Chapter 2 - What happened to Amy - New questions arise.
"So Tails any idea on how to get to that Tower?" asked Knuckles.
"Perhaps we should build a boat but that'll take some time", Said Tails.
"Allow me to take us across. Being Guardian of the world of Dreams I have my own special powers. Unfortunately they come from the Preciousstone. My spiritual energy is fully charged but eventually it'll run out", Said Illumina.
"Well then lead the way", Said Tails. Espio picked up Amy and the gang flew across the ocean.
Amy awoke as the gang made it halfway across the ocean. The smell of the tower was becoming more and more potent. The water got darker and darker, until it was black.
"What happened? Tails where's Sonic?" asked Amy still a little dazed.
"You're awake! Great. Well with the time stones Eggman went back into the past and changed it. Sonic didn't destroy Scrap Brain, in fact he was killed", Said Tails.
"What? No Sonic!" cried Amy.
"Actually I should've made myself a little more clearer. Sonic went missing during Scrap Brain. His body was never found, but I doubt he would've survived for long there. But who knows perhaps Eggman has him imprisoned somewhere", Said Big.
"So there is a chance he's alive!" Said Tails, "But if that's the case then he'll be in the Crystal Palace if he is alive".
"This is too weird", Said Amy, "So what are we doing?"
"We are trying to get each of the 5 gems back. The Preciousstone, the Chaos rings, the Master Emerald, the Chaos emeralds and most important of all the time stones", Said Knuckles, "Hey Tails if Sonic is alive how come he disappeared?"
"Perhaps he merged with his alternate self. When you went to Maginaryworld you were free from the time changes. But when you returned you all started to merge with you alternate selves. The ones created from a future without Sonic. I have no idea why Sonic was the first one to go but I expect you all to do the same soon enough", Said Illumina, "And it looks like Amy is next".
The gang looked over to Amy as she began fading just like Sonic did. By now they had reached the castle on top of tower.
"Hey Tails look over there", Said Knuckles pointing ahead. The others turned their heads to see another Amy fading also. This Amy was dressed in slightly tattered clothes and looked more like a street fighter than the Amy they knew.
"It's Amy's alternate self, they're merging", Said Tails. Suddenly there was a quick flash of light and one Amy stood in front of them. The gang proceeded to investigate.
"Amy? Are you okay?" asked Tails.
"I'm fine, now lets go get that preciousstone," Said Amy.
"So which one are you, the one we know or the other one?" asked Knuckles.
"Both. You see when we merged our memories and feelings became one. This future's Amy understands completely what's going on now, and more importantly your future's Amy know why she was here. She came here to stop Eggman and free the world from the Toxic Tower's pollution", Said Amy, "It's a good thing we merged as this future's Amy knew most of the security details of this base, She knows where to strike and what to avoid"
"This is all too complicated. Lets just smash into there and get the gem", Said Mighty.
"No, the less Eggman knows the better. Best to keep a low profile as so to not alert him", Said Tails.
"Yes if Eggman finds out what we're doing he'll use his back-up shield, generated from inside his base. If he does this it would be impossible to enter the Crystal Palace. Before you ask, Eggman doesn't use the inside generator as it consumes all the palace's power, leaving everything else except lighting and life support switched off", Said Big.
"I see, but then as soon as one generator disappears he'll know we're here. Change of plan guys. I need to make some remote bombs so we can destroy each generator at the same time", Said Tails.
"Already taken care off. This time's Amy brought some bombs in with her. Oh wait they are time bombs", Said Amy.
"Great, I'll stay behind and change the bombs so we can detonate them by remote. Knuckles you lead the team to the preciousstone. I'll concentrate on the generator", Said Tails.
"Right", Said Knuckles, "Amy where should we go now?"
"The Preciousstone is located on the 6th floor. We're on the 12th. Also any floor beneath floor 6 is full of toxic waste, and more importantly toxic fumes. You must make sure that if you need to go below floor 6 that you get out as soon as possible. It's very unlikely you'll need to go further down than floor 6", Said Amy, "Our first problem is the camera above the entrance. The way it's positioned it won't allow us to sneak under it"
"No Problem, We can turn off the camera's can't we, If we get close enough I mean", Said Espio, turning invisible.
"Wow I'm impressed, perhaps this'll be easier than I thought", Said Amy, "Just make sure you switch off the camera in a way that'll make the guards believe in was natural".
"Alright, I'm going for it", Said Espio moving towards the camera. There was a brief silence before Espio appeared above the camera. He pulled out one of the wires and the camera sparked a little before shutting down.
"Awesome Job Espio", Said Knuckles, "Now lets get going".
The Gang wandered through the Toxic tower, Espio took care of the cameras and Knuckles and Mighty took care of any badnik guards. They eventually reached the security control room. The Gang could overhear the guards talking inside.
"There goes another camera. What's going on?" asked one of the guards.
"It's probably some electrical disturbance", Said the other guard.
"I dunno, Something doesn't feel right. I think we should tell Lord Robotnik what's going on?" said the Guard.
"Are you mad? Think of what Lord Robotnik will do to us if he puts the inner generator on for no reason", Said the other guard, "Stop being so paranoid"
"Well I'm going to have a look around", Said the guard.
"Fine", Said the other guard.
"Oh no what are we going to do? Let's hide", Said Amy.
"Stand aside you pansies", Said Mighty standing in front of the door with his fists ready.
"Mighty no, you'll blow out cover", Said Knuckles. The Doorknob began turning, slowly the door opened.
"What the?" said the Guard. Immediately afterward mighty let his fists fly and the Guard was knocked back into the other guard. Both lay unconscious.
"What are you stupid? We could've been found out, such a reckless act that could've cost us so dearly", said Illumina.
"It worked didn't it?" said Mighty.
"Stop fighting and lets get that gem", Said Vector looking at the security console, "It'll be much easier if we did this". Vector pushed a button and a siren went off, FIRE DETECTED, EVACUATE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY, THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
"Brilliant Idea Vec. We'll wait a few minutes and the place should be empty", Said Knuckles. A few minutes later the gang arrived on the 6th floor of the toxic tower. Standing in the centre was the preciousstone, whose light filled the whole room. Nearby was the base of the communications tower.
"Could this be anymore easier? Mighty put your smashing skills to good use and smash up that communications tower", said Knuckles.
"Something's wrong. That isn't the preciousstone", said Illumina
"What? That's not possible, it looks exactly the same", said Amy
"Looks can be deceiving. This isn't my stone, I would know", said Illumina.
"I understand. I'm a guardian too and I would know if my emerald was switched with a fake. You spend so much time around what you're guarding you become connected to it. I always know when I'm sensing a chaos emerald or a master emerald shard", Said Knuckles, "But I sense that gem has some power".
"Yes you are indeed right. It may just make a temporary substitute", said Illumina.
"Er guys we're in trouble. When we set of the fire alarm we sent every guard to the only exit. How are we going to get out of here", Said Charmy.
"There is another way out, but you're not going to like it", Said Knuckles.
"Huh? Oh you don't mean we…." Said Amy
"Go down through the toxic waste," Said Knuckles.
"Not an option, It will kill us. That must exposure to toxic waste is well toxic", Said Amy.
"Got any better ideas?" asked Knuckles.
"I do," replied Mighty standing next a wall. He faced it and smacked his fist into the wall, creating a rather large hole.
"Nice way to keep a low profile", Said Tails, flying down from above.
"Well I did just take out their communications tower", Said Mighty.
"Well lets get out of here then, the bombs in place so…..ARGH!" Shouted Tails. The others screamed too.
"Oh no I feared this. It's already begun. Without the preciousstone maginaryworld is starting to disappear. Hence the reason you all experienced a great shooting pain just now. That'll get worse and worse until eventually you will all die. Not just you every living thing", Said Illumina, "It is our top priority to get the real preciousstone"
"So lets get going. We can't get the preciousstone just yet but perhaps we can get the time stones. Little Planet here we come", Said Tails leading the others off the toxic tower.
The gang landed on dry land once more.
"That wasn't too bad", Said Tails.
"A little too easy though", Said Knuckles
"Stop being so paranoid. Besides we didn't really do anything major. We snuck in took a fake preciousstone, destroyed their communications and planted a bomb." Said Amy
"I don't know about you guys but that doesn't sound like a normal day to me", Said Big, "If that isn't major what is?"
"We could've shut down the Toxic Tower all together. Stopping the mass pollution. But that would've alerted Eggman and we can always destroy it later", Said Amy.
"Come on guys we have to prepare the other generators as soon as possible", Said Tails, "There's no time to lose, come on". If only Sonic was here, Knuckles is right that was too easy, what's Eggman really up to?