Chapter 13 - The trap

The next morning, Aeronniell was the first to wake up. She quietly went over to the shore line. " Aeronniell... Aeronniell, do you read me?" A fuzzy voice said.
"Your not a book Egg-Face, but yes I can hear you," she sneered quietly putting her hand up to her chin.
"I require something else from you," He said.

"So not only have you attacked me, left me for dead, and are forcing me to betray my friends.. You now want something else? Well you can -," she snapped.

"Now, now Aeronniell remember who you are doing this for," he laughed coldly. Aeronniell froze.
"Fine.. What do you want?" she growled.
"I need you to capture Sonic and his friends for me once you get to Flame Core," he said, clearly enjoying how much stress he was causing Aeronniell.
Aeronniell just stood in silence. "Fine," she choked.
"Excellent," he replied darkly, before hanging up.

"Aeronniell, are you ok?" Tails asked, as he walked out of the cave. Aeronniell smiled and nodded.
"I'm just thinking, that's all," she said miserably.
"About what?" he asked sitting, down on the warm sand. Aeronniell also sat down.
"About how much my life has changed and stuff," she admitted. "Jealousy Tails, It is a dangerous thing," she sighed.

"Yeah, I know," Tails sighed.
"Huh?"
"I used to get bullied a lot, because of my two tails and because I was into building machines. The kids that bullied me made me think that Wasn't normal, that I shouldn't be around. Then one day I met Sonic, and I've never been bullied since and I feel proud of myself for once," Tails admitted.

"Well, that's good.. You know Tails, Bullies are just jealous," Aeronniell smiled.
"Yeah, Sonic said the same thing," Tails said.
"Well, that's because it's right. And there's something that's been bugging me for a while: If everyone is different, how can you be normal?"

"Tails? Aero? You out here?" Sonic called as he poked his head around the cave entrance.
"We're here Sonic!" Tails yelled back.
"Come on Tails, let's go and get something to eat," Aeronniell said, standing up any helping Tails get to his feet.
"Thank you Aero, for everything," Tails smiled as they walked back to the cave.

After everyone had breakfasted and cleaned up. They set off towards Flame Core. Aeronniell dreaded what she would have to do.
"So.. What does this gem look like?" Shadow asked.
"I guess It's like a Chaos Emerald, but black and it can turn different colours too," Aeronniell replied.
"I've never heard of anything like this. I mean, I know you can get blue Fire Opals but black Fire Opals with energy locked inside of them, not so much," Knuckles said. "And I'm a treasure hunter," he smirked.

"The legends are from thousands of years ago, When light fought dark," Aeronniell explained.
"Chip.." Sonic breathed.
Everyone turned, "What did you say? You're not hungry already are you?" Knuckles asked.
"No, Tails you remember Chip don't you? "Sonic exclaimed. Tails nodded.
"Yeah I remember him, he had the mega sweet tooth didn't he?" Tails smiled.
"That's him!" Sonic laughed.

Sonic and Tails told everyone else the story of how Sonic was turned into a werehog and met Chip, before going into the center of the planet to fight Dark Gaia. The story lasted until they got to Flame Core.

Aeronniell left Thunder outside as they entered the cave. Aeronniell instantly spotted an Elemental hiding behind a boulder, It was Stephenson, an Earth Elemental. He stayed silent and summoned the roof to fall onto the entrance. Aeronniell and the others tried to turn and run out but the door was already blocked.

"Dang!," Sonic exclaimed
"Let's just find that Opal and get out of here," Shadow groaned.

As the group walked Tails couldn't help but stare at the doors, it's timing had been too typical, something wasn't right. Eventually Tails decided that it was just coincidence.

Flame Core had changed a lot since Tails had last been there. Most of the room was was solid rock. But a sinister red light came from the river of lava that flowed around the edge of the room, leaving a rocky shore on the other side of the lava.

On the rocky shore, furthest away from the entrance, the black fire opal gleamed in the hot light of the molten rock. Aeronniell and the others began to walk over toward the gem.

"How are we going to get it?" Tails asked. Aeronniell stepped forwards and used her water powers to scoop up the gem and bring it over to her.
"That's was easy," Sonic remarked.
Aeronniell let a tear run down her cheek. It was time. "Guys.. I'm.. I'm so sorry but there's no other way," she choked.
Everyone turned to look at her. "For what?" Knuckles asked, lightly.

"For this," she exclaimed, As she suddenly sent a huge wave of water towards Sonic.

Sonic tried to dive out of the way, but Aeronniell was too quick. Within a quick second, Sonic was trapped in a huge sphere that was full of water. Sonic was pounding on the wall, he didn't have any air and so was fighting ferociously.

"Sonic, stop fighting and I'll give you some air," Aeronniell demanded.

"Aeronniell, just give him some air already! He can't swim!" Shadow yelled, whilst he and Knuckles dodged huge laser beams.

Tails ran forward to try to help Sonic but Aeronniell took some of the water from the sphere, containing Sonic, and sent it straight towards him. The water wrapped around Tails's hands and ankles and made Tails fall over. Now that there was air in the sphere. Sonic had to try to keep his head above the water but the water was literally clinging to his arms and legs and Sonic was tiring quickly.

Two huge lasers were trying to hit Shadow and Knuckles. Aeronniell was suddenly thrown a gun and she fired it at Knuckles and hit him right in the chest . He gasped and fell to the floor the laser was like a snake. It weaved around Knuckles's limbs and secured him onto the floor.

Shadow had tried to fight Aeronniell. He used his Chaos Control and appeared behind her, he tried to punch her in the head, but Aeronniell caught his fist and began to squeeze. Shadow winced and dropped onto one knee as Aeronniell slowly dragged him further and further down towards the floor. Aeronniell suddenly twisted his arm behind his back, forcing him to drop the Chaos Emerald. She drew one of her knives and calmly held it at his throat. Shadow was pushed forwards and was face-to-face with the lava. He couldn't move.

"Alright Eggman, I've got them," she sighed using a lot of her strength to keep Shadow still.
"Why?" Shadow snarled as he struggled to break free.
"I had no choice Shadow, they threatened Karn and I couldn't just let him be killed," she replied.

A cold laugh echoed around the cave as Eggman emerged from the darkness, "Excellent," he laughed.