Chapter 21

Back-Up Blunder

Everyone was still as a stunned silence descended upon the room. Tails felt his heart break into a thousand pieces as Sonic slumped to the ground. Razor and Tikal stood to the back wall, completely speechless after witnessing the cruel and emotionless display. Blaze let out a barely audible whimper as she shook. Knuckles was the first one to act.

"How… how could you," Knuckles shook, his head down and eyes fixed on the floor. He bit his bottom lip and clenched his fists, willing himself to act.

"I… I…" Sally babbled, her eyes growing wide as she wrenched the dagger out of her only son's stomach.

"He was your child!" Knuckles growled, snapping his face to glare at her with hateful eyes. "He might not have turned out the way you wanted, but he found love. He was happy!" Knuckles bellowed as Sally stared absently at her blood-soaked hands, the crimson liquid drying and seeping into the soft skin of her palms.

"But I… I didn't mean… Chaos would have… Iblis had…" Sally circled on the same few words constantly as Knuckles continued his verbal onslaught.

"You were so concerned about your beliefs you don't see what you've turned into," he berated her. "What kind of god would want his own subjects to murder each other for having a different opinion or preference. If your god would really want his subjects acting like this then count me out. You disgust me. Vector disgusts me. Chaos disgusts me!"

"Vector said it would help him… purify him… his soul can be happy in paradise with Chaos."

"And if that's true, he will be because he never killed anybody. Sonic only helped people, but you murdered him. I hope for your sake Chaos doesn't exist, because if it's true he'll be sending you straight to Iblis when you die. Murderer!" Knuckles yelled. His harsh, loud words snapped Tails out of his stupor and she shot to attention, rushing to Sonic's aid as he skidded along the ground.

"Sonic?" Tails questioned with misty tears clouding his eyes and running down his face. "Sonic… it's going to be okay… please don't die on me." Tails tore some of the fabric off his shirt sleeve with all his might and dabbed it on Sonic's open wound in a desperate and fruitless attempt to stop the blood flow. Sonic groaned and writhed in pain, his eyes still closed.

"You… you're right," Sally finally said as she stared at the glistening blade. "I killed my own son… I deserve to be tortured by Iblis!" Sally cried as she turned the blade and plunged it into her own gut.

"No!" Blaze called desperately as she snapped to attention.

"S-Sally!" Knuckles gasped as Sally made an upward slice, cutting open more of her auburn flesh as blood and guts spilled out onto the floor. Her face went white and Knuckles and Blaze rushed over to mother and child lying on the floor.

"Stop the blood flow!" Blaze commanded, instincts taking over. "I'll go find some medical supplies, don't let them move around too much."

"I'll help ye," Razor said tonelessly as he raced after her wanting to feel useful.

"What is she-"

"Her mother was a doctor and taught Blaze a lot, she'll be able to help," Knuckles tried to comfort Sonic and Sally as he knelt down beside her.

"T-Tails," Sally coughed, blood spurting from her ruby red lips.

"Mrs. Hedgehog?" Tails asked, his hands never leaving Sonic's wound. Knuckles mirrored the fox's position and tried to stop Sally's bleeding but it was no use. It wasn't just a small puncture wound but a gigantic gash all the way up her chest. She had mere seconds in this world and everybody knew it.

"I-I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Tails asked with tears in his eyes.

"You really were… the best thing… that happened to him," Sally croaked as the life left her. Tails sniffed, unsure how to respond when Sonic painful groans snapped him back to reality.

"Hang in there, Sonic, Blaze is coming to help. I promise." Knuckles shook his head solemnly as he placed his two fingers on her eyelids and gently shut them.

"She… she… she…" Tikal finally found her voice again. She couldn't move, hands cupped around her mouth in sheer shock as Knuckles turned to face her. He could see the horror in her eyes.

"See why we left?" Knuckles asked.

"She killed her own son… just because she thought it's what Chaos wanted?" Tikal had always been raised to believe Chaos was a benevolent deity that looked out for his subjects, but what god would allow this kind of revulsion.

"People just see the negativity. They lust for blood thinking it's what Chaos wants," Knuckles sighed as he shuffled over and helped Tails stop the liquid that oozed through the fabric. "It's a vicious, heartless world and all we can do is try to live in peace. I just hope we aren't too late for him like we were for her." Tikal was speechless. She couldn't move. She wanted to help save him but her legs refused to. Luckily Blaze and Razor rushed back into the room with a first aid kit she had found in one of the kitchen cupboards. Razor clutched a primitive defibrillator in one hand.

"Move out of the way," Blaze commanded firmly as she knelt down beside Tails and Knuckles.

"But he-"

"If you want him to live, move!" Blaze shouted. Tails shrieked quietly as he scooted away, his eyes never leaving the festering wound as she removed the crimson fabric. Immediately another wave of blood began gushing out of his deep wound.

"It he going to be alright?" Tails asked.

"I need complete silence," Blaze commanded as her instincts took over.

"But-"

"Knuckles, if he speaks one more time I want you to take him outside."

"Understood," Knuckles shot a warning glare and Tails bit his tongue, his heart beating a hundred times a minute.

"Antiseptic," Blaze said as she held out her hand. Razor sorted through the first aid kit until he found some disinfectant and some bandages. He also handed her a small bottle of alcohol.

"Here ya go."

"This might hurt a bit," Blaze warned as she poured the alcohol over his open wound. Sonic howled in pain, seething but Knuckles held him down. Tails and Tikal looked away, unable to see him in such pain.

Blaze then used the disinfectant and held some bandages over the wound to stop the fresh blood as she studied the wound.

"It's deeper than I thought," she sighed. "We don't have time to waste. Vector's plan is being put into action now, but Sonic needs more rest."

"Do… what you have to… do," Sonic groaned.

"Sonic, if you move you'll lose more blood. The only thing that could fix you is stiches but-"

"Do it," Sonic urged.

"We don't have any anesthesia."

"Do it," he repeated.

"Alright…" Blaze hesitated as Razor dug around for a needle and some thread. He reached over and picked up a small chew toy off the wooden floor.

"Muttski's chew toy?" Sonic asked in confusion.

"Bit down on it for the pain," Razor commanded. Sonic hesitated, thinking the task was disgusting but as he felt Blaze prick the needle through his skin and tug tightly as his skin was pulled together he threw the thing in his mouth and bit down to alleviate the excruciating, burning pain. Blaze continued her work, threading the needle in and out of his skin until the wound was closed up. She bit through the thread and applied a bandage to the wound.

"There… fini- Sonic!" Blaze cried as he began writhing. Foam gurgled in his mouth as he shook.

"He's having a seizure!" Tails cried.

"He's gone into shock," Blaze cursed.

"Do something!"

"I'm thinking!" Blaze growled back, her mind spinning as she tried to remember how to treat a patient who had fallen into shock when he immediately stopped writhing around on the floor and lay still, his face drained of colour.

"Is it over?" Razor asked.

"He's not breathing," Knuckles said.

"Tails, come to the head and when I say now, blow two rescue breaths into his mouth," Blaze commanded as she placed the heel of her hand in the middle of his chest and placed the other hand on top of the first. "One, two, three, four," Blaze counting rhythmically as she compressed into his chest. The others watched on silently as she counted. "Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty, now!" Blaze commanded. Tails acted quickly, administering two breaths into Sonic's mouth, making sure his chest rose and fell before Blaze started counting to thirty again.

"Please, Sonic, be okay," Tails prayed. After repeating the process three times, Sonic showed no signs of improvement and Tails began to get hysterical. Tikal watched on helplessly.

"It's not working!"

"Keep it up. Breathe now," Blaze growled. "Razor, set up the defibrillator and place the pads on his body where the image shows."

"But you're still doing compressions."

"Just work around me," Blaze said as Tails finished and she began pumping his chest again. Knuckles helped Tails pull Sonic's shirt over his shoulders and Razor carefully stuck the adhesive sides of the pads on the top right and bottom left.

"Scanning patient," a mechanical voice buzzed as Blaze continued pumping. "Shock advised, please stand clear."

"Everybody back up," Blaze called as they all scooted a few feet away. Blaze pressed the button on the machine and Sonic's body jolted as electricity was sent surging through his body, completely stopping his heart.

"Commence CPR," the voice instructed. Blaze jumped right back into her rhythmic compressions trying to restart Sonic's heart in a stable beat after it was fully stopped by the defib. After a few more cycles, Sonic finally coughed. Blaze quickly rolled him onto his side as Sonic vomited up some bile and sighed.

"S-Sonic," Tails cried out in disbelief.

"Hey… why are you crying?" Sonic asked feebly. "It's not like I died or something," Sonic joked faintly as Tails collapsed onto him and wrapped his hands around him, refusing to let go as Sonic let out a weak laugh. Everybody sighed, watching with a smile as Tails refused to let Sonic go.

About ten minutes passed as Blaze caught her breath and the others breathed a sigh of relief before they began packing away the first aid and defibrillator and said a few words about Sally.

"At least dad was good for one thing," Sonic smiled weakly as he sat up.

"What?"

"If he hadn't had his heart condition mum wouldn't have been adamant about keeping a defib in the house just in case," he laughed jovially before it turned into a wheezing cough.

"Just rest, Sonic," Tails said, but couldn't hide the smile that appeared on his face.

"Guys, I don't want to rush things, but we kind of have a deadline," Tikal urged.

"We'll rest for a few hours and then head to Vector's castle. Sonic is in no condition to go anywhere just yet," Blaze decided.

"I'll go find us some food so we can keep up our strength," Knuckles said as he rose.

"I'll help you," Tikal said, wanting to feel useful as the two headed over to the kitchen.

"Tails?"

"Yeah, Sonic?"

"Would you mind going to your house and getting the bag that I packed and left there that night we had to run away?" Sonic asked.

"O…kay… but why?"

"Just do it, please?"

"Sonic, people could be out. It's dangerous," Blaze warned.

"I'll go with him. Nobody will see us if he sticks with me," Razor grinned.

"Alright, I'll make sure Sonic doesn't get worse. Just… be careful, okay?"

"Okay, be back soon," Tails said, his eyes meeting Sonic's. Sonic just gave him a smile as he closed his eyes and began snoring softly.

…

Fiona hadn't made it very far. She had barely reached the town's outskirts when Rouge caught her. The tantalizingly close edge of the forest was just out of reach. If she could just make it to the undergrowth she could slip away into the forest freely. She was almost there when a gunshot sliced through the air like a crack of lightning and Fiona screeched to a halt.

"Don't go anywhere," Rouge bellowed from behind. "Put your hands in the air." Fiona turned around slowly and raised her arms. Fear crossed her face.

"Now, Rouge, let's not do anything crazy," Fiona soothed softly.

"Shut up," Rouge hissed. "Alecia's dead because of you and if I don't bring you back I will be too. Just give up Fiona, it's the end of the line for you. Your fate was sealed the moment you gave Shadow that scar."

"Rouge, don't you see what a monster he is? How can you be okay with doing this?"

"It doesn't matter what I think," Rouge sighed with downcast eyes. "He'll kill me if I disobey."

"He's only seventeen!"

"And he's still more powerful than almost everybody in Mobius."

"Rouge, what Vector and Shadow are doing is wrong. Surely you see that?" Fiona tried to appeal to Rouge's sensible side.

"This all started because of your boss. Wave declared war on us. Aves invaded us!" Rouge growled, her hand shaky as her finger tickled the gun's trigger teasingly.

"Because Big killed her friends. He slaughtered Jet and Storm for helping out a young boy who needed help."

"It doesn't matter," Rouge shook her head. "This war is almost over and when it is things can go back to normal and we won't all have to live in fear anymore."

"Don't be so ridiculous, Rouge," Fiona barked. "You're a history teacher. You know how this will turn out."

"You're wrong."

"You're in denial. Mobius will win the war and Vector will rule the entire continent like a dictator. Shadow will only gain more power. Things will never go back to the way they were if Vector wins. He'll kill anybody that gets in his way."

"He wouldn't. It's against Chaos' plan."

"How can you be so blind!" Fiona bellowed helplessly. "This isn't about Mobianity. It was never about Mobianity. Large just used it to push his agenda and it garnered his family power. Big might have been just a priest but he too saw an opportunity and used the fear and hatred of Sonic and Tails' relationship as an excuse to reaffirm his strangle hold on the community."

"Big was a great man, who believed deeply in the word of Chaos," Rouge defended.

"He was a disillusioned maniac who thought any god would want him to slaughter innocent teenagers for nothing more than finding love!" Fiona scolded. "He was mad, and so is Vector. But Vector's more dangerous, Rouge. He isn't doing this for Mobianity or his beliefs. He's using fear to gain control, like Large did. Big might have been a believer, but Vector isn't. He knows what he's doing is wrong but doesn't care. He's dangerous, Rouge, and deep down you know it to be true."

Rouge's feet were planted firmly in the soil as her arm shook. She stared down Fiona but as hard as she willed herself to pull the trigger, she couldn't. With a defeated sigh she lowered her gun and slumped her shoulders.

"Go," Rouge whispered.

"What?"

"I said go," Rouge yelled. "Run away and never come back."

"But what about you? Shadow will-"

"I know what I must do," Rouge interrupted. Go and save your community. I'll be fine."

"Thank you, Rouge," Fiona smiled weakly before she turned and sprinted off to get lost in the deep, thick forest behind her.

…

The hot, bright sun beat down across the Mobian community. Slowly, a dark menacing shadow inched its way through the sky, shrouding the town below in darkness as it stalked across the sky. Razor and Tails dove for cover underneath a nearby veranda as the beast causing the shadow flew overhead without noticing them.

The giant, metallic bird-like ship soared through the sky overhead, kept aloft by three mighty engines and four sweeping turbines. It boasted three levels and was constructed around a large spherical dome that acted as the heart of the contraption.

Vector strode confidently out of his crumbling castle with a smile as he watched the machine touch down in the grassy field beside the castle. Swarming behind the machine were hundreds of small drones similar to the one Sonic had stolen, but each was remotely controlled without a pilot. They followed behind their queen like bees and with a press of a button in Shard's control room on the mothership they all stuck into the ground around his ship.

Vector stood a few meters away with Shadow and Amy by his side as a great drawbridge descended down from an opening of the ship and metal shutters screeched out, digging deep into the dirt. Shard emerged from the hatchway and walked carefully down to meet his ally.

"Shard, I'm glad you finally made it," Vector bowed with a curtsy.

"My men finally got the armada in top condition. Have you the serum?" Shard asked starkly in reply.

"I've upheld my end of the agreement, yes," Vector nodded. "It's ready in the canisters you requested."

"Excellent. If you would be kind enough to help me load them into the drones so we can begin purifying the land."

"Amy, help the men load the canisters into his ships, and don't forget to show him to the biggest one. That one goes in the mother ship."

"Understood," Amy saluted and led Shard into the castle.

"What will I do, sir?" Shadow asked.

"Has your plan worked?" Vector asked ominously.

"I believe it has. The seeds have been planted. All that's left is to spring the trap."

"Perfect. I'll let you handle that then. Remember, I don't want Sonic dead, just incapacitated. I want him to watch," Vector grinned as he marveled at Shard's numerous, mechanical armada. "It's poetic, really," Vector mused aloud.

"Sir?"

"It's like we're starting a new flood. Just as Chaos sent torrential rains to purify Mobius from all the sinners centuries ago as told in the old testaments, so too are we recreating his enactment. Our gas will flood Mobius and kill all those unworthy of Chaos' great plan and, just like our ancestors, we will rise from it stronger and more faithful than ever," Vector monologued.

"But Sonic will-"

"Yes, Shadow, we will deal with him after we force him, and that retched fox, to watch."

"What of the others?"

"Kill them," Vector shrugged. "Now I must help load the main canister. Make sure your plan doesn't fail."

"It won't," Shadow grinned menacingly as he retreated back into the castle.

…

"This will help get his energy back," Knuckles mused aloud as he stirred the gigantic pot. The meaty stew bubbled and gurgled underneath the heat of the stove's flame. Knuckles reached over to grab some spices and peppered them into the big pot, stirring occasionally. As Knuckles cooked, he noticed Tikal's dour demeanor out of the corner of his eye. "Hey… Tiks… everything alright?"

"That's the second time you've called me Tiks…" Tikal sighed.

"You've proved time and time again that you're deserving of your pet name again," Knuckles smiled genuinely at her. "We would have been dead several times this adventure if it wasn't for you. In fact, we'd have been completely oblivious of everything on the island if you hadn't risked everything to come find us."

"I… yeah," Tikal's gaze shifted until she was staring absently at the floor, her mind running wild. "Knux," she finally spoked after moments of contemplative silence.

"Yeah?"

"How could Sally be so cruel?"

"Hmm?"

"The way she blindly tried to kill her own son, just because she thought it was right. It's just wrong," Tikal said.

"I know, but that's why we're here. To stop Chaos' supporters," Knuckles answered.

"But Chaos isn't evil," Tikal argued. "I believe in him and his teachings and many other innocent people who could never harm a fly do too."

"That's why this is such a delicate situation. Chaos isn't the problem, it's his devoted followers that take every word as certain fact. They take it to the extremes and trick themselves with illusions to justify the horrible acts they commit as okay because they think it's what Chaos wants."

"But-"

"Religion isn't bad, Tikal," Knuckles continued, deep in thought. He'd had long months to ponder his feelings. He'd always been deeply religious, never missed a Sunday sermon at church and followed Big's teachings to a tee as a kid. It was only when he saw how everybody turned on his two best friends for seemingly no reason did he begin to waver. Knuckles thought he had finally figured out his feelings.

"But everything you guys have been doing has been against Mobianity," Tikal pointed out.

"No," Knuckles shook his head. "I think religion is important. It helps us answer the unanswerable questions. It helps give life purpose and is the reason we all strive to live life as our best selves. Without it, we'd descend into anarchy. Whether you believe or you don't, it doesn't matter as long as you believe in living life as a kind, noble person."

"So why did you run?"

"Because, certain people take advantage of the need to believe. Big saw an opportunity to do Chaos' work, or at least what he was blinded to believe was his work, and became a dictator, much like Vector. They use Chaos as a tool to control their subjects. This war wasn't started because of Chaos. It was started because two boys found love and an archaic book written hundreds of years ago by man said they couldn't. Most people probably wouldn't mind, but Large, Big, Vector and countless others use this fear to incite riots. If we unite people under one hatred, we can control them. That's what Vector's done. He might think he's doing what Chaos wants, but really he just wants to rule the world, whether in Chaos' image or not. He's nothing but a murderous dictator."

"…and it's all my fault," Tikal exhaled deeply.

"What? How?"

"I started everything. I found out about Sonic and Tails. You warned me, that night when I found the diary. You said I'd make a big mistake if I told everybody but I wouldn't listen. I helped chase Tails into Aves where he met Wave, Jet and Storm. I started this bloodshed."

"Tikal… it's not your fault," Knuckles soothed.

"But it is… I was blinded and I-" Before Tikal could finish the door flew open and Razor's warnings echoed through the kitchen. Knuckles and Tikal dropped their conversation and ran into the lounge to see what was happening.

"We saw a giant mechanical ship fly overhead," Tails warned. Sonic was sitting in one of the chairs with Blaze behind her. Tikal and Knuckles rushed into the room panting.

"And hundreds of smaller drones were flying behind it, just like the one you arrived in Vapos with, Sonic," Razor added.

"Shard," Sonic cursed under his breath.

"Yer suspicions were right," Razor said gravely. "Macton and Mobius have formed an alliance. They are going to destroy the other three communities. I don't know how they plan to do it, but I bet these drones are the key."

"We're running out of time," Sonic growled, trying to stand. In the time since he'd been stabbed he had began to feel a little better but was still nowhere near his full strength.

"Sonic, you need some more rest," Blaze urged.

"But we're running out of time," he fought.

"I think we still have some time," Tails said thoughtfully. "They were heading for the old castle at the southern tip."

"That's where Vector's taken up residence," Tikal nodded.

"If he's heading to meet Vector, it means Shard probably needs something from Vector first. I'd wager we still have a few hours. We all need some food and Sonic needs more rest. I say we all get an hour of rest and to help collect ourselves mentally before we push forward."

"Ya really have become a little leader, Tails," Razor mentioned.

"Alright, well my stew's almost ready."

"I'll go get you some, Sonic," Blaze offered.

"Guys, could you set up the kitchen table. I'll meet you in there, I just need a moment alone with Tails first," Sonic asked.

"Of course," Blaze nodded as she retreated into the kitchen to help get lunch ready with Tikal, Knuckles and Razor. Tails waited until they had all gone before he approached Sonic on the armchair. Tails knelt down beside him and took off the backpack, handing it to Sonic.

"You asked me to get this for you," he offered the bag.

"Well, I didn't really want the whole bag," Sonic chuckled weakly. "Just this," he smiled as he rustled around inside the bag until he fished out the old, battered diary.

"My diary?" Tails asked in confusion.

"Technically it's mine now," Sonic grinned cheekily.

"Why did you bring it to my party?"

"Because I wanted to show you it," Sonic handed Tails the diary. Tails thumbed through the pages, seeing his neat handwriting sprawled with emotion on page after page. He flipped through until he found the last entry he wrote at Christmas. Then he noticed the writing had changed to a sloppy attempt with larger letters and bigger spacing.

"I continued. I wrote in it every day up until your party. I wanted you to read what I had to say about you." Tails felt stupid as tears welled up in his eyes as he read the beautiful things Sonic had written. He had no idea just how happy and complete Sonic felt every time they were together.

"You don't like it?"

"No," Tails sniffed, wiping away the tears with the sleeve of his shirt. "No, I just… I can't believe you really feel this way."

"Of course I do, Tails. I love you, more than anything in the world. I just thought you should know the extent of my devotion to you," Sonic smiled. "I'd travel to hell and back just to save you. Wherever you run, I'll follow, even in death.

"I… I don't know what to say."

"You could say you feel the same?"

"You're an idiot," Tails smiled as he leant over and crashed his lips against Sonic's slipping his tongue deep into Sonic's mouth to explore the familiar cavern he'd spent weeks missing. He lapped up Sonic completely; his taste, his scent, his looks, his feel and the way his pants sound, filled with lust and love as Sonic moaned contentedly into Tails' mouth.

"I love you so much," Tails said as they finally pulled away, exhausted.

"I love you, too. Whatever happens, I'll always be with you," Sonic held out his hand.

"Always," Tails slid his fingers between Sonic's.

…

A few hours passed as the group devoured Knuckles' delicious stew, made plans and finally set off on the short trip from Sonic and Tails' street to the old crumbling castle on the edge of Mobius' sheer southern cliffs that historians had fought to preserve. Sonic and Tails paused a moment as they passed by their old place of solace, now only a black, barren land of soot and ash where nothing could grow.

"Alright, it's time," Razor whispered as he took the lead and rushed around to crouched behind a damaged stone wall a few meters in front of the large wooden door that stood as the main entry of the castle. They noticed the metal giant around the back side of the castle and made sure to stay completely out of its sight.

"Everybody remembers the plan?" Knuckles asked.

"If Sonic's description was correct, then I'm pretty sure the big ship is the mothership and the unpiloted drones are connected by a frequency controlled manually from a central control like a hive mind. I'll find it and try to disengage the drones once we get through the castle," Tails explained.

"I'll be there to make sure you get to the mothership, even if I have to personally take out Vector, Shard and Shadow all by myself," Knuckles growled.

"You'll have to accept my scraps because I won't let them get anywhere near him," Razor smirked, winking at Knuckles.

"I'll lead everybody through so we don't get caught. I think I remember the interior pretty well," Tikal said quietly, almost nervously.

"I'll help keep a lookout and help out in a fight if need be," Blaze added.

"And I'll stick with Tails."

"Sonic, we've been over this," Blaze scolded. "You're in no condition to fight."

"I won't fight unless I have to, promise," Sonic nodded. "But if it comes down to it, I'd rather break my stiches and risk bleeding out than let anybody, especially Shadow, get their hands on Tails. He'll die over my dead body."

"Then we're all agreed," Knuckles said with finality. Everybody locked eyes and nodded with determination. "Alright Tikal, lead the way."

Tikal swallowed, darted her head to make sure the coast was clear before she rushed over to the main door and pushed it open with the others in toe. They were surprised it was unlocked but thanked their lucky stars and didn't argue as they slipped into the castle.

"This way," Tikal whispered as she led them through a series of twists and turns until they found themselves standing in front of another large door. Tikal pressed her palm against the door, took a deep breath and pushed it open. She raced silently into the room, followed closely behind by Razor and Knuckles, Blaze, Sonic and Tails.

The room she led them into was a spacious cylindrical room with nothing of note except a campy throne stuck into the stone at the other end. Tikal stopped when she reached the very center. The others approached her, confused.

"Tikal, there's nothing in here," Razor hissed.

"You haven't gotten lost, have you?" Knuckles asked. Tikal seemed to not notice their concerns. Knuckles tiptoed up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Tikal?"

"I'm sorry," Tikal whispered, unable to meet Knuckles gaze.

"Tikal? You're sorry? For wh-" Knuckles began to ask but before he could say anything bright lights above them switched on, blinding the party. They shielded their eyes with their arms as a loud, gloating cackle filled the room.

Sonic squinted through the light to see five guards rush into the room and take up position blocking the group from the only exit to the room. They stepped apart as a familiar face strode through their ranks with a smirk. It was Shadow.

"So nice of you to finally join us, Sonic," Shadow laughed like a cartoon villain, his eyes trained on Sonic with maniacal intent.

"How did you…" Sonic trailed off when he saw Tikal push through them and walk right up to Shadow wordlessly.

"You did beautifully, sweetie," Shadow congratulated as he snaked his arm around Tikal's middle and planted his lips firmly against Tikal's. They all gasped in complete horror as Tikal took a stand beside Shadow, five guards beside them and their only escape further behind.

"Tikal… how could you?" Knuckles bellowed. He felt utterly betrayed.

"You're all idiots," Shadow taunted. "And now, thanks to your idiocy, it looks like it's the end of the line.

A/N: Of course Sonic's not actually dead! How could I kill him off before the climax? But he's incapacitated and won't be much help for these final three chapters to wrap up our 48 chapter adventure. I know it probably seemed a bit much with the whole CPR, defib thing but I've always hated how CPR is treated in movies and novels. Being a surf lifesaver I've had my fair share of rescues and I've had to perform CPR before and it's a scary process that takes a long time. People don't just come back after trying once and I wanted to illustrate that a bit. I hope it wasn't too boring, I just wanted to make it realistic.

But for the big reveal, yes, as most of you assumed Tikal was always on their side. Maybe you didn't think as a romantic relationship with Shadow, but on his side nonetheless. I might have tried a bit too hard to make you like her and think of her as a good guy but it made sense for her character. Her plan was always to keep tabs on them and report back. 'Why didn't she just kill them while they slept?' Because her task wasn't to kill them, it was to deliver them to Shadow so that he could torture Sonic. Of course Shadow didn't want somebody else to kill them, he always wanted the satisfaction himself, he's a bit insane if you hadn't noticed. But, trust me, everything she did and said has relevance. Just keep reading, only three chapters to go!

Sorry about how long it's taken between updates, almost a month I think. I've just been so busy and over this summer break I've been working 6 days a week and have had almost no time to write. However, since there's only 3 chapters left, I'd expect this fic to end before the end of March... maybe April, we'll see. But it's almost at its end, so I hope you've been enjoying it. How do you think this is all going to end? Who will live, who will die? Please let me know, I love hearing what you have to say.

Next time on Sontails: War of Faith - Chapter 22: Castle Throne Room