Hello!

I realize I have COMPLETELY neglected this fic for too long! For that, you have my deepest apologies! I know this isn't much, but please enjoy!

"You're related to Major Armstrong!?" Winry half asked, half yelled, oblivious to the passengers looking over at them.

"Mhm-hm!" Katherine nodded. "You know my brother!?"

"We do." Winry answered. "He escorted my friends back to our house so my grandmother and I could fix them up!" She emphasized as she pointed to Al.

Al stepped forward, holding his hand up. "Hi. I'm Alphonse Elric. Your brother helped protect my own brother and I."

"Elric?" Katherine asked. Her eyes widened. "You're one of the Elric brothers?"

"I am!" Al nodded. Winry couldn't help but notice how much more…enthused he was than usual.

"It's a pleasure to meet you!" Katherine bowed. "Alex should have invited you and your brother to our estate long ago! Perhaps next time, the both of you could join us for dinner!"

"We'll…we'll think about it." Al thought glumly. "I don't think I could get away with my usual tricks. Plus, I don't know if I could handle a full room of Armstrongs!" Al was just thankful that Katherine was the cute one of the family.

Sonic couldn't help but look at them. "Hm." He smiled. "Someone's got a crush, I think."

"Where are you headed, if I may ask?" Katherine asked.

"We're going to Crete, to the Red King's ruins." Al answered. He wouldn't dare tell her the whole truth. "I'm doing some research for Ed while he's on combat duty; there may be some alchemical secrets hidden in there that could help with his duties."

"Where are you heading, Katherine?" Winry asked.

"No where in particular; I'm just going where the wind takes me." She answered.

Winry blinked. "You're just…wandering?"

"Hm-hm." Katherine nodded. "It's an Armstrong tradition to do such a journey while we are not tied to a job or the state. Father says we gain our strength from exploring other lands and understanding them."

"That's…profound." Alphonse said. It certainly sounded like something people from the Major's family would do, and yet it did not sound as fantastical as he would expect from the family. "What if you get into trouble? Not everywhere is a safe place."

"Oh, it shouldn't be a problem." Katherine waved him off. "Father had me trained personally in all martial arts of the Armstrong lineage."

"I…see." Al thought of the Major's feats. "When you're that strong, do you really need a black belt?"

"Hey! How about I join you?" Katherine asked. "What you're exploring sounds very interesting!"

"Sure!"

"No!"

Both Winry and Al said their answers at the same time, causing the two to look at each other in irritation. "Al…may I have a word with you? In the next car over?"

"Uh…" Winry didn't give him a chance to answer as she grabbed him by his helmet hair and dragged him along (he simply went along so that the crowd wouldn't see his head fall off).

In the next car over, Al adjusted his helmet once Winry released it. "What the hell's your problem?!" Winry asked.

"We're being watched, remember?!" Al retorted.

Winry sighed, tapping his metal with her knuckles. "I understand you don't want to drag anyone else into this. But you've been able to handle whatever this Robotnik guy has thrown at you so far, right? And the Freedom Fighters are still with us. And besides, if Robotnik is really watching us, Katherine is already a target for retaliation. The best place for her is next to us." Before he could answer, Winry turned around to go back to their car and tell Katherine the good news.

Al sighed. "Why can't we ever win arguments with girls?" He thought.

Robotnik monitored the situation on his computer. The combots he had to spare were able to keep up with them in stealth mode perfectly, but they could only observe from atop the train. They detected their heat signatures inside (with the exception of Alphonse, though he was confident he was close), but they couldn't hear them inside. Robotnik sighed, stroking his mustache. It irritated him to no end when he only had partial surveillance. "I know where they are going, but I have no idea what they plan to do."

So far, their trajectory seemed consistent with their verbally agreed destination, but there was always the possibility they could throw him off somehow. And despite his threats, he wasn't sure if he could deliver should anything go wrong. He was confident the combots could handle most of them. He particularly wanted the Princess alive for robotization; after his conquest was complete, he very much wanted a trophy of his achievement. Knuckles would also be handy; he could help bring the Floating Island into the fold of his empire.

He also wanted Sonic to be his personal servant as a fate worse than death, but upon reviewing the data from his brief period as Mecha Sonic, it wouldn't have lasted; an aura of unknown origin was inside of him, and he would have broken out of his control eventually. "A shame really. It looks like when we're finished here, hedgehog; I'll have to have the combots kill you." Putting his fingers together, Robotnik gritted his teeth. He wasn't one to go in and get his hands dirty, but after years of interference and humiliation, he would make an exception. "I would very much like to destroy you personally."

"Sir, the battalion for the North has arrived at their destination." Snively said over the intercom.

"Right on schedule. The battle will likely start tomorrow; inform me when it does. I do not care what hour, I want to witness it."

"Yes sir."

Robotnik rose from his office, intending to further practice his new skill.

"So, how do you children know The Fullmetal Alchemist and his brother?" Katherine asked the kids.

Sonic gritted his teeth, and was thankful the hologram covered the blood vessel that popped in his head. He knew she didn't mean any disrespect, but the way she addressed them as children just came off as condescending. "Mr. Elric scared off some bullies." Sally answered for all of them. "We got to know Alphonse, and he and Winry invited us on this trip."

"Please." Sonic thought, rolling his eyes. "Not even YOU would call Ed 'Mr.'".

"That's very sweet of him." Katherine said. "And sounds right too."

"Really?" Tails asked.

"Indeed. Mr. Elric has garnered a reputation across the country for not only his skill, but his compassion towards the commoners. My brother has worked with him personally, and often confirmed it at dinner."

"Your brother's an alchemist?" Knuckles asked.

"Yes! He's a Major in the army! I have a photo!" Katherine reached into her jacket, and produced the photo. "My parents say we are a spitting image of each other."

The "kids" looked at the photo, and their eyes widened. Part of it was because they recognized Alex, but mostly it was how dissimilar the supposed siblings were. "I…don't see the resemblance." Geoffrey said politely.

"Really?" Katherine smiled, not getting the implication. "Everyone says we have the same eyebrows."

"That's the most obscure thing to draw similarities from!" Sonic said.

Winry then returned to the car. "Sorry about that." Winry said. "There was a misunderstanding; we'll be glad for you to come with us!" She said.

"That's great!" Katherine said, putting her hands together, as her eyes lit with stars. "I can't wait to tell my family about this!"

Al came in and sighed, hoping everything would work out.

Night fell, and most everyone was asleep. The mobians rested, their holograms still making them look like cute little kids. Winry leaned against the window as she drifted off.

And Alphonse remained seated, as he usually did. A part of him wanted to read or even write, but he didn't wish to turn on a light and disturb anyone.

"Are you awake, Alphonse?"

Al titled his eyes to see Katherine looking at him. "I'm sorry." Al said quietly. "I didn't mean to disturb you. Or…disrespect you. I should have agreed to let you come from the start."

"No offense taken." Katherine smiled. "Can't sleep?"

Al's first instinct was to lie and make up an excuse. But for some reason, he just couldn't. "I don't sleep." He said plainly.

"At all?"

Al sighed. "I literally can't." He looked back to her. "Does your brother ever talk about us?"

"Frequently."

"Then he hasn't told you everything."

Katherine's normally bright face turned slightly sad. "I see."

Al sighed; Katherine was a nice girl, even if she did come from an oddball family. "I'm sorry." Al said. "I don't mean to leave you out of what's going on. It's just…it's just that what happened to my brother and I is deeply personal. It's not something we share proudly. And besides…" he took a moment to find the words. "We're on a personal mission. We hope that nothing happens, as we're just seeking information. But we're neck deep in something; I don't want to get anyone else involved if I can help it."

Katherine nodded, smiling slightly. "I understand, Alphonse." Katherine reached over to clasp his hand. "I just hope, on this trip, you will learn to trust me."

Al was stunned at what a sweet girl she was. He was tempted to ask if she was adopted. He then looked at her well manicured hands. If he had his body, he could feel her… "I'll keep that in mind."

By morning, they arrived at their destination, and officers of Crete patrolled the many trains to verify all legal entries. "Passports?" One of the officers asked of everyone as he went down the car.

It was no problem for Winry and Katherine when they were asked. The problem was going to be Al, and the mobians.

"Crap! I can't believe I didn't think of that!" Sally thought. She and her Freedom Fighters rarely left the continent, and very few races defended their borders so seriously.

"Sir?" The officer asked Al, who sat motionless. "Your passport?"

For a moment, Al remained where he was. Then, he began a low laugh. The laughter became full blown as he suddenly stood up, fists on his hips. "You must not be familiar with me!" Al suddenly exclaimed, in a voice deeper than usual. "Surely, you have heard of…THE FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST!" Al suddenly pulled out a silver pocket watch with a chain, the crest of the Amestrian military present on it.

The Freedom Fighters' eyes widened. "This is never going to work!" They all thought.

However, the guard's legs began to shake, and he suddenly saluted. "I apologize sir! Please, as you were!"

To save face, the guard went towards the kids, but Al held out his arm. "Oh, they're with me." The inspector just nodded, and walked off.

"The Fullmetal Alchemist?" Katherine asked. "But…"

"Because of his armor, a lot of people mistake Al for Ed." Winry whispered to her. "Most people heard the name, but they don't know what he actually looks like, and take the name 'Fullmetal' quite literally."

"Oh." Katherine nodded. "I don't mean to pry, but does he not have a passport of his own?"

"Let's go." Al said as everyone followed after him.

The combots made sure to stay on the roof of the train, away from the civilians where they could safely remain cloaked. Through their cybernetic eyes, they saw Al and his friends exit the train. Through infrared, they could see the heat signatures of the children accompanying them did not match their shapes. The text "FOLLOW" showed up, and they complied. Remaining in stealth mode, they activated a low-burn version of their thrusters to hover without making a sound.

The trip to the castle would have taken a good while by foot. Fortunately, a tourist wagon would be able to get them there in a few minutes. It was large, with benches for most and poles for others to hang on if they had to stand. Despite his comrades looking at everything with some sense of wonder, Sonic was still bored through it all. He sighed. "Man, I need to cut loose or I'm going to go crazy."

Al looked on ahead, wondering what he would see. As Katherine was distracted by the scenery, Winry approached Al. "So, just what do you think we'll be looking for?"

"I don't know." Al admitted. "For all we know, all evidence may have been lost to history…if it even existed at all."

"But if not…?"

"Ancient writings. Pictures." Al would have shrugged if he had shoulder joints. "Perhaps even the remains of an old transmutation circle. Keep your eyes open, Winry." He looked to her. "We have to find a way to send them home…and we can't let Robotnik or the Homunculus' master get their hands on this knowledge." Winry nodded in agreement.

Sonic began to lean back, and felt his quill poke something. "Ahh!" Someone shouted.

Sonic shot up and panicked. A fat lady with too much make-up glared at him. "Aw man!"

"Martha, what is wrong, darling?" A middle aged man with glasses and a balding head, her husband probably, gripped her shoulders.

"This ruffian poked me!" She pointed accusingly at the disguised hedgehog.

The Freedom Fighters took notice, and immediately got ready to come to their friend's defense. Sonic could only chuckle. "Eh…sorry?" He shrugged apologetically.

"You think this is funny?" The man asked as he suddenly grabbed him by the wrist.

"Ow!" Sonic hissed. "It was an accident!"

"Oh, where are your parents?!" He shouted, squeezing tighter. Though the passengers looked with concern, most buried their noses in their pamphlets and looked the other way.

Al and Winry made their way through the crowd to settle the situation, but it looked like they weren't going to make it in time before something would happen. "I suppose we have to do what your parents won't!"

He cocked his hand back…and someone else grabbed it. "That is enough, sir!" Katherine said. "These children are with me!"

The man groaned, shocked by her surprisingly strong grip. Katherine released him, and he withdrew his wrist, soothing it. He and his wife then turned their rage on her. "Don't you know who we are?!"

"They must be a rich family." Winry thought with distaste. Though some like the Armstrong family were nice (if not a bit cooky), Winry saw how money made too many think of themselves above others.

"It doesn't matter; this child did nothing to intentionally hurt either of you, and all he did was lean back." Katherine said adamantly, placing her hands on her hips.

"Hmph." The husband said. "Of course a harlot like you would disrespect your betters."

Something then changed in her eyes, which lit up with a fire no one had seen. She suddenly grabbed the man, and lifted him up like he was an infant. "What the-?!"

He was forced onto her lap, as Katherine took out a paddle out of no where. "THIS METHOD OF DIVINE PUNISHMENT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN THE ARMSTRONG LINE FOR GENERATIONS!"

The tourists witnessed an incredible, and rather frightening, scene before them.

Needless to say, the group was kicked off the ride. "I'm sorry!" Katherine bowed to her companions. "I just couldn't sit by and let that happen!"

"Don't worry about it!" Winry waved her off. "Al and I probably would have done something similar."

"Uh, yeah!" Al replied, scratching the back of his head. "Though I don't think I would have done anything remotely similar to spanking a grown man personally, but that's just me."

"Well, it looks like we're walking." Sally said. "How far?"

"The main castle is over there." Al pointed to the horizon.

"That's quite a few miles." Tails/Miles noted.

"Well, let's get going." Winry sighed.

"Don't worry, I prefer this method!" Katherine raised her fist in excitement. "It will be excellent training!"

"She is definitely Armstrong's sister!" Al thought in both awe and horror.

Katherine was leading the way; they never declared a race, but it was clear that she wanted to put her all into a brisk walk. Sonic, who had tried to minimize socializing with anyone not acquainted with their true forms, took the opportunity to walk up to her. "Hey," he said to her. "I just wanted to say thanks."

"My pleasure." Katherine smiled.

"You're really nice, you know?" Sonic continued. "Helping out others who need it and everything. And not afraid to do what is right."

"Why, you flatter me." Katherine said, clutching her cheek and blushing.

"No, I'm serious." Sonic insisted.

"And so mature too!" Katherine said.

Sally's brow twitched. "Oh, if you only knew…"

Katherine then noticed something. "You're quite fast." She noted.

Sonic noticed they were running way ahead of the rest of the group. Nothing inhuman, but still quite an accomplishment. "Race you?" Sonic asked.

"So-" Sally stopped herself. "Sonny-!"

"Don't worry, Sal!" Sonic/Sonny waved her off. "I'll take it easy on her!"

"We'll see!" Katherine said. She began running, kicking up dust. She must have been running as fast as a greyhound!

"Seems she also has the Major's sprinting technique." Al noted.

"Passed down the Armstrong line?" Winry asked drawly.

"Yup." Al confirmed.

Katherine was quite confident in her sprinting. "I should probably give him a chance to catch up…"

"This all you got?" Katherine looked to her side, and for the first time, displayed genuine surprise, even shock! Sonic/Sonny was keeping even with her. "Okay," Katherine said, bringing her hand up to her chin and beginning to laugh haughtily. "I am most impressed. But don't get too cocky just yet!"

"You're on!" The two picked up the pace, getting further along.

"I'd be mad at him blowing our cover…but I guess if someone else is keeping up with him, I can let this slide." Sally sighed.

"Still, let's not fall too far behind." Al leaned down. "Hop on. I probably can't run as fast as them, but I can keep going without getting tired."

Winry nodded, getting on him. Sally and St. John held onto his legs. "The rest of you can manage yourselves," Sally told the others. "Just be careful; first sign we get close to the other humans, fall back and wait for us!" Tails, Knuckles and Bunnie nodded, taking to the air but staying close to Al.

The combots also kept track, splitting up accordingly.

Both Sonic and Katherine reached the castle in record time as the group went in, at least compared to the average human. However, Sonic still could not resist getting in the final step. He felt he should've been praised later on; all things considered, he showed remarkable restraint. "Beat you!" Sonic declared, jumping up.

Katherine was sweating, breathing heavily, but refusing to show weakness, which only caused her knees to shake underneath her dress. "Incredible!" Katherine exclaimed. "You're on par with my older siblings!"

"Oh, I think I'm much better than THAT." Sonic smirked internally.

"What kind of training do you do?"

Sonic shrugged. "None really. I was just born fast."

After a few minutes, Al caught up, carrying the kids/mobians and Winry. "Wow, Alphonse!" Katherine exclaimed. "You don't even look out of breath! And to run in armor!"

"Lots of practice, I guess." Al shrugged. "Ready to go inside?"

The ruins of the castle was just that: ruins. The towers stood, but several bricks were scattered at ground level. As they looked around, Sally tugged on Winry; she really was getting into character as a little kid. "Can we look at the other areas? Please?"

Winry smiled. "Sure thing. Just don't stray too far."

As the "kids" went off on their own, Al looked around curiously. Whatever happened here was not just because of old age. The collapsed walls and bars suggested conflict of some kind. Seeing some scratch marks across the wall, it would have suggested an aggressive animal.

Or Chimera.

"What happened here, all those years ago?" Al asked Katherine.

"It is said the Red King was caught in a major battle within the castle." Katherine explained. "It was rumored a terrible explosion happened here, but historians debate what actually happened."

"Anything else, Katherine?" Winry asked. "The rest of us aren't really big on ancient history, and mythology."

Katherine thought about it, putting a finger to her chin. "There is one other thing." Katherine answered. "After the incident, the King fell into despair, and abandoned his empire."

"Why?" Winry asked.

Katherine answered with a hint of sadness. "His son was lost."

"Lost?" Al asked. "You mean he was killed?"

"That's what most think," Katherine answered honestly. "But there are no records of a body recovered. It seemed as though he simply vanished."

Al nodded, and looked down into the courtyard. It was covered in debris, no doubt left untouched to preserve the site. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but he noticed a black mark. Even from this distance, he could see the way it arched. Al's eyes would have widened if that was at all possible, the realization hitting him. He jumped over the railing and began to dig out the rubble

"Al!" Winry hissed. "We're not supposed to touch anything!"

"Help me out!" Al called, moving more rocks.

Both girls looked at each other. Though Katherine hadn't known them for very long, she could see that this was something serious. Both nodded in agreement, and jumped down to join him. They worked fast, hoping they wouldn't be caught.

Eventually, they found what they were looking for. It was worn down, and to the average eye, it would look like someone merely scribbled etchings into the floor. Al, Winry, and even Katherine knew better, though. They've spent enough time with alchemists to know.

It was a transmutation circle.

Sally did a quick look around the grounds. Seeing no strangers were around, she pulled out Nicole. "Nicole, scanning mode please." Blue lasers traveled down the walls as she and her friends proceeded forward.

"So, what are we looking for exactly?" Sonic asked.

"Truthfully, I'm not sure." Sally answered honestly. "Just finding anything that might be off would probably be worth noting. Like a document, hidden in the walls…"

They traveled for a while, with nothing to show for it. "Man…" Sonic groaned, stretching his arms behind his head. "…maybe there's really nothing here."

Sally wanted to retort, but truthfully, she was beginning to doubt as well. Perhaps there was once something here and it was lost to time. Or maybe there was nothing to begin with. Not here, not anywhere. "Sally girl," Bunnie interrupted "…I don't mean to get your hopes down…"

"Don't worry." Sally said. "We may have adjust our search…"

Sally froze when a torrent of images suddenly assaulted her mind, causing her to freeze. Humans and chimeras seemingly in pain and despair. And someone else, crying.

"Sal?" Bunnie asked, gripping her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Geoffrey stepped in. Holding her head, Sally groaned. After a minute, she righted herself and calmed down. "I…I don't know." Sally answered. "I saw something, but it was all too fast to make out."

"Maybe you want to take a look over there." Sonic pointed. It was a jail cell; they entered what used to be a dungeon, the cells all around them being the indicator. All that was left were the broken bars and wooden beds. Judging by some of the scratches and bolts, it seemed they were also used as horrendous places of torture.

Sally stepped inside one, the others following in after her. "She was here." Sally whispered.

"What?" Tails asked. "How?"

"I don't know how," Sally answered honestly. "I just do."

Knuckles cupped his chin. "My father once told me, it is believed by many that the souls of the departed can leave a strong impression on some, when in specific locations that had a great meaning in their previous life."

"So, you're saying Alicia's ghost is haunting this place?" Sally asked.

"Well, that's one way of interpreting it." Knuckles said as he shrugged. "Dad was never a religious echidna, but he said understanding spiritual beliefs can help one understand other races and cultures."

They turned to see Sonic tap his foot. Their first reaction was to roll their eyes; this was normally Sonic's tic for showing his impatience. But upon looking at his eyes (even his holographic ones carried his emotions well), they saw it wasn't impatience.

It was anxiety.

"Sugar hog?" Bunnie asked. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know." Sonic sighed. "But something else is here."

"Something you don't like?"

"Something about this place bothers me." Sonic said specifically. "I just don't know what. It feels…"

"It feels like what, Sonic?" Sally asked, stroking his arm.

Sonic sighed. "It feels like I watched Uncle Chuck get robotized again." The others just looked on in silence.

Sonic almost never talked about that. After he regained his free will, they hoped Sonic moved passed that. Sally still remembered how he cried himself to sleep when he was little, after witnessing him roboticized. It always broke her heart to see that.

"Hey," St. John asked. "What's this?" He pointed towards the cell, walking inside. Tails followed after him. "See this?" He said, pointing to a faded, curved line near the top left corner.

"There's one over here too." Tails noted in the lower corner at the opposite side.

"Hey luv," St John called to Sally, oblivious to the age he was supposed to be playing. "Isn't this alchemy of the Elrics based around circles?"

"What do you think, Al?" Winry asked. Though she was not into Alchemy like her friends, she recognized the transmutation circle was incomplete.

"Either time had worn part of it off…or someone deliberately removed part of it." Al surmised.

"What do you think it's for?" Katherine asked.

"I'm not entirely sure." Al sighed.

Katherine only looked at him in realization. "This is what you came for, isn't it?" Al looked at her, somehow expressing surprise. Slowly, he nodded. "What are you looking for, really?"

Al simply said "I hope you don't have to find out."

"Hey, Al!" Sonic snd the others ran to him. "We found something!"

They were back in the cell the others found. "So, what so you think Al?" Sonic asked.

Al walked over, running his hand over it as he inspected it. "It's hard to say…but it may be the missing half of the one we found in the courtyard."

"So, can you duplicate the other half down in the courtyard?" Winry asked.

"Hold on!" Katherine said, holding her arm out. "You can't just alter a national monument! That's vandalism!"

Al sighed. "Yeah, you're right." He then looked at her sincerely. "But we need to find out what this is."

"Why?" Katherine asked, stunned that he would dare to do such a thing. "What's so important about this?"

Winry looked to the kids."Should we?"

Knuckles tapped Sonic's shoulder, and whispered. "They're here. They're watching." Sonic nodded. He knew what he meant; he didn't know how, but they had prepared for this.

Sally stepped forward. "They need to find out…for us."

"What?" Katherine asked, now clearly confused. "Who are you?"

"Not what we appear. But…we better let Al do his job." Sonic answered before turning to the living armor. "Al?"

Al nodded. "I think I know what to do."

Al took his chalk, and carefully drew a line from the cell's circle. He didn't just quickly scribble it down; he carefully directed the line around all obstacles, carefully measuring the distance and angles as he directed it to the circle within the courtyard. He also seemed to add details to his line, to ensure an even flow of alchemical energy, he said.

Finally, Al completed the connection.

"Al, is this even safe?" Winry asked. "What if this transmutation circle doesn't do what you think?"

"It won't. As long as we don't interfere with the transmutation lines or step in the circle, everyone should be okay." Al then remembered what Winry was referring to. He wondered how it was for her? To see the the boys she considered family to follow their passion and pay such heavy prices? Thinking about it now, he was amazed she didn't yell at them to stop using alchemy altogether. "Still, maybe you should all stand back. Just in case." He assured her.

Everyone did as he asked, and he placed his hands on the border of the circle. It lit up, and the energy travelled along the lay-line, linking both. Everyone watched with anticipation as the energy dissipated…and nothing happened.

"What?" Sonic asked, raising his arms. "That's it?"

Al rose, his eyes looking confused. "No, this can't be right! These were here for a reason!"

Then, something else began to glow. The creases between the stones glowed, until a hole opened up. They stepped back as the hole expanded, the rocks covering the ground became pillars, revealing a staircase under the floor.

"Amazing!" Katherine described. "It's a secret passageway!"

Winry's heart beat in excitement. "Should…should we go in?"

"It may be exactly want we came for." Sally said, still frighteningly calm. She took the first to step before turning to the others. "Come on, everyone!" She waved. The others followed after her.

"What is it you're searching for exactly?" Katherine asked Al, both amazed and frightened about what lay ahead.

The alchemist turned to look at Katherine. "My brother and I made an incredible discovery, more so than you can imagine. I can't describe it, not without you thinking I'm mad. And beneath those stairs may be a piece of history that was lost forever, until now."

"Let's go, Al!" Winry exclaimed as she adjusted her automail case on her back.

Al nodded, he and the two girls following after the others.

Something watched them through a red lens as they descended inside. Many numbers were displayed and images were enhanced.

But no action was taken until the words were displayed on the screen: Follow.

"It's dark in here." Tails said as they carefully reached the stairs.

"Anyone got a light?" St. John asked.

"Allow me." Nicole voiced.

Sally set her down, and Nichole's screen lit up, the light quickly becoming as bright as a magnesium flare. Those too close had to step away from the blinding light, but the room was as bright as day now. At first glance, it seemed like nothing; just a hollowed space.

"Hey, check this out!" Knuckles said, rubbing his hand on the wall. "It's those circles."

Indeed, upon closer inspection, the walls were littered with them. "More circles." Sonic sighed, tapping his foot.

"Let me have a look." Alphonse said as he walked in.

As he went about his job, Winry and Katherine eyed Nicole. "What is that?" Katherine asked.

Winry eyed the others, seemingly occupied with the walls. She began to lightly cackle, and out of nowhere pulled out some screwdrivers. "Experiiiiment time…!"

She went over…and felt her tools smacked out of her hand. "Ah!" Sally gave her a stern look as she said with her hand "I'm watching you."

Al finally gave his opinion. "I think these circles have a message encoded in them."

"A message?" Sonic asked. "You mean, we have to…decode it?"

"Something like that." Al said. "Or…perhaps it just need to be revealed. With some energy…"

Al placed his hands on the wall, lighting up all the circles. The energy then made its way to the center of the room, creating a large transmutation circle. What happened next, no one expected. The light bent to form a azure, corporal shape. "What's going on?" Tails asked.

"A hologram?" Sally asked.

"What's a hologram?" Katherine asked.

The shape of the light took the form of a young woman, dressed in a tunic. Her hair was long and tied in a ponytail. She then opened her eyes. Though the figure was blue all over, everyone could see her eyes matched Sally's, who could only look on stunned. "If you are watching this, it means I have been dead for a while." The figure said. "Months? Years? Centuries? Who can say?" It asked. "Perhaps the hybrids I had a hand in creating have returned. Or perhaps you have discovered this place by accident. It matters not; no doubt you have questions. Steel yourself…I shall tell you of my creations…and discovered a new source of power, as well as a new world."

Everyone looked on, their full attention on the oracle. "My name, is Felicia Acorn. And I am the creator of what you all know as 'Chimeras'."

I hope this is enough to sate you, and I promise you all I am doing my best to update more regularly. See you all next time!