Chapter 137

Shadow of the Realm Lord

They sat in a total and devastating silence. Water leaked slowly through a hole in the roof. It had started to rain outside. The steady patter of the storm filled the emptiness with a buzzing echo.

Sonic sat with his legs crossed. He felt disconnected from his own body, as though he were watching himself from the far end of the room. That sense of distance separated him from the others. It was as if an impassable gap isolated Sonic. He could only look past this expanse by putting himself away and observing his surroundings with complete detachment.

Blaze had buried her head into her hands and not moved for several minutes. Silver had a glossy, empty expression of disbelief stamped on his face. Gawain stood several feet away from the rest of them with his wings folded. His piercing glance hovered over Shadow. The ladder had been speaking for almost an hour straight. Now the black furred hedgehog leaned against a broken bookcase, his eyes closed, lost in thought.

The priest Roran lay on his knees with his back straight. His hands were folded tightly into the hem of his robes. Roran's eyes were narrowed, and his darker expression brought forth the more wolfish aspect of his features. His small angular ears were pinned back as if in expectation of flight. The priest was a fox with black fur that had muted to a soft gray. His eyes were thin and spread and he had a soft crop of white whiskers on his chin.

The silence grew. Sonic's skin crawled as the flood of bubbling anxiety threatened to burst out of him. A low buzzing sound screamed in his ear and increased in pitch with every second that passed.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

"So…." Silver started, breaking the tension of silence. "The emperor….he's…some kind of cosmic time god?"

Shadow did not answer. The silence resumed as the heavy drum of the rain beating on the ceiling grew in intensity. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. After a while, Shadow sighed deeply. "The Realm Lord is not the Eggman that you know."

"But they're working together?" Silver spoke as one grasping for something to understand.

"I don't think so, at least not directly. The Eggman of our world is pursuing his own ends. I don't think he is aware that the Realm Lord is the one pulling the strings."

"And this Realm Lord person…they want to destroy the entire universe?" Silver looked pleadingly around the room, hoping that someone would interject some sense into all the madness.

"Yes," Shadow said, sounding slightly annoyed. "If the Realm Lord's influence on this timeline becomes strong enough he can manifest himself in our world. Doing so will break down the fabric of time and erase our universe from existence. I saw it for myself, I saw the Realm Lord consume an entire timeline. If he has his way then all of existence will be erased. That is the future that Gothro showed me, as of now the fate of all existence is to be abolished in a void of nothing whose sole occupant is the Realm Lord. That is the End Without End."

"But…you said he was trapped in some kind of limbo. How has been pulling the strings all this time?" Silver pulled at his quills as if he were trying to help expand his brain to make sense out of what he was hearing.

"His manipulation has been subtle, but even a small change can lead to huge differences. The Realm Lord ensured that Eggman would come to this planet, and it was inevitable that once he was here, Eggman would learn about Solaris and seek to harness that power for himself."

"That's what I don't get!" Exclaimed Silver. "Why does he need Solaris if he is already so powerful?"

Shadow sighed and rubbed his temple. He was spared from having to explain it again when Blaze spoke. "The power of deity is not for the Realm Lord. It is for the emperor. A Robotnik empowered with the energy of Solaris will fundamentally change our world, a change that would have been caused by the Realm Lord. The one who should not exist, will, by his very impact on the world, actualize his existence."

When Silver still looked confused, Gawain summed everything up. "In layman's terms,if the emperor harnesses the Flames of Disaster all of existence will come to an end."

Silver fell back onto his hands. "That's….that's crazy…I mean…" Silver looked to Sonic for help. "You know him…tell me this guy is crazy…"

Sonic said nothing. He was staring at a fixed point on the floor and directed all his attention to it. His face was flushed. Sonic felt the gaze of everyone upon him. He was spared from answering when Blaze rose suddenly to her feet. "Come on, we should let these two catch up."

Silver looked hesitant to leave, but one firm glare from Blaze was enough to make him clear out. Having only recently regained consciousness, Silver was still weak from his battle with Infinite so Gawain had to help him limp out of the room.

Eventually, Sonic was left alone with Shadow. His black haired rival stood above him without speaking. The rain continued to beat steadily outside. "Are you going to cry?" Shadow asked mockingly. "Because if so, you had best get it over with."

"It's all my fault-" Sonic managed hoarsely. It was an effort to keep his voice from breaking. "All of this….everything that's happened…I pushed Eggman to leave earth, I followed him, and I made the Realm Lord. If I…If I had never existed then…" Sonic couldn't form the words. His throat was constricted. He was shaking badly and felt a horrible chill rush through his whole body. "I…"

Bang! Sonic's head whipped back and slammed hard into the wooden floor. He staggered quickly to his feet just as Shadow followed up with a volley of punches. Sonic jumped back and managed to deflect the blows. Suddenly, Shadow had vanished. One instant he was in front of Sonic, the next, he was at his side. Crack! Sonic doubled over as Shadow's leg drove into his stomach. Sonic dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. His head was pulled back as Shadow seized a handful of his quills and yanked them back. "This isn't about you!" He snarled.

Sonic felt something snap inside him. That mixture of grief, self loathing and horror fused into blind rage. He flung Shadow away and revved up into a spin dash. Shadow slipped on a blanket and Sonic slammed right into his chest. The impact sent Shadow spiraling backward. He smashed into the wall and dropped down to one knee. Before he could recover, Sonic drew Caliburn from its sheath. The blade glinted with menacing silver as it rushed down on Shadow's head.

Clang. Shadow clapped his hands around the steel and managed to bring it to a stop. Caliburn's edge was only a few inches away from Shadow's face. Despite the six feet of sharpened steel only a breath away from his skin, Shadow was smirking. The black hedgehog pushed himself onto one knee and then pressed forward.

Sonic did not resist. He withdrew and slammed Caliburn back into its sheath. His chest was heaving. Though the fight had been short, Sonic felt completely exhausted. "Rage will serve you better than tears," Shadow said triumphantly. His eyes flashed and it was all too evident that he was enjoying the distress he was causing Sonic.

"Easy for you to say," Sonic threw back. "My entire world has been shattered…everything I thought I knew -"

"That's not true," Shadow's tone had changed. He looked seriously at Sonic, a faint note of pleading in his voice. "That is what the Realm Lord wants you to believe. He wants us to think that he controls everything. But that is not true. You are who you are, and where you are because of the choices you make, just as I am. Didn't you listen to what I said? Things have arranged themselves as he predicted to some extent, but not completely."

"But if it weren't for me, then the Realm Lord wouldn't exist at all. If I had stopped Eggman on Little Planet…"

"You did." Shadow curled his hands into fists. "That is why our timeline is the last. The Realm Lord's influence is weaker here than in all others because you did stop Eggman."

"But I-"

"Who cares what some other version of you did? That doesn't matter." Shadow looked curiously at Sonic as if seeing him for the first time. "I didn't expect you to care about that. I thought you of all people would understand the wisdom of living in the moment, of only fighting the battle ahead of you."

Sonic couldn't resist a wistful smile. "Careful Shadow, that almost sounded like a compliment."

Shadow's quills bristled. "It wasn't, I only meant you're too stupid to think about anything so complex. Besides, there is plenty of blame to go around." Shadow turned aside and folded his arms.

"After the Ark, I never told you how I managed to survive. I used all of my energy to transport you and the Ark out of orbit. I had nothing left. I made my peace and prepared to die. But then, I woke up. I had arrived in a place that seemed like a realm between life and death. There I met the thing that had saved me. It was the Realm Lord."

"What?"

"The Realm Lord told me that my survival tipped the scales of balance between order and chaos. He said that in time I would come to serve him willingly. After that, he transported me to Little Planet."

Sonic frowned. "So that explains why you started your story from there. But why didn't you tell us that? Aurora mentioned the Realm Lord before she set that detonation. You should have told me about him!"

"I intended to find the Realm Lord myself. When I went back in time, I found out far more than just his identity. Rest assured, you are not the only one who inadvertently helped create this monster." A darkness fell over Shadow's face. He seemed to have trouble even looking in Sonic's direction.

Sonic waited for Shadow to explain, but whatever he was thinking was clearly too painful for Shadow to relate. The black furred hedgehog had always been dour, but Sonic could tell that there was something heavy pressing on Shadow's heart. "You said you went back in time to find out about your origin…"

Shadow clenched his jaw. "It…it doesn't matter why. When I used the Time Stones I made myself subject to the Realm Lord's power."

"It does matter," Sonic pressed. "Why did he save your life?

Shadow looked intently at Sonic. His eyes were narrowed with a hatred that Sonic did not understand. "So I could kill you."

Sonic said nothing. He couldn't say he was all that surprised by that revelation. But what did surprise him was how much that admission pained Shadow. "Why did he think you would do that?"

This time, Shadow made a clear effort not to look at Sonic as he answered. "Revenge. You had beaten me on the Ark, and as the Ultimate Life Form, I could not allow that injustice to pass. He hoped to coax my pride into killing you to demonstrate my power."

"Well, clearly the Realm Lord doesn't know you very well." Sonic tried to lighten the mood, but Shadow only looked more angry.

"The Realm Lord knows everything about me, but he miscalculated on one crucial point. When it became clear that I would not serve him, he tried to have my mind wiped, but I was able to escape him. When I returned to the present I vowed to find out his true identity, and that is what brought me to Gothro."

"And he is the one that told you how to find me?"

Shadow nodded. "Well, he at least knew what planet you were on. Once I was here I had to find my own way. I heard rumors about a rebellion in district thirteen and a warrior reported to be as fast as the wind. You've always been overhyped."

Sonic laughed. "You're awfully cavalry with your insults, have you gotten that much stronger since we fought back on the Ark?"

"My power is unbounded." Shadow raised his hand and clenched it into a fist. "There is no limit to what I can become."

For once, Sonic chose not to reply with sarcasm. "Good, it seems we will need all the help we can get." Sonic tried to sound confident, even flippant towards the danger the Realm Lord presented. However, inside, he felt nothing but cold emptiness.

"Speaking of help," Shadow gestured to the other room. "Can these others help us? We can't afford to waste time by burdening ourselves with the weak."

"They can help. Trust me."

Shadow did not seem impressed by the prospect of having to take Sonic's word, but before he could press for more information the door opened. Gawain poked his head through the gap. "Are you done fighting or whatever you're doing? Blaze wants to have a meeting."

Within the hour, the princess had reconvened the council. Tea had been prepared for them as they sat around a hastily erected table made of the remnants of Priam's old furniture. Blaze steepled her fingers into a pyramid and gazed across the room at Shadow. "I feel that we all owe you a great debt stranger. You have come far to give us this warning. We shall not waste your effort. Now please, tell us again what the emperor has planned."

"He has made a device that can harness the Flames of Disaster. Gothro didn't give me any details other than that. All he said is that Eggman has rebuilt something called, Iblis."

Roran let out a shriek and clutched the flame pendant around his neck. Both Silver and Gawain flushed and nearly fell back out of their chairs. Blaze's eyes widened into the first genuine look of fear Sonic had ever seen. Both Shadow and Sonic exchanged confused looks. "What is Iblis?" Sonic asked.

"Solaris above," Squeaked Roran. His face had turned white. "Are…are you sure that is what the emperor's device is called?"

Shadow nodded. "Gothro told me that two beings called the Twins had created Iblis in the ancient past in an attempt to turn themselves into gods. However, Gothro always managed to stop them before they were able to use it. The Realm Lord learned about this, and taught our Robotnik how to build the device."

Roran turned to Blaze, his eyes bulging. "What heresy is this?" He bellowed. "Iblis, created by another? Princess, what is he talking about?"

"I don't understand," Sonic interrupted. "You know about Iblis?"

Blaze raised a hand to silence Roran. She took a deep breath before turning her gaze onto Sonic. "Iblis is the name of the ancient enemy of our people. It is a demon that tricked our ancestors into abusing the Sol Gems causing Solaris to unleash the Flames of Disaster."

"Wait? What? Why haven't I heard of this before?"

"Iblis is not spoken of openly. His name is hidden, and accursed. He is the demon of the Lightless Flame. Only the highest ranking priests of the Church know of him, as well as the royal family and the Knights of the Round."

"So…Iblis isn't really a demon then…" Sonic said his mind racing nearly as fast as his feet as he tried to put the puzzle together. "It is a machine that these Twins made, and something Eggman is trying to create again."

"Blasphemy!" Roran raged, slamming his hand against the table. "Iblis is no machine. It is a demonic force, a darkness wholly opposed to the light of Solaris!"

Shadow ignored the priest. "Gothro said that Iblis is already finished. Once the Flames of Disaster are released, Eggman will become a god. If we are to stop him we have to stop the Flames of Disaster or destroy Iblis."

"You cannot stop the Flames of Disaster!" Roran said indignantly. "Unless the people turn back to Solaris and repent, his judgment will come."

"I don't give a damn about your god," Shadow growled.

Roran's chair fell back and broke into pieces. His chest swelled with pride. "How dare you!"

"That's enough," Before Shadow could respond, a jet of flame shot into the air and dissolved into smoke. Blaze lowered her hand. Her expression had changed. She had resumed that slightly alien aura of intensity and power that Sonic had seen from her before. "I do not understand this," She admitted gravely. "Perhaps these Twins named their device after the demon, or perhaps we have named our demon after this evil." Her eyes flashed over to Roran. "Iblis is the shadow of a light that isn't there. He represents darkness and the cold of a lifeless flame. He is death and decay and absence. A perfect symbol to represent this Realm Lord who wishes for a world of emptiness."

Blaze rubbed her temples and gingerly removed her crown. She placed it on the table in front of her. "Regardless of what we call it, we must choose what to do with this warning." Blaze gazed at Shadow. "The Flames of Disaster cannot be stopped. The will of Solaris is set, and as long as the evil of the emperor infects the planet, there will be judgment. Our best course of action will be to destroy this machine before that day comes. But…. we do not have much time. The earthquakes are becoming more and more frequent, the day of fate is drawing near."

Roran was still glaring angrily at Shadow. He looked to Blaze, but realized he would find no support from her. He bowed awkwardly. "I cannot condone this. This stranger comes to our planet without any knowledge of the truth. To speak of Iblis openly is a great sin. I will not be taken in by his lies." Roran turned aside and left the room.

Gawain made to get up and go after him, but Blaze caught him by the arm. "Do nothing."

"He cannot do that-" Gawain insisted. "Who does he think he is?"

"He will come around. Do not worry about him right now." Blaze turned to address the rest of the table. "What do we know of this device? Anything that could harness that much power is bound to be large, where would the emperor hide such a machine?"

"Darren knew," Silver said, breaking his long silence. "Remember, he told us on the way to Masada."

Sonic raised an eyebrow. "He did?"

"Yes, it…I think I understand now." Silver turned to his sister. "Project Solaris, the emperor's Dyson Sphere. I bet that is actually Iblis. Darren told us that the emperor was creating an array of these giant machines that were intended to make him all powerful. Remember? He even told us that the emperor wanted to make himself a god, that is why he called it the Solaris Project."

Sonic clapped a hand to his forehead. "Of course! But…" His excitement flooded away instantly. "That would mean that this machine is probably built in orbit." Sonic slammed his fist on the table. "If only I had kept that Chaos Emerald!"

"In orbit?" Gawain repeated. "Are you saying the emperor is building his machine in space?" The Knight of the Sky sounded completely nonplussed. "That's possible?"

"It is for Eggman," Shadow said dryly. "He and his grandfather both built superweapons in space."

"But…how did you ever stop him? Unless…" Gawain turned to Sonic with an expression of complete shock. "Don't tell me you can run all the way to space?"

Sonic shook his head. "No, years ago I stopped his machine called the Death Egg because I had all the Chaos Emeralds. If I have all seven together, I can transform. In my super state, I can fly freely in any conditions."

"And you cannot get these Chaos Emeralds anymore?"

"Even if I could somehow go back to earth, it wouldn't matter. Infinite destroyed the seventh emerald. I don't think I can transform with just six."

"There are only five left." Shadow closed his eyes and braced himself against the edge of the table. "I used the full power of my Chaos Emerald in order to reach this planet."

"So that's it then…" Gawain muttered, turning in his chair towards Blaze. "We have no way of going beyond the heavens. Before the emperor came we knew nothing of worlds beyond our own."

Blaze frowned. Her expression was inscrutable as she considered all that she had heard. "The emperor must have a means of traveling back and forth. Back on earth, how did he reach his space stations?"

Sonic shrugged. "He had these giant mech robots. I mean, I guess we could try and steal one of the transport ships."

"That would be extremely risky," Gawain countered. "If the empire knew one of their ships had been taken, they could probably trigger a remote self-destruct. Besides, we don't have time to try something like that. I for one would have no idea how to fly such a ship."

"He might have a transporter," Shadow interjected. "To go back and forth from the Ark, Eggman had a transporter made at his Pyramid Base."

"Hey, yeah!" Sonic nearly jumped out of his chair.

"Darren made it seem like there were alot of people working on the project," Silver continued. "They may not have known what was really going on, but if he had supplies and workers going back and forth it's possible he had this transporter somewhere here in the city."

"But where?" Gawain wondered. "The emperor has a few heavily fortified positions here. It could be in the Hive, or the Sol Gem Mines, or even the imperial palace itself."

"It will be at the Science Corp headquarters," Blaze answered suddenly. "Mesto likes to keep his projects separated from each other. He would not have his scientists knowing what his intelligence officers are up to, and vice versa. That tower is the center of all imperial technology in the capital, as well as Mesto's private lair. If anyone has direct access to Iblis, it will be Mesto."

"Then that is where we have to go!" Sonic jumped to his feet as if to leave at that very moment.

"Wait," Blaze said calmly. "We should not rush into things without a plan." The princess motioned for Sonic to resume his seat. Once he had done so, she turned back to Gawain. "Mesto's tower is one of the most mortified places in the city. Only someone with top imperial clearance could ever hope to get inside."

"Would this help?" Shadow held up his arm to reveal a bracelet made of solid gold. The brand was set with a red diamond that flashed with a shimmering flame like hue.

"What is that?" Silver asked in amazement.

Blaze took a sharp inhale of breath. "That is the Ring of Kings, the most sacred relic of the line of emperors." She looked at Shadow with an expression of utter amazement. "How did you come by this?"

"It was given to me. When I first arrived on this planet I was taken prisoner by a being called Black Doom. In his cells I met Zertian, the emperor that Eggman usurped. He gave me this Ring, and its power helped me to escape."

Blaze tilted her head slightly, as if she had just understood something. Sonic and the others were still completely baffled by this entire exchange. "So he has a cool bracelet?" Silver interposed. "How does that help us?"

"We can use it as leverage," Gawain, who had been watching the princess closely, answered for her. "Many imperials would still recognize the holder of that ring as the legitimate emperor of Tralagia."

Blaze leaned back and massaged her chin. "Yes, that might give us the chance we need. If we can confirm a method to reach Iblis, then we can formulate a means of destroying it before the emperor can use it."

"Then we had better start now." Shadow said. "I don't know how much time we have left."

"I'm ready!" Silver sat up, but Blaze shook her head.

"You are still weakened from before. You must rest and regain your full power."

"Haven't you heard what this new guy has said? If we don't stop Iblis, all of reality will be destroyed!"

"And how will sending you into battle in your current state help?" Blaze asked crossly. "If you try to help and are taken captive or are injured in battle you will only slow the others down. You will stay here. Gawain, you and Sonic should leave immediately. Find your way into the tower, uncover a way to reach Iblis, and then return here at once. When it is time to destroy the machine we should all go together, in one all-out assault. We won't get a second chance, so we had better give it all we got."

Blaze then turned her attention to Shadow. "I cannot give you orders, but I assume you will be going with my knights?"

Shadow chuckled. His dark eyes rolled over to Sonic. "So you style yourself a knight now huh?" Shadow shook his head in amusement. "Yes, I'll be going, but I won't be playing as some fantasy hero."

Blaze turned to the window. It was still dark outside. "Dawn will be here in four hours. If you are going to leave, you must do so before then. The guard is always less just before the switch to the morning watch."

Everyone stood up. Now that the meeting was over, Sonic felt a pang of anxiety sweep over him. His eyes darted over to Blaze, wondering what she was thinking. "I'm going to take a nap," Shadow said with a yawn.

The others filed out, and soon Sonic was left alone with the princess. Blaze drifted over to one of the collapsed bookshelves. She gazed down at the ruins, her eyes lingering on the torched scrolls. Sonic started to approach her, but stopped after a single step. He felt as if his heart had missed a few beats. He lurched to his side and caught himself on the wall.

A shadow covered his eyes and Sonic felt a horrible rushing sensation in his stomach. It felt as if something vast and horrible were swooping down on him. Sonic cringed and covered his head. The sensation passed, and Sonic found himself gasping for air. It took several deep breaths for him to regain his composure.

The strange episode left him feeling a little shaky. Damp sweat clung to the back of his neck and he couldn't stop himself from flexing his hands over and over again. "What's happening to me?" He wondered despairingly. Sonic had never felt so vulnerable in his life. His confidence had been shaken by Infinite, but the Realm Lord had shattered his very identity.

All of his thoughts were darkened by the shadow of the Realm Lord. The evil not only absorbed his present and dominated his future, but it had also poisoned his past. Sonic felt as if some horrible nightmare had just swallowed up his entire life.

Rage swirled inside him. His fists clenched and he punched the wall beside him, smacking his hand into hard packed mud. "I could have ended." That thought was the thorn in Sonic's side, the lingering regret that felt as if it might swallow him whole. How many chances had Sonic been given to destroy Eggman once and for all? Yet, Sonic had never seriously considered doing when Eggman had threatened to kill all of his friends, not when he had threatened to take over the world, not even when he had almost killed Sonic himself. "And why not?"

He knew with absolute certainty that it had nothing to do with righteous moral courage, nor with the sanctity of life. Sonic had never really considered killing Eggman because in truth, he wanted to fight him, he enjoyed their constant battles. Killing Eggman would be like cheating or breaking the rules of the game. To do so would mean the game was over, never to be played again. And what would Sonic be after that?

"Nothing has changed," Blaze walked over to Sonic.

"Everything has changed."

Blaze shook her head. "You know the name of your enemy now, that is all."

Sonic did not respond to this. The rage was slipping away, leaving Sonic with a hollow, empty feeling in his stomach.

"I don't blame you," Blaze started. "And you should not blame yourself."

Sonic did not know how to express his turmoil. It wasn't as if he felt directly responsible. Rather, he knew with a certainty he could not fashion into words that the Realm Lord was his monster, that it was the telos of all of his mistakes.

Whoosh! Blaze held out her palm to ignite a small golden flame. It illuminated the dark living room with a healthy golden light. "To bear responsibility is to make a pretense at control. You must learn to let go." Blaze reached out with her free hand and touched Sonic's hand. Gently, she made him uncurl his fist, interlocking her fingers between his. "What has happened has happened. You did not create this monster. But you can choose how to face it."

Blaze flexed her wrist, and the golden flame transferred into her hand. With it still burning, she placed it directly onto Sonic's chest, just above his heart. The heat from her hand transferred into Sonic. His heart thumped heavily and then started to beat and an even rhythm. "You once told me that you do not believe in fate. I warned you that destiny would still arrive, pushing you steadily onto its course, like the wind adjusting the sails of a ship. Such a thought is antithetical to one who rides the very wind like you do. I ask you now to reconsider. This evil has come, and it is not so different from all the evils that have come before, evil always strives to realize itself into the world, and to make real that which is not. Yet we are here also, destined by fate to meet it, to resist its power by the will we have been given."

Blaze took her hand off of Sonic's chest. "You are the Knight of the Wind. Fate is blowing you towards the final confrontation against your enemy. Do not resist it, turn that purpose into power." She smiled warmly at him, but Sonic detected a deep grief behind her eyes.

Before Sonic could reply, Gawain and Silver reentered the room. Gawain had changed into traveling robes and covered his head with a tattered blue hood. His rifle was slugged over his shoulder, covered beneath his flowing cloak. "Sonic, we need to talk." Without any additional preamble he withdrew a shift of parchment and spread it across the table. Sonic looked over and saw that it was a hastily scribbled map of the city.

Gawain pressed a finger onto a spot he had marked with a red X. "This is the Tower. It is located in what they are now calling the Metal District. Our scouts tell us that it was impregnable before, but after your little stunt with the Sol Gems the entire district is now on lock down." However, instead of scolding him, Gawain was smiling mischievously. "That might actually work in our favor. By widening the net, Mesto has inadvertently created more holes."

He motioned to a line he had circled around the surrounding area. "Mesto is banking on keeping the perimeter secure. But if we can get through and actually enter the tower, its security isn't as great. The Science Corp offices is where Mesto keeps his pet projects, so secrecy is its main objective. He can't risk putting too many guards inside, and he wouldn't trust Sentinels as they can be easily controlled by the emperor."

"Alright, but how do we get inside?"

"Our only hope is to convince someone with high enough clearance to get us through. We need an imperial with a grievance against the emperor, someone who values the old ways, someone who would answer to the Ring of Kings."

"Someone with honor," Blaze added. "You would not want to be betrayed as soon as you stepped inside."

Silver scoffed. "An imperial with honor? We may as well try finding one with good manners."

"If only Levi were here," Sonic said deflatedly. "He knew some imperials from his time in the legion. That is how we found out where you were being kept prisoner."

Gawain looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Levi challenged one of the imperial captains to a duel. Of course, he tried to cheat, but when he was beaten, he told Levi where to find Silver."

"Who was it?" Blaze asked.

"Howl, but I don't think that matters much now. I'm pretty sure Levi killed him in the fight."

"Howl isn't dead," Silver cut in. They all looked at him in surprise. "I came to the city early to scout it out, remember? I heard that Howl had been demoted and put in charge of the local prison. I just assumed it was because we won the battle at Castle Town, and he was supposed to be in command there."

Gawain and Blaze exchanged glances. "If Howl is still alive, then perhaps we could convince him to help us. He was very loyal to the old emperor, and being demoted probably wrecked his pride."

"We couldn't trust him!" Sonic exclaimed. "He nearly killed Levi."

"We may not have another choice," Blaze stroked her chin and frowned down at the map. "If Howl has been put in charge of the prisons that might give you the cover you need to go into the tower. Many of those who have been captured by the police have been taken there."

Gawain pointed to a building a few streets away from the marked tower. "Howl is stationed here. We had better leave now so we can get there just as they switch the guard." Gawain turned to Sonic. "Get your friend up."

Sonic found Shadow curled up in a corner in the entryway. He woke instantly, and scowled as Sonic told him the plan. "That sounds like a waste of time."

"We can't just go rushing in," Sonic said diplomatically.

"And why not? You told me Eggman had returned to earth. Who else could possibly challenge us?"

"We do not want to be caught," Gawain explained. "If we give ourselves away they will just move the transporter or shut it down before we get a chance to sabotage Iblis. This is merely a survey mission, we find the transporter, and come back so we can attack all together."

Shadow did not respond, but Sonic caught the glint of defiance that burned in his eyes. Blaze bid them farewell, and the trio left the hideout via the escape hatch. Sonic and Shadow waited in the hidden alcove while Gawain checked the streets. Jitters raced through Sonic's body, flooding him with nervous anxiety. He inhaled slowly and repeated Blaze's words to himself. Destiny was calling him forward, dragging him into the arena where he would have to confront the enemy that had long awaited him. Instinct made Sonic reach back and wrap his hand around Caliburn's hilt. The steel felt warm and steadied him. I will be ready.

As the night drifted away, the trio moved through the streets like shadows. Gawain darted to and fro through the many alleyways, bringing them closer to the Metal District while keeping them out of sight of the many Sentinels that roamed the streets. At last, they took cover in a tight gap between two abandoned houses. Across from them, stood a flat drum shaped building. It was encircled by tall wire fences and illuminated with spotlights.

Gawain stirred and raised his eyes towards the sky. Sonic followed his gaze and saw the clouds part slightly. Beyond the canopy of darkness, Sonic saw the faint trace of daylight on the horizon.

AN: Thank you to everyone who has made it this far! This project has been pretty daunting, and sometimes I lose track of things. Between different POVs and rewrites, I thought I had written a description for the priest Roran, but I realize that I never did. So, I apologize that he had been around the story for so long without a description. I did try to comb through the story and make sure that I had in fact not given him an appearance, but if I did, then sorry if this makes things even more confusing!