PEBYEEOK-PREKOSEOVENEET
(Pedophile)



"What is a siphon, sir?"

The young voice echoed through the crystalline hallway. The black cat, upon asking, rubbed against the brown and black cloth as she scampered to keep up. Her mentor, not much taller than her, looked down upon her and smiled under his cloak.

"It," he replied. "Is something I hope you don't have to see. It drains energy from unstable and powerful matter in order to reduce its powers."
"Truly? Like a…" The word seemed hard to form. "A laser?"
"No no." The mentor chuckled. "Compared to a siphon, the laser is more like a pinch, a prolonged pinch. A bright light comes from the barrel of a laser, so if you ever see one, just remember to duck and cover."
"And a barrel is on a gun! And a laser is like a gun only it doesn't run out."
"Exactly."
"This will be hard to keep straight," the cat moaned. "I have never seen those types of weapons, let alone done battle with one!"

The crystalline doors opened, and a garden, silent save for the flowing water, cascaded before the two, teacher and student, mentor and protege. The two began to walk down the staircase, the black cat's sign glistening on her forehead.

"But aside from those awful weapons, I daresay you come from a very confusing and boring world, sir."
"Confusing, yes. Boring?" The cloaked mentor chuckled. "I would not go so far to say that."
"But you do not plan on going back there, do you?"
"No." There was a hint of sadness in the mentor's voice. "I do not think returning is….quite on my mind yet. I am still in a bit of a rut about my home."
"A rut?"
"I….I simply do not wish what happened upon people, but I just do not know how I can stop such horrible things from happening again."
"Life is a mystery, master." The cat held her mentor in the highest respects, and as such always either addressed him as 'sir' or 'master'. "I think you have solved some of them. The queen is happy, and the kingdom is forever in your debt for what you have done."
"Heh." The teacher chuckled. "Yes. The plague was horrible. But I guess I did something right."

The teacher's head went down, and the cat simply sniffled. Her mentor was always a touch sad. Then again, when such a tragedy that befell upon her mentor befell upon anyone, one would always be mournful, sad, regretful of the past. About what they could have said before those they cherished were blinked out of existence. The cat knew what that was like. The queen also; her parents were both murdered coldly, without justice.
It was then the cat noticed something was missing.

"Master?"
"Hmm?" She had interrupted his moment of reflection. "Yes?"
"Your book."
"Oh." The mentor smiled again. "I didn't need it. I left it in my chamber."
"Truly? But I thought you would start writing in it again."

The cat loved how her mentor wrote. He always wrote hastily, quickly, filling pages. He had brought with him a small but thick book of blank note paper, and it was already half full.

"I wonder," the cat inquired. "When will you be writing in it again?"
"……….Soon, Luna." A flock of white birds fluttered into the sky, the bright blue planet hovering in the distance. "Soon."


-----------------------

The memories of the past. A past, tainted by war, greed, disease and strife. But it was a past that had been saved. Saved, perhaps, by one man.
Luna's thoughts traversed from each moment spent with him to each moment she watched Locke shudder in pain.

"Locke…."
"…Please…." The voice murmured. "Don't leave me….father…"

Luna shifted uncomfortably. Delirium had set in after that last attack of disease, and he had been mumbling ever since. It was only small comfort that the pox had not completely covered his body, because those that had he had inadvertently picked. Also, the diverticulitis and the aneurysm…
It is all falling upon him. Luna thought. He is not human. He was never introduced to the human condition. Now, in human form, he is suffering terribly.
Without much to do, only to watch as Kakyuu leaned over him, her face lined with worry, Luna jumped up onto an end table. She found herself landing on a soft bag, its flap open, as she did.
Hmm?... Looking up, seeing Kakyuu too occupied with Locke to notice, Luna began pawing through the bag. She did so as quietly as possible - she could feel clothing, food, the leather inside.
Upon feeling around in the outside pockets, and smelling an unusually powerful stench of dead ants, she realized that the bag was of Locke's belonging, his only link to Mobius, his world....
..........Eh?
The crinkling of old paper suddenly came into Luna's earshot.
Wait a minute....
Quickly padding through, and trying to keep attention off of her at the same time, she felt more papers, crinkled, weathered papers, under skin. Digging through, she finally accomplished rescuing three old papers, browned by age, ripped and withered at the edges.
My god....
Luna's eyes widened when she saw what she had pulled out, and she violently restrained herself from screaming. There was no time to lose.
Without a single word, the papers were picked up into Luna's mouth, and the cat quickly padded out of the room, still unseen by Kakyuu, unseen by the Starlights who looked down upon Locke.

--------------------

"Tails!!!"

The fox looked up at the tent flap as Sonic burst in, wiping his black bow. Gasping, the wide-eyed hedgehog pointed.

"Sonic."
"All right, kid," Sonic snarled. "I don't know who you are, or when you possessed Tails, but I know you're not the Tails I'm friends with!"
"I'm not?"
"You'd better explain yourself, buddy." Sonic's eyes slit. "What's happened to me, why I look like this and where the hell you put my friend!!!"

Tails looked at Sonic, his eyes seemingly unimpressed by the rage.

"I don't know what you're talking about." the fox shrugged after a moment. "I figured you'd understand after you transubstantiated into this form. But I guess I was wrong."
"Transu-WHAT?!"
"Transubstantiation." Tails looked down. "The forced evolution into a form or being not familiar to the evolutionee. I thought you would see it. But the shell must not have opened completely."
"Evolution? Shell?! What are you-"
"If you calm down I'll tell you." Tails' voice suddenly sharpened. "Instead of coming in like a drunken maniac. I'd expect more from a hero."

The words slapped Sonic in the face. Looking upon his friend, he searched for meaning to why he was acting so different, yet could find none. He knew he was acting differently, but Sonic could see no trace of emotion to detect that Tails even cared.

"It is complicated to say to you, because obviously your understanding has not yet opened up." Tails shifted his body. "But I will try to explain this in terms that you can understand. The simple fact of what has happened is that, like Knuckles, you have evolved, and you are ready to accept the power which is destined for you to control. The ultimate power of your evolution, possible only through your death and rebirth."
"D-death?!"
"You had to die in order to evolve." Tails took the shocked question in stride. "This is because you were given a special power not accessible to most people. Infinite power. The Chaos Emeralds being a great source of this infinite power. The Chaos Emeralds exemplify the highest achievement of infinite energy. Right?"
"Yeah."

The black ear twitched in comprehenshion. This makes sense. Common knowledge, but sounds good to me so far.

"Right."
"Wrong."
"What?" The contradiction was swift and blunt. "But you ju-"
"You're wrong, Sonic. In truth...." Tails gave a sigh. "There are two types of unlimited power - that which is controlled, and that which isn't." Tails gave a breath. "The basis of whether or not an unlimited power is controlled is set by one thing - that being, controlled power is understood completely by the user, and therefore all of its power can be used. Uncontrolled is the opposite - the user can only do a limited number of things with its power because the user will not understand how to use it all. Uncontrolled power allows a user to accomplish more, but because the user is not to understand uncontrolled power, nobody can truly claim to hold all of its secrets."
"In other words…?"
"Chaos Emeralds." Tails looked up. "Uncontrolled power in its most infinite, yes. But in order to control that power, one must have a Controller, a harbinger of neutrality, so that the user can master both sides of the spectrum."

With that, Tails stood up, walked to Sonic and placed a hand directly into his chest. As he did, a soft glow came from the fur.

"T-Tails?!?" Sonic began to sweat. "Wha….what are you doing?!"
"You'll see."

Quietly, Tails took his hand off, and the glow disappeared. Sonic looked down at where Tails had touched him, confusedly, before looking back up.
Strange….something…

"Now." Tails nodded. "Go outside."
"Um…" Sonic crimped an eye. Riiight…. "Ok…"
"No!"

Tails' voice had such a sharp edge that it stopped Sonic in his tracks even before he began to walk.

"What in..?!?"
"I want you to go outside," Tails muttered. "Without moving."
"Without…"
"You can do it. Just think."
"Think…"

Think….about what?
About being outside?
How will I get there if I………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………..
……………………………..
……………………………..
Wait.
From deep down inside of his body, Sonic felt something welt up. It was almost like a white spark of something waiting to ignite. No. He's right. I can get there without moving. If I cannot move…………
……………………………Yes.
I can feel it now.
I know what to do.


As if the instinct had been within him since he was in utero, Sonic's hand suddenly shot out in front of him, his knees slightly bent, his palm open.

"Power of Chaos, into my soul…" he mumbled. "Lay unto my hand!!"

Tails watched as Sonic's hand shot up to the ceiling, as if it meant to touch they sky.

"CHAOS…..CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

It was almost as if Sonic had been shot again, for another burst of light shot from his chest, engulfing him. This time, however, the light was brief, and Sonic's body shifted with it, sputtering out of reality as it did.

Yes…..yes…. Tails knew.

"Huaaah!"

The sound of cracking bones and tree branches, followed by a thud from the ground outside, confirmed Tails' hope. The tent flap opened, and Sonic burst back in, gasping.

"Holy…!"
"You see?"

The words… Sonic thought. As if I always knew them...

"Such is the power of the Sailor Crystal."
"The what?" Comprehension fell again. "Sailor Crystal?"
"The controlled power."
"Yeah ri-"
"Tails?!?"

The two looked over to the right. In front of them was Knuckles, his eyes widened.

"Tails....."

It was obvious he had only come, but Tails knew why Knuckles had come.
Go on...

"How...." Knuckles looked at Sonic. "How did you know of the Silver Crystal...."

-----------------


Antithesis took a deep breath as he approached the pointed tents within the forest. The flag of Albion seemed to mesh perfectly with the darkened night sky.
Be calm....do not show your fear...

"Halt!"

Instantly, the guns were upon him. Antithesis simply looked at the troops surrounding him, his mind unimpressed by his boss's show of military might. Nevertheless, he could feel an iota of fear nagging at him. It was there only because he knew the fighter had seen him approach from the direction of Knothole.

"State yourself!"
"......Antithesis." The brown echidna took a breath. "I simply wish to relay a message to the Echidna Council."
"Relay your business here with the Echidna Council!"
"I am..." Mustn't reveal too much.... "a neutral investigator of the battle today. Sent by the Echidna Council. I wish to convey a message to them."

The guns slowly lowered. Antithesis looked around as the trooper gave his word consideration. His word, fortunately, was enhanced by his assistant robing, the sign of his status in Albion's bureaucracy. He no longer considered his city a democracy, as Gala-Na so ardently wished to believe; democracies allowed all the citizens to decide upon killing children and unarmed peoples. A democratic decision could not rest upon the wishes of one person.

"Very well." A gun motioned towards a larger-than average tent. "Communication is that one right there."

With a nod and a salute, the brown echidna hurriedly invited himself to the tent, where he was faced with a gigantic computer. It was a military type, surprisingly lightweight, but capable of performing many tasks. Antithesis silently congratulated himself as he silently opened the folds of his robe, a folded piece of paper within. With such memory in the computers banks, a simple letter would be no problem...
Almost as quickly as he had taken the paper out and placed it upon the faxing module, the purpose of his journey was finished with the simple click of a button. Without another word, Antithesis quickly took back his papers, rounded the corner outside and disappeared into the bushes.
Perhaps the new light shed upon the happenings of Gala-Na's campaign could persuade her to do otherwise and withdraw, the aide thought as he huddled in the bushes, his chance to escape completely not yet in sight. When the Council - no, the Elder Judges - see what she has done behind the backs of the people, and confront her, she will have no choice but to withdraw...
Antithesis found his moment to escape, and he ran down the clearing, entering into the protective shrubs on his way back to the village. Being Gala-Na's worker bee had its advantages. Those who worked for her knew her inside and out. And Antithesis, who would come back again for the results of his attempt of clarity, knew better than anyone that such a political setback for Gala-Na, a woman who prided in her political ethics, could be just the thing to save the Acorn kingdom – and maybe Albion -  from total destruction.

------------------------

"No!! Don't leave me!!"

Each of them, fallen through with blood and hate. Locke could only close his eyes.

"Don't leave..."

The bodies twisted back and forth, turning into Atrava, then Dimitri, then nothing. Memories, seeping into his mind, mocking him, some to dust after, some to the sky, others simply staying. Laughing.

Fool. You fool!

Then the memories turned into Knuckles. Poniting at him in mockery. His eyes like endless fire.

It's all your fault. It was Knuckles but his voice was far more foreboding, almost like Athair's. Did you really think the shell could save your son?

"Shell?"

I told you! The voice laughed. I told you to never reveal to anyone what you did. Your tools fail you, and so does your simple thinking! The voice suddenly warped again, into one he had seldom heard. You are not worthy to be of my line. I gave you the power to change the world, power she had, and you still failed.

Knuckles had Steppenwolf's voice now, yet it was impossible because Locke had only met his ancestor once, when Earth was in danger. Yet there he was, ingrained within Knuckles, the power he had given to them...

"Locke......"

A light suddenly pulsed through onto the bloodied field, covering Locke and the Knuckles incarnate.

You know what it means. Knuckles' body shifted and disappeared. You must face the truth of your worthless existence......the truth you created.....you cannot escape from it.....

The light from the voice brightened, and the memories, the shifting bodies, disappeared. Locke gave a gasp as the light engulfed him more, but it was welcoming to him, licking him clean. He fell backwards from the staggering power, but he didn't care. The darkness was gone.


------------------------

"Bring them forth."

The judges' faces were set in stone as Gala-Na entered alongside the other councilors and sub-councilors, the senators. The Hall of Justice was looming upon the attendees of the emergency meeting; the statue of Steppenwolf loomed behind the Chief Minister of Justice, a man named Ovashenie, who unceremoniously sat in the middle of the three high judges of Albion civilization. He, an elder man well advanced in age, waited until both the Council and Senate were seated.

"Head Councilor Gala-Na, please rise."

The group began to murmur as their leader rose.

"Your Revered Excellencies." The councilor gave the obligatory, if short, bow to the three. "It is an honor to be here on such short notice."
"The honor," Ovashenie stared back, "I must say, is one-sided."
"Excellency...?"
"Councilor Gala-Na..." The head justice cut her off, continuing as he shuffled through papers. "It has come to our attention, by the faith of Aurora, that you have sent several squadrons of our forest protectors, the 'Tiger Forest Fighters', into an unprovoked situation against unarmed masses in Knothole." Seeing the concilors murmuring louder at this, "Perhaps you can explain, Councilor?"
"Revered Excellencies..."

Gala-Na knew why she had been called long before. She knew that her unchecked attack would be costly, perhaps devastatingly so, both in terms of troops and perhaps her career in politics. But she had not come unprepared.

"Revered Excellencies, I organized this attack as an answer to evidence found around the Floating Island. It appears, from evidence we have collected, and from feelers, that the party responsible for the heinous attack, and possibly for the mysterious vines which destructed our town, is none other than the guardian of the island, Knuckles." There were several gasps in the crowd; unheeding, Gala-Na continued. "I, as Councilor, am allowed to call upon the military when force is needed to retaliate against such crimes against echidna society, and I believe on Aurora's good faith I did what was justified and necessary."
"Indeed, Head Councilor?" Ovashenie's expression did not change.
"Indeed."
"Then, indeed, perhaps you can explain this."

With that, Ovashenie took out a paper from the folds of his gown. Murmurs came from the crowd again, and Gala-Na's face became confused.

"This was sent to us - we shall not say how it was sent - but we have received it from an Albion who was present at your assault." Ovashenie saw Gala-Na's eyes leap with shock and fear. "It goes as follows:"



"Respectably to the Revered Excellencies, the Honorable Judges of Albion:


"I am writing to you on the basis of utmost importance.

I am a citizen of Albion, of the city which housed those who conceived me with the expectance that I would bring into the world a sense of justice and compassion, which all Albions, under guidance of our patron Steppenwolf and your Revered Excellencies, are expected to hold in the highest regards. It is with the lowest of hearts and the greatest of burdens that I must write this. Justice and compassion are needed most in the place I am currently upon.

"As of last night, we, those who are currently residing in Knothole both permanently or otherwise, have been free for seven hours (as of this writing) of an assault which could only have been committed by those the most brutal and callous intent. Knothole, who has seen its share on injustices, has just endured yet another one. Sadly, it was at the hands of Albion's own.

"The Albion Forest Fighters have attacked a kingdom that is nursing wounds from the mysterious storm of vines, just as we in Albion are bent on recovering. However, they have attacked and injured, even killed, innocent civilians, unprovoked. There has been no reason for this atrocity.

"In lieu of this, I, a humble servant of Aurora, Steppenwolf and you Revered Excellencies, do ask that this onslaught be stopped, or if not stopped to give reason for it. I pray this, on the soul of Albion."





The entire courtroom looked on, their eyes widened, their thoughts racing. Without another word, Ovashenie placed the paper back into his folds and looked upon the Head Councilor, awaiting her reaction.

"Councilor Gala-Na," The judge looked down on her. "I would like you to explain this to us. I above all know that we are in dire straits, with the Floating Island destroyed and more bodies returning, as well as our attempts to keep this under wraps, but....this...if it is true, and I feel that it might be, given your recent hawkish actions - you have overstepped your boundaries, and that is a dire violation of the laws of this land as well as an abuse of office. What have you to say for yourself?"

Gala-Na looked at it, her mind racing with fury. Though it didn't seem so to her fellow councilors, deep down she felt she had the initiative, the right, to attack he whom had done so much to cause so much pain. Yet now, when her country needed her most, she was on trial for the very thing that was saving Albion.

"Your Revered Excellencies..." she began again. "I..."
"Also did the attack without permission of the Council. Explain."
"I..." Gala-Na could feel the constituents turn on her in whispers. "I can explain....I felt it neccesa-"
"To kill innocents?" The words cut through her. "There is no explanation for doing such! Councilor, I have shifted through the records, and I see no efficient evidence to stand by your claim that the guardian of the Floating Island is indeed responsible for the massacre on the Floating Island."
"W-what?!" Gala-Na could feel her cheeks redden. "Revered Excellency...!"
"There is no evidence." The judge to the left pointed to her. "But we will forgive your blatant overstepping. You have a career worthy of greatness, and no one wishes to see the leader of Albion deposed over a misunderstanding. Simply have the forces retreat. That is all, and we will send our forgiveness to the Acorn monarchy for the upsetting foolishness."

At this point Gala-Na lost it. With an angry flare in her eyes, she pointed angrily to Ovashenie, her voice angered.

"I have something to say." Her glare could almost cause the judge to combust into flames. "This entire court is a mockery to the people of this city!"
"Councilor! You are out of order!"
"This whole affair is out of order!" Gala-Na turned to the attendees. "I have worked to try to protect this city, and all I get for my troubles is a telling to like I am a child! What thanks is this for helping all of you?!"

The room was completely silent. Gala-Na knew she had made a mistake.

"Councilor." Ovashenie's voice was dark. "We were readily prepared to forgive you your transgression. Sadly, your behavior begs otherwise. We WILL NOT tolerate blasphemy of such immature proportions!"

The crowd began to roar its approval of the judges. For the first time, Gala-Na could feel the helplessness rage within her as she looked around. She was alone, all alone.

"And such forth, until you give an acceptable apology for your actions, as well as withdrawing your forces..." The gavel slammed down, like an exploding bomb. "We hereby move to censor Gala-Na, Head Councilor of Albion, from any and all hearings and movements by the political structure of this city! On the authority of Albion, on the soul of Aurora, so it shall be on the hearts and souls of your excellencies, the Council!!"

The crowd shifted, nodding and shouting its approval. Never in Albion's history had the leader of their congress ever evoked such anger in the room, and the anger followed Gala-Na as she stormed out, tears streaking her face, her anger knowing no bounds.
I will show you... Teeth clenched, Gala-Na could only think of the monster who destroyed her. I will show you all! And then, to Knuckles!

---------------------

"...........................Locke..............................................."

Slowly, from the strange sea of darkness, of twisted memories, of the mind's blackness, the light which blotted the blackness, Locke slowly re-emerged. His eyes slowly opened back into the present of hopelessness, his head on the soft pillow. His body ached with disease.
A dream...

"Locke."

The voice echoed into his mind, and his mind struggled to identify the heavenly tone, its origins. For a moment, he saw blue eyes again, blonde hair down her face, a sad, relieved smile. Yet....

"........Kakyuu?"

He knew his illusion was unreal, and he ordered his mind to shift the image its rightful colors. Blonde and blue became red.

"Oh." Reality back in focus, Kakyuu smiled at Locke as he began to come back. "You're awake. I'm so happy."
"Princess..."

Locke closed his eyes, his head hurting, his body flaring up with fever, and his side screaming. The memories of sleep still harkened at him, snarled at him. It's all gone...

"I....I hope you are feeling better. You certainly look better." Kakyuu quietly put her hand under his neck. "Here."

The tea was warm in his throat, and it felt good. This entire body felt sore, and it felt good for someone to hold him up like this. As his eyes began to scan and re-take his surroundings - the spare room in Hikawa - he noticed something on his hand.

"Kakyuu..."
"Oh." The tea quickly went down, holding his hand down. "No. You mustn't pick those. That's part of the problem, this pox."
"Pox...."
"Yes." Kakyuu's face saddened slightly. "An element of the human condition, I'm afraid. Its attacked you, as well as other maladies."
"How....did I..."
"We don't know." Kakyuu looked down. "Whatever the reason, your body is not used to this type of disease. We thought about that while you were gone."
"A while?" A question began to rise. "How-"
"A week." The tea went into his mouth. "Please. Don't exert yourself. Drink."

Locke closed his eyes again, the tea soothing his throat. As he leaned, he felt Kakyuu's hand under his neck, bending up so that he might be able to savor his drink. Her scent was in his nostrils. It filled him as the tea did, but instead of nourishing his body, it somehow nourished his battered soul, enticing him to do her bidding.
Intoxicating...

"Is it good?" Her smile fit with her aroma, with her tea, simply sweet. "Its camomile. Makoto gave this to me for when you awoke. You tossed and turned so much in your delirium, we knew you would be tired upon waking."
"Delirium..."

Panic began to seize Locke at the word. He knew what had happened to men in the fit of fever; they were liable to say anything that came to them.

"Princess."
"No." Kakyuu shook her head. "Kakyuu. To the man who saved me, it's unfair for you to think of time with me as something formal."
"....Kakyuu...." It sounded far better and felt far better on Locke's numbed tongue than 'princess'. "What did I say in my delirium..."

Kakyuu's eyes widened in surprise. She looked down, her hand slowly guiding Locke's neck back towards his pillow, which felt far too uncomfortable and hard upon his hitting it.

"It would be shameful to tell you now." Kakyuu leaned down to him, her eyes saddened. "From one kindred spirit to another, I couldn't bear to see you in pain if I told you."

Locke could feel rose petals on his cheeks as she finished her speaking. They softly brushed on his cheek, pausing for a moment in one particular spot. The roses, however, smelled like lilacs to Locke, and it caused his heart to pound furiously.
The scent stayed as Kakyuu straightened herself up. She looked over towards the door, her face etched with suspicion. After a moment, however, she shook her head.

"You need your rest." Her hand glided down his face. "Please, sleep."

Locke could feel a strange power course through his body as Kakyuu's hand caressed his reddened, pox-spotted face. Slowly, he felt his eyes grow heavier until, finally, he relapsed back into a deep, and thankfully dreamless, sleep. It was the first time a woman had ever done that for him.

-------------------------------


"Really!" Yaten huffed. "That old man, Locke. Pilfering Usagi first, and now necking up to our princess!"
"I don't know what to say about that cowboy." The two went into the bathroom. "But he looks so dirty and sneaky. Not fit for anyone."
"Like what Haruka called him, a 'sugar daddy'."
"Grabbing for skirts, I assume…"
"Lay off of him."

Yaten and Taiki both turned their heads. Seiya silently carved a bar of soap, her head and hands peeping out of the tub of bubbles.

"He's got enough on his mind with his sickness for you to be saying such things." Seiya looked up at the two. "So just let him be."
"Seiya!" Taiki looked at Seiya as if she had suddenly sprouted several more heads. "You can't be defending that dirty pedophile!"
"He's not a pedophile."
"Oh, and being divorced is better?" Yaten shuddered. "What would the people of Kinmoku say of….him….if they knew Kakyuu was even thinking of him?!"
"Come on." Seiya rolled her eyes. "Why does Kakyuu have to judge her happiness upon what the people want all the time?"
"Because she's a princess!" Yaten shouted. "She's the heir to the throne of the Star Queen, her mother, Kakyoku! The ruler of our system, and princess of Red Ceres! She doesn't need to mingle with an old, slovenly, divorced, temple-worker Mobian echidna that's only remotely trying to be human!"
"I never saw him dirty." Seiya looked down. "And you don't know what you're talking about. Mobian echidnas can be noble."
"Oh yeah?" Taiki crossed her arms. "Tell me one time when Mobian echidnas ever even lifted a finger for Kinmokians, or for anyone at that."
"I'm sure there have been times-"
"Seiya." Yaten turned away. "I have stated it before. I shall state it again. I will never trust those from the race of thieves who stole the Tskintsu. They are all a pack of dogs."

Seiya said nothing as the two left the bathroom. She simply crushed the bar of soap in her hands.

-------------------


"How…do you know about Sailor Crystals?"

Knuckles repeated the question. Sonic looked at the echidna, than back at Tails, his thoughts more and more confounded by the new words.

"Tails..."
"How else?" Tails looked confused. "I learned of their power."
"Their power…"
"It covered this world for two hundred years."
"Ok…" Sonic began to take steps back. "You are really beginning to scare me, Tails…I think you're pulling my leg and it's not funny..."
"Sonic, why are you scared?"
"Because….I mean…it's not possible!" Sonic looked at Knuckles. "This 'Sailor Crystal'....whatever that is.....can't be as strong as Chaos Emeralds! Chaos Emeralds are the basis of ultimate power!"
"Yes, that's true, at least to you. But Knuckles could easily disagree."
"What do you mean?"
"Tell him," Tails turned to Knuckles. "What you saw."

Knuckles looked at Tails, slightly uncertain and unnerved. Tails simply nodded his approval.

"All right…." Knuckles turned back to Sonic. "Sonic, you may not believe me, but….there is a warp on this planet."
"Tell me so-"
"No. Nothing until I finish." Knuckles shook his head. "And I don't mean a warp zone. I mean, an honest to goodness warp - a wormhole of sorts - that leads to another part of the universe."
"Wha…?"
"It leads to a planet similar to ours. And on that planet is a power, a great power, called the Silver Crystal." Knuckles took another breath. "There were Chaos Emeralds on that planet as well. Someone tried to harness their power to destroy this planet…..Earth. But the Silver Crystal…..a Sailor Crystal, as Tails put it….it reversed the power of the Emeralds and bathed everything in a cleansing spell. And everything was frozen for a thousand years so that everything could be cleansed. But when it cleansed Earth the power must have gone through the warp which leads to this world…..and the power, it was obviously corrupted in some way…."
"So….." Sonic crimped an eyebrow. "You're saying that these vines aren't a result of the bull you pulled outside against Albion?"
"Yes."
"This Crystal is responsible?"
"Yes."
"And we've been frozen for centuries."
"Yes…"
"I don't believe it."
"Sonic?!"
"I just don't. How can infinite power be controlled? And if this 'Silver Crystal' is what you gu-"
"Sonic!" Knuckles slapped his forehead. "Figure…..Look, I know it sounds ridiculous, but answer this! Has Dr. Quack figured out what happened? Is there any scientific explanation from anyone?! And think about this." Sonic opened his mouth but was cut off before he could speak. "Albion's troops had Eggman's machinery with them. Where did they get it? They sure as hell didn't make it themselves! And where is Eggman? I'll tell you where. Dead! The Crystal power cleansed this planet too. And look at yourself! You body has changed too. You may not feel different. But you definitely look different."
"I……" Sonic stared at Knuckles, unable to answer. "I………um……"
"Knuckles." Tails looked up at the echidna. "Everything you said…..it makes perfect sense to me. Except for one thing."
"One thing?"
"The last part." Tails looked at Sonic. "The aging is a possible side effect of the Crystal. Since Sonic had been "tainted" by that bullet, it seems plausible that the energies from the crystal that reside in his body, as it does in all our bodies, had to remove the impurity by aging him, thus erasing injury. But the new look?" Tails pointed to Sonic. "The black and red skin, the fur white belly? I don't think that had anything to do with the Silver Crystal."
"Then with what does it have to do with?"
"The very same thing which allowed you to change into your green form, Knuckles."

Knuckles' eyes widened at this comment. Rotor's did as well, but he kept his tongue in cheek.

"The Chaos Emeralds?!"
"It makes sense." Tails looked back at Knuckles. "Athair said that, sometime in the future, we were to be Mobius's greatest champions. He told us that it would be when we were a little older, yet he also said it would be far into the future. And look. It is two hundred years after Athair's warning. Our ultimate forms - fusions of Chaos and Sailor power, it seems - transcend our 'super', 'hyper' or 'turbo' forms. But we ourselves did not age. Our futures were thrown off by various elements….elements both unimportant and universal. So, in order to make up for the imbalance in our destinies, when a catastrophic event strikes our bodies, our bodies are simply reacting to our intended design by aging." The fox's audience stared at him, shocked. "The Chaos Emeralds are our main source of power, but when Knuckles first used his chaos energies, he didn't have them completely under his control. But after the Silver Crystal's powers cleansed him…"
"….He kicked major ass without killing anyone on our side!!!!" Sonic gave a laugh of realization. "I don't know why, but it's starting to make sense to me! It's the most ridiculous thing…..and I'm believing it!!!!"
"Believing what?"

The four suddenly turned to the door, where Antithesis stood, his face somber.

"Sorry…." His hand held out a note. "Knuckles, this…..this came for you from the Albion camp. From Gala-Na."

Knuckles looked at Sonic, then at Tails, before reluctantly taking the envelope. Slowly opening it, he read slowly, before closing his eyes and crumpling the paper in his hands. With nothing to say, he left the room, throwing the paper to the floor.

"Knux?"

Sonic looked down at the paper. He picked it up, uncrumpled it and began to read:



"To Knuckles, Sworn Enemy of the Echidnas of the Great Albion:

"I, Gala-Na, Head Councilor of Albion, have a sworn duty to protect the people of this world and others from the cruel advances of those who stand by to destroy them - war criminals, monsters, murderers, terrorists and thieves. They are those whom
you have called your allies. For this transgression, punishment must be laid.

"You are hereby challenged to surrender. I call upon you to at least show up to the Albion camp within the next 14 hours to confess to your crimes, if you feel any compassion for those you have destroyed. If you do not, then we will not only continue our assault upon Knothole Kingdom, but we will also consider the aforementioned kingdom to be your ally. Henceforth, there will be no qualms to destroying each and every single villager our army may come across. Age and rank has no bearing on the capability to perform evil.

"Signed in the presence of Aurora,

"Gala-Na"




Sonic's face turned red as he read the letter. His hands, followed by his arms, began to tremble. His eyes closed tightly.

"I tried to convince her." Antithesis shook his head. "I tried to tell her that Knuckles was innocent, that what they found in the sunken island should have suggested outsiders. I sent a letter to the judges of Albion with my case. But she won't listen to me. Anyone. She's so angry…..because of that letter…….she's turned on me….on everyone."
"And now Knuckles is going to die because of this." Sonic seemed to spit acid under his voice.
"………..I'm afraid so."
"No." Sonic's voice was dark. "Knuckles may not be a good friend, But I won't let Gala-Na threaten innocent people. This has gone too far."

As Sonic began to walk, he stopped turned around and looked back at Tails.

"I need to borrow those shoes..."

----------------

"....Here it is."

The three outer soldiers stood in the desert, their hair blowing in the breeze.

"Time is short. A crisis approaches him."
"Then there is no time to waste. The power of association awaits us in battle."

Uranus looked at Pluto, her face confused. She could tell the comment was more pointed towards her than to Neptune. She could only hang her head down.

"Then let us go, huh?"

With a shudder, Uranus walked foward, her body distorting, shifting, until it went into the wind, mingling with the sand.

"Let us go."

The other two followed, their bodies becoming opaque and transparent as the air around them, the atmic structure leaving one plane of existence and entering the next.

-------------------------------

The startled light approaches.

It can sense the volatility of the situation. From around the world, hundreds, no, thousands put in danger in the sacred city. How will it stop the violence? What is causing the violence.

The startled light knows that ot must return. The chaos can be stopped. It must return, spread its wings, rebirth once more. The world is approaching a new awakening.

The light can only hope that its power will fulfill what it started out to do. The promise it made. If it can not fill the void of hope for Earth, then the light will be helpless. For it can only wish to be left unaware of what would replace the light if it should fail.