Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim all rights to all characters (save for those of my own creation) in this split… especially for the one who called out.

~保護者~

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Hello, MelGamingPlays! Yeah, I bet you did. XD And yeah, it is quite shocking. But more will be revealed later on. ;)

~保護者~

"Fissure"

~保護者~

"How many times are we going to keep meeting like this?"

Sonic looked around the bleak landscape he found himself in. There was very little here aside from dust and rock… aside from ashen skies and drifting plumes of smoke. And, of course, his best friend. Jet knelt a couple of feet in front of him, sword stabbed into the rough ground as he examined some symbol etched deeply into the dirt's surface. The hawk stood when Sonic spoke. "As many times as you deem necessary," he stated plainly. With his right hand, he reached out and grasped the handle of his sword. "Each time this has happened, you have called out to me. I merely answered."

"Called out?" Sonic repeated, perplexed. "I never-"

"It does not require words, Sonic," Jet interrupted. "Few things do."

"Are… you saying that I did this… mentally?"

"In a manner of speaking." Jet turned his head away, blue eyes contemplating the sky. "But it is not so simple. Nothing ever is."

Tails's voice echoed into Sonic's mind, bringing his attention back to reality. Or, at least… what his current reality was supposed to be. "I told you not to freak out, Sonic."

"I'm not-" The words came out shaky. Sonic took in a deep breath and let it out heavily. "I'm not freaking out. Okay?" He lifted his head out of his hands to look around. Seated with him in Tails's living room were Tails himself and Shadow, whom Tails had called over here not long after his little revelation. "This is just… a lot to take in, Tails. You have to understand that."

"I do," Tails murmured sincerely. "I really do. I promise."

In. Out. Another deep breath never hurt anyone. "I just can't believe it's been this long…"

"I know, Sonic. I'm sorry." Tails lowered his gaze. "I just wish there could have been a way for me to break it to you more gently."

Sonic's mind shifted back to his interaction with Jet. He looked around, torn between dual realities and conversations. "Where is this place, Jet?"

"A'mnitar," Jet murmured. He yanked his sword out of the hard ground. "A demonic world, formerly."

Blue ears perked. "...Something evil still lurks here. I can sense it."

"I am aware." And yet, in spite of his words, Jet sheathed his sword. "But for now it sleeps, and it is not a danger."

Uneasy with the situation, Sonic asked, "Then why are you here?"

Jet turned to him. "Retrieval." Lifting his right arm back out of his cloak, he showed Sonic an object that the hedgehog had not been expecting to see. "This was stolen. It appeared here, within that symbol in the dirt. The thief attempted to seal the box here, prevent it from being taken back."

Emerald eyes stared hard. "Dad's music box? Why…?"

The sound of shifting drew Sonic's focus over to Shadow. "Sonic," he brother called, calm as ever, "what are you doing?"

Sonic blinked at him. "...What?"

Pushing off of the wall he had earlier opted to lean against, Shadow walked over to him. "You have completely zoned out twice now. Why?"

"That's not normal for you," Tails piped up. "What's going on?"

This time, it was Jet's voice that called Sonic back. "Focus for a moment." He stepped over to Sonic, box still in hand.

Torn, struggling to do as he was told, Sonic muttered, "It's… hard."

There was no comfort offered, no reassurances. "It will remain so, for now. Listen anyway."

Pursing his lips together, Sonic nodded. "I am."

Suddenly, Shadow spoke again. "You're communicating with Jet, aren't you?"

Before Sonic could even answer his brother, Jet was speaking again. "Take this with you. Keep it. Guard it. Cursed though it may be, this box cannot harm you. But it can be harmed."

Though he let Jet place the box into his hand, Sonic asked, "Why are you giving this to me?"

"When it opens and the music plays, it indicates to us that your father's life is in danger. It seldom occurs, but such matters need to be monitored regardless." Jet turned his head away slightly. "I cannot be around to do so myself, Sonic. Not now."

Tails's voice caught Sonic's attention. "Is that true, Sonic? Is that's what's happening?" He sounded concerned, confused, worried… maybe even surprised.

With tightly gritted teeth, Sonic rubbed his temples, eyes squeezed shut as he fought against a building migraine. "Uh… yeah. How did you kn-"

His brother cut him off. "What is he saying?"

Sonic flashed back to his other conversation. Jet removed his hand from the music box Sonic was holding, fingers slipping over the wood and then off of it entirely.

"Sonic?" Tails again. But Sonic couldn't answer him.

Jet turned as though to walk away, but stopped. There was a white flash, and suddenly there was warmth where once there had been dark emptiness.

A hand came to rest on his shoulder. Shadow's. "Sonic," he called, voice quieter than normal.

The light died down, and the world around them crumbled. Vast expanses of rock and dirt fell away like ash, leaving nothing but horrifying chasms behind. Someone dropped out of the sky at a frightening speed and, suddenly, Jet lunged. Just a second before it was too late, he snatched the person's hand. The momentum and force pulled him roughly to the ground, but he maintained his grip and began to pull the person up. A glimpse of her face was all he got before he was whisked away.

In a rush, Sonic came fully back to himself. Gasping from the surge of motion he experienced when this occurred, he blurted out, "It's Cream." Puzzled expressions met his exclamation. He looked both Tails and Shadow in the eye, heart pounding. "It's Cream," he repeated. Taking in a short breath, he released it and murmured, "She's been revived."

~保護者~

1,020 words time. Hope you all enjoyed. Posted (at about 5:40 p.m.) 11-06-18.