-Chapter 162-

Blaze of Glory

Sol Zone

In another world, a figure was fleeing into an underground base, carrying an ornate case full of something. Once he got to the center of the base, he grinned, pulling a remote control-like device out of his pocket and pressing a button.

"Now to access the Cosmic Interstate and make my way to the Prime Zone at last." he declared. "With the Sol Emeralds, the multiverse will tremble before me!"

A swirling portal was just opening up when a fireball narrowly missed his head.

"Hold it right there, Nega!"

The figure turned, seeing a purple cat perched above him. She was wearing a strange, dark purple robe with white pants and pink high heeled boots. White fur gathered near her sleeves and around her ankles, and she had a red gem in the center of her forehead.

"Ah, Blaze," he remarked. "I'm afraid you're too late. I've enjoyed this game of cat and mouse we've played, but all good things must come to an end."

As the portal opened completely, he began to race toward it. Blaze leapt off, running after him.

"Get back here!" she shouted.

She tackled Nega, knocking the case out of his hands as both figures fell into the vortex.

Floral Forest

On Mobius, Cream was out picking flowers with her father, tying them into crowns. She placed one on his head, smiling.

"Perfect," she declared.

"Thank you, Creampuff," Coco told her. "I always love your flower crowns."

"Even Robians look cuter with them," Cream declared with a smile.

As they walked along, Cream's foot bumped something. She looked down, gasping at what she saw.

"Daddy! Come quick!"

Coco practically materialized by her side, seeing the unconscious Blaze laying before them in the field, unmoving.

"What happened?" Cream stammered. "I-is she dead?"

Coco bent down, holding a hand over Blaze's face. When condensation formed on his hand, he let out a long vent.

"She's still alive," he scooped up the unconscious cat. "Let's get her back inside. Hopefully your mother can help."

Some time later, Blaze came to, pulling herself up to find she was on a bedroll in a modest living room. She looked around to see Cream and her family walking in with teacups and a pot.

"Oh, you're awake," Vanilla greeted. "It's nice to meet you."

"Who are you?" Blaze asked. "W-where is this? Seagull Island? Southern Island?"

Cream raised an eyebrow. "Uh... Floral Forest in the Southern Baronies."

"Southern Baronies?" Blaze looked down in thought. "Then what he said was true. He did open a gateway. I'm in another world."

"Another world?" Coco asked. "So you're not from Mobius?"

"I'm from a Mobius. Just not this one. It's… complicated."

"Another dimension then? How exciting," Vanilla held out a cup. "Here."

Blaze shook her head. "Look, thank you for helping me, but I need to go. I have an errand to take care of."

"Please, I insist," Vanilla said. "Whatever your errand is, it can wait until you've gotten something to eat."

Blaze blinked.

"Who are these people?" She thought. "They barely know me, and they just took me into their house and offered me tea?"

After a minute, she sighed, taking the cup.

"Oh my, we haven't introduced ourselves," Coco realized. "My name is Coco. This is my wife, Vanilla, and our daughter Cream."

"What's your name?" Cream asked.

"It's… Blaze."

As they ate and drank, Blaze explained what happened.

"My world is called the Sol Zone. I am that world's princess, and Guardian of its greatest treasures: The Sol Emeralds. They're gems that keep my world from falling into destruction."

"Are they like Chaos Emeralds?" Cream questioned.

"Honey, I don't think she knows what Chaos Emeralds are," Vanilla pointed out.

"No, but I have an idea," Blaze said. "By their name, I assume they're connected to Chaos energy and the Chaos Force. The Sol Emeralds are the same."

"Oh, so these Sol Emeralds must be your world's version of the Chaos Emeralds." Cream deduced.

"Little Creampuff here's seen more than her fair share of Chaos Emeralds thanks to the Freedom Fighters," Coco added.

Cream perked.

"The Freedom Fighters!" she exclaimed. "We should introduce you to them."

"Slow down, Cream," Vanilla cut in. "And... how did you end up here?"

"A villain calling himself Dr. Nega stole the Sol Emeralds and used a device to open a gateway to this world. I attacked him while he was doing so, and we both fell through." Blaze finished her tea. "I need to go. The Sol Emeralds are probably scattered across this world by now."

"Then that's even more reason to get the Freedom Fighters," Cream insisted. "They're great at hunting Emeralds. We do it all the time."

"No offense, but no thanks," Blaze replied. "The Sol Emeralds are my duty, my problem. I can handle it myself."

But Cream was already in the midst of dialing Knothole on her com.

Knothole

In the training area, Sonic, Sally, and Tails were gathered in the training arena, watching as Kat held up a large metal bench. All of the kids, including the newly acquired Valerie, were sitting on it.

"Ha! Not even breaking a sweat!" Kat boasted. "I finally have my strength back!"

She placed the bench down, flexing her muscles.

"Okay, I take back what I said before," Valerie remarked. "Apparently you are strong enough to hold us all."

"We tried to warn you," Frances pointed out.

"Just be glad we talked you out of arm wrestling her," Danny added.

The group chuckled before Nicole appeared.

"Incoming call from Cream." she reported.

"Thanks Nicole," Sonic told her. "We'll take it in the meeting hall."

-X-

The group gathered up as Cream quickly explained how she had found Blaze and what Blaze had told them.

"If these Sol Emeralds are so important, we'd be happy to help out," Sonic promised.

"I just hope we can convince her to wait long enough for you guys to come over- Aaaand, she's gone."

Sonic sighed

"Oh boy, we've got a lone wolf on our hands."

"But... she's not a wolf. She's a cat."

"Figure of speech, Cream. We're on our way."

Floral Forest

At Cream's house, Sonic, Tails, Sally, and the kids all spread out, looking around for any evidence of where Blaze could have gone.

"We're in this whether Blaze likes it or not," Sonic declared. "There's no doubt at all in my mind Eggman will be after these Sol Emeralds the minute he gets a whiff of them."

"Then there's this Dr. Nega she mentioned," Sally added. "Ten to one says he ended up on Mobius just as she did."

"Well, we don't know who this Dr. Nega is," Cream pointed out, "or what to look for."

"Good point, Cream," Sonic admitted. "We'll need Blaze for that."

"All the more reason to find her," Tails declared, pulling his Miles Electric from his pocket and fiddling with it. "Luckily, if she's from another dimension, she'll have a different vibrational frequency than us. I can adjust my Miles Electric to track vibrational disturbances, and we'll find her in no time."

Everyone saved for Keith, Chris, and Hope looked at him, confused.

"Yeah…" Sonic let out slowly, "buddy, for just a second, pretend I'm not a genius.

Tails sighed.

"All dimensions exist in the same place, but they vibrate at different frequencies. That's how they overlap."

"Kinda like radio settings?" Valerie questioned.

"More or less," Tails allowed. "So Blaze's molecular structure is just slightly different from ours, and I can use that to track her, and these Sol Emeralds."

"Alright, I got it now," Sonic told him.

"Just give me a minute, and I'll be ready to go," Tails declared.

Robotropolis

Meanwhile, in Citadel Robotnik, Robotnik and Eggatha had sat down for lunch.

"This is nice," Eggatha remarked. "Just enjoying a simple, quiet day… we never get to do this."

"I'm inclined to agree," Robotnik replied.

"I suppose it helps that the 6-S are still being repaired, so Cubot can't burn down the kitchen again."

"Oh, definitely."

Behind them, a figure walked from around the corner before hitting a case against the ground. Startled, Robotnik abruptly turned around, seeing the man clad in shadows.

"I hope you made extra," the man told them.

"Who the hell are you?!" Robotnik demanded.

"Just a friend. But you can call me…" the man stepped out of the shadows and into the light. "Eggman Nega."

Both Robotnik and Eggatha were taken aback. The figure was nearly the spitting image of Robotnik, with some visible differences, such as a white mustache, pointy blue sunglasses, and visor-styled goggles. The color of his clothing was reversed compared to Robotnik's, with Eggman Nega wearing an open black military-style jacket with long coattails, a yellow stripe on the upper arms, and big yellow cuffs with two points. Underneath the jacket, he wore a red jumpsuit with a metallic-looking vertical silver stripe going up the middle and black and yellow striped boots. Eggman Nega's outfit was completed with a short yellow cape, which had two long triangles which rested over the front of his body. Robotnik's shock soon passed, and he jumped up, pinning him to the wall.

"I'll call you dead meat! How did you get in here?!"

"The front gate was open," Nega replied with a shrug.

Robotnik gaped before scowling

"How many times have I told those idiot Badniks? If you're the last one in, LOCK THE GATE!"

"Oh don't get in a tizzy," Nega admonished, "it's worked out in your favor. After all, I'm here to help you."

"I'm not one to accept help blindly. Who are you, and why do you look like me?"

"I am you, Dr. Ivo Robotnik, from another universe. Ever hear of the multiverse theory?"

"Of course I have! I studied it meticulously, long before I became who I am. But I highly doubt you're actually me."

Nega met Robotnik's eyes, speaking with an air of confidence.

"You keep Agatha around because despite her treachery, she's the only family you have that still shows some iota of respect and care. That, and you're desperate for any form of acceptance and validation."

A moment of silence passed before Robotnik released him.

"Alright, you've convinced me."

Nega adjusted his coat as Robotnik crossed his arms.

"Now, what makes you think I need help from... well, myself?" Robotnik questioned

Nega smiled. "Allow me to show you."

He picked up the case, popping it open and pulling out a red gem similar to a Chaos Emerald, but was an emerald cut (1) rather than the brillian cut (2) of the Chaos Emeralds.

"What you see here is one of the Sol Emeralds. The equivalent of your Chaos Emeralds in my world, the Sol Zone. And the Sol Zone's greatest treasures."

Robotnik's eyes were practically sparkling. "Alright, you have my attention, Nega."

They sat down as Nega explained.

"I had stolen all seven Sol Emeralds from their Guardian, Blaze the Cat. I intended to escape her for good using my latest device, the Zone-Link Generator. But as I was fleeing, she caught up to and attacked me. We both fell through the portal, and all but one of the Emeralds was scattered across this world."

"Then what do you suggest?" Robotnik asked.

"We're both the smartest evil geniuses of our respective dimensions. With the Chaos Emeralds and Sol Emeralds under our control, we could establish a true Robotnik Empire. Both Mobius and the Sol Zone would be ours to command as we see fit."

"Now that sounds promising. The only problem I see is our enemies having a similar idea of combining forces."

Nega let out a snort, then just started laughing.

"Blaze?! Combine forces?!" he chortled. "Ha! That's about as likely as Snively finding true love!"

Eggatha snorted at that.

"Believe me, Ivo, the last thing Blaze would ever do is work together with anyone," Nega went on. "She insists on carrying out her duty by herself. Hell, she's even ended up fighting with others in our world because she's so adamant on dealing with her own problems."

"Is that so?" Robotnik grinned. "Well then, this could work to our advantage."

Floral Forest

Back in Floral Forest, Sonic, Tails, Cream, Chris, Keith, Kat, and Valerie headed out, Tails tracking the vibration signal into the woods.

"I'm picking up two dimensional distortions," he reported. "One of them is also giving off a Chaos signature. It must be Blaze and one of the Sol Emeralds."

"Alright, everyone be careful," Sonic warned. "We don't know what to expect from Blaze and the last thing we want is to come off as hostile."

"I'm sure that won't happen, Sonic," Cream insisted. "Blaze is really nice."

"Cream, it's okay to see the best in everyone," Valerie said, not unkindly. "But you've only met Blaze once, had one conversation, and she ran out on you the first chance she got. You barely know anything about her personally."

"But she was very polite and I know that once we meet up with her, she'll be happy for the help," Cream said.

"But-" Valerie began.

"Val, don't kill her innocence," Kat cut in. "She's the fluffy glue that keeps our sanity in check."

After a minute, Valerie nodded. As they went, Tails turned to the others.

"Was it really a good idea to bring Valerie along?" he asked.

"I'm not helpless, Tails," Valerie replied. "I happen to be a gymnast and a fifth-degree black belt."

"Plus, you let us tag along," Chris pointed out.

"You and Keith have the Nitro Gloves," Tails argued. "You can fight back."

"I don't even have any special gimmicks and I can come along." Hope added.

"Hey!" Omochao objected. "What am I, chopped calamari?"

"Well, you three are among the greatest minds on Mobius," Tails justified. "And Kat... do I really need to explain?"

"Hey, if you don't think I got the stuff, just watch," Valerie swore. "I'll blow all your minds."

"Hopefully, it won't come to that," Sally decided.

Eventually, they came into a clearing. Much to their surprise, they saw Blaze running after a fleeing Badnik, jumping into the air and pulling off a flaming spinning kick.

"Give me back the Sol Emerald!" she shouted as she collided with the Badnik solidly, sending it flying and forcing it to drop a green Emerald that Blaze quickly snatched up. "One down, six to go."

"Blaze!" Cream cried.

Blaze went rigid, then groaned before turning to see the Freedom Fighters.

"I'm glad we found you," Cream went on. "I brought some of the Freedom Fighters!"

Sonic approached slowly. "I'm Sonic. Cream told us everything, and we want to help you."

"Nobody helps me," Blaze snapped. "It's my job."

"Told ya," Valerie said matter-of-factly.

"Look, it may be your job, but this is our dimension," Sonic insisted. "You don't know your way around, nor the dangers here. It would be better if you let us help you."

"I'll resolve this on my own," Blaze insisted. "It may be your dimension, but the Sol Emeralds are my problem."

"And them being in our dimension makes them our problem too," Sonic groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose and muttering under his breath. "Jeez, talking to you is like talking to a brick wall." He sighed and returned to a normal volume. "Look, we're in this whether you like it or not, so…"

Blaze turned slowly, embers emitting from her fingers.

"If you won't listen and leave me alone, then I suppose I'll have to make you."

"Wait, what?" Sonic objected. "You're gonna fight me?"

The embers became a full blown fireball in Blaze's hand.

"Seems to be the only way thick-headed imbeciles will let me do my job in peace, so yes."

She threw the fireball. Sonic darted away, the others jumping aside and getting back as they faced off. As they did, Valerie looked down at Cream.

"She's really nice and polite, huh?" she said sarcastically. "Oh, to be six years old again…"

"But… she was…" Cream stammered.

"Don't worry Cream, we'll teach her some manners," Kat assured.

"Blaze, stop it!" Sonic begged. "This isn't gonna change anything!"

"What do you know?" Blaze snapped. "I am the guardian of the Sol Emeralds... It is a fate that forces me to live with my curse, my flames... Because of my powers, I have always been alone... It's also why I must do this alone! It is my responsibility!"

"I admire your fortitude, but... Carrying the entire world on your shoulders?"

"That's how it's always been! I don't need your help, Sonic, and I don't! Need! YOU!"

She sent a massive plume of flames right at Sonic, forcing him to dodge. Sally drew her blades, charging at Blaze. In response, the cat summoned a fiery blade of her own, blocking the attack.

"Nice try, but nowhere near enough," Blaze remarked.

The others soon got involved as well, barring Cream. The clash got hectic, plasma balls and Omochao heads flying all over. It ended with Sonic charging at Blaze with a Sonic Boost, Blaze doing the same while wreathed in flames. They collided, creating a shockwave that knocked them back. As they got up, breathing heavily, they heard a scream, and all eyes turned to see the Egg Mobile floating overhead, Cream having been snatched up in a metal arm.

"Eggman!" Sonic screamed. "Let Cream go, or I'll-"

"Or you'll what? "

Everyone gasped as a second Egg Mobile flew in, this one piloted by Nega

"Oh, Aurora…" Hope gasped. "There's two of them now?!"

"Nega…" Blaze explained. "He's the villain who sent me here."

"I sent you nowhere, Blaze," Nega smirked. "It was your own fault. Running off half-cocked and attacking me as the Zone-Link Generator was kicking in."

"I couldn't let you take the Sol Emeralds!"

"And now, they're scattered all over this world, a world you know nothing about. I have a partner with resources and power, and you…" Nega's grin grew wider and more vicious. "You're the reason we have this lovely hostage."

"SONIC!" Cream screamed.

"Dr. Nega told me all about you, Blaze," Robotnik added. "How you'd be too stubborn to accept help from Sonic and would sooner fight him than do so. Which gave us the opening we needed."

"Now, if you want us to free the bunny, you'll collect both the Chaos and Sol Emeralds and bring them to Robotropolis," Nega included. "Otherwise... you'll never see her again."

"Let her go, Nega!" Blaze demanded. "She's innocent! She's done nothing to you!"

"Oh, you'll get over it. After all…" Nega smirked, "I seem to recall you prefer to 'work alone.'"

With that, they flew away, Cream struggling all the while and reaching for them.

"Cream, don't worry!" Sonic called after her. "I'll save you! I promise!"

"I know you will!" Cream cried.

Once they were gone, Blaze looked down, horrified at what her stubbornness and pride had wrought. She didn't have long to wallow in those feelings before a fist slammed into her jaw, knocking her to the ground. She looked to see Kat, her hair glowing slightly as she grabbed Blaze by the collar, yanking her to her feet.

"I don't know what your problem is, Blaze, what your issues are…" she hissed, deadly calm, "and as of right now, I officially don't care. If you had worked with us for five minutes, we could've stopped this. But thanks to you, an innocent little girl is the prisoner of those psychos. And I swear to Aurora, if they hurt even a single hair on Cream's head, I'll kill you myself!"

Keith came up to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Kat visibly tensed at the touch.

"Kat, Cream will be okay," Keith assured. "He won't do what Metal did. You know that."

Kat dropped Blaze and Keith just hugged her. "She'll be okay. I promise."

Blaze got up, hugging her legs.

"I... I didn't mean for this to happen…" she lamented. "I just wanted to do my duty my way. Handle my problem. No one was supposed to get hurt."

"Going off on your own and trying to do things by yourself never works," Sonic's eyes drifted over to Kat as he said this. "Trust me, I know. You need someone to watch your back and help you, because you can't always do it on your own."

He held out a hand.

"I'll be honest, you'll have to swallow a great deal of pride. But it will be worth it in the end."

Blaze looked at the outstretched hand.

"You can keep beating yourself up over all this, or you can pull yourself together and help us stop Eggman and Nega and save Cream. What's it gonna be?"

Blaze thought for a moment, then took his hand.

"Alright…" she gave in. "Where do we start?"

Robotropolis

At the Citadel, Nega was dancing around, pondering over what to do with the captured Cream.

"Now, what to do first?" he asked. "Roboticization? Cyberization? Badnik battery? Or perhaps classic torture."

Cream let out a terrified whimper, hiding behind Robotnik. In response, the doctor picked her up, passing her over to Eggatha.

"Agatha will handle her," he declared, happily noting how quickly the small rabbit clung to his niece. "See to it she's properly contained, and that your lab assistant stays away from her."

Nega seemed visibly disappointed, but accepted Robotnik's decision. The minute Eggatha took Cream away, hand in hand with the girl, Robotnik turned to Nega.

"We took her to be used as a hostage, not to brutalize her, Nega." he told him. "It makes no sense to harm her."

"Bah!" Nega scoffed. "Destruction isn't supposed to make sense! It's only fun when it's senseless!"

"I don't know how things work in your dimension, but here, destruction has a purpose," Robotnik snapped. "And I will NOT have a six year old being tortured in my base!"

Nega held up his hands before nodding.

"Yes, of course. Your resources, your world, your rules."

Robotnik's eyes narrowed, but he let it slide.

-X-

In her lab, Eggatha led Cream inside. The minute she saw Metal moving boxes, Cream's eyes widened in fear.

"No, no, no!" Eggatha cut in, quickly attempting to defuse the situation. "It's okay. He's been downgraded. He won't hurt you."

"He's a monster!" Cream cried. "He hurt Kat!"

She was clinging to Eggatha, shaking and sobbing. Metal looked down, wisely keeping his distance.

"Which I regret every day," he said.

Cream looked up in surprise. Eggatha sighed.

"I had his consciousness stored in a flash drive, and rebuilt him in his original body with most of his combat functions disabled until he earns them," she explained. "Cream, it's because of me and my uncle that Metal spiraled the way he did. We made him too powerful too quickly. His mind couldn't handle it."

"So... he's not gonna suck the life out of me?" Cream asked.

"No he's not," Eggatha assured. "He's my lab assistant, nothing more. He'll be on his best behavior, under penalty of a permanent, full system shutdown."

"And me?"

"You're a hostage," Eggatha replied. "However, if you promise to stay in my lab and not cause any trouble, I won't lock you up. Okay?"

Cream nodded. With that, they sat down on a small couch Eggatha had in her lab. The young scientist sighed again, running a hand through her hair.

"I can't help but think Uncle Ivo is making a huge mistake working with this guy. He may be a Robotnik from another dimension, but he's way more... how do I put it…"

"Evil and crazy?" Cream offered.

Eggatha nodded. "Yeah, exactly."

"He sounds like I did," Metal mused. "Not a good sign."

"I know. Uncle's already working on contingencies in the event the worst happens."

"But if he's him, then won't he expect the contingencies and make his own?" Cream suggested.

"Well, we still have to try," Eggatha replied. "No matter what, we are not going to have a repeat of Metal Overlord."

After a minute, she smiled at Cream. "But enough about that for now."

She guided the bunny over to the TV in the corner, where an Ages Neptune was set up. Eggatha picked up a controller, offering the other to Cream.

"Care for a round of Super Marxio Bros.?"

Cream smiled. "Oh, I love that game!"

They picked up the controllers and began playing, Cream's nervousness melting away…

Author's Note:

(1): Rectangular cut gem with truncated corners.

(2): Traditional diamond cut gem.

Yep! Sonic Rush adaptation. Surprised? Don't worry, a Shadow the Hedgehog adaptation will follow soon enough.

Please R&R. Until next time!