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Chapter Text

Through fear and pain and cries
Why don't we hear the lies?
Why can't we bear to be the light?

See the world
It screams, "Be free"
Our world
We need to breathe
And be one world
And just believe
In peace

Be one world
Be the light
Be one world
Be the light

It's dark. It's also hot. Having become accustomed to his world's weather, Silver couldn't help but feel a deep sense of heat settling deep in his bones. His eyes slowly opened, no longer surrounded by the comfort of his world. Surrounding him were destroyed buildings that appeared to stretch on for miles. The sky was covered in blood red, the air thick and humid.

His lungs ached from breathing in the dense air. He shot around, searching for any sign of life. The city, in spite of its condition, was easily recognized. Silver saw what remained of his favorite bakery, a place one filled with conversations of friends and loved ones was now little more than ruins.

Silver…

The sound of the familiar voice sent Silver's heart plummeting down into his stomach. He strained to push through this strange mugginess he's in. He didn't feel wet, but the sensation his body was experiencing was similar to one a person felt when they are drowning. The sensation didn't fade away, even as the scorching temperatures threatened to give him heatstroke at any moment.

Where were you?

Silver shot around once more, his eyes widened with relief and confusion. Too many emotions raced around his mind at once, yet at this moment, nothing could distract him from the sight before him.

Blaze stepped forward, her golden eyes carrying no hint of emotion. This was far different than her usual stoic demeanor. The princess was completely devoid of all feelings. She continued approaching, the heels of her shoes clacking softly against the ruined pavement.

Confused and concerned by her appearance, Silver waited until the distance between them closed. He slowly raised his hand, his voice trembling with anxiety. "B-B-Blaze? What's going on?"

Her gaze was solid, not even blinking despite the scorching temperature drying up their eyes. "Why did you let me go, Silver?"

Startled by the accusation, the hedgehog stepped backwards. "W-w-what?"

The princess slowly raised her arm, pointing one finger disapprovingly. "You let me sacrifice myself. I was lost because of you. You were too weak."

His breath quickens as panic rises, her emotionless tone paralyzing him in fear. He can't breathe.

"No, Blaze! I would never…"

He is suffocating in his panic. He's gasping for air, but he can't draw breath.

"Blaze, I wouldn't…"

He's choking, pushing through the murky darkness. The sounds of flesh sizzling slowly broke Silver out of his thoughts. His eyes darted over Blaze's shoulder, horrified to see the same monster that haunted his dreams return once more. The monster, well over one hundred feet tall, casted its green reptilian eyes towards the hedgehog. The tremendous being loomed over them, surrounded in magma and molten rocks. Four arms stretched out for several feet, their presence enough to crush buildings with ease.

With a sickening roar strong enough to shatter the heavens themselves, the monster raised one of its gigantic arms to strike the inferior beings beneath him. Silver froze, his arms and legs trembling with anxiety. Blaze made no attempt to move, standing as still as a statue, a hollow shell of her former self. The monster struck, and Silver could do nothing but throw up his arms in a desperate bid to shield himself from harm.

"BLAZE!"

With a loud gasp, Silver's eyes flew open and his body jerked forward, jolting back to consciousness. He struggled to draw in ragged, panicked breaths as his eyes darted around, searching for the monster that prepared to crush him. The shock of the nightmare soon passed. Silver blinked in confusion, carefully studying his surroundings with a bewildered gaze.

To his strong relief, he was in his bedroom in the safety of his home. His breathing slowed to a reasonable level, his eyes softening. The first emotion that spiked in the hedgehog is that of intense relief. But now that he had time to fully process that he is indeed lying in bed within his home, a new feeling swells with him.

Confusion.

Relieved the nightmare was over, Silver cupped both hands over his face, rubbing his temples and sighing softly. "Not that dream again…"

Seeking comfort from the outside world, Silver hopped out of the bed, awkwardly stumbling towards the window. He almost tore his curtains off with his strength, welcoming the outside world to his comfort. Crisis City loomed within the distance, city lights filling the air with bright, colorful radiance. His home was only a couple of miles from civilization.

Silver sat on the window ledge, resting one arm over his knee, his gaze shifting towards the sky. The bright lights in heaven's black brought a comforting sight. While nowhere close to the crystal clear skies he adored, the sparkles of the stars painted diamonds within the night, bringing a sense of wonder. He could hear the chirps of crickets from outside coming in short bursts, soothing the air around him.

"That dream again," Silver sighed. "It keeps getting stronger every time. I don't understand what it all means. Who is that monster? Why is Blaze there? Did… Did this all happen before and I just forgot about it? No, that's just stupid. Get it together, Silver. Don't be so naïve."

The hedgehog moved to a small armchair within the corner of his room. He grasped a small photo frame resting on the nightstand, bringing a smile to his face as he studied the photograph. It was a group photo with his friends in the past just after they finished competing in several races hosted by Dodon Pa. Everyone in the photo stood in front of their respective vehicles. He spotted himself in the frame posing between Sonic and Blaze. He waved ecstatically towards the camera, his mouth open wide. Sonic stood with his arms crossed while holding that signature grin of his. Blaze stood to the far side, holding a small smile with both hands clasped behind her back.

The race had only been a week ago, yet it already felt like an eternity since he last saw his friends. Admittedly, there were times Silver wanted to give into the temptations of staying in the past for good. But it wasn't his place. He belonged here, the world he fought so hard to keep safe. He knew he could always visit at any time, but that just made returning all the more challenging than before.

Thanks to Dodon Pa's technology, Tails discovered the necessary components to construct a device capable of sending messages across time. Said device now rested within the corner of his room. Silver wasn't the most technical savvy, but he was taught enough to get by. His friends in the past occasionally dropped him a message, though he longed for physical connection instead.

With a small sigh, Silver prepared to retreat to his bed for a good night's sleep. As his leg reached the foot of his bed, a sudden ray of red covered his bedroom. He froze, confusion forcing him to turn around. "It's morning already?"

All traces of fatigue faded within an instance. Horror filled his face, eyes widened like saucers. The beautiful city he admired only seconds ago now basked in flames. Fire licked the buildings, quickly sweeping across every structure in sight. The crystal clear sky vanished. In its place were blood red skies. His worst nightmare was literally becoming true, and he could do nothing but mutter softly under his breath.

"Oh, no."

Without missing a beat, Silver quickly snatched his boots and Time Wrist Cuffs, donning them in record time. He threw open the window, casting himself in a familiar cyan glow. Silver raced through the humid air, arms held firmly to his side, determined to find the source of the attack. But deep down, he knew the problem would not be resolved in the present but in the past.

Doctor Eggman Nega cackled with joy, taking great pleasure in watching the citizens of the Sol Empire flee in terror. He sat comfortably within his Egg Mobile, allowing his lifeless robots to deliver the work. Missiles rained down on several buildings, bullets showering the streets. The royal guards of the kingdom stood their ground without concern for their own safety, willingly putting their lives on the line.

The captain of the squad marched forward. A large polar bear stood with his brothers-in-arms, his hand clutching a large sword. "Eggman Nega. Call off your forces and retreat right now, or we will be forced to take action!"

Nega howled with laughter, his deep baritone carried throughout the air. Through his tinted glasses, he locked eyes directly with the captain. "I admire your determination, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline. Robots, attack!"

The lingering forces approached from both air and land. The captain did not hesitate to charge first into battle, hurling his sword through the nearest robot with ease. The royal guards followed suit, tearing down any robot that dared to come within range. While the robot's lacked the experience and battle training the royal guards carried, their sheer numbers made up for their drawbacks. Before long, the royal guards were becoming overwhelmed.

As Nega laughed with triumph, he glanced up just in time to see a large fireball hurling his way. He yelped, ducking down just in time. The flame practically kissed his head, it was so close to making an impact. He pulled himself up, locking eyes with the hero who stood in his way one too many times.

The royal guards felt a breath of fresh air as the robots were incinerated with ease, crumbling to pieces within seconds. Nega sacrificed creating durable robots in favor of creating large forces, making it easy for them to fall so quickly in battle. The captain turned around, thrilled to see their ruler joining them in battle.

Nega frowned once more, learning back with both arms crossed. "You took your time, Your Highness."

Blaze jumped to the nearest rooftop to close the distance between them. Flames swirled around her arms, hands clenched tightly with anticipation. "Nega! This time you've gone too far!"

"Believe me, I'm only just getting started," the doctor replied confidently. "I know what your answer is going to be, but I shall give the opportunity, nevertheless. Surrender the Sol Emeralds to me and I may spare your kingdom of a cruel fate."

The princess narrowed her eyes, disgusted to even consider the proposal. "I would rather die."

"Very poor choice of words," Nega replied.

He pressed several buttons on the dashboard, unleashing several missiles directly towards his greatest nemesis. To his surprise, she made no attempt to evade the blasts. Blaze stood her ground, deflecting the several missiles into the air with precision. She moved with grace, evading each missile with the delicacy of a ballerina. The final missile she caught within her hand, using the momentum to twirl on her toes and return the weapon to its sender.

The missile impacted its target, shaking the Egg Mobile with enough force to almost knock out its pilot. Nega quickly regained control of the aircraft, slowly losing his composure. Once more, his invasion of the kingdom failed. "I see you've been practicing. Fear not, I will return with an even larger force. Until next time, Your Highness."

Nega turned the aircraft around, blasting away from the kingdom. He reached the open waters within no time, confident he was out of harm's way. As he turned back to gloat at the situation, the last thing he expected to see was the princess racing after him through the streets, consumed in a large fireball. His expression visibly dropped, any trace of joy now leaving him within an instance.

He expected Blaze to give up by the time he reached the seas. That was their usual routine. She would stop pursuing once he was on the retreat. But this time was different. Even as the crystal clear ocean separated them from the land, she continued following, her feet kissing the water as she pursued with incredible speed. The flames under her feet formed steam from the water, scorching temperatures threatening to unleash at any given moment.

"NEGA!"

Blaze shot herself through the air, conjuring herself in flames and turning into a tornado of fire with a simple spin. Now cloaked within her flames, she propelled herself towards the air, twirling around in rapid speed. She overpassed the Egg Mobile before landing directly in front of the startled doctor. Without hesitation, she slammed her burning fist into the dashboard, forcing the controls to go haywire.

Nega yelped with surprise, grabbing the throttle in a desperate attempt to regain control of his aircraft. He inadvertently turned back towards the kingdom. The princess bounced away, using her flames to slow her descent. In this moment of triumph, all traces of acrophobia disappeared.

The Egg Mobile crashed into the ocean, the impact hurling the good doctor out of his aircraft and into the sea. He quickly splashed his arms to keep his head afloat, frantically searching for the nearest land. Fortunately, he crashed only a few feet from the nearest pier. The choice between returning to the kingdom or staying out in the ocean was obvious.

Nega grasped the pier's edge to pull himself back onto dry land, struggling to lift his rather large frame. He fell to his hands and knees, coughing out the sea water unintentionally swallowed during the fall. A shadow casted over his defeated form. He slowly looked up, locking eyes with the raging princess standing before him.

Blaze grabbed his collar, forcing her greatest nemesis up, their faces only inches away. Through his tinted glasses, Nega recognized the fury in her golden eyes. Defeating him wasn't enough. This time, Blaze wanted him to pay for the countless times he attacked her kingdom.

She raised her free hand, flames dancing around her wrist, threatening to deliver the killing blow at any minute. "You have caused harm to my kingdom one too many times, Nega. You will not harm my people anymore. If you're so intent on destroying everything, perhaps I should return the favor in kind."

Blaze moved her flaming fist closer. The scorching temperatures pressed against Nega's skin, threatening to incinerate his flesh at any moment. For the first time in years, he truly felt fear, terrified of the princess' wrath. He could do nothing to shield himself from her rage. She was out for blood, his blood.

Citizens and guards alike watched on in anticipation. Some feared for the upcoming outcome, others stepped back in concern for their own well-being and the small majority secretly wished their protector followed through with her threat. The hundreds of eyes casted upon her caught Blaze's attention. She briefly glanced towards her people, noting their mixed reactions to the situation, all the while she continued brandishing her weapon close.

She darted her eyes back towards the evil scientist, hissing softly under her breath. "But I'm not like you, Nega."

Confusion surrounded the doctor's face before Blaze tossed him further along the pier into the path of her royal guards. He landed at their feet with a small thud, grunting from the force. Despite her much smaller stature, she wielded incredible super strength and tossed him as if he were nothing. Before he could recover, the royal guards were quick to restrain the doctor, forcing both hands behind his back while they frisked him for hidden weaponry.

The princess slowly marched forward, her mere presence commanding the attention of everyone present. Her gaze never left Nega, refusing to give him any opportunity to escape. "Doctor Eggman Nega. As ruling monarch of the Sol Empire, I hereby sentence you to life imprisonment for the crimes of terrorism against my kingdom and its people."

Regaining some of his composure, Nega narrowed his eyes. "Do not think this is the end, Your Highness. No prison will ever hold me."

"We shall see," Blaze responded, arms crossed and expression tightened. "Guards! Take him away!"

The royal guards bowed in return before forcefully dragging the evil scientist away. Taking no chances, a whole squadron personally escorted Nega, some keeping their weapons drawn while others studied their surroundings, cautious there were further robots lingering within the distance.

Relived the threat was finally over, Blaze eased her guard, exhaling with relief. The surrounding crowd applauded her actions, cheering their ruler for saving them once more. Their kind and encouraging words brought a strong sense of comfort to the princess. She raised a small smile, waving one hand slowly. While a part of herself still felt apprehensive by the constant attention, she masked her anxiety with gratitude.

"Excuse me, Princess Blaze?"

Blaze looked down as someone tugged at her fingers. A young koala, perhaps no older than six years old, caught her attention. "Yes?"

"Do you think I could be like you some day?" the girl innocently asked, her eyes hopeful.

The princess paused for a moment to think over the question, unknowingly fiddling with the fur end of her glove while doing so. In the past, such a query would have forced Blaze to make up an excuse to leave to avoid answering. But now, no longer isolating herself from others, she didn't feel uneased by the question at all.

Blaze offered a small smile, kneeling down onto one knee to match the girl's height. She slowly placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder as she spoke. "You can be whatever you want to be. Don't let anyone ever tell you differently."

Her gentle and encouraging words brought a sense of warmth to the young girl. She smiled, nodding softly to the princess' encouragement. Blaze stood up to the full height, thanking everyone for their kind words once more before beginning her trek back to the castle. Royal duties awaited her back at the castle.

She took her time traveling through the kingdom, choosing not to summon her pyrokinetic powers and speed back, using the opportunity to bask in the solace. The adrenaline slowly faded away, allowing Blaze to process everything that just transpired. Nega attacking her kingdom wasn't uncommon. Gardon had even gone out of his way to document every invasion attempt. There was enough material to write a whole book.

In other circumstances, Blaze would have simply allowed Nega to retreat once his attack failed. But something inside her snapped today. She grew tired of having to stay on the constant edge of losing her kingdom to the mad scientist. The stress he caused throughout the years was enough to drive her fur gray.

It was finally over. No more terrorist acts from the evil scientist awaited her. Now she could finally focus on diplomatic situations without having to rush into action at every opportunity. Perhaps she could finally catch up on her studies, or even use the time to find out more about the Sol Emeralds' history.

"Nega is no more," Blaze spoke aloud, a habit she never grew out of. "I… Finally stopped him. His robots may linger beyond the seas, but I am confident we will have them destroyed in due time. My people are safe. That is all that matters."

She took the time to study the damage Nega's forces left in their wake. Houses and small businesses alike were partially damaged, rubble now filling the streets and blocking several pathways. Fortunately, nobody appeared to be too severely injured. While Blaze held her contempt for Nega, she refused to allow his presence to bother her any longer. From this day forward, nobody would harm her kingdom again.

As Blaze passed one of her favorite cafés, horror filled her face. The business had been hit hard, the roof caved in with large pieces of rubble scattered around the area. Coco the Otter, the owner of the café whom she had grown close to over recent days, was stuck under a large collapsed support beam. Others desperately tried to lift the heavy object, but their numbers were not enough to shift the hefty weight.

Without hesitation, Blaze raced forward to help, squeezing between the large crowd. "Here, allow me."

She grasped the end of the beam and forced it above her head, creating more than enough room for Coco to wiggle herself free from the wreckage. While others helped the young otter to safety, the rest watched on, marveled by the incredible strength their ruler wielded. Relieved the otter was out of harm's way, Blaze gently set the beam down to avoid creating further damage, turning towards her people once more.

"Is everyone alright?" she questioned aloud, receiving short answers in response. "The royal guards will be arriving shortly to be of assistance. Take care of each other and yourselves."

The crowd thanked their ruler unanimously before racing around to help others who were in need. Blaze checked Coco's condition once more and continued her trek back towards her home. She felt relief in seeing their gratitude. There was a time when her own people feared her powers, concerned her initial inability to control them would come back to harm them. The bond she now shared between herself and the people could never be broken again.

Upon returning to her castle, the royal guards immediately raced forward in concern, but a quick dismissive wave from their ruler sent them back into their usual positions. Others were ordered to assist the civilians who needed help repairing their homes. Gardon was anxiously awaiting her return, fearing the worst had come. These concerns were finally put at ease as the princess' arrival brought a strong sense of relief.

He raced forward, bowing with respect. "Princess Blaze! Are you hurt?"

"No need to concern yourself, Gardon," Blaze reassured. "Nega will not be harming anyone anymore. I made sure of that."

Her words came off more sinister than she intended. Gardon nervously twitched his fingers. "You mean, you…?"

Blaze, catching onto her own words, quickly corrected herself. "Nega has been imprisoned at the Outcast Institution. I personally made sure he was secure. Rest assured, Gardon. We don't have anything to fear from him anymore."

With a sense of relief for both his ruler's and nemesis' destinies, Gardon's tense stance softened, and he returned to standing at attention. "That is great to hear, Princess Blaze. Is there anything I can do to be of assistance?"

"Could you check on Marine and make sure she is unharmed?" Blaze gently requested.

"Of course," Gardon said, before racing out down the nearest hallway.

Truthfully, this request was unneeded. Blaze knew her young friend was safe. She simply wanted time to herself for a small period. She retreated to her throne room, taking her seat on the royal throne, basking in the silence while it lasted. The room was void of anyone else. Most of the royal guards were scattered across the kingdom to ensure Nega's forces were eliminated.

With some time to herself, Blaze inhaled and embraced the silence. A friend from the other dimension taught her the importance of meditation. She initially shook off the suggestion, but grew to enjoy the experience more than expected. It calmed her mind and helped keep her temper in check. Unfortunately, the silence didn't last much longer as her personal guard returned in record time.

"Miss Marine is unharmed, Princess Blaze," Gardon confirmed.

"Good," she replied rather abruptly. She peered around, absently sliding her eyes over the walls, decorations, carpets and other common fixtures of the royal castle.

Gardon tilted his head with concern. "Is something troubling you, Princess Blaze?"

The feline fell silent for a moment, her thoughts within another world. She felt a strange sensation within, a feeling Blaze never expected to feel within her lifetime. Loneliness. For the longest time, she shut herself from others, refusing to build personal relationships. But then she met her friends from another universe. An upbeat blue hedgehog and a kind rabbit had brought her out of the shell she once imprisoned herself within. She was far more sociable with others now, happily taking part in informal events.

But that was the drawback to her new self. Her friends were located across a whole universe. The travel between their worlds didn't pose a problem. She was a princess, a duty she prided herself on carrying. Royal duties took priority over her own personal desires. Her castle felt emptier now, even with the hundreds of royal staff racing around every single day. Marine was the only one in her world she could call her friend. For much as she cared for her kingdom and its people, they saw her as their ruler and nothing more.

Blaze almost laughed at the irony. She sat in these vast halls with power beyond her messare and yet she felt lesser now than she had ever been.

She broke out of her thoughts, returning her attention to the koala. "No, everything is fine. I apologize for my abruptness, Gardon."

"That's okay, Princess Blaze," he assured. "You've had a stressful morning. No offense taken."

A smile escaped her lips, casting itself over her face. She could do no wrong in Gardon's eyes. He served the throne for as long as could remember. In a way, he liked to consider having a hand in raising Blaze ever since she was a small girl. But personal feelings aside, Gardon carried his duty proudly.

"Gardon, I want you to know how grateful I am for your service over the years," she began, stepping up from her throne to maintain the same ground level. "I know I wasn't the most sociable ruler before, but I will never forget your kindness."

Admittedly, the koala didn't expect such praise today. He stuttered for a moment, dropping his proud stance. "You… Are very welcome, Blaze. I am proud to serve the throne and will do so for many more years."

Blaze extended her arm, gently patting him on the shoulder. She still wasn't quite accustomed to physical contact, but considered every small step to be an improvement. But after this morning's events combined with her own personal feelings, she needed a moment of solace. "Gardon, do I have any meetings or events planned today?"

Gardon produced a small journal from his pocket, scanning through the contents of the latest page. "It seems your schedule is all clear today, Princess Blaze. Would you like me to rearrange your week?"

"That won't be necessary," she gently reassured. "All diplomatic paperwork is currently in order as well. Gardon, I will be taking some quiet time for a short while."

"As you wish, Princess Blaze," Gardon replied with a short bow.

The feline retreated from the throne room, walking through the long hallways. To the untrained eye, it was very easy for new visitors to get lost. She passed several of the castle's staff along the way, greeting them kindly and praising their services. She reached her personal bedroom, entering the one place she didn't have to keep up royal appearances, finally allowing herself to relax. Blaze took a seat at the end of her large bed, kicking off her heeled shoes. She removed the binding in her ponytail, allowing her long hair to drop just above her neck.

Exhaling with relief and exhaustion, she found her eyes casting towards the nearest nightstand. Her royal bedroom was once filled with framed photos of eloquent paintings. But in their place were now personal photographs she had taken overtime. She grabbed the nearest frame, holding it close as a smile returned to her face once more.

The photo was taken at a recent tea party with her friends. She spotted herself standing beside Cream, the young rabbit holding her hand within the photo. Her eyes casted towards the others in the photo. Sonic posed with his usual thumbs up, Tails cheerfully waved, Amy laughed with joy and Silver happily ate away at the delicious baked goods.

She remembered this day quite fondly. It was their time of solace before they competed in a fighting tournament. Blaze had since returned to the Chaos Dimension only a week ago to compete in a series of races. Driving her own race car brought out a sense of joy she never knew was there. In spite of Eggman's usual interferences, she had fun that day.

She longed to visit her friends again one day. To see Sonic's upbeat demeanor, Cream's kindness, Tails' passion for technology, Amy's friendship and even Silver's joy at simple things in life. Blaze reminded herself it would never be the end. They would see each other again in no time, a day that couldn't come soon enough.

Chapter Text

Winter fell heavily upon the Earth. The cold temperatures threatened to freeze the blood of those who didn't take sufficient care to be warm in heart and core. Snow fluttered down like magical confetti, coming as heaven's sunlight glitter to bring the world to a new shine. It had been the coldest winter for time out of mind, so cold that even the fish found it challenging to shelter in even the deepest of water wells.

Sonic the Hedgehog stood before his greatest nemesis once more while nonchalantly sipping down a hot chocolate. He and Amy had been hanging out at the latter's home in Floral Forest Village when the evil doctor decided to make his presence well known. Surprisingly, Eggman arrived without any deadly forces. His only company were the two assistant droids who drove him crazy to no end.

"Hand over the Chaos Emerald, Sonic! Or suffer the consequences!" Eggman demanded.

With a confident smile, Sonic dug into his quills, producing the blue Chaos Emerald. "What? You mean this?"

Eggman rolled his eyes. "Yes, I mean that. Hand it over!"

With a light shrug, Sonic outstretched his arm. "Here you go."

His willingness to hand over the sacred gem so easily caught the doctor by surprise. He leaned back, startled by the declaration. "Wait, what?"

"It appears Sonic has finally accepted your inevitable victory, Doctor," Orbot noted.

"Yeah, and he's giving you the Chaos Emerald, too!" Cubot humorously added.

"What's the hold up, Eggman?" Sonic questioned, casually tossing the Chaos Emerald up and down within his hand.

"I didn't expect to get this far," Eggman mumbled before flashing a large grin. "Very well, Sonic. I shall take that Emerald from you and-wait a minute! You're stalling, aren't you?"

Sonic casted his signature grin. "Duh."

The Egg Mobile suddenly jolted to one side. The force of a large hammer rocketed the aircraft towards the sky. The hammer returned to its owner, who proudly held it against her shoulder. Amy grinned maliciously, daring the doctor to make his move.

Because of the drop in temperature, the pink hedgehog had casted away her usual red dress in favor of a warmer outfit. She now donned a rose parka-dress with a pink collar and two white pom-poms dangling from the front. Black leggings concealed her legs. Instead of her gold bracelets, she now wore pink cuffs at the wrists with a single rose stripe in the middle. Likewise, her new boots matched her dress, decorating in rose with a white stripe going through the centers. Of her original outfit, only her red hair band and white gloves remained.

Sonic assumed the good doctor intended to abduct Amy and use her as a bargaining chip. Having not expected the blue hedgehog to be present as well, his original plan went up in flames. Even if the doctor could succeed in his plan, Sonic knew Amy could handle herself fine. She was far from the same defenseless young girl he met on Little Planet. She was smart, strong, caring and no one would dare to get on her mad side.

By now, Eggman regained control of the aircraft, pushing away the two robots clinging to his jacket for dear life. "Get off me, you imbeciles!"

"Nice shot, Amy," Sonic praised.

"Years of practice," Amy replied, almost blushing at the compliment. She hunched down and reared back her hammer. "Ready?"

Sonic downed the last of his beverage before nodding. "Ready!"

The blue hedgehog tucked himself into a ball, bouncing towards the pink hedgehog. With a full twirl to build up momentum, she launched Sonic directly towards their nemesis. Eggman whelped with horror, throwing up both arms in a desperate attempt to shield himself from harm. His robots followed suit, holding each other tightly. Sonic smacked directly under the Egg Mobile, the impact driving Eggman and his servants directly towards the crystal clear sky, disappearing with a small sparkle.

"Till next time, Egghead!" Sonic called out.

He gradually dropped towards the ground, cushioning his fall with ease. With the good doctor away for the time being, the duo returned inside the pink hedgehog's home. The warmth inside brought out a strong sense of comfort, one that would shield them from the sub-zero temperatures outdoors.

Upon entering the home, the two kicked off their shoes to avoid trailing in snow and resumed their day of relaxation. Unlike his self-proclaimed girlfriend, Sonic decided against wearing additional clothing, arguing his speed provided more warmth than any coat could. Winter was one of his favorite times of the year, a time of relaxation to reflect on the year's experience.

"That takes care of Eggman for another day," Amy said, taking her place on the couch once more and grabbing the thermos resting on the coffee table. "More hot chocolate?"

Sonic eagerly held out his cup. "Don't mind if I do."

The friends cherished their warm beverages, simultaneously exhaling with relief. Sonic leaned back on the couch, resting one arm behind the back of his head, closing his eyes to cherish the moment. Amy glanced over towards the blue hedgehog, smiling as memories of their adventures returned. She loved days like today. To see Sonic not off adventuring or saving the world brought a comfort like no other.

The six months of Sonic's imprisonment tortured her more than any robot could, not knowing whether or not he was truly alive. While she wanted nothing more than to go out there searching for him, there had been no time for mourning. The world needed her, and that's why she made the decision to join the Resistance. The experience strengthened her emotions, toughening the pink hedgehog up for future events.

After the return of Sonic, Amy grew to be more mature, no longer being overly affectionate or ambushing him with surprise hugs. This in turn strengthened their friendship. They spent more time together, hanging out without a care in the world. But deep down, despite her newfound strength, Amy doubted her true feelings would ever subside. Breaking her gaze from the resting hero, she shifted her sight towards the nearest window, marveling at the snowfall outside. The magical confetti danced around the windows, reminding her this was a time of peace and tranquility.

Basking in the silence while it lasted, Amy allowed herself to drift away from reality, joining the blue hedgehog in his nap. Today was going to be a great day.

"You just had to insist on coming out here, didn't you?"

"You're the one who keeps saying I need to take initiative."

"And you chose the coldest day of the year to prove that?"

"If you don't like it, go back."

Rouge and Shadow continued to bicker as they traversed through the snowy Mystic Ruins. Their robotic teammate trailed closely behind them, his metal frame covered with snow threatening to fry his circuits. The trio were on an assignment to investigate a disturbance located near the largest lake within the large rainforest. Commander Tower offered the assignment to any willing agent, only for Shadow to jump at the chance to accept. Truthfully, he only accepted the mission out of boredom. Sitting at home watching Rouge admire herself in the mirror was only entertaining for so long. Anything to get out of the home was worthwhile, even if it meant putting up with his teammate's complaining.

The bat adjusted her brown fur trench coat residing over her usual outfit. Her partners did nothing to protect themselves from the cold temperature. Shadow, being the Ultimate Life Form, adapted to any harsh environment. Omega, lacking any vital organs, had no concerns about suffering hyperthermia, but the same could not be said for his circuitry.

Shadow turned towards their largest teammate. "Omega, how far are we from arriving?"

"Scans indicate we are five hundred meters from our destination," Omega stated, his fixed gaze showing no hint of concern.

"About time," Rouge sighed. "The sooner we can get out of this snow, the better. It's almost as cold as you, Shadow."

Shadow scoffed. "And yet, people somehow find my presence more tolerable than your own."

Faking a gasp, Rouge smirked and placed a hand to her chest dramatically. "Did Shadow the Hedgehog just make a joke?"

"Confirmed: Shadow did indeed indulge in a joke," Omega repeated.

The Ultimate Life Form glanced away to conceal his growing smirk, immediately returning his gaze with his common impassive expression. "We should get moving."

The trio reached their destination before long, leaving the endless rainforest into a large clearing. The crystal clear lake greeted them, its presence was as silver as diamond flame and the atmosphere was quiet. Despite its magnificent sight, Team Dark's attention averted to the source of their investigation.

At the opposite side of the large lake, a giant crater stood out in the clearing, even as snow threatened to conceal it from sight. The hollow, bowl-shaped hole stuck out like a needle in a haystack. Arriving at their destination at long last, Team Dark spread out to begin their investigation, each using their own unique set of skills to build their conclusion.

"No sign of any meteor," Rouge noted. "Whatever hit this point didn't hang around for long."

Shadow knelt down, softly brushing away the snow to investigate the dirt. He examined the soil, searching for unnatural details. "Hmm, there doesn't seem to be any sign of an explosion. But there are small traces of fire damage."

"Scans indicate there are no volcanoes within a thousand mile radius," Omega added, observing the area intently. "Conclusion: the impact was not created by natural causes. This was the result of an intentional force."

Team Dark looked around the crater for several minutes, searching for even the smallest clues to help them piece together the incident. Their investigation eventually drew them towards the lake itself. The water flowed gently, waves brushing softly against the landmark.

Omega peered towards the side, noting a purple substance smeared across the rocks. He approached the rubble, picking up the small rock. He cradled the gravel within his giant hands, being mindful of his own strength to avoid breaking their clue.

Rouge peered over with interest. "Found something?"

"Unknown substance," Omega replied. "Nothing within my database matches the source."

Shadow took the rock from his teammate, looking it over with curiosity. "It looks like blood."

"Blood?" Rouge repeated. "I've never seen purple blood before. Does that mean we're dealing with something alien?"

"Possibly," Shadow agreed. "I haven't seen anything like this since Black Doom. Omega, keep this on you until we return to HQ."

Omega accepted the rock, placing it within a small compartment located in his chest plate. The sky was beginning to darken. The winter sunset came to the sky as if holy-fire was dancing to the beat of a warm latin song. However, a newly black-blossomed sky promised a velvet eiderdown of snow. The already freezing temperature would further drop without the sun's warmth. Shadow noted Rouge adjusting her coat again to block out the cold. While he refused to outright say it, he didn't want no harm to come to his closest friend.

"Looks like a storm's on its way," Shadow declared out of the blue. "Let's go back."

Rouge appeared surprised for a moment. Shadow's tone betrayed the real reason for his sudden declaration. He was trying to make it seem like their leaving was a matter of inconvenience, but his voice sounded too sincere. Her eyes casted towards the ground once more, noting the unusual footprints leading back into the rainforest that matched none of their own. "Hey, come and look at this."

Her teammates approached, examining the large footprints. They were too large to match Shadow and Rouge's shoes, and too rounded to match Omega's sharp feet. Someone else had been here recently. The trio collectively shifted their gaze towards the woods, sharing similar thoughts about their next plan.

"Could just be someone wandering around," Rouge innocently suggested.

"Could also be our mystery alien," Shadow added.

"The approaching storm will conceal any further evidence," Omega declared, taking charge as he marched past his teammates, following the long path of footprints. "We must make haste before the trail turns cold. No pun intended."

Shadow shared a knowing look with his teammate, offering a curt nod. "You can head back if you want to."

"What, and miss all the fun?" Rouge playfully replied, nudging her partner lightly in the ribs. "Race you there!"

She took off with a burst of fresh energy, taking to the trees to keep pace with their robotic ally. Shadow watched her race ahead, finally allowing his stoic demeanor to briefly drop. A grin flashed across his muzzle, sparked with a newfound determination. His jet skates roared to life and he chased after his team, looking forward to solving this new mystery.

Tails hopped out of his now powered down aircraft, hastily returning into the comfort of his home. The storm caught him by surprise, forcing the young fox to cut his journey short and return home before the snow caught him in its death grip. For all of his brilliant inventions, even he couldn't fight Mother Nature.

After safely securing the Tornado within the small hanger, Tails adjusted his clothing, shivering as the temperature further plummeted. To accommodate for the drop in temperature, the young fox now donned a brown irvin flight jacket with a cream furline. A set of brown goggles with orange lenses rested over his face, shielding his eyes from the snowstorm. Unwilling to fight the cold, he hastily returned inside his home, practically slamming the door behind him with a sense of urgency.

His temporary roommate greeted him upon entry while he chewed down on some grapes. "Snow too tough for you?"

Tails frowned as he removed his goggles, stepping inside the living room. "This is coming from the guy who didn't want to be snowed in on Angel Island. The mighty Master Emerald guardian can't handle a bit of cold."

"Hey!" Knuckles exclaimed. "I'm not afraid of the cold!"

"And yet, here you are."

"Only because I didn't want the Master Emerald to get damaged!"

Tails rolled his eyes while failing to stop his growing smirk. "Keep telling yourself that, Knuckles. Shade, back me up here."

The other echidna emerged from the kitchen, holding a warm beverage within her hands. "While I understand Knuckles' concerns for the Master Emerald, perhaps leaving the confines of Angel Island was a little bit of, how do you say… Exaggeration?"

While Tails chuckled at the comment, Knuckles turned back in awe. "I thought you were on my side."

"I am the side of logic, and I'm afraid Tails excels in that area," Shade replied, barely masking her small smile.

Knuckles opened his mouth to protest but fell silent, turning away with both arms crossed. He mumbled under his breath. "The thanks I get for being nice..."

The friends chuckled and gathered around in the living room. The Master Emerald rested comfortably within the kitchen, covered with a large blanket to conceal its blinding light. The snowstorm threatened to rid Angel Island of its protectors and leave the Master Emerald vulnerable. Knuckles contemplated braving the storm at first, but not wishing any harm to come to Shade, he quickly made up an excuse to separate the two of them from the sacred island. They temporarily moved in with Tails until the storm passed, though it showed no hints of slowing down anytime soon.

"We are very grateful for your hospitality, Tails," Shade said as she took her seat next to Knuckles. "Forgive us for intruding in your personal space."

"I'm just happy you guys are safe," Tails reassured. "You guys can stay for as long as you need to."

Knuckles sighed. "Just as long as I don't have to put up with Sonic's teasing."

A knock at the door broke the trio out of their conversation.

"I shouldn't have opened my mouth," Knuckles said drily.

Not expecting any visitors, especially those willing to traverse through the snow, Tails approached the door with caution while the echidnas watched on. He threw open the door, surprised to see a familiar detective. "Relax, it's just Espio."

The chameleon cupped one hand over the other before giving a short bow. "Greetings. Could I trouble you for a favor?"

"Sure!" Tails said. "What do you need?"

"Do you have a spare heater?" Espio inquired. "Our central heating is currently… Unavailable."

Tails tilted his head with a knowing look. "Let me guess: Vector tried to fix the boiler on his own again?"

"You would make a good detective," Espio noted.

Tails chuckled and invited the chameleon inside. While Espio greeted the echidnas in the living room, the young fox shifted towards the workshop. Years of inventions spread out across the room, scattered without any sense of organization. While searching for a spare heater, the fox's gaze briefly shifted over the surveillance feed. Several monitors were fitted to the wall, each one connected to live cameras he fitted around Mystic Ruins.

One of the cameras captured his interest. Tails hopped over into the seat, quickly rewinding the footage to double check he wasn't being deceived by imagination. Upon shifting the footage several seconds back with an enhanced zoom edit, his eyes widened with concern. "That's not good…"

Amy shifted awake as a slow yet hard knock on her front door broke the pink hedgehog out of her sleep. She stretched her arms and rubbed her eyes, pushing away signs of sleep. Her gaze shifted towards Sonic, who woke up at the same time, albeit more slowly. For as fast as he may be on his feet, he took his sweet time waking up from a slumber.

She glanced towards the nearest clock, noting the minute hand was reaching the nine mark. "Who could be here at this hour?"

Sonic yawned, stretching his arms to shift away all traces of fatigue. Curious as to who would be visiting them so late, he jumped up to investigate as well, concerned it was Eggman returning to exact revenge.

Amy reached the front door, standing on her tiptoes to peek through the peephole. Upon recognizing the face on the other side, she hastily threw the front door open. "Hey, Big."

"Hello," Big returned the greeting warmly.

The weather outside strengthened since this morning, the vast snow storm that came to render everything in such a pretty Christmas-white had tripled in speed. The snow covered Big across his head and shoulders, yet he showed no reaction.

The large cat's fur protected him from the sub-zero temperatures, his enormous feet acting like snowshoes on their own. Unfazed by the freezing weather at the slightest, he peered down towards the smaller figure. "Your friend said she wanted to come here."

Amy's gaze found itself shifting towards Big's large arms, forcing her to let out a startled gasp. Sonic immediately raced forward in concern for her reaction, sharing a similar expression. Big cradled a familiar feline within his strong yet soft grip, doing his best to shield her from the cold.

Without warning, Sonic and Amy exclaimed simultaneously. "Blaze?!"

Sonic didn't hesitate to scoop the princess into his arms, quickly taking her inside the warmth of Amy's home. He set her down on the couch, checking for signs of life. "Blaze? Blaze, can you hear me?"

The princess did not respond to his pleas, but her soft breathing reassured the blue hedgehog she was still among the living. Small bruises and cuts surrounded her face, her clothes slightly torn and scorched. He noted her hand resting on her right side, almost as if she was subconsciously trying to protect that area.

Shaking away the initial shock, Amy grabbed Big's hand, leading him inside the house. "W-w-what happened, Big?"

The large cat placed his finger to his chin. "Um, me and Froggy were fishing. Then there was a big splash. Blaze was trying to swim in the cold water. It's too cold to go swimming."

While aware of her friend's slowness, Amy tried to maintain her composure. "Big, could you perhaps skip to the part where you came here?"

"Okay," Big simply replied. "Blaze said she wanted to come here. She looked pretty tired. Too much swimming is never that good. It didn't seem fair to walk in the cold. I didn't mind."

Amy raised her eyebrow, confusion filling her expression. "You didn't see how she got hurt?"

Big softly shook his head. "Maybe she didn't wait one hour after eating before deciding to go swimming"

Relieved and grateful for saving Blaze, Amy offered a sincere smile. "Thank you, Big."

He smiled warmly in return. "It's no problem."

Amy raced over towards the couch, swapping places with Sonic. She gently moved Blaze's hand away to lift the end of her tailcoat up. Another startled gasp escaped Amy. A severe injury covered Blaze's side, stretching across near her hip area, suggesting someone or something had impaled her. The injury didn't bleed. Her side was already cauterized, possibly by Blaze herself.

More questions than answers seemed to be appearing by the second. Their first priority was to care for their friend. Amy briefly raced into the kitchen, returning in record time with a first aid kit. She lifted Blaze's coat once more, beginning to dress her wound.

Sonic watched on, feeling powerless in the situation. "Do you think she's gonna be okay?"

"I think so," Amy shakily replied, her voice beginning to tremble. "Blaze is one tough cookie. Let's just focus on making sure she's okay. There's some pillows and blankets in the closet."

Without needing an order, Sonic sped up the stairs, returning in seconds with the acquired items. He placed the pillow under Blaze's head while setting the blanket down to one side. Amy continued applying medical care, using peroxide to clear away any potential infection. Blaze appeared to wince at the burning sensation, but it did nothing to awake her.

The door burst open and closed once more, briefly allowing more cold to enter. The two briefly glanced back, spotting their young fox friend racing inside.

"Sonic! Amy! It's Blaze!" Tails exclaimed, hurling over with a loud gasp. "She's here and she's been hurt!"

Sonic moved out of the way, revealing the unconscious princess. "We know."

"I was looking through my security cameras and spotted her crashing into the lake!" Tails frantically exclaimed. "I came here to get you guys, but it looks like I'm too late. How bad is it?"

By now, Amy finished her amateur medical care, wrapping a couple of rolls of bandages around Blaze's waist. She grabbed the blanket and covered the princess, though she secretly questioned if this was necessary when they were fully aware of Blaze's pyrokinesis.

With a relieved sigh, Amy stepped back to finally answer the question. "I've done my best. There's no way we're getting her to a hospital in this weather."

"Looks like we'll have to wait then," Sonic declared, taking a seat in the armchair parallel to the couch.

Tails slumped over, his lungs heaved like the air was acidic. Running all the way here brought out inner strengths he never knew resided within. The relentless snowfall grounded all forms of transport, forcing the young fox to arrive on foot. "I'm just glad she's okay."

"Did you run all the way here?" Amy inquired.

Tails nodded. "I wanted to warn you guys."

Sonic raised his eyebrow. "Why didn't you just call us on the communicator?"

The fox opened his mouth to reply, but then realized his own error. For as brilliant as he may be with inventions, intelligence seemed to outweigh common sense. "Because… I didn't think of that."

Fighting the urge to chuckle at his best friend's reaction, Sonic leaned over to pat him on the shoulder. "Well, we appreciate your concern, buddy."

Big, who had been standing idly by since his arrival, spoke up. "Maybe you should have a glass of water. It always makes me feel better when I'm tired."

Tails nodded. "Good idea."

Another knock at the door broke the small group out of their thoughts once more. Everyone collectively shifted their gaze towards the entrance.

"Why is everyone suddenly interested in my house?" Amy said as she crossed her arms.

Tails threw open the front door, the cold air hitting him like a brick wall. Team Dark greeted him on the other end, all carrying their usual demeanors. Shadow held an impassive expression, Rouge offered a small smirk and Omega's lifeless eyes carried no emotion. "Oh, hey there, guys. Quick, get in here. It's freezing outside."

"What a gentlemen," Rouge noted, offering a small wink, clicking her heeled boots to shift away small traces of snow before stepping inside.

Her teammates entered shortly, filling the smaller house with more occupants. Rouge, the only one of the three with courtesy, made sure her teammates wiped their feet before entering. She placed her fur coat on the nearest coat rack, finally relieved to be out of the cold for a while. Her wings stretched out, feeling much more liberated.

"Hey, Shads," Sonic greeted. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Following a lead," Shadow replied, his gaze shifting towards the unconscious feline. "Looks like we found what we were looking for."

Rouge approached, surprised to see their friend from the other dimension in such a state. "Blaze? What happened to her?"

"We're not sure," Sonic admitted with a light shrug. "Big found and brought her here. She's pretty banged up."

Seeing their arrival as a miracle, Tails caught the robot's attention. "Omega, do you think you could do a reading on Blaze's vitals?"

The robot glanced over towards his teammates, silently asking permission to follow through with the request. Shadow's nod of approval allowed Omega to step forward, being cautious to avoid knocking over any furniture with his large frame. He leered over the princess quite menacingly, though everyone knew he would defend them to the end.

"Heart rate fifty beats per minute, respiration rate twenty times per minute, temperature… Five hundred degrees?" Omega trailed off at the last comment, running a quick diagnostic to see if his readings were accurate. "All vital signs appear to be stabilized."

Sonic, Amy and Tails breathed a sigh of relief. A small groan captured everyone's attention, forcing their gaze towards the same area. Blaze slowly stirred from her unconscious state, her limbs barely moving. Her eyelids slowly opened, breaking the princess out of her subdued state. Confusion and disorientation seemed to hit her fast. Half-conscious, she blinked, struggling to push through the blurred vision.

Her eyes slowly darted around the room, studying her friends watching with concern. As Blaze's gaze shifted towards the Ultimate Life Form, her expression switched in an instant. Her golden eyes widened, pupils dilated. Any traces of fatigue and injury faded away within an instant, pure adrenaline giving her a sudden rush of energy.

"You," Blaze snarled.

Without warning, she bolted forward, fury bringing her to life. Flames danced around her arm as she threw her fist directly towards the Ultimate Life Form. Shadow stood his ground, catching her wrist within his hand with some difficulty. He restrained her flaming fist, feeling the scorching temperature push softly against his fur. The searing heat radiating from her fist was almost unbearable, scorching his fur and pushing against his skin with an intense pressure. Despite the difficulty, he held on strong.

"You monster!" she roared, rage flowing through her like lava.

The rest of their friends watched with mixed reactions, confused and surprised by the princess' reaction. Omega raised his arm to intervene, only stopping his attack when Rouge pushed down his weaponized hand while softly shaking her head. Sonic and Amy quickly intervened, pulling the squirming feline away before Shadow lost what little patience he carried.

"Blaze, stop!" Sonic pleaded.

"What's got into you?!" Amy added.

Blaze's fury reached its peak, her perception of reality vanished, leaving only the overwhelming anger to dictate her actions. The surging emotions sparked her pyrokinesis, causing Sonic and Amy to be wary of their surroundings, wary of being engulfed in flames. Blaze's resistance persisted for a few moments before gradually dissipating as her anger began to fade.

As the adrenaline rush subsided, Blaze's exhaustion and injuries caught up with her, sapping her strength and leaving her drained. Without warning, Blaze suddenly slumped forward, dropping onto her hands and knees. Blood pounded in her ears, heart thudding strongly in her chest, hands and feet tingling. Her vision was disfigured, heavy breathing leaving her chest as it grew tighter. "I… I… Can't… Breathe!"

She clutched her hands tightly into the ground. Her breathing grew too much to bear, hyperventilating in great distress. Amy recognized the symptoms of a panic attack from countless experiences. She took Blaze's hand, leading the two of them back to the couch. Blaze continued panting as she sat down, one hand clutching her chest tightly.

Amy took her other hand for comfort, speaking in a calm voice. "It's okay, Blaze. Just breathe. Nice and slow. Nice and slow."

In between her blurry vision and heavy chest, the hedgehog's words seemed to be taking effect. Blaze continued holding her chest with both eyes shut tightly, but her breathing slowly stabilized. While the others watched on in anticipation, Sonic couldn't help but be impressed with Amy's handling of the situation.

Concerned her partner's appearance would cause Blaze further distress, Rouge gestured her head towards the kitchen. "Shadow, maybe we should give her a minute."

While the black hedgehog took no offense to the princess' surprise attack, curiosity overcame him, desiring to know why she attacked. Nevertheless, he agreed with his partner's suggestion and followed her into the kitchen. Omega trailed behind them shortly, leaving the four friends alone in the living room.

Tails quickly raced to one side, grabbing a fresh cup of water he quickly passed over to Blaze. The princess took the cup with her trembling free hand, the water threatening to spill at any given second. She took small sips, shakily composing herself while Amy continued to encourage her friend.

Sonic said nothing, still processing everything that had just transpired in the past few seconds. To see his friend from another universe in a state of panic filled him with unease. Even against the likes of their strongest adversaries, she fearlessly stood her ground. But in this moment of weakness, Blaze was terrified. For someone or something to shake her confidence so greatly was cause for concern.

"Feeling better?" Amy gently asked, patting the princess softly on the shoulder.

Blaze nodded, her breathing now under control. "I… Think so. Thank you. I… I'm sorry for my outburst just now."

"Don't worry about it," Sonic reassured. "If you think that's bad, you should see Knuckles when he doesn't get his beauty sleep."

The hedgehog's wit forced small chuckles out of Tails and Amy. Blaze returned a small smile, but her eyes carried great sadness. The terror lingered within her veins, threatening to take hold and unleash another panic attack at any moment.

"If you're up for it, do you think you can tell us what happened?" Amy inquired, choosing her words very carefully. "You were pretty banged up when we found you."

Blaze sighed, her hand finding itself resting over her face. "I… Don't remember much, it's all still quite a blur."

"We'll take it slow," Amy reassured. "Let's start with the last thing you remember and we'll work from there."

With another panic attack threatening to take hold once more, Blaze closed her eyes, slipping into a state of tranquility. She blocked out the world around her, refusing to let the smallest of distractions interfere with her meditation. Her recent memories were clouded, her injuries caused more damage than expected. For comfort, she slipped her hand into the pocket of her tailcoat, slowly producing the cyan Sol Emerald. The others looked on curiously. While aware of her duty in protecting the sacred emeralds, very rarely did she carry them on her person.

The Sol Emerald comforted her, its warm and gentle energy connecting with the princess. It rested between her hands, consoling her mind with great warmth. Her golden eyes slowly opened, all traces of doubt hidden for now. Blaze finally addressed the others surrounding her, close friends who threw everything aside to care for her out of the goodness of their hearts.

"Before I begin, may the others join us?" she requested, shifting in her seat with a sense of discomfort. "They deserve to know as well."

The others agreed, and Tails raced into the kitchen where Team Dark had made themselves at home. The dark hedgehog leaned against the wall, both arms crossed while staring off into the distance. His partner sat on the kitchen countertop, both legs dangling from the ground. The robot guarded the back door, his programming demanded he observe the area for lingering threats.

"It's okay now, guys," Tails assured. "You can come back in."

Team Dark returned to the living room in no time. Blaze briefly glanced away from the dark hedgehog, shameful of her previous actions.

"Shadow," she greeted. "I deeply apologize for my actions just now."

"No need," he assured rather bluntly. "It wouldn't be the first time someone took a swing at me."

Blaze nodded with gratitude, still cradling the Sol Emerald between her hands. Her friends gathered around, eager to find out her story. She briefly glanced towards Amy seated beside her, offering a small nod of comfort. Blaze returned the gesture before casting her gaze towards the others. "It happened so quickly…"

Chapter Text

Three hours earlier…

The late afternoon sun came as a golden tunnel to a world of eternal light. The clouds opened as if the sun itself was a gateway into a dream world. It basked the Sol Empire within golden fingers of sunlight, shining softly on the city streets, bringing with it a warm sensation. Within the large castle overlooking the kingdom, Princess Blaze the Cat sat within her personal champers, catching up with some early morning paperwork that arrived shortly after her return.

Eggman Nega's previous attack forced her to abandon essential office duties, but thanks to her quick intervention, the evil doctor was thwarted in his plans once and for all. After taking some personal time to reflect on the experience, the princess returned to her work. Paperwork was far from her favorite duty. She often worked through the early hours of the morning to finish on time. Now that she no longer had to concern herself with stopping Nega, she hoped the extra hours would allow more personal time.

With a small sigh, Blaze stacked the last of the papers on the large pile resting at the corner of her desk. She stood up, stretching to relieve her back from being seated for so long. There were no meetings today with her advisors or visiting nations, allowing the princess to enjoy the day while it was here.

Blaze approached the only window in her chambers facing towards the ocean. She leaned on the window sill, one hand resting under her chin to support herself while her arm rested on the edge. She stared towards the vast sea beyond the island. The sky was crystal clear, showing no hints of a storm. Blaze sighed once more, trying to fight the desire to leave her castle and go on an adventure. Truthfully, her only time exploring the other nations outside of royal duties was during Sonic and Tails' unexpected arrival. Their adventure to stop Captain Whisker ventured beyond the Seven Seas. She was convinced there were countless islands out there just waiting to be explored. She longed for adventure, but knew in her line of duty, such luxuries would have to wait.

A sudden knock at her personal chambers broke the princess from her thoughts. She answered the door, greeting the visitor. "Gardon?"

The koala bowed before speaking. "Sorry to disturb you, Princess Blaze, but we have a minor situation."

Blaze shifted her gaze cautiously, both arms folding over her chest. "What kind of situation?"

"There seems to be an unexpected visitor at the bell tower," Gardon explained. "He's been standing at the top for sometime now. A few of the citizens are becoming a bit uneasy by his presence. What would you like us to do?"

The princess paused to think over the request, curious to know why a single visitor was causing so much distress. Anyone was welcome to visit the kingdom, as long as they did not come with malicious intentions. Her hands found themselves resting against her hips, eyes absently scanning around the room.

Seeing no harm in investigating the manner herself, Blaze answered after a moment of silence. "I will pay them a visit and settle any misunderstanding."

Gardon shifted his head nervously. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but are you sure that's wise, Princess Blaze?"

She nodded with assurance. "Your concern is appreciated, Gardon. But there is no need to worry. I'm sure the matter will be cleared up soon."

While her personal guard had doubts, he respected his ruler's decision and bowed once more. Blaze exited her chambers, reaching the exit of her castle in no time. The bell tower Gardon spoke of could be spotted for miles, its large presence towering over the smaller buildings. Blaze returned to the city in no time, relieved to see everyone was slowly getting back to normality after Nega's earlier attack. She reached the bell tower, noting the small crowd gathering below. She glanced up, cupping one hand above her eyes to block away the sun's powerful rays.

A lone figure stood at the top of the bell tower, disinterested in the crowd below. Blaze felt a sense of dread lingering within her stomach. While she worked to strengthen her fear of heights, the mere thought of leaving the ground sent chills down to her spine. Shaking away any negative feelings, Blaze entered the bell tower, ascending up the stairs as quickly as her legs would carry her.

She reached the rooftop in little time, gently shutting the small hatch behind her. Without the sun's powerful rays concealing her view, their mysterious visitor was in clear sight, yet showed no reaction to her arrival. The figure stood at the center of the roof, seemingly marveling over the land before him. His gaze searched the sidewalks and streets, observing every passing local who was oblivious to his presence.

Blaze stepped forward, intentionally making her presence known. "Greetings. I am Princess Blaze, ruling monarch of the Sol Empire. To whom am I speaking with?"

The dark figure's head slowly turned around to face her, his movements zombie-like and unnatural. As they came face to face, Blaze forced herself to suppress a surprised gasp. The mysterious figure staggered forward, head lowered, arms flailing to the side and legs dragging across the rooftop's titles.

She tilted her head, confusion beginning to fill her expression. "Shadow?"

The mysterious visitor highly resembled the Ultimate Life Form, albeit with some notable differences. While sharing Shadow's black fur, gloves, shoes and rings, his eyes were green with slit pupils and gray-blue colors were in place of the hedgehog's red markings. Most noticeable, his muzzle was pale and he appeared to be lacking a mouth. Despite lacking jaws, he spoke as clear as day, his voice far deeper and slower than expected.

"You have grown more vocal since our previous encounter," he noted, pausing briefly to lift his otherwise limp head towards the princess. "I should have expected nothing else, after all."

Blaze's shoulders tensed, her arms and legs slowly shifting into a defensive stance. Maintaining her stoic expression, she addressed the mysterious stranger once more. "I'm sorry, have we met before?"

Without warning, the figure threw up his head and cackled, maniacal laughter carrying throughout the kingdom city. His manic baritone caught the attention of the kingdom's locals, who turned around to investigate the commotion. This sickening laugh forced Blaze to tighten her fists, preparing to fight if necessary. By now, a large crowd gathered at the building's base, watching intently as the mysterious visitor exchanged words with their ruler.

The figure ceased laughter, awkwardly lowering his head to face her. His emotionless eyes locked directly into her gaze, yet Blaze felt as though he wasn't looking at her. He seemed to be staring into her soul, almost as if there was something she had he so desperately wanted to claim for himself.

With another unusual movement, he placed one hand to his lifeless chest. "I am Mephiles. Mephiles the Dark. It appears history truly has been rewritten. You do not remember me, do you?"

Blaze's hands tightened, claws threatening to dig through her hands. A single aura of flame surrounded her fist, scorching temperatures beginning to rise. She narrowed her eyes cautiously, refusing to be intimidated by the mysterious being's presence. While he had yet to make a direct threat to the kingdom, his appearance alone carried an uncomfortable presence. "You have me mistaken for someone else. I am going to ask that you please leave my kingdom at once. Be warned: my heart is alight with flames and I do not take kindly to threats."

His expression didn't alter in the slightest. Whether he brushed off her warning or simply couldn't alter his face remained to be seen. Nevertheless, he staggered forward once more, now raising his hand to point her way. "Your memory means little to me. I have come to reclaim what is mine. Iblis will be free. Solaris will be whole once more!"

Mephiles' voice grew more sinister, frustration and desperation beginning to drive him. Grasping his hands tightly, raw energy slowly began to surround him until his form was completely obscured with purple energy, the ground beneath them beginning to shake. Row sphere of energy surrounding the mysterious being. The rooftop beneath them began to crack and split, fissures snaking out rapidly. Energy exploded out from the epicenter, forcing Blaze to raise one arm and shield her eyes.

It felt like the whole kingdom was shaking. Mephiles' form hovered motionlessly, his energy crackling around him. He gestured both arms forward mockingly, almost as if he were daring the princess to strike him. "You cannot hope to stand against my power. It is futile. Events will repeat themselves. History cannot be altered. Your kingdom will burn in flames. Everything will be reduced to ashes. No hero will be here to save you."

Blaze frowned, a low growl leaving her lips. Without hesitation, she hurled a single fireball directly into Mephiles' eyes, carrying enough weight to shatter bones. His head jolted back from the force, the aftermath leaving a large cloud of smoke in its wake. To her surprise, his head shifted forward, showing no reaction to her attack. In retaliation, Mephiles raised his arm, now wielding a single dark energy ball within his grasp.

The energy ball shot forward. Blaze had little time to react, awkwardly sidestepping to avoid the attack. It gazed against her fur, taking away small strains before it collided with a nearby building. The impact disintegrated several bricks, leaving no trace of their existence. Blaze raced forward, driving her flaming fist into the evil being's face and sending him racing throughout the sky. She pursued, overtaking her attacker and sending him plummeting towards the ground with a single kick.

Seconds away from colliding with the ground, Mephiles vanished before her very eyes in a single cloud of smoke. Startled, Blaze quickly regained her footing on another roofstep, frantically searching around for his reappearance.

"Did you think it would be so simple?"

Blaze bit her tongue to conceal her surprise. The smooth, deep voice forced her whole body to stiffen. She swiftly pivoted on her heels, throwing her fist towards him once more. Mephiles, without shifting his stance, jolted his arm forward to catch her approaching fist. He leered forward, dipping his head while lowering his voice. "Do not fight."

Refusing to concede the battle, Blaze tried to tug her arm free, but his hand maintained a solid grip. With one foot placed firmly on the rooftop, she used the opportunity to bring her other leg up, striking the side of Mephiles' skull. His head barely budged, unfazed by her solid kick. Blaze's eyes widened in awe. This same kick carried enough force to break necks.

He retaliated once more, striking his fist directly into her stomach. Blaze hunched over with a painful gasp, using her free hand to clutch where he struck. The force of his attack brought the princess to her knees, all the while he continued restraining her arm. Blaze powered through the agonizing pain, willpower alone driving her to continue fighting. She raised her free hand, repeatedly striking Mephiles' head. His reaction did not change, as if pain was the only emotion he carried.

Withstanding her rapid punches with no concern for his well-being, Mephile twisted her arm, forcing a strained yell to leave the princess. He raised his other hand, backhanding her forwards. His light yet powerful strike launched Blaze directly towards the ground, smashing into the nearest building with a sickening thud. The kingdom's citizens scattered around the area, terrified of being caught in the crossfire. A few of them bravely raced towards the rubble, concerned for the princess' welfare.

Blaze slowly emerged from the rubble, pushing away the debris that threatened to bury her. Her hand rested against her cheek where Mephiles had stuck, feeling a wet substance beginning to leak down her face. She examined her hand, agitation filling her eyes. Blood now soaked her glove. The evil being's attack broke through her hardened skin, a feat no one else had achieved.

She glanced up, spotting the evil being looming over her within the distance. While his eyes carried no emotion, he seemed to wear an expression of vague amusement, announcing his self-assurance. Blaze forced herself to stand once more, mindful of her own strength as she pushed away the citizens trying to help her. "Get out of here!"

The second the area cleared, Blaze threw both hands forward, unleashing scorching flames at their highest temperatures. Mephiles continued descending at a patient speed, withstanding the blazing temperatures. She roared loudly, carrying determination and frustration within her yells. With her strongest flames leaving no lasting effect, Blaze bounced forward once more, striking Mephiles once in the neck before grabbing his arm, hurling the evil being over her shoulder.

Relentlessly, Blaze followed and drove her knee into his back, followed with a spin kick. Mephiles vanished in a cloud of smoke before he hit the building. This time, Blaze knew where he would reappear. She spun around on her tiptoes, slamming her foot into his chest. Mephiles scarcely reacted, immediately grabbing Blaze by the throat before body slamming her back first into the ground.

Just as fast as she hit the ground, Blaze threw up her legs, double-kicking Mephiles in the chin with enough force to briefly knock him back. She scrambled to her feet, flames dancing around her arms. Heavy sharp breaths escaped her mouth, intense pain shooting through her body. She stood her ground against Mephiles once more, but it was clear her body was giving out fast.

Blaze prided herself on her mastery of martial arts and pyrokinesis, yet in this moment of weakness, she recognized her inevitable defeat. Mephiles was beyond her strength, leagues above her own powers and abilities. While small bruises and cuts surrounded her body, the evil being suffered no harm. He seemed to embrace the strikes, enjoying the sensation.

"Noble Princess, why do you fight?" Mephiles questioned. "Can you not see failure is inevitable?"

"Shut up!" Blaze barked. "I won't allow you to win!"

Her trembling body betrayed the confidence in her voice. Blaze's arms shook with anxiety, legs threatening to buckle under her at any second. In this moment of terror, Blaze couldn't shake away the sinking feeling threatening to paralyze her body.

Fear.

Mephiles accomplished what others could not. His presence alone tormented her. She fought the rising panic, her muscles tightened with shaking hands. Vibrating with anxiety, Blaze shakily raised her flaming fists, ready to keep fighting till her last breath. With one final exhale to mask her fatigue, she lunged into battle once more. She screamed with resolution, arching back her fist, determined to rid this evil being with one final blow.

With little movement, Mephiles calmly raised his arm, his hand surrounded in a purple glow. A single energy spear shot from his flat hand, and Blaze could do nothing to shield herself in time from the surprise attack. She suddenly froze mid-air, letting out a painful gasp. Her eyes dared to look down at the deadly blade threatening to take her life. The energy spear pierced her lower right side, leaving the princess frozen in agony.

The citizens could do nothing but watch helplessly as Mephiles retracted the blade, forcing Blaze to drop to the ground. She landed on her side, letting out a harsh half-stifled yell. She desperately clutched at her injury, fighting to push through the burning pain before it immobilized her movements. The energy spear's heat instantly cauterized her wound, preventing any blood loss, but this did nothing to shelter her from the pain that followed. Sharp breathing slowly escaped her weakened breath.

Her head hurt too much. Her body hurt too much. Everything seemed to hurt too much. Her senses slowly started to send reports back to her brain. Bruises, cuts and a deep wound shook her body. She clutched her eyes short, not because she didn't want to see where her injuries were, but because she thought it would hurt too much. With her one free hand, Blaze desperately tried to push herself up once more. Every jostle sent ripples of pain through her wound, forcing her back down.

Mephiles ceased his approach as the royal guards surrounded their ruler, brandishing their weapons threateningly. With a simple gesture of his hand, Mephiles released a wave of energy, sending the guards away with ease. The path to his target opened once more. He leered down, grasping Blaze by her ponytail and forcing her to stand.

Blaze screamed, the sudden movement forcing her injury to flare. Pain sheeted through her with a terrible intensity. While her one hand continued clutching her side, she grasped at Mephiles arm with the other, clawing at it in a desperate attempt to pry her hair free from his grip.

His lifeless eyes casted towards the victim within his hand, a hint of surprise filling his expression. "You are more resistant than I anticipated. The pain is unbearable, is it not? Will you not shed tears for your failure?"

Blaze refused to give him the satisfaction of crying, weakly punching his arm in a futile attempt to break free. Her punches lacked the same weight as prior to their fight, leaving her with no chance of escaping. Her golden eyes briefly opened, horrified to see the crowd gathering nearby.

Mephiles caught onto her gaze, tilting his head with interest. "If you will not shed tears for your own well-being, perhaps the death of your people will change your tune."

Terror grasped Blaze, forcing her eyes to widen fully. She could do nothing but watch as Mephiles raised his free arm, forming another ball of energy within his palm. This one carried more size and power with enough weight to kill hundreds. She punched at his arm once more, but her injury forced Blaze's limps to weaken.

Blaze cared not for her own safety in this moment of failure. If her death was needed to keep her kingdom safe, this was a gamble Blaze was willing to pay. Without warning, she dug her hand into the pocket of her tailcoat, producing the cyan Sol Emerald. She held it forward, its power coursing through her arm. The sudden rise of energy caught Mephiles' attention. He broke away from his original plan, spotting the Sol Emerald in her grasp. Before he could make a move to grab it, the two of them were surrounded in a blinding light, vanishing from the kingdom in an instant. The crowd stepped back, mixed emotions filling their thoughts, but they all hoped their ruler would return unharmed.

The gentle crystal clear lake of Mystic Ruin was glimmering in the callow light of the evening sun. Gentle waves brushed against the edge, the harsh winter threatening to freeze the lake at any given moment. The soft wind unexpectedly strengthened. The snow further flattened, the wind blowing through the lake with a powerful passion. By the edge of the lake, a sudden flash appeared from above.

Mephiles reappeared from the sky, taking a moment to study his surroundings. Snow spread across the land for miles, a cold sensation filling his veins. He took note of the situation, realizing they were no longer within the Sol Empire. Or the Sol Dimension, for that matter. His hand no longer restrained the princess, having lost his grip during their unexpected journey between dimensions.

As Mephiles scanned the area, a determined roar caught his attention. He turned his head at the final second, receiving the powerful kick directly to his temple. Caught off guard, Mephiles hit the ground at rapid speed, the impact forcing the snow to bounce into the air. He pushed himself up once more, raising his head to peer at the looming princess above.

Blaze towered over him in the distance, flames bursting from her feet slowed her descent towards the ground. The Sol Emerald continued sharing its power, giving Blaze temporary strength to return to the fight once more. Ignoring her injury while the Emerald's power gave her a rush of adrenaline, she moved her hand from her injury, cupping it against the other. Scorching energy formed between her grasp, preparing to unleash one final attack. Her eyes shot up and she raced forward head first, all the while she continued charging her attack.

Blaze raced forward, her hands barely containing the uncontrollable flames threatening to burst from her hands. As the distance between them closed to ensure she wouldn't miss, Blaze unleashed one final determined roar, throwing her hands forward and striking the evil being at point-blank range with her scorching flames. The impact created a blinding intensity, forcing the whole lake to illuminate in shades of orange and yellow. She pressed forward, absorbing the trauma, swallowing the pain and using every last ounce of strength to rid him of existence.

Seconds appeared to turn into hours before Blaze's flames finally ceased. The winter's cold temperatures distinguished her flames within seconds. Her powerful flames created a large crater at the edge of the lake, leaving nothing more than ashes within its wake. Her injury threatened to paralyze her once more, but nothing could hurt more in this moment than the realization of her failure. Mephiles emerged from the crater, heavily scorched with traces of flames surrounding his body, but otherwise unharmed.

The last of her strength finally faltered before she could resume her attack. Blaze could do nothing to keep herself in the fight any longer. As the flames beneath her feet dissipated, she crumpled and plummeted, making a chilling impact as she plunged into the freezing lake with a sickening splash. Mephiles watched her fall, taking a moment to glance at his shoulder. Purple blood leaked down his arm, dropping onto the ground below. Unconcerned, he stepped forward, contemplating his next move.

"She will not break," Mephiles admitted. "And I cannot risk her death. No matter, this gives me the opportunity to search for the Chaos Emeralds. Rest well, Princess Blaze. Everyone has their weaknesses, and I know of yours…"

Without another word, Mephiles turned away and disappeared into the woods, leaving the princess to winter's mercy. Blaze, who was clinging onto reality, slowly swam with one arm, kicking her legs while clutching at her exposed wound. She reached the edge of the lake, but lacked the strength to pull herself to safety. Instead, the top half of her body slumped over the land, burying the side of her face into the snow.

Some time passed between her unexpected arrival to the Chaos Dimension. Blaze slowly opened her golden eyes, wincing at the cold sensitization. The lower half of her body remained in the lake's freezing temperatures. In her weakened state, her flames did little to nothing to shield her from the cold. Daring to look at her injury once more, Blaze recognized the danger she was in of either drowning or suffering hypothermia. With her one free arm, she clawed at the ground, trying to grip the snow and pull herself up to safety.

The snow crumbled within her grip. Her strength left her as fast as it returned. Reality began to leave her once more. Before she could make another attempt to reach safety, her whole body suddenly raised itself from the water. She glanced through her blurry vision, fearful Mephiles had returned to finish the job. To her relief, a familiar large cat examined her curiously, gently carrying the princess within his strong arms.

Blaze fought to stay conscious, clinging onto reality. "B-Big?"

"It's too cold to go swimming," Big noted in a casual tone. "You should never go swimming when it's winter."

Weakly holding out her arm, Blaze fumbled her words, her voice lacking weight to speak coherently. "I… Help…"

Big tilted his head. "Help? Hmm, whenever I need help, I go to see Amy. She always helps me when I lose Froggy. Do you want to go to Amy's house?"

With her last ounce of strength, Blaze muttered softly under her breath as her head slumped forward. "Yes…"

The princess' head fell limp once more, concealing her golden eyes and drifting away from reality. Big peered her over in a calm, curious manner once more. "She looks really tired. Maybe I should let her sleep."

Without another word, Big carefully placed the princess within his arms, cradling her softly. He turned around, setting course towards the location of one of his closest friends. His enormous rounded feet, acting as snowshoes on their own, pressed into the snow, leaving large footprints in his wake. He disappeared into the rainforest, walking at a calm pace while ignoring the soft snow smearing against his fur, completely oblivious to the terror the feline in his arms just experienced.

Chapter Text

Two hundred years into the future…

Silver raced into the frigid air, forced to shield his eyes from the scorching heat pressing against his face. The flames basking around Crisis City forced a deep sense of heat into his bones. Hundreds of buildings were up in flames, partially destroyed structures crumbling with every passing second. The blood red sky thickened the air with terrible humidity, making it difficult to breathe. Small traces of ashes were beginning to smear across his body, almost blending with his silver fur. Despite his lungs aching from breathing in the dense air, Silver raced into battle, searching for his friends.

Confusion and despair surrounded the hedgehog as he avoided the burning buildings. To see his worst nightmares finally become a reality brought a strong sense of dread. The difficult emotions were like a river flowing by him. But there was no time to dread. He forced himself to buckle up and brace himself for impact. Whatever catastrophe was attacking his world would be dealt with.

As he reached the center of the city, Silver realized the flames were the least of his worries. The citizens fled in terror, crying in despair as they were attacked by armies of monsters he had never seen before. The Shadow Creatures were small, having two hands with claw-like fingers, triangular heads with a single purple eye on their face. They carried an unnerving presence, one that was devoid of all humanity, knowing nothing of morality.

Silver growled, racing forward and throwing both hands forward. His psychokinesis restrained groups of the monsters attacking others, allowing them to run to safety. He threw his arms to one side, sending the monsters hurling through the air. His arrival attracted their attention. Other Shadow Creatures turned their singular eyes towards him, screeching with inhuman roars of anguish.

Undeterred by their numbers, Silver swiped his hand to the side, creating a Psychic Knife within his grasp. He threw the Psychic Knife forward with a swing of his hand, striking the dozens of creatures, who made no attempt to avoid the blast. The wide cyan wave carried them across the area before they smashed into a nearby building. The impact forced them to perish, fading away in clouds of smoke.

"Silver, over here!"

Against the hundreds of screams and raging fire racing through the air, Silver heard the call of his friends. He hastily glanced around, spotting the small group within the center of the city, making their stand against the creatures. The defenders of the future, selfless citizens who vowed to protect their city, defiantly stood their ground. Without hesitation, Silver quickly raced over to help them, using his psychokinesis to hurl more of the Shadow Creatures into the air along the way.

Silver took his position among the other four defenders, holding both hands out as they joined into a formation. He quickly glanced over his shoulder, announcing his presence to his friends. "I'm here!"

Twins Rocco and Rena the Hawks fought together, taking advantage of their ability to fly to keep out of the Shadow Creature's reach. The brother and sister shared the same dark emerald green feathers covering their bodies, golden beak and azure blue eyes with red and black markings on both sides. They both wore black black skin suits with white gloves and white boots. While the brother had his hair styled like a mohawk, his sister had her hair styled in a pair of long braids.

Ikari the Chameleon, the eldest of the defenders, held his katana close to his torso, eyes narrowed and ready to slay down any evil that dared to challenge him. He bore a striking resemblance to Espio, albeit with more age to his appearance. His visible purple skin bore wrinkles while most of his body was concealed in a black gi with a pair of wooden sandals covering his feet and white gloves over his hands. He shifted into a combat stance, pressing his feet tightly into the ruined pavement.

E-727 Zeta carried no concern for his own well-being, pounding his metallic fists together to assert his courage. Compared to its ancient predecessor, Zeta was colored in black with streaks of yellow and much smaller in both height and width. His red eyes were closer together, shoulders doubled in size and more square. Despite the less imposing stature, Zeta's abilities far exceeded his predecessor.

While relieved to see his friends were alive for now, Silver scrambled for answers. "Guys, what happened?"

"These things came out of nowhere! Literally!" Rocco exclaimed. "Next thing you know, the whole city's in flames!"

"It happened so quickly," Rena added. "Silver, I think something happened in the past again!"

Fighting the urge to bark at the suggestion, Silver quickly formed a Shield of Light to block dozens of the Shadow Creatures from surrounding him. "Darn it! How could this have happened?!"

While he held back the monsters, Zeta took the opportunity to march forward, raising both arms to retract his hands inside. In their place were two built-in arm cannons. Hails of laser fire unleashed from the robot's arms, tearing down the monsters that dared to stand in the way. The lasers cut them down into pieces with ease, allowing Silver to lower the protective barrier. Unfortunately, more of the Shadow Creatures were quick to take the place of their fallen allies.

"Silver, these monsters are endless!" Ikari exclaimed. "They are appearing faster than we can cut them down."

"Suggestion: Silver, you must return to the past and remedy this situation," Zeta replied, his monotone voice carrying a sense of desperation.

While knowing this was inevitable, Silver couldn't stop himself from growling in frustration. "I didn't want it to come to this again! Is it too much to ask that we all just live in peace?!"

In a sudden fit of rage, Silver threw out his hands, aggressively, building energy and igniting his cyan aura. Psychic energy charged within, strengthening his powers. With enough charge, he bounced forward and released a strong shockwave of psychic energy with a swing of his arm. The Psycho Smash reached their enemies and exploded upon impact, shattering the Shadow Creatures into ashes.

Ikari swiftly swung his katana, slicing through the monsters like butter. Despite the amount of pressure forcing his attention, he quickly raced over towards the future warrior. "I understand your frustration, Silver. But we do not have a choice."

Silver clenched his hands, trying to quell the growing rage he imprisoned within for so long. With a brief exhale, he finally tempered his anger for now. "I know. You're right, Master Ikari. But… It's… Just not fair that we can't solve our own problems."

Ikari briefly paused to decapitate the nearest creature before bouncing forward. Despite age slowing him down severely of the years, the chameleon's experience and skills allowed him to hold his own against the army of monsters. He approached the younger warrior, gently placing one hand on his shoulder. His voice softened, encouraging their friend. "Times like these force us to become warriors or victims, Silver. We'll be okay. But you know what must be done."

With small reluctance, Silver slowly nodded. Deep down, he understood what needed to be done, even if it meant leaving his friends to the mercy of these monsters. "I… You're right, Master Ikari. I'll go back and-"

Before he could continue, Ikari suddenly pushed him to one side, narrowly avoiding the sharp claws of a Shadow Creature. He hastily cut the monster down into two halves, slicing his weapon directly through its waist. Silver quickly recovered, hurling another Psychic Knife towards the approaching forces. Despite Ikari's reaction, Silver didn't avoid harm. The Shadow Creature's hand grazed his chest, leaving several gashes across his fur. Till there was a clear opportunity to return to the past, Silver forced himself to fight alongside the defenders, unwilling to risk any of the Shadow Creatures following him through time and space.

Roars of determination echoed from both sides as they charged into battle and attacked, spreading across the area and fighting whoever came into their path. Silver bounced forward and landed a solid kick into a single Shadow Creature. He watched with amazement as the monster flung through the air and hit one of the damaged buildings. It slid down and revealed a large crack. The hedgehog's powers granted him incredible strength, yet he knew they were limitations to how often he could use his powers. Prolonged use drained him of stamina at a rapid pace, a weakness others would exploit.

Rocco hit the ground with a thud and watched as a Shadow Creature came crashing down towards him. Thankfully, before the monster could hit its target, Rena flew in from the side and delivered a flying kick to the Shadow Creature, knocking it off balance. However, this left her vulnerable to attack. As such, a nearby shadow threw his fist forward and collided with her side. She cried in pain as she hit the ground while Rocco stood by her fallen side, protecting his sister. He looked at the battle, it had started out as one-on-one, but soon it had become an all-out free for all.

After summarizing the situation and helping Rena back to her feet, the two of them took to the air as they attacked the two Shadow Creatures who were trying to overwhelm their hedgehog friend. With the increase in numbers, the defenders were quickly pushed near the middle of the street. Spotting an opening, Rocco landed a double axe handle to the back of his opponent. The creature's fall was stopped short as Rena landed an enhanced punch to eliminate the threat. Losing their edge, the remaining Shadow Creature quickly fled to join the remainder of the pack in a battle, building an advantage in numbers.

Nearby, Silver and Ikari fought back to back valiantly, completely trusting the person beside them. While they were doing exceptionally well, especially against the dozens of Shadow Creatures that attacked them from all sides, their inexperience as a team was showing. While they were used to being able to fight, they didn't have coordinated teamwork. Silver barely avoided a right kick, stepping straight into the path of a powerful blunt object. Fortunately, his powers had strengthened his durability and allowed him to withstand the blow with little more than a distraction. Silver winced in pain as both he and Ikari threw their fists forward, hitting the Shadow Creature and sending it away.

However, their focus left two vulnerable as another Shadow Creature charged forward with both arms and caught the two in a clothesline. Knocked clean off their feet, the two were defenseless as a group of Shadow Creatures descended on them at once. The monsters, recognizing Silver as the bigger threat, surrounded the hedgehog and swiped their claws, cutting his fur with every strike. Silver roared with every painful strike, but refused to give in, hastily pushing them away. Swiftly, Ikari turned and pressed his back against Silver's, proceeding to pick him up and spin them around. Silver double-kicked anyone who tried to surround them. In seconds, he dropped him down and allowed the hedgehog to fight.

Zeta, Rocco and Rena stood silently, eyeing off the dozens of Shadow Creatures before them. Throughout the battle they had strategically herded the Shadow Creatures away from the rest to increase their chances of surviving. Without warning, the Shadow Creatures roared and charged forward. Zeta was first to land a blow, extending his metallic fist and striking the nearest Shadow Creature's face, sending it recoiling for several meters.

The other Shadow Creature cared not for their fallen companion as they charged at Rocco with all their might. However, it was foolish as the hawk knocked him down with a swing of his palm. The other monster had recovered momentarily, only to be able to receive a lower punch to the torso. Rena briefly turned around, relieved to see Silver and Ikari doing equally as well in their respective battles. Despite their teamwork, the monsters showed no sign of slowing down.

"They just keep coming!" Silver exclaimed, frustration evident in his tone. He threw out his hand, ensnaring several Shadow Creatures and hurling them away.

As the defenders formed a circle and readied themselves for the next wave, the Shadow Creatures suddenly vanished without warning, leaving as fast as they arrived. Confusion filled the humid air, the defenders looking around. It seemed too easy to just accept the Shadow Creatures had given up. The area fell quiet, save for flames sizzling across the landscape. The five friends searched around, readily awaiting for the next three.

The blood red sky that once cast their city in a haunting glow suddenly disappeared. The whole world plunged in darkness, leaving no room for even the sun to cast its gentle rays. The same flames that slowly destroyed their home were now the only thing illuminating the area. Slowly, the defenders collectively lifted their gaze to investigate the sudden change of environment. Upon looking at the sky, they wished they had kept their gaze away.

A powerful being of pure light, resembling a half-humanoid figure with rocky cladding on its arms, took over the sky above them. Three fingers were on each claw-like hand, its arms not connected to the body fully. Three shells of light covered the body, covering each of its upper arms, body and chest area. The top of the creature resembled an eagle head with haunting yellow eyes. It loomed over the world, a God looking down at them with an overwhelming presence.

The defenders froze, hairs on the back of their neck standing up as they were unable to shift their gaze away from the overwhelming figure. Their breathing accelerated, fear clawing at their throats while shrinking away from the presence above them. The colossal dimensional being howled like an elk, its sickening roar carrying throughout the universe. The defenders' mouths hung open in silent screams. Without warning, the huge figure suddenly spread its arms, transforming into a hawk-like spirit. The shells surrounding the creature disappeared, spreading two large wings.

"Impossible," Ikari gasped. "I… It was just a legend…"

While Silver's bones felt like they were turning into water, he forced himself to look away from the creature, locking gaze with the elderly chameleon. "Master Ikari?"

"The Sun God… Solaris," Ikari added, not daring to take his eyes away from the wrathful overlord. "There's… No hope."

The others desperately tried to move their gaze away, but couldn't force their bodies to move. The fear felt like shackles, bounding them to the mercy of Solaris. The Sun God howled once more before throwing its wings forward, preparing to unleash its wrath and consume the world in forever darkness.

Zeta broke his metallic gaze from the overlord, positioning himself in front of the hedgehog to block his view. "Silver, there is no time. You must return now."

Thanks to Zeta's interference, Silver finally broke out of his trance. While he struggled to shake away the lingering feeling of failure, he knew what needed to be done. He closed his eyes, allowing his psychokinesis to connect with the Time Wrist Cuffs connected around his wrists. Memories of events flashed through his mind, starting with the beginning of time itself all the way to the present day. Very few people held the willpower to stand through such a stressful sight, yet Silver's determination couldn't be stronger than in this moment.

"I'll stop this, I promise," Silver whispered.

Soft wind slowly strengthened around them, lifting everyone's hair into a dance. A single portal emerged from thin air, casting itself over the hedgehog, who surrounded himself in his cyan aura. He slowly ascended towards the air, allowing the portal to drag him through time once more. The defenders were finally able to force their gaze away from Sun God, collectively watching their friend disappear. No one said nothing, concerned it would distract Silver from his concentration.

Silver disappeared from their sight and the portal evaporated into thin air once more, leaving the four defenders alone in their disaster. Everyone shifted their gaze towards Solaris, ready to accept their fate. Solaris unleashed its fury at least, a blinding light concealing the world around them. The defenders closed their eyes, saying nothing as the scorching temperatures incinerated them whole.

As his body faded away into nothing new, Ikari whispered under his breath. "It's all on you now, Silver."

The heavy blizzard covered Station Square in a blanket of snow, yet the city was still as lively as ever. The citizens went about their day as usual, albeit with more caution against the harsh blizzard. Within the center of the city, a single portal opened up from the air, dropping out the hedgehog from the future. Silver hit the pavement with a small thud, cushioned from injury thanks to the deep snow. He scrambled to stand, hastily shaking the snow out of his quills. The shock of time travel left him in a state of confusion. One hand rested against his head, eyes absently searching around for help. As the adrenaline of battle slowly began to fade away, the huge difference in temperature became obvious.

From one harsh environment to another forced his limbs to flex in shock. Silver threw both arms over his torso, teeth chattering as he shivered uncontrollably. His eyes scanned the surrounding area, trying to gain his bearings and make a rational decision. His sudden appearance caught the attention of a few passing locals, but they dismissed the future hedgehog's presence before long. Having witnessed ancient beings and alien invasions countless times, little surprised the residents of Station Square anymore.

"Silver?"

He turned around at the mention of his name, locking eyes with a familiar chameleon. In his disorientated state, Silver mistook the approaching figure for Master Ikari, reminding him of his friends back home. As his vision cleared and his eyes adjusted to the dark, he felt a wave of relief to see a friendly face. "Espio!"

The detective stood a few feet away, a small heater tucked comfortably under one arm. Despite the cold temperature, Espio's mastery of martial arts and self-discipline allowed him to withstand the freezing blizzard, showing no reaction to the cold. His eyes scanned the hedgehog's appearance, concerned by the various cuts and traces of ashes smeared over his fur. "I didn't expect to see you return. Are you alright?"

The hedgehog shook his head, replying with a sense of urgency filling his voice. "There's no time to explain! I have to find Sonic. Do you know where he is?!"

"I visited Tails not long ago. He said Sonic was currently at Amy's house," Espio explained, keeping his composure against the hedgehog's more frantic tone. "Silver, why don't you come back with me first and we'll get you somewhere warm?"

Silver didn't reply, hastily casting himself in a familiar cyan aura. He ascended towards the sky, darting around in search of the right direction. The darkened sky and severe blizzard limited his vision, yet he trusted his instincts. He casted a quick glance towards the detective before his departure. "I can't, I have to go! Sorry!"

Before the detective could interject, Silver raced off into the night, soaring through the air with incredible velocity. While nowhere close to Sonic's super speed, Silver's psychokinesis granted him the power to leave a presence in his wake, becoming booming thunder roaring across the clear skies.

Espio could do nothing but watch as the future warrior raced in the snowstorm, concerned about the events that would inevitably follow. Silver returning to the past to fix future catastrophes wasn't uncommon, but this time felt different. The future warrior didn't even leave time to explain his presence. From the few seconds they were reunited, Espio recognized the terror Silver carried. Something in the future had greatly shaken him, pushing him to return to the past without so much as an explanation.

With a small exhale, Espio spoke aloud. "Whatever is going on in your future, Silver, I hope you will be able to resolve it. Stay safe, my friend."

Chapter Text

Present time...

"...And that's how I found myself in your dimension once more."

The conclusion of Blaze's story sparked different reactions from the small crowd. Sonic and Tails exchanged nervous glances, concerned about the destruction this Mephiles would bring to their world. Amy offered a sympathetic smile while gently patting Blaze on the shoulder, assuring the princess they would find a way to win. Shadow stood curiously, taking note of how the mystery entity resembled him. He didn't know whether to feel flattered or offended. Rouge hummed, contemplating whether this was a matter to involve GUN. As for Omega, the robot searched through his databases, unable to find a matching profile based on the princess' description.

"This Mephiles," Shadow spoke up, catching the feline's attention. "The way he spoke to you. It sounds as if you two have met before."

"I had the same thought," Blaze agreed. "I have crossed several visitors in my life, and he has not been amongst them. I am certain of it."

Tails piped up with a theory of his own. "Is there any possibility he was one of Doctor Eggman Nega's creations?"

Blaze softly shook her head. "For as brilliant as he may be with his inventions, Nega could never have bred such a creature. The way it stood, moved, carried itself. It… It isn't natural! It isn't of this world!"

A familiar panic was beginning to take hold once more. Shadow already straightened his stance, half-expecting another surprise attack. Her breathing intensified once more, heart thudding strongly in her chest. "I have to go! I have to stop him!"

As quickly as she spoke, Blaze pushed herself onto her feet. Her legs immediately buckled from underneath, forcing the princess to lose her balance. She winced, the burning sensation of her injury flaring up. Her friends were prepared for this. Sonic and Tails stopped her from hitting the ground, quickly returning her to the couch.

"Blaze, I know this is going to sound rich coming from me, but you need to slow down," Sonic suggested, lowering his usual loud voice.

"He's right, Blaze," Amy agreed. "You can barely move as it is. It's less than twenty five degrees out there. You won't get more than fifty feet."

With one arm clutching around her injury while her free hand rested against her chest, Blaze fought against the intense pain, hoping to clear her mind and make rational decisions. She winced as her side continued burning, the sensitization threatening to singe away her flesh at any moment. The others watched on, praying their friend would see reason and not do anything reckless.

Sonic gently placed one hand on her shoulder, bringing her focus to his gaze. "Blaze, you're not in this alone. We're all here to help you. But you have to let us in."

Between the intense pain lingering at her side and the panic within her chest, the hedgehog's words of comfort sunk in deep. As stubborn as she was, Blaze forced herself to accept the situation. She barely held her own against Mephiles at full strength. In her current condition, there was no guarantee of leaving alive.

With a reluctant sigh, Blaze nodded. "Thank you, Sonic. Thank you all. I am sorry to have dragged you all into this."

"When someone messes with one of us, they mess with all of us," Amy reassured.

While Rouge couldn't agree more, she softly cleared her throat to gain everyone's attention. "As much as I would love to stay and chit chat, we better get going. The commander is going to expect our report. Shadow, Omega?"

"Confirmed," the robot followed her to the front door, his giant frame causing the ground beneath them to shake ever so softly.

Shadow stayed for a few more seconds, his presence grabbing the attention of everyone. "Sonic, as soon as you find a lead on this Mephiles, I want you to call me right away."

The blue hedgehog was surprised by this demand. Shadow never cared about their personal conflicts before, only usually involving himself when there was something to benefit him. Sonic considered the possibility this was Shadow becoming more mature and selfless, but he knew the dark hedgehog all too well to believe this. Something about Mephiles had piqued his interest.

"Sure thing, Shadow," Sonic agreed.

The dark hedgehog nodded with appreciation before joining the rest of Team Dark by the door. Rouge donned her fur coat and threw open the door, bracing herself for the winter breeze. The difference in temperature between the outside world and the house's central heating couldn't be more obvious. She shivered briefly, adjusting her clothing to block out any exposed areas. Her comrades showed no reaction to the cold temperature. Shadow's tolerance combined with Omega's metallic structure protected them. Sometimes she questioned if she was the only normal one out of her team.

Sonic watched the trio brave the cold weather. But he couldn't shake away the dark hedgehog's request. He questioned whether or not Shadow had associated with Mephiles in a prior event. The Ultimate Life Form was never one to conceal secrets. During Blaze's retelling, Sonic noted the changes in Shadow's stance. He moved from mild interest to outright curiosity by the time the story ended. He shook away the lingering question for now, returning to the others.

Blaze held the Sol Emerald once more, attempting to summon its power and return to her universe. Her people were going to be worried sick. Anarchy was certain to follow in her absence. She closed both eyes, trying to form a physical connection between their energies. The presence was faint, barely a whisper. Traveling dimensions with the sacred gems required little effort, but in her weakened and confused state, she couldn't muster the strength to call for the Sol Emerald's aid. With a small despondent sigh, she set the gem down to one side.

She grabbed Tails' attention, urgency filled her weakened voice. "I need to know if my kingdom is safe. Mephiles may have returned there in my absence."

The young scientist nodded but then slapped his own forehead. "Oh, shoot! I left my dimension communicator back at the workshop. I'm gonna have to head back."

"It's pretty nasty out there, Tails," Sonic noted, unwilling to allow his best friend to venture the freezing temperatures alone, especially if there was a chance of running into a new threat. "I'll go with you."

The fox nodded, quickly putting on his winter accessories. The strong windstorm prevented them from using any form of transport to ride back. Even with Sonic's super speed, returning to the workshop in this weather was going to take a while. But against all the odds, they had to make sure the Sol Dimension was unharmed. Sonic donned his sneakers and cast a quick glance towards Amy. She nodded with agreement.

"I'll stay here and take care of Blaze," she reassured. "Come back safe."

Sonic flashed his thumbs up, eagerly joining his best friend outside. Braving the sub-zero temperatures once more, the two stepped into the harsh winter, taking care to close the door behind them. Only Amy and Blaze remained in the living room now. All fell silent for a moment, the storm's howls faintly filling the otherwise empty room.

Blaze shifted once more, anxiously trying to settle. Her eyes glanced around the living room, concerned that Mephiles would return to finish the job. The storm's howls masked any distant noise and the pure darkness would surely conceal the evil being's approach. His darkened fur could easily blend in with the night air.

Noting the princess' growing anxiety, Amy spoke up. "Why don't you try and get some rest, Blaze? I'm sure the others will be fine."

Sleep was the last thing on Blaze's mind. The thought of her friends encountering the evil being and suffering a worse fate sent chills down her spine. Fear. She had been trained from such a young age to master her fear, refusing to let it paralyze her. Mephiles had been the first of many to break this barrier, striking Blaze both physically and mentally. Memories of her encounter with the evil monster began to flood her mind. She shook them away, returning her attention to the pink hedgehog by her side.

"Amy, thank you," Blaze said gently. "I can't express my gratitude enough."

"You don't need to thank us, Blaze," the kind hedgehog reassured. "We're friends, and friends look out for each other. Now, try to get some rest until Sonic and Tails return. I'm here if you need anything."

The princess nodded, drifting back into her inner thoughts once more. She lost herself in the moment, failing to notice the approaching figure. Blaze let out a startled yelp as a fresh bowl of cooked food was gently placed in her hands. She glanced up, surprised to see Big standing by her side. During her retelling of recent events, everyone remained oblivious to the cat's presence, assuming he had slipped away during their conversation. For a large cat, he was surprisingly stealthy.

She glanced down at the food given to her, eyeing the texture curiously. "What is this?"

"Spicy fish stew," Big simply answered. "It always makes me feel better."

Blaze briefly inhaled the flavored air, savoring the delicious smell. Truthfully, she didn't realize how long had passed since her last meal. Anxiety had stolen her appetite away. "It looks lovely. Thank you, Big."

The large cat smiled. "You're welcome. Amy, would you like some stew?"

"No, that's okay, Big," Amy reassured.

With no further reason to stick around, Big retreated into the kitchen once more. Next to fishing, cooking was the cat's favorite hobby. Blaze dug into the food, savoring the delicious flavor. Having grown accustomed to being served gourmet food of high quality, it felt surreal to try home-cooked meals, yet the taste left wonders in her mouth. Big was right; it did make her feel better, taking her mind away from the incident for a moment.

Another knock at the front door captivated their attention. Amy and Blaze exchanged glances, curiosity filling their expressions. It was too soon for Sonic and Tails to have returned and they doubted Team Dark would have any reason to come back. Big briefly peeked around the kitchen doorway, wondering who would be joining them next.

Amy jumped to her feet, approaching the door while muttering softly under her breath. "I bake cookies and nobody comes around. But now everybody suddenly wants to see Amy Rose in the middle of winter."

She threw open the door, raising her arm to shield her eyes from the snow. The cold air felt like a thousand sharp blades were stabbing at her all at once, but nothing could surprise her more than the sight before her. She slowly lowered her arm, flabbergasted to see a familiar hedgehog. "Silver?"

The future warrior offered a nervous smile, his teeth chattering while rubbing both hands over his arms in a desperate attempt to stay warm. Traces of ashes smeared over his body, small cuts spread over his chest fur. The snow bounced off his cyan aura, but his powers did nothing to shelter him from the harsh cold. "H-h-hi there, Amy!"

"You poor thing, get in here!" Amy exclaimed, forcefully dragging the hedgehog inside.

Silver basked in the cozy house, the difference in temperature immediately warming his fur. He glanced up, surprised to see a familiar face. "Blaze?"

The princess mirrored his expression. "Silver?"

The two remained frozen for a moment, intrigued to see the other in the same house, almost as if fate had destined them to be here at this moment. Amy slammed the door shut, ignoring the trail in snow ruining her carpet. Instead, she quickly grabbed the nearest blanket, casting it over the hedgehog's shoulders. Silver grasped the edges, pulling the comforting item tightly over his torso.

Big's large frame peeked from around the kitchen doorway. "Hi, Silver! Do you want some spicy fish stew too?"

"Huh? Oh, sure!" Silver said, eagerly looking for anything to warm his blood. He suddenly took notice of Blaze's condition, eyes racing over her bandages, damaged clothing and bloodstained glove. "Blaze, what happened?!"

"It's a long story," Blaze hesitantly replied while taking note of the hedgehog's state. "But… What are you doing back here? And what happened to you?"

Silver rubbed one hand through his quills. "It's also a long story."

Amy let out a sigh, cupping one hand over her face. "This is going to be a long night."

Doctor Eggman's new fortress towered over the island he chose to make his base of operations. The tall blue-colored circular tower casted its presence over the small land, dozens of searchlights scanning the surrounding area. Thanks to the winter's harsh environment, Eggman's recent plans had become quite limited. The storm prevented Eggman's air forces from leaving the island. The ground forces didn't stand much chance of getting across the ocean in one piece either.

Team Dark took advantage of the storm, using the heavy snowfall to conceal their approach. Omega estimated the storm disrupted the base's outside surveillance, making their approach all the more easier. His theory seemed to be correct. They soon reached the outer walls, hugging the cold steel to avoid the searchlight's gaze.

While clutching the collar of her coat, Rouge finally addressed the situation. "So, why exactly are we going after Eggman?"

"When there's danger, turn to the source," Shadow simply replied, fixing his gaze towards the base's entrance.

Rouge raised her eyebrows, skeptical of the theory. "I'm not sure about this, Shadow. Eggman makes robots, not creatures. If he did, why would he send Mephiles to Blaze's dimension? This whole situation doesn't have Eggman written on it."

While her points were valid, Shadow still maintained his confidence in the doctor's involvement. "Rouge, you heard what Blaze said about this Mephiles resembling me. It's too much of a coincidence. I was created by Professor Gerald Robotnik. If he could figure out how to breed a creature of ultimate power, we have to assume Eggman can as well. Whether we want to admit it or not, he is a brilliant scientist."

The mention of Shadow's creator forced Rouge to shift uncomfortably. While aware her partner had longed moved on from his past, she couldn't shake away the sinking feeling he still bottled up years of emotional pain. Eager to change the subject, she spoke up. "Say if Eggman is behind this, what's the plan?"

"Find out his motive and make him stop before it gets out of hand," Shadow stated, glancing back to face the large robot positioned at the far back of their line. "Omega, is there a way we can infiltrate this base undetected?"

"Negative," Omega replied. "These walls have built-in sensors. Upon entry, they will activate the base's automatic defenses."

Shadow shrugged, uncaring of how they infiltrated the secure base. He preferred an open fight over stealth. The latter skill was best left to his partner. He stepped around the corner, approaching the large steel doors. "Let's go."

Without another word, Shadow reached the large entrance, ignoring the several cameras fixated on his approach. Upon reaching the large steel door, his arms and legs spread, feet pressed firmly into the ground and hands clutched tightly. Shadow's eyes closed, intently focused on summoning the deepest corners of Chaos energy. Before long, a large red swarm of energy began to form and surround the Ultimate Life Form, his very life force forming into burning power.

The storm of energy continued to circle, growing more powerful with every passing second. The giant red aura stood out like a beacon to the rest of the snow storm. The aura of energy prepared to close in and detonate. The powerful explosion that soon followed threatened to disintegrate anything that dared to stand in Shadow's path.

He threw out his arms, bellowing at the top of his lungs, carrying enough weight to rent the air with his yells. What was once peaceful became polluted with pure determination. "Chaos Blast!"

The blaring silences came amid the doctor's sleep, a declaration that he was needed to deal with the approaching threat. Eggman woke up with a startled gasp, falling out of his chair with a loud thud. He quickly stumbled to his feet, adjusting the tinted glasses resting over his face. He raced around the control room, frantically searching for the source of this disturbance.

"What's happening?" Eggman exclaimed, racing over towards one of his assistant droids monitoring the base's systems. "Orbot, report!"

"It appears the entrance on Level One has been breached, Doctor Eggman," Orbot explained.

Cubot turned away from the hundreds of surveillance monitors scattered across the room. "Uh, Doctor Eggman. There's something you need to see."

Eggman frowned. "Don't you dare tell me Sonic or his friends are here."

"Oh. Okay then," Cubot said nonchalantly.

"For the love of… Get out of my way!" Eggman ordered, aggressively shoving the robot to one side. His tinted glasses scanned the monitors, finding three familiar faces infiltrating the lower levels of his base. "Sweet Mother Robotnik! What are they doing here?!"

Orbot innocently raised one finger, piping up with his own theory. "Perhaps Shadow has finally decided to surpass Sonic as the world's number one hero. It wouldn't be the first time he took initiative. Remember when he infiltrated your base during your brief time ruling the world?"

"Or how about when he manipulated you into setting up the ARK to crash into the planet?" Cubot added.

"Be quiet! You two weren't even there for that one!" Eggman barked. "Quit your lollygagging and send every last unit to intercept them!"

Orbot piped up once more. "Every unit?"

"YES! Every unit!" Eggman demanded, grabbing his two assistant droids and hurling them towards the opposite side of the room. He hastily returned to his seat, multitasking the base's defense systems himself. While lacking any information on why Team Dark decided to attack the base in the middle of the night, Eggman knew the real reason was far from a social visit.

Team Dark raced through the lower level of Eggman's Fortress, pushing through the hundreds of defensives standing in their way. Robots emerged from hidden doorways, automatic turrets shot out from the ceilings and the occasional piece of flooring opened up beneath their feet in an attempt to trap them. Against all odds, the base's defenses did nothing to slow Team Dark in the slightest.

They worked in formation to take advantage of their strongest skills. Omega took the lead, his powerful armor withstanding the hundreds of bullets and lasers shooting towards them, simultaneously shielding his teammates from harm. Shadow trailed closely behind, skating at a reduced pace to avoid overtaking the large robot. His jet skates flared with every step, Chaos energy blasts shooting from the tips of his fingers towards the nearest target. Rouge took advantage of the air, using her powerful kicks to knock aerial robots aside while occasionally hurling Heart Bombs into the automatic turrets.

Their coordinated teamwork paid off as they reached the end of the hallway within seconds. Destroyed machinery and damaged walls were now left scattered around the lower level's hallway. The end of the hallway opened up into a large room with another steel door blocking their way at the end. The trio raced inside, eagerly anticipating another wave of reinforcements. Soon enough, more of Eggman's forces occupied the room. Hundreds of robots emerged from all directions, surrounding the trio in a circle. The robots held position, awaiting for the order to attack. Shadow, Rouge and Omega huddled closely together, their backs tightly pressed. Aware they were in the belly of the beast, only a few precious seconds were in their favor to plan a strategy. Even with Shadow's speed, there was a good chance one of the robots would land a lucky shot.

"Any ideas?" Rouge lightly suggested.

Shadow turned towards their largest member. "Omega?"

"Scans indicate we have a thirty-five percent chance of survival," Omega confirmed.

Knowing it was time to pull out their trump card, Shadow shared a knowing look with his teammates. Everyone nodded in agreement, preparing their positions. The Ultimate Life Form dug into his quills, producing the green Chaos Emerald within his grasp. The powerful gem roared to life as Shadow hunched down, holding the Chaos Emerald forward.

"Chaos Control!"

The powerful blast bathed the full room in a blinding light, the force shattering the smaller robots to pieces. In the limited space, the Chaos Control's effect bought them only a few precious seconds to initiate their counterattack, but this all the time they needed to triumph. In coordination with Shadow's attack, Omega reconfigured his arms into two laser cannons. To avoid catching Shadow in the crossfire, Rouge grasped Omega's head, heaving him into the air with some effort. The robot's torso rotated in a full circle, unleashing two large purple laser beams from both arms. The blasts incinerated the now frozen robots, leaving their metallic parts lingering within the air.

With a sigh of relief, Rouge dropped Omega back onto the ground. The Chaos Control's effects wore off, leaving hundreds of parts bouncing across the metallic floor. Their signature Chaos Inferno attack paid off once more, a powerful move they conjugated themselves during their first adventure together. Even after all this time, it saved them in battle once more.

Team Dark, surrounded by thousands of scattered parts, glanced up towards the large monitor overlooking the large room. The screen lit to life, revealing the good doctor residing comfortable within the control room. Even with the distance between them, Eggman couldn't shake away that sense of dread. Shadow held no qualms about hurting others and Omega was hellbent on exacting revenge for his time in captivity.

Clearing his throat to compose himself, Eggman addressed the trio. "If you wanted to come inside so badly, all you had to do was knock."

"Doctor," Shadow greeted, arms crossed with determination filling his expression. "We've come with questions, and you would do well to answer them. How did you breed this Mephiles the Dark?"

Eggman frowned, confusion filling his face. "Mephiles the Dark? What in blazes are you talking about?"

Shadow's expression tightened, his voice growing more sinister. "I would think twice before lying to me, Doctor. Don't make me ask again."

Despite the several floors separating them, Eggman leaned back with concern. Truthfully, he feared what was to come next. Hundreds of robots did nothing to slow their advances and he was willing to bet neither would the several blast doors locked tightly across the base's hallways. Silence filled the air, no one daring to make a sound. Team Dark continued observing the evil scientist from their position, anticipating a response. Before long, Shadow's patience grew thin.

"Have it your way," Shadow sighed, snapping his fingers to form a familiar spear-shaped energy construct. "Chaos Spear!"

He hurled the powerful projectile towards the large door, shattering it to pieces with ease. The several inches of titanium metal did nothing to hold against the Ultimate Life Form's power. Eggman briefly whelped from his position, feeling the explosion's aftershock spreading to the top of his base. Panic threatened to overtake him as he imagined what Team Dark would do once they reached him. His only hope was to command his loyal robots to stop them at all costs.

Suddenly, the monitor flickered and then went dark. But Eggman's voice boomed out over the intercom system, loud and clear. "Metal, stop them!"

Rouge let out a startled yell as a blue blur smacked her from behind, launching the bat directly towards the air. Stunned by the ambush, she briefly slipped away from reality, unable to get her bearings in time. Shadow, ignoring the new threat and trusting Omega to watch over him, quickly bounced into the air, catching Rouge bridal style. His jet skates flared, slowing their descent to safety on the ground.

While Shadow prioritized saving his partner, Omega shoulder-barged the new threat, sending it with enough force to smash into the nearest wall. The new robot recovered in no time, its red gaze staring them down intently. It bore a striking resemblance to the blue hedgehog, but carried no hint of Sonic's heroics. Its mission was simple: to eliminate those who stood in his master's way.

Omega's hands retracted inside, revealing two built-in arm cannons. Hails of gunfire unleashed from the robot's arms, threatening to tear anyone down who dared to stand in the line of fire. Metal Sonic crossed both arms, withstanding the gunfire. He slowly marched forward, keeping his defense strong. Omega's bullets carried enough force to slow him down, but lacked any power to breach Metal Sonic's armor.

Shadow set down Rouge on her feet, checking to see if she was unharmed. "You good?"

"Think I'm seeing triple," Rouge groaned, shaking her head in an attempt to straighten her vision.

"Priority number one is to apprehend Doctor Eggman!" Omega stated, while the loud gunfire threatened to drain out his voice. "Continue your mission. I will take care of Metal Sonic."

"Are you sure, Omega?" Rouge asked with concern.

"Affirmative," Omega confirmed. "According to my calculations, I am just as strong as he is. Do not let Doctor Eggman escape."

His teammates briefly hesitated to leave, aware of Metal Sonic's dangerous feats. Shadow raced on ahead, knowing their mission prioritized their own personal feelings. Rouge followed him shortly, taking to the air to keep pace with her partner's speed. They encountered several more forces in their wake. Squadrons of robots stood in their way, hidden turrets and other traps emerging from the walls. The defenses did nothing to slow them down. Between Shadow's speed and Rouge's skills, they were truly a force to be reckoned with.

Omega continued unleashing suppressive fire, loose gunshots ricocheting across the walls. Running out of reserved ammo in rapid speed, Omega retracted his arm cannons, returning the metallic claws in their place. His twin jets roared to life, allowing his metallic feet to leave the ground. He raced forward, grabbing Metal Sonic by the shoulders. They collided into the nearest wall, their heavy weight denting the metallic structure.

With Metal Sonic in his grasp, Omega repeatedly slammed him against the wall, determined to overcome the strongest of Eggman's forces. Metal Sonic wrapped his sharp claws tightly around Omega's arms, slowly prying them away from his shoulders. Their loud metallic joints echoed throughout the large room, neither showing any concern for their own well-being. Lacking any vital organs, their respective programming forced them to keep fighting until one of them fell in battle.

Metal Sonic pried Omega's grasp away, using the opportunity to take to the air and hurl the large robot into the ceiling. Omega collided with a sickening thud, but didn't make it to the ground as Metal Sonic grasped his arm once more. He raised his metallic fist, repeatedly striking Omega's face. His punches slowly dented through Omega's thick armor, almost surprised to see the durability of the older model's frame.

Omega raised his free arm, catching Metal Sonic's fist with some difficulty. Their arms shook, both trying to surpass the other in strength. Using the same arm stopping Metal's fist from striking him again, several small gun barrels opened from his forearm. Spray of pellets shot out, striking Metal Sonic at point-blank range. The powerful blasts freed Omega from Metal's grasp, using the opportunity to grab the evil robot once more. With gravity tugging them both down at rapid speed, Omega made sure to position Metal below him.

They smashed into the ground with enough force to dent the ground. Metal Sonic took the worst of the fall, but refused to throw in the towel. He kicked Omega in the chestplate, sending the large robot away. Metal Sonic glanced towards the destroyed robots, taking note of a discarded Egg Hammer's weapon. He grabbed the large hammer, taking to the air once more. Taking advantage of his flying abilities, Metal Sonic hurled the hammer over his shoulder, plummeting Omega into the ground.

Metal spun the hammer around, using the smaller end to his advantage. Combining his own strength with gravity, he impaled the end of the hammer directly through Omega's shoulder. Electrical sparks burst from Omega's injury, loose wires and oil threatening to drain him of energy. Unfazed by the attack, Omega raised his free arm, extending the double-barreled laser gun from the hidden compartment. The laser struck Metal Sonic directly in the face, penetrating his defense. One of his eyes lost its intimidating glow, yet he showed no signs of slowing down.

Another direct shot from Omega's laser gun forced Metal Sonic away. With the aid of his free arm, Omega grasped the end of the hammer and forced it out of his shoulder. His arm now hung limp. More electrical sparks burst from the open wound, his main power source in danger of shutting down. A quick diagnostic test confirmed his battery held enough strength to continue the fight. Ignoring the signs of danger, Omega raced into action once more.

Shadow and Rouge fought their way through several floors, reaching the top floor with ease. The countless robots, defensive turrets and hidden traps were no match for their ferocity. Even without Omega's aid, the duo were an unstoppable force. Upon reaching the top floor, the only barrier standing in the way of their target was another blast door.

The Ultimate Life Form prepared to smash it to pieces, but refrained from doing so when Rouge placed out her arm. She approached the door's control panel, removing the covering to expose several colored wires. Rouge gently took them apart, reattaching the wires to different circuitry. The bat briefly paused in her work to wink teasingly towards the security camera overlooking her in the corner.

With one final touch, she successfully bypassed the system's security. The blast door opened up, sliding back into the walls. Proud of her work, she pivoted on her heels, striking a pose for her teammate. "Ta-da!"

Shadow couldn't avoid grinning at her dramatic stance. "Not bad."

The duo entered the control room, their gaze fixated on the good doctor. Eggman sat at the far side, surrounded by hundreds of controls. He slowly stood to his feet, smoothing down his coat while clearing his throat.

Orbot and Cubot raced forward in their master's aid, the former holding his hand out defensively. "Hold it right there, or else!"

Rouge tilted her head, one hand resting on her hip. "Or else what?"

The two assistant droids exchanged glances between each other, uncertain on how to follow through with their threat. Orbot piped up once more, now innocently raising his finger. "We didn't think that far ahead."

Eggman groaned in exasperation, cupping one hand over his face. "Oh, give me strength…"

Rouge chuckled in response, patting the small robot softly in the head, humoring his false bravado. "Better luck next time, honey."

Shadow and Rouge marched through the assistant droids with ease, personally confronting the good doctor. Orbot and Cubot stood idly by, hovering absently within the air. Eggman swiftly produced a small laser pistol, aiming the weapon's barrel towards the approaching hedgehog. "Back away, Shadow!"

The Ultimate Life Form ceased moving, as did Rouge, but not out of concern. He scoffed at the laughable warning, a smirk forming over his muzzle. "Are you foolish enough to believe you can hit me with that thing, Doctor?"

Eggman narrowed his brow. "Shall we find out?"

Shadow chuckled and crossed both arms, deciding to humor Eggman's empty threat. He patiently waited for the doctor to make his move, uncaring of how long he needed to wait. A thousand different scenarios raced around his mind, none of them ending with Eggman's victory. Rouge stood by her partner's side, intrigued to see how Shadow would go about disarming the doctor. Orbot and Cubot, not knowing how to intervene, simply watched the events unfold.

Eggman's hand trembled, his finger resting just above the trigger. The second he fired, Shadow would make his move. An unnerving silence filled the air, sweat beginning to pour down the doctor's forehead. It seeped beneath his tinted glasses, close to concealing his sight. Shadow continued staring him down intently, refusing to take his gaze away. The Ultimate Life Form's eyes carried no doubt in his abilities, looking deep into the doctor's soul.

The steel ground beneath them suddenly burst open, several loose sheets of metal scattering throughout the control room and leaving a large hole in the center. Eggman whelped in surprise, ducking down to avoid whatever threat invaded his base. He glanced down and gasped, surprised to see the absence of a gun within his hand.

Shadow and Rouge jumped backwards at the final second, avoiding the initial attack. During the commotion, the black hedgehog snatched the doctor's weapon with ease, but now a new threat caught their focus. Metal Sonic lingered above them, his one active eye flickering unstably. While now missing his left arm with several dents and loose wiring hanging out his metallic frame, the doppelganger's determination couldn't be stronger. Metal Sonic held his position, preparing to charge.

While distracted by the robot, Eggman chuckled and pressed a small button on the console. "Got you!"

The laser pistol burst open, electricity swarming the black hedgehog. Shadow yelled out as thousands of volts spread across his body, the current close to scorching his flesh. He fought against the pain through sheer willpower, but his body gave out as fast as his running speed. Shadow collapsed onto the ground, clutching at his heart.

"Shadow!" Rouge exclaimed, racing forward to help.

Metal Sonic took advantage of her distraction, charging forward and restraining the bat by her throat. Using the added momentum, he pinned Rouge against the nearest wall, slamming her back first with devastating force. His sharp claws pressed tightly around her neck, close to penetrating her flesh. Rouge grunted, thrashing wildly in a bid to break free. She threw up her legs, repeatedly striking Metal Sonic. Her powerful kicks did little to deter his movements. The glare of his one active eye carried no emotion, yet Rouge felt as if the robot stared her down with pure rage.

Eggman cackled in triumph, jumping up excitedly. "Excellent work, Metal! Finish that bat and then take care of Shadow!"

Metal Sonic tightened his grasp, cutting off her oxygen supply. Rouge felt the lack of breath through her body, the feeling of tiredness and lethargy coursing through. Her lungs worked to bring in the much needed oxygen, but there was nothing she could do to break free of Metal's grasp. Acting quickly, she dug into her coat, producing her last Heart Bomb and sticking it to Metal's torso. In close proximity, the bomb threatened to catch her in the explosion as well, a gamble she was willing to take.

The robot briefly glanced down at the bomb, aware of the danger. Without his spare arm, he was forced to hurl Rouge to one side before desperately clawing at the device. The Heart Bomb detonated before he could remove it, launching Metal Sonic towards the opposite side of the room. Rouge landed on her side, clutching at her throat, desperately gasping for fresh air.

Metal rebalanced himself mid-air, glancing down to see the large hole within his chest. His primary functions were several damaged, internal systems threatening to shut down at any moment. His jetpack gave out, forcing Metal to his feet. He staggered forward towards the incapacitated Shadow, preparing to land the killing blow. A large metallic hand suddenly grabbed him from behind, slamming Metal Sonic to the ground. Before he made an attempt to recover, Omega's enormous foot pressed down on Metal Sonic's metallic skull, crushing it to pieces.

Rouge awkwardly pressed herself up, stumbling over towards her teammates. "Shadow, Omega!"

The Ultimate Life Form groaned, small traces of smoke lingering around his fur Rouge took his arm, helping him stand. Omega stumbled to their side, exposed wires and circuitry trailing down his metallic structure. His right arm hung limp thanks to Metal Sonic's attacks damaging his metallic joints. The injured trio stood together, collectively turning their attention towards their target.

Omega raised his working arm, brandishing his built-in arm cannon towards the villain. "Doctor Eggman located. Permission to eliminate."

Eggman gulped, shakily raising his hands forward. "Now, now, let's not do anything hasty. I'm sure we can talk this out!"

Shadow marched forward while summoning another Chaos Spear within his palm. "That was a clever trick, Doctor. But we're done playing games. It's time to answer our questions. Who is Mephiles the Dark?"

"I don't know!" Eggman exclaimed. "I swear, I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Growing further frustrated with these stalling tactics, Shadow hurled the projectile directly above Eggman's head, intentionally missing. Eggman screamed, ducking down with both arms covering his bald head. With nowhere to run and hide, he was at Team Dark's mercy.

Omega's eyes scanned the doctor's reaction, searching for hints of deception. Against all expectations, the readings came back negative. "Scan completed. Lack of microexpressions and deflection confirmed. No verbal parroting. Doctor Eggman is telling the truth."

Eggman briefly exhaled with relief, though this revelation did not bring as much comfort as he hoped. Shadow glared, a level of frustration visible on his expression. Their mission to infiltrate the base and seek answers had been a waste of time. The trio exchanged glances, silently debating their next move. If Eggman truly had no knowledge in Mephiles' existence, there was little reason to stick around.

Shadow nodded his head towards the control room exit. "Let's go."

Eggman watched the trio vacate the area, trying to comprehend everything that just transpired in the past thirty minutes. While he was relieved to be out of harm's way, curiosity filled his brilliant mind. He sat down in his armchair, leaning back with both hands pressed together.

"Hmm, Mephiles the Dark," Eggman muttered. "That name doesn't ring a bell… Since when has Shadow cared so much about my creations? I didn't even do anything for once!"

Orbot and Cubot raced over, the latter hovering too close for comfort. "Boss, you okay?"

"Get away from me!" Eggman ordered, shoving the robot away at a reasonable distance.

"Team Dark was certainly adamant to get their answers, Doctor," Orbot noted. "Perhaps investigating the manner ourselves might be beneficial."

Eggman frowned, preparing to snap at the ridiculous suggestion. Instead, the doctor hummed, intrigued by the proposal. "That… Isn't a bad idea, Orbot."

The small robot beamed, excited to finally be praised for his services.

"But first, this place is a mess!" Eggman barked. "Get to work fixing this place up! And repair Metal!"

His personal aids sighed in despondent, but did as ordered, hovering away. Eggman stood up from his chair, approaching the large window overlooking the world outside. He looked out the window pane, watching the vast storm continue to render everything in pure white.

With both hands clasped behind his back, Eggman spoke aloud. "So, someone else is trying to triumph over my reign. The fools cannot even begin to exceed my brilliance. Mefalus, whatever your name may be, you are about to witness the hands of a genius!"

Chapter Text

There was something about the darkness Mephiles found enticing. But it wasn't just the calm and quiet he enjoyed, there was something about the differences of the night that he really couldn't help but relish in it as well. It drew him in, it comforted him to be all alone in the dark. Mephiles supposed that he was because of his near invisibility in the dark and the fact that when he was in a battle, sinking into the darkness was a great way to catch his enemies off guard.

He blended within the environment, his lifeless eyes gazing towards the small house within the distance. The surrounding woods provided enough ground for him to remain unseen to anyone foolish enough to be out in the storm. The blizzard claimed the land around them, snow dropping against his fur. With every snowdrop that dared to make contact with him, the raw energy he wielded vaporized it into water, dripping down onto the ground below.

Mephiles raised his hand, watching intently as the snow gently landed within his palm. "This world was not meant to be. But it doesn't matter. Nothing will ever truly keep me from returning to you. The princess' resolve was stronger than I anticipated. She will break, it is just a matter of time. But the key relies on the Chaos Emeralds."

With the same hand, Mephiles snapped his fingers. The shadows beneath his feet slowly morphed into physical beings, rising from the ground, as if the dead had returned to the living. The several Shadow Creatures emerged from their slumber, roaring with an unnerving screeching to let the world know of their pain. Their endless numbers quickly surrounded the woods, becoming one with the darkness. The trees that stretched on for miles soon became their home.

Mephiles study the anguish his creatures carried. There was something in their yells, a pain behind it. He watched their eyes. Then he knew. The anger was nothing but a shield for pain, like a cornered warrior desperately trying to save themselves, scared for their lives, lonely and desperate. Uncaring of their pain, he gestured one arm towards the beacon of light within the distance.

"The Chaos Emeralds," he simply instructed. "Bring them to me."

The Shadow Creatures raced forward, uncaring of the peril ahead. They lacked the common sense to question their leader, having no understanding of the concept of danger. Mephiles held his position, unwilling to risk exposing himself prematurely. That was a mistake he would not dare to repeat in this timeline.

This proved to be the right move. By the time the Shadow Creatures reached the house, the occupants within raced outside, personally fighting his monsters without hesitation. Without blinking, Mephiles slowly moved backwards into the darkness once more, becoming one with the shadows.

"So, Silver's there now, too?" Sonic forced himself to yell, the storm's howls drowning out his voice.

Through the communicator strapped over his wrist, Amy stood on the other side of the video camera, speaking to the duo from the comfort of her home. She held her personal tablet forward with Blaze and Silver lingering over her shoulders, the latter now clutching a hot chocolate tightly within his hands.

"The future is in danger again, Sonic!" Silver frantically exclaimed.

The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes. "What else is new?"

Amy frowned at the insensitive comment. "Sonic, this is serious! Mephiles could be behind all this as well. How far are you from reaching Tails' house?"

Said fox called out from nearby, his goggles smeared with fresh snow. "We're about five minutes away! It's getting hard to see out here!"

The storm grew heavy for Sonic to safely speed through. The darkened sky limited his field of view, the deep snow forcing him and Tails to take long, stretched out steps. He held one arm over his wrist, trying to block the snow from smearing on his communicator.

Blaze took the opportunity to speak up, a sense of urgency filling her voice. "You must hurry! Mephiles may be stalking you as we speak!"

"When you get to the house, don't bother coming back," Amy added. "It's already too cold to be outdoors. Stay there until the storm passes."

With a playful smile, Sonic offered a small salute. "If you say so, ma'am."

The video feed cut out, leaving the two best friends alone. While Sonic took the lead, he stayed close by Tails' side in concern for his well-being. Fortunately, their journey finally ended as Tails' house came into view. To the fox's confusion, even from the distance they were at, he noted the lights were turned out. While the possibility of a power cut wasn't out of the question, Tails held confidence in his home's backup generators to have kicked in.

Sonic suddenly halted, throwing out his arm to shield Tails from stepping any further. He squinted his eyes, trying desperately to search through the thick air. He briefly stepped back, swearing the darkness before him moved with the snow. But as he took a second to adjust his sight again, it finally dawned on Sonic they were not alone out here.

He exclaimed without warning, grasping Tails' wrist along the way. "We gotta move!"

Tails did his best to keep pace, barely catching his footing as his best friend tugged him forward. "Why? What's wrong?!"

Sonic had no answer to give for now, undecided of what to say. Tails noted the silence that followed, growing more concerned with every passing second. Very rarely did Sonic lack words, always willing to gossip with his friends and smack talk his enemies. Despite the quietness, Tails trusted Sonic's judgment and said nothing of it.

They paced a few more steps, pushing through the winter's harsh barrier. The house finally came into clear view with several uninvited guests lingering around the area. Shadow Creatures, beings of pure rage with no regards to their own safety, screeched loudly as they attacked the home's defenders. Their screeches blended with the storm's howls, adding to the unsettling environment.

Knuckles and Shade fought the Shadow Creatures, taking advantage of their unique skills to cover the other's weaknesses. Knuckles' raw strength and combat experience allowed him to fight off the monsters with ease. A single direct strike shattered the creatures into dust, but for what they lacked in physical strength, they made up for in their raw numbers. Shade, the more agile of the two, cut down the creatures that dared to make contact with her Leech Blade bracelets.

The female echidna had no time to don her armor, forced to battle in a black dressing gown. In her haste to fend off the creatures, she only had time to grab her weapons before leaping into battle. While the robe did little to protect her from the cold, she knew freezing was the least of their worries right now. She maneuvered around the air, moving with delicacy and ferocity. With every Shadow Creature she cut down, Shade immediately shifted her focus to the next.

"What the heck are those things?" Sonic exclaimed, almost unnerved by the mysterious beings.

Tails, expecting a fight, quickly dug into his coat's pocket and produced his personal laser pistol. "We need to help Knuckles and Shade!"

Sonic nodded, shaking away his initial surprise and preparing for combat. "Right!"

The blue hedgehog raced forward, only to catch his foot in the snow and fall head over heels into the fluffy ground. He quickly bounced up, shaking the snow out of his quills. "Darn, running's not gonna be easy in this snow. Tails, give me a boost!"

"Right!" Tails nodded.

He twirled his namesakes, taking to the air with some difficulty. The snow pressed heavily against his body, forcing the fox to assert more energy in maintaining altitude. Nevertheless, he grasped Sonic's hand and carried him forward. With a heavy twirl, Tails hurled his best friend forward into the action. Sonic tucked himself into a ball, homing in on the Shadow Creatures. He bounced from one to the other, occasionally kicking them away with his powerful legs. The Shadow Creatures were no match for his speed, though their ferocity was unequaled.

Sonic landed in between the echidnas. "You guys okay?"

Knuckles picked up and hurled a Shadow Creature in the distance with ease before answering. "You took your time."

"Nice to see you too," Sonic said drily. "What happened? And what are these things?"

"No idea, but they're deadly!" Knuckles replied, outstretching both arms to stop a horde of the creatures from surrounding them. He struggled to gain footing in the deep snow, holding back the creatures with all of his might, even as they clawed at his arms.

Shade swiftly sliced one of her blades through the monster's necks Knuckles held at bay, giving her friend some breathing space. "Their numbers are endless!"

At that moment, Tails hovered over the trio, taking advantage of his weaponry to pick off the creatures in the distance with his laser pistol. His eyes quickly scanned the area, horrified to see how many of the creatures were forming around his home. Their terrifying appearance and sheer disregard for human life unnerved Tails deeply. For a moment, he paused, hands beginning to tremble in fright.

As his heart thudded strongly in his chest, Tails closed his eyes, exhaling softly to compose himself. "Now's not the time to be scared. Believe in yourself."

Sparked with determination, he refused to be intimidated by their appearance any longer. "I'll activate the house's defenses!"

"We'll keep these things busy!" Sonic agreed.

Tails nodded and quickly raced forward into cold air, all the while fighting off the Shadow Creatures that tried to swarm him. The trio raced closely behind, bringing attention to themselves to take away the Shadow Creature's focus.

"Knux, what'd say we do the old bowling trick?" Sonic suggested, a grin forming in the corner of his mouth.

Knuckles caught on, raising his fist in agreement. "Let's do it!"

Sonic bounced into the echidna's grip while tucked into a ball. Knuckles caught the spinning hedgehog in both arms and hurled him forward with a roar of determination. The blue hedgehog collided with several of the Shadow Creatures, knocking them down like bowling pins. His quills, soft when not in action, sliced through the monsters while producing enough force to drive them back. They faded away into nothingness, leaving as fast as they appeared.

Using the added momentum, Sonic bounced into the nearest monster before changing directions and attacking the next. A few of them surrounded him, swiping their deadly claws with intent to kill. Deciding it was time to change strategies, Sonic called on his hand to hand skills, landing karate chops to their skulls with the occasional punch to their midsection. He followed most of his initial attacks by driving his foot into their heads, the force shattering them to pieces. While he took no pleasure in taking lives, Sonic feared these were not living beings who cared for life.

Tails finally reached his house, disheartened to see the full extent of the damage up close. His front door dangled from the hinges, windows shattered and small dents in his walls. Shaking off the initial shock, Tails hastily raced into the hallways, turning a sharp corner to reach the workshop. The Shadow Creatures followed him inside, flooding the rooms with their sheer numbers. He quickly glanced over his shoulder, letting out a startled yell.

Frantically entering the workshop, he slammed the connecting door to his house shut and jumped into the chair aligned with his computer. Fingers rapidly pressed against the keyboard, eyes scanning the monitor with intense focus. The door did nothing to stop the creatures in their path. It flew off its hinges with ease and they poured into the room, stumbling and shoving the other out of the way in search for their target.

With one final sharp tap on the keyboard, Tails spun around in his chair, shooting the nearest monster down. Their sheer numbers quickly overwhelmed the fox, grabbing his arms and pinning him to the ground, clawing against his jacket that offered some level of protection. He cried out in terror, desperately trying to push them away. Their single eyes peered down towards him, carrying great pain and rage.

Tails felt momentary relief as the monsters were cut down by countess lasers, but refused to remove his arms shielding his face. One eye slowly peaked open, relieved to see his defense systems roar to life. The Shadow Creatures, showing some hint of confusion, did nothing to protect themselves from the workshop's defenses. Multiple droids and automatic turrets spread throughout the air, recognizing the monsters as threats. While their weaponry cut down the creatures, Tails shakily stood to his feet, stumbling towards the button that opened the garage door.

Outside, Knuckles growled with frustration, restraining one of the Shadow Creatures by the throat while holding more at bay with his free arm. With a gentle squeeze, he crushed the monster's throat and let it evaporate into his hand before reverting his focus to the others. He made a move to stop them, but fell short of striking as something beat him to the punchline. Defense droids swiftly cut the monsters down, scattering throughout the air and targeting the various creatures.

As Sonic and Shade moved back to back with several of the beings approaching on all sides, Tails' defense systems swiftly surrounded them, unleashing their might. The fox himself personally joined the battle once more, keeping a safe distance while picking off any of the lingering Shadow Creatures. In no time at all, their combined efforts paid off. The Shadow Creatures were no more, becoming nothing more than shadows in the night.

The four friends regrouped within the middle of the battlefield, holding formation, eyes frantically scanning the darkness for any more threats. The storm's howls took over once more, the blizzard tipping the balance of emotion from danger to caution. Everyone slowly exhaled with relief, steam slowly erupting from their breaths. The threat was over.

Sonic sighed, his heart still frantically pounding from the intense adrenaline. He turned towards his younger friend, noting his startled state. Concerned, Sonic slowly placed his hand to the fox's shoulder. "You okay, buddy?"

Tails snapped out of his frightened state, turning towards the taller hedgehog with a shaky nod. "Just a little shaken up. I'm okay."

No longer moving around to keep herself warm, Shade felt the winter's effects begin to freeze her from within. "We should get back inside."

Tails nodded, slowly turning towards the entrance of his home. His eyes suddenly widened like saucers, a great realization hitting like a truck. "The Chaos Emeralds!"

His exclamation started a chain reaction, forcing Knuckles to gasp. "The Master Emerald!"

In their haste to return home, no one considered the real reason why these creatures were here to begin with. As well as the Master Emerald, Tails and Knuckles had each stored their very own Chaos Emeralds. The four friends quickly raced inside, splitting up into several directions. Sonic and Tails reached the latter's workshop once more. He grabbed the containment device, only for his worst fears to become a reality. The device had been ripped to shreds with no sign of the silver Chaos Emerald inside.

"They took it…" Tails mumbled, lowering his head with guilt beginning to form within. "They took the Chaos Emerald…"

Knuckles suddenly raced into the room as well, holding a mixed reaction of relief and concern. "They took my Emerald too, but the Master Emerald is safe."

In an unexpected burst of frustration, Tails angrily hurled the damaged device to one side. "THEY TOOK IT!"

While caught off guard by the reaction of his best friend, Sonic shook away his initial surprise. He grasped Tails' shoulders, forcing their eyes to meet. "Hey, hey! It's okay, Tails. We'll get it back."

"You trusted me!" Tails exclaimed. "And I let you down!"

Sonic softly shook his head in disagreement. "You think I care that much about the Chaos Emerald? Tails, you're safe and that's all that matters to me."

He peered down, hoping to see the return of the fox's usual upbeat demeanor. No sign. With a gentle sigh, Sonic softly pulled him into a hug, gently patting his back for comfort. His voice lowered, soothing the young scientist. "It's okay, Tails. It's okay."

While the young scientist still chastised himself for his failure, the blue hedgehog's words provided comfort like no other. Even after all this time, all the weeks he spent trying to strengthen his confidence, Tails often forgot his biggest flaw. Despite his brilliance, he was still a child. Kids made mistakes, whether intentional or not. All he could hope to do from here was learn from the mistake and do better in the future.

Knuckles silently watched the duo for a short while. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Shade entering the same room, now donning her armor once more. He noted the confusion plastered across her expression, becoming curious to know what she was thinking. "Something wrong?"

"They made no attempt to take the Master Emerald," Shade noted. "It is the only thing inside that has been untouched. Why would they not take it?"

"I had the same thought," Knuckles agreed. "But whatever those things were, they took the Chaos Emeralds for a reason. We have to find them."

"And whoever sent them," Sonic spoke up, joining the conversation. While his hands still rested on Tails' shoulders, he glanced over towards the echidnas. "Someone sent those things here. I have a strong feeling I know who."

Tails raised his head. "Mephiles."

Knuckles tilted his head with curiosity. "Hang on a minute. Who's Mephiles? And what happened when you raced off earlier?"

"It's Blaze," Tails explained. "Someone named Mephiles attacked her. And just before we got here, Amy called in to tell us Silver showed up at her house."

The curiosity on Knuckles' face further grew, growing more intrigued with recent events. "Let me get this straight: Blaze is back, Silver is back and now someone named Mephiles is causing trouble?"

"You catch on quick, Knucklehead," Sonic confirmed.

"Is there a possibility those creatures were sent by this Mephiles?" Shade suggested. "It seems too much of a coincidence for them to attack us the same night your friends returned."

Ignoring the hedgehog's childish comment, Knuckles pressed on. "So, where do we go from here?"

While Tails slipped away to close the garage door and shield out any more cold from entering the house, he grabbed his personal handheld device, miraculously untouched during the invasion. "We better call the others."

"So, you think those black creatures are related to Mephiles somehow?" Amy inquired as she poured herself another coffee to starve off the effects of sleep.

Silver sat in the single armchair, now sporting a navy blue hoodie. At Amy's insistence, she helped clean away the small traces of ashes smeared over his fur. To shield him from the cold, she lent him the hoodie that once belonged to Sonic. A fresh hot beverage rested in his hands; the taste of coffee was one he came to adore in quick time.

"I think so," Silver replied. "It's too much of a coincidence for it not to be. What do you think, Blaze?"

The princess stood in front of a mirror, applying a fresh band-aid across the large cut spread over her cheek, her hair hanging just above the back of her neck. Like Silver, she did her best to tidy her appearance. Thanks to her pyrokinesis giving her accelerated healing, the small bruises and cuts were beginning to fade in no time. However, her most severe injury would take a few days to fully recover. Fresh bandages were wrapped tightly around her lower torso. Her injury had since stabilized, but any quick movement forced her wound to flare with intense agony.

Unlike the future warrior, Blaze decided against changing her attire. Amy had failed to talk Blaze into trying on one of her outfits. She was quite self-conscious with her appearance, only owning a handful of clothing she felt comfortable wearing. Her tailcoat clearly needed a fix, but the princess was willing to power through until the threat of Mephiles was over.

As she paused to bind her hair up again, Blaze turned around to address the question. "I can't say for certain. But from what you told us about the creatures in your future, they sound akin to Mephiles' powers. It stands to reason there is a good chance he is responsible for the catastrophe. That is why we must stop him now."

Before their conversation continued, Amy's tablet sprung to life, vibrating as her own ringtone blared.

Follow me inside, outside, through the stratosphere…

Amy hastily grabbed her device, relieved to see a photo of Tails cast over her screen. She tapped the green icon and their respective cameras lit to life. Blaze and Silver quickly raced over, looming over her shoulders once more. On the other side of the camera were four familiar faces. Tails held his Miles Electric forward with Sonic, Knuckles and Shade watching over from behind.

Sonic offered a friendly wave. "You guys okay?"

"Better now that we know you're safe," Amy replied with a relieved smile. "Are you guys okay?"

"We ran into some trouble," Sonic admitted.

Amy perked up with concern. "What happened?"

"Were you able to contact my people?" Blaze quickly added.

Tails softly shook his head. "Sorry, Blaze. My communicators got smashed up before I could use them. But you don't have to worry about Mephiles attacking your kingdom."

The princess frowned. "And why is that?"

"Hang on, I'm adding the others into the call," Tails replied.

Another video camera opened up, spreading their three cameras into several directions. On the other side, Rouge held her cellphone as far away from her face as possible, allowing Shadow and Omega to see the rest of their friends. The bat gave a friendly wave while her comrades watched in anticipation, her eyes taking note of another friendly face.

"Silver, is that you?" Rouge inquired.

The future warrior gave a shy wave. "Hi there, guys."

"Sonic," Shadow greeted, upfront and blunt as usual. "Do you have an update?"

The blue hedgehog nodded. "We do, but we're trying to add the Chaotix into the call first. They're not answering."

"Vector struggles with a light switch, did you really expect him to figure out how to use a tablet?" Knuckles humorously suggested, for once trying to make light of the situation. No one seemed to take amusement in the joke.

Tails leaned in closer to his camera, taking note of Team Dark's state compared to their earlier visit. "Are you guys okay? You look like you've been hurt."

"Let's just say we paid a visit to Doctor Eggman," Rouge slowly explained, averting blame to her partner. "Mr. Grumpy here insisted on it."

Amy tilted her head with concern. "Why did you do that, Shadow?"

"Is it not obvious?" Shadow questioned, masking his surprise expression with his usual impassive demeanor. The confused gazes of everyone participating on the call forced him to justify his actions. "I had strong reason to believe Doctor Eggman had a hand in Mephiles' creation. We had to be sure. At the very least, the doctor will understand to stay clear."

"Or maybe you've just poked the bear," Knuckles countered, his comment earning a light elbow jab from Sonic.

"We'll cross that bridge when it comes to it," Shadow added firmly. "Moving on, what do the Chaotix have to do with this?"

With no answer from their detective friends, Tails gave up trying to add them into the group call. Now that everyone was focused with their eyes glued to their respective screens, he spoke up. "We got attacked by these black monsters."

Silver perked up, unknowingly shoving himself into Amy's shoulder. "What did they look like?!"

Sonic gave a small shrug while making gestures with his hands. "One eye, claw hands, kind of broody and dark."

"That's them!" Silver exclaimed with certainty. "Those are the same things that attacked my future! That must mean they started here!"

"And that means they must be in league with Mephiles," Blaze added, slowly regaining authority within her voice once more. "Sonic, what did these monsters do?"

"They took the two Chaos Emeralds we had here," Sonic hesitantly replied, choosing his answer carefully to save Tails further distress. "We did our best to stop them, but there were too many. That's why we're trying to get in contact with everyone now. We think they're after all of the Chaos Emeralds."

"And if they're looking for the Chaos Emeralds, that means most of us are in danger," Shadow added, slowly producing his green gem for all to see. "We should focus on securing the Emeralds first."

Sonic nodded in agreement, grabbing the blue Chaos Emerald from his quills and presenting it forward. "I managed to hold onto this one. That makes two."

"Mine's back at the club," Rouge spoke up, briefly glancing away to mumble under her breath. "Knew I should have worn it as a necklace."

"The Chaotix are holding onto one of them too," Tails added. "We need to warn them as soon as possible."

"And we left the last one with Queen Serenity after the tournament," Knuckles piped up once more. "That makes five."

Shade, while quite oblivious to recent events till now, spoke up. "Then I strongly suggest we go and find them as soon as possible. We cannot risk Mephiles obtaining all seven at once. The results would be catastrophic."

"Shade's right," Shadow agreed. "We'll head to Rouge's club, but we need to find a place to meet up afterwards. The last thing we need is Mephiles trapping one of us in a corner. We're stronger in numbers."

The group fell silent for a moment, but not out of concern for Mephiles. Everyone, especially Sonic, was surprised to see Shadow taking charge of the situation. The dark hedgehog often opted to ride solo or with his team if necessary. To witness this level of maturity was a welcoming sight. Shadow noted the silence that followed, confused as to why everyone was absently staring into their screens.

Shaking away the initial surprise, Tails spoke up. "We'll go and see Queen Serenity. It's not gonna be easy getting there in this weather. Sonic, can you still use Chaos Control?"

With a confident smirk, Sonic casually tossed the Chaos Emerald up and down. "As if you had to ask."

"We're the closest to Chaotix's office, so we'll head there," Amy offered, silently turning towards her friends from the other worlds, who nodded in agreement.

"We still need a place to meet up," Shadow reminded. "Amy, your house seems like a good rendezvous point. We should meet back there."

Amy opened her mouth to protest, but took a moment to recognize the hedgehog's tone. Despite his usual brusque attitude, there was a hint of respect there, almost as if he were asking for her permission. With a gentle nod, she agreed. "That's a good idea."

"Looks like we're in agreement," Sonic noted, averting his gaze towards the duo standing beside his self-proclaimed girlfriend. "Silver, Blaze. It's all going to be okay. We'll handle this."

"I hope so," Silver hesitantly admitted.

"We won't rest until Mephiles has been defeated," Blaze firmly added.

Sonic smiled, relieved to see her confidence returning. With a friendly two-fingered salute, he prepared to take action. "Good luck, everyone."

"And stay safe!" Amy added.

With their meeting adjourned, everyone's respective devices turned off. With the growing threat of Mephiles, the friends feared for what was to come. But first, their priority was to secure the sacred Chaos Emeralds once more. Another adventure awaited them.

Chapter Text

"And stay safe!"

As the video feed cut out, Tails placed his handheld device to one side, turning around to study the state of his workshop. The Shadow Creatures ripped most of his inventions to shreds, but by miracle, the house's defense systems remained untouched. He softly shook his head, refusing to become attached to personal devices. Things could always be rebuilt. His friends were safe, that was the important thing.

Knuckles glanced over towards the blue hedgehog with both arms folded together, wearing a concerned gaze. "Are you sure you can do this?"

"Can't be that hard," Sonic replied, carefully examining the Chaos Emerald resting in his palm. "I mean, it's been a while. But if Shadow can do it, how hard can it be?"

"Guess you'll find out when you leave," Knuckles remarked.

Sonic arched his eyebrow at the echidna's comment. "You're not coming?"

"One of us needs to stay here and look after the Master Emerald," Knuckles explained, briefly glancing through the destroyed door into the living room, relieved to see the powerful gem in its resting place. "I'm not risking those things coming back to take it."

"I'll stay too," Tails spoke up.

"You don't have to do that, Tails," Knuckles softly reassured. "I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, but if those things come back, I'm the only one who can activate the house's defenses," Tails explained, but his expression betrayed the real reason for remaining behind.

Sonic noted his younger brother's reaction, concerned he was still blaming himself for losing the Chaos Emeralds. Whether he was staying out of guilt or to simply keep Knuckles company was the reason, Sonic didn't intend to force him to tag along. "Sure thing, Tails. Maybe you can fix the dimension communicators while we're gone."

"Yeah," Tails glumly replied.

Eager to get moving, Shade set her helmet down to one side and moved to stand by the blue hedgehog. "I will accompany you to retrieve the Chaos Emerald."

Sonic nodded and averted his attention to Knuckles, who silently gestured in return, giving him his blessing. "We've got our communicators if you need to check in. Hold on tight, Shade."

She placed her armored hand against Sonic's shoulder, briefly glancing towards Knuckles. Shade gave a reassuring nod, vowing to return.

With a gentle sigh, Sonic held the Chaos Emerald in the air, feeling the positive energy coursing down his arm and trailing into his pure heart. "Here goes nothing. Chaos Control!"

The duo vanished from sight, leaving no trace of their presence in the workshop. Tails and Knuckles silently exchange glances, neither having nothing to say. The young fox took to working on his communicators, hoping the distraction would take his mind off everything. The guardian outstretched one hand, trying to offer some words of encouragement. He opened his mouth, but the reassurances he wanted to give died on his tongue as his eyes averted towards the ground. Offering words of comfort were not in his forte. Instead, he retreated back into the living room, returning to his duty of guarding the sacred gem.

Sonic and Shade dropped out of the Chaos Control's wormhole. Because of a miscalculation on Sonic's part, they appeared further from the ground than planned. The blue hedgehog awkwardly rebalanced mid-air to land on one knee and hand. Shade, the more experienced soldier, landed with some grace, armored feet gently pressing against the snow.

"That could have gone better," Sonic groaned, momentarily grabbing his own forehead. "It's been a while since I last used Chaos Control."

"Evidently," Shade noted, a teasing smirk creeping its way onto her face.

As Sonic shook his head to rid all traces of dizziness, his eyes scanned around the surrounding area. Village houses surrounded them on all sides, the gravel ground beneath them covered with far less snow. The kingdom had been spared of a heavy snowstorm, but the freezing temperature couldn't be stronger. He placed one hand to his hip, slowly studying the surrounding area.

He whistled with amazement, wishing he had brought a camera. "This place is incredible. It sucks we had to come here at night."

"While I am inclined to agree, perhaps we should come back another time to do some sightseeing," Shade suggested. "The Chaos Emerald is our priority."

Sonic nodded in agreement. "Right. If I know royalty, there should be a castle somewhere around here."

The two friends walked through the empty streets, searching their way for the Ice Queen. The kingdom was almost completely void of all life. Everyone wisely chose to stay indoors, refusing to wander around the cold streets at night. Only a handful of the kingdom's residents braved the outside world, most of which were the kingdom's guards. Mobians of different species spread across the land, proudly wearing their royal attire. Their matching clothing consisted of a white shirt with a blue bow tie, a teal jacket with darker cuffs and collar and yellow epaulets, black boots, white gloves, and a black top hat. Swords rested within their sheaths, fingertips gently resting on the hilt to draw their weapons if necessary.

Shade caught the attention of the guards as they traversed. Their gazes ensnared her with heavy suspicion. While her weapons were safely tucked away for now, her advanced armor raised their concerns, perturbed she was a possible invader looking to bring harm to her kingdom. The guard's hands slowly twitched, staring her down challengingly. She briefly matched their stares, refusing to be intimidated by their numbers, teeth clenched as she tried to steady her breathing.

Sonic took note of the staring contest, quickly picking up the pace before the situation escalated into violence. "Don't pay any attention to them, Shade. They're just being cautious."

The echidna regained her senses, her expression softening within an instance. "I apologize. It just brings back bad memories of when I first came to your world."

"You're not them anymore, Shade," Sonic reassured. "You're one of us now. This is your home."

Pushing aside her warrior pride, Shade nodded. "I know."

Eager to change the subject, Sonic diverted their conversation from the past to the present. "Thanks for tagging along. I know it's not easy leaving the Master Emerald, but Shadow had a point about being in numbers."

"Of course," Shade agreed. While they were alone with some time to burn, this was the perfect opportunity to seek answers for something that had been racing around her thoughts since their earlier battle. "Forgive me for asking, but something appears to be on Tails' mind. His reaction to losing the Chaos Emeralds. It isn't like him to be so distraught."

The blue hedgehog continued walking, but felt a sense of unease at the question, sheepishly rubbing one hand up his arm. "He's… Not been himself properly for the past few weeks."

Curiosity etched her expression. "How so?"

"That war with Eggman, when it all first started, I… Got beat up pretty bad," Sonic hesitantly admitted, a wound to his pride. "Tails saw the whole thing. I guess he's still blaming himself for what happened."

Shade paused, humming with peaked interest. For as long as she knew the young fox, Tails never showed any hint of doubt in his abilities. He was brilliant in his inventions. She remembered from experience how effortlessly he constructed the Cyclone. During their adventures, he often took the lead in their battles, charging into the fight with the determination of a great warrior. The Twilight Cage homed some of the most fearsome species in the whole galaxy, but even their reputation did nothing to shake Tails' confidence.

"But everything worked out, did it not?" Shade cautiously asked. Sonic nodded and she continued. "Then he should have no reason to feel guilt. Even the strongest of warriors cannot triumph in every battle."

"It's complicated," Sonic sighed. "When we were younger, there was a time when Tails wanted to be his own independent hero. I couldn't have been prouder. Heck, he fought against Eggman on his own and won. But we forget sometimes that Tails is still a kid."

The curiosity plastered on her face further grew. "Aren't most of you only children? No offense."

"None taken," Sonic assured. "But there's a difference, Shade," he briefly paused to rub one hand over his temple. "How do I explain this…? Shade, you're a warrior, right?"

"I am," Shade nodded.

"You spent your whole childhood learning how to fight, right?"

"My earliest memory is of my mentor teaching me to master my fear."

"Exactly that," Sonic stated, allowing his words to hang in the air momentarily. "You were raised to fight since the moment you were born. Tails grew up with people around him trying to put him down. When he and I first started our adventures together, I got to see him grow into this cool guy! But at heart, he's a sweet kid and just wants to make sure the world is a safe place."

The duo turned the next corner, reaching the now empty market. Late night workers closed up their stalls for the night, hastily retreating to the security and warmth of their homes. They briefly glanced over towards the new visitors, but paid them little attention. Sonic and Shade stopped in the center of the area, looking around to gain their bearings. Had it not been for the snow limiting his speed, the blue hedgehog would have simply raced a few laps around the kingdom to get a sense of direction for the place.

While they waited, Shade pressed forward with their conversation. "So, what do you intend to do about Tails?"

Sonic arched his eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"If he is as fragile as you claim, perhaps the front lines of battle might not be for him," Shade slowly suggested, choosing her words very carefully to avoid antagonizing her friend. Her social skills, while noticeably an improvement, still faltered in some areas.

Sonic opened his mouth to argue against her suggestion, but no words left his lips. He briefly exhaled, steam slowly arising from his breath. Finding himself tongue-tied, Sonic searched deep within for the appropriate response. For as fast as he may be on his feet, thinking was not his strongest forte. Confliction froze him, struggling to fight against his inner thoughts. Both arms crossed over his chest, gaze averting towards his feet crunched within the snow.

"Nice night for a walk, eh?"

The blue hedgehog's head shot upwards, squinting his eyes to spot the silhouette figure watching them from above. While their appearance carried some intimidation, Sonic recognized the voice all too well. He glanced backwards, noting Shade shifting herself into a defensive state, preparing to activate her Leech Blade bracelets. He hastily grabbed her arm, silently shaking his head with assurance. The new visitor, sporting a dim gray, military-style coat, casted himself in a blazing neon blue aura and slowly descended from the rooftop. His booted feet pressed into the snow, energy slowly melting it away into fresh water.

Sonic smiled, relieved to see a friendly face. "Ozor."

"In the flesh," the jackal chuckled and gave a small bow. "Welcome to the Etastie Empire, Sonic. You picked an interesting time to visit in this weather."

"You're one to talk," Sonic countered lightheartedly. "What are you doing out here so late?"

"Stargazing," Ozor said drily, a hint of sarcasm entering his tone. "I was doing my nightly patrol and was just about to head back when I saw you both," his eyes scanned towards the echidna, who stared at him with wariness. "Ahh, where are my manners? I'm Ozor, personal guard to Her Majesty Queen Serenity."

Shade glanced down towards his outstretched hand, hesitating to accept it. Sonic gave her a nod of reassurance. With no reason to distrust the blue hedgehog's judgment, she slowly raised her hand, locking palms with the jackal. "I am Shade. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Ozor took note of her outfit's design and the symbol of her headband, admiring the unique style. "Might I say that's an interesting armor. Are you from a land of warriors?"

Shade slowly released his hand, growing unnerved by the comment. "In a manner of speaking."

Noting her uncomfortable stance, Sonic quickly grabbed the jackal's attention. "Listen, we're kind of in a hurry. Can we see Queen Serenity?"

The jackal's face shifted, a small frown straightening on his face. "Her Majesty is currently sleeping for the night. What's so important that we need to wake her?"

"It's the Chaos Emerald," Sonic explained. "There's someone out there trying to get them all. He's already hurt Blaze and might be on his way here right now. With an army!"

Ozor tilted his head, concern now growing in place of his initial curiosity. A threat to the kingdom was one he took very seriously. He fell silent, the faint wind slowly lifting his long hair into a dance. While he had no reason to doubt Sonic's warning, caution still prevented action. "Hmm. If what you say is true then we should ready our forces for action."

Shade quickly butted in. "If you surrender the Chaos Emerald to us now, nobody in your kingdom will be in danger. We will divert all attention to us."

"I'm afraid it is not that simple," Ozor said regretfully. "The Chaos Emerald is in Queen's Serenity possession. I can't simply hand over something without her blessing. But this is a matter of urgency. Come on, let's go to the castle right away."

His inner powers sparked to life, surrounding the jackal in a blanket of neon energy once more. Acting as their very own beacon, he allowed his powers to gently lift him from the ground, setting course towards the kingdom's castle. Sonic hastily followed, awkwardly stumbling around the snow. Shade, while intending to resume their conversation later, prioritized their mission first and made haste to keep pace.

Thanks to Ozor's assistance, the trio reached the large castle in no time. The night guards were initially suspicious of the visitors seeking an audience with their ruler at such an hour, but a quick order from Ozor allowed them immediate access. The royal guards' eyes fixated on them the whole time, preciously awaiting for the moment the unfamiliar faces caused trouble. Admittedly, Sonic felt uneasy by their attached stares, feeling like a common criminal. In contrast to the Sol Empire guards, who greeted him with warmness, these ones met him with intense hostility. He hoped with time they would see reason and understand he was no threat to them, but today was not the day to form bonds.

Upon reaching the throne room, Ozor took his position at the side of the throne after conversing with one of the servants. "I've sent word for Queen Serenity. She will be here soon. I hope you're wrong about this threat, Sonic."

"You and me both," Sonic admitted in a low mumble.

Shade stood on her guard, eyes slowly scanning the room. Dozens of guards lined up against the walls, holding position and standing as still as statues. The gold of the castle served as a reminder their ruler's heart and soul should always be the real gold, that the metal could only be beautiful when lit by the light of a loving sun. She admired its beauty, wishing there was more time to go exploring.

From the connecting hallway, the Ice Queen herself slowly marched inside, accompanied with several of her royal guards. On cue, the throne room's guards bowed with respect, as did Ozor. Sonic initially stood with his usual upbeat persona, but upon noticing Shade joining in with the respectful gesture, he did so as well.

While they bowed, Sonic softly whispered into her ear. "Whatever you do, don't shake her hand."

Shade's eyes peaked open. "What?"

Queen Serenity the Mouse reached the throne, half-heartedly dismissing the patrol accompanying her. Soft bags were under her eyes, her shoulders slumped while walking at a reduced pace. She caught herself mid-yawn, rubbing her eyes softly. In place of her usual white dress and blue boots was a teal colored dressing gown, with white slippers covering her feet. She slowly reached her personal guard, greeting him with a tired whisper. "I trust this is important, Ozor?"

"Forgive me for waking you, Your Majesty, but this is a matter of urgency," Ozor hastily explained. "Sonic the Hedgehog has come to warn us of a threat."

"Sonic?" she suddenly perked up, throwing her gaze towards the visitors. All traces of fatigue faded away in an instance, a bright smile casting over her face. "Sonic!"

The blue hedgehog gave a friendly wave. "Long time no see, Your Majesty."

"I am so pleased you have decided to visit the Etastie Empire, even if it is in the middle of the night," she gently chuckled, a small tease leaving her voice. Upon remembering the jackal's earlier warning, her expression hardened. "Ozor informs me there is trouble."

"It's a bit of a story, so I'm gonna have to give you the quick version," Sonic explained.

He went on to retell recent events from hours before, starting with how Blaze first arrived all the way to the attack on Tails' home. The queen listened intently, occasionally taking a sip from the fresh cup of coffee her servants brought her. Her expression tightened with anger as Sonic informed of what happened to Blaze, disgusted to hear how Mephiles caused her great harm.

"...And that's why we need to get the Chaos Emerald," Sonic concluded his story at last, hoping the quick retelling would persuade their new friends into handing over the sacred gem.

The queen paused, a contemplative hum slowly erupting from her lips. The duo before her looked on with anticipation, eagerly hoping she would see reason in their plan. The Chaos Emeralds brought great temptations, even to those who were pure of heart. While they trusted her to safeguard the powerful gem, now they were unsure if she was willing to part with it after so long.

With a gentle sigh, Serenity slowly shifted her attention towards Ozor. Even without saying a word, Ozor understood her orders, returning a small nod. He slowly stepped back towards the back of the throne. She returned her focus to the blue hedgehog. "You entrusted us to protect the Chaos Emerald. And we're returning that trust to you. Take the Emerald and stop this Mephiles, Sonic."

Relieved, the blue hedgehog returned his large grin. "We'll bring it back to you, I promise."

"I know you will," Serenity replied, offering a sincere smile.

The jackal returned, now cradling the cyan Chaos Emerald within his hands. He knelt down to one knee, presenting the gem of power to his queen. She gently wrapped her fingers over the Chaos Emerald, marveled by its incredible beauty. While she longed to continue guarding the gem, the safety of her kingdom and its people came first. She slowly stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

Seconds away from reaching the blue hedgehog, Serenity froze as the Chaos Emerald was suddenly lifted from her hands by a telekinetic force. She frowned, glaring daggers towards her personal guard. "Ozor, that is not necessary."

"That's not me, Your Majesty," Ozor swore.

Serenity's brow tightened, puzzled to the mysterious source. Before she could make a move to grab it, the Chaos Emerald suddenly shot towards the opposite end of the throne room. A gloved hand emerged from the shadows, grasping the powerful gem in a tight grip. The intruder emerged from the darkness, like Death itself had just appeared to claim them. Sonic and Shade pivoted on their heels, turning around to face the one who threatened their world.

"One should never stop in their tracks. Fate will catch up with you."

The castle's guards immediately formed a barrier in front of their queen, brandishing their weapons and holding position. Ozor raced to Serenity's side, shielding her from the intruder. Sonic and Shade held their ground on the front lines, the latter activating her Leech Blade bracelets. Her weapons sprung to life, the scorching energy threatening to incinerate anyone who dared to make contact.

Mephiles slowly staggered out of the darkened hallway, examining the powerful gem now resting in the palm of his hand. "That makes three."

"You must be Mephiles," Sonic cautiously greeted. "Gotta say, this whole copycat thing is just lame now."

"That's Mephiles?" Ozor questioned, carefully observing the mysterious being from a distance. "You weren't kidding when you said he looks like Shadow."

"Yeah, what's up with that? Little self-conscious about your appearance?" Sonic humorously chuckled.

Mephiles' expression did not alter in the slightest, merely staring them down intently. His face told nothing, yet his lifeless eyes seemed to carry a great hint of immorality. "Sonic the Hedgehog. It will be a great opportunity to kill you again."

Puzzled by the statement, Sonic tilted his head. "Again? I don't remember you killing me the first time."

The evil being threw up his head and cackled. His maniacal laughter bounced off the walls, echoing through the throne room. The guards held position, gripping their weapons tightly, feet planted firm into the ground. Ozor softly growled, awaiting for the opportunity to attack. Likewise, Serenity herself prepared to defend her home.

Mephiles slumped forward, his deranged hysterics ceasing once more. "How ignorant of me. You have not perished in this timeline yet. No matter. You will be destined to meet the same fate. Now, would you be so kind as to surrender your Chaos Emerald to me? There is no purpose in delaying the inevitable."

Despite the evil being's intimidating appearance, Sonic held his ground, unafraid of the powerful foe. "You're crazier than Eggman if you think I'm going to give you the Chaos Emerald."

Refusing to hold her tongue any longer, Shade barked at the evil being, letting her rage be known. "You are going to pay for what you have done to Blaze!"

"So, the princess has informed you of my presence," Mephiles noted. "No matter. Odds will not gain you any favors. She will return to me what is mine in due time."

"What do you want with Blaze and the Chaos Emeralds?" Sonic questioned. "If you got a problem with her, you've got a problem with me!"

In a rare sign of impatience, Mephiles sighed with boredom. "Your determination is admirable. But you cannot protect her. You cannot protect any of them."

"I've heard enough," Serenity said and threw her arm forward. "Guards, seize him!"

The royal guards charged forward without question, bravely running to intercept the new threat. Sonic and Shade allowed them to overtake their defense, but prepared to intervene for the inevitable battle. If Blaze at the peak of her power could do nothing to stop Mephiles, Sonic didn't hold much hope for the castle's guards succeeding where she had failed.

Mephiles calmly threw the Chaos Emerald into the air, allowing it to vanish from sight. With both hands free, he spread his arms forward, forming a large puddle of shadows under their feet. "Drown in darkness."

Seconds before the guards' weapons made contact, razor sharp claws shot up from the puddle beneath them, restraining their legs and arms within a death grip. Shocked by the sudden interference, the guards struggled to fight away the new attackers, stabbing at their claws. The puddle strengthened, covered in waves as if it were in open water. The terrifying minions of Mephiles emerged from their slumber once more, overwhelming the guards with their fearsome numbers.

Sonic growled, racing into action. Finally free of the winter's snowfall, he sped forward into action, charging straight through the Shadow Creatures. The razor sharp quills sliced them into dust with ease. His eyes were focused on a stronger target. As Sonic barreled through another herd of monsters, he suddenly leaned to one side and threw his hand against the ground, kicking his feet in the opposite direction. Drifting away from the wall built up the momentum to push Sonic into the air, well out of the monster's reach. He swiftly curled into a ball, homing in towards the one responsible for hurting his friend.

Mephiles waited patiently for the blue hedgehog to close the distance between them, leaving no Sonic time to react to the evil being's counterattack. He backhanded Sonic with enough force to send the hero across the other side of the room. Before anyone made a move to grab him, his head smacked into the nearest pillar with a sickening thud. The foundations of the castle seemed to shake behind the weight of the blow. Sonic dropped to the ground, sliding across the floor's smooth surface.

"Sonic!" Shade cried out with concern.

Pushing aside her personal feelings, she kept her mind in the battle, unwilling to allow any distractions. Her bladed weapons cut through the monsters like knives through butter, creating a path towards the evil being. Mephiles calmly allowed his minions to do his bidding, hiding behind the shadows like the coward he was. While enraged by the cruelty of the dark being, Shade held her composure, refusing to let anger cloud her judgment.

She swiped her arm towards Mephiles, who jolted his hand forward to catch her weapon. Shade gawked, finding herself dumbfounded in a complete state of awe for what Mephiles had achieved. The scorching temperature of her blades smoldered into his hand, the smell of burning flesh striking her nostrils.

While holding her weapon within a firm grip, Mephiles leered down with a hint of mockery at her futile attack. That motion was the only betrayal of his emotions; his face told nothing. "You cannot hope to stop me."

Shade growled and threw up her other arm, striking the side of her other bladed bracelet into the side of his skull. His hardened skin withstood her strongest temperatures, stopping the echidna from slicing clean through his head. Mephiles threw his hand forward to strike at her. Shade ducked, driving her foot into his chest and pushing herself away into a safe distance.

One of the royal guards bravely intervened, charging forward with his sword held above his head. Without even turning towards the direction of the threat, Mephiles threw out his arm, shooting a single energy spear towards the unsuspecting trooper. The spear pierced through his midsection, the blistering blade robbing the guard of his life within an instance. He pulled back the spear, slowly turning his lifeless eyes towards the unconscious blue hedgehog.

Mephiles' body jolted without warning, the raw power of an energetic blade now pierced his chest. He slowly looked towards the unsuspecting attacker. The jackal hovered within the air, wearing an expression of vague amusement, as if to announce his self-assurance.

"Surprised?" Ozor chuckled. "I can do this too!"

Brief curiosity formed over Mephiles' face, his barren eyes examining the blade embedded through his heart. Without saying a word, Mephiles wrapped his fingers around the blade, pulling it deeper into his body with ultimate perseverance and tolerance. Ozor, frozen by the taunting gesture, swiftly retracted his blade. He threw out both hands, summoning energetic chains from all directions. He clasped both hands together, ensnaring the evil being.

Mephiles peered down at the large chains pinning his arms to his sides. An amused chuckle escaped his lack of mouth, his eyes leering towards the jackal. "Fool. No binds can hold me."

To prove his point, he outstretched both arms, slowly prying the restraints away. Ozor grunted, clutching both hands tightly, fingertips threatening to pierce his own flesh. His hands glowed unstably, focusing intently to keep the evil being restrained. His efforts were in vain, feeling a greater power outweigh his own. "I can't hold him!"

The shackles broke away into small fragments, freeing Mephiles. In a final desperate attempt to turn the tide in battle, Ozor threw out both arms, forming two energetic blades. He raced forward into action with intent to kill, foolishly allowing his own pride to outweigh the reality of the situation. As the distance between them closed, Mephiles suddenly vanished in a cloud of smoke. Ozor threw out his legs to steady himself mid-air, frantically searching around for the dark being.

Serenity felt the back of her neck fur stand up, her body stiffened at the dark being standing directly behind her. While biting her tongue to conceal her shock, she spun around with speeds that surpassed even Sonic's, throwing her hand forward and unleashing a beam of ice directly into his face. Mephiles withstood her cold temperatures, the dark aura of energy surrounding his person melted her ice into puddles of water. His free hand struck her lower stomach, the force bringing the mighty warrior to her knees. Serenity struggled to force out her anguish, her winded stomach trapped the breath in her throat. Relentlessly, Mephiles kicked her directly in the ribcage, the powerful force sending her across the throne room.

Ozor raced forward in the air with open arms, catching his ruler before she made contact with any hard surface. "Queen Serenity!"

With no more direct threats standing in his way, Mephiles marched forward towards the blue hedgehog, who slowly felt his bearings return. Sonic groaned, pushing himself to his feet, one hand clutching against the side of his head tightly. Distortion clouded his vision, struggling to regain his sense of reality. In the corner of his eye, he caught the dark figure approaching from afar.

Before Mephiles reached his prey, Shade raced in from the side, standing protectively in front of her friend. The blood of the Shadow Creatures stained her weapons, slowly vaporizing into the air from the blade's heat. The dark being studied his surroundings, taking note of the several guards that had been slain in battle. Against all expectations, even with their strongest warriors down, the kingdom triumphed in battle. The Shadow Creatures were no more, the puddle of darkness fading away. The remaining royal guards joined Shade in their barrier, their weapons slick with the blood of their opponents. Ozor gently placed the wounded queen to one side and moved to join the rest of the heroes, preparing to fight as one.

Sonic shook his skull once more, even as his head hurt from a possible concussion. "Didn't see that one coming."

"Brave, but foolish," Mephiles noted. "That was just a small fragment of the power I wield."

Regaining his fearless demeanor, Sonic clutched both hands tightly, wearing a nonsense attitude. "Bring it on, Mephiles! I've fought worse than you."

"That you have," Mephiles agreed. "Dark Gaia, Perfect Chaos, Erazor Djinn… Merlina."

Sonic stepped back, almost stumbling over his own two feet. His smirk faded, in place remained an uncharacteristic grim line amid his stubble. Almost robotically, his hand raised upward, his eyes almost as still as some billboard poster. "How did you know about Erazor and Merlina?"

"No secret is safe," Mephiles responded, briefly glancing over their shoulders towards the entrance of the castle, noting the reinforcements hastily racing inside. His lifeyes eyes returned to the awestruck blue hedgehog. "You may keep hold of the Chaos Emerald for now. I will retrieve it in due time."

The dark being retreated once more, vanishing in a cloud of smoke. Silence filled the palace. Everyone stood on high alert, slowly scanning the room for another surprise attack. Reinforcements swarmed the inside of the room, rapid footsteps filling the unnerving tranquility. Once certain Mephiles was no longer within the castle grounds, everyone slowly eased their guards.

Shade deactivated her blades, turning towards the frozen blue hedgehog with concern. "Sonic, are you alright?"

The hero continued gazing into the distance, awestruck at the recent revelation. No one outside of his friends were familiar with his adventures in the Arabian Nights and Camelot. To this day, everyone doubted the stories were real, assuming they were nothing more than exaggerated dreams. Sonic recalled the rage in Amy's eyes when he tried to explain his reasoning for missing their date. There was no possibility Mephiles could be aware of these tales.

"Just who is this guy?" Sonic mumbled under his breath.

He finally broke out of his trance, quickly darting his eyes towards the injured queen, who was being attended to by her guards. Concerned, Sonic swiftly raced forward, pushing through the several guards lined up around the throne. A few of them prepared to stop him, but a quick order for Ozor stopped them from intervening. The Ice Queen struggled to maintain her footing, one arm clenched tightly around her ribcage.

"Serenity, are you okay?!" Sonic questioned. "Are you hurt?"

"Only my pride," Serenity half-joked, wincing as her injury continued to press against her side. With a sharp hiss, she raised her free arm, grabbing Sonic's hand with a sense of urgency and forcing their eyes to meet. She carried great concern within her gaze, fearful of what was to come. "Stop him, Sonic."

Sonic placed his free hand on top of her own, tapping it with delicacy. "I will."

Serenity mouthed her thanks. Her servants gently escorted her away for medical care. Ozor followed closely by her side, pausing to look over his shoulder, silently wishing the heroes a safe journey. With no further reason to stick around, Sonic and Shade made their exit. The kingdom's guards allowed them to leave, too occupied to shoot them any more hostile glares.

Upon reaching the harsh climate outside, Shade couldn't help but address Mephiles' precious declaration. "Sonic, what is it Mephiles said to you that startled you so much?"

"It's gonna sound crazy," Sonic admitted.

"I'm technically four thousand years old and spent most of my life inside a dimension with several species," Shade bluntly stated. "There is little that can surprise me anymore."

"Touché," Sonic shrugged, briefly glancing towards the sky as memories of his most sorrowful adventures resurfaced. "A while ago, I got sucked into this book I was reading called Arabian Nights. It was there I fought against Erazor Djinn. Then, just a couple of weeks later, I was on my way to meet up with Amy when I got sucked into this other world called Camelot by this wizard named Merlina. Nobody believed me when I told them about it. Heck, even Eggman doesn't know about it."

"Then there is no reason Mephiles should be aware of such events," Shade agreed, both hands now resting against her hips. "Just who is it we are dealing with exactly?"

"I have no idea," Sonic shrugged once more. He raised his arm, delicately tapping on the communicator strapped over his wrist. "I'm gonna call the others."

With a gentle tap on their recent group call, the video icon came to life once more. The four cameras of their separated teams sprung to life. He gave a gentle wave, though dreaded the inevitable bad news he would be forced to share.

"Sonic!" Tails greeted from the comfort of his workshop.

Before he could get a word in edgeways, a familiar raccoon pushed into the frame. "Sonic, how's it going, mate?"

Amy's camera, filled with the largest number of people, all peered forward with interest. While still accompanied with her friends from other worlds, the Chaotix lingered within the background. Sonic recognized the worn out interior of their office, feeling relieved his friends made it there in one piece.

Blaze suddenly squeezed between them, relief and surprise filling her expression. "Marine?!"

"There you are, Blaze!" Marine enthusiastically greeted the princess. "Crikey, we were worried sick about you!"

From Team Dark's perspective, Rouge offered a small smirk. "Friend of yours, Blaze?"

Blaze exhaled with relief, allowing her stoic demeanor to drop. "Marine, thank goodness you're okay."

"I'm better than okay! Got me a nice cup of hot chocolate here!" Marine exclaimed, presenting said item resting comfortably in her hand. She leaned a little too closely into the frame, taking note of the princess' condition. "Blimey, what happened to you?"

"Never mind me," Blaze deflected the question. "What are you doing here?"

"We've all been worried since you fought that fella in the kingdom," Marine explained as Tails gently pulled her away from the camera. "So, I grabbed Tails' teleporta-thingy and came right on over. Oh, I almost forgot! Got something for ya!"

With her free hand, she held up a small satchel, emptying the contents on the small desk. Blaze felt her heart sink as the sacred gems she guarded with her life were scattered around. "The Sol Emeralds!"

Rouge took an equal interest as well, admiring the gem's beauty from her camera. "My, those are unique."

"They look just like the Chaos Emeralds," Shade commented, peering over Sonic's shoulder with curiosity.

"They're her world's equivalent to our Emeralds," Sonic quickly explained.

"Could only find six of them, have no clue where the last one ran off to," Marine said while rubbing her chin with confusion.

Blaze dug into her pocket, producing the missing piece of the collection. "I have it here."

A familiar stern frown cast over the princess' face, her eyes ensnaring the young raccoon. "Marine, why have you brought them here? Do you not understand how imperative it is that they are kept out of enemy hands?"

Marine held up her hands defensively. "Don't shoot the messenger. It was Gardon's idea, honest!"

Confusion overtook Blaze's anger, her head now tilting to one side. She studied Marine's face, searching for hints of deception. The raccoon was a terrible liar, but there was no doubt in the sincerity crossing her expression. With a softened sigh, Blaze spoke in a calmer tone. "He must have thought I'd need them. I apologize, Marine."

"No offense taken, mate!" Marine assured with a beaming smile spreading across her face.

"But you must guard them at all costs," Blaze added firmly. "Don't take your eyes away from them, not even for a second!"

Marine scoffed without concern. "Don't you worry! Captain Marine ain't gonna let no baddies get them! Besides, I got muscles over here to keep me safe!"

She dragged the echidna into frame, who grunted slightly and turned away, a hint of embarrassment filling his face. Sonic couldn't afford softly chuckling at the sight.

"We'll meet up with you guys after you secure the Chaos Emeralds," Tails suggested, his eyes directed towards his best friend. "Did you guys manage to get it?"

Sonic sadly shook his head, remorse filling his voice. "Sorry. We tried our best, but guess who we just ran into?"

"Mephiles," Blaze sighed.

Team Dark's camera briefly shifted as Shadow took the phone from his partner. Skepticism formed across his face. "That's impossible. We just fought against Mephiles. He can't be in two places at once."

Sonic glanced away, averting his gaze towards the night sky once more. "Or maybe he can."

Despite the setback and loss of another Chaos Emerald, Sonic refused to allow recent events to discourage him. How Mephiles knew of his storybook adventures was a mystery to all, but there was no time to dwell on recent revelations. The present was still in peril and he intended to save his world once more.

Chapter Text

"And stay safe!"

Rouge flicked off her cellphone and tucked it safely within her pocket. Shadow and Omega, who were standing a little too close for comfort during the call, finally backed away. The endless sea surrounded them on all sides, threatening to drown the small island if Mother Nature had her way. Safe from Eggman's forces for now, the trio prepared to make their leave back to the mainland.

Omega's arm still hung limp, lacking the necessary circuitry to keep his metallic joints functioning. Neither Shadow nor Rouge were experienced in mechanics. As a temporary solution till they returned to HQ, all Rouge had been able to do was wrap a few rolls of bandages around his exposed circuitry, stopping any loose sparks and leaking oil for now.

Shadow examined the Chaos Emerald resting within his hand, ready to use the powerful gem to traverse across the planet. Teleporting between known locations had become second nature. "We should get going."

Rouge held up her hand in protest. "Hang on a minute. Shadow, we should report back to GUN. Make them aware of the-"

"No!" Shadow barked, his yell coming across far more stern than he intended.

Taken back by the harsh rebuttal, Rouge felt her whole body stiffen, standing up straight with both ears pointing outwards. While initially caught off guard, she quickly regained her composure and shot a warning glare towards her partner. "And why not?"

"Doesn't matter, we have a job to do," Shadow quickly responded. "Are you coming or not?"

Without warning, the bat suddenly snatched the Chaos Emerald from her partner's hand. Shadow, whose reaction speed usually far surpassed any of their own, gawked in surprise by her actions. His demeanor hardened in no time, marching forward with annoyance. "Give that back, Rouge! We don't have time for games!"

Rouge held the Chaos Emerald out of his reach, her expression hardened with determination. "Not until you tell me what's with the attitude!"

Shadow frowned, silently cursing his partner for her stubbornness. As powerful and skilled as she may be, Shadow knew he was leagues above her in strength. There was nothing physically stopping him from forcefully retrieving the Emerald. But he could never bring himself to harm her, the one person who saw through his hardened demeanor for the kind soul inside. He said nothing, eyes refusing to betray the real reason for his unexplained attitude.

Rouge continued holding her ground, hand clenched tightly around the Chaos Emerald. Very few people could stand up to Shadow and walk away unscathed. Her eyes narrowed, awaiting for a response while simultaneously preparing for a quarrel. She carefully studied his expression, desiring to know what was going on in that mind of his. Reading the Ultimate Life Form's demeanor was no easy feat. Shadow masked all emotions well with that cold appearance.

A silent gasp left her mouth, the stream of her breath vaporizing into the surrounding air. The sharp wit she usually carried was drowned out by the look of realization filling her eyes. She slowly lowered the Chaos Emerald, speaking in a softer tone than before. "You think GUN are gonna blame you for Mephiles?"

Shadow's frown tightened, confirming her theory. Without saying a word, he glanced away, both arms folding over his chest. Omega's red orbs briefly peered over, choosing wisely not to intervene with their argument. While logic dictated he helped Shadow retrieve the Chaos Emerald, his programming also demanded he stayed unbiased in any forms of arguments between his allies.

Rouge struggled to force down the sinking feeling of dread, feeling butterflies flutter within her stomach. It was her suggestion for Shadow to join GUN and help defend the planet from further threats. Not only did this put Commander Tower's concerns at ease, it also allowed her to stay close with the dark hedgehog. Their time together strengthened their friendship considerably, yet even after all this time, a part of Shadow refused to accept humanity had accepted him as one of their own.

She raised her arm but hesitated to place her hand on Shadow's shoulder, knowing he was not a fan of physical affection. At best, all she could do was offer some form of reassurance. "No one's gonna blame you for this, Shadow. Everything that happened on the ARK is all in the past now."

The past. Those two words hung onto Shadow like shackled chains. Memories of his old life continued to haunt him, even after learning to make peace with everything long ago. He forgave those who robbed him of his best friend, going as far as to work with the same organization to help bring a better tomorrow for this beautiful planet. Despite his heroic deeds, Shadow knew one false rumor was all it took to turn everyone against him.

His eyes glanced down towards the glowing gemstone offered to him. He wrapped his fingers tightly around the Chaos Emerald once more. Shadow briefly locked eyes with her supportive gaze, but could not bring himself to speak up. The mission came first, a priority above all.

Shadow shot his arm towards the air, calling on the great power within the Chaos Emerald to his aid once more. "Chaos Control!"

The winter storm claimed Central City, filling the streets and buildings with mountains of snow. The building's neon lights fell victim to the storm, no longer illuminating the air with bright, colorful lights. The nightlife party goers choose wisely to stay indoors, unwilling to risk braving the blizzard.

Within the heart of the distract, Club Rouge towered above the smaller buildings. The harsh storm forced the club to temporarily close, a tough decision by the alluring owner. No one would be foolish to brave the streets in favor of luxury, less there were desperate. Outside the club's large doors, Team Dark materialized into existence, the blinding light that surrounded them disappearing as fast as it came.

Rouge perked up, scanning her eyes through the huge windows that lined up the club's exterior. Pure darkness covered the inside, just as she had left it. She quickly dug into her coat's pocket, grabbing the key and approaching the locked doors. While she fiddled with the keys, Rouge glanced over her shoulder with a confused brow. "You could have teleported us inside, Shadow."

"And what if someone is inside and they try to run?" Shadow countered. "Do you really want me to break down the doors to catch them?"

"Fair point," Rouge sighed, too tired to engage in their usual witty banter.

She pushed open the large double doors, entering the darkened interior. As she quickly raced inside for shelter, Shadow carefully glanced around the room, studying for possible intruders. Everything seemed to be as they left it. No doors or windows forced open, nor any hint of a struggle. Omega marched closely behind, his robotic eyes scanning around the club for traces of any intruders.

Rouge slammed the door behind them, turning around swifty to flick the light switch down and bringing the room to life. The club that once echoed with conversations of friends and loved ones was now devoid of all life. Unsettled by the quietness, she hastily returned to the robot's side. "Anything, Omega?"

Omega's head slowly peered around, the inner machinations of his programming revealing nothing. "Negative. Scans reveal only two organic beings are inside the club. You and Shadow."

"Let's not waste time," Shadow abruptly suggested. "Sooner we get the Emerald, sooner we get going."

In no mood to argue, Rouge nodded in agreement and took the lead. Team Dark hastily retreated up the stairs leading to the bat's personal quarters, her home away from home. For good measure, Rouge flicked on every passing light along the way, hoping to ward off any would-be intruders. The trio reached her private room in no time, entering with a gentle push.

As Rouge flicked on a lightswitch once more, a pair of green eyes ensnared her from across the room, startling the bat. A lone figure highly resembling her partner stood a small distance away, cradling a familiar purple gem within his hand. Startled by the unexpected intruder, who somehow entered the security of her club without leaving a trace, she almost lost her footing, finding herself tongue-tied by the revelation.

Fortunately, she was not alone to face the threat. Omega took action and threw up his only operating arm, opening up several small gun barrels just above the wrist. Shadow took the lead, marching forward with the stride and confidence no one could copy. His doppelganger stood his ground, showing no hint of concern against facing the Ultimate Life Form in battle.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll hand over that Chaos Emerald," Shadow suggested, venom slowly filling his tone.

Mephiles peered down at the Chaos Emerald, but Shadow knew the doppelganger would never surrender the powerful gemstone willingly. After all, if they truly were one in the same, he knew exactly how he thought. "So, we meet again, Shadow the Hedgehog. Fate has an interesting way of bringing us together."

Shadow's brow furrowed. "Mephiles."

"You know my name," Mephiles noted, tiling his head with a hint of curiosity. "But we have never encountered one another in this timeline of yours."

Skepticism filled Rouge's eyes, failing to mask her confusion as she muttered softly under her breath. "Timeline?"

Meanwhile, Omega continued brandishing his weapon threateningly, holding position until given the order. His red orbs scanned the evil being, running diagnostics to determine the identity of the evil being. No heartbeat, no traces of body heat and no accelerated breathing. Programming dictated the results were impossible and he shouldn't exist, yet the dark being stood before him clear as day.

"How do you know my name?" Shadow demanded.

"Ah, so I see you too have no memories of our encounter," Mephiles replied, stumbling forward with hung limps. "We met in the past and present. Now we meet in the future. Ironic, is it not?"

Reading the movement as an act of hostility, Omega fired at point-blank range, each shot directly hitting its mark. The small room strengthened the gunfire's loud bangs, forcing Rouge to cup both hands against her sensitive ears lest she became disoriented. Mephiles staggered back with each shot, making no attempt to get out of the line of fire. Shadow stood idly by, noting no damage appearing on the evil being's hardened body. The grip against the Chaos Emerald did not ease in the slightest.

As Omega's weapon exhausted all reserved ammo, Mephiles slumped upwards, a sinister chuckle escaping into the air. "Just as I anticipated. You truly are the one who would stop Shadow the Hedgehog one day."

Shadow's eyebrows raised at the declaration, pushing it aside as little more than mind games. He scoffed, finding humor in the idle threat. "Really? That's your move? Turn us against each other?"

"Does not compute," Omega responded. "I have no reason to apprehend Shadow. He is my teammate. My ally. My friend."

Mephiles chuckled once more. "How foolish of me. Without the Flames of Disaster, you have no reason to defeat Shadow one day. No matter."

Shadow masked his confusion well, frowning with both arms crossed, eyes intently focused towards the evil being. A thousand thoughts raced around his mind at once, more questions than answers flooding his inner thoughts like a tsunami. Why this clone threatened to destroy the world he could not understand, but Shadow knew the first priority was to retrieve Rouge's Chaos Emerald.

Without hesitation, Shadow quickly produced his own Chaos Emerald, calling on its incredible power to his aid once more. "Chaos Control!"

The world around him froze, his teammates becoming nothing more than statues. His jet skates roared to life, pushing him forward towards the evil being. Shadow reached out his hand, preparing to snatch the gemstone. Mephiles' free arm suddenly jolted forward, restraining Shadow's wrist. The Ultimate Life Form glanced up, a hint of bewilderment filling his face. Mephiles leered forward, almost as if to taunt Shadow for his futile attempt.

Mephiles held up the other Chaos Emerald, countering the effects of Chaos Control. The world around them returned to life once more. Shadow yanked his arm free, swinging his fist towards Mephiles. Before he made contact, the evil being suddenly disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The momentum of his intended strike forced Shadow to accidentally punch the wall, the force shaking the foundation of the room.

Rouge forced herself to stay silent, deciding the damage to her favorite decor could wait until later. For now, she frantically scanned the room, searching for the intruder. "Where did he go?!"

"Outside!" Shadow exclaimed, turning around and shooting straight past his teammates and leaving a trail of orange in his wake.

Rouge called out after him before he moved out of hearing range. "How do you know?"

"I can sense the Emerald's energy!" Shadow called back, his voice draining out as the distance between them increased.

The bat hastily searched around the room, finding a handful of Heart Bombs resting on the nearest table. She scooped them up and tucked them safely inside her coat. "Omega, let's go!"

"Confirmed!" Omega agreed, moving to keep pace with the airborne agent.

Shadow reached the outside of Club Rouge in seconds, taking care to avoid breaking anything along the way. The cold streets outside greeted him, but his mind paid no attention to the freezing temperatures. The Chaos Emerald felt close, its energy softly radiating within the air. He followed the source, forced to squint his eyes to make out the distant figure hiding in the shadows.

Only a small distance away was Mephiles, standing on the top of a nearby building. While his darkened fur easily blended within the night sky, the raw energy surrounding his person forced the evil being to stick out like a sore thumb. Shadow briefly tilted his head to one side, intrigued to know why the evil being halted in his retreat. The way he stood triumphantly at the top of the building, almost as if to declare his own superiority.

Shadow scoffed, staring back challengingly at the evil doer. He skated through the empty streets, his jet skates casting a soft glow on the thick layer of snow below. The raw Chaos energy surrounding him burned through the deep snow, creating a pathway towards his target. Shadow bounced from rooftops, reaching his target with ease. As he landed firmly on the snow-covered rooftop, Mephiles shifted focus towards him, peering forward with curiosity. Despite Shadow's reputation, the dark being stood his ground without a care in the world.

"Hand it over," Shadow demanded a second time.

Mephiles peered down at the purple Chaos Emerald, its color matching his own energy. He brought his lifeless eyes forward once more, meeting the hedgehog's furious gaze. "What do you hope to achieve with your actions, Shadow? Is this for yourself? Or for those who contempt you?"

Shadow's brow tightened at the question. "Do not try to play mind games on me. It won't work."

"I only speak the truth," Mephiles responded. "You still struggle with your duty in protecting this planet. You fear humanity will turn against you one day. What good will it do you to keep up this charade? They will never see you as a hero."

Scoffing at the ludicrous threat, Shadow crossed both arms. "I don't do what I do to be seen as a hero. My path is my own. But as it stands, I have questions for you."

A hint of interest peaked within Mephiles, slouching his head to one side. "So, you didn't pursue me for the Chaos Emerald after all."

"The Emerald's a bonus," Shadow replied.

In response, Mephiles let out a low, soft chuckle, one carrying enough intimidation to frighten the ill prepared. This did nothing to shake Shadow's confidence in the slightest. "Very well. I shall indulge in your queries. Ask your questions."

Straight to the point, Shadow blurted out the most obvious subject. "Why me? Why take my appearance?"

"Ah, that," Mephiles slowly peered down towards his gloved hands, marveling over the form he carried for so long. "It was all thanks to you. I was resurrected in your shade after your partner foolishly freed me from my imprisonment. But neither of you remember that, do you?"

"That's twice you've mentioned memories," Shadow declared, deflecting the question away in favor of answers. "You also mentioned a timeline. Are you telling me you're from another dimension?"

Mephiles held his snicker, finding greatest amusement in the hedgehog's mistaken theories. Nevertheless, Mephiles played along, intrigued to see where this would go. "If I were to say I was, what would you have to say?"

"I wouldn't be surprised," Shadow nonchalantly responded with a small shrug. "You're not the first person I've met who's from another world."

"Perhaps not," Mephiles agreed, voice dropping an octave lower. "But I will certainly be the last."

Shadow frowned at the comment, understanding an inevitable fight between them was soon to follow. He restrained himself until necessary, seeking further answers. "As for Blaze. What does she have to do with all this?"

"I see the princess has told you of our encounter," Mephiles noted, vague pleasure filling his otherwise void eyes. "Her screams of anguish were like music to my ears. It is the thrill of the hunt that drives me. The only reason she still lives is because she holds something dear to me."

A soft growl slipped through Shadow's teeth. He never cared for the emotions of others, but the evil being's delight in harming the princess sickened the hedgehog, leaving a feeling of nausea within his stomach. "You're insane."

"Don't act so modest, Shadow," Mephiles responded. "It wasn't long ago that you sought to destroy this world. And for what? To uphold the memories of M-"

"Speak her name and I'll cut out your tongue," Shadow spoke quickly with a loud snarl, arms trembling with frustration.

Underrated by the hedgehog's promise, Mephiles threw his head towards the sky and laughed with malice, taking great pleasure in taunting his opponent. His maniacal cackling echoed throughout the air, threatening to wake those who took their slumber for the night. From the streets below, Rouge and Omega watched on with anticipation, the former preparing to rejoin her ally. Before she could do so, Omega carefully placed his working hand against her back.

"I sense a growing power radiating from Mephiles," Omega stated. "It would be unwise for you to intervene. Neither of us can match him in strength."

While Rouge didn't doubt the robot's calculations, concern filled her eyes. "But what about Shadow? We can't just do nothing."

"We must trust Shadow," Omega simply replied. "His true power far outweighs our own."

As Mephiles' laughter died within the air, he threw down his head, mentally pulling up the vast depths of his power hidden within his body. He gripped his hands tightly as purple energy consumed him whole, forcing him to grit his feet as his muscles tightened with a drastic increase of power. Refusing to wait, Shadow finally let go of his restraint and hurled a single Chaos Spear towards the evil being.

Mephiles' aura alone disintegrated the minor energy blast. Growing impatient, Shadow threw another Chaos Spear, the blast also dispersed from the sheer aura of energy. It was becoming evident minor power or cheap tricks would be unable to penetrate his aura. Chuckling softly, he spread his arms and unleashed the dense, flaming purple aura once more, now double in size.

"Ultimate Life Form, allow me to introduce you to my tremendous power," Mephiles declared proudly, narrowing his eyes and widening his arms.

Shadow responded with a low growl, raising his Chaos energy while flickering discharges of electricity danced around from his increased power. His entire body was wrapped in an orange and red transparent flow of energy, giving him the appearance of a heavenly warrior. No being, demons or Gods alike, was going to surpass his power.

Donning a smile of challenge towards his opponent, Shadow raised a hand in a taunting gesture. "Come then, Mephiles. I'm ready for you!"

Mephiles's confidence wasn't at all shaken with the bursting energy emitting from the hedgehog, even as he lowered himself towards the ground. Within touching the surface of the ground below, an immense shockwave rippled the area, sending a huge pillar of snow spreading towards the streets below.

The two opponents, both cloaked in vibrant auras of their respective colors, charged towards each other in a shimmer of movement. Their exodus of reappearance would thunder a powerful clash of two right fists, sending a loud thunderous blast of excess pressure to rain down. Blow for blow, thundering and shaking the complex area as they zoomed across the air with great speed, dexterity and power.

Shadow felt his arm tremor from recoil each time his fist struck the evil being, fighting in even terms of strength and speed. Each time their fists flew, each was parried, dodged, or countered with equal force. The shockwaves repetitively lit up the air with blasts of lightning and powerful gusts of wind that penetrated the ground's surface below and rocked the area.

His only advantage was his speed, allowing him to zoom around and duck around Mephiles's strikes and grapples with much greater ease. As Shadow struck another equally powerful punch towards him, met by Mephiles' own hand, his eyes lit up with a sudden glow as he discharged a pair of piercing beams. Shadow calmly sidestepped to avoid each beam, following up with dashing in front of the darkened villain and landing a direct blow from the tip of his foot, launching him backwards. Mephiles launched forward, landing a direct blow into Shadow's face and following with a right knee thrust to his stomach, forcing the Ultimate Life Form to cough out a wad of spit as exhaled a lung full of air.

Before he could be launched far, however, Mephiles grasped his wrist and descended down towards the ground, intending on finishing the fight within an instant. Stopping short of colliding with the ground, he threw him with immense strength. Shadow stopped himself short of falling, pressing his hands against the ground and releasing a wave of Chaos energy to force himself back into the air.

Mephiles swung his arm towards Shadow, who vanished from sight and reappeared behind his foe in preparation for a sneak attack. Before he could strike, Mephiles unexpectedly turned around and slammed his fist against the hedgehog, sending him flying backwards. Shadow regained his balance, back flipping to cease movement and digging his hands and feet into the ground, grinding the concentrate like dirt.

He charged forward just as the dark being threw his arms into the air and held position. His hands charged and formed into a vortex of energy, shaking the air within a powerful force of electricity. The vortex of energy unleashed into lightning distortion, striking his opponent's previous position. If Mephiles could smile, it certainly would have dropped as the dark lightning bolt dispersed, revealing the impact without an opponent lying against the ground as expected.

Without warning, Mephiles' throat tightened and he was spun around, caught in the powerful grip of Shadow's arm. He tossed the evil being away, forcing him to collide and scrape across the ground, jagged pieces of the ground pressing into his torso. Mephiles recovered, using telekinesis to return to the fight and repeatedly swipe his fists at Shadow. The hedgehog moved to dodge each strike but even his incredible speed didn't give him the reflexes to dodge all. As a single swipe knocked his head sideways, Mephiles followed up with a volley of energy blasts, each one staggering Shadow around.

Growing more frustrated with each hit, Shadow screeched with anger, calling on the deeper areas of his body to gain more power. He zoomed forward with unexpected speed, slamming his fist directly into the villain's stomach, forcing him to tumble over. Unleashing the true fury of his rage, Shadow relentlessly attacked, rapidly striking in an uncoordinated fashion.

He struck with his fists and kicked with his legs, all the while he continuously spun to avoid creating a fighting pattern. Mephiles endured each strike, trying to push himself away from the relentless barrage of attacks. While every blow brought the hedgehog great pleasure, his stamina would give out at this rate and Mephiles would be none for worse. Shadow turned sidewards while spinning, landing one final kick that sent the evil being towards the ground. While Mephiles fell, Shadow threw a wave of energy forward, striking the ground with incredible force that scattered the land in smoke.

Unfortunately, his relentless attacks felt ineffective as Mephiles came racing back forward, a hint of anger filling his eyes with rage. Equally frustrated, Shadow threw out his hand and formed another Chaos Spear within his palm, using the raw energy as a makeshift blade. He roared with anger, forcing his aura of energy to enflame. Timing the counterattack perfectly, Shadow raced forward, repeatedly slicing at Mephiles while racing around his opponent. Mephiles moved to avoid any fatal blows, but with Shadow continuously moving around, there was no big space to move towards without risk of death.

Multiple swipes grazed against his body, cutting his fur and flesh with every strike, no doubt the first of many to come. Refusing to submit so easily, Mephiles threw his arm forward, striking the hedgehog from the back of his head. With his guard down, Mephiles pressed his hand against Shadow's chest, unleashing an energy wave and sending his opponent into one of many buildings. He crashed into an empty grocery store, the impact broke the fragile wall, burying the hedgehog in tons of hard concentrate rubble.

Mephiles knew this would not hold the determined hedgehog for long and made haste to finish his progress. He turned towards the opposite direction, witnessing the other two members of Team Dark. Fortunately, it was far too late for the team to stop him from leaving. As he prepared to leave, he yanked his head backwards, eyes widening at the sight of Shadow charging towards him, screeching with determination and fury. His fist collided directly with Mephiles's face, stunning the evil being with such a devastating blow. Shadow followed with a barrage of punches, knocking his opponent away with one knee strike and then kicking him upwards with both legs. Shadow vanished ahead and knocked Mephiles down with a double punch. To end this combo, Shadow unleashed a huge barrage of energy blasts.

Pinned against the ground while raining fire of energy hit him, Mephiles moved his hands upwards to shield himself until he could find a way to escape. His incredible durability allowed him to withstand the relentless barrage, but this endurance would not last forever. He threw a single energy blast of his own to one side and controlled its trajectory towards his opponent. Shadow's foot kicked away the blast, unwilling to fall for such a cheap tactic.

Undeterred, Mephiles summoned his might and true extent of his dark energy. With both hands pressed forward, he focused his energy forward, creating a powerful barrier that began to disintegrate all the blasts sent his way. Shadow noted this and pressed hard, desperately trying to keep the winning edge before he was forced on the defense. Mephiles held the barrier with one hand, albeit with some difficulty. With the other hand free, he focused his energy to summon ethereal projectables to his aid, launching the energetic arrows towards his opponent. The arrows shot forward, one of them piercing the hedgehog through his shoulder. Shadow roared with anguish but refused to move position. The second he stopped firing, the fight would be over.

With the remaining projectiles to his aid, Mephiles focused fire and detonated the arrows directly against the Ultimate Life Form. The combined effort finally created enough force to misbalance Shadow, ceasing the never-ending blasts. Mephiles chuckled, pushing himself up from the ground, allowing the pieces of debris to scatter from his person. He turned around with the Chaos Emerald held forward, using the power of Chaos Control to disappear from sight.

No matter where he went, Mephiles knew those insignificant heroes would follow. No matter, for they were only a minor inconvenience. As the evil being retreated, the cloud of smoke from his previous attack began to disperse. Shadow emerged, clutching at his injured shoulder while his jet skates allowed him to reach the ground safely. His anger and adrenaline pushed through any burning pain that lingered.

Shadow felt enraged, filled with pure hatred as he lost the chance to end the threat. "DARN IT!"

"Shadow!"

The rest of his team approached, Rouge flying over with Omega marching through the thick snow. She hastily inspected his shoulder, noting a small hint of blood slipping through. "You're hurt!"

"I'm fine!" Shadow stubbornly replied.

"I don't want to hear it!" Rouge responded, grabbing his free hand with both of her own. "Back to the club. Now!"

Shadow tried to tug his wrist free from her powerful death grip, but failed to retrieve his hand without using excessive force. Sighing with acceptance, he allowed Rouge to escort the three of them back to the club. The commotion had not gone unnoticed by the city's residents. Lights inside several buildings sprung to life, humans and Mobians alike peeking outside to investigate the disturbance at such a late hour.

Ignoring their stares, the trio finally retreated inside the club once more. Rouge forced Shadow to sit down in one of the several booths while she grabbed a nearby first aid kit hanging on the wall. Omega's programming demanded he patrol for intruders. If his scans could not detect Mephiles' vitals, his eyes were his only reliable source.

Rouge returned to Shadow's side, moving his hand away to inspect the wound. The wound didn't appear to be too deep. Shadow's Chaos energy and high pain tolerance allowed him to continue fighting if necessary. His injury would heal in no time. She gently pressed a large rag against the open wound, applying pressure till the bleeding stopped.

"Are you okay?" Rouge asked with concern.

Shadow inhaled, feeling the adrenaline of battle slowly leaving him. His mind cleared, but he refused to make eye contact, staring off into the distance. "I'm fine."

"So you say," Rouge said drily, moving her free hand back to grab a roll of bandages. Away from prying eyes, she allowed her dry wit to vanish, replacing it with concern. "Shadow, I'm worried."

His gaze finally returned, locking eyes with her own. "Don't be. He's nothing but a common thug."

She shook her head in disagreement. "Shadow, how many people can stand up to you like that?"

"Not many," he admitted in a soft whisper.

"This isn't just one of Eggman's creations we're dealing with," Rouge replied, maintaining eye contact as her hands found themselves wrapping bandages over his shoulder. "Everything he said to us back now. Meeting you again, something about another timeline. What about what he said about Omega stopping you?"

Said robot called out from nearby, ceasing in his patrol. "Our opponent relies on manipulation. However, I detected no verbal parroting during our encounter. Mephiles speaks as if it is the truth."

"But you wouldn't attack Shadow would you, Omega?" Rouge cautiously asked, concerned she would not like the answer.

"I have no reason to attack Shadow," Omega confirmed. "But I also have no reason to doubt Mephiles' claim. I was constructed specifically to guard Shadow during my time under Doctor Eggman's reign and battle him if necessary. My calculations show I have the combat facilities to match Shadow's ferocity."

"Omega, have you ever heard the phrase "too much information"?" Rouge amusingly asked, briefly regaining her usual dry humor.

"Adding the phrase to database," Omega responded.

Rouge briefly rolled her eyes, often forgetting her robot ally was insusceptible to sarcasm. She returned her gaze to Shadow's injury, tightening the bandage with delicacy. "That should hold for now."

Shadow's eyes peered over the wound, a part of him feeling embarrassed by the affection. Ego aside, he could not bring himself to rebuff her kindness. He glanced up, offering a small nod. "Thanks."

Taken back once more by her partner's response, Rouge briefly leaned back. Throughout their whole friendship, she did not recall a single time Shadow ever expressed gratitude. A small smirk threatened to sneak its way on her mouth, a look Shadow recognized all too well from her several encounters with Knuckles.

Fly in the freedom, time never stop and wait for me...

Rouge's ears perked up as her phone sprung to life, the ringtone quite sensitive to her enhanced hearing. She fumbled into her pocket, grasping the handheld device tightly. Momentary relief filled her eyes as Sonic's goofy grin cast over her screen. She gently tapped on the green icon. Once again their separate screens lit to life, only to be finally joined by a fourth video source. While Omega continued patrolling the area, Shadow stayed close by her side, wanting to be kept within the loop.

Sonic gave a gentle wave from his perspective, but his expression betrayed the gesture. Shadow and Rouge feared Sonic's mission had been in vain as well. At the very least, Sonic didn't have any ammunition to tease them about it. Tails was the first to greet his best friend, but before Sonic could speak up, an unfamiliar face joined them, pushing herself into Tail's camera.

An upbeat and young raccoon greeted the hedgehog with a little too much enthusiasm. "Sonic, how's it going, mate?"

Shadow briefly glanced away, lowering his voice enough for Rouge's sensitive ears to hear him. "Who's that?"

"Friend of Sonic's, if I had to guess," Rouge whispered with a light shrug.

She returned her attention to the group call, watching curiously as the rest of their friends peered forward with interest. They were now joined by the Chaotix in that dirty, worn out office of theirs. Amy, Blaze, Silver and Big accompanied the detectives, having safely made it to their destination.

The princess pushed through the large group, eyes locking with the raccoon. "Marine?!"

Marine, as Rouge learned her name to be, returned the greeting enthusiastically. "Crikey, we were worried sick about you!"

"So, she knows Blaze," Rouge thought, unable to help the smirk that lifted the edges of her mouth. "Friend of yours, Blaze?"

Blaze ignored Rouge's question, moving forward to speak with Marine. The two exchanged friendly greetings, all the while the others watched on with curiosity. Rouge paid only mild attention to their reunion, patiently waiting for the moment to intervene and get back to the matter at hand. But when Marine suddenly emptied the contents of a small satchel, Rouge's eyes widened with amazement. Six unfamiliar gems captured her interest, their sparking colors illuminating the screen with more colors than a rainbow.

"My, those are unique," Rouge commented, the gem's beauty momentarily distracted her from the topic at hand.

Shadow peered over with similar interest, though did a better job at masking his admiration. "They must be from her dimension."

His theory proved correct seconds later as Shade asked a similar question. Marine went on to explain to Blaze how someone within her dimension gave his blessing to bring the powerful gems across the dimensions. The Sol Emeralds, as Shadow learned their name to be, shared the same colors as their world's equivalence. While six of them were safeguarded by Marine, Blaze personally produced the last one on her person for all to see.

Rouge couldn't stop herself from softly giggling as Marine forcefully dragged Knuckles into the frame, addressing him as her personal bodyguard. The young raccoon sparked with determination and enthusiasm, clearly not at all discouraged by the growing threat. On the one hand, Rouge admired her courage. On the other hand, she hoped Marine didn't bite off more than she could chew.

Thanks To Tails' intervention, the reunion between friends was finally cut short. The fox's eyes directed towards Sonic. "We'll meet up with you guys after you secure the Chaos Emeralds. Did you guys manage to get it?"

Sonic sadly shook his head, confirming their concerns at last. "Sorry. We tried our best, but guess who we just ran into?"

"Mephiles," Blaze sighed.

Puzzled by the hedgehog's comment, Rouge shot her partner a confused glance. He mirrored her expression, hastily gesturing for her to pass him the phone. She did so without hesitation.

Shadow held the phone to his face, skeptical of Sonic's claim. "That's impossible. We just fought Mephiles. He can't be in two places at once."

In place of the blue hedgehog's common witty remarks was great worry, enough to almost catch Shadow off guard. He intently watched Sonic's gaze avert towards the air while he spoke in a lower voice for all to hear. "Or maybe he can."

The Ultimate Life Form prepared to argue the claim, but refused to engage in a battle of ego. Mephiles continued to surprise them with his presence. His power and vast knowledge of their lives confused Team Dark to not end. Shadow briefly glanced away, resuming that stoic expression he carried around. Rouge, on the other hand, looked on with a sense of uneasiness.

Shadow refused to allow the recent revelations to discourage him from their mission. For what they lost in Chaos Emeralds, they made up for it with knowledge of their opponent's feats. Their failure served as a learning experience for all. Mephiles may threaten to undo everything they fought for, but as long as the Ultimate Life Form drew breath, Shadow would always fight to preserve his past and protect the planet his closest friend adored.

Chapter Text

"And stay safe!"

Amy placed her tablet down to one side, shifting focus towards the nearest window. The storm continued to grow stronger, as if a sky-dam had burst, spreading a great snowfall that soon gave way to a blizzard. While her rose parka-dress and black leggings offered some protection, she dared to question how cold the temperature had dropped since this morning. As a precaution, she filled a small backpack with her tablet and a thermos containing hot beverages.

Her friends from other worlds readied themselves for the journey. The baggy and loose hoodie Silver wore offered some protection from the sub-zero temperatures outside. It was loose enough to fit his two long quills inside, allowing the future warrior to pull the hood forward over his head. His five distinct spines were flicked back to fit his head comfortably inside. While not fond of wearing excessive clothing, he took comfort in the warmth it provided.

As for Blaze, she made no effort to shield herself from Mother Nature's wrath. She patted the side of her tailcoat, feeling the Sol Emerald resting comfortably within her pocket. The feline caught Amy staring towards her with worry, her eyes slowly shifting from her bottom half where her extensive wound resided.

"Are you sure you're up for this, Blaze?" Amy gently asked, great concern filling her gaze.

The princess gently placed her hand against her wound, tapping it delicately to test her tolerance. She briefly winced with each tap, but refused to sit idly by while her friends fought in her favor. She returned her fiery gaze towards the hedgehog, nodding with reassurance. "This cold cannot quench my flames. I will be fine."

Amy doubted the sincerity in her tone, but decided against pressing her concerns further. If Blaze truly had no intention of staying, Amy doubted she could stop the princess. Even in her current state, Blaze was a force to be reckoned with.

Regaining her upbeat and bubbly attitude, Amy eagerly clasped both hands together. "Let's go, Team Rose!"

Silver gawked at the comment. "Team Rose?"

Instead of elaborating, Amy eagerly took the future warrior's hand and tugged him towards the front door, yearning to get the journey over with. He briefly peered down, surprised by her grip strength. Blaze trailed closely behind, briefly glancing around for hints of the evil being that almost robbed her life. Assured the dark monster was nowhere within the vicinity, she picked up the pace to follow her teammates.

Amy threw open the front door, bracing herself for the harsh winter. Powerful winds lifted the hedgehog off her feet, throwing her back inside her own home. She yelped with surprise, losing her footing in no time. Inches away from the ground, a large hand delicately caught her mid-fall, lifting the hedgehog and sitting her on his right shoulder.

She sighed with relief. "Thanks, Big."

Silver lowered his glowing hands, relieved Big caught her before his own powers could. His muscles flexed in shock once more, teeth chattering from the intense cold. Braving the powerful winds, he calmly threw his hands forward and focused, forming a Shield of Light in front of his person. The raw energy melted the snowdrops that pressed against the shield, the winds now pushed towards the opposite direction.

"I'll lead the way," Silver offered.

"Can you hold that for long, Silver?" Blaze cautiously asked. "It is quite the trek to Station Square."

"I'll be fine," Silver reassured. "Let's just get there."

The princess nodded and moved to stand by his side. Big trailed closely behind them, delicately closing the door behind them. Silver took the lead, slowly marching through the deep snow reaching up to his knees. His large boots sunk with every step, the fluffy mountains threatening to bury him if he took a wrong move. A part of him wished he had asked Amy for some protective pants.

His focus intensified, pushing all distractions to the back of his mind. Close to his side, Blaze struggled to keep her footing, her heeled shoes making it difficult to gain traction in the snow. As she persevered, her left foot unexpectedly slipped backwards, forcing more weight on her right side. The sudden jolt forced her wound to intensify, a cry of anguish escaping her throat. She gritted her teeth, clutching one arm over her torso. Her yells stole Silver's attention, forcing him to turn around.

"I'm okay!" Blaze yelled, not giving him a chance to speak. "I just lost my footing-whoa!"

She peered down as Big's arm gently scooped her up, placing the feline on his opposite shoulder. Her cheeks reddened with a hint of embarrassment. "Big, that is not-"

"You shouldn't walk if you're hurt," Big calmly stated. "It's good to rest if you're not feeling well."

Blaze opened her mouth to protest, but any hint of arguing died on her tongue. Truthfully, she was still in no condition to walk. She peered over towards the pink hedgehog seated on the other shoulder, silently searching for an answer. With a small sigh, Blaze accepted her position. "Thank you, Big."

"It's no problem," Big assured.

Admittedly, Blaze felt impressed by the cat's willpower. The harsh winter, the threat of Mephiles and even her mistaken attack against Shadow did nothing to shake Big's demeanor in the slightest. How he could stay so calm and composed in extreme conditions was a mystery she longed to find out one day. For now, she returned her focus to Silver.

The future warrior peered back, relieved to see both Blaze and Amy resting on Big's shoulders. The cat's large frame and fur allowed him to withstand the sub-zero temperatures with ease. The gears in Silver's head turned, his face twisting with intriguement. He gently let the Shield of Light fade away into the night and slowly ascended towards the sky with a blanket of cyan energy outlining his body.

"I've got an idea!" Silver said. "Amy, Blaze. Hold on tight!"

Neither of them had any time to question his intentions. Silver threw one hand forward, forming a bubble of energy around the trio. Big peered around, curiously examining the green ball surrounding them. His large feet were lifted from the ground, feeling the weight of gravity leave him. Silver smiled, relieved to see his powers carried enough weight to lift the trio safely.

"It worked!" Silver exclaimed excitedly. "This is going to be much faster than walking!"

His eyes darted towards Blaze, forcing his smile to fade. The princess clutched her eyes shut, head turning away from the ground. She softly called out, a hint of unease filling her tone. "That's good to hear, but could you please hurry, Silver?"

Silver slapped himself with his free hand. "Oh, right. Heights. Well, Chaotix Agency, here we come!"

He raced through the darkened sky, the cold breeze flowing through his quills, the winter air threatening to freeze him inside out. The sooner they reached Station Square, the better.

Silence filled the Sol Empire's castle, the absence of the ruler left the vast halls quiet. The royal guards that once occupied the castle were no more, abandoning the posts to maintain order within the kingdom. Without the princess, anarchy was certain to follow. News of the early morning battle spread across the land, whispers of her demise reaching across the Seven Seas. Blaze's personal advisors and most trusted senior officers were quick to calm the citizens, though were forced to bend the truth on the whereabouts of her royal highness.

Only a handful of the staff remained, mostly the maids and chefs. Amongst them was a young raccoon who was given safe passage to explore most of the castle. Marine calmly walked down the empty hallways, feeling a sense of unease. Despite the late hours of the night, she still wore her usual lime green tube top, short black leggings, tan gloves and lime green & orange shoes. As an extra accessory, a satchel rested comfortably against her hip, held in place by a leather strap over her shoulder.

The hallways that were once filled with royal guards were now vacant. As captain of her very own crew, Marine was used to conversing with others, a chatterbox who could talk for hours on end about her adventures. She very rarely let her mood shift, always in high spirits and never allowing anyone to shake her confidence.

But since the earlier morning's events, her usual bubbly self was no more. Blaze, her one friend within the Sol Empire, had been missing for several hours after her encounter with the mysterious invader. She briefly glanced towards one of several clocks lined up on the walls, noting the hand reaching the twelve hour. Midnight. A new day had officially begun, yet yesterday's events continued to unsettle her.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, she softly sung to herself to create some form of company. "Life starts with a sunny day. Let's feel our ocean breath. We are cruisin' open seas…"

As Marine passed by one of the several doors, a lone figure caught the corner of her eye. She leaned back, spotting the elderly koala within his personal chambers. Finally, someone she could talk to.

Marine entered without knocking, slowly approaching him. "Hey, Gramps."

Gardon briefly glanced her way, quickly returning his gaze towards the ground. He sat in a chair adjacent to a desk, arms pressed against the wooden surface with both hands supporting his chin. He responded in a low, despondent tone. "Not now, Miss Marine."

The raccoon briefly frowned. In other circumstances, Gardon was quick to scold her for breaking several of the castle's rules she failed to abide by. Entering private rooms without knocking first being amongst said rules. But it was evident by his disheartened stance he could care less about giving her another lesson in formal manners. The unbearable silence threatened to take over once more.

Marine briefly glanced towards the nearby window, watching as the blue haze of day had longed lifted to reveal the stars of the night air. The night sky was such a welcoming sight, appearing like magic at each sunset, promising to return as she faded in dawn's first light. Marine recalled how fondly Blaze loved stargazing. It was one of the few things in her life she actually enjoyed.

Her adventures from Southern Island often brought the raccoon to the Sol Empire where she sometimes resided overnight with her friend. One night, while snooping around the castle's gardens, she remembered spotting Blaze stargazing from the balcony of her bedroom. The feline spotted her with ease, but instead of chastising Marine for being outside so late, she instead invited the young captain to accompany her and watch the stars for a few minutes. While Marine found the experience boring, it was clearly something the princess adored.

She missed her friend, praying she was safe from harm. The corners of her eyes slowly filled, threatening to leak waterfalls. But Marine refused to cry, reminding herself a real captain never gave up. Putting on a brave face, she returned her sight to the koala, who made no attempt to shoo her away. Perhaps he too longed for some company. The castle was practically dead. The few staff that stayed behind had long returned to their homes for the night. Just the two of them remained inside this large structure.

Marine playfully jabbed her elbow into his side, breaking the proud guard from his despair. "Cheer up, Gramps! She'll turn up, I know it!"

Gardon offered a small smile, but his black orbs held doubt in her claims. "I do admire your optimism, Miss Marine. But it's been hours. We've sent word to countless islands across the seas. No one has seen Princess Blaze."

She scoffed at the idea of her friend never returning. "What a load of rubbish, Gardon! Blaze will come back. I know it! So stop all this sulking. I know you care for your daughter, but she doesn't want to come back and see you moping around like this!"

Gardon suddenly threw his head up. Exasperation filled his eyes, almost stuttering in his response. "Don't be ridiculous, Miss Marine! Princess Blaze is not my daughter. Taking care of her is my duty, not my responsibility. I serve the throne and nothing more."

Despite his assertive tone, Marine giggled as she finally sparked a reaction from the elderly koala. "Keep telling yourself that, Gramps! But all the same, sitting around here all night ain't gonna do her any good. What's say we do something, eh?"

He opened his mouth to argue, but abruptly closed it seconds later. While she often annoyed him to no end with her constant comments and obnoxious voice, Gardon almost admired her confidence. With a gentle sigh, he pressed both hands against the desk, pushing himself to his feet once more. "Miss Marine, we have done all we can. I have exhausted all options. I honestly do not know what else to do."

Marine hummed, one finger rubbing under her chin musingly. Before long, she snapped her fingers with excitement filling her eyes. "Strewth, why didn't I think of this before? Let's ask Sonic for help!"

Curiosity filled Gardon's eyes. "While his help would definitely be appreciated, I'm afraid we have no way to reach him. Only Princess Blaze has the will to call on the Sol Emeralds' powers to traverse across dimensions."

A playful smirk plastered itself over her face, while lazily tapping her finger against her head. "That's the difference, mate! Blaze has power, but we have technology!"

She dug into her satchel, holding up a small device for dramatic effect. "I got Tails' whatchamacallit device. We can contact him and ask for help!"

Gardon's eyes widened, shameful he had forgotten about the young raccoon's passion for technology. He raced to her side, eager to try anything. "Make haste, Miss Marine!"

Marine smiled and delicately pressed on the button. Tails had been kind enough to make the device user friendly, allowing even the likes of Gardon to operate it with ease. Her smile faded as no answer came from the other line. She frowned, shaking the device with annoyance. "Stupid thing must be broken! Not to worry, we'll just have to use this!"

She produced another small device from her bag, this one sharing a very similar design. "If I press this button here, it will open a gateway to their world! We can just visit and ask!"

"Of course, the Dimensional Gateway Device," Gardon gasped, recalling seeing a demonstration of said device during Sonic's last visit to their world.

With a dramatic press of the button, the duo watched as the portal between their worlds opened. Gardon peered through the other side, fascinated to glance into another dimension. On the other side of the portal, a familiar fox turned around with interest, his eyes widening with surprise.

"Marine?" Tails gasped.

"Tails!" Marine exclaimed while waving her hand wildly. "Good to see you, mate! Say, nice jacket!"

"Mr. Tails, thank goodness you are there," Gardon added. "We urgently need your help. It's Princess Blaze, she's-"

"Here," Tails confirmed, leaving the duo flabbergasted by the response.

A huge weight felt lifted from Gardon, one hand clutching his chest as he sighed with extensive relief. "Thank the stars. Where is she? Is she alright?"

"She's okay," Tails reassured, stepping closer until he was just on the other side of the portal. "But she's not here at the moment. She's with Amy and others."

"Did she give that fella a good clobbering?" Marine asked, swinging her fists around for dramatic effect.

The young scientist caught on immediately, softly shaking his head in response. "His name is Mephiles. He's still here. Blaze… Got hurt pretty bad."

Marine briefly growled with anger, now throwing her fists manically throughout the air. "Ooh, let me have him! Nobody hurts my mates and gets away with it!"

Gardon shared her disgust, but held his composure far better. His hands gently tugged down her swinging fists, all the while maintaining eye contact with the young fox. "Mr. Tails. If what you say is true then we are dealing with a powerful opponent. Princess Blaze will need all the support we can muster."

"We're already working on securing the Chaos Emeralds," Tails reassured. "Sonic's on his way to get one of them now."

The koala nodded softly, though a trace of concern began to fill his eyes. While relieved to know his ruler was alive and in good hands, the threat of Mephiles unsettled him greatly. His gaze shifted between Marine and Tails, silently questioning his next move. Duty dictated that he uphold the sacred oath. His heart said otherwise, urging him to follow through with Marine's earlier advice about taking action.

As he swallowed the large lump filling his throat, he returned his eyes to the young scientist once more. "Mr. Tails. Would you please give us a moment?"

Tails hesitantly nodded, knowing he had no way to return the call till he fixed his own communicators. "Sure."

Gardon pressed down on the device's button, allowing the portal to vanish from sight. Marine glanced up with a look of bewilderment. He spoke quickly before she could question his actions. "Miss Marine, you were right about not sitting idly by. Now is the time to take action. Come with me."

His proud stance returned once more, marching out of the room with authority. Marine's initial annoyance faded with pleasure taking its place, happy to see the elderly guard back to his usual self. She raced closely behind them, intrigued to know where they were going. Gardon marched through the empty hallways, setting course towards the throne room. He stopped just short of the throne, briefly scanning the area to check for prying eyes. No one else lingered around the castle, just the two of them. Marine briefly winced as Gardon's hands grasped her shoulders, hunching down for their eyes to meet.

"Miss Marine," he began, forcing her attention to his gaze. "What I am about to show you goes against my sacred oath to the throne. You must never, not once, ever tell anyone about this. Even Sonic. Do you understand?"

The raccoon softly nodded in response. Gardon speaking with authority was nothing new to her ears, but the way he carried himself with this sense of urgency captivated her undivided attention. No witty remark escaped her lips. She simply gestured in agreement, slightly intimidated by the way he held a firm grip on her.

Relieved she grasped the importance of what was to come, Gardon removed his hands from her shoulders and approached the back of the throne. He delicately pressed against several tiles in a specific sequence. Marine watched on with fascination, fully unaware of the koala's actions. With one final push, the wall behind the throne opened up into two halves, revealing a long stairway leading below. Fascinated by the hidden passageway, Marine trailed closely behind Gardon, who picked up a torch mounted on the wall, lighting the way below.

The duo reached the bottom of the stairs in no time. Marine softly gasped as the hidden room came into full view. Several torches lit up the room, revealing the sacred treasures that resided within. The Jeweled Scepter rested on the altar within the center, surrounded by seven small stone pillars where six of the seven Sol Emeralds rested. Other cherished items lined up against the walls, mostly books harboring the kingdom's ancient history.

Overwhelmed with the incredible sight, Marine found herself speechless. For once, the usual chatty raccoon had nothing to say, her sky blue pupils dilated with amazement. "Wow."

Gardon slowly moved towards the nearest stone pillar, hesitating to pick up the yellow Sol Emerald. His future with the throne may be in peril after this, but he cared not for his position any longer. The safety of Blaze was the only thing that mattered. He carefully retrieved the Sol Emerald, turning around to break the raccoon from her trance.

"Miss Marine, you pride yourself on being a great friend," Gardon stated. "Now is the time to prove your friendship with Princess Blaze. I am entrusting you to take the Sol Emeralds to her."

Marine beamed with excitement. "Really? No kidding?"

"I wouldn't joke at a time like this," Gardon replied.

She threw her hand against her forehead, trying her best to stand proud. "Captain Marine is on the case."

"Good," Gardon nodded, pausing to glance at one of the sacred gems resting within his palm. "I am afraid I cannot accompany you to the Chaos Dimension. I am needed here to help maintain order. Find Princess Blaze and bring her the Sol Emeralds at all costs."

Marine firmly nodded, adopting a firm expression. "I won't let you down, Gardon. I promise, and a captain never breaks their promise."

Entrusting her word, Gardon gestured for her to hand him the satchel. She did so without hesitation. He was delicate with his movements, placing the six Sol Emeralds within her satchel with utmost care. Upon making sure the gemstones were secured, he stepped forward and placed the satchel around Marine's shoulder once more. With his free hand, he tapped the button, opening the gateway between their dimensions. Tails reappeared on the other side, now accompanied with a large echidna. Gardon paid the new face no attention.

He hunched down and placed both hands to Marine's shoulders once more, albeit with a much gentler touch. "Good luck to you, Miss Marine."

She smiled in return. In an unexpected act of affection, she stood on her tiptoes and planted a small peck on his cheek. Startled by the kind gesture, Gardon leaned back, his muzzle beginning to turn red. Without saying another word, Marine shifted around and bounced through the portal, leaving the safety of the Sol Empire into unknown territory. Gardon watched her leave before hesitantly pressing the button once more, sealing off the gateway between their dimensions.

As Marine's feet pressed against the workshop's hard surface, her limbs suddenly flexed in shock at the drastic difference in temperature. She threw her arms tightly around herself, teeth beginning to chatter uncontrollably. "Blimey, who turned on the AC? I'm freezing my socks off!"

"Sorry, the generators aren't working yet," Tails explained, scanning around for something to warm the younger raccoon. A fresh cup of hot chocolate he brewed minutes ago rested on the table, the steam slowly escaping into the cool air. He picked up said cup and placed it into her hands. "Here."

"Ooh, I love me some hot chocolate!" Marine exclaimed, shoving the cup to her lips and feeling the warm sensation tickle her throat.

Knuckles, while not familiar with the new face, spotted Shade's dressing gown hanging delicately on the coat rack. He picked up the large robe and gently placed it around the raccoon's shoulders. It was far too big to fit her smaller frame, but it was a welcome reprieve from the biting cold.

The combination of the warm beverage and robe forced a pleasured sigh to escape her lips, feeling the cradle of the heat akin to her tropical island's weather. "Much better. Thanks for that, muscles!"

A flash of annoyance briefly creased Knuckle's brow. He held his tongue, returning focus to the young fox. "Wanna fill me in on what's going on here? Who is this?"

"Oh, Knuckles, this is Marine," Tails introduced, gesturing both arms between his friends. "She's a friend of ours from Blaze's world. Marine, this is Knuckles. He's one of my closest friends."

Marine grasped one of his large namesakes, shaking it vigorously. "I'm Captain Marine of the Coconut Crew! Nice to meet you!"

"Yeah, likewise," Knuckles responded, pulling back his hand with caution lest he accidently pull her down. He crossed both arms, still awaiting for an explanation on her presence. "What are you doing here?"

Marine turned her head away with a playful grin. "Sorry, can't tell ya! Captain's secret!"

"You can trust Knuckles, Marine," Tails reassured. "He guards our Chaos Emeralds, just like Blaze does with her Sol Emeralds."

The raccoon hummed, questioning whether or not this went against Gardon's orders. On the one hand, he never said anything about not trusting Sonic or his friends. The extra help was welcomed. On the other hand, she didn't know Knuckles. As far as she was aware, he was a pirate in hiding. Her gaze shifted to Tails, who tried to hold his composure, though his impatient stance betrayed his calm expression.

While Marine had no reason to trust Knuckles, she trusted Tails, and that was good enough. "Okay, I'm on an important mission! Gardon entrusted me to deliver the Sol Emeralds to Blaze!"

Tails blinked, beginning to understand why Gardon sought privacy during their first point of contact. "You have the Sol Emeralds?"

"I sure do!" Marine exclaimed, tapping her hand against the satchel resting comfortably on her hip. "Well, I got six of the mozzies," she threw up her gaze, frantically searching around the house for the princess' presence. "Say, where is Blaze? Is she taking a nap?"

"I told you before, she's with the rest of our friends," Tails recalled, moving to block her way as she looked ready to race outside. "But we can't go looking for her yet. There's a storm outside. It's too dangerous to go exploring."

Marine hummed once more, contemplating whether or not to barge past and go looking for her friend. Instead, she nonchalantly shrugged and bounced back into a nearby chair, swinging around to plank both feet on the table. "Not a problem! I'll just wait here till they get back. You two can be my protection!"

Tails gently chuckled, resuming focus to continue his work. While she often came across as bossy with a loud, thick accent enough to drive others insane, he welcomed her company. "Sure, Marine."

Knuckles silently grunted, wondering how Sonic and Tails coped with her hyperactive energy. Nevertheless, his eyes were drawn to the satchel resting against her hip. His position as Master Emerald Guardian allowed Knuckles to sense Chaos energy. But these Sol Emeralds, he could not detect any hint of their energy radiating within the air. While curious to see the mysterious gemstones, his duty came first. The echidna retreated into the living room once more, overlooking the sacred gemstone resting comfortable in its temporary home.

Espio exhaled slowly, eyes shut as the world around him dissolved into his own thoughts. His nose inhaled, breathing in the cold air that resonated around their home. A small heater kindly burrowed to them by Tails filled their living room with some form of warmth, its glow gently illuminating the otherwise darkened room. With their home's central heating out for the count, the onset of winter lowered the temperatures within their worn out office. The team made a collective decision to sleep downstairs for the night, hoping the small heater provided another warmth for a good night's sleep.

While Espio's mastery of martial arts allowed him to withstand freezing temperatures, the same could not be said for his fellow teammates. Vector had been vocal enough to share his distaste for the weather, though it was more because of their business taking a plunge in customers. Being a cold-blooded reptile, he was naturally resilient to cold weather. The de facto leader slumbered within his chair, both arms supporting his head, headphones softly filling his ears with rock 'n' roll pleasure.

Their youngest member slept across the corner of their sofa, wrapped up in mountains of blankets. Charmy initially had trouble falling to sleep in the freezing temperature. Being a bee, he was far from his comfort zone of sunny days and flowers. Espio helped soothe him to sleep by reading him a bedtime story. Charmy had hung onto his every word, the ninja's deep voice making the narrations comforting to his ears. In the early morning hours of their home, only Espio remained awake.

He took position in the corner of the living room, sitting with both legs crossed while his hands resting against his knees. Despite his perfect posture, the detective had trouble falling to sleep. Memories of his earlier encounter with Silver continued to haunt him. The future warrior looked troubled, terrified even. The damage to his appearance suggested something terrible had happened in his future, a threat strong enough to push the hedgehog back to the present.

If only Espio knew the true reason for his friend's return.

A sudden knock at the door snapped Espio back into reality. His eyes shot open, gaze quickly switching from the clock to the front door. The clock hand threatened to reach the one mark. Espio softly grunted, silently cursing Vector for advertising their business as a twenty-four hour service. While Vector's music drowned out the noise, it was enough to break Charmy from his slumber.

The bee softly lifted his head, disorientation and confusion filling his tired eyes. "Wha… Who's that?"

"Go back to sleep, Charmy," Espio whispered, shifting focus towards the entrance of their home.

The chameleon reached the front door. Being the cautioned ninja he was, one hand delicately touched his gauntlet, preparing to draw his weapons if necessary. He opened the door, forced to greet the late night visitors by reciting their motto Vector insisted on using. "Chaotix Detective Agency, no job is ever too…"

He slowly trailed off, not expecting to see the group of four before him. Without hesitation, he swung the door open and stood out of the way. "Quickly, come inside!"

Charmy peerked up as multiple footsteps tapped against the wooden floor, fully waking the bee from his tired state. He gently rubbed his eyes, blinking to restore his vision. "What the heck are you guys doing here?"

"Charmy, that's no way to greet people," Espio gently scolded, pushing the door shut before the blizzard forced its way in. "Is everyone alright?"

Amy shook her head to shake away the snow stuck within her quills. "We're okay."

Espio's eyes darted towards Blaze, surprised to see the princess within their world once more. His eyes were drawn to her bloodstained glove and heavy bandages, forcing concern to plaster his hardened demeanor. "Blaze, why don't you have a seat?"

"Thank you," Blaze whispered, happily accepting the offer. While she rested on Big's shoulder during the journey, the cold forced her injury to slowly intensify once more. She slumped against the corner, fully relieved to be sitting down again.

The detective's eyes shot towards the hooded figure. Relief filled his stern gaze as the future warrior removed his hood. "Silver."

Silver softly smiled, offering a bashful wave. "Hi, Espio. Sorry for taking off like that earlier."

"That's alright," Espio reassured, stepping to one side and allowing the hedgehog to sit on the same couch as the feline. Compared to their earlier visit, his appearance had been tidied up, no doubt at Amy's instance.

"We tried to call earlier," Amy explained. "But nobody picked up."

"Oh, yeah, my bad," Charmy admitted, presenting the new lifeless tablet between his hands. "I kind of got distracted playing Angry Chao."

Vector's eyelids slowly peered open, startled by the large group filling their otherwise empty home. In his haste to get up, he slipped out of his chair and struck the ground with a small thud. All eyes were drawn to the commotion. He jumped up, tugging his headphones back around his neck. "Chaotix Detective Agency, no job is ever too-oh, it's you guys."

"Don't sound too happy to see us," Amy said, though her playful expression betrayed the false malice in her voice.

The crocodile leaned over to flick on the light switch, forcing the great darkness to fully disperse. The small group gathered within the living room, sitting as close to the small heater as possible. Blaze, Silver and Charmy took up all the room on the couch. Vector took the only remaining furniture, planking himself into a small armchair. Amy seated herself on a nearby table, allowing her legs to dangle from the ground. Espio had no problem sitting on the floor again. As for Big, he calmly stood to the far side, eyes carelessly peering around the room with satisfaction.

Vector was the first to break the silence. "So, what's up?"

"This isn't about me taking Cream's juice box, is it?" Charmy asked.

Amy shot him a confused glare. "Huh?"

The bee immediately feigned innocence. "Oh, nothing!"

While the pink hedgehog made a mental note of that last comment, she shifted the conversation back to the matter at hand. "We're sorry for coming here so late, but we promise it's important."

"That is quite alright," Espio reassured, gesturing for her to continue. "Why don't you start from the beginning, Amy?"

The pink hedgehog softly nodded. "It's a bit of a story, so listen up…"

As the storm's howls claimed the outside world, Amy went on to retell recent events. Blaze and Silver occasionally spoke up to speak of their own tales, explaining their unexpected arrival within the Chaos Dimension. Team Chaotix listened intently, hung onto every word, pushing the desire to sleep to the back of their minds. Even Charmy, the usual talkative bee, found himself sitting quite still. While they conversed, Espio politely excused himself to make some refreshments for everyone. His special tea was brewed quite nicely, leaving sensational wonders within their mouths. Blaze, who was not usually a fan of green tea, was deeply impressed by the care he poured into the refreshments.

"... And that's why we're here," Amy concluded her story at last, pausing to take a sip of her drink to quell her thirst.

Espio masked his emotions quite well, yet even his mastery of self-discipline did nothing to stop the growing concern spreading across his face. His gaze shifted to the couch, taking note of the uneasiness filling the princess' eyes. If this Mephiles could shake her confidence so greatly, this was truly a matter of urgency. He searched for a response from Vector, who merely shrugged. If the usual loud crocodile had nothing to say, Charmy would be no help either.

Taking charge of the team, Espio spoke up. "Do you have any idea why Mephiles needs the Chaos Emeralds?"

Amy shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea, but it can't be good."

"As long as you have the Chaos Emerald, your lives are in peril," Blaze hastily added, a pleading look beginning to replace her common stoic demeanor. "Please let us take the Emerald from you."

Espio's eyes widened, taken back by the princess' pleas. While the two of them were far from best friends, he knew Blaze well enough to understand the incredible powers she yielded. Even during their friendly spars, Espio could barely match her strength. Mephiles truly unnerved her, a feat no one else had been able to achieve. Now she feared for the safety of her friends, concerned they were no match for the evil being.

His hand caressed the yellow Chaos Emerald resting comfortably to his side, having retrieved the sacred gem from its hiding space when he learned they had become an item of interest. He peered up, returning his attention to the kind hedgehog. "Do you have the other Chaos Emeralds?"

"Sonic and Shadow have one each. They're both on their way to get two more," Amy explained. "But Mephiles managed to get two of them already. We're gonna meet up back at my house afterwards."

The detective hummed, carefully considering his next move. While he held no personal attachment to the sacred gemstone, parting with it after so long was a difficult decision Not out of personal desire but out of concern for his friends.

He jumped to his feet without warning, strengthening his posture. "I cannot surrender the Chaos Emerald to you," he quickly held up his hand before the protests began. "It would be selfish of me to give up my responsibility. However, I am offering a compromise: we will accompany you to face Mephiles."

Vector tilted his head with surprise. "We are?"

"Yes," Espio nodded, leaving no room for a debate on the matter.

The offer was a kind surprise. Taken back by the detective's suggestion, Amy, Blaze and Silver exchanged looks between them. Nobody wanted to put any of the Chaotix members in danger, but no one could deny the ninja's suggestion worked well for all. One way or another Mephiles was coming for them. Better for them all to stick together than fight alone. Strength in numbers, after all.

"That's a good idea," Silver agreed, grateful for the aid. "Thanks, Espio!"

"Well, we do need all the help we can get," Amy added, offering a gentle smile towards the de facto leader. "Is that okay with you, Vector?"

The crocodile's jaws widened, offering a supportive thumbs up. "You got it, Amy! No job is ever too big for The Chaotix!"

Charmy threw up his arm in agreement, discarding the blankets surrounding his person. "Yeah, time to rock and roll!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Blaze threw her head down to conceal her gaze, hands folding together in her lap. Her friends had already given her so much, sacrificing their own safety to help her. Now three more of her friends were prepared to put their lives in danger. The relationship she shared with Vector and Charmy was nothing too special, only briefly working with the former during their race car adventures.

But Espio, she had become quite fond of. His teachings helped keep her temper in check. Alongside helping to battle her acrophobia, now he offered to selflessly accompany the princess into battle. She once told Espio how he was an honorable warrior, praise that had proven to be well earned.

She exhaled, watching the steam of her breath press softly into her gloved hands. Her gaze returned to the detective, finally responding to the earlier suggestion. "We would be very grateful for your aid."

Satisfied they were in agreement, Espio allowed a small smirk to creep its way onto his muzzle. "It would be an honor."

Amy's smile dropped as her discarded backpack began to shake, faint music filling the air between them. She hastily grabbed her tablet, relief filling her emerald green eyes. An old vacation photo of herself and Sonic covered her screen, both hedgehogs posing for a selfie during a nightly stroll in Spagonia. "Guys, Sonic's calling!"

The Chaotix quickly raced over. Charmy moved a little too closely towards the camera, his forehead practically kissing the screen. Vector grabbed the small bee and tugged him back to a reasonable distance. Silver and Blaze hung back, struggling to see past Vector and Big's large frames. Amy hastily accepted the call, her eyes sparkling as the blue hedgehog gave a gentle wave from his position. Shade stood closely by his side, peering forward with interest. Two more cameras sprung open as well, revealing Tails in what remained of his workshop and Team Dark resting comfortably within the bat's club.

Tails was the first one to greet everyone, but before he could speak further, another voice greeted the blue hedgehog. Blaze's ears perked up, recognizing that exaggerated Australian accent from anywhere. The princess gently yet urgently pushed through the small group until her eyes met the camera.

Relief etched her expression as her closest friend came into full view. "Marine?!"

Marine returned the greeting with her usual loud voice, happy to see her friend. "There you are, Blaze! Crikey, we were worried sick about you!"

The Chaotix peered forward with equal interest. Silver gently hovered above the rest of the group for a better perspective, tilting his head with a small smile. As for Big, his eyes absently scanned the camera, showing no immediate reaction.

Blaze exhaled with relief, ignoring a comment by Rouge. Her stoic demeanor faded, allowing solace to take its place. "Marine, thank goodness you're okay."

The raccoon smiled, holding up a fresh beverage within her hands. As she spoke, her beaming eyes leaned a little too closely into the frame, concealing the rest of her friends. A concerned expression plastered across her face, taking note of her friend's state. In their time together, Marine knew how much of a clean freak Blaze was, never allowing a single speck or crease to smear her outfit. To see her torn tailcoat with a large band-aid stretched across her cheek was a rare sight.

"Blimey, what happened to you?" Marine asked.

Blaze immediately deflected the question. "Never mind me. What are you doing here?"

As Tails gently tugged her back at a reasonable distance, Marine went on to explain how she used the fox's device to travel across dimensions. Without warning, she held up a small satchel and poured the contents on a small deck. Blaze stiffened as the sacred gems she devoted her life to protecting revealed themselves, subconsciously placing her hand to her pocket where the final Sol Emerald resided. Everyone else took equal interest. Out of the small group, only Sonic and Tails were familiar with the sacred gems from the Sol Dimension.

"Whoa, how much do you think we could get for those?" Vector mumbled, his comment earning a small elbow jab by Amy.

"I don't get it, did the Chaos Emeralds change shape?" Charmy asked, scratching the top of his hat confusingly.

"They are not the Chaos Emeralds, Charmy," Espio calmly explained, eyes carefully peering over the gemstones while both arms folded over his chest. "Blaze is from a dimension parallel to our own. There are several similarities. These must be her world's equivalence to our Chaos Emeralds."

Marine counted the Sol Emeralds, noting one of them was missing from the set. "Could only find six of them, have no clue where the last one ran off to."

Blaze's hand dug into her pocket, holding up the powerful gem once more. "I have it here."

As the princess' relief in her friend's well-being died down, Blaze's brow furrowed and her eyes snared the young raccoon with anger. "Marine, why have you brought them here? Do you not understand how imperative it is that they are kept out of enemy hands?"

Marine threw up her hands defensively, swiftly explaining Gardon gave his blessing for her to take the Sol Emeralds. At first, Blaze doubted the claim, casting aside all rational thinking. But as confusion overtook her anger, the Sol Emerald resting in her hand offered comfort once more, its gentle energy bringing a sense of tranquility. Her golden eyes carefully studied the raccoon's reaction. Even with the screens separating them, Blaze could read Marine like an open book. She was a terrible liar, but there was nothing in her eyes to suggest she was up to her usual antics.

Gardon was the only one she entrusted with the location of the Sol Emeralds. The koala would never have surrendered them willingly to the likes of Nega and Mephiles. For him to entrust them to Marine's care, he must have grown desperate to find her. For as disciplined as he may be, Blaze caught his softened glances one too many times in the past. He truly cared for her, being one of the few people who didn't see her as just the mighty warrior of the Sol Empire.

With a softened sigh, Blaze felt momentary guilt for jumping to conclusion. "He must have thought I'd need them. I apologize, Marine."

Marine smiled, harboring no ill feelings to the accusation. "No offense taken, mate!"

While the two friends exchanged words, Tails eagerly shifted the conversation back to the matter at home. "We'll meet up with you guys after you secure the Chaos Emeralds. Did you guys manage to get it?"

Amy's frown softened, watching as Sonic sadly shook his head to the question. "Sorry. We tried our best, but guess who we just ran into?"

Blaze feared the worst, sighing with concern. "Mephiles."

Silver watched her head hanging low with shame, silently cursing herself for her failure to stop Mephiles in their first encounter. A part of him wanted to race down and comfort her with a hug, but that would be a mistake. Blaze struggled with physical affection, finding it difficult to express how she felt. Being isolated for so long would leave that effect. He remembered the first time they hugged just after the tournament. While she didn't rebuff the kind gesture, it was evident she had no idea what to do when she received it.

The others watched as Shadow spoke up, doubting Sonic's earlier comment as he too claimed to have fought the evil being. Silver ignored the rest of the call, the world around him slowly draining away. He leisurely shifted focus towards the nearest window, watching as the storm outside continued to claim the world. Their opponent hid within the shadows like a rat, patiently waiting for the moment to ambush his prey.

He longed to return home and reunite with his friends, but the future was still unchanged. Mephiles, the one who caused harm to his world, threatened to destroy everything he cared for. Silver wished circumstances were different. He was a great warrior who stood up for what he believed in. But at heart, he was a kind soul who didn't want to fight.

Pushing aside his sorrow, Silver's frown tightened. His hands clenched tightly, cyan energy slowly dancing around his wrists. There was still a future to save. For as long as he drew breath, he would protect the future at all costs.

Chapter Text

A cold night, a lucid moon, heaven's eyes shine in the black as a divine watchful mother. The darkness was perfect, a visual silence that gave a revered awe. Mephiles basked in this darkness, becoming one with the shadows. In a way, the darkness served as a blanket of protection. Others feared the dark. But Mephiles embraced the comfort it provided. This darkness would one day claim the world in full, leaving no trace of the light any longer. Dark Gaia may have failed to plunge the planet into forever blackness, but Mephiles had no Light Gaia to stop him.

Mephiles knew he was never meant to exist. From one timeline to another, his existence was the result of an accident. His other half was long gone. Once in perfect harmony till that dreadful day they were forced apart. Arbitrary, Mephiles was judged before he was even aware of himself. He knew nothing but pain, forced into this terrible existence, only to be locked away within a minuscule prison for years.

He longed to be reunited with his other half, to be complete once more. He was empty without Iblis and would stop at nothing to be reunited. His erasure was a paradox, yet here he was, determined to not relive history a second time. His eyes slowly scanned through the night air, two Chaos Emeralds absently floating by his side. From the very shadows that basked him in the night, his two clones simultaneously returned to his side, each holding a single Chaos Emerald.

The clones faded away, their dark energy returning to the original. Mephiles glanced down at two new Chaos Emeralds, marveled by their appearance. His hivemind connection to the clones allowed him to witness recent events from afar while he hid away. With four of the seven Chaos Emeralds within his grasp, the end goal was approaching.

"Blaze," Mephiles hissed. "You cannot keep me from what is mine. I deceived you once. I will do so again."

His lifeless eyes faced towards the sky, watching with glee as the storm continued growing stronger. "Gather as many allies as you like. It will make no difference. You will experience a fate worse than death."

Without another word, Mephiles slowly harnessed the Emerald's negative energy, feeling the raw power merge with his own. Their positive energy tried in vain to fight him, as if the Emerald's themselves were fully aware of what was to come. Mephiles fought through their futile attempts to rebuff his power, forcing their Chaos energy to merge with him whole. As the rush of power fueled him with elation, Mephiles threw up his head and cackled once more, the maniacal laughter becoming one with the storm's howls.

Silence descended upon the group call. All sets of eyes focused on Sonic, patiently waiting for the hero to elaborate on his last comment. Sonic continued staring towards the night air, a look of unease filling his eyes. Shade stood closely by his side, concerned by the lack of response that followed.

Slowly growing impatient, Shadow took charge of the situation once more. "So, are you suggesting there's more than one Mephiles?"

The blue hedgehog finally returned focus on the group call, nodding softly in return. "I think so. It wouldn't be the first time we've fought against clones. Touchy subject, I know, but Shadow-"

"Don't fret about it," Shadow calmly assured. "Look, whether Mephiles is one or many, it doesn't matter. We have a job to do."

Sonic nodded in return. "Did you guys manage to get your other Chaos Emerald?"

Shadow moved the camera back ever so slightly, allowing Rouge to peer her head into frame. She softly shook her head, brief despair filling her teal eyes. "Mephiles got to it before we could. Sorry, Big Blue."

"There's something else," Shadow suddenly spoke up, his stern voice grabbing everyone's attention. "Before Mephiles left, I tried to get some answers from him. He…"

The Ultimate Life Form slowly trailed off, forcing himself to turn away. The others expressed their concerns, noting the hesitant silence that followed. Shadow, while not a sociable person, very rarely found himself stumped for words. Mephiles' cryptic statements caught him by surprise. Rouge grabbed his attention out of the camera's frame, offering an encouraging nod.

Returning focus, Shadow continued on. "He was talking about how we never met in this timeline before, whatever that means."

Rouge took over the conversation. "Then he mentioned how we don't have any memories of meeting him before. It gets worse. Mephiles started talking about something called the 'Flames of Disaster'."

Confusion plastered over everyone's faces. All except for Silver, who gawked at the last comment. Flames of Disaster. He swore those words were ringing a bell, a sense of déjà vu filling his mind. He searched for equal reactions from his friends, but none of them seemed to mirror his feelings.

"There's more," Shadow added, locking eyes with the feline standing closely by Amy's side. "He claims you have something of his, Blaze."

A confused expression laced Blaze's features, her golden eyes sparking with great concern. Her brows softly twitched, her eyes alone holding so many ambivalent emotions. "I don't have the faintest idea of what it could be. If it were the Sol Emeralds or Jeweled Scepter he desired, Mephiles would have returned to my world long ago."

As she trailed off, Blaze placed one hand to her forehead, concentrating through her clouded vision. Memories of her first conflict with the dark being continued to haunt her greatly, recalling his first words. "Wait, there was something. 'Iblis will be free,' that was what he had said to me."

Iblis. Another sense of déjà vu hit Silver like a freight train. That name. Thinking about it all was beginning to give him a headache. He softly clutched one hand to his head, trying to make sense of why these names felt so familiar.

"Who or what is Iblis?" Rouge questioned.

"I do not know," Blaze admitted with a light shrug. "But if Mephiles has made no attempt to return to my world, that must mean the whereabouts of this Iblis are unknown to him."

"That means he must think you know something about it," Amy suggested, looking to her friend for answers. "Think carefully, Blaze. Are you absolutely sure?"

It took all of the princess' willpower to avoid expressing her frustration, unappreciative at the suggestion she couldn't remember her own life. But Blaze knew Amy meant no malice in the question, merely seeking answers. She softly nodded with confidence. "I am positive."

As the others discussed their theories, Sonic raised his hand to speak. "There's something else, guys. Does anyone remember when I told you about the time I was King Arthur?"

Amy rolled her eyes. "Are you still on with that?"

"It's true!" Sonic exclaimed. "But it doesn't matter. Look, Mephiles knew about my time in Camelot. Same with Arabian Nights. Even if I was making it up, how could he know about that?"

Shade vouched for Sonic's claim. "It is true. Mephiles spoke with confidence. There was no mistaking his words. He is aware of events that even I did not know about."

Amy gawked at the echidna's comment, beginning to question how the dark being could know so much about her boyfriend's adventures. A part of her felt guilty for doubting Sonic's reasoning over missing their date, but she pushed the sense of dread to the back of her mind. Right now, she needed to be focused. "There's still something I don't understand. If he is after this Iblis, what do the Chaos Emeralds have to do with this?"

When no one else answered, Espio politely spoke up with a theory of his own, piecing together a possible conclusion. After all, he was a detective for a reason. "Perhaps this Iblis is sealed away by a prison only the power of the Chaos Emeralds can breach."

Vector added onto the possibility. "But that still doesn't explain why he was in Blaze's dimension to begin with."

The countless questions and the lack of answers that followed threatened to drive everyone insane. Their only hope to seek answers was to question Mephiles himself. He would inevitably return to claim the other three Chaos Emeralds.

Sonic took charge of the team, eager to reunite with his friends. "It doesn't matter how or why Mephiles is doing what he's doing. What matters is stopping him."

Amy nodded in agreement. "Sonic's right. We still have three of the Chaos Emeralds. Let's meet up before Mephiles comes back again."

"Then let's not waste time," Shadow stated, holding up the green Chaos Emerald once more.

Sonic shifted focus towards his best friend's perspective. "We'll swing by and pick you guys up."

"No," Knuckles abruptly said. "If you bring that Chaos Emerald back here, those creatures might come back. I can't risk the Master Emerald getting taken too."

The blue hedgehog frowned, as did some of the others. Before he argued, the young scientist suddenly spoke up in the echidna's defence.

"I have to agree with Knuckles," Tails hesitantly said. "It's not just the Master Emerald. Marine has the Sol Emeralds too."

Sonic's expression softened, still concerned Tails was holding himself responsible for the earlier battle's events. He wished the young scientist stopped this self-pity, but now was not the time to discuss their own personal problems. His grin swiftly returned before anyone took notice of his brief sadness. "We'll meet you guys at Amy's house."

"Keep watch of the Sol Emeralds, Marine," Blaze added. "We cannot risk their capture as well."

Marine waved a dismissive hand. "Don't fret, mate! They're safe with us!"

"We'll watch over her and meet you guys as soon as we can," Knuckles spoke up.

Blaze silently thanked the guardian for his aid. With everyone in agreement, their goodbyes were said and their respective cameras switched off once more. Sonic finally released the huge sigh he suppressed for so long, lowering his arm with heistance. His free hand found itself resting softly against his face, massaging his temples to ease the growing stress.

Shade took notice of his disheartened stance, stepping forward with concern. "Is something on your mind, Sonic?"

"Just tired," Sonic reassured, pretending to glance at his communicator to avoid her gaze. "It's pretty late."

Doubt filled Shade's eyes, but she decided not to press the matter further. "Shall we get going?"

Sonic nodded. "Let's do it."

He waited for Shade to place her hand against his shoulder before raising his arm, summoning the power of the Chaos Emerald once more. "Here we go. Chaos Control!"

"Come on, let me have a gander!"

"No."

"I just wanna look!"

"Look with your eyes, not your hands."

Marine pouted as Knuckles refused to move out of the way, shielding her from touching the Master Emerald. To accommodate for the cold weather, the young captain now donned some of Tails' clothes. The orange puffer jacket hugged her petite frame over her usual outfit, and the matching beanie gave her an air of cuteness despite the dire circumstances. Despite the cozy clothing, Marine still felt like a fish out of water in this frigid world. She missed the warmth and sunshine of her home.

Growing bored of waiting around for the others to come back, she took interest in the giant gemstone resting within the living room, marveled by its size and beauty. The urge to touch was strong, but the mighty guardian protecting the Master Emerald was stronger.

Knuckles blocked her way, both arms folded over his chest while his gaze refused to leave her. However, a hint of interest forced his eyebrows to raise. "Does Blaze have a Master Emerald in her world?"

Marine cocked her head, curiosity replacing her annoyance. "Huh?"

"Like the Sol Emeralds but bigger," Knuckles explained, spreading his hands apart to emphasize his point.

The gears in Marine's head warped for a moment, her face twisting adorably as she thought long and hard. "I don't think so. Why?"

Knuckles shrugged. "Just wondering."

Marine frowned, hoping the conversation would lead somewhere. Tails had since taken to sleeping on the sofa. At Knuckles' insistence, the young fox tried to get some rest for a while till it was time to leave. She tried to engage in conversation with Knuckles, but the echidna clearly was not one for socializing, choosing duty over pleasure.

Marine stretched out to one side, curiosity filling her innocent eyes. She pointed forward. "Hey, what's it doing?"

Knuckles rolled his eyes. "Very funny."

"I'm being serious!" Marine exclaimed. "Just took a gander, would ya?"

The guardian sighed, steadily growing more annoyed by her demands. He never thought he would prefer Sonic's presence for once. Nevertheless, he quickly glanced back to humor her pitiful attempt to deceive him. Upon locking eyes with the Master Emerald, his eyes widened and his jaw dropped. A startled gasp escaped his open mouth, forcing the echidna to take a step back. Subconsciously, he threw out one arm to shield Marine from potential danger. The small commotion caught Tails' attention, slowly stirring him from his brief slumber.

The glowing outline of a silhouette emerged from the Master Emerald, like an angel itself had come to grace them. The blinding light that followed forced the trio to shield their eyes. Through the gathering light came the form of a princess, young and strong. She moved forward with gentle strides. The light faded away in seconds, allowing the Master Emerald to return to its subdued state. The trio remained frozen in place as the female echidna smiled with one hand placed above the other.

As she came closer, it was quite evident her ancient clothing was not equipment for winter conditions, yet she showed no signs of coldness at all. She wore a tank top-like garment and a traditional tribal skirt with triangular patterns, alongside a golden armlet on her right arm, a golden necklace and a tiara-like band atop her forehead. White-strapped sandals covered her feet. Like most Mobians, she wore white gloves. Her dreadlocks and left arm were wrapped with white bandages.

Knuckles swallowed the excessive saliva forming in his mouth, barely able to force out a whisper. "Tikal."

"Hello, Guardian," Tikal warmly greeted, bowing her head lightly with respect. "It is great to see you again."

Awestruck by her reappearance, Knuckles struggled to find his words. Their paths had not crossed since she left with Chaos to live in peace. Tails mirrored the echidna's reaction, questioning whether this was lack of sleep forcing him to see illusions. The princess' attention shifted towards the young scientist, softly nodding in acknowledgement.

"Hello, Tails," she greeted. "My, you have grown considerably."

The fox muttered out a barely audible whisper. "H-h-hello, Your Highness."

"That's not necessary," Tikal kindly reassured. "You may call me Tikal."

While the two friends continued to gaze in awe, Tikal slowly shifted her gaze towards the young raccoon. Marine hid behind Knuckles' large frame, carefully peeking out. She had her fair share of encounters with ghosts back in the Sol Dimension. None of them ended well.

Tikal offered a gentle, reassuring smile. She moved down onto one knee, allowing their eyes to meet on the same level. "Do not be afraid, little one."

The voice did not enter through Marine's ears but arrived directly in her head. While still frightened by the ghostly figure, Marine cautiously stepped from around the frozen Knuckles. Her instincts were urging her to run before the ghost took her soul. But the kind eyes of Tikal subdued her fear. She sensed no ill intentions from the ghostly figure, and based on the reactions of her friends, they seemed to be familiar with her already.

Marine tugged on Knuckles' arm. "Is she your Shelia?"

Broke from his trance at last, he peered down with confusion, unfamiliar with the term. "My what?"

"Never mind that!" Tails quickly exclaimed, bringing attention back towards the new presence. "Tikal, we never thought we'd see you again."

She slowly stood up to full height, approaching the young fox with care in her movement. "Chaos and I have been at peace for a long time. But I still have my connection with the Master Emerald. I am free to cross the boundaries between your world and the Heavens."

Concern suddenly crossed her expression, masking her kind demeanor. Her gaze locked with the protector of the Master Emerald, captivating his attention right away. "Guardian, I am afraid I did not come bearing good news."

Snapped back into reality, Knuckles hardened and focused on her warnings. "What's going on?"

The female echidna briefly glanced towards the nearby window, watching as the darkness threatened to claim this beautiful world for good. "The balance of time itself has been disrupted. Everything is in peril. It is not just your world that is in danger. The fabric of time itself may be destroyed."

Horror crossed Knuckles' gaze, steadily growing nervous by her warnings. "By who?"

She returned her focus. "The one you have come to know as Mephiles."

Tails piped up. "You know about Mephiles?"

Tikal nodded once more. "My bond with the Master Emerald has allowed me to see things that should not be seen. Mephiles is not of your world. Or of your timeline for that matter."

Confusion filled the air around them. The trio of friends exchanged glances, uncertain of where the princess was going with her cryptic warnings.

Knuckles spoke up once more. "Tikal, I don't understand."

"It is difficult to explain," Tikal admitted with a small sigh. "Things are not what they should be. Everything that is happening right now was never meant to be. It is the result of a catastrophic incident."

The guardian paused with uncertainty. The cogs in his head could practically be seen turning.

Tails, using his own intellect, appeared to understand the explanation. He softly raised one hand. "Do you mean… Like the multiverse theory?"

Marine turned around with equal interest. "Like in comic books when characters go to another universe and find themselves?"

"Precisely," Tails nodded, awaiting for an answer. "Is that right, Tikal?"

The princess softly chuckled at their childlike explanations, reminded of the youngest members of her tribe. "Not as such. I am afraid words cannot explain it clearly enough. But I can show you what was meant to be."

She moved to one side, outstretching her hand towards Knuckles. "Guardian, if you allow me to do so, I can explain everything by parting my visions to you," her expression briefly hardened before he accepted the proposal. "But I must warn you. You may not like what you will see."

Knuckles hesitated to accept the offer, understanding the great concern filling her gaze. If there was truly no going back after this, he silently questioned whether or not he could withstand the visions. But he wasn't the guardian of the Master Emerald for nothing. Ancient Gods, robot overlords and aliens could do nothing to break the indomitable willpower he wielded.

With an assertive sigh, he marched forward. "Show me."

Tikal softly nodded, outstretching her hand for him to take. He delicately allowed his namesake to rest within her palm. "Close your eyes, Guardian. Focus on me and nothing more."

Knuckles obliged, concentrating to block out the world around him. The storm's howls, the creaky floorboards and the Master Emerald's soft glow, all pushed to the back of his mind. Nothing else mattered at this moment. A whisper captivated his attention, a white glow appearing before him. Tails and Marine silently watched the events transpire, too unnerved to say anything. Out of instinct, the young raccoon held Tails' hand. He returned the gesture, silently comforting her as well.

The visions softly cleared, revealing tall trees of somber peeking green, their tops a round as if drawn in mathematical precision. Knuckles gazed at them for a blessed moment. The black-cradled ground below captured his interest, serving as the eyes that watched all the galaxies in the dominion of the world. Then there were voices, thousands of whispers speaking at once. The voices raised up as if on ever spread wings.

"Nothing starts until you take action. If you've got time to worry, run!"

Sonic? What was he doing here? Who was he talking to?

"If the world chooses to become my enemy… I will fight like I always have."

Shadow? The world was becoming his enemy? For what reason?

"To kill someone to save the world… Is that really the right thing to do?"

Silver? Who was he trying to kill to save the world? Why was he questioning it? Did he try to kill an innocent?

The tall trees vanished. In their place formed blood skies, surrounding the beautiful world in despair. A deep sense of heat settled in his bones, the air around him becoming thick and humid. His lungs began to ache from breathing in the dense air, his skin drying up. More voices echoed in all directions. His breathing intensified, rapid breaths beginning to escape his tightened burrow.

"If we don't take this chance, the future will remain exactly as it is."

Blaze? What future? Was she trying to help Silver save his world again?

"This creature will consume all existing timelines. And time itself will collapse and disappear into nothingness…"

Doctor Eggman? What creature was he talking about? Time itself collapsing?

"Just as a flower comes from a seed, or a chicken comes from an egg, everything has an origin. You need to find the being originally responsible for this catastrophe."

That voice. Was that Mephiles?

The visions changed once more, plunging the whole world into darkness. But in that darkness, a haunting silhouette covered the echidna. He hesitated to raise his gaze, but when he did so, he wished he hadn't. Within the darkened skies, the silhouette of a hawk-like figure towered above him with an overwhelming presence, looking down at the echidna with haunting eyes. Knuckles froze, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

His breathing accelerated, pure terror clawing at his throat. The colossal dimensional being howled, its sickening roar threatening to bring the mighty guardian to his knees. Knuckles tried to force his body to move, but his limbs were unresponsive. His mouth hung open in silent screams. His bones felt like jelly, feeling his legs about to give out. The giant being howled once more, unleashing its might to consume the world in forever darkness. Knuckles could do nothing but gawk as the world around him faded away into nothingness.

"IBLIS!"

Knuckles' eyes threw open, a terrified yell reverberated throughout the room. He flung himself backwards, colliding against the nearest wall with enough force to briefly shake the foundations of the house. Tails and Marine exclaimed with worry, immediately racing over to the terrified guardian as he slumped against the ground.

His eyes took in more light than expected, every part of him frozen as his thoughts desperately tried to catch up. Rooted in place, Knuckles felt his stomach twist, his hands flying to clutch his chest. All life drained from his face, looking as white as a ghost.

"Knuckles, are you okay?!" Tails called out, shaking his friend's shoulder with concern.

The echidna did not respond, lost in a deep trance. His skin tingled, heart rapidly beating within his chest as his breathing grew tighter. The lights were on, yet nobody was home. Tikal held position, wearing a look of sorrow for her indirect actions.

Marine waved her hand frantically in front of Knuckle's lifeless eyes. "You there, big guy?"

She snapped her fingers, the sharp clicking finally bringing the echidna back to reality. His namesakes trembled, eyes still wide like saucers. Despite the freezing temperature, sweat formed down his dreadlocks. Desperately trying to understand what he just saw, he slowly brought his gaze to the princess standing before him.

"Tikal," Knuckles whispered, his voice shaky and low.

Tails placed his hand softly on the older warrior's arm. He kept his voice low, unwilling to cause further distress. "What did you see, Knuckles?"

The once mighty guardian was no more, becoming a former shell of his glory self. In place was nothing but pure terror filling his violet eyes. "Tails… We're not meant to be here."

The young fox tilted his head with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Come on, mate! Stop talking in riddles!" Marine pleaded, eager to know the truth.

Knuckles' gaze shifted between his friends, silently asking for the princess' blessing. With a simple glance, he understood her answer. Her eyes spoke the words she didn't need to say. Breathing softly to compose himself, he hesitantly spoke. "Tails… You aren't going to believe this."

As the night sky drowned the world in darkness with an approaching thunderstorm threatening to quench the planet she cocooned in black, a flash of light briefly illuminated the surrounding forest. Team Rose and Team Chaotix reappeared outside the home of Amy Rose. Everyone let go of each other's hands, taking a moment to adjust to the aftermath of Sol Control.

"That wasn't fun," Amy groaned, one hand pressing softly against her quills. "But I can't believe that worked."

"It is my first time traveling with others," Blaze explained, tucking the Sol Emerald safely within her pocket once more. "I apologize if the experience was discomforting."

"It's okay," Silver kindly assured. "You get used to it."

Blaze swifty took a moment to study her surroundings, her eyes needing a moment to adjust to the darkness. Despite her initial doubts about using the Sol Emerald to travel back, it appeared to have worked, albeit with some minor discomfort from the others. Confirming they were back at Floral Forest Village, she swiftly returned her gaze to the chameleon beside her. "The Chaos Emerald?"

Said Chaos Emerald was held securely within the detective's grasp. "Right here."

Charmy ascended closely by his partner's side, both arms thrown tightly around his chest. In place of his usual orange vest was a black leather shearling jacket. His teeth chattered uncontrollably, silently wishing he had his teammates' tolerance against the sub-zero temperatures. "S-s-so c-c-cold!"

One step ahead, Amy handed him her thermos. "There's more inside."

Without hesitation, Charmy swiped the thermos and almost drowned himself, gulping down the warm beverage. A relieved sigh escaped his chocolate stained mouth. "Delicious!"

Blaze crossed her arms, shifting her focus towards the future warrior standing closely by her side, taking note of the unusual silence. "What's on your mind, Silver?"

He peered back, clearly deep in thought. His hood concealed most of his facial features, though he made an effort for their eyes to meet. "Huh?"

"You've been awfully quiet since we got off the call with Sonic," Blaze stated as a matter of factly. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, that," Silver briefly glanced away, rubbing one hand over his arm. "It's... Silly."

She unfolded her arms and approached, mindful of her own steps while doing so. Her voice softened ever so slightly. "Talk to me."

Silver returned his gaze, barely masking his surprise by the brief kindness in her voice. It was surreal to hear her drop the princess tone, allowing her true self to shine. Trusting her generous offer, Silver elaborated. "I've been thinking about what Sonic and Shadow said. The things Mephiles said to them… It sounds so familiar."

A look of askance formed across her face. "In what way?"

"Flames of Disaster, Iblis, the whole timeline thing," Silver echoed. "I swear I've heard it all before. But… I can't remember."

Blaze held her composure well, but even he noted the subtlest shift in her eyelids. Through the intensely calm and reserved exterior, her eyes held the smallest hints of concern. She studied Silver with care. His smiling exterior contrasted with a lifetime of hurt and loss he barely kept under the surface. "Silver…"

"There's someone coming," Big announced, pointing towards the treeline nearby.

All sets of eyes followed the cat's finger, spotting the faint outline of three figures approaching from afar. Espio tucked one hand over his wrist, preparing to draw his weapons if necessary. Blaze mirrored his actions, the flames of her soul gathering in her hands. The three figures closed the distance between them, revealing Team Dark making good use of their name.

Rouge gave a friendly wave to the team. "Long time no see."

"Hey, you guys made it," Amy greeted with solace. However, her eyes immediately dashed over towards the dark hedgehog's bandaged shoulder. "Shadow, are you-"

"It's just a flesh wound," he quickly said, dismissing the concern.

While Rouge briefly frowned at her partner's usual abruptness, she quickly scanned around the small team. "Where's Sonic?"

"Someone call for a handsome hedgehog?"

Everyone's attention shifted once more, relaxation filling their eyes as Sonic and Shade approached the team from the snow-covered road. The former tucked the Chaos Emerald back inside his quills, the gap between them closing as they approached.

Amy breathed a sigh of relief, greeting the blue hedgehog with a friendly hug. Sonic briefly winced at the gesture, but noted how loose and gentle she was being, nothing akin to her old over affectionate embraces. Her head softly buried against his shoulder. "I'm glad you're okay."

Sonic smiled, a flash joy of lacing his features. He softly returned the gesture, patting his hand delicately against her shoulder. He leaned back, locking eyes with her own. "It's good to see you too, Ames."

The rest of their group held mixed reactions. Most of the team held gentle smiles. Espio and Blaze maintained their stoic demeanours, though the latter forced herself to contain the grin that threatened to lift the edges of her mouth. Omega's lifeless eyes said nothing and Shadow forced himself to glance away into the darkness.

As Sonic delicately let her go, he joined eyes with the others. "Everyone here?"

"Everyone but Tails, Knuckles and Marine," Rouge explained, relying on her enhanced echolocation to search the trees for more visitors. She softly shook her head, an exasperated sigh leaving her lips. "We should have forced him to come with you."

"You know Knucklehead," Sonic replied with a small shrug. "When he's got his mind on something, it's hard to change it."

"I'll talk to him next time we're together," Shade offered.

Sonic nodded with appreciation. He shifted focus to Blaze and Silver, approaching the friends from other worlds. "How are you guys holding up? Hey, is that my hoodie?"

"Oh, sorry," Silver said bashfully, pausing to remove the hood from his head once more, freeing his head quills from their tucked in position. "You can have it back."

Sonic held up his hand with a gentle chuckle. "Keep it. It suits you," his eyes averted towards the princess, taking note of her wound. "You good, Blaze?"

The feline softly nodded. "It is not as bad as it looks. But thank you for your concern."

With no reason to stand around and freeze to death outdoors, everyone prepared to retreat inside the home for warmth. As everyone followed Amy, Rouge suddenly froze in her steps, her ears stretching up with interest. Amongst the storm's howls was a faint rumbling, the powerful roars of a high-velocity aircraft filling the air. The tremendous shear quickly became unstable. While the heavy blizzard masked the noise to the untrained eye, nothing could escape Rouge's enhanced hearing. She abruptly halted in her tracks, the action catching Shadow's attention.

"What is it?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Something's coming," Rouge explained, pivoting around to find the approaching source.

Her declaration caught the attention of the team, who stopped just short of entering the house. Everyone swiftly returned to her side, following her gaze towards the night air. Omega marched forward, even as his nonfunctional arm lingered by his side. He scanned through the darkness. Even as the snow smeared his red orbs, there was no mistaking the approaching aircraft.

"Warning: Doctor Eggman approaching," Omega stated. "Identifying aircraft: the Egg Carrier."

A brief flash of lightning illuminated the air around them, the spark of blue revealing the large vessel descending before them. The heavily armored warship bearing the Eggman emblem on the side descended down before them, holding position just several hundred feet above them. The heroes immediately took position, readying themselves for a fight.

While the ship held position, the hanger opened up and dropped several pods through the storm. The pods broke open, unleashing Eggman's forces. Egg Knights took command of Egg Pawns and Egg Hammers, ordering them to take position. As several more pods collided with the ground, newer models revealed themselves. Egg Gunners and Egg Lancers, more advanced models that lacked the traditional design of the doctor's forces, appearing more humanoid and slimmer.

Sonic whistled with interest. "Those are new."

"Like what you see?"

Everyone collectively shifted their gaze towards the sky. The good doctor himself towered above them, resting comfortable within the Egg Mobile. The glass dome shielded him from the storm. Orbot and Cubot stood on either side, though were more along for the side than anything. Guarding the doctor were two E-2000s holding formation within the air.

Sonic frowned, placing one hand to his hip. "Twice in one day, Eggman? That's a new one."

"Actually, it's two AM," Eggman corrected, glancing at his wrist watch for confirmation. "It's a new day, Sonic. Your last one at that!"

Chuckling at the idle threat, Sonic smiled. "As much as I would love to do our usual song and dance routine, we're kind of busy here. So, let's get this over with."

Eggman briefly frowned at the comment. Sonic loved their countless battles, always relishing in the fun. Almost offended by the dismissal, Eggman groaned. "I was having a good night's sleep until Lock, Shock and Barrel over there decided to visit!"

Rouge rolled her eyes, silently making a note to smack Shadow. Her attention was focused on Omega, forced to press her whole body weight against his working arm. The robot was itching for a fight, the endless number of opposing forces pushing him into battle mode.

Amy softly growled, holding out her hand and snapping her fingers. Her trusty hammer appeared within her grasp. "Looks like someone needs another clubbering."

"We don't have time for this!" Silver exclaimed, hastily rushing forward and restraining several of the Egg Pawns. With a tight squeeze, the robots were crushed into pieces, scattered around into the snow.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Omega raced forward and punched the nearest Egg Knight directly in the face, separating its head from its body. The remaining forces retaliated, racing forward into battle. The heroes charged, splitting up into small teams to avoid overwhelming forces.

Sonic pounced onto an Egg Hammer's namesake, allowing it to lift him into the air. Using the added momentum, he bounced forward and cupped himself into a ball. With his signature Homing Attack, he destroyed one robot from the next, all the while avoiding gunfire raining towards him.

Amy furiously smashed her giant hammer against the Egg Pawns that dared to approach, launching them directly into the night air. Big stood closely by her side, using his raw strength to pick up and throw the robots away with ease. Omega suddenly raced past them, thousands of bullets bursting from his built-in arm cannon. The Egg Hammers' incredible durability withstood the gunfire for a while, but the ultimate E-Series Robot persisted on and gratefully worn them down.

Rouge took to the air with some difficulty, nimbly avoiding the arterial of the newer models' weapons. Her powerful kicks sent them sprawling through the area, all the while she hurled Heart Bombs from the air. The explosions forced the robots to spread across the area, creating more breathing room. Shadow overtook her, determined to finish Eggman for good this time. He hurled a single Chaos Spear towards the Egg Mobile. One of the E-3000s threw up its shield, tanking the force with ease. Shadow repeatedly pressed his fists against the shield, determined to punch through it with his raw strength. The second E-3000 prepared to intervene, only for a telekinetic force to restrain him and throw him towards the ground where Shade was waiting.

The echidna warrior sliced through the robots, their armor no match for her powerful blades. Seeing the Egg Knights as their enemy's commanders, she made haste to cut down the golden robots, theorizing the rest of the forces would become disorganized without direct commands. To her surprise, destroying Egg Knights caused several of the Egg Pawns to self-destruct. A fatal flaw on the doctor's part. As her blade sliced through another Egg Knight, Blaze finally unleashed her flames, incinerating the robots that dared to challenge her fire. Despite her wound, she gracefully avoided several attacks, using her flames as a makeshift shield. She fought as still as possible, unwilling to put excessive pressure on her wound.

As several of the Egg Gunners surrounded Espio, the detective suddenly disappeared from sight, becoming one with the wind. The Egg Gunners indirectly shot each other in the confusion. By the time their sensors became aware of what was happening, Espio materialized back into existence, hurling several shurikens in all directions. The weapons hit their mark, piercing through their weak armor with accurate precision. Charmy overtook his fellow teammate, teasing the Egg Pawns by pulling down his eyelid while giving them a raspberry. Angered by the taunt, they raced forward. As they closed in, Charmy suddenly raced around the robots, repeatedly driving his stinger into armor, forcing them to break apart into several pieces.

Vector grabbed one of the Egg Lancers arms before biting through its torso. He spat the pieces from his powerful jaws, followed by hurling the destroyed robot towards its fellow teammates. Reinforcements raced forward from the darkness. With a loud snicker, Vector breathed in deep, filling his powerful lungs with incredible force. He threw his head forward and roared. The vibrations of his loud voice forced the robots to shatter, their systems overloaded by the sheer volume of the crocodile's singing.

In no time at all, the robots were nothing more than scattered parts. The heroes suffered no casualties, regrouping in the center of the forest. Eggman gawked, swearing his latest models were sufficient enough to overwhelm the group of friends.

Sonic calmly dusted his hands with a smug grin. "Two wins in one day, Eggman. That's a record."

"Winning is fun, Eggman. You should try it," Big kindly suggested.

Sonic threw both hands to his mouth, struggling to conceal the snickering that threatened to escape. The same could not be said for Charmy, who fell back first onto the snow, breaking into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Even Shadow briefly grinned at the innocent comment. Eggman's eyes widened at the unintended insult, gritting his teeth with anger.

"Boss, maybe we should consider this a losing streak and call it a night," Orbot calmly suggested. "You can always try again tomorrow."

"Why? It's not like he ever wins anyway," Cubot added.

Eggman threw his furious gaze to the robot. "What are you talking about?! I've beaten Sonic before!"

"When?" Cubot asked.

The doctor paused, silently cursing his assistant droid for adding insult to injury. Before long, he snapped his fingers with conviction. "I beat Sonic and the others when I tricked them into finding the treasure of the Babylonians! Ha, there!"

Orbot innocently raised his finger. "Wasn't that the treasure that turned out to only be a carpet-"

"Will you stop doing that?!" Eggman barked, shoving the two robots away to a reasonable distance. His tinted glasses scanned the dashboard, desperately searching for his next move. A grin formed under his proud mustache, spotting the giant button that threatened to unleash the ace up his sleeve. "Let's see how you like this!"

He reared back his arm, preparing to slam the giant button. Sonic and the others readied themselves for the next wave, only to gawk in confusion to what followed next. An unusual energy brushed against their bodies, the sensation feeling oddly familiar. The air distorted, rippling like waves. From all directions, circular gateways opened up throughout the air. Dark energy and smoky outer edgers filled the borders, creating an unsettling feeling within their bones. Before anyone questioned the unexpected outcome, their feet suddenly began to leave the ground. Strong gusts of winds pulled them towards the portals.

"Whoa!" Sonic cried out, desperately searching around for something to grab onto. "Eggman, what did you do?!"

"That wasn't me!" Eggman exclaimed, noting his hand stopped short of pressing the button. Orbot and Cubot clutched onto their master for dear life. For once, Eggman did not shove them away. He screamed in horror as the Egg Mobile was forcefully pulled inside one of the portals.

"SONIC!"

Even as panic filled his lungs, Sonic followed the cries for help, watching helplessly as Amy disappeared inside the gateway, her distant screams faintly tingling his ears. "AMY!"

Without gravity, speed was no good. He frantically searched around, spotting one of the lifeless Egg Hammers floating idly by. Pushing aside his own panic, Sonic pressed his feet onto the robot's metallic structure, using the momentum to propel himself towards the same portal. He too vanished from sight, but the rest of his friends were soon to follow.

Rouge desperately tried to descend towards the ground, but could do nothing to escape the powerful force. As her wings tired out, she felt the full force tug her towards the sky. Panic filled the bat's eyes, terrified to find out what lay on the other side. Momentary relief filled her expression, feeling two arms wrap themselves tightly around her waist. Her head turned, watching as Shadow held her close. She longed to escape the portal's gravity, but mustered a grateful smile for her partner's comfort. How Shadow could hold his composure this well in a crisis remained to be seen. Omega trailed closely behind, his heavy structure slowing the portal's hold over him. In little time, Team Dark entered another portal.

Silver held a firm grip on Blaze's wrist, refusing to let go. Her legs dangerously dangled close towards one of the portals, threateningly to pull her inside with the slightest touch. Cyan energy swarmed around his body, forcing all telekinetic powers forward in a futile attempt to escape the portal's grasp. From the corner of his eye, he could only watch in despair as Shade, Big and the Chaotix were dragged through another portal. Only the two of them were left now.

"Silver!" Blaze called out.

"I got you, Blaze!" Silver yelled with assurance. "Just hold on!"

"Silver," she spoke more calmly, unwilling to allow him to die with her. "Let me go."

Awestruck by the suggestion, his eyes widened with disbelief. Shaking away the initial shock, his demeanor hardened. "No! I'm not letting go. If we both go inside, so be it! But I'm not letting you go in there alone."

The princess briefly gawked at the conviction in his voice. No matter what she said or did, he refused to release the death hold over her wrist. A smile casted over her muzzle, even as their potential end was coming. He almost mirrored her expression, but before he could do so, the extensive pressure he put himself under finally gave out. Cyan energy died within the air, forcing the two of them to enter the final portal. Seconds after they disappeared, the portals faded away, disappearing as if they were never there. The heroes of this world were no more.

Chapter Text

Darkness claimed Sonic as he willingly threw himself through the portal. His last memory of Amy pleading for help continued racing around his mind, even as his body gave out and went limp. Slowly stirring from his unconscious state, his eyes opened, feeling the side of his face buried into rough gravel.

Sonic groaned, pressing both hands against the ground. He stumbled to his feet, lightly slapping his own head for an adrenaline rush. "What happened?"

As reality came back to him, he spun around in confusion. The powerful blizzard was no more, neither were the endless trees of Floral Forest Village. While darkened clouds formed above the sky with the night air asserting the land, the temperature had noticeably improved. It was nowhere close to the tropical sun of Green Hill, though it provided enough warmth to stop him from freezing. Ruined buildings loomed menacingly over the hedgehog. A once vibrant city was now a ghost town. The streets were filled with litter and abandoned vehicles, but what caught his focus was the lifeless pink figure nearby.

"Amy!"

He quickly dashed forward, throwing himself onto his knees. His arms gently wrapped around the pink hedgehog, cradling her softly. He gently shook Amy, her head bobbing with every movement. "Amy? Wake up, Amy!"

Relief filled his face, exhaling sharply as his pleas broke through. Amy softly groaned, her eyelids opening very delicately. She blinked softly, pushing through her blurred vision to be greeted by the kind smile of the one she adored. "Sonic?"

"Hey," he greeted softly and gently brushed his fingers through her hair, pushing out loose pebbles and dirt. "Are you okay?"

Amy softly nodded. "I think so," her eyes peered around the surrounding area, unfamiliar with the destroyed city. "Where are we?"

"I… Don't know," Sonic hesitantly admitted, matching her confused gaze. For all of the vast knowledge he held over the world, nothing in the surrounding vicinity sparked any familiarity. He took her hand and they both stood up simultaneously.

His heart pounded like crazy, a feeling of unease settling deep within his bones. He masked his concerns with a curious expression, keeping up a brave facade for the sake of Amy. Sonic absently scanned around the area, hoping to find any clue or indication as to where they may be. Both arms folded across his chest, peering around with curiosity.

Amy, concerned about the whereabouts of their friends, broke him from his thoughts at last. "Have you seen the others?"

Sonic shook his head. "Just you. But they can't be too far."

He raised his arm and delicately tapped on the communicator, relieved to see it hadn't taken damage during the fall. As he pressed through the contacts, all four bars of the signal meter faded away. "Drat, doesn't look like there's any signal out here. Guess we're gonna have to go looking the old-fashioned way."

A small smirk crept across his muzzle as he hunched down, both arms lowered to the ground. "Up for a little adventure?"

Despite the circumstances, Amy mustered a smile in return. "Always."

She placed herself into his grip. One arm supported her head with the other swept under her legs. Sonic paused for a moment to check if she was comfortable. Without another word, he raced forward into the unknown territory. Amy, who was not used to the high-velocity speeds, squinted her eyes shut till she adjusted to the winds.

Sonic raced through the deserted streets with Amy secured safely in his arms. Finally liberated from the mountains of snow, he was free to run to his heart's desire. His feet delicately tapped against the ruined gravel. The streets were no more, barely held together. The countless potholes and abandoned cars occasionally forced Sonic to bounce over them. Amy briefly peaked her eyes open. The haunting sight of the lifeless city filled her with a sense of dread. She silently prayed none of her friends had been hurt.

As her eyes trailed down the several side streets, something caught her attention. She threw her arm forward and pointed. "Sonic, look!"

The blue hedgehog skidded to a halt, sneakers squealing within the humid air. He reversed backwards and followed her directions, dashing forward through the narrow street. Pressed against one of the ruined buildings was a familiar aircraft turned on one side. The occupants inside squealed with terror as a large robot repeatedly pressed his fist against the glass dome, determined to tear it to pieces.

"Must eliminate Doctor Eggman!" Omega declared, showing no hints of slowing down.

Eggman held on for dear life as the Egg Mobile rocketed with every punch, the glass dome threatening to break at any moment. The material had been built to withstand intense pressures, yet nothing could keep Omega from his prey. Orbot and Cubot tried in vain to negotiate with the powerful robot, but nothing could tame his anger.

A blue figure caught the corner of Eggman's eye, almost relieved to see his greatest nemesis for once. "Sonic! Tell him to stop it!"

Sonic grinned, mocking Eggman in a sing-song voice. "I don't know. He looks pretty angry!"

Eggman clenched both hands together. "Please!"

He softly chuckled, his laughter forcing a small giggle to leave Amy. He paused to gently set her down before striding forward. "Okay, only because you said please. Cool it, Omega."

The robot briefly paused in his movements, rotating around to face the familiar allies. "Negative. Doctor Eggman must pay for his actions."

"But if he dies then we can't get out of here, right?" Sonic tried to rationalize.

Omega briefly paused, the inner workings of his motorized brain forcing him to calculate. Logic dictated he eliminated the threat once and for all. But the rational side of his programming said otherwise. He paused, looming over the Egg Mobile with an aura of intimidation. His red orbs carried great rage, his metallic frame casting a shadow over the good doctor.

As silence descended upon the group, Omega finally leaned back and lowered his working arm. "I agree with your logic. Doctor Eggman may be spared. For now."

Eggman reclined backwards, holding both hands up in surrender. Fortunately, Sonic got through to Omega before the dome cracked. As the robot shifted back into defensive mode, Sonic knelt down to the side of the Egg Mobile, teasing the doctor by sticking his tongue out. With a soft growl, Eggman pressed the manual release switch on the dashboard, separating the dome.

He crawled out with some difficulty, staggering to his feet. Eggman polished the dust from his coat and cleared his throat, trying to regain his proud self. Orbot and Cubot soon joined their master, floating absently by his side.

"Thank you for the help, Sonic," Orbot said with gratitude.

"We were almost made into scrap!" Cubot exclaimed.

Sonic merely grinned. While he wasn't particularly fond of Eggman's forces, he held a soft spot for Orbot and Cubot. They worked together on several occasions in the past, though only out of sharing a mutual goal. He never saw them as a direct threat. If anything, Sonic loved seeing their antics drive Eggman to insanity.

While the doctor checked to see what could be salvaged, Amy slowly approached the large robot. "Omega, have you seen the others?"

"Negative," Omega responded. "But scans indicate there are several life forms within a two hundred mile radius."

Adamant they were his friends, Sonic stood to attention. "I'll go looking for them. Omega, can you keep an eye on Eggman? Make sure he tries nothing?"

"Affirmative," Omega agreed.

"And Amy, you keep an eye on Omega," Sonic humorously added with a small wink. "Make sure he doesn't turn Eggman into scrambled eggs."

Amy softly giggled. Even during the worst days of her life she could count on Sonic to always bring a smile to her face with his humor. She threw out her hand and summoned her trusty hammer once more, holding it proudly against her shoulder. "You can count on me."

He offered a two-fingered salute before racing down the deserted streets once more. Along the way, he tinkered with the communicator, desperately trying to find a signal and contact Tails for assistance. No matter where he moved, whether it was on the ground below on the buildings on top, the signal bars did not alter in the slightest. With an exasperated sigh, he continued racing forward, arms pushed back as he jetted towards no particular location.

Silver groaned, feeling like a building had just pressed down on his chest. He leaned up, one hand clutching the side of his throbbing head. "That hurt."

As the ground rubble pressed uncomfortable against his back, Silver threw his eyes open and jolted forward, springing to his feet. Cyan energy surrounded him once more, eyes frantically darting around the area. Empty streets, turned over cars and barely standing buildings surrounded him on all sides.

Horror filled his eyes once more, a sense of dread twisting his stomach. "I'm… Home?"

Crisis City, or what remained of it, surrounded him in all directions. While humid air filled his lungs, the temperature had considerably warmed up. The fires were no more, though it was clear the aftermath was just as bad as the beginning. Overwhelmed with one too many questions, he pressed both hands tightly around his head, trying to contain the raw emotion that threatened to take hold.

He was angry. The rage had been there for a while now, the anger escaping when he was away from those he cared for. He wanted to scream, to let the universe know of his rage. But in troubled times, keeping a firm grip on the best of himself was his greatest option. Silver exhaled deeply, choosing to remain reliable for those he cared for.

"Silver, over here!"

Relieved to hear a friendly voice, Silver threw himself to one side, extensive relief overcoming his anger. A familiar feline and echidna stood on the busy streets below, the former gesturing for him to approach while the latter took position on a turned over car, surveying the area for lingering threats. He hastily approached, happy to see his friends were unharmed.

"Blaze!" Silver exclaimed, calling on every ounce of strength to stop himself from hugging her. "Are you okay?"

"I am," she simply nodded. "But I have no idea what has become of the others. Or where we are for that matter."

Silver's expression faded, sorrow plastering his gaze. "This is my home."

Blaze's eyebrows raised, her mouth dropping at the comment. Feeling a sense of guilt for her abrupt comment, she sheepishly turned and glanced to her feet. "Oh. I… I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Silver softly assured. "You didn't know."

The two focused their attention towards the lone echidna taking guard. Neither were familiar with the warrior, only noting her small appearances during their video calls. Shade showed no hint of fear, slowly scanning around the area to assess the situation. Her arms folded against her chest, feet slowly shifting into a defensive stance.

"The portals must have been a gateway between worlds," Shade stated, addressing no one in particular. "But how that came to be is a mystery. We should focus on regrouping with the others first."

Silver nodded in agreement. "I'll get up high and look around."

His psychokinetic powers allowed his feet to leave the land, ascending towards the clouded sky till he overpassed the tallest building. Now briefly alone, he dropped the mask, grinding his teeth while becoming breathless with anger. There was a strong urge to hit something or someone, hoping it would relieve some pent-up rage. Fortunately, something else caught his gaze before he could do so, urging the hedgehog to jolt forward.

The Ultimate Life Form stood at the corner of the tallest building, both arms crossed while peering forward into the distance. He searched for nothing in particular, though did carry a sense of wonder to their current situation. His eyes located the future warrior approaching from afar, confirming he was not the only one within this desolate land.

"Shadow, you okay?" Silver asked.

Shadow nodded, his stance not budging in the slightest. He briefly glanced down towards the barren streets below, taking note of the familiar blue streak passing through. "Looks like we're not the only ones who made it here."

Silver followed his gaze, barely catching Sonic running by before he was long gone. "I'm with Blaze and… Shade, I think her name is? Have you seen the others?"

"You just missed Rouge," Shadow replied. "She just found Big wandering around like a lost puppy. Have you happened to see Omega?"

"Sorry," Silver sheepishly said, one hand nervously tugging at his quills. "I've just woken up."

With a contemplative hum, Shadow uncrossed his arms. "Come on."

The dark hedgehog bounced forward, jet skates roaring to life as he charged through the empty streets. Silver followed suit, leaving a trail of cyan energy within his wake. The sooner they found the others, the better.

Sonic skidded to a halt once more as he reached the end of a torn apart highway. Meters away from the edge was Vector sprawled across the ground. Charmy slumped against the crocodile's chest. Relieved to see more friendly faces, Sonic delicately approached and hunched down to greet the duo.

He grasped Vector's shoulder, shaking him awake. "You okay, Vector?"

A frustrated groan responded to his question. Vector's eyes peered open, as did Charmy's seconds later. He grabbed the side of his head, wincing as blood pounded through his eardrums. "Man, that was some ride. Remind me not to take that rollercoaster again."

Charmy matched his frustration, his small wings buzzing to life and lifting him into the air. He peered around with concern for their missing teammate. "Hey, where's Espio?"

"Under here."

Sonic shifted his focus underneath the crocodile where the chameleon was located, pressed tightly under his teammate's heavy body weight.

"Vector… Get. Off. Me."

"Oops, sorry," Vector pushed himself up, revealing the flattened chameleon below. He grasped the detective and pulled him to his feet with ease.

Espio grunted, exhaling sharply to drown away his discomfort. He peered around the surrounding area, concern filling his otherwise stern gaze. "We appear to be a long way from home."

"Where the heck are we?" Charmy piped up with a small shrug.

"More importantly, how did we get here?" Espio added. "This place… There's nothing but ashes in all directions. Is this the result of Doctor Eggman?"

"For once, old Egghead had nothing to do with this," Sonic explained, fighting the urge to chuckle at how ridiculous the claim sounded. "He's just as confused as the rest of us. I take it you haven't seen the others yet?"

Vector peered around, spotting a cyan glow approaching them from afar. "I think we just found them!"

Sonic followed his pointed finger, smiling as the rest of their friends approached from all directions. Those who could fly approached from above while the others raced through the rigid streets. Grateful to see everyone in one piece, their next course of action was to determine how to escape the desolate land.

Upon meeting up with the others, the regrouped friends returned to Amy and Omega's position. True to his word, Omega refrained himself from tearing Eggman to pieces with his metal claws, though he made no attempt to conceal his disdain for doing so. As everyone met up, Silver went on to explain how this was his world, or what was left of it.

"But if this is my future, where are all the creatures?" Silver questioned aloud. "Before I returned to the past, everything was on fire. Then that big monster showed up!"

"Monster?" Shade echoed.

Silver nodded. "Yeah! Salorus, Silrus, something like that. That's what my friend said before… Before I came back."

There was no mistaking the hesitation filling his voice. Returning here revived painful memories, ones he could not push to the back of his mind any longer. While his friends sympathized, Eggman held a small device within his hands, searching for answers of their whereabouts. The machine beeped quite obnoxiously, but failed to bring the answers he sought.

Growing impatient, Eggman hurled the device to one side. "Bah! Stupid thing is busted!"

Frowning at the childish nature, Blaze marched forward and unexpectedly seized the doctor by his collar, bringing him down to her level with a simple tug. He whelped with surprise, forced to peer into her furious gaze.

"Eggman," she hissed. "Look into my eyes and swear you had nothing to do with this!"

"I already told you I didn't!" Eggman defensively exclaimed, not daring to try and escape her fury. "Ask Omega! He did a scan!"

"I'm not Omega!" Blaze barked, increasing her grip strength while raising her free hand. Flames danced around her wrist, her hand trembling with anticipation. She could see her own fires reflecting on the doctor's glasses, the only barrier separating them from making full eye contact. "Answer my question!"

The others watched on in suspense, holding mixed reactions. No one dared to intervene, refusing to get on her bad side. Amy briefly contemplated stepping forward, but Sonic placed his hand against her shoulder with a silent head shake. Shadow quite enjoyed the spectacle, relishing in watching the doctor squirm.

"No," Eggman answered. "I did not."

She snarled in return, hoping her flames would provoke a different reaction. Nevertheless, she finally released her grip and let go.

Eggman slumped to the ground, barely caught by Orbot and Cubot. He sprung to his feet in no time with renewed vigor. "If you're so concerned then just use Chaos Control!"

In their haste to reunite, everyone fell oblivious to the sacred Chaos Emeralds. Sonic dug into his quills, only to find the absence of a Chaos Emerald. He quickly glanced towards Shadow and Espio, who both silently confirmed their own gems were missing too. Out of instinct, Blaze clutched at her pocket, feeling the outline of the Sol Emerald still resting within.

"They're gone," Sonic muttered. "We definitely had them!"

Blaze swiftly removed the powerful gemstone and held it forward. To her horror, the gentle glow it once possessed was gone, as if all life had been drained from the Emerald. "I don't understand. Something is nullifying the Sol Emerald's power, something akin to overwhelming negative energy. We should find the source at once!"

Shadow chastised himself for losing the Chaos Emerald, though refused to let the disappointment cross his face. He leaned to one side and peered over Sonic's shoulder, noting the black sea approaching from the distance. "Looks like we're not alone."

All sets of eyes honed in towards the Ultimate Life Form, horror beginning to fill their expressions as an overwhelming wave of bloodlust enveloped the streets. The Shadow Creatures flooded the surrounding area, pressed against the other in their haste to reach their prey. Their painful screeches echoed throughout the air, their yells carrying pain, as if their mere existence brought them agony.

Eggman swiftly raised his laser pistol, shooting the nearest monster. "Back off!"

Blaze pocketed the Sol Emerald and took the lead, spinning around gracefully with one foot crossed over her leg, summoning a wide ring of flames around her person. She pirouetted through the Shadow Creatures, her flames disintegrating the monsters that dared to approach her. She blazed through the endless swarm, showing no signs of slowing down.

Inspired by her determination, Silver raced forward to her aid, hurling telekinetic blasts towards the dangerous beings. The Shadow Creatures threw themselves forward towards the future warrior, grasping their powerful claws against his person. They tore and slashed at the hoodie he wore, threatening to tear it to pieces. He acted fast, throwing both arms outward and releasing a wave of powerful psychokinetic energy, forcing the monsters away.

Amy, who had yet to encounter said creatures, forced herself to fight, even as their sinister appearances terrified her to the core. With her trusty hammer held close, she flattened the monsters that tried to grab at her. Sonic stayed close by her side, homing in on the Shadow Creatures. He bounced from one to the other, occasionally kicking them away with his powerful legs.

As Rouge took advantage of her ability to fly to keep out of range, one of the Shadow Creatures tried their luck and slashed towards her, clipping a part of her coat. In retaliation, she spun around and drove her leg against its neck, breaking it with powerful momentum. As the monster faded away, she glanced down at her arm and frowned with annoyance. "Hey, this is an expensive coat!"

"You can file a complaint to the fashion police later!" Vector exclaimed, holding back dozens of the Shadow Creatures with nothing more than his raw strength.

They clawed and pressed against his arm, overwhelming the crocodile with their endless numbers. He reared back his free arm and punched the closest monster, creating a dynamo effect and knocking down the others as well. As the Shadow Creatures stacked on one another, Vector scooped them up before hurling them forward, knocking down more of the approaching monsters.

"Yes!" he cheered. "Strike!"

Espio focused on protecting Charmy, concerned the monsters were too much for the young bee to take on. The monsters circled around him in all directions, some of them looming over within the air. He cupped both hands firmly, channeling the inner warrior within. "Behold, NINJA POWER!"

Espio raced forward, moving swiftly with incredible speeds and leaving multiple illusions of himself. The Shadow Creatures, not knowing how to react, struggled to adapt. The several afterimages closed in and unleashed their fury. Espio brandished two kunai blades and repeatedly slashed at the monsters. With every precise strike, he robbed the monsters of their terrifying existence. As they seemingly adapted to the situation, Espio bounced into the air with a graceful twirl, hurling several shurikens with accurate precision. They picked off the few stragglers with ease.

Omega took position at the top of a deserted moving truck, his working arm bursting several rounds of ammunition, cutting down the horde of creatures with ease. His scans revealed all reserved ammo reached its capacity, leaving only smoke within its wake. "Primary rounds extinguished. Switching to flamethrower."

His cannon swapped once more, scorching flames bursting from his arm towards the Shadow Creatures. His flames incinerated them whole, their anguished screams filling the air as they faded into nothing but ashes. Despite the team effort, the Shadow Creatures' endless numbers continued to pour in all directions, but their numbers seemed to dwindle at the same time, as if the monsters had their sights set on something else.

Most of the Shadow Creatures ignored their prey, choosing instead to overwhelm Shadow with their sheer numbers, apparently seeing them as their biggest threat. The Ultimate Life Form fought them away brazenly, punching, kicking and hurling energetic projectiles towards them. Despite his incredible powers, Shadow was only one, while they were many. The Shadow Creatures threw themselves toward, latching onto the dark hedgehog. He fought valiantly, fighting to the very end as he was destined to. The Shadow Creatures tore at his flesh, determined to rip him to pieces.

The others desperately tried to help, only for a few stragglers to keep their attention away. Even if they could reach Shadow, getting through the hundreds of Shadow Creatures would be a challenge. While the others fought with every ounce of determination, Rouge's ears perked up, familiar vibrations beginning to tickle her hearing. Through the endless swarm surrounding her partner, she recognized a familiar red glow beginning to form within.

"Uh-oh," Rouge gasped with widened eyes. "You guys might want to stand back."

"CHAOS BLAST!"

Blazing Chaos energy burst from the center, a sickening thunder echoing from the Ultimate Life Form. Tremendous energy spread in all directions, unleashing a colossal burst of force that incinerated the Shadow Creatures with a simple touch. Lighting streamed from the impact, knocking up chunks of the streets throughout the area, igniting the air with intensity. Everyone wisely chose to move out of harm's way before Shadow's attack accidentally consumed them. The powerful force of winds brushed against them, the intense light forcing their arms to shield their eyes.

The violent air pressure around them faded away at last. The area finally settled, the blazing aura of energy fading away. In place of where the Shadow Creatures once stood, the Ultimate Life Form remained as the single victor, surrounded by a neon red coat of energy. With a loud gasp, he slumped forward and fell to his hands and knees, both Inhibitor Rings dropping to his sides.

Rouge raced to his side, scooping the rings up and swiftly reattaching them to his wrists. Without asking, she took his arm and helped him to stand. "Shadow, are you okay?"

The dark hedgehog exhaled with relief, feeling the rings' effects stabilize his power once more. As his strength returned, Shadow gently took his arm back. "I'll live."

Unnerving silence filled the voidless city once more. The ashes of their enemies lingered throughout the air, softly smearing against their furs. The horde was no more, though this didn't bring any reassurances. The group huddled closely together, holding formation and awaiting for further dangers. Cyan energy flowed gently around Silver, scorching flames basked Blaze, waiting with anticipation.

"Are you missing something?"

The group dared to look up, mixed feelings racing around their minds, though everyone shared equal determination. The dark being towered over them, accompanied with seven clones. Though his frightening presence caught their attention, everyone took note of his drastic change of appearance. No longer was Mephiles a mere copy of Shadow. Ice crystals now jutted out from his gloveless hands and quills, fingers now ending in white-tipped claws and bloodshot eyes casting an aura of inhumanity. However, the seven clones still held the appearance of Shadow, each holding a lifeless Chaos Emerald within their grasp.

"Welcome home, Silver," Mephiles said sadistically. "Or should I welcome the dear princess as well?"

Confusion briefly laced Blaze's features, though it faded as fast as it came. Fury filled her eyes, bringing up her scorching arms to fight. To her surprise, her arms slowly trembled, a sinking feeling beginning to take hold. She clenched her hands tightly in a futile attempt to quell her agitation, but her arms continued to shake uncontrollably. She swallowed her own fear to expand the safe zone for her friends, to become the stoic princess they deserved.

Mephiles saw right through the facade, his eyes telling her to expect pain if she dared to attack him. "Fear. Nothing like the dishonest of virtue to trigger the passion of terror. Do I frighten you, mighty princess?"

Silver's eyes narrowed, disgusted by the dark being's cruelty. He shielded Blaze from the evildoer's callous gaze. "Leave her alone."

A small, amused chuckle escaped Mephiles. "Always standing up for others, aren't you?"

"He's not the only one," Sonic spoke up, moving forward to stand by the future warrior's side. "It's like I told you back at the palace. If you got a problem with Blaze, you've got a problem with me."

"And me!" Amy agreed, her trusty hammer held firmly in her grasp, glaring daggers towards the evil being. "Nobody hurts my friends!"

One by one the team marched forward, asserting their determination. Doctor Eggman, who marveled at the one responsible for this catastrophe, slowly shifted towards the back of the team. His trusty weapon held close within his grasp, ready to continue fighting if necessary.

Mephiles peered towards the group, specifically the blue hedgehog before him. "You could do nothing to me before. What makes you think this outcome will be any different?

"Because we don't give up," Sonic responded. "Throw as many monsters as you want at us! Just because you have the Chaos Emeralds doesn't mean you've won! You know how many times we take them back from Eggman?"

"Hey!" Eggman exclaimed, aggrieved by the remark.

With peaked interest, Mephiles slumped his head to one side. His several clones held position, none of them showing signs of life. They absently floated above the original, their hands clutching the lifeless gemstones. "I have harnessed the negative power of the Chaos Emeralds. But I do not need them to fuel my own power. Their energy serves another purpose."

"Iblis," Shadow snarled.

Mephiles threw his eyes towards the dark hedgehog standing courageously before him. "Ah, so you are beginning to piece the puzzle together. Perhaps you are not as foolish as you seem."

Silver suddenly shot forward without warning, assertively demanding answers from the dark being. "Enough games, Mephiles! Who are you?!"

Unfazed by the forceful command, Mephiles ensnared the future warrior with his gaze. His stare was as uncomfortable as a chorus-girl corset and had the same effect on Silver's breathing, constricted and shallow. There was no life behind those eyes. Every move he made betrayed his intentions. None of them were noble.

"I suppose you are entitled to an explanation," Mephiles responded. "After all, we are approaching the end. But why anecdote you with words when I can show you?"

Everyone stood on edge as Mephiles calmly swiped his arm forward, unleashing a gentle wave of dark energy that surrounded the area. The energy consumed them before they were fully aware of his intentions. Without warning, half the team roared with anguish, clutching at their heads. Flashes of unexplained images spread through their minds, countless voices shooting through their eardrums with intensity.

Those painful memories were books with chapters, deep and horrible. They belonged on a shelf to gather dust. Like a pillow fashioned from glass shards, it cut deeper into them with every painful movement. Unable to keep his footing any longer, Silver collapsed onto the ground, his head tucked tightly between his arms, silently begging for the pain to stop. Sonic, Blaze, Amy, Shadow, Rouge, Omega and Eggman shared similar reactions. The robot's circuitry threatened to fry as overwhelming data filled his vision.

The other half of the team could only gawk in confusion. The Chaotix moved between the group, trying to break them out of whatever trance they were in. Big stood as he were, absently looking between his friends. He gently scooped Amy up as she squirmed, trying to understand what caused his friend great distress. Orbot and Cubot attended to their master, neither certain how to fix this remedy. The only one of the team unaffected by the malice act was Shade, who simply frowned towards Mephiles while standing guard over her friends.

With a simple snap of his fingers, Mephiles forced the energy trail to disperse, liberating the friends from their painful experience. The team shakily stood to their feet, supported by those who were unharmed by the process. Espio and Charmy held Sonic's arms as they helped him stand. Vector attended to Silver and Blaze, delicately helping them to their feet with his raw strength. Orbot and Cubot quickly dragged Eggman to his feet, concerned about his well-being.

Shadow recovered fast, one hand clutching tightly against his head. Even as his head throbbed like crazy, the first thought to cross his mind was his fellow teammate. He slowly shifted towards Omega, for once not holding that impassive demeanor of his. Shock filled his gaze, mouth slowly twisting with hurt. "Omega… You betrayed me?"

Sonic softly rubbed his face, checking his own hands to make sure he was still among the living. Great terror filled his usual upbeat demeanor, shakily turning towards the pink hedgehog with terror. "I… Died?"

"What happened? What happened? Tell me! Tell me!" Charmy repeatedly asked, flying around the blue hedgehog with urgency.

"Charmy, give them a moment," Espio said, moving quickly to study his friend's reaction. "Sonic?"

While the blue hedgehog stood speechless, Eggman stood up with a startled gasp. Orbot and Cubot let go of his arms as he strode forwards, gawking towards the evil being lingering above them. "You… Destroyed everything!"

Vector removed his hands from his fellow teammates once he was certain they could stand without support. He peered over them, a hint of unease filling his eyes. "Hey, uh. You guys good?"

Neither of the two answered his question, choosing to stare at the other instead. Silver and Blaze, friends from other worlds, mirrored the others' awestruck appearances. Their arms hung limp, slouched forward and utterly speechless. For the longest time, Silver could never make sense of the nightmares that plagued him for so long. But now all was finally revealed, and he wished he hadn't known the painful truth.

Silver gawked at Blaze with pure realization, his eyes widened and mouth hung wide open. "We… Were… Best friends?"

Blaze almost mirrored his terrified expression, but found her trembling hand clutching to her chest. Despair filled her golden eyes, a great look of apprehension plastering her expression. "Iblis… Is sealed within ME?!"

Mephiles' sinister chuckle captivated their attention once more. Those who dared face him no longer saw the evil doer as a simple enemy. He was their damnation, the one who robbed them of everything once before and would do so again. "There is nothing more cruel than memories."

Conflicting emotions flooded Sonic, bringing the speedster to his knees. No longer did he carry that stride and confidence of a guy who loved adventure. "How are you here? We stopped you."

In acknowledgement to the question, Mephiles eagerly descended towards the ground, as if he'd been ecstatic to share this secret for so long. His clones held their position, showing no change in their stance. His crystalised feet pressed into the ground, raw energy slowly forcing loose pebbles and litter to scatter around the area. "You didn't stop me. You stopped another Mephiles..."

"My future self finally reunited with Iblis. We became one once more. Time was ours to take. Then the three of you used the power of the Chaos Emeralds to stand before me. It was a foolish gamble. No one could stand up to Solaris' might."

Sonic had fought the strongest of them all. Tearing apart Eggman's forces became second nature, but in this moment of despair, for the first time in forever, a sickening feeling lingered within his stomach. Doubt. The blue hedgehog slowly began to lose hope against the powerful being that threatened to tear down the fabric of reality. While he didn't want to admit it, Sonic feared the only reason he was still standing was thanks to the assistance of his friends.

Shadow fought the Sun God fearlessly, hurling multiple Chaos projectiles towards the powerful being. His former rival, who once tried to kill him in space, refused to allow him to fight alone. Time has certainly changed the Ultimate Life Form. He grew more mature, no longer harboring a hatred for humanity and even went out of his way to save Sonic from Silver, the mysterious hedgehog from the future.

Said hedgehog fought alongside them, using his telekinetic powers to hurl Solaris' own attacks back towards him. While Sonic still didn't quite understand the reasonings for Silver's initial hostility, the two put aside their differences and cleared up any misunderstandings. Now the psychic warrior fought alongside them, determined to rid the evil being responsible for his future's destruction.

The three hedgehogs shared the powers of the Chaos Emeralds, the powerful gems granting them incredible strength and enhancing their natural abilities. Despite their Super Forms and combined attack, none of their attacks seemed to harm Solaris in the slightest. At best, all they seemed to be doing was enraging it further. Solaris was leagues above them. The Sun God withstood their strongest attacks. Sonic's speed, Shadow's Chaos abilities and Silver's psychokinesis did nothing to leave any permanent effect.

Sonic narrowly avoided another powerful energy beam. The scorching energy grazed him across the chest, almost costing him his life once again. He glanced down, concerned to see a small cut spread across his chest. Their Super Forms, once thought to grant the wielder invincibility, did nothing to shelter them from Solaris' attacks.

Silver roared with frustration, distraught to see their efforts were in vain. The emotional pain of losing his best friend still weighed heavy on his heart, giving him the strength to keep fighting. "It's not working! He's too powerful!"

"Don't talk like that!" Shadow barked. "If we don't kill this thing now, everything we fought for will be for nothing! Is that what you want?!"

"No!" Silver exclaimed, straining his voice. "I… I just don't know what to do!"

Sonic glanced between the two hedgehogs, interfering before they fought amongst themselves again. "Guys, knock it off! We can beat this thing!"

While the trio fought together, the rest of their friends watched from the small pedestal from below. They were in the eye of the storm, barely escaping the erasure of time. Everyone held their breath, knowing their future depended on the outcome of this battle. Even Doctor Eggman, the blue hedgehog's greatest enemy, prayed for their victory. On occasion, the group cried out encouraging words to fuel the trio's resolve.

As the battle progressed, Solaris grew more powerful, ascending into a hawk-like spirit with powerful wings cast across the sky. This in turn removed the protective shells from its body, allowing Solaris to unleash its full potential. In doing so revealed a large red orb where the intellect and cruelty of the God remain dormant.

Eggman observed the battle, both arms crossed while rubbing one hand under his chin. He muttered quietly, taking note of the obvious core. "Is it impossible to defeat a super dimensional after all?"

His own question caught the attention of Princess Elise, who calmly stepped forward. She pressed both hands together, praying for the heroes' victory. Having Iblis sealed within her for so long created an unnatural bond between them. Even now as Iblis was no more, she could still feel a presence. It was faint, barely a whisper, but very much there. "No. Something's different. I can feel a large, powerful consciousness coming from Solaris!"

Eggman shifted his gaze suspiciously. "What? A consciousness? Hmm… That's it!" He snapped his fingers and quickly marched forward, cupping both hands over his mouth to amplify his yells. "Sonic, Silver, Shadow! You need to attack the core! Even if you can't stop his form, you can stop his consciousness!"

Amy piped up as well, pointing towards the essential area. "Look! That must be the core in the middle!"

Despite Solaris' powerful attacks carrying throughout the air, the trio overheard the essential advice. The hedgehogs formed together, sharing nods of agreement. Without another word, the trio raced forward into battle once more, determined to rid Solaris of his existence. To save the past, present and the future, there was their last chance.

Silver took the lead from above, avoiding the hundreds of energy beams towards him. He cupped his hands together, unleashing a barrage of Psycho Knives towards the powerful being. The projectables explode upon impact, forcing a cry of anguish to echo from their opponent. "We're going to defeat you, Solaris!"

Shadow raced forward from below, swiftly removing his Inhibitor Rings once more. Against the powerful Sun God, he couldn't afford to conserve energy. He unleashed dozens of red destructive energy projectiles, homing towards the powerful being with enough force to penetrate his core. "Sonic, GO!"

Sonic threw himself forward, arms and legs held firmly to his sides, a powerful ray of gold left in his wake. He summoned every once of power, calling deep on the inner reserves of power. He weaved around the energy beams, noting they were less coordinated than before. Solaris grew desperate to keep the hedgehogs at bay, now fully aware they were targeting his weakness. With a cry of determination, Sonic surpassed his greatest speed, becoming a thundering force to be reckoned with. He broke through Solaris' defense, curling himself into a ball and unleashing one final Homing Attack.

The impact shook the fabric of time around them, a powerful tremor shook away the surrounding area, threatening to destroy the area. The hedgehogs regrouped a safe distance away, eagerly waiting with anticipation. Overwhelmed with raw energy that became too much to contain. Solaris unleashed a sickening roar as the combined attacks of the three hedgehogs penetrated his core. Its body crackled with electric tendrils that shook the fabric of the area. The golden light got brighter and brighter as if he himself was becoming a source of light, blue lightning crackling out of his body and crashing into the endless pit below, producing fiery explosions.

"Solaris knew its failure was vastly approaching. In a bid to save itself, it split away a small part of its very being, slipping through the cracks of time."

The Sun God, as fast as it was reborn, broke away into fragments of raw energy, releasing several white beams across the area. Amongst the raw energy that became too much to bear, a floating dark mass slipped away from the commotion, slipping through a small Time Hole. The mass, barely containing a conscious state, resorted to retreating. Its glowing face glanced back, hissing at the ones responsible for its defeat.

"You would come to know this being as 'the Time Eater'. And little did I know of the consequences it would bring."

Mephiles narrowed his eyes towards the two survivors who launched onto his very word. Admittedly, he thought deceiving them would be more challenging. Yet despite his intimidating appearance and sinister voice, neither showed any distrust. Using the opportunity of their foolishness, he gestured towards the large monitor overhead.

"This was when Iblis was freed and his flames were released into the world," Mephiles explained before tapping a small button on the console. "And you have this person to blame."

Silver and Blaze studied the various news articles appearing over the monitor, shocked to see a simple hedgehog was the one responsible for their future. As they were entranced by the revelation, Mephiles handed Silver the Chaos Emerald. Using his own powers of deception, he manipulated the gem's powerful presence, creating a false vision for Silver to witness. He saw the blue hedgehog basked in flames, showing no remorse for his actions.

Silver threw back his head in alarm. "I see it! That blue hedgehog was the Iblis Trigger!"

Blaze narrowed her eyes curiously, one hand resting against her hip as she studied her friend's reaction. "Blue hedgehog?"

Mephiles accepted the Chaos Emerald once more, calling on its power. "I'll send us back in time to the point when the Iblis Trigger was alive."

With the raw passion of the Chaos Emerald combined with his dark presence, Mephiles manipulated the incredible power and casted a force of energy around the duo. Silver and Blaze winced in response to the feeling, barely able to get a word out before they vanished in a flash of light. As they disappeared, Mephiles stepped back in surprise, noting he was still within the future.

He glanced down, observing the absence of a Chaos Emerald within his hand. "What sorcery is this?"

Before questioning the unexpected failure, unusual energy brushed against his darkened fur. The sensation felt oddly familiar, almost as if his own powers were being used against him. He slumped around, coming face to face with the unfamiliar presence. If Mephiles could alter his expression, confusion would certainly be painted across his face.

A gateway to another dimension took the form of a circular portal, dark energy and smoky outer edgers filling the border. At first, Mephiles thought nothing of it, brushing it off as a side effect of the Chaos Emerald's powers. But on the other side of the portal, there was no sign of the past. Or anything for that matter. Intrigued by the opportunity, Mephiles stepped forward with no concern about the possibilities inside.

"I entered what you came to know as 'White Space'. The Time Eater created a rift in space and time to Silver's future. It was here that I learned about everything that would come to be."

His lifeless eyes studied the empty void that seemingly extended into infinity. Everything inside appeared to be devoid of life. But there were whispers, voices that echoed from all locations. A lesser man would have been driven insane by the thousands of voices. Mephiles pushed through the voices, allowing the sensation to drive him forward. Through sheer willpower alone, he concentrated on the familiar energy, certain he recognized the power, as if it were his own self calling to him.

More gateways unexpectedly opened in all directions, revealing the source of the voices. Mephiles approached one particular gateway, intrigued by the other side. Two familiar faces conversed, completely oblivious to his presence. Sonic the Hedgehog, the one he knew would play a strong role in the release of Iblis once he perished, calmly spoke with Princess Elise. The two were alone in a dark room with Elise holding the Flame of Hope within her hands.

"If we put out this flame, Solaris will never exist, And then we'll never have to worry about the Flames of Disaster, right? But our encounter... You and I will never meet. It will never have happened. I…" Elise forced herself to be silent, her eyes threatening to leak waterfalls once more. She swallowed the large lump in her throat, desperately trying to push away the feeling of despair. "Sonic… I'll miss you."

With a smile of reassurance, Sonic gently took her free hand within both of her own. "Elise. Just smile."

The mere thought of never meeting Sonic, the only one who treated her as a friend and not of royalty, saddened the princess greatly. Their adventures together, the bond they grew would be forgotten within an instance. It pained her to do so, but for everything to return to normal, she knew what had to be done. Elise shared one final glance with the blue hedgehog, silently expressing her gratitude for his selflessness. She gently blew the flame out and all fell silent.

"Princess Elise's actions created another timeline where Solaris never existed. This came to be your current existence. The original timeline would be forever locked away. If I were to return, I would be trapped in a forever paradox. My only choice was to migrate to a new universe. Yours."

Another gateway captivated Mephiles' attention, one with a familiar future. He stepped forward once more, marveled by the reappearance of Silver and Blaze, the former now cradling two Chaos Emeralds within his grasp. His head tilted, a hint of confusion filled his otherwise empty gaze. Mephiles hadn't intended to send them back once he deceived them. But now they returned to their world, defiantly battling the monster that haunted their lives once more.

Iblis lay dormant once more, becoming nothing more than gentle flames. With a determined yell, Silver threw the Chaos Emeralds forward and forcefully dragged the flames to his soul. A painful growl escaped his lips, a scorching sensation threatening to burn him from within. "No! Why won't it accept me as the vessel?"

Stubborn as ever, Silver exerted his efforts and fought to force the flames inside, even as the pain forced him to cry out in anguish. But despite his valiant efforts, the flames refused to accept him. His eyes clenched, hands slowly losing their grip against the Chaos Emeralds. Silver refused to let go, knowing his world depended on this very moment. If his death was needed to bring forever peace, so be it.

A gentle hand placed itself against his shoulder, breaking Silver from the intense concentration. Without saying a word, Blaze scooped the Chaos Emeralds within her hands and focused. The Flames of Disaster merged with her soul, her flaming heart serving as the perfect vessel. Finally losing his strength, Silver fell to his knees, gasping with relief.

"My soul is already alight with flames," Blaze explained, flames swirling around her as she turned towards her friend. "But I don't know how long I can hold this. Silver, you must use Chaos Control to stop time…" she hesitated to continue, knowing how emotionally unstable he was. "Then you must seal us into a different dimension."

Silver felt like his heart had been twisted in two by the suggestion. Stubborn as ever, he pushed himself forward in a bid to save her, held back by the flames surrounding her person. "No! I won't! I know we agreed to save the world at any price, but this can't be it!"

"Silver," Blaze calmly said.

"No!" Silver exclaimed. "I-I-I can't! Without you Blaze, I'm nothing! We fought together for so long. We have to see it through together! Because we're friends… Right?"

With a disappointed yet gentle chuckle, Blaze softly shook her head. "You're still so naïve. I… I've always liked that about you. Don't worry, you won't have to burden yourself with guilt."

Before he questioned her actions, Blaze held out the Chaos Emeralds and focused her thoughts, recalling how the blue hedgehog from the past had performed this ability several times. The gemstones grew brighter as she roared her final commands. "Chaos Control!"

Silver charged forward, colliding face first with a dark shield that formed around his friend. The impact knocked him back to the ground, landing beside the discarded Chaos Emeralds. He threw his gaze towards the desolate skies, watching helplessly as his friend floated away, becoming transparent with every passing second, like a ghost beginning their journey to the afterlife.

He could do nothing but call out her name, one arm raised pleadingly. "Blaze!"

She floated towards the heavens, unwillingly carried by the power of Chaos Control. She had no idea of what awaited her on the other side, but it mattered little anymore. Blaze peered down with a small smile and softly waved her hand, her voice echoing as she faded away. In a rare moment of weakness, Silver swore he saw a tear escape her eye. "Good luck, Silver!"

Silver watched her sacrifice from afar, fading away from existence. In place of the clouded skies were rays of light descending upon him. The lava below quenched, the flames basking the city were no more. His eyes welcomed the sunrise, that iris of fire so pretty in its mascara of pure light. He continued gazing towards the now crystal clear sky, his arm still outstretched for her to take. "Blaze…"

His legs gave out, bringing the future warrior to his knees once more. Silver's fingertips traced along the ground where she had stood, longing for the space to be filled. But she was gone, sealed away into an unknown dimension, alone with the monster that tormented them for so long. Despite the crystal clear skies, the world was much darker without her.

He won, but at what cost?

"The dimension Blaze sealed herself within was nothing but void space. Until that moment when Solaris was defeated. The resetting of events created the Sol Dimension. Like you, her memories of her old life were enclosed away. She unknowingly served as a vessel for Iblis. That was the moment I understood what needed to be done."

Mephiles stepped away once, a familiar sense of energy beginning to swarm around his arm. He peered down and delicately caught the swarm within his grasp. In an apparent response to his touch, the energy coursed through his person. With a simple hand wave, he marveled at the newfound power. Several more portals opened from each direction, revealing events of the past, present and future.

"This place," Mephiles muttered. "Holds vast knowledge of the universe. If I am to fail in my original existence, I will bide my time here. You may have won this round, heroes. But I will return… And next time… There will be no second chances."

Chapter Text

"And so bring us to this moment. All of you here."

The group held their fixated gaze to the dark being, hanging onto his every word. To absolve so much information in so little time left half of the team frozen in awestruck. The other half, who had never experienced the original timeline's events, couldn't bring themselves to say anything. No one uttered a word, yet they didn't need to say anything. Their eyes spoke so many words they could not bring themselves to vocalize.

Sonic continued gaping towards the one who robbed him of his life once before. But his attention focused towards the pink hedgehog beside him, who silently broke down, reminded of her failure to keep the blue hedgehog safe. His arms found themselves cradling her, resting the top of his head against her own, allowing her tears to stain his chest.

Shadow, who masked his emotions with that rough exterior, could not bring himself to speak up. Conflicting emotions froze him in place. Anger, betrayal and several more he struggled to conceal. He slowly trailed towards his partners. Sorrow filled Rouge's face, her eyes threatening to burst waterworks at any moment. Omega, while incapable of expressing emotion, said nothing at the revelation.

These painful memories, they're just the same as nightmares. That's what Shadow told himself. The time to mourn would have to wait, whether they liked it or not. Regaining his powerful willpower, he pushed the recent revelations to the back of his mind and marched forward, catching the attention of the one who tried to manipulate him several times.

"Tell me something, Mephiles," Shadow said with venom filling his tone, calling on every ounce of strength to restrain himself from attacking. "If Iblis already existed in Silver's future, why did you go through the trouble of freeing the one from Elise?"

Mephiles tilted his head, contemplating why this mattered. Nevertheless, he humored Shadow's question with the truth. "The Iblis within their future grew too powerful. I can only merge with Iblis when he has been born anew. With the resetting of history, Iblis is now dormant enough to be reborn. As soon as Blaze sheds her tears, the world as you know it will be no more."

Shadow frowned at the comment, refusing to be intimidated. He briefly glanced back at the others, who clearly were in no state to battle. His self control, while close to being lost, remained strong, as did his ability to think with logic. But he was no motivational speaker. That skill was Sonic's forte. He silently urged the blue hedgehog for some moral support, but his former rival focused on comforting Amy. Forced to take authority of the group, Shadow fixated his focus on the evil being once more. A sarcastic clap piqued Mephiles' interest, intrigued by the growing smirk forming on Shadow's muzzle.

"Congratulations," Shadow said drily. "And what was next in this master plan of yours? Even if you do manage to join with Iblis, we'll just stop you again and create another timeline."

Mephiles softly chuckled, amused by the dark hedgehog's self-proclaimed bravado. "I have drained the Chaos Emeralds of their energy. Even if you do get them back, they cannot help you anymore. But if you would like to give yourself false hope, go ahead."

With a simple snap of his fingers, seven portals appeared within the vicinity. The clones above broke their formation and traversed through each portal, bringing the Chaos Emeralds with them. Shadow fought to stop the growing smirk forming on his muzzle, happy to see Mephiles had taken the bait. But no one else seemed to regain their confidence, still absently looking forward.

Frustrated by the pathetic display, Shadow marched forward. "What's wrong with all of you? Get up! It's not over yet."

"Shadow, don't," Rouge responded in a despondent tone.

Brief surprise plastered his face, though he was quick to hide it. Ignoring the powerful being behind him, he marched forward and took command, speaking with assertiveness. "So you're all just going to give up? Just like that? What, just because Mephiles says a few hurtful things that's a reason to throw in the towel?"

His demands went unanswered, though most of the team continued to hold their silence. Shadow was far from done, switching between each member. "Sonic, what happened when the world got split apart? Who was the one to put it back together? You were!"

The blue hedgehog peered up, peak interest filling his emerald eyes.

"Rouge, Omega, you think I care about what Mephiles said to me? You two are my friends. Together to the end."

The members of Team Dark tightened their stances, surprised to see Shadow openly admit his feelings for them.

"All of you didn't give up when Metal Sonic tried to take over the world. Was I wrong about all of you? You have two choices: sit here and wallow in self-pity, or do something useful. If nobody's going to help me, I'll do it myself!"

He marched forward towards Blaze, who made no effort to stop him from forcefully swiping the Sol Emerald from her hand. Shadow pivoted on his heels and skated through the nearest portal, determined to overcome the odds once more. The group watched him leave, his unique way of encouraging them leaving a lasting effect.

Sonic pressed himself up, gently letting Amy go. "Shadow's right, guys. It's not over yet."

He turned around to address the group, who all fixated their undivided attention to him. All except for Silver and Blaze. The two long lost friends were in a trance, oblivious to the world around them. "We can't let Mephiles win! Let's go and show him what we're made of! If you're with me, break up into teams and cover a different portal. We're getting those Chaos Emeralds back, one way or another!"

Without another word, he bounced forward and jetted towards the next portal, briefly glancing up towards Mephiles. The dark being did nothing to stop the heroes from their futile attempt to turn the tide. Sonic gave him a thumbs down before racing forward into unknown territory. Inspired by her loved one's words, Amy wiped away her fresh tears, her short temper beginning to fuel her with renewed energy. Her trusty hammer called to her grasp once more, charging towards one of the portals.

One by one the friends renewed their confidence and spread out to cover each portal, splitting up into smaller teams. The last of them to leave was Eggman, who hopped into the damaged Egg Mobile, now turned rightside up. With a simple press of a button, the aircraft sprung to life once more.

"Orbot, Cubot, get in!" Eggman ordered. "We have a universe to save!"

His assistant droids hopped into the aircraft, admiring their master's resolve to win. Eggman and his robots were the last to leave. The portals behind them sealed away, stopping their return if they were to succeed. Mephiles slowly approached the remaining heroes, neither doing anything to suggest they were interested in stopping him.

Blaze stood with her eyes widened, her head hung low. A thousand thoughts raced around her mind all at once, confliction freezing her in place. Her hands trembled, legs threatening to buckle at any moment. To be told her life had been nothing more than a lie hurt more than any blast or explosion ever could. Worse, she unknowingly lived her life carrying Iblis within her soul, lying dormant and waiting for the day the seal would be broken.

Silver, now revealed to have been her closest friend, remained horrified to hear about everything that had just transpired. For the longest time, he pushed aside the nightmares as little more than bad dreams. But now he knew they were worse than any dream could conjure. They were memories of his past life, pushed to the back of his mind and only revealing themselves when he slept.

Mephiles cast his heartless eyes towards the duo, his white-tipped claws clutched tightly. "Everything the two of you have experienced has been nothing but a lie, a failed attempt at sealing away your past lives."

The future warrior slowly raised his head, fixing his furious gaze at the one responsible for ruining two of his lives. He struggled to keep his emotions in check, fighting the urge to call on his psychokinesis. The same could not be said for his friend. Blaze clutched her arm tightly around her side, her previous injury beginning to flare once more as her emotions reached their peak.

"Mephiles," Silver growled. "Answer me one thing."

"I shall indulge," the evil being agreed. "Ask your question."

"You sent Blaze and I to kill Sonic in the past, but then you did it yourself anyway," Silver stated, his teeth gritting with anger. "If you could have done it so easily yourself, why did you go through the trouble of sending us back?"

Mephiles threw back his head and cackled, his maniacal laughter carrying throughout the ruined city. "Is it not obvious? For fun."

Fun. The evildoer planned out these events and allowed them to play out for his own entertainment. All those innocent lives, all the pain and suffering. His casual dismissal of creating innumerable catastrophes sparked rage within Silver. His hands trembled, cyan energy slowly forming around his body.

The cruel mockery of Mephiles pushed Blaze far beyond her breaking point. Pushing aside the despair of living a false life for so long, she growled, baring her fang teeth. "You… Heartless… Monster!"

She threw herself up, overwhelming rage pushing her into battle. Auras of fire raced around her body, the unexpected flames spreading around and creating miniature shockwaves. Anger thrummed through her veins, the adrenaline that followed gifted the princess the strength to ignore her injury.

Breathless with anger, she raised her head to lock eyes with the monster, fearlessly looking directly through those bloodshot eyes. She pushed out her words, anger forcing her breath to leave at an accelerated rate. "You manipulated us! You forced me to sacrifice myself! You took me away from Silver! I… Will… Make… You… SUFFER!"

Her roars echoed through the city, her power rising beyond expectations. Windows shattered, cars turned over and the ground rumbled beneath them. Silver took a step back from his friend's rage, almost terrified at the wrath she was going to bring. Everything in a twenty foot radius disintegrated from her flames.

Blaze dashed forward, tackling Mephiles directly into the sky. She raised her flaming wrists, unleashing her fury with intent to kill. Burning fists pressed into the evildoer's face, forcing him to raise his arms to cushion her mighty blows. Blaze pushed through his defense, driving her knee into his stomach and following with an outstretched kick, sending the evil being directly into the ground.

Far from stopping, Blaze threw out her hands, raining down hundreds of fireballs. Each one collided against the evildoer, forcing him to bounce against the ground. The dark being vanished in a cloud of smoke, reappearing directly behind Blaze. Aware of his presence, Blaze spun around mid-air and caught his approaching fist, retaliating with her own. She landed a devastating uppercut, stunning the evil being long enough for her to grasp his arm and hurl him into another building. The impact shattered the wall, forcing bricks to scatter and a cloud of dust to surround where he landed.

She finally returned to the streets, the rage making her oblivious to being in the air for so long. Dust sprung around the ground, surrounding the monster from her sight. She marched forward, her flaming feet denting the ground with every step. Mephiles returned to her fiery gaze, his body now pressed against the ruined building. His open bloodshot eyes implied he was still conscious, but his limp head said otherwise. Whether he was truly unconscious or not didn't matter to Blaze. Willing to attack a defenseless opponent, her flaming fist raised once more, striking with intent to land the killing blow.

Mephiles' arm suddenly shot up, catching her wrist within his palm. "Yes, good. Give into your emotions."

Ignoring his taunts, Blaze yanked her hand free, driving her other fist into his face. She repeatedly pressed her fists into his head, determined to rid him from existence once and for all. Seconds appeared to turn into hours with Blaze showing no hint of stopping. While her determination couldn't be stronger, her body said otherwise. Her strikes became more sloppy, her punches lost weight. One final strike forced the evildoer's head to jolt to one side, a loud snap in his neck following shortly.

Having burned out all of her rage, Blaze stumbled backwards, falling to her knees. With both hands clenched tightly, she finally gave into her despair, screaming at the top of her lungs to let the world know of her pain. She wanted to cry, to force out the great sadness that lingered within. But she could not. Blaze dedicated her whole life to never showing a hint of sadness. She didn't know how to cry. Anger was the closest emotion she could call to let others know of her sorrow. Killing Mephiles didn't bring her any form of comfort. This wasn't revenge, nor justice, nor hatred.

This was grief.

She threw down her head, her lungs screaming for air. Both hands now rested in her knees, her eyes closed tightly with rapid, sharp breaths entering her lungs. Sadness turned into fear. With this new revelation, how could she return to her world and continue her duty as a princess? It was all a lie, a fairytale belonging in one of Cream's books. She was no real princess, just a survivor who got lucky.

Her thoughts were broken as a soft, gentle hand placed itself on her shoulder. Silver, having not dared interfere with her fight, finally returned to his best friend's side. He took a seat next to her, his expression carrying sadness but with a small sense of relief. Without warning, he gently pulled the princess into an embrace, one he never wanted to end.

"Blaze, I'm so sorry," Silver whispered, pressing the side of his head into her own. "I won't ever let you go again. I promise, it'll be okay."

Fighting the urge to push his kindness away, Blaze looked up, her eyes threatening to leak waterfalls. "How? How is this going to be okay, Silver?! I've lived a false existence my entire life! I have a monster sealed inside my soul! Everything has been a lie!"

While he continued to hold her close within his arms, Silver leaned back ever so slightly for their eyes to meet. He softly shook his head. "It doesn't matter where we came from, Blaze. What matters now is where we go. Why does it matter how you became a princess? Look how far you've come. You made friends and accomplished so much. A whole kingdom of people adore you. They need their princess just as much as I need you. We choose our own destiny now."

The feline fell silent for a moment, swallowing the large lump within her throat. With trembling arms, she suddenly returned the hug, pulling the hedgehog closer to her side, their faces pressed against the other. She whispered softly into his ear, cherishing this moment while it lasted. "You're so naïve, Silver… Thank you."

Their reunion was cut short as a familiar laughter echoed throughout the humid air once more. The friends collectively shifted their gaze towards the same direction, watching as the evildoer stood up, popping his broken neck back into place. He ascended towards them, his hands trembling with anticipation.

"A loving reunion," Mephiles said mockingly. "Do not make promises you cannot keep, Silver."

The future warrior frowned, slowly pushing himself onto his feet once more. Allowing Blaze to recover her strength while she mourned, he gently let her go, standing firm. In a single fluid motion, he threw off the hoodie and casted it to one side. Mephiles had robbed him of his life once and he wouldn't allow him to do so again. Silver clutched both hands tightly, cyan energy swarming his body with an aura of intensity. His hands trembled, psychokinesis energy igniting around his wrists. His powers flamed, an unbalanced aura of energy surrounded the hedgehog. Mephiles may have fought the strongest of foes within his lifetime, but now he was faced with the most dangerous being of all.

The rage of a gentle soul.

Silver threw out his hands, restraining two cars within a telekinetic hold. He clasped both hands, crushing Mephiles between the two vehicles before racing forward. Silver advanced, releasing a strong shockwave of psychic energy with a swing of his arm. The Psycho Smash hurled towards Mephiles, who made no attempt to shield himself from the blast. The attack carried him towards the building once more, smashing through the already damaged wall with ease.

Calling on the incredible speed his powers gifted him with, Silver raced around the ruined body, punching through the foundations that supported the building. With one final punch, the support structures gave out and the building came crashing down, burying the evildoer within. The impact vibrated the air, fresh dust springing forward. Silver dared not remove his gaze, knowing his efforts were only temporary.

Mephiles' hand burst through the rubble, clawing at the nearest cement block and pulling himself out. Silver charged forward with a sickening roar, one arm stretched out to clothesline Mephiles. He raced back as fast as he left, grasping Mephiles by the hand and hurling him towards the air. The airborne Silver overpassed the staggered Mephiles, bringing both hands down to punch him back towards the ground. Silver discarded his range advantage, choosing to personally get up close with the evildoer. He pressed his fist tightly against Mephiles' face, forcing the two of them to reach the ground at an accelerated rate.

"TAKE THIS!" Silver roared, summoning every ounce of energy for one final attack.

He threw both hands forward, unleashing a full-power energy blast at point blank range. Mephiles swiveled around at the final second, throwing up both arms in a futile attempt to cushion the blow. The raw energy almost vaporized his opponent, the aftermath practically deafening Silver. Too close for comfort, he refused to stop, releasing every ounce of inner strength. As strong as his willpower may be, his body finally said otherwise and gave out, draining all reserved energy.

Silver awkwardly landed back on the ground, forced to lean against a car for support. The aftershock of his attack kicked in, his ears whistling loudly. Disoriented by the close range attack, one hand clutched the side of his head, desperately trying to rid the non-stop ringing.

"Impressive."

Biting his tongue, Silver swung around and threw his glowing fist with intent to kill. Mephiles' arm jolted forward before Silver's hand made contact, seizing the hedgehog by his throat. Silver let out a painful gasp as Mephiles' claws dug tightly against his throat, threatening to penetrate his flesh at any moment. He squirmed, clutching both hands against Mephiles' arm in a desperate bid to break free. Still drained of reserved energy, his psychokinesis could not aid him any longer, unable to call for help as the evildoer's death grip broke his concentration.

"Silver!"

Mephiles turned ever so slightly, amused by the staggering princess. She stumbled forward, forced to grasp anything within range to steady her balance. Flickers of flames surrounded her arms, a futile attempt to call on her powers once more. Blaze slumped over the hood of a car, wincing at the painful sensation lingering within her side. One arm clutched against her injury, the other grasping the edge of the car for support.

In between her blurry vision was a hint of horror filling her gaze, forced to watch helplessly as Mephiles raised his free arm. A familiar blade formed around his arm. The same weapon that almost robbed her life was now held dangerously close to Silver's forehead. His body cried out for precious air, lungs collapsing from the intense pressure against his neck.

Mephiles held the scorching spear dangerously close to his victim's head. "This game of ours has been a delightful experience. But it is time for the curtains to close for good. Cry for me, Blaze. Release your tears, or else I will kill him."

Even as he winced from extensive force against his throat, Silver threw out his arm towards the princess, choking out his strained pleas. "Blaze… Don't…"

A tightened grasp forced Silver silent, stopping him from muttering out any more appeals. Mephiles paid him no further attention, averting focus to the weakened princess. He studied her with caution, patiently waiting for her compliance. She stood frozen with nothing to suggest she planned on intervening. But her eyes held a different tale, one of which did not involve surrendering. His bloodshot eyes tightened, returning focus to the squirming hedgehog within his grasp.

"So be it," Mephiles said, moving the weapon closer till it practically kissed Silver's forehead. "I have several more of your friends to get through-"

Blaze threw her arm forward, pleas filling her once proud tone. "Wait! I'll… I'll do it. I'll do what you ask. Just… Don't hurt him… Please."

The dark being stopped short of slicing through Silver's head, scorching through small traces of fur. He peered forward, great pleasure filling him with joy. "Try as you might, there was no fooling anyone with that stern exterior of yours. By all means mask your fear from others, but be honest to yourself. Now, release your tears and return to me what is mine."

Blaze cried out with frustration, punching the car she used to support herself. No one was coming to save them. Her only slim chance of victory was to allow Silver's sacrifice. But nothing in her very being could bring her to allow the death of a friend, specifically one who stood by her side through thick and thin. She fell to her knees, hands pressed against her knees and searching deep for the buried sorrow within.

She pushed any desire to cry from her mind long ago. Blaze was rarely sad anymore, and in place of that emotion was nothing but numbness. Some would say they'd rather feel pain than nothing at all. To Blaze, she welcomed the numbness. It served as a protection, allowing her solace from others. Being a stoic princess for so long left her isolated and touch starved. But she could not keep up this facade any longer. For Silver to live in the time they had remaining, the wall had to drop. Blaze searched deep, finding the raw emotion within. She convinced herself from a young age that sadness was behind anger, yet anger never came unless in direct self defense. But now it was time to let the sorrow teach her more about her true nature and how fragile everyone truly was.

Tears and sobs finally made their escape, her fists balled against her sides. She silently wept, allowing her grief to finally be revealed. Her tears dripped against the gravel ground below. In a weird way, she felt quite liberated by releasing her emotions, as if a great burden had been released. Through her golden vision, a warm presence casted above her, carrying enough heat for her flames to feel. She dared to glance up, finding the Flames of Disaster lingering absently above her. The one barrier keeping Mephiles from his goal was no more.

Pleasure filled Mephiles' eyes, worshiping his missing half. Everything he fought for, all the battles and millions of lives sacrificed were for this moment. He longed to savor the feeling, but could not refrain from waiting any longer. He tossed the subdued Silver to one side, arms spreading with glee as he strode forwards.

"At last!" Mephiles bellowed, his manic baritone carrying throughout the air. "You are finally released at last! How I have longed to be at your side! IBLIS!"

Chapter Text

For what Planet Wisp lacked in size, it made up for with its unspoiled and unmatched beauty. The land was dominated by rocky terrains with valleys, plateaus, rock pillars, fields and canyons covered in a lush variety of flora. The world's occupants happily explored their home, playing with one another while completely oblivious to the danger ahead.

Sonic the Hedgehog raced through the beautiful landscape, just as impressed by the sight as his first visit. While he loved to go sightseeing, the time for contentment had to wait. He darted between the lands, searching for the one responsible for bringing catastrophe to the whole universe. His heart continued to ache from the recent revelation, but next to speed, willpower was perhaps his strongest power. He persevered through, knowing the time to dwell on past failures had to wait.

He suddenly skidded to a halt, stopping short in front of a group of Wisps. "Hi there, guys!"

The aliens' expressions brightened within an instance, rushing forward to greet the hero who saved them once before. They gently nuzzled him affectionately, forcing playful giggles to escape Sonic.

"Okay, okay," Sonic laughed, gently pushing them away. His expression hardened, the sudden change of demeanor catching the Wisps by surprise. "Listen, I'm looking for a bad man. Have you seen anyone like that around here?"

While he could not understand the Wisps without Tails' translator, they appeared to understand him. The Wisps exchanged glances, communicating within their own language. One of them eventually pointed towards the sky. Sonic followed the directions, his hands tightening with anticipation. The first clone towered above him, the red Chaos Emerald held tightly within his hand.

"Ironic, is it not?" Mephiles said. "I accomplished in seconds what that imbecile could not in years. I killed you."

Sonic frowned, silently grunting at the evildoer's mockery. Refusing to let the clone get under his skin, Sonic folded his arms and matched his glaring stare. "In the back though? What, afraid to face me up close?"

"I fear nothing!" Mephiles exclaimed, apparently insulted by the comment.

"Oooh, touchy," Sonic forced himself to laugh. "How about you hand over the Chaos Emerald and we'll call it a truce?"

The clone peered down at said Chaos Emerald, brief confusion filling his lifeless eyes. "Why bother? They cannot serve you a purpose anymore. Their power has been nullified."

"Then why not give it back?" Sonic suggested with a small shrug, the Wisps lingering by his side.

Mephiles resumed his gaze, hand adjusting its grip against the gemstone. "I am oblivious to your intentions. But it matters little. Come then. Claim your prize."

Grinning at the challenge, Sonic uncrossed his arms and slid into a stance, readying himself for a battle. He glanced sideways towards the Wisps, who held anger within their eyes, becoming more assertive since their first imprisonment. "What do you say, guys? Want me to help me beat this loser?"

The Wisps eagerly nodded, racing forward to aid the hero who saved their lives once before.

Sonic grinned, high-fiving one of the Orange Wisps as it moved forward to share its power. He allowed the friendly alien to join with him, harnessing the powers of Hyper-go-on energy, granting him unique abilities that rivaled the powers of the Chaos Emeralds. He vibrated with unique energy, a confident grin returning to his face. "Let's do this! ROCKET!"

Taking the appearance of a powerful projectile, Sonic burst forward. Mephiles threw out his arms, underestimating the power of Hyper-go-on greatly. Sonic collided against the dark being with a sickening force, sending the evildoer sprawling throughout the air. The Orange Wisp departed from the airborne hedgehog, allowing a Jade Wisp to take his place. "GHOST!"

Sonic raced forward once more, leaving a trail of sparkling energy within his wake. Learning from his previous mistake, Mephiles threw out his arm and punched where he estimated Sonic would arrive. Confusion filled his gaze as the hedgehog turned transparent, going straight through the dark being with no effort. Mephiles shifted around, noting the absence of a Chaos Emerald within his grasp.

"Haha, nice!" Sonic exclaimed, securing the Chaos Emerald within his quills. The Jade Wisp left his person, calling for another Wisp to take his place. One of the several Cyan Wisps raced forward, joining powers with the blue hedgehog. "Keep it up, guys! You're doing great! LASER!"

With a soft growl, Mephiles threw both arms forward, determined to block whatever surprises Sonic held up his sleeve. The blue hedgehog burst in several directions, his speed increasing tenfold within an instance, leaving a trail of cyan energy within his wake. Combining the power of Hyper-go-on with his own natural abilities, he repeatedly struck Mephiles from all directions, moving too fast for the evil being to keep up. The clone, clearly not holding the same powers as the original, could do nothing to shelter itself from the repeated strikes.

With one final strike, Sonic drove his foot directly into Mephiles' face, the force sending him sprawling across the land. The Cyan Wisp parted from Sonic, who landed with grace upon the ground. He threw back his arms and jetted forward, accompanied by one of each Wisp. The distance between them and their opponent shortened with great haste, forcing Sonic to hurry with his final attack.

The Wisps flew ahead and formed a circle, rotating with rapid speeds, their respective colors trailing throughout the air. Sonic quickly squinted his eyes to make sure their opponent lay dormant. With a roar of effort, he summoned forth their energy, his body crackling with a kaleidoscope of colors as he charged towards his foe. The Wisps swirled around him, their individual powers combining and merging to create a dazzling array of light and sound. Sonic felt their energy coursing through him, fuelling his determination and lending him the strength he needed to carry out his move.

With a confident nod, Sonic bounced forward and latched onto the middle of the circle. The Wisps held the hedgehog within their comforting grasp, granting their unique power for Sonic to use as he pleased. His fur brightened with more shades of color than a rainbow, his power now greatly amplified.

Mephiles made no attempt to move out of harm's way, spreading his arms with determination. "Go ahead, Sonic. Do as you will please. You cannot stop the inevitable."

"You're not the first person to tell me I can't win and you won't be the last!" Sonic confidently responded, his voice now amplified with intensity. "Sayonara, Mephiles. FINAL COLOR BLASTER!"

The superpowered Sonic shot forward, consumed by the Hyper-go-one-energy. Mephiles threw up his arms in a final attempt to cushion the blow. The ferocity at which Sonic moved at allowed him to push through the futile defense, shattering the clone to pieces. The air crackled with energy as the beam struck, obliterating the evil being in a blaze of fiery destruction. What remained of the clone faded away, bursting into raw energy. Sonic threw himself back to where the dark being had once stood, still surrounded in a blanket of colors.

With a relieved sigh, Sonic relinquished control of the Wisps' powers, returning to his normal state. The Wisps returned to his side, letting their joy be known as they danced around in circles. Sonic briefly smiled at their innocence, returning focus to the Chaos Emerald. The gemstone rested within his hand, completely void of any life. While troubled by how he was going to return their power, concerns for his friends overshadowed his mind.

"I hope the others are doing okay. Silver, Blaze, hang in there. We're coming."

The sunshine and fresh air weaved together in Frog Forest, as if they were threads of divine daydreams. Giant mushroom trees lingered in all directions, the native frogs roaming around the lush land to their heart's contents. Within the center of the endless green, Team Chaotix reminisced about their previous adventures that once brought them through this land.

"Boy, haven't been to this place in a while," Vector announced, peering around the dense rainforest.

"At least we don't have to waste time looking for Chao again," Charmy added. "I mean, why would anybody want ten Chao?"

"We could only find nine," Espio corrected.

"You really landed us in a jam that day," Vector said, pausing to rub the side of his head. "I can still feel Amy's hammer. You just had to cause a scene by asking for Cheese, didn't you?"

Espio shot an offended stare at his boss. "Me? You were the one who took offense to Amy mistaking your question for flirting."

"Well, who asks someone to hand over their Chao?"

"What grown man gets offended by a teenage girl?'

Their heated argument caught the attention of one of the large frogs perched on a lilypad nearby. Apparently startled by their argument, it suddenly bounced up and down while croaking. The trio collectively shifted their gaze towards the sky. From blossomed clouds came water-petals into the fresh spring air.

"Great," Vector remarked dryly. "Nice going, Espio."

"Between the two of us, you are the louder one," Espio responded.

"And between the two of you, you are both fools."

The detectives shot forward, taken back by the sudden appearance of the one they sought. The second clone of Mephiles hovered absently within the air, the raindrops softly evaporating against the scorching aura surrounding his person. He glared towards the unfamiliar trio, all the while the green Chaos Emerald rested within his palm. Shaking away the initial surprise, Team Chaotix readied themselves for the inevitable battle.

"Mephiles," Espio greeted firmly. "Hand over that Chaos Emerald. Clear your conscience before your death."

Amused by the detective's warnings, Mephiles threw back his head and cackled, raindrops trailing down his face like waterfalls. "Foolish child. I have no guilt."

Espio's eyes narrowed, drawing three shurikens into his palm. "So be it."

With a suppressed roar, Espio hurled the three projectiles forward. The three blades hit their mark, piercing through Mephiles' head with ease. Espio masked the shock that mounted his face, forced to witness his own failure. Mephiles calmly swiped the weapons from his face, any trace of injury fading away. The shurikens dropped against lush ground, now smeared with fresh blood.

"Is that all?" Mephiles taunted. "Shadow could not stop me. What chance do the three of you have?"

Vector's jaws tightened, his mighty temper beginning to fuel his veins with lava. Though his arms trembled with anticipation, he assessed the situation as a detective would. Their opponent was incredibly strong, wielding a power like no other. Unlike Doctor Eggman, who often showed some restraint, Mephiles had no limitations. He would do whatever it took to achieve his goals, even if it meant erasing the whole universe of its existence.

With renewed confidence, Vector grinned and turned to his brothers-in-arms. "Let's break out the Chaotix Recital, boys!"

Charmy beamed in agreement. "Yeah!"

Espio nodded. "Roger!"

Mephiles, curious as to what plan they were drafting, held position within the air. Different instruments now appeared within their hands. A hint of surprise filled his otherwise lifeless eyes, silently questioning as to where these instruments appeared from. A microphone appeared between Vector's hands, Charmy strapped a single drum over his chest and Espio cradled a shamisen, using his kunai blade as a makeshift plectrum.

"Alright, boys!" Vector declared. "Let 'em have it!"

Espio strummed his shamisen aggressively, calling on every ounce of willpower to rid the evil of this world. "Born in the darkness, to live in the darkness, that's the ninja's creed!"

Charmy repeatedly pounded on the drum without any rhythm, squealing with enthusiasm. "Bee-bee-bee! Charmy the Bee! Charmy the Bee's got lots of honey!"

In accordance with his teammates, Vector inhaled deeply, filling his powerful lungs with extensive pressure. With the mighty microphone held close to his jaws, he let his voice be known, bellowing with every ounce of passion for music. "Yeah, yeah, I'm the one, I'm Vector the Crocodile!"

Their combined efforts amplified the surrounding area, loud sounds echoing throughout the lush forest, even as the rain threatened to drown out their voices. Mephiles stood his ground, amused by the false act of bravado. That's when both hands suddenly clutched against his aching skull, brain threatening to leak blood at any moment. Team Chaotix poured their souls into the music, forcing every ounce of reserved strength to beat the evildoer. His arms and legs trembled, blood pounded within his ears.

"Keep it at, boys!" Vector encouraged, bringing the microphone closer to his jaws, ready for the next verse. "Team Chaotix! They're detectives you want on your side."

Mephiles softly growled, his vision slowly becoming distorted. The world around him spun, his head pounded, sharpy and heavy. The horrid noise that echoed from the trio threatened to turn him inside out. The rhythm of blood throbbed in his temple, skull pounding like crazy and stick-hot needles within his eyes. His ears could no longer withstand the intensity, the air around him became polluted with loud noise. The evildoer popped like a balloon, sending out a sudden sound as if each vibration had learned to travel at the speed of light.

The air around them became peaceful once more, their music fading away into the rainstorm. Vector dropped the microphone and slumped forward, inhaling precious air. Espio and Charmy set their instruments down to one side, the former quickly racing forward to retrieve the Chaos Emerald before one of the wildlife took interest in the gem. The detective cradled the lifeless Chaos Emerald, noting its gentle presence was no more.

"Man, I gotta lay off the pizza," Vector grumbled, rubbing his aching chest. Before long, he held a supportive thumbs up to his friends. "Good work, boys!"

"That. Was. Awesome!" Charmy exclaimed, balling his fists with excitement. "Let's do it again!"

"Let's not," Vector said with a nervous chuckle.

Espio returned in no time, the powerful gemstone clenched tightly against his arm. "We have the Chaos Emerald. Now we need to find a way to return back."

"Right," Vector agreed, peering around for any sign of the portal that brought them here. Both hands gripped his hips, eyes narrowing with concern. "Hmm, now how the heck are we getting out of here?"

From one blizzard to another, Rouge questioned how cruel fate seemed to be. Snow curved around her boots, her fur blending it with the soft drops while icy mountains surrounded her all sides. Out of all the places she could have found herself within, it had to be one where it all began. Eggman's base once resided in these mountains, watchtowers once stationed in every possible corner. But in this timeline, the base was none existent. Now she was here, trapped with nothing but snow to see in every direction.

At least she wasn't alone.

Big the Cat stood closely by, peering around the night air. Rouge questioned how of all the people on their team she had ended up with him by her side. But the company was welcomed, hoping to keep her mind focused. She searched around, looking for the one who stole her precious gem. The snowstorm limited her visibility, forcing Rouge to rely on her enhanced hearing.

"What's the matter?"

Big's voice broke the bat from her thoughts, forcing her to shift around to face him. "What? Nothing's wrong."

"You look sad," Big noted. "Why are you sad?"

Rouge glanced away, wishing she had Shadow's ability to mask her emotions. Guilt plastered her face, her powder blue eyelids narrowing while her perked out ears slumped forward. The once witty and carefree Rouge now held great despair, summoning every ounce of strength to keep her emotions in check.

"It's nothing," Rouge squeaked, folding both arms while darting her head to one side. "Just drop it, okay?"

Her stern tone did nothing to shake Big's demeanor. He calmly peered forward with concern. "It's never good to keep it all in. Talking helps make you feel better."

A silent growl escaped her lips, fresh steam arising from a sharp exhale. While she continued gazing into the night, Rouge decided to get it all out now. "It's my fault."

Big hummed, tilting his head with interest.

"I freed Mephiles," Rouge admitted, her fists balling by her sides. "There, I said it! Everything that's going on right now is because of me! If I hadn't dropped the Scepter, Mephiles never would have gotten free!"

Unable to restrain herself any longer, Rouge let her grief be known, taking out her frustrations on a defenseless tree. She punched the bark with some force, though her fist didn't leave much of a dent. Her legs held her true strength. Rouge winced, feeling fresh rivers beginning to sting the corners of her eyes. Her hand quickly swept them away, refusing to show weakness, even for someone as absent-minded as Big.

"How did you drop it?" Big calmly responded.

Curiosity overcame her anger, forcing her stained eyes to face the large cat. "Huh? Why does that matter?"

"Did you trip over?" Big continued.

She lightly threw her arms forward, half-heartedly shrugging. "I was trying to escape with Shadow, but then Eggman caught me by surprise."

Big pressed on, having no intentions to upset the bat further with his constant questions. "Did Eggman make you drop it?"

Rouge shrugged once more. "I guess."

"Then how can it be your fault?" Big innocently questioned. "You didn't choose to drop it. It's not your fault if someone made you drop it."

She softly shook her head in disagreement, loosening the snow that faded against her hair. "Big, I appreciate the comfort. But I should have seen it coming. These ears aren't just for show, you know!"

Still distraught over recent revelations, she slumped against the same tree, arms cupping against her skull. Her back slid down the tree, bringing large clumps of snow to smear her coat. More tears threatened to make their escape, though she endured and continued wallowing in self-pity. Silence fell upon them, the soft snowstorm softly whistling throughout the night air.

Lost to her own thoughts, Rouge failed to notice Big moving by her side. His large yet gentle presence casted a shadow over her person, his big orbs peering down with comfort. "Sometimes we can't stop bad things from happening. But it's okay to be scared about them. I'm scared too."

Rouge threw up her head, awestruck at the final comment. She sincerely doubted the claim, noting how unbothered he appeared to be since everything started. "B-b-but you're so calm!"

"I've been scared since I found Blaze swimming," Big admitted, though his calm tone suggested otherwise.

Her interest piqued, Rouge pressed herself up from the snow-covered ground. "If you've been scared all this time, why did you stick around? You could have gone back home. Nobody asked you to come with us. No offense."

"I know," Big replied, unfazed by her last comment. "I do my best to help my friends. So do you."

Rouge stumbled out her response, the words refusing to leave her tongue. Awestruck by the cat's simple yet wise thinking, she found herself diving deep into her own thoughts once more. Looking back, Rouge almost laughed at how soft she had grown over time. A once selfish thief with passion for jewels now fought in defense for others for no physical reward. Her experience with Sonic and the others had changed her considerably. No longer did she break into museums at night to swipe valued treasures. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Rouge was a hero, pure and simple. Stopping Mephiles from destroying the universe offered more value than any gemstone ever could.

She softly giggled, hands gripping her hips. Her teal eyes gazed at the giant cat, looking at him with a newfound perspective. "I guess I never thought about it that way. Thanks for the pep talk, Big."

"You're welcome," Big said with a warm smile.

"How touching."

Her inner sorrow made Rouge oblivious to the real reasoning for their visit. Her sensitive hearing failed to alert her of the approaching threat. She bit her tongue and swiftly turned around. The dark being loomed over them within the distance, his darkened fur close to blending with the surrounding darkness. Rouge hardened her stance, hands twitching with expectation. Meanwhile, Big merely gawked at the powerful being looming above them.

"I suppose I have you to thank for my freedom, Rouge," Mephiles gloated, taking a mocking bow to the bat. "How does it feel? To know that you have caused the events that forged my existence into this world?"

Rouge bit her tongue, refusing to engage in a battle of wits. One leg crossed over the other, hands clenched and wings spreading. She briefly glanced towards Big, who showed no reaction to her stares. She allowed his encouraging words to keep her willpower strong, bringing her stern gaze towards the towering monster.

"Don't try to pin all this on me," Rouge responded, regaining confidence within her voice. "Everything that's happened tonight is because of you. You're a monster and I am going to stop you."

Mephiles cocked his head to one side, but his expression did not alter in the slightest. The yellow Chaos Emerald gently rotated within his palm, the lifeless gemstone nothing more than a barren rock. A sinister chuckle echoed from his lack of mouth, unnerving the bat with his disregard to life. "Come now, Rouge. Who are you trying to deceive? You may make bold claims, but your eyes tell another tale."

Rouge tightened her jaw, beginning to bare her fang teeth. "That does it!"

Snapping back to reality, she darted forward and swung her powerful leg directly against his temple, the force carrying enough weight to send him towards the ground. He slid across the ice, throwing his head up just in time to see her hurl several Heart Bombs towards his direction. Showing no reaction to the approaching threat, his free hand jolted forward and caught one of the bombs. It detonated within his palm, becoming nothing more than atoms. His fingers remained intact, claws delicately stretching.

He threw his lifeless eyes forward. "Your weapons are pitiful."

A grin curled its way onto her lips. "Wait for it."

Mephiles glanced down, spotting the remaining Heart Bombs beneath his feet. As he paused to question her actions, it finally dawned on the evildoer he was standing on top of a frozen lake. The bombs roared to life, shattering the ice beneath his feet, forcing him into the freezing depths below. The sub-zero temperatures quelled his blazing aura, freezing the clone from within. His limbs hardened, fingers shattering and fur turning pale blue. He could do nothing to escape the freezing depths, forced to watch the light fade away as the darkened depths below claimed him. A fitting end for the evildoer.

As Rouge admired her own handy work, her eyes widened with horror as the Chaos Emerald slid across the ice, close to falling within the watery depths. Before she made a move to grab it, a fishing line sprung from the air, wrapping tightly around the sacred gem. She threw her relieved gaze towards Big, who calmly reeled in the Chaos Emerald, trusty fishing rod in hand.

"Where did that come from?" Rouge questioned.

"I always carry my fishing rod," Big simply explained, holding the Chaos Emerald forward. "Here you go."

Her fingers gently wrapped around the sacred gem. The warm glow she came to adore was no more. With a relieved smile, she thanked Big for his help and made haste to search for a way back.

The ancient ruins of Marble Zone nestled within the mountain landscape. Grassy fields covered the architecture, blue stone pillars spread across the surface, tall purple mountains overlooking the land from a distance. Lava pools flooded softly above some of the surfaces, protecting the hidden dungeons below. Even as night claimed the land, the lava's hot surface irradiated the surrounding area. Doctor Eggman slowly peered across the land, his trusty Egg Mobile floating through the air. Orbot and Cubot each covered the portside and starboard.

As Orbot's glowing orbs continued scanning for the evildoer, he couldn't help but address the elephant in the room. "Doctor Eggman, forgive me for speaking out of turn. But why are we helping Sonic?"

To his surprise, Eggman didn't respond in tow with his usual cruelness. His tone was soft spoken, almost a whisper. "You two weren't around when I tried to control the Flames of Disaster. Mephiles is the other half of Iblis. When the two of them merge, the Sun God Solaris was born once more. He threatened to destroy all of existence. If Mephiles is able to merge with Iblis again, the results will be just as catastrophic. Our only hope is to secure the Chaos Emeralds."

Orbot peered back, tilting his head with curiosity. "So, are you and Sonic friends now?"

"Of course not!" Eggman barked. "This is just another one of our temporary truces. I can't take over a world if there's no world left. As soon as Mephiles is gone, we go straight back to business as usual."

"I disagree."

Eggman yelped, body jolting at the smooth, deep voice. His grip on the throttle tightened, forcing the aircraft to turn around. Orbot and Cubot stumbled from the sudden force, grasping onto the chair for dear life. The three villains threw their gaze toward as the Egg Mobile's headlights covered the evildoer. Mephiles peered forward, the bright lights doing nothing to affect his gaze, not even a blink. The cyan Chaos Emerald floated absently by his side.

Mephiles leered forward with a hint of mockery. "How does it feel, Doctor? To know I accomplished what you could not. All of your machines, all of your intellect wasted away. How pitiful."

Eggman gawked at the insult, steadily growing offended. His tinted glasses shifted every so slightly, soft growls pushing through his mustache. "Let's make one thing clear, Mephiles. I am the one who will rule this world with an iron fist! Nobody destroys the world without my say so! Prepare to witness the hands of a genius!"

He stood up and threw his arms forward with conviction, proclaiming with great pride. Orbot and Cubot jazzed their hands for dramatic effect. The evildoer found amusement in the self-proclamation. Mephiles spread his arms outwards, challenging the doctor to make his move. "So, are you going to fight me?"

Eggman slumped back into his seat, fingers pressed tightly with glee. "Oh, I'm not going to fight you, Mephiles. That would be a waste of my talents. Behold!"

His hand slammed against the giant button he longed to press for so long. The hatches beneath his aircraft opened up, allowing the confined cargo to escape. Mephiles watched the blue figure aggressively charge toward, hands outstretched with avidity. Mephiles threw both arms forward and formed an energetic shield. The new threat collided with enough force to shatter buildings, the momentum forcing Mephiles backwards.

He dropped the shield and locked eyes with the raging robot sharing a high resemblance to the blue hedgehog. Mephiles chuckled with malice, questioning if this was some earnest joke. "This is your solution? A mere machine?"

The newly repaired Metal Sonic squinted his robotic gaze, a motion that suggested he took offense to the statement. His jet engine roared to life, charging towards the evildoer once more. Mephiles deflected the approaching fist, using the opportunity to push Metal towards the ground. The robot recovered his balance midway, claws digging through the grassy fields to steady his balance. He sprung forward, claws outstretched with eagerness.

Mephiles threw out his arm, forming raw energy around his arm. He waited for the distance between them to shorten before swinging the powerful blade, intending to separate Metal's head from his body. The blade made its mark, yet failed to penetrate the thick armor. Metal threw up his arm, blocking the makeshift weapon from its initial hit. If Mephiles could alter his expression, perhaps surprise would be filling his voidless eyes.

Metal raced around his opponent, avoiding the deadly blade threatening to cut him in two. Rushing forward, Metal threw his fist forward, simultaneously grabbing Mephiles' incoming blade within his hand. Their respective lifeless eyes stared through each other intently, both trying to overcome each other's grapples. Mephiles eventually yanked his blade free, intending to slash at the robot's head once more. Metal ducked to avoid the fatal blow, retaliating by swinging up to land an uppercut into his face.

As Mephiles' head reared back from the blow, Metal wrapped his metallic claws tightly around the dark being's arm, throwing him over his shoulders. He followed up the assault with a kick to his midsection, launching Mephiles towards one of the lava pools below. Mephiles stopped short of striking the lava, rebalancing himself mid-air. He threw his gaze towards the darkened sky, noting the growing energy resonating within his opponent.

Metal's circuitry slowly overloaded, blue sparkings swarming around his person. His overall appearance brightened from the growing power, the excessive energy that radiated from within formed a golden aura around him. With newfound speed, Metal jetted forward, the air around him bursting with intensity. His arms and legs folded to his sides, charging forward head first.

Without concern for the approaching attack, Mephiles threw both arms forward, intending to block the powerful force. His claws barely caught the aggressive robot, holding him back with every ounce of strength. Metal pushed on, raw energy propelling him forward. A few distressing moments passed till the V. Maximum Overdrive Attack reached its peak, granting Metal Sonic the might to push through the evildoer's defense. The two catapulted through the darkened air, striking the lava pool with a devastating force. The lava claimed its two victims, magma spreading in every direction from their combined weight.

Silence plunged upon the good doctor. He dared not to breathe till he was assured Mephiles was no more. Orbot and Cubot shared similar reactions, though the former had something to say.

"Cubot, you're fireproof, right?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Because one of us is going to have to get the Chaos Emerald."

Eggman screeched as the lava pool was disrupted once more. Out from the flames came the victor covered by puddles of lava, wearing the magma like a cloak. He dropped to the surface, Chaos Emerald held tightly within his metallic grasp. The magma dropped against the ground, fossilizing the landscape below.

Eggman's expression lit up, throwing his fist up with pride. "Haha! Excellent work, Metal!"

Orbot clapped his hands excitedly. "Well done, Big Bro! You showed him!"

Metal held his impassive demeanor, though light slowly faded from his eyes. Strained of his circuitry and damaged by the lava's excruciating heat, he slumped forward and struck the ground, Chaos Emerald still clenched within his grasp. Eggman lowered the Egg Mobile and jumped up, pausing to make sure Mephiles wasn't around anymore. Orbot and Cubot raced to their older brother's aid, the former softly spraying the lifeless robot with a fire extinguisher.

The latter grabbed the Chaos Emerald, his metallic eyes lighting up with agony. He rotated around the area, all the while bouncing the gemstone between his hands. "Ah! Hot, hot, hot!"

"You idiot, of course it's hot!" Eggman exclaimed. "That lava is at least two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Wait, I didn't build you with pain sensors!"

Cubot suddenly stopped, anguish fading from his expression. "Oh, yeah."

Eggman sighed in exasperation, but refrained from scolding the assistant robot any longer. His hardened exterior shifted towards the darkened sky, his glasses sparkling from the moon's gentle glow. "Our only chance of a victory is to return to Silver's future."

Dark large clouds cast over Metal City. The futuristic city filled with tall buildings, so different from one another, were so very content to reflect the beauty of each neighbor. Extreme Gear racers from across the world visited this city on several occasions, longing to speed through the racetrack throughout the land.

Shade marveled over the advanced city, her armored feet softly pressed against the metal streets. Despite the low temperatures and early morning hours, several of the city's residents still flooded the streets. Unlike the citizens of Station Square, no one in Metal City appeared to show interest in her menacing presence. They simply passed her without a second glance, presuming her armor was part of a new fashion brand.

Alone once more, she carefully peered around the busy streets. Her opponent was close, lingering within the shadows. Shade silently wished she had brought her helmet for scanning purposes. Her warrior instincts allowed her to think as her enemies would. From first-hand experience, she drew out three distinctive traits of the evildoer.

Barbarity, arrogance and manipulation.

Mephiles wouldn't hide for long. He relished in tormenting others, wanting to demonstrate his superiority. He grew pleasure from the suffering of others, his ego demanding attention. As self-centered as he may be, Shade didn't underestimate her foe in the slightest. A battle with him could very well be her last.

She perked up, warrior instincts alerting her of an approaching threat. From the corner of her eye came a scorching blast. The experienced soldier she was, Shade calmly moved to one side, allowing the blast to scorch the nearby grass. Unfazed by the attack, Shade raised her head, facing the one responsible for harming her friends. With a soft squeeze, her Leech Blade bracelets sprung to life once more.

Mephiles descended upon the ground. The intimidating aura he carried frightened the late night locals. They fled in terror, urging others to run for their lives. Shade held her ground, matching the voidless stare of Mephiles with her own furious gaze. The blue Chaos Emerald rested within his palm, claws delicately scraping the surface.

"White Space has allowed me to see all, yet you... You are unknown to me," Mephiles admitted, slouching his head to one side with interest. "You are not of this world either, are you?"

Shade's brow furrowed, unsure if this was an attempt to deceive her. Unashamed of her past, she took a step forward. "It matters not where I am from."

"You were not so righteous once," Mephiles noted, contradicting his previous remark. He slouched forward, studying the mighty warrior with intent. Her angry eyes held pain untold. His feet dragged forward, closing the short distance between them. "You harmed others, didn't you?"

Shade exposed her teeth, softly snarling at the harsh comment. Her breathing slowly intensified, fingers locking tightly together. "Yes. I did."

Mephiles froze for a moment, almost surprised by the swift confession. His emotionless eyes locked directly into her gaze, staring through the powerful barrier smothering across her expression. "And yet, you fight on the righteous side. Why?"

"Because it is the right thing to do," Shade simply responded. "I have paid for my sins long ago. I am not driven by power or lust anymore. My duty is to protect this world against the likes of you."

A soft cackle escaped his vocals, amused by her self-proclaimed mission. "Right thing to do, wrong thing to do. You think too simply, echidna. The world is more complicated than you think."

"Only if you make it complicated," Shade countered. "And there is nothing complicated about what I am going to do next."

Without another word, Shade rotated her arms and freed the blades from their gauntlets. She swiftly caught the hilts before they hit the ground. In one fluid motion, she spun the blades and connected the ends together, forming a bladed staff. Her energetic weapons scorched to life, breaking through their previous limitations, their power greatly amplified. Shade slid into a perfect stance, weapon held close, feet planted within the ground, eyes narrowed and no weakness exposed.

Shade held the blade to her side like a samurai, sprinting into a full charge. Her feet tread very lightly against the metal surface, leaving no sound within their wake. Mephiles allowed the distance between them to shorten, unconcerned about her attack. She reached him within seconds and bounced forward, swiping the blade forward. He threw up his powerful arm, intending to block the attack once more with his hardened presence.

Mephiles watched her fly past, staggering around to face her. The notable missing limp captivated his attention, as did the absence of a Chaos Emerald. He leered down, noting the hand that held the gemstone was no more. The separated limb faded away into a puddle, releasing the Emerald from its death trap. Shade charged forward once more, sliding under his swing while simultaneously swiping the powerful blade through the fatal area.

Shade skidded to a screeching halt, boots scraping sharply against the road. She threw back her head towards the frozen evildoer. His head separated from his body, colliding with the ground below. The clone's presence faded away into the night, ensuring her victory. With a satisfied sigh, Shade broke apart the blade and reattached both halves to her arms, all the while striding forward.

Her protective hand cradled the Chaos Emerald, distraught by its quiet state. With no reason to linger around the city, she swiftly made haste to escape the vicinity and find a way to return back.

"Do you see him, Omega?"

"Negative."

Amy marveled at the beautiful, coastal mountains within the distance, separated by clean rivers. Chun-nan was the definition of peace, a place free of modern technology and busy streets. In their place were a few buildings within the mountains, small waterfalls leading to aforementioned rivers. The iconic Dragon Road spread throughout the mountains, its mighty presence separating opposing lands.

"He has to be here somewhere," Amy replied, her tear-stained eyes frantically searching for one who robbed her loved one away once before. Grief-stricken filled her veins, an overwhelming surge of anger pushing her to fight.

Without rotating to face her, Omega spoke up. "Why do I detect sorrow within you?"

Amy threw back her head, mixed emotions spreading through her features. "Because I'm upset, Omega! That monster killed Sonic! He did all these horrible things to Silver and Blaze. Now he's trying to do it all again!"

Overcome with sorrow, Amy hurled her hammer towards a nearby boulder. The giant rock stood no chance against her strength, shattering into small pieces. Still heartbroken, she marched forward and grasped the hammer, repeatedly striking against the rocks till they were nothing but atoms. The land appeared to shake with every pound, the planet begging her to stop.

As she exhausted all reserved energy, Amy dropped her hammer and collapsed, knees pressed into the ground, heaving for precious air. Tears and sobs made their escape once more, her voice straining with every word. "I couldn't protect him. I couldn't save Sonic!"

She continued weeping, fresh droplets blending with the snow below. The ground beneath her softly shook as Omega approached, his metallic feet pushing through the scattered rocks. To match her smaller height, Omega slumped down onto one knee, damaged arm hanging by his side.

"I cannot comprehend Mobian anatomy," Omega admitted. "And I am unfamiliar with the relationship between you and Sonic the Hedgehog. Why does his previous demise hurt you so much?"

Amy threw up her head, her once beautiful eyes now reddened with anguish. "Because I love him!"

It was a simple yet effective declaration of her feelings. She cupped both hands against her face, soaking her gloves with fresh tears. Omega's stance didn't alter in the slightest, his red orbs merely examining her. Time with Shadow and Rouge taught Omega more about human emotions. The closest sentiment he understood was anger, having harbored deep rage against his creator for so long. Despite documenting so much in his newfound freedom, he simply couldn't comprehend what it was like to care for someone.

Shadow and Rouge were his teammates, or friends as he sometimes addressed them. They went through several adventures together. As well as actively fighting Eggman, he joined the duo in social gatherings. Birthdays, Christmas, work events and so much more. Yet there are some things robots could never understand. For all his incredible intellect, he failed to comprehend the idea of sadness.

All he could do was state the obvious. "Sonic the Hedgehog is not dead."

Amy lifted her head to face him once more. "I know that."

"Then why grieve?" Omega questioned. "I was there when you revived Sonic with your affection. He survived then and he lives now."

She softly shook her head, trying not to lose her patience with the large robot. "Omega. Sometimes the past can still hurt, even if we tell ourselves it's over. But now we've just learned our whole lives have been a lie since the Day of Disaster. That's not something you can just get over."

Omega briefly leaned forward, his metallic joints resonating loudly. "If you cannot overcome your grief, do you simply let it consume you?"

"Not by choice," Amy sighed, pausing to wipe her eyes clean. "If we somehow make it out of this, how are Silver and Blaze going to move on? I don't even want to imagine how they're feeling."

The robot briefly glanced away, staring towards the mountains as if they held the answers he sought. "I was not destined to be your ally. I was programmed to watch and defeat Shadow the Hedgehog. In the original timeline, I was destined to defeat him. Should I feel guilt over that?"

Confusion overlapped Amy's sorrow, looking up to the robot with narrowed eyes. "I… Don't think so. If that never happened in this timeline. Shadow said it himself that he doesn't care about what you did."

Omega pressed on. "Does time heal emotional wounds?"

"Eventually," Amy admitted in a low whisper.

The mechanical cogs in Omega's head appeared to turn, his programming bringing up the answers he sought. "No one within our circle has perished in this new timeline. Even if we are aware of past events, logic dictates we have a chance to save this timeline. If we can stop Mephiles, the universe will be safe. This will create time for us to grieve. Am I correct?"

His final question came as more curiosity than condescending. The words sunk through Amy's ears, her bright eyes beginning to return. She paused to wipe away the final tear escaping her eye, summoning the strength to stand on her feet. "I… Guess so."

"Then let us make haste," Omega suggested, pushing himself to stand by her side. "There will be plenty of time to grieve afterwards. Our allies are counting on our success."

The pink hedgehog stood with a questionable face, pondering the robot's unique way of comforting her. Without warning, she softly giggled, a flicker of hope resonating within her. Out of her circle of friends, never did she imagine Omega would be the one to console her. With renewed strength, Amy leaned down to grab her trusty hammer, fired up and ready to go.

"You're right, Omega," Amy said, her bubbly tone returning. "Let's go find this creep!"

"Allow me to save you both the trouble."

Amy let out a startled yelp as Omega suddenly threw himself forward, catching the powerful fist meant for her. His working arm restrained Mephiles' hand, calling on every ounce of strength to keep the evildoer at bay. His metallic feet dug deep into the ground, twin jets propelling him forward. Swiftly regaining her confidence, Amy swung her hammer forward. The flat end drove against Mephiles' skull with enough momentum to hurl the dark being away. He regained balance mid-air, returning his sinister glare towards the duo.

"That was for Sonic!" Amy exclaimed, reeling back her hammer to strike again.

Omega wasted no time in apprehending the threat. His working forearm sprung open, revealing the small gun barrels once more. Spray of pellets shot out and struck their mark, forcing the evildoer to stagger with every direct hit. While the gunshots carried enough weight to force him back, none of them penetrated his powerful skin. Omega continued firing till a small icon appeared within his vision. No more pellets escaped the barrels, only empty clicks filled the air.

Mephiles slumped forward, the motions suggesting he was vaguely amused by the attack. "Shadow was right to distrust you. Even if you stop me here, do you think he will ever trust you again?"

Omega tucked the gun barrels back in their place. His wrist shifted inside, revealing his laser arm cannon once more. Plasma energy slowly formed within the giant barrel. As more energy gathered and grew unstable, his circuitry overloaded, bursting with raw energy. His head rotated a full one hundred and eighty degrees, locking eyes with the concerned hedgehog. "You may wish to stand back."

Amy peered back and forth between them before choosing wisely to follow his commands. She jumped behind the nearest boulder, sitting down and cupping both arms against her head. Omega threw his gaze forward towards the one who mimicked his friend's appearance. He bellowed at the top of his mechanical lungs, letting his rage be known.

A giant explosion ignited from his cannons into the evildoer. As the point of impact engulfed Mephiles whole, hundreds of smaller beams sprouted from the ground, striking Mephiles from several directions. Omega's arm vibrated with intensity, static filling his vision as his circuits overloaded. Warning signs beeped sharply through his motorized brain, urging the robot to cease firing. Omega refused to obey his own programming, pressing forward till his opponent was no more.

Amy clenched her eyes shut the whole time, hands pressed against her ears as the world around her shook with intensity. Seconds turned into hours till the land around her finally settled, the beams that lit up the area faded away into the night. She slowly peaked her eyes open, forcing herself to glance around the safety of the boulder.

Where Mephiles once stood was the silver Chaos Emerald resting within the destroyed landscape. But her focus was on the lifeless robot laying buried deep within the crater. Smoke steamed from his mechanical joints, darkness replacing his blazing red orbs. She hurriedly raced forward and dropped to her knees.

"Omega?" Amy whispered, nudging him ever so slightly lest she burned her hand against his hot metallic frame. Fresh tears threatened to fill her eyes once more. "Please say something, Omega."

She yelped with surprise as Omega's red orbs lit up once more, gazing towards the night air. Static continued to fill his electronic vision, his systems slowly resetting to their natural state. Multiple diagnostics filtered through his vision, alerting him of several critical areas requiring immediate maintenance. Fortunately, his voice box remained intact, and he had one thing to say.

"Pain sensors activated: ow."

Refiled etched Amy's eyes, grateful she didn't have to relieve the death of another compassionate robot. "You did it, Omega."

The robot's mechanical limbs recovered their functions, pushing himself up with some effort. While he regained his balance with some difficulty, Amy rushed forward to claim the lifeless gemstone before it was lost to the night.

"Chaos Emerald successfully retrieved," Omega declared.

"That makes one of them at least," Amy said, great concern filling her expression once more. "I hope the others are safe."

Shadow swore the universe had it in for him. Out of all the places in the world, of a choice from seven portals, why did he have to end up here? It took every ounce of willpower for him not to screech with rage. The endless hallways once filled with brilliant scientists were no more. Silence filled the ARK, his only form of company were the stars outside. He briefly glanced through the window, entwined by the vast universe. Above he saw a serenade of heaven's black supporting a chorus of stars.

He pushed through memories of the past, choosing to keep his focus in the present. Mephiles. He lured him here to get under his skin. It wouldn't work. Shadow marched through the empty hallways, his jet skates creating echoes that reverberated throughout the station. The lights that once lit up this station were no more, basking his former home in darkness. Mephiles was here somewhere, well within his element.

Shadow relished in giving Mephiles a taste of his own medicine. The manipulator had been manipulated. His first mistake had been revealing their past memories. Now Shadow held vast knowledge of the evil being. He knew how he thought, what move he would make. The second mistake had been not to safeguard the Chaos Emeralds. Their lifeforce could never be truly drained. Their presence would always be there, a whisper, but very much there.

The Sol Emerald rested comfortably within his grasp. Shadow examined the unique gemstone, noting the difference in power it radiated. Snatching the Emerald from Blaze wasn't his idea of getting things done, but he needed a hidden ace to overpower Mephiles in their next battle. Her eyes now longer sparked with that sheer determination. The fight had been knocked out of the mighty princess. Whether or not she could truly overcome these events remained to be seen. Despite how he went about it, their end goal was the same.

Mephiles had to be stopped.

"Welcome home, Shadow."

A loud gasp escaped Shadow, his feet grinding to a halt. There was no mistaking her youthful voice. The impassive exterior he carried for so long faded away, mounted by too many emotions for him to grasp. He dared not to turn around, unwilling to force himself into a nightmare. But his body had a will of its own. He swiveled around slowly, filled with relief and shock.

There she stood, carrying a warm presence with innocent eyes. By her side was the great scientist responsible for his existence. She was exactly how he remembered: a kind gaze, sunshine hair, not a single angry bone within her body. Gerald had his hand resting softly against her back, admiring the dark hedgehog with pride under those tinted glasses.

Shadow could do nothing but mutter her name. "M-Maria."

"We've been waiting for you, Shadow," Maria warmly replied.

"We're almost there, Shadow," Gerald added with pride. "The cure for Maria's illness. Soon you both will be able to visit the planet."

Maria outstretched her hand for him to take. "Come on, Shadow! Let's go look at the Earth!"

Shadow froze in place, briefly glancing towards her outstretched arm. His chest tightened, breathing intensifying. The darkness that clouded his shackled heart faded, a light of hope beginning to take its place. The hurt was still there. His heart still stung and gnawed. No matter how many times Shadow told himself he moved on from the past, the grief he held for her loss would never fade. A hole in his heart, scarred and old, continued sending ghostly pains through his chest. Though time had healed the gaping hole, Shadow feared it would never properly close.

Being here, the place he came to both love and hate, reminded him of why he was here in this universe. He longed to reunite with Maria, to see her marveling at the stars that were just out of reach behind the station's glass windows. But that would never come to be. He would live forever, watching the world go by till eternity. Others would fade away and die. Shadow knew this all to once, silently dreading the day he would lose Rouge. Death came for them all in the end.

"Maria," Shadow began, glancing up at her gentle smile, one that could brighten his mood even during the worst days. "I… Couldn't save you. That's something I have to live with forever. I can't bring you back. But I can uphold the promise I made to you. This world will live on."

Her smile faded, a flash of frustration creased her brow and sparked in her eye, letting him know that answer was not appreciated. That was all he needed to see to know he made the right choice. Shadow turned around, ignoring her pleas to come with them. Pain no longer filled his eyes. In their place was the fury of a mighty warrior, locking eyes with the evildoer lingering within the darkness. His hand holding the Sol Emerald raised, its raw powering coursing down his arm. Trying to use illusions of his best friend against him. That was Mephiles' last mistake. Maria's name didn't fill him with despair.

Her name kept him fighting.

"I am not defined by my past," Shadow proudly declared. "My future is my own. I will see the world to the end. You won't."

Mephiles clutched his hands with vexation, that motion betraying the cold exterior filling his eyes. "I am eternal, Shadow. You cannot stop me. Even if you destroy me here, my other selves will triumph."

Shadow scoffed, a smirk creeping onto his muzzle once more. "And I'll be waiting."

The power of the Sol Emerald increased Shadow's strength greatly, allowing him to burst forward with pure determination. His freed hand reared back, hand clenching tightly with his knuckles popping. He roared with conviction, allowing his rage to engfull him whole. Sol energy surrounded his person, an orange streak trailing down the empty hallways.

A direct hit shattered the evil being into atoms, the foundation of the station shaking from the ferocious force. Shadow stopped just as fast as he moved, free hand catching the purple Chaos Emerald before it made contact with the ground. The energy faded from his person, but the fury within his gaze never left. This was but a temporary victory.

As he peered down at the two different Emeralds in his hands, Shadow looked through the glass window, greeted by the vast universe. Somewhere in space, at home in the infinite continuum, was the one who threatened to erase everything. If the Grim Reaper was present, even he would cower at the wrath in Shadow's gaze.

"I'm coming for you, Mephiles."

Chapter Text

"At last! You are finally released at last! How I have longed to be at your side! IBLIS!"

Mephiles may be incapable of altering his appearance, but even those who cowered before him would see the joy filling his gaze. His awkward steps were no more, marching forward with newfound determination. The negative energy of the Chaos Emeralds slowly formed within his hands, the keys to unlocking their bond. Like a toddler wanting their toy, his claw hands eagerly outstretched to claim what was once lost.

"No!"

Mephiles yanked his head back, refraining himself from scoffing at the would-be threat. Silver awkwardly flew forward, cyan energy fading around his person, struggling to call on the mighty power he once wielded. The evildoer's arm radiated with energy, the scorching blade still surrounded his forearm. In a single fluid motion, Mephiles spun around and aggressively swiped the blade. A cry of anguish escaped Silver as the blade seared clean through his chest. His powers faded, dropping the future warrior from the air. Silver landed against the ground with a sickening thud, head dropping limp against the hard pavement.

"SILVER!" Blaze screeched, forcing herself to run to his aid.

The quick movement forced her injury to intensify once more, but Blaze refused to let it control her. Even as her body cried for her to stop moving, Blaze persevered and rushed to her friend's side. She dropped to her knees, her arms wrapping tightly around the motionless hedgehog. She dragged him to her lap, one arm supporting his head, the other examining his wound.

Mephiles' blade carved clean through the surface of his torso, tearing several chunks of chest fur, leaving a diagonal line in its place. No blood seeped through the large cut; the scorching heat had instantly cauterized the wound. Her hand delicately brushed against his chest, small relief latching onto her expression. Mephiles failed to cut deep enough to strike any vital areas. His attack was swift, merely trying to get Silver out of the way, too immersed by the Flames of Disaster lingering above to deal the killing blow.

A small groan grabbed Blaze's attention, releasing the breath her lungs suppressed. His eyes opened to meet her own. The reunited friends gazed towards one another in silence, unsure on what to say during their final moments together. Silver hated the sadness held within her once fiery gaze. Dried tears stained her golden eyes, pupils dilated from releasing her bottled up emotions after so long.

He shakily raised his own hand, fingers trembling with fright. "Blaze… Why?"

Without shifting her gaze, Blaze grasped his hand within her own. Her voice strained with every word, the great authority she once carried was no more. Distraught had taken its place. "I couldn't let you die, Silver."

Silver's eyes held great agony, not for the wound that scorched his body. The emotional pain of failing to save their world once more seeped out within his words. "But you said we had to save the world, no matter the cost."

With a brief rueful laugh, she leaned forward and pressed her temple against his own, fresh tears dripping against his face. "I guess we're both fools then."

Uncaring of what was to come next, the friends embraced each other closely in their final moments. Nothing else mattered to them anymore. Solaris would become whole once again. The whole universe would cower at the Sun God's might. The hot rays of the flames filled Mephiles with a sense of warmth, brightening his otherwise cold heart. In this quiet moment, when all the universe is put on pause, nothing could take away this moment of glee.

Or so he thought.

From the barren streets came the roaring glow of Sol Control. The bright light faded away, revealing the return of the Ultimate Life Form. Proudly carrying himself with no fear or doubt, Shadow gritted his teeth, hellbent on exacting revenge for the evildoer's actions on the ARK.

Mephiles halted to an abrupt stop, shock filling his once lifeless gaze. "You."

Shadow refused to take his eyes away, matching the evildoer's terrifying gaze with his own. With a confident grin, he revealed the Sol Emerald held tightly within his grasp. "Surprised?"

"Impossible," Mephiles snarled, momentarily taken away from his end goal. "The Emeralds were nullified!"

"You forget, Mephiles. I radiate with Chaos energy," Shadow calmly explained, his free arm raising with a familiar glow coursing down his arm. "Sol Control!"

A bathing glow engulfed the Flames of Disaster, forcing it to slowly become transparent. Panic filled Mephiles' once stoic demeanor, forcing him to charge forward in a haste to save his other half. Dark energy surrounded his person, propelling Mephiles with speed to surpass even Shadow's. His clawed hand stretched out, swiping at where his other half once lay.

"NO!" Mephiles bellowed, frantically searching around the surrounding area for the Flames of Disaster. Ruined buildings stretched out for miles. There was no sign of his other half in any direction. He clutched both hands, claws piercing through his own flesh, arms shaking with rage.

He shot around and charged forward, stopping just a few feet from the grinning hedgehog. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHERE IS IBLIS?!"

"You're smart," Shadow responded calmly, his grin further infuriating the dark being. "Figure it out."

No longer holding his indomitable composure, Mephiles reared back his arm. Dark energy swarmed around his wrist, great fury filling his once lifeless gaze. His raging fist directly struck against Shadow's arm. While the hedgehog had thrown up his guard to cushion the blow, the weight behind the strike carried enough force to launch him away. Shadow collided against the nearest building, breaking through the weakened cement wall with ease.

Unwilling to let this act of defiance go unpunished, Mephiles pursued his opponent. His claw hand grasped Shadow's quills, forcing the Ultimate Life Form to meet his fury. His voice dropped an octave lower, leering forward to assert his dominance. "Your death will be slow and excruciating. Tell me what you have done with Iblis!"

Despite the extensive attack, Shadow refused to be intimidated. Though blood slowly seeped through the corner of his mouth, his grin never wavered. "Do your worst."

Mephiles' brow furrowed, hissing sharply at the opposition. "Poor choice of words, Shadow. As soon as I am finished with you, the rest of your friends will be begging for death's sweet release. Shall I start with Rouge?"

Shadow's frown darkened. While Mephiles gripped his quills, Shadow threw up his knee, striking underneath the evildoer's jaw. Freed from the death grip, the dark hedgehog bounced forward and tackled Mephiles out of the ruined building. Taking advantage of the momentum, Shadow bounced away and threw a single Chaos Spear forward. The powerful projectile did nothing to damage Mephiles', though it served its purpose to launch the monster away. Upon hitting the inside of a deserted bakery, Shadow snapped his fingers and quickly formed another Chaos Spear. The powerful projectile struck the support beam, forcing the upper levels to give way and collapse, burying the evildoer in hundreds of debris.

With temporary breathing space, Shadow pivoted on his heels and skated over towards the despondent duo. The two paid no attention to the altercation. Blaze continued to cradle the injured hedgehog within her arms. He reached them in due time, preparing to give them another lecture. But as his eyes scanned them, he took note of the future warrior's injury.

"Is he alright?" Shadow cautiously asked, trying to conceal the concern in his voice.

Blaze raised her head, fresh tears still within her once furious gaze. "No… He's not…"

Shadow arched his eyebrow, noting the future warrior was still breathing. He swiftly glanced back with a sense of urgency. His attack was only a temporary solution to keep the dark being at bay. "We don't have long. Where are the others?"

"I don't know," Blaze admitted, her gaze shifting away.

Using every ounce of self-restraint he carried to hold his tongue, he leaned down and gripped her shoulder with some force. "Where's the proud guardian I've come to know?"

While she initially winced at his solid grip, Blaze returned her focus to him once more. "I was never a guardian."

"And yet, you still did your duty proudly," Shadow firmly stated. "Princess or not, you're still Blaze the Cat. It's not over yet."

She glanced down at the Sol Emerald presented to her. With slow hesitation, she moved her hand that once comforted Silver to wrap her fingers around the powerful gem. Its beautiful energy radiated once more, vibrating with life. It called to her, begging to be protected from harm. Its presence comforted her, the raw energy filling the princess with sincerity.

While she contemplated on what to do, Shadow placed the lifeless Chaos Emerald to the side. His shoulders tensed, hands tightening with anticipation. He stood up straight and turned around to confront the approaching threat. "I'll keep him busy for as long as I can."

A fearless warrior to the end, Shadow watched intently as the loose rubble burst from the structure. The monster that tormented them for so long emerged from the shadows once more, his raging dark energy letting his fury be known. Shadow bellowed fearlessly to his presence, bursting forward with Chaos energy swarming his person. Their fists met halfway, the combined force unloading a colossal burst of force in its wake. Energy forms of lightning streamed from their combined impact, knocking up chunks of the streets throughout the area. Their fight took them towards the air, leaving nothing but orange and purple streaks in their wake.

Blaze repeatedly shifted her focus between Silver, the Sol Emerald and the fight lingering within the distance. Even from afar, she could feel the bursts of energy vibrating from their battle. As much as she wished for others to take her place in this moment, Blaze knew Shadow could not defeat Mephiles alone. Even with his mighty energy, the dark being's power greatly outweighed his own.

"Silver," she whispered, bringing his half-conscious state back to her eyes. "What do I do?"

Despite his burning chest and disoriented gaze, confusion plastered his expression. It was always he who turned to her for advice, not the other way around. His trembling hand found her own once more. "Fight."

She squeezed his hand in return. Her mouth opened to reply, but the words she prepared to give died on her tongue. Approaching footsteps captivated her focus. Blaze pushed herself to stand, all the while being mindful of how she let Silver go. The flames of her soul returned, igniting her fists. Mixed feelings engraved her face as the approaching figures reached them. A lone echidna rushed forward, holding a large gemstone above his head. Hovering closely by was the young fox, who carried a small raccoon securely in his arms.

Silver pushed himself to lean up, using a nearby car for support. One hand clutched at his chest, the other grasping the lifeless Chaos Emerald. As he matched Blaze's gaze, shock and relief carried within his voice. "Guys…"

Knuckles set the Master Emerald down with great care and consideration. "Sorry we're late."

Tails planted his feet on the ground and let Marine down. Without hesitation, she raced forward and threw herself into the princess' arms. Blaze extinguished her flames just before she caught Marine. The young raccoon unknowingly forced pressure onto Blaze's wound, but the princess made no effort to push her away. Intentionally or not, her hands found themselves resting on Marine's shoulders.

Meanwhile, Tails hunched down to Silver's side, taking note of the large wound. "Silver?! Are you okay?!"

The future warrior softly nodded. "It's not as bad as it looks."

"Good to see you, Blaze!" Marine exclaimed, her smile as bright as Blaze remembered.

Though Blaze tried to hold a smile, the sadness in her eyes betrayed the motion. "Marine… I'm not who you think I am."

Marine's smile never faded. She nodded in return. "I know."

Blaze took a step back in surprise. "You do?"

"Yeah, you're even greater than I thought you were!" Marine enthusiastically exclaimed. "I always thought you were just some moody, spoiled princess! But you're awesome, Blaze!"

Her usual frown almost took its place at the comment. But confusion overlapped her expression instead. Several questions raced around her mind at once. "I don't understand. You all know about what Mephiles said?"

"We do," Tails confirmed. "It's a bit of a long story."

"How did you guys get here?" Silver questioned.

"Also a long story," Knuckles responded, keeping focus on the giant gemstone. "Be quiet for a minute. I need to focus…"

The echidna's eyes closed, both hands resting delicately against the Master Emerald. His breathing softened, the world around him fading away. Nothing else mattered at this moment but the Emerald. The others watched in while unknowingly suppressing their breaths. Soft glows surrounded the mighty gemstone, its presence becoming a beacon of hope amongst the darkness. Silver briefly peered down at the Chaos Emerald, a hint of a smile threatening to reveal itself. Its gentle glow returned, radiating with pure energy.

Several glowing silhouettes materialized into existence, surrounding the small group. The effects of Chaos Control slowly faded away. In its place were several familiar faces, each holding one of the seven Chaos Emeralds within their palms. The group briefly glanced around, both surprised and relieved to be back in Crisis City.

"We're back," Sonic muttered, bringing his emerald gaze to the giant gemstone and its protector. "Knuckles? Tails? Marine?"

"Sonic, you're okay!" Tails exclaimed with relief.

"Don't the rest of us get a greeting?" Rouge teased with a small wink, retaining her witty personality once more.

Amy glanced down at the Chaos Emerald within her hand, its gentle glow reflecting softly on her eyes. "They're back to life!"

"You're welcome," Knuckles said drily, though his growing smirk betrayed his false annoyance. "Everyone alright?"

"Better now that we're back," Rouge admitted. Her eyes briefly scanned the small group, noting the absence of her closest friend. "Where's Shadow?"

No one needed to answer as the nearby commotion captured their attention. Everyone collectively shifted their gaze towards the skies. Mephiles, the one who was responsible for these events, furiously pressed his fists into the dark hedgehog. Shadow held his arms forward, desperately trying to cushion the powerful blows. Unlike their previous encounters, Mephile held nothing back any longer. He was out for blood. Shadow's blood. As powerful as Shadow may be, even he could not stand up to Mephiles' full power. After all, he was half of a Sun God for a reason. One final punch polluted the air with intensity, sending the dark hedgehog into another building.

He crashed through with a painful yell. His screams stopped short upon smashing through the window, now buried within scattered bricks and other damaged furniture. Temporarily relieved from the battle, Mephiles threw his furious gaze to the large team below. This motion caused everyone to tighten their stances, readying for a rematch. Upon noticing the return of the Chaos Emeralds' powers, his fury awakened in the form of darkened energy.

Scorching power surrounded his palms, ready to unleash his hidden rage. "Inadequate delinquents! You insignificant specks of feculent scum! How dare you defy me!"

Scoffing at the remark, Sonic placed one hand to his chest as if he were offended. "How dare we? How dare you with the fancy words!"

This only seemed to further enrage Mephiles. "This is nothing but an inconvenience! You only delay the inevitable!"

"Hey!"

Mephiles stopped short of attacking the group, throwing his gaze towards the source of the voice. His once voidless gaze widened with shock, awestruck at the defiance. Shadow's gloved hand emerged from the rubble, pulling himself out of the destruction. He lightly stumbled forward, one arm clenched tightly around his torso. Cuts and scrapes surrounded his person, his gloves slightly torn. His injured appearance concerned everyone greatly, but no one was more worried than Rouge. Her eyes widened, terrified he was about to meet his end for good. Shadow's body trembled, legs threatening to give out at any moment. Though his body ached and sent anguished signals to his mind, Shadow's willpower could never be broken. Death itself would cower at his resilience.

Defiant to the end, Shadow matched Mephiles' awestruck appearance with his furious gaze. "Is that all you got?"

Mephiles responded with a soft growl. Just what did he have to do to put Shadow down for good? "You're going to wish you had died with Maria."

The threat only served to strengthen the Ultimate Life Form's resolution. As he returned to the streets, Shadow wrapped one hand over his wrist, detaching one of the Inhibitor Rings. It dropped to the ground with a soft glow, allowing further power to course through his person. The second ring followed suit, freeing Shadow of the shackles that held his true power at bay once more.

The greater power within let itself be known, surrounding the dark hedgehog with an impenetrable barrier very few would dare to challenge. Chaos energy surrounded the hedgehog, howling throughout the air with a sickening crack of lightning. Replenished with newfound strength, Shadow's cries of determination filled the air around them. He launched forward, his speed greatly amplified to the point only the likes of Sonic and Blaze could keep up. He curled into a ball, pressing himself tightly against the dark being. Mephiles caught the spinning fighter, albeit with some difficulty, struggling to hold the furious dark hedgehog at bay. His defense finally failed, allowing Shadow to push through and send the two of them crashing into the streets below.

"We have to help him!" Amy declared, preparing to charge forward with her trusty hammer.

Before she could do so, Sonic's hands gripped her shoulders, silently urging her to reconsider. Shade and Espio mirrored his actions, both of them blocking Rouge from trying to intervene.

"We can't, Amy," Sonic hesitantly admitted. "Shadow's barely holding his own as it is. Do you think any of us could do better?"

Awestruck by the once confident hedgehog, Amy's jaw dropped. "But… We can't just do nothing!"

"We're gonna use the Chaos Emeralds," Sonic reassured, turning towards the guardian for help. "Knuckles."

Sonic's eyes spoke the words he didn't need to say. Knuckles caught on, returning his focus to the mighty gemstone once more. While not particularly fond of abusing its power for personal gain, the extreme circumstances forced him to take drastic measures. His namesakes gently rested against the Master Emerald as he recited the chant of his ancestors. "The servers are the seven Chaos. Chaos is power, power is enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos..."

The others waited with anticipation, questioning what was to come next. If the Chaos Emeralds power had already been restored, what else could the Master Emerald do for them? While Knuckles focused on his chant, another sickening roar filled the air around them.

Silver's ears stung at the sensitization, the familiar roaring forcing him perk up. "Is that… What I think it is?"

Tails hesitantly flew into the air for a better perspective, his namesakes twirling softly behind. As he overpassed the buildings, he lowered his goggles over his head. The goggles, also designed as a pair of binoculars, allowed the young scientist to see within the distance. His finger delicately pressed the button on the side, zooming in towards the disturbance.

His face suddenly went pale, heart sinking deep within his stomach. A humanoid being of magma and rock loomed over the city within the distance. Its two large arms and legs dripped with scorching lava. Two horns sprouted from its armored head. Its three reptilian eyes scanned the city for fresh prey. Unlike its other half, this monster had no conscious, only predatory instincts. No real thoughts. Only aggression.

"Iblis," Tails muttered, lips beginning to quiver in fright.

The giant creature evolved once more. Two bat-like wings burst from its back, carrying the giant monstrosity over the ruined city. Like a demon from Hell, it came with a vengeance. Terrified to gaze upon the monster any further, Tails quickly threw his goggles up and returned back to the others. His terrified expression immediately caught their attention, confirming their suspicions.

"It's him," Tails whispered. "He's… Coming."

Amy gently wrapped her arms around Tails, comforting the young fox. The others exchanged glances, realizing the end of the universe was approaching if they didn't act now.

Sonic frowned, shielding his own concerns with determination. "We can't let Mephiles and Iblis join up. If they do, it's game over."

Shade interjected. "But I thought Mephiles said he could only join with Iblis if he was born anew. Isn't the danger of Solaris over now?"

While her points were valid, Sonic shook his head. "Either way, they have to be stopped. Let's not risk it."

They needn't wait any longer as Knuckles finally stepped back from the Master Emerald, mentally drained from the intense concentration. He gazed back to the restless group. "We're ready."

Everyone's gaze collectively shifted to the seven Chaos Emeralds, watching as they escaped their grasp and reached the center of the Master Emerald. Their bright lights illuminated the area with more shades of color than a rainbow. What was about to bestow upon them was a rare honor only few had witnessed. The Chaos Emeralds suddenly expanded, reaching half the size of the Master Emerald. The much larger gemstones gently pressed against the ground, making their precedence well-known while housing extraordinary power. All except for Sonic and Knuckles marveled at the incredible transformation.

The Super Emeralds were summoned once more.

"Whoa," Rouge gasped, her heart pounding with excitement. "I… Never knew they could do that."

"I could write a book on what you don't know, Rouge," Knuckles chuckled, shifting his focus to the grinning blue hedgehog. "Better make it fast, Sonic. Go ahead and transform."

Sonic shook his head. "Nope."

Not the answer they expected to hear, everyone's jaws dropped at the declaration with mixed reactions. Some were shocked, others were disappointed and the small majority were annoyed. There was a time and place for a joke. This was not one of them.

"I'm not going to fight Mephiles or Iblis," Sonic calmly explained, shifting his attention to his friends from the future. "You guys are."

Silver and Blaze exchanged confused glances, uncertain of the blue hedgehog's intentions. Sonic relished in battle, a responsibility he carried with great pride. The reunited friends were clearly in no state to battle, both physically and mentally.

"Sonic," Silver muttered, the doubt he carried becoming obvious in his tone.

"You guys won't be able to move past this if you don't confront them now," Sonic elaborated, both arms now folding together. "I know it's hard. But I promise it'll all work out."

Overwhelmed with too many emotions, Silver and Blaze shakily stood to their feet. No one could have predicted how tonight would have turned out. To learn your whole lives had been nothing but a lie could drive even the strongest to madness. The ones responsible for robbing their lives were but a short distance away on either side. It all came down to this moment.

Silver, still with one hand clutching his wound, returned his disheartened gaze to the blue hedgehog. "I… Don't know how to transform. You did it for me last time."

"It's easy, Silver," Sonic assured. "Just concentrate on positive thoughts. Think about protecting your friends. Protecting everything you care for. You're pure of heart. Both of you are."

Blaze held her tongue, her arm pressing against her injury. As her once fiery gaze continued to hold uncertainty, the young raccoon eagerly tugged on her free hand. She glanced down, barely having time to avoid the satchel being forced against her chest.

Marine's confidence in her friend didn't waver in the slightest. Her usual loud and thick accent lowered to a soft, encouraging whisper. "You can do it, Blaze!"

Curious as to what the others thought, Silver and Blaze honed their eyes to their closest friends, who gave up everything to help them out of the goodness of their hearts. Amy and Tails gave encouraging smiles, Rouge softly nodded, Knuckles and Shade dipped their heads reassuringly, Big offered a small smile, Omega clenched his metallic claw and the Chaotix each held a supportive thumbs up. Even Doctor Eggman, a man responsible for countless disasters, let his support be known with a small but noticeable nod. Orbot and Cubot pressed their hands together, silently praying for their victory.

Renewed vigor slowly overpowered Silver's doubts, shoulders becoming tense, head moving upright. His free hand delicately stroked one of the Super Emeralds, feeling the gentle warmth it provided. His softened gaze returned to his best friend. "Blaze… Will you fight with me one more time?"

The princess drifted her focus to the satchel within her hands, delicately opening the flaps. The Sol Emeralds within greeted her, their powerful presence reigniting the fire in her heart. No matter what Mephiles may say, she was still Princess Blaze the Cat. Mighty guardian of the Sol Emeralds, ruler of the Sol Empire. Nobody could ever take that away from her.

Her stance tightened, carrying her royal status proudly. She threw her gaze to Silver, her golden eyes carrying that frightening fury once more. "Always."

With affirmed agreements, the two prepared themselves for their final battle. Everyone stepped back with anticipation, knowing what was about to come. Silver moved into the center of the Super Emeralds, arms outstretched with his eyes held shut. He blocked out all negative thoughts of failure, pushing them to the back of his mind. He focused on the ones he cared for, calling on that urge to protect them from harm. Soft energy slowly radiated within his person.

Silver lost himself in the flow of the moment, becoming oblivious to his drastic change of appearance. His silver-white fur morphed golden, his white mane becoming a darker shade of the same color. His once golden eyes shifted into ruby red, his sprung out quills spread forward. The cyan glow radiating on his gloves, cuffs and boots became yellow. The power of the Super Emerald intensified, forcing Silver to clutch his hands. More power coursed down his person. Flashes of several colors flowed upwards, large flashing sparkings covering him on all sides. With a mighty roar, Silver threw himself into the air, leaving several afterimages within his wake.

The Sol Emeralds came to Blaze's aid once more, further igniting the fires within her heart. Her hands clenched tightly, feeling an overwhelming surge of lava fill her veins. Her beautiful, lavender fur morphed pink, tailcoat turning red with the bottom rim becoming a golden shade of yellow. The fur ends of her gloves, shoes and tip of her tail ignited with raging flames. The great authority within her voice returned as if it were never gone, reigniting the flames of her soul. She threw her eyes open and unleashed a terrifying roar, one that would make the Gods bow before her might. Flames surrounded her, threatening to disintegrate anyone who would dare to make contact. She joined her closest friend within the air, standing by his side once more.

The others marveled at the incredible transformations, as if they had just witnessed the birth of furious Gods looking to exact revenge on sinful. The fury they carried could be seen for miles. They towered above their friends, who were silently encouraging their victory. The only one who didn't wish them luck was the blue hedgehog. He already knew the outcome of this fight.

Sonic offered a supportive thumbs up. "Give it all you got, guys."

Despite the raging energies drowning out the world around them, his kind words seeped through. In the face of despair, they were the only thing standing in evil's path. Darn right they were going to give it their all. With silent agreements, Hyper Silver and Burning Blaze burst through the darkened skies, leaving traces of their presence within the air. In the darkness that claimed this world was their light.

Mephiles repeatedly pressed his fist into Shadow's head, determined to rid the thorn in his side once and for all. The Ultimate Life Form's incredible resilience finally gave out. His arms dropped to one side, head becoming limp from the extensive punishment. The limit breaking power he once wielded was no more, dying as fast as it came. Aside from a few cuts and bruises, Mephiles had taken no significant damage. He truly was immortal.

With one more devastating strike, he sent the airborne Shadow towards the ground below. A frustrated growl escaped his lack of mouth, no longer wielding his incredible composure. His claw hand reared back, channeling the deepest parts of his might to his palm. Darkened flames surrounded his arm, forming a ball of energy within his grasp. "I give you… A one way ticket to oblivion."

The scorching blast stopped short of leaving his palm. Mephiles darted his head to one side, eyes briefly widening with surprise. Burning Blaze restrained his wrist with one hand, making no effort to contain her growing rage. Mephiles matched her intimidating stare, his voidless eyes filled with equal anger. He growled and yanked his hand back, unable to free himself from her incredible grip. Mephiles briefly glanced down, taking note of the large hole in her tailcoat where he had once stabbed her. His free hand jolted forward, striking the critical weakness with devastating force.

Horror briefly plastered his expression. The injury that almost claimed her life was no more. Blaze's stance didn't alter in the slightest, still intently staring him down with rage. Refusing to lose his confidence, Mephiles tightened his fist once more, channeling much of his power into a single strike. He roared and smashed his fist against the feline's cheek, expecting the impact to break his opponent's neck. His punch created a shockwave that rocketed the area upon impact, the whole city block crumbling into pieces. To his further horror, Blaze merely turned her head to one side. Not only did she withstand his punch, she slowly began to push her head towards the front, all while Mephiles held his pressed fist.

Mephiles leaned back, questioning how she could withstand such a devastating blow with little resistance. "What sorcery is this!?"

Blaze calmly raised her hand, her index and middle fingers mere inches from Mephiles' chest. He froze momentarily, confused at the sudden hesitation. Without a chance to retaliate, he had fallen victim to the surprise attack. Blaze tightened her hand into a fist and struck directly against the evildoer's chest. His lungs tightened from the powerful shockwave that followed. Had he been a normal Mobian, Mephiles would be gasping for air.

Returning the same brutality once given to her, Blaze raised her hand and calmly unleashed a burst of flames, launching Mephiles away without a single trace of emotion across her face. Mephiles growled, adjusting his stance while slamming his foot into the ground with frustration. He refused to accept the sudden turn of events of this battle, determined to overcome the fight.

She approached forward calmly. All the torment he forced upon her was no more. "This ends now, Mephiles!"

The dark being stepped back, momentarily disordered from the sudden turn of events. Clutching his hands as raw energy formed, he pushed the power of his crystallized form right to its limits. "The only thing that will end here is YOUR LIFE!"

Few could wield the power Silver held and remain pure. Others would fall to the temptations of power and abuse the Super Emeralds for selfish gains. His kind soul harnessed their gentle nature, giving him incredible powers. No longer did Silver need to use his psychokinesis to remain airborne. The newfound speed allowed Silver to far suppress his previous limitations, bursting through the darkened skies with nothing but sheer determination.

His chest tightened, heart beginning to pound with anticipation. The giant monster that tormented him for so long was vastly approaching, now with an aerial advantage as well. His eyes were his shield and sword, they are the gathering of clouds for a rainfall Iblis would never witness. With a sharp exhale, Silver came to an abrupt hold, swarming with cyan and Chaos energy.

Iblis peered down, all three eyes honing on the raging hedgehog. From those eyes came a sense of lust. Though he was the raging power of Solaris, Silver swore he saw a hint of fear in those eyes. Iblis was a demon, cold and indifferent. The only joy he could feel is the torture of souls. But in those callous eyes came terror. He recognized Silver, the one responsible for defeating him time and time again. It was thanks to this hedgehog's actions he was held incarcerated for so long. Freed from his prison, with nothing but growing rage, Iblis let his fury be known. He screeched at the top of his lungs, an overwhelming wave of bloodlust enveloping the city. His mighty roars carried great weight, forcing the world around him to vibrate with intensity.

The city rumbled with the smell of lava filling the air, all the while Iblis' incoherent screeching claimed the land. Despite the vehemence, Silver refused to budge. He matched Iblis' furious gaze with his own. He was about to fire the demon from Hell, to give Iblis his redundancy papers. His raging powers strengthened, surrounding the hedgehog with blazing energy he could no longer contain.

"IBLIS!" Silver roared, calling on every ounce of energy within. "PREPARE TO MEET YOUR DOOM!"

Iblis responded in turn with a loud snarl, swinging his gigantic fist towards the future warrior. Without blinking, Silver threw out his hand and caught the attack with little movement. He raced forward, striking one of Iblis' eyes with enough force to wake the heavens. Iblis cried out with anguish, clutching its free hand against his face. Enraged, its jaws opened and unleashed scorching flames. Silver swiftly formed a Shield of Light, allowing the flames to safely overpass him in every direction.

His Hyper Form, as powerful as it may be, could not be sustained for long. Silver lacked the experience of wielding the Chaos Emeralds. The Super Emeralds took a great toll on his body, forcing all energy to leave at an accelerated rate. He needed to end this fight quickly, put this monster down for good. As the flames finally dispersed, Silver dropped the shield and charged forward, avoiding Iblis' attempts to grab him. His speed far outweighed the demon's, allowing him to see right through the movements.

Magma boulders sprouted from Iblis' back, restraining the giant rocks with his own telekinetic powers. It hurled the dozens of boulders towards Silver. The future warrior threw out his hands and restrained each boulder within his psychokinesis, hurling them back to the sender. They smashed against Iblis with enough momentum to launch his giant presence back. One of the boulders collided with the side of his skull, forcing Iblis to move his armored hand away.

Silver took advantage of the exposure, hurling forward and smashing his fist into Iblis' second eye. The demon roared once more, bursting flames from his mouth to force Silver away. Growing wise to the hedgehog's strategy, it held one hand over its face, preparing to stop Silver from striking his remaining eye. Silver's hands clenched, cyan energy surrounding him in all directions. The Chaos energy stacked on stop, giving him the appearance of wielding two separate auras. With a deep exhale, Silver closed his eyes and pushed any desire to exact revenge to the pack of his mind. For their victory to be guaranteed, he couldn't afford to waste time prolonging the fight. He longed to make Iblis suffer, to punish him for years of torment. But he pushed his personal desires to the back of his mind, choosing to end the fight now.

Cyan and Chaos energy outlined around his person, shielding Silver against what he was about to do next. His right hand trembled, barely able to hold all inner energy within a single position. He unleashed one final sickening roar and dashed forward, pushing through the wall of flames Iblis formed in a futile attempt to keep him at bay. Instead of going for the other eye, Silver darted toward Iblis' midsection, the only area where molten rock did not shield him.

Silver bursted through the hardened exterior, disappearing from sight. Iblis pressed his hand against the gaping hole in his chest. All three eyes darted around the area, desperate to find the future warrior. A panicked roar soon filled the air as his body crackled with electric tendrils. Several bursts of light pushed through his body. It was the kind of brightness that enchants the eyes to open all the wider and warms the skin.

Iblis clutched its chest, feeling the scorching light that overwhelmed his raging flames, as if he himself was becoming a source of light. The molten rock protecting him cracked away, dropping into the streets below. His body slowly broke away into fragments of raw energy. The mighty flames he carried were extinguished, forcing the powerful demon to slump forward with a painful gasp.

Out from his chest came a burst of light in the form of a raging hedgehog. Molten lava now surrounded Silver, who showed no reaction to the scorching temperatures. While the Chaos energy protected him, his psychokinesis pushed away the flames. The fury in his eyes still remained as he ascended, towering over the defenseless demon. Silver reared back his arms, sustaining enough power for one final attack.

"Iblis," Silver hissed. "Don't you dare think about coming back."

He threw his arms forward to unleash his fury, bathing the demon in his wrath. An ocean of pure essence covered the whole city block, forming a beacon that could be seen for miles. Iblis' anguished roars could be heard from across the universe, its piercing scream filling the air with deafening vibrations. The pureness of Chaos incinerated Iblis, scorching every trace of his being. His screams shifted into terror, almost as if he was begging Silver for mercy. But there would be no mercy. Silver pressed on, refusing to stop till this evil was vanquished from the world for good.

Iblis' screams faded, his cries no longer filling the destroyed city. Silver held on for as long as he could, unwilling to stop till he could do no more. The impact of his strike created a loud ring, audibly for the others. The non-stop ringing burst through his eardrums, but still he held on. His body gave out at last, forcing him to release the wave. Clouds of smoke formed from the impact, blocking Silver's sight from the end result. He held his breath with anticipation, praying the demon was no more.

His Hyper Form still protected him, but he could feel the energy of the Chaos Emeralds leaving him. It was only a matter of minutes before he could no longer sustain the form. The aftermath of his devastating attack cleared at least, revealing the large crater he unintentionally crafted. It pained Silver to cause more damage to his own home, feeling as if he just disrespected the dead. But if Heaven truly did exist, they would be beaming with praise.

Iblis was no more, purified from existence at last. Silver's shoulders slouched, his head slumped forward and his lungs released the suppressed breath. The monster that tormented him since his birth day had been extinguished from existence at last. His eyes closed, feeling like a great weight had just been lifted from his shoulders.

"Master Ikari… Rocco… Rena… Zeta…" Silver muttered the names of his fallen friends, hoping they could finally find peace in death. "I hope I made you proud."

As Blaze relentlessly pressed her raging fists through his defense, Mephiles questioned how events had been turned against him. The isolated years within White Space were for nothing. All that callous planning, all the time he envisioned reuniting with Iblis, had been in vain. This feline, a pitiful girl from a destroyed future, now reigned over him with her scorching flames. Try as he might, he could not do anything to overturn the odds.

In a desperate attempt to turn the tide, while she continued to strike him repeatedly in the temple, he discreetly formed the energetic blade around his arm once more. This time he wouldn't intentionally miss. Timing the right moment to strike, he swiped the powerful blade to one side, intending to slice clean through her neck.

Blaze threw up her arm, cushioning the deadly blade without so much as a blink. "Not this time."

She retaliated by slapping both hands against his temple, holding them firmly in place. The flames of her soul engulfed the evildoer, filling his lifeless gaze with nothing but her scorching fires. While incapable of feeling pain, he recognized the danger and gripped her arms in a futile attempt to pry them away. She didn't let go, she didn't let up. Nothing was going to keep her from stopping him from good.

Seconds turned into hours till her flames finally extinguished. As his sizzling ashes covered his gaze, Blaze spun and drove her heeled shoe directly through his chest, bursting out on the other side. She retrieved her foot, leaving a gaping hole within his torso. He briefly peered down, taking note of the extensive injury. No cries of anguish escaped, yet his eyes carried great concern for what was to come next.

Conjured within her flames once more, Blaze propelled forward and drove her fist into his skull, sending the evildoer crashing through several buildings. The walls failed to slow his descent, crumbling to pieces with every passing second. Before he could make contact with the ground, the princess was already waiting for him. Her arm outstretched, catching Mephiles by the throat. They stopped just short of reaching the others, who watched on with amazement.

Blaze briefly threw back her gaze to them, offering a small nod. Mephiles took advantage of the distraction and struck once more. Despite not looking his way, her hand restrained his own. She slowly turned her furious eyes back to him once more. Those angry eyes were her pain untold, but that pain gifted her strength. She twisted his restrained hand to one side, a loud pop followed within its wake. Some of the others cringed at the sound, yet Mephiles showed no reaction to his broken wrist.

Her free hand outstretched mere inches from his face. Flames danced around her arm, ready to extinguish this evil from the world for good. "It's over, Mephiles."

Mephiles brow furrowed. In one final act of torment, he leered his head forward, welcoming the passion of her flames. "It matters little. My death will not erase your history. You will live the rest of your pitiful existence with the knowledge everything is a lie. I hope your people will come to know their monarch is a fake."

Blaze softly snarled in response, refusing to be haunted by his harsh words anymore. "I'm still their princess and I will forever protect them from monsters like you."

She roared with conviction, engulfing the evildoer that tormented for so long with her mighty flames. The blast of heat soared against Mephiles' body, pushing him against the ground. Jagged rocks and sharp pointed objects poked and prodded into his body, tearing several long gashes across his flesh. He couldn't defend himself from the assault which continued to batter him repeatedly. He winced as the burning sensation continued to course through the core of his being, forcing his body temperature to rise way above his comfortable limits. His opened eyelids couldn't shield his eyes as the heat entered through every crevice of his body, roasting him from the inside out.

The enormous flames could be felt for miles. Everyone stepped back, shielding their eyes from the intensity. Even as the silhouette of Mephiles became ashes, she refused to let up, determined to rid him of her life once and for all. Blaze held on, now throwing her second hand forward, forcing the flames to increase tenfold. Hands vibrated with anxiety, anger seeping through her clenched teeth. She watched as her sleeves returned to their normal colors, the fur end of her gloves losing their flames. Every ounce of reserved energy left her at last.

Unable to sustain her Burning Form any longer, Blaze dropped her hands and collapsed, breathing with intensity. The Sol Emeralds dropped around her, lightly clicking against the scorched ground. She dared to lift her tired gaze, fearing her final attack had not been enough. The flames cleared within seconds, revealing nothing but ashes in all directions. Mephiles was no more, scorched from existence. Relieved and exhausted, Blaze threw herself forward, collapsing fully onto the ground below. The scorched floor smeared her clothing with ashes, darkening her once bright clothing. But she didn't care about keeping a perfect facade at this moment.

"Blaze!"

From the corner of her distorted vision came the others rushing to her aid. Sonic raced forward, carefully scooping the exhausted princess within his arms once more. Orbot and Cubot each carried a fire extinguisher, spraying the small traces of flames lingering around the area. Cubot briefly peered over towards one of the Sol Emeralds, raising his hand to grab it. Marine smacked his hand before he could do so, racing around to grab each of the powerful gems before they were lost. She returned them inside her satchel once more, pausing to stick her tongue out at the robot.

Sonic carefully placed the exhausted princess down, softly shaking her shoulder. "Blaze? You okay?"

She softly groaned in return, pushing through her exhausted vision to be greeted by dozens of sets of eyes looming over her. "Silver… Is he alright?"

Sonic smiled reassuringly in return. "He's great."

Brief confusion overlapped her exhausted expression. From the darkened clouds above came a beacon of hope, like an angel coming to greet them. Hyper Silver descended upon the large group, his vibrant appearance captivating their attention. As his booted feet reached the ground, he relinquished control of the Super Emeralds. The seven powerful gemstones returned to their original state, dropping against the ground. He cared little for their safety, choosing to rush forward to his friend's aid instead.

Noticing the distress growing on his features, Knuckles quickly placed one hand against Silver's shoulder. "She's okay. Just tired."

He sighed with relief, but continued advancing till he was by her side. Sonic moved out of the way, allowing Silver to take his place. He gently placed one arm under her head for support, greeting his best friend with a kind smile. "Hi."

She softly smiled in return. "Hey."

"Mephiles?"

"Gone. Iblis?"

"Also gone."

With a relieved laugh, she gave into her body's demands for rest. Her head slumped to one side, drifting away from reality. Momentary concern filled his gaze, but her peaceful state reassured him she was simply resting. His other arm gently moved under her legs, sweeping Blaze up into his arms. While the power of the Chaos Emeralds refueled his body's energy, it was clear to all he was just as exhausted. But no one dared offer to carry Blaze for him.

While making sure Blaze rested comfortably in his arms, Silver averted gaze to the others. Upon noticing the wounded dark hedgehog carried in Omega's working arm, color faded from his expression. "Is Shadow…?"

"He's too stubborn to die," Rouge half-heartedly reassured. Though her tone carried wit, great concern filled her eyes, fearful for her best friend's health after sustaining his worst injuries yet. Ultimate Life Form or not, whether he could recover from this remained to be seen.

"Talking behind my back again… Rouge?"

All sets of eyes shifted to Shadow. His eyelids opened with a loud groan. The Inhibitor Rings had since been returned to their place, limiting his true power once more.

"Omega," Shadow grunted. "Put me down."

"Omega, don't put him down," Rouge countered, taking charge of her team. "Mr. Grumpy, if you even think about walking, I swear-"

"You'll do what?" Shadow humorously challenged.

A sly grin lifted the corners of her mouth. "Trust me. You don't want to know."

The group laughed in return. Even Doctor Eggman chuckled at the remark, but tried to conceal his joy at their victory. Silence descended upon the group of friends once more. Though their victorious future was secure, now it was just a matter of finding a way to return home. Nobody, not even Silver, knew where in time they were. With the danger cleared, Sonic finally shifted his curious gaze to Knuckles, who had just finished picking up the Chaos Emeralds, trusting their care to Amy. She placed them within her backpack for safekeeping.

Knuckles caught Sonic's stare, forcing his eyebrows to raise. "What do you want?"

"An explanation," Sonic replied. "How did you get here? How did you know about our memories? Who told you where we were?"

With a small eye roll, Knuckles crossed both arms. "Which one of those questions do you want me to answer first?"

"All," Sonic said with a small shrug.

With a surprising chuckle, Knuckles averted his attention to the Master Emerald. "Sonic, there's someone who wants to see you."

Sonic, as well as the others, followed the echidna's gaze. Everyone marveled at the glowing outline of a silhouette emerging from the Master Emerald. Through the gathering light came the form of a familiar princess, who moved forward with gentle strides. As the Master Emerald returned to its subdued state, everyone marveled at the ancient princess before them. The Master Emerald's gentle rays caught Blaze's attention, forcing her to stir awake. Though she lacked the strength to stand on her own, the new face snapped her back to reality.

"Tikal," Sonic softly greeted. "I haven't seen you in, like, forever."

"It is good to see you again, Sonic," Tikal kindly greeted, pausing to peer over the large group admiring her presence. "Hello there, everyone. I am Tikal. Most of you do not know me, but I know much about you."

Her presence sparked mixed reactions. While most of the group turned to Knuckles for an explanation, the rest who were already associated with the kind echidna stood idly by. All except for Shade, who eagerly raced forward to bow with respect.

"It is an honor to meet you, Princess Tikal," Shade greeted. "I have heard so much about you."

Blaze leaned her head forward ever so slightly. "Princess?"

Tikal gestured for her to rise. "Thank you, Shade. And thank you for keeping Knuckles company. He may not say it often, but he deeply cares for you."

Knuckles' cheeks reddened at the remark, forcing himself to turn away before the teasing began. Shade, however, took the compliment with great pride. She took another bow before stepping back to join with the others.

"My friends, I am terribly sorry about everything that has just happened," Tikal said with remorse. "I understand a great pain has been burdened upon you all. If I could have foreseen these events sooner, I would have done more to stop the approaching threat. But the Master Emerald only allows me to see so much."

Sonic's mouth hung open at the revelation, forcing his feet to carry him forward. "You… Knew about Mephiles?"

Tikal nodded. "I was plagued by visions of your old timeline. As soon as I became aware of the catastrophe that would soon come, I crossed the borders between our worlds right away. My bond with the Master Emerald allows me to share memories of your past lives with Knuckles."

Her expression briefly softened, still feeling remorseful for causing the guardian extreme discomfort. But as her kind eyes returned, she continued. "The only hope we had of saving the universe was to bring Knuckles and the Master Emerald here. The Chaos Emeralds were your only chance to defeat Mephiles and Iblis. Though I was surprised by the Sol Emeralds. I have never witnessed such gemstones before, but Marine did well in bringing them here."

She briefly glanced towards said raccoon, who smiled at the praise. Tikal returned the smile and brought her focus to the reunited friends. They held bewilderment within their eyes. Silver continued to hold Blaze within his arms, even as they threatened to buckle at any moment.

"Blaze, Silver. I… Am terribly sorry about everything that has happened," Tikal said regretfully. "You both have gone through so much. Endured such hardships. But against all odds, you won!"

Even with the joy in her tone, Silver and Blaze's expressions still held great sadness. Despite winning the victory against Mephiles, there was nothing they could do to improve the situation of their old home. It was still gone, locked away in a timeline that would never come to be. People were dead in the streets, a once vibrant city now all but destroyed. Those who survived were still living in poverty. This fight was only a short moment of regaining some of their dignity and pride.

"Tikal, is it?" Silver spoke up. She nodded and he continued. "Why is this world still in ruins? I thought everything would have been fixed now."

Her eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I thought you knew?"

Silver shook his head.

Tikal's expression softened, hesitant to reveal the truth. "Silver, time is more complicated than you may think. Whenever you came back to the past to avert a disaster, this didn't fix your future. This created another timeline. There are several timelines that exist out there."

The future warrior's eyes dropped at the revelation, gazing down to one side. "So, there's still a timeline where... Ifrit is still around?"

Tikal nodded, her eyes holding the answer he didn't want to hear. He briefly caught Blaze's sympathetic stare, her hand raising up to gently grasp his arm. He couldn't bring himself to face her, choosing to keep his gaze towards the darkened skies above. His time travel adventures had been in vain all this time, selfishly choosing to stay in different futures he didn't belong in.

Amy raised her hand for permission to speak. "Tikal, how did you guys know we were here?"

"It was thanks to the Master Emerald," Tikal explained. "Chaos Control doesn't just allow us to traverse between worlds. Their power can breach through time and space. This is something you once learned in your old timeline. The Master Emerald harnessed the location of the Chaos Emeralds. Doing so opened up a gateway between your time and this one."

She softly stood to one side, gently waving her hand in a disc-like motion. Everyone stepped back as a circular gateway opened up once more, but this one did not carry any dark presence. It was pure, carrying a gentle aura that welcomed them back. The other side revealed the trees of Floral Forest.

Tikal placed one hand above the other. "Please allow me to take you home. Farewell, my friends."

No one protested the kind offer, eager to leave this desolate land once and for all. With nothing further to say, Tikal pressed her hand against the Master Emerald and returned to solace once more. Her presence softly faded, journeying back to the Heavens to reunite with Chaos. The gateway to home was right there, practically begging them to come back. Yet no one could bring themselves to step forward, silently wondering if it was disrespectful or not.

After what felt like an eternal silence, Eggman's aircraft roared to life once more. Orbot and Cubot jumped inside, eager to return home as well. The good doctor gave a brief wave before launching forward. "Later!"

Sonic frowned at the rude departure, but chuckled soon after. "Well, no use hanging around here. Let's go home, guys."

He stood by the portal, gesturing his arms for dramatic effect. Amy softly giggled, holding Tails' hand as the two friends stepped through the gateway first. Team Dark followed next. Omega still held the protesting Shadow, who was still weakened to forcefully remove himself from the robot's grasp. The Chaotix followed next. Charmy could be heard making a comment about having pizza when they got home. Big followed closely behind them, trusty fishing rod in hand. Knuckles and Shade delicately picked up the Master Emerald, carrying the mighty gemstone through the gateway.

Marine prepared to leave next, pausing to tap her satchel and make sure all the Sol Emeralds were gathered. She stopped just short of stepping her foot inside, waving the friends over. "You cobbers coming, or what?"

"Go on ahead, Marine," Blaze spoke up. "We'll be there shortly."

With a playful salute, Marine bounced forward to the other side. Only three of them remained in this forsaken city now, a place once filled with conversations of friends and loved ones. Only haunting memories filled the barren land now. The pain lacing Silver's features could be seen clear as day. He was never good at masking his feelings. Blaze almost mimicked his grief, awestruck to accept this was once her home as well. Now they were preparing to leave it behind forever.

Sonic waited patiently for the duo to come forward, fighting the urge to instinctively tap his foot against the ground as he usually did. "Guys?"

Snapped back into reality at last, Blaze tugged on Silver's arm to get his attention. "Let's go home, Silver. I… Don't want to be here anymore."

She hadn't intended to offend him with the remark, understanding how hard it would be to leave everything behind. He softly nodded in return. "I… Don't want to be here either."

Without another word, Silver marched through the portal with his best friend secured tightly in his arms. Only Sonic remained on the other side now, casting his gaze to where Mephiles once lay. The one who robbed him of life was no more, fading away into ashes. Though Sonic never wished ill on even his worst enemies, he couldn't deny he was glad Mephiles was dead. With a satisfied sigh, Sonic turned and dashed through the portal. The gateway closed behind them, forever sealing passage to this barren land.

Chapter Text

Upon returning home, everyone questioned if Tikal developed some weird sense of humor. While they had indeed returned to Floral Forest, they were dropped off on the outskirts miles from Amy's home. Despite the setback, the pleasant smell of the wilderness was a welcomed presence. No longer did the harsh blizzard claim the land. The snowstorm was no more, liberating the land from Mother Nature's wrath.

Their eyes welcomed the sunrise, a huge relief from the blackness of night. The sun spreaded her gold in every direction, coming in the way that natural forces do, needing no invitation. Everyone marveled at the sunrise, watching the world wake. The sun ignited to bring warmth to all.

Sonic briefly glanced down at his communicator, eyes briefly widening as the time came into view. The digital clock landed on the sixth mark. "Whoa, talk about pulling an all-nighter. How long were we in there?"

"Long enough," Shadow responded, his gaze not leaving the arriving sun. He absolved the gentle rays, taking comfort in the warmth it provided. Shadow, a darkened hedgehog who preferred to confine himself from others, welcomed the beautiful warm air.

Blaze, who found the strength to walk on her own two feet once more, approached the large cat nearby. "Big. I… I wanted to thank you for saving my life yesterday. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here right now. Thank you, Big."

The large cat smiled. "You're welcome. Please don't go swimming when it's cold anymore."

She opened her mouth to correct him, but decided to let her protests die in the cold air. A soft smile took its place. "I promise I won't."

While the others glanced around the area, Sonic took note of the future warrior's disappointed state. Concerned, he approached and greeted the hedgehog. "What is it, Silver?"

The simple question attracted the attention of the others. There was no response for a moment. He shifted around at the gathering of their friends, people who risked everything to help them. He struggled to maintain eye contact with the blue hedgehog, guilt still lingering from within. Sheepishly, he rubbed one hand through his quills and answered in a low whisper. "I have nowhere to go."

Sonic titled his head, curiosity filling his expression. "What do you mean?"

"Crisis City isn't the same Crisis City I grew up in," Silver explained. "If I returned there now, I'd just be living a lie. For all we know, it would just create another timeline. I can't keep messing with time anymore. All it's done is cause more problems! But… But I can't return to my old life either. It's not there anymore."

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the hedgehog cupped both arms over his head, distraught at the idea of being homeless. The others exchanged glances, uncertain on where to go from here. Of course, his friends posed no issue with him staying in their world if he chose to.

Before anyone offered a solution, Blaze appeared by his side, placing her hand softly over his shoulder. He lowered his arms, locking eyes with his closest friend once more. It felt surreal. To have known each other since they were children, yet remain completely oblivious to their identities for long. But now, with a second chance at life, this was their opportunity to begin anew.

"Silver, if you have nowhere to go, perhaps you would like to come with me," Blaze offered, her tone gentle and sincere. "Back to the Sol Dimension."

Surprised by the kind offer, Silver found himself tongue-tied. There was nothing he would like more than to be by her side, but the guilt that lingered within said otherwise. "Are you sure that's okay? I-I don't want to be a burden."

"Nonsense," Blaze tutted. "You could never be a burden, Silver."

Still uncertain, he turned away from her comforting gaze, slowly rubbing one hand over his arm. "Will it be allowed? I don't want to get you into trouble for breaking the rules."

"And who is going to tell me otherwise? I am the princess, remember?" Blaze reminded, offering the smallest of smiles.

Overwhelmed by the kindness of his best friend, Silver returned the smile. "I would like nothing more, Blaze."

The princess expressed her joy, no longer masking her emotions with that stoic expression of hers. Her gaze shifted towards the rest of their friends, who risked everything to help them in their journey. "Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, Shadow, Marine… All of you... I… I cannot thank you all enough for your friendship. I know we didn't get off on the right foot long ago, but…"

She truly felt at a loss for words. Addressing a large crowd with a rehearsed speech became second nature, but expressing her true feelings was always a difficult feat. Blaze had grown out of her shell long ago, yet there was still a sense of awkwardness to her that made sharing her feelings difficult.

Without needing her thanks, Sonic stepped forward and winked. "You're welcome, Blaze."

"No problem, mate!" Marine added with a supportive thumbs up.

The feline's eyes shifted to one side as Amy sneakily appeared, taking a hold of Silver's hand. "Wait just a minute! You guys aren't going anywhere without celebrating first."

Silver tilted his head. "Celebrating?"

Amy nodded. "You guys have just rediscovered your old lives and beat one of the strongest bad guys ever! We have to have a party!"

While Sonic was more than happy to tag along, the others felt hesitant to accept the offer. Knuckles and Shadow, the quietest of their group, didn't exactly enjoy informal events. Blaze appreciated the offer, but longed to return to the Sol Dimension. Despite their personal desires, no one could refuse the pink hedgehog's request. Her enthusiasm filled their hearts with joy, her kindness too sweet to ignore.

"As long as there's cookies, count me in!" Sonic spoke up.

"Sounds like fun," Silver agreed, becoming quite fond of Amy's home-made treats during previous visits. "I'm up for it!"

The others said nothing but acknowledged the pink hedgehog's request. Once Amy had her heart set on something, no one could change her mind. Sonic knew this all too well from personal experiences. Now they just needed to figure out how to return home. The now absent storm would make traveling easier, but in their exhausted states, nobody was eager to traverse on foot anytime soon.

A soft rumbling caught their attention, the ground beneath them beginning to tremble. Everyone shifted around as the Egg Carrier lingered over the horizon, stopping just short of the small group. The team shifted, preparing to make their stand. Now that Mephiles was taken care of, Doctor Eggman would soon reclaim his throne as the world's most dangerous villain.

The Egg Carrier shifted to one side, hovering just a few feet above the surface. To their surprise, the ship's hanger willingly opened. The doctor himself personally greeted them from the inside, lazily gesturing his hand back. "Need a lift?"

Suspicious of the offer, Sonic crossed both arms while raising a curious eyebrow. "I can't figure you out at times, Eggman."

The doctor shrugged. "It's like I told you before, I am a complicated guy. Now, get inside or get left behind! This fuel isn't cheap, you know!"

The blue hedgehog chuckled, willingly accepting the offer. He shifted his gaze towards the others, reassuring them everything would be fine with a simple wink. While his friends didn't trust Eggman in the slightest, they trusted Sonic, and that was a good enough reason to board the ship. Everyone entered the aircraft, the hanger door closing behind them as it took to the air. Its powerful engines roared to life, the scorching temperatures incinerating the snow beneath them. Finally, they departed from the battleground, ready to leave behind the terrible experience.

Upon returning to Floral Forest Village, the Egg Carrier stopped just short of reaching the ground. Its roaring engines threatened to wake the sleeping neighbors. As the hanger door opened, the others eagerly hopped off out of the Egg Carrier, cushioned by the soft snow.

Sonic paused by the entrance, shifting his gaze towards his longtime nemesis. "I gotta admit, Eggman. I didn't expect you of all people to risk your neck for us."

"Don't flatter yourself," Eggman replied. "We simply shared a common enemy, just like the ARK and Lost Hex. That is all. You better rest up, Sonic. Next time we meet, don't expect any mercy."

Unfazed by the threat, Sonic chuckled while offering a two-fingered salute. "See you later, Egghead."

The blue hedgehog struck a pose before backflipping out of the hanger, landing with style in the snow. Eggman briefly grinned at his nemesis' enthusiasm. Admittedly, the good doctor relished in their rivalry. As much as Sonic drove him insane for thwarting his plans on countless occasions, there was something about their feud he found enticing. In a weird way, they completed each other. Without the other, their lives would be boring.

With a small chuckle, Eggman retreated inside the Egg Carrier. "Till next time, Sonic."

The large aircraft took to the sky once more, departing from the peaceful forest in no time. Some of the group watched on in anticipation, awaiting for the good doctor to doublecross them in an instance. Surprisingly, Eggman kept his word and left the area, racing away into the crystal clear sky. Relieved, everyone retreated inside Amy's house for the warm comfort, escaping the winter air once more. True to her word, Amy hosted a celebration party for everyone, already having hundreds of party accessories ready.

Before long, everyone settled and enjoyed themselves, relishing in the victory. Sonic and Tails chatted to each other in one corner of the room while the latter worked on fixing Omega's damaged arm. Marine hung close by, fascinated by the allied robot. Shadow and Rouge lingered nearby. His extensive injuries forced him to stay seated the whole time. While the dark hedgehog didn't express any signs of enjoyment, he seemed to be contempt hanging idly by with his partner. Rouge, on the other hand, enjoyed the fun, a fresh drink resting in her hands. Knuckles soon joined them, chatting away with the bat in a friendly manner.

Silver happily helped Amy out with providing refreshments. However, the pink hedgehog couldn't help but notice how distracted he seemed. He barely looked at her, keeping his eyes focused on the living room. She raised her eyebrows with curiosity, but decided not to spoil the mood by raising her concerns. Going through so much trauma in a single night would drive the toughest of people insane. He held his composure well, albeit with a noticeable tension he carried.

The Chaotix stuck together in the corner of the living room. Vector took advantage of the large buffet, filling his bottomless stomach with countless snacks. While Charmy encouraged his leader's limitless appetite, Espio sighed with disappointment, quietly retreating to another area of the room for solace.

Along the way he passed Blaze, greeting her with a curt nod. "Blaze."

The princess returned the gesture. "Espio."

As the detective walked by, Blaze leaned against the wall, her eyes absently scanning around the living room. She stood by herself, left to her own thoughts. While far from her old antisocial self, she found herself having no one to talk to. Marine was usually close by to keep her talking, but the young raccoon seemed happy with her new friends. The others took to Marine quite well. Amy especially became quite fond of her, almost as if she were looking through a gateway to her younger self.

Left to her own devices, Blaze resumed her focus to nowhere of interest. A thousand thoughts raced around her mind at once. Fighting her inner feelings was difficult. It was times like this she wished Cream was present. The young rabbit could always bring a smile to her face, even during her worst days. She would happily listen to Cream to talk about Chao and cooking recipes all day. But even with her closest friends surrounding her in all directions, she felt more alone now than ever before.

"Excuse me?"

Blaze shifted her focus, turning towards the one who called for her attention. Shade the Echidna. The two only briefly crossed paths during the battle against Mephiles, having not much time to talk in the heat of battle. Admittedly, Blaze did not expect to see another echidna. Sonic had once informed her long ago Knuckles was the last of his kind.

"I do not believe we have been properly acquainted yet," Shade noted, placing one hand over the other, followed by a small bow. "I am Shade. It is an honor to meet you, Princess Blaze."

With a shy smile, Blaze outstretched her hand in response. "That's very kind, but please, you can call me Blaze."

The echidna shifted her stance, dropping her shoulders and appearing more relaxed within an instance. She returned the smile, accepting the princess' hand. "I must say I was quite fascinated when I learned of your dimension. I… Am sorry to learn about your sacrifice."

At the mention of her past, Blaze briefly shifted uncomfortably. One hand clutched the side of her arm, forced to look away from the echidna. "That's… Alright."

Realizing her own error, Shade quickly changed the subject. "I understand what it is like to be far from home. I too am from another dimension. I… Had to leave my family behind."

Peaked with interest, Blaze resumed eye contact with the former warrior. "You are from another dimension?"

Shade nodded. "My people were once proud warriors. We were sealed away in another dimension. I foolishly followed my imperator into battle, believing his intentions were righteous. But… I was wrong. He sought to conquer this beautiful planet. The rest of my people were willing to do what it took to escape. I was not."

A hint of sadness etched onto her face, but quickly swallowed her remorse, allowing the warrior within to mask her grief. Blaze understood her penitence, knowing from first-hand experience what it was like to have no one. For the longest time, she grew up alone in her new life, refusing to connect with others. But now, with the close bond she shared with the others, the mere thought of leaving them terrified her.

Shade continued with her story. "It was thanks to Sonic and Knuckles that I have been able to remain in this world. It was difficult adapting at first. But I can proudly say I am now at peace. Blaze, may I impart some wisdom to you?"

Slowly, the princess nodded her head. "Of course."

Shade outstretched her hands, beckoning for Blaze to hold out her own. With little hesitation, Blaze allowed the echidna to take her hands. Ignoring the world around them, Shade strengthened her voice, parting great wisdom. "Do not let your past define who you are, Blaze. Whether you are from this world or your own makes no difference. Learn from your experience, strengthen your resolve. I know you have the power to overcome your trauma. Both you and Silver. Take care of each other."

Blaze fell silent, finding herself tongue-tied once more. The echidna's words sunk in deep, leaving the princess frozen in surprise. Shade appeared much younger than Sonic, yet her eyes looked so old. Despite the initial shock, Blaze surprisingly felt calm. She still carried doubts about returning to the Sol Empire with recent revelations, but part of the burden suddenly felt lifted from her shoulders. She felt at peace, feeling liberated from the stress of reality.

As Shade released her hands, Blaze finally found her voice. "Thank you, Shade. I will try my best."

"That is all I ask," Shade replied with a reassuring smile.

Without another word, Shade bid Blaze farewell and proceeded to reunite with Knuckles nearby. Left to ponder in her own thoughts, she swiftly grasped her drink, feeling quite parched after their talk. No one else seemed to have taken an interest in their conversation, oblivious to their talk. While the echidna's encouragement helped put some of her concerns at ease, returning the Sol Dimension would be the least of her worries.

Blaze briefly glanced over her shoulder, noting Silver's gaze from the distance. Even with several guests filling the small living room, he refused to let her out of his sight. She felt her mood shift, concerned about the hedgehog's unstable emotions. He was terrified to take his gaze away, afraid he would lose her again. Placing her drink down on the table, she gently pushed through her friends until they were reunited once more.

"Silver," Blaze greeted. "Is something wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing!" Silver answered a little too quickly, forcing an unconvincing smile to spread across his muzzle.

He excelled at many things, but lying was not his forte. With a gentle sigh, she took his hand within both of her own, rubbing her thumb gently around his fingers. Silver dropped the smile and peered down, almost startled by the gesture. In both their old and new lives, he knew Blaze wasn't fond of physical affection. To see her willingly offer this level of comfort was a surprise. But admittedly, he enjoyed it, noting how warm and comforting her touch was.

"It's okay, Silver," Blaze reassured, her voice gentle and heartfelt. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

Her words were sincere. This was more than a royal obligation. This was the promise of a friend. Silver's expression softened, traces of worry beginning to fade. Truthfully, overcoming recent events was going to take time. His whole life changed in just a few hours. In a short while he was going to begin a new life with his best friend. As well as staying in the past for good, he would be residing within a new dimension. It all felt surreal, yet he knew this was no dream.

"It's just a bit much to take in," Silver admitted, rubbing his free hand softly over his eyes. Heavy black bags rested under his eyes, his usual white orbs were now beginning to form red. While it had been a long night for everyone, Silver hadn't taken a break since he woke up that dreadful early morning. Sleep threatened to take over, having not rested for well over a day drained him of physical and mental energy. Adrenaline and caffeine once fueled his body with temporary strength. Now it was beginning to leave him quickly. "But I'm really excited about going to your dimension, Blaze."

"We'll take it slow," Blaze added. "Together."

Silver nodded in agreement. "Together."

The future warrior's gaze shifted away briefly, spotting the blue hedgehog happily conversing with his best friend. Truthfully, Silver questioned how Sonic could be so calm and upbeat after the recent revelations. Perhaps Sonic masked his emotions with humor, or maybe he truly couldn't be fazed by anything. Guilt ate Silver up inside, threatening to tear him apart if he didn't make peace with everything now.

He shifted his gaze back to Blaze, who returned a similar expression. "I think we need to talk to Sonic about… You know."

She nodded with concurrence. "We will, but in private. Silver, you know there's a good chance he might not want to talk with us again."

It pained him to admit it, but he hesitantly nodded. "I know, but we owe it to him."

As the reunited friends shared their worries, Tails finally put the finishing touches on Omega. He stepped back to set his tools down and admire his own genius, all the while dusting his oil-stained gloves. "That should do it, Omega."

The robot lifted his now functional arm, checking for flaws in the fox's work. The exposed circuitry surrounding his metallic structure had since been restored, preventing anymore oil leaks and loose sparks. If Omega could express physical joy, perhaps he would be offering an appreciated smile. "Your craftsmanship surprises even me, Tails."

"Thanks, I guess," Tails chuckled.

"That's as good of a compliment you're going to get from him," Rouge added with an appreciative grin. "But thanks for fixing him up again, Tails. Maybe next time you'll learn to be more careful, Omega."

"I am E-123 Omega, the ultimate E-Series Robot," Omega proclaimed. "None of Eggman's worthless consumer models are a match for my power."

Rouge rolled her eyes. "Keep telling yourself that, honey."

Sonic chuckled at the robot's self-confidence. Never did he imagine one of Eggman's own robots would become one of their closest friends. He trusted Omega just as much as his team. While the mighty robot continued lecturing the others on his abilities, Silver and Blaze approached the blue hedgehog, the former calling for his attention.

"Sonic, may we have a word?" Blaze requested, gesturing her head towards the kitchen. "In private."

The blue hedgehog, while curious to know why they were being so elusive, nodded in agreement. Tails and Marine watched the three of them leave, turning towards the other for an explanation. Neither knew the answer, though Marine thought nothing much of it. Her short attention span brought her back to the lecturing robot, hanging onto his every word.

The trio retreated to the kitchen away from the rest of their friend's attention. Blaze closed the door behind them for privacy before everyone took their seats around the kitchen table. Silver and Blaze sat together on one side with Sonic on the other. A sense of awkwardness seemed to fill the air, an unnerving silence soon followed. While drumming his fingers against the table, Sonic watched the duo exchanging nervous glances.

Silver finally averted his attention towards the blue hedgehog, all the while he shifted uncomfortably, twiddling both thumbs together within his clenched hands. "Sonic, there's no easy way to say this. I… We're sorry."

Puzzled by the surprise apology, Sonic tilted his head curiously. "Sorry? What for?"

Flabbergasted by the response, Silver elaborated. "For trying to kill you. You did nothing wrong. I was an idiot for trusting Mephiles in that other timeline."

Blaze took her turn to speak up. "And I encouraged Silver to do what he thought was best, no matter if it was morally the right choice or not. The blame falls on me just as much. I am sorry for my interference, Sonic. Please accept my most sincere apologies."

"We're so sorry," Silver repeated, his voice beginning to break with emotion. "If you don't want to be friends anymore, I… We understand."

With a huge weight lifted off their chests, Silver and Blaze finally exhaled with relief, though their hearts continued racing with anticipation for Sonic's response. It wasn't long before the blue hedgehog spoke. His response caught the duo by surprise, to say the least. Instead of a harsh rebuttal or hesitant forgiveness, he casually dismissed the event with a single wave.

"It's cool," Sonic reassured. "No hard feelings."

Silver was taken back by the relaxed response, almost falling out of his chair in shock. Blaze shared a similar reaction, though held her composure a lot better than the future warrior. Startled, he struggled for answers, trying to understand the blue hedgehog's reasoning for the quick forgiveness. "Sonic, we tried to hurt you. We tried to kill you. And you're gonna forgive us, just like that?"

Sonic nonchalantly shrugged, not carrying any doubt in his sincerity. "Guys, I saw the world you were from. It was horrible. You both saw a chance to save your world and took it."

Blaze interrupted, a hint of anger filling her tone. "The end doesn't justify the means, Sonic! We had no right to try and take your life."

Unfazed by her sudden interruption, Sonic held his composure and continued speaking. "It doesn't matter. Silver, you're a good man who would do anything to save the ones you care about. Blaze, you care about protecting your people and would die for them. You didn't try to kill me because you're evil. You did it because you wanted to create a better tomorrow. This might sound crazy, but maybe I would have done the same if I were in your shoes."

Awestruck at Sonic's perception, the two friends fell silent once more. For as long as they knew the blue hedgehog, he always carried himself with stride, confidence and never let anyone put him down. To see him display such a level of maturity left them frozen in shock. Sonic always seemed to surprise them, revealing levels of wisdom they never knew he carried. Personal experience taught Sonic to look at the world with several perspectives.

Without saying a word, Silver pushed himself up and approached the blue hedgehog, who looked towards him with a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. Before he could speak up, Silver threw himself forward, wrapping his arms tightly around the hedgehog's shoulders.

"Thank you, Sonic," Silver whispered. "Thank you."

While initially caught off guard by the surprise embrace, Sonic smiled and gently patted him the future warrior on the back. "Anytime, Silver."

Silver peaked one eye open, spotting Blaze approaching from the opposite side. By the time Silver released his hold and stepped, the princess outstretched her hand towards the blue hedgehog, holding her usual formal stance. "We appreciate your forgiveness, Sonic."

Rather than accept their usual custom, Sonic dashed out of his chair and pulled her into a hug as well. "Enough with the formalities, Blaze. Hug it out! You'll feel better!"

The princess stood frozen for a moment, glancing over the hedgehog's shoulder with a look of uneasiness. But with an encouraging nod from Silver, she slowly raised her arms and placed them around her friend, mindful of her own strength while doing so. "I… Thank you, Sonic."

It pained her to admit it, but the hug did provide a level of comfort. Her guard slowly dropped, shoulders losing their tension and brows softening, finding her head resting softly against his shoulder. She grew to enjoy the experience more than she would like to admit.

As she allowed herself to relax and ease her guard, Sonic perked up as a familiar fluttering brushed against his ears. He leaned back out of their embrace, a grin of amusement lacing his muzzle. "Did you just purr?"

A wave of embarrassment flooded over Blaze, the redness of her cheeks turning brighter than her Burning Form. "What? No!" She quickly pressed her arm against her mouth, struggling to conceal the purrs that began to resonate with her breathing.

"It just means you're happy, Blaze," Silver reassured. "Don't feel embarrassed. I'm happy too!"

Sonic chuckled. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with us. Now, what'd you say we get back to the party?"

With vocal agreements, the trio returned to the living room. Most of their friends remained oblivious to their brief absence, though Omega was to mostly blame for this. His self-proclaimed speech continued, breaking down in great detail of why he was the strongest robot within existence. Sonic eagerly raced forward, wanting to get a front row seat. Silver and Blaze exchanged glances, both now relieved to see things were beginning to turn in their favor.

Perhaps everything was going to be okay after all.

The brief celebration came to an abrupt end only a short hour later. While no one expressed any disdain about the party, their own adventures awaited them. The Chaotix were the first to leave, trekking their way back towards Station Square with their Chaos Emerald in hand. Charmy protested at first, though was quick to change his mind when Vector offered to let him play video games before their next case.

Big was the next to leave, opting to return fishing now that the sun was back. No one was surprised, but they admired his joys for the simplest things in life. Knuckles and Shade soon followed, eager to resume their positions as guardians of the Master Emerald. Now that the storm had finally passed, Angel Island awaited for its protectors to return once more. Sonic tossed the echidna his Chaos Emerald back along the way, making a snide remark about not losing it this time. Knuckles laughed the insult off, promising to exact retribution when Sonic least expected it. Team Dark were the last to leave, carrying three of the Chaos Emeralds. Shadow promised to return one of the Chaos Emeralds to Queen Serenity along the way. With one final goodbye to Blaze and Silver, the trio vanished from sight. Only a handful of the friends remained now.

The reunited duo returned to the now empty living room, each carrying a warm beverage between their hands. The others lingered close by. Sonic helped Amy clean the dishes within the kitchen. As for Marine, the young raccoon's fascination with snow brought her to the back garden, attempting to build a snowman. She dragged Tails with her, who soon relished in the fun and helped teach her how to accurately form a snowball. A mistake he lived to regret. Silver and Blaze took positions on both ends of the couch, basking in the silence till it was time to leave.

"Marine's certainly something, huh?" Silver chuckled while placing his beverage softly against the table.

"She is quite a handful of times," Blaze admitted, a smile creeping its way onto her muzzle. "But I couldn't ask for a better friend."

Silver leaned back against the couch, one arm supporting his slumped head while the other dragged along the cushions. He casted a sideways glance to his closest friend, albeit with some discomfort. "Hey, Blaze."

She turned towards him. "Yes?"

"I know we already agreed, but are you sure about me coming with you?" Silver hesitantly asked, fearing he would not like the answer that was soon to come. "I've just been doing some thinking and-"

She held up her hand before he continued, silencing him from further rambles. "It's all going to be okay, Silver. If someone does have a problem with it, they will have me to deal with."

Despite the assertive answer, he couldn't help but notice the comfort in her tone. His smile returned once more, barely forcing out an audible whisper. "Thank you, Blaze."

He felt relieved to see her smile return as well. Blaze softly glanced towards the nearest window, hoping the outside world would provide some solace. "I understand your concerns, Silver. I'm worried too. But we cannot dwell on the past any longer. It is time to move forward with our lives. We can only do that together. But we will take it one step at a time… Silver?"

Concerned by the lack of response, the princess turned around, ready to repeat herself, only to find the future warrior slumped over the couch's armrest after finally losing his battle against sleep. With the assurance that Blaze was finally safe and out of harm's way, he gave into his body's demands for rest. He fell into a deep slumber, chest slowly moving up and down with gentle breaths.

Instead of frowning, Blaze allowed herself to gently chuckle. "So naïve."

While the desire to return home was strong, she refused to leave without Silver by her side and had no intention of waking him up. Sonic and Amy happily welcomed their company for as long as they needed. She stood up, placing her arms gently around Silver's shoulders and easing him into a more comfortable position. She found the same blanket once used to comfort her hours ago, softly placing it around Silver up to his neck. His slumber continued, feeling the cradle of the loving universe, dreaming of a new and better world.

Content her best friend was at peace, Blaze took her place at the single armchair, hot beverage held closely to her chest. The Sol Emeralds rested within Marine's satchel nearby, their powerful presence concealed from sight. She leaned back, watching as the snow came as heaven's sunlit glitter to bring the world to a new shine. She relaxed, allowing her eyes to close and slip away into a slumber of her own, finally at peace with the past.

At last they were one world and one light.

Chapter Text

Golden light dribbled over the Sol Empire like syrup on oatmeal. After a long night, the daybreak brought glimmers of warmth. The golden light softly caressed the land and ignited the birds into a chorus of melodies. The kingdom's streets were barren, but amid the quietness were the trio of friends.

Blaze, Silver and Marine strode through the quiet streets in silence. The only noise that reverberated around them was the clacking of their shoes against the cobbled pavement. Relieved to be home after what felt like years, Blaze fixated her gaze towards the sunrise as it illuminated the blue, igniting the most perfect flame. Along the way, the town below grabbed her focus. Destroyed houses from Eggman Nega's final attack loomed within the distance, but what caught her focus was the damaged bell tower.

This is where it had all begun, where the monster arrived to torment her. Loose rubble still filled the streets from the aftermath. Her breathing faintly intensified, her hand finding itself pressing softly against her chest. A gentle touch against her shoulder broke the princess from her concerns, turning around to face the kind demeanor of her friend.

"I'm here," Silver assured.

Although her eyes continued to hold terror, a smile casted across her face once more, masking her own anxiety. "Thank you, Silver."

While they spoke, Marine eagerly tugged on Silver's free hand. "What do you think of the place, Silver? Beautiful, ain't it?"

Silver peered around the surrounding kingdom. By now they reached the peak of the hills leading up to the castle, allowing them to overlook the town below. The damaged buildings captivated his attention at first, but the beautiful landscape overshadowed his initial impressions. He loved the gentle rays brushing softly against his fur, the sea air bringing a sensation of pleasure. A whole world was out there for him to explore, and he couldn't wait.

"It's amazing," Silver muttered, eyes sparkling with admiration. "I… Think I'm going to love it here."

Blaze held her smile, relieved to see his kind eyes return. The fury he once held was still fresh in her mind, great pain filling his gentle gaze. Despite her own powers, even Blaze would cower at the rage of his kind soul. But he didn't have to fight anymore. No more futures to save. No more Mephiles or Iblis. He could be his true self at last. The warrior of time was no more. In place was the childlike Silver who adored the simplest things in life.

"Oh, look!" Marine exclaimed, throwing her arm forward. "The castle's coming up! Just wait till you see it, Silver!"

Too energetic to keep walking at a dawdling pace, Marine raced off ahead. Silver admired her spirit, as did Blaze. The giant castle slowly came into view, its towering presence forcing Silver's eyes to widen with amazement. He stopped just short of crossing the cobbled bridge, marveling at the massive landscape.

"Whoa," Silver gasped. "This… Is your home?"

"No," Blaze replied with a small headshake. "Our home."

Lost in a trance by the beautiful castle, Blaze gingerly caught his arm, grabbing his attention at last. Sudden hesitation spread across her expression. "Silver, before we go inside…"

He innocently turned his head. "Yeah?"

"Please don't tell anyone about… What we learned," Blaze trailed off slowly, her grip softly tightening. "At least not yet. I… Don't want to hurt anyone with the truth."

Without hesitation, Silver nodded. "I won't say anything. I promise."

"Princess Blaze!"

The two shot their gaze forward towards the castle. A familiar koala came racing forward, Marine cheerfully skipping by his side. Upon reaching the duo, his black orbs immediately took note of Blaze's appearance. While the Sol Emeralds had since healed her injuries, the same could not be said for her clothing. Her tailcoat was barely hanging on by a thread. Ashes smeared her fur and clothing. Dried blood still stained one of her fur gloves. A shower and change of attire was certainly needed.

Gardon threw his arms around her waist without warning, pulling the feline forward with strength she never knew he carried. Blaze initially stiffened at the surprise embrace, but Gardon swiftly let go and stood to attention.

He straightened up before giving a bow. "Princess Blaze, please forgive me. That was very unprofessional, I deeply apologize-"

"Gardon," she cut him off gently, her voice bringing his gaze to her own. "I'm happy to see you too."

The koala smiled, averting his eyes towards the young raccoon. He knelt down and rested both hands against her shoulders, pride filling his once proud demeanor. "Well done, Miss Marine."

Marine's wide smile returned, beaming at the praise. She threw her hand against her temple. "Captain Marine was happy to help!"

Gardon softly chuckled. As his moment of joy slowly faded, the unfamiliar guest caught his attention. He stood up straight, eyeing the hedgehog with curiosity. Silver took note of the stare, offering a nervous smile in return. "Princess Blaze. Who is this?"

"Gardon, this is Silver," Blaze introduced, gesturing between the duo. "He's going to be staying with us. Silver, this is Gardon. My personal guard."

Silver offered a bashful wave. "Hi."

Curiosity mounted Gardon's face, eyes darting between the hedgehog and his ruler. He longed to know just what had happened in the past few hours. Personal feelings aside, Gardon carried his duty proudly. With no reason to distrust his ruler's decision, he took another bow to the new visitor. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Silver. I hope your stay in the Sol Empire will be one of delight."

Taken back by the formal gesture, Silver briefly glanced towards Blaze, who lightly shrugged in return. His smile returned once more. "It's nice to meet you too, Gardon. I'm definitely going to love it here!"

Blaze removed the satchel strapped around her shoulder, placing it softly within the koala's hands. "Gardon, I will be inside shortly. Please take the Sol Emeralds for me."

He eagerly accepted his orders, no hesitation. "Yes, Princess Blaze."

"And Gardon," she continued before he raced off. Her expression softened with gratitude, unable to stop the smile creeping its way onto her muzzle. "Thank you."

Though caught off guard once more by the praise, Gardon softly nodded. "My pleasure, Blaze."

He raced forward to continue his duty serving the throne. Marine pursued him, demanding some compensation in the form of cakes and cookies. Their voices faded into the distance, leaving the reunited friends together once more. While Blaze paused to tighten her gloves, Silver switched his gaze between his wrists and a nearby trash can.

"Let's get going, Silver," Blaze urged. "I want to show you the inside."

"Wait," Silver said. "There's just something I have to do first."

Blaze arched her eyebrow, piquing interest slowly filling her gaze. Silver unlatched the Time Wrist Cuffs from their positions, liberating a great burden. Cyan energy formed around the bracelets, lifting them slowly above his face. With a gentle squeeze, Silver crushed the trinkets, breaking the shackles that bound him to the past. The destroyed cuffs were soon disregarded, tossed into the trash can with no hesitation.

She watched him do so with admiration. "Silver…"

His gentle smile grabbed her focus, no explanation for his actions. "I'm ready to go!"

A relieved and merry laugh escaped Blaze. To hear her laugh was like music to his ears. Looking at Silver made her feel like laughing all over, as if she could express joy not just with her mouth but with her heart. "Welcome home, Silver."

Their new life awaited them just beyond those castle doors. The days of needing to fight for survival were over. At last they finally had a tomorrow to look forward to.

Four days later…

Maria,

I learned a few days ago our timeline was an alternate reality. Someone named Mephiles merged his way through the cracks of time. He tried to erase history again, but we were able to stop him. Memories of our old lives have been returned, even as we continue to coexist in this world.

But that's not all. In this original timeline, Mephiles told me humanity would blame me for an eternal disaster. Omega of all people would be the one to stop me. I don't harbor any hate against Omega for this. But I've been thinking about it for some time. Even if the Flames of Disaster never happened in this timeline, will something else? I've done what I can to earn humanity's trust.

Mephiles took my form. When I looked at him, all I could see was my own reflection. He represented everything I could have been if I had gone down a different path. He tried to manipulate me by showing me visions of you. I saw you again, even if you were just an illusion. It was hard. But I had to let you go. The others needed me and I had to help them.

It feels weird saying that. Sonic tells me constantly I am a hero. I still question my own destiny at times. I can never die of natural causes. I'll be in this world forever. When Sonic goes, am I supposed to be the one to take his place? Am I a guardian? Am I simply a watcher? I really don't know. But whether or not I am meant to be this world's protector, I won't stand by and watch it fall if trouble comes.

There's just one more thing I have to do…

Shadow closed his journey and gently placed it within the canvas messenger bag strapped over his shoulder. He narrowed his eyes towards his destination. The house of one Amy Rose stood a short distance away, its presence urging him to come forward. He strode forward with some hesitation, leaving flat footprints in the snow within his wake. Upon reaching the front door, his hand stopped just short of ringing the doorbell.

He silently grunted, questioning why this was so difficult. Throwing himself into the middle of hundreds of robots every day? Easy. Simply ringing a doorbell? Impossible. Fighting through his own restraint, Shadow eventually pressed the small button and jolted back. The ring that followed softly reverberated throughout the air, movement on the other side alerting him of an approaching presence.

The front door softly opened. Amy prepared to greet the visitor, only for silence to follow. Surprise plastered her expression, shoulders briefly tensing at the unexpected guest. Shadow studied her reaction. He was definitely the last person she ever anticipated visiting her home. The pink hedgehog was still within her pajamas. A cherry blossom dressing gown surrounded her person with matching slippers over her feet. Despite the early morning hours, she still found time to don her headband and gloves.

Amy finally found her voice after some time. "Hi there, Shadow."

"Amy," he returned the greeting with a curt nod.

A sense of awkwardness filled the air around them. Amy, as chatty as she usually was, found herself at a loss for words. Likewise, Shadow didn't exactly have experience with socializing. He only spoke when he needed to. It was times like this he wished Rouge had accompanied him, but the bat was completely oblivious to his current whereabouts. This was his own agenda.

Amy eventually stepped to one side while holding the door open. "Do you want to come inside?"

"Sure."

At least they were getting somewhere. He paused to wipe his shoes on her mat before stepping inside. Amy invited him to sit down while she retreated to the kitchen. He chose the armchair, hoping it would give him an excuse not to sit close by. She returned momentarily with a fresh pot of coffee, pouring the contents into two separate cups. As Amy took her place on the sofa, the two matched stares, patiently awaiting for the other to say something. Shadow bided his time, taking small sips to prolong the silence. Fortune favored him as the pink hedgehog finally spoke up.

"Not that I'm unhappy you're here, but what brings you to my house?" Amy gently inquired. "If you're looking for Sonic, he's gone away for a little while."

Shadow allowed her to finish before he interjected. "I didn't come here to see Sonic. I came to see you."

Her eyes lit up with surprise. "Oh. That's nice of you."

With a desponded sigh, he set the drink down and glanced away. "I'm not good at this kind of thing."

"That's okay," she reassured, her voice as sweet and kind as he remembered. "Take your time."

He did just that, searching deep for what he wanted to say. It baffled Shadow how he could write so much, yet speak so little. But he couldn't prolong this morning any longer than necessary. With a sharp breath, he threw back his gaze to her. "I've been doing some thinking. This whole mess with Mephiles… It reminded me of the past."

She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"That day on the ARK," Shadow began, unknowingly averting his gaze away once more. "The others fought me. They tried so hard to beat me… But you… You didn't. You talked to me instead, reminded me of who I was really supposed to be."

Amy's expression softened, a hint of redness filling her cheeks. "I could see how hurt you were, Shadow. Fighting isn't always the answer."

"You're right," he agreed softly. "Amy… I never thanked you for that. Without you, things would have turned out very differently. The world would have been destroyed. None of us would be here."

Blushing at the surprise praise, Amy bashfully glanced away. "Oh, it's nothing. I just helped out."

"Give yourself credit," Shadow replied with a little assertiveness. "You're more valuable than you think," his voice softened once more, though he continued to look absently forward. "I guess what I'm trying to say is… Thank you, Amy."

He hadn't noticed her move from the couch, keeping his solid gaze forward. Shadow finally glanced back, noting her hand resting softly on top of his own. Her kind smile greeted his solid manner, showing no restraint about expressing herself. Shadow briefly winced, fighting to stop his body from instinctively yanking his arm back. Physical intimacy was never his forte, preferring to keep to himself. Despite his feelings, he couldn't deny how warm and gentle her touch was, filling him with a sense of comfort.

"You're welcome, Shadow," Amy said gently.

He mirrored her reaction the best he could, softly forming a grin in the corner of his mouth. Shadow never expressed joy. The closest emotion he could draw to happiness were his rare smirks. Unlike Blaze, Shadow doubted he could ever truly grow out of his hardened shell. But at least now he had the reassurance others wouldn't mistake him for a heartless soul.

Amy's expression softly dropped, hesitation filling her voice. "Shadow. Can I ask you something?"

He nodded. "Go for it."

"That day on the ARK," she began. "After you used Chaos Control… What happened next? Sonic doesn't like to talk about it."

Shadow's eyes lowered, worrying Amy momentarily. The last thing she intended to do was to upset him. Noting her concerned gaze, Shadow spoke as delicately as he could muster, though his deep voice carried some unintended intimidation. "I had to take off my rings to overpower that monster. By the time we used Chaos Control, I exhausted too much energy to sustain my Super Form. I fell towards the planet. Sonic tried to reach out to save me. His own power was about to give out. If I hadn't shoved him away, he would have fallen with me."

Awestruck by the revelation, Amy's mouth hung open, her hand softly gripping his palm. "He… Never told us that."

"It was one of the few times I saw him sad," Shadow continued. "His determination in trying. I'll never forget that."

With a deep exhale, Shadow grabbed the coffee with his free hand and gulped down the contents in one go. The hot beverage scorched his lungs, but he powered through. His eyes were drawn to the front door, contemplating whether or not to leave. He'd said his thanks and then some. There was no further reason to stick around. But for reasons he could not understand, Shadow couldn't bring himself to get up. His sincere words sunk through Amy, filling the kind girl with a newfound perspective on the dark hedgehog. Fresh waterfalls briefly clouded her vision, but she was quick to swipe them away.

Her kind smile returned once more. "He cares for you, Shadow. We all do. We're your friends."

Friends. That was a word he never thought he'd associate himself with. Outside of Rouge and Omega, he never considered what to think of the others on a personal level. Sonic was Sonic: carefree, happy and cocky. Knuckles acted like a tough guy, but in reality he was a big softy. Tails was a sweet kid who loved to share his passion for science with others. All he ever considered them to be were acquaintances who happened to drop by at times. Maybe he was more fond of them than he would like to admit.

"Friends," Shadow echoed, returning his smirk to her smile. "Yes. We're friends."

Amy never expected to hear those words leave his lips, but happily welcomed the sincerity. Still realizing her hand was holding his own, she finally allowed their gloved palms to separate. However, her eyes were then drawn to the bag over his shoulder. "What's in the bag?"

He furrowed, hoping she wouldn't notice the obvious accessory. Nevertheless, he quietly unlatched the buckles and retrieved the book from within. "This is my journal."

Interest etched her expression. "You have a journal?"

Shadow nodded once more. "After what happened with Black Doom, I wanted something to document my memories in case I lost them again. But I also took it upon myself to write about the world. Maria wanted to visit this planet for so long. I… Guess it's my way of living out her dream."

Amy's expression softened once more. "That's really sweet, Shadow. Thank you for sharing that with me."

His hands gently cradled the hardback cover. Only a handful of pages had been filled. Empty blanks awaited for his future adventures. "Would… You like to have a look?"

Curiosity overcame her gaze, but she pushed it aside. "Oh, that's okay. Journals are supposed to be private."

"I have nothing to hide," Shadow reassured. "Besides. I trust you."

Overwhelmed with so much praise and trust in such a short timespan, Amy struggled to find her voice. But when she did, gratitude filled her tone. "I would love to have a look, Shadow."

Without saying another word, Amy perched herself on the armchair's corner. Shadow opened the journal from the first page, holding it to one side for her to see. He began from the beginning, telling the tale of a legend. Amy hung onto his every word. His deep voice made the narration rather soothing to her ears. Basked in the comfort of the warm house, the hedgehogs cherished their strengthened friendship, looking forward to brighter and better tomorrow.

The kingdom of Soleanna stood proud as the beautiful coastal city-state of the world. With its winding canals, striking architecture, and attractive bridges, it drew tourists in like moths to a flame. Citizens from around the world dominated the amazing city, especially during the annual festival celebrated by the people of Soleanna. The crystal clear skies bathed the kingdom with sun rays illuminating heaven-bound highways for the lightest of feet to travel. But the heart of the kingdom was its ancient castle homing their ruler.

Princess Elise the Third awoke to another beautiful morning. Her open balcony welcomed the fresh sea air. A brief glance to her clock revealed the long hand just about to reach the seventh mark. Only a few minutes before her handmaidens arrived to help her with another busy day. Basking in the silence while it lasted, Elise jumped out her bed and approached the balcony overlooking the ocean below.

She leaned against the railing, a soft smile spreading across her face. A whole kingdom of people adored her. It wouldn't be long till her father, the Duke, would step down and she would take his place as Queen of Soleanna. It was a day she often dreaded, not because she wasn't willing to accept responsibility, more so because she wanted to make her family name proud.

While she cared for her people, deep down there was no denying she was lonely. Not out of personal choice. Being a monarch required non-stop work on a daily basis, leaving little time to make friends. Her father, as much as she cared for him, expressed these concerns quite often. He would always tell her to be a strong queen, no matter what. But even he longed for company after the passing of her mother.

If only her one friend was still here.

"Hey, Elise."

She snapped back into reality, a surprised gasp escaping into the warm air. Elise softly shifted her head to one side, all the while cursing at her imagination. But there was no mistaking that energetic and gentle voice. There he stood, leaning against the railing while holding that stride and confidence no one could mimic.

Overwhelmed with the return of her only friend, she stood frozen, mouth hanging open while the soft wind gently lifted her hair into a dance. Elise quietly stepped forward, moving down onto one knee to match his smaller stature. He outstretched both arms, welcoming her company.

With some hesitance, she softly wrapped her arms around his neck, finding her voice at last. "Sonic… I missed you."

The blue hedgehog returned the embrace, gently patting her on the back. He didn't quite like the idea of sneaking past the guards to find her, but the happiness in her eyes overwhelmed his doubts. He leaned back for their eyes to meet, admiring her genuine cheerfulness. "Nice smile."

Elise gave a heartfelt laugh before embracing him once more. Sonic held his smile, all the while averting his gaze towards the sky. In an open clarity of blue come the birds in joyful song. He loved mornings like this, embracing the freedom of running around the world to his heart's content, in the open air, in nature. Somewhere out there, in a whole different dimension, his best friends were beginning their new lives. No longer did they need to fight. They can rest at last.

But for Sonic, this was just another adventure. Their happy ending served as a beginning too. More worlds were out there, in the vast universe, calling for him to visit. For now, one level had ended and the next was about to begin.