Chaos

The inside of the Master Emerald was like a dream state, and very little could penetrate the haze from the outside world. It felt like floating, the images changing from a blank white to memories of the past, many of them centering around the ancient echidna ruins and its old resting place in the hidden palace beneath. Needless to say, after a few thousand years, Chaos had gotten used to it.

He did miss being able to look out for the Chao, but the small one in the company of the Mobian rabbit had given him hope for a peaceful coexistence with modern life forms. Besides, there was very little the god could do from within a large gemstone, anyway.

Approximately two months ago, the comforting presence of the one known as Tikal departed from the Master Emerald with little to no warning. It disappointed Chaos, for he had actually enjoyed the echidna's company, being that they shared so many ancient and difficult memories. She had not returned since. That was enough to make him worry right then and there, but it was only now that he was able to do something about it.

It was a strange feeling, but not an entirely unpleasant one, being drawn out of the Emerald. The gem wasn't breaking, for he knew from experience that that sensation was more like a whip crack, sharp and sudden. No, it felt more like a summoning spell, something he had not encountered in just over 4,000 years. It was more like being pulled out of water, the submerged sounds and feelings suddenly becoming clearer as the surface was breached.

Chaos found himself on the Master Emerald's altar, the current guardian kneeling before him, reading from a weathered and partially burnt book that he recognized as being dangerous. Behind the echidna was a large cat that was also familiar, along with the green frog cowering in the background that the god had once absorbed. The guardian did not seem to notice, but the feline did, and he quickly pointed it out in a slow drawl. "Mister Knuckles! There's somefin' in front of you!"

Knuckles ceased reading the dead language and looked up at the watery figure standing before him without fear, but a touch of pleading, in his violet eyes. "Chaos, God of Destruction and Protector of Chao," he began authoritatively, "I wish to ask you for assistance. As you can see, the world of Mobius has fallen into what can only be described as an apocalypse." Chaos now noticed the dark clouds and the sound of troubled water below, but did not move, instead waiting for Knuckles to continue. "This was caused by a powerful creature known as the Black Demon, a being I believe you have met before." 'Met' wasn't really the right word. 'Fought and quelled' was more accurate. "It has caused the death of many, and has prevented the return of the Sol Emeralds to their rightful dimension, which is causing the world to break apart. There are very few safe havens anymore, even for the Chao." The god felt a flare of anger rise up inside himself. "That is why I implore that you help in any way you can." The echidna paused, bowing his head. "I am asking this as the Guardian of the Master Emerald, and as a friend and descendant of Tikal."

The rage was bubbling inside him now. He wanted to destroy his nemesis, the Black Demon. He wanted to help the Chao that still survived, and to avenge those who had been lost. He wanted to make that creature with the glowing jade eyes pay for what happened to Tikal. He wanted to destroy it with every ounce of the fury boiling up inside, but he stopped himself for two reasons.

Firstly, he was without any of the Chaos Emeralds. When he had defeated the Black Demon before, he had all seven of the mystical jewels, and even then it had taken him nearly a week of nonstop fighting for a victory to be claimed. If Chaos faced it now, he would invariably get thrashed. Secondly, he knew that even if he did destroy the creature, it wouldn't change the fact that the lives of possibly hundreds of thousands of Chao had been lost. The solution had to be something a bit more drastic.

It was now that Chaos did something that was extremely rare, even thousands of years ago: he established a telepathic link. "There is only one solution," he projected into the surprised guardian's mind. "I will send you back to a changeable point in time." Knuckles opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by the voice inside his head. "Do not speak. Listen carefully. You must save the bat named Rouge whom I have sensed as the weak point in that moment. However, you must do that without being seen, for if you are noticed, a paradox will be initiated, and you will disappear. Save being seen for when you are complete. You will fade from existence, but your counterpart from that moment in time will live on without even knowing you exist. This is the only way."

Chaos tapped into the power of the Master Emerald, focusing his abilities to send the guardian back in time.

Rouge: Part IV

Now making great haste with very little care of cameras, the thief sliced a large round hole in the glass of the large window/wall on one end of the office. Not even sparing an extra glance behind her, Rouge placed one boot on the rim of the glass, ready to kick off into the night. Eager to get away from the Commander's office, she kicked off hard and spread her wings to catch the steadily cooling air, letting out a loud, sharp squeal when a mechanical hand caught her ankle.

She tried kicking at the robot hand, but her movements were so frantic that they had little effect. Her bat wings pumped against the air, struggling to get her ankle free of the vice-grip. Slowly, she began to get pulled back into the building, her arms soon in range of the hole that she had cut. On impulse Rouge shot out her arms, bracing herself on the window and hoping that the glass wouldn't shatter. Her leg began to hurt from the grasp, creating the foundation of a heavy bruise.

Rouge began to scream. It was a scream of pain and desperation, but it was also a scream of anger. She was angry not only with the robot, but also with herself. C'mon, Rouge! You've helped to save the world! You've stolen jewels from the palace in Sharmar! This is not how you fail!

But, even with her inner monologue shouting her own personal pep talk, and with her arms and wings pushing as hard as they could, the mechanical hand was winning. Her arms began to feel the strain, trembling under the stress, and the glass under them sprouted a few disconcerting cracks. Beads of exhaust-caused sweat appeared on her forehead, and though she tried as hard as she could, she was still being pulled back. No! I will not fail!

She was about to give up, to just let herself get captured and end the pain she was currently in. Rouge was about to let the robot reel her in before the glass around her finally shattered, but that was before she heard a loud crunching noise not unlike the sound of an anvil being dropped on a television. Suddenly, she was released. She didn't even bother to look behind her before flying away as quickly as possible, heading directly towards Angel Island.