Chapter 4 – Past Truths
Chalk slowly raised her head and looked around again. She sat on her heels, leaning against a wall in an Earth Alliance prison cell. Since she had been captured the previous day she had been left on her own in her cell without food or water. She had been weak from carrying Sonia before she had been captured but now she hardly had the energy to move her head. Speaking of Sonia, Chalk hadn't seen her since yesterday and she was worried about her. Sonia had been in a very bad way and Chalk feared the worst. Just then the door at the end of the prison block opened and Chalk pricked up her ears. She glanced over to see two men walking down the corridor dragging something between them. For a moment Chalk couldn't see what it was, the lights in the cell block were off, but as they drew closer she gasped. Hanging between the two men was the limp form of Sonia. One of the men pressed a button on a control pad releasing the door lock and together they threw the pink hedgehog into the cell making her hit the ground with a thud.
"It's a lucky thing our commander wanted her alive. Otherwise we would have just finished her off." sneered one of the men at Chalk.
"Looks like we'll have two people to interrogate tomorrow." laughed the other.
The two men both laughed again and then slowly walked off. Chalk gathered what was left of her strength and crawled over to Sonia. He slowly rolled her over and checked her condition. Her wounds had been dressed and her breathing was slightly more regular now than it was last time she had seen her.
"Sonia?" said Chalk quietly, "Sonia?"
Sonia made a small moaning sound and slowly her eyes opened. She looked at Chalk with a dazed expression on her face.
"Chalk?" she said slowly.
Chalk threw her arms around Sonia and hugged her.
"Oh god Sonia! I'm so glad you're ok. I feared the worst." she sobbed.
"Me too." said Sonia weakly.
"What did they do to you?"
"They put me in this room which looked a bit like a medical ward but a whole lot colder. They treated my wounds and then brought me here. To say the least I was terrified. I kept thinking that any moment they would suddenly do something to me."
"I know how you feel Sonia. I was scared too."
Chalk slowly helped Sonia into a sitting position. She looked around slowly and sighed.
"And now we're stuck in here. No-one even knows we are here." she said.
"I wouldn't be too sure Sonia. Remember we left all our gear in Knotlake." encouraged Chalk.
Sonia seemed to brighten slightly. She looked up at Chalk.
"But even if anyone finds it, how will they know we came here?" she asked.
Chalk didn't respond she was too busy thinking.
-----------------------------------------
A huge white flash filled the blackness before fading away. As it cleared the figures of Amy and Nenya stood holding the Time Star. As they appeared Amy started to look around.
"What's going on? Where are we?" she asked.
"Wait a moment." replied Nenya, "We are almost there."
Just then the blackness around them started to fuzz. It changed colour a few times and then settled on a mixed red green colour. Amy felt something beneath her feet and looked down. A small patch of grass sat beneath her. As she watched the patch slowly grew until it covered virtually all of the blackness in all direction. The blackness blurred and Amy gapped in awe as around her Little Planet appeared. She hadn't seen it in three years and at first it seemed strange at first. She bent down and brushed her hand across the grass. It was real, it really was Little Planet. She looked up to see a familiar mutlicoloured sky above her.
"Little Planet." she said slowly.
"Yes it is. We must hurry. We have a lot of work to do." replied Nenya.
Yes a lot of work but there was something Amy just had to check on. Before Nenya could stop her she had spun to her feet and darted off towards Palmtree Panic.
-----------------------------------------
Sonic and Sally met T2, Knuckles and Manic about half a mile outside of Knotlake. Sonic and Sally had brought Chalk and Sonia's gear with them and were now looking through bits of it for clues. They hadn't found anything of worth though. At present they sat with their back to each other thinking but stood up as the others arrived.
"Found anything?" asked Manic quickly before anyone else spoke.
"Not a thing." replied Sonic, "They were definitely here but they are not any more."
"Then where'd they go?" asked T2.
"No idea." answered Sally with a sigh.
Manic was now fishing through Sonia's pack frantically.
"What you looking for?" asked Knuckles.
"Sonia's diary." replied Manic.
"What?" asked Sonic.
"It might not be proper etiquette but it might give us a clue. If they spent at least one night here there might be an entry."
Everyone waited for Manic. At length he took out a small leather bound book and opened the clasp. He flicked to the end and started to skim read. Finally he looked up and nodded at everyone.
"Got it. Listen to this." said Manic looking back at the book, "Entry 17891: We have just arrived in Knotlake to find it completely destroyed. I can't believe how much it hurts. We don't even know if anyone else is alive. I hope Manic is alright and everyone else too. Guess we have to keep searching…..there's a tear mark there and it's blurred some of the words. Next bit is….I'm so worried and I can hardly bare to write this. We will be setting out tonight for….another tear mark…..and hopefully we will find them there. If not we'll have to keep going."
Manic looked up from the book and growled.
"She had to cry on the most important part didn't she! Ooooooooh!" he growled.
He threw the book at the ground and slumped onto his hunches. Sally got up and walked over to the book. She picked it up and flicked to the page Manic had been reading.
"It's ok Manic. We still might be able to use this. Hmm…..looks like an L….but then it might be a double t….can't make out too much more. OH! First word ends in e and both words are about six letters long." said Sally partly to herself as she studied the blur on the page.
"Lemme see." said T2.
Sally handed him the book and he frowned at it for several moments.
"You lot must be blind." he said at length.
"Well excuse us for not having the eyes of a fox!" snapped Manic.
T2 paid him no attention and turned to Sally.
"You're right in what you've said. It is an 'l' and a double 't' in the middle. The last letter is an 'e' and the second word ends in net." T2 looked up, "Sound familiar?"
"Little Planet?" said Knuckles.
"You got it." replied T2 with a nod.
"They've gone to Little Planet have they." said Sonic to himself.
"Little Planet!" cried Manic standing up quickly, "Oh no!"
"What?" asked Sally.
"Don't you remember?" urged Manic, "Amy said that red hedgehog was captured at Little Planet."
Everyone blinked.
"God you're right. She told us that last night before we went to bed." said Sonic.
"We have to hurry there. If they went there and Sonia is injured they could be captured too." said Manic hoisting Sonia's pack onto his back.
Sonic picked up Chalk's and T2 shouldered Chalk's gun. They all nodded at each other and set off into the forest.
-----------------------------------------
Chalk hit the floor hard with a piercing cry. She curled up as best she could and started to whimper. The pain was intense and it had only been about ten minutes since they had started.
"That's not all there is either!" shouted a soldier, "We got plenty more so you better talk! What were you doing round our base?!"
"No…NOTHING!" cried Chalk through her sobs, "We were just looking for our friends!"
"That's not all is it?! You are spies and we know it!"
The soldier marched over to her and roughly grabbed her. He threw her up against the wall and hit her in the side with a short staff like object. There was a crack and a bolt of energy shot across Chalk's body. She screamed as her fur smoked slightly. The soldier dropped her on the floor and walked away slightly taking of his insulating glove as he did. He walked over to a couple of soldiers.
"Take her back to her cell and bring the next one." he said.
The two soldiers nodded and walked over to Chalk. They grabbed an arm each and dragged Chalk back to her cell. They dropped her face first on the floor and walked over to Sonia. Sonia was sleeping roughly on the floor and woke with a start as the soldiers grabbed her.
"Get off me!" she cried weakly.
"Leave her alone!" moaned Chalk looking up slightly, "She's injured."
"You'll be injured too if you don't shut up!" said one soldier.
They turned and carried the slightly struggling Sonia out of the cell. Chalk collapsed back onto the floor. She started to sob quietly, all she had to do was wait now. A few minutes later an ear piercing scream ripped the air. Chalk tried to cover her ears but because of their size she was unable to block out Sonia's screams. Chalk continued to lie on the floor sobbing as she waited for her turn again.
-----------------------------------------
Amy continued to run with Nenya in pursuit. Amy wished she had the power to instantly transport from one point to another but for now running would have to do. Finally she reached Palmtree Panic and spun to the side. It wasn't far now. A few moments later she saw it, a small house sitting in the middle of a small garden. Soft yellow lights filled the windows as she raced up the path. She suddenly stopped. What was she going to do now? Should she knock or should she just walk in? She thought for a second and then knocked on the door. She waited for what seemed like an eternity before there was a locking type sound from behind the door. Slowly the door opened to reveal a tall slender pink hedgehog. Her eyes went wide as she saw Amy.
"Amielle?" she finally managed to say.
Just then a blue hedgehog appeared behind the pink one. He shook his head and blinked.
"Amy?!" he said totally shocked.
"Yes…it's me." replied Amy.
The pink hedgehog suddenly swooned and collapsed but the blue one caught her before she fell over.
"Marian, you alright?" asked the blue hedgehog.
"Yeah, just a bit light headed Patrick." replied Marian.
The two looked up at Amy as Nenya suddenly appeared on the step. The pairs eyes went wide Marian passed out.
"Oh god! I need to get her a place to lie down." he said picking up Marian and walking into the house.
Amy and Nenya waited on the door step for a few minutes. At last Patrick appeared again and motioned for them to come inside. They walked into the house and into the living room. Marian sat on the couch holding a cup of strong black coffee. She looked up as they all entered. She looked totally shocked and confused. Patrick sat down next to her and Amy and Nenya sat down on a couch opposite them. For a short time they just looked at each other before Marian spoke.
"Amielle……it's…..SO good to see you again." she said slowly.
"I know mother. I never thought I'd see you again." replied Amy.
"But how did you get here?" asked Patrick, "Little Planet is still…"
"I can answer that." said Nenya, "We used this."
Nenya took out the Time Star and set it down on the table between the two couches. Patrick and Marian looked at it for a second and then looked at Nenya. Marian seemed more shocked at Nenya's presence than Amy's. Finally she spoke.
"Nenya? Nenya is that really you?" she said slowly.
"What?" said Amy shocked.
"Yes it's me." replied Nenya.
"My god Nenya! We thought you were gone!" continued Marian.
"Mother?! You mean you know him?" asked Amy.
"Yes." said Marian turning to look at her, "She's our son."
Amy's head snapped to look at Nenya. Her face fell.
"Then what you said was true! You really are my brother!" she gasped.
"Yes." nodded Nenya.
Amy turned to look at her parents and blinked.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, "Why didn't you say I had a brother?"
Marian and Patrick both looked at her.
"Amy…" started her father, "….this is amazing enough as it is! You suddenly appearing her on Little Planet after three years? We thought we'd never see you again just like Nenya."
"I can't believe it. Both of you…at the same time!" said Marian, "Where have you been Nenya? What happened to you?"
Nenya closed his eyes and seemed to shudder. Amy looked concerned.
"Nenya? You alright?" she asked.
"No. No I'm not." he replied.
"What's wrong?" asked Marian.
"It's the Stones. I've been away too long! They are failing." he replied.
Just then Nenya's body gave a shimmer and faded slightly. Everyone gasped.
"What?!" cried Patrick.
"Nenya…what's happening to you?" asked Marian too shocked to cry.
"The Time Stones are losing their grip in time. If I don't hurry this place really will disappear into the vastness of time and have no hope of coming back." said Nenya.
"What do we do?" asked Amy.
"I must go back into the Stones…and you Amy must come with me!"
"WHAT?!" cried Amy.
"The Time Stones? THAT'S were you've been?!" cried Marian standing up.
"Yes. Amy you must come with me! I'm not strong enough to do it myself."
"But I can't! I have a family and…"
"There is no way to go back to them without doing this."
"What?"
"I meant to tell you earlier, when we were at the pillar but the attack happened."
"What do you mean?"
"The transporter will only work on a one way basis for cross dimensional travel. There is no way back to Mobius apart from restoring Little Planet. Besides the transporter was destroyed moments after we left."
Amy was now standing along with everyone else. She starred at Nenya totally shocked.
"You mean….there's no way back?" she said quietly.
"Only one. We must restore Little Planet. The weaker the Time Stones grip becomes the weaker I get. I can no longer do it by myself. I need your help! Please Amy."
Amy paused for a moment. The tone of Nenya's voice was one of a scared child, he really was scared. Please trust in Nenya…he is worthy of that at the very least. Amy looked straight at Nenya and slowly she nodded.
"Ok I will help." she replied.
"No!" cried Marian grabbing them both and dragging them into a tight hug, "I've lost you both before! I don't want to lose you again! I couldn't bare it! Nenya please don't go! Please I'm begging you! Please stay with me!"
"Mother." replied Nenya looking at her, "We have to. If Little Planet is not restored now it will never be restored. The Time Stones will fade away along with me. This world will degenerate in the time field and slowly fade to nothing along with everyone on it. If Amy and I do not do this everything….everyone will die."
Marian gulped back her tears but Amy could feel her sobbing inside.
"Marian….don't worry about it." she said, "I guess this was going to happen sometime or another. I've done it before when I restored Little Planet last time and come back."
"Yes but only because of Tails! You don't know where he is! What if the tear thing only works for a certain length of time? You could be trapped forever!" replied Marian.
"If Amy is as strong as I think she is she will not need a tear to return. She only just needed a tear last time."
"How do you know about that?" asked Amy.
"Remember I was in the Stones with you." replied Nenya.
"You….were…"
Amy blinked, it was true. When she had sacrificed herself to the Time Stones before Nenya would have been in there too.
"Then why didn't you contact me then?" she asked.
"You were still young and your skills had not developed. I could feel you but there was no way for us to communicate." answered Nenya before he groaned and collapsed into the sofa.
"Nenya!" cried Marian sitting down by him quickly.
Nenya was now holding his head and gritting his teeth hard.
"It's already started. The first Time Stone has lost it's grip on time." he said before yelping slightly, "Make that two. We have to hurry! There is no time left for us."
Amy although she knew that this process might not be reversible felt no fear at all, only sadness for Tails and Lavender. She hoped they would understand. She grabbed Nenya's hand and fled from her parent's house with them in pursuit. Nenya was getting worst and could hardly run now. With a bit of effort Amy dragged Nenya the short distance to the shrine and ran inside. She hadn't entered this place in three years and strangely the whole shrine seemed to light up as she entered. The Time Stones hung in the air above their pedicle but two of them were dim and lifeless. A third one showed signs of following as it was very dull in colour. The pair stopped by the Stones and Nenya picked them up. He strained to push away his pain but it was evident.
"Nenya…are you sure you can do this?" asked Amy.
"I have to. I am their essence and without me they will be lost forever."
"What do you need me to do?"
"Simply give me your strength as I try to pull the Stones back from the brink. I will need you to be strong. Stronger than you have ever been before in your life."
"I'll try."
"Good. Get ready."
Nenya slowly held out the Stone out in front of himself and motioned for Amy to take a hold too. She did and then Nenya spoke.
"Time Stones, I have returned." he said.
Suddenly Amy felt herself being pulled at the Stones. It was just like last time, just like last….Amy passed out.
-----------------------------------------
Sonia and Chalk sat huddled in a corner of their cell. They were hugging each other tightly and staring at the door of the cell. There had been a short break in their interrogation and the pair was now trying to calm each other down. Chalk suddenly found herself running her hand through Sonia's hair.
"Oh!" she said in shock removing her hand, "I'm sorry Sonia."
"No it's ok. It was nice actually." replied Sonia with a sad tone.
"I see."
Chalk resumed running her hand through Sonia hair for a few moments before Sonia spoke.
"Chalk?" she said.
"Yeah Sonia."
"Ever wondered what's on the other side?"
"Huh?"
Chalk stopped and looked at Sonia. She had a distant look in her eyes as she stared at the cell door.
"Sonia what are you talking about?" she asked.
"Face it Chalk. They're not going to believe us. If we don't say we are spies they are going to kill us. And even if we do they'll kill us for being spies."
"Sonia!"
Chalk could believe her friend had just said that.
"Sonia! Don't say things like that! There is still hope. Every situation has a solution, you just have to find it."
"What solution?" said Sonia with a sigh, "I can't see one. We can't escape and no-one knows we are here. What solution Chalk? Face it, we are dead."
Sonia's statement rocked Chalk to the core. The way she said it, so lifeless and accepted. Sonia actually believed what she had just said. Chalk shook her head. No it wasn't going to happen! They would pull through! Someone would find them! They would because…
"Our bags!" said Chalk out load.
"What about them?" asked Sonia in the same tone as earlier.
"We left them in Knotlake! What if someone heard of the attack we fended off and found our bags! They might be able to find us."
"I doubt it. They have no way of knowing we came here. And even if they did how would they get in?"
Chalk wasn't about to accept that. They would find them! Someone WOULD find them!
-----------------------------------------
"Take a look." said Sonic handing Sally the binoculars.
Sally knelt down on the bank and focused on the target in the distance. A large military outpost sprung into view. She bit her lip and scanned the area. Well secured, it would be hard to break in. She sat up.
"So what you think?" asked Sonic.
"Like it's gonna be hell getting in never mind getting out again." replied Sally.
"Plus we don't even know they are in there." said T2.
"She has to be." said Manic.
"It might have just been a thought she had written down Manic." said Knuckles, "They could be somewhere completely different."
"I know but Sonia isn't like that." replied Manic.
"I see." nodded Knuckles.
"Well whether they are or not we got a job to do people." said Sonic.
"Hmm…possibly." said T2.
"What do you mean possibly?" asked Sonic.
"You're considering going down their just to cause trouble and hoping to find them right?"
Everyone looked at Sonic.
"Well kinda. I mean if they are in there we have to get them out." he said.
"Not to put a damper on you Sonic but how? As I said they got it buttoned up tight." asked Sally.
"Simple. Can anyone say decoy?" said Sonic pointing at himself.
"You're not considering what I think you're considering are you?" asked Knuckles.
"You betcha." replied Sonic.
"I'll be joining you then." said Knuckles.
"Me too." said Sally quickly.
"Here's an idea!" said Sonic sarcastically, "Why don't we ALL be decoys? That'll work won't it? Look I'm going in alone. You guys look for the girls. Hopefully I'll attract enough attention to give you a clear run."
Sally sighed.
"Very well Sonic. I sometimes can't believe how much like your younger self you are." she said.
"It surprises me some times. Oh and something I thought of on the way over. Keep an eye out for Amy and that hedgehog too. He said he came from Never Lake and, as much as I can't see it, they might have come back here when they disappeared."
"Good point Sonic." said T2, "Huh! We kinda forgot about that eh? I can see your point though Sonic. This place brings nothing but pain to Amy now. But we'll keep an eye out."
"Good. Let's go." said Sonic.
-----------------------------------------
Amy slowly woke to a white sparkling backdrop. She recognized it instantly.
"We're inside." she said quickly.
"Yes." replied Nenya from beside her, "But we must hurry."
As he spoke part of the white surround turned black. Nenya's face dropped.
"That's three. I have to pull them back before it's too late. Amy I need you to help!"
"Of course. Just tell me what to do."
"Take my hand."
Amy did so and instantly fell to her knees with a scream. Nenya tightened his grip on her hand.
"What…what is THAT?!" screamed Amy.
"That is what I'm feeling. The Time Stones slipping away. I've been their anchor since I was born and as they go so do bits of me."
Amy started to whimper heavily as she tried to breath. She felt as if someone was cutting of part of her body with a knife. It was almost unbearable.
"Amy you have to be strong for me. I can't do this alone." said Nenya.
"Y…..yes!" strained Amy as she forced herself to stand up.
"Good. Now just lean on whatever I do. Channel your energy through me and hold on tight."
"Channel me energy?" asked Amy.
Nenya had no time to answer as Amy felt a surge of energy race through her. She could feel Nenya straining against the force pulling the Time Stones apart. She could feel him reaching out and suddenly she understood. With a thud she threw her entire mind behind Nenya's action. They both glowed brightly and suddenly a section of the surround turned white again. Amy's eyes slowly closed as she focused on Nenya. This time she reached out first, throwing her entire consciousness into the void. Suddenly she felt a presence soar over her. It was Nenya and seconds later another area turned white again. Amy felt herself turn to Nenya and something passed between them. As it did their minds merged into one in a second Amy felt something she hadn't felt in years. The feeling that had been missing ever since she had been de-robotisised. The feeling of her Acolyte self. There was a pause and suddenly they leaped into the depths of time for a final time. This time Amy over took Nenya and latched on to the final Time Stone. As she did she felt a surge of energy pass through her as the Stone responded to her grasp and found its way back to the others. There was a pulse of light and Amy opened her eyes. Nenya stood before her smiling broadly. Without saying a word they released one hand and stood side by side, one hand still clasped. They raised their arms and as they did a wave of white energy rippled past them. Closing their eyes the pair seemed to grow in size as another wave passed by. Suddenly their hands started to glow and, as they raised them, a gentle aura formed around them. With a quick movement they swung their hands down and then flung them up causing a pillar of light to erupt from them both. All around them the white surround started to glow and shimmer.