They all sat together in the burnt out shell of their former headquarters. Dr Clover was applying a bandage to Tangles tail with the last of her salvaged medical supplies. Thanks to the restorations swift response the town above had been relatively undamaged by the swarm of beebots but they had only ever been meant as a distraction. The real damage had already been done.

Sonic lent against the wall with his eyes closed trying to ignore the sound of his friends arguing as they debated their next move. He breathed in deeply, the smell of burning filled his nostrils and hit the back of his throat. Everyone had an opinion but no one was offering a solution.

Somewhere infront of him he heard Tails having a heated debate with Rouge.

"What does it matter who started the fight?" The fox snapped. "The important thing is finding Amy before they force her to summon her father. Who knows what they will do to get that out of her."

Sonic felt his stomach knot and his throat go dry. That was the one thing he was avoiding thinking about. What they might be doing to her. He had promised to keep her safe and now she was in more danger than ever.

He opened his eyes as Rouge argued back.

"And how do you propose to do that Mr genius?" She demanded. "As he had Beebots with him it's safe to assume the rider was working with Eggman. We've all been searching for the Doctor for months with no sign. We wont track her down in time."

Sonic's eyes fell on Shadow who was leaning against the wall opposite him with a sour look on his face. He was clearly reeling from their defeat and keeping his opinion to himself for once.

"We should have installed trackers in our communicators." Knuckles sighed. Having heard what had happened he made his way to headquarters straight away. Tails cheeks went as red as the echidnas fur.

"You were the one who said not to do it!" The little fox yelled.

Jewel the Beetle interrupted before Knuckles had a chance to argue back.

"How did the rider find Amy in the first place?" She asked in a timid voice. "Eggmans never been able to find our headquarters before."

"It was the cards." Rouge explained. "He said that Amy's tarot cards will always find her."

Sonics hands drifted to his pocket and found a small piece of card. As he pulled it out he had to hold it tight between his fingers. It began flapping as though a heavy breeze was trying to whip it away. When he looked up everyone was staring at him.

"It was in Amy's hand the first time the rider attacked." Sonic explained.

Dr Clover rushed over with a jar and Sonic gently lowered the card inside. As she screwed the lid on it slammed itself against the side of the jar as though trying to break through. The shep moved around the room. They all watched as the card shifted its position so that it was always facing north. Shadow wandered over to inspect it. A wry smile played on his lips as he spied the two kissing hedgehogs on the cover. Sonic chose to ignore him.

"We'll take this. " the black hedgehog said to the Dr, reaching for the jar.

The sheep moved it out of his reach and handed it to Sonic. Shadows smile faded as his lip curled with contempt.

"We need to throw everything we can at this." Sonic said calmly. "We have to put personal differences aside and do whatever it takes to get her back."

Shadow considered this for a few moments before turning to Rouge and Omega. They both nodded their agreement.

"Okay gang." Sonic said, holding up the jar. "Let's do it to it."

Sonic and knuckles stood on the wings of the tornado as it battled its way through the clouds. They had been in the air for an hour now. Down in the cockpit Tails was keeping an eye on the card and using it to navigate.

Looking behind them Sonic could see several other planes filled with his allies. He felt the weight of what was about to happen laying heavily on his shoulders. He was leading them into battle with a madman who had gotten the upper hand over him twice and Eggman who he had never managed to fully defeat. The Doctor always bounced back. This was perhaps a he most dangerous thing they had ever done.

"We're coming up on something.' Tails called up to them.

Sonic crouched down and squinted through the clouds. A large dark shape was emerging. It was smaller than the last carrier but just as dangerous. He could see huge cannons on the turrets by the landing strip. A voice crackled in his ear piece.

"Whisper and I will give you some cover. " Tangle called.

To his right one of the planes broke formation. He could see Tangle in the cockpit and Whisper manning the guns. The wolf was an expert marksman and as the plane pulled down low to the carrier she shot a bullseye at one of the cannons. It exploded with a satisfying 'boom'

Team darks plane followed Tails lead as he circled the tornado around to land. Under a blanket of suppressing fire the fox guided the plane in for a bumpy landing. Sonics knuckles were white as he held tight to the wing. The tornado skidded to a halt a few feet from the carrier doors. Unsurprisingly there was a landing party of badniks waiting for them.

"Go." Rouge shouted to Sonic.

She leapt from the plane and booted a small robot in the face. "We'll take care of these lot. Just get to the kid and get her out."

Sonic nodded. With Tails and Knuckles trailing behind he raced off to find Amy.

The lab was heavily guarded but between them Sonic, Tails and Knuckles made short work of the badniks on the door. Sonic was not messing around. He curled himself into a tight ball and slammed into the heavy metal doors knocking them down. He jumped up into a fighting stance expecting there to be more enemies inside. There was nothing but...

"AMY!"

The pink hedgehog was floating in a water filled container. There was some apparatus strapped to her face helping her breathe. Her eyes were closed. As Sonic ran up to the glass her eyes suddenly snapped open. Her face contorted with pain for a moment. Her hammer popped into her hand before dropping listlessly to the floor. Amy's eyes closed again and she sagged.

"What happened?" Sonic demanded.

Tails looked at the computer next to the tank. His face twisted in disgust.

"They're studying her brainwaves when she summons her hammer." He spat. "They give her an electric shock to force her to summon it. "

Sonic took a few paces back.

"That does it." He growled. "You two move out of the way."

Tails and Knuckles dived for cover as Sonic hit the tank hard. It shattered sending glass and gushing water everywhere. He snatched Amy up as he passed through and landed with her in his arms on the other side. He gently lowered her to the ground and brushed the hair out of her eyes. She opened then and smiled up at him.

"You came."

Sonic smiled back. "For you." He said softly. "I always will."

"How touching." Came a growl behind them.

They span around to see the rider stood in the doorway. Sonic rose to his feet and pulled Amy behind him.

"I don't know who you are. " Sonic said calmly. "But you've made a big mistake getting involved with Dr Eggman. He will double cross you in an instant."

The rider snorted.

"I am well aware of the strange egg persons character and his intentions. As for who I am. I am commander Graves of the Parvus army."

Behind his Sonic felt Amy stumble. He caught her. She turned to look at Graves. Her eyes were shining with tears.

"I remember that name." she breathed. "You executed my mother. Oh god I remember it all. You, my father, the invasion. I was right to stop you. You're monsters."

Graves smiled broadly.

"At last princess. You remember. Let's hope you remember how to summon your father now or I will burn this airship to the ground with all of your friends aboard."

To emphasise his point he summoned a ball of fire in his hands.

"Your father MAY be gracious and spare their lives when he comes." Graves continued. "He may even spare yours if you are repentant. After all you are his heir. It was your witch mother's influence that drove you to betray your people after all. Do this for your people Amare and you might just be able to save your friends."

The flame in his hands burned brighter. Sonic turned to Amy.

"Don't do it!" He said firmly. "We'll fight."

Amy took his hands in hers.

"We won't win." She said quietly. "I need you to live. There will be people who need you to fight for them. "

Sonic shook his head. "I need to fight for you."

Amy stoked his face gently.

"Goodbye."

Sonic reached out to grab her as her eyes turned black. He felt the rush of wind in his quills. He, Tails and Knuckles landed on the egg carriers landing strip in a puff of pink smoke.

Shadow span around.

"What happened?" He shouted. "Where's Amy?"

Sonic started back towards the ship but Knuckles grabbed him.

"Look!" He yelled and pointed into the air.

Even the badniks stopped fighting. They all stared up in horror as hundreds of small black ships popped into view around them. On the horizon Sonic saw a large red shape forming. It was twice the size of the old egg carrier.

"No." He gasped.

Knuckles pulled him backwards towards the plane.

"I have to save her." Sonic shouted.

Knuckles continued to pull him away as Tails started up the plane.

"Then we need to come up with a plan." He insisted. "Come on."