"This city is home to Iblis, the monster that had killed your family." The shadow spoke as the shorter, skinnier hedgehog stood on the barren apocalyptic street. "Iblis has caused immense disaster among the land, as you are quite obviously aware of."
Silver, no more than around eight-years-old, was right beside the darkened area next to him. The young hedgehog took in what he was saying, trying to think through everything he was being told. Picking up a piece of charred rock, he felt each side. Ashy particles stripping off the corners as his fingers lightly touched it.
"Why? Why would it destroy things?" His voice was soft, pondering.
"Because Iblis wishes to see mortal life come to an end." The mobian-like being stepped out, arms crossed as it looked at the ashen sky. "It is a mindless killing machine hell-bent on the extinction of mortals." His eyes fell to a lone group of survivors in the distance.
"If all it cares about is killing us, then how do we stop it?" He stood, turning to face the being. "Is there a way to stop it?"
A pregnant pause, a gust of embers wafting through the wind, heat trailing close by. The shadowy being turned to face him, rich verdant eyes locked with his golden ones as he replied, "You. You have the power to stop it."
This wasn't the first time Silver had heard this answer. Every question he asked about Iblis came to some sort of prophecy talk. It was getting annoying never having a straight answer.
"But... But what can I do? I don't have any powers."
Mephiles hummed before taking a step back into the darkness, vanishing into nothing. "We will see about that."
Suddenly, a bright white-hot flash of light appeared in front of the hedgehog. As the light faded, three minions of Iblis appeared, a fiery demon-like hellspawn with a maw of razor-sharp teeth, a bird with a flame body, and a molten rock golem. Flames bursting from blisters on the entities, embers forming a thick haze as the heat increased.
Silver felt his heart nearly stop when he saw the towering beasts. Fearing he would be killed, he desperately cried out, "Gah! M-Mephiles! Help!" He backed up as the darkness behind him faded from the light of the fire. He was alone with monsters.
His heart raced, his breath was labored as he grabbed some stray rocks, eyes squinted to try and alleviate the heat as he concentrated. Despite being so young, he was taught by Mephiles to be a relentless warrior, never giving up until he was on the brink of death. Even if he didn't have powers, this was his life. This was how he had to survive. He counted himself lucky that he had so many rocks to throw. But still, that anxiety of not having enough power to destroy these minions seeped into his chest. He felt alone, facing a world no one can possibly live in.
...Then he heard the screams of the survivors. The people begging for help as the fire crackled. He couldn't see them, but he knew they were there. Monsters don't make human noises. It gave him a reason to fight, a reason to destroy these beasts to make it safe for other unfortunate victims of this post-apocalyptic world. This would be his chance. A chance to prove that he can save these people and prove that he's strong!
"A-Alright, Iblis..." He grabbed more rocks, as much as he could hold, "come and get me!" He shouted, throwing them at the three beings.
He had to save them, he had to, he needed to save these poor people. After All, that was what gave him hope, encouragement from Mephiles to save his world. That with his endurance and perseverance, he'll save his future.
The victims screamed in agony before flames and rock enveloped them. The air smelled of sulfur and burning flesh, ash rained thick as smoke draped the street. The blunt force from the rocks didn't do anything but give them more armor, of course... Iblis was made of magma.
"No! You will not take another person!" Silver shouted, grabbing a handful of rocks and hurling them at the minion. It was at this moment he desperately wished he had some sort of power, something of use other than screaming, throwing things, and putting himself in danger. Not to mention Mephiles- where the heck was he? Usually, when he's stuck in situations like this, he would bail him out! Why not now!?
All the while, an entity watched from the darkness. A being perfect at exploiting the kindness and naivety of others. His verdant eyes stared with amusement as the not-yet-awakened psychic tossed sharpened rocks at the "enemy".
Little did the hedgehog know, the "enemy" was an illusion. A couple of darkened instruments created by Mephiles to create some... fun for the puppet master. A tool manipulated by the shadow demon.
That unsettling voice spoke up from the darkness. "Silver." Green eyes lit from the darkness like night vision, peering with an unreadable expression at the child. It was beginning to seem impossible to force the awakening of this hedgehog's power. He had tried everything except for psychological torture. Perhaps that is the next step.
"It is over."
Silver coughed as the smoke thickened around himself, forcing him to shut his eyes. It began to fade at his command, revealing the horrific scene- three survivors, the ones that he previously saw, lay disfigured and bloody on the street. Cause of death: lapidation, third-degree burns, and blunt force trauma.
He stared at the blood that painted the asphalt, rocks, and debris scattering onto the pool below. The reality of what he had just done began to sink in. He was... tricked into murdering survivors of Iblis, a "playful prank" conceived by the shadow that lurked behind him. The heat of the remaining embers felt so cold.
"Wh... what is this...?" He backed up a few steps before feeling the chill of darkness at his back.
"Yes, Silver. Bravo." the shadow clapped slowly as the form stepped out of the thick darkness of the heavy smoke. "You are starting to understand the first rule of survival: kill or be killed."
"I... Mephiles!" He turned to face him, eyes full of panic and trauma at what he had just done, "I'm seeing things, aren't I? Those WEREN'T people! They were monsters! Iblis's monsters!"
"Monsters? They look like monsters to you?" The shadow's stare was non-judgemental, stoic almost. "What monsters look mobian?"
Silver clenched his fists as he growled. He knew Mephiles could distort certain things but it was never... like this.
"No! They weren't mobian, they were monsters! Hellish abominations cloaked in rock and fire, just like you said before!" He ran at the shadow but soon found himself restrained by invisible dark ropes, forcing his body to the ground.
Verdant eyes brightened through the pitch-black void, staring into the young hedgehog's yellow eyes.
"Oh Silver... how pathetic you are. Mistaking the appearance of those who are alive for those of monsters." The shadowy ropes tightened, almost choking the child. "You're the worst person in this future. I saw your smile as you threw rocks at them. You enjoyed spilling their blood and listening to them suffer. Face it, you may have just snuffed out the lives of the last remaining survivors of your future." The ropes vanished, darkness slowly lifting as Silver coughs and tries to catch his breath.
Is that... Is that what happened? Did I do that? No, I can't mistake that! They looked so real, they were monsters! They weren't... they weren't...
The young hedgehog turned to the gruesome scene, noticing that these once "monsters" were indeed real mobians. Not magma or sharp obsidian, but once flesh and bone. Memories and personality. Survivors and citizens just like himself. He took a step back as he tried to grasp the severity of what he just did. He began to question his sanity, his own understanding of what he thought monsters were.
Murder. A hero isn't supposed to murder. I murdered people. I murdered three people. They looked like monsters, they WERE monsters. They were Iblis's minions!... Right?
Mephiles stood in the shadows, watching and nodding slowly to himself. His manipulation was working, surely twisting his puppet inside and making him doubt his vision. How intriguing the minds of mortals were, so easy to believe that their eyes deceived them, even if it wasn't their eyes or minds that tricked them in the first place. Especially this naive child. Surely breaking his mental stability will make him more likely to do his bidding.
Silver couldn't speak, rather his breath hitched as he fell to his hands and knees, retching at his disgust at himself for his actions. Tears fell from his eyes as he tightly shut them. He couldn't stand the sight, the mangled bodies, blood leaking from the wounds, the third-degree burns. The sight was nauseating, pure abhorrence- vile.
How could I do this..?
The shadow walked closer and stopped a few inches in front of the tortured teen. He snapped his fingers, shadowy appendages crushing the rock and bodies into ash, dragging them into the molten earth below. The being then turned to Silver, eyeing his weakened state as he reached a hand out, rubbing his back to lure in a false sense of safety. He looked at his inhibitor bracelets, still seeing no color, which meant no chaos energy. He wasn't ready.
"What's the matter, my weapon? You said you are willing to save the future..." the darkness began to expand, engulfing the young hedgehog into the sea of black, "at any price." The figure knelt in front of the child. "You may be pathetically weak, but I will show you how to awaken your true potential. Do you believe me?"
Silver sniffled, shaking his head as he resisted the urge to vomit. "I can't… I…" He threw his hands to his face, screaming and crying from the overwhelming emotions swirling in him. "There are more survivors, right? P-please... I need to know..." He sniffled, looking up at his inconceivable ally.
"Is there anybody else around here? Come now, you are smarter than that." The voice was so… coldly soothing. Gentle, yet gruff. Very manipulative. But he had a point. Who else was left? Those survivors, they may have been the last in Crisis City. Now that they were… well… gone, he had no one. No one else to go to. He couldn't just fly off or run away.
No, not with Mephiles. Mephiles was…
Silver stifled a sob before shakingly wrapping his arms around the shadow. He cried into his arms, shaking and clinging onto him. His only other connection to life, the only person he had to help him grow up, to teach him how to properly live in the city. If he didn't have Mephiles, he had no one… and that is what he feared the most. Being alone.
"Little weapon," Mephiles cooed to the small child, stroking his back quills down from their defensive and spiked position, "you still have so much to learn. Living in a destroyed future… I will make sure that you grow up learning how to protect yourself." He gently pulled Silver away, wiping the tears from his cheek and staring down at him in pity. "And you will follow my lessons. Understood?"
"Y… Yes, Mephiles..."
"Venice?"
"Venice?"
"Venice!"
*splash!*
Venice gasped from the shock of cold saltwater having been splashed onto his face, coughing and sputtering as he rubbed his eyes. Sky blue was back to bright gold, scarlet energy colors reverted to bright mint. He tried to recall this person's name but it was escaping him. How long has he been asleep?
"Oh, thank goodness you're awake! I was getting worried!" Amy gave him a relieved smile, setting her small cup down in her tent, "sorry for splashing you, but you kept screaming and weren't waking up."
Amy curiously took the hedgehog's hand, inspecting the bracelet and the color. "Wow, it's like the red color changed based on your emotions! You still need to tell me who made these for you!" The giddy hedgehog took his hand, rubbing the metallic sheen of the bracelets.
Panicked, he throws his arm out defensively, cloaking the hedgehog in a bright cyan energy. He levitates out of her tent, holding her in the air as she squeaks in fear.
"Who are you and where am I?" He demands.
"W-what..? You know who I am!" She struggles against the psychokinetic grip, green eyes locked onto the silver hedgehog.
"Enough! Where is the Iblis Trigger?!"
"Iblis… Trigger?"
"Don't play stupid! Where is-"
/Stop! Let her go!/
"Agh!"
A painful surge of discomfort to his temples forced Silver to weaken his grip on the girl. She panted, able to breathe a little bit easier within the aura.
"Venice, enough! Let me down!"
[Venice? She's met you?!]
No response.
His fingers relaxed, dropping Amy to her knees as she looked at him in a unique mix of fear and fury. Once her heartbeat became regulated and no longer quick and panicked, she stood up.
"What was that about?!"
Silver looked away feeling that dissociated fog lift once more. Venice knew this girl, but how? He was here the whole time, right? But he didn't remember anything… that seemed impossible. How did he lose an entire half a day of memories?
Amy put her hands on her hips, stopping over to the light gray hedgehog, "If you suddenly have your memories back or something, that's fine, but don't you ever-"
"Silver."
"...What?"
"My name is Silver. Not Venice."
Amy blinked a few times. This person, Silver, admittedly was quite different from the Venice she had met just three hours ago. It was beyond strange, so many questions and yet no answers. Her eyes fell to his bracelets and the colored energy pulsating softly. She reached her hand out to touch the faintly glowing hue, but he pulled away apprehensively.
"I've always had them." He, Silver, finally spoke. His voice was different from Venice's in terms of weightlessness and calmness. There wasn't that slight gruffness added, instead a more carefree and kindhearted individual was present. He looked at the colored lines of subtle pulsating aqua energy.
They were a different color, that's what this girl said... was Venice in control of the colors? He looked at Amy quizzically. And who is this girl? Why did Venice know her?
"You mentioned memories." He added, gold eyes staring through Amy.
Amy blinked then thought for a second, "well, Silver, you uh seemed very lost and confused when I met you."
"We aren't confused." He stated, almost cutting her off. "I… I'm not confused." He corrected himself. "I'm looking for someone known as the Iblis Trigger. Do you know where it is?"
"What is an Iblis Trigger?"
"It's something that destroyed my world." He stated coldly, his eyes dark as he clenched his fists. "I was told by someone named Mephiles that the Iblis Trigger is responsible. Whether it is a living person or some sort of event, I need to stop it."
Amy paused, thinking for a second before clapping her hands together. "I know who can help!" She smiled, taking Silver's hand as she continued, "Sonic! He knows everyone! He can help you find this troublemaker and put an end to it!"
Silver stumbled forward as he was practically dragged along by his acquaintance.
/Amy isn't a bad person./
[Why did you have to take over?! I told you to not do that!]
/Well I won't let you kill someone just because that liar says to!/
[Mephiles said that the Iblis Trigger is responsible for the state of our world, Venice! What about that don't you understand?!]
/Oh, I understand it, I understand that you're too naive to make decisions for yourself!/
"Silver!" Amy raised her voice, squeezing his hand. "Are you alright?"
The light gray hedgehog shook his head, clearing himself of that thick haze of dissociation. He blinked a few times before looking down at the hand Amy was holding. His eyes then met her own, making her smile slightly.
"I... Yes, I'm fine. Just..." He groaned, frustrated as his state of confusion and fugue-induced state. "I need to find the Trigger then go back home." He took some steps ahead of her, wanting to lose her so he would no longer be bothered.
"Wait, Silver!" Amy called out as she caught up to him.
Too much wishful thinking.
He didn't low his stride, rather he continued to walk even as Amy walked in front of him, her bubbly smile and cheerful personality wanting to help this lost Mobian in a sea of humans. While he wasn't bothered by humans (having been used to them in his future), Amy was quite insecure about being alone in Soleanna especially without Sonic. Not to mention, Silver was lost. That begged the question...
"Where exactly is your home?" Her voice was softer than before as she looked up at the partly cloudy sky.
Silver looked at her before uneasily fidgeting with his fingers. He wasn't even sure how to respond to such a question. This was the past. Time travel would seem completely imaginative, right?
"Somewhere far away." He replied as he looked at the beautiful nature to his right. This time was so alive, so vibrant... it almost left him speechless.
"How far away? Do you know how you got here?" She turned to look at him, now walking backward as if she traveled this path before.
"I..." He stopped himself, swallowing back his anxiety before speaking up again, "I traveled through time. My home is called Crisis City. Well, I've always called it that. I don't know if it has an actual real name or..."
His voice trailed off as he stopped walking. Now he was face to face with a wide-eyed and more-amazed-than-ever Amy who was in a state of pure shock.
"No way! You're a time traveler?! I didn't even know that was real! I thought it only existed in fairytales!" She squealed, taking his hands and jumping up and down. "Promise me you'll take me to a cool timeline sometime soon?"
Silver nervously chuckled, taking a step back. "W-Well I would, but it's not that simple."
"Nonsense! You came from the future! Surely you can take me back in time or- OH! Maybe you can bring me to your future! I would love to see what type of-"
"No!" Silver interrupted her, his voice rose slightly as he grit his teeth. "I mean... no. It's too dangerous."
"Oh.. I'm sorry." Amy rubbed her arm and looked away.
Sensing her disappointment, he gave her a slight grin. "But if we can find the Iblis Trigger, and destroy it, then I will take you to a safe timeline." He chuckled, scratching his cheek in uncertainty. "If I can figure out how..." He muttered under his breath.
Amy nodded, making a pinky promise with him. "It's a promise then!" * * *
Through an oasis known as Dusty Desert came a place in Soleanna named Castle Town. The town was quiet, relaxed, and had a large amount of space for what seemed like an outdoor area. A Beautiful harbor at the forefront decorated in silver architecture and bridges, accompanied by the occasional gondola rides from one part of the harbor to another. This was truly the city of water, and it was gorgeous. It caught Silver's eyes and made him fall in love with the past. It was so different, so... not on fire.
"I wonder where Sonic is..." Amy murmured, walking carefree and totally relaxed through the city. "He told me to meet him here..." She stopped, looking out to the harbor with her finger on her chin.
Footsteps. The sound of two voices. Getting closer.
"Sonic!" Amy took notice of the noise and ran to meet one of the beings.
Silver turned then went wide-eyed at the people: a human female and a blue mobian hedgehog.
"To fix this present timeline, you need to change the past." Mephiles gazed upon the very young teenager he had met so long ago. He guided them into his database on the outskirts of the city. "In order to change the past, you must eliminate the individual who has awakened Iblis. The Iblis Trigger."
"The Iblis... Trigger?" Silver wondered, thinking as he closed his eyes.
"Yes. They are responsible for the Day of Disaster."
Silver looked to Blaze who glanced away as Mephiles resumed speaking, "That day is when everything fell apart, when Iblis was freed. All because of one person and their selfish desires."
/You can't trust him Silver, don't!/
[Venice, I need to! He knows so much about Iblis and the past. If I do something about it-]
/He's tricking you, you idiot! He can't be trusted!/
[And someone who can take over my body can?]
/.../
Silver closed his eyes now that his mind was quiet. He thought, taking everything in.
"If I eliminate this guy, will our world be saved?"
Mephiles nodded before turning on one of his monitors.
"This was when Iblis was freed and his flames were released into the world." Images of a once perfect city burning in flames flashed by, burning bodies, collapsed buildings... apocalyptic.
"This is horriffic." Blaze said softly, watching the images on the screen. Granted, they were used to such dark imagery, but this...
The shadowy being pulled a violet chaos emerald from his quills and turned to Silver. "And you have this person to blame."
Apprehensively, Silver took the emerald and gazed inside. An image of a blue hedgehog with red sneakers and green eyes appeared in his mind's eye.
"That blue hedgehog is the cause?" He turned to Mephiles.
"Blue hedgehog...?" Blaze questioned, crossing her arms as she gave Silver a quizzical glance.
"Watch out!" The blue hedgehog shouted, picking up the elegant female human and jumping out of the way of a psychic blast.
"Silver! What're you doing?!" Amy shouted as she grabbed Silver's arm.
The light gray hedgehog shoved her off, making her fall back as he cloaked himself in a light teal aura and levitated in front of the two beings.
"I've been looking for you. You're the Iblis Trigger." He landed in front of them, bright energy glowing in his palms as he pointed to the one Amy called Sonic, that blue hedgehog. "Your actions will condemn us all."
The one named Sonic got in front of the female, protecting her as he took in Silver's appearance and voice. "Who are you?"
"My name is Silver. For the future of the world, I will destroy you!" He clenches his fists, getting into a battle stance.
Sonic looked to Elise, gesturing her to back up before flashing her a snarky grin. "Alright then, Silver," he started flicking his nose in overconfidence, "bing it on!"
Amy watched in disbelief, unable to do anything as the two dashed at each other.
Silver threw his hands out, grabbing a multitude of objects and throwing them at Sonic. Some hit, making him trip, but he managed to counter with a well-timed spindash that knocked Silver back. Using his telekinesis, he grabbed Sonic and flew upwards. He then grabbed his telekinetic 'rope' that held Sonic and threw him into the ground, causing a resounding rumble and multitude of rocks from the now destroyed concrete and pavement propelled upwards. He grabbed the rocks with his powers and began to throw them at the blue hedgehog.
Sonic groaned from the impact but quickly got up to avoid further injury. He jumped, using the rocks as a sort of platform before kicking Silver to the ground, leaving him vulnerable.
With a quick movement, Sonic dashed away from Silver, skidding on the pavement as he picked up a piece of rocky debris. "Throwing things is the way you wanna go, eh? Well alright then! Two can play that game!"
Surprised, Silver grabbed a nearby table to shield himself from an attack. Sonic lept into the air, jumping off of the table Silver had lifted, and chucked the rock at his temple, immediately dropping all telekinetic ability. Sonic landed and ran towards him, but didn't count on being thrown to the side of a building with a harsh psychic energy.
Weakened, Sonic fell to his hands and knees, gasping for breath as Silver (ignoring the bruise on the side of his head) walked over to him.
"Hmph. Is this some sort of joke?" He bent down to Sonic's level, quite surprised at how weak this guy was. Surely he wasn't this easy to beat, right? "How could someone like you cause the destruction of our world?"
"W-What do you mean?" Sonic lifted his head to the other hedgehog.
"It doesn't matter." Silver shook his head as he began to power up a psychic ball of concentrated light in his palm and straightened up, "For the sake of the future, the Iblis Trigger must be destroyed!"
His concentration was thrown off by the harsh sound of screaming. Screaming from that elegantly dressed woman that caught the attention of the two hedgehogs. Robotic arms grabbed her and lifted her into the air, chuckling from a hearty man in the mobile that controlled said arms echoed as he began to fly away.
"Elise!" Sonic jumped to his feet, running after the girl.
Swiftly, Silver threw his hand out, sending a blast of telekinesis at Sonic, tripping him. "Don't you dare turn your back on me!"
Sonic struggled to stand, his green eyes glaring straight into Silver's golden ones. "Look, I don't have time for this! I have to save Elise!"
"Save her? You can't save anyone! You're only here to destroy!" Silver cloaked himself in teal, charging another blast in his hands, "It's time I finally put an end to this!"
"STOP!" Amy shouted as she finally stepped in, guarding Sonic from any further attacks from Silver.
Surprised, Silver lost his concentration and clenched his fists. "Get out of the way, Amy!" His patience was running thin, but he didn't want to hurt her. He couldn't.
"Absolutely not!" She was putting her foot down, she had seen her hero be beaten down enough.
Sonic finally managed to stand, panting before looking to her.
"Thanks, Amy."
"Leave it to me!"
Sonic nodded, glanced at Silver, then took off running.
Silence hazed over the two of them, increasing the weight of the situation. Their stares were cold and harsh, one of sheer disappointment and the other of misaligned justice. Debris of broken tables and chairs were strewn about the once neat and tidy outdoor area. Broken spare supply boxes and barrels were shattered and splintered, spilling a multitude of fruit and vegetables around. The sound of the ocean behind them was louder than anything else, ambient and tempestuous.
"The person you were looking for was Sonic?" Amy finally asked, keeping her guard up as she looked saddened at him, "Were you planning to kill him...?"
Silver looked away. "You don't understand. He's responsible for destroying my world!"
"That isn't true at all!" Amy stomped her foot, keeping her distance from her once well-liked ally, "Sonic would never do that!"
"But it's true! In the near future, his actions will cause the devastation of my world and your world!" He kept his eyes on her before taking a step forward, "In order to prevent that, I must-"
"No!" Amy took a step forward, making Silver back up a bit, "I don't believe it. Even if that was true." She shook her head and placed her hand on her heart, "If I had to choose between the world and Sonic, I would choose Sonic!" She shot him a glare.
Heavy silence again. There was nothing more to be said, nothing left but destroyed trust and a cold resentment. As Amy began to run off, presumably after Sonic, Silver tried to say something, but he couldn't. He was stuck now. No Blaze, no Amy, no one to fall back on. Once again having to rely on himself for survival in a time he's unfamiliar with. He... had no idea what to do now...
[I'm... that's it then? I failed?]
/Silver. We need to talk./
[...okay.]
Mint turned to scarlet as Silver began to make his way towards the harbor, somehow familiar with the layout of Castle Town. Rather, someone else, Venice, was. As he sat on one of the steps overlooking the marina, he sighed heavily and shut his eyes.
Fall back.
Back into the mental metaphorical fog.
He sees the glass, his reflection as it morphs to Venice who appears less angry at Silver. He sits next to the glass, motioning for Silver to sit with him.
He does.
Everything is quiet as they both listen to the ocean.
/Do you understand now?/ Venice started, his voice was calm but heavy with grief.
[I... don't know. Why was she so mad at me? Doesn't Amy know I was trying to stop the world from-]
/You tried to kill someone who means a lot to her./ Venice didn't look at Silver, instead, he gave a heavy sigh. /What if someone tried to murder Blaze? Someone we have known for most of our lives. Would you go back to trusting them so easily?/
He had a point, neither himself nor Venice would trust anyone who tried to harm Blaze.
/Amy, she and I.../ Venice started, /we got along so well. It hurts to know that you destroyed our trust./
Silver's ears flattened, feeling beyond guilty for ruining something like this.
[Venice, I'm-]
/Don't be./ He looked to Silver, his eyes were cold again. /There's a reason why I didn't intervene, why I couldn't just stop you from doing what you did./
The naive teen looked to his copy, confused.
/Mephiles is a liar. He takes your innocence and twists it in a way that makes you pity him, which will make you do his bidding./
Silver growled, shaking his head, [No, Venice. He needs my help to save our world. If he didn't want that, then why would he have been seeking me out?]
Venice sighed after a while, /You truly don't remember. I wish you did./
[Just tell me what I don't remember! You claim to know all of this stuff about me!]
/Sure, want me to just break your mind while I'm at it?/ Venice huffed, shaking his head.
[Damn it Venice, why can't you just...!]
"So this is where you are. I've been looking for you."
That voice, so soft and mature, warm with familiarity. Blaze took a couple of steps over to him, giving him a warm smile. He opened his eyes, turning quickly to face her. He thought she had been lost in the past, somewhere... else. He couldn't control himself; he excitedly stumbled to his feet and ran to her. He was so... overjoyed to see her. He truly thought he had lost her. He wanted to hug her, but no, that wasn't their way. There was a strict 'no touching' rule that was only broken when either one of them needed first aid. Instead, he awkwardly stood a distance away from her, giving her a gentle and relieved smile.
"S-Sorry I just..."
"It is nice to see you as well, Silver."
Silver nodded as he turned back to the marina. Blaze stood by his side, putting her hands on her hips as she looked at the sky. There was no more tension, no more loudness in his mind. Having his partner back was more than comforting, better than an acquaintance who didn't understand him...
No, he couldn't pass judgment on Amy so easily. He couldn't ignore everything Venice experienced, he was a part of him. A person sharing his body. Someone whos views and values were just as important as his own. But as much as he respected Venice's acquaintanceship with Amy, he couldn't let it blind him from his own need to destroy the Iblis Trigger. Now that Blaze was back, it would surely be easier to track him down and fix their world.
He stared at the ocean as he felt his presence in his mind. As if he was standing right behind him.
[Venice... what was it that happened? Why do you hate Mephiles so much?]
/Because he's the reason why we're split./
Silver blinked a few times, looking down at the pavement.
[What do you mean?]
/...Silver... Do you remember when you were a child? When things bur-/
[Don't. I... I don't want to remember.]
/If you want to know, you'll need to listen to me!/
[If it involves.. that... then I don't want to!]
"Have you had any luck in finding the Iblis Trigger?" Blaze's voice broke the physical silence between them, unaware of Silver's heavy thoughts.
Taking a deep breath and forcing himself to push Venice aside, he nodded, "Yes, I have, but he got away."
"I see."
"If I had to choose between the world and Sonic, I would choose Sonic!"
Silver could recall Amy's expression, disappointment and shame. He had to ask someone who wasn't Mephiles, as he would not give a straight answer, and the only other person who was exceptionally smart and well versed in terms of morality was Blaze. She had lived in Crisis City much longer than Silver and had to survive from the very start. She had to know what he was getting at.
"Blaze?"
"Yes?"
"To kill someone to change the world... is that really the right thing to do?"
She spoke up after a moment to think.
"You're so naive." Her voice hinted with disappointment before continuing, "Whether it's right or wrong, I can't say."
Silver looked to her, clueless at what she was getting at as she kept her focused gaze on the blue sky.
"What I do know is if we do not take this chance, then the future will remain exactly as it is." She looked to him, a grim expression that he knew all too well.
With her answer, Silver nodded and began to walk down the street, Blaze by his side. "There was a guy controlling robots who took a girl. The Iblis Trigger, Sonic is his name, went after him."
"The name of that guy is Doctor Eggman." Blaze replied, glancing around the town. "From what I have seen and ran into, he is notorious for making robots to wreak havoc on people. He is after that woman, Princess Elise, so that he can awaken Solaris."
"Dr. Eggman..." Silver thought for a moment before nodding and turning to Blaze, "right, let's go find the Iblis Trigger!"
Silver runs off close to where Sonic had previously run off before. Blaze nods and she follows close behind.