.:Chapter 5:.

Waiting for a Star to Fall

I hear your name whispered on the wind

It's a sound that makes me cry

I hear a song blow again and again

Through my mind and I don't know why

I wish I didn't feel so strong about you

Like happiness and love revolve around you

Trying to catch your heart

Is like trying to catch a star

So many people love you baby

That must be what you are

Waiting for a star to fall

And carry your heart into my arms

That's where you belong

In my arms baby yeah

I've learned to feel what I cannot see

But with you I lose that vision

I don't know how to dream your dream

So I'm all caught up in superstition

I want to reach out and pull you to me

Who says I should let a wild one go free

Trying to catch your heart

Is like trying to catch a star

But I can't love you this much baby

And love you from this far

Waiting... however long

I don't like waiting... I'll wait for you

It's so hard waiting... Don't be too long

Seems like waiting... makes me love you even more

-Waiting for a Star to Fall, Boy Meets Girl

Over the vast mountains of the Floating Island flew the great griffin. The beast was now several miles away from where he had confronted the Freedom Fighters, deep into the towering peaks that formed the very heart of the island. The terrain seemed to grow more and more unforgiving the farther he went -- mountains ended and sudden, sheer drops into razor-edged ravines below; monstrous rivers thundered down the craggy cliffs and clawed their way through treacherous canyons. The vegetation soon grew sparse, and the air colder. Eventually Kaligarr was soaring over snow-capped peaks and glittering glaciers. Only here did the Floating Island seem less inviting, for even though the landscape held its own dismal, dangerous beauty, it was considered the most rugged, uncrossable country on Mobius.

Kaligarr ruffled his mane and grinned. To him, this was home.

Low, leaden clouds were beginning to hang over the peaks. The griffin and his passenger were descending into a long forgotten, long untouched realm. Frigid air began to blow, and eerie silver mists furled around the ancient stones that surrounded him. Then, as the winds began to pick up and the storm gained strength, Kaligarr faltered slightly. His energy was draining . . . and quick. Lowering his head to make headway, he squinted through the thickening mists and stroked hard with his wings to battle the gales. For a while he was having trouble navigating through the blizzard, when suddenly the silhouette of a mammoth mountain loomed high over him. Instantly the griffin swooped, his eyes half-closed wearily.

He alighted on a great slab of granite that jutted out over a sea of clouds and mist below. On either side of the ledge were two sharp formations or rock that pointed up like small towers, and just beyond them, lay the mouth of a great cave. Kaligarr's sides were heaving now, and he slowly folded his wings at his sides again, shaking his head tiredly.

"Master . . . " he panted. "I've got it . . . T-the Chaos Emerald . . . "

Suddenly, from within the darkness of the cave, came a malevolent, wheezing voice. "They were there . . . My old friends, the Freedom Fighters. And him."

"Yes Master . . . " Kaligarr huffed. "He was there . . . But it was just as your predicted . . . He's no match for the Ultimate Life Form."

There came a light chuckle. "He thinks he's gotten away with so much . . . He thinks I'm long gone. . . Gone forever. Oh, how wrong he is . . . And now that I'm back, I'm gonna purge this planet from him and those feted Freedom Fighters once and for all."

Shadow dismounted from Kaligarr, and the griffin dropped down onto his hindquarters in exhaustion.

"You are weak . . ." said the voice.

"Yes, Master. It is difficult for me to keep up my superior hypnosis so long. . . But I shall heal quickly. Shadow." He suddenly turned to the hedgehog and jerked his beak toward the direction of the cave.

Shadow stepped forward obediantly and left the yellow Chaos Emerald just outside the cave entrance, bowing his head and backing away slowly. Then, within the darkness of the cave, two blazing blood red eyes appeared. The Chaos Emerald lifted into the air, and then drifted slowly to those sinister eyes, where it soon disappeared.

"We have four emeralds now. . . " the voice hissed. "Once we have them all, I will be able to return in my full form -- and then, we shall transform Mobius into a nightmare world!"

"That reminds me, Master," Kaligarr said suddenly. "The spell . . . It's working already. The three humans have felt it -- I can sense it within them. Especially the one they call Kimberly. She's closer to us than the other two."

"When my plans are complete, Kaligarr, we'll have all three of them in the palm of my hand. For it is they who shall unleash the real power." He paused for a second, then the red eyes flicked back toward the griffin. "Take a rest now, Kaligarr. We won't need Shadow until we locate another emerald -- or until we run into the Hedgehog again." Kaligarr could almost see his master smirk through the darkness.

"Yes, Master Naugus." He looked toward a listless Shadow, and then his eyes flashed. Suddenly a fog in the black hedgehog's eyes cleared up, and he shook his head vigorously to get his memory back.

". . . Where am I now?" he asked, looking around in confusion.

"Back at Naugus's lair," Kaligarr replied. "We succeeded in getting another Chaos Emerald -- remember?

Shadow closed his eyes for a moment, trying to remember. Ever since he bad been reawakened by the sorcerer, his memory had been blacking out every now and then. Finally his crimson eyes opened again. "I remember. . . One. . . The girl . . ."

"Ah, yes, the ones we're seeking." Kaligarr grinned darkly.

"And him!" Shadow exclaimed suddenly. "The-the blue hedgehog. . . "

"Yes . . ." Kaligarr scythed, his feathers ruffling slightly.

"H-he looked. . . Almost just like me . . . And we raced . . . " Then his eyes flared. "Never had anyone come so close to matching my speed!"

"It is not only his speed we must worry about, Shadow," said the griffin. "He is our greatest enemy -- for he seems to always find a way to stop the evil. But not this time. If we get the three remaining Chaos Emeralds, and Naugus is able to enslave those three humans, we shall truly be invincible!"

Shadow stared out across the great void below them. "Kaligarr . . . My mind keeps blacking out . . . That's why it's been so hard for me to remember. That I fear is the only thing that may get in my way when I'm to confront these creatures known as Freedom Fighters."

Something knowing glittered in Kaligarr's eyes. "You've been in suspended animation for a long time, my friend. So it is no surprise if your mind is having trouble focusing."

Shadow only nodded quietly. "I suppose you're right . . . But I won't fail you or Naugus. If his spell works, and if his magic can truly do anything, then I can see her again . . . Maria." His gaze suddenly clouded again -- this time with sadness.

Kaligarr pretended to show pity for the one called they Ultimate Life Form. But in truth he felt nothing for Shadow. He was a mere puppet to him -- something he could only toy with . . . Unbeknownst to the hedgehog.

"Don't worry, Shadow," he said, stepping up alongside him and looking out over the sea of clouds below. "When Naugus accomplishes his plans, even the dead can be revived."

"So, you let them get away -- the fastest thing alive, huh? Seems to me your ego stands in the way of everyone nowadays, mate!" St. John glared resentfully as Sonic made his way back toward the group.

Sonic's ears went flat, and Nihara drew her sword again.

"Enough of your ragging, St. John," she snarled. "I didn't see you fighting them. One try was all you gave it, and judging from it, you couldn't shoot the broad side of a barn!"

The commander glowered at her, and her black eyes pierced right back into his. "You hedgehogs are all alike, you know that?" was all he said before he turned away, muttering to himself.

"At least we show courage in the face of danger!" Nihara yelled after him. "Coward . . ."

"All right, that's enough fighting," Chuck broke in. "We're no better than Robotnik if we constantly fight and divide ourselves."

Suddenly Bunnie looked up. "Could it be true, Chuck? Could Naugus really be back?"

The elder Freedom Fighter shook his head. "Who knows? Naugus is a sorcerer -- one of incredible powers. It could very well be possible that he's returned . . ."

"But he was killed," Jessica said. "Right in front of our eyes."

"It wouldn't matter if he was 'killed'," Uncle Chuck replied, turning to her. "He's a wizard -- he can do almost anything. He was supposably killed several times. But he always found a way to come back."

The girl sighed and turned back to Kimberly. "You OK?"

Kim nodded slowly. "That was so strange, though . . . I could hear a voice . . . Even before h-he hypnotized me . . ."

"Boy, we've all been doing really well lately," said Natalie. "Seeing visions, hearing voices. . . What'd it say, Kim?"

Kimberly blinked. "Something like . . . 'We have come for you . . . Follow us."

The other two stared.

"We?" Nat asked. "Who's we?"

Kimberly shrugged. "I have no idea . . . I'm as confused as you guys are."

The group was silent for a long while before Rotor looked around and asked, "Well . . . Now what do we do? Should we try and track down Kaligarr and Shadow?"

"We must!" Uncle Chuck replied, and for a second his eyes gleamed. "Not only because they're what's threatening these Chaos Emeralds -- but because of Shadow!"

"Shadow?" Rotor queried, tilting his head.

"Didn't you notice that he has the power of Chaos Control, just like Jessica said? That's the power that could open the link back to Earth! And he is the only one in the world who can master it! I must research how he uses the power further!"

"Well, let's get moving then," said Sally suddenly. "We still have to head toward the Master Emerald shrine. Perhaps we can convince the Guardian to join forces with us."

"All aboard!" Dulcy smiled and spread her wings so the Freedom Fighters could climb on board.

Then, suddenly, and without any warning at all, Sonic snorted and bolted down the mountainside, disappearing far below into the mountains in a matter of seconds.

The Freedom Fighters stared, puzzled.

"Sonic?" Jessica asked, startled.

"Where's he running off too?" Bunnie inquired.

Sally sighed and shook her head. "Deserting us. . . In a time like this. Imagine that."

"Low-life . . ." Geoffrey muttered before mounting the dragon. "Well, it's no use looking for him. We'll never find him anyway."

Jessica glared deadly at St. John. Like Sonic and many others in the group, she was growing tired of the commander's arrogance.

"Don't worry," Sally murmured as she climbed up onto Dulcy's shoulders too. "He'll be back. Eventually. Let's go everyone."

Reluctantly the others moved toward Dulcy, their spirits wearing thin from all the trouble they had been experiencing as of late. Jessica didn't want to leave. . . She wanted to find Sonic, for it was never a good sign when he ran off like this. But unfortunately and sadly, Geoffrey was right about one thing. She'd never be able to find him if he constantly kept moving at his speed. . . With a troubled sigh, she finally followed the others and soon they were off, flying north, toward the shrine of the Master Emerald.

The group settled in a great, green glade somewhere just outside of the mountains. It was late at night now. The sky had faded into a deep, blackish-blue, and was now studded with thousands of stars. They had flown nearly eighty miles, and had seen no sign of Sonic ever since he had left them. This troubled a great many of them deeply.

The girls were sitting just outside of the camp, looking out across a great plain that stretched as far to the east as they eye could see.

Jessica sighed. "Who knows where he is. . . It's driving me insane, not having him here."

"I would have thought he'd be back by now," said Kimberly. "Do you think he may have went to find Kaligarr and Shadow on his own?"

"I doubt it," Jess answered. "But I don't know . . . It's this not-knowing that's driving me crazy . . ."

"It's this sitting around that's driving me crazy," said Natalie. "We need to go to the shrine already!" She fidgeted impatiently.

Jess and Kim smiled. "We'll get there, soon enough. Don't worry. Then you can see you-know-who." Kimberly winked and Nat grinned widely.

Suddenly Uncle Chuck came up behind them. "Any sign of him yet?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Jessica gave a heavy sigh. "Not yet . . ."

"I'm worried about the boy . . . I wouldn't go about yelling this in the camp, but I'm with you three. I do not agree with how Sally and St. John have been treating him . . . This happens every time it seems. But now it's worse than ever." He looked down at the ground worriedly.

"Sally won't just . . . Turn her back on Sonic . . . will she?" Jessica asked, looking up at him.

Chuck was silent for a long while. Then he said in a voice no higher than a whisper, "I can't be too sure about that sadly. I trusted Sally too . . . After all, for such a long time she and Sonic have been inseparable. I can't – I can't understand why she is so swayed whenever St. John comes around. It doesn't make any sense."

Jessica laid her head on her knees, a fierce fire suddenly glowing in her eyes. Sally would never dare do such a thing to Sonic . . .

"We've just got so much to worry about now," Chuck continued. "At first there was the issue of getting you three home."

Jessica and Natalie tensed up.

"Then, St. John comes out of nowhere and suddenly he and Sally are best buds. Then, there's the problem with the Master Emerald missing and that Kaligarr character saying that Naugus has come back . . ."

Then suddenly Kimberly spoke up. "Shadow . . . When I looked at him, I felt so strange . . ."

Uncle Chuck blinked. "What do you mean, Kim?"

She shook her head. "I don't know . . . There was just something so weird about him . . . I can't explain it. It's almost like I knew him . . . Or he knew me."

Her friends and Chuck looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Lots of weird things have been happening lately . . ." Jessica said thoughtfully. "And it all began with that star."

"Star?" Uncle Chuck asked.

"Before I had that strange vision, I saw a blue star in the sky. And this may sound farfetched but it always appears right before we have another adventure."

"Hmm," said Chuck. "So it's like an omen. How interesting. So Jess, you've seen that and the vision. Nat has seen a vision too. Kim, what all have you experienced?"

Kimberly was paused a bit before answering, and for a second, Jessica and Natalie fancied they had seen something secretive in her eyes . . . "Nothing really. Except for Shadow. . . And the voice I heard before Kaligarr hypnotized me."

Uncle Chuck scratched his chin curiously. "Very strange. I'm afraid I can't explain them, or anything else that's going on for that matter. But I do know one thing, and that's that things always get strange whenever Naugus comes around. I don't want to believe that fiend may be back, but under the circumstances it's hard not to."

The three girls nodded, and then there was a long silence. A quiet breeze drifted across the great plain before them and crickets chirped in the distance. Despite the heavy hearts in the Freedom Fighter camp, it was otherwise a very peaceful night.

Then Uncle Chuck sighed. "Well, I would like to know where that nephew of mine is, but I would never be able to find him. We'll just have to wait till he comes back on his own. It's pretty late, girls, maybe you should be getting to bed."

"OK," said Natalie and Kim, and the three of them got up to follow Chuck back into camp.

Then Jessica suddenly stopped and looked back out across the plain. She couldn't go – that same, old loneliness she felt whenever Sonic was away was tugging at her heart, and it would only get worse if she tried to ignore it. Abruptly, and without even thinking at all, she suddenly turned around and struck out across the grassland.

It was happening again. Jessica had never been to the Floating Island in her life, and had no idea where she was going, but somehow, someway, she knew it was the right way to Sonic. It had happened so many times before, and just how it worked was beyond her understanding or anyone else's. But she kept going in a straight line all the way across the plain, and eventually the land began to slope into the trough of an enormous valley.

It was here that Jessica paused only once on her journey. Standing atop the grassy ridge, she suddenly found herself overlooking the biggest valley she had ever seen in her life. For hundreds upon hundreds of miles it stretched from north to south in between two great mountain chains. Far, far below a waterfall thundered into a distant lake and a great forest stretched across the center of the valley floor below. The moonlight bathed the serene land in a mesmerizing bluish-green color, and for a second, the girl almost felt as though she recognized this beautiful place. But soon the thought of Sonic returned to her mind, and she quickly shook off the feeling and continued on.

It was uncanny, really, how a human girl could pinpoint one of the hardest things on Mobius to ever locate. Whenever Sonic was out, he was literally constantly moving, and usually at a rate of four hundred miles per hour. Sometimes he covered thousands of miles in one night alone, and he could still go ever further then. And since the Floating Island was at sea level, he may have not even been in this specific part of Mobius.

But still Jessica walked on, some kind of mysterious unconscious force leading her right to the one she loved. And amazingly, it didn't even take long to find him.

About half an hour since she had started her search, she had reached the valley floor and was venturing into the forest, when she suddenly caught a flicker of blue out of the corner of her eye. Immediately she stopped dead in her tracks and turned.

There he was, standing with his back against a tree just on the edge of the glittering lake, where the waterfall fell from the mountains just about a mile off. And oh, was he a beautiful sight.

The moonlight was bringing out all that dazzling luster of his magnificent color, so that he gleamed like a sapphire in the night. The wind was blowing gently through his long, elegant quills, and just seeing him again after only what had been a few hours made Jessica feel as if she hadn't seen him in ages.

"Sonic!" she called and ran over to him, smiling.

At the sound of her voice Sonic turned and looked up, surprised. "Jess! Hey . . . How did you find me?"

"Hey," she said as she came up beside him. "To be honest with you I don't even know. You OK, buddy?"

Sonic gave a short laugh. "I've been better." He reached down and picked up a rock from the shore, and with one effortless toss sent it skipping across the surface of the water. Jessica gazed at him for a moment, and could tell that he was upset just by looking at his eyes. She had learned so much from his eyes.

"I'm so sorry about what happened earlier today, Blue," she said quietly. "It wasn't right. I don't like St. John at all."

"Heh, you too, huh?" Sonic asked, and he clenched his teeth just at the thought of his enemy. Then suddenly he kicked his foot hard across the ground, sending a rather large rock flying way out into the center of the lake, and the suddenness of it made Jessica jump. "That idiot!" Sonic seethed. "Every time! He—the gall!"

Jessica winced at the fury in his voice. Then suddenly he turned to her, his eyes riddled with pain.

"He wants to take her away from me! He has for the longest time – ever since I knew him! And the bad thing is that it works!" Sonic trembled, his breathing coming hard now. Jessica looked deep into his suffering eyes and felt tears burning in her own. "How can it work?" Sonic asked, shaking his head. "How can it, is what I want to know? She and I have known each other ever since we were kids and we-we were the best of friends! And it's like that otherwise – till he comes and shoves his ugly face in between us! Then she's so different, Jess . . . So different . . . Like someone I've never met."

Jessica watched him painfully, shaking, hating to hear someone who feared absolutely nothing speak with such anguish in his voice.

"And this all happened at the worse possible time, too. 'Cause now Naugus could be back, and whenever he comes back, we've got a lot of trouble on our hands . . . And do you know what he uses to his advantage? What evil always uses to bring people down? Emotion! Now how can I fight, when I've got this going on, Jess?" He looked at her for a long while, not even realizing he had just poured out all the conflicts that had been eating away at his heart to her. Then, he turned his head away with a long, deep sigh and clamped his eyes shut, trying to fight his own pain.

Suddenly Jessica stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Shhh, easy Blue . . . Hey, it's OK . . . Oh, Sonic . . ."

It was all she could do not to throw her arms around him and pull him close, to soothe him.

"Sonic, please don't be upset . . . I can't bear to see it," she whispered in his ear, tears sliding down her cheek. "You're such a strong person. Nothing can bring you down, buddy, nothing."

Sonic tried desperately to stop himself from trembling. "It hurts Jess . . . To know she can cast me aside so easily . . . To feel so abandoned . . . I don't understand . . ."

"Oh, Sonic, I know," Jessica sobbed, pressing her cheek up against his. "Sweetheart, trust me I know . . . And I'm so sorry . . . God, I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better, Blue . . . anything."

"It's not your fault, Jess," Sonic replied, calming down a little. "Maybe I'm being too paranoid . . . Maybe it's just in my mind that Sal's turning away from me. It doesn't feel that way, but I would like to believe it is . . . And you're doing the best thing anyone could do for me now," he turned and looked at her tenderly. "Standing by me. Thank you."

Jessica met his eyes and soon found herself being swallowed by their power once again. Tears of affection in her eyes, she shook her head in wonder and could no longer resist. She wrapped her arms around him and embraced him tightly.

"I know you probably get tired of hearing this, Sonic, but I love you."

Sonic smiled warmly. "It's nice to know someone does."

"How could anyone not, is what I'd like to know?"

"Heh, a couple people do as you may have seen."

"Well," said Jessica. "I love you, and if anyone has a problem with that or you, I'll smack 'em before even you can blink." She grinned and tapped him on the nose playfully.

Sonic smirked. "Eh, I dunno. I can blink pretty fast." He winked.

"Not faster than I can smack," Jessica laughed and gently boxed him on the ear.

Sonic's marvelous eyes shimmered emerald in the moonlight as he tossed his head. "But can you smack as fast as I can run?" And suddenly he darted away, and giggling, Jessica sprung after him.

And then a game of tag begun. It was an old game that the two had played ever since they had known one another, and each time they played it Jessica's heart seemed to be cleansed of all problems. Gone were all her worries and conflicts when she saw the sparkle in Sonic's eyes. Forgotten were her fears when she ran at his side, knowing nothing could stand in their way as long as he was there. It truly felt as if he gave her wings, wings that lifted her high above the problems of the real world and kept her in a sanctuary of happiness and love.

And Sonic? No one knew it, but he felt exactly the same way when he challenged the girl to chase him. Especially tonight. Before his mind had been tangled with worries and pain, but now it was all being cast into the wind. He had nothing to worry about when he heard her laughter, nothing to fret about when she was at his side. She listened to every word he said, and always kept a secret – he knew he could tell her anything. And that helped him so greatly. Soon all his anger at Sally and Geoffrey St. John and all his worries about the possibility of Naugus's return faded away with every stride he took.

"C'mon, Jess, you can do better than that!" he laughed, stopping and whirling about momentarily, tossing his head.

"If you're so sure, then hold still!" Jessica laughed and lunged in an attempt to tackle him.

Sonic simply sidestepped and she missed him by no more than a few inches. "Me? Stand still? Now there's one thing I can't do." He snickered and ran off again.

Jess jumped to her feet. "There's nothing you can't do!" And she dashed after him, laughing joyously.

Above the stars seemed to glimmer and shine with more brilliance than they ever had before. How they reminded Jessica of Sonic's unforgettable eyes . . . How they literally ignited into fire whenever he met a challenge, or life coursed through his veins. How they were endless seas of emotion and beauty she could delve into forever, mesmerized by their wonder and their gentleness; how they could convey so much in just a short amount of time.

Oh, how the girl wished one of those stars would fall out of the sky and into her hands . . . For something as impossible as catching Sonic's heart to happen. Because that's how terribly unlikely it was . . . The girl knew that she loved Sonic more than anything else in the world, that her heart skipped whenever she heard his voice, that the emotion pulsed through her every time she looked into his eyes. And she knew she would always love him . . . from a distance. Would she love to reach out and pull him to her, to hold him close and know that he was hers and she was his? Of course! Oh, how she longed for that day that would never come! How very desperately she wished that they could love one another, that they could belong to one another and walk as equals. But that possibility was just too good to ever be true. As much as she hated to admit it, she could never compare to Sally and even though it hurt her terribly to remember that she and Sonic were together, she knew it was true.

But did Jessica give up on him despite this? No . . . Even though it would be forever till she could express all her love to Sonic, forever till she could truly hold him in her arms, she would wait. If forever is what it would take, then that's how long she would wait. Forever. And if anything, waiting just made her love him even more.

So as that beautiful night wore on, the two companions chased each other across the great valley, taking pleasure in one another's company, caring not about the problems that had inflicted them before. After all, forever is what they had, and it would only take forever, waiting for that star to fall . . .