
"_" indicates a character's speech
*_* indicates that the character is speaking through thought
(_) indicates an action between a speech or thought

Nocturnus Reborn

by Sol

Chapter 13: Allies and Enemies

Sonic stood in front of the mighty gem known as the Master Emerald. After being patched up by his two guards, Sonic took the opportunity to collect his thoughts and reflect on everything that has happened. The incident today was very unpleasant to say the least. He expected Knuckles to lose his temper, but he hadn't expected his red friend to completely retaliate the way he did.

He had heard from his two guards that Knuckles was taken into custody after Shade knocked the red echidna senseless. Knuckles wasn't beaten up so much, but rather he took a strong enough blow that put him down. In fact, he barely struggled when he was taken and sent to New Nocturne from what Lyra and BB told Sonic.

Sonic wasn't sure what to think about how it went. The whole situation just left a very bad taste in his mouth. Sure, he got the Master Emerald secure. But it ended up breaking apart his friendship with Knuckles... Even though Knuckles dealt the first punch, Sonic couldn't help but feel awful...

But the issue with the Master Emerald was a different matter all in all. Sure, it was what made Knuckles angry AND attack. But Knuckles was already angry with him long before Sonic even brought up the Master Emerald...

*I don't need you messing with my life any more than you already have...* Sonic thought, recalling what his friend had said before the fight began.

Sonic didn't understand exactly what he had done. Messing with his life? When has Sonic messed with his life? And in what way?

"What could he have meant..." Sonic murmured, bringing his hand up to lightly touch the surface of the Master Emerald.

Before Sonic could continue to think on the matter, Shade approached him and stood by his right.

"Are you feeling alright, my Lord?" Shade asked, unable to hide the worry in her voice.

"I'm okay, Shade. I was just thinking about what happened." Sonic said, turning his head slightly to look at Shade.

"I know what you mean. I can understand Knuckles being upset, but the way he reacted was something neither of us expected." Shade said, turning to look towards her Lord.

"I know... And I can't help but feel like something's wrong..." Sonic said, unable to hide the hurt in his green eyes. "He told me that I've been messing with his life enough already..."

"I do recall him saying that. But I cannot think of any instance of you messing with his life." Shade said, trying to reassure her Lord.

"I know. After all, we've been friends for such a long time." Sonic said, the hurt in his eyes still there.

"Perhaps... we should speak with him when we return." Shade said, delaying what she wanted to propose. She was still angry about what Knuckles had done to her Lord earlier. She's been trying her best to hide it and remain neutral. But her Lord's well-fare was far more important than her petty grudges.

"No... At least not now. Let him cool down a bit. Although I do expect that his time in prison isn't too hard." Sonic said, looking up at Shade.

"His punishment will be just. No exceptions, my Lord, I'm sorry." Shade said, calmly yet stern. "Although it's nothing he can't handle."

"Right. Of course... no special treatment. (Sigh), It wouldn't be fair." Sonic said, looking rather sad, but tried his best to pull on a smile. "But no torture."

"I wouldn't dream of it, my Lord." Shade replied, shaking her head lightly.

"Good. At least that will lighten my concern for him... just a little..." Sonic said, relieved, but unable to keep his smile up.

With his mood slowly going down again, Sonic turned towards the Master Emerald once more. And as he looked at it, he began to recall his original plan that he hoped to use when confronting Knuckles about the today...

It was just a disaster... And he was partly to blame. When his conversation with Knuckles began, Knuckles' sour mood and cold words got him worked up too much that he had forgotten the plan... He let his small temper light a fuse that blew up any chance for this whole situation to have ended in at least a lighter note...

"My Lord? You seem to be in deep thought... Care to share?" Shade asked, concern evident in her tone and expression.

"(Sigh...), You know... I had a plan ready... A plan I wanted to use to make sure this whole thing with getting the Master Emerald ending peacefully..." Sonic began, touching the Master Emerald once more.

"Might I hear it, my Lord?" Shade asked, tilting her head to the side slightly.

"I think you already know how dedicated Knuckles is when it comes to protecting the Master Emerald. After all, it's the only thing he had going for him almost all his life. At least until he met us, his friends. But even then, he always thought more of this Emerald than anything else." Sonic began to explain, running his hand around the Master Emerald.

"He must feel that the Master Emerald is the only link he has left of his people. Being the only one of his kind for so long must have left him quite empty and sad." Shade added, looking towards the Master Emerald as well.

"That's true, Shade. And I feel awful that we had to take it from him. That's why I had hoped to convince Knuckles to move in with us in New Nocturne." Sonic said, turning to Shade, as she turned to him with a raised brow.

"Move in with us?" Shade asked, surprised to say the least. "You mean the way Tails has?"

"Exactly. That way, we have the Master Emerald secure, plus, Knuckles doesn't have to stop guarding it. And he'll be with his friends." Sonic said, with an optimistic smile, but with a sad look in his eyes as he tilted his down and turned away again. "Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way..."

Seeing her Lord saddened, Shade placed a hand on his shoulder. Sonic looked at her, that sad glint in his eye still there. Shade tried her best to look as sympathetic as she could, thinking carefully of what to say.

"You and Knuckles have been close friends for a long time, my Lord. No doubt this conflict between you two will be brief. You two might even come out of it stronger." Shade said, comforting her Lord as she kept her tone calm and soft.

"You know... you might be right, Shade." Sonic said, taking in what she said as he smiled a little. "I have been trying to get him to open up more. This might be a good chance to do so."

"Indeed. With the Master Emerald under our protection from now on, Knuckles will also get the opportunity to finally have a life of his own." Shade continue, happy to see her Lord looking more like his usual self again.

"That's not a bad idea. In fact, what that big lug really needs is a good girlfriend. I'll see if I can hook him up with Amy!" Sonic said, regaining his usual self back as a grin came up to his face.

"Ah, yes, there's the Lord Sonic I know and love." Shade began cheerfully, but stopped, wide eyed, as she realized what she just said.

"Thanks, Shade." Sonic said, shooting her a more proper Sonic smile as he patted the side of her arm. Surprised by this, Shade began to blush, as she looked away as quickly as she could.

"You're... quite w-welcome, my Lord." Shade replied, smiling awkwardly as she tried her best to hide her nervousness.

"My Lord, Vector is asking to speak with you in the living room." A voice from beside Sonic and Shade said. Sonic turned to see Princep Lyra kneeling before him.

"Oh, okay. Come on, Shade. Oh! And Lyra, can you and BB go and bring the Master Emerald with us?" Sonic said, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb to the Master Emerald.

"Of course. Right away, my Lord." Lyra replied, standing and calling out to BB who was just outside the door.

With that done, Sonic began walking towards the door as Lyra and BB slipped in by the side to go and pick up the Master Emerald. Shade stared blankly for a minute as she watched her Lord walk out of the room. She was snapped back to her senses when Sonic turned around and gestured her to hurry up. With a calming sigh, Shade began to follow her Lord out the room, her mind still thinking of what she just said.

As Sonic and Shade left the room, with Lyra and BB following behind them with the Master Emerald, two shadowed figures watched from a tree a short distance from the small window of the guest room.

"It would seem that the new Imperator and his Procurator has beaten us to the Master Emerald." One of the shadowed figures said.

"Yes. And in time, they will send several of their squads to retrieve the other Chaos Emeralds as well." The other shadowed figure said.

"This situation has totally ruined our plans." The first figure said, the tone in its voice irritated. "Do you think Shade knew? Why else would she suddenly tell her Lord to go out and gather the Emeralds?"

"She might. Regardless though, this won't stop us. We will just have to think of a new plan..." The second figure said, as it turned and jumped off of the tree and left, shortly followed by its partner.

Vector, Espio and Charmy sat beside each other on the living room couch with the TV on. The trio was watching replays from last year's Extreme Gear Grand Prix, particularly the last race in the desert, which featured Sonic and Jet neck-and-neck on the final lap. Despite the fact that the trio knows that Jet was crowned winner of the Grand Prix, they still cheered for Sonic to win.

Soon, the show was reaching its climax. Sonic and Jet just a few yards away from the finish line, with Sonic in the lead. It was at this point that Sonic's board mysteriously crackles with a small spark before exploding under his feet, making the blue hedgehog crash head first against the sand. The trio of friends slumped back on their couch. The race continued on as Jet won. Prompting Vector to shut the TV off.

"I still can't believe Sonic lost that race..." Vector said, setting the remote down before crossing his arms. "He was obviously set up."

"Indeed. His board was sabotaged, no doubt about that." Espio said, also crossing his arms as he closed his eyes.

But before the trio could talk more about the unfortunate events of that race, Sonic and his entourage came by the trio's side.

"You wanted to talk to me, Vector?" Sonic asked, standing at the side of the couch while Shade and Sonic's two guards stood behind her with the Master Emerald in tow.

"Yeah..." Vector began, before gesturing to the second couch over by his left. "Why don't you and your friends sit over there, Lord Sonic. This is... sorta important..."

Sonic nodded and made his way towards the second couch, with Shade and the other two trailing behind. Sonic took a seat, also Shade, while Lyra and BB went around and stood behind the couch.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Sonic asked, getting himself into a relaxed position as he leaned back against the couch as he tried to put his hands behind his head. Unfortunately the massive collar around his neck, plus the gauntlets, proved to make that impossible. He eventually settled to just cross his arms.

"Lord Sonic... this is kinda hard for me to say..." Vector began, scratching the back of his head as he leaned forward. "Due to the, um... recent events..."

"Is it about what we did to the guest room? Don't worry! I'll pay for it!" Sonic said, trying to cut ahead, thinking this conversation was about the battle and damaged caused.

"No, no, it's not about that..." Vector said, waving his hand in-front of him. "I wanted to ask... If me and the boys... Could, you know... Live with ya over at New Nocturne..."

Sonic tilted his head to the side with a questioning look, before pulling his head back with a playful grin.

"Is that all? (Chuckle), Of course you can live over at New Nocturne!" Sonic exclaimed, the tone his voice cheery and somewhat excited. Vector simply raised a brow in astonishment.

"That's it? You're just gonna let us move in? Just like that?" Vector asked, quite taken aback by the hedgehog's somewhat blunt answer.

"(Tsk, tsk, tsk), Vector. I don't need a reason to help out a friend. I'd be happy to have you and the Chaotix living in my city!" Sonic said with open arms and wide grin on his face.

Vector's expression was nothing short of shock, with a little confusion on the side. But Charmy on the other hand simply beamed, and couldn't help but express his excitement. The little bee boy jumped off his seat with a cheer, as he buzzed around the room with seemingly boundless energy. Charmy went on to repeatedly yell out various things about their upcoming new home.

"It'll be a big change for sure, boss." Espio said, as calm as ever, but with a small smile on his face as he looked over to Vector.

Vector turned to face his chameleon friend, the shock in his face fading away as he turned his attention to the striped ball of energy flying about the small lounge. Vector smiled calmly and with relief that his friends did not object to the idea.

"Thank you, Lord Sonic." Vector said, giving small bow to the blue Imperator.

"Don't worry about it big guy." Sonic said, giving Vector a thumb's up.

It took some time, but the trio of friends, Team Chaotix, managed to pack up their belongings. There wasn't much to pack up really. Just a few clothes, some personal things, and everything they can stuff in a small plastic container from the fridge. Which wasn't much. Sonic, Shade and the two bodguards with the Master Emerald stood at the foot of the door as they waited for the trio.

"Come on you guys." Sonic called out, tapping his foot a little.

"Just hold on for a minute, your Lordship." Vector grunted somewhat sarcastically as he carried his, Espio and Charmy's suitcases. He then dropped the three large bags out the door in front of Sonic and his entorage.

As Vector dropped the suitcases, he took a moment to look back behind him. He has never seen their appartment look so bare... He almost felt a little sad. After all, this apartment was home in every way he can think of for as long as he can remember... Vector looked down to see Espio and Charmy, and from the look in their eyes, Vector knew they thinking the same thing... and were feeling the same way...

"Hey, Lord Sonic..." Vector asked, turning his gaze over to Sonic. "Is it okay if we, ya know... If you can give me and the boys a moment to... say our goodbyes to our old home..."

Sonic looked Vector in the eye and gave him a nod.

"Take all the time you need." Sonic said.

With that, Vector and his friends went back inside their old home for one last goodbye. At the meantime, Sonic turned to Shade with his arms crossed. There was something he has been meaning to ask her since this whole ordeal began. Something that has been nagging him for a while ever since the meeting with Knuckles turned sour...

"Shade..." Sonic called out to her, looking serious.

"What is it, my Lord?" Shade answered, giving her Lord a light bow.

"Since we have some extra time, I've wanted to ask you something..." Sonic began, shifting his weight on one leg. "It has something to do with the Master Emerald..."

"I shall answer any question you give me, my Lord." Shade said, her expression shifting to worry.

"I understand from what you told me before that we needed to secure the Master Emerald and the other Chaos Emeralds. I didn't ask why we needed to before, cause I thought that the Emeralds NEEDED to be secure. Given the relationship me and the Emeralds have." Sonic continued, taking a brief moment to look at the Master Emerald before turning back to Shade.

"I WAS going to ask this when we get back home... But the incident with Knuckles is making me anxious to know... Why DO we need to secure the Emeralds?" Sonic asked, awaiting Shade's reply. Shade sighed, whether from relief or nervousness, Sonic couldn't tell. But the worry in her eyes is making him equally worried of the answer.

"I was hoping to tell you when we arrived home as well... But I think letting you know sooner is for the best. You see, my Lord... there is a threat looming over the horizon." Shade said, the worry in her eyes becoming prominent as her eyebrows sagged downwards.

"A threat? Who? Eggman?" Sonic asked, uncrossing his arms.

"No. Two old foes have returned. One of which you are quite familiar with." Shade began, shaking her head lightly before taking one step forward as she reached for Sonic's hands. She stopped herself half-way, not realizing what she was doing.

*What am I doing?* She asked herself, as she withdrew her hands back. She wasn't sure why she wanted to hold her Lord's hands at that moment... She only knew that the threat to her Lord could mean his life... And her worry for him is making her wish to hold him tightly...

"Who are they, Shade?" Sonic asked, stepping forward as well as he took hold of Shade's withdrawing hands. The touch surprised Shade, but it also made her tighten the grip on her Lord's hands.

"You're awfully worried, Shade." Sonic said, beginning to worry even more. But not for himself, but for Shade.

"For good reason, my Lord." Shade said, avoiding eye contact as best as she could.

"Which is why I need to know who this threat is." Sonic said, which made Shade turn to him as she nodded. Her grip on her Lord tightening further.

"The Prefect Gizoids of Ix... They are still alive... And they want you dead... Lord Sonic..."

To be Continued...