For the Love of Beauty

The details of this mission were 'patchy' at best. Their job was simple to extract some personnel who had gone missing. A Captain in the Cornerian Military and a platoon of his men. And that was about the extent of their knowledge which already put this mission off to a bad start.

Shadow and Omega didn't mind the simple details, willing to work with what their given. Rouge however was not. Too many holes and too many lose ends only made their job not only tougher but more dangerous. They had no idea where their targets had gone missing or what happened to them. Whether they were lost, kidnapped or worse. But orders were orders and like it or not they had to accept them.

All they had to go off of was an general area of where they'd gone missing. Which surprise was right in the middle of nowhere.

"Well we're down on the ground." Rouge said. She tilted her head over her shoulder and to her teammates." How's about you get to tracking?" she said to Omega.

"Scanning area." He told, his red eyes flashing." Traces of life found in NorthEast Direction." He pointed it out. Together Shadow and Rouge followed his finger, only to see it lead into a dense forest.

"That doesn't really help us out much." She said." Who's to say what's out there?"

"Who indeed." Shadow answered. He began walking forward, ready to take point." But there's no point in waiting around wondering." Without the confirmation of their next move or an overall plan he continued forward.

"Shadow wait!" Rouge called to him. But he had already disappeared into the forest with Omega close behind. Now there seemed little choice in the matter, the team was ready to head out.

She suddenly got a tingling feeling in the pit of her stomach. There was a gem about. Like Knuckles she could just sense when one was around. And having some extra hardware that could scout it out helped. And Lo and behold it was in the exact direction Shadow and Omega were headed.

"This trip might not be so bad after." She smiled to herself. So she followed her teammates into the wilderness. With Shadow in the leading, Omega right behind him scanning the area constantly for signs of life. And Rouge was bringing up the rear more often than not gliding just a few feet above her teammates.

All the time she kept glancing at her tracker, to find that with every step they were getting closer to the jewel.

Finally after a length of walking Omega spoke up.

"Scan detection." He said." Signs of life ten feet ahead." They wasted no time and together Shadow and Rouge moved forward to what they hoped would be their missing persons and the end of this mission. It wasn't.

What they found was a small camp. Tents were set up, sleeping bags all around several pieces of charred black wood. The outlines of boots dropped were all around the camp. Someone had been here that was for sure, the question was when.

Shadow kept cautious eyes on the trees as he advanced forward. But when it was clear by the silence that no one else was about he started to look for himself.

"Someone was here, no doubt." Shadow said." But where they went?" He shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't understand this thought." Rouge said." The camp was made. The fire put out." She glanced from one item to the next. "But nobodies here, they left everything behind. Not even to guard it."

"Scan complete." Called Omega getting their attention. In-between his fingers was a thin piece of grey hair." Identification matches, Captain Bill Grey of the Cornerian Air Force."

"Well that answers one thing." Rouge commented." At least they were here."

"We had better stop here for now." Shadow said.

"Stop? What for?" Shadow pointed behind her, to the setting sun." We've come a long way in one day. Better to stop and rest to collect ourselves than to wander around aimlessly in the night."

"Ahem, did you forget I can see in the dark." She pointed to her eyes. Shadow turned his back to her.

"And you think I'd let you take point on this mission?" He didn't let her reply and instead began walking away. His mind was made up." There's always tomorrow." He said resting his back against the tree. Omega seemed in agreement, setting himself off and shutting himself down.

And it was no use arguing with them, especially now that the decision was made. Rouge jumped into a nearby tree, planting her feet against it and hanging down. Then as a last measure she tucked her wings over her body completely.

The sun disappeared and when the time came everyone settled down to sleep.

But Shadow was having some trouble. He began to turn in his sleep. Something was disturbing him. He tossed and turned but it only got worse. But then he jumped awake to the darkness of the night.

Then he heard it, only for real this time. A strange sing-song like voice calling out to him. It was soft like the wind but it was sweet. He rubbed his ears hoping to hear it better. It was still there and it sounded closer.

He rose from his sleep and ventured outside into the night to see for himself whoever or whatever this was. But when he looked around all he saw was darkness. But he could still hear the voice. Hear it as if it was in front of him.

Then it appeared before him. Stepping out from the woods was a woman.

Her hair was black as night and went down to her neck. Her eyes a beautiful shade of brown. Her skin although green looked soft as silk. And around her neck was a green emerald.

And just from looking at her even at a glance Luigi immediately fell in love with her. But he wasn't the only one. Omega had also been awaken from his sleep. And like Shadow when they looked upon her they were completely under her power.

The night passed and with the sun's first light morning came. And when Rouge the bat woke she found she was completely alone.

"Shadow?" she called. There was no answer." Shadow!" Nothing still." ANYONE?!" But the echo of her own voice was the response. Thinking this an elaborate prank at her expense she spoke out hoping to end it." Hardy, Har, Har." She said with fake laughter." Great joke, good fun." But there came no response. There was no one there but her. And as the silence grew she knew that this was for real.

This had never happened before. Despite the dynamic of the team they wouldn't just leave one another behind, and especially not like this.

Shadow was gone and Omega with him, and the two didn't leave any sign of where they had gone. More than likely they got a reading on their missing persons and went out after the, but even still they wouldn't leave her behind. Luckily Rouge had a tracker of her own, but it only led her to the nearby emerald. It wasn't much but it would at least lead her somewhere.

With nowhere else to go Rouge set off in that direction. She jumped into the air and took to the skies looking down for any view of the gem or her companions. She could see much from the sky above although for several miles all she could see was the green tops of the trees.

But as day turned to night the green tops began to grow fewer until only tall, naked trees were left standing between dirt roads. And when the shadow of the nearby mountains fell on them it didn't make the place look less ominous. She then went to the ground hoping to find any sign of Shadow, Omega or their missing persons on the ground. And that's when she saw it.

Not more than a hundred feet in front of her was a stone wall with an iron gate. The gate made in the pattern of thorns. And as she got closer she saw what lay beyond it. A great castle, with several high towers reaching to the clouds. Each with a fierce stone gargoyle perched atop it. But even in the night and with her vision she could not tell if the castle was naturally dark colored or if it was simply the night.

Gazing upon the structure Rouge couldn't help but feel something deep down in the pit of her stomach. There was something wrong about this place, something incredibly wrong. And yet given the situation she knew she had to press forward to find answers.

She marched up to the gate and when she saw it had no lock she invited herself in, leaving the gate open slightly as she walked away. The path to the castle entrance was a long stone bridge. She began to cross it but then suddenly heard the gate slam behind her. Rouge quickly snapped around expecting something but turned only to find nothing except the closed gate.

But that was not possible. She did not shut it herself and the wind hadn't picked up at all with enough force to shut it. She turned her head and scanned all around her but saw nothing in the darkness. But even though she couldn't see it, she could feel it. Something else was there with her and it was watching her.

With nowhere else to go but forward she continued to the door. The two wooden doors were just as menacing as the rest of the castle. The doorknobs carved out in the likeness of two horned monsters.

With one hand she pushed one of them open and stepped inside. Straight in front of her was a stairway that started up before shooting both left and right, a tattered red carpet covering them. Six solid pillars held the up, the tops shaped like the monsters on the doorknobs.

She stepped deeper inside hearing the echo of her footsteps all throughout the castle. In an effort to make as little noise as possible she kept the door open ajar, but this time she waited. Waited to see if this one would close on it's own. It did not.

Rouge them climbed the stairs and came to her next great decision, left or right. After a brief game of eenie meenie miney mo she choose left and began wandering down the hallway. The only thing she could hear was her footsteps until the echoing sound of the closing door boomed behind her.

Despite the grandness of these halls there was not much too them. They were not lit and any tapestry or painting on them and withered away years ago. And it was a long time until she found another door. This time a simple wooden one with hinges and a small metal knob. And looking underneath the door she could see light coming from it. Someone was inside.

"Now or never." She thought to herself.

When she pushed the door open and in the room she finally saw someone. She was laid out across a small couch. Her skin green as limes, a black dress clinging to her body, in one hand was a wine glass. And behind her was a big glass mirror. The woman propped her head up with a raised brow when she walked in.

"Evening." Rouge greeted casually." I hope you don't mind me dropping in like this, hehe." The situation's humor was lost on the homeowner who simply started at Rouge. Her slender fingers hovering over the wine class." But I've misplaced a few friends, they wouldn't have happened to come by here." As she spoke she continued to look at the woman. And as she did she noticed something.

Around the green woman's neck was the green Chaos Emerald. She seemed to have noticed this as a perfect smile formed across her lips.

"Your friends you say? What did they look like?"

"Two of them." Rouge saying as she took a step closer." A black and red hedgehog."

"Hm." She nodded.

"A black and red robot." Rouge took another step forward. The woman let out an innocent chuckle.

"Do they have a theme?"

"Heh. You could say that." Rouge said with another step. She was within a few feet of her now, within a few feet of the emerald. She had a sense of fashion this one, wearing such an item around her neck. It complimented her well. But Rouge was here on a mission. And she was almost in position to pounce." I mean they're not big talkers. And have the attention span of a-" Without any give-way Rouge pounced forward.

But right as the emerald was just a fingertip away Rouge was stopped. Not by the woman herself who simply sat there twirling her wine glass. Rouge looked up to see who held her by her wrist and to her surprise it was Shadow. But he wasn't alone.

Omega stood by his side. Along with Bill Grey who had been lost out here with all his men.

"Did they look like that?" The woman questioned with a smirk.

"Shadow." Rouge said as she tried to pry herself from Shadow's grip." What are you doing?!" And looking at Shadow she noticed something strange. His eyes had a green coloring to them. Not only him but they all had it.

"Your friends seem to be in good care here as you can see." She let out another snicker. "My pets." The green woman said twirling her drink some more." Escort her to the dungeon."

"Yes Gruntilda." They all said together and did as she bided.

"Get your hands off me!" Rouge yelled. But one by one they surrounded and restrained her. And despite her fighting they carried her off easily. "Get your hands off me!" Rouge yelled. And as she was escorted out Gruntilda turned her attention to herself. Turning to look at herself in the mirror and pawing at the emerald around her neck.

So Rouge was brought down to the deepest and darkest part of the castle. So dark you could hardly see your hand in front of your face. Well Rouge could at least.

She noticed the mindless drones carrying her began to slow down as they entered the darker parts of the castle. Whatever controlled them it didn't enhance them in any way. Maybe this wasn't as bad as she thought.

As they carried her around a corner Rouge swung out her wings covering both Shadow and Bill's view behind her. At the same time she swung out her legs and kicked Omega in the head, forcing him to let go.

Then once she had both feet on the ground she swung both elbows back and hit both Shadow and Bill in the stomach, buckling them over. Now in almost complete darkness this was her playing field.

Two of the other soldiers turned and jumped right at her. But Rouge easily jumped into the air forcing them to run right past here and then collided right into Omega.

Bill drew his blaster and began firing it in every direction he heard movement. But in the darkness and on the ceiling her location was unknown to him even with the slight light he was making.

Rouge easily jumped down from the ceiling and kicked Falcon in the face. Knocking him back to the ground and his blaster away. When she was done Rouge bounded back into the air and back the way they'd come.

Glancing over her shoulder she could see the group still trying to get their bearings in the darkness. Which meant there was no one to interrupt her little chat with the wicked witch.

Gruntilda needless to say was not expecting such a visitor. She continued to entertain herself by looking in the mirror.

"Mirror, Mirror on the wall." Gruntilda said into it." Who is the fairest one of all?"

"Not you bitch!" a voice yelled over behind her. Gruntilda squinted her perfect face to turn to see an intruder in her castle, none other than Rouge. " You get one chance." she said." Hand over the emerald!"

"Never!" Gruntilda yelled wrapping her slender fingers around the jewel.

"Have it your way." Rouge said with a shrug of her shoulders. Then she jumped up and descended down on Gruntilda. And in high heels the witch wasn't getting every far, only managing to dodge Rouge at the last second as she dived forward.

"AH!" The witch shrieked.

"Oh." Rouge said in a mock pout." Did you get a boo-boo?"

"I-I-I broke a nail." Gruntilda said showcasing it to Rouge. The bat just rolled her eyes.

"If you don't want to get hurt." She said." Just hand that jewel over and we'll call it a night." But Gruntilda only held it tighter.

"NEVER!" she yelled. And as she did a magic force field appeared around her. But this did not seem to deter Rouge. She simply jumped forward and with a kick not only broke through the Force Field but kicked Gruntilda to the ground.

And when she hit the ground the Emerald popped off her necklace and slid across the floor. Gruntilda tried to reach for it but it was out of her grasp. She began crawling on hands and knees to retrieve it.

But Rouge the faster of the two easily swooped down and grabbed it before Gruntilda could take it back.

Just in time too as her mind controlled friends appeared in the doorway. That frightened Rouge at first and gave Gruntilda reason to smile.

"Pets!" she commanded." Retrieve the emerald for me!" She pointed to Rouge. But surprisingly they didn't obey her command." Did you hear me?!" Gruntilda yelled." Get me the Emerald!" But still they did not move.

Rouge looked down and noticed she had the emerald in hand.

"Uh guys." She said. And together they turned their heads towards her. Fear riddled Gruntilda's wrinkle-less face as it became clear she no longer had the power here. And Rouge like the idea of that.

This Emerald was the source of all this trouble. The emerald gave Gruntilda what she wanted most, to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Something she had normally obtained from sorcery and magic was now here's simply by wearing an emerald. But on top of that it allowed her to bend any man to her will. The catch was however was that she couldn't change a woman's preferences.

But she had managed to change whomever she pleased into her slave. Even with a power like that there was a lot to be done. And Rouge was thinking of a lot better ways to apply it. She could control Generals, Monarchs, President any man into doing her bidding. And giving her whatever she wanted. It really was tempting. She looked from the emerald and back to the guys.

"Get back to normal." She showcased the Emerald. Their eyes were green for another second but with a blink and a shake of their heads they were back to normal." There that's more like it." She smiled.

"Oh." Bill groaned." What's going on? Where are we?"

"Rouge!" Shadow let out pointing to her." Where'd you get that?!" Everyone looked to see the green emerald in her hand.

"Oh I just stumbled across it." She answered." We have our friend here to thank for that." She pointed Gruntilda out to them for the first time.

"Wow!" Bill exclaimed." Who's the babe?" Gruntilda picked herself up and stood before them.

"Oh she was having some fun." Rouge continued." She was using this little diamond to control all of you."

"Is that so?" Shadow grunted turning to Gruntilda.

"Stay back!" Gruntilda said taking a step back." Stay back!"

"Allow me." Rouge said to her teammates. She jumped into the air and came down at Gruntilda. The witch stepped aside just as Rouge came down and although she missed. But Rouge did hit something else.

There was the bookshelf nearby and on top of it was a bucket of water. And although Rouge missed Gruntilda she went crashing into and destroyed the bookshelf. And when it came down the bucket came down with it.

The water came splashing down and onto the unsuspecting witch. And when the water hit her face there was a loud hiss and steam filled the air.

"AH!" a horrified shriek let out. And you wouldn't have expected such a wretched, horrible sound to come out of Gruntilda's perfect mouth. She went to her knees covering her face and the emerald just so happen to slide away from her and across the floor.

The emerald suddenly seemed to be the last of the witch's problems. She had managed to get back to her feet but her walking was hindered. She kept her back to them, she appeared to be limping, and while she used one arm to steady herself on the wall the other was kept on her face.

"You'll pay." She muttered. Her voice was thick and scratchy one moment but musical the next." You'll pay." She finally took her hand off the wall and grabbed the broom before her. With another step forward she made her way closer to the nearby window." YOU'LL ALL PAY!" she let out a final wretched shriek and turned to them.

But in the darkness of the night no one could truly make out her face, and as they'd find out later none wished to.

Gruntilda grabbed a big hat and an oversize black coat and wrapped it around herself. Then she put one leg over the broom and then the other. Then she jumped out the window and into the night. Flying far, far away.

"What the hell was that?" questioned Bill.

"Mission accomplished I'd say." Rouge said pawing over the emerald in her hands. Everyone's heads quickly turned to her." We got you out." She said to Bill." And a few treasure of our own." Her eyes shined looking at the emerald in her hands. She stopped when she realized everyone was looking up at her." But who can put a price on a life am I right?" she smiled.

"Rouge." Shadow said stepping towards her." Let me-" He made a move for the Emerald but Rouge pulled it from his reach, hiding it in a place he wouldn't dare go for.

"You were saying?" she asked. Shadow took a cautious step back, gazing at the emerald poking up from down her shirt.

'Nothing." He quickly answered." Let's get out of here." He stormed off before she could say anything else.