A/N: Well here is the second part of the back-to-back anniversary celebration. I know, we went from two chapters in two months to two in two days. I will try to speed up the writing but you all need to understand it takes time to juggle all these plot lines and keep continuity and keep it interesting. Anyway I hope you enjoy :)

Chapter 26

Setting Things Right

Sonic rushed around the campus grounds, searching high and low for the familiar hedgehog he was looking for. Sweat beaded on his head and fresh blisters began to form on the heels of his feet but he didn't care. He needed to find Manic.

"Hey bro, did you hear?" Sonic puffed, screeching to a half and bending over, hands on his knees to suck in air for his oxygen deprived lungs.

"I'm kinda busy," Manic shot back bitterly as he turned from his seat opposite Mina. He noticed her smile, waving at him and growled underneath his breath. "And I'm still not your bro."

"Whatever, I don't care about your ego right now. I just wanted to make sure you heard the news," Sonic panted. Manic raised a quizzical eyebrow, confused by what he was referring to. "Sonia finally did it. She finally talked to Mephiles."

"But that means we can finally…" Manic trailed off as realization finally took ahold of him.

"What does that mean babe?" mina asked, placing her hand on hers although not taking her glance off Sonic, the sweat on his face causing his skin to gleam in the afternoon sunlight.

"Sorry Mina, can we reschedule. There is something I need to take care of first," Manic quickly said to Mina before he got off and together the two half-brothers rushed off, intent on finding the people that they had been meaning to have a little chat with for the past week.

"What the hell was that all about?" Mina huffed, sighing to herself as she slouched down on the table, alone once again. That was until she noticed a certain chameleon heading her way down the path, his hands shoved into his signature hoodie as he sang along to the words of the song blaring into his ear drums through his headphones.

…

Cream strolled around one of the sporting ovals, lapping up the gorgeous, warming rays of sun. She sighed contently as she made her way over to one of the drinking taps adjacent to the bathroom block.

"The birds are out, the sun is shining and spring is finally here," she chimed out loud in her sing-song voice, pressing her thumb down on the bottom to watch a jet of cooling water shoot out of the small nozzle in a parabolic fashion, landing tantalizingly on her tongue. Cream swished the water around in her mouth, reveling in its cooling majesty as it satiated her thirst before wiping her mouth dry from the remaining droplets. To her, this day couldn't get any better. At least, that's what she thought before she saw a disheveled looking hawk sneak out of the bathroom, rolling down his sleeve.

'Jet…' Cream sighed to herself as she laid eyes on the boy that she had pushed from her mind for the past couple of weeks. She noticed how down trodden and beaten he looked. His eyes had black rings around them and he slouched as he worked, a complete lack of life in his eyes.

'Don't do it Cream. You've moved on. He has his life and you have yours. Don't get involved. Don't. Get. Involved.' Her mind tried to stop her but as she thought, her feet subconsciously began moving over to Jet without any input of her own. Before she could really think about what she was doing, she had already opened her mouth and began calling out his name, her arm raised above her head.

"C-Cream?" Jet asked, bewildered at her sudden presence as she walked over to him. "Wh-what are you doing here? If you're looking for Tails I haven't seen him."

"No, I came here to see you," Cream managed the smallest of smiles.

"Why me? I thought you hated me?"

"Jet I… I…" Cream began but paused, mulling over in her head the best way to approach the situation. She finally exhaled loudly before staring Jet in the eyes. "Jet, I don't hate you. What you did was horrible, unforgivable but no, I don't hate you. I don't think I could ever bring myself to truly hate you."

"So why are you here?" Jet asked, the faintest glimmer of hope in his voice.

"I'm worried about you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay," she said with the utmost sincerity, almost to a naïve level. Jet couldn't help but feel the slightest hint of warmth deep in his heart that had only been the shelter to pain and suffering since Chaz's big party.

"Thanks…"

"Jet, can you just answer this one question?" Cream said, almost begging him. Jet nodded. "Are you still cutting yourself?"

No answer. Jet didn't move a muscle or even blink. He just kept staring at her.

"Jet please… you can't keep doing this to yourself. I… I can't bear to see you like this anymore," Cream cried out, earnest and worry glued to each word as she tried to keep her composure in front of him.

"Cream I…"

"No, Jet please. I know you screwed up and I know things could have ended better between us but this is no reason to keep doing this. You need to be strong. You need to overcome this. You can't keep relying on others for happiness, Jet. You are a kind hearted, strong and independent person. I know you are, I know you better than most people so please, please stop doing this. If not for yourself, then for me…" Cream begged in a croaky voice, on the verge of tears.

"Cream I…" Jet mumbled again. "I just can't keep going anymore. First Wave, then you and now…"

"And now what?" Cream asked, taking his hand in hers.

"Both my parents were killed, hit by a car about two weeks ago… that's why I started cutting myself again," Jet finally admitted, feeling safe enough with Cream, despite her being the girl that he hurt the most.

"Oh Jet… I'm so, so sorry," she whispered in reply as she took the last step closer and wrapper her arms around him. Jet froze, not expecting to ever receive another hug, or even speak to, Cream again. For the first time in a long time, he let a smile cross his face as he squeezed back.

"Cream…" he mumbled into her shoulder. "I'm so sorry for what I did to you."

"I… I forgive you…"

…

I rushed away from him, not looking back. Embarrassment and sadness washed around inside me, eating me alive until my body screamed for the sweet release of the magical antidote. I wanted to forget that encounter, to erase it from my memory and there was only one way I knew how. Alcohol.

From the bartender, I ordered a shot, and then another, and then another after that. I continually downed the burning liquid until I had trouble standing, until the stadium was in perpetual motion around me, dulling my senses. The music from the stage centered in the middle of the stadium that Elias had rented out was blaring, calling my name like the sweet song of a siren on the ocean, waiting to drag me down into the depths and ruin my life.

I rushed down, the music controlling my body as I began to move to the beat, bobbing my head, tapping my foot and swaying my hips to the infectious beat. That's when I accidently bumped into her. My siren.

She smiled at me, winking. I stared, marveling at the beautiful attire she had. She whispered her name but I didn't catch it. I couldn't quite grasp anything and from the looks of her, she couldn't either. That was when she grabbed my hand and together we stumbled up the stairs towards the room. That was when my whole life took a turn for the worst. That was the night the siren ruined my life. That was the night I had sex with Sonia.

"What the hell happened last night?" I asked groggily as I woke up the morning after, holding my aching head as I looked around at my sleeping roommates. I was back in my bed, no recollection of the night before. If only it stayed that way…

Mephiles skulked down the hallway, his eyes on the lookout for the ebony hedgehog that he had been trying his hardest to avoid ever since their ugly confrontation back on the previous weekend. Mephiles was surprised that Shadow hadn't returned to take him away and face G.U.N but he wasn't going to squander the opportunity he had been given. He was going to use this free time to really reevaluate his life. Specifically, his unborn child.

Mephiles emerged in the main lounging area, intent on finding a spare couch and lounging around for the rest of the day, trying to decipher his problems. Mephiles had always tried to tackle anything presented to him like a puzzle or problem waiting to be solved. Each person was a new variable, each action a new equation. There had to be an answer. An answer to Shadow, and answer to Sonia and an answer to- wham!

As Mephiles was deep in thought, a blur in a red hoodie rushed up to him and, with all his might, threw his fist at Mephiles, striking his cheek bone. Mephiles, taken completely off guard, fell to the floor, fumbling around on the ground as stars span around in his head. He shook himself back to his senses, looking up to see exactly who his attacker was when he was greeted with another punch to the jaw.

Mephiles fell backwards, his head colliding with the carpeted ground as somebody leapt on him and began delivering a barrage of jabs into his ribs. Mephiles heard some screams around him but couldn't see anything passed the blurs that clouded his eyes. All he could do was use his arms to block the onslaught of his attacker.

"Manic, what the fuck are you doing?" Mephiles heard somebody scream. Manic looked over just in time to see Mighty and Knuckles reach down and grab one of his hands each, wrenching him off Mephiles.

"Dude, are you okay?" Eclipse leant over Mephiles body, helping him sit up. Mephiles glanced over at Manic who was fuming. The anger and overprotective nature that had been stewing inside of him from the moment he found out what Mephiles did to Sonia up until now took control of his actions. Now, after a week, he was finally allowed to do something about it after it had eaten him up inside.

"Mighty, I got him. Go and get Gold," Knuckles instructed, hooking his other arm underneath Manic's forearms. Manic wrestled furiously, trying his hardest to squirm his way out but Knuckles was too strong. Mighty rushed off and came back a few minutes later with the surprised, and partially frightened secretary.

"Manic, my office right now!" She screamed, her surprising and rare authoritative tone streaming through her words. Manic instantly stopped writhing, a calm descending upon him as he finally realized what he had done. He looked over to Mephiles, blood and bruises covering his body as Eclipse hooked his arm underneath the hedgehog, trying to help him up and over to the school infirmary.

Manic walked over to him and stared daggers into his eyes. Gold tensed, waiting for more but nothing happened. Mephiles didn't flinch, he just stared back, eyes as cold as ice.

"You ruined my sister's life," he hissed, hatred and malice lacing his words like poison. "You better make this right or else." With that, he retreated over to Gold who marched him away and over to Razor's office with the very real threat of detention and possibly even suspension or expulsion.

"What the hell was that about?" Mighty looked to Knuckles as the two watched Eclipse and the struggling Mephiles limp over to the infirmary.

"I wish I knew," Knuckles shook his head. "I wish I knew."

…

Shadow's phone was ablaze with new notifications, several coming through each minute. He lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling trying to decide what to do. He wasn't sure what to do or who to talk to. Apart from a disheveled Knuckles approaching him about locating a missing sibling, he hadn't had much contact with anybody. The only messages he had been receiving were from Sonic, Tails or Rouge trying to get in contact with him to make sure everything was okay. He assumed it was just them trying to arrange a meeting with him. Except this time, it was different. Messages attacked his phone, the incessant buzzing driving him insane. He eventually gave up, groaning as he rolled over and grabbed his phone, bringing it to his face.

Rouge: Shadow I heard what happened. I really hope you don't feel to beat up about this. It wasn't anything to do with you. Promise Hun

Tails: I just went to see him in the infirmary. Everything seems to be okay

Sonic: I need to talk to you. NOW!

Mighty: Don't worry. Manic is in Razor's office now. Meph should be okay

Knuckles: Sorry about Manic I don't know what came over him. Do you have any idea why he would just attack Mephiles like that? Is it something you did?

Shadow's eyes widened as he read the multiple texts. He quickly jumped up, slipped on his sneakers before bolting out of the room, wrenching the door closed behind him in a hurry to get to the infirmary. However, his journey was cut short when he smashed into somebody standing in the hallway, collapsing to the floor.

"Ugh, what the-" Shadow groaned as he rubbed his forehead.

"Shadow, we need to talk!" Sonic bellowed, extending a hand to help him back up onto his feet.

"Not now Sonic, I need to go see Mephiles," Shadow grunted, slapping Sonic's hand away and pushing passed him.

"This is about Mephiles and why he is in the infirmary," Sonic called out after him, causing Shadow to stop in his tracks, screeching to a halt. He turned, curiosity taking ahold of him. As much as he wanted to go make sure Mephiles was okay, he was more interested in why this happened in the first place.

"What did he do?"

"You really don't know, do you?" Sonic's expression softened. He had originally planned to give Shadow a piece of his mind about letting this happen but when seeing the pure naivety of the hedgehog in front of him, he couldn't help but feel slightly sympathetic towards his plight.

"Know what? Why is everybody telling me something happened without ever saying what," he whined aloud.

"Shadow, your boyfriend fucked my sister!"

"Wh-what? He couldn't. He's gay…"

"Yeah well why don't you tell his unborn baby that!" Sonic hissed, anger taking ahold of his rationality again. Shadow's mouth dropped and his eyes grew wide, completely overcome by surprise as he shed his blasé façade.

"M-M-Mephiles… he… he…"

"He got Sonia pregnant. And now you are going to go break up with him and convince him to do the right thing and support Sonia right now!" Sonic ordered, his normally laidback attitude completely replaced by one of authority, malice and above all, worry.

…

The two echidnas lay together underneath the leaves of the great expansive tree. The shade provided shielding them from the spring sun's extreme rays. The two laughed together as Julie lay her head down on Knuckles' lap. He wrapped a strong, muscled arm around her middle and stroked her long, flowing pink hair with his other hand, smoothing out her tangled locks. They both shared a happy look on their face.

She viewed from afar, her heart sinking in her stomach as she watched the two completely content to just remain in each other's embrace. She studied Knuckles' face, taking particular interest in his gaze as his eyes fell upon the snoozing figure of Julie. She noticed the glint in his eyes. One she missed being looked upon with. A look of purity, of protectiveness and, most importantly, of love.

Rouge could take it no longer. She needed an escape. She couldn't keep torturing herself like this. To keep watching the two week after week was a tormented agony which she couldn't understand why she kept subjecting herself to. Rouge rose, shaking out her lingering feelings. She couldn't take the stabbing pain she felt, as if multiple small stingers from the bees of jealousy were pricking her, sending her into a envious flurry. She didn't know what came over her but she knew she needed release. Just some feeling of love, anything.

Subconsciously, her legs began to make their way over to the hot, cemented carpark paved in front of the main entry way of the campus and to the familiar car and hedgehog who often spent his days lounging around on the hood.

"I knew you'd come back," he taunted her, his words like the tempting hiss of a snake, daring her to progress further. Rouge didn't want to but in the moment, she felt so hopeless. So weak. She just needed some feeling. But when she wrapped her arms around him and crashed her lips against his, she felt nothing. No love, no lust, no feeling. She grinded her pelvis against his, leather rubbing against skin as she mercilessly attacked his lips with her own, progressively getting more and more aggressive.

He chuckled. "There's that freak I knew you had inside. Glad I can let her out again," he growled as he wrenched open the back door of the car and threw her inside. Rouge smashed her back against the rough, dirty seat coverings but didn't care. She let him forcefully remove her pants and underwear, she dealt with him ripping off her shirt, destroying the fabric permanently and she let all her feelings go numb as she allowed him entrance inside of her. Her eyes grew deadpan and her body limp as she let him thrust into her, slamming her back against the car door again and again in rhythmic timing until he was satisfied. He stepped away, hopping back on the hood of his car like nothing had happened after finishing, leaving her alone once again. She knew it wouldn't help. It didn't help. But she just needed love and since she couldn't get it in the conventional way, the purely physical was the next best thing.

Rouge felt dirty as she threw her clothes back on, unable to look the smirking hedgehog in the eyes as he grinned maliciously at her, bringing a newly lit cigarette to his lips. He blew the toxic smoke into her face, slapping her ass as she stepped back out of the car.

"Same time next week?" he sneered, his eyes glued to her swaying hips as she hastened away from him. Rouge had never felt so weak before. So vulnerable. However, the boy she thought she loved had taken something from her, something she couldn't get back and left a void that couldn't be satiated. Couldn't be filled. She had always been in control of her emotions. Always confident in her sexual prowess but, for once, she felt completely unsure of herself. Completely alone. Completely destroyed.

Scourge watched until Rouge became a fainting dot in the distance before he removed his phone from his pocket, ignoring the vibration during sex but now that he was done with Rouge, he decided to investigate the source. A large smirk crossed his face as he opened a message from Tails and read the contents, finally learning of what Tails had discovered about Void's troubled past…

…

Shadow flew past Gold's desk, ignoring her angry yells about how he can't just rush into the infirmary without asking her but he was overcome with a need to see Mephiles. To make sure he was okay. Shadow pounded on the door with his fist, not bothering to wait for a response before barging in.

"Sh-Shadow? What… what are you doing here?" Mephiles asked in a perplexed manor. Shadow knelt down at the bedside and grabbed Mephiles hand, not caring about their fight the week prior or the fact that the two had ignored each other ever since.

"I needed to make sure you were okay," Shadow breathed, his eyes scanning over all of the boy, from head to toe, inspecting him to make sure nothing was too serious. Mephiles couldn't help it. He let out a small chuckled but immediately sucked air in through his teeth, wincing as immense pain shot through his nerves.

"Are you okay?" Shadow almost yelled, concern taking over him.

"Yeah, yeah it just hurts when I laugh," Mephiles assure him as the hedgehog tried to sit up, groaning in pain as even slight movements caused him discomfort. "Just a few bruised ribs and some sore muscles. Nothing a good night's sleep won't fix."

"We both know you need more than a night but I'm glad to see you're okay," Shadow let a calming smile cross his face as he stared back at Mephiles, all the constant confusion and angst that had been building up inside of him over the last week completely dissipating from his being in the current moment. All he was filled with was relief.

"Shadow I-"

"No. No please let me speak first," Shadow interrupted, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I'm sorry. I should have trusted you. I should have come to ask you and gathered all the facts before I accused you. It's just…" Shadow paused, small tears hazing his eyes and clouding his vision. A shaky hand lifted off from the bed and with his thumb, Mephiles brushed the tear out of Shadow's eye.

"You just what?"

"Your father he… he killed my dad. He made me lose my memory. He ruined my life, Meph…" Shadow called him by his pet name. Something Shadow rarely ever did except at moments at extreme weakness, vulnerability or at climax. Mephiles took note of this as the reality of their situation sunk in.

"I… I'm sorry. I didn't know. But Shadow," Mephiles turned to look Shadow deep in the eyes. "I don't approve. When I was still little, only a freshman at high school did I learn of what my father truly was. When G.U.N came searching for him I discovered the truth. He tried to explain it to me… tell me what he was doing was for a greater cause but I just couldn't stomach all the death that floated around him. I denounced my father, came to this campus so that I could board and never saw him again. That is… until I later discovered that he had been killed. Blew himself up. I was devastated, yes, but I just couldn't support what he did. I knew he believed what he was doing was pure but death is never the answer. No matter what. I'm not like him Shadow. I might not know why he did what he did, or why I am who I am today but I do know one thing. I know that I love you."

Shadow just sat there, watching Mephiles talk, watching his lips moved and his stomach rise and fall methodically with his breathing. He wanted to love Mephiles back, he truly did but one thing was standing in the way of happiness.

"Meph… I believe you…" Shadow began as a smile crept its way onto Mephiles' face but Shadow's next words wiped it off completely. "But I can't help it. Every time I look at you, I see the face of the man that killed my father."

"But I didn't!"

"I know but I can't help it. He ruined my life, Mephiles."

"Shadow. I… I…" Mephiles knew he couldn't be mad. He knew his father ruined Shadow's life, stole the last remaining member of his family and also stole his memory, all the memories he had of his father but Shadow's words hurt him too much. Much more than any punch from Manic ever could. "Please leave."

"What?"

"Please… please just leave."

"Mephiles I-"

"Now." Shadow nodded, closing his eyes as he rose and slowly made his way to the door, sliding his feet along the carpet. As Shadow reached for the door handle, he froze. He knew he needed one more answer and he couldn't leave without hearing the truth from Mephiles himself.

"Is it true that you are the father on Sonia's unborn baby?"

"Yes." That one word. One simple word that turned out to be the most complex and complicated thing in either of the young boy's lives. With that, Shadow felt his heart sink as he opened the door and stepped out of the infirmary and out of Mephiles' presence.

Just as the door closed and the door clicked shut, Mephiles' heard his phone chime from the bedside table behind him. With much effort, he managed to reach over and push through the pain to retrieve the device. He noticed a message from Sonia.

Sonia: I'm sorry for what Manic did

Mephiles: Don't worry. I've been through worse

Sonia: So, have you had time to think about what we talked about the other day?

Mephiles: Yes, but I need more time. Things are complicated with Shadow still

Sonia: I'll give you until the break but then we really need to talk about this

Mephiles: That sounds fair. Thanks for being so understanding. You're something else Sonia.

Sonia: Thanks. Feel better soon

Mephiles sighed as he let the phone slip from his grasp and fall haphazardly onto the bedsheets next to him. For the rest of the afternoon he just sat there, like a statue, staring at the closed doorway thinking about his future. His future with Sonia and his future with Shadow.

…

Sweat beaded down her brow. Her stomach knotted up and her hands grew clammy and cold as she made her way towards principle Razor's office. She spread her palms open like pale starfish and tried to wipe the sweat off but to no avail. She began gnawing at the inside of her cheek as her heartrate began to race.

'It seemed so serious,' she thought silently to herself. 'Gold's face was almost pale. I could tell she felt bad for me, but why? What did I do? Am I getting suspended, expelled? How? Why?' The questions ate away at her until she finally worked up the nerve to rattle her bare knuckles against the wooden door, waiting patiently outside until Razor's gruff, demanding voice broke through the silence and ordered her to enter.

"Ah, miss Echidna. Please take a seat," he gestured to the chair positioned in front of his desk. His words seemed warm and inviting but something was off about them. They held some secret buried just below soil.

"What did I do?" Tikal asked nervously. Razor chuckled before hardening again.

"You did nothing wrong. But, I just want to make sure you are prepared for the news I'm about to deliver. Gold has warned me about some past issues and I don't want to add any necessary stress to your life." Razor seemed genuine and Tikal allowed her features to soften a bit and her heart to take a rest as she calmed down slightly.

"So why did you call me here?" Tikal enquired.

"Your mother called me today and-"

"I'm sorry to interrupt but I already spoke to her. She physically abused me and she has no right to go through you to talk to me," Tikal held steadfast, showing no weakness at the mention of her adoptive mother that she showed no interest in caring about further.

"Sorry but you must have me mistaken. I meant your other mother reached out to me. Your birth mother." Tikal froze, her body shooting up as stiff as a board. She couldn't even blink, she stood petrified like a statue. All sounds and smells were drowned out and the world began spinning around her. Eventually the muffled words of Razor finally penetrated their way through to her.

"I've been told about the… troubled past you two share but she has assured me that-"

"No." One word was all Tikal uttered.

"Miss Echidna, it is quite rude of you to constantly interrupt me. Please let me finish my sentence before you make up your mind. You see, your mother-"

"No," Tikal interrupted again, rising from her seat without a second word and storming over to the door. She gripped the knob, twisting it before swinging open the door and exiting Razor's office. Before she completely disappeared, she peered her head back in to satiate the angered calls of Razor and said one final statement. "She isn't my mother and I never want to see her."

…

Espio lay on his stomach chewing the tip of the pen that he held in his hand. He spun it around between his dangling fingers and kicked his legs back and forth behind him as he stared, memorized by the blank paper filled with tormenting lines. They taunted him, tantalizing him to write out poetic similes and colourful metaphors to later be synched up with melodious notes coupled together with infectious beats to create his newest song but he was at a complete loss.

"This is impossible!" He growled aloud as he scrunched up yet another piece of paper with messily written lyrics and tossed it into the wire-framed trash can in the corner of the room. Ever since the produce Gold procured for him released his little album he had been granted mediocre success. Although receiving mixed to positive reviews from critics, he had steadily been growing a fan base who adored not only him but his music too. He was ever given the opportunity to play at one of the local Central City stadiums during his break and the event had already sold out. He felt the immense pressure fall on his shoulders and he didn't want to disappoint anybody. Not his fans, nor himself but most importantly, not the one person who helped him achieve his dreams. Gold.

"This second album needs to blow everybody away," he growled at himself. He ran his fingers through his messy hair, trying to rattle around the brain in his head to come up with something but just as he was bordering on the ever ebbing insanity a knock at the door brought him out of his fever.

"Doors open," he called out as he closed his notebook and sat up on his bed, looking towards the door expecting to see either Eclipse or Silver. However, he didn't expect to see the little yellow squirrel. He wore a blue over shirt draped over a plain white tee.

"Ray, what an unexpected pleasure. How can I help you?" Espio asked, surprised to see the boy in his room. Espio and Ray hadn't known each other for long and hadn't really interacted apart from a couple introductory conversations during classes or hearing about each other from mutual friends.

"I-I listened to your song on the radio the other day," Ray began. "Actually, I always love it when I hear your music being played, even though you've only released two of the singles from your album."

"Wow, that actually means a lot," Espio smiled, the frustration leaving him and being replaced with a warming prideful feeling the smoothed over his chest.

"They really helped me put some things into perspective when I was really down in the dumps," Ray admitted, not bothering to keep his feelings bottled in front of somebody who he couldn't help but admire. "I asked around and learnt about where the anguish from the songs you wrote came from."

"Yeah… I was in a pretty bad place during the middle of this year. You can thank one Fiona Fox for that one," he chuckled, trying to play it off as a joke despite still feeling rather alone often.

"I've been going through some of those feelings recently and… well your music speaks to me like nothing else has really been able to in the past," Ray divulged, letting a small frown cross his face.

"Well, don't worry Ray things do get better eventually. I promise. And hey, for what it's worth I think you're not a bad guy. Maybe we could hang out sometime?"

"I'd like that. But that's not why I'm here," Ray jumped to the point.

"Oh, how come you're here then?" Espio asked, his curiosity peaking by this sudden tonal change by the blonde boy.

"Well… you see in my spare time I like to fiddle around with phones. More importantly phone apps and I've been really good at figuring out how they all work and how everything is often always connected to one source and with a little bit of sleuthing and a lot of research information that is seemingly lost can be discovered," Ray began, his smarter side taking over as he continued to confuse Espio.

"Okay, okay slow down there. I'm confused, what are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that, if you'll let me help you and give me access to your accounts… I can help you find out who really spread around that nude picture of you." Espio paused, considering Ray's proposal. Despite still being ridiculed by the picture months afterwards, it had started to die down and he had finally been able to put the whole ordeal behind him. However, the idea of being able to discover just who was the person that made his life even more miserable than the initial loss of Tikal was too tantalizing to ignore.

"Okay, deal. I'll owe you big time for this," Espio smiled, holding out his hand.

"Your music helped me out so this is the least I can do," Ray returned the smile with one of his own, placing his hand in Espio's and shaking it. "Now, let's find out just who tried to ruin your life."

…

Cream sighed as she watched Jet leave. She knew she couldn't truly ever let him back in. Not after he hurt her the way he did. Not after what Wave and he did. Yet, he would always keep the piece of her heart that he captured, carrying it around with him. Cream didn't mind, as long as he became happy again.

After waiting, remaining as stationary as a tree until Jet was nothing more than a mere dot in the distance climbing the stairs into the dormitory did Cream finally allow herself to move. She felt the original urge that she had before seeing her to use the washroom and casually entered the girls side of the small little outdoor, brick-layered building.

However, as Cream entered the small set of cubicles she began to hear some soft, murmured sobs coming from one of the stalls. Curiosity took over as Cream began to walk down the stalls, knocking on each door and checking underneath for any sign of shoes to see who was in there.

"Hello?" Cream called out, knocking on the final cubicle door furthest from the entrance. She heard somebody take a swift breath in before the room became eerily quiet. Cream noticed a pair of black boots raise off the ground and out of her field of vision.

"Whoever is in there it's going to be okay. What's wrong? Maybe I can help you?" Cream asked, her more compassionate side resonating through as she wracked her knuckles on the door for the second time. After what felt like an eternity, the door slowly stood open and Cream's eyes suddenly bulged open.

"Yeah, I guess you don't want to help me anymore," a disheveled Wave responded, her sleeve rolled up her arm and a small, silver blade clutched in her right hand, blood dripping from the serrated edge.

"W-Wave…"

"Yeah, me. The girl who ruined your relationship with Jet, your friendship with Rouge and pretty much your entire year. So just leave me here," Wave wallowed in her own pity as she began to close the door with the heel of her boot. Cream just stood there, not knowing what to do. She couldn't help but feel bad for Wave but the overwhelming hate was too much for the smaller girl to handle.

Cream sighed, hating herself for her actions but as the cubicle closed she turned and began to walk out of the bathroom. She knew Wave needed help and she could see from past experiences with Jet that this could end badly if she didn't do something but how could she? How could Cream help the one person who seemed to have made it her mission to ruin her life since Cream first stepped foot on the campus. Wave became her roommate too, just to add insult to injury. It was like the universe was trying to punish Cream, but what for. Cream always tried to put others before herself. She always tried to see the best in people. That's when it hit her.

'I can't just leave her here. Despite everything, she needs help and I'm the only one with enough experience at the moment to help her,' Cream decided. She might be being punished by something she did in the past. Being a strong believer in karma, Cream attributed this poor fortune on ruining not only Tails' but the whole school's championship back earlier last semester but she decided this was her time to turn it all around.

Cream hastened back to the cubicle and pushed it open and wrenched control of the blade out of Wave's hand before she could retaliate.

"Wave, don't do this to yourself," Cream pleaded. "Despite how much you think you deserve the pain, you don't."

"But I'm ugly. I'm ugly inside and I'm ugly on the outside too. I need to purge and I need to cut. I need others to see the true me," she growled, more at herself than at Cream as all of her pent-up depression began to seep out of her pours like air, all buffeting Cream. Her face drooped as she felt all the empathy fall onto Wave.

"No, Wave, you're not," Cream responded calmly, despite the fear inside her growing. "Now come on, why don't we go get some lunch together and we can talk about this."

"You… you wanna go have lunch… with me?" Wave asked, rubbing her eyes in case she was just seeing a mirage in front of her. However, as she tried to blink away the image in front of her, Cream remained standing there, an arm outstretched.

"Everyone deserves a second chance, right?" she smiled as Wave placed her hand in Creams.

"You're far too forgiving, Cream," Wave replied, still not thinking herself worthy but accepting the offer anyway.

"Sometimes I think I just might be…" Cream replied, more telling herself that than Wave as the two exited the bathroom and headed over to get something to eat and talk to one another at Emerald Café.

…

Mighty began punching his pillow, trying to relieve the stress. He couldn't think straight. He was exhausted, red rings around his eyes and black bags upon bags dragging his eyelids down. He didn't sleep a wink the night before, his mind and heart constantly in a battle, but not against each other but against Mighty's own indecision.

He was so confused, unable to tell reality from fantasy in his mind as images of Clove and Ray continued to appear around him, both begging him to choose them. He couldn't decide. He didn't want to decide.

"This is all so unfair!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, not caring that he probably alerted half the building to his frustrations.

"The choice is easy, isn't it?" a small, high pitched voice spoke up. Mighty jumped with a start. The voice seemed like it was on his shoulder. He craned his neck and lowered his gaze to make out a misty, half transparent figure of one of his oldest city friends sitting on his shoulder.

"Yeah, if you ask me there is only one option," another voice, this one more gruff, deep and less refined than the other made its presence known. Mighty glanced to his other shoulder and almost fainted, unable to believe his eyes when another hazy silhouette of a friend from his past stood atop his opposing shoulder. There, on either shoulder, were both Vector and Charmy.

"H-how are you guys…" Mighty trailed off, unable to believe what he was seeing as he wiped his eyes. They didn't fade away. He moved over to the mirror to look at himself but as his reflection stared back at him, his shoulders were bear. Yet, when Mighty looked to either side of him the tiny aparitions of his friends remained. "This can't be real…"

"Of course, we aren't real you idiot," Vector scoffed. "You never were the brightest, were you," the figment chuckled.

"Mighty, we are just manifestations of your psyche. Your mind created images of people you recognize who have no sway or relevance in anything that is currently going on in your life to help understand your situation," Charmy carefully explained.

"So why did my mind imagine you two?" he asked, still dumbfounded.

"Yeah, I'm here to help you realize that you need to be with Clove. Ray can deal with his problems himself," Vector barked.

"Actually, you should choose Ray. He needs you more right now and you two are best friends," Charmy argued. The two miniature apparitions of Mighty's oldest friends continued to argue back and forth, whispering into his ears to try to convince him to choose one or the other until Mighty felt an overwhelming urge to run.

"I can't take this. Both of you need to shut up!" Mighty screamed as he took his hands and swatted the two beings off his shoulders. They both swirled around like haze before dissipating into the air.

"I… um… can come back a later time if your busy…" a confused and concerned voice piped up from the doorway. Mighty spun around on his heels and stared into the perplexed eyes of Tails.

"Oh… hey…"

"You do know that there is nobody here… right?" Tails mentioned, slightly scared of the deranged look alight in Mighty's eyes.

"Yeah I just need to go. I'll see you around," he dismissed Tails' worried glances as he brushed past him and out into the corridor, flicking out his phone.

Mighty: I really need to talk like now

Tikal: I'm busy

Mighty: Please I need you

Tikal: You know what Mighty. We all have our own shit going on at the moment so show a little fucking respect and give me some time to work this out

Mighty: Sorry

Mighty shuddered, surprised by the uncharacteristically angry response from the disgruntled echidna but decided to bury in in his memory banks for now. He just needed to talk to somebody, somebody he could rely on. That's when he saw her lounging on one of the couches, her phone raised above her head and her thumbs rapidly moving from button to button.

"Blaze, please I really need your help I think I'm going insane," Mighty babbled as he rushed up to Blaze. She yawned, sitting up slowly but upon seeing the torment on Mighty's face she immediately grew concerned.

"Sure thing Mighty, what else are good friends for? How can I help?" She asked in the motherly tone that she was often known for.

"I just need some advice," he admitted.

"What about?"

"Who to choose. Ray or Clove?"

"What do you mean, why do you have to choose?" she asked, clearly confused.

"It's just… I need to either break up with Clove or push Ray out of my life a bit and I'm losing my mind and I don't know what to do."

"Why would you think they are your only two options? I can't see how they are related."

"I was talking with Tikal and we came to the realization that it was either one or the other."

"But why? Mighty, I can't help if you don't tell me why this decision needs to be made," Blaze pushed further.

"I just… I can't tell you, Blaze. I'm sorry but I promised. I just need you to trust me," Mighty begged.

"How do you expect me to help if I don't have all the facts to make a decision. You need to trust me, Mighty. Aren't we friends?"

"We are but I just… it's not that I don't trust you to keep a secret but I can't tell you… I just can't."

"Mighty, unless you tell me why this decision needs to be made, there is nothing I can do to help you," Blaze finalized, not budging. Mighty knew she was right but he couldn't tell her the truth. He promised he wouldn't.

"I… I just can't. Sorry for bothering you Blaze," he concluded in a defeated tone. He stood up and slumped over, dragging his heels across the carpet and over to the exit. He just needed to be alone. He just needed to think. He needed to go back to the cliff overlooking the lake and assess the situation. One way or another, he needed to decide. Soon.

…

Spike whistled as he walked down the hall. He held the strap of his backpack which was slung lazily over his shoulder, completely content. His grades were up. His friendship with Sonic had taken a rocky start but things were starting to look up and the hedgehog had even started to agree to hang out with Spike when Spike texted him. Breezie had even reached out to him for help on a project, a project that he was so excited for given the possibility of spending more time with the girl of his dreams. Silver was back with Blaze, happily for all Spike knew so he assumed his competition with the silver-haired hedgehog could finally be put to rest. His year finally seemed to be looking up and with the break right around the corner, nothing could shatter his spirits.

"Hey, Spike, was it?" a seductive, manipulative voice called out from behind him. He felt a cold hand placed on his shoulder. Spike spun around and came face to face with the one girl whom all of his friends constantly warned him about. Fiona Fox.

"What do you want?" He hissed back, not wanting the person who he saw as a demon to ruin his week.

"Wow, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Fiona giggled flirtatiously, ignoring the acidic animosity that Spike's words were drenched in.

"If you don't have an answer then I'll just be off," he disregarded her, stepping around her after she stepped in front of him and continued walking. Fiona grunted, snorting as she felt her blood boiled. She hated being ignored, especially by a nobody like Spike, she thought.

"No, look," she began, racing to stop him from walking away from her again. "I don't know what people have said about me but-"

"They told me how horrible you are and that you'll try to trick me."

"I would never do something so horrid," she gasped, adopting an insulted façade as she tried her best to act innocent. "I'm your friend and I just want to help."

"Is that the same thing you said to Sonia?" He asked, causing Fiona's charade to falter. "Just before you spike her drink, get her pregnant and then stop the masquerade and ditch her? Yeah, I know about that so just cut the crap and get out of my way," Spike growled as he pushed her aside and kept walking.

"Okay… but if you don't do this for me then why don't you do it for Sonic!" she called out, causing Spike to freeze in his tracks.

"What do you mean?" Fiona grinned, knowing that she had finally captured the fly in the web that she continued to carefully spin.

"I heard about why him and his brother hate each other. It's just awful."

"Like you care."

"I really do." Spike scoffed at her, almost laughing. "No, because I only like it when I'm tormenting him and when somebody else is ruining his life I won't stand for it."

"You… you… you actually want to help him?" Spike asked. Despite how horrible he found her reasoning, it made sense. And maybe a temporary alliance with Fiona could be the thing he needed to help Sonic out and then their friendship would only strengthen.

"Of course. And I need your help, but obviously it's only until we fix his brother and his relationship," she added.

"Well how are we going to stop Mina. The bitch is almost as manipulative as you," Spike thought aloud.

'Mina… interesting," Fiona thought but showed no sign of surprise on her face.

"Manic's girlfriend is a worry, isn't she," Fiona added. "I can't believe she is doing what she is doing!"

"I know, right? How could she pretend she loves Manic but secretly keep trying to fuck Sonic behind his back? The worst part is Manic thinks Sonic is sexually harassing her and not the other way around! Just because she flicks her pretty lashes at him. It's disgusting," Spike complained.

"I know! But how do we stop it?"

"I think I have a plan to solve all our problems," Fiona smirked.

"I'm listening…"

A/N: Well Sonia finally approached Mephiles last chapter so Manic and Sonic's promises to her about leaving the subject alone were fulfilled. However Manic went a little further than Sonic. Sonic simply gave an ultimatum to Shadow to try to mentally force Mephiles to help his sister where Manic went more violent, physically trying to force him. With his mind and body now both in pain, what will Mephiles do?

Fiona is a tricky one, sneakily gathering the information she needed from the naive Spike. But what could her plan be that involves Sonic and Manic?

Mighty has officially done it. He's broken down. When he is seeing his old primary school pals on his shoulders then something must be wrong. If only Tikal wasn't facing a family crisis of her own. Poor Blaze, how can she help if he doesn't open up?

Poor Rouge. She just hasn't been having a good run of it lately. First she loses Knuckles to Julie, then loses Cream because of her new friend Wave and now she's at the mercy of Scourge. Can anything help our girl out of her slump?

Not all looks bad however. Ray has promised Espio that he'd find out who sent that pesky photo around over 24 chapters ago and Cream has managed to (sorta) reconcile with not one but both of the birds that ruined her life. But can she truly forgive them or will this all only lead to more disaster? Either way, if you liked this chapter don't forget to leave a review, it means a lot :P

Also I've been thinking of an idea for a new story. It's a thriller/mystery where the basic premise is that one night Sonic wakes and realises that Tails has been kidnapped and he has until the sun rises to save his best friend. He'll have to get help from his friends and enemies but it seems that a bunch of them have their own secrets. What are your thoughts about that? And, as always, see you next time and hopefully next time is before Christmas :P

QotD: Sorry I forgot to ask one yesterday but since it was a back to back I didn't think it was necessary. Either way, today's question is simple. Who should Mighty pick. Ray or Clove?

Next time on SH:EL

Mina reveals a deep secret to Tails

Breezie begins her conniving plan but it starts to make Julie-Su suspicious

Void returns, but Scourge is there to ruin everything

Manic and Sonic have a brotherly heart-to-heart

...and Rouge finally discovers the reason why Cosmo has been acting so strange lately

All this and so much more, next time on Chapter 27: Smashed Secrets