When they got to the X-Tornado, Tails double checked all the repairs as everyone got settled in. He made a few more adjustments, just to be sure before talking to Rouge about where to go. She was pretty sure she knew where she was going, so she suggested she would simply fly ahead of everyone and they would follow. Tails agreed before taking his seat. Amy and Cosmo made one last check on Cream and they were ready to go.

'Alright, Rouge. After you!' Tails exclaimed through his communicator.

'Keep up, buttercup.' Rouge winked before gracefully flying above the canopy.

Tails raised the Tornado up above all the trees and just behind Rouge, the sun was blinding them after not having seen it through all the trees and vines for at least 24 hours. Amy, Cosmo and Cream remained in the passenger seats while Sonic, Shadow and Knuckles lay back on the wings of the Tornado. The rainforest was getting too thick for the hedgehogs to run, plus they wouldn't be able to see where the rest of their team was leading them.

'Alright, Rouge, run me through it. Where the hell are we?' Tails asked her through the ships communicator.

'If my memory is correct, we have to keep headed in this direction for a while longer. Then there will be a large tree, in full bloom, can't miss it.' She answered.

'What about it?' Knuckles joined in.

'There are a chain of them, representing the chaos emeralds.'

'So there are seven of these huge trees?' Amy asked.

'Right. The tombs are hidden beneath the roots of the tree in bloom representing the gold chaos emerald.'

'And how do you suggest we get in there if they're under a big ass tree?' Sonic asked, opening one eye from his nap.

'You'll soon find out.' Rouge smiled cheekily.

The ivory bat gracefully flew ahead, causing the boys to exchange glances and shrug off her mysterious attitude. Although, it wasn't exactly something out of the ordinary.

The gang continued travelling for at least a few more hours, all tired and exhausted… and worried. Cosmo was constantly glancing over her shoulder to see Amy looking out the window, her arms folded over herself and her eyes appearing deep in thought… one guess what about. Every now and then, Cosmo would look over further onto the wing to see Sonic with a sad expression on his face. She knew he was feeling just as bad. She only hoped it could be fixed when they got home.

'There's the first one. We're close now.' Rouge said through to everyone's communicators.

Everyone looked ahead to see a beautiful large tree in full bloom with large red flowers, representing the red chaos emerald. All eyes widened as they gazed upon the trees flowers, and not just any flowers, roses. Ripe, red roses. Sonic let out a small smile as Amy crossed his mind, but quickly shook it off and pulled himself together.

'Let me guess, gold is last, right?' Cosmo asked.

'You got it, Hun.' Rouge smiled.

A few miles ahead, the gazed upon another large tree. This one bloomed with dark blue flowers, beautiful, dark Delphinium Blue Bird flowers. They flew over the second tree, whilst looking at the blooming flowers. Amy couldn't help but relate the vibrant colour to Sonic's fur, it made her smile. Up until she remembered how close she had been to him last night, for it to all vanish in an instant.

A few miles ahead, just as before, they came across another large tree which was blooming with gorgeous, fragrant, white frangipanis. Everyone fell silent as they flew towards to beautiful tree, before turning their eyes so slightly towards Cream. Like a white frangipani, so delicate, so pure, so graceful and so beautiful. She didn't deserve this.

They continued on for miles ahead, seeing three more trees, representing three more chaos emeralds. Green Gladiolus, Pink Lotus Flowers and tiny beautiful light blue Sweet peas. Everyone couldn't help but gaze upon these flowers in all their glory and beauty and think about how ecstatic Cream would have been to see this.

They finally came to the last tree, and it was easy to see it was something special, different to all the rest. It was far bigger than all the others, if that were even possible. It bloomed radiantly with bright yellow daffodils, representing the last chaos emerald. Everyone leaned forward, as if the flowers were pulling them towards the tree.

'I'm guessing this is it, right?' Knuckles babbled as he stared at the tree.

'You got it.' Rouge replied.

'I guess I'll find somewhere to land.' Tails stammered.

Tails finally found a small clearing big enough to land the ship before allowing everyone to get out and stretch. Rouge flew around the clearing a little, looking for the best track to take to get the root of the gold chaos tree. Once she had decided she came back and sat down, exhausted.

'You ok, Rouge?' Shadow asked bluntly.

'Fine, why do you ask?'

'You look like shit.' He admitted with a smirk.

'Shut up.'

Shadow's eyes widened in surprise. He was expecting a smart comeback or her to leap up and attack him, but no. She just accepted it, she really was exhausted. He watched her lay down and cover her face with her arms before going over to Knuckles and Tails, letting them know something was wrong. Naturally, Knuckles went into a panic but tried to hide it.

'Chill out, Knux. She's probably just dehydrated and tired.' Tails said.

'Ok then, have we got water?' Knuckles asked as calmly as possible.

'I've got emergency supplies.' Tails stated firmly..

The two tailed kitsune walk over to the Tornado and opened up one of the hidden compartments before he pulled out a fresh bottle of water and walked over to the ivory bat who still lay on the ground of the ground peacefully.

'Here you go, Rouge.' Tails said with a smile.

No. I don't need it.' Rouge said after opening her eyes and pushing the bottle away.

'Rouge, you're weak and dehydrated. Don't fight it, please.' Knuckles said as he walked up behind Tails.

'Aw, Knuckie. You care about little old me?' Rouge winked.

'Drink the water you crazy bat.' Knuckles said through gritted teeth before storming off.

Tails and Rouge began to giggle before Rouge gave the fox a hint of a smile before taking the bottle and began to drink. Rouge thanked him after she devoured the entire bottle, she really was exhausted and dehydrated. Tails thanked her in return for getting them there, and told her how they couldn't have done it without her. Rouge being Rouge, she rolled her eyes and ruffled his hair before standing up. He stood up with her before earning a peck on the cheek from her, she was never very good with words in these situations.

'Ok, how are we all doing?' Sonic asked.

'We're ok over here, except…' Cosmo trailed off.

'What's up?' Sonic asked as he walked towards her and Amy.

'Cream.' Amy said sadly.

'What? What's wrong with-'

Sonic cut himself off when he looked over and saw Cream, still lying asleep in her special seat of the Tornado. She wasn't smiling anymore and her breathing and gone funny. Although, he didn't think that's what got the girl's attention. Her fur had gone pale and murky, and if he wasn't mistaken, it looked as though she had tear reside on her cheeks? Like she'd been crying in her sleep?

Sonic began to panic, a lot. Were these side effects? Or was she… no. She couldn't be, she wouldn't be breathing at all if she was. Besides, her mother trusted them to save her and that's what they were going to do, even if it killed them.

'We have to get her to these tombs, now.' Sonic said firmly before picking up her body.

'Yeah, let's get going. This way.' Rouge said, gesturing to the track she had previously found.

They walked for at least fifteen minutes before coming to the roots of the tree. They were so big and beautiful, especially the ones that made a passage down under the tree. Rouge gestured for everyone to follow her and to be carefully. They all slipped and slid a little before coming to a rough looking, underground staircase. They trekked through the dark, damp hallway until they came to a large room which had a grand entrance to the tombs, surround by lights and gems.

'Here they are.' Rouge sighed with relief.

'Well done, Rouge.' Sonic said, giving her his signature thumbs up.

'Cheers, Big Blue.'

The ivory bat cautiously walked forward to the large door that made the entrance to the tombs. She stared at it for a minute before Knuckles came up behind her and held her push it open. Usually she would bat him away or tell him she didn't need his help, but this time she just allowed him to stand by her. Maybe this entire trip has really taken its toll on everyone.

Knuckles and Rouge walked in first, followed by Sonic who was carrying Cream. Cosmo, Amy, Tails and Shadow followed behind them as they walked into the tomb cautiously to find the red echidna who had been sending visions to Sonic and Knuckles.

'Tikal?' Sonic and Knuckles asked cautiously.

'Hello, it's a pleasure to finally meet you all.' Tikal smiled.

'She needs help, and she needs it now.' Sonic said as he walked up to the female echidna with Cream.

'You are right, lay her here.'

Sonic lay Cream down on the stone bed that Tikal gestured to before stepping away to stand beside all of his friends. He stood next to Amy, noticing the worried look on her face. Tikal examined Cream's small body for a few minutes before letting out an audible, depressing sigh, causing Amy to bite her lip in the attempt not to cry.

'She isn't dead, yet.' Tikal said dryly.

'Yet?' Cosmo's voice crackled.

'Maybe I will need the other help.' Tikal said to herself.

'Other help?' Shadow asked.

'Alright, sir, bring me your antidote. I will combine it.' Tikal said, gesturing to a side room.

Everyone turned to their heads, looking to where Tikal was gesturing to see a large silhouette emerge from the shadows. Everyone's jaws dropped in shock before their expressions changed to something ugly combining fear, anger, sadness and frustration.

'EGGMAN?!'