Blaze stepped onto desert sands and took a deep breath. The Sol Emeralds spun around her briefly before scattering to the horizons, leaving her alone under the angry red glow of Solaris's night. They would return to her soon enough; they always did.

"Blaze!" She barely had time to turn around before Marine slammed into her, nearly knocking them both into the sand. "You're back you're back you're back!" Marine chanted, clutching Blaze in a vice-like grip. "You were gone forever, you bloody drongo!"

"I know, I know," Blaze said soothingly. "Things became… complicated."

"I told ya," Sticks said, standing off to the side with a smug expression and the Jeweled Scepter in her arms—Marine must have dropped it in her rush to welcome Blaze home. Nephthys was standing beside Sticks, a hint of a smile under her mask. "She was busy helping the ghosts save the parallel universe from her morality-reversed alternate dimension counterpart. Obviously."

"Really?" Marine asked, looking up at Blaze with wide eyes.

Blaze opened her mouth, then closed it again. Sticks wasn't entirely wrong, she supposed.

Apparently taking that as affirmative enough, Marine nodded, satisfied. She looked around, peering over Blaze's shoulder. "So did you take Black home, or did your evil twin get him?" She giggled.

Blaze felt a twist of pain in her chest at the reminder. Black… She'd never see him again. Not in the same way. He'd known, somehow. He'd known he was needed, and he'd known what it would cost him. And he'd chosen to give everything for a world he didn't even remember, for strangers he'd never met.

I'll miss you, he'd said to her.

"Blaze?" Marine prompted, her expression falling. "Black did make it home, right?

Blaze took a deep breath. "Yes," she said softly. "He's home now."

Marine smiled. "So can we go home now? We've got the Scepter—I took good care of it, just like you told me to—and Sticks and I got all these camels and supplies and stuff, so what are we waiting for?"

What, indeed?

Blaze stood. "You're right. We should get going."

Nephthys sighed. "I suppose I can't convince you to stay and lead our fight against Solaris?"

"I have matters I need to attend to in my own country," Blaze told her. "But if you ever need help, send a messenger. My people are… not fond of Solaris."

Nephthys nodded. "I'll consider it. In the meantime, I hear Sticks has already arranged for your journey."

Sticks coughed. "I paid for most of it."

"And it seems you have poached one of my best agents," Nephthys continued, raising an eyebrow at Blaze.

"I apologize," Blaze said, flustered. "I should have asked if you could spare her."

"Hey!" Sticks protested. "I'm a free agent! Nephthys doesn't control me!"

"That's certainly true," Nephthys agreed dryly. "I suppose if we wish to form an alliance between our peoples, we would do well to have an emissary of Shanazar in the lake countries."

"As long as I don't have to do any paperwork," Sticks grumbled.

"Blaze will do it for you," Marine promised.

Blaze sighed. As if she didn't have enough to do.

"I'll send a few of my personal guards to escort you," Nephthys said. "Ones I trust. Your journey should be smoother this time."

"Thank you," Blaze said. "I'll be sure to speak to the empress about an alliance against Solaris."

Nephthys nodded. "Safe journeys, princess."

"Safe journeys," Blaze echoed.

"Now are we going home?" Marine demanded impatiently.

Blaze rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her mouth. "Yes, Marine. We're going home."

Aurora met them at the world's edge.

It was a relief to be back at the ocean (lake, Nephthys had called it; a mystery to muse over another time), to feel the cool sea breeze blow away the stifling heat of the desert. They'd left the Desert Raiders a little ways back; they'd been unwilling to come too close to the lake, lest Jack question their loyalty, but they'd given Blaze and her companions more than enough supplies to make it across the wasteland. And there Aurora was waiting, with a boat, fresh food, and clean clothes for all three of them. Blaze felt another pang of regret as she wondered if the third set of supplies had been intended for Black, but the clothes were in Sticks's size. How Aurora had known was another mystery to add to the growing pile.

"{I'm glad to see you safe, your highness,}" Aurora said in Indonesian. She sounded sincere.

Blaze glanced at the Scepter, strapped safely to her own back. Nephthys had said it was Aurora who brought the Scepter to Shanazar and, quite possibly, even handed it over to Solaris. That would need to be addressed soon. But for the moment, Blaze was just ready to go home.

"{It's good to see you as well, Aurora,}" Blaze said with a smile. While Marine started lecturing a bewildered Sticks about proper boating techniques, Blaze turned to look out over the waves, towards the distant green isles she called home. "{It's good to be back.}"

The trip back to the palace was smooth. Marine, exhausted from the journey, fell asleep on the way, and Sticks nobly volunteered to carry Marine to shore only to dunk the both of them in the ocean. It was hard to say whether she'd done it deliberately or not, but either way, Marine woke with a shriek. Blaze and Aurora, safely on shore, watched the ensuing splash fight with exasperated amusement.

Blaze could have stayed there all afternoon, enjoying the ocean breeze and the cool waves, but other matters pressed on her mind, refusing to be left alone. So, reluctantly, she broke the peace between her and Aurora. "{I'm going to see the Empress. She'll want to hear what happened.}" Blaze paused, then added, "{Everything that happened.}"

Aurora didn't take the bait. "{Of course. Good luck, your highness.}"

"{I'll need it,}" Blaze said grimly, and started out for the palace.

She found Empress Dwi alone, standing on one of the palace balconies with her back to the door. Blaze waved the startled guards away and stepped out onto the balcony. She stood at a respectful distance, arms folded, and waited. And waited. Dwi didn't so much as glance at her, eyes fixed on the distant horizon. Blaze couldn't see her face. Did she even know Blaze was here?

Propriety would demand Blaze wait for the empress to address her, but Blaze was not in the mood for propriety. She coughed lightly. Dwi whirled around, irritation morphing into shock as she finally saw just who had joined her on the balcony.

"{Empress,}" Blaze said, taking the Jeweled Scepter from her back and presenting it with a bow. "{Both the Jeweled Scepter and the Sol Emeralds have been returned.}" Dwi didn't speak; Blaze continued, her eyes on the floor. "{I… apologize for leaving without your authorization, Empress. I—}"

Blaze was cut off as Dwi—as Ebony suddenly crossed the space between them, wrapping her in a fierce embrace. The Jeweled Scepter clattered to the floor.

"{Niece,}" Ebony said, pulling back slightly, though she kept a firm grip on Blaze's shoulders. To Blaze's shock, it looked like she'd been crying. "{When you disappeared, I was afraid…}"

Blaze felt a lump rise in her throat. "{I'm here.}"

"{I never should have said those things,}" Ebony said, holding her gaze. With all that had happened, Blaze had nearly forgotten their fight, but evidently it had been bothering Ebony for some time. "{If those had been the last words I ever spoke to you…}"

"{They weren't,}" Blaze said. "{And I understand. You were angry—}"

"{That doesn't excuse it.}" Ebony sighed and lifted Blaze's chin with her hand. "{Listen to me. You are not to blame. And neither…}" she took a breath and let it out, slow. "{Neither are the Emeralds.}"

Something, some pain she hadn't even been aware of, eased in Blaze's chest. You are not to blame.

"{Truthfully,}" Ebony said. "{I pushed you away because I blamed myself.}"

Blaze laughed. "{That makes two of us.}" She bumped her head against her aunt's shoulder. "{But if I'm not to blame, then neither are you. It was… It was an accident.}" The words felt strange, but not wrong.

"{An accident,}" Ebony said softly. "{I… can work with that.}"

Blaze smiled. Perhaps what had been broken could be mended after all.

Blaze sat on the docks, the stars overhead and the water below. The waves lapped rhythmically at her feet, a natural lullaby. A little ways away Marine was trying to teach Sticks to swim, though so far all they'd accomplished was a lot of splashing and yelling. Blaze smiled and leaned forward, trailing her fingers in the water. She remembered when Black had done the same—had it been just a few days ago?—while they were traveling across the lake.

He'd had so little time. He'd barely gotten to see the world before he'd been taken from it. Hardly anyone even knew he was gone; only Blaze and Marine could truly call him their friend. When they were gone, would he be missed? Would he be remembered? The wolf who had lived but a few short days, who'd seen beyond the world's edge, fought a god, traveled through dimensions, and given himself up to save a planet he never saw? Who would tell stories about him, years from now?

Blaze sighed, lying on the dock with her hand hanging in the water. She'd barely even known Black, and in a way, that just made it worse. What might he have done, what might he have become, had he been allowed to live?

Something flickered in the water. Blaze leaned over the edge of the dock, watching in awe as tendrils of soft purple lit the ocean deep. For a moment she felt something, a cool presence beside her, moonlight and ocean dark wrapped up together. Perhaps it was Lunaris; perhaps it was the wind. Blaze liked to imagine it was the lingering remnant of a black-furred wolf, dipping his hand in the cool ocean water.

Black wasn't gone completely. Blaze closed her eyes, listening to the rhythm of the water. If no one else would remember him, Blaze would. He wouldn't be forgotten. And Blaze had the feeling that for him, that would be enough.

Tooth was waiting. Silver had missed that.

The Wisps had taken him right back to where he'd left from, on the deck of the Nocturnus ship. While the other Nocturnus gaped at Silver's sudden arrival, Tooth gasped in delight, hopped down from the ship's railing, and tore across the deck to meet him. Silver stumbled back with an oof as she seized him in a bone-crushing hug, full body armor and all. Sometimes he forgot how strong she was (though to be fair, so did Tooth). He was glad the Wisps had sped up the healing process on his wounds.

The hug only lasted a moment before Tooth remembered herself and jumped back. She crossed her arms, looking away in a noble attempt at appearing casual and uncaring… an attempt that was betrayed by her wagging tail.

"{You, uh, took your time,}" she muttered in Spanish.

"{Sorry,}" Silver said. "{There were… unexpected complications.}"

"{Always are,}" she smirked, punching Silver lightly on the shoulder. "{So? How'd it go?}" She leaned around him, ears perked as she looked for someone she wouldn't find. "{You, uh, figure out the new guy's deal?}"

White. Silver swallowed against the sudden stab of pain. He shoved it down. Shade was approaching across the deck; now wasn't the time.

"{Silver?}" Tooth's grin fell. "{Where's White?}"

"{He's… he's back where he belongs,}" Silver said. It was true. Wasn't it?

Tooth frowned, obviously not convinced. Before she could press him further, however, Shade reached them.

"{Thank you,}" Silver said before she could speak. "{For holding up your end of the deal.}"

Shade narrowed her eyes. "{And you? Will you keep your word?}"

"{Yes,}" Silver said simply.

Shade looked taken aback. She'd probably expected him to put up greater resistance, and maybe he should have, but Silver was simply… tired. He'd already made his choice; might as well stick with it. There was only one other matter to attend to. "{But if I'm joining you, someone needs to look after Crisis City.}"

This, Shade seemed to expect. "{My crew will be more than happy to help with that.}"

"{They will?}" Silver asked, surprised.

"{In rotation, of course,}" Shade said. "{And with proper armor. I can't begin to imagine how you managed to survive there as long as you did with no equipment and no backup.}"

"{He didn't have no backup,}" Tooth grumbled.

Silver ignored that, focusing on Shade. "{Your crew… volunteered to serve in Crisis City? And you'll let them?}"

Shade looked out over the railing. Silver followed her gaze. Burning against the night sky as it was, Crisis City almost looked… beautiful.

"{You may not believe it,}" Shade said. "{But we do care about the people of this time. We are all prisoners in this cage.}" She turned to look at him, expression serious. "{We don't fight Argus and Iblis just out of vengeance, Silver, and we don't want to free only ourselves. The Nocturnus may be harsh, but we are not cruel.}"

Tooth's face twitched. Silver shared her sentiment; whatever Shade may believe, not all her compatriots felt the same. But at least Shade seemed to genuinely care. And having a group of trained fighters on rotation in Crisis City was admittedly a better idea than having it be just him as the first (and only) line of defense.

"{Thank you,}" Silver said.

"{Of course,}" Shade added shrewdly. "{That is in return for a conference with this… Time Eater.}"

Silver glanced at Tooth, and they shared a grin. "{That can be arranged.}"

"Timey", as Tooth was fond of calling it, did eventually agree to let Shade use the Scepter, much to Silver's surprise. There was one condition: the Time Eater and its Sprites had to come along as well. Evidently it had decided that after the stunt Mephiles pulled, it would be better to change living quarters. And where better than an armored battle ship? Shade was thrilled at the idea, though Tooth insisted she'd change her tune when she found out how noisy the Sprites were.

While the Nocturnus scrambled to find somewhere to keep the Time Eater and its battalion of Sprites, Silver sought out Shade.

"{We're going to need to get you fitted for armor,}" Shade said. Silver bristled, but she cut him off before he could argue. "{I will not have someone serving on my crew, even temporarily, completely unprotected.}"

"{It's cool,}" Tooth stage-whispered to Silver. "{I'll take it apart and check it for bugs. You should have seen how many I found in my armor, not to mention my leg.}"

Shade sighed. "{Those were to make sure you weren't lost in action, Tirones Tisfaye.}"

"{Oh,}" Tooth said. "{Well. You could have said that.}"

"{Shade,}" Silver interjected, then caught himself at her raised eyebrow and hurriedly amended, "{I mean, Procurator Shade. I have one last thing I need to do.}"

"{And what is that?}" Shade asked suspiciously.

"{I need to make a visit to Cocos Island. I want to let my friend know what's going on.}" Unlike some people, he added silently, glaring at Tooth. She stuck her tongue out at him. "{I'll leave the Scepter here as insurance, if you like.}" It wasn't like the Time Eater would let her do much harm with it, anyway.

"{Very well,}" Shade said. "{Tirones Tisfaye will take you in one of our drop ships. Both of you must be back within twenty-four hours or I will activate the bomb in Tirones Tisfaye's leg.}"

"{So that's what that was!}" Tooth said, ears pricking forward. "{Shoot, I thought that was a… oh.}" She trailed off as she saw the hint of a smirk on Shade's face. "{You're joking.}"

"{I am,}" Shade said. "{But I do expect you two to be back within the day.}"

"{Yes, Procurator,}" Tooth said, saluting. Silver hurriedly did the same.

Shade rolled her eyes and walked off.

Tooth giggled. "{We're not actually supposed to salute her. I just do it to get on her nerves.}"

"{You could have told me that,}" Silver grumbled.

Tooth grinned. "{Now where's the fun in that?}"

The trip to Cocos Island was considerably quicker in even the tiniest Nocturnus airship than it was in Silver's old rowboat—and it was even quicker when Tooth was the one flying. She almost landed them smoothly, only to push the stick a little too hard and nearly nosedive into the ocean. Silver managed to keep them from crashing completely, but they both still ended up soaked.

"{I'm working on it,}" Tooth said, shaking herself and spraying Silver with yet more water in the process. "{That was actually one of my better landings.}"

Silver opened his mouth to respond to that worrying statement, but he was interrupted by someone calling his name.

"{Silver!}"

He turned around to see Gold running toward them, her sandals slapping against the dock. This time he was ready for the hug (and, of course, Gold wasn't wearing body armor). She pulled away from him and gaped.

"{Is that Tooth? Why is she wearing Nocturnus armor?}"

"{Funny story,}" Tooth laughed awkwardly. "{See, I ran into these pirates— ow, ow, okay, I get it, I get it, you're mad!}" She cut off her explanation with a grimace, clutching her head in pain. Gold hadn't moved, but a glare paired with telepathic projection was far more effective than a slap regardless.

"{You could have told us,}" Gold snapped, wringing her hands. "{Do you know how worried we were? I thought you'd been killed, or captured, or—}"

"{I was going to tell you,}" Tooth mumbled, still rubbing her head. "{When I had the time.}"

"{When you had the time!?}" Gold nearly shrieked. This time Silver winced along with Tooth, Gold's frustration and worry sharp against his mind.

"{I didn't mean it like that,}" Tooth said hurriedly. "{I just… didn't want you to worry?}"

"{Great job,}" Silver said dryly.

"{Not helping,}" Tooth hissed.

Gold closed her eyes, taking a deep breath in an effort to calm herself, and the pressure on Silver's mind eased. She was getting better at controlling her powers, it seemed.

"{Okay,}" Gold said at last. "{Okay. I'm calm. We're calm.}" She gave Tooth a smile that was only slightly forced. "{At least you're safe. Both of you.}"

"{Yup!}" Tooth said, displaying a bright grin and a thumbs up. "{Totally alright! Completely safe! We've just been, ah—}" She looked desperately at Silver.

"{Playing cards!}" Silver jumped in. Gold shot him a mildly disbelieving look, and Silver's weak facade crumpled immediately. "{andfightingArgusandMephilesandtravelingbackintimeanddiscoveringanalienspeciesandalsoImadeadealwithShade BUT!}" he hurriedly cut himself off at Gold's increasingly alarmed expression. "{We're fine now!}"

"{Silver,}" Tooth growled under her breath.

"{You try lying to a telepath,}" Silver hissed.

"{I just did,}" Tooth snapped back. "{And you say that like she did anything.}"

Silver grumbled to himself and folded his arms. It wasn't his fault he'd never had the opportunity to learn how to lie.

Gold had her eyes squeezed shut, massaging her temples and obviously trying to maintain her air of calm. "{Okay. This is fine. You are both going to tell me everything,}" she said, opening her eyes to glare at them.

"{I, uh, need to check on the ship,}" Tooth said, and scampered off before Gold could stop her.

Gold looked at Silver.

"{It's… a long story,}" he hedged.

"{I have time,}" she said.

Fair enough. "{Well, to start with, I'm joining the Nocturnus.}"

He let Gold take a moment to breathe deeply. "{I… suppose that's no more dangerous than living in Crisis City,}" she said reluctantly. "{And at least you and Tooth will be working together.}" Then her brow wrinkled. "{Wait. Where's the lion that was with you last time?}"

Again Silver felt that stab of pain. Eventually he knew it would ease, but right now it still felt as fresh and strong as when he'd first looked at the destroyed machine and known he'd never see White again.

"{He's… where he belongs,}" Silver said, the crack in his voice betraying him. "{Where he should have always been.}"

Gold's eyes softened, and she tilted her head. "{If that's true, then why are you grieving him?}"

Silver closed his eyes. Was it strange to feel so strongly for someone he'd known only a few days? Someone who had never even been truly alive, and was now not truly dead? "{I don't know,}" he admitted truthfully.

"{Gold!}" Tooth shouted, scrambling back across the deck. Silver was relieved to have the interruption. "{Gold, why are there pirates on my ship!?}"

"{Oh!}" Gold brightened. "{That must be Captain Plunder's crew. We found them on the edge of the piece and took them back to the village with the requirement that they do some… community service.}" She smiled mischievously. "{Once we told them that Silver frequents our island, they proved very willing.}" She looked at Silver with a mixture of curiosity and awe. "{What did you do to them, anyway?}"

"{I needed a boat,}" Silver said defensively.

Tooth whistled. "{I can see it now: the dread pirate Silver, scourge of the fourteen skies!}"

Gold giggled. "{If you traumatize any more pirates, Silver, please send them our way. They make excellent workers.}"

Silver smiled. "{I'll be sure to do that.}"

"{Now,}" Gold said. "{Explanations.}"

Silver and Tooth groaned simultaneously.

"{I'm not letting it go so easily,}" Gold said primly. "{Come on. You can tell me the whole story in the main hall. And change out of those wet clothes while you're at it.}"

"{Yes, mom,}" Tooth grumbled with a roll of her eyes, but she was grinning. "{Can we have hot chocolate?}"

"{I'll consider it.}"

"{Yes!}" Tooth pumped her fist and dashed for the hall. It was amazing how quickly she could move when she was motivated.

"{Don't run!}" Gold shouted after her anxiously. "{You might slip!}"

Tooth turned to stick out her tongue at her, then promptly tripped and nearly fell into the ocean.

Gold sighed. "{I worry about her.}"

"{At least she's got me,}" Silver said.

Gold closed her eyes. "{That is not reassuring.}"

Silver laughed.

When they finally left, it was with a bag of clothes, blankets, and food each, given to them with Gold's insistence that they keep warm on the Nocturnus ship. Tooth was much more careful about taking off this time—partly, Silver was sure, because she knew the ex-pirates were watching from the docks, ready to mock even the slightest mistake. The ship rose smoothly into the sky and shot off. Silver leaned against the railing, watching the ocean pass below. It was peaceful, flying over the waves like this, and he was almost sorry when Crisis City came into view. Tooth landed the ship carefully in the hold of Shade's main airship, but despite her best efforts, there was still a rough jolt as they touched down.

"{Whoops. Hopefully they won't notice that scratch.}" Tooth hopped out, metal leg thunking against the floor of the ship. "{I've got to do the post-flight check or my boss will have my tail. You good?}"

"{I'll head up and check on the Time Eater,}" Silver said.

Tooth nodded, and he walked off, finding his way up the ladder and on to the main deck. One of the Nocturnus pointed him to where the Time Eater had made its nest. Silver poked his head in, smiling at the sight of the Time Eater curled around the Scepter while its Sprites flitted about the room, then ducked out again before the Sprites' enthusiastic greeting could wake their sleeping guardian. Everyone else seemed busy, and Shade was nowhere to be seen, so Silver wandered over to the ship's bow. He hesitated a moment, then hopped up to perch on the railing, his legs dangling over the ocean far below. If he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine White sitting beside him, singing in Mandarin or filling his ears with meaningless chatter.

Silver opened his eyes again, looking out over the vast spread of the world before him. White had experienced so little of it. He'd never tasted hot chocolate, slept under a warm blanket, or told stories around a fire. He'd barely gotten a chance to see the blue skies and warm sun of the past, and he hadn't known bright beaches or rolling green hills. He hadn't known how beautiful the world could be. And now he never would.

Silver's eyes pricked, and he swiped furiously at them. White hadn't been real. He'd—he'd been an illusion, created by displaced… Gaia energy, whatever that was. He'd never really been alive, and he wasn't really dead. He was… a part of Sonic, now, somehow.

But he was still gone. Silver would never see him again, never fight beside him again, never be annoyed at his chatter or touched by his sincerity. White was gone. He'd never come back.

For just a moment, Silver felt… something. A brush of warmth against his mind.

People should be allowed to choose, White's voice echoed in his head. Even if it hurts them.

Someone's waiting for me, and I can't let them down. This is my choice.

White had made his choice. Silver still didn't understand why he'd felt it so important to return to the past, but it had been his decision. The least Silver could do was honor it.

Silver lifted his head, looking out over the dark sky above. White had believed the world could be changed for the better. And Silver was determined to see that belief through. He'd bring light back to his world, somehow, someway. And maybe that would be enough.