Hello and welcome to the latest chapter of FntS.

I quite happy that I've managed to churn this one out on time, and here hoping that I can do the same next week.

And to Darth Litarius: First off, sorry for not doing this sooner but you have raised some very good questions which do need answering for all readers.
1: I'm working from Shadow completing the "True Ending" as a "Neutral Hero" during the Black Arms Invasion.
2: Sally's gone from royalty to secretary as a 'handshake' if you will, between the Acorn Kingdom and GUN. Ergo, Sally has been given a high position, secretary to the Commander and therefore technically second-in-command of GUN, for continued "friendship and cooporation" between the two political/military powers.
And 3: Yes I have played Sonic Chronicles, and I throughly enjoyed it.

Anyway, hope you enjoy this latest chapter.

Using the dark of the night, Shade led her small squad of Nocturne Scouts through the back alleys of the city, moving swiftly and silently to avoid unnecessary detection. Twice so far they had to utilise their training to hide in plain sight, although they had been aided by the obvious intoxication the locals were under.

Shade and Tilus directed the scouts with curt hand gestures, deeming that until further knowledge of the technology they'd be facing that they would keep radio silence except in the most important of circumstances. This of course left Shade with plenty of time with her jostling thoughts.

What were they expecting to find out here? So far there had been little in the way of security and what little they had seen appeared primitive and easily overpowered or negated. Some of the technology they had seen was interesting, but due to the rapid advancements required to survive within the inky darkness of the Twilight Cage, that technology was obsolete. Indeed, the only thing which she saw these primitive locals having on their side should the Imperator make a push for war, was numbers.

All throughout the mission her thoughts had been drifting back to the problems she had left behind for others to deal with, pangs of guilt sparked each time, along with the stern expression that Knuckles had worn when she left him caged like an animal in the dungeons.

She shook those thought from her mind and focussed to the task at hand. Her original mission was simply to scout out the area and report back any and all information and weaknesses which could be exploited if the needs be.

At least that's what her scouts believed they were doing. From the whispers she heard, none of them were particularly thrilled about this espionage mission with one of them, Imrain of course, going as far as citing that they'd rather be preparing to leave Nocturne for a new life.

The moment they had returned to Mobius, escaping the constant struggle for survival within the Twilight Cage, the entire population was stunned into silence. The air had smelt so sweet, the wind blew gently across the courtyards for the first time in years and for the first time, the sound of birdsong and crashing waves was heard by hundreds of ears. A moment of silence followed by loud cheers and a rambunctious celebration which had to be swiftly quashed before it deteriorated out of control, but regardless, the message was clear. The Nocturnus wanted to escape the fighting, and they now saw their chance. Shade knew that it was only a matter of time before there was an exodus from that dark obsidian tower.

The Imperators mission was for her to route out weaknesses. Her mission was to find someone with whom she could discuss the integration of her people into the Mobian society. A mission that, if every discovered by the Procurator or the Imperator himself, would be seen as treasonous. That was why she had been careful to choose scouts who not only were remarkably skilled, but also who wouldn't turn on her when they learnt the truth behind her actions.

Tilus signalled for a halt and they all slid into cover. His fingers signed that he had found something. Shade slid out of her cover and silently joined the veteran scout at the mouth of the alleyway they had been scampering through. He tapped the side of his helmet, indicating that he wished to speak with her before removing it. Shade followed suite while signalling the other scouts to remain in cover.

"You were seeking a seat of power High Praetorian? I believe it is there." Shade followed his gaze towards the almighty tall building that dominated the centre of the wide street. Although the sheer size of it left her awestruck she kept her features straight. There was a symbol which stood out against the stark white walls, three rings of colour, black, red and blue which surrounded the large white letter 'G'.

"Certainly large enough." Shade commented. "But I'm not entirely sure if it's the correct place to go."

"Best to start somewhere and so far this is the closest we've come to a seat of power." Tilus stated in his usual low, gravelly voice. "But it is your call."

Shade glanced back up at the tall and imposing building, noticing that only a scant few of the windows had any light shining out from them.

"Very well, we move in quietly. With any luck we'll be able to move undetected."

"Forgive me for questioning your orders High Praetorian, but surely skulking in there as military scout will only diminish any courtesy we might receive if we walked in as emissaries to Nocturne." Shade turned her surprised expression on the veteran scout. He gave her a rare smirk, a glint of amusement in the corner of his eye.

"We've already completed the mission parameters set before us, to scout out the immediate area and report back any findings before seeking out the nearest major habitation area. Please don't look so surprise High Praetorian. I've led so many scouting missions that I know the various objectives by heart. We should be waiting for further instructions or returning to base, so my assumption is either you're operating via specific orders from the Imperator, or this is something that you feel you must do. Either way, you are my commanding officer and I'll follow your orders. And I doubt the others will need much convincing."

Shade couldn't help but smile, her confidence boosted beyond measure by the one man she had worried wouldn't take kindly to her actions.

"Thank you, Veteran Scout Tilus."

"Ma'am." Tilus slotted his helmet back on to once more hide his face from view. Still smiling, Shade waved for the others to form up behind her and strode out of the alleyway, her head held high. Pushing the symbol on her head band she reactivated her helmet.

Slowly, and somewhat nervously, the scouts emerged from their hiding places, Kalimbre requiring a curt hand gesture from Tilus to move into place. The half-squad formed up with two on Shade's left and the others on her right with Tilus marching just behind his commander.

Shade pushed open the glass double-door as she strode purposefully towards the person sat behind the desk in the middle of the wide reception; she knew that her squad would be checking for any possible threats, choosing targets and preparing various combat protocols if necessary.

The zebra looked up from his computer in shock as six strangely dressed people barged in. They all wore some strange style of black clothing, each sporting an odd symbol somewhere on their uniform. They all wore helmets, completely hiding whoever was underneath but it was the one at the head of the group that drew his attention. Although he couldn't see her face it felt like her eyes could see his every weakness, his every flaw.

"I wish to speak with whoever's in charge." She said when they came to a stop, still in formation. Her voice was as harsh as the zebra had expected it to be, but it also held a slight hint of softness.

"The Commander is currently in a meeting and is unable to see anyone." The zebra receptionist replied shakily.

"I am High Praetorian Shade of the Nocturne. And I suggest you get him out of his meeting, because what I have to say could very well be a matter of life and death."

-0-

"Sonic… Sonic?" The cobalt hedgehog yawned and stretched. His back ached even though he was lying on a soft couch his head propped up on the arm. Blinking away his blurred vision, Sonic looked about for the source of the voice. "Come on Sonic, are you going to get up or just lie there for the rest of the day?"

"I think I'm just gonna lie here." He replied wearing his trademark grin. Amy walked into his line of sight, placed both hands to her hips and stared down at him with a quirky grin of her own.

"I don't think so Sonic. Everyone's coming round later and we've got so much to do!" In a sudden movement she yanked the pillow out from under his head, giggling as his head banged against the less comfortable wood of the arm before tossing it back at him.

"Okay, okay, I'm gettin' up!" As he stood, Sonic looked at his surroundings. He was standing in the middle of his own living room, the light blue painted walls, the old wooden flooring which he got the idea from Uncle Chuck, his set of chairs and the long four-seat couch which he had just vacated. On the walls hung various framed photographs of him and his friends, some had faded over time but the same smiling faces looked back, undiminished by the passing of time. Through the windows shone a glorious sunny day, with blue skies, birdsong and the rustling of the trees all filtering through the double glazing.

He smiled as his eyes fell upon the girl who had woken him up. Her jade green eyes sparkled back at him. It was then Sonic noticed what she wore, and confusion reared its head. She was wearing a set of light blue medical scrubs, just like the ones worn by nurses and trainee doctors on that medical show he caught every now and again. Even her head band was the same shade of blue.

"Hey Ames, are we playing doctor or something?" He asked in a light-hearted tone at odds with what he was feeling.

"Don't be silly Sonic, now could you please go to the shops to pick up that meat we ordered." She turned away and walked off in the direction of the kitchen leaving behind a very confused hedgehog.

"Uh… yeah, sure." Grabbing a jacket from the coat stand he kept by the front door, Sonic opened the mahogany door and stepped through it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of this sunny day finding the air stale and dust ridden.

He coughed twice to clear his lungs before he could reopen his eyes, finding himself alone in a long, ill-lit metallic corridor. He spun around only to find his front door, house and Amy gone and replaced by another corridor stretching off into the darkness.

His heart sped up and his breathing got heavier. Slowly he put one foot in front of the other and began to walk down the eerily familiar corridor. His footsteps boomed back at him and a faint beeping sound echoed, right on the edge of his hearing. With eyes darting everywhere and heart hammering in his chest nineteen to the dozen, the suitably freaked out hedgehog made his way slowly towards the end of the corridor and the sliding door that couldn't quite close fully.

When he reached it, the door ceased its feeble attempts at closing and automatically slid open like it had been waiting for him. Stepping through the door slammed closed, sending out a wave of sound that had Sonic cringing and holding his ears.

He looked around at the large round room. Debris littered the floor, broken computers and smashed robots. From the walls hung still sparking wires and great gouges of metal had been stripped and now lay in piles on the ground and steam still puffed fitfully from metal grated air ducts.

"We were too late." Muttered a deep, miserable voice. Sonic's eyes focussed immediately on the source and he saw a figure huddled near the edge of the room. "I failed."

Sonic carefully picked his way through the debris until he was close enough to recognise the figure.

"Shadow?" The ebony hedgehog made no move as his cobalt counterpart moved closer. "What's going on Shadow, what are you talking abou-"

Suddenly he saw what Shadow was holding in his arms and bile surged up Sonic's throat, threatening to sally forth from his mouth. He swallowed hard as he tumbled back from the macabre sight.

Shadow stood slowly and turned, still holding the bloodied and lifeless form of Rouge the Bat. Her flesh had been flayed too ribbons and if it hadn't been for her unblemished face, Sonic would never have known it was her. Blood still dripped from her many thousands of cuts, soaking deep into Shadow's fur and mixing with the teardrops that feel from his eyes.

"I trusted you to get us through Sonic." He took another step towards him and Sonic tumbled back into the debris in his attempt to get away. "We were too late, Sonic."

One of the air ducts began rattling, the metallic cover flying off and landing with a crash in a pile of broken metal. Shadow continued as if nothing had happened. "And now there is nothing to do, except to await death."

Suddenly a long serpentine tail whipped out from the now open air duct and arched into the room, wrapping itself around Shadows neck before hauling him and Rouge's body back up and into the darkness.

"Shadow!" Sonic couldn't believe what he'd just seen. Shadow had done nothing to prevent himself from being taken by the, whatever it was. Not even a yelp or cry of surprise, he didn't even struggle.

Terror descended on the cobalt hedgehog and with sending his survival instinct into overdrive. Feet whirring, kicking up dust and debris, Sonic dashed back through into the long corridor of metal, wanting to get as far away from that place as possible. He sped around a corner and had to skid to an immediate halt when a bright light blinded him. Arms swept up to shade his burning eyesight.

He staggered a few paces as he rubbed at his eyes, blinking hard as they adapted to the harshness of the light now assailing them. The wind howled around him throwing dust and sand into the air. Sonic spun around trying to orientate himself to this new environment but he was forced to throw himself to the ground to dodge a knife that spun through the air.

He rolled onto his back and flipped back up onto his feet, eyes quickly searching for where the weapon had come from. He spun around in place, dust and sand obscuring his vision, and the beeping sound getting louder and louder. One last turn and he came eye too eye with a pair of venomous yellow slit-eyes.

He yelp, sitting bolt upright. The bright yellow eyes were gone; the swirling dust cloud was gone. And yet the beeping persisted.

His eyes quickly scanned his surroundings. The walls a light green, shaded by closed curtains against the night sky. The bed he was lying in was both soft and comfortable. The smells that reached his nose were those of disinfectant and sterilisation.

A painful twinge and he looked down at his own body, at the thick bands of clothe wrapped around his chest. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead and speckled his arms. Another twinge and he laid back. Wiping the sweat from his brow he looked back over the room once more, now that his nerves had calmed down slightly. The door opened and in walked someone who made his heart, and the accompanying beeping race.

"Amy?" The sakura hedgehog yelped in surprise but quickly regained her posture. She looked at him, first with disbelief, then confusion before her face creased with a broad smile and tears sparkled in her eyes.

"Sonic?" She rushed to his bedside and for a moment the cobalt hero was expecting her to dive on top of him, but she stopped, her hand swiftly seeking out and grasping his. "You're awake. They said you wouldn't wake up for days!"

Sonic couldn't help but grin. "You know me Ames, never really like keeping to a schedule."

Amy smiled back, she dearly wanted to hug him, to show how much he meant to her, but she knew that any stressful movements could tear the stitches in his chest.

"Where's Shadow and Rouge?" He asked suddenly. "Last I remember is… staring at the sunset, and thinking about everything I still wanted to do in my life."

"Shadow's fine, Rouge on the other hand. When I went to visit her she was, depressed. She barely even acknowledged that I was there." Amy shook herself out of her slightly melancholic state and smiled back down at Sonic. "But other than that, everyone's safe and sound. I was more worried about you."

"You don't have to worry about me Amy, I'm not going anywhere." Sonic reassured her with a wink. He was slightly worried by the grin he got back.

"Very true Sonic. Doctor's orders are that you can't do anything strenuous for at least two weeks."

"Two weeks!" He cried in despair. Amy nodded her head.

"Two weeks. And I'm going to make sure you don't do anything stupid. Well, too stupid anyway." Sonic went to fold his arms behind his head, but thought otherwise when a twinge of pain flashed through his chest again.

"Alright, so you've got me at your mercy. What now?"

"Now?" Amy sat down in the nearby chair and shuffled closer. "Now I've got to fill you in on what you've missed."

"Can't be much." He said with a smirk.

"You'll be surprised."

Just then the door was thrown open again and a trio of blue dressed anthro stormed in, panic written over their faces. As soon as they saw him sitting up in bed they pulled to a stop looking rather sheepish.

"Yes?" Asked Amy, a harsh coldness in her tone of voice.

"Apologies Miss Rose, Mr Hedgehog. Your stats suddenly went haywire, and we thought, that… there was… something…" The attendant trailed off as Amy's withering glare bore into him. One of the nurses coughed in an attempt to ease the building tension.

"As you can see, everything's perfectly fine. Sonic's awake and one of your colleagues said that he was healing up quickly." Sonic had to fight not to smirk as Amy verbally beat down the poor attendant.

"We'll um… we'll let you umm…" The attendant stammered as the trio swiftly made for the door and the safety of the hallway beyond. As soon as they were gone both hedgehogs degraded into fits of laughter.

"Oh man! That's so much funnier when I'm not on the receiving end." Sonic managed to say in-between gasps for breath. Amy grinned back.

"I'm so glad you're okay Sonic."

"Yeah, me too." Amy giggled and squeezed his hand. "So… what've I missed?"

Told ya I might bring back Sonic.

Things are starting to come to a head in FntS.
Bloodshed, romance, warfare, death and maybe Shadow and Cassie will be able to finish this case!
All this to come.

Stay tuned.

-Corrupt TE-