Not much at all

Ch. 3 yippy!!! Ok enough with the rhyming...I haven't forgotten any thing have I? e.e nope...ho, Kao, I know why I put Tikal in (I think), she has purpose in this chap!!

There is no pun intended any where. I know nothing of Angel Island's geography so don't get kill me for it; I'm taking a shot in the dark, okay?

Chapter 3: love, hate, deception, certainty; in the end none of this matters

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Incoherent shapes darted to and fro like phantoms in a room completely devoid of light.

"...This is why we need to do it. It's the reason I brought you here, why I'm even here in the first place." One shapeless shadow finished.

"No need to be so hard on your self Mistress, it is not your burden alone. Can't you see there are people who will help?" A fifth presence made it self known.

"Virus?" the figure that had been speaking questioned. 'Virus' gave a small nodded though it was hard to tell.

"My dear Kat, would you mind if we talked alone?" Virus slyly asked as a small white flame came alive in the palm of his hand. The small but strangely strong blaze uncover most of the room while reveling Kat Galileo, Devin 'Dragon', Shiloh O'Brien, Death-Scythe, and a second white cat who was unmistakably Virus.

"If you don't mind..." Kat said turning to the others. Devin gave her a questioning look so Kat mouth the words 'I'll be fine' knowing that if she used telepathy Virus would hear. With a nod of agreement the three vanished.

"Kat, you're putting too much on your self. You're not the only one who will take this!" Virus tried consoling her, but his tone was harder than he wanted.

"Than who will finish it if I don't? If I don't than nothing will be put right. Devin shouldn't be a dragon, Shiloh shouldn't be with out her family and Death-Scythe," Kat was at a point of tears. Her amethyst colored eyes full of concern. "Death-Scythe shouldn't know a life as nothing more that just an experiment." Kat finally broke. Falling in to Virus' arms she let the pain that she had hidden so well from the others pore out.

"It's alright Kat, it's alright. He'll learn." Virus soothed 'It pains me to see you like this, my love...'

--
...hid away your tears...
--

Sonic made it to Angel Island only to find rain.

"Why dose it always have to rain when some things important?" Sonic asked aloud. Blindly he wandered his way through Angel Island dense jungle. "I'm not getting any where in this." A rustle from the bushes in front of him caught his attention.

"I can lead you to your friends, if you want." A voice came forth as a creature stepped from its seclusion. Sonic wasn't able to make out what it was, but it stood on four paws and it's emerald eyes oddly bright in the stormy night.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Sonic hoped he was able to keep the fear out of his voice. It didn't seem to work because he received a small chuckle from the shadowed figure.

"First off it's not a matter of who I am as to what and that you need not concern your self with. The same to you second question, not want, I need to take you to your friends." Sonic notice he -at least Sonic thought it was a he- spoke like he had live with a professor of some kind for along time. A small moan escaped Sonic's lips.

"Well can I at least have your name?" He asked a bit annoyed.

The being paused for a moment his head lowered and his eyes seem to dull out as if talking to himself.

Thinking of that raised the memory of the pink cat. Sonic shuddered. But the creature snapped him out of it by saying "My name is Bacura." He then darted through the forest skillfully dogging trees and what not. Sonic was especially surprised he had to try to keep up.

"Where are you taking me?" Sonic asked struggling to keep stray branches from striking him in the face.

"Here." Was Bacura's answer suddenly stopping causing Sonic plowed in to him, but didn't seem to notice. "Right inside." He said motioning to a cave entrance. A warm blaze was visible from the opening.

Sonic turned around prepare to thank Bacura, but he was nowhere in site. Shrugging he went inside to the welcoming warmth of the flame.

At the peak of a mountain side cliff two twin figures sat watching the blue hedgehog.

"Do you really think this'll work?" One asked.

"It has to, if it means us having to get involved, then it just has to." Was the response from the other.

--

Knuckles stood up sensing another presence in the cave. Spying Sonic he said, "Oh, it's just you."

Taking back his seat next to Tikal he absently stared at the wall.

"What do you mean just me?" Sonic asked sarcastically as he leaned against the side of the cave. The bright flame sat in the middle of it. Shadow stood closer to the end of the cave staring at the hieroglyphics that adorn the sides. Realizing something Sonic spoke up. "Hay, Shadow I've been meaning to ask you: what's it like to burn up in earth's atmosphere?"

Shadow just held up the purple Chaos Emerald. "Don't ask me, I wouldn't know."

"Shadow, there is something more that's troubling you," surprisingly it was Tikal who questioned the ebony hedgehog. "what's on you mind?"

Shadow was reluctant to answer, but finally said, "I think Maria might still be alive."

"What do you mean she's still alive?! Wasn't she..." Sonic's voice trailed off just looking in to the midnight hedgehog's eyes told pain with each word that stammered out of Sonic's mouth.

"Of course she's alive," Everyone jumped up at the sudden appearance of two figures, everyone that is, except Shadow. "If I'm correct, she's at a friend's house at the moment."

The speaker stepped into the light of the flame to reveal the same emerald eyed tiger from Shadow's dream, and the one who lead Sonic to the cave.

"Bacura?" Sonic asked and received a nod in reply.

"How come everyone says hi to Bacura, but not to me?" What appeared to be Bacura's twin came up from behind as she spoke. "Am I so unimportant that every one ignores me?"

"I'm sure they would have acknowledged your presence if they knew who you where, Tigris." Bacura answered her. No one noticed the smirk that played across Shadow's face with the twosome's arrival.

"Bacura..." Tigris gave a small growl. Spying the two echidnas that haven't said a word she trotted over to Knuckles and sat down beside him. "How come you so quiet? Is something wrong?" she asked in a concerned tone. Knuckles looked down in to her worried eyes. Softly he let his hand rest on her head.

"Everything's fine." He answered her. Shadow couldn't keep a sigh from escaping his lips as he shook his head in disapproval. Bacura covered his eyes with his paw as if he had a headache.

"She always dose that, such a kiss up." He gowned.

Caching Shadow action Sonic confronted him. "You know her Shade?"

"Know her? I had to live with both of them." He answered.

"You mean to tell me that they-" Sonic was cut off.

"Yes, first and second successful results for the Ultimate Life Form projects. Glad to see you still remember us, Shadow." Bacura then swiftly moved over to Tikal. "Can you tell me what these hieroglyphics say?"

Tikal stared at Bacura for a moment then recited the words long for gotten by all;

"In a time long from ours an entity from the past shall arise. Seven shall be throne in to the pandemonium each with a special gift.

"The first with the power of storm and heart of gold shall command. Three born among the stars, will be each blessed with one; future, weave of lands, and darkness. The fifth of them has been given a brave heart, undying loyalty and abnormal strength. Sixth was granted flight and a keen eye of smithereens. The last wanting nothing but wealth shall fall in amour.

"Power shall be passed to these seven in the form of chaos and guarding the lives of all."

"Wow, that's deep." Tigris said in awe. "But what dose it mean?"

Sonic stood up strait caching everyone's attention. "I think I know what we'll be facing." He passed for a moment than started again. "It started when I took a run and passed by a GUN base. They where yelling about some intruders so I thought I'd check it out..."

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I'm so mean

Tigris: how? Maria's alive.

I'm mean to the readers.

Bacura: now can I ask the question?

Yes.

Bacura: how come I had to lead sonic to the cave?

Because Tigris is too giddy and would probably give her self away.

Bacura: takes a GOOD look around the 'room' you're not a sonic fan are you?

Nope. Shadow rules all. How long did it take you to figure that out?

Bacura: about two seconds, you have Shadow pics. almost everywhere where you have a few pics. of Knuckles or Tails if not that pieces of paper that say 'must kill sonic'.

Dopey grin R&R people!!!!!!!! Guess what, it's my birth day!!! 6/15/03