On a distant foggy planet fighting Fiona and Sleuth "I'm thinking this planet's not gonna work out as a base after all" "Seeing how the key part of a secret base is the secret location, no, it won't. Where's G-merl?". The two were getting pushed back "I signalled him. He's either lost or ignoring us" "Oh, he's not lost. Cross!". The two of them swapped opponents, Tails Force pushed Sleuth away. Sonic got in a saber lock with Fiona who smiled "Such a handsome face" "If you're expecting a compliment back, look in the mirror". Sleuth threw Tails over a cliff edge; Sonic quickly ran and grabbed his leg "I got you! I got you". Fiona laughed and advanced on the two of them. Tails saw a group of creatures attached to the cliff wall "Sonic!". Sonic saw them too and both of them reached out with the Force. Sonic then looked down at Tails "On three. One, two, three!" he threw Tails back up and they continued their fight. They then heard a screech and they both ran back to the cliff edge "I don't like this!" "Just jump!" Tails said. They both did and landed on top of one of the creatures which flew away. Fiona and Sleuth watched as the Sneak flew over them and followed the creature. If flew in front of them, G-merl beeped and opened the back door "Thanks for the lift, buddy" Tails said to the creature before he and Sonic jumped into the Sneak. They left the planet's atmosphere and jumped to lightspeed. Tails sat down and sighed in relief "Phew, that was a close one. Sonic went to the pilot's seat looking troubled "Yeah, another close one" "What's wrong?". Sonic sighed "Everywhere we go we run into those guys, and I don't like it. If this keeps up, we'll never be able to help the Freedom Fighters establish a base. At least not as long as we're with them" "So, what're we gonna do about it?" "I don't know. But it's endangering the whole squadron. We're gonna need advice on this".
They arrived at the Hurst where Sally greeted them "Well, you two seem fine. How's the Sneak?" "Well, G-merl was flying" Tails answered, "That bad, huh?". Tex was sitting down working on his sword "So, kid, you find us a base yet?" "No, but we did find two Inquisitors" "Oh, that's nothing new". Sally turned to Sonic "She's waiting for you. Why did you have us meet you out here away from the fleet" "It's safer this way". Tails entered a room where Amy was kneeling in front of a chaos drive projecting a hologram of a black and red hedgehog "Keeping your saber moving is key to deflecting the fire of multiple adversaries. Fluid motion, one into the next and so on". Tails sat opposite Amy and saw that she was meditating "I've made some adjustments to the classic Form IV techniques that I think you'll find work well against badniks and other ranged attackers". He ignited his lightsaber "Here, I'll show you. One, two, three" he started deflecting laser blasts. Tails was watching "He's amazing. I've watched these recordings to help me with my own saber training". Amy opened her eyes and smiled "You should have seen him in person. Shadow the Hedgehog, he was my master". Tails kept watching "Sonic said he was the greatest warrior Shinobi had in the Clone Wars. And some believed he was the Chosen One" "Did Sonic think that". Tails shook his head "No. He thought he was faker".
Amy chuckled "He was powerful, rarely lost a battle. What would have surprised people was how kind he was. He cared deeply about his friends and looked out for them until the end". Shadow finished his demonstration "Practice these exercises mindfully, and you'll see improvement, I promise" "Do you know what happened to him?" Tails asked. Amy's face dropped "The last time I saw him, he was rushing off to save the Chancellor. Then everything changed. The war ended and the Shinobi were accused of treason. One by one, they were hunted down" "By the Inquisitors" "Or worse". Sonic then entered "Speaking of Inquisitors. Amy, what do you think about us doing the hunting for a change?". Amy stood up "When you defeated one, two more came. Who's to say we wouldn't multiply our problems yest again?" "And there's Eclipse" Tails said. Sonic nodded "I don't disagree. But the fact remains, we can't protect our friends form Eclipse and his Inquisitors. We can barley protect ourselves". Amy pondered "It's time like these that Shadow and I would turn to someone like Espio or Master Blaze. They always had the answer. Well, almost always". A smile slowly formed on Sonic's face "Then maybe we should ask Master Blaze". On the cockpit the others watched them leave o the Sneak "Where are they going now?" Wave asked. Sally watched concerned "Sometimes it' best not to know".
The Sneak landed on Emerald Hill just outside of the Shinobi Temple "Tails, you're from Emerald Hill?" "Yeah. This is my home". They walked towards the front of the temple "Here it is. If you and Sonic stand here, you can use the Force to open the Temple". Amy calmly shook her head "I cannot" "Why?" "Because I am no longer a Shinobi". Tails was surprised, "It was my choice, I left the Order. It's probably best if you two open it". The two shrugged and held out their hands. The rock again began spinning and ascending but further than before "Hey. Where's the door going". It kept spinning and a new door was revealed "This is new" "Well, we have a new problem. So new door. Gem, stay with the ship" Sonic said. They entered a circular room inside the temple then the door closed behind them "How did you contact Master Blaze here?" Amy asked. Sonic awkward shrugged "Well, she kind of contacted us" "I thought I was reaming when I first heard Master Blaze's voice" Tails said. Sonic pondered "I was meditating" "Then perhaps that's a good place to start". The three of them kneeled in the middle of the room and waited. Sonic then saw a doorway with a white light "I see a doorway" "Where? I don't see anything" "Neither do I".
Sonic stood up "Last time we spoke to Master Blaze we were separated. Maybe this is my path alone". He headed towards the door "Be careful" Tails told him, "Don't worry. I wouldn't do anything you would do". He walked through and just disappeared "Where'd he go?" "These temples can be tricky". Sonic entered what looked to be a lightsaber training room. There was a Temple guard kneeling down in front of a lightsaber, based on his shape under the armour Sonic assumed he was a Zeti. The guard looked up to Sonic "I wondered when you would return" "I've… I've come for knowledge. I need to know how to defeat Eclipse and his Inquisitors". The guard stood up and picked up the lightsaber "Try to fight and you will fail. The Freedom Fighters will be destroyed. You will die, and your apprentice will become a servant of evil". Sonic took a step closer to him "What're you talking about?" "The dark side. It pulls at him; it calls to him. Eventually he will be consumed by it". The guard ignited the yellow double bladed lightsaber. Sonic stared at him defiantly and ignited his own. The guard stepped forward "Stand aside. The boy must be eliminated before he embraces the darkness". Sonic took a stance "I won't let that happen" the two fought.
G-merl was waiting outside when he thought he detected something. He entered the Sneak and flew it away just before two TIE fighters arrived being piloted by the Inquisitors. Sleuth saw the imprint of the Sneak "They have fled. Your instincts have failed you" "Have they? Our pray came here and they are still here". She released her robotic chao "Tell me what you see". The Chao flew around the rock and then Fiona checked her scanner "A Shinobi temple" "Their sanctuary will be their tomb".
Tails and Amy were still waiting when the former opened his eyes "You know Master Blaze?" "Yes. She taught almost all of the younglings in the temple at one point or another". Tails nodded "Sonic described her to me. Purple, had a gem in her head. But he never said what she was really like". Amy smiled "I'm not sure anyone did. She was wise, kind, but when I was young, she seemed happier". Her face dropped "As the Clone Wars dragged on, she carried a great burden, a deep sorrow as if she knew before anyone else that one time was ending, and another was beginning". Amy opened her eyes and realised Tails was gone".
Tails opened his eyes, and he was kneeling on nothing in what her thought was space "Whoa". He stood up and "Is this place special to you?". Tails turned around and saw Blaze sitting on a log "Master Blaze? You're here!" "Or you are here, hmm". Tails kneeled "Last time I couldn't see you" "Ah, your abilities are growing. But with them comes danger".
Sonic and the guard's saber were locked "Is this the limit of your knowledge?" "I learned enough" "I think not". Sonic got pushed back, he backed up to the wall and noticed other lightsaber on it. Sonic took one with his other hand and ignited its red blade. The guard advanced on him "You will never be strong enough to protect your pupil, and you will perish for your failure". Two more guards appeared and ignited his lightsaber. Sonic showed no fear and charged at the group.
Amy was meditating still when "Amy" she looked around trying to find the source of the voice "Amy, why do you leave?". Guilt came over her face as ghost like image of Shadow appeared behind her "Where were you when I needed you?" "I… I made a choice. I couldn't stay". Shadow's face turned angry "You were selfish". Tears began to form in Amy's eyes "No!" "You abandoned me! You failed me! Do you know what I've become?". Shadow slowly morphed into Eclipse. Amy began to cry "No. NO!" she ignited her lightsaber and turned around but there was nothing there. She sighed and lowered her head in regret.
Tails was continuing his conversation with Blaze "Master Blaze, you're powerful. You must know a way to destroy Eclipse and his Inquisitors". Blaze sighed "Young one, there were once thousands of Shinobi once there were. Then came war. We swiftly joined the conflict. Whether we knew it or not, the dark side consumed us". Tails didn't understand "Was it wrong for the Shinobi to fight? Is it wrong for me to protect my friends" "Wrong? I fought for years. Consumed by fear". Tails was surprised "You were afraid?" "Yes. Surprised? It is a lifelong challenge no to bend to fear into anger". Tails felt shaking at his feet "What's happening?" "The enemy has found you".
Sonic felt it in his fight as well "Even now, the servants of the dark side come for your apprentice. You cannot fight forever". Sonic sighed "You're right. I can't protect Tails forever. Not even from himself. All I can do is what I've done, train him the best I could". Sonic deactivated his lightsaber and kneeled down on the floor. The lead guard stepped forward and looked as if he were about to kill Sonic who lowered his head. Instead, the guard held the saber over Sonic's shoulders "By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force. Sonic the Hedgehog, you may rise". Sonic stared up in surprise before standing "Wait, what does this mean?". The guard removed his mask revealing himself to be a slightly younger Zik "It means you are what I one was. A knight of the Shinobi Order". Tails was stunned as Zik looked around "The temple is falling. Go. I will delay the enemy". Sonic ran back through the door he came through.
Amy felt the temple shaking and she stood up "There's still a way". She ran deeper into the temple to find Sonic and Tails.
Tails still didn't understand "Yeah, but Master Blaze, how are we supposed to win if we don't fight back?" "Win? The question is how we choose to win" "We don't have a choice. We have to fight". Blaze sighed "Find Marble Zone" "Marble Zone?". The room went back to normal right as Blaze disappeared "Master Blaze? Master Blaze!?" he turned and ran out of the room. He eventually entered a circular room where he met the others "Sonic, Amy, you won't believe what I-" "Tell us later! Come on!" Sonic said.
Fiona and Sleuth entered the Temple with their lightsabers ignited. The room was dark, but they suddenly saw a yellow lightsaber in front of them being held by Zik "Grand Inquisitor?" Sleuth said surprised. Multiple guards emerged from the darkness and surrounded them.
The group were running "Up ahead. That's our way out!" Sonic yelled. Amy suddenly stopped and turned around. She saw Blaze smiling at her while sitting on a log. Amy smiled back and nodded before following Sonic and Tails. They all ran out and the Sneak flew over them "Gem!" the back doors opened, and they all jumped on "We have to hurry. Imperial forces will be on their way". Once they escaped, they all took a breath "I saw Master Blaze" Tails said surprising Sonic "Saw him? What did she say?" "She said to find Marble Zone. I've never heard of it". Amy stared at Sonic intensely "Marble Zone is a planet".
Eclipse entered the temple with a squad of troopers, he found Sleuth and Fiona "My master will be most pleased with this discovery". They both bowed "Lord Eclipse. The Shinobi are growing in their power" "It will be their undoing".