The ball of flames shone so brightly it was as though night had become day across the valley. The orange light flickered over the mountainsides and reflected back over the water. It seemed as though the lake itself was on fire. Sonic lifted his arm to shield his eyes from the worst of it. He tried to remain focused on Amy but as she ascended higher and higher it was become more difficult.

She dangled like a lifeless marionette infront of the burning red tarot card. The large white horses head and front legs were mostly through the portal. Sonic could see black gloved hands clutching at the horses studded reigns. He couldn't afford to wait and see who the hands belonged to. He had to get Amy down now.

Sonic took a few paces back and prepared to take a flying leap. A white gloved hand bared his path.

"Are you crazy?" Tails demanded. "You'll be burned alive!"

"The fires not having an effect on Amy." Sonic argued.

Tails shook his head and turned to look at the swirling mass of fire. "I don't know how that's happening Sonic but you can feel the heat from here. Get any closer and you'll be no good to her."

Sonic clenched his fists. The fox was right. That didn't make watching Amy trapped like this any easier. He watched helplessly as the horseman drove his steed on through the glowing gateway.

The rider was a large hedgehog. His fur and quills were a deep, almost black purple. He wore high leather boots and a blood red military jacket. Sonic saw several medals glistening in the firelight on the riders chest and frilled epaulets on his shoulders. Whoever this man was he was clearly good at his job. The strange hedgehogs dark green eyes narrowed at the sight of Amy dangling in the air before him. Sonic heard the silken sound of a sword being unsheathed and moved instinctively. He dashed through the fire before the rider had time to take aim.

The flames scorched his fur as he passed through and burnt into his skin. The horse reared with a loud screeching whinny as the swordsman was torn from his saddle. The roaring fire died down as Sonic and the rider tumbled to the earth. Sonic turned his head in time to see Tails shoot up and snatch Amy from the air. He and the stranger hit the ground with a dull thud.

Every bone in Sonics body ached. As much as he would liked to have taken a moment to recover the sound of movement beside him tore him to his feet. The rider was already up beside him. Sonic felt a hard boot to his ribs which sent him skidding back into the dirt. The rider was strong. His size was not dissimilar to Tumble the skunk, though he moved with a speed and grace that the dim witted Tumble could only dream of. The rider bore down on Tails and Amy with his sword stretched before him.

"Unhand her." He instructed the young fox. His voice was a low, threatening rumble. "She may be a traitor but she is still a princess and I will not have her handled by a peasant."

Tails kept his hand protectively over Amy as the stranger moved to strike. Sonic hit him hard in the side again, knocking them both to the ground. On the floor Sonic got on top of the older hedgehog and punched him hard in the face. The swordsman countered with a strong backhand which sent Sonic sideways.

The horse touched down gracefully a short distance away from them and stamped its front hooves impatiently. As they scrambled around on the ground Amy's tarot cards gently tumbled all around them.

Sonic kicked the purple hedgehog in his chest and backflipped to his feet. He landed infront of Amy and Tails with his fists tightly clenched. Sonic risked a backwards glance at his friends. Tails was carefully cradling Amy's head on his knees, she was out for the count. Sonic narrowed his eyes and turned back to the rider. The mysterious hedgehog was swishing his sword through the air as though fencing with an invisible foe.

"Step aside." The stranger said calmly. "You are no match for me."

"I've heard that many times before buddy." Sonic replied, his eyes firmly on the sword. "And yet I'm still standing."

The swordsman laughed. It was a strained bark. Something told Sonic this man was unaccustomed to finding the funny side of a situation.

"So you must be the boy." He grunted and sized Sonic up with a critical eye. "Destiny clearly has a sense of humour to pick such a pathetic champion for the princess."

Sonic flexed his knuckles impatiently.

"Tempting though it is to let you ramble on with a load of weary exposition about who you are and how you came to be here I'm just going to tell you now that I don't care. " he said though gritted teeth. "Bottom line is you're not touching Amy."

The swordsman blinked. "Amy? Ha. The princess always was a sentimental one. Shame she didn't share the same sentiment for her own father."

Sonic narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Again, don't care what your story is. Back off." He growled.

The strangers grip tightened around the hilt of his sword.

"You should care boy." He sneered. "It's not worth dying for a traitor."

They charged at the same time. Sonic with a spindash and the swordsman with his blade raised high. As Sonic grew closer the blade burned red.

"Look out!" Tails yelled.

Sonic parried just in time as fire shot from the swords blade and scored the ground infront of him.

The swordsman swirled his weapon around him. A tall wall of flame rose up in a ring around them, trapping Sonic and his friends in with purple hedgehog. Just outside the boundary the horse reared and screamed. Sonic saw Tails lift Amy into his arms.

"We can't fight him!" The fox warned.

Sonic remained where he was. His feet firmly planted in the ground. The swordsman stood with his flaming sword poised to strike.

"In the name of his Grace Rubrum Rose Emperor Of Parvus I demand the immediate surrender of Princess Amare. "

"If you mean Amy then the answer is still no." Sonic bit angrily.

"Then you will die." The purple hedgehog snapped.

"You'll have to catch me first."

Sonic darted for Tails and Amy as the swordsman aimed a jet of flame at them. He raced the flame and reached his friends seconds before it hit. They flew backwards through the wall of fire in a ball of orange, pink and blue. Sonics quill tips were alight but he had no time to stop. Hoping that the rushing winds would extinguish his fur as he ran Sonic tucked Tails under one arm and pressed Amy close to his chest. He felt her gentle heartbeat against his chest as he ran.

They passed over the other side of the mountain and though the open planes beneath them. When Sonic felt finally a safe distance away he stopped and lay Amy gently on the ground. Tails floated anxiously overhead while Sonic assessed the damage. Unlike Sonic or Tails whose fur was singed and black with smoke Amy was completely unharmed. Sonic shook her shoulders.

"She wont wake up." He moaned desperately to Tails.

"What's that in her hand?" Tails asked.

Sonic reached down and gently pulled a thin piece of card from Amy's grip. Two hedgehogs, one pink and one blue were passionately entwined on the front. Even Sonic couldn't ignore the resemblance. Card six. The lovers. Sonic pocketed it before Tails could pass comment and scooped Amy up again.

"Come on." He said to the fox. "Let's get her to Dr Clover ASAP."

The cold metal room seemed more frosty than usual as the commander scanned a thick blue file in front of him with a somber expression on his face.

Agent West stood before him with a sinking feeling in her stomach. The commander had been known to shoot the messenger for delivering even the slightest bit of bad news and this was an unprecedented disaster. She held her breath while he furrowed his brow and held the paper close to him.

"How long ago?" He snapped.

"F..f..five minutes sir." The agent squeaked.

The commander swore. "You're certain it was her?"

The agent nodded. "It's exactly the same energy pattern as four years ago. Although briefer and on a much smaller scale."

The commander tutted and straightened the papers on his desk. "That is of very small comfort Agent West." He said sourly. "The fact remains we need to get someone down there now. Do we have any information on what came through?"

Agent West nodded. A little more confidently now that the commander seemed calm.

"Our satellite picked up a man on horse back."

"Please tell me he didn't take her?" The commander groaned.

Agent West shifted uncomfortably. "HE didn't but.."

"Sonic did." The commander finished the sentence for her. "Well that was to be expected. We know he cares for the girl. Is this horseman still at the lake?"

Agent west nodded again. The commander sighed. "Let's get someone down there. Chances are we won't be the only ones to have noticed the anomaly. The last thing we want is the Dr getting wind of this."

Agent West clicked her heels and saluted smartly. "I'll get team dark to.."

"No." The commander interrupted again. "I want them after the princess."

Agent West was taken aback.

"Is that wise?" She asked boldly. "They have worked with her in the past."

"Exactly." The commander countered. "It's unlikely Sonic will give her up without a fight and they know his moves better than anyone. "

"Must it come to a fight sir?" Agent West asked. There was a note of desperation in her voice.

The commander slammed his open palm down firmly on his desk. The sound echoed through the clinical metal room.

"Whatever it takes." He growled. "There is too much at stake. She cannot remember her father. Everything we did to ensure she forgot clearly wasn't enough. Bring her in. Tell team dark I have authorised lethal force if necessary. "

Agent West saluted and turned on her heel without so much as a backwards glance at her superior. When she had passed the guards outside his door she pressed a button on her communicator.

"Rouge?" She said urgently into her wrist. "You've got a job. I'm going to warn you now. You're not going to like it. "