Silver turned and saw the large cat leaving. He started to walk out on the long wooden bridge. He could see a large temple-like structure ahead with a bright green glow on the top. Silver felt a slight shift in the energy around him, maybe that thing on top of the monument was causing it. He reached the steep incline and started to climb the stairs one step at a time.
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The echidna propped up the instance he felt an unfamiliar presence on his altar. Readying his fists, he sprang to the staircase and prepared to swing when he recognised the ivory hedgehog. "Wha, Silver?" He was visibly puzzled. "What are you doing here?" He lowered his fists slightly.
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Silver reached the top and saw a fist raised and ready to strike. He didn't have much time to react before Knuckles pulled back. Silver faced him with a nervous expression. "I just came to explain about Tails' situation." He raised a hand up. "I'm the messenger."
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"Wait, wait, hold on. What are you doing here-" He waved a fist around. "-in the present?"
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"Just decided to visit, but I have to stick around with the Chaotix. I'm helping them solve a case." Silver's eyes strayed behind the echidna. That emerald was beautiful, he thought. "Are you the guardian?" He stepped to the side so he could see it better.
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"Yep." His eyes followed Silver, who seemed to get too close to the emerald for his tastes. "Don't touch it, please. So, what's this situation with Tails?" He sincerely hoped it didn't involve use of the Master Emerald.
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Silver backed off and returned to his original spot while clearing his throat. "So, uh- Tails has gotten himself in a pretty bad situation." He used his hands to gesture as he spoke. "He created something that the Mafia wants and we are trying to stop them." He waited to see his reaction.
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"Aaand, let me guess, you want me to help?" He didn't see it like much of a big deal. The Mafia? They don't sound so tough if they're targeting someone as frail as Tails.
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"Well, not exactly. We found out that they may go after his friends to get to him." He crossed his arms. "Tails doesn't want Sonic involved and telling Amy didn't seem like a good idea."
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"Oh." He tried not to sound disappointed. "Well, alright." He crossed his arms. "Thanks for telling me, I guess."
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Silver stood there awkwardly. "So, yeah. Just don't tell Sonic about it." He added. "Have you heard from him at all?"
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"Now that you mention it, he dropped by yesterday asking if I'd seen Tails. I guess that explains why." He sat near the glowing emerald. "How did you end up working with the Chaotix?"
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"I got wrapped into one of their cases about a missing Casino business partner. It seems to be linked to Tails' problem. While trying to find leads on the case we ran into him, literally." Silver sighed. "So now we are solving two problems. Tails and I are basically living with them until it gets resolved."
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"Huh. Well, I'll be sure to be more wary for anyone who comes around here. Thanks for the tip. Good luck on the cases, and tell the guys I said hi." He gave a half smile.
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Silver nodded, "No problem. I will." He felt like that went really well. He turned to walk away from the altar and down the stairs.
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Espio took the time in the bush to meditate. His mind was met with tranquility and balance as he opened his eyes to reassess the environment, but nothing seemed different. No one came into the hotel, but many seemed to leave. He wondered if Silver was done with warning Knuckles. He hoped he wasn't lost halfway through the forest.
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Silver was already back in the forest before long. He decided to not bother Big for directions back to the train station. Silver shivered from the idea of his gaze piercing his soul, again. As he walked he looked for the mental notes he made when he was going the other way. He approached a fork in the path and stopped. Silver didn't remember this path forking, he looked around and place his hands on his hips in thought.
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"Froggy, noooo!" The cat whined as the frog hopped quickly across one of the paths and between the trees. He desperately tried to push the trees apart, but they snapped back into place after every attempt. "Come back!" He cried.
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Silver turned to the direction where he heard the cries. Froggy? It was that cat again. He walked towards the voice since he knew he could back to the train station from Big's hut. He walked and walked but he eventually lost Big's voice and found himself in thick jungle. Silver noticed movement and saw Froggy hopping away. He froze the frog with telekinesis and walked over to pick him up, his body was slippery and unpleasant.
"Eugh." He looked around. "Where's your-caretaker?" He sighed. "Or captor."
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They could feel the stomps growing in intensity as the morbidly obese cat approached. "Froggyyyyy!" The frog struggled in Silver's hold and croaked in distress, "Ri...ribbit...rib!.."
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Silver could feel the earth rumble beneath him as Big approached them. He felt pity for the slippery creature in his hands and was about to let him go out of sympathy. However, before he could let go he felt two large, strong hands grab him and Froggy. Suddenly Silver was lifted high in the air and pulled into a strong embrace.
"Let me go!" Silver struggled.
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"Ohhh, you found Froggy for me!" He squeezed them tightly until he heard the common gasping for air. He let them plop onto the ground, then picked up the half-conscious frog to prevent another chase. "Thank you, Silver."
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Silver coughed in response. His mind was a bit fuzzy from the warm, humid climate that he was stuck in. His eyes scanned over the frog which couldn't handle the bear hug he had just experienced. "No-problem." He panted. "I need to go back to the train station."
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"I can lead you, no problem." He strutted back through the path he had memorised. They reached the tall ladder leading to the tiny rail cart. "Don't forget to close the door."
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"Okay-" Silver put one boot onto the ladder. "Thanks." He climbed all the way to the top and approached the cart. He rode the rail all the way back to the main area that led him to the train station.