Author's Note:

Well I'm making an update as promised. I hope this chapter is good enough to satisfy your interest in my story and to make up for my absence again. At least I didn't take as long this time right?

Chapter 8: Connection

Knuckles

It was midnight when I finally arrived in Station Square. I felt, strangely nostalgic for a moment. It was a strange feeling that I couldn't really describe but I knew why I was feeling it.

"This is where I first saw Super Sonic." I nodded and chuckled looking towards the docks. "It seems like years but…it really hasn't." I sighed now, realizing that so much time had been wasted protecting something that could ultimately be evil. True that I had spent my whole life guarding the Master Emerald but in truth knowing nothing about it, except that the Chaos Emeralds were connected to it.

I sighed again and began to walk the dimly litted streets since I wasn't in any real hurry, it would give me time to think on what to say to Tails. I could feel the slight chill of the night brushing through sagging quills, which made me shiver just a little. I had never put much thought into my own health when I was guarding the Emerald but I figured Echidnas had a strong immunity to the weather, which could probably explain why I never got sick it seemed.

I chuckled slightly but sighed again as I moved on. I was relieved at the moment that there were very few peoples on the streets, but I knew there was certain people that were always out looking for trouble.

I squinted my eyes at a depressing thought that crossed my mind. I stopped in the dim light of a streetlight and looked to the alley near by. "Some people just don't care who they hurt…as long as it gets them what they want…"

--Flashback—

For the longest time I had been protecting the Master Emerald, and at some times I just feel so confined that I have to take off for a while and stretch. And since there was a new place to explore, I figured why not.

I slowly stood up and gazed to the shimmer Emerald a moment before nodding and walking down the stone steps to the edge of the island. "I wont be gone long…I promise" and with that I allowed the wind currents to lift me into the air and I began soaring through the sky towards Station Square.

It was night time now, so it made it a little easier to get around without to many onlookers. I didn't know much about this city but it had peeked my curiosity enough to take a look around.

As I touched down in the street I began to walk calmly, not really having any motive then to check things out. As I moved along I discovered that there actually several places that were only open at night rather then the day for those people that were considered 'night owls'.

I chuckled at the thought a moment but continued on my way, but as I turned the corner of a street I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw a blue blur coming right at me and nearly running me over. I groaned falling to the ground as we collided then sat up rubbing my nose and growling at the obvious attacker. "Sonic…geez what's your problem!"

I was annoyed to say the least but when I looked to Sonic, I could see he had a look of panic on his face. I instantly forgot the pain in my nose and stood up then helping him up as well, soon noticing his entire body was shaking for some reason. "Sonic…what's wrong buddy?"

He just looked back at me with his sapphire eyes then finally spoke in a slightly shakened voice. "Tails is gone…I cant find him anywhere…he went out to get some dinner and that was hours ago…" I groaned a little and looked up again. "I see…well I'll help you look Sonic…but you should slow down…you might have run right passed him and didn't know it."

Sonic simply nodded at my request as I moved to the nearest building and began to climb "I'll look from the roof tops…you look around on the streets again but slower this time.." Sonic just nodded once again and began to run off but at a slower speed that I could easily match.

Upon reaching the top of the building I began to go into a sprint, easily jumping rooftops and seeing Sonic was below me. "He's really shooken up about Tails…I hope the kid is alright…" I sighed and continued to jump buildings while glancing in all directions that I could while moving.

Hours seemed to pass as we continued to search without success. I growled a little in irritation but quickly forgetting it when I heard the faintest of cries that had an all to familiar voice. "Tails…" I then ran to the edge of the building to find that Sonic had stopped as well. "Sonic!" He only answered with a nod and a hollar back "I hear him…but where?!" I looked up again trying to pinpoint the source "Come on…call out again…" and within moments I was rewarded another cry for help and now allowing me to find him.

I finally jumped down the building and landing next to Sonic. "Come on I found him…he's…ahh!" but before I could say anything else Sonic grabbed my hand and took off at a hastened pace "Just give me directions!" I nodded and started blurting out directions as he neared the corners until we finally reached an alley that we had some how overlooked.

Much to our own dismay we arrived to find a small group of burly looking thugs surrounding the little ball of orange fluff. I could feel anger rising in my chest but then I felt a strange sensation that seemed to be coming from Sonic.

"You bastards…get away from him!" I shouted at the thugs who turned to us with wide grins as one of them kicked Tails in the side "Get lost…he's ours…" I began to growl in growing anger but it was still offset by the feeling that almost made my legs go numb but I tried not to show it.

I looked towards Sonic now, his teeth were bared and fists were clenched in anger. I had never seen him like this before but I knew it meant trouble. "Get away from him now…we won't say it again!" Sonic shouted this time but the thugs just laughed and began to move towards us "and what are you gonna do if we don't…"

As I attempted an answer, Sonic was the first to start as he leaped forward and slamming his leg into a thugs gut but much to our dismay, he wasn't harmed at all. "Hah…pitiful little hedgehog…" and with that he slammed his fist into Sonics face which sent him crashing against the brick wall and causing it to crack from the force then finally falling to the ground with a groan.

I growled again and looked back to them clenching my fists again. "Do ya want to try your hand my little friend?" Their cockiness only enraged me more, that they would get enjoyment out of hurting a child.

Finally I leaped forward and thrusted at my fist at the closest ones face but to my dismay he simply stopped me at the wrist. "Nice try…but you lose" as I struggled to get free he spun around and slammed me against the wall opposite of Sonic. I could feel pain wracking my body quickly then letting go of my wrist and finally I tried to the ground, body stricken in pain. I refused to be knocked out like this, I wanted to help Tails but I was powerless now.

"Once where done with the little one…if we still have the energy then will come after you next mates.." I groaned again as they laughed and walked back to Tails who hadn't moved since they diverted there attention to us.

"Don't…you…do it…" as I attempted to move, I could only close my eyes as a bright yellow light began to shine out from the darkness. This caught the others off guard and quickly turning to see what it was.

I opened my eyes a little to see Sonic had rose to his feet again and was glowing a bright golden yellow now but his quills were still the same sapphire blue except the only difference now was his eyes had no inner pupil but were just completely white.

I looked towards the thugs who stared in fear now as Sonic looked towards them. "I warned you…now you pay…" and with that Sonic began to float off the ground a little and then lifted his hand up with palm facing towards the one in front. "Your first…" and it seemed like he was invoking some kind of strange power as the winds suddenly picked up with incredible force that was suddenly shot at the thug and slamming into him hard and finally throwing him to the farthest wall and actually crashing through it.

I stared wide-eyed at the display and then grinned a little at how the others stared in disbelief. The others soon began to move back but was interrupted in there slow retreat as Sonic charged at them in blinding speed and slamming his fist into different areas of there bodies. A moment later each one fell to the ground now unconscious from the assault.

I finally managed to get up as Sonic floated towards the remaining one that was apparently the leader who he had first knocked into the wall. I noticed that Tails was starting to move a little but he was still bruised and his nose was bleeding.

I looked back to Sonic with the realization of what he was gonna do when he grabbed the leaders shirt collar and clenching his fist. "This is for Tails!" I watched as he lifted his fist preparing for the kill but he stopped when Tails jumped towards him and stopping his hand. "Stop Sonic…don't kill him…please…" Sonic looked to Tails now seeing the condition he was in.

"Look what he did to you…what they all did…they deserve to be punished!" Tails still held tightly to Sonics arm as tears slipped down his cheeks. "Even if…you did it wouldn't erase the pain they caused me…" Sonics eyes went wide a moment at his words which finally regained the pupils. Tails finally let go of Sonics arm then wrapped his arms around Sonics torso as he cried now. "Don't sink to there level Sonic…don't be like them…your so much better then them Sonic…please stop…lets…go home…please." I watched them a moment and Sonic finally let go of the leader who just laid there paralyzed in fear. The glow from Sonics body finally died away and he turned to hug Tails close and finally lift him into his arms. "Ok little buddy…you win…lets go home.." He now looked to me as I stood up then nodded and all 3 of us left the alley.

--End Flashback—

I looked down in thought then sighed, "Its because of people like Eggman and those people that Sonic suffers like this…and Tails suffers for Sonic…" I looked up once more realizing I had reached the hospital already. "Sonic is connected…its plainly obvious now…he's become a part of the Chaos Emeralds…but…what do I tell Tails?" I groaned again and walked to the door which opened by itself. "Always open…well that's good to know but…this may be hardest decision I'll have to do.." I nodded and finally walked in.

Author's Note:

Its short again and I apologize. Its gonna move up to a better plot soon. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please don't get mad because of the weird plot. Thank you.