As morning light shone into the room, Cynder woke with a groan, the memories of the night previous still fresh in her mind. As she looked at herself in a mirror, she sighed, seeing the dirt and stains in her clothes.
"I think Espio keeps some spare clothes for undercover jobs in the wardrobe. I doubt he'd mind you borrowing them," Mighty said, poking his head through the door.
"Would he mind if I cut some slits in them for my wings?" Cynder asked, taking note of the missing chameleon.
"Not at all. I can just buy another outfit," Espio said, standing outside the window. Cynder jumped, sending the ninja an angry glare before looking through the wardrobe. When she looked back, the chameleon was gone.
"He has a habit of doing that. He just practices sneaking up on people when he can," Mighty said, leaning in the door. He watched as Cynder grabbed a pair of scissors and began cutting slits for her wings.
"Stupid invisibility. I hate it when people do that. Of all the...." Cynder ranted, stopping when, due to lack of attention, she cut into her own finger.
"Careful! Don't cut your whole finger off," Mighty exclaimed, grabbing a bandage he kept in his shell. He gently wrapped it around Cynder's finger before taking the scissors from her.
"Sorry, it's just that...." Cynder sobbed, crying when her friend's disappearance creeped back into her mind.
"Easy, easy. I know it's tough, but you have to stay strong. We'll find her, and I might not be the most violent person in the world, but I'll help Skyfire tear this guy apart," Mighty reassured.
"Thanks. Now I have to get changed," Cynder said, moving to her new outfit.
"I'll cover my eyes, don't worry," Mighty joked.
"Get out hardhead," Cynder giggled, throwing her boot at him. Mighty laughed, ducking out of the room quickly.
"Missed me!" he shouted, barely dodging the second boot.
In the living room, Skyfire was lying on the couch, letting his wounds heal. It didn't help his mood that Charmy had had sugar in his cereal, and was now buzzing around in a sugar fuelled rush.
"Charmy would ya slow down! You're driving us nuts!" Vector yelled, his word falling on deaf ears.
"Cool it Charms, you're irritating everyone," Mighty said, the young bee stopping in front of his face.
"I could take him to the park if you like," Cynder said, coming downstairs in her new outfit. She was wearing a purple T-shirt, a purple and grey button up shirt with only the top button undone, light grey jeans and purple bandana, her hair in a waist length tail.
Skyfire and Vector whistled, both looking at each other, both embarrassed. Mighty simply smiled, also liking Cynder's new look.
"I'll come with you if ya like, just to leave the others to the detective work," Mighty said.
"Before you lovebirds go to the park," Vector started, grinning when both mammals' muzzles turned red "I need you to notify Miranda's father of her disappearance."
"Yes boss," Mighty said, making Cynder laugh with his mock salute. As the three left, Vector picked up the necklace he'd found, his detective skills looking for anything that could point out the abductor.
"That's Miranda's necklace. She always keeps a picture inside of her mother," Skyfire said, sitting up with a groan.
"Would she mind if we....?" Vector asked, holding the necklace in the palm of his hand. Reaching out, Skyfire gently grasped it, opening the locket. Inside was a picture of a black echidna in a white dress with a light grey echidna in a suit. In front of them was a two year old black echidna, looking at the camera with sparkling violet eyes.
"I can see why Miranda misses her mom. She looks like an angel," Vector said, feeling a pang of sadness.
"Yeah, but do you notice anything about their eyes?" Skyfire said, causing the detective to look closer.
"Oh yeah, her mom has red eyes, her dad has blue eyes and she has violet eyes. Why does her mom have red eyes?" Vector asked.
"Miranda's mom was a vampire and her dad was a normal echidna. When Miranda was born, her mom lost her immortality, and Miranda became a half-vamp, with the pale skin, eyes and fangs. She doesn't have the lust for blood or immortality," Skyfire pointed out as Espio walked in.
"What are you two talking about?" the ninja asked, whirling around when the door burst open.
"Who the heck are you?! Who do ya think you are!?" Vector shouted as the grey wolf stepped in.
"I'm here for the necklace. You have no right to keep it!" the wolf said, standing ready for a fight.
"Michael, Miranda told you it was over between you two! And I promised to protect her!" Skyfire growled, his teeth bared and wings out threateningly.
"She and I were meant to be, abomination. Now don't make me finish you like I should have last night," Michael said, his own fangs bared and ready for a fight.
"Just try it," Skyfire snarled, forgetting his injuries as he lunged at the wolf, sending them both outside.
"Save yourself the mauling and tell me where she is!" Skyfire yelled, punching Michael in the stomach.
"You can't fight fate, and you can't fight the pain," Michael replied, clawing at Skyfire's bandaged chest. This reopened the slash on his chest, rendering the hedgehog defenceless. Before Michael could land a finishing blow, an invisible fist punched him in the gut before he was tackled by Vector.
"No, but we can fight you! Now tell us where she is!" Vector yelled, finding it hard to keep Michael pinned. As they fought, Skyfire got to his feet, seeing a puddle of water nearby. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, the water flowing from the puddle to his body. Almost instantly, his wounds started healing.
"Did you know I'm part vampire? That includes the strength," Michael whispered, throwing the crocodile off of him. "And the enhanced senses," he added, sniffing out Espio and kicking him in the gut. With the two Chaotix members down, Michael ran off, also having vampire speed.
"Did you forget I'm part dragon? That includes the wings!" Skyfire shouted, flying a few feet above the wolf. "And the flames," he muttered, his eyes glowing like flames as his hands glowed with fire. Folding his wings, he power dived straight at the wolf, streaking by like a comet and knocking the wolf into a wall.
"Consider that payback," Skyfire muttered, hovering above the street in front of the beaten wolf. As Vector and Espio arrived, they looked at the hedgehog in awe.
"What is that thing!" a man shouted, pointing a finger at Skyfire.
"It's that hedgehog freak! How dare he attack a respectful citizen!" a green iguana shouted, throwing a pebble at Skyfire. Many other teens joined in. While Skyfire absorbed the blows on his wings, it was his emotions that had been hit the hardest. He looked at his fur, seeing it slowly darken to black.
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU ALL DOING!?" Vector yelled, anger sparkling in his eyes. While the adults backed away, the teens continued, some particularly sharp stones tearing holes in the hedgehog's wings.
"Back......off," Skyfire growled, shaking with rage. As his wings whipped open, his fur had darkened to black, his eyes a blood red while the stripes in his quills a dark purple. His clothes looked torn, a few cuts where some stones had hit. Like an animal, he lowered onto all fours, large fangs bared while his hands ended in claws.
As people backed away in fear, Skyfire pounced on the iguana. While he screamed in agony, Skyfire's claws dug ever deeper.
"When someone is seen as too powerful, people fear it. Do you fear me?" Skyfire whispered, his fangs piercing the iguana's neck.
"Yes, yes, YES, I fear you! Just don't hurt me anymore!!" he screamed, reduced to tears by the hedgehog's glowing red eyes. As the words sank into him, Skyfire's eyes returned to normal, filled with realisation about what he'd just done. Releasing his victim, he ran on all fours before taking off.
"Holy chaos....what just happened!?" Espio shouted, looking for the dark hedgehog in the sky. Vector said nothing, only clenched his fists when he realised Michael had disappeared.