Author's Note: I should probably state now that I do not own any of the characters in this story. The plot itself is somewhat mine, but I'm certain it's been done before. Most everything is these days.

That said, I bring you to the next chapter.

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Chapter 2

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Down the street walked a group of people. There were four, and a chao, the one in front seemed rather excited.

"It was very kind of you to take us all on vacation, fair cousin." A greenish hedgehog said, talking to a pink one.

"It was even nicer of you to invite us along too!" Said the tall rabbit, the smaller and her chao walking in front of her.

The pink hedgehog shrugged, smiling calmly. "What can I say, the more the merrier!" She lowered her eyelids, rubbing her chin. That, and rooms are discounted if you bring a group of four.

"So where are we going going to be staying Amy?" The little one asked, her chao making sound behind her.

"The Starlite Base Hotel, Cream!" She responeded, grinning happily.

"Oh, isn't that the place Tails told me that he and Sonic were sta-" She was cut off by Amy, who tried to hush her.

Vanilla, the mother, blinked, looking down at Amy. "What is she talking about?"

Amy laughed nervously, patting Cream's head. "Ah, nothing Vanilla, nothing at all!" She lowered her eyelids, rubbing her forehead as she continued to walk. Whoo, was that ever close...!

-

"The time is nigh, mayor," Lupe started, banging her fist on the desk. "The prophecy is said to come to light very, very soon!"

Mayor Acorn rubbed his chin, leaning foreward. "What kind of prophecy, miss Lupe?"

She sighed, folding her arms. "Ages ago, my ancestors sealed away a terrible beast, a beast whose power grows more and more by the moment in his wake. Alas! The prophecy states that it was not yet time for the world's demise by his hands, and that he would one day, reawaken!"

The mayor raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "And that time...?"

"Is hastenly approaching, mayor!"She glared, clenching her fists. "The end of the world is approaching, and I can assure you that Mobotropolis will be the first thing to go!"

The secretary rang in, making an announcement. "Mayor Acorn, a Professor Boobowski to see you."

"Send him in," the mayor answered, tapping his fingers together. "I appologize Miss Lupe, but my 12:00 is here, and I have much to discuss with him."

Lupe glared, storming out of the room. "You have been warned, Mayor." The professor walked in soonafter, fumbling a ring in his hands

"Ah," he started, standing up straight, "Mayor Acorn, I have come to discuss this new source of energy that my crew and I have been observing under the city."

The mayor nodded, looking at him. "I appologize, but I request that you make this brief for now. My children are both having their birthdays tomorrow, and I have a huge party to prepare for."

Gazebo nodded, fumbling the ring more. "Oh, oh of course sir! Ah, well, we have concluded that it cannot be Chaos energy, as there are no emeralds near the city, as is the primary source of chaor energy. And we doubt it's steam from groundwater, and it's impossible that it's electricity." He adjusts his glasses. "We assume that it's a new form of energy, but we are still looking into it."

The mayor frowned, tapping his desk in a bored fashion. "So in other words, you have nothing new to report. How..." He blinked, hearing a large explosion outside, turning to the window. "What was that!"

-

Sonic dashed through the streets, seeming rather excited, looking at people and buildings as he passed by. He stopped, seeing a familiar face, one he never expected to see. "...Shadow...?"

The figure stood in an alleyway, looking past a metal barbed fence(the kind that resemble barbed wires, without the sharp points). He seemed to be deep in thought. Sonic walked closer, shaking his head. "No, you're one of those clones, aren't you? What are you doing here?"

The being remained silent for a moment, before he decided to speak. "Nothing."

"Hm?" Sonic asked, walking a little closer. "What do you mean by nothing?"

"I mean exactly what I say. I am doing nothing."

Sonic tilted his head, folding his arms with a smirk. "Nothing, ey? Hmm.."

"There is nothing I can do. I feel as though there is no purpose as to my being here, or anywhere." The clone sighed, looking down.

Sonic laughed a little, shaking his head. "Gonna go be depressed, huh?"

"No, I'm not depressed. Just...curious."

"Hn, curious?"

"I wish to know what purpose I have for remaining. What is it that I'm doing here?"

Sonic grinned, putting his arms to his sides. "Well, I don't know why you're still around either, but I do know you're not gonna find the answer by standing around and thinking about it. You have to take action, guy."

"Action..."

"Go out and actually look for the answer."

"If you want, you can hang around with my and buddy Tails for a while and we can-"

"No." He interrupted, beginning to climb the fence. "But you are right. I must act to figure this question out. However, I will do it on my own." He jumped to the other side, and began to run.

Sonic scratched his head, grinning. "Well, that was...unusual. Not like everything else I've seen isn't though." He turned to start running again, then stopped, the alleyway being blockaded by a giant cat.

"Sonic? Is dat you!" Big exclaimed, slowly running down the alleyway.

Sonic grinned nervously, nodding. "Er, yeah! It's me Big...!"

The cat stopped in front of him, hopping a bit as he did, causing nearby ground to shake. "Oh Sonic, I'm glad I found you! I lost my friend Froggy!"

Sonic lowered his eyelids. "What, again?"

Big nodded, grabbing his hands in a pleading fashion. "Oh please Sonic, you gotta help me look for him!"

He smiled weakly, stepping back. "Relax Big. Of course I'll help ya find him. Now, when was the last time you saw him?"

Big rubbed his chin, looking up in a daze. "Well, were were walking down da street, and suddenly Froggy took off. I tried ta follow him, but so many people got in da way. I lost him!"

Sonic nodded. "Yeah, this city is pretty crowded. But don't worry pal. I'll help ya fi-" Just then, he heard the explosion as well, causing him to look around. "Now what the heck was-"

"SONIC!" Fang shouted, leaping off the top of a building, and landing on top of a closed dumpster. "So the info I got was right, ya are here! And now..." He took out his gun, aiming it at him. "I'm gonna get my revenge!"

Sonic sighed, smiling weakly. "Why do these things always have to happen to me?"