Warning: Contains spoilers to "Last Hope for the Future"

Isaac and Shadow were concealed through the cover of darkness, the sun set thirty minutes ago. They could see the fires and the tents, figures sitting and walking around the camp.

"Can you hit them from here?" Isaac asked. Shadow scoffed, drawing a bead on one of the figures.

"This isn't even a challenge. Can you?" Shadow asked. Isaac looked through the scope, aiming for the right lung of one of the older telepaths.

"Not a problem. Remember, aim for incapacitating shots. But if they're too dangerous... take them out for me." Isaac said.

"You won't kill, but you'll let someone else do it for you. Isn't that a bit hypocritical?" Shadow asked. Isaac shook his head.

"I'm trusting you to make the call. If you think we can't take them in alive, you make the call to take them out." Isaac explained. Shadow nodded, turning the safety off.

"I have a shot for his right lung. Do you have your shot?" Isaac asked.

"Affirmative. Ready when you are." Shadow said. Isaac took in a deep breath, before letting it out.

"Go." Isaac whispered, the both of them taking their respective shots.

The two telepaths they were aiming for dove to the ground, bleeding. Isaac and Shadow reloaded, quickly aiming and taking out two more.

"On your nine." Shadow said, taking out someone on his two. Isaac repositioned his aim, taking out a woman who appeared in her thirties.

"Done. Take out Tanthia when you can." Isaac said, analyzing the camp.

"By the way, how do you know how to shoot a rifle?" Shadow asked. Isaac tried to think about it, but he soon realized he had never actually shot a rifle before.

"Only Elohim knows. But I believe we can move in. If you see Tanthia, don't hesitate to shoot." Isaac said, getting out of cover.

Shadow followed, the both of them soon entering the camp. The bleeding bodies of the telepaths were strewn around the camp, unconcious.

"ISAAC, DUCK!" Shadow yelled, pointing the gun at him. Isaac quickly dropped to the ground, Shadow pulling the trigger.

Tanthia was taken down by Shadow, sneaking behind Isaac with an axe. Isaac was shaken, seeing Tanthia on the ground. She was clutching her chest, blood seeping through her fingers. Isaac was standing over her, feeling his rage build.

"Your evil ends here. And may Elohim have mercy on your soul." Isaac said, before turning to Shadow and nodding. Shadow reloaded, aiming right at Tanthia's head.

"Tanthia..." One of the telepaths groaned, speaking in a gruff, British accent.

"Drake?" Tanthia questioned.

"I thought.. you said we... were going to be together for eternity." He groaned, before erupting into a gray smoke, his body disintegrated.

Suddenly, Tanthia breathed in the smoke, consuming it. Shadow quickly fired at her, the bullet going between her eyes! Tanthia rose to her feet, the bullet dropping to the ground, impacted against her skull. She closed her eyes, the bodies of the other telepaths dying and converting into smoke!

"What is she doing?!" Shadow yelled, reloading.

"She's killing the others to add to her power! We need to take her out! Now!" Isaac yelled, becoming bathed in Hellfire.

Isaac charged towards her, his skin becoming charcoal, his veins glowing red! Tanthia pushed her palm out, making contact with Isaac. He was sent soaring away, impacting against and breaking down a tree! Shadow retaliated, shooting at her as he backed away, trying to get off as many shots as possible before she could react!

Tanthia calmly walked towards him, bullets hitting and falling to the ground. She was smiling a wicked smile, getting closer to Shadow.

"Let's see what makes you tick." She said, stretching her hand towards him. Shadow suddenly dropped his gun, a splitting sensation rushing through his head. His hands went to his temples, his nose beginning to bleed.

As this happened, Isaac picked himself up, transformed into his Demonic state. He saw Tanthia focused on Shadow, seeing his window of opportunity. He began running towards Tanthia, her gaze soon going to Isaac, her face shifting from one of confidence to one of horror, Isaac's clawed hand swiping at her!

His claws tore into her skin, sending her away from himself. Isaac crouched down to Shadow, seeing that he was still breathing, but he was heavily incapacitated. Growling, Isaac stood up, marching towards Tanthia. Tanthia attempted to focus again, but Isaac's Demonic state gave him a resistance to her mental attacks. He could hear her commands, but his willpower was all that was needed to resist them.

"I'm going to enjoy this." Isaac growled, suddenly appearing in front of her. His hand went to her throat, lifting her off of the ground. She was flailing, her feet kicking against Isaac, but her strength was nothing compared to Isaac's.

"The Inferno cries out for your damnation! It cries out for your soul! But yet... I sense no soul within you. Killing you will cause you to cease to exist. And... and I can't do that to someone." Isaac said, his Demonic Form reverting back to his normal state.

Tanthia attempted to escape, but Isaac's grip was still firm. He walked towards the shore, stepping into the water.

"What are you doing?!" Tanthia exclaimed.

"What? I said I was going to let you live... but the sharks might not be so charitable." Isaac said, throwing Tanthia as far as he could throw her! But as she left his grip, he felt something give in her neck, before she skipped against the surface of water, before stopping and sinking in the water.

Isaac calmly walked to Shadow, picking him up and hoisting him over his shoulders. He began the trek back to the Kingdom of Acorn.

Five Hours Later:

Isaac was relaxing in the Common Room, admiring the decorations. The others were decorating the tree, Shadow sitting in the recliner with his head in his palm, wearing a hospital gown.

"Aah... It's like the continents are shifting in my head. What the hell actually happened?" Shadow asked.

"Tanthia killed the others to get their powers, took you out, and then I threw her out into the ocean. If the sharks don't get her, then she'll still be dealing with a broken neck." Isaac explained.

"You really should've brought her here. If she somehow survives, she'll still be out in the world. You know how dangerous she is." Rouge said, placing a few ornaments on the tree.

"Sharks, hypothermia, a fractured neck, take your pick. To be clear, I didn't kill her. She was alive when I threw her into the water." Isaac said.

"And not to mention, without her cult, she can't do very much. She relied on them to kidnap and torture people. Without them, she can't harvest the life energy of people. She'll slowly grow weaker, age, and eventually die." Lily explained.

"I'm surprised, Isaac. I would've thought that Demonic side of yours would have harvested her soul." Dante said, hanging a stocking.

"Couldn't if he wanted to. She didn't have a soul." Isaac explained, getting up from his seat.

"No soul? That shouldn't be possible!" Knuckles responded.

"I can only assume, from thousands of years of evil, and prolonging her life with this evil, her body had no need for an immortal soul. Over time, it most likely faded from her body, leaving her an unfeeling husk." Isaac analyzed.

Tails was walking with a few G.U.N. agents, escorting the telepaths. They were fitted with metal helmets, made from the same metals John's arm and leg were composed of. They were trying to focus their thoughts on the others, but they couldn't get past the metal around their heads.

"Now, these two are extremely dangerous! If those helmets are taken off, they'll be able to control your mind and kill you! If they need their helmets taken off, make sure someone is wearing another helmet to mitigate the effects. And I highly recommend their cells are lined with the same metal composite." Tails advised.

"Copy, Mr. Prower. These two aren't going to be a problem. But it'll be hell putting them through trial, trying to convince twelve people that these two can read and manipulate minds." One of the officers said, pushing the female telepath towards the exit.

She quickly turned her head towards Isaac, a scowl on her face.

"You doomed us! You have doomed us to an eternal death! You and that brat of yours!" She screamed, before being pushed along by the G.U.N. agent.

"Get moving! I won't be as gentle the next time you decide to be non-compliant!" The agent ordered.

The telepaths were soon vacated of the castle, leaving the Sonic Team alone. Isaac got out of his seat, stretching out his back. He soon walked to Sally, sitting down beside her, extending his hand to his daughter.

"Let's just hope we won't have to worry about any more craziness for a while." Isaac said aloud, brushing his daughter's quills from her face.

Isaac extended an open palm to the hearth, a fireball exiting from his palm. The hearth was soon ablaze, the fire warming the room. Isaac sat back, groaning, feeling a slight twinge in his back. As he relaxed, he heard footsteps coming from the main door, causing Isaac to quickly sit up, his hand instinctively reaching for one of his knives. The source of the footsteps quickly revealed itself, being Prince Elias, and his wife and daughter.

"Try to be more subtle, Elias. I almost threw one of my knives at you." Isaac said, relaxing once more.

"Are you that wired, that you would throw a knife at me and my family?" Elias asked.

"Well, Shadow and I had to fight a cult of telepaths that tried to torture and kill your niece, my daughter by the way, so yes, I am." Isaac responded.

"Niece? Holy- she's already born?!" Elias exclaimed, running to Sally. He quickly crouched down, eyeing the small hedgehog hybrid. He slowly extended a hand to her small hand, the infant instinctively holding his index finger.

"Oh, she's got me!" Elias said, fawning over his niece. The others chuckled, before Elias attempted to retrieve his finger. But to his surprise, Camilla wouldn't let go.

"Uh... she actually won't let go." Elias said, the others beginning to laugh.

"Guys, I'm not actually joking. She- she's actually crushing my finger!" Elias exclaimed, the feeling in his finger beginning to go numb! Isaac deftly pried Camilla's hand open, releasing Elias.

"Damn, she's got a strong grip!" Elias said, shaking his hand.

"She's only a week old! How strong is she?" Knuckles wondered.

"Hermes did say she was going to be pretty strong. Maybe one day, she'll be giving me a run for my money." Isaac joked, before walking over to the Christmas tree. He grabbed a few decorations from the decoration box, placing them onto some of the barren spots on the tree.

"Oh, Isaac, I don't believe I've introduced you to my family yet." Elias said.

"No, you haven't." Isaac stated, turning his attention to Elias and his family. Elias' wife stepped forward, bowing. Isaac did so as well, showing courtesy to her.

"I am Megan Acorn. Elias has told me a few stories about you, Isaac. Most of them, I do not quite believe." She said, causing Isaac to chuckle.

"Stick around long enough, you might get a chance to see if they're true." Isaac joked. Isaac looked down, seeing a squirrel toddler behind Megan's left leg, hiding herself. Isaac crouched down, making himself as least-threatening as possible.

"It's alright, I don't bite." Isaac said softly. The toddler peeked out from behind her mother, seeing Isaac, who was smiling. Suddenly, Isaac's face brightened, before clasping his hands together.

"Here, watch this!" Isaac said, before breathing into his hands. Orange light peeked from the gaps in his hands, peaking the toddler Alexis' curiosity. She stumbled slowly towards Isaac, before Isaac gently opened his hands, revealing a small bird, made of fire.

The bird fluttered towards Alexis, before landing on her head. The firebird didn't burn her, but instead radiated a comforting warmth. Megan and Elias were speechless, never before seeing something like this. Alexis began giggling and smiling, before the bird fluttered from her head. The bird flew for a short while in the air, before fading away like an ember from a fire. Isaac stood up, stretching out his back.

"I've been working on that one when I was sailing to Spagonia. First time I tried it, the bird almost set fire to the sails." Isaac said, before laughing.

The day marched forward, the tree being decorated, and stories being told. But as the sun began to set, a new pair of footsteps began to be heard. Soon, in the doorway of the Common Room, Sticks had arrived, wearing an elk hide cloak.

"Hi, everyone!" She happily exclaimed, Amy quickly hopping up from her seat and hugging her!

"Sticks! You made it without issue this time!" Amy exclaimed, happy. Sticks took off her cloak, hanging it onto a coat rack.

"I had someone help me get here this time. Oh, I almost forgot!" Sticks said, before whistling. From outside of the room walked in another Mobian. He was a brown Hedgehog, wearing a worn linen shirt and hide pants. He was wearing an elk cloak, same as John. He was smiling widely, seeing the others.

"My friends! it's sae guid te see ye again!" He exclaimed, recognizing the others. John hopped up, seeing the Viking Mobian.

"Eirik! You're here?" John asked, before shaking his hand. Eirik smiled widely.

"The fair maiden i hiv spoken o is this ane! She loved my gift te her an invited me te meet aa o ye during Yule! I did no ken it wis ye aa she wis speaking aboot!" Eirik explained, gesturing towards Sticks.

Sticks looked at John, recognizing him.

"Hey! You're that guy who threw his axe at me!" Sticks exclaimed.

"John, is that true?" Amy asked. John soon adopted a sheepish look.

"Well, in all fairness, she attacked me first with a boomerang, and I aimed above her head." John defended. Amy crossed her arms, unamused.

"If I wanted to hurt her, I could've." John said.

Eirik soon walked to Sticks, before planting a kiss on her cheek. Sticks blushed violently, giggling. The others were shocked, thinking that seeing Sticks with a boyfriend wouldn't happen for a very long time!

"Wait, he's your boyfriend?!" Amy exclaimed, shocked.

"Duh! Who else would he be?" Sticks asked. Eirik was still smiling, before speaking.

"Friends, the goddess Freyja haes blessed me wi love! An i cuid no be happier, despite my exile. I hiv more love in my heart nor i thocht possible, an i owe it te ye aa!" Eirik exclaimed.

"I barely understood any of that. Where'd you say you were from, again?" Elias asked.

"I'm frae a little hamlet in Glacier Peaks. But i met this ane when i haen fand esslf sailing hint doun the channel frae the ceity. She thocht me someone else at first, but when she heard me spaek, she then knew i wis no." Eirik explained. Elias was shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, but I'm still having trouble understanding you. I mean, I got the gist of what you said, but it's like trying to listen through static." Elias said, honest. Eirik held up his hands, nodding.

"I understand. I am the same wi Inglis. But since many dae no spaek my native tongue, i must compromise." Eirik explained.

Eirik made himself at home, hanging up his cloak and sitting down, stretching out his arms. He sat himself down near the fire, warming his hands near the flames. Sticks sat herself next to Amy, talking with her. As they spoke, Isaac got up, walking out of the Common Room. He breathed in, and then out. Since the battle on Mount Olympus, he hadn't been feeling himself, lately. It was almost as if the fight had changed a part of himself. And fighting a demon that looked like Sonic and a telepath wasn't exactly on his list, either.

"What the hell is wrong with me? I'm with my friends, the woman I love, and my own daughter. But it's like I'm feeling suffocated." Isaac questioned.

After a few minutes, Isaac walked back in, seeing they were opening caroling books. Amy was passing them out, before sitting herself down next to Sonic.

"I leave the room for a minute, and you're doing things without me." Isaac joked, before walking in and sitting down beside Sally. Amy was smiling brightly, before opening her book.

"Well, since we didn't do it last year, I thought us going Christmas caroling this time would be fun!" Amy responded.

Sally's face lit up, gently moving Camilla to her left arm, before showing Isaac her caroling book.

"The carol you sang to us last year is in the book. Maybe you can sing it to us this year." Sally said, causing Isaac to clear his throat.

"You guys know I don't like singing in front of crowds. I don't think I could do that out in the streets." Isaac said.

"Listen, I'm more than happy to sing for you guys, but I'm a bit… self-conscious, when it comes to public performance." Isaac revealed. Elias was chuckling a bit, before sitting up.

"You? Self-conscious? First time I met you, you were in a Demonic Form, with nothing but a curtain covering you. If you can be comfortable meeting your brother-in-law in that state, you could easily sing in front of a few strangers, fully clothed, I might add." Elias argued.

Isaac shook his head, before walking over to the door.

"I'll be right back, I just… need a bit of air." Isaac said, before walking out.