Everyone seemed to be settling in pretty well. Bentley was pretty interested in Metal, and Poor Metal had to sit still for a while so Bentley could look him over. He had given my shard back, but asked to have it back in a bit.

Ty and Sly were chatting quietly, making me wonder what they were talking about. Riku and Roxas were talking with Murray and asking about the Heartless. So Solas and I were relaxing in my room, which I would be sharing with Solas and Metal while the guys slept downstairs.

I relaxed on my bed in my human form, feeling worn out from the energy I used. Solas was napping beside me with his head on my chest. I stroked his head and finger a pendant that I wore around my neck. It was a hand-made, Silver the Hedgehog pendant. I had a friend on earth in Washington who made it for me when I moved back to Colorado. He had a Sonic pendant and a Mega Man pendant, but I wondered if he'd recognize me if we met up again.

I smile at the fond memories. It was really hard to say goodbye to him, and I hoped he was doing well.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. "Yeah?"

Ty smiled as he came in. "Hey, how're you feeling?"

"Better. feel a little lousy, but I'll get there." I reply.

"Good." Ty said, coming over and sitting on the bed. "Well, Bentley said that the Heartless might be targeting another stone. It's just down the street a ways. And… We're wondering if you're feeling up to a heist."

"Do I have to stay in my echidna form?" I asked.

"Well…" Ty said. "It'll be after dark, so no."

I smiled. "Then I'm up for it."

Solas' eyes had opened and was looking at us. He soon yawned and stretched, his claws poking the blanket like a cats would. "Where're we goin?…" He asked sleepily.

"To teach you about precious gems." I replied and pets his scaly head.

"This is Wizard," Came Bentleys voice in the communicator in my ear. "You where you should be with Key Keeper, Little Fox?"

I rolled my eyes. I was Little Fox because of my auburn hair. "Yep I'm here." I replied quietly. I was on a rooftop with Ty, AKA Key Keeper, and Solas AKA Golden Boy. Solas huffed at the nickname, but he didn't argue. We over looked the museum, which was crawling with guards. I guess since the Heartless started showing up, they upped the security.

"What about you Talon?"

"I'm ready." Metal replied, sounding none too happy about the code names.

"And you-"/i

"Bentley." I heard Sly say over the line. "I know that we're a little out of practice, but I don't think the code names are necessary. Metal, any sign of the Heartless?"

"None so far." Metal replied. "Em? You sensing anything?"

"Not so far." I said. "But things are feeling eerie… it's hard to explain." It was hard to explain. It felt like something was waiting. Watching our every move. But I couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

"Keep an eye on it then." Metal suggested. You ready with the get away Murray?"

"Yep!" Murray said. "The Murray's been born ready!"

I shook my head. "Then lets get the show on the road. Riku, any Heartless nearby?"

"Nope." Came the reply. "You guys are good to go."

"Awesome." Sly said, and I saw him jump to the roof of the museum.

It was going to be a fast operation, Ty and I were to distract the guards while Sly took the Stone of Fire. Murray was our get away while riku and Roxas watched our backs. I think Ty and I had the funnest part of the job, since we were given slingshots and frozen peas. Thanks to Shadows Training, Ty and I both had great aim. And you gotta admit, it was fun watching the guards jump a foot when a pea hit them.

Metal and Solas acted as extra surveillance. With Metal's scanners and Solas' excellent eyesight and hearing, they were the eyes and ears for anything out of the ordinary. Yet I couldn't help but think that something was still watching us.

"You okay Em?" Ty asked.

I look over at him. "Yeah," I replied. "I was just never fond of being out after dark."

"Because of Robert?"

I nodded. It was getting dark when he had attacked me with his goons. I was vey lucky that Ty lived close by and had heard the fight, I would have been worse off then.

Suddenly an arm was over my shoulders and Ty was pulling me close for a hug. I didn't fight him, but I had stiffened in slight surprise at the hug. I soon smile and hug him back. It had been a long time since we last hugged, in fact, I think the last time we hugged was also when I was in my dark form. But he was also kissing me then.

"You'll be alright." Ty said. "Remember when those bats came and kidnapped you for Robert?"

I nodded. "How could I forget?"

Ty chuckled. "Well, I want you to remember that no matter where you go, I'll find you. Okay?"

I smile. "Thanks Ty."

"You two love birds do know that your com is on right?" Came Roxas' voice in my ear, making me suddenly blush.

Ty let go and put a finger to his ear. "You shouldn't be eavesdropping!"

"Kinda hard to eavesdrop when you guys are talking in our ears!" Roxas commented back.

I couldn't help but giggle a bit.

"But it was a pretty good promise Ty." I heard Sly say.

This made me blush more. "Did you all hear that?"

"We all bear witness Em." Metal said, but I could hear the others snickering a bit. Note to self; remember to turn down the coms now and then.

I decide to change the subject a bit. "Um, how's it going in there Sly?"

"Going good. I'm almost there." He replied.

"Good, keep us posted?"

"We will." Sly said, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

Ty and I got back to work tormenting the guards with our frozen peas, but then I thought I saw something. I looked down and saw three people run through an alleyway, but one looked eerily familiar. I watched them for a moment before another bit of movement caught my eye. I look and noticing an odd shape had settled on top of a pole. At first it looked like a football, but my back tightened and I move closer to Ty. "Ty… Whats that?"

Ty looked at me then looked at the thing. He glared at it.

"What's what Em?" I heard Riku ask.

"It's some shape on a pole." I answered. "Its…. south of you guys."

There was silence for a long moment, at least until the shape opened large wings, revealing two haunting yellow eyes. That's when I heard Bentley gasp. But…. that's impossible!"/i

What is Bentley?" I heard Sly ask.

The thing screeched and took flight. Sly must have been looking out a window because he also gasped. "No…" He said. "No, no no no no NO! He's dead though! How is he here?"

"Who Ringtail?" Came a female hispanic voice.

"Clockwerk!" Sly replied, almost yelling. "Em! Ty! Get out of there!"

He didn't have to ask us twice. Ty gripped by hand and pulled, almost dragging be to the fire escape. I follow, but we're suddenly knocked to the ground. I scream in pain as I felt something sharp connect to my body, sending Ty and me to the center of the roof. Pain rang through my skull as the back of my head hit the hard rooftop, making me grunt and hold where I was hit.

I was only barely aware of Ty yelling my name. In fact, I was barely aware of anything. Everything around me was a blur of sights, sounds and feelings, all clouded by a dark fog of the pain.

I laid there dazed while the others fought in almost a blur. I saw metal throw something at the metal blob… it looked like a robotic chicken with a broken beak. There were also bright orbs flying at the chicken. I think I lost track of time at that point, because before I knew it, I could hear voices buzzing around me and felt hands. They were small, so I think they were Bentleys. He touched where I had hit my head, making me wince and whimper a little. I then felt my eardrums pop, my guess was that Metal scanned me. Before I knew it, larger arms lifted me, but it was at that point I fell unconscious.

I was standing in front of a burnt house. There was still framework, but it looked like what a cardboard house would look like if burned half way through. There was a boy standing closer to the ruins, holding a few flowers.

I remembered this day. It may not have been the best day ever, but it was the start of several months of a friendship.

"What are you doing here?"

Suddenly my arm was pulled back, the wounds from Robert being stretched and making me yelp in pain.

I look at the boy. He had dark hair and hard eyes, and his voice was just as hard. He was now standing in front of me, letting me see that he wore two pendants made of metal. One was clearly Sonic the Hedgehogs logo, and the other was Mega Mans.

He saw the picture in my hand and glowered before snatching it away from me. "Keep out of my stuff New Girl!" He shouted as he let go and walked away.

I simply laid there, lost to my unconsciousness and glad to escape the pain for now. That is until I felt a gentle hand wipe something off my cheek. Slowly I started to become aware of everything around me. I was in a soft bed, there was something wrapped around my head and middle. I slowly opened my eyes so see I was back in the lair. the morning sun was shinning in making me blink a little.

"Em?"

I look over and see Ty sitting on the edge of my bed. He looked relieved, but still a little worried. "Hey," He said. "You okay?"

I nodded. "I have a headache though.."

He smiled at me. "I kinda figured since you hit the back of your head."

I carefully reach back and tenderly touch where I hit, now realizing that my head was bandaged. "What happened?"

Ty was about to answer, but Sly had poked his head in. "I thought I heard talking. How're ya feeling Em?"

I smile at him. "Better than before I guess. But what happened?"

Sly's smile faltered a bit. "An old enemy. We all thought that he was destroyed forever. I guess he wasn't. But his name is Clockwerk, and he's been hunting Coopers for generations. That's why he's mostly robot now, he replaced his organic parts with metal so that he'd continue living."

I shudder, remembering what Robotnic did to the Mobians. But I couldn't imagine someone wanting that fate and doing it to themselves willingly. As Sly explained about Clockwerk and what had happened last night, Metal, Murray, Bentley, the boys, Solas and a female fox came in, very suddenly filling my room. They all took turns in sharing what had happened, and I guess I missed quite a fight.

The heartless were close to getting me since I was down, but the boys took care of them while the Cooper gang took care of Clockwerk. My guess was that the heartless were stronger this time.

"Metal threw something at Metal," Sly said. "but I didn't get to see what it was, and he won't tell us what it was."

"I said I wouldn't until Emily was awake." Metal said. "And now that she is, it was a tracer. It landed on the inside of his left leg as he was flying away. We'll be able to track him easier that way."

"And why would you want to track him?" The fox asked, in a smooth hispanic voice.

"Simple." Riku said. "He showed up right as the Heartless do. Heartless feed off the darkness in peoples hearts and swarm around the darkest heart they can find until there's nothing left of it and turn their 'Meal' into a heartless."

"But if the heartless are here…" I said, carefully sitting up. "Then Mephilis is here too. And Robert."

"Who?" Bentley asked.

"A couple of our old Enemies." Ty explained.

"Sly, you said that Clockwerk was willing to trade his living parts for metallic parts right?" Riku asked, getting a nod from Sly. "Then Mephilis muth be using Clockwerk to fuel the heartless. That's why they were so strong in that fight."

"Wait," I said, getting everyones attention. "Did you get the statue?"

Sly smiled and the fox glared. "I did." He said. "So it'll buy us a little time to figure out what they want with them. Oh! Emily, this is Inspector Carmelita Foxx. Carm, this is Emily, she helped me out when I appeared on her ship."

Carmelita and I looked at each other for a moment, but she soon smiled and offered to shake my hand. "A pleasure to meet you Emily. And thanks for bringing Sly back so I can eventually arrest him."

I chuckled and shook her hand. "The pleasure is mine. Sly told us a lot about you."

"But now the question is," Solas said. "How's Em going to join us for the fight? She's too hurt."

"That's easy Solas." Riku said. "Ty, you've studied on Cure right?"

Ty nodded.

"Then this should be easy." Roxas put in. "Ty, pull out your Keyblade."

"Key…what?" Carmelita asked.

Sly chuckled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Trust me Carm, this is pretty cool."

Ty did as he was told, extending his hand and bringing out his keyblade, which he dubbed as The Angels Creed, since there was a blade the exact opposite of it called the Devils Creed. Carmelita had jumped at the sudden appearance of the blade, and blinked when Riku and Roxas summoned theirs.

"Em," Riku said. "Could you lay down again for us?"

I nodded and laid down. It felt good to lay down since my head was throbbing now, but I was ignoring it best I can. Ty followed Riku's and Roxas' lead as the three of them crossed their Blades over me. I could already feel an energy sparking between them.

"You know the word, right Ty?" Roxas asked.

"Yeah," Ty said. "I remember. Cure was the first one that Mickey taught me."

"Alright," Riku said.

I took a breath and relaxed. I remembered Ty working with King Mickey on this trick, but I didn't think I'd be subject to it.

"Leigheas," Ty murmured.

I breathe in again as a warm, comfortable wave of energy flowed in from the Keyblades. It felt similar to Chaos Energy, but without the pain in the beginning. I smiled as the warmth spread into my arms and to where apparently one of Clockwerks claws had gotten me. The warmth continued until it reached my head where I hit it. At first it felt like I had a fever, but then it felt comfortable again and I almost fell asleep again.

But soon the warmth left me and I woke up from my 'almost-asleep' state. I stretch, all the pain in my side was gone. I sit up and touch my head, again there was no pain. "Dang that worked great!"

"You're completely healed?!" Bentley asked.

"I am." I replied. "And I'm ready to get a Buzzard."

Metal smiled. "There's the Em we know."

Sly also smiled. "So am I. It's high time to be rid of that bird once and for all.

"And I know just where he is." Metal said. "A water Tower thirteen miles North-West from here."