Chapter 82

Rebirth of the Phoenix

Shock and exhaustion forced a stupefied Sonic to clutch onto the backrest of a chair to support himself. Amy clutched her hands together and took a cautious step forward. The first thing Sonic noticed was the change in her attire. She was not wearing her usual red dress and skirt. Instead, she wore a faded purple sweater and travel worn black pants. A series of straps interwove across her chest attaching her Piko Piko hammer to her back like a sword.

"Are you alright?" Amy asked nervously. Her eyes sparkled with affectionate concern.

Sonic steadied himself and took a deep breath. "I'm alright, just exhausted. But Amy, what are you doing here? How did you even find me?"

"It's kind of a long story." She motioned to the chair and Sonic collapsed into it. Amy sat across from him and folded down her pants, forgetting that she wasn't wearing her usual skirt. The motion caused Sonic to notice the heavy bracelet around her wrist. The band was made of sleek black metal and it was set with a large pink…

Sonic lurched forward, nearly toppling out of his chair. "Is that a Sol Gem?"

Amy clutched the bracelet. "Yes."

"Wha….how? Amy where did you get that?"

"This is how I got here," Amy held out her arm and shook the bracelet. "This is connected to a transporter device back on earth. The Sol Gem allows me to travel back and forth."

Sonic was nonplussed. His mouth hung open in shock and amazement. Amy giggled. "I forgot you made that face when you're surprised."

"Amy," Sonic began gently. "What is going on?"

"I've come to find you, Sonic. To bring you home."

"Tails sent you?"

Amy shook her head. "I was sent here by Jeffrey Goldstone."

Sonic frowned. The name rang familiar but he couldn't place it. "Goldstone, wait…isn't that the company that tried to buy Sunset Island?" Amy nodded. "That's the creep that attacked Nora and me."

"That was Jeffrey's father, Frederick."

Sonic rubbed his eyes to shake off his growing dizziness. "Hold on a second. Some rich guy's kid gave you a Sol Gem to send you here to bring me home?"

"Essentially, but there is more to it than that Sonic…I…" Amy figidited and struggled to meet Sonic's eye. It was strange to see Amy acting so nervous. She was always so bubbly and extroverted especially around Sonic. "Things have happened Sonic, terrible things." Her face fell and she spoke to the floor. "Angel Island…it's gone."

"Gone?"

"G.U.N destroyed it, with the Eclipse Canon, powered with a Sol Gem."

Sonic seized the armrests of his chair. The floor seemed to slant forward to try and pull him down. "And…Knuckles…is he?"

Amy shook her head. "I don't know. G.U.N specifically targeted Angel Island to kill Knuckles and destroy the Master Emerald."

"I don't understand. Since when did G.U.N have the Eclipse Canon? When did they get a Sol Gem?"

"I'm not sure. All I know is what Jeffrey told me. He and his father were approached by a dark furred fox who styled himself Lord Mesto the Sly. He offered them a Sol Gem in exchange for weapons and information. Mesto swore he had only come to them but the Goldstone's soon learned that he had also gone to G.U.N and had given them Sol Gems, but what he got in exchange, they don't know." Amy stood up and began to pace around the tent.

"Sonic, earth is in grave danger. G.U.N is attacking other countries as well. They want to create a new world order, one in which they are in supreme command of is why Jeffrey came to me. G.U.N sent agents to my house to take me captive, they wanted to use me as leverage against you."

Amy knelt before Sonic and took him by the hands. "Please, come home, we need you, the whole world needs you."

Sonic froze. His heart was thumping painfully inside his chest. Angel Island appeared inside his head. Vivid images of verdant fields, great snow peaked mountains, the idyllic shrine of the Master Emerald…the island's stalwart guardian, rushed one by one inside Sonic's mind. Sonic wanted to feel angry, he wanted to feel grief. Yet his insides felt hollow. "Sonic?" Amy let her tears fall openly down her cheek and clutched his hand.

As he looked at her, Sonic was immediately reminded of Blaze. He thought of their night together at the Overlook. That memory dissolved into an image of Silver being taken into the great ship. Instinctively, Sonic pulled away from Amy and stood up. "I can't."

"Sonic…we need you. Don't you understand what I'm telling you? G.U.N has the Eclipse Canon, they can destroy anything they want."

"It's Eggman!" Sonic snapped, his voice sounding more harsh than he intended. "It all leads back to Eggman. He is the one sending back the Sol Gems, he's probably hoping to destabilize the earth, make it easier for him to conquer."

"What does it matter? You have to come back and stop them Sonic. No one else can." Amy reached into her pockets and retrieved a second bracelet. This one also was equipped with a Sol Gem. She held it out. "I have one for you. Come back with me. Please Sonic, I'm begging you."

Sonic stared at the Sol Gem. A strange hunger rose up inside him. After all they had suffered and lost, they had failed to retrieve the Sol Gem from Masada. Now one was offered to him freely. "Amy, I have things to do here. I can't just go back."

Amy looked crestfallen. "And what about us? We…we need you." Amy took a half step back and supported herself on the table. "Sonic…this isn't your world. Your home, all your friends…all those you love are back on earth." She raised up the bracelet again. "These Sol Gems can be the key. Jeffrey told me. If we can take them away from G.U.N we can use them to build a better future, one without pollution. One where we can live at peace with the humans."

Sonic shook his head. "But at what cost. The Sol Gems don't come from nowhere. They are made here at the cost of this world."

Amy blinked slowly. Heavy tears streamed down her cheek. "I know what you're feeling. I know you Sonic, you would never run from a fight or give up on your mission. But this isn't your fight. Come back with me, fight for your world."

Suddenly, Sonic heard Blaze's voice echoing out of his memories. "If Arvana had to die for the universe to live at peace, wouldn't it be the noble thing to allow its destruction?" That was the choice set before him. Should Sonic choose to leave, earth would have a chance at peace and would have access to nearly unlimited energy. Yet that prosperity would come at the cost of Arvana and with it, Soleanna and all the Thirteens.

Sonic sighed and shook his head. "I can't Amy. I have things I have to take care of here. I owe someone a great debt, and I will not leave until it is paid. Earth will have to manage on its own for now."

Amy trembled. Before she could cry some more, Sonic crossed over to her and wrapped her in a fierce hug. Amy was distant at first, but after a second, her arms embraced him and held him tight. "I've missed you." Sonic whispered.

They stepped away and Amy brushed away a single tear. A smile she could not resist spread across her face. "I…I told Jeffrey not to send me. I told him I just bother you…that I wasn't really your girlfriend." Both he and Amy shared a knowing laugh.

"I'm sorry I've been so distant," Sonic admitted. "After what happened at the Ark I should have made an effort to see you more."

Amy brushed aside his apology. "That's not who you are, I…I've always loved you for that. But Sonic…" Her voice caught in her throat. "I am afraid. G.U.N seems unstoppable and even more cold blooded than Eggman. What hope do we have?"

Sonic put a hand on her shoulder. "Earth has you. And it has Tails, and don't be surprised if Knuckles shows up right as rain. He's way too stubborn to die. You give me way too much credit. Earth has plenty of heroes, and I don't doubt for a second that you can come through."

Amy beamed at him. "Jeffrey won't be happy, he's used to getting his way."

"Be careful around him," Sonic warned. "If you can, try and link up with Tails as soon as possible. I'd bet anything he's already working on a plan."

Amy nodded. "We'll do our best to not let you down."

"You never have."

Amy composed herself with a few deep breaths. "I guess I'll be going."

"Wait." Sonic held out his hand. "Amy, could I have that second bracelet? Just in case."

Amy hesitated, but eventually she handed it over. Sonic stood back and Amy punched a button on her bracelet. The Sol Gem sparkled and a pink portal opened, swallowed Amy and vanished in a single flash of white light. Sonic was left alone in the tent, clutching the bracelet.

A second later, the tent flap opened. Blaze entered and removed her helmet. "What happened? Who was that girl?"

Sonic wasted no time explaining. By the end, Blaze had taken a seat and rubbed her temples. "I…I do not know what to say. You had a chance to leave, to protect your own world and yet you have chosen to remain and protect ours. I…" Whatever she was, Blaze could not bring herself to say it.

"It was my fault." Sonic said. The words were wrenched out of him like stomach acid. "I was the reason Silver was captured, why that priest was murdered, why we failed to get the Sol Gem."

Blaze looked at him sternly. "Gawain gave me his report. You chose to protect the lives of innocent imperials. Your only crime was trust."

"I ignored Silver's direct orders and because of me, he has been taken prisoner. I can't leave now." Sonic held up the bracelet.

Blaze's eyes widened in amazement. "A Sol Gem?"

"Amy gave me that to use to return to earth." Sonic pried out the Sol Gem and tossed the metal band aside. He then placed the pink stone into Blaze's hand. "I'm giving it to you, as Silver would have done."

Blaze clenched her jaw. She held up the gem and its light shone throughout the tent. "I think I know what Silver intended. He meant to give you a Sol Gem. I saw what you did to Zero. You are far more powerful than you let on. If you have a Sol Gem, you could challenge the empire openly, that's what Silver wanted."

"Silver does not understand why I hold back. Why I choose to conceal my true power from the enemy. He believes that power is always meant to be used in battle. Perhaps you two are alike in this. The day is coming, Sonic the Hedgehog, where I reveal my true self to all, but it won't be in the way you expect." Blaze stowed away the Sol Gem. "You have given up your only means of returning home. Now, what will you do?"

"I'm going after Silver. He put everything on the line to save us. I owe that to him at least."

Blaze smiled. "I thought you'd say something like that. I do not ask you to go, nor place any charge of guilt or command upon you. But if this is your free intent, then I will help you." Blaze rose to her feet. "But first, there is something I must do. Something private, but I would like you to be there. Meet me at the stone tree above the passes at midnight."

Sonic left the tent and, under Blaze's order, went to the healer's. They treated him with Armana and after resting for an hour or so, Sonic rose and headed for the stone tree above the camp. The Thirteens were celebrating the rescue of the priests of Masada so no one noticed Sonic.

There he found Blaze, Priam and Levi. Blaze, for the first time since he had known her, was not wearing armor. She wore a simple, yet elegant purple and white dress. Priam stood at hand burdened by a heavy bag which he held up with a great oaken staff. Levi lounged by the tree looking slightly confused at his inclusion. Blaze motioned for them all to follow. They walked higher up the pass until they reached a spacious inlet. It served as a sort of open cave that overlooked the grotto.

"This will do." Priam said. He opened his bag and drew out a series of heavy brass rings. The others watched in silence as Priam constructed a small pool which he then filled with a mysterious golden liquid.

"I thought you were keeping your identity a secret?" Sonic whispered.

Blaze smiled and shook her head. "The time for secrets is past. From now until the day of fate I shall be revealed."

Priam let out a cry of mirth. "I still cannot quite believe it. All this time I thought Lord Mesto had taken you. To see you alive and free, it fills me with hope."

Blaze squeezed the priest's shoulder. "Your words are kind. Is it ready?"

Priam stood up and motioned for Blaze to step into the pool. Blaze did so. The golden liquid hissed as if it were suddenly boiling. Blaze closed her eyes and leaned her head back. Priam retrieved a ruby circlet shaped like petrified fire. Set in its center was the Sol Gem. Priam shuffled over to Blaze to set the circlet on her brow. It immediately sparkled with a red glow that nearly blinded Sonic.

"Keshin!" Priam shouted. At once, the golden liquid caught fire. Sonic let out a cry of shock and jumped away. However, the fire's heat was not destructive. It was a warm kind of heat that invigorated Sonic and brought life into his tired limbs. Blaze stood in the center of the inferno. Her eyes burned with a white flame. The mountains themselves trembled. Over the roar of the fire, Sonic felt he could almost hear a voice speaking to Blaze.

A second later, the flames went out. Blaze stood in the pool, suddenly drenched as if she had just emerged out of deep water. She opened her eyes and Sonic marveled. A change had come over her. All the power and majesty that Sonic had sensed hiding beneath the surface presented itself in full glory for just an instant. Sonic's heart doubled over inside his chest. He had never seen anything so beautiful. Even when the moment passed, and Blaze appeared as before, the change within Sonic remained.

Blaze stepped out of the pool. She held out her hand and created an orb of fire. It quickly dried her off and Blaze shook herself of the remaining moisture. When she spoke, the spell broke, and Sonic regained control of himself. "Well, that is finally done."

"What was that?"

"That was the ceremony of Phoenix, the rebirth. My father the king has blessed my succession, my time has come. Did you not hear his voice speak out of the fire?"

Sonic shook his head. He had heard something, but it could not have been the king, he was currently the prisoner of the empire. Blaze smiled and held out her hand. "Priam bring me my sword, bring Caliburn."

Priam rummaged through his bag and withdrew Blaze's sword belt. He bowed as he handed it over. Blaze took her sword by its gilded handle and drew it. The silver steel shone with a red hue in the soft moon light. "This sword was forged in the fires beneath the city by the master smith Tragen nearly two thousand years ago. Embedded in this steel is the very fire of Solaris." Blaze twisted the blade around and offered it hilt first to Sonic.

"I can't take this-"

"You can and you must. Do it as a seal of my blessing."

Reluctantly, Sonic took the weapon. The hilt was warm and seemed to vibrate with energy. He raised it up and marveled at how natural it felt. Already, the blade felt like an extension of his arm. "I've never used a sword before, I don't know how."

"I will help you there." Levi, who had been lingering in the shadows, strode forward.

"Levi is a master swordsman. He taught all us knights the way of the blade. Levi has offered to go with you."

Sonic lowered Caliburn and frowned. "I don't want to risk anyone else."

"That is not your call to make," Levi countered. "Silver was my best student. My people need him now more than ever. And you cannot infiltrate the prisons of Lord Mesto alone."

"He's right," Blaze said. "And I cannot afford to send my other knights. Gawain and Rayne both volunteered but I need them with me. The time of hiding is over, we are leaving this sanctuary and taking our fight to the empire."

"Then you'll need this." Sonic offered back the sword, but Blaze shook her head.

"I do not require more weapons. Take the sword Sonic, I pray that you will not need it, but I sense that it may come in handy in ways you do not expect." Upon seeing Sonic's continued doubt, Blaze told the others to wait for them back at camp.

When they were alone, Sonic strapped the belt around his waist and fastened the sword bounced awkwardly against his leg. "It will be hard to run like this."

Blaze came forward. She undid the belt and stood behind him. Sonic's skin prickled as she touched his back. Goosebumps zoomed up his arms and he felt like he had been jolted with electricity. Blaze adjusted the belt, allowing Sonic to place the sword across his back. When she was done, Blaze lingered. Heat radiated off of Blaze's fur, warming Sonic and bringing blood rushing to his cheeks. "I am afraid." She whispered. Blaze was still standing behind him, so Sonic could not see her face. He reached back and she took his hand in hers. "What we begin cannot be stopped. In the end, everything I know will have changed."

"Change isn't bad in itself," Sonic replied. "Whatever happens, we can make things even better than they were. No matter how bad things get, the day will always outshine the night."

"Draw your sword."

Sonic reached back and pulled Caliburn from its sheath. The blade sang as it was let loose. Blaze walked around him and pressed her finger on the steel. Strange characters were carved into the blade. Text unknown. His translator echoed in his ear. Blaze read it for him. "These are the ancient runes of my people. It says; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Blaze placed her hand over Sonic's. It felt as if she was trying to express feelings too deep for words. Sonic returned the gesture and they both looked into each other's faces. Her eyes stirred a complex dichotomy of passions. They were simultaneously majestic and hinted at a deep primordial power, while at the same time guarded, vulnerable and quick to feel the sting of grief and loss. Sonic was moved by her, and could not easily understand his own feelings towards her.

He was relieved when Blaze pulled away. "Before you go. I will make an announcement to the others. I think you should be there."

Sonic sheathed Caliburn and followed Blaze down the winding path. Her and Priam continued back to camp while Levi and Sonic waited by the stone tree. Levi fingered his belt and kicked the grass. "She must believe in you, to send you on such a dangerous mission. I want to have hope, but I don't know how long Silver can hold out."

"Will Mesto try to kill him?"

"No, that is not Mesto's way. He would prefer to break him, to humiliate Silver and turn him into his thrall. Only then, does he serve out the peace of death."

"Silver is strong. He won't break so easily."

Levi sighed and turned to Sonic. "The strong oak breaks in the storm, while the bending palm tree endures. There are times when strength of heart and conviction of spirit serve only to make one less resilient. It is because of Silver's strength that I am afraid."

"Then we will have to free him as soon as we can."

An hour later, the Thirteens had all been gathered together. A platform had been raised in the center of camp and Arthur stood there with her two knights, Gawain and Rayne. Arthur lifted his hand and the conversations died out. Sonic and Levi mingled into the crowd. They found a place near Priam and Jasmine. The young hedgehog rushed to Sonic's side and seized his hand. "I heard you saved the priest's of Masada! It is just like my dreams-" Jasmine was quieted by her father who pointed to the stage.

Arthur strode forward and pulled off his helm. The reveal of Blaze sent a shockwave through the camp. There was a moment of silent bewilderment then a rush of movement. Everyone around Sonic suddenly dropped to their knees. Sonic quickly followed suit.

Blaze wore the Sol Gem circlet on her brow. She seemed taller somehow, and more beautiful than ever. "Rise!" As they stood, Sonic noticed that many of the Thirteens were weeping. Their joy and relief could not be contained. Someone in the back let out a cheer and it was taken by a dozen others. Jasmine raised her fist and screamed "Hail Princess Blaze!" The call was repeated over and over again. Sonic had seen humans perform stunts like this before, but this was not the reluctant praising of a tyrant, but the loving call of a people who had seen their living hope returned to them.

Jasmine held Sonic's arm and started laughing uncontrollably. "She's here, the empire never had her! We still have a chance!"

Blaze silenced the crowd by forming an orb of fire in her outstretched hand. "Hear me one and all. It was not my desire to deceive you. The mask of Arthur was a necessary tool to ensure that a remnant of our people endured. That time has passed. The hour has come to emerge from the shadows and face our enemies out in the open. Like a flame that pierces the darkness, we shall emerge to break apart the encroaching shadow of the empire. Within us burns the eternal flame of Solaris, we shall shine as lights for the entire world."

The Thirteens gave a great cheer. Sonic shivered with dreadful excitement. It was impossible not to be swept up in Blaze's words. As she spoke, images flooded into Sonic's mind. He saw a great army in crimson colors sweep over the hills to engage an army of metal and machines. It was a day of victory and justice. A day when life, light and hope conquered and all the evil in the world was drowned in the sea.

Blaze spoke for nearly half an hour. She roused her countrymen to action, insisting that they harness their courage for the fight ahead. Blaze did not build them up with false promises. She detailed the power of the enemy, of the great hoards of the empire, and the terror of their machines. Perhaps death would consume them all, but in that moment no one cared. It would be worth it, to fight and to die, with Blaze as their champion and captain.

Sonic had rarely felt this way before. This was not the call to an adventure, one in which right and wrong faded into the ether, leaving him free to push his limits. Blaze challenged him, and the rest of the Thirteens to a war. A war in which more than their very lives were at stake. On one hand stood the absolute control of the emperor, his cold malic threatening to sweep over Arvana, and then the rest of the universe. On the other, Blaze and the fiery heart of her countrymen.

At the end of her speech, Blaze tapped the Sol Gem on her circlet. "Thanks to the bravery and courage of our knights, we have secured a Sol Gem. The power that we alone on Arvana understand and honor. In ancient days, Solaris brought down the Flames of Disaster and our people learned humility. Arvana was saved, but there will be no such deliverance for us this time. The emperor must be stopped, and it is up to us to do it."

A fever spread over the crowd. The passion of the Thirteens could be felt. A great cloud of energy, of the will for battle built over the crowd, threatening to explode in a violent outburst. At that moment, someone tugged on Sonic's arm. He turned to see Levi gesturing for them to leave. Sonic took a look back at the stage then followed Levi. The two of them fought out of the crowd and headed for the exit. From afar, Sonic watched as Blaze raised both hands. "Tomorrow we leave this Sanctuary. For the coming of the Kingdom of Solaris, we march to war!"

No longer caught up in the spell of the crowd, Sonic's zealous excitement vanished. It was replaced by a cold dread that traced its spider like fingers down his spine. Levi's expression suggested he was feeling the same way. His hands twitched fretfully on the twin swords hanging from his belt. "And so the war begins."