Chapter 17
Never Lake: 2200 hours
"Who said that!?" Knuckles yelled, spinning around.
"It is the Keeper of the Time Stones."The Keeper of the Seven Super said through Shadow.
"But it's AMY!" Sonic exclaimed, gesturing at the pink hedgehog.
Sonic was correct. It was Amy, but she was speaking in a different voice, it was still female, but it did not seem any living creature could have that voice (which of course was true).
"A great danger looms over the horizon." The Keeper of Time Stones said.
(A/N: From now on, The Keeper of the Seven Super will speak in bold and The Keeper of the Time Stones will speak in italics. Also, just like Chaos is named after what he keeps, so are Super and Time)
"It was YOU who told me that 'times had changed.' I recognize that voice!" Ivo said in sudden realization.
"You are correct, Ivo" "It has been long a while, Time" "Far too long if I may say so. Super""Wait a minute!" Tails said. "I know how Shadow was chosen by Super, but why Amy?"
"It's really very simple" Time began. "When Ivo Robotnik first attacked Little Planet, my original host's body was killed, reducing me to a spirit, unable to do anything but watch and listen. Unfortunately, I am bound to Little Planet and cannot leave it unless I have a host, and even then, if they move too far from Little Planet, or if it disappears after the 24 hours it spends in this world, I will go along with it, until my host body returns to Never Lake at the right time of year. Anyway, I searched all over the planet for an adequate host, but all I found was machines. Eventually, I came upon a sad little pink hedgehog, being held captive by Dr. Robotnik. I fused my conscience with hers, but with the Time Stones stuck in the special zone, I could do nothing but continue to watch from Amy Rose's eyes. I did not despair, though, because, for once I could see the future quite clearly. A blue hedgehog named Sonic would rescue Amy and me soon, not only that, but he would retrieve the Time Stones. We were saved, just as I predicted, but Sonic took us away from Little Planet before I could say anything and ran off. When Little Planet disappeared, my power to speak through Amy faded, and I left with Little Planet. From then on though, I could still see Amy's thoughts and what she saw and I even gave her the ability to conjure up her Piko-piko hammer at will."
"You call that SIMPLE?" Ivo asked, flabbergasted. "But if you must stay near Little Planet, how could you speak through Amy all the way in the Mystic Ruins?"
"I believe it is because you all where near to home of one of the three keepers. Chaos of Angel Island. When the host body of one of the three keepers is near the home of another, it is when their body becomes more powerful than ever, and they are also the most in tune with the keeper within them and it is the time they are most likely able to join consciences with their keeper."
"Wait!" Tikal said suddenly. "I took Chaos to another dimension with me! Should I have allowed him to find another host body?"
"No." Super said. " Chaos needs no host body, because he can create his own body out of water. Besides, after he absorbed the Chaos Emeralds for the first time-"
"That is enough, Super." Time said. "They will learn soon enough."
"One last question," Espio said. "Where to YOU live Super?"
"My home was destroyed a long time ago in the ancient echidna tribe's quest for power. The time stones were never found by the impure ones, but with my home gone, the energy in the Super Emeralds became limited, and they eventually lost power after being used by Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. The only way to restore their power is with the power of the Time Stones."
"This is way too weird!" Knuckles thought aloud. "Gerald didn't create Shadow, Sonic is the Ultimate Life Form, the Super Emeralds have lost power, but if fixed, they will be even stronger and Shadow and Amy are the host bodies of spirits who keep items we used in the past!"
"That about sums it up." Tails said.
"Listen, Keeper" Rouge began. "As you know, we need the Time Stones to restore the power of Super here, so, if you could just fork them over, we'll be on our way."
"I am afraid that I can not, because even the full power of the Super Emeralds may not be enough to save you from what looms in the close future"
"Well, we'd have a better chance than if we didn't!" Sonic retorted angrily. "I saved Little Planet once! You owe me Keeper! Hand over the stones!"
Everyone was shocked at how Sonic had just acted, he never acted so... angry; Especially for no reason!
"I cannot help you with this anger in your heart Sonic. I know you have been feeling it for a long while now, and you and I both know where it comes from."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Sonic retorted.
"It comes from uncertainty. I do know that you need the help of the Time Stones to help Super, so I will send you back in time to the most important and most difficult moment of your life. The importance of that event is still unknown to you, but you must learn of it. Otherwise, the future may catch you off guard. I also think that it will cure you from your anger."
"Whatever! Let's just get it over with!" Sonic shouted impatiently.
Time smiled gently and said "Time Stones! Give me your power!" The stones flew down from Little Planet and began circling her. A beam of light formed in her hands and fired at Sonic.
When Sonic's vision cleared, he gasped. He knew exactly where, and when he was.
Wow! I'm back! Sorry for taking so long, but with the combination of one heck of writer's block, Christmas, Christmas presents, my new dog, and my other stories, I have been neglecting this one. From now on, I am really going to try hard on finishing Chaos Is Power, Bad Future and Darkness 2 (SA2: The Novel is basically just for when I am bored and have writers block, so it won't be updated much) and I won't make any new stories until then (although I do have some good ideas for a Tales of Symphonia story, a Super Smash Brothers story and a Banjo-Kazooie/Sonic the Hedgehog crossover, which I REALLY WANT TO WRITE!!!!!). By the way, if you like to draw, head over to my other story, "Bad Future" and enter the contest on it. I have NO entrants yet, so it would be an easy way to win! Please? (sad puppy dog face). The next chapter's gonna rock! Oh no! I've said too much!