-Sonic-

I duck and roll under the door, race through the dimly-lit room, eyes flashing over the inactive robots, heading for the open door at the opposite end. The Chaos Emerald's through there; we're so close now! This has all been so easy, just like I said it would be! Why didn't Amy and the others do this long ago?! Shadow was too tired for any of this, I know, but couldn't they have just ducked out of sight for a little, given him a chance to rest?

Maybe they thought they'd already lost with the loss of the Emerald, could only delay the end. They didn't know what I'm pretty sure I do – none of them had ever noticed. I guess it shouldn't be too surprising, but it is, somehow. It seems so obvious! But people say things aren't so easy to spot when you live with them, and I guess that's true.

Dashing through the door at the end even before the other two have got into the room, I suddenly skid to a halt, turning around as I do, so for a moment I'm balanced crazily on one foot as I slide across the metal floor. The door behind me, back into that room with the inactive robots, has shut! I run back and try to open it, but I can't – and I can hear fighting from the other side! It's too thick for me to just smash my way through – my only choice is to keep going ahead as fast as I can and get that Emerald!

I race ahead, down the corridor. The power of the Emerald is like a beacon, calling me on; I can sense it. It's not far now, not far at all, and there don't seem to be any defences along this last short stretch of corridor. Doors slam closed ahead of me, the Emerald sealed on the other side, but I don't even slow down, speeding up instead, launching myself at the door and spinning, putting all my strength into this attack – I've got to get through, got to get back and help the others!

I hit hard enough to hurt myself, falling back, but as I get up I see the doors are buckled, nearly broken. Another attack should do it! I run back a little way, stop and turn, and again race towards the door in another attack – and this time, I break through!

Picking myself up from the wreckage, I see the Chaos Emerald contained in a cylindrical glass housing. I don't even need to break the glass – getting out of here is going to be a piece of cake! I race up to the glass, rest my hand on it, as close to the Emerald as I can get. I can feel its energy like a brilliant light, and remember how it feels to use that power, to call on it, make it a part of me, trading my own strength for all the blazing energy of the seven Chaos Emeralds together. Right now, though, I can't do that, and what I want is a different way of using the Emerald's power. I focus, on it, on where I want to be, and call out two words.

"Chaos Control!"

And I'm no longer there – and nor is the Emerald.

I reappear, Emerald in hand, in the room with the inactive robots – one of them's online now! Tails is on its back, but it's taking no notice of him. It's aiming at Shadow, who's lying on the floor, trying to push its gun away! Without even thinking about it, I call out again, not really needing to speak the words, but knowing they help me to focus on precisely what I want to do.

"Sonic Wind!"

Spinning lances of energy like a miniature whirlwind slam into the robot's back, narrowly missing Tails! At once, it turns to face me, and I hear Shadow cry out as he's pulled along with it, but by the time it's looking at where I was, I'm no longer there. I can't keep on using the Emerald; it takes my own strength to do that and tires me all too easily, so instead I loop around and slam into it right where I hit it before! Tails has jumped off, and while it turns in circles to try and face me, I keep attacking that same damaged point, until I break through its armour, slam through the delicate circuitry and the rather less delicate framework beneath, and destroy it!

Standing amid the wreckage, I look around for Shadow and Tails. Shadow's lying on the floor, Tails just coming out from behind a robot. I walk over to Shadow, looking down at him, Tails beside me. He opens his eyes, smiles faintly at me despite the pain he must be feeling...

"I'll... be all right, Sonic..."

"Yeah," I tell him, "you'll be fine – I'll make sure of that!" I kneel beside him, touch his shoulder; though I don't need to, it's a little easier for me. Tails realises what I'm doing and takes hold of my arm, and one last time, concentrating on the hideout, I focus...

"Chaos Control!"