"Don't tell me you're leaving already…"

Hands on hips, Sonic gave a wide smile at Silver.

Soot and scrapes covered both their bodies as the wreckage of Eggman's failed creations towered around them. Metal reaching to the air. Dotting out the sun. It was a creation that would have plunged the world into chaos once more, leaving a doomed future—a doomed world- for Silver to suffer once more. A typical story for the white hedgehog to regale to Sonic. One that the blue hedgehog had become accustomed to, perhaps even too familiar with.

Yellow dispersed from Sonic, returning the natural dark blue of his body back as the Chaos Emeralds fell to the ground. Their energy dim. Sonic tried hard to hide his exhaustion, heavy breaths as chaos energy fell away from his body. Silver could see the quiver of power stuck to him.

As far as Silver was concerned, the cause of destruction that would have plunged the future into disaster had been taken care of. Eggman and his horrible schemes had been laid to rest and Sonic's untimely demise had been avoided. The domino effect that would see the future in disarray was no more. The world would be (should be) returned to a new peaceful normal.

Normal.

Maybe even perfect.

Silver wiped his forehead as he exhaled with exhaustion before giving Sonic an equally bright smile. Though he had not dipped quite as deep into the reservoir of power he had, it could not compare to the raw strength of the Chaos Emeralds that Sonic wielded so naturally.

"I have to go back to my own time. I gotta make sure that the future made it out ok." The future. But never home. "I wish I could stay…" his words trailed away as his eyes stared anywhere but to his friend. He tried to be sly. Tried to hide his want. But Sonic was always the perceptive one. The tinge of sadness in Silver's voice could not be hidden away so easily from Sonic.

Tails was slow to hover towards the two with Knuckles in tow. The two of them with their own injuries. But those concerns were quickly ignored by the soon to be farewell. "You're not going home already!" Tails's eyes widened at Silver. When Knuckles had let go of Tails hands the fox hit the floor with already pleading eyes for the time traveler to stay. His words echoed Sonic's, but his face didn't hold back the emotions they all felt.

There was only an awkward laugh as Silver tried not to stare at Tails. He was almost just as bad as Sonic. "You know I'd love to stay…" Is what he always said. "But I need to go back to the future and ensure that its safe." The simple less complex answer. He had all the time in the world to explain himself. But not for them.

Sonic crossed his arms with a small frown. But eventually it blossomed into a smirk as he managed to catch Silver's glance. "You know I'm expecting you to stay one of these days. No better way to keep us in check than to babysit us."

The offer gave Silver a small gasp. Albeit barely hidden away by his turned body. Though it was a tempting offer nonetheless, it wasn't something that Silver could readily take.

It was a selfish desire.

Yet, he couldn't help but ponder it for a moment.

"Yeah, but where's the fun in that?" Silver laughed as he finally dared to look at Sonic.

A smile was provided to hide the bittersweet tinge on his words.

But the smile held not a single shred of happiness. Only a sadness. A loneliness.

Thoughts were quick to permeate his mind. Drawing him closer to staying rather than leaving to the wonderous future. The goodbyes were always the worst in the calm after the storm. Never knowing whether this would be the last time he would see his friends or it would be only moments later he would slip back into time to prevent a future yet borne. Then there was that other feeling. A wish that Silver himself could never verbalize. But a wish that Sonic seemed to have done for him.

Tails was the first to rush to Silver's side. Enveloping the taller hedgehog in a firm hug. It shocked Silver. He drew back for a moment, the sinking feeling drawing deeper into him. Soon enough, he would return the hug just as tight. A serene smile on Silver's face as he closed his eyes.

He couldn't help but envision himself staying.

To live a simple life.

But eventually, he had to let go.

As always.

The comfort would linger as Silver took several steps away from the group, preparing himself to jump to the future.

"You really hate goodbyes," Sonic smiled after Silver.

I do.

"You never know the next time I'll see you," Silver laughed. "It might be tomorrow. Or in a few seconds." He tried to make light of the goodbye. But everyone knew better. If the future was safe, then there was no reason to come back. This they knew. This they refused to accept.

"I was still hoping you'd stay for at least a day or two. Y'know, maybe a party for saving the world?" Sonic gave a shrug. "Maybe… chili dogs?" Silver watched as Sonic's smile became more content as his mind wandered to food.

Silver laughed. "I gotta admit, I never had them. But when I come back, I'll take you up on that offer."

"That's a promise!" Sonic snapped his fingers.

Silver nodded his head as Tails waved a teary farewell. Sonic and Knuckles took it with a better stride, but even with their smiles it always pained him to see it.

Some things were better left unsaid.

With eyes closed, the thoughts in his mind soon slipped away. A cyan aura began to envelope the hedgehog as his feet soon lifted from the ground. It made his body feel thick and heavy even if his body was weightless in the air. Energy reverberated through him as he felt the threads of fabric sift through his body akin to a paging through a dictionary. Each reality a thread within the paper. It wasn't hard to catch the thread, but always difficult to hold onto it. It slipped through his fingers. Several frustrating times.

Was it what Sonic offered that he was finding this so difficult now? He couldn't spend too much time thinking about those thoughts. Not now when he was so close to returning to the future.

Try as it might, the thread eventually was caught in Silver's mind. Held firm in his hands.

Sensations became even more numb and everything around him was nothing more than an empty abyss. Though he still remained in the present, his body felt as though it was transcending into another place. He had done this many times before, but the sensation was always so foreign. Already, Silver was steeling himself for the nausea that would come when arriving in the future. The bouts of confusion. The vertigo.

At least, that was what was supposed to happen.

"Finally!" came a voice. "I was beginning to wonder if my calculations were off."

It was difficult, near impossible, to tear himself from the thread that already latched itself onto Silver. Heavy was his eyes as he tried to pry them open to search for the voice that rung through the carnage of metal. Even as he did, his vision was a blur, filled with static as pain shot through Silver's mind.

"Eggman!" Sonic's voice split through the voice's laughter. Confirming what Silver dreaded.

Blurred, but not blind, Silver could see a giant metal robot rise from the ashes of the old. It wasn't quiet as big as the one they had defeated. It had the obvious Eggman Red painted on the metal paired with beautiful steel. But unlike his other robots, blue cyan, much like Silver's own, coursed through it like liquid. A perplexing abomination of metal. One that filled the white hedgehog with dread.

The haze was beginning to slip away. But the open door to unwritten futures did not. Even as Silver tried to move, it felt as though his soul was trapped between his body and the gate. A searing pain coursed through his mind, echoing through his skull as his concentration tore from the open door to Eggman.

"Augh!" Silver groaned as he brought his hand to his head. He grit his teeth as he wavered in the air as he closed his eyes.

Powers and focus were drawn too thin, and he was beginning to pay for it. In the throes of pain, Eggman took the opportunity to snatch Silver from the sky. Holding him tight in his hand, the robot brought Silver close to Eggman who sat comfortably within it. A devious smile plastered on his face as his glasses glinted.

"Silver!" he heard the voices below.

Another weave of time was caught in his hand. A surge of energy flowed through his body. It felt as though his powers were being drained from this machine. It was unlike anything Silver had faced before.

"W-What?" Silver managed in a grunt. It was impossible to keep in control.

"Eggman! What are you doing!?" voices from below sounded panicked. Scrambling towards the machine. He heard a large thwunk as something hit against it to no avail. A cyan soon enveloped both the robot and Silver.

He heard a chuckle resound through a speaker from the robot. "Taking control of an opportunity." The doctor laid back for several seconds, then leaned forward rubbing his chin staring down at Silver. "You've caused a lot of trouble for me. Just as much as that blue rat. But thanks to your continued meddling you've finally allowed me to perfect my ultimate machine." There was a pause as he smiled contently to himself.

"Every machine of yours is your ultimate machine," Sonic shouted back up at the Doctor.

A frown was quick to meet Eggman's face. But he shook it away as his attention was brought back to Silver. "Unlike my other ones, they had been perfected in destroying that blasted hedgehog. But this one… This one has been made special for you, Silver."

A panic soon reverberated through Silver's body. A sinking feeling soon drew over Silver as Eggman watched as the anger and pain turned into sheer panic and fear.

Silver hardly took another moment to think. Without missing a beat, a surge of cyan blasted through the air. Raw telekinetic power coursed through Silver as he attempted to overload the machine that held Silver tight in its hand. He was expecting a similar reaction to many of the machines that Eggman had created. But when the Doctor sat comfortably within the robot, giving the other a large theatrical yawn, the hedgehog sat there dumbfounded. There was confusion in Silver's face, but there was hardly any energy for Silver to question as every sap of his powers were being siphoned from him. Exhaustion followed quick, and pain snapped his head into two. For a moment he felt as though he was going to faint.

Eggman shook his head, "Hah! There's nothing you can do now. I now have the very same power of yours." The doctor moved side to side, pressing buttons on his console. "A rather perplexing set of powers, actually. I have never seen anything like it before. I cannot wait to bring you back to my laboratory to study you further. But let's do a little test now, shall we?" His hand settled on a lever. It was only a beat or two later that he slowly begun to pull it downward.

Silver felt his body become filled with a fountain of everlasting energy. Overtaking him completely. A warmth surrounded him as he felt chaos energy flow into him. The door to the future was still swung wide open. There was no telling what Eggman would do with the newfound powers founded in Silver. He reached out again. Trying to grasp at anything to teleport himself to the future.

The energy that was coursing through him was more than he had ever felt before. Power that he was so unfamiliar with. But it felt incredibly natural. Almost as if it was another part of him. Silver wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but it was more than enough energy for him to latch on any nearby thread of time and draw him forward. With his free hand, he it forward reaching towards the air to grasp at the open door. Hopefully to whisk himself back to the future to recuperate then return to this moment of the past. It wasn't the best plan. But better than anything he could think of at the moment.

"Silver, stop!" he heard a voice.

A little more.

"W-What's going on? The Chaos Emeralds-!"

A little more.

Then he would be free.

"No! My machine!"

A little more.

Then he would be home.

"Silver! Don't do it!"

A little more.

Then there was darkness.

There was a bright white light when Silver finally managed to awaken from his deep slumber. Soon it was accompanied by a numbing sensation that crawled over his body, followed by a headache that sat heavy in the front of his mind. Sensations were slow to return as he was carried away deeper into the white nothingness. Shades were soon to return and those shades produced nothing but a blinding reflection of white. Soon enough touch was returned as well, only to be assaulted by the absolute numbing cold. Freezing, actually. The wind howled across his face, only for him to produce a shivery noise that was between teeth clattering and a groan of pain.

He wasn't sure what had happened moments before he had woken up here. Perhaps he did manage to make it back to the future and all things would be normal. Perhaps he had transported himself to some place far away from the epicenter of Eggman's machine, now saddled with the burden of dealing with something he had helped create. Whatever the case was, a looming fear still settled over him concerning the capabilities of the machine that Eggman had created. But now, he hardly had the energy, nor the ability, to think properly. All he could feel was pain pushing immense pressure on his skull. A pain all too familiar from pushing himself to the brink. But even with pain, all his thoughts kept leading him to the possibilities of destruction that he had caused. Another future to be saved.

"Are you finally awake?" came an unfamiliar voice.

Eyes widened fully now. Thoughts of the past (present?) were whisked away as he soon realized that the blinding white wasn't just his vision. But nature itself.

He was being carried on someone's shoulder through an icy tundra.

"Wuh!?" Silver struggled momentarily before a wave of nausea and vertigo came through him. Hands came to his head and he dug his fingers into his quills as the world seemed to spin around him. "Ugh…" he could only groan as a shiver ran up his spine.

"Don't push yourself," the voice soothed through his ears. "We will be someplace safe soon. Just stay awake."

Easier said than done. Especially with a headache that was best slept off. But even Silver knew better than to fall back asleep so soon after such injuries, both mental and spiritual. Besides, there was a lot to think about. What was that power he felt? Was that the power of all seven Chaos Emeralds? Did Eggman really have a trump card against Silver now? What was he planning on doing with his powers?

The thoughts continued to race through his head, as well as that pounding headache. But, soon enough, warmth surrounded him. A crackling of fire as the sound of a door opened and shut. There was a sigh from the person whom carried him. Shifting the weight of Silver's body, the hedgehog allowed himself slide from the mysterious stranger's shoulder down to the other's hands. Though his vision was still blurry, adjusting to the darker surroundings, he was able to make out his savior. A pastel pink polar bear.

Then I must be in Holoska. He looked around at the log cabin. Toasty and warm. A needed reprieve from the blinding white and freezing temperatures.

Carefully, the polar bear walked deeper into the cabin and rested Silver on the couch. Pulling a blanket up to the shivering hedgehog as he was pushed closer to the fireplace. Wordlessly the polar bear moved to add more logs to the fire.

An awkward silence.

"Um… Thanks for helping me…" Silver shivered nestling into the blankets. "My name is Silver…" he was unsure about revealing his name. But considering that the other saved him…

"Silver. Just like snow." The polar bear smiled. "You may call me Alder." He looked towards Silver, approaching the other to lay more blankets on him. "Not usual to find a hedgehog this far out." Alder patted the blankets down on Silver. Fitting them to be snug over him. The weight was comforting. "Let alone two."

"Two!?" eyes widened as Silver (attempted) to stand. "There's another!?" But as he struggled beneath the blankets a wave of confusion wafted through Silver's mind. Silver shut his eyes as he held his head, nearly rolling off the couch.

Alder lurched forward to quickly catch Silver and rest him back on the couch. "Woah, not so fast." There was a chuckle from the him as he tucked the blanket around Silver, turning the hedgehog into a blanket burrito. "A friend of yours? Do not worry. He is sleeping upstairs."

Silver looked at the other, worried eyes. "Is he ok?" Alder nodded. Silver relaxed into the couch with a smile. "I'm so relieved…"

"Another hour or two and I do not think any of you would have made it," the polar bear stood up. "Your friend should be waking soon. I am sure he will be happy to see y—Ah. Speak of the devil!"

Eyes trailed upward to the foot of the wooden staircase to find a groggy Sonic at the base of it. He looked worse than Silver felt, but perhaps it was from the battle before. Still, Silver was relieved to see his friend injured, but safe. Alder moved away from Silver, walking towards Sonic checking over the bandages on his friend.

"You are hurt. But your bellies need filling." Alder gave the blue blur a once over before standing at full height.

Sonic gave a bit of a chuckle, "The best medicine there is."

I guess I just transported everyone across the world.

"I will make soup. Please, make yourself comfortable." Alder motioned towards the living room before moving to the other room. Sonic didn't waste any time as he stumbled beside the fireplace. He gave Silver a relieved smile, patting the other hedgehog on the head.

"Glad you made it out safe," Sonic sighed before taking a seat beside him.

"Sonic," Silver sighed in relief. The weight of all the blankets made him stuck. But Silver wasn't planning on moving from his now cozy spot anyway. "I'm so glad that you're safe." He turned slightly, getting a better look at Sonic. "How's the vertigo?"

"Ugh, awful." Sonic scrunched his nose as he looked at Silver. "How do you deal with that all the time? I can barely move my two feet!"

A soft laugh escaped him. "Well, it's not usual that it happens. Only when I expend too much energy. But I guess getting caught in the crossfire gives that side effect."

It was a first that Silver had seen Sonic so calm and laid back. Usually, it was always the heat of the battle that Silver saw Sonic. Always running around (literally and figuratively). No time for resting or taking breaks. To see the other like this was unusual for Silver. Though, he supposed it was normal for Sonic if he wasn't in the thick of battle and chasing Eggman's tail.

"What was all that anyway?"

"Huh?" Silver glanced at Sonic in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"What you did back there? With Eggman?" Sonic raised his brow. "It was like you were in a trance or something."

"Oh…" Silver glanced away. "I'm not sure. I was just trying to get away from his machine. I guess I accidently used the Chaos Emeralds and flung everyone all over the world." Silver gave a shrug, "I was panicking, but that machine was draining my power. It was unlike anything I've ever felt before!" Sweat dripped from Silver's body. Not from the heat, but nervousness. "Ugh… and its all my fault. I've been meddling too much…"

Sonic shook his head, "Hey, Silv. Don't beat yourself over it too much. We'll just take him down like we always do! No biggie."

Always that classic optimism.

"I know we will, but it still concerns me…" Silver trailed off. "I guess you're right, though. No need to worry too much about it now. I'm sure Eggman can barely walk right now." Sonic seemed to give a snicker at Silver. Probably imagining him rolling around dizzy. He couldn't help but crack a smile at Sonic's laughter. It relaxed him as he sunk back into the blankets. The warmth settling around him as he watched the fire crackled. The wind's howl was loud, but it lent to the atmosphere of the place.

Soon enough, he allowed his eyes to close and drift into nothingness.

It felt as though only a second passed when Silver opened his eyes. Groggily, he looked around finding Sonic no longer sat beside him. Panic set in his body quickly finding his friend no longer beside him. But with a turn of his head, he noticed that Sonic was sat at the table with Alder. Dinner had been set, and the main course was soup. Slowly, the panic subsided, and Silver carefully peeled off the too hot blankets before making his way to an empty seat. Alder gave a small smile.

"Didn't want to wake you," the bear stood to provide Silver his own bowl with soup. "Here. I'll take you into the city tomorrow. At least you'll be able to get your bearings when you're in Halyceon."

Silver was about to dig in before the name caught him off guard. Sonic only stared at Alder in confusion mid sip of the spoon. There was an awkward laughter as Silver sat completely still, watching the way the vegetables in his soup moved within its matrix. "Sorry, come again?" Sonic asked in a playful tone. "Halyceon?"

"Halyceon." Alder looked at Sonic with a confused expression. When the name was still met with a blank stare, Alder continued. "The biggest city in the world. The shining jewel of Haloska."

Sonic still met Alder with a confused stare. Though the other took it in stride (Silver had heard of Sonic's many travels to alternate dimensions), the blue blur could barely hide his confusion. Though Sonic was able to better hide the confusion, Silver's face was becoming pale as he kept staring into the soup.

Alder rubbed the top of his head in his own confusion. "Did you get hit on your head? I fear you may have amnesia."

"M-Maybe," Silver managed a half-hearted laughter. A glance towards Sonic with a rough shove of the elbow told the hedgehog all he needed to laugh with Silver. Though pained and confused. The white hedgehog gulped hard as he stared at Alder, trying to keep a straight face as his hands were beginning to shake. "C-Could you tell me what the year is? Just gotta make sure!" Silver lightly tapped the top of his head as if playing along in a joke. But Sonic's confused stare soon turned concerned as it whipped over to stare at Silver. Eyes were wide.

Alder sat for a moment with narrowed eyes. Not quite sure if it was a game they were playing or if they truly had amnesia. He crossed his arms over his chets, pausing a moment mulling over whether to play in the 'game' or to give a serious answer.

In the end, the answer was obvious.

"2218."

Silver could feel a pin drop from the ARK. Though panic was settling in quickly, he clenched his fists on the table and gave a bright smile. Sonic sat stupefied, but Silver was quick to take control of the conversation. He was a natural. Having done this so many times before. But the burden on his shoulders were becoming much heavier.

"Right, of course." Silver nodded his head with a laughter. "Just needed to make sure after I forgot about Halyceon. Right, Sonic?" Silver glanced at his friend, who's mouth was agape.

But the other was quick to catch on. Carefully he shook his head and mimicked the smile that Silver had. "Yeah! Must have gotten hit on the head on the tumble down." A laughter as he resumed eating his soup. Perhaps a bit too quickly.

Alder raised his brow as he stared at Sonic, then to Silver. "What were you two doing out here?" The other was becoming suspicious of the other two. But not for any outrageous suspicion of time travel. "You don't see hedgehogs this far outside the city. Unless you're with G.U.N."

Sonic coughed on his soup for a moment. "G.U.N. is still around!?" he stared bewildered at Alder.

"W-What my friend means…" Silver interjected quickly at the confused bear. "That he's surprised G.U.N. is still in Haloska. We're not from around here, we were on vacation and got caught in an avalanche that separated us from our group." Sonic glanced towards Silver almost impressed by the story.

"I take it you don't like G.U.N.?" Alder seemed to relax a bit, "I don't blame you. They are still around these parts. Been doing some digging. Not sure why. Hopefully they don't cause any problems." Alder took a sip from the soup. "At least we have some protection. I guess. Tomorrow, the city will give you more answers. I am sure you will find your group."

As much as Silver wanted to convince Alder to escort them to Halyceon now, there was no point in the discussion. Night had already fallen over the land. Even if Silver were to use his telekinetic powers, the best it would do is get him even more lost in frigid wasteland. He might be overenthusiastic, but he wasn't stupid. Especially now that he had to take care of Sonic and who knows who else.

Funny how he became a babysitter in the end.

"Right," Silver nodded his head. His hands were shaking as he picked up the spoon to finally dig into his meal. But he was finding his appetite no longer present as he forced himself to down the soup. Sonic eyed him carefully as he seemed to shiver. But it was as warm as ever in the cabin. "Tomorrow. Hopefully we can find our other friends."

"Silver…" came a whisper in the dark.

The two hedgehogs had been wrapped in blankets on the floor near the fire. The only room Alder had, and although uncomfortable, it wasn't the lack of comfort that kept them awake.

Sonic turned on his side, staring at Silver's back as he found it impossible to sleep. Even if he tried to keep a calm attitude, it was difficult to ignore Silver who looked to be on the edge of a full-blown mental break down at any moment. He had dealt with a lot of other people's mental break downs in his life. The worst of all was Shadow's. But never Silver's. And, if he was going to be really honest, he wasn't sure what a telekinetic's mental break down looked like, and he really did not want to find out.

"What…" Silver replied. His voice barely was kept together. It sounded as if the other had been crying.

"Are you still worried?" Sonic was careful to choose his words.

It was difficult at best to give the other a shoulder to cry on. Though Silver had talked in passing of life in the future, it was always difficult to really get a good grasp of what Silver's life really was like. Past, Present, and Future. He wasn't sure if secretive was the right word, but all things considered, Sonic knew barely a thing about his friend. Not that he really asked (shame on him), but it was never something he needed to know. And now, he was kicking himself over it. More than that, Silver's current problem was Sonic himself. His entire existence here, in the future, was the giant sore spot for the time travelling hedgehog. And who could blame him? It was one thing being plucked by the Time Eater, another thing getting sent to a future Wisp Planet, but completely different when it was his own friend who accidently tossed him 200-some-odd years to the future. What a recap!

Slowly, Sonic reached his hand out to poke the long quills that rested against the floor. Maybe he was a bit insane to poke an explosive teenager with explosive powers and a near explosive panic attack. But it, thankfully, did help enough for Silver to carefully unfurl himself from his legs and turn over towards Sonic. It was hard to determine whether or not the other had been crying, but the tension held in his body was enough to crack cement.

"You know there's nothing you could have done to have prevented—"

Silver shook his head. "Don't try to make me feel better." Sonic paused with an open mouth, before giving a sigh. Slowly Silver closed his eyes, barely breathing. "It's my fault. If I had just left when I did…" Slowly Silver covered his face. His breathing becoming even shallower. Cyan was beginning to swirl around him. Sonic could begin to feel his quills stand and body becoming weightless. "I ruined everything… again…" his voice a whisper. Quiet.

"You saved the world, again." Sonic was quick to correct Silver. But the other hedgehog ignored him, instead opting to roll back away from Sonic and ball himself up again. Sonic could only sigh as he watched Silver curl in on himself, becoming as small as possible. As much as Sonic wanted to try to continue to comfort the other, anything he was saying was falling on deaf ears.

What was that phrase that Knuckles once said? You can lead a horse to water… but getting it to drink…?

Sonic shook his head, trying to find the words to help Silver's troubled mind. "Listen, Silv. I know this is scary, terrifying even. But we've faced worse than this! I'm sure we'll figure out a way to return everyone home and everything will be fixed! Just like we always do." Silver hardly said a word, still kept curled. Sonic deflated a little, not quite sure how to help the situation besides his kind words and action. "There's no use worrying about things now when we can't do anything," Sonic tried again to give a sign of comfort.

"Just… Just leave me alone…"

It wasn't the reply Sonic was expecting. But at least it was some reply.

"I just need to figure out how to fix this."

Sonic kept his eyes on Silver's back. Watching the other, making sure he wasn't about to do anything stupid. But when Silver fell completely silent for a good while and the other's breaths were more stable, Sonic reasonably figured that he had fallen asleep. He could only let out a sigh as Sonic soon covered the rest of his body with a blanket and continued to stare up at the ceiling. The fire's lights dancing across the wooden beams. He had to get some sleep. Even if it was hard to come.

"We'll fix this, Silver." Sonic whispered to himself. His eyes heavy. "And everyone will get to go home."

The cyan faded away. The crackling of the fire became soft. Soon the flames became nothing more than red embers against black wood.

Tomorrow was a new day. Both for Sonic, and for Silver.