This one came out longer than I expected... Oh how I love surprises.

Theme 3: Second Chances

Beneath the starry skies was a city of bright flashing and moving lights. The red roads had the unique pattern of dice, throughout the city were tall buildings and large colorful casino-type signs and slot machines. The extravagant and obnoxious lights of the area drowned out the moon and her companions.

Only in a different part of town was she able to bestow her beautiful melody peacefully.

At the less flashy zone of the city, Silver – with his patience as thin as a piece of paper at this point – leaned against one of the metallic poles. His irritation was expressed with a huff, before he spoke out loud in a severe manner. "You know… I'm getting really tired of playing games with you, chameleon. You're good at hiding, but I'm done seeking. You've wasted enough of my time…"

"Now wait a minute…" Espio reappeared in front of the hedgehog, who jumped at his sudden appearance. He glared as he spoke in an equally nasty tone. "I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you. So stop wasting my time and start giving me answers."

Frozen in place by the sudden confrontation, Silver blinked, making his best attempts to quickly recover. However it seemed vain as the statement also had him muddled. "W-what are you even talking about?"

The chameleon pointed an accusing finger at him. "Admit it. You're the one responsible for the disappearing Chao."

Nonchalantly he nodded, and said, "Yes, you're correct."

"Then start talking."

With a sigh, the hedgehog closed his eyes. His tone had soften when he spoke. "Our worlds… I'm doing this to save them."

"But that doesn't make any sense…" the chameleon sighed in mild exasperation. "Care to clarify some more?"

Silver reopened his eyes and looked directly into the chameleon's, his expression and tone became especially grave. "In order to save your world, we have to hide the Chao in a safe place. If the Chao are safe, everyone else will be too. But if we don't complete this task, then your world will be destroyed… and so will mine."

Espio blinked; both disconcerted and incredulous at the same time. "Y-you really want me to believe that?"

"Yes." was the frank response of the silver hedgehog. "If you want to save your world, we must save the Chao first."

"It just seems so far-fetched…" However, the chameleon's skepticism diminished once he remembered what he saw back in Sunset Forest. He isn't hurting the Chao. He's not a bad guy.

…Unless he was holding a façade…

Looking into the hedgehog's golden eyes he couldn't detect anything… but pureness. Could it just be the color of his eyes, or is he seeing nothing but the absolute truth within them? They looked so determined, yet pleading at the same time. It was a look that is difficult to consider as deceptive… if he is to be a very good actor.

Impossible…

But then again, why did he no longer feel any discomfort? The answer he was given did nothing but create more questions. Yet, it was almost as if it no longer mattered. Everything that he witnessed with his own eyes so far… he is fighting, for something.

S-Silver…

Standing before him was the atypical hedgehog. Unexpectedly he already found him, his alarmed expression made it evident. With the previous events replaying in his mind he slowly began backing away, keeping a kunai hidden behind his back. The hedgehog's eyebrow raised slightly, though made no movements with his body. He kept a safe distance between them and watched him, while his adversary – or at the very least the hedgehog in question – watched him with his own pair of golden yet curious eyes.

Only in a moment's time had it stayed like that.

The hedgehog… Silver… finally made his first step towards him, small and steady, nonetheless. Espio tensed, tightening the grip on his weapon behind him. After his first step, however, he only made one more, then stopped.

"Apparently, you know who I am…" he stated mildly. "Yet, I've never seen you around here before. Who… who are you?"

His posture remained. "A mere citizen, I say not." It wasn't saying much, if anything at all. "That's all you need to know."

"I guess so," Silver shrugged, taking another step forward. "Since you've given me the impression of being a local weirdo."

Espio flinched, taking one step back. "E-excuse me? I don't know who you think you are, but I wasn't the one chasing you and attacking you with crates floating around me. If anything, you're the abnormal one."

"That's funny, coming from a stalker."

"Don't be ridiculous… You found me first."

"And yet, here you are again. Unless your timing is simply uncanny, which is difficult to justify…"

"What's even more amazing is the fact that you fail to see the irony coming from all of this."

"Oh how I love entertaining guests! You've got me so hooked, I'm starting to wonder what will happen next." A strangely familiar voice ended their sentence with a howl of laughter.

Within a round metal pod was an egg-shaped man, who strangely looked all too familiar.

Of course, there wasn't a need to guess.

Eggman…

"Eggman Nega."

Espio looked back at the silver hedgehog. He blinked. "Eggman… Nega?"

Whatever it is he is fighting for, must have something to do with that man…

Eggman Nega hooted, and began clapping slowly – no doubt in a mocking manner. "Very shrewd, Silver. Obviously nothing gets by you… You deserve a reward." With a mischievous cackle, he pushed a button on his machine…

"And…?"

Espio was pulled out of his trance, which seemed to have took place while staring in the eyes of the hedgehog in front of him. His lips parted to speak, but no words were released. Instead the previous events replayed in his mind once more, from their first encounter to this very point.

It was a moment of awakening. And now… it was clear what must be done.

His lips closed and his expression hardened.

Slowly he withdrew his kunai, and made sure Silver saw it this time.

Tensing, Silver watched the gloved hand that held the sharp weapon, its cold steel glistening under the moonlight.

"W-what are you doing?"

Espio began to take slow and steady steps towards him. The hedgehog winced, and began to take steps backwards, more hastily than the chameleon. The weapon was pointed downward, Espio's glare was a separate dagger, and Silver was beginning to feel uneasy.

"Stop…"

The chameleon did nothing of the sort.

"It doesn't have to be this way!" the hedgehog pled. "We… we can save this world. Together. Everyone's lives are at stake, there will hardly be a future if we do not act together to stop this. Please!"

He was drawing near…

"I'm trying to save lives… I want nothing more than the people to be safe from harm. I want our worlds to live on happily. Please… if you were the least bit concerned, you would want to do something too."

The kunai was raising higher…

"If it concerns you not, then I know the kind of person you are…"

His footsteps finally came to a halt. With a blank look he stared at him, his dark mien remained unchanged. "You don't know the kind of person I am."

"You're a monster." Silver snarled, his fangs showing. "And I will have no problem sending you to the depths of hell with Eggman Nega."

"Unless, I were the one to send you there first." He got into a stance.

"I won't let anyone get in the way of me saving the world!" Silver screamed. A cyan light surrounded him once more, the patterns on his his gloves and his cuffs began to glow as he levitated off the ground.

For the next few minutes it remained the same, both adversities waiting for the other to make the first move.

Espio was the first to act.

He stepped forward and raised his weapon high, as if he was ready to hurl it at his opponent. The hedgehog held his hand in front of him as he waited for the weapon to fly towards his direction…

…until it was merely tossed aside.

Silver stared at the weapon on the ground with a confused look. He looked up at Espio, who stared back at him. His gaze softened as he looked dead into his eyes.

"I trust you."

Silver blinked, taking the next turn of being thunderstruck. "What?"

"You already have my trust." Espio repeated. "I've watched you, Silver… you're not a bad guy. And what you've just showed me demonstrates the kind of person you are." he smiled. "I can't find a reason not to trust you."

Silver, still stunned by the sudden change, slowly descended towards the ground once more with the glowing aura disappearing from around him. He stared at Espio, as if unsure what to say next.

"You… are so strange." he finally said. "But that's beside the point… If you're truly keen on helping me, then promise me you'll stop getting in my way. In that sense you've done more than enough…"

"You have my word." the chameleon placed his hand to his chest. "I'm all yours."

"Good." Silver said with a half-smile. "But I still need to know the name of my ex-stalker."

Espio's smile vanished, being reminded of their first encounter. "Why don't we have a fresh start instead?"

Silver slightly tilted his head to the side, seemingly puzzled by the chameleon's words. Once he opened his mouth to speak again, the hedgehog smiled and extended his hand towards him.

"Hi, I'm Silver."

"That's…" he paused as he stared at the hedgehog's hand. It was not just a hand waiting to be grasped. It was an acceptance for a new ally… waiting to be grasped.

With a smile, Espio took it without a second thought.

"Hello Silver, my name is Espio."