A/N: Well its been a while but here it goes! Its about time this adventure catch some new life, I've got some interesting ideas and we're going to see what they amount to now! What will change amidst the future as they head to Ice Cap Zone? Here comes that truth.

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Chapter 11: Braces & Bonds

Traces of the dawn during the day, the flight to the Ice Cap Zone was a matter that they quickly needed to cover the grounds on. Lana was looking ahead and reflecting on her brother's life, he was all alone for so many centuries and he'd really grown up! She wasn't sure what they could do to stop her, even in contact with her brother the power just was not coming fast enough. She rested her head on her brother's shoulder as she felt the cold chills of the zone overtaking them, even with the winter coat dragged out for her she was still tired. So this was her brother's little band? She had to admit that things were not going in their favor, she gently nuzzled her brother's quills and looked over his shoulders.

"Wushan...how are you feeling?" she felt the need to ask her brother, it was easy to sense his unease of the situation.

"Really...really bad." his words came with a deep sigh, even though he looked forward and didn't let any moment of it remotely slow his actions down. Toresule continued on his steady course forward and all the drakehedge male could do was sigh deeply, he was making a decision for the better life of his and Amy Rose. He decided something so curtly on his own that he would not allow another soul to be hurt. The prospects were not in anyone's favor...he would take matters into his own hands.

Lana rubbed his shoulders and looked at him over his shoulder, sensing his intentions and his plans. "You must not break her heart, brother. There are feelings for you there...you cannot do this in such a way that..." she left the words unsaid, since she trusted he understood.

He gave a light nod to Lana and laughed a bittersweet tone, he knew that it was a disaster to get mixed up in the mechanics of such a thing, why was it coming to this? He wanted to be happy and yet the world was laughing at him. In such a way that he knew it was as if writing a kind of elegy for him. At least he could save his sister from her fate: he would not fail this.

"I can't hurt her, I'll be careful...that's all." he would set her down politely, unsure of if she felt that way about him, though it was better the less she did. He was nice to her in the past and he imagined it would be fine, once he let her down nice and easy then the complication would be at an end.

With his mind focused on the directive ahead, he didn't let his own hampering thoughts keep him back. They were happening upon the zone and moving off towards the Sacred Point Temple, she was taking them along a shortcut to meet Lyndia head on. They needed to seal the temple as quickly as possible, even though she knew that there was nothing easy about what they'd be dealing. Could they really even slow her down? He was almost too doubtful of what she showed, she defeated them with almost no effort...perhaps with Lana that would change.

He considered at which way was best to confront the desire to save his sister, nothing but showing it to her in his face, his ferocity, his very fight. Lana shared the sentiment and he knew it since it was not just his sister, but their sister and all of the difficulty included along with it. Though as they neared the temple point, his heart dropped as he felt the familiar energies rousing in the center. She didn't wait at all, this threw the situation from grim to horrible in two drops of a hat!

"She's activating it, Goddess...mother is going to wake if she succeeds!" Lana looked back with fear in her eyes at the Tornado III picking up pace, the urgency was visible in her eyes.

Without another word both siblings of Lyndia were off of Toresule, whom was commanded to stay outside and protect everyone, before they were in the large opening to a cave-like structure. As the Blue blur darted from the top of the plane's top wing and moved towards the cave only to run into a thick wall of chartreuse aura, something that burned like flames.

Shadow approached the wall of light and looked at it with an arrogant disposition that was in his eyes, he raised his fingertips above his head and began to gather a large bolt of chaos on the ends of his fingertips. Wordlessly he launched it at the wall of glowing fire, though the attack had done nothing: the wall absorbed it and released a powerful gale force wind that blew the Black Hedgehog back in his tracks.

"It seems that we cannot enter, only the kin of the Drakehedge may go in upon activation of these Spirit Point Temple." Toresule spoke from the apparent facts that were present.

The Motorcycle had intently taken the form of the Dragon-like mobian, with a spark of several flames resting over his tail-tip, he had taken his mobian shape in order to protect the group from the magic wielded by the powerful clan. He wasn't even sure that he could handle it, but he would try to do as his partner asked. If it were a possible thing...he was unsure of he was capable of handling this. Since he'd seen firsthand just what Lyndia was capable of, the power that tossed all of those present and his partner to the side.

-In the Cave-

Wushan had found his way deep into the mountain cavern, the curved caves all looking just the same, it created a maze for even a clever mage who could get through the barrier outside, it was a Drakehedge's innate sense to sense the deep power. The Sacred Point's second mark was where the Queen-Mother herself slept, it was death to try and steal the vital source of power, for if one did manage to tap into it they would end up dead; giving themselves straight to the madly powerful Leader of the Drakehedge clan.

"There she is, Come on Wushan!" his elder sister said the last that she could before rushing up the stairs to the altar.

All that Wushan knew was that Lyndia was still chanting and it meant she wasn't done. With both he and Lana in force, the two siblings tackled their older sibling and attempted to pin her down. It was a maneuver that did not work long, as the next moment the Ex-Guardian of their people broke Lana's weakened grip and grabbed Wushan around his waist and hoisted him to her side; restraining him while she came back to her feet.

"Lana what kept you? Your magic was sealed too? Gee, you had to make it that easy for me? And Lil Shan, is that really the measure of your power? Stop me already." she sounded frustrated, her eyes filled with some concern.

Lana got to her feet and watched their brother struggle against Lyndia's hold, she could see the mixture of emotions on his face and took a stern tone with him, "Get your act together, Wushan. You want to save Lyndia? Then prove it to her."

Lana again tackled her sister over, with her power dramatically weakened, she had little more than physical strength that would serve her here and she was just fine making use of it. While her younger brother finally broke his sister's grip and twisted her wrist down hard, trying to force her into a position on one knee. Something Lyndia already counted on, the basic action was met by her tossing herself forward and slamming her sister into the cave's ground. Wushan would have about a moment to learn that Lyn's tail was wrapped firmly around his waist, just prior to it yanking him forward and slamming him into the far cave wall; in an attempt to keep him off of her.

A physical struggle wasn't the first thing she expected, but it was nothing that she was not prepared to deal with. As her veteran skills were employed against her seasoned brother, the next pass had come to be a small surprise: with Wushan managing to kick her hip, he followed with a quick low sweep to her right foot before bringing his knee up into her rips. A small success that staggered her momentarily, but left the currently dragoness-shaped drakehedge with only minor irritation: she answered with a swift chop to the side of his neck and a sidekick used to send him back to the wall she'd thrown him into earlier.

Lana grabbed her sister from behind and threw both of them back towards the ground in a suplex attempt, it was something that caught Lyndia by surprise, which was why it ended in success. But Lyn's tough body was fine taking lumps, after a few seconds of being stunned, she forced Lana's grip off of her waist and rolled onto her side before rising on all four; her tail's spade tip lashing above her menacingly. While Lana stood unflinchingly before her sister, Wushan came to her side looking a little flustered. It was taking some great effort on his part to keep a cool mind.

Lana could sense her brother's storm of emotions, including the frustration at being so easily handled. She wanted to put a hand to his shoulder, but this was hardly the time since they had to try...to try harder to subdue their sister. With neither of them to break the chant, it was only a matter of time before the Sacred Point activated without either of them there to stop it. It was a time consuming effort that was in their sister's favor either way one looked at it.

"I'll Take Lyndia on, you stop the flux of power, alright Shan?" the words were short of a command, as she took a step towards her twin, fists clenching tightly while her brother nodded softly.

He did not argue with her choice, time was of the essence and things were looking horrid for them. If their mother woke up, there was no explaining what the result of their being there. She would be momentarily disoriented and do one of two things: attack the Overlanders for having spread over the planet or get in a brawl with Lyndia. Both were bad for Mobius, even if their mother was weakened by her hibernation, she would easily split the very heavens while facing her daughter again.

Lana moved with Wushan towards the shrine, waiting for that single moment that Lyndia would make her move: the ploy had worked brilliantly! The hedgehog shaped Lana tackled her sister's hips and sent both females tumbling some ways from the shrine. She had to keep her twin busy enough for Shan to break the altar's activation spell. As for her there was no option of failure, she stood in front of Lyn and raised a fist that burned with a dark blue flame with a red corona around it.

"We're putting a stop to this here sister." was all that Lana said towards her elder sister, who met her glare with a bit of a smirk.

"If you can stop me, little Lana." the words in part a taunt while she raced towards her twin, eager to continue the conflict. Lyndia was at least able to focus on this, a chance to defeat her sister's efforts. It was one stubborn thing about her: She never allowed someone to get in her way. Not even her family, it was great to stall with irrational reasoning.

The two sisters met in a brilliant flash of dragon fire, a violent shockwave releasing from them and throwing Wushan into the altar hard, there his body the rigid edge of the stone, the force was great enough to split his hide and leave traces of blood on it. No, this was just what the altar required!

With no words to say, Lyn held Lana flat to the ground after their clash and looked at Wushan, her eyes telling him one clear thing: she planned for this outcome. The fact that her siblings were so eager to stop her would blind them to the simple fact that she had given all of the requirements except for two things. They were: the blood of a drakehedge and dragon fire itself. It was just the reason that she was not considering their attacks at all so seriously, the fact remained that it was finally done.

The cavern shook violently as the altar suddenly crumbled and the few slabs that remained began to fall into a small crater that formed at the center. Wushan too slid towards the center and the crevice itself began to spread. The Hellion Rider managed to keep from falling in by yanking the soul chain from around his waist and tossing the flaming end straight around a stalagmite, even though it was low it was more than enough for him to tug himself up with. Something seemed to be fueling his desire to remove himself from the hole: it was an overwhelming fear.

"Goddess help Mobius...Our mother is awakening." Lana spoke softly, not in fear but in awe of her the shadow of her mother's Hedgehog shape. At 6 Feet she towered over any of her children, with the exception of Lyndia's dragoness shape.

Stepping from the makeshift bed of dragon plumes where she had been lain to rest, the Queen-Mother of the Drakehedge clan stepped before her children with an unreadable look on her face. Something torn between happiness and a deep sadness. What was it all about? She was awakened by this Sacred Point Temple and the world came to her in one big flash. There was so much that was uncovered in that moment of passage, she could see it all: The world had evolved with Overlanders taking major plots of land and using technology, polluting the world and fighting over pieces of land, the Mobians appeared to have regressed in some points. In places they lived together and tried to call it peace. The source of the Arcane was before her and present, Lyndia was alive and well. She felt something very faint, but it immediately disappeared after a few moments.

Another foot put forward made all of her children flinch, the ground crunching underneath the high heel of her regal gown, the one she was dressed in before going to rest. The first words that came from her lips were ones of their bittersweet reunion, "My daughters and son...my children...my sweet progeny, not that I am unhappy to see you three alive and well. But the question remains, what foolishness drew you to awaken my rest?" the last of the words spoken in a harsh word.

There was no answer at first, even Lyndia had never expected her mother to be so furious. She could feel the heat emanating from her form had changed nothing of their particular event: the demand remained for her children to explain this. Lana spoke up, as her mother's eyes focused on her daughter. She expected to see what she hoped of her children she could, accountability.

"Lyndia has awakened two Sacred Point Temples, we could not stop her...so you are brought to the world as the Supernatural Energies will reach their peak soon. Myself and Wushan are to blame for this failure mother. We have no excuse for our actions, only to offer this paltry explanation." she said this before she bowed her head low.

Wushan did not say a word, instead he bowed his head in shame, letting it touch the ground and shutting his eyes since he realized just how much he'd failed these past few days. Even with the alliance with Sonic and his friends, this was the best that their efforts could muster? He felt shamed by his weak intent after all, wanting to break anything that Lyndia's efforts have managed. All that came out of it was their mother's awakening, there she came up to her daughter and knelt before bringing her chin up.

"You have explained yourself, that's all I desired Lana." She brought her daughter into a light hold, raising her free hand and teleporting Wushan to her side while Lyndia approached of her own accord.

For a short moment, a mother was united with her children and there they lay together, embraced by their mother and hugged close like children. The grip was soft and almost like a vice-like hold from the Queen Myoruine: a name that her subjects called her. But what did this mean for the children? They knew their mother's full name, but none chose to invoke it. It was something meant for times of peace, something that this very minute did not support, as to what was upon them was catastrophe.

"Sweet child, I cannot have you here...I wish not to harm you, but this must not happen. This world cannot fall even if a mother would give the world to save her pride and joy." the Queen spoke gently and held her eldest daughter closer while kissing the top of her head, even now the arcane was beginning to fill her body; reacting to the supernatural the way it had so many millennia.

After a moment of silence from Lyndia, she rested her head against her mother's stomach and let off a soft sound, nothing that could be made sense of by the moment. It was more that she knew her being this way defied everything that had been engrained in her and it was nothing that she wanted to forget. But after some moments of weeping against her mother's gown, she rose as she made herself finally ready for the final stages to commence. The arcane was corroding her powerful body from within, the corruption that had tried to plague her mind and soul, and as it appeared something that even a stalwart soul was unable to keep away from.

"I must finish this mother, you must be there...it must happen. Perhaps...I can at least die in peace." she stepped away from them and drew her wings apart, as the magic gathered within her fingertips. The final act was ready to follow, the last sacred point temple did not matter to her: her mother was awakened and surprisingly well tempered.

Though her daughter spoke of words that she disapproved of using, she did not argue. It was something that Myoruine had come to accept, even though if it happened then Mobius would burn...as nothing would stop her from taking out the plague she felt was responsible.

"Do what you must, child. I will stop you alone, none are capable of this." the Queen-Mother spoke with a tone that was very finite, a booming after-effect that filled the cave and really forced things into the perspective. This was what they were reduced to so long ago...and once more it must be lived through.

Though as Myoruine rose from her position in the cave, she held both Lana and Wushan firmly in her grip, holding them as if they were still her young little drakelings, though upon her face was nothing but a sign of something they thought they'd never see: regret. It was clear that she did not wish to proceed in this, it was a moment of reluctance that was considered impossible to be seen upon her features. However with each step her face seemed to grow firmer, each step that much easier than the last to take. With both of her children along with her this would all come to an end.

Wushan did not struggle as his mother held him, he knew the purpose of this entire event and still could not help but feel a wariness growing inside of his stomach, butterflies were dancing around as if they were trapped...trapped by a pot of boiling oil. It was not hatred, but a sense of urgency that led is mind and still Myoruine held him tighter when he moved.

"I have read your history, your travels, your alliance with the Mobians...you don't wish me to harm this planet's population, Wushan. You have grown up my son, but I can only promise that the Overlanders will not be harmed if Lyndia returns to us alive." her words were final, unmoved by the fact that this present population was innocent. She understood it and did not care about it or the men who lived for their reasons.

His heart sank at the near impossible condition that had been set by his mother, but he shook the darkened feeling and looked into her eyes before speaking, "It will be done, mother. Can you cooperate with the Mobians outside? I know it can work mother." he needed her to trust his judgment.

She rubbed his head tenderly and drew him up until he was level with her. "If they disrespect you as they have in your memories my son, I will not think twice about correcting their attitude." her words were harsh, but sweet when regarding him.

He gave her a light nod as she continued her stroll out of the cave, unwilling to be away from either her son or daughter just yet. It had been so long since she felt their fires, joined together as one unit, heard their voices...it was all too much. Almost enough to draw a tear to her eye if the situation wasn't the same as it was millennia ago. It was unforgivable and would not be allowed to happen a second time.
As she saw the bright light beaming off of the snow's surface her eyes slitted as a protective coating covered her eye; an extra lens to filter bright light. It had been so long since she walked amongst the daytime.

-Outside of the Cave-

The others awaited the return of both Lana and Wushan, it was Knuckles' impatience that broke the silence as he punched the snowy ground. He had personally tried to break the gate of this strange fire but found that none of his skulls work: burrowing only brought him into the thick density of the wall of fire, which protected the cavern from all omni-directional means of entry.

"Why must we continue to wait? They could need our help and there's no way in! Gah!" Knuckles rose from the ground and Big Red raced towards the cave entrance to try and enter once again. Though before he knew it a large wing stopped his entry, and a few words following.

"The Queen of the Drakehedge Clan...is awake." was all that Toresule managed before he stood his ground, though a tremble ran through his center as his spirit was shaken.

The very atmosphere seemed drier suddenly, as if her presence was in so many ways different, the snow melted somewhat before stopping as she hovered over the snow's surface, stopping there in midair she sat calmly upon an invisible seat of kinds before letting both of her children set down in her lap.

"Er...guys, this is my mother, Queen Myoruine of the Drakehedge clan. She has decided to gran leniency to Mobius and assist us in stopping my sister. So let's get to work." he looked down to everyone, hoping that none would question what he said.

Things were bad enough with the tension in the air that it could be cut with a blade, at first there was just a golden silence where no one moved. Anyone with any ability to sense magic could feel the suffocating pressure of being anywhere near Wushan's mother, even Shadow did not dare to speak any of his particular arrogant remarks.

After some few moments of silence Toresule took Wushan, Lana, and the Queen onto his back and spread his phoenix wings wide. It was time for them to move on with the plan that Wushan had given them: the idea was to get to an uninhabited island near X-Treme Island, it was the only place that Lyndia would be able to find the last piece to this whole equation. A talisman known to channel energy from any one source at a cost, known as the Pendance of Torgata. It was beyond any natural pendant and had been forged in times of yore, even before the times of the Drakehedge. They had merely located it and found out the capabilities of the device before making sure the humans never learned of it.

It was hidden and protected knowledge, something that only the Queen herself or her daughters would have known about. Even though this was the only place she could go to next, even with their mother present Wushan didn't like the odds of it. Why was it that so much was going wrong? At first it was the idea to stop Lyndia, the Sacred Point Temples were the answer at first or so he thought. But their mother was awakened with just two, now they were at the final phase...the planet was in danger and he did want to save it; but not at the cost of his elder sister's death.

"Son, trust yourself and stop this moping, I forbid it. You are a prince who has aged into a strong young drakehedge, you've done your people proud...and now we will do our clan a favor and purge our kin of her corruption. Your plan is sound: we use the pendant to cleanse her and do not allow her to put the gathered energy towards one source. We achieve both objectives...and this planet will not have to burn." the cold and cruel nature of her hatred for Overlanders was not hidden in the slightest, she was making it clear that she would not forgive them for a long time to come.

-On the Tornado III-

While Amy was still in tow at the request of Wushan, the yellow furred genius was still puzzled as to his mother's stance as it was. Why was she was angry? There were things simply beyond his understanding as it was. Though with the cliffnotes version given by Wushan, Knuckles could understand the tribal warfare. Even though it was before his time, this was the same reason that he was considered to be one of the only surviving Echidnas.

"To think that his people had such a history, we are allies and I will honor that today by assisting in this battle. We must stop his sister and bring this to a peaceful resolution." the bright red guardian was sure of that much, after having fought with her and the fact that she could have done any of them true harm; only spoke of her caliber as a warrior and more an individual.

Shadow on the other hand could have cared less, this was about defeating someone that had mocked his power and would answer to him. Even if this female was so powerful, this would not stop his pursuit of this odd female that he'd met. He would show her and those present what the Ultimate Power was capable of, and with them nearing this small island it was only a matter of time.

Sonic was sure of a few things, but those that mattered to him were in this order: They were definitely going to stop her, they were going to rescue her from her death, and that they'd still have enough time to stop for a chilidog or two. He was already predicting as to just how his speed might be a necessity to stalling Lyndia or stopping her. With how many times that he'd crossed paths with her, he was very sure that it could be handled with little danger. If that was the only advantage he knew he had it was his speed. Though her experience had reared its head their past couple of encounters.

As Lana felt her body rejuvenated by her mother's magicks, she sighed and hugged against her brother. It was nice to feel like a family and finally to be useful in battle, that was all that she'd asked...against her sister she would stand with her mother and her brother and bring the conclusion to this case. Maybe to a final peace that everyone was looking for...perhaps to live as a family again. The thoughts of it were so hauntingly beautiful that little would deter the new wish that was certainly at the center of her desires.

The alliance was formed and the final stage for battle was becoming set, from overhead a looming set of eyes marveled at his own greatness...to think that a plan set into motion millennia ago was finally coming to fruition. He would take them all by storm, he would gain physical form at last...and he would rule the realms...all of them from the physical plane once he was through. This...only depending upon whether those pitiful mortals might catch hold of his plan; a thought to scoff at...as if they could ever fathom his magnificent plans.

(End Chapter)

Seems a little cliche I know, but I had to reveal the doom behind the cloaks now, I imagine that you might be wondering who the heck he is, what he's doing here...well don't worry. You'll be finding out next chapter, I assure you of that. I'm back in business, and its mighty good. I'll see you all real soon next chapter,

till then adieu.

-Quentix