Chapter 5 – A Partial Return

Soon after Sally was standing where she had been two weeks ago. Bunnie, Alicia and Knuckles had come round at about the same time as her and had all agreed to her plan. They were going to enter the alternate realities before they collapsed and rescue everyone. At least that was the plan. T2 and Petya again stood in front of them, hands joined.

"This time T2 we must be careful. We can't afford a similar mistake." said Petya.

"I know." said T2, "You all ready?"

"Same as we were last time T2." replied Knuckles.

"Let's do it to it sugah!" said Bunnie

Sally just nodded, a look of determination on her face. Alicia was clinging to Sally's arm, shaking again.

"Alright. Here goes." said Petya.

The sphere appeared again and soon after so did the red spots. This time they didn't change colour and shot at the two groups. A split second later all four of them were gone. T2 and Petya slowly became visible again. The glow faded and they released their hands.

"I hope this works." said Petya.

"If it doesn't we've just sent all our friends to their deaths." replied T2.

They looked at each other for a moment and sighed.

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Bunnie landed with a hard thud on the ground. She had landed face first in a muddy puddle. She raised her head, her hair dripping with mucky water.

"Aah just perfect." she said to herself as she stood up.

She looked around and shuddered. The land was cold and bare. It looked just like the Great Unknown had done during Robotnik's rule. It was that she noticed Knuckles lying on the ground nearby. She ran over to him. Knuckles was groaning quietly. Bunnie rolled him over to see that when he had landed he had bashed his head off a rock. There was a large cut across his left eyebrow. Knuckles was looking at her.

"Can I get up?" he said finally.

"Sure sugah. But you might want to do something with that." she replied.

"That's nothing. I've had much worse."

"Ah know you have. I wonder where we are."

"Well for one thing there isn't anything here. We should try and find something that could tell us where Sonic and Amy went."

"If there even alive anymore."

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Sonic yawned as he leaned back in a chair. A held a chilidog in one hand and the other hung by his side. He took a bite of his dog but his mind was elsewhere. It had been about two weeks since he and Amy had appeared here. In that time he had learned a bit more about the past and had earned the trust of his doubles siblings. He never noticed Sonia sitting down next to him.

"Sonic?" she said.

Sonic almost jumped off his seat.

"Argh! Sonia you startled me." he replied.

"Sorry. You just looked completely lost."

"I am. I still don't understand everything."

Sonia put an arm on his shoulder.

"Hey! You may not be my real brother but I care about you. Now come and join us."

Sonic was about to protest but didn't. He let Sonia lead him to the back of the van where Manic and Amy were playing cards. As they entered Amy smugly placed a full house down in front of her. Manic growled and threw his cards at the table.

"Argh! That's the forth time in a row she's done that! How do you do it?!" he asked.

"Number one rule. Don't play cards with an Acolyte and expect to win….ever." replied Amy with a smile.

"Hey guys!" cried Sonia as she came in, "Sonic has decided to join us."

"I have?" asked Sonic.

"Yes you have." replied Sonia.

"Wait a go bro…..well……kinda bro anyway." said Manic.

"I'm glad to see you've snapped out of your head." said Amy, "Now sit down."

Sonic sat down at the table along with Sonia and Amy dealt another hand.

"Sonia you first." said Amy.

"I'll take two." replied Sonic handing Amy two of her five cards.

Amy took them replaced them in the deck and gave her two new ones. Sonia gave a fake smile and nodded.

"Alright Sonic." said Amy.

"Four." he said.

"FOUR!" cried Manic.

"It's legal." said Amy handing Sonic four new cards and taking the four he handed her.

"I'll take two as well." said Manic.

Manic got his two cards and sniggered.

Amy dealt herself a single new card. She picked up a chip and threw it in.

"Starting bid is fifty and I raise ten." she said.

Sonia threw in a hundred chip.

"Raise you forty." she said.

Sonic glanced down at his cards for a moment and thought for a second. He then picked up some chips and threw them in.

"I see your forty and raise you two hundred." he said.

"That's a bluff if I ever saw one." cried Manic, "Fine. I see that and raise you fifty."

Amy placed her cards down on the table.

"I fold." she said.

Sonia and Manic stared at her.

"You fold!" cried Manic, "But we haven't gone one round."

"I said I fold." she said again.

"Fine." said Sonia, "I'm in."

She threw a fifty chip in followed by another one.

"Your move." she said.

Sonic just casually threw a fifty chip in and followed it with another two hundred. Manic just stared at the chips for a moment and then smiled.

"Ok then. If you want to play on a bluff."

He threw in two hundred and then another two hundred.

"I'm out." said Sonia putting her hand down.

"Let's raise the stakes." said Sonic.

He picked up a single chips and looked at it. He put it down and then pushed all of his chips into the middle. Manic just starred at him for a moment.

"You serious bro?" he asked.

"Totally." replied Sonic.

Manic didn't notice Amy giving Sonia a wry smile. Manic nodded and pushed all of his chips in.

"Ok then, try this." he said putting his cards down on the table, "Full house."

Sonic looked at Manic's cards on the table.

"Very nice but not as good as this." he said laying his cards down, "Royal flush."

Manic's jaw dropped. Sonic had a royal flush in hearts, the highest possible hand.

"Number two rule. NEVER continue playing cards if an Acolyte folds." said Amy smiling at Sonia.

Sonia burst out laughing. Manic just continued to stare at Sonic's cards. Suddenly there was a loud buzzing. Sonia stopped laughing and leapt from her chair. Manic snapped out of his trance and stood up. Sonic spun to face Sonia. She was looking at a small control panel at the side of the van.

"What is it?" he asked.

"We've got airborne units heading our way." she said.

"Have they found us?" asked Manic.

"Doesn't look like it. There not on the right course. Ready the cloak grid in any case." replied Sonia.

Sonic ran over to another console and pressed a few controls. Outside the van a large holographic grid appeared around it. The grid formed up and then started to display a holographic projection of the area around the van. The result was that the van disappeared from view and it looked like there was nothing there.

"Done." said Sonic, "We're those bozzo's going?"

"I'm not sure. The computer should have a read out shortly. Ah here we are." said Sonia looking at the display.

Sonic joined her. He stared at the console.

"Are those co-ordinates what I think they are?" he said.

"Yes. Those are the co-ordinates where you and Amy appeared two weeks ago." Sonia replied.

Sonic was already sitting in the driving seat of the van. He slipped it into gear and pushed his foot down on the accelerator. The van shot forwards and the cloaking grid fell. Sonic looked over his shoulder.

"My friends might have found a way to bring us back. Sonia we'll need a roof gunner." he said.

"I'm there Sonic." cried Sonia.

She stepped forwards onto a small platform. A hole opened in the roof and the platform rose upwards. Sonia touched her medallion and it changed into a keyboard. She folded the end down and took up a firing position.

"Sonia. Hostiles at 12 o clock." came Sonic voice over the head comm.

"I see em Sonic." she replied.

A few seconds later several air units came into view. Sonia hit a cord and a large laser bolt flew from the keyboard. One of the crafts exploded and fell to the floor. The remaining ones turned and opened fire. Sonic swerved the van to avoid the blast.

"I could use some help." cried Sonia.

Manic was about to leap up to help her when Amy pushed him side. A second later she was on the roof with Sonia.

"Helps at hand." she called and flung up her hands, "Fire NOW!"

Sonia complied and fired. Her instrument glowed and a large sound blast echoed from it. Suddenly three of the crafts exploded in mid air. Sonia looked at her instrument in amazement.

"Two more coming in." cried Amy.

Sonia quickly spun and unloaded two cords of energy at the units. They fell from the sky. Sonic slowed the van to a halt. Sonia and Amy jumped down from the roof.

"What was that?!" asked Sonia.

"Just a little thing I've been experimenting with." said Amy, "I used my skills to increase your instruments energy output."

"Incredible job girls." said Sonic jumping out of the van.

"Thanks." said Sonia as Manic joined them.

"Now to find whatever those guys were looking for." said Sonic touching his medallion.

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Bunnie poked her head out from behind a large rock. Knuckles did the same next to her.

"Well those guys were pleased to see us." said Bunnie.

"Too right." said Knuckles, "Wonder what made em crash like that."

"I don't know. But…..did you hear music just before they crashed?"

"I thought it was my ears ringing but if you heard it too."

They looked at each other.

"No that's ridiculous." said Bunnie.

"Yeah, I mean what next?" replied Knuckles.

They were both just about to laugh when there was a loud musical noise. It sounded just like an air guitar. Over the notes a voice could be heard.

"HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OUT THERE!" it cried, "Anyone there?"

Bunnie and Knuckles looked at each other. The voice was familiar. Too familiar.

"Sonic!" they said together.

They leaped out from behind their rock and ran towards the sound.

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…Anyone there?" cried Sonic.

There was no answer. Sonic turned to Sonia and Amy.

"You guys stay here. Manic and I will check it out." he said.

Sonic suddenly shot off to investigate the area.

"Catch you later." cried Manic as he shot past them on his hover board.

Sonia and Amy stared after the two hedgehogs.

"Well really." said Amy putting her hands on her hips, "Sometimes they just love to hog all the fun."

"Oh let them have it." said Sonia turning back to the van.

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Bunnie poked her head out from behind another rock. All she saw was a small white van parked at the foot of a hill. A pink hedgehog stood outside. Bunnie studied her carefully. It didn't look like Amy but she might be able to help. She decided to go for it. She did a little flip over the rock and approached the hedgehog slowly.

"Erm…hello." she said.

The hedgehog jumped at the sound and spun to face her. She touched a small medallion round her neck. It flashed but nothing happened. She looked down at it and then jumped backwards landing on the room of the van. The hedgehog took up a fighting pose. The hedgehog looked at Bunnie.

"Ok what you want?" she said.

Bunnie looked at her puzzled for a moment.

"Ah was wondering if you could help me?" she said.

"With what?"

"I'm looking for someone."

"Who?"

"Two hedgehogs."

"Well you found one. Can you be more specific?"

"Named Sonic and Amy."

The hedgehog suddenly leaped off the room and landed squarely on Bunnie. Bunnie was knocked to the ground. The hedgehog stood over her.

"Ok how do you know them?" she asked.

Bunnie was about to answer when they both heard a call.

"Incoming air assistance!"

The hedgehog looked up just in time to see a red echidna collide with her. The hedgehog was knocked backwards, hitting the side of the van and falling on her face in the mud. Suddenly the door of the van opened. Another pink hedgehog appeared.

"Ok what's going on out here?" she said before noticing what was going on, "OH MY!"

"AMY!" cried Bunnie.

"Amy?!" said Knuckles looking up from the other pink hedgehog.

"By the ancient Acolytes! What are you doing here and………oh my! Sonia!" said Amy.

She jumped out of the van and landed next to Sonia. She helped her to her feet. Sonia looked at Amy for a moment and then at the other two.

"Friends of yours?" she asked.

"Yes." replied Amy, "Knuckles. Bunnie. What are you doing here?"

"We're here to rescue you sugah." said Bunnie picking herself up, "Although ah must say the welcome wasn't what I expected."

Sonia grinned feebly.

"Sorry. I'm just very cautious of anyone new. Robotnik's got me too many times with that ploy." she said.

"Robotnik?!" cried Bunnie and Knuckles together.

Suddenly there was a blast of air and Sonic appeared in a blue flash. He turned on the spot and obviously didn't notice what was going on.

"I win Manic." he cried.

A few seconds later a green hedgehog came to halt nearby. He was riding a red and yellow hover board. He jumped off and picked it up.

"Hey you're just no fun bro!" he cried, "At least I……..erm Sonic?"

The hedgehog tapped Sonic on the shoulder and pointed behind him. Sonic turned round and his jaw dropped.

"Hi there sugah hog!" cried Bunnie running over to Sonic.

She threw her arms around him and gave him a large hug. Sonic was still in a partial trance but hugged her back. Finally he released her and spoke.

"Bunnie! And Knuckles. What are you guys doing here?" he said.

"We're here to rescue you." replied Knuckles smiling at him.

"I need a drink!" said Sonic.

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"So that's what happened." said Amy.

"Yes." replied Knuckles.

Sonic nodded his head.

"Things start to make a bit more sense now. You don't know what it's like being here with no answers." he said.

"Ah can imagine." said Bunnie.

"So everything you told us was true." said Sonia.

"You really are from another reality." said Manic.

Sonic nodded.

"So what are you going to do now?" asked Sonia.

"I don't know." said Sonic.

"Well ah do. You're coming back with us." said Bunnie.

"Yeah and fast too." said Knuckles.

Something about how Knuckles said this caught Amy's ear.

"Why the rush?" she asked slowly.

Bunnie and Knuckles looked at each other.

"Well?" asked Amy.

Not only had Sonic gotten interested in this question but Sonia and Manic had also. Finally Knuckles spoke.

"Maybe we should tell you that when we're alone." he said.

Sonia and Manic glared at him.

"Whatever you have to say Knuckles, you'd better say it now. I've spent two weeks with these guys. I trust them." said Sonic.

"It isn't trust I'm worried about. It's what they'll do to me when I tell you." said Knuckles.

Sonic faltered slightly.

"Spit it out Knuckles." he said.

"Ok then. The reason we haven't gotten here sooner is because our last rescue attempt knocked all of us out cold for two weeks." said Knuckles.

"Why's that?" asked Amy.

"T2 and Petya used too much energy to open the reality rift. It spilled over into this reality and the one the others are in." said Knuckles.

"Which means?" asked Sonic.

"Oh hell Sonic. The excess energy has destabilised both of the other realities. They're going to collapse!" finished Knuckles.

"What do you mean collapse?!" cried Sonia.

"As in 'POOF' it's gone" collapse." said Bunnie.

Sonia grabbed Bunnie by her clothing and shook her.

"YOU MEAN YOU'RE RESCUE ATTEMPT HAS CONDEMMED MY REALITY TO DEATH?!" she screamed at her.

Sonic quickly intervened and pulled them apart.

"Calm it Sonia." he said.

"If it helps, we're sorry." said Knuckles.

"You're sorry?!" cried Manic launching himself at the echidna.

Knuckles wasn't ready and was knocked to the floor. Sonic dropped Sonia and rushed over to pull Manic off Knuckles.

"Manic! Sonia! Please!" he cried.

Sonia and Manic stopped trying to get to Bunnie and Knuckles. They stood there breathing heavily and looking daggers at them.

"Is there any way to stop this collapse from happening?" asked Sonic.

"Sorry sugah." said Bunnie shaking her head.

"When did the collapse start?" he asked.

"At the same time as the accident happened." said Knuckles.

"Do you know when the collapse is due to actually happen?" asked Amy.

"Anytime from now onwards." said Bunnie.

As if to reinforce this point the ground gave a gentle shake. Sonic shot over to the door and swung it open. He jumped out and gasped. Seconds later everyone joined him. They all stared at the sky. A large black crack had appeared in it. The ground gave another shake and the crack became bigger and showered splinters on them.

"No." said Sonia slowly.

"This can't be happening." said Manic.

"T2 warned me of this. This is the build up to total collapse. We have less than an hour." said Knuckles.

"AN HOUR!" cried Sonia, "But what are we going to do?"

"We have to get the hip hop back to the point we came in. Petya and T2 will be holding the door open for us." said Bunnie.

"Wait Bunnie." said Sonic.

Bunnie and Knuckles turned to see Sonic standing there between Sonia and Manic. He had an arm on both of their shoulders.

"I'm not leaving these guys here." he said.

Amy looked at Sonic for a second.

"And I'm not leaving Sonic." she said.

"But……but…….but if you don't leave you'll be killed when this place falls apart." said Knuckles.

"I won't leave me friends. Even if there not from my reality." said Sonic.

Sonia smiled at Sonic and Manic glanced at him sideways and then looked back at Knuckles.

"Maybe I could do something." said Amy.

"Petya already thought of that. She doesn't think you can do anything. Not now anyway." said Bunnie.

"Well I'm not leaving them." said Sonic.

"Then bring them with you. But whatever you do we have to do it quickly." said Knuckles.

"You mean go back to your reality?" asked Sonia.

"Yes! Anything!" cried Knuckles, "But we have to go! NOW!"

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"There it is!" cried Knuckles pointing.

The others looked. A large red sphere hovered a few inches above the ground.

"Wow! That's impressive." said Amy.

"Wait until you feel what the trips like." said Knuckles running towards the portal, "Come on, we gotta….argh!"

Knuckles was suddenly thrown backwards by a large blue blur that shot across his path. Sonia and Manic stopped dead.

"Sonic!" they both said.

The blur came to a halt and turned round. A blue robot stood there. It turned around and its eyes flashed red.

"Most interesting." it said, "When my master's air units went missing he sent me to find out what happened. Most interesting."

Sonia was first on her medallion and sent a blast sailing at the robot. The robot shot to the side and avoided the medallion shot. There was another rumble.

"If my master and I cannot leave neither will you."

The robot shot forwards knocking Sonia, Manic and Sonic off there feet. Knuckles jumped up and charged at the robot. It swung an arm out and knocked him over again.

"Sonic! It's us! Remember please!" cried Sonia.

The robot just glared at her. Suddenly there was a large whine. Everyone turned to see Amy surrounded in a large white glow. The glow suddenly formed into a large spike above her and then shot at the robot Sonic. It hit him and stopped him dead.

"NOW!" cried Amy.

Sonic, Sonia and Manic didn't need telling what to do. They all touched their medallions and a beam shot from all of them, striking the robot. It seemed to scream and suddenly the white glow surrounding him expanded into a large flash. When everyone looked back a blue hedgehog was lying on the ground. Sonia ran to his side. It was Sonic, he was back to normal. Sonia threw her arms around him.

"Oh my! Sonic!" she cried.

Manic was soon at his sisters side but before he could say anything there was a loud rumble. A huge crack appeared in the ground and shot towards them. The inside of the crack was black like the one in the sky and didn't seem to have any kind of form. Manic dived to the side but Sonia couldn't move much. She grabbed Sonic's hand as the crack shot underneath her.

"SONIA!" cried Manic leaping back towards the crack.

"MANIC NO!" cried Sonic.

Manic leapt into the crack after Sonia and Sonic. Sonic shot over to them. Manic was hanging onto the edge of the crack with one hand and onto Sonia with the other. Sonic stopped by the cracks edge and grabbed Manic's hand. Amy rushed over to Sonic and grabbed him.

"No Amy! You get back to the portal. Get yourself and the other two back to our reality." cried Sonic.

"Sonic I'm not leaving you." cried Amy.

"Dammit Amy! GO! NOW!"

Amy staggered backwards slightly and then turned and ran over to Knuckles and Bunnie.

"We're going!" she cried as the ground gave another shake.

"But what about Sonic?!" cried Bunnie.

"He's coming!" cried Amy as she caught hold of them both and flung them all into the sphere.

Back at the crack Sonic was still holding onto Manic's arm. Sonia was shaking Sonic trying to wake him up.

"Sonic wake up! WAKE UP!" she screamed at him, "Manic I'm losing my grip!"

"Hold on sis! Hold on!" cried Manic, "Sonic can you do anything."

"Hold on guys I'm going warp!" he cried back.

Sonic took a firmer hold of Manic's arm and turned away from the crack. He revved his feet and slowly started to pull away from the crack. Slowly Manic appeared from the crack. Manic got a firmer grip on the ground and took a hold of Sonia with his other arm. Sonic shot to Manic's side and took a hold of Sonia as well. Slowly they pulled her up and then all three of them pulled Sonic out of the crack. They sat there for a moment until the ground shook again. Sonic shot a glance at the portal. It was still there.

"Grab on everyone. We're juicing!" he cried.

Sonia took a hold of the unconscious Sonic and the of the other Sonic's arm. Manic grabbed on also. Sonic revved his feet and shot towards the portal. As he approached the portal started to fizz. Sonic put on a burst of speed but it wasn't enough as the portal collapsed and Sonic shot straight past where it had been.