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"And that's what happened King Max, one minute were getting our butts kicked by those sneaky Com-bot creeps, the next they pull a Peter Pan on us" Sonic said. The gang had quickly returned to the Kingdom of Knothole and gone directly before King Max, telling their tale of their mysterious helper. "Only Tails got a look at the guy and even then we didn't see much of the dude" Sonic said, the King hummed "This is indeed very troubling.

Though this stranger aided you in your mission into the Great Forest that does not mean he has classified himself as a friend. So far all we have learned is that this stranger wishes to keep his identity and alliance hidden, along with his intentions". Sally approached her father as she pleaded "But dad we also know this being has powers, how else could you explain what we all witnessed?". The young hedgehog nodded "That goes ditto for me.

I've seen a lot of weird things in my days but that one sure takes the chili dog, I mean it's not like we bumped our heads or anything sire". The King shook his crowned head "No I'm not saying you did, all I am saying is it would be wise to not assume anything until we have all the facts". "I agree with you 100 my liege, after all, who knows if this bloke really is on our side or Robotnik's" a mysterious Australian voice said from next to Max.

The shape, color, and smell matched all of Sonic's most hated resident of Knothole, Geoffrey St. John. Sonic groaned "I thought it smelled like something died", Sally elbowed him "Sonic please not now". Rotor examined Nicole as he started to walk off, "I'll take Nicole back to my lab and examine the data she gathered today" the walrus said. Bunnie softly rubbed the side of her furry arm, sighing a sorrowful sigh of deep sadness.

"Bunnie are you all right? That Com-bot really did do a number on your neck didn't it?" Sally asked, Bunnie shook her head "Naw don't worry about me Sally girl. Y'all got bigger stuff to worry about then little old me, I'm a strong big girl, I can handle it……by myself". Though the sweet southern rabbit said she was fine, it was clear to Sally's diamond eyes that trouble brewed deep in that sweet girl's voice. Something was seriously wrong.

"So then what's next on the old game plan Sal? Sal?" Sonic asked, Sally shook her head and smiled an embarrassed smile. "Sorry Sonic just kind of zoning out there for a minute, well I think our first priority is to retrace our steps and see if we can find any more clues about this stranger" Sally said. King Max's white moustache bounced softly as he replied, "Capitol idea, the 6 of you should leave immediately just be cautious Sally, all of you please".

Blinking curious orbs, Tails counted the digits on his white gloved fingers and asked "Uh your majesty what do you mean 6? There are only 5 of us". Queen Alicia looked to her husband in the same confused look that he had, Max blinked "But young Miles I counted 6 of you correctly". Sally looked around and shrugged "Dad you must be counting wrong, there's just me, Sonic, Tails, Antoine, and Bunnie". The gang all nodded in agreement.

"But then if that's not Rotor behind all of you then who is it?" King Max asked, he assumed Rotor's trip to the lab would be a short one and a quicker return. But now as the weary eyes of the confused friends slowly follow each other, they soon realize there was in fact a 6th person right behind them. "AHHHHHH" the gang screamed and immediately leapt away from this mysteriously appearing stranger, the very same that Tails identified before.

The stranger was very tall, much taller then any of the Freedom Fighters or even King Max for that matter. Almost not a trace of flesh or fur shined under the drenching weight of the man's dark blue coat, which hung like a cape. No shoes, no face, no eyes, no hair, no clues were given to this phantom stranger's enigmatic identity. Hands were somewhat visible, they were enticed in pure angel white gloves with dark gold bans over the wrists.

The man looked upwards with little sound or other physical movement; his eyes were a vibrantly powerful sky blue. The man's iris flashed beautifully in the crystal colored shards of purple that surrounded his pupil. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?" King Max shouted, Geoffrey immediately rolled towards the stranger and aimed his wrist mounted cross bow at the man. "Don't even bloody blink or else your one dead pup" Geoffrey shouted.

Sonic growled and immediately shoved Geoffrey's launcher down, hissing at the psychotic skunk "DUDE would you relax for a second". Geoffrey ignored him "Have you bloody lost it hedgehog? We got an intruder, mere inches away from the king no less. If this bloke is as dangerous as you peeps said, I should just plug his ugly mug this very second". Angrily crossing her arms Bunnie pouted, "Hey now that there's a darn tooting lie St. John.

We never said he was dangerous, so just relax sugar skunk, your more tweaked then a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs". The stranger pleasantly smiled and stifled a chuckle at that, Bunnie blinked as she noticed that odd smile at her little joke. "My deepest and sincerest apologies your majesties, madam princess, this is a most awkward situation is it not?" the man said. St. John growled and yanked Sonic's arm off his arrow launcher.

The man smiled "There will be no need for that officer John, I do not wish to harm any of you". The rouge skunk remained dead locked onto the man's head, "BAH Hogwash you hooded hoodlum and the name's St. John to you. Think you can just waltz in here and approach the majesty all by your lonesome eh mate? Guards, detain and surround this intruder at once". The room busted to life with storming squirrel troops surrounding the man.

Massive squirrel soldiers armed with bulging biceps, and fully loaded weaponry, all aimed and directed at the stranded stranger. "I mean you no harm, neither to your king or any of your people, please I implore you" the man begged. "Implore away, but if you move a single muscle my guards will blow you away mate" St. John said. With silence and intrigue, Sonic and the others watched vividly as the stranger stood there silent and perfectly still.

A hard lump sank into the back of Sonic's throat, something felt really bad in the pit of his blue belly. Sonic just couldn't explain it, as little as he knew about this man, Sonic felt an odd sense of……peace around him almost like a gentle spirit. King Max coughed and quickly tried to resume his posterior, but before he could utter a single syllable, the stranger took a step forward. Sally gasped, fearing for the stranger would die as he continued to walk.

"FIRE" St. John shouted, the guards blasted a barrage of bullets from each side of the stranger's path. Sonic and Bunnie watched the closest, their eyes welling up with tears at the sight of a future corpse. The stranger's hands lifted up and faced his palms directly to the side, directly aimed at the bullets. The bullets stopped in mid air, just inches from his gloved palms. "Oh mah stars" Bunnie exclaimed, "What on Mobius?" Sally blurted out.

Even St. John and his royal guard troupe couldn't begin to speculate as to how this was even possible. The stranger snapped his fingers loudly, the bullets suddenly transformed into white doves which quickly flew away. "Unbelievable" the King whispered, his eyes bulging to no known extent. Indeed, the whole room was left gasping for air and reality at this miraculous display of magic. The man continued walking towards King Max's throne.

"MY LEIGE, NO" St. John charged the man, cracking his black skunk knuckles to smash them into the stranger's back as hard as he could. But if the bullet magic trick wasn't strange enough, then this would definitely be the weirdest. The man bowed down before the King, politely, respectively, and honorably. "It is custom to bow before a king is it not Excellency?" the man said, the Mobian ruler coughed "Uh um well yes uh it is actually, I-I-I".

The man returned to his standing pose and turned towards Geoffrey and the guards, "Sorry about the bullets didn't mean to waste them" the man said. "Who or what on Mobius is this guy?" Sonic said. Sally shook her head and continued to rub her eyes in disbelief, "That is absolutely extraordinary. I mean that was simply incredible. But wait if you can do all that, then that means?", the man nodded "Yes princess, I assisted you back in the forest.

In your current position, you were in extreme physical danger from those ghastly robots. I could not stand by and let you suffer for simply defending your homeland, so I acted swiftly and justly. I do apologize if I frightened any of you, I trust all of you are in good health?". Sonic, Tails and the others looked around shrugging and replying a simple "Yeah I guess" in return. Bunnie smiled "No need to apologize sugar, you saved my neck, literally.

And in my book that means a lot more to me then a couple old fancy fireworks", the man turned towards the cyborg rabbit that had addressed him. Bunnie blinked a bit nervously as the tall man walked in front of her, the man then lightly took Bunnie's left furry arm, bowed down, and kissed it. "Then I can sleep with a great deal of warmth in my heart fair damsel, knowing that I had the honor of helping a beauty such as yourself" he said.

Bunnie's furry cheeks couldn't have blushed any brighter, the sweet southern belle giggled and stared at the floor in such adorable shyness. "Oooh mah STARS" Bunnie giggled softly to herself. The sight of Bunnie's sweet young soul so cheerful, so happy, made it clear to Sally that this being was no foe. The young princess approached the man with a warm smile, "In that case I should be thanking you kind sir for saving our lives" she said.

Sonic zoomed right by Sal's side, already eagerly shaking the man's hand rapidly. "I'll say, boy the way you smashed those Com-bots that was WAY past cool dude" Sonic said. The man pleasantly laughed "I am most happy to be of service young hedgehog". The blue blur laughed right along side him "You can just call me Sonic, and let me the first to welcome you to Knothole. And this is Sally, Antoine, my best bud Tails, Bunnie and Rotor.

Well Rote's not here right now but I know for sure he won't want to miss meeting you". Tails smiled and examined the man's cloak, the young fox gasped "Wow awesome threads sir, you look like a super hero or something. Hm, I wonder if these would look good on me", the others laughed at that cheerfully. The man examined the furry creatures so happy with his company, but of the most intriguing of identities was that of Bunnie Rabbot.

The young rabbit's sweet laugh was musical and charming, almost too beautiful for the man to explain. "So your……Bunnie is that correct?" the man asked, Bunnie smiled "Bingo sugar shadow, and might I say I'm mighty glad to meet you hun". The man smiled and blushed as well, of course little of it could be seen under that heavy cloak. "HOLD IT, wait just one bleeding minute, has everyone gone daft?" St. John shouted frantically.

The skunk angrily pointed at the man, "This bloke is a dangerous outsider. He broke into the castle, disobeyed direct orders, and approached the king without his say so, not to mention that Copperfield stunt he just pulled off with the bullets". Sonic growled and shoved his nose against John's, "Your pissing me off something fierce stinky". St. John snarled right back "Stuff it spine ball, so far he's given us zero reason to give him any of our trust".

The man nodded "He's right, if it will make you feel at ease St. John, ask me anything you like". But before the skunk agent could question him, the king stomped his fist against the base of his chair. "I believe this is still MY kingdom St. John, I shall question this young man" King Max announced. Queen Alicia nodded, "Before we begin stranger would it be too much to ask of your name?". The man bit his lip at that question, frowning a little.

"I……I'm s-s-sorry but I'm afraid I can't give you my REAL name, I wish to be honest with you but I cannot reveal my true name for reasons I am unable to explain. However you may call me……Miracle" the man said. "HUMPH talk about a bleeding crock" St. John uttered to himself, though perplexed by the man's choice to hide his name, King Max respected his wishes. "As you wish Miracle, I will respect your decision" King Max said.

The man nodded and replied "thank you" warm fully to the king. Max slowly rose and continued questioning, "First off I wish to know exactly where do you come from?". Miracle replied "I have long since forgotten my birthplace your majesty, but for the past 4 months I have been traveling near the Floating Island. Because I am a stranger to these lands, I decided best to survey the landscape of your kingdom before making any sudden visits.

After those 4 months I ventured off into the Great Forest, 2 days later I discovered the princess and her friends in the clutches of your foe's robot soldiers". King Max asked another "All right, what is the source of your strange powers?". Miracle flexed his gloved hands as he spoke, "They have been with me since birth. Over the years of my life, I have learned to control and use my powers for the benefit of the people, to protect and help them.

To my knowledge my powers know no bounds, and will probably remain with me until my inevitable demise". Before Max could ask another, Queen Alicia imposed upon Miracle "Tell us, why did you enter here in silence if you mean us no harm?". A deep sigh escaped Miracle, he knew this part was going to be the hardest to explain. The young wizard began "I came in secrecy because of fear, fear that I if I did not act now, it would be too late".

Sally blinked "Too late? Too late for what?", Miracle regretfully replied "Too late to stop the dark being that you refer to as Dr. Robotnik. During my time passing over the Great forest, I saw many of this mad man's mechanical troops. Swat-Bots and digging machines for many miles. What is he using them for? Sadly I don't know, strong as my powers are I am by no means a mind reader. But it's safe to say he's planning something bad.

That is why I come to you now. I wish for you to grant me amnesty into your kingdom of Knothole, for at least 4 days. I give you my word King Max that in 4 days I will have discovered what Dr. Robotnik is planning, and will use my powers to stop him from carrying his wicked plan out. Whatever you decide, I will obey sir" Miracle said softly offering another bow. Everyone in the room turned to the king, eagerly anticipating his reply.

To be continued……