Victor John Foxfire(CH81): Sonar and her mother rule the desert. That could be a good place to end their story… or maybe not…

I actually remembered that quote, and I wanted to check to see if the passage in Ezekiel actually existed. The parts that Johan quoted did, but the rest was made up for the movie. A few parts had to be interpreted as well.

The Beauregard bit was hard for me to settle on. I had a few ideas passed around where Beauregard defected, but Eggman put the bombs in him. I ultimately had to say that Beauregard needed to die, and maybe make a ripple effect.

/*-*/

Sonic woke up with a shudder. He felt Sally on his left arm, clutching it a little tight. He felt nervous for some reason. They were back to being very serious, so maybe part of him was scared? He couldn't explain it.

She was so beautiful, both when she was asleep and when she was awake. Sally still seemed lost in sleep, but then again, she had a late night, with meetings and apparently something going on in the desert.

Sonic didn't really care about the desert, but he cared about her. Still… her words about marriage… those made him nervous. He had a bit of uncharacteristic self-doubt when it came that. He didn't want to jump in and be miserable, or worse, have Sally be miserable.

He leaned down and kissed her temple, prompting a minor moan of aggravation. She was very sleepy, so Sonic mumbled, "Sorry." He still had a smile on his face.

She shifted in his arms as rain began to patter against his window. It seemed like the storm had come out of nowhere, but Nicole probably said something about it.

Sonic began to slowly slide his arm out from under Sally. She began to let out annoyed, light groans. Still, Sonic was careful not to wake her up. He walked down to the kitchen to find some pastries already made. Sonic munched on them, while waiting for Sally to properly wake up.

Sonic stayed away from the coffee, and made sure to explain to Christina, "I'm actually pretty awake, and I don't need to be super energetic today. I don't think at least." Sonic tried to smile it off. Christina looked less hurt and more disappointed. Sonic saw her set a cup aside, which was probably already filled up, but he could worry about that later.

Sonic instead ate his pastries, and drank some water.

Sally hadn't come down after fifteen minutes, and Sonic was a little worried. Still, she would come down when she was ready. Sonic felt a little worried, though.

He finished up his food, and Sonic was surprised that she still wasn't up yet. Of Course, as the thought crossed his mind, she came down the stairs into the dining room clearly in a bad mood.

"Hey, you slept in." Sonic laughed, trying to lighten the mood. Sally, as it turns out, was not ready for that.

"Don't you lecture me about sleeping in! I was there at your hospital bed when you were tired and slept for twenty hours a day!" Sally shouted, pointing a finger at Sonic. Sonic leaned back, stunned by her outburst. She held her finger on him, before closing her eyes, "Oh… Oh…. I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from."

She sounded tired despite sleeping in.

"Sally, are you feeling ok?" Sonic asked, but tried to remain cautious. He knew that she was not alright, but if he pointed that out, it might get worse.

"I'm… Just not right. I don't feel good." Sally confessed, "I feel a little sick, hot and tired. I don't know what's wrong, but you should… probably stay away."

Sonic saw Sally wince and sucked in her stomach as if she was going to be sick. Sonic took a step back, but Sally held up her hand, "I'm good… I'm good."

Sonic nodded slowly. Christina seemed rather on guard, and kept her distance.

Sally looked at the tray of pastries, and seemed to forget her nausea, "I'll… eat something and go lay down. I'll hopefully feel better after some rest."

Sonic held out his hand, "Do we need to go see Doctor Quack? I'm sure he'd love something that isn't me on my death bed."

"THAT'S NOT FUNNY, THAT'S NEVER BEEN FUNNY!" Sally shouted, before panting, and clutching her head, "I'll… I'll take some food and go back upstairs… Crap, I have to go and manage the Freedom Fighters."

Sonic stepped up, a little agitated by her mood, but still wanting to help, "Hey, I can ask Elias to cover for you."

"Sonic, I can't take days off because I'm sick." Sally whined, before closing her eyes. What was up with her?

Sonic instead held up his hands, "That's why they have sick days. Eli will tell you everything once you get better."

Sally opened her mouth to protest, but stopped and nodded, as if realizing that her being agitated and sore would only make things harder, "Alright, but I will check in first thing tomorrow."

"If you're feeling better, I'm not giving you a choice on this one." Sonic grinned at her, before running out the door. He knew she would argue tooth and nail to not take another day off, but that was part of her charm. She would always see something through.

Sonic ran to Freedom HQ and burst through the door. He ran straight into the meeting room. Elias was sitting, strumming through papers when Sonic came through the door, "Ah, Sonic, I was wondering if you've seen my sister?"

"She's sick. Sally is going to be sleeping and being pampered to for the rest of the day. Elias, I expect you to make sure she enjoys the whole day. If she shows up here, send her back to me and tell her to relax." Sonic smiled proudly, and confidently.

"Is that right? I hope it's not too bad." Elias mumbled.

"Nah, just feeling sick, being tired, headaches. She's really exhausted and emotional." Sonic waved it off.

"Hmmm… ok, that's odd." Elias mumbled, "Sounds like both variants of the flu."

Sonic nodded, "I wouldn't want to be her right now. Trust me, I've seen her."

Elias nodded, "Well… take care of her. I'll tell father, and we can expect her absence."

Sonic went out the door of Freedom Headquarters. He probably could have said hi to the rest of the Freedom Fighters, but he had a princess to take care off. Sonic bolted down the hill and back into the city. Unfortunately, he never could do just one thing.

"I SAW IT, THE BEAST!" Cried a villager, likely coming in to sell his produce. Of course, Sonic stopped and saw the crowd gathering around him.

"IT HAD BROWN FUR, AND LARGE, SHARP TEETH. IT WAS THE SIZE OF A OUTHOUSE!" Cried the Villager. The city folks looked at him and laughed among themselves.

Sonic stepped closer, feeling the rain start to beat down on his face.

"This crazy fool. Come on, man, you're blocking the road." A carpenter called out.

The Villager was on his knees, "PLEASE! IT'S REAL. IT ATTACKED MY CART! IT WAS PROWLING AROUND THE MOUNTAINS."

Sonic pushed through the crowd, with the citizens parting once they realized it was Sonic. He sat down next to the rabbit who looked up, "ARE YOU LORD SONIC? PLEASE, THERE IS A MONSTER PROWLING THE MOUNTAINS!"

"It attacked your cart?" Sonic asked, looking at the very diagonal, smooth cut on the right side of the cart, with carrots and turnips spilling out.

The rabbit nodded, "It had a claw half as long as my height, and its face was shiny and solid, cold. The beast was wide and tall. It had the most horrible smell I've ever smelt."

"Slow down, ok. You're ok, alright?" Sonic held his hands up, and the rabbit took it cautiously.

"The…The monster, it's out there, preying on good people. You have to stop it." The villager pleaded, holding his hands together.

Sonic could see everyone getting soaked while they waited for his answer. The villager was right, if there was a danger to everyone, then he needed to deal with it. That was his job as a freedom fighter. Still, he was a bit skeptical that it was a monster on the road. The cut up looked more like a knife, like the Storm Clan was attacking or something.

Sonic nodded, "I'll go check it out, just sit tight, go to my house up there, and get some coffee and something to eat."

Sonic was about to turn and leave, when he heard a voice call out, "Lord, we're coming with you."

He turned and saw Hunter, along with two of the city guards standing with their rifles. Sonic shook his head, "Nah guys, I think I'll be fine. I just want to check it out."

"Sir, we can't let you go without some sort of escort, besides, there hasn't been a lot of action here lately, and we are get left to alone to our thoughts." Hunter frowned, shrugging his shoulders.

Sonic didn't really know how to respond to that outside of just saying, "I guess you guys can come, just don't be trigger happy, maybe something else is happening."

Hunter nodded, frowning, "Alright… fine."

Sonic smiled at Hunter, "Well, I hope you can keep up." He turned and bolted into the rain, which was a mistake because rain actually stung when he ran full speed into it. He actually had to slow down, because it was really painful.

Still, running out the East gate, Sonic ran past the green fields that were full of crops in the middle of growing. Sonic began to shiver as the cool water made bumps on his skin.

He walked slower, feeling very cold from the rain.

"Need an umbrella?" Asked Hunter from behind him. Sonic saw Hunter, the one of the lady foxes and a hippo walking up. The hippo had an extra umbrella, and Sonic took it.

"Thanks, I guess we got to walk there." Sonic kept walking on the path with his guards. They saw a fork in the road. The rabbit was producing carrots, So Sonic went left instead of straight to the fishing village.

He and the men walked along the road as the rain began to lighten up. Their vision became clearer as they moved, and Sonic could see the tracks in the mud from where carts and wagons had gone.

Sonic felt the road squish under his shoes. Then Hunter called out, "Stop!"

Sonic froze and turned to Hunter, who pointed at Sonic's feet. He looked down and saw the large toe imprints. A large beast. There was no deep or long imprint into the ground, which meant there wasn't a long claw like the villager said.

Sonic saw the tracks moving away from them, and Sonic followed. The bear-like tracks continued for several feet as the rain lightened to a sprinkle. Sonic made out a large form through the thinning water.

He walked closer as his guards readied their rifles. Sonic could hear a growling from the form, a light hissing. Sonic knew that form though. He'd seen Johan enough to know a wolverine.

Sonic walked a little slower, but the Wolverine turned and hissed at him, displaying his large array of teeth. Sonic froze as Ceawlin turned to him and growled, letting the very vocal grinding and the puffed up fur tell Sonic he was not happy.

He was wearing a thick hide armor, and had a metal mask over his face. Sonic saw the sword at his size, and it was pretty clear he was ready to kill something.

"WHAT IS THAT?" Hunter shouted, readying his rifle.

Ceawlin did not like that all, and he stood on his hind legs and roared at him.

"WHOA, WHOA!" Sonic called out, "HUNTER, PUT THE GUN DOWN, YOU'RE MAKING HIM MAD."

Ceawlin continued to growl as Hunter made a very shocked face. Hunter looked down, shaking his head in disbelief, but lowering his weapon. Sonic turned to Ceawlin who was growling at him.

"Ceawlin, it's me… Sonic, Stick's friend. I'm right here, I'm not here to fight." Sonic held up his hands as his mind began to wander. Ceawlin was very adamant about being a mountain dweller. He was clearly angry about something, and it wasn't good.

Ceawlin continued to snarl at him, "Did you bring it here?" He growled with venom dripping from his voice.

"What? Did I bring what here?" Sonic kept his hands up. Ceawlin was not in a good place, and on guard. Sonic needed to be careful.

Ceawlin slowly stopped, snapping his head back and forth, growling, "No… I suppose not."

"What's got you so angry and…well, off the mountain." Something must have stirred him up to the point where Ceawlin would leave his mountain area and come down.

"You should be on guard. The creature will come to destroy everything. It will start small, but once he has his spawns, the fight will be much harder." Ceawlin growled, before perking up with an alerted stance.

Sonic looked around only to see a small, brown mouse come out of the bushes from the mountain. She had a bowl in her hand and approached Ceawlin who snarled at her presence.

"Um… Mr. Ceawlin, mom told me you would be hungry." The small mouse raised the bowl up to the large beast. Ceawlin, however, seemed more agitated.

"I told everyone to stay on the mountain. I will return shortly, do not come down again!" Ceawlin barked at the little girl, who flinched and ran back up the mountain, dropping the bowl on the ground.

Ceawlin softened as she left, pawing at the ground as he seemed to get more and more agitated.

Sonic waited while he licked the contents out of the bowl. He then let out a growl of frustration. Sonic sighed, "Ok, you are normally pretty calm, what's up?"

Ceawlin growled at the bowl, and flipped it over. Sonic could see his hide chest piece shifting as he twisted, "Something from my world has come here. I do not like it, and we must be on guard. If I am wrong, then my fears are unfounded, and you will be fine. I would advise not relying on that assumption." Ceawlin then turned and walked up the mountain.

"What is going on?" Sonic demanded, hating how vague he was being. Why couldn't he just give a straight answer.

Ceawlin turned to Sonic with a snarl, which caused Sonic to stop. Ceawlin let out a snort, before sighing, "I will speak no more of this. Go and prepare yourself and see to your lands. Do not stir a panic, but be prepared."

Sonic growled, "Hey, you can't come and slash my villager's cart and just walk away like nothing happened."

"I could have taken his life instead. I made myself very known. He did not respect my demands for distance, and thus he paid." Ceawlin growled crawling back up to the mountain.

Sonic stayed there as Hunter voiced his opinion loud and clear, "Well that was terrifying. What does he mean we "need to be prepared"?" Sonic was a little nervous and thrown off by that statement. He was most definitely not ok with what was going on behind the scenes.

Sonic shook his head as the rain finally stopped, "Let's go back, I've got a princess to take care of."

Hunter and the guards looked at him funny, but nodded and followed him. Sonic bolted back to the city, perhaps leaving them behind, before bursting through his mansion's door. He ran straight up to his room before slowing down.

Sonic did not want her worried. He opened the door to find Sally looking out the window as if she was fine.

"Hey… are you feeling better?" Sonic asked, and Sally turned to him.

"Oh… I'm fine. Whatever it was is gone, I think. I'm sorry about this morning, I felt so angry by something so trivial. I don't know what happened." Sally frowned rubbing her head as if she was going to cry.

Sonic felt his instinct to comfort her kick in, "Hey-Hey, We all have our bad days. I get it. Maybe last night was really just that stressful."

Sally nodded, and threw her arms around Sonic, "Maybe… I was more stressed out than I thought." Sonic stroked her back and held her there. Her hug made him feel so happy.

Sally pulled away from him, "So… Something has you worried. What's wrong?"

Sonic shifted nervously. He smiled at her and could feel the weakness on his face, "Nothing, just a little problem in the city. I think I took care of it."

Sally raised an eyebrow with a smug smile, "Sonic, We've known each other for how many years?"

Sonic felt himself tripped up by that. Sally seemed to give him a few moments to think. Sonic really lost count over the years.

"That's right. I know you, hedgehog. Something has you worried." Sally pointed out. Sonic frowned and shuffled his feet. He looked like a child caught red-handed.

"Ceawlin came down from his mountain. He said something is here and going to try to hurt everyone. He was so vague, and I get the feeling I can't wing this one." Sonic sighed, looking down.

Sally seemed to gaze off in the distance, before nodding, "Alright, I understand. We'll get back to Freedom Headquarters, and We'll get you back in shape."

Sonic smiled at her, "Are you sure you're feeling better? You could always stay a couple more nights to be your best?"

Sally laughed, "You'd like that wouldn't you. Come on, Sonic, we have to get back into the real world." Sally took his hand.

Sonic nodded, "Alright, I was just offering."

"Do I have to call G.U.N and ask them to send Shadow our way to get you back into shape?" Sally threatened.

"Oh, please, no." Sonic groaned in agony.

Sally giggled and smiled at Sonic. He Smiled back at her.

/*-*/

Fiona found herself unable to even enjoy the amazing breakfast she was served that morning. Fiona knew that the dream she had meant something. Fiona could feel the evil presence within the kingdom. She found herself praying on one or more occasions for her family, Sonic and the Freedom Fighters' safety. Praying…

That was something Fiona never thought she'd do. The mobians had their own gods, some being regional, while others being very wide spread.

That being said, most mobians ignored or outright didn't believe in them. Most mobians viewed gods as something superstitious people believed in, that the world operated on clear rules of physics, and nothing supernatural was ever truly supernatural.

That being said, Chaos and the Chaos Emeralds were something that couldn't be explained. There was talk of other, ancient gods which inhabited the world that slept.

Fiona… she believed in this God that Johan told her about. He did things she couldn't possibly explain. He even warned her about what was coming.

Fiona looked down at the tarts which sat on her plate. She picked one up and took a bite out. Christina was amazing judging by the food she missed. Not the food wasn't good, Frederick hired an amazing chef, but Christina was somehow the best cook Fiona had ever met.

Fiona's fear probably didn't help the flavor. Fiona felt a little tug of Alister's hand on her side as he stood up, done with his food. "You aren't happy."

"Oh no, I'm happy." Fiona put up a smile. Alister didn't look convinced.

"You want to play with my watch." Alister asked, as if hoping to cheer her up. Fiona almost laughed at his innocence.

"Maybe later." Fiona smiled and ruffled his hair. Alister smiled up at her before running off. Frederick looked at Fiona skeptically, "Are you sure you are fair?"

"I'm… worried. I had a bad dream last night. I can't help but be a little terrified that something bad is coming." Fiona laid out honestly.

"It sounds like you are stressed. Come now, walk with me in the garden." Frederick smiled and stood up. He meant right that instant. Still, Fiona didn't have a lot else to do, and she really did not like feeling the way she did.

She stood up, and they walked towards the hollowed-out area of the manor. As she set foot through the door, Fiona saw the blooming pink flowers which seemed to give off a sweet scent.

Frederick look a long sniff of the air, before letting out a relieved sigh, "This place always brings me comfort. Olivia always wanted a garden, as she told me when she stitched one of my cuts the day we met. I see why."

Fiona nodded, and there was no denying that she felt comfortable in the garden. Fiona felt her shoulders relax from the sweet, comforting scent. She relaxed and walked through, smelling the beautiful flowers, and feeling a slight emerge within her.

She walked to the very end of the garden, and sat down, before smiling as Frederick came between the two large vine stalks with red flowers.

"Are you feeling better?" Frederick asked, smiling and sitting down next to her.

Fiona then remembered why she was so stressed out before. She took a deep breath, "A little, but I know something is coming. Something dangerous."

Frederick still looked at her funny. He thought she was crazy, didn't he? He didn't believe her.

Fiona shook her head at Frederick, "Look, I know how it sounds ,but believe me on this one, there is something out there, and I don't like it!"

Frederick nodded, "I believe you…." He looked away, and Fiona felt her anger grow.

"No you don't, you think I'm paranoid, superstitious or something." Fiona growled, raising a finger.

"No-no…. but understand how it sounds? You don't have any proof, you don't have anything outside of a dream. I-I can't give it more credit than a feeling right now." Frederick explained pleading with her.

"The Dream came from God!" Fiona proclaimed, throwing her hands up.

"God? You must understand how that sounds." Frederick sighed, shaking his head, "I can't give some unnatural belief credit with resources we do not have to spare."

Fiona realized what he was saying, and that he was right. She had a dream, and she didn't even know if it was real. Maybe all of the fear she had was in her head.

Fiona nodded at Frederick, "I get it. I'll think about everything, and see if maybe I'm just on edge. Eggman should have done something by now, and maybe I'm scared."

Frederick nodded and smiled, "That would make sense. It has been too quiet with the vile Doctor. I am worried as well. Sleep on it, and if you feel the same, I'll hire a few more guards in the city."

Fiona nodded, still feeling a sense of dread in her heart.

/*-*/

Johan felt the beat of the earth beneath him. He had ran several days, with little sleep or food, his body, stomach and soul ached. Still, he needed to track the source of the darkness. Johan's body, however, was at its limit. He wished to keep pushing forward, but there, in the field, Johan collapsed.

He closed his eyes, weary from his travels. He needed sleep, longer sleep. He needed, a great, bountiful feast. He needed beer to fill his belly. Johan would give himself a day of rest, and commit himself to the total destruction of the intruder.

He closed his eyes. Johan did not dream for what felt like hours. Hours of blackness, of his mind healing from a long time without solid rest. Then, he was greeted by a forest.

Johan saw the many trees, some large and glorious, some small and thin. Johan felt the wind blow past him as he walked down into the forest.

Leaves all brushed and waved with the wind. Johan felt so strange. Perhaps this was his body longing for the forests of his home land. This dream felt divine, that there was more purpose than he could see.

Johan then stepped on a root. The root was exposed, and Johan leaned down to grab it. He lifted the root up, and the tree crumbled, but it struck the other trees.

The other trees stopped waving. Instead, they stood in attention. Johan pulled the root back. he then set the root down. The ripple effect ran through the forest, making every tree shift and move. All from one tree Johan controlled.

Johan's eyes then opened, and he stood up in the field. He was rested, now, he sought out food. Johan turned his attention to the river that rolled in the distance. Johan crawled over and began to hunt the small animals.

He needed his strength, and so Johan ate both the growth in the river, the fish, and the beasts around. He ate what he could. His muscles had weakened from lack of food. Johan felt them regrow with the meat, preparing his body for the long battle ahead.

Johan looked at his axe. The weapon had not been used, but it still had dirt and stains on it from weather. His armor smelled, but that was good. He needed to make his presence known. Johan cleaned his axe, and polished his armor.

"Mighty God, who commands the old ones, and demands courage from the faithful, I call on you in my hour of need. I do not have my body, which was so powerful to not be afraid of this enemy. I ask I be given the strength to best my enemy, and not leave this land barren. I ask this in your son's name, Your will be done." Johan finished the prayer, and found himself reinvigorated. He would face this enemy, not with cowardice or inspiration, but as a warrior.

Johan then ran towards the smell of the horrid creature that would leave the world barren. He headed towards the capital of the kingdom.

/*-*/

Much is going on in the world. Many pieces are moving, some small, some large. Ceawlin has come down from his mountain. Fiona is troubled with dreams and visions. Johan is on the hunt.

Please tell me what you thought of this chapter. I'll appreciate criticism, theories, or just funny comments.