I don't own Sonic or Sega.

7. Ares, Hades, and Other Problems

"Well, were here. I guess we can-"

Ryko didn't get far before a cage fell on him and Sadie. Ares appeared shortly after.

"My sister set me up. Sadie, if you don't mind not telling anybody about this…"

"Shut up, Ryko! Please! This isn't exactly what I came here for!" Ares smiled.

"I paid your sister a large sum of money. She obliged. A sad mistake."

"What's that supposed to mean-" Began Nikki, but a cage fell on her too.

"I only want Ryko,girls. We should probably leave this conversation to ourselves."

Glass cases, soundproof, thought Ryko, slammed down on the cages.

"What do you want, Ares?"

"All I want is for you to send a message to the commander. After that, I promise I'll let you go."

Sadie was banging her hands on the cage, and her mouth was moving. Ryko could read lips, and what she was saying wasn't exactly Sadie-ish.

"What is it?"

Ares smiled.

"Mobian palace, 7:00."

The cages flew open, except for Nikki's.

"Do you want Nikki?"

"Keep her."

They left with Nikki kicking the cage repetitively.

They were just outside when a portal of fire opened, this time accompanied by a swirling portal of darkness. Two hedgehogs stepped out. The first was Hades, easily recognizable. The other looked a lot like him, with three differences. The first was that he was wearing two glowing bracelets. The second was that his eyes, unlike Hades' dark red, were pure black. The third was, unlike Hades' white fur, his fur was black.

"Who might this be?"

"This is my brother, Anubis."

Ryko noticed that Hades looked terrible. He was pale, if possible for a hedgehog with black fur. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked much older. Anubis read his mind.

"My brother is weak. We don't know why, but in three days' time he will be unable to sustain himself. We have found a solution, but I doubt you'll like it… explain, brother."

"If I can get a host to contain my essence, I can grow to strength and be normal in a few days' time. You are the only one I trust. If I can't find another host, I'll fade into the underworld and it will take me eons to come back here. You don't have to, but…"

"In three days, come see me, Anubis. I'd be happy to."

"Ryko!"

"He'll die! And plus… he means a lot to me. I'm not letting this happen. But I can't do it now. I've got a party to attend to tonight with Sadie."

"What?" Asked Sadie.

"I've figured out what Ares said. Hades, how long will it be?" Hades shrugged. He was obviously in pain. Ryko hated to see him like this.

"I can't say. You must be careful, though. Don't use my power and yours to become corrupt, it happens to even the most kind hearted people. Stay strong, Ryko." They both vanished.

"What have I got myself into?"

"Damn right! Ryko, this is crazy."

"I know. But I'm his only friend in this world, and I've depended on him. He needs to depend on someone else for the first time, and I'm here for him. Anyway, The Mobian ball is tonight at 7. Ares must be there."

"Don't you need a date to get in?" Ryko smiled.

"Yes, I do. Better find something to wear, sweetheart, because you just got invited to the Mobian ball."

G.U.N Recreational Facility, 6:00 PM

Being a member of G.U.N was a stressful job. Because of this, they made a recreational facility with different activities. Ryko headed towards the music room, which no one ever went to. He was the only one who played an instrument. He walked up to the room and noticed somebody else was in there. Strange. He opened the door quietly and was surprised to find it was none other than Sadie. And her voice…

"She's got eyes like the bluest skies, as If they thought of rain

I'd hate to look into those eyes and see an ounce of pain.

It reminds me of that one safe place where as a child I'd hide

And prey for the thunder and the rain to quietly pass me by."

Sadie turned around to see Ryko gaping at her. They both said it at the same time.

"What are you doing here!"

"That was beautiful." Said Ryko

"Oh, shut up!"

"I'm serious! I've never heard anybody sing like that in my life! Why haven't you come here before?"

Sadie got a little less mad.

"This is my first time. Why are you here?"

"I, er, um, play the electric violin." Sadie couldn't help laughing.

"You of all people play the violin?"

Ryko took out his violin and started playing the opening riff to 'Sweet Child O' Mine'

"I learned this because my dad played it."

"Oh."

"Ya know, playing music does help stress. Come on, sing."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Fine."

They played and sang for a little while to different songs.

"Was that too hard, sweetheart?"

"Says Mozart."

"Make all the jokes you want. It's business time now. I need to get ready."

"Why did you say music helps stress back there?" Ryko sighed.

"It's about-"

"Hades."

"Yea. I just don't know what's gonna happen."

"Forget about that. Let's get ready. Pick me up at 6:00."

"Sure."

Sadie's house, 6:00 PM

Ryko drove up in a 3rd generation Mercedes-Benz C216. It was his luxury car… with a few SAM's and a machine gun in the hood.

"Are you ready yet? We need to get going, whatever Ares is planning-"

"In a minute!" Ryko grunted.

He was tapping his foot in the driveway when Sadie's voice spoke behind him.

"Nice car."

"Thaaaaa…"

Sadie was wearing an elegant pink dress some high heels.

"What?" Ryko shook his head.

"Nothing. Hop in." Sadie smiled.

Gotcha, she thought.

Mobian Palace,7:00 PM

Ryko drifted into the parking lot of the palace.

"You drive like a…" The rest of the words Sadie said were so profane it would have given this story an M rating.

"Colorful language."

"Let's just go."

When they walked in the door, a familiar voice to Ryko, not Sadie, spoke behind them.

"You're here? Crap, this must be a death trap." Ryko's face lit up.

"Laoch!"