Be One World, Be The Light

Chapter 9: New Friends, Old Problems


"And stay safe!"

Amy placed her tablet down to one side, shifting focus towards the nearest window. The storm continued to grow stronger, as if a sky-dam had burst, spreading a great snowfall that soon gave way to a blizzard. While her rose parka-dress and black leggings offered some protection, she dared to question how cold the temperature had dropped since this morning. As a precaution, she filled a small backpack with her tablet and a thermos containing hot beverages.

Her friends from other worlds readied themselves for the journey. The baggy and loose hoodie Silver wore offered some protection from the sub-zero temperatures outside. It was loose enough to fit his two long quills inside, allowing the future warrior to pull the hood forward over his head. His five distinct spines were flicked back to fit his head comfortably inside. While not fond of wearing excessive clothing, he took comfort in the warmth it provided.

As for Blaze, she made no effort to shield herself from Mother Nature's wrath. She patted the side of her tailcoat, feeling the Sol Emerald resting comfortably within her pocket. The feline caught Amy staring towards her with worry, her eyes slowly shifting from her bottom half where her extensive wound resided.

"Are you sure you're up for this, Blaze?" Amy gently asked, great concern filling her gaze.

The princess gently placed her hand against her wound, tapping it delicately to test her tolerance. She briefly winced with each tap, but refused to sit idly by while her friends fought in her favour. She returned her fiery gaze towards the hedgehog, nodding with reassurance. "This cold cannot quench my flames. I will be fine."

Amy doubted the sincerity in her tone, but decided against pressing her concerns further. If Blaze truly had no intention of staying, Amy doubted she could stop the princess. Even in her current state, Blaze was a force to be reckoned with.

Regaining her upbeat and bubbly attitude, Amy eagerly clasped both hands together. "Let's go, Team Rose!"

Silver gawked at the comment. "Team Rose?"

Instead of elaborating, Amy eagerly took the future warrior's hand and tugged him towards the front door, yearning to get the journey over with. He briefly peered down, surprised by her grip strength. Blaze trailed closely behind, briefly glancing around for hints of the evil being that almost robbed her life. Assured the dark monster was nowhere within the vicinity, she picked up the pace to follow her teammates.

Amy threw open the front door, bracing herself for the harsh winter. Powerful winds lifted the hedgehog off her feet, throwing her back inside her own home. She yelped with surprise, losing her footing in no time. Inches away from the ground, a large hand delicately caught her mid-fall, lifting the hedgehog and sitting her on his right shoulder.

She sighed with relief. "Thanks, Big."

Silver lowered his glowing hands, relieved Big caught her before his own powers could. His muscles flexed in shock once more, teeth chattering from the intense cold. Braving the powerful winds, he calmly threw his hands forward and focused, forming a Shield of Light in front of his person. The raw energy melted the snowdrops that pressed against the shield, the winds now pushed towards the opposite direction.

"I'll lead the way," Silver offered.

"Can you hold that for long, Silver?" Blaze cautiously asked. "It is quite the trek to Station Square."

"I'll be fine," Silver reassured. "Let's just get there."

The princess nodded and moved to stand by his side. Big trailed closely behind them, delicatently closing the door behind them. Silver took the lead, slowly marching through the deep snow reaching up to his knees. His large boots sunk with every step, the fluffy mountains threatening to bury him if he took a wrong move. A part of him wished he had asked Amy for some protective pants.

His focus intensified, pushing all distractions to the back of his mind. Close to his side, Blaze struggled to keep her footing, her heeled shoes making it difficult to gain traction in the snow. As she persevered, her left foot unexpectedly slipped backwards, forcing more weight on her right side. The sudden jolt forced her wound to intensify, a cry of anguish escaping her throat. She gritted her teeth, clutching one arm over her torso. Her yells stole Silver's attention, forcing him to turn around.

"I'm okay!" Blaze yelled, not giving him a chance to speak. "I just lost my footing-whoa!"

She peered down as Big's arm gently scooped her up, placing the feline on his opposite shoulder. Her cheeks reddened with a hint of embarrassment. "Big, that is not-"

"You shouldn't walk if you're hurt," Big calmly stated. "It's good to rest if you're not feeling well."

Blaze opened her mouth to protest, but any hint of arguing died on her tongue. Truthfully, she was still in no condition to walk. She peered over towards the pink hedgehog seated on the other shoulder, silently searching for an answer. With a small sigh, Blaze accepted her position. "Thank you, Big."

"It's no problem," Big assured.

Admittedly, Blaze felt impressed by the cat's willpower. The harsh winter, the threat of Mephiles and even her mistaken attack against Shadow did nothing to shake Big's demeanour in the slightest. How he could stay so calm and composed in extreme conditions was a mystery she longed to find out one day. For now, she returned her focus to Silver.

The future warrior peered back, relieved to see both Blaze and Amy resting on Big's shoulders. The cat's large frame and fur allowed him to withstand the sub-zero temperatures with ease. The gears in Silver's head turned, his face twisting with intriguement. He gently let the Shield of Light fade away into the night and slowly ascended towards the sky with a blanket of cyan energy outlining his body.

"I've got an idea!" Silver said. "Amy, Blaze. Hold on tight!"

Neither of them had any time to question his intentions. Silver threw one hand forward, forming a bubble of energy around the trio. Big peered around, curiously examining the green ball surrounding them. His large feet were lifted from the ground, feeling the weight of gravity leave him. Silver smiled, relieved to see his powers carried enough weight to lift the trio safely.

"It worked!" Silver exclaimed excitedly. "This is going to be much faster than walking!"

His eyes darted towards Blaze, forcing his smile to fade. The princess clutched her eyes shut, head turning away from the ground. She softly called out, a hint of unease filling her tone. "That's good to hear, but could you please hurry, Silver?"

Silver slapped himself with his free hand. "Oh, right. Heights. Well, Chaotix Agency, here we come!"

He raced through the darkened sky, the cold breeze flowing through his quills, the winter air threatening to freeze him inside out. The sooner they reached Station Square, the better.


Silence filled the Sol Empire's castle, the absence of the ruler left the vast halls quiet. The royal guards that once occupied the castle were no more, abandoning the posts to maintain order within the kingdom. Without the princess, anarchy was certain to follow. News of the early morning battle spread across the land, whispers of her demise reaching across the Seven Seas. Blaze's personal advisors and most trusted senior officers were quick to calm the citizens, though were forced to bend the truth on the whereabouts of her royal highness.

Only a handful of the staff remained, mostly the maids and chefs. Amongst them was a young racoon who was given safe passage to explore most of the castle. Marine calmly walked down the empty hallways, feeling a sense of unease. Despite the late hours of the night, she still wore her usual lime green tube top, short black leggings, tan gloves and lime green & orange shoes. As an extra accessory, a satchel rested comfortably against her hip, held in place by a leather strap over her shoulder.

The hallways that were once filled with royal guards were now vacant. As captain of her very own crew, Marine was used to conversing with others, a chatterbox who could talk for hours on end about her adventures. She very rarely let her mood shift, always in high spirits and never allowing anyone to shake her confidence.

But since the earlier morning's events, her usual bubbly self was no more. Blaze, her one friend within the Sol Empire, had been missing for several hours after her encounter with the mysterious invader. She briefly glanced towards one of several clocks lined up on the walls, noting the hand reaching the twelve hour. Midnight. A new day had officially begun, yet yesterday's events continued to unsettle her.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, she softly sung to herself to create some form of company. "Life starts with a sunny day. Let's feel our ocean breath. We are cruisin' open seas…"

As Marine passed by one of the several doors, a lone figure caught the corner of her eye. She leaned back, spotting the elderly koala bear within his personal chambers. Finally, someone she could talk to.

Marine entered without knocking, slowly approaching him. "Hey, Gramps."

Gardon briefly glanced her way, quickly returning his gaze towards the ground. He sat in a chair adjacent to a desk, arms pressed against the wooden surface with both hands supporting his chin. He responded in a low, despondent tone. "Not now, Miss Marine."

The racoon briefly frowned. In other circumstances, Gardon was quick to scold her for breaking several of the castle's rules she failed to abide by. Entering private rooms without knocking first being amongst said rules. But it was evident by his disheartened stance he could care less about giving her another lesson in formal manners. The unbearable silence threatened to take over once more.

Marine briefly glanced towards the nearby window, watching as the blue haze of day had longed lifted to reveal the stars of the night air. The night sky was such a welcoming sight, appearing like magic at each sunset, promising to return as she faded in dawn's first light. Marine recalled how fondly Blaze loved stargazing. It was one of the few things in her life she actually enjoyed.

Her adventures from Southern Island often brought the raccoon to the Sol Empire where she sometimes resided overnight with her friend. One night, while snooping around the castle's gardens, she remembered spotting Blaze stargazing from the balcony of her bedroom. The feline spotted her with ease, but instead of chastising Marine for being outside so late, she instead invited the young captain to accompany her and watch the stars for a few minutes. While Marine found the experience boring, it was clearly something the princess adored.

She missed her friend, praying she was safe from harm. The corners of her eyes slowly filled, threatening to leak waterfalls. But Marine refused to cry, reminding herself a real captain never gave up. Putting on a brave face, she returned her sight to the koala bear, who made no attempt to shoo her away. Perhaps he too longed for some company. The castle was practically dead. The few staff that stayed behind had long returned to their homes for the night. Just the two of them remained inside this large structure.

Marine playfully jabbed her elbow into his side, breaking the proud guard from his despair. "Cheer up, Gramps! She'll turn up, I know it!"

Gardon offered a small smile, but his black orbs held doubt in her claims. "I do admire your optimism, Miss Marine. But it's been hours. We've sent word to countless islands across the seas. No one has seen Princess Blaze."

She scoffed at the idea of her friend never returning. "What a load of rubbish, Gardon! Blaze will come back. I know it! So stop all this sulking. I know you care for your daughter, but she doesn't want to come back and see you moping around like this!"

Gardon suddenly threw his head up. Exasperation filled his eyes, almost stuttering in his response. "Don't be ridiculous, Miss Marine! Princess Blaze is not my daughter. Taking care of her is my duty, not my responsibility. I serve the throne and nothing more."

Despite his assertive tone, Marine giggled as she finally sparked a reaction from the elderly koala. "Keep telling yourself that, Gramps! But all the same, sitting around here all night ain't gonna do her any good. What's say we do something, eh?"

He opened his mouth to argue, but abruptly closed it seconds later. While she often annoyed him to no end with her constant comments and obnoxious voice, Gardon almost admired her confidence. With a gentle sigh, he pressed both hands against the desk, pushing himself to his feet once more. "Miss Marine, we have done all we can. I have exhausted all options. I honestly do not know what else to do."

Marine hummed, one finger rubbing under her chin musingly. Before long, she snapped her fingers with excitement filling her eyes. "Strewth, why didn't I think of this before? Let's ask Sonic for help!"

Curiosity filled Gardon's eyes. "While his help would definitely be appreciated, I'm afraid we have no way to reach him. Only Princess Blaze has the will to call on the Sol Emerald's powers to traverse across dimensions."

A playful smirk plastered itself over her face, lazily tapping her finger against her head. "That's the difference, mate! Blaze has power, but we have technology!"

She dug into her satchel, holding up a small device for dramatic effect. "I got Tails' whatchamacallit device. We can contact him and ask for help!"

Gardon's eyes widened, shameful he had forgotten about the young racoon's passion for technology. He raced to her side, eager to try anything. "Make haste, Miss Marine!"

Marine smiled and delicately pressed on the button. Tails had been kind enough to make the device user friendly, allowing even the likes of Gardon to operate it with ease. Her smile faded as no answer came from the other line. She frowned, shaking the device with annoyance. "Stupid thing must be broken! Not to worry, we'll just have to use this!"

She produced another small device from her bag, this one sharing a very similar design. "If I press this button here, it will open a gateway to their world! We can just visit and ask!"

"Of course, the dimensional gateway device," Gardon gasped, recalling seeing a demonstration of said device during Sonic's last visit to their world.

With a dramatic press of the button, the duo watched as the portal between their worlds opened. Gardon peered through the other side, fascinated to glance into another dimension. On the other side of the portal, a familiar fox turned around with interest, his eyes widening with surprise.

"Marine?" Tails gasped.

"Tails!" Marine exclaimed while waving her hand wildly. "Good to see you, mate! Say, nice jacket!"

"Mr. Tails, thank goodness you are there," Gardon added. "We urgently need your help. It's Princess Blaze, she's-"

"Here," Tails confirmed, leaving the duo flabbergasted by the response.

A huge weight felt lifted from Gardon, one hand clutching his chest as he sighed with extensive relief. "Thank the stars. Where is she? Is she all right?"

"She's okay," Tails reassured, stepping closer until he was just on the other side of the portal. "But she's not here at the moment. She's with Amy and others."

"Did she give that fella a good clobbering?" Marine asked, swinging her fists around for dramatic effect.

The young scientist caught on immediately, softly shaking his head in response. "His name is Mephiles. He's still here. Blaze… Got hurt pretty bad."

Marine briefly growled with anger, now throwing her fists manically throughout the air. "Ooh, let me have him! Nobody hurts my mates and gets away with it!"

Gardon shared her disgust, but held his composure far better. His hands gently tugged down her swinging fists, all the while maintaining eye contact with the young fox. "Mr. Tails. If what you say is true then we are dealing with a powerful opponent. Princess Blaze will need all the support we can muster."

"We're already working on securing the Chaos Emeralds," Tails reassured. "Sonic's on his way to get one of them now."

The koala bear nodded softly, though a trace of concern began to fill his eyes. While relieved to know his ruler was alive and in good hands, the threat of Mephiles unsettled him greatly. His gaze shifted between Marine and Tails, silently questioning his next move. Duty dedicated that he uphold the sacred oath. His heart said otherwise, urging him to follow through with Marine's earlier advice about taking action.

As he swallowed the large lump filling his throat, he returned his eyes to the young scientist once more. "Mr. Tails. Would you please give us a moment?"

Tails hesitantly nodded, knowing he had no way to return the call till he fixed his own communicators. "Sure."

Gardon pressed down on the device's button, allowing the portal to vanish from sight. Marine glanced up with a look of bewilderment. He spoke quickly before she could question his actions. "Miss Marine, you were right about not sitting idly by. Now is the time to take action. Come with me."

His proud stance returned once more, marching out of the room with authority. Marine's initial annoyance faded with pleasure taking its place, happy to see the elderly guard back to his usual self. She raced closely behind them, intrigued to know where they were going. Gardon marched through the empty hallways, setting course towards the throne room. He stopped just short of the throne, briefly scanning the area to check for prying eyes. No one else lingered around the castle, just the two of them. Marine briefly winced as Gardon's hands grasped her shoulders, hunching down for their eyes to meet.

"Miss Marine," he began, forcing her attention to his gaze. "What I am about to show you goes against my sacred oath to the throne. You must never, not once, ever tell anyone about this. Even Sonic. Do you understand?"

The racoon softly nodded in response. Gardon speaking with authority was nothing new to her ears, but the way he carried himself with this sense of urgency captivated her undivided attention. No witty remark escaped her lips. She simply gestured in agreement, slightly intimidated by the way he held a firm grip on her.

Relieved she grasped the importance of what was to come, Gardon removed his hands from her shoulders and approached the back of the throne. He delicately pressed against several tiles in a specific sequence. Marine watched on with fasitinciation, fully unaware of the koala bear's actions. With one final push, the wall behind the throne opened up into two halves, revealing a long stairway leading below. Fascinated by the hidden passageway, Marine trailed closely behind Gardon, who picked up a torch mounted on the wall, lighting the way below.

The duo reached the bottom of the stairs in no time. Marine softly gasped as the hidden room came into full view. Several torches lit up the room, revealing the sacred treasures that resided within. The Jeweled Scepter rested on the altar within the centre, surrounded by seven small stone pillars where six of the seven Sol Emeralds rested. Other cherished items lined up against the walls, mostly books harbouring the kingdom's ancient history.

Overwhelmed with the incredible sight, Marine found herself speechless. For once, the usual chatty raccoon had nothing to say, her sky blue pupils dilated with amazement. "Wow."

Gardon slowly moved towards the nearest stone pillar, hesitating to pick up the yellow Sol Emerald. His future with the throne may be in peril after this, but he cared not for his position any longer. The safety of Blaze was the only thing that mattered. He carefully retrieved the Sol Emerald, turning around to break the raccoon from her trance.

"Miss Marine, you pride yourself on being a great friend," Gardon stated. "Now is the time to prove your friendship with Princess Blaze. I am entrusting you to take the Sol Emeralds to her."

Marine beamed with excitement. "Really? No kidding?"

"I wouldn't joke at a time like this," Gardon replied.

She threw her hand against her forehead, trying her best to stand proud. "Captain Marine is on the case."

"Good," Gardon nodded, pausing to glance at one of the sacred gems resting within his palm. "I am afraid I cannot accompany you to the Chaos Dimension. I am needed here to help maintain order. Find Princess Blaze and bring her the Sol Emeralds at all costs."

Marine firmly nodded, adopting a firm expression. "I won't let you down, Gardon. I promise, and a captain never breaks their promise."

Entrusting her word, Gardon gestured for her to hand him the satchel. She did so without hesitation. He was delicate with his movements, placing the six Sol Emeralds within her satchel with utmost care. Upon making sure the gemstones were secured, he stepped forward and placed the satchel around Marine's shoulder once more. With his free hand, he tapped the button, opening the gateway between their dimensions. Tails reappeared on the other side, now accompanied with a large echidna. Gardon paid the new face no attention.

He hunched down and placed both hands to Marine's shoulders once more, albeit with a much gentler touch. "Good luck to you, Miss Marine."

She smiled in return. In an unexpected act of affection, she stood on her tiptoes and planted a small peck on his cheek. Startled by the kind gesture, Gardon leaned back, his muzzle beginning to turn red. Without saying another word, Marine shifted around and bounced through the portal, leaving the safety of the Sol Empire into unknown territory. Gardon watched her leave before hesitantly pressing the button once more, sealing off the gateway between their dimensions.

As Marine's feet pressed against the workshops' hard surface, her limbs suddenly flexed in shock at the drastic difference in temperature. She threw her arms tightly around herself, teeth beginning to chatter uncontrollable. "Blimey, who turned on the AC? I'm freezing my socks off!"

"Sorry, the generators aren't working yet," Tails explained, scanning around for something to warm the younger racoon. A fresh cup of hot chocolate he brewed minutes ago rested on the table, the steam slowly escaping into the cool air. He picked up said cup and placed it into her hands. "Here."

"Ooh, I love me some hot chocolate!" Marine exclaimed, shoving the cup to her lips and feeling the warm destination tickle her throat.

Knuckles, while not familiar with the new face, spotted Shade's dressing gown hanging delicately on the coat rack. He picked up the large robe and gently placed it around the raccoon's shoulders. It was far too big to fit her smaller frame, yet it was better than freezing.

The combination of the warm beverage and robe forced a pleasured sigh to escape her lips, feeling the cradle of the heat akin to her tropical island's weather. "Much better. Thanks for that, muscles!"

A flash of annoyance briefly creased Knuckle's brow. He held his tongue, returning focus to the young fox. "Wanna fill me in on what's going on here? Who is this?"

"Oh, Knuckles, this is Marine," Tails introduced, gesturing both arms between his friends. "She's a friend of ours from Blaze's world. Marine, this is Knuckles. He's one of my closest friends."

Marine grasped one of his large namesakes, shaking it vigorously. "I'm Captain Marine of the Coconut Crew! Nice to meet you!"

"Yeah, likewise," Knuckles responded, pulling back his hand with caution lest he accidently pull her down. He crossed both arms, still awaiting for an explanation on her presence. "What are you doing here?"

Marine turned her head away with a playful grin. "Sorry, can't tell ya! Captain's secret!"

"You can trust Knuckles, Marine," Tails reassured. "He guards our Chaos Emeralds, just like Blaze does with her Sol Emeralds."

The racoon hummed, questioning whether or not this went against Gardon's orders. On the one hand, he never said anything about not trusting Sonic or his friends. The extra help was welcomed. On the other hand, she didn't know Knuckles. As far as she was aware, he was a pirate in hiding. Her gaze shifted to Tails, who tried to hold his composure, though his impatient stance betrayed his calm expression.

While Marine had no reason to trust Knuckles, she trusted Tails, and that was good enough. "Okay, I'm on an important mission! Gardon entrusted me to deliver the Sol Emeralds to Blaze!"

Tails blinked, beginning to understand why Gardon sought privacy during their first point of contact. "You have the Sol Emeralds?"

"I sure do!" Marine exclaimed, tapping her hand against the satchel resting comfortable on her hip. "Well, I got six of the mozzies," she threw up her gaze, frantically searching around the house for the princess' presence. "Say, where is Blaze? Is she taking a nap?"

"I told you before, she's with the rest of our friends," Tails recalled, moving to block her way as she looked ready to race outside. "But we can't go looking for her yet. There's a storm outside. It's too dangerous to go exploring."

Marine hummed once more, contemplating whether or not to barge past and go looking for her friend. Instead, she nonchalantly shrugged and bounced back into a nearby chair, swinging around to plank both feet on the table. "Not a problem! I'll just wait here till they get back. You two can be my protection!"

Tails gently chuckled, resuming focus to continue his work. While she often came across as bossy with a loud, thick accent enough to drive others insane, he welcomed her company. "Sure, Marine."

Knuckles silently grunted, wondering how Sonic and Tails coped with her hyperactive energy. Nevertheless, his eyes were drawn to the satchel resting against her hip. His position as Master Emerald Guardian allowed Knuckles to sense Chaos energy. But these Sol Emeralds, he could not detect any hint of their energy radiating within the air. While curious to see the mysterious gemstones, his duty came first. The echidna retreated into the living room once more, overlooking the sacred gemstone resting comfortable in its temporary home.


Espio exhaled slowly, eyes shut as the world around him dissolved into his own thoughts. His nose inhaled, breathing in the cold air that resonated around their home. A small heater kindly burrowed to them by Tails filled their living room with some form of warmth, its glow gently illuminating the otherwise darkened room. With their home's central heating out for the count, the onset of winter lowered the temperatures within their worn out office. The team made a collective decision to sleep downstairs for the night, hoping the small heater provided another warmth for a good night's sleep.

While Espio's mastery of martial arts allowed him to withstand freezing temperatures, the same could not be said for his fellow teammates. Vector had been vocal enough to share his distaste for the weather, though it was more because of their business taking a plunge in customers. Being a cold-blooded reptile, he was naturally resilient to cold weather. The de facto leader slumbered within his chair, both arms supporting his head, headphones softly filling his ears with rock 'n' roll pleasure.

Their youngest member slept across the corner of their sofa, wrapped up in mountains of blankets. Charmy initially had trouble falling to sleep in the freezing temperature. Being a bee, he was far from his comfort zone of sunny days and flowers. Espio helped soothe him to sleep by reading him a bedtime story. Charmy had hung onto his every word, the ninja's deep voice making the narrations comforting to his ears. In the early morning hours of their home, only Espio remained awake.

He took position in the corner of the living room, sitting with both legs crossed while his hands resting against his knees. Despite his perfect posture, the detective had trouble falling to sleep. Memories of his earlier encounter with Silver continued to haunt him. The future warrior looked troubled, terrified even. The damage to his appearance suggested something terrible had happened in his future, a threat strong enough to push the hedgehog back to the present.

If only Espio knew the true reason for his friend's return.

A sudden knock at the door snapped Espio back into reality. His eyes shot open, gaze quickly switching from the clock to the front door. The clock hand threatened to reach the one mark. Espio softly grunted, silently cursing Vector for advertising their business as a twenty-four hour service. While Vector's music drowned out the noise, it was enough to break Charmy from his slumber.

The bee softly lifted his head, disorientation and confusion filling his tired eyes. "Wha… Who's that?"

"Go back to sleep, Charmy," Espio whispered, shifting focus towards the entrance of their home.

The chameleon reached the front door. Being the cautioned ninja he was, one hand delicately touched his gauntlet, preparing to draw his weapons if necessary. He opened the door, forced to greet the late night visitors by reciting their motto Vector insisted on using. "Chaotix Detective Agency, no job is ever too…"

He slowly trailed off, not expecting to see the group of four before him. Without hesitation, he swung the door open and stood out of the way. "Quickly, come inside!"

Charmy peerked up as multiple footsteps tapped against the wooden floor, fully waking the bee from his tired state. He gently rubbed his eyes, blinking to restore his vision. "What the heck are you guys doing here?"

"Charmy, that's no way to greet people," Espio gently scolded, pushing the door shut before the blizzard forced its way in. "Is everyone all right?"

Amy shook her head to shake away the snow stuck within her quills. "We're okay."

Espio's eyes darted towards Blaze, surprised to see the princess within their world once more. His eyes were drawn to her bloodstained glove and heavy bandages, forcing concern to plaster his hardened demeanour. "Blaze, why don't you have a seat?"

"Thank you," Blaze whispered, happily accepting the offer. While she rested on Big's shoulder during the journey, the cold forced her injury to slowly intensify once more. She slumped against the corner, fully relieved to be sitting down again.

The detective's eyes shot towards the hooded figure. Relief filled his stern gaze as the future warrior removed his hood. "Silver."

Silver softly smiled, offering a bashful wave. "Hi, Espio. Sorry for taking off like that earlier."

"That's all right," Espio reassured, stepping to one side and allowing the hedgehog to sit on the same couch as the feline. Compared to their earlier visit, his appearance had been tidied up, no doubt at Amy's instance.

"We tried to call earlier," Amy explained. "But nobody picked up."

"Oh, yeah, my bad," Charmy admitted, presenting the new lifeless tablet between his hands. "I kind of got distracted playing Angry Chao."

Vector's eyelids slowly peered open, startled by the large group filling their otherwise empty home. In his haste to get up, he slipped out of his chair and struck the ground with a small thud. All eyes were drawn to the commotion. He jumped up, tugging his headphones back around his neck. "Chaotix Detective Agency, no job is ever too-oh, it's you guys."

"Don't sound too happy to see us," Amy said, though her playful expression betrayed the false malice in her voice.

The crocodile leaned over to flick on the light switch, forcing the great darkness to fully disperse. The small group gathered within the living room, sitting as close to the small heater as possible. Blaze, Silver and Charmy took up all the room on the couch. Vector took the only remaining furniture, planking himself into a small armchair. Amy seated herself on a nearby table, allowing her legs to dangle from the ground. Espio had no problem sitting on the floor again. As for Big, he calmly stood to the far side, eyes carelessly peering around the room with satisfaction.

Vector was the first to break the silence. "So, what's up?"

"This isn't about me taking Cream's juice box, is it?" Charmy asked.

Amy shot him a confused glare. "Huh?"

The bee immediately feigned innocence. "Oh, nothing!"

While the pink hedgehog made a mental note of that last comment, she shifted the conversation back to the matter at hand. "We're sorry for coming here so late, but we promise it's important."

"That is quite all right," Espio reassured, gesturing for her to continue. "Why don't you start from the beginning, Amy?"

The pink hedgehog softly nodded. "It's a bit of a story, so listen up…"

As the storm's howls claimed the outside world, Amy went on to retell recent events. Blaze and Silver occasionally spoke up to speak of their own tales, explaining their unexpected arrival within the Chaos Dimension. Team Chaotix listened intently, hung onto every word, pushing the desire to sleep to the back of their minds. Even Charmy, the usual talkative bee, found himself sitting quite still. While they conversed, Espio politely excused himself to make some refreshments for everyone. His special tea was brewed quite nicely, leaving sensational wonders within their mouths. Blaze, who was not usually a fan of green tea, was deeply impressed by the care he poured into the refreshments.

"... And that's why we're here," Amy concluded her story at last, pausing to take a sip of her drink to quell her thirst.

Espio masked his emotions quite well, yet even his mastery of self-discipline did nothing to stop the growing concern spreading across his face. His gaze shifted to the couch, taking note of the uneasiness filling the princess' eyes. If this Mephiles could shake her confidence so greatly, this was truly a matter of urgency. He searched for a response from Vector, who merely shrugged. If the usual loud crocodile had nothing to say, Charmy would be no help either.

Taking charge of the team, Espio spoke up. "Do you have any idea why Mephiles needs the Chaos Emeralds?"

Amy shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea, but it can't be good."

"As long as you have the Chaos Emerald, your lives are in peril," Blaze hastily added, a pleading look beginning to replace her common stoic demeanour. "Please let us take the Emerald from you."

Espio's eyes widened, taken by the princess' pleas. While the two of them were far from best friends, he knew Blaze well enough to understand the incredible powers she yielded. Even during their friendly spars, Espio could barely match her strength. Mephiles truly unnerved her, a feat no one else had been able to achieve. Now she feared for the safety of her friends, concerned they were no match for the evil being.

His hand caressed the yellow Chaos Emerald resting comfortably to his side, having retrieved the sacred gem from its hiding space when he learned they had become an item of interest. He peered up, returning his attention to the kind hedgehog. "Do you have the other Chaos Emeralds?"

"Sonic and Shadow have one each. They're both on their way to get two more," Amy explained. "But Mephiles managed to get two of them already. We're gonna meet up back at my house afterwards."

The detective hummed, carefully considering his next move. While he held no personal attachment to the sacred gemstone, parting with it after so long was a difficult decision Not out of personal desire but out of concern for his friends.

He jumped to his feet without warning, strengthening his posture. "I cannot surrender the Chaos Emerald to you," he quickly held up his hand before the protests began. "It would be selfish of me to give up my responsibility. However, I am offering a compromise: we will accompany you to face Mephiles."

Vector tilted his head with surprise. "We are?"

"Yes," Espio nodded, leaving no room for a debate on the matter.

The offer was a kind surprise. Taken back by the detective's suggestion, Amy, Blaze and Silver exchanged looks between them. Nobody wanted to put any of the Chaotix members in danger, but no one could deny the ninja's suggestion worked well for all. One way or another Mephiles was coming for them. Better for them all to stick together than fight alone. Strength in numbers, after all.

"That's a good idea," Silver agreed, grateful for the aid. "Thanks, Espio!"

"Well, we do need all the help we can get," Amy added, offering a gentle smile towards the de facto leader. "Is that okay with you, Vector?"

The crocodile's jaws widened, offering a supportive thumbs up. "You got it, Amy! No job is ever too big for The Chaotix!"

Charmy threw up his arm in agreement, discarding the blankets surrounding his person. "Yeah, time to rock and roll!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Blaze threw her head down to conceal her gaze, hands folding together in her lap. Her friends had already given her so much, sacrificing their own safety to help her. Now three more of her friends were prepared to put their lives in danger. The relationship she shared with Vector and Charmy was nothing too special, only briefly working with the former during their race car adventures.

But Espio, she had become quite fond of. His teachings helped keep her temper in check. Alongside helping to battle her acrophobia, now he offered to selflessly accompany the princess into battle. She once told Espio how he was an honourable warrior, praise that had proven to be well earned.

She exhaled, watching the steam of her breath press softly into her gloved hands. Her gaze returned to the detective, finally responding to the earlier suggestion. "We would be very grateful for your aid."

Satisfied they were in agreement, Espio allowed a small smirk to creep its way onto his muzzle. "It would be an honour."

Amy's smile dropped as her discarded backpack began to shake, faint music filling the air between them. She hastily grabbed her tablet, relief filling her emerald green eyes. An old vacation photo of herself and Sonic covered her screen, both hedgehogs posing for a selfie during a nightfly stroll in Spagonia. "Guys, Sonic's calling!"

The Chaotix quickly raced over. Charmy moved a little too closely towards the camera, his forehead practically kissing the screen. Vector grabbed the small bee and tugged him back to a reasonable distance. Silver and Blaze hung back, struggling to see past Vector and Big's large frames. Amy hastily accepted the call, her eyes sparkling as the blue hedgehog gave a gentle wave from his position. Shade stood closely by his side, peering forward with interest. Two more cameras sprung open as well, revealing Tails in what remained of his workshop and Team Dark resting comfortably within the bat's club.

Tails was the first one to greet everyone, but before he could speak further, another voice greeted the blue hedgehog. Blaze's ears perked up, recognising that exaggerated Australian accent from anywhere. The princess gently yet urgently pushed through the small group until her eyes met the camera.

Relief etched her expression as her closest friend came into full view. "Marine?!"

Marine returned the greeting with her usual loud voice, happy to see her friend. "There you are, Blaze! Crikey, we were worried sick about you!"

The Chaotix peered forward with equal interest. Silver gently hovered above the rest of the group for a better perspective, tilting his head with a small smile. As for Big, his eyes absently scanned the camera, showing no immediate reaction.

Blaze exhaled with relief, ignoring a comment by Rouge. Her stoic demeanour faded, allowing solace to take its place. "Marine, thank goodness you're okay."

The racoon smiled, holding up a fresh beverage within her hands. As she spoke, her beaming eyes leaned a little too closely into the frame, concealing the rest of her friends. A concerned expression plastered across her face, taking note of her friend's state. In their time together, Marine knew how much of a clean freak Blaze was, never allowing a single speck or crease to smear her outfit. To see her torn tailcoat with a large band aid stretched across her cheek was a rare sight.

"Blimey, what happened to you?" Marine asked.

Blaze immediately deflected the question. "Nevermind me. What are you doing here?"

As Tails gently tugged her back at a reasonable distance, Marine went on to explain how she used the fox's device to travel across dimensions. Without warning, she held up a small satchel and poured the contents on a small deck. Blaze stiffened as the sacred gems she devoted her life to protecting revealed themselves, subconsciously placing her hand to her pocket where the final Sol Emerald resided. Everyone else took equal interest. Out of the small group, only Sonic and Tails were familiar with the sacred gems from the Sol Dimension.

"Whoa, how much do you think we could get for those?" Vector mumbled, his comment earning a small elbow jab by Amy.

"I don't get it, did the Chaos Emeralds change shape?" Charmy asked, scratching the top of his hat confusingly.

"They are not the Chaos Emeralds, Charmy," Espio calmly explained, eyes carefully peering over the gemstones while both arms folded over his chest. "Blaze is from a dimension parallel to our own. There are several similarities. These must be her world's equivalence to our Chaos Emeralds."

Marine counted the Sol Emeralds, noting one of them was missing from the set. "Could only find six of them, have no clue where the last one ran off to."

Blaze's hand dug into her pocket, holding up the powerful gem once more. "I have it here."

As the princess' relief in her friend's well-being died down, Blaze's brow furrowed and her eyes snared the young raccoon with anger. "Marine, why have you brought them here? Do you not understand how imperative it is that they are kept out of enemy hands?"

Marine threw up her hands defensively, swiftly explaining Gardon gave his blessing for her to take the Sol Emeralds. At first, Blaze doubted the claim, casting aside all rational thinking. But as confusion overtook her anger, the Sol Emerald resting in her hand offered comfort once more, its gentle energy bringing a sense of tranquillity. Her golden eyes carefully studied the raccoon's reaction. Even with the screens separating them, Blaze could read Marine like an open book. She was a terrible liar, but there was nothing in her eyes to suggest she was up to her usual antics.

Gardon was the only one she entrusted with the location of the Sol Emeralds. The koala bear would never have surrendered them willingly to the likes of Nega and Mephiles. For him to entrust them to Marine's care, he must have grew desperate to find her. For as disciplined as he may be, Blaze caught his softened glances one too many times in the past. He truly cared for her, being one of the few people who didn't see her as just the mighty warrior of the Sol Empire.

With a softened sigh, Blaze felt momentary guilt for jumping to conclusion. "He must have thought I'd need them. I apologise, Marine."

Marine smiled, harbouring no ill feelings to the accusation. "No offence taken, mate!"

While the two friends exchanged words, Tails eagerly shifted the conversation back to the matter at home. "We'll meet up with you guys after you secure the Chaos Emeralds. Did you guys manage to get it?"

Amy's frown softened, watching as Sonic sadly shook his head to the question. "Sorry. We tried our best, but guess who we just ran into?"

Blaze feared the worst, sighing with concern. "Mephiles."

Silver watched her head hanging low with shame, silently cursing herself for her failure to stop Mephiles in their first encounter. A part of him wanted to race down and comfort her with a hug, but that would be a mistake. Blaze struggled with physical affection, finding it difficult to express how she felt. Being isolated for so long would leave that effect. He remembered the first time they hugged just after the tournament. While she didn't rebuff the kind gesture, it was evident she had no idea what to do when she received it.

The others watched as Shadow spoke up, doubting Sonic's earlier comment as he too claimed to have fought the evil being. Silver ignored the rest of the call, the world around him slowly draining away. He leisurely shifted focus towards the nearest window, watching as the storm outside continued to claim the world. Their opponent hid within the shadows like a rat, patiently waiting for the moment to ambush his prey.

He longed to return home and reunite with his friends, but the future was still unchanged. Mephiles, the one who caused harm to his world, threatened to destroy everything he cared for. Silver wished circumstances were different. He was a great warrior who stood up for what he believed in. But at heart, he was a kind soul who didn't want to fight.

Pushing aside his sorrow, Silver's frown tightened. His hands clenched tightly, cyan energy slowly dancing around his wrists. There was still a future to save. For as long as he drew breath, he would protect the future at all costs.


So, this concludes the whole different perspectives story line. Unlike chapters 7 and 8, I wanted this one to be less focused on action and more focused on the characters instead. Join me in chapter 10 as we finally moved forward. See you all then!