Chapter 2 – When Powers Meet

The sun rose slowly over Little Planet shrouding Never Lake in its shadow.  Sunrise on Little Planet was a strange sight. The sun rising over a planet over a planet. Visitors often just stared at the sight when they say it. Amy didn't have time to appreciate the sunrise as she ran up the path to her parent's house. The door opened as she approached. Marian stood there.

"Amielle I'm so glad to see you." she said.

"Me too mother. Where is Lavender?" replied Amy.

Marian led her inside to the living room. Lavender was sat on the couch wrapped in a blanket. She held a cup of hot chocolate in her hands and she was starring into it. Patrick sat next to her but stood up as Amy came in.

"Amy. Glad you came so soon." he said.

"Mother!" cried Lavender looking up from her drink.

She quickly put it down and jumped off the couch. She ran over to Amy and threw her arms around her waist. Amy put her hands on her back and hugged her tightly. They stayed like that for several moments. Finally Lavender loosened her grip and she and Amy sat down on the couch. Lavender resumed her hugging and started to sniff. Amy ran her hand through her daughter hair trying to calm her. Her hair, that usually stuck straight up in several quill like spikes, now drooped down over her face. Amy brushed it aside and looked her daughter in the eyes.

"It's ok Lavender. I'm here now." she said.

Lavender gave another sniff and snuggled into Amy's chest slightly more. Slowly she started to calm down. Finally Amy thought it was time to ask her.

"You had that dream again? Didn't you Lavender?" she said.

Lavender nodded slowly.

"Oh mum it was horrible. It started off nice but then it went all dark and I felt scared and then….."

Lavender trailed off. Amy was curious. Lavender had had this dream before but had always stopped at this point.

"What is it dear?" she said.

Lavender looked up at Amy. Her eyes were red with tears and she shook slightly.

"Please tell me Lavender." said Amy, "Please."

"Ok." sniffed Lavender, "I'll tell you. It went all dark and then I felt as if someone was there. But I couldn't see anyone. And…..and…….and then they appeared and told me horrible things!"

Lavender stopped and buried her head in Amy chest again. Her body jerked as she started to sob again. Amy tried to calm her down.

"It's ok dear. It's ok." she said as she hugged her tightly, "It was only a dream. Dreams can't hurt you."

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Tails paced back and forth in the kitchen. When it came to these sorts of problems he always let Amy deal with them. He always messed things up when he tried. He went over to a cupboard and took out a mint candy bar from inside. He opened the wrapper and took a bite. This always seemed to help calm his nerves, but not this time. He finished the candy and then sat down on a stool. He hated to see Lavender upset. She was so active and outgoing. She didn't deserve to be upset. Maybe it was just his past creeping in again he didn't know. Tails shook his head and sighed. Just then Amy came in through the door. Tails stood up instantly.

"Amy?" he said.

Amy just walked in obviously lost in thought. She sat down on the stool next to Tails and Tails sat back down again. Tails was curious to hear what Amy had to say but he didn't rush her. Finally Amy spoke.

"Lavenders resting." she said.

"You got her to go to sleep?" asked Tails.

"Yes. But only after Marian said she would stay with her. She curled up on the couch next to her."

"Well that's good."

Amy made an affirmative noise and then stared at the wall.

"Anything else?" asked Tails.

"She finally told me the rest of her dream." replied Amy.

Tails sighed and nodded.

"What did she say?" he asked.

"She says there was someone in her dream."

"Someone?"

"All she would say is that 'they' appeared and said things to her."

"Did she say what?"

"No. Just that it was horrible."

"She doesn't deserve this. She really doesn't. I wonder what's causing it."

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"I wonder what's causing it?" said Sonia.

"Dunno sis. But this is really weird." replied Manic.

Manic and Sonia walked side by side down the corridor. Last nights argument had been forgotten in light of recent events. They both held there medallions in there hands. The medallions were glowing brightly and both of them hadn't got a clue why. They walked on a bit further.

"They've never done this before." said Sonia.

"Your right sis. It's like they are more powerful than they should be." replied Manic.

"We have to find Sonic and se if his is doing the same thing."

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"If you ask me that thing is acting really weird!" said Sally.

"Like I hadn't noticed." said Sonic looking at his medallion.

It was hung on the stand his cape was on. He hadn't noticed it at first but it was obvious now.

"Something is definitely up with this thing. You think it might be something to do with it being in this reality rather than the other one?" said Sonic.

"How should I know?" said Sally, "But if it is that then why didn't it do it earlier?"

"Good question."

Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Yes?" said Sonic.

"Sonic. It's Sonia and Manic." said Sonia's voice.

"Come on in." said Sonic.

The two hedgehogs entered and none of them had to say anything. They all saw what was happening.

"Yours too eh bro?" said Manic.

"Looks that way." said Sonic.

Just then Sally brushed past him.

"I'm going to go and see Petya. Maybe she knows something." she said.

"Good idea Sal. In the meantime we should try to figure out what's going on." said Sonic.

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So you sense it too?

I do T2.

I wonder what is going on?

I don't know but it feels as if our powers are increasing in power.

That much is certain. We should be able to talk to each other at this distance.

No we shouldn't. I will see you soon.

Yes Petya.

Petya opened her eyes and instantly felt the feeling return. She looked at her hand. The Deep Power Stone was glowing brightly and the fur around it had turned from grey to a deep red. Petya winced. It felt like her hand was burning. She took a deep breath and managed to force the feeling away slightly. The burning became a warm tingle. Petya nodded to herself. That was better.

"Petya? Petya?" came a call.

Petya looked up as Sally walked into the room.

"I wanted to ask you…..oh my god!" said Sally.

She stopped as she saw the glow of the Power Stone. She just stared at it.

"What is happening?!" said Sally.

"I don't know Sally. It started to happen early this morning. The DP stone just started to get brighter and brighter. The power it started to put out almost overwhelmed me. I dare not use my skills now in case I accidentally cause damage." replied Petya.

Sally was staring at the Power Stone.

"This is too much of a coincidence." she said.

"What is?" asked Petya.

"Well when Sonic and I woke up this morning his medallion was glowing brightly. And just now we found out that Sonia's and Manic's are doing the same thing."

"This is definitely odd."

"Have you spoken to T2?"

"Yes. I just finished. We shouldn't have been able to communicate with each other at this distance but we did. That means the powers of the stones are increasing. The same might be happening to the medallions."

"When is T2 getting here?"

"He should be here by late afternoon."

"Good. It's time we all got together to talk."

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Knuckles found Bunnie sitting on a large fallen tree about halfway up the mountain. She was starring out at the island below her.

"Hi Bunnie." said Knuckles nervously.

Bunnie looked at him out of the corner of her eye and then went back to looking at the island. Knuckles cringed. He sat down on the log next to her but not facing the same way.

"I….err…….I want to apologise for last night." he said, "I shouldn't have acted as I did."

Bunnie only grunted. Knuckles shook his head, this wasn't going to be easy.

"I know I spend a lot of time with you and I consider you one of my closest friends. I don't want anything to harm that….it's just…..well. Look Bunnie. I've never been one for relationships. In my youth when a girl even looked at me I tended to burry my head in the sand. I……."

How could he say this? It embarrassed even him.

"……I'm just not good with girls at all." he said.

Bunnie turned round and looked at him. She blinked her eyes at him and then a smile spread across his face.

"Ah know sugah." she said.

Knuckles almost fell off the log.

"You know!" he cried, "How? I thought you'd be mad at me for running off like I did."

"Well at first ah was. I couldn't believe what you did. I finally come out with ma feelings and you run like Sonic. You bet ah was mad……..and incredible hurt."

Knuckles looked ashamed. Bunnie continued.

"But then Espio can be very knowledgeable."

Knuckles pricked his ears up at this.

"Espio! Why that scheming little…." he began.

"Don't finish that sentence." said a voice.

Bunnie smiled at Espio appeared out of nowhere. Knuckles was tempted to jump off his seat and knock Espio for six.

"I figured if I told Bunnie about you she'd understand what you did. Then I figured that if I told you to come and say it too it might smooth a few crinkles." said Espio.

Knuckles let his rage sink. He shook his head.

"Espio. If you ever do this to me again I'll….never mind." he said.

Espio smiled and walked away. Bunnie looked at Knuckles.

"Well?" she said.

"Well what?" replied Knuckles.

"You were saying?"

"Oh well. What else can I say? I mean it's not like I don't find you attractive."

Knuckles looked over the whole length of Bunnie. Now that he actually took the time to look he found that it was true. Bunnie was very very attractive.

"It's just that I've never been good with girls." he finished.

"Well that's something we'll just have to sort out, isn't it sugah."

Bunnie leaned over and gave Knuckles a hug. Knuckles cringed. Hugs……ACK!

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Espio walked into the Hidden Palace. He waved at the guards and continued on. He reached the Emerald Shrine and stretched.

"Hello again." he said to the Master Emerald.

Espio knew it was dumb talking to the emerald but he just hadn't broken the habit. He walked into the next room. Inside was a large structure and at the bottom of it a little pink orb sat on a pedicle. This was the teleporter to Sky Sanctuary. Most of Sky Sanctuary was in pieces but some of it remained high above the clouds. Espio was still amazed by that place. He had been a few times and had even tried sky diving from the place ones. Boy had that made his heart race. It must have been about a ten mile drop. He let out a small laugh, he'd have to do that again. He turned and walked back into the emerald room. He stopped dead. The Master Emerald was glowing a deep green colour and all of the Chaos Emeralds has started to crackle and emit energy like they had when the Master Emerald had been drained. Espio immediately slapped his hand down his wrist. His palm hit a small button on a watch like strap on his wrist.

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Knuckles jumped to his feet as his wrist alarm suddenly went off. Bunnie was on her feet too.

"Something is wrong!" said Knuckles, "Bunnie grab on."

Bunnie grabbed Knuckles arm and he leapt into the air. After a short glide he landed at the entrance to the palace. Bunnie let go and they both ran inside. They met Espio as they went in.

"What's wrong?" asked Knuckles.

"You should see for yourself. One minute everything was normal and then POOF this happened!" replied Espio.

The three of them ran into the Emerald Shrine. Knuckles and Bunnie gasped.

"What is going on?!" cried Knuckles.

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"It's time."

"You're right."

"The time has finally come for us to take what is ours."

"It has been a long time dear."

"Yes and now everyone on Mobius will finally see our true power."

The sun was climbing high now and the two figures cast small shadows on the grass below them. Both of the figures tails swished in union. They wore large patterned cloaks and both had a strange mark on their forehead. They laughed as they looked around themselves.

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Amy was running from one place to the other in a panic. Soon after she had dealt with Lavender the Time Stones had started to act strangely. They pulsed and felt warm to the touch. Little Planet itself was also acting strangely. Rings of energy had started to build up around the equator of the small world. Amy was worried. She knew Little Planet wouldn't disappear again. The Time Stones didn't act like this when that happened. This was something different and it frightened her. She hadn't seen anything like it and even though her full Acolyte memory had come back to her she couldn't remember anything like this. Right now she was trying to figure out what the Time Stones were actually doing. She rushed from one to the other, checking each one carefully. She didn't notice Tails coming in.

"Amy?" said Tails.

Amy virtually jumped out of her skin. She took a few deep breaths.

"Sorry Tails. I didn't notice you come in. I'm trying to work out what's going on here." she said.

"We got more trouble than this. Lavender's woken up and ………she's crying for you again."

Amy was past Tails and out of the shrine before he could say anything else. She ran the short distance to her parent's house and burst in. She found Lavender wailing at the top of her voice on the couch. Marian met her before she went in.

"She woke up a little while ago and then suddenly started wailing." said Marian, "She won't let anyone but you near her."

Amy nodded and went over to Lavender. She looked up as Amy came over to her. Lavender jumped from the couch and ran to Amy. She flung her arms around her and cried heavily.

"Lavender?! Lavender, what is it dear?!" said Amy nervously.

"They're here!" cried Lavender.

"Who's here?"

"They are!"

"They?"

"The people from my dream! They're here!"

Lavender then buried her head in Amy's dress and continued to cry. Amy stood there holding her.