Sally seemed to be memorized by the glowing blue emerald. "Where did you get that?"

"I've had it since I could remember. I was about ten when I figured out how to absorb it and make it reappear." Sonic looked back up to the mural. "Honestly never gave it much thought till now."

"Your one of the seven savors." She blinked a few times and managed to look away from the emerald. "I have to get you back to Mobotropolis."

"Where?"

"The capital of the Acorn Kingdom. You could be the solution to the problems we are having."

Sonic tightened his fist around the emerald and concentrated. The emerald transformed into blue energy and vanished into Sonic's arm. "How would I do that?"

She shrugged. "I'll admit I am not sure, but things are getting tense. The war has been over for nearly a decade, but the conflict is still continuing. Our outer settlements are constantly being raided, despite the best efforts to protect them. There has been rumors floating around that mobians are beginning to distrust the royal family ability to keep them safe. There has even been talk of a revolt."

"I'm sorry to hear that, but I am only one hedgehog. A way cool hedgehog, but still only one."

"Mobians need something they can rally behind. The old legends haven't completely faded away."

"I would like to help, but I really need to find my uncle."

"Please, come with me to the city and I will do everything within my power to help you find your uncle."

"Well, it would be better than just wandering around. Alright!"

Sally tried to hug him, but stopped when she nearly cut herself on his quills. "Thank you." She picked up a satchel and threw it over her shoulder. "We better get going."

"About that, you wouldn't happen to know of a way out of here. I kind of fell in here and the only other tunnel I could find was blocked."

"It is still caved in?" Sally's good mood faded.

"Yeah. How did you end up down here anyway?"

"I came here to take record the murals and translate the writings. I heard a rumbling and the tunnel caved in. I had some food with me, so I decided to stay put until it was cleared." Sally ran her hand through her hair. "I got so caught up with my work. Did you see the others?"

"No! The camp was destroyed and the only one from your group I know of is Antione. He apparently ran from here to the village on the other side of the island after the camp was attacked."

"Is he alright?"

"He was exhausted, but otherwise fine. These animal shaped robots attacked me on my way over here. Strangest thing I have ever seen. Each had a small animal trapped inside them."

"What?"

"I don't get it either. When I got here, I was then attacked by some bald human who was smashing up the place with a wrecking ball."

"Could this by my fault? Did they come for me?" Sally stepped away from Sonic as she mumbled these questions. "But no one but my mother knew I was going to be here outside of the dig team." She turned back to Sonic. "You said he was smashing the place up."

Sonic nodded. "Even the camp was buried under rubble."

"We need to get back to the surface."

"I'm open to ideas."

"Take me to where you fell in."

Sally examined the chamber as Sonic went into more detail about the encounter that had happened when he arrived in the ruins and the attack on Knothole Village. She grimaced at parts, but managed a small smile when Sonic reported that the villagers were unharmed for the most part.

"I let myself get too wrapped up in the past. I should be focusing more on the people today."

"None of this is your fault."

"I know, but I should have realized something more was going on." She tossed a small stone into the lava. "So, were you exaggerating about how you maneuvered through this room?"

"I don't need to exaggerate, I am just that good."

"Would you be too weighed down if you carried me?"

Sonic flexed his arm and smirked.

"Then I have a plan that just might work. Back in the room you found me in are a few demolition charges we were using to clear rubble. There isn't enough to clear the tunnel, but I think we can use them on those pillars."

"Ok." Sonic seemed skeptical, but he ran back and retrieved the explosives. There were three in total, each about the size of a small book. "Now what?"

Sally took one and showed him how to set it. "Set these three on the base of those three pillars." She pointed to her chosen three. "It will set a chain reaction off, but if you can run and jump as fast as you claim, you should be able to run up the pillars as they fall and get close enough to jump clear."

"And if I don't."

"We fall into the lava or are trapped down here."

"No pressure." Sonic did a few stretches before running back up the tunnel. At least he would be able to get closer to top speed before trying the jump. He charged down the tunnel, launched himself over the lava, and landed on the first pillar. He slapped the charge on and leapt to a broken pillar. Without losing much momentum, he jumped to the second, placed the charge, and then to one of the platforms along the wall. He picked up more speed and jumped to the last one. He landed and set the charge. He jumped to a different platform and managed to repeat the feet that got him through the chamber the first time. He sat against the wall to catch his breath.

"You alright?"

"Hard to keep my speed up with such little ground beneath me."

"You sure about running up those pillars?"

"Sure. Lot more surface." Sonic jumped to his feet. "Ready?"

"Not really, but let's go."

Sonic picked Sally up bridal style and shifted his head so Sally could wrap her arms around his neck without hurting herself on his quills. "This is nice."

Sally sighed and activated the remote detonator.

"Hang on!" Sonic revved up and charged. The explosive on the first pillar went off and it began to fall like a cut tree. He jumped onto the falling pillar. He ran up the side of it as the second bomb went off. He changed course as he jumped from one pillar to the next. The pillar began to fall towards the third, the one that was standing above the hole. The last bomb went off as Sonic made the jump. He landed on the third pillar as it began to fall. He ran up the pillar and leapt with all of his might. He just cleared the hole and landed hard on the ground above. Sally separated from Sonic and the two laid on the ground, looking up at the sky. "See, no problem."

"Except the landing maybe."

Sonic chuckled. "Any landing you can walk away from."

Sally laughed. "True. Have you always been able to run that fast?"

"As long as I can remember. We lived on a small island, but I would run around it every day. Constantly pushing myself to go faster."

"Could your uncle run that fast?"

"Nah. He tried when I was younger, but gave up and just followed me in his biplane."

"I will help you find him."

"Thanks Sal." Sonic pushed himself up to a seating position when he heard her start to laugh. "Did I say something funny?"

"You didn't address me as Your Highness or Princess. You have no idea how long it's been when I was called by name alone." She sniffed the air. "Is something burning?"

Sonic looked around and saw a large plum of black smoke in the distance. The smoke seemed to moving closer at a fast pace. "We might have a problem."

A large silver hover pod flew out of the smoke. It looked similar to the one Sonic fought earlier, but this one was bulker with a large metal nozzle on the bottom. The nozzle was spitting out a large amount of fire onto the ground. The same human from before was flying it. "Oh good, you survived. Now I can roast you."

Sally jumped to her feet. "Who is that?"

"Someone with a lot of issues. I might need to carry you again."

"Beats being set on fire."

"Right." Sonic scooped her up as he took off.

"That's right, run you filthy mammals." Snively cackled as he increased the pod's speed. "When I was ordered to destroy this place, I didn't think I would have this much fun."

Sally had to close her eyes against the wind as Sonic sped up. "Did we lose him?"

"That thing is faster than it looks. He isn't catching up, but I'm not losing him either." Sonic tried maneuvering through the ruins, but the pod simply flew over them, continually dropping more fire.

"There is a pond near the western edge of the ruins. You can toss me into it."

"Seriously?"

"We aren't going to get anywhere like this. And despite your claims, I am slowing you down."

"It has nothing to do with your weight. Just an increase in wind resistance. So what is the plan?"

"Don't have one right now. He'll either keep chasing you and I can get help, or he will stop to get me and you can go get help."

"It's a better plan than I got." Sonic changed course and ran towards the pond. "Good Luck!"

Sally gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You too."

Sonic ran past the pond and flung Sally into it as gently as he could. He increased speed and charged back into the ruins. Snively brought the pod to a stop, hovering over the pond. He pondered over what to do for a few moments. He chuckled and pulled a small lever on his control panel. The fire coming from the nozzle intensified and he directed it at the pond. Steam began to rise from the pond as the water began to bubble. Sally pulled herself out of the pond.

"Nice try. However, no one can outsmart Snively the Great. I will fry him as soon as I am done with you."

"Enjoying yourself?" A voice sounded from behind Snively.

"You bet I am."

"Like picking on those weaker than yourself."

"Best feeling in the world." Realization hit Snively and he slowly turned his head. Sonic was standing on the edge of the pod with a hand on the back of his pilot chair. "How?"

"Found a pillar leaning on its side and used it as a ramp. Neat trick I learned today."

Snively sneered. "Thanks for saving me the trouble of finding you." He grabbed a blaster pistol from underneath the seat and swung it up to fire it. Sonic's hand was quicker as he grabbed Snively's wrist. He slammed Snively's hand into the side of the pod as the blaster went off. The blaster bolt impacted one of the bulky add on to the pod. An orange liquid began to pour out of the hole.

Sonic gulped as sparks began to go off around the hole. "That looks bad."

"Oh no!" Snively's fingers began to press as many buttons as he could while Sonic jumped clear. The extra parts began to fall off the pod just as they exploded. The pod was sent spinning into the air from the force of the explosion as Sonic crashed into the ground. Snively managed to get the pod straightened out, but it wasn't flying very well. "We will meet again hedgehog!" The pod limped out of sight.

"Sonic!" Sally ran over to the fallen hedgehog.

"I'm ok." Sonic stood up, but then stumbled. "Mostly."

Sally caught him and kept him on his feet. "I got you. Let's see if we can salvage anything from the camp while you rest."

"I could use something to eat. Running close to empty."

"I'll try and cook something up. Plus I could use the fire to help dry out my fur and hair. I must look awful."

"You look pretty cute actually." Sonic said with a smirk, which caused Sally to blush. He yawned. "Not to be rude, but I could use a quick nap."

"Sure. It's been a long day."