"BOKUN!"

Bokun flew over as fast as lightning so he would seem to have been by the doctor the entire time.

"Y-Yes D-Doctor?" Bokun tried not to break a sweat in front of the psychotic genius.

"See to it that these two IDIOTS are taken care o- !"

Eggman had glanced over another one of his monitors on the wall. He didn't like what he saw.

Chris and Tails were circling one of the columns that held a precious chaos emerald.

Eggman was enraged..."CHANGE OF PLANS!" He turned to the beast, "Now... It's YOUR turn."

Sonic knew what to do and was gone in an instant.

Eggman turned back and focused his attention on the problem that lay before him.


"You know... For a second there... I really thought you were going to die..."

"Yea well... Don't forget that my chaos control can do ANYTHING that your shiny, old master emerald can do."

"Oh REALLY!?"

"Yes."

Knuckles paused for a moment and thought about this. A look of hope spread across his face.

"WAITAMINUTE! I JUST realized something!"

"What?"

"The chaos emeralds are made from pure, positive energy, right?"

"Right. Which is why we need to find them in order to reverse the negative energy inside Sonic."

"EXACTLY! Now, I've studied the master emerald all my life, and one of the first things I learned was that the master emerald is connected to each of the chaos emeralds. It is the source of all their power actually."

"Right. Everyone knows that."

"Yea... But did you EVER think that maybe your chaos control is connected to it as well?"

"Well, both are green..."

"And you said yourself that Tikal taught you how to use it." Knuckles was almost giddy with excitement, "Where do you think the energy for chaos control comes from!?"

Shadow had a look of disbelief on his face, "So... So are you saying that all this time we could have just used Chaos Control and been done with it?!"

"EXACTLY! I feel so stupid for not thinking of it before!"

The black hedgehog and the red echidna just stared at each other in horrified disbelief before speaking together, "WE HAVE TO FIND SONIC AND FAST!"

The two of them took off toward Eggman's base, but were quickly and abruptly stopped by a hose.

Knuckles took a good, long look at it, "What the- !?"

A green gas sprayed out from the nozzle.

Knuckles fell instantly to the floor.

"KNUCKLES!"

Shadow blacked out just as quickly.


"You know... I feel bad leaving them to fend for themselves."

"They'll be fine."

"But aren't you worried for them?"

"I said they'll be fine!"

Amy knew better than to argue with Rouge. She let out a sigh, "I guess your right, Rouge." Despite this, Amy looked down in shame.

Rouge glanced over and saw that she was upset. She put an arm around her as they kept walking, "Hey. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you."

"Yea... I know. You're just as stressed out and nervous as I am."

"Normally I wouldn't admit it... But you're right."

Amy sniffled and her eyes became glossy, "I-I just hope they'll be okay. They aren't exactly the best fighters you know."

"Yea... I know. But who knows if Eggman really DID send a robot armada. This could very well all be just a set-up. A distraction to keep strong, independent damsels such as ourselves out if his way.

Amy smiled back and wiped her teary eyes, which were also this way because she was tired, and let out a yawn, "Y-Yea... I guess you're right. What safer place to be than back at the house, ESPECIALLY if there isn't a robot army waiting in the city."

Rouge smiled sweetly and sympathetically, "Exactly. There's nothing to worry about."

And so the two continued onward to reach the metal structure that held their friends and loved ones captive, not knowing the dangers that lay ahead.


"Alright everyone! We made it here with five minutes to spare! Does anyone see any signs of- AAAAAHHHHH!"

A camaro flew just past the young rabbit's right ear. Cream turned quickly around to face the city...

Which was now in complete chaos!

Cream, horrified as she was, kept calm. She turned around so as to face everyone.

"Alright listen up! We're going to have to split up into teams in order to save everyone!"

Everyone was attentive, yet just as horrified by the terrified screams that filled the city.

A building on the left side of the street caught fire. Cream recognized it to be the pet store.

"VECTOR! I want you to take the Chaotix and save the animals in the pet store! PLEASE!"

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

The two nodded to each other with great respect.

"Mr. Tanaka! Evacuate the city!"

Mr. Tanaka bowed and Cream curtsied.

"Good luck Miss Cream."

Cream smiled sweetly, "Thank you Mr. Tanaka and good luck!"

Only Ella, Cream, and Cheese were left. To Cream, that didn't seem to be enough.

"Oh, Ella..." Cream sighed, "I really wish Miss Amy and Miss Rouge were here..."

Ella put a gentle hand on the young rabbit's shoulder, "Don't you worry Cream. Everything will be just fine. You'll see."

Cream, holding back tears, gave Ella a hug.

"Oh, Ella... I hope you're right."

When they finally let go, Ella equipped herself with her spatula-mace, "Come now, young Cream. We must fight for the city!"

"For the city!"

"CHAO CHAO!"

The two ran straight into the fight, ready as they could ever possibly be.

Robots flooded the streets from all sides. Each of them was a standard red-orange colored, typical badnik. All equipped with a laser gun as a left hand and the strength of 500 men.

Cream fought bravely, even though she couldn't have been more afraid to. She felt different, in a way. She felt more grown-up. She looked back on the times in which she had to be rescued because she was afraid, or the times she sat down and watched her favorite kids program with cheese, or the times in which she danced for exercise and for fun. Was she still that same Cream?No... That Cream was long gone. This Cream was ready to fight to protect those she cared about and those she didn't even know. This cream was braver than anyone else. This Cream knew where she belonged and who she truly was.

"ELLA! QUICK! TOSS ME THE SPATULA!"

Ella did what Cream asked her to do.

Cream, flying now with her ears, threw the spatula as hard as she could at a line of three robots in front of Ella. The spatula ricocheted off of the first and into the second and third. All three robots fell to the ground, with holes in their chests.

Ella went to pick up the spatula and turned around to face Cream, "You know, Cream... You have really good aim!"

Cream smiled at her.

Then she spotted the robot behind Ella with the laser gun pointed right at her.

It was about to fire.

"ELLA!"

Ella turned around and was momentarily petrified.

The gun was going to shoot!

"ELLA! NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"SCREECH!"

The robot was sent flying. Ella opened her eyes to see a red formula-1 racecar stopped in front of her.

Chris's uncle, Sam Speed, stepped out the door.

For once, he was serious, "That was SO CLOSE! Are you okay, Ella!?"

Ella smiled at him, "I'm just fine thanks to you, Sam!"

Sam gave a sigh of relief, "Well, THAT'S good to hear! Just... PLEASE watch your back! I don't want you or anyone else to get hurt!"

Ella couldn't help but blush a little.

Sam turned to Cream and smiled confidently, "So what do I need to do?"

"Mr. Tanaka could use your help evacuating the city. And... Well... Since you're EXTREMELY fast- !"

"Say no more!" Sam spoke more playfully, "I'll be back to help before you can say 'SPEED'!"

With that, Sam hopped back into the racecar and sped off to help Tanaka, who was busy helping an elderly lady across the street to safety.

Ella was still blushing some, "Quite the little charmer he is, huh, Cream?"

Cream just giggled, "Oh yes, Ella. Quite the charmer indeed!"

"CREAM!"

"AAAAHHHHHHH! PUT ME DOWN MR. ROBOT!"

Cream was swept away within the next few seconds.

Then there was an explosion.

"CREEEAAAAAAMMMMMM!"


"EVERYONE PLEASE EVACUATE YOUR VEHICLES! WE ARE TRYING TO HELP! PLEASE... DON'T BE AFRAID!"

There was no luck in calming down the panicked crowd. Everyone acted like a bird out of migration formation.

Sam grew more irritated by the minute. Not only was he "slightly" impatient, but he was in the middle of an actual crisis.

Sam pressed on the gas pedal, which made a loud reving noise.

This caught everyone's attention.

Sam popped open the door and stood up in his car, "LISTEN! I know all of you are scared! And I know all of you are confused! But we can't let fear stop us from doing what needs to be done!" The crowd seemed less tense already. Everyone looked to Sam expectantly, "So we all just need to calm down and handle this in an organized manor! Does everyone see Mr. Tanaka over there?" All heads turned toward the waving hand, "He is the leader! All of you will follow him in two straight lines! NO ONE is to stray from these lines! Understood!?" All heads nodded. Sam was nearly breathless from having to yell, "Good! I will stay behind and pick up any stragglers! So if anyone is missing from your party... I've got it covered! You will be reunited once we reach a safe area! Let's move!"

The two lines were formed and began to move out of the city almost immediately. Sam sat back down and almost closed the door when he heard their screams.

He quickly turned around and barely caught a glimpse of her with the robot before the explosion.

"Oh no... CREAM!"

He put the petal to the metal towards the city, forgetting all about his duty to the people that had just left for safety.


The smoke billowed out from every open space possible, filling Vector's lungs and making Charmy cough badly.

Espio was the first to speak, "We should split up. Vector can take care of the dogs. I'll take care of the cats. And Charmy, you take care of the other smaller animals."

"So you're gonna save the kitties?" Charmy's eyes went all wide and shiny with fresh tears.

Espio sighed, obviously annoyed, "Yes, Charmy... I'm gonna save the kitties."

"YIPEEE!" Charmy flew into the building without anything further to say.

Espio just shook his head, then turned to vector, "You SURE you know where YOU'RE going?"

"ABSOLUTELY!" And with that, Vector ran into the building as well.

Espio sighed to himself and shook his head at the same time, "Sometimes... I just don't know about those two..."

Espio ran full force into the building as well.

The smoke was heavy and made the whole place seem so much darker than what it actually was. By the look of it, all of the humans had evacuated immediately. Papers were spread all over the floor in a heap of mess and almost all of the supplies (leashes, animal food, pencils, you name it) were scattered all over the place.

It didn't take long for Espio to find the cat room.

There was a window on the far end of the room and the floor was ground level, which meant that Espio could easily let the cats out the window.

One by one, he opened their cages and carried them over to the open window.

A couple of cats didn't seem to want to let go, so Espio just jumped out the window with them.


Charmy took longer since he couldn't fly in the smoke. The room he found was full of rodents, birds of all species, hampsters, and guinea pigs. Charmy quickly opened all the cages.

"Alright everyone! Let's play follow the leader! And I'll be the leader!"

All of the animals obeyed.


Vector could hardly see in the smoke, especially since the dog kennels were close to where the fire was.

At last he found it. Dogs of all different breeds, sizes, and colors filled the room. All of them were barking wildly.

The fire was at the end of the hallway.

Vector had to act quickly. He began to open all the cages, but quickly realized that there was no time for that. The fire was spreading too quickly!

So Vector ran down the hallway behind him and found a fire extinguisher in an empty room. He carried it back down the hallway with the kennels and aimed at the source of the flame. The fire died as soon as he sprayed it.

Vector got the last of the dogs out of their kennels and went back down the hallway to return the fire extinguisher.

Vector got a better look at the room that held the extinguisher. It wasn't very large (maybe a 10' by 10'), and was a perfect square. There was a trash can in the corner, a rolling chair, and a desk, which held a lamp, some supplies, and an old computer.

"So THIS is where they keep the fire extinguisher!"


The three of them met up outside to celebrate their victory in saving the animals.

Vector gave a thumbs up and a toothy smile, "Nice work, Team! Cream will be so happy that we- !"

"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

They spotted Cream being carried off by a robot.

"CREAM!" The three yelled unanimously.

The flames that burst from the robot left them speechless and full of tears.


The Chaotix showed up to see Ella hugging Sam. Both were crying.

There was not a single robot in sight.

Charmy's eyes welled up with tears, "W-W-Where's... Cream?"

Espio slowly shook his head at Charmy as if to say, "Now is not the time for such questions."

"CHAOCHAOCHAOCHAOCHAOCHAO!" Cheese sat down on the pavement and was crying harder than anyone else. Everyone knew that Cheese had been the closest to Cream. The two had practically been together since birth!

Vector looked down and closed his eyes. Not even he could hold back his tears.

Not even Espio, a professionally trained ninja, could hold back his tears.

Everyone wept for the death of the sweet, little rabbit.

"Vreeeeeee..."

A low, almost hover-y sound could be heard. Everyone looked up to see a shadow emerging from the smoke that had accumulated after the explosion.

What emerged from the smoke both scared and awed everyone at the scene.

Standing before them was a red, black, and yellow robot with the name 'E-103' printed on the metal across the left side of its "chest". In its arms lay the small, limp body of Cream the Rabbit.

They all noticed that she was breathing.

The robot spoke, "My name is 'E-123 Omega'. And I do believe that this small being belongs to you. Please hurry... She is in dire need of medical assistance."


HUGE thank you to NikkiE-K for helping me!

Gallery: gallery/34997333

Please as always send in any ideas you may have. They really do help me out. And if anyone drew art for this, let me know. I'd love to see it.