"You sent Mom after Vanity?" Silver exclaimed as Shadow dragged him through the forest. "Why-"

"I didn't know she was attacking her until now! Must've gotten here before me!" The younger one struggled to keep up. Did he really just witness that? Selene the Hedgehog attacking Vanity?

"But- Mom might get hurt!"

"Trust me, Silver; your mom's just as stubborn as you are. She wouldn't listen."

"You won't even try?"

"What's important is keeping Leaf safe, and I can't do that alone." He eased his son in first, then stepped inside and closed the door. Leaf smothered Silver.

"You're okay!" she whimpered. The blood was still dripping from the snakebite and the claw marks on his face, but yes, he was all right. Even though every lost drop made him weaker...

"Silver, let me bandage that for you," Mephiles offered. "It's important to keep your blood inside you." She stepped away and let the demon lead her boyfriend to the couch so he could rest. Then he caught his father going back out.

"What are you doing?"

"Saving your mom," and then he was gone.

"Mistress attacked Vanity?" he breathed. "How...instinctive."

"Instinctive?"

"You know, mothers protecting their young," then to Leaf, "Come where I can see you. With Shadow gone, I have to check on you at all times."

"He called her stubborn," the silvery one growled. Mephiles shrugged, "That's where he thinks it came from."

"Mom...will she get hurt?"

"Your mother?" Leaf wondered. "Isn't...she...?"

"Dead? Yes, Leaf," the eldest started as he patched up his metaphorical nephew's wounds. "But, Mistress Selene still has a spirit. She is also a very powerful psychic. Thus, she may not being attacking physically but mentally.

"And, yes, Silver," Mephiles lowered his head, "she might get hurt. And if she does, we may never see her again." Silver lowered his ears. If only he had been careful... Mom might've been spared the risk.

"Can ghosts really get injured?" Leaf asked. The dark one nodded. "When they do, they can't become tangible. Or visible. Sometimes, both. Or they could possibly, given the strength, pass the injuries on to the living and maintain their astral bodies once more."

"The injuries aren't permanent, are they?" the younger male wondered.

"Hopefully not for Mistress. She is after all a psychic." Finally both areas were bandaged and the metallic one let out a sigh.

"No one goes outside," Mephiles warned. "With Vanity nearby, I need to make sure she doesn't get in. Both of you stay put."

"Feeling better, Silver?" his girlfriend asked. He shrugged. "What's your definition of better? My mom's going to lose tangibility. Or we might never see her again. My head's pounding. That snake sure had bite."

"I'm sorry, Silver," she cuddled beside him. "I wish Vanity wasn't here. She's always been out to get me...And hurt all my friends..."

"Don't cry, Leaf. I won't let her hurt you."

"Silver...I know you promised that you wouldn't let anything hurt me... But I can't let you become my hedgehog shield."

"I never back out on promises. And you're more important than I am." Or ever will be. Just because I travel back in time to save the future, it would all be for nothing without you, Leaf.

"But Silver,-"

"Leaf...We can't let you die, you're the earth itself. Without you, there's no oxygen or food. Life would diminish into nothing. And I promised that I wouldn't let that happen."

"Wouldn't...wouldn't let what happen?"

"Mephiles...He's not just my uncle. He's the eternal Sun God of Soleanna; Solaris. When I was little, he told me of a disturbance in my timeline; something that would threaten all the future generations. That included me. So I agreed to travel back in time to stop it. I promised later I would go back in time to stop the destruction of my future.

"When I vowed, I promised to ensure it, no matter the cost." Her aura grew tense. "Even...If it meant sacrificing yourself...?"

He nodded very slowly with his eyes shut. "It's a heavy promise to keep."

"Well... Saving the world to me has always meant looking out for myself," she admitted. "I guess with you around...It'll be easier.

"But..." her eyes sparkled with tears. "I...I don't want you to die...because of me..."

"Shh," he hugged her. "It's alright. I'm used to hearing that. But, it's not about me. It's about you, and Venice, and Mephisto, and Dawn." The little cutie. When Silver thought of when he would perish, Dawn always made him cry the hardest. "And...I know it hurts to think about it...but if that's what it's going to take... better me than all of you."

Silence was heavy for the two on the couch. Until Mephiles walked in for what seemed like hours later, they were debating with themselves. At least, that was the case for Silver. ...Leaf. What if I fall and you fall with me...? I...would never forgive myself. And it would be my fault.

Yes, and then, maybe you won't like me anymore...

"Ah, good, you haven't moved," Mephiles came back into the mix. "I was worried Mephisto had rubbed off of you, Silver."

"Not me," he smiled. "I'm a good hedgehog."

"Oh yes! Christmas. I had nearly forgotten. I must remember to go buy presents next time, when Master returns."

Me, too, Silver thought. I've been saving up for something, and I'll use it for Leaf. I hope I can find something she likes. "What would Dad want for Christmas?"

"Well, he wants everyone safe, that's certain. Most likely, something that reminds him of you or your mother." The demon then shrugged. "All your cousin's been asking for are explosives and microwaves."

"Microwaves?"

"To sit on and stuff dynamite in. He's worse than I imagined."

"Got that right. I didn't even know he liked setting stuff off."

"Your cousin sounds crazy," Leaf whispered.

With a snort, "That's 'cause he is."

"And although I'd like to blame that on Iblis entirely, it's my fault," the eldest grumbled. "Ditching my insanity is what caused his pyromania. So I suggest buying him flame-resistant clothing. They won't sell fireworks to minors."

"Silver, going to bed yet?" Leaf asked, going into her room. He shook his head, "Not until Dad comes back." Mephiles walked over to his "nephew" and assured, "Now, now. Your father wouldn't want to be a burden. I'll wait until he comes back."

Not wanting to have a pointless argument with someone like Mephiles, the silver hedgehog sighed and walked over to his room. He did hear a rather mischievous, "I didn't say you had to go to sleep." Nodding, he still lay down on his bed to rest. I hope Dad comes back soon… The house feels a lot safer with him around. Not saying that he didn't trust his Uncle, but he would rather have Shadow over his friend.

And he couldn't go to sleep. Mom… Was she okay? They've been fighting for such a long time, I…I don't know who I should expect to win. Vanity was powerful. Compared to his mother, it seemed like she had the upper hand. If Shadow was there, maybe the outlook wasn't so dark. But… What if she lost visibility? And, Dad can't find them?

Please be okay, Mom…I don't want you to be intangible forever! What would I do without you?

Shadow finally found the faint figure lying in the snow. After what seemed like hours of trying to get to her, he finally got to her.

"Selene? Are you alright?" An uneasy glow emitted from the translucent figure. She's fading away! The hedgehog moaned as she flickered.

"Shadow..." Selene breathed. "I'm sorry... I've been hurt... Stay away..." He backed up a little. "But you're hurt-"

"Just...just trust me..." her eyes finally opened. Still their lovely hue of a night sky's indigo... "She's close by... Don't go home..."

"Don't go home?"

"Yes...I've got to warn...got to warn him, so he won't... get... hurt..." she faded away... leaving Shadow in tears.

"Selene!" he knelt in pain. Then he felt terror as he heard laughing.

"What a waste of time. Such a persistent young lady, but weak."

You! "Come out where I can see you!"

"Why on earth would you want her?" she sneered. "She's nothing compared to you."

"That's none of your business! Now show yourself!"

"Hm, very well."

Silver? Silver, wake up.

"Hm?" the hedgehog rubbed his eyes as he sat up. "Mom?" He heard her shush him. Silver, go get your uncle and Leaf. You need to get out of there.

Why? He replied with telepathy. What- Is it Vanity?

I'm being cautious. You need to take Leaf somewhere safe. So tell your uncle, and get out of there!

With a hasty "Yes Ma'am!" he leaped out of bed, calling, "Uncle Mephiles! Mom, she just told me that we need to get out of here!"

Mephiles seemed shocked. "Then we'd better get going. Don't bother packing. Just put your shoes on and let's go." Silver obeyed, and then he shook Leaf awake. "Hurry! We have to leave!"

"But where will we go?" she asked when they seemed ready. The demon nodded. "What I believe is safe will probably be dangerous." He eyed his nephew. "You know how to get inside the Psych temples, Silver. Let's hurry."

As fast as he could, the young hedgehog led the others down the streets and into the thick forest area. Following an overgrown, familiar path, Silver looked to the ground with psychic eyes, following rubber boots backwards.

"Silver?" Leaf whispered. "Where are we going?"

"An ancient Psych temple. Amai and Kyuuten took me here once," he explained. "It'll protect us. You know telepathy and I'm psychokinetic. Mephiles on the other hand...he won't be permitted."

"That's correct. I didn't plan on going inside, though," he informed from behind. "Get inside quickly, understand?"

"Yes, sir." Focusing back on the path, the hedgehog quickened his pace and the trees started to bend like they were rubber and pushed out. Leaf wondered, "I've never seen foliage like this... Why?"

"Some say juniper trees react to vortexes," Mephiles started. "It could be the influence of psych that's manipulating these trees." Suddenly the demon seemed to hit something unbeknownst to Silver and Leaf, who were ahead. We must be inside the first wall. Mephiles can't enter. "We'll be alright, Mephiles," he assured, then he grabbed his girlfriend's hand and broke into a run.

"Ah! Silver!" she called after him.

"Please, don't make a sound!" he pleaded. "I need to focus." Following the aura signature, he found the safest way in the sanctuary, a faintly glowing passage. The second wall. It should be alright to talk after the third wall... From the glow emitting from his aura, he guided Leaf deeper into the old ruins. Finally, after going over the trail in his head he found the old elevator. The glowing hedgehog let go of his girlfriend's hand and then started clearing his mind, preparing to remind himself of the series of gestures that would lower them down into the fourth wall.

"It's a dead end, Silver," Leaf mewed. "We're not lost, are we?"

Please, Leaf, his thoughts bounced off the wall, startling her a little. I need to remember something. He started reciting the hand motions that would lower the platform. When he was finished, the platform began to glow his symbol and lower, as expected. The areas were brighter, now they were in the fourth wall. "You can talk now. Vanity won't be able to hear us." The decorations on the wall were almost like the ones in the Passageways, only they specifically resembled Silver's psych symbol.

"Why is that? Why couldn't Mephiles come as close as we did?"

"The temple. Psychics have been practicing here since my great-great-grandmother was born. The energy surrounds the place with walls. Walls of psychic energy. As we go deeper, we become more transparent to sensors and other beings. The first wall is to prevent Umbrakinetics from entering."

"Why?"

"Well, Umbras and Psychs were enemies back then. They were the only things Umbras couldn't master as well. Umbras can take on secondary abilities like pyrokinesis and hydrokinesis. But not psych powers, so they were rivals for many generations...The later Psychs tried to weaken the wall but it's too strong. The second wall is being unable to control us. The third is sound. The fourth is reinforcement. The fifth for other abilities like pyrokinesis."

"Will I have to stay in here, then?"

"No. You've learned telepathy, and if you're with me, I'm sure it will let you pass."

Eventually the two hedgehogs were in the second-to-last wall. "I'm sure we're okay in here, Leaf. You can rest here."

"What about you?"

"I'll keep watch."

"But, Silver-"

"I'm surrounded by answers, Leaf. I could figure out how to destroy Vanity from the information my ancestors give me. It's going to be fine. The walls can't be destroyed."

"If you're so sure...All right then." Leaf kissed Silver on the cheek. "Goodnight. Be careful."

"I will, I promise."