Tails was attaching the green emerald to the front of the new plane. It was at the usual place, directly on the propeller.
The plane itself was really a sight to behold: Painted in a cobalt blue, and decorated with the picture of two fox tails. Along the sides of the wings, yellow stripes were running.
Tails stepped back and admired his handiwork. Yes, very nice.
Ami came out of the hut. "Hey, nice work, bro! So, we're finally ready to pursue some giant airship?"
"I think so, but I really hope that this time, it won't turn into a monster..."
Ami smirked. "Well, then I just have to punish it in the name of Mercury."
Tails chuckled. "Yeah, I forgot... my sister, the unstoppable Sailor Mercury! You know, Mercury has always been my favorite Senshi."
"Flatterer," his sister said. "Well, what should we do about Hotaru? We can't exactly take her with us, can we? I mean, it's gonna be pretty dangerous up there..."
"It's mainly her decision, but I'll try to convince her," Tails said. "Is she awake yet?"
"Wait, I'll take a look," Ami said.
But then, she stopped. Her Senshi senses were tingling...
And she jumped away just in time, when a small fireball hit the ground where she just stood.
"Aw, I missed," Alpha whined. She was standing at the edge of the hill, accompanied by all the E-Series robots (minus Beta and Gamma). "Well, these guys can aim better than me anyways. Now, would you please tell me where you hid Hotaru Robotnik? Her father is really worried about her."
"She's getting back to him when she wants, not because some tin cans are shooting at her friends before asking questions," Tails replied. "Ami, behind the hut!"
"Got it," she nodded and ran back.
Alpha pointed at the small fox. "Get him, boys," she shouted.
"Affirmative!" the robots Delta, Epsilon and Delta said as one. They raised their arm cannons and fired.
But although they were being equipped with lock-on devices, Tails was simply too fast for them. He ran, flew and rolled under the various missiles and laser blasts, until he reached Alpha.
"Gotcha," he said and smacked her hardly with his tails.
"Ouch," she said. "How can a hit from two fox tails hurt that much? Aqua Breath!"
The watery blast shot Tails away from the daimon and her minions. And as he was lying dizzily on the ground, he wasn't able to see the robots that were once again raising their weapons.
"Shabon Spray!" And all of a sudden, a thick mist coated the area. The robots lowered their weapons in confusion, unable to aim in that mist.
Sailor Mercury ran up to her brother and helped him up. "Are you all right?" she asked. Tails nodded. "Yeah! Thanks!"
"Aeroblast!" A massive burst of wind swept the mist away. "If you want to have it done right, do it yourself," Alpha snorted. She took aim. "Aqua Breath!"
Mercury responded immediately. "Shabon Spray Freezing!" The water lance turned into a heavy block of ice that fell down on the floor and shattered.
"Now you've done it," Alpha snarled. "You made me really angry."
Suddenly, the door of the workshop burst open and Hotaru was standing there. She seemed to be looking down at the ground.
"Ah, there you are, sweetie," the daimon said. "Your father wants you to come with me. Hurry up or I'll have to hurt your friends."
Hotaru slowly looked up. Her eyes were a gleaming purple... it looked creepy, somehow.
Alpha laughed nervously. "That girl gives me the creeps."
Hotaru looked at the E-Series and raised her hand. A blast of purple energy shot out of it and hit all of the robots at once.
And with a big explosion, the metal bodies of the robots were reduced to a pile of scrap metal. Luckily, the animals that were powering them survived the blast, somehow.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" Alpha yelled angrily. "We were just taking you back to daddy, so what do you think you're doing?"
Hotaru slowly turned around her head and STARED at her. Alpha gulped and sweated while stepping back. "Um, I think I'll go now... yeah, that would be the best. Bye..." And she ran away as fast as she could.
Tails and Ami looked at their friend in confusion. "Hotaru?"
Then, Hotaru closed her eyes and swooned. Tails was fast enough to catch her before she hit the ground.
When Hotaru opened her eyes again, they were their normal color. "W-what happened?"
"You mean you don't remember anything?" Ami asked.
"Remember what?" Hotaru asked puzzled. "I just know that the racket outside woke me up, and when I went to tell you to keep your voices down a little, I somehow felt dizzy... And the next thing I know, I'm out here, and Tails is holding me. Can YOU tell me what exactly happened?"
Tails looked at his sister worriedly. Just what happened to Hotaru?
----
"Are you sure you want to come along, Hotaru?" Tails asked in a worried tone.
His human friend nodded. "Definitely! I have to confront my father. If what you told me about this 'Chaos' is true, I have to talk him out of it. I know he doesn't like other humans very much, but... perhaps he's listening to me."
"All right then," Ami said. "Good thing we built in three seats for the Tornado II." She was already sitting in the navigator's seat. "I checked all systems, if you are ready, we can start!"
Hotaru nodded and jumped into the gunner's seat. "You know how to use that?" Ami asked. Hotaru smiled. "Hey, my father creates all kinds of weapons for his robots, all the time. I should have picked something up from him."
Tails nodded and manned the pilot's seat. "Okay then, time to fly!"
Tails activated the main engine. "Emerald power flow constant. All systems working."
Ami pressed a few buttons on the computer. "Navigation system online. Weather is fine, only a small breeze. Wind direction is northeast."
Hotaru checked her weapons. "Gun and missile status okay. All weapons working."
Tails sighed. "Okay then, Tornado II ready for takeoff!"
He looked at the emerald power display. "Emerald, do your stuff," he murmured.
In front of them, the big door of his underground hangar opened. And then the young fox gripped the joystick and let the Tornado II fly.
"Away we go!"
----
Sailor Moon looked down at Neptune and Uranus. "You sure you don't want to come?"
"We're pretty sure," Uranus said. "First thing, we don't even fit all in that thing. Second thing, we still have to find the third talisman. But good to know that we're on the same side, now."
Usagi smiled. "Yes, that's really nice."
Sonic looked at Amy. "You really wanna come along? It could be pretty dangerous."
"And what of it? I can take care of myself pretty well, Sonic. Let that egg-head try to get me. I'll make him pay with my mallet."
Sonic laughed. "Well, I won't stop you... it's your decision."
"Right," the pink hedgehog nodded. "After all, Chibiusa is my friend as well."
"Well, it's a pity we can't come with you," Venus said. "But Amy and Sonic will be a great help, I'm sure."
"Yeah," Jupiter added. "We'll try to find Rei and help her find the remaining Master Emerald shards. And afterwards, perhaps I can help Minako talk to Rouge... she seemed kinda upset that she just left her behind."
"I understand," Usagi nodded. "I promise I come back with Chibiusa, Diana, the Chaos Emeralds, and, if I'm lucky, perhaps even with Luna, Artemis and Mamoru."
Sonic, Amy and Sailor Moon entered the Moon Jet. The others waved, while those three started their engine and took off themselves.
----
Chibiusa woke up startled. "What's wrong, Chibiusa?" Diana asked.
"They're coming for us," the future daughter of Usagi and Mamoru whispered. "I know it, Usagi and the others will get us out of this ship." She stood up. "Come on, let's keep on searching. We have to find an exit out of this maze."
Diana sighed. "All right... but I didn't even have breakfast."
They left the bathroom where they had spent the night in hiding and continued walking through the endless corridors of the Egg Carrier.
----
Knuckles, Rei, Big and Cream had spend a similar night in the cargo area of the ship. By now, they were searching for a way to the ship's aquarium.
"I can feel it," Knuckles murmured. "The emerald shards have to be around here somewhere."
"Froggy, too?" Big said in an excited voice. Cream smiled. "I'm so happy for you, Mr. Big!"
"Chao chao chao," Cheese added happily.
Rei sighed. "I'm afraid this is going to be a hard day for all of us..."
----
Dr. Eggman couldn't sleep that night. "Hotaru..." he murmured. "Where are you? How could you leave your father like this? Don't you know how worried I am?"
E-102-Gamma came in. "Sir, the Egg Carrier is ready to fly back to the base." ('We wasted enough of our time, let's head back already.')
The scientist sighed. "All right, I'm coming."
After he entered the bridge, Metal Sonic stepped up next to him. "Doctor, you don't look so well. Did you sleep well?"
"Spare me the stupid questions," Eggman snapped, back to his obnoxious manners. "Prepare the ship for leaving, we are done here. Let's head back to the base..." He looked onto a monitor. "Hmmm, look's like it's gonna be pretty stormy today..."
Several minutes later (the storm began to intensify), Alpha walked up to Eggman. "Sir," she reported. "There are two aircrafts approaching us from two different directions. One of them is the white plane of the Senshi. The other one is unknown, but... that two-tailed fox and your daughter are on board!"
"WHAT?" Eggman yelled. "What is she doing out there with that damned Tails?"
"It looks like their intentions are not friendly," Metal Sonic muttered. "Shall I prepare the jet fighters for battle?"
"Okay, but make sure not to attack my daughter, you hear me? Concentrate your fire on the white aircraft! Deploy the air mines! Everyone on your post! Gamma, bring me the frog and the missing Chaos Emerald, you hear me? Don't fail me!"
----
"There it is," Sonic shouted. "The Egg Carrier!"
"Well, things are about to get ugly," Usagi shouted back. "We're getting into a storm."
"We have no choice," Sonic replied. "This could be our last chance of getting Eggman."
"I'm with you," Amy said. "Hey, look! There's another plane approaching the Egg Carrier!"
Sonic looked closer. "Isn't that... Tails?"
----
"Are you two okay?" Tails asked.
"Yes," Hotaru replied. "Only a little nervous about this weather."
"Sonic, I have a second plane on radar," exclaimed Ami. "It's the Moon Jet... Usagi is here, too!"
"Well, we're lucky then," Tails said while steering the Tornado II to the right. "Because there are the first attackers!"
"Brace yourselves!" Ami shouted, and then they entered the battle between Eggman's jets and the Moon Jet.
----
The door opened. Chibiusa looked out, slipped into the room and sighed. Only a few seconds later, Diana followed her. "I think we finally found the exit," the grey kitten said. Chibiusa nodded. "Yeah, but it took us longer to find it then I thought it would." She looked around the room. "You know, that Eggman sure is a strange guy. I mean, why should he have a swimming pool aboard his battle airship?"
Diana shrugged as best as a cat could. "Let's get out of here, shall we?"
But before they could go any step further, a blinding light surrounded them.
----
Chibiusa blinked. "Wow, that sure was bright."
"Yeah, but look around. This isn't the place we were in just now."
Diana was right. They were in a place Knuckles and Rei had already seen... the village of the echidnas.
"That's strange..." murmured Chibiusa. "There are echidnas everywhere. But you know, when that light blinded us, I had a weird feeling that somehow felt familiar. I think it kinda felt like when I use the key to travel through time."
"You mean we're in the past?" Diana asked.
"Perhaps. Come on, let's ask someone around here."
Just then, they heard a loud voice nearby. The voice of a girl.
"Please, father, don't..."
It was a young, orange-furred echidna girl who was talking to an elderly echidna with a beard. His clothes suggested that he could be the tribe's leader.
"Tikal," the old man said. "The seven emeralds are essential to our survival. It is for the good of the people."
"How can I make you understand?" Tikal asked desperately. "Attacking other countries, stealing and killing, can't be the right path to peace. No one should be allowed to take their holy grounds."
But her father just shook his head and walked away.
"Please, father, I beg you!" Tikal hurried after him.
Chibiusa scratched her head. "What was that all about?"
----
Suddenly, they re-appeared in the Egg Carrier's pool room. Chibiusa shook her head. "Strange. But I think we were being sent there for a reason."
"You think so?" Diana asked.
Chibiusa nodded. "I'm pretty sure of it. I think someone wanted us to listen to that conversation."
"Let's talk about that later, okay? I think we should just concentrate on escaping now."
"Yes," the pink-furred girl agreed. "You're right. Come on, let's get out of here!"
----
Tails wiped his brow as the last of the fighters went down. "Phew," he said. "That was too close."
"You can say that again," Ami agreed. "Now, to land on that thing."
Tails nodded, but then, he realized something.
"Ooops..."
His sister looked at him. "What's up?"
"I forgot something..."
"What's that?" Hotaru asked.
Tails laughed nervously. "I forgot to put in the landing gear."
Ami groaned. "Oh, bro..."
----
After an uncomfortable landing, both the Tornado II and the Moon Jet were standing next to each other on the Egg Carrier's wide deck.
Usagi ran up to the blue fox and hugged her. "Ami!"
Ami was surprised. "Usagi? Hey, what's wrong?"
The hedgehog of the moon sniffed. "That meanie Eggman! He kidnapped Chibiusa and Diana!"
Ami gasped. "Oh no!"
Sonic growled. "I think it's time to tach that slimeball a lesson."
But Hotaru shook her head. "No, please don't hurt him."
"Huh?" Sonic was puzzled. "Why not? And who are you, by the way?"
Hotaru stared at the ground. "My name is Hotaru. I am... Dr. Robotnik is... he's my father."
"You gotta be kidding me," Sonic blurted out. "How could a guy like him have such a girl as a daughter?"
Hotaru glared at him. "Okay, continue insulting him. When you are ready, we can go and talk to him about it, right?"
Amy bopped Sonic gently on the head. "Sonic, try not to be so rude, okay?" She walked up to the blue fox. "Hi, I haven't seen you before. From your looks I'd say you are one of Tails' relatives. He and I have been friends for a long time by now."
Tails grinned. "Amy, meet Ami! Ami, meet Amy!"
Amy blinked.
Ami blinked.
Then they both giggled. "Nice name you have," the pink hedgehog finally said.
"Yeah," Tails' sister nodded. "I can say the same for you."
Sonic looked around the Egg Carrier in amazement. "Wow," he said. "That thing is really huge."
"No time to gawk, Sonic," Tails reminded him. "We have to find Eggman... and your friend, what's her name again?"
"Chibiusa..." Usagi said. "And she's my daughter from the future."
Tails shrugged. Wasn't too strange. Not after everything that happened to him and Sonic.
Then, a door opened and a small girl with a grey cat appeared. She smiled when she saw her friends. "Usagi!"
Usagi laughed in relief. "Chibiusa! You're okay!"
They ran towards each other.
But suddenly, a big shape descended onto them. It was the Eggmobile.
"Haha, looks like everyone's here for the party," Eggman chuckled. "But it's too late..." His vessel extended a mechanical arm and reached for Chibiusa.
"NO!" Usagi cried and jumped towards her future daughter. She managed to push her out of the way, but the blue Chaos Emerald rolled over the ship's deck.
The Eggmobile's arm grabbed the emerald and delivered it to the scientist. "Hahaha," he shouted. "Too slow!"
Hotaru stepped forward. "Papa, please... stop this! Let my friends go and stop hurting everyone!"
The doctor looked at his daughter in surprise. "Hotaru?" Then his gaze hardened. "I thought I told you to stay back at the base."
"I don't want to be captured in your metal prison all the time, Papa," she said. "I want to be free, to meet my friends... And you never take care of me." She was almost crying.
The doctor grumbled. "I really don't have time for this..." He snapped his fingers. A dark shape shot out of the sky, swooped down on the unsuspecting group, scooped up Hotaru and flew up again.
"Believe me, this is for your best," Metal Sonic told the struggling girl.
"Bring her back to the base," Eggman said. "And make sure to treat her well."
The robot nodded. "Yes, doctor!"
"Mamoru!" Usagi shouted. "Put Hotaru down right now!"
Metal Sonic glared at his ex-girlfriend. "How many times do I have to tell you, my name is METAL... SONIC!" And he fired a plasma shot at Sailor Moon.
She dodged in time, but couldn't stop the metal hedgehog as he turned around and flew away from the Egg Carrier, together with Hotaru.
Tails looked really worried, but Ami put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry! I'm sure she'll be fine."
Sonic looked up to his archenemy. "Doctor, this time you've gone too far. Come down here and take your punishment like a good egg!"
The scientist fumed. "Be gone! All of you! This is all I really need! Gamma!"
And the red robot stepped out of the door behind them. "What is your wish, Master Robotnik?" ('What NOW?')
"Get rid of these pests! Show them what you've got! And don't disappoint me, or else..."
E-102-Gamma looked at the assembled group. The mechanical eyes wandered to Usagi and Diana.
"Aye aye, sir! I will comply!" ('Curse you, Robotnik... but I have no choice.')
The robot raised its gun and aimed for the heroes.
Sonic snarled. "I'll make him eat dirt."
Usagi pondered. "That voice... can it be? It's... it's Luna!"
Diana gasped. "My mother?"
Amy stepped in front of the blue hedgehog. "Stop it, Sonic!"
"A-Amy? But that's one of Eggman's clunkers! Out of the way!"
"No!" shouted Chibiusa. "This robot is different. She helped me earlier by letting me and Diana escape. And if it's really Luna..."
"I don't have time for this," Eggman grumbled to himself. Without the others noticing it, he flew over to the planes and pulled the green emerald off its place on the Tornado II. Afterwards, he flew towards the front of the ship.
"Okay," Sonic said finally. "I guess I'll let her go, then."
Usagi looked at Luna with pleading eyes. "Luna, please... try to remember! We are friends, right? You wouldn't hurt me... or your daughter, Diana? Please, come to your senses."
"It's no use," Tails said. "She's being controlled completely by Eggman's programming."
E-102's gaze wandered back to the small kitten. Like a flash, images appeared before its eyes. Dr. Eggman... Chibiusa and Diana in the cell... Beta, as he was hanging inside the machine that was re-assembling his parts, the picture of Diana, Artemis and... herself. Luna.
Gamma lowered her weapon. "Dr. Robotnik... enemy! Master registration... deleted! Senshi... friends! Must... help!"
('Usagi... Diana... what have I done? Artemis... I won't let myself being controlled by that machine anymore. I won't! I WON'T!')
And with a flash, the robot's body jerked around. Finally, it looked around and said, with a slightly more normal-sounding voice:
"Everyone... I'm back!"
"LUNA!" the Senshi cried.
"MOM!" Diana shouted happily.
Luna/Gamma looked down at her robotic body. "Wow... I really changed since we last saw each other, huh?"
Sailor Moon raised her Moon Rod. "Don't worry! I'll turn you back to your old self. Just you wait!"
But the robot stopped her. "No... Usagi, wait! I... I want to stay like this, at least until we can save Artemis. He shouldn't suffer longer then myself. And besides..." She raised her arm cannon. "These weapons will come in handy, right?"
Usagi lowered her rod, a little sad about Luna's decision. "Oh... okay! If that's what you want..."
"Can we go now?" Chibiusa asked. Usagi looked down at her. "Well, we still have to capture Eggman... but it's too dangerous to take you along."
That made Chibiusa frown. "No, that's not true! I'm a Senshi, too! And now I'm gonna stay and kick that egg-head into his... you know..."
Suddenly, they heard a sound, like that of a jet engine. They looked up and saw a white robot flying towards them. It was Beta... but he had changed. He had no longer any legs, and his arms were now massive and had sharp claws. On his back, a more advanced missile launcher was attached.
And when E-101-MK II flew down, Gamma/Luna stared up at him.
"Artemis..."