Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a calm, mellow night in the heart of central Soleanna.

The ghostly white moon gleamed an ethereal white light onto the nation’s main, urban landscape. Underneath the indigo blue sky that was sprinkled with stars, species ranging from residents who occupied the nation’s capital to foreign tourists traversed the streets that was positioned beside the elegant shores that displayed a warped reflection of the moon.

Although central Soleanna looked to be a singular, grand metropolis. The nation’s capital was two large; bustling city districts that neighbored each other. 

The first of these two cities was known as New Soleanna, a city that was bustling with activities and business opportunities thanks to the Soleanna express. New Soleanna was the newer of the two city districts. The second, older city, that made up Central Soleanna was known Castle Town. The founding city of Soleanna.

Just a mile away from the Altar that was anchored within the exact center of Castle Town, a three-story marble castle with red roofing and white bricks; decorated with gold markings resembling flares, stood tall glistening like a chandelier under moonlight luminescence.

This castle was the home to the ruler of Soleanna. A female lavender cat named Princess Blaze; a royal member of the Sol Family.

Within the lavish castle, Blaze resided in her royal chamber. Coiled up on her luxurious mattress and curled underneath her warm blankets, she softly purred as she slept with her deep slumber.

“…chtcht… chtngh!”

Suddenly, within the deep trance of her sleep; coiled underneath warm, thick blankets, Blaze began to shiver. She let out meek puffs of unease, clenching her closed eyelids tighter as she gripped her blanket to regain control over her jittering

Brief imagery flashed within her slumbering trance, each image more frightening than the previous.

“No… No!” Blaze muttered through her inconsistent breaths as she saw visuals of a white, disheveled hedgehog with a circular symbol of his forehead; standing atop a damaged concrete pillar.

The meager huffs of breath soon became low volume hyperventilating.

Crack…crack-crack…thunk!

The sound of crackling embers and deteriorating rubble awoke Blaze, palpitating with dread. But instead of waking up in her bedroom, she found herself placed in the center of central Soleanna; Castle Town.

Staggering in place, she gasped for air, distraught at the sight of her own city; her home, being torched to nothing more than rubble by the dangerous orange flames

“I know who you are.” a distant, deep voice called out.

“Wh-what?” Blaze stammered “Who’s there?”

“Did you really think you could take what belongs to me?!” The distant voice responded in a vengeful manner.

Blaze twirls from side to side, looking for the voice that had called to her, but there was no one else besides her. All that she saw was the world, her world, crumbling around her.

“You!” a voice Blaze was all too familiar with bellowed.

She froze in place; apprehensive of the secondary output. This voice was much younger than the first voice Blaze failed to locate, yet the tone of this second voice was much more aggravated. Rotating her rigid body to face the second voice, Blaze feels her already thumping heart choke into a knot as she locks eyes with who she knew it was.

Standing just five yards away from her was a white Hedgehog with Sepia brown eyes whose pupils were ghostly gray. On his chest, he had unkempt chest fur that both wrapped around his neck and was stained with ashes. Both of his hands were wrapped in bandages and had a circular ring pattern that glowed cautious cyan through the rust-stained bandage tape. The hedgehog wore black & dull cyan boots, as well as a withered smoke colored cloak with a hood that flapped in the ember-infested breeze.

The sound of crackling embers and falling debris grew fainter, more muffled to Blaze as she felt her legs become flimsy, her arms felt as heavy and as rigid as concrete, and her heart, beating at a rate that had her believe it was going to burst out of her chest.

I need to get away. Blaze internally screamed.

Trembling, Blaze took a timid step back. And then another. On her third awkward step, she locked eyes with the white hedgehog. She felt numb from his dead brown eyes with chrome pupils peering into her golden eyes, almost as if they were reading her every move. Then, in that exact moment, Blaze spun on her heel under the impression that she could escape her perpetrator.

“Oh no you don’t!” the white hedgehog snarls. Swiping his arm, the white hedgehog flings a psychic, blade-like attack at Blaze’s backside.

“Agh!” Blaze lets out a cry of pain as the psychic knife slams into her back, forcing her to the ground body.

“Ngh… engh…” Blaze whimpered as she felt her skin and nightgown get scrapped across the charred concrete; her body shaking like a crunched leaf.

She pushed herself onto her hands and knees, erratically trembling from a blend of panic and pain. Glancing down at the ground that acted as her Krutch, Blaze chokes on her breath. Towering right behind her was the white hedgehog.

The white hedgehog lifts his leg up, only to slam his foot onto her back.

“Ugh!” Blaze shrieks in agony as the white hedgehog’s foot forces her body to the ground.

The brunt of her attacker’s foot resulted in her releasing small sobs of pain as she rolled onto her back for air.

“Look at me.” the white hedgehog demands. Blaze does not reply to his immediate demand, only releasing soft whimpers as she looks up to the crimson-gray clouds. This angers the white hedgehog.

“Look. At. Me.”

This time, Blaze complies. Sitting up and propping herself on her wobbly & scuffed arms, Blaze narrows her miniscule pupils to the face of the scowling white hedgehog; burning tears clouding her eyes.

“Puh-please” Blaze begs “Wh-what do you want from me?”

“You need to pay for what you did.” the white hedgehog coldly declares, glaring into her golden eyes.

“B-but why. What did I do?” Blaze pleads. The white hedgehog peers into her golden eyes for what seems like an eternity, each second making her more and more uncomfortable.

Spreading both arms out in a gesture, the white hedgehog lightly tilts his head from side to side, gazing at the incinerated infrastructure.

“You see this? All this destruction?” the white hedgehog interrogates.

“Y-yes I do… But I-I’m not understandi- YAH!!!”

The white hedgehog cuts her off by stomping his right foot onto her left hand, shooting an intense pain throughout her left arm.

“This is all your doing!” The white Hedgehog bellows, his eyes never once leaving hers.

Blaze felt her heart sink even further upon hearing the white hedgehog’s accusation. That’s Impossible. I-I couldn’t have released IT Blaze internally monologues. Her mind was so laser-focused on the white hedgehog’s words that her throbbing hand felt unresponsive.

“Wh-What!? N-no I-I would never…” Blaze anxiously defends herself; flimsily trying to wiggle her hand free from the rough rubber pressed down on her hand.

The white Hedgehog continues to scowl into her watery eyes; his droopy quills flying loose from the intense winds, his angered expression never morphing. The orange flames behind him grew more intense and hotter as they creep upon the two of them.

Suddenly, the white hedgehog disappears and, in his place, stands a black, & purple griffon with rocky purple wings and blood red eyes with green pupils. The Griffon peers down on Blaze; her dilated pupils shrank even smaller when they gravitated to The Griffon.

Then, the white hedgehog appears where the dark figure was once present, continuing to glare Blaze with his golden eyes with cyan pupils as if he never left. Then, in that moment, the slithering flames erupt and shoot towards Blaze and the white hedgehog. Blaze clenches her eyes shut, preparing for the oncoming flames that she was terrified of even though she has a special resistance to all flames.

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“Gah! Huff! Huff! Huff!” Blaze sat up in her bed, exhaling jagged puffs of air as a cold sweat trickled down her forehead. Blaze lifts her jittering palms possessing orange sparking embers, breathing intensely from her nightmare.

“Who is he? Why do I keep seeing him?” Blaze breathlessly whispered between her frightened breaths.

Her respiration began to spiral out of control as her cries of distress became louder and louder.

Located on her forehead was a gemstone that was embedded into her skin. This gemstone’s color was typically ruby red, but in that moment, the color was cautionary orange. Small vapors of flames seeped from the gemstone in an upwards direction; the bleeding embers crackled as loudly as searing embers that sizzled in her palms.

The doors to Blaze’s room burst wide open and in rushes a ginger rabbit and blonde owl.

The ginger rabbit, who was around her late thirties, was named Anna. Anna’s royal attire consisted of her favorite pleated white blouse paired with a green bandana around her neck, as well as a red fabric skirt and black high heels.

The blonde owl, who appeared to be in her early sixties, was named Sophia. Her attire consisted of a deep teal & white dress with a pair of Mary Jane’s.

Following behind the two ladies was a short, gray Koala wearing a green police uniform, named Gardon; holding two crimson-red bracelets.

Sophia arrives at the Blaze’s right side’ and grabs a hold of Blaze’s right arm; Anna parallel’s Sophia by grabbing Blaze’s left arm. The two ladies-in-waiting hold Blaze’s arms out; avoiding the intense heat coming from her paws. Gardon appears before Blaze’s paws crackling with fire and clamps the crimson-red bracelet on her wrists. The crackling embers vanish into thin air.

“Deep breaths. Deep breaths. It’s okay.” Anna consoles Blaze, clasping the frightened sovereign into her soft arms to quell her panic.

Using daily breathing techniques she has used daily since she was seven years old alongside the warm embrace of Anna’s soft arms, Blaze quells her uncontrollable breathing. The orange gemstone on her forehead began to diminish in color and return to its original ruby red color; the flames cease to exist. The beast has been vanquished once again.

“Are you okay?” Anna asks Blaze.

“Y-yes,” Blaze sheepishly replies.

“Did you have a nightmare involving that white hedgehog again?” Anna inquires; implying that this is not the first time this has occurred.

“Yes…” blaze whispers, narrowing her head down to hide her burning face.

“I figured.” Sophia intervenes.

Blaze turns her head back to gaze to Sophia.

“You’re lucky your flame bracelets were nearby, otherwise this whole castle would’ve gone down in flames.” Sophia reprimands Blaze with her usual stern tone.

“Y-yes miss Sophia. I’m… I’m sorry…” Blaze apologizes.

Can’t go a whole week without worrying them, can’t you? Letting out a defeated sigh, Blaze clings back to Anna, having her head rested on Anna’s right shoulder; facing away from Anna, Sophia and Gardon.

“Your highness are you al—”

Anna gestures her hand towards him to not speak just yet. Gardon concedes.

Sophia looks down at her feet as she berates herself for stressing out Blaze further.

“I’m sorry dear. I didn’t mean to upse—“

“It’s alright.” Blaze accepts the apology he anticipated. “I’m just… really scared…” Blaze answers back, her head still turned away.

“About what dear?” Anna sits on the bed besides Blaze and places her hand on her shoulder. “The white hedgehog?” she asks.

“Yes.” Blaze nods her head.

“What did he do this time?” Anna questions.

Blaze felt a bile in her throat as she replayed her dream. The crackling debris, the desolate city, and the white hedgehog, they all made her feel frightened beyond comprehension. Even though she had described the white hedgehog in fullest detail for the past ten years, she still felt scared when recounting her encounters.

“He… he attacked me.” Blaze began, “He threw me to the ground and kicked my down.” She described; her eyes becoming watery. “Everything was on fire. The buildings were destroyed, there was no one around, and… and…” Blaze drones, her eyes swelling with tears.

“And what?” Anna questioned.

“He told me I was responsible for the carnage. That I was the one who burned all of Soleanna to ashes. That I… I…” The tears forming in her eyes started to trickle down her cheek as she struggled to describe her dream. She threw her hands up to her face to wipe her tears, but also to hide her gemstone that was becoming mango-colored.

Anna pats her hand on her shoulder, letting Blaze expel her tears.

“I’m sorry he hurt you dear.” Anna laments Blaze’s torment, unable to relate with her. “I’m sorry he is causing you all this torment.

“But it’s not just him.” Blaze snivels, revealing her flushed face to Anna, “I’m worried about the festival.”

“Why exactly” Anna tilts her head.

“I’m afraid I won’t set a positive example for the people. I’m afraid I won’t please Solaris. I cannot let the people suffer because of me.” Blaze vents her worries.

“And the white hedgehog.” She circles back to the main talking point, “I don’t know who he is or why I keep seeing him. But he scares me.”

Anna looks at Blaze and gives a warm smile before pulling her into a hug. “It’s alright to be afraid dear.” Anna comforts Blaze, brushing her lavender hair with her hand. “I’m sure it must be very frightening and overwhelming.”

“But you must remember.” Sophia interjects, “You must take care of yourself. Otherwise—”

“I know.” Blaze softly responds, not turning to look at Sophia.

Gardon, feeling sympathetic for Blaze, decides to speak up.

“Your highness. You might not get told this very often, but you are doing a more than exceptional job being a key figure to Soleanna. Without you, we would not be able to prosper in this wonderful land!”

Blaze, with a defeatist mindset and her face still turned away, could only let out a hopeless sigh.

Why do they have to call me that? Blaze’s pessimistic conscious spoke up.

“He is right you know” Anna chimes in, “You have brought great pride to the people of Soleanna. Your parents would be beyond proud of you” Anna pulls Blaze back to look into her saddened eyes.

Blaze musters up a shy smile to Anna before returning to her saddened demeanor. Anna gives a solemn grin to Blaze and pulls her back into her gentle embrace.

“It’ll be alright. We’re here to help you” Anna reminds Blaze of her job.

“I appreciate all that you do.”

“Now.” Anna pulls back from Blaze and stands up, “Get some rest dear, you have to be in prime condition for the festival” Anna instructs Blaze.

“Yes, miss Anna. Thank you once again.” Blaze murmurs.

“Good night, dear” Anna wishes good night.

“Good night your highness” Gardon and Sophia bid farewell in unison.

Blaze gives a small smile to her personal guards, waiting for the door to close behind the distant sound of their footsteps.

When Anna, Sophia and Gardon’s footsteps become fainter in sound, Blaze journeyed out of her bed to her massive wardrobe. She scanned through her dresses & gowns, skirts & blouses, high heels & tights, and tailcoats & leggings for about a half an hour before finally deciding on and setting aside her attire for the festival. The festival was a week away.

With her elegant attire set aside for the festival, Blaze saunters to her balcony. Out on the stone balcony that observed all of Castle Town and parts of New Soleanna, as well as the dense trees leading to the forest, Blaze peers up to the starry, night sky.

“Just who is that white hedgehog?” Blaze asks herself, ignoring her words drift away in the coolish breeze that flowed through her hair.

Turning away from the elevated view of her nation, Blaze saunters back inside.

“And that Griffon…” she whispered to herself, “Just who was that?” 

Knowing she would not receive an answer anytime, Blaze sauntered back to her chamber and crawled back into bed.

Chapter Text

Pop! Swoosh! Pop-Pop! Boom!... Pop!

Fireworks ranging from bright orange to molten red to lemon yellow burst into sparkles, illuminating the dark blue midnight sky and fizzling into the festive breeze. The crowd of people cheered. The dancers synced with the rhythm of the musical ensemble. The chefs and food vendors worked tirelessly, preparing delightful cuisine for the festival goers. Tonight was no ordinary night for the people of Soleanna. Tonight was the night of the festival of the sun.

Once every year, the people of Soleanna gather to celebrate the festival of the sun. The people give thanks to the sun god Solaris for guiding the people of the nation with his eternal light. The festival is an important celebration to the people of Soleanna, especially for the royal sol family.

It was a necessity that a member of the royal family attended the festival to give thanks to Solaris, otherwise, their god would not give provide them the light that they relied on to move towards the future. After all, it is believed that the reason the royal family are the rulers of Soleanna is because Solaris himself assigned them to guide the people of Soleanna. This is far from the truth. But that was not important right now. Tonight, the people celebrate and give praise to the sun god who has provided them so much.

Passing from underneath a walkway bridge, a boat shaped to resemble an elegant, white swan sailed across the calm water towards the altar. The crowd composed of both residents and tourists erupt into frenzied cheers in response to the royal figure standing atop the boat: Princess Blaze.

Wearing her modest attire she set aside a week ago, Blaze simpered to the ecstatic crowd and their generous ovations. I wish every night could be as lively as this night Blaze thought to herself, admiring the happy & festive citizens she waved back to.

The boat reaches its destination, the altar of the flame. With the boat docked at the marble ledge, Blaze makes her way up stairs alongside Gardon, Anna, and Sophia.

Walking beside Blaze, Anna held a rectangular glass prism that held a priceless artifact belonging to the Sol family, an artifact that was required for the festival of the sun, the Sol Emeralds.

Blaze glanced at the Sol Emeralds, taking notice of the seven rectangular gems glistening within the rectangular glass prism. She recalled her first ever interaction with the Sol Emeralds as she continued to reminisce the fateful day the Sol Emeralds had chosen her as their guardian; granting her the power of pyrokinesis.

I still don’t understand why the Sol Emeralds chose me? Blaze pondered as she took another step along the stairs.

Arriving at the landing of the marble staircase, Blaze graciously strides on over to the center of the altar where the pastor of the Soleanna church, a short, green parakeet with desaturated feathers wearing a rose red preaching robe with a white cassock around his neck and a white mitre hat that was adorned with the symbol of Solaris, waited for her; standing in between a burly bear holding a metallic torch with an active flame, and a black squirrel, both wearing golden robes.

“Greetings, pastor Aldo.” Blaze greets the priest with a gracious bow.

“Salutations, Princess Blaze.” Pastor Aldo bows back to Blaze. “It is truly a blessing to have you here tonight.”

“Now.” Pastor Aldo perks up, “Let’s not keep Solaris waiting.”

“Lady Anna.” Pastor Aldo slightly tilts his gaze towards Anna to greet her. “Would you be so kind as to bring forth the Sol Emeralds?”

“With Pleasure.” Anna nods, stepping forward; besides Blaze.

Both Anna and Blaze turn in unison to face each other and begin the ritual.

Anna opens the lid of the rectangular glass prism and presents the Sol Emeralds to Blaze.

Blaze conjures an ember in each palm and spreads both arms outward. Closing her eyes to concentrate her focus, the gemstone imbedded on her forehead starts to radiate a warm shade of orange as the flames in her paws and the Sol Emeralds in the glass rectangular prism glistened brighter and brighter.

“Seven relics of Sol…” Blaze mumbled through her concentration, “Bring forth an omen of good.”

Suddenly, the seven Sol Emeralds started to flash their respective color and began to slightly shift with the rectangular prism. And then, one by one, the Sol Emeralds began to defy gravity; rising from rectangular prism on their own, the seven Sol Emeralds circled the Altar, gradually gaining speed until each color was nothing more than a blur to everyone.

Blaze drew both arms to her chest, keeping her paws at a distance but still feeling the warm of her own flames and hearing to rapid speeds of the Sol Emeralds.

“Fuuu-AH!” Blaze threw both arms to her side, snapping her eyes open, the flames in her paws flared up and her gemstone had flames bleeding upwards towards the indigo night sky.

The Sol Emeralds had stopped circling the altar, becoming frozen in midair as they continued to radiate. Slowly, each Sol Emeralds slowly gravitated to the cauldrons of the flame pillars that surrounded the altar.

The Green Sol Emerald was the first to lace itself into a cauldron. As soon as the Green Sol Emerald had fully place itself into the cauldron, it began glowing the brightest shade of green imaginable.

The Cyan Sol Emerald was the second to do what the Green Sol Emerald had done, resting within a cauldron and glowing bright Cyan. The Yellow Sol Emerald followed after the Cyan Emerald, and so on and so forth until all seven Sol Emeralds were entrenched with a cauldron and beaming a bright shade of green, cyan, yellow, red, purple, white, and blue.

“Excellent work as always Princess.” The burly bear congratulates Blaze for her demonstration of power.

“Now. Take this sacred torch and bring great pride to Solaris.” The burly bear offers the metallic torch with carvings that resemble the patterns of Solaris.

Blaze smiles to the burly bear and reaches for the torch. Caressing her fingers around the handle of the torch, Blaze looks down at her feet as she senses her fingers wrapping around the lightweight metal.

The festival was dead silent in that moment. There was no chatter, the music had stopped, and the only sounds that echoed throughout the Altar was the crackling fire of the torch Blaze held.

“You can do this.” Blaze whispered under her breath.

Lifting her gaze from her feet and straightening her posture, Blaze peers into the orange fire that danced and crackled within the torch she held.

It's so… beautiful. Blaze thought to herself, her eyes remained glued to the hypnotically rhythmic fire.

It's… too beautiful. Blaze lifted and eyebrow, feeling a sense of danger that she couldn’t explain within that moment.

Crk! Crk… CRK!

A single, frolicking ember leapt from the metallic torch and slowly descended to the altar stone. Blaze watched as the ember elegantly fluttered downward, waiting for the ember to land at just the tip of her heels.

Fwwaaash!

“Ahh!” Blaze cries, taking a firm step back as the delicate ember lands on the altar stone and bursts into a raging firestorm.

The fizzling flames rapidly spread, traveling to every corner of the altar. Pastor Aldo and his two assistants dropped to their knees, screeching in agony as bright red and yellow flames enveloped their bodies. Anna and Sophia, as well as the royal guards also collapsed to the ground in flaming agony as Blaze stood unscathed.

Blaze watched in horror as Anna, Sophia, Pastor Aldo, his assistants, and even the royal guards dropped to the ground, screaming in agony as the aggressive flames enveloped their bodies.

The flames spread from the altar and approached the waterline. But instead of being halted by the massive body of water, the flames defied all means of logic and fizzled across the surface for all corners of the festival.

The flames had spread so quickly that erupted into smoke. The venues had collapsed in on themselves, the festival goers had shrieked in pain as the flames devoured them whole and spread beyond the altar; spreading further into Castle Town and even through the passageway leading to New Soleanna.

Blaze stammered in place, panicking to think of some solution to solve this whole ordeal.

FWAASSH!

A gargantuan plume of fire erupts from behind the neighboring city of New Soleanna. It was the Soleanna forest.

With the span of only ten seconds, all of Castle Town, the neighboring city of New Soleanna and the exotic Soleanna Forest, were devoured entrenched in fire.

“No. No this can’t be happening.” Blaze panicked, staggering in place knowing she could do nothing but witnesses her country burst into flames. The screams of agony from the festival-goers and royal staff were just barley drowned out by the sound of the deteriorating nation.

Kraa-pla!

The main flame pillar of the altar had imploded. Blaze instinctively threw her hands up to her face to protect herself from the scattering altar stone.

“Raaah!”

“What the?” Blaze felt her heart drop deep than she thought it could go as she heard an agonizing roar of agony.

Suddenly, a magma-red dragon-like creature covered in molten stone with lizard green eyes and jagged, black horns burst out from the remains of the flame pillar of the altar.

“Raaah!”

The molten beast released another roar of agony as it spewed magma from its’ charred horns. The magma from the horns seeped down onto the altar stone and surrounded Blaze as it consumed the deceased members of the royal staff and Soleanna church. Blaze panicked as the flames crept closer and closer.

“Your highness?” a soothing voice faintly echoed, calling to Blaze in a familiar.

She looked up to the monster and unfortunately locked eyes with the beast. She tried to ignore the monster, sealing her eyes shut to avoid contact with the beast.

“...our ...ghness?” soothing voice rang louder.

“No… No!” Blaze whimpered as the magma grew closer, her forehead throbbed in pain and stress, and the soothing voice grew louder and louder.

“Your highness?”

Blaze opened her eyes, letting out a faint gasp and feeling a cold sweat run down her forehead.

Looking to her left and right, she found the crowd of festival-goers watching her with awaited breath. Their faces only barely visible thanks to the lights that decorated the altar and buildings. The only flame that burned was the flame she held in the torch. The orange crackling embers being the only noise.

“It’s alright” Blaze answers back. She wanted to express her worry, but she forced her concerns off to the side for the time being. Gripping her fire amulet that rested around her neck, Blaze licked her lips and took a deep breath.

Stepping towards the railing of the altar that led to the top of the flame pillar. “You can do this.” Blaze whispered.

Taking a deep breath and exhale, Blaze recites the praise of Solaris:

“We gather here tonight to give thanks to the blessed flames for guiding us towards a life of prosperity and peace. Solaris, Sun of Soleanna, we thank you for guiding us with your eternal light.”

Blaze lowers the torch to a lower-elevated railing that led to the top of the altar, and set it ablaze. The flame rapidly crawled along the railing that surrounded the main pillar of the altar, igniting the pillars holding the Sol emeralds along the way; the Sol Emeralds glisten brighter when enveloped within the flames instead of being shattered from the smoldering pressure. As the seventh Sol pillar ignited, the flame that crawled along the railing had completed its journey and reached the end, resulting in its flared path creating a flaming silhouette of Solaris, completing the ritual.

The crowd burst into applause, roaring with praise for Solaris as well as Blaze.

I didn’t fail them. Thank goodness. Blaze thought to herself.

Blaze looked to the crowd, overwhelmed with happiness by the joyous crowd both happy and thriving. She waved back to the joyful crowd, showcasing her rare, albeit genuine smile.

The current atmosphere was in was too loud for her liking, but she did not care. She was happy to see her people were happy. The fireworks were bursting with colors, the cheers were ecstatic, and she was smiling.

“Nothing could ruin this moment.” Blaze said to herself as she waved to the crowd.

Ka-Blam!

Suddenly, an object crashes into the side of the altar, causing a shockwave to sweep Blaze, the royal staff, and the members of the Soleanna church, off their feet.

“Ah!” Blaze yelps in shock as she gets swept off her feet and falls face down on the Altar stone.

Lifting her face off the Altar stone and propping herself up by her arms, Blaze witnessed the chaos unravel before her eyes.

A second object crashed into the flame pillar, causing the structure to crumple into tiny chunks of debris that fizzled into the water. The blast of the explosion had also deplatformed the guards; the green uniformed soldiers fell into the water alongside the altar that stood tall and proud just mere seconds ago.

Another object slams just behind her, obliterating the marble staircase into pieces and destroying her and the Soleanna staff’s only means of proper escape.

Six of the seven pillars holding the Sol Emeralds were evaporated by more descending missiles, sending all but one emerald far off into various distances. Anna scurried to grab the only emerald that wasn’t blasted off, the Blue Sol Emerald.

The people of the festival evacuated the altar, avoiding the exploding debris and running to New Soleanna for shelter. The screams and cries of evacuating festival-goers echoed throughout the altar center, nearly drowning out the sound of the collapsing altar.

Climbing to her feet, Blaze looks up to the sky and catches sight of a black & red airship breaking through the thick smoke that concealed the night. On the underside of the airship, she noticed a hatchway.

From the hatchway, a horde of chrome robots equipped with specialized firearms swoop down to the Altar. The destructive robots land onto the railings of the altar, crushing the refined iron with their mechanical feet. The robots grab ahold of Gardon, Sophia, Anna, the guards, and Pastor Aldo, and hold them at gunpoint, much to Blaze’s horror.

Emerging from the bottom side of the head of the airship, a smaller, more mobile small ship descends to the ledge of the altar. Once at the same level, a tall, obese rooster with a thick, bushy mustache wearing a red coat and goggles greets Blaze, arising from his bowing position.

“Greetings, Princess of Soleanna. I am Dr. Eggman." Eggman introduces himself, "I have come here to obtain the secret of the Flames of Disaster from you. And to take the miracle gem that serves as the key to its secret... The Flame Amulet!” Eggman exclaims as he points towards a red amulet Blaze clutched tightly with fear.

“Now Princess, if you would so kind as to accompany me.” Eggman says as he politely gestures towards his direction. Blaze tilts her glance from side to side, looking for an escape. But all she could see were her royal staff all compromised by the android soldiers.

“No need to fret princess. If you come with me, then no one will be hurt.” Eggman notifies, gesturing his hand to his air mobile.

“Um…” Blaze wobbled backwards, tilting her head from side to side.

From the corner of her eye, she struck a quick glance at the broken stairs she had just climbed a mere two minutes ago.

Slowly, Blaze glances back to Eggman, locks eyes for a solid second, and then breaks into a sprint, running to the stairs. Swimming in a soaked dress won’t be easy. Blaze thought to herself. But anything is better than having the flames of disaster break free.

“Not so fast your princess!” Eggman wags his finger.

One of the robots’ lands in front of Blaze, preventing her escape. The robot snatches her arm.

“Agh!” Blaze yelps as the robot drags her and her heels across the stone slabs towards the small, mobile airship.

“Ngh... Let me Go!” Blaze pleaded, failing to wriggle her arm free.

“I tried to be reasonable with you princess, but you decided to be difficult with me.” Eggman reprimands Blaze for her defiance.

“Ngh- Ugh!” Blaze struggles and squirms to break free, but her attempts prove to be futile as she is yanked closer and closer to Rooster’s mobile ship. Said roosters grin grew more sinister as she was forced closer and closer towards him.

Ugh! I can’t break free. This robot’s grip is too strong. Blaze internally panicked, try and failing to break free from the robot’s iron grip. I can’t let the Flames of Disaster be released. What am I to— huh?!

Suddenly, the winds around the altar began to pick up. Within the blink of an eye, the winds went from a tranquil; stand-still to a flurry of blue hurls that circled the altar.

“Wh-what’s happening?!” Blaze darts her head in every which way, baffled by the blue hurls of wind and trying to find where they were coming from.

Instantly, the rapid winds vanished and Blaze was confused. But then she spotted something that grabbed her attention.

Standing atop one of the broken pillars was a Blue Hedgehog wearing white gloves, an ocean blue bracelet on his right wrist, dark-gray shorts, and a pair of red sneakers with a yellow gem on each shoe sole. The hedgehog’s eyes were green like that of emeralds, and his spiky quills extend just above his small, pointy tail. The blue hedgehog had a cocky smirk that radiated confidence and cockiness.

“Wow! That’s a pretty Snazzy Performance!” the blue hedgehog says.

Blaze gasped in shock. She visualized the white Hedgehog standing in place of the blue hedgehog, standing atop the pillar that was now charred; the burning city of Castle town crackling in the background. The white hedgehog’s menacing scowl was the complete opposite of the blue hedgehogs’ confident smirk.

“You?” Blaze narrows her sight onto the blue hedgehog “It can’t be?”

The robots aim their arm blasters and unleash their ammunition at the grinning blue hedgehog.

The blue hedgehog vanishes from his standing point and reappears behind one of the robots. Curling up into a ball and spinning in place, the blue hedgehog plows through the robot and aims his trajectory at another, evading the stream of bullets.

Backflipping and springing from his landing, the blue hedgehog curls up into a ball again and aims himself at the firing robots, tearing the non-organic soldiers to spare parts.

The Blue hedgehog repeats his ‘ball’ attack on the robot holding Blaze captive.

Blaze looks on in disbelief at the destroyed robot that just had an iron grip on her arm now be nothing more than a pile of scrap.

The blue hedgehog, opposite of where Blaze stood starstruck in place, leaps away from a robot explosion and skids to a halt, stopping just arm’s length away from her.

“W-Who are you?” Blaze stammered, stunned by the blue hedgehog.

“I’m Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!” Sonic introduces himself.

Sonic then scoops Blaze into his arms, startling Blaze, and hurdles from the altar to the walkway.

“Not that irritating hedgehog again!” Eggman complained, slamming his fist on his control deck.

“ATTACK!” Eggman shouts, pointing at Sonic.

A flurry of missiles blast from the few remaining robots are launched towards Sonic as he runs away with Blaze in his arms. Blaze cries out in fright from the oncoming onslaught of missiles while sonic appears completely unfazed by the mayhem around him.

“Don’t you worry princess. We’re just getting started!” Sonic announces to Blaze before running faster, evading every missile. Turning a corner, Sonic runs off into the city with Blaze. Away from Eggman and his destructive fire power, running from every missile that failed to make contact with him.

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“Looks like we lost him.” Said Sonic.

Sonic blitzed through the narrow paths of Castle Town, occasionally turning his head back to see if any robots are pursuing him.

“Thank you, but may I ask why you are helping me?” Blaze asks.

“I don’t need much of a reason to save someone from danger.” Sonic says before leaping across a canal; the water started becoming more visible thanks to the sun looming under the horizon, changing the indigo sky into a hazy purple with streaks of saturated orange. Blaze clung onto Sonic as he glided over the canal that led into the ocean.

Landing his feet back on the ground, Sonic lowers Blaze so she could stand on her feet. “Besides. Seeing Eggman all huffy is quite hilarious.”

“Um…Well.” Blaze straightened her dress, “I greatly appreciate your kind and heroic gesture Sir…”

“Sonic. It’s Sonic” Sonic completes her gesture.

“Well, thank you Sir Sonic.” Blaze bows with gratitude.

Sonic grins at her, but the moment is cut short by the sound of jet boosters growing louder and closer. Turning around, Sonic and Blaze find a horde of Robots closing in on them, blasters locked and loaded.

“C’mon!” Sonic grabs Blaze by the hand and runs from the trailing horde.

But their escape proves futile as a squad of robots ambush them by popping out of an alleyway. Sonic and Blaze find themselves surrounded by robots.

“What do we do?” Blaze looks to Sonic for answers.

“Don’t worry! I’ll handle it” Sonic reassures Blaze.

Bouncing from the ground, Sonic curls up into a ball and slams his curled form into the nearest robot. It was his standard form of offense: the homing attack.

Sonic bounces away from the robot he just destroyed for the wall of a building, only to propel himself towards another robot while in his curled form.  

While Sonic continues to make unpredictable movements, Blaze clicks a button on each of her bracelets and shoots her hand out at a robot closing in on her.

“Stay back!” Blaze orders. A stream of fire shoots out from her palm and melts the robot. The robot fell with a scraping thud as its circuitry melted into one another.

Panting, Blaze turns around to find Sonic still fighting the remaining robots.

“Going somewhere?” a voice from out of nowhere asks.

Blaze instinctively turns in the direction of the voice that conjured out of thin air and feels her heart drop when she sees the face of who the voice belongs to.

Sonic destroys the last robot and peers beyond the walking path and into the alleyway for anymore robots.

“Ah!”

“Wuh?” Sonic hears Blaze scream and turns his attention to find her clenched by a robot claw emerging from a floating device; her whole body aside from her shoulders and feet confined by the metal clench.

It was the small mobile ship that was just at the altar not too long ago. It was the Egg Mobile. And who else would be operating the device than the person it was named after.

“Blaze, hang on!”

Sonic bolts towards the claw holding Blaze. Blaze tried to use her fire, but her arms were too confined by the iron grip.

With a homing attack, Sonic smashes his body into the clutch of mechanical claw, causing it to release a grating metal sound while also releasing Blaze. Sonic catches Blaze and lands safely onto the pavement.

“Are you okay?” Sonic asks.

“Yes.” Blaze pants, “Thank you.”

Sonic glares at an annoyed Eggman. “Heh. Nice try Eggman. But it will take more than sneaking up on me” Sonic says in a cocky tone.

“Hmph! No matter” Eggman retorts, “Although I am disappointed you tampered with my plans once again. I will receive assistance from the princess by any means necessary. It is only a matter of time before I acquire the flames of disaster. For now, you can hold onto the princess for me until I require her.” Eggman says with a sophisticated façade.

“Yeah right, egghead.” Sonic says, continuing to shield Blaze.

Eggman then grunts with anger and flies back to his airborne battleship: the Egg Carrier. The Egg Mobile enters the bottom hatch of the Egg Carrier and once fully inside, the hatch doors close. The Egg Carrier then flies away.

Sonic’s eyes follow the retreating Egg Carrier, ensuring it was as far away from him and Blaze as possible.

“Th-thank you for saving me…” Blaze expresses gratitude to Sonic. Sonic turns back to Blaze, her head pointed down and her hands were wrapped behind her back. Her cheeks were pale pink.

“Hey, it’s alright.” Sonic downplays his heroic gesture, “As long as you’re okay, then that’s all that matters.”

“Well, still, thank you Sir Sonic.” Blaze expresses gratitude again.

“No sweat.” Sonic accepts Blaze’s gratitude, smiling at her. Blaze smiles back. Then, her ears shoot straight up.

“The Altar!” She exclaims, “We need to go back and see if anyone is severely hurt!”

“You’re right. Let’s go.” Sonic complies. The two bolt back to the altar, passing through the open pathways with closed shops beginning to open up as the sun finally ascends from the horizon.

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Upon arriving back at the destroyed Altar, the indigo sky turned morning blue.

Sonic and Blaze are greeted by a yellow fox and a red echidna.

The yellow fox wore a pair of goggles with light blue lens on his forehead where three strands of hair bobbed just above the goggle strap. Around his waist he wore a brown belt that held a holster that carried a lemon-yellow device. He wore a pair of blue and white shoes that were a bolder shade of blue than his eyes. And most notable of all was that instead of having one fluffy tail, he had two fluffy tails that swayed up and down in unison.

The red echidna had a chocolate-brown muzzle with a nose that stuck out by an inch and had purple eyes. He wore a brown cowboy hat with red stars on small gold discs that decorated the green hatband of the hat. The echidna’s dreads reached all the way down to his waist, with a few of them having bandage wrapped around for accessory rather than injury. On his chest was a white crescent pattern, and around his neck was a pair of sunglasses with blue lens. He wore a pair of yellow gloves with green cuffs that had three iron spikes on each glove. His tail was z-shaped and had a sharp, white tip. And he wore a pair of yellow pair of shoes with steel toes and pieces of both red and green.

“Sonic!” the yellow fox calls out, rushing to Sonic and Blaze as his two tails twirled behind him.

“Oh my!” Blaze’s eyes widen in surprise by the fox and his two tails’.

“Tails! Long time no see little buddy!” Sonic greets his friend, “Are you and Knuckles Okay?”

“We’re Alright.” Tails says, “We’re just glad you and the princess are okay” Tails adds as he looks to Blaze.

“Hello.” Tails greets Blaze, “It’s nice to meet you princess. My name is Miles, but you can call me Tails.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Tails.” Blaze bows to Tails, “And thank you for your concern.”

“Eggman’s missiles really tore up the place.” Knuckles said, peering to the wreckage while crossing his arms; the morning breeze lifted his red dreadlocks. “A few people have been gravely injured. Thankfully there haven’t been any casualties—yet.” Knuckles adds.

“Oh no!” Blaze gasped, clearly distressed over the thought of her people being gravely injured.

“Well let’s hope it stays that way.” Sonic says back to Knuckles as he consoles Blaze with his hand on her shoulder.

“Ah! Your highness!” a gray Koala wearing a green police uniform calls out, rushing to the group.

“Gardon!” Blaze cries, “Are Miss Anna and Miss Sophia Safe? And what about Pastor Aldo? And you, are you alright?” Blaze asks her loyal guard who has watched over since she was born.

“Yes, they're alright, just a bit beat up. But, are you alright? Are you hurt? You don’t have any injuries, do you?” Gardon asks as he gestures his hands over her arms as he inspects her for any noticeable wounds.

“Yes Gardon. I’m alright” Blaze answers his many questions, "Just… shaken up. But I’m Okay. I’m more worried about the people who got hurt. And I want to know just what exactly why that Eggman character launched an attack.”

“Ah! Sonic!" Tails interjects, "Eggman’s Egg Carrier just flew by and looks like it’s headed towards the Soleanna Shores.”

“Also, a group of people came rushing into town saying that there were a bunch of robots on the beach.” Knuckles adds, “Eggman has to be headed that direction.”

“The beachside isn’t that far from here.” Sonic points out “I can still catch him.” Sonic exudes confidence as he rears back ready to take off.

“Wait!” Blaze cries out as she reaches for Sonic’s arm, “Sir Sonic. Don’t go just yet. You need to rest up before you take on that madman.”

“You don’t need to worry about me princess. I’ve taken on Eggman more times than I can count. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you… sure?” Blaze asks with concern, “I just don’t want you getting hurt. He seems rather dangerous.”

“I’m sure of it.” Sonic reassures “I’ve been fighting Eggman for years. I can handle myself. Besides, you need to rest up too. You had quite an explosive ceremony!”

Blaze softly releases her grasp on Sonic and takes an apprehensive step back. “Okay. Just please be careful.”

“You got it princess.” Sonic grins to Blaze. “Now just give me a minute. I’ll be back in no time!" Sonic turns on his heel, ready to peel out. He takes his first step when…

“Wait!” Tails and Knuckles both shout in unison, tripping Sonic before he could run off to the shore.

“What now?!” Sonic impatiently demands, crossing his arms and tapping his foot.

“Sonic, let us help you. We might not know what Eggman is planning, but it can’t be good,” Tails offers.

“Tails is right.” Knuckles adds, “We need to stop whatever he has planned this time.”

“Okay! Sonic gestures a thumbs up to Tails and Knuckles, “With your help, finding Eggman will be a piece of cake!”

“Heh! We’ll do our best!” Tails says as he pumps his fist into the air.

“Just tell us what to do and we’ll get on it!” Knuckles puts his fists together and gnashes his teeth.

“Alright. Tails, you come with me to Soleanna Shore. Knuckles. You stay behind and help clear all the rubble, and be on the lookout for any people who are hurt.”

“Sounds good!” Tails says.

“You can count on me.” Knuckles responded with a confident grin, displaying his razor-sharp teeth.

“And Blaze.” Sonic says as he looks to Blaze. “You rest up. We’ll be back before you know it.” Sonic gives her a reassuring grin.

“I’ll try.” Blaze says “Just please be careful.”

“Don’t you worry. We’ll be fine” Sonic grin grew wider as he struck a thumb-up,

Sonic looks to Tails, ready to go. “Now C’mon Tails. Let’s get going.” Spinning on his heel, Sonic runs off to the Soleanna Shore. With Tails following his lead.

“Please be safe.” Blaze whispered under her breath, holding her hands to her chest.

Chapter Text

By the time Sonic and Tails had arrived at the Soleanna Shore. The morning blue sky had morphed into a vibrant blue thanks to the glistening yellow sun that gleamed down on the sandy isle shores that the exotic plant and sea life called home. The large body of water that many houses were stilted above were also surrounded by stony formations that were partly submerged by the crystal-clear water. The Soleanna shore was what brought most tourism to the nation. But Sonic and Tails had no time for sightseeing.

“There it is!” Tails points to the sky.

Sonic and Tails stood on the ledge of a rocky ridge, gazing from afar at the massive airship with Eggman's logo that coasted through the vibrant blue sky.

“Come on.” Sonic says, “We need to hurry and stop him before he gets away.”

“Right!” Tails nods

Sonic bolts down the rock-strewn slope towards the fleeting airship. At the rock-based shoreline, Sonic goes into a sliding position.

While Sonic used his agile speed to waterplane across the blue water, Tails took to the skies. Twirling his two fluffy tails together and snapping them into a twirling spin, the two-tailed fox was able to produce an acceleration that granted him the ability to fly, giving him the speed he needed to keep up with Sonic who was bound to the ground without his support.

A patrol of robots that resembled the robots from last night stood on the shoreline, patrolling the grainy coast. They were Eggman's Egg Gunners. The Egg Gunners detected the blue hedgehog hydroplaning towards the shore and began to take aim, unleashing a stream of bullets at Sonic.

Quicker than the bullets, Sonic shifts his direction to a curved stone pillar. Reaching the curved formation, Sonic runs along the underside of the stone formation to evade the enemy artillery and regain his speed. At the end of the stone formation that touches the water, Sonic hydroplanes across the surface once more, effortlessly evading the onslaught of unleashed artillery that created small splash ripples in the water rather than holes on Sonic.

Speeding onto the shore, Sonic uses his powerful homing attack to obliterate the robots that had fired at him, reducing them to noting but scrap heap.

Tails, flying high above the sand Sonic fought on, looks down at the horde of robots and decides to provide air support.

Reaching for the right side of his waist belt, a small-circular device spouts out of a small bulge on the belt and plops into Tails’ hand. As soon as it lands in his palm, it expands to the size of his palm, resembling the ring capsules that are used as a means to hold currency.

“Let’s see how my new Dummy Ring bomb works?” Tails says, rearing his arm back and taking aim below.

With his targets in sight, two Egg Gunners, Tails drops the Dummy Ring Bomb.

“Hiah!” Sonic yells as he homing attacks an Egg Gunner, causing the chrome robot to be sent backwards; crumpling onto the grainy sand just a few inches from the water.

Ka-plow!

“What the?” Sonic turns a full one-hundred-eighty degrees and sees two Egg Gunners broken into pieces with rings scattered around their burning corpse’s.

“Yeah!” Tails cheered.

Looking up, Sonic sees Tails flying high, pumping his fists in the air.

“So that’s, that ‘Dummy Ring Bomb’ he has been talking about?” Sonic grins up to the young fox, impressed by his diligence. He sure has come a long way. Sonic thinks to himself, reminiscing on his previous adventures and seeing how brave and bold Tails has grown since he first met him.

“Hm?” Sonic’s eye catches a faint glimmer of green. “What is that?”

Confused, Sonic approaches the spot where the glimmer of green had come from, which was a broken crate holding ammunition. Looking past the corner of the crate, Sonic’s eyes fall upon a green, rectangular gem. Perplexed, Sonic stared at the odd, radiating gem.

“That’s an odd gem” Sonic remarked.

Grabbing the gem, Sonic further analyzes the peculiar gem, trying to make out what exactly it was.

“This sure isn’t a Time Stone.” Sonic remarked, “And it for sure isn’t a Chaos Emerald. What could it be?”

Suddenly, the green gem began to emit a blinding light that.

“Ah!” Sonic shut his eyes in response to the blinding light, unable to see what was happening around him. But although his eyes were sealed shut, he felt a strong gust of wind blow through his quills.

The strong gust of wind passed as soon as it arrived, and Sonic opened his eyes.

“Eh?!” Sonic opened his eyes, confused by the burst of wind that just blew and the crates now laying scattered in pieces; mitigated to nothing more than broken boards of birch.

“What the—”

The green gem glistened once again. This time, Sonic did not close his eyes, which helped as he truly got to see the power of the gem. It’s ability to create a small tornado of wind within Sonic’s vicinity.

“Haha.” Sonic chuckled, clearly impressed by the rectangular gems power.

“What’s this? A new fashion statement?” Sonic noticed the soles of his red shoes now had a line that was the same green as the gem that he held onto. Tightening his grip on the odd gem, Sonic noticed the green line glow brighter; the tighter he held onto the gem, the brighter his soles shone.

“I can figure out this odd gem later.” Sonic says to himself, “Right now I must chase after Eggman. Although, some strong winds wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.”

Continuing his pursuit of the Egg Carrier, Sonic hydroplanes across another body of seawater for a new shoreline leading to the fleeting airship. On the new shoreline, Sonic uses the green gem to give him an advantage of over Eggman’s robotic soldiers.

The non-organic soldiers are propelled in various directions. Some are hurtled into the rocky formations, crunching their circuitry and causing sparks to burst. Some are sent into crates, causing pieces of metal to break off as wood ships scatter.

“For an IQ of 300, he sure doesn’t know how to build any defenses.” Sonic mocked the broken androids.

Coming up to a rocky hill, Sonic increases his acceleration so as not to lose his footing and fall back. Running up the hill and reaching the peak, Sonic catches sight of the Egg Carrier. He was getting closer.

All right. All I need to do is dash down this hill, hydroplane across this body water and I’ll be underneath the ship. What could go wrong? Sonic thinks to himself.

Dashing down the hill, Sonic anticipates the stone-based shoreline that met the open body of water. Going into a sliding pose just before his shoes could get soaked, Sonic positions his feet to allow them to graze the water surface to allow him to hydroplane once more. With just enough speed and pressure, Sonic hydroplanes across the ocean surface in the direction of the Egg carrier.

Passing a rocky formation, Sonic hears a loud splashing noise from behind.

“Huh?” Slightly turning his line of sight to see behind and ahead of him simultaneously, Sonic detects a black and white object crashing through the water. Upon further inspection, Sonic notices the object to be an orca. And a strong one at that, as the killer whale collides head first into the stone formation Sonic just passed by, unfazed and unscathed by the boulder it crashed into; breaking it down into chunks that dropped into the water as dust hovered above the water surface.

“Whoa! That’s big one!” Sonic remarks the orca’s strength. “I’d like to play, but I need to get back to running.” Sonic glances ahead at the boardwalk that he was anticipating to save him from being consumed by the orca.

Just barley in range, Sonic drifts onto the boardwalk. “Whew! That was a close one.” Sonic lets out a sigh of relief, in between his steps on the creaking board panels.

But the feeling of relief Sonic had was quickly wiped away by his newfound urgency to escape the orca when he heard snapping noise from behind and turned his gaze back to see that the orca was trailing behind him, crashing through the wooden boardwalk.

Glancing ahead, Sonic’s urgency is further stressed when he sees another orca plowing the other end of the walkway. Sonic was running out of wiggle room and would be whale food if he didn’t do something, and fast.

“Sonic, Jump!” a young voice calls out. Sonic peers upwards to find the young voice. It was Tails.

Heeding the suggestion, Sonic leapt to one of the large platforms of broken wood and bounced off to another airborne platform, and then to another. Sonic leapt to the final board of wood he knew he could stand on and quick on his feet, made the decision to propel himself to the Orca that had torn up the boardwalk from behind him.

The orca detects Sonic’s grasp on its fin, causing the sea beast to thrash up and down, creating tidal waves that washed over the innocent buoys.

Sonic held onto to dear life, his grip digging into the rough rubber of the fin that was made even tougher thanks to being soaked. 

Seeing the Egg Carrier continue its escape. Sonic knew he could catch up to the airship, but he needed to dismount the killer whale. But Sonic sees another object. One that threatened his and Tail’s pursuit. A black gate that was open. And the orca was heading for it.

“Tails!” Sonic shouts, “Go ahead and push the gate switch so it doesn’t get out!”

“Okay Sonic!” Tails replies, “I’ll be right back!” Tails flew past Sonic and the Orca, scouring from above to find the switch that controlled the black gate.

On the small, rocky formation where the gate switch resided, six patrolling Egg Gunners caught sight of Tail’s. Unleashing their ammunition, their objective was clear: shoot down the fox.

“Woah!” Tails cries out, just narrowly avoiding the first bullet. With split-second maneuvering, Tails avoids all the ammunition of the robots.

“Tails! Hurry up!” Sonic shouts, his grip on the orca becoming looser as the orca itself gets closer to the black gate.

“Hang on Sonic! I’m almost there.” Tails shouts back.

“Aha!” Tails detects the switch that leads to the black gate.

Evading more bullets, Tails whips out two dummy ring bombs. With his weapons in hand, Tails skydives towards the firing robots, aerial dodging all enemy bullets and never losing track of his targets.

Swooping down, Tails gets up and close with two of the robots with his tails, sending them into the water. Then, Tails hurls his two bombs at the remaining four robots. Just before the bombs could go off, Tails breaks into an aerial blitz towards the robots and performs a somersault. Using his two tails, Tails strikes the head of the closest robot, giving him the momentum to propel him into the air towards the rocky formation housing the gate switch; leaving the miniature explosions behind.

Tails lands on the rocky formation housing the gate switch and with a swift tail spin, Tails flicks the switch. The black gate’s mechanism creates a metallic screeching noise as the gate’s descent slows to a halt.

The bewildered orca noticed its path was blocked off and began to slow down, intending to turn around. Just as the orca had rotated its body ninety degrees of its body, Sonic leapt from the Orca’s fin, jumping through a small opening that was present above the iron gate.

Tails flies above and catches Sonic, saving him from landing in the water.

“Thank you, Tails.” Sonic thanks the young fox “You saved me!”

“Hehe.” Tails chuckles “It’s nothing special, really.”

Landing on the sandy coastline, massive shadow passes over Sonic and Tails. Glancing up, they see the Egg Carrier blasting through the sky, its engine releasing a droning roar as blue flames propelled it through the sky.

“Sonic!” Tails exclaims. “Eggman’s battleship went that way!”

“Darn! We’re not going to make it. Let’s speed up!”

Taking off like a rocket, Sonic blazes across the sandy coast. While Tails takes to the skies, just barely able to keep up thank to the speed of his own two tails.

Sonic barrels past the few stationary robots; the sheer speed was enough to throw them off their feet.

Running along a wooden walkway, Sonic anticipates the end of the wooden path and performs a phenomenal leap that would make even Knuckles jealous, flying towards a large rocky formation that stood above the water.

“Yahoo!” Sonic exclaims, leaping from a large stone formation to medium-sized stone formation. Rather than land on a third stone formation, Sonic lands on the side of a lighthouse. Using the momentum from his previous two bursts of speed and his quick-reaction time, Sonic positions himself towards a stilted boardwalk that walks straight in the direction of the fleeting egg carrier.

Landing on the boardwalk, Sonic readies to resume his lightning-bolt pursuit.

Cra-Blam! The boardwalk Sonic was running on breaks beneath him.

“What!” Sonic cries out, just narrowly hopping from the exploding boardwalk for the upcoming shore. Behind the scurrying hedgehog was a horde of armed robots. Their motive was as clear as the ocean. To stop Sonic.

However, despite their heavy firepower, they were no match for the blue hedgehog.

Outpacing every bullet that grew more and more distant, Sonic dashes from the beige, grainy sand to the soft, seacoast grass. Sonic’s grassy glide concludes as his shoes step foot onto yet another wooden boardwalk. For about a second, as he soon embarks from the stilted pathway towards a stone pillar, reenacting his method of leaping from rock formation to another.

Landing onto a new segment of sand, Sonic bursts past the stationed robots; ramming through the dangerous mechs with sonic speed. Sonic was underneath the scampering shadow of the Egg Carrier.

“Sonic!” A loud speaker from the Egg Carrier boomed, it was Eggman speaking. “A pity you failed! Here you can take these!” the speaker taunted. From the underside of the battleship a door opens. Falling from the doorway was a bomb!

Glancing forward, Sonic sees an Egg Gunner aiming right at him. Flashing a cocky smirk and quick on his feet, Sonic whips out the green rectangular gem and uses its power to whirl the robot into the air. Using the momentum from his own speed and the wind of the gem, Sonic roundhouse kicks the compromised robot straight into the bomb. Blowing it to smithereens just before it could tarnish the innocent shore below.

“Eggman!” Sonic states, “Just you hang you on, I’ll return the favor!”

Sonic finds Tails closing in on him and decides to ask for some assistance.

“Tails! Give me a lift!” Sonic requests the propellered fox.

“On it!” Tails obliges, lowering himself closer to the ground.

Grabbing Sonic’s hands, Tails lifts Sonic into the air, spinning his tails faster to support the additional weight and to keep up his speed with the Egg Carrier. The battleship itself was about to pass a steep slope. And to make things more dire, Tails was starting to lose steam. They had to catch Eggman before he got away.

“Get me close to the engine.” Sonic instructs Tails.

“You got it!” Tails exhausts, his weariness was starting to show.

Using the last of his strength, Tails kicks it into high gear. Blitzing through the air above the shore, Tails gives Sonic a one-way flight to the engine of the ship.

“Closer… Closer…” Tails puffs.

Sonic and Tails were just beside the large battleships left engine, blue flames emitting from the massive mechanism.

“Now!” Tails shouts.

Sonic lets go of Tail’s right hand and pulls out the green rectangular gem. Using its power, Sonic and Tails are twirled around in place, gaining more speed and power. Using the momentum from the short burst of wind, Sonic homing attacks the side of the engine. Sonic slams his curled body into the engine, creating a small opening that reveals the inner machinery. Tails follows up by hurling a dummy ring bomb, landing directly into the new opening Sonic pried wide open.

POW!

An explosion bursts from the engine of the Egg Carrier, sending a violent vibration across the ship as sparks sputtered from the exterior of the engine while a plume of fire began to spew from the engine.

The explosion blows Sonic away, jeopardizing his fall. Tails catches wind of Sonic’s rapid descent and jettisons towards him.

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“What!?” Eggman screeched, reaching for the console desk for support. “What could it be?!” He demands as red lights begin to flash the room.

A warning signal goes off, saying: “Right Engine Damaged! Repeat. Right Engine Damaged!”

Regaining control over his footing, the obese rooster looks to his computer console to inspect the damages.

“Grr…” Eggman grunts as he grips the turning mechanism.

“Prepare an emergency landing. Stat!” Eggman says with authority as he starts pressing buttons.

“Beginning emergency descent.” The automated voice responds.

Suddenly, a bold green message appears on one of the computer monitors, capturing Eggman’s attention.

“Oh? What is this?” Eggman notices the message, maliciously grinning and stroking his chin.

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Outside of the Egg Carrier, on the sand to be specific. Tails safely lands himself and Sonic onto the sand. Looking up, the two inspect the damage they caused.

“The ships losing altitude!” Tails points to the descending Egg Carrier. “If we can find where its landing, we can corner Eggman.” Tails concludes.

“C’mon. Let’s head back to town so we can estimate where he’ll land.” Tails suggests, turning back for Castle Town.

Sonic strikes a quick smirks to the descending Egg Carrier and then follows after Tails.

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Upon arriving back in Castle Town, Sonic and Tails greeted by Gardon and Knuckles. Gardon appeared to be panicked while Knuckles looked irritated. But what’s strange, is that they both appeared beaten up; scuffs, scratches and bruises plagued their cheeks.

“Sonic!” Gardon hollered, running to greet Sonic “Oh, thank Solaris you’re here!!”

“Whoa there. Calm down. What’s wrong, and where’s Blaze?” Sonic asks.

“That’s the problem” Knuckles interjects.

“While Blaze, Gardon and I were rummaging through ruble and getting people to safety, Metal Sonic arrived at took Blaze with him.”

“What!?” Sonic's quills shot up while Tails dropped his jaw.

“Gardon and I tried to fight him off.” Knuckles describes, “But he got the best of us.” Knuckles says with annoyance through his sharp, gritted teeth.

“We chased him all throughout Castle Town and New Soleanna.” Gardon further adds, “But he was too quick for our liking…”

“Well it looks like we’ll need to pay Metal a visit.” Sonic says as he looks to Tails, clearly ready to get a move on.

“Right. But to find him, we need to find where Eggman’s ship landed.” Tails responds.

“You’re right…” Sonic agrees with Tails. “Where could he have landed?” Sonic stroked his chin as pondered on Eggman’s landing location.

“If I’m correct in my assumption.” Gardon intervenes, gaining everyone’s attention. “It looks as if Eggman’s ship was landing in the Arid Dunes.”

“Are you Sure that’s where they would be?” Tails questions.

“I am most sure of it.” Gardon speaks with confidence. “The robot that took Blaze went West of the Altar. That leads to the Arid Dunes. He must be there.”

“If that’s where he is, then let’s not waste any more time! Tails, let’s go pay the doctor a visit!” Sonic gestures to Tails.

“Alright!” Tails pumps his fist.

“Sounds good.” Knuckles nods, “Gardon and I will continue clearing the Rubble, you two stay safe.”

“Don’t sweat it Knucks!” Sonic says as he gives Knuckles a thumbs up.

“Alright Tails, let’s get the Tornado up and running and head out” Sonic turns on his heel, ready to head towards the hotel.

“Sonic wait!” Gardon shouts.

“Hm?” Sonic turns to face Gardon. “Is something wrong?”

“What are you holding there?” Gardon points to the green rectangle that Sonic held in his hand.

“Oh this?” Sonic presents the gem to Gardon, “I’m not exactly sure. I found this gem on the—”

“That’s The Sol Emerald!” Gardon’s beady black eyes popped out of his.

“The what?” Sonic furrowed his brow.

“The Sol Emerald.” Gardon reiterates, “It’s one of seven emeralds that have been a family heirloom belonging to the Royal Family since the foundation of Soleanna as a nation.”

“And you said there are seven of these.” Sonic asks, analyzing each corner of the Green Sol Emerald.

“Yes. There are Seven Sol Emeralds in total.” Gardon reconfirms, “Anna managed to save one from last night, but we have no clue where the other five were blasted off. I just can’t fathom what were to happen if they were to fall into Eggman’s hands, let alone one of them.”

“Don’t worry.” Sonic sympathizes, “I’ll gather the Sol Emeralds before they can even become a blip on his radar” Sonic declares.

“You would do that?” Gardon’s eyes glistened with hope

“Of course!” Sonic reasserts, “It’s just what I do.”

“Oh thank you! Thank you so much!” Gardon expresses gratitude. “If you need any information on the Sol Emeralds, I’d be glad to lecture you on their powers.” Gardon offers.

“Sure thing.” Sonic perk, “I’ll be sure to check in when I get a new one.”

“Thank you, Sonic.” Gardon expresses gratitude to Sonic, “Thank you truly.”

“Don’t mention it.” Sonic says.

“Now C’mon Tails.” Sonic gestures to his friend, “Let’s head back to the hotel so we can get to Arid Dunes quicker.”

“Okay!” Tails nods.

Turning on their heels, Sonic and Tails depart from Gardon and Knuckles for the hotel the three of them were staying at.

The two race through the bustling streets of Castle Town, passing food vendors, tourists enjoying the Soleanna sun and the many buildings residents called home. Soon enough, Sonic and Tails arrive at the hotel. But rather than enter the hotel, Sonic and Tails head straight for the parking lot.

Once in the parking, Tails somersaults into a parked vehicle. The vehicle in question was a red airplane that had two passenger cockpits, a logo of Tails’ tails on the tail of the plane, and the word ‘Sonic’ in white text on the body.

It was their means of transportation to Arid Dunes: The Tornado.

Chapter Text

Located deep within the grainy, arid dunes resided a complex of ancient, historical remains. These constructed ruins once belonged to the ancient people of Soleanna, but have since been preserved as a physical piece of Soleannan history. Parked right beside these ancient remains, as if it wasn’t out of place, was the Egg Carrier.

Deep within the deserted civilization, a cell chamber that sat beside a colosseum where noble warriors had once engaged in battle all in hopes of receiving riches and swelling pride, was being occupied. Not by a miscreant, but by Blaze.

Inside the chamber, Blaze stood bound to the wall with her wrists shackled above her, forcing her to stand; her arms becoming numb with each passing minute. Unable to break free from the shackles that hampered the flow of blood in her arms, she let out a sigh of despair; her minding wandering with worry over her people, as well as the safety of her staff.

I Hope Gardon and Anna aren’t too worried about me. I just can’t bear to see them get all worked up over me. Blaze internally monologues to herself. And Sir Sonic. I sure hope he is okay…

The feeling of helplessness was something Blaze was all too familiar with. But the feeling of being helpless and trapped with no way of escape was a frightening experience she had been exposed to once in her life. And it was one of the most traumatizing experiences she ever experienced.

Recalling her earliest memories of her new life in Castle Town, Blaze couldn’t help but remember the first and only time she went out into the city alone.

Envisioning that fateful day, Blaze believed it was a beautiful day that day. The skies were clear blue, the sun was beaming down, and the people appeared to be happy, including herself.

The young princess happily walked the concrete paths of Castle Town, familiarizing herself with her new home, waving happily to passersby’s and store owners who waved back to her. Although a few store owners and citizens gave her odd looks, Blaze didn’t pay too much attention to them as she was blissfully exploring the town, unaware that a troublesome group was stalking the petite kitten from behind.

Turning a corner, Blaze found herself in a narrow and dimly light alleyway. She held her hands to her chest as she cautiously made her way down the alleyway, anticipating the sunlight to shine down on her lavender fur.

But instead of stepping out onto the other side of the alleyway, Blaze’s progress would be halted when two tall figures wearing hoods that concealed their faces, impeded her progress.

“Um. Excuse me?” Blaze politely asks, “Could I get by please?”

But the two strangers did not comply. Instead, they stepped towards Blaze, forcing her backwards. She felt an anxious shiver crawl up her back when the two large people stepped towards her, their eyes glaring down at her as she backed up.

Thud! Blaze bumps into a pair of legs and turns to apologize. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean too…”

Blaze didn’t finish her apology as she became more uncomfortable with the wave of unease that washed over when a new pair of eyes peered from a dark hood, right down at her; forcing her against the alleyway wall. The shiver that crawled along Blaze’s back became more irritating as it was pressed against the brick that Blaze fell onto for support.

“Umm… C-can I… Help you?” Blaze interrogates the concealed people surrounding her, wobbling against the wall.

“Yeah.” One of the hooded figures finally speaks. “You can help us”

“W-with what exactly?” Blaze trembles.

The figure in the middle who was the first to speak, the ring leader, pulls out a red sphere from his cloak pocket. It was a tomato.

“You can get lost you worthless welp!” the leader growls, hurling the bright red vegetable at the small kitten.

Splat!

“Ah!” the red produce splatters on Blaze’s cheek, red tomato juice seeping from her stained fur. Before she could clean the tomato off her cheek, she is struck by another tomato, this time on her stomach; staining her white capelet.

“You don’t belong here you monster!” the ring leader torments, continuing his fruity onslaught with his lackeys who now join in.

“A demon like you isn’t fit to rule!” one of the men says.

“Do Soleanna a favor and turn yourself in!” the third voice, a feminine voice, instructs Blaze.

Blaze cowers in abject fear and humiliation as she is pelted with tomatoes, holding back tears from the mean words the individuals hurled at her.

“Please… Please stop.” Blaze pleaded with the hooded figures to stop their humiliation.

But the hooded figures did not comply with her request. Instead, they continued to pummel her with more tomatoes, staining her rich fur and tailor-made clothing while demonizing her.

On the verge of tears, Blaze finally musters the courage to make a break from the hooded figures.

Pushing through their legs, Blaze runs out of the alleyway, sheltering her head as the three aggressors trail behind, hurling more tomatoes at her. Emerging back into the broad daylight, Blaze runs through the pathways of Castle Town, tears streaming down her tomato-tainted cheeks.

“That’s right! Get lost you monster!” The ring leader shrieks, hurling yet another tomato at the retreating Blaze.

“Stop… Please…” Blaze sobs, retreating to the castle; escaping the three figures that are tackled by townsfolk.

Since that day, Blaze has never left the castle without a chaperone to accompany her. That harrowing day was just one of a few days in which she felt so utterly worthless and incapable despite her ability to conjure and withstand fire.

As she reimagined the harrowing experience, she reprised a memory of her late father. It was a one of the last memories she had of him before he was ‘taken away by Solaris’

The last words she remembers hearing him say before he left were: “You’re a good girl, Blaze. Remember. Be brave. Not for Soleanna, but for me. I love you my dear daughter…”

What would they think of me now? Blaze thought to herself. Would they think of me as helpless example? Am I really a ‘Good Girl’?

Ka-Plow!

Just then, the stone wall breaks down and Blaze recoils her head away from the small bits of debris flying her way. She slightly peeked her eyes open as her head was turned away and could help but notice a few golden rings flying in the ruble. As the dust settled, she looked to the newly created opening and felt her tail shoot up in disbelief.

Standing right at the entrance of the newly formed opening was Sonic; heroically posing with his arms crossed and a confident smirk. From behind, Tails reveals himself to Blaze by gleefully waving his hands. She felt slack-jawed. Someone had actually come to rescue her, and one of them was someone who had just saved her last night.

“Sir Sonic! Tails!” Blaze cried out in disbelief.

“Don’t worry, we’re here to rescue you!” sonic reassures her safety, hurrying over to her. “Now let’s get you out of this dingy chamber.” Sonic says as he finicks with her shackles.

“And by the way, you can just call me Sonic.”

Sonic finds himself successful in breaking one shackle, freeing her right wrist. Blaze let out a groan of solace as her right arm flopped to her side; the flow of blood returning to her arm.

“Sonic!” Tails cries out “Eggman is here!”

Sonic turns his head back and as suspected, Tails was correct. The obsess rooster stood beside the cell chamber gate with his hands behind his back, glaring at him, Blaze and Tails. Blaze felt her heart skip a beat over Eggman’s sudden appearance. Sonic throws up both of his arms to shield her from the rooster that stood on the opposite end of the room.

“Hmph! I shouldn’t be alarmed you are here Sonic.” Eggman monologues. “You are always placing your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“She isn’t yours Eggman!” Sonic boldly argues back, still holding his arms out to guard Blaze.

“You are correct Sonic. She isn’t mine for keeping.” Eggman answers back. “Truth is, I have no intention of keeping her. However, she is necessary for unlocking the flames of disaster and harnessing their power!”

“Well, it’s not happening Egghead!” Sonic doubles down, strengthening his defensive pose.

Harness the Flames of Disaster?! Blaze asked herself internally.

“If you insist, then I have no choice but to tear you to shreds.” Eggman declares.

Reaching into his back pocket, the poultry doctor pulls out a triangular red emerald from his back. Blaze had no clue as to what Eggman was holding. But Sonic and Tails knew all too well as to what it was.

“The Chaos Emerald?!” Sonic and Tails felt their eyes gravitate to the Chaos Emerald, almost as it had a magnetic effect on their eyes.

“Egg Cerberus!” Eggman shouts as he points to Sonic. “ATTACK!”

Then, the iron gate that stood behind Eggman tears wide open. A giant, red & black dog-like Robot enters the cell and tilts its head to Eggman’s hand; the hand holding the chaos emerald. Eggman offers the chaos emerald to the mechanical beast and it accepts it, consuming the chaos emerald with a gnash of its mechanical jaw. As the emerald vanishes from the hero’s sight, a blood-red luster envelopes the metal body of the mighty mech and it releases a monstrous roar.

Scanning the room, the mechanical beast’s visor is drawn to Sonic. Digging it’s claws into the stone, the mechanical beats springs from its position, ready to rip Sonic to shreds.

Sonic jumps away from Blaze, drawing the mechanical beast away from her. Which works as it follows Sonic.

The mechanical beast swung its iron claw at Sonic; Sonic avoids a fierce swipe from the large mechanical beast and turns to run. The mechanical beast chases after Sonic towards the empty colosseum that resided behind the cell chamber.

Sonic jumps down into the colosseum, with the mighty mech hot on his short tail; its sharp claws tearing the eroded stone slabs instead of Sonic.

“Sonic.” Eggman’s voice echoes through the colosseum. “Say hello to my latest warrior. The Egg Cerberus!”

“This is your pet, huh?” Sonic acknowledges Eggman’s introduction. “Okay, Eggman, I’ll play with him”

Bolting through the colosseum, Sonic avoids the Egg Cerberus’ mayhem that followed behind him. The robot dog crashed through pillars Sonic ran past, eroding the historical battlegrounds.

“Tails!” Sonic shouts, evading a claw swipe. “You get Blaze out of here while I take care of this mech!” Sonic demands, evading another claw swipe.

“On it!” Tails runs to Blaze and finicks with her remaining shackle. “Okay, let’s try and get out of here.”

“But what about Sonic?” Blaze asks, looking to the colosseum where Sonic avoids another claw swipe.

“It’s alright, Sonic has it all under control.” Tails says, narrowing his eyes on the shackle.

But just as he was about to break her free, his ears detect a low mechanical whirring noise. It wasn’t the Egg Cerberus that pursued Sonic, it came from the entrance the Egg Cerberus had created. Squinting his eyes into the black void, Tails tilts his head in response to a pair of blood-red led eyes emerging from the darkness.

The red eyes burst from the darkness. The red eyes in question belonged to a blue robot that heavily resembled Sonic. But it wasn’t Sonic, as evident by his metal claws, circular jet engine on his chest and metallic gloss. This was no ordinary robot, it was Eggman’s most loyal and proficient minion to date and Sonic’s personal nemesis: Metal Sonic.

The robot doppelganger jettisons towards Tails and steals him away from Blaze. Metal Sonic engages in combat with the two tailed fox, swiping his metal claws that just narrowly snipped Tail’s orange fur. With no Choice Tails begins fighting off Metal Sonic as Blaze was forced to watch her two rescuers fight off Eggman’s mightiest machines.

“Now then Princess.”

Blaze gasps, snapping her head towards the direction of Eggman. Seeing his malicious grin bloom across his golden beak made her heart become dense as it thumped harder and harder in her chest.

“We best be going back to my base now. Your fire magic will bring some much-needed warmth.” Eggman devilishly reveals his next motive with a twisted grin. He pulls a key from his pocket and unlocks the remaining shackle, freeing her left wrist.

“Sonic I-ah!” Blaze scampers to help Sonic, but her left arm is swiftly yanked by Eggman, causing her to let out a yelp of pain as his sharp talons dug into her arm. Eggman begins to drag Blaze away.

“No! Ngh! Unhand me! “Blaze squealed, struggling to break free from the rooster’s tight grip. She then tries to throw a punch at Eggman, but the doctor catches her fist with his free hand, shocking her.

“It would be wise to not mess with me.” Eggman says as he throws her numb hand back at her. “Now Let’s Get Going!” Eggman says with authority.

“Agh!” Blaze yelps in pain as her arm is yanked once more.

“Blaze?” Sonic hears Blaze’s distressed cry and turns to the direction of the colosseum entrance. Squinting his eyes, Sonic sees Eggman dragging Blaze away; his talons dug deep into her arm.

“Blaze!” Sonic Calls out.

With his attention occupied, the Egg Cerberus strikes.

Swiping its metal claw at Sonic, the Egg Cerberus sends Sonic careening into a pillar. Sonic blows through the stone of the pillar; the pillar breaks like a pretzel.

“Sonic!” Blaze cries out to the injured Hedgehog.

Consumed by anger, Blaze utilizes her free hand to reach for a button on her left bracelet. Her left palm ignites in flames and she uses her flame-covered hand to grab Eggman’s right forearm, sending immense pain up his body.

“Yowch!” Eggman releases his grip on Blaze as he screeches in pain from the sudden burn. Blaze uses this moment to bolt to Sonic.

Metal Sonic then notices Blaze running towards the arena and drops Tails to leap towards Blaze. He lands right in front of Blaze, alarming her as he blocks her path. Before Metal can reach for her, Tails jumps in and uses his Tails attack to knock Metal down.

“I’ll take care of Metal; you get out of here.” Tails instructs.

“No. I have to Help!” Blaze says. Tails tries to hold back Blaze, but she takes off, leaving a small trail of flames, catching Tails by surprise. Distracted, Tails is too slow to respond to Metal Sonic. And is tackled to the ground by Sonic’s ‘faker’.

The Egg Cerberus continues to toy with Sonic. Lightly chomping onto Sonic’s foot, the Egg Cerberus shakes Sonic around like a ragdoll. Releasing its hold, the Egg Cerberus flings Sonic into the colosseum wall. Sonic collapses to the ground, heaving in exhaustion and injury. The Egg Cerberus kicks its kind leg back, charging up a tackle. The Egg Cerberus bolts to Sonic, its sharp, jagged jaw wide open. Its intention being blatant: to eat Sonic whole.

Swoosh!

A fireball traveled across the colosseum, landing on the hind leg joint of the Egg Cerberus. The mechanical pooch skids to a halt from the rogue attack. Shifting its body around, the robot detects a heat source emitting from the opposite end of the colosseum. It was Blaze.

“You Leave him alone!” Blaze cries out.

“Blaze?!” Sonic exclaimed. “What are you doing. Get out of Here!”

“No. I won’t allow you to get hurt!” Blaze opposes

Wraaaaaaa!

Releasing a robotic roar, the Egg Cerberus rushes like a bull towards Blaze; stone pillars are reduced to pebbles from the metal claws of the mechanized guard dog.

Cartwheeling to her right, Blaze narrowly avoids the jaw of the Egg Cerberus. Then, snapping ninety degrees to her left, Blaze hurls a fireball at the head of the Egg Cerberus. The warm assault does minimal damage to the head thanks to the visor present on its head. The Egg Cerberus detects the attack and jerks to its left, Jaw wide and open, ready to gnash Blaze.

Just in the nick of time, Sonic scoops Blaze into his arms and performs a backflip off the wall from the robot that almost consumed the pipping cat. Sonic lands on his feet.

“Nice Save” Blaze clumsily thanks Sonic.

“Hmph. I could say the same to you” Sonic teases back, lowering her to stand.

Roar! Sonic and Blaze look back to the Egg Cerberus, its red eyes beaming through its heat proof visor, staring right back at them.

“Ready?” Sonic asks Blaze, clutching his fists into a battle pose.

“Ready!” Blaze acknowledges, an orange ember sparking it her palms.

The Egg Cerberus barrels to Sonic. Both Sonic and Blaze side flip in opposite directions, abstaining from the mouth. The head of the Egg Cerberus plows into the eroded colosseum wall. Sonic takes advantage of small window of time open to him. Running to the backside of the robot dog, Sonic grinds up the tail-rail leading to the orange antenna on the head. The Egg Cerberus detects Sonic latch onto its orange antenna. Juddering, the Egg Cerberus attempts to throw Sonic off.

“Sonic!” Blaze shouts, “Make it run into something!”

Heeding her advice, Sonic uses his whole-body strength. Steering the direction of the rampant Egg Cerberus. Blaze provides additional help by firing small flame projectiles at the Egg Cerberus. Although the heat visor protected the head of the Cerberus, it didn’t guard the whole body. The fire projectiles singed the left side of the Egg Cerberus. Although the Egg Cerberus was aware of the flaming projectiles that scorched its body, it kept its main priority on throwing Sonic off. Which proved to be futile.

CRASH! The Egg Cerberus cannoned head first into one of ancient statues. The impact did not put an immediate end to its rampage. But it did dismantle its defenses.

“Hey, I can finally see your face!” Sonic points out the exposed face of the Egg Cerberus. The Heat visor was destroyed.

Turning its body one-hundred-eighty degrees, the Egg Cerberus runs across the colosseum. It was not aiming for Sonic or Blaze. The massive mechanism leaps to the upper elevation. The Colosseum vibrates; Sonic and Blaze stabilize their stance, feeling the quaking of the Egg Cerberus. The Egg Cerberus lunges back down into the colosseum; its landing site was on top of Sonic & Blaze. The hedgehog and Cat escape the impact zone and subsequent shockwave.

Blaze twirls on her heels and fires a stream of flame from the palm of her right hand. The stream of flame aimed right at the head of the Egg Cerberus. The Egg Cerberus flinches from the burn of Blaze’s flamethrower; the left side of the head of the Egg Cerberus melted from Blaze’s attack. The half-faced robot let out a low whirring growl and rushed to Blaze, digging its sharp claws into the elderly stone slabs. Blaze anticipates the attack.

Sonic speeds behind the Egg Cerberus, who was halfway across the arena from Blaze. Jumping onto the tail, Sonic grinds the metal spine to the orange antenna. Sonic clutches onto the metal antenna and steers the Egg Cerberus away from Blaze; Blaze attacks the right side of the Egg Cerberus body as it is steered away from her.

Sonic steers the Cerberus into the wall, but the Cerberus regains control and spins 180 degrees.

“Hmph!” Sonic grunts “Listen to me”

Sonic tightens his grasp on the antenna and leads the robot into the last remaining statue; the Cerberus attempt to dislodge Sonic became desperate, but proved pointless.

THA!

Sonic dismounts the Egg Cerberus, allowing it to collide into the last statue. Both the head and the statue crumble. But unlike the statue, the Egg Cerberus continued to stand. Albeit, just barley.

“Sonic. Give me a boost!” Blaze instructs Sonic.

Sonic complies, nodding his head. He had no idea what she was going to do, but he knew it had to involve defeating the Egg Cerberus.

Blaze runs to Sonic bending down with both his hands clamped together, reading to propel her.

Grabbing her heel, Sonic throws Blaze up into the air. Soaring high into the air, Blaze disperses flames from her palms and begins to rapidly twirl. The flames from her palm begin to encircle her.

Sonic watches in amazement as Blaze twirls with elegance while the fire she conjured grows more and more intense; she shows no signs of injury from her own fire. A

t her maximum height in the air, Blaze was enveloped in a fiery vortex. With no more momentum to ascend, Blaze let herself fiery presence falls onto the Egg Cerberus.

“YA!” With a flaming kick, Blaze drove her right heel into the Egg Cerberus head.

KRRT!

The head of the Egg Cerberus collapsed in on itself, creating an ear-grating crunching noise that echoes throughout the colosseum.

Just before her heel could punctuate the jaw of the Egg Cerberus, trapping her, Blaze swiftly pulls her leg out and backflips away from the failing robot, landing on the ground. The Egg Cerberus produced sputtering robotic noises, struggling to rise to its feet as its internal circuitry malfunctioning, emitting smoke.

With a lifeless thud, the Egg Cerberus collapses to the floor with its jaw wide open, presenting the red Chaos Emerald. It had been defeated.

“Wow.”

Blaze turned to find Sonic staring in her direction, jaw and eyes wide open.

“That Was Incredible!” Sonic exclaimed.

“Oh?!” Blaze froze, unsure of how to accept Sonic’s praise. Is he… praising me for defeating that robot? Blaze pondered, still frozen in place. And why do I feel so… light?

“Blaze?” Sonic tilted his head. “Are you alright?”

“Oh!” Blaze snapped out of her internal headspace. “Um… yes. I am alright, thank you Sonic.”

Did I kick too hard? Blaze asked herself

“Sonic!” Tails cried out loud, “Lookout!”

Sonic, who Turning towards Tail’s direction, Sonic catches sight of Metal jettisoning towards him. Being on guard, Sonic taps into the Green Sol Emerald and performs the Tornado spin on Metal, catching his metal Doppelganger off guard. As Metal fights to regain control, Sonic jumps up and gives a powerful kick that hurls Metal into the air. Metal regathers himself and stares back at Sonic before flying towards the Egg carrier that flew over the ruins. Eggman had discreetly escaped during the battle.

“This isn’t the end Sonic!” The Egg Carrier boomed through its speakers. “I will have the Flame of Disaster by any means necessary!”

Then, a door on the underside of the airship opens, releasing a squadron of Egg Gunners that descend upon them.

“It looks like we overstayed our welcome. Let’s get out of Here!” Says Sonic. Grabbing the Red Chaos Emerald from the dismantled Egg Cerberus, the three Heros sprint out of the ruins as the robots begin giving chase.

Harness the Flames of Disaster. He can’t possibly be serious? Right? Blaze re-evaluated Eggman’s statement prior to the battle as she escapes the colosseum.

Chapter Text

"There's the Tornado!" Sonic pointed to the plane parked beside a jagged boulder.

They flew here?! Blaze panicked, feeling a dry lump form in her throat from the sight of the red plane.

“Alright, lets fly high!” Tails exclaims, boarding into the cockpit of the Tornado and lowering his goggles to his eyes. Sonic follows behind; climbing halfway into the Tornado and reaches his hand back to Blaze. Blaze takes a step back on her right foot, looking at the plane with apprehension.

Sonic notices Blaze’s nervous disposition of the tornado.

“Are you coming your majesty?” Sonic further extends his hand out to her. Blaze, expressing her tense body language, takes another step back, showing no pain as her left foot presses on the sand. Sonic and Tails look at her confused.

“Blaze is something wrong? Sonic frowns.

“I-I just… I-I didn’t know we would be flying” Blaze shuddered.

“Well, how else did we get here?” Tails asks.

“W-well, you two are quite fast on your feet.” Blaze answers back.

“That is true, yes” Sonic acknowledged, “But the Tornado allows for better convenience and sightseeing.

“Now C’mon” Sonic gestured his extended hand to Blaze once more, “We must get going.”

“Uh...” Blaze droned, nerves trembling off her forearms.

“Blaze?” Tails lifted his goggles off his eyes; Blaze jolted her eyes to Tails now exposed eyes.

“Are you… afraid of heights?” Tails innocently asked.

“WHAT!” Blaze jumped, her ears and posture straightening in an instant, “N-no, I’m just… n-not good with sudden change of plans that’s all! I-I just… didn’t think we would be escaping by plane. That’s all I…I…”

Bzzzzzz

Suddenly, a low whirring noise off in the distance had overtaken Blaze’s flimsy exposition; Sonic, Blaze, and Tails collectively became quiet.

Sonic jumped down beside Blaze and the three of them glanced out at the sunset.

Just a mile away from where they stood, a horde of Egg Gunners propelled towards them with the setting sun outlining their exterior.

“How long is this going to go on?” Sonic pout, crossing his arms in annoyance.

Blaze narrowed her head down, feeling a pang guilt for holding Sonic & Tails rescue of her.

“Sonic.” Tails spoke up, “Let’s Split up. You take Blaze back to Soleanna and I’ll grab their attention with the Tornado.”

Sonic looked at Blaze, thinking over Tail’s plan and studying her body language.

It would be much longer to get back to Soleanna on foot. Sonic thought to himself.

But I can tell Blaze isn’t the best with air travel. Sonic observed Blaze slightly fidgeting when her eyes darted to the Tornado.

“Okay Tails.” Sonic gives his friend a thumbs up to Tails, “You be Careful.”

Oh, thank Solaris I don’t have to fly! Blaze internally rejoiced.

“Just leave it to me.” Tails gave a thumbs up back to Sonic.

Tails lowered his goggles onto his eyes and revved up the engine. And with that, Tails took to the skies. The bright red plane captured the attention of the pursuing egg stingers.

“Will he be, okay?” Blaze asked Sonic.

“Tails? Of course he will. Tails is more than capable of fending of Eggman’s machines.” Sonic grinned, “C’mon we better get going.”

“R-Right.” Blaze takes a step forward with her right leg.

“Guh!” Blaze winced in collapsing forward.

She braced herself, barley cushioning her fall on her left knee that barley grazed the sand due to Sonic catching her.

“Woah there.” Sonic held Blaze’s biceps, “Are you okay?”

“I’m… not so sure” Blaze meekly answered.

Looking to her right leg, Blaze eyes fell upon a clean cut that ran across the back of her calf with blood barley leaking from her cut legging.

“Oh, my goodness!” Sonic’s jaw dropped, “Are you okay?”

“Ye-yes.” Blaze ached, holding Sonic’s hand as he eased her onto the ground. “I guess I kicked that robot harder than I needed to.”

Blaze pulled out a roll of medical tape.

It's not often I use my roll of bandage tape on myself. Blaze echoed to herself, looking at the piece of bandage tape she peeled off and delicately started wrapping around her calf.

“Hey! Calm down their princess.” Sonic playfully snatches the bandage roll from her, “Let me help you out.”

Sonic gently wrapped the roll around Blaze’s injured leg, much to her confused annoyance.

Once done, Sonic gave a satisfied look to her bandaged calf and then to Blaze.

“So? Feel better?” Sonic asked, extending his hand out. Blaze lightly grins and grabs Sonic’s hand, letting him pull her up.

“Yes. I…” Blaze’s eyes widened, “I…I….”

Blaze’s head and hands started to sway in their own direction, and her feet stumbled in the sand.

“Blaze? Are you sure you're alright?" Sonic frowned with concern.

"Yes, I'm alright..." Blaze wearily replied, "I just… ngh..."

"Woah! Blaze!” Sonic jolted, just barley catching her before she could collapse to the ground.

"You don't seem alright." Sonic said with worry in his voice.

"I'm sorry... I must've hurt myself more than I..." Blaze slurred.

"Hey, don't apologize." Sonic hauled her to her feet, "Let's just get you back to town, alright?"

"Yes... that would be nice..." Blaze quietly said.

Sonic lifted Blaze into his arms, holding her legs and shoulder with a firm grip.

"Hold on tight." Sonic instructed, stepping back for a running start.

"Okay..." Blaze answered back, resting her head on Sonic's bicep and fighting to keep her eyes open.

Chapter Text

Departing from the jagged boulder, Sonic rushed down a sandy decline that led to a wide-open area of nothing but large mounds of sand.

"If I go this way parallel of where Tails went, we should arrive back at Castle Time in no time." Sonic said to himself, "Let's breeze through this."

Reaching the bottom of the sandy decline, Sonic utilizes the gained momentum to dash up a sandy mound, digging his hoes into the sand with each step so as to retain his speed.

Once at the top of the first sand mound, Sonic sticks his muzzle out and runs straight down, gaining a massive amount of momentum in the process.

The momentum gained from the sand mound allowed him to run up the second sand mound in half the time it took to journey up the first mound.

"Now this seems like a lot of fun." Sonic elated, reaching the climax of the second sand mound, only to run down its decline for a third sand mound.

The ascent up the third sand mound was even quicker than the previous ascent up the second sand mound; Sonic's acceleration and speed only increased with each sand mound he traversed.

"Ah yeah!" Sonic exclaimed, feeling the wind blow through quills as he dove down another sand mound at an even quicker pace than before.

Ascending up and barreling down, Sonic went faster and faster with each sand mound he conquered.

"This getaway might be too easy." Sonic joked.

Bzzzzzzz

"Oh, you can't be serious..." Sonic groaned.

Looking over his shoulder, Sonic felt a tinge of annoyance splash him in the face alongside the sand blowing into his ears as he saw a squad of Eggman robots comprised of three Egg Gunners and three Egg Stingers flying just three sand mounds away from him, vision locked straight onto his back.

"And just when I was having some fun." Sonic frowned.

The leading Egg Stinger whip its blaster straight at Sonic's back and fired an energy blast.

Side-stepping away from the blast, Sonic blitzes down the sand mound for an entirely different direction, away from the dust explosion.

The Egg Gunners and Egg Stingers did not let up, immediately chasing after Sonic.

"If I can lose them, I can get back on track." Sonic formulate, rising up and down the sandy mounds and dodging another energy blast.

Looking off into the distance, Sonic spotted something.

"Perhaps I can lose them through there." Sonic hatched his plot, studying the ancient temple that was just a few miles from the sand mounds.

Speeding up, Sonic beelines straight for the unsound temple.

The Egg Gunners & Egg Stingers gave chase, all six of them now aiming at Sonic and unleashing their ammunition.

Sonic skirted left and right, avoiding the alternating energy blasts from each robot.

Just a mile away from the temple, Sonic spotted the entrance staircase and headed straight for it. With the Egg Gunners & Egg Stingers right on his tail.

Climbing the dilapidated staircase in rapid succession, Sonic bolted through the dark temple entrance; the darkness of the temple consumed Sonic and the pursuing Egg Gunners & Egg Stingers whole, their jet boosters being the only thing barley illuminating dank temple.

"Maybe the Sol Emerald could help light the way." Sonic theorized.

Swiftly releasing his hold on Blaze's back and stuffing his hand into his pocket to grab the Green Sol Emerald, Sonic pulls out the Green Sol Emerald.

Catching Blaze with his swift hand, the Green Sol Emerald being pressed between her back and Sonic's palm. Sonic shifts his hand outward to allow his forearm to hold Blaze while the Green Sol Emerald stuck out.

"Time to light this place up." Sonic grinned.

Squeeing the Sol Emerald as tightly as he could, Sonic felt a gust of wind smack him in the face as a green light blinded him and coated the temple halls.

Readjusting his sight as the blinding light dimmed to a tolerable brightness, Sonic studied the hallway ahead of him and immediately felt the target lights paint his back.

The Egg Gunner & Egg Stingers fired at Sonic now that he was easy to spot.

Sonic conjured a small whirlwind, deflecting the energy blasts and even knocking an Egg Gunner off balance. Resulting in it colliding into an Egg Stinger and burst into flames, crunching into the ancient stone.

"Two down, four to go." Sonic celebrated.

Coming up to a right corner, Sonic leaned to his left, only to then lean harder to his right. Around the sharp corner, Sonic squeezed the Green Sol Emerald and conjured another powerful whirlwind that consumed another Egg Gunner, disassembling the robot into pieces as its comrades flew past it without a second thought.

"There's my exit out of here." Sonic rejoiced, staring down a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Speeding up and creating greater distance between himself and the two Egg Stingers and Egg Gunner, Sonic hugged Blaze closer to his chest as he anticipated his exit.

Zipping out of the temple at incredible speed, Sonic felt the cold chill of the temple fizzle out immediately as the warm sun beamed down on him.

The two Egg Stingers and remaining Egg Gunner followed after, rocketing out of the dark temple and having the sunlight reflect of their metal exterior.

Sonic rushed down a set of declining stairs, each step quick and precise so as not to slip and injure himself and Blaze.

His feet soon touched back onto the grainy sands, a few grains entering his shoes.

"Eugh!" Sonic squeamishly shivered, "I got sand in my shoes."

Peow!

"Hah!" Sonic leaned to his right, narrowly avoiding an energy blast from the pursuing Egg Gunner.

"These things are as stubborn as Eggman." Sonic complained, "Which makes sense."

Increasing his running speed, Sonic took off, kicking up sand that obscured the two Egg Stingers and Egg Gunners line of sight.

The two Egg Gunners and Egg Stinger began aimlessly firing, shots shooting out of the cloud of sand in various directions.

"Yikes!" Sonic ducked his head, "And here I thought Eggman had bad aim."

Suddenly, one energy blast tore through the dust cloud and glided through the dusty breeze, shooting straight for Sonic's backside.

Glancing over his shoulder, Sonic saw the rogue energy blast, right behind him.

Unable to react in time, Sonic tried to side-step away from the nearby energy blast.

Paow!

"Eagh!" Sonic yelped, feeling the energy blast connect with his left bicep.

Sonic winced in pain, his eyes darting to his left bicep to see blood trickling out from his arm.

"Oww... that's gonna leave a mark." Sonic winced.

Peew!

Another energy blast fired in Sonic's line of sight, and this time, he avoided it in time, hopping to his left.

"Okay. I've had enough of this." Sonic declared.

Scanning his surroundings, Sonic's eyes fall upon a giant, stone formation that looped twice, leading straight to another unsound temple.

"Let's see if this will throw them off." Sonic clenched his teeth, tightening his grasp on Blaze and feeling the blood leak from his arm.

Running even faster, Sonic rushed for the double loop-de-loop formation.

The sandstorm Sonic had been kicking up settled as he stepped foot onto the rocky surface of the stone formation.

The two Egg Stingers and Egg Gunner, broke through the end of the sandstorm, nearly blindsided by stone formation.

While the two Egg Stingers maneuvered just in time to avoiding smashing into the stone and continue chasing after Sonic, the Egg Gunner smashed into the Stone formation headfirst. Crunching in on itself as gargled, electronic noises bled out.

Running vertically underneath the stone formation, Sonic reaches the climax of the underpart.

Squeezing the Green Sol Emerald as hard as he could, Sonic conjured a medium-sized whirlwind the whipped around the upper half of the first loop-de-loop. The two Egg Stingers were whisked away by the powerful whirlwind, unable to regain control over their flight and sent in opposite directions.

One Egg stinger crashed right into a temple pillar, nearly breaking into two from the impact as its internal circuits spilled out. While the other fell headfirst into the sand, smashing in on itself from the impact.

Sonic runs under the second loop-de-loop and reached back down onto the sand, stuffing the Green Sol Emerald back in his pocket.

Striking a quick glance over his shoulder, Sonic looked back at the two demolished Egg Stingers and the fractured Egg Gunner.

"Well, that was a bit of fun for what it was." Sonic smirked.

Looking straight ahead, Sonic couldn't help himself from eyeing Blaze, his expression growing more and more baffled with each rapid glance.

"Boy, is she a heavy sleeper." Sonic remarked, observing Blaze peacefully passed out in his arms, her head firmly pressed against the side of his chest.

Good thing she didn't get hit, she's already hurt enough as is. Sonic internally let out a sigh of relief.

"That little detour threw me off track." Sonic complained, "I think I need to go this way."

Screeching a stop, kicking sand up by digging his heels into the sand, Sonic turned to face the stone formation.

Backing up for a running start, Sonic took off, kicking up a sandstorm behind him as he sprinted across the sandy plain for the mounds of sand that would lead him straight back to Castle Town.

As Sonic dug his feet into the sand in rapid succession, Blaze clenched her sealed eyes tighter and tighter, pressing her cheek further into Sonic's chest.

Chapter Text

Blaze’s eyes snapped wide open and she shot up, hearing the sound of crackling embers and deteriorating infrastructure in between her heavy breathing.

She was once again surrounded by Soleanna engulfed in flames. This time, she was New Soleanna instead of Castle Town or the forest. Despite being in a different area, everything around her was still engulfed in flames, charred, and damaged.

“Sonic!” Blaze cried out, “Sonic where are you!?”

But Sonic was nowhere to be found.

“We Meet Again!” a voice Blaze is all too familiar with calls out.

Blaze turned to see the White, disheveled Hedgehog descending to the Ground, his hands and eyes radiating a bright cyan aura.

Without a second thought, Blaze turned on her heels and ran away from the White Hedgehog.

The White Hedgehog immediately gave chase, throwing a flurry of Psychic attacks in her direction, nearly grazing Blaze’s delicate fur.

Blaze bolted down the charred road, passing the burning buildings and untamed fires. She looked over her shoulder to see if the white hedgehog was still on her tail, and much to her horror, he was. The White Hedgehog rocketed from behind her; enveloped in a cyan aura, the White Hedgehog pursued her as he flew past the charred buildings.

Drifting around a corner, Blaze comes to a standstill as a brick wall stops her dead in her tracks. She spun on her feet to run back before the White Hedgehog could corner her.

But it was too late.

The White Hedgehog swung around the corner, and Blaze froze in the middle of the alleyway, looking at the White Hedgehog blocking her only escape route.

Slowly, the White Hedgehog inched closer.

Every step the White Hedgehog took towards Blaze, she took a step backwards until the brick wall prevented her from backing up further.

With her back pressed against the brick wall, Blaze, in a last-ditch effort to defend herself, shot her hand out, palm open, to launch a fire blast at her aggressor.

But much Blaze’s horror, no fire emerged from her palm.

She recoiled her arm back and shot her palm out again as the white hedgehog closed in on her, but no fire spewed from her paw.

“What!? Wh-why can’t I use my fire?” Blaze went pale, frantically extending her hand out to send a fire blast. But no fire blast came.

Capitalizing off her absorbed panic, the White Hedgehog flings a psychic-wave towards Blaze, slamming her against the wall she was already pressed against.

“Agh!” Blaze bounces from the wall and collapse to the floor, groaning in pain and her vision blurred.

The White Hedgehog approached Blaze and grabbed her by the neck. The sharp grip around her well-toned neck shot down Blaze’s back; Blaze wriggled in pain, clawing the air and kicking. Her breathing became desperate and dry as she struggled to break free from her perpetrators grip; the White Hedgehog’s bandaged fingers dug into Blaze’s lithe neck, tampering with her breathing.

“Ngh… Nguh!” Blaze grunted, her feeble hands being no match for the White Hedgehog’s iron grip.

“Nothing without your fire, are you?” the White Hedgehog sneered.

“Puh-please. I-I don’t intend a-any harm…” Blaze choked.

Without hesitation, the White Hedgehog slammed Blaze’s body onto the ground, sending a sharp pain throughout her body as the White Hedgehog glared down with no remorse.

Blaze twitched, unable to move, she let out coarse coughs and small sobs of pain.

“If you didn’t intend any harm. Then why did you release Iblis?” The White Hedgehog demanded, bending down to her level.

The statement sent a chill down Blaze’s spine. All she could do in that moment was dart her eyes around to take in the destruction she supposedly caused.

“Th-that’s impossible” Blaze mutters “I-Iblis can only escape—”

But before Blaze could finish her sentence, the White Hedgehog snatched her neck and yanked up from the ground. He pinned her body against the wall that cornered her, glaring daggers into her frightened eyes.

“When the seven powers of Chaos surround an emotionally unstable Vessel who lacks the Seal. Iblis is released!” The white Hedgehog barks.

That can’t be? Blaze thought to herself.

“N-no. That’s not h-how Iblis can esca—”

The White Hedgehog pulled her away from the wall, only to slam her body against the wall.

Sending another sharp pain throughout her body.

“LIAR!” the White Hedgehog bark, “Iblis can only be release by the vessel when the seal is absent and the seven powers of chaos are present!”

“Ngh. N-no. That’s not…”

But Silver wasn’t willing to listen. He held out his free hand and charged a psychic orb. In just seconds, the orb grew exponentially in size and power. Much to the horror of Blaze.

Chapter Text

“AH!” Blaze squealed, snapping wide awake, hyperventilating in Sonic's arms.

“Woah!” Sonic jolted, completely caught off guard by Blaze abruptly awakening.

Sonic grinded to a halt atop the climax of the steep hill he had just reached and set Blaze down onto the soft grass.

Blaze, staring up at the sky, held her claw to her wildly thumping heart; gasping for air.

“Blaze? What’s wrong? Blaze?!” Sonic called to her, holding her shaky hand.

Sonic’s voice sounded muffled to Blaze; her heavy breathing and distress from the world around her being reduced to nothing more than soot tuned out Sonic's words.

“Blaze, I need you to calm down. Blaze!” Sonic exclaimed, growing more worried for Blaze.

Blaze’s eyes became frozen solid, staring blankly up at the blue sky with no response to be found.

Sonic grabbed her shoulders and directed her face towards him.

“Blaze. It’s okay. I’m here.”

She blinked, and her eyes showed signs of life.

“Hu-whew. Hu-whew. Hu-whew…hu-whew…” Blaze’s hyperventilating dwindled drastically as Blaze looked straight up to the clear blue sky with rejuvenated conscious.

Once under control, Blaze allowed herself to be consumed by the grass.

“Thank you, Sonic.” Blaze let out a sigh of relief, “I appreciate your concern.”

“Sure thing.” Sonic says back, “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Blaze looked to her left and then to her right. Suddenly, she noticed that she and Sonic were no longer in Arid Dunes. They were on the outskirt plains of Castle Town.

Wait. Where are we? Blaze internally asks herself as she takes in her surroundings with a confused expression.

How did I…! No! Don’t Tell me I was unconscious! Blaze thought of the only reasonable explanation; her face burning with embarrassment. How could I have just let him carry me across that wide, open desert?!

“Hey?" Sonic asked with concern, "Are you okay?”

Blaze flinched with perturb., cheeks burning rose-red.

“I-I’m fine, thank you." Blaze stuttered, "I just… did not expect my fatigue to catch up to me…” 

“Well, that Mech of Eggman’s was no pushover, that’s to say the least” Sonic grinned.

Blaze lets out a sigh of air and pressed off her knees to stand up. She brushed her dress looked to Sonic.

“Sonic. I have no words to express how grateful I am for your hel—” Blaze felt her heart skip a beat when she noticed a small, red blotch on Sonic’ left arm.  

“You’re hurt!” Blaze exclaims, raising her hand to her mouth in shock. Sonic looked at his arm.

“Oh this!” Sonic shrugged off the injury on his arm, “It’s nothing too severe, just a blast from one of those Egg Gunners back in the desert.”

“Here. Let me help you.” Blaze said, pulling out her bandage roll.

“Blaze really, I’m fine.” Sonic doubled down on his injury.

Blaze, ignoring Sonic's ignorant words, pulls peels a strand of bandage tape and softly applies it to Sonic's arm.

Sonic winced immediately from the bandage tape touching his skin

“You’re not really good at lying, are you?” Blaze frowned.

Sonic only let out a faint chuckle in response.

Blaze slowly wrapped the bandage tape around the wound on his arm.

Sonic grit his teeth as the pressure of the bandage tape pressed down on his wound and coiled his bicep.

Not my best work, but it will have to do until we return to Soleanna. Blaze studied her own bandage work with disappointment. Why did I allow myself to doze off? Blaze internally berates herself. Had I not gotten compromised, I could have prevented this.

“S-sonic.” Blaze's eyes looked away from Sonic as she held onto his injured arm.

“Yeah?” Sonic tilts his head.

“I’m…I’m Sorry.” Blaze apologized in a low voice.

“Sorry?" Sonic frowned, lifted an eyebrow and shifted his shoulder back, "For what exactly?” 

“I’m sorry I fell asleep while you ran across the desert and risked your safety.” Blaze apologized, looking down at Sonic’s feet with shame.

“Had I been awake and on my feet, I could have prevented you from being hurt. Had I just dealt with my fear of heights; Tails would not have had to fly on his own. And had I been not feared that robot that looks like you; your friend Knuckles and Gardon wouldn’t have been hurt.” Blaze recalled.

“Instead, I have been nothing but a nuisance to you and your wonderful friends.” Blaze expressed her guilt, releasing her grip on Sonic and pointing her glance at the grass. 

The two stood perfectly still for what seemed like minutes, Blaze’s eyes narrowed down at the green grass to avoid contact with Sonic’s green eyes as the wind breezed through her hair and Sonic’s quills.

“You are not a Nuisance.” Sonic broke the silence.

“Wha?” Blaze lifted her head, surprised by Sonic’s sudden compliment. “What do you mean I’m not a nuisance? All I’ve done is serve as a liability for you.”

“After what you did back there in the Colosseum. Nuisance would be one of the last words I would use to describe you!” Sonic smiled.

“Eh?!” Blaze’s jaw grew agape from Sonic’s thorough compliment that did not regard her appearance and royal status. Is what he saying true? Why is he saying this? Blaze internally questioned.

“Do you really think what I did back there was incredible?” Blaze questioned.

“Do, I think? Of course I do!” Sonic grinned.  

Blaze’s cheek blushed bright red, she didn’t know how to take such an overwhelmingly positive compliment. Why is he being so kind to me? Was our triumph over that giant robot really be that note-worthy? I’ve never really felt this type of feeling before?

“Thank you, Sonic. I’ve never really been viewed that way.” Blaze said, grasping both of her biceps while her cheeks burned an embarrassing shade of red.

Blaze walked past Sonic, flustered and unsure of how to act. Sonic followed her and reached his hand out for her shoulder but stopped himself from placing his hand on her.

“Blaze?” Sonic called to her.

“Yes Sonic?” Blaze answered back, avoiding eye contact with him as her cheeks burned.

“Eggman mentioned the Flames of Disaster.” Sonic mentioned, “What are they and why is after you?”

Blaze stopped in place. Sonic noticed her grip on her biceps becoming tighter as she stood frozen in place, her breathing sounding more solid.

“If you’re uncomfortable You don’t have to tell me right away.” Sonic offered her an opt out, “I just thought you would know about what he’s been rambling about.”

I've never really told anyone outside the royal family about the Flames of Disaster; it's not really a wise move to discuss confidential information. Blaze contemplated. But he's been nothing but kind to me, and he knows more about that 'Dr. Eggman' than I'll ever know. If I want to protect my people, he needs to know everything. 

“The name of our god that we, the nation of Soleanna, honor is named Solaris. Also known as the Sun God.” Blaze began explaining, strolling across the tranquil plains with Sonic by her side.

“Many Millenniums ago, Solaris provided a nation of lost travelers a region of Land to prosper and grow, as well as the gift known as the Flame of Hope. The Flame was said to last forever and bring great fortune to those who devoted themselves to Solaris and used the wisdom from the flame to better the world. However, if the flame is to be tampered with for selfish reasons, Solaris’ rage would destroy not only the world, but the universe as well. More than 10 years ago, we nearly felt the wrath of Solaris’ rage.” Blaze paused to gather herself before continuing.

“When I was only 6 years old, our nation was attacked by an enemy who sought to overthrow our kingdom and claim me. Many innocent people had their lives taken away from them. Blaze laments, her face still turned away from Sonic. "Including my mother." 

Although Sonic could not see Blaze’s face, he could tell from the small flares rising upwards towards the sky and her shifted posture that she was upset.

In that moment, Blaze recalled the few memories she had of her late mother. Her magenta rose fur, her beautiful face, her silk white dress and her elegant, soothing voice.

Sonic looked to Blaze with sympathy over the loss of her mother. Blaze took a deep breath and continued speaking.

“Me, my father, and the surviving people of Soleanna, mourned the death of my mother and people who had lost their lives that day. Although the perpetrators were punished for their heinous crimes, my father was deeply upset by the sudden loss of my mother and his people. Consumed by grief, he Launched a study that was labeled the Solaris Project. It was a project that would utilize the Flame of hope to turn back time to prevent the attack from happening, as well as any past tragedies that struck Soleanna. The project was heavily funded by the United Federation government in exchange for our finest bronze and iron.”

G.U.N.?! Sonic furrowed his brow. Why exactly did G.U.N. want steel from Soleanna? 

“Although my father had noble intentions, Solaris’ viewed his desire as ungrateful and a showcase of vitriolic Lust. Just six months after the project was launched, my father and the smartest Scientists’ of Soleanna at the time were on the brink of cracking the code and obtaining the power of the Flame of Hope. But Solaris, who was fueled by never-ending rage, unleashed his fury and separated into two powerful beings. The first being was simply known as The Dark. Not much is known about The Dark as documents regarding it were lost to the other powerful being, the flames of disaster, Iblis.”

Blaze then stops, prompting Sonic to stop walking as well. “Blaze?” Sonic asks “What happened next?” Blaze pondered on the exact details but resigned after having a difficult time recalling what happened after the explosion.

“I… don’t really remember what happened next. All I can remember was walking into the lab where my father and the scientist were at work. He lunged towards me and then a massive explosion went off. That was the last I ever saw of him… My amulet was the last thing he left behind…” Blaze deplores, eyes becoming waterier.

Blaze clutches her flame amulet, gripping it tightly. “When I woke up, I was outside the lab in the location of the previous castle, surrounded by guards, the few remaining scientists, and military members of G.U.N. The first thing I was told was that my father was gone. I didn’t want to believe it. I wanted to deny it. I wanted it to be some sick joke.” Blaze tears up, recounting the traumatic event that changed her life forever.

“I bolted back to the entrance, hoping I can find my father, hoping that this was all a dream and not reality. But before I could even step foot in the damaged lab, the guards quickly grabbed a hold of me and dragged me away from the grave of my father. I kicked and screamed, hoping I could break free and find him. But all I received was a slap across the cheek and a stern reminder from the lead scientist to not be upset. I asked why I couldn’t be upset over the death of my father; why I couldn’t mourn the loss of my only living parent. And that is when he revealed what became of Iblis….”

“What did become of Iblis?” Sonic innocently asked.

Blaze, with watery eyes and her gemstone glowing a dull orange as flames bled upwards, turned her head to look to Sonic.

Sonic didn’t need another word to know that he was not only looking at Blaze but the Flames of Disaster as well.

“Wow… I’m… I’m Sorry about all that. I… couldn’t imagine going through that.” Sonic said, knowing all he could do was provide open ears and assure her that he cares.

“I was almost taken away that day. G.U.N. took the scepter of darkness to keep it away from the world. And they almost took me…” Blaze details what became of the Scepter.

“Had it not been for Gardon and Miss Anna, I wouldn’t be here…” Blaze wiped her teary eyes, reminiscing the terrifying event that unfolded on that fateful day.

Chapter Text

Envisioning that fateful day, she recalled the slap burn from the lead scientist that had stormed off to allow the paramedics to treat him. Leaving her behind after giving a ruthless lecture.

As the lead scientist left, a new person appeared before her.

A tall, muscular Husky with short gray hair slicked back and complete heterochromia, his left eye was green while his right eye was brown, wearing a gray service uniform with a G logo on his left sleeve, white gloves, and black combat boots, approached her.

“Young ma’am.” The imposing commander questioned her, “Would your name happen to be Blaze?”

She hesitated for a moment, intimidated by the commander, that made her look and feel so small in everything.

“Ye-yes sir…That is my name.” Blaze admitted.

The Husky commander’s different colored eyes analyzed the trembling kitten.

“Bring her with us.” The commander snapped his finger, turning on his heel and walking to the parked helicopter.

“What!” Blaze cried in disbelief.

A strong, canine guard swooped up from behind her and grabbed her by her arms

“Waa!” Blaze let out a yelp of pain, shutting her eyes.

“H-hey let me go!” Blaze continued to flail about as the soldier escorted her away.

“Ugh. Stop it. You’re hurting me.” Blaze squealed, fidgeting her tiny arms to no avail.

Opening her eyes, Blaze felt her heart drop when she saw the commander hop into a parked helicopter. The guard was forcing her there.

“Stop! Stop it! I don’t want to go. I’m scared of heights. I can’t!” Blaze thrashed and kicked.

“Cut it out kid, you’re making this harder than it needs to be.” The guard fidget with Blaze.

“No! I don’t want to leave!” Blaze sobbed, tears fluttering from her eyes.

“Grr…” The soldier releases a low-volume growl and lowers Blaze to the ground, releasing his grasp on her.

“Hu- Hu-ah!” Blaze tries to run, but she is bear-hugged by the soldier, squeezing her tighter and plunging her into a deeper panic.

“Someone help! Please!” Blaze snivels, burning tears swelling in her eyes.

Inside the helicopter, the lion commander watches Blaze frantically attempt to escape, taking note of her gemstone on her forehead morphing from ruby red into a summer orange. His serious demeanor never faltered, even for the distressed little girl that arrived closer to one of the few modes of transportation she feared.

“Please…  Let me go!” Blaze bawled, scared for her life in that moment.

The frustrated soldier squeezes Blaze, stopping her flailing but not her distressed weeping. “Stop it right now! You’re coming with us whether you like it or not!” the solider barks to Blaze. The solider steps onto the footstep of the helicopter, sobbing kitten in his arms.

“Stop right there!”

Just before the soldier could fully force Blaze into the helicopter, a deep, masculine voice shouts, it was Gardon. The commander and soldier, look back to see Gardon and Anna bolting to the helicopter.

“What do you think you’re doing!” Anna demanded.

“She holds the flames of disaster; she needs to be confined.” the Commander explained.

“You can’t do that. She’s just a child!” Gardon growled.

“Child or not. She holds a destructive half-god that can go on a rampage if she’s not kept in check. So, she must come with us.” the Commander conclude, turning his back on Gardon.

“You’re not going to remove her from her home.” Gardon snarled.

Charging to the helicopter, Gardon wrestled with the soldier from his backside, trying to pry Blaze out of his grasp.

But the solider got the upper hand, grabbing Gardon by the collar of his uniform and shoving him out of the helicopter.

“Mister Gardon!” Blaze bursts into tears.

Blaze’s distress awakened her newfound power.

A plume of flame burst from her gemstone; Embers burst from her palms and onto the thighs of the soldier. The soldier released his hold on Blaze in response to the intense burn.

Dropping onto the step ledge and falling to the ground, Blaze scampered away before the soldier could catch her.

Free from the soldier, Blaze ran to Anna and hid behind her, hugging the bare calf of her right leg and clenching the back hem of her skirt with her left paw.

“Miss Anna. Please don’t let them take me away.” Blaze begged.

The lady-in-waiting peered to the poor girl who had just lost her father and is now being confiscated by a foreign government military.

“Don’t worry dear. We won’t let them take you” Anna caresses Blaze’s lavender hair.

“You promise?”

“Of course sweetie. It’s going okay I promise.” Anna says to Blaze, hoping her own word is true.

“Hand her over right this instant!” the Commander instructed, stepping out of the helicopter.

“Miss Anna…”

“It’s alright, just stay behind me dear.” Anna wraps her left hand onto Blaze’s back and held her right hand out in a defensive pose for the angered commander that marched towards her.

“Leave her alone!” Anna demands, backing herself and Blaze away from the Commander.

The Commander does not heed Anna’s request, arriving at arms-length between him and Anna. Grabbing her right shoulder, The Commander shoved Anna aside.

Anna trips over her heels and collapsed to the ground.

“Miss Anna!” Blaze cries.

“We’re going. Now!” The Commander snatched Blaze’s wrist and dragged her to the helicopter. Blaze thrashed and flailed, trying to break free from The Commander’s crushing grip that forced her feet to drag across the dirt.

Anna tried to snatch Blaze from the Commander, but the burned solider swooped up from behind and swung both arms around her waist, bear hugging her and keeping her out of the Commander’s way. Unable to reach Blaze, she had no choice but to watch the Commander drag Blaze closer to the parked helicopter.

The Commander was about to board the helicopter once again, this time with Blaze. But Gardon stopped his progress once more.

“Halt!” Gardon orders, stepping in between the Commander and the step ledge.

“Halt?!” The Commander analyzed Gardon, baffled by his defiance. “Who are you to tell me to halt? Now step out of my way right this instant!” The Commander lashed back.

“Absolutely not.” Gardon put his foot down, “I won’t allow you to take her away.”

The Commander growled in frustration, “It’s not for you to decide whether she stays or not. Leaving her here would pose a great threat to our world. So we must—”

“No!” Gardon cut off the Commander who was at his wits end.

“You aren’t going to pry a defenseless child away from her home. You just can’t!” Gardon argued.

“And why exactly can we not?” The Commander raised an eyebrow, testing Gardon’s persistence.

“All I’m saying is that it would be rather preposterous to remove a child who holds the throne to an entire country away from her home. Throwing her nation into further peril.” Gardon informed. “Not to mention, it would be sour for both Soleanna and the United Federation to have bad blood with each other over a child.”

The Commander hesitates for a moment. He didn’t want to listen to Gardon, but he couldn’t deny that what the Koala was saying was true. Both nations would be on bad terms with each other because of what he thought was right. And hearing Gardon mention the term ‘child’ struck a certain chord with him. A chord that has been restless for forty years at this point. A chord that is the reason he is exactly where he is today. The Commander grumbled, clearly debating with himself on whether his decision is in fact right or not; ethical even.

“Now. Release her right this instant.” Gardon command.

The Commander locked eyes with the koala, his two different colored eyes engaging in a staring contest with Gardon’s fierce black eyes that made it very clear that he wasn’t going to back away that easily.

Letting out an annoyed growl, the Commander released his grasp on Blaze.

Blaze slumped to the ground, letting out small gasps, holding her wrist that was red from his Iron grasp.

“Release the woman.” The Commander instructed to his the soldier, gesturing his hand.

The burned soldier did as he was commanded, releasing his grasp on Anna.

“Blaze!” Gardon and Anna rushed to Blaze, helping the small kitten to her feet. “It’s alright now. You’re safe.” Anna consoles the weeping princess. The burned soldier arrived to the Commander turned away from the koala, rabbit and kitten.

“Get to chopper. We’re leaving.” The Commander ordered.

“Yes Sir!” The soldier salutes to his commander, marching to the parked helicopter. The soldier boards the cockpit of the helicopter, turning on the propellor.

“Are we ready sir?” the soldier called to the Commander.

The Commander does not answer his soldier’s simple question, instead turning to gaze at Blaze still weeping.

“Now listen here. Just because we’re letting you stay in your home doesn’t mean we won’t be keeping watch of you. We’ll be issuing equipment to prevent you from burning your home down to rubble.” The Commander lectured to Blaze, getting closer to her face.

“And If I so much as hear any and I mean any outburst involving you. I will accompany you back to G.U.N. Do I make myself clear?” The Commander viciously questioned.

“Ye-yes sir…” Blaze whimpered, leaning away from the Commander and clenching onto Gardon and Anna.

“Good. Remember, you’re a danger if you can’t control yourself.” and with that the Commander returned to the helicopter.

“Good. Remember, you’re a danger if you can’t control yourself.”

The Commander’s final words rang loud in Blaze’s head. Her life was never the same after that fateful day.

Chapter Text

Opening her eyes, she saw the grass being much greener and livelier, the sky was dusk orange instead of somber gray, and the castle was nowhere to be see.

“Are you alright?” Sonic asks Blaze, reaching out for her.

“Yes. Just… repressed memories, that’s all…” Blaze honestly answers.

“Do you need to take a break? You can tell—”

“No, I’m fine. I’m…fine…” Blaze interjects, continuing to walk, hiding her sadness from Sonic.

“Are you sure?” Sonic expresses his concern for Blaze.

“Yes. I am sure.” Blaze reconfirms, trying to hold it together.

“Now where was I? Ah yes. Following the death of my father. I, alongside the castle staff, were relocated to a new castle within central Soleanna. Much closer to our people and far away from…that…” Blaze pauses in her tracks, prompting Sonic to stop once more.

“Blaze?”

“And now…” Blaze continued, “That man is trying to cause the same disaster again...” Blaze muttered, her hands begin to tremble with fear, fidgeting as they held her biceps.

“Wh-what do I do?!” Blaze asks with thorough worry in her voice as her body begins to tremble; her gemstone began glistening a brighter shade of orange as the seeping flares grew warmer. “I can’t let it happen. I just can’t. I—”

Sonic grabbed Blaze’s trembling hands spun her around and looked her in the eyes.

“It won’t happen.” Sonic states with confidence.

Blaze, feeling Sonic’s warm grasp, tensed up; her gemstone’s orange glow faded back to ruby red as the fire ceased bleeding entirely.

“Not if I can help it.” Sonic follows up with, giving a grin exuding positivity.

“But what do I do? I can’t just allow him to harness the flames.” Blaze asked sonic.

Sonic wagged his finger and only said one word: “Smile”

Smile? How will smiling defeat Eggman? Blaze pondered.

Then, a small, blue butterfly landed on Sonic’s nose. Sonic looked at innocent insect with confusion. Blaze couldn’t help herself and released a light giggle over Sonic’s perplexed expression, her laugh seemingly in sync with the antennas of the butterfly. The butterfly flies away from Sonic’s nose, giving Sonic the chance to see Blaze’s beaming face without any distractions.

“Your Smile. That’s All I need.” Sonic said.

My Smile? Blaze studied Sonic's simple words. Of all things, why would that be what he needs? 

“Well." Sonic let out a yawn, stretching both arms to the sky. "That was a nice little breather.”

“Now let's head back.” Sonic suggested, grabbing Blaze's hand and pulling her to his side.

“Woah, um…” Blaze pulled her hand from Sonic, startled by his sudden movement.

“Is something wrong?” Sonic asked.

“Are you sure you want to run?" Blaze asked, "I’m… not as fast as you.” 

“Don’t worry.” Sonic dispelled her worries, “Just raise you head and run!”

And with that, Sonic ran off.

“Wait! Sonic!” Blaze shouted out for him, but he was too quick for her.

Sonic looked over his shoulder back at Blaze. “Are you gonna catch me or what?” he teased.  

“Are you serious?” Blaze glanced at Sonic; her glance containing a hint of agitation.

“Remember, just raise your head and run.” Sonic repeated his words before bolting off.

“Oh… You” Blaze cheeks burned with a blend of admiration, annoyance and her own heat.

Following Sonic’s advice, she lifted her head up and began to slowly chase after Sonic. In no time, she was running after him, trying to keep up with him as the gap between the two grew wider and wider. As she ran, she felt the wind become cooler the faster she ran; the cool wind whipped through her hair.

“What is this feeling?” Blaze asked herself through the whipping winds, "Is this what it's like to go fast?"

She saw Sonic ahead waving to her. This time, she flashed a small grin and decided to play along with him.

Pressing her heels into the grassy plains, she ignited her own speed with weak embers that gave her the strength to propel her forward but not burn the grass.

This bolstered speed allowed her to catch up to come up from behind Sonic who was blissfully unaware.

“Going anywhere?” Blaze lightly teased Sonic as she came up on his right side, running alongside him.

“Huh?!” Sonic nearly staggered. Bamboozled Blaze, he did not have an immediate response.

His eyes darted back behind them, and he noticed the trail of flames she produced. He was both fascinated and confused at the same time.

“You can’t catch me!” Blaze teased, running ahead of the fastest thing alive.

“Oh yes I can!” Sonic playfully retorts back, backing up his claim by bolting to Blaze.

“Not bad.” Sonic compliments Blaze’s speed. She delightfully giggled.

As the sun set below the horizon, Sonic and Blaze raced across the grassy Plains and arrived back in Castle Town.

Entering the city at rapid speeds, the two sped through pathways, conquering the hilly slopes that went up and down and all around, as well as the cool winds that blew through Sonic’s quills and Blaze’s fur. Blaze was too caught up in her run with Sonic to notice the flabbergasted looks from both civilians and tourists. Yet, she did not care what they thought, she felt happy in that moment.

Sonic and Blaze ran for what seemed like hours. Their run did conclude on a shoreline that sat beside a path. The two collapsed on the sandy waterfront in both laughter and exhaustion.

“Hahaha.” Sonic chuckled, clearly out of breath as he felt the sand brush against his quills.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Sonic asked Blaze, looking at her bright red, winded face. 

“Yes. It feels good." Blaze pants, looking up to the night sky. "I-I’ve never run so fast before. Truth be told, I’ve never really had a valid reason for going so fast.”

Sonic turns his head to Blaze, prompting her to turn hers.

“Just remember that no matter what time it is. Whether it be yesterday, tomorrow, or today. Nothing starts until you act. If you have time to worry, then run.” Sonic bestows wisdom upon Blaze.

“I’ll remember that. Thanks.” Blaze expresses gratitude to Sonic for his advice, giving him a nice smile. Sonic smiles back. The two smiled at each other for what seemed like hours, which was made more apparent by their drowsiness.

“Wow, I’m tired.” Sonic let out a drowsy yawn.

“Me as well.” Blaze also yawned, fantasizing about her luxurious mattress, “I can’t wait to get some sleep.” 

“Well, why don’t we call it a day and we can meet up tomorrow?” Sonic makes plans for tomorrow, standing up and pulling Blaze to her feet.

“Actually.” Blaze said with a subtle grin, “I was thinking… why don’t you three come sleep at the castle?”

“The castle?!” Sonic’s eyebrow shot up, “Are you serious?!”

“Of course.” Blaze insisted. “You and your friends have done so much for us today that I would feel horrible if you didn’t get a reward for all your troubles. Please, I insist.”

Sleeping in a castle? Sonic pondered. I have no problem with the hotel we're staying at but sleeping in a castle for our vacation?! How could I say no? How could Tails and Knuckles say no?! 

“Alright. Let’s go get Tails and Knuckles and head to your place.” Sonic gleefully accepted.

"Oh wonderful." Blaze clapped her hands.

Sonic and Blaze walked to the hotel, hand-in-hand and approached Tails & Knuckles with the same offer that Sonic was presented with on the shoreline. The Fox and Echidna accepted Blaze’s offers and gathered their belongings.

In no time, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles leave the hotel with all of their belongings for the castle. While Sonic, Knuckles and Blaze carried all of the luggage to the castle, Tails drove the Tornado though the streets to the castle so it can stay parked there for the remainder of their vacation.

With the Tornado parked beside the castle, and all the luggage & belongings brought inside. Blaze leads Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles to their own lavishly, luxurious guest bedrooms. The three heroes have no issue settling into their guest bedrooms and soon after unpacking their belongings, they fall into a heavy slumber, exhausted after a long and demanding day.

With the trio all set in their own beds, Blaze returned to her bed and fell into a deep sleep.

For the first time in seemed like forever, Blaze slept peacefully with no worry.

Chapter Text

The morning sun had rose once more, ascending above the horizon of the crystal-clear sea and beaming down on Castle Town and New Soleanna. The morning sun seeped into Blaze's royal chamber and shined on her. Upon being struck by the light, Blaze squints her eyes open; being lightly blinded by the rising sun.

“Ggghuhh…” Blaze groaned, rolling onto her other side and squinting her eyes from the excessively bright morning shine.

Sitting up straight, she stretched her arms and let out a satisfied yawn. 

Smacking her lips and letting her shoulders slump, Blaze looked at the end of her bed where the door to her chamber was opposite of where she was. However, in between her and the door was a blue figure standing at the end of her bed. Honing her sight onto the blue figure, Blaze’s eyes suddenly went from barley open to wide open as she realized who was standing at the end of her bed.

“Sonic!” Blaze squealed, grabbing her blanket to conceal her non-revealing tank top.

“Morning Sunshine!” Sonic cheerily waved.

“W-What are you doing in my Room?!” Blaze demanded, her cheeks turning pale pink.

“Hey. Calm down.” Sonic waved his hand in the according gesture, “I was only asked to come and wake you up.”

“Well…” Blaze paused. Why of all people, was he sent up here to wake me up?

“I would have preferred if you knocked rather than walk in on me sleeping!” Blaze reprimanded.

“I Did Knock." Sonic revealed, "Gardon even knocked. He told me you're a heavy sleeper.” 

“Ehgh!” Blaze’s stuttered, her cheeks flashing bright pink and her shoulders shrugged with embarrassment.

“Well… thank you for checking in on me.” Blaze awkwardly commends, slightly lowering her hold on her blanket.

“Now if you could please leave so I can get dressed I would appreciate it.” Blaze points to the door Sonic entered.

“Alright your highness.” Sonic says with a smug grin, “Just don’t take too long.”

“Hmph!” Blaze pout.

Sonic twirled on his heel and exited the room for the hallway.

Roaming down the expensive hallways hosting an endless number of portraits displaying Blaze’s lineage, Sonic soon arrived at the throne room and headed straight for the castle entrance.

Stepping outside the castle’s two large wooden doors, Sonic took in the beautiful morning view. The sky was wonderfully blue, there wasn't a cloud in sight, and the breeze was cool. Sonic sniffed the cool air and let out a satisfied sigh. 

“You know I would not mind waking up to this every morning.” Sonic said to only himself, gazing out at the peaceful city waking up around him as he waited for Blaze.

Suddenly, the heavy wooden doors slowly creaked wide open, alerting Sonic.

Redirecting his attention, Sonic saw the massive castle entrance reveal Blaze walking out the corridor with her hair pulled back and loose wearing a white, knee-length dress with white see-through sleeves, a gold reflective cross across her chest, a golden collar that is paired with her flame amulet, a pale-cerulean ocean-wave pattern at the tip of her dress, clean sheer gloves that exposed her biceps, candy brown pantyhose that covered her legs, deep pink closed-toe high heels with white straps, and a pale pink bow complimenting the back of her dress. Rounding her modest attire was a pair of gold ear-cuff earrings with feathers wrapped around her ears.

Walking outside the castle entrance, Blaze sauntered to Sonic’s feet.

"Ah, there you are." Blaze greeted with a bashful smile.

“Wow.” Sonic gazed to Blaze; his eyes glued to her outfit and her face. “You look… wonderful.”

Blaze blushed, her cheeks became rosy-pink, and she felt her tail wave up and down.

“Why, thank you, Sonic.” Blaze lightly giggled, flattered by the kind remark.

Sonic did not immediately reply, instead, he continued to gaze at Blaze; his tail wagged rapidly from side to side.

“Sonic?” Blaze tilted her head.

Hearing her speak, Sonic snapped out of his trance and shook his head; his tail stopped wagging, replacing his concentrated glance is his typical smile.

“I’m all good!” Sonic dismissed her hypnotizing appearance, “Now C’mon. Tails and Knuckles are on the other side of town waiting for us in New Soleanna, let’s not keep them waiting any longer.” 

“Agreed.” Blaze responds, beginning to walk alongside Sonic.

Sonic and Blaze wandered through the lively city of Castle Town, passing the open shops and happy civilians & tourists, it was another beautiful day in the heart of Soleanna.

After some time, Sonic and Blaze arrived in the center of town; walking through the plaza that neighbored the tunnel connection leading to New Soleanna.

“So, what made you and your friends want to visit Soleanna?” Blaze asked Sonic’s reason for being in Soleanna.

“Well, you see.” Sonic began.

“Tails, Knuckles, and I haven’t really had time to wind down because we’re always stopping Eggman." Sonic explained, "So, we decided to take a vacation, and Tails suggested Soleanna because it’s a location he’s wanted to visit on his bucket list.” 

“Oh really?” Blaze ears straightened with interest, “Is he enjoying Soleanna so far?”

“Aside from Eggman, he really loves it." Sonic said, "He said the beaches are breath-taking and he cannot get enough of the pastries from the bakery. Knuckles too. He really likes the architecture here and wants to explore ruins and their architecture after I mentioned are battle from yesterday.” 

“Oh.” Blaze pouts, curling her hands into fists, “I’m so sorry that ‘Eggman’ is preventing you all from enjoying your vacation. One of the few times you might have to relax, and he just comes crashing in.” 

“That’s Eggman for you." Sonic shrugged, "Always doing what he wants without considering others schedule.” 

“Well, I apologize for all the trouble he’s caused you and your friends.” Blaze sympathizes.

“Don’t sweat it.” Sonic responds back, showing no strong emotions for having his vacation uprooted, “Besides we get a kick out of seeing him get all ‘scrambled’ when we impede his plans.”

“Hm-hm-hm-hm.” Blaze lets out a light giggle, “You’re cornier than I took you for.”

Underneath Blaze’s giggle, an eerie sound arose. A sound that caught Sonic’s attention; his ears straitening in alert.

“Say Sonic, I’m curious, where exactly are you and your friends fr-” Blaze’s question was cut off by Sonic throwing his left arm up to her chest, stopping her in place. Blaze looked to Sonic’s heightened demeanor; confused as to why he stopped.

“Sonic is… something wrong?” Blaze asks.

Sonic then snapped his attention to her, looking past her face and instead at a metal table surrounded by a cyan aura hurtling towards them.

In that moment, Sonic spooned Blaze into his arms and leapt away, frightening her.

The metal table crashed right where he and Blaze just stood a second ago, breaking in half from the impact.

Sonic landed on his feet, crouching and lowering Blaze to her feet.

“Are you alright?” Sonic asked, hovering his hands over her for any signs of injury.

“I’ve been looking for you.” a new voice called out. Blaze’s pupils shrank with fear from the voice.

“No…I-It can’t be?” Blaze faintly whispered.

Both Sonic and Blaze pivot their attention to the direction of new voice and saw a disheveled white hedgehog with sepia, brown eyes & cloudy gray pupils, wearing a withered ash-colored cloak with a bright cyan aura, levitating in the air.

The white hedgehog had a fluffy patch of chest fur that was coated with soot that went around his neck. He had nine quills in total: His front five quills drooped on his forehead and had cyan tips at the end of each quill, with a line from each tip leading to a circular birthmark that was placed on his forehead; just barely above his glabella between his two eyes. His two longest quills flowed from the end of his cheeks and past his ears, tied into a ponytail that hung off his back; in between his two smallest quills that sprout out of his shoulder blades, resembling wings.

His face had small scars that traced his ash-coated cheeks on his peach-colored muzzle. Both wrists were equipped with golden bracelets equipped with electric blue tracing. Both his hands were wrapped in bandages; a ring pattern on both sides of his hands radiated through the bandages and coiled around the sides of his hands to connect with one another. The boots he wore were black & dull cyan and heavily worn out; bandages emerging from the golden eyelets with a similar electric blue tracing. Half of his tail was missing; only appearing as a small nub that snaked left and right like a decapitated snake.

Sonic had no clue who this hedgehog was. But Blaze knew all too well who was levitating right before her.

“You're the Iblis Trigger!” The White Hedgehog announced, his feet touching the ground.

“Your actions will condemn us all.” the white hedgehog points an accusatory finger to Sonic holding both arms out to guard blaze.

Blaze choked on her own breath, overwhelmed with dread from the sight of the white hedgehog she had run away from in her dreams, holding her hands closely to her thumping breast.

“No. It… It can’t possibly be.” Blaze murmured through her weighted breaths, trying to maintain her composure.

Sonic detected Blaze’s heavy breathing and pivot his attention to her, ignoring the white hedgehog and gathering bystanders.

“Blaze?” Sonic cried out, “Blaze what’s wrong?”

But Blaze was too overwhelmed to reply to Sonic. Her heaving breathing becoming heavier as anxious flames bled from gemstone; her body beginning to twitch.

“Blaze!?” Sonic clamped her shoulders, but even that was not able to break her free from her distressed

The White hedgehog, seeing an opportunity, fired a physic blast towards Sonic, stunning the passerby’s and holding their attention hostage.

Sonic caught sight of the psychic blast hurtling towards him, and quick on his feet, Sonic lifted Blaze once more and backflipped away from the attack.

The attack attracted more on-lookers who observe from the side, not sure of what to make from the situation. Landing further away, Sonic guards Blaze; her shaking becoming erratic as her breathing became heavier while the bleeding flames grew more severe.

“Who are you? And what do you want?” Sonic demanded.

“My name is Silver.” Silver finally introduces himself, “And for the Sake of the future. I will destroy you!”

Discarding his withered cloak, Silver flexes a battle pose to Sonic.

Sonic turned his head to Blaze. “Don’t worry. I won’t let him hurt you.” Sonic whispered.

Turning his attention back to Silver, Sonic goes into his battle pose.

“Alright! Bring it on!” Sonic accepted Silvers’ challenge, bolting towards the physic hedgehog in the blink of an eye.

Silver, still in his battle stance; the circular symbols on his hands begin to radiate an alien cyan glow, analyzing his opponent that charged right at him. Waiting for the prime opportunity to strike.

Just as Sonic was a yard away from running him over, Silver thrust both of his hands out; the ring patterns on both of his palms and forehead, and the tips of his quills, gleamed neon cyan. Sonic was enveloped in the same neon cyan aura that surrounded Silver, trapped in place and unable to move.

“Ngh! Hey!” Sonic squirmed to break free from the psychic hold, “What is this?!”

“Ha!” Silver yelled, leaning backwards before pressing further into his stance.

Sonic is propelled backwards into a steel chair. The steel chair crumpled under the weight of Sonic’s body, breaking down into smaller pieces.

“Yah!” Sonic cried as his back makes contact with the flimsy steel, feeling the shards of the furniture dig into his back and quills. The sound of Sonic’s impact catches the attention of more passerby’s, shop owners, and tourists.

Silver defies gravity by rising into the air, disregarding the opinions of the confused & impressed crowd of onlookers. Glancing to his left and right, Silver settles on a metal table. Enveloping the metal table in his psychic aura, the non-magnetized table gravitates to Silver. With his ammo right beside him, Silver takes aim at Sonic.

“Take This!” Silver yells, lobbing the steel table directly at Sonic.

Quick on his feet, Sonic side-rolls away from the airborne table, narrowly avoiding the collision from the iron table.

“Grr. Now I’m serious!” Sonic growled.

Spinning into a ball, Sonic charged up a spin-dash.

Releasing his charge, Sonic peels towards Silver. Silver attempts to prevent Sonic’s attack by firing waves of psychic energy towards his curled form. But Sonic proved to be too quick, avoiding every psychic blade and rolling right underneath Silver.

Unrolling from his curled form, Sonic springs upwards and returns to his curled form; spinning rapidly. Sonic slams into Silver’s stomach, breaking control over his levitation.

“Grah!” Silver cries out as he dropped the ground.

With his guard down, Sonic homing attacks Silver again. The white hedgehog is flung backwards, sliding onto the plaza concrete, skidding to a stop on his stomach.

“Hm.” Sonic smirks.

Sonic speeds to Silver, hoping to land another hit in. 

“How about this?!” Seizing a psychic hold of a wooden barrel from a produce shop. Silver magnetizes the wooden container to his line of sight, intending to strike Sonic who was right in the crosshair.

Crack!

The wooden barrel smashes into Sonic’s back. Sending a shot of pain down his back.

Sonic tumbles past Silver, landing in front of the encircled crowd of bystanders. The encircling audience had grown three times as large since the fight began; more and more eyes were glued to the two hedgehogs fighting.

“Ngh…” Sonic grunts. Although Sonic had fought may strong opponents, Silver was proving to be no ordinary opponent.

Silver rises to his feet, his quills and hands luminescing. The psychic hedgehog ascends into the air once more, this time however, his eyes were glowing an alien blue. And the circular symbol on his forehead almost resembled a third eye, minus a pupil.

Shooting both of his bandaged hands in opposite directions, Silver lifts another wooden barrel from the produce vendor, an iron table, a wooden crate from clothing store, and a steel chair. Sonic caught onto what Silver was planning to do with the furniture.

“It’s No Use, Iblis Trigger!” Silver declares.

“Yah!” Silver catapults both hands in Sonic’s direction; sending the levitating object towards Sonic who stood in front of the crowd.

I need stop these objects before they can hurt anyone Sonic formulates, studying the protectory of the careening objects. Sonic plants his feet hard onto the ground. Then, he executes his attack.

Vaulting from the concrete, Sonic lunges to the steel chair. Planting his feet on the chair, Sonic propels himself of the chair, taking the momentum from the chair to boost him to the wooden crate while the chair plunges back to the ground. Sonic repeats this action on the wooden crate and then onto the barrel. Jumping to the iron table, Sonic locks sight with Silver, grinning.

Sonic’s confident grin contrasted with Silvers baffled expression.

Sonic charges a quick spin-dash and slams into Silver, striking him to the ground once more.

Sonic lands on his feet. The crowd of onlookers erupt into cheers and applause; believing they had witnessed a street performance. Meanwhile, Blaze gazes at the two hedgehogs; regaining her compose as her heart continued to beat at a rate she never could comprehend.

Silver rests on his hands and knees, weak from the fight and exhaling exhausted puffs. Sonic approaches the weak Silver and arches himself down.

“Hey hotshot.” What was that for?” Sonic demanded an explanation. 

“Grr…Rah!” Bellowing in anger, Silver unleashes a psyco-kinetic attack on Sonic.

Sonic is swept off his feet, appalled by the sudden force propelling him backwards. Sonic slams hard against a stone pillar and falls to the ground, alarming the crowd of onlookers and especially Blaze.

“Sonic!” Blaze clenches her amulet with one hand and throws her other hand out to him from a distance.

Sonic propped himself of his hands and knees, heaving from the psychic assault and wall slam. Silver trudges to Sonic and stoops to his ear range.

“Heh.” Silver sneers, “Is this some kind of Joke? How could someone as pathetic as you cause the destruction of our world?”

“What are you… talking about?” Sonic asks through his panting breath.

Silver shook his head from side to side; his circular symbols on his hands and forehead glowed bright cyan.

“It doesn’t matter.” Silver proclaimed, “For the sake of the future, the Iblis Trigger must be destroyed!”

Silver reclines his hand back holding a psychic orb. The crowd of onlookers’ murmured with worry as Silver’s orb begins grew brighter and harsher.

Silver leered down at Sonic, locking eyes with him.

Then, Silver’s arm holding the psychic orb began to lower like a catapult.

“NO!” Blaze bellows loudly, charging from behind and jumping atop Silver’s back, wrapping her legs around his meek thighs, and grabbing his quills, interfering with his concentration of power.

“Ah! Hey?!” Silver yelped, recoiling in pain; his movements jerking from Blaze yanking on his quills.

“Blaze!” Sonic exclaimed.

“Ngh! What Are You Doing?! Ngah!” Silver yelped as he tasseled with Blaze.

“Get Off Of Me. Right This Instant!” Silver barked.

“No!” Blaze retaliates, “I won’t allow you to hurt him.”

Blaze jerked and yanked Silver’s quills. Silver felt his body forced backwards to the center of the plaza; letting out grunts of pain mixed with agitation in between his uncontrolled steps. Blaze used her body weight and grasp on Silver’s quills to bring the hedgehog down to the ground. But Silver was not going down so easily.

Releasing a vicious growl, Silver reaches for Blaze’s right wrist and swings his body around 180 degrees and hurls her off his back and into a harmless bistro table.

“Gah!” Blaze shrills in pain upon impact with the steel table and chairs. The encircling crowd of on-lookers watch in astonishment over the princess impact, unsure of what to do or make of the situation.

“Now then.” Silver looks over his shoulder back at Sonic, “Where were we?” 

“Ngh…Ugh!” Blaze convulsed in pain, letting out exhausted coughs as she collapses from the steel table. Using the chair as a crutch, Blaze dragged herself to her feet.

Blaze felt a wave of dread wash over her as she saw Silver approach Sonic; Sonic squirmed and chocked as he was held in place by Silver’s psychic powers as he inched closer and closer. Panicking, Blaze clicked a button on each of her crimson Bracelets.

“Now. To End This!” Silver howls as he charges a psychic aimed at Sonic, intending to kill Sonic right on the spot.

Suddenly, a rogue fireball shoots across the plaza. Aimed at Silver’s backside, the flaming sphere collides onto his back.

“BAHHHHHH!!!” Silver let out a shrill of agony from the out-of-left-field burn, releasing his psychic influence on Sonic.

Sonic blinked in confusion from Silver’s screeching, mystified by how exactly he got burned.

Looking past the bawling Silver, Sonic found Blaze panting with her arm extended out with embers faltering from her hand.

Blaze withdrew her arm back and displayed symptoms of nausea as she finally glanced at the crowd surrounding her, Sonic and Silver. Blaze dart her head around to find all types of people starring at her. People pointing at her. People whispering about her. People judging her People taking pictures of her. All eyes were on her. 

Blaze looked back to Silver, observing him scream in pain from the fire that sizzled across his already toasted back. Silver dropped to his knees, patting his bandaged hands on his back to extinguish the fire that burns his already scorched fur.

Blaze felt her body become weary.  The whispers grew louder, the glares hotter, the judgement more negative, the pounding in her head more agonizing and Silver’s screeching pain more deafening. She looked to her hands. They were trembling.

“I told you. She’s a danger to us all!” a voice in the crowd shouts out.

“Wh-what?” Blaze’s gaze shot up, “N-No. I-I didn’t mean to. I-I just-” 

“She’ll burn us like she burned that white hedgehog!” Another voice blurts out.

“No. I…I-I wouldn’t. I…I…” Blaze sputtered, still frozen in place, felt her legs tremble and become unstable as her jagged breaths became sharper with each exhale. Her eyes dart around her, looking at all the walks of life taking the time out of their day to look at her, a princess who can wield flames; burning a hedgehog that only she saw in her dreams.

“She’s a threat to us all!” a third voice chimes in.

“No. No please…” Blaze heaves harder as a cold, burning sweat runs across her pounding forehead. She threw her warm hands up to her pounding head to stop to pain but it was becoming too much for her to handle; the doubtful glares did not make it any better.

“She’ll burn Soleanna to ashes if we don’t do anything” a fourth voice from the crowd yells.

“Ah! No. No Stop. Stop! STOP!” Blaze cries in distress, dropping to her knees, and clenching her pounding forehead. Go Away. Go Away! Blaze internally begged, hoping for the painful throbbing to go away and for the tormenting voices to be quiet.

Blaze’s miniscule pupils dart around ignoring the cold sweat that burns her eyes and gets soaked into her gloves, looking for an escape, an opening that can get her away from the glares and voices. Through the confining crowd, Blaze found an opening she could dart through without harming anyone.

I must get as far away as I can. And I know just where to go. Blaze thought of a location she could run off to. A place where no one will think to look for her.

Set with her decision, Blaze broke away from the perplexed crowd, running through the opening and making a mad dash towards the passing tunnel that led to district of New Soleanna; leaving flaming heel prints and the mudslinging crowd behind.

“Blaze, wait!” Sonic fleeted to his feet, intending to run after Blaze.

Silver caught wind of Sonic’s pursuit. 

“Where do you think you’re going!” Silver chastises his nimble target. Firing a psychic attack, Silver knocks Sonic onto off balance, resulting in him the stoned floor.

“Don’t you Dare turn your back on me!” Silver rebuked, limping towards Sonic.

“And you!” Silver announced to no one in the surrounding crowd.

“Get out of here!” shouted.

Using his psychic powers to lift tables and chairs, Silver aimed and tossed the iron furniture at the crowd. The crowd dissipated rapidly as people ran away from the onslaught of the furniture.

“This is for me to deal with.” Silver informed the scurrying people.

“Now. It’s time to finally put an end to this!” Silver shouted.

“RAH!” Silver fired a psychic-blade like attack at Sonic.

“STOP!” A young feminine voice shout.

Jumping in between Sonic and Silver, a female hedgehog with pink fur intercepted Silver’s psychic attack with the check of a comically large hammer she wielded.

The pink hedgehog wore a white, backless tank top, with a red heart on her chest, revealing two small quills on her shoulder blades. Her shirt was tucked into a red skirt with two gold buttons, a white hem, and a small placket on the back for her pink tail to stick out. The skirt swayed around her knees and was further complimented by a yellow waist belt. On the dorsal side of her white gloves were pink hearts, and on both wrists were golden bracelets. She wore a pair of red & white ankle-length boots, and had a red headband & a feathered hair clip in her pink quills.

“Amy?!” Silver blurted out in confusion, only for his demeanor to instantly revert back to being aggressive.

“Get out of my way Amy. This Is My Mission!” Silver demanded.

He hurled another psychic, this time, aimed directly at Amy. But she intercepted his attack once again with the brunt of her hammer.

“Absolutely Not!” Amy rebutted as she tightens her grip on her hammer.

Silver grunted in frustration over Amy’s interference.

“Sonic.” Amy looks over her shoulder at Sonic, “You get out of here. I can handle him.”

Sonic looked into Amy’s eyes and did not need to give it a second thought. He knew she could handle herself. With Amy providing him cover, Sonic gathered himself and rose to his feet.

“Thanks Amy. I appreciate it.” Sonic commended her before he bolting off to look for Blaze.

“Just leave it to me.” Amy says.

“No!” Silver shouts in desperation, “Get Back Here!”

Breaking into a sprint, Silver pushes past Amy for Sonic. But Amy was quicker.

Griping her hammer tightly, Amy leapt in front of the dire Silver.

“Hya!” Amy cried, swinging the brunt of her hammer into Silver’s gut, prodding him backwards onto the pavement; Silver dropped to the ground, groaning in pain from Amy’s hammer.

Sonic did look back at the wheezing Silver.

He followed the flaming heel prints trail Blaze left behind.

Chapter Text

Emerging from a cinderblock tunnel winded and out of breath, Blaze sprinted across dark green grass trailing into the Soleanna forest. Unlike the populated New Soleanna, a location she had just blitzed through, the Soleanna forest barley had anyone residing in the area. There were no houses, no buildings, no people, no glaring eyes, no one.

Blaze came up to a marble staircase that was about three steps tall. The marble bridge that once connected the two ledges together was no longer present; the stone that allowed safe traversal was now at the bottom of the gap.

Unfazed by the wide gap, Blaze leapt over the ravine; her adrenaline allowed her to cross the gap with no issue.

Blaze resumed her running, not looking back. She reenvisioned all the people who watched her assault Silver back in Castle Town. She recalled the people of New Soleanna watching her sprint down the streets. She remembered the horrid sound of Silver’s agonizing scream. She wanted it to stop, but she didn’t know how.

She came across a towering tree swaying in the breeze, it’s old shadow casting shade over the red fungi. Diving towards tree, Blaze hid behind the tall & wise oak that shielded her from the burning glares of the curious people that were miles away from her.

She placed her hand on her chest, feeling her heart thumping in her chest as she panted, exhausted and afraid. Worried embers continued to seep from her gemstone between each breath.

“I-I didn’t want to.” Blaze panted, “I-I didn’t mean to…I…I…”

From the shadows high in the trees, a black Griffon with white streaks preys upon Blaze, snickering with delight over her panicked status.  

“Ha ha ha haaa.” The Griffon faintly snickerd, “Yes Princess. Be open with yourself.”

Blaze’s gemstone had morphed from its typical ruby red into a tangerine orange that radiated brightly on her forehead. The cold sweat that formed back Castle Town, had drenched her gloves that she clenched pressed against her chest. Said chest jerked erratically to match her anxious breathing flow. She was vulnerable and The Griffon took this as an opportunity.

Descending at a snail’s pace, the Griffon unveils his mighty wings and digs his talons into the bark of the tree with each step down.

The rustling shrubbery from the Griffon's wings and crackling bark from his talons alerted Blaze. The Griffon grinned with glee knowing that he could she Blaze, but she couldn't she him.

“Wh-who’s There?!” Blaze threw her free hand to the bark of the tree she wiggled back to it for protection.

The Griffon's grin transformed into a malevolent smile, revealing his sharp and chipped teeth. He dug his talon into the bark one by one, crawling down slower and slower, watching Blaze squirm against the tree he bore into.

This was easier than I thought. The Griffon thought to himself.

“Blaze!” a voice called out.

Both Blaze and The Griffon paused. Frozen for a second by the voice faintly echoing through the branches and leaves. 

“Blaze!” the voice called out again.

“Sonic?!” Blaze perked, lifting herself up to her feet.

The Griffon slowly crawled back up the tree, watching Blaze straighten her posture and glance towards the direction of the voice. 

They both spotted Sonic hastily looking to his left and right as he sprinted across the dark green grass and occasionally lit up from the sunlight breeching through the higher shrubbery.

“Sonic!” Blaze’s eyes glimmered with hope as she departed from the tree.

The Griffon leered to Blaze as she departed from the tree, she clung onto for dear life just ten seconds ago. He spilled a low-volume growl and slunk into the shadow of the tree.

“Blaze!” Sonic shouts, “Blaze where are you?” Sonic tilts his view every second in search of Blaze, but only saw that sick green trees and crusty canyon walls that were connected to the Granite Canyons that weren’t very far from where he currently was. Where could she be? Sonic pondered as his eyes looked for any signs of lavender.

“Sonic!” Blaze cried out.

“Huh?” Sonic pivot his head over his shoulder and saw Blaze, winded and face still red.

Twirling on his heel, Sonic makes a mad dash for Blaze.

“There you are.” Sonic skids to Blaze’s heels, “Are you alright?”

“Yes. I’m fine. But… I’m more worried about you however.” Blaze replies; inspecting Sonic for any injuries, “Are you okay? You got really hurt back there.”

“I’m alright, but I’m worried about you as well.” Sonic responded, “Why did you run off?”

Blaze froze in place, recounting the series of events that unfolded back in Castle Town just a few minutes ago. Silver’s ear-piercing screams, the embers faltering out of her hands, the crowd of people who labeled her a threat. A shiver ran up her spine, yet she hardly jittered from the fearful chill.

“Blaze?” Sonic queried. 

“I… I got scared…” Blaze whispered

Sonic felt his eyebrow frown when he heard her earnest response.

“Why though? You saved me back there.” Sonic gestures back to the exit they came through, “If not for you, I would have been a goner.”

“But… I-I hurt him.” Blaze looked at her hands, they were jittering, “I hurt that white Hedgehog in front of all my people. The people who already fear me.” 

How could anyone fear her? Sonic internally questioned. “C’mon Blaze, I’m sure they aren’t actually afraid—”

“You don’t understand!” Blaze barked at Sonic, “Most people view me as dangerous because of the fire I wield.”

“Do you see these bracelets?” Blaze shoved her right wrist in Sonic’s face to show him her bracelet monitor.

“Do you see my amulet?” With her free hand, she dangled her fire amulet from the collar of her neck.

Sonic did not have an immediate response. All he could do was inspect the jewelry Blaze had forced him to take notice of.

“I must wear them in order to prevent anyone from being harmed! Don’t you get Sonic? I’m a danger to the people I am supposed to protect. I’m a danger to such tremendous people like you. I’m a danger to people I fear like that White Hedgehog… And… I’m a danger to myself.”

"I'm sorry..." Blaze let out a dejected sigh and clasped her right bicep. Her orange gemstone had glistened to a more cautious shade of orange from her outburst; flames wormed out of her gemstone in an upward direction. Don’t be emotional Blaze. Don’t be emotional. Blaze internally reprimanded.

Sonic, unsure of how to respond, hesitated for a moment before bringing himself closer to Blaze. 

Blaze did not protest Sonic’s advancement towards her, allowing him to come closer to her despite her agitated state.

Right at her feet, Sonic slowly wrapped bis blue arms around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

Wrapped around his arms, Blaze gravitated to Sonic’s soft fur. She brushed her cheek onto his peach-colored chest; Sonic allowed her to ease her sorrows on his chest.

Her fur is so soft. Sonic thought to himself, combing her hair with one hand and brushing her back with the other.

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” Sonic consoled. “I bet it must feel isolating.”

“I’ve always had to isolate myself. I was always called 'a danger to Soleanna’ when I was very little." Blaze grieved in a controlled manner, " Even now, I still hear that name thrown my way.” 

“I’m sorry.” Sonic apologized.

“As a result, I’ve never really had a true friend.” Blaze faintly wept, holding back waterworks from reprised memories of other kids bullying her for her fire powers when she took Ballet and Sophia & the instructor reprimanding her for wanting to play with the other kids and showcasing her fire.

“Would you like to consider me a friend?” Sonic offered.

Blaze peered to Sonic, the tears hampering her view. But through her watery view, she saw Sonic’s friendly smile. Blaze fluttered her eyes and smiled.

“Yes.” Blaze sniffled, “Yes I would.”

Sonic smiled at her and firmly hugged her.

The two embraced each other, firmly hugging each other as they stood in the dense forest, understanding each other’s warmth.

“Oh ho ho ho!” A sinister voice cackled.

Both Sonic and Blaze’s ears shot up and they looked up to find a small, spherical device floating in the air. The logo was enough to give away who it belonged to.

“Eggman!?” Sonic said with atonishment.

“What do you want?!” Sonic demands from the evil doctor; shifting Blaze behind him and holding his arms out to shield her once more.

“I have no time to answer your pointless question Sonic.” Eggman deflected, “Now if you would be a good hedgehog and hand over the Princess, I might consider not blasting you to bits.”

“Not happening Egghead!” Sonic snapped back.

“Hm hmm.” A low grimace seeped from Eggman’s beak, “I knew you would say that.” Eggman says with a twisted grin blooming across his beak. “In that case. I guess I’ll need to use more force this time.”

"Metal Sonic. Now!" Eggman shouts, pointing his finger at Sonic.

Then, before Sonic could even react, Metal Sonic leapt from behind the Egg Mobile and drove his foot into Sonic’s face; stomping his head into the dirt. 

Metal then seizes ahold of Blaze, leaving Sonic staggering on the ground and ushers her back to the Egg Mobile.

“Hey!” Sonic shouts, plucking himself out of the dirt and onto his feet to run after the egg mobile where metal hands Blaze over to Eggman.

“Stop right there Sonic!” Eggman commands.

Pulling a blaster from below his console, Eggman aims the gun directly at Blaze’s head, putting the fear of Solaris in her. His other hand holds Blaze captive. This prevents Sonic from jumping towards him.

“No.” Sonic’s eyes widened in dread, “You wouldn’t?”

“Oh ho! But I would.” Eggman teased, pushing the blaster further to Blaze’s head.

Blaze felt a lump in her throat form as her head sensed the muzzle of the gun press further into her skin. She was sweating bullets over the grim reality that today could be her last day and what Iblis will burn first. 

"Just try to calm down Blaze." Blaze murmured under her shaky breath. "Just try to calm down Blaze."

“Now if you don’t want a blasted kitty on your hands, I would advise you to take a step back and allow me and the princess to attend an important meeting regarding the flames of disaster.” Eggman said with poison oozing from his sadistic bill.

“Sonic… please.” Blaze shuddered, “Just… do what he wants. I’ll be okay. I promise.”

“But Blaze—”

“Uh uh uh.” Eggman taunted, pushing the muzzle of the blaster even further to Blaze’s head.

Shaking his fists with frustration, Sonic glared at Eggman and complied, taking a wide step back. Eggman glared at Sonic and struck an evil smile.

“A wise decision.” Eggman commended. He lowered the blaster from Blaze’s head, who lets out an exhale of relief, and placed his free hand on a red button.

“Now then. We must be on our way." Eggman announces his departure, “But before I go, let me offer you a gift for your heroic manners.”

Pounding the red button with his fist, a missile cannon pops out of the under compartment of the egg mobile.

Rocketing out the cannon, a white missile with a red tip and Eggman’s face on it, races to Sonic.

Sonic leaps to his right, barley avoiding the missile. 

The missile drills into the ground, digging up chunks of dust & dirt. Sonic coughed, swishing his hand to blow the dust out of his eyes.

“Sonic!” Blaze cried out to Sonic through the dense smoke, extending her hand that grew further out of reach.

"Blaze!" Sonic cried, giving immediate chase to the fleeting Egg mobile.

He dug his heels deep into the grass as he chased after it, eyes dead set on his target and not the ground.

“Woah!” Sonic tripped over what he believed to be a root, unaware that what it was the tripped him was a force from the shadows.

Out of his sight, The Griffon’s cracked beak grinned as he sunk deeper and deeper into the darkness; descending into the earth as he hid behind a boulder.

Shaking his head, Sonic picked himself up and takes off towards the direction of the Egg Mobile in hopes of catching Eggman.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arriving back in New Soleanna, Sonic frantically scanned his surroundings for any sign of Eggman. Where is he? Sonic ruminated. I must find him before who does who-know-what to Blaze!

“Sonic!” cried a high-pitched voice. Sonic looked up and saw Tails flying down.

“Tails!” Sonic shout.

Tails lands on the ground and confronts his panicked friend “Sonic. Eggman just flew by with—”

“Blaze. I know.” Sonic finished Tails’ sentence, “I’m going after him.”

“But Sonic. It is more than just that." Tails continued, "Eggman’s robots are attacking the New Soleanna warehouse. We need stop them!”  

Frustrated, Sonic crossed his arms and impatiently tapped his foot. 

I need to find Blaze, but I can't just let Eggman's mechs run around. Sonic contemplated. 

“Fine!" Sonic groaned, "Let’s make this quick.”

“Alrighty, Knuckles is at the warehouse keeping the robots at bay.” Tails informed, “Let’s go give him a hand.”

Sonic nod his head in accordance and the two booked it to the warehouse.

The two sped through New Soleanna in a matter of seconds and arrived at the warehouse entrance. The gate leading to the warehouse that was meant to keep non-workers out was reduced to metal shavings from the robots that infested the facility.

"Look!" Tails pointed.

Inside the restricted area standing at the opposite end of the depot grounds, Knuckles was engaged in close combat with Eggman’s invasive robots; Knuckles keep Eggman's robots at bay with a series of uppercuts, sharp jabs and brutal hook swings.

Knuckles didn’t have much in the way of movement due to being backed to the ledge that drops off into the ocean.

"C'mon. Let's go." Sonic waved towards Knuckles.

Sonic and Tails cut across the seaport granary grounds for Knuckles, whose heel was just on the ledge of the dock.

“Looks like the forecast calls for strong winds.” Sonic smirked, reaching into his pocket.

Pulling out the green sol emerald, Sonic harnessed its power and conjured a tornado of fierce winds.

The robots surrounding knuckles were whirled upward into the sky.

With the robots deplatformed, Sonic dove into a blue sphere and collided with the robot closest to him. Using the power from the impact, Sonic pounced from the blasted robot to another and then another, repeating the process about five times. The eight robots that had corned Knuckles broke down into smithereens in less than five seconds.

Knuckles stared at Sonic, completely slack jawed.

“He-hey Knuckles!” Sonic cheerily greets, extending his hand out in a teasing manner, “Need a hand?” 

“Hmph!” Knuckles grumbled, crossing his arms, “Thanks for the help. I’ll be sure to return my end of the bargain.”

A loud crunching sound creeped up from behind the heroic trio. The three twirled to look back and found a squadron of various Eggman mechs closing in on them.  

“No time for chit-chat." Sonic struck a battle pose, "Let’s take care of these mechs!” 

“Sounds good.” Knuckles punched his fists together and broke past Sonic and Tails. Pouncing into the air with his fists raring to go, Knuckles allowed gravity to bring his fist down onto a large white robot with arm cannons; an Egg Guardian. Sonic and Tails followed behind.

The three heroes rush the horde of robots, crushing the various types of robots’ mass produced and designed by the narcissistic doctor.

Sonic used the green sol emerald to blast the horde of egg gunners off their feet and capitalized off their airborne status by homing attacking them.

With the egg gunners taken care of, Sonic turned his attention to the egg flyers and conjured another spiral of wind with the Green Sol Emerald, stripping the Egg Flyers, and a few Egg Bombers latched onto the cylinder tanks, of their mobility and sweeping them into the air.

Tails takes up the mantle of air control by unloading his dummy ring bombs onto the airborne egg flyers and egg bombers; the false currency from the capsule scattered like confetti upon detonating.

Weaving through the fluid tanks, Tails slapped away the remaining Egg Bombers with swift and powerful tail swipes.

Knuckles meanwhile, concluded his close combat with the de-armed Egg Guardian. The robot that was about five times the size of Knuckles, fell in defeat, creating a loud crunching sound as upon falling flat on its back.

Although Knuckles took down a robot five time his size, his thirst for carnage wasn't quelled. But he wouldn’t have to wait long as a troublesome trio of Egg Liners tread towards his direction. Knuckles didn't t give it a second thought. He bolted towards the speeding rhino-mechs and with a jab-jab-hook combo, Knuckles obliterated the Egg Liners.

Sonic, Tails and Knuckles looked around them, marveling over the remains of the robots they had just beaten into submission. 

“That was a piece of cake.” Sonic bragged, brushing his palms together, “Now let’s look for Eggman.”

“But Sonic." Tails spoke up, "You don’t even know where Eggman went.” 

Sonic crossed his arms with frustration. Darn it, he's right. Sonic internally twined. And running around aimlessly won't help find her quicker. What to do? 

“Sonic.” Knuckles spoke up, “Before the Egg mechs began attacking the city, I saw Eggman flying by and he dropped something.”

Knuckles reached for his hat and lifted it to reveal a thin red car sitting atop his head. He grabbed the thin red car and lowered his hat.

“I think it’s meant for you.” Knuckles tossed the thin red card to Sonic.

Sonic catches the card and a holographic message of Eggman popped up. The three gathered around the thin red card.

“Hm, hm, hm, hmmm. Sonic.” The hologram of Eggman spoke, “If you want me to return the Princess, you must give me your Chaos Emerald. Meet me at my base in White Acropolis. And do not keep me waiting.” With that, the message ended.

“Huh. He’s pretty cocky.” Knuckles sneered.

“White acropolis, eh?” Sonic instinctively looked to the highest point in all of Soleanna; looking at the steep mountain that was slathered in white.

“That is far up in the mountains is it not?” Sonic looked at Tails.

“Yes." Tails answered, "But Sonic, Its most definitely a trap.” 

Sonic pulled the red chaos emerald for his pocket and peered into its reflective red edges.

“I Don’t care. I’m going.” Sonic declared.

“But Sonic. We know Eggman won’t honor his agreement.” Tails responds, "Its a one-sided deal." 

“And if we don’t honor our agreement, Blaze could be in severe danger." Sonic argued back.

"And besides…” Sonic looked back up at the white peak of Soleanna.

“Eggman went to the trouble of telling me where he and Blaze are." Sonic said with a grin growing across his muzzle, "I must thank him personally.” 

Sonic drops the hologram card and crushes the flimsy red message beneath his shoe.

Chapter Text

The snowy peak that rested high in the altitude; looking down on central Soleanna, surely did live up to its name. The snow that caked the uneven geodes was as white as paper, the snow itself had the same fluff as cotton candy minus the flavor. The powdered trees that stood out in the deep indigo sky conjured an atmosphere that was typically found in haunted houses.

“This is a pretty cold place for a base.” Sonic comment.

Sonic stood beside Tails and Knuckles, holding a snowboard he found beside the secret entrance that led to the frigid climate, ready to crack open Eggman’s base and rescue Blaze.

“Alright. We get in, crack Eggman wide open and escape with Blaze.” Sonic reiterates their mission, “Are we ready?”

“R-ready!” Tails shivered.

“You bet.” Knuckles nod

Flashing a confident grin Sonic saddled the Snowboard and rushed down the white crevasse.

Tails twirls his two tails together and then snaps them in fast succession to give him the acceleration needed to fly.

And Knuckles sprung up, only to burrow deep beneath the white terrain, taking the discreet route to Eggman.

“Yahoo!” Sonic exclaimed, performing a snowboard trick off a wintry ramp.

Sonic snowboards down the declining slope, weaving past the mounds of snow and tress lacking green. The declining slope ended with a sharp right turn that acts as a U-turn. Sonic acts accordingly to the suggested pathing of the slope; drifting his body right to make the sharp turn.

Shredding down the downward decline, Sonic hears a crunching noise from growing louder and louder. Shifting his head backwards, Sonic’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets upon seeing a large white sphere treading behind him.

“Now that’s big Snowball!” Sonic remarked, his jaw hanging wide open in disbelief at the size of the icy sphere.

Sonic’s dug his feet into the snowboard, gaining greater acceleration.

The size of the snowball grew larger and larger as it trailed behind Sonic. Sonic shifted to his left and to his right consecutively, steering himself so as not to collied with the trees, metal platforms and uneven rocky walls. All of which were devoured by the snowball.

The ginormous snowball was within arm’s reach of the snowboarding hedgehog; the cold flakes breathed down his neck. Sonic struck a quick glance with the faceless sphere; a confident grin plastered on his muzzle.

“Yah!” Sonic vociferates as he jumps off a curved cliff ledge, escaping the snowball of doom that dropped down into the deep crevasse that Sonic had little issue leaping over.  

Platforming onto solid ground, Sonic disembarks the snowboard and catches sight of Tails flying down to him.

As soon as Tails landed, Knuckles popped straight out of the ground, shaking dirt off his hat. 

“Okay,” Sonic gestures, “Let’s head straight to Eggman’s Base.”

The three charge right through the ginormous steel door that was wide open and emerge out of the other side, back into the snowy climate but within the base grounds.

A half-dozen of Egg Stingers detected the three intruders and take aim. Sonic and Tails broke left and right, respectively. While Knuckles burrowed beneath the ground.

Sonic curls up into a fluffy blue sphere and charges up a spin-dash. Dashing across the snow, Sonic barreled right through two of the egg stingers. The four remaining egg stingers hesitated under the cloud of smoke, their vision clouded.

Breaking through the smokescreen, Tails executes a spinning tail swipe, sending an Egg Stinger into another Egg Stinger. Resulting in both of them bursting into flames.

Meanwhile, Knuckles unearthed himself from below one of the last two remaining Egg Stingers and sends it upwards with an uppercut. Airborne, Knuckles power glides into the chest of the Egg Stinger and glides it into the last Egg Stinger, punching it away and gliding away from the collision.

Sonic grinned with satisfaction over the first line of defense being dismantled. But then, something appeared out of the corner of his eye.

“Well, lookey here!" Sonic marveled, bending down and grabbing a cyan rectangular gem, "Another Sol Emerald.”

Sonic lightly tossed the Cyan Sol Emerald up and down in his hand.

Tails and Knuckles gathered to Sonic to inspect his newly acquired treasure.

“So, these are the Sol Emeralds she guards.” Knuckles states, examining the cyan rectangle Sonic held, mystified by emerald. "It's almost as bright as the Master Emerald."

“I wonder what this emeralds power is?” Sonic questioned, studying each angle of the emerald he held in his hand.

Pew! Pew!

Suddenly, a blast of energy shoots past the trio, just nearly grazing Sonic’s nose.

“Eep!” Sonic jolted, tossing his hands up in shock, his grasp on the emerald loose.

The emerald landed just a few yards away from him.

The three turned to attack the Egg Gunner's that fired at them.

Tails and Knuckle had no issue moving. But Sonic did not follow Tails and Knuckles.

"Hey?!" Sonic resisted, "What's happening?!"

Try as he might, his movement seemed to be resisted, almost as if he’s being held in place.

"Woah!" Sonic yelped as he was suddenly jerked backwards.

“Omph!” Sonic fell flat on his rear, his tail piercing the snow.

Brushing off his quills, Sonic noticed the Cyan Sol Emerald sitting right beside him. Curious, Sonic grabbed the Cyan Sol Emerald.

Rising to his feet and taking aim, Sonic tossed the emerald like a football to an upper cliff ledge. The emerald landed on the ledge above and began to glisten.

Just as the emerald began to shine, Sonic felt his body being dragged in the direction leading up to the upper ledge; the direction in which the Sol Emerald was tossed.

Suddenly, Sonic is hoisted up to the ledge where the Emerald roosted.

Touching his feet down on the upper ledge, Sonic found Cyan Sol Emerald resting right at his feet.

“So that’s what this emerald does.” Sonic picks up the sol emerald, examining its parallel edges.

Glancing down to the lower level, Sonic sees Tails and Knuckles duking it out with Egg Gunners. The battle being cornered against an opening enclosed by a sheet of ice that can be broken.

It looks like they could use some help. Sonic observed, tossing the Cyan Sol Emerald in his palm. 

Clenching his grasp on the emerald, Sonic chucks the Sol Emerald like a baseball.

The cyan sol emerald bounced off the chest cavity of the last Egg Gunner. Tails, Knuckles, and the Egg Gunners all stopped in unison, staring at the Cyan Sol Emerald spinning as it fell back to the ground.

"Hyah!" Sonic swoops past Tails and Knuckles, startling them as he slammed his foot into the Egg Gunner and catches the sol emerald.

The Egg Gunner crashes through the sheet of ice and slides across the bridge of thick ice that was obscured by the subsequent ice wall and dropping off the edge and into the deep crevasse that was barley illuminated.

“Sonic?!” Tails jaw slacks wide open.

“Figured out what this sol emerald does.” Sonic looked to Tails and Knuckles, tossing the emerald up and down lightly, “Now c’mon!”

Sonic steps onto the icy bridge that bended right and seemingly tossed the Cyan Sol Emerald off the ledge.

Tails and Knuckles looked at Sonic with confusion, only for their curiosity to morph into panic as they witness Sonic’s body get whisked away by a strong force, believing he dropped down into the deep crevasse.

Tails and Knuckles board the icy bridge, looking down each ledge in hopes of finding Sonic, but they didn't see him at the bottom of the barley illuminate crevasse.

"Over here!" A voice opposite of where they stood called.

Tails and Knuckles looked across n-bent bridge; a wave of relief washing over them as they saw Sonic waving to them, Cyan Sol Emerald in hand. Tails and Knuckles flew and glided, respectively, across the gap; ignoring the trail of the bridge entirely, Tails and Knuckles regrouped with Sonic.

The three ran along a snowy trail until they came across a snowy plain that was infested with Eggman's likeness.

The wide-open area had bright searchlight towers scouring every inch of snow. Pink laser walls blocked off trails entirely. And Egg Gunners and Egg Stingers were spread out.

“Looks like Eggman does have some security after all.” Knuckles snidely remarked.

"Those laser walls look like they can slice through just about anything." Tails pointed.

“If we can move without being caught by the searchlights, we’ll be able to get to Eggman faster.” Sonic formulated. His glance narrowed onto a steel door that was being guarded by the very searchlights and laser walls that hindered their infiltration.

“There has to be a switch somewhere.” Sonic’s eyes searched for the switch he just mentioned.

“Just leave it to me!” Tails offered.

Tails twirled his tails in rapid succession and lifted himself off the ground.

Tails flew towards a pink laser wall that blocked off a cliffside crevasse, flying over the ultra-hot line of defense.

Coming up to a searchlight, Tails reached into his holster and pulled out a Dummy Ring Bomb.

Tails deployed his first Dummy Ring Bomb onto the prying searchlight, hovering over the crumbling steel cylinder and raining glass. 

Flying over another pink laser wall, Tails landed on a small cliff ledge and stared down at a lower ledge. 

On the lower ledge that Tails was spying on was a switch being guarded by two imposing egg guardians.

"That has to be the switch." Tails whispered.

Reaching into his holster, Tails pulls out two Dummy Ring Bombs in each hand and glares down the unsuspecting Egg Guardians.

Taking a deep breath and twisting his tails, Tails readies himself.

In a split-second, Tails jets down to the lower ledge, eyes set on the switch.

The Egg Guardians catch sight of Tails and aim their fists at him. In perfect unison, the Egg Guardians launched both of their arm cannons at Tails.

Tails barreled rolled right, barreled rolled left, backwards somersault, and dove down, avoiding all four arm cannons.

Tails curves his trajectory just in time, saving himself before diving headfirst into the snow and jetting towards the de-armed Egg Guardians.

"Yah!" Tails hurls a Dummy Ring Bomb at the Egg Guardian on his left.

The Dummy Ring detonates, causing it to crumble.

Tails barrel rolls to his left, avoiding the explosion and chucking his second Dummy Ring Bomb at the second Egg Guardian.

The second guardian follows the same fate, deteriorating in real time as Tails backwards somersault away from the explosion.

With both Egg Guardians dismantled, Tails hovers to the switch and flicks it with a lithe tail swipe.

Meanwhile, Sonic and Knuckles notice the reinforced door prying itself open.

Just as the door was about to fully opened, Tails flown over the first laser wall he flew over and descended down to Sonic and Knuckles.

“Thanks Tails.” Sonic congratulates.

Resuming their infiltration, the three blitzed through a steel hallway; Sonic propels through the narrow gaps of the laser security, with Tails and Knuckles following behind with their own means of travel.

Soon enough, they arrived at the exit of the hallway and found themselves back outside. 

"Look. That has to be the control center." Tails pointed to a large dark-gray steel building that made the previous buildings look small in comparison. 
 
Reeeeeeeoooow!

A loud, wailing siren echoed throughout the field the three stood in, putting them on guard.  

“Dang, there’s no time!” Sonic complained, “Let’s keep going.”

Team heroes dashed through the snow, the searchlight shining down on them.

Perched Egg Gunners and Egg Stingers directed their blasters at the spotted heroes.

Sonic pulled out the green sol emerald and whipped out a miniature wind shield, protecting him, Tails and Knuckles from enemy bullets. to shield them from the enemy bullets. 

Just ahead was a steep, rocky wall that impeded their progress.

Theres too many mechs for Tails to fly or for Knuckles to climb. Sonic thought to himself, looking for any way around the rocky wall. But there was no other path, they would be trapped in. This might be more reckless, but it will get all three of up.

Swapping the green Sol Emerald for the newly obtained Cyan Sol Emerald, Sonic hurls the Cyan Sol Emerald to the top of the rocky wall.

As the emerald soared in an upwards trajectory, Sonic grabbed a hold of Tails and Knuckles and lets the emerald do the rest.

The emerald plopped down onto the snow and begins radiating a sky-blue glow. Suddenly, Sonic’s body is jerked off the ground, with Tails and Knuckles being carried behind.

Looks like this emerald moves quickly regardless of weight. Sonic flew with awe.

The heroic trio landed atop of the rocky wall, landing right beside the Cyan Sol Emerald.

Sonic scoops up the Cyan Sol Emerald and looks back at Tails and Knuckles staring at him with eyes wide open in suprise despite knowing the power of the emerald.

“C’mon, we’re close.” Sonic states.

Continuing their break-in, the heroic trio bolt to a sharp, left U-turn that led directly to the front entrance of Eggman’s control center. Performing a harsh drift on the U-turn, the trio approached the steel door of the control center. 

“Leave this to me” Knuckles cracked his ‘knuckles’.   

Rearing his arm back, Knuckles drilled his fist into the titanium steel door, creating a small hole. Prying both paws into the hole, Knuckles tears the hole wide enough to create an opening that was big enough for the three of them to step through. The three weaseled through the hole and rummaged down the monochrome beige & white hallway.

Near the end of the hallway resided an open doorway that seemed to invite them in.

"Its like Eggman is just begging us to come in and tear up the place." Sonic shrugs his shoulders.

The three stormed the open doorway and found themselves inside a circular room with an odd device planted on the ceiling.

"Just where are we?" Knuckles asked out loud.

"That's not important right now." Sonic said, "Be on the lookout for Eggman." 

“You’re Late!” a voice boomed throughout the room.

The iron door behind the trio locked shut. With nowhere else to go, the three heroes glanced up and saw Eggman looking down at them from an upper area behind reinforced glass.

“Well, we had to deal with your little pests.” Knuckles claps back, punching his fist raring to throw hands with the rooster.

“Where’s Blaze?” Sonic demands.

“My, aren't we impatient...” Eggman scoffed.

Eggman pulls a controller out from his pocket and presses a lavender button.

A small circular panel opens besides him and begins to ascend. The platform rises with Blaze standing on it with her ankles shackled to the platform and her hands concealed by handcuffs that trapped both of her hands. Sonic noticed her crimson bracelets sitting on a desk behind Eggman.

“Sonic!” Blaze cried out.

Trapped in place, Blaze tried to snap the chain that held her handcuffed paws together. A molten yellow took over the chrome steel of the cuffs but immediately reverted to chrome steel as Eggman pressed an eclectic blue button.

“AH!” Blaze cried in pain, the electric shock traveling across her limbs and chest. 

Eggman released his finger off the button. Blaze's startled posture slumped in exhaustion. Her uncontrollable paws dangled like lifeless carcasses. 

“Blaze. Don’t worry we’re here to save you.” Sonic shouted, bawling both hands into fists; ready to throw down with Eggman.

“Nuh uh! You better not move.” Eggman warned Sonic, wagging his finger.

From the veil of darkness behind him, Metal Sonic emerged from the shadows. Metal raised his arm and pointed his hand at the back of Blaze’s head. His hand then morphed into a blaster that resembled the blaster Eggman used to intimidate Sonic earlier.

Blaze gulped on her breath and felt a shiver travel down her spine as her scalp detected the cold steel of the muzzle press into her head.

Tails and Knuckles starred in complete disbelief. While Sonic too starred in disbelief, he was also angered that Eggman pulled the same tactic once again.

Don’t tell me he is going to have it his way again?! Sonic glared.

“Now. The Chaos Emerald.” Eggman demanded.

Letting out a frustrated groan, Sonic pulled the Red Chaos Emerald from his shorts and held it up to Eggman as ordered.

“Good. Now place it there.” Eggman instructs, pressing another button on his controller.

A cylinder capsule emerges from the floor right before Sonic, waiting for the Red Chaos Emerald. Sonic knew what he needed to do, even if he didn’t want to.

“Sonic. Don’t do it.” Tails objects.

“We have no other choice Tails.” Sonic sulked.

Sonic stepped to the capsule and looked at the emerald, then to Blaze. Giving him this Emerald is one thing. But hurting her is another thing. Sonic internally grumbled.

Shaking his head with disappointment, Sonic places the Chaos Emerald into the cylinder. A shield conceals the Emerald, and the cylinder descends back into the ground.

“Alright Eggman, you have the Emerald.” Sonic looks back to Eggman, “Now let her go.”

Eggman gazed to Sonic and then gestures his hand to Metal Sonic to lower his blaster. Metal nods and lowers his blaster from Blaze’s head; Blaze lets out a sigh of relief as the blaster is lowered away from her head.

Eggman then approaches his control desk and dramatically presses a pink button.

Suddenly, a pink forcefield surrounds Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as a machine above them begins to rapidly spin.

“Huh?!” Tails’ ears straightened in alert.

“What the?!” Sonic spun around.

“What is this?!” Knuckles barked.

Winding back his fist, Knuckles throws a meaty punch onto the pink forcefield, hopping to break through, only for the pink forcefield to zap him with a strong electrical force and hurtle him backwards.

“Knuckles!” Sonic and Tails hollered with worry for their friend.

“It is no use. It’s too powerful for you to overcome.” Eggman gazed down at Sonic and Tails helping Knuckles up.

“Eggman!” Sonic shout, “This wasn’t part of the deal!” 

“That Doesn’t Matter.” Eggman deflected Sonic’s complaint.

“Now allow me to introduce you to my latest creation. The Solaris prototype!” Eggman announced, releasing a sinister laugh.

Blaze gasped in fear over Eggman’s announcement. Solaris Prototype?! What does he plan on doing?! Blaze questioned.

Suddenly, a large lever ascends from the ground next to Blaze’s left side, almost as if to taunt her.

“With this machine, I'll be able to control the flow of time itself!” Eggman exclaims as he approaches the lever and places his hand on the handle.

“Stop! Let them go!” Blaze protests.

She stretched her arms out to the lever that was just out of hands reach, her cuffed paws just a few inches away from the lever. 

Pressing his controller with his other hand, Eggman punishes Blaze with another jolt of electricity.

"Gahhh!" Blaze screeched and convulsed in agony, lightning blue shockwaves crawling along her physically tormented body. 

Starring daggers at Sonic with a malevolent grin, Eggman released the button. The electricity vanished, and Blaze slumped in exhaustion; vapors of steam emitted from her fur. 

“Please Princess, you can talk to me when I am finished with my experiment.” Eggman jeers to Blaze. Grabbing the deep red lever, a wicked grin grows across Eggman’s beak.

“Farewell, Sonic!” Eggman roared.

Then, in a swift motion, he pulls the lever.

The pink force field expanded, releasing a wave of energy that swept the three heroes off their feet.

"Woah!" Sonic, Tails and Knuckles bawled as they were sucked up towards the ceiling where the motor of the engine spun with deadly precision.

Just before they reached the ceiling, the forcefield lets out a burst of blinding energy.

Blaze turned her face away to shield herself from the powerful blast; the reinforced glass protected her and Eggman from the burst of blinding energy. 

Opening her eyes, Blaze looked at the circular room and felt dread overtake her system. The pink forcefield was gone, but so too was Sonic, Tails and Knuckles; they were nowhere to be seen.

“Wh-where are they?” Blaze panicked.

“What did you do them?!” She demanded.

“Rest assured Princess. They are not dead-yet.” Eggman answered with a malevolent grin wide across his face.

“They've just been teleported by my glorious invention to another time.” Eggman gloated.

“Who knows where they will end up?” Eggman questioned out loud, slowly pace behind Blaze; his glance facing the opposite direction of hers.

“It could be the distant past or the unknown future.” Eggman theorized, “Who knows? But my machine still requires some fine-tuning.”

Eggman looks over his shoulder at Blaze. “In fact…” Eggman continued, “what my machine needs in order to be complete, is your power.”

“My… Power?” Blaze stammered

“Yes.” Eggman finally turned to look at Blaze, spinning her stance to look at him.

His hand held up her chin and pulled her closer to his face, stroking his thumb on her cheek. A shiver trickled down her back; she felt repulsed by feathers caressing her face.

“With your power and the Chaos Emeralds, I can harness the endless power of the flames of disaster and finally control everything and have the world to myself!” Eggman chortled.

Blaze felt her heart drop in that moment. Eggman’s fingers on her chin were now palpable compared to the knowledge she had just absorbed; she felt sick to her stomach upon hearing Eggman’ true desire, she recalled the nightmares. Is that what happens?! Blaze queries Is that how the world becomes nothing more than an endless fire?!

“Now Princess, we can’t waste any more time.” Eggman decalred, “Let us go to my laboratory and begin testing.”

He let go of her chin and pulled his controller out from his pocket.

Pressing a green button on his controller, the shackles and power cuffs disable themselves, detaching them from her hands and ankles. 

But rather than run away, Blaze dropped to her knees.

Exhausted from the shock that drained her energy. Overwhelmed by the guilt she forced upon herself for not stopping him from sending her rescuers somewhere in time. Unsettled by his unintentionally perverted advancement on her. And preoccupied by the knowledge she was forced to absorb. Blaze rest motionless, sick to her stomach and unsure of what to do next.

“Come on Princess.” Eggman broke the silence with stern authority, “I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

Clawing his talons deep into her arm, Eggman dragged her towards the metal door that led into a different monochrome beige & white hallway. 

“Hey! Ngh… Stop!” Blaze pleaded, wriggling to break free from his sharp grasp to no avail. She was terrified, scared of what possible experiments she would be subjected to. As her mind raced with thousands of scenarios and possibilities, something snapped. Deep within, her fears had morphed in boiling anger and hijacked her rational thinking as the door grew closer in scale as she was forced closer.

“Release me right this instant!” Blaze flared up.

Igniting a flame with her free hand, Blaze fiercely plants the palm of her paw onto Eggman’s backside, torching his.

“Yee-OUCH!” Eggman shouts in pain from the intense heat, releasing his grip on Blaze. Blaze collapsed to the floor, stunned from intensity that just birthed in the room.

The back of Eggman’s suit, which was once bright red with a logo of himself, was now a charred, black backside with a tiny, sizzling flame that incinerated his logo. Eggman frantically fanned out the flame that melted away on his back. Had it not been for the reinforced material of his suit, his entire backside would have been cooked into a fine cuisine.

With the flame on his back fanned out, Eggman’s glasses leered at Blaze. Blaze stared back at her reflection that shone off his glasses, clearly able to make out that he was not all too happy about what had just happened despite his eyes not being fully revealed.

“Being difficult, are we?” Eggman glares at Blaze, she still rested on the floor with her eyes dilated with a blend of emotions and her hand firmly pressed against her chest. Eggman snaped his fingers and Metal Sonic sauntered towards Blaze, creating mechanical noises with each joint movement until he was at her heels, staring down at her with blood red led eyes.

“Take her to her cell while I attend to my glorious suit." Eggman commands, "And make sure she is secured until I require her!” 

Without a word, Metal stepped towards Blaze. 

She cringed, crawling back from Sonic’s robotic doppelganger until her back was up against the reinforced glass.

"No. Please." Blaze begged, holding her hands to her face.

Ignoring her words, Metal snatched her wrist and yanked her to her heels. 

"Augh!" Blaze winced as she was jolted off the floor.

Metal dragged her across the room, not flinching or even reacting to Blaze helplessly hitting him with her free hand. Not 

"Ngh... Nguh!" Blaze whimpered as she was dragged towards the door.

"Let me go. Now!" Blaze bellowed, releasing a stream of fire onto Metal. 

But much to her horror, her fire did little to no damage to him. He yanked her again.

She helplessly flailed, squirming and wriggling as she was dragged through the doorway. 

Entering the hallway, Blaze continued to uselessly flail as the door slammed shut behind her.

Chapter Text

Deep within a dilapidated chamber whose walls were decorated with rust, ash marks and broken holes, a pink orb appears out of thin air at the surface of the ceiling, humming and swirling with white vapors, the pink orb strings itself as a chandelier in the ruinous enclosure. 

Suddenly, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles are spit out from the pink orb, screaming in panic as they are dropped from the ceiling as the pink or vanished into the musky air.

Halfway down, Tails twirled his tails and grabbed Sonic’s hands. With Sonic in his grasp, Tails snaps them in quick succession to go into flight mode.

As Tails slowly descend to the corroded floor. knuckles glided onto the wall, digging his knuckles into the barren steel and climbing down.

Soon enough, Knuckles reached the ground, stepping foot onto the floor the same time as Sonic and Tails safely landed down. 

“Boy, talk about an unexpected flight?" Tails said.

"I'll say." Sonic remarked.

The three looked from side to side, seeing the ravaged room for what it was.

“Just where are we?” Tails asked, "This room looks a lot like the room were just trapped in before Eggman pulled that lever." 

“I’m not sure." Knuckles chimed in, scanning the ruined room with disgust, "But I don’t exactly like what I’m seeing.” 

“Oh, look who’s here!” called out a seductive voice.

The three heroes looked up at a ledge above them, baffled by who it was calling to them. 

Standing atop the upper ledge was a female bat with white fur coating her head and bare shoulder & biceps. She had a caramel-colored muzzle, her lips were decorated with pink lipstick, and her nose was heart-shaped. She wore a heart-shaped breast plate over her black jumpsuit that went from her chest area down to her feet, the ends being concealed by her white heeled boots with pink hearts at the tip.

Right beside the female bat was a black hedgehog with red stripes running down each quill crossing his arms. His chest was adorned with white, kempt chest fur that flared into the shape that closely resembled the female bats breast plate, but wasn't exactly heart-shaped. On both of his wrists and ankles were golden rings that reflected the faintest of light the dripped into the room. And his shoes were white and red, the bottoms revealing jet boosters.

“Rouge?! Shadow?!” Tails looked up at the ledge with bewilderment.

“Long time no see boys." Rouge seductively waved, "What brings you here?”

“I was just about to ask that question.” Sonic clasped his hands around his mouth, “Where are we and how did You get here?”

Rouge’s mischievous display dissipated, and she turned to Shadow. Shadow nodded and Rouge looked back to Sonic. 

“Why, you’re in Eggman’s White Acropolis base.” Rouge answered.

The room went silent, the three starred up at Rouge with disbelief over what she had just said. 

"Eggman's base?" Sonic murmured. 

“That’s Impossible!” Knuckles differed, “How?”

For what seemed like minutes, time froze to a standstill. Sonic, Tails and Knuckles glared at Shadow and Rouge, remaining as still as possible, waiting for a proper explanation from either of them.

“It sent you to the distant future.” Shadow finally broke the silence.

Shadow’s statement caught the three off guard, they struck confused glances with each other. 

“No. That can’t be.” Sonic protest.

“Come see for yourself.” Shadow turned away from Rouge and the trio.

Rouge followed after Shadow, and the three climbed up to the ledge and pursued Shadow, who was nearing the end of the hallway that led out into the open. 

“Shadow!” Sonic called out to him, coming closer and closer to the exit.

“Shadow wait! What do you mean distant…” Sonic stepped out from the barren building and paused, mortified of the sight before him, Tails, and Knuckles, “…future?” 

Present right before Sonic's eyes was a ravaged city engulfed in flames and carnage. The streets were cracked and charred; broken car and various types of debris clumped together along the deteriorated concrete. The buildings were tilted in all directions, scorched and missing chunks of their structure. The sky was faint red and the clouds were smoke-gray. Fire was present everywhere. From the broken barrels and crates to the torn billboards, fire consumed all of the city.

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles starred at the demolished city in this belief. Speechless over what they were looking at.

This was once Soleanna? Sonic asked himself, wishing that he was wrong.

“This is the distant future." Shadow stated, "Far removed from our timeline.” 

“But how?" Tails asked, "What happened?” 

“We aren’t sure. But all we know is that we need to get back to the present and pay someone a visit.” Rouge answered.

“But how?" Knuckles questioned, "How do we return to the present?”

“I may be a jewel thief but I’m no answer gal.” Rouge shrugged.

“Great!" Knuckles threw his hands up in frustration, "Eggman has his greasy hands-on Blaze, and we’re stuck in this apocalypse!”

Knuckles punted a rock in frustration.

“Knuckles Calm Down." Sonic suggested to Knuckles, "I’m sure there is a way back.” 

“Actually." Shadow interjects, everyone's attention, "There might be.” 

“If we can create a Space-time rift, we can travel back to our time." Shadow explained, "But it will require Chaos Energy.”

“I see!" Sonic caught on to what Shadow was suggesting, "You mean using your Chaos Control will...”

“Yes.” Shadow confirms, “But that alone isn’t sufficient.”

“What do you mean?” Sonic questioned.

“Using one Chaos Emerald won’t be powerful enough to create a Space-time rift." Shadow theorized, "But maybe Two Chaos Emeralds can.”

“And are you sure it will work?” Knuckles tested Shadow’s confidence.

“We don’t have any other options, do we?” Rouge retorts.

Sonic looked back out to the ravaged city, his eyes racing to find anything that wasn't on fire, broken or just beyond saving. But he found no such thing.

Was Silver right? Sonic internally asked himself. Did I truly cause all of this?

“Aright Shadow." Sonic turned back to Shadow, "Looks like we must team up.”

Shadow nod, followed by Rouge.

The five of them gathered close together and Tails pulled out a yellow radar device from his belt holster. Powering the holster up, it immediately detects two energy readings north and west of where they were.

“Alright. Sonic, Knuckles, and I will go North." Tails formulate, "Shadow, you and Rouge head West.” 

“Sounds Great!” Sonic voiced.

Rouge spread her wings and lifted herself off the ground.

"You boys just be careful." Rouge warned, "There's some dangerous creatures roaming these battered streets."

And with that, Rouge turned west and dove into a flying position, gaining a tremendous amount of momentum and slicing through the smoky air.

"Come on." Tails said, "Le's go find that Chaos Emerald." 

Tails and Knuckles both jumped off the roof and took to the air traveling North as they had planned out. Leaving Sonic and Shadow to split.

Sonic kickflips a sheet of scrap metal and catches it.

“Shadow, don’t be late.” Sonic orders Shadow.

“Heh, you’re talking to me?” Shadow fires back.

Sonic flashes a quick smirk before parting ways with Shadow.

Performing an ollie with the sheet of scrap metal, Sonic bounds from the building ledge for a rogue railing that protrude from a lopsided building.

The sheet of scrap metal slams down on the rogue railing, creating sparks as the steel grinded away under Sonic's feet.

As Sonic grinded down the railing for the building, he couldn’t help himself from gazing at the demolished buildings that were charred black and had shattered glass everywhere.

Just what happened? Sonic pondered.

Boarding down the side of the building that lay lopsided on the fractured road, Sonic weaved and turned from broken debris, avoiding the dismantled cars and boulders of charred concrete. At the very end of the building, Sonic reached the fractured road and continued his boarding escapade down the declining path that led to yet another skewed building.

“Sonic, watch out!” tails called from above.

“Huh?” Sonic craned his neck upwards to see Tails and Knuckles flying and gliding, respectively, above him. At a safe distance.

“Tails what is it?” Sonic called back.

“Look ahead of you!” Knuckles bellowed, “It’s gonna blow up!”

Looking ahead at the declining asymmetrical building, Sonic was presented with segments of the building bursting; magma rising from the sides of the building, sending chunks of rocks in various directions.

Sonic looked ahead, undeterred of the danger that lied ahead. Pressing his planted stance further onto the board, Sonic leaned in, ready for the magma he anticipated to avoid.

Chapter Text

Standing confined in a monochrome high-tech security cell, Blaze stood in the dead center. 

Her hands were shackled by a new, more confining pair of power-cuffs that put her confiscated crimson bracelets to shame. Her foot movement was heavily compromised; her ankles were shackled and chained to the wall behind her.

She stood in place, tossing her chained hands up in down in hopes of breaking free.

This is just terrible. Blaze complained, "First I get kidnapped again and then Sonic and his friends are sent to another time period."

She jerked her concealed hands, growing more tired from each strain of the steel chain that prevented her from raising her hands above her head.

"Oh Sonic." Blaze drooped, "It's because of me, he is in another time period."

"How could I just fail him after he saved me?" Blaze blamed herself, "Twice!"

"Ugh!" Blaze groaned.

Suddenly, both of her power cuffs emitted a small red light on each wrist. 

"Heat detected." An automated voice announced, "Shock being delivered in 3... 2..."

"Not again..." Blaze whined.

"1!"

A jolt of electricity surges across Blaze's body; lighting blue streaks crawling and poking her limbs, torso and face.

“GAH” Blaze shrieked in pain, her sore body erratically glitching in pain.

After ten agonizing seconds, the electrical torture receded.

Blaze trembled in pain, heaving in exhaustion while smoke arose from her forearms and calves.

Suddenly, the door to Blaze’s cell opened, and standing at the doorway was Metal Sonic.

Metal Sonic glanced at Blaze, looking at her wincing in pain and fear. Metal passed her without a second glance approached a keypad that was on the wall behind her.

Metal inputs a button combination, disabling the shackles around her ankles.

Blaze heard a small whirring noise and looked down at her heels to see her shackles slowly unlocking.

This is my chance. I need to take it. Blaze formulate.

Blaze watched with anticipation, waiting for the shackles to open just wide enough so she could make a mad dash for the door.

Clunk!

The shackles dropped off her ankles and laid cold on the floor.

Blaze pressed off her heels, head pointed straight for the open doorway.

But just before she could break out of the cell, Metal snatched her forearm.

"Ngah!" Blaze yowled, the jolt being shot up her arm.

Metal grabbed her other arm, coiling his cold, merciless, robotic fingers around her lithe lavender arms. 

Metal forced Blaze out of the cell; turning right and leaving the cell, Metal forces Blaze down the hallway.

"Ngrah!" Blaze squealed, feeling Metal's sharp fingers pinch her sore skin. 

Metal showed no concern for Blaze’s distress, continuing to force her down the hallway while nearly drawing blood from her arms with his iron grasp.

“Stop! Ngh!” Blaze squirmed.

But then, Metal stopped moving.

Blaze stopped thrashing and remained as still as Metal.

What's happening? Why did he stop? Blaze pondered.

Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click

Metal and Blaze both straightened their posture; both of them heard a faint clicking sound that grew louder with each click.

Hearing the clicking growing louder, Metal fully rotates his head one-hundred eighty degrees to look down the hallway.

Cruah!

A flaming boot belonging to a tall, hooded figure slams into Metal's face, tossing him backwards with Blaze still in his grasp.

The tall, hooded figure flipped over Metal and dove underneath him, swiping Blaze from him just before he crumpled to the floor.

The landing in a crouching position, the hooded figure rests Blaze down on the floor and stands before her.

“W-who are you?” Blaze whimpered, guarding her face with her hand.

The tall, hooded figure wore a brown cloak, with tears and singed portions scattered in various spots. They wore a black long sleeve with golden trims at the hem, collar and sleeves. Two vibrant bracelets adorned her wrists, nearly concealing the golden sleeve trims. The olive green cargo pants and black combat booths with red toes were just as tainted as the brown cloak that hung around her neck, concealing their face.

Reaching for their hood, the figure pulls their hood back and revealed themself to be a female Jaguar with lava-gray fur and sky-blue spots that covered her from head to neck. A nasty scar down her face down and across her left eye. Her right eye was half the size of her left eye from a scorch mark that singed a portion of her right side of her face. Both eyes were bright blue and had red eyeliner.

She had a ring piercing in her left ear that had the letters “S” and “B” engraved. Her right ear however, had a slash mark that indicates she lost it to ‘something’; although she was missing half her ear, she seemed to have standard hearing. Both ear sockets were the same color red as her eyeliner, vibrant and bold.

The black long-sleeve she wore had a small hole that revealed a small, circular, pumpkin-orange gemstone that was imbedded just above her curved breast, missing a sizable fragment and looking almost drained. Small scars traced her ash-colored muzzle that was decorated in soot and ash.

Blaze shuffled backwards, cautious of the imposing figure who just saved her.

“You don’t have to be afraid. I want to help.” The female jaguar insisted, extending her hand out to Blaze.

Blaze looked up at the female Jaguar with fear in her eyes.

"It's alright. I won't hurt you." The female Jaguar gestured her extended hand again.

Looking at her hand and then at the Jaguar, Blaze reached for her hand and let her pull her up.

“Th-thank you.” Blaze bowed, "You don't know how much you saved me.

Rrrrrrreah!

Spinning around, Blaze looked to Metal Sonic and nearly chocked on her breath when she saw him rise to his feet and glare them down. His red led eyes glowing sparkling, blood-red.

“We need to go. Now!” The Jaguar states, grabbing Blaze by her wrist and running off.

Chapter Text

"It looks like we can jump from there." Sonic pointed ahead to a portion of road being whisked by the scorching winds that traveled in a cylindrical direction.

Suspended thousands of feet in the air, Sonic. Tails, and Knuckles stood on a piece of a dismantled sidewalk that was being carried by burning gusts of wind that carried other forms of broken concrete and damaged items ranging from demolished cars to dirty billboards.

"Anything to get out of this storm." Tails agreed.

"Alright, just follow my lead!" Sonic instructed, curling up into a ball and charging a spin-dash.

Shooting off the dismantled sidewalk, Sonic honed his trajectory onto a beaten-up yellow car while Tails and Knuckles followed after him.

Sonic threw himself onto the hood of the car, bouncing off and spinning towards a billboard. 

Tails and Knuckles followed behind, barrel rolling, backwards & forward somersault, and even Dummy Ring Bombing and punching, respectively, to avoid all the charred stone that flew every which way.

Sonic jumped from the billboard for portion of road he pointed to just seconds ago, spinning at rapid speeds to deflect any debris present in the flaming whirlwind.

Landing on the portion of road only to jump away, Sonic launches himself to Tails and Knuckles side, pulling out the Green Sol Emerald.

Fwooowh!

"Hah!" Sonic yelled, using the Green Sol Emerald to create a burst of wind energy, tearing through the fiery breeze and forming their exit.

"Down this way." Sonic pointed as he dropped through the non-flaming opening. Tails and Knuckles followed after.

"Looks like we got a long way down." Sonic said, his words nearly lost to the altitude and whipping winds that did not obscure that thousands of feet they were up in the air.

"Tails." Sonic called to, his words even more hard to understand with the greater falling speed.

"On it!" Tails complied, lowering his goggles to his eyes and twisting his tails, going into a diving position. 

Knuckles also dropped into a diving position after Tails, raising his goggles to his head as well.

The two shot down like torpedoes, the hot winds slapping their cheeks as they gained more speed with each plume of smoke they ripped through.

Rocketing down with less than a thousand feet to spare before impact, Tails and Knuckles reached Sonic.

"Sonic... give me... your hand!" Tails spoke through each wind slap, pushing his arm out through the resisting winds. 

Sonic reached for Tails hand, struggling to get a grasp due to the wind resistance.

"Nnnh.. gotcha!" Sonic gripped Tails hand.

Immediately, Tails spun his tails, nearly killing all momentum and even rising up higher; Knuckles dove straight down as Tails deployed his flight, taking the lead in the fall.

"Good save as usual." Sonic grinned to Tails.

"Hehe. You know me, I always give it my best." Tails chuckled.

Halfway between the ground and Sonic & Tails, Knuckles spread his limbs out. Like Tails, Knuckles loses all momentum and is lifted higher into the sky he was falling from, catching wind with his loose dreadlocks and gliding circles around Sonic & Tails flying down with the air his loose dreadlocks caught.

After nearly two minutes of slowly descending, Sonic being lowered by Tails while Knuckles glided circles around them as he also descended, they touched ground.

“Hu-whew!"  Sonic exhaled, outstretching his hands on his knees and swiping sweat from his forehead, "Talk about a cyclone.” 

"You can say that again." Knuckles huffed, pointing his head to his sky and placing his hands on his hips.

“Are you two, okay?” Sonic asked Tails and Knuckles, standing upright.

“Yeah.” Tails puffed, “I’m alright.”

“II'm fine." Knuckles answered, "And here I thought Angel Island was a scorcher. I wonder if it's even around anymore?”

“We can go down memory lane some other time. Right now, we need to find that Chaos Emerald and get out of here.” Sonic said, “Tails, how fare are we away from the Emerald?”

“Hm... let me check.” Tails replied, short of breath and face beat red.

Reaching for the holster on his belt, Tails pulls out a small yellow radar that is rectangular shaped and powers it on.

“It says that the database is just straight ahead.” Tails answers, “Let’s get going and…”

Tails paused, Sonic was as still as a statue, his posture was stiff, and his ears were straightened. Something was off.

“Sonic? Is something alright?” Knuckles frowned.

“Run.” Sonic muttered.

“What?” Tails squinted his eyes.

“I said Run!” Sonic shouted.

Without giving them time to react, Sonic grabbed Tails and Knuckles by their wrist and took off like a speeding bullet, just narrowly saving them from a flaming tornado rampaging from a block behind.

Sonic blitzed down the abandoned highway, blazing past hollowed out buildings, ravaged cars, dirty billboards, and broken concrete that littered both sides of the street.

The flaming tornado roared behind Sonic, consuming all the broken debris, signs, and cars that Sonic rushed past and tossing it every which way.

“Sonic, be careful.” Tails exclaimed through the slashing wind, “That tornado is carrying a car.”

Sonic pressed his feet down with each step, pressing off with as much strength as possible to allow him to go as fast as possible in order to keep him, Tails, and Knuckles from being devoured by the fiery tornado.

Suddenly, a concrete pillar was spat out from the tornado and collided in front of Sonic.

“Jump!” Knuckles clamored.

Sonic jumped as soon as Knuckles told him to, just barley leaping over the concrete pillar and resuming his getaway that resembled previous getaways.

“Tails, how much further?” Sonic shouted.

“The database is in that building just up ahead.” Tails fought the wind resistance to point ahead to the cylinder building with a tainted and peeled dark green exterior.

“Alright, hold on tight!” Sonic bellowed.

Pushing himself to his extreme, Sonic jettisoned towards the building Tails had pointed at, widening the gap between him and the flaming tornado while he ran with the weight of Tails and Knuckles combined.

But the Tornado wasn’t going to give up so easily.

Just a mile away from the building, the tornado unloaded all of the items it had scooped up and shot them out; the damaged ammo started to rain down as Sonic, Tails and Knuckles were just a mile away from their destination.

But with split-second reaction time, Sonic watched the debris fall and made out his escape.

Sonic side-stepped away from a car that would have landed on top of him and the then burst forward out of the way from a crate. He then leapt over a concrete pillar and then bounced off another car, aiming for a falling concrete chunk. And then, he pressed off the concrete chunk and shot for the road, evading the most dangerous items to him and his pals.

With no more debris to rain down on him, Sonic rushed towards the database and aimed for the open entrance. Just when he stepped halfway through the doorway, he spun and tossed Tails and Knuckles to his left and then jumped back.

“Take Cover!” Sonic yelled, pressing his back against the flaked wall.

Tails and Knuckles took cover immediately and the three stood perfectly still as the flaming Tornado had blown right through the database, destroying the already ravaged building while it roared with intense flames that heated. But miraculously not scooping either of them.

Sonic, Tails and Knuckles let out an exhausted sigh of relief; they slumped, drained but glad to be in one piece and not scorched alive by the flaming tornado.

“Hu-whew! We just barely made it.” Sonic exhausted.

“I’ll say. If it weren’t for you, we’d be toast.” Tails wearily replied.

“Let’s just find that Emerald and quick. I don’t know how much more heat I can stand.” Knuckles complained.

Tails pulled out his radar device and powered it on. The screen lit to life and illuminated the sewage-green colored room with a bright, electronic blue glow.

“Say Sonic, do you still have that Yellow Sol Emerald you found.” Tails asked.

“Hmm? Oh! Yeah, I still have it.” Sonic replied, reaching his hand into his pocket and fumbling between the other two Sol Emeralds he held.

“Here it is.” Sonic pulled out the Yellow Sol Emerald, presenting it to Tails.

“How odd.” Tails remarked, looking between his radar and the Sol Emerald.

“How so?” Sonic asked.

“It seems this Sol Emerald can tamper with electric currents.” Tails revealed, “Just look at what happens when you hover it over my radar.”

Swaying the Yellow Sol Emerald across the screen of Tails radar, Sonic found that the electric current followed the Sol Emerald wherever it went.

“Woah. That’s neat.” Sonic said, “I wonder if I can do anything else with this emerald.”

Suddenly, a yellow forefield bubbled around Sonic; electrical currents zapped across the transparent yellow sphere that guarded Sonic.

“Incredible.” Tails eyes lit up.

“Just how powerful are these emeralds?” Knuckles asked.

“What’s the matter Knucks? Jealous?” Sonic teased.

“Like I’d tell you.” Knuckles crossed his arms and pout.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

“The radar is saying that way.” Tails intervene, pointing ahead, “Be on the lookout for any other signals.”

“You got it.” Sonic answered.

The three heroes began to walk through a dilapidated corridor of the dank building. The confines of this building just as dismantled as the outside they had just barely escaped the wrath of.

They walked in silence for what seemed like hours, passing every room only to look away when no results or anything of value was yielded. Tables were flipped and smashed, writings tainted the walls, the ceiling had holes the revealed the upper floor, mold & debris occupied the corner. No matter where their eyes wandered all they could see was desolation.

“No matter where we go, all we see are ruins." Knuckles exclaimed, his voice quietly echoing in the rooms he passed, "How could this be our future?” 

"I'm sure there has to be something that's still intact." Tails crosses his fingers, "Just keep looking until something comes up."

Was what Silver said true? Sonic asked himself, recollecting his first encounter with him. Did I cause all of this? 

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Suddenly, Tails’ detector began beeping like crazy.

“What is it?” Sonic Inquired.

“My energy readings are going off the charts." tails explains, "There has to be a Chaos Emerald should be nearby.” 

"Well then lead the way." Sonic encouraged.

Running ahead of Sonic and Knuckles, tails ascended to the floor, drifting around a right corner and arriving at a rusted door plastered with multiple warning signs, labels, and notices.

“The radar is saying it's behind this door.” Tails informed, turning off his radar to preserve energy.

“Well, what are we waiting for?" Knuckles "Let’s get in grab it.” 

The three nod in unison and latched onto the handle of the door and began to slowly creak open the door.

Click-click-clack-click-click-clack-clack-click

" Wait." Sonic stopped in place, prompting Tails and Knuckles to stop.

"What?" Knuckles starred.

"Do you hear that?" Sonic quietly asked.

The three remained perfectly still, listening to the sound Sonic supposedly heard.

"I hear... clicking?" Tails raised an eyebrow, puzled.

Snaking his head around the stile of the door, Sonic looked into the room and was confused by what he saw.

Inside the room was a massive computer screen hooked up to the wall and attached to a ginormous console. The computer green was neon blue, displaying data, statistics, and thousands of numbers being churned per millisecond.

Standing at the console of the computer and typing away was a mysterious figure wearing a black cloak that concealed their entire body.

“Who is that?” Sonic whispered, tilting his head.

“Sonic what’s taking so long?” Knuckles complained.

"Shhhh!" Sonic hushes, putting his finger to Knuckles muzzle.

The mysterious figure straightened their posture and spun to face the door. But no one was there, the door was slightly cracked open.

Sonic held his hand over Knuckles mouth, pressing himself and Knuckles against the door panel, Tails pressed his back against the other door panel; all three hid behind the door panel, out from the mysterious figures line of sight.

"Mmmmnnn..." The mysterious figure leered to cracked door before turning back to the massive computer monitor and continued typing away.

Hearing him resume typing, Sonic slowly lowered his hand from Knuckles Muzzle and looked at him and Tails, pointing at the door with eyes.

The three slowly peeked through the crack in the door at the mysterious figure typing away at the monitor, their clicks and clacks resonating in the room.

“Hmm. Yes." The mysterious figure spoke out loud, their voice sounding deep, masculine, and raspy.

"I can feel my power returning to me at long last." The mysterious figure said, raising his right hand to his shoulder height.

The hand of the mysterious figure was black and scaly, appearing charred and weak. The talons of the hand looked meek and thin, no larger than a pencil. But the talon claws were a radiant purple, appearing crystalized and releasing a small charge that traveled down the interval of the scales and forming a sphere within his palm.

"What?" Sonic mouthed, mystified by the hand of the mysterious figure.

"And I have that hedgehog’s influence to thank.” The mysterious figure chuckled, his words slicing through the already silent air. 

“I would like to test out my re-found powers some more, but I can’t keep him waiting.” The mysterious figure grumbled.

His eyes narrowed to his right, nearly catching Sonic, Tails and Knuckles retreat out the door. A small, devilish grin flashed across his concealed face,

He clicked on the console and then vanished within a purple flash. 

The three looked at each other with utter confusion and charged into the room.

“Just who was that, Guy?!” Knuckles asked aloud.

“I dunno. But I sure don’t think that was Shadow!” Sonic theorized.

“Hm? What’s this?” Tails tilted his head, looking at the massive computer.

"That strange figure was typing away on this computer." Tails approached the console of the computer and started tapping away, "I wonder what he was..."

“Sonic." Tails froze; his voice filled with dread.

"Yeah, Tails?" Sonic answered back, turning away from the bookshelf he was inspecting.

"You might want to check this out.” Tails uttered.

Sonic and Knuckles looked each other and gathered to the massive computer where Tails had various documents, files, and reports pulled up.

"Why are there reports about Blaze?" Sonic solicitated, his tone poisoned with dread.

“It says here that when Blaze had passed away from old age, a destructive fire would burst from her deceased body and would engulf all of Soleanna." Tails explained, "Not long after her death, the whole world would be light aflame, wiping out most if not the entire population.” 

“The flames of disaster!” Sonic murmured, shock travelling down his body.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Suddenly, Tails’ detectors beeped like crazy, it was a call. Tails took out his radar and answered the call.

“Tails." Shadow spoke through the radar, "We found a Chaos Emerald. “Meet us at the outskirts of the city.”

The call hung up and the room went dead silent. The computer screen blinked, flashing the terrifying documents and reports.

Even if there is plenty of time to prevent this apocalyptic future, I need to save Blaze, now. Sonic declared.

“Well then let’s not keep Shadow waiting.” Sonic pounded his fist on his palm, “We need to head back in time before Blaze meets her end.”

Bolting out of the room, the three race for the city outskirts where Shadow and Rouge waited. 

Ascending from the shadow of the console, the mysterious figure stood in the center of the room with his arms crossed, his eyes glaring from the hood of his black cloak.

“Hmmm. You’re harder to convince that I thought." The mysterious figure softly scratched his chin.

"Oh well, look forward to your little visit.” The mysterious figure manically chuckled, sinking into the ground.

Chapter Text

“You boys are so slow.” Rouge taunt, placing her hand on her hip and arching her back forward, “Take a look at this?”

Reaching into her breast plat, Rouge pulls out a green, triangular gem, the Chaos Emerald.

“A Chaos Emerald!" Tails eyes buldged, "You've already found one!” 

“Well now... I may not look It." Rouge smirked with a wide, mischievous grin across her face, "But I'm a real treasure hunter.”

"Unlike a certain echidna I know." Rouge flashed an eyebrow at Knuckles, flashing a playful smile. 

Knuckles face contorted into an angered masked and flared a brighter shade of red than his fur. He marched up to Rouge, his muzzle nearly digging into hers.

“What do you mean a certain echidna?!” Knuckles growled, gnashing his teeth at her. 

“Calm down Knuckie." Rouge snickered, "I can teach you a thing or two about hunting when we get back to our time.”

Rouge winks to Knuckles, tipping his hat down.

“Grrr…” Knuckles snarls, fixing his hat and marching back to Sonic’s side. 

“And what about you three?" Shadow interjects, steering the mission back on course, "Did you find the energy readings?” 

“Unfortunately, no." Tails mumbled, his ears dropping, "We didn’t find a Chaos Emerald."

"Well, that's disappointing." Rouge comments, crossing her arms.

"But we did see a weird individual.” Tails reveals.

Shadow and Rouge tilted their heads to Tails, unsure if they heard him right.

“Another soul in this apocalypse?” Rouge asked, "How could that be?"

“Yes." Tails continues, "His vice was raspy, and he wore a black cloak, meaning we couldn't see what he truly looked like." He disappeared before we could understand him. He had a cloak on so we couldn’t fully see what he looked like.” 

“His hands were black and scaly and had dark purple finger tips that looked like crystals." Sonic added on.

Rouge looked at Shadow in disbelief over what she was hearing, her ears straightening in astonishment over the description of the mysterious figure.

“And before we could see what he looked like, he vanished into thin air, dispelling a dark purple aura.” Knuckles further add, “Something about him seemed, and we’ve seen some crazy things before.”

Rouge starred at the three, her eyes blinking with utter bemusement.

"Could he really be here?" Rouge turned to Shadow.

"Who is he?" Sonic asked.

The air went silent, the group remained rooted to the charred, striking glances at one another.

"Mephiles."

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles glanced to Shadow, mystified by the name he dropped.

“Who?” Sonic tilt his head.

“The being you three encountered is named Mephiles." Shadow described, "He is the reason Rouge and I are even here.” 

“What?" Tails ears shot up in disbelief, "But why? Why would he do that?” 

“I’m not exactly sure.” Shadow replied, “But I all we know is that he can traverse through time without a Chaos Emerald.”

“He can use Chaos Control?!” Tails eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“But how?" Sonic interject, "I thought only you and I could use Chaos Control?” S

“He has a power that is unlike Chaos Energy." Shadow said, "It’s something else.” 

The three starred at Shadow, their jaws wide open from stupefaction. 

Just who is this ‘Mephiles’ character and how could he rival Shadow’s power? Sonic thought to himself.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Tails radar went off, beeping like crazy and breaking the tension.

Tails reached for his holster and whipped out his radar. The screen lit up, and so did Tails face. 

“Guys!" Tails eyes gleamed, "My signal is telling me that a Chaos Emerald is nearby.” 

“Oh, how wonderful!” Rouge clamored, interlocking her fingers, "“Now where exactly do we have to go?”

“Well… you see.” Tails nervously pointed past her, pointing to a rocky, barley illuminated path that led straight towards a ginormous, active volcano off in the distance.

“You mean we've got to go through there?” Rouge looked at Tails flabbergasted.

“Well, if you don’t like it, you can stay here.” Knuckles taunt, smugly glaring at her and crossing his arms.

“Hmph!” Rouge pouts, “Like I would pass up a lovely emerald.”

“Perfect! Let’s go!” Sonic exclaims, running straight for the path.

“Wait” Shadow called to Sonic.

“What is it Shadow?" Sonic asked, not even looking over his shoulder.

“If you ever run into Mephiles, do not underestimate his strength.” Shadow stated.

Sonic slowed down, stopping just at the beginning of the rocky path. Turning back, Sonic saw Shadow stare at him a stony glare.

Sonic stood still, staring down Shadow who motionless, his glare peering into his eyes.

Don’t underestimate him? Just how powerful is this ‘Mephiles’ Sonic internally questions. 

onic then shakes his head to get back into his usual persona and gives Shadow a thumbs up.

“Appreciate the advice." Sonic flashed a grin and thumbs up.

"Now don’t be late!” Sonic teased.

“I expect the same from you.” Shadow scorned, walking past him. Rouge spread her wings and flew after Shadow, zipping past Sonic.

"Tails, Knuckles." Sonic called over his shoulder, "Let's go."

Dropping into a ball and charging a spin-dash, Sonic shoots down the rocky path, with Tails and Knuckles following after.

As Tails and Knuckles turned the first corner of the path, the Griffon ascended from the ground.

He glared at the rocky path with his arms crossed, his eyes squinting at the charred stone that the group began traveling along.

"Interesting." the Griffon stroked his chin with his purple claws.

Chapter Text

As Tails and Knuckles traveled via higher elevation; flying & gliding above the blackened crater respectively, Sonic led the way on foot.

Blitzing past the decayed trees with broken branches, Sonic rushed down the devastated path leading to drop-off ledge.

Bouncing just before running off the ledge, Sonic propels himself to a sharp, upright rock formation. As soon as Sonic’s feet place their footing onto the rocky formation, they leave for another jagged formation that was nestled closer to more stable ground that led to the chaos Emerald. Sonic repeats the process one more time, expecting to safely land on solid ground without any hassle. But a stationary molten monster with its snout aimed at Sonic posed a problem.

“Woah!” Sonic cried, steering his fall to allow him to narrowly avoid the stream of intense flame coming from the beast’s molten mouth.

Landing just at the tip of the edge, Sonic drops into a spin-dash and barrels his curled body into the molten monster, sending it falling into the lava. Sonic looks over the ledge and notices a route made of platforms that emerged from the molten red ocean. Sitting on the platforms was stationary magma monsters and mounds that allowed flames to spiral upwards.

But Sonic’s glance was not drawn to the squad of monsters or fire mounds. Instead, his glance was drawn to something else. Something that forced him to narrow his glance down at the lower elevation. The moment he recognized what it was, his face eagerly lit up. Without a second thought, Sonic jumps down to the bottommost route.

Touching down on the more dangerous route, Sonic hops from platform to platform and arrives at the main platform that compelled him to drop down. On said platform, the squad of monsters, made up of five flying monsters and two quadrupedal monsters with sharp-tipped tails and massive snouts, take notice and dove at Sonic.

Quick on his feet, Sonic springs up and spin kicks one flying monster into another.

Landing back on the ground, Sonic spin-dashes away from the flying monsters sharp talons and bulldozes one of the two quadrupedal monsters, tossing it into the magma. Sonic then backflips from the second quadrupedal monster’s scorching jaw and drops into a quick spin-dash, releasing his charge and sending the second quadrupedal monster to the same fate as the first one.

As Sonic watched the second quadrupedal monster fall to its’ demise, one of the flying monsters spat out a flaming stone. With quick reflexes, Sonic whipped out the Yellow Sol Emerald.

A spherical forefield with an electric pulse surrounds Sonic’s entire body, letting out crackles of electricity powerful enough to erode the stone that the beast had spat out. With his electric forcefield, Sonic bolts towards the thing that compelled him to drop down to begin with: a Red rectangular gem that was burrowed in one of the fire mounds.

Snatching the red gem, Sonic clenches his grip on the gem to utilize the power of the gem.

The gem released a red flash that caught even Sonic off guard. As Sonic reopened his eyes, he noticed the flying monsters charging towards him. However, the monster’s movements were incredulously slow; they appeared as if they were moving in slow motion.

“So, it slows down time?” Sonic asks himself. “Shadow sure is gonna be jealous when he sees this.” Sonic smirked.

Running and propelling himself upwards, Sonic uses the slow motioned monsters as platforms to return to the platform he was originally travelling on. He lands back on the trail and looks up to see Tails and Knuckles still flying above him, they were heading in the right direction.

Further down the path Sonic was running on was, the path was broken into two by a river of magma where flying monsters stayed high above the molten waters.

Skidding to a halt by plating his feet, Sonic bounds up from the path and curls into a ball, performing a string of homing attacks on the flying monsters to reach the other side of the pathway.

Continuing along the craggy pathway, Sonic noticed the path begin to twist ninety degrees to its left. Hastening his pace, Sonic strides towards the bending trail.

“Gotta be careful to not fall off here.” Sonic said aloud.

As soon as the trail began to bend, Sonic accelerated his pace and stomped his feet into the rugged trail, allowing him to zoom across the twisted terrain.

Reaching the end of the twisted path, Sonic spots another group of flying monsters. Performing yet another string of homing attacks that guided him towards a charred ledge that gave him a better view of the bleak, indigo sky that matched with the setting he was barreling through.

As Sonic anticipated his landing, a horde of quadrupedal monsters burst from the cracks of the ledge. Their gaze immediately locked onto Sonic as he landed.

“Woah!” Sonic leaned back smugly, “Did you all come out to say hi?”

Releasing a screeching roar, one of the monster’s lunged at him with molten claws bleeding embers, ready to tear into him to shreds.

Jumping to his left, Sonic evades a swipe from the monster and pulls out the Red Sol Emerald he had just obtained.

The Emerald began sparkle, glimmering a bright red shine before unleashing a blinding flash of light. Time slowed to crawl under the influence of the Red Sol Emerald and Sonic used its power to his advantage.

Homing attacking the monster that had lunged at him, Sonic uses the momentum to barrel into another monster. Bouncing off the second monster, Sonic stomps onto a third monster and springs from its slow motioned body for another monster. Just as the Sol Emerald’s power was starting to dwindle, Sonic charged a quick spin-dash and roll towards the final monster that chose to greet him.

Just as Sonic’s curled body connected the final monster, the Sol Emerald’s power had reached its limit and released its hold on time. The monsters that had been struck in slow motion flew in all sorts of directions and even into each other, ultimately resulting in them all fall back into the lava they had been born from.

Twirling on his heel Sonic books it for a narrow passageway that led towards the direction of the Chaos Emerald. Emerging out from the cavern with purple crystals, Sonic scampers along a narrow bridge that was attached to a waterfall of magma.

Halfway across the bridge, Sonic felt his foot get thrown off balance for a second before regaining control. Looking over his shoulder, Sonic saw the under arch of the bridge begin to deteriorate and crumble into the sea of lava.

“I gotta get off this bridge before it collapses.” Sonic assigned himself.

Running ahead of the crumbling bridge, outpacing the collapsing stone and widening the distance, Sonic dashes for safer ground.

Reaching safer ground within jumping distance, Sonic disembarks the crumbling bridge and stops before the stream of magma.

“Hm? What to do?” Sonic rubbed his chin.

“Sonic!” Tails shout from above.

Sonic craned his neck up to the indigo sky to see Tails sticking out with his yellow-orange fur and rapidly twirling tails, waving down at him. Knuckles was gliding right beside him.

“Need a lift?” Tails yelled

“I wouldn’t mind one.” Sonic shout back, cupping both of his hands over his face to bolster the volume of his voice that was being drowned out by the splattering lava.

Hearing his answer, Tails gave a brief nod to Knuckles and then descend the molten waterfall where Sonic waited for his arrival.

Within arm's reach, Sonic jumped off the ground and latched onto Tails hands.

With Sonic under his grasp, Tails lifted him off the ground and up the waterfall that had stone formations splash and crumble into dust and pebble.

Flying over the red river, Tails twirls his tails and weaves in a zig-zag pattern to avoid the snowing ash and hot droplets.

“We need to pass through that cave.” Tails looks at Sonic, pointing to a cavern entrance that bared an uncanny resemblance to the previous cavernous passageway Sonic had traveled through.

“Tails Lookout!” Sonic lets go of his right hand and points ahead.

Tails tilt his head up and gasped, jerking himself and Sonic away from flaming boulder.

As the boulder flew past the two, they narrowed their sight to see more monsters crawling out from cracks that guarded the cavern entrance. Some crawled on all fours, some had wings they spread, and others had worm-like bodies with sharp mandibles instead of faces.

“Woah!” Sonic furrowed his eyebrow. “That’s not a nice welcome.”

“We need to get by if we want to find the Chaos Emerald.” Tails informed.

“Need a hand?” a gruff voice called from above.

Looking up as they flew closer, Sonic and Tails spotted a red blur plummeting down; spinning like a torpedo down onto the terrain they were anticipating to land on. It was Knuckles.

“Hyah!” Knuckles lets out a battle grunt as his fist buries into the back of one of the monsters; it’s deafening screech of pain drowning out Knuckles own voice.

Sonic and Tails look to each other and nod, letting go of each other and dropping down to fight the monsters. Sonic homing attacks a quadrupedal monster, hurtling into flying monster that sent them both into the sea of magma.

As Sonic homing attacks a monster that Knuckles punched in his direction, ultimately sending the monster into a circling, flying monster. Tails twirls around, slapping two monsters with his fluffy tails and deflecting pebbles being spat out by a flying monster. As the flying monster reared it’s head back, Tails whipped out a dummy ring bomb and tossed it at the flying beast. The bomb burst upon impact with the beast, blasting the non-organic molten monster into pieces.

Crunk!

Just in between all three heroes, a large golem with magma flowing through the cracks on its body, broke from beneath one of the flame mounds and narrowed its eyes on the person closest to it, which happened to be Knuckles.

The golem reared back its arm back, bawling its hand into a fist. And like a catapult, as soon as the golem’s fist reached it’s furthest point back, it sent it’s arm hurtling towards Knuckles. Knuckles, seeing the fist coming at him, straightens his hat and curls his paws into fists. Not looking away from the eyes of the golem that towered over him.

Seeing the Golem’s fist drop, Tails hastily pulled out a dummy ring bomb and flimsily threw the bomb at the backside of the Golem.

Time froze in place for Sonic as he assessed the mayhem that surround all three of them. He looked to the dummy ring bomb. Although he knew it would deal damage to the golem, it wouldn’t deal significant damage. And even more troubling was that by the time the bomb collided with the golem, it’s fist would already be pressing down on Knuckles, as Sonic knew he would try to catch the fist rather than try and fail to escape the crushing hand.

Then, in a swift motion, Sonic lifts the red Sol Emerald above his head and tightly grips it. The emerald emit a blinding flash of light and slowed time to a crawl. As time moved in slow motion, Sonic charged at the golem homing attacked it’s elbow. With the greater radius now accessible to him, Sonic homing attacks the head of the golem and lands on its arm.

As the golem recoiled in slow motion, Sonic lunged at the head once more, this time, giving a stomping kick to its face before backflipping away to land beside Knuckles. Just as he landed on the ground, Sonic lifted Knuckles pulled Knuckles away from the fist and released his hold on the sol emerald.

“Oomph!” Sonic and Knuckles groaned in unison as their bodies skid on the terrain for a short distance.

The golem’s reaction had returned to normal pace, but it was soon ended by the dummy ring bomb exploding from behind, breaking it down into pieces.

“Piece of cake. No Sweat!” Sonic grins, standing up and brushing himself off.

“Are you alright?” Sonic extends his hand to Knuckles.

“I’m alright.” Knuckles brushes himself before taking off his hat to brush off dust, “But what just happened? I’m standing under that golems fist for one second and the next second, I’m skidding across the ground.”

“Well, let’s just say I gave you a tap out.” Sonic gloated, spinning the red Sol Emerald on his finger like a basketball.

Knuckles face contorted with annoyance as Sonic gleefully grinned at him while flaunting the Sol Emerald.

“Now come on.” Sonic waved forward, “Let’s not waste any more time.”

“Got it!” Tails followed.

Knuckles rolled his eyes and followed after Sonic and Tails.

Passing through the cavern that they had fought their way to get through, the three heroes emerge on the other side and run along the path that brought them closer to the erupting volcano that spewed magma from its crater. As the heroes side-stepped and jerked about to avoid the raining lava, only Sonic showed amusement.

“Cool, it’s raining fire!” Sonic exclaimed as he side-stepped from a burning pebble.

“Even when danger is literally raining down on you show no concern.” Knuckles snidely remarks.

“Hey, I’m just living in the moment. Nothing wrong with that is there?” Sonic shrugs.

“Guys can we focus?” Tails interject, “Were getting closer to the chaos emerald, and we need to be really cautious.”

“Alright, alright.” Sonic beckons, narrowing his line of sight towards the volcano. “Let’s head into that volcano!” Sonic grins.

Tails twists his tails together and then snaps them in quick succession to begin flying. Flying above Sonic, Tails grabs Sonic’s hands and lifts him above Knuckles. Reaching for Sonic’s feet, Knuckles grabs ahold of Sonic’s ankles.

Tails flies himself, Sonic and Knuckles to the crater of the volcano and descend into the lava-infested mountain, maneuvering past molten lava that shot past. The infernal interior of the volcano resembled the brutal outside the heroes had just barley scraped by; rivers of magma dwelled below the heroes that flew above the molten sea. The volcano was also infested with molten monsters; their abundance made more noticeable by the confined area.

“How are holding up Tails?” Sonic’s eyes look up.

“I’m… I’m doing fine…” Tails pants, “The radar… says we’re almost there…”

“Alright. You just tell us when you want catch your breath and we can finish on foot.” Sonic tells Tails.

“I say… we make it on foot once I get us all down this dip up ahead…” Tails exhausts.

“Sounds good. Just don’t push yourself.” Sonic grins.

Fluttering to the dip ahead, the heroes gaze down at the fall. Tails inhales a deep breath and then releases a heavy exhale, sweat forming on his forehead that started to show bulging veins that were a result of his exhaustion. Just… gotta get down and… Tails internalizes.

Fwoosh!

Suddenly, a plume of fire burst from the lateral terrain.

“Woah!” Tails cried, just narrowly the flames that almost fried him, Sonic and Knuckles to a crisp.

Another plume of fire shot out from the lateral terrain. Tails was forced to jerk away. But then another plume of fire burst. And then another. Soon enough, the descent that was originally just a slow descent was now a snail-pace descent with very little wiggle room.

Sonic and Knuckles shifted their bodies to avoid the streams of flames that nearly scorched them. Meanwhile, Tails felt his arms and tail’s grow more and more numb as he forced himself to slowly descend, avoiding the fire that threatened him and his friends.

“I… I can’t… hold much longer…” Tails groans, his forehead sweating from exhaustion and straining that was pushing him as he navigated past horizontal pillars of fire. He was nearing his limit, and Sonic and Knuckles knew this.

“Come on Tails, you can do it!” Sonic cheers.

“You’re almost there, just a little further.” Knuckles adds.

“Mmmmnnnh!” Tails groaned, the bulging vein on his forehead pulsing more and more as sweat dripped off his muzzle and into the flames he steered away from.

“Just… one… more…” Tails groaned. He sunk closer and closer to the last plume of fire. Tails shifted himself, Sonic, and Knuckles, away from the flame and slowly descended below. He had avoided all the flames and was just a few yards above safe ground.

“Alright… I’m dropping…” Tails meekly informed Sonic and Knuckles, letting them go and collapsing beside them. Sonic and Knuckles land on their feet and gaze up to see Tails falling to them. Sonic looks at where Tails will land and runs to his landing spot and catches him before he could he land on the ground.

“Tails. Great job buddy!” Sonic grins, setting him down on his feet.

“Thanks…” Tails’ pants, placing his hands on his knees.

“Do you need a second?” Knuckles asked.

“No… I should be fine…” Tails answers back. “We can make it on foot from here. The radar says we’re just a cavern away.”

“Well then let’s not waste any time.” Sonic says, “Let’s keep going.”

The three heroes nod to each other and resume their journey, running along a pathway that led through a tunnel that held even more purple crystals bulging out of the cavern walls. Emerging on the other side, the heroes arrive in a chamber where the magma was dim-maroon; the magma was cooler than the magma they had just passed by.

“Whew! Nice to be outta there.” Sonic points his thumb back at the tunnel they were just in.

“I’ll say.” Tails added. “We just need to get through here and beyond the next Chamber should be where the Chaos Emerald is.” Tails points to a stone that resembled a door. The ‘door’ had five dull, purple gems protruding from its rock exterior; the dull glow of the gems revealed the curves of the stone, signifying that it was a barrier.

“Alright.” Sonic says, “Let’s go.”

The three heroes jump from shifting platform to shifting platform, fending off the monsters that dared to attack them as they made their way to the door, passing rocks that resembled the protruding gems on the door. Soon enough, they arrive at the ledge the led up to the door, Tails uses the little amount of energy he restored to fly him, Sonic and Knuckles up to the ledge. As Tails drops himself and his friends to the ledge where the door stood, the heroes soon find another dilemma.

“Hm. How do we get past this?” Sonic scratches his chin as he analyzed the door.

“Perhaps… Perhaps those rocks might have something to do with the door?” Tails points back to the pink, spherical rocks that were scattered across the chamber; the rocks they had passed by without a second thought. “If we hit them… maybe the door will open.”

“Well we got nothing better, so let’s give it a try.” Sonic says, “Tails, do you think you can fly us to those rocks?”

“I… I’m really tired…” Tails pants, “And I don’t want to risk dropping us into the lava.”

“I understand.” Sonic accepts Tails exhaustion, not wanting to push his friend beyond his limit. “But how do we hit those rocks?” Sonic ponders.

“Don’t worry Sonic.” Knuckles steps to the ledge and looks over his shoulder at Sonic. “I’ll take care of it.”

Taking the golden hair-tie that clung to his right wrist, Knuckles ties his red dreads into a spiked ponytail that stuck out like the top of a pineapple. He then lifts the sunglasses around his neck up to his eyes. With his dreads tied and his sunglasses on, Knuckles is ready.

Leaping off the ledge, Knuckles spread his arms and legs out like a superhero and glides across the chamber to the furthest rock away from him. A few monsters from below catch sight of him and spit out clumps of charred pebbles at him, hoping to strike him down. Knuckles sees the pebbles firing at him and promptly maneuvers himself from the rocks that were intended to strike him. He twists and turns, avoiding the pebbles that unceremoniously flew past him; a few of the pebbles tapping the ceiling and falling back into the magma they originated from.

Avoiding more pebbles, Knuckles soon arrives at the rock and with a swift punch, crushes the rock into smaller pieces.

As Sonic and Tails watched Knuckles crush the rock, they noticed one of the protruding crystals glow the same pink as the rock that knuckles crushed.

“Knuckles!” Tails cups his hands over his cheeks to allow his voice to travel further, “Its working.”

“Sounds great.” Knuckles pumps his fist in the air before gliding to another rock to crush it.

Knuckles arrives at the closest rock to him and gives that rock a swift punch like the last rock. The rock crumbles and one of the crystals on the door begins radiating a similar shade of pink to the rock he reduced to dust.

Knuckles repeats this process two more time without any issue, coming closer and closer to the door where Sonic and Tails waited for him. The door had four out of five crystals glowing, all Knuckles needed to do was crush one more rock and he would unlock the door for the three of them.

Making his way to the last stone, Knuckles saw a worm-like monster with three charred mandibles emerge from the lava right beside the stone. It was clear to Knuckles what he would have to do; he needed to defeat the monster that stood between him and the key to unlocking the door.

The monster spat out flaming projectiles at Knuckles as he glided closer and closer to it. Knuckles stared down the rocks that anticipated to strike him and he straightened his hat that flapped in the charred air. Knuckles twist to his left, avoiding a hurtling rock. He then shifted to his right to avoid another rock. And then, rather then try to avoid a rock that was traveling to fast, Knuckles reared his fist back and punched it to pieces, leaving his gliding form and going into a diving position.

He aimed his dive to the platform where the rock stood guarded by the monster and narrowed his body to allow him to dive quicker. Punching into the platform, Knuckles sends a shockwave that causes rocks to fly into the body of the monster. The monster recoils from the rocky assault and Knuckles takes advantage of the monsters opening. With two meaty jabs, a brutal hook swing and a fierce uppercut, Knuckles punches the monster away from the platform and back into the magma it originated from.

Without giving a second though, Knuckles turns to the stone and gives it a mean jab, shattering the stone and unlocking door.

The fifth and final crystal on the door radiates pink like its fellow crystals and then lowers; the stone scrapes against itself as the door opens.

Instead of immediately traveling through the door, Sonic and Tails wait for Knuckles to return to them before finishing the final stretch.

“Thank you Knuckles.” Sonic congratulates.

“Don’t mention it.” Knuckles says, “Now let’s get that emerald and get out of here.”

“Right.” Sonic nods, twisting around and running through the open door that lead into the next chamber. Tails and Knuckles follow Sonic’s lead; following him into the new chamber.

As the heroes hop from deteriorating platform to deteriorating platform, their eyes were drawn to the peculiar trees made of stone protruding from the magma with dead branches that held dark purple crystals that glistened an unsettling aura. But although the dead rocks were a sign of danger, it did not deter the heroes.

Coming up to another drop, the heroes look down and see pillars of flames protruding from the lateral surface of the downward sloping terrain.

“The Emerald is just beyond this drop.” Tails points down at the fire trap.

“Well at least we know how to steer clear this time.” Sonic says. And then without further notice, jumps down the slope. Tails and Knuckles down at Sonic falling past the flames and landing, he waved up to them to come down. The two look at each other with exhaustion and mild annoyance at Sonic’s rash movements, but there was no time to complain. Tails flew down, maneuvering past the flames while Knuckles dug his fist into the lateral surface with enough pressure to how onto the ungraspable terrain as he skid down.

As Sonic waits for Tails and Knuckles, he notices a tunnel with two shadows coming closer. He narrowed his eyes and then lit up when he saw who emerged.

“About time you showed up!” Sonic greets Shadow and Rouge as they emerge out of the tunnel.

“Glad to see you’re in one piece.” Rouge flirtatiously smiled.

Just as Shadow & Rouge arrived at Sonic’s side, Tails & Knuckles also arrived.

“And what do we have here?” Rouge perks up, her ears straightening, “I see someone has been enjoying their gift from me.”

She grinned directly at Knuckles, her eyes hyper focused on his dreads he tied up.

Knuckles muzzle blushed as he felt Rouge’s smile. He reactively snatched the hair-tie from his dreads, letting them flow down on his back; he coils the hair-tie around his right wrist as if he never used it.

“Hmm-mm-mmm.” Rouge giggled under her breath.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Suddenly, Tail’s radar began beeping like crazy. He pulled his small radar from his holster and held it up for everyone to see.

“The radar is saying the emerald is beyond this tunnel ahead.” Tails points to a pathway where more stone trees with glowing purple gems emerged from the lava on both sides, almost as if it were inviting them.

“Well let’s not waste a second.” Rouge announces, spreading her wings and flying down the pathway.

The trio and Shadow look to each other and follow Rouge. As the group entered the tunnel that led towards the direction where Tail’s radar was pointed them towards, a dark figure emerges from where Shadow stood just seconds ago. It was the Griffon.

Chapter Text

“Why there it is!” Rouge clamors, pointing to the center of the crater.

In the center of the cavern, levitating high above the pool of magma, was a triangular, cyan gem with sharp edges that glistened like a disco ball. It was the Chaos Emerald. 

Expanding her wings out as wide as she could, Rouge flapped herself off the ground and fluttered above the molten magma towards the suspended Chaos Emerald.

Her eyes were glued to the radiating emerald, drool dangling from her mouth as the emerald reflected off her needy eyes.

Hypnotized by the tempting Chaos Emerald, Rouge failed to notice the magma deep beneath her slowly shifting; an unknown creature swam beneath Rouge, unaware of the shifting tides and more focused on the Chaos Emerald.

“Come to mama.” Rouge extends her arms out to the emerald, anticipating the priceless gem jumping into her arms to cherish, pressing its succulent edges and glimmering radiance between her modest breasts.

Small waves started to so splash as Rouge blissfully came into hands reach of the emerald; the shifting magma below her began to create jostle and crash into the crust of the ledge, eating up the lava shoreline and creating a tremor.

"What's happening?!" Tails cried, struggling to keep his balance.

Shadow and the trio, fighting to keep their stance, peer out sea of lava to find what is causing the cavern to shake.

Narrowing his glance, Shadow finds what is causing the magma waves. His eyes shrank with unease.

“Don’t touch it!” Shadow shouts before pulling out a triangular gem that bared a striking similarity to the Cyan Chaos Emerald. It was the Green Chaos Emerald.

“Huh?” Rouge looks over her shoulder back to the ledge she flew from and found only Sonic, Tails and Knuckles standing, watching in horror at what was below her.

Suddenly, a pillar of magma burst from molten pond she flapped high above. A jagged jaw with razor sharp teeth protruded from the point of the magma cone, ready to consumer her whole.

Just before the cylinder of heat could fry her and the jaw could devour her whole, Shadow teleports right behind her using the Green Chaos Emerald and grabs her just before she could snatch Cyan Chaos Emerald, and teleports himself and her back to the ledge.

Arriving back at the cavern entrance that sat right beside the molten waters, the group glanced out to the pillar of magma reach its climax and splashing back down to the molten sea, revealing what the cylinder of heat actually was.

Buoyed where the pillar of magma shot up was a massive, snake-like creature whose entire body was made up of molten rock and charred scales. Magma flowed through the cracks that decorated its charred scales, resembling veins. Protruding from the head of the beast were three Jagged horns. Two of the horns mirrored each other while the middle horn curved at pointed straight towards the group. Its teeth were serrated sharp, appear as jagged stones that had magma dripping from its pointed teeth. The beast had lizard green eyes with pure, golden pupils.

RRRREEEEAAAGGGHHHH!!!!

The beast let out a blood-curling roar, echoing throughout every crack and tight spot in the cavern and causing the ground to tremor.

“Wha- What’s is that?!” Rouge blurted, barley catching herself before falling flat on her face.

The group looked at the beast roaring, its body wiggling in place and mimicking the splashing waves. 

"Wait a minute?" Sonic narrowed his glance, noticing something about the beast.

"Those Golden Pupils?" Sonic observed, studying the beast's lizard green eyes and pure, golden eyes. 

"Those eyes. They almost resemble…!"Sonic gasped, his eyes shooting wide open with revelation. He had the answer to Rouge's question.

“The Flames of Disaster.” Sonic murmured under his breath, his gaze never leaving the monster that had been sealed away.

"So, this is Iblis?" Sonic tilted his glance.

“The what?” Rouge turned back, hearing Sonic’s murmur.

NNNNRRRRRAAAAGGGGHHH!!!

Iblis let out another ear-piercing screech, leaping out of the magma, only to delve back into the magma and create a splash wave of magma. The wave traveled to the ledge where the group stood.

Jumping back to the hollow entrance they had come through, they peered back to the pool to see Iblis diving in and out of the magma. 

RRRRRAAAGGGHHH!!!

Iblis reemerged from the lava, unleashing another agonizingly loud roar and stationing in the center of the molten ocean.

“Leave this to me!” Sonic states, holding his hand out for everyone to back up.

"Are you sure Sonic?" Tails asked, "What if you—"

"I'll be fine." Sonic cuts off Tails, confidently smirking.

Tails looked at Knuckles and then Rouge, both of them nodding.

"Alright, just be careful." Tails complied.

Tails, Knuckles, and Rouge shuffled to the cavern entrance, glancing at Sonic with worry; the three took cover at the cavern entrance. All but Shadow retreated to the cavern entrance.

“Shadow, I said I’ll—” 

“Handle it together.” Shadow interrupts, not allowing any room for argument.

Sonic froze in place, taken aback by Shadow’s insistence.

"If I say something, it means I will do it." Shadow declared, adamantly glaring at Sonic.

Sonic looked Shadow from head to toe, not finding any doubt behind his word as usual.

“Heh. Whatever you say Shadow.” Sonic wagged his finger.

Shadow nodded and the two turned to face the molten pond; Iblis' eyes locked onto Sonic and Shadow, its dilated pupils stared daggers at the two hedgehogs'.

“Alright Iblis.” Sonic cracked his knuckles together, going into a battle stance, “Let’s see what you’re made of?”

Gggrrrrr....

Iblis released a sizzling growl and squinted its eyes, its burning glare and drooling lava proving to be ineffective on Sonic and Shadow.

Iblis then straightened its posture until most of its long body was nearly out of the magma. It tilted its head upward and then started to convulse, creating grotesque gurgling noises.

Sonic tilted his head in confusion at Iblis weird movements.

Shadow was unmoved by Iblis spastic movements; he was awaiting its first attack.

A bulge formed on Iblis throat area, ballooning to the size of its head as it’s gargling grew louder and more unsavory; its body staggered more uncontrollably as the magma streaks across its body heated up and its bulging throat grew larger & wider in size.

The bulge reached the climax of Iblis throat and Iblis froze for a brief second, the grotesque gargling noise it had created had stopped as it remained upright and perfectly still.

GGGGGWWWWAAAHHHH

Suddenly, gargantuan clumps of molten stone shot out from Iblis bulging throat; the bulging lump on Iblis throat deflated instantly as soon as the molten stone erupted from its mouth. Iblis dove deep into the molten depths.

The flaming meteors smashed into the cavern ceiling, causing the cavern to violently tremble.

Sonic and Shadow braced their stance, catching their balance so as not to fall into the magma.

Stalagmites that dangled from cavern ceiling broke off and plummet to the magma. The broken stalagmites splashed into the magma, causing waves to swash into one another, further deteriorating the molten shoreline that inched closer and closer to Sonic and Shadow. 

"Shadow, look!" Sonic pointed, "Those stalagmites are barley sinking, we can use those as platforms and hit it square on."

Shadow glanced at the sinking stalagmites, seeing Sonic's word be true; the stalagmites sunk as slowly as possible. 

Shadow nodded, and the two made a break for the closest stalagmite platform.

Iblis resurfaced, magma dripping down its coiled body. It saw Sonic and Shadow standing on a stalagmite platform, fists bawled and ready to fight.

Iblis gave the hedgehogs the cold shoulder and tilted its head towards the ceiling again and began regurgitating once more.

Another bulge forms around Iblis throat and Sonic & Shadow anticipate its meteor shower.

As expected, clods of molten rocks shot out Iblis mouth, raining down onto every piece of stable ground for the hedgehogs. 

"Dodge!" Sonic instructs the obvious.

Sonic and Shadow broke away from the first meteor, performing a series of rhythmic running and skating, respectively, avoiding every meteor that Iblis puked up as the quaking cavern caused more stalagmites to break from the ceiling and be turned into makeshift platforms.

“It's a little too far away.” Sonic observed the distance between him and Iblis, "The Cyan Sol Emerald can't get me that far. There has to be some other way to draw it in."

Crrrkk...

The platform Sonic stood on shifted, creating a crumbling noise that caused Sonic to tense up.

“Woah!” Sonic yelped, losing his balance as the platform closes in on itself and breaks down, sinking into the magma.

Charing and releasing a spin-dash, Sonic careens off the sinking stalagmite platform for another, more stable stalagmite platform.

"Woah-woah-woah-WOAH!" Sonic screams, barley catching the very ledge of the platform and saving himself from plopping into the lava.

"Grab on." Shadow extends his hand over the ledge.

"Thanks." Sonic said winded.

“Against something that large, we won’t have a chance on theses soft footholds.” Shadow stated, "We need to find its weakness and fast."

“Wait?” Sonic’s eyes glazed to the molten ocean, “Where’d it go?”

Sonic and Shadow put their backs against each other, circling the room, anticipating when Iblis would strike again. 

RRRRRWWWWAAAGGGGHHHH!!!

Rocketing from beneath the lava, Iblis dove headfirst onto Sonic and Shadow, locking eyes with the two hedgehogs, with its horns pointed straight at them. 

Sonic and Shadow dove away from Iblis, barley avoiding Iblis horns.

The horns penetrated the sturdy stalagmite, lodging themselves deep into the stone.

Iblis frantically squirmed, trying to wiggle itself out of the stone its horns were trapped in, causing the cavern to tremble once more; the sturdy and dense ceiling stalagmites started to break and fall from the ceiling.

"What could that be?" Sonic pointed at Iblis' snake-like body tossing and turning, gradually dislodging its horns from the fractured stalagmite.

Just beneath the middle horn appeared to be a third eye. But unlike the other two eyes, this one was not green and had no pupil. It had a rocky shape and was cyan.

"Thats the Chaos Emerald." Shadow said, "It's embedded into its head."

"Then let's dislodge it." Sonic confidently stepped back into running position.

Sonic and Shadow too off, bolting across the platforms and leaping over sinking stalagmite platforms and collapsing stalagmites. 

“Chaos Spear!” Shadow yells, swiping his left hand horizontally, flinging a pale-orange electric charge formed like an arrow towards the imbedded Chaos Emerald.

The Chaos Spear strikes the imbedded Chaos Emerald.

RRREEEEAAAGGGHH!!!

Iblis jolted, driving its horn deeper into the decimated platform.

Sonic curls up into a ball and charges a spin-dash aimed directly at the imbedded Chaos Emerald.

RRRREEEOOW! 

In the blink of an eye, Sonic rapidly rolled across the stalagmite platforms and sprung up into the air just a yard away from Iblis head.

“Hyah!” Sonic grunts, performing a homing attack onto the Cyan Chaos Emerald.

The Chaos Emerald barley lodged from Sonic’s homing attack and remained unmoved by the subsequent Chaos Spear that struck the Chaos Emerald.

"Chaos Spear!" Shadow yells, firing another Chaos Spear, this time at Iblis eyes.

NNNNEEEAAAGGHH!!

The electrical charge singed the surface of Iblis' eyes; Iblis body jerked into a full rotation, dislodging itself from the crumbled platform and hurtling back into the molten waters as its cry of pain resonated throughout the crumbling cavern. 

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Sonic shouted in a mocking tone, “Is that size just for show?”

Without skipping a beat, Iblis leapt up from the beneath the orange ocean and slammed onto the stalagmite surface.

"Run!" Sonic yelled.

Iblis slithered across the surface of the magma, tracking towards Sonic and Shadow, devouring any platform and debris that was in its mouth’s vicinity.

“It’s coming!” Shadow states the obvious; bending his knees reading to leap away.

Iblis plows through the edge of the decaying platform, forcing Sonic and Shadow to retreat from the flying debris that sunk into fire.

Focusing its attention on Sonic, Iblis gave chase.

"Just my lucky day." Sonic rolled his eyes, charging a quick spin-dash and creating a gap between him and Iblis.

Sonic ran from the prancing fire demon, narrowly escaping every platform that it consumed while leaping off collapsing platforms and over gaps.

Quickly glancing over his shoulder, Sonic glanced at Iblis and its serrated teeth that dripped slobbering lava, as well as the gap that grew smaller and smaller. Then, looking straight ahead Sonic presses his heels hard.

“Darn!” Sonic skids to a halt, regaining his balance to prevent himself from being Iblis well-done dinner. Turning over his shoulder, Sonic noticed Iblis frozen in place, twitching in place as small pale-orange currents trickled across its body.

Suddenly, Shadow appears out of thin air and delivers a swift kick into Iblis right eye and hurls a chaos spear into its left eye.

NNNNRRRRRRRAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

Iblis wailed in agony, sealing its eyes shut and spasming. 

Opening its eyes, the first thing Iblis saw was an airborne blue sphere. And without any time to react, Iblis could only tussle in place as Sonic homing attacking the imbedded Chaos Emerald under its middle horn.

The Chaos Emerald dislodged from Iblis and Sonic plucked the Cyan Chaos Emerald from the forehead of Iblis.

RRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAGGGgghhhh.......

Iblis cringed in agony, releasing a booming cry of pain and slowly slinking back into the magma. 

Sonic and Shadow gaze to the pool of magma, watching Iblis head become submerged by magma, anticipating it to rise again and strike for another attack.

The cavern went dead quiet, Sonic & and Shadow remained perfectly still, staring at the magma, ready for Iblis to strike.

But after a silent minute, Iblis did not rise from the pool of lava.

Iblis had been quelled. For now.

Sonic and Shadow turned their backs on the pool of magma and sauntered to the molten coastline.

"You actually beat that monster?!" Knuckles exclaimed, coming to a standstill at the molten coastline alongside Rouge and Tails.

"Did you really doubt us?" Sonic teased, jumping down from the last stalagmite platform and beside Shadow.

"Thats not what I said." Knuckles frowned.

Sonic holds up the cyan Chaos Emerald he had just claimed from Iblis, while Shadow pulls out the green chaos emerald and looks to Sonic.

“You ready?” Sonic asks Shadow.

Shadow nods to Sonic.

Sonic and Shadow raise their respective chaos emeralds up in the air.

“Chaos Control!” Sonic and Shadow shout in unison.

The two Chaos Emeralds began flashing rapidly, emitting a white swirling light into the air that transforms into a blue swirling portal suspended in mid-air.

Sonic approaches the portal without any caution and looks back to Tails & Knuckles.

“No time to waste. Let’s go!” Sonic says to Tails and Knuckles before leaping through the portal.

Tails and Knuckles nod to each other and follow after Sonic, diving through the blue swirling portal. 

Rouge flapped her wings and hovered to the portal. She turns to face Shadow before flying through.

“Thanks for the save back there.” Rouge winks to Shadow, “I really owe it to."

"Hmph." Shadow let out a faint grunt, trying to avoid eye contact with her, "Don't mention it."

Rouge giggled, her smile growing even wider.

"Now let’s go." Rouge waves to the blue swirling portal, "Let's out of this wasteland.” 

Rouge flies through the blue swirling portal, leaving Shadow as the last person to go through.

Shadow steps to the blue swirling portal, ready to leap through the diminishing vortex.

Fwooosh!

Shadow pauses in place and looks over his shoulder.

Behind him was a black flame with a glistening purple core, releasing thick, black smoke that revealed a mysterious figure.

Staring down the mysterious figure, Shadow tosses the Green Chaos Emerald through the portal and gives chase to the mysterious figure.

The blue swirling portal dissipates, trapping Shadow in the unknown, dystopian future.

Chapter Text

A blue swirling portal appears in the plaza corner in New Soleanna. From the time-swirling vortex, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Rouge emerge from the portal before it disappears.

“Phew! It’s nice to be back in our time.” Tails pants.

“Sigh…Yeah. It’s nice to be back in our time in one piece.” Knuckles added.

“Shadow?” Rouge twisted from side to side in search. 

"Shadow!” Rouge repeats with more urgency in her tone.

Shifting her gaze from side to side, her view is immediately drawn to the ground. Taking a step forward, Rouge bends down and grabs the Green Chaos Emerald lying on the ground. 

“Shadow…" Rouge mutters, examining the Chaos Emerald, "And he doesn't have a Chaos Emerald anymore...” 

Beep! Beep!

A beeping sound blares off of Rouge's spy watch.

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles stare at her confused.

Ignoring the trio's perplexed glances, Rouge lifts her wrist and reads her wristwatch. Immediately, Rouge taps her spy watch and raises her wrist to her lips.

“Agent Rouge?” a voice booms from her wrist, “Report your status immediately. Have you retrieved the Scepter of Darkness?”

“Well…” Rouge hesitates to answer, looking away from her wrist and from the trio.

“I’ll provide a full report shortly." Rouge deflects, "Right now, I have a priority situation to deal with.”

Spinning on her heel and spreading her wings, Rouge flew off in search of Shadow, leaving Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles foundered.

“Where did Shadow go?” Tails asked, “Did he appear someplace else?”

“Not sure.” Sonic waved his hands in a dismissive manner, “But I know he can take care of himself.”

A gust of wind swoops east of where the heroes stood, combing their fur with the cool breeze.

Falling just in front of Sonic’s feet as the wind died down was a newspaper. Sonic tilts his head at the flimsy sheet of paper and grabs it. He reads the front title of the paper, Tails and Knuckles look over his shoulders to read the title.

Eggman’s whereabouts still unknown after base raid. Hedgehog, Fox and Echidna reported missing!

“Just how long were we gone?” Sonic asked aloud.

“Oh, thank goodness you three are okay!” a young feminine voice called out.

The three heroes looked up from the newspaper to see a ginger rabbit wearing a white blouse and red skirt hurriedly approaching them, her heels frantically clicking with each step.

“Oh. It’s you.” Sonic greeted, “It’s… It's um...”

“Anna." The ginger rabbit finishes, "My name is Anna."

“Anna. Right. Hehe… yeah.” Sonic weakly chuckles, averting his gaze from Anna's glare.

"So, how have you been?" Sonic awkwardly grins, shrugging his shoulders.

“How I have I been?" Anna's eyes widened, placing her hand on her chest.

"I've been wondering where have you three been?” Anna reprimands, placing her hands on her hips and slightly leaning forward, “You’ve three have been gone for an entire day.”

"An entire day?" Sonic shook his head in disbelief.

"And what happened to you three?" Anna demands, eyeing the trio and their numerous ash marks and winded faces.

“Ehh…It’s a long story.” Tails prudently replies, his ears drooping.

“What’s happened since we’ve been gone?” Knuckles steps into the conversation.

“Well, a lot has happened since you three have gone missing.” Anna replied.

“What do you mean?” Sonic crooked his eyebrow, releasing his hold on the newspaper.

“After you three didn’t return, our finest troops journeyed up the White Acropolis Mountain." Anna explained, "At the top of the mountain, they found Eggman’s enemy base. From the looks of it, it appeared to be newly built, but that’s not the point.” 

“They raided the base and found the place ravaged and empty." Anna revealed, "Documents missing, robots dismantled and burnt to a crisp. And worst of all, no signs of Eggman or Blaze were found.”

“Hmm. Could it be that Eggman went into hiding?” Tails scratched his chin.

“If he did, we would find him no problem.” Knuckles snort, “The guy can’t help himself from putting his face on anything that enters his line of sight!”

“Yes." Anna concurred, "And we don’t have a lead on where he could be.” 

“Well, if anyone knows Eggman as much as himself, it’s us.” Sonic gloats, “All we need to do is wait for him to make a commotion and that will be our que to go and break his newest toy.”

“I hope we find him soon; I am beyond worried for Blaze’s safety." Anna grieved, “I can’t image how scared she must be.”

“Hey, don’t worry about.” Sonic sympathizes, “We’ll rescue her, and we’re going to give the Egghead a thrashing or two.” 

“Thank you, Sir Sonic.” Anna let out a sigh of relief, “We are truly grateful for you.”

"And that goes for you as well, Sir Tails and Sir Knuckles." Anna commends the two respectively.

"Hehe. It's our pleasure." Tails gleamed.

"It's just what we do." Knuckles grinned.

"Now until we get any updates on Eggman's whereabouts, let's get you three cleaned off." Anna suggested, "You three look exhausted."

"You don't know the half of it." Sonic shrugged, shaking his head from side to side.

"Well, you'll have plenty of time to tell me the 'other half of it'." Anna replied.

"Now, to the castle we go." Anna instructed.

Twirling on her heels, Anna began a self-confident stride.

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles traced after her, following her rhythmically clicking heels that led them to the connection gate from New Soleanna to Castle Town.

Once they emerged from the central city of New Soleanna, Anna and the heroic trio marched through the connection gate and entered Castle Town after striding through the minute long connection cave.

"We're almost at the castle." Anna announced over her shoulder, her authoritative stride and poetically clacking heels not faltering in the slightest.

Anna and the heroic trio strode past the fractured altar, failing to keep their eyes off the destroyed beauty that was one of Soleanna's greatest monuments. 

After pacing past the scrumptious food vendors, the occupied apartments, two river gaps were water taxis drifted no more than two passengers, and the resourceful shops, Anna and the heroic trio arrived at the castle.

"Lady Anna." One of the guards, a boar with dull tusks, greeted with a faint sense of urgency in his tone, "Thank goodness you have returned."

"And with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles no less." The other guard, a black & white striped badger, remarked. 

"Is something wrong?" Anna tilted her head, raising her hand to her chest in a concerned gesture.

“Anna! Anna!” a stoic, yet manly voice shouted.

Anna and the heroic trio spun their backs to the castle entrance and found Gardon hastily sprinting in their direction; sweat poured off of Gardon's beat red face as he galloped towards Anna.

“Anna! Anna!" Gardon shouted, screeching to a standstill at Anna's heels.

"I have— I have terrible news!” Gardon exhaled, arching his back and propping his hands on his knees.

“Gardon, what's wrong?" Anna asked with concern, "What could it possibly?”

“Eggman!” Gardon blurt out, “Eggman has hijacked a cargo train and is traveling through Granite Canyon.

"He did what?!" Anna clenched her breast, her eyes and ears widening in shock.

"And that's not all. He has Blaze on board!” Gardon puffed.

“What!” Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles staggered in bewilderment.

"He has Blaze!" Anna gasped, her face going white.

Standing perfectly still, the words Anna and Gardon exchanged became nothing more than mindless mumbling to Sonic. 

If I can figure out where the train station is, I can catch up to Eggman's train and save Blaze. Sonic formulated. Even better if I can crack Eggman wide open.

Sonic's expression turned firm; his brows scowling in parallel opposites and his hands curling into clenched fists.

“Where’s the entrance to the railroad?” Sonic demanded.

“It’s… It’s North of New Soleanna. But… But you can—”

“That’s all I need to know.” Sonic cuts him off,

“Knuckles." Sonic glanced over his shoulder, "Take the emerald.” 

“Woah!” Knuckles exclaimed, fumbling with the Chaos Emerald before securely clasping it in his hands.

“I’ll be back.” Sonic declared.

“Hold on there Sonic, we jus—”

ZOOOOM!

Before Tails could even talk finish his sentence, Sonic took off like a missile, bolting straight for the terminal station. Leaving Tails and Knuckles dumbfounded. 

“Wait! Sonic!” Anna shouted.

She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a Blue rectangular Emerald into the air; it was the blue Sol Emerald.

“You could use this!” Anna waved the Blue Sol Emerald.

But Sonic was too far away to hear her or see the Sol Emerald, he was laser focused on reaching the train station.

“Blaze, hang in there, I’m coming to rescue you.” Sonic murmured under his breath before taking off like a rocket for the connection cave.

Blowing through the connection cave and into New Soleanna, Sonic blitzed past the towering buildings, small shops and passing pedestrians.

Sonic tuned out the displeased complaints from the citizens voices that grew more and more distant to him as he ran through the city in search of the railway entrance.

“That must be it!’ Sonic skid to a stop.

Peering from across the street, Sonic looked to the row of guards wearing forest green uniforms barricading an inclining staircase with a sign holding a train symbol.

"There's no way that isn't the terminal station." Sonic affirmed.

Without a second thought, Sonic made a beeline for the row of guards whose eyes peered at him, their stances tall and firm.

“Halt!” One of the guard’s hollered, shooting his palm out.

Sonic stopped right before the open palm; his nose barley pressing against the palm of the guard’s glove.

“State your business for coming this way!” The guard demanded with a stern tone.

“Eggman just hijacked a train. And he’s holding Blaze. I need to catch up an—” “Negative!” The guard intervened.

“What!?" Sonic's face contorted with frustration, "But you must let me through. I can catch the train!” 

“It’s too dangerous for you to go. The entrance is closed off until further notice." The guard arrogantly stated.

"Now scram!” The guard flicks his hand in a dismissive gesture. 

Sonic glared at the guard, leering into his stubborn eyes.

“Tck! You’re no help!” Sonic stomps away from the guard.

How can I get through? Sonic pondered.

Glancing around him, Sonic's eyes looked for any alternative entrance.

And that's when he noticed it. An entrance the guards failed consider for someone like him.

A ventilation tunnel.

A devious smirk bloomed on Sonic’s face.

Dang!

A metal crunching sound catches the attention of one of the guards.

The guard that argued with Sonic walked over to the ventilation system and stopped dead in his tracks, scratching his head as to why the metal grate and fan are bent in half, and not positioned in the ventilation tube.

Krrekek

The opposite metal grate that resided on the terminal platform that the train stops, is kicked out by Sonic. Creating a clattering metal noise on the ceramic train platform.

Sonic rolls out of the makeshift tunnel and stands upright.

“Got past those chumps." Sonic brushed him self, "Now to save Blaze.”

“Halt!”

Sonic whips his head over his shoulder to find the guards charging towards him.

“Stop right there!” the guard Sonic argued with commanded; whipping out his baton. 

“Sorry. But I got a train to catch.” Sonic produces a cocky smirk.

Jumping down onto the tracks, Sonic fled from the train station and ran along the rails.

By the time the guards arrived at the ledge of the terminal platform, Sonic was already a mile ahead and nowhere to be see.

Chapter Text

“There it is!” Sonic assert.

Just a tenth of a mile ahead of him was the caboose belonging to the train that Eggman had hijacked; the train that had Eggman's logo on the caboose of the train was only one tenth of a mile ahead of Sonic.

"Gotta catch that train." Sonic stated.

Increasing his speed, Sonic gradually closed the gap between him and the caboose until he was in arms reach of the guardrail of the caboose.

“Almost there!” Sonic stretched his hand, just barely within reach of the rattling caboose railing.

Ka-plow!

“Woah!” Sonic braced himself, saving himself from the tremor traveling up to the ledge he and the train were running on.

Looking down over the ledge on his left, Sonic saw a set of tracks running parallel to the train he was pursuing. A passenger train was coasting along the bottom tracks.

From the train that was a ledge below, a plume of screams and smoke funneled out of the windows and roof of the two back trollies. Passengers fled from the smoking train cars, densely packing themselves in the safer trollies.

“Sonic!” The speaker from caboose he was only inches from behind blasted, it was Eggman speaking.

“I haven't the faintest clue how you have returned." Eggman groused through the speaker, "But I believe there are more pressing matters on your end."

"Shouldn’t you save the train before chasing me!” Eggman snickered with malice.

“Eggman! Grr…” Sonic balled his fists in anger, his teeth gritting. “This is low, even for you egg head.” Sonic grumbled. He didn’t want to agree with his arch nemesis of all people. But he was right. He had to save the train before chasing Eggman.

“I’d better go help!” Sonic declared.

Abandoning his sights on the caboose that was just in hands reach, Sonic hard turned left and leapt down to the lower track to pursue the hijacked passenger train.

"Hah!" Sonic grunt, landing on the wood pilling of the rails and dropping into a roll, only to get back up on his feet and run after the train.

Coming up to the caboose of the train, Sonic saw a coughing passenger stick their hand out of the window

“Help!" The passenger coughed, waving their arms erratically. "Sonic, Help!"

“Gotta hurry!” Sonic narrowed his glance and pressed off his feet.

Burrowing his feet with each step, Sonic bolstered his speed even further, allowing him to outpace the train. Passing the caboose first, Sonic the passed the two smoking train cars in just under ten seconds. Then he passed the subsequent train cars until he came up to tender of the train.

Screeeeeeee

The wheels of the train locked into place, releasing and ear-pulverizing hissing noise that conjured sparks on the rails.

"Ah!" Sonic yelped, instinctively raising his hands to his ears until the screeching hiss became barley tolerable.

Running alongside the tender of the train, Sonic saw the conductor pop his head out and frantically wave to him.

“What did Eggman do?” Sonic called to the overwhelmed conductor.

“He hacked the mainframe of the control panel and planted bombs along the tracks!” The conductor conveyed to Sonic.

“Can you pull an emergency brake or something?” Sonic earnestly asked.

“We did!” The conductor answered, “We even stopped hurling coal into the engine. But by the time this train comes to a crawl, it already be blasted to bits!” 

“Alright. You try and see if you can slow down any further and I’ll handle the bombs!” Sonic instructs the conductor before running ahead of the speeding locomotive.

Just ahead of the train was a crate of bombs planted on the tracks. A switch was next to the bombs.

"Looks like that must be one of the switches." Sonic said, "And it looks likes its being guarded."

Standing just in front of the bombs was two egg gunners and an egg flyer.

The egg flyer catches sight of Sonic and zooms towards him, blaster locked and loaded.

Sonic, undeterred, ran towards the Egg Flyer.

Digging his step into the pebbles, Sonic jumps up and delivers a roundhouse kick to the Egg Flyer.

The Egg Flyer goes hurtling backwards, colliding into the switch and snapping it in half.

Ka-Plow!

The explosives detonated, clearing the tracks and destroying the two Egg Gunners & incapacitated Egg Flyer. 

Running ahead of the train, Sonic looked over his shoulder watched as the train jettison over the puny embers that were lethal just a few seconds ago.

Staring straight ahead, Sonic spotted the second bomb placed further down the tracks.

Glancing back over his shoulder, Sonic studied the train's current speed.

“At this rate, the train will hit those bombs before the brakes bring it to a dead stop." Sonic affirmed.

“Is there a switch anywhere?” Sonic cerebrated, his eyes dart left to right.

Suddenly, Sonic spotted it. A switch nested past a pulley scale being guarded by a legion of Egg Gunners.

"That way it is. Sonic diverges right, leaping onto a suspended scale being held up by a rusted crane.

“I’d better hurry and cross this scale!” Sonic states.

Jumping from descending platform to descending platform, Sonic disembarks the pulley with a bound attack into a homing attack into the first stationary egg gunner.

The robot soldier is sent hurling down into the chasm veiled by a thick fog.

Ascending a square spiral conveyer belt, Sonic homing attacks the poised egg flyers that slug their blasts at the blue hedgehog. Once off the conveyer belt, Sonic leaps to another set of pulley scales only to disembark the scale to land on the opposite grounds housing the second of the three switches he needs to flip. But the switch was being guarded by a trio of two egg gunners and an egg stinger.

“Time to slow things down.” Sonic quips as he whips out the Red Sol Emerald.

Using the power of the Sol Emerald, Sonic deaccelerates the speed of the supervising trio. Preforming a homing attack into a second homing attack and then a bound attack, Sonic pummels the three robots before spin-dashing into the switch to detonate the explosives.

“Just one more…” Sonic murmured, leaping to a stone steam pillar before bouncing away from the structure for patch of grass that sleeps soundly beside the burly cargo trains.

“I’ll be able to move faster if I go on top of the train instead of being on the rails.” Sonic theorized.

Bounce attacking onto the top of a yellow cargo train, Sonic’s theory proved to be correct as he was able to merge onto a suspension cable and use it as a railing to grind towards the last bomb switch. The third and final switch was being guarded by two egg stingers and a lurking egg guardian. The egg stingers unload their fire onto Sonic.

Quick with his hands, Sonic utilizes the yellow Sol emerald to create an electric forcefield that evaporates the bullets. With a shield to protect him Sonic spin dashes through one egg stinger before homing attacking the second. With the two lackeys taken care off. Sonic focuses his attention to the Egg guardian.

The Egg guardian shoots its arm at Sonic, punching him square in the face.

"Woah!" Sonic yells, flying across a descending gap and into a mine shaft.

Kreugh!

A dust cloud explodes from the mine as Sonic’s impact could be heard.

The Egg guardian approaches the ledge and looks to the mine he just slugged Sonic into. Waiting for a response, if there would be one.

Shhhhhnnnn

Suddenly, a faint, purple light beamed from deep within the mine shaft and cluttering noises from mining material could be heard. It was didn’t take long for the faint, purple light to beam brighter and for the cluttering noise to grow louder.

Fwoo!

Then, the purple light and cluttering noise of mining materials vanished as Sonic barreled out of the mine shaft and was suspended in midair, high above the gully that clouded the ground. Sonic held a strange, rectangular purple gem in his hand that began to shine when his curled form started to descend to the ground.

The purple gem jolted his body up into the air, providing him just enough trajectory to homing attack the iron head of the egg guardian.

With his target in sight, Sonic thrusted his curled form at the head of the Egg Guardian and leapt wide over the staggered robot, landing on the ground behind it. Pulling out the Green Sol Emerald with his free hand, Sonic blasts the egg guardian off the ledge and into the gully he just leapt over.

Another Sol Emerald retrieved. Sonic internally rejoices as he tosses the Purple Sol Emerald in his hand and then snatching it, turning to run to the bomb switch.

Flipping the third and final switch, Sonic watches the crate of bombs detonate and burst into flames. Sonic saw the passenger train approach the puny embers that whimpered along the iron rails. The train had slowed to a leisurely pace that was appropriate for a passenger train. The conductor had regained control over the mainframe. The train moved alongside Sonic with ecstatic and cheering passengers showering Sonic with praise. Sonic smiled and waved to the passing passengers, splitting away from the train for a creaky tunnel.

Emerging onto the other side of the mines, Sonic finds himself in a more mountainous area with a diverse cast of trains going every which way. Surveying the area, Sonic peered for any sight of the train he had previously pursued.

“Blaze’s train is… Uh Oh!” Sonic’s eyes catch sight of a silver bullet train blitz across a bridge on an upper rail. The same bullet train that Eggman hijacked. The same bullet train holding Blaze captive.

“Gotta Speed up!” Sonic wastes no time and pursues the rouge locomotive.

Running through a train yard after leaping over a trio of busy cargo trains, Sonic is lead to another train yard. Running on a higher path just above him was Eggman’s train. Ahead, he could see that the bullet train would travel down a slope, he could drop down to its level and finally reach it.

The train went down the slope and Sonic saw his opportunity. Jumping down to the canyon wall that was parallel to the train, Sonic sprang from the adjacent wall and down to the rails. As he ran behind the train, inching closer and closer.

“Just gotta hop aboard and—"

Revvvv!

“Huh?” Looking over his shoulder Sonic looks up to the sky to find an airborne black & red motorcycle being cast by the sun. The driver of this vehicle was none other than a black hedgehog with red stripes.

“Shadow?!” Sonic shook his head in disbelief.

The motorcycle slammed down onto the tracks. The rubber of the wheels tore up the wood pilings and miniscule pebbles as Shadow drove the motorcycle adjacent of the blue hedgehog.

“Shadow you’re…” Sonic locks eyes with Shadow, still baffled as to how he got back to the present time.

“Paying the doctor a visit” Shadow states his mission. Shadow fires a string of bullets onto the caboose of the train. A small burst of orange expands from the side of the train which causes the entire locomotive to jitter.

“Woah Shadow! What are you doing?” Sonic inquires as he sidesteps from the debris.

“I’m tearing that fuel and back engine, so the train doesn’t get away.” Shadow reveals.

Shadow resumes his firing of ammunition onto the train. “Just a few more bullets and this train will come to a crawl.”

“Shadow lookout!” Sonic points ahead.

Flying from above was an egg flyer. The drone flew towards Shadow, aiming for the front wheel of the bike.

But Shadow swerved to his right, avoiding the sacrificial Egg Flyer. He glanced over his shoulder and flung a chaos spear at the Egg Flyer, causing it to combust into flames and fall dormant on the track pilings.

“You think those attacks are going to keep me away!” Shadow shouted.

Looking ahead once more, Shadow clenched the throttle on and peeled ahead, bullets bleeding out from the motorcycle and onto the fuel tank.

The bullets pried through the dense steel of the caboose; oil leaking out as the bullets entered the highly flammable liquid.

KA-BOOM!

The caboose exploded, sending shrapnel every which way as all acceleration was lost and its speed coast it along the rails.

Sonic & Shadow dodged and weaved past the sizzling steel and closed the gap between them and the end of the train. 

"Huh?" Sonic looked to his side and noticed Shadow slowing behind him, his hand off the accelerator. 

"Shadow what are you—" Revvvv!

Suddenly, Shadow's jerked the throttle and popped a wheelie. 

Just a foot away from the caboose, Shadow leapt off of his bike, a painful look painted his face as he watched his bike wheelie into the train car.

The motorcycle got dragged under the steel wheels of the train car; metal against metal, a loud, irritating grinding noise was produced as the speed of the train began to drastically decline. 

Shadow landed feet first on the rails, producing rocket flames from both shoes, moving in a smooth, skating-like motion. 

Shadow skated to Sonic's side and only gave him an affirmative nod.

Coming into arm's reach of the train car that was now the last train car, Sonic and Shadow leapt onto the railing and climbed atop the car.

Running from cabin car roof to cabin car roof, Sonic and Shadow peered through every panel for any sign of Blaze.

She has to be on here. I just know it. Sonic glanced through every window panel. 

"Look." Shadow pointed through the window panel of the car they stood atop that was just a car behind the train itself.

Looking through the tinted panel, Sonic and Shadow found Blaze standing with her wrists and ankles constricted by chained shackles. She stood there, confused and on high alert. The two Egg Stingers that were stationed to guard her were already in their battle stances, ready to fire at a moments notice.

Sonic and Shadow looked to each other and nod.

Shadow reared his arm back and then flung his hand in the direction of the window panel he and Sonic stared through, firing a Chaos Spear at the reinforced glass.

Kruh!

The dense glass shattered, shards dropping into the cabin and into the wind.

Sonic jumped down into the train car where Blaze had her eyes sealed shut.

The Egg Stingers caught sight of Sonic immediately, but Sonic charged a spin-dash and toppled one over. 

The Egg Stinger bounced off the wall and tried to get back up, but Sonic pulled out the Red Sol Emerald and slowed time to a crawl.

With time moving as fast as molasses, Sonic homing attack the open Egg Stinger and grabbed its recoiling body, only to hurl it at the second Egg Stinger.

Sonic then roundhouse kicked the second Egg Stinger towards the other Egg Stinger and then sprung up above them both, curling into a ball. 

Suddenly, time resumed its normal speed. Resulting in the two Egg Gunners smashing into each other's faces, and Sonic spin dashing on of their bodies, ripping them to parts. Standing atop their deactivated corpses, Sonic looked to Blaze, whose eyes were still sealed tight and her chest thumping with dread.

"Hey Blaze!" Sonic greeted.

Blaze slowly pried open her eyes, only to pry them wide open she saw Sonic standing atop the broken Egg Stingers.

“Sonic!” Blaze eyes glistened with relief.

“Blaze are yo— Oh!”

Blaze wrapped her arms around Sonic, using what little space she had. Blaze rubbed her lavender cheeks on Sonic’s peach-colored chest.

“Are… you alright?” Sonic asked, his disposition still taken aback by her gesture as he slowly wrapped his arm around her and caressed her hair.

“Yes. I’m alright.” Blaze smiled, continuing to rub her cheek against his chest as she ignored a faint purring noise.

“I-Is this real?” She pulls back to look into his eyes. “Is it really you?”

“It is.” Said a voice from above.

The sound of another voice caught Blaze’s attention and her nerves. She looked up to the new opening to find the voice.

Standing atop her and Sonic was a Black Hedgehog with red stripes in his quills having his arms crossed. The black hedgehog dropped down and leered at Blaze, his expression was stern and stoic.

Who is that? Blaze asked herself, feeling a sense of danger from his aura.

Hm?" Sonic felt Blaze's hug become tighter as her cheek pressed further into his chest. He glanced at her, seeing her unease from Shadow's presence.

“Hey, you don’t have to be afraid of Shadow.” Sonic consoled her, combing her hair, “He’s really a nice guy. I promise.” 

Blaze looked at Shadow, feeling his intimidating glare burn into her eyes.

"Are you sure his safe?" Blaze asked Sonic, her voice dreary.

"Of course he is." Sonic reassured, "He's just Shadow, that's all."

"O-okay." Blaze whispered, slowly releasing her hold on Sonic, "If you say so."

Sonic stepped back, allowing Shadow to saunter towards Blaze.

She stepped back, pressing her back against the wall and still feeling frightened about him despite Sonic’s word.

Shadow analyzed Blaze's terrified expression, and then the chains that encapsulated her wrists and ankles.

And then in a swift motion, Shadow swiped his hand horizontally, flinging four chaos spears in unison.

Crk! Cra! Crnk! Cru!

The shackles tied to the train floor and ceiling shattered, scattering into miniscule pieces across the floor.

She gazed at her shackles with short, broken chains, mystified by Shadow’s demonstration of power.  

“T-thank you… Shadow.” she softly whispered, gazing into his red eyes.

Shadow nod his head in approval and returns to the newly made opening.

“Shadow?” Sonic called.

Shadow looked over his shoulder to Sonic and Blaze.

“I must have a quick word with the doctor." Shadow revealed, "You two should get going before he follows you.” 

Shadow turns his back on them and walks under the opening he had created. Shadow looks up and slightly bends his knees.

“Shadow Wait!” Blaze called out.

Shadow cancelled his jump upwards and leered over his shoulder at Blaze. Her cheeks burned soft red from his glare. 

“T-Thank you once again.” Blaze softly murmured. 

“Don’t mention it." Shadow said, "Now get going.”

Shadow then bends his knees before jumping up through the ceiling hole. Sonic and Blaze heard Shadow’s footsteps atop the top, growing distant to them.

“C’mon. Let’s get out of here.” Sonic said to Blaze, grabbing her hand.

Sonic and Blaze, dashed through the remaining train cars and arrive at the ‘caboose’ of the train.

Sonic and Blaze nod at each other before jumping off the zooming locomotive.

Chapter Text

“If we go this way, we'll be back in New Soleanna in no time!" Sonic puffed.

Running along the along a series of railroad tracks that passed through a train yard, Sonic and Blaze sprinted further and further away from the cargo train they disembarked.

Looking over her shoulder, Blaze glanced back, watching thick clouds of smoke dancing up from behind ruby-granite precipices and into the Merigold, dusk sky.

I hope that Shadow person took care of Dr. Eggman. Blaze yearned in thought. I couldn't bear going back there.

"Hey Blaze, look." Sonic pointed ahead.

Glancing where Sonic pointed, Blaze saw the rails she and Sonic were running along lead into a dark, brick tunnel that also acted a bridge for a set of rails above.

"I entered that tunnel when I was chasing your train." Sonic stated, "We're going the right way."

Halfway across the train yard, Sonic and Blaze rushed past the wooden crates, the stainless steam beams, and the stationary train cars. 

"We're almost there." Sonic hummed.

“Hiah!”

“Wha?” Blaze, hearing the loud howl, looked over her shoulder.

Blaze felt her heart skip a beat when her eyes locked onto an aerial steel beam that was rocketing at a downward trajectory. The flange of the beam was direct right at Sonic.

“Lookout!” Blaze squealed, tackling Sonic to the ground.

Breeoow

The steel beam slammed just inches from Blaze's heels, bouncing over the two and thudding loudly on the rails, creating a loud, dinging noise.

"Are you okay?" Blaze asked, lifting herself off of Sonic's back and onto her feet.

"There you are!"

"Who's ther— uhhhh!" Blaze stammered, trembling in place.

Descending to the ground right in front of them was Silver, cloak flapping beneath his psychic aura.

“You again!?” Sonic snarled, racing to his feet and spreading his arms out in front of Blaze; Blaze stood motionless, her eyes dilated with terror as Silver descended to the ground.

“This time there will be no more interruptions Iblis Trigger!” Silver lands on the ground, pointing an accusatory finger at Sonic. 

“Sonic…” Blaze whimpered.

“Listen you must have gotten me confused with someone else." Sonic refuted, "Can we just talk it out?” 

“Rah!” Silver swipes his right hand out, flinging a psychic wave. Followed by another psychic wave from his left hand. 

Spinning to face Blaze, Sonic hugged her body and leapt to his right, narrowly avoiding the two psychic waves.

"Try dodging this!" Silver retaliated, shooting his palm in the direction of Sonic, with a neon-blue aura enveloping his extended hand.

The blue aura that coated Silver's hand now consumed Sonic and Blaze whole. 

"Hu-hu-hu n-not again!" Blaze chocked, struggling to break free from Silver's psychic hold, "Please not again!"

"Not again?" Sonic asked aloud amidst the tension.

"Yah!" Silver hollered, flinging his extend palm to his left and throwing Sonic and Blaze in the same direction.

The neon-blue aura dissipated from Sonic and Blaze as they passed Silver, becoming free from his psychic grasp and now tossed around.

"Dah!" Sonic yelped, rolling across the pale grass and kicking up dirt. 

“Ah!” Blaze cried, skidding across the ground until coming to a forceful stop upon banging into the rail track.

"Blaze!" Sonic's eyes widened in worry.

Sonic observed Blaze coiled up beside the rail, covered in marks, whimpering and trembling from a combination of pain and pure fear.

Suddenly, Sonic's worried expression molded into pure anger. His brows and nose scrunched up, his teeth grinned, his fists curled into fists. 

"That's it!" Sonic barked.

Twisting towards Silver and morphing into a blue sphere, Sonic rapidly spun in place, kicking up dirt and charging a spin-dash.

Scheeeow!

Sonic spun out, barrelling towards Silver at intense speeds.

Silver swing his hand out towards Sonic, his stance firm and his hand glowing neon blue.

Paow!

"Nagh!" Silver yelped, toppling over his knees and falling flat on his face as Sonic plowed through his shins. 

Uncurling his body and twisting to Silver, Sonic whips out the Green Sol Emerald while Silver sluggishly propped himself propped himself off his hands and knees. 

Fwwaaash!

The Green Sol Emerald radiates a green luminescence, summoning a mini tornado out of thin air.

The conjured windstorm scoops Silver off the ground.

"Nwagh!" Silver yowled, his body being flung in circles as the strong, resistant winds tossed him up higher and higher.

Observing from the ground, Sonic swaps the Green Sol Emerald for the Purple Sol Emerald he had acquired from the mineshaft, watching Silver's ragdoll body exit the funnel of the mini tornado

“Wait for it. Wait for it…”  Sonic murmured, his grip on the purple Sol Emerald tightening.

"Eugngh!" Silver grunted, helplessly flailing in midair with sporadic flashes of neon blue; the wind resistance fought against Silver's thrashing.

Pressing his feet into the ground and bending his knees, Sonic propels himself off the ground and into a somersault; his body rolling in air as he ascended.

Just at the height of his jump, Sonic clamped down on the Sol Emerald, causing a purple glow to emit from his palm and rocket him upwards; rocketing up towards Silver who floated in the air without the use of his psychic powers.

Pawham! 

Sonic slams into Silver's stomach, bending his body like a pretzel for a split second before punching him further upwards.

"Nagh!" Silver yawped, his body flinging higher up and gaining more gravitational force.

Silver reached the peak of his ascent for only a brief second before plummeting to the ground, passing Sonic and his tracking glare.

Swapping the purple Sol Emerald for the cyan Sol Emerald, Sonic rears his arm back and chucked the emerald downwards.

The Cyan Sol Emerald plunged to the ground, falling faster than Silver and spinning down to his chest.

The Cyan Sol Emerald bounces off his chest and he snatches it.

“What the?” Silver frowned, holding the Cyan Sol Emerald in his hands.

The Cyan Sol Emerald began to glisten.

Glancing back up, Silver's pupils shrank with dread as he helplessly watched Sonic dive headfirst towards him.

PAH!

“Ah!” Silver shrilled, recoiling from Sonic's headbutting his chest, giving him a boost to his descending acceleration and forcing him to release his grasp on the Cyan Sol Emerald. 

Sonic scoops up the emerald then raises his right leg up, only to slam it down onto Silver’s chest.

"Dagh!" Silver screeched, his lungs burning in exhaustion from Sonic's foot drilling into his charred chest.

Sonic glared down on Silver, digging the brunt of foot deeper in his chest.

The sound of Silver's desperate grunts broke through the winds that combed through Sonic's ruffling quills. 

From the ground, Blaze picked herself up, her legs were still wobbly, and her hands shaked as she looked up at Sonic and Silver plummeting to the ground.

Her eyes trailed their descent and found where they would land; anticipating their landing. Her eyes followed them as they fell faster and faster towards the ground.

Just a mere foot away from connecting with the ground, Sonic straightened his leg on Silver's chest. Using the spilt-second momentum to further drive Silver into the ground, Sonic disembarked just as his backside was only inches away from contact with the ground. 

CRNNGH!

Dust blew in every which way as Silver’s body bore into the ground, consuming both Sonic and Blaze within the impact radius.

Blaze covered her eyes with one hand, holding her dress with her other hand.

Sonic, still airborne, broke through the impact radius and landed down on the ground. Eyes lasered on the dissipating dust cloud.

The dust settled and where Silver had landed was a pit. 

Sonic strided over to the pit and glared down at Silver, battered and covered in dirt.

"Ngh..." Silver moaned, hands and knees convulsing.

“Had enough?” Sonic jabbed, gazing down at him slowing getting to his feet.

“Not… not at all…” Silver croaked.

“Suit yourself.” Sonic glared.

Dropping and curling up into a sphere, Sonic began to gyrate in place, kicking up dirt and creating a drill-screeching noise.

"Hah!" Sonic released his spin-dash, rolling down the pit and for Silver.

"Nrrrrr...." Silver let out a low-volumed snarl, the tips of his quills and gray pupils slowly illuminating a bright turquoise. 

Uncurling right before impact, Sonic sticks his legs out, springing him to waits level with Silver, with his legs out and feet aimed at his chest and stomach. 

"Hah!" Silver thrusts his palm out; paralyzing Sonic in midair with his psychic powers.

“Ngh… Ngh!” Sonic squirmed in air, failing to break free from Silver’s psychic chokehold.

"You're more stupid than I thought you were." Silver sneered.

Levitating off the ground and above the pit with Sonic chocking under his psychic grasp, Silver's eyes scour the area.

His eyes fall upon a wooden crate on the opposite side of the tracks were Blaze stood paralyzed with fear.

Looking past her, Silver extends his other hand out to the wooden crate from behind her, covering it in the same glow that outlined his hand. 

The crate lifts off the ground and soars past Blaze for Silver.

Guiding the crate with his hand, Silver positions the crate to smash into Sonic's side. With a malicious grin across his muzzle, Silvers swipes his hand to his left, psychically swiping the crate in unison.

CRACK!

“Gah!” Sonic cried in agony, feeling the wooden crate smash into him, splinters digging into his fur. 

Duang!

“Guh!!” Sonic shrilled in pain, his body echoing nearly as loudly as the pile of steel beams he crashed into. 

“Sonic!” Blaze cried out.

"Nnngh..." Sonic groaned, crawling out of the steel beam pile and collapsing to his knees.

Silver returns to ground level, scowling at Sonic and his inert movements.

“Now." Silver began, his eyes quills and hands glowing dangerous cyan, "It’s time to end this.” 

Silver began marching towards Sonic, a malicious grin growing wider and wider across his ash-coated muzzle with each rhythmic and baleful step.

"Hu-hu-hu-hu!" Blaze hyperventilated, locked in place by pure fear, her heart beating at frantic rate ready to burst out of her chest. 

Each footstep Silver took felt like a knife twisting further and further into her chest, echoing louder and louder over Sonic's moans of pain.

“I… I…” Blaze stuttered, her hands vibrating at her hips, her knees wobbling uncontrollably, and her eyes jittering. 

She glanced at Sonic. His body bruised and covered in marks, struggling to get up.

And then she looked at Silver. His body also covered in marks, stood dominant and his glare was hostile.

"This happened the last time they fought." Blaze whimpered, recalling the traumatic event that took place in castle Town just two days ago, "But I ran, I didn't protect him."

"I can't allow that to happen again." Blaze rivet her eyes Silver, her trembling hands forming into fists, and her wobbling knees, "I can't allow him to hurt Sonic."

“I won't run away this time!” Blaze declared.

Pressing her heels into the ground, only to take off in a blazing sprint, Blaze b-lined straight for Silver.

She felt a lump form on her throat as she looked at his quills; getting closer to him.

Sonic. I failed you last time. Blaze reminisced what occurred two days ago, a dry lump forming in her throat. But this time, I will not fail you.

Running from behind, Blaze leans hard to her right side and spins herself in between Sonic and Silver.

“Stop!” Blaze holds both her arms out, mimicking Sonic's defensive pose he had used on her numerous times.

Silver stopped, his posture straightening from disgust, locking eyes with her, staring into her frightened glance.

“Silver, please.” Blaze pleaded, peering into Silver's seething eyes, “Sonic is not the Iblis trigger.”

“This Doesn’t concern you.” Silver snarled, curling his fists, “Now get out of my way!”

“Silver… please.” Blaze softly requests.

She cautiously approaches Silver; trembling with her hand extended out to Silver.

Silver takes a cautious step back, perplexed by her soft voice and gentle demeanor.

“It’s alright. You don’t have to be angry." Blaze said in a calming tone, "We can figure this out.” 

Silver glanced away, his anger slightly dissipating and his breathing becoming more sustainable. 

“Please Silver." Blaze pleaded, "We don’t want to hurt you. We only want to make things better.”

Silver’s posture and quills straightened as he heard Blaze’s words of consolation.

His posture slumped, his hunched back and chest expanding and condensing with each heavy breath, his hands curled into fists, and his brows frowned downward, hiding his face.

“Silver?” Blaze tilt her head with worry.

“Grrr….” Silver viciously snarled through his gritted teeth.

A single tear rolled down his ash-coated cheek, dropping to the ground and splattering.

“YAH!” Silver shouts, firing a psychic Blast towards Blaze.

“Ah!” Blaze is knocked off her heels by the fierce psychic blast. Collapsing on the ground, Blaze feels her heart drop as she looks back to Silver to see him take on a new form of sorts.

Silver heaved in anger. His sepia brown eyes were now drawn with cyan rings that splash rippled across his chrome gray eyes; his eyes had no pupils. His bandaged hands and worn-out feet begin radiating celeste blue. His Chest fur glowing electric blue. And His Quills straightened by pure anger; the colored tips glowing the same blue as his chest fur. His bracelet rings and boots gleamed gold. And his cloak flapped like a cape from his sheer influence. Silver’s rage almost resembled the very monster he was hellbent on eliminating.

“The only thing that make things better is killing the Iblis Trigger!” Silver bellowed, “And I Won’t Let Anyone Stand In My Way From Saving The Future!”

Shooting his palm out towards Blaze, Silver envelopes her in a psychic-blue glow and hauls her off the ground. 

Then, swinging his arm horizontally to his right, Silver flings Blaze aside, throwing her across the distance between him and the crate he had gravitated.

“Agh!” Blaze cried as she rolled across the wrinkled grass and coming to a stop as her body bumped into the iron railroad railing.

Silver snapped his vision to Sonic, trapping the injured hedgehog in a confining psychic field.

"Ehgh! Chgh!" Sonic chocked, his body jolting in torture.

Scurrying to her feet, Blaze watched in horror Sonic helplessly flailing under Silver's psychic hold.

“I tried to reason with you.” Blaze sighed, "But now you leave me with no choice."

Igniting an ember on her right palm as her left arm dangled with some consciousness, Blaze eyed Silver.  

"Ten years." Blaze murmured with tremor in her eyes. "For ten years I have run from you.

"But that ends today." Blaze declared.

Drilling the tip of her heels into the dense dirt of the ground, Blaze took off, a flaming trail following behind as she sprinted towards Silver, ready to pounce with incinerating claws.

At the halfway point between Silver and the railroad, Blaze sprung off her heels, paws extend out and engulfed in flames; aimed for Silver's back. 

Tha!

"Ngah!" Blaze wailed, her pouncing form with flaming paws altered into a lifeless ragdoll rolling across the dirt.

“Ho ho ho!” a maniacal chortle emitted, “How was your little walk princess?”

Releasing an audible gasp and shuffling to her feet, Blaze fixed her sight on the Egg Mobile with a metallic claw rearing back to the right side; piloting the device was none other than Eggman himself.

I'm getting really tired of seeing this thing. Blaze grumbled internally.

"Now let's waste any time princess." Eggman conveyed, "Let's be on our way." 

The metallic claw shoots out towards Blaze again, ready to grab her.

Swift with her timing, Blaze jumps from the metallic claw, allowing it to burrow into the ground.

"Hmph! Hold still now!” Eggman grumbled.

Another claw shoots out from the other side, rocketing towards her. But Blaze avoids the second claw.

"Ngh!" Eggman grunted in anger, Juts make this easy on both of us and surrender!"

Blaze avoiding another movement from the claw, twirling from the iron fingers. 

Sonic surveyed Blaze's evasive dancing, watching her leap and twirl from claw grabs and claw swipes; Eggman's anger grew nearly as hot as the Blaze' flaming heel prints.

“B-Blaze!" Sonic shouted through his psychic confinement, "Ngh… Run!”

Blaze shifted her gaze between Sonic and Eggman, avoiding another claw attack from the Egg Mobile.

“But what about you?” Blaze’s eyes widened with worry.

“Don’t worry about me…” Sonic blurt out in between his groaning, “I can handle it… Just… Run!”

Blaze simultaneously glanced between looking at Sonic with hesitation and looking at Eggman with scared defiance.

"But Sonic, I can't just leave—" "Go!" Sonic roared over her.

"Just go... I'll be f-fine... You need to t-trust me..." Sonic spluttered.

Blaze contemplated, once again alternating her glance between Sonic and Eggman, avoiding a claw attack with each alternating glance.

I hope you are true to your word Sonic. Blaze eyed Sonic out of the corner of her eye, going back and forth on her decision as Sonic's choking boomed louder. Otherwise, I will never forgive myself.

Twah!

One of the metallic claws, shoots at Blaze, iron hooks sharp and ready to dig into her. 

But Blaze spun from the claw, twirling in a vortex of flames while the claw burrowed into the ground once again.

"Grah!" Eggman groaned, slamming his hands on the pilot console.

The fiery vortex vanished, and Blaze stomped her heel, locking eyes with Eggman. 

The two stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, her golden, overwhelmed eyes glaring through his black, tinted glasses and into his suave, narcissistic eyes. 

Then, in an instant, Blaze spun on her heel and bolted in the opposite direction of the track; sprinting the way that led to the hijacked cargo train, leaving her flaming heel prints behind.

“Hey!" Eggman's gaze widened in disbelief, "Where do you think you’re going?” 

“Get Back here right this instant!” Eggman demanded.

Sitting back in his chair, Egg man thrusted the egg mobile into full throttle, giving chase to Blaze.

“Hang…In there Blaze.” Sonic muttered through his asphyxiated breath.

Silver tightens his fist, causing the psychic field paralyzing Sonic to become more confining.

"Uah!" Sonic quietly shrieked, his breath sounding dryer and scarcer.

"Ngh... It's.. all blurry..." Sonic cawed.

“It's time to end this! ONCE AND FOR ALL!” Silver declared with crazed anger in his voice.

"Uagh..." Sonic faintly moaned, his body twitching and pressing in on itself. 

Sonic helplessly looked into Silver's berserk eyes, watching him form a psychic wave of energy into the form of a blade in the palm of his right hand and reclining the psychic blade horizontally to his right shoulder. 

"N-no... it can't end..." Sonic croaked, "Not like this."

beep. beep. beep. beep.

Suddenly, a small metal marble flashing dull orange rolls in between Sonic and Silver, quietly beeping. 

"What the?" Silver glances down at his feet, tilting his glance at the small, metal marble flashing a dull orange.

beep. beep. Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

"Oh no." Silver's eyes widened in horror, realizing it was too late.

Ka-pa!

The small, metallic marble detonates, shrouding Silver and Sonic in a thick, gray cloud.

"Ngah!" Silver yowled, falling back and releasing his psychic hold on Sonic, no longer in his berserk state.

"Eugghhh!" Sonic wheezed, collapsing to his knees and exhaling loudly; Silver's psychic grasp absorbed most of the energy from the small, metallic marble.

Then in the cloud of smoke, a black figure lands in between Sonic and Silver. 

“Mephiles?!” Silver coughed.

Mephiles!? Sonic’s worn-out posture straightened in curiosity to Silver nonchalantly saying that name.

How does he know that name? Sonic pondered. Is he working with this 'Mephiles'? 

“What are you doing?” Silver deamnded, “Why are you standing in my way?”

“I’m Shadow.” The clouded figure introduced themselves, rising from his kneeling position while the thick smoke now dissipated.

“Shadow the Hedgehog.” Shadow states his identity, crossing his arms and leering at Silver.

Silver looked at Shadow, gob smacked by Shadow and his appearance. 

But shaking his head and going into his battle pose, Silver leers back at Shadow.

“It doesn’t matter who you are." Silver argues, his palms radiating neon cyan, "I won’t let anyone stop me from completing my mission!” 

Without saying a word, Shadow looked over his shoulder back at Sonic and gave him a nod. 

“Thanks Shadow." Sonic grinned, giving him a thumbs up. 

Breaking into a mad sprint, Sonic chases after Blaze’s flaming heel prints.

Chapter Text

Burrowing the spikes of her heels into the firm dirt and soft grass, Blaze sprinted, releasing concentrated breaths in between each running step.

She looked over her shoulder, glancing back Eggman pursuing her; the gap between her and Eggman growing slimmer and slimmer with each precise step she took on the ankle-twisting ground.

“You can’t run forever princess!” Eggman yelled.

Pressing a button on his control deck, a rocket launcher with a loaded missile emerged out from the left side of the Egg mobile.

Narrowing his sight on Blaze’s shoulder blades, Eggman aimed the missile at her backside.

Then, in a swift and drastic motion, Eggman slams the palm of his hand down on another button.

Scheeow!

The missile burst from the rocket launcher, a stream of concentrated flames streaming from the combustion hole.

Hearing the faint sound of crackling embers roaring louder and louder behind her, Blaze looked over her shoulder and skipped a beat when her glance fell upon the missile that rocketed towards her, uttering a terrified gasp.

In a swift motion, Blaze twirled to her left, maneuvering away from the missile that burrowed itself into the ground. Completing a full body rotation, she continued to run as the lodged missile exploded from behind her, causing chunks of dirt and debris to scatter in the cloud that Eggman broke through.

"Nragh!" Eggman pouted.

Blaze looked over her shoulder once again, glancing at Eggman seething with anger.

Suddenly, Eggman glanced past her and began to smile.

He leaned his sitting position slightly back, pulling the wheel of the Egg Mobile back with him, slowing it to a crawl and smiling from ear to ear.

"Why is he slowing down?" Blaze whispered.

She looked ahead, initially curious. But her curiosity morphed into panic, the fur on her biceps standing on their ends, witnessing the ledge approaching her.

Digging the tips of her heels into the dirt, Blaze skids to a crawl and stops right at the ridge of a crag.

Looking down the spiked crag, a wave of nausea slapped across her face. Shee let out small, jagged, heavy breaths, palpitating from the height she stood above. 

It's so high up. Blaze panicked. I can barely see through these clouds.

“Nice view is it not?” Eggman called from behind.

“Ah!?” Blaze gasped, twisting around to face Eggman.

“Bwahahaha!” Eggman manically chortled, looking into her jittering eyes, “It’s useless Princess. You have nowhere to run!"

"No one is coming to save you.” Eggman declared, superciliously grinning. "Now. Why don't you stop being difficult and accompany back to the palace?"

The palace?! Blaze internally repeated, the haunting words ringing loudly in her head, forming a knot in her stomach from the mere mention of that place. 

"No." Blaze whispered, forming her trembling hands into tightly knit fists, her teeth grinding with rage and fear, and her eyebrows furrowed with vexation.

“I would rather die than be your prisoner again!” Blaze angrily roared, glaring Eggman.

Uncurling her bawled fists, Blaze conjured a flame in each palm and then clamped both hands again, turning her paws into flaming fists that she vigorously held to up. Her golden eyes glistened like earnest gold, reflecting the sweltering flames she wielded.

Her feathered ponytail swayed in an upward motion that mimicked a campfire, turning from lavender purple into a fiery pink.

At the tip her burning ponytail, a small wisp of searing blue flickered in sync with her fiery pink hair. 

Eggman slightly leaned back, his cocky grin becoming more sinister and unthreatened.

“Hmph!” Eggman grunted, hardly intimidated by her.

“So, what do you plan on doing princess?" Eggman asked, "Do you intend to jump?” 

Pressing a combination of buttons, Eggman summons a mounted gun from the bottom of his egg mobile, pointing it at Blaze.

Blaze reclines slightly back, her eyes drawn to the tip of the missile positioned right for her chest.

“Agh!” Blaze squalled; barley catching herself and from slipping, her heart skipping a beat.

The mere sight of pebbles slipping from under her heels that teetered just at the very tip of the ledge that led to a steep fall down the precipitous mountain made her sick to her stomach.

I haven't felt this sick since I was a kitten. Blaze thought to herself, sensing a gross taste travel up and then down her throat. At this rate, my heart will burst from my chest if I don't do something. 

She looked back at Eggman, her neck cringing into her shoulders from his malicious smile that sent a chill down her spine. Her eyes wandered past Eggman for a brief second and she noticed someone running towards them. It was Sonic.

“Blaze!” Sonic called out, waving his hand as he neared the Egg Mobile.

Eggman looked over his shoulder, only for his sinister smile to shrivel into a sour frown.

“Ugh! Not him again!” Eggman complained, rolling his eyes.

Suddenly, Blaze's terrified demeanor changed into contemplation. 

This is going to be very risky, but I have no choice. Blaze resolved, not entirely thrilled with her plan.

“Oh Eggman.” Blaze called, her voice coming across as composed.

Eggman turned back to Blaze, she closed the palms of her hands, extinguishing her flames and placing her hands behind her back, displaying a royal persona.

“Ho! ho! ho! ho!” Eggman snickered. “Surrendering, are we?” 

“Farwell.” Blaze answered, displaying a playful smile.

“What?” Eggman tilt his head.

But before he could understand what Blaze meant, Blaze took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and leaned back with her arms held out. 

Eggman nearly sat out of his chair as he saw Blaze lean backwards off the ledge.

“Blaze!” Sonic yelped, watching her fall over the ledge, his eyes popping out of his eye sockets.

Panicked, Sonic accelerated underneath the dumbfounded Egg mobile and down the uneven crag.

Bolting down the vertical terrain, Sonic ran parallel underneath Blaze’s descending body that tore through the clouds.

If I don’t catch her, I don’t what I would do with myself. Sonic feared for the worst possible outcome.

Sticking muzzle further down, Sonic zipped down the jagged crag, racing to beat Blaze to the ground.

Halfway down the crag, Sonic burst through the last cloud and saw the ground coming closer and closer to him. Looing over his shoulder for a brief second so as not to lose his footing, Sonic saw Blaze falling behind him.

C’mon Sonic, you gotta catch her. Sonic anxiously clenched his teeth as the ground came closer and closer to him.

Then, just before he could dive muzzle dig into the ground, Sonic sprung from the crag and onto the ground.

Looking back up at the crag, he saw Blaze plummeting and immediately ran to where she was expected to land.

Drifting on the dirt just a foot away from her landing spot, Sonic bends his knees and then springs up from the ground towards Blaze.

“I got you!” Sonic rejoiced, catching Blaze in his arms and drifting across the ground, skidding to a completed stop and kicking up dust.

Blaze slowly opened her eyes, glancing to her left and right. And then she looked at Sonic, dust painted behind him, smiling at her. 

“Whew!" Sonic let out a heavy sigh, wiping sweat off his forehead, "Didn’t expect you to drop in!” 

“Hmm. Hmm.” Blaze giggled, blushing with happiness and breathing in a controlled manner.

And here he was saying my smile was nice. Blaze reminisced his words from the Castle Town outskirts, studying Sonic's smile. He has a charming smile.

Eggman leered over the cliff and through the clouds, snarling at Sonic and Blaze from a distance.

“I won't allow you get away that easily!” Eggman shouted down the crag.

“Egg Genesis! Pummel them into mush!” Eggman hollered, pounding a bright green button on his control deck.

Crkrkrkrk

Suddenly, the ground at the bottom of the crag began and the mountain facing the crag Eggman leered from began to violently tremble

"Woah!" Sonic took a knee, eyes darting from left to right, holding Blaze tightly in his grasp.

“W-what’s happening?” Blaze asked hugging Sonic tighter.

Crunk!

The steep mountain that faced opposite of Sonic and Blaze detonated.

Sonic and Blaze spun to face the steep mountain to see the boulders falling from the stony surface like jigsaw puzzle pieces.

Weow! Weow! Weow!

From the cloud of dust, a blaring alarm echoed; a pair of green led eyes bore through the dense dust.

Emerging from the dense cloud of dust from the mountain, the green led eyes belonged to a ginormous, orange saucer-shaped machine with four arm-like limbs and a dome on its underside. It was the Egg Genesis.

Fully out of the mountain and with the setting sun fully exposing it, The Egg Genesis narrowed its robotic sight to the ground beneath it, scanning the ground until its glance fell upon Sonic and Blaze.

Weow! Weow! Weow!

The Egg Genesis blared loudly, its green eyes becoming dangerous red and staring down Sonic and Blaze.

"We can so handle this." Sonic grinned to Blaze.

"A-are you sure?" Blaze asked, "That thing is much bigger, and its high above us."

"After how we handled that last robot back in Arid Dunes, are you really going to doubt yourself?" Sonic teased.

"N-no!" Blaze stammered, "I-I just..."

"We can handle this." Sonic nodded, giving her a reassuring grin. "I know we can."

His persistence. It's just remarkable. Blaze reflected, her eyes glistening with inspiration. No matter what, he just keeps going. 

"Agreed." Blaze conceded, "We can handle this."

Sonic lowered Blaze to her feet and the two of them stared up at the Egg Genesis floating high above the, staring down at them.

“You ready?” Sonic asked Blaze, forming a battle stance.

Blaze curled up her paws and brought them to her chest, only to swing both arms out to her hips, igniting an orange flame with a small wisp of blue in each palm. 

“Ready!” Blaze replied, confidence shining off her cheeks.

Staring up at the Egg Genesis, Sonic and Blaze awaited its first move.

The Egg Genesis narrowed its green, led glance down at them, rotating its four arms downward until its orange tips pointed directly at the ground. On the tip of each arm, a dozen of tiny black barrels materialized.  

Scheeeow!

The green eyes of the Egg Genesis temporarily flashed; a dozen missiles shot out from each arm tip and rocketed to where Sonic and Blaze stood. 

"Let's circle it!" Sonic suggested.

Breaking from their standing point, Sonic and Blaze broke into a sprint, running from a distance in opposite directions of each other for the Egg Genesis. The horde of missiles split into two, the first horde going after Sonic while the other half went after Blaze.

Looking over her shoulder, Blaze leered the leading missile. 

Fwoosh!

Blaze ignited a flame in the palm of her hand and twister her torso to face the pursuing missiles.

"Hah!" Blaze barked, flinging the sphere of fire at the leading missile.

Ka-Paow!

The missile exploded into a small cloud of flames, consuming the following missile and causing them to also detonate.

Blaze leapt away from the flaming fireworks, landing into a roll and springing back into her sprint.

Meanwhile, Sonic glanced over his shoulder with a cocky grin, smugly grinning at the leading missile of the missile horde that was hot on his tail.

Bending his knees and then springing into a backflip, Sonic locked his sight onto the leading missile.

"Woo!" Sonic boomed, slamming the vamp of his shoe onto the missile, rotating its trajectory and turning it to face the horde of missiles.

Ke-Pa!

The missile collided into one of the missiles, causing a small explosion that set off a chain of explosions that resembled Blaze's fireworks.

Sonic curled up into a ball, allowing the force of the explosion to blow him away. 

Bouncing on the ground, Sonic uncurled after the third bounce and resumed running, glancing up at the Egg Genesis.

“You think you can intimidate us with just your size?” Sonic teased aloud, “Come on, let’s see what you can do!”

The Egg Genesis peered down at Sonic, summoning four, black barrels on its underside; four black barrels materialized beside the underside dome.

Pzzzzzzzz!!

Four laser beams shot from the black barrels, incinerating the grass and surface dirt. The laser beams began to track Sonic and Blaze.

"Blaze!" Sonic shouted from across the field, "Keep your distance from these lasers!"

Scampering together across the field in uncoordinated directions, Sonic and Blaze outpaced the trailing laser beams, sprinting ahead of the laser beams that singed the grass in its path of destruction.

Beeop! Beeop! Beeop!

The Egg Genesis's eyes flashed, echoing a warning signal; the cremating laser beams vanished into thin air while the signal sang.

"Those laser beams stopped!" Blaze looked up at the Egg Genesis, "It must be recharging."

"Well now is our chance to attack!" Sonic punched his fists together.

The Egg Genesis's eyes stopped flashing, and it peered down at Sonic and Blaze. 

Seeing Sonic and Blaze, the Egg Genesis lowered its elevation, extending all four arms further outward until its entire body was twenty feet above the ground.

Sccha!

A small entrance at the tip of the arm that pointed at Sonic and Blaze popped wide open, pouring out a half-dozen of Egg Flyers and a squad of Egg Gunners.

If I can get atop that arm, I can hammer that things head in. Sonic theorized.

“Blaze. You attack those Egg Flyers." Sonic instructed, I’ll climb the Genesis and hammer its head in!” 

“Sounds good." Blaze accepted, igniting a flame in each palm, "I prefer to fight on the ground anyways.”

Dashing towards the front Egg Gunner, Sonic anticipated it to aim its blaster.

Just as the leading Egg Gunner raised its blaster, Sonic bent his knees and sprung up into the air, rolling into a ball and throwing himself towards the Egg Gunner.

Sonic bounced off the Egg Gunner, gaining enough elevation to reach the lowest flying Egg Flyer and performing a homing attack.  

Bouncing off the Egg Flyer, Sonic homing attacked the next closest Egg Flyer, repeating homing attack after homing attack until he was in distance of the orange arm tip. 

Blaze, meanwhile, swiped at one Egg Gunner with a fiery claw and then roundhouse kick another Egg Gunner with a flaming heel, severing both Egg Gunners into two.

She then charged at the last Egg Gunner, her heels scorching the ground while she dashed head-on at the last Egg Gunner while flinging fireballs at its energy bullets and the recovering Egg Flyer's.

Coming up close to the Egg Gunner, Blaze swipes her claw through the Egg Gunners blaster, severing its arm and then somersault kicking its head, slicing through it and its torso with her fiery kick until it was split in half.

Crk!

Glancing straight ahead, Blaze's eyes fell upon a sizzled Egg Flyer's corpse strewn across a haphazard rockpile.

Meanwhile, Eggman sat up out of his chair; leaning over his Egg Mobile, Eggman's eyes followed Sonic running along the arm of the Egg Genesis.

“Why you little…” Eggman growled.

I can’t let him get to the head. Eggman observed. He must be stopped. 

“Upper cannons open fire!” Eggman roared into his control deck.

The tiny black barrels opened on the arm of the Egg Genesis and out from the barrels, a squadron of missiles fired out.

Looking out of the corner of his eyes, Sonic saw the squadron of missiles and smiled. 

Jumping off the head and curling into a sphere, Sonic performed a bound attack, thrusting his body down onto the head of the Egg Genesis.

Sonic bounced off the head, still rolled up into a ball and watching the world around him spin vertically. Spinning vertically above the Egg Genesis, Sonic flashed a smirk at the lead missile. 

The foremost missile rocketed to Sonic until it was breathing onto his muzzle. 

Suddenly, Sonic propelled his spherical body down onto the head of the Egg Genesis, narrowly avoiding the missile kissing him.

Dungh!

Sonic rebound off the Egg Genesis' head, watching as the lead missile rocket straight onto the head of the Egg Genesis

The other missiles followed after the lead missile, shooting themselves onto the head of the Egg Genesis.

Ta-Paow!

A string of explosions rippled across the head of the Egg Genesis, pushing Sonic safely away from the fiery carnage.

“All right, you’re going down!” Sonic pumped his fist, looking over his shoulder at the Genesis as he fell back to the ground.

Rwwrrr… Cruh!

Two of the weaponized arm joints snapped, the two arms belonging to the arm joints collapsing to the ground as the joints uselessly rotated up and down with bleeding sparks.

Thungh!

The two, massive metal limbs slammed down, creating a loud ear-piercing crunch and breaking dividing into smaller pieces upon impact.

I got him. I got him. I got him. Blaze followed Sonic's descent, rushing underneath him to beat him to his landing spot.

"I got you!" Blaze cheered, catching Sonic in her arms.

As she held him in her arms, a blush crept across her cheeks.

My goodness, he's more muscular than he looks. Blaze's reflected, exploring his bicep in her right palm and the back of his thigh in her left hand.

“N-nice to see you drop in.” Blaze imitated Sonic's smooth tone.

“Hehe." Sonic chuckled, smiling at her. "Glad to drop in.” 

She set him down, her cheeks tinted rosy-red, and she smiled back at him, paying no mind to her tail swaying behind her.

Eggman looked down at Sonic and Blaze, livid at the two of them. 

“Begin charging laser core!” Eggman bellowed from his beak into the control panel.

Suddenly, a surge of Amber-colored electricity clothed the underside of the orange dome with a hexagonal pattern, vibrating with the crackling lightning.

Sonic and Blaze both looked up at the Egg Genesis and watched it charging its laser beam.

“That lasers going to leave a mark if we don’t intervene.” Sonic states the obvious, “What should we do?”

"Sonic, I have an idea." Blaze suggested, pointing to aimless pile of rocks.

Sonic looked to where Blaze pointed until his eyes fell upon the rocks. His face lit up.

"I see what you're saying." Sonic smiled, raising his brow higher.

Dropping into a ball, Sonic spun in place, charging his spin-dash.

Schrreow!

Sonic spun out, rolling to the rockpile.

As Sonic closed in on the rockpile. Blaze conjured a flame in each hand began twirling, enveloping herself in a fiery vortex.

Just before Sonic collided into the rockpile, Sonic uncurled his body, using the momentum from his spin-dash to spin horizontally with his right leg sticking out.

Tah!

Sonic kicked the rockpile, hurtling the boulders upwards to the charging laser core.

"Now Blaze!" Sonic shouted.

"On it." Blaze responded. 

Stomping her heel spikes into the dirt, Blaze anchored herself facing the Egg Genesis and thrust her palms towards the hurtling boulders.

Fwwash!

The rocks caught the fire from Blaze.

Puh! Tuh! kra! kah!

The smoldering boulders, smashed into the laser core, denting the spherical dome, leaving nasty burn marks and causing the inconsistent electrical patterns to latch onto the flaming rocks that fell back to the ground. 

Sonic ran for Blaze, avoiding the fiery boulders raining down and looking his shoulder up at the dented laser core.

"One more rock and that laser core should pry wide open." Sonic alleged.

"Leave this to me." Blaze declared, breaking from Sonic.

Darting towards the jittering Egg Genesis, Blaze set her sights on the last raining boulder falling in flames.

Staring down the falling, flaming boulder, Blaze kindled her paws and began gyrating towards the plummeting rock, racing it catch it before all momentum was lost.

"Woah." Sonic whispered, stunned by Blaze's flaming, fluid movements.

Right underneath the Egg Genesis' laser core, Blaze's eyes locked onto the plummeting rock and sprung up.

Raising her knee up for greater air resilience, Blaze tilted her right heel backwards and leaned her torso back.

"Hi-ah!" Blaze bellowed, swinging her right leg up and kicking the bottom surface of the boulder with the vamp of her heel.

Blaze flipped backwards and positioned her fall as the boulder rocketed up towards the dented laser core.

CRUNK!

The scorching boulder smashes through the dented laser dome, crunching the internal machinery and causing the genesis to jitter.

BLAM!

An explosion bursts from one of the two remaining arm joints and the large arm falls to the ground, shattering into metal pieces and creating an ear-piercing sound. 

"Blaze..." Sonic called.

Blaze spun around to look at Sonic; her eyes fell upon Sonic starring back at her, jaw open in awe.

"That was a nice shot!" Sonic shook his head and smiled, his eyes glimmering with amazement.

“...! Thank you.” Blaze smiled, a blush crawling on both of her cheeks. 

Clunk… Thud— Blam!

"Looks like we're not done just yet." Sonic starred up at the faltering Egg Genesis.

Starring up at the malfunctiong Egg Genesis, Sonic and Blaze watched the ginormous robot sputter smoke from its broken arm joints, its last remaining arm wobbling up and down unbalanced.

"Just one more strong hit and it should be done for." Blaze said.

Reogh! 

The Egg Genesis echoed a grating alarm, summoning the black barrels from its remaining arm and a few from its underside.

The barrels hissed, missiles poking their tips out from every barrel. 

Cha-Pa!

Every missile rocketed out of the barrels, streams of clouds trailing from each missile as they careened towards Sonic and Blaze.

"Let's break!" Sonic commands, spinning on his heel and taking off. 

Blaze twirls on her heel and follows after Sonic, her ears aligning straight from the whistling missiles trailing behind.

Sonic and Blaze charged across the field, leading the horde of missiles that chased after them; the missiles that left streams of contrails chased after Sonic and Blaze's backs.

Fwah!

Igniting her paws ablaze, Blaze glanced out of the corner of her eye and locked her sight on the tip of the leading missile.

"Nha!" Blaze holloed, twirling and flinging two fireballs at the leading missile before completing her full twirl.

Pa-Kah! 

The guiding missile got struck by the first fireball, causing it to explode and consume half of the trailing missiles.

Fwoo- Ka-Pla!

The second fireball shot through the fiery vapor and struck another missile, causing another explosion to devour the remaining horde of missiles. 

Suddenly, a single missile penetrated through the flaming haze, its burning tip fixated on them.

Looking out of the corner of his eye, Sonic spotted the single missile rushing from behind him and Blaze. 

Blaze instinctively looked out of the corner of her eye and grimaced. 

"I'll take care of this." Blaze informed Sonic. 

Stomping her heels into the dirt, Blaze came to a dead stop; Sonic shot ahead of Blaze as she stopped in place. 

Then, spinning in a single motion, Blaze spun half a rotation to face the single missile. She then clamped her paw around the cylindrical body of the missile and twisted her right wrist, turning the missile's trajectory to her left. 

Spinning in place with the blistering missile in her hand, Blaze enveloped herself and the missile into a cyclone of fire; Sonic watched in awe as Blaze spun faster with the missile in hand, controlling her flames and the missiles flames in an orderly way. 

Suddenly, Blaze's right calf spun out from the fiery vortex, only to slam down into the ground, penetrating the dirt. 

Blaze extended her right arm outwards and then twisted her torso in a half rotation.

"He-Yah!" Blaze bellowed, swinging her and releasing her grasp on the missile, launching it towards the damaged laser core of the Egg Genesis.

Sonic and Blaze marveled at the missile propel at twice the speed across the field of singed grass and dismembered scrap. 

Ch-Pla!

The missile smashes into the damaged laser core, causing an explosion that elevates the Egg Genesis higher while its components fell to the field of ravaged remains.

Zzzck- zzzrt! 

A wave of apricot-colored electricity surged across the Egg Genesis' entire body; its green eyes flickered on and off.

Chrreeaho!

The Egg Genesis moaned, jittering and sputtering, releasing gray clouds of smoke from its arm joints and damaged laser core.

“Say Blaze?" Sonic glanced to her with a playful grin, "Think you can you give me a boost?” 

“It would be an honor.” Blaze grinned, gesturing with an open palm at the Egg Genesis.

"Hehe. Thanks." Sonic grinned wider.

Jumping backwards, Sonic crouched in a starting position, his eyes locked on the damaged laser core.

“Ready…” Sonic shouted, dropping into a ball and charging a screeching loud spin-dash, kicking dirt and grass.

“Go!” Sonic thundered, zipping past Blaze and jumping towards the underbelly of the Egg Genesis.

Blaze watched Sonic roll up towards the Egg Genesis, ready for his command. 

Sonic saw the world spin around him as he traveled up to the Egg Genesis; the colors of granite and green with the small blend of lavender became more distant as metallic dark gray and orange started to become more abundant.

“Blaze, NOW!” Sonic boomed, just halfway up his spinning journey towards the Egg Genesis.

Hearing Sonic’s command, Blaze rears her hands behind her waist, conjuring a flame in each paw, and then lobbing the flaming spheres at Sonic.

The flaming spheres chased after Sonic, closing in on him quicker than the Egg Genesis.

Fwoo-FWAH!

The flames latched onto Sonic's quills, setting him ablaze and transforming him into a sentient ball of flame with destructive speed.

Okay. This might be a bit hotter than I thought it would be, but with how fast I’m spinning it’s not too bad. Sonic thought to himself, feeling the flames tickle his curled body.

From the ground, Blaze looked in awe at Sonic spiraling in flames towards the Egg Genesis, undeterred and unharmed.

Shriiiah!

Sonic ploughed through the orange underbelly of the Egg Genesis.

Tuh! Tuh-ta! Tu-tu-tah! Ta-pah!

The Egg Genesis violently thrashed, shaking from side to side. Metal crunched and shrilled; some pieces of metal fell from the opened laser core. Thick, black clouds of smoke billowed from the arm joints. Steam hissed the black barrels. The green eyes flickered on and off.

Tunh! Tuhn-tuhn! Ta-Shruh!

Suddenly, Sonic burst from the top of the Egg Genesis head. 

“Yeah!” Sonic yelled, uncurling himself and posing in front of the sun that outlined his body. In his hand, he held the Red Chaos Emerald.

“Yes!” Blaze cheered, "We did it!"

Tuh-Tuh-Tuh-Tuh!

"Huh?" Blaze frowned, hearing a faint pounding noise.

Staring up at the Egg Mobile, she saw Eggman shouting incomprehensively, pounding his control deck with unfiltered rage. 

Then, without even shouting a proper word to them, Eggman flew off.

"What the?" Blaze murmured, watching Eggman fly out of sight.

She then looked back at the Egg Genesis, observing the sputtering robot remain elevated.

Something's not right. Blaze thought to herself.

Hsssssss!!

Steam burst from the arm joints, sparks sputtered from the severed laser core, and smoke poured from the eye sockets of the Genesis willowed. 

Suddenly, the green eyes of the Egg Genesis snapped in the direction of Sonic, burning into his back as he floated down.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

An alarm loudly blared from the Egg Genesis, echoing throughout the battlefield and every crevice of the surrounding mountains.

Suddenly, the Egg Genesis began to plummet, falling to the ground in Sonic's direction.

"Oh no." Blaze gasped under her breath, eyes widening in horror. "It's going to crash."

“Sonic, look out!” Blaze shouted, cupping her hands, “The Genesis is crashing down!”

“Hu—Woah!” Sonic looked over his shoulder to see Egg Genesis staring him down as it crashed down to the ground Sonic was just about to reach.

Landing on the ground, Sonic glanced over his shoulder at the crashing Egg Genesis and takes off.

"Wuah!" Sonic jolts, tripping over a chunk of steel from the Genesis and falling flat on his stomach.

Sonic places his hands firmly on the ground and tries to lift himself up.

Th!

"Whu?" Sonic murmured, his body swaying forward but not lifting up.

He tried to lift himself up again but couldn't rise to his feet. 

Sonic glanced over his shoulder and felt his eyes shrink.

"Oh no." Sonic muttered, glancing back at his foot trapped in the thick steel he tripped over.

"Sonic!" Blaze cried out, breaking into a sprint for him in spite of the Egg Genesis.

"Blaze, don't!" Sonic protested, frantically trying to dislodge himself as she sprinted towards him from afar.

Looking back up at the Egg Genesis, Sonic helplessly watched as the bottom of the Egg Genesis touched down on the ground, the green eyes watching him as it slammed down.

KA-BLAM!

The Egg Genesis crashed onto the ground, creating a fiery explosion that send scrap metal, internal circuitry and other robotic components flying in every which way.

"Uah!" Blaze puffed, having the wind blown out of her as she is tossed backwards by the explosion.

"Wuuoah!" Sonic howled, dislodging from the scrap mound and blown forward by the sheer heat of the explosion.

"Agh!" Blaze squeaked, tumbling across the dirt; scuffing up her already tattered dress and bruising her lithe arms. 

Sonic flipped across the ravaged battleground, slamming against the crag of a neighboring mountain.

"Ch..." Blaze winced, shakily rising to her feet and holding her right elbow.

“GAH!” Sonic screamed in pain, clenching his eyes shut as his backside harshly slammed into the uneven mountain wall, feeling every jagged-sharp stone that dug into his back. He rebound off the jagged wall and landed on his hands & knees.

“Ghu…” Sonic groaned, slowly trying to pick himself up.

“Sonic!” Blaze cried out.

Storming across the decimated field, Blaze weaved and pushed past the demolished Egg Genesis for Sonic. 

“Sonic! Sonic are you okay?” Blaze pushed scrap metal out of the way and extended her hand out to Sonic to use as a crutch; her arm stuck out as she looked for any severe wounds and injuries.

“I’m… I’m fine…” Sonic answered through his exhausted breathing, grasping for her wrist and slowly standing up, staring down at the ground.

His legs wildly wobbled, ready to collapse to his knees while he bolstered his support with his other hand on the canyon wall.

"Oh Sonic." Blaze solemnly watched Sonic cling onto her, observing his tousled quills and wounds that painted his body.

"It's... it's alright..." Sonic exhaled, looking up at her and smiling, releasing heavy breaths with each exhale.

“Oh." Blaze let out a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness you can stand.” 

"Yeah..." Sonic wheezed, “Talk about a… talk about a gutsy move back there huh?” 

“I’ll say." Blaze conceded, "That robot was more dangerous than the one back in Arid Dunes.” 

“Hehe…" Sonic chuckled, "I’m not talking about the robot… I’m talking about you falling off that cliff.” 

"Falling off that cliff?!" Blaze stiffened, re-envisioning the fall she boldly went through with. 

"Brbrbrbr!" Blaze shook her head from side to side, smacking her lips.

“Y-yes. Gutsy indeed." Blaze stammered, " And I hope to never do that again!”

"Hmm hmm hmm." Sonic lightly chuckled, beaming through his injuries.

"Hmmm ha ha ha" Blaze lightly chuckled, failing to stop herself from joining along with Sonic.

Just how many times has he rescued me? Blaze internally pondered. No matter what, he’s come to rescue me, time and time again. I know he won’t stay here forever, but I’m happy he is here right now. I Just wish he wasn't hurt; he doesn't deserve this.

“I truly can't express how grateful I am for all you have done." Blaze smiled.

Using her other hand, Blaze brushed Sonic's quills and leaned closer to his face.

"Mwah!" Blaze pecked Sonic's forehead with her lips.

Sonic's ears shot up straight and his cheeks flushed soft pink.

"Thank you, Sonic." Blaze smiled, her face beaming with sincerity.

"Uh..." Sonic droned, starring at Blaze and her smile; stuck in place from his injuries and petrified by surprise, Sonic gaze at Blaze and her smile.

D-did she just kiss me? Sonic questioned himself. 

"Y-yes." Sonic answered back, "It's nothing much, really. I just did what I had to do, that's all."

"Well, still." Blaze smiled, "I can't thank you enough for you and your heroic selflessness."

She’s so beautiful when she smiles. Sonic thought to himself, hypnotized by her smile. No matter what happens, seeing her smile is worth it all. I just wish she didn't have to go through this torment; she doesn't deserve this.

“B-Blaze… I—”

Whirrrrrrrrrr

Suddenly, a low-volume buzzing noise vibrated throughout the field. 

Sonic and Blaze looked right and left, respectively, glancing in the same direction.

Just a mile away from where they stood, a horde composed of Egg Gunners and Egg Stingers flew towards their direction.

"Oh great." Blaze groaned.

There has to be a way we can get away. Blaze speculated. I need to get him back to the castle, and fast.

Looking from side to side, Blaze looked for a way to escape the robot horde. 

She spun around and glanced at the thick trees belonging to the Soleanna forest. 

"The Soleanna Forest." Blaze pointed to the thick green forest trees, “Let’s head into there, we can lose them in there.” 

Blaze bolted for the dense, dark-green shrubbery, expecting Sonic to be running behind her.

“I know the forest pretty well, so well be able to— huh?!” Blaze looked over her shoulder and came to a halt.

Sonic was not beside her.

Gazing back at the mountainous wall, Sonic was still leaning against the massive formation. Blaze sprinted back to the mountain wall Sonic rested on.

“Sonic come on, what are you doing?" Blaze asked with desperation, "We need to get of here. Now!"

Sonic, still holding onto the mountain wall for support, heaved as he gazed to Blaze.

Sonic stared at Blaze and held up the red Chaos Emerald he had just won.

“You… You take this and go…” Sonic instructs, shakily grabbing Blaze's hand and placing the red Chaos Emerald in her palm.

“I’ll… I’ll buy you time…” Sonic heaved.

“And leave you behind?” Blaze shook her head in disbelief, “That’s not happening!”

“Blaze… Please just go…" Sonic pleads, "I’ll be fine… I promi—”

Blaze clamps Sonic's hand, cutting him off and starring into his eyes.

“Sonic. You’ve saved me more times than I can count." Blaze rebutted, "Let me return the favor.” 

Turning her back to him, Blaze grabbed both of his wrists and propped him on her back.

“Is that good?” Blaze asks Sonic, pressing her left arm on his back to secure him.

“Yeah…" Sonic panted, "Yeah that’s good.” 

“Alright." Blaze nodded.

Tucking the red Chaos Emerald in her dress pocket, Blaze takes a step back into a standing start.

"Hold on tight!” Blaze instructed, glaring at the thick green shrubbery.

Dashing towards the dark green forest, Blaze left behind her usual trail of flaming heel prints, disappearing among the thick trees.

Chapter Text

The orange dusk sun that had just beamed down on Blaze and Sonic had now become obscured by the thick, dark green leaves that dangled high in the trees that protrude from the moist and fertile forest ground. Nested alongside the scaled roots of these trees was a variety of plant life that ranged from massive fungi to bioluminescent flowers. The flowers were especially unique; the sort of thing that was exclusively found in mythology books or fairy tales, not in a forest that housed exotic wildlife and luscious green landscapes. The forest was a popular alternative for tourists to visit if the sandy shores had grown tiresome. But sightseeing was the last thing on Blaze’s mind, she was set on escaping Eggman’s pursuit.

Blazing down a declining pathway through the dense shrubbery with Sonic on her back, Blaze glanced of the path and nearly chocked on her own breath.

Up ahead, a fallen tree forced the delicing path to sharply incline; the fallen tree on the declining path speared through the draping dark green foliage.

I'm going to regret this. Blaze internally self-confessed, her stomach churning with dread. But I can't slow down!

“Let’s run straight up!” Blaze gulped on her anxious murmur, clearly not pleased with her decision and upset there was no immediate alternative.

Pressing her heels harder into the dirt pathway, leaving stiletto flame marks behind, Blaze bolstered her speed and blitzed up the tree. At the peak of the fallen root, Blaze leapt into the air.

Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Blaze internally panicked, rising higher and higher into the air, shooting past the limbs of the trees and dense leafage.

Pwah!

"Dah!" Blaze yelped, turning her face and feeling a red sting from a branch smacking her cheek. 

She then nearly closed her eyes shut, nearly being blinded by the setting sun flashing her as she ascended higer into the sky.

Squinting her eyes open, Blaze's face lit up in a split second.

"Sonic look!" Blaze pointed ahead.

Reaching the peak of her ascent, Blaze stood high up in the air, pointing across the entire Soleanna forest at New Soleanna far off in the distance. 

“We’re going in the right direction.” Blaze points to Sonic.

Sonic didn't say anything to Blaze’s response, instead he groans and narrows his head down. Blaze frowned her brow to Sonic and then felt a shiver crawl up her back. She then felt her body slowly begin descending to the forest grounds she was miles above.

“Ahhhh!!” Blaze screamed in terror as she and Sonic feel to the ground came closer to her. If I don’t do something, Eggman might get what he wants without much of a hassle. Blaze internally panicked.

Sonic’s exhausted eyes also unfolded, both from the winds that flapped against his face and from heightened fear. In response, Sonic scoured the incoming trees for any possible landing for the two of them. Peering through colossal trees, Sonic saw a long vine with a glowing purple flower bulb. The stem of the vine was connected to a tree and looked to be steady. Steady for two people at the very least.

“Blaze… grab that vine.” Sonic points to the vine that was coming into sight.

Blaze saw the vine come into her sight and promptly shifted Sonic to her opposite side and held him tightly with her left arm. Clinging onto the vine, Blaze and Sonic rerouted their landing spot. Finding another vine, Blaze swung to that vine and then to a third and final vine. With no other vines to swing to, Blaze made a split-second decision and swung herself and Sonic into a cavernous opening.

Whirrrrrrrr

Blaze immediately looks over her shoulder in response to the low whirring noise that caught her ears. Looking back into the diverse forestry, a legion of white-chrome robots wielding blasters for forearms rocketed towards them. It was Eggman’s Egg Gunners, and their blasters were aimed right at them.

“We’re getting out of this cave!” Blaze declares. Pressing her heels into the cavernous flooring, Blaze rockets through the cave housing alien-blue mushrooms that illuminated the otherwise dank cave. The robots hover into the cave, trailing behind Blaze’s and her flaming heel prints, with their blasters locked and loaded.

Pow! Pow! Pow!

The egg gunners unload fire onto to Blaze. Their shots narrowly singed Blaze and Sonic, who continued to bob on her shoulders as she blitzed through the cave.

The exit of the cave came into sight and the vast open forest landscape presented itself to Blaze. She drifted to the ledge and narrowed her view to the forest that faced her, looking for a safe way down.

Whirrrrrr

“Ah!” Blaze looked back and saw the horde of Egg Gunners tunneling out of the cave. She looked back over the ledge and immediately spotted a long, horizontal green vine with a narrow stem. Without giving it a second thought, Blaze leapt from the ledge for the vine.

With her feet extended out, Blaze planted the arch of her heels onto the stem of vine so as to stabilize her footing; allowing her grind on the green vine that snaked from tree branch to tree branch.

As Blaze grinded the vine from tree to tree, she looked over her shoulder and was displeased to see the pursuing egg gunners were still trailing her. Even worse was that they were no accompanied by a squadron of egg flyers.

“These robots just don’t know when to give up.” Blaze grumbled.

With her free hand, she struck her hand out open and ignited an ember in the palm. With fierce precision and strength, Blaze hurls spheres of flames at the egg gunners & flyers. The robots that had been trailing her had now been disintegrated into charred metal and fried circuitry. Blaze grins with satisfaction as she watches the scorched robots plummet to the forest floor.

Her grin is soon wiped away as she turns her gaze forward. Just at the end of the vine rail was the end of the vine itself curled into a pastel orange. Assuming the end of the vine would act just like the previous vines she swung from; Blaze anticipates the moment she can grab ahold of the end and subsequently does just that. But instead of falling down and being swung in reverse, the vine uncurls itself and plummets to a body of murky forest water; the filtered water hid how deep the water really was.

“Aaaaaaahhh!” Blaze screamed. She clenched her eyes and hold on Sonic tight as she anticipated the impact of the water surface; ready for the forest water to soak her dress. But no such splash came, and she felt still in motion. Blaze slowly opened her eyes and was stunned to see she was dangling just above the water; the tip of her heels barley grazing the surface.

“Are you alright?” Blaze tilts her gaze to Sonic.

“Yes…” Sonic meekly answers “You’re doing great…”

“…!” Blaze felt her cheeks become as red as roses. She basfully smiled. “Thank you.” Blaze softly gives thanks to Sonic. Even when he’s hurt, he always tries to lift others around him. Blaze thought to herself.

Suddenly, the vine Blaze had held onto for dear life began to jerk up a smidge. Blaze felt the shift of the vine and looked up. Her eyes shrank as she realized what was happening.

“Uh oh…” Blaze mouthed.

The vine flies up to its point of origin and flings Blaze and Sonic off into the sky.

“Wahhhhh!” Blaze once screamed in terror as she and Sonic ascended into the orange, dusk sky.

Blaze clenched Sonic harder as she and him reached the peak of their ascent. As the two began to fall, Blaze scoured through the dense trees from above, looking for any vines, tree branches, anything she could grab onto to save her and Sonic from splattering on the forest dirt. But she had no luck from above.

The two soon fell through the top of a tree and were closer to the ground. Again, Blaze looked for anything to grab ahold of, but there was nothing to grab a hold of that was within her vicinity. And to make it even more dire

“Blaze… Throw this…” Sonic presents Blaze with one of the five Sol Emeralds he had on him. He was holding the cyan Sol emerald.

“The Sol Emerald!?” Blaze exclaimed in pure astonishment. So that’s what he was using against Silver. Do they really hold such power? Blaze internally asked herself; remarking the emeralds power she herself was unaware of.

Blaze swiped the cyan Sol Emerald from Sonic and looks to him, ready for the next step.

“So I just toss it?” Blaze asked.

“Yes… just throw it.” Sonic answered back.

Falling below a higher elevated ledge, Blaze aimed the cyan Sol Emerald to the ledge she and Sonic rocketed beneath.

“Hiah!” Blaze throws the sol Emerald up to the ledge, the distance between her and emerald growing wider as she fell to the ground and it flew up to the ledge. The emerald plops down onto the dark green grass and radiates bright cyan.

“Hold on tight!” Sonic tells Blaze, prompting her to shift Sonic onto both her shoulders, securing him by holding down on his quad and hand.

As Blaze plummeted closer to the ground, she felt her descent gradually slow down as a cyan luminescence veiled her and Sonic. For a brief second, Blaze and Sonic were suspended in midair, just a few feet above the ground that had just threatened them seconds ago.  

Blaze then felt her body begin to gravitate upwards towards the ledge she had tossed the Sol Emerald to. Blaze grasped Sonic tighter as she ascended higher above the ground for the ledge.

Soon enough, Blaze and Sonic rose above the ledge. The cyan veil that coated Blaze and Sonic had vanished, and she landed on her feet on the elevated terrain.

“Hu-whew!” Blaze lets a sigh of relief, exhaustion, and pure shock. So this is the power of the Sol Emeralds. Blaze internally remarks, peering at the cyan Sol Emerald and picking it up.

“Ackh… Auckh!” Sonic coughed

“Sonic are you alright?” Blaze asked.

“Yeah… I’m alright” Sonic grins. His grin heavily contrasted with his injuries.

Blaze smiles back even though she was upset to see him with his injuries. “We should be close to the exit, just please hold on.”

Looking ahead, Blaze saw a narrow path that would allow them to continue their escape. However, the path was guarded was a lengthy body of water that concealed its depth. Blaze looked around the edges of the pond, looking for different route that allowed them to reach the path. She even looked down the ledge she and Sonic had just fallen down. She quickly glances at the steep descent and then quickly turned her head away. “I’ve had enough with heights today.” Blaze whispered.

She looked back at the pond and crooked her eyebrow. “Hmm… How can we get across this pond?” Blaze pondered.

Whirrrrrr

A low buzzing noise alerted Blaze. She instinctively turned her head back and found a trio of egg stingers flying towards her. She needed to act fast, but the lake prevented her from running so easily.

“You can’t be serious!” Blaze complained. “Oh, what I do?” she impatiently tapped her foot, looking for a path around the lake; anything to get her and Sonic away from the egg stingers.

“Here… let me… help.” Sonic groggily offered. Pulling out the yellow Sol emerald, a pale yellow forcefield with electricity surging across the round shield traps Blaze.

“Whu? Huh?!” Blaze reacts appropriately.

“Don’t worry… you’ll be fine…” Sonic reassures.

The egg stingers shoot at Blaze. But their weaponry disintegrates into ash upon contact with the electric forcefield. Blaze is in awe at the shield that came from the yellow Sol emerald. Although she was their guardian, she had never truly known the strength they held.

“Just… run ahead.”

“What?!” Blaze jaw dropped.

“Don’t worry… you’ll be able to run over the surface… trust me.” Sonic pants.

She hesitated for a brief moment, but she ultimately did as he told her to do. Taking a deep inhale, Blaze set her foot into the water. But instead of her foot breaking through the water surface and getting soaked, her heel sole and tip stood on the surface of the water..

“Woah.” Blaze looked in pure astonishment.

But she didn’t dwell for too long, she shook her head and then quickly ran across the surface of the murky pond. Sonic clenched his grasp on the yellow Sol emerald to provide him and Blaze protection and mobility.

Looking back over her shoulders, Blaze narrowed her sights on the pursuing egg stingers and then conjured a flame in the palm of her right paw. She then flung a flurry of flaming spheres at the trailing Egg Stingers.

Fwoosh! Fwhoowh! Fwah!

The fire blasts collide with the Egg Stingers, setting them ablaze and frying their systems. Their jet boosters malfunctioned a s a result of their systems being singed, and they slashed into the murky pong Blaze and Sonic ran across with ease.

“Nice shot.” Sonic complimented Blaze.

“Hm hmm. Thanks.” Blaze giggled.

As the blaster of the last egg stinger had fully submerged into the water, Blaze had reached the edge of the pond and bolted deep into the forest.

Chapter Text

After dashing down through the forest for some time, Blaze encounters a towering tree. Although they were close to the exit, Eggman’s robots were still present. Quick on her feet, Blaze dashes to the wise birch, leaving a flame trail that points straight and jumped behind the large oak, hiding herself and Sonic behind the imposing plant. Blaze lowers Sonic down and props him up against the tree.

“Blaze…” Sonic looks to her.

“Shh. It’s alright. Just, stay low for a moment.” Blaze whispers.

Peeping her head around the tree, Blaze observes the surroundings, looking for anything resembling a non-organic machine. Far down the path, Blaze detects a trio of robots flying in their direction. Blaze snaps her head back behind the tree just before the robots could see her. The only noises Blaze heard in that moment were her beating heart, Sonic’s exhausted breaths, the jet engines of the robots and the movements of the surrounding shrubbery.

Blaze held her breath as the robots flew past the tree they were hiding behind; following the discontinued flame trail she left specifically for them. Blaze peeps her head back out to look for anymore robots and finds no other robots.

“Hu-whew! Looks like we lost them.” Blaze lets out a sigh of relief. She then turns to Sonic, looking more exhausted and drained of his life.

“Don’t worry.” Blaze grabs Sonic’s wounded hand “We’re almost out of this forest. We’ll arrive at the castle shortly.”

Snap!

Darting her head in the direction of the broken twig, Blaze jumps into a defensive pose, mimicking the defensive maneuver Sonic had done for her so many times. Blaze’s heart felt like stone as she let out hypervigilant puffs of breath. Her eyes darted from left to right and up & down and all around. Looking for any potential danger.

“Huh?” Blaze felt a firm grasp on her right arm. She looked over her right shoulder and found sonic grasping her forearm. She gazed at Sonic, trembling & struggling to hold onto her.

“I-I think I can make it back on my feet…” Sonic puffed. He tightened his grip on her forearm, using it as crutch to help him to his feet.

Blaze allowed Sonic to use her arm for support, offering additional support. Blaze felt deep sadness when looking at her hero, her first true friend, covered in bruises shuddering in pain and out of breath.

“Sonic, are you sure? You’re struggling just to stand up.” Blaze questioned Sonic’s well-being.

“Yeah…I-I can muscle it out.” Sonic weakly pants, giving a cocky smile that contradicted his current state.

“Nrgh!” Sonic grunts as he falls to his knees, using his hands to brace his fall.

“Oh my!” Blaze gasped, placing her hands on his back and chest to support him.

“Ngh… guess the genesis did a number on me…” Sonic concedes. The injuries Sonic displayed made Blaze feel deep sorrow.

Oh… This is all my fault. I could have prevented this. Blaze internally guilts herself.

Blaze darted her head around, looking for an exit so she can get him back to the castle and tend to the injuries that plague her hero. Sonic noticed Blaze’s worry regarding his injury and felt a pang of guilt. The wounded hedgehog analyzed around the surrounding forest to avoid Blaze’s deep sadness and couldn’t help but feel upset for her.

Normally the roles are reversed. Is this really what’s it like on the receiving end? Sonic ponders his position.

 Sonic’s eyes continue to wander as he questions his role and notices something, a path leading to a dusk light. Sonic peers through the dense shrubbery and has a lightbulb go off in his head.

 “H-hey… Blaze…” Sonic looks to Blaze.

“Yes?” Blaze lifts her head.

“Do you… Do you think you can help me over there?” Sonic requests; pointing to the path leading to dense shrubbery.

“Why exactly?” Blaze inquires.

“There’s something I want you to see.” Sonic replies.

Blaze hesitated for a few seconds, conflicted if she should fulfill Sonic’s request. She looked at Sonic and his injuries and then at the dense shrubbery he pointed to, conflicted. I must get him back to the castle, he is gravely injured. But if what he wants me to see is really that important… I have no reason to not trust him. Blaze internally made her decision.

“Sure…” Blaze responds, reaching for his hand and helping him to his feet to fulfill his request.

With Sonic under her arm and his arm around her waist, Blaze helps Sonic shuffle through the dense shrubbery he wants her to traverse through. Soon enough, the two arrive at a point where the trees began to clear up a sight that Blaze was unprepared for.

“Sonic. Why do you want to go this… way…” Blaze pauses in place, taken aback by the beautiful sight she and Sonic stand before. Sonic grins with delight.

She and Sonic stood within a small pond area surrounded by white cherry blossom trees, their white flowers gravitating to the water and luscious green grass that was littered with purple lilacs. Behind it all was the tangerine-colored sun setting into the horizon, further glorifying the serene sight.

“I-it’s so beautiful.” Blaze’s eyes begin to tear up. “I’ve… never seen so many flowers before.” Blaze comments. Seeing Blaze happy made Sonic feel warm inside. Something catches Sonics attention and he bends down.

“Hm?” out of the corner of her eye she sees Sonic bend down and retracts back up with a lavender lilac in hand. Sonic offers the lilac to Blaze. She looks at the lilac with confusion, unsure of why Sonic was giving her a flower.

“Is… Is this for me?” Blaze innocently asks.

“Hehe…” Sonic lets out a weak chuckle, “Who else would it be for?” Sonic says with a grin, handing her the flower.

“Eh!” Blaze felt her cheeks blush. Anxiously, she accepted the Lilac, fighting off the waterworks harder than she has ever fought before.

“T-thank you.” Blaze sniffled. Why am I crying over a simple flower? Blaze internally asked herself. Its just a flower, but, it’s a flower from him. Blaze looked to Sonic with her water eyes and smiled at him, content with the flower he had given her.

He must’ve seen so many other types of flowers. Blaze thought. Flowers just as, if not more lovely than this lilac. Flowers… that aren’t here.

“Sonic?” Blaze asked.

“Yes Blaze?” Sonic responded.

“Have you… visited many wonderful places before?” Blaze questioned.

Sonic stared off into the sunset and reminisced on his previous adventures, the diverse locations he and his friend traveled to; places that he and his friends had gone to downtime, places they had seen during their adventures, even places when traveling to meet each other, Sonic remembered all of his adventures and the wonderful places he had visited.

“Yeah… I’ve visited many places.” Sonic asnwers. “And there are still many places I need to visit!”

I can’t imagine the wonderful places he has seen. Places that feel too ethereal to be a part of reality. Places that such wonderful people come from. Places… beyond my reach. Blaze imagines the sights that Sonic says he had seen.

Sonic released his hold on Blaze and limped to the shore of the lake. Blaze watched with admiration as Sonic slowly limped to the edge of the lake. Even when injured he never stays still. Blaze internally remarked Sonic’s persistence.

At the edge of the lake Sonic sits down on the green, green grass looking out to the setting sun falling behind the horizon, admiring the beautiful sight. A sight that contradicted Sonic’s own thoughts.

I don’t deserve someone like her. Sonic internally scolds himself, gazing his own injuries. If I’m the fast thing alive, how come I wasn’t quick enough to save her?

Blaze arrived at Sonic’s side and sat down beside him.

“Sonic?”

“Yeah?” Sonic replied, turning to Blaze to into her dandelion yellow eyes.

“Once you defeat Eggman. You’ll leave… won’t you?”

Sonic shut his eyes solemnly and nod his head in confirmation.

Blaze shifted her torso back, clearly upset by the affirmative nod.

“I Figured…” Blaze says unhappily. “Although I've been frightened many times, I've also enjoyed our adventure. It allowed me to be something other than a Princess. It allowed me to be more than just the vessel for the flames of disaster. It allowed me to be…myself.”

Sonic closed his eyes in understanding, feeling even worse for nodding to her. To wield such power and responsibility, it sure doesn’t sound easy. Sonic remembers Blaze opening up to him about her traumatic past.

“It sounds like being a Princess isn't that easy.” Sonic said, “Let alone a princess with fire powers.”

“It isn’t. It really isn’t.” Blaze pauses, admiring the sunset and the purple Lilac. “But… I love my country. I love my people. The wonderful people in the castle, the young children, the dedicated workers, the kind citizens, even the people who fear me…” Blaze held the purple lilac to her breast “I love them… I love the same way my late mother and father did.”

Envisioning the old castle she was born in, Blaze remembered the imposing architecture that made the neighboring monarchs jealous, the light that seeped through the stained glass that was patterned in the shape of Solaris behind a powerful throne, and then the exact throne itself.

She recalls the time that she sobbed in her father’s lap, crying over the loss of her mother after the attack that had occurred just a week ago. She remembered his cerulean pale fur glistening under the light that radiated from the stained glass, outlining his mature and lean stature that exposed his kindhearted comfort he provided her. He gently caressed her hair and held her close to his chest. She remembers him saying: “Don't cry, Blaze. Become a strong queen who doesn't hold herself back.”

The memory of her father comforting her begins to fade away from her mind as reality re-emerges. The bright orange reflection on the lake and the field of flowers & trees came back into vision. “And so, I do my best to protect my country.” She turned back to Sonic who listened to her every word, being the friend she need for so long.

“I understand everything my parents said to me now. And I owe it all to you.” Blaze looks to Sonic, earnestly smiling. Sonic smiles back at her.

Blaze let out a soft giggle, clearly happy to be next to Sonic. Although she knew their adventure would not last forever, she didn’t want it to end. She tried to deny it, she even prayed to Solaris that Sonic would stay after defeating Eggman; he would choose to live alongside her. It’s going to be hard saying goodbye to him. Blaze laments Sonic’s inevitable departure. But maybe I don’t have to say goodbye.

“Sonic”

“Hm?”

“Do you…like Soleanna?” Blaze poses the question. Sonic reflected on his time in Soleanna and its locations he had the pleasure of running through.

“Yeah. It’s a nice place. Tails and Knuckles absolutely love it”

“Oh, well, that nice to hear… I’m glad you find my home nice…” Blaze says. Come one Blaze what are you doing? She internally kicked herself. This is your only chance to get him to stay, so just be normal about it and hopefully he will say yes. Okay, here it goes. Blaze takes a deep breath.

“Sonic how would you feel about living in Soleanna?” Blaze blurt out, cheeks burning red.

“What?” Sonic was astounded by Blaze’s request.

“You and your wonderful friends have done so much for me and my people." Blaze explained, "Me and the people of Soleanna are forever in debt to you and could never fully repay you back for our service. I'd be honored to provide a living space for you and your friends."

"Besides, your friends really seem to enjoy Soleanna." Blaze's cheeks sizzled with humiliation, "And…I enjoy you…” 

"I... um..." Sonic starred at her, completely boggled by her demand.

“I'm really sorry." Blaze apologized, "That was... the best way I could put it.” 

"Blaze... I..." 

“Please Sonic.” Blaze offered pair of sad of eyes to him, hoping he would say yes. “I would love for you and your friends to stay.” 

Sonic looked out to the sunset, processing Blaze's request and what that would in entail.

Living in Soleanna? Sonic asked himself. I mean, the place is stunning to look at. And while I do enjoy Tail's workshop, having a place to finally call my own would be nice. A place to call my own and a wonderful person I know from the get-go. Where is the downsi— oh. Eggman. Thats right...

“Blaze." Sonic solemnly looked to her, "I would love nothing more than to stay with you.”

"But" Sonic looked down at his feet; Blaze's face dropped, her look becoming anxious. 

"I sadly can't stay in Soleanna."

"Wh-what?" Blaze's face contorted, Sonic's words striking her like a punch to her gut, her despondent eyes tearing up.

“B-but why?" Blaze stuttered, "Eggman won’t threaten Soleanna when he’s gone."

"Y-you can stay!" Blaze protested, "You and your friends would love living in Soleanna."

"Please!” She begged, "Please."

“That’s… that's the problem.” Sonic continued, “Eggman won’t stay in Soleanna forever. Whatever scheme he decides to enact, someone has to be there to stop him. I would love nothing more than to stay with you, but I just can’t afford to stay.”

Blaze stood lifeless, eyes trembling with hopeless desperation; the setting sun beamed on her face, shining through the tears forming in her lower eyelids.

“I…I understand." Blaze conceded, "I’m sorry for asking so much from you.” 

Blaze starred down at her ravaged heels, avoiding eye contact with Sonic so as not to let him see her sadness.

You just had to push it, Blaze?  Blaze internally beat herself. You just had to be a little selfish. 

“Blaze.” Sonic softly holds Blaze’s chin and directs her gaze to him.

Oh boy. Sonic felt his heart ache as he looked into Blaze’s teary eyes. Stay strong Sonic. She needs you more than you need her. 

“Don’t be sad." Sonic consoled, "It will be alright. I promise.” 

“Sonic…” Blaze sniffled, “When you and your friends leave for another adventure. Please remember… Soleanna will always be welcome to have you and your friends return…and I would love to welcome you back.”

Sonic gazed out to the sunset, clearly upset with his decision even if it was the right decision.

“Definitely. I’ll always remember Soleanna.” Sonic clenches his fist, “And I’ll always remember you.” Sonic gazes to Blaze, her golden eyes tearing up.

“Sonic…” Blaze’s cheeks turn red with embarrassment and deep sadness.

She pulled her chin away and turns her body away, clenching her eyes shut & holding herself to quell her grieving. Her gemstone began radiating dangerous orange. “Don’t cry Blaze, you must be strong.” Blaze quietly mutters.

“Blaze?” Sonic looked at her concerned, for her well-being.

“I’m alright.” Blaze lied, not turning to look at his green eyes. “I’m sorry…”

I don’t deserve someone like him. She internally scolds herself, gazing to the lavender lilac in her hand. If I’m supposed to protect people, how come I wasn’t able to protect him?

“Blaze, are you sure you’re alri—” Sonic’s concern for Blaze is interrupted by her twisting around and quickly hugging him. Sonic slowly returned the hug, allowing Blaze to release her soft sobs onto his chest. Sonic’s embrace transformed her orange hands, gemstone and chest back to their original color. Sonic’s warm embrace had denied Iblis yet another chance to escape.

“Blaze… Smile.” Sonic smiled.

Blaze looked Sonic in his emerald, green eyes, remembering their adventure.

Their first encounter at the Festival of the Sun. 

The early morning, he had rescued her from Eggman.

The final blow she dealt to the Egg Cerberus.

The time he carried her across the Arid Dunes while she was out cold.

The two occasions in which he protected her from Silver.

The time he hugged her on the outskirts of New Soleanna.

The final blow he dealt the Egg genesis.

The words of encouragement he provided her as she carried him through the Exotic Forest. 

And him saying her smile was all he needed.

She remembered it all.

So, for him and him only, she smiled.

Even if it hurts to smile, I don't care. Blaze internally whined. As long as he's happy, then I feel happy. Even if I'm not.

The two embraced each other until the sun disappeared from the horizon. Once the sun had set, Blaze and Sonic let go from their hugging session.

“It’s getting dark" Blaze sighed, rubbing her tears, "We need to get you back to the castle.” 

Perching his arm over her shoulder, Blaze guides Sonic back to the castle.

Chapter Text

“Help! Help!” Blaze called to the front entrance guards.

The two guards rush to Blaze’s aid and provide additional support for Sonic, who can barely limp. The slowly opening throne room door notifies Sophia, Tails and Knuckles both wrapped in bandages, as well as another guest.

“Blaze! Oh, thank Solaris you are safe.” Sophia exclaims, rushing to the Princess.

“Sophia. Theres no time. Grab the medical supplies. Now!” Blaze commands, helping Sonic further into the castle as Sophia bolts off with the other guards to retrieve the medical equipment.

“Oh my goodness!” Tails cries, rushing over to his best friend, with knuckles following behind

“What happened? Are you two hurt?” Knuckles queries.

“I’m alright. But Sonic… He got really hurt from one of Eggman’s giant robots” Blaze short-windily informs. Tails and Knuckles look to each other with worry and then to Sonic, unsure of how they can help Blaze and their best friend.

“Blaze how can we help?” Tails asks.

“I need you two to help him to his guest room while I…” Blaze paused, finally noticing the guest. Goosebumps covered her arms when she realized who it was.

Approaching from behind Tails and Knuckles, was a lava-gray Jaguar. The gray Jaguar’s biceps and shins were wrapped in bandages; she stepped in between Tails and Knuckles, crossing her arms and gazing into Blaze’s quivering eyes.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” Blaze trembled. She held Sonic closer to her, fearing that the Jaguar would hurt him.

The Jaguar’s amber orange eyes inspected Blaze, observing her cautious display. And then she observed Sonic’s injuries, observing the bruises and scuff marks that traced his entire body. The Jaguar’s eyes on Sonic only caused Blaze to become more tensed.

“That’s not important right now.” The Jaguar says with a straight face, “We need to help him.”

Blaze contemplated for a moment; she was unsure if she could trust her after what had occurred back at White Acropolis, even though she saved her. But she knew the Jaguar was right, they needed to get Sonic the help he needed immediately.  

“Alright. You three bring him to the guest bedroom he has been sleeping in. I’ll go grab some my bandage roll and cloth.” Blaze instructed.

Tails and Knuckles nod in compliance.

“You can count on us!” Knuckles said.

Tails and Knuckles put Sonic’s arms around their necks and begin to gently escort him to the guest room with the Jaguar walking behind to provide additional support. Blaze watches the trio guide Sonic to the guest room, worried about Sonic’s safety.

Tails, Knuckles, and the Jaguar guiding Sonic to the bed of the guest room Blaze had been so generous to provide for him. Sonic groaned in pain as Tails, Knuckles and the Jaguar propped him onto the soft mattress. Tails and Knuckles examine him with worry, showing concern for his health.

The Jaguar however, only examined Sonic with formal solemn, showing concern for Sonic but not in the same way in which Tails and Knuckles expressed worry. As the three analyzed Sonic’s wounds, Blaze, Sophia, Anna and Gardon drift into the room. Blaze hurries to Sonic’s side with her roll of bandage tape and a dry and wet washcloth.

Tails, Knuckles and the Jaguar stepped back to allow Blaze to tend to Sonic. Using the dry cloth, Blaze begins to clean Sonic’s open wounds.

“Gha!” Sonic groans in pain, clenching his teeth from the pressure of the clothing touching his sensitive wounds “S-sorry…” Blaze stutters.

Blaze wipes all the open wounds and bruises with the dry cloth, gripping Sonic’s trembling hand as he clenches the mattress he is bound to. Blaze repeats the process with the wet cloth, cleaning all his cuts and bruises. Although Sonic knew Blaze was helping him, he could not stop himself from twitching in pain from his sensitive injuries.

“Sonic please.” Blaze solicits, clearly distressed from seeing him in agony.

With all the bruises, cuts, and wounds all dry and clean, Blaze opens her medical kit placing band-aids on all the small cuts. Then, with her roll of bandage tape, she begins to wrap all of Sonic’s limbs in medical tape. Including open wounds present on his chest, face, and quills. With the bandages wrapped around Sonic’s wounds, Blaze steps back to examines Sonic’s bandaged body. Upset at the sight of how many bandages are taped to Sonic.

“There. I-Is that better?” she queries.

Sonic examines Blaze’s handiwork “Yes… Much better.” Sonic wearily remarks.

Blaze lets out a sign or relief, satisfied to hear Sonic say he feels better. “I’m so happy to hear you’re okay.” Blaze expresses to Sonic, holding back tears.

Anna swept up from behind, ready to comfort her as she had on numerous occasions; placing her paw on Blaze’s shoulder, Anna provides consolation.

“There, there dear.” Anna consoles Blaze, “Sonic will make a quick recovery thanks to your efforts.” Blaze timidly grins, unsure of what to say or what to do next. The ginger rabbit then diverts her focus to Sonic.

“Sonic. You and your friends have done so much for the nation of Soleanna.” Anna praises Sonic, “We are forever grateful for your strong and selfless servitude.”

“Heh…It’s nothing…really…I just did what I had to do.” Sonic meekly chuckled.

Anna returns a smile of gratitude to the blue hedgehog. Sonic smiles back. But not to Anna. He smiles at Blaze.

“Well, we will give you time to rest up. You just call us if you need anything.” Sophia interjects.

“Sure thing…I appreciate it.” Sonic expresses gratitude.

Sophia turns to signal to everyone to leave the room, “Let us go now, Sonic needs to rest” the blonde owl signals. Tails, Knuckles, Gardon, Sophia, the Jaguar and Anna walk out of the room, leaving only Blaze as the last person to leave.

“Blaze? We should let Sonic rest up dear.” Anna calls to Blaze, who is still at Sonic’s side.

“Can I… just have a moment please? It won’t take long.” Blaze requests. Anna was worried for Sonic’s safety just as much as Blaze did, and he did need to rest up. But she also knows that Sonic means a lot to the princess, so she allowed it.

“Okay. But let’s not be too long. You need rest too you know.” Anna permits.

“I know. Thank you.” Blaze replies. Anna grins to Blaze and closes the door so Blaze could have a moment with Sonic.

Pulling a seat from the corner, Blaze sits next to Sonic’s side.

“H-hey.” Blaze stammer.

“Hey.” Sonic responds, shifting his aching body to look to her.

“I…I’m really glad you’re okay.” Blaze reaches for Sonic’s wounded hand; he doesn’t object or recoil, allowing her lithe hand to clasp his battered hand.

“Heh…yeah. I’m just glad to see you’re okay as well.” Sonic exhausts, smiling to her. Sonic’s smile made Blaze feel great happiness and great sadness. While she was happy to see Sonic will live another day, she was also sad because of his current condition.

“You Failed Him!”

“Huh!?” Blaze looks around the room, unsure if she heard a low voice or not, but no one other than her and Sonic were in the room.

“Who’s there?” Blaze calls out, but no answer came.

“That was weird, right Sonic?” Blaze turns to face Sonic but the mattress he laid on was now vacant.

“What the? Sonic where…are you?” Blaze asks out loud, desperately snapping her head in all directions to find Sonic. “Sonic?” Blaze calls his name, but no answer. “Sonic!” Blaze becomes scared. “SONIC!” Blaze cries out, worried for her friend. She searched the small room and found only herself.

“Anna! Sonic is miss— AH!” Blaze opens the door and is met by the hallway set hallway ablaze, Anna nowhere to be seen in sight.

“Sonic!” Blaze calls out into the burning Hallways. “Sonic where are you?”

“You’re a danger to everyone!” the mysterious, raspy voice whispers.

“Who are you?! Show yourself!” Blaze demands. She analyzed the room and the hallways to find the source of the vocals, but no figure was found present once again.

With the fire growing worse, Blaze has little choice but to escape. She bolted down the hallway, sidestepping from the falling embers that posed no threat to her.

“Sonic! Anna! Gardon! Anyone?!” Blaze called out, hoping someone, anyone would answer. but no one called bak.

“Where is everyone?” Blaze pants as she traverses through the ignited corridors. Blaze descends the stairs and steps into the throne room. She felt her pupil shrink as she looked at the sight she couldn’t comprehend.

The castle, the second castle she grew up in, was burning from the inside. Wooden pilings collapse to the floor and shattered into wood chips, the red carpet was scorched, and the window panes were shattered. “If I don’t do something right now, All of Soleanna will be reduced to nothing more than ash.” Blaze panicked.

“You could have prevented this.”

“N-No. No. I-I didn’t do this. I-I…”

“Only a pathetic vessel could release Iblis!”

Blaze freezes in place, taking in what the mystery voice had told her.

“Release Iblis?” Blaze whimpered. “N-no. No I couldn’t have. That’s impossible!”

Blaze dashes to the throne room entrance, avoiding the fire and falling debris. At the door, Blaze presses her body against the only fragment that wasn’t scorched and uses all of her might to try and budge the door open.

“Weak.”

“N-no. I-I’m not…” Blaze protests.

“Unreliable.”

“No. Stop!” Blaze begs, still pressing herself against the large door. But the voice didn’t stop, only continuing to hurl more demeaning terms into her ears.

“Worthless Disaster.”

“STOP!” Blaze shouts, giving her the strength to budge open the large door.

With the door budged just enough for her to evacuate the scorched castle, Blaze steps out and is mortified at what is presented for her: All Soleanna alight in flames.

“No…no this…this can’t be?!” Blaze hyperventilates, mortified at the scale of destruction that ravages her country. “Hu-whew, Hu-whew, Hu-whew-” Blaze attempts to grasp ahold of her hyperventilation, but the chaos around her prevents her from relying on her go-to breathing exercises.

THUD!

Landing just behind Blaze’s petrified body, a towering figure’s shadow looms over her.

Blaze jitterily turns to face the only individual besides her who is present. Towering before her stands a dark figure with a tattered brown cloak that conceals his body and face.

“Wh-who…who are you?” Blaze quivers in horror. The dark figure did not say anything.

“H-hello…are…are you alright?” Blaze slowly extends her hand to their hood as she struggles to inquire about them. Blaze’s hand hovers about the cloth of the hood.

The figure’s hand then darts up, grabbing Blaze’s left wrist.

“Ah! Hey. Ngh…Ngh. Let go. Ugh!” Blaze fidgets her held wrist, trying to escape from the tight grip that only got tighter. “Ngh…Ah…Please…” Blaze begs. On the verge of tears, Blaze’s fidgeting declines rapidly as the figures grip becomes tighter and tighter. The figure takes note of Blaze’ exhaustion and releases his grip.

Blaze collapses to the ground, coughing in pain as her burning tears obscure her sight and her left wrist throbs in pain. The flow of blood recirculating through her wrist. The figure gazes at Blaze, showing no remorse for her distress or injury.

“Wh-who… who are you?” Blaze questions through her coarse and dry throat.

The figure reaches for the hood he punished Blaze for reaching for. In the dark hole from the hood, two bulging blood-red eyes with lizard-green pupils appear alongside a gapping smile made up of razor-sharp teeth.

Flinging the hood back, the figure reveals itself to be a black griffon with crystalized skin. His upper mandible of his beak had a crack dunning down his right side and the tip was chipped. Jagged horns protrude from his forehead, the tips were maroon blood red; the claws on both of his hands and feet were the same color as the tips of his horns. And dark purple stripes ran along his spiked mane.

“No…” Blaze murmurs, scared of menacing figure that stands before her.

Then, in that moment, two dark grey wings burst out of the griffon’s back, tearing the cloak off the Griffon. The wing flaps being a crystal purple that shine in the burning environment.

Blaze slowly begins to crawl back, scared at the figure towering before her. Scurrying to her feet, Blaze breaks into a bolt, hoping she can escape the threatening griffon.

But the griffon was faster. Using his wings, he captures Blaze in his grasp, holding her legs and neck as tightly as he did to her wrist. The griffon’s twisted grin only grows wider as he observes Blaze’s pathetic flailing; he savored each gasp for air she let out.

“Please…I…I beg of you.” Blaze pleas with the griffon, losing her breath from asphyxiation.

The griffon begins to discreetly chuckle, but it’s not long before his quiet chuckle evolves into a maniacal chortle. Blaze can only watch as the griffon’s laugh grows louder, his shining wings shining brighter around her and his aura more terrifying. After a hearty laugh, the griffon regathers his composure and leers to Blaze, sending chills down her spine. Then, from his left hand emerges a faint glowing light. Blaze ponders over the strange light, unsure of what horrifying power it could be. The griffon rears his left arm back, the light glowing brighter.

“My name… is Solaris” the Griffon finally answered.

Then, in the blink of an eye, The Griffon shoots his arm out to Blaze. His claw does not reach her, but something else reaches her.

“Wh-why d-does everything f-feel so c-cold?” Blaze gazes down and finds a sharp, white pillar penetrating her chest. Blaze’s body begins to violently twitch with panic as she realizes all too late what the Griffon had done. Blaze begins to feel faint as world around her becomes blurry.

The Griffon retracts his hand, removing the sharp pillar from her chest. Blaze convulses in pain as the sharp blade that penetrate her chest is removed. The griffon’s wings release Blaze, dropping her to the concrete.

Blaze lands on her knees, coughing out blood and clenching her trembling hand across her gapping gash, feeling her own blood seep out. Her blood-stained gloves didn’t make her less-than-ideal situation any better.

“Puh-please…” Blaze heaves, losing her line of sight and consciousness The Griffon rears his arm back, ready to pierce once again.

“Farewell. Princess Blaze.” the Griffon bids. Thrusting his arm out, the Griffon launches his white beam of death.

Straight for her heart.

Chapter Text

“Gah!” Blaze screamed in distress, “Ahhh!” her eyes were sealed shut, her hands clenched her pounding head, and her gemstone shifted from ruby red to maroon orange.

“Blaze! Blaze, you need to calm down. It’s alright” Sonic tries to console her with his words as he is too injured to grab a hold of her given his current state.

Anna, Sophia and Gardon burst into the room, rushing to Blaze who wilding flailed around the center of the room. Anna and Sophia clamped Blaze’s arms to confine her erratic thrashing and embers.

“What happened? Sophia asks out loud, struggling to contain Blaze.

“We were just talking and then she spaced out. Now she’s screaming like she was killed!” Sonic responds.

“Ahh!” Blaze continues to scream. Her gemstone was now glistening bright orange. “Hagh!!!”

“Oh goodness…” Gardon murmurs under his breath.

“Blaze dear. You need to calm down right this instant! It’s okay.” Anna attempts to quell her.

But Anna’s quelling words were lost through Blaze’s screaming that only grew louder and louder as her shaking more erratic and small wisps of flames seeped from imbedded gemstone that was now glowing radiant, dangerous orange. The royal chaperones begin to panic as Blaze’s distress becomes more uncontrollable.

Gardon tries to clamp a set of crimson-red bracelet monitors on her wrists to extinguish her flames. Which proved to be a fatal mistake, as Blaze swung her scorching hand, setting Gardon’s paws aflame.

“Ngah!” Gardon yelped, crumbling to the floor in pain, fanning out the searing burn that singed his light-gray fur.

Distracted by Gardon’s injury, Anna and Sophia lost their grasp on Blaze’s arms. They tried to grab a hold of her arms once more. But Blaze spun around, arms spread out, grazing Anna and Sophia’s hands.

Anna and Sophia dropped to their knees like Gardon had and began sweat bullets as the princess stumbles around in pain and terror, knocking down portraits & burning the furniture. All the while, their own hands were too toasted to be of any use in pacifying her.

“Wh-what do we do?” Gardon panics, sweat pouring down his forehead from the heat and stress.

“I don’t think we can do anything” Anna fretted, “She’s too distressed for us to get to her.” Anna exhales.

Sonic watched in abject horror as Blaze harshly thrashed around, unsure if he can even quell her dangerous flailing. He was too injured to console her, but now there is no other option. Either he does something and curbs her outburst or Iblis escapes and creates a bigger outburst. Limping out of bed, Sonic hobbles over to Blaze.

“Sonic don’t!” Gardon protests, extending his scorched hand out from the opposite side of the room.

“I…I can do this.” Sonic mutters.

“Gahhhh! Grahhhhhh!” Blaze’s screaming grew louder and more deafening as Sonic became closer.

“Just…a little…further…” Sonic moans, limping closer and closer to Blaze.

At her feet, Blaze’s crying was that of a screeching siren and being near her in this state felt warm, too warm. With the distress princess right in front of him, Sonic throws his wounded arms around her and pulls her in. Blaze’s screeching scream continues as Sonic firmly holds her.

“Blaze… Blaze It’s alright.” Sonic pants to Blaze “I got you.”

“Ahhhh…hu!”

Blaze’s ear-piercing scream comes to a halt and her teary-eyes snap open, her hyperventilating continued to sputter.

“I got you. Alright? I got you. It’s okay.” Sonic hugs her tighter, holding the back of her head with his hand to assure a firm grip.

Hearing Sonic had brought her to reality, away from that monster. Sonic’s hospitality had made Blaze’s erratic shaking begin to subside. Her rapid breathing begins to gradually slow down to the point she is breathless; so too does her beaming bright orange assets, reverting to their original color.

Anna, Sophia and Gardon felt their jaws drop open as Sonic single-handedly calm down Blaze’s panic attack and stops Iblis from escaping.

“Sonic…” Blaze exhales. Her legs slumped and she felt herself just barley standing on the side of her heels.

“It’s alright.” Sonic repeated, holding her tighter in his embrace as she slowly began to regain her standard breathing rate. “You’re safe now.”

In a matter of minutes, Blaze’s panic attack had been conquered thanks to the warm embrace of Sonic.

Anna picked herself up, still in utter disbelief by Sonic and how he handled Blaze’s outburst, and approached from behind.

“Dear, are you alright?” Anna asks.

Blaze shakily nods her head up and down on Sonic’s shoulder, shaking as she heavily breathed.

“We need to get her to her room?” Sonic declares.

Sonic hands Blaze over to Anna, Sophia and Gardon, and allows them to escort her to her chamber while he followed.

Tails, Knuckles, and the Jaguar follow behind and even help Sonic to her room, much to Tails and Knuckles dismay.

Once in her room, Blaze is placed down on her mattress exactly how sonic was, groaning in pain and distressed. With help from both Knuckles and the Jaguar, the iron shackles that clung to Blaze’s ankles and wrists are broken off.

With the rusted confinements removed, Blaze’s wounds are cleaned and bandaged. This time Anna and Gardon clean and bandage her wounds, with Sophia providing a new set of crimson-red bracelets monitors to Blaze; placing the jewelry on her wrists once both wrists are wrapped in white medical tape.

“There. You should feel much better by tomorrow morning.” Anna gives solace to Blaze in bed, admiring her and Gardon’s handiwork.

“Thank you, miss Anna. I’m… sorry I burnt you, Miss Sophia and Gardon…” Blaze apologizes.

“It’s alright dear.” Anna skims Blaze’s forehead, reassuring the princess that what she did back in the guest room was not her doing and not intentional.

Was what that griffon said true? Am I truly a worthless disaster? Blaze ponders the insult she heard from her vision What exactly that? It wasn’t a dream but it wasn’t exactly a vision. It felt too real to be a vision. Hmm.

“Do you feel more secure now?” Gardon asks Blaze.

“Oh? Y-yes. Yes, I’m feeling much better now. Thank you Gardon…” Blaze replies.

How could they just forgive and help me after I’ve practically cooked them? Blaze cerebrates.

“Well, it’s rather late and you really need to rest up.” Sophia says. “And that includes everyone.” Sophia announces the room, waving her hand in the air to garner attention.

The blonde owl saunters to the door, signaling everyone to leave. Everyone fills out of the room, with Sonic limping behind.

“Sonic wait!” Blaze calls to him, halting his progress at the open door where Sophia waits in the hallway for him.

“Yeah?” Sonic asks, turning to Blaze. Blaze hesitates for a moment, unsure of if she should admit her feelings or save it for tomorrow.

“Sonic I’m…I’m sorry…” Blaze apologizes.

“It’s alright. I’m…just glad you’re okay.” Sonic accepts her apology.

“Th-thank you. I’m truly, truly sorry…”

But Sonic could tell that Blaze was more than sorry. She was upset. Her body language, her saddened eyes, her slumped shoulders, her flushed cheeks and her hair that bedraggled, was enough to convince Sonic that she was overwhelmed with emotions.

“Hey? Do you…want to talk?” Sonic offers to Blaze.

“Yes… I-If you’re okay with that, that is I mean I woul—”

“It’s alright.” Sonic lifts his hand in a pausing gesture; taking Blaze’s awkward response as a ‘yes’, knowing she needs someone to talk to. Sonic hobbles his way over to the side of her bed.

“Sonic.” Sophia peeked her head in, “It’s getting awfully late and really need to rest up.”

“I know.” Sonic answered back, “I’ll be out soon. I promise.”

“Hmph! Well, I will be waiting outside the door this time.” Sophia pouts, stepping out to the hallway to do as she says.

Shuffling to Blaze’s bed, Sonic couldn’t help notice his eyes glued to Blaze. Whether it was because he was concerned for her or something else, he could not tell. But all he knew is that she needed him and he felt gravitated to her.

Arriving at the bed, Sonic greets Blaze with a tired smile.

“Hey.” Sonic greets.

“H-Hey…” Blaze replies to Sonic. Caressing her bruised, right bicep.

“Are you…alright? You gave us a good scare back there.” Sonic lightheartedly teases.

“Y-yeah…I-I feel safer now…thanks to you…” Blaze lightly whispers.

“Are you sure? You really had us worried back there” Sonic interrogates her. Blaze’s shy grip on her arm tightens with anxiety upon hearing Sonic’s concern.

“Blaze?” Sonic extends his hand out; reaching for her shoulder. Blaze’s hands shoot up to grasp Sonic’s hand, catching sonic off guard despite the gentle grasp.

“Yes. I’m…I’m fine. I’m just…really scared.” Blaze timidly responds.

Sonic listens to Blaze, ready to hear just what it is she is afraid of. Eggman? Him and his friends leaving? Something else? He is not sure but whatever it is that has Blaze worried, but he wants to help her overcome that fear.

“What are you scared about?” Sonic queries, offering her open ears.

“I-I…I’m scared of Eg-Eggman… I-I’m scared of him. I-I’m scared of Silver. I’m Scared of what they will do. I’m scared of seeing those visions again! I-I’m scared of having another outburst. I’m scared of Iblis’s inevitable release. I’m scared of what’ll become of my people and me. I’m scared of G.U.N. I’m scared of losing you. I’m-I-I-I-”

Sonic wriggles his hands from Blaze’s tight grip and pulls her into an embrace, ceasing her hyperventilating.

“Hey. Hey. Calm down its alright. Deep Breaths, okay? Deep Breaths.” Sonic soothes Blaze, combing the back of her head and holding her in his embrace.

“Is everything alright in there?” Sophia peeks her head in. “Yep. Its all good in here. I’ll be done in just a minute.” Sonic calls back, continuing to embrace Blaze as her hyperventilating begins to lessen.

“Alright. But hurry up now.  It’s awfully late and you both need rest for a busy day ahead of you tomorrow.” Sophia replies.

“Got it!” Sonic gives a thumbs up to Sophia.

“Alright…” Sophia says before retreating to the hallway.

“Are you all good?” Sonic releases his embrace on Blaze.

“Y-yes. Thank you once again.” Blaze gives thanks once more.

“Hey.” Sonic softly clamps his hands on her shoulders to reassure she is safe. “It’s going to be alright. We’re going to get through this and you won’t have to be afraid.”

“But how do you know it will be alright?” Blaze questioned Sonic’s blind faith.

“It’s like I said: If you have time to worry, then run.” Sonic requotes himself.

“Sonic…” Blaze gleamed with admiration. Although she knew Sonic was not staying forever, she felt Sonic’s wise words fill her with newfound hope and desire to overcome all the odds.

Including one she has had since Sonic had brought her back to castle after her visit in Arid Dunes, after he traveled back in time to save her, and after he gave her the purple lilac.

“I…I—”

“EH-hem!” Blaze is cut off by Sophia signaling to the two to wrap it up.

“Um…right. It’s getting late we better get to—” “Yeah! Uh…yes. We…better get some rest” “Yeah. I was… thinking the same thing…” Sonic and Blaze awkwardly conclude the conversation.

“Well. Good night, Blaze.” Sonic grins.

“Goodnight, Sonic.” Blaze grins back at him.

Turning away, Sonic hobbled to her door and allowed Sophia to guide him back to his room. Blaze watched as Sonic hobbled behind Sophia as the door slowly closed.

Creeeeaaak… KUT!

The door closed, creating a locking click that faintly echoed throughout Blaze’s chamber.

Blaze felt her cheeks burning up; a blush crawled up both sides of her cheeks. She

“I love you…” Blaze whispered under her breath.

She lowered her back onto her mattress, sinking her aching body onto her affluent bedstead. It didn’t take long for her eyes to become droopy until she could barely keep them open. In no time, Blaze lowered her eyelids and had fallen into her usual deep slumber. Blissfully unaware of what tomorrow would bring for her and Sonic.

Chapter Text

Dawn approached Soleanna like it had approached every day; the sun rose from the horizon and began to beam down on Castle Town and New Soleanna. The residents and tourists arose from their cozy slumber and glistened under the Soleanna sun, ready for what the day had in tow for them.

And just like every other morning, Blaze slept the early morning away within her royal & luxurious room, coiled up under her lavish bedding as she dreamed away.

As she snoozed, a small smile had blossomed on her nuzzle. She was not having a nightmare involving Silver, the Griffon, nor her past trauma. Rather, she was dreaming of ‘someone’ else.

In her dream, she giggled as she dreamed about herself and the ‘someone’ enjoying each other’s company on the sandy shores, walking hand in hand. She dreamed of herself being twirled by the ‘someone’, happily laughing as she spun around in a white, sleeveless sundress with a blue stripe at the hem. Her paws tingled as she felt the sand in her sandals, but she felt more tingly when smiling at the ‘someone’.

She felt gravitated to the ‘someone’s’ lips as she gazed into their green eyes. She reaches in for a kiss and so too does he. He gently places his palm on her cheek; a romantic tingle shivers down along her back, but she did not care. She felt happy. She was happy to be so close to someone she learned to love in a very short time. As she reaches in closer for a kiss, her smile grows wider and wider. In her dream she is just an inch away from having her lips make contact with her special ‘someone’. And then…

Fwoosh!

The bedroom door flies wide open; interrupting the whimsical fantasy Blaze envisioned as Gardon and Anna burst into the room.

“Your highness!” Gardon blares. “Wake Up!”

“Eugh…Huh?” Blaze sits up in her bed. “Gardon, what’s wrong?”

“Come to the balcony quick!” Anna commands, running to the Balcony. Gardon follows

Sleepily groaning, Blaze drags her feet from under the covers and dangles them off the side of the bed, barely able to open her droopy eyelids.

Boom!

Blaze’s sleepy eyes snaped wide open; her senses went into alert mode as she heared a loud explosion go off. With worry over what the loud impact she just heard was, Blaze sprang out of bed and made a mad dash for the balcony.

“Gardon!” Blaze replied, stepping out onto the balcony where Gardon and Anna look to the sky.

“Gardon what exactly is the…” Blaze looked up to the sky and became petrified with fear.

“No. No it can’t be!” Blaze trembled.

Floating above the center of Castle Town, blocking out the clear blue morning sky, was a massive aircraft painted red and dark grey; it was the Egg carrier. From the bottom of the floating ship, a hatch had opened and from within the ship. Dropping from the opened hatch was a horde of Egg Gunners.

The monochrome robots touched onto the town’s pathways, crushing the concrete paths beneath their robotic feet. The Egg Gunners take aim and begin firing, aiming their rounds at both shops and screaming civilians; the people on the streets bolt away from the Egg Gunners in search of shelter and safety, evading the bullets and small chunks of debris that came from the buildings the Egg Gunners had successfully blasted.

Blaze watched the unfolding mayhem from her balcony; she felt her heart thumping in her chest as her claws clenched the stone balcony. Looking back up at the Egg Carrier, Blaze sees the Egg Mobile descend from the opening hatch that the Egg Gunners had dropped from. She looked the Egg Mobile and saw Eggman piloting the device she was all too familiar with at this point.

Just when the Egg Mobile had descended halfway down to the ravaged altar, a squadron of egg flyers dispel from beneath the Egg Mobile and fly off in all directions. While the Egg Mobile continued its gradual descent to the altar, the Egg Flyers surveyed the town scanning the paths and firing missiles at damaged infrastructures and escaping citizens.

As Blaze watched the carnage grow more perilous, she felt her breathing become heavier and heavier as her claws started to claw into the balcony slab she clenched under her paws.

Re-ow!

Suddenly, a drone rose from beneath the balcony, starting Blaze, Gardon and Anna.

“Your highness. Get behind me!” Gardon commands, wedging himself in between Blaze and the drone. Gardon stares down the drone with his spear in hand, reading to ravage the drone with his spears pointed tip.

Looking past Gardon, the lone Egg Flyer projects a hologram of Dr. Eggman. Even though he was not physically in front of her, Blaze could tell that he was livid, and he had an announcement to make.

“Princess Blaze, ruler of Soleanna.” Eggman began, “By refusing to negotiate with me, you have forced me to take drastic actions, such as making an example of your defenseless city by showcasing my magnificent creations and genius!”

Blaze helplessly listened to Eggman’s boasting; the distant cries and crumbling buildings grew louder and louder through the billowing smoke that Blaze saw through the hologram of Eggman.

“If you wish for your city to remain in one piece, meet me at the center of castle town right this instant. Metal Sonic will be outside your castle to escort you to me.”

Puh! Puh-Puh! Thud! “Hiah!” Wham!

Hearing an exchange of faint impacts and robotic movements. Looking over the balcony, Blaze’s sinking heart sunk further as she witnessed Knuckles exchanging fists with Metal Sonic, whose exterior design was much spiker with white stripes on his iron quills; and even accompanied by a black cape.

PAH!

“Nah!” Knuckles cried in response to Metal Sonic clobbering him clean in the face with his robotic fist, whisking Knuckles hat off to the side as he crumpled to the ground.

“Failure to do so on time, will result in my leveling of this city so that nothing but ashes remain!” Eggman threatened.

Blaze felt a dry lump in her throat as she her legs trembled.

“So do not keep me waiting.” Eggman stated.

With the last words of the message conveyed, the hologram vanished into thin air and the single Egg Flyer departed from the castle balcony, returning to the egg mobile.

Holding onto the Balcony for dear life, Blaze tried to hold herself upright but couldn’t. She collapsed to her knees hyperventilating, unable to bear the situation at hand.

Gardon and Anna rush to her aid, but their words were lost on deaf ears; their words were drowned by her distressed puffs and pounding in her head.

“I… I failed.” Blaze whimpered, “I failed my country. I failed my people. And I failed Sonic.”

Her gemstone glistened a brighter shade of red from the stress of the situation; miniscule flares had begun to bleed out, and her erratically trembling claws had severely clawed the balcony handle.

What am I to do? Blaze murmured under her shaky breath. I can’t him… I won’t let him…

Blaze looked to the altar where Eggman was waiting for her. Seeing the Egg Mobile made her sick to her stomach and she felt like she was on the verge of puking. But the sight of her home being ravaged made her stomach churn even more; the screams from her people, the crumbling buildings, and the smoke that burned all that she loved had made her nauseous.

Don't cry, Blaze. Become a strong queen who doesn't hold herself back.

In that moment, when looking out at carnage, she recalled the advice of her late father. The same advice he had bestowed upon following the aftermath of the attack that had befallen Soleanna more than ten years ago.

He’s right. Blaze agreed with her late father’s words. Even though I don’t want to, I need to. Not for me, but for my people.

Taking a deep breath, Blaze rose to her feet and straightened her posture. Her panicked facial expression was now absent and in it’s place was a stolid expression, she masked her anxiety with apathy.

“Your highness…” Gardon raises to Blaze.

“I cannot allow harm to come to my people.” Blaze bluntly replied. She turned on her heels for the castle entrance.

“Blaze dear.” Anna grabs Blaze by her wrist. “What are you doing. You can’t go with that dangerous man!”

Blaze stood frozen in place for what seemed like minutes, and then she lowered her head.

“It is my duty as Princess of Soleanna to go...” Blaze states her intentions. She turns to look at Anna, tears forming in her golden eyes. “There is no other choice.”

Anna opened her mouth to protest, to argue against Blaze’s decision, but no words came. With no words to fight back, Anna slumped back and nodded, tears began forming in her eyes.

Without saying anything, Blaze threw herself into Anna’s arms and held her guardian close to her. Anna hugged Blaze tighter, unable to bear the thought of losing someone she considered to be her daughter.

Gardon removed his hat and lowered his head in shame, upset at the sight of Blaze bidding farewell to her non-biological mother, feeling the hopelessness of the situation.

After what felt like an eternity to Blaze and Anna, they both pulled away. Blaze looked at Anna one more time and smiled, and then turned away to exit her room for the castle entrance.

As Blaze walked through the hallways she grew up in, she reminisced on memories of when she was a child and young teenager. I’m going to truly miss these halls. Blaze recounted the numerous times she had walked these halls. But there is no time to get nostalgic, I need to protect my people.

She made her way down a flight of stairs and hallways and soon was on the floor just above the throne room. Walking down the hallway that led to the stairs leading to the throne room, Blaze noticed one of the guest room doors. Her eyes were gravitated to the guest room door where Sonic slept behind.

“Should I?” Blaze contemplated. “No. I can’t. I can’t worry him further. But…” Blaze pauses “This might be the last time I ever see him.” Blaze stares down the guest room door that awaited her decision.

“Augh.” Blaze decisively groaned, “Let’s make this quick.”

Slowly clasping the doorknob and creaking the door open, Blaze peeked into the guest room and found Sonic fast asleep, sprawled out on the bed.

Slinking in very slowly so as to not wake him, Blaze tip-toed to the side of his bed that Sonic laid, passed out and still bandaged.

He’s hurt. And it’s all my fault. Blaze blamed herself for Sonic’s injuries. I may not have been able to protect him then, but I will protect him now.

Exhaling a faint sigh, Blaze bends down to Sonic and smooched his forehead.

Before exiting, Blaze rests the red Chaos Emerald and purple lilac on the night stand. With the emerald and lilac bestowed to Sonic, Blaze returns to the door leading into the hallway to resume her walk to greet metal sonic. Holding the doorknob, she looks back to Sonic.

“Farewell, Sonic the Hedgehog.” Blaze solemnly bid farewell.

Blaze closed the door, parting ways with Sonic.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Huff… Huff… Huff…” Knuckles pant as he lied on the ground.

“Ngh… ugh!” Knuckles tries to pick himself up, but his injuries prevented him from getting up and going for another round with Metal Sonic, who stood in front of him unscathed from Knuckles fists. Staring down at him with disappointment.

“Pitiful.” Metal spoke, his voice sounding robotic and cold.

Creak!

Suddenly, the large throne room door behind Knuckles and Metal began to gradually open.

Metal and Knuckles looked to the splitting door to see Blaze striding down the castle hallway that the emerging door revealed.

Knuckles felt his face go white as Blaze walked towards his direction; stepping out of the castle and composingly walking towards him and Metal sent Knuckles into a panic.

“Blaze?!” Knuckles blurted as Blaze walked right past him and towards Metal, “What are you doing?” Knuckles groused, shakily extending his hand out to try and stop her from getting closer to Metal Sonic. “Get back!”

Blaze stopped in place, being right in between Knuckles and Metal with an equal distance between the two.

“It’s okay Knuckles.” Blaze says straight, “I’m going.”

“Wh-what?!” Knuckles stared at her, baffled by her decision. “No! You can’t!” Knuckles protest, reaching for her ankle that as out of arms reach to try and hold her back; to get her away from Metal.

“You’re right, I can’t go.” Blaze concurs, turning to face him; her golden eyes peering to his purple eyes. “But I must do what is right for my people.”

“But what about what’s right for you?” Knuckles objects.

Blaze did not answer Knuckles concern for herself; as she has done more times than she’d like to admit, she pushed her own well-being off to the side for the sake of other.

Turning to face Metal, Blaze felt his blood-red robotic eyes locked onto her as she looked at him with quavering nerves. Without saying a word, Blaze holds out both wrists and nods surrendering herself to Metal.

Metal’s eyes trace her body from head to toe, analyzing her body for before confirming that she is unarmed. His program signifies that Blaze poses no true threat.

In the blink of an eye, Metal snatches Blaze’s wrists and slaps a pair of chrome handcuffs onto her.

“Agh!” Blaze winced as the chrome handcuffs clamped down tightly on her wrist clamped down onto her wrists. A green light lit up on the cuffs.

“Fire levels: constricted.” Metal states, “Now is a suitable time to greet Lord Eggman.”

Metal yanks Blaze’s cuffed wrists and twirls her around, having her face Knuckles as his robotic arms wrap around her torso while his chest engine revs loudly.

“Target captured and secured.” Metal stages, “Returning to Lord Eggman.”

Fwswhoo!

Metal propels off the ground thanks to rocket boosters infused into his legs and heads straight for the center of castle town to greet Eggman.

Knuckles starred up at the sky, jaw wide open from shock and exhaustion.

“Knuckles!” Gardon cries, emerging out from castle entrance. “Are you alright?” Gardon asks, helping Knuckles to his feet.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm. What do we have here?” Eggman snickers as he watches Metal Sonic arrives at his carrier with Blaze in his arms, ignoring the large crowd of on-lookers watching in terror. The angry cock nods to metal and metal obliges, releasing his grasp on Blaze as he levitates a yard off the ground.

“Ugh!” Blaze collapses to the ground, her legs and hands trembling. Blaze looks up to gaze at the doctor grinning.

“A wise decision on your part Princess.” Eggman says. “Now then, let’s not waste any more time” Eggman greet her, extending his hand out.

Blaze hesitates, but ultimately reaches for his hand and allows him to cuff her wrists with power cuffs and lift her up into his airship.

Chapter Text

“Ngh….” Sonic groggily groaned as he forced his achy body to wake up.

“Talk about a rough night…” Sonic complained to himself.

Stepping on his feet, Sonic slowly shuffles to the window to open the blinds and let sunlight in.

Sonic’s eyes shot wide open as he saw a quarter of Castle Town’s building damaged and broken robots scattered around. Oh no-no-no-no-no Sonic shakes his head with dread, not evening needing a second to put two and two together.

Sonic looks to the night stand and sees the red Chaos Emerald sitting next to a purple lilac.

“Oh no…”

Sonic snatches the emerald & Lilac, and rushes to the throne room to find anyone who knows where Blaze is.

Sprinting into the throne room winded, Sonic found Anna, Gardon, and Knuckles conversing.

“Anna!” Sonic called to the distraught rabbit.

“Sonic!?” Anna shook her head in disbelief. “What are you doing awake?! You need more rest.”

“That’s not important right now.” Sonic deflect, “Where’s Blaze?”

“Oh Sonic…” Anna replies with shame, not answering his question.

“Where is She?!” Sonic impatiently demands.

“She turned herself over.” Knuckles breaks the tension.

“What?!” Sonic felt his heart skip a beat; the gargantuan throne room went so quiet that a pin drop could be heard from the opposite side of the room.

“Eggman threatened to attack Soleanna if she didn’t surrender to him.” Knuckles explained, “So, she surrendered.”

Sonic stood dumbfounded by what he had heard. He stood motionless for a second, but by the next second, he was clenching his teeth and had both fists bawled with pure anger. How could I let this happen?  

“That…Ghuh!” Sonic groaned with frustration.

“Well. Does anyone know where Eggman? Ship went?” Sonic provided an open question.

“His airship…” a young voice speaks up.

The group turn to the castle entrance door to see Tail’s, covered in ash marks and bruises, limping inside.

“…is passing over castle town and went towards the Soleanna forest…” Tail’s answers, collapsing to his knees.

“Tails?!” Sonic and Knuckles exclaim in unison.

The two hurriedly limp over to Tails to help him further in. Sonic and Knuckles place his arms around their shoulders and hobble back to Gardon and Anna.

“Tails what happened to you?” Sonic scanned his battered body.

“I… I tried to strike down the Egg Carrier and Eggman’s robots… but Neo Metal got me…” Tails exhausts. “I barely escaped, but he destroyed the Tornado; it’s in pieces.”

“Neo Metal?!” Sonic looked at Tails wide-eyed from the mere mention of Metal’s upgraded form.

“I barely escaped… but the Tornado; it’s in pieces.”  Tails wheezed.

“The Tornado is destroyed?!” Knuckles stared thunderstruck.

“Great, just great.” Sonic grumbled.

“Tails?” Anna interjects, “Did you say that Eggman’s ship was flying towards the Soleanna forest?”

“Yes…” Tails weakly confirmed.

“Why would he fly towards the forest?” Knuckles asked out loud, “Wouldn’t it make more sense for him to fly up to White Acropolis?”

“But his base in White Acropolis was ravaged when our guards journeyed there.” Anna said, “There is nowhere else for him to go.”

“No.” Gardon muttered with dread in his voice, “There is one place he can go to. And it’s the last place anyone should go.”

“Last place anyone should go?” Sonic tilted his head.

“Gardon.” Anna’s voice shaked, “You don’t mean?”

“Kingdom Valley.” Gardon utters.

“No!” Anna gasped, clenching her chest, “He couldn’t possibly be going ‘there’!”

“Where else would he go?” Gardon asked, “His base in White Acropolis is too obvious to return to. And the only other place where he could reawaken the flames of disaster, is there.”

“Woah, woah, woah, woah. Slow down.” Sonic interjects. “What’s Kingdom Valley?”

“Kingdom Valley was the previous location of the Royal Family before…” Anna described.

“Before what?” Tails urges to know.

“The Solaris Project.” Anna answered.

Tails and Knuckles look to Gardon with confusion, but Sonic doesn’t.

Instead, his heart drops as he fully realizes the implications of what Gardon was saying.

“Solaris Project? What’s that?” Knuckles seeks to know.

“Well, it wa—” “That’s not important right now!” Sonic interrupts, releasing his hold on Tails. “You need to tell me how to get there!”

“Sonic are you sure yo—” “Yes.” Sonic answers before Anna could finish her question.

“Very well then. If you believe you can save our Princess, then I can entrust you with this” Anna pulls out the blue Sol emerald she had been holding onto ever since the other six went missing only to be found by Sonic. Anna hands the Sol emerald to Sonic who graciously accepts it.

“What’s this emeralds power?” Sonic peered at the Blue Sol Emerald.

“It provides a burst of speed as well as rejuvenating one’s health” Anna informs Sonic.

“Just what I Need.” Sonic grins with beaming confidence.

Sonic uses the Sol emerald to heal his wounds. With newfound energy and no injury holding him back, Sonic is raring to go. “Now then. How exactly do I get to Kingdom Valley?” Sonic turns to Gardon.

“Well, you see. In order to arrive at the castle, you need to go through a series of trials referred to as the ‘Trials of life and death’ in order to reach the path that leads to Kingdom Valley?” Gardon informs.

“Really? Trials? There isn’t any other way I could get there?” Sonic impatiently gestures, hoping Gardon will mention an alternative route.

“I’m afraid not. The path locked by the bishops is the only way to Kingdom Valley” Gardon says. Sonic cocked his eyebrows. Unless the tests involved Sonic’s abilities, there would be too much time to waste. But Tails and Knuckles were not in the best shape to use their skills to help him get there and the Tornado was still getting repaired after Tails’ sky battle in Dusty Desert. Sonic had no choice; he had to go on foot.

“Okay. Where do I find the bishops?”

“The bishops reside at the clocktowers” Gardon informs to Sonic.

“Thanks, Gardon.” Sonic nods to Gardon. “Knuckles.” Sonic turns to his friend “Hand me the Chaos Emerald.”

“What?!” Knuckles looked at Sonic with confusion.

“The emerald. I need it.” Sonic stuck his hand out, demanding the Chaos Emerald.

“Hold on Sonic.” Tails speaks up, “We want help too.”

“N-no!” Sonic shook his head “You two are already hurt enough, I can handle this.”

“What do you mean no?!” Knuckles retort.

“I can’t afford you two to get hurt further, I will handle this.” Sonic argued back, “Now give me the emerald.”

“Sonic, calm down.” Knuckles takes his stand, “We understand how you feel, we are equally as frustrated as yo—”

“I’m not asking again Knuckles.” Sonic snarled, clenching his fist and striking a burning glare at Knuckles. “Now Give. Me. The Emerald.”

Knuckles only glared back, his stance not faltering under Sonic’s insistence.

“He-hey.” Tails steps in between Sonic and Knuckles to diffuse the tension.

“Let’s just try to calm down and—”

“Get out of my way Tails.” Sonic growled, grabbing Tails by his ‘Tails’ and shoving him off to the side.

“Nguh!” Tails yelps, collapsing on the floor.

Both Anna and Gardon’s eyes widened in shock at Sonic’s tenacious behavior.

“Sonic that’s enough.” Knuckles scolds. “You’re not making things any be—”

Fwoosh!

“Hey!” Knuckles barked.

Sonic swiped his hat from him and reached into the inner lining of the hat and pulled out the cyan Chaos Emerald.

“Should’ve known you hid it in here.” Sonic coldly remarked.

“Give it back Sonic!” Knuckles belligerently demands.

“Sure thing.” Sonic complied, only to toss Knuckles back his cowboy hat.

Knuckles catches his hat and snarls at Sonic.

“Not my hat, the emerald!” Knuckles barked.

Then, in a split-second, Knuckles charges towards Sonic. But Sonic side steps away and sticks his foot out, tripping Knuckles.

“Woah!” Knuckles grunts just before he thuds face first on the floor. In a fit of anger, Knuckles immediately turns to face Sonic whose usual cocky smile was nowhere to be seen; a stern expression took the place of his usual cocky grin.

“Argh. You…” Knuckles growls, his razor sharp teeth gnashing.

“I’m sorry Knuckles, but I have a princess to save.” Sonic bluntly states his mission. “I’ll be back, just stay here and stay safe.”

“Sonic wait!” Tails speaks up “We want to help to. We can-”

Zoom!

Sonic bolted out of the castle for the clocktower bishops, leaving Tails and Knuckles behind.

“Gugh!” Knuckles groans in frustration, “Can he not sit still for just one minute?!”

Meanwhile, Sonic was already halfway through the entirety of Castle Town. Frantically running up and down each path for the clock tower, Sonic eventually found the clocktower and bolted towards the bishops who stood outside.

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The tough rubber of Eggman’s boots echoed across the pilot room as he circled Blaze with each authoritative step on the metal flooring. The very sound of his footsteps conveyed the mood all too well to Blaze.

“You've wasted so much of my time.” Eggman reprimanded Blaze.

Strapped to an iron table, Blaze laid flat on her back with her wrists and ankles both compromised by iron shackles that provided little to no wiggle room; the power-cuffs tied her down. She held her eyes shut to avoid the sight of the altitude they were at as well as to avoid Eggman’s burning glare that burned as hot as her flames. more than heights.

“If you had cooperated with me earlier, I wouldn't have to do this.” Eggman says in a calmer manner to justify his previous actions in response to her defiance.

Blaze opened her eyes and reflected on Eggman’s words, reminiscing his previous attacks.

“Even if you hadn’t attacked Soleanna, I still wouldn’t have cooperated with you.” Blaze snaps back. Eggman leers at her but she doesn’t look away from his eyes that hide behind his glasses.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl for both Eggman and Blaze as they both coldly glared at each other, the only source of heat being their anger they held at each other’s throats.

I’d be a fool to let you revive the Flames of Disaster. Blaze thought of her next words I would… wait? Blaze paused for a second.

If Eggman was the one who revived the Flames of Disaster, how come I have never once seen him in my visions? Blaze pondered. How come amongst Silver, that Griffon and Soleanna drowned in flames, I never once saw anything relating to him? Blaze looked at Eggman and then wandered around the control room she was confined to, looking at the machinery in hopes of finding an answer to her internal question. But she found no answer.

It looks like I need to ask him why he wants to revive Iblis.” Blaze concludes. “I may not like what he will say, but I need an answer.

“Tell me, Dr Eggman. What are you really trying to do?” she asked. “Why do you wish to revive the Flames of Disaster?”

Eggman stared into Blaze’s quavering eyes, his serious expression not once wavering. “Did your parents ever disclose to you anything about Solaris?” Eggman questioned.

Blaze thought over his question. What does Solaris have to do with any of this? Blaze pondered. I’ve known and praised Solaris since I was born. I know he provided the nation of Soleanna the Flame of Hope; the flame that would guide the way and was never to be tampered with. Otherwise, it would become the flames of disaster, which… it unfortunately did. But, what does Solaris have to do with the resurrection of the Flames of Disaster?

“Yes… My parents have taught me about Solaris since I was born. I have worshipped him all my life. But, I’m not exactly sure what Solaris has to do with any of this.” Blaze honestly answers Eggman’s question.

“You see.” Eggman begins, “Solaris's secrets are in his eternal flames. His power... can change the matter of space, and even manipulate the fabric of time itself.” Eggman explains. The doctor saunters over towards the window that Blaze is too terrified to even look at, and continues. “I wish to obtain this power and dominate everything in this world.” Eggman announces, spreading his hands out as if he were acknowledging the land he and Blaze could see from the Egg Carrier.

“Like you haven’t made that obvious enough!” Blaze sarcastically comments.

“From the past all the way to the future!”

“WHAT!” Blaze’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

She could not believe what she was hearing. To rule the past and the future?! That can’t be true! Impossible! Blaze though to herself He can’t possibly mean what he is saying? Right?

“You can’t possibly be serious. You wish to rule over... Time?” Blaze asked to reconfirm his intentions, hoping that he is just talking bluff and not really rule over the documented past and unknown future.

“Yes. Truly. And the secret to its power…” Eggman turns to her “remains dormant in you, Princess.” He grinned with delight as he saw Blaze’s face go white. She frantically fidget with her shackles, trying to find any way she could break free, but he knew she couldn’t. He had her right in his grasp.

Eggman turned his back on Blaze, only hearing her fidgeting shackles, and walked over to his console at the head of the room and began clicking of series of buttons that summoned a monitor with a scanner circling the screen.

“Ah. The princess and the seven Chaos Emeralds…” Eggman monologued, “Once I have everything, the fate of the world will change. And Eggmanland will finally become reality!” Eggman declares.

Blaze looked at Eggman with pure terror, all her previous experiences of fear were nothing compared to Eggman. She was terrified and she could not stop her body from trembling. Eggman paid no attention to the Blaze hyperventilating behind him as his already wicked grin became more wicked as he noticed a small dot emitting waves on the monitor.

“And one of the beautiful gems is just ahead.” Locking in verification for the signal, the monitor produces a positive message that pleases the doctor, “Chaos Emerald Located! Chaos Emerald Located!” “Finally…” Eggman releases a sigh of relief and turns to Blaze.

“Now, let's go collect that Chaos Emerald” Eggman cocked his head over his shoulder, a slimy grin wide across his golden beak.

Pressing a button on the console controller, a miniature sawblade with a handle pops out. Eggman grabs the tool and strolls over to the metal table housing his hostage.

Blaze shivered with fear as Eggman approached her. What have I done. I’ve doomed us all Blaze thought to herself as her breathing became increasingly stressed as Eggman stood at the end of the table, whirring sawblade in hand.

“No. No please. Please don’t!” Blaze begs.

Chapter Text

Sonic ran along the hidden path that led to Kingdom Valley. His feet pounding into the dirt as he stared down the kingdom that stood between him and Blaze.

“Those trials went on for way too long.” Sonic grumbled to himself, reminiscing the trials he had effortlessly conquered.

He recalled first trial, ‘The Test of Intelligence’, being the most obnoxious; traveling through a series of portals that would send him back to the very beginning if he made one simple mistake. 

The second trial, ‘The Test of Courage’, he remembered being the simplest and to the point; pummeling Eggman's robots without any protection was just his daily routine.

And then there was the third and final trial, ‘The Test of Love’, perhaps the strangest test out of the three. Yet it was the only once Sonic kept thinking of through his self-grumbling.

Sonic reimagined the plain he stood on, eyeing the swirling blue portals that were presented as a choice for him.

Standing beside the first portal was Amy.

Amy stood beside the portal with her hands behind her back. Her eyes lit up when she saw Sonic walk towards he; her tail wagged under her skirt as Sonic came closer.

Amy. I've known her for some time now and do love her. Sonic replayed the interaction in his head, visualizing her lean over with her arms behind her back as she winked at him. But not to that level do I love her.

Standing beside the second portal was none other than Blaze.

Blaze did not say anything or gesture, but when Sonic approached her looking confused, her cheeks blushed soft pink and she hid her hands behind her back. She timidly smiled at him; her tail swayed with endearment.

Sonic couldn’t help but smile back at her. Although it wasn't the true Blaze, just seeing her face made him no less warm inside. But yet he was puzzled.

Why was Blaze featured in this trial? Sonic asked himself. I've only known her for less than a week. 

"That test must've been figurative." Sonic said out loud to himself, "That Blaze wasn't the 'true' Blaze. The real Blaze was on Eggman's ship. The test must've been asking what type of person I'd like to fall in love with. Not which person I'd like to fall in love with."

"Yeah." Sonic said to himself, "That had to be what the trial was asking. Right? It had to be."

Sonic shook his head from side to side, throwing that thought aside and stared down Kingdom Valley once more. 

Without a second thought, Sonic shot off like a rocket towards the abandoned kingdom.

But then suddenly, a horde of egg gunners dropped down on the path in front of him. Blasters locked and loaded and aimed at him.

“Oh great…” Sonic mumbled to himself as he skids to a halt and into a fighting stance.

Suddenly, a cyan aura Sonic was all too familiar with enveloped the egg gunners, stunning them in place.

“Ugh! Here we go again…” Sonic complained, readying himself for another obstacle.

Silver, as if on queue, landed on his knees in front of Sonic. Sonic’s eyes widened as he saw Silver’s backside covered in lacerations, claw marks and bruises. Silver heaved as he lied on his hands and knees, holding the egg gunners in place.

“Huh? What the?” Sonic eyes shot wide open.

Covering Silver’s back and quills were gaping slash marks and lesions that spilled red.

“Hyah!”

Hurtling from behind him, a lava gray Jaguar with a cloak, leapt over Sonic. Her paws ignited into flames that had no physical effect on her and she pounced the closest Egg Gunner. Sonic stood baffled, watching the lava gray Jaguar tear the immobilized Egg Gunners with scorching claws, occasionally glancing back at Silver.

Just what happened to him? Sonic pondered.

“Rah!” The lava gray Jaguar yelled, swiping her burning paw across the chest cavity of the last standing Egg Gunner. The Egg Gunner collapsed into two; the lava gray Jaguar stood tall, looking down at the robot she had just dismantled.

The lava gray Jaguar dispelled her flames and looked back at Sonic and Silver. Sonic shook his head, disoriented by the lava gray Jaguar and her battered face; her face with a burn mark on one eye and a scar on the other were accompanied by newfound cuts and scuffs.

“Wait. You’re… that Jaguar from last night. Right!?” Sonic stood dumbfounded by her sudden appearance.

“Silver!” The Jaguar turns a blind eye to Sonic, bolting to Silver. “Are you alright?” The Jaguar, hauled Silver up on his feet, offering herself as his crutch.

“That was reckless of you.” The Jaguar lambasts, staring at him with worried eyes.

“Fiamma…” Silver pants, “There's… there's no time…”

Silver lifts his drooping glance and looks to Sonic. Sonic stepped back, still in a combat ready pose.

Silver reaffirms his stance and let go of Fiamma, limply standing on his own as Fiamma’s paws hover around his trembling shoulder.

“We need to go… now!” Silver states, short of breath.

“Woah, woah, woah.” Sonic extended his hands out. “What’s going on?” Sonic demanded.

“There’s no time! … Circumstances have changed… We need to save the princess… now!” Silver pants.

Sonic cocked his eyebrow in confusion over Silver’s sudden change in demeanor as well as why Fiamma was working alongside him, clearly not on board with working with the hedgehog who has done nothing but try to kill him.

“Hold on. Why do you want to—”

“Sonic please.” Silver cuts off Sonic, “I was deceived into thinking you were the root cause of our fallen future… please, let us help you.” 

Sonic analyzed Silver and Fiamma but finds no signs of deception and malice were found. I can’t afford to waste any time, and saying no would only slow me down further. Sonic thought to himself. “Alright.”

Using the Blue Sol emerald he received from Anna, Sonic uses its power to heal Silver and restore his energy. Silver’s body in cloaked in a blue light similar to the Sol Emerald, and his lacerations and injuries fade away. The blue glow evaporates from Silver and he inspects himself, confused as to why he feels brand new and why his cuts and gashes were now absent. Fiamma also looks at Silver with disbelief, so caught up in the miracle of the Sol Emerald that she didn’t see Sonic pass here.

“Are you two coming or what?” Sonic shouts to Silver and Fiamma, already running down the trail.

Silver and Fiamma nod to each other and follow Sonic, running towards Kingdom Valley.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Ngh…Ngh. Stop it!” Blaze pleads, “You’re making a grave mistake!”

But Eggman did not listen to her please as he had sawed through the crimson bracelet on left wrist with the hand saw.

“You are wrong princess.” Eggman coldly stated, a wicked grin blossoming across his beak. “A mistake implies that I don’t know what I am doing. I know what I am doing.”

A shiver surged across Blaze’s backside in response to Eggman’s devilish grin.

Rrrrrr-CRUNK!

The left Bracelet had broken into two. Eggman held up the broken jewelry, admiring it’s damaged quality. 

“Material this strong is only necessary to seal away such power.” Eggman remarks, “Now. For the other bracelet.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sonic, Silver and Fiamma approach the Valley entrance, a grass pathway that transformed into a dilapidated concrete path when passing underneath a broken arched entryway.

“Silver, Fiamma.” Sonic glances to his two temporary companions “We don’t have time. Let’s get to Blaze right away.”

“All right.” Silver nods.

“Be careful.” Fiamma said.

Silver envelopes himself in his usual psychic, alien blue aura and levitates off the ground. Silver extends his hand out in Fiamma’s direction, which envelopes her in the same psychic aura, and she begins to float off the ground as well. Then, the two skyrocket off towards the abandoned castle, leaving Sonic to run his own path.

All right Blaze, I’m on my way. Sonic internalizes, looking ahead at the valley entrance, paying no mind to the abandoned land’s beauty.

Bolting through the arched entrance, officially setting foot in Kingdom Valley, Sonic runs down the path. Glancing further down the path, Sonic notices a pair of trios made up of Egg Gunners and Egg Stingers respectively, stationed at the very end of the path where it takes a hard left that led to s descending cure. The Egg Gunners and Egg Stingers also notice Sonic bolting towards their standing position.

Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow!

The Egg Gunners and Egg Stingers unleash an onslaught of bullets at Sonic.

“Woah!” Sonic yelps, narrowing avoiding the first few bullets before jumping into his usual groove of avoiding Eggman ammunition.

The Egg Gunners and Egg Stingers continue to fire at Sonic as he got closer. Sonic curls up into a ball and rockets towards the robots with such speed that didn’t allow them enough reaction time.

Uncurling just in arms reach of the closest Egg Gunner, Sonic kicks the robot backwards and into an explosive crate that had Eggman’s usual logo of himself plastered on all sides.

KA-BLAM!

The crate burst in a warm mix of bright orange and smoke-gray, blasting the robots to smithereens. Half of them crumpled on the welcoming pathway while the other half fell into the deep valley that lived up to the name of the location.

Sonic was unfazed by the small explosion and debris of robot parts scattering as he ran towards the hard left that the robots had stood in front of.

“Eggman must be close if his robots are this far out in the Valley.” Sonic said to himself “Which means the Egg Carrier must be close, I need to hurry.”