The yellow hedgehog landed as the explosion of white energy started to fade. Sally and Bunnie gasped as the phenomenon they had seen before left no destruction in its wake. The Wing Fortress collapsed to the floor and erupted into a ball of flame. Luckily a set of bay doors of the base had opened for Snively's planned escape so the smoke could vent out of the room. It was so strange how the white explosion had stopped so suddenly, as it had done before, and left no structural damage.

As the hedgehog faded back to his normal blue color, the light in the room dimmed quite a bit, now only lit by the flames of the fallen aircraft. The hero gasped greatly, as he had burned a lot of his energy on that attack. Now that the anger had passed he felt the sorrow of his loss come crashing in, causing the hedgehog to fall onto his knees and sob.

Sally felt her heart sink as she leaned against the bars and watched the flames of destruction fill her eyes. She wished she could hold the hedgehog, and tell him that everything would be alright, but even she was having trouble believing that now.

Bunnie was still at Jerome's side, but she was also watching Sonic. She wanted to get out of the cage as well, but she was not going to interrupt the hero's mourning, or her own. They would wait, until he was ready to let them out.

A clank suddenly caused the three conscious freedom fighters to look up. Something was moving out of the rubble of the burning fortress. As it came closer, Bunnie made out who it was.

"Oh my stars!" the rabbot gasped as Snively was crawling on his stomach from the rubble. He was in terrible shape, and it looked like he had been cut in half during the crash. Everything from his waist down was missing, explaining why the human had to crawl. The scene was not as gruesome as it should have been though, as what hung out of the waist was not organic, but wiring.

Sonic could not believe what he was seeing. "Y-You… were nothing but a damned robot?"

The robot tried to respond to the hedgehog, however all that came out were some screechy noises that indicated the voice constructor must have been damaged in the accident. However, to everyone's surprise, another voice cut through the darkness, one that they had all come to forget and wished could remain that way.

"You were surprised hedgehog?"

At first they thought they were hearing things, that this was another trick. However, as a large figure stepped out of the shadowed corner that was behind the rubble of the once great flying fortress, the light hit the large man. The Freedom Fighters saw the one that had haunted their lives since their early childhood.

"Robotnik!" Sally cried out as the mad doctor was revealed by the light.

The evil doctor just grinned at their stunned looks. "I must thank you, Sonic… because of the chaos you created I was able to escape the void, and the torment of that cursed wizard." He looks to the shredded android that used to be called Snively. "It looks like you've also learned my little secret."

Sonic crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. "Huh… Well, I shoulda figured that ya wouldn't have anyone by your side that wasn't a robot, 'Buttnik."

Robotnik just grinned in return. "At least he served his purpose. He kept you occupied in my absence." The doctor proclaimed as he used his rocket propelled boots to lift off and escape through the open bay doors. "I must now get back to my city. Don't worry, hedgehog, I won't do anything rash. As a token of my gratitude I will let you rodents have a day before I come after you, use it wisely."

Sally looked down in disappointment. Would this fight ever end? Why is it every time it seemed like they had become victorious, a new enemy reared their ugly head?

A flash of light caught the princess's eye as she looked at the cold metal floor. She looked up toward it and could make out that it was a key of some sort. She really needed to get out of this cage; they didn't have much time to sulk. "Sonic! There's a key on the floor!" The princess shouted to the still hedgehog.

It was as if her voice had awakened him from a deep trance. Sonic looked to see where the ground squirrel pointed and there was a key there. He walked up to it, slowly, as if his mind were racing so fast that it drained his speed. With a light glance, the hedgehog threw the key to the caged freedom fighters, it hits the floor by the cage.

Bunnie blinked once as she picked up the object from the floor. She had never seen Sonic act this way, so distant. The rabbot walked to the cell door and inserted the key into the lock, which was somewhat difficult being on the other side of the bars, but she was gradually able to open the door. Sally ran out of the door, running up to Sonic and grasping him in a tear filled hug. It was strange how the sobs were held back before, as if they were locked inside with her.

Sonic just closed his eyes and hugged back. He felt himself start to give in to the sorrow in his own chest. It seemed like a bad habit, for him to hold it in, to look confident, even in the worst of circumstances. He did it for… for the one that was gone. That thought brought down his wall. The hedgehog shoved his face into the princess's shoulder, making Sally hug him tighter and pat his back. She knew how much he meant to the hero, how much he meant to everyone.

The rabbot just stared, teary eyed as the two held each other. She had put the unconscious mouse over her metal shoulder and gotten out of the cage. Her foot right next to the debris that used to be Metal Sonic. Seeing the scrap metal made her robotic apendages feel all the colder. It looked as if she'd have to get used to the idea of having them. She would need them as long as they continued to fight. Every time though, they lost someone dear to them, and as the bitter taste of loss filled the rabbot's mouth again, she wondered who would be the next one to be lost.

Sonic suddenly jumped as something had gripped his ankle, causing the princess to release her embrace. Looking down, the hedgehog saw the android that was Snively staring back up at him.

"U stew—pid hedgggehog." The human's artificial voice choked. "U fellll forr it-t-t U-or fur-end waz n-not dropppped in-to th-uh lavvva…"

The hedgehog did not appreciate the interruption and kicked at the damaged contraption with his free foot. "Shut up…"

The broken android just laughed as best as it could. "U-or f-ox fur-end waz in th-uh W-ing forr-t-ress. Hah-ahahha…"

Sonic was about to shut the machine up for good when a voice interrupted. "Y'all may wanna come ova 'ere and take a gander at dis." Bunnie cried out. She had made her way over to the lava pool, and apparently found something that had her wide eyed and surprised.

With another kick, the hedgehog was able to make the android let go of his leg. Sonic sped over to the lave pit, wondering what had Bunnie all shaken up. The princess followed right behind, hoping that Snively was lying. If Tails was in the fortress when Sonic attacked, the hero would probably feel at fault for anything that happened to the kit.

In the pits of fire, the truth was easily seen. Patches of the 'fox's' brown fur burned, revealing a shiny interior. It was metal. Like Snively, this Tails was a phony.

Sally gasped as she turned her head to the burning wreckage of the Wing Fortress. All she could think about was how badly damaged the crash had made Snively. She could only imagine what had happened to Tails. Sonic also looked to the machine he had destroyed, and after a brief pause he started to charge for it.

"Sonic! Stop, it could blow at any minute!" Sally cried running after the hedgehog.

Coming to a stop in front of the debris, the hero looked back to Sally. "Tails could still be in there! I'm not going to give up on him…"

The princess hung her head, and was about to give into the hedgehog's wish, when there was a minor explosion that sent a chunk of metal flying a good twenty yards. It had nearly missed Sonic's head. She had lost too many today, if Tails was in there, the chance was thinner then a fox hair that he was alive. "Don't make me lose you too, Sonic. Those flames are going to hit the fuel tanks, and this entire room will erupt into a horrific explosion."

Bunnie gave a nod. "Look at Snively, sugar-hog… I dun think suga-fox would be doin' much better… my l'il nose is pickin' somthin' up in the air, we best get outta here, now."

Sonic glared at the two, he couldn't believe what they were saying. "A Freedom Fighter never gets left behind… You've told me this time and time again Sal. Now why don't ya practice what ya preach?"

Sally visibly shook."Look at the damn wreckage, Sonic! If Tails were still alive in there, don't you think we would have heard screaming? Right now Robotnik is out there, and the other Freedom Fighters can easily get caught off guard if they come looking for us. Think about them."

Sonic crossed his hands over his shoulders. "I can't believe that you'd abandon him! He was like a nephew to you, and like a brother to me!"

The princess's whole body shook. "Don't you dare say I didn't care for him! I saw in his eyes, the reason for our fight! The future that we have given everything for! Right now though, we'll have no future if we stand here and let Robotnik win. You can stay here and run away from life if you want, but Bunnie and myself will run for it."

A pause went by, and the hedgehog gave into the princess's words. If he gave up now, no one could avenge Tails. He had to stay here, and make sure Robotnik paid for everything he had done to make their life a living hell. "Alright Sal… let's get outta here."

The mouse awoke in what appeared to be a make-shift infirmary. A nasty pungent odor stung his nose, causing Jerome to cough and gag.

"Mum's smellin' salts … gets 'em up every time, eh?" Roy, the kangaroo laughed.

If his head and chest weren't aching then the mouse probably would have laughed also. "What happened?"

"Ya took a hit, mate… square in da chest. Bloody lucky the beam didn't go clean through. Musta been the robot was in a hurry to fire." The marsupial explains as he sits by the bed side. "I wouldn't be doin' anything walk-about for awhile."

"Don't worry," Jerome looked down. "After what happened out there, I think I'll stay put for awhile. Everything that could go wrong did."

Roy nodded, "We're all in the dark. Sally told us we all gotta wait for some bloody meetin' for the details. Nobody's seen nothin' from Sonic either."

The albino mouse sat up a bit, surprised. "He hasn't come back?"

Roy shrugged. "Guess you're in the blind too, eh? I'd ask ya what happened, but the Sheila will 'probly tell us anyway. Whatever it is, mate, it doesn't look like good news. Ya guys went to save the young whelp, and he ain't come back neither."

That was the last straw, the mouse sat up and got moved his feet over the side of the bed. His ears rang a bit, but as the kangaroo had said, it could have been much worse. "I have to come to that meeting… I need to know what happened."

Everyone was present who was expected, and still the room was gravely silent. Usually meeting would be littered with side speak before Sally called it to order, but this was far from the case. The room was gravely silent, all eyes on the princess, ready to hear the details, on what happened, and what they were going to do.

The princess seemed like she was having trouble starting. She tried to speak, but words could not come to her. Bunnie was sitting next to her and looked concerned for her friend, and the silence was making the room feel morbid. "Sally-girl?" The rabbot whispered, trying to get someone to say something.

"E-everyone." Sally choked, "the worst has happened…"

Jerome listened on as the princess explained their capture, and the battle between Sonic and his metal counterpart. It was when she got to the part after the mouse was knocked out that shocked everyone in the room. Tails had been lost.

Rotor looked down and shook his head. He had seen the kit develop in his ability to work with mechanics. Tails had even surpassed him, in only a few years of learning. To have lost such a prodigy was a massive blow. The walrus looked about the table to see that the hit to morale was equally shared amongst them all.

To add insult to injury, the news of Robotnik's return, and Snively being an android shook the room. They all felt exhausted, tired of all the fighting, and hiding in this hole in the ground. But they kept silent, letting their leader continue with her slew of bad news.

"After we left the mountain, Sonic ran off… without a word…" Sally teared up.

"Is he… coming back?" Rotor asked.

The princess sat up and slammed a fist into the table, glaring at the walrus. "If I knew that I—" she paused as she realized that she went a little over board. There was a pause as the leader looked down again. "E-excuse me…"

With those words the meeting came to an ending, Sally running out of the room, her rabbit friend following. Rotor sat at the table, knowing that it was her stress talking, and that she wasn't really mad at him.

"Everythings goin' to bloody hell…" Roy sighed, shaking his head.

Rotor shook his head. "I know, I didn't even get a chance to tell her that we've lost communication with Knuckles, the Floating Island receiver is still there, but no sign of the guardian."

Jerome couldn't help but sigh as well, he wondered if Sonic was ok.

Sonic just kept running, along the coast, away from everyone and everything. No matter how fast he went though, his mind kept going back to his bud. How scared the kit must have been, alone in the Wing Fortress, by himself. How could it have ended up this way? A piece of the hero wished that Selim hadn't come, that he be the one that was dead. Tails was a big reason for their fight. With him gone, the future of the planet suddenly darkened, like the sky did above him.

It was sort of ironic in a way, as the darkness of the night was coming in so fast. He knew it was probably because he was running against the world rotation. He kept running, but his thoughts stuck with him. The smile of the kitsune's face when he had done good, the shame in his eyes when he did wrong. All they could ever be now were engraved memories.

The hero felt his legs go numb as he had reached a pier overlooking the ocean of the Eastern Coast. Sonic couldn't explain why his legs felt as they did. He normally could run for much longer.

Night now enveloped the sky, and there were only a few scattered clouds. The weather was so clear, but Sonic's head was so clouded with memories. He couldn't look back, and there was no where to run in front of him… so he did the only thing he could do and fell onto his back.

He took a few gasping breaths as he looked to his side, and it hit him over again that he was alone. Many times he would watch the stars with his friend, and the young fox would comment on how cool they were. Sonic would nod and tell him that 'Robotnik would cloud the skies and take it away.' It was a lot like when they were on the bridge on Flicky Island…

A tear fell over his cheek, these memories stung him deep. He gazed back at the stars, and his felt his heart skip a beat. His eyes caught what he could swear was an image of the fox smiling down, and watching over him.

VVVVV

"That can't be how it ended!" The older Tails was angry at this turn of events. "I'm here and alive, this can't be how it ends."

The single tailed fox nodded, "This is but the dawn of the confusion caused by Chaos Control… the ability to travel to time and space will lead you and your friends on journeies you couldn't foresee… you didn't die there, you were—"

There was noise that sounded like a massive explosion. The darker fox almost seemed to turn a bit pale as he turned to the emptieness of the Void, a darkness spreading across the entire area. "No… it's too late."

"What is going on?" The older two tailed vulpine looked about as streaks of green spreading from the deep clouds.

"It has happened…" Was all the form said as he turned away to look at the oncoming darkness… "I have no choice, you have to go back now, but take this…" A flash of blue light shone down as a gem entered into the older fox's paw. "Keep that with you, it'll make sure that your memories will remain safe, and come back to you slowly… it's up to you to remember now… and change the events that are attacking the Void… and time itself… now go!"

And with that everything went dark. 'Selim' eager to find out what was going on, and to go home again. However a fear of not knowing where he was going, or who he was up against, scared him.

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Long Author's Notes:

"It was a lot like when they were on the bridge on Flicky Island…" See chapter 2 for more details. -- Did I just pull an 'Rchie'? (can't use their name I guess, cause they are on the DNP list)

In a few hours I'll be another year older, and with that I bring an end to the second fanfiction. I thank all of you for coming along for the ride, and hope you come back for next year's story. After alot of consideration I'm going to try something different with the last one. Instead of going thorough all the memories slowly while Selim is sitting there doing nothing, I will instead make the next story my last one of this little saga.

Lets face it, I'm not getting any younger, and its getting harder and harder to concentrate on my hobbies. So what I'll do is write the final part of the story with Selim fighting in the future he came from, and at the same time trying to gather his memories. This will probably be a little more confusing to the reader at first, but that is the downside to it.

Thanks again, hope you enjoyed this season, and the next one will start sometime in September. Hopefully I can get enough written over the summer so I can continue to make regular updates.

Peace out.