We reappeared in a lush green meadow, surrounded by rocky cliffs.

"Alright, I can sense Chaos energy nearby…" Mephiles murmured, before glaring at me. "Don't try to run off, because if you do-"

"Yeah, yeah." I sighed, wandering around. Mephiles growled, before scanning the area.

I did similarly, and spotted some old ruins.

"Well, if I were a magical gem that is definitely where I'd be." I stated, starting towards it.

Mephiles grabbed my arm and pulled me back, before starting towards them himself. I glowered at him, and trailed after him. We walked past various destroyed stone buildings, before coming across a clearing, and in the center was an alter with a red emerald floating on it.

"Found it." I stated, moving towards it.

Once again I was yanked back, and Mephiles moved forward to grab it. I crossed my arms with a huff, and observed the area. That's when I noticed the 4 suspicious looking prongs sticking out of the ground around the clearing.

"Umm…Mephiles?" I called nervously.

"Shut up." Mephiles growled.

He reached for the emerald, but seconds after he grabbed it, electricity shot from the prongs and struck Mephiles. He shouted in fury as it formed a sphere around him and pinned his arms to his sides. It looked similar to the machine Eggman had used to trap Sonic in Sonic Unleashed.

"Well, that was easier than expected."

A machine lowered from the sky, and I immediately recognized the passenger as it landed.

"Eggman?" I exclaimed in confusion.

Exactly when did THIS happen in the game? I never saw this! Wasn't Eggman supposed to be with Sonic and Elise in a malfunctioning ship or something?

"You were a lot easier to trap than I thought, Mephiles, I was expecting more of a challenge. It appears a Chaos emerald was the perfect bait." Eggman remarked, ignoring me.

I glanced at Mephiles, who was glaring daggers at the doctor.

"You'd be wise to release me, Doctor." He hissed.

"You're in no position to be demanding things." Eggman stated, stroking his mustache.

A glint caught my eye, and I discovered that Mephiles had dropped the emerald after being trapped. I snatched it up, and observed the duo once more. Mephiles was steadily forcing his arms to move, energy on the verge of forming.

"No, no, no." Eggman said, turning a dial. The electric currents intensified, and Mephiles growled as he was forced back into his former position.

As I was watching them, I realized this could be my chance to escape with an emerald in hand.

'I get kidnapped, but escape a few minutes later with a Chaos emerald. Ha! Wait till Shadow hears this!' I thought as I made to run.

Before I did though, I glanced at Mephiles. I had never seen him this powerless, even when Shadow and Omega had beaten him down. The current intensified again, and he let out another furious, yet pain filled shout. I glanced at the emerald, then at Mephiles, then back again. Was I really gonna let Eggman capture Mephiles?

I sighed. "Aww, dangit!"

Eggman laughed.

"Finally, your time traveling ability will be mine!"

Mephiles glared at him, growling lowly in his throat, when a shout caught both their attention.

"Hey Mcnosehair!"

A fist sized rock struck Eggman's head, and he let out a loud yelp as he massaged his head. As he was busy, I scrambled into the air machine and raced over to the controls.

"Why you little brat!" Eggman shouted, reaching for me.

I kicked his leg, and he yelped again while I looked at the controls.

"Okay, let's see, what's this do?"

I pushed a button that looked like it would help, but that was proven wrong when the ship lurched upward, causing both of us to yelp.

"What are you doing?" Eggman shouted.

I pushed another button, and few bullets were shot out and struck a nearby cliff.

"Seriously, what are you doing?" Mephiles growled.

"I'm trying to help, you idiot!" I shouted in reply as I dodged around Eggman again.

I caught a glimpse of Mephiles, who had a surprised expression on his face. Whether it was because no one had spoken to him so boldly before, or because I just said I was trying to help him, I couldn't really tell.

I found another button, and pushed it, and the two large arms on the sides of the ship dropped while a console popped out with two levers and one yellow button in the center.

"Here we go." I said excitedly.

I pulled on the levers, not entirely sure what I was doing. The arms flew at the machine, and struck two of the prongs, I pushed the yellow button, and was happy to see they grabbed the other two, and pulled them out of the ground. Mephiles was freed, and he dropped to the ground, catching his breath.

"Yeah, I rock!" I exclaimed, pumping my hand in the air.

I accidently hit one of the levers, and the right arm flung one the prongs. It grazed the ship, and I yelped as I struggled to regain my balance. I stumbled towards the edge…and fell right over the side.

I saw the ground coming up to meet me, and I screamed as I squeezed my eyes shut.

Then I felt arms catch me, and I was safely set on the ground. I cracked my eyes open to see who my rescuer was…and was stunned to see Mephiles.

"M-Mephiles?" I exclaimed in confusion.

Mephiles didn't reply, and glared up at Eggman with almost as much hate as when he was glaring at Shadow. Eggman glanced down at us nervously.

"Er, maybe I'll just be on my way…"

Mephiles flung an orb at him, and it barely missed him.

"If you're not gone in five seconds, I won't miss." Mephiles growled.

Eggman hastily nodded, and put the ship in drive and flew off.

After he left, Mephiles and I glanced at each other.

"Umm…so, uh, are you, um…okay?" I stammered.

Mephiles didn't answer, and studied me carefully.

"You had a perfectly good opportunity to escape, yet you didn't…why?" he asked.

"Well, it just…didn't seem right leaving you like that. I mean, if Eggman got you, he'd be able to travel through time and stuff, which wouldn't be good…"

Mephiles continued to study me, before nodding.

"Soo, why'd you save me?" I asked.

Mephiles glanced away.

"For one, you're more valuable to me alive, and I was merely returning the favor."

"Right."

I think we both knew the reasons we said weren't out real reasons, but we didn't press the matter.

"It appears he got the emerald…" Mephiles grumbled.

I froze, subconsciously feeling inside my pocket.

"Uh, yeah…real shame…"

Mephiles glanced at me curiously.

"What do you have?" he asked.

"Uh, nothing…" I replied, backing away.

Mephiles followed me.

"Give me it."

"No."

"Give me the emerald!"

I yelped and whipped around, taking off, Mephiles not far behind.

"Gratitude doesn't mean much to you does it!" I shouted.

Mephiles caught up with me and grabbed my arm.

"Hand it over you little brat!"

"Let go!"

"Hey!" a voice shouted.

Mephiles jumped back as something flew at him. A kunai lodged into the ground where he'd been. A purple figure materialized in front of me.

"E-Espio?" I stammered. The ninja chameleon glanced back at me.

"You okay, kid?" he asked.

"Yeah."

He glared at Mephiles as the demon stepped toward us. Two more animals joined us.

"Back off pal!" Vector growled.

"Yeah, back off!" Charmy added, though he was hiding behind Vector.

Mephiles glared at us.

"Hmph, very well, you're free for now," he growled, a purple orb forming above him, "But next time, you will not be so fortunate."

He floated into the orb and vanished.

The trio turned to me.

"Well that was close." Vector stated.

"I'll say, why was he after you anyway?" Charmy asked.

"Probably cuz I had this." I replied, pulling out the red emerald.

"Hey, a Chaos emerald. You should give it to Sonic or Shadow, where ever they are." Vector said.

"I plan to, but I don't know where they are, or where I am for that matter."

"We're not too far from Soleanna, we could look for 'em there. I heard Sonic's in town."

"Great, hopefully we find Shadow, Rouge, or Omega too."

"So, who are you exactly?" Espio asked.

"My name's Kassie."

"I'm Vector, and they're Espio and Charmy. We're-"

"The Chaotix, I know."

"Really? Ha, see boys, told we'd get famous!"

"Sure, fame, that's how I know you…"

"Let's go, Vector, I wanna get something to eat!" Charmy whined.

"I'm for that, let's move out, Chaotix!" Vector announced.

We nodded, and set out for Soleanna.

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How was that for a little twist? R&R!