Hello, everyone! This episode has been written by a very special guest author, Yuni Oha! If you like what you see here, be sure to check out Yuni's other stories, Yu-Gi-Oh! Millennium and Pokémon Cosmic Quest (where you may just find a special episode authored by yours truly).

Press Garden

~1,000 B.E.

A monstrous dragon-like creature roars. It's a massive serpent with multiple arms and legs, colored primarily black with white patterns running across most of its body. It has an almost phantasmal appearance, as if it weren't a physical being. Its face contains a vicious maw, glowing red eyes, and two twisted horns. It attacks with a beam of black energy from its mouth that sweeps across the floor in front of it. Three shadowy animoid figures leap away from the beam.

The one from the center leaps straight upwards. It's a dark-gray hedgehog with spines that jut straight back as if blown by the wind, and a slightly lighter gray patch of fur on the chest. The bottom half of his face is covered by a black cloth mask. In addition to the mask, the hedgehog wears a black belt and straps across his chest, which attaches two swords to his back. His shoes are black boots with a separation between the big toe and other toes. Once at the peak of his jump, he strikes a pose with fingers from either hand pressed together and shouts in an imposing voice, "Kamitatsu! Your reign of terror ends here! Sacred Ninjutsu Art: Golden Bolts!" From his hand, he throws a volley of familiar golden energy spears. The attacks hit the monster, causing little effect.

The monster, Kamitatsu, roars, "Shino the Hedgehog! You have fought my forces for years and have never been able to defeat me! What makes this time any different?"

Flying above him is another of the three animoids. This one is avian, more specifically, an owl. The pattern of her feathers resembles that of a barn owl, but with a black and gray color gradient. She has a sharp and pointed beak, as well as large, round, black eyes. Above each eye is a tuft of feathers that jet back into two crests atop her head, reminiscent of a great horned owl. Her arms are more like wings, with large brilliant feathers growing out of them. She wears a sleeveless, form-fitting black suit, a shozoku. In answer to Kamitatsu's question, she shouts, "We have a plan that will defeat you once and for all!" She slashes one of her wings through the air, which causes a cascade of sharpened quills to fly at the monster. Like before, this attack seems to do little.

The third animoid leaps up from underneath for another attack. This one is a reptile with dark green scales. His body is slim and long, like a serpent, but with powerful legs and arms. Past the legs, its body keeps going into a long tail. His head is of a peculiar shape, being mostly comprised of a large square jaw with huge teeth. It has whiskers extending from either side of its nose. The back of his head is covered by several frills. A crest of spikey scales runs from the top of his head, down his back, and all the way to his tail. Around his neck he wears a long black scarf that blows behind him in the wind. For shoes, it wears covered Japanese platform sandals. Clearly this one is a dragon, but a very different type of dragon from Kamitatsu. With a powerful and gruff voice, he shouts, "You won't be walking away from this one!" With massive strength, he uppercuts Kamitatsu. While this attack knocks the monster away slightly, it still seems to cause little damage.

Kamitatsu roars in rage and demands, "What foolish plan could possibly defeat my divine might!?"

Shino lands atop a cherry blossom tree at eye level to Kamitatsu. He pulls his mask down, revealing a light gray muzzle and then pulls out a brilliantly shining gem, the yellow Chaos Emerald. He grins and answers, "Look down."

Kamitatsu looks down to see an elaborate pattern printed on the floor beneath him. Drawn in black, the pattern is a tessellation of lines within a ring. Kamitatsu's eyes widen as he shouts with shock and anger, "A Demon's Seal!? No!"

With one hand, Shino holds the Chaos Emerald into the air while he holds to fingers up in front of his face with the other. He shouts, "Sacred Ninjutsu Art: Sealing!" The Chaos Emerald glows, and the lines of the pattern begin to glow the same color. An intense light then emerges from the pattern. Kamitatsu attempts to fly upwards, but crashes into a roof of light. Shino proclaims, "Your tyranny ends on this day! At this site you will remain sealed forever more!"

Kamitatsu looks to Shino with hatred and shouts, "No! I will not go! I will not go!" The light from the seal grows more intense. Suddenly, Kamitatsu lunges a hand at Shino and grabs ahold of him. "If I'm going down, I'm dragging you with me!" With Shino in his grasp, there's a blinding flash of light, and then they're both gone.

The owl shouts in shock, "Sensei!"

—–—

Press Garden

Present Day

A thousand years later, the symbol has been completely covered by snow, cherry blossoms, and logs. Heavy Shinobi steps into view and throws a large shuriken. The shuriken whips up a whirlwind and blows away the debris to reveal the secret it's hiding. Heavy Shinobi says, "After searching two worlds, I have at long last found it."

Eggman steps up behind him. "Oh ho ho! Good job, Shinobi. If the legend you tell me is true, this is quite the discovery. Soon the legendary power of Kamitatsu will be put to work for the Eggman Empire."

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Chaos Project

Season 1, Episode 13

Out of the Shadows Part 1

Guest Written by Yuni Oha

Daily Log, October 18th, 0 A.E. Espio the Chameleon reporting.

Our mission was a success. Following the mystery Sonic wanted the Chaotix to solve, we discovered that a new model of stealth-based Eggman robots was pillaging a town. Solving a mystery like that, it almost makes me miss the old days. Almost.

It's times like this that make me question why I even joined the Chaotix in the first place. Vector and Charmy were insistent that we charge the townspeople for our services. Vector claimed it would be for the sake of the Rebellion, but I know him better than that. He had every intention to pocket most…no, probably all of it. I told him that with a gang of imposters running around defaming the Rebellion, we had to garner goodwill. He reluctantly agreed. Charmy… well, he was a different story…

I'm off to deliver our mission report to Sonic now. I could use a break from the others.

—–—

Emerald Canyon – The Rebellion Base

Espio knocks at the outside of Sonic's tent. Sonic's voice responds, "Come in."

Espio enters Sonic's office and finds Sonic at work at his desk. He looks up. "Espio! The Chaotix are back?"

Espio nods, "Affirmative. I am here to report a full success."

Sonic nods. "Glad to hear it. Any good news is fully welcomed. So–" He's about to ask something else when Tails runs into the tent.

He shouts, "Sonic!"

"What is it, buddy?"

Tails slams an image down onto the desk. "I was doing some recon into the Press Garden, trying to see if we could sabotage Eggman's propaganda machine, but I think I stumbled onto something bigger."

Sonic looks down at the picture. It's an aerial photograph of same seal Eggman and Heavy Shinobi discovered. There seems to be significant robot activity around it. Sonic asks, "What exactly is it?"

Tails shrugs. "I don't know, but Eggman shut down all of Press Garden to focus on this."

Espio glances at the image and gasps. "No… it's not possible…"

Sonic looks up and asks, "Espio, do you know what this is?"

"It's bad. It's very bad. We need to stop Eggman from doing anything with this."

Sonic contemplates things and then says, "I'm going to assume your lack of explanation means we need to hurry. Explain on the way, and the three of us will go and check it out."

Espio bows respectfully. "Thank you, Sonic." He remembers something. "Sonic, you're not going to like this, but you'll need to take the Chaos Emerald. If the worst happens, we're going to need it."

Sonic thinks a moment more. "Wow, this must be really serious. He turns to pull the yellow Chaos Emerald out from its safe spot. "Let's run."

—–—

Press Garden

Sonic, Tails, and Espio hide in a tree overlooking the large pattern. Numerous pieces of scaffolding and machinery have been erected around the seal, and Egg Pawns march back and forth performing various tasks. Sonic says, "Alright Espio, spill it. What is this thing?"

Espio explains, "I have no doubt now that I have seen it with my own eyes. It's a Demon's Seal."

Tails questions, "A Demon's Seal?"

"An ancient ninja technique used to seal foes of unimaginable power. To my knowledge, the seal was only ever used once. And if that's what this is, then what's sealed inside of it could be a threat worse than Eggman."

Sonic whistles. "Sounds like something we don't want Eggman to get his hands on. In that case, do you think you could get down there and do some recon, Espio?" He looks around only to realize that Espio is already gone. "I hate it when he does that."

On the ground, a camouflaged Espio moves carefully and observes his surroundings. He notices a base camp and sneaks towards it. Under a tarp, Heavy Shinobi orders several Egg Pawns about. Eggman, via a communicator, says, "I want this project wrapped up as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Heavy Shinobi responds, "Yes, of course, Master Eggman." He points to a pair of robots carrying heavy equipment and shouts, "Do not delay, for this equipment must be set up, before nightfall."

One of the Egg Pawns attempts to salute, but this causes it to lose its grip on the machinery, and it falls to the ground and crushes the Egg Pawn. Two more Egg Pawns rush in to pick up the machinery, while a third collects the destroyed robot.

Espio produces a throwing star. He says quietly to himself, "One precise strike could take out Heavy Shinobi."

As he prepares to throw his star, Heavy Shinobi suddenly swivels around and announces, "Show yourself, assassin! I know, that you are there!" Espio freezes up. After no response, Shinobi declares, "So be it, I do not need to see you to destroy you!" He swiftly throws an Asteron shuriken straight at Espio.

Espio gasps, shocked to have been pinpointed. He quickly pulls out a kunai knife and deflects the projectile. Figuring there's no need to continue in hiding, he releases his camouflage in a flurry of wind.

Heavy Shinobi greets, "I give greetings, to my rival, in the arts of the ninja. I can only assume you are here, for the same reason as I."

Espio shouts, "I'm here to make sure that this seal remains intact!"

"Then you will be disposed of, for nothing shall stop me from reawakening Kamitatsu. I will become the strongest ninja this, or any world, has ever seen, and Kamitatsu is the key!" With this, he draws his sword and leaps at Espio. Espio leaps as well, and the two cross blades midway between them, then quickly leap back.

Once back on the ground, Espio runs to the side, throwing a barrage of ninja stars at his opponent. Heavy Shinobi uses his sword to deflect each and every one of the projectiles.

From the nearby tree, Sonic notices the fight. "Looks like Espio's been spotted. I'm going to back him up. You stay here and see if you can figure out Eggman's plan."

Tails nods. "Aye aye, sir." He goes to work on his handheld pad.

Espio has lost sight of Heavy Shinobi. He curses himself as he looks around carefully. Then, from above, Heavy Shinobi leaps down preparing to slash with his blade. Before Espio can react, Sonic knocks Shinobi aside with a Spin Attack.

Sonic lands next to Espio and asks, "You alright?"

Espio nods a wordless thanks. He suddenly shouts, "Look out!"

Before either Sonic or Espio can react, Heavy Shinobi has leaped back into action, and manages to slash his sword across both of them. The special blade causes ice to encase both Sonic and Espio the moment it makes contact, freezing them solid. Heavy Shinobi announces, "Enough waiting, activate the machine!"

From within his icy prison, Espio shouts a muffled, "No!"

Several Egg Pawns at computers go to work and activate the various pieces of machinery. Within seconds, the sealing pattern on the ground begins to glow a dark purple. The ground begins to shake, and there's an intense flash of light. During the blinding flash, a loud roar is heard.

As the flash subsides, the voice of Kamitatsu announces, "I am free!" With the blinding light gone, an illusory figure of the dragon beast floats above the seal.

The quaking of the ground allows for Sonic and Espio to break free from their frozen prison. Sonic exclaims, "Woah, we've got ourselves a big one! I don't know what those machines are doing, but we've gotta smash them!"

Espio nods. "Agreed."

Both run into action, heading towards the various machines circling the perimeter of the seal. Sonic curls into a Spin Dash and knocks through several of the machines, while Espio begins to throw a flurry of ninja stars in all directions. These stars explode on impact, taking out their targets.

Heavy Shinobi shouts, "On my honor, I cannot allow this!" He moves to stop them from destroying any more of the machines.

But then a voice shouts, "Sacred Ninjutsu Art: Teleportation!" A blur of black suddenly appears behind Heavy Shinobi and knocks him upwards. Too fast to make out, the form teleports again.

Sonic has noticed and stops as shock covers his face. "That was a Chaos Control!"

Espio appears equally shocked. "It can't be…"

The form reappears above Heavy Shinobi, intercepting his flight path. This time, he becomes clearly visible. It's Shino the Hedgehog. Shino shouts, "Ninjutsu Art: Blade Rush!" From his back, Shino unsheathes his two slim ninjato blades. Holding them in a reverse-handed grip, Shino begins to spin at high speed, creating a black tornado of blades. With his high-speed blades he knocks Heavy Shinobi back down to the ground.

Espio says with awe and disbelief, "The Legendary Ninja Master Shino… How…?"

Sonic shouts, "Come on Espio, we've got a job to finish!"

Espio stands for several moments more, completely unable to comprehend what he has seen. Finally, shakes his head to regain focus and returns to destroying machines. Sonic does the same. They meet in the center and both destroy the last machine at the same time. As soon as it's destroyed, the rumbling ground shakes even more violently.

Heavy Shinobi, who looks heavily damaged, orders, "We have been bested! Retreat! Retreat!"

There is a loud roar as the phantom form of Kamitatsu begins to be dragged back into to seal. He shouts, "No! I won't go back! I won't be sealed away again!" With all his might, the massive beast pulls away from the seal, and as it does so, another blinding flash of light is generated. Once it subsides, Kamitatsu is gone.

Sonic looks around, and says, "Well, it looks like that's one crisis averted." But as he speaks, the seal pattern suddenly lights up again, and Sonic is abruptly pulled towards it by an unseen force. "What!?" He tries to run away at top speed but can't move forward.

Tails flies down from his hiding spot and shouts, "Sonic!"

Sonic is pulled onto the seal, and after another flash of light, vanishes.

Tails asks with concern, "What just happened?"

Espio shakes his head. "I have no clue…"

From behind them, Shino approaches. "I'm afraid that your friend has taken my place."

Tails asks, "Who are you? And what do you mean?"

Espio is stunned. He suddenly remembers something and bows. "Master Shino, it is an honor to be in your presence." He eyes Tails and forces him to bow too.

Tails exclaims, "Ow!"

Shino shakes his head. "There is no need to bow." He looks around the Press Garden, noting the various printing machinery. "How long has passed? It seems things have changed here."

Espio ceases his bow and answers, "I'm afraid that you've traveled 1,000 years into the future."

Shino's eyes widen. "A thousand years? Never have I imagined a Demon's Seal would allow for such a trip through time."

Tails shouts, "Can somebody please tell me what's going on!?"

Espio explains, "This is Shino the Hedgehog, a grandmaster ninja and leader of the Shinobi Clan of 1,000 years ago. And… and my personal hero…" He seems slightly embarrassed to admit this.

Tails sighs. "So, we've got time travel on our hands again. Wonderful." He holds up his handheld and begins to scan the area. "I'm picking up a lot of residual chronoton radiation. Whatever this pattern is, it seems to have generated a whole lot of it. That would explain why Shino traveled through time." He looks at the readings again. "But that's not all, there's also some anti-chronotons here as well." He looks to Shino. "What exactly is a 'Demon's Seal?'"

Shino explains, "A Demon's Seal allows me to use one of my most powerful Ninjutsu Arts to imprison an opponent. I've never tested it before, but I was forced to use it, as Kamitatsu had just uncovered a relic of untold power, and he had to be stopped before he could use it. The seal is so powerful that I must draw energy from one of the Sacred Stones to perform the ninjutsu." He pulls out his yellow Chaos Emerald.

Tails exclaims, "A Chaos Emerald! And you're a Hedgehog! Does that mean you're a Controller?"

Shino responds, "I…know not of these terms."

Tails goes on, "It must be! You must use some sort of variant of Chaos Control to freeze an opponent in time." He pauses, then realizes, "So that must have created an anti-chronoton vacuum! Sonic's been pulled back in time!"

—–—

~1,000 B.E.

Now suddenly nighttime, Sonic appears in the air and falls towards the ground, landing face-first on the ground. Somewhat dazed, he slowly stands up. "Woah, where'd the sun go?" He looks around and realizes that while he's in Press Garden, it's not the same place he left. Gone completely is any evidence of machinery, including the printing presses, lumber harvesting equipment, and wood pulpers. Instead, it's just one vast garden of cherry blossom trees and oriental ornamentation.

Sonic hears something behind him and turns. "Tails?" He turns again as he hears something else. "Espio?" No responses. "Where are you guys?"

A voice suddenly asserts, "Don't move." Suddenly behind Sonic is the owl from Shino's group. She holds a needle-like feather tip to Sonic's neck.

Sonic quips, "I assume you're not Tails or Espio. Too bad."

Then the dragon leaps down and lands in front of him. "How about we add, 'don't speak'?"

Sonic questions, "Don't speak? Come on. Once we get to chatting, I'm sure you two will really like me."

The owl insists with her weapon, "You'd be wise not to say anything else, unless it's to answer our questions. Now, what happened to Shino Sensei?"

Sonic answers, "I have no clue what you're talking about."

The dragon growls, "Of course you do! You appeared the moment he disappeared! Now tell us what you know!"

Sonic sighs. "Not that I'm not enjoying this little chat, but I'm getting a little tired of the death threats. Sorry, but I'm out of here. Chaos Control!" Sonic disappears suddenly.

The two animoids gasp. The owl shouts, "Impossible!"

The dragon says with shock, "Only Shino Sensei can perform a teleportation ninjutsu like that!"

Sonic has reappeared several yards away. "Now, if you two want to talk, how about we start off on a better foot? I'm Sonic the Hedgehog, who are you?"

The two look at each other, uncertain of how to respond. Finally, the owl says, "My name is Nocta."

The dragon whispers, "Nocta, are you sure this is a good idea? We've lost our advantage. This guy could be some sort of spy for Kamitatsu."

Nocta shakes her head. "No, I don't think so. There's something about this one. I can sense it." She turns back to Sonic and adds, "And my partner here is Ryu."

Sonic nods. "Nocta and Ryu. I'd say nice to meet you, but you were threatening to slash my throat a minute ago, so I hope you understand that it's not. Now, if you don't mind answering one of my questions, what happened here? All of Eggman's propaganda equipment is gone."

Nocta questions, "Eggman?"

This confuses Sonic. "Come on, don't pretend like you don't know Eggman. You know, giant mustache, only matched by the size of his ego, likes to think he rules the world. Okay, he sort of does rule the world. For now. Eggman. Come on."

Nocta shakes her head. "I have heard of no such man of eggs."

Ryu whispers to her, "This guy is crazy."

Ignoring him, Nocta continues, "These gardens exist in the same state as they always have. Kamitatsu's Imperial Garden has been like this since he created them over a hundred years ago."

Sonic raises a brow. "I get the feeling that you and I are talking about two very different things. How about this question? Have you seen either of my friends? A yellow fox with two tails and a chameleon who likes to think he's a ninja." Sonic gives a scrutinizing glance to the two. "Actually, something tells me you'd get along quite well with him."

Ryu, losing what little patience he had, shouts, "We have seen no such people!"

Sonic sighs. "Seems like you two aren't going to be of any help then. If you'll excuse me, I've got to run." He turns around and runs.

Ryu gasps, "He's as fast as Shino Sensei!"

Nocta urges, "Let's follow him!" She lifts off the ground and takes flight.

Ryu demands, "What? Why?"

Already flying away, Nocta answers, "Another feeling! Just trust me!"

Ryu mumbles angrily to himself and reluctantly follows.

—–—

Emerald Canyon – Future Site of the Rebellion Base

Sonic slowly approaches the recess into the canyon in which his base was built. There, he finds nothing. He shakes his head in disbelief. "No…" He drops to his knees. "Where am I…?" After a moment's hesitation, he corrects, "When am I…?"

Nocta and Ryu approach him cautiously.

—–—

Emerald Canyon – Rebellion Base

Present Day

Tails, Espio, and Shino have arrived back at base. Tails sighs. "Well, with Sonic gone and Shadow on radio silence, I guess I'm in charge now…"

Espio suggests, "Our first priority should be getting Shino back to his time, and from there, we might find a way to get Sonic back here."

Tails nods. "Yes, that seems logical. Hmm… so we need time travel? Well, under the right circumstances, a Chaos Control could open a Space-Time Rift. Sonic and Shadow could do it together."

Espio points out, "But as you said, Shadow is currently operating under deep cover, and has to maintain radio silence. There's no way we could get him here to help."

Tails nods. "Besides, we'd need two Emeralds, and Sonic has our only one." He shakes his head as he wracks his mind for an answer. "Look, give me some time to think this over."

Shino nods. "I am grateful for your assistance, I can wait."

Espio, almost excitedly, suggests, "Master Shino, you may rest in my tent while we wait."

Shino nods. "That would be appreciated. Lead the way."

Espio turns away from Shino and Tails and allows for a childish grin of giddy excitement to cover his face. He quickly regains to composure and beckons for Shino to follow.

Together, they enter the tent shared by the Chaotix. The tent seems to be split down the middle. One side is a complete mess, while the other is clean and orderly. The messy side has a bunk bed, the bottom half of which seems to be slagging from the heavy weight placed on it each night, while the top is covered in what appears to be candy wrappers. All around the bed is various clutter, including music equipment, detective tools, and various articles of clothing. The opposite side is neat and pristine. It features a mat on the floor instead of a bed, and various ornamentation such as a bonsai tree and a wall display of various ornate throwing stars. On the far side is a shelf with several antique scrolls stacked atop it.

Shino approaches the decorative throwing stars and observes them closely. "Are these yours?"

Espio eagerly walks over. Downplaying it, he answers, "Those things? Yeah, but they're no big deal."

Shino shakes his head. "I beg to differ. These pieces are exquisite. Some of the finest craftsmanship I have ever seen." He pulls out a star of his own. In contrast to the ones on the wall, it's plain and simple. "I'm afraid that all of my shuriken were made for wartime. We can't afford to build anything this artistic."

Espio explains, "These pieces are only my most decorative. I have many that are more like that one. In fact, I possess the world's largest collection of shuriken."

Shino nods. "Impressive."

Espio blushes slightly. After a moment, he manages to gain the courage to admit, "To tell the truth, I'm actually a huge fan of yours."

This confuses Shino. "A fan?"

Espio nods. "You see, you're my inspiration. You're my hero."

Shino hangs his head. "I'm afraid that I'm not worthy of your admiration."

Espio appears distressed, thinking that he's overstepped his bounds. Trying to recover the situation, he asks, "But why not? You're the greatest of all the ninja grandmasters."

Shino shakes his head. "I'm not so great. I have worked for one single goal my entire life and have yet to succeed. Even in what I thought would be my final victory, I somehow failed."

Espio is unsure of what to say. He notices his shelf of scrolls and points to them. "Master Shino, those 24 scrolls, they are yours."

Shino looks up at them. "My Scrolls of Ninjutsu Arts and Ninja Wisdom."

Espio nods. "Yes, I have dedicated my life to studying them. They have provided guidance to me in the darkest times of my life." Now it is Shino who appears slightly embarrassed. Espio continues, "But now that you're here, I must ask. What happened to the twenty-fifth scroll? You clearly state that this was a series of twenty-five scrolls, and yet only twenty-four are known to exist. There are some who say that you wrote your greatest secrets on that scroll and destroyed it to ensure they didn't fall into the wrong hands. There are others who say the scroll was hidden so that only the worthiest could read it."

Shino is silent for several moments. Finally, he says, "Espio…meeting one's own hero…is one of the worst things that can happen to an individual. I am sorry to impose that misfortune upon you."

Espio is about to object, when Vector and Charmy barge into the tent. Charmy shouts, "Aah! There's a stranger in our tent! Stranger danger! Stranger danger!"

Espio groans.

Vector knocks Charmy aside and asserts, "Cool your jets! Clearly, he's with Espio." Charmy quiets down. "So Espio, who's your friend?"

Espio contemplates how to answer for a moment. "Vector, do you remember the tales I told you and Charmy of a masterful ninja warrior who inspired me to take up the way of the shinobi?"

Vector slowly nods, but says, "Yeah…no."

Espio groans again. "Regardless, this is him. I offered to let him stay here while we figure out how to get him home."

Charmy flies straight into Shino's face and excitedly rants, "Woah! You're a real-life ninja! That's so cool! Ninjas are so awesome! I can't believe I'm in the same room as an actual ninja!" He begins to strike various ninja-like poses.

Espio slaps his hand to his face in disbelief. "Charmy, you already know a ninja."

Charmy looks to Espio with surprise. "I do?" He realizes what Espio means and explains, "Oh, you don't count."

Vector shoves Charmy aside before he can further assault Shino. He says, "So, you'll be staying here? Since you're a friend of Espio, I suppose I could give you the friends and family discount."

Espio, not sure what to make of this, asks, "Discount?"

Vector nods. "Discount. After all, this tent isn't a shelter. If your friend wants to stay here, he'll have to pay his dues just like anyone else."

Espio is getting fed up. "Nobody pays to stay here!"

Vector objects, "Of course they do!"

Espio stresses, "I don't, Charmy doesn't."

Vector laughs. "Of course you are, but since it's wartime and you two don't have any source of income, I'm running a tab to be subtracted from your pay once we get back to work." He turns back to Shino. "Now, as for you, what kind of currency do ninjas use? I'll need to figure out the exchange rate before we can do any business."

Espio shouts in an uncharacteristic anger, "I can't believe you! You two are ridiculous!" He turns around and storms out of the tent. A slightly confused Shino follows him.

Charmy, ignorant to all, strikes another martial art pose and exclaims, "Hi-yah!"

Shino catches up to Espio and asks, "Espio, are you alright?"

Espio sits beneath a large rock. He takes a meditative breath to calm himself. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

Shino grins. "Your friends sure are…something else. But don't worry about that, they didn't bother me."

Espio shakes his head. "No, not them. That's completely normal for them. It was my reaction that I apologize for. I don't act like that, not anymore."

Shino questions, "Anymore?"

Espio reminisces, "In my youth, before I first joined the Chaotix, I was what you might call a hothead. I would lose my temper at the smallest of annoyances. Of all people, it was Charmy who had to calm me down."

Shino nods. "I see, so your time with these Chaotix changed you."

Espio shakes his head. "No, not the Chaotix. You. It was around the same time that I discovered your scrolls. Reading them changed my life. I dedicated myself to learning all I could about the way of the shinobi. That was how I learned self-control and attained inner-peace." He pauses. "But I'm afraid my partners learned no such lesson, making me much less compatible with them."

Shino questions, "If that's how you feel, then why are you still with them?"

Espio shrugs. "I ask myself that all the time." After another pause, he asks, "But don't you see? That's why you mean so much to me. I am who I am today because of your teachings."

Shino advises, "You don't give yourself enough credit."

Espio suddenly realizes, "Wait! Since you're here anyways, you can train me!"

Shino questions, "Train you?"

Espio stands up and nods. "Please, Master Shino, make me your student. Your scrolls are great, but they can only impart so much knowledge. Teach me the way of the ninja."

Shino slowly nods as he contemplates this. "I'll tell you what. Spar with me. If I am impressed by what I see, I'll train you."

Espio seems overjoyed, at least by his standards. "In that case…" Wasting no time, Espio hurls a kunai knife at Shino.

With blinding speed, Shino draws one of his swords and deflects the attack. "Using the element of surprise. Good. Very good. But how will you respond to this? Sacred Ninjutsu Art: Golden Bolts!" Just like before, Shino hurls several spheres of energy.

Espio leaps out of the way and analyzes, "That was a Chaos Spear. So Sacred Ninjutsu Arts must be Chaos powers. Let's show him a ninja art of my own." He then shouts, "Ninja Arts: Camouflage!" A whirlwind engulfs Espio as turns invisible.

Not knowing where Espio is, Shino looks around cautiously. "So you've even developed your own Ninjutsu Art. Perfect camouflage is certainly an impressive trait for a ninja to possess. However, perfect camouflage is not what you have." In one fluid movement, he draws a sword, spins around, and slashes the sword. It stops just short of the camouflaged Espio's neck.

Espio lowers his camouflage. "That's the second time today. How?"

Shino explains, "Your camouflage may fool the average foe, but to the highly honed senses of a ninja, the eyes are but one way we observe the world. If one wants to disappear, they must disappear not just to the eye, but also to the other senses as well." Suddenly he adds, "But we're not done yet." He leaps backwards, performing a backflip, and lands atop a nearby boulder. "Let's see how you deal with my most powerful technique. "Sacred Ninjutsu Art: Teleportation!" Unlike a normal Chaos Control, Shino is engulfed in an intense gold light and disappears.

Knowing this isn't normal, Espio shouts in confusion, "What!?"

—–—

~1,000 B.E.

Sonic is lying on the ground, staring up at the night sky above Emerald Canyon. He mutters to himself, "So, I've traveled through time again. It's no big deal. I've done that at least half a dozen times by now, right? Now how do I get back?" He calls out, "Hey Chronos! Can you hear me!? I could use a hand here! You're the Lord of Time, aren't you supposed to fix problems like this!?"

Nocta and Ryu stand several feet away, watching him. Ryu whispers, "Forget crazy, he's a total nutjob."

Nocta disagrees, "We know that Shino Sensei's sealing ninjutsu effects time in strange and unknown ways. What if it could be used to travel through time?"

Sonic suddenly leaps up and exclaims, "That's it! Chaos Control can be used to travel through time! It normally takes two, but maybe if I try really hard…" He pulls out his Chaos Emerald.

Nocta and Ryu gasp, exclaiming together, "He has a Sacred Stone!?"

Sonic holds the Emerald up high and shouts, "Chaos…Control!" Sonic is enveloped by the same golden light as Shino and disappears.

—–—

? ? ?

Both Sonic and Shino appear in void of swirling energies. They first look around in confusion, but then look to each other. Sonic exclaims, "You're that hedgehog that appeared before I was taken! Wait a sec, are you Shino?"

Shino exclaims, "I am, and you must be Sonic!"

Sonic nods. "You got that right. And I've got two of your friends harassing me for your location."

Shino nods. "My students, Nocta and Ryu. I am glad to hear they are alright. Your friends are as well."

Sonic asks, "Okay, so what's going on here?"

Shino responds, "I am afraid I know no more than you. One moment I was using my sacred teleportation ninjutsu, and the next I was here."

Sonic questions, "Teleportation ninjutsu? You mean like a Chaos Control?" He pulls out his yellow Chaos Emerald.

Shino gasps. "How is it possible?" He pulls out his own yellow Chaos Emerald.

Sonic gasps too. "You're a Controller!"

At the same time, Shino exclaims, "You're a Hogo-sha!"

They look at each other for a moment, and Sonic decides, "We must be talking about the same thing."

"I concur."

Sonic speculates, "So, we both have the same Emerald, but from two different times…and they've switched places. Maybe…the natural Balance of Chaos…somehow wants to restore them to their own time, so when we both used Chaos Control at the same relative time, some sort of gateway opened. But why are we here, instead of back in our own times?"

Shino suggests, "Perhaps the one Sacred Stone does not have enough energy, even in two different times, two make the complete trip. What we need is more of them."

Sonic shakes his head. "More Emeralds is a no-go. Eggman has the other six under lock and key. It would be impossible to get ahold of them."

Shino says, "Similarly in my time, Kamitatsu possess the other six… but now Kamitatsu is sealed!"

Sonic asks, "What does that mean?"

"It means that a strike force might be able to get them back. If you're sent back to my time, you, Nocta, and Ryu could infiltrate Kamitatsu's imperial palace and take back the Stones!"

Sonic contemplates this. "I guess I'll have to take your word for it." He looks around. "That's assuming we even get out of here." But as he says that, the two hedgehogs are pulled away from each other by an unseen force. Sonic shouts, "Don't worry, you can count on me!"

Shino shouts, "If half of what I hear of you is true, I believe it. Good luck, Sonic the Hedgehog!" Both hedgehogs vanish.

—–—

~1,000 B.E.

Sonic reappears exactly where he disappeared from, and announces, "Nocta, Ryu, your master has a mission for you."

Nocta and Ryu look to him with surprise.

—–—

Present Day

When Shino reappears, Espio asks, "Master Shino, what happened?"

Shino announces, "I bring word from Sonic the Hedgehog. He is about to undertake a mission to get both of us back to our proper places."

Espio is taken aback. "What?"

Tails comes running towards them. "Did I hear that right? You talked to Sonic?"

Shino nods. "Indeed. We have found that when we both use our teleportation ninjutsu powered by the Sacred Stone, a bridge through time is opened."

Tails exclaims, "Of course! It's so obvious! But you'd need more Emeralds for it work properly."

"That's why Sonic is about to get some. Six more, to be exact."

Tails looks relieved. "That's great. Sonic's coming back." He suddenly remembers something, "Oh, and Espio, I have a mission for you."

Espio asks, "What?"

"I've managed to track down where Heavy Shinobi and his forces fled. I need you to do some recon to figure out exactly what the plan in Press Garden was."

Espio nods. "Understood."

Shino announces, "I will go as well."

Espio asks, "Are you sure? You're not a part of the Rebellion. This is our war. You don't need to come."

"But I do, if I want to train my new student."

Espio's eyes widen. For a brief moment, he looks like he might break down in tears of joy, but he quickly regains control of his emotions. "Thank you master Shino. You will not regret this."

—–—

Press Garden

~1,000 B.E.

Sonic follows Nocta and Ryu through the garden. Nocta, showing much interest in Sonic, asks, "So in the time where you come from, history doesn't even remember Kamitatsu?"

Sonic shrugs. "Well, Espio seemed to know who he is, so I guess you could say it's become more of a legend."

Ryu chuckles. "You hear that, Nocta? We're legendary."

Sonic asks, "So tell me about this Kamitatsu. Why is he such a big deal?"

Nocta frowns. "Not even we know much about him. He claims to be a god, but we don't know how true that claim is. But he certainly has the power to back it up. He appeared over a hundred years ago under unknown circumstances and quickly used his power to conquer all of the known lands. He is pure evil incarnate and ruled absolutely. Our forebearers took up the fight against him, but were never able to stop him. Eventually the task was passed to our parents, and then to us. We never gave up, we always fought…but we've been at war for our entire lives."

Sonic contemplates their situation. "Wow, and I thought we had it bad with Eggman. We haven't even been at war for a year."

Nocta continues, "We don't even know what peace is like. We all carry a burden with us. Shino Sensei carries one heavier than us all."

Sonic knowingly asks, "Because he's a… what did he say? A Hogo-sha?"

Nocta nods. "It was his destiny to deliver us from the dark times and bring peace back to the world. He was beginning to think it would never happen."

Trying to bring some levity to the moment, Sonic jokes, "Kamitatsu doesn't sound so bad. I bet that if you had me here, I could have stopped him at least ten times over."

From nowhere, Ryu delivers a powerful punch to Sonic, knocking him several feet through the air. Ryu shouts with anger, "You're a fool! You said it yourself that you know nothing of the pain we've felt! How dare you make a joke of our lives! How dare you pretend like you're above the suffering we've felt! You live your life in nothing but war and anguish, and we'll see if you still make light of our lives!" He angrily marches ahead.

Nocta helps Sonic back up. Sonic rubs where he was punched. "What's his problem?"

Nocta sighs. "You must forgive Ryu. While we've all had hard lives, his was perhaps the worst. His father was executed by Kamitatsu when Ryu was young…and soon after his mother died in battle. Then for much of his life, he faced prejudice, since he's a dragon, just like Kamitatsu. In the first battle he fought in, he lost his only friend. If it weren't for Shino Sensei personally choosing him as a student, I don't know where he would have ended up today."

Sonic slowly nods. "Wow. I didn't even consider. I just can't imagine facing a life of war." He sighs. "But I'm starting to feel like that's exactly what I have coming to me. Eggman's won before, but…it's never been so…absolute. He's never controlled the world for so long. We've got a long battle ahead of us, don't we?"

Nocta responds thoughtfully, "When one has lived with war, one tends to be desensitized by it. One comes to accept war as expected, as everyday life. While one must accept war if one is to fight it, do not allow war to become the norm. Once war becomes normal, it becomes easy to lose hope. Don't stop fighting, but also don't stop thinking about tomorrow. It is that hope for tomorrow that has allowed us to get through our lives."

Sonic thinks over her words. "…I see what you mean." After a moment of consideration, he says, "Give me a minute." He runs to catch up with Ryu, who he finds standing atop a hill and looking out at the distance.

Without looking to Sonic, he says, "There it is, the Imperial Palace." Ahead of them is magnificent palace straight out of feudal Japan. It is massive, ornate, and extravagant.

Sonic doesn't pay too much attention to it. Instead, he solemnly says, "Look, Ryu… I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what I said before."

Ryu scoffs. "Let me guess, Nocta told you my little 'sob story'? Forget everything she just said."

"How come?"

"Because that story isn't me. I don't want people to pity me."

Sonic shakes his head. "No, I don't pity you. I understand you."

Ryu eyes Sonic skeptically. "Oh, do you really? I heard what you said to Nocta. You can't compare your war to ours."

"Maybe not, but it only took me one day of war to experience loss like I couldn't believe. It was in the first hours of my war that I lost one of the most important people to ever be in my life. This person gave my life new meaning. He gave me a purpose like I had never had before. And then war struck, and he was gone. He sacrificed himself to save me. For the longest time I just didn't know how I was supposed to feel." Sonic pauses to gauge Ryu's skeptical look. "I'm not going to pretend that the scale of my suffering has been anywhere near yours, but I do understand how loss feels. That joke I made back there, that's how I cope. I didn't mean anything against you, but when faced with a prospect as daunting as a hundred-year war, all I can do is smile and laugh. I don't think I'd be strong enough to actually handle a war for as long as you have."

Ryu looks Sonic over slowly. "You speak like a fool, but I sense wisdom beyond your years in you. You remind me of Shino Sensei, Hedgehog."

Sonic grins, taking this as an acceptance of his apology. "I have a name, you know. It's Sonic."

"I know." Ryu grins. "I just don't care." At this point, Nocta catches up with them.

Sonic takes a good look ahead at the palace for the first time. "That's the lair of an evil overlord, if I've ever seen one." In front of palace march what look to be living shadows wearing ornate samurai armor. "What are those guys?"

Nocta answers, "Kamitatsu's soldiers. It would seem that even without their master, they still maintain their post. Admirable."

Ryu asserts, "Could you stop admiring the enemies?"

Then Sonic asks, "Wait, where'd they go?" Another look at the castle, and the guards are gone.

This confuses Nocta and Ryu. Before anyone can suggest an answer, Nocta senses something and shouts, "Look out!" Everyone leaps to the side, just dodging a laser bolt.

Ryu demands, "What kind of magic was that!?"

Then, all around them, black-painted Egg Pawns seemingly materialize from nowhere. Sonic gasps. "Eggman robots? Here!?"

—–—

Press Garden

Present Day

Espio and Shino travel down what very well could be the same path as Sonic, Nocta, and Ryu. Espio advises, "We must exercise caution, this area would normally be filled with Eggman's assassins."

Eying their surroundings, Shino asks, "Where exactly are we going?"

Espio explains, "According to Tails' intel, Heavy Shinobi and his forces fled to a decrepit palace on the far side of the Press Garden."

Shino nods. "Then it must be. Our destination is the castle of Kamitatsu."

Espio stops momentarily and ponders, "The same destination as Sonic. That can't be a coincidence."

Shino comments, "I don't know how it could be anything but a coincidence."

Espio muses, "Vector always says there's no such thing as coincidence."

Shino questions, "And what does Vector's advice mean to you?"

This question takes Espio by surprise. "What do you mean?"

"Just a few hours ago, you seemed not to care about anything Vector might have to say."

Espio is uncertain as to how he should respond. After contemplation, he says, "You must understand one thing about me. I am, by my very nature, a person of solitude. Before I met the other Chaotix, I spent most of my life alone. My incendiary personality didn't much help things. Vector, Charmy, and a few others were the first I could call friends, and as such they have left their mark on my life. But still, no matter how many times I ask myself, I can never understand why it is I have chosen to remain with them. Today has only furthered those questions."

Shino remains silent for several moments, and then advises, "The life of the ninja is one that invites solitude. We must move with stealth and remain quiet. It is simply easiest if we work alone. But even the most powerful of ninja require backup. You know me as a legendary figure, but I would be nothing without my students, Nocta and Ryu, for they are not just my students, they are my friends, and I would be nothing without them."

Espio objects, "That's easy for you to say. I sometimes think I was born in the wrong time. If only I could go back in time. Live in your time with those of a like mind. Maybe then solitude wouldn't be my natural preference."

Before Shino can respond, both he and Espio freeze up. Shino asks under his breath, "Do you sense them as well?"

Espio tilts his head in silent affirmation. Shino holds out one finger, then another, and another, in a silent countdown. On three, both he and Espio leap up and hurl a storm shuriken. Several of the throwing stars stop in mid-air, impacting an invisible target. Espio shouts, "Eggman's assassins!"

Having been discovered, several black Egg Pawns materialize, the same kind that Sonic encountered.

Shino says with dismay, "These automatons have stealth capabilities?"

Espio nods, "I encountered a squad of these on my last assignment. They're Eggman's newest weapon."

Espio and Shino are prepared to battle them, but before the fight begins, there's a flash of golden light, and the robots all disappear again.

Shino, sounding confused, comments, "I sense them no more."

Espio nods. "I concur. What happened to them?"

"I do not know."

Before they can ask any further questions, there's another flash of golden light, and now they are surrounded by enemies of a different kind, Kamitatsu's soldiers.

Shino is stunned. "Impossible. How could they be here?"

Espio asks, "What are they?"

One pulls a sword to attack. Shino urges, "No time to explain, destroy them!" He draws his blades and leaps at the attacking soldier, slashing through it. Once his blades exit the body, the phantasmal being evaporates into nothing.

Espio leaps into the sky and hurls a cascade of throwing stars, damaging several soldiers. As he comes back down, he draws his kunai blade and stabs it through the armor of another.

Shino declares, "Ninjutsu Art: Blade Rush!" He begins to rotate rapidly, swords held straight out, moving so fast he creates a black tornado. In this whirlwind, he plows through several more of the soldiers.

Espio dodges an enemy blade by twisting to the side, then stabs one kunai through the attacking soldier, and throws another at a soldier across from him. Both dissipate. This is the last of them.

But before they can rest, the accented voice of Heavy Shinobi orders, "Surrender now! You have already lost this fight!"

Espio and Shino realize that they have been surrounded by a massive force of both stealth Egg Pawns and Kamitatsu soldiers. Heavy Shinobi stands in front as their leader.

Espio whispers, "It will be hard, but if we work together, I'm sure we can take them."

A menacing yet familiar voice announces, "Shino the Hedgehog! If I know anything about you, it's that you are currently contemplating how to fight back and escape. But this time, there is no escape!"

A look of horror crosses Shino's face. "No…"

—–—

~1,000 B.E.

Ryu's fist smashes through a stealth Egg Pawn. He shouts, "Hey speedy, you think you're so fast? I just destroyed my seventh automaton!"

Sonic spin attacks through another nearby robot. He looks over to Ryu and waggles a finger. "Seven? Hah. That was my ninth!" He quickly destroys another with a Spin Dash. "Tenth."

Ryu grumbles with annoyance to himself and then breathes a massive breath of fire that engulfs three robots at once. "Ha! Ten!"

Nocta swoops down from above and uses the apparently sharpened tip of her wing feathers to slash a robot in half. She shouts, "This is a battle, not a contest! Cut it out, Ryu!"

Not entirely listening to her, and looking to break their tie, Sonic and Ryu both notice another Egg Pawn and rush at it. Ryu goes in to punch, while Sonic curls up for a Spin Dash. Both attacks land simultaneously. Sonic and Ryu both shout, "Eleven!" They eye each other angrily.

While focused on each other, another Egg Pawn sneaks up behind them and is just about to attack with a laser weapon. Sonic and Ryu don't notice it. Just before it fires its weapon, a sharpened feather passes straight through it, causing it to fall to the ground.

Sonic and Ryu look up to Nocta above them. She simply comments, "Fourteen."

All of the robots seem to have been defeated. They take a moment to celebrate their victory, then look on to Kamitatsu's palace. But before anyone can say anything else, a roar echoes across the land.

Ryu and Nocta look to each other with shock. They both say, "It can't be…"

—–—

From behind Heavy Shinobi, the speaker steps out. He's a tall and menacing in stature. Similar to Kamitatsu's soldiers, his body almost seems to be made out of swirling black and white energies. He too wears samurai armor, but is set apart from the soldiers by how ornate it is. Specifically, the armor is designed to look like it is built from the scales of a reptile. He wears a helmet with two twisted horns, and a bestial mask with sharp fangs in front of his face.

Shino shakes his head in denial. "No, no, no, no, no…"

Espio questions, "Master Shino, what is it? Who is it?"

—–—

Raising above the palace in the distance is a massive serpentine figure, and source of the roar. It roars again.

At the same time in both times, Shino, Nocta, and Ryu all say in utter dismay and terror, "It's Kamitatsu…"

To be continued…