The morning air was quiet and still. It was not really how Sonic preferred it- he would have liked to be speeding about in search of new records to break- but he could at least appreciate the sort of charm it must have held for others like Cloud. The mercenary was the only other occupant of the second-floor veranda that looked out over the town, towards the rising sun. Sonic shut the door quietly behind him and decided to make conversation.

"You been up for a while, Cloud?"

"Since midnight," yawned the man, continuing to gaze out toward the horizon. He patted a spot on the railing, which Sonic zipped to and rested himself against. "Sure is pretty, up here."

"Yeah, I guess so," agreed the hedgehog, taking another look back out at the vibrant tones of orange and salmon rising in the distance. "But… it's just a desert. Nothin' real fancy."

"It may not look like much to you, but it's beautiful to me," explained Cloud. "It's not very real or anything, but any time I look out at one of these arenas, all I see is what could be- what I could be doing, back home. Making people's lives better."

"A sunset reminds you of that?"

"My world was one that had been ruined by foolish people, the very life sucked out of the ground in pursuit of money and power. The whole planet was dying… even a desert wouldn't have been as vibrant as this. I was going to make things better."

"Huh. I never would've pegged you as an environmentalist type."

"I don't know if I'd say I was doing it so much for the planet, as the people in it."

"Honestly I wouldn't have taken you as a people person either."

Cloud turned from the sunset, smiling. "Heh. Yeah. I guess I don't run my mouth a whole lot, but I like having some company, to pass the time."

"Well, it's a pleasure to be of service to ya," replied Sonic. "So… can I ask you something?"

"Uh, yeah, maybe. Is it weird? 'Cause you're making it sound like it's going to be weird."

"No, not weird, but personal. What do you think of… the boss?"

Cloud's smile grew a little fainter. "You mean, Poppy? That's a tricky question. I guess you could say there's two answers to that. What she really is… it's a mean thing. None of us could really wrap our heads around the kind of evil power she's got, that's undeniable. But her beef isn't with us, it's with the Master of Games. And for her to acknowledge that she needs our help, to offer to cooperate with what she considers lesser beings, means she's got some spark of good in her, somewhere. I can feel it. So in that regard- which is more important than how I feel about her personally- I think I'm content taking orders from her. After all, we've done well so far. Why'd you ask?"

"I don't know what you'd call it," shrugged Sonic. "It hasn't happened to me, but… I've seen a lot of deals like this go sour. And I just can't shake the feeling that-"

"Eventually, you may be betrayed?" said Poppy, finishing his sentence.

Sonic shed a few quills in fright, turning to find his boss standing with her arms crossed behind him.

"How- when- did you-"

"While my omnipresence isn't what it used to be, these elves' ears are useful for hearing things far away," she explained.

"So you heard… all of that?" whispered the hedgehog nervously.

"Yes."

"Well, I said how I really felt," stated Cloud. "If you've got a problem with that, just say the word and I'm out of here."

Poppy shook her head.

"That will not be necessary. I understand your concerns… you, Sonic, desire your own freedom above all else. Cloud, you wish to protect others. Neither are uncommon wishes among mortals such as yourselves, and with your motivations as such, you may doubt my agenda. But I assure you, my intentions are as I stated. Through our cooperation, I will shame my loathsome brother, and you will achieve victory. There is no more to it than that. I do not care if you do not trust me, nor if you find my methods displeasing. All I care is that you are willing to do as told and help your allies for your mutual benefit."

"So… you don't care what we think of you… at all?" asked Sonic.

Poppy shook her head again, looking a little weary of it. "When one lives as long as I have, one learns that what others think has little to do with their actions. Most creatures are motivated by their thoughts second, and their primal urges first."

"Well, you've chewed us out all you need to, then," Cloud sighed. "I'd better get back to guard duty."

"Actually, I was searching for you two on another matter entirely. I am in need of your assistance."

"What's up? Is somebody closing in on us? Need me to run a scouting mission?" asked the hedgehog excitedly.

"No. Morrigan woke up. I'm certain she had something very profound to say when she stumbled into my office, but she ended up vomiting instead. I've already put her back to bed with a glass of water, but somebody needs to clean it up."

"Well, um, look at the time!" cried Sonic, dashing away.

"Wait!" shouted Cloud, but it was no use. Sonic was no doubt far out of earshot already, and Cloud was certain that even if the speedster had been close enough, he wouldn't have stuck around anyway. He turned sheepishly to Poppy.

"Uh… can't Snake help you?"

"He is currently securing the town's gold coin."

"How about Bayonetta?"

"I actually have no idea where she is," admitted Poppy. "Morrigan mumbled something about her and a trap- I think right before she ejected a bottle of scotch onto my carpet."

"Oh. And Haruto?"

"Broken pelvis."

"Fine, I'll go clean it up."

Cloud trudged back through the door reluctantly. He was a little surprised to find Poppy crouched on the floor of the office, scraping a rag back and forth across the carpet.

"But- I thought you wanted me to-"

"I did not say that I was not going to help, did I?"

Cloud smiled weakly. "Thank you, Poppy."