Thanx, V.B.! Of course, Shadow will ask the 3 most trusted people to help him… I'm not telling who yet! But… of course you know you're in it… thanx for letting me use V.B. whenever! You too Jayln! (hint- Jayln… V.B…. in intro?)

This boy…the one from last night? No… that small fox had black flames on his tails and hands… and eyes. Wait… flame… the boy's name is Flame… I need to know why! But… I also need to know what Eggman's plan is… Shadow sat down.

"Flame… can you tell me why your name is Flame?" Shadow asked.

The smile he had disappeared. "Umm… when I was little… I survived this fire and… I guess… that's why my parents call me Flame…" he said, looking away.

"That's it?" Shadow asked, waiting to hear more.

"…"

"Shadow… I'm here to baby-sit him… not interrogate him…" Amy said.

Someone broke the door down. "I'm sorry Amy, but this is an emergency!" from outside stepped in a red echidna… following him was a familiar white bat.

Amy and Shadow looked at them. "What's wrong, Knuckles?" Shadow asked.

He was panting. Rouge came in and sat down next to the boy. She smiled at him, trying to reassure any worries he had.

"This is a total emergency! When I woke up this morning… the Master Emerald was gone! I asked Rouge… she doesn't know who took it!" Knuckles yelled.

"Someone took my only Chaos Emerald!" Rouge said.

"Why? What happened? When Shadow woke up, he said his was lost too…" Amy said, with a bit of concern in her voice.

"Umm… Ms. Rose… where's the bathroom?" the young fox asked.

Amy smiled and pointed him the way to the bathroom. The young fox thanked her and Flame walked away. In the bathroom, he locked the door and looked out the window. He looked at his watch and pressed a few buttons.

"What? What is it?" some voice came.

Suddenly a hologram of Eggman came from the watch. "Ah… Flare…"

"Nah… they think my name is Flame…"

"Okay… So, Flare… what information did you gather?" Eggman asked him.

"IT'S FLAME! And… they know nothing of your plan…" Flare/Flame said.

"Excellent… before you leave… enter inferno mode… then… attack the 'target'…" Eggman said.

"You know I can't enter inferno mode just like that." Flame said, while snapping his fingers.

"I'm helping you, Flare… so you help me…"

"I don't know how this is helping me, Eggman…"

"Last night, when you needed help, who helped you? Surely not Shadow…"

"But… I'm not this kind of person… I'm a nice kid…"

Eggman smiled. "But I helped you with your… problem…"

Flame sighed and walked outside the bathroom with a smile. I know he helped me… but because of that I have to lie and possibly hurt people? I can't really control my Inferno side… I have to tell them about Eggman's plan… but if I do… then… he… I can't… I have to go with this… Isn't this blackmail? I need someone to help me… I need them to save me from Eggman…

I need someone to help me… Eggman has some plan with the Chaos Emeralds… and the Master Emerald? Gone? I can't believe this… who would be awake at… that time of day… that boy I found snooping around…

Shadow ran upstairs. He grabbed his phone and called the first trustworthy person he thought of. I know he'll help me… he has to…

"Vinny!" Shadow yelled through the phone.

"Yeah?" Vinny gasped. "Shadow! Someone stole my emerald! I just woke up… and… it was gone! I always keep it in my cloak! I do!" Vinny said, nervously.

Vinny was always wearing that long, black cloak… although it wasn't long enough to cover his green and pink (yes, pink…) shoes. (I didn't make Vinny… ShadTikal4ever did)

"I need help…"

"I knew that Sonic said you needed a psychiatrist… but really?" Vinny asked.

"NO! Help as in, the help you will give me!" Shadow said.

"I'll be there in a snap!" Vinny said over the phone.

Shadow ran back downstairs. Vinny got there. "What's with the door, Amy?" Vinny asked, as he went in.

Yayness! It's a different kind of cliffy! You guys now know who that mysterious boy is… but what is Eggman's plan? Bio for Flame/Flare…

Flame/Flare the triple-tailed fox

Species- why ask?

Age-10

Description- he's as tall as Tails… maybe a bit taller. He has darker color fur than Tails but it isn't a dark brown…

Likes-…

Dislikes-lying…

Flame can go into Inferno mode but he cannot control it. He can only go into Inferno mode if-

Outta time! Let's go!