Tails suddenly heard voices "Younglings. Younglings" "What is this place?" "I am here because you are here at this conduit of the Force" "We are luminous beings, not this crude matter" "Just when you think you understand the Force, you find out how little you actually know" "We must let go of what we fear to lose" "What you need, you already have. Unfortunately, you seem to be letting it all go" "I won't let him lose his way, not like I did". Tails fell through the door into a seemingly endless dark room with white paths leading to different points "The Force is what gives a Shinobi his power. It's an energy field reacted by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together" Tails stared in amazement.
Hydan was in his office when Wave was brought in by a trooper "Please sit". The troopers force her too as Hydan is given a pad "Ah, of course. Wave Voyance. It's no wonder you took such an interest in the paintings from the temple. The Grand Admiral has spoken highly of your talents. You know he's acquired a small collection of your work?". Wave scoffed "I'm flattered" "I would never consider myself an artist, but more a… A critic perhaps". He handed her a drink "That explains a lot" "I will admit that you and your friend swiftly solved something that I could not. Now tell me, how did you open the portal?". Wave crossed her arms and smirked "I'm smarter than you". He chuckled "I have informed the Emperor that your friend entered the temple. He was rather impressed with young Prower. It must be so difficult for him now without his master, Sonic or Maurice…. Whichever. Such a pity he chose the path he did and fell to such a meaningless end". Wave glared at him "You think you're a powerful, but you're just a pawn" "Oh, well, it's true. My power is but a reflection of the might of my Emperor" "And yet for all his might, he couldn't open a door". Hydan grinned "There are secrets the Shinobi have done well to hide. Even through the door your friend is not safe. The door is open. The Emperor will find him. It's only a matter of time now. But there is hope. You have an opportunity to help him if you help me". He pressed a button on a pad causing holograms of art and the temple "As an artist, I would think that you would relish the opportunity to study the temple. Do you even realize what it is?". Wave recognised one piece of art "That portal… It's not just a way into the temple. It's a-" "Pathway between all time and space. He who controls it controls the universe".
Tails was walking across one of the paths "Hello?" he then heard indistinct voices "Master Blaze? Espio?" he looked around trying to find out where the voices were coming from. He kept passing circular doors on the path when he heard a flicky chirping. He followed the sound and saw the flicky sitting on one of the doors "Hey, I've seen you before. How did you get here? Can you help me? I was sent here, but I'm not sure why". The door then suddenly glowed red "What is this?". He looked inside and was surprised to be looking at the back of Eclipse who was advancing on Amy Rose inside the Raiju Temple "No. I can't be". He then heard his own voice "Amy!" he then saw the younger him get pushed out and the wall close. Amy fought Eclipse until she suddenly had her back to Tails. She used her lightsaber to pierce the floor which began to crack. Eclipse was about to kill her "Amy!" Tails grabbed her and pulled her through the portal just before Eclipse could hit her. The floor around him broke and he fell through. Tails and Amy fell to the floor unconscious.
"I discovered these images while going through the Shinobi Temple archive on Mobotropolis" "Still not interested" Wave said with her feet up on the table. "I doubt that. Now, these three figures appear throughout the Shinobi's recorded history" he showed multiple images of the Special Zone Gods. Wave acted disinterested "Mmm-hmm. They're archetypes" "Yes, precisely. There's sometimes referred to as Athair, Aurora and Feist. Now do you notice anything about their depiction on the Emerald Hill temple?". Wave examined them "I… I don't know. They look the same to me" "I'm no fool, Lady Voyance, so do not mistake my pleasant demeanour for weakness. The painting has changed" "You noticed that, huh?". Hydan nodded "The Chaos' have moved. In fact, they now form the portal. I also find it interesting that the position of Aurora's head and the hand of Athair has changed. Do you care to share what their significance is?". The two death troopers take a step closer to Wave making her stand u and walk to the painting "The… The hands are a language" "I could find no similarity between it and any known language. How is it that you can read it?" "Remember? I'm smarter than you". Hydan sighed "Lady Voyance, I had hoped we could have a civil conversation about art, but I see the Wispon in you only understands one form of discourse". One of the death troopers hit Wave over the head with the butt of his blaster knocking her to the ground "Now, where were we?" Hydan talked down to her.
Tails started to wake up because of the chirping of the flicky. He then saw Amy also waking up "Amy?". The two turned to each other and Amy was confused by Tails looking older "Tails? You look… Wait, what happened? Where am I?" "You were fighting Eclipse. I saw you in there. He was going to… So, I… I grabbed you, and I pulled you out of there". Amy could then hear a voice "You don't know the power of the dark side" "Shadow" she said sadly. She then noticed the flicky "Lily? You're here?" she flew over and landed on Amy's friend. Tails was confused "Lily?" "She's an old friend. I owe her my life, and now I owe you that as well. How did you get here? And where's Sonic?". Tails' face dropped "You've missed a lot".
Tex, G-merl and Sally were sneaking through the base "Okay, what're you thinking?" "These are mobile command centres, right?" "Yeah? Oh…" he laughed "I like where this is going. Gem, you keep an eye out for Tails". G-merl saluted before sneaking through the base.
Amy looked around "This place is ancient. Like a world between worlds" "Yeah. It feels like that dream where I met Maurice". Amy looked interested "The creature called Maurice. It appeared after Sonic died? That has to be more than a coincidence" "I know. What does it mean?" "Perhaps Sonic's will is still at work through the wolf". Tails didn't understand "How can that be?" "Well, Sonic is now part of the cosmic Force. There are ways those who have passed on may still guide or influence the living. It's not impossible" "But if it was Sonic who sent me here, then…". He suddenly looked hopeful, "What is it?" "I thought I was sent here to stop the Empire, but then I found you. Don't you see" "You think that Sonic sent you here to help me?". Tails smiled and shook his head "No, not just you!" "Want a ride?" they heard Sonic's voice. Tails stared up "I… I can do it! I can save Sonic just like I saved you!" "Tails" Amy said concerned. They then heard Sonic again "You can learn what it truly means to be a Shinobi". Tails followed the voice, "Tails, wait?" Amy said running after him "Kid, I'm about to let everyone in on the secret…. I survived one war. I'm not ready for another one…. Battles leave scars. Some you can't see". Tails kept running "This way!" he stopped and looked around "One of these portals must lead to Sonic" "Tails, think about what you're doing" "I know what I'm doing" he said dismissively. He kept looking "Here, in this place, I can change things. I can save Sonic" "You don't know that" "Yes, I do! If can change your fate, I can change his".
They suddenly hear a rumbling and a portal in front of them turned dark. Tails walked up to it and he could hear the sound of a walker blast. He then saw Sonic holding back the fire "I can reach him" "Tails. Sonic gave his life so that you could live. If he is taken out of this moment, you all die". Tears formed in Tails' eyes "You don't understand what you're asking me to do" "Yes I do. You can't save your master, and I can't save mine" she said regretfully "I'm asking you to let go". Tails reached out for Sonic and then saw his eyes clear ad turn to normal. Tails knew what was about to happen and he quickly turned his head from the portal, he couldn't watch it again. "Sonic!" he heard Sally yelling. Tears fell to the floor and Amy put her hand on his shoulder "I'm sorry, Tails, but you must see. Sonic found the moment when he was needed most, and he did what he had to do, for everyone" "I just want things to go back the way they were". Suddenly they heard a crumbling sound "We can't stay here. You opened the door to this world. Do you know how to close it?" Wave will know. We can do it together. They'll be so happy to see you". The two started walking away "I can't go with you" "Perhaps I can". They turned and saw the portal now showing Mephiles staring at them from behind a blue fire". Amy got in front of Tails, Mephiles laughed "Miles Prower and Amy Rose. Mine at last!" he cackled.
Sally was underneath the Hydan's structure doing something, Tex kept watch "Come on, hurry" "Almost got it. Get ready to sent Wave a signal" "I'll tap it out right before blast-off". Inside he and Wave were still examining the art "Athair is clearly showing the way to the portal. The Chaos are the portal guardians" "Okay. What about the flicky?" Wave asked pointing to the one on Aurora's shoulder. "A servant of the Aurora, or possibly the Aurora herself when acting as a guide" "Hmm. So, if Aurora opens the gateway" "Feist would close it". Wave was surprised "There's something I didn't know" "Yeah, see? We can help each other". A stormtrooper then ran in "Minister, something's happening to the portal" they then heard a metallic pounding". Wave smirked "I know that language too. Sorry about the mess". Suddenly the back legs' rockets activated tipping the structure".
Mephiles began speaking a strange language over the fire and the fire suddenly grew larger and went through the portal towards Amy and Tails "RUN!". Amy and Tails ran as fast as they could away from the fire as Mephiles laughed.
Wave jumped out of the structure, Tex and Sally then appeared "We have to get to the Temple painting" Wave told them. "Where's Tails?" Sally asked as the three of them ran to the painting while shooting remaining troopers "He's on his way".
The two Shinobi kept running when a rope mad of light wrapped around Tails' leg and dragged him back "Amy!". "Show me the way, Miles. Help me" Mephiles said as his hand reached out form the portal. Amy ran forward and cut the rope and helped Tails up. Mephiles yelled in anger as the two started running "Keep going! You can make it!" Amy said, "When you get back, come and find me!" "I will. I promise". They went down different paths with Lily following Tails. Amy jumped through one portal back to the Marble Zone. She looked around and saw that the temple had now collapsed "May the Force be with you, Tails". Tails managed to just jump through his own portal before the fire reached him "No!" he heard Mephiles yell. He went through the other side and found himself back at the Imperia base in front of Wave, Tex and Sally "Tails! Come!". Wave tried to help him, but he stood back "No! We have to seal the portal". They ran back to the mural of the gods, the other gave Tails cover form the advancing stormtroopers. Suddenly a large drill being driven by G-merl drove some of the troopers away. Tex laughed as Tails stared at the mural "Wave which one do I activated?" "Feist" she pointed to the panda". Tex gave Tails a lift and he placed his closed hand on Feist's. "Stop him!" Hydan ordered but the troopers couldn't get close with the drill. "The future, by its nature can be changed" Feist glowed, and Tails fell back unconscious. Tex caught him. The ran to the drill and got on board "G-merl, get us out of here". Hayden ran to the mural as the god disappeared "The Temple is collapsing". The Temple started to sink, and Hayden fell in with it. The drill just managed to make it out as a bright light hit them. Tails heard a voice "The Force will be with you, always".
Sometime later Tails woke up inside the drill and saw Tex and Wave staring at him "If this is what you and Sonic used to do on you Shinobi missions, you can keep it" the former said. Tails sat up "Where's Sally?" "She's outside. Tails you gotta see" Wave said. Tails walked out of the drill and saw that they were now in a flat area of land with the temple nowhere in sight. He saw Sally standing watching the sun with her hand on her shoulder. Tails stood next to her "Where are we?" "The temple". Tails then realized the markings were on the ground "What? How?" "You tell me" she said sounding upset. Tails was surprised "Sonic and I stood here, when we first came to the temple". Sally sighed "He's gone now, isn't he? I mean, really gone" "Yes" Tails said regretfully. They both watched the sun "I know what we have to do now. In a way, Sonic showed me. One last lesson". Sally smiled at him before going back to the drill. Tails was about to follow but he then sensed something. He turned back around and saw a Chaos in the distance which then disappeared "Goodbye, Sonic".