Sonic woke to Shadow gently shaking him and Amy awake, the sun barely beginning to rise above the trees and bathing the clearing in pale golden light. "We've got to get going," he said, then he softened and kissed them–Amy, then Sonic–on the foreheads. "Good morning."

Amy yawned. "Good morning," she said. She kissed Shadow back and nuzzled her head against Sonic's shoulder briefly before standing up and stretching, Sonic following suit. He kissed Amy on the cheek and followed Shadow as he walked over to where Sally was taking stock of what they had left.

"Oh, good, you're awake," she said just as Amy caught up with them. "We need to get going as soon as possible. Sonic, you help Sonia with sleeping bags. Shadow, you help Tails with banking the fire. Amy, help me with inventory here."

They all separated to perform their respective tasks, Sonic sneaking in a peck on Shadow's cheek before rushing off to help his sister. His job was to pick up the sleeping bags and bring them to Sonia while she rolled them up and tossed them into a pile off to the side. Once that was done, Sonic brought each one over to the pile of supplies that Sally was taking inventory of, making sure they were all in the same place.

Sonia still seemed to be in a sour mood, so he made a goofy face at her like he used to when they were kids, managing to at least get a smile out of her as they made their way over to where the rest of the group stood. Rouge stood next to Sally, briefing them on new intel. "There's a group of soldiers on their way to the camp, about a day out," she said. "If we hurry we can get there ahead of them. However, the camp is harder to get into than the last one. It looks like Kintobor ordered the defenses to be increased after our raid."

"Hmmm," Sally said. "That could prove difficult. Are there any ways in that you were able to find?"

Rouge shook her head. "I wasn't able to move any of the locks or anything. I think there might be some spellwork involved."

"Ghost repelling spells?" Sonic asked.

"Sounds like they might have another necromancer, or a witch who know s their way around the undead," Shadow suggested. "But if they're focused on keeping spirits out, then Miles could potentially get us in."

All eyes turned to Tails, who shrugged. "I could try," he said. "I might be able to air-lift someone in if the top of the camp is open."

Rouge nodded. "It is," she said. "But you might encounter resistance there too, so be ready."

Tails nodded. "What are we waiting for?" Sonia asked impatiently, looking over at Sonia, who sported a look of determination on her face. "Let's get our brother back!"

As the day wore on, the spring air grew warmer, the sun beating down on them a little harder. Had it not been for the time crunch, they would have stopped to rest and continued into the evening. As it was, when Sally had entertained the idea, Rouge had advised her strongly against it. "I'd be willing to bet half of that army isn't even alive," she said. "They're probably puppets animated by magic, because there is no way he has that many mobians working willingly under him. They don't even need to stop and rest."

"You've got a point," Sonia admitted tiredly, and Sonic nodded. He wasn't as tired as everyone else, but he could see everyone flagging. Tails especially was struggling, panting hard and trying to stick to as much shade as he could. His thick fur was trapping heat too close to his skin, and Sonic felt a pang of sympathy as he handed him his water skin.

"Yeah, but we do need to rest," Sonic said. "We at least need to figure out a way to keep us all from getting sunstroke."

"I'll try and work on it," Amy said, and she reached into her bag, likely for spell ingredients. Sonic kept an eye on Tails, and though he seemed to be doing a little better after some water, he still wasn't doing very well. He was very glad when Sonia finally came over and handed him her coat.

"Hold it up over your head," she instructed. "It'll help a little."

Tails nodded and did as he was told, and he wandered a little closer to where Sally and Shadow were walking.

"Thanks," Sonic said.

"He seems like a good kid," Sonia said. "A little quiet, but… pretty good."

"He's… been through a lot. But he's pretty chatty once you get him going on something he's interested in. Especially machines and stuff…"

They were both quiet for several minutes, and Sonic turned his gaze back to Amy, who had begun singing under her breath as she worked a spell. Her eyes were closed, and she kept stumbling, her pace slowing, and Sonic reached out and gently grabbed her elbow, steering her along. Amy's shoulders slumped with relief as she continued walking.

"You sure she's not trying to curse us?" Sonia whispered, and Sonic whipped his head around to gape at her. Sonia frowned at him. "What? It's a legitimate concern," she said.

"Okay, that's it," Sonic said. "I am getting so sick of this, you know that? They haven't done anything to you or me."

Amy tapped his arm, a silent warning, and he shut his mouth.

But Sonia glared at him. "But they could!" she said, her voice rising. "I told you, this whole 'relationship'-" she put air quotes around the word. "Is probably a ruse to use you just like Fiona used me!"

"Who the heck is Fiona?" Sonic asked, and his sister's eyes widened, as if she just realized she had said too much.

Another tap from Amy, this time much harder. But Sonia didn't notice, and her chest heaved as she glared hard at Sonic. "All you need to know is that she hurt me! And I'm not going to let them hurt you!" She pulled Sonic away from Amy, who cried out and stumbled to the ground, dropping the spell she'd had cupped in her hands.

Sonic stared at the ruined spell on the ground, little bits of leaves and herbs slowly losing their pale blue glow. Amy looked at the spell, then her eyes flitted between Sonic and Sonia. She scowled at them, and he saw her drawing quick, deep breaths before she turned away and caught up with Shadow, walking beside him. Shadow turned back to look at Sonic, his expression inscrutable, before he looked ahead again.

Sonic turned to glare at his sister. "Look at what you did!" he hissed.

"I saved you!" Sonia said. "I saved all of us!"

"I've seen Amy work her magic before and I know that she wouldn't hurt anyone with it. She'd never curse anyone unless they really deserved it, and I'm about this close to thinking you might, Soni!" Rage boiled in Sonic's chest, and though the shocked and hurt look Sonia directed at him sent a prick of guilt in his stomach, he hardly cared. "How about you mind your own damn business," he snarled. "And let me apologize to my girlfriend."

He hurried to catch up to Shadow and Amy, leaving Sonia behind without a second glance.

"Amy!" he called to her, but Shadow shushed him, and he realized he was guiding her along now as she sang. He walked just behind them, waiting for her to finish her spell. Once she did, he could immediately tell it was taking effect, a cool, stiff breeze blowing through his fur and quills, and a cloud covered the sun above them. She looked weary now, and when she saw him she still mustered up a scowl. "I'm really sorry," Sonic said quietly. "And I'm sorry for how my sister's been acting towards you guys. It's not fair at all, and I shouldn't have let it go on for as long as it did."

Amy's expression softened. "Okay," she said. "But I think you two should talk. And I'm…"

"Still mad?"

"A little," Amy admitted.

Sonic nodded. "That's fair," he said. "I'll try and sort things out with her." He pressed an apologetic kiss to Amy's cheek and waited as she and Shadow walked ahead. Shadow tossed him a look over his shoulder that said, don't think this is the end of it. Sonic sighed and turned to Sonia as she caught up to him.

"You," he said. "What the hell is going on? Nothing about the way you've been treating them has been called for. I get that maybe you don't trust them, and fair enough. But shouldn't you trust me, your brother, not to make stupid decisions?"

"No, because I made a stupid decision," Sonia said flatly. "I fell in love too and all it got me was betrayal." She sighed. "I never meant anything to her," she said quietly. "And it's been the worst betrayal I've ever had, and I don't want you to go through what I have."

Sonic was quiet for a moment. "You wanna start from the beginning, sis?" he finally asked.

Sonia took a breath and sighed again. "Alright, fine," she said. "There was this fox girl at the camp. Her name was Fiona. I… didn't know I even liked women until I met her. We got to be really close friends, and… yeah, I was in love with her. We… got together. She said she loved me, but I think it was just a lie. She got caught stealing from the stores one night, and she managed to pin it on me. They don't… They really don't like it when you steal food, so… I got whipped, and she got off scot-free. I avoided her after that. She died the day you finally got us out."

Sonia turned away from Sonic. Her voice was shaky as she said, "I never even got to know why. She just… she acted like I was her favorite person, and went from that to not even acknowledging I was there. And now she's gone. And I'll never know why she changed." She looked at him, wiping her eyes. "And I hate that I still miss her."

"Sis," Sonic said. "I…"

"I just don't want that for you, Nic," Sonia said. "And I don't–"

"You don't get to make that choice for me, Sonia," Sonic said. "If I get hurt, I get hurt. So what? I want to live my life without regrets, and one way or another, I won't regret this. Because no matter what, I will have learned something. And if I get hurt, again, I don't care. Life goes on, Soni." He sighed as she looked away from him. "I get that you're hurt," he said. "But… you can't hold onto it like this forever."

Sonia nodded quietly, and they were silent after that.

They reached the camp shortly before nightfall, but now the problem was how to get inside. They watched as Rouge flew through the back wall, then came back out with a frown. "There are more guards around this time too. I don't know if you guys are going to be able to make it in unseen if the kid flies someone in."

Tails took off, hovering for several minutes over the camp, then came back down. "I can't get anyone in, but there are a few doors on the South side that aren't being guarded. We might be able to sneak in through those."

"On it," Sonic and Shadow said in unison, running in opposite directions in search of a way to get in. Tails followed Sonic, directing him to the door, which only had two guards in front of it–easy to take out and get past. "Okay, kiddo, got any ideas from here?"

Tails walked over to the door, hefting the deadbolt in his hand as he frowned at it. Then he pulled out a lockpick and set to work trying to open it, sticking his tongue out just a little as he focused intently on it.

Sonic stayed and waited patiently. Well, as patiently as he could. His foot tapped, and boredom set in almost immediately. "Sorry," Tails said. "I'm trying to hurry, but this lock is a lot more complicated than I thought. It shouldn't take me too much longer."

"No biggie, kiddo," Sonic said. A moment later, he noticed a non-mobian lynx cat crawling out from a hole underneath the wall a few feet away. His eyes widened as he recognized her. "Nicole?" he asked softly.

The lynx looked over at him, then meowed as she came closer. Sonic grinned. "Sally will be pretty happy to see you," he cooed, reaching down to pet her.

As if she'd been summoned, Sally appeared from around the corner and hurried over, her eyes widening as she smiled. The rest of the group appeared a moment later, minus Shadow and Rouge, who were probably trying to open a different door not too far away. "Nicole!" Sally said, reaching out to pet the lynx, who meowed and purred at her touch. "I thought I'd lost you! How did you get here?"

The cat meowed again and turned away, and Sonic shut his eyes tight against the sudden blinding light that came from her. When the light died down, in the cat's place was a mobian lynx, wearing a tattered purple dress, who turned back around and smiled. "I hitched a ride with Manic," Nicole said.

Everyone's jaws dropped.

Sonic's eyes went wide. "Sal? Since when was your pet a mobian?"

Sally didn't answer, only able to gape at Nicole, who smiled at her. "Don't worry, I didn't figure this trick out until recently," the lynx said. "But I'll explain that later. I'm so glad you've come. They're–"

"We know," Sally said, finally finding her voice, and Sonic couldn't help but notice her cheeks flushing just slightly. He held back a chuckle as she cleared her throat. "What are you doing here?"

"Warning you," Nicole replied as Shadow and Rouge finally approached them, Shadow's quills looking disheveled as Rouge hid giggles behind her hand.

Sonic stared at him, wondering what had happened as Shadow reached them, but Shadow just shook his head and mouthed, "later". Then Shadow looked over at Nicole, and his brow furrowed. "Who is this?" he asked.

"My cat," Sally said, then her eyes widened as she realized what she'd just said, and Shadow stared at her in confusion. "Look, that doesn't matter," she said hurriedly. "All that matters is that she's on our side. What are you warning us about?"

"They're already here," Nicole said, and Sonic felt a chill roll down his spine. "They got here not even half an hour ago."

"Then we've still got time," Sonic said. "How's that lock comin', Tails?"

"Almost there," the fox replied, and a moment later, the lock clicked and he finally removed it from the door.

"Let's go!" Sonia said, and she ran in, Sonic hot on her heels as everyone else followed. He hardly cared that they were leaving everyone else behind as Shadow caught up to them, staying by Sonic's side..

Already shouts and screams and gunshots were sounding in the air around them and panic was clawing its way up Sonic's chest as he searched frantically for a flash of green in the crowd ahead. "Manic!" he screamed. There was no reply, and he saw why the moment he finally arrived at the scene. Mobians already lay dead around his feet, so many more than at the women's camp. He caught sight of Manic being dragged away, his hands bound and his mouth gagged. Sonic screamed his brother's name again and Manic whipped his head around to look at him, brown eyes widening, tears pooling in them.

Just as Sonic was about to dash in to get him away from his captors, something whizzed by, nicking the scar on his left ear. Sonia cried out behind him as the blade hit her, embedding itself in the flesh of her shoulder. A familiar voice snarled, "I was wondering when you'd show your face again."

Martin stood in front of them, a maniacal grin on his face. "You little bastard," he said. "You have the nerve to defy death and then come back here? I think it's time to exterminate you like the rat you are."

"I'm a hedgehog!" Sonic snarled, rolling up and slamming into the fox. "And you hurt my sister!"

Martin was knocked back several feet, slamming into a building with a sickening crunch. But he laughed. "And that matters why?" he asked, getting to his feet and setting his shoulder back in its socket with a quick thrust. "You'll both be wishing you were dead when I'm through with you!"

"Martin!"

Martin stopped in his tracks, slowly turning his head to look at Tails, who was fighting against Amy's grip as she held him back. "Don't do it!" he screamed. "Please! Don't do this! What happened to my big brother? I just want–" Tails yelped as a blade whizzed past him, nicking his left ear and embedding itself in Amy's side.

"Rose!" Shadow screamed, hurrying to her as she fell.

Rage boiled in Sonic's veins. "Sal, Nicole, get them to safety!" he snarled. Then he turned to Martin, who seemed almost bored now. "I'm done playing around, you monster," Sonic growled, then he launched himself at the fox. "No one messes with my siblings!"

He plowed into Martin, attacking him over and over again, each hit harder than the last. But Martin hardly seemed to care, hardly even grunting with each impact. He managed to retrieve a bloody knife, and just like that he pressed his new advantage, cutting Sonic every time he got close enough.

"Your brother is as good as dead!" Martin snarled. "And you shouldn't have brought mine!"

Sonic said nothing, a feral growl tearing itself from his throat as he managed to hit Martin just right, knocking him off balance and onto the ground. Sonic revved, about to deal the last blow, when suddenly everything went dark. He stumbled forward, fumbling in the dark before a red glow appeared, and dread pooled in his stomach as Infinite stalked into view.

The jackal grinned, canines gleaming. "I've been waiting for this," he said.