Be One World, Be The Light

Chapter 13: Our Inner Demons

For what Planet Wisp lacked in size, it made up for with its unspoiled and unmatched beauty. The land was dominated by rocky terrains with valleys, plateaus, rock pillars, fields and canyons covered in a lush variety of flora. The world's occupants happily explored their home, playing with one another while completely oblivious to the danger ahead.

Sonic the Hedgehog raced through the beautiful landscape, just as impressed by the sight as his first visit. While he loved to go sightseeing, the time for pleasurements had to wait. He darted between the lands, searching for the one responsible for bringing catastrophe to the whole universe. His heart continued to ache from the recent revelation, but next to speed, willpower was perhaps his strongest power. He persevered through, knowing the time to dwell on past failures had to wait.

He suddenly skidded to a halt, stopping short in front of a group of Wisps. "Hi there, guys!"

The aliens' expressions brightened within an instance, rushing forward to greet the hero who saved them once before. They gently nuzzled him affectionately, forcing playful giggles to escape Sonic.

"Okay, okay," Sonic laughed, gently pushing them away. His expression hardened, the sudden change of demeanour catching the Wisps by surprise. "Listen, I'm looking for a bad man. Have you seen anyone like that around here?"

While he could not understand the Wisps without Tails' translator, they appeared to understand him. The Wisps exchanged glances, communicating within their own language. One of them eventually pointed towards the sky. Sonic followed the directions, his hands tightening with anticipation. The first clone towered above him, the red Chaos Emerald held tightly within his hand.

"Ironic, is it not?" Mephiles said. "I accomplished in seconds what that imbecile could not in years. I killed you."

Sonic frowned, silently grunting at the evildoer's mockery. Refusing to let the clone get under his skin, Sonic folded his arms and matched his glaring stares. "In the back though? What, afraid to face me up close?"

"I fear nothing!" Mephiles exclaimed, apparently insulted by the comment.

"Oooh, touchy," Sonic forced himself to laugh. "How about you hand over the Chaos Emerald and we'll call it a truce?"

The clone peered down at said Chaos Emerald, brief confusion filling his lifeless eyes. "Why bother? They cannot serve you a purpose anymore. Their power has been nullified."

"Then why not give it back?" Sonic suggested with a small shrug, the Wisps lingering by his side.

Mephiles resumed his gaze, hand adjusting its grip against the gemstone. "I am oblivious to your intentions. But it matters little. Come then. Claim your prize."

Grinning at the challenge, Sonic uncrossed his arms and slid into a stance, readying himself for a battle. He glanced sideways towards the Wisps, who held anger within their eyes, becoming more assertive since their first imprisonment. "What do you say, guys? Want me to help me beat this loser?"

The Wisps eagerly nodded, racing forward to aid the hero who saved their lives once before.

Sonic grinned, high-fiving one of the Orange Wisps as it moved forward to share its power. He allowed the friendly alien to join with him, harnessing the powers of Hyper-go-on energy, granting him unique abilities that rivalled the powers of the Chaos Emeralds. He vibranted with unique energy, a confident grin returning to his face. "Let's do this! ROCKET!"

Taking the appearance of a powerful projectile, Sonic burst forward. Mephiles threw out his arms, underestimating the power of Hyper-go-on greatly. Sonic collided against the dark being with a sickening force, sending the evildoer sprawling throughout the air. The Orange Wisp departed from the airborne hedgehog, allowing a Jade Wisp to take his place. "GHOST!"

Sonic raced forward once more, leaving a trail of sparkling energy within his wake. Learning from his previous mistake, Mephiles threw out his arm and punched where he estimated Sonic would arrive. Confusion filled his gaze as the hedgehog turned transparent, going straight through the dark being with no effort. Mephiles shifted around, noting the absence of a Chaos Emerald within his grasp.

"Haha, nice!" Sonic exclaimed, securing the Chaos Emerald within his quills. The Jade Wisp left his person, calling for another Wisp to take his place. One of the several Cyan Wisps raced forward, joining powers with the blue hedgehog. "Keep it up, guys! You're doing great! LASER!"

With a soft growl, Mephiles threw both arms forward, determined to block whatever surprises Sonic held up his sleeve. The blue hedgehog burst in several directions, his speed increasing ten-fold within an instance, leaving a trail of cyan energy within his wake. Combining the power of Hyper-go-on with his own natural abilities, he repeatedly struck Mephiles from all directions, moving too fast for the evil being to keep up. The clone, clearly not holding the same powers as the original, could do nothing to shelter itself from the repeated strikes.

With one final strike, Sonic drove his foot directly into Mephiles' face, the force sending him sprawling across the land. The Cyan Wisp parted from Sonic, who landed with grace upon the ground. He threw back his arms and jetted forward, accompanied by one of each Wisp. The distance between them and their opponent shortened with great haste, forcing Sonic to hurry with his final attack.

The Wisps flew ahead and formed a circle, rotating with rapid speeds, their respective colours trailing throughout the air. Sonic quickly squinted his eyes to make sure their opponent lay dormant. With a confident nod, Sonic bounced forward and latched onto the middle of the circle. The Wisps held the hedgehog within their comforting grasp, granting their unique power for Sonic to use as he pleased. His fur brightened with more shades of colour than a rainbow, his power now greatly amplified.

Mephiles made no attempt to move out of harm's way, spreading his arms with determination. "Go ahead, Sonic. Do as you will please. You cannot stop the inevitable."

"You're not the first person to tell me I can't win and you won't be the last!" Sonic confidently responded, his voice now amplified with intensity. "Sayonara, Mephiles. FINAL COLOR BLASTER!"

The superpowered Sonic shot forward, consumed by the Hyper-go-one-energy. Mephiles threw up his arms in a final attempt to cushion the blow. The ferocity at which Sonic moved at allowed him to push through the futile defence, shattering the clone to pieces. What remained of the clone faded away, bursting into raw energy. Sonic threw himself back to where the dark being had once stood, still surrounded in a blanket of colours.

With a relieved sigh, Sonic relinquished control of the Wisps' powers, returning to his normal state. The Wisps returned to his side, letting their joy be known as they danced around in circles. Sonic briefly smiled at their innocence, returning focus to the Chaos Emerald. The gemstone rested within his hand, completely void of any life. While troubled by how he was going to return their power, concerns for his friends overshadowed his mind.

"I hope the others are doing okay. Silver, Blaze, hang in there. We're coming."

The sunshine and fresh air weaved together in Frog Forest, as if they were threads of divine daydreams. Giant mushroom trees lingered in all directions, the native frogs roaming around the lush land to their heart's contents. Within the centre of the endless green, Team Chaotix reminisced about their previous adventures that once brought them through this land.

"Boy, haven't been to this place in a while," Vector announced, peering around the dense rainforest.

"At least we don't have to waste time looking for Chao again," Charmy added. "I mean, why would anybody want ten Chao?"

"We could only find nine," Espio corrected.

"You really landed us in a jam that day," Vector said, pausing to rub the side of his head. "I can still feel Amy's hammer. You just had to cause a scene by asking for Cheese, didn't you?"

Espio shot an offended stare at his boss. "Me? You were the one who took offence to Amy mistaking your question for flirting."

"Well, who asks someone to hand over their Chao?"

"What grown man gets offended by a teenage girl?'

Their heated argument caught the attention of one of the large frogs perched on a lilypad nearby. Apparently startled by their argument, it suddenly bounced up and down while croaking. The trio collectively shifted their gaze towards the sky. From blossomed clouds come water-petals into the fresh spring air.

"Great," Vector remarked drily. "Nice going, Espio."

"Between the two of us, you are the louder one," Espio responded.

"And between the two of you, you are both fools."

The detectives shot forward, taken back by the sudden appearance of the one they sought. The second clone of Mephiles hovered absently within the air, the raindrops softly evaporating against the scorching aura surrounding his person. He glared towards the unfamiliar trio, all the while the green Chaos Emerald rested within his palm. Shaking away the initial surprise, Team Chaotix readied themselves for the inevitable battle.

"Mephiles," Espio greeted firmly. "Hand over that Chaos Emerald. Clear your conscience before your death."

Amused by the detective's warnings, Mephiles threw back his head and cackled, raindrops trailing down his face like waterfalls. "Foolish child. I have no guilt."

Espio's eyes narrowed, drawing three shurikens into his palm. "So be it."

With a suppressed roar, Espio hurled the three projectiles forward. The three blades hit their mark, piercing through Mephiles' head with ease. Espio masked the shock that mounted his face, forced to witness his own failure. Mephiles calmly swiped the weapons from his face, any trace of injury fading away. The shurikens dropped against lush ground, now smeared with fresh blood.

"Is that all?" Mephiles taunted. "Shadow could not stop me. What chance do the three of you have?"

Vector's jaws tightened, his mighty temper beginning to fuel his veins with lava. Though his arms trembled with anticipation, he assessed the situation as a detective would. Their opponent was incredibly strong, wielding a power like no other. Unlike Doctor Eggman, who often showed some restraint, Mephiles had no limitations. He would do whatever it took to achieve his goals, even if it meant erasing the whole universe of its existence.

With renewed confidence, Vector grinned and turned to his brothers-in-arms. "Let's break out the Chaotix Recital, boys!"

Charmy beamed in agreement. "Yeah!"

Espio nodded. "Roger!"

Mephiles, curious as to what plan they were drafting, held position within the air. Different instruments now appeared within their hands. A hint of surprise filled his otherwise lifeless eyes, silently questioning as to where these instruments appeared from. A microphone appeared between Vector's hands, Charmy strapped a single drum over his chest and Espio cradled a shamisen, using his kunai blade as a makeshift plectrum.

"All right, boys!" Vector declared. "Let 'em have it!"

Espio strummed his shamisen aggressively, calling on every ounce of willpower to rid the evil of this world. "Born in the darkness, to live in the darkness, that's the ninja's creed!"

Charmy repeatedly pounded on the drum without any rhythm, squealing with enthusiasm. "Bee-bee-bee! Charmy the Bee! Charmy the Bee's got lots of honey!"

In accordance with his teammates, Vector inhaled deeply, filling his powerful lungs with extensive pressure. With the mighty microphone held close to his jaws, he let his voice be known, bellowing with every ounce of passion for music. "Yeah, yeah, I'm the one, I'm Vector the Crocodile!"

Their combined efforts amplified the surrounding area, loud sounds echoing throughout the lush forest, even as the rain threatened to drown out their voices. Mephiles stood his ground, amused by the false act of bravado. That's when both hands suddenly clutched against his aching skull, brain threatening to leak blood at any moment. Team Chaotix poured their souls into the music, forcing every ounce of reserved strength to beat the evildoer. His arms and legs trembled, blood pounded within his ears.

"Keep it at, boys!" Vector encouraged, bringing the microphone closer to his jaws, ready for the next verse. "Team Chaotix! They're detectives you want on your side."

Mephiles softly growled, his vision slowly becoming distorted. The world around him spun, his head pounded, sharpy and heavy. The horrid noise that echoed from the trio threatened to turn him inside out. The rhythm of blood throbbed in his temple, skull pounding like crazy and stick hot needles within his eyes. His ears could no longer withstand the intensity, the air around him became polluted with loud noise. The evildoer popped like a balloon, sending out a sudden sound as if each vibration had learned to travel at the speed of light.

The air around them became peaceful once more, their music fading away into the rainstorm. Vector dropped the microphone and slumped forward, inhaling precious air. Espio and Charmy set their instruments down to one side, the former quickly racing forward to retrieve the Chaos Emerald before one of the wildlife took interest in the gem. The detective cradled the lifeless Chaos Emerald, noting its gentle presence was no more.

"Man, I gotta lay off the pizza," Vector grumbled, rubbing his aching chest. Before long, he held a supportive thumbs up to his friends. "Good work, boys!"

"That. Was. Awesome!" Charmy exclaimed, balling his fists with excitement. "Let's do it again!"

"Let's not," Vector said with a nervous chuckle.

Espio returned in no time, the powerful gemstone clenched tightly against his arm. "We have the Chaos Emerald. Now we need to find a way to return back."

"Right," Vector agreed, peering around for any sign of the portal that brought them here. Both hands gripped his hips, eyes narrowing with concern. "Hmm, now how the heck are we getting out of here?"

From one blizzard to another, Rouge questioned how cruel fate seemed to be. Snow curved around her boots, her fur blending it with the soft drops while icy mountains surrounded her all sides. Out of all the places she could have found herself within, it had to be one where it all began. Eggman's base once resided in these mountains, watchtowers once stationed in every possible corner. But in this timeline, the base was none existent. Now she was here, trapped with nothing but snow to see in every direction.

At least she wasn't alone.

Big the Cat stood closely by, peering around the night air. Rouge questioned how of all the people on their team she had ended up with him by her side. But the company was welcomed, hoping to keep her mind focused. She searched around, looking for the one who stole her precious gem. The snowstorm limited her visibility, forcing Rouge to rely on her enhanced hearing.

"What's the matter?"

Big's voice broke the bat from her thoughts, forcing her to shift around to face him. "What? Nothing's wrong."

"You look sad," Big noted. "Why are you sad?"

Rouge glanced away, wishing she had Shadow's ability to mask her emotions. Guilt plastered her face, her powder blue eyelids narrowing while her perked out ears slumped forward. The once witty and carefree Rouge now held great despair, summoning every ounce of strength to keep her emotions in check.

"It's nothing," Rouge squeaked, folding both arms while darting her head to one side. "Just drop it, okay?"

Her stern tone did nothing to shake Big's demeanour. He calmly peered forward with concern. "It's never good to keep it all in. Talking helps make you feel better."

A silent growl escaped her lips, fresh steam arising from a sharp exhale. While she continued gazing into the night, Rouge decided to get it all out now. "It's my fault."

Big hummed, tilting his head with interest.

"I freed Mephiles," Rouge admitted, her fists balling by her sides. "There, I said it! Everything that's going on right now is because of me! If I hadn't dropped the Scepter, Mephiles never would have gotten free!"

Unable to restrain herself any longer, Rouge let her grief be known, taking out her frustrations on a defenceless tree. She punched the bark with some force, though her fist didn't leave much of a dent. Her legs held her true strength. Rouge winced, feeling fresh rivers beginning to sting the corners of her eyes. Her hand quickly swept them away, refusing to show weakness, even for someone as absent-minded as Big.

"How did you drop it?" Big calmly responded.

Curiosity overcame her anger, forcing her stained eyes to face the large cat. "Huh? Why does that matter?"

"Did you trip over?" Big continued.

She lightly threw her arms forward, half-heartedly shrugging. "I was trying to escape with Shadow, but then Eggman caught me by surprise."

Big pressed on, having no intentions to upset the bat further with his constant questions. "Did Eggman make you drop it?"

Rouge shrugged once more. "I guess."

"Then how can it be your fault?" Big innocently questioned. "You didn't choose to drop it. It's not your fault if someone made you drop it."

She softly shook her head in disagreement, loosening the snow that faded against her hair. "Big, I appreciate the comfort. But I should have seen it coming. These ears aren't just for show, you know!"

Still distraught over recent revelations, she slumped against the same tree, arms cupping against her skull. Her back slid down the tree, bringing large clumps of snow to smear her coat. More tears threatened to make their escape, though she endured and continued wallowing in self-pity. Silence fell upon them, the soft snowstorm softly whistling throughout the night air.

Lost to her own thoughts, Rouge failed to notice Big moving by her side. His large yet gentle presence casted a shadow over her person, his big orbs peering down with comfort. "Sometimes we can't stop bad things from happening. But it's okay to be scared about them. I'm scared too."

Rouge threw up her head, awestruck at the final comment. She sincerely doubted the claim, noting how unbothered he appeared to be since everything started. "B-b-but you're so calm!"

"I've been scared since I found Blaze swimming," Big admitted, though his calm tone suggested otherwise.

Her interest piqued, Rouge pressed herself up from the snow-covered ground. "If you've been scared all this time, why did you stick around? You could have gone back home. Nobody asked you to come with us. No offence."

"I know," Big replied, unfazed by her last comment. "I do my best to help my friends. So do you."

Rouge stumbled out her response, the words refusing to leave her tongue. Awestruck by the cat's simple yet wise thinking, she found herself diving deep into her own thoughts once more. Looking back, Rouge almost laughed at how soft she had grown over time. A once selfish thief with passion for jewels now fought in defence for others for no physical reward. Her experience with Sonic and the others had changed her considerably. No longer did she break into museums at night to swipe valued treasures. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Rouge was a hero, pure and simple. Stopping Mephiles from destroying the universe offered more value than any gemstone ever could.

She softly giggled, hands gripping her hips. Her teal eyes gazed at the giant cat, looking at him with a newfound perspective. "I guess I never thought about it that way. Thanks for the pep talk, Big."

"You're welcome," Big said with a warm smile.

"How touching."

Her inner sorrow made Rouge oblivious to the real reasoning for their visit. Her sensitive hearing failed to alert her of the approaching threat. She bit her tongue and swiftly turned around. The dark being loomed over them within the distance, his darkened fur close to blending with the surrounding darkness. Rouge hardened her stance, hands twitching with expectation. Meanwhile, Big merely gawked at the powerful being looming above them.

"I suppose I have you to thank for my freedom, Rouge," Mephiles gloated, taking a mocking bow to the bat. "How does it feel? To know that you have caused the events that forged my existence into this world?"

Rouge bit her tongue, refusing to engage in a battle of wits. One leg crossed over the other, hands clenched and wings spreading. She briefly glanced towards Big, who showed no reaction to her stares. She allowed his encouraging words to keep her willpower strong, bringing her stern gaze towards the towering monster.

"Don't try to pin all this on me," Rouge responded, regaining confidence within her voice. "Everything that's happened tonight is because of you. You're a monster and I am going to stop you."

Mephiles cocked his head to one side, but his expression did not alter in the slightest. The yellow Chaos Emerald gently rotated within his palm, the lifeless gemstone nothing more than a barren rock. A sinister chuckle echoed from his lack of mouth, unnerving the bat with his disregard to life. "Come now, Rouge. Who are you trying to deceive? You may make bold claims, but your eyes tell another tale."

Rouge tightened her jaw, beginning to bare her fang teeth. "That does it!"

Snapping back to reality, she darted forward and swung her powerful leg directly against his temple, the force carrying enough weight to send him towards the ground. He slid across the ice, throwing his head up just in time to see her hurl several Heart Bombs towards his direction. Showing no reaction to approaching threat, his free hand jolted forward and caught one of the bombs. It detonated within his palm, becoming nothing more than atoms. His fingers remained intact, claws delicately stretching.

He threw his lifeless eyes forward. "Your weapons are pitiful."

A grin curled its way onto her lips. "Wait for it."

Mephiles glanced down, spotting the remaining Heart Bombs beneath his feet. As he paused to question her actions, it finally dawned on the evildoer he was standing on top of a frozen lake. The bombs roared to life, shattering the ice beneath his feet, forcing him into the freezing depths below. The sub-zero temperatures quelled his blazing aura, freezing the clone from within. His limbs hardened, fingers shattering and fur turning pale blue. He could do nothing to escape the freezing depths, forced to watch the light fade away as the darkened depths below claimed him. A fitting end for the evildoer.

As Rouge admired her own handy work, her eyes widened with horror as the Chaos Emerald slid across the ice, close to falling within the watery depths. Before she made a move to grab it, a fishing line sprung from the air, wrapping tightly around the sacred gem. She threw her relieved gaze towards Big, who calmly reeled in the Chaos Emerald, trusty fishing rod in hand.

"Where did that come from?" Rouge questioned.

"I always carry my fishing rod," Big simply explained, holding the Chaos Emerald forward. "Here you go."

Her fingers gently wrapped around the sacred gem. The warm glow she came to adore was no more. With a relieved smile, she thanked Big for his help and made haste to search for a way back.

The ancient ruins of Marble Zone nestled within the mountain landscape. Grassy fields covered the architecture, blue stone pillars spread across the surface, tall purple mountains overlooking the land from a distance. Lava pools flooded softly above some of the surfaces, protecting the hidden dungeons below. Even as night claimed the land, the lava's hot surface irradiated the surrounding area. Doctor Eggman slowly peered across the land, his trusty Egg Mobile floating through the air. Orbot and Cubot each covered the portside and starboard.

As Orbot's glowing orbs continued scanning for the evildoer, he couldn't help but address the elephant in the room. "Doctor Eggman, forgive me for speaking out of turn. But why are we helping Sonic?"

To his surprise, Eggman didn't respond in tow with his usual cruelness. His tone was soft spoken, almost a whisper. "You two weren't around when I tried to control the Flames of Disaster. Mephiles is the other half of Iblis. When the two of them merge, the Sun God Solaris was born once more. He threatened to destroy all of existence. If Mephiles is able to merge with Iblis again, the results will be just as catastrophic. Our only hope is to secure the Chaos Emeralds."

Orbot peered back, tilting his head with curiosity. "So, are you and Sonic friends now?"

"Of course not!" Eggman barked. "This is just another one of our temporary truces. I can't take over a world if there's no world left. As soon as Mephiles is gone, we go straight back to business as usual."

"I disagree."

Eggman yelped, body jolting at the smooth, deep voice. His grip on the throttle tightened, forcing the aircraft to turn around. Orbot and Cubot stumbled from the sudden force, grasping onto the chair for dear life. The three villains threw their gaze toward as the Egg Mobile's headlights covered the evildoer. Mephiles peered forward, the bright lights doing nothing to affect his gaze, not even a blink. The cyan Chaos Emerald floated absently by his side.

Mephiles leered forward with a hint of mockery. "How does it feel, Doctor? To know I accomplished what you could not. All of your machines, all of your intellect wasted away. How pitiful."

Eggman gawked at the insult, steadily growing offended. His tinted glasses shifted every so slightly, soft growls pushing through his moustache. "Let's make one thing clear, Mephiles. I am the one who will rule this world with an iron fist! Nobody destroys the world without my say so! Prepare to witness the hands of a genius!"

He stood up and threw his arms forward with conviction, proclaiming with great pride. Orbot and Cubot jazzed their hands for dramatic effect. The evildoer found amusement in the self-proclamation. Mephiles spread his arms outwards, challenging the doctor to make his move. "So, are you going to fight me?"

Eggman slumped back into his seat, fingers pressed tightly with glea. "Oh, I'm not going to fight you, Mephiles. That would be a waste of my talents. Behold!"

His hand slammed against the giant button he longed to press for so long. The hatches beneath his aircraft opened up, allowing the confined cargo to escape. Mephiles watched the blue figure aggressively charge toward, hands outstretched with avidity. Mephiles threw both arms forward and formed an energetic shield. The new threat collided with enough force to shatter buildings, the momentum forcing Mephiles backwards.

He dropped the shield and locked eyes with the raging robot sharing a high resemblance to the blue hedgehog. Mephiles chuckled with malice, questioning if this was some earnest joke. "This is your solution? A mere machine?"

The newly repaired Metal Sonic squinted his robotic gaze, a motion that suggested he took offence to the statement. His jet engine roared to life, charging towards the evildoer once more. Mephiles deflected the approaching fist, using the opportunity to push Metal towards the ground. The robot recovered his balance midway, claws digging through the grassy fields to steady his balance. He sprung forward, claws outstretched with eagerness.

Mephiles threw out his arm, forming raw energy around his arm. He waited for the distance between them to shorten before swinging the powerful blade, intending to separate Metal's head from his body. The blade made its mark, yet failed to penetrate the thick armour. Metal threw up his arm, blocking the makeshift weapon from its initial hit. If Mephiles could alter his expression, perhaps surprise would be filling his voidless eyes.

Metal raced around his opponent, avoiding the deadly blade threatening to cut him in two. Rushing forward, Metal threw his fist forward, simultaneously grabbing Mephiles' incoming blade within his hand. Their respective lifeless eyes stared through each other intently, both trying to overcome each other's grapples. Mephiles eventually yanked his blade free, intending to slash at the robot's head once more. Metal ducked to avoid the fatal blow, retaliating by swinging up to land an uppercut into his face.

As Mephiles' head reared back from the blow, Metal wrapped his metallic claws tightly around the dark being's arm, throwing him over his shoulders. He followed up the assault with a kick to his midsection, launching Mephiles towards one of the lava pools below. Mephiles stopped short of striking the lava, rebalancing himself mid-air. He threw his gaze towards the darkened sky, noting the growing energy resonating within his opponent.

Metal's circuitry slowly overloaded, blue sparkings swarming around his person. His overall appearance brightened from the growing power, the excessive energy that radiated from within formed a golden aura around him. With newfound speed, Metal jetted forward, the air around him bursting with intensity. His arms and legs folded to his sides, charging forward head first.

Without concern for the approaching attack, Mephiles threw both arms forward, intending to block the powerful force. His claws barely caught the aggressive robot, holding him back with every ounce of strength. Metal pushed on, raw energy propelling him forward. A few distressing moments passed till the V. Maximum Overdrive Attack reached its peak, granting Metal Sonic the might to push through the evildoer's defence. The two catapulted through the darkened air, striking the lava pool with a devastating force. The lava claimed its two victims, magma spreading in every direction from their combined weight.

Silence plunged upon the good doctor. He dared not to breathe till he was assured Mephiles was no more. Orbot and Cubot shared similar reactions, though the former had something to say.

"Cubot, you're fireproof, right?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Because one of us is going to have to get the Chaos Emerald."

Eggman screeched as the lava pool was disrupted once more. Out from the flames came the victor covered by puddles of lava, wearing the magma like a cloak. He dropped to the surface, Chaos Emerald held tightly within his metallic grasp. The magma dropped against the ground, fossilising the landscape below.

Eggman's expression lit up, throwing his fist up with pride. "Haha! Excellent work, Metal!"

Orbot clapped his hands excitedly. "Well done, Big Bro! You showed him!"

Metal held his impassive demeanour, though light slowly faded from his eyes. Strained of his circuitry and damaged by the lava's excruciating heat, he slumped forward and struck the ground, Chaos Emerald still clenched within his grasp. Eggman lowered the Egg Mobile and jumped up, pausing to make sure Mephiles wasn't around anymore. Orbot and Cubot raced to their older brother's aid, the former softly spraying the lifeless robot with a fire extinguisher.

The latter grabbed the Chaos Emerald, his mentical eyes lighting up with agony. He rotated around the area, all the while bouncing the gemstone between his hands. "Ah! Hot, hot, hot!"

"You idiot, of course it's hot!" Eggman exclaimed. "That lava is at least two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Wait, I didn't build you with pain sensors!"

Cubot suddenly stopped, anguish fading from his expression. "Oh, yeah."

Eggman sighed in exasperation, but refrained from scolding the assistant robot any longer. His hardened exterior shifted towards the darkened sky, his glasses sparkling from the moon's gentle glow. "Our only chance of a victory is to return to Silver's future."

Albeit large clouds cast over Metal City. The futuristic city filled with tall buildings, so different from one another, were so very content to reflect the beauty of each neighbour. Extreme Gear racers from across the world visited this city on several occasions, longing to speed through the racetrack throughout the land.

Shade marvelled over the advanced city, her armoured feet softly pressed against the metal streets. Despite the low temperatures and early morning hours, several of the city's residents still flooded the streets. Unlike the citizens of Station Square, no one in Metal City appeared to show interest in her menacing presence. They simply passed her without a second glance, presuming her armour was part of a new fashion brand.

Alone once more, she carefully peered around the busy streets. Her opponent was close, lingering within the shadows. Shade silently wished she had brought her helmet for scanning purposes. Her warrior instincts allowed her to think as her enemies would. From first-hand experience, she drew out three distinctive traits of the evildoer.

Barbarity, arrogance and mantiplation.

Mephiles wouldn't hide for long. He relished in tormenting others, wanting to demonstrate his superiority. He grew pleasure from the suffering of others, his ego demanding attention. As self-centred as he may be, Shade didn't underestimate her foe in the slightest. A battle with him could very well be her last.

She perked up, warrior instincts alerting her of an approaching threat. From the corner of her eye came a scorching blast. The experienced soldier she was, Shade calmly moved to one side, allowing the blast to scorch the nearby grass. Unfazed by the attack, Shade raised her head, facing the one responsible for harming her friends. With a soft squeeze, her Leech Blade bracelets sprung to life once more.

Mephiles descended upon the ground. The intimidating aura he carried frightened the late night locals. They fled in terror, urging others to run for their lives. Shade held her ground, matching the voidless stare of Mephiles with her own furious gaze. The blue Chaos Emerald rested within his palm, claws delicately scraping the surface.

"White Space has allowed me to see all, yet you... You are unknown to me," Mephiles admitted, slouching his head to one side with interest. "You are not of this world either, are you?"

Shade's brow furrowed, unsure if this was an attempt to deceive her. Unashamed of her past, she took a step forward. "It matters not where I am from."

"You were not so righteous once," Mephiles noted, contradicting his previous remark. He slouched forward, studying the mighty warrior with intent. Her angry eyes held pain untold. His feet dragged forward, closing the short distance between them. "You harmed others, didn't you?"

Shade exposed her teeth, softly snarling at the harsh comment. Her breathing slowly intensified, fingers locking tightly together. "Yes. I did."

Mephiles froze for a moment, almost surprised by the swift confession. His emotionless eyes locked directly into her gaze, staring through the powerful barrier smothering across her expression. "And yet, you fight on the righteous side. Why?"

"Because it is the right thing to do," Shade simply responded. "I have paid for my sins long ago. I am not driven by power or lust anymore. My duty is to protect this world against the likes of you."

A soft cackle escaped his vocals, amused by her self-proclaimed mission. "Right thing to do, wrong thing to do. You think too simply, echidna. The world is more complicated than you think."

"Only if you make it complicated," Shade countered. "And there is nothing complicated about what I am going to do next."

Without another word, Shade rotated her arms and freed the bracelets from their gauntlets. She swiftly caught the hilts before they hit the ground. In one fluid motion, she spun the blades and connected the ends together, forming a bladed staff. Her energetic weapons scorched to life, breaking through their previous limitations, their power greatly amplified. Shade slid into a perfect stance, weapon held close, feet planted within the ground, eyes narrowed and no weakness exposed.

Shade held the blade to her side like a samurai, sprinting into a full charge. Her feet tread very lightly against the metal surface, leaving no sound within their wake. Mephiles allowed the distance between them to shorten, unconcerned about her attack. She reached him within seconds and bounced forward, swiping the blade forward. He threw up his powerful arm, intending to block the attack once more with his hardened presence.

Mephiles watched her fly past, staggering around to face her. The notable missing limp captivated his attention, as did the absence of a Chaos Emerald. He leered down, noting the hand that held the gemstone was no more. The separated limb faded away into a puddle, releasing the Emerald from its death trap. Shade charged forward once more, sliding under his swing while simultaneously swiping the powerful blade through the fatal area.

Shade skidded to a screeching halt, boots scraping sharply against the road. She threw back her head towards the frozen evildoer. His head separated from his body, colliding with the ground below. The clone's presence faded away into the night, ensuring her victory. With a satisfied sigh, Shade broke apart the blade and reattached both halves to her arms, all the while striding forward.

Her protective hand cradled the Chaos Emerald, distraught by its quiet state. With no reason to linger around the city, she swiftly made haste to escape the vicinity and find a way to return back.

"Do you see him, Omega?"

"Negative."

Amy marvelled at the beautiful, coastal mountains within the distance, separated by clean rivers. Chun-nan was the definition of peace, a place free of modern technology and busy streets. In their place were a few buildings within the mountains, small waterfalls leading to aforementioned rivers. The iconic Dragon Road spread throughout the mountains, its mighty presence separating opposing lands.

"He has to be here somewhere," Amy replied, her tear-stained eyes frantically searching for one who robbed her loved one away once before. Grief-stricken filled her veins, an overwhelming surge of anger pushing her to fight.

Without rotating to face her, Omega spoke up. "Why do I detect sorrow within you?"

Amy threw back her head, mixed emotions spreading through her features. "Because I'm upset, Omega! That monster killed Sonic! He did all these horrible things to Silver and Blaze. Now he's trying to do it all again!"

Overcome with sorrow, Amy hurled her hammer towards a nearby boulder. The giant rock stood no chance against her strength, shattering into small pieces. Still heartbroken, she marched forward and grasped the hammer, repeatedly striking against the rocks till they were nothing but atoms. The land appeared to shake with every pound, the planet begging her to stop.

As she exhausted all reserved energy, Amy dropped her hammer and collapsed, knees pressed into the ground, heaving for precious air. Tears and sobs made their escape once more, her voice straining with every word. "I couldn't protect him. I couldn't save Sonic!"

She continued weeping, fresh droplets blending with the snow below. The ground beneath her softly shook as Omega approached, his metallic feet pushing through the scattered rocks. To match her smaller height, Omega slumped down onto one knee, damaged arm hanging by his side.

"I cannot comprehend mobian anatomy," Omega admitted. "And I am unfamiliar with the relationship between you and Sonic the Hedgehog. Why does his previous demise hurt you so much?"

Amy threw up her head, her once beautiful eyes now reddened with anguish. "Because I love him!"

It was a simple yet effective declaration of her feelings. She cupped both hands against her face, soaking her gloves with fresh tears. Omega's stance didn't alter in the slightest, his red orbs merely examining her. Time with Shadow and Rouge taught Omega more about human emotions. The closest sentiment he understood was anger, having harboured deep rage against his creator for so long. Despite documenting so much in his newfound freedom, he simply couldn't comprehend what it was like to care for someone.

Shadow and Rouge were his teammates, or friends as he sometimes addressed them. They went through several adventures together. As well as actively fighting Eggman, he joined the duo in social gatherings. Birthdays, Christmas, work events and so much more. Yet there are some things robots could never understand. For all his incredible intellect, he failed to comprehend the idea of sadness.

All he could do was state the obvious. "Sonic the Hedgehog is not dead."

Amy lifted her head to face him once more. "I know that."

"Then why grieve?" Omega questioned. "I was there when you revived Sonic with your affection. He survived then and he lives now."

She softly shook her head, trying not to lose her patience with the large robot. "Omega. Sometimes the past can still hurt, even if we tell ourselves it's over. But now we've just learned our whole lives have been a lie since the Day of Disaster. That's not something you can just get over."

Omega briefly leaned forward, his metallic joints resonating loudly. "If you cannot overcome your grief, do you simply let it consume you?"

"Not by choice," Amy sighed, pausing to wipe her eyes clean. "If we somehow make it out of this, how are Silver and Blaze going to move on? I don't even want to imagine how they're feeling."

The robot briefly glanced away, staring towards the mountains as if they held the answers he sought. "I was not destined to be your ally. I was programmed to watch and defeat Shadow the Hedgehog. In the original timeline, I was destined to defeat him. Should I feel guilt over that?"

Confusion overlapped Amy's sorrow, looking up to the robot with narrowed eyes. "I… Don't think so. If that never happened in this timeline. Shadow said it himself that he doesn't care about what you did."

Omega pressed on. "Does time heal emotional wounds?"

"Eventually," Amy admitted in a low whisper.

The mechanical cogs in Omega's head appeared to turn, his programming bringing up the answers he sought. "No one within our circle has perished in this new timeline. Even if we are aware of past events, logic dictates we have a chance to save this timeline. If we can stop Mephiles, the universe will be safe. This will create time for us to grieve. Am I correct?"

His final question came as more curiosity than condescending. The words sunk through Amy's ears, her bright eyes beginning to return. She paused to wipe away the final tear escaping her eye, summoning the strength to stand on her feet. "I… Guess so."

"Then let us make haste," Omega suggested, pushing himself to stand by her side. "There will be plenty of time to grieve afterwards. Our allies are counting on our success."

The pink hedgehog stood with a questionable face, pondering the robot's unique way of comforting her. Without warning, she softly giggled, a flicker of hope resonating within her. Out of her circle of friends, never did she imagine Omega would be the one to console her. With renewed strength, Amy leaned down to grab her trusty hammer, fired up and ready to go.

"You're right, Omega," Amy said, her bubbly tone returning. "Let's go find this creep!"

"Allow me to save you both the trouble."

Amy let out a startled yelp as Omega suddenly threw himself forward, catching the powerful fist meant for her. His working arm restrained Mephiles' hand, calling on every ounce of strength to keep the evildoer at bay. His metallic feet dug deep into the ground, twin jets propelling him forward. Swiftly regaining her confidence, Amy swung her hammer forward. The flat end drove against Mephiles' skull with enough momentum to hurl the dark being away. He regained balance mid-air, returning his sinister glare towards the duo.

"That was for Sonic!" Amy exclaimed, reeling back her hammer to strike again.

Omega wasted no time in apprehending the threat. His working forearm sprung open, revealing the small gun barrels once more. Spray of pellets shot out and struck their mark, forcing the evildoer to stagger with every direct hit. While the gunshots carried enough weight to force him back, none of them penetrated his powerful skin. Omega continued firing till a small icon appeared within his vision. No more pellets escaped the barrels, only empty clicks filled the air.

Mephiles slumped forward, the motions suggesting he was vaguely amused by the attack. "Shadow was right to distrust you. Even if you stop me here, do you think he will ever trust you again?"

Omega tucked the gun barrels back in their place. His wrist shifted inside, revealing his laser arm cannon once more. Plasma energy slowly formed within the giant barrel. As more energy gathered and grew unstable, his circutirty overloaded, bursting with raw energy. His head rotated a full one hundred and eighty degrees, locking eyes with the concerned hedgehog. "You may wish to stand back."

Amy peered back and forth between them before choosing wisely to follow his commands. She jumped behind the nearest boulder, sitting down and cupping both arms against her head. Omega threw his gaze forward towards the one who mimicked his friend's appearance. He bellowed at the top of his mechanical lungs, letting his rage be known.

A giant explosion ignited from his cannons into the evildoer. As the point of impact engulfed Mephiles whole, hundreds of smaller beams sprouted from the ground, striking Mephiles from several directions. Omega's arm vibrated with intensity, static filling his vision as his circuits overloaded. Warning signs beeped sharply through his motorised brain, urging the robot to cease firing. Omega refused to obey his own programming, pressing forward till his opponent was no more.

Amy clenched her eyes shut the whole time, hands pressed against her ears as the world around her shook with intensity. Seconds turned into hours till the land around her finally settled, the beams that lit up the area faded away into the night. She slowly peaked her eyes open, forcing herself to glance around the safety of the boulder.

Where Mephiles once stood was the silver Chaos Emerald resting within the destroyed landscape. But her focus was on the lifeless robot laying buried deep within the crater. Smoke steamed from his mechanical joints, darkness replacing his blazing red orbs. She hurriedly raced forward and dropped to her knees.

"Omega?" Amy whispered, nudging him ever so slightly lest she burned her hand against his hot metallic frame. Fresh tears threatened to fill her eyes once more. "Please say something, Omega."

She yelped with surprise as Omega's red orbs lit up once more, gazing towards the night air. Static continued to fill his electronic vision, his systems slowly resetting to their natural state. Multiple diagnostics filtered through his vision, alerting him of several critical areas requiring immediate maintenance. Fortunately, his voice box remained intact, and he had one thing to say.

"Pain sensors activated: ow."

Refiled etched Amy's eyes, grateful she didn't have to relieve the death of another compassionate robot. "You did it, Omega."

The robot's mechanical limbs recovered their functions, pushing himself up with some effort. While he regained his balance with some difficulty, Amy rushed forward to claim the lifeless gemstone before it was lost to the night.

"Chaos Emerald successfully retrieved," Omega declared.

"That makes one of them at least," Amy said, great concern filling her expression once more. "I hope the others are safe."

Shadow swore the universe had it in for him. Out of all the places in the world, of a choice from seven portals, why did he have to end up here? It took every ounce of willpower for him not to screech with rage. The endless hallways once filled with brilliant scientists were no more. Silence filled the ARK, his only form of company were the stars outside. He briefly glanced through the window, entwined by the vast universe. Above he saw a serenade of heaven's black supporting a chorus of stars.

He pushed through memories of the past, choosing to keep his focus in the present. Mephiles. He lured him here to get under his skin. It wouldn't work. Shadow marched through the empty hallways, his jet skates creating echoes that reverberated throughout the station. The lights that once lit up this station were no more, basking his former home in darkness. Mephiles was here somewhere, well within his element.

Shadow relished in giving Mephiles a taste of his own medicine. The manipulator had been manipulated. His first mistake had been revealing their past memories. Now Shadow held vast knowledge of the evil being. He knew how he thought, what move he would make. The second mistake had been not to safeguard the Chaos Emeralds. Their lifeforce could never be truly drained. Their presence would always be there, a whisper, but very much there.

The Sol Emerald rested comfortably within his grasp. Shadow examined the unique gemstone, noting the difference in power it radiated. Snatching the Emerald from Blaze wasn't his idea of getting things done, but he needed a hidden ace to overpower Mephiles in their next battle. Her eyes now longer sparked with that sheer determination. The fight had been knocked out of the mighty princess. Whether or not she could truly overcome these events remained to be seen. Despite how he went about it, their end goal was the same.

Mephiles had to be stopped.

"Welcome home, Shadow."

A loud gasp escaped Shadow, his feet grinding to a halt. There was no mistaking her youthful voice. The impassive exterior he carried for so long faded away, mounted by too many emotions for him to grasp. He dared not to turn around, unwilling to force himself into a nightmare. But his body had a will of its own. He swivelled around slowly, filled with relief and shock.

There she stood, carrying a warm presence with innocent eyes. By her side was the great scientist responsible for his existence. She was exactly how he remembered: a kind gaze, sunshine hair, not a single angry bone within her body. Gerald had his hand resting softly against her back, admiring the dark hedgehog with pride under those tinted glasses.

Shadow could do nothing but mutter her name. "M-Maria."

"We've been waiting for you, Shadow," Maria warmly replied.

"We're almost there, Shadow," Gerald added with pride. "The cure for Maria's illness. Soon you both will be able to visit the planet."

Maria outstretched her hand for him to take. "Come on, Shadow! Let's go look at the Earth!"

Shadow froze in place, briefly glancing towards her outstretched arm. His chest tightened, breathing intensifying. The darkness that clouded his shackled heart faded, a light of hope beginning to take its place. The hurt was still there. His heart still stung and gnawed. No matter how many times Shadow told himself he moved on from the past, the grief he held for her loss would never fade. A hole in his heart, scarred and old, continued sending ghostly pains through his chest. Though time had healed the gaping hole, Shadow feared it would never properly close.

Being here, the place he came to both love and hate, reminded him of why he was here in this universe. He longed to reunite with Maria, to see her marvelling at the stars that were just out of reach behind the station's glass windows. But that would never come to be. He would live forever, watching the world go by till eternity. Others would fade away and die. Shadow knew this all to once, silently dreading the day he would lose Rouge. Death came for them all in the end.

"Maria," Shadow began, glancing up at her gentle smile, one that could brighten his mood even during the worst days. "I… Couldn't save you. That's something I have to live with forever. I can't bring you back. But I can uphold the promise I made to you. This world will live on."

Her smile faded, a flash of frustration creased her brow and sparked in her eye, letting him know that answer was not appreciated. That was all he needed to see to know he made the right choice. Shadow turned around, ignoring her pleas to come with them. Pain no longer filled his eyes. In their place was the fury of a mighty warrior, locking eyes with the evildoer lingering within the darkness. His hand holding the Sol Emerald raised, its raw powering coursing down his arm. Trying to use illusions of his best friend against him. That was Mephiles' last mistake. Maria's name didn't fill him with despair.

Her name kept him fighting.

"I am not defined by my past," Shadow proudly declared. "My future is my own. I will see the world to the end. You won't."

Mephiles clutched his hands with vexation, that motion betraying the cold exterior filling his eyes. "I am eternal, Shadow. You cannot stop me. Even if you destroy me here, my other selves will triumph."

Shadow scoffed, a smirk creeping onto his muzzle once more. "And I'll be waiting."

The power of the Sol Emerald increased Shadow's strength greatly, allowing him to burst forward with pure determination. His freed hand reared back, hand clenching tightly with his knuckles popping. He roared with conviction, allowing his rage to engfull him whole. Sol energy surrounded his person, an orange streak trailing down the empty hallways.

A direct hit shattered the evil being into atoms, the foundation of the station shaking from the ferocious force. Shadow stopped just as fast as he moved, free hand catching the purple Chaos Emerald before it made contact with the ground. The energy faded from his person, but the fury within his gaze never left. This was but a temporary victory.

As he peered down at the two different Emeralds in his hands, Shadow looked through the glass window, greeted by the vast universe. Somewhere in space, at home in the infinite continuum, was the one who threatened to erase everything. If the Grim Reaper was present, even he would cower at the wrath in Shadow's gaze.

"I'm coming for you, Mephiles."

Thank you to everyone for reading. This was easily one of my favourite chapters yet to write. Join me on Monday for the final battle. See you guys then!