Luxor sat in his castle in the Nightmare Realm. He hated having to return his realm every five hours for an eight-hour stay, but he didn't have the power he needed to remain in the other realm. He sat in his throne and stirred a goblet of wine with his finger, "The other realm is so colorful and full of life. Oh how I wish I could just drain it all away right now." He picked up his goblet, "Shadow will engage Sonic and the rebels in about three days. Squashing the rebels shouldn't be difficult, but that blur rodent does have a knack for surviving the odds." He took a sip of his wine, "Even if Shadow losses, he should take the fight out of him." He finished the drink, "Either way, I will have the soul that will free me from this place and allow me to conquer the other realm." He sat up and walked to a large round mirror in a blood colored frame. Luxor placed his hand on the frame, "Devlin! Your master calls you!"

The image of Luxor in the mirror twisted into a black vortex and reformed with an echidna's face, "Yes my master!" The echidna was gray with dark purple eyes.

"The time has come to gather my flock! Go to Knothole and bring me the children. Their final metamorphism will start in a week. I need them here to complete the ritual."

"I hear and I obey!" The image returned too normal.

Luxor smiled, "I love it when the plans come together so easily."

Sally tucked her daughter into bed and tucked her in. The girl now looked like a six-year-old. The squirrel was worried at the fast rate Sonia was growing. She looked out the window. The sky was dark and cloudy. A fog had rolled in as well. Sally shrugged, "Bad weather!" She kissed Sonia's forehead and walked out of the room. She had herself moved to another part of the place with an extra bedroom. She changed into her nightgown and laid down. She pulled out the photo of Sonic she had under her pillow, "Please come back to me! I need you!"

Sonic pulled on the light armor that was provided for him. Nina handed him a pair of battle daggers, "I think these weapons will be to your liking."

Sonic held up the daggers. Almost as long as his forearm, he figure they had to hold them with their blades down for better blocking and attacking, "These aren't really my style."

Nina sighed, "Our scouts told us that Luxor's army was on its way. Whatever way you fought in your realm, you must fight to the finish here." Sonic hated to admit it, but he nodded.

Blaze stuck his head into the armory, "We got one hour! Lets move!"

Blaze led them into a cave-like room. Several different mammals stood around a large table. Blaze stood at the lead, "All right! Let's gets this over with. Our scouts have spotted five squads of ground troops, a squad of archers, a squad of sorcerers, and five dragons have been spotted."

Sonic raised his hand, "How many is in a squad?"

"Twelve! That makes eighty-four to our ten. Of course we haven't factored in the dragons or their riders." Blaze rubbed his eyes, "This is where we make our stand. Even if we lose, we will make Luxor remember this day." The entire room cheered."

Shadow flew over the cave entrance as ten mammals ran out of it. He chuckled, "Fools!" He signaled to his wingman, "Kill them all except the blue hedgehog. He is mine!" The wingman saluted and flew off to give out the orders. Shadow angled his dragon downward and flew in close to the group. Nina and two others shot arrows at him. Shadow patted the dragon's back as the arrows bounced off, "Have fun!" The dragon spat out flame and the group scattered. The black hedgehog leapt off the dragon and landed on the ground near Sonic. Both hedgehogs waved off their allies and started to walk away. Shadow smiled, "Going commando?"

"Didn't peg you as knight!"

"It is just to appease my allies." Shadow drew his sword from his waist sheath and tossed the sheath away, "We will finish this Sonic!"

Sonic stood ready, "Sounds good!" Both hedgehogs lunged at each other and swung their blades. The sound of metal on metal filled the area as both the hedgehogs and the forces near them fought. Shadow's sword was longer and he swung it swiftly, but Sonic's weapons were more flexible and he easily blocked each attack. Sonic crossed his blades and blocked Shadow's slash. Sonic had to drop to one knee under the force of the blow, "Gotten some muscle there!"

"Unlike you, I constantly seek ways to improve my fighting ability. I don't depend on quick feet to always win me the fight." Shadow kicked Sonic down and tired to impale him. Sonic rolled away as Shadow slammed the sword down. Before Shadow could even attempt to pull out the sword, Sonic lashed out with his blades and sliced into Shadow's armor. Despite the hard metal of the armor, Sonic's blades managed to cut deep into it. Shadow jumped back and pulled the chest plate off, "Not bad!"

Sonic smiled, "I can fight just as well as you can."

Shadow pulled two knives from his boots, "I'm not out yet!" Sonic expected Shadow to use the knives to match his daggers as he ran at him. Sonic jumped to the side, but Shadow suddenly turned and threw both of them. Sonic knocked one down, but the other hit the guard on his left dagger. Sonic had to drop it before the knife hit his arm. Shadow grabbed his sword and lunged at Sonic. Both off them swung with all of their might. The blades connected with a loud clang. They froze as the blades cracked and broke apart. Both hedgehogs dropped the handles of their respective weapons, shrugged and went at each other with their fists. Sonic's was more agile, but Shadow somehow managed to increase his strength and speed almost instantly and slammed Sonic to the ground. Shadow's eyes glowed with dark light as he picked Sonic up, "Finally; I will rise above you in power." He tossed Sonic down.

Sonic stood up, "You really need a girl!" Shadow ignored him and rushed him. Both hedgehogs vanished into blue and black blurs. They clashed in midair. After several moments, Shadow fell down and hit the ground hard. Sonic fell from the sky and landed on Shadow. The air rushed out of Shadow's lungs as Sonic hit his chest and jumped off. Sonic took a few labored breaths, "Uncle?"

Shadow stood up, "Never!" Sonic shrugged and curled into a ball. He spun in place and shot at Shadow like a bullet. Shadow grabbed the broken blade of his sword and thrusted forward. There was a strange sound. The blade had pierced Sonic's chest. Somehow, Shadow had thrusted at the right time. Sonic glared at the blade as he fell to the ground. Blood flowed from his mouth and the wound. Shadow fell to a sitting position, "I did it! I won!" Shadow starred at his bloody hands, "But why don't I feel like I won?"

Sally suddenly shot up to a sitting position. Sweat stuck to her fur. She stood up and put her silk robe on, "What brought that on?" She pushed her hair out of her eyes and walked to Sonia's room. She found the door open. The squirrel slowly walked in and found a figure in a black robe. He was bent over her daughter. Sally tackled him to the floor, "Who are you?"

The gray echidna's dark purple eyes narrowed, "My name is Devlin!" He tossed Sally off him, "And I have come for the girl."

"She is my daughter! I won't let you take her."

Devlin chuckled, "She is my master's daughter. You were nothing more than a host." Sally froze at hearing his words. Deep in her mind, she knew it was true. The echidna walked over to the bed, "I have taken the others. You my dear are the last." The child stirred and woke up. Devlin reached into his robe and pulled out a fist full of white powder, "It is best if you sleep for the trip."

Sally jumped onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Leave her alone!"

Devlin pulled on her arms as they cut off his air supply. He thrashed around and backed out of the bedroom. He looked around franticly and finally smashed his back and Sally against a bookshelf. Sally lost her grip and Devlin managed to move as she fell to the floor and the bookshelf fell on her. Devlin rubbed his throat and took a few deep breaths, "Bitch!"

"Mommy!" Sonia ran over and pounded her little fist on the fallen bookshelf, "Are you all right mommy?"

Devlin reached for the child, "You're coming with me."

"No!" The child ran from his grip, but she fell down.

Devlin smiled and started to toss the powder, "Your mine!"

"Back off!" Leda appeared in the balcony. She wore a jet-black outfit and a crimson trench coat. Her fur had changed from red to crimson. She sported a pair of mirrored sunglasses.

Devlin turned his head toward her, "You have a death wish!"

Leda shrugged, "Sure!" She drew a small blaster from her gun belt and blasted the powder. It smoked and turned to ash. As Devlin tossed it away, she shot forward and punched Devlin hard in the face. Devlin hit the wall and Leda was quick to grab his robe and toss him toward the balcony. As he stood up, Leda's fist sparked with crimson energy, "Sperk Shot!" She threw a punch and a beam of energy shot from her fist and knocked the echidna off the balcony. Leda started to move to continue the fight, but she felt a small tug on her coat.

"Please help my mommy!" Leda looked at the child for a few minutes. She glanced at the balcony. "Please!" Leda sighed and picked up the bookshelf. She tossed it away. Sonia pushed on her mother, but she didn't move. "Mommy!"

Leda checked her pulse, "She'll live! Most likely a concussion." Leda ran to the balcony, "I'll take her to get help after I kill this idiot." She jumped off the balcony and landed in the garden seventy feet below. As she landed, Devlin shot out of a bush and tossed a fist size orb attached to a rope. The orb shattered Leda's glasses and revolved around her. Devlin pulled the rope tight and had Leda bound. Leda blinked to get some of the blood out of her eyes. He glasses had cut her forehead as they shattered, "Let me go!"

Devlin shoved her into the castle wall, "Why should I?"

"He gets jealous if another man tries to tie me up."

"Who!" Leda smiled and Devlin slowly turned his head. The bushes and flowers died off as a crimson hedgehog walked up toward them. He was dressed like Leda. Small arcs of crimson energy shot from his body. Devlin gulped, "Sperk! But you're dead!"

Sperk pulled off his sunglasses and his eyes glowed in the night, "Death is the end of the path of light. I simply turned around and walked back toward the beginning." Sperk's voice was dark and forbidding.

Leda smiled, "Your going to die now you know that."

Devlin looked from Leda to Sperk, "Ah crap!"