Chapter Eight

First off I would like to apologize to you guys for this chapter not being uploaded sooner. I tried to write when I could, but I have had very little time to do much and a lot has been happening as I had to get a new laptop and replace everything. Again, I am very sorry. Hope you all enjoy it. Now, back to the story.

Blaze sat up in her bed, drenched in sweat from her nightmare. She dreamt that Silver was tied to a wooden post and burnt and as she tried to help him, unseen people were holding her back. She could only watch and cry as he was burnt.

Outside, Blaze could hear people shouting, so she got up and left her room. As she opened the front door, Blaze could not have been prepared for what she saw. Most of the village was outside her house carrying torches and various gardening tools. Opposite from her was Shadow and his gang holding Silver and in front of her was her father Sonic, lying on the ground with blood slowly coming from his head and Tails and Cream kneeling on either side of him.

All Blaze could do was scream.
_

As Sonic woke up early to meet Knuckles, he was trying to decide how to approach this subject. He knew that Knuckles didn't have a grudge against Silver, but knew that he would do anything to protect his villagers and would sacrifice Silver if it would stop the plague.

As Sonic left his house, he came face to face with Knuckles immediately. 'Knuckles, what are you doing here?' Sonic asked.

'Sonic, why did you help Silver? What made you take him in and treat him as your own?'

'Well you did, all those years ago. You helped me, gave me a house and a job even though we were only strangers. Why shouldn't I have helped Silver?' he answered. 'What if Silver was a threat to us, what would you do?'

'What do you mean?' Sonic asked, confused.

'I'm sorry Sonic, but Silver did something to anger the Gods and brought this plague. If we don't get rid of him, then we will all die.'

'What are you talking about? Do you even have any proof?'

Various shouts could be heard off in the distance as Sonic saw a crowd of people approaching. 'I'm sorry Sonic, but the plague started when Silver came here. I might have been able to write it off as a coincidence, but after he fell off the cliff and survived, I am certain he is something different.'

The crowd had arrived and began to form around the house, yelling at Sonic. Shadow walked out of the crowd beside Knuckles and said: 'I'm sorry, but please move aside Sonic. You don't have to be involved in this.'

'Like hell I don't! I promised to protect Silver and I will do so if I die for it!' 'What's going on?' Came a voice. Sonic turned around to see Silver behind him. 'Get him' Shadow said. Before Sonic could warn Silver, three guys ran past Sonic and grabbed Silver.

'Hey let go of me!' Silver shouted. 'Let go of him!' Sonic said, but before he could take a step towards them, sharp blow hit him in the back of the head. Sonic instantly fell to the ground, but turned his head around before he blacked out to see Knuckles in the crowd with his head bowed saying, 'Forgive me old friend'.

Tails and Cream both pushed past the crowd and kneeled by Sonic, trying to stop the bleeding as Silver was carried to away.

A scream pieced through the yells as everyone turned and saw Blaze standing in the doorway was a horrified look on her face. Blaze ran at Silver, planning on hitting the people holding him to try and let him escape, but was stopped as Tails grabbed hold of her.

'What are you doing?' Blaze screamed.

'Would any good come of you trying to help Silver? I don't want them to take Silver away either, but there are only three of us against the whole town' Tails yelled back at Blaze.

'But...but...' Blaze said weakly before falling to her knees and crying. Tails let go of Blaze and knelt besde Sonic to stop the bleeding as Cream hugged Blaze.

'Shadow' Silver said calmly. 'What do you want?' Shadow asked coldly.

'Let me speak to Blaze. Please and I will come quietly.' Shadow considered this as he knew he couldn't leave Blaze like this. 'Fine, but try anything and I will take you down myself' Shadow answered, nodding to the people holding Silver who shoved him forward.

Silver slowly walked over to Blaze and knelt beside her as she looked up at him with her tear-stained eyes and hugged him. 'Silver, please don't go!' she pleaded, tears still running down her face. 'Blaze' Silver said, breaking the hug and looking her in the eyes,

'I may not remember who I am or where I came from, but I would not want to change that as I got to meet you and Tails and Cream and Sonic. I wish I could have spent more time with you, but my time is up. You have a future. You can travel, find somewhere to settle down, become a chef, find love, anything you want'

'But I... want you... to be with me' Blaze replied through sobs.

Silver smiled at her, although his eyes showed great sorrow, and leaned towards her, lightly kissing her. Blaze looked at Silver in surprise as he pulled away. Looking towards an even more surprised Tails and Cream, Silver said before being cut off 'Thank you both very much for the time we spent together. Please ta-'

'Hurry up!' someone yelled from the crowd, getting everyone else to start yelling as well, the crowd threatening to get out of control. 'All of you, SHUT UP!' Shadow yelled, silencing the crowd instantly, then nodding towards Silver. Silver knew that he had to finish before the crowd got out of control again and started again. 'As I was going to say, please take care of Blaze for me.'

Tails replied 'Yeah, I promise' Cream replied 'You can count on me.'

Looking at a still crying Blaze, Silver said 'Goodbye Blaze, thank you for everything.' As Silver stood up, Blaze grabbed Silver's hand, stood up herself, pulling Silver towards her and kissed him. For a moment, Silver was surprised but closed his eyes and returned the kiss as tears fell onto his cheeks from Blaze.

For a few moments, Silver and Blaze stood there kissing before Silver broke the kiss, turned around and walked towards Shadow, stopping to say 'Thank you.'

'Hmm' was his reply.

Turning his head towards Blaze who was still standing there staring at him, Silver gave he one more smile before being taken away.

Blaze wanted to do so much as she watched Silver being taken away. She wanted to hug him one more, run away from there, break down and continue crying, run after them and grab Silver and run away together, but could only stand there and stare as the crowd took Silver away.

She knew what would happen next from her dream, but she would not go as it would do nothing but cause her grief. Tails sat back from Sonic and kept his head low as Cream hugged Blaze and said 'I'm so sorry Blaze.'

Only not talking about Silver.