Epilogue
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaurg!" stretched Sally as she walked out of the bathroom rubbing her wet hair with a towel.
"Enjoy that your majesty?" asked a voice.
"Yes very much so." replied Sally, "And I've told you Marian, you can call me Sally."
"Funny isn't it." said Marian coming into view, "I've know you for all these years and I just can't get used to calling you that."
"It's no worries Marian. I'm still in shock that this has all happened."
"I know. Little Amielle has certainly surprised us all with this turn of events."
"You can say that again, Little Planet, I'm still in awe over it all."
"I think everyone is. I just hope it is permanent now."
"I think it will be. I've never seen Amy like this before. Even when she was at the peak of her powers before she didn't seem this powerful. And if what she tells us about Nenya is true then I think we are in capable hands."
Marian didn't reply, she just nodded. Sally hmmed and placed an arm around her shoulders.
"You're still sad about him aren't you?" she asked.
"Yes. He was my first child and I never even got to know him. I never got to see him grow up, never got to show him the joys of life, never…"
"Hush Marian. I can understand but I think so does he. He has accepted his duty like any righteous person would. And he has watched you since his birth. I think he knows how you feel and he wouldn't want you to be sad. Remember Marian, life can take many forms and even things that don't look alive sometimes can be. The Time Stones might not have been where you intended him to grow up, but it's all he's know and to him it is probably home just like this world is to us. He is still alive, remember that Marian."
Marian wiped away a tear and smiled at Sally.
"You're right Sally. I'm going to live my life as I should. I will keep Nenya in my heart and live my life as he would want me too."
"That's good to hear Marian. Now you got that coffee you mentioned?"
"Right here."
Marian smiled and handed Sally a large mug of coffee from a side table. The two sat down on the sofa and continued to talk.
-----------------------------------------
Amy sighed lovingly as she let the Time Stones float in front of her. She let them drop back onto their stand and closed her eyes.
"Nenya, you are the binding force of this place. I now pledge myself to helping you to keep this place alive." she said.
"I know Amy. I will be watching…" came a reply in her head.
Amy slowly opened her eyes and turned away. As she did the Time Stones pulsed slightly and then settled down. Amy smiled and walked from the shrine. Outside Sonic was waiting for her.
"Finally letting them settle huh?" he asked.
"I guess so Sonic. I can't keep thinking about Nenya forever. There are other things to do." replied Amy.
"Sure are Aimes. Too many things. But at least Chalk and Sonia are back now."
"True Sonic. Now a much more important task lies ahead of us."
Sonic nodded.
"I've already called everyone together to discuss our next move. We're meeting in about an hour in your parent's garden." he said.
"I'll be there Sonic."
-----------------------------------------
Manic was smiling to himself as he walked along between Chalk and Sonia. They were all bent over slightly and had an arm over each other shoulders. They were pulled so close together it was a bit difficult to walk. Six feet trying to occupy such a small space was tricky to co-ordinate.
"It almost feels like we've won." said Chalk.
"Well we've won this round, but there will be more." replied Sonia.
"So true sis. I have a feeling I know what Sonic is going to be talking about when we get back." put in Manic.
"Well now that I'm back I'm gonna do everything I can to help." said Chalk.
"I think we all will. We might be back together sis but some people still aren't."
"I know Manic, it will be hard but we have to go for it."
At length they approached Amy's parent's house to find everyone else there already. They weren't late, everyone else was early. Before they had even found a seat Sonic had started talking.
"Well people I must say that I think we are all surprised at what has happened in the last couple of days." he said.
"To say the least Sonic." replied T2.
"Uh huh. Well I don't mean to break you all out of your little victory celebrations but it is time to move on. Little Planet might be back but there is still so much to do. Sally."
Sonic stopped and motioned for Sally to get up. Sally was always the better of the two when it came to plans and speeches so Sonic generally let her do most of the talking. Sally looked over the group.
"Well everyone let's get started. Several things remain to be done. Firstly we must find the others we have not yet accounted for. Tails, Links, Lavender and Bunnie are our obvious first target. We might not know where they are but they will probably be easier to locate and bring back. Secondly we must rescue my children and Petya from the Alliance. This will be hard and we will need the others help to do this. We know they are still alive because of T2's link to Petya but that link is fading. We must hurry. Finally we have two matters to attend to with the Alliance."
"Two?" asked Manic, "Isn't getting rid of them only one?"
"Yes getting rid of them is a primary concern but there is something else too. We must find out who they are and where they came from. We have to try and work out why they are doing this."
"They are human like Robotnik was." said Chalk, "Isn't it simple enough?"
"Evil cannot be a prominent feature of any race. There will always be a few like Tails parents but no one race is purely evil. Not all humans can be like Robotnik. I know it sounds odd coming from me but that is what I believe. If we can find humans who do not want to hurt us maybe we can rally them to our side."
A murmur went through the crowd. Sally ignored it.
"But for now we have other matters to attend to. People this is it! Operation Strike back is now go!"