Sonic, Shadow, and Pretzel peered out the window of their hotel room, watching as a crowd of civilians glared in their general direction. Not moving. Just standing there in the blazing heat, apparently trying to kill Pretzel with their creepy pupilless eyes alone. Sonic knew from experience that if he closed the curtain, they would quickly go back to cheerfully milling about like nothing had happened. He also knew from experience that Shadow would break the curtain rod if he kept opening and closing it repeatedly.

Sonic waved at the crowd. They didn't react. He tapped on the glass. No response. He sighed, resting a chin on his hand. He'd never expected the apocalypse to be so boring.

Behind the trio at the window, the door rattled loudly, but with the TV, bed, broken curtain rod, and anything else they could get their hands on shoved against it, they'd have plenty of time to flee if the latest mob got in. He had to give them credit for the two-pronged attack: one mob below in case they tried to jump out the window (and to glare them into oblivion), and another to make sure they didn't go out the door (or get a moment's peace).

"They really hate you," Sonic observed, and Pretzel nodded.

"It does make things more difficult," Shadow observed, turning away from the window so he could lean edgily against the wall. "We are fortunate we can Chaos Control with the one Emerald."

Sonic wriggled uneasily, glancing at the glowing purple emerald. He could see it, it was right there, and yet… he felt nothing. "Are you sure the Emeralds are working normally?"

"They were rather weak when this incident began," Shadow admitted. "But they seem to have regained their energy, and the interference from Light Gaia isn't an issue this close to it. All things considered, the Emerald is behaving admirably."

Sonic huffed and folded his arms sulkily. "Purple never liked me, anyway."

Shadow's mouth twitched, but he didn't comment.

"So…" Sonic said after a moment, dropping the topic like he hadn't been desperately trying to reach out, to feel the Emeralds' presence like he always had since the moment he laid eyes on it, glowing merrily like nothing ever happened. "We probably need a plan."

Shadow sighed, turning to face them. He sat down cross-legged on the floor. Sonic would have rejoiced that he was actually starting to drop the edgy facade if he wasn't too busy mentally poking at Purple. "Our group of five is down to three, and we only have one Chaos Emerald. With the doctor tightening security and taking the Emeralds with him to his current base of operations—which we still don't know the location of—and with GUN apparently overrun by the Light Gaia mobs, our options are… limited."

"Limited like aliens invading the planet limited?"

Shadow's mouth did that twitchy thing again. "More limited than that. At least I had more allies then."

They fell quiet again.

"One Chaos Emerald," Sonic muttered, looking at the innocently glowing gem. "And I can't even use it. So much for the going Super plan. Unless you have some magic last-minute ability that could help us?" He looked hopefully at Pretzel.

"Nothing immediately helpful, no. Though if you run into any lasers, call me."

Sonic sighed and flopped on the carpet. "Chaos Emeralds. Never around when you need 'em most."

"Actually, they always seem to be around when you need them."

"Quiet, Shadow."

There was another long, stuffy moment of silence (the AC had been one of the first things the mobs destroyed, curse them). Sonic watched in mute amusement as an idea dawned, slow and glorious, on Shadow's face.

"Do you remember, Sonic, when the Doctor trapped you in that exploding pod?"

Sonic snorted. "No, that totally seems like something I'd forget."

Shadow rolled his eyes. "Did you not use a fake Emerald to Chaos Control to safety?"

"I did," Sonic agreed. "And it was my first time using Chaos Control." He added with a smug grin.

"Who made the fake Emerald?"

Sonic blinked. "Tails did. D'ya think…"

"Where is Tails now?" Shadow stood abruptly, reaching for the Chaos Emerald.

"Last I saw him, he was in Apotos." Sonic scrambled to his feet. "But he's under Light Gaia's control."

Shadow scowled, dropping his hand. "Perhaps we could trick him into helping us? Light Gaia seems partial to you."

"Light Gaia's trying to brainwash me," Sonic corrected him. "I wouldn't exactly call that favoritism."

"It's… trying to brainwash you?" Shadow said slowly.

"Welll… yeah. Haven't you noticed the random fits of bloodlust?"

"But it hasn't brainwashed you." Shadow started pacing.

"Not completely…" Sonic muttered, trying to follow his train of thought.

"It has brainwashed thousands of people around the world, people as purehearted—"

"Aw, stop, you're making me blush."

"—and even less purehearted than you. Yet you retain at least some amount of control. You still have your true personality, and you are actively rebelling and seeking to stop Light Gaia without any direct repercussions." Shadow stopped in his pacing and frowned at Sonic. "Why?"

Sonic thought about it. His mind traced back to the first time he transformed, how his mind was so fogged with light. He remembered encountering Pretzel, and how the next morning something in him had resisted the light. He had thought it was him, adjusting and getting used to the transformation, but maybe…

"I think it's Pretzel. I'm not sure how… but I think it's Pretzel."

Both hedgehogs looked at their companion.

Pretzel hunched her wings under their scrutiny. She glanced out the window, then seemed to draw something to herself and sat up straight. She took a deep breath.

"In the temple in Holoska, I saw an image of Light Gaia fighting Dark Gaia. It… I believe it stirred up memories." She hesitated, then added, "And my… abilities. I can control shadows. I don't need to breathe. I can even change shape to a certain extent, and I see… auras. The light and dark in people. Your fear makes me stronger, and light and heat make me weaker. When he is under Light Gaia's control, Sonic always attacks me." She looked away. "And… and I woke up when Light Gaia did, with no memories of who or what I was."

There was silence for a moment.

"Sweet Chaos in a lobster trap, how did I not figure this out!?" Sonic howled, grabbing his quills and then wincing as he drew his hands away. He started pacing back and forth, filled with a buzzing, nervous energy. "It's so obvious and yet—" he whipped around, pointing at Pretzel, who jumped back like he was going to shoot her. "You're Dark Gaia! You are Dark Gaia! Gah!" He hit his head against the wall a few times and quickly decided it wasn't worth it.

"Which means you are the one who has been keeping Sonic's mind free," Shadow observed. He knelt down so he was eye to eye with her. Sonic stopped trying to vent his frustration at his own stupidity and focused on the conversation. "Can you do it again?"