NOCH

(Night)





"….Can it be?"

There was an almost abject silence in the room after the contents of the letter were revealed. Even Minako, who admittingly had a fear of complete silence, was stunned to speechlessness.
It seemed especially unfair in a way, at least to most of the Freedom Fighters. It seemed impossible that one they thought had died, one they perhaps even hoped had died, was instead possibly alive, and the author of the complex, subtle, and hellish events that had pertained to them. Yet it all made perfect sense, which made it even more shocking that they had not been careful to notice it before, to prevent it from getting seriously worse.

"….Dad." Knuckles finally stood up. "That can't be right. Please. Say that's wrong!"
"I…I can't."

Locke was most stunned of all. It was, in his opinion, a great failure on his part, that he had not seen it either. The Dark Legion had attacked those he had come to respect, perhaps even (in some cases) love. Yet he kept denying it, because he didn't want to believe it. As far as he had been concerned, he wanted it to be that the Dark Legion had died with the Island.
….It isn't that easy…. Locke felt numbed. Why, for once, can it not be easy…

"Incredulous!"
"I don't believe it."
"But then again what wou-"
"A-hem."

Kakyuu looked around the table at the Freedom Fighters. They slowly turned their heads to look at the redhead princess.

"I think you could explain a little about whom this 'Lien-Da' figure is." Kakyuu looked towards Locke. "Is it as bad as we think?"
"Worse, highness."

Knuckles looked at Julie-Su, whom also stood up. Clearing her throat (as well as glaring at Yaten, who seemed uncomfortable about her appendages) she started.

"Lien-Da is my stepsister. She was a leader in the Dark Legion before the fall of the Island. Both she and her brother Kragok usurped the power of the troops from our father." She could feel the glares from Yaten and Taiki intensifying at the mention of her relations; she tried to ignore them. "When Knuckles obtained his powers, Lien-Da secretly attempted a coup d'eat on our great-great grandfather, the leader of the Dark Legion when he reawakened from his 400-year slumber."
"Figures." Sally heard Yaten mutter from the side of his mouth. "Just like an echidna to cause entropy."
"Could you shut up?" From were Sonic was sitting, Sally saw him side-mouthing as well. "I'd rather hear this than your bitching."
"She failed, but she managed to put the blame on the Brotherhood." Locke's eyes widened slightly; it was obvious that even he had no knowledge of such an attempt. "That's what started the street war that was occurring when Atrava attacked us. Even Knuckles thought that the Brotherhood had been responsible."
"Not anymore…" Knuckles looked down. "But when the Island was destroyed, a lot of people seemed to think the DL was dead. Considering the bulk of the forces were stationed in Echidnapolis, naturally that would have been the assumption."
"Which leads to an element of surprise." Ami nodded. "That must be how this 'Lien-Da' decided to work her way into world domination…if, of course, that's what the Legion wanted to accomplish?"
"But then what about those other Legionnaires?"
"Other…?"

Knuckles' eyes widened; he realized he had slipped.

"What other Legionnaires, Knuckles?"
"…The ones in Albion?"
"Pluto..!"
"They were probably nothing more than innocent bystanders." Pluto contemplated. "Meaning that they are not only still alive, but that we should, perhaps, talk to them. If anyone could possibly clear up whether or not Lien-Da is still alive, or whether this is a doppleganger-"
"Nuh-uh." Julie-Su shook her head. "As sure as that sniper who tried to kill me back in Council, I'm positive this isn't any doppleganger."

Tried to kill…..

Usagi falls again


"She's right."
"Eh?" Sally turned to Locke.
"It is Lien-Da." Locke looked at Julie-Su. "I'm sure. Even if the letter hadn't been what had showed me, the sniper would have."
"Sniper…USAGI!!!" Rei's eyes widened.
"Usagi?" Knuckles looked at his father. "Wait. You can't mean tha-"
"No."

The new voice traveled into everyone's ears. The sailor soldiers suddenly straightened, and in a somber tone stood up to see Usagi in front of them, Hotaru at her side.

The beautiful girl fell, her blonde hair everywhere, as Sonic watched.

"Who's that?" Rotor tilted his head.
"No way…" Sonic stared in disbelief at the girl.
"Princess!"
"Usagi!!"
"Sailor Moon…"

The soldiers started towards her, but the girl shook her head.

"No. I'm fine."
"Usako.."
"Mamo-chan…" Usagi looked at Mamoru. "This is no time for such frailties. The crisis approaches."
"Not in your condition!" Makoto slapped herself in the head.
"I'm all right." Usagi forced a smile. "Hotaru healed me. I'm okay, honestly."

Even Sonic could tell that it wasn't all right; Usagi was thirsting for the blood of her assassin as well.

"You should be careful." For the first time in the proceedings, Tails, who had been in a corner, finally spoke. "You're in the greatest danger of us all."
"Tails?"
"…Where is she?" Usagi left Hotaru and slowly walked towards the group. "Where is this horrid woman?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out…"
"What do you mean, figure out?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Obvious?"
"Think about it." Rotor tapped his head. "There's only two possible places she could truly be. This place, or somewhere on Mobius. Only because she wants us to find her easily, for whatever reason-"
"For the Creed."

Everyone turned once again to the door to find Luna, paper in her mouth.

"Luna…" Locke paled, and nearly fainted at the sight. "Those are…!!"
"I'm sorry." Luna dropped them in front of the table. "I took them from your bag."
"…….What is that?"

The Freedom Fighters felt a twinge of fear upon seeing the papers in front of them. It was as if that was the origin of many troubles and tribulations for them.

"This," Luna slowly nodded towards the scraps. "Is the enemy's goal. These papers describe a process embedded into all of us. But it makes it far faster to obtain."
"Steppenwolf's Creed."
"Steppenwolf?"
"It is a long story, Knuckles…" Locke looked down. "One that must be saved for now."
"Indeed." Artemis, who had followed Luna, jumped up on the table. "And, of course, to procure that our enemy doesn't obtain these papers, we will destroy them while you pursue her."
"Destroy them!"
"It's the only way. Nothing good can come from this anymore."
"But the papers…" Seiya looked at Locke. "If Serenity had a hand in hiding them in the first place, as you mentioned to me…and handed to Locke by supernatural force (as it can be assumed, since only the aforementioned would have been capable of knowing its location) wouldn't they be protected by magic?"
"That is why we will destroy them." Luna pointed to Artemis. "We are the only ones who know the proper handling of the magic used to bind the paper. If we are successful, it will render the spell of the Tskintsu's last page completely useless. The knowledge can't be revealed if the pages are destroyed."
"And we will go find Lien-Da?" Sally gave a sigh. "This will be harder than thought…"
"Not really." Rei shook her head. "They are most likely in Albion."
"How do you say?" Usagi asked.
"Well….there hasn't been any sign of them since the summit began."
"And if they're not in Albion, they are probably on their way." Neptune took out her mirror. "If they were here in Tokyo, they would have been able to unlock the page and they would have the Creed."
"A mistake on Lien-Da's part." Bunnie smiled. "This means y'all have a suhprise."
"Nuh uh. She'll be expecting us." Julie-Su rolled her eyes. "No matter what, she's prepared for just about everything."
"And even if she wasn't in Albion…"

Everyone turned to Tails once more, who finally looked up at the group.

"….we'd have to go."
"Tails?!" Sonic shook his head. "Oh great…"
"Why?"
"Because of these."

Taking off his backpack, Tails quietly took out six small, colored gems. As soon as they hit the table, a glow seemed to come from the soldiers.

"What the…?!?"
"Our power…reacting to the gems?!?"
"The Chaos Emeralds?!?" Knuckles' eyes widened. "How…"
"The last Emerald, and Master Emerald, have been taken to Albion."
"Impossible! Sally scratched her head. "Tails, how could it be that you have these?!"
"These are the Seven of Mobius."
"Of course…."

Though only Sonic heard Pluto's flabbergasted reply, it was accompanied by a seeming look of understanding, which most attributed to the existence of the other set of Emeralds on Earth.

"That doesn't sound right." Rotor cocked his head. "There can't be just seven. What about the 14 of the Master Emerald? What about the six in Station Square, or the Torn-"
"They are simply spawned vessels, destroyed by the Silver Crystal. These are the original Seven, the same that crashed into the world during the ancient Days of Fury. As for the Master Emerald, it too was a hallowed vessel of fourteen spawns, but it simply evolved into the Controller because it could absorb and contain so much power."

Tails said it in such a tone that no one doubted his certainty, as unnerving as it was. Usagi simply stared, her mouth open.

"If any of us stand a chance, we must collect these seven together. That is why we must go to Albion. Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!"
"And stop Lien-Da from getting to Earth."

Luna gave a shudder. She then jumped off of the table.

"Come, Artemis." Luna nodded towards the group. "You all have a long day tomorrow."

With nothing left to say, the cats left, the vaunted papers with them.

"Well."

Kakyuu slowly stood up. One by one, everyone else followed suit, their thoughts running through the inevitable.

"Time for us all to leave. We have a big day tomorrow."

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

"….Data, confirm location…….data, confirm location………control, are you there?"

Frustrated, exhausted, the black echidna put the comlink down with a huff. All around him, the troops walked slowly, the tanks creeping behind them.

"Any luck?"
"Not an iota. Everything's dead."
"You think that guardian had anything to do with it?"
"Huh." The black echidna wiped his brow. "Who knows. These times, anything is possible. Maybe flying pigs attacked our sovereign city."
"Shadup."

The worn Forest Fighters were no longer in their namesake. They were going home, an urgent message put upon them by Ovashenie, the revered judge, which urged that they return immediately. Upon the end of the transmission, however, the black echidna had yet to have any further conversation with the home base for the past hour.

"Madorowe!"
"Hmm?" The black echidna looked up at the lieutenant, his face slightly annoyed. "What do you want?"
"Sir, take a look at this!"
"This had better be good."

With a huff, the echidna took out a pair of binoculars. Through it, he saw the city in the distance.

"So energy residue is a little higher. That's normal for this time of day-"
"No, the visuals, sir. Set it to 3.5, and you'll understand."

With a click and a snap, the reds and blacks turned to the normal colors of the day, the greens of the plain and the greys of the city. Looking down, the commander Madorowe paused.

"See, sir?"

There was no reply. Simply staring at the dots which lined the plain.

"…..Are those…"
"They would seem to be, sir."
"What the…" The binoculars came off, Madorowe's eyes staring blankly. "What are they doing?"

The tiny dots, trembling slowly in fear, growing larger from a tiny stream, which flowed from Albion. Madorowe was completely stunned.

"The city….is evacuating?!"
"This is no good." The lieutenant muttered. "That guardian must have done something."
"I don't think that guardian would have left anyone alive if he took the city, lieutenant…"

Another possibility began to push into the minds of the Forest Fighters. It was a possibility that had seemed impossible before.

"Well, men!" Madorowe shouted. "Move in, talk to everyone! We'll get to the bottom of this yet!"

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

The night is long and heavy upon the restless heroes, who find no comfort in slumber and its incessant nightmares. All try to find other ways to keep their minds off of the atrocity of the next day, that what dawn will bring upon them next. Unfortunately, it is not so easy.


---


"My move."

Minako contemplated the card, then moved the yellow piece nearest Rei, bumping her back to start.

"Sorry!"
"….Of course." Rei's voice was low. "I see."
"My turn."

Makoto took her card, looked over the board, then quietly bumped Minako back to start with her sole green piece.

"Sorry."
"Ar!" Minako scoffed. "Meanie Mako-chan!"
"You were the closest to my piece."
"So?"
"Hmm…" Rotor rubbed his chin. "This is a highly unusual game."
"How so?"
"Well…" Rotor turned red. "I find it stupid."

The answer was met with a barrage of pillows, save from Rei, who simply kept her head down, and Ami, who was looking at her card.

"Yeech!" Antoine spat a feather from his mouth. "Zees ees no way to treat such a man az moi!"
"You should have ducked," Minako giggled evilly. "Besides, no game that I'm going to win is stupid!"
"I win."

Makoto and Minako turned sheepishly to Ami, who indeed had all four pieces in home.

"……Gr…." Minako seethed. "Stupid game!!"
"Ah, and now it's different because you've lost?"
"Of course it is!" Minako muttered. "It's different because when you lose, you have no chance of winning!"
"Then there's only two things you can do."
"….What's that?"
"Play again or find another game."
"Blech." Minako winced. "You're weird…"

Rei didn't answer into the conversation, which followed upon winning and losing games. She seemed completely lost in thought about something she would never admit to her friends. Her feelings were mixed, but she realized that perhaps he really didn't love her.
….Did I ever even have the chance…

"Let's play pitch!"
"Ha! A game of chance!"


---


"You're all right?"
"Yeah." Knuckles nodded. "We'll be fine."

With a slow nod, Mamoru began to close his door.

"Wait…"
"Hmm?"
"Where are you going?"
"Out."

The door slammed. With that, Julie-Su and Knuckles were left alone in Mamoru's apartment.


---


"Luna, how much more?"
"Not much longer. If he doesn't come to the door, we'll just leave."

The two cats waited patiently in front of Hikawa Shrine. Clouds began to pass slowly over the fog.

"Why not just get one of the girls?"
"No." Luna's voice was firm. "You know the procedure. We must have an unaffiliate, one unfamiliar with magic."
"Really, though, Luna…"
"Who's there?"

The two cats suddenly stood at attention as Fortinbras came out, beating his shoulders against the cold. He looked down at the cats, his eyes widened.

"Now….what are you doing back here?" he stammered.


---


"The night's beautiful, isn't it?"
"…Mmm hmmm."

Sally leaned back on the bench. She stared listlessly towards the stars. They glittered nonchalantly in the sky.

"Sonic."
"Yeah?" The black hedgehog seemed completely exhausted as he sat next to her. "What?"
"….Do you think the sky is clear here?"
"Clear?"
"Yeah. It just….I've never seen this many stars out on Mobius."
"Maybe."

Sonic seemed lost in thoughts unknown to the princess. He looked up towards the sky, but his glance seemed to be more of a way to zone from reality, to forget. Sally didn't really blame him for the most part, but she felt rather preturbed by his seeming cold demeanor since their dismissal from the arcade.

"It's a little cold."
"We're near a lake."
"Sonic." Sally's voice came out a little sharper. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
"You liar. Ever since this new body of yours, you've been acting cold and unusual to all of us. As if you don't want to bother listening anymore." Sally shifted to look at him. "What is it you're hiding from me?"

Sonic looked over at Sally. His eyes were saddened.

"I don't know. That's the problem."
"You don't…" Sally looked at Sonic, a confused look on her face. "How can you know that's the problem if you don't know what is wrong in the first place?"
"I just…know."

Sonic gave a huff, turning away. After a moment, Sally quietly slid closer to the black hedgehog.

"Sonic…"
"What?"
"Are you worried?"
"About tomorrow?"
"…Yes."
"If you want the truth…." Sonic paused. "Yeah, I'm a little unnerved. With this, and Tails I'm no-"
"Tails?"
"Don't tell me you've not noticed his behavior."
"That's not it, but…"

Sally suddenly felt a hand under her chin. The hand slowly and gently turned her head up to where she could meet Sonic eye to eye.

"You're worried about him too, right?"
"I…" Sally's eyes widened.
"I'm just as willing to bet that once this is over, Tails will finally tell us what's been really bugging him." I mustn't be too direct in my own suspicions. She looks scared as it is… "I'm confused about the Emeralds role in this overall scheme, but they're definitely connected to his behavior. I'm sure that once this crisis passes, we'll be able to disperse the Emeralds and he'll become himself again." Sonic forced a smile. "It may be slow. Maybe he will never be completely himself. But it will definitely help with the seven gems out of the way."
"But that's the thing, Sonic." Sally cocked her head in his grip, which was incredibly loose. "What if he doesn't revert back? I mean, your form, and Knuckles…I just think that this is permanent. And the gems….Just by what has been going on, this isn't like any battle we've ever been through. We're far away from our home, inexplicably far away, in a foreign place. Tomorrow, whatever we encounter in Albion. won't be like anything we've ever faced. And what if we don't win? What will happen then to Tails, and the Emeralds?…"

Sally's head went down. Her lip started to shake, but it was obvious that she didn't want to cry.

"Sal…"
"I wish I had the Sword right now…" Sally's voice shook. "I'd know what to do. I could see what would happen."
"No…"

Sonic slowly took Sally and embraced her. The princess's body began to heave as soon as he did so.

"It's true!"
"I don't think it would have helped."
"Of course it could. I might be able to stop something terrible-"
"Would you really want that? The knowledge of what's to come in your future?" Sonic looked down at Sally. "It would be terrible. It'd be just as bad, if not worse, to know what's going to happen. Because if you knew, and you couldn't prevent something you knew would happen, that would be unforgivable."
"What if somebody dies?"
"Sal." Sonic looked up to the sky so that Sally would not see him roll his eyes at the irony of his situation. "I prefer having the mystery of the future than to have the knowledge of what's going to happen. It'd be a lot harder when you know you've got a destiny to fulfill and you've got to do it on such a date or else it won't go how it's supposed to." He couldn't help chuckling. "I mean…not to drag them in….but look at the sailors. They said their princess is destined to become the queen right now. They're probably so stressed that they're one step shy of dying from massive heart attacks. I don't think you'd want that." Sonic could hear the princess snorting through her tears at that. "And why do you think time traveling is so taboo? It's kind of like the whole idea of killing your grandma, meaning you won't be born to kill your grandma, and so on and so forth. Knowing your grandmother's death will probably mean you won't be born. That would suck incredibly."
"…….I guess you're right."

Sally looked up at the hedgehog again, a small, sad smile on her face.

"I guess we'll have to wait, won't we?"
"Yeah."

Sonic again lifted Sally's face up to him, leaned in and kissed her.
……..Sonic?…
Sally's eyes widened at first from the kiss, only to close them again.


---


"Knuckles…."

Julie-Su sat down on the bed, her head down.

"You're scared." Knuckles looked towards the window; his gaze wasn't on Julie-Su. "You're scared about tomorrow."
"You can't say that you aren't…"
"I'm…not." Knuckles shook his head. "I'm frightened also."

With a huff, Knuckles sat down on the bed next to the pink echidna. For several minutes, the two said nothing to each other.

"So…" Knuckles finally rubbed his head, breaking the silence. "Do, uh, want to go to sleep? We've got a long day tomorrow."
"Sure….I suppose…"

The two realized that they were being incredibly superficial in their conversation. They were essentially alone with their thoughts, but they were doing a terrible job at expressing them, especially on the eve of a life-altering battle.

"You don't want to go to sleep, do you?"
"…I'm not tired." Julie-Su felt her face flush. "So, no…"
"Well…"

Julie-Su turned to see Knuckles looking at her in an odd fashion. She gave a gasp, her eyes widening.

"I'm not stupid, Julie-Su. I know what you're thinking."
"Uh…" Julie-Su felt her face turn even redder. "I'd think you'd be thinking that….which is why I was, uh….."
"Heh." Knuckles gave a mischievous smile. "You can't fool me. I happened to be thinking the same thing…"
"Eh…"

Julie-Su began to sweat. She twiddled her thumbs with a giggle.

"Well, I…think of the repercussions!" Her blurt was not so much a deterrent as it was a confirmation of her thoughts. "I mean…..what if Mamoru comes in, or…..what if someone who hates me finds out?!….or, why don't we just wait until after tomorrow to-"

Her half-hearted babbling was interrupted by Knuckles, who embraced her as he gave her a long, deep kiss.

"Don't worry." Knuckles cradled Julie-Su's face. "I don't think it matters anymore."


---


"Deuce!"
"God damn…"

Minako bit her fingers as Rotor took all of the cards. She looked nervously at the bystanders, who snickered.

"I could have told you not to throw that card out, Minako," Makoto muttered. "Are you sure you've played this?"
"Uh, yeah!"

Minako reddened, wishing she could just ignore the fact that she was horrible at pitch due to a terrible poker face. When she called trump, she giggled insanely and ended up losing half her meld. When she had nothing, which was many of the hands she was dealt, she gave off signs to the other team, comprised of a novice player named Rotor and Michiru, that allowed them to eat her alive where she stood.

"Let's see…" Soon, the game was over. "Ok. We've got high, low and game. Oh, wait….we have jack too."
"Rotor and Michiru win again,"
"Dammit!" Minako swore again.

At the window, Rei continued on with her silence.


---


Locke simply sat cross-legged in the shrine. He closed his eyes slowly, emptying his mind.

Must….concentrate…….Meditate……

Without any words, Locke silently dipped into unconsciousness, even as he sat upright.


---


"Mmmmm….?"

Sonic's ears twitched. Without another word he broke away from Sally .

"Sonic?"
"This way."

Suddenly, the black hedgehog picked Sally up and dove into a bush behind the bench.

"Sonic!! Wha-"
"Shh!!"

Sonic quietly pointed to a darkened figure as it walked towards the dock. The shadow silently passed over them, the two tails wagging behind.

"Tails…"
"Sh…"

The fox looked around, his ears up, before shaking his head and walking down onto the dock. He simply stood, folding his arms, as he looked up into the night sky.

"What is he doing…"
"I don't know."

Sonic looked upon the fox, pondering his potions. Slowly, quietly, he began to stand up in the bushes.

"Tails…?"

Sonic's ears perked up. He quickly ducked down behind the bush as another figure approached the dock.

"Phima Prower." Setsuna's voice rang through Sonic's ears. "At last, alone to talk."

Phima…? Wha….?
Sonic turned to Sally, whose eyes were crimped with confusion. Turning back, he nearly gasped when he saw the soldier on her knees, bowing to his friend.

"Setsuna…Pluto…." He could hear a shocked, almost scared, tone from Tails. "Please don't say that here. Not now."
"But it's true." Setsuna's head went up. "It is why you are here. It is why Sonic and Knuckles have accompanied you to Tokyo. You were drawn here…"
"But I only have Six of Seven." Tails turned back towards the foggy, moon-soaked lake. "The last one, and the Master Emerald, they are in Albion's grasp. In the enemy's grasp."
"The enemy's…"
"She's strong, Setsuna." Tails looked down. "Very strong. Her hate for the queen, for the guardians, for the soldiers make her stronger than she should be. I have a terrible feeling about tomorrow. If I must activate the emeralds before I have the last….they won't be at full power…"
"It will be all right…"

Pluto slowly stood back up. She slowly placed a hand on the young fox.

"They will evolve properly. I know they will. You'll get the last emerald; your drive makes it so."
"I hopes so…"

Wait. EVOLVE?
Sonic's eye twitched.
I thought we already evolved…

"I wonder what tomorrow night in Tokyo will be like…" Tails' voice seemed slightly saddened. "Or anywhere, for that matter. Everything hinges upon what happens tomorrow, doesn't it…"
"It's ok."

With a smile and a sigh, Setsuna left Tails to his devices once more. Slowly, as Setsuna left, Sally and Sonic slowly stood up, their faces tilted as they walked towards Tails.

He's still hiding something! Sonic felt his face redden. What the hell?!


---


A vision of perdition.

Knuckles sits, no, is laying down in the grass. The sky shines above him. There is nothing wrong on the Island.

Then it happens.

He gives a gasp as he sees a spot in the distance of the morning sky. It seems menacing, still small, but menacing.

Knuckles takes several deep deep breaths. A terrible threat, but nothing unhandled.

Or is it?

Knuckles walks up, stands up, goes to the river nearby. It seems murkier than it had been the yesteryear. Dipping his hand to retrieve water from it, he instead find warm, slimy muck on his hands.

What is this?

Knuckles asks himself that question as he begin to run, his gasps coming to him quick. What is it on the horizon that wishes to kill him…?



---


The small Juuban tower has been abandoned since the downfall of the old world. Still, the signs of the old world were apparent.

"Give me Makoto's Zippo, Artemis."
"What's all this for?" Fortinbras looked uneasily. "I have a terrible feeling about this…"

In the man's hand was a bowl filled with water. Five flame tiers sat around it, fastened by metal.

"Luna, is burning even allowed in city ordinances?"
"Eh…" Fortinbras began to sweat as Luna took out the papers. He felt the Zippo slide into his pocket. "Why are we burning things?"
"Purification." Luna dropped the papers into the bowl, the flame cups pointed at them. "They are dipped in blessed water, and the Zippo has also been blessed for this." Luna jumped off of the windowsill. "The flames will catch fire onto the papers, its magic weakened by the water, and it will turn to ash. That is how to destroy this talisman."
"Is it the only way, Luna?"
"It is, Art." Luna turned to Fortinbras. "Light them up, sir."

The diplomat gave a gulp. They were inside, and such a thing, he knew, was a critical fire hazard.

"Please." Luna looked up at him. "Please. Just do it."

With a sigh, and a reluctant look to Artemis, who only nodded, Fortinbras lit the tiny pyre on each of the five candle holes.
The old papers, soaked in shrine water, caught on fire quickly in the bowl. The smoke seethed as the paper withered, blackened, then turned to ash.

"...Tsukaneom forankas.." Luna began.
"Um, what is she saying?"
"An old tome."
"…Oh, why, yes, er…."

In five minutes it was done. With nothing more to burn, the fire blew itself out. The strong, pungent smell of old oak filled the room A strange, thick mist came off of the ash, almost as if something had been released from the papers in the quick, simple ritual.

"....Now what?"

Fortinbras wiped the sweat off of his face. It had grown unusually hot in the room for such a small blaze.

"....We bury it."

Luna looked around on the floor. There were cracks and holes everywhere in the clock tower from the disintegration of the crystal's power.

"We must bury it so that its scent of magic cannot be traced by the Tskintsu!" Luna jumped towards one of the smaller holes and began to dig through the soil under the cement. "In this way we'll stop the enemy."
"But Luna, won't the magic's demise indicate it's location to the book?"
"Perhaps. But it's a chance we must take."

Digging furiously, she finally dug deep enough to call Fortinbras over to her.

"Here." Luna took her hands out of the hole. "Pour the ashes here."

Slowly, so that none of the ashes would get onto the cement, Fortinbras poured the ashes into the soil. After that was done, Luna quickly replaced the soil and, after a search, found pieces of loose cement to cover the hole.

"There. It's finished." The cat looked up towards the ceiling of the tower "Now, all that's left to do is wait."


---


There's no turning back. None.

Knuckles sweats, gasps for air, its close. No matter how he tries to run, it is almost upon him.

Suddenly, he trips and falls on a branch. Now, it is upon him.

It had taken such short time, yet forever, as the energy rolls over him so forcefully he spasms. Within it, he sees a monster, mocking his pain, foretelling the end of all he knows, all he knew.

How he will never get it back.

Lien-Da? What are you doing?

He claws and scrapes at her face but it is nothing. He is nothing in this form to her. She is a monster to him, however.

Then came the greater pain as the ax came down and-



Knuckles suddenly jerked up and gasped.

"Julie-Su!"
"Knuckles?"
"I…." He wasn't sure what to say. "….I saw it."

Julie-Su's perplexed face looked at him as he shuddered. His body seemed to be stabbed with a million sharp needles as his back relaxed in Julie-Su's arms.

"I'm…not sure what it was…"
"A vision?" Julie-Su slowly backed off. "Like a monster?"
"Like our…enemy…Lien-Da…"

Knuckles wiped his brow. Whatever had happened afterwards, it had been painful, almost unbearable. He was happy that it was finished.

"I'm kind of scared…." Knuckles gasped; whatever had happened had taken his breath away. "What if….we are not strong enough to beat…..her, Julie-Su?"
"Knuckles."

Knuckles looked over at Julie-Su's face. Her hair covered her face as she spoke.

"If something like that happens, then we must work together. That's why….that's why we are back here." She closed her eyes. "A common purpose. Its what we all have. I may not be a sailor, and someone like Sailor Mars might not know anything about the Island, but yet we all know that something is threatening our existence together. They incensed Gala-Na - the horrible battle in Knothole - they also distributed those letters, gathering the Earth's leaders to crush them."
"And are…after Steppenwolf's Creed." Knuckles' voice came out bitterly. "The best kept conspiracy theory…of echidna society. No need to wonder why, of course."
"That too." Julie-Su reached out for Knuckles' hand. "Our worlds' destinies have been intertwined irrevocably. The day Edmund and Dimitri accepted the offer to shuttle the lost prince of Mycenae was the day that began what has led us to this. Besides…" she began to smile. "If that had never happened, our lives would be so different; we wouldn't be who we are. We wouldn't be here, doing what we're doing. We wouldn't know what we know. We'd probably be a bunch of Gala-Nas - so closed-minded that we wouldn't get it if the truth smacked us like a ton of bricks."

Knuckles had to laugh at that. His side still hurt from spasms, but he didn't care anymore.
Heh. Knuckles could feel his cheeks redden. We wouldn't be here…Perhaps it wasn't so horrible after all…
The sun began to peek from the east, illuminating the bed.
I could get used to it….


---


"Tails!"

The fox stopped, his foot at the edge of the dock. He turned to see Sally and Sonic.

"It's not nice to eavesdrop."
"Tails, why all this?" Sonic motioned in the direction Pluto went. "What in hell is a phima? Why'd she call you a phima?"
"That word is familiar..."
"Why do you have to go to Albion with us?"
"Please be careful and listen." Tails looked down. "Once the seven are united, Sonic, remember....I promise you....your visions, our power, will be fully utilized."
"Wait..."

Sonic put his hand on Tails' shoulder. Sally rubbed his hand, muttering something, though Sonic wasn't paying attention.

"What do you mean, 'utilized'? I thought we were."
"....Not completely." Tails slowly replied.
"Then....."
"I said our powers, our ultimate forms, are a result of a fusion of power. A true fusion." Tails looked up. "Ultimate power. But we have only so far been truly exposed to the Silver Crystal's power. That power will recycle itself forever, until its worn out. But Chaos Emerald power...."

Tails' voice trailed off.

"So what you're saying is that Sonics powers still aren't being realized because the power of the Emeralds left them?" Sally scratched her head confusion. "Then....what about Knuckles?"
"What about him?"
"Have you seen Knuckles?!" Sonic smacked his head. "He's a freaking living Chaos Emerald!! Why am he not activating into this 'true fusion'?"
"Because his power's not from the seven Emeralds."
"I...." It was confusing, yet it made complete sense. "Oh."
"That is why I must go with you to Albion. I pray you heard Pluto." Tails turned around. "It;s our destiny....the seven must come together....then, we will be true fusions..."

Sonic felt unnerved by the way Tails said it, but before he could press the boy was gone. Gone in a way which could only stun him as he watched. He had jumped off the dock and walked away, the water splashing puddles around the fox's feet as the sun began to rise above the skyline.


---


Locke sat quietly as the sun began to rise into the room. He was cross-legged, his eyes closed, a white sheet around his body, his hair in his face. The food Rei had passed to him was untouched.
Peace…….peace…. His mind silently dimmed. Aurora……God………anyone……lend me the strength to face this day…..

"Locke."

His meditation was suddenly broken with the sound of the door opening. The figure that entered slowly surveyed the room, the blue eyes quietly looking over everything before resting on Locke's tired figure.

"Mamoru…" The name came out muttered. Not from loathing, but from exhaustion of meditation. "What are you doing here?"

Mamoru looked down at the ground before taking his tophat off. He was as Tuxedo Mask, though Locke did not seem to notice with his eyes closed.

"I came to apologize."
"Apologize..?"
"My curtness that night. It was not justified."
"Not justified." Locke chuckled. "Only in the mind of he who said it. But I trysted with your wife. You have every right to bludgeon me, here and now."
"I can't." Mamoru looked back up. "I know you will probably not forgive me for my rudeness. But that's all I wished to say to you."
"Sir…"

Locke turned towards Mamoru, shaking his head.

"Your forgiveness is not what I'm rejecting at this moment. I forgive you, and I guess we are in many ways even." Locke's voice lowered. "But that is not what I am worried about. With my illness, and many years out of my profession, I fear I'm not quite in shape for the battle." A small smirk, a façade of his fear, came on his face. "I'm thin and weak; I wish to protect what you wish to protect. Usagi has a place in my heart forever; I fight for her. But….I have another now. I must protect her as well. And….it is my people……."
"You have a lot on your mind."
"Too much." Locke gave a sigh to hide his fear. "I have had so much brought upon me in my life at this point; this today is all the strength I have left now. I'm too tired to fight another war after this." With that, Locke closed his eyes. "This battle will either ease my living pain or introduce me to that which is beyond the living."

Mamoru looked at him before giving a slow nod, closing the door behind him.

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

The morning dew seemed thick and foreboding to all who entered the time gate that morning.

"Remember," they all heard Luna shout. "Protect the princess!!"

Sonic looked over at Tails, his heart sunk. He wasn't sure what had happened before, but he had a dread feeling of how the actions would affect what would happen. Hugging Sally, he could only do so much.

Julie-Su and Knuckles looked at each other, then turned away, their faces red. They knew discussing last night would be detrimental to the mission, though it would give them something to talk about.

Mamoru had Usagi on his shoulder. He gave a glance at Locke, though he did not quite acknowledge his presence. He still had some animosity yet.

Yaten and Taiki didn't even look at Locke at all. They had been elsewhere with their princess, trying to talk her out of her silly ideas. The effect that it had on the princess could be seen from Kakyuu's holding Locke's hand.

Makoto looked at her fellow soldiers and Freedom Fighters, incensed. She had lost two hundred dollars thanks to her professional partner, Minako Aino. Hotaru simply rolled her eyes at it; Ami read while walking; Michiru and Haruka were with Pluto.

The game had taken a special toll on Minako, who was asleep in Rotor's arms. Rotor had earplugs just for the occasion; on a side note he was also two hundred dollars richer.

Rei simply looked at Locke, her eyes saddened by her loss. She tried to tell herself it was better this way, but it was still uncomfortable. She had only felt like this for two other men, both gone either to death or, worse, her father's political aspirations.

Locke looked to see Rei looking at him, but she turned from his gaze, looking downwards. He wondered….maybe….

Behind them all, the doors of time closed on the yesterday of certainty. It was truly to be a day of battle on their final destination.