'History doesn't repeat, but it does rhyme.' -Mark Twain

He opened his eyes slowly and focused on the ceiling as the strange scene in his dream played out in his mind again. Slowly he let out a long shaky breath before sitting up with a chuckle, "I've gotta stop passing out." After looking around and seeing that no one was in the tent with him he rolled off the blankets onto the dirt and stood, stretching his arms as he did.

Remembering why he was there in the first place he pulled his arm back down and looked at where the stone had been. Now only a thin, straight scar remained in its place with no pain, Shadow had done a good job.

A blue ear twitched and turned as its owner heard a strange noise near where he suspected the edge of the camp was, before the blue hedgehog shrugged and dug around in the blankets for his own clothing and walked outside, gloveless since he couldn't find them.

The same sound echoed again and he gasped in surprise as the smell of ozone hit him full force, practically intoxicating the speed loving hedgehog with the same smell he managed to find every time he ran past the sound barrier.

The sound of something clanging against metal accompanied by a roar suddenly reached his ears and he rushed towards the sound, sliding to a full halt at what he saw.

Bouncing off trees and around the area was a golden light that echidnas were trying to slash down with swords or arrows, some even (like Knuckles) with their bare hands. Shadow was there as well dodging everything and trying to get a good hit in at the light.

'A thunder dragon', Sonic thought, as he stood hidden behind a bush watching the others fight the creature. He knew that if he went into view the others would expect him to fight and he just couldn't. When he'd been in Camelot running through another dragon's cave to free the villagers, a thunder dragon had continuously shown up and assisted him in getting across gaps.

A loud shriek echoed through the air as the light from the dragon suddenly disappeared into the forest and a cheer went up.

Silently he crept closer to where Shadow was talking with Knuckles.

"… been showing up at the borders for the past month. It disappeared for a few days then returned. Between keeping that beast out of the camp and getting ready to fight we're being run ragged."

Having heard what he wanted Sonic dashed off into the forest after the dragon.

XXxxXX

"I WANT THOSE TWO FOUND NOW!" A taller black and maroon hedgehog bellowed as a purple and white wolf walked into the throne room while the servant being yelled at ducked out of the way of a cup the king had thrown and disappeared.

The wolf was wearing a brown hat along with a matching vest and carrying a crossbow over his shoulder. Cold blue eyes watched while fangs peeked out over his bottom lip.

"That's why I'm here your Majesty. Fang the Sniper at your business."

"I don't want them killed." Black Doom hissed angrily. He grown an extra two feet since his son and the strange knight had disappeared from the camp and a slit rested on his forehead above and between his eyes. "They were kidnapped."

"I'm a bounty hunter as well." Fang said simply, "My arrows are laced with spider venom, just enough to knock someone out. That is why you sent for me."

Black Doom leaned forward with a suspicious look, "I never sent for you."

"You were about ta." He said with a grin as poisonous as his arrows, "According to what my friend heard through Hive Mind."

Black Doom raised his eyebrows before sitting back with a smirk, "Say I did hire you. What would you do to the kidnappers?"

The poisonous grin disappeared to be replaced by a large smirk, "Have you ever heard what happens when a body gets a full blast of cobra venom, your Majesty?"

XXxxXX

Branches and brambles scraped his unprotected body, except for where the rough shirt he'd worn to the fight covered him, as he shoved his way through the thick forest. "Hello?" It was a weak hope to call for a scared feral creature, and a dangerous one depending on whether any other feral predators were out. Yet despite the chances a strange noise, like a whimper, caught his attention and he headed towards it.

Resting on the forest floor was a creature about as long as he was tall that reminded him slightly of how Tails had described his drill form when they'd rescued the wisps, and a feral lion. A long red cut went from its foreleg to the top of its back in a diagonal pattern.

"Hello." Sonic said quietly, using the same voice as he did when he found a small child that'd been hurt or lost. "My name's Sonic. I'm going to try to help you, alright?" Practically pointless to talk to a feral, he knew, but he'd done it as long as he could remember and they seemed to understand him. Carefully he ran his bare fingers over the golden fur next to the cut, being cautious about his small claws.

"I met a Thunder Dragon before, a few years back. He helped me to rescue some people, never saw what he looked like when he wasn't moving though." Ancient brown eyes stared back at him as he gently felt for any other injuries and mumbled words to the creature. "Alright I need something to wrap this with…" He searched around for a few minutes before remembering his shirt. Quickly he pulled it off a proceeded to rip it apart. "It's a bit uncomfortable, but it's all I have right now." Sonic told the creature as he wrapped the slit. "This should help it heal faster."

The sun was setting now, it seemed as if time had passed faster while he was helping the dragon, and his energy was still sapped from when Shadow healed him. He slowly sat down and leaned against the dragon's golden fur, his eyes closing as he fell to sleep despite his intentions.

XXxxXX

"Hello."

He looked up to see a light brown squirrel wearing a light blue vest, she appeared to be about the same age as him. Staying silent he nodded as his own greeting and turned back to watching the street. Where was he…?

"I've never seen fur that color before, did you use berries to dye it?"

Quickly he scuttled away from where her curious brown fingers had started touching his ear. "I was born with it." He muttered.

She nodded, "Right, sorry. What are you doing here anyways? I've never seen you and young children are not supposed to be out by themselves."

"You're out by yourself." He pointed out leaning against the wall behind him and peering at her with one green eye, "Unless your caretaker is a chamelion."

She blushed and stared down at her hands, "I tricked him and left him behind at the market, I've gotten tired of my father treating me as if I am a flower."

He nodded and grinned, "I've heard of that happening. And as for your earlier question, I am simply passing through with Kane. He's getting food at the market right now."

"Kane?" The squirrel asked leaning forward, "Who's he?"

He shrugged, "I don't know yet. At the moment I am his apprentice."

"There you are." A louder, older voice said. Both youth looked up to see a gray-blue echidna with a coyote wearing a blue uniform behind him. "Miss Acorn, your caretaker has been searching for you."

The squirrel sighed and walked over to the coyote, she turned to wave at the hedgehog before following after him.

The hedgehog stood and followed as Kane walked towards the gates of the town, "How did you know she was with me?"

He smiled and tossed the hedgehog an apple, "Just a guess. You seem to draw people to you."

"If you ask me I seem to push them away." The hedgehog mumbled as he turned the apple in his hands.

Kane glanced at the boy before turning his attention to the road, "I have not seen that happen once. Even the dragon we found a few weeks back took a fancy to you. You are good to have along."

The hedgehog smiled before biting into the apple, "Thanks, Kane."

"There they are!" Both hedgehog and echidna turned once the loud exclamation met their ears. About thirty guards were running towards them with both swords and spears at the ready. A loud clang sounded behind them as more managed to get the gates closed.

One of the guards walked up to them and unrolled a scroll, "In the name of King Acorn you are to come to the palace immediately, or face execution."

XXxxXX

Something was pushing him. That was one of the first things he realized as the dream faded. There was no echidna or guards and the only thing around besides him was a golden dragon.

"Alright." He muttered as he turned, "I'm up, what'd you want?"

Another strange whimper met his ears and Sonic frowned, standing to see if the wound had reopened.

"There he is!" He spun faster than the eye could see to spot a squirrel-like Mobian rushing towards him with large feral dogs racing ahead.