Location Unknown

Espio the Chameleon steps slowly, cautiously through the near–pitch black room, into a bright overhead spotlight that shines harshly over the white tiled floor. "Hello…? Is anyone there?" He stops at the center of the spotlight, closing his eyes there. His ear twitches. "Do you really think my senses so ill-honed?" He turns and throws three shuriken in one swift movement. Each one strikes a Buzz Bomber hiding in the darkness, creating sparks and fire as they crash to the ground.

The voice of an elderly man congratulates, "Well spotted…my young apprentice."

Espio instantly drops to his knees, bowing his head in deference. "Master."

The voice continues to speak from the shadows, though its position slowly changes. "You've been gone for far too long, you ungrateful whelp. But I see, at least, that your skills haven't dulled." There's a light click against the ground with each step the concealed figure takes.

"My apologies, Master. My team has been somewhat shorthanded since—"

"The affairs of you pitiful creatures do not concern me, little chameleon. My offer to train you was not meant to be taken with such ignominy. I demanded your complete dedication. Disrespect my teachings again, and you may find yourself as fertilizer in my garden."

"I understand, Master."

"Did you at least bring the scrolls?"

"Of course."

"Good. Open it."

"Which one?"

"Are you trying to waste my time, reptile? You should know an old man like me doesn't have much of it to spare. Although, I probably have more of it left than you, I suppose."

"Number twenty-five. Of course." Espio reaches for one of the line of ornate scrolls strapped to his back, and slowly unfurls the aged parchment.

"Read it."

"This final scroll in my series is dedicated to a student I once had. I only knew him for a short period of time, not even a full day, but he changed my life forever. Espio—"

"That's enough. One of us in this room was alive when that scroll was written. And it wasn't you. Care to explain?"

"I have no explanation that will satisfy you."

"Well, for once, you've said something intelligent. That scroll was penned specifically for you, or so it would appear. Yet, try as you might, you found no success in learning from its teachings. And where did that bring you?"

"To you, Master."

Suddenly, a gnarled wooden cane comes flying down into the light, whacking Espio on the head before returning to the shadows. "That was a rhetorical question, doofus." The old master clears his throat. "Two years ago, I found you, a sniveling whelp who had learned the truth about his idol only to lose his purpose. My pity for you was so exhausting that I couldn't help but offer you salvation. After all, I am over one thousand and forty years old. When I was a young lad, the ink on that scroll was still fresh." Finally, the old master begins to step into the light. His stature is short—half the height of the cane he walks with—and almost unnaturally round. The wrinkles in the Zeti's pale blue skin show the truth of his claimed age. Master Zik glares up at his apprentice. "Who better to teach you its secrets than me?"

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Chaos Project

Season 3, Episode 10

War of the Lost World

Written by ChasoProjectAuthor

Daily Log, August 5th, 2 A.E. Amy Rose reporting.

According to the last communication we received from him, Sonic won't be getting back here for another day or two. Things have been…almost eerily quiet since he left. It sounds like he knows something about that, too. I hate getting left behind…

I guess I should be saying that things were quiet. There are some rumors going around the Network about something odd happening in a few remote places around the world. Most recently, South Island. It sounds silly enough that we wouldn't have thought much of it—if we didn't have evidence of the Eggman Empire trying to cover it up. That's always a bad sign. So I'm heading out with Hero and Bruno to investigate.

Just for fun, I did a tarot reading. "What should I be aware of for this journey?" I got Number XXI—The World. Reversed. The World represents…completeness, or unity. So reversed, it would be something incomplete…a lack of closure…maybe something that was…forgotten before, needs to be remembered again? Or maybe it shouldn't be…?

After everything that happened on the Little Planet, I believe it more than ever. I'll be watching for this incomplete world.

—–—

Bridge Zone—South Island

"All we're saying," Bruno babbles, "is that if the mustache was real, wouldn't we be seeing some sign of that? He never grows it any longer, he never trims it any shorter, not even from day to day. But his eyebrows? Hair on his head? Nothing. So maybe Eggman doesn't have any hair at all. His mustache doesn't grow, because it can't grow, because he doesn't have a mustache!"

Amy giggles at the Wisp's suggestion. "Is he really speaking for you here? Do you honestly believe that?"

Hero shrugs.

Bruno picks up, "He's being modest as usual. Wisps don't even have hair, I have no idea what I'm talking about. Just relaying the hotdog."

Amy raises an eyebrow.

"Message. I meant, message. I swear, this translator keeps getting…hex."

"Hex… Curse… You meant to say, worse?"

"Nope. Hex. Definitely hex." Hero and Bruno both stare out in shock over the cliff they've arrived at. Amy turns to follow their gaze. It's no ordinary cliff. It cuts a perfectly clean line through the grass in front of them, stretching off at least a mile in each direction before taking a perfectly angled turn away. The impossibly straight cliffs meet back together far on the opposite side ahead of them, creating an open pit in the mathematically precise shape of a hexagon.

Amy's own shock finally wears off enough for her to tap the communicator in her ear. "Hey, Knuckles…? This is Amy. We…made it to the destination."

Knuckles' voice returns, "I take it by the tone of your voice that you found something there?"

"It's just like the rumors said. Miles and miles of land just…gone. Like it was separated by a Titan-sized cookie cutter."

"And no sign of what could've done it?"

Bruno gasps, "Whoa, nice catch, buddy. Amy, take a look down there!"

Around the edges of the hexagonal pit, where it cuts across rivers and lakes, the water pours down the walls, pooling towards the center of the distant bottom. But in spite of the immense amount of water cascading down, the small pond at the center doesn't seem to be growing any larger.

"I see. That water has to be going somewhere," Amy notes.

Hero nods as Bruno voices, "Exactly."

Knuckles' voice encourages, "Sounds like something to take a closer look at? Just be careful out there. Report in if you find anything else."

"Understood." Amy takes a few steps closer to the edge. "We'll need to find a way down there."

"Milady?" Amy looks over with surprise to see Hero offering a hand forward with head bowed down, with Bruno mirroring the motion. With his other hand, he has a firm grip around his grappling wire, which has been securely wrapped around a nearby tree.

"That should work."

A short time later, Amy holds onto Hero as he lowers them slowly down the side of the wall, feeding ever more line to the growing tether above them.

Amy comments, "You've sure come a long way from that timid kid Knuckles pulled off the streets of Sunset Heights back during the first war. It's hard to be worried about anything with someone as reliable as you around."

"Hey!"

"Don't worry, Bruno. I know you're the one who keeps him focused. You two make an amazing team."

"Well…actually…"

"What? Did I say something else wrong?"

Bruno flies around to meet Hero's eyes. "You really want me to tell her?"

"What, tell me what?"

"If that's what you want…" He looks back at Amy. "He says you're wrong about how you first met. Off by six months."

"Six months? You mean before the war started? When would…?"

"Remember the Volunteer Militia?"

"Of course. Eggman launched a few scattered attacks against Sunset Heights before he started a full-scale war. The city wanted to band together and fight back, so we helped organize the efforts. I was even the recruiter for—" Her eyes go wide as she remembers. "You're the same quiet kid from the lookout post, aren't you? The one who got the one-in-a-million shot off from the artillery cannon?"

"I don't think I've heard this story before, but yeah, he says that was him. He wasn't actually planning on joining, though. He just happened to wander by when you were there at the recruitment booth. You convinced him to put his name down for the only position he was brave enough to take. Right place, right time, and a lucky shot later…"

"And you became a hero. You saved the whole city on that day."

"For all the good it did. Eggman unveiled the Phantom Ruby a week later."

"That's why I didn't think… Well, we were told that Infinite took out the entire Militia after he was done with Sonic. But you made it out. Guess that luck of yours held out, huh? And even though we didn't recognize you, you found your way back six months later."

"Yeah. We've always been pretty lucky." Hero suddenly turns his head away. "What, now I said something wrong? Hey, don't block me out! This is why I asked if you wanted to talk about it in the first place!"

"Hero, what's wrong?"

"He doesn't like to talk about it."

"I see…" Amy contemplates for a moment. "You don't have to be ashamed of it, you know. I understand. You feel guilty. Because you were lucky enough to make it out when so many others weren't."

Hero looks up in surprise. But he shakes his head. "That's silly. Eggman's the guilty one. All we ever did was help whoever we could."

"Survivor's guilt is very real, and there's nothing silly about it. You've been through so much…and you don't know what you did to deserve better than all those who were lost. Maybe you think it should've been someone else. You've been carrying that with you for all these years…and you've never said a word. Why?"

"He doesn't want to—" Bruno stops and takes a closer look at Hero. "Wait, really?" Hero offers him a gentle nod. "He says it's because…everyone always keeps calling him a hero. Everyone depends on him for so much. The last thing he wants is…no, I'm not going to say that! It's not true!" Hero looks at him more forcefully. Bruno sighs. He finishes, without his full heart in it, "The last thing he wants is for everyone to see how 'weak' he really is. His words, not mine. Well, technically my words, but his feelings. What were we talking about again?"

"Hero…you've been hiding your pain away…keeping up this mask of strength and reliability while you suffer in silence…for us?" She holds him a little bit tighter. "You're braver than I ever knew."

Bruno nuzzles up against the side of Hero's face. "That's what I keep telling you. One of these days, you might actually start hearing it enough to believe it."

Hero finally smiles, even vocalizing a soft, "Hm."

Finally, after the long ride down, their feet touch solid ground. Hero takes a step back to tug his wrist free from the hanging wire.

Amy puts a hand on his shoulder. "You should come see me in my office. This sort of pain doesn't go away if you don't talk about it. I know it can be pretty scary to open up when you're so used to keeping things to yourself…but I already know that you're brave enough."

Hero and Bruno meet eyes for a moment. "Uhh…no promises."

Amy nods. "Whatever you decide. You know you have nothing to be ashamed of either way."

"Thank you. But we should get moving, right?"

Amy smiles. "Lead the way, Mr. Reliable." Together, they start the walk along a stream of water towards the center of the hexagonal crater.

"Hey, so…I didn't want to interrupt the moment before, but…I think I remembered something important." Amy and Hero both look up in interest. "So this pit…I thought the whole thing sounded kind of familiar, but I wasn't sure why. It's because I haven't heard the rumors since I was a Baby Wisp back home. And it's just rumors, but…I think we have something like this, back home. Hex Valley, on Planet Wisp. And a few matching ones on the other planets in the system. Dessert planet. Ocean planet. All exactly the same size and shape. Allegedly, anyways."

"Are you saying you know what caused it?"

"Not really. Like I said, just a joke. Er, I mean, rumor. Actually, most of us thought it was just a joke. Like a ghost story. Giant pits shaped like a Gray Stone Wisp, where some young Wisps who get too curious disappear and never return."

"That does sound a lot like this…and I don't like the sounds of that last part."

Hero raises a finger to catch Bruno's attention. Bruno rolls all three of his eyes. "Of course you would suggest that." He pauses for a moment. "You're right, you're right. If people have disappeared into pits like this one, I suppose they could need our help."

"You sound awfully unconcerned about the notion of people disappearing. Or…the fact that we could disappear along with them if we keep walking in this direction?"

Bruno uses his tentacles to mime a shrug. "Eh. It's a cultural thing."

Amy eyes him with concern.

"What? It's not like they died when they disappeared. Wisps are empathic. People would've felt it if they died. So wherever they went, assuming the whole thing isn't made up, I'm sure they're having some fascinating new experiences to bring back home for the rest of us when they're finished. In fact, some of them probably already have. I wouldn't know. I haven't been home in, like, five years. That's a long time for a Wisp, you know. Our lifespans aren't quite as long as yours."

"You don't talk to other Wisps about what's going on at home?"

"Pfft. What other Wisps? After the fiasco of the first war, I don't think there were many left who wanted to stick around for a third."

"Well now I feel bad for not noticing. But you're right, we haven't seen any Wisps around in years. Didn't you want to go back with them?"

"Maybe a little. But I've got a partner now. I'm sticking by his side to the end of my days." Hero holds up a fist. Bruno curls up a tentacle for a fist bump.

"Do you miss your home?"

"All the time. But you know what? When I get back, I'm gonna have some awesome experiences to share. I'll be the envy of the whole planet. And maybe I can teach the next generation a thing or two about courage and heroism." He turns sharply to look back at Hero. "I am not getting a big head, thank you very much. It's normal for us to embellish stories a bit, while we still have the chance. If good old Yacker hadn't told me that Sonic the Hedgehog was as 'hot as the sun,' I probably wouldn't have come to this planet at all. Come to find out, Sonic has a very normal body temperature." Hero starts to chuckle. Bruno nudges him in the side with a tentacle. "I like this guy better anyways. Never would've met him, if it weren't for embellishment."

"You two really do make a great team. You're so luck—…err… It's a good thing…that you found each other."

"It's okay. We are lucky. No complaints about that in this case." They all stop as they reach the edge of the central pool of water. "Welp…here we are."

Amy takes a look into the pool. "I don't see anything out of the ordinary here. The water's pretty deep. Can't see the bottom."

Hero kneels down to put his hand in the water. "There's a bit of a current. It could be that the water's draining into some sort of…underground cavern?"

Amy chuckles. "There is one way to find out. Up for a swim?"

"Hey, don't give him any funny ideas, you know he's going to—" Water splashes up behind Bruno as Hero dives in. "…accept any task no matter how dangerous or stupid." Swimming at the edge of the pool, Hero pulls out another line of wire and holds it up to Amy. Bruno sighs. "Safety tether. He'll give it a tug if he needs you to pull him back."

Amy takes the end of the wire. "Sounds reasonable. Just don't tell Knuckles that you're playing in the water. He might get jealous again."

Hero offers a thumbs up and a big smile. Then he takes a long breath in, and dives down. Bruno shakes his head. "And so, it falls to me to keep an eye on him. If all goes well, I'll be back with a status report momentarily." He soars up and plops back down into the water after Hero.

"Knuckles, this is Amy. We're up closer now. Hero's investigating a possible underground cavern. Any idea how reliable these communicators are underground?"

"It's not one of Tails' fancy Chaos Communicators, is it? If not, that's gonna depend on how deep you go."

"Got it. Well then, be prepared to lose communication for a while."

"Copy that. Just don't take too long in there. Make sure you turn around soon enough to report in again before sundown. I don't want to be the one to tell Sonic that you disappeared in a cave while he was gone."

"I'm not worried. You've got a reliable team here."

Something bubbles beneath the surface of the water. Amy looks over in interest. A moment later, Bruno pokes his head back out. "Amy…you're gonna want to see this."

"Oh. Well, now that I think about it, I'm not really dressed for a swim…"

"Aw, nobody cares about that. Just give the line a tug and we'll bring you up."

"Up…? Right, the translator. Up… High… So you'll bring me…pie? I'm guessing that's not it. Did you mean down?"

"Uhh…just go ahead and do the thing." He splashes back down into the water before she can respond.

"Okay…" Amy shakes off her confusion. "I guess I'll just…" She pulls up lightly on the line she still holds. A moment later, she is ripped off her feet with tremendous force. "Whoa!" She barely has time to take a breath before she's forced underwater. Water rushes past her as she struggles to hold onto the line. It gets darker the deeper she goes, but after a moment, the light begins to return. She looks out towards the source of the light through strained eyes. The surface of the water approaches—the surface above her head, though her direction never changed. Finally, her head breaches the top of the water that was once below her.

"Sorry about the rough ride. Wasn't sure how long you were comfortable holding your breath. Anyways, welcome to…uhh…somewhere."

Amy finally finishes wiping the water out of her eyes, giving her the chance to look around. They swim at the center of what appears to be a relatively ordinary-looking lake, with various bridges and small islands visible nearby. But in the sky above their heads, whole planetoids of terrain float in orbs and lines knotted into nonsensical shapes. And beyond the perfectly angular horizon, beyond the empty air past it, countless hexagons of earth are arrayed together with a curvature that sinks out of sight. "I'll tell you where we are… It's the Lost Hex…"

—–—

Hidden Base — Tropical Coast Zone, Lost Hex

Master Zik forcefully hits his cane against the ground, sounding a loud crack. "Student! Tell me what you've learned from each of the first twenty-four scrolls."

Espio keeps his head bowed as he recites, "Inherent to the universe are eight varieties of worldly energies, or qi. Three scrolls are dedicated to the source, nature, and mastery of each qi. Tu-qi, the breath of earth. Mu-qi, the breath of wood. Shui-qi, the breath of water. Xun-qi, the breath of wind. Zhen-qi, the breath of thunder. Huo-qi, the breath of fire. Jin-qi, the breath of metal. And Qian-qi, the breath of heaven. Each person is born with an innate affinity towards one of these eight—their Yuanqi. Mastery of any other qi is impossible for most, and takes many years of intense training for the gifted few. I was born with the wind qi, which manifests in swift feet, and, with practice, an ability to manipulate the wind itself."

"You've already made your first mistake."

"Of course. We ordinary earthlings are born with only one affinity. All Zeti possess two. Metal in addition to a second unique to them. Your own Mu-qi gives you power over wood, fruit, and other plantlife, Master Zik."

"And what of the twenty-fifth scroll?"

"At the heart of the eight trigrams is the yin-yang. The balance of Light and Darkness. What much of the world would call Chaos. It is not a qi, so much as all the other qis are aspects of it. The yin-yang is considered sacred, in that it is not believed to be possible to master for any but the chosen Hogo-sha. Nonetheless, Master Shino detailed all he knew of these Scared techniques in this twenty-fifth scroll."

"Not possible for most, perhaps. But I am no ordinary teacher. And you, I suppose, are no ordinary student. After all, under my tutelage, you mastered the Shadow Sealing—a technique wholly distant from your innate qi."

"To call my meager skills mastery is a praise I don't deserve. A true master would not need to rely upon a drawn seal to perform the technique."

"Allow yourself this, young one. The greatest masters in history have used seals to supplant their skills." He holds out his cane. "This very tool is inscribed with a seal of water to add to my repertoire. Even that Shinobi you so admire, the only known master of the Yin-Yang, couldn't perfect his ultimate technique without the use of the Demon's Seal. The very inspiration for your own forward strides."

"The Demon's Seal was not Master Shino's ultimate—"

"Hold your tongue, whelp. That Shinobi is long dead. Do not forget who your real Master is."

"My apologies, Master Zik."

"Better. Now, where were we? Ah, yes. The Demon's Seal. Imagine…the power to remove your opponent from time in a single action. What a help that would've been in my younger days… And its secrets are written in that scroll." All this time, Zik has paced around the room, but now he stops at Espio's side, holding out a hand expectantly. "Give me the scroll, Epsio. Together, we will acquire its power as master and apprentice. For the first time in one thousand years, Shino's legacy will be restored."

Somewhere nearby, a mechanical hiss sounds as a door is opened.

Zik clenches his eyes shut and groans. "As much as I would wish to continue this lesson, it would appear that someone has insisted on interrupting us. What have I told you about disturbing me while I'm teaching? Or have you forgotten that you're no longer in charge here?"

Another figure steps with heavy feet into an adjacent spotlight. The hulking red former leader of the Deadly Six, Zavok, kneels down to Zik, not sparing so much as a glance to Espio. "My sincerest apologies, Master. I would not have troubled you if it were not urgent. There's been a development."

"Oh?"

Zavok looks up to meet Zik's eyes. "The Hex has expanded."

Zik's eyes close as he takes in this information. "Urgent indeed… Well then, my young apprentice…" Both Zavok and Espio look up at attention. Then they lock eyes with each other for the first time, both producing an equally venomous scowl. "…it would seem the time has come for a bit of field training."

—–—

Bridge Zone, Lost Hex

Hero kneels down to help Amy up out of the water and onto the shore. "So…I think you're gonna have to explain to us what in the worlds a 'Lost Hex' is. Knuckles might've mentioned something about Sonic and Tails going there once?"

Amy does her best to wring out the hem of her dress. "They did. Eggman found it first, but Tails and Sonic followed him there. That's where they met Zavok and the Deadly Six. You remember him, don't you?"

"Unfortunately… But, that doesn't answer the question."

"No one actually knows exactly what it is. It was sort of an urban legend, like your Hex Valleys. The illusory floating continent, Lost Hex. Some old historian claimed to have gotten lost in the jungle, and somehow wound up there, where he was trapped for weeks. He wrote detailed accounts of the geography, the six aggressive native creatures he called Zeti, and the rare mollusk he discovered that grew a shell with properties that could ward off the Zeti. That was the Cacophonic Conch. Of course, it all sounded so ridiculous that everyone assumed it was made up."

"Wow. Did Tails tell you all that?"

"Tails? No. Tails just said, 'It's the Lost Hex,' and I think he just assumed everyone knew what he was talking about. I looked it up in the library later."

"So…nearly-spherical landmass, made up of geometrically perfect chunks of land from completely distinct biomes. Theoretically floating in the sky, except that no one was actually able to find it there, until Eggman did one day. Nothing stops you from flying there if you know where it is. On this very large, very secret continent, there live exactly six pretty much alien people, who have apparently all been there for well over a generation, probably longer. They control robots with their brains, and their weakness is a magic conch shell. Oh, and there are magic portals down to the surface, apparently. Did we miss anything?"

"Well, there's also the Wisps."

Bruno's eyes go wide. "The what now?"

Amy smirks. "Take a look around."

Bruno and Hero both look up. High in the sky, approaching from all directions, distant motes of light appear to be converging. As they grow closer, the excited squeaks and babbles they make become audible, and their forms and colors become clearer. Alien Wisps of crimson, magenta, gray, indigo, and half a dozen others come swarming around the Bridge Zone territory, exploring the terrain, splashing in the water, and playing with the ropes and seesaws constructed across the zone. "Wisps…they've been up here all along…They probably don't even know about the war…or do they?" Hero and Bruno meet eyes for a moment. "I think I might have an idea of what's going on here. Give me a minute, guys." Bruno flies off towards the nearest group of Wisps.

Amy watches him approach a Magenta Rhythm Wisp, and begin an energetic conversation. Amy nods along with a slight smile on her face. "I think we're all on the same page here. And we're on our way to figuring out something about this Lost Hex that no one ever has. Where we're standing now is the same piece of land that went missing from South Island. Somehow, it all got transported up here at once. Whatever force allowed that to happen must be what transported us up here as well. The same thing must have happened to the old historian in the jungle. And…the same thing must have happened on Planet Wisp."

Hero looks back at Amy questioningly.

"Yeah…I guess that probably would mean this place is just as connected to Planet Wisp as it is to Earth." They both watch for a moment as Bruno and the Magenta Wisp bounce around each other excitedly in conversation. "There's probably an easy way for him to go home…if he wanted to."

Hero's expression as he watches Bruno grows just a bit more somber.

"What I can't figure out is…why now? If the Lost Hex is made up of stolen chunks of planets from across the galaxy…why take another piece of the Earth now? It's not exactly something that's been happening all throughout history. Earth isn't filled with hex-shaped valleys. If there were any before now, they'd have to be so old that natural growth and erosion has hidden them completely. Maybe…in a jungle, where the trees grow to cover it… Or the desert, where the sands are constantly changing… Or maybe some place so high up that you could fly a plane straight through it now. But if that was all so long ago…what's changed?"

An eerie voice cackles, "Ee hee hee! What's changed, indeed, is the answer you need."

Hero and Amy both look around in confusion. "Huh? Who said that?"

The water in the lake around them begins to ripple violently. Wisps noticing the disturbance turn and flee. The same voice seems to echo all around them, "Why ask just of me, when there's more you can't see? Ee hee hee hee!"

Hero gasps, realizing the voice's meaning just in time to tackle Amy to the ground before something long and metallic flies through the spot where she had just been standing. Their respite is short-lived, as an orb of water bursts against the ground between them, blasting them both in opposite directions. Something darts back and forth through the air at blinding speeds, hurling down more orbs of water as it goes, and cackling all the way. "Ee hee hee! Prance and prance your beachside dance, until you see you have no chance!"

Amy pulls out her hammer to strike away the oncoming projectiles. Hero uses his grappling wire as a whip, lashing at water orbs as he hops and dives over the ground to get closer to Amy. They're both so thoroughly distracted that neither one of them notices as a piece of metal flies at the back of each of their heads, knocking them both out in one blow.

A tall figure with heavy feet steps up to their unconscious forms, his two flying swords returning hilt-first to join an array of four others that float above his head. He speaks with a deep, slightly muffled voice, "Threats…neutralized."

The cackling one flies down beside him, still hovering just off the ground. "Strong ones are these. Our lord will be pleased."

The tall one kneels down, picking each of them up with one arm, and slinging them over his shoulders. "Let's…go." With one mighty leap, he disappears. The cackling one laughs as she flies after him.

Only when there's no sign left that anything happened does Bruno return. "Hey guys, sorry that took a minute. This is my new friend Sharp, she—… Guys?" He looks around in confusion. "Where'd you go?"

The Magenta Wisp, Sharp, squeaks something in a harmonic tone.

"Hide-and-seek? No, I don't think so. Something's wrong… Very wrong…" With nowhere else to turn, he looks up at the sky. "Where are you, buddy…?"

—–—

Steel Station Zone

"Hey…wake up, buddy. I need you with me here, come on."

Hero struggles to open his eyes as Amy gives his shoulder a push.

"Good news is, we're both still alive. Bad news is, there's no telling where they took us."

A nervous expression appears on Hero's face as he starts to search around the dark metal chamber.

Amy puts a hand on his shoulder to calm him. "I'm sure Bruno's fine. To whoever attacked us, he probably looked just like any other Wisp, I doubt they knew he was with us. He's probably looking for us right now."

Hero nods along, though not seeming entirely convinced.

"You didn't get a good look at either of them, did you?"

Hero shakes his head.

"They must want us for something. But what?"

The cackling voice suddenly proclaims, "Ee hee hee hee! Double, double, toil and trouble! What we seek is to turn our foes into rubble!" A bright spotlight shines down on her, revealing her form for the first time. Her pale green skin, striped with black, is filled with warts and wrinkles. Long, gnarled pink nails grow from her fingers, and a wide pink and black striped horn growing through the frizzled green hair on her head gives the vague appearance of a witch's hat. She floats sitting hunched over a long metal device with a whirring engine in the back, which could at first be mistaken for a broomstick.

"Rubble…yes." A second spotlight shines, reflecting harshly off of the silvery white skin of the tall attacker. Sharp angled black horns, striped with silver, grow out of every joint on his muscular body, and even more densely around his face, covering his mouth and giving his body an appearance resembling traditional armor. His six swords are sheathed in harnesses that frame nearly his entire muscular torso.

Hero takes a step closer to the tall one, his earlier fears now masked by a face of resolve. He walks all the way up to the warrior's face, glaring up at his eyes as if testing to see if he'll react. Moments pass in silence. Finally, Hero takes a step back, appearing to be satisfied with the silent exchange.

"I'm…Zunin. You're…interesting."

Amy crosses her arms. "And what about you, witch girl?"

"Zeleena is the name you seek. For my stoic partner, I typically speak."

Hero nods in understanding. Amy does as well. "Both Zeti, right? What does that make you? The Terrible Two?"

A third spotlight lights up, revealing the backside of a massive black throne. "I believe that would more aptly be…" The throne slowly swivels around to reveal the one who sits upon it. "…the Threatening Three." This third Zeti is even taller than Zunin, though his black body appears rather frail. His bony hands and the face on his scarred, oversized head are the only trace of color on him, a pale blue with black and yellow striped horns. Spit comes out with every word he speaks through his yellow, misaligned teeth.

Amy and Hero are both forced to stifle their laughter. "Were all three of you waiting to make dramatic entrances like that?""

The three Zeti look at each other for a moment before agreeing simultaneously, "Yes."

Amy and Hero snicker even harder.

"I would suggest you show a little more respect. I am called Emperor Zapp."

Amy wipes off her grin long enough to ask, "Why do they call you that?"

Zapp holds up a hand as electricity begins to crackle between his fingers. Suddenly, a massive bolt of lightning shoots into the ceiling, sending sparks flying and activating every light in the room.

Hero and Amy's expressions both go serious. "Point taken. My name is Amy, and this is Hero. Since it seems like we're all on friendly enough terms here, would you care to explain what we're doing here in the first place?"

"The two of you were brought here at my request."

"So do you usually send your goons out to ambush your invited guests, or are we a special case?"

"To have guests at all is a case more special than you realize, young Hedgehog."

Zeleena interjects, "If it pleases Milord, I have news to share. I sense the arcane in this maiden fair."

Amy raises an eyebrow. "Arcane? As in magic? I don't think so."

"A gift to see what's yet to come. Is that not magic? Or are you simply dumb?"

Amy draws a tarot card from her pocket as she ponders the claim.

Zapp taps his fingertips together. "Interesting… And what of the other one?"

Zunin answers, "He's…strong."

Zapp nods at Hero. "That is considerable praise, coming from Zunin. It would seem you could both be of use to us. I've been looking to take on new apprentices. Your abilities, physical and magical alike, could be multiplied tenfold under my watchful guidance. What say you?"

Amy laughs. "Flattering, but I think we'll have to pass." Hero nods in agreement. "We didn't come here looking for a teacher, we came looking for answers. For example, how did a giant chunk of our planet end up here on the Lost Hex?"

"Answers, you say? Very well. Tell me, young Hedgehog. Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Zyzzyx the Original One?"

"Can't say that we have."

"I thought not. It's not a story the Deadly Six would tell you." Zapp closes his eyes. "Long ago, on a faraway world, there lived a visionary with powers beyond that of any mortal man. That was Lord Zyzzyx. His grand ambition was to unite all the known worlds in the first galactic…congregation. To fulfill this ambition, he used his great powers to create what you now call the Lost Hex—a nexus for travel between the worlds, powered by the worlds themselves. This dream, however, was put to a halt by an even higher power. A terrible cosmic entity swept through the galaxy, consuming countless planets in its wake—his homeworld among them."

Amy whispers in understanding, "The End…"

"Safe on his Lost Hex, Zyzzyx and a small group of his followers were spared the fate of their kind. These were the original Zeti of the Lost Hex. To keep them safe, Zyzzyx closed his world off from the rest of the galaxy, demanding that it never be opened so long as the threat remained. For tens of thousands of years, it was so. And in all that time, Zyzzyx continued to train young Zeti for the eventuality of incursion. One such apprentice dared to ask, why. 'Why, Zyzzyx, with your mighty powers, do you choose to hide instead of fighting? If we could only fill in the missing pieces of this world, we could combine the energies of a hundred planets to create a weapon that could destroy any foe.' Zyzzyx knew this, of course. It was always his intention that the Hex have a defense against foes. But he had no answer for his apprentice. And so, one night, while he slept…his apprentice betrayed and murdered him."

Hero and Amy both gasp.

"This apprentice had a name you should both know. It was Zik of the Deadly Six."

—–—

Silent Forest Zone

"After that day, Zyzzyx's remaining followers went to war with those of his traitorous apprentice. War over control of the entire Lost Hex." Zik and Espio leap from one tree branch to the next as Zik concludes his story. "We are all that remains of that war. The Deadly Six…and the Threatening Three. When they came to realize their numbers were too few to fight any longer, they vanished like leaves in the wind. But today…today, we finally finish what was started all those years ago. And restore the true glory of the Lost Hex."

Zavok follows behind them, keeping up with equally impressive jumps that snap most of the tree limbs he lands on. "True glory… As if he cares…"

Espio nods in understanding. "I will assist in any way I can."

Zik scowls at him. "That should go without saying, young sapling. Fail me today, and you can forget about any further training." He suddenly stops, calling out into the forest, "Zor! To me!"

A dejected voice echoes back, "Sigh… Another pointless conflict is about to begin…" From the treetops above, the purple-haired Zeti, Zor, drops down onto a nearby branch. Instead of looking up at Zik, his eyes remain transfixed on the petals of the blue rose in his hand. "Maybe this time, death won't be so capricious as to abandon me after teasing me with his cold embrace." He suddenly drops his rose and looks up as he realizes, "Ew, wait, that almost sounded like optimism."

Zik jabs down his cane for attention. "You already know the situation, Zor. From here, we split up to gather the rest of the Six. Espio, you will remain with me. We all know where to meet. The Threatening Three have finally tipped their hand."

Zor sighs. "What a drag…" He leaps into the darkness.

Zavok stares for a moment with a disinterested expression. "It will be done…Master." He leaps back the way they came.

Zik watches him go. "Do not judge your sibling student too harshly. He is still adjusting to the new structure of power. That was the price of his failure, and he is lucky it was so lenient." He glances at his side. "And Espio…"

"Yes, Master?"

"I must ensure you understand that this battle is not a place for mercy. If you are not absolutely ruthless, you will be struck down just as so many of my students were before you. What have you to say about that?"

"Bearing a burden like that, I can see how Zor turned out the way he did."

Zik's eyes narrow into a scowl. "I'll forgive you that insolence, only because it shows a keen analytical skill. I can only hope your judgment of our enemies will be as sound. Now don't forget this, grasshopper. The Zeti would have gone extinct long ago if we had not done everything it took to protect ourselves. Ruthlessness is not the way of evil. It is simply the way of survival. Learn well enough, and you and your rodent friends may yet survive your own battle."

Espio shows a moment of surprise. But then he dips his head down. "I understand, Master."

"Now come. We must hurry."

—–—

"When Zyzzyx was killed, the ways of controlling the Lost Hex were thought lost with him. Until the very station we now occupy was rediscovered. It took much time to get the station working again, but now…now, we can finally do as Zyzzyx once did. We can add to the Hex. Complete it. And finally take vengeance on those fools who betrayed us so long ago…"

Amy shakes her head in confusion. "So it was you guys who stole a piece of South Island. But I thought you said it was Zik who wanted to turn the Hex into a weapon."

"You already know the evil of those Deadly Six. You know they would destroy your planet, given the opportunity. By using this weapon against them, we deny them that opportunity. Do you not wish to protect your planet?"

"That's not really how we do things. Have you tried…talking to them? At all? In the last thousand years?"

Zapp spits, "That…isn't how we do things. But such things don't matter any longer. As we speak, the Deadly Six are marching here to seize control of the weapon from us. If they can do so before we get it operational, your world, and every civilized world in the galaxy, will be in great danger. Either you join me today…or you leave us all to their mercy."

Zeleena adds, "Mercy is, as you know, something they do not show."

Zunin asserts, "Join…us."

Hero looks down for a moment at his closed fist. Then he nods.

Amy hesitantly agrees, "If we're the only ones who can protect everyone…then I guess we don't have much of a choice."

Zapp shows his crooked teeth in a wide grin. "Good… Good. But there is one other thing you must know. I've been informed that the Six have taken on a new apprentice of their own. He is a rogue element. Eliminate him first."

Hero and Amy glance at each other for a moment, unsure of how to respond.

—–—

The Deadly Six, plus one, all converge at once at the border between the Bridge Zone hex and the segment that lies adjacent to it, appearing to be made entirely out of metal. Factories, towers, and all sorts of scaffolding and strange machines float above and around the Steel Station Zone.

Zeena is the first to comment, "Ugh. What a drab color. They could've at least painted the place."

Zomom picks up, "Nuhhh… I don't see anything to eat in there. What if I get hungry? Can I eat the little purple guy?"

Zor recoils before realizing that Zomom is pointing at Espio.

Espio holds up a kunai threateningly. "I advise against trying it."

Zor sighs. "Don't you know it's pointless to talk him out of eating anything? At least if he eats you, it'll be quicker than what our enemies will do. Messier, though. Might be fun to watch."

Zik hits his cane against the ground for attention. "Enough! Zavok may have tolerated this tomfoolery out of you lot when he was in charge, but I most certainly do not."

Zavok huffs angrily.

Zik continues, "This is the battle you've all been training your entire lives for. The fate of our world is at stake. We are as a mighty wave, crashing against the tallest mountain. This is one mountain we must topple. And to do so, we must plan our first move carefully."

Zavok takes a step forward. "If I might make a suggestion." He lifts two fingers high into the air, then lets them drop. A massive floating machine comes crashing down onto the facility below, going up in a mighty explosion. "What a foolish place for them to hide."

Zazz cheers, "Ha ha, yeah! Bring on the carnage!" He raises his own arm to join in, only to have it smacked away by Zik's cane.

Zik maintains a calm demeanor with his eyes closed. "Espio, do tell my other students about the mistake that was just made."

Espio answers simply, "Now they know we're here."

Zavok growls, "Good. Then there's no reason to stop." He drops a second machine in the same manner as the first. But halfway down, it stops. Zavok scowls as he redoubles his efforts, but the machine no longer moves.

Zapp's voice cackles over unseen speakers. "Eh heh heh… The Threatening Three bids welcome to the Deadly Six and their new apprentice. Your conquest of our territory, however, will not be permitted. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I must give this order to my own allies. Execute the Deadly Six."

Espio is the quickest to react. He leaps into the air, slashing with his kunai to parry the first of six flying swords that swarm at them from all directions. Chaos erupts on the battlefield as the Deadly Six scatter away from the remaining weapons, while Zunin lands at the center of it all, setting his sights on Zik.

Swatting a sword away with his cane, Zik eyes Zunin closely. "I remember you. The qi-less one. Ordinary and weak."

Zunin's eyes narrow into a scowl. "Strong…enough." With all his weapons in use, he leaps at Zik to attack with his fists instead.

In one swift move, Zik sweeps one of Zunin's legs, passing underneath him then leaping up behind him to strike him in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground. Zik lands in a crouch and glances back with a smirk. "Do you really think so?" He doesn't notice the sword flying behind his head.

Espio knocks the sword away, then tosses his own weapon back at Zunin. The kunai freezes inches from the back of Zunin's head, then flips around and darts back the way it came.

Zik is forced to grab Espio and pull him out of the way. "He may not have a unique qi, but they can all still control metal. Watch those weapons of yours, boy." Zik and Espio both ready themselves as Zunin gets back up.

Elsewhere in the battle, Zomom uselessly swats at a swarm of three swords that circle and slash at him, all seeming to do little more than scratch his blubbery body. "Ouch… Ouch… Quit it!"

Zazz charges headlong past him, heading deeper into Steel Station territory. "This is gonna be too easy! They don't got the numbers!" He raises a hand into the air. "Let the destruction rain like shooting stars!" High above him, his flying golden Moon Mech swoops in, dropping star-shaped bombs that explode as they land in Zazz's trail. "Ha ha— Huh?"

"I'll show you some stars!"

Zazz's eyes go wide as he sees Amy's hammer swinging at his face a moment too late.

Back in the fray, Zeena lashes out with a tendril of green energy, grabbing a flying sword and tossing it aside. She yawns. "Can we hurry this up? I have a hair appointment at 8."

"Tick tick tock, my sister's locks, need constant care or smell like socks." Zeleena cackles heartily as she flies in close on her broomstick, throwing down a ball of water as she goes.

Zeena jumps out of the way, stomping her feet angrily once she lands. "Why you— Don't go letting people know that I'm related to you, weirdo!"

Watching the exchange, Zor sighs. "This isn't going well. I guess I should probably help out… Let's just get it over with…" At his command, his Owl Mech slams down onto the ground in front of Zeena, protecting her from Zeleena's attacks.

Zeleena cackles once again. "Ee hee hee! Stealing the scene with that machine? I'll show you one you haven't seen!" The water in the Bridge Zone behind Zeena and Zor begins to ripple, until another large mech tears out from beneath its surface. The black mechanical cat bares serrated claws that spin like the blades of a chainsaw as it leaps at the Owl Mech from behind. The owl's head swivels around to see it just in time for it to take off flying. The two machines engage in combat of their own, the Owl Mech staying on the retreat as it fires electrified pellets that the Cat Mech slashes away as it pursues.

The robot fight moves past Zomom as he realizes, "Oh yeah! I can make one of those too!" He violently slams his fists into the ground, causing chunks of metal to fly into the air all around him. He takes control of the pieces as they fly, freezing their movement and crunching them down into identically sized cubes. The cubes fly together, stacking into the shape of an angry gray face. Zomom leaps on top of his new Block Face machine, and immediately slumps down into a seat. "Boy, that sure made me hungry. I really need a snack…" He looks on ahead into the Steel Station. "They gotta keep their food somewhere, right? Let's just start destroying stuff until we find it." The Block Face carries him forward as it flies along the ground, shooting spike balls out from its mouth at everything they pass.

A metal wire wraps around one of the spike balls, flinging it around and sending it flying back the way it came. It slams against the Block Face, sending a layer of blocks exploding away, and leaving the face itself wearing an expression of great surprise.

Zomom looks around in confusion. "Huh? Who did that?"

Hero stares up at Zomom silently as he retracts his wire.

"Ohh… You look like you'd taste like strawberries. I don't know who you are, but the boss didn't say I couldn't eat you, so…come get in my mouth!"

Hero shudders as the Block Face begins firing directly at him. He tries to throw another spike ball back, but his aim is thrown off entirely as his attention falls for the first time on the fight playing out not far from them.

Despite having retrieved all six of his swords for this fight, Zunin has been steadily pushed back into the station by the pair of Zik and Espio. Espio parries three of the flying blades to cover for Zik as the Zeti master throws his cane at their opponent. Zunin tries to take advantage of Zik's apparent defenselessness, directing his remaining three swords to fly at him from every angle. But each of the swords ends up buried in a large piece of fruit that seems to appear out of thin air. Zunin knocks the cane out of the air, sending it tumbling away, but Zik takes control of it back, pulling it straight at the back of Zunin's head. As Zunin is knocked forward, Espio leaps up into a kick at his face, sending him reeling back.

Zunin suddenly growls, "That's…enough!" He throws a hand high into the air, causing the ground beneath his feet to shudder violently, throwing Espio and Zik both off balance. "Rise…Mechasaur!" He takes a mighty leap backwards as a hatch in the metal floor behind him opens wide, allowing the mech inside to rise. The towering silver machine bears a resemblance to a tyrannosaurus rex covered in spiked armor, though with a somewhat more humanoid stature. Zunin lands atop its head and echoes, "Strong…enough."

Zik eyes the massive mech with a frustrated grimace. He glances up to the top of a tall steel tower to his side, where Zavok watches with arms crossed. Zik growls, "What do you think you're doing standing around like that, you big red oaf!? Join the fight already!"

Zavok looks down slowly, as if with no interest at all. He can't seem to help but roll his eyes. "My, what a brave and inspiring leader you are. But I suppose the time has come for me to put an end to all this." He raises a hand in much the same way that Zunin did, and from the gathering storm clouds above, his Mech Dragon comes flying down. He leaps onto its head, and it carries him closer to Zunin's Mechasaur. But instead of attacking, it sweeps around behind the Mechasaur's back before finally lashing out with its tail, not at Zunin, but at Zomom's passing Block Face, instantly shattering the machine into a storm of falling cubes.

Zik shouts, "What in blazes do you think you're doing!?"

As the Mech Dragon takes position beside the Mechasaur, Zavok breathes a low chuckle. "Is it not obvious, Master? I'm putting an end to this the very way you taught me. Mercilessly. I've had enough of your foolish ideals about peaceful isolation."

"So, my own student has betrayed me… I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

Amy and Hero watch from the shadows of a nearby structure. Amy scowls as she takes in what they're saying. "I think we've been lied to. That must be why Espio is fighting with them. But…the Deadly Six can't be the good guys, can they?"

Hero appears deep in thought. Eventually, he just shakes his head in confusion.

Zavok continues to explain, "When that blue rodent came here…he put us all to shame. So many more out there in the galaxy would do the same. When you took leadership of the Deadly Six from me, you said it was because I failed to keep those outsiders away. Yet now you invite more outsiders. You are a hypocrite and a liar, Master Zik. You don't even know what you want. But I do. I want to destroy the planet of the ones who made fools of us, and anyone else who threatens our rightful place as the most powerful creatures in the universe! Master Zapp has promised to help me do that. Will you stand with me? Or will you stand in my way?"

Zik closes his eyes and shakes his head slowly. "You're exactly right. Someday, we may not be so lucky to survive as we did in our encounter with the hedgehog. We were made fools, not by him, but by our own foolish mistakes. That is exactly why we must restore the Hex to the way it once was. Far apart from any who would threaten our continued survival. Why would you wish to start new wars when we are so close to ending this one? What have we to prove to any of them?"

"Perhaps that is what you've failed to understand, my old Master. You raised us all for war. It is all that we know."

Espio listens on in silence.

Zik tightens his grip on his cane. "Then I have failed you. And I am sorry for that. But not for what comes next." He suddenly springs into action, throwing his cane in front of him and hopping atop it to ride it up to the level of Zavok's Mech Dragon. The dragon roars, shooting a spray of fireballs from its mouth that Zik has to weave his way around. The swirling seal carved into his cane takes on a dim glow as he shoots a watery blue orb of energy at the dragon's tail. The moment the weak spot is struck, the entire machine freezes up, ending the storm of fire, freeing Zik to leap off of his cane and onto the dragon's back. He retrieves the cane back into his hand as he races up the swirling path to Zavok.

Zunin has gone on the attack as well. Espio is forced to leap back to avoid being crushed as the Mechasaur tries to stomp forward onto him, quaking the ground and sending metal shrapnel flying into the air. As soon as he has regained his footing, he races back in at the towering mech, effortlessly beginning to run up its side. Spikes jut in and out of the mech's armor, forcing Espio to take an evasive path to avoid being impaled. His run is further disrupted by a storm of swords that come flying down at him. He draws a kunai to slash away at the oncoming blades, hardly slowed down by the effort. Finally, he summits the mech's head, flipping into a landing on its snout.

Two swords fly back into Zunin's hands, while the rest float in an arc above his head. "You're…skilled." He points one blade forwards. "We'll…duel."

"Your idea of a duel is not the ninja way." He throws his hands together. "Ninja Arts: Camouflage!" Wind swirls around him as he vanishes from sight.

Lasers fire up from the back of each segment of the Mech Dragon, in a sequence trailing just barely behind Zik as he runs up the machine. As he draws closer to the head, he faces danger from the front as well, as Zavok looses a stream of fireballs from his palm that travel down the length of the mech at his master. Zik counters each one with an energy blast of his own as the last of the distance is closed. No words are exchanged as the two engage in combat. Zik's swift flying movements make him nearly untouchable, but Zavok's unbreakable guard blocks every attack that comes his way. Their movements are both so precise and well-practiced that they might have done this a thousand times. The storm clouds rumble above their heads.

Zunin's blades circle him defensively as he takes a cautious step closer to where Espio stood a few moments ago. "Reveal…yourself."

Espio's voice answers, "I have no reason to show you such mercy. Ninja Arts: Weakpoint Strike!"

Zunin turns around in surprise to the sound of Espio's voice. Espio's form reappears, not targeting Zunin at all, but instead crouched near the base of the Mechasaur's neck. He drives a kunai straight down between two steel plates. Zunin cocks his head to the side in confusion at the apparently futile action. Then a resounding crack shudders through the entirety of the massive machine. It roars as if in immense pain. Zunin stares with wide eyes at Espio. "You… How…?"

"My master taught me well."

Zavok's head momentarily turns at the sound of the Mechasaur falling apart. That distraction is all Zik needs to get in a strike at Zavok's legs, knocking him off balance. He follows up into a hop that lets him swing at Zavok's chest, sending him reeling back until his feet hit the edge of the Mech Dragon's snout. He tries to recover, but finds Zik's cane pressed against his chest, pinning him against the empty space that waits behind him.

"I taught you everything you know, Zavok. But far from everything that I know. Do you yield?"

Zavok glares down at the cane pressed against him. "Mercy, Master Zik? Your hypocrisy continues."

"Mercy is not something I offer to my enemies. But you, Zavok… You were our greatest hope to restore tranquility to our lands. Now you are merely a misguided child. Misguided, I suppose, by me. So it falls to me to fix that mistake. One way or the other." With one gentle push, Zavok topples over the edge. Zik looks away as he falls.

Zunin lies defeated in the pile of parts that remains of his Mechasaur. Around the battlefield, Zomom, Zazz, Zeena, Zeleena, Zor, and all of their machines have been similarly incapacitated.

Zik flies the Mech Dragon down to surface level, where he hops down to join Espio. Seeing what's left of the Mechasaur, he offers a curt, "Well done." He looks on ahead. "We must keep moving. We haven't much time before Zapp completes his weapon."

"Why did Zavok call you a liar? A hypocrite, perhaps. But I've never known you to mince the truth."

"You walk with steel boots on thin ice, saying such things."

"I'm the only ally you have left in this fight. Answer the question, or I will leave."

"There's that keen tactical sense of yours again. Very well… I have hidden something from you, Espio. When we seize control of this station, we will use it to sever the Lost Hex from the other planets. You will be trapped here. Permanently."

Espio goes silent for a moment. "…If that is all you have to say, then we should be going."

"You would really follow me into battle, knowing that I intend to prevent you from returning home?"

"I'll do what it takes to protect my world and yours. At least I'll have plenty of time to complete my training."

Zik eyes Espio with surprise, and perhaps a hint of suspicion. Then he shakes his head. "You've learned well, my student. For our survival, we move for the far side of the station." They run forward together.

Hero and Amy still watch from the shadows. Amy appears more distressed than ever. "If Zapp finishes his weapon, he'll destroy our world. But if Zik stops him, we'll be trapped here forever. We can't let either of them get what they want. But I don't think we can stop them both."

Hero's eyes open as an idea strikes him.

"You're right. Not on our own."

—–—

Zapp's voice echoes out through the station's speakers. "Eh heh heh… You think you've won, Zik? You think you've surprised me at all? The Hex may not yet be complete…but I think you'll find that this station is quite operational."

Zik and Espio both appear to sense the danger a moment before it strikes. The platform they run on is suddenly ripped out of the ground. Metal shrieks and crunches as the platform begins to twist in on itself, threatening to crush them inside. Both are forced to leap in opposite directions to structures that float nearby. But as soon as they land, the two structures fly towards each other, crashing together the moment after Zik and Espio escape. Every inch of the station around them has become hostile. Any semblance of a stable path has evaporated as they are assaulted by metal morphed into spheroids and long twisting tubes, appearing to carry their own gravity as they increase in size. Yet with swift and agile movements, Zik and Epsio keep a forward pace as they spring from one deadly platform to the next, rising ever higher as they go.

From the high vantage point, the entire hexagonal zone and beyond can be seen. At the very far edge, an impossibly tall tower of metal scaffolding continues to rise, reaching well beyond the height of Espio and Zik. A glowing green energy channels up the length of the tower, through gridlines in the station below, all appearing to be sourced from the seams between each and every zone. Even from afar, a piercing green glare at the top of the tower can be seen directed straight at them from Zapp's eyes.

"From this station, I control this entire world. The outsider once stole our technology to draw power from his own planet, but I can draw power from every planet in this galaxy! Unlimited power!"

The storm of floating landmasses is no longer just metal. Pieces from every recognizable zone of the Lost Hex and many more fly from all directions into a swirling vortex around Zapp's tower. Espio and Zik press onwards. For every safe piece of ground they can use, twice as many are covered in spikes, lava, or electricity, forcing them to make hastier and more dangerous leaps as they pass through the densest part of the storm. As Espio bounces off of terrain covered in patchwork felt, Zik leaps over the spires of a medieval castle ripped from the ground.

Just as they reach the eye of the storm, in clear view of the top of the tower, Zik's next leap is unexpectedly halted. His feet have become trapped in a pool of sticky honey. "Keep going, Espio! No mercy! Strike him down, and your training will be complete!"

Espio springs off of one last spheroid, aiming himself straight at the top of the tower, where Zapp sits on his throne, all of the green energy from below coalescing around him. Zapp raises his fingers as he shouts, "Die!" A massive spray of emerald lightning shoots from his fingertips. Espio produces two handfuls of throwing stars and tosses them all at once, each one drawing away a bolt of the lightning to clear Espio's path. He twirls into a kick straight at Zapp's chest. The back of the throne snaps under the force of the attack, and Zapp tumbles over the side of the tower.

Espio is left standing on the seat of the throne. Tendrils of green energy from the tower, with nowhere else to go, begin to wrap around his legs and arms. With eyes closed, he takes a long breath.

"Do it now, Espio!" Zik shouts from the platform where he remains stuck in the storm. "Use your Ninjutsu to seal this place away from normal space! It's the only way to ensure safety for your planet!"

"Don't listen to him, Espio!" A grappling wire wraps around the top of the tower's scaffolding, and Hero pulls himself and Amy up onto the platform. "You don't have to trap yourself here. He doesn't want what's best for our planet, he wants to keep controlling you. That's all he ever wanted, that's why he agreed to train you in the first place."

Showing little surprise, Espio's eyes slowly open. Like Zapp, the whites of his eyes have gone pitch black, with pupils that glow a sharp and intense green. "I know." His voice carries a strange echo.

Amy and Hero both gasp.

"Zik is a fiend and a fearmonger. He made no secret of the fact that he sought to use me for his own purposes from the beginning. To survive, I learned. Learned to do the same to him. I don't imagine you know what this feels like. For all my life, I have been powerless to perform more than the most trivial of Ninja Arts. But now…I can feel the energy of life itself flowing through me. Every qi of the eight trigrams, and the yin-yang at its core, all in my grasp. There is no Art beyond my reach."

Zik shouts, "What are you waiting for, you dolt!? Do it! Do it now!"

Espio stares off towards the angular horizon. "I can strike them all down now. End the Zeti threat once and for all. Then we can all go home."

"Espio… You can't…"

Espio's voice suddenly booms, "Why not!? Evil must die! They are all evil, that is their way! They are manipulative, destructive, ruthless! I can use their power to get rid of them!"

Amy stands firmly. "And what would that make you?"

Espio's eyes close slowly, already knowing the answer. "That would make me just like them. Just like I was trained to be." He slowly brings his hands together. "I know what I must do."

Hero and Amy look to each other with concern. But they make no move to stop him.

Espio rapidly chains together a long sequence of handsigns. "Sacred Ninja Arts! Angel's Seal!" He throws his palm against the ground, and all of the green energy within him suddenly burns white. The white energy sails rapidly down the length of the tower as it takes the place of the green. It spreads out through the Steel Station Zone and beyond, redrawing the lines of energy across the floating continent into new shapes, elegant curved lines that tessellate together.

Espio closes his flat palm into a fist, and the light instantly dies. The storm of floating terrain around them finally stills, and many of the pieces begin to fall. The tower they stand on shudders as it starts to lower down to its original level. His eyes have returned to normal. "It is done."

Amy whispers worriedly, "Did… Did you…?

"I've sealed the gateways between the Lost Hex and the other planets, so it can never again draw on their power, even if the station is reactivated. All but two of the gateways, that is."

Amy and Hero both breathe sighs of relief. Then Hero looks back up in confusion.

"Of course, two. I couldn't trap the Wisps away from their homes any more than I could the two of you."

"You fool…" As what was once the top of the tower locks back into place at ground level, the crumpled figure of Zapp stirs enough for him to raise his head. "You think I need all those planets? I'll conquer the galaxy…with the energy from yours alone. I'll drain…every drop of it…until every mote of life is nothing but ash."

"That…" Zik's cane clacks against the ground as he walks to them from behind. "…would require you to be in control of this station, which you are no longer." He takes a moment to glare up at Espio as he passes. "I'll deal with your disobedience later." He finally stops to point the end of his cane at Zapp's face. "And as for you… You, as the kids say, have been 'schooled'."

"No…" Zapp shakes his head unsteadily. "No, no, no, NO!" He suddenly raises his hands and shoots off a spray of lightning point-blank at Zik.

Zik screams out in pain, his body writhing with agony as electricity courses through it. "Espio! H-help me!"

Espio watches in silence.

Shaking his head in frustration at the display of apathy, Hero moves for himself, firing a grappling wire at Zapp's arm. This causes some of the electricity to course down the wire, shocking Hero as well. Amy pulls out her hammer and runs in to help, but her path is suddenly blocked by five floating swords, and a sixth pointed at her back by Zunin.

"Please, Espio! Don't let him kill me!"

Espio shakes his head slowly. "When evil dies at the hand of evil…the good need not interfere."

Despite the pain he's in, the slightest smile appears on Zik's face. "Absolutely ruthless… I taught you well…"

Suddenly, the lightning ceases, and Zik drops to the floor. Zapp has been lifted off of the ground, his lightning spraying wildly as he flails. "You! What are you doing!?"

Zavok holds Zapp over his head, many of the stray lightning bolts arcing back around into him. In spite of the pain, he marches towards the edge of the zone one step at a time. "I agreed to help you conquer. Not to help you kill my master."

He isn't the only one who's caught up. Zeleena flies at him from behind, readying an attack to stop him from taking another step. But her flight is stopped as Zeena's green energy cord latches onto her mechanical broomstick. Zor, Zazz, and especially Zomom trail behind. Zunin stares down all three of them as he recalls his swords in preparation to resume the fight.

Seeing a new death looming, Hero tries to get up and help, but the injuries from being zapped stop him from moving. Amy is too busy tending to him to be concerned about anything else.

Zavok holds Zapp up over the abyss that waits at the edge of the Steel Station hex. "Your mistake…was to think that you were the strongest Zeti. That isn't you or I. It is, and always will be, Master Zik." He reels back in preparation to throw the body into the abyss.

The earsplitting sound of a horn being blown stops everyone at once. Zavok drops Zapp onto the ground as they both cover their ears in pain.

Hero looks up in surprise. Amy sees as well. "Bruno!"

Bruno waves hello as he adds, "And friends." He gestures to his side, where his Magenta friend uses her Color power to funnel a stream of floating music notes directly into a spiky black conch shell, amplifying the music into a discordant bellow that continues to incapacitate the Zeti.

Espio looks around in confusion. "Friends?"

"Oh yeah. Lots of friends."

From every corner of the hex, Wisps of every known breed come swarming in, snatching up swords, machines, and anything else that might conceivably be used as a weapon. Once the Zeti are all thoroughly disarmed, the sound of the conch is finally cut off, leaving all the Zeti a moment to breathe in relief.

Bruno looks at Hero. "Care to help me wrap this up, buddy?"

Amy supports Hero by the shoulders as they walk over to rejoin with Bruno.

Zavok pushes a fist into the ground to prop himself up.

"Nah ah!" Bruno commands. "All of you stay where you are, or my new friend Sharp here plays a half hour medley of her new favorite Earth songs. She's not very practiced with the Cacophonic Conch yet, so I'd advise against volunteering to be her test audience."

Sharp squeaks in agreement.

Zavok's fist tightens, but he remains still. "This is why… This is why we must be rid of the outsiders… They come here and make demands…and threats when they do not have their way."

"That's your mistake, Zavok. You assume that everyone else is just like you." Hero steps up beside Bruno, and they share in a moment of silent communication. Bruno shows a moment of questioning. Hero nods him on. "But you're right about one thing. We do have a demand. Just one. You all are going to start talking to each other. Starting right here, and right now."

Zik glares at them mistrustingly. "What do you mean, talking?"

Amy smiles. "Talking. The first step to solving any problem."

Zapp spits, "We have nothing to speak to them about."

Hero and Bruno take a glance at each other. "Are you really so sure about that? You've all lost the same things from this war. The nine of you are the last of your kind, aren't you? Your friendships and families have been torn apart. All because you want the same thing—to be safe and free from harm. That's a lot of common ground." They glance at Zavok and Zunin. "I'm sure you'd find you have more in common than that, if you start talking."

The two glance at one another, sizing up the other's strength.

Hero and Bruno move on to Zeena and Zeleena. "You two are sisters. That has to be worth something."

The two look away from one another and pout.

Hero and Bruno look last at Zik and Zapp. "And you… You two have plenty to talk about. You trained together under the same master."

Espio adds simply, "Sibling students."

Zik closes his eyes for a moment. "It is true, isn't it? We were once good friends, Zapp. Before you killed Lord Zyzzyx."

"Lies, lies!" Zapp spits. "It was you who killed our master! To stop him from reopening the Hex!"

"You know that isn't true either, Zapp."

Zavok raises an eyebrow. "'Either'?"

Espio nods. "You tried to divert me from the subject, but I knew there was more you were hiding."

Zik nods. "I suppose it's time we both faced the truth, isn't it, my old friend?"

"I did not betray Lord Zyzzyx."

"No, Zapp. We both did. But neither of us killed him. He did that to himself when he saw the conflict that was brewing between us. I wanted the Hex to be closed off forever. You wanted to use it as a war machine. He thought that if he reopened the Hex and then let its secrets die with him, neither of us could have what we wanted, and we would give up the fight."

"Instead…we each pinned his death on the other…and used it as an excuse to begin open warfare."

Zavok looks from Zapp to Zik. "Is all this true?"

Zik nods. "For once…every word." He offers his hand down to Zapp. "What do you say we put this conflict aside and make our master proud for the first time in a thousand years?"

Zapp scowls up at him. "Do you really think…that this changes anything? We haven't settled this yet. The old portals may be closed, but I can still use this station to make new ones."

"Yes, I suppose the genie is now out of the bottle, so to speak. But what would be the point, Zapp? Just to destroy the outsiders? The ones who gave us this chance to hang up our weapons for the first time after centuries of war? I have enough experience now to say…that they are not so bad."

"Them, perhaps. But what of the other fiends of this galaxy? What of the destroyer of our planet?"

Amy speaks up, "Gone, now. For good. Defeated by our friend Sonic. There are good people in this universe. But if you assume the worst of everyone, you'll only be hurting your own chances of peace. Think of where your own people would be now, if you hadn't assumed the worst of each other."

Hero and Bruno add, "Once we leave here, we won't bother you guys anymore. You'll have all the time you need to decide what the future looks like for you all."

Espio continues, "No one but us will know which of the portals has remained open. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, all of them were closed. And if anyone should try to violate your sanctity, you will have allies in us."

Zik glares back at Espio. "A minute ago you were happy to let me perish."

"And you wouldn't have had it any other way."

Zik puts on a smirk as he looks back at Zapp. "So what do you think of that, old friend? We can spend our days peacefully cultivating this world back into the paradise of a garden it was before all this fighting began."

"That would be…an acceptable pursuit." Although Zik's stature doesn't give him much leverage, Zapp takes his hand regardless as he stands.

"It might get a bit lonely, with just the nine of us up here and no war to fight."

A squeak sounds in response. Sharp pouts with tentacles crossed like arms.

Amy laughs "I think you're forgetting a few…thousand others." She gestures around at the gathering of Wisps that still mingle and explore around them.

Zavok glares at a Crimson Eagle Wisp that has hesitantly begun to approach. "I never realized these things were…intelligent."

Bruno explains, "I can ask them all to leave, if that's what you want. But they can help you with whatever your plans are for this world. They've made homes here, and they'd much rather stay."

Zik answers, "I'm sure we can reach an agreeable arrangement."

Hero looks up at Bruno somberly. "What do you mean, 'what about me'?" Hero closes his eyes and shakes his head with a soft chuckle. "And go back to my planet? Sure, I could, but why would I?" Hero glances over at Sharp. She and some other Wisps now appear to be engaged in a game of keep-away with the conch and the Deadly Six. "Her? So that's what you were thinking. Ha, no. She's just a friend. You're still my partner. Just like they've all made their homes here, I've made mine with you." Hero smiles. "I missed you too."

Zik meets Espio's eyes once again. "I get the suspicion that you've no intention of returning, my young apprentice."

"I have much to meditate on. I've learned many things from you, Master Zik. Not all of them are good."

Zik closes his eyes. "So even after all I tried to teach you, you still see my way as evil. I suppose that is your right. After all, one thing has not changed. I walk the path of survival. If you or your friends should stand in the way of that path, you will find my way to be as merciless as ever."

"I recognize the value of your way. But my way and yours will never be the same."

"So it is. No master, no matter how talented, is suitable for every student. I know what master would have been right for you. And I think he would have told you this: a true Shinobi does not seek war. A true Shinobi seeks peace."

Espio is taken aback. "That…that was written in the twenty-fifth scroll. But…you never read it…"

Zik gives him a wink. "Perhaps it's a lesson I should have learned the first time around." He turns away. "Farewell, Espio, student of the Shinobi Clan."

Espio nods in understanding. "Farewell, Master Zik."

As Zik walks off he snaps, "And you, Zavok! Don't you go thinking you're getting off easy for all your nonsense today! You'll be waxing floors for the next hundred years if you're lucky!"

Zavok dips his head in embarrassment. "Y-yes, Master Zik."

As Espio smirks, he looks down for a moment at his open palm. For just that moment, it seems to glow with a faint green energy.

—–—

Daily Log, August 5th addendum.

The cards were right after all. The world was incomplete. Split in two. Now it's whole again.

Knuckles wasn't very happy that it took us so long to get back in contact, but in the end he was just glad that we were alright. Espio confessed that he's been sneaking away to train with Zik for almost two years now. Knuckles yelled at him for that too, but after a thorough search through the rulebook, he decided that, technically, no rules were broken, apart from unnecessary risk of exposure. There's no serious punishment for that, but Espio asked to be confined to his room for a few days anyways. Something about needing the time to center himself. I'm worried about him. I'll see if he wants to talk once he's ready.

As for me, I—

…

Sounds like someone's at the door. Amy, out.

—–—

Amy opens the door to see Hero and Bruno waiting on the other side. "Hi. Did we forget something?"

"No, uhh…" Bruno looks at Hero questioningly for a moment. "…Hero has decided…that he wants to take you up on your offer. Just to…you know…talk for a while. About stuff. Important stuff. Life stuff."

Amy's face lights up. "Oh, of course! Please, come in, make yourselves comfortable."

Hero takes a step forward into the doorway, but then holds up a hand to stop Bruno from following him. Bruno cocks his head in confusion. "You want to talk alone? Without me? But doesn't that mean you have to…you know…talk?"

Hero nods, a look of nervous acceptance on his face.

Bruno looks contemplative for a moment. But then he nods as well. "That's a big step for you. You'll have to tell me how it goes. I'm proud of you." With that, he flies off, leaving Hero and Amy alone.

Amy appears pleased as well. "I'm proud of you too. Let's get started, shall we?"

The door closes behind them, leaving Hero with no one else to see him speak.

To be continued…