New chapter has arrived and this ones where things get rather dramatic. Ashra receives praise from his group for his hard work despite the fact that they all failed to received the Chaos Emerald. A new challenger has arrived and he's none other than Jack Frost from Shin Megami Tensei, in honor of Sega buying rights to Atlus recently. You will know more about this quirky character and why he helped them in this chapter. Meanwhile, things get will get even rockier for Orta and Prince Ali since their different views on life will cost the entire group's time. Now to open this chapter with a slow start and end it with a bang, guys!

The black warship had commenced lift off and slightly levitate as clouds of dust emitted from the gusts that were created. Many of the LOS members were relaxed, but worried about what message had to be sent to Eggman and the others. Selvaria and Ramirez walked into the room together with their hands being held together. This seemed mighty peculiar to the most of the members since these two were getting close since they first had signed up for this team. Trouble Bruin looked away in disgust since he never had really liked their "relationship" from the start.

Napoleon was going to crack a love joke being a Frenchman, but refrained from it since he didn't want to get crushed by the both of them. Greedy crossed his arms and looked at them since he was expecting a serious order from them two. Selvaria noticed the watching eyes and quickly detached her hand, while keeping a serious expression like a real general. Ramirez noticed this as well and cleared his throat before doing as his groups wants.

"As you can see, we will let them go for now. But in the end, we'll make them pay the next time we meet. What is really important for now is to inform everyone else what went on for today's mission and where else should we go. We did our best in battle and we have done our best for hunting that emerald. What matters the most is that one of our allies in another group managed to get the blue Chaos Emerald. That means we are one step to victory!" he said boldly.

Mr. X, Trouble Bruin, Greedy, Ashra, Napoleon, Black Shogun, and Guan Yu clapped their hands in applause at the news. All except Trouble Bruin was showing some for of enthusiasm at this moment.

"Now what we need to do at the moment is to tell Eggman some serious news about a certain traitor that had left us. She will truly be punished for a such an act," Selvaria said in a harsh tone.

This led to most of the group to look around for her and scratch their heads in confusion.

"Now that you've mentioned it, I really didn't see Azel anywhere since she went after Sonic," said a worried Napoleon.

"We all know that Azel is infamous for riding that massive dragon, so it's hard to tell whether that small dragon rider was her or not," said Guan Yu.

"Considering Sonic's group was pretty huge, I bet that he had a new friend that was a dragon rider and she rode it with Azel along with a few others," Selvaria said.

This caused everyone except for the silver haired generals to drop their jaws and gasp like a cat that was spooked out. Ashra shrugged and remembered when the dragon was in a good view before he has sent reinforcements after the dogfight. He rubbed his head awkwardly and hoped that his fellow generals wouldn't be mad if he had told them the truth.

"I confess that I did get a good view of them before sending my aerial men to take them down. Besides Azel; I've seen a blonde prince, silver haired dragon rider, and blue pixie sharing the same blue dragon during the midst of the chaos. You can all thank me later for letting you know," he said nervously.

Ramirez could help but to smile at Ashra's resourcefulness and his honesty for such a situation like this. He beckoned him to get even closer as the orange multi-armed god sat up and walks to his superior. He placed his hand on Ashra's shoulder and kneeled closer to his ear to whisper a certain message for him.

"Good job on the information, Ashra. While we contact Eggman about our next mission, you can tell Mishaela about Azel's treachery for us. Make sure you send that photographic proof to her from the control room's main screen. I'm counting on you," he said softly.

After this response, Ashra blushed severely and gushed about the positive feedback that he's received. Most of the other members wondered what the hell he even said to that multi-armed freak, but focused more about what they had to say to Eggman. Then, Ashra quickly ran out of the room in order to rush back to the control room for his next task. He ran as fast as Alex Kidd on his motorcycle since this is something that his life depends on. He eventually entered the control room and pressed the right buttons with his various arms to contact the right gal for the message.

After that, he had crossed his arms and waited for the screen to open up. He sweated rapidly on his worried face since he's aware of how powerful Mishaela is and didn't want to get on her bad side. She looked at him with her sinister expression and wondered what this goofy god wanted with her at a time like this. She then clears her throat and swiped at the air with her cloak for a more dramatic effect.

"So, how did things go in Dragon Canyon with your crew, Ashra?" she said.

Ashra wiped the sweat off his forehead and decided to speak as sincerely as he could with her.

"It went well, except for the part where a certain someone that you revived had betrayed us. On top of that, she had nabbed the emerald after we had defeated an army that was already giving us a hard time since his group knew how to harness its power for their technology. I believe her name was Azazael or something," he said while pacing.

Upon these words and witnessing Ashra's photographic proof of the situation, Mishaela changed her face into a more serious look. At first, Ashra felt like tiptoeing out of the room before things have gotten much worse during the conversation. The next thing that had really shocked him was that she was breaking into a period of psychotic laughter. Ashra couldn't resist but to laugh along with her since this was a good sign that she's not really surprised that this had happened.

The atmosphere grew from dead serious to melodramatic within the next few minutes of laughter. In the middle of the session, the rest of Ashra's group decided to enter the room to see what went wrong. Selveria and Ramirez kept calm since this wasn't a great time to interrupt their expression of joy and wait for some form of subsidence. The laughter eventually died down when Mishaela noticed the entire group staring at her face and things were going to get interesting.

"So she knew about the "truth" being a lie, good for her! I would like to undo the spell to strip her life away from her dull body, but I would rather take pleasure in dealing with her personally when she finds me or my group. As long as the other revived ones are loyal to us, like these silver haired leaders, that is fine with me. She wasn't really needed since you guys have a Valkyrur on your side with such destructive power," she said in her sinister tone.

"You are right, Mistress Mishaela. Selvaria did wipe out the entire army with her power despite our men taking care of 50% of the enemies by them selves," said Napoleon in an attempt to sound professional.

Greedy stepped next to Ashra to get a better look at his fellow member on the screen with eyes of gold.

"Eggman had told us everything that was needed to be done for the next mission. We will head back to Wood Oak City since Mr. X does want to revisit his home and the next emerald was recovered by one of his goons in that area. Just to make up for our failure for this mission since it's going to be much easier," he said in his usual threatening voice.

Mishaela levitated slighted and started to eat in apple in response to these news. Trouble Bruin turned away after this since he couldn't stand the amount of "stupidity" with these villains despite being useless himself. She dropped the apple afterwards and lowered back onto the chrome ground that is meant to be stood on. Her pose became more arrogant within seconds after crossing her arms in front of the group.

"Very well, attend your new mission as ordered. We will deal with the traitor depending on who finds her first during the next time. I need to help Neff and the others with our mission in my home country. Bye!" she said.

The screen shuts off and everyone had reported to their stations as ordered, while Ashra sets stage for the next location. Meanwhile, Sonic and the others were conversing about how the infiltration plan had gone and observe the green Chaos Emerald that they had recovered. Prince Ali was bragging about how he had helped out the most due to his weaponry and spirit Dytto to impress Aiai and Amigo. Orta talked with her mom about how the entire mission went before Jack Frost had saved them.

Sonic checked on Tails in terms of where else should they go after this madness. NiGHTS and Gilius decided to ask Jack Frost a few questions in regards to who he is and where he came from. After all, Jack Frost was a pretty suspicious character that appeared out of nowhere to help out Azel and the gang.

"So what are you and where did you originate, snow fiend?" the green dwarf asked.

Jack Frost giggled and did a spin to show how energetic he is before answering this question.

"I'm Jack Frost, ho! Nice to meet ya, hee ho! I'm from Da'at, where all demons like me roam free - hee. No need to worry, I'm a good demon that wishes to spread cheer and chill everywhere, ho!" said the cheerful snow demon.

NiGHTS had crossed his legs while folding his arms during his levitating phase, trying to process the information from this strange character. At first NiGHTS couldn't help but to feel that he's working for Wiseman, but he had changed his mind since Jack looked nothing like a Nightamren or anyone under the Legion of Subspace's side. Jacky Frost still looked at him with a big open smile in his face to look as cheerful as possible. NiGHTS shook his head and uncrossed his legs in relaxation.

"Alright Jack Frost, you'll be the perfect guy to help us out on the Chaos Emerald hunt since you do have some chilly abilities," he said with a smile.

"Why thanks for the offer, my good friend - hee. I'll be happy to help ya'll out in the most chill way, ho!" Jack Frost responded.

Gilius started to do a deep chuckle since Jack's dialogue is funny and that he's a good guy based on such dialogue. Prince Ali, Azel, and Orta walked near him to see if everything was alright. Jack started to create a mini-ice rink and skates around for the sake of making Gilius and NIGHTS laugh like clowns. Orta and Azel joined along with them since this was quite an amusing scene for them. Prince Ali couldn't help but to face palm since this was not the time to play around on a plateau.

"While snow boy here spouts ice puns and skates like a pro, we have bigger problems to worry about. And finding the next Chaos Emerald is among one of those said problems," he said frankly.

Gilius and NiGHTS looked back at him with big, creepy smiles on their faces.

"Chill out, Prince Hatti. Just lighten up like you did during you little flight mission earlier," the dwarf said before laughing again.

"Yeah, you have to live life after all and Tails is already finding out what's our next mission," Orta said in a playful manner.

While she keeps talking, Ali continued looking at Orta's face with a look of bewilderment. He had never noticed how beautiful she had looked. Her gray eyes were as shiny as the silver jewelry that he had owned in the past. Her short hair moved along with the slight breeze that flows up the plateau. Lastly, her overall appearance reminded him of his beautiful sister in the past before she became the infamous Silver Armlet.

That's right, the prince is falling for someone from another country and he's the one that had found her after all. He still stared at her with the same daydreaming expression, breathless at her beauty unlike how he was upon seeing her the first time. Orta made a concerned look upon this and decides to snap him out of it with the "hand window" gesture. Afterwards, Prince Ali shook his head and went back to reality after such a mesmerizing moment.

"What were you thinking about, Prince Hatti?" she said.

This led Azel, Jack, Gilius, and NiGHTS into laughing behind their backs as if he was "busted". Prince Ali's face became as red as Efreet due to the sheer embarrassment of the scene. She couldn't help but to laugh at this scene due to how cute it was, seeing a high and mighty prince blush like that. Before he could answer, Sonic and Tails decides to butt in since they had something important to say to their lively group. The young fox looked at his blue friend and nodded before making this huge announcement.

"We have a very special task to do. Instead of hunting for the next Chaos Emerald, we are going to meet up with Alex Kidd's group at Seaside Hill right quick. They've informed us about losing the Blue Chaos Emerald thanks to Reala's protégé and we need to regroup with them as backup. I guess things were a little to rough for them in Morning Land," Tails said.

Jack Frost and the others responded in awe since this is rather unexpected for them to do. Prince Ali sighed in disappointment since this is something that he would rather not do instead of going along with their original goal.

"This isn't something that we should be doing. If they have one emerald already, who knows how far we are from winning this round. So doing this would be a waste of time and resources," he blurted out.

This led Sonic to look back at him with the same frustrated look he gave him back at Yuria before escaping the mountain. We all know that Sonic and he couldn't see eye-to-eye due to their different views on what's important or not. He wasn't the only one who has felt this way for which Amigo, Aiai, and Gilius glared back at him for such choice of words. Jack Frost and Orta didn't take him serious since they think he's sill embarrassed from earlier. This wasn't fooling NiGHTS and Azel one bit since they can tell how frustrated this prince had looked after hearing Tails's announcement, knowing him.

"Oh, Prince Hatti. You are hot headed as always. We always have to help out friends in need and this is the time to do so," she said sarcastically.

"Listen, Orta! My country had suffered enough damage thanks to the Legion of Subspace and we need to stop them immediately as well as finding these emeralds at all costs before things get even worse," he responded.

Orta grew from happy to displeasure upon hearing his words. She walked up to him and sizes him up to show that she's not backing down that easily.

"If your kingdom was so important to you, then why not just go off on your own and not follow orders from our leaders. After all, we are supposed to work together as a team. Like how I might work with you when tending the kingdom after defeating the Legion of Subspace," she said.

This made Prince Ali back up due to expressing shock from her last remark. Sonic shook his head silently with his eyes clothed since things were going to get even worse after what Orta had just said.

"Mend the kingdom together? You are a foreigner and you know nothing of what it's like to rule a massive country like the one I rule. I've already let Silver Armlet cause enough discord to it and I won't let your carelessness ruin it. So you aren't princess or queen material in my eyes!" he shouted.

The rest of the group gasped at such words from this already brooding prince and they weren't going anywhere with this negative atmosphere. At first Azel was about to intervene, but Orta held out her arm to let her mother know that she can handle such a situation by herself. She took out her gun and smacked the prince across his face with feelings of cold anger. He fell to the ground and tried to cover his bruised face from such an impact as she stood above him with a cold expression on par with Azel's pre-marriage look.

"You may like me based on that blushing face you've made earlier, but you sure as hell don't act like it. I've lived in a dungeon all my life and had never seen my family or lived in a kingdom before. But I do know how to protect others regardless of such flaws. And to believe that I've even liked someone like you!" she shouted.

She have already bared her teeth and stared own at the prince with such a terrifying face after these words. Then again, everyone was silent and didn't want to get involved since it's between these two and these two only. Amigo couldn't help but cry due to how down the atmosphere is just because of one stupid argument.

Aiai comforted him by patting him on the back and saying, "Oook ook augh."

Jack Frost even felt down himself and decided back up since he feels responsible for causing such an argument. Gilius took a deep sigh and shook his head since this argument isn't going anywhere. NiGHTS crosses his arms and flew even higher since this negativity was almost as bad as the average nightmares invading Nightopia. Tails and Sonic just kept watching Orta stand above Ali since they really wanted this madness to end before they depart. Azel looked at her daughter and notices that tears are rolling down her cheeks. This was accompanied by the clenching of her fists due to how saddening this was.

This is indeed the first time that she even witnessed her own daughter cry before her eyes unlike when they were reunited due to not seeing her face. This feeling was even painful for Orta since it feels like her heart was being fed on by wild dragons. Prince Ali looked back at her with his bruised face after feeling the tears splash on his face. This image alone makes him regret what he said earlier since making a woman like her cry is indeed something that a ruler of a kingdom should never do. He slowly got to his feet and tried to comfort her by putting his arms around her.

"Ali, what are you doing? Haven't you've caused enough strife with your ignorance as it is?" Sonic remarked.

He ignored the hedgehog's requests and continued to hug Orta while she continued to bawl in sorrow. Even Ali himself started crying himself since this overall situation is painful enough for him to experience it.

"How can I be so foolish and act like I'm alone all the time despite having new comrades. If this is for the sake of restoring my kingdom, I'll go along with everyone's orders and cooperating like I should be. I'm sorry doubting you for being a foreigner and acting so xenophobic is something a prince should have never done. And most of all, I do love you so much Orta. Will you forgive me?" he said while sobbing.

Orta wiped the tears of her face and looked back at her mother, who watched the while time and shook her head in approval. After seeing her Azel do so, Orta looked back over the sobbing Ali's shoulder to answer him.

"Yes, I forgive you and I'm also sorry for attacking you like that earlier. I do love you to, Prince Ali. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be reunited with my beloved mother and have a bunch of new friends like you for example," she said sincerely.

Upon these words, Sonic nodded and smiled since this overall conflict is finally resolved thanks to Ali fixing his own mess. Tails even smiled along with Sonic since everyone's really prepared to leave for their next destination. Gilius did a slight chuckle with his arms crossed while NiGHTS flew around him in joy at the situation. Both Aiai and Amigo jumped in joy after seeing Ali resolve his own issue before their eyes. Jack Frost slowly smiles and started dancing happily to celebrate his disappearing sadness.

Azel smiles in approval and nods since she's glad that her daughter has a man that's willing to be with her like Edge with herself in the past. Both Orta and Ali separated from each other and looked into each other's eyes with less depressing faces. She smiled as her smiled back and knew that this was the perfect time for them to make up. Before they drew then even closer for the kiss, they noticed everyone else heading into their vehicles and rides for their next location. Amigo and Aiai already left while Azel and Gilius where on top of Atolm before take off.

"Well, we can't wait all day, guys. We have to hurry if Alex Kidd and the gang are going to get the backup that they need. And lastly, I'm proud of what you've did Prince Ali. Now catch up with us or else you'll be too far behind," Sonic said before winking.

Then the blue hedgehog ran after Tails, who had already commenced liftoff with his Tornado, leaving the two behind in solitude. NiGHTS decided to fly beside the happily ice skating Jack Frost since these two were already getting long very well. The Blue Dragon that Orta owns walked up to them and lowers its body for them to get on. They look at each other happily and nodded before stepping onto the back of it.

"Alright, follow them and make sure that we can see everyone!" she shouted.

The dragon roared and reared its body back in response before taking off for a long flight. Sonic's entire group heads out of Dragon Canyon in hopes of seeing the rest of their group again and making sure that they don't run into any familiar foes. There were many interesting things that came out of this moment; from Mishaela wanting to face Azel alive to Prince Ali having a change of heart from his "usual" viewpoints. This opens up the question of what became of Alex Kidd's group and why are they even in Seaside Hill.

I'd hate to say it, but I'm glad with how things had turned out in this chapter. How several of Sonic's friends had warmed up to Jack Frosts's inclusion, some character development for Prince Ali when he lets his personal views get ahead of him, and Mishaela showing how ruthless she is by saying that she'll deal with Azel personally later in the story. As for how things will go with Amy's group, we'll see in the next chapter and a certain someone from a Platinum Games IP will be joining their group soon. Remember to rate and review as this story goes on, my beloved fans! ;)