Disclaimer: All Sonic characters belong to SEGA. OCs are mine.

Trigger Warning: I had to reach within the depths of my mind to remember where this was going. Apologies if it reads a bit weird. Tried my best! Also, it gets a bit gory.


Chapter 38: Heads Will Roll

Thick fog began to cloud Chelsea's mind.

The stench of blood overpowered every sense she had. Even as she stared at the mass of organs and amputated limbs strewn across the room, nothing was more overwhelming than the redness that soaked her to the bone. It was in her clothes. It matted her fur. It drowned any form of speech that tried to rise her throat.

Shock gripped the young mother in its binding hold. Each breath came out in gargle as her chest heaved to keep her functioning. Without thinking, she reached for the wall, mindlessly clawing it for any sort of support. She hit the wall so hard that droplets of blood sprayed down her face.

Slowly, her brown eyes drifted to the sanguine fluid smeared across the once pristine surface. The hysteria weighed on her chest like a massive boulder. Chelsea's lips trembled as she desperately gasped for air, her lungs begging for relief. The ebony hedgehog's thoughts were mostly a jumbled mess, but one thing was clear.

Move. Move now. Get out of here.

Even as tears blurred her vision, she found the urgency to do just that. Her feet slipped against the wet slick of the floor. It took a few times, but once her shoes found traction, Chelsea lifted herself onto her wobbly knees. Step by step, she made her way through the opening she had crawled into.

The sounds of bullets and spin dashes were muffled in her ears. There was no aim in her steps; she just kept walking. Streaks of blood behind her, she didn't dare let go of the wall. Without it, she would fall, and she wasn't sure if she could get back up.

Sonic slashed through the last row of alien guards in victory. He proudly rubbed his nose before jogging back to the room where Silver was kept. As he turned the corner, he expected to see his loved ones happily awaiting his return. Instead, the sight of his blood-soaked mother came into view. The blue hedgehog's heart fell to his feet, and he nearly lost his balance in complete horror.

Sonic was at his mother's side in an instant. Green irises pulsated with alarm as they observed his gloves become stained with blood.

"M-mom? Mama, what the hell happened?" he choked out. Sonic's hands frantically checked her for wounds, expecting the worst. "Oh my God, who—what did this!?"

Chelsea muttered something under her breath, but it was too quiet for him to understand. She shook her head as he continued to poke and prod at her. Her son ignored her attempts to push him off her.

"Tell me where you're hurt. There's probably a first aid kit somewhere," he hurriedly spoke.

"No," she whispered. "G-go."

"What? No, ma. Look at you. We need to get you some help."

"No. Stop."

"I know we're pressed for time, but your safety is more important. Come on, let's just—"

"I'm fine," Chelsea growled through her teeth. Sonic's ears twitched from the tone. He took a moment to look over her once more and realized that she was telling the truth. Despite his mother's damning appearance, she was alright. Her body was not tense with pain but rather fear.

Again, Sonic took another moment to peer into the shuddersome eyes of the ebony hedgehog. Once the air settled, dread crept up his spine. Sonic felt the fur on his back stand and something awful poke along his trachea.

His bottom lips bounced open and closed multiple times before pressing into a hard line. Chelsea watched her son bite down on his jaw as he tried to come to terms with his storming thoughts.

She held his shoulders and continued to be his pillar of support even in the midst of her collapse.

"Is...is Silver," he gulped. He blinked back tears. "Is Silver alive?"

"Silver made it out," she hissed. Chelsea bit back a sob and steeled her expression as she stared back at her son whose eyes were as small as a marble. She watched his eyes trail over to the blood that seeped out of room E16. She tightened her hands on his shoulders and barked out an order. "He's looking for us, Sonic. We need to find the others before he does."

Sonic's eyes remained on the blood-soaked floor. Engrossed in his turbulent thoughts, he made a move towards the room. It was his mother's strong grip that forced him back into the horrible reality.

Chelsea shook her head, and that was that. The haunted gaze she cast upon him put an end to his curiosity. She didn't need to say it—she wouldn't let him go in there. Over her dead body.

"Let's find the others and regroup," she reminded.

"Okay," Sonic eventually replied.

He lifted his mother in his arms and ran down the hallway. He wasn't as fast as before. Chelsea didn't need to ask to understand why. Instead, she held her hand against his cheek, hoping it'd bring her son comfort – even if just a little.

"Sonic?"

"Why, mom? Why us?" he softly asked. "We didn't ask to be this way."

There wasn't much more heartbreak the young mother could take from this experience. "Pathetic" and "useless" couldn't even begin to describe how she felt about herself. Since their disappearance, Chelsea had only ever thought: Maybe if she were smarter, she would have seen it coming. Maybe if she were stronger, she could have prevented it. Maybe if she were a better mother, none of this would have happened. There were decisions she wished she could take back—others she wished she'd never had to make.

However, there was nothing she could do but move forward, if for no other reason than the sake of her sons, whom she loved with everything she had. When it came to their wellbeing, it wasn't a question of what she'd do, but when she'd do it. It wasn't if she'd die for them, but who she'd kill to keep them safe. Even when their hands were bathed in blood, it didn't matter to her because one thing for sure, two things for certain, she was going to see to it that they lived the long and healthy lives they deserved.

So, although she didn't have an answer, she had a response.

"I'm going to get you three out of this nightmare. Okay, honey?" Chelsea promised with a kiss on his cheek. She sniffed and wiped the few tears that escaped down his muzzle. "Cross my heart."

Sonic nodded and bit his lip. His ears flatted against his skull, but he tried to be brave.

"We're gonna be okay," he affirmed.

"I'll make sure of it," she swore.

"And you too," Sonic said firmly. He then forced a wobbly smile to lighten the mood. "We'll make sure you're good too. Who's going to keep Shads in check if you're not around?"

Chelsea let out a watery laugh and scratched behind his ear.

"I love you, Sonic."

"I love you too, mom." The blue blur, filled with newfound strength, sniffed away his tears and gained speed. "Now, let's go find the gang and get the hell outta here."

(0...)

"What's taking them so long?" Cathy grunted. She shot at the horde of exceptional alien soldiers that attacked them, ignoring the gaping wound on her arm.

For the past 20 minutes, the three hedgehogs had been fighting off everything thrown at them. They did all they could to keep guards and aliens alike from following the blue and black hedgehogs as they retrieved the last sibling. It was fine at first, but they were reaching their limits. Exhaustion began to grip their lungs. Their bodies ached for rest and their wounds burned for attention.

Shadow had a lot more energy stored due to his untapped Chaos energy reservoirs, but the two adults could see it was difficult for him to control it. He tried to hide the tremors in his hands after every attack. They took over what they could to protect him despite his angry rebuttals. Noah and Cathy were not having it.

However, they needed all hands on deck if they were to keep the monsters at bay.

"They should've been back by now," Noah agreed. "Maybe they're in trouble."

"We need to find them," Shadow said.

The golden sharpshooter backed into their fronts, keeping a key eye on the leering guards. "You go."

"No," Shadow immediately dismissed. "You can't handle them by yourself. We can barely keep them back with all three of us."

Noah stepped in front of him to shoot. "I'll stay and help. Find your brothers and your mother. Once you're together, tell her to teleport you three back. Chelsea will know what to do. She should have enough power for all of you to escape."

Confusion darkened the black and red hedgehog's brow. He pieced together what they were saying, but didn't want to understand it.

"Are you asking me to leave you two here?"

"That's exactly what we're saying," Noah confirmed.

"How will you escape?"

"That's for us to worry about, honey. You're more important."

"I can't just abandon you. Not after everything. Not with those things!" Shadow shouted.

A matching pair of blue eyes frowned with conviction. "Yes, you will."

"No, I will not! Stop being stupid! You'll die."

The rising panic in the young hedgehog's crimson irises led to Noah placing a fist on his chest.

"We promised your mother we'd get you out of here by any means necessary and we plan to make do on that promise. Shadow, let us do this for you. We'll follow you four after we know you're safe, okay? Now just—"

A roar of fury erupted from the ebony hedgehog. He shoved Noah's hand off his chest and charged straight toward the crowd in front of them. Both Cathy and Noah lunged for the boy but were blown away by a massive burst of power.

Red light soaked the hallway and electricity crackled through the air. Once the wave of energy settled, they uncovered their eyes. Shadow stood in the middle of charred corpses, huffing through his nose. Silence gripped them in their awe. Then, they were suddenly whisked away before they found themselves in an empty room.

Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the magnificent glow of the Earth below them. The blue light served as a halo around the red-striped hedgehog, but his glare was full of fire and vengeance. Shadow turned to them with a nasty scowl curling his lip.

"You asked me to trust you," he started, pointing at Noah. "Why are you trying to take the easy way out?"

"That's not it!" Noah retorted instantly.

"You think throwing yourselves away and getting ripped apart is going to solve anything? How will you know we escaped Black Doom? How will you know you've fulfilled your promise to my mother?"

The two looked at each other with guilt. Noah rubbed his arm, and Cathy sighed as she stepped towards the teen.

"We just want to do what's right, Shadow. That's all." Because after years of doing the opposite, this was the least they could do. She didn't need to say it for the thought to be heard.

Still, he did not accept it.

Crimson eyes steeled with unwavering resolve, and Shadow spoke his truth. "You both said that you'd fix what you did to our family. Guess what? That means you stay alive and fight. You don't get to throw your lives away and 'hope' we make it out. I won't grant you that luxury. You don't get to die until we're all back safe on Earth. So, quit the sacrificial bullshit and atone for your mistakes.

"Don't you know what your death would do to my mother? To me and my brothers?" he continued. They lifted their heads in surprise. Shadow refused to meet their stare. "There's already been so much loss here. No need to add to it."

His words sank into the sullen air of the room. If there was one thing the older hedgehogs had learned about their friend's children, it was that they were wise beyond their years. This one was no exception.

Noah was the first to break the silence. He stood next to the ebony teen and, before he could stop himself, carefully reached to touch him. He pulled back for a moment when Shadow bared his teeth, but he wasn't deterred. Despite all his barking, the silver hedgehog knew what he needed at that moment.

With the gentleness of a feather, Noah pulled him into a hug. Shadow stuttered in shock, but didn't move. His eyes only widened when he felt Cathy envelop him from behind, a comforting sound rolling from her throat.

"We're sorry, Shadow," Noah said.

That was all that needed to be said.

Shadow should've pushed them off. Who were they to touch him? Intimacy like this was reserved for his loved ones. Throughout his short life, he was forced to minimize the space he had in his heart for others. Not everyone was to be trusted.

However, try as he might, he couldn't do it. Shadow would never admit it, but he needed this. Yes, they were to blame for the hell the small family found themselves in, but he could not ignore how genuine their recent actions were. Noah and Cathy were ready to die to right their wrongs. It was the ultimate sacrifice, and he couldn't deny them that.

He didn't know when, but he closed his eyes, allowing his body to fall into their embrace. Just this once.

The gentle moment was cut short when a sudden crash knocked them off their feet. The space station rocked back and forth from the impact of what felt like a gigantic comet.

As they tried to gather themselves, Noah cursed under his breath. The two watched him pull out a device from his belt. It was crushed beyond repair, the switches barely hanging on by their cords. When the facility shook again, it fell to the floor, scattering pieces across the room.

Cathy gulped. "...Not good."

Shadow eyed their troubled expressions with unease. He opened his mouth to question them before the lights began to flicker. Then, a foreboding weight abruptly pushed down on their bodies when a voice seeped through the speakers.

"That is enough." It was calm. Poised. Deadly. There was nothing alive in Black Doom's voice, yet his words were crawling with imminent danger.

"I have watched you execute this little escape plan of yours and, I admit, you have done well to entertain me. However, your games have become uninteresting. You all have had your fun, but it shall end here. Betraying my command? Infiltrating the security systems? Turning the creations I, alone, gave life to against me? Hear me when I say this. Those who commit mutiny against me will see no mercy."

Each word wrapped around their bodies like a vine, thorns latent with the poison of hate, promising a horrifying end with each poke.

"Caretaker, you have fulfilled your purpose in raising my creations to accomplish what they were made to do. As a token of my thanks, I have allowed you to live as long as you have. Unfortunately, your foolishness will cost the lives of all who are on board, and you shall remain with that fact until your death. A death that I will personally ensure will allow you time to think long and hard about your actions today. Nevertheless, I will collect what is mine. Your world will meet its demise, and the Black Arms will take its rightful spot as rulers of this universe."

Black Doom's haunting laugh permeated through the speakers before it was cut.

It seemed the entire spaceship floated in silence, the deafening threat of death swallowing them whole. Frozen in their spots, Shadow, Cathy, and Noah could do nothing but stare at the ceiling in disbelief.

"Black Arms?" Noah choked.

Cathy's hand trembled as she attempted to reach out for the hedgehogs beside her. The dryness in her throat made it hurt to swallow.

"W-we have to go," she strangled out of her lips. "We're all in serious danger."

Suddenly, screams of terror erupted from the halls. It was like a trigger. Shadow blasted through the doors and sped out of the room. The two siblings called after him, pumping their legs as fast as they could go to catch up with the black blur. When they turned the corner, they halted in their tracks behind the unmoving hedgehog.

In front of them were Black Arms soldiers. However, instead of rushing to attack, their heads turned toward the Mobian scientists and guards. Horror washed over the scientists' faces as the soldiers began to close in. Their gaping jaws dripped with acidic spit, their growls filled with feverish intensity. Black, beady eyes fixed on their targets with hunger, and they lunged at anything with a heartbeat.

Brandished with nothing but their lengthy claws and jagged fangs, the Black Arms soldiers tore through flesh with ease. Blood splattered against the floors and the walls like paint, decorating any surface it could reach. Their screams gargled beneath their blood and vomit. Bones and tendons were strung on the monsters' heads as they feasted upon their victims.

A chunk of meat hung from the zebra's calf, but he continued to limp away from the gruesome scene. He caught the black and red hedgehog's eye and desperately jumped towards him.

"Help us! Please! Have mercy—"

His jaw hit the ground with a crunch as the black horde jumped on his back. It struck an arm through the scientist's shoulder before sinking its teeth into his back. His shrilling cry was cut short once it took another dive for his throat. It ripped his neck apart, spraying the boy's face with the sanguine fluid.

Shadow's breathing became erratic. His eyes bounced around at the massacre. He tried to will his body to move. To do something. Anything. Yet, nothing was working. The fur on his body prickled with unending terror and nausea. Even as the dark pupils of the Black Arms soldier met his own, he could only gasp.

The ebony hedgehog nearly screamed when his arm was taken, and he was harshly pulled back the other way. Shadow forced himself to run away from the bloodbath.

The three slammed themselves against the wall once they accomplished some distance. Their heavy breaths were hot despite the frigid air.

"The rumors were right. Professor Darren—he was Black Doom the entire time," Cathy seethed.

"Black Doom?" Shadow questioned.

Noah's face was grim. "The ruler of the Black Arms race. He created a military race with the sole purpose of ruling the universe through fear and murder. For a millennium, he ran rampant across the galaxies, destroying planets and using its people as livestock for his army. It's said that he would turn the strongest of each race into his creations to strengthen his forces. At least, those were the rumors. No one had seen it, and the stories were thought to be fables from old space travelers trying to scare their peers."

"Turns out it was real, and we basically served him three plates of destruction on a silver platter," his sister cursed. She shook her head. "There's no outmaneuvering him and his army. Making it back to Mobius has never been more important. At least down there, we can warn people. Normally, we wouldn't stand a chance, but we just might with you three."

"What? Us?" Shadow frowned. "How?"

"He may have had a hand in creating you, but you're nothing like that monster. You and your brothers have his blood coursing through you, but you're different. You're special. You can channel Chaos energy unlike anything we've seen before. Your abilities, your strength...the fact that he wants you three alive tells me he knows your potential. Maybe even fears it." Noah met his crimson eyes with confidence. "Perhaps not now, but with the correct support, you can put a stop to his plans. Shadow, you can protect people. Protect your family. Your mother."

Useful.

That's all he'd ever wanted to be. But how could he? All he'd ever done was take what was given to him. React the best way he could with what he had. For most of his life, he was plagued by the story behind his origin—his purpose. Now that the truth was within his grasp, he felt fear instead of the freedom he once thought would follow.

"Really?" Shadow asked. He felt childish, but he couldn't help it.

He would never admit to the assurance the silver hedgehog's smile gave him. "I believe it. But we can't explore that possibility unless we get you out."

The two male hedgehogs nodded to one another before huddling together.

"We need a new plan," Noah started. He looked at his sister. "Do you still have your AVTP?"

"AVTP?" Shadow commented.

"Transportation device powered through Chaos energy."

Cathy pulled out the silver box. Two of the three green buttons were lit. "Still safe, but it's only got two-thirds of the juice left. If Chelsea doesn't have hers, we're screwed. It can't take all six of us."

"Let's not think like that now. We'll assume she still has hers. But I was thinking, what if Sonic, Shadow, and Silver could amp up the power?"

"Like use their Chaos energy to charge the thing?" Cathy questioned.

The red-striped teen looked at his hands. "I've never channeled my powers like that before, but I can try. It shouldn't be too different from throwing Chaos spears. I just need to concentrate on the intensity of the stream."

"That could work," Cathy said. "But we're still missing three other hedgies."

"We could check E16?" Noah suggested.

"With Black Doom's warning, they wouldn't stay in one place for too long. That room was probably crawling with stationed guards," Shadow responded. "Are there CTV cameras anywhere?"

He nodded. "We can try the security room again. We're in C-Hall – not too far."

"That's if Black Doom hasn't already taken it over. He's been following our every move," the golden one reminded.

"We don't have much of a choice," Noah sighed.

Cathy copied him with a sigh of her own. She went to put the AVTP away. "I guess you're right. Fine. We move on my—"

Too fast to catch, Cathy was enveloped in a strange turquoise light. The device in her hand exploded before her arm took a mind of its own and unnaturally twisted amongst itself. Seconds passed between the sickening crack in her shoulder and the agony that ripped through her body.

A shrill cry tore through her lips before she was lifted and slammed against the metal wall. Cathy crumbled lifelessly to the floor.

"NO!" Noah roared. He ran for his sister, begging her to open her eyes.

Shadow's head slowly turned to the sound of painful moans. Emerging from the darkness of the hallway, a light hedgehog limped towards them. His hands and feet, coated in fresh blood, left a trail of his activities behind him. He held his head in one hand, while he used the other to support him against the wall.

The eldest brother's breath caught in his throat. "Silver?" he said in a hushed tone.

"Ugh, my head," the younger one groaned. His body swayed, head hitting the wall before he struggled to keep himself on his feet. Silver's eyes looked out of focus even as he tilted his chin to look before him. "Need to find mom. Brothers. Get away. Get rid of them."

"Silver," Shadow said again. This time, it was louder. Relief flooded his entire being. "You're okay!"

Golden eyes narrowed with concentration. He took a wobbly step forward. "Sh-Shadow?"

He was about to go to him before Noah's cursing ripped him away from his trance. Shadow ran to him without hesitation. He put an ear to her chest and was happy to feel it rise.

"She's breathing."

"But she's hurt. Bad. Her arms are done for. Even if I break it back into place, she won't be able to use it. And—" Noah thickly swallowed as he lifted his hand from the back of her head to see warm blood on his fingers. "Fuck. Cathy...Her head!"

Shadow shook his head, refusing to let this evolve. Like he said, they weren't allowed to die here. Everyone was going to make it out one way or another. Even if he had to drag them out by their quills.

"I'll carry her. We have Silver now. Mother and Sonic can't be far behind. If anything, Silver can help us—"

"Help?" Noah snapped. The furious tears in his eyes were damning and Shadow couldn't help his ears lying flat on his head. "He did this!"

"It was a mistake!" he growled back. The guilt burned in his chest, but he still defended his brother. This was a misunderstanding. It wasn't right, and he wasn't excusing it. Shadow knew he'd be worse if anything happened to his brothers—but that was just it. It had. They didn't understand what they'd gone through. What Silver had gone through. He was lashing out. "He's scared. But look, he's coming to his senses. Right, Silver?"

When there was no response, Shadow stirred in confusion. He followed Noah's wide cerulean eyes behind him and clenched his jaw at what he saw.

Silver stood with spines bristling and fur standing on end with palpable anger radiating off him. The mysterious blue energy swirled around his body, pulsing with a menacing threat. However, it was the pure murder in his eyes that struck him.

Finally, Shadow observed his brother's appearance, noting the blood dripping down his hands.

"Silver?" he whispered.

Not even a glance was spared on him. Instead, Silver's glowing hazel eyes shot daggers at the hedgehogs beside him.

"Get away from my family."

(0...)

Another one.

Chelsea swallowed the bile back down once they passed Bulge's body.

"Don't look mom," Sonic said, pushing her head closer to his neck.

She stiffly nodded. There wasn't any time to ruminate on it.

Black Doom's announcement was a declaration of war. A promise that he would wreak havoc for everything she had done up until this point.

Black Arms. Ha. She should've seen it coming. Chelsea played the games. Black Doom's biological connection with Shadow was the main theme. His existence alone should've allowed her to put together the pieces before anyone else.

How could she be so stupid?

As Sonic passed by each mangled body, she was reminded of the deaths that would take place because of her. Her son told her not to listen, that none of this was her fault. The young mother put on a brave face and nodded. He took her silence for understanding and didn't mention anything else.

Chelsea wondered how she would ever live with herself. Honestly, she didn't think that was a realistic option.

However, she wouldn't think about it now. She couldn't even if she tried. The trauma of it all numbed her core. As selfish as it may be, her thoughts solely focused on the safety of her friends and family.

The security room wasn't helpful. All cameras had been shut down and all the employees either escaped or were dead. Luckily, there was a map crumpled in the trash they could use. They agreed the best thing they could do was pass by locations they already knew.

As Sonic and Chelsea made their way to C-Hall, they did their best to avoid the Black Arms soldiers. They would come across a straggler here and there which they could take care of between her gun and his abilities. In all honesty, their journey was fairly easy. At least, easier than they expected it to be.

The two chalked it up to the soldiers focusing on massacring everyone else on board before dealing with them. If the faint screams were anything to go by, that was most likely their answer. They tried not to focus on that too much.

...

Unbeknownst to them, an eye had been following them within the shadows.

Deploying an extension of himself, Black Doom kept watch of the two hedgehogs with amusement. Their game of cat and mouse was both interesting and annoying. He would never understand the urge to attach oneself to hope in the face of defeat. It was a trait he hoped to weed out once he took over.

It was fruitless, yet they still ran, hoping for a miracle once they were together. However, the evil overlord could easily discern between the black hedgehog's faux strength and true fear.

It was in the way she gripped the gun in her hands, muscles tense, and jaw set with panic. Tears would glow beneath her eyes with each passing body, and she'd force herself to swallow them down even when it looked like it hurt. Paranoia was written all over her face. He had no doubt she was thinking over all the unspeakable ways he would torture her for her insolence. Black Doom certainly was.

As for the blue hedgehog, the Black Arms ruler found himself impressed. His development surpassed his expectations. Sonic was a befitting name for his creation. His speed was unlike anything he'd seen. It was a close second to essentially teleportation. The hedgehog's ability to pick up fighting moves was nothing short of amazing. Not to mention, his stamina was beyond anything they predicted.

Most importantly, his capacity to dismiss his feelings for the sake of his goal was indeed a valuable trait. Faced with the impending death of his 'mother', the blue blur did not allow himself to falter in his mission. If anything, his strength only improved.

Sonic would make a fine warrior. Most likely one of the best in his military. He had no doubt the other two would perform the same.

And because Black Doom was a patient man, he would allow them one more chance to outdo his expectations.

With their world closing in, he wanted to see the culmination of their true power.

Then, he would pluck the insignificant caretaker from their fingers and crush her once and for all. They were powerful, but he was their creator. Hopefully, it'd be enough to extinguish whatever petty connection they thought they had with her and make them realize that he was the only leader they should devote themselves to.

If not, well, he'd just beat them into submission.

However, the former plan was more fun.

Black Doom chuckled to himself and disappeared within the shadows once more as the black and blue hedgehogs finally stumbled upon the rest of their crew.

...

"Oh no," Chelsea whispered. Brown eyes sharpened on her unconscious friend and the blood that oozed past her temple.

"Just calm down, Silver," Shadow barked. He put himself in between the two gold and silver hedgehogs, one hand by his side and ready to attack and the other stretched out to his brother. "It's Cathy and Noah. They're on our side."

Silver's eyes didn't waver from them. It was like the words went over his head.

"No one can be trusted," he stated.

"I know how you're feeling. I know it's hard to trust anyone right now, but you must. And if not them, trust me. They're different from the other lab coats. They're helping mother break us out of here!"

The mention of the young woman shined a light in Silver's eyes. He blinked stumbling back in confusion. "Mom?" A piercing headache shot through him and the young teen groaned in pain. Memories of the scientists telling him of their mother's death flashed through his mind. Silver roared from the agony within his head and heart. "Argh! They killed her! They're lying!"

"She's alive, Silver! If you just—" Noah shouted.

"Shut up!" he bellowed. Blue energy surrounded his hand, and Shadow immediately charged his own with Chaos energy. He glared at his older brother in disappointment. "They might have fooled you, but they won't fool me."

Shadow's muscles tensed, but his eyes were frantic. "Please, Silver! Listen to me. I wouldn't ever put you in danger."

"Move or you will be moved. I'll rip through you if that means protecting you."

Fueled by anger and desperation, Shadow growled. He had enough of this. No one else would get hurt in his presence.

"Right back at you," he spat.

Silver raised his hand to land a striking blow but was stopped when someone jumped on his back.

Without thinking, Chelsea felt her legs move. When Sonic was frozen in confusion, she used the moment to push him away and run towards Silver. She didn't have a clue what she would do, but she knew she needed to do something.

Ignoring how his quills poked against her face, she grabbed his hand and wrapped an arm around his torso, pushing on his sternum so he'd fold over in discomfort. Silver stumbled in shock, attempting to shake her off, but she folded her legs around him in response.

"That's enough. I know you're scared, but you stop this rampage right this instant!" she scolded. "You can have a go at the world, but you will not fight your brother!"

Silver frowned in confusion. He stuttered before growing frustrated. "Get off of me!" he demanded.

They struggled for some time before Silver threw the back of his head against her forehead. Chelsea groaned and wasn't able to see him pull back an elbow and ram it into the side of her face. The ebony hedgehog flew back into the wall with a loud smack.

"Chelsea!"

"Mom!"

Her tongue tasted the metallic flavor of her blood in her mouth. Chelsea didn't have time to nurse her injury before a fist closed in on her. She swerved herself to the side just in time for it to collide beside her head. She gulped from the crater it created.

The young mother went to move away but gasped when her body was suddenly paralyzed. Trapped by his powers, Chelsea had no choice but to face the lethal glare of her youngest son.

Sonic and Shadow immediately went on the offensive.

"Are you crazy!?" Sonic shouted. "That's mom! Stop it, Silver!"

Shadow bared his teeth with warning. "Let her go, Silver! I'll only tell you one time!"

When he didn't listen, they began to close in on them before their brother held up a hand.

"One more step, and I crush her."

"Over my dead body," the red and black teen snarled. He nearly choked when his mother yelped when an enormous amount of pressure fell against her body.

"I-It hurts," she grimaced.

"Stop it! Please!" he begged.

"You'll kill her! Please just listen to us!" Sonic pleaded.

"Silver." For some reason, his head snapped towards the silver hedgehog. He stood up on his feet, putting his hands up when the boy snarled at him. Noah made no further movements but the resolve in his gaze was sturdy. "You don't trust me. You don't trust your brothers. You've been hurt beyond reason, and you're scared. I get it. But this isn't the way. I know you don't want to do this."

"How do you know what I want!? You don't know anything!" Silver spat.

Noah didn't miss a beat. "I know you don't want to hurt your mother."

"My mother's dead! You monsters killed her!" He curled his lip with promise. "And I'm here to return the favor."

"Look at her, Silver. She's right there."

"You're lying!"

"Cross my heart."

Silver found himself peering into the ocean-blue eyes of the strange hedgehog. His head pounded against his skull. Yet, despite the pain, another memory flashed across his eyes. One that involved his home and a warm pair of familiar blue irises. Confusion trickled into his chest and...and doubt.

The young teen shook his head and gritted his teeth. "Why should I trust you? Any of you?"

"You don't have to trust us. See it for yourself. We're at your mercy, and you have nothing else to lose," Noah said.

In one fell swoop, he captured the other four with his telekinesis. That way, they wouldn't get a chance to run up on him. Besides, once he proved to himself of their fables, he could do away with these strangers and drag his brothers away.

Silver finally turned to the female hedgehog in his grasp and then...

Then...

Chelsea forced herself to ignore the pain rippling through her body. Instead, she focused on her son'sbeautiful face. Amid the fear, panic, and anger swirling in his eyes, a gentle smile lifted her lips as she observed the strength, longing, and curiosity within them.

In the depths of his dark brown irises, the silver hedgehog found a familiar warmth. It was so palpable he could feel it seep into his bones. Silver saw his world reflected in them: the movie nights, the smell of blueberry pancakes, the bedtime stories, laundry days, dancing in the hallways, crying over comedy shows, shedding tears after arguments, spoken promises, warm embraces, and loving smiles no one else could imitate.

Everything was different, but there was no mistaking it. Those were her eyes.

It felt hard to breathe. The walls began to close in, and before he knew it, his eyes began to burn.

Silver's bottom lip wobbled. "M-Mom? Is that you?"

"I'm sorry I took so long, Silvy," she said softly. "I'm so sorry."

Now that the thunder in his head had quieted, her voice confirmed. Instantly, his powers ceased.

Chelsea dropped to the ground, coughing. Silver dove toward her, raining down apology after apology. She only wrapped her arms around him, taking in the sobs that wracked his body.

"I...I am so sorry! I can't believe I almost—please forgive me! Everything was so loud, and everything hurt. It just hurt so much. I'm a horrible person. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, mama!" he wailed.

Chelsea kissed the top of his head and began to rock him. "You're okay, honey. I got you."

Silver lifted his head, clutching her shirt with sorrow. "No, mom. You don't understand! I've done terrible things. I—"

"I know," she hushed him. Silver lowered his head in defeat, pressing his muzzle into her neck. Chelsea looked at her other two, who had fallen to their knees beside them. She pulled them close, and they tangled themselves in the embrace. Finally reunited, the young family let themselves share the tears they had held in for so long. "It's okay. We're together now. That's all that matters. We'll get through this."

They stayed like that for a few moments. As they hugged, Chelsea lifted her head and met the eyes of the silver hedgehog across the room.

She gave him a teary smile, and Noah thought it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

"Thank you," she mouthed. She wished she could say more to express her endless gratitude, but he understood perfectly.

Their moment was cut short when the golden hedgehog groaned. Noah was at her side in an instant, and Chelsea followed.

Cathy began to stir awake, hissing as she tried to sit up.

"No, no. You're hurt. Don't move," Noah said.

"I'm so sorry, Cathy. We'll get you some help soon," Chelsea promised as she gently wiped the dirt from her muzzle.

The injured woman took a deep breath, then laughed and winced. Cathy's vision swam in and out of focus, but she could still make out her friend and the three hedgehogs hovering guiltily over her.

"Those are some hedgehogs you got there, Chels," she teased. "I nearly became a hedgehog pancake!"

The two sighed and rolled their eyes. Typical Cathy.

Silver got down on his knees and pressed his forehead against the floor in a deep bow. "Please accept my sincerest apologies, Ms. Cathy!" he exclaimed.

Shadow hit his brother's head, while Sonic shook his head with a tsk. "Hard-headed, I'll tell ya."

Cathy patted his head. "Thank you for the apology, hun. I get you were just trying to protect your brothers. At least you didn't kill me."

Somehow, Silver felt even worse.

"Now that we're together, we need to go. Now." Noah turned to the young mother with hope in his eyes. "Please tell me you still have your AVTP."

Chelsea happily took it out of her quills, showing that it was fully charged and intact. They breathed a sigh of relief, though she pursed her lips in concern. "What happened to yours?"

"Destroyed. We only have yours left," he explained.

"Are we sure this can take all six of us?" she questioned.

"We'll have to try. Shadow?"

The red-striped hedgehog nodded. "I can supply it with my own Chaos energy. It'll work," he affirmed. It had to.

"Alright. Everyone gather around and—"

A chilling laugh filled the air. The temperature in the room dropped, and everything seemed to go still.

Suddenly, a vine sprouted from the darkness, wrapping around Chelsea. She screamed, clawing at the air before being dragged away.

The teleportation device fell to the ground with a nasty crack splitting it down the middle.

Sonic, Shadow, and Silver didn't waste a second, shooting into the darkness in pursuit of their mother's screams.

Noah and Cathy gasped, moving to follow them, but the silver hedgehog's sister whimpered as her injuries kept her on the floor. He immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and head for support.

"We have to help them," she panted.

Noah wiped the sweat pooling at her temple. "You're in no shape to do anything," he said.

"We can't just leave them!"

Cerulean eyes scanned the ground before lighting up with an idea. He grabbed the AVTP device and saw that, despite being broken, it wasn't entirely out of commission. One of the buttons flashed a faint green light. As his sister struggled to get to her feet, he hooked the gadget to the back of her shirt.

"I won't," Noah agreed. "There's enough power for one trip."

Perplexed, Cathy squinted at him before hearing the whirring of the teleportation device. Her heart nearly stopped. She tried to grab the AVTP but couldn't reach it. "What are you doing!?" she shrieked.

"You're going to the hospital. Ask for law enforcement. Tell them who you work for and what happened. If we're lucky, they might be able to send help."

"Don't be dumb! By the time they even think of sending back up, you'll be dead!" she retorted. "You can't send me away! We're in this together! I can't lose you too!"

Noah gave her a strong smile, forcing himself not to weaken against the tears flooding his baby sister's eyes. He placed a final kiss on her forehead and gently removed her hands from his arms.

"Thanks for always having my back. I love you, Cat. Live a long life, alright?" he said, turning away as his voice broke.

"No! Noah! Get your ass back here!" she barked angrily. When he began to run—away from her—she started begging. "Please, Noah! I can't—it's not fair! Don't do this!"

Cathy clawed the ground, cursing as her jaw hit the floor. She reached out to her brother in one last attempt to touch him. Her blurry vision was then filled with warm light and her heart broke.

"NOAH WAIT—"

A flash enveloped the golden hedgehog, and she was gone.

Noah bit back his tears and charged ahead. She wouldn't forgive him for some time, but he could live with that. As long as she was alive, that was enough for him.

Now, with his sister safe, he had the rest of his family to save.


A/N: Whew boy! It's been five whole years since I've seen this story haha. Is anybody still there? How're y'all doing? I'll save the long author's note for later. Got about a chapter or two left. Enjoy!