CHAPTER 19: Doomsayer


Two hours later...

Sonic, Tails, Amy, Cream and Knuckles were enjoying a round of milkshakes in the plaza, while enjoying the pleasant afternoon sun. They had been taking turns on what had been going on through their day. Amy had divulged her version of Elise's escape in engrossing detail, but when she got to her little pep talk about love to Elise, Sonic couldn't help but snort in his milkshake. Oh, Amy, if only you knew... Sonic thought, summoning all his mental strength to keep from giggling.

Tails and Knuckles told how they ran into the Chaotix, who happened to be babysitting Cream the entire time. "Apparently, Kintobor has been hiding beneath the city most of the time," Knuckles said.

Tails added in, "Espio found that out when he was looking for leads in this thing called Project Solaris."

"Don't waste your breath explaining it to me," Sonic quickly cut in. "Elise gave me the gist of it."

"Yeah," Tails agreed. "Especially since Dr. Kintobor practically said so last night. We just didn't know it at the time."

Sonic here had to laugh. "Man, is it just me, or has it felt longer than that?"

"Well, we DID get stranded in the future for who knows how long!" Knuckles said.

"Yeah, but it's still nuts!" Sonic still laughed. "Who would have thought time could be so wonky!?"

Knuckles placed his elbows on the table, and rested his head in his hands. "At least someone had a good time..."

"Anyway," Tails continued. "While Espio was down there, he found this Talisman of Lightning. Needless to say, he took it."

"Heh, that was smart." Sonic picked up the Talisman of Lightning, and then held up the Talisman of Water that Elise had stolen from White Acropolis. "These things remind me way to much of the Chaos Emeralds." Sonic started juggling the Talismans; he thought easier when his hands were occupied.

"I think they ARE the Chaos Emeralds," Knuckles pointed out. "Ask the Echidna, let alone the Guardian of Power Gems like that." Knuckles the pointed to the Talismans, flipping through the air as Sonic continued. "The energy from those Talismans feels like the power of the Chaos Emeralds."

"Does that mean they're the Chaos Emeralds?" Amy asked.

"Or they behave the exact same way," Tails said logically.

"That too," Knuckles said. "You guys had the red one, right?"

"Yeah," Sonic said, his attention unwavering from the Talismans. "Then Kinty swiped it from us when he sent us on that time trip. Man, I wish we had another one. Juggling two is too easy."

"Any idea where the others are?" Amy said.

"List them for me, Tails." Sonic kept juggling.

"Ok," Tails said obediently. "There are seven Chaos Emeralds—"

"Eight," Knuckles corrected. "Can't forget the black one."

At the mention of the Black Chaos Emerald, Sonic faltered and dropped one of the Talismans, which in turn smacked into the ground with a metal ping. "How could I forget? Nazo nearly roasted us with it, let alone what he did to Shadow." Sonic had painful memories encountering the Black Chaos Emerald, especially since he seemed to keep running into it one way or another, since the Biolizard had it embedded in his life-support back on the ARK.

"Yeah," Tails said, trying to change the darkening mood. "Well, we have the blue and purple ones…Dr. Kintobor has the red one…that's three so far…"

"Oh! I forgot!" Sonic exclaimed, restarting his juggling. "Shadow had the green one…and that punk Silver has the white one…"

Amy's wrist twitched slightly at the mention of Silver's name, but she couldn't help to ask. "How do you know? He didn't have one when I was 'helping' him. Did you see one, Cream?"

"Mmm, no, I didn't see anything like that," the rabbit replied, taking a fresh sip of her strawberry milkshake.

"Well, that makes five," Tails continued. "Blue, purple, red, white, green…that just leaves three…light blue…yellow—"

"And the other one," Knuckles interrupted again.

No one saw the need to reiterate Knuckles' statement, so didn't bother to. "Where do you think the others are?"

"Kinty probably has them. Would be nice to have the two others, wouldn't it? That way I could just go Super or whatever and make sure Kinty doesn't built another Egg Carrier look-a-like."

"It would," Knuckles said dryly, sipping his vanilla milkshake, although he wondered mildly if there were grape milkshakes somewhere.

"Something on your mind, Knux?" Sonic asked, resting from juggling and sipping a thick minty chocolate milkshake.

"You might say that," Knuckles said. "We've been stuck here for the last three days and we aren't any closer to finding a way back home. When we separated after being stranded here, Shadow and Rouge left to find Chaos Emeralds, but I haven't seen hair nor hide of them since then, except in the future, but that doesn't count…not that I care to see them, mind you."

"Well, cheep up, buddy," Sonic said, slapping a hand across Knuckles' shoulders whom took the strike tolerantly. "If these Talismans are just like the seven Chaos Emeralds, then we can get back no sweat. After all, we already learned how to time travel with Chaos Control, and that was just with two Emeralds. No doubt we can jump dimensions with seven!"

Knuckles grunted. He hated admitting Sonic was right, but at least what Sonic said was encouraging. Maybe Sonic wasn't such a self-righteous jerk after all.

"But Sonic," Tails said. "How are we going to find the other two Talismans? I left my Chaos energy tracker back in my hut in Knothole!"

"You can't...but Rouge can," Sonic said, smiling. "She carries it around all the time since she gyp'd it off jolly ol' Eggman!"

No one heard a sigh of disgust from Knuckles.

"Wait," Amy said. "Why do we need Rouge? Isn't Knuckles here some kind of treasure hunter?"

See, Sonic , this kid knows what's she's talking about, Knuckles thought, smiling.

Cream followed up innocently with, "Maybe he is one, just not a very good one…"

Watch it, kid… Knuckles thought as he side-eyed Cream, as Tails and Amy coughed to hide their laughed, while Sonic merely snorted.

"Hey, it sounds like an idea to me," the blue hedgehog finally said. "Whaddya say, Knux ol' pal?"

Knuckles rose up from his chair, took his now empty cup of milkshake, ground it into a ball with his hands and heaved it into a nearby trashcan, making it in. "Beats doing nothing."

"Then take this," Tails said, offering the holo-chip that the Chaotix left with them. Knuckles took it from Tails hands. "If Eggman has at least one of them, that map should help you navigate the base beneath the city."

"Good thinking, Tails," Sonic said, and then quickly snatched up the Talisman of Water. "I'm going to go find the doctor himself. I think it's time to show him a piece of my mind, and since I know that these Talismans are worthless to use as bargaining chips with him, I'll just use it as it should be." Here, Sonic gave a grin. The rest of the gang didn't have to imagine hard on what Sonic was thinking.

Suddenly, a dull rumble echoed through the city. The crew and other townspeople suddenly grew alarmed at this new development. "What's happening?" Cream asked, frightened. Cheese huddled close to her, feeling her mistress' fear.

Sonic scanned the skies; he knew what made it. Quickly, he found it. The EG-Carrier was hovering over the city like an ominous thunderstorm ready to unleash its fury.

Knuckles saw it too. "He really IS like Eggman; he just doesn't know when to quit."

Amy groaned, "Not him again…"

Sonic turned to the others. "I'm going to go to the castle. Kinty is obviously after Elise again, and I'm not about to let him have it." Without another word, Sonic took off.

Seconds after, a booming voice rolled through the skies like thunder. "Princess Elise the Third of Soleanna…because of you consistent refusal to cooperate with me, I have been force to take drastic measures…Meet me at the rendezvous point that I will provide via my reconnaissance drone; it will also provide you the time upon which you must arrive…Failure to comply will result in my leveling of this city, until nothing of ashes remain…Don't disappoint me, Your Grace…"

- - - - -

At the castle, Princess Elise was on the terrace platform that overlooked Soleanna. She could see the EG-Carrier ominously hovering over the city, and she had also heard Dr. Robotnik's terms. True to his word, a reconnaissance drone had stopped by and dropped off a PED-like device which displayed the rendezvous point. The last part of the terms disturbed her. Was Dr. Kintobor really willing to commit wanton destruction and mass-slaughter of thousands of her people? Elise had learned within the last few days to expect the worst to happen, and this appears to be it. Elise had to do something…it was her duty to protect the citizens of Soleanna.

"Your Grace?" said one of her attendants at her side.

"I cannot allow harm to come to my people. It is my duty to go…"

"Your Grace," said an older man behind her. "You are indeed the Princess, but as caretaker for the throne until you come of age, I still lead the people, with all due respect. If anyone should go, I should go."

Elise turned to the older man, "It's all right, Edgar. You are correct that you are politically the leader until I turn 18, but Dr. Kintobor specifically requested that I must go. If anyone else shows up in my stead, I fear Dr. Kintobor will destroy Soleanna completely. I cannot take that chance. Therefore, I take my leave."

Elise walked into the castle, and her attendants looked on apprehensively after her. Steward Edgar Prius looked on after her, but kept silent. Merely, he looked at a nearby mosaic of a white eagle, which portrayed Solaris. "Look after our dearest Elise, my Lord. She possesses the heart of Soleanna, and stands between us and our ruin. Please guide the hero to her swiftly as your winds."

- - - - -

Shadow and Silver leaped out of a portal, and landed in Clock Tower Square inside New Town. They had returned from the past after witnessing the destruction of Project Solaris and having discovered the truth behind it. "Did we make it?" Silver asked, watching the portal close behind him.

"Yes, we have arrived in the correct time," Shadow said, looking at his wrist communicator—which displayed the time and date.

"Looks like you boys made it back in one piece," said a voice familiar only to Shadow.

Both looked behind them and saw a lilac-colored cat, a white fruit-bat and a blue-hedgehog like android. Apparently, they had been waiting for them. Shadow and Silver walked up to them. Blaze broke off with the group to rejoin Silver, and Shadow went on to join Rouge and Mecha.

Shadow noticed one member of the party was absent. "Where is the Viper?"

Rouge and Mecha looked at each other. Mecha then answered. "He never returned. He did call in and he immediately inquired upon the whereabouts of Mephiles. I had been tracking him since we discovered him earlier this morning, and found that he was now fixed in one location near the coast-side cliffs. Without another word, Viper signed off. I assume he intends to confront Mephiles."

Rouge looked soberly at Viper. "Viper sounded like he was acting really weird about it too."

Shadow crossed his arms. "We will need to follow him. Mephiles is dangerous and while Viper is indeed a powerful ally, Mephiles might be too much for him. We may need to provide aid. Let's move!"

Shadow skated off quickly, and Mecha quickly followed. Rouge's gaze followed for a second, then she too followed, thinking to herself, This is getting more and more weird all the time…

Silver and Blaze got distracted at Shadow's sudden departure, but didn't inquire upon it. Blaze looked at Silver. "What did you see?"

Silver didn't answer right away; he had kept his problems to himself for the last few days and things were finally starting to boil over. Silver took a deep breath, then said, "The Iblis Trigger…is NOT Sonic the Hedgehog."

Silver then launched into an account on what had happened ten years before now, and launched into what he had been seeing in these visions, since the latest one happened back in the past.

"So…Mephiles has been lying to us," Blaze said.

"Yes…" Silver said.

Blaze crossed her arms. "So…this entire hunt…was for nothing."

Silver heaved a sigh. It seemed that there was indeed no hope for his time. He found himself distracted by uneasy murmurs by the surrounding public, who were so distracted by something that they didn't even notice the appearance of Shadow and Silver moments before. "Hey, Blaze, what's up with these people?"

Blaze looked around. "It's new. Dr. Kintobor issued a threat to the Princess of Soleanna, that if she didn't surrender herself to him, this city would be utterly destroyed." Blaze looked at Silver, whose gaze was suddenly fixed. "Silver?"

Silver's mind was working furiously. Dr. Kintobor was pursuing the Princess of Soleanna, Princess Elise III. Just moments (to him) before, Silver had brought the Princess—then only six years old—out of the labs to safety, and inside of her rested—Silver suddenly gasped.

"Blaze! Inside the princess' soul rests Iblis! If Dr. Kintobor is after Princess Elise…" Silver began.

"Then it is possible that Dr. Kintobor is seeking to release Iblis!" Blaze finished, her mind working as well.

"We have to stop him!" Silver cried out. "We can't even let her cry!"

"How are we going to get to the ship?" Blaze said. "I know you can pyschokinetically fly, but you might wear out by the time you get up there."

"We're going to need Sonic," Silver said.

Blaze looked at Silver. "Do you think he'll be ready to accept our help?"

"I don't know…but we don't have a chance otherwise…"

Blaze had to nod. Their former enemy had just become their strongest ally, and they needed his help. "Come, we must head for Kingdom Valley. Dr. Kintobor had made stops nearby before, so we might have a chance when that happens."

Silver nodded. "Let's do it!"

- - - - -

Sometime later…

Elise was sitting in the cockpit seat of the EG-Carrier, after coming aboard under the duress of the total annihilation of her city of Soleanna. The only reason she was here now was for her people, so she came willingly. However, that didn't mean that she would make things easier on Dr. Kintobor.

Dr. Kintobor had noticed that too. Elise wasn't the frightened young girl that he had captured several times before. Sitting in front of him now was a girl fit to be a ruler. She was solemn, silent and only spoke when she was asked a question. She was stern and firm, and Dr. Kintobor felt that he had a challenge ahead of him. He may have to continue some rather unorthodox methods to persuade her to cooperate.

"I wish it hadn't come to this, my dear Princess, but you and that blasted hedgehog have wasted so much of my time. If only you had cooperated from the start, it would have never to come to this…" Dr. Kintobor said, cordially.

"Spare the details, Dr. Kintobor," Elise said firmly, every inch the queen she would inevitably become. "What are you trying to accomplish here? You owe me that much, Doctor, especially since you want to summon the very thing that will destroy the world, the Flames of Solaris."

Dr. Kintobor had to lift an eyebrow. Had the Princess always been that way, or has that hedgehog's headstrong influence played a part in it? Either way, he didn't like it. "My dear girl, did not your parents ever disclose to you the secrets of Solaris?"

Elise made no answer. Merely, she kept her act going by refusing to grace the doctor with a look.

"The secrets of Solaris rest within His eternal flames."

"And for good reason," Elise replied, still not looking at Kintobor. "Solaris knows that if they fell into the wrong hands, it would be abused…and so far, he's right."

"Hmph," Dr. Kintobor sniffed. "Do you know what your father was pursuing in Project Solaris? I know you know, Your Grace. You knew what exactly I was planning for Sonic and his little friends back in White Acropolis when I said the machine was a Solaris prototype."

Elise made no answer.

"Solaris' power rests in his eternal flames, indeed, but those flames have a secret of their own. They hold the power of time, and even…the powers to control the very fabric of time itself. That's what Project Solaris was about, that's what your father sought. He wanted to control the fabric of time himself…a lot like me!"

"That's where you're wrong, Doctor," Elise said, finally looking at Kintobor. "My father isn't anything like you."

"Poor little girl," The doctor said in a voice that bothered Elise. "Your father headed that project, to master control of time from Solaris. He failed…but he unwittingly proved something…that in fact, anyone CAN possess that power." The doctor leaned in close to Elise's face. "That's what I want, Your Grace, the very power your own dear father the King wanted. I want to rule time; past, present and future. I want to rule and dominate all time! Me! Dr. Kintobor, the emperor of time!"

"You…want to rule over…time?" Elise said, forgetting her act.

"Indeed, my young Princess…just like your father wanted."

"That's not true!" Elise cried out. "My father only sought to help the people of Soleanna. He wasn't a power-hungry lunatic like you, Dr. Kintobor!"

"Believe what you want, Your Grace. In the end it doesn't matter."

Elise resumed her act, although she felt the blood hotly flow through her veins. "My father was three times the man you are. You won't stand a chance getting Solaris' power. He will destroy you if you try…"

"My dear—"

"You will address me properly, sir," Elise commanded.

Dr. Kintobor continued as if her commandment fell on deaf ears. "—you speak ignorantly. As a matter of fact, you don't even know what power rests within you, dear Princess."

"That's another thing," interrupted Elise once again. "That's the second time you have alluded to the idea that I have a power that you want. The only power I have is power over my people, as Crown Princess to the throne of Solaris."

"Again, born of ignorance," said Dr. Kintobor.

Elise waited. Dr. Kintobor is checking out the bait; now patience just might make him bite and reveal what exactly he is talking about…and one she knows, Sonic will be able to stop Dr. Kintobor once and for all.

"Your father blessed you with a power before he died, although you didn't even know it. That power now lies dormant within you, and it is the key to unlocking the Flames of Solaris. You will see how this is in due time. First, I must gather the Eight Talismans of Essence, for they too are a part of the equation: the Princess of Soleanna and the Eight Talismans of Essence. The powers of earth, water, wind, light, ice, lightning, fire and darkness, mixed with the very soul of the Princess will open the door to Solaris' flames, and then…will I become the Emperor of Time, Dr. Albus Kintobor!"

Here, the doctor gave a dark laughter, one that Elise never heard before, and it chilled her. This man truly was a power-hungry lunatic. Elise looked around the room and found on one side that the doctor had already obtained two of the Talismans, Fire and Ice. Elise distinctly recalled that Kintobor had five of them. Could have someone stolen some of them? She hoped so, because that delayed the Doctor, which increased her odds of getting rescued and the doctor finally meeting justice.

Suddenly, a computer voice said a warning. "Warning! Growing atmospheric disturbance detected! Warning! EG-Carrier's trajectory marks intercept with anomaly ETA three minutes. Recommend evasive maneuvers and alternate trajectory!"

Kintobor looked curious. "Display disturbance on screen."

"Affirmative." The computer displayed the coastal bluffs. Hovering over one end of the bluffs was an ominous, swirling mass of blackish cloud. Flickers of purplish lighting could be seen striking out violently; ready to strike anything that proceeded close.

"Hmph," sniffed the Doctor again. "I finally found you, Mephiles…"

Elise didn't hear the doctor. That cloud somehow disturbed her more than Dr. Kintobor did. There was something undeniably evil about that cloud.

Little did either of the two passengers on the EG-Carrier know that in the core of the vortex, a duel of fates was dancing its deadly steps.

- - - - -

Viper treaded the bluffs near the coastline. Somewhere here was his target: Mephiles. After informing Blaze about what's been going on behind the curtain with Mephiles, he checked in with Mecha and Rouge and immediately asked about Mephiles. Mecha had located him near the bluffs at the coastline. Signing off without another word, he marched straight from the mountainous country near Kingdom Valley and to the coast. Viper only had one thing on his mind…

As he maneuvered through the maze of cliffs, pillars and arches, he came upon a flat plateau-like area that overlooked the coast. On the far end of the flat sat two boulders, nestled deep into the earth. On the larger one sat Mephiles.

His back was turned away from Viper, and he seemed to be looking out over the seas. Viper followed his gaze the best he could and saw that nearly directly in line of his gaze was the EG-Carrier, Dr. Kintobor's battleship, and if he wasn't mistaken, it was going to past closely to the bluffs. Viper didn't appear bothered by it, so returned his gaze to the black hedgehog sitting alone on the boulder.

Despite the distance, Viper could hear him speak. "I will forever be amazed by humanity." Mephiles spoke. "There is an old saying that those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them. Don't you agree, Viper?"

Mephiles looked at Viper clear across the flat. Viper returned with his own glare. "Is that rhetorical? Because I don't feel obliged to answer it."

"Hmph, I suppose your own existence is a testament to man's foolishness. As is Shadow's. Despite humanity's willingness to strive for something that isn't even theirs, they are quick to oppress beings that have attained it, even if humanity was the one to bless them with it. As I have said, humanity truly is amazing…as well as misguided."

"You're not one to talk, Mephiles. From what I have seen, all you seek is to wipe out the world from its very existence. Pretty lame, if you ask me, but that's beside the point. I still don't get why you would want to do that."

Mephiles laughed. "The same reason why humans are foolish, Viper. It's just my nature…" Mephiles rose from the boulder and turned to Viper fully. "But I suppose a homunculus wouldn't know about nature, since homunculi have none."

Viper sniffed, and started pacing. "And yet, I'm your average happy-go-lucky guy. Can't you tell by looking at me?" Viper gave a wry smile.

Mephiles started laughing, and strangely enough, so did Viper. "You truly are unique, Mark Vasile. Oh, yes, I know your name. Do you know what else I absorbed from your own corruption?"

Without another word, Mephiles melted into an amorphous blob, black as tar. Soon, it grew, and started reforming. No longer did Mephiles take on the appearance of a hedgehog. Now Mephiles looked like a man, flesh of bluish-purple. His limbs from the elbows and knees remained splintered and crystalline, where elsewhere, the head, chest, torso and upper arms and legs were smooth flesh. His face resembled Viper's, but without scars and hair. The eyes remained green with hair-lit pupils, and they glowed deeply green. Out of his shoulders came out a pair of skeletal wings that resembled the wings of the Mayan god, Quetzalcoatl.

Viper laughed at this new look for Mephiles, and spoke as if someone else was watching. "Check it out, it's got wings. Well, I guess you weren't wrong. I'm sure you didn't get ugly from me."

"You truly are a piece of work, Viper," Mephiles spoke. "Looking into the very face of death and laughing at it. Truly, it will be a shame to destroy you."

Viper was not intimidated. "Aww, don't you think that's a little harsh? Killing me because you don't scare me? Please, spare me the melodramatics." Viper turned his back to Mephiles as if he was going to walk away, but then he whipped right back around and pointed his great-sword at Mephiles. "By the way, I'll take you up on a dance."

Mephiles looked down at Viper, and then raised one arm upwards to the sky. Instantly, clear day became stormy night. Black clouds instantly formed around them, twisting tortuously. Purplish lightning provided light sporadically, but it struck so often that light was not a problem.

"I'm still not impressed, Mephiles. Why don't you come down and fight me toe-to-toe before you get a crick in your neck from looking down at me?" Viper taunted.

"That can be arranged."

Without another word, Mephiles swooped down towards Viper, while Viper leaped up to intercept.

Elsewhere, from all around, various creatures stopped their current activities at seeing the coastline suddenly become shrouded by black clouds. From the Castle Town beaches, the people of Soleanna watched in terror as the cloud grew threatening to swallow the whole city up shortly. Knuckles, Tails, Amy and Cream watched mesmerized from their perches on the beach.

Sonic was rushing head long towards Kingdom Valley, when thunder reached his ears. Looking towards where they came from, he could see the black vortex twisting torturously over the bluffs. "What the heck is happening?"

Near Kingdom Valley, Silver and Blaze saw the bluffs suddenly become shrouded, and knew whom was causing it. "We need to hurry!" Silver cried out. "Time is running out!"

Shadow, Mecha and Rouge arrived on the coastline, in time to see the bluffs disappear. "It's Mephiles!" Shadow exclaimed. "Come! We must go in!"

The battle between Viper and Mephiles was going hammer and tongs, as the world was slowly being swallowed by darkness around them. One blow sent Viper straight crashing into a wall of a cliff. Viper recovered and leaped upwards, narrowly missing a swipe from Mephiles' claws. Leaping off cliff-face and pillar, Viper struck with Bane when Mephiles came close. Unbreakable adamantium clashed with diamond-hard crystal, sending a shower of white and red sparks flying like fireworks. Viper and Mephiles continued to swipe and slash at each other like furious wildcats, each taking wounds both both healing just as quickly. Their respective swords and fists spoke out each word of their fury with every slash.

Viper landed on one clifftop after one big clash with Mephiles. The two separated after that, but Viper lost Mephiles. Viper scanned the surroundings quickly, looking for any sign of him, but found none. He knew better to assume he retreated. He must be close...

His instincts screamed to swing behind him, and when he did, he saved himself from a slash that would have ripped open his back. And then they went at it again. Neither one seemed to have any particular advantage, and there seemed to be no end to it.

After one powerful swing by Viper, Mephiles held the sword in his claws, and noticed the blow was so powerful that it pushed him slightly into the ground. "Oh," Mephiles said. "Now where did you learn this strength?"

Viper sneered, "Wouldn't you like to know?" Suddenly, he pulled back with his sword towards his right, Mephiles' left, and struck out with his left arm, glowing hotly, striking Mephiles squarely in the face with it. Mephiles went flying back into a nearby cliff-side, and Viper quickly followed him, swinging wildly, hoping to cleave him in two. Viper only struck rock. Mephiles was indeed there, for Viper could see the imprint.

A noise came from overhead. A boulder had been heaved towards him, now rolling haphazardly down the cliff-side ready to crush Viper. Viper leaped away from the cliff-side, landed on a nearby cliff-top and watched the boulder roll harmlessly down the cliff. He didn't loiter long for he whipped out one handgun and shot behind the shoulder, which hit Mephiles squarely in the shoulder. "Come on, Mephiles, from behind didn't work last time!" Viper then whipped around and charged forward with a dangerous stab.

Mephiles dodged at the very last second, and struck Viper hard behind the shoulders, sending him over the edge of the cliff.

Viper saw colors for a few seconds, then had just nerve to thrust his sword into the cliff-side to stop himself from a messy fall. Grunting from nearly having his arm ripped out of joint, he hung there. Looking up, he saw Mephiles diving to finish the job. Viper looked back down, and breathed. "Point taken." Then, he swung himself back up, landing a ferocious kick into Mephiles' side, sending him off course. Viper regained his balanced, standing on the blade, and searched below for Mephiles. He had already disappeared. Looking back up, he found Mephiles standing on the side of the cliff, peering down at him. Viper threw up a vulgar gesture at him.

"I have a little present for you," Mephiles said, then punched the side of the cliff with the force that nearly knocked Viper off of the blade. An avalanche of rocks began pouring down, and Mephiles disappeared before they reached him.

Viper swung back down under the blade, ripped out the blade and leaped upwards into the avalanche. If Mephiles wanted to play chicken, then let's play. Viper leaped off of the larger boulders, while slicing through the smaller ones like they were turnips. Suddenly, Mephiles reappeared in the avalanche, but Viper was ready. In the midst of the avalanche, they fell again to slashing and swinging at each other, using the boulders as makeshift platforms to stand on. The avalanche receded, crashing into the surrounding coast. Viper and Mephiles escaped and resumed their fight upon the clifftops.

The fight continued on for another half an hour, and the landscape was utterly destroyed. Few parts of the bluffs would remain the same, and the battle continued to rage without any sign of slowing. One moment, Viper had pressed one handgun into the side of Mephiles' head, while Mephiles had a hand gripping Viper's other wrist. Both were locked in this position, neither moved, until Mephiles spoke. "Well done, Viper. You are certainly a credit to your species."

Viper had no words to say, except he spit right into Mephiles' eye. Another brief bout of slicing later, they separated, healing the would they freshly received. And then they went at it again. When any distance grew between the two, both used their respective ranged weapons. Mephiles would hurl down crystalline spikes that flew dangerously fast. Viper shot then down with his handguns then fired back.

Viper and Mephiles kept at it, and Viper would throw in his gauntlet arm which not only doubled as a shield and an excellent punching arm, it's sharpened fingertips provided excellent claw damage. Viper, when focusing his energy in his arm, could send a silhouette of his arm to deal more damage. Mephiles had to concede one thing: Viper was definitely a force that was a threat to him.

"It is no wonder why you were the one commissioned to seal Shadow in the future," Mephiles said, after a break in the fighting.

Viper, who was reloading his guns quickly for another assault, halted; his eyes widened a fraction. "What the hell are you talking about!?"

"Yes, Viper. When the Flames of Disaster are unleashed, soon, very soon, Shadow will be blamed, and the human government will commission you with a contract, the one you can't refuse, Viper. You will betray Shadow, and battle him until you finally get the better of him. You are the one who sealed Shadow in the future!"

Mephiles' head was suddenly blown off by repetitive blasts from Viper's handguns. He healed quickly after, but Viper didn't care. "Damn you, Mephiles. I don't give a rat's ass what you say! I control my OWN destiny, and I am NOT sealing Shadow away, even if promised all the money in the world."

"Aww..." Mephiles said. "Who said anything about money?"

Viper charged forward with a cry and ran Mephiles through with his sword. Viper bore such a twisted glare that his face was barely recognizable. "You know something, Mephiles? I've had just about enough of your bullshit!" Swinging the sword upwards, Mephiles came flying off of the blade.

Just as Mephiles was about to retaliate, he saw Viper do something. He started glowing hotly yellow, his entire body. Suddenly, Viper's body exploded in yellow-white light, blinding Mephiles. When he looked again, Viper was still glowing yellow, but now his arms and legs, up to the elbows and knees were now sheathed in gleaming adamantium gauntlets, scaled and serrated like knives. Viper's hair bleached to a bright white and his eyes were now featureless, except for the same hot yellow glow that shone off of Viper's flesh, while small sparks of electricity flashed through Viper's body.

Viper had entered Prime Mode.

Mephiles, undaunted, dove down to Viper Prime, but Viper Prime leaped up with abominable speed and smashed into Mephiles with the force of a cement truck moving at seventy miles per hour. Viper Prime kicked, punched and slashed with the speed of lightning, then he rose up, and with one fist smashed down on Mephiles' skull, sending both Mephiles and Viper Prime like a meteorite. The cliffs shattered like glass from the impact, and there was a sound like a mega-bomb had gone off. Just as quickly, the clouds evaporated like mist. The sun had once again regained control of the day, and it shown down upon a landscape that looked like it had suffered a colossal war.

The beams shown down on two figures, one was Viper, his body now returned to normal, but his fist remained pressed into Mephiles' face. His other hand still grasped his sword, stained with blackened blood. Mephiles remained still.

"Finally, I got you to shut up," Viper hissed as he removed his fist from Mephiles' face, then proceeded to walk away. Suddenly, he swished back around and ran Mephiles through again, this time through the neck.

Mephiles laughed in this futile attack, but melted away into the earth, and did not rematerialize. Viper had won this round, but Mephiles did leave a scar. Viper breathed hard as Mephiles' revelation was starting to sink in.

"What just happened here!?" said a voice behind him. Viper turned and saw Shadow, Rouge and Mecha heading towards him, climbing through the ruined bluffs, now leveled to nothing but rocks. Viper met Shadow's gaze, and Viper quickly turned away.

Shadow blinked. Viper's behavior was odd. Rouge was right, something was wrong with Viper.

"Viper," Mecha ventured. "Relay what has transpired here."

Viper heaved a sigh, reluctant to speak, but knew he had to. "Shadow," he began. "Think back: what was the first thing my future self said to you when you first met him there? Don't omit anything!" Viper's voice was harsh, but edged with concern.

Shadow thought back to the future, where he and Rouge met a future-Viper, grievously wounded and fatigued. "He said...'how did you get out?'"

Viper heaved another sigh, and rubbed his left hand over his face and through his hair. Rouge did not know what this meant, but Shadow and Mecha knew that it was a sign that Viper was disturbed, to the point of remorse.

"Shadow..." Viper was quiet now. "The one who seals you in the future..." Viper turns around, his eyes hauntingly sad. "...is me."

- - - - -

Sonic was juicing through the jungle, heading towards Kingdom Valley with all the speed he could muster in the undergrowth. He had arrived at the castle too late and Princess Elise had already left. After asking which direction Elise had gone, and receiving many a plea to bring her back safely, Sonic took off.

All the way, Sonic was kicking himself for not realizing that Elise was nowhere near safe yet. The day was not done yet. That article fiercely flashed in his mind's eye, and it stung his own eyes physically. He swore to not let that happened, but his own stupidity might have made it too late. This made Sonic run all the faster.

Suddenly, a squadron of robots dropped in right in front of him. An ambush! Sonic skidded to a half in front of the twenty plus robots. "Sorry, kids, but I got a date tonight with Kinty. See ya!" Sonic backed up to rev through them, when suddenly, a greenish aura surrounded all of the robots. Sonic looked on, confused. Suddenly, another figure dropped in: a white hedgehog with long head-spines. His back was turned to Sonic, and his hand was outstretched to the squadron. With a cry, he threw his other hand forward in a fist. The robots were knocked around like bowling pins, shattering under the unseen force.

Silver turned to Sonic, who flinched involuntarily. Silver didn't blame him. "You know, Sonic, you're a hard one to catch." Soon, Silver was joined by a lilac-colored cat in deep purple garb.

Sonic noticed their relaxed posture, as if they weren't planning on attacking him. He relaxed. "So, what's going on now?"

Silver lowered his head apologetically. "Circumstances have changed. We now know you're not the Iblis Trigger. Now we need your help." Silver lifted his head. "We are trying to rescue the princess."

Sonic's hands rested on his hips, and he smiled. "Heh, took you guys long enough. I'd ask about it, but we need to move. Elise is on the EG-Carrier now."

Blaze stepped forward. "If we reach Kingdom Valley, Silver might be able to help you get close to the EG-Carrier to get on."

"Then let's move!" Sonic said, walking forward and holding up a fist. Silver banged his own fist with Sonic.

Sonic took off running again, with Blaze close behind. Silver used his psychokinesis to pick himself up and dash behind. Time was running short, and all needed to reach Kingdom Valley quickly, or the Princess was doomed.

- - - - -

Back at the ruined bluffs, Viper had just wrapped up his story about what had just transpired in the last hour, especially on what Mephiles had just revealed. Shadow also relayed what Mephiles had said to him back in the future regarding his destiny. Most of this was news to both Rouge and Mecha, and both listened wordlessly. When both finished, Rouge was the first to sputter outrage.

"It's just so unfair!" Rouge cried out. "Shadow has been there to save the world, not destroy it! The only times it seemed otherwise was because he was manipulated. But now, Shadow has done nothing but good for the humans! How could they do this to him?"

Viper looked up at Rouge, cleaning his blade from Mephiles' blood. "It doesn't matter what Shadow does. He's an experiment of mankind, like me. They made him to be the ultimate lifeform, but when they realized his power, they wanted to destroy Shadow instead because they couldn't have that power for themselves."

Shadow had all but excluded himself from the group. He now sat a short distance away from the group on a boulder, silent as a statue, and just as still. Viper looked on after him with pity.

"Viper is correct," Mecha said. "Mankind's history is wrought with suspicion and fear of anything different from them, even if they created that very thing. When something or someone is seen as becoming too powerful...it quickly turns from being a benefit to mankind...to its greatest threat. So, they seek to silence it or destroy it...like they did to Shadow over fifty years ago."

Viper looked back down. His own history was also scarred by humanity's treatment of him and his kind, and he was nearly exterminated...and all for a quest for eternal life, just like Project Shadow.

"It is a part of humanity's nature to fear things that are different then it, and in an act of self-preservation, they destroy it before it attempts to rule over them, despite assurances that this new power isn't out to conquer them but to help them. This has saved humanity many times in the past...but it has also brought upon it much hatred and sorrow. Humanity, to preserve itself, must oppress the more-powerful ones." Mecha concluded, looking at Shadow again whom had not moved.

Rouge too looked at Shadow. If she was not mistaken, Shadow was not handling this well. After all, Viper had all but told him that he would inevitably betray him to the humans and lock him away for all eternity. Basically, Viper was Shadow's death sentence.

"Shadow," Rouge ventured.

One of Shadow's ears perked.

"Even if everything comes to pass...even if Viper, probably the closest person you would consider as a friend, betrays you...know this...I will never leave your side...no matter what." Rouge turned back to the others. "Please remember that."

Shadow made no answer.

The others continued silently, leaving Shadow to his own thoughts. A moment later, Rouge found a heavy hand lain upon her shoulder. Her eyes traveled up the arm to the eyes. It was Shadow.

"I will remember it...and thank you," Shadow said quietly.

Rouge looked into Shadow's eyes, then nodded.

Suddenly, Viper stood up quickly, holstered his guns and placed the newly cleaned great-sword back on his back, and he looked firmly at Shadow. "I have no idea what happened at that time, nor do I want to know. There's only one thing I know: no matter what the cost, no matter what the pain, no matter what blood must be shed...I will not surrender you to the humans. I have just as much reason to hate the humans as you, but you still sacrifice yourself for them. It's only fair that I should return the favor to you." Viper strode forward and leaned down in front of Shadow, so that his eyes were level with the hedgehog's. "I, my sword and my guns are at your disposal. This is swear."

Metal-Sonic strode forward. "As do I. Shadow, you helped bring my back from the jaws of death, and I owe you more then this. Accept my help."

Rouge also stepped forward. "We may have had our misdealings in the past, Shadow, but I won't leave your side as I have said before. I will help you even if the entire world is against you."

Shadow had to heave a sigh. Three people were willing to throw away their own fates and lives for him, and they wouldn't get anything back from it. Shadow was reminded of what was told to him concerning Maria. Apparently, Maria also gave Shadow her love...sacrifice without return.

"I accept all of your help...and thank you," Shadow said finally.

Viper stood up. "We have some unfinished business with Mephiles. If we are to completely defeat our supposed destinies, then we need to destroy him. Without him, the future will never happen."

Mecha chimed in. "I have detected Mephiles. He is now moving at a steady pace through the desert, towards the old ruins."

All looked at Shadow. Shadow strode forward. "Let's move!"