PoC: I don't work for Sega or own anything it does! You got the stuff right?
Silver: *Nods*
PoC: Let's see now…instructions, screwdriver, heat-gun, and a…tub of but-…put it back Silv.
Silver: Just as a lubricant! We don't have anything else! *Smiles innocently*
PoC: …fine. But do me a favor and stop acting weird.
*Hours later*
PoC: Well that was…slimy, but at least it worked. How're you feeling?
Metal: *Twitches* Yzzou might sayzzz I'm…~Still broken on the insi-i-i-i-i-i-ide!
Silver: Hee-he's…ha…Toast… Ha-ha-heeeyy…Toasty the Hedgehog! You *snorts* …got butter? Hee-hee-hahaha!
PoC: What in… What's happened to you guys?
Metal: *Twitches, throws sparks* CLUCK ALERT! Cluck to be a lady! Cluck of the draw! Clzzzuckleberry Finn! Clu-zzzzz *Dances* ~Work that Clucker to death! Come on now, work that Clucker to death!
Silver: Tee-hee-haha! Hogtoast spread over buttered hedge! Pfft-waaahahaHAHAHA!
PoC: O_O My God…
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Where All Roads Lead
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Voice…that voice…
"Tails…"
Had he merely imagined it…?
"…don't give up."
It sounded just like…her…
Though he still only saw darkness, Tails gathered up the faint will to call out "A-Amethyst? Amethyst! Where…" A startling sight had cut his thought off…but there was no need to finish…
For the vixen, his beloved, had appeared right before him in flesh and blood.
To say he was overjoyed would be a drastic understatement. True enough, he did wonder why she was appearing to him this way, but he still couldn't resist the urge to affectionately greet his mate. Simply being able to embrace her again left him breathless with relief.
After she reclaimed his full attention, the vixen rubbed the vulpine's wet cheek and smiled "Tails…don't torment yourself any more, for me or anyone else." At this, Tails' face became downcast, but Amethyst insistently continued "You're a self-sacrificing man Tails, and I've always loved that about you. But right now you need to be strong. With or without that dark person inside you, you know that 'master' person poses the worst threat to our friends. To face him, to save Sonic, you have to stop letting these spirits control you."
Tails didn't like to appear any weaker than he already had, especially not in front of her, but she was asking for the impossible "Ame I can't. They're feeding off my negativity, and I don't have anything positive to fight back with. *Sigh* I'm sorry…but my anger is just another weapon for those demons to abuse…"
Shaking her head, the vixen leaned, touching her nose to his "You're wrong…the anger you feel, is yours and yours alone. Nothing those sick creatures are using belongs to them. You have to take yourself back Tails, no matter what." Her whole body, little by little, took on a soft glow, but Tails didn't seem to notice. He was still too focused on her words.
"If you can't use the positive energy, like Sonic, you have another option." Out of nowhere, her expression became very sad, as though she didn't fully agree with her own suggestion "Use the negative chaos. Use the righteous rage you feel for your enemies and master it." Tails' mouth dried up at the thought. Use the power of 'evil' to his advantage? Was she out of her mind? Was this…even the 'real' Amethyst? Fearing that he had been drawn into another snare, Tails glared suspiciously at the vixen.
Amethyst seemingly understood this and said "Tails…I know it's hard to believe, but listen to me. In all the years I've studied nature and the Chaos Emeralds, I came to a conclusion." Seeing the honesty in soft purple eyes, Tails cautiously let her finish "Positive, negative, it doesn't matter, both sides of the emeralds power can be used for good OR evil. For example: You can use the positive energy to protect the wicked, whereas you can use the negative to destroy the foes of the innocent. It's not what power you use; it's how you use it matters most."
Again, Tails faced her with as much confidence as the situation allowed. Her truthful violet gaze continued to ease any mistrust he'd been brewing, yet the fox remained unsure of himself. If he could fail her, his most treasured companion, so easily, what's to stop him from failing everyone else? He wasn't sure he, or anyone else, could truly handle the raw power of negative chaos.
Shining ever brighter, the vixen pulled her concerned love into another embrace "Don't worry; you're not alone in this. I'll be here to keep the negativity from consuming you. Remember that…okay?" No…it wasn't 'okay' because he…he didn't like the way she was talking. It sounded…too much like a farewell. …It scared him, it scared him worse than any near-death or traumatic experience he'd faced in his entire life. He started to tremble…in anger…in fear. And through this fear, he tightened his arms around her, refusing to let her be taken from him again.
Burying her face into her loving mate's chest, the vixen spoke gently "Just remember: Whenever you find yourself overwhelmed, I'll always be right here…" She then gently touched her hand to his heart…
…and quietly faded away.
…
Any other time, the act might've served to consol to his fragile mind. And perhaps it would have, had it not also caused Amethyst to dissipate before his very eyes. He…had just gotten his chance to see her again, but it was ruined by their exchange of ambiguous words; words that didn't promise her safe return, or give him any hope of somehow helping her.
Cheated…that's what had happened to him. He had begged the highest heavens to be reunited with his beloved, and instead he was left with her mere memory. There was no thankfulness in his heart… For Tails wearily observed the many ways this final encounter left him emptier than before.
So much had been squandered… The chance to say goodbye: Stolen. The time to undo the harm he'd done: Ruined. The hope for her to be with him again: Forsaken. Why did he have to lose her…not once, but twice? Was it not enough for those demons to control him? Did they have to keep him forever alert and aware of his permanent failure?
Did they now…have the right…to take his friends away from him too?
…
…no. No they didn't…
Tails staggered out a series of raspy gasps, trying to contain the feverish urge to scream. His hands curled into half-fists, as the blood in his fingertips burned hot with itching anticipation "This…isn't…over…" Tails' heart raced with hollow beats. The words out of his mouth were false…for him at least. He knew his life had been destroyed the moment his lifelong friends were sent down a path he couldn't follow. No…he wasn't speaking for himself; Espio, Shadow, Rouge, Vector, Charmy, Maria, Amy and…the other Sonic, they all had lives to go back to. Sitting back and letting even one of them suffer would only make his sins that much more unforgivable.
He could see now…the anger, the ire, and the rage he had long warded off, beckon him. Recalling the vixen's solemn promise, Tails took the plunge, not held back by his rising fear or guilt. Upon taking them in, the dark emotions were hungry, ravenous even, but in spite of their infiltration, they could not consume him. Placing his full trust in Amethyst's last words, he opened his heart entirely.
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*With Tails/Onyx*
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More power unexpectedly surged through his puppet's form. It seemed the boy had relinquished his spirit and broken under Citrine and his influence. Onyx had to credit the boy for his resistance, given cruelty he'd been subject to. Truly, few still living possessed such fortitude. Nevertheless, did the fox beast not realize that he was giving the spirit greater strength? Negative chaos had been his sustenance for time immemorial, as had the power of the Seven. Surely the boy knew something of these things…
"Perhaps he has accepted his fate?" Onyx could only guess, for as things stood, the mind of his host remained clouded and unreadable. This deterrence was readily shrugged off his lieu of his greater goal "So much the better, I will need this strength to subdue the blue one…"
Stepping forward, the possessed fox gazed disdainfully down at the dropped firearm. Seeing the fine engraving on the side, he contemplated smashing the cursed thing. However, pressed by the essence of time, the monster simply kicked it aside instead. Afterwards, the demon refocused on guiding his vessel forward…when he suddenly stumbled.
Catching himself, the dark fox reached a hand up to hold his throbbing chest. Was his vessel suffering from cardiac arrest? No…not possible, he was in very decent shape for his age. Despite this, the stabbing pain struck again, forcing a grunt through his puppet's canines "This pain is…unnatural… Urgh…! The darkness…it…i-it burns!" Coping with the pain was impossible. It was simply unlike anything he'd ever felt. Onyx had savored and suffered all manner of negative energies in his lifetime, but this was the first to actually attack him, he who was supposed to be the god of all dark chaos.
Dropping to his knees, the demon's chest heaved and his stomach convulsed. All at once he felt his crystallized frame vomit up a deep blue substance. Eye contact with the fluid sent a wave of real concern through the manipulator's head. This concern grew when the crystals in his fur started to crumble and dislodge.
As the final touches of his metamorphosis took hold, Onyx seethed out "You…cannot…escape…m…e…"
…
Still on his knees, the dark one lowered his head. Under his partially-lidded eyes, one could see the murderous crimson shift to a kindly cerulean and back again. This 'war' went on until both colors merged to become a passionate violet hue.
Blinking once, then twice, the figure stood up. The new being latched his gaze on the previously discarded rifle. Next to it lay the empty shell of a vixen; a sight that borrowed his vision for a good minute or so, until the purple-eyed being turned his head, hand, and attention back towards the gun. Electric tendrils of energy seemingly reached out and invisibly drew the vacant weapon into his waiting grasp.
"Escape?" The fox replied softy to Onyx's lingering threat "No…I'm not here to escape anything…" Boiling over with wrath, the vulpine's fur took on fiery reddish-orange aura. His twin tails left a burning trail of energy as they lashed violently through the air "I'm here to end everything! Your master won't live long enough to hurt another soul!" It was now apparent that the fox had temporarily recovered himself. Clenching his beloved gift tightly, the renewed Tails channeled a portion of his power into the precious firearm.
In the farthest reaches of his subconscious, Tails could barely hear the voice whispering "You cannot use my power for long…" no trace of intimidation or malice was present in the demon's tone. Rather, it seemed to be calmly stating a fact "Do you not see? It is killing you. The rage you usurped me with is now threatening to devour your flesh."
Tails didn't want to hear it, nor did he care about the cost at this point. Maybe…if she was still alive…or if he could get his 'real' little brother back somehow…then maybe it would matter. To him both were nothing but empty hopes now. All that mattered was finishing the task Amethyst had given her life for…
"She sacrificed herself for you…" Onyx coldly corrected him "Wouldn't your death be spitting on the very thing she strived for?"
The fox didn't snap, shout, or respond to the demon's taunts at all. Anger used against his accuser would be wasted, for he knew exactly who was deserving of punishment: Only the cruel master and Tails' himself were at fault for Amethyst's death. For him, should this destructive rush negativity be his undoing, he had no complaint. As long as he reached Sonic in time…nothing else mattered.
Ready for takeoff, the vulpine spun his twin appendages faster and faster, until they became a small, fiery tornado. Being immersed with this new power, Tails noticed that the illusions of the facility had lifted. Seeing past the original marble façade, the throne hall's 'true face' was revealed; an unsightly dark, dingy passage of rotting stone and murals. The chaos did well to dazzle him with falsehoods before, but now it, like the evil one in charge, had had it's ugliness revealed. This clear-sight also showed Tails his destined path: A tight corridor that stank with the corrosive scent of corrupt chaos. Now physically and mentally prepared for his last mission, the fox jetted forward, tearing a hole through the barrier of sound.
"This ends now…" His resolute claim couldn't fully shadow the pain behind his presently violet irises.
"When this is over…will I get to see them again?"
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*With Tikal*
L
Time hadn't been friendly to them in the past, so expectedly there was no time to mull over the loss of the emeralds. Tikal had sensibly, albeit reluctantly, informed the team that if the emeralds had been taken somewhere, it would likely be inside the facility they were preparing to enter anyway. Vector clumsily argued, without much success, that if they were to strap one of the team to a durable fishing pole and portable breathing apparatus, they could dive in after the lost gems. Outside of how clearly outrageous and half-cocked this idea was to begin with, Tikal cautioned the lizard to not underestimate the power of chaos.
"None can fathom the effects it would have." She explained, shaking her head "It would be akin to diving into a sea of emotions, dreams, and memories. A very brief experience might be enough to drive you completely mad, if not kill you outright." Sobering and realistic as she tried to be, the echidna could not help but wonder just how Vector's amusing plan would've worked out.
They were getting close now, very close to the foreboding entrance. Realizing this might be the last time she could talk with them like this, Tikal spoke up "Everyone…please. May I have a word?"
At her polite asking, the group stopped and gave her their full attention.
"What's the matter, shiny lady?" Charmy asked innocently "You look sort of sad… Want me to pick you some flowers?"
The echidna girl smiled gratefully at the buzzing child and said "You're very sweet Charmy." She patted the worried bee's head before once again addressing the whole group "I must tell you all something important. It's…about…my involvement with this accursed island."
Reverent silence reigned for a time, as the team understood the weight of her words. Tikal softly thanked them for listening while she took a moment to steady herself. Confessing all that she'd gone through would expose more than a few skeletons, but she knew it had to be done. They could not be allowed to walk into danger without knowledge. They deserved to know the truth.
Drawing a good long breath of confidence, Tikal began "As you might know, I am a maiden of the past age, an age when echidnas ruled most of the known world. I was born the daughter of Pachacamac, my once peace-loving father…" Seeing her sureness fade at the mention of her father, Amy took her hand for support. After this, Tikal's sadness ebbed enough for her to continue "My father was a good man, a strong man, but despite his steadfast heart, he was marred by the corruption he saw everywhere. For when his fellow tribes no longer had enemies to unite against, they began fighting amongst themselves in a petty pursuit to see who would prosper."
"Is that what really happened?" Maria asked, being an avid student of history she felt inclined to say "Is that what caused the Great Inferno?"
Tikal shook her head in reply "No…none of the warring tribes possessed that sort of power. However, some knew of a secret magic that had long been hidden within the lore of the strongest tribe; my father's tribe. That power…was made in an age that preceded even ours. Some taught that it was crafted at the very beginning of the world." Stretching out her palm, Tikal showed an image of seven brilliant-cut stones "It was ultimate power, the power to reshape reality, the power of chaos itself. You know well that it's source has long been secured inside the Sacred Seven, or rather the Chaos Emeralds."
Raising his hand like a typical school-boy, Vector chimed in next "Got a question: If that power's so big and bad, why did anyone have control over it? Ain't that too much for any one guy or gal to handle?"
Though in full agreement with the crocodile, Tikal pointed out "Indeed, but that's why the power was made stubborn to react. It could not be used by just anyone, for even my father had no sway over it's strength." Putting her hands together, Tikal showed the team a partially transparent image of an ancient, but lovely, temple surrounded by a green glow "Besides, my father originally never dreamed of using this power. In fact, he had placed only his most trusted men to protect the Seals used to keep it restrained."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Seals? Ya lost me there! What sort of things are these 'Seals'? Not the barking type right?" Amy and even the gentle Maria looked ready to slap the large dope for making such an inappropriate comment. Charmy too had his stinger out to stab up his boss/mentor/father-figure, though this may've just been his age-old way of showing affection.
The spirit girl remained undeterred by his interruption, and was even kind enough to clarify "As I said, the 'Seals' are a kind of fail-safes put in place to subdue the power. They consist of three Seals total. We likened them to the elements that comprise a living being: Body, mind, and spirit. This, I am showing you now, is Angel Island, but you know it better as the Derelict Ruins. It is the 'body' of the Seals."
Gaping in sheer awe, Maria said "So that's where the legendary island was all this time… Julian and I explored the Ruins on countless occasions, but we took them for the simple remains of a dark prison and temple, housing an altar of sacrifice. But this is how it used to look? How beautiful…" The old temple's serene appearance had the young blond dazzled "But how could an island be a Seal? What was so special about it?"
"You said it yourself." Tikal answered, making the Robotnik girl blink in confusion "The serenity, the sanctity of this place helped to keep the chaotic power balanced. When my father…changed, the first thing he tried to do was defile that very purity. That was when he had the prison and altar built." Her hands touched the image, making it change again. The place had become a fearsome and gloomy sight, yet the soft green glow remained.
Just as she was about to go on, Tikal realized that they had, due to Maria not halting Crab-watcher's continuous march, arrived. Sensing too that time was shorter than she had anticipated; Tikal announced "That's enough for now. I will try to explain the rest later."
"W-WHAAAAT? Hey come on now! That doesn't explain anything about THIS place! Don't leave us hanging!" This time Maria had to agree with the scaly mobian. She was intrigued to know the truth behind their history, what changed Tikal's father, and how this island was involved. Her thirst for knowledge soon had her more than on Vector's side.
Amy, though normally hyperactive and interested in such stories, did not herself seem willing to bother Tikal. She even went out of her way to say something against further delays "I think Tikal's right. We're not making good time, and if…if my gut feeling is right we…might be catching up with the f-future…" Dread passed over the group as even the slow-witted crocodile understood what the shivering hedgehog meant.
Her last vision… It was about to become a reality.
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*With Sonic*
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Once more, specks of light spilled into his heavy eyes. The 'light' grew until it returned to that same heartless shade of grey. The smoky barrier had not lifted, just like the last ten, twenty times he'd checked. To make matters worse, his strength never returned either, no matter how long he rested. While hours of weariness ebbed and flowed pointlessly, time's decay had taken the hedgehog's spirits down several notches.
Sitting back, he once again found himself reflecting: How could he have sunk this low? And what more terrible surprises did this forsaken world have for him? If it could all be solved by him confessing that he was no savior, no hero, no…nothing, he would have done it in a heartbeat. He would have humbled himself beneath the dumbest of dumb animals; if it meant fixing the mess he helped cause.
The fervent desire to give up everything, even for them, unfortunately, neither dissolved his prison nor restored his strength. He needed something else…a purpose back in his life. Sure, he'd been hell bent on getting home up to this point, but that motivation alone couldn't carry him to the end. He had to really consider, painful as it was, the fact that he might be stuck here…forever. And if he was, what good was worrying about his old friends do? He couldn't reach them. Just like his new allies, the 'hero' was powerless to help anyone.
"What am I supposed to do?" He fretted with his circumstances. Sonic had never encountered loss like this. Being stripped of his speed and freedom would've frayed his nerves normally, but compared to his friends, these deficits seemed trivial. That said, lacking such strength prevented him from breaching the barricade. For though his heart was in it, the hedgehog's soul was empty. It felt as though, ever since he had lost his friends and Super form, the master had taken the very ability to fight from him.
"I don't…understand…" Nearly palpable sorrow carried well in his voice "Why…am I here? Just to ruin everyone's lives, for some psycho's ambitions? Tikal…someone…anyone…tell me!" He called out to the void, but no answers came. Lost in the darkest corners of his mind, the hedgehog pleaded "Someone…please…just answer me… What am I good for, if I can't even save myself?"
Silence, bringing loneliness unlike any he'd ever known, rapidly descended. Not knowing if living or dying held any meaning, Sonic laid back to rest again, unsure of what else he could do. Maybe…it was better to forget…just forget it all. The past, present, and the future as well. All would be painless after that…he could then accept his greatest failure without complaint.
On the verge of resigning to his final loss, the hedgehog shut his eyes again in sleep.
…
"Sonic…" Several voices seemed to hum in his head.
"…"
"Sonic…!" the voices grew louder.
"Yeah…they used to call me that."
"So you've given up… Hmph, and you call 'me' the faker…" A prideful Shadow scoffed.
"Heh, sounds about right…"
Sonikku! You can't lose! You're our hero!" The Amy of his world cheered.
"Yeah right… Me? A hero?"
"Get up! We're counting on ya, blue!" A temperamental Knuckles shouted.
"Sorry…I can't keep my promises…"
"Sonic…" Another person spoke, one without a face or form.
"…"
"Sonic…"
"…leave me alone."
"Don't say that bro…I've missed you…" Gradually, the image of a younger Tails gathered and accompanied the voice.
"S-sorry…I've really…really missed you too big guy."
Unlike the others, the fox's form didn't fade away "Hey…what's got you so down? Don't tell me you forgot about us?"
"N-no way! I never forgot about you guys for a second! I just…feel so bad… I mean I left you all behind…"
Stepping up to his idol, the vulpine frowned a little and shook his head "Sonic…let me stop you there. When I asked 'did you forget about us' I meant: 'Did you forget we're still here for you?'" The hedgehog's face seemed saddened at his words, so twin-tailed fox went on "Come on Sonic, talk to me… I don't like seeing you treat yourself worse than Eggman."
"At least Eggman had a goal in life…
Shocked by his words, the fox quickly retorted "And you don't?"
"…'til I came to this world, I hadn't thought about it much…"
Now acutely aware of how down he was, the sidekick plopped down next to the depressed hero "Sonic…remember what you told me, about how and why we keep fighting?" The cobalt hedgehog searched his memories, but came up empty-handed. With a small grin though, the kit was happy to remind him "Back then, you said: 'You know what makes us different bud? We're free to choose right from wrong, good from evil. Anyone who takes that freedom away, that choice, has to be stopped. It's not about who's wrong and who's right. 'Cause remember kid, even if you're in the 'right', trying to force your ways on people is still 'wrong'. So…whenever you see people suffering at the hands of some maniac's plan, don't hesitate. Fight for others will all your heart. Do what you have to do, even if you screw up along the way. Live through life's trials and learn from your mistakes. It's that simple.'"
"…freedom…fighting for others? Tails man, I…I can't even free myself, let alone fight for anyone…"
Just as the hero was about to plunge into despair again, he Tails give him a firm one-arm hug while saying "You can't stop now. No matter how hopeless things seem, you've got to believe in yourself. There are things only you can do, Sonic. That's why everyone counts on, and looks up to you." The speedster stole glance at the kit, who gave him an encouraging thumbs up "You know why you fight Sonic, so get out there and show that freak what you're made of!"
"But…without my speed, I'm nothing special. Nothing at all…"
After hearing a sigh, the hedgehog felt his friend's full embrace envelope him, as more kind words filled his darkened mind "Sonic…your speed isn't even a fraction of what makes you special. It's your kind, noble, free-willed spirit that makes you really strong. That's the 'you' we all trust and depend on. That's what makes you…a hero. If you remember that, then everything you need will come back to you, trust me…" Sonic barely let his eyes fall on the bright-faced fox's energetic grin, lifting his spirits slightly.
But…much to his dismay, the fox's form began to fade. Not long after the kit's reply, the blue mobian could feel his brother's embrace slowly slipping away.
"…Tails."
With his last strips of pigment draining fast, Tails waved goodbye to his best friend "Be safe bro. And, no matter what happens, never forget that…we all love you." and vanished from sight.
"T-Tails wait. Little bro…don't…don't go!"
…
Floods of emotion hadn't roughly snapped the hero out of his dreams. Rather, his dreariness was gently eased into wakeful confidence; making this awakening the most peaceful he'd had since he'd come to this world. Indeed, only Sonic's renewed sense of longing bore any negativity, as he did miss is old friends terribly. Nevertheless, Tails' words, whether imagined or real, had reminded him: What had he been fighting for, what had he always been fighting for? Though his arrival may've been brought about by some mistake, scheme, or other malevolent design, it didn't change anything. He was still Sonic, the hedgehog that values the freedom of humans, mobians, and every creature above all else. No matter how alone or depressed he might become, inaction only betrayed the very core of who he was.
"That…that's it. I remember now…why I fight." Hoarse at first, the hedgehog's voice became clearer and harsher as his former zeal returned "Wherever I am, wherever I go, it doesn't matter, it NEVER mattered! I'm doing what I feel is right…that's all the purpose I need!"
Sonic's gaze fell on a warm sparkle in his palms "Guys…give me strength."
Afterwards, the warmth spread; reaching everything from the depths of his chest, to the smallest quill on his spiny head. Cleansed entirely of his despair, the hedgehog spread out his arms. Clouds of his misty prison twisted into cyclonic masses, which then coiled around arms and chest. Soon he was cloaked head to toe by the darkness.
This was until small, shimmering tears of light appeared; puncturing his dark cocoon…
"To reclaim freedom…" More rays of light tore past the darkness "To protect this world…" The shining radiance now replaced most of the suffocating blackness "To save my new friends…" A triumphant ascension later, and he was, at long last, free of his wretched prison.
"That's why I came all this way. It's…the reason I'm here."
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End of Chapter Forty-Six
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This one may set a record for length, unless one doesn't out the commentary below. Yes, as you can see, I haven't forgotten the 'whole nine yards' I owe you guys (how's about we settle on twenty-seven feet and call it a day XD *Gulp!* Aieee! *trampled by 27 angry 'feet'*).
DanceDream: Cool, so you're studying for your permit/license I presume? Good luck pleasing those tight-wads at the MVD/DMV (really they suck where I live…-_-). :) Thank you very, very much! I like when I manage to get the point I was striving for over to my readers. Drama is good when it's merited, by merited I mean deserved or sensible. If you want to make a scene dramatic, you have to make the circumstances worthy of that drama. For example, Rouge's reaction to Knuckles' 'sacrifice' was proportionate to the situation's severity. Just putting in tears and tension alone doesn't qualify for 'good drama' in my opinion. XD Yeah Silver's gone…and I sort of like breaking Metal from time to time. Knux and Rouge? Weeeeel let's just say it's my favorite pairing for red AND the bat so…you tell me ;). That's because 'this' Rouge is meant to be more sensitive than her brash counterpart. She STILL has attitude, just not the same type. And yeah everyone's okay…for now (or are they *evil smirk*). Yeah it should be obvious by now: Chaos spirits x 7 + 7 emeralds = Spirits of the Chaos Emeralds. No, I'm not worried about 'spoiling' it, as that was implied all along. Onyx is the only slight exception. XD Yup! We all love Vector! :'( Tails…has a LOT of sad scenes in this fic. He struggled with the loss of his little bro, grew attached to the new Sonic, and then lost him. In the similar way he started out struggling with Amethyst, slowing fixing their relationship over the course of the story, only to lose her too. He's got a hard life, and it's not getting easier. The one, and only, good thing it does is make him stronger. Still…he deserves a happy ending after all this, doesn't he?
Ghostkid33: Yeah, that was curveball for sure. Hey everyone gets a time to shine in my fics! LEAVE NO CHARACTER BEHIND! *Remembers all the characters I've been ignoring* Um…uh…heh-heh…ahh yeah I suck XD. No but seriously, THANK YOU SO MUCH! True, you're not the first person to like the fight scene, but having your opinion on top makes me really happy! :) That's pretty much what I was going for! I love keeping a balance at all times, if possible. Yes…though Sonic is only now reappearing, he plays the greatest role (tied with Tails). The conclusion, if it keeps to my original plot (which it might not) may not be what you think.
Serenity/ravenclaww: :D Thank you! Fight scenes are fun to write. Yeah, I figured it was time our rough tough echidna finally showed his good heart off. :'( Such a beautiful, yet sad, description. It's true though, Tails couldn't feel any worse at this point, hence why he's taken control of the negative power. Since this Tails is supposed to be, in essence, the 'Sonic' of this world, I wanted to give him the mirror of Sonic's strength, without making him an anti-hero (I don't like those). :) Thanks, you too. I've got another test/quiz hybrid tomorrow so…after I post it's back to studying!
Sierra Zanimalini14: Aw…but I sort of like the shout-outs! It's the sort of thing you do when you're pumped up by an exciting scene (I know I did that in the old Sonic games so…yeah maybe I'm off too XD). Don't worry about reviewing quickly! I want you to enjoy the chapter first and foremost! And I'm glad you like the humor/drama contrast I've tried to keep up. Makes the story feel more balanced.
Kindra Mckleen: Yeah, deep down he's still a good guy, albeit with a tough past. No, I figured nobody would, and I wanted to give Rouge a bit of the spotlight so…yeah XD. Ack! I know! That's why I put him in here…at the end ._. Sorry, I had to get the other scenes out of the way so I could properly contrast Sonic and Tails.
knight of the windZ10Z: YAY! CAUGHT UP AGAIN! But eh with how I slow I was here, I'm not surprised XD You were right, Amethyst it was! It can't leave my OC out THAT easily. Yeah…the loss of the emeralds is…going to make some problems for our heroes (so far, it looks like Vector/Maria/Tikal's team is only making things worse XD). Sonic is HERE! And now he needs a little attention next chap after having been forgotten so long. :) I'm glad you think so, but my skill is rather modest at best. But as long as I keep my readers happy, that's all that matters.
draco'sfairmaiden: Oh no, NOT on my watch! Sonic and Tails are too important to kill…or are they? Well I'd say I like Tails too much but…you never know. Vector's always funny goodness for the in-between tension. Even if you don't like the 'Chaotix' you can still get a laugh or two out of my 'Tactichaos' XD
Super Shadix 520: Whew, that's a relief! Hope this chap is just as clean!
Sparking-nexis137: SWEET! I was hoping you'd like that! Super Rouge was not something really 'thought out' per se, but I hated the thought of leaving her out (she needed a chance to prove herself). :) I'm a rock enthusiast myself. Actually, I often listen to music that fits each scene (somehow helps me write with more fluidity). Western music? XD What sort of scene would I end up then?
Ninuhuju: Sorry for the wait! College is a time-killer right now. Yeah poor Knux. The price o' redemption is steep. Tails won't, but he still has a lot on his shoulders :'(
prowerboy, Mewone, Infamousplot: I miss you guys/gal a lot! Hope you're all still reading/liking this story!
Wow…if I'm not mistaken, I'll be wrapping this long-running fic soon if all goes well! Hard to imagine…but for now:
Until next time!