"Well, we're still alive." Jet grumbled.
"Maybe Robotnik had a solution to stop it. It was the same for the Black Arms…" Amy sighed.
"Stupid." Jet scoffed. "Stupid, all of it-!"
The two were sat side by side, uncomfortably close in the back of a small truck on the floor. Maw and Miles were sat in the driver's seats, chatting amiably – but it was difficult for the other two to actually hear what they were saying.
"Jet… can I ask you something?" Amy questioned.
"What do you want?"
"Why did you save me?"
Jet frowned. "I don't know, guilt?"
"For what?" She asked.
"None of your business."
"We're off to Robotnikland, Jet." Amy reminded him. "You won't get any other chance to admit to it, because once we're there… it's over for us."
"I can cling to the last of my dignity, can't I?" He huffed.
"Is it worth it?"
"I-" He clearly wanted to disagree with her but couldn't find a reason to justify it. "It's whatever – you just reminded me of someone we used to have on the team. Well, sort of – she wasn't really a proper member-"
"Rouge?" Amy guessed, and with the way Jet stiffened – she knew she was correct.
"Yeah. Me and her became close friends after she first snuck on our ship. We were both good thieves, and we both liked getting on Wave's nerves – so I guess she kind of grew on me. Wave liked having another girl around to hang out with – and Storm appreciated her because she was kinder than I was."
Amy saw Jet was smiling at the memories.
"But we ended up screwing her over. Things were going fine until our The Zeppelin was shot down by missiles. Miles approached us in the wreckage – he had stolen something important from me. Something that was our ticket out of this hellscape."
"What was it?"
"The Babylon Garden key – revealing the location of an ancient garden that belonged to my ancestors – bearing hordes of treasure!" He spoke of it with pride and glee. "But I could never figure out how to activate it… but that's not important for the story-!"
"Sorry-!" Amy quickly apologised, but her mind lingered on the thought of hidden away garden. Sealed away and filled with beautiful and bright roses and vines… what a far cry from what the Empire was.
"Miles had the key in his hands, which meant our escape plan was a no-go, leaving us with no choice but to comply with his demands. Fox told us that Robotnik wanted us to be professional races… so we agreed to that demand. But there was a complication…"
"What happened?" Amy leaned in, her brows furrowing in concern.
"Miles originally said that all four of us were to be roboticized. However, if we agreed for Miles to take Rouge away from us – he'd let us Rogues become racers per Robotnik's wishes. We chose the second, protecting us rogues – but in doing so, we obviously betrayed her."
Amy almost immediately recoiled away from him as the result of the confession. She knew what it was like to make tough decisions, but a betrayal such as that? "Then what happened?"
"Rouge was put in cuffs – yelling and cursing us out the whole time. She was hurt by what we did. Even after we started working together again… she wasn't quite the same."
"I'm surprised she even wanted to start talking to you again…"
"Simple – Wave is the only one capable of making her arm. When she needs repairs, Wave is the only one she can go to. We have no idea to this day how Rouge escaped from the Empire… and when she came back, it was very awkward at first. But we helped her. Over time, our relationship eased back into something more familiar. She gave us gems; we did her favours."
"That… I didn't expect-"
"I may be a dick, but I'm not heartless." Jet said abruptly. "I always felt bad for what we did to her. And I don't know, seeing yourself about to get captured by the Empire too… it just reminded me of her. So… I just wanted to make sure that you weren't being abandoned like she was. That's all."
"I… can understand that."
"Good, because I've already been way too sappy for one day." Jet pouted.
"No matter the reason, I'm grateful that you supported me, Jet. I'm just sorry that.. things are having to end like this." She felt her throat becoming dry. "But thank you, I mean it. I'm glad I'm not alone right now."
Jet eyed her briefly, before then staring straight ahead. "Don't mention it."
Sonic the Hedgehog was dead.
Well, he should be – surely? His last waking memory was falling through the dark abyss of space, gaining speed as he plummeted towards the planet below.
Could he come back from that? He couldn't say.
Sonic's eyes fluttered open, and darkness swallowed the air around him. The hedgehog grunted, pulling himself up and standing on an invisible ground. There was nothing. Was this what was left after death?
He'd already died once, a sort of amusing thought at this point. Upon returning to the living world, Sonic had no recollection of what lie beyond the grave.
He preferred it that way too.
Sonic turned his head in all directions, looking for any sign that would show him he wasn't alone. "Hello?!" Sonic called out - raising and cupping his hands around his mouth to let the sound project further. "Anyone here?!"
As though answering him, Sonic heard the sound of a soft fizzling behind him. His ears wiggled, and he turned to face the noise.
There was a purple flicker of light. It suddenly expanded – forcing Sonic to cover his eyes to avoid being blinded.
Sonic saw the light die down in the cracks between his fingers. Sonic slowly lowered his hands – and saw a purple swirling pool in the distance.
A figure – slowly but surely – stepped out from it.
The hedgehog squinted in attempt to make out the shape. It was a mobian with a distinct wide frame and broad shoulders. Dreadlocks hung down over their shoulders; that was when everything clicked.
Once they were in view, Sonic brows furrowed when he saw them in an unusual attire. They wore a suit of armour, lacking in a helmet – but it seemed to be made entirely of crystals. They were a mixture of purple and black hues, emitting just a soft hint of a glow. Parts of the armour jutted out harshly into sharp crystals, as though rocks had been thrown together impromptu rather than purposefully designed to make it.
The shoulder plates, however, were pointed and wide. It made them seem even larger than they already were.
"Pachacamac?" Sonic uttered.
"Sonic the Hedgehog…" He spoke, slowly walking towards the hedgehog. His eyes looked up and off to the side, as though mulling over the name he had just called. "The little blue marvel…"
"Can't say that I… expected your face to be the first one I saw in the afterlife…" Sonic stared, bewildered – looking the echidna general all over. Scars were abundant all over his body, showing just how many battles the man had seen in his lifetime.
"You're not dead. Unfortunately." Pachacamac told him, leaving no room for speculation. "I know you've gotten used to Silver visiting your dreams, but I'm afraid I've taken over that role for tonight. I'm here to give you a warning."
The echidna stopped in front of the hedgehog just a few feet away.
While Sonic tilted his head, his eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" He asked, refusing to cover up his impatient frustration.
"It's become increasingly obvious that you fail to understand the situation you've found yourself in." The echidna sighed. "So, I wish to let it be made plain – Ivo Robotnik has won."
Sonic immediately scoffed. "Okay, sure he has – does it even count when the guy had to create a whole separate timeline to get a victory?"
"It does not make the victory any less real nor significant." Pachacamac pointed out. "The fact of the matter is – Robotnik found a way to finally get around you, thus creating the world he had always dreamed of. You won many battles, Sonic – but in the end, you failed to win the war."
"Ha!" Sonic broke into a smirk. "If you think I can't win now, you're sorely mistaken, my friend. I'll bring my world back; I can promise you that."
The echidna general slowly shook his head. "Your tenacity is to be admired… but clinging to the past is not."
Sonic's face betrayed his confusion.
"That old timeline is nothing more than the embodiment of a memory, Sonic. For the world to become stable and whole – you must learn to let it go."
"The only thing making the world unstable right now is Eggman's Time Eater." Sonic argued. "Once I defeat the Time Eater, I'll put everything back to normal – how it's supposed to be."
"There's little use in clinging to the past, Sonic – your world has ended up in the form that it is because the doctor at last managed to get the upper hand." Pachacamac explained, his brows furrowing. "You must learn to accept that."
"And for what reason?" Sonic asked as the echidna was certainly getting on his nerves. "I know my friends are alive back there – why shouldn't I try to save them?" He asked, leaning closer.
"Because if you don't – those friends of yours won't have much longer to live." Pachacamac snarled down to him. "That old timeline, that living memory – it is my domain now. I had planned to leave your friends alone provided they didn't get in my way… but now you and them are starting to cause problems that I cannot ignore."
Sonic ignored most of Pachacamac's speech. "What do you mean? How can that be your domain?"
"One day you might figure it out." The old man sighed sarcastically. "But you seem to be missing what I'm trying to tell you – so shut your mouth and let me make it clear. If you keep trying to 'fix' the timeline – getting yourself involved in something that you do not belong – I will hunt down your friends one by one."
"I don't have any reason to listen to you." Sonic simply said. "If you decide to target my friends and think it's going to be easy – you can think again. They don't go down easily!" He felt insulted on their behalf for the implication.
"It is nice to know you have faith in them, but are you certain you're willing to risk their lives in a fruitless attempt to get back the world you want?"
Sonic frowned.
"I don't care what you do in your new timeline now – tear down his Empire for all I care. But leave the other timeline alone – or their blood will be on your hands."
The hedgehog stretched one of his arms above his head as he considered his options, and then stretched the other one. "Sorry." Sonic said when he was done, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "But nope. I'll keep going exactly as I am."
"Fine by me. If you refuse to listen to me now, then you certainly will when their bodies lay at your feet."
"All of them can wipe the floor with you. I'm not worried." Sonic said evenly.
"I see why the doctor hates you so much." Pachacamac remarked. "Your ego is so tremendous that you're failing to take advice."
"Check your own ego before you check mine." Sonic remarked, tapping his foot against the floor.
"Then you've made your choice." Pachacamac said, raising his hand up towards his chest.
"It's about time you woke up."
Pachacamac snapped his fingers.
Sonic's eyes shot open, and he didn't even flinch at the sudden exposure to light in the room. He sat up quickly, his brain whirring like gears as he pieced together what had just occurred.
He was in a bed, that was fine – it was his bed on Angel Island. He wasn't dead, but he had just spoken to Pachacamac in a dream.
Pachacamac.
The question was why? How could he have control over the other timeline? It made no sense. The echidna had tried to warn him off of saving the timeline and his friends… so Sonic to wonder what that old man had to gain from that.
Sonic rubbed his temples, figuring out there wasn't much more he could find out until he could talk to Silver or Shadow again.
Thinking of the latter hedgehog, Sonic wondered where he was.
If Sonic had somehow made it out of the battle alive, Shadow should have too… right? It hadn't all been for naught, surely?
Sonic's eyes darted around the room until relief washed over him like a wave. In the bend that Tangle usually occupied was the body of the dark hedgehog – his eyes closed as he rested silently.
It was a little odd seeing Shadow at peace like this when he was usually so intense.
Thank goodness he was alive this time.
Sonic wasn't honestly sure what he'd have done otherwise.
Looking back at the events, Sonic remembered what went down. He had reached for Shadow's hand, and ultimately – he had failed. He wasn't able to reach Shadow this time either, it was exactly the same as before!
Even when given a second chance to save him – Sonic hadn't been able to. Perhaps Shadow really was right about that. There had been no other choice but to let him go, even in the old timeline.
Still, how were they-?
"Hi! Hi! Hello~!" Tangle's voice called from the cave entrance, her head peering around. "You're finally awake!" She announced, bounding into the room.
"Sure am." Sonic smiled, glad to see she was safe. "You alright?"
"Me?" Tangle pointed to herself incredulously. "I'm fine, my guy! But what about you? You like- you almost died. Can I like, get you something? A water?"
"I'm fine for now." Sonic said quickly. "But I'm confused, how am I even alive right now?"
"You have Knuckles to thank for that!" Tangle informed him. "The guy pulled off an insane warp to save you two! Shadow was really on the verge of dying but then we popped his ringy things back on and he was good to go! He's still resting though, he's there-" Tangle pointed to the other bed with her tail.
"Knuckles…?" Sonic whispered in fascination. Just how many crazy tricks did the guy have up his sleeve?
"But enough the morbid stuff." Tangle said. "Because like – hello? The world is saved! You two turned all sparkly and gold and shimmery and aaaaah!" She squealed. "You were firing all these cool superpowers and it was awesome and you defeated a giant lizard moved a whole space station like wow!" She grinned widely.
Sonic grinned. "Eh, I guess it's pretty cool." He shrugged dismissively – playing around with her.
Her reaction didn't disappoint. "You guess?" She asked, flabbergasted. "Sonic, my guy, that was like – a God level power display! And that was like your first time, right?"
"A little more complicated than that, but – yeah, it was pretty damn cool." He admitted pridefully. "The rush you feel in your veins, the way your adrenaline pumps – little can compare to it!"
"It was just so cool!" She jumped up and down, clapping her hands. "You were awesome, don't forget that!"
"Heh, thanks." Sonic liked praise, but it was getting a little too much all at once for his taste. He instead turned the attention to focus on the item she had buried within the end of her tail. "What're you holding?"
"Hm?" She blinked. "Oh!" She moved her tail over, plopping a card into Sonic's hand. "I was just gonna give this to Shadow for when he woke up – a little message to diffuse any ill will – you know?"
Sonic's brow raised in confusion when he saw the card was sparkly pink and had a cartoon image of a unicorn, with the text reading: Happy 7th Birthday To A Very Special Daughter!
"Uhhhhhh…"
"Ignore the outside!" Tangle exclaimed hastily. "I didn't have any other options; we don't exactly have much in our storage…"
Sonic flipped it open and read the message within.
Thank you for not destroying the world! It was cool that you saved it instead :)
Sonic wasn't sure if the inside was much better.
"Huh." Sonic said, just handing it back to her. "Sure, why not?"
"How come he changed his mind, anyway? Do you know?" Tangle asked him curiously.
"He remembered his true memories." Sonic explained. "Finally realized who he was fighting for… and what their true wish was."
"That sounds beautiful but also very vague." Tangle's eyes sparkled with bewilderment but wonder. The lemur then quickly shook her head. "I'm going to let Knuckles know you're awake, he wanted to see you when you woke up."
Sonic smiled. "I'll probably be lectured for almost dying."
"Yeah…" Tangle giggled slightly. "But, you know how it is. He obviously cares about you, despite how gruff and tough he can appear to be…"
"Heh, no one can resist my undeniable charms and charisma." Sonic spoke smugly, flipping his quills.
"How about you tell him that?" Tangle chuckled in amusement. "But seriously, Sonic – I joke a lot, but… it means a lot that you're still here. I was worried you might… but then you didn't! Thank goodness you didn't!"
Sonic's eyes softened with sympathy; it was hard not to feel for the girl who was struggling to even say the word 'dead'. "One thing you'll learn about me – is that I always make it out on top. That much – I can promise you." He assured her.
Tangle gazed back at him, smiling widely. She held out her smallest finger towards him. "Pinkie promise?"
Sonic locked his own pinkie with hers. "Pinkie promise."
"Good to hear!" As soon as they were done, Tangle leapt back. "See you soon, Sonic! Gonna talk to Knuckles, you two can talk." Even as she had walked a few feet away from the cave, she was still calling back to him. "I think you're really dope and sick byeeeee!"
Sonic smiled to himself at her antics before adjusting his sitting position on the bed to where he was more comfortable.
"Sonic."
"Ack-!" Sonic's shoulder's jerked upwards as he was startled. He only just noticed Knuckles was leaning against the cave entrance. "Oh, hey… you got here quick."
"I can warp."
"Fair point." Sonic acknowledged. "Listen, Knux. Tangle told me what happened – I owe you for this, really. Thank you-"
"I'm going to stop you right there." Knuckles held up his hand, frowning.
Sonic pursed his lips.
"Do you have any idea how reckless, that was? If it weren't for me – you would be dead. And that isn't metaphorical – you would have been literally dead!" The echidna raised his voice. "I didn't even know I could warp that far! That was spur of the moment, that was luck. The only reason you're alive right now is because of luck!"
"I get it, Knux. I do." Sonic said with a surprising softness. "But I wasn't going to let Shadow die."
Knuckles marched up towards the bed.
"Did you not think about how upset Tangle would have been if we lost you?" Knuckles asked him with a hint of a growl. "What about Whisper? She's put a lot of faith in you deciding to work with us – only for you to die on her? Did you not think of that either?"
"Everyone deserves a chance to live." Sonic said firmly. "And I'll fight for that at the cost of my life. It's what I've always done."
"That's the thing! There was no way you could have reached Shadow. You risked your life for what was obviously something you couldn't have achieved! What's even the point in that? You're my assignment from my ancestors themselves! Do you know how hard it is to watch out for a guy that doesn't understand which battles and decisions he shouldn't take?"
For once, Sonic found himself unable to come up with a retort. He fell silent, ears lowering as he looked away from the echidna. It was hard to face but living the same event twice had confirmed it.
There was no way he could have saved Shadow in any timeline. The only reason he was alive now was because of Knuckles.
"If this happens again, I have half a mind to keep you here on the island and just get the emeralds for you! At least that way you'd be safe, I want you to be safe – you're my first-!"
Knuckles cut himself off, eyes widening in realization. Sonic was staring at him, hanging onto his words, and waiting for him to continue.
The echidna gulped. "My first friend… a-and I'm not particularly fond of the idea of losing you." Knuckles turned his whole body around, making it impossible for Sonic to see his face. The echidna had his head down low, as though embarrassed – folding his arms and making himself smaller.
No matter which version – Knuckles always struggled to admit when he cared about someone.
"I'm sorry, Knuckles. I mean it." Sonic said, eyes swarming with regret. Something about Knuckles' vulnerability had struck a chord within him. If Sonic had died – he would have left all the people he cared about. Not just the ones in his timeline, but his old friends too.
His Knuckles, his Amy, his Tails – how could he have just left them like that?
"I'm going to try do better." Sonic added. "A while ago I asked that you trust me, so I want that trust in me to be deserved – I'll… do my best to break the habit."
Knuckles slowly turned his head to look at the hedgehog over his shoulder.
"I care about you too. So, I don't want to leave you."
Sonic wasn't sure if he had imagined it, but it almost sounded as though Knuckles had made a small gasp – as though he was shocked to hear that someone even cared about him.
"Alright." Knuckles said. "I believe you."
"Hey uh, sorry – can we cut in a moment?" A familiar voice asked.
Knuckles' head sharply towards the entrance. Sonic's gaze followed – and he was surprised to see the unlikely trio of Vector, Espio, and Rouge standing there – awkwardly positioned, appearing rather uncomfortable to be there.
"I told you guys to stay in your hut!" Knuckles exclaimed angrily.
"Sorry, sorry!" Tangle's voice could be heard as she pushed herself in between the trio, with Whisper following on her tail as they approached Sonic and Knuckles. Tangle was rubbing the back of her head apologetically. "They wanted to talk so I let them out. I thought why not, you know? We're all here together already…"
Knuckles' shoulder relaxed once she explained the situation. "Fine." He agreed, lowering his arms to his sides. "
"Hold up, how come the Chaotix are here?" Sonic asked.
"A lot of things happened while you were unconcious." Knuckles told Sonic bluntly.
"Speak." He then told the three.
Sonic noticed how Whisper's grip on her weapon became tighter. The hedgehog tried to force all his questions out of his mind for now to focus on what was being said.
Vector took charge and spoke first. "I understand that the last thing you want to hear right now is excuses, but since we've been offered a space here to live – we wish to say thank you."
As he said this, Espio bent down to bow respectfully.
"It's incredibly kind of you to let us live here considering everything we did. So I wanted to clear the air between us." Vector explained. "Our business with this resistance… and killing Mighty… we assure you that nothing was personal. Nothing was ever done with malicious intent. Everything we did was for Charmy – our kid. We did everything for money and supplies to keep that little guy safe… no matter how gruesome the job."
Sonic watched as Tangle's lips quivered.
"We're sorry." Vector said. "Extremely sorry for what we've done to hurt you. You guys have been more noble than we ever were… you're strong for standing up like you are. I led my team in the way of cowards… but from this point on, we plan to make things right. We'll be fighting alongside you to finally take down that messed up Empire!"
As their declaration had settled upon the heroes, Sonic nodded. "I know there's good in you guys." He smiled a little. "And I hope that… despite the past, the others might see it too."
Their heads all turned to Tangle as they heard her sniff. "I… nothing can be done to bring Mighty back-" Her voice trembled. "But this stupid war… it's forced everyone into positions they never wanted to be in! I don't want to forgive you, but at the same time I do – and just…"
She fought the urge to actually let a tear free, causing them to brim in her eyes. "I understand… your motives, but… it doesn't change that you took his live, and I know for a fact you've had other victims. Ultimately, words are going to do little here… I want to see where your morals lie through your actions. I want you looking after our people! Working tirelessly to protect innocents! Fighting to the end! That's what I want to see from you, because… we need all the people we can get right now, and frankly – I hope we can all… move on…" Tangle held onto her own arm, rubbing it softly.
"Tangle." Espio said. "We assure you that we are willing to do whatever it takes to earn our place here, and start anew."
"I hope so." Tangle gained back control over her voice, steeling her gaze.
Knuckles' eyes flitted towards the bat that had been silent for the whole conversation. "What have you got to say for yourself?" He asked her, unable to hide his aggression and frustrations with her.
"I-" Rouge's ears flattened. "Look, I don't know how to put this in any sentimental way… but I do want to apologize." Rouge said. "I realize now all the harm that my actions have ended up causing all this time, and how much I ignored it…" She grimaced as memories flashed by in her mind. "Shadow was, in many ways, a reflection of me – I've come to realize. He showed me how obsessive I had become over the idea of getting revenge on the doctor… it's kind of embarrassing really…"
Knuckles narrowed his eyes.
"In that quest, I forgot all I had, and I ended up taking it for granted. If you guys hadn't arrived, I would have just… died alone. Just like that." Rouge's voice came out barely more than a breath as she couldn't look at anyone around her – dipping her head down. "And as much as I've always tried to convince myself otherwise… I don't want to be alone."
Rouge forced herself to look up at Tangle. "I've been nothing but a nasty piece of work to you… and I always tried to rationalize it in my head. I've been an awful teammate… awful friend. But… I do want to work on fixing things."
"You're mourning your friendships." Tangle said. "But what about all the people you've hurt and killed for the sake of your goals?"
"I've never liked killing anyone – but I told myself it was a necessary part of life in this dystopian shithole. I've always felt guilt… even if I don't show it." She said stiffly.
"Then what do you plan to do now?" Tangle asked.
Rouge took in a deep breath. "I'll admit… the need to get revenge on Robotnik is… still strong. At this point… I genuinely don't know how to get rid of it." She admitted honestly, which in Sonic's eyes – made her apologies more credible. "But I do want to try and earn your friendship back, Tangle. I will do everything I can to prove you can trust me. I'm going to be a team player. And instead of taking lives – I'll be working my damn hardest to protect them."
"Looking back, the friendship we had was awful." Tangle slowly said. "But I'm willing to try again on the right foot just as long as you improve. Just the same as the Chaotix, I want to see you doing every positive thing you can to make up for what you've done. You got that?"
"Wouldn't expect anything less."
"If there's any funny business from any of you – don't expect to last here for long." Knuckles interjected. "Sonic? How do you feel-?"
"There's good in Rouge too."
"Of course, you'd say that…" Knuckles mumbled.
"Don't groan at me." Sonic said. "Groan at your ancestors. They're the ones showing me the good within her."
While a lie, Sonic was certainly recalling memories of his version of the bat back at home. Underneath her selfish exterior lied a woman with a surprisingly large heart. She cared deeply for people and would always support those that needed it. She was the glue – the heart of Team Dark.
Knuckles huffed. "Right then. And Whisper?" He asked the wolf.
Whisper didn't respond right away, but her eyes for once seemed a little more open than usual – allowing Sonic to see just a small portion of blue eyes. "There will be no second chances." She said quietly. "We cannot afford to endanger those that we are looking after already."
Knuckles nodded to show his agreement. The three of them nodded, understanding the conditions.
"Don't let us down, guys. You all know it's best if we work together." Sonic grinned at them for assurance.
Everyone became distracted from the conversation when they heard a groan.
Their eyes drifted towards the other bed as they all noticed Shadow beginning to stir. He grunted as he pulled himself up into a sitting position, at last opening his eyes.
Even as the whole group stared at him, his face remained deadpan.
No one really knew what to say, not even Sonic.
Tangle was the first to make a move, she stretched out her tail before promptly plopping the card right on his lap.
Shadow stared at the front cover for a good few seconds. Even when it said it was for a daughter – he decided to eventually open it and read what was inside.
He didn't seem to appreciate it. He suddenly made the card glow with energy, causing it to disintegrate into mere sparkles and dust that blew away.
"Oh… okay-" Tangle sounded disheartened, mouth slightly agape in shock.
All eyes were on him as Shadow suddenly lifted off the covers and already left his bed despite Sonic still being in his. Shadow walked quickly in Sonic's direction, but before he could reach him – Knuckles intercepted.
"The hell do you think you're doing?!" Knuckles snapped at the fact Shadow's behaviour thus far, assuming the hedgehog felt little remorse for any of his actions.
Shadow simply pushed Knuckles aside, causing the echidna to stumble back a couple of paces. However, it cleared the path – and Shadow stood staring down at Sonic on the bed.
"How do I bring back the true timeline?" Shadow asked him with a glare.
Sonic held his breath.
"What-?" Tangle blinked.
"Huh?" Knuckles looked to Sonic.
"The what?" Rouge asked.
"Did he hit his head…?" Vector asked uncertainly.
"First off-" Sonic began. "We are fixing the timeline; you're not doing that on your own. Second… I suppose now I should… try again."
Sonic's gaze shifted around the crowd. "This is going to be confusing… and a lot to take in, but you've got to listen to me closely."
They were all waiting for him as Sonic hesitated.
"I'm… from another timeline. And this one? This one shouldn't exist."
At last, the Time Eater did not intervene.
A bit of a smaller chapter, but no less important! Jet reveals the reason behind why he backed up Amy, Sonic meets Pachacamac for the first time - all while the big scary echidna man threatens his friends. Sonic wakes up - talks with Tangle and Knuckles, and then the troublemakers got to apologize. But then Shadow wakes up - and Sonic finds himself able to reveal the existence of the old timeline.
That's right, folks - they now know. Witness the chaos that will ensue very soon ;)
Next chapter *might* come a little sooner than usual, and hoo boy - that one is packed with answers and drama~ but I won't spoil thay for you mwahahaha.
But as always - leave your thoughts in a review! They are always a joy to read and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for all the support so far, it means a lot to me. I have a yogurt craving right now so I'm gonna eat some yogurt - so I'm gonna leave you with the message that it's okay to treat yourself. And with that wisdom - bye for now, I'll see ya'll later!