*peeks head out* Hey. Hey there.

Wow, I haven't been here in a long time, and for a good reason. SO PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY.

Folks, I've been constantly getting reviews on this story. A lot of them. And honestly, I stopped writing this story years ago, even though it was nearly complete. But because of the huge following this story has, I decided to give you all what you wanted: the rest of the story.

Now I have to be clear, these chapters haven't been edited in YEARS, and I'd like for them to stay that way. It's like finding my old diary and reading the entries I put in: I'm not gonna re-edited them years later. This is all for the sake of preserving a memory from my teenage years (I'm 25 now btw).

So yes, you'll be getting the rest of the chapters in the following weeks. There are at least 3-4 more chapters to follow, I believe. If the demand for more is there, then I will write the rest of the story. But this is my way of saying: "Thank you for appreciating my stories, even though I'm not as talented as other writers out there".

Thank you all so much and enjoy.

CJ

Sonic the Hedgehog: the True Power of Music

Chapter Twenty-One

I begged to God that I was daydreaming, nightmares formed from my dreads mingling into my visions, but it was a pointless effort on my part. The shadow of the intimidating figure and its evil machinery loomed over me, a silhouette darkened by glare of the sun behind it. The mad genius had come for me.

Eggman.

The very name I had uttered before resonated in my head like echoes of time, and I couldn't stop staring at him in everlasting trepidence. The villain stood in the center of his floating, orb-shaped vehicle, looking down at me through his darkened glasses. "Doctor Eggman, please… Is it too much to ask?" he shook his head in disbelief, "Oh well, it's good to see you too, Christine. I hope you've enjoyed your vacation while I was busy."

"How…? How did you find me?"

He chuckled. "You make it sound like I had lost track of you." he confessed vaguely to his own amusement, "This world has become so dependant of technology, which makes information so easy to access. It's disappointing, really; all I needed to do was hack a military satellite and filter all information related to you, from video feeds taken by street cameras to personal records of your own life. Pinpointing your location becomes hardly a chore, especially when you make it into the seven o'clock news in England with that little boy you saved from the burning building. That was very foolish of you, but if it's any consolation, you managed to impress me."

I gritted my teeth, forcing my jaw to stop trembling. I was frightened, but tried hard to hide it as I cursed under my breath. How could I be so careless?

Doctor Eggman smiled, as if he read my thoughts. "This has been a long time coming, Christine. I let that blue troublemaker take you so I could focus on my work. My plans are about to be set in motion, and the only element I'm missing is you."

My legs shook as I took a few steps back, unsure if they could support the weight of my body any longer. "Y-You're not taking me."

"Let's not try to make things hard." He replied back. He took his glasses off and pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket. Then, rubbing and cleaning his glasses, he continued. "I've allowed you to waste my precious time. I have ways of convincing people, and I will use them on you if I have to. You will come, whether you like it or not."

I shook my head, determination mingling with fear. "If you want me so bad, you're gonna have to catch me first!"

I spun around and tried to make a run for it, like Sonic would do. I knew it wasn't going to help much, but I had to try. I had to fight, even when all odds were against me.

"Chao chao! Chaooooooo!"

I halted almost immediately as shock paralyzed my body. I knew that voice. I turned around and saw a holographic image projected by a floating gadget, showing a familiar little creature held within the grasp of a robot soldier. The grip of the robot was firm, and it had begun to tighten its firm, mechanic fingers around the little being, crushing the life out of it as it squealed in pain.

"Cheese!" I cried.

Another image flashed into existence on the right side the first one. This time, it displayed Amy on her knees and in tears, holding in her arms a beaten and bruised Knuckles. Gritting his teeth in pain, all he could do was watch helplessly as the Chao screamed in the hands of the heartless machine.

"I know where you and your friends have been hiding all this time." The doctor explained as he set his glasses back on his nose, "Capture one of them and threaten his life, and they all hesitate and won't dare to attack or move. The only thing that is holding my robots back my order to ultimately finish off the Chao and the rest of the gang."

I glared incredulously at the mad doctor. "You... You wouldn't!"

He didn't reply and only stared. His silence built an unbearable and uncomfortable pressure in me. The indifference marked onto his face slowly etched a devilish smile on his lips, white teeth and dark lenses glinting as he lowered his hand towards me.

The floating gadget responded, a third holographic image flickering into life on the left side of the first hologram. My heart skipped a beat as it displayed the crying face of Cream, consumed in so much desperation that I had to narrow my eyes to prevent the tears from streaming. The camera shifted, and I succumbed to my knees, covering my tears-drenched face. Sonic was being smacked around and beat up by the robots, not moving or fighting back for the Chao's sake.

"If you care for them, then you know what you have to do. Know when you are beaten, Christine."

In shame, I lowered my head and removed my hands from my face. The doctor was right. The game is over and I've lost. This was the only outcome, and I've fought so hard to deny it. I looked up at the holograms, taking in all the pain and desperation of my friends as they struggled to find a way to win when they were already defeated. I watched the last holographic image, and seeing his face distort in different shapes of pain as he hit against several trees was more than enough to convince me to surrender.

"I get it." I sighed, nearly choking on my sob, "You win. I'll do whatever you want, just leave them all alone. Don't hurt them anymore, please!"

"That's good to hear." He replied, sneer underlying the tone of his voice. Several clicks reached my ears before I saw the doctor speaking onto the dashboard of his console. "No need to harm the Chao anymore. Hold your positions and await my command."

I got back up to my feet, my head still hanging low and eyes to the ground. I couldn't feel any more ashamed for being so easily defeated. I walked towards that vessel in staggering steps, approaching closely the inevitable fate that I had been caught in.

What was I thinking? I can hide, but I can never escape.

Every footfall grew heavier as my mind was flooded with the images of those dear to me. It seemed so strange; like some sick, preordained fate, the more I approached the vehicle, the more I sensed that I would never see them again, no matter how much I hoped for it. Maybe some instincts long suppressed had finally broken free, warning me that something terrible was about to happen.

But what could I do about it? My friends were harmed because of me, and they would still be if I resisted any longer. There was no other way of saving them.

Once I was close enough, a hatch popped open and a walkway had unfolded itself before me, creating the path for me to walk onto the mini-ship.

"See, the more you cooperate, the less trouble there is." He sneered, "You've had your time with your friends. Now it's time to fulfill your destiny."

As soon as I was aboard his "mini-ship", taking a seat behind Eggman, the vehicle levitated higher into the sky. He didn't bother to look back as he pressed several buttons on the console. It took him a few quick clicks before he brought a device in his hand to his mouth.

"Unit 23, release the hostage and fall back to headquarters. Our guest has returned."

He squeezed those words out of his mouth, tinged with every fibre of his deviousness, smirking as he cast a long glance back at me. I averted my eyes from him, feeling both humiliated and disgusted, and peered over the ship.

A concentrated, darkened forest covered the area as far as the eye could see, and it surprised me that I never knew how far it expanded. I never could imagine it, because Sonic and I literally crossed the area in a flash and I was too focused enjoying the ride. My eyes scoured the area, trying to spot the safehouse beyond the thick canopy. It was all for nothing. The ship had ascended too quickly to the skies, the distance growing a deep ache of desperation in my heart.

I wiped the tears away from my face, forcing a smile on my face. "Sonic, I hate to disappoint you, but I don't think you'll be able to keep your promise this time." It felt as if I was mumbling a prayer, hoping that the wind would carry this message to him. "But for what it's worth, I had fun. The adventure we had together was an unforgettable one. Just... Just promise me that you'll take care of the others, okay?"

I reached my hand out, expecting someone to take me hand, someone to pull me through, whether it was Sonic, Knuckles, Amy or even Big. But then I realized that I hadn't stretched out my hand for that reason.

It was my way of saying goodbye.

In that moment of turmoil, when tears poured out of my eyes, a powerful gust blew my way. It felt as if it was caressing me, hugging me and knocking some sense into me at the same time. And somehow, beyond the howling and the whistling, I listened closely and heard him.

"Don't worry, Christine. No matter what happens, I'll save you, I promise you that. Leave everything to me."

Sonic wasn't there, that was the reality. But this was what he would have said, and that promise alone resurrected that undying hope that Eggman had annihilated before. My hands were tied, but my friends weren't going to sit back and do nothing. My lips trembled, but I closed my eyes and, in the back of my mind, I replied back.

I believe in you, Sonic.

My silent prayer was cut short by a loud clank, and as my eye-lids flipped open, I was surrounded by darkness. Shadows and silhouettes danced around us with the occasional spark electricty and flame as they revealed the robots working in that total darkness. I realized we had just entered the ship, probably through some bomb bay, and we kept on floating upwards until a shaft opened above us, flashing lights blinding me as the doors shifted shut beneath us and entirely englufing us in light. As I was haunted by a sense of déjà-vu, I recognized the place soon after. Last time I had been abducted, Eggman had brought me to the same spacious hall where he parked ships and where his robot soldiers were lined up.

"Welcome back, dear Christine." The evil doctor cackled, "Doesn't this place bring back old memories?"

I chose not to respond. That alone earned a chuckle from him.

"Let me escort you to your quarters, then. And don't try anything funny; you know what I'm capable of."

I didn't need to be reminded of that, but almost as if he was being precarious, he placed his hand on the on the shoulder nearest to him, and we walked down the unfolded catwalk and down the steel-plated corridor, surprisingly unaccompanied by any robots. I found that strangely more welcome than my first "invitation", maybe because I remembered the iron grip of the robots so well. It did seem a little unusual of Eggman to be without his menacing robots, but it actually surprised me that he could be as unpredictable as Sonic when it came to what was going on in their minds.

He broke the silence with a short cough. "I imagine you and Sonic enjoyed traveling around the world?"

It was more of a statement than an actual question, and I was taken slightly aback by his attempt of conversation. I rolled my fists and stopped, suddenly trembling in fury. As he turned around to look at me, I glared at him.

"Oh, so now you're trying to have a casual conversation with me instead of boasting how you've won? Surely you've got a lot to say about 'building your new empire', so why don't you cut it out and be straight with me!"

It was a stronger outburst than I had imagined, and I couldn't hold back my tears. "Stop keeping me in the dark all the time, you sick jerk!"

He grumbled in response and approached me, clearly fuming. "I've been kind to you, Christine, but now you're being rude. I've had it with your whining and your moping!" He grabbed my arm, pulling roughly. "You're coming with me, even if I have to drag you to make that happen."

Surprised by his sudden violent behavior, I retaliated by pulling away. "L-Let go of me!" I screamed, banging my fists on his arms, "Let go!"

He tugged so hard that I lunged forward and, unbalanced, collided into Eggman. He barely had the time to react before we both fell onto the ground, my head landing on his chest. My head started spinning as I felt this strange sensation coming and going, a painful feeling that almost overwhelmed me. It was Eggman's heart-beat, and every beat it gave sparked almost some electric current which coursed through every limb of my body until my vision was enveloped by darkness. For a while, there was only the cold void, but there was a daunting feeling to all of this. Something lingered in the darkness, and it began to surface as soon as I had acknowledged its presence. Bright, crimson eyes burned in this abyss, and a cruel smile that glinted as the head tilted upward.

And then came the scream.

I was suddenly lying on my back, eyes staring at the ceiling. A series of pants and grunts came from next to me, and I sat upright and looked to my side. "W-What... What just happened...?"

On his feet, Eggman briskly bent forward, wheezing as his hand went for his heart. His whole body was trembling, unable to provide himself with oxygen as Eggman took irregular breaths. Teeth gritted in pain, a sudden groan erupted from his throat and turned into an agonizing yell.

Eyes wide, I approached him and knelt by his side. "E-Eggman, what's happening to you?!"

His head had sunken as he was on his four, and he groaned in anguish, something very unlike him.

I looked around me, unsure what to do. "S-Somebody, help!"

He rose his hand, despite the struggle he had gone through. I quivered as he roared in pain, but it seemed to be the last one before he only panted and his eyes eased and relaxed. He pushed himself up, but no sooner his legs gave in and he sat down. His entire body was still shaking.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He nodded, still panting. He couldn't utter, but his hand was still resting on his chest. Suddenly, behind the shady glasses, I saw him as a vulnerable man who was fighting off something that went beyond his own control.

"There's... No need for concern, Christine..." he breathed, "It'll pass... relatively soon."

I sighed in relief, something that surprised us both. All this time, I could've walked away and let him hurt, but I didn't, and that puzzled me. Instead, I was sitting in front of him, watching him regain control of his breathing, sweat rolling down his glossy head. My eyes wandered around the room, my mind wrapping around what just had happened.

"You've seen her too, haven't you?"

I turned my head, staring at him. It took me a few moments until I understood that he was refering to the person I saw in my vision. I nodded my head hesitantly. "Who was that?"

"That, dear Christine, was Alkhazyra." he replied.

"But... Why now? And what's going on with you?"

With crossed legs, he took his spectacles off and cleaned them with a hankerchief. His blue eyes were heavily marked by black rings of exhaustion. "We're both connected to her. Your destiny is tied with her, and I'm entangled in all of this because I have no choice. As a result, our contact must have triggered some unpleasant visions."

I rose my eye-brow in curiosity. "Is she controlling you?"

"No, of course not, I-" his reply was strong and full of anger. He sunk his head, his brows furrowed and sighed. He put his spectacles back on his nose. "It's a lot more complicated than you think, but you're half right. If she wasn't pulling the strings, I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble to retrieve some pesky teenage damsel in distress!"

For a moment, I pretended not to hear the last bit and watched him vent out his rage. With the way he was panting, speaking still seemed very difficult for him. It didn't take long till the last comment got to me.

"Jeez, no need to get so worked up, Eggman."

His eyes twitched in annoyance. "Doctor Eggman." he seethed, "I wouldn't have to get so worked up if I wasn't..."

He stopped for a moment and reconsidered his thought. He just stared at the steel wall on the other side. "... Nevermind."

I stared at his pale face. It suddenly hit me. "You're sick, aren't you?"

He was silent and didn't look at me. "Not sick, no. I'm dying."

My eyes widened in shock. I fell short on words, not sure what to say to comfort him.

"Dying? You?"

I barely got those words out as he pushed himself to his feet, almost stumbling. "Isn't that great news, everybody?! The great and mighty Doctor Eggman is dying! Let's all celebrate as his final hours draw nearer!"

His fit left him breathless, and he nearly crumpled to his knees when his hands on his legs prevented him from doing so.

I got up and took a few steps towards him before I stopped. "Aren't you happy? The old kook is going to bite the dust."

"That's one thing you never got about me... Doctor." I said, taking the courage to step forward, "No matter what you do, even with that low move you pulled on Chao, nothing would warrant your death."

He stared, and chuckled nonchalantly. "Do you pity me?"

"You don't deserve it, but yes, I do. If I didn't know any better, I think you want to be pitied, because you have no one else to turn to."

"What?"

"It's true. That problem of yours puts a heavy weight on your shoulder. Why else do you have these outburst? You have no one to talk about your problems."

"Nonsense! I've got robots."

"What about a human being, or someone that's intelligent enough to have emotions, to react the way I did? You don't have anyone like that, other than me."

He went silent.

"I don't like your sneaky methods, but I like it less to see people hurt. Tell me everything, Doctor Eggman, and I'll go quietly with you. That's all I'm asking."

"So, this is what it's come to? That I confide to my one and only prisoner? So be it."

He stood upright and folded his arms. "After having experimented with indestructible alloy, I was diagnosed three months ago with alloy poisoning. To my surprise, I had apparently developed some reaction to it that would cause the cells in my body to break down. Ironic, considering that I would be undone by my passion. With not much time left, I spent day after day, week after week trying to find a cure to an uncurable disease... With no such luck. Then I resorted to something more... Supernatural."

"The legend of Alkhazyra."

"Yes. The lore spoke of mystic powers, of resurrection, even regeneration. It was a long shot, but with time running out, it was one of the only few options I had left. I stumbled upon documents of that legend, about powers that I could use as cure and another way of ruling the world. A trail lead me to an abandoned excavation site, deep underground, beneath Athens in Greece. I found her tomb, and I opened her burial to retrieve the necklace that was refered to in the documents. One thing the documents didn't mention was the fact that the necklace had been cursed."

His hands reached for his collars as he began unbuttoning his shirt. His chest was hairy, I'll give him that, but there was a mark so visible, illuminating as it seemed to blink in beat patterns.

"Alkhazyra's spirit resided in it, and once I touched it, I came in contact with her. She instructed me to perform the ritual to resurrect her, and in return, she would keep me alive and, once the deed was done, she would cure me. That was two weeks before we met."

He reached again for his chest and went into a coughing fit, his face expressing pain. I should not be feeling sorry for him, after everything he put me through... But I can't help it. Despite being a bad guy... I never really want to see anyone in pain, no matter how evil he is or how much he deserves it.

"She controls the rythmns of my heart..." he wheezed, "From time to time, she'd either accelerate or slow down the beat, just to remind me that I have a duty to fulfill."

My hand reached out to him, and I placed it on his shoulder. It seemed to help him calm down, as he began to catch his breath. He tried to get up, but staggered. I steadied him, almost by reflex. He looked at me warily. "You're full of surprises..."

"I could say the same for you." I stated, "You're selfish, Doctor, but... Well, you could make a pretty interesting villain."

He adjusted his glasses as he stood upright, his hands behind his back, his pain almost immediately vanished. "Now you understand why I can't allow you to escape. My hands – or rather my heart – are tied. You need to fulfill your destiny."

"Like I've said, selfish." I repeated, "Doctor Eggman, you can catch me, you can do what you want with me, but you know my friends won't just sit back and do nothing. They'll come for me."

"I'm sure they will, but don't count on them to save you." He said, his brows furrowed, "And really, is that all you ever do? Just wait for someone to help you out?"

He sighed and walked on. "Come on. Don't make me call my guards."

I hurried to his side, and we walked quietly.

"You know," I began, breaking the silence, "I'm sure you've noticed it, but I don't just sit around and do nothing. I do music, all the time. It helps me stray away from worries, builds up my confidence... That's one of the secret powers of music. I know it's my future, whether I want to pursue it as a career or just as some hobby."

I sighed, head lowering. "But I have to admit, this time you're right. I did a lot of sitting around and waiting for help. This is all very unfamiliar to me, and I feel I'm in way over my head on this, still trying to wrap my mind around the things that have been happening here. It was only over a week ago I realized that you guys even existed, and it all still does feel very surreal."

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

I turned to him, who still looked up ahead. "I'm still your enemy." he stated flatly, "Why waste time telling me this?"

I shrugged. "Somehow, I don't know why, but I feel a bit more comfortable around you than before. It's maybe because you're being forced into doing Alkhazyra's bidding... Though I'm pretty sure you enjoyed kidnapping me, wreaking havoc and making a real name of yourself."

He smiled, then chortled. "Guilty as charged, and I don't even mind."

Before us stood a large, mechanic door, and when we stood only a few inches from it, Eggman made a halt along with me. On the left side of the doorframe was a controls, obviously the gear to open this door. When he pressed on multiple keys, the door hissed and shifted up its board to open.

I looked at Eggman. "This is it, huh?"

It all suddenly returned to me, and reality was slowly sinking in.

He looked back at me, and nodded. "In a few hours time, I will be back here to pick you up for the final phase."

I was expecting the room to be a high-level, dark and cold security room, just to keep me under close watch. But when I stepped in it with him, my judgement was contradicted by its friendly and welcoming appearance. That room was covered in cream tiles, some of them hidden by red-colored carpets. There were rectangular and round glass tables, with either a basket of fruits, a vase or plainly nothing placed on top of them.

It was a cozy room, but to my feeling, it was too welcoming.

I couldn't step in just yet. "What's going to happen to me?"

He was silent, almost ignoring me as he tapped his fingers on a monitor embedded in a wall. But he answered. "You'll find out soon enough. In the meantime, I think it would be wise to do the most in these last few hours."

He didn't hide the emphasis on the words last few hours, and surprisingly, I was in a strange state. Sure, I was shocked, but it almost seemed like I either accepted my fate or clung to the hope that I was going to be saved.

"My last few hours..." I repeated. Tears formed in my eyes, and I wiped them away with my sleeves. "I don't suppose you have time to spend some moments with me? I hate... being alone..."

"I can't. There are still some preparations that need to be done."

"I see..." I sighed, my voice breaking. I took a deep breath. "Fine."

I walked into the room, then spun quickly around. "There's just one thing I need to know, and please be honest with me. This chat we just had... Did you do this to comfort me?"

He paused. "Yes, I did. Because a man like yours truly doesn't relish on wasted potential." he paused momentarily. "Unlike that annoying hedgehog, you don't deserve this."

I smiled. "Thank you, Doctor Eggman..."

His frown still remained, and I watched his arm click on a button, the doors shutting before me.

I felt as if my force had abandonned me, and I leaned my head forward, resting my forehead against the door. It was surprising to see or even hear from the mouth of the genius himself that he wasn't behind it all, and somehow, the idea was comforting. He never struck as an entirely villaineous character... I wasn't saying that he was evil; he could be if he wanted to. I considered him just as a self-obsessed who wouldn't actually want to kill anyone.

But then again, I never knew when he went over that limit or not, and that confused the hell out of me.

My knees grew weak, and when they couldn't support my body anymore, they gave into the gravity and dragged my whole body down as my hands slid down the door.

"Please… I want to get out… I don't want any of this…" My voice came out as a whimper, and I was short on ideas. I began to cry.

I will save you, I promise…

I held my tears back at that moment when I remembered the call heard in the wind. I had to believe in him. He was on his way by now. He'd be here for me, that I was sure of. But my thoughts were intruded by other ones.

Use this time wisely. Enjoy the last few hours.

All of these nice things for me, the hospitality… Unless I was mistaken, he really thought that whatever he was going to do to me would be the end for me. He thought I was going to die.

"NO!" I screamed, and hit my fists on the door in panic, "No! Let me out! I don't want to die! I can't! Please! Help! Anybody?!"

No one replied back. My mind slowly drifted into insanity.

"Hey! Let me out! Damn it all, let me go!"

Silence. There was nothing but one thing to hope for. I could only mumble his name, for that hope began to fade away.

"Please hurry. I'm scared."

Oh, no! What's going to happen next? Find out in the next chapter of "The True Power of Music"!