Chapter 9: Diverging and Crossing Paths

It was only a matter of minutes when the Tornado caught up with the Egg Carrier. Tails checked the tracker on the control panel, then glanced back at the airship. When he saw it's intended course, he became cautious.

"Okay, pilot, what's the plan?" Sonic asked.

"It looks like the Egg Carrier's heading over Station Square," said Tails. "That ship's bound to have laser missiles on board, so we'll have to fly above it to avoid hitting the city."

"Got it. I'll – look out!"

Tails had only a second to react to the oncoming wave laser bullets. He steered away so fast that Sonic nearly slipped off the plane. The Hedgehog managed to grab the edge of the wings, but the struggle was about to get worse. No sooner had Tails avoided the first assault of laser that another came straight at him. Sonic held on for dear life as Tails bobbed and weaved through the sky.

"Hang on!" Tails yelled.

"What's it look like I'm doing?!" Sonic shouted back.

Tails tried to flank the Carrier, but a round of missiles from the side of the airship shot at him. Pressing a button on the control stick, he fired several laser bullets of his own, intercepting the missiles and causing them to explode. Tails fired at the turret, but his lasers caused no damage. Another round of missiles shot from it, and Tails swirled out of the way, spiraling down towards the ocean below. He strained to regain control, and Sonic gripped the wing even tighter.

Luckily, Tails pulled on the control stick, and the Tornado shot back up into the sky.

"That was close! You okay, Sonic?"

"I'm fine!" said Sonic, regaining his balance. "Focus on the missiles!"

"The metal is impenetrable!" Tails said. "I'll have to try and shoot them directly down the barrel!"

"Get me in close! I can break them!"

"I'll try! Hold on and–!"

Suddenly, and without warning, a massive later shot from the front of the Egg Carrier. Tails had been so focused on controlling the Tornado that he didn't notice he had pulled up right in front of the airship.

The laser struck the Tornado's right wing, tearing it clean off!

Imbalanced, the Tornado spiraled out of control!

Sonic struggled to hold on to what little of the wing was left, but his hand slipped off the damaged area!

Tails reached for Sonic, but it was too late!

The Hedgehog was out of his grasp, and was now plummeting to the ocean!

"SONIC!"

Another laser shot at the Tornado. Thinking quickly, Tails unclasped his seatbelt and flew straight out. The laser struck right through the plane, and the impact sent Tails tumbling up into the air.

Down below, unable to see his little buddy, Sonic could only watch as the laser struck clean through the plane, and it exploded.

"TAILS!"

The Egg Carrier flew overhead, growing smaller as Sonic fell farther away.

High above it, Tails struggled against turbulent wind currents. With no other option, he dove for the Egg Carrier, hoping and praying he wouldn't be shot at. With fortune on his side, he stumbled onto the landing before collapsing.

He laid where he was, shaking. He made it out alive.

But what about Sonic?

Moments before…

Alex sat outside a small cave, staring out over the ocean. The fight with Chaos played over and over in her memory, refusing to give her a moment of peace.

She glanced at her bag, worried. Eggman knew she was in possession of the Chaos Emeralds. It was only a matter of time before he came after her again.

There wasn't a feeling more haunting than knowing she was being hunted.

She pressed a finger to her forehead. As she mulled it over, the more she wondered that if, in a way, she would be closer to finding Carrie and Master Aaron.

"Maybe I can use them to get Carrie and Master Aaron back," she thought. "Then again, he doesn't seem like the negotiating type. Besides, I couldn't just give him the real Emeralds. Maybe some fake ones? Like forcejewels that look like them? No, even that's a bad idea. Then again, he's not Chaos Inclined, so he can't use them. But Chaos might be able to. Besides, I don't think I'm at that level yet."

As Alex thought this, a dark shadow cast over the beach. She looked up and saw a colossal airship flying overhead with a small plane flew around it, looking like a bee buzzing around a pit bull. Alex watched as the plane dived and soared up right in front of the ship.

The laser gun at the front charged up!

"LOOK OUT!" she screamed.

The laser struck the plane's wing. Alex was on her feet when she saw something fall from the plane, heading straight for the ocean. Squinting, she saw it was a Mobian Hedgehog.

"HANG ON!"

Alex sprinted across the beach, her eyes fixed on the falling Hedgehog. When she came to a stretch of rocks, she jumped from one to the other. She reached the edge and dove into the water. The jewels on her shoes glowed, and she shot through the water like a torpedo.

The sudden shock of the cold water brought Sonic back to his senses. He shot back up, breaking the surface.

"HELP!" he screeched at the top of his lungs. "I CAN'T SWIM!"

Despite his frantic efforts, Sonic couldn't keep himself afloat. With one last gulp of air, he went under. Every single instinct in his body fought to stay afloat, but it was no use. Sonic kept sinking. The pressure of the water slowly closed in around him, squeezing the air out of him. His vision began to blur, and he quickly lost strength.

Finally, the last bit of air in him escaped his mouth.

Before the darkness took him, a strange green light grew closer.

Alex grabbed the blue Hedgehog around the waist. The white jewel on her shirt blazed, its power protecting her from the water's crushing pressure. Her blue jewels grew brighter, and she shot straight up, gasping for air the moment she resurfaced.

"I've got you! Hang on!"

Keeping the Hedgehog's head above water, Alex swam back to shore as fast as she could. In a matter of seconds, she made it to the beach and set the Hedgehog down on his back.

"Hey, talk to me!"

The Hedgehog made no response. Fearing the worst, Alex put an ear to his chest.

She sighed with relief. His pulse was faint, but it was there. He was still alive. As she thought of how to revive him, her white forcejewel's dimming light caught her attention.

"This'll work!"

With shaking hands, Alex unclasped the jewel and put it on the Hedgehog, just below his chin. A golden band emerged from it and wrapped around his neck. The jewel glowed brightly, it's light quickly spreading all over his body in a thin cocoon, and drying his fur. Alex bit her lip and held her breath.

Suddenly, the Hedgehog's eyes snapped open. He gasped for air and coughed up sea water.

Sonic curled, his chest aching. After filling his lungs with air again, he soon became aware of a hand on his back. He looked up to see a young human girl with auburn hair, and a green outfit. Her blue eyes were wide with mixed relief and concern.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, I think so," he said, his voice hoarse. "Did you…"

"Yeah. I saw you fall from the plane and–"

"Tails!"

Sonic jumped up and grabbed the girl by her shoulders, startling her.

"Where's Tails?!" he asked, showing worry and fear. "Did you see him?! Tell me you saw him!"

"I-I'm sorry!" the girl stuttered. "You're the only I saw fall!"

That was the last thing Sonic wanted to hear. He let the girl go and fell to his hands and knees, the numbing shock taking over. The haunting image of the Tornado exploding flashed in his mind again and again.

Was Tails really…?

Suddenly, a voice came through his earpiece.

"Sonic, are you there?! Say something!"

"Tails?!"

Sonic's heart gave a huge leap at the sound of his buddy's voice, however staticky it was.

"Tails, you're okay!" he exclaimed joyfully.

"Yeah, somehow," Tails replied, sharing his friend's happiness. "I'm on the Egg Carrier. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Sonic replied, turning to the girl. "Eh…what's your name?"

"Alex," said the girl.

"Yeah, a human named Alex saved me from drowning. We're on Emerald Coast beach. Hang tight, Tails. I'll come and get you."

"Don't worry, Sonic," Tails said. "I'll find a way off. Meet me back at my workshop."

"But Tails—"

"I'll be fine, Sonic, I promise. You trust me, right?"

Sonic paused for a moment before grinning. That was the Tails he knew.

"You bet I do, little bro. Best of luck. But if you run into trouble, let me know."

"You got it. Tails out!"

With that, the connection stopped. Sonic let out a deep sigh, feeling deflated. That moment of dread, despite being brief, sapped so much of his strength, that now knowing Tails had survived was overwhelming.

"You okay?" Alex asked.

Sonic nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks for the save, by the way. I owe you one."

"You're after that Eggman guy, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then take me with you."

Sonic looked at the girl in surprise. Her eyes narrowed with conviction, and she held a fist to her chest.

"I've got a score to settle with that Eggman, too," she said. "Please, let me come with you."

Sonic shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. It's way too dangerous."

"Don't worry, I can handle a little danger. I saved you after all. Besides, I'm not exactly powerless."

Alex pointed to Sonic's neck. He looked down and saw a gold choker with a white jewel in the middle. Curious, he brought a hand up to it. He didn't have this before.

Then, it clicked. "Wait, this is yours?"

Alex looked away and wrung her hands through her hair before nodding.

"It's a Restoration forcejewel," she explained. "It works for Chaos Inclined beings like you…and me."

"Forcejewel? Wait, that means you're—"

"A Mystic, yes!" Alex interjected, tensing. "And so are my friend and Master! Eggman has taken them captive, and I need to find them! If you're going after him, then please let me come! I can handle myself in a fight! Plus, I have Chaos Emeralds!"

"What?"

Alex reached into her bag and pulled out two Chaos Emeralds. Sonic looked back and forth between the Emeralds and Alex. There was no mistaking that determination in her eyes. Finally, Sonic stood up and took the forcejewel in his fingers. The gold band disappeared, and he handed it back to her.

"Well, I guess could use all the help I can get," he said, grinning. "Not to mention, I owe you for saving my life. Let's go. I'll help you."

Alex nodded and put the Chaos Emeralds away. She took back the forcejewel and re-clipped it to her shirt. She took a deep breath and looked Sonic in the eye.

"Thank you, I won't let you down."

Sonic gave her a confident grin.

"By the way, my name's Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog."

"Yeah, I know," Alex said, returning the smile.

Sonic blinked. "You do?"

"A little birdie told me," Alex shrugged. "Anyway, it's great to finally meet you, Sonic. C'mon, we better get going."

Meanwhile…

There was a near palpable feeling of terror in Station Square. The Egg Carrier that flew overhead moments ago made everyone stop and stare. The skirmish in the sky with the plane only intensified the fear, especially when the citizens saw the plane explode.

Even long after the event was over, the once noisy city was now silent.

Outside of a store, Cream and her mother stood, holding each other for comfort and reassurance.

"Mama, I'm scared," Cream whimpered.

"It's okay, Cream," her mother said, hugging her daughter. "But I'm afraid we are going to have to cut our vacation short. Let's return to the hotel and get our things."

Cream looked down, afraid and sad. "Okay, Mama."

"Cream! Vanilla!"

Daughter and mother turned around at the sound of their names. A pink Mobian Hedgehog in a red dress came running towards, waving.

"Hello, Amy," Cream greeted. "What's going on?"

"I've got to find Sonic," said Amy urgently. "I know he's somewhere in this city. Have you seen him?"

"I'm afraid not," Vanilla replied. "Why? What's going on?"

"My cards told me that a horrible disaster is coming," Amy explained, "but I think I have a clue on how to stop it. I've got to find Sonic and tell him."

Seeing her friend's distress, Cream turned to her mother. "Mama, do you think we can help?"

Vanilla thought for a moment. "Hmm. I suppose we can spare some time. If Sonic is in the city, we should be able to find him."

Cream's face brightened and she hugged her mother. "Thank you, Mama. Tell us how we can help, Amy."

"Thanks, Cream," Amy said, smiling. "We can start by going down to the beach. Call it my intuition, but I have a feeling that's the best place to start looking."

"Okay. Lead the way."