.:Chapter 7:.

Disaster

A short while later things had calmed down a little. Knuckles was sitting in the camp with the other Freedom Fighters, still having a little difficulty keeping Natalie from strangling him. The others had welcomed their ally in warmly, and they were now discussing the events they had been through.

"Just the other night," Knuckles was explaining. "I was sitting on the lower steps of the shrine, dozing. It must have been about eleven or twelve o' clock. For a while it was peaceful and quiet -- when I suddenly heard something rushing from behind. It sounded huge, so I jumped up immediately. And then that's when I saw the griffin trying to drag off the Master Emerald! So I ran up there to fight him off, and that's when the other one appeared -- Shadow. I challenged him too, but he was fast! I believe he was even faster than Sonic! He snatched the Master Emerald and suddenly he, the griffin and the emerald disappeared . . . Right into thin air."

"Chaos Control," Uncle Chuck replied. "It's an incredible power -- it can stop time, and teleport anyone and anything anywhere in the universe! In fact, we believe that Chaos Control is responsible for creating a link between Mobius and the girls' planet, Earth. It may be the way, if I can find out more about it, to get them back home again."

"Trouble is," said Nihara. "They don't really wish to go home at the present time."

"Never woulda guessed . . ." muttered Knuckles, looking down at Natalie as she clung to his arm. "Um. Anyone mind telling me why she's infatuated with me?"

Jessica snickered. "She's known you for a long time, Knux -- we all have. We just haven't met you, in person, until now. And that's pretty awesome, especially to Natalie who thinks you're the best thing ever."

Knuckles blinked. "How could you know me without ever meeting me? We're from two different worlds . . ."

"It's a long story," said Jess. "But in our world, your universe is considered 'fictional.' And we believed so, in a way, until one day Naugus affected the entire universe with his Spell of Darkness. And since he had landed on Earth to enslave it, Sonic and the others followed, and that's how we discovered that they were real." Jessica's eyes gleamed as she remembered of how exhilerating, how incredible it was to find out that what you've always wished to be real more than anything was as real as the day.

"So . . . On Earth, Mobius and everything about it is nothing more than a story?" asked the Guardian.

"Basically." nodded Jessica.

"That's kind of an eerie thought . . . How what we may consider fictional to be real, and having over life forms know all about us because of it." He glanced down at Natalie again. "She's cutting off the circulation in my arm . . ."

Everyone laughed, for the sight was simply irresistable. Never had they seen Natalie so happy. Then, suddenly, there came the sound of footsteps from behind.

Jessica turned to see Sonic striding toward them.

"Hi, Sonic!" she greeted cheerfully, but the moment she looked into his eyes, she knew at once that something was wrong.

There was a look there that had never been there before -- a look of fury, sadness, and extreme pain wrapped all in one. The skin on his face was drawn taut, and he was on the verge of bearing his teeth. Ears were pinned flat, quills were bristled dangerously, and fists were clenched and shaking at his sides.Fiercely he trudged toward them.

Jessica tilted her head in concern. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." came his cold, clipped reply, and his friends hardly recognized the tone of his voice.

Suddenly Sally came running up behind him. "Sonic! Sonic wait! I never--"

Sonic whirled furiously on her. "I don't want to hear it, Sally! You can't lie to me! I know what I saw!"

"Sonic, you're being ridiculous!" Sally shouted. "There you go, assuming too much again!"

"Don't tell me about assuming too much!" Jessica winced as he raised his voice. "I came back here today, assuming that everything would be all right! That there was still hope for you and me, that I was the one that was wrong! And look at what I find!"

"Well, if you hadn't run off and turned your back on us--"

"Oh, look who's accusing who of turning their back on someone!" His eyes were now flames searing right through her.

"Can you really blame me the way you just left like that?" Sally cried, standing her ground.

Sonic glared at her, shaking violently.

The others could only stare in bewilderment.

"I used to believe you were great, Sonic, but lately you've done nothing . . . At least St. John has always done things for--"

Sonic lowered his head suddenly, and the vicious look in his eyes was enough to send chills through anyone. "Don't ever speak to me about St. John! And don't you dare say I've never done anything for you! Sal, that's the biggest lie! The cruelest lie! I've given my world to you! I would have done anything for you! Anything! And here you are, accusing me of never do a thing for you! Tell me something, Sal, has St. John ever risked his life to save you!"

Sally just looked back at him coldly, and the Freedom Fighters could hardly believe her gall. "It always seemed to me that your ego came first . . . And I second."

Sonic gawked at her in disbelief. "How can you say that?" Finally the pain he was suffering inside was coming through . . . "How can you look at me, the one you've known all your life, the one who has been your best friend for who knows how long, the one who ran at my side despite the danger and the risk to destroy the Doomsday Project . . . and say to me that I've never put you first?"

For the first time in her life Sally couldn't bring herself to speak in her own defence . . . She knew she couldn't win this battle. For a moment her true side tried to break through the barrier. "Sonic, I didn't mean for--I didn't mean to . . . to hurt you . . ."

Sonic clamped his eyes shut and sent his teeth plunging into his lip, drawing blood. "You didn't mean to? You didn't mean to somehow end up in St. John's arms, and end up in a liplock? Is that what your telling me Sal! Is that it!"

Suddenly Jessica gasped, her hand slowly rising to her mouth. The others could hardly believe what they were hearing . . . .

Then Sonic turned sharply away, and Jessica would remember that wounded look in his eyes for the rest of her days. "Get away from me, Sal . . . " he shuddered. "It's over . . . You and me? Forget everything we've ever had together."

Sally took a cautious step forward. "Sonic . . . "

"Just go!" Sonic cried, his legs nearly crumpling beneath him from the anguish of it.

Everyone stood motionless, paralyzed by what they had just witnessed. Not even Sally moved for the longest time, her eyes fixed on the trembling blue creature before her. And then, without saying a word to anyone, without even giving them a last glance, she turned and walked away. The air around the otherwise beautiful forest suddenly grew cold and lifeless . . . Not even the lovely wind that had been blowing before stirred now. Nothing dared to move. There wasn't a sound in the entire forest -- nothing but Sonic's heavy, painful breathing. The Freedom Fighters just stared helplessly into thin air . . . They wanted to say something to reassure Sonic, but they could find no words, no voice to speak. They were suffering from what they had just seen and heard as well. And it felt as if a blade had pierced each and every one of their hearts.

Then suddenly Sonic shattered the stillness, abruptly whirling and taking off through the trees, running so fast that he tore the blades of grass right off the soil. In a matter of seconds he was gone, and in an instant Jessica was off after him.

"Jess!" Kimberly called, and tried to stop her, but her friend disappeared into the trees as well.

Uncle Chuck let out a long, painful sigh. "I was afraid of this . . . So afraid . . . "

Sonic and Sally's words echoed in Jessica's ears as she dashed through the trees, fighting her way past clawing branches and bramble, gritting her teeth in fury. How could she have done it? How could have Sally betrayed Sonic? After all they had been through together . . . After all they had conquered together? It was too horrible . . . This had to be a dream. The girl wished with all her heart it was. But yet here she was, running through this bleak wood now covered in shadows from the thickening trees, so cold that she now had goosebumps despite the heat of the day.

Desperately she searched through the forest to find Sonic. Gradually the land grew steeper and steeper, and several times she stumbled on her way down. But she paid no mind to any pain she suffered . . . everything inside her, her heart, her soul, her mind . . . was focused on him.

"Sonic!" she cried, leaping down a steep embankment. "Sonic! Sonic where are you?"

But there came no answer. The girl looked around, squinted through the shadows that allowed no or little light to pass, strained her eyes to see him . . . But it was no use. He was nowhere in sight. And he was probably far, far away from this place.

Miserably she dropped down to her knees, moaning in despair. She just had to find him. God, she could only imagine what he had to be suffering now! And she couldn't bear to see Sonic suffer . . . Not him. Not the one who gave everything to help others . . . No one made her Sonic suffer this much!

Suddenly there came a distant noise that made Jessica look up.At first she could only see the dense vegetation that only grew thicker and thicker as it went toward the mountains . . . But then she noticed a lone blue figure standing far off, near the edges of a tiny stream.

Hurriedly she hauled herself to her feet and stumbled down the rocks of the embankment, running as fast as her legs could carry her over the rough terrain. Her breath coming in gasps, she skittered across a small hillock, leaped over a branch of the stream, and slowed herself to a jog as she finally came up alongside Sonic. He gave no word, no gesture of acknowledgement. Not even his ears flicked back in the slightest way to show that he had detected her presence. Slowly, cautiously Jessica stepped toward him, and soon she was less than six inches away from him. Still he made no move. His head was lowered, eyes pressed shut. The only movement he did make was the sharp breaths he pulled in every now and then. Jessica's heart clenched.

"S-Sonic?" she asked meekly.

But her beloved friend didn't speak. He couldn't, Jessica realized. He was in far too much pain . . . Far too shocked to speak. Eventually he'd find his voice, she knew. He was too strong to let this hold him down for long . . . Eventually he'd speak to her, but for now she would wait. And if it took an eternity . . . If the world burned up around her . . . she would wait for him still. Not even the wrath of the Chaos Emeralds could pull her away from his side.

Hours dragged on sluggishly . . . Faint, golden patches of light broke the darkening void of shadows around them every now and then. A cold, chilled wind blew through the leaves and both of them shivered. The stream gurgled on quietly, but other than that, there was no other sound in the forest. Jessica's legs soon grew stiff and achey from standing, but she ignored them. They were of so little importance now . . . Relentlessly the girl stood at Sonic's side, never moving an inch, never taking her eyes off his reflection in the water before her. And still the hours rolled on and on . . .

Sonic knew she was there. He knew why she had come. But still he couldn't smoulder the agony inside him long enough to find words to speak. Again and again he found himself wrestling with the mounting sadness . . . desperately fighting the overwhelming loneliness and pain that was slowly consuming him. If he thought he had been suffering the night before, it was nothing compared to this . . . Several times he felt as if the world had fallen out from underneath him, that he'd just collapse and have no strength to get up. Real, physical pain throbbed in his chest . . . in his wounded heart. Oh, how he sought some source of comfort! How he pleaded that something would soothe this torturous wound! He battled it, and battled it still, fighting to keep his strength and his spirit, but it was all becoming too much for him to endure. He had to let it out . . . Let this pain go through him, rather than well up inside him until it was finally forced to break. And that almighty spirit that raged inside him -- that fiery core deep down in his soul would never allow itself to break, never give in to anything.

At last he caught hold of his voice. " . . . Jess?"

Immediately she turned to him. "S-Sonic . . . I-I can't believe . . . I'm so sorry, Sonic . . ."

Sonic sighed and closed his eyes for a long while. Then he said, "Guess I was wrong . . . . I had assumed too much . . . I believed that we still had a chance . . . " He paused, lifting his head, the building pressure causing him to quake inside. "But I was wrong. We had nothing!" Furiously he kicked the rocks on the ground, sending them toppling into the water.

A tear slid down Jessica's cheek.

"Sonic, I am so sorry . . . so sorry . . . I'd give anything to--I-I just can't believe how she could have done it!"

Sonic swallowed hard. "Neither did I. W-we've always been friends, me and her. We grew up together . . . learned together. We shared our deepest secrets, trusted in each other! And now this. T-there had been times when she would look at other guys before, but-but she always came back to me in the end . . . I wanted so bad to believe that I was just being paranoid . . . That everything was in my mind. And for a moment it worked, but then---." He looked at her, and the pain in his eyes caused Jessica to just melt into tears. "Isn't it funny, how life does that to you? One minute you have something, something that you believe will never ever die . . . only to find out with sickening realization that it's just . . . gone . . . "

"Sonic!" Jessica cried, and wrapped her arms around him, trembling and sobbing. She couldn't take it . . . She had to help him! She had to soothe this gaping wound that now inflicted the one thing she loved more than anything esle in the world. Gradually her sobs turned into cries that shook through her body, and she pulled Sonic as close to her as she possibly could. It wasn't fair! Why was he the one chosen to suffer? Why? All he had ever done for anyone was be kind to them, lift their spirits when darkness closed in around them, fearlessly stand in the path of any danger that threatened them, and never once asking for anything in return! He was the last person to ever deserve this! Why did it have to be him?

Sonic trembled in Jessica's arms and laid his head on her shoulder. "Jess . . . " he whispered. "I have never felt anything so painful in my life . . . I've fought the very Chaos Emeralds -- the most powerful things on the planet, with the energy to obliterate anything in their path! I've been struck by machines that weighed over two hundred tons . . . and thrown through walls of metal! But nothing has ever hurt like this. Oh, gods, this hurts! It hurts even to breathe!"

"Shhhh," Jessica said, stroking him. "Oh, sweetheart, I know. . . Come here. Baby, just let it all out . . . Let it all out . . ." Tears flowed down her cheeks, and despreately she fought to be strong for him. Always he had been the one to comfort her, to wash away her tears and soothe her pain. Now it was her turn to repay his debt, and she just had to be strong for him!

She pressed her cheek against his -- and discovered it to be wet. She gasped, for what she realized had sent a jolt of pain through her heart. Tears . . . Tears were falling from Sonic's eyes! She couldn't believe what she was seeing . . . Sonic was far too strong for tears! He had endured so many pains, so many hardships and never even flinched -- and yet here he was, crying. Only once had she seen Sonic truly cry -- and that was when Uncle Chuck had been roboticized . . . Sure, whenever he saw someone suffering enough, tears would come to his eyes, but they didn't slide, didn't fall from his cheeks as they did now. At last Jessica realized just what scale of pain Sonic was truly suffering.

"Oh, Sonic, no," she sobbed, holding him closer than ever. "Don't cry . . . Please don't cry!" But the closer she held him the more he let the pain go, forming into the tears that now dampened his beautiful eyes. More and more he trembled, gasping for breath as the agony flowed out of him slowly. Jessica turned her head and placed her hand on his cheek. "Oh, come on Sonic . . . don't cry . . . those eyes are too beautiful to be filled with tears." Gently she brushed her hand beneath his eyes, wiping the tears away. Sonic closed his eyes and allowed himself to be comforted. This was what he needed more than anything else in the world right now, and he didn't care what it would take -- as long as this pain was soothed.

"Look at me, Sonic," Jessica said suddenly, looking deep into those wondrous emerald orbs. "You're going to get over this, bud . . . I-It's like you always say . . . everything's gonna be OK . . . And I'll make sure of that, baby. You know how you promise me that it'll all be OK whenever I'm hurt or sad -- well now I'm promising it to you, sweetheart." She sniffled and held him.

"Please don't leave me, Jess . . . " he pleaded. "You're healing this pain inside me . . . And if I go on suffering it I'll go crazy! Please stay with me . . ."

"Don't you worry, Blue," she sobbed, stroking his quills tenderly. "I will never ever leave you . . . Never . . . Never . . ."

"Jess?" Sonic asked suddenly.

"Yes?"

"Thank you . . . For being there for me. For all your help and concern . . . Thank you for being my friend."

Jessica sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes. " . . . A-any day, Sonic . . . Anything for you, Sonic. Anything."

She sighed and held him close -- close enough to hear his heartbeat. She couldn't have cared who saw her then. Once, long ago, she would have . . . But not now. Now it was different. This was the first time Sonic had ever needed her, and she wasn't going to let anything stand in her way to be there when he was in need. Let them see and say what they will . . . What other people thought made no difference to her. What was important, was Sonic. And she'd be there for him always.

And for the second time since this adventure started, Sonic suddenly felt glad -- glad it was Jess here with him. What was this growing need to have Jessica beside him wherever he went? He had never felt quite like this for anyone . . . Not even Sally.

"Sonic?" Jessica asked.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

Unbeknownst to the two of them a blue star was beginning to glow in the darkening skies above . . .