Chapter 5 – Time Itself

It was many hours before the trio had been able to make it out of Sarapolis. Tails had been very un-cooperative and Amy and Knuckles had had to drag him most of the way. He had finally calmed down and the trio was now sitting round a small fire they had made in the Great Forest. Tails' eyes were still red with tears.

"Why did he do it?" he asked again.

"Tails! For god sake pull yourself together!" snapped Amy, "If he hadn't been there we would all be dead now!"

"I know!" said Tails quietly, "But why did he do it? Surely he knew he couldn't win on his own."

"Maybe he did, maybe he didn't." said Knuckle, "But right now we have to work out what is really going on. Amy what happened back there?"

"I'm not really sure. When he first mentioned the Acolytes I felt a very strong feeling. I've been feeling it for a few days but until now I didn't know what it was."

"What was it?" asked Knuckles.

"I felt a sudden rush of anger and revenge. It was weird. I've never felt like that before. Then when he used that amulet on me I felt really determined and stubborn."

"That's a point. What is that amulet of his?" asked Tails.

"I'm not entirely sure but when the light from it first hit me I felt a strong presence and I began to feel light headed. Like someone was trying to bend my mind." replied Amy.

Suddenly Tails looked at her, "What?! What did you say?!"

Amy looked shocked, "I said that I felt a strong presence and it felt like someone was trying to bend my mi………..oh my!"

"That's it!" cried Tails, "That amulet thing must be some form mind control!"

"Hmm. You may be right Tails." said Knuckles, "It would certainly explain why the rest of them were acting so loyal to him."

"So why didn't it work on Amy?" said Tails.

They both looked at her.

"I….I don't know. Like I said I just felt something and then the sphere shattered."

"What did you feel? Exactly." said Tails.

"I already told you. I felt determined and stubborn." said Amy, she paused for a second, "I felt really stubborn. Like what was happening shouldn't be allowed to happen."

"Hmm…maybe we can use that. If you just felt stubborn when he used it then maybe that's all we need to do to get the others back. If we can make them fight the control it might break." said Tails.

"Yes, but I'm an Acolyte. I have a lot of power I don't even know about. The others may not be strong enough."

"True but we have to try." said Tails.

"Not now though. We should head back to Little Planet and figure something out before we rush in again." said Knuckles.

"You're right. Come on lets go!" cried Tails leaping up and running into the forest.

The others couldn't argue with him and quickly followed him.

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Sarath was mad. Not only had the trio escaped but his forces hadn't been able to      re-capture them. They had simply disappeared. He stormed into the throne room, throwing the door back against the wall. Sally was sitting on her throne. She got up and went to greet him.

"Hello my Lord." she said and kissed him on the cheek.

Sarath looked at her for a second and then walked on.

"What is wrong?" asked Sally as he walked past her.

"They haven't been able to find them yet." growled Sarath as he sat down.

Sarath glanced across the room and then back at her.

"And now I've got an Acolyte to deal with too!"

"Don't worry about her. She only found out about her past a few years back. She is still weak in comparison to you." said Sally.

"Yes but she still managed to block my amulet!" growled Sarath.

Sally walked over to him and kissed him again, this time fully on the lips.

"I said don't worry about her. Besides you know where they are going." said Sally with a smile.

"Little Planet." said Sarath thinking, "Hmm….."

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The trio approached Little Planet early the next morning. Amy was shocked at the sight. Little Planet was shaking slightly and was looking blurred.

"This is bad. The Time Stones are getting way too unstable. If it continues like this Little Planet will disappear again." she said.

"Amy why are the Time Stones destabilising now?" asked Tails.

"I'm not sure but I'm pretty sure it's got something to do with Sarath's return. That portal he created is probably interfering with the natural balance of things." she replied.

"In that case we have to get everyone off before it goes again." said Knuckles.

"You're right lets go." said Amy.

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The three of them appeared on Little Planet a few minutes later with the help of the transporter. Virtually immediately Amy's parents came running up to her.

"Amielle! Thank goodness your back." said her mother.

"What's wrong?" said Amy.

"We need to get everyone off Little Planet right now. It's going to disappear again." said her father.

"I know." said Amy. She looked around, "Hey where is Miles and Alicia?"

"That's the problem. Everyone has evacuated now but we can't find the kids." said her mother.

"WHAT!" cried Tails, "We gotta find them. Knuckles, Amy come on!"

"Right!" agreed Knuckles.

"Mum, dad. You guys go. Get off while you can. We'll look for the kids." said Amy.

"Be careful dear." said her mother and she and her father ran off.

"They can't be far. Any ideas anyone?" asked Tails.

Amy thought for a moment. She closed her eyes and stood for a few seconds. Suddenly she swooned.

"Amy are you alright?" asked Tails rushing to her.

"No I'm not. The planet is destabilising. I…….I…….can't keep my……my head. Must get……..get the Time Stones!" she said slowly.

"Knux, look for the kids. We're going for the Time Stones. Hurry!" cried Tails.

"Right!" said Knuckles.

He leapt into air and started an aerial search. Tails and Amy made for the Time Stone Sanctuary. When they got there the sanctuary was glowing a dark orange colour. Amy ran inside and screamed. Tails quickly followed her and screamed too. The centre of the sanctuary had collapsed leaving only the pedicle in the middle holding the Time Stones hovering in mid air. Huddled under the pedicle were Miles and Alicia. They looked up at the sound of two screams.

"TAILS!" cried Alicia, "Help us please!"

Tails quickly twisted his tails and took off over the gap. He carefully landed on the hovering platform.

"Come on kids, we have to get out of here." he said as Miles and Alicia stood up.

They ran to him and grabbed on tight. Tails looked at the Time Stones. They were shaking in their stand. Tails carefully picked them up and turned around. He took off and started flying back towards the entrance to the sanctuary. As he flew further from the pedicle he felt himself being slowed down. He dropped in altitude suddenly and the kids screamed.

"Tails!" cried Amy.

"Aaarg!" cried Tails as he felt himself slow down further.

He neared the edge of the room. Suddenly the power holding him back increased and he dropped.

"TAILS!" cried Amy looking over the edge.

Tails was hanging onto the rock face with one hand. In the other he held the Time Stones and Miles and Alicia were hanging onto his middle.

"Tails. Hold on please!" cried Amy.

"Help us Tails." said Miles in a shaky voice.

Tails growled to himself as he spun his tails pushing them a few feet upwards. He suddenly flung his arm holding the Time Stones upwards, throwing them towards Amy. Amy reached out and caught them. Tails brought his other arm upwards and grabbed the rock face with both hands. Quickly he spun his Tails again and leaped upwards grabbing the rock face a few feet higher. He was now only a few feet from the top. He slowly climbed upwards finally getting an arm over the top.

"Kids. Climb up me." he said.

Miles and Alicia slowly and nervously climbed up Tails' body and onto the ledge. Amy leaned forwards and helped Tails up. Tails turned and looked at the drop. It must have been at least a mile deep.

"What happened there?" he asked Amy.

"The Time Stones must have created a field around themselves. The field was so strong it wouldn't let them out, that's probably why you slowed down."

"Thank you Tails." cried Alicia as she ran to him and hugged him.

"Come on everyone. We have to get out of here. Now is no time for soppy stuff." said Tails.

The four of them ran from the sanctuary only to be met by Knuckles.

"You found them. Good. We got bigger trouble now." he said.

"What is it?" asked Amy.

"Well firstly the transporter is down and second we got Sarath's battle ships coming in fast!"

"What?!" cried Tails.

"Come and see, quickly." said Knuckles running off.

The others quickly followed him and saw what he was talking about. Sarath's four remaining battleships were closing in fast. There main cannons were charged.

"But Sarath said his attack on Little Planet failed in the past." said Tails shocked.

"Only because the Time Stones protected the Acolytes. Remember there were lots of them then and the Stones were stable then too. Who knows what will happen this time." said Amy.

"We have to get out of here." said Tails.

"The transporter is dead. We can't!" cried Knuckles.

"WATCH OUT!" cried Tails and hit the floor.

The others looked and hit the ground as Sarath's ships opened fire. Four huge beams of energy shot towards Little Planet. Just then there was a giant discharge from the Time Stones and a huge sphere of energy irradiated from Little Planet. The beams hit the field and stopped. The field fizzed for a moment and then suddenly collapsed taking Little Planet with it. A few second later there was nothing.

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Sarath leaped from his seat on the bridge of one of the ships. He looked around frantically. Finally he spoke.

"HA! YES! It's gone! Little Planet is gone! Along with that annoying Acolyte and her friends." He cried.

He took a breath and blinked.

"Heh. Oh this is very good indeed."

He turned and walked from the bridge.

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Tails got off the ground and looked around. Little Planet was as it had been but instead of seeing Mobius below them all he saw was a funny swirling coloured pattern. He nudged Amy and Knuckles and they looked up. Amy's face turned to one of dread.

"Oh no! It didn't happen! It can't have! Not now!" she cried.

"Amy what is it?" asked Tails.

"Little Planet has become unstuck in time again. It's disappeared like it did in the past with us on it. I recognise it from when I was young."

"Then…." started Tails before it struck him, "….do you mean to tell me that Little Planet won't appear for another year?!"

"Yes. But it may be even longer." said Amy her head hanging.

"But……but if we wait until then Sarath will have such a strong grip on Mobius we will never be able to do anything!"

"I know!" cried Amy sinking to her knees.

"Isn't there anyway of dragging Little Planet back into the timeline?" asked Knuckles.

Amy looked at him sadly.

"There…..there is." she said.

"Then we can go back" said Tails.

"No Tails just you two can go back." said Amy.

Tails and Knuckles looked at her in surprise.

"What do you mean Amy?" asked Tails.

"The only way to bring Little Planet back into the time line is for an Acolyte to merge with the Time Stones. The energy required is immense and only Acolytes possess the strength to do it. Once a merging is done, it can't be undone."

Tails looked at her totally shocked.

"No Amy you can't. I….I……I…." he stuttered.

Amy put a hand on his shoulder.

"Tails it has to be done. If Sarath gets control of Mobius then we wouldn't be able to do anything anyway." said Amy standing up, "This is the only way."

Amy held out the Time Stones.

"Time Stones. As an Acolyte I surrender myself to restore Little Planet." she said raising the Time Stones high.

The Time Stones glowed and suddenly they and Amy began to float. Amy quickly glanced at Tails and Knuckles as she slowly passed out.

"AMY!!!" cried Tails as he saw his love turn into a small ball of light and merge with the Time Stones.

There was a few seconds silence and then Little Planet rumbled. There was a flash of light and a shimmer and Little Planet reappeared over Never Lake. Tails looked around. He wondered how much time had passed. Knuckles quickly grabbed him.

"Come on. We have to get going." he said.

Tails said nothing as he picked up the Time Stones and followed Knuckles off Little Planet.

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Sarath sat back in the throne in the palace. It had been several days since Little Planet had disappeared and here had been no sign of the Acolyte or her friends.

"Hmm….this is good." he smirked to himself.

He leaned back in his throne.

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Tails and Knuckles approached Sarapolis later that day. They carefully made there way into the city avoiding the patrols. They finally reached the palace.

"Woah!" commented Tails, "Sarath really has let his guard down."

"Well he thinks we're gone remember. So long as we keep quiet we should be able to get in and out without a hitch." replied Knuckles.

"We should get moving. The more we stay still the more likely they are to find us."

"Yes, let's go."

They slowly made there way around to the waterfall that cascaded down one side of the palace. They went under it and stopped. Tails pressed his hand against a section of wall.

"I just hope he hasn't blocked off the passages." he said and pressed his hand down.

A section of the wall slid inwards and then a section of wall slid to one side.

"Come on let's move." he said and ran into the opening followed by Knuckles.

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Sally walked out into the Royal Gardens. The sun was just about at its highest now and its rays shone down on the garden. She walked on and eventually came to the edge of the garden over looking the waterfall. She leaned against the barriers for a moment and then turned back into the garden and started making her way back to the palace.

Suddenly she was knocked to the floor and hit the ground with a thud on her stomach. She spun onto her back as Tails leaped on her, holding her down.

"YOU!" she cried her eyes glaring, "I thought you were dead!"

"Yeah well sorry to disappoint you faker but I'm not!" replied Tails.

Sally struggled under him but his grip was too tight.

"I'll have you dissected slowly for this!" she growled at him.

"You'll do no such thing once we get you back to normal. You have to fight it!" answered Tails.

"What do you mean?!"

"He's controlling you! Can't you see it?! You have to fight it!"

"NO!" cried Sally and continued to struggle.

As she did she felt a strange feeling in her head. Something was trying to break through. She pushed it down but it came back stronger. It broke through and started to consume her.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" she cried out and passed out.

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"Sally? SALLY?!" cried Tails shaking her.

Sally slowly opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Who? What? Where?" she said puzzled.

Just then she remembered everything. Her eyes went wide and she collapsed on Tails crying. He held her for a moment.

"Sally? Is it you?" he asked softly.

"Tails." sobbed Sally.

"Sally." said Tails hugging her, "I'm so happy your back."

"Me too. It was awful. You can't imagine. You knew what was happening but you couldn't stop yourself. I…..I feel so dirty!" wailed Sally her eyes filling with tears, "I….I kissed him! And I……I laughed when he killed your friend!"

Sally broke down on her knees and cried heavily. Tails tried to comfort her.

"It's ok Sally. We'll get you out of here."

"Ah don't think so!" said a voice.

"What the?" said Knuckles as he spun round.

Tails and Sally looked up as well. Standing a little way from them was Bunnie.

"So you all managed to break her control. Ah'm impressed! Mind you she did resist strongly so ah suppose it was easy for you." laughed Bunnie.

"Bunnie?" said Tails.

"Yes little freak?"

Tails growled at being called that again. Bunnie took a few steps forwards.

"Ah'm going to enjoy getting rid of you freak. And you!" cried Bunnie pointing at Sally, "You will pay for breaking your control!"

Suddenly Knuckles leaped forwards, knocking Bunnie to the ground. He quickly pushed his claw down on Bunnie's neck holding her down.

"You won't break me so easily." said Bunnie as she rose her feet up and pushed them into Knuckles chest heavily.

Knuckles was thrown backwards against the barrier at the edge of the garden. Bunnie quickly got up and took out a small device. Tails recognised it. It was a remote unit for activating the palace alarms. He leaped at Bunnie, knocking the unit from her hand. Knuckles caught it and threw it over his head. The unit fell into the waterfall with a fizz. Tails landed heavily on Bunnie.

"Dammit Bunnie. Fight it!" he cried.

"NEVER!" cried Bunnie.

"Bunnie please." said Sally softly, "Come back to us. Please."

As Sally spoke her soft voice stirred something in Bunnies head. It rushed at her with a mounting fury, quickly smashing its way through. Bunnie couldn't stop it as she wailed and passed out. She came too a few moments later with Tails, Knuckles and Sally looking over her.

"What the hoha happened?" she said blinking heavily.

"Bunnie!" cried Sally and she hugged her.

It all came flooding back to her and she started crying.

"Ah'm sorry Sally-girl! Ah didn't mean to…."

"It's ok Bunnie. It's ok." said Sally.

"We have to get out of here!" cried Tails, "If we wait around we might get caught."

"You're right Tails." agreed Sally, "Let's move."

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"WHAT DID YOU SAY!!!!" screamed Sarath as he leaped from his throne.

In front of him stood Sonic, Espio and Charles.

"Little Planet has reappeared my Lord." said Sonic nervously.

"ARGH!" screamed Sarath as he banged his fists down on his throne, "Where is Sally and her aid?!"

The three in front of him looked blankly at each other.

"FIND THEM NOW!" screamed Sarath.

Sonic, Espio and Charles quickly left the room.

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"Tails? Where are we going? Little Planet is that way." said Sally as the walked along a small ridge to the east of Sarapolis.

"I know but there is no-one there, remember? They all evacuated." he replied.

"Then where are we going?" she asked.

"A little place Sonic and I stumbled on in the past. Come on."

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Marian passed slowly across the floor. It had been several days since Little Planet had disappeared and Amielle, Tails and Knuckles had not returned with the children. She wiped away a tear. She knew what had happened but still refused to believe it. Patrick walked in and went up to her. He put his arm around.

"Marian dear, are you alright?" he asked softly.

"What do you think?!" she snapped at him through her tears, "Amielle is gone! Little Planet is gone! And so are her friends and the children!"

She stopped and rested her head on his shoulder. She howled. Suddenly a racoon bust in.

"Eric? What is it?" asked Patrick.

"I think you should see this. Someone is coming."

Marian's head shot up and she ran out of the building.

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Tails, Knuckles, Sally, Bunnie and the kids approached a water logged marshland. They had picked the children up from where Tails and Knuckles had left them outside the city.

"What is this place?" asked Sally.

"The Aquatic Ruins." said Tails, "A giant marshland covered in the old ruins of an ancient city. Sonic and I stumbled on it years ago when we were fighting Robotnik."

They made there way down a small bank and onto the marshland. They slowly picked there way through the bog careful not to step in any of the lakes around them. As they approached a ruin several figures appeared. As they got closer they saw that figures were that of Marian and Patrick.

"Tails!" cried Marian as they walked into the building, she turned to Sally, "Queen Acorn."

She did a little bow. Sally blushed. She had never gotten used to that. Marian scanned the rest of the group.

"Where…..where is Amielle?" she asked.

Tails looked at her, his eyes filled with tears and he dropped his head.

"Oh no. Please no. Where is she?!" cried Marian.

Tails slowly produced the Time Stones.

"She's…..she's in here." He said quietly.

The rest of the group had already been told what had happened and they hung there heads as Tails spoke.

"What…what do you mean in there?" said Marian.

"We weren't able to get off Little Planet before it disappeared again. Amy sacrificed herself to the Time Stones in order to produce the energy needed to pull Little Planet back into our time line." explained Tails slowly.

Marian's face hit the floor. She couldn't believe it. It couldn't be possible could it? She turned and buried her head into Patrick's shoulder, crying.

"Tails, what are we going to do?" asked Sally.

Tails spun to face her. His eyes filled with determination.

"We mustn't let her sacrifice be in vain. We must defeat Sarath!"

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Sarath screamed. He had just found out about Sally and Bunnie.

"Cures that little twin tailed freak!" he yelled, "SONIC!"

There was a rush of wind and Sonic appeared in the throne room.

"Yes my Lord?" he said.

"Come with me. I think it is time to end this!"

Sonic followed Sarath out of the throne room and along a corridor. They turned off to the side and finally ended up in front of a large metal door. Sarath put in a code on a pad and the door slid open. On a platform in the middle of the room stood a large grey Emerald that looked like the Master Emerald and around it were seven smaller Emeralds. They were glowing brightly and giving off sparks. Sarath approached the platform and held out his arm. It got warmer as he moved his hand closer. He slowly removed his arm.

"You know what to do?" he asked.

"Yes my Lord." said Sonic with a smile.

He approached the platform and instantly felt the effects. Sarath smiled. Now it would end.