Sonic: Metal Brotherhood

by Ngrey651

Summary:

All magic is said to have a price...unless you have the Chaos Emeralds. The power of God. Those who possess are unbound to laws of equivalent exchange. They can gain without sacrifice. Create without equal exchange. We searched for it...we found it...

Inspired by Fullmetal Alchemist. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Prologue

The basic rule of all magic stems from one thing: the concept of Faith. In order to understand magic, you must be able to believe in it, pure and simple.

From thereon out, pure willpower and the elements around you are what bring out the best in Magic. The problem with magic is that you can only do so much with it and only if you follow it's rules...

The blue-quilled hedgehog rubbed the ridge of his black nose as he shut his green eyes. He stood in the center of a dark-painted room on a wooden floor, candles arranged in a circle. "Okay bro, you're SURE we have everything? I keep having the "bad feeling" hairs on the back of my neck goin' "woo-woo-woo"." He told his brother.

"This is gonna bring Mom back." His brother insisted. He was an tan/orange fox with a white chest, and white-tipped tails. 9 of them, in fact. "I've done all the calculations ten times over." The young fox told his brother, holding up a notepad with a pen attached to the top.

The hedgehog ruffled the hair atop his brother's head, smiling broadly. "Sorry, Miles. I just...I just want everything to be perfect, y'know?" He told the kitsune as they walked over to the edges of the room. There were rings...different-colored rings...placed within boxes at the edges of the room, all glittering like a beautiful collected rainbow. The hedgehog held one up, and it burned a blazing, passionate red in the light of the room.

"Fire." He spoke out loud. "The element of Courage."

The fox held up a ring that glittered like an emerald. "Wind, the element of Freedom."

Next the hedgehog held up a ring that was the color of steel. "Metal, the element of Loyalty."

Now the fox held up a ring that was colored as black as night. "Darkness, the element of Power."

Then the hedgehog held up a light blue ring. "Ice, element of Peace."

The fox held up a yellow ring. "Lightning, element of Hope."

A blue ring. "Water, element of Kindness."

A brown ring. "Earth, element of Fortitude."

A purple ring. "Poison, element of Cunning."

An orange ring. "Gravity, element of Friendship."

A white ring. "Light, element of Faith."

A pink ring. "Time, element of Balance."

They took all of the rings and placed them in the center of the room, in a circle. No beginning, no end. A perfect symmetry to complete the magic.

"Seems like only yesterday we were doin' this for mom, huh?" The hedgehog asked, tilting his head to the side as he looked over at his brother, who had his book of spells open and was looking over the necessary magic they needed to perform.

"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?" The fox whispered quietly, his eyes filling with memory. The hedgehog bit his lip as they stood silent for a few moments, neither one saying anything.

"Oh my." Their mother said, looking into her husband's old study, brushing some of her long, purple hair back. She adjusted the white dress she wore and tightened her yellow cloth belt. "Olgilvie Maurice, look at what you've done. Making a mess in your father's study again?" She asked. "And you've scattered rings all over the floor, too. You need to be more careful." She told him, shaking her head.

"Oh no, ma." The hedgehog insisted, shaking his head emphatically. "They're not scattered. Lookit the pattern I made and watch!" He asked. He held one hand over the star-shaped pattern of the rings. "Watch! HWAH!" He let out a cry and his hand sparkled with copper-tinted light, the same color as the rings below. They glowed brightly, and before Aleena's eyes, they had transformed into something else entirely... a small little copper statue of The hedgehog.

"Ta-daaaaa!" He proclaimed as his foxy brother walked into the room, smiling happily.

"That's Metallurgy, right?" Aleena inquired. Metallurgy was all about the study of Physical and Chemical actions of Metallic-based items. Recently it had been revealed that certain KINDS of metal had magical properties, thus Metallurgy was now primarily the study of magical metals and the actions that could be performed with them. "Did your father teach you?"

"How can we learn from somebody who's not here?" The fox commented. "We just read the books. He wrote down all the information we needed."

"It's all in the books?" Aleena asked, tilting her head slightly as she looked at some of the scattered journals.

"Should we...not have done that?" The hedgehog asked. "Did...did we mess up?"

"Not at all!" Aleena laughed, hugging the two of them tightly. "Oh, my clever, CLEVER boys! You ARE your father's sons. I'm so proud of you two!"

"Okay, let's get to it." The hedgehog told The fox as the fox headed towards the center of the room where the rings were, whilst The hedgehog grabbed a knife off of the nearby table. He picked it up, then tossed it to The fox, who caught it easily.

"Alright. First me, then you." He said, holding up his furry paw. He carefully slit open one of his fingers, allowing blood to drip down onto the space in the middle of the rings. The hedgehog stepped over to The fox, then took the knife for himself, cutting into his own finger. The blood dripped down onto the other patch of blood as they stepped out of the circular space.

"The blood we gave will contain our "memories"." The fox said. "Our experiences with mom are contained within our spiritual self, which has just had a small piece placed within the center of the ring. Now..." The fox looked through the book, then The hedgehog spoke up suddenly.

"Ooh, the candles! Did you light them all?" He asked the fox.

"I KNEW I forgot something. Good thing you remembered in time." He admitted. The hedgehog headed over to the nearby desk in the room, brushing past some old armor and picking out a small lighter from a nearby cardboard box.

Though we immersed ourselves in Metallurgy, our knowledge sadly was of no comfort when she died of an epidemic the next summer. And...well...

"Brother, let's go home." The fox told the hedgehog as they sat outside, looking at their mother's simple headstone.

The hedgehog said nothing. His eyes conveyed a deep, personal hurt. He was beyond the point of crying and had entered into some strange new area of suffering that he, as a child, had never experienced before. Neither of them were even teenagers.

"Once dad gets back home I'm sure-"

"DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT HIM!" The hedgehog almost screamed. "He ain't our dad, Miles! He couldn't even come here for Ma's funeral! That...that..."

They stayed quiet for a few minutes, simply sitting in the grass as the sun began to slowly set, casting faint shadows of the occasional tree that was scattered on the vast plains their home was built on.

"...what if we can bring her back?" Olgilvie asked, looking at the headstone of "Aleena Maurice".

"...what?" The eyes of Miles widened. "It was written in the books that only God's chosen can perform Life magic of any kind. Only THEY can bring back the dead. We're not naturals in ANY kind of magic, certainly not-"

"That's why this is gonna be our little secret." The young dibbun insisted, standing up.

"You guys okay?" A voice called out. They turned around to see a pink hedgehog with slightly less quills than Olgilvie standing there in a green dress with an orange frill at the bottom and blue shoes.

"What do you want, Amy?" Olgilvie asked.

Amy put a finger to her lip. "You know, my gramma says that every time you think of a dead person and cry, the sadder that the dead person feels in the next world."

"We're not crying! Big boys don't cry." Olgilvie said quickly. "A-And anyhow, what about YOUR parents?" He asked. "They're always out traveling somewhere, and you cry because you miss them."

"I-I don't cry!" Amy said, pouting slightly.

"Oh yeaaaah?" Olgilvie asked, sniggering.

"Oh YEAH!"

"Oh YEAH?"

"Oh YEAH!"

"Oh YEAH?"

"Oh YEAH!"

"Oh YEAH?"

"Oh YEAH!"

The two of them always had such intelligent conversations.

"Anyhow, if you don't hurry up, you're gonna miss dinner." Amy said, running off to her house.

Soon the three of them were sitting with a brown haired manx in a red tank top with a skirt to match. She wore tennis shoes or red with yellow laces, and had a yellow tie to hold back her long brown hair into a ponytail. This long-eyelashed beauty was Tiara Boobowski, who had taken up the family business of Metallurgic work after her father, Gazebo Boobowski, had died, also of the epidemic that had claimed Aleena.

"C'mon, drink up. You'll grow big and strong." Tiara laughed, picking up some of the fried green tomatoes she'd cooked up for them along with some freshly-churned milk.

"Ewwww." moaned. "I hate milk. It gives me gas."

"If you don't drink it, you'll get Vitamin D deficiency and stay short forever." Tiara commented, her light blue eyes glittering.

"Who you callin' short, ya smelly old lady?"

"I'm only 13, you stinkin' brat!" Tiara snapped back.

"They always have such intelligent conversations, don't they?" Miles asked Amy, laughing.

Olgilvie lit all of the candles that were situated around the room as Miles looked up at the enormous cross that was hanging from the top of the room, over the center of the circle. Life magic, or "Bios" as it was called, was supposed to be a gift from God itself, as was "Zoe", or Advanced Life Magic. Therefore it was wise to have the Big Guy upstairs in your corner.

"Alright. Let's begin the chant." Miles said after Olgilvie had lit all of the candles and stood by him.

"We call upon the Seven Spheres, The Seven Heavens, the Four Pillars of Light from Above to hear our prayer...Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land, thou has brought back..."

We believed we could do it. It had been three years since our mother died...but we were sure we could do it. We had to hone our skills under a special teacher, but we were more than willing to go through Hell itself for our mother.

"Show us thy mercy O Lord, and grant us thy salvation..."

And now...now we would see our mother's smile again.

"RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL GO BEFORE HIM, AND SHALL SET US IN THE WAY OF HIS STEPS!" The two of them cried out as brilliant white light filled the air, the temperature of the room rising high as streaks of gold and silver flames whirled around and around the circle that the rings had formed. The blood began to sparkle with a thousand different points of light as millions of colors began to blend together before our protagonist's eyes...

"YES!" Olgilvie cheered. "Miles, it's working! Hot diggity damn, it's working!"

But then something off happened. Something very, very off. The entire room turned the color of bloody, rusted metal as a loud siren rippled through the air. Miles blinked a few times. "Something's not right. This doesn't look at all-"

Then he felt something. Or rather, nothing. As in, he could feel nothing in his hand. He looked at it to see...it was disappearing! "HOOOOLY SHIT!" He screamed as it began to dissolve away, the bloody rust beginning to spread across his hands.

"What the-" Olgilvie gasped. Suddenly he felt his own hands begin to be covered in the dark, bloody, rusted metal gunk that was filling the room. It strung like somebody was pouring burning hot salt into an open wound on his body, and he screamed and screamed in pain...but then he turned and saw his brother's tails were being drenched in the metal, along with his head. He reached out.

Miles began to howl and wail. "BROTHER! BROTHER! BRO-"

Light. Beautiful white light filled Olgilvie's vision and he saw himself standing before an enormous door with beautiful, ornate designs on the front. There were dozens of languages written on the bottom that seemed to repeat the phrase "I am All, All are One". He scratched his head, blinking a few times. "...what was...what was I doing again?" He wondered.

"Helloooooo." A voice called out.

"EEE." The blue hedgehog squeaked out, turning his body around, away from the door...looking at what appeared to be some kind of...thing made out of water. It had deeply piercing green eyes and three sharp claws for "hands", with what appeared to be some kind of brain floating above it's eyes. It had a "horn" atop it's head and two small protrusions on either side. "...who are you?"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Glad to hear you ask that up front, little dibbun." It said, speaking not so much with a mouth as to with it's entire self. It was like a collective force was speaking as one, and the blue hedgehog could hear it in his head and in his heart. It wasn't a...THREATENING being. In fact, it actually seemed very gentle and compassionate, a kindness in it's green eyes radiating out. "I'm what is known to you as Chaos." It explained.

Olgilvie's eyes widened. "...Chaos?" He asked. "The force itself?"

"I am more than that though." It went on simply. "I am also Order. I am the Universe. I am God. I am Truth, I am All, I am One. And..."

It pointed at him with a single claw. "I am You."

SCHA-THWOOOOOM. The door opened and Olgilvie stiffened, turning around.

"Oh little one. You were foolish. You did not know your own place. And I am sorry for what you're about to go through, but this is necessary." Chaos went on as enormous rings wrapped around the young hedgehog's body, tying him up and tugging him into the black abyss that waited within the door as he screamed and screamed and-

The power. The sheer, amazing POWER. A million different bolts of light flashed by his eyes began to wrap around his legs. The young hedgehog's screaming turned into an awed "ohhhh" and suddenly...

He was back outside the door as Chaos sat there, arms folded. "Well?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

"...that was...I...I feel so fast...I feel faster than the wind!" The blue hedgehog realized. "But we weren't wrong about the spell! Something was missing, but it's just ahead, I KNOW it! If one peek like that could get me what it got for my legs, then...then I gotta go back in!" He said, turning around and placing his hands on the door-

Then he realized it. His hands. They were blackened and burnt and the color of rusted, bloody metal.

"That's equivalent exchange. You have the Mark from now on." Chaos told him. "You are cursed."

"...wait. Wait, hold on. What about my brother?!" Olgilvie demanded to know, turning around suddenly, eyes widening.

"...I'm afraid the little one is soon to be reunited with your mother." The watery being informed Olgilvie. "As I said, I am sorry for what you've gone through, but it's necessary. You weren't to tread in this domain."

The hedgehog felt tears spring to his eyes and he slammed his fist into the door. "NO!" he screamed. "You can't take him too! He's my only brother, he's all I've got left!" He sobbed tearfully. "...please...I'll give up my own body, let my arms or legs be torn, but please...please just...give him back." Olgilvie wept, falling to his knees and sobbing into the white abyss that was the ground.

Chaos was silent for what seemed to be a long time, but then he spoke. "...little one. Your sorrow moves me. You will get your brother back, but...there is another toll that must be taken." He explained. "I would have simply taken your hands in payment, but if you truly want him back, I'll have to take more." He explained, walking over to the young hedgehog. He held one clawed hand up, wrapping it around Olgilvie's mouth as the hedgehog felt water pour out into his body. "You'll never be able to use your arms or legs again...if these are removed from you."

Instantly rings appeared around Olgilvie's wrists and knees, and he gasped at the feeling that filled him. It was like somebody was hammering something into him. He let out a cry of pain, and then...

Miles gasped as he shot up, eyes widening. What...what was going on? What was happening? What had happened to-

He could hear his brother's horrified gasps and he turned to see what Olgilvie was staring at...and he saw, with horror, a sight he would take to his grave. It was...was it even remotely a hedgehog? It was perhaps the most horrible, foul thing he'd ever seen. The entire body seemed to be covered in some sort of pasty-white membrane of flesh with red veins running through it, and it was twitching as it lay there, it's quills falling out onto the ground. It tried to reach out to them...

And then it let out a death rattle, dying as black blood oozed out from it's mouth, it's head twisting to the side.

"...I don't...get it..." Miles whispered. "...our technique was...flawless...wasn't it?" He asked, looking over at Olgilvie, eyes widening in horror.

"It WAS flawless. But...it was us. We...we were the ones who made the mistakes." Olgilvie muttered, shaking his head. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring you back properly." He moaned.

"What do you mean?" Miles asked.

Then he looked down at his hands and saw the change that had overtaken him. Saw fur that had been replaced with seamstresses-made quilt work. Saw a small little red gem atop an antennae sticking out of his head. Saw stubby arms and legs and only TWO tails...

"...what's...happened to me?" Miles whispered, eyes widening in horror.

"...that's the only thing I could bond your soul to." Olgilvie stated, whimpering quietly as he held his head in his rusted-over hands. "A doll I found of you, one we made from Metallurgy that summer, remember?" He asked.

"...Tiara." Miles whimpered. "We gotta find Tiara."

...

...

...

... "Yoooo. Still hangin' out in Central City, man?" An Armadillo asked his friend, sitting in a chair overlooking a report on a Metallurgist. He had a red shell on his black furred-body and yellow/tanned skin, with a pointed black nose and piercing blue eyes. He wore a pair of red sneakers with a single patch of white upon the top and white gloves on his hands.

"Unfortunately. Luckily I'll soon be able to go back to the Eastern Command Center at Radical Highway." His friend informed him. He was a hedgehog with black quills on his head, a red streak at the top of said quills, and a furry white patch on his chest. He had a tanned face and wore shoes that appeared to be installed with jets in them, being a mixture of red, black, yellow and white in color. He wore white gloves on his form...and rings. Rings over the gloves.

"All work and no play, huh?" Mighty the Armadillo inquired, sniggering slightly. "Hey Shadow, next time you're in Central, ask for that promotion I know you deserve."

"I just might." Shadow commented with a small smile.

"Well, if you're leavin', I gotta give this to you. The final report on that Flicky that went AWOL and turned itself into THIS." Mighty said, holding up the report, which was on a snazzy metal clipboard.

"Her name is...Gamma?" Shadow inquired. "That's hardly a male name." he mumbled, looking disturbed that somebody would turn themselves into this...this thing before him.

"That's the name she...HE'S... taken now. SERIOUS issues, I tell you." Mighty said, shaking his head. "Gamma apparently used something called "Yakin Shīru", which is practiced often in the Eastern country of Soleanna." Mighty went on.

"...Yakin Shīru..." Shadow repeated. "Interesting. Anyhow, I can't stay. I've got to investigate a one "Olgilvie Maurice". If he's good enough, he'll get into the rankings of State Metallurgist, like I am."

"Olgilvie? Heh, his parents musta HATED him to give him that name." Mighty remarked, sighing and shrugging. "Course, I changed MY name, so what have I got to complain about? How old is this Olgilvie?"

"Uh..." Shadow rubbed his chin. "They didn't say."

"Well, they'd better be careful. Entering the ranks can be Hell."

...

...

...

... "What...on...Earth..." Shadow gasped in horror as he looked at the disgusting, foul mess that had been left in the room.

A bat with white fur and a tan muzzle walked in behind him, wearing a pink, heart-shaped breastplate on her body and long white gloves, with tight-fitting black pants and white boots with heart-shaped pink tips to match the breastplate she wore. Her eyes were seafoam green and she had long, dainty eyelashes. "I checked in back and nothing's HOLY SHIT." She gasped, eyes widening at the bloody mess on the ground. "...what...what the Hell happened in here?"

""Where are they?...where ARE those fools?!" Shadow hissed, eyes narrowing.

Well, it didn't take them long to find the two brothers. Shadow sat at the end of a table in Tiara's home as Olgilvie sat in a wheelchair, his brother hovering in the air nearby, head hanging dejectedly.

"This IS a surprise. I'd heard there was a brilliant Metallurgist here in this town who had the talent to be a State Metallurgist...I didn't expect him to be so young, or to be smart enough or DUMB enough to..." Shadow trailed off, sipping some coffee. "He performed a bonding of the soul and though it was imperfect, used Bios. You're more than qualified to be a State Metallurgist. I should warn you though." The black hedgehog added, looking over at the sunken face of Olgilvie. "There are...requirements."

He took another sip of the coffee. "You'll be asked to become a soldier in the event of an emergency. But you will get special privileges, have access to great research. You may even be able to find a way to get your original forms-"

Tiara slammed the coffee mug into the table. "Listen here." She said softly, but with an edge. "I went in to check in on them after Tails managed to call me on the phone. I had to drag that poor boy into a wheelchair and wheel him over here through heavy rain. I saw what they made. What was there...was NOT Life Magic. It was the work of the DEVIL!" She snarled furiously, her eyes turning to slits. "You'd have them go through that Hell again?!"

"Here you go." Amy said as she handed Rouge some tea, then sat down on a couch with her. "...um...Colonel..."

"Call me Rouge. Rouge the Bat. Nice to meetcha, kid." She said in a distinct Cajun accent, nodding at the pink hedgehog. "...somethin' up?" She asked, looking concernedly at the girl.

"Have you ever shot anyone?" Amy wanted to know.

"...yeah." She remarked, nodding.

"I hate soldiers." Amy muttered balefully. "My mom and dad were doctors who were always being shuffled off to war, and they got killed on the battlefield because stupid soldiers have to wage stupid wars for stupid old farts who sit in their chairs while young people die off."

"It ain't fair." Rouge admitted sadly, shaking her head.

"And now you're going to take away my best friends too." Amy added, turning on Rouge.

"No. They have to decide for themselves." Rouge insisted, making Amy blink in surprise. "It's up to them to decide whether they want to keep moving forward, or just stay standing still, frozen in the headlights." She spoke quietly, looking out a nearby window. Like I had to...

"I'm not forcing them to go through any Hell. I'm offering a possibility, not demanding." Shadow told Tiara. "It's up to you." He told the blue hedgehog as Olgilvie stared out into space. If you want to get your old forms back, you've got to wade through a river of mud and grime, but it'll be worth the payoff."

"Why did you become a solider?" Amy asked Rouge the Bat, looking down at the tea in her hands.

"...well..." Rouge tilted her head to the side slightly. "You see, there's somebody I have to protect."

"We're leaving." Shadow spoke up suddenly, leaving the room that had held the two brothers and Tiara. "C'mon, let's go."

"Well, it was nice to meetcha, kid." Rouge told the pink hedgehog.

"It's Amy." Amy told her. "...and it was nice to meet you too." She added, nodding at Rouge. "You have a very pretty name. I hope we meet again."

As Shadow and Rouge headed to their car and Shadow took the wheel, driving down the dirt road and off towards the city, Rouge turned to look at him. "That kid...is he coming? I didn't hear a peep out of him."

"He looked soulless at first...but then I saw a change in his eyes." Shadow told Rouge, a big, devilish smile crossing his face. "A flame began to grow in them..."

...

...

...

... "You're sure you won't regret this?" Tiara asked as she and Amy stood in front of Olgilvie, with Miles sitting in a chair nearby. A circle of rings had been placed around him, and the blue hedgehog was looking through a book of spells.

"I'm certain. I know what I'm doing." Olgilvie told them. "It's only a temporary solution, but it's needed until we get our original forms back."

"This body has no feeling. No substance." Miles mumbled, looking down at his stubby hands and legs. "...I want to be able to feel my tails again."

"...well, if you're sure." Tiara spoke softly as she slipped rings onto Miles's arms and legs. "Two in the name of the Bonds of Friendship, as strong as Gravity's pull." She called out dramatically, hands raised up. "And two for Balance, as your Timeline is made clear, and your old form's appearance returned..."

A brilliant light surrounded his body...and before their eyes, he changed. His form began to shift and blend, slowly returning to what it had been before...

Miles stood up, looking down at himself. "I...I feel like I'm wearing a mascot costume." He told them all. "But...but it looks just like how I feel inside." He said happily, tears brimming in his eyes.

"It's only a cosmetic change, remember." Tiara insisted.

"Yeah, and you need to be careful. Those rings on you are what allow you to keep your abilities, such as that form you have and...your "gift"." Amy told Olgilvie, who nodded firmly. "Just remember, I'll be here for you."

"Really?" Olgilvie asked, tilting his head to the side.

"I'm your friend." She said, putting a hand on his shoulder, making him blush slightly. Miles grinned and rubbed his chin thoughtfully as Olgilvie removed it. "H-hey! No touchy!"

"You two need to get moving." Tiara laughed, holding up some suitcases for Miles and Olgilvie. "You've got a date at Central City."

...

...

...

... "You're awfully young."A man with thick blue "pince-nez" glasses over his eyes that obscured what color lay behind them said.

He sat behind a large desk as several dozen other people sat at nearby tables. There were large flags draped all around with a symbol of a giant robotic egg with a mustache all around the room, symbols of the Eggman Autocracy. The man wore a red jacket with golden pockets on the front and goggles atop his head. He also had long black pants and had a thick, reddish/brown mustache that was very long and brushy, and sticking out from underneath a red and ruddy nose.

And he was fat. I'm talkin' "Free Willy", "You have your own gravitational pull", "Needs two train rides to get on his good side" fat.

Olgilvie shrugged. "I guess." He said. "Who are you?"

"Idiot! That's Dr. Eggman, Head of the Autocracy!" A guard whispered. Shadow sat at a nearby table, calmly watching with the other Metallurgists who were there to help judge the examination of this potential new State Metallurgist.

"Oh, well, in that case..."

"So what do you use for Metallurgic work? What kind of rings will you use to demonstrate your skill?" Dr. Eggman asked, looking interested.

"Oh, I don't need any." Olgilvie clapped his hands together as the rings on his arms and legs glowed. Suddenly his entire form changed before their eyes...his quills shooting up, his eyes becoming a burning red, his body sparkling with a thousand points of light as his fur became bright yellow.

"Amazing. And he didn't even need any sort of ring design." Shadow thought to himself.

"That's really something." Dr. Eggman admitted.

"You aint' seen nothin' YET!" Olgilvie roared out, rushing around the room, FLYING through the air as wind was whipped around and around. Everyone shielded their eyes from the furious storm that the now-yellow hedgehog was kicking up, and then, suddenly, he swept right towards the good doctor himself.

And stopped, his fist inches from the doctor's face as several others pointed guns at him, frowning darkly.

"Other people might take this opportunity to assassinate you. So from now on...I'd conduct the examinations in a DIFFERENT way." Olgilvie told the autocrat, lowering his fist and standing back, his fur returning to normal, quills falling down.

Dr. Eggman clapped slowly, nodding in approval. "Not bad at all! You're very skilled indeed. I think we have a place for you in the ranks of the State Metallurgists."

...

...

...

... "This is a sign that you are now an official State Metallurgist." Shadow explained, giving Olgilvie a small emerald necklace. It was a slightly dull green gem in color, but in his hands, it glowed slightly. "It's really only for show, but it will grant you the privileges and rights of a Metallurgist...heh." He smirked slightly as Olgilvie put the necklace on and he looked over a report from the Fuhrer. "Our lord, Dr. Eggman's, given you QUITE the interesting new title as a State Metallurgist."

"What?" Olgilvie asked.

"Here. Read it yourself, "Hog of the Military"." Shadow said, handing it over to the blue hedgehog as the teenager stood up from the couch he'd been sitting in at Shadow's main office in Radical Highway. The teen looked the report over.

"In the name of Dr. Ivo Robotnik of the Eggman Autocracy, I grant you the full power and privileges of being a State Metallurgist and bestow upon thee the title "Sonic"."

Sonic blinked a few times. "Sonic", eh?...I think I LIKE that." He admitted, nodding his head, a big, broad grin spreading across his face. "Wait'll Miles gets a load of this!"

---

OPENING CREDITS!

---

(Sonic looks out the window, turning his head as he sees the faint outline of his mother silhouetted against the moon, and Miles stands by his side.)

Kono omoi wo keshite shimau niwa Mada jinsei nagai desho?

Yarinokoshiteru koto Yarinaoshite mitai karaaaa!

(Now we are shown Sonic and Miles standing together as a burning fire consumes their home, and they watch the last of the timbers melt away as the title credits are shown...)

SONIC: METAL BROTHERHOOD

(A scene of Sonic clapping his hands together as burning yellow sparks rises into the air is seen)

Yume no tsuzuki Oikakete ita hazu nano ni,

Magarikunetta hosoi michi Hito ni tsumazuku...

(Now a scene of Miles, Sonic and Amy sitting together is shown, ending with Amy looking up at the moon, eyes twinkling)

Ano koro mitai ni tte Modoritai wakejanai no

Nakushite kita sora wo Sagashiteru

Wakattekuremasu you ni Gisei ni natta you na

Kanashii kao wa yamete yo!

(Now Shadow and Rouge are shown, looking over in the direction of the camera.)

Tsumi no saigo wa namida janai yo Zutto kurushiku shou tte kunda!

(Now a red echidna and an armadillo are shown standing together, looking at the camera too.)

Deguchi mienai kanjou meiru ni Dare wo matteru no?

(Now a scene of several silhouetted figures are displayed, with one turning it's head to show green eyes like those of an emerald.)

Shiroi no-to ni tsuzutta you ni Motto sunao ni hakidashitai yo!

(The figure steps forward, it's body utterly black, clenching it's fists as it and Sonic face down, and the two rush forward at each other.

(Nani kara Nogaretainda ... Genjitsu tte yatsu?)

(The two of them clash with each other as Sonic leaps into the air, holding his hands up as his body turns yellow. He slams into the ground, holding his hands forward as a ball of blue/white light forms)

Kanaeru tame ni Ikiterundatte Wasurechai sou na Yoru no manaka

Bunan ni nante Yatterarenai karaAAA ...Kaeru basho mo nai no!

(The beam of light shoots forward at the black figure, who bats it aside, then rushes forward as Sonic's body teems with bursts of power. Tiara, far away, lounging on a chair with Amy, lights a cigarette, seeing a sparkling light in the sky...a shooting star. She grins and makes a wish, seeing Sonic's face in her mind.)

Kono omoi wo keshite shimau niwa Mada jinsei nagai desho...(I'm on the way)

(Sonic and Miles now stand together as the rest of the cast is shown behind them, and the two clench their fists in front of each other, knocking them together.)

Natsukashiku naru Konna itami mo kangei jan!

Chapter 2: Sonic and Miles: Destiny Calls!

The basic rule of all magic stems from one thing: the concept of Faith. In order to understand magic, you must be able to believe in it, pure and simple.

From thereon out, pure willpower and the elements around you are what bring out the best in Magic. The problem with magic is that you can only do so much with it and only if you follow it's rules. Life Magic is the most sacred of all, and for those who are not "chosen" to be given free rein over it, the consequences for attempting it...

Can leave eternal scars.

Episode One:

Sonic and Miles: Destiny Calls!

ソニックとマイル:  運命を呼び出し！

---

The thing was not even remotely human. It was not an animal. It was not a "person". At least...it didn't LOOK like one. What you saw was what you got...this was a machine. Looking at it, you thought "chicken". Its body was short and round, its head not much more than a flat panel on top. It had two moveable "eyes" that were more like camera lens, with a small laser situated on it's head. It's entire chest was painted red, and there was a headlight situated to the left of it's body. It's right arm was built up of hydraulic sections which formed a three-digited hand, and the other arm held a plasma cannon with a long, thick blue shaft.

And, like I said, you thought "chicken" because it's long, black legs bended backwards like a bird, with long black feet that had wheels on the back. It was clunky, had skinny legs...and, to top it off, at one point it had been a small bird...a GIRL bird of the "Flicky" type.

And now it had a new purpose in life. It sat within an alley at Central City as the last of it's denizens went to sleep. There were no more windows alit, only streetlamps and some traffic lights. The sky was oddly clear...peaceful, even. And a gentle, calming wind blew. But Gamma...the being that had once been a Flicky, felt it not. It could feel nothing anymore.

"It would be best to get this over with." It spoke in a voice that had a decidedly metal ring to it and was no longer remotely feminine. It held up it's hand, and a light blue ring sparkled, situated around it's wrist. "There is no more time I can waste. Eggman is wrong. Eggman must be destroyed."

It looked down the alley, gazing for a moment at the highway far off in the distance. Then it slammed it's hand into the ground, the light blue ring around it's wrist shining in the night.

"Gamma?" Shadow inquired, frowning slightly.

"Yes, the Flicky once named Nina has snuck into Central City." Dr. Eggman said, whacking a pointer stick at a large map of the city, pointing near the Library. "He was seen last at Central Library, but we think he KNOWS he was seen. Point is, he's going to make his move, whatever it is, quite soon. Shadow the Hedgehog, I am putting you in charge of capturing him."

"I'm honored, sir!" Shadow said, nodding his head.

"I'm sure you'll do perfectly, as always." Dr. Eggman told Shadow the Hedgehog, nodding his head firmly, his moustache bouncing. "By the way, the cocky one is here in Central City too. He WAS going to take the train, but apparently, all of THIS..." The dictatorial ruler of the Eggman Autocracy gestured at the map and the picture of Gamma which was clipped to the wall. "Made him change his mind."

"...the cocky one? You mean..." Shadow's eyes narrowed slightly, a small smile spreading.

"Yes. Sonic the Hedgehog, the State Metallurgist. The Blue Blur himself." Eggman agreed.

"Man, this stinks. We'd already bought our tickets to Knothole and now we have to buy all new ones cuz this jerk's makin' us miss the train." Sonic told his brother, Miles.

"Well, I guess it can't be helped." Miles said as they sat atop the roof of the library, looking down through the glass at the enormous T-Rex skeleton that was kept in the floor far, far below. "Let's just get going." He told his brother, looking down at his hands.

Even though an illusionary spell was set in place thanks to the rings on the fox's wrists and legs, there was still something clearly "wrong" to him. Looking at Miles, you had the faint feeling that you were seeing nothing more than an image on a screen, that if you turned your head, he'd turn into some monster. His form seemed to be a mirage.

"Fine by me." Sonic said, cracking his knuckles. "It's time to show them what Sonic the Hedgehog's capable of!"

...

...

...

... "There he goes!" Some guards yelled, chasing after Gamma as the robot raced through an alley. They stood in his way, holding up rifles. "Don't come any closer, or we'll shoot!" The wombats demanded.

"Hmm." Gamma muttered, holding his hand up. The icy blue ring atop his wrist twinkled and two huge trails of icicles raced out from his arms, knocking the wombats through the air. Gamma rushed out of the alley, turning and heading down the street into another alley, trying to-

"HOLD!" ANOTHER wombat guard. He had a gun right in Gamma's face, but Gamma grabbed ahold of the man's arm with his "normal" hand, and the icy blue ring around his wrist sparkled. The wombat gasped in horror as ice spread from his hand to his arm, and his partner gaped in fear, dropping the gun and falling on his butt in terror. He watched as his partner was turned into a popsicle...

And Gamma then cracked the man's arm off, making the rest of him fall down and shatter into a thousand pieces.

"No...no, please..." The other guard begged as Gamma's held up his blaster, the blue muzzle placing itself within his mouth. Gamma pulled the trigger as burning, boiling water filled the wombat's lungs...

There was a horrid, sizzling, popping sound and the wombat fell to the ground, now a darkened sort of fleshy husk, looking like popcorn that had been left too long in the microwave. "Boiling AND freezing. The harsher techniques of water. And I HATE water." A young voice called out.

"Know your enemy." Gamma remarked, watching calmly as a person stepped out of the shadows nearby to face him. "What I am doing is harsh. But one must be harsh and cruel sometimes to accomplish great things. That is how you change the world."

"Like HELL it is!" Sonic growled, his body suddenly glowing bright yellow, a red tint coming to his eyes. Gamma blinked.

"You didn't even make a ring design to create a transformation..."

"You don't have time to stop and admire!" A voice called from behind Gamma. Gamma barely dodged in time to avoid two tails which almost sliced his head clean off. He jumped backwards, spinning through the air, then landing deftly and holding up his blaster at the two, looking them over.

"...I can see through the illusion." He said, looking Tails over. "Your trick doesn't fool me. But that transformation...hmm. Could it be...YOU'RE Sonic the Hedgehog?" Gamma asked, turning to look at the teenage hedgehog.

"You got it in one, pal." Sonic said, nodding firmly as he and Tails stood together in battle positions.

"I'm his younger brother, Miles."

"...this blue RAT is the famous "Blue Blur" I've been hearing so much about? I thought you'd be...taller...stronger..." Gamma remarked, looking a bit unimpressed.

"OY!" Sonic snapped.

WHACKA-WHACKA-WHACKA! He delivered a series of harsh, supersonic punches to Gamma's face, knocking the robot through the air. Tails then caught him, and quickly slapped a pair of handcuffs on him from a pouch on the belt he wore. "Ugh." Gamma muttered. "To think YOU'RE the one they always talk about."

As it was, the guards were soon quick to show up. One of them bowed his head deeply as Sonic stood by Miles, the others leading Gamma away. "Thank you once again, great Metallurgist." He told Sonic.

"Hey, no sweat." Sonic insisted, grinning broadly. "It's what I do."

"...what smells like wet dog?" The guard asked.

"The whole ALLEY smells like wet dog." Miles told the wombat as the guards let Gamma out of the alley towards a large "Brinks-style" security car. "People need to work on cleaning the sewers, it's flooding out of the drains and into the alleys."

"...indeed. Hardly very PLEASANT means by which to escape...but still..." Gamma thought to himself.

If he could have, he would have grinned. He suddenly fell over and his hand grabbed ahold of the dirty sewer water pooling out from the nearby drain.

SCHA-FSSSSHHHH!

Steam filled the air and everyone began coughing madly. "CRAP! He's smart. REAL smart." Sonic muttered.

"I can't see him! Where'd he go?" One of the guards yelled out.

Eventually, the steam faded away. But when it did...

Gamma was gone. Miles folded his arms. "Shadow's gonna rub this in our faces, isn't he?"

...

...

...

... "You really, really underestimated him, didn't you?" Shadow asked, rubbing it in their faces as Sonic scowled.

"Okay, okay, I'm...SORRY." Sonic muttered out

"You shoulda been more careful. Anyhow, how much do you honestly know about this "Gamma"?" Shadow wanted Sonic and Miles to know as they sat in his office, with Rouge standing nearby.

"Only his name, really." Sonic told him.

Shadow held up a folder and tossed it to Sonic, who caught it in one hand and looked through the pictures of a Flicky who was working with several others alongside Metallurgists. "She was a former State Metallurgist until went AWOL and turned herself into THIS."

"Why would she do that?" Miles remarked, frowning slightly.

"Search me." Shadow told him before going on. "She took part in the Shanazaran Extermination Campaign. But then...after the war...she vanished. Furthermore, Nina, as she used to be called, began to send threatening messages to Central...usually with the heads of those sent to capture her...him...ugh." Shadow threw his hands in the air and walked over to a nearby window, placing his hands behind his back as he sighed.

"...we might have to kill him, huh?" Sonic asked quietly.

"Yes." Shadow admitted.

"I don't want to kill anyone." Sonic remarked.

"Suit yourself. All we care about is your performance." Shadow commented. "And by the way...heard any leads on how to get your bodies back?" He asked, a flicker of a smile passing over his face.

"OY!" Sonic snapped angrily. "I see that smirk, you faker!"

"What up?" A voice called out, opening the door. They turned to see an armadillo with a red shell and a pair of blue eyes walk in. "So where are the famous brothers I've been hearin'-AH." He turned to look at the teenagers. "You must be them. Hi." Mighty shook Miles's hand. "Miles Prower, correct? And the shorty over there must be y'all brother? He's the youngest Metallurgist in State History!"

Sonic growled angrily, then grinned proudly, feeling both honored AND insulted.

"Anyhow, you guys ain't got no place to stay, right? Luckily for you...I've got a place you can hang 'round." The armadillo told them, eyes glinting. His hand shot back behind his body, digging into something hidden in his shell and they gasped...

Then he pulled out a small picture of a pretty little armadillo and a very lovely looking female armadillo. "My wife, Willie Mae and my daughter, Dee Milo. Ain't they the cutest?" He asked happily, blushing with pride.

"Uh..."

FIVE MINUTES LATER...

"Ohhh, you just the cutest little thing I ever, every time I see you wanna just pick you up and SQUEEEEEZE ya!" Mighty said, hugging his daughter close to him.

"Daddy, careful, you're huggin' too tight." His 6-year-old daughter laughed, nuzzling his head as he hugged her. Sonic let out a long, deep sigh and Miles's face scrunched up slightly.

"These are our guests, Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles Prower." Mighty said, letting go of his daughter and introducing them to his wife, who took the sunglasses off her nose and shook their hands eagerly.

"Very nice to meet you." She said in a very cultured tone.

"Wow, you're so blue." The little one told Sonic. "...but wait." She looked Miles over. "How can you two be brothers?"

"Well, see, when a daddy and a mommy love each other very much-"

Miles slapped a hand over Sonic's mouth as Mighty shouted. "OKAY, I'M HUNGRY, LET'S EAT!" very loudly.

And dinner...well...

"...chiiiiliiiii..." Sonic whispered, eyes widening and growing starry as he looked down at the chili before him.

"This is my wife's special recipe." Mighty told Sonic as they sat around a table. There were several large cupboards with ornate-looking cups and china behind Mighty, and paintings of the family tree hanging on the wall. "You should come 'round on Mardi Gras. The gumbo is fantastic."

"Some paprika, a couple hits of Tabasco sauce and a bit of heart makes it the bee's knees." Willie Mae told Sonic as he eagerly dug into the Chili, with Miles sitting nearby.

"C'mon, eat up." Mighty told Miles, grinning. "It's delish."

"I'd like to, but..." The fox gulped slightly, looking embarrassed. "See, I'm in the middle of a strict training regiement and I don't want to ruin it by eating when I'm not supposed to be eating. I'm to cut out several meals a week and do lots of sit ups and the like."

"Too bad, it's DELICOUS." Sonic admitted.

"..." Miles hung his head, groaning deeply.

...

...

...

... "Heh-heh-heh. That's funny."

"What's funny about it?" Gamma inquired, eyes narrowing slightly as he looked into the dark and lonely cell of an all-too-familiar face. He folded his arms, almost frowning.

"The two of us team up? You, Nina of the Freezing Winds...and me, the Dynamite himself? I think that's really funny."

"...believe me...I'd rather not be asking you. I find you...distasteful, Bean." Gamma told the green-feathered duck. Bean the Dynamite had rings around his gloves too, but his hands were encased in metal "holds" that didn't allow for much breathing. His legs were kept apart and the tuft of green feathers atop his head was hanging limply as he looked Gamma over. The guards looking after Bean had been frozen alive...nobody could stop the two from leaving. Bean had sky blue eyes and a red scarf around his neck, and those eyes stared deep into Gamma.

"We'll destroy Eggman and make this autocracy crumble." Gamma offered.

"You must have seen the Hell that took place in Shanazar. You KNOW what Eggman made us all do. That's why you killed your fellow officers at the end of the campaign, correct?"

"...heh...heh-heh...HAHAHAHAHA!" Bean began to laugh maniacally. "DON'T misunderstand me, please! I ain't no sophisticated laureate of knowledge. I just WANTED them to die. That's all."

"...that's too bad. Really...too...bad." Gamma spoke softly, leaving the room and knocking over the frozen-alive guard that was placed near Bean's cell, locking the door behind him. One single guard was still left, pointing a gun at him, eyes wide with fear.

"...well. You escaped when the others didn't? Not bad." Gamma admitted. "I'll reward you with a swift end." He promised, hand snapping forward and grabbing the guard's neck.

A snap echoed through the air and Bean began to laugh...and laugh...and laugh.

...

...

...

... "Hello?"

"What's wrong, honey? Why can't you sleep?" Willie Mae asked her husband as she walked into the living room. Mighty was sitting alone by a lamp. "Lemme guess. It's about those two?"

"...State Metallurgists are called the lowest of low." Mighty commented quietly. "To think they'd take on that label at such a young age..." He sighed and smiled slightly. "They've got balls." He told his wife as she sat next to him, snuggling up to him.

"Brother? You awake?" Miles asked.

"Yep." Sonic said as he looked up from the blue-sheeted bed he was in, seeing his brother sit on the bed nearby.

"Was Willie Mae's chili really good?"

"Deeeelish." Sonic agreed.

"I'll add it to the list of things I'll want to eat when I get my old body back, then!" Miles said, pulling out a small notepad from his belt and writing furiously upon it.

"Yeah, good idea."

"...you know...I really wanna get our old bodies back soon." Miles murmured quietly.

"...I know." Sonic muttered, looking out the window at the moon as it hung low in the night sky.

Meanwhile, Gamma placed his hand upon the ground, his ringed wrist glowing. An icy blue seal suddenly shone the ground and he nodded firmly.

"One more...one more and Eggman is sent to the lowest pit of Cocytus with all the other traitors." Gamma murmured.

...

...

...

... "Listen well and good." Shadow said as he walked down the hallways of Central City's High Command Center, past large, open windows on his left and pictures of the various high-ranking officers to his right. His brow was furrowed in thought, his stride filled with a purpose. "Gamma snuck into Central last night. It's absolutely essential we find him and NOW. Close of all the roads. Look in every spot. And if you see him...shoot him dead. That's an order from Lord Eggman himself." Shadow told Rouge to relay to the other heads of the platoons at Central.

"And you?" She asked.

Shadow held up his hands and clenched them into fists, and the red rings on his wrists glowed brightly. "I'm goin' after him too." He whispered.

"MAN DOWN!" A guard yelled out.

"There's FIVE men down. All dead." Another sighed sadly as the medics examined the horribly slaughtered bodies of five guards.

"How awful to die in a steam explosion." Miles murmured as he stood by his brother in the street.

"He raised the temperature of the water in their body so high they shriveled up like prunes. And since our bodies are 70% water..."

"Let's keep looking." Miles said, and they headed down the street.

Gamma was hiding in another alley, hand raised up, about to place another seal. Suddenly he heard a sparkling, crackling sound and jumped to the side, barely dodging an attack.

"You dodged. I'm impressed. And I don't impress easily." A voice told him.

"...that tone. That voice. Knuckles?" Gamma inquired, stepping back as a figure emerged from out of the shadows, holding his fist up.

There stood before the robot a red echidna with dreadlocks that hung down low and thick. He had deep, purple eyes and wore red sneakers with yellow and green markings on them, with a v-shaped patch of white fur on his chest. He had a pair of white gloves on his hands with brown and grey rings wrapped around his wrists, symbols of Loyalty and Fortitude, and he slammed his fists together, showing off sharp, spiked knuckles that were part of the gloves he wore.

"Correct." Knuckles said. "It IS I, Knuckles the Echidna, proud guardian of the law, the Stone Fist Metallurgist!"

"Can't you pronounce "Law" in a fashion that DOESN'T sound like the right side of your jaw is welded shut?" Gamma muttered as he held up his blaster and fired off an icicle at Knuckles, who ducked his head to the side, avoiding it.

"Hmm. Not bad...but high-pressure water can cut through ANYTHING!" Gamma told him, his blue ring blazing. He flung his arm out and water surged forward at high speed, roaring like an ocean wave.

"It's powerless before my FISTS!" Knuckles roared out, holding his fist up as it glowed brightly with explosive energy.

SCHA-THWOOOOMBAH!

The water was sent spiraling all through the air, and Miles and Sonic saw splashes of it erupt from out of the alley along with an enormous cloud of dust. They raced into the alley, blocking off Gamma from getting out that way. "Oh! Knuckles!" Sonic called out.

"Hello, Sonic." Knuckles said amiably.

"You again?" Gamma asked, slightly annoyed. He suddenly whipped around, tossing a canister from his blaster through the air, and his blue ring flashed. The water coming out of the can turned into red-hot steam, and Miles quickly jumped forward, holding his ringed arms up.

"HAH!" He called out, whipping around and making his tails spiral around and around. The steam was blasted straight up, keeping it from hitting them, but Gamma rushed by them in the confusion.

"Thanks for the save, Miles!" Sonic told his brother as the two of them raced after Gamma with Knuckles. But they lost him once again within the city...and night was soon falling...

...

...

...

... "It's been a long time, hasn't it...Nina?" A voice spoke up as Gamma turned around after looking over the city from a rooftop. "I'm impressed you've managed to hide from us so long. No more."

"...Shadow the Hedgehog. The Burning Metallurgist." Gamma spoke, looking Shadow over as he stood near the edge of the warehouse he'd taken shelter at, with guards on either side of shadow, heavy pulse rifles aimed at the robot.

"It's too bad having to fight against a once noble warrior." Shadow said. "You defended our platoons bravely in the desert campaign."

"Don't play the War Buddy card." Gamma mumbled. "...I have no more "friends". Only regrets. There were only innocents and the monstrous dogs of the military that SLAUGHTERED them in that war!" Gamma hissed.

Shadow snapped his fingers and a burning, fiery blast shot forward. Gamma gasped, then jumped up. The blast instead struck...

A water pipe...at the top of the warehouse. Gamma grinned and clapped his hands. Instantly water shot out from the pipe that wound itself around the roof, rising into the air and soaking Shadow and the guards as a look of deep depression/fury covered the black hedgehog's face.

"Water beats fire." Gamma said calmly, racing along the roof. "So long!" He laughed, racing along an icy bridge to another roof, then leaping down into a dark alley.

He slunk through the alleys, reaching the spot he'd been at before, holding his hand up to put down another seal when-

"That's enough." Sonic called out sharply. Gamma turned his head to see the blue hedgehog standing there, eyes filled with conviction. "What're you up to, hanging around in these alleys?"

"And don't think about runnin'." Miles said, appearing at the other end of the alley. "There's no escaping us both! You've got no more canisters to throw."

"Heh-heh-heh." Gamma's laughter was fake and mechanical, a pathetic imitation of a happy act, which made it all the more terrifying. "I do not need...to escape." He told them. "...watch." He explained calmly. He slammed his fist down into the ground.

SHA-BOOOM. A burning, icy blue/white shot of light erupted up from the seal he formed in the ground, and dozens of other shots of light began to rise up into the air across the city.

"Oh no." Sonic gasped. "It's one big magic seal, set all around the city..."

"Impossible..." Miles whispered.

"Is he trying to create a-" Sonic began.

"Sonic!" Gamma spoke up firmly as the area around them began to become frosted over with ice and snow. "You took up the mantle of being a "Military Grunt", you who became a State Metallurgist at such a young age. Little one, don't you understand the horror that you serve?" He asked angrily, and Sonic could see pain and hurt behind those lenses, a deep sorrow and horrible rage that needed to be expressed.

"...what are you talking about?" Sonic asked quietly, head lowered, voice becoming almost a whisper.

"Don't you know what this country is trying to do?"

"Who cares?"

"YOU should! If you did, you'd support what I'm trying to do!" Gamma growled.

"SHUT UP!" Sonic roared angrily, shaking his fists, and suddenly Miles shot forward, kicking Gamma out of the alley and over Sonic's head. The two of them raced forward as people looked at the two Metallurgists facing down the robot. "Now start talking! I want to know how you're doing all this!"

"There's no use in me telling you." Gamma spoke, voice becoming dead, taking on a terrifying new tone. "...you will not be alive much longer." He held his hand up and to the side, and before their eyes enormous ice structures began to rise up through the roads of central from the pipe system below, taking Gamma up into the sky.

"I've got this!" Knuckles roared out. "Behold!" He cried, clenching his fists tightly. "The powerful arts of the Knuckles clan!"

His fist glowed bright white and he slammed it into the front of the oncoming icicle storm, stopping it. "HA-HA!" He laughed as a huge sprays of ice went flying everywhere, the assault halted.

Then it turned, going to the left. "What the?!" He exclaimed.

"Nice goin', KNUCKLEHEAD!" Sonic roared angrily. "You just made it switch directions!"

"Watch it, blue britches!" Knuckles snapped back, shaking his fist at Sonic as the enormous iciles shot through the city, tearing through dozens of roads and buildings, the cries of the wounded and dying filling the air.

"The ice walls are all connecting..."

"He's...oh my God...he's freezing everything over!" Miles realized. "Knuckles, those bolts of light that are shooting into the sky...you've got to destroy the seals below them!"

"And we'll go after the head honcho himself." Sonic said, jabbing his thumb at his chest.

"You got it." Knuckles told them, slamming his fist into his chest and running off as they headed in the direction Gamma had gone.

Gamma rode atop a large ice wall, looking firm and resolute as he folded his arms. "Dr. Eggman...you will be buried in a prison of deepest ice for all Eternity!" He roared out.

"You've gone far enough!" Sonic roared.

Gamma turned his head to see Sonic was being carried into the air by Miles, who's tails were spiraling around rapidly above his head, allowing him to fly. They whizzed through the air, landing atop the icy wave that Gamma was riding and stood there, looking at the robot.

"Back off!" Gamma snarled, holding his fists up as Sonic stood there. Then he noticed the rings on Sonic's legs. REALLY noticed them.

"...wait a minute. Rings on your legs...AND wrists?...and your brother's form...I see." Gamma's tone became almost diabolical. "You committed the unpardonable sin! You tried to perform Life Magic, didn't you? Was it "Bios"? Or maybe you tried to go for "Zoe" itself?" Gamma wanted to know as Sonic's green eyes turned to slits.

"You have no idea...the pain we went through..." Sonic muttered, clenching his fists. "Yes, we did commit a sin...but you...you've taken your first step into HELL!" He roared.

He suddenly shot forward, his body briefly glowing yellow and before Gamma could strike him, his blaster arm was struck...ripped in half. Then he was suddenly kicked off the icy flow and tumbled down, hitting the ground and moaning in pain. He desperately staggered to his feet, looking at his ripped-off arm...and saw his other wrist...now had a cracked ring.

"You have no idea...what this country...is up to..." Gamma murmured.
"You can't do magic anymore." Sonic told him, eyes narrowing. "One ring's ripped off, the other cracked through."

"There's not much magic left, I admit...and no sources nearby." Gamma whispered darkly. "...save for the fact...that my body...needs some OIL to run!"

Gamma's hand ripped into his chest and he suddenly ripped it open slightly as a harsh spike of oily, reddish liquid rushed forward, and Sonic was struck in the shoulder. Miles pulled him away as Gamma ran off into an alley, oil dripping down from his body as he staggered off.

Meanwhile, Shadow approached one of the icy walls that was blocking a path to one of the seals as Rouge stepped away from him, having finished drying off his gloves with a hair-dryer. He snapped his fingers and an enormous burning blast of fire obliterated the icy wall. "Don't you underestimate my ultimate power!" He howled into the air.

"That's much better." Rouge said. "Now you can go back to only being useless on rainy days." She said cheerfully, making a small "tic" mark appear on Shadow's head.

Gamma stumbled through the alley as his life slowly drained away from him. But then...he saw HIM in his path.

"...Eggmaaaan..." Gamma murmured hatefully, eyes narrowing. "If I have to go to Hell for this, so be it...but I won't...die...until...YOU'RE dead." He snarled. "I don't care! I...DON'T..."

He held his fist up as the last vestiges of oil swirled around his hand and formed an enormous, dripping lance. "CAAAAARE!" He screamed, rushing forward at full speed as Eggman calmly lowered his goggles over his eyes.

SCWHIP.

Gamma blinked, standing still for a moment...and then his eyes turned dull, his body becoming totally grey as his form hit the ground. For a brief instant, the faint, final chirp of a bird was heard, and then...silence. Eggman calmly lowered the metal glove he wore, placing it back in his pocket and adjusting his goggles to the top of his head once again.

"Now!" Shadow called out, stepping to the side, allowing the last of the seals to be exposed.

"You got it!" Knuckles roared, as the true gift of the Knuckles Clan, the glory that was "The Pink" covered his entire body and he burned fiercely, jumping into the air and slamming his fist into the seal. The ground shattered, the seal obliterated as beautiful white sparkles twirled around the echidna's transformed, now pink-furred body.

And with that...the ice faded away. The darkness that had covered the city...gone.

Somewhere...a pair of dark eyes glinted with satisfaction.

...

...

...

... "Dr. Eggman." Sonic remarked, surprised to see the doctor standing near the corpse of Gamma as guards stood nearby, a sheet placed over the body.

"Glad to see you're alright." The doctor said, nodding his head firmly and smiling benignly. "In fact, both of you did excellent work. I was happy to help you out here. This will make an EXCELLENT story for my son."

The next morning, Shadow sneezed heavily into a kleenex as Mighty stood in the doorway, arms folded over his chest. "Caught a cold, huh? Careful, you'll spread the emo around."

"I do not angst THAT often." Shadow mumbled. "...stupid water magic soaking my fur and getting into my gloves, sonofa-"

"Eggman's the one who brought down Gamma. All Shadow did was help destroy the magic seal." Rogue said, standing by Shadow.

"Yes, but you're the one getting the credit. What, aren'tcha happy?" Mighty asked, rubbing the back of his head.

"...happy is a...strong word." Shadow muttered, sighing slightly.

"How are the brothers doing?" Mighty asked.

Indeed. How WERE they doing? Both were sitting together in the hospital wing, being treated for their wounds.

"Well, we never DID find out if he had a Chaos Emerald on him." Miles remarked, sighing slightly.

"I guess we'll just have to wait for the military to report on their examining of the body?" Sonic wanted to know.

"Yeah, I...wait...do you smell...grapes?" Miles asked, tilting his head to the side slightly.

They turned their heads around to see...Knuckles was there, holding onto a big plate and beaming happily. On the plate...was a buttload of fruit.

"I brought you fruit!" He said. "You should eat more fresh fruit. Does you loads of good! And one day..." He rubbed his chin. "You may acquire a "Pink" as fine as my family line has." He told the two of them.

"...uhhhhhhh..." They both remarked, sweat-dropping as Knuckles put down the fruit on a nearby table.

"I must say, you certainly put those tails of yours to good work." Knuckles added to Miles. "...in fact, I think I'm going to call you that from now on. Tails!" He decided, nodding his head firmly. "It's a good nickname, wouldn't you say?"

"This from a member of a species that are almost all named after body parts..." Sonic thought to himself, sighing. "Actually, considering the subject matter...this is STILL pretty creative for an echidna."

"I like it." Tails said, nodding his head and grinning. "Tails it is!"

"Where will you be headed next?" Knuckles wanted to know.

"We've got a train to catch." Sonic told him, holding up a finger. "Knothole awaits!"

...

...

...

... "So...Nina went and got herself offed, did she?" A voice spoke up, distinctly feminine, it's owner holding onto a phone. "Such a shame...she would have made a good sacrifice. So...what was it you wanted to know about? Oh, the Chaos Emerald we had?"

A response over the phone caused a big smile to spread over her face as she grinned broadly. "Yes, yes, we gave it to him." The woman whispered, nodding her head as thick pink hair fell around her light purple-furred face as a the temperature of the room rose, a figure with piercing green eyes entering the room. "Things are going to get very, very interesting in Knothole..." She informed her other associate as her closer "comrade" stepped near her, sucking on a chunk of meat attached to a bone, licking his scaly lips.

"Very, very soon..."

Well, I'm having a LOT of fun writing this story. Please, feel free to review! It really makes my day knowing people have taken the time to look at my work and enjoy it. And if you have any suggestions as to how I can improve, be sure to tell me, it's the only way I'll learn. Just don't be really nitpicky or a total flamer. That's not helpful to me, nor does it make you look refined.

Chapter 3: God Loves, Man KIlls

The basic rule of all magic stems from one thing: the concept of Faith. In order to understand magic, you must be able to believe in it, pure and simple.

From thereon out, pure willpower and the elements around you are what bring out the best in Magic. The problem with magic is that you can only do so much with it and only if you follow it's rules. Life Magic is the most sacred of all, and for those who are not "chosen" to be given free rein over it, the consequences for attempting it...

Can leave eternal scars.

Episode Two:

God Loves, Man Kills!

神ながら、人間を愛し殺す!

---

It was going to be one of those days. They could just feel it. One of those days where somebody was going to make their life just a bit more difficult. Make their quest to get their old forms back to normal just a little bit more annoying. It didn't help that the preaching on the radio was rather...interesting.

"Children of mankind, all of you! Use your brains! You are capable of rational thought. We acknowledge the power of Magic is mighty. We do not deny Religion's force. We cannot respect tit's opinion, which forces men and women no choice but to believe in either one's abilities, denying our free will. We have the right to decide for ourselves! Furthermore, they will not even countenance an alternate point of view!" A rather annoying, grating voice announced over the radio that was sitting atop a tree limb.

Beneath it, a light purple-skinned walrus cooked up some freshly-grilled hamburgers at a grill. He had a pair of square-shaped glasses and a thick tuft of hair sticking out from his yellow baseball cap as he wore a bomber jacket. "Hey, quick question." The walrus inquired as he looked at his customers, who were sitting across from the little burger stand beneath the tree, plopped down at a picnic table.

"What?" Sonic asked.

"You guys, like, seem very familiar. Do I...know you?" The walrus inquired, raising a bushy eyebrow.

"No, I don't think we've met." Tails said, shaking his head as Sonic tried to concentrate on eating his chili dog. "Though I AM getting déjà vu being around this place. It feels so familiar."

"Yeah, anyhow, we'd best get going." Sonic told Tails as he licked his fingers free of chili from his messy eating. "Mmmaaaah!" He grinned. "Thanks for the chili dogs, dude. How much?" He asked.

"Ten copper rings." The walrus told them. Tails reached into the belt around his waist and pulled out a few copper rings, giving them to the walrus as he looked up at the radio. "...hmm. There's some static interference going on with that radio, isn't there?" He asked.

"Yeah, it keeps fluctuating on bad days. I'd get it fixed, but..." The walrus shrugged as a few other people approached the burger stand to get something to eat as well.

"We can fix it." Sonic said. "Bro, you wanna take care of this one?" He asked.

Tails nodded and flew up into the air on his two tails, making everyone gasp in surprise. He grabbed ahold of the radio and then landed deftly back upon the ground, holding it in his hands. He placed the radio on the ground, then pulled out several rings...ones of the element of Metal. He surrounded the radio with these rings then held one hand over it and snapped his fingers.

SHA-THWOOOOOM!

The radio was suddenly brightly polished, a beautiful shine given to it as all the static that had been giving a subtle undertone through the transmission was completely gone.

"How did you do that?" The walrus asked as some "Flickies", little birdy creatures like Nina, aka Gamma, looked the scene and the newly-fixed radio over.

"We're Metallurgists." Sonic explained, grinning broadly and showing off a cloud-pleasing, Public Relations grin.

"Never seen Metallurgy before." A nearby skunk admitted.

"Well maybe you've heard of the Dynamic Duo? We're called the Metal Brotherhood." Tails explained.

"Yes, yes, I know that name. And the elder is supposed to be called Sonic the Hedgehog. But...you're kind of..." The walrus gave him a look. "...I expected somebody less...fat."

A vein throbbed on Sonic's forehead as he waved his fists in the air, jumping up and down making everyone reel back. "I'M NOT FAT! DON'T CALL ME PLUMP! OR PORKY! OR TUBBY!"

"AAAA! I didn't say any of THAT!" The walrus groaned, covering his head.

"Anyhow, who's on the radio?" Sonic wanted to know, taking deep breaths and rubbing the space between his eyes as Tails adjusted the volume.

"We must remain committed to our cause against the vengeful, bloodthirsty God of the Old Testament. We must have hope that Science will overcome. We will eventually emerge victorious in the end. Let us not become deterred by intermittent defeats. Watch our ranks grow with every generation, and in the end we will prove that God is anything but gracious and loving and forgiving." The person on the radio went on.

"That's Doctor Snively Robotnik. He's a nephew of Dr. Ivo Robotnik himself."

"The Eggman himself? Koo-koo-kachoo?" Sonic wanted to know, raising a non-existent eyebrow as Tails put the radio back to where it was. The walrus nodded his head as the others eagerly agreed with enthusiastic nods and words of approval.

"He's amazing!"

"He appeared in town some years ago and began to instruct us all about the miracles Science and Technology can provide."

"Yes, with the power of Science, people can live far longer and better lives, and in time we'll be able to raise even the dead!"

"The works he performs are proof that Science is stronger than Faith!"

"Raise the dead". That was something that made Sonic's eyes narrow. He didn't like the sound of it. Tails allowed a brief flicker of a frown to cross his face, himself finding it...fishy. This was something worth seriously investigating.

...

...

...

...the next day, our two brothers watched as Dr. Snively Robotnik addressed the crowd from the steps of an enormous laboratory. The laboratory itself was situated at the far end of the city of Knothole, with an enormous central "dome" region for primary research and a great library to the far right. The main "body" of the structure which connected the two rather resembled metallic Pringles cans embedded in the ground.

The sun shone brightly off of them as the almost-totally bald 31-year-old short stuff waved at the crowd. He had a green outfit on with black boots and pants, white gloves on his frame, and a few measly, thin strands of hair sticking up at the top, with a nose that was so big you could have sunk the TITANIC with it.

He wore a small earring with a tiny little emerald in it, glowing green and bright. He nervously rubbed it and the back of his neck as the people called out for him to demonstrate a scientific miracle.

He then held up a vial filled with water and smiled. "Behold! No rings! No gestures..."

He held another vial to it that looked like concentrated sugar and poured it in. "Just...science." He exclaimed into the microphones he stood before. Before everyone's eyes, the water turned into a reddish liquid. He handed it to a nearby Flicky who took a sip.

"WINE!" She exclaimed in awe.

People cheered and clapped eagerly as Snively bowed deeply, with Sonic and Tails looking the scene over.

"So...what do you think?" Sonic asked him.

"Definitely not alchemy like he seems to be pretending." Tails insisted, shaking his head.

"Yep. He's nothing but a snake-oil salesman. That's Metallurgy, pure and simple."

"Yes, but...he's ignoring the Laws of Magic. That's a big problem." Sonic murmured. "If you want to change water into wine like that you NEED the blessing of Magical power, or..."

"His help." Tails finished, nodding. "He's doing all this without using a ring...could it be?"

"Yes...I think...we've found it." Sonic whispered, eyes narrowing at the head of Snively...

...

...

...

... "Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques, doh-may-voo! Doh-may-voo!" A squirrel sang out. She had light brown skin, and tan fur upon her face, chest and stomach, Upon her head was a long and thick tuft of dark red bushy hair, and her sparkling azure eyes and matched the open vest she wore, and the knee-high boots upon her feet. She was cleaning up books at the library that had fallen off the shelves, placing them back in their proper place as she continued to sing to herself. She didn't really know the words, but the melody itself was merry enough. "Ding-dang-dong! Ding-dang-dong!"

She swept away from the non-fiction section and headed over to an enormous "Donations" wall that was set up. It listed the people who had donated money to help build the library. The larger the donation, the larger your name was on the display, which was shown off like a big tree, with the biggest donators at the "trunk" and "roots" on the bottom, and the "little people" at the top. Naturally, Dr. Snively Robotnik had contributed the most to Knothole Library.

She sighed to herself. "Soon." She thought out loud to herself. "Science has begun to replicate the miracles that IT talks about. Soon I'll see Khan again and-"

"Hey." A voice called out.

She turned around to see a blue hedgehog and an orange/yellow fox with two tails looking at her from down the hallway.

"So this is the library, huh? And all funded by science?" The hedgehog inquired.

"Are you interested in what Science can do for you?" The squirrel asked kindly, smiling at him.

"No, though I appreciate it. I, personally, am a very staunch believer in the power of the transubstantiation. And the Eucharist. Yep. A real, Bible-Beatin', book-burnin' Catholic, that's what I am!" The hedgehog laughed, sniggering madly. "Are you an atheist?"

"Actually, I'm a Muslim." She admitted. "I'm not allowed to eat Pork and the like, but I have had it a couple of times. Since you're Catholic, you're not allowed to do "that", right? But have you?"

"And if I told you "yes, a couple of times"?" The hedgehog asked, grinning.

"Better than Pork, isn't it?" The squirrel laughed. Both of them laughed at this little joke before Tails finally spoke up.

"I'm Miles Prower. But people call me "Tails"." The fox said, shaking the squirrel's hand. "And this is my brother, Olgilvie Maurice."

"But everyone calls me Sonic the Hedgehog." Sonic said, shaking the squirrel's hand vigorously.

For a moment, a flicker of recognition passed over the girl's face. She felt a sense of déjà vu, but shrugged it off. "I'm Sally Alicia Acorn. My friends call me Sal." She told them, smiling. "You really don't put much stock in Science, huh? Don't you know how much it can bring us?" She held one hand to her chest. "It's constantly paving the way for progress! Religion has brought us only war, science brings us only prosperity! You know, I'm sure there are some pills you could take to wean off that fat around your thighs." She added kindly.

"WHAAAAAAAAA?!" Sonic screamed angrily, eyes burning with fire. Tails held him back as he clenched his fists tightly, waving them in the air.

"Calm down, calm down!" Tails insisted.

"Sorry, sorry." Sonic groaned. "Look...do you...really think that science can one day raise the dead?"

"Yep!" Sally remarked, nodding eagerly.

Sonic folded his arms and leaned against a wall, then placed a finger to his head, thinking back and reciting from memory. "I can understand how men should come, by observation and inference, to know a lot about the Universe they live in. If, on the other hand, I swallow the Scientific cosmology as a whole, then not only can I not fit in Christianity, but I cannot even fit in science. If minds are wholly dependent on brains, and brains on bio-chemistry, and bio chemistry (in the long run) on the meaningless flux of the atoms, I cannot understand how the thoughts of those minds should have any more significance than the sound of the wind in the trees. And this is, to me, the final test."

Sally blinked a few times, puzzled.

"This is how I distinguish dreaming and waking. When I am awake I can, in some degree, account for and study my dream. The dragon that pursued my last night can be fitted into my waking world. I know that there are such things as dreams: I know that I had eaten an indigestible dinner: I know that a man of my reading my be expected to dream of dragons. But while in the nightmare I could not have fitted in my waking experience. The waking world is judged more real because it can thus contain the dreaming world: the dreaming world is judged less real because it cannot contain the waking one. For the same reason I am certain that in passing from the scientific standpoint to the theological, I have passed from dream to waking."

Sally frowned. She got the point. "That's no way to think!" She proclaimed. "Relying on Faith alone is dumb! Idiotic! Doesn't your own book tell you to be as wise as serpents? You can't do that if you're clinging to blind faith!"

"You misunderstand. Christian theology can fit into science, art, morality and even the sub-Christian religious ways. The scientific point of view cannot fit in any of these things. Not even science itself." Sonic told her.

"You must think you're pretty clever, hotshot." Sally remarked, rolling her eyes.

"There's never, ever been an example of a successful human transmutation. And we recognize Science's flaws as Metallurgists. Our kind seek to bring Faith and Science together in a "holy matrimony". Science need not be God's enemy. Science lays bare the creative principles of the world, but it doesn't ever explain "Why", and doesn't always explain "How". But Faith CAN."

"Who do you think you are?" Sally asked, shaking her head. "Prophets proclaiming the new Gospel or something?"

Sonic shrugged as Miles looked down and away, a sorrowful look flashing across his face. "Well, it's like that story about that magician. He tried to fly through the air and prove he had the power of God, but ended up crashing to the ground by God's own hand..."

Sally rubbed her head, confused.

"Buuuut...anyhow..." Sonic stood up. "If you really think that Dr. Snively's work can do so much benefit for people, might we be able to speak with him? From one scientist to another?"

"Oh, he'd be happy to do see you." Sally remarked. "I was just on my way to go visit him. I often help him in his laboratory."

Meanwhile, Snively was speaking with an armored guard who had a dome-like dark blue helmet over his body to match his armored form. "So who's this person you saw today?"

"I recognized them from the news. They're the ones who helped stop that Metallurgist rogue, Gamma. Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles Prower." The guard informed Snively as he sat in his office, looking out the window at the enormous machinery in his laboratory.

"WHAT?" Snively gasped, his hairs standing on end. "Th-the Blue Blur himself?" He gasped.

"Correct, sir." The guard informed him, nodding gravely. "What shall we do? That Hog of the Military is no doubt up to no good."

"If he meets with me, he might find out...hmm." Snively frowned, then grinned darkly. "Let us take care of them. For the Greater Good."

"The Greater Good." The guards in the office repeated electronically.

...

...

...

...soon, Sonic, Sally and Tails were led into an enormous open area, walking along a metallic floor as they passed capsule after capsule filled with various creatures half-made. Some bubbles moved up occasionally past the forms, whilst enormous tubes connected to the top and back of the tubes, control consoles stationed by each one to "release" them.

"I'm glad that the doctor could find time to squeeze us in. I promise this won't take long." Sonic remarked cheerily, noticing out of the corner of his eye one of the guards was closing...and locking...the enormous door behind them.

"Yes, we should end this right away." The head guard admitted, and he grinned underneath his dome-shaped helmet, holding one arm up to his chest as a small, circular shaft popped out at the top of his "hand"...a plasma buster embedded within his arm...and ready to be used.

And use it he did. He whirled around and pointed at Tails's head, putting the gun to the fox's forehead. "Like THIS!" He roared.

Sally screamed in horror and Sonic gasped in surprise. "What the HELL do you think you're freakin' doing, you motherfucker?!" Sally screamed. "What kinda crazy-ass-"

"The doctor told us what to do. This is for the Greater Good." The guard said as other guards pointed their weapons at them.

"Oh really? Well, like you said, let's end this right...AWAY!"

Sonic's leg rings glowed brightly and before the other guards could do anything they were knocked through the air, Sonic's fist raised high up as they hit the wall, and Tails's signature tails swept through the air, striking the head guard in the...well, the head...and knocking HIM down. "And THAT was all she wrote!" Sonic called out.

"Well, well." Snively emerged from the top of the ceiling, descending on a hovering platform, arms folded, looking magnanimous. "Welcome to my laboratory. Hmm. It seems that some people have no regard for manners." He admitted, looking the scene over. "I apologize for the rudeness of my guards."

"You're floatin' up on high and talkin' down to us in more ways than one." Sonic told Snively. "How about comin' down to Earth and talkin' on OUR level, you faker?"

"Faker? Don't confuse my work with any of that "Hocus Pocus" that you Metallurgists seem to enjoy dabbling in. I don't do the "Dark Arts"." Snively commented calmly, rubbing his head, his earring twinkling.

"I admit, I was confused. How could you do Metallurgy without the use of Rings? And we didn't "sense" that "Blessed" air about you like the users of Bios or Zoe have, those who were given power to give Life in ways never thought possible before." Tails admitted, rubbing his chin.

"See? I told you, it's not Metal-" Dr. Snively Robotnik began, wagging a finger in the air.

"And then it hit us." Miles spoke up, his sky-blue eyes flashing. "A CHAOS EMERALD."

The finger stopped wagging.

"Like...maybe...it's that gaudy earring you've got on?" Sonic commented quietly, grinning darkly.

Snivley's outward smile didn't change. But his aura did. A new miasma of fury and sinister intent suddenly covered his body. And then he grinned cruelly. "True..."

He flicked the earring. "A Chaos Emerald." He intoned. "Each emerald is composed of positive and negative charged materials which make them an everlasting source of energy...it transforms one's very thoughts into power!"

"How looooong we've been lookin' for that..." Sonic whispered, shaking his head. "Soooo long."

"Well, what's with that look in your eye?" Snively remarked. "Wanting to grab ahold of this precious little gift I was given? I think not, you stinkin' little brat."

Something whizzed through the air and the squirrel caught it. "Sally, would you be so kind as to shoot that fox and teach the hedgehog a lesson?" Snively asked as she held onto a small Luger.

Sally looked at the gun in her hand, eyes widening. "Now hold on, that's just...I can't..."

"Remember when you lost your boyfriend MK last year? I saved you from despair." Snively asked. "Now I'm asking for you to save my life just as I intend to give your boyfriend his back." He said calmly, eyes glinting. "Don't you want him back?" He whispered.

Sally raised the gun up into the air, tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm...I'm sorry..." She muttered sadly. "I...I just want to see him again..."

"You can't trust him. He's a swindling crook." Sonic told her.

"You're WRONG!" She screamed, firing the gun. It whizzed through the air and cut through Tails's head. Sally instantly felt a horrid chill go through her. She hadn't wanted to hurt the fox at all, but she didn't want to lose her boyfriend. They'd been days away from getting married and when he came back, she could finally-

She still felt awful as she looked at the still form of the little fox. Death wasn't that easy on the eyes. Paling body, blood oozing out and-

...there was no blood.

There was no blood.

Snivley and Sally's eyes widened as Tails stood up, his body flickering before their eyes for a moment revealing something that was not remotely 'real' but more like...a doll...a giant, lifelike doll with his face had been in their vision for a few seconds. "What on Earth?" Sally gasped.

"It's just what it looks like." Sonic remarked, shrugging. "He's a doll. It sucks, pure and simple."

"Foul thing! Unnatural freak! I'll get rid of you yet!" Snivley raised a remote into the air and pressed it. Instantly a large doorway nearby opened up, and a form hovered through the air, armor glinting. It was dark green with red "eyes" and claw-like black hands, and very much resembled a robotic trash can of sorts. He had large wheels on his hulky frame, and a small headlight on his shoulder.

"Meet E-1000 "Alpha", or Zero, as I call him." Snivley remarked. "Now why don't you start off by firin' your laz0r? BWWAAAAAH!" Snivley laughed, throwing his head back and cackling manically.

Zero flexed it's arms as it shot into the air on a jetpack, an enormous cannon appearing at it's "mouth" area as Sally jumped far away with Tails, Sonic standing his ground, frowning slightly.

KRA-KROOOOOM!

"You made this with that Chaos Emerald, didn'tcha?" Sonic asked calmly. He then grinned and leapt into the air, his body glowing blue. "SONIC WIND!" He roared out.

THA-WOOOSH! His body let out a blast of wind energy and shot into the beam, scattering it and breaking the laser from within. Zero fell to the ground, spluttering and gasping in surprise.

"Crush him with your hands then!" Snivley roared.

Zero's eyes glinted and he rushed forward, claws grabbing Sonic's arms and holding him tightly in the air...

Sonic's eyes turned red.

Lightning crackled and before Sally and Snivley's eyes, his entire body flashed yellow, and with that single flash and a burst of power, Zero was sent flying back into chunks of scrap iron, letting out an almost human scream as Sonic stood there on the floor of the laboratory, blue lightning crackling around his form, his quills rising up slightly.

"Take a good, long look, Sal." Sonic whispered. "Look at the rings upon my wrists and knees. The chains of a sinner who trespassed in God's domain!"

Sally thought back to Sonic's earlier words in the library. "Well, it's like that story about that magician. He tried to fly through the air and prove he had the power of God, but ended up crashing to the ground by God's own hand..."

"A brother that's just a doll...and those rings upon your wrists and knees...the POWER it brings. This means..." Snivley smirked. "You committed the Sin, didn't you? You tried to bring somebody dead back to life, correct?"

"This is what happens when you try to bring people back to life without His blessing." Miles murmured. "Sally, do you honestly want to become like either of us?"

"You've got some nerve judging us considering you're a phony who's passing off Metallurgic miracles as "science"!" Sonic roared up at Snivley. "Hand it over or you're gonna get HURT!"

"You got close to God before. This time, I'm sending you to God for good!" Snivley laughed, his earring glowing as he clapped his hands and an enormous, bulging-shafted machine gun popped into his arms. Cackling, he unloaded it at Miles and Sonic, but Sonic raced around the room, holding Tails in his arms.

"Nice try, baldy, but if we met St. Peter at the Gate, he'd make us wait because he HATES our GUTS!" Sonic sniggered.

"You little..." Snivley hissed as he began to create a larger, bigger gun whilst Tails, Sally and Sonic broke down the door, rushing off in different directions, Tails and Sally heading to the roof with Sonic heading towards the direction of Snivley's office, thanking Providence that there were little signs advertising both the locations of the office, the laboratory, and, most importantly, the toilets.

...

...

...

...Tails began to make a circle of rings as he stood at the top of an enormous lookout point above the laboratory. He was setting up a "Sting" operation with his brother.

"...back there." Sally murmured as she stood near Tails. "What he said...was it true? You tried to do "that"?"

"Yes. We just...we wanted to see our mom's smile again, but...but the thing we brought back, it...it wasn't even remotely..." His eyes became dark as he lowered his head, covering his face with one hand. "...it wasn't our mom. It was a...a thing. Like I became because of the screwed up spell." He told her. "Tampering with life, it...it's not something everyone should do. Anyone could do it, but they definitely shouldn't. We weren't meant to have that power. It was only Chaos's mercy that allowed my soul to return and gave my brother the chance to keep looking for a way to gain my original body back."

"And that's why you need the Chaos Emerald?" Sally inquired.

"Souls will linger on in a body for some time...or they'll stay behind on Earth as ghosts. But...even people who are masters of life magic can't bring back a body from the other side. They have enough problems bringing back a recently dead soul. A body...MY original form...that's something different. Only one of the 7 Chaos Emeralds could bring it back and restore my brother's natural use of his limbs to normal." Tails went on. "They are said to be able to do anything."

"...and you don't want me walking this path." Sally realized quietly.

"It's a horrible, terrible thing. We wouldn't wish this pain we've been through on anyone." Tails insisted. "We might even lose our lives if we use the Chaos Emerald for such a thing, who knows?"

"I...I..." Sally looked out over the town, biting her lip.

Meanwhile, Sonic was facing down Snivley in his office, calmly folding his arms. "You little brat! Get off that desk! It cost me almost as much as my first year of college tuition!" Snivley whined.

"Look, let's speak frankly here. I wanna know the secrets of that Chaos Emerald. You can tell them to me, ooooor..." He spread his arms out. "I can just call in the army to investigate."

"Grraaaaahhhh!" Snivley groaned, tugging at his hair. "You'd bargain with me?! Grrr..." He slammed the door shut. "I oughta...hrrrrm..."

"Why do you even need people listening to you about the "benefits of science"? Why waste time with stuff like that if you can just create your own mansion, tons of cash..." Sonic inquired, grinning slightly.

"Well, I'll explain in terms you could understand." Snivley commented. "I'm here, respected, admired, worshiped even, because these people need something steadfast to believe in. They want to trust their logic, believe in the power of their minds and not put faith in talking dead guys! And I'll provide it for them...and in return..." He grinned. "What will be one city will turn into a movement of people...nay, sheep-le...willing to follow my every word!"

"World domination? That's your goal?" Sonic asked.

"Of COURSE!" Snivley proclaimed, grinning to himself, steepling his fingers. "With the power of the Chaos Emerald in my grasp, I shall rip the whole damn world apart, and if you're lucky, I'll let you share the leftovers."

"...ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaa!" Sonic held his hand over his head. "God, you're such a big, fat faker. And a stupid one too." Sonic turned to point at the wall as what had appeared to be a simple mirror rose up, revealing...many, many cameras.

Miles, standing atop the lookout point, calmly standing near a big-screen TV. It, along with hundreds of others that had spontaneously turned to one channel all over the city, had shown the entire speech Snivley had given Sonic. Mouths were wide open. Gasps echoed through the city.

"FART KNOCKER!" A little girl screeched, throwing an ice cream cone at the surprised, stunned face of Snivley.

"You little RAT!" He screamed, blanching. "How many people?!"

"Every...single...one." Sonic informed him. "We've even got it broadcasting on Youtube." Sonic added, holding up a small laptop. "Here, want me to rewind to my favorite part? See, as you say "I'll let you share the leftovers", your eyes bulge a bit. That's pretty funny looking, huh?" Sonic asked, grinning from ear to ear.

SFX: Waa-waa-waaaaaa!

"You...you...YOOOOOOU!" Snivley roared furiously.

"Hoo boy. Watch, he's gonna say something evil and then start shooting at Sonic." Tails told Sally.

"I'm not giving up yet!" Snivley snarled angrily, the emerald earring he had glowing brightly. "As long as I have this, I can make "miracles" over and over!" He said, holding up his hands as he glowed brightly. Sonic readied himself, putting the laptop away and getting into a fighting pose when...

It happened. Something absolutely horrifying. His body was covered with bulging red veins, his eyes becoming even tinier than before, the space around them turning dark black, his screams filling the air as he went into spasms on the ground, blood bursting out of his mouth.

"A...rebound..." Sonic gasped in horror as the emerald shattered into pieces.

"How?! HOOOOW?! They said...I could take over everything with it...they said it was the real deal..." Snivley's voice whined as his body gained sickly, bloody patches which soon began to cover his entire form.

"...you...little...PRICK!" Sonic growled. "I really thought you had the real deal!" He snarled, holding up his fist as it glowed. Snivley was suddenly blown out the window through the air and his teeth clacked in his head as Sonic rose up into the air above him, his body glowing yellow, and light rising around him as if he wore a halo, blue streaks of power spreading out from him like wings...

"FEEL THE IRON BLOW OF GOD'S WRATH!" Sonic screamed.

"OH MY GOD-" Snivley gasped.

KRUDDA-KROOOOOOOM!

Snivley was punched clear through the ground below, landing in the deep, dark sewers beneath the city as Sonic landed on his feet, dusting himself off, blowing off his fists. "And THAT'S...a whuppin'." He remarked as Tails walked towards him, Sally standing nearby, gazing at Sonic. As he looked up at her, he saw...

"...Sally." He spoke sadly. "Please, the worst thing a guy can do is make a girl cry." He told her, gently walking over to her and holding her chin up.

"What...what are we gonna do now?" She asked. "...what am I supposed to believe in?...how will I know what to trust?" She wanted to know.

"...people need to find the right answer on their own. All we can do is give you the options left to you. It's your choice what you pick." Sonic told her. "Just keep moving forward. You're a strong girl." He said, patting her on the shoulder as he walked off with Tails. "You can make it."

...

...

...

... "You LIED to me." Snivley hissed at the eggplant-colored hedgehog before him, who stood by a black and orange tegu lizard. The hedgehog wore dress with a short dark blue skirt and a red sleeveless top, two sections separated by a band of gold that formed a pointed shape at the front with a small circle in the center. She wore blue gloves going up to her elbows, and red stockings underneath her dark blue boots, with the "toe" sections a matching red. "You said I could take over the whole country with it!"

"I DID say something like that, didn't I?" The female mused, rubbing her chin as her lizard friend stood nearby. He had a breathing apparatus on his back, with a mask that was covering his face. Well, was normally covering his face. Right now the black and orange lizard was munching on one of Zero's eyes, chewing it like it was a gumball as he sat by the wreckage of the robot. "Well, we lied. We just wanted you to cause some trouble. You couldn't even do THAT, couldja?" She remarked, shaking her head. "Now we need to start all over!"

"Can I eat him, Sonia?" The lizard asked in a slightly childish tone.

"No, Biolizard, he'd give you indigestion, the balding fart." Sonia remarked, waving a finger in the air.

"Oooooooh!" Snivley hissed, his wounded, near-broken body rippling with anger. "Stop mocking me! You're ALL mocking my ambitions! You, that goddamn little hog-"

Sonia held up her gloved hand and snapped her fingers. "ZIP IT." She hissed.

SCHWAAAAARK! Snivley's mouth melted away into his face, and he gasped in horror, feeling the empty space where his mouth would have been, eyes widening in horror.

"I guess our Father's gonna be maaaaaaad." Sonia sighed as the Biolizard advanced, licking it's lips. She looked at it, then shrugged. "Well, he IS no longer of use. Alright, fine, just...don't make too much noise. After all, he won't." Sonia commented calmly, a sinister smile passing over her lips as the Biolizard pinned Snivley down.

The drooling maw opened wide.

As I said before, feel free to review. Don't be scared or anything. :D

Chapter 4: Suffer the Little Children

The basic rule of all magic stems from one thing: the concept of Faith. In order to understand magic, you must be able to believe in it, pure and simple.

From thereon out, pure willpower and the elements around you are what bring out the best in Magic. The problem with magic is that you can only do so much with it and only if you follow it's rules. Life Magic is the most sacred of all, and for those who are not "chosen" to be given free rein over it, the consequences for attempting it...

Can leave eternal scars.

Episode Three:

Suffer the Little Children!

苦しんでいる小さな子供

---

Sonic and Tails sat together, thinking back to yesterday. They'd been so sure...so close to returning to their original bodies...Sonic gaining the use of his limbs once more...Tails gaining his old body back. Not needing to hide the truth...

They'd been so damn close...

"I don't feel like staying here any longer." Tails murmured to his brother.

"Me neither." Sonic mumbled. "...let's head back to the train station."

...

...

...

...a week after that, a solitary figure walked along the road, heading for his home. He'd just had a nice dinner of Ramen at a local diner and had not really listened to the reports on the "strange sightings of an unusual being" that had been preoccupying his fellow officers. Pir'Oth Ix, the Imperator, wasn't afraid of anyone or anything.

True, the moon's solitary rays were being clouded over by a darkening sky. True, the streets seemed quiet. Too quiet. And true, there was an odd smell in the-

Odd smell. He stood still, sniffing the air. Ix wore a purple robe with thick, gold rings around his wrist with smaller rings on his fingers representing the forces of Earth and Metal. He wore a similar golden band around his neck and had two long and thick quills shooting out from the top of his head, with an even bigger one in the center of these two. There were glowing, light blue insignias on the ends of his robe that were of Angelic script, which read "Upon This Rock".

He would NEED holy help, considering the being he was facing down right now. It stood at the end of the street, red eyes glowing, and spoke in an unmistakably mechanical voice. It was hard to see his full form in the shadows that the houses of Central City cast, but that voice...

Definitely a robot of some sort.

"Pir'Oth Ix of the Nocturnus Platoon? The Imperator himself?" The robot asked. It spoke it's words in a solemn tone, not mocking, not cruel, simply asking a simple question and asking it with serious intent.

"Yes." Ix remarked, his white eyes narrowing intently. "Who wants to know?" He asked, tilting his head to the side slightly, one eyebrow raised.

"You Metallurgists who turned away from the True Path of progress...you hypocrites shall die." The robot spoke, raising up sharp, metallic claws and creating a fist.

"Sooooo." Ix allowed a smirk to appear on his features. "YOU'RE the one targeting State Metallurgists, eh? Well...I've news for you. You picked the wrong person to annoy on this particular night! I'm in no mood..." He held up his ringed fingers and brought them together as brown and light grey energy swirled around him, slamming into the ground before him. "To have my time wasted..."

THWOOOM! Enormous cannons appeared before him, gleaming in the moonlight, fresh and new. "By YOU" Ix roared.

BUDDA-BUDDA-BUDDA-BUDDA! The cannons shot out over and over again, firing off thick, burning blasts that lit up the alley, but the robot was faster than he appeared, rushing around on the ground, propelled by jets placed upon the back of his frame. Now he came into full view, a stocky red upper body with thick shoulders and a silver stripe going down the center of his chest. He had grooved red flaps on a "belt" around his waist, and "boot" like feet with black treads. There was a symbol on his shoulders...

But that wasn't what got Ix's attention. What got it was that this robot was getting too damn close!

"How fast you are! But it's not good enough!" The white-furred echidna roared. THWOOM!

The robot's approach was suddenly halted as enormous metallic blocks rose up around him, and he was encased within, trapped completely. Clapping his hands free of imaginary dust, Ix smirked proudly. "That wasn't so difficult. I'll have to ask Shadow why he's been having so much trouble dealing with this one." He thought to himself. Whistling, he walked around the box, heading to the end and knocking on it. "Comfortable in there?" He laughed.

CRUCHA-CRACK!

The back end was blown open and almost skeletal claws gripped around his head.

"Die." It said calmly.

Ix didn't even have time to scream as dark power surged through the claw tips, and blood splurted out from his body, ripping through flesh. His form was tossed to the ground as the robot's small, circular red eyes narrowed down at his fresh kill. That had almost been too easy. Almost.

...

...

...

... "Another one gone?" Knuckles asked, folding his arms as the squad gently lifted the body of Pir'Oth Ix onto a stretcher so he could be taken away and given a proper autopsy and burial.

"Yes, it's "that person" again." Mighty muttered, narrowing his dark eyes. "Knuckles, you need to watch yourself. It's startin' to get real unsafe for guys like you."

"I appreciate the concern, honest and true." Knuckles told Mighty with a slight smile before he sighed deeply. "Such HATE...you can feel it lingering on within this street..."

It was then that a car arrived on the scene, a long, black limo. Stepping out of it...Eggman himself. He looked the scene over, adjusting his glasses.

Everyone quickly saluted. "Your majesty!" Mighty remarked. "Wh-what brings you here?" He inquired. "If you don't mind us asking sir?"

"I wanted to see this for my own two eyes. Mighty...tell me...you're the man personally in charge of this case, correct?" Eggman asked, looking under the sheet at the body and frowning slightly, a look of disgust passing over his face.

"Yes, sir." Mighty agreed.

"If you need any extra personnel, you need only ask." Dr. Eggman told him, nodding in Mighty's direction as they took the stretcher away. "We need to crack down hard..." He whispered.

...

...

...

...the next morning, Rouge and the others had to deal with the most unpleasant and annoying part of being employed by the government...the paperwork.

"Oh, paperwork. If only it would all just...blow away." Rouge muttered. "Here you go, Vector." She remarked, handing a stack of papers to a green-scalled, thick-toothed alligator wearing headphones. He wore black armbands with yellow stripes upon them, and a gold chain around his neck, with yellow and purple socks and vermillion eyes. He took the headphones off his "ear" regions for a second, sighing as he looked them over.

"Why does Shadow let all the paperwork pile up? It was bad enough we had to fill out those release forms so Ix's family could get his body back...now this?" Vector muttered. "Hey Ray, gimme a hand with these."

"I've got both hands full, buddy ol' pal." Ray the Flying Squirrel told him shaking his head. Ray had golden yellow skin with a dark tan skin muzzle and torso, with bright blue eyes and a small tufted tip tapered hair at the top of the back of his head. He had a shiny black nose and blue tennis shoes embraced with light blue white accents, and metal soles. As usual, he wore his favorite light blue collar and blue jacket with light blue cuffs to match his eyes. "Who's this?" He inquired, looking down at some papers that had a photograph of a weasel on them.

"This is the person that our dear Metal Brotherhood found out." A robot informed Ray. He was a silver robot, clunky in appearance with red oven mitts for hands and who looked something like a coffee kettle. He had round, dark grey shoulders and long dark grey slabs for feet. "His name was Nack, I think. He was lining his own pockets using his position of power, apparently. Nobody's heard of where he's gone off to NOW though."

"Bomb, this reminds me. Is that radio fixed?" Rouge asked a small, red and black circular thing with little yellow gloved hands. It was trying to re-work wires on a big, black and red radio, and though he, like Bomb, had no face...there was unmistakable annoyance in his body language.

"This frickin' reciever's shot tah hell, missy! I've gota gets me some new parts. It SUCKS!" Bomb proclaimed, whacking the thing with his tiny fists.

"Riiiiight."

Tap!

THWOOOM! The radio was fixed with a single tap, now made shiny and new, and Bomb looked up appreciatively at Tails. "Thank you kindly!" He told the fox.

"No worries." Tails insisted as he and Sonic smiled at them all.

"Good to see you back. Shadow's expecting you." Rouge informed them, pointing into the next room. Sonic rolled his eyes. Hoo boy.

"Well first of all, credit where credit's due." Shadow said, folding his hands. "The Knothole Incident means our forces can make things right, and put an end to the havoc and disarray over in that city. Thanks to you, the people can recover from the lies they were distracted by."

"Well we didn't' do it for you."

"So tell me..." Shadow's eyes narrowed slightly. "This scientist. He did what he did using a Chaos Emerald?"

"Yes, but apparently it was a fake one. All the same, the power it had...it was incredible." Sonic admitted, leaning back in the couch he and Tails were sitting on. Tails nervously held a hand up and Shadow sighed.

"Don't stand on ceremony, Miles." Shadow told him softly. "Go ahead."

"Thank you." Tails said, taking off the rings around his wrists and legs, transforming back into his dollish form. He sighed, head bowing slightly, the little red crystal at the top of his antennae bouncing a bit. Being in his "other form" for so long was exhausting on his spirit...it made him feel sleepy, mournful, depressed...he needed "breaks".

Shadow didn't mind this at all. He looked back over at Sonic. "So what else did he make with the chaos emerald besides transforming water into wine and other such things?"

"His body became altered, but that was by the rebound...hmm." Sonic rubbed his chin.

Suddenly Tails looked up at his brother. "You know, we DID see creatures in tubes at the laboratory. He might have made them with the emerald. The creation of living creatures...that's something we should look into. It might help us on our journey to know more about "Life Magic". We should see a specialist."

"Smart idea. It may take years to find a Chaos Emerald, but as for a Life Magic user, well, we've got quite a good one right here in Central. Our Autocrat's own grandfather, Gerald Robotnik." Shadow told them, taking out a file from his desk and passing it to them. They looked into it, seeing a face very much like Dr. Eggman's, only older, more wrinkly, hair that should have been reddish/orange grey and white.

"Hmm. His Metallurgist title is "Spear of Knowledge"?" Sonic asked.

"Yes. He was the one to create the first Chao." Shadow informed them, nodding his head. "A considerable feat, especially since he insists he wasn't "Blessed" like most Life magic users."

The Chao. These were creations generated by a mixture of Life Magic and Chaos Energy. They had come into being years upon years ago and were now common pets. How a Chao developed depended on how you treated it, what sort of person you were. People with a "good" nature would find their Chao becoming angelic in appearance. People with a " bad" nature created demonic-looking Chao. The gender of Chao could get confusing...very much so.

On the plus side, it was easy to tell their moods, they usually made excellent pets, and were very, very cute.

"Wait, YOU? Want to help US?" Sonic asked, raising an imaginary eyebrow. He then jumped up and pointed accusingly at Shadow. "Who are you and what have you done with Shadow?"

"HA-HA." Shadow frowned darkly. "Believe me, I'd normally rather have a buffalo take a diarrhea dump into my ear than be eternally indebted to you, but you DID do Central a large favor...did ME a favor. This will make us even." He waved his hand in the air. "The doctor created a Chao that could actually speak 10 years ago, amazing everyone at his performance review."

Sonic looked intrigued. "Really? It spoke? No foolin'?"

"And it wasn't just gibberish?" Tails asked, standing up from the couch.

"Yes. Dr. Eggman said his grandfather had done everyone proud. He performed Life Magic without actually being "chosen" by Him. But apparently all that it said was..." Shadow's eyes became darkened. "...all it said was "I want to die"."

Tails and Sonic were silent, a horrifying chill running through their bodies. "...what happened to it?" Tails asked quietly.

"Soon after it...it stuck it's own tongue into an electrical socket and fried itself." Shadow murmured. "But if you're still interested in meeting with him..."

"Any lead on creating new life is a good lead." Sonic decided. "Tails, let's get going."

...

...

...

...the house of Gerald Robotnik towered up slightly, made of beautiful red bricks covering the outside with a large double door. There was a big brass doorbell to the side of the doors, and a pretty row of flowers on either side of the walkway leading to the front door, all of them red and yellow and orange, looking like the embers of a nursery fire. Freshly-cut grass was surrounding the house on all sides, with flower-filled bushes beneath the large windows. And, from behind said bush, IT had come.

A very large dragon had just landed atop of them. It was a female with peach-orange hair and teal/green scales. It had golden, nubby talons and "claws", and a large black nose ring that was resting in front of Sonic...whom it had just jumped onto. It grinned at him, his body pinned beneath her dark peach-colored chest and stomach. "Heya!" The dragoness remarked cheerily.

"...oooowwwwwww..." Sonic moaned. "My stomach...my head...my stomach AND my head!"

"Ooh, look, Dad!" A human called out happily, opening up the door. Shadow smiled warmly at her as he stood by Tails, nodding firmly at the teenage girl. She was a blond-haired, blue-eyed human with a pretty-looking blue dress and pair of shoes to match. She had a smooth and delicate face, and spoke with a very lilting, kindly voice. "Visitors!"

"I'm very sorry about Dulcy. She gets...excited." Dr. Gerald Robotnik said, stepping out from the doorway with his daughter as Dulcy got off of Sonic.

"Maria." Shadow said, bowing deeply. He took her hand and kissed it like a gentleman, making her giggle. "Lovely as ever."

As they headed inside the house, Tails noticed that many dishes had piled up in the sink and an enormous amount of books, dusty and old, were scattered in the rooms. "I'm sorry. It's the anniversary of when my wife left me 10 years ago. I always get all...sentimental." He murmured, pouring some cups of coffee for them all to enjoy as he, Maria and Dulcy sat at one end of the table. "This is Maria, my daughter." He explained. "Shadow was gracious enough to be there for her on days when I couldn't. Dulcy here happens to my wife's old friend and she too has helped Maria with loneliness." Gerald said, nodding at the dragon.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Tails said.

"I've heard much about the both of you. Especially you, Sonic. It's an honor to meet the Blue Blur himself." Gerald insisted.

"Sonic here is interested in learning more about creating new life." Shadow informed Gerald, gesturing at Sonic.

"Ah, that's understandable. I've not got the "aura" of a "Chosen one", have I?" Gerald laughed.

Sonic and Tails looked at him and sensed him with their hearts, allowing their spirit to reach out. No, no, they could sense no Divine spark within him. How had he performed Life Magic if he'd not been gifted with it from the Almighty? If he wasn't a "Chosen", then...how?

"Well we'd love to hear more about your research." Sonic told him.

"I'd be happy to share with you what I have learned. However...if I am to show you what is up MY sleeve, you need to show me what is up YOURS. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us, is that not the saying?" Gerald inquired, his pince-nez glasses glinting.

Sonic blinked a few times, then nodded. "Alright. Tails?" He turned to his brother.

Tails nodded, and removed the rings around his wrist and legs...

...

...

...

... "So you lost your mom and your dad never showed up?" Dulcy asked sadly. "I'm sorry, mister."

"The things you have been through must have been very trying." Gerald said sympathetically.

Tails and Sonic said nothing. They simply stared back solemnly.

"I don't know if my research will be of any use, but if you truly do wish to see my laboratory, then follow me." He said, leading them into another room as Dulcy and Maria walked off to go play together outside. The doctor led them down a hallway into a large hall filled with bookshelves and various tubes, a big desk located by a nearby window and near said desk, a computer.

All around the room were various cages filled to the brim with eggs.

"They're not quite fully grown. I've no idea when they WILL grow." Prof. Gerald admitted. "I'm popularly regarded as the number one authority on Chao, but the truth is that this sort of thing I do is tricky. It's hard to pull off Life Magic when you've not got the blessing of..."

"The Big Guy Upstairs?" Sonic finished, looking one of the eggs over.

"Indeed." Gerald nodded. Tails and Sonic immediately looked at one shelf and both took books off the shelves, reading through them. "Well, let me know when you're finished."

They said nothing. Shadow shrugged. "Excuse them. When they get really focused on something, it's like they lose sight of the rest of the world."

"Such focus." Dr. Gerald remarked, adjusting his pince-nez glasses.

...

...

...

...about three hours later, Tails drew the attention of Maria, who nervously blushed as she approached him. "What are you reading?" She wanted to know.

"Oh. This is about the Jewish traditions regarding Life Magic." Tails said, holding the dark blue book up.

"Can I...see your doll form again?" Maria asked nervously.

Tails smiled, taking off the rings on his wrists and knees.

Sonic's concentration was broken as he saw Maria sweeping by him, holding Tails up into the air, and squeezing him like a big teddy bear. "Oh. How embarrassing." Sonic remarked.

"Speak for yourself! I think it's cuuuute!" Tails proclaimed. "You're just jealous nobody's hugging YOU."

"I can fix that!" Dulcy announced, appearing from behind Sonic and picking him up in a bear hug.

"GAAAAH! Testicles...rising...can't...breath...can't...BREATH!" Sonic gasped out.

"Oh, chill out, brother dear." Tails insisted.

"Yeah, "brother dear", Dulcy just wants to play." Maria insisted.

"Play, huh?" Sonic asked, as Ducly let go. "In the legends of old, brave knights defeated dragons with courage and valor. So..."

He held up his fist as a burning aura of flame seemed to rise up from him, and he chased after Ducly, who ran off, waving her arms above her head. "Fight me if you dare! I shall oppose you with all my body and SOOOOUUULLLLL!" Sonic roared.

"Oy gevalt." Maria wisecracked, holding up the book on Jewish traditions, making Tails laugh.

...

...

...

... "Hey there, chief." Ray said, looking down at Sonic, who was once again pinned beneath Ducly, who grinned up at the flying squirrel. "...need a hand there?"

"I don't know what hurts more. My pride...or my fractured tibia." Sonic mumbled as Dr. Gerald stood by Ray.

"Did you find anything helpful?" Dr. Gerald asked.

Sonic moaned, a sweatdrop appearing on his head. "It's fine. You can come back tomorrow." Gerald insisted kindly, holding up a hand.

"Will I see you again tomorrow then?" Maria asked Tails.

"Absolutely!" Tails promised, shaking Maria's hand eagerly.

And so, Maria waved eagerly goodbye to them as they headed down the walkway to Ray's parked car outside the house. "Come back soon, "brother dear"!" Maria called out as Gerald waved as well.

"Oh, almost forgot!" Ray remarked. "Prof. Gerald, your grandson wanted to remind you that the 10 year review will be conducted in two weeks."

"...right, right." Gerald nodded solemnly. "I remember...I remember."

As they headed away from the house, Maria turned to her father. "Dad, what's that "ten year review" thing again?"

"Well, we State Metallurgists have to report in the results of our research every ten years. I need to do very well on this next review or I won't be a State Metallurgist anymore." He informed his daughter sadly.

"You'll do well, I KNOW you will! You're always working hard in the laboratory whenever you can!" Maria insisted, hugging her daddy tightly.

"I know, but if they don't like what I give them, there's nothing I can do." Gerald murmured, his pince-nez glasses glinting.

...nothing I can do...

...

...

...

...the next day, Tails was speaking to Maria again about her mother as Sonic leaned against a wall, reading a book examining Ancient Medieval Life Magic Techniques. "So, your mother left ten years ago?" The fox asked Maria gently. "That must have been hard on you." He said, taking her hand.

"It was..." Maria admitted. "I was so young then. I didn't understand why she'd gone back to her parent's home from what Daddy told me, but I guess it had to do with his research. I suppose..." She sighed. "I suppose Mom felt that he was playing God when he ought not to have been. Yeah, our life before Daddy created the first talking Chao was kinda harsh...we didn't have as much money as we do now...and our house was falling apart. But things changed! They got better! Much better!"

"Do you ever get lonely?" Sonic asked suddenly.

"No, Daddy's always good to me, and Dulcy and I are best of friends!" She insisted, hugging Dulcy tightly as the dragon patted Maria on the head.

"C'mon, tell the whole truth." Dulcy said kindly. "You're leaving out a few things."

"...can't hid anything from the lie detector race, can I?" Maria asked quietly, nervously biting her lip. "I guess...I do get a BIT lonely. Especially when Daddy gets nervous about his research. He tries so hard to do so well..."

Old memories flared up in Tails and Sonic. Memories of looking into a study at a vaguely human creature who continued to read books by candlelight, not noticing his sons...

"...you know what?" Sonic asked, shutting his book tightly. "I'm bored. Let's get some exercise. Dragon!" He pointed at the dragon. "Let's go outside and get some exercise!"

"Okay, brother dear!" Maria laughed.

"You ASKED for it!" Dulcy decided.

Soon Sonic was running all around the yard, with Tails sitting in a nearby tree, watching as Maria sat atop of Dulcy and chased the blue hedgehog around. As the day wore on, all of them played a nice game of cards.

Sonic looked over at Dulcy's tail after he'd just dealt her a hand, seeing it squirm around. "...I fold." He decided.

"Heeyyyyy." Dulcy remarked. "Are you cheating?" She asked him, raising a non-existent eyebrow.

"Leap!" Tails exclaimed as he leapt over Maria's back.

"Frog!" Maria exclaimed as she leapt over TAILS.

"Leap!"

"Frog!"

"Leap!"

Indeed, it was a good day...and turned quickly into a good week. It was moments like these that made Sonic and Tails forget all about their quest and made them think "Hey...maybe life like this isn't so bad after all". It was one of those blissful periods of time you never-ever wanted to end.

And unfortunately...moments like these did end. And usually in a terrible, terrible way.

These blissful few weeks...were no exception.

...

...

...

...it had begun to rain a little. Just a drizzle. Shaking the water off their forms, Sonic and Tails entered Gerald's house. It seemed...quiet. Oddly so.

"Mariaaaa?" Tails called out. "Ducly? Gerald? Hellooooo?"

"Strange. Where are they?" Sonic mused.

They headed through the darkened, light-deprived house, continuing to call out. But at long last, they found him in his laboratory, kneeling by something. "Doctor, what's up with all the lights?" Sonic asked.

"I'm sorry, I've just been so preoccupied. Look...my finished product!" He stood up and gestured to the side at a Chao nearby. Like most normal Chao it had a light blue body the color of the sky, with yellow-tinted stubby hands and feet, but it's eyes were deeply intense, a brilliant bright blue, and it had a large pair of majestic wings, with golden locks at the top of it's head, far down to its shoulders. "A Chao that understands speech!" He informed them, his pince-nez glasses glinting in the little light of the laboratory.

"W-woaaaah...for real?" Sonic asked as Tails's eyes widened.

"Indeed! Watch!" The doctor said, looking as giddy as a kid at Christmas. "This person is named Sonic. Can you say that?"

"Son...ic." The Chao spoke in a distinctly feminine timbre.

"Good, good!" The doctor laughed, clapping his hands.

"AMAZING!" Sonic gasped, eyes widening.

"This is revolutionary!" Tails admitted, scratching his head.

"This really saved my neck! I needn't worry about my research funding for a good, long time." The doctor told Tails, looking very proud of his work as he adjusted his glasses.

"Sonic...Sonic..." The Chao repeated, looking at Sonic with it's bright blue eyes.

"Wooooow..." Sonic whispered.

"Sonic...Sonic..." The Chao went on. "Broth...er...dear..."

His blood turned to icewater in his veins. He drew in a harsh breath. It was as if the entire temperature of the room had suddenly dropped twenty degrees. Sonic's green eyes turned to horrified slits as a sickening feeling began to crawl its way out of the pit of his stomach.

"...Dr. Gerald? When did you make the first Chao that could speak normally?" He asked, gently holding the little Chao's cheek.

"Ten years ago." The doctor commented.

"And when did your wife leave?" Sonic murmured.

"...that was ten years ago as well."

"One more question..."

Sonic's head whipped towards Dr. Gerald, eyes flashing with fury. "WHERE DID MARIA AND DULCY GO TO?" He hissed.

"...I hate perceptive brats like you." Dr. Gerald muttered.

THWAM! Sonic slammed the doctor into the wall as Tails gasped in horror at the scene. "You SONOFABITCH! How COULD you? Ten years ago it was your wife! This time you made a Chao out of your own daughter and her friend!" He snarled.

Tails's eyes widened in horror as his body began to shake, looking down at the silently-staring Chao that gazed sadly up at him.

"Isn't that right, you monster? Because there's only so much you can do with simple animals! When you use sentient creatures, it's SO much better, RIGHT?" Sonic roared.

"Why are you getting so mad?" Dr. Gerald inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Scientific progress is the result of hundreds of experiments on humans...why are you making such a fuss? I could have been a ground-breaking, world-bettering force with a slight criminal past, just like Christianity, Islam and Judaism...would that have been so wrong?"

"You sick FUCK!" Sonic roared. "You think you're going to get away with this? You've been fucking around with people's LIVES!"

"People's LIVES? People's LIVES?" Dr. Gerald remarked, a frightening glint coming to his eyes as he sneered. "Look at yourself, Blue Blur! AND Your brother! That was also the result of "playing around with people's lives", wasn't it?"

THWUCKA-CHUNK! A good punch knocked the doctor's glasses off, exposing his dark brown eyes, but he just laughed again as Sonic lifted him back up. "You don't think you're any different from me, do you?"

"SHUT UP!" Sonic roared.

"You saw a chance in front of you and you just HAD to take it! And you didn't care if it was a Sin! That only made the chance all the more juicy! Forbidden fruit, Sonic...it's always the sweetest, isn't it?" Gerald laughed.

"SHUT UUUUP!" Sonic screamed, slamming his fist back into Gerald's face. "Metallurgists can't...they can't do that...I'm not like...YOOOOOU!" He wailed, slamming his fist into Gerald's face over and over again. "I'm not, I'm NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M-"

"SONIC!" Tails screamed, grabbing Sonic's arm. "Any more and you'll...you'll kill him." He murmured.

Sonic growled furiously, a red glint coming to his eyes, but then...he felt a pair of tiny, stubby arms pat him on the leg, and he looked down, eyes widening and filling with tears at the sight of a crying little Chao.

"Dad...dy...daddy...hurt...no...more. Please...no..." The Chao that had once been two innocents begged.

"...Dulcy...Maria..." Sonic whispered. "...I..."

"Pretty words don't get nothin' done..." Gerald mumbled.

"...sir...you say one more word...I'M THE ONE WHO SNAPS." Tails hissed, his eyes becoming red, a snarl lurking beneath his tone as a sinister hardness filled his voice, shutting Gerald up.

Then he gently knelt down and rubbed the Chao's head, his tone becoming mournful. "I'm sorry. We...we don't know how to change you back. We can't even change ourselves back...and you're fused together...if we tried to break you apart, it might...it..." The fox-turned-into-a-doll bit his lip, wishing he could cry as well. "I'm so sorry." Tails sobbed, weeping dry tears. "I'm so sorry."

"Can...we...play now?" It asked softly. "...let's...go play...I wanna...play..."

Sonic looked back at her, clenching his fists, then held his head in his hands.

"GOOOOOOOOOOD!" He wailed.

...

...

...

... "If there was ever the "Work of the Devil" in this world...that was it." Rouge murmured. The forces of Central had placed Gerald under arrest in his home until the necessary papers to take him to trial would be put into place. "How sickening."

"Sickening, yes, but we can't...keep focusing on it." Shadow murmured, shaking his head as he walked down the steps of Central City's main headquarters, towards the drenched forms of Sonic and Tails, who were sitting together. "Besides, we need to be honest. Metallurgists of the State are called on to do many things...sometimes even kill. Looking at it from that perspective, Gerald's actions aren't too different from our own. We sometimes have to dirty OUR hands."

"That's an adult's reasoning. Sonic and Tails are still children at heart." Rouge told Shadow.

"Maybe so, but they need to grow up. They'll face scum just as vile as Gerald was, maybe even worse. Isn't that right, Blue Blur?" Shadow asked.

"...shut your face." Sonic muttered.

"How long are you going to keep moping over something so small?" Shadow asked.

"Something...so...small?" Sonic murmured. "It's true. I've been called a military tool. Tails and I will accept being insulted and jeered as monsters or devils. But we're not devils. We're not God...and no matter how much power I wield, I can never do enough...no matter how FAST I run...I can't..."

He stood up and screamed. "I COULDN'T EVEN SAVE ONE LITTLE GIRL! I couldn't...stop this...I'm just a stupid...stupid..." He hung his head, gritting his teeth, the tears mixing with the rainwater as it poured down.

"...get some sleep." Shadow said softly. "...you need it. Both of you."

...

...

...

.. "I just don't get it." Gerald mumbled as he sat in a chair across from the Chao that had been Dulcy and Maria. "Why does nobody understand? Why?" He asked the two of them as lightning split the sky outside, the rain continuing to make white noise against the windowpane.

The Chao didn't answer. But something else spoke up. Appearing in the doorway was a red, yellow and black bulky robot with skeletal-like claws spoke up, a Greek symbol on its shoulders. It was the Greek letter "Omega"...

"Are you Gerald Robotnik? The Spear of Knowledge himself?" The robot asked, looking intently at Gerald, who stood up, eyes widening in fear.

"H-how did...how did you get in here?" The doctor asked as the robot advanced towards him. "There were military guards posted outside..." He whispered, stepping back in horror.

"You Metallurgists who turned away from the True Path of progress..." The robot whispered.

His clawed hand shot out and grabbed ahold of Gerald's face. "You hypocrites shall die."

The dark magic rushed through the claw tips and Gerald died letting out a cut-short wail, his frail old body finally collapsing to the ground, a mix of broken bones and blood that was pooling out. The little Chao nearby gazed at the scene, eyes widening, and ran over to the body, shaking it, tears falling from tiny blue eyes.

"Noooo...Daddy...please...please get up...nooooo..." It murmured.

"...how awful." The robot whispered, genuine pity filling it's normally soulless red eyes. It gently knelt down by the little Chao, picking it up in the metallic claws and delicately wiping one tear away with a claw. "Look at what he's done to you. There's no way to change you back to normal. At least...I can make sure you don't die in pain."

He held the little Chao to his chest, one clawed hand carefully reaching around the little one's neck...

"I promise, I shall remember you." He informed it solemnly.

KRA-CRACK.

Chapter 5: Greedy like the Weasel/Wolf!

The basic rule of all magic stems from one thing: the concept of Faith. In order to understand magic, you must be able to believe in it, pure and simple.

From thereon out, pure willpower and the elements around you are what bring out the best in Magic. The problem with magic is that you can only do so much with it and only if you follow it's rules. Life Magic is the most sacred of all, and for those who are not "chosen" to be given free rein over it, the consequences for attempting it...

Can leave eternal scars.

Episode Four:

Greedy like the Weasel/Wolf!

貪欲のようなイタチ / 狼だ！

---

Slowly but surely the familiar beautiful house that had once been there home came into view as a young Olgilvie Maurice ran into the enormous backyard garden of his mother. Aleena turned her head, her long purple hair draping down as she saw her son approach her, her white dress flowing in the breeze as she clipped some laundry to the line above a ring of sunflowers that were poking up from the dirt. "Hello, honey." She said happily. "You're in a merry mood today!"

"Mom, mom, I've gotta show you this!" The young hedgehog insisted, nodding his head eagerly. He held up something for her to look at and grinned in pride. "Ta-daaaaaaa!" He proclaimed, showing off a diamond hairband. "I used metallurgy to create it from some of the coal we have in our basement! I KNOW it's illegal, but it's mother's day, and...well...happy mother's day!" He finished.

Aleena blinked in surprise, then picked up the diamond hairband, putting it on her head. "Oh, Olgilvie Maurice, you DO know how to treat a lady! You're just as skilled as your father was, and just as charming too!" She added, patting her son on the head. "Thank you! Creating something as nice as this!" She said as the young blue hedgehog rubbed the back of his neck, eyes closed as he nervously blushed.

"Aw, shucks, mom."

"It's just too bad..." She mumbled.

The hedgehog looked up, and suddenly the entire landscape had changed. He now stood in the basement, his mother's recently-brought-back remains gazing down with empty, burning white eyes, jaw rotting off, skin peeling away as she spoke like her mouth was filled with her own organs. "That you couldn't make my BODY into something nice..." She gurgled out.

Olgilvie Maurice screamed in terror and moved back a few feet, then felt something tugging down at him and he slowly turned his head, eyes widening in horror at the sight of a little chao who's head was cracked open, blood oozing down past it's eyes as it whimpered up at him. "Brother...it hurts...why does it hurt me?" Maria/Dulcy asked.

Olgilvie Maurice, aka Sonic the Hedgehog, awoke with a scream. He looked down at his hands, gasping and panting as sweat poured down his brow and he held his face tightly, weeping into his gloved hands, allowing the tears to freely flow.

...

...

...

...meanwhile, Miles "Tails" Prower was having a nicer dream, thinking back to their first "case"...the person they'd encountered a few weeks after Sonic had gotten his license as a State Metallurgist. It had been on one of their usual trips to visit certain "stations"...they were to check on the progress of members of the state to see how they were doing. But usually the "station towns and cities" were bustling places.

"This whole train's totally empty." Miles had remarked, frowning slightly. "We must really be going out into the sticks. Shadow said that we'd be sent somewhere really "out there" but I didn't think he meant this far!"

"This is what happens when there are no fast food places. If there ain't no McDonalds or nothing, there ain't any civilization to be found." Sonic commented, folding up the map he'd been looking over.

"That point's a bit debatable, I'd say." Miles laughed, rolling his eyes.

"Well, here we are. Coming up on our right, "The Town at the End of the East"...Special Zone."

The area known as "Special Zone" was a strange, strange place. As you entered a tunnel that would take you into the enormous area, you became aware of a sudden change of the entire world around you. The sky became a bluish/purple mix with sparkling stars slowly rotating around. Enormous towering structures of intricate red and gold and purple design were littered around the landscape. The entire place was also made of smooth metal...there was not so much as a single patch of grass or a single organic thing around, save for the people themselves. There was, however, an enormous, crystal-clear lake far off in the distance with a glassy, tube-like structure leading over it. Coming to a halt near this lake, Sonic and Miles got off the train and looked around.

"Wow, there's not much activity for someplace where there's supposed to be so much work to be done." Sonic thought out loud. Special Zone was known for being a goldmine of incredibly useful and beautiful gems. The material mined here was used to make the rings that people used in Metallurgy. From ordinary materials like copper and steel to rare metals like gold and silver, to the many veins of elemental crystals used to fashion rings of fire, water and other such powers...all were found primarily in this place.

Was everyone always working, Miles wondered.

"I wish somebody would just walk right up to us al-" Sonic began.

BONKA!

"YEOOOOWCH!" Sonic roared, rubbing his head as a young wolf carrying a large, crystalline pipe. "I didn't mean it like that!"

"Oh! Oh, WOW!" The young female wolf remarked. She grinned broadly, looking Sonic and Miles over. "HEY! MOOOOM! CUSTOMERS!" She called out.

"Uh, hello, how about apologizing for whacking my brains out?" Sonic remarked as a wolfess emerged from a nearby building, taking a mining helmet off and grinning down at the threesome.

"Look, mom! Customers! Revenue!"

"REVENUE?!" Miles remarked. "Hey now, hold on, who said we were-"

"Customers? Well this is great!" The wolfess commented cheerily. "Please, come this way!" She requested of Sonic and Miles, leading them into a nearby circular-topped hall. They walked inside to find themselves in a rather dusty diner/bar that had a neon sign that was faded and old showing somebody stuffing their faces. "You must be hungry and thirsty, it's a long trip here to Special Zone."

"Fine, fine." Sonic sighed. "Yeah, we could use a nice dinner."

"This place seems rather dusty, miss..?" Miles inquired as they sat down at a long table, with the wolfess going over to get some mugs of cold beer, then deciding the kids were too young and changing it for seltzer water instead.

"Lupe." She said. "That girl Maria is my daughter." She said, gesturing over at the young female wolf who nodded and placed down some plates and silverware for the two. "Sorry it's all so dusty, but a miner's salary is low."

"You're talkin' about money problems when you're fleecin' US?" Some other wolves laughed as they sat at a nearby table. "If your husband was here, he'd be laughing his head off."

"Shut iiiiit!" Lupe snapped.

"So, you'll be wanting one night and two meals for two, huh?" The little wolfess asked.

"Uh-huh. How much?" Sonic asked as Miles got out his wallet.

"It's expensiiiive." Lupe remarked with a wolfish grin.

"Ha, I've got plenty of money."

"2000 copper rings."

"GAAAAH!" Sonic groaned, eyes widening in horror, mouth flopping open. "That's a stinkin' ripoff!" He roared out. "I'll take my business to your COMPETITORS." He told them, smirking. "Thank goodness for the free market!" He remarked as he stood up to leave.

GROMPAH! He was grabbed around the head by Lupe. "There ain't no getting' away, piggybank! The price here's the fairest you'll find cuz this is the ONLY place serving room and board to tourists!" She commented evilly.

"OHHHH." Sonic moaned, looking at Miles as Lupe let go. "Huddle!" He said.

WOOP! He and Miles quickly stepped outside the building. "You got enough?" He asked Miles.

"Only 700 rings."

"And I've only got 500. Dang. Well...fine..." Sonic grinned and he kneeled down by the ground, smirking. "I guess I'll just have to use a Metal spell to conjure up some gold!"

"That's cheating! It's breaking one of the Three Cardinal Laws!" Miles hissed.

"If we don't get caught, we don't get caught." Sonic told him calmly.

"You're pure EVIL!" Miles said, bonking his brother on the head.

"Wait...Metal Spell?" Lupe the wolf said, suddenly popping up in between the two. "Why didn't you SAY you were metallurgists?" She asked, grinning. "You get a discount...if you can clean up this place." She asked, gesturing at the hall.

"That's MY specialty." Sonic commented, calmly walking into the hall and cracking his knuckles. "Spit shot!" He called out.

Everyone shrugged, then spat on the ground as Sonic did some crunches with his legs. Once they were all finished, he grinned, raised one leg up...

WHOOOOOOM! He went around and around and around the room, and the whole place felt like it had been stuck inside of a wind tunnel, a roar filling everyone's ears. But at long last, Sonic finished, coming to a halt as he brushed himself off, the entire hall no longer dusty, but now sparkling as if brand new. Even the old neon sign was working again. "Ahhhh. Lemony fresh." Sonic commented cheerily.

"So do me and my brother get the discount then?" Miles inquired.

"You two are brothers?...never woulda thunk that." Lupe commented, shrugging her shoulders as she went to the kitchen and began to cook up a nice chicken leek soup with some biscuits, mashed potatoes and peas. "You're gonna love this, I promise!" She said, bringing the food out to them, placing the plates before out heroes.

"So how much do we owe you for this and the room for the night then?" Sonic wanted to know.

"1000 rings instead." Lupe told him. "Half price discount. I wanted to be a metallurgist myself, but I don't have the skill, unfortunately." She admitted, sighing.

"That's still a LOT, but...okay." Sonic commented.

"Wait, I should ask...what's your name?" Maria the wolf wanted to know as Sonic was about to dig into his food.

"Olgilvie Maurice, but everyone calls me Sonic the Hedgehog." Sonic told everyone in the hall.

Instantly eyes hardened. People glared. Lupe whisked the plate away from Sonic. "Huh?" He looked up at her, blinking stupidly. "What gives?"

"You're The Blue Blur?" Lupe asked quietly, eyes turned to slits.

"Yeaaaaah?" Sonic told her, a bit confused.

Luckily for him, the door did not hit his ass as he was thrown out. But his head DID hit the ground and he groaned in pain. "Lady, what is your PROBLEM?!" He screamed angrily.

"I won't give any food to a "Hog of the Military"!" Lupe snapped. "And what about YOU?" She asked Miles.

"Oh, Sonic's the licensed metallurgist. I'm just a civilian. I can only vote. Not that that's useful in this government..." Miles commented cheerily. "But I'm not that hungry, so can I just have that room for the night? I don't need the soup."

"Okay, you don't need to have the soup if you want."

"How about me?" Sonic whined.

"No soup for you!" Lupe snapped at Sonic, frowning angrily, shutting the door to the place behind her as Sonic moaned and sat outside on the harsh ground.

"Boy, they sure hate the military." Miles commented to Maria the wolf as she sat near him. "How come?"

"Nack. He's a half-breed weasel wolf and an old war hero. Originally the Central Forces were posed to destroy us all, but then he rallied the whole town behind himself and held Central's men off for weeks. Eggman was apparently so impressed with his balls and his sniping skills that he gave him the Metallurgist title "Fang the Sniper" for his skill with creating and using guns." Maria explained. "But that was years ago, and ever since then he's lorded it over everyone else."

"He sends the people at Central all the bribes he can from out of OUR paychecks and he bought this whole place. It's all his private property even though he SAYS it's run by Central, and that's how Central wants it to be portrayed." Another wolf, one of lighter fur spoke up, speaking a thick, sad tone as he sighed and sipped some beer.

"And if anybody speaks up against him, his hired Yakuza thugs beat the crap outta us. He SUCKS!" Maria snapped, kicking the nearby table and then groaning as she rubbed her foot.

"Worst of all's the fact that he's supposed to be a member of the State. Somebody looking out for our interests." Lupe muttered balefully, folding her arms. "Politics is about doing well for the people...yet people like the state metallurgists sell their souls for special privileges..."

Miles said nothing. He just frowned slightly.

...

...

...

...needless to say, Sonic didn't stay hungry long. His brother snuck him some water, bread and cheese out of the fridge of the diner, bringing it to the blue hedgehog. Sonic eagerly dug into the food as he and Miles sat by a large container of various mining materials. Miles had been explaining the situation to Sonic as he ate, and the harsh reality of the Special Zone made the food taste much, much worse. A sour taste was left in Sonic's mouth as he wiped his chin and folded his arms, frowning darkly.

"I guess I should have seen this coming. I mean, we expected we'd get SOME flack for joining the State. But not only that, we broke the taboo, committed the worst possible sin and we have these curses on us." Sonic sighed. "What would our Mistress think if she saw us today?"

"Yeah..."

"...I'll tell you what she'd think. She'd think her foot would look good going up our asses, that's what she'd think!" Sonic groaned, as he and Miles shivered, thinking back to the teacher who'd they'd practiced Metallurgy with for all those summers.

"Well, well, well." A voice called out, unmistakably nasty in tone and vaguely Australian. They turned their heads to see somebody stepping into the store/hall. Two of the people were not people, but black-suit-wearing wolves with white fur. Yet what caught their eye was the purple-furred weasel/wolf mutt at the front who had a big brown "Crocodile Dundee" style hat and brown boots, with brown gloves that had rings on the front of them...colored the symbol of the element of Metal, with more rings embedded in his hat, circling around. As the brothers snuck over to a nearby window to peek inside, they saw one fang was larger than the others, and sticking out of his mouth as he leered, with a white muzzle and chest/stomach and a long and thick purple tail that looked rather springy. "You thought ya could hide it from me?"

"Hide what?" Lupe muttered, voice filled with disdain.

"You ain't been a-payin' yer taxes." Nack the Weasel commented coldly.

"Well sorry, but it's hard to pay our taxes when our pay is as low as it is." Lupe told him, frowning.

"Oh, so you've enough rings to buy beer, but not enough to pay your taxes?" Nack remarked, raising an imaginary eyebrow. "Well, we'll see if you can still crack wise after I've lowered your income from "Minimum Wage" to "Illegal Immigrant" standards?" He sneered.

"YOU STINKIN' MUTT!" Maria yelled, tossing a wet dish rag at Nack. It smacked into his face and slowly slid to the ground. Nack frowned darkly, a nasty glint entering his eyes.

He swiped his arm through the air and a small but potent bullet jumped out from the ring on one of his hands, striking Maria in the stomach. It was only with the force of a BB, but it was enough to make her fall to her knees as the two Yakuza stepped forward. "I think that the little bitch here needs to be taught a lesson or two, wouldn'tcha say?" Nack commented darkly as the Yakuza pulled out some long katanas.

FWOOSH!

The katanas were suddenly tossed through the air and now embedded in the ceiling. Sonic stood there, calmly looking the Yakuza and the weasel/wolf over. "How DARE you butt in, you..." Nack began. But then he took a closer look at him...seeing the rings around his wrists and knees...and the color of the fur...

"...wait...are you...Sonic the Hedgehog?" Nack asked, eyes narrowing.

"The one and only." Sonic said, pointing at himself with his thumb.

"Well, in THAT case..." Nack grinned to himself. This was it. Sonic the Hedgehog was a big-shot. A State Metallurgist, not just some random pencil pusher who'd arrived to do an annual check-up. "You shouldn't stay in this filthy place. I've got very accommodating lodgings."

"Ah, good! The old biddy here wouldn't let me stay cuz she's so stingy." Sonic commented with a cheery grin as Lupe muttered "I'm gonna make hedgehog stew from you" out of the corner of her mouth.

...

...

...

...Nack's place happened to be quite different from the dusty bar. The walls were beautifully painted peach, with mahogany tables and custom-carved designs in the chairs. There was an enormous fireplace by a nearby mini-bar, with Sonic and Nack sitting at one such table and enjoying a meal of finely-cut chicken with delicious gravy and roasted carrots. There was a fine wine on the table, which Nack sipped.

"To think we're eating like this when the miners are having soup..." Sonic thought to himself.

"It's embarassin' ta admit, but I've been having difficulty collecting taxes, y'see." Nack informed Sonic, taking a drag of a cigar and blowing some smoke into the air. "And those jerkwads keep on' causin' trouble..."

"So they insist they have rights even though they don't pay taxes." Sonic commented, biting into his chicken.

"Exactly." Nack intoned, nodding his head, pointing the cigar at Sonic. "Smart man! Now, all the world's revolves around one principle: giving and taking. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Everybody wants theirs, but they have to give a little something up to get it. My Mom, she wanted some love, and she got it from this hotshot weasel who came into town in his fancy limo..."

Nack frowned darkly. "Then he knocked her up and left. Never sent one check for child support. And the town hates mutts..." He mumbled darkly. "So I worked my way up...CLAWED my way up to the top. I deserve the place I've got for all I've put in. I deserve some privilege."

He snapped his fingers and some Yakuza men in sunglasses brought in a small bag on a tray. Sonic picked it up, looking it over. "Now, you're a State Metallurgist of great renown. You have charm with the higher-ups...I'd like a good word put in, from one Metallurgist to another."

"This would be the part where you bribe me, right?" Sonic asked, frowning slightly.

"It's "scratching your back"." Nack commented with a sly, wolfish grin. "I don't wanna be stuck in this deadbeat town much longer. Just a good word from a fellow Metallurgist ot the higher ups would get me outta here. Equivalent exchange...fair's fair, right?" He asked softly.

Sonic calmly pocketed the bribe and nodded. "Fine...fine. I'm going to go to bed." He said.

"Second door on your right." Nack said, pointing out the door behind Sonic and nodding. He then turned his head as a Yakuza member spoke to him. But Sonic could hear the whispers. He could hear EXACTLY what they were saying...and all too clearly.

"So every night they've been going there to complain about the taxation? I think they need ta be otught a lesson. Burn it down. Down to the groooound."

...

...

...

...the hall was now burnt ashes that Lupe was holding in her paws as Maria looked over at Sonic, who stood near Miles. Many other wolves were all baying sadly at the moon as Lupe tried not to cry. "That monster." Maria muttered angrily. "He pulled a dirty trick."

"...your mom...she wanted to be a metallurgist to save this place, didn't she?" Miles asked quietly.

"...yeah." Maria the wolf mumbled. She then turned to Sonic. "Hey, you...you CAN do Metallurgy! Make some gold!"

"...no." Sonic said, turning away.

"Why not?" Maria wanted to know.

"The law of the world is "you scratch my back, I scratch yours", isn't it? And besides, you treated me like scum. Why should I help you guys out when you wouldn't even give me a bowl of soup?"

"YOUSONOFABITCH!" Maria the wolf snarled, grabbing ahold of Sonic's arm and raising a fist up to punch him. He calmly looked into her eyes, green into dark purple, and she held her fist aloft for a few moments before she finally lowered it, gritting her teeth.

"It wouldn't matter. Even if I did give you the gold, it would just be taken away as taxes and you'd be right back where you started. If you hate living here so much, move and go find work elsewhere." Sonic muttered.

"You don't get it." Lupe spoke up softly. "This town is our home. It's where we were all born. It's where we'll all die. This is our world. We don't want to see it destroyed. And we don't want to give up on it either."

Sonic was quiet for a while. Then he calmly walked off, heading off for the mining area with Miles following behind him. Eventually he reached a large truck with the back containment hold still open. "Tell me...how much gold do you think could fit on here?" Sonic asked, grinning broadly.

"How about you let ME do it this time, and YOU can be the accomplice to a blatant disregard for the law?" Miles laughed, walking up to the truck, holding his gloved hands up.

KRA-KROOOOOM!

...

...

...

... "Now, I know this might be surprising, but...I'd like you to sell me the deed to this place, Fang the Sniper." Sonic commented.

Nack steepled his four-fingered gloved hands together, grinning a toothy grin. "And I would do that...why?"

"Well, it's like you said. Fair's fair. And I think that all this gold...is a fair price, right?" Sonic asked, gesturing to the side as the door behind him opened and Miles wheeled in nuggets, bars, carrots, bullion...

"Gold...GOLD...GOLD!" Nack cheered, jumping up and down on his tail, tongue hanging out of his mouth as he raced around the gold and promptly hugged it, kissing it tenderly. "Oh baby, oh baby, don't ever leave me! Ohhhhh, we're gonna be so GOOD for each other!" He whispered.

"Did he just orgasm?" Miles wondered as he looked on in disgust.

"Well, I...I'd be HAPPY to sell you he deed to this decrepit cess-pool!" Nack laughed happily, rubbing his hands together as he sat atop some of the piles of gold.

"And I'd be happy to inform my friends in the higher ups about you. But, well, since using magic to summon gold is illegal, what do you say you wrote a contract up saying that you're giving the deed to me for free? You know...skip that troublesome legal process?" Sonic commented with an evil grin.

"Buddy, I 'tink dis is gonna be da beginnin' of a beaaaautiful friendship." Nack commented cheerfully, shaking Sonic's hand and grinning broadly.

"Good lord, they're so alike it's SCARY." Miles thought to himself.

...

...

...

... "So, we're ALL decided, then?" Maria the wolf asked as she held aloft a meat cleaver, dark intent in her eyes.

"Yeah, enough is enough is enough is enough!" A dark-brown-furred wolf remarked, slamming his fist into his open palm as he growled darkly. "I'm gonna make that sonofabitch pay!"

"You can't do this. I won't let you all become criminals." Lupe insisted, holding a paw up into the air and shaking her head as they stood around the new bar/store. "I can't-"

"Hellooooooo smiley peoples!" Sonic commented cheerily, walking into the new hall with a big grin on his face.

"What the hell are YOU doing here, you stinkin' rat?" Lupe snapped.

"Ah-ah! I wouldn't' be so nasty to the new owner of this place." Sonic informed them all, unfurling a large piece of paper in front of all their eyes. "See? Mining management, sales, the stores, the equipment...I own your asses." Sonic grinned.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!" All of the wolves screamed in horror.

"Buuuuut...we don't really plan on stickin' around. We're headin' for the west cuz we're wild and free, y'know? Staying in one place too long...not our style. And it's not like one would stay here for the food. BUT...since I believe in the idea of "scratching people's back so they'll scratch mine"...how about a fair trade? This mine's worth a lot to you...right?" Sonic asked. "Well right now, a good, delicious meal and a nice night's sleep would mean a lot to us. So...how about it?" He asked, holding the deed to the town high.

"...you're right...the cost IS high!" Lupe laughed. "Ha-ha-ha-ha! You got it!" she said, shaking Sonic's paw.

"Alrighty then! Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you the new owner of this "cess-pool". Kiss the bride!" Sonic said, handing her the deed just as Nack burst into the hall.

"SONIC!" He roared out. "What the freakin' hell's goin' on here?"

"Well, I just sold the deed to Special Zone to Mines with Wolves over here." Sonic commented, gesturing at Lupe.

"Wh-wh-that...that's just...GAH! WHATEVER!" Nack groaned, throwing his paws in the air. "Look!" He roared out, pulling something from out of his pocket. "All the gold bars you gave me turned to rock!"

"You changed it back?" Miles whispered to Sonic.

"Time release spell. I do so love Magic sometimes." Sonic told his brother before turning to Nack. "Gold bars? How odd. Cuz according to the deed ya gave me..." He held it up. "Says you gave me the whole place outta the kindness of your heart." He said in a sickly-sweet tone.

"...MOTHERBITCH!" Nack screamed. "The deal's off, ya stinkin' skunk!" he turned to his Yakuza men. "Take the documents from them! NOW!"

"Uh, no, we can't." The first Yakuza said. "A deal's a deal."

"Yes. Professionals have STANDARDS." The second one commented. "See ya." They nodded and then left Nack alone...literally leaving him to the wolves.

"Eek." Nack gulped as his legs wobbled, knees hitting each other.

"Oh, and don't worry...I'll be sure to tell the higher-ups ALL about your corruption and incompetence. Boy, won't YOU have something to look forward to?" Sonic happily told the now sobbing weasel/wolf who had broken down on the floor.

"Woohoo!" Maria yelled.

"This calls for a celebration. Bring out the booze!" Lupe roared with delight, pointing upwards dramatically.

As Sonic and Miles were carried off on the shoulders of the wolves and Nack, sobbing, ran off like a chicken, Lupe smiled. She'd been wrong about that hog. He hadn't sold his soul to the state after all...

...

...

...

...the white-haired human looked out at the enormous crowd assembled in the stadium as he sat upon a single stool. He wore a gold jacket, black straps jutting across his shoulders and the chest region as he wore a belt with an emerald stud at the front, two more emeralds embedded in his tipless gloves, one for each glove. He strummed on the guitar, bobbing his head to the rhythm of the song as he began to speak softly into the microphone hidden in his jacket that allowed his voice to be so clearly heard by the people.

"This is one of my personal favorites." He told them all. "I've been singing it since the very beginning and the more I hear it, the more I love it...and the more YOU all seem to love it too, am I right?" He asked with a crowd-pleasing grin. The people cheered, clapping their hands and whooping and hollering as they jumped in the air or waved signs.

He tapped his feet against the floor of the enormous stage of the stadium and then began to sing.

Full moon swaaaaays

Gently in the night of one fine daaaaay...

Ooooon myyyyy waaaaay...

Looking for a moment with my deeeaaaar...

Fuuuuull mooooon waaaaaves...

Sloooowly on the surface of the laaaake!

He raised his head up, as the roof of the stadium opened up to show the moon gently hovering in the night, as the people held up lighters, slowly weaving them back and forth to the song, clearly enjoying it.

Yooooou weeeeere theeeeere...

Smiling in my arms for all those yeeeeaaaars!

What a fool!

I don't know 'bout tomorrow...

What it's like to beeeeee...

Ahhhhh-huuuh...

I was sure...

I couldn't let myself goooo...

Even though I feeeeeel...

The eeeeeend...

The artist smiled in a sublime fashion, speaking more softly now as he spoke the lines as tenderly as a lover speaks to another.

Ooooold love affair!

Floating like a bird that's taken wiiiiing...

Yooooou weeeeere theeeeere...

Smiling in my arms for all those yeeeeaaaars!

He then stood up, holding his arm up high before jamming on the guitar, moving his body to the rhythm as he played, the people going wild over the song.

What a fool!

I don't know 'bout tomorrow...

What it's like to beeeeee...

Ahhhhh-huhhh...

I was sure...

I couldn't let myself goooo...

Even though I feeeeeel...

The eeeeeend...

He then held his hand up in a "farewell" gesture, slowly walking backwards as he began to vanish into the darkness of the stage behind him, only his pink eyes glimmering from the blacky depths.

Full moon swaaaaays

Gently in the night of one fine daaaaay...

Yooouu weeeere theeeeere...

Smiling in my arms for all those yeeeaaaars!

As a curtain descended to block off the audience's sight of his eyes, the people went wild as the albino human grinned to himself, looking at a nearby mirror.

"White, my fine, HANDSOME fellow, you've outdone yourself once again." He commented cheerily, picking up a comb from off a nearby desk and running it through his white hair. "Nothin' more satisfying than people paying for my playing."

I'm bringin' sexyback! The motherfuckers don't know how to act!

The albino known as Michael White frowned darkly and picked up his cell phone. "What is it?"

"...you really think you can hide from us forever? Hard to do when you advertise your concerts so heavily." A voice spoke up.

"Ah, Flippancy. How are you?" White commented cheerfully, though his face bore a visible scowl. "Don't you think the rock you crawled out from is having withdrawal?"

"Don't you think you should get back to your cage, DOG? Never forget who holds the leash, Selfishness." Sonia's voice calmly commented.

"Blow it out your ass, Busty McBreasts." White snapped. "I'm tellin' you the same thing I told Daddy Dearest: LEAVE...ME...THE FUCK...ALONE! Try and get this through your head: I WANNA GET RICH AND DRIVE A 1961 FERRARI GT!"

With that, he hung up and held the phone high in his tipless-gloved hands. His eyes glowed brightly and a bright pink blast of energy made the phone shatter into a thousand pieces. He then sighed.

"Crap. I'm runnin' outta cell phones."

Author's Note:

Well, what else can I say besides...review? And I hope you're enjoying this. :D

Chapter 6: The Heavy Rain Brings a Heavy Burden

The basic rule of all magic stems from one thing: the concept of Faith. In order to understand magic, you must be able to believe in it, pure and simple.

From thereon out, pure willpower and the elements around you are what bring out the best in Magic. The problem with magic is that you can only do so much with it and only if you follow it's rules. Life Magic is the most sacred of all, and for those who are not "chosen" to be given free rein over it, the consequences for attempting it...

Can leave eternal scars.

Episode Five:

The Heavy Rain Brings a Heavy Burden

豪雨は、重い負担をもたらす

---

It was the morning after that fateful evening they'd discovered what had become of Dulcy and Maria. Sonic and his brother Tails were now at Central HQ, hoping to visit Rouge and Shadow because they wanted to know what would happen to the thing that had become a chao...the being that had, at one point, been two separate beings.

The rain was relentlessly pouring down upon their heads as they made their way up the stairs into the warmth of Central City's main headquarters, yet the permanent chill of guilt continued to follow them. Sonic rapped his knuckles on Rouge's doorway as Tails stood behind him, and Rouge soon answered the door, looking the two over.

"It's not even 8 AM and you're already up? What's the matter with you two? What can I help you boys with?" She wanted to know.

"...uh...Rouge...what's going to happen to Dulcy and Maria?" Sonic mumbled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can't stand not knowing."

"Neither of us can." Tails admitted, nodding his head.

Rouge blanched slightly. Her pink eyes nervously looked to the side. "...well, the original plan was that that sonofabitch Gerald was going to have his license as a State Metallurgist taken away, and then he was going to fry." She told them all. "But...but he and the chao that the dragon and the human were turned into are dead."

Tails's eyes went wider than saucers as Sonic's head shot up, and his face became pale. "What?" He squeaked out.

"Or rather, they were killed...murdered last night." Rouge added quietly as she stepped out of her office, carrying a metal clipboard with her. She sighed deeply as she walked along the hallway, the horrified brothers walking alongside her.

"Dead?" Tails asked.

"You would have found out eventually, it's better I told ya now."

"By WHO?" Sonic demanded to know, a dark and furious glint entering his eyes as he clenched his fists tightly, walking after Rouge with Tails following after.

"Truth is boys, we're not sure. I was on my way over to Gerald's place right now."

"We're coming with!" Sonic insisted.

"No." Rouge said, turning around and holding her gloved hand up, shaking her head.

"Why the hell not?!" Sonic demanded to know.

"...it's...it's best you don't see." Rouge spoke softly. And with that, she turned on her heels, heading down the hallway, leaving Sonic and Tails by a small portrait on the wall of Dr. Eggman himself. Sonic bowed his head slightly, then furiously slammed his fist into the wall, making the painting fall to the ground.

"DAMMIT!" He screamed.

...

...

...

... "Looks like this disgusting freak's always one step ahead o' us." Mighty muttered to the others as he knelt by the currently-covered-up, slightly decaying corpse of Gerald Robotnik.

"We've GOT to catch him. And soon." Knuckles said angrily, slamming his fist into his palm. "If this rate keeps going at the rate it's going then..." He shuddered in a mixture of disgust and fear.

"Yeah, no kiddin'." Mighty agreed with Knuckles as the guards stood around them, Shadow folding his arms, looking deep in thought, eyes closed tightly.

"...you sound like you expected this to happen." Shadow murmured. "...what's going on?"

Elsewhere, somebody as making a speech...but this was not just ANY "somebody". This was a somebody that, by all rights, out to have been worm food. Yet instead, Snively Robotnik stood at his podium, arms stretched up, hands clenched into fists as he spoke fervently.

"I know how furious all of you have been at the lies and falsehoods of Religion. Less than a week ago they spread more falsehoods through our fair city of Knothole to destroy all we've created here, to create a power vacuum so their forces of ignorance could take hold! But Science will not allow the candle of wisdom to be so easily snuffed out by lies and cheap tricks!"

The crowd of people before the podium roared, holding torches and pitchforks into the sky, the burning flames from the torches so bright that they almost made the stars themselves fall down from the heavens above.

"Worse still, those Central City forces who blindly follow the lie of Religion and enforce it a gunpoint, are going to shove their faith down our throats! WILL-WE-ALLOW-IT?!" He roared furiously. "NO! NO! NO!" He howled, slamming his fists into the podium with every single "No" that he uttered. The crowd began to chant along. "No, no, no, no" and soon they were worked up into an enormous fervor, rushing through the streets.

"Let's get those Central City jerks!" Somebody roared out.

"Hey, hold on!" Somebody yelled, a human teenager. "How can you trust what he says? Think for yourself, dude!"

"Shut up! You're just a pawn of the military!"

"A stupid human!"

"Frag 'em all!"

Meanwhile, a certain long-haired hedgehog grinned as she watched the entire scene unfold from the top of Snively's laboratory, at the highest point of his lookout. Grinning to herself, the one known as Sonia laughed. "Ha-ha-ha! Ohhh, I do love my work sometimes. I guess it's true...the Devil's greatest trick was convincing the world he never existed." She remarked with a girly giggle as the tegu lizard nearby nodded.

"Uh-huh, uh-huh." He agreed.

"Aren't they all such idiots, Biolizard? Just goes to show you that Sapients are just as dumb as humans."

"Dumb-dumb-dumb-dumb-dumb!" Biolizard said in a singsong manner.

"I told you, you've got to stop watching that show. You won't learn anything from it." Sonia commented. "Besides, humans made it, and personally, they wouldn't know good humor if it up and bit them on the ass."

"Quite possibly." A voice spoke up. They turned their heads to see Snivley ascending the stairs to the lookout where they were. "But one thing I ADORE about humans is they make excellent scapegoats. Nothing like a race riot to really put a smile on one's face, eh?" He asked, his grin the work of demons.

"C'mon get happyyyy!" Biolizard sang out.

"It was all so easy. Just a little manipulation of information, I whip people up into a bit of a frenzy, and then they do the rest." Snivley told them all, looking over Knothole with the other two.

"admittedly Sonic did interfere a bit, but we actually made good use of it. And now look. Bloodshed leading to more bloodshed, hatred leading to more hatred, the endless cycle of violence and cruelty. All of it swells up to feed the war within the Earth, carving a crest of blood into the land and making HIM stronger." Sonia whispered, looking out over the city as the sun began to set and cast fire-like light across the horizon. "They try and try but just-never-learn."

"That's why we can do anything we please to them, right?" Snively asked, a big grin on his features, and this made Sonia give a devilish grin.

"Will a buncha people kick the bucket? Buy the farm? Cease to be?" Biolizard asked.

"Oh, definitely. Hundreds, I'd imagine." Sonia said in a tone so casual that you'd think she was talking about the weather.

"Can I eat the ones that shuffle off this mortal coil?"

"No, you'll get gas." Sonia said, patting the tegu lizard on the head and shaking her own. "And stop watching those TV shows. You'll rot out what little a brain you have."

"Now-now, SOME of their entertainment is actually entertaining. In fact I might stop in to the big city to watch some prostitutes beat each other up later." Sniveley added cheerily.

"Okay, I can't stomach that nasally voice anymore. It's making me want to vomit." Sonia finally said, folding her arms and turning on Sniveley, who calmly smiled.

"Oh, fine, fine." He said, shrugging as slowly but surely his flesh began to dissolve away, sloughing off his body in tiny flakes to reveal blue metal beneath, with sharp grey/silver claws and a robotic form. "What, you don't like me setting the mood? I don't mind. Why should I have this appearance anyhow? He's all bald...wrinkly...too..."

Soulless red eyes glinted as a hedgehog-esque robot stood there, arms folded, with a mouthless face unmistakably showing disgust. "ORGANIC." Metal Sonic remarked with a sense of finality.

"You really enjoy seeing prostitutes fight? How cruel you are." Sonia laughed.

"Cruelty's a HUMAN emotion, Sonia. One shared by you Sapients and by my loathsome copy." Metal Sonic commented." I'm merely efficient and-"

"GAAAAAH!" A voice screamed. The evil threesome turned their heads to see one of Sniveley's lab assistants gasping in horror, dropping the clipboard in his hands. He had apparently seen everything and had only JUST worked up his courage. "You FREAK...what the...what the hell happened to the REAL Dr. Sniveley? What the hell are you?!" He gasped.

"...he called me a freak. I feel so...insulted." Metal Sonic commented, rolling his eyes, his metallic voice ringing with sarcasm as Sonia looked to the side.

"Can I eat him?" Biolizard asked. Sonia and Metal Sonic looked over to see he was drooling.

"...uhhhh..." Sonia blinked a few times.

...

...

...

... "So..." Metal Sonic commented calmly as he leaned against the wall with the Biolizard's very loud lip-smacking ringing in both he and Sonia's ears. "I recently checked the military news database after some hacking. It appears as though the Spear of Life is dead."

"Who gives two shits about Gerald? He might have been Eggman's grandpappy, but you know how Ivo HONESTLY felt-" Sonia began.

"I DON'T give two shits about Gerald. It's the KILLER I'm interested in. It's him. The one from before." Metal told her.

Sonia's eyes became dark slits. "...him?" She asked.

"Him." Metal agreed.

"...speaking of Central City, isn't The Burning Metallurgist stationed there as well?" Sonia wanted to know, brushing some of her eggplant-colored hair back.

"Yes, and apparently so is "Fatty" Maurice, aka The Blue BLOB." Metal Sonic added, his laughter sounding like a soda machine was hiccuping.

"...Sonic himself, eh?" Sonia commented calmly. "How interesting. I'm annoyed that he interfered with our work, but we can't let him die either. He IS an important sacrifice..."

"Ooh, that was tasty!" Biolizard announced, turning back to Sonia and trying to hug her.

"Wipe your mouth after you eat, honey bunch." She said dryly. "So then, the robot...his name's-"

"Omega? As in the Greek Letter Omega?" Shadow asked, looking at Mighty and Knuckles as they sat in his office, with Rouge sitting on the edge of Shadow's desk.

"Yes. We call him by the symbol he has emblazoned on his frame: the letter that means "Omega", for "End"." Knuckles said, nodding his head, his dreadlocks slighty stiffening in simmering fury over what had happened over at Gerald's estate.

"He's elusive too. He always seems to elude capture." Mighty added. "But our superiors want him caught, and on top of that, my work at the court-martial office is pilin' up too. Paperwork be draggin' a brother down." Mighty muttered, rolling his eyes.

"He's killed 5 people here in Central City, and five others outside, all of them State Metallurgists." Knuckles went on.

"He's the one that did in The Imperator too." Mighty told Shadow.

"It was HIM?!" Shadow gasped. "But he was supposed to be one of our most skilled..." Shadow's eyes turned to look away slightly as he growled darkly. "This is more serious than I thought."

"So you should increase your escort and lie low for a while. Play it cool. I'm tellin' ya this as a friend." Mighty insisted. "I mean, the only State Metallurgists around here have been you and Gerald, right?"

"...oh no." Rouge gasped.

"What?" Knuckles wanted to know.

"...no. I'm NOT the only State Metallurgist in Central right now." Shadow whispered, eyes widening in horror.

...

...

...

...our two brothers were sitting at Central City park as the rain continued to pour down onto their heads. They sat together, looking out into the grey haze that filled the park as water continued to "plip-plip-plip" down from the skies. A statue they were sitting under as they sat on a bench (one of Eggman himself) had water dripping off a pointing finger to land between the two.

They'd been silent for a long time, just thinking. But now Sonic put his thoughts into words.

"I've been thinking for a while about what it means to be a Metallurgist. To know Metallurgy is to understand the flow of the World, to bring Faith and Logic together in holy matrimony, to make life better for the people." Sonic murmured. "The world has a balance. Good and evil. Life and Death. One cannot upset this balance, but should seek to uphold it. That's what our teach used to tell us, remember?"

"...yes."

"...but we didn't' really understand, did we? That's why we tried to bring Mom back, even though we weren't "chosen". And now here I am, wondering "Why do I need this "privilege" to fix a wrong that can't be fixed"? Why can I never act fast enough? Do enough? I'm such a dumbass."

"I thought the rain would make me feel clean. But the more it hits me, the dirtier I feel." Sonic told his brother.

"I don't even HAVE a real body. Everything is muffled...everything is deadened." Tails murmured sadly, and he would have cried then and there if he could have, but tears were a gift of the truly living, and he had no body that could weep. "I can't feel the rain. I feel dead inside. I want to go back to how I used to be. Even if it means upsetting the balance for just one moment." He told Sonic as Sonic bowed his head and Tails looked up into the rain.

A robot stood there, watching them solemnly. He'd been listening to everything they'd said for the past five minutes, having hidden behind the statue, but now he looked them over with a mixture of solemn intent. He was surprised at how little regret he felt for what he was about to do.

"You're Sonic the Hedgehog? The Blue Blur?" The robot asked quietly.

Sonic looked up to see a clawed hand being raised up, and his eyes widened in horror. He was stuck like a deer in headlights, unable to move away...

Luckily his brother snatched him away from the robot before it could grab him and Sonic lay on the wet ground, looking up with horror at the robot as he and Tails gazed upon this new attacker. The hedgehog was suddenly filled with a sense of utter terror...a miasma of darkness was creeping off of this being that gazed at them with cold red stones for eyes...

But finally he found himself speaking...

"RUUUUN!" He screamed.

And he and Tails DID run. They raced out of the park, going as fast as they could, but the rain made the ground slippery. They were sliding left and right as they desperately tried to get away from the robot, that continued to chase after them, eyes set with dark resolve.

"Why the hell is this guy after us?" Sonic yelled. "I'm noit the kinda guy to make enem-"

SFX: Waa-waa-waaaaa!

"...okay, scratch that, but I've never done anything to get somebody to wanna freakin' KILL me!" Sonic remarked in confusion as he and Tails raced down the main streets of Central City, panting and heaving as the rain continued to pour down. They finally raced into a nearby alleyway, only to find...

"...oh shit." Tails murmured. The robot had guessed which way they would run and was now at the opposite end of the alley. They tried to turn around-

The robot held a claw tip up and a single speck of purplish/black magic swept forward, and an enormous barrier was erected, cutting Sonic and Tails off from returning to the alley. Skull-shaped indentations began to moan from the wall as Sonic looked at the robot.

"Who the heck are you? What's your malfunction?!"

"Just as there are those who create, such as you...there are those who destroy." The robot spoke simply.

"Oh, the "Cats and Dogs" argument, huh?" Sonic asked, frowning as he held his fists up and his body began to glow with yellow light, Tails taking up a fighting stance as well. The robot looked them over as Sonic's fur turned yellow and if it could have, it would have grinned.

"So you're not afraid." It spoke up.

They rushed forward at the same time. Two fists surged forward...

"But..."

THWISH!

They missed.

"You're too slow."

One clawed hand grabbed ahold of Tails's side.

SHA-THROOOOM!

Dark magic swirled around the fox's body and he gasped in horror as Sonic screamed. "NO!" He roared out as Tails hit the ground, his entire form shimmering before finally showing off his true form.

The robot blinked in surprise. "...a disguise so potent it could cloud even my sensors...a teenage Metallurgist traveling with an enchanted fox doll. You're an awfully strange pair." He decided, turning to Sonic who was kneeling by his fallen, gasping and wheezing brother as white fluff billowed out of the wound like lifeblood. "I thought my Touch of Darkness spell would finish you, but this is taking longer than I thought."

"Don't think I'm gonna follow your SCHEDULE!" Sonic roared out in a fury, as black lightning streaked across his yellow-furred form, his eyes becoming a foul dark red for a moment as he rushed forward...

The robot's claws shout out and grabbed his arm. "You are not using your arms again." He spoke up.

Pain. Knives being stabbed into his arm and twisted as dark fire wrapped around him, and it looked like blackened ash had been permanently scrubbed into his arm. He felt a sickening chill suddenly rising through his body and Sonic fell to his knees, gasping as Tails tried to get up, but to no avail.

"No...no...brother..." Tails whimpered.

"Any final requests?" The robot inquired. "Perhaps a prayer to God?"

"I think God hates me, no offense." Sonic mumbled. "...tell me. Am I the only one you're after?...or...or are you gonna kill my little brother too?"

"If he interferes, I WILL have to slay him." The robot spoke solemnly. "But right now, my only target is you, Sonic the Hedgehog."

Sonic gripped his knees tightly. "...then promise me you won't touch my brother." He spoke quietly.

"I promise." The robot said firmly, nodding as he reached out with his claws for Sonic's bowed head.

"No...NO! Leave my brother alone! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Tails screamed.

BANG!

A shot echoed through the air and the robot turned to the side to see Shadow the hedgehog lowering a gun, giving it back to Rouge. "That's enough." He spoke out, with guards on all sides to his left and right, a sleek black car behind him. "You've been an absolute pain in my ass, Omega. Now it ends. You're going into custody for the killing of 10 State Metallurgists...and..."

He frowned darkly. "One recently FIRED Metallurgist and an innocent chao." He added.

Sonic's eyes widened and he stood up, a furious, baleful glare entering his eyes as Tails gasped. That had been HIM who'd done the deed at Gerald's estate?

Omega simply stared at Shadow, Rouge and the assembled guards. He didn't move. He didn't blink.

"You don't deny it?" Shadow asked quietly, red eyes staring into red.

"You users of Magic tap into the Elements of the World. You are playing with powers that you are not meant to have. NO being is meant to mistreat the World for their own goals, and you Metallurgists use the World's aura for your own gains constantly!" Omega defended.

"Fine, I can understand you getting annoyed with magic users that use the element of Metal to make free Gold, or those who use the elements to commit crimes. But why only punish State Metallurgists? There a thousands of Magic users across the Earth." Shadow commented.

"If you get in my way, I'll just eliminate you." Omega said coldly.

Shadow raised an invisible eyebrow. "Oh you WILL, will you?" He asked. "You can TRY." He said, clenching his fists.

"Shadow, wait..." Rouge began.

"Shadow?" Omega's eyes widened slightly.

"Yes. I'm Shadow the Hedgehog, THE BURNING ALCHEMIST." Shadow stated proudly, eyes glittering like fire.

"You've saved me the trouble of coming after you..." Omega whispered, claws twitching in eagerness. The unmistakable aura of sheer diabolical glee began to pour off his body. "Oh, what a GLORIOUS day this is!" He hissed.

"You know who I am and you STILL want to fight with me? You're a fool!" Shadow roared out, about to flick a burning arrow of flame at Omega...

THA-THWUMP!

Rouge knocked his head down and whipped out two pistols, unloading them at the robot as he quickly jumped away on jets that sprung from his back, landing with a THA-THUD by a nearby shop, looking smug.

"What the hell did you do that for!?" Shadow snapped at Rouge.

"You're useless in this rain, sir." Rouge informed him.

"..." Shadow sighed, hanging his head.

"Careful sir, those deep sighs are gonna throw your back out." Ray informed Shadow as Omega laughed.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! So many enemies to destroy..." Omega laughed. "All of you want to interfere, eh? Then I'll eliminate you all, one at a time!"

"YOU CAN DAMN-WELL-TRY!" Knuckles roared out.

THA-THWAAAAAM!

It almost connected. Knuckle's punch would have gone right through Omega's chassis but the robot slid to the side in time to avoid the strike as Knuckles removed his namesakes from the street, his eyes burning brightly. "So, you're fast enough to dodge my strike...I'm impressed. But if you think I'll go easy on you, you've got another thing coming! I'm the Stone First Metallurgist, Knuckles the Echidna!" He roared out, holding his fists high. "Try putting ME to death!"

"One after another. This is my lucky day." Omega spoke up.

"Well, you clearly don't want to give up. Fine. As one warrior to another, let me show you one of my Clan's most interesting techniques." Knuckles told Omega, holding up his palm as a large slab of stone suddenly appeared in it. He held his fist up, and then with rapid-fire strikes, spiked bullets made from the stone shot out each time he struck it, forcing Omega to swerve around and dodge as Knuckles smiled with pride, "The Pink" sparkling around his head.

Unfortunately, since he kept missing, the strikes DID slam into the ground over and over, tearing up the whole place.

"AH! Knuckles!" Rouge yelled out.

"Don't go a-tearin' up the street, big guy!" Vector insisted.

"Yeah boss, it's a pain for us to clean up later!" Ray agreed.

'Tear up? Tear up?" Knuckles asked. "Destruction and Creation are two sides of the same coin! They are part of the Balance of the world that we must uphold!" He roared out, rising up on a pedestal for some reason as the famous Knuckles clan's "Pink" sparkled all around him and he held himself up proudly...making everyone else sweatdrop at how he was wasting magical power to allow a pedestal to be formed and a random spotlight to suddenly shoot up from the ground to illuminate him.

"...our hero, ladies and gentlemen." Rouge remarked.

"If you were a Metallurgist you wouldn't think me so crazy. I think a fellow man of magic knows what I say...or rather, mechanical monstrosity of magic." He looked over in Omega's direction.

"Yes...yes, he's right." Tails realized. "He's using the rarely-used element of Darkness in his attacks! No WONDER we were so scared...Darkness naturally invokes negative emotions like fear and terror from others..."

"The hypocrite...ranting against magic when he uses it himself..." Ray murmured.

Meanwhile, Knuckles was rushing in at Omega, punching and jabbing with his fists, moving as smoothly as the flow of rain from the heavens. The robot did all he could to dodge and swerve away, avoiding the attacks as best he could as a burning pink aura surrounded Knuckles's body, turning his fur to a slightly lighter shade of red...almost...

"So much...pink..." Omega murmured as he dodged an uppercut. "This echinda's swings are powerful and he's fast for his size...and then there's those magic techniques of his..." He jumped into the air as Knuckles punched into the ground, sending enormous, metal-coated spikes up from the road. "He's very dangerous, but he keeps on getting in close...and when he swings too wide..." He thought to himself.

Suddenly Knuckles raised his arm. This was it. Omega was about to rush forward and grab with his claws to perform his technique when Knuckles suddenly stepped backwards...

And Omega realized why as he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He moved too slowly...

BANG!-BANG!-BANG!

A chest compartment's top was blown off by Rouge's rifle shots and they saw something...something that made their eyes widen. There was no creature inside this robot. No living thing driving it like with Gamma. This was a pure machine, powered by the unmistakable power source...of a very large, glittering multicolored ring. This was a Life Ring from Shanazar.

"A Shanazaran?" Knuckles gasped as Rouge blinked in surprise.

"...perhaps...there are too many of you." Omega murmured.

"You're surrounded. You can't escape." Shadow told him firmly.

Or so he thought. Omega raised his hand up and then drove it into the road. THA-THROOOOOOOM! A scream of a thousand voices filled the air as dark smoke obscured their vision. They all coughed and coughed as the smoke finally faded away to reveal...he'd blown a hole open in the road and had escaped through the sewers.

"Dammit. He's gone. I'm...I'm sorry I screwed up." Knuckles told Rouge. "I should have given you a better shot."

"No, I should have aimed a bit higher." Rouge apologized, shaking her head as Sonic ran over to Tails.

"Oh, is it over?" Mighty asked, sitting atop the car.

"What the hell!? Where were YOU?" Shadow wanted to know.

"Hiding. I've got a wife and kids to worry over, remember?"

"You could have, I dunno, THROWN YOUR KNIVES OR SOMETHING!" Shadow snapped at him. "We needed the help!"

"Don't go dragging me into this, I don't have the powers you Metallurgists have, I'm just good with a shiv!" Mighty protested. "Don't just stand there!" He told the guards. "Circulate his description to the people in the city and let's go get him!"

"Brother? Miles, Miles you okay?" Sonic asked.

Tails whacked him in the face and Sonic blinked. It didn't actually hurt, but the blow itself was stunning. "You IDIOT!" Tails roared at him. "You stupid, stupid IDIOT!"

"Hey, don't talk to your brother like-" Sonic began.

Tails grabbed the sides of his head, and he sounded on the verge of tears. "I'll talk to you how I feel! You need to stay alive! You're the one with the skill, you need to find a way to get or bodies back! You need to find a way to save people like Maria and Dulcy! I won't let you put yourself in danger just because of ME!" Tails screamed at him. "You...you stupid jerk!"

"...yeah...we look terrible...don't we?" Sonic asked, sighing. "...but we're ALIVE, aren't we?" He asked.

"Yeah...we're alive." Tails admitted as the clouds above them began to slowly dissolve away, and sunlight began to poke through to illuminate the land. "...we're alive."

...

...

...

...everyone was sitting together in Shadow's office as Heavy and Bomb sat on a couch, a guitar in Heavy's hands as Shadow folded his arms and turned to look over at them, with Tails's open "wounds" covered by thick bandages and Sonic's currently-cursed arm similarly covered. He was unable to use it now...it was as if the entire thing had been cut off from his shoulder.

"So...who were the Shanazarans?" Sonic wanted to know.

Heavy began to strum on the guitar as Bomb cleared his throat. "Okay, go ahead, explain." Shadow said, sighing.

In 1649, in Shanazar...Robots of every single make came from near and far,
They defied their masters, they defied the laws, and they said

" We only ask for what is ours. We come in peace", they said
"To dig and sow...we will work the land in common , and we'll make this desert grow!

What was divided...we will make whole! So Earth can be a common treasury for aaaaall!

The sin of property we do disdain...No one has any right to buy and sell the earth for private gain!
By theft and murder, they took the lands...now everywhere the walls rise up at their command!

You made the laaaaws to chain us well! Your clergy dazzle us with heaven or they damn us into hell!

We will not worship...The God you serve...The God of greed who feeds the rich while poor men starve!

We will live together without swords! We will not bow to masters or even to your Lord!

Our souls are human, our bodies steel...but we swear that we will make our dream come real!

From the men at Central...the orders came...they sent out all their troopers to wipe out the Robot's claim!

Their heads were crushed! Their limbs were torn! They were dispersed: Only their vision lingers ooooonnn!

"And that's who the Shanazarans-" Shadow began.

You poor take courage...
You rich take care...
The Earth was made a common treasury
For EVERYONE to share,
All things in common...
All people one...
"We come in peace"...
The order came to cut them doooown!

"...OKAY. We get it." Shadow told Heavy. He sighed, then turned back to Sonic. "They were all robotic citizens. Pure through and through. They felt that the Earth should be kept pure and unspoiled, and that it was important not to get involved with Magic, to leave it be and to focus not on building big cities but in being farmers and tenders of the soil. Central City ordered a crackdown on them after several incidents led up to a tourist couple getting killed in the city. Robot blamed Robot and a civil war broke out. Central tried to send in troops to put this down, but one uprising led to another and soon all of the nation of Shanazar was united against Central, demanding that they leave. And in response..."

"The MAN issued an extermination campaign." Heavy finished with bitterness.

"WHAT?" Tails gasped.

"Dr. Eggman ordered the nation to be put down for good, and State Metallurgists were to be brought in as weapons against the Shanazarans. We did..." Shadow folded his hands in his laps and sighed slightly. "...we did our job very...very well." He murmured. "That's why there is some justification in seeing one of their kind take revenge."

"It's NOT justice." Sonic spoke up suddenly. "Not every State Metallurgist around nowadays took part in that campaign, did they? I know I didn't. The war wasn't right, but they lost. He should be focusing on forgiving, even if he can't forget...rather than continuing a cycle of hatred." He said firmly.

"The next time we see him...we kick his ass. Agreed?" Shadow asked.

Everyone in the room nodded. Mighty turned to Sonic. "Hey. Whatcha gonna do now?"

"...I think..." Sonic spoke up quietly. "It's time we started walking forward. But before we can do that, we need to make a trip back. We've got to get my brother's enchanted doll body repaired AND my arm de-cursed, and there's only two people we know who can do that...and for FREE..."

"So...you mean?" Tails spoke up.

"Yep. Time to head back to our friendly neighborhood White Mage!" Sonic laughed. "Won't Amy be surprised?"

---

ENDING CREDITS!

---

(Sonic and Tails are sitting underneath a tree in chibi form as a sun is setting in the distance. A single apple falls down into Sonic's hand and he catches it, looking it over.)

Ano hi mita sora akane iro no sora o nee kimi wa oboeteimasu ka

yakusoku chigiri shoka no kaze ga tsutsumu futari yori sottaaaa!

(Now a chibi version of Amy is seen sitting by a pink chao that looks like her. She pats it on the head as she waves to Sonic and Tails, who go flying by through the air, yellow and orange auras around them respectively)

Muri na egao no ura nobita kage o kakumau!

(Now the two go flying by Mighty, Shadow and Rouge, who wave at them. They wave back, then slam into Knuckles, not seeing where they're going.)

Dakara kizukanu furi saisei o erabu!

(Knuckles growls, then holds them into the air and tosses them off screen, letting out a roar as "The Pink" covers his body and he poses)

Teeburu no ue no furuenai shirase machi tsuzukete

(Tails is shown holding a picture of him, Sonic and Mom, head bowed, wishing he could cry.)

Kuuhaku no yoru mo kuru hazu no nai asa mo zenbu wakattetanda!

(Sonic holds up his hands and clenches them into fists. The rings on his wrists and legs glow brightly as his fur turns gold, and he rises into the air like a glowing bullet, ripping clouds to shreds)

Ano hi mita sora akane iro no sora o nee itsuka omoidasu deshou!

(Sonic and Tails fly past the various villains we've been introduced to, forcing them off the road they were walking on)

Hatase nakatta yakusoku o idaite futari arukidasuuu!

(A drawing of Sonic and Tails in chibi forms is now shown in the hands of the REAL Sonic, as Tails stands nearby, sighing, wishing that his brother had more talent considering how childish the drawings are)

Chapter 7: Homeward Bound and Hidden Truths!

The basic rule of all magic stems from one thing: the concept of Faith. In order to understand magic, you must be able to believe in it, pure and simple.

From thereon out, pure willpower and the elements around you are what bring out the best in Magic. The problem with magic is that you can only do so much with it and only if you follow it's rules. Life Magic is the most sacred of all, and for those who are not "chosen" to be given free rein over it, the consequences for attempting it...

Can leave eternal scars.

---

 

OPENING CREDITS-SEASON TWO

---

(Sonic and Tails stand together in a white abyss. They bow their heads, eyes closed.)

Masshiro na keshiki ni ima sasowarete!

(Then they whip around and slap each other high five as the title appears above them.)

Boku wa yuku yo mada minu sekai e!

(Sonic and Miles are sitting underneath a tree, Miles going over some notes on a little clipboard as he puts the pencil to his mouth, Sonic simply looking up at the sky, reaching out with his hands longingly.)

Maigo no mama...tabishiteta

nezumi iro no sora no shita!

higawari no chizu ikutsu mo no yume ga nijin de itaaaa!

(Shadow and the others at central all salute Eggman as he walks by, but the minute he leaves, they all look at each other, nod, then place their hands together, raising them up into the air in a fist.)

Itsukahasa!

Chippoke na boku no kono hohaba demo...

ano kumo no mukou made yukeeeeru kana!

Tsuyogatte, kizutsuita,

kokoro sukashita you ni...

furidashita ametsubu tachi ga...

ranhanansha kurikaesu!

(Sonic and Tails run side by side in a field as the vague outline of soon-to-be-revealed characters are seen, with the supporting cast running after them.)

Massugu na hikari ga chirabatte

ameagari no gogo ni

taba ni natte furisosogu!

Mugen no guradeeshon ga ima mazari atte!

(An image of the two brothers holding their hands up into the sky is shown as they try to grasp the sun.)

Kono sora no shita donna toko ni ite moooo...

Kanarazu todoku hazu sa mada minu sekai eeee!

Episode Six:

Homeward Bound and Hidden Truths!

帰省と隠された秘密 !

---

CHOO-CHOOOO!

"Welcome to Central Town! Next stop...East Town!...as soon as the engine's repaired." The conductor remarked nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, uh...everyone just...take a break for an hour, alright?"

"Crummy-ass railways." Somebody complained.

"It's better than FLYING." Another person spoke up.

"I hate planes, trains and automobiles, I can't get the feelin' of the wind in my face and-" Sonic muttered, letting out a loud sneeze. "HAH-CHOOOO! There's so much dust on them. And then my brother collects all that dust." He mumbled. "...sigh. I can't BELIEVE you stuck him in "luggage" without his disguise!" He snapped at Knuckles.

"...I'm not gonna cry..." Tails thought to himself as he lay atop several boxes, squished underneath a trunk somebody had thrown on him. The contents, a man's private garments, had spilled out onto him and he didn't dare move or the solitary guard standing watch over the place would freak out and shoot at the "possessed doll". "I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cryyyy..."

Knuckles rolled his eyes. "Hey, look, it was cheaper than sticking...huh?" He suddenly shoved Sonic's head down, ignoring the hedgehog's protest and looking out the window of the train that had just come. He gasped at the sight of a dark violent Maine Coon cat with yellow eyes, long ears, a big white muzzle and a very hairy white chest. He was wearing a plain coat with fishing tackle dangling out of his pockets, and was very tall...

And frickin' FAT. As he walked by a nearby Chihuahua that was about to whizz on a fire hydrant, the small dog began to circle through the air around the cat before finally being tossed into a nearby bush, moaning.

"B-BIG?!" Knuckles called out. "Big, is that really you?" He asked, purple eyes widening.

Big heard his voice called out. He turned his head, saw Knuckles, and shrieked, running off into the town. Knuckles immediately dragged Sonic after him.

"Hey! Wh-what're you doing? Who are we going after?!" Sonic wanted to know.

"That was Big, the Lifeline Metallurgist! He's an old war buddy from the Shanazaran campaign!" Knuckles told him, rushing into luggage, grabbing Tails and running out, leaving the guard stunned. "The government told us he'd died YEARS ago!"

"You wanna check up with old war buddies-wait...died?!" Sonic was confused. Now he and Knuckles ran through the town with Tails in his other hand's grasp. "Why would they lie about that?"

"That's what I'D like to know!" Knuckles muttered. "He used to be one of the best medical alchemists around...he was a "Chosen", capable of using Bios!"

At THAT, Sonic's eyes glittered, and he grinned. "Now THAT'S more like it! What're we waiting for? Let's go find him!"

...

...

...

...well...they found his home. It was a small little shack by the beach, and he sat out on the porch, arms folded, head bowed. His eyes closed, taking deep breaths, he tried to speak up.

"Mr. Knuckles, I'm happy to see you're alright, but...I don't want to leave this place." He mumbled.

"What?" Knuckles blinked a few times.

"I have to stay out here where I can do some good n' stuff." Big murmured. "I did bad things." He held his gloved hands over his face and Sonic realized that he was on the verge of crying. "...what they asked me to do back in...back in that...that HORRIBLE war...I HAD to take what I could with me...make sure nobody else could do the terrible things I'd done."

"...what exactly did you do?" Sonic wanted to know, blinking a few times, looking over at his own decayed, cursed arm.

"They wanted me...oh..." Big finally began to cry. "I never WANTED to get involved, but I got drafted! And Momma said to go and do the patriotic thing and...and then I ended up workin' on...on that HORRIBLE little..." He wiped his eyes on his arm. "I want to stay here and fish the rest of my life away. I never wanna go back ta what I was doin' before..."

"What were you DOING?" Sonic asked again.

Big bit his lip, then motioned for them to step inside. They found themselves in a very small room with a bed in the far corner and a small desk near a bunch of strange jars that held various pickled fish. One jar had a cover over it that prevented them from seeing exactly what was inside. Moving past a small table that had some foodstuffs on it, Big picked this jar up and cleared the foodstuffs off the table, placing the jar down.

He opened it up. Bright green filled the room, making Knuckles, Tails and Sonic gasp. He poured out what appeared to be a liquid onto the table...but it didn't dissolve into the wood. Instead, it accumulated into the form of a small, green gem.

"A Chaos Emerald?!" Sonic whispered.

"The Chaos Emeralds. Capable of turning thoughts into power. They can make anything become real." Big murmured. "It's like somethin' from a dream. These are fake 'n stuff, but...still got a lotta bang, y'know?" He told them all.

Sonic nodded, remembering how Snivelley had used one of these fakes. And it had no doubt proven it's use in the Shanazaran campaign. But if something as powerful as that could be made...the chance was possible. A real, genuine, chaos emerald. Something that had the potential to get their old forms back...to make everything right.

"Big, I gotta see your research!" Sonic insisted, clenching his fist and holding it up.

"...I can't." Big said, picking up the gem and putting it back in the jar, then placing the jar back in it's place as Sonic blinked stupidly a few times.

"...well why NOT?!" Sonic wanted to know, an angry glare on his face.

"Don't you know how dangerous-" Then Big looked over at Tails. REALLY looked at him. His eyes quickly widened as he looked at the "doll" who was in Knuckles's grip...who nodded sadly.

"...so you...you did "it"." Big remarked quietly. "...no wonder ya want the Chaos Emerald. I..." He looked away. "...I'm SORRY." He told them sadly. "...I...I can't. I just..."

"...Sonic..." Knuckles held a hand up. "...let's go. He needs to be alone, I think."

"...fine." Sonic muttered, as he, Tails and Knuckles headed out the door, leaving Big alone in the dark shack. Big bowed his head, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. Finally he reached out and grabbed ahold of the jar that held the emerald, opening up the top as the bright gem cast it's rays of light around the shack. Big's brow furrowed...

"WAIT!" He called out, rushing after them. Sonic turned around to see Big panting heavily, holding onto a small manila envelope. "Listen...here..." Sonic took the envelope as Big rubbed the back of his neck. "That's...where you'll find all you wanna know. If you're as smart as I thinks you are, ya might learn the truth...ALL of the truths." He told Sonic firmly, his eyes becoming like glittering yellow gems.

Sonic nodded firmly. "Thank you." He told Big. "I really do appreciate this." As he, Knuckles and Tails turned to leave, he turned to Knuckles. "Are you gonna blab to your bosses about this?"

"Me? Talk to them about a plain, ordinary fisherman?" Knuckles rolled his eyes, and Sonic and Tails laughed.

Big stood there for a long time at the beach, watching them head back to the train. He sighed slightly, then headed back for his shack. He stepped inside, turning around to close the door...

Then stiffened. He'd seen something...somebody...in the corner.

A familiar being with eggplant-colored hair.

"Hello kitty cat." Sonia commented cheerily, stepping out of the shadows.

...

...

...

... "Doo-dee-doo-dee-doo..." Amy was wiping off the top of her Piko-Piko hammer, singing to herself. "Wild thang!" She laughed, swiping the rag around and spinning it in the air. "Ya make my heart sang! Da-da, da-da-da! Ya make every-thang! Da-da, da-da-da!" She slapped the rag against the hammer, finally finishing up the last pieces of it. "Groovaaaay!" She sang out, holding the finished product up in the air as the gold and red-painted hammer glistened in the light of her workshop.

"Amyyyyy! Guess who's baaaaaack!?" Tiara called out, making Amy's eyes widen. It...it couldn't be...but it was!

"Hey there, Tiara." Sonic spoke up, walking down the path to her home as Knuckles walked after him, having hoisted Tails onto his shoulder. "What's happening?"

"What's happening with YOU?" Tiara wanted to know, placing her hands on her hips and giving him a look. "You never write, you never call, you only come when you want something fixed. You're worse than an ex-husband and just as fat!" She commented.

"Call...me...fat...ONE...MORE...TIME..." Sonic growled, his eyes glittering as he and Tiara took up battle poses, flames rising up from them.

"Bring it, blue britches." Tiara whispered, eyes glittering evilly. "I'll take you on ANY TIME!"

"I won't hold back cuz you're a girl!"

"Well if I don't mind hitting a girl, why should-"

PIKO-POWER!

Amy's hammer whizzed through the air and struck Sonic square on the noggin. He groaned and fell t the ground as Amy planted her own fists on her hips. "You big JERK! You haven't called us in AGES!"

"Are you TRYIN' to get me killed! THAT COULDA KILLED ME, WOMAN!" Sonic yelled, shaking his fist at Amy.

"Oh, Sonniku, you make me laugh!" Amy laughed, giggling happily as Knuckles smiled politely at Tiara.

"Tiara's the name." Tiara said, nodding her head firmly. "And you are?"

"Knuckles the Echidna. Very nice to meet you." He said, taking her hand and kissing it as they all headed inside.

As Sonic held up the rings, Amy looked them over. "Auuuuuuuhhhh." She moaned. "Look at all of thiiiiis." She whined, hanging her head. "These were a gift from Chaos himself and you expect me to just...up and PATCH THEM TOGETHER?!" She asked, a dark glint entering her eye.

"Yeah, and if you can do that in twenty minutes or less, that'll be swell." Sonic wisecracked.

PIKO-POWER!

"One of these days you're gonna kill me with that thing!" Sonic moaned as he nursed a very large bump atop his head.

"And YOU got yourself screwed up too, huh!?" She asked Tails.

"Ohboy." Tails whimpered.

PIKO-POWER!

"Ow-ow-ow-ow!" Tails moaned, holding HIS head. "Amy, it's not OUR fault!...most of the time it's just SONIC'S!"

"HEY!" Sonic yelled, shaking his fist.

"Ohhh, the things I do for love." Amy mumbled to herself. "We'll do this."

"Can you have it done in a week?" Sonic wanted to know.

Tiara took out a small cigarette and lit it up with a small Mario-shaped lighter from her pocket, flipping the hat off so a small flame popped out of Mario's skull at the top. "...three days." She remarked. "We'll have to make those rings we used on Tails from scratch and get some specially-crafted ones for you with His blessing, but give us some credit. Three days at the most." She commented with a grin.

"Which means three nights of fasting, praying, studying the texts..." Amy thought to herself, rubbing her chin.

"I'm sorry putting all this weight on you." Sonic admitted, hanging his head in shame.

"It's fine, really." Amy laughed, shaking her head. "But YOU...owe me a date in exchange for when this is over."

Sonic gulped. "Ohboy."

...

...

...

... "HIYAAAAAAH!" Knuckles roared out, leaping into the air and bringing his fist down on a large log. It cracked into pieces and he quickly delivered a harsh and mighty set of blows to the chunks that flew up, carving them into big slabs. "Perfect!" He commented cheerily, bowing at Tiara, who caught all of the logs. "The patented Knuckles Clan method for success: everything can be solved by using your fists just the right way!"

Tiara smiled as she leaned against the nearby railing to the front steps to the door, arms folded. "Not bad, not bad." She told the echidna in an approving manner. "...but...why are you covered in pink sparkles?"

"That too is a passed-down tradition of the Knuckles Clan. Only real men wear pink, you know." Knuckles informed her, looking proud. He then rubbed his chin. "Say, where's Sonic gone off to?"

"He said he was going to his mother's grave." Tiara said. "...sigh. Reminds me of the day he burnt their old house down."

"Why'd they do that?" Knuckles wanted to know, raising an invisible eyebrow.

"I suppose so that they could keep moving forward...never have any home to go back to. It was meant to force them to look to the future. At least, that's what Tails said." Tiara told the echidna.

"You really care about them, huh?" Knuckles remarked as he and Tiara walked inside and Tiara headed for the living room, walking past Amy's door as she sat Indian-style on the floor, hands clasped in prayer, sweat pouring down her brow.

"I've been watching over them for a long time." Tiara admitted. "Almost half of how long I've been living here. Their dad was the one who delivered me when the doctor couldn't come!" Tiara laughed.

"Oh, you...you look rather young." He admitted.

"Ah, I know. But I'm older, really. I'm 35." Tiara laughed. "I only look young cuz I've got skill in Zoe, the same way Amy does." She informed Knuckles.

"...this reminds me...where are Sonic and Tail's father? And Amy's parents?" Knuckles wanted to know.

"...they died in the Shanazaran campaign. My son...he and his wife were Metallurgists as well. They had Bios skill in them and were gifted mechanics to boot. They were sent to the front lines and healed up ANY patients they got. It didn't matter if they were Shanazar citizens or our own men. But...they died out there." Tiara murmured. "...they were very...I..." She bit her lip. "...I miss them very much." She whispered. "But Amy's managed to endure the loss...and so must I. Just as Sonic and Tails have to endure the loss of their mother."

Knuckles closed his eyes and folded his arms. "...yes. It...it was a terrible war. A terrible, terrible war..." He whispered.

...

...

...

... "Hail Mary, Mother of God, Hail Mary, Mother of God, Hail Mary, Mother of God..." Tiara prayed over and over as she stood underneath a waterfall, hands clasped together in prayer, wearing the plain white clothes of an acolyte.

"...so THIS is what goes into it." Sonic commented as he rubbed his cursed arm.

"Could be worse. She could have to flagellate herself like Amy does." Knuckles told him.

"WHAAAAA!?" Sonic screamed.

"Kidding." Knuckles laughed.

"Well what DOES she do?" Sonic wanted to know.

"Eee-may-pay-soo-doh-mee-nay! Doh-mah-pay-ees-ray-quee-em!" Amy chanted, whacking her head with a bible over and over as she walked in circles around a small ring that was beginning to glow brighter and brighter every hour.

"Sometimes I HATE magic's cost. I really, really hate it." Tails decided. "Amy, you keep doing that, you're going to, to quote Mighty, "Bust your head until the white meat shows."

Mighty suddenly sat up from the dinner table, and his wife and daughter gave him a concerned look. "What's wrong?"

"I sense...a disturbance." He whispered.

...

...

...

... "It's aaaaaaaall finished!" Amy said, placing the new rings on Sonic's wrists. "Now listen, I did all the steps correctly, but Chaos appeared to me last night and said he wanted to test you. There's gonna be something of a handicap to your abilities." She informed Sonic as Tails, who had returned back to his normal appearance, looked himself over in the mirror, as Knuckles held a thumbs up in approval.

"Feels good...what's this "handicap"?" Sonic wanted to know as he did a few hand-stands in front of them all.

Amy brushed some of her hair out of her eyes. "You'll be able to heal faster from your wounds, but unfortunately some of your power had to be be sacrificed." She informed him sagely, waving a finger in the air. "So BE-CAREFUL-OUT-THERE." She insisted.

"Heh." Tiara thought to herself as she blew another ring of smoke from her cigarette. "Too bad it's gonna get so quiet around here again." She thought to herself as Sonic ran outside to go test out his arm.

Tails then motioned for him and Amy to go into the next room, and the two sat down, with Tails folding his hands in his lap.

"Listen...Amy..." He sighed. "...I want to thank you. For everything you've done for us. You've treated Sonic and I like we're your real family."

"You guys ARE totally like my family. Well...Sonniku might be something else..." Amy admitted quietly, twirling a lock of her hair.

"Sonic's got kind of an ego problem. He hates looking weak in front of others." Tails told her. "But I know how grateful HE is to know somebody like you." He added. "You're...you're so good to him."

"It's okay." Tiara remarked, stepping into the room. "He doesn't need to say it. I can see it in his eyes...and yours too." She added. "A will to keep moving forward...that same will that helped pick you up when you fell before."

...

...

...

... "You..." Big whispered in horror, his entire body shaking. "...how...how did you..."

"You know, Big...I am very, very disappointed in you." She said in a condescending tone, waving her finger in the air. "Makin' me go aaaaall the way down here to the STICKS." She rolled her eyes. "But I followed you with my heart, Big. And the heart..." She placed one hand upon her chest, speaking ravishly. "THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER!" She proclaimed.

Big backed up against the wall. "I thought you woulda just forgotten about me...you stinking, lousy-"

Sonia snapped her fingers and suddenly the hair atop her head shot out like snakes, wrapping around Big and bringing him close. She whispered darkly in his ear, eyes narrowed. "You just made a BIG mistake, big-boy. If some NORMAL schmuck saw that info you handed out, no biggie. But somebody as smart as Sonic and his brother...that's trouble. I WON'T let him bring down the whole operation."

"Oh, you WON'T, huh?!" Big muttered angrily, eyes glittering as he reached with one hand into the fishing tackle in his pocket. "Too bad I'm sayin' differently! HA!"

His hand rushed up and slashed at her throat, and a large fishing hook found it's way into her throat, as blood splurted out and she was forced to let go of Big, stepping back as Big grinned proudly, seeing her hold her throat. "HA! Betcha weren't 'spectin'..."

His eyes widened in horror. "...that..." He gasped out.

Her throat was stitching back up right before his eyes, returning to normal as she moved her head back and forth like she was on a string. "How RUUUUDE." She commented. "You made me DIE once. Naughty, NAUGHTY kitty. Now I'm gonna hafta punish you!" She whispered.

The door to the shack opened. "Big, I caught you your favorite fish just like you always like-" A young human girl spoke up, stepping into the shack.

"Ah, no, Kerry-" Big shouted.

THWAM! Kerry was slammed to the wall as Sonia walked over to her, her hair holding the child in place as she caressed the girl's cheek, the fish the girl had caught for Big flopping on the floor. "Bringing him a present? Such a sweet little girl you are. Oh big-bad-putty taaaaat." She cheerily sang out, turning to Big, wrapping one hand around the girl's neck. "You KNOW what will happen if I squeeze, don't you?" She whispered.

"Leave her be! She ain't done nothin'!" Big tearfully begged.

"That's not what I want to heaaaaaaar!" Sonia sang out. "...TELL ME, "puddy tat"." She whispered darkly.

"...I...I hid everything in...in..." Big whimpered.

...

...

...

...well...at Central City's library...

"SONOFABIIIIIIITCH!" Sonic moaned, holding his arm over his face as he screamed to the heavens, a shocked/horrified Knuckles and Tails standing by him. "All the research nooooootes!"

"Was that all you did today?" The Biolizard asked Sonia as they sat atop a rooftop diner, looking out over the city. "I mean, I like to see things burn too, but..."

"We couldn't have him finding out about those notes, Biolizard." She told him kindly, shaking her head before patting him on HIS. "Now that that's good and outta the way, we can go back to takin' care of business...huh?" She noticed Biolizard's feral eyes had turned to slits and he was sniffing the air. "What is it?"

"I smell him...that metal warrior drenched in blood..." Biolizard whispered darkly, eyes widening in awe.

"Well...isn't THAT a treat!" Sonia giggled, holding one gloved hand over her mouth. "That is like, SUCH a pleasant surprise!"

"Can I eat him?" He asked.

"Don't leave one strand of HAIR." Sonia commented calmly.

Meanwhile, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles were being accosted by two more of Shadow's men. Or rather, one man and one woman. One was a green-feathered hawk with bright blue eyes, a pair of goggles on his head and a sharp yellow beak. He had a cocky grin to his features and red and white boots. Standing next to him was a purple-feathered female swallow with two long trails of hair going down from the white cap she wore atop her head, with a pair of tinted orange sunglasses at her forehead and the same bright blue eyes as her partner. These were Jet and Wave, two of a trio of Avian sapients who worked in Central.

"Good to see you, Jet...I guess." Sonic remarked. He kind of felt that Jet was a pain in the ass. And Tails frowned at the sight of Wave. She had a bad habit of pointing out how Tails couldn't properly shake hands with anyone...or eat. Or drink. Or sleep. He was unsure how much of that was done with...what was the term...oh, right. "Malice aforethought".

"Hello. Wave." Tails commented, folding his arms.

"Soniiiic." Jet said with a big grin. "We've been assigned to take you to somebody who can help you out with all of this." He said, motioning for them to head towards a grouping of things that rather much looked like...surfboards. Only they had unmistakable glowing engines beneath them and were hovering in the middle of the sidewalk.

Mounting their respective "Extreme Gears", all of them headed down the road as Wave began to explain the situation. "Luckily for you there was somebody who's been working at that Library for YEARS." She told Sonic and Tails as they jumped over a car whose owner angrily honked at them. "He lives down the street."

"We found him ourselves." Jet added.

"So we're...in your debt?" Sonic asked.

"Yes. Yes you are." Jet laughed, sniggering.

"Stinkin' chicken." Sonic muttered.

"Wanna run that by me AGAIN?!" Jet demanded to know, slowing down his Extreme Gear so that he and Sonic could be floating side-by-side.

"KENTUCKY-FRIED! BUK-KAAAAAW!" Sonic screamed in his face, pretending to wave his arms like he was a rooster.

"Knock it off or I'll knock YOU off!" Knuckles admonished the two.

...

...

...

... "Pleasure to meet you sir. Absolute pleasure." The blue-haired human insisted, adjusting the sunglasses he wore before shaking Sonic's hand thoroughly. "Robbie Dennis's the name. But call me "Wax"." He insisted, adjusting the shiny black leather jacket he wore.

"Why "The Wax"?" Sonic wanted to know.

"Do I LOOK like a "Robert"?" The Wax laughed, shaking his head as he headed over to a nearby bookcase in his enormous living room, taking out a key from a nearby mason jar and leading them over to the basement door. "Now...prepare...TO BE AMAZED." He informed them all, opening up the basement door and flicking the light on.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

"Woah." Sonic gasped. There, in the enormous basement below, which appeared to stretch on for hundreds of feet, were tons and tons of notebooks and various tomes. Tails walked down to one pile, looking over the top. "...is...is this?"

"I spent so much time in the library I decided to just copy down everything. Some magic helped, but mostly it was long nights. Not like I had a social life!" The Wax said, laughing so hard he actually began to cry.

"Well, uh...let's...get looking through this, huh, Tails?" Sonic asked his brother, who nodded eagerly.

The others sat upstairs as The Wax got to work on pouring them all some different drinks. "So what do you think it is they're looking for?" Knuckles asked The Wax.

"Well, you said they were interested in Mr. Big's research, right?" The Wax thought out loud, sipping a forty as Sonic began to comb through a large notebook, his eyes widening slowly but surely.

"Yeah."

"Well, I don't know DIDDLY about religious texts, but from what I gathered, it had something to do with the importance of the soul." He took another long sip. "Maybe some...I dunno, some magic spell that has to do with one's purity? Isn't that how a "Chosen" is picked to wield Life Magic? You can't be evil AND a white-"

"JESUS CHRIST!" Sonic's scream bellowed out from the basement.

The others looked at each other, then ran downstairs to see Sonic had slammed his fist into the wall and Tails was holding his head in his eyes, his eyes widened in horror.

"What's wrong, guys? You ain't fightin', are you? Did Big write so illegibly you can't figure it out?" The Wax wanted to know. "I mean, some of these big-shot textbook writers are-"

"No, we...we understood the code he put down. We "got" the writing." Tails murmured. "...we know what's needed to make a Chaos Emerald."

The other's eyes widened in awe...save for Knuckles, who blinked a few times. "What's...wrong with that?" He wanted to know. "...isn't this a good thing?"

"...to make one chaos emerald..." Sonic whispered darkly, resting against the wall, clenching his fists and slamming them into said wall as he grit his teeth. Silence now reigned supreme throughout the room.

"All you gotta do...is simply take...the souls of innocent people!" Sonic screamed.

Author's Note:
I dedicate this particular season to "TheWax70", who founded the sonic cartoons that so inspired me. Check his work out on or on Sonic Paradox.

Chapter 8: To Become a God...of SCIENCE!

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Seven:

To Become A God...of SCIENCE!

科学の神になるには !

 

---

 

"...you...you gotta be shittin' me." The Wax said.

"Are you serious?" Jet wanted to know.

"No way..." Wave murmured.

Knuckles held his hand up to his mouth. He seemed to horrified for words.

"...it's true. To make a chaos emerald...you need to rip the soul out of somebody's body..." Sonic said as he, Tails and the others all sat in the basement. Tails had his arm over his face and Sonic was rubbing the space between his eyes. "Worst of all...to make just ONE of them...you need a lot of people. A LOT." Sonic muttered balefully, eyes narrowed into hateful slits. He looked like he was on the verge of screaming again.

"I can't believe it...that the military would allow such a disgusting practice to take place for ANY reason..." Jet hissed hatefully, clenching his fist.

"It's absolutely unpardonable." The Wax decided.

"...this sucks." Sonic muttered. "...just when we think it's within reach, it slips away from us. I guess God really DOESN'T help people who try to help themselves." He said, laughing dryly as Tails lowered his head.

"We could be stuck like this forever..." Tails muttered as he walked off to the far end of the basement. Sonic blinked a few times, then walked over to him, away from the others...and he placed a gloved hand on his brother's shoulder, speaking very softly.

"...Miles...look...there's somethin' I always wanted to talk to you about, but...I ain't never mentioned it before cuz I was scared..." Sonic told him.

"It's just terrible, isn't it, Knuckles?" Wave asked. "...uh...Knuckles?" She asked, looking at Knuckles in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"To think..." Knuckles murmured, clenching his hands into tight fists. "To think that such a tragedy would be concealed...to think the Chaos Emeralds would need human SOULS for their creation!" He roared out, and Tails and Sonic's conversation was interrupted as everybody jumped away from Knuckles, as he held his fists up, burning flames rising around him as sparks soared into the air. "To think that the military would cover up the truth like this!" He howled.

The truth.

THE TRUTH.

A horror struck through Sonic and he gasped. They turned to look at him, Knuckles turning his head, the flames dying down again. "What's shakin, bacon?" The Wax wanted to know.

"Big said I'd be able to uncover "ALL of the truths"...there's something we're missing. Something else. What we've seen is only a part of the truth. There's got to be SOMETHING else..." He rubbed his chin.

"...wait." Tails suddenly spoke up. "I've got it. We need a map of Central and all of it's laboratories!" He insisted, slamming his fist into his palm.

...

...

...

...soon all of them were sitting in The Wax's living room, with an enormous map of Central City sprayed out over a big coffee table. Knuckles pointed around at certain parts of the map with his hand, looking at Tails and Sonic. "There's four metallurgy laboratories within Central City. From what I remember, Big was working at the Third Laboratory. THAT one's the most suspect."

"...hmm. Wait. What about THIS one?" Sonic asked, pointing at one that was crossed out on the map.

"Oh, that's the Fifth Laboratory." Wave said, holding up a snazzy metal clipboard and looking through it. "...but according to the military reports, they're not doing anything special there. In fact, the whole place has been shut down for years." She went on as Tails rubbed his chin, looking the Fifth Laboratory over. "The whole place is unsafe, condemned."

"THAT'S where we need to go." Tails said.

"...you're right." Sonic realized. "...those sick, sick bastards. Look what's right next to it!" He told them all.

He pointed with a finger and they saw, all too clearly, that there was a PRISON next to the laboratory...in fact, the lab was jointly connected with it. "I'd bet ANYTHING those sick fucks were using prisoners for experiments...officially, you could say that they were executed, and in a way...they WERE..." Sonic went on.

"Experiments in making-" Wave suddenly blanched when she realized exactly what Sonic was talking about and The Wax ran for the waste basket. Unfortunately, he didn't make it.

"Ah, you had McDonalds for lunch too?" Sonic commented as The Wax let out a long moan.

"We really SHOULD stop going there. That food is so bad for you!" Tails sighed.

"In any case...do you think that if they allowed prisoners from OTHER prisons to be used in..." Jet began. And suddenly HE became sick.

"I think we stumbled onto something immensely disgusting. If the government itself is involved in this...oooohhhh." Knuckles shook his head, holding his hand over his eyes.

"Well, what are we to do?" The Wax asked as he popped some "Tums" and sat down on a nearby chair as Jet groaned from near the bathroom nearby.

"I'll look into this." Knuckles said, wrapping the map back up. "Jet, Wave, Robert...you are to speak of this to NOBODY. I mean absolutely NOBODY." He told them firmly. "Sonic...Tails..." He told the two teenage boys. "I need you to behave yourselves and stay here until I can get a bead on this."

"...uh...WHAT?" Sonic asked.

Suddenly Knuckles was towering over them, eyes flaring with red fire, muscles bulging, growling in their faces. "You weren't thinking about BREAKING IN, were you?!" He hissed at them, grinding very sharp-looking teeth as Tails and Sonic gulped and waved their hands in the air.

"Oh, NO! No sir, not at all!" Tails insisted.

"Yeah, you don't gotta worry about us!" Sonic stuttered out.

"...you're sure?" Knuckles growled, eyes dark slits, arms folded.

Sonic smiled innocently as he and Tails put their arms around each other, crossing their fingers behind each other's back. "Don't worry, Knux. It's the LAST thing on our minds."

...

...

...

... "Do you think we'll go to hell for this?" Tails wondered as they slunk through the alley towards the Fifth Laboratory.

"We'll make up for this by going to Confession later. And somewhere OUTSIDE this dumb city." Sonic told him.

"...okay, AND we'll give an orphan twenty bucks." Sonic added.

"Thanks. I feel much better." Tails admitted nervously as they finally reached the corner of the ominous Fifth Laboratory. The entire place was an enormous, dome-covered building of hard, cold steel, with enormous front gates that had a big, red "Keep Out" sign at the front. There were tall stone walls all around the laboratory to protect anybody from getting into the large courtyards, and a guard was stationed at the front gate, resting against it, rifle slung across his back.

"Hmm. A guard posted at an unused building. Suuuussspiiiicioooouuuuus!" Sonic sang out quietly as they moved to the far end of the wall, away from the guard.

"We can't just use magic. They'd see the light from the spell." Tails told him. "...but..." He smiled. "Luckily, you have me."

He grabbed ahold of Sonic and began to lift him into the air, huffing slightly. "Oohhhhhh. Sonic...PLEASE promise me you'll lose some weight!" He begged.

Sonic gave him an angry look as Tails continued to fly him upwards into the air, over into the courtyard. The two touched down at last and Sonic and Tails made their way over to the main building, noticing a vent shaft. "I'll go check out the inside, and if it's safe, I'll make an entrance for you. I don't think anybody would see the light from a spell now that we're protected by that courtyard wall." He told Tails as he carefully opened up the vent.

"Okay. I'll wait out here until you're ready." Tails told him, nodding firmly and helping him get inside the vent. He watched his brother's form slowly recede into the dark recesses of the vent shaft, sighing slightly before he went to go sit by the wall, calmly waiting.

"Ugh." Sonic mumbled as he continued to shimmy through the vent shaft, one foot at a time. The entire place had a disgusting smell that was musty and warm, and there were dozens of cobwebs lining everywhere. "I freakin' HATE spiders." He muttered as he kept going further. "It would be so much easier to move through this thing if it wasn't so hard for me to move my limbs...and I have to keep sucking in my gut or else I'll be stuck in place!" He added. "Times like this I wish I-"

He then realized what he had been about to say and then banged his head against the vent slightly, moaning in self-hate. "Guuuuhhhh...I said I was FAAAAAAAT..."

BA-BAAAAAAM! His body fell out of the vent shaft and landed on the floor of a hallway below. He just lay there for a moment, wishing to just die before he finally groaned and got up, dusting himself off. "I sometimes HATE my line of work so very...very...much..." He mumbled.

It was then that he noticed something odd. There were small, rectangular lights lining up and down the hallway. He frowned at this. "And this place is supposed to be abandoned. Abandoned my blue furry ASS." He mumbled.

Outside, Tails waited by the wall, calmly tapping his foot and looking up at the moon. He smiled slightly, closing his eyes as he bobbed his head and softly sang in his head. "There's a moon out toniiiight, oh-oh-oh-ooooh...that I've seen before...there's a girl-in-my-siiight, oh-oh-oh-ooooh...that I adooore..."

A form at the top of the wall grinned, its eyes glimmering like bright blue diamonds. If it could have, it would have sneered. Instead, it let out a horrifying set of laughter and jumped down at him as Tails looked up, eyes widening.

"AAAAAHHH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAA!"

Tails jumped away in time, gasping at the sight of a robot of many shades of orange and tannish/yellow looking at him with brightly lit bright blue eyes. It had orange "brass knuckles" on it's fists, and a strange helm on it's forehead. There was a golden egg-like thing in the center of it and two long and slightly wide prongs rising up, with two "wings" stretching out, making it almost look like some kind of spaceship was in the center of his forehead. He had three bright blue dots in the center of his vhest and...

...the eyes. Those eyes were haunting and mad and filled with a sadistic light. It was like somebody had bottled lightning into this thing, and it was bouncing around inside, desperate to get out. The thing giggled crazily as it looked Tails over. "Welly-welly-weeeeeell! What do we have here? Hee-hee. You sure are quick. This makes it fun."

"Who are you?" Tails asked, eyes widening in horror.

"Well, the name's Gizoid Mark II. Or rather, that's the name I go by when working." Mark II told him, flexing his fingers and smirking. "I'm going to take you apart piece by piece. So just relax...and uh...be sure to scream, won't you?" He asked calmly, his voice sounding much like the squealing of a chipmunk. He would have been humorous...

Then he rushed at Tails, and the fox knew this was no laughing matter.

...

...

...

...it was an grand sort of room, with ironically pure ivory walls. There were dust-covered tapestries hanging down from the walls covered in Angelic script that, if translated, pertained to life magic and it's benefits. But that didn't draw Sonic's attention.

There was a beautiful crystal chandelier above the center of the room, and it twinkled in the light of the torches that were lit up around the area. Each crystal was of a different color, and it looked like a rainbow was suspended in midair. But THAT didn't draw Sonic's attention.

There was a feel around the place. A horrible, cold chill that gripped your very chest and would not let go. The entire place felt like some kind of freezer...and there were the unmistakable blood smears of living beings all over the ground in the center of the room.

...and most horrifyingly of all...there was a moat. A circular moat that had become stained with dry blood. The blood had apparently pooled out into the moat, forming a ring of blood around some poor soul in the middle of the room and-

THAT'S what drew Sonic's attention. "So this is how they made the Chaos Emeralds. Those sick, sick..." Sonic muttered.

"You don't know the half of it." A voice spoke up.

Sonic turned his head to see somebody entering the room. A robotic being of all shades of blue with a white/light tan chest and "mouth" region. He had a trident-shaped light blue helm on his forehead with a tan "egg" in the center, and three golden orbs in the center of his chest, matching the golden hue of his eyes.

"I don't know who you are. But being able to tell all that just by looking at it...not bad." The robot said, nodding his head.

"And you are?" Sonic wanted to know, raising an invisible eyebrow.

"Ah. I'm Gizoid Mark I. I serve as the "Watchdog" of this place. It is my duty to rid it of any intruders. I'm not allowed to let anybody who enters this place live." He held one fist up. "Don't think badly of me."

"I could say the same. Don't think badly of LOSING to a kid." Sonic laughed, clapping his hands together as swirling greenish/white light rushed around him and he hovered in the air, slightly off the ground.

"Well-well! You're a Metallurgist!" Gizoid Mark I commented. "Not bad! So..."

Suddenly he was right in Sonic's face, whispering. "Let us see what you've got."

His arm shot forward and Sonic barely ducked in time. Sonic swerved left and right dodging the rapid-fire strikes of Gizoid Mark I as the robot cried out with every punch. "He's fast..." Sonic thought to himself as the Gizoid suddenly leapt up and tried to kick Sonic in the face.

Sonic ducked underneath and slid away, rushing at the wall with the Gizoid Mark I chasing after him. He then leapt through the air, bouncing off the wall and hurtling at the robot, slamming his fist into the thing's cheek.

CRUDDA-CLAAAANG!

The thing let out a gasp of pain and held it's cheek, stumbling back, and Sonic stood there on the floor, holding his fist. He'd felt something...he'd not felt hard metal upon punching him, but...the flesh of a real being. It had only been for a moment, but...

"That feeling...that sixth sense that comes from being a Metallurgist..." Sonic muttered. "...hey. Tell me somethin'. You've got a SOUL in there...don'tcha? You ain't just a robot. I doubt you're a Shanazaran...so what's the deal?"

Gizoid Mark I tilted it's head, golden eyes blinking. "Well, well. I AM impressed." He told Sonic. "So I'm not the only one who had his soul bonded to a "doll"?" He remarked, looking amused.

"I happen to spar with a "doll" a lot like you all the time." Sonic said with a grin.

"Allow me to REINTRODUCE myself." The robot said. "The name "Gizoid, Mark I" is the name of the Shanazaran that died on Death Row some years ago...according to the public. In reality, my...associate and I...put him and his brother to death by using their souls to create a Chaos Emerald. Unfortunately there was a rebound...and since we'd failed to put up a good magical barrier around ourselves..."

"You were new employees, weren't you?" Sonic asked.

"VERY. Both he and I had our souls grafted to the robotic bodies of the very people we'd just sacrificed. My true name is Charybdis." Charybdis said.

"So they DID use this place to turn prisoners into Chaos Emeralds." Sonic muttered, looking disgusted. "You were willing to murder people just to gain power..."

"Well, yes."

"...you sure are being nice all of a sudden, telling me all this."

"I'm the sort of person who likes a bit of tension between fights." Charybdis commented, raising his palms up.

"How considerate. Don't suppose you'd be nice enough to let me go?" Sonic inquired with a grin.

"...do you really think a murderer is going to let his prey escape when he's right in front of him?" Charybdis asked quietly, eyes turned to dark golden slits. He held his fists up. "Ready thyself." He spoke solemnly.

...

...

...

... "Awwww, I'm so excited! Little Venus is gonna be three years old in a few weeks!" Mighty practically yelled into the telephone. "Can't you believe it? Oh, I'm the proudest daddy on the block!" He told Shadow, a giddy expression on his face.

"Ugggggggghhhh." Shadow held the space between his eyes as he sat in his desk, trying to resist the urge to defy reality and send an ember through the other end of the phone. "I'm at WORK right now. Stop calling me to brag about your daughter! AND you're bragging on a military line!"

"I'm not just calling about my daughter." Mighty told Shadow.

"PHEW."

"Willie Mae and I are celebrating our anniversary this week! I'm getting it night, tightly, and ever-so-RIGHTLY!" Mighty proclaimed. "HOO-YEAH!"

"...actually, I have to respect that." Shadow admitted.

"Ah, but there's something else I need to talk about. Omega."

"...we haven't found him yet. His body's yet to turn up. And what bodies we HAVE found are so badly decomposed that..." Shadow frowned deeply, speaking quietly.

"I see."

"But, eventually, I should be able to lift that escort from the Metal Brotherhood."

"That's right. Knuckles is looking after them right?"

"Well, not just them. It's also-"

"THOSE LITTLE PRIIIIIIICKS!" Wave roared out, shaking her fist in the air as she held a bedsheet rope in her gloved hand, gripping it so tightly she almost tore them in two. "I THOUGHT it was too quiet in their room." She muttered balefully.

"Oh no." Jet moaned, holding his head and shaking it. "Knuckles is gonna tan our HIDE for this. He'll serve us up all crispy fried with mashed potatoes on the side!"

"Those little punks! Why can't they understand things from OUR point of view?!" Wave snarled. "Come on, let's get going!"

"Going where?" Jet wanted to know.

"Isn't it obvious where they went?" Wave told him as she put her goggles on, heading for the door. "They ran off to the Research Institute...the Fifth Laboratory!"

...

...

...

...meanwhile, at the Fifth Laboratory, Sonic was fighting for his life against Charybdis, ducking and diving to avoid the "possessed" robot's strikes. He kept on ducking and swerving to avoid the attacks from the robot, who seemed unnaturally strong. Sonic managed to sweep his leg, knocking Charybdis through the air, then leaping up and slamming his fist into the robot.

Charybdis hit the ground, grunting as Sonic leapt away, fists seemingly on fire.

"Darn it..." Sonic thought to himself as he held his fists up, panting heavily. "My strikes aren't blasting him in half like they should be." He muttered. "Why-"

"Now listen, I did all the steps correctly, but Chaos appeared to me last night and said he wanted to test you. There's gonna be something of a handicap to your abilities." She informed Sonic as Tails, who had returned back to his normal appearance, looked himself over in the mirror, as Knuckles held a thumbs up in approval.

"Feels good...what's this "handicap"?" Sonic wanted to know as he did a few hand-stands in front of them all.

Amy brushed some of her hair out of her eyes. "You'll be able to heal faster from your wounds, but  unfortunately  some of your power had to be sacrificed." She informed him sagely, waving a finger in the air. "So BE-CAREFUL-OUT-THERE." She insisted.

"Darn it. I almost forgot about that." Sonic mumbled. "I have to finish this quickly or I'm through!"

Sonic clenched his fist, the rings upon his wrists glowing brightly. With a loud roar, he rushed forward, slicing at Charybdis's cheek, but missing. The robot thrust his fist forward, but Sonic held his arm up to block.

However, this led to the robot kicking him in the stomach. Sonic went flying back, gasping as the robot charged at him, fist held high. Sonic managed to jump away in time to avoid a serious blow, but he felt blood surge down the side of his head, and felt a clear injury near his temple.

"You sure are nimble for such a fat lil' hog." The robot commented. "

"DID YOU CALL ME FAT?!" Sonic roared, shaking his fist in the air, ignoring the drip-drip-drip sound of his lifeblood splattering on the floor.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Charybdis held his sides, laughing broadly. "You really have been making this enjoyable! I'm grateful to be able to fight somebody skilled as you. I do appreciate it." He told Sonic in a good-natured tone. "But unfortunately, you're in a lot of trouble. And if you were planning on having some outside help come in to aid you...well, my partner will keep anybody from coming to help you."

"Yeah, I guess my partner outside has his hands full. Tell me something. Your buddy...the one who got their soul shot into a robot like you...are they strong?" Sonic wanted to know, panting heavily, wiping some blood off his head.

"My beloved partner is strong. Though not as strong as I." Charybdis said calmly.

Sonic grinned, and then began to laugh, holding one gloved hand over his face.

"Oh? What's so amusing?"

"In all my years of fighting him...he's always managed to find some way to beat me!" Sonic laughed.

BA-THWOOOOMBA!

Gizoid Mark II was knocked through the air as Tails lowered his glowing hand, frowning.

"You little PEST!" Gizoid Mark II snarled. "Why won't you stay still and let me beat you into a pulp?!" He demanded to know, rushing forward and aiming a fist for Tails's head. Tails ducked and then kicked upward, knocking the Gizoid Mark II backwards through the air.

And as he hit the ground, he growled in pain. "GAAAAAH! Dang it! If I had my normal body back, I could at LEAST use my Metallurgy!"

"...normal...body?" Tails's eyes widened. "...you're...you're a "doll"?" He asked.

Gizoid Mark II stood up, dusting himself up. He gave Tails a look that was seemed to be a mad grin, his eyes alit like blue flame. "Allow me to fully reintroduce myself. Once upon a time..." The robot put a hand on his chest. "A young scientist and his lab partner decided to get involved in the government. They wanted to test new boundaries of science. And so they were given permission to create what had previously been only RUMORED of...the Chaos Emeralds!"

Tails frowned darkly. Oh REALLY?

"They were given subjects...the scum of the Earth...and that young scientist, named Scylla, was VERRRRY happy. Tomorrow, he thought to himself, they would finally be able to create a Chaos Emerald. But a TERRIBLE accident occurred. And he and his partner found themselves trapped in the REPULSIVE bodies of the prisoners whose souls had just become a Chaos Emerald! Trapped in a body of steel instead of flesh...unable to feel...to breathe..." He placed a hand upon his chest.

"To love..."

And suddenly a horrifying realization came to Tails. "You're not a GUY." He realized.

"No. I'm NOT." Scylla said. "I was a GIRL. And Charybdis...was more than my lab partner." He commented. "She was my partner for LIFE."

"So I'm not alone, then." Tails commented.

"Alone?" Scylla commented.

Tails took off his wrist rings, and Scylla was suddenly made very clearly aware that she was looking down a doll. "What the?! What the hell are you?!" She asked.

"I'm a "doll" like you and your partner. My brother got my soul bonded to this doll to save me from oblivion."

Scylla began to giggle insanely. "Ohhhhh how SWEEEEET." She crooned. "Brotherly love really is such a beautiful thing..."

Her eyes glinted. "Even if it's all BULLSHIT." She laughed.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Tails wanted to know.

"My dear boy, how do you "know" you were a real person at all? Could one not create memories...and put them in a doll? Magic can do so many things." She told Tails. "How do you know that you're not just a doll...but a PUPPET?"

"That's not true!" Tails insisted, clenching his fists. "I KNOW I was Miles Prower!"

"You were never alive to begin with!"

"Oh yeah?! How do YOU know you were a real person yourself, you big-"

"HEY!" The guard from the front gate had heard the fight and was now behind Scylla, holding a gun up. "Both of you, free-"

Scylla twirled around, leg held up. A single kick knocked his head clear off, and blood splurted out of the neck stump. The body swayed slightly, then fell to the ground as Scylla calmly turned arund, blood splattered over her face, looking unmistakably amused.

"Simple, sweetie-pie. Feeling this ghost of the sensation of blood splatter on me...the cries and howls of the dying...that alone gives me belief that I was a person before I was THIS." She said, pointing at herself. "I kill...therefore...I AM!" She told him, howling with laughter. "That alone is proof enough for me!"

...

...

...

... "Ahhhh. A BROTHER, eh? Bringing your baby brother with you out on an "extra special field trip"?" Charybdis remarked. "Hmm. Well, I suppose I'll have to finish you quickly."

Sonic panted a few times as he turned his head to look to the right, then grinned. "Tails, NOW!"

Charybdis turned his head to the side. "What the?!"

Nobody was there.

BANG!

A good kick knocked his head clean off and Sonic grinned, lowering his fist and calmly walking over to Charybdis's head, picking it up.

"Cheap shot." The robot snapped.

"There's no such thing as "off limits" in a fight to the death." Sonic commented. "Now then...how about you start talking about who was behind all of this?"

"I can't do that."

"Oya-oya!" Sonic warned him, giving him an evil grin. "The beaten dog doesn't get to growl back."

"This "beaten dog" has some teeth left in his bite." Charybdis told him coldly.

SCHA-BAAAAAM! A fist knocked Sonic backwards through the air and he fell to the ground, heaving and coughing as some blood poured down the back of his back. "What...the?!" He gasped, turning around to see the body of Charybdis standing by the head, hands held on hips.

"Let me introduce myself anew. I was once a brilliant female scientist and me and my life partner DID attempt to create a chaos emerald using two Shanazarans. Truth is, due to the rebound, there were some...side...effects. For my partner...she went batshit insane. For me...the soul that should have been combined with the other to make a chaos emerald...remained within the body...and I was trapped inside with it. We could do nothing...until, at long last, we managed to make peace with each other." Charybdis explained.

"If only to keep ourselves from being turned to scrap." Gizoid Mark II told Sonic.

"That was a dirty thing to keep from me!" Sonic snapped.

"What happened to "there's no such thing as fighting dirty", oh "Hog of the Military"?" Gizoid Mark II sniggered, the headless body holding its fists back up. It then rushed forward, throwing rapid-fire kicks at Sonic, forcing the blue-furred hedgehog back further and further. "I'm-not-going-to-give-you-time-for-a-healing-spell!" Gizoid Mark II informed the hedgehog eagerly.

The kicks felt like somebody was hitting him over and over with a steel rod. He gasped in pain as he was constantly assaulted, forced further away from the center of the room before Gizoid Mark II finally spun around and with a harsh SCHUDDA-THWAM knocked Sonic into the wall. The hedgehog slid down it, blood dripping down from the top of his head, his shoulder and across his chest.

"This...this ain't good...I'm gonna die...I'm gonna die..." Sonic thought to himself.

Die...DIE...

"Are you going to kill him too?"

An idea hit him. Sonic's fist clenched tightly as Gizoid Mark II aimed a punch at his head. "Now I END this!"

Sonic caught the fist. His arm buckled...but then he grinned.

With that a blast of greenish energy surged from Sonic's hand and through the robot, and it was blasted into two pieces, the top half sent flying through the air to land some distance to the right of Sonic. The other half dropped to the ground as Sonic lowered his hand, heavily panting, some bloody spit dribbling out of his mouth.

"Almost forgot." He commented. "Wind magic involves air pressure. I increased it inside of your body when my fist came into contact with you. Blasted you apart the same way dark energy swells can blast the body apart just as easily."

"Guuuuuhhhh..." The Gizoid Mark II moaned as Sonic gasped. The thing was still alive?!

"AAA! There's not THREE souls bonded to you, is there? Am I gonna get attacked by your feet?" Sonic yelled, his body resting against the wall.

"Ahhh, no." Charybdis said firmly. "You've won fair and square. I can barely believe it."

"YOU can barely believe it?!" The Gizoid muttered. "We never had a problem with intruders before! GOD I hate your attitude sometimes!"

"Do I talk about how you like to fantasize about cars? DO I? No. No, I do NOT." Charybdis snapped back. "Go ahead. Finish us off, kid. Vaporize our bodies."

"I don't DO murder." Sonic said firmly. "Not even to scum."

"...murder?" Charybdis commented. "You consider us to actually have value to our lives? With bodies like these?"

"If I didn't consider you to be a person, then that means I wouldn't consider my BROTHER to be a person." Sonic told him firmly.

"C'mon little "boy"!" Scylla laughed as she tried to force Tails to his knees. "Don't resist! It won't hurt!...MUCH."

"I am not a PUPPET!"

"SURE you aren't!" Scylla sneered. "Of course, there's an easy enough way to prove it. Let me rip your body to chunks! If you die, then you were real! I'll be MORE than happy to do it FOR you!"

"You're MAD!" Tails screamed back.

"I'm not mad, silly! I'm out of my fucking MIND! AND IIIII LIKE IT!" Scylla howled.

It was then that two things soared through the air. ARROWS.

SCHUPPA-SCHUP!

Scylla reeled away, two arrows of burning plasma stuck in her side as Tails turned his head to see Jet and Wave lowering two silver-plated crossbows, another plasma arrow loaded into the bowstring. "Back off, you creepy thing!"

"You mean ME?" Tails asked.

"You're not creepy to US, fox boy." Wave laughed.

"We mean the ORANGE creepy thing!" Jet told him.

"Oh great. More company. This is annoying." Scylla muttered.

"My brother's a real person. And so are you in my eyes." Sonic insisted, taking deep breaths.

"...heh...heh-heh-heh." Charybdis chuckled.

"What is it?" Gizoid Mark II asked.

"It's just...you...showing compassion to us...there's no logic to it...I just...heh." Charybdis finally sighed. "Tell you what. You've earned it. I'll tell you everything I know about this place. About the one who sought to become a God of Science..."

And then Charybdis's head was impaled by thick, eggplant-colored strands of hair, lifted into the air. She gasped in horror as her impaled head was brought to the enormously bushy/thick locks above a female hedgehog's head. Sonic watched in horror as the skull vanished into the hair, and MUNCHING sounds were head as the female hedgehog covered her mouth, then let out a small burp, the egg-shaped thing from Charybdis's helm flying out of her maw. "Oops. 'Scuse me." She said.

"YOU SICK LITTLE!" Gizoid Mark II screamed, trying to crawl towards her in a blaze of fury. "I'll-I'll turn you...I'm gonna turn you inside-"

There was a loud, high-pitched whine and Sonic looked up to see a form hovering in the air, aiming a glowing, metal-clawed hand down. He gasped as the poor robot was oblitered on the spot...only a dusty imprint left behind to indicate he'd ever been there. The robotic form that had destroyed him touched down onto the ground, his red jetpack retreating into his back as he looked at Sonic...

Looked at Sonic with a form too eerily familiar to his own...

"Well THAT was close. Disgusting little things. Almost killed off our important sacrifice!" The being said.

"ALMOST being the key word, Metal." The female hedgehog told him.

"Don't bug me, Sonia." Metal waved a hand in the air. "...well, well." He looked over at Sonic. "Looks like the Blue Bubblebutt is here as well." He commented with a nasty, gleeful tone. "What's with that look? You don't LIKE how we do business?"

"Who the hell are you people?!" Sonic snarled. "What do you mean by "sacrifice"?"

"Well, well..." Metal said, leaning in close to the heaving, panting Sonic. "Bubblebutt's getting MAD."

"Shut...up...you metal FAKER..." Sonic snarled.

"Make me, bubblebutt."

"I WILL you stinkin'..." Sonic aimed a punch at Metal...and it just went "PLOMP" against his chest. He blinked and tried to throw another punch. PLOMP. His arms had no strength in them. He groaned as his arms swung back and forth, out of "juice".

"SOMEBODY'S having "technical difficulties"." Sonia remarked.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Sonic groaned, waving his arms in the air, whacking the useless limbs against Metal's chest.

"Say goodnight, floppy." Metal commented snidely.

THWONKA! Sonic was kneed in the gut and hit the ground as Metal stood over him, and if he could have, the robot would have sneered. "You're getting off lucky, bubblebutt.

"You remember, we LET you live." Sonia commented coldly. "...hmm. We can't have this guy visiting this place again." She remarked, rubbing her chin.

"Let's burn it down. Burn it to the GROUND."

Chapter 9: Don't Lie to Me

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Eight:

Don't lie to me!

私にうそをつくてはいけない！

 

---

 

The entire fifth laboratory was exploding from within. Chunks of roof and wall were flying everywhere as flames rose higher and higher into the air. Scylla had run for it, giggling all the while as Tails stood by Wave and Jet, eyes wide in horror.

"My brother's still inside!" He told them, gulping in fear.

"Oh CRAP!" Jet yelled, looking from Tails to the burning, flaming hulk that was the laboratory. "We've gotta get in there, then!"

"Ah, no need." A faintly metallic voice called out.

They looked to the far right, and saw somebody emerging from an enormous cloud of dust. Carrying the unconscious Blue Blur on his shoulder, a red-eyed, blue-painted robot hedgehog that looked vaguely like Sonic deposited the real deal on the ground with an air of slight contempt, shrugging. "You really should look after your brother better." He told Tails, hands on his hips. "I mean, I won't always be around to assist you."

"Uh...thank you, whoever you are." Wave commented, blinking a few times as she helped Sonic up onto Jet's shoulder and the robotic hedgehog shrugged.

"And now I take my leave." He said, stepping back into the cloud of dust, his red eyes seeming to linger on them even through the dark haze. Finally they snapped out of the vaguely hypnotic trance and ran for it as the last of the laboratory finally hit the ground with a THULH-CHOOOOOM sound.

...

...

...

...when Sonic woke up, he was annoyed, bandages wrapped around his head and arms. He muttered in a contemptuous fashion as Wave stood cheerily by with Jet, looking very, very pleased that he was...y'know...confined to one room. ^_^

"So how's the Fifth Laboratory?" Sonic muttered, looking to the side slightly as Jet nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

"Which half?" Jet asked him.

"Huh?"

"Well, somebody KINDA blew it up and it's in pieces."

"...Everything's been wiped out?"

"Yep."

"...not even a single room's fully intact?"

"Nope."

"GAAAAAAAH!" Sonic screamed and flailed his arms in the air. "We travel all this way and finally get a lead and just when it looks like-" Then an enormous, searing-hot pain like somebody was shoving a red-hot poker into both arms shot up in his body, and he howled. "OOUUUUHHHH...owwwww...OWWWW." He moaned. "My freakin' aaaaarms!"

"Don't tell me you're thinking of going BACK?" Jet asked.

"This is no time for me to be in this freakin' bed!" Sonic told him. "Way past time for lounging around!"

"...Wave?" Jet asked.

"I feel the same way you do." She remarked.

"We want to apologize in advance." Jet told Sonic as the two birds looked squarely at Sonic.

"For what?"

THA-THWACK!

Sonic's cheek stung as Wave's hand waved in the air, a tic mark appearing on her forehead. "You big, blue IDIOT!" She told him. "You could have been KILLED! Don't try to do everything by yourself! What do you think we're here for? To make you martinis?"

She then sighed and folded her arms. "You have to put more trust in us adults. We DO know what we're doing, for the most part. We just want to keep you safe because we care about you."

"You're not THAT much older than me!" Sonic wanted to say, but she had a point. He nervously looked away, biting his lip. "..."

"Well, anyhow, excuse us for being so frank...uh...sir." Jet finished for Wave, saluting Sonic.

"...nah. It's cool. I'm sorry. I deserved that bitch-slap."

"Oh, so you won't be writing us up?" Wave asked.

"No. I hate paperwork." Sonic told her, sighing wistfully. "Oh, wouldn't it be lovely if it all just...BLEW AWAY..."

"PHEW." Wave and Jet simultaneously collapsed on the ground, breathing a deep sigh of relief.

"Why are you guys so worried?" Sonic asked, blinking stupidly.

"If you READ your paperwork, you'd know that being a State Metallurgist comes with a rank equal to "Major". Technically, you're our boss!"

"Well...in that case..." Sonic grinned. "Make me a martini."

"WHAAA-"

"Kidding!" Sonic laughed. "Hey wait. Where's my little bro?"

"I already had a talk with him. Unfortunately when I tried to get all tough like Jet, it didn't...wasn't really..." Jet nervously looked to the side.

"Couldn't beat up a doll, huh? He gave you "The Face", right?" Sonic asked.

"He did indeed." Jet sighed sadly, shaking his head.

"Don't feel bad. Nobody can resist the face."

Fun fact! The tears of "The Face" can cure cancer. Sadly, Tails is unable to cry.

"...I just realized something." Sonic gulped, his face turning pale. "...I need to call...Amy...and...ohhhhh craaaaaap." He moaned, hanging his head.

...

...

...

...BRIIIIING! BRIIIING!

"Hellooooo! Amy Rose speaking! Have a smiley day!...Sonic? Oh, hi! It's so good to hear from...what...did...you...say?"

"Uh...see...my arms..."

"YOU STUPID, IDIOTIC!"

"You girlfriend sure is a hard-ass, huh?" Jet asked Sonic as Sonic held the phone away from his ears. Upon hearing the "g word", he immediately whipped his head in the hawk's direction.

"She's not my girlfriend!" He bellowed out.

"WHAT WAS THAT?" Amy screamed over the phone.

Meanwhile, Tails was sitting alone in a darkened corner of the hospital. He leaned against the bench he was in, staring up at the ceiling, unblinking, simply musing over what Scylla had said. He tried to get the thought out of his head, but he just couldn't.

"I need to focus on something else, dang it. This isn't healthy." Tails mumbled as he looked down from the ceiling, noticing a young girl walking by with her mother, holding onto...a big...fluffy...fox doll.

"...why am I even entertaining this? That woman was out of her freakin' GOURD..." Tails muttered.

"My dear boy, how do you "know" you were a real person at all? Could one not create memories...and put them in a doll? Magic can do so many things." She told Tails. "How do you know that you're not just a doll...but a PUPPET?"

"That's not true!" Tails insisted, clenching his fists. "I KNOW I was Miles Prower!"

"You were never alive to begin with!"

...

...

...

... "Oh...my...GOD. My poor BUTT. It is so SORE." Amy moaned as she rubbed her butt, getting off the train, making several nearby perverts lick their lips and grin stupidly. "How do those boys ride those things? They're so hard!"

"I have a REAAAAALLY good joke for that. Too bad this fanfic's supposed to not go above the "PG-13" rating." A nearby disguised musician remarked as he walked by her, making Amy give him a look.

It was then that she noticed the familiar figure of one Knuckles the Echidna looking at her, and she ran over to him with her stuff. "Knuckles, where are those two? They didn't come with you?"

"Well...actually..." Knuckles nervously sighed.

SOON...

"Oh no." Amy moaned as she looked Sonic over as he sat on his bed. "Look at how beat-up you are..." She sighed. "I must have messed up somehow...maybe I should have flagellated myself after all..."

"WHAT?" Sonic yelled, eyes widening. "No-no-no-no! Nothing like that! Whipping is bad! Very bad! My fault! This?" he gestured at himself with his weak arms as best he could. "TOTALLY my fault!"

Amy put her hands on her hips and smiled in a good-natured way. "Okay, fine! Well, let's get to work. Naturally, I'll be charging you a rush order for..." She trailed off, noticing Sonic's lunch plate. "...you didn't eat your vegetables."

"I HATE veggies." Sonic muttered, looking to the side.

PIKO-POWER!

Sonic moaned as Amy lowered the hammer back down to the ground, frowning darkly. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll NEVER lose weight!"

"You're...being...INCONSIDERAAAAATE!" Knuckles suddenly roared, flexing his muscles as "The Pink" surrounded him, making Sonic squirm in nervousness.

"Yes, people should eat three to five servings of vegetables a day, brother." Tails said, sticking his head into the room before ducked right back out.

"If you don't eat your veggies, you'll miss out on good sources of Vitamin A." Jet added.

"What is this, a Public Service Announcement?" Sonic snapped.

"Oh no! I hit a homeless person because I was drinking and driving! "The More You Knoooow"!" A man outside the hospital exclaimed, standing by his car as a drunk laying at his feet moaned in pain.

...

...

...

...Amy immediately went to work on fixing the rings around Sonic's arm, meditating as she held onto the rings, Sonic sitting in a nearby chair in the room, looking worried. "Tails has been acting weird lately. He hasn't really been...talking to me." He told Amy, sighing sadly. "It's like something is bothering him..."

Meanwhile, Tails looked himself over in a mirror, placing one furry paw upon it, blinking slowly, wishing his eyes could cry. He could not get those words out of his head.

"C'mon little "boy"!" Scylla laughed as she tried to force Tails to his knees. "Don't resist! It won't hurt!...MUCH."

"I am not a PUPPET!"

"SURE you aren't!" Scylla sneered. "Of course, there's an easy enough way to prove it. Let me rip your body to chunks! If you die, then you were real! I'll be MORE than happy to do it FOR you!"

"...I can't deal with not knowing...I need the truth. I HAVE to have it." He muttered, turning away from the mirror and heading back towards his brother's room.

"Ahhh! All fixed!" Sonic remarked, doing some punches in the air. "I feel good! Reaaaal good."

"Yeah, luckily your arms only FELT totally busted. The rings weren't so badly damaged." Amy said, hovering back down from off the floor as Jet and Wave gave themselves weirded-out looks over the process that had gone into fixing Sonic up.

"Hey there, Sonic!" Mighty laughed, stepping into the room, a big, toothy grin on his face. "I heard you invited a GIRL into your hospital room, and you were being very "intimate" with her?" He commented, walking over to Sonic and elbowing him in the side. "My maaaaan! Who's the pink cutie?" He asked, winking at Sonic.

"...she's...JUST...my ring repairwoman!"

"You've seduced a working girl, huh?"

"GAAAAH!" Sonic moaned and hit the ground again as Mighty heartily shook Amy's hand, beaming at her.

"Pleasure to meetcha. Mighty the Armadillo at your service!"

"I'm Amy. Amy Rose."

"How come you're not at work?" Sonic wanted to know.

"I gave Wax some overtime." Mighty explained. "He's completing some important projects for me."

"THIS IS SO FRICKIN' HAAAARD!" Wax screamed from down the street, trying to enter Wily's Fortress in Mega Man 9.

"By the way, I heard you won't be needing guards for much longer." Mighty added.

"Guards? You have GUARDS looking after you? Okay, what hot water did you land into?" Amy demanded to know.

Sonic looked away, arms folded. "It's nothing!"

She glared intently at him.

"It's NOTHING."

Creepy Latin chanting began to fill the air.

Koyanisquanti...

Koyanisquanti...

"Oh, I'm sorry, your wing is down THIS way." A nurse urged a few babbling monks in long, hooded brown robes. "C'mon, keep moving. We'll get you your pills..."

"See, this is what happens when you don't let them have wives." A male nurse told the other nurse. "Go crazy or start humping little-"

"Well, I might as well get going. I need to find a hotel to stay in." Amy said firmly, folding her arms.

"Hotel schmotel! Stay with me and my family. We'll take good care of you!" Mighty insisted. "My wife and daughter will be delighted!"

Before Amy knew what was happening, she was practically hauled out of the room by Mighty as he laughed heartily. The others all stood around, blinking in confusion.

"...what just happened?" Sonic asked.

...

...

...

...POOF-POOF!

"Happy Birthday to yoooou! Happy Birthday to yooooou! Happy Birthday dear Venus Dee Miloooo...Happy Birthday to yooooou!"

Several dozen people all cheered, throwing streamers and blowing horns as the little armadillo blew out the candles on her chocolate-frosted vanilla cake, which had her name written in pink frosting on the top. Amy, who was just taking all of this in, noticed Willie Mae was holding a plate up to her.

"Cake?" Willie Mae Milo asked.

"I take it...this is your daughter's birthday?" Amy asked nervously as Mighty walked over to Amy, his daughter by his side, the remnants of cake frosting on her lips, having wolfed down her piece.

"Yep! Tell her how old you are, honey pie!" Mighty commented happily.

"THIS much!" Venus Dee Milo said, holding up three fingers, beaming happily.

"That's...so...CUUUUUUTE!" Amy said, sparkles appearing in her eyes as she pinched Venus's little cheeks. "Ohhhh, you're just the cutest little thing!"

"I sense...a disturbance." Sonic thought to himself, sitting up in his hospital bed. "...yep. She did the sparkle thing." He sighed and leaned back in his bed. "Is there NOBODY capable of resisting that babe's charms?"

"...can I talk to you? Privately?" Mighty The Armadillo, aka Mighty Milo, inquired. Amy blinked a few times as he led her into the kitchen. "I can tell something's bothering you. You had that preoccupied look on your face all the way over here."

"...Sonic and Tails don't call often. Usually just when they need help...and now here I am, and Sonic was really hurt, and Tails is being bothered by something...and..." Amy leaned against a kitchen counter, folding her arms and looking up at the ceiling above as Mighty sipped a glass of lemonade. "They won't talk to me."

"...I think I can guess why." Mighty told her gently. "They trust you. They know you'll understand. No words gotta be said, girl." He insisted, nodding his head.

"...don't lie to me." Amy remarked, rolling her eyes.

"I'm serious. Guys...we don't talk. Like...almost ever. We DO. We let our actions speak for us instead." Mighty went on, sighing slightly. "And Sonic...he ain't the kind of person who wants other people to worry about him. But if he ever DOES want your help...you're gonna definitely be the first person he'll run to. Is that enough?"

"...you know...I think it is." Amy admitted. "You're a nice guy." She told him. "And I can tell you're a good father."

"Hey, I wanna play with her!" A voice called out. Mighty peeked his head around the kitchen doorframe to see three boys were fighting over who was going to play "Pin the tail on the donkey" with his daughter.

"You already got a turn! I wanna play with Venus!"

"...hold on a second." Mighty said, reaching into the kitchen drawer nearest him.

"I wanna play-"

Mighty stepped in front of the boys, holding a 42 millimeter pistol in the air. "You boys try anythin' funny...POW."

"Uhhhhh..."

"Don'tcha give me no sass, I'll bust a cap in yo ass!" Mighty warned them.

The boys immediately cried, and wet themselves in pants-pissing fear. Venus laughed. "My dad's so funny." She told Amy, who gulped.

"Maybe you're TOO good a father." Amy thought to herself.

...

...

...

... "So...my hated nemesis returns. We meet again, broccoli." Sonic muttered, looking down at his lunch, frowning. He was eating lunch at the hospital cafeteria today...they'd wanted to keep him one more night for "observation".

"Brother, you have a living body, so you should eat your veggies." Tails said, standing nearby as Mighty and Amy shared stories at a nearby table about the birthday party they'd been at last night to Jet and Wave.

"You know, I HAVE been losing weight! I mean, most of it's water weight, but still, I'm not nearly that tubby! I wish I had a body like yours, bro." He remarked. "Your body can never get tubby and-"

"I DIDN'T ASK TO HAVE THIS BODY!" Tails roared furiously, standing up suddenly.

"...you-you're right, I..." Sonic nervously muttered and looked away. "I'm sorry." He murmured as Amy looked on in horror. Other people in the cafeteria, wisely sensing a big meltdown, quickly looked at each other and moved their tables faaaar away.

"It's my fault you got turned into that anyhow...that's why I want you to get changed back to normal." Sonic went on, rubbing the back of his neck.

"How do you know that's even POSSIBLE?" Tails wanted to know, angrily growling.

"I'll do it! I always find a way." Sonic insisted proudly, jabbing a thumb at his chest. "Believe you me, I won't give up."

"...Miles...look...there's somethin' I always wanted to talk to you about, but...I ain't never mentioned it before cuz I was scared..."

"BELIEVE you? How am I supposed to believe you with this body that cannot feel?" Tails yelled furiously, pointing at himself.

"Miles, bro, what's all this-" Sonic began.

"When you get right down to it, memories are just a bunch of information! It would be easy to make them up! I mean, BUFFY did it!" Tails snapped.

"That damn show does everything." Amy admitted, sighing.

"...Miles..." Sonic whispered.

"You told me before there was something you wanted to talk to me about...something that had been bothering you...what was it? That maybe I never was your brother? That maybe everything about me is just FAKE?"

Sonic's hands clenched into fists.

"Don't lie to me! Tell me the TRUTH!" Tails screamed.

SCHA-SLAM!

Sonic's fists struck the table so hard that the food went flying off. Tails's rant was stopped as he saw Sonic's fists shaking, his body quivering with barely-suppressed emotion.

"...is that...all you wanted...to say?" He mumbled darkly. "Is THAT what's been bothering you all this time?"

Tails said nothing. He felt a little bit ashamed for that outburst, and looked to the side in nervousness.

"...okay...okay." Sonic sighed, looking somewhat...relieved?

Much to Tails's surprise, he stood up and left the room, heading past Amy and out into the hallway. Tails blinked as Amy clenched her fists, shaking in fury.

"Miles Prower...you...BIG...IDIOOOOOOT!" She roared furiously.

A flash of red and yellow.

PIKO-POWER!

"Where do you even KEEP that thing?" Tails moaned. "And how is it that it can HURT me?" He wondered.

"Do...you...have...any...idea...how...Sonic...FEELS?" Amy screamed furiously at Tails, holding the hammer up, tears trickling down her cheeks. "Do you have any idea what he really wanting to talk to you about? For years he's been wondering if you blamed him for what happened! If you hated him for screwing up!"

NOT SO VERY LONG AGO...

Amy immediately went to work on fixing the rings around Sonic's arm, meditating as she held onto the rings, Sonic sitting in a nearby chair in the room, looking worried. "Tails has been acting weird lately. He hasn't really been...talking to me." He told Amy, sighing sadly. "It's like something is bothering him..."

Sonic sighed sadly. "His body doesn't need to eat or sleep. It doesn't feel pain. And...and he must hate me for it." Sonic murmured nervously. "...how...how am I going to ask him that?" He whispered tearfully, covering his face. "I might as well have KILLED him...he must hate me sometimes..."

PRESENT...

"How could you even THINK something like that!" Amy yelled in Tails's face, whacking him on the chest over and over with her fists, crying all the while as Mighty gave them a sympathetic look as Jet and Wave stared at each other. "You have no idea how much he loves you! You two only have each other...how could you say something..."

She finally stepped back and pointed out the door, a furious look on her face. "Apology! NOW!"

"Okay, okay!"

"And don't just beat each other up, either!"

...

...

...

...Sonic was sitting on a bench outside the hospital, hands in his lap. Tails nervously sat down near him and looked to the side slightly.

At first, they didn't speak. There was only the chirping of birds in the trees as sunshine bathed down upon them.

"...brother..."

"We've fought over some really stupid things, haven't we?" Sonic spoke up.

"...yeah." Tails admitted.

"We've fought over who got the top bunk."

"..."

"And who would get the last slice of cake."

"...and who would get the Halloween candy that was shaped like a star."

"And that toy. The squeaky one."

"I won that one." Tails remarked with a hint of pride.

"Yeah, but I'M the one who won the fight over where we'd go for a picnic, remember?" Sonic told him with a grin.

"The ants ate half our sandwiches."

"A win's a win." Sonic muttered as Tails sniggered.

"We even fought over who would marry Amy one day." Tails said with a sigh.

"Which I won..." Sonic commented with a cheery smile that quickly faded. "Then she shot me down."

"...yeah. Preeeeeetty hard." Tails added.

They were silent for a few moments, not speaking. Then Sonic finally sighed a little.

"So you're gonna tell me that all those memories...your desire to get back in your original body...it's fake? All of those were lies?"

"I'm sorry." Tails admitted sadly.

"We a promise TOGETHER, remember? To get our original forms back. To fix ourselves. To get stronger!" Sonic said, pointing up into the sky. "Aim for the sun!"

"Yeah...to get stronger!"

"We WILL get our bodies back! We WILL right what we made wrong!"

"You WILL start eating your veggies?" Tails asked with a bit of a grin.

"...okaaaaaay..." Sonic moaned, hanging his head.

...

...

...

...meanwhile, Mighty was thinking back to the old days of the Shanazaran Campaign. Back to that fateful day when he and Shadow had made their decision...

They stood together among the state metallurgists, distinguishable by the stylish black of their long, caped jackets. Their faces, once filled with innocence and hope, now had the permanent stain of adulthood thrust onto them.

"Those below me protect those below them. We're only average people. We should be able to do at least THAT." The black-furred hedgehog said, folding his arms, a deep, sorrowful expression on his features as Mighty twirled one of his knives before sheathing it back in place.

"Good goals, my friend." Mighty told him, placing his sunglasses back on, making the light reflect off in an eerie manner. "Of course, if ya wanna go about protectin' everyone in this country, you're gonna need to be at the one the buck stops at. YOU'RE gonna have to be the head honcho."

"Yeah, that's how geometric progression works." Shadow said. "...you know..." He turned to look to the far right, seeing Dr. Eggman, Autocrat of the Eggman Empire standing there with his top brass, overlooking the assembled troops, a banner displayed beneath the ledge he was on. "It must feel awfully good being in that seat. But I can't climb up to there on my own, I think."

He turned to smirk a little at Mighty. "Would you mind getting your hands dirty?"

"Ain't no thang but a chicken wang." Mighty laughed, taking off his sunglasses and dusting them off. "I'll help you go the distance, a'ight? Let's see your idealism change this country."

It was then that Dr. Eggman turned to look at him, frowning slightly. Shadow just glared right back at him.

"He's not looking AT me..." Dr. Eggman thought to himself. "...but THROUGH me...the Burning Alchemist..."

"Mighty?"

Mighty shot up in his seat as Knuckles looked down at him. The armadillo had fallen asleep by the water cooler. "Are you feeling alright? It's not like you to suddenly doze off in the middle of the day."

"...just old memories floating back up, like bubbles in a water cooler." Mighty thought out loud.

"Deep."

"Really?"

"Not really."

"Well, I had half a pack of hard lemonade last night, so that might be keeping me from enlightened thoughts." Mighty commented as he stood up.

"Well I've got something that might get you focused..." Knuckles said, holding up a drawing pad that showed off a robotic hedgehog.

 

Chapter 10: Truth Comes With A Price

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Nine:

Truth Comes With A Price!

真実は代償が伴う !

"I hate paperwork." Shadow muttered as he looked down at his desk, frowning as he folded his hands in his lap. "Wouldn't it be such a wonderful thing if it all just...blew away?" He asked Rouge as she stood nearby, hands on her considerably sensual-looking hips.

"Yes, do us all a favor." Rouge admitted.

"By the way, speaking of things I'd like to see blown away, what's our resident Blue Blur up to?" Shadow wanted to know.

Indeed, what?

"So you're sure that's what he looked like?" Mighty wanted to know, raising an invisible eyebrow as he looked the picture over. Sonic nodded eagerly as he stood by Tails, with a proud-looking Knuckles standing behind them, basking in his humility.

Think about that for a while.

"Yeah, pretty much. But after he conked me over the head, I can't remember anything else that happened in there." Sonic told the armadillo. "...but the eyes."

"Huh?"

"There was...something in their eyes. Some...symbol..."

He could remember...oh yes...

"The way their eyes had glowed so brightly, and the pattern of the irises...it was made up of a two numbers repeating over and over. Ones and zeroes, I'm sure of it!" Sonic whispered, eyes narrowing.

"Hmm. Guardians who were only souls attached to robotic dolls...you being referred to as a "sacrifice"...beings with strange eyes...a Metallurgic circle hidden in a laboratory...and to top it all off, Big saying that Chaos Emeralds were used in the Shanazaran Campaign..." Mighty whispered, frowning darkly as he pulled his sunglasses down slightly. "...I do NOT like the sound of this. This whole thing reeks like some government conspiracy in one of those old 90's movies from back when people thought the Internet could take away your entire life."

"There's too many mysteries here, and the lab's been turned into rubble...what are we supposed to do? We stumble on this huge conspiracy only to have every lead we have turn into a dead end." Knuckles remarked.

"...UUUUUGH." There was a collective moaning and groaning from the foursome as they stood in Mighty's office, with Jet listening on the outside of the door, holding one finger up to his beak and going "Shhhh" at Wave, who tensely stood nearby.

"Sounds like they're talking about something reaaaaally dangerous."

"Well I'm not sure I wanna listen." Wave admitted, holding up a pair of earmuffs and covering the spot where her ears would have been. Unfortunately, it was at that moment that Dr. Eggman himself walked up to them from the other end of the hall.

"Excuse me. Would Sonic the Hedgehog be in this room at the moment?" He asked politely, tapping Wave's shoulder.

She shrieked and jumped a few feet in the air as Jet nervously stepped to the side, allowing Dr. Eggman entrance to the room the others were in. Jet then held his hands up at Wave, who was clinging tightly to a light fixture. "Come on...let go. I'll catch you!"

"I'll try looking at the lists of criminals on record we have." Mighty told Sonic and Tails. "We MIGHT get something. Knux, can you check to see who was workin' under Big ol' buddy ol' pal?" He wanted to know.

"Absolutely! Shouldn't be that-" Knuckles began.

It was then that the man himself entered and everybody immediately snapped into a salute. "DR. EGGMAN!" Knuckles gasped. "Your Supreme Excellent Autocratic Self, sir!"

"Ah, relax, relax. As you were. I came to drop off a fruit basket!" Dr. Eggman said cheerily, holding up a "Easter-Egg" style basket with various fruit loaded into it and a bright pink ribbon on the top. There was a card inside that read "I'm Sorry You're Sad" written in crayon with a cheerful-looking smiley face at the front. "You like grapes? I like grapes. Grapes are fun."

"...uhhh...yeah. Grapes are fun." Sonic remarked, nervously feeling the need to step FAR away from Dr. Eggman.

"I understand you've been doing some...research." Dr. Eggman remarked, stroking his moustache. Everybody in the room immediately blanched, eyes widening, their mouths opening slightly.

"Uhhhh..." Sonic began to sweat like mad. He would have pulled at his collar if he wore one.

"To think...the Chaos Emeralds..." Dr. Eggman growled, looking threateningly down upon Sonic, who gulped nervously.

And then he began to chuckle, and then to laugh out loud, making the others blink in absolute surprise. What on Earth?

"Just kidding! Don't be so defensive. I know there's some unrest among the ranks. Something should be done about it and I trust you to get it done. You know..." He tapped the goggles ato his head. "I've done some investigation of my own. Those who researched the Chaos Emeralds all went MISSING." He informed them all, raising an eyebrow up high as his voice became solemn. "They disappeared some days before the 5th Laboratory was destroyed. It appears as if the enemy is always one step ahead of us. Even with my own considerable intellect put to use..."

He sighed and shook his head. "I don't know the enemy's size, their objectives, what they can do..."

"In other words, we'd best step correct or we'll get our asses handed to us. Uh, sir." Mighty commented.

"Word." Dr. Eggman said, making a hand gesture rather like a sideways peace sign. "Mighty, Knuckles, Sonic, Tails. I need you to keep quite about this. Absolutely quiet. There's nobody in this government you can trust. NOBODY. However..." He rubbed his chin and grinned at them. "When the time comes...I will have quite a lot of work for you to do. So make sure you're ready."

"Yes, sir!" All of them remarked, shouting.

"Siiiir! Siiiiir! Your grand high autocratic siiiiir!" A voice called out.

"Ohhh not AGAIN." Dr. Eggman moaned, going to the window and opening it up. He turned his head, noticing the surprised looks on all their faces. "Oh. You see, I slipped out of work this morning. My pesky subordinates won't go away. They always want me to do everything just because I'm the Autocrat. So UNFAIR, don't you think?" He asked them.

"...yes! Yes, absolutely." Tails finally managed to get out as Dr. Eggman tried to go through the window, only to find his gluteus maximus was...well, stuck.

"An ass-sist, please?" He inquired.

Mighty sighed and he and Knuckles gave the "good doctor" a push, and he was out the window and running off in no time. Sonic sighed. "We have a weiiiiird ruler."

"Hey guys!" Amy announced as she stepped inside the room and beamed broadly at them all. "I got those train tickets you asked for!" She said, holding up two tickets in the air for Sonic and Tails.

"Already on the move? Never can stay in one place, huh?" Knuckles commented, looking Sonic over.

Sonic waved his hand in the air dismissively. "What did you expect? It's the call of the open road and we were born to answer it." He told them all.

"We've decided we want to go and visit our teacher at Angel Island's capital! It's where our teacher lives. It's not that far off, either." Sonic explained.

"...she's gonna kill us." Tails gulped nervously, shaking like a leaf before them all, nervously wringing his white-gloved hands. "She's gonna turn me into a RUG!"

"Don't go pussying out on me!" Sonic insisted, grabbing ahold of Tails and shaking him. "You're scared? We're ALL scared! You'd have to be CRAZY not to be scared! I personally think she'll mount my head on the wall! But we've gotta be brave!"

"We gotta be brave." Tails insisted to himself. "We gotta be brave...we gotta be brave..."

"You gotta be out of your freakin' minds. You're THAT scared of your old teach?" Mighty commented.

"Wait...where IS Angel Island?" Amy wanted to know.

Miles reached into the belt around his waist and took out a small, key-pad-like object. He pressed a button and a large map unfolded on the spot, displaying the entire continent. "See? It's far south of Central City." Sonic told her, pointing down at Angel Island.

"...wait...this city that's located on Angel Island...OOOOOHHH!" Her eyes went wide. "Westside City, the Holy Land itself!"

"Holy...Land?" Mighty blinked a few times. "Fill me in, I ain't no Metallurgist."

"You'll never find a more blessed hamlet of altruists and heroes." Knuckles explained. "It's been home to dozens of advances in magical theory and skill, and magic use is so common there that even the children know how to summon the elements. It's like a...Magic King-"

"Careful, or Disney sues us." Mighty whispered.

"Sorry."

"Take me, take me, take me, take me!" Amy begged, shaking Sonic over and over. "It's SO close to the capital!"

"GAAAH! Okay, okay!" Sonic said, making Amy grin broadly and let him go. "Fine! We head to Westside City, leaving at dawn!...okay, nineish."

"Westside?" Mighty suddenly grinned, getting an idea. He held up his hand and made a "W" gesture. "West Side!" He then flipped that "W" to make an "E". "East Side!" He then held it upside-down. "McDonalds!"

"Pffft!" Amy giggled. "You're funny." She told him, playfully whacking him on the arm as he left the room. "See you at the train station tomorrow!"

"...your girlfriend sure is cute." Mighty told Sonic, elbowing him slightly.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Sonic muttered swiftly.

"Though not as fine as MY honey mine!" Mighty added proudly.

...

...

...

... "Daddy's goin' out to work now, okay, baby?" Mighty said, hugging his daughter tightly. "I'm gonna try and get home early as I can, okay?"

Amy stood nearby, deciding to pay one more final visit to Mighty's home as Venus Dee Milo hugged Mighty tightly, and Willie Mae Milo smiled in approval and pride at her husband. She always found this sort of sentimental stuff just so cute.

"So, you're leavin' today too, right?" Mighty asked. "I'll try and see you off at lunch if I can." He told Amy as he nuzzled his daughter a little.

"I really do appreciate you being so kind to me, Mr. Milo." Amy said, bowing her head slightly as they headed down the stairs and out the front door.

"Please, call me Mighty. Everybody does." Mighty laughed, clapping her on the back. "Whenever you're in Central City, feel free to come here anytime. Me casa es su casa!"

And so, Sonic and Tails boarded the train sharply at nine o'clock, waving goodbye to Knuckles, Mighty, Jet and Wave with cheerful expressions on their faces. As the train began to pull away, Amy leaned back in the seat across from Tails and Sonic, and an idea popped into her head.

"You know, I forgot to ask. Why did you suddenly decide you wanted to see your teacher?" She wanted to know.

"Two reasons." Tails said, holding two fingers up. "First of all, lately we've been on a real losing streak."

"You're JUST going there to better learnhow to make fists meet faces? Oh c'mon. You're such...GUYS." Amy muttered.

"It's NOT just about that!" Sonic stated angrily, folding his arms and "harrumphing". "It's what's "inside". We kind of want to get stronger within. The way we did when we FIRST visited her."

"I see. And the second reason?" Amy wanted to know.

"To find out what she knows about the Chaos Emerald. The other truth that Big spoke about." Tails told her, looking out the window. "We still don't know all the answers, but she's been at this for a looooong time. She might have some idea."

BGM: Dramatic/heroic musical theme

"Kind of a long shot...but it's all we've got." Sonic admitted, shrugging slightly. "We can't be afraid of admitting we did the most Cardinal Sin. We'll just walk right up to her and say...and...say..."

BGM: Record scratch

"...OHHHH." Sonic held his head in his hands. "Teach is gonna kick our AAAAASS..."

"She'll call it "justified braticide"! Ohhh, if only I could have at least had found a GIRLFRIEND!" Tails whined.

"Gee. She's that bad?" Amy wanted to know, scratching her head.

"SHE'S THAT BAAAAAD." They both sobbed at the same time.

"I know something that'll cheer you up." Amy said, holding up her bag and pulling out some pie. "Ta-daaaa!"

"MMMM." Sonic eagerly bit into it. "This apple pie's deeee-lish!"

"I've gotta put it on the "List of Things I'll Eat When I'm Normal Again", then." Tails said, pulling out his list from his belt and writing in it on the spot.

"Good thing Ms. Willie Mae told me the recipe. I'll cook it for you guys whenever you want, I promise!" Amy informed them happily, nodding her head as Sonic eagerly nom-nom-nom'd more of the apple pie slice. "Mrs. Milo sure is nice! And so is ."

"Mighty's a devoted father, a busybody AND he wouldn't stop bragging about his family." Sonic remarked. "Ahhh, but he was so happy to visit us and cheer us up. And to think he wants to help us with what we're doing...we really ought to thank him next time we're in Central City." He told Tails.

"Yeah, no kidding! I wanna see his daughter again!" Tails admitted.

"She is JUST the cutest thing, isn't she?" Amy remarked, nodding eagerly.

"Yeah, I know!"

...

...

...

... "Ohhhhh! Now THIS is what I'm talking about!" Amy cheered, jumping up in the air and bounding around as Sonic and Tails sighed deeply. Angel Island was an island that floated some 10,000 miles above the ground, with an enormous city built around a towering mystical palace that stretched up into the sky like a golden gift from God himself. Around Westside City, not too far from the capital, there were dozens of temples and houses all over with mystical symbols placed upon doors and windows, and waterfalls magically poured down from a nearby mountain to land in a pristine lake some distance away.

The entire place smelled lovely too, like home-cooked meals and delicious bread fresh from a baker's oven, and there were flags and banners of a green and red and gold decorating the entire place, representing the city's heritage. Red for the echidna people that had created the little slice of paradise, green for the natural magic they tapped into to keep the place afloat, and gold as a symbol of their kings. Yes, the island had been a monarchy once upon a time before it had been made a part of the Eggman Empire.

"Oooooh! Look!" Amy said, rushing over to a nearby church and peering inside to see a circle of people sprinkling some kind of powder around scented candles as they wore hooded cloaks. "Look! A Wiccan Protective Seal Ceremony! I've never seen Wiccans before! Ooh, and they've got a Ram's Skull! And actual RAM'S skull!"

"Uhhhh..."

"And look!" Amy ran over to a store that had dozens of crosses hanging in the window, face pressed against the glass. "The Gnostic Cross! I've only read about the Gnostics in books! To actually see one...I've GOTTA buy one! Those guys were GENIUSES when it came to tapping into the power of the mind and connecting it to Metallurgy!"

"If this place was a person she would have sex with it on the spot." Sonic remarked. "She's practically DROOLING."

"Like a kid at Christmas." Tails laughed. "I think it's CUTE."

"Look at all the people here. We should have just gone straight on to Westside"

"Oooooh!" One pinkly echidna held up Sonic's right arm. "Everybody, look at the inner markings of his rings!"

A large crowd had now formed and were all looking at Sonic and Tails. "Ooooooh!" They all exclaimed as the light caught the glint of the rings. "Aahhhhhh! Ohhhhhhh!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm hot stuff, I know." Sonic admitted, grinning broadly.

"What happened to that attitude you had five seconds ago?" Tails remarked, rolling his eyes as Sonic waved goodbye to the crowd and they headed down the street.

"I hope we don't have any adventures that keep us from going straight on to the Capital." Sonic thought to himself, sighing slightly.

...

...

...

..."Hmmmm. Dr. Snively Robotnik, eh?" Mighty remarked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he looked the newspapers before him over. The Wax nodded eagerly, placing another stack down.

"Yes, apparently he was causing a great deal of trouble by passing off magic as a kind of science that was "breaking through the barriers of human knowledge". He was suckering everybody in Knothole along." The Wax informed Mighty as the two of them sat in the library together, Mighty's eyes peering intently beyond his sunglasses at the articles before him.

"...man. With the Shanazaran Campaign and all these frickin' insurgencies...the Eastern Region's had it rough, haven't they?"

"Not just them, either. It seems there have been issues over in the North and West, too. Border skirmishes and the like." The Wax added, holding up an article in a newspaper from some several weeks ago.

"They let the bodies hit the floor, and before long, the government's gonna get thrown out the door, that's what's gonna happen." Mighty remarked, eyes flashing. "...hmm."

An idea hit him. "...where's the archive room?"

Wax pointed down the hallway. "It's the third right once you pass the bathroom-"

Mighty was off like a bullet. He opened the door to the archives, clearing aside a large clutter of books that were on a desk, and pulled out a thick pencil from off a nearby desk. Grabbing ahold of a map off the wall that showed off the continent of Mobius, he began to make circles at certain spots.

"Shanazar...the Chaos Emeralds...these skirmishes...Knothole...then...hmm. HMM." Mighty frowned darkly. "...this...this does NOT look...I need to tell Dr. Eggman about this." He muttered. "Shadow and the others need to be placed on high-"

The door shut suddenly and Mighty turned his head to look upon an eggplant-colored hedgehog with a large fringe of hair and rather...interesting...clothes.

Her eyes, upon gazing closely...were made up of tiny violet ones and zeroes.

"Well, well! Mighty the Armadillo. Such a pleasure to meet such a BIG, STRONG, MAN. And to think, all the girls said I'd NEVER find a hunk in the library." She remarked cheerfully with a hint of a sneer ruining her otherwise considerably pretty features.

"...I suppose I should be FLATTERED that I'm going to die at the hands of a hot chick." He remarked, looking over at her, one hand clenched into a fist and hidden behind his side as her hair became prickly and strong on the spot, slowly elongating out into harsh spikes, eager to slash into his flesh. Mighty smirked. "But I'm not letting it end YET!" He exclaimed.

The hedgehog thrust her head forward and a lock of hair struck out as Mighty grabbed ahold of a the pencil and tossed it.

SCHWING!

SCHLUCK!

A few moments later, Mighty staggered out of the archive door, clutching a very-heavily bloodied shoulder, gasping in pain. He quickly lurched down the hallway, muttering as he headed for the hallway that would lead him to the library's phones. Inside the archives, Sonia's eyes were wide open, and some rusty-brown/red fluid oozed out of her mouth as she stood shivering on the spot, the pencil stuck deep in her eye. She let out a paind gasping howl as she pulled it out, panting as she hit the ground.

Mighty grabbed ahold of the phone as the Wax ran over to him. "Sir, what happened?" He asked, eyes wide in horror.

"It's...I just...gotta call the...call the..." Mighty mumbled as he prepared to dial.

But than a horrifying realization sunk in. He frowned darkly and then slammed the phone back into place, lurching out the front door. "Sorry...need...to go..." He muttered, making his way outside of the laboratory.

Slowly but surely he lurched down the steps, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his shoulder throbbing dull with the pain. He ignored this inconvenience, continuing to move forward, heading for a payphone some distance away by a bench near some trees.

"Helloooo? Who is this?"

"Miss...I need you to connect me...connect me to Colonel Shadow. NOW." Mighty mumbled out, taking deep breaths.

"Uh...we kinda have a rule about not allowing civilians to connect to anybody-"

"This is Mighty from Central City! I'm calling because this is an important emergency! My codename's "Sapphire"!"

"Oh, well, okay then..."

"Goddamn red tape..." Mighty mumbled as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a picture of his family and biting his lip intently, allowing his thumb to brush over the space where his daughter was. "...Lord almighty, don't let me reach his voice mail..." He prayed.

"One moment and I'll connect you."

"Hurry it up! The entire government is in extreme danger! They're all-"

CA-CLICK.

The sound of a gun cocking made him stiffen.

"Put...that phone...down." Wave the Swallow said, frowning as she held a pistol up, aiming it intently at Mighty's head. "...as in, NOW."

Mighty turned his head around slowly, eyes widening as he took a good look at the bird that was pointing a gun at him, his body not shaking with pain...but with horror. "I said, put the phone down-" Wave repeated.

"...Wave...no. You're not her." He muttered.

"What exactly are you talking about?" Wave said, looking annoyed.

"The top part of Lieutenant Wave's beak...ought to have NOSTRILS. Like JET'S." Mighty muttered darkly, his eyes becoming feral slits.

"Wave" blinked a few times. "Oh? Really? How careless of me. You mean...like...THIS?" "She" asked, holding two fingers up and putting them on her beak, creating two nostrils on the spot.

"I've had acid trips that made more sense than today has..." Mighty muttered, seeing "Wave's" eyes change...becoming red...becoming made up of a steady, bright string of ones and zeroes.

"Don't go blaming ME for this, organic. You're the one who's bright mind figured things out when you should have stayed stupid." "Wave" commented snarkily, rolling her eyes.

"Awww, now have a heart. I've got a wife and kid waiting for me at home..." Mighty commented quietly, reaching down and picking up his photo. He then growled. "I'M NOT DYING HERE!"

He whipped around and threw the photo, and it cut into "Wave's" head, making her stagger back as Mighty promptly kicked her in the gut, then grabbed her neck.

CRA-KRAK!

"...be seein' you." Mighty said, waving goodbye as he yanked the photo out of her head and walked off, heading down the street.

There was silence for a few moments. And then...

"Oh, HONEY...how could you do that to me?"

That voice. Mighty stiffened and turned around, fist held high...

And he stopped, seeing his WIFE'S face looking right back at him, her neck twisted in place. "Why you gotta hurt me, baby? WHY?" She asked, looking mockingly at him.

Mighty's fist clenched tightly, his body shaking, tears rolling down his cheeks as he found he could not move the fist to meet this imposter's face, even though she was raising the gun back up. He could not kill this being that had stolen his beloved's features.

"...you...bastard..." He whispered.

BANG!

...

...

...

..."Hello? What is it?" Shadow remarked, holding the receiver of his phone to his ear.

"A call from Mighty on a public line."

"Oh? Alright. Patch me through."

CLICK!

"Mighty, if you're calling to brag about your family again I'll..."

Nothing. No sound except...faint...PANTING?

"...Mighty? Mighty?"

Metal Sonic grabbed the receiver and promptly hung the phone up. He would have smirked had he any mouth to do so. "You organics risk your lives over such inane things. Stupid." He said, turning his head to look at the slowly-dying Mighty before walking away. Inch by inch the blood pooled out, oozing over the photograph of Mighty's family as the armadillo tried to raise himself off the road.

"...Willie...Venus...I'm...I'm sorry..." He whispered tearfully, his gloved hands twitching slightly. "I'm so, so sorry...I thought...I'd get...home...early..."

...

...

...

... "Hello? Shadow! How are you! Is Mighty working late to-what's...what's wrong?"

"...Ms. Milo, I...I'm...you need to sit down for this..."

...

...

...

...it was a solemn affair. His body had been placed in a beautiful pine box, the flag of the country draped atop, a giant robotic egg with a mustache against a bright red background. Shadow stood near the grave that his dear friend would be lowered into as Rouge stood by HIM, gently squeezing his shoulder. Willie Mae and Venus were standing across from them as Dr. Eggman stood with a private guard, standing at the far end of the crowd of people who had come to the funeral.

Ironically, it was a beautiful day. There were few clouds out, and a gentle wind was caressing everyone's face, as if nature itself was trying to desperately console those grieving. Colonel Michael "Mighty" Milo the Armadillo was going to be buried with high honors in Central City's Military Gravesite, where the dead soldiers were given their due.

Everybody was wearing black outfits. Jackets. Pants. Belts. Hats. Knuckles's face was an unreadable mask of stone as they fired off the 21 gun salute into the air, and Ray and the others were all trying desperately to contain their tears. Heavy was standing nearby, playing a sad tune on his guitar as they lowered the body into the ground, singing solemnly and gently despite his robotic nature.

Let's not drive away just yet,
Give me a mooooment more!
To walk through those rooms again,
To walk through that doooooor...

If we turn off the radio...
I've only to close my eeeeyes...
And the wind in the sycamores...
Will carry me hoooome!

The vine of my memoooory...
Is blooming around those eaaaaves
But its true it's a chore to tame...

Wisteeeriiiiiiaaaaaa... Wisteeeriiiiiiaaaaaa...

"Mom...why are they burying pop-pop?" Venus Dee whimpered.

"...Venus...sweetie..." Willie whispered, blowing her nose on her hankie for a moment before looking nervously down at her daughter.

"If they throw dirt on him, he won't be able to go to work." The young armadillo insisted. "He won't..."

"...I...I'm..."

She finally held her daughter tightly and cried into her as Venus continued to speak. "Poppa said he had a lot of work to do! Why can't he come out of there?" She begged.

I'm tempted to ring the bell.
Maybe they'd let me iiiin...
Or maybe its just as well...
To let it all beeee...

Remembeeeeer the price we paid?
It seemed like a looooot back theeeeen...
Remember the love we made...
The day we moved iiiiiiin?

The red echidna's stony face was now broken with tears that trickled down his chin as he covered his head in his big hands, sobbing openly. Dr. Eggman shook slightly, biting into his lip. Shadow's fist clenched tightly and he grit his teeth.

"Don't bury him! DON'T BURY HIM! POPPAAAA!"

The vine of my memoooory...
Is blooming around those eaaaaves
But its true it's a chore to tame...

Wisteeeriiiiiiaaaaaa... Wisteeeriiiiiiaaaaaa...

"...promoted two ranks for dying in the line of duty." Shadow thought to himself. "...he probably would have been bragging about it all day to them...Brigadier General Mighty the Armadillo...dammit."

He closed his eyes tightly. "What's the goddamn point of having somebody who said they'd support me from below literally...and then going ABOVE me in...you think this is FUNNY, you...you idiot...you'd think this was funny, I guess..."

"...Shadow..." Rouge said quietly, gently squeezing his shoulder again.

"...you know...looking at this...I think I know how those boys felt...why they'd try to play God...what could drive them to commit "that" sin..." He mumbled to Rouge as he slowly turned and walked away a few dozen feet.

"Are you alright?" Rouge asked quietly.

It did need some pruning back...

And I know...that's it not my place...

But how could they just cut it down?

And leave not a traaaaace?

Let's not drive away just yet,
Give me a mooooment more!
To walk through those rooms again,
To walk through that doooooor...

"...no...I want to get out of this rain." Shadow muttered.

"There's no-"

She saw a tear trickling down his cheek, and instantly stopped herself.

The vine of my memoooory...
Is blooming around those eaaaaves
But its true it's a chore to tame...

"...you're right. It's getting chilly. Let's go." She said quietly, gently hugging him close to her.

Wisteeeriiiiiiaaaaaa... Wisteeeriiiiiiaaaaaa...

Author's Note:

The song, in case you didn't know, is about going back to one's old home to find out how much it's changed. It's a haunting little song and it always makes me cry a bit as I listen to it.

...oh, Mighty, forgive me. I'm sorry. -_-

Chapter 11: We Are All Connected!

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Ten:

We Are All Connected!

我々は、すべての接続されて！

"So tell me again, what was it that he was saying?" Shadow wanted to know, frowning slightly as he looked over at the Wax, who was looking on a snazzy metal clipboard which showed off a transcript of the phone call Mighty had made the other day.

"Hmm. "This is Mighty from Central City! I'm calling because this is an important emergency! My codename's "Sapphire"! Hurry it up...the entire government is in extreme danger". Those were his exact words." He went on, leading Shadow into the archive room.

The black-furred hedgehog examined the place, looking over the scattered papers. "Did he get into a fight with somebody?" He asked, seeing the state of the room.

"We believe so." The Wax pointed at the ground and out the door. "There's a blood trail leading from inside the room out into the hallway. "He then tried to place a call HERE, but changed his mind and went outside."

"...why outside?" Shadow wondered. He rubbed his chin, thinking this over. He had deliberately tried to contact him. HIM. Not somebody else in the government...a private call of extreme importance...

Shadow headed outside the library to the phone booth that Mighty had been in, eyes intently gazing at the receiver. What had he been thinking about?...what?

"Sir?" Shadow turned his head to see Rouge and Knuckles were standing some distance away. "I've brought Knuckles."

"We DO have some suspects as to who murdered Mighty." Knuckles told Shadow, saluting briskly...before he dropped his hand and deeply, sadly sighed. "But we don't know who those people ARE."

"Why can't you tell me?" Shadow snapped. "Are you going to disobey a superior officer?"

"I can't tell you." Knuckles said firmly, eyes looking intently into Shadow's face.

"...fine. Get out of my sight." Shadow muttered, waving his hand dismissively. Knuckles walked off as Rouge turned to look over at Shadow, who folded his arms and bit his lip. "...it's good enough."

"Huh?"

"He said SUSPECTS...and THOSE people. People working as a group are responsible...and the fact that he couldn't tell me anything even though I'm of a higher rank means that somebody forbade him to talk...somebody of an even higher rank. If they're maintaining this level of secrecy...it's somebody from the senior staff...and I've only seen this level of cover-up from one place...regarding what the Metal Brotherhood are looking for."

"...what's that?" Rouge wanted to know.

"The Chaos Emeralds."

Rouge's eyes shot open in surprise. She let in a harsh breath. "Wh-WHAT?" She asked. "Then...an organization with connections to the senior staff...with knowledge of the Chaos Emeralds...this is serious...Mighty might have stumbled onto something incredibly dangerous..."

"I'm going to be positioned at Central Headquarters soon...I'll be able to fully examine the Senior Staff. I'll smoke out whoever killed Mighty." Shadow promised.

"You know I'm with you, 100 percent, right?" Rouge insisted, giving him a grin.

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Shadow remarked, giving her a grin right back.

...

...

...

..."Boy, what a spectacular adventure we had yesterday!" Tails told Sonic as they sat together on the train that would take them into Angel Island's capital. "Three characters we'll never meet again, a reaffirmation of something we already believed in, AND we dropped Amy off on a bus for a little while to help her get better at making rings!"

"Yeah, and how convenient that we did it all off-screen, too." Sonic agreed, looking out the window.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Y'know...I was thinking about HIM." Sonic remarked, eyes slightly glazing over with memory as he rested his head on his hand and sighed a bit. Those sky blue eyes continued to haunt his dreams...that look on his father's face.

"...I wonder where he is." Tails commented quietly.

"...yep." Sonic sighed.

"Yeeep." Tails said right back.

"Mmm-hmm."

"...yep."

...

...

...

...the capital of Angel Island was a vaguely Greco-Roman place with ivory pillars on the largest buildings, fountains littered everywhere, and finely-paved roads. The windows were mostly stained glass on the big train station, which had an enormous circular roof at the top, with sunshine beaming in through the glass. The city was located at the base of the highest mountains on the island, with a waterfall flowing down the slopes towards one particularly huge lake.

"So...here we are." Sonic said as they headed down main street and up towards a shop that had a big ring of flowers on the front with an "Open" sign attached. There was a nice little mat that read "Welcome" beneath the front door, and a bell attached to the door, small and silver, which would let all know when somebody was walking inside. It had big, pinkish-rimmed windows and an overhang of bright green, and a tribal decorative pattern made of triangles and circles running around the door. A "good luck" seal. "...maybe we'll be lucky."

"Maybe."

"There's a chance she isn't home. There's a chance she might not even be in the city..." Sonic gulped.

The door creaked open and their eyes went wide as a man stepped out. Before them was a strong, powerful-looking, dark-brown-furred Echidna with a thick white beard and intensely reddish/purple eyes. He was wearing a very thick necklace of jade and had eyebrows that were so thick you could have sworn they were almost alive. He frowned, putting the spear down and to the side.

"Thought you were those wild flickies that keep getting into the trash. They actually snuck INSIDE once." He told the two. "...gettin' inside the sugar drawer. Gettin' BOLD."

"Yeah, that's...problematic 'n stuff." Sonic commented nervously. Oh God...those eyebrows...they're...so...BIG!

"Yeah, you should always be careful of pests, Mr. Pachacamac!" Tails said, nodding his head eagerly. Holy cow, I think they're bigger than his ARMS, those things on his head...

"You know Sonic, you've grown since I last saw you." The echidna said, nodding vigorously and rubbing his head, then rubbing Tails's head.

"Ohhhh yeaaaah." Tails said happily, his tails whacking against the ground. "Oh, that's the spot. OOHHHH that's the spot..."

"Hold on a moment." Pachacamac stepped back inside the house and called up the stairs. "Tikaaaaal! Your favorite furry fraternal friends are here."

"...the prodigal sons have returned?"

"Yep! Can you get out of bed?"

"I'm fine. Doing a little better today, actually. Be right down!" A distinctly feminine voice called right back.

"She's lying down cuz she's not feeling better?...I guess her health hasn't improved." Sonic said, turning to look at Tails.

Or rather, that's what he was ABOUT to say. Instead, he was interrupted halfway through "hasn't" as a foot slammed into his face and he was sent flying backwards through the air, hitting the small little grassy front yard their teacher had, ruining a patch of violets. Tails, meanwhile, had been knocked to the side by a the door that had flown open to let their teacher out and was lying on the ground, blinking stupidly as he looked up into the clouds.

"So much for teach having "health issues"." Tails finally got out, gasping at the sight of the growling figure that was standing there, fists clenched tightly.

"You stupid, STUPID...CHILD! I heard you went and sold out...you're a "Hog of the Military" now! Is that true?"

She then turned to look at Tails and blinked a few times, and now her features were once more recognizable. A gentle-faced echinda with pretty cobalt eyes and orange/peach fur, a tribal dress of green, white and pink triangles, and small golden rings on her arms...two blue rings on her wrists, and a golden headband and necklace with a small blue gem in the center...this was Tikal, their old teacher, their dear mentor.

"Tails? Oh, I'm so sorry!" She immediately apologized, quickly lifting him back up and dusting the grass off of him. "You alright?" She wanted to know, a gentle look of concern on her features. She then blinked a few times. "Wait...you smell...off."

"I'm surprised you're out of bed and feeling better. I thought you weren't feeling better." Sonic remarked, rubbing his head as he walked over to her.

"HA! Nonsense, I'm fine." Tikal said, putting one hand on her chest as Tails looked over at Sonic. "Now that you're here, let's-"

BLURGH!

Some blood streamed out of her mouth for a few moments as she coughed a few times, and Sonic and Tails let out simultaneous screeches of surprise and horror. "JEEEESUS CHRIST!"

"Honey, don't overexert yourself." Pachacamac insisted, patting Tikal on the shoulder.

"Ohhh, you always get so worried over me." The echidna told her elder, hugging him tightly. "It's so sweet of you. Thank you, father."

...

...

...

... "The Chaos Emeralds never really piqued my interest." Tikal told Sonic and Tails as they sat inside her home. She'd made them all tea and was now munching slightly on a cinnamon scone. "Not my "thing"."

"Okaaaaaay." Sonic remarked, nodding firmly a few times. "I get it."

"But wait." Pachacamac spoke up. "Tikal, didn't you meet somebody in Central City who was very knowledgeable about Life Magic? That was only 2, 3 years ago."

Sonic and Tails's eyes widened. "R-really? What was his name?"

Tikal rubbed her chin, thinking back. "Yes, I remember him. Eyes like those are hard to forget. I think his name was...NiGHTS..."

Sonic stiffened. Tails took in a harsh breath. "...grrrr..." Sonic growled.

"You know him?" Tikal remarked, looking confused.

"...he's our father." Tails murmured.

"...so that bastard's still kickin', huh..." Sonic mumbled furiously.

"Ohhh. The father you said left you and your mother all those years ago. That "deadbeat, dirty bum", that's the one?" Tikal asked.

"Uh-huh." The two brothers said with a firm nod.

Tikal then blinked stupidly, suddenly feeling even MORE confused. "...wait. How is that..." She looked from Tails to Sonic. "...I mean...neither of you LOOK..."

"That JERK. It's because of him mom died. It's HIS fault..." Sonic hissed, gloved hands digging into his leg.

It was early in the morning. The sun was barely poking it's head over the Earth as Sonic rubbed his eyes, looking down the hallway at the sight of his mother standing there by their father as he hoisted a backpack on, looking solemn. Aleena turned to look upon her son and blinked a few times, then smiled gently. "Oh, what are you doing Olgilvie, Miles?"

"Miles said he had ta go to da bathroom." Olgilvie told them his mother.

"Aww, how nice of you to look after your brother." Aleena said, gently stroking her son's head, smiling broadly. "Good on you, Olgilvie!"

His dad blinked a few times, looking down upon him. His bright blue eyes stared intently at Sonic's green ones, his two-pronged purple hat hanging down, unmoving. It was as if he was a wax sculpture. He cat-like eyes were unreadable as he finally turned and floated out the open door...

And with that, he was gone from their lives, never to come back. Their mother...would never ever explain when he'd get back. She always kept quiet...always kept smiling. Dad would always 'come back soon'. But he never did.

Life just went on without him, and the two kids didn't think that much about it, because Mom was there, and they were happy. What else did they need?

One day it all went wrong. Their mom was slumped on the ground, barely breathing. Their perfect world was crumbling around them. Sonic was aware that his brother was screaming. He was unable to feel anything but the crushing cold running up his body seeing that figure on the floor.

No...no, it couldn't be. Mom couldn't be hurt. Mom was strong. Mom could never be...

Sonic was now biting his lip deeply as Tails felt it wise to change the subject slightly. "So, did he say anything about the Chaos Emeralds?"

"Hmm. He did say something about how he had a "big wish unfulfilled"...and he seemed so happy about having it come true." Tikal admitted, nodding her head. "...but enough of that. Let's eat!"

Soon all of them were sitting around, enjoying a fine meal of home-cooked meatloaf, bread rolls, corn and peppers. It was one of the best things they'd ever had! Well, best meals SONIC had ever had. Tails, sadly, was unable to partake in any of it, though he was furiously scribbling down the recipe for the meatloaf on his little notepad.

"How come you don't want to try any of it yourself?" Pachacamac wanted to know, looking a bit confused as he held a slice of meatloaf on his fork up for Tails to sniff.

"Oh, I had quite a lot to eat on the train. We've been very busy, y'know." The fox went on, eagerly nodding his head.

"You know, we helped a woman give birth off-screen." Sonic commented. "Everybody gave it their all and it was really inspirational!"

"Yes, life is something to be proud of, isn't it?" Tikal said quietly, munching on a roll. "...you should take pride in your lives. You've both accomplished so much..."

"You sure haven't changed much, have you?" Sonic thought to himself, looking back on the first time they'd met their teacher.

SOME TWO YEARS AFTER ALEENA'S DEATH...

The water was rising higher and higher towards the hills where the town was, the river overflowing from days and days of rain. Desperately people tried to stack bags and bags of cement to keep the floodwaters from reaching higher ground, but the young hedgehog and fox were keenly aware that this wasn't going to last.

Their fears were confirmed minutes later when the dam burst and people ran back, horrified. "Head for higher ground!" Was the cry as they rushed away...past an advancing female echidna who looked at the oncoming flow of water, frowning a bit.

She held one hand up and then spread her fingers out, thrusting her palm forward. "BACK!" She roared out.

THWOOOOOSHAAAAA! The water flowed back into the river, and Tikal then raised up her other hand. "Riiiiise." She demanded, as the earth below her glowed brightly. Instantly enormous metal structures shot up from the ground, forming a protective wall-like structure right on the spot

"And that'll do it. You know what I feel like?" The echidna said, turning to an older gentleman. "Smoothies. I could go for a nice smoothie right now. Something with melons in it."

"...woaaaaah." All of the men and women who'd been working on the barrier from before commented as onlookers gasped. "Who are you?"

"Just a simple retired priestess passing by-"

BLUUURGH!

She vomited some blood on the spot and everybody simultaneously sweat-dropped. "Uhhhhhh..."

"I'm fine...I'm...I'm fine..." Tikal moaned as her father held her steady and the fox and the hedgehog looked at each other, then at her.

"Please take us on as your pupils, miss!" The two of them exclaimed.

"Look, uh...I can't." Tikal said nervously, shaking her head and then looking away. "Shouldn't you be going back to your parents?"

"We don't have any."

"..." Tikal blinked slowly, turning her head to look back at the mournful faces of the two. "...awww, heck. Do I really have a choice?...okay. Okay. From now on...you two will be my pupils." She informed the two.

...

...

...

...Tikal had taken young Olgilvie and Miles to a private island located on the largest lake of Angel Island. It was surrounded by almost two miles of water, and they had to stay there. For two months.

"Uhhh...what?"

"Explain this again?"

"It's very simple." Tikal said as she stood in the boat with her father, arms folded. "This is the provisional training. You have to survive on your own for the next month. Do that...and I'll train you for real. And you're not to use ANY magic. Trust me...I'll know if you do." She said, tapping the side of her head and giving them a look.

"...er..." The two nervously glanced at each other. THIS...could be a problem. "Uh...are there...wild animals living here?"

"What is Magic? Provide the answer for me at the end of the month. If not...I'm sending you back home. Oh, and here!"

She tossed them a knife and it landed on the sand. "This'll help. Goodbye!"

She then waved cheerfully as the two looked at her. "But...but..." Miles began.

Olgilvie sobbed. "SONOFA-"

...

...

...

... "I'm hungry." Miles mumbled as they rested against a tree and looked up at the sky.

"I wanna sleep in a BED."

"...HOW IS THIS TRAINING FOR MAGIC?" Olgilvie yelled angrily, shaking his fists in the air at the moon, pretending it was Tikal's face. "CURSE YOU! CURSE YOU TO-"

Gruuummmbllllle...

"...ohhhh, my stomaaaaaaach..." Olgilvie moaned, leaning back against the tree.

"Do you really think the boys will be alright?" Pachacamac asked his daughter as he rolled out a loaf of bread onto the table, frowning slightly as he sprinkled some herbs on.

"As I learned, the best sort of knowledge is what you gain from experience." Tikal told her dad as she got to work on setting the table for dinner. "This will be the best way to drive home the basic essentials of Magic into them. If they don't learn anything from this, it means they haven't the potential to be my pupils." She sighed. "I KNOW it's harsh, but sometimes you need to be cruel to be kind. I've got a good feeling about them, you know." She added, nodding her head to the side.

"It's their lives I'm worried about. What if they are seriously hurt?" Pachacamac said, finishing up the bread roll.

"In case you forgot, I was up at Nocturne for an entire month, in the cold wind, fighting off bears! GODLESS KILLING MACHINES." She added, waving a finger in the air.

"Honey, that's an unfair comparison. These are stupid kids. They don't have the balls you do." Pachacamac informed her.

"...I know...I know." She sighed. "That island has plenty of things to eat. They won't die."

THE NEXT MORNING...

"I'm not doing it." Olgilvie said, shaking his head vigorously as he handed the knife back to Miles. "You do it."

"Ohhhh no!" Miles said as they stood over a wild rabbit that they'd caught in a rope trap. "Non-sapient or not, I REFUSE to add to our collected inhumanity by killing that poor thing!" He said, shoving the knife back on Miles.

"You're only saying that because you kept reading "Watership Down"!" Olgilvie snapped at him. "C'moooon!"

"I can't stab something that I'd keep as a PET! Can't we just eat berries or something?" Miles insisted.

"I can't keep doing these "Bambi eyes" for much longer..." the rabbit thought to itself.

"YOU do it!"

"YOU do it!"

"YOU do-"

It was then that the point was made moot, as a wild fox promptly leapt out of the bush, grabbed the rabbit, and scampered off.

"...Miles...if I were to suggest we kill and eat that fox...would you consider it cannibalism?"

"...no. No, I would not." Miles said, gripping the knife tightly.

They ran after the fox, rushing past brush and flowers to see...the mommy was depositing the now-dead rabbit in front of two cubs.

"...oh." Olgilvie commented.

"...OH."

"...awwwwww." The two said at the same time, looking at the cubs. "They're so CUUUU-"

Then the cubs began chewing into the rabbit, stripping fur from flesh, matting their muzzles with blood.

"...let's stick to fish." Olgilvie decided, holding his stomach and his mouth as Miles dry-heaved into a nearby bush.

"Uh...how are we supposed to catch the fish if we've got no rods, nets or hooks?" Miles managed to get out.

"...god...dammit." Olgilvie muttered, just as thunder cracked overhead.

...

...

...

... "We've been here for SEVEN DAYS." Miles muttered as he leaned against a tree which had seven marks in it. "...I almost sunk to the level of nibbling on my brother's ear. And now..." He sighed and looked at the sight of his brother stuffing ants into his mouth. "...are you okay?" He asked, sighing sadly.

Olgilvie began coughing madly, panting and heaving as he held his chest. "GOD, they were sour, I...I can't believe I just ate..."

And with that, his eyes widened. A horrifying, sad realization hit him. He thought about everything that was around him, everything that he'd enjoyed before. He thought about the meals his mom had made him and Miles for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He thought about the animals he and Miles had seen.

"I'm alive...because I ate those ants...I'm alive...from eating life. I..." He held his head down slightly, then bit his lip. "...we are NOT gonna die." He murmured, looking back up at his brother.

They got better. They caught more wild rabbits...and squirrels and chipmunks! They sharpened sticks and made them into spears. They got to work on building a fire and soon were able to COOK their meals properly. Soon they were enjoying fresh-grilled fish fillet by the fire one night, as the stars twinkled gently overhead.

"Mmmm! This would go great with some salt." Miles admitted.

"Ooh! Well, who do we have here?" Olgilvie commented, looking over Miles's shoulder. They turned to see the two fox cubs were approaching, interested in the smell of the meat drifting through the air.

"Awww, wanna slice?" Miles asked gently, tossing them one of the cooked fish to the very-grateful wild cubs, who began happily tearing it apart.

Days passed. Soon Tikal would arrive to pick them up again. And they had an answer for her. They had realized what magic was.

"I've been thinking about it all this time...but I only have a vague idea about it." Miles told his brother, looking up at the night sky as they lay on a blanket of thick leaves.

"...well...I think I figured it out. Remember back when I ate those ants? I had this...this..."

"Epiphany?"

"Yeah, that's the thing. I thought that "If I don't eat them, I'll die...and then I'll be eaten by the ants, or the foxes, or the birds...or if I died out in the water, by the fishes." Olgilvie told his brother. "I'd go back to the earth and my body would fertilize the ground and technically end up as grass, and the RABBITS would eat that."

"The food chain, you mean? But it can't just be that, right?"

"No, it's more than that. Think about it." Olgilvie said, pointing up at the stars. "Long ago, this entire island might have been at the bottom of the sea. And some day, it could be the peak of a mountain. All things are connected. Everything's a part of this huge thing...the Universe, God, call it what you like. But we're ALL connected to each other in some way. And not just to living beings."

"You're right...we're connected to everything on Earth...and everything beyond..." Miles realized, eyes widening in awe.

...

...

...

... "Well? What's your answer?" Tikal asked, looking the two over as her father stood by the boat. "What is Magic?"

"Magic is what connects us all." Olgilvie said.

"Magic is not just a part of life, it IS Life. The life that all things have." Miles said.

"It's a wellspring of potential that can never truly die out for it's always appearing everywhere you look. Magic is unlimited." The two said at the same time.

Tikal looked them over, and then nodded firmly. "Good answer. One HECK of a good answer. Let's move onto the main training!"

...

...

...

... "The basis of Metallurgy is in rings. Why is that?" Tikal inquired as she walked down a path with Olgilvie and Miles walking along side her.

"Because they're circles. They have neither beginning, nor end, like the power of God itself, who granted Magic to us all." Olgilvie spoke up.

"And there are different kinds of rings to invoke different kinds of powers. Some are dependent on the elements, others are on the raw potential of people's bodies and minds..." Miles went on. "Some directly upon Him, others on "that one"."

"Good! And I want you to keep reviewing until lunch is ready!" Tikal said as they approached her home.

"Wait. Teach, you don't seem to need to make a circle of rings. You can just flick your hand or fingers and perform magic...how can you do that?" Miles inquired.

Tikal's hand stopped, inches from the doorknob. Finally she spoke quietly. "...I suppose you could say...that my body itself...is a circle of rings. You'll know what I'm talking about when your hands reach up and touch the face of God..."

...

...

...

...Sonic's eyes widened as he sat up in the bed he'd been lying in. Tails looked at him, blinking a few times. "What's wrong? You're all pale..."

"...bro, teach's seen Chaos." Sonic whispered.

"So, you've figured it out?" Tikal asked, stepping into the room, arms folded. They turned to gasp at the sight of her. "But you know, I've figured some things out too. The rings on your arms and legs...the SMELL of your brother, Sonic...let me guess...you met with Chaos yourself?" She inquired, frowning darkly.

"...yes." Sonic murmured, rubbing the back of his neck.

"...both of us...we both are...sinners." Tikal mumbled, one hand held over her face as Sonic's eyes widened at the mention of that word. "We went too far..."

"...if you saw it...then..." Sonic nervously spoke up. "...what happened?"

Tikal's body shuddered as she tried to suppress her tears. "...I tried to...I was...there was this man. A stranger who was just blowing into town. I didn't care about him, but...the child growing within me...I wanted to do the responsible thing...I wanted to be a good mother, but it...it never even saw the light of day. That's why I..."

"I understand." Sonic told her quietly, gripping his arm nervously.

"As a result, different parts of my insides were stripped from my body. I should have told you sooner...I could have saved you the pain of..." Tikal murmured.

"No, no, it's alright!" Sonic insisted, waving his hands in the air. "I don't mind, really!"

"Yeah, and I'm looking forward to the food I'm going to be able to eat when I'm normal again!" Tails added, holding up his notepad.

Tikal walked over and hugged them tightly. "...you don't need to put on a brave front." She insisted quietly, sadly. "...not for me."

And with that, they allowed themselves to cry, holding onto their teacher tightly, Sonic letting the tears freely flow as Tails's wailing cries echoed into the night.

"Forgive us, teacher..."

"We're so sorry..."

"We're so sorry..."

Chapter 12: There's A Whole Other World Underground

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Eleven:

There's A Whole Other World Underground!

が全体の他の世界が地下だ

"In all honesty...I'm impressed." Tikal told the two brothers as she looked out the window, hands on her hips, her cobalt eyes furrowed with her brow in thought. "You saw the Door and made it back alive...considering your age, that's incredible. Absolutely incredible."

"Yeah, we feel SO lucky."

"But you must still take responsibility for what you've done. I can't teach you any more. You're expelled. I am no longer your instructor." Tikal said firmly, folding her arms.

"WHAT? But...but teacher, pl-" Sonic began.

Tails held his hand out and stopped Sonic in place. "We understand. Th-thank you, teacher. For...everything." He said softly, bowing his head. "Come on, brother, let's...leave her alone."

"...alright." Sonic said quietly, biting his lip as they left the room. "Alright..."

...

...

...

... "Well...I suppose this is it. You've ceased being her students." Tikal's father told them as he handed Sonic his luggage. "...but feel free to stop by and say "Hi" when you get the chance." He added. "You're no longer teacher and pupil. You're as equals now."

"...equals?" Sonic asked, looking down at his luggage, then at the train that was pulling into the station.

"Wait, if we're equals then-"

"GAAAH!" Sonic slapped his head. "God, we're dumbasses! How could we not...come on, we gotta go back and talk to her! We could actually LEARN something!" He insisted, quickly running off, with Tails running right behind him.

"Don't go getting yourself killed!" Tikal's father called after them as they rounded a corner and ran off into the streets, the night sky spreading overhead.

Tikal was cutting up some parsley in her kitchen when Sonic kicked the door in. "Teach!"

TWHOOSH! A spoon knocked into Sonic's forehead and he groaned, dropping his luggage and moaning as he held his sore head. "I told you to not come back! What are you still doing here?" Tikal wanted to know.

"Quick, we have to do something before she does the "Nostril Flare of Total Rejection"." Tails whispered. They both got on their knees and placed their hands UPON their knees, bowing their heads. "We came here to find a lead about how to get our original forms back!"

"We're not leaving until you help us!" Sonic went on.

"...I'm too much of a pushover." Tikal sighed, putting the parsley down and folding her arms. "Alright...what do you like to know?"

SOON...

"So you didn't actually see "The Ultimate Truth"?" Tikal wanted to know, rubbing her chin as she and the boys sat in the living room. She looked intently at Tails, who shook his head.

"Uh-uh. I've no idea what that even means."

"You MIGHT have lost your memory of it out of shock." Tikal told him, looking concerned. "We should try getting your memory back. Do you realize how important it is?"

"...you're right...I lost use of PARTS of my body...so did YOU..." Sonic said, looking at Tikal. "But bro, you lost your ENTIRE form! You would have gotten right up to the nitty gritty! Better than ALL of us! You would have seen ALL of the Ultimate Truth!" He told Tails, who gasped.

"You're right, that DOES make sense. The more you pay, the more you know...and I kind of ended up paying the full price, so I SHOULD know...somewhere in my head..." Tails murmured. "We've got to go for it."

"...alright. Let me ask somebody I know about how to get your memory back. But first thing's first..." Tikal held up a small bowl from the table. "Have a hard candy, and then let me cook up a nice pasta dish for you."

"Oooooh!" Sonic licked his lips.

Outside the window, a small figure was clinging to the wall. It was a Chao with scaly greenish-tinged fur and intensely yellow eyes. He had a fairly long tail and was wearing a small toga/rag out of an old grey towel. "It's him, alright. He's the one that bound a soul to a doll. The Blue Blur himself!" The chao grinned and scuttled off into the night, smirking broadly and giggling to itself, it's figure vanishing into an alley a few moments later...

...

...

...

... "Hmmmmmm." A bunny with a thick tuft of orangish hair at the top of her creamy-furred head looked over a chessboard, her orange-tipped long ears hanging down as she adjusted the fine dress she wore. It was delicate-looking, shades of pink and maroon with a red tie, and she had a refined maroon pair of high-heel shoes on her feet. She looked up from her desk over at Shadow. "So, you'll be transferring directly to Central next week, will you?" Vanilla the Rabbit inquired.

"Yes, sir."

"I'm going to miss you. You are quite the card."

"Ah, not as much as you when you were younger, General Vanilla."

"You worked as hard as you could and allowed me to feel at ease. Thank you for that." Vanilla said, moving one bishop.

"And thanks to the work you allowed me to take on, I feel I learned many things. I've become quite insightful thanks to you." Shadow said as he positioned his rook in a new place on the board. "Check."

"Ahh, you win! Took you 3 years, but I'm not complaining." Vanilla said sweetly, holding up a small black notebook. "And I've got a parting gift for you." She added.

"Oh?"

SOON...

"Master Sergeant Bomb." Shadow announced, as the robot saluted. "Warrant Officers Vector and 2nd Lieutenant Heavy." The crocodile and the robot saluted along with Bomb. "2nd Lieutenant Ray!" The flying squirrel also snapped to attention. "1st Lieutenant Rouge! You are all transferring along with me to Central. I am not taking "no" for an answer either!"

"One problem sir...I've got this new girlfriend here in town." Ray spoke up nervously.

"Break up with her." Shadow said swiftly.

"Oooooh, it's getting COLD in here, somebody better pay the bill!" Vector remarked as Ray began to bawl.

Heavy began to strum on his guitar as Shadow gave them all a glare. YOU'RE AS COLD AS ICE! He sang out.

...

...

...

... "I can't believe you're trying to run diagnostics on yourself." A small, monkey-like robot frowned, it's red ears flopping down as he adjusted the cowboy hat atop his head, a very large, glittering multicolored ring atr the front. "Let US handle it." Coconuts insisted, holding up a wrench and waving it in the air at Omega as the bulky robot sat alone in a tent.

Omega lowered his clawed hand, as wires shot back in from his palm, removing themselves from his internal processor, which was currently exposed on his front chest.

"I simply believe in being efficient." Omega told Coconuts.

"Don't give me that line. After all, I TAUGHT you it." A voice spoke up. Omega blinked in surprise as a black, almost imp-like robot entered the tent. He had golden eyes and a pale green rucksack currently slung over his shoulder, which he took off. He was wearing a small white tunic, and had a "V" insignia tattooed on his forehead, with "horns" sweeping up from either side of his head.

"Master Bokkun." Omega gasped as Bokkun sat across from him. "I thought you were..."

"I had been worried about you too." Bokkun admitted, smiling broadly. "But I've been hearing rumors. You big idiot, you've been going around and killing state metallurgists!" He frowned. "I can GET how you feel so pissed." He waved a finger in the air. "But going around and killing them isn't going to help things. It's not logical. It's not smart. Responding to violence with more violence? That's like trying to put out a fire by getting a BIGGER fire."

"I KNOW...it's not logical. Yet...I cannot find myself wanting to deviate from this path." Omega insisted.

"You're simply going to have to tolerate them." Bokkun went on. "And believe me, I KNOW that gets hard." He rolled his eyes. "But still-"

"Well looky here!"

Bokkun and Omega looked up to see two wolves were parting the tent curtain to reveal Omega to a person who was slightly hiding behind a stack of bricks. "See? The robot with that tattoo on his shoulder, the one called 'mega."

"OMEGA." Nack the Weasel spoke up, pointing upwards.

"You dirty, sleazy snake!" One robot snapped, stomping on Nack's foot and making him howl in pain as he jumped up and down, holding his new injury. "We took you in when you had nowhere else to go!"

"Shut iiiit!" Nack hissed. "I'm going to rise again..." He cackled madly, rubbing his hands together as he licked his lips. "And get my revenge upon Sonic the Hedgehog!"

Omega calmly stood up and walked out of the tent as Bokkun nervously looked away. The first of the two wolves Nack had hired reach for Omega's arm.

...yeah, he wasn't going to be a "lefty" anymore.

"GUAAAAHHHHRRRRRGGGHHH!" The wolf howled, holding the stump that had been his arm as Omega's claws now grabbed ahold of the other wolf's head.

"You're completely INSANE!" The remaining one snarled.

"Insanity's an organic trait. I'm...EFFECTIVE."

CRA-SCHLUCKA.

Nack saw the body drop to the ground as the other robots looked to the side, clearly disgusted. Immediately HE dropped to the ground and began to kowtow, beginning and sobbing. "Please, I was wrong! Lemme live! I'll follow ya everywhere and do everythin' for you!"

"You're really just...going?" Bokkun spoke up sadly. "...what would your brother think?" He called out.

"..." Omega clenched his fists. "I cannot turn back now." He said softly.

Nack blinked, watching Omega walk off, and then looked back at the OTHER robots, who were giving him a hateful glare. Bokkun held up a small radio and turned it on.

"Daaaa-daaa-da-daaa...daaaa-daa-daaaa-daa-daaa-da-daaaa..." He sang along with the funeral march.

"WAIT FOR MEEEE!" Nack screeched, deciding to take his chances with ONE furious robot instead of a horde of them.

...

...

...

...Tails was trying to clean up the area around Tikal's house, sweeping off the front path that led to the door as he wore a big apron that read "Priests...DON'T Do It". He was humming "Ode to Joy" and absentmindedly bouncing his head back and forth when a crumpled-up piece of paper suddenly got thrown right in front of him.

He blinked, looking down at it, then looking around. No sign of anyone. Suuuussspiiiiicioooouuuus!

He picked it up and unrolled it, looking at the message. Which was, of course... Suuuussspiiiiicioooouuuus!

...

...

...

...a chao with dark grey fur and thick locks sniffed the air, then narrowed his dark green eyes. He had fairly long ears and a tail to match, and looked over at his friends as they laid in wait in a bar given the title "The Golden Calf". "He's here, alright." The dark-grey chao insisted, nodding his furry little head.

"Good!" Another chao spoke up. She had purplish fur and bright yellow eyes, with a horn atop her head and a curled-up tail. She wore a belt around her waist and a tattoo underneath one eye as she stood by the chao that had been spying on the brothers some time ago. "I can see him coming now."

Tails headed down the big alley towards the entrance to the bar where the three creatures were. They looked a lot like chao, but...not like any HE'D ever seen before.

"We've been a-waiting for you, stranger." The grey-furred one told Tails.

"I know your secret. Meet me at the Golden Calf." Tails said, reciting from memory the note he'd been given. "Suuuussspiiiiicioooouuuus!" He sang out. "Granted, you asked me to come in broad daylight, so it's a little LESS so, but still..."

"You see buddy, we know a lot about you. Why don'tcha come with us?"

"...my parents told me never to go with strangers."

"...okay, how old are you?" The grey-furred one inquired, going up to Tails and poking him in the chest.

"Uh...14. My brother's 15."

"Then you're old enough to make decisions for yourself, right?"

Tails put a finger to his lip, thinking about this, then nodded. "You're right."

"Good for you! You're making an important re-evaluation of your lifestyle." The purple, female chao told him.

"And I'm deciding, for myself, I don't wanna go with you." Tails told them with a cheery grin.

SFX: Waa-waa-waaa!

"Oh, great. We have to do this the hard way." The grey-furred chao sighed as he jumped up into the air. Tails quickly ducked a sudden swipe of tiny claws and slammed his fist into the thing, only to have one tail slice outward...

The tail's end was razor sharp like steel. Tails felt his chest be impaled and ripped open as the purplish chao smirked and jumped at him. It slithered inside his chest like a spider going through a crack in a wall, and was soon snuggled up tightly inside of Tails, arms and legs gripping onto Tails's inner stringy workings. "You oughta feel lucky. Age 14 and already somebody's inside you!

"EEWWWW! Get outta of me! You can't control me like this!" Tails snapped, growling as he began fighting back for control over his body. Despite the purple chao tugging on thick bonds of string that held his arms and legs up, he felt he COULD be able to get away...it took everything she had to-

"I don't need to control you. Just distract you." The purple chao said.

"So I can do this." A very muscular-looking chao with a thick lock of black hair atop it's head and a square jaw remarked, slamming Tails into the ground. "This is what happens when you make things hard."

"What ARE you?" Tails managed to gasp out.

"They're chao of a SPECIAL variety...and they work...for me." A voice said. Tails looked up from the ground to see an albino human approaching. His golden jacket glinted in the sun as he smirked down at Tails with perfect pearly whites, his pink eyes glinting in a slightly threatening manner.

...

...

...

... "Well-well-WELL!" The human said, examining the currently-trapped form of Tails as he looked at the insides of Tails, the rings now fully off and showing all of the boy's body. "Oh, careful of the seal." He informed the purple chao, who was a bit cramped for space as she stayed within Tails's chest. "That's how this was done, right?"

"Who are you?"

"The name's Michael White...but hey, call me White." He patted Tails on the cheek and grinned. "Let's you and I be friends."

"Wait...Michael White? The SINGER?" Tails asked, blinking stupidly a few times.

"Yes, to the public I'm a successful and WILDLY popular singer." White said, stepping back and pointing a thumb at himself. "Never staying long in one town, always on the move. But this is my "home away from home"...I keep it hidden beneath the Golden Calf away from all the rest of the world. This is my "crib" of sorts."

"And these chao all work for you?" Tails wanted to know, looking around the gold-painted room he'd been lead down to. "There's no way they can genuinely be chao. Chao can't say anything but their name, they can't talk. It's not possible."

"Oh-no-no-nooo." White knelt down by Tails and patted him on the head. "If you have power...ANYTHING is possible. And Magic is power, eh?" He laughed. "All of them were once people. Toni, the one inside you, was created with a Jackson's chameleon." He gestured at the others, first the grey one, then the muscular one, then the one with the intense yellow eyes. "Mark over there was created from a fox and pees standing on one leg."

"I DO NOOOOOT!" Mark yelled angrily, his tail lashing on the ground.

"Andy, you were made from a...steer, right?"

The muscular one frowned darkly. "No, a bull, I still have my-"

"Good man, good man!" White eagerly nodded. "And Dodger here was created from your ordinary garden variety lizard."

"Just an ol' salamander, really. Nothin' special." Dodger informed Tails with a shrug.

"But who would have ever made a successful combination? Why wasn't it reported? We would have heard about it...unless..." Tails's eyes widened. "...the military?"

"I KNEW you were a smart boy!" White said happily, still crouching in front of Tails. "You see, there's an entire world underground, boy. Secrets buried deep...deep..." He leaned in, nice and close to Tails's face, whispering. "Deeeeeep."

"He's taken very good care of us, even though he's Selfishness." Dodger spoke up happily, smiling at White.

"Well that's not very nice to say about your benefactor." Tails commented. "...wait, don't you mean "Sel-FISH", not "Selfish-NESS"?"

"No, no. You see..." White knelt down and calmly closed one eye, making the other one widen as he sat in front of Tails. It was then that Tails saw...strings of ones and zeroes combining to make an iris. "I'm a "Golem"."

Tails's eyes went wide in shock. "Wh-WHAT?"

"Why are you surprised? You've heard of them, right?" White told him, his pink eyes glittering like precious gems. "Golems are artificially created beings. Creations of those who were very holy and close to God. The story goes that when a very holy person strives to approach God, in that pursuit they gain some of God's wisdom and power...one of these powers being the creation of life."

"You're lying! Who could have possibly created anything like that?" Tails insisted, feeling a sense of fear running through him. It couldn't be. This wasn't POSSIBLE. Magic could do many things, but this was a matter of creating a flesh and blood person...complete with heart and soul! This wasn't healing wounds or bringing people back that had existed before, this was something much more...

What ordinary man could DO that?

"...I guess you're from the "Show Me" state. You won't believe until you get some proof with your eyes." The albino human snapped his fingers. "Andy!"

Andy jumped into the air, swinging an enormous hammer. SCHUDDA-CHULK!

The top half of White's head vanished, leaving only his jaw. Tails screamed in horror, but then his scream died halfway when he saw the body calmly lowered itself to show Tails the INSIDE...

It was all churning, violent pink energy swirling around, intermixed with sparks of golden dust that trickled out the open neck. No blood...no organs...just that strange, maelstrom of pink energy moving around. The pink energy dribbled onto the floor before, right on the spot, the head began to reform, first forming a skull made of pinkness, then white eyes...teeth...muscles...flesh...

White stood there, now fully returned to normal. "Okay, I died once. And OWWW." He rubbed his neck. "I'm gonna feel THAT in the mornin'."

"...it...can't...be..." Tails murmured.

"Like I said." White told him, pointing downwards. "You have power...and ANYTHING is possible. Look at yourself, kid. You're a soul bonded to a doll. And a cute doll at that." He added with a warm smile. "Now...let's get down to business. How does it feel having a body that will never die at all? The idea behind sealing a soul onto something...if you did it right...you'd unlock immortality." White rubbed his chin, a dark glint in his eyes.

"Your body seems immortal enough." Tails muttered.

"Ahhh, but see, the thing is...Golems aren't exactly..." White tilted his head to the side. "Put together out of things like sugar, spice and everything nice, or snips, snails and puppy dog tails. Any being created by anyone who's not God would be but a shadow of one made by the Big Guy himself. And I'm...that shadow."

"What are you MADE of?" Tails wanted to know.

"Selfishness. Chaos energy needs a spark of life to change form into a sentient being, and when you stick an emotion into a chunk of chaos, it acts as a spark of life and...ta-daaaa!" He spread his arms wide. "Selfishness is my reason for being! I want things done MY way, ALL the time. Be it money, power, wealth, I don't care! I want what I want, when I want!" White told him, throwing his head back and laughing. "Eh-heh-ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!"

"..." Tails nervously gulped.

"Now then...I've told you my secret. You tell me yours." White said, folding his arms and smiling in a fashion that wasn't exactly THREATENING, but it wasn't a NICE one either. "How are you even able to exist? How does the seal work?"

"It's no use. I don't have any memories from when I got this body. I'm not even the one that did the seal. My brother did."

"Oh? Really? How interesting..." White remarked, rubbing his chin. "Dodger...could you bring him here?" The albino human inquired of the lizard-esque chao.

"Ooh, you got it, sir!"

FIVE MINUTES LATER...

"He really got me, sir." Dodger moaned, nursing a black eye, a near-broken arm and a harsh bruise to his face as he staggered into the room, allowing Sonic entrance.

"You know, I don't MIND rescuing you from this sort of thing, but you need to promise me this won't become a habit." Sonic told his brother.

"It won't, I promise." Tails insisted. "Oh, and uh, this guy's a Golem."

"A WHAAAA?" Sonic's green eyes popped right open.

"Heeeey! I didn't go through the trouble of kidnapping you so you could go blabbing my secret ten seconds after somebody randomly pops in!" White muttered darkly, rolling his eyes.

"He might have some hints as to how to get our original bodies back." Tails added.

"If you're with those jerks from the Fifth Laboratory, you've got another thing coming." Sonic said firmly, frowning and clutching his hands into fists.

"Them? Oh, you mean Flippancy, Ignorance and Racism, right?" White remarked. "See, it's a long story, but to make it short, I can't do that. Still, how about a trade? I'm a nice guy. I'll teach you how to make a golem, you teach me how to seal a soul onto something? That's good and fair, right?" He commented. "See, I can be a gentleman when I want to." White told the hedgehog, placing his hand on his chest. "...though really..." He turned back to look at Tails. "WHY do you want to go back to your old form? That thing's great! Really handy, if you ask me!"

Sonic's fists clenched tightly.

"You don't get hungry, sleepy, tired...that's not a good thing?" White remarked, grinning broadly.

"Stop...talking..." Sonic's eyes glinted furiously.

"Here's where Sonic snaps like a "Twix" bar." Tails thought to himself.

"BULLSHIIIIIT!" Sonic roared out, stomping on the ground suddenly and taking a step forward as everybody in the room looked at each other, then at White, then at Tails, then at Sonic, who was now clenching both fists before him, burning fire rising up from his body as his eyes glinted darkly. His voice had become a snarling, furious howling roar as he commenced what was one of the finest verbal castigations of a villain he'd ever done.

"Hoo boy." White remarked, sweat-dropping.

"You think that body's HANDY? You think it's GREAT? I can't sit here and listen to you go off like that when you don't even know what it's like to live like that!" He pointed at White, grinding his teeth, hissing with anger. "Teach YOU how to seal a soul to something! I wouldn't tell you how to tie your own shoes, you disgusting prick! I don't negotiate with terrorists! I don't give one inch to the bad guys! I wouldn't trust you with taking out the GARBAGE, letting alone the secret of the seal!"

The others kind of couldn't do much BUT listen, since the entire room seemed to be shaking from the full brunt of Sonic's sheer pissed-off-ness. They just stared, blinking stupidly at the enfuriated 'hog.

"Villains...do not...get...DEALS!" Sonic roared out, finally finishing his rant as the room ceased shaking and the fire faded from Sonic's body.

"...wow. Just..." White clapped slowly, shaking his head. "Look, I get what you're trying to do. It's noble and heroic, and all that other Russle Crowe 'Gladiator' crap."

"Oh, you saw it?" Tails asked.

"It was alright." White remarked, shrugging. "Okay, fine then. You guys take the doll away so we can take him apart later. I'll handle short and squishy here."

"SHORT AND SQUISHY!" Sonic rushed forward as the chao grabbed ahold of Tails and carried him out of the room through a back entrance. Sonic slammed his fist at White, who calmly held his hand up, catching the blow. The hedgehog blinked at the sight of...his skin. His right and left hand were now covered in inky blackness that had spread like some kind of disease.

"You can't beat me, baby blue. I've got REAL jazz hands." White informed Sonic with a sneer, kicking him in the chest and knocking him backwards. Sonic flipped through the air, narrowly landing back on his feet and rushing forward again, trading blows with the albino human, punching and kicking over and over.

"Come on baby blue, that the best you got?" White laughed coldly, jumping backwards and sticking out his tongue, pulling one eyelid down.

"Oh yeah? Try THIS!" Sonic roared out, his entire body momentarily sparking with golden light, and suddenly he was right in White's face.

SCHUDDA-SLAAAAM! He grabbed ahold of White and knocked his head clear into the floor below, making huge chunks fly up and crash into the wall. The blue hedgehog dusted himself off, stepping back, looking satisfied at the enormous crater he'd made. "Ha! Whaddya think of THAT? You might be a bit stronger than me, but you're not faster!"

White muttered under his breath and stood up, holding his head as blood that was not truly blood dribbled down from the sides of his head onto the black straps on his jacket's shoulders. "Ow, that HURT." He mumbled.

"Ow that hurt"?" Sonic remarked, frowning. "You're not normal at all, are you?"

"No, no, not quite. I've got advanced regenerative powers, standard for all Golems, but each of us were given random abilities." White told him, spitting out a tooth and frowning. "No two Golems are exactly the same thanks to the chaos energy that makes up our bodies. Thanks to my "Super" form, which I can activate at will, you can't hurt me." He informed Sonic proudly just before he suddenly rushed forward, slamming his foot hard into Sonic's gut.

"UUUGHHLUUUHHHH!" Sonic gasped out in pain, some vomit dribbling out his mouth as he held his sides and White looked him over with interest.

"I get you, really. You don't mind getting your OWN ass kicked, but when a family member takes a bullet, it gets personal. Really, it IS heroic. You're so stupid though. You really wanna lose both your brother AND a chance at figuring out how to get your own bodies back?"

Sonic took a few deep breaths before he stood back up. "Once I've kicked YOUR ass, I'll get Tails back. I'll just keep poundin' away at what part of you HASN'T turned black and strong 'n stuff."

White shrugged his shoulders in a "Well, y'knoooow" fashion. "Yeah, funny thing about that. See...the trick doesn't just apply to my hands and feet." He told Sonic calmly. "I didn't wanna bring this out at FIRST, but now it kinda sounds like fun, so..."

He gave Sonic a diabolical grin as the dark blackness on his fingertips spread. Now it was clearly cascading down his face, covering his entire form. He took off his jacket, showing off a sleeveless white t-shirt underneath, to more fully blackened form. His eyes became the color of glittering emeralds, and he calmly held up one hand. "Like I told you, baby blue..."

He clenched the hand into a fist. "You won't be able to lay a SCRATCH on me."

Chapter 13: A Glimpse of the Truth!

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Twelve:

A Glimpse of the Truth!

真実で垣間見る！

 

---

 

Pachacamac held a broom in his hands as he looked down intently upon it, frowning slightly with lips pursed. "I found it, like you asked. This thing was lying in the back alley off the road to the west." The elderly echidna informed his daughter.

"Poor Miles is gone...and now Olgilvie too? Ah, it's like they're little dibbuns all over again." Tikal sighed, shaking her head back and forth as she rested one hand on her hip, the other holding her head.

"There was something else there." Pachacamac added quietly. He pulled something out of his pocket and placed it in his daughter's hands. "Somebody dropped a box of matches from that bar called "The Golden Calf"."

"...well..." Tikal cracked her knuckles and then cracked her neck a bit, eyes furrowing. "Fine...so he's going THERE, eh..."

...

...

...

...Sonic had, by all rights, gotten his blue, furry ass beaten so badly it was not even funny. Both arms hung, low and limp as he slunk against the wall, his chest not moving, his breathing almost nonexistent. His eyes were clenched tightly shut, as if every cell within his body was howling in agony. Blood was dribbling down from the corner of his mouth, and he'd gotten a very harsh blow to the side of his head, which had splattered onto the wall and the floor.

"You dead, mon?" The being before him asked. One who's entire body was covered in frightening-looking darkness, it's eyes shining like a cat's. It tilted it's head to the side slightly, looking slightly annoyed, slightly confused, slightly amused and slightly interested all at once.

"Yeah...I'm dead." Sonic muttered sarcastically, managing to get back to his feet and clenching his fists, eyes glinting with burning red fire. "RAAAAHH!" He slammed his fist at this Pitch Black being, attempting an uppercut, only to feel the agonizing burn of knuckles practically shattering. He held his hand, gasping in pain, involuntary tears rising up.

"No matter how hard you try..." Black grabbed ahold of Sonic's face and tossed him hard at the wall. "You CAN'T beat me!" He snapped as Sonic slunk down to the ground, moaning in pain, legs twitching slightly.

"You're only making this harder for yourself." Black said softly, walking over to Sonic and kneeling down by him. "Why don'tcha just tell me what I want? I mean, this isn't even FUN anymore."

"...th...tha..."

"Eh?" Black leaned in more closely, eyes squinting. He held a hand up to his ear. "What was that? "Rosebud"?"

"Thanks...all this blood rushing to my head...is actually...making me think things over...I just remembered a little something that might help..."

"Help you spill the beans?" Black commented, raising an eyebrow.

Sonic smirked as he stood back up, panting slightly, wiping his mouth on the top of his hand. "Help me kick your ASS."

"There is NOTHING more cliché than last-minute heroics." Black said coldly, throwing a punch at Sonic that rushed towards his head.

THA-BLAM! Sonic caught the fist...and there was a sudden surge of burning hot energy that seared through Black's body. He staggered back, pinkish energy oozing down onto the ground from his wounded hand as he frowned, looking down to see that his hand was now longer covered in the blackness that had spread over his body. "...odd." He remarked as he flexed his fingers, making the darkness come right back onto his fist. "How strange."

He leapt forward with a kick at Sonic's head, twirling his leg only to have Sonic duck, then promptly slam both fists into his stomach. The same burning hot energy surged through Black, who howled in pain and staggered away. "What...what the hell have you done to my Super Form?" He demanded to know.

"It got simple when I just did some thinking about it. Your body's made of chaos energy. The opposite of Chaos? Order."

Sonic held his fist up and it glowed slightly with dazzling white sparks. He rushed forward and Black tried to dodge the oncoming fist, but he didn't count on Sonic's leg, which swept under him, knocking him over and allowing Sonic to slam his fist into the human's chest, making him howl in pain. Sonic stepped back, cracking his knuckles.

"Darkness has always had a tie to Chaos, just as Light has always had a tie to Order. All it takes is some simple Light Magic to knock you down."

"Heh...not bad." Black laughed, cartwheeling back to his feet, then leaping through the air, doing a sweeping kick at Sonic's head. Sonic managed to duck in time, then avoided a quick punch from Black, striking the human in the cheek and sending him spiraling away.

"And...you can't heal AND stay in your Super Form at the same time, can you?" Sonic panted, smirking a bit as more pink energy slowly fell to the floor with a DRIP...DRIP...DRIP.

"I'm...I'm actually more impressed with you than I was before. You aren't just some stupid kid running in here...you actually got real intelligence. But you're pretty weakened yourself." He told the kid. "How much longer can you keep this up?"

"..." Sonic bit his lip. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Douchey McNitpick was RIGHT. He was struggling to stay awake, and a dull, throbbing pain was building in his head. His legs and arms felt almost like they weren't even attached to him. How was he supposed to-

SCHA-THWOOOOOM!

The wall on the other side of the room came crashing down and Sonic "eeped" as he heard a very familiar voice call out. "Oh, pardon me!"

Stepping through the smoke she came...Tikal the Echidna, wearing a plain white "working" dress and headband wiped her head free of some sweat as she folded her arms. "

"Teach! You're here?" Sonic exclaimed.

"I'm very disappointed in you two. You couldn't even put that broom away before you ran off "adventuring"?" Tikal told him, shaking a finger in his direction.

""Sorry, teach."

"Well, well. Looks like you've been "taking care" of my pupil." Tikal said coldly, looking Black over. "...you're not even human. Not really. I can tell by your eyes."

"He's a Golem!" Sonic exclaimed. "A real flesh-and...well, flesh and chaos energy Golem!"

"Oya-oya." Black moaned, holding his head and rubbing it as he rolled his eyes. "You gotta be KIDDIN' me. You're like, what, 26? 28? I'm old enough to be your great grandpa." He folded his arms and shook his head. "And I really, REALLY don't like striking women, it's-"

Tikal was in his face. A moment later, her hand was GRABBING his face.

SCHOO-THWOOOOOMBAAAAHHH!

"GAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Black screamed as burning white fire surged over his face and the darkness peeled away, turning his cheeks and nose and eyes into horrifyingly-burnt pinkish stains. He gasped in pain and staggered back, hitting the wall and holding his face as Tikal shook her head.

"YOU'RE not going to be the one doing the striking." She informed him calmly with a big, cheery grin.

Black rubbed his face, his normal features slowly returning to normal. "Wow, you're really something else. What the hell ARE you, lady?"

"I'm just a simple retired priestess." She informed him calmly. "And I'll be your server for today. Today's special...YOUR ASS ON A PLATE." She added, holding her fists up, getting into a fighting stance.

...

...

...

...Shadow the Hedgehog made his way down the hallway of Central HQ, trying to ignore the increasingly aggravating whispers behind his back from the many military men he continued to pass by. This was rather...difficult. Especially considering his excellent hearing.

Then again, he had a sinking feeling that they WANTED him to hear it all. To be reminded of his "place".

"So that's Shadow, the "Burning Metallurgist", eh?"

"I wonder what strings he pulled to get this position, look how young he is!"

"With a rise this fast, there comes a fall just as quick."

"We're gonna make you squeal like a pig, boy. Sooo-weeeee!"

Shadow just smirked to himself and stepped through the doors to the autocrat's office himself. The walls were painted a fairly reddish/white with golden-rimmed paintings of various nice scenes that, when you looked at them up close, appeared to be made entirely of eggs. He decided to avoid comment on it and cleared his throat, getting the attention of a brown-haired secretary who adjusted her glasses and looked up at him.

"I'm here to see Dr. Eggman." Shadow informed the woman.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Colonel...Shadow, right?" The secretary asked, looking over a snazzy metal clipboard she had on her desk. "I'm afraid the good doctor's not in at today. He went to conduct an examination in Southern Central City."

"Oh?"

Meanwhile, Mark and Andy were running through a large sewer system, the walls reeking of the smell of rotten eggs and the remnants of grease that had mixed with bacon crumbs and week-old children's dinner leftovers. All of them floating in the disgusting, great green globs of greasy grimy gopher guts that was floating to their right, respectively.

Mark stiffened suddenly, sniffing the air. "I don't like the smell of this." Mark whispered. "I smell...military men. Close."

"Brings back memories, don't it?" Andy inquired.

"To think, I come in to do a simple inspection, and look at the surprise I find." Dr. Eggman informed Knuckles as he and about a dozen military guards stood outside the entrance to the "Golden Calf", Dr. Eggman lowering his goggles over his eyes and smirking broadly. "Move in." He ordered.

Elsewhere, White had placed his "Super Form" back on and was folding his arms, looking Sonic and Tikal over as they stood side by side in similar battle poses. He grinned broadly, laughing a bit. "A teenage hedgehog and a retired Echidna priestess, eh? Hollywood would have a FIELD day with that. You could make it into a sweet little Summer Romance. The "Feel Good" of the year." He brushed his hair back. "Naturally, I'd want to do the soundtrack."

"Naturally." Sonic commented.

"Seriously though, I don't feel like fighting you. I think I'll be going now." Black told them.

"Like we'd let you just go running off and-"

SPLA-SPLOOOORCH! Blood oozed out of Tikal's mouth again and Sonic let out a yell. "TEAAACH!" He screamed.

"...that'll work." Black commented, shrugging as he ran out the door, leaving Sonic to try and steady his practically-vomiting teacher.

"Running away...what a coward..." Tikal muttered as soldiers suddenly rushed into the room from another doorway.

"Behave yourself you annoying little...c'moooon!" Toni demanded, trying to force Tails's doll-esque body to keep moving. Tails's feet were trying to move forward, but he'd regained control of his arms and was digging into the side of the wall, holding on as best he could.

"Make...me!" Toni snapped.

"Hello, hello, what's this?" White said in a British accent, walking up to him as Toni stuck her head out of Tails's chest. "You alright, Toni?"

"I'm fine, sir." Toni said, ignoring the gasping, clearly-disturbed-that-a-woman's-head-was-sticking-out-of-him-Tails. "Where's everybody else?"

"Ah, things have gotten...more complicated than I thought." White admitted, shrugging slightly. "We're going to have to abandon this place and come up with a way out."

"Yeah, uh...I'm not letting you do that." Dr. Eggman remarked calmly, two metallic-looking gloves on his hands, his goggles lowered over his eyes.

"! Sir!" Tails gasped in awe.

"Well ain't THIS neat. The most powerful man in all the country lowering himself to sneaking through the sewers like a rat?" White commented, raising one eyebrow and putting one hand upon his hip as he smirked at the autocrat.

"You're one to talk." Dr. Eggman said in a good-natured manner. "How old are you, by the way?"

"...huh?" White blinked a few times.

"I'll be turning 60 in a month. My daughter says she's got a super secret plan for my birthday. I happen to know it's going to be something she made out of macaroni, but I'm going to act surprised all the same." The doctor went on with a cheery smile.

"...UH...YOUR POINT?"

"See, as you get older, you realize your body doesn't quite work the way you want it to. So I'd like to get this done, get home, and then go back and enjoy a nice book by the fireplace. Maybe something by William Luther Pierce." Dr. Eggman went on, advancing towards White and cracking his knuckles.

"You should retire, old man, go move to America and stay in Florida for the-" White began, holding up one hand as it began to be covered in the darkness.

SCHA-SCHWING!

The hand was cut off and went flying through the air. White looked stupidly down at it, then over at Eggman, who held up one glove, which was sparkling with burning, horrifyingly-sickening red light, like the color of rotten blood. The tips had become clearly not just hot-to-the-touch, but able to slice through flesh and bone like tissue paper.

"...OW." White remarked, quickly stepping backwards over and over as Eggman's fists shot forward, slicking and jabbing at the albino human, knicking his cheek, his forehead, even getting in a few good chest shots, making Selfishness gasp in pain.

Eggman's foot then caught him in the stomach and he went spiraling through the sewer, crashing into a wall with a cry. Eggman held his fists up, then rushed after him as the sound of another brawl echoed from far away.

"Ha-HAH!" Knuckles cried out, looking down the muscular chao Andy as he bobbed back and forth, fists held up as Andy nursed a very-badly-cut cheek. "You're pretty good. I am very impressed. For a chao, you have real skill. I thought you would be dead by now."

"I suppose I shall have to take things a bit more seriously." The chao commented quietly, clenching it's fists. He took in a deep breath, and then his muscles and body bulged more strongly, two thick horns emerging from his forehead as he smirked broadly. He then grabbed ahold of a surprised Knuckles and slammed him into the wall, driving him through it and forcing the echidna along.

Knuckles growled in pain as he was dragged through the wall, but he managed to get a good left jab onto the chao's face, knocking him away. He then followed up with a swift right hook, but the muscular Andy slammed his knee into Knuckles, then immediately slammed his left fist into the Echidna's face, just above his eye. Knuckles nursed that injured area, panting slightly as he and Andy faced each other down.

"You are indeed stronger than I thought you'd be. You've lasted quite long against me. For that, I respect you." Knuckles told the thing, pointing at it and giving it a small smile.

"You're not bad either. I guess I should expect as much from a fellow comrade of the Shanazaran Campaign."

"...you truly were once a sapient, huh?" Knuckles asked softly. "...look. Just give up."

"You'd ask me that even though your men are just about to kill me?" Andy inquired, looking somewhat amused.

"Huh?" Knuckles turned around to see several soldiers were pointing their guns at the chao.

"OPEN FIRE!" one roared out.

Knuckles's eyes went wide with horror as the chao shielded itself from what bullets it could, flesh being stripped away by semiautomatic fire when a terrible cry echoed through the hall.

"ANDY, NO!" Mark screamed, his body rushing forward, blood smattered on his tail as he rushed through freshly-killed soliders. He sliced through a nearby pipe in the wall and smoke filled the hallway as he quickly grabbed ahold of Andy and helped him run off, the other soliders coughing and gasping as Knuckles frowned deeply at what he'd just seen.

...

...

...

... "YOU SONOFA!" White roared, throwing a punch at Dr. Eggman, pink eyes alit with fury that had not been there before. It struck one goggle, but Eggman's punch knocked HIM back against the wall, and one burning hand held him there, making a horrifyingly effective electrical current go through him, shocking him over and over as pinkish energy dribbled out of White's nose and mouth like he was a leaky dam.

"I don't have any "Super Form" the way you do...nor do I have enchanted lovely locks the way Flippancy does. But do you know how I survived bullets on the battlefield? How I obtained the position I have today?" Dr. Eggman asked darkly.

"You're...a...you're not even REMOTELY human, are you?" White gasped out in horror.

Dr. Eggman's goggle, which HAD been cracked, suddenly re-healed itself before his eyes, and now he saw a GOOD look at the light shining from it...a string of zeroes and ones that circled around the iris.

"I have enchanted technology on my side. Goggles that see what choice I can make when confronting a situation, ones that allow me to see all outcomes of that I lay my eyes upon. I can see a million ways to take a man apart...and with my gloves...they center around finding the elemental weakness of any enemy I face. And with you, it's not that hard, is it? It's practically written on your face, or rather...your HANDS..." Dr. Eggman sneered, looking down at another cut-off-hand on the ground of the sewer floor. "You're afraid of the light."

"I'm gonna kill you all KINDS of dead!" White promised furiously, spitting some pink chaos energy into Eggman's face.

"Now then...I wonder...how many more times can you be killed before you die?" Dr. Eggman mused.

Elsewhere, Tails was leaning against the wall, folding his arms as Toni frowned, still buried deep inside him. "Ohhh, what's taking him so long?" She mumbled. "This isn't right. Can you see how the fight's going?" She asked Tails, who looked out into the darkness, squinting his eyes as best he could.

"...ahhhh...no." He admitted, shaking his head. "I can't see any-"

It was then that a very-injured-looking White came staggering out of the darkness, his lifeblood oozing down his chin and dribbling onto his shirt, his eyes sunken and hollow, his breath coming in ragged pants as he kept on trying to move forward.

"Mr. White, you're-" Tails began to say.

SCHLUCKA-SCHUMP! A chunk of head went soaring through the air and White gasped in agony as he fell to his knees, being kicked on his side by Eggman, who clenched and unclenched one fist, holding it up high. "I've been counting. So far, you've died...18 times. I wonder how many more it'll take?"

"Dirty old man..." White gasped out.

"Damn. This is interesting." Mark remarked as he and Andy jumped out of a nearby pipe, standing and facing down Dr. Eggman as White, Tails and a still-fairly-hidden Toni looked at them in surprise, Dr. Eggman blinking a few times.

"You can go and run, little rabbit." Andy laughed at the fox, nodding firmly.

"We're counting on you...okay?" Mark said softly, quietly so Eggman couldn't hear.

"...okay. I'll go." Tails said as Toni tried to hold back her tears, the two Chao rushing forward at Dr. Eggman.

"Lemme out!" Toni screamed in fury, trying to crawl back out of Tails's ripped-open furry chest. "Let me OUT, damn you!"

"No, I can't! They need me to keep you safe!"

"He'll KILL them! Let me out!" She wailed.

"No!"

"Lemme..." She banged her fists around, but it was like punching a pillow. He wouldn't let her out. He just kept her firmly in him, holding his hands over his chest with all his strength to keep her from climbing out. It didn't help that her own body was so small and weak. "Out..."

"No."

"Please..." She sobbed, hearing the horrifying SCHLA-THUMP sounds of her friend's bodies hitting the ground. "Please..."

"...no..." Tails whispered, biting his lip and wishing he could cry with her.

White staggered to his feet, looking at the sight of the practically-ripped-apart Mark and Andy, who's pulverized bodies lay on the ground, their lifeblood draining out into the sewer as Eggman looked the albino human over. The human clenched his fists furiously and growled with a fury that had no equal among humans.

"...what...do you think...you're doing to my people?"

"Becoming ATTACHED to your pawns? I'm touched, really." Eggman commented, placing one hand on his chest with a mocking flourish.

"I didn't...want them DEAD...I wanted them around...there were so many more things they could have done for me!" White hissed furiously. "They were MINE, and you took them from me! And you know...I don't like people taking things from me!"

"You're such a fool." Eggman sneered, rushing forward at the human, his gloves held high as Black's fists and legs became covered in the dark "Super" form. Black slammed his fists forward in an attempt to get at Eggman, but Eggman's long and thin legs tripped him and with a harsh and powerful punch he knocked Black unconscious in the sewer water, dusting himself off. "You stay there for a while. I'll be right back."

He headed off to go back towards Tails, who had come up with the idea of trying to run. He saw the autocrat approach, and blinked in surprise.

"Ah, "Miles", am I right? Or rather, Tails? That's what everyone calls you. Sonic's brother, am I correct?" Dr. Eggman inquired. "Let me help you out of here."

"Oh, su-I mean, no, I'm all right." Tails immediately protested, holding his hands up. "I'm 14 years old after all, I can get home by myself."

Toni's fists clenched tightly. She thrust them both into Tails's arms.

In an instant the fuzzy paws of Tails were clenched around Dr. Eggman in a desperate, near-futile attempt to strangle the autocrat. "Ah! Toni, stop!" Tails gasped.

"You disgusting, slimy little toad!" Toni screeched from inside of Tails in a wail of absolute fury. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you, you big, fat FUCK!"

Unfortunately, she'd forgotten he had hands. One of which rammed itself through Tails's chest...and her body. Blood splattered out, surging up like somebody had just taken a cannonball into a pool of the stuff...and as the precious lifeblood surged into his body which soaked up the blood, suddenly something happened.

The Chao had been created from a combination technique using chaos energy. They had been artificially created life...but they'd had that real spark. And now it was extinguished inside of another "artificial" being. Suddenly a reaction occurred. Tails's eyes glowed brightly, shining like brilliant diamonds and he gasped in pain as a seal suddenly appeared upon his forehead, one given to him from the begging of his brother, specially placed by Chaos himself.

The Light. How could he have forgotten the Light? Light. Beautiful white light filled Miles's vision and he saw himself standing before an enormous door with beautiful, ornate designs on the front. There were dozens of languages written on the bottom that seemed to repeat the phrase "I am All, All are One". He blinked in surprise, scarcely able to believe this scene...nor that he was looking at a being that appeared to be made entirely out of water.

It had deeply piercing green eyes and three sharp claws for "hands", with what appeared to be some kind of brain floating above it's eyes. It had a "horn" atop it's head and two small protrusions on either side. "...who are you?" Miles found himself whispering in fear.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Glad to hear you ask that up front, little dibbun."  It said, speaking not so much with a mouth as to with it's entire self. It was like a collective force was speaking as one, and the little fox could hear it in his head and in his heart. It wasn't a...THREATENING being. In fact, it actually seemed very gentle and compassionate, a kindness in it's green eyes radiating out.  "I'm what is known to you as Chaos ." It explained.

Miles's eyes widened. "...Chaos?" He asked. "The force itself?"

"I am more than that though."  It went on simply.  "I am also Order. I am the Universe. I am God. I am Truth, I am All, I am One. And..."

It pointed at him with a single claw.  "I am You."

SCHA-THWOOOOOM. The door opened and Miles stiffened, turning around.

"Oh little one. You were foolish. You did not know your own place. And I am sorry for what you're about to go through, but this is necessary."  Chaos went on as enormous rings wrapped around the young fox's body, tying him up and tugging him into the black abyss that waited within the door as he screamed and screamed and-

Wait. Suddenly all the fear was gone. Suddenly he felt...happy. Not just content, but...joyful on a new level. He was surrounded by knowledge and incredible power and he could feel himself being pulled off into a beautifully radiant warmth...and he could vaguely see...

"Mommy...MOMMY! MOMMY!" Miles cried out, reaching out with one arm. "MOMM-"

But instead his hands grasped around...himself?

And then...what? Something was reaching out towards a young blue hedgehog in a sickeningly-stained room of-

"MILES!" Sonic shook his brother and Tails gasped, finally "snapping" out of the "sleep" he'd been in. "...you okay, bro?" He asked.

Tails realized he'd been moved to a hallway and out of the sewer, looking around to see Knuckles, Sonic, Tikal and several military soldiers standing there and looking at him. "I...I'm fine." He insisted, looking back at his brother. "What happened to you? You're covered in...oh...oh no." He looked down at his chest and saw the blood trail that was left...and he turned to see a small, covered-up form of a chao. "...no."

"I'm sorry. We...took the liberty of removing her body from your...person." Knuckles nervously told Tails, looking the kid over.

"I couldn't save her..." Tails whispered, covering his face, wanting so very much to cry. "...Toni...Toni, forgive me..."

"It's gonna be okay." Sonic said gently, patting him on the shoulder. "Come on, let's get going home."

"Not so fast." Dr. Eggman approached, arms held behind his back as he looked Sonic and Miles over. "I know that a mastermind named Michael White brought you here." He said, looking over at Tails as the guards to his left and right readied their weapons. "I want to know if he told you anything. If he offered...any deals." He asked quietly. "...if you're working with forces that seek to undermine the military..."

"I wouldn't have done business with the man who kidnapped my brother." Sonic snapped.

"One more question then." Dr. Eggman asked. "Your brother's form...those rings on your arms and legs...it makes me wonder. Are they...connected? DIRECTLY?" He asked, his goggles flashing for a brief moment as he raised them up to his forehead.

Sonic blanched. He took in a harsh breath.

...and then Dr. Eggman laughed and turned away. "Ah, such an honest boy. Alright, let's all get going." He said calmly, heading down the hallway, leaving a very-confused Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. "Take good care of that brother of yours!" Eggman called to them as he walked alongside of Tikal.

"Thank you for protecting my students. I appreciate it." The retired priestess told him.

"It's my pleasure. And also part of my duty. I need to keep good track of my men. Would you also like protection?" He inquired, looking Tikal over.

"As a State Metallurgist?"

"Indeed."

"Heh-heh. I'm a frail old thing nowadays." Tikal laughed. "How badly in shape is this country that it needs somebody like me?"

"That WOUNDS me." Dr. Eggman remarked, smiling slightly. "Well, if you ever change your mind..." He handed her a small card from his jacket with his office number on it, nodding firmly. "Let me know." He walked off, leaving Tikal be, and she frowned deeply, brow furrowed. "I have to get back to my son and daughter."

Tikal scratched her head. "Wait, I heard you had a daughter, but a "son"?"

"Well..." Dr. Eggman grinned to himself. "He's been a bit of a secret for a while...but I think the time for secrets has passed." He turned back to smile mysteriously at her. "Wouldn't you agree?"

...

...

...

... "Did you get a good look?" Tails asked as Knuckles finished stitching his brother up. Sonic found himself grateful that the echidna who was so manly was so good at things so girly.

"Yes. His eyes were a string of ones and zeroes." Sonic informed Tails. "And all pink, too."

"Hmm." Knuckles put the last stitch into Tails, then rubbed his chin. "All pink, you say?"

"Yeah, you should tell Mighty. He'd probably want to know about this guy. Heck, maybe he even has some of his CD's!" Sonic then bit his lip and tilted his head to the side. "Or maybe you SHOULDN'T tell him. Don't wanna ruin his idol, after all."

"Yet these guys are definitely after the Chaos Emeralds..." Tails spoke quietly.

Knuckles stiffened. His purple eyes went wide with horror. He finally stood up and spoke very, very softly. "...don't do anything too stupid...alright?" He asked, walking away, nervously shaking his head as Sonic looked over at his brother.

"Something happened in the sewer. A reaction to Toni's death. I guess because we were, in a sense, from the same "family of creation"..." Tails bit his lip. "Or maybe Chaos himself wanted something to soften the blow of..."

"What happened?" Sonic wanted to know.

"I remembered my memories of when my body was carried to the other side. I saw The Truth. I saw CHAOS. The whole deal." Tails told his brother.

"What?" Sonic gasped. "What happened?"

"Well...I didn't find see anything about Life Magic..." Tails sighed. "It feels like all of this...coming here...it was useless."

"Naaaaah." Sonic said, waving his hand in the air. "We found that Golems are real, right?" He told Tails with a smile.

Tails then stiffened. I remember something that Eggman said before. He said there was unrest in the ranks, remember?"

"Yes, and that the Chaos Emeralds and the people with those strange eyes were involved...those "Golems". Wait..." Sonic suddenly "got" what Tails got. "If he was trying to find out the whole truth about what was going on with all of that, he wouldn't have ordered everybody at that place killed. This is something you want to take PRISONERS for, to get as much info as possible." Sonic said, eyes narrowing.

"And why would Dr. Eggman just HAPPEN to appear here of all places?" Tails added.

"Yeah...it's all a BIT too perfect..." Sonic murmured. "...I got a baaaad feeling about this."

Chapter 14: Nobles of the Kingdom of the Sun

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Thirteen:
Nobles of the Kingdom of the Sun!

太陽の王国の貴族 !

"Well, well, hello there little brother." Sonia remarked as she put one hand on her right hip, the other hanging low as she grinned a little. "How did your mission to the South go?"

"Well, it was exactly as we'd hoped. Miles "Tails" Prower and Tikal Nahuatl are good candidates for sacrifice." Dr. Eggman announced as he held his hands behind his back in the middle of a large palace.

There was a purplish, abyss-like floor beneath him, and tall golden pillars all around, with a central "throne" A dark ocean was beneath his feet in this place...a palace dedicated to a being that cared only for himself and his desires…a pitiless, horrible place that gave you the chills just being IN it. At the far end was an enormous, towering throne of gold and purple, with several circular orbs placed strategically on the thorny "tops" of the throne...five, actually. One red, one white, one green, one blue, and one yellow.

:"And there was something else that happened on the way there...look who I caught!" Dr. Eggman commented, pointing upward at somebody who was suspended in midair, tied hard to a heavy metal cross, spikes stuck into his wrists and through his knees. He had not only been impaled there, but there was a large red band of electrical energy swirling around him, acting like a giant magnet to keep him stuck to the cross.

"Well, I ain't seen YOU here for 100 years." Sonia commented, looking White over as he turned his head to look back at her. "How interesting that we catch you 100 years on the dot, eh Selfishness? I think you'd find this funny. You know, if you weren't too busy pissing your pants in fear over what'll happen to you."

"Your tongue is almost as sharp as how you dress, Flippancy." White commented, giving her a bit of a grin as she stepped forward from the pillar she was standing near. He then turned to his left and looked over the familiar face of the Biolizard, who scratched his head, looking White over.

"Oh! You! Uh...um..." Biolizard blinked stupidly. "...uh...you're...um..."

"Ah, Ignorance. You haven't gotten any smarter, have you buddy?" White snickered. He then noticed Metal was sitting nearby, rubbing two claws together to get some dust out of his joints. "Ah, Racism. Can't you try out a different color scheme? Haven't you heard? GOLD is the new black."

Metal "harrumphed" as White looked around. "Hey, where's ol' Fanaticism?"

"We ain't seen that hothead in a while. He's never around cuz he's always working." Sonia remarked as they all stood together underneath White but, considerately, in his view.

"You ain't changed one bit in 100 years, eh? So I wonder...who are you then? You're clearly not just Dr. Eggman of the Eggman Autocracy. What's the deal?" White wanted to know, looking Eggman over.

Eggman adjusted his goggles. "I'm Cruelty."

"He's a new Golem. Our "Daddy Dearest" made him."

"A Golem that can age? Who knew?" White commented.

"What happened to Mr. "If You Have Power, Everything Is Possible"? Or are you going senile in your old age?" Metal sniggered.

"Aw, shut your trash can lid, uggo." White snapped.

"...what." Metal did not so much ASK as demand. "Did. You. Say."

"Oooh, NOW I get a rise from you." White said, pink eyes glittering darkly, looking into demonic red. "C'mon, I can take you with one hand tied behind my back. Unchain me and we'll SEE who's got the stronger ideology!"

"I'm going to rip you into so...many...chunks..." Metal Sonic hissed furiously, a foul, sickening dark undertone going through his body.

"Stop it. Both of you." A voice spoke up, distinguished and cultured. Everyone turned their head to look at the person sitting in the throne. "I don't want any ugly brotherly quarrels before me. It's...unappealing."

"Well, well. I ain't seen you in YEARS, daddy-o. Boy, the years have not been KIND, have they?" White laughed a little.

His father frowned, closing the book he was reading and sighed, shaking his head. "Why must you insist upon being a "problem child"?" He wanted to know.

"Why? You ask me WHY? You of all people would know. I'm selfish, remember?" White rolled his eyes. "That's the Spark of Real Emotion you ripped out and give this hunk of chaos energy protoplasm true life! If I'd stayed with you, I would have never been happy!"

"So you won't work for me again?" His "father" inquired, placing his pointed nails together and tilting his head to the side slightly.

"Let me say it slowly so you don't misunderstand. NOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooo." White commented.

"Oy, you're steppin' into MY turf, bright eyes." Flippancy snapped.

"...well, well. This IS a shame." Their creator shrugged. He clapped his hands, and everybody moved away from an enormous circular pit that was rising up from the floor, directly underneath White.

There was a foul, diseased smell rising up from the pit, choking and almost GAGGING the albino. "Well, this is cheesy, what OTHER Bond Villains have you been ripping off? Gonna paint me all gold? Stick me in a vat of sharks? Shoot me with the Golden Gu-"

There was a sickening hissing sound as dozens of snakes slithered around at the bottom of the pit, looking up intently at their new meal as White sneered at the others. "You think I'm gonna break down and cry cuz of some slimy snakes? Do you expect me to beg?"

"No, Mr. White, I expect you to DIE." Their father quipped.

"Heh-heh-heh! Couldn't resist one last one-liner, could you?" White laughed as the snakes began to crawl up his body, helping to pull him in deeper...deeper...it was becoming so HOT...they were wrapping around him like a thousand harsh ropes...

"Time to go back to where you were once belonged."

"Well don't go blaming ME if you get diarrhea, heh-AH-HAH-HAH-HAH-"

The laughing was quickly silenced. A few moments later, pinkish energy dribbled out of a small, tiny drain and flowed down the floor towards a grate. It slithered into the grate, then a pipe beneath made it run up the wall and into a nearby "shower" that bathed over their father as he held his hands up, brushing off his clothes and calmly taking a relaxing moment to himself. His sons and daughter stood there, simply watching as he finally finished and licked a bit of the chaotic lifeblood off of him. "Well...it's time to get back to work." He told them all. "That day is coming. You'd best all be prepared..."

...

...

...

... "Heyyyyy!"

Dr. Eggman turned around to see two people rushing up towards him, and he was happily hugged by a young little rabbit and a cutesy chao with a pink bow tie. The rabbit, who had brown-tipped ears, chestnut brown eyes with a vermillion dress and a cute little cobalt blue dual-flap tie on her chest. "Daddy, you came back early!"

"It's good to see you again, my big man, and you too, honey." He told the little chao and the rabbit. He gently patted the little bunny on the head, picking her up and twirling her around. "Oh, what a GREAT day I've had!" He informed her.

*Be careful, you're not as young as you used to be!* The Chao "said", it's little bow tie lighting up as it's thoughts were vocalized. *You sure you don't just wanna retire? Maybe we could move to Switzerland. I've heard it's nice.*

"Heyyyy!" Dr. Eggman remarked. "I'm not ready to be mothballed yet! By the way, you'll both never guess who I ran into down there...the Blue Blur himself?"

*Ooh, you ran into Short, Fast and Squishy himself?* The chao squeaked happily, flying around on it's little wings, clapping it's "hands" together as Cream beamed.

"I can never get tired of hearing about all the amazing things Sonic's done." Cream admitted, nodding up at her father.

*He IS the youngest State Metallurgist, and he's so cool! I wish I could learn Metallurgy too...* Cheese said wistfully.

...

...

...

... "Oh! You're back!" Nack remarked nervously as Omega entered the small little hut they were shacked up in. "Uh, somebody...er...found us."

Omega blinked a few times. "...somebody? Who's this "somebody"?"

"G'day, Mate!" A girly voice spoke up.

Omega turned his head to look at the raccoon that had a blend of orange and brown fur. She wore a green and white tube top with black, skin-tight shorts and green and orange shoes, with bright blue eyes and a pair of rings attached to her ponytails. She bowed deeply, then grinned and held out one hand. "Name's Marine! Nice ta meetcha!" She said as a small, grayish bear-like thing with slightly tufted ears and stubby black eyes lay on top of her shoulder, so small it could have fit in her palm.

"Your boss saved my skin when I went and crashed on the side 'a dah road. I was sooo tuckered out, y'know?" Marine went on.

"...well...if you've recovered, you should be on your way." Omega commented. He then growled and held his leg. "Gah."

"I take it the mission didn't go off without a hitch?" Nack wanted to know.

"There was ONE hitch in bringing Whiskers down, I admit." Omega said firmly as some oil leaked out onto the ground.

"Oooh. That ain't good. Here, lemme fix ya up." Marine said, quickly taking out a small piece of paper from her pants and quickly taking off her glove. She bit into her thumb and some blood oozed out, and on the spot she wrote some strange letters onto the paper, which she stuck onto the leg wound Omega had as he and Nack looked on in surprise. She then clapped onto the page, closed her eyes...

SCHUDDA-THWOOOOMBAAAAHH!

Brilliant greenish/blue light shone and the wound healed up before their eyes. Omega gasped. Nack gaped. "Wh-WHAAAT?"

"It's Yakin Shīru, from Soleanna." Marine explained happily.

"Soleanna?"

"Yeah, apparently this girl crossed the enormous desert to the East just to come here. How silly!"

"It wasn't all by myself, mate!" Marine said, putting her hands on her hips and gesturing with one thumb at Omega. "It was me and him!"

The koala gave Omega a look with it's eyes. He immediately felt the urge to reach out and pet it, and his arm was outstretched before he knew it. He was inches away when he suddenly actually THOUGHT about what he was doing. "...what am I DOING?" He mumbled.

"Hmm? Oh, you like Tabby, do ya, he's-ohhhh." Marine noticed the robot's chest. "I can SENSE it." She carefully reached up and tapped the chest, and it quickly opened up, revealing a circular, glowing life ring with strange symbols circling around it. Or rather, HALF a life ring. The other half looked slightly...beaten. Charred. As if somebody had-

"Yes, that's it. The art of reading the rhythm of the Earth. You definitely have some experience with it." The young raccoon commented, looking the core over.

"...my brother...he researched Yakin Shīru and Metallurgy. This core...is the result of that research." Omega explained.

"Wow, your brother's pretty dang smart!"

"Well, whatever. Your wound's healed, so we can head to Central City, right?" Nack inquired.

"Ooh, Central City? Alright, let's get a 'movin, mates!" Marine said, holding up a small knapsack in the air. "I got me rucksack and tucker bag all ready!"

"Hey, girl, this ain't kids stuff!" Nack told her, poking her in the head.

"I'm SERIOUS." She snapped.

"You can't really mean you BELIEVE that delusional stuff about immortality, can you?" Nack wanted to know. "You've gotta be the dumbest broad I ever-"

The koala promptly jumped up on his face.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Nack ran for it, screaming, running around and around in a circle as Marine rubbed her chin, thinking to herself.

Immortality can't be reached through OUR ways. But maybe...by using metallurgy...I MUST find that man I've heard so much about...the blue-furred wonder...green eyes like emeralds...gallant and brave...Sonic the Hedgehog! Marine thought to herself, eyes going all starry as little roses floated by her in the air for some strange, strange reason.

"...how does she get those roses to float by her?"

"...I've decided I neither know why, nor do I think I care. Let her come." Omega decided.

...

...

...

...the streets were pale and empty, and barely lit as Rouge slowly made her way down the alley, holding onto some groceries with one hand, the other texting a cell phone message to Shadow. She hit the "Send" button just as something caught her attention...the smell of dried blood. And close.

"...okay, come out." She muttered, turning around and putting the cell phone away in her pocket as she noticed the being that was standing in the crook of the alley far behind her, who had been waiting for his chance.

"You know...it ain't smart for you to be walkin' alone. Us girls gotta stick together." A vaguely metallic, high-pitched voice sniggered as an orangish robot stepped out, blue eyes glittering. "If you're not careful, you'll get shot up by SCYLLA!" Scylla cackled, rushing forward.

Rouge quickly drew out a small submachine gun she hid in her pants. BUDDA-BUDDA-BUDDA-BUDDA!

"GAAAAH! Whatcha doin' THAT for!" Scylla groaned, dancing around in the alleyway, the bullets pinging off her body. "That frickin' STINGS!"

"That's the POINT. I heard about you, you know. From Tails. He talked about the not totally "robotic" guardians of the Fifth Laboratory."

"Ohhh, HIM? You mean Fox-Boy? You're a friend of his?" Scylla remarked eagerly. She then sighed wistfully and Rouge blinked. "Wow. You know...you're HOT."

"...eh?" Rouge raised an imaginary eyebrow and sweat-dropped.

SOME TIME LATER...

Scylla was tied up as Shadow, Rouge and Vector stood together in an "abandoned" warehouse, a single light between them and the incapacitated, very insane robot. "So...it seems there's a good possibility that the military's senior staff has been working on creating Chaos Emeralds. And there are those two freaks that Sonic talked about...are they the ones that turned you into this?"

"No, it was really my own doing." Scylla explained. "Charybdis and I were on this quest for self-fulfillment and we didn't think too hard about the consequences. You know, having your soul ripped out is VERY painful."

"If we could find the other researchers at that place, that would be really helpful." Vector brainstormed, rubbing his large chin.

"Yeah, that's a dead end. THEY'RE all dead, got turned into Chaos Emeralds themselves!"

"Hmm. Hushing them up AND using them as ingredients. Well at least we know they're a FRUGAL bunch." Shadow muttered balefully as he wrote it all down on a notepad. "...one more thing. Did you recently kill a military officer who had just been finished with making a call at a phonebooth near a library?" He asked softly, dangerously.

"Unless his face looked like guacamole, it weren't me." Scylla told him. "Which is a darn shame, because that means somebody stole MY kill."

Shadow was quiet for a few moments, and then he let out a sigh. "Nevermind..."

...

...

...

... "You are SO lucky that the Bible says "THOU SHALT NOT MURDER"." Amy muttered as she walked alongside Sonic Westside City with Tails meekly following behind. "And if I wasn't worried about being stuck in the 9th Circle of Hell with the rest of the traitors, I'd make it EXTRA PAINFUL!" She'd had to patch Sonic up all over again since he was incredibly beaten up from his latest fight.

"Which we're eternally grateful for." Sonic gulped.

"By the way, any progress on the "finding a way to get your old forms back"?"

"Bit by bit we're making progress." Sonic insisted as he sipped a nice glass of "Orange Crush", the three of them making their way down Main Street. He suddenly noticed Amy was going into a shop. "Where you going?"

"I have to shop for vitamins. You go kill some time."

"Wait! This place has...nothing but...mystic stores...UGGGGGH." He moaned and hung his head, shaking it as people bustled by him and Tails...

Wait. Where was TAILS? He looked up to see Tails was kneeling down by an alley. "Oh. Hey, did you find a cat or something?"

"...or something, yes." Tails admitted, picking up a limp form.

"SNAAAAAAAKE!" Sonic screeched, jumping back a few feet. The person Tails was lifting was a snake sapient, a serpent anthro. He had had green, scaly skin and a smooth underbelly, and three clawed fingers on each hand. He wore a pristine white robe-like jacket with shamanic pants and a necklace to match. He had on sandals, and his tail was hanging limp, along with the rest of him. The snake also had blue hair that flowed down slightly past his neck in thick locks, thought it spiked up at the top like a Mohawk. And, most interestingly of all, he was carrying a scimitar on his back.

"Sonic, he's really, really out-of-it. He looks starved to death." Tails said.

"...I know I'm gonna regret this." Sonic sighed deeply. "I HATE snakes."

SOME TIME LATER...

"Ohhhh." The snake held up it's hand to it's mouth and suppressed a small belch. "Thank you so much! You really saved my life!" He told them. He had a slightly sibilant voice that was soft, and rather kindly in tone. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm so glad to have found such kindness in this foreign land!" He said as he and the two brothers sat in an outside diner at a table that HAD been loaded with food.

"Wait...foreign? Where are you from?" Sonic wanted to know.

"From Soleanna, oh blue, fat and fuzzy one."

"Don't call me fa-WHAAAA?" Sonic's eyes widened. "Ya mean that big 'ol kingdom to the East? Across hundreds of miles of desert?" Sonic wanted to know.

"Oh yes." The snake told them, nodding firmly. "Crossing the desert was quite tough. I probably would have gotten here sooner, but I wanted to make a stop at the ruins of Babylon, home of the famous gardens."

"Babylon? I thought there was nothing there. Why would you check that place out anyhow?"

"Well, to see if there was anything related to what I came HERE to examine. Yakin Shīru. I believe in your country it's called...ah...Metallurgy, correct?" The snake went on, holding up a small tea cup and pulling out a tiny white bag from his robe pocket, emptying the contents into it and adding some hot water. "Green Tea?" He asked, holding the cup out to Sonic.

Sonic nervously accepted it and sipped it. "...MMMMM!" He remarked, eyes widening. "This is amazing!"

"I make it myself." The snake said sheepishly. "I'm glad you enjoy it!"

"I'll have to put THAT on the list." Tails thought as Sonic put the cup down.

"Wait. You're visiting our country just to find out more about Metallurgy?"

"You see, in our country, the art is called Yakin Shīru, and it's primarily related to the field of Medicine. Much of it centers around being able to repair the most terrible of wounds."

"Different strokes for different folks, I suppose." Sonic said, sipping the green tea. "Here, it has a lot of military uses. There are unending skirmishes at the Eastern Border, at the country of Maginary, and to the South at the Jungle Kingdom."

"And of course we can't forget Nocturne to the North." Tails added. "It's huge and icy and cold. We've got a nonaggression treaty with them at the moment, mostly because the fabled Ice Cap Mountains keep them from attacking us."

"What a restless country." The snake remarked, an invisible eyebrow raised.

"Things started getting more militaristic when Dr. Ivo Robotnik, who became Dr. Eggman of the Eggman Autocracy, took power." Sonic admitted.

"Hmm. I'm interested in this Yakin Shīru." Tails told the snake.

"Yes, it does sound really useful. We should learn more about it. We're always looking for new techniques." Sonic added.

"You're...metallurgists, then?" The serpent wanted to know, leaning back in his chair.

"Yes, I'm Sonic the Hedgehog, State Metallurgist! This is my brother, Miles, but everyone calls him Tails." Sonic said, as Tails shook hands with the serpent sapient.

"I'm King. It's a pleasure to meet you!" the snake told them all.

"So could you teach us about Yakin Shīru?"

"Ah, fraid not. I've got no experience in it." King admitted sheepishly.

Sonic and Tails sweat-dropped, their heads hanging low. "...if you don't...practice it...WHY are you here?"

"I'm looking for something. You might know of it..." King leaned back calmly in his chair and took out some more tea mix, making another cup for himself. He sipped it lightly before going on. "The Chaos Emeralds?"

Sonic and Tails drew in a harsh breath, their eyes staring into King's glittering golden/yellow ones. "...would you happen to know anything about it?" King asked quietly, almost dangerously.

"...no. We don't." Sonic said, looking away.

"...I think you DO." King commented calmly, letting out a whistle.

THWOOSH!

"GAH!" Tails and Sonic gasped as suddenly two people stuck sharp swords at their throats. Both of these people had pearly white armored outfits with a golden bell insignia stationed in front of a beautiful sun on their chests, and they appeared to know how to use those swords WELL. There were belts loaded with various items around each of their waists, including one around King's as well.

"Now, would you be so kind as to just tell me about it?" King asked gently.

"Why do you want the Chaos Emeralds?"

"Simple." King said, holding his arms up. "Immortality."

"...immortality? What a crock." Sonic muttered.

"You know, just because I don't have "ears" doesn't mean I didn't hear that." King said calmly. "I'm being quite serious."

"THIS is the attitude you use to ask people for things? I don't think so." Sonic commented. He quickly slammed his fist towards the person pointing the sword at him, but that person leapt up through the air, spiraling up, then coming back down.

KA-CRACK! A good kick sent Sonic flying and Tails quickly ducked, kicking out and knocking the other person back, flying over to Sonic and helping him off the ground. "Daaaaang...they're strong. They must practice martial arts." Sonic told Tails as his brother lifted him up. "...but they're no Tikal, I tell you." He remarked.

"Let's get to it, then!" Tails said, and the two of them ran off in opposite directions.

Sonic raced off through the city, jumping on the top of a long set of telephone wires that were running side by side. He skated along the top of them, jumping through the air, punching and kicking at the cloaked person who swerved and swayed, effortlessly dodging all of his attacks.

"Dang, you're annoying!" Sonic announced as he jumped again, aiming another kick at the white-masked being. He couldn't see anything but her eyes, the mouth and nose region were covered up with cloth, and even the EYES were hard to see unless up close. "What are you and that stupid dust-crawling idiot up to?"

The being's eyes went wide and she suddenly jumped at HIM...and he jumped off.

THA-THWONK! She fell off and landed in a garbage bin, and Sonic leapt down after her, grinning as he stood outside the alley she'd landed in. "Ha! I actually-"

THAM! She jumped out and kicked him across the alley. He hit the wall, rubbing his nose, but an idea hit him. The minute he'd insulted that snake...

Ideaaaaaa!

Elsewhere, Tails was running for his life from the elderly-looking masked man, trying to save his flying for when he would head back to Sonic. The cloaked man frowned as he chased after Tails, eyes narrowing. "This is very odd. I don't sense any "Flow" from within him. That's just plain damn weird."

"Dang it, I've got to think of something fast!" Tails commented. He then noticed somebody was running alongside him. "Huh?"

"Just making my obligatory cameo!" Christopher Thorndyke remarked, holding something up for Tails to look at. "Lemme help you out."

His hands reached up and turned the wind-up key at the top of the black, orb-like thing in the palm of his hand, and the elder man running after Tails frowned. "What do you think you're doing, bringing other people into..."

He then noticed that the red-haired child had dropped something and it was...walking towards him? He blinked, stopping in place as people shrieked and ran.

"AAAH! It's a Bob-omb!"

"He's got a Bob-omb!"

"It's a Bob-omb!"

"...Bob-omb." The elder man remarked as it went up to him.

"C'mon, you're gonna have to do better than that! If this is the best his flunkies can manage, that King guy must not be hot stuff!" Sonic laughed as he dodged a flurry of strikes from the masked person he was facing.

The eyes narrowed and the being leapt up to try and kick his head, and Sonic grinned. The minute this person's master got put down, they lost their cool. And then it became EASY to read them. "I've gotcha NOW!" Sonic roared out, ducking and suddenly jumping upward, grabbing ahold of the cloth region that covered most of the being's face. "Time to get a look at your face!"

He ripped it off...

And suddenly he was not facing a fighting phantom, but a very pretty, red-haired human girl with soft skin. She had vibrant blue eyes, as blue as his own fur, and he stood stock still in shock. "You're a GIRL?" He exclaimed.

Unfortunately, though HE might have been distracted by that fact, she was not...and had just pulled out what was unmistakably some kind of grenade that looked sort of like-

"AAAH! It's a Bob-omb!"

"She's got a Bob-omb!"

"It's a Bob-omb!"

"...Bob-omb." Sonic remarked as it was thrown at him.

BOB-OOOOOOOOOOMB!

Two explosions rippled through the air and the townsfolk all gasped and coughed and spluttered as smoke billowed everywhere. One side, the smoke cleared to reveal Tails had managed to knock the other man off guard and was now tying him up. He was an elderly human man with a silver beard and a slightly large nose, who couldn't believe he'd been so easily tricked.

"I can't BELIEVE I've been so easily tricked." He muttered.

Elsewhere, the girl sighed as she saw the figure of a single arm trapped underneath a ton of rubble. "Oh dear. I overdid it. I'm sorry, are you alright?" She asked, carefully approaching the arm as the smoke began to clear away...

Revealing that, in fact, it was nothing more than a glove on a very arm-like stick. The girl blinked. "...what the-"

THWOOSH! A net suddenly wrapped around her, tying her up as Sonic popped up from a hidden alcove behind her and he grinned. "Heh, not bad, huh? I used to catch rabbits as a lil' dibbun all the time, so I know a thing or two about traps." He told the girl as Tails brought the elder human over to him.

"Not bad! I got one too." Tails told his brother, putting the older man down on the ground nearby the enormous, wrecked factory that Sonic had been fighting by.

"Hey, not a bad job at all!" King announced, waving his hand in the air, cheerfully standing nearby.

"You're awfully chipper about your "girlfriend" here almost blowing up half the town to get to me!" Sonic yelled.

"And yet here you stand before me! You're really very skilled!" King admitted, clapping his hands and smiling happily. "Why don't you work for me and we'll rule the country together?"

"Stop talkin' nonsense!" Sonic snapped, getting in his face. "Go crawling back-"

"HEY!"

Sonic and the others turned their heads to see a large assembly of townsfolk were there, looking VERY angry. "You sure did a number on your factory! It was the ONLY business in town that has NOTHING to do with the Arts!"

"Now how are we going to produce the materials we need for our ceremonies?" Another snapped.

"Your bomb-omb ruptured our water pipes too!" Another added, pointing at Tails.

"And you ain't paid your café bill, man!" Another person spoke up.

"Hey, don't blame US! Blame this foreigner and his trigger-happy cronies!" Sonic said, pointing at King.

The serpent anthro held his hands up. "No hablo ingles! Adios amigo!" And with that, he immediately hopped backwards into an open sewer grating and was gone.

"GAAAAAH! Get back here, you CHEAT!" Sonic yelled out, shaking his fists in the air.

"Ah, the other ones got away too." Tails moaned. "...damn, they're GOOD."

"Oh MAAAN." Sonic moaned. "Major uncool."

"It's okay, I'll clean it up." Tails said. "Since I got my memories back, my magic skill's really increased."

Sonic thought this over. "...so..he can fly...he's a better fighter than me...AND now he's pretty much gaining as much magical skill as I...OHHHH." He held his head. "At this rate, I'm not gonna have ANY advantages."

...

...

...

... "Ammmy! We're baaaack!" Sonic called out as he and Tails entered Amy's shop to see...

"Hello! We meet again!" King announced, holding his hand up, the other hand raising a cup of tea to his lips.

Sonic promptly beaned him over the head with a shoe from off his feet and Tails plugged his nose as Sonic walked over, picking the shoe up as King picked HIMSELF up. "Don't just sit there, drinkin' tea!" Sonic exclaimed.

"How cruel! And to think, we're friends!"

"Who you calling "friends"? You gave us one REAL HARD TIME." Sonic hissed, getting in King's face.

"Oh, relax, please. I'll give those two a stern talking-to later." King promised. "And, by the way, she's NOT my girlfriend."

Sonic blinked. "I never said she was-"

"You were thinking it, I can tell." King said, sipping some tea. "The girl's name is Elise. The old man is her father, David. They're members of a family that's served Soleanna for generations."

"You must be really important to warrant having two people escort you here."

"Well you see, Soleanna happens to be ruled by the Metatron, voice of God, for Soleanna is a holy kingdom. And I am his son." King told them.

"Wait..." Sonic and Tails blinked in surprise. "So you're...a...PRINCE?"

"Yes, I suppose you could say that." King admitted. "In fact, all of our kind get blessed with royalty or leadership-related names."

"...HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!" The two brothers began laughing. "HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! The guy we found passed out on the side of the road is a freeloading son of-"

"HEY!"

They were suddenly aware of creepy Latin chanting as Elise poked her head over the windowsill to glare at them intently.

Koyanisquanti...

Koyanisquanti...

"...we'll stop laughing." Tails squeaked out.

"...GOOD." Elise said, her head sinking back below the windowsill.

Koyanisquanti...

"Sorry about that. Usually she's VERY nice, but when it comes to me and my safety, she gets very...sensitive." King apologized.

"...so you're really a son of the Metatron?" Sonic asked.

"It's not that big a deal. You see, he gives that title to all the guardians that were chosen to look after the Bell of the Heavens, which allows him to rule justly and act as God's voice. He chose different women and gave them virgin births but I'm not the only one he did it to. You see..." He cleared his throat. "Soleanna is made up of 25 ruling families, with the Metatron at the top. He oversees all final decisions that concern ALL of Soleanna and the rest of the great kingdom is divided up amongst the families who deal with the...day to day things." He sipped some of his green tea.

"Okay...I get it." Sonic nodded his head.

"The problem is that the Metatron feels that it's time for a single ruler of all Soleanna. He foresees a time in the near future where it will need a powerful, wise and noble ruler to lord over the people and care for them. It is the duty of people to look after each other, to make the world as it ought to be by living in the way they SHOULD. And God feels he cannot keep doing that by holding our hand and having the Metatron reign over us. He seeks to pick an heir."

"That heir is going to have to have something really special going for them if they're going to rule over a Kingdom of God." Tails remarked. "...wait..." His eyes widened. "So THAT'S why..."

"You want to gain immortality. That would make you a "cut above the rest", alright." Sonic commented. "...too bad! We ain't telling you anything! The Chaos Emeralds are not tools for you to "shortcut" your way to first place you-"

"I'm baaaack!" Amy announced, walking into the room, holding up some groceries. "Hey, Mr. King, guess what? I packed enough for a three day trip!"

Sonic blinked and looked in her direction. "Huh?"

Tails scratched his head. "What's all this about?"

"I didn't tell you? King's coming with us to Central. I want to stop by Mighty's place. They were so nice to me before, I wanna check in with them again! And see how cute little Venus has gotten!"

"Ooh, I cannot wait to see what Central City is like!" King announced happily as Sonic sweat-dropped, knowing he wasn't gonna win this argument.

"So we're really just letting her come along?" Nack asked quietly as he drove the car he and Omega were riding in. Marine and her pet were sleeping soundly in the backseat of the truck, snoozing away.

"Yes. We are." Omega said simply as he folded his arms.

This is a road I must take. And as I walk along it...I am prepared to leave behind all the gifts life has given me. Come...what...may.

SEASON TWO ENDING CREDITS!

 

---

 

(Sonic and Tails sit at the top of a hill, with Amy far behind them, watching their backs as the wind moves the clouds overhead. She sighs sadly.)

Let it all ooouuuut, let it all ooouuuut...

tsuyogaranakute ii nda ne...

dareka gaaaa...kaitettaaaa...

kabe no rakugaki no hana ga yureru!

(The remains of Sonic and Tails's house are shown as the two stand in front of it, their fists clenched, a single tear escaping down to the ground as a sweep is done to show King, Elise and David standing together, looking at the two brothers sympathetically)

Jibun rashisa nante daremo wakaranai yo...

Nagai nagai michi no tochuu de nakushitari hirottari...

kyuu ni samishiku natte...naichau hi mo aru kedoooo!

(Scenes of the brother's past are shown as Tiara flips through a scrapbook, Amy looking over her shoulder whilst Sonic and Tails's "ghosts" walk together, away from the house.)

Namida mo itami mo hoshi ni kaeyou,

ashita o terasu akari o tomosou!

chiisana te kazashite futari de tsukurou,

hoshikuzu o tsuyoku hikaru eien ooooo!

(A solitary figure floating in the air, sitting in a tree watches the boys pass by. He sighs deeply, and then vanishes as the boys slowly approach Tiara's house, the lights going on inside to welcome them in.)

Sayonara itsuka wa kuru kamo shirenai,

kisetsu wa sore demo megurimegutteku...

chiisaku mayotte mo aruiteku...

kimi to aruiteku sore dake wa kawaranaideiyou neeeee!

(They walk inside...

And are home.)

Chapter 15: The Captain's Fallen, Cold and Dead

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

---

 

OPENING CREDITS-SEASON THREE

---

(Sonic is sitting on a hill, trying to reach up and "grab" the sun. As the clouds obscure it, he angrily slams his fist into the flower bed he's sitting in)

Shuuchuu dekite nai na mada karada ga mayotte iru 'n da
furuete ita 'n ja KONTOROORU shitatte bure 'n da!

(He then stands up, turning around to see the Golems are all standing there. He claps his hands together, transforming into his "Super" form, rushing through the air)

Taiyou mo tsuki mo nan mo kanzen ni kocchi muite inai ga
yaru shika nai 'n da iikikaseru you ni sou tsubuyaita!

(Shadow and Mighty stand together in an old military picture along with Rouge, all smiling at the camera. Shadow puts the picture down, clenching his fist and finally tossing a burning fireball out of the window, which soars into the camera.)

Joukyou wa warui ga tada nigedasu 'n ja konjou nai na
tenbou wa nai ga dokyou de KURIA suru shika nai ya
shoudou wa osaeta mama TAAGETTO to no kankaku sagure
hitsuyou na mono wa katsu PURAIDO wo!

(King and the envoys from the Kingdom of the Sun stand together by Sonic and Tails, giving them a raised fist of friendship as a shadow grows ominously from underneath King, and Omega's visage appears in the sky, the camera panning out to where he is as he sits with Marine and Fang by a fire.)

Ajiwau no wa shouri no bishu ka sore tomo haiboku no kujuu ka
sono subete wa futatsu ni hitotsu ayatsuritai unmei no ito!

(NiGHTS looks over a photo, a sad, mournful expression on his face as he finally lowers his head, shaking slightly)

Zekkou no golden time kono te de tsukame
konshin no poker face kimete shikakeru yo
Illusion no sekai e hikizuri konde!

(Sonic and Tails stand before their respective doors to the "Ultimate Truth" as they slowly open wider and wider...)

Saigen nai pressure game sururito nukete
eikou no borderline tobikoeru tame ni
How many? dore kurai no daishou ga iru?
tebanashitaku nai no wa dore?

(The scene changes back to the first scene, but before Sonic can slam his fist into the flower bed, the sun peeks out through the clouds, dissipating them, and he stands up, eyes widening in awe)

Episode Fourteen:

The Captain's Fallen, Cold and Dead!

船長が落ちている,寒さと死!

---

"Good lord, that train ride went on forever." Sonic said, rubbing his head as he and Tails and Amy carried their things off the train. "I'm just glad to be able to stand back UP again. My butt's sore."

"Sitting down for so long wasn't the annoying part. What was annoying was that we were being spied on that whole time...and are still being watched like rats in a lab." Tails remarked, looking up at the top of the train where David and Elise were sitting.

"Have you, by chance, seen King?" David asked, furrowing his brow in concern.

They looked left. Then right. Then left, then right again.

"He's gone missing again?" Amy remarked.

"Ohhhhh." David mumbled, shaking his head. "Our beloved prince is missing again." He quickly ran to the edge of the train and began calling out. "Kiiiiing! Kiiiiiing? Where are you?"

"Oh, what if he collapsed again?" Elise murmured in worry, biting at her thumbnails and chewing slightly.

"Too bad, so sad." Sonic remarked, sniggering slightly. "Let's get moving on."

"Kiiiiiiiing!"

"Helloooooo?"

Meanwhile, King stood far atop the train station upon it's roof, the wind blowing through his hair, making the folds of his outfit sway like a dancing cobra. He folded his arms, eyes narrowed, turned to harsh, golden slits. Something about this entire country was...wrong. "Off". It felt...foul. It felt like...like...

"Something's...moving...underground?" He murmured.

Meanwhile, down the street, Ray the Flying Squirrel exited from a taxi, a basket filled with fruit, cheese, bread and a bottle of wine in one hand. He nervously brushed some of his yellow locks back, his tail twitching as he approached the door and headed inside, up to the second floor of an old, rather run-down apartment.

Shave-and-a-hair-cut...

"Two bits." Vector responded, opening up the door and showing off his large crocodilian grin. "Nice of you to stop by!"

"I got you a little something from Shadow. Actually, two somethings." He held up the basket, and then something from his jacket pocket.

"Hot DAMN, man! Ice Cube! This is classic s—t, dude, I tell you." Vector remarked. "Not like that pussy "whiter than white bread" Vanilla Ice, man."

"I thought he was "V-Ice" now." Ray inquired as he headed into the next room, where Scylla, of all people, was sitting at a checkers board. "So, how's it going?"

"I have yet to beat him." Scylla remarked, folding her arms and giving off an expression that was the closest she could come to a scowl with her robotic body. "I'm bored. I can't beat anybody up, and that nice bat with the sweet ass ain't here. Can't you have her visit?"

"...I'll see what I can do." Ray remarked, rolling his eyes.

"How long again do I gots to look after "Punch first, ask questions later"?" Vector inquired.

Ray quickly "harrumphed" and then drew himself up, sweeping some of his hair back to look like Shadow's quills. "Sorry to have you on a dangerous assignment, but don't neglect your normal duties"-" Ray then sniggered. "Hee. I said "doodie"."

"Yeah, you TOTALLY said "doodie"!" Scylla sniggered.

"...anything ELSE?"

"Oh. Uh..." Ray cleared his throat again. "We're treating this like sick leave."

"WHAT?"

"If anybody from the general public or any other military personnel see you, don't think you won't pay for it!"

"...ohhhhhh." Vector groaned and sank in his chair. "I'LL BE STUCK IN HERE FOREVER AT THIS RATE!" He yelled. "...please tell me there's some good news."

"Yep!"

Vector's head shot up. "Really?"

"My girlfriend let me get to second base!" Ray said, holding up two fans, folding and unfolding them dramatically as a rising sun appeared around him, and a faintly Japanese call echoed out through the room.

SFX: Yoohhhh-ooooooo!

"She was supportive of me moving and even helped me set up my new apartment AND she's a hottie-hot-hottie!" Ray went on, practically melting.

"Has she got a nice ass?" Scylla inquired.

Vector wondered if it was possible for him to cut through his wrists with the tiny little butter knife he had on the table.

...

...

...

...meanwhile, not very far away...

King had passed out on the road again and was face down, moaning and groaning, surrounded by a fairly large group of people.

"Los illegalos?" One man inquired, earning him a kick in the leg.

"Don't be silly. Lookit the clothes. Definitely not from SOUTH of the Border."

"Hey, dude, you okay?" One man asked as the Central Cops leaned down.

"Sir? Sir, can you hear us?" One of the policemen asked.

"We might have to perform CPR." His buddy admitted nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Is it 30 pushes, or 20?"

"...foooooood...waaaaater...atmospheeeeeere..." King muttered.

"Where you from?" One of the cops inquired.

"...Sole...anna..."

"Wow, that's a LONG way off. Well, just show us your passport and we'll help you out."

"...passport?" King asked, his head shooting up. "What's a-oh. You mean like an entry visa?"

"Yes."

King blinked, thinking back.

NOT SO LONG AGO:

"You're SURE you've got everything?"

"Absolutely. Sword! Clothes! My sandals! Packed for water, food, my notepad, a pen...all set!"

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing else. I'm good to go, I assure you!"

"Well okay, but if you forget anything, just remember, I TRIED to tell you."

PRESENT:

"...aw, HECK." King moaned as they dragged him off.

"Illegal alien coming through!" The cops announced.

"See? Los illegalos." The man from before told his friend.

"Guess they're trying to get a piece of the pie from EVERYWHERE."

"We should drop by Central HQ first." Sonic told Tails. "Say hi to Shadow and the others."

"I think I'll stop by the Milo's home and pay my respects." Amy told Sonic and Tails as they continued to walk down the sidewalk. "I wanna see how big little Venus Dee's gotten!"

"We'll meet you there, then?" Sonic asked.

"Yep, see you later!" Amy laughed, heading off as Tails watched her go.

"Do you think that Mighty's found out any more information for us?" Tails wanted to know. "He might have found out something else about the Chaos Emeralds."

"Maybe." Sonic admitted. "But first thing's first. Let's tell him and the others about the Golems."

"Yeah. They need to know this stuff right away." Tails murmured.

And so, the two headed off for Central HQ, making their way through an enormous park, running as fast as they could. They rounded a corner, passing by a park bench, casting a glance at a phone booth where several flowers and wreathes had been laid down.

"Oh my." Tails said, coming to a stop. "Oh, that's awful."

"Some poor city kid getting gunned down, maybe? A drive by?" Sonic asked.

"There's just too much violence in the city." Tails said. "The police should do something about it. Central needs to take more control."

"Wax! Hey, Wax!" Wave inquired as she entered the library. "Listen, you still have the key to room number 3, right?"

"Oh, yeah, but it's a REAL mess." The Wax admitted nervously, shaking his head back and forth rapidly. "I can't let anybody in until it's completely clean!" He protested.

"...really?" Wave asked. "Well...okay, if you say so." She remarked, scratching her head. "Could you just make sure to get these books out for me when you get the chance?" She asked, handing the blue-haired human a note and leaving the room.

The Wax breathed a sigh of relief, then carefully snuck into room number three, where Shadow was leaning back in a chair, a book over his face, other books littered around him as if somebody'd taken a machine gun and used volumes of tomes instead of bullets to fire. "Uh., Colonel Shadow, sir?" The Wax inquired.

"...yess?" Shadow murmured, rubbing his head and getting up. "How long have I been asleep?"

"...ten minutes? Sir, maybe you shouldn't push yourself-"

"...dang. And I have a meeting at..." He looked down at his watch. "...now. Oh well. I'll be back later." Shadow said, leaving the room and the adjoining room it was in. The Wax followed him, sighing slightly as Shadow rounded the corner.

"Was that SHADOW?" A voice spoke up.

"GAAAAAAAAAAH!" The Wax jumped three feet in the air, holding onto a hanging light fixture before finally turning to see a creamy-furred head with orange-tipped, long ears. "Oh! Ms. Vanilla!" He said, dropping down from the fixture. "What can I help you with?"

"What was Shadow doing here?" Vanilla inquired. "Just out of curiosity?"

"...er..."

"Let me guess." Vanilla laughed. "He twisted your arm into letting him use "that" room for his own reasons. I imagine...to do with finding out Mighty?"

"Yes. He asked about the materials used at the Fifth Laboratory and said it had to do with the Milo case." The Wax said nervously. "I only got my job here through Mighty and Knuckles's recommendations...I just wanted to...honor his memory. Maybe help solve the case-"

"Well. There's a lot of work to do today." Vanilla admitted, patting the Wax on the shoulder. "Carry on!" She said cheerily, leaving the human be.

As "Vanilla" walked down the hall, rubbing her chin, she suddenly noticed that a creamy-furred head was standing at a fountain nearby, taking a drink. Eyes widening, she ducked into the men's bathroom, her body quickly changing...

A moment later, a low-level coyote clerk saluted at Vanilla, leaving the bathroom and walking past her, giving a small smirk as she headed off in the direction of The Wax.

"Hey!" Vanilla called out to the Wax, who turned to look away from his desk at the room near room number 3. "Mornin'!"

"...wait...didn't you just?" The Wax blinked a feew times in confusion.

Meanwhile, Shadow was washing his face, looking himself over in the mirror, the last bits of water draining down into nothingness. He sighed, looking at the bags in his eyes, blinking a few times and rubbed his eyes slightly. "...ugh..."

"Hello, sir." Knuckles called out, stepping out of a bathroom stall and going to a sink. "...have you...lost weight?" The echidna wanted to know, turning the tap water on.

"Maybe. Did you get injured on your trip to the South?" Shadow asked right back.

"Maybe." Knuckles responded. "It's just a scratch. By the way, I saw the Metal Brotherhood down at Angel Island. They went to see their teacher and I happened to meet with them."

"...did you tell them about...about IT?" Shadow mumbled as Knuckles turned the tap water off.

"No." The echidna said softly. "...but they're going to find out eventually, won't they?"

"Yes. Eventually." Shadow murmured. "...the Fifth Laboratory was being used to make Chaos Emeralds using the souls of innocent people. And Mighty stuck his pointed nose into what the two brothers were investigating, biting off more than he could chew. Is that what you wanted to tell me, but couldn't not long after Mighty's funeral?"

"Why can't you tell me?" Shadow snapped. "Are you going to disobey a superior officer?"

"I can't tell you." Knuckles said firmly, eyes looking intently into Shadow's face.

"..." Knuckles nodded firmly.

"If they found out he died because of what they were involved with, it would have hurt them. Really hurt them." Shadow went on. "You sure are a great big softy."

"You're well-informed!" Knuckles complimented.

"I'm GETTING there." Shadow said.

"Then be careful." Knuckles whispered. "...there's no telling WHO'S listening and WHERE." He added, leaving the room.

Elsewhere, Sonic and Tails had finally met up with Rouge as she waited in the hallway for Shadow to appear. And she seemed quite happy to see them again.

"I'm happy to see you again!" Rouge remarked cheerily. "And it's long time no see, eh?"

"Is that a new perfume you're wearing?" Tails inquired.

"What? Ah! No, no, definitely not." Rouge insisted, shaking her head. "...okay. Yes. It's supposed to appeal to a man's most basic instincts."

Sonic took a sniff of the air. "...PEPPERONI? Wait. This is Central Command. Are you just VISITING, or-"

"Welly-welly-well." Shadow remarked, entering the hallway. "Hello, Sonic."

"...Shadow." Sonic mumbled. "...please tell me you're only visiting."

"I was reassigned with my team here to Central. Not bad, eh?" Shadow asked calmly.

"...I'm SO enthusiastic. Truly." Sonic muttered, looking down and to the side.

"What brings you here today?"

"We've come for a little bit of research. We need to know more." Tails told them. "And we were really hoping we'd be able to talk to Mighty!"

Rouge almost bit through her tongue. Shadow's lip became a taut line for a moment as his eyes went steely. "How's he doing?"

"...he retired. He took his wife and kids out to the country and took over the family business." Shadow said with a straight face as Rouge gave him a glance.

"Oh, really?" Sonic remarked, blinking in confusion a few times. "Well, gee, I..." He scratched his head. "That's a bit of a shock..."

"I hope Amy won't be upset when she finds they're not there." Tails told his brother.

"I've got lots of work to do." Shadow said, about to head off. "But listen...take care of yourself...and...and don't do anything crazy." He added softly, leaving the hallway with Sonic and Tails behind him.

"...you're really okay with just...fibbing to those guys like that?" Rouge asked, frowning deeply. "I mean, really. They're going to find out the truth eventually."

"I know. But...they don't need to know just now. They seem so happy." Shadow murmured.

"So just this once, you're gonna treat them like little kids?"

"Just this once." Shadow murmured. "...guess I'm a hypocrite. Calling Knuckles a softy when I'm doing this."

"You SURE you oughta be doing this at all? Sometimes kids need to hear hard truths." Rouge added, stopping him in front of a window as the light gently filtered in, illuminating them both. "This seems to be one of those times."

"..."

"I think what you did was cruel." Rouge murmured. "...you should go back and tell-"

"Sonic! Tails!" Wave called out, waving and heading over in their direction, a big smile on her face. "How have you been doing?"

"Oh, we've been off visiting our old teacher." Sonic told her. "But we have to get a move on to go find Amy and let her know."

"Know what?" Wave inquired, raising an invisible eyebrow.

"Well, we heard from Shadow about Mighty." Sonic admitted.

"...you did, huh?" Wave asked quietly, frowning a bit. "It's...rough."

"And there's so much we wanted to say to him."

"Too bad we couldn't say goodbye to him." Tails went on.

"We WANTED to call you, but...we couldn't reach you. You don't have to worry too much, we made sure he had a proper send-off." Wave went on, nervously rubbing her arm.

"Oh? Really?" Tails asked, looking surprised. "That was damn decent of them!"

"And...and you might have heard he got promoted too...he went from a lieutenant colonel to a brigadier general. All in all, not...not bad." Wave murmured.

Sonic looked a bit weirded out. "Wait...they promoted him two ranks AND let him retire to the country?"

At the words "retire to the country", Wave's blue eyes shot open and the pupils turned to horrified slits as her hands flew to her beak.

And just like that, Sonic and Tails "got it". Tails's eyes widened as he dropped his luggage. Sonic's eyes became wide-open, horror filling his features.

"...no." He squeaked out.

Meanwhile, Amy had picked up a bunch of wonderful bunch of fruit to make a personalized fruit basket for Ms. Milo. "Let's see." She looked it over. "Cherries, watermelon, grapes...oh, she's gonna love this!"

"It can't...it CAN'T BE!" Sonic screamed.

"Why...why Mighty?" Tails demanded to know.

"...Mighty..." Wave murmured. "...he..."

...

...

...

...Sonic ran, his face wracked with pain, heaving and on the verge of screaming as he barreled through the park, Wave's words echoing in his head.

"...Mighty was murdered shortly after you were discharged from the hospital, Sonic. We still haven't caught the culprit..."

And it had all been his fault. HE'D been the one who'd pulled Mighty into this. If he had never involved Mighty...if he'd never brought up all that talk about Chaos Emeralds and strange eyes and laboratories...

"Hmm. Guardians who were only souls attached to robotic dolls...you being referred to as a "sacrifice"...beings with strange eyes...a Metallurgic circle hidden in a laboratory...and to top it all off, Big saying that Chaos Emeralds were used in the Shanazaran Campaign..." Mighty whispered, frowning darkly as he pulled his sunglasses down slightly. "...I do NOT like the sound of this. This whole thing reeks like some government conspiracy in one of those old 90's movies from back when people thought the Internet could take away your entire life."

He finally came to a stop, falling to his knees by a tree, gloved hands digging into the ground.

"Remember what I told you! Whenever you're in Central City, feel free to come here anytime. Me casa es su casa!"

...it was all his fault...

"...your girlfriend sure is cute." Mighty told Sonic, elbowing him slightly.

"She's  not  my girlfriend!" Sonic muttered swiftly.

"Though not as fine as MY honey mine!" Mighty added proudly.

All his fault...

"This is my wife's special recipe." Mighty told Sonic as they sat around a table. There were several large cupboards with ornate-looking cups and china behind Mighty, and paintings of the family tree hanging on the wall. "You should come 'round on Mardi Gras. The gumbo is fantastic."

"Some paprika, a couple hits of Tabasco sauce and a bit of heart makes it the bee's knees." Willie Mae told Sonic as he eagerly dug into the Chili, with Miles sitting nearby.

"C'mon, eat up." Mighty told Miles, grinning. "It's delish."

He turned his head, noticing that Tails was standing nearby...by a very familiar phone booth. Sonic's eyes widened, suddenly understanding why the flowers were there, and he staggered over to it, falling back to his knees and banging his fists upon it, sobbing freely as Tails closed his eyes, his body shaking.

Amy knocked on the door to the Milo's home. "Daddy?" Venus called out, quickly opening the door only to find a smiling Amy looking down at her. The little armadillo's head lowered and she finally began to wail, clutching onto Amy's legs as if she was afraid to let go.

"Venus Dee, what's wrong?" Amy asked gently. Then she noticed Willie Mae had appeared in the doorway. "Oh! Mrs. Milo!" She asked. "Is something wrong with...what's...what's wrong?" She asked quietly, seeing the woman's sorrowful, mournful look. "Where's Mr. Milo?"

...

...

...

...knock-knock-knock.

Ms. Milo opened the door again, giving a small little smile at Sonic and Tails. "...hey." She said softly.

"...hey." Sonic murmured. He looked as though he'd been crying for a long time. The last remains of tears were lingering on his stomach and shoes. "...is...Amy?"

"...she's on the couch. She...knows. Like you do, apparently." Willie Mae added quietly, letting them inside. They all sat down in the living room as Sonic and Tails looked over at Amy, who was blowing into a Kleenex.

"You heard?" Amy finally managed to get out as little Venus laid next to her, head resting against her.

"...yes." Sonic said softly. "From Wave."

"There's something we need to tell you all." Tails said, grateful that Venus appeared to be asleep. "It's going to be a lot to take in." He added softly.

So they explained it all. The Chaos Emeralds. The Golems. Why Mighty the Armadillo had died. And when they'd finished, Sonic bowed his head. "Tails and I promised each other we'd do all we could to get our original forms back, but if innocent people will die because of what we want...it's not worth it." He said quietly. "...and we're so sorry."

Ms. Milo was quiet for a long, long time. But then...

"It's just like him, huh? Always getting hurt trying to help other people. You know...I think that's how he wanted to die, too." She added softly. "I don't think he really had any regrets..." She told them as Sonic and Tails looked at each other, almost unable to believe what they were hearing.

"...Ms. Milo..." Tails murmured.

"You're not the one who shot him." She said simply. "Don't say you're giving up. You do that...and my husband's death won't have meant anything." She said firmly. "Just have faith in yourself and what you can do, and find a new way to move forward. It'll be hard...but it's always hard, isn't it?" She added sadly.

"...yes. Yes, it is always hard." Tails admitted.

"...thank you." Sonic murmured.

...

...

...

...Sonic, Tails and Amy had left the building to leave Ms. Milo be, and now walked along the sidewalk, not speaking. They seemed to not truly be existing. It was as if all the world was nothing but a dream around them. That the world they lived in was just a nightmare they'd wake from.

But upon returning to the hotel, they knew it wasn't so. Amy clutched a pillow tightly to her chest as she sat on a chair in her room, eyes blankly staring at the wall. Sonic had taken ahold of an apple from the kitchen and was taking small, tiny bites as he refused to take his eyes off the stem. And Tails sat down on his bed, paws folded in his lap as he shivered.

He wanted so much to cry. He wanted to just shed one single tear for Mighty. But tears were a gift of the living. Tears were a gift of God. And there was no God in the sadness he was feeling. Only a terrible emptiness.

He finally headed towards the window and began to slowly thump upon it with his paw/hand, then began to bang with both of them, finally beginning to scream over and over as he slipped down onto his knees, dry-sobbing, striking the ground.

He wanted to wake up. He wanted to wake up. He wanted-

...

...

...

... "Well? He's snooping around?" Flippancy inquired as she, Ignorance and Racism stood around in a darkly-lit room.

"Unfortunately, yes. And if he actually found out something..." Racism added softly, red eyes narrowed.

"To think, we moved him to Central so we could keep a better eye on him, but he's turning into almost more trouble than he's WORTH." Flippancy mumbled. "Men are worthless. Like my boyfriend, who thinks the more he talks, the more I'll listen."

"Is he talking about anything USEFUL?" Racism, aka Metal Sonic inquired, looking amused.

"If by "useful" you mean what shampoo he uses to put the bounce in his hair, then yes, he's got a plethora of information in his noggin." Flippancy remarked. "We'll have to go out on a little information-hunting, won't we, Ignorance?" Flippancy asked cheerily, patting the Biolizard on the head.

"Hmm. I wonder." Metal Sonic got an interesting idea. "What do you do when you have a nosy dog?...you give it some food." He said softly, dangerously. "Why don't we throw our little dog a BONE?"

...

...

...

...Wave was sitting in the cafeteria, sipping on some coffee as she spoke with Jet about VERY important matters.

"Death Star!"

"U.S.S Enterprise!"

"DEATH STAR!"

"ENTERPRISE!"

"How can you be so stupid? The Death Star can blow up freakin' PLANETS!"

"It got blown up by a HICK and a 20-year-old walking blue and white trash can! "

"A hick who can use the FORCE! How many Force users you got on the Enterprise, Jet? Huh?"

"The Enterprise has Captain Picard and Commander Data. They're even better than Luke!"

"Yeah, a bald French guy and a 20 year old robot that gets reprogrammed all the time! Sooooo scary!" Wave said, waving her hands in the air.

"Hey, Picard's the shiznit." Jet argued, taking a sip of some coffee. "He'd have Data find the weak point on the death star in 20 seconds!"

"One Force Choke and Baldy McNohair's not gonna be doin' much of anything!"

"Dream on! Captain Picard would just beam out before-"

"Ah-hem. Second Lieutenant Wave?"

Jet, Wave and the others at the cafeteria turned their heads to see a shark dressed up in a fancy outfit standing there, arms behind his back. "I'm Bruce Banana Loboto." The gruff-looking shark remarked, his sunglasses flashing. "I'm from the Marshall's office."

"You have to come with us. Your gun?"

"Fine, can I ask what the heck this is all about?" Wave inquired, giving them her gun as others in the room began to take notice, looking surprised.

"Your name has come up as a material witness in the murder of Mighty the Armadillo."

"WHAT?" She exclaimed.

"WHAT?" Shadow inquired. "Wave? HER?"

"She's pleading not guilty." Rouge informed him as he looked over the clipboard she'd given him with all the data regarding Central Command's current investigation into the death of Mighty.

"Hmm. Gather all the materials you can pertaining to her, but do it quickly and secretly." Shadow said, folding his arms as he handed the clipboard back. "I want to know ALL about this." He added, looking out the window at the city. In fact, just a few blocks away, Ray was bringing a bunch of flowers over to a nearby café.

"Hello, Louise!" He remarked cheerily, holding up his bouquet of white flowers as he approached the table where his date was sitting. "I didn't make you wait, did I?" The Flying Squirrel inquired, giving her the bouquet.

"No, I just got here." The eggplant-colored hedgehog said, taking off her reading glasses and putting down her copy of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". "I'd love to hear more of your interesting stories, Ray. I'm in a romantic mood. Tell me something...RACY." She inquired, grinning broadly.

Author's Note:

The title of this chapter comes from an old poem about Abraham Lincoln, who's portrayed as a sea captain of a ship. The ship has finally, after being out at dangerous seas for so long, returned home in victory, but the captain will never know of this victory, for he's dead as stone. The same aptly applied to Lincoln...and, in a way, to Mighty.

Chapter 16: The Military's Untrustworthy? What ELSE is New?

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Fifteen:

The Military's Untrustworthy? What ELSE Is New?

我々は、軍を信頼していないか？だから何？

---

Wave the Swallow sat in a darkly lit room, looking confused. She couldn't really believe this was happening. It all seemed to be something out of a nightmare. The shark across from her, Bruce, lowered his sunglasses ever-so-slightly to glare intently at her, his arms folded before him, several guards stationed at the door of the interrogation office.

She had been arrested under suspicion of being involved in the murder of Brigadier General Mighty the Armadillo. A recorder to the right was in the process of writing down everything that was being said in the room. So far it was just a reiteration of what she already knew...

KLINK.

A bullet fell to the table.

"THIS is the bullet used to kill Brigadier General Mighty. It was of a .45 caliber. Only one bullet was used in the murder." Bruce went on calmly. "It'd like to say it was a good shot...but the murder was at point blank range. So close that even a woman could have done-"

"EVEN a woman?" Wave asked, frowning darkly.

"...moving on." Bruce spoke up. "What caliber gun do you use?"

"45."

"This is an ammunition resupply memo you sent out." The shark said, holding up a piece of paper. "You're lucky we keep track of everything here. So you needed to restock your gun, correct?"

"Yes."

"It says you fired one shot off and that's why you asked for another bullet. What for?"

"Like it says on the memo, I was protecting blue britches and his brother at the 5th laboratory from a psycho robot." Wave told him.

"That laboratory has been closed for years, and is unmanned." The shark remarked.

"That's not what WE saw." Wave said, frowning a bit.

"So you say."

"Why would I even kill the Brigadier General? He hasn't done a thing to me!" Wave said. "Nobody had anything against him in our entire-"

"And if we were to search the rubble that is now the 5th laboratory, would we find it?" The shark inquired, cutting her off.

"I don't think so, the place was blown apart by an explosion." She told him.

"So you fired off your gun at a place that is supposed to be unguarded and even if we tried to search for the bullet, we wouldn't find it." Bruce commented.

Wave frowned. "If you don't believe me, ask Jet. Or Sonic or Tails. We KNOW what we saw there. And buildings don't just EXPLODE, sir! There were clearly people-"

"I'm not here to lecture you. What's the point? My words just curdle in your ears, you don't take in a thing." The shark said calmly. "So much filth inside your head, ain't no room for the words of truth."

"You'd better watch language like that. People are gonna think you're a woman-hating creepazoid!" Wave hissed.

"We have eyewitnesses PLACING you at the scene of the crime, girly. Or rather, leaving it."

"That's ridiculous!" Wave protested. "If you'll check my schedule, which I cleared with Central Command, that day was my day off and I went to my parent's house to spend the day with them. I was with them all day, call them up if you don't believe-"

"The testimony of family members and those with whom you are on close terms is not admissible as an alibi!" The shark said simply.

"WHAT?"

Meanwhile, Knuckles was standing outside of the Marshall's office, arms folded, frowning darkly. He turned his head to see Jet approaching him, and blinked a few times.

"Sir! SIR!" Jet called out. "What's going on? Did you get-"

"I couldn't get inside to see Wave, I'm afraid." Knuckles told Jet quietly as they headed off. "Apparently, from what I CAN gather, they say that she fired a single bullet from her gun which killed Mighty."

"She fired a single bullet but not at Mighty. We fired it together to defend the Metal Brotherhood at the Fifth Laboratory." Jet spoke quietly back. "I said so in my report, but they aren't listening."

"This is..." Knuckles frowned. "Are they trying to paint Wave as the culprit?" He murmured darkly. "Frame her?"

Meanwhile, Amy was dusting off Tails's body, trying to keep busy. "See?" She said, holding up a small little thing. "Mothballs. They've been nesting in you when you're asleep. I told you, you've got to take better care of yourself!"

"I'm sorry." Tails apologized, nervously blushing as Sonic lay sprawled on the bed in the hotel room they were in. "We've been kind of...too preoccupied to think about personal hygiene what with...everything." Tails murmured.

"...what are you guys ging to do now?" Amy asked, her tone soft, serious.

"...what ARE we going to do?" Sonic murmured. "...Amy...what do you think?" He asked at last.

"...to be honest...I've been scared." Amy told them. "You two have been fighting for a long time...and investigating something that got Mighty killed. And then, what would happen if you died? I'd lose two more people I really, really cared about, like..."

She hesitated. "...like Mom and Dad..." She whimpered. "I don't...I don't know what to do either."

"...I'm going to go get the paper." Tails mumbled, leaving the room.

"I'll go get us some sodas from down the hall." Amy offered, also leaving the room.

"Heh-heh-heh. I've got you know!" Vector remarked evilly.

"Maybe." Scylla remarked.

"What do you mean?" Vector asked, frowning as he gestured at the checkers board before them. "There's only one move you can make. You move there, then I take your two pieces here and win!"

"There's always another option in "Checkers"." Scylla commented calmly.

SCHAKKA-BAM!

"Hello, boss! I got the paper like you asked me to-oh." Bomb blinked a few times as he watched the door open, showing off Vector with a checkers board lodged in his nasal cavity. "...another glorious victory, boss? I picked up the paper for you like you asked."

"Any good news in it?" Vector said after yanking the board out and tossing it away.

"Well, I only check the Sports section. By the way, you missed an EXCELLENT soccer match yesterday between-" Bomb began to say.

"What the?" Vector gasped in horror, looking down at the bottom of the front page. He then raced for the telephone and quickly picked it up as Scylla and Bomb blinked stupidly, Bomb closing the door behind him. "Hello? Please, connect me to Shadow at Central IMMEDIATELY. My code is "Ruby"!"

"What's all the hubbub?" Scylla remarked. "Come on, Crocodile Rock, tell me what's...ohhhhhh!" Her/his eyes widened as she picked up the newspaper, looking at a very particular newspaper article.

"What the heck!" Sonic gasped, looking the newspaper over with Tails. "Wave the Swallow, suspected accused of murdering Brigadier General Mighty the Armadillo was convicted on charges of first degree murder?" He read out loud. "WAVE?"

"HER?" Tails gaped.

They immediately headed out the room, rushing down the stairs. "We need to find Shadow and Knuckles. They'd know something about this!" Tails insisted. "...but Amy's still getting us sodas-"

"We're gonna hafta tell her later!" Sonic reasoned. "Faster, c'mon!"

...

...

...

... "This is so humiliating." King spoke up, sighing deeply. "Why do I have to wear these?" He inquired, holding up his wrist where a prisoner's chain had been stuck. "You know, we do not have "jails" in my kingdom, we view restricting a person's freedom as-"

"Quit your whining." The guard snapped. "They're like a collar for a mutt."

"I resent being called a "mutt"!" King said, frowning darkly. "I'm a pure blooded venom-fanged anaconda! My entire family's of noble descent!"

"And how old are you?" The guard inquired.

"20." King told him. "And I do not have a "record" either, why do you keep asking-"

"You don't LOOK it." He laughed.

"It's true!"

It was then that the guard noticed his fellow comrades were rushing down the hallway, and the sounds of gunfire echoed through the prison. "What the?"

Another guard turned his way. "Some THING just busted in through the walls and is trying to make it's way through the prison! You've got to come quickly!"

The guards continued to fire over and over at Scylla, who continued to move forward. "Oh, c'mon. Are you silly-willies even TRYING?"

One of them held up a shotgun. BA-BAAAAAM! The head went flying off...

And she caught it, putting it back on. "It's...not...a suit?" One of them asked.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

They all ran screaming like wussies down the hall as Scylla held her hands in the air. "Your tax dollars at work, folks." She thought out loud, heading down the hall. "I wish I could beat them to a pulp, but there's other work to be do-"

"Hello? Being whom guns don't have any effect upon?"

Scylla entered the hallway King was locked up in, passing by other people's cells and looking him over. "Yes?"

"Would you please be so kind as to get me out of this cell?"

"Who are you?" Scylla inquired.

"I'm an illegal immigrant from Soleanna. My name is King." King told her.

"I'm Scylla. Soleanna, eh? Well...I could always use a new hangout." She admitted. "...fine."

She quickly approached the bars and ripped them clean out, allowing King to step out of the prison cell as she dusted herself off and continued walking down the hall. "Was there somebody you were intending to rescue?" King inquired.

"Yes. A swallow."

"Oh, you must mean that foul-mouthed bird down the hall!" King remarked.

"Down the hall?"

"Down the hall, to the left and-"

And five minutes later, an absolutely horrified Wave was staring down Scylla in the face. "It's YOU!" She gasped. "That robot from the 5th Laboratory!"

"You remembered me? I'm touched! I remembered YOU too!" Scylla showed off the side of her head, where an unmistakable bullet wound was. "My cheek still stings from that day! Of course, I should have expected such a killer instinct from the woman that killed a Brigadier General."

"It's all a load of bull! I'll prove myself innocent!" Wave said angrily.

"No, you won't. They already found you guilty." The robot said, holding up the day's newspaper for her to see. She looked it over, eyes widening in horror.

"Oh my." King shook his head in disgust. "They've pinned the guilt on you so unjustly..."

"You're going to have to choose. Either run for it with me...or stay and get tortured to death." The robot remarked.

"Ohhhhh MY MOM AND DAD ARE GONNA KILL MEEEEEE!" Wave moaned, banging her head against the wall as Scylla sighed and folded "it's" arms.

"Uh...we had best be going. I hear guards coming." King spoke up nervously.

"...fine. Let's go. You'd better not let me get killed, ya big scrap heap!" She snapped, heading out of the jail cell.

"Ooh, she sure has spunk...and a nice ASS too..." Scylla added, and she would have smiled if she could have.

"Hey, a girl's gotta have nerve!"

Meanwhile, not very far away, Marshall Bruce Banana Loboto put down the phone. "So, it is like that, eh?" He murmured. He turned to the others in his office. "Wave the Swallow broke out. Notify every zone in Central City. I want a search of every outhouse, doghouse and dollhouse! She appears to have broken out with the help of an exceedingly violent companion, so if she resists, let them know it is acceptable to shoot to kill!"

Elsewhere, on the streets of Central City, Shadow the Hedgehog calmly put one foot in front of the other, his eyes narrowed with purpose, hands clenching and unclenching. He had a job to do...

...

...

...

... "They say...running..."

"Pant-pant-pant..."

"Can actually...be good for you..."

"Pant-pant-pant..."

"That it can increase..."

"Pant-pant-pant..."

"Your life expectancy..."

"Pant-pant-pant..."

"Talk about stating the obvious!" Scylla remarked as she, Wave and King continued to rush down the back alleys of Central City.

"Oh!" King gasped as they suddenly turned a corner, running right into Sonic and Tails of all people.

"Wave?" The two brothers exclaimed.

"Sonic? Tails?"

"Oh, what a nice surprise!" King remarked cheerily. "...sort of. We're kind of in the middle of running for our lives."

"Yes, we don't have time this!" Scylla snapped. "You, bird-girl! Head for the corner alley to my right and slip away under cover of darkness!"

"Wait! Ms. Wave, did you really-" Sonic began to say.

Wave was about to say something but Scylla spoke up. "If you don't run, you know that the police will find and shoot you on sight, GO!"

Wave tossed them a tortured look, then ran for it, squeezing into an alley and taking off as fast as she could.

"Wait! Ms. Wave!" Tails called out.

"Stay BACK!" Scylla snapped. "I got my orders, kiddies!"

Wave ran. Like the WIND. She panted and heaved, rushing through the alley, her "chicken legs" propelling her like a rocket through the air as the prisoner's chain ID on her wrist banged back and forth. She was running so fast that a burning feeling was surging up through her chest and-

She found herself moments away from the main street...with a dumpster to her right...a pile of newspapers to her left...

And Shadow the Hedgehog before her, holding up one hand, burning embers flickering around it like satellites orbiting a planet.

"Wave the Swallow..." He whispered coldly.

THA-THWOOOOOOOM.

An enormous explosion tore through the air as Sonic and Tails gasped, seeing a miniature mushroom cloud rise up into the night sky. "What the?"

"Oops. Looks like they got her." Scylla commented. She might as well have been discussing the weather.

BAM! Sonic knocked her out of the way as he and Tails ran to investigate. King sighed, then headed down an alley with Charybdis. This was not a safe place for him to be.

And...apparently...it had not been a safe place for Wave to be either.

...

...

...

... Human flesh requires extended exposure to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit in order to ignite. Since the human body, indeed, most "Sapient" forms, are 85 percent water, what occurs is a burn outside to inside in a rapid cycle of layer-by-layer dehydration and ignition. The heat dries out the skin; the dry skin ignites. That fire dries out the next layer of muscle and fat, which then ignites. And so on, until the internal organs are consumed.

This had happened to Wave. What was left of her was a disgusting, rotting hulk of a frame that was sizzling in the alley, with Shadow calmly standing, back turned, to the horrified-looking Sonic, who gaped at the body before him...his eyes staring accusingly at Shadow as the black hedgehog turned around.

"Hello, Blue Blur."

"What the hell is going on here?" Sonic screamed furiously. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Shadow? And what the hell have you done?"

Shadow stood there, arms folded. He said nothing.

"...why did Mighty...why did Wave..." Sonic couldn't take it. He rushed forward and had grabbed ahold of Shadow hard, green eyes staring into red, a furious, baleful glare on his features. "Why didn't you tell us?" he screamed angrily.

BANG! Shadow punched Sonic in the face, knocking him to the ground and dusting himself. "Raising your hand at a superior officer? You're forgetting your place."

The look on Sonic's face was one of pure, unadulterated hatred. With a furious screeching cry he launched himself forward to rip the bastard's throat out with his bare teeth, but Tails was suddenly right behind him, holding him back as best he could.

"Let...me...GO!" Sonic yelled.

"Ogilvie, no!" Tails said, addressing his brother by his old name.

"He killed Wave, Miles!" Sonic snarled, practically spitting.

"What?" Then Tails looked down and saw the body. His eyes widened in horror. "What is this?" He gasped.

"The orders were to shoot her on sight." Shadow explained calmly, back turned to the brothers.
"I'm sorry I did not tell you of Mighty's death. But don't argue against orders. Don't ask for explanations."

He turned around dramatically, eyes narrowing. "That's what it means to be a soldier." Shadow snapped.

It wasn't long before the crime scene investigators were examining the body. Bruce the Marshall looked the scene over, turning to Shadow and raising a non-existent eyebrow. "Tell me what happened."

"I told her to stay where she was, she tried to run, I used force." Shadow said simply.

"Oh, is it that simple?" The shark inquired. "I understand Mighty was a good friend of yours. I wonder if one of your men broke Wave out yourself...so you could burn her to death with your own hands?"

"Well, you had already decided you were going to be the judge and jury." Shadow commented coldly, unfolding the newspaper in front of the shark's face. "So I decided to give myself the role of executioner."

Bruce's eyes narrowed angrily.

"Funny how you prounounced her guilty after a single day without doing any sort of investigation or trial. Funny in the same sense that it was so easy for me to find her. And how she resisted so quickly. Life is funny, isn't it, Mr. Loboto?" Shadow remarked.

"You've got some ner-" Bruce began.

Sonic's punch to his groin made him gasp and he fell to his knees. If Sonic couldn't get any satisfaction from striking Shadow, he could get some from hitting the next best thing. Bruce fell to the ground, gasping horribly, eyes bugging out as Sonic and Tails left the alley, the shark looking up at Shadow.

"Don't...just...gaaaaaaaahh...don't...uaaahhhhh..."

"Don't what? I didn't see anything. Did you see anything?" Shadow quietly asked the crime scene investigators, who all quickly shook their heads. "See?" He said, turning back to Bruce. "You really ought to be more careful where you turn. And you should go check into a hospital, I think he actually broke the skin with that punch."

...

...

...

... "I'm...I'm sorry that I did not tell you of Mighty's death." Knuckles murmured softly as he stood with Sonic and Tails at the morgue wing of the hospital.

"It's my fault." Sonic mumbled.

"No. No it wasn't." Knuckles insisted. "You must not blame-"

"So, the gang is all here, eh?" A voice spoke up.

They turned their heads to see a white-haired old man in a labcoat standing there. He sighed and motioned for them to follow him in. "How is it, Dr. Thorndyke?"

Charles Thorndyke, aka "Chuck", led them over to the remains of the body, picking up some papers with his gloved hands. "The burns to the body were incredibly severe. But judging from what little was left of the body, including it's shape and some scraps of feathers that hadn't been charred too badly...I could determine that this was Wave the Swallow." He informed them. "...she's just charcoal now."

He turned his head to look over at Shadow, who was sitting at a chair. "You must have had a real grudge, wanting her to die like this. Feel better now, huh?"

Shadow just glared at him. Chuck let out a "hmph" and walked off. "The Hero of the Shanazar War, going this far to kentucky-fry a chicken. Disgusting."

Sonic resisted the urge to punch Shadow again. But then he saw Knuckles's gloved hands were digging in deep as he spoke up. "Colonel, allow me to apologize for what one of my own men did. To...to think Wave could have...have committed murder..."

Sonic and Tails felt their fury towards Shadow be temporarily abated by pity for the clearly upset Knuckles. The look in his eyes was one of absolute, raw fury, his teeth almost grinding, his body shaking with rage. "She was a spirited...brave...considerate...woman...wish...I'd had...a hundred...like...HER..." He managed to growl out.

"...I think that fatigue is getting to you." Shadow spoke quietly. "...perhaps...you should head out east. There's no big-city hustle and bustle, and lots of VERY nice girls."

With that, he left the hallway seconds before Knuckles let out a roar, punching the wall with a loud cry.

...

...

...

... "And so Shadow the Hedgehog avenges his dearest comrade and friend, and all is well that ends well."

"I don't know. The plan was supposed to get Shadow to behave. But now it seems that him taking the bait has sparked a bloodlust in him." Flippancy commented.

"Ah, who cares?" Racism sneered...or he would have if he could have. "And besides, the once proud "hero of Shanazar" is now hated by his subordinates. That alone puts a smile upon my face."

"You've got no lips." Flippancy remarked.

"Shut it."

...

...

...

...indeed. The "hated by his subordinates thing" was being seen clearly. Rouge had, out of the blue, requested a leave of absence...and then had slammed the door behind her so hard it had almost broken off it's hinges. Vector, who was still looking after Scylla, was in a visibly foul mood, usually sipping lightly as his coffee, muttering hateful things about Shadow under his breath every few minutes.

"Oh, I'm a lumberjack 'n I'm okay." Scylla sang out, calmly sharpening a large axe. "Hey! Foreign boy! What's up?"

King was outside the apartment in the apartment block's garden, enjoying a fine salad with a loaf of bread he was toasting at the moment. "I'm about to enjoy a very nice lunch." He called back to Scylla, putting some margarine on the bread roll. "I'd offer you a slice, but you don't have a mouth, do you?"

"Another thing I do miss about being un-fleshy." Scylla remarked calmly.

"How can you just let strangers follow you back! There's no more room for people here!" Vector argued.

"Oh, and it also acts as a signal fi-oh." King blinked, as Elise and David suddenly appeared in a tree nearby.

"We have been looking all over for you, dear prince!" David insisted, bowing deeply.

"I'm so glad you're alright." Elise said softly, gently.

"That was quick!" King remarked cheerily.

"Ooh, look! There's more." Scylla told Vector.

"I wish I had hair so I could tear it out and scream like a mammal." Vector said as he crawled underneath the table in the apartment. "I only hope Shadow is as pissed as me!"

"Oh? Elizabeth? Is that you?" Shadow beamed happily, leaning back in his chair as he talked to an unknown women. "How WONDERFUL of you to call! What? Oh, no, no, she's long gone. Off on a leave!"

"How quickly he forgets his girlfriend." Some of the men in his office muttered.

"Cough-cough-Sleaze-cough-cough!" Another mumbled out.

"I'm thinking about taking a leave myself to do some...fishing." Shadow remarked with a grin. "...would you care to come along?"

Meanwhile, the door to the hotel room that Sonic, Tails and Amy were staying in was knocked upon and Sonic opened up the door. "Hellooooo?"

CHUCKA-THUNK!

He was quickly and harshly knocked to the ground by Knuckles, who looked down ominously at him.

"What the?" Sonic gaped. "What's this about, Knucklehead?"

"Hmmmmmm...you need a vacation!" Knuckles announced.

"...what?"

"Right now ANYBODY could take you off guard. Come on! I won't take "no" for an answer, we're heading out!" He told Sonic, tossing him over his shoulder and leaving the room. "You stay here Tails! You would stand out too much...RIGHT?" he asked, eyes narrowing darkly.

"...oh, yes, I'm...in full...agreement..." Tails muttered nervously.

"Put me down, you overgrown ant muncher or I kick your...GAAAAH!" Sonic roared angrily.

"...what...just...happened?" Amy moaned.

"...I don't know." Tails murmured. "I really don't know.

...

...

...

..."Sir!"

"Yes?"

"We've got confirmation. Sonic and Knuckles have boarded the train. It just left two minutes ago."

"Good. Excellent indeed."

Everybody is out of the way...

Chapter 17: The Many Layers of Truth

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Sixteen:

The Many Layers of the Truth!

真実の多くの層 !

Poor Sonic had not had any reprieve. He remained stuck in the tight grip of one Knuckles T. Echidna, loosely hanging, something of a scowl on his face as the echidna headed out of the train station and down the road, many people watching. "This is EMBARRASSING, man!" He groaned. "What the heck were Shadow's orders? Just tell me already, Major!"

"I don't know all the details, he just told me to grab you and meet at your home town of Kiritimati." Knuckles told him simply, finally putting him down.

Sonic dusted himself off as they continued to head down the road. "Okay, fine. Meet with who?"

"Us!"

Sonic looked up to see Heavy was sitting on the small stone wall on the right side of the road. Heavy strummed on a guitar. "Oh, I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more, just to be the man who walked a thousand miles to fall-down-at-your-door!"

"...we're not REALLY walking 1000 miles, are we?" Sonic blanched.

Elsewhere, Tails sat in the hotel room with Amy, looking at the telephone. "This is really weird. Why hasn't he called yet?"

"Knuckles might still have him in a headlock or something." Amy mused, smiling a bit.

"I don't understand anything that's happening." Tails remarked. "What is Knuckles up to?"

"Don't worry, I'll explain." King said, suddenly appearing on the bed. Amy turned and blinked a few times, gaping in surprise.

"How did you-? What the?" She stuttered.

"When did you get here?" Tails asked. "And for that matter, how'd you get in?"

"Through the window." King remarked, jabbing a thumb backwards at the open window. "It was easier than taking the stairs. Also good for my glutes." He added, hiking up his robe a bit to show off a well-oiled chest.

"...niiiice." Amy admitted. "I've never seen such good pectorals!"

"What diet are you on, pray tell?" Tails asked, taking out his notepad again.

"Well, I don't eat meat, so I have to get creative with my protein intakes. Here." King reached into his flowing jacket/robe and pulled out a small list, giving it to Tails. "Next time you get the chance, order these things from those stores in Soleanna. Tell them King sent you."

"Okay, uh..." Tails took the list. "You realize you're a criminal now, right? You're an illegal immigrant AND you escaped from a federal prison? And aided and abetted a criminal?"

"...WE'RE aiding and abetting a criminal right now by helping him hide from the police!" Amy realized, and she groaned, holding her head.

"By the way, about Sonic..." King spoke up. "You needn't worry. He's..."

...

...

...

... "Well I would walk a 1000 miles if I could just...see...yooooou...toniiiiiii-"

"Heavy, if you sing any more of that song, I'm going to have to kill you." Sonic muttered, limping across the ground. They were all stuck on camels out in the desert, moving along at an unbearably slow pace, wearing hooded outfits to protect them from the stinging, ball-busting heat of the sun that was trying to bake them like they were cookies and the desert was it's oven.

They passed by tumbleweeds, various tiny remains of buildings, but there seemed to be little in sight. Then again, Sonic was pretty sure he was about to pass out since he couldn't see more than two feet in front of him at the moment. "That bastard...making us trudge through the desert..."

"Out of curiosity, are we almost there yet?" Knuckles asked their guide, who was none other than Elise's father, David.

"It's there, off in the distance. The ruins of Babylon!" He announced, pointing.

They were greeted to quite a sight. At one point the place must have been absolutely grand. There were enormous, towering walls with the faint traces of gardens milling around. Flowers had once grown down many of the walls, and there were various strange, circular platforms scattered about, the faint remnants of lost technology left embedded in them.

There were many, many statues around, two to a door, all of various flying animals and strange, odd creatures. Some were vaguely elfin, with tiny wings and cheery smiles. Others were things with cloaks and boots and gloves that had no noses or ears. But what caught Sonic's attention was...

"AHHHHHHHH." He rested his sore butt in a large fountain, grinning broadly. The cool water felt so good on his behind. Then he accidentally leaned back too far and fell into the fountain, coughing and spluttering madly as, for some STRANGE reason, he could swear the sound of loud, vaguely ticking-like music was playing, counting down the moments until he drowned.

"...why did you bring him again?"

"It's a loooong story. Simply put, he got involved and needs to know everything." Knuckles told David as Sonic realized he could simply stand UP in the fountain and nervously blushed, stepping out.

"You know, I've read about Babylon. Mom used to read "The Jester of Babylon" to me before bed."

"Jester of Babylon?" David inquired, stroking his beard, looking very interested.

"Yes, it's an old folk tale about the one who brought Magic to our land." Sonic said. "The tale goes that this man was a lone survivor of Babylon Gardens, a beautiful, lush paradise that vanished overnight like Pompeii. Wrapped in garments like some kind of jester, he introduced the power of Magic to the country not long after it was founded." Sonic scratched his head. "Why, do you know about it?"

"Something like that. We have a tale of "The Babylonian Drifter". He was a lone survivor of Babylon who arrived in our land and mixed his arts with ours, creating Yakin Shīru. He was very, very revered. We called him "The Western Bard", for he taught all of Magic to us through song." David smiled broadly. "He was apparently quite the voice, too."

"...song, eh?" Sonic mused as they walked through the ruins of Babylon, looking around. "That's interesting."

"One question though. If these guys were so powerful and amazing, why'd they all vanish overnight?" Heavy asked of David.

"That...is a mystery." David informed them all solemnly. "We're still not sure."

It was then that Sonic saw something. A wall with a very, VERY particular design on the front. It showed off many stars in a magic circle, all pained various colors, almost glowing in the sunlight with several symbols stationed at certain points. And there was a faint trace of...something...something had once been at the top. But that top part was...gone. Almost ripped off.

Sonic frowned. There was something eerie about this entire place. As he kept walking through the ruins past empty house after empty house towards a large, stadium-like place, he felt a chill go through him. It was as if there were ghosts lingering about, trying to grab hold of him and make him continue watching...

"We're going quite a ways in, aren't we?"

"Yes, we are, but I'm sure there's a good reason." Knuckles told him as they entered the stadium.

"Hey! Sonic!" A voice called out from a seat off in the distance.

Sonic's eyes widened. He thought back to Shadow's words earlier in the week.

"Perhaps...you should head out east. There's no big-city hustle and bustle, and lots of VERY nice girls."

Two pairs of eyes widened in surprise. Sonic beamed. Knuckles grinned.

Wave the Swallow stood there, putting her goggles on her forehead, beaming down at them. "Heya." She said cheerily.

"You're aliiiiiive!" Knuckles cheered, rushing at her to hug her.

"AH! WAIT! YOU'RE ALL SWEATY!" Wave screeched as he "glomped" her to the ground and began hugging the heck out of her.

"Oh, I KNEW he wouldn't have really, oh thank GOD you're alive!" He remarked happily. "I'll kick Shadow's ass when I get back for all of this but thank GOD you're alive!"

"Crushing...me...you...need...Axe...body spray..." Wave managed to squeak out in between bear hugs as Sonic beamed broadly in joy.

"We couldn't keep her in Mobius. She might have been found out." Heavy said. "So we sent her out of the country."

"So Shadow knew she was innocent all along?" Sonic asked.

Heavy would have grinned if he could have. "It's a bit of a long story..."

SOME TIME EARLIER...

"Can you believe the balls of these people?" Heavy said, putting the newspaper down on Shadow's desk. "Getting that kind of "perp-walk" out of the poor girl."

"Bringing disgrace on ALL of us!" Bomb said. "This is way too showy. They're up to something."

"Oh believe me, I believe you." Shadow said. A moment later the phone rang and Shadow picked it up. "Hello? Oh, Wax! It's you! Yes, you can put Vector through. What is it?...what the?"

"Hey, lemme on the phone!" Another voice spoke up from the other end. A voice Shadow recognized.

Idea.

"Uh, Bunnie, I can't talk on this line for personal stuff. Let me call you elsewhere!" Shadow quickly said, hanging the phone up.

So he'd called Vector's temporary apartment up from the park, ironically in the same phone-booth Mighty had been shot. "So it's true? That bullet hit you?" He asked Scylla.

"Oh yeah." Scylla told him. "I've still got the hole in my head, y'know. When the wind picks up, I WHISTLE."

"...hmm. I think it's time for a change of pace. Scylla...would you like to cut loose a little?" He inquired.

"...I'm still listening, aren't I?" She asked, grinning if she could have.

And so the plan had been made. Scylla was to break into prison to break Wave out. And as for Shadow, well...

"Heavy, Bomb, get these things for me." Shadow said, handing the two pieces of paper, a "grocery list", if you will.

"Pork bone and meat...carbon...ammonia-wait...what?" Heavy exclaimed. "Uh...what's all this for?"

"I'm going to create a burnt-up corpse." Shadow commented.

"WHAT?" Bomb gasped.

"I'm just going to do a little arts and crafts." Shadow went on, heading down the park avenue with the two following behind.

"Oh, I see. But sir, once the coroner is through with the body-"

"It'll be so burned that they won't be able to make a good identification." Shadow insisted.

'What about DENTAL records?" Bomb asked.

"I've got a plan for that too." Shadow said, nodding firmly. "Trust me. Making burnt corpses...it's my specialty."

...

...

...

... Wave ran. Like the WIND. She panted and heaved, rushing through the alley, her "chicken legs" propelling her like a rocket through the air as the prisoner's chain ID on her wrist banged back and forth. She was running so fast that a burning feeling was surging up through her chest and-

She found herself moments away from the main street...with a dumpster to her right...a pile of newspapers to her left...

And Shadow the Hedgehog before her, holding up one hand, burning embers flickering around it like satellites orbiting a planet.

"Wave the Swallow..." He whispered coldly.

Something was shoved quickly out in front of her from a nearby hatch, and then...

THA-THWOOOOOOOM.

Wave gasped at the sight of a suddenly-toasted, roasted body that was now in front of her, and the person whom had shoved the corpse out into the alley opened up the nearby hatch. Ray the Flying Squirrel motioned for Wave to follow him through the hatch and Shadow nodded firmly, Wave nervously diving into the hatch. Shadow then quickly moved a dumpster in front of the hatch and stepped into place, waiting for Sonic to arrive.

...

...

...

... "I don't know whether to be happy or worried that Shadow's so good at keeping stuff like this hidden." Sonic admitted nervously.

"Indeed, I find myself equally worried." Knuckles remarked, frowning a bit.

"When the young prince got broken out of jail by Scylla, a deal was struck. He gave me orders to take Ms. Wave here to Soleanna." David explained, spreading his palms up.

"Okay, I will be the first to admit it...and hopefully this is the last time I do it..." Sonic took a deep breath. "Shadow...had the right idea. And I didn't. There, I said it." He folded his arms. "It's like tearin' off a band-aid."

"Speaking of Shadow, he's thinking of reeling in a string-puller that's been hiding in the shadows." Heavy added. "Scylla holds the secrets of the 5th Laboratory. And that psycho went on a big rampage not that long ago. He's "bait"...and we're sure they've sent somebody out to shut him up before he can talk..."

...

...

...

...back at Central City, Tails rubbed his chin. "The plan was ingenious! I'm impressed with Shadow's deductive reasoning and organizational thought. Pray tell, uh...did he also want Sonic out of the city so he wouldn't get involved?"

"Yes. Sonic's too much of a...well, "hot-head". He would most likely screw things up." King admitted.

"Poor Sonic." Amy remarked, shaking her head as Elise stood guard outside the room, listening in.

"Well, I helped out in exchange for Scylla telling me the secrets of his body. However he...she...IT..." King shrugged. "Told me she couldn't remember the details of what went into creating the Chaos Emeralds. Nothing on what needs to be chanted, or drawn in a seal..." He sighed. "But...luckily, he told me that YOU had a body similar to his, so I've decided to ask you!"

"...er..." Tails remarked nervously.

"If you could be so kind?" King asked politely, hands folded in his lap.

"...ohhhh." Tails moaned.

Meanwhile, the others at Babylon were looking over some drawings Knuckles had made of all the Golems, thinking about the information they had. "What are you going to do now?" Knuckles asked Sonic. "Do you still blame yourself for-"

"I committed the Greatest Sin of all. But people still worked with me...supported me. Even those who get so pissed at me sometimes, they've supported me..." Sonic murmured, thinking of Shadow for a moment. "And Miles...I promised I'd return him to his normal body. It's hard...damn hard. But all I can do is keep moving forward." Sonic decided, holding up his hand and clenching it into a fist.

"I will protect everyone I can with my power." Sonic said softly. "...and maybe it's my ego talking, thinking I can protect everyone, but I don't care. I'm going to move forward and save everyone I can."

All of those sitting around Sonic gave him approving smiles, nodding as David looked down at his watch. "Oh my. I believe we'd best get going, Wave. If we are to reach another spot of shelter in the desert before the harsh night winds blow, we must leave now."

"Should I at least tell your parents?" Knuckles asked nervously.

"Nah, they'd blab it accidentally." Wave remarked. "It's best this way. But if trouble ever arises, remember, you can always call me back." She said, saluting. "...and Sonic?" She added.

"...yeah?" Sonic wanted to know.

"Take care of yourself, okay? Don't go breaking your brother's heart by doing something as stupid as dying." Wave said with a small smile on her beak.

Meanwhile...

Vector sipped at his coffee as he tried to finish up a crossword puzzle. "Hmm. An eight letter word for "Sudden and unwelcome guest"..."

A dog barked off in the distance...

"Oh, I know! Intrud-" Vector began to write.

There was a noise behind him. He quickly whipped around, coming face to face with something he hoped he'd never see ever again. It had been, at one point, some kind of female mountain bear, with grey streaks running through it's hair and the tattered remains of a lab coat on it's body, a tattoo of a fist gripping a heart that had been freshly ripped from a chest on the bear's own chest.

Vector naturally drew his gun, but...

BANG!

The shot missed, since Scylla suddenly knocked his hand down, simultaneously blocking a strike from the bear. "Eaaaassy, croc." She told Vector. "Don't kill this one!"

A moment later a masked figure raced into the room, wearing a mask that covered his face and a black outfit to cover his body. He unloaded several bullets from a pistol at the bear, forcing it away from Scylla and Vector, eyes blazing.

And tail sticking out slightly.

"Ray? Wow, you sure can shoot." Vector complimented as the bear now nursed a very nasty-looking wound to the shoulder, Ray lowering the pistols.

"Dude! Why do you think I'm wearing a MASK? The point is for me to be incognito!" Ray shook his head. "This is why I hate people who aren't used to working in the field."

"Sorry." Vector apologized.

"You're...it can't be, but...you're..." Scylla whispered.

Suddenly the bear rushed forward and before Ray could fire, a good strike knocked one of Scylla's arms clean off, making her gasp in surprise. Luckily a quick blasting of gunfire sent the bear out the window and Ray turned to the others. "Let's take this outside."

They rushed outside the apartment, looking left, right...how odd. They were sure that the bear had-

It dropped down from above...and aimed for Ray, who's eyes widened. He tried to swing the gun up, he'd never be able to pull off a shot!

THA-WHICKA!

But a sharp, powerful knife did. It struck the bear's paw and the bear rolled away, howling in pain as Rouge, hiding in a nearby belltower, held up another knife from the many knives in her belt, grinning broadly as she adjusted her headset.

"I heard a loud noise. Is everything alright?" Shadow asked over the other end of the line.

"Oh, one of the 'customers' got grabby. So I gave him one of my specials." Rouge remarked, violet eyes narrowing as she grinned.

"My, my, you sure can be a heartbreaker, "Rosie"." Shadow remarked cheerily, calling from his private office in Central, the others in the room blissfully unaware of what he was TRULY speaking of.

"Don't move, motherfucker." Ray said, holding up his gun. "There's some things I wanna ask you! We want the TRUTH!"

"It's my body." Scylla spoke up.

"WHAT?" Everyone else exclaimed, Rouge having heard it with her excellent ears.

"I'd recognize it anywhere! It WASN'T destroyed, it must have just been teleported away to another location...and now they've dumped the soul of some lab rat or something into it!" Scylla spoke up. "How existential! My body has returned to regain it's soul!"

Meanwhile, Sonic had returned to look at the wall he'd seen earlier in Babylon. "...that looks so much like a Magic Circle. Like the one I saw back at the laboratory. Hmm..." He looked at the symbols. "A dragon...traditionally, guardians of treasures. Perhaps this was a big secret...yes, it WAS a big secret...that other one's a book...this was a secret of knowledge. And the stars...this was something related to Heavenly knowledge if this IS a magic circle. Perhaps Life Magic..."

Sonic groaned. "Dang it! The top part's missing though! It's like a mystery novel missing the chapter that explains who the friggin' murderer is!"

A pipe whizzed down towards Sonic's head...

It missed. He sidestepped easily, grabbing ahold of the robot that had tried to bring it down onto his head and slamming the robot into the ground. "Nice try." Sonic told him. "What do you want? I ain't got no money, I'll tell you that right..."

He then noticed something. There was a faint glow from the chest compartment. Sonic quickly turned the robot over, opening it up, seeing...a Life Ring.

"A Shanazaran?" Sonic gasped, eyes widening as the robot stood up...others emerging, no longer hiding within the ruins of Bablyon.

"Hello." Another robot spoke up, moving forward, holding up a lumberjack-esque axe. "Would you mind being our hostage so we can take our land back from the state?" It asked darkly.

"The military wouldn't take action over a stupid kid like me." Sonic remarked, rolling his eyes.

"Oh really? It was the shooting of a single child that trigged the Shanazaran Campaign." The "Lumberjack" remarked coldly. "You never know what might be the catalyst that changes history."

"That's enough." A female voice called out.

They all turned to see a rather decrepit-looking robot advancing through the crowd. She appeared to be some kind of robotic hedgehog, with a fairly pink body. For a moment, Sonic thought of Amy...if Amy had not chosen to style her locks down, that is. "This is disgraceful, attacking a child."

"Our apologies, Mark I." The group apologized.

"Gee, thanks. But why are you standing up for me?" Sonic asked. "I thought that you guys thought all of US guys were scum."

"I know myself not all your kind are bad. Many of us have only seen one side of you. I saw another. Two people from Mobius, skilled Zoe users, saved my life ring." Mark I opened up her chest compartment, showing off her ring. True, at one point it had clearly been almost cracked in half, but it looked as though somebody had almost seamlessly welded it back to normal.

"It's true, several of us here were saved by that couple." The Lumberjack admitted nervously.

"Wait...two people from Mobius...Zoe users...a couple...were they a cat and a hedgehog?" Sonic asked, eyes widening.

"Yes, why?" The female robot inquired.

"Were their names Blaze and Silver Rose?"

Her eyes went wide. "...yes. Yes, they were! Are you a friend of theirs?"

"Their daughter is my childhood friend." Sonic said. "Until they left for the campaign, I grew up with them treating my skinned knees and bruises from sliding down the banister." He told them.

"They saved the lives of many of us Shanazarans." Another robot spoke up, rubbing an arm that looked like it bad been ripped into three pieces at one point. "Even when the fighting became terrible, they stayed with us, healing both military soldiers and us civilians. They were...very...very brave."

"...how did they die?" Sonic asked nervously.

"A patient they treated, he..." The female robot said softly.

"You're alright?" The feline inquired, her eyes filled with concern as the white-furred hedgehog knelt by the other robot. "Your life ring was severely damaged, but I've done my part. My pure flames have returned it's glow." Blaze said kindly.

"Uuuuugggghhh..."

"Oh, that one from before, the one "he" brought in. He's actually waking up!" Silver announced, rushing to that robot's side as Blaze grabbed ahold of a box of grease for another patient, bringing it over to his bedside. "Sir, are you alright?"

"...I...what...what happened? Where's...what's..."

The robot slowly sat up, rubbing it's head with it's claws. How had he sur-

He then felt something where he ought to have felt nothing. His chest.

They had...

Rage.

"He lost it. He...he tore into their..." Mark I trailed off sadly.

"...WHO?" Sonic growled, clenching his fists. "Who was he?"

"We didn't see his face...but we saw the symbol on his shoulders...it looked like a Greek letter...Omega."

Sonic's eyes widened...and then turned to harsh, furious slits.

You...YOU...

...

...

...

..."That's really your body?" Ray asked, eyes wide in surprise as he looked at the bear across the street with Vector and Scylla. "You were a bear?"

"Heh-heh-heh." Scylla held up her fists. "To think, I'll be able to beat up my very own body with my own two hands! This is such a psychological TRIP, huh? Hee-hee-hee!"

"Don't you, I dunno, wanna get back IN there?" Vector inquired.

"You kiddin'? Look at it. The hair's going, my limbs look gaunt...look how easily Squirrel Boy wounded it!" Scylla complained as the bear panted before them. "It's dying. When a body doesn't have a soul that's truly it's own, it's going to fight against it...eventually reject it. And then it'll give out. I want to go out on my OWN terms." Scylla told them.

"What a kook." Rouge thought to herself. "An absolute-"

A shudder filled the bat's frame. A horrifying, frightening sense that something behind her wanted to chew her up, spit her out, then chew her up again and SWALLOW her. She stiffened slightly as the tegu lizard's eyes widened in eagerness. It's jaws opened wide, hungry...

BUDDA-BUDDA-BUDDA-BUDDA!

Meanwhile, not so far away...

"So, and this is all supposed to be a secret..." King mused. "According to Shadow, Scylla is being used to smoke out the military bunch that was connected to that secret laboratory. They'll wish to keep him quiet by giving him a very bad case of the DEAD." He sighed. "The minute they send out somebody to slay him, the trap shall be sprung."

"The 5th Laboratory..." Tails murmured. "...I need to go. I might be able to find out who killed Mighty."

"Wait, uh, please, can't you tell me about your body now?" King requested suddenly.

"I'll tell you once I get back." Tails told him kindly. "And I'll be back soon." He added, looking over at Amy.

"Just come back...just come back alive!" Amy insisted, wrapping her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

Rouge gasped, one eye clenched with pain, the other wide open in disgust. She'd cut one of this freak's eyes wide open and sliced through the beast's skull with another. By all rights, the dam thing's brains out to have been leaking out onto the floor like runny eggs...

"That hurt." The burning-skinned tegu lizard announced, it's Cheshire Cat smile going from cheek to cheek. "But are you done yet? Cuz Ignorance would like to eat you now." It announced, as Rouge saw a stream of ones and zeroes flicker across it's remaining eye.

Wait. If it was a GUY...and it talked like one...

She struck.

It hit home.

"GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Ignorance howled, moaning in pain, nursing it's crotch region as Bomb rushed up into the clock tower, tossing something at Rouge.

"Catch!" He called out. She caught it in her hands, a baseball bat as Bomb held up his gloved hand, a small, circular black bomb appearing. He tossed it at her and she struck with the bat.

The bomb whizzed forth, right into the Bio-Lizard's outstretched, surprised mouth as it stood near the outlook Rouge had been firing knives from.

THUKKA-BWOOOOOM!

It was knocked straight into the outlook...it's huge arms blocking it from being knocked completely outside. It's face and throat region were blown open, meaty, burning chunks dripping down, but it grinned with a toothy, horrid smirk as it looked up at them. "Yer all outta aaaammooooo aren'tcha?" It asked happily, the wounds healing before their eyes. "This ain't an action movie, ya' know, you ain't got no bullets left!"

THWOOOOOOOOOM!

A burning torrent of fiery death spiraled out with a snap of Shadow's fingers as he suddenly stood at the top of the stairway to the clock tower. The fire launched the tegu lizard out of the clock tower like a weight machine being tossed out the window by a furious wife, outraged over how much she'd put on over Christmas.

"Phew. That was close." Shadow remarked. "Made it just in time."

"You...IDIOT!" Rouge yelled in his face. "You put yourself in real danger! You were supposed to keep out of this! Now they could know you're directly involved! We TOLD you not to come to our aid, are you some kind of moron? You stupid, stupid..." She rolled her eyes, holding her head in one hand. "...ugggghhhh."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry." Shadow apologized, rubbing his head.

"Geez, who WAS that guy?" Bomb asked, looking out of the overlook down at a roof far away at the limp body of the thing they'd attacked. He then turned to his left and gasped. "Uh oh! Colonel! The target, that bear...he's making a run for it!"

"Let's get going then." Rouge insisted. "And...thank you, sir."

"Save it for later." Shadow protested, perhaps a bit too quickly as they raced down the stairs and into a car, with Ray hopping inside.

"Waaaaait!"

They saw Tails rushing along the alley, flying towards them. "Let me come with you!" He begged. "This has to do with Mighty's death, doesn't it?"

Shadow hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Jump in." He told Tails.

Tails climbed inside as Rouge took the wheel, and they followed Scylla, who continued to chase after her old body.

"I wonder if that monstrous lizard will appear again." Rouge murmured as she frowned darkly, trying to keep her eyes on the road, her mind's eye continuing to see that horrid thing from before. "It was unlike anything I'd seen. I stabbed it in it's head, and yet it's wounds healed before my eyes..."

"Wait. Rouge, it's eyes. Were they a string of ones and zeroes?" Tails asked.

Rouge thought back. "Yes, yes they were."

"It was a Golem." Tails realized.

"A WHAT?" Shadow gasped.

"A WHAT?" Rouge exclaimed, almost driving right into Scylla.

"OY! Watch the road!" Scylla howled.

"There's no such thing as a Golem! It's IMPOSSIBLE to make one" Shadow growled.

"My brother and I met a Golem with the title "Selfishness". His name to the public was Michael White."

Shadow and Rouge's eyes went wide.

"He told me "If you have power, than ANYTHING is possible". And magic is essentially power." Tails told them solemnly as Ray looked startled. "Look at ME. Look at Scylla."

Shadow's eyes narrowed darkly. "...what was White like?" He inquired.

"He had very powerful regenerative abilities. He had half his head cut off, but he regenerated moments after...you probably don't believe me, do you." Tails asked nervously.

"After what I saw, I have no choice but TO believe you." Rouge stated. "And this means fat boy probably isn't dead."

...

...

...

...the chase lasted quite a while. By the time they reached their destination, night had fallen. One by one their heads peeked out from behind a corner, looking at the building that Scylla's old body had run into.

"The 3rd Laboratory?...this is definitely something fishy." Shadow muttered.

"Will no leaders go untainted?" Miles mused.

"IIIII waaaant myyyy body back, body back, body back, body back!" Scylla sang out, rushing into the laboratory, immediately punching out two guards that stupidly stood in her way. "So IIIIII can rip out it's ribs!"

"Is this a good thing or a BAD thing?" Ray asked.

"I have an idea." Shadow mused.

"Move it!" Scylla snapped at the dozens of researchers in the hallways. "I'm tryin' to find a different flesh bag! Move!" She snarled, rushing through the halls.

Shadow and the others moved in. "Attention! We are in pursuit of a dangerous criminal! All remaining personnel, evacuate IMMEDIATELY!"

One of the guards approached. "Are you sure you'll be alright, sir?"

"Yes. Leave her capture to us, and have guards seal off all exits once the personnel are out. Don't have them move for anybody but US." Shadow added.

They followed Scylla's trail down to a stairway leading into the basement and headed down, Tails frowning. "Why is it always the basement?" He muttered.

Unfortunately, the path then split into two. So, naturally, they pulled a Scooby Doo.

"I don't think this is a good idea." Ray admitted to Shadow as they moved through the dark recesses of the basement hallways, past blown-open vents, decayed-looking doors and cracked walls. "Splitting up NEVER works." He said, taking his mask off as they entered a room.

"Hmm." Shadow examined the materials of the room. The instruments looked archaic and...terrifying. "If they were doing experiments in here...they certainly weren't legitimate ones. Is that a medieval FLAIL I see?"

"Welly-welly-well! What have we here?" A voice rang out, distinctly feminine. "Ray, how rude of you to stand me up on our date! I know you said work came first, but this is ridiculous."

"Louise?" Ray gasped, looking at the eggplant-colored hedgehog that was now standing at the opposite doorway, taking out a pair of contacts. "What are you doing in-"

"Her eyes." Shadow whispered as they clearly saw her eyes...clearly saw the stream of ones and zeroes. "...she's..."

"A Golem. Sorry to give you the run around, but hey, can you blame him? I mean, look at these." "Louise" said, holding up the things on her chest. "They coulda suckered in ANYBODY."

"It's true. They could have." Ray admitted shamefully. "And it worked so well on me!"

"I, Sonia, Golem of Flippancy, can charm ANYONE I want." The woman said proudly.

"Please tell me you didn't go blabbing to her." Shadow asked, holding up a pistol.

"I never spoke about work, believe me!" Ray insisted.

"True, true." Flippancy remarked. "Believe me though, he talks WAY too much about "Captain Kangaroo"...what's with the long face, Colonel?" She inquired, looking at Shadow.

"Do you know who Mighty the Armadillo is?" Shadow said dangerously.

"Oh, yes, I got the good fortune to meet him once. I'm just sorry I wasn't the one to strike the last blow." She said with a smirk.

BANG!

A shot to her knee made her gasp in pain as Ray's eyes widened and Shadow snarled. "On your knees! Tell us everything!"

"Yeah, how about...not?" Sonia laughed, removing her gloved hand from her knee, as they watched the bloody wound quickly patch itself up, the blood dissolving. "Trying to force a girl on her knees? Such a misogynist-"

BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!

Shadow emptied the rest of the clip into her and Sonia, aka Flippancy, staggered back. "GAAAAH...ha...ha-ha-ha-ha!" She laughed as the wounds healed before their eyes. "No mercy, huh? Just what I'd expect from the Master Butcher of the Shanazaran Campaign!" She sneered, licking some blood off her gloved hands.

"So you ARE a Golem..." Ray murmured. "Without a doubt..."

"Well aren't YOU well-informed. Guess what? You get a prize!" She announced, stroking back her hair...and they watched as it suddenly spiked out, almost becoming metallic in it's sheen, a vaguely hissing noise coming from it as if it was...alive. It was disturbing, to say the least, almost as disturbing as the horrifying smirk on her face. "All of us Golems have neat little abilities. And, of course...there's THIS."

Locks of hair shot out, then buried into her chest, pulling back flesh and revealing...the shining form of a purplish/pink chaos emerald. "Chaos energy requires a spark of life to change form into a sentient being...and when one places an emotion into a chunk of chaos such as a chaos emerald, it acts as a spark of life...creating us Golems." She informed them. "We who hold the Chaos Emeralds as our "hearts"...that is our definition. Neat, eh?"

The thought of innocent people losing their souls to ensure this horrid thing had life made Shadow almost vomit on the spot. He raised the gun again. "MONSTER!" He snarled.

"Now that's just plain rude." Flippancy commented. "We have feelings, you know. We have the love we have towards our creator, our daddy dearest. Our comradeship towards our fellow Golems. We're, well...HUMAN." She said with a bit of a surprisingly thoughtful-looking smile.

"If you're telling us all these important truths, you plan on killing us." Shadow reasoned.

"You ARE a smart one." Flippancy laughed. "Such a shame. You had so much potential."

SCHA-SLICE! Her hair shot out, knocking the gun from his hands. Shadow quickly held up his glove to fire off a flame at her, but...

THA-WOOOOOSH!

A pipe above exploded, and water sprayed everywhere. "You try to fire a flame, it'll get doused on the spot." Flippancy told him with a smirk.

So our brave men did what was understandable. They shrieked like little girls and ran out of the room, ducking to the side of the doorway just in time to avoid being skewered. Sitting outside of the room, Ray panted, turning to Shadow. "Now what?"

"She's not as smart as she thinks she is. Water contains hydrogen and oxygen. And since my specialty is producing fire magic, it's just a matter of concentration..." Shadow whispered, a big grin on his face.

He snapped his fingers, and a burning ember shot up and into the water. Flippancy's eyes widened.

KRA-BOOOOOOM!

The explosion rocked the entire building. Tails and Rouge stopped in the hallway for a moment, eyes wide in shock...and then they nodded at each other, continuing to run, hoping to find Scylla.

...

...

...

...Ray and Shadow re-entered the room. It had been turned into a burnt-out wreck now. Everything was fried.

"Dang. I guess Flippancy's new name is going to have to be ASH-Ley, eh?" Ray quipped.

"As a superior officer to a lower-level, I must say this. You repeat a joke like that and I am, in fact, going to have to have you shot." Shadow informed Ray, frowning deeply. He sniffed the air. "But it definitely seems like she was cooked. I've smelled my share of burnt bodies."

Ray sniffed the air. "...kind of...reminds me of McDonald's food."

"That'll be the burnt fat." Shadow remarked.

"EW." Ray groaned.

"But we can't count her out just yet, their kind apparently regenerate quickly so stay sharp." Shadow insisted.

SHA-SCHLING!

Two thick locks of hair as sharp as daggers rushed up from a large pile of clutter and ash in the floor, spearing through Ray's midsection. He gasped in horror, eyes widening, and fell down to the floor off the locks of hair as Shadow screamed out. "RAY!"

Flippancy rose up from the floor, blood oozing off her body, chunks of flesh slowly re-patching themselves together around her exposed chaos emerald, that smell almost dripping off her body like the blood. "I admit, that was...annoying. You actually made me die a horrid, horrid death." She grinned darkly, her hair slowly snaking off, as if eager to grab his face and rip it away. "I'm gonna return the favor."

"Shut up!" Shadow snarled, firing off his pistol, opening up a harsh chest wound and showing off the chaos emerald as she was knocked down.

"Oh, please! When do guns EVER work-" She began.

His hand plunged into her chest, ripping the emerald out, quickly shut her up.

Her eyes went wide and she let out a howl that was all too human, a howl quickly silenced as her body began to dissolve, slowly turning into a rusty-colored shell matted with blood. Bit by bit she dissolved away into dust that faded into the air as Shadow raced to Ray's side with the Emerald still dripping chunks of what had been her body.

"Hold on, Ray." Shadow spoke softly. "I might not know much about healing magic, but with this chaos emerald, I might be able to do some good."

Suddenly there was a sound like metal expanding outward, like some kind of robotic balloon was being puffed up. Shadow turned to see a horrifying sight. Flippancy's body had reformed around the Chaos Emerald, and half her face and torso, along with two spindly arms, were sticking out, a leering face grinning into his own horrified one, her eyes a solid, steady stream of ones and zeroes, not even any pupils visible.

"I thought a gentleman's not supposed to plunge his hand into a lady's chest." She remarked, giggling madly.

Her hair shot forward.

SHA-SCLICE!

Meanwhile, outside the building, Dr. Eggman himself pulled up to the front gate. The guards all saluted eagerly. "Your autocract-ness, sir!"

"I heard there was an intruder and that Colonel Shadow was intercepting. So..." Dr. Eggman adjusted his gloves. "I decided I'd like to go help him."

"Are...are you sure you'll be alright, sir?"

"Oh yes...I'll be fine on my own." Dr. Eggman said with a dark grin.

Shadow's eyes went wide, his lifeblood dripping onto the floor as Flippancy sneered, her body now fully regenerated. "I told you, stupid. The Chaos Emerald's my core. You didn't really think just ripping it out of the shell I was in would stop me so easily? It's not like it's a battery and I'm a remote." She admonished, tossing him to the floor, ripping off the rings from his wrists and crushing them.

Shadow simply moaned, the blood continuing to flow out.

"Such a waste. You were supposed to be one of our precious sacrifices. Ah well. Life's a bitch, and then you die watching your fellow men grow cold before you do." Flippancy commented cheerily, waving as she left the room, a definite spring in her step.

"Dammit...Ray...Ray, speak to me!" Shadow called out towards the still form of Ray. "C'mon! You're not...to die...before I do...C'MONNN! RAAAAAY!"

Flippancy's smile was the work of demons.

...

...

...

...they stood before an enormous doorway in a large, almost pristine white room. Before them was an enormous double door with a helix before it. At the center of this helix was a brilliant, radiantly-painted shining halo of some kind. The helix chain was made up of words, which Tails could understand quite well.

"The antagonism between science and religion, about which we hear so much, appears to me purely factitious, fabricated on the one hand by short-sighted religious people, who confound ... theology with religion; and on the other by equally short-sighted scientific people who forget that science takes for its province only that which is susceptible of clear intellectual comprehension." Tails read off the golden, spiraling text.

Scylla sat near her old body, which appeared to be unconscious...or worse. Rouge looked the scene over, looking rather surprised...and disgusted at the foul smell the body was giving off.

"Look how decayed my old form's gotten. The simple truth is this: it's just plain impossible to permanently stick a soul into a body that doesn't belong to it. They'll repel each other like magnets." Scylla spoke solemnly.

Tails's eyes widened. If this was true...then he, a soul within a patchwork body...

There was no guarantee that he would be able to remain on this Earth until their ultimate quest was complete. He was a time bomb. He could "go" at any moment, in theory...

Flippancy entered the white room, a visible frown on her features as Scylla laughed a little at her entrance. "Well! Ms. Sonia! Or should I say "Flippancy"...what a nice surprise."

"Why the heck are you working with Shadow?" Flippancy snapped.

"It seemed like fun. And besides...I'd been wanting to get my hands on YOU for a while." Scylla added with a dark tone as Rouge and Tails took up battle positions. "From the moment I met you, you were putting me down, insulting me and Charybdis for screwing up and gaining the bodies we were cursed with, belittling me...leaving me out in the friggin' rain to RUST one time!" Scylla snapped.

"And you, "Raggedy Andy"?" Flippancy asked of Tails. "What brings YOU here?" She looked over at Rouge. "This is hardly a place to take a girl on your first date. Ugh. It's annoying. To think I'll have to kill TWO sacrifices in one night." She said, rolling her eyes.

"Two?" Tails asked, looking disturbed.

"Yes, you and a certain other "handsome gentleman"." Flippancy commented. "I think red looked GOOD on him." She added, smirking.

"Enough chit-chat! A little less conversation, a little more action please!" Scylla laughed, rushing forward, spinning through the air, her remaining fist held high, eager to pound into flesh.

Well, this went about as well as you'd expect.

Rouge and Tails watched as what was left of Scylla fell to the ground in pieces and Flippancy took a comb to her hair. "Jesus CHRIST. The shit I put up with. Now..." She turned to Rouge. "Okay Lieutenant. Time to send you after your superiors..."

Rouge's eyes widened. After her superior-

No.

"Wait...you said...you already had to kill a sacrifice...you don't mean...you don't mean..." Rouge began.

Flippancy grinned broadly.

"YOU BITCH!" Rouge howled, and before Flippancy could strike, Rouge had rushed forward, drawing two knives from her boots. They carved and cut into Flippancy's flesh as easily as hot knives through butter, the bat intent on turning this golem into slices so thin you couldn't measure them.

No, no, no, no, nooooo...

She struck again and again and again, stabbing and slicking and cutting, tears brimming in her eyes, snarling and screaming, stab wounds littering Flippancy's body like somebody had stuck her in a garbage can full of broken glass and shaken her up. But at last Rouge staggered back, panting, heaving, tears trailing down her cheeks, pushing a path through her fur.

"...you done yet?" Flippancy asked calmly.

Rouge took in several harsh breaths...but she could not bear it anymore. She finally collapsed on her knees, covering her head in her hands, sobbing as Flippancy's lip became a taunt line, her brow furrowed as Tails looked down on her in deep sorrow.

"So foolish and weak. Your kind are such pitiable creatures." Flippancy spoke solemnly. She then saw Tails step in front of her. "...what do you think you're doing?" She asked, frowning.

Tails held up one hand. THWOMP! A spear materialized and Flippancy's eyes widened. "You DID see the...wow. Oh yes, you'd be a great sacrificial candidate."

"Rouge, run." Tails insisted.

"Dammit, Tails, get out of here." Rouge murmured through the tears."

"NO."

"Tails, I'm demanding you GO! Please, you have to!" Rouge sobbed.

"Why are you standing in my way?" Flippancy insisted. "The woman wants to die."

"I keep losing people...people I had the potential to save!" Tails snapped at her. "Maria. Dulcy. Mighty. Toni. I'm tired of people dying right in front of me!" Tails protested. "I WILL protect everyone I can!" He exclaimed.

"Well said, Miles Prower!" A voice called out.

Rouge's eyes widened. Flippancy turned her head. Tails immediately held his hands up and a glowing, pulsing shield shot out, covering him, the body of Scylla's old form, and Rouge.

Just in time too, because a moment later an enormous wall of fire shot through the air, striking into Flippancy, making her cry out in horrified pain, falling to the ground.

"Well look at me. I finally got you to your knees." Shadow spoke up, standing proudly in the doorway.

"How...how did you..." She gasped out.

"I burnt Ray and my own wounds shut. Hurt like hell. Almost passed out. But I made it." Shadow informed her, holding up his fist...

A ring carved in blood made visible...a burning scar all-too-clear for Flippancy to see.

"Creating a magic ring from your own blood-"

THA-WHOOOOOM!

Another burning, horrifying torrent of flame shot forward.

"You enjoy coming back from the dead, eh?" Shadow asked coldly, his eyes like steel as he fired over and over at Flippancy's frail form as smoke spiraled around Shadow slowly, almost delicately.

With each new blast of fire, the flesh on her frame began melting off of Flippancy, chunks of bone being burnt black as the Chaos Emerald within her frame began to crack, her banshee—like screams rising into the air.

"Well then I'll have to keep killing you until it STICKS!" Shadow snarled.

Again...again...again...

Finally Flippancy launched herself at Shadow, letting out a furious, snarling wail, flame drizzling off her body like she had just emerged from a shower that was raining fire, not water. She got within an inch of Shadow...

But no further. A final funnel of flame enveloped her and she let out a horrid screech...

The smoke and flame cleared away...and Tails and Rouge saw that her body was finally dissolving away into tiny whisps of dust that were vanishing into the air.

"You...beat me..." Flippancy gasped. "YOU...beat...ME..." She murmured. She then smirked. "Fine...this ain't so bad...kind of fitting, really...you do have the reputation of "lady-killer"..."

Her body fell backwards as more and more of her began to dissolve. "But your eyes...so full of conviction...how long will it be...before they're clouded white with despair?" She giggled as the chaos emerald fell out of her chest, dissolving before their eyes.

Shadow immediately fell down, gasping as Rouge and Tails raced to his side. Dr. Eggman, watching from the corner of the hallway, smiled slightly, fading into the dark recesses of the halls.

"Thank you for...protecting...my dear subordinate." Shadow told Tails with a small smile. "Rouge, how are your wounds?"

"Sir, really, worry about yourself!" Rouge insisted. "You...you wonderful IDIOT!" She laughed gently.

...

...

...

...Scylla's head lay on the ground, and she sighed slightly, the others having left the room. "Geez. Barely survived that one. Look at me. My arm is over there, my leg is over THERE, I can't see my chest..." She turned her head slightly. "Oh. Here it is." She said, knocking her head against it. "Oh, I'm quite beside myself, aren't I?" She sighed. "This is embarrassing. What am I supposed to do?"

It was then that the body...which she had been so sure was totally DEAD...crawled up to the head, reaching out. "What? AHH! No, wait, don't touch me! Don't pick me up!"

There was a sudden flash of light. The robotic head's eyes went cold. The bear's eyes became a bright shade of blue. For a brief moment a tear trailed down it's cheek, and then...her body hit the floor...

Peace.

...

...

...

...meanwhile, Sonic had gone back to the town of Kiritimati with Heavy and Knuckles, deciding to spend some time there for a little while. He headed down the road, past a long fence, aiming to visit Tiara's house.

He looked down at the ground for what seemed to be many hours, lost in thought over Golems, Mighty, Jesters and dolls with souls attached.

What brought him out of his thoughts was the sound of somebody playing a familiar song...on a flute...

His head shot up. A figure on the fence. A purple, two-pronged cap that had dark purple rings...

It couldn't be...

A red and pink vest with a sparkling red crystal on the front as a clasp and gold trimmings.

He couldn't... here ?

Purple pants that appeared to be quite tight and smooth, and white gloves...pink boots with purple tips...

It CAN'T be...

He turned his head...revealing big, large, cat-like eyes that were the color of the sky looking solemnly at Sonic.

"NiGHTS..." Sonic growled.

Chapter 18: Revealing the Secret of Death!

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Seventeen:

Revealing the Secret of Death!

死の秘密が明らかに！

"What do you mean, Tiara?" Tails asked as he leaned against the phone booth, looking confused. "Sonic hasn't arrived yet?"

"Yet? What are...did something happen? I had no idea he was coming!" Tiara said over the other end. "But there is SOMETHING you should know." She added. "Sonic isn't here, but..."

"But what?"

"...it's..."

...

...

...

...Sonic stood there, looking intently at the figure before him, who had put down his flute and was staring at him, green eyes into blue. This jester-esque being that had just walked out the door on them...on their MOTHER...and who had never looked back. It was because he'd not been around...if he had, than Aleena would never have-

"NIIIIIIIIIIGHTS..." Sonic snarled furiously.

"Olgilvie?" NiGHTS asked quietly. "My, have you grown "bigger"?"

"Why are you phrasing the question like THAT?" Sonic snapped angrily, a tic mark appearing on his forehead.

"I heard in Central City you'd gained a reputation. The "Shortest Metallurgist Ever"?" NiGHTS inquired.

"It's...YOUNGEST!" Sonic snapped.

"And I heard from Tiara that you tried to bring someone back from the dead." NiGHTS added solemnly. That wiped the snarling, furious expression from Sonic's face, replacing it with a hardened scowl.

"...you bastard. Showing up here and now. The freakin' BALLS you have!" Sonic thought oud loud.

"Bastard? You should have a bit more respect, I AM your dad." NiGHTS said, looking offended, one hand placed on his chest.

"I respect your chutzpah, that's all!" Sonic snarled.

"...why did Aleena die?" NiGHTS asked, turning his head to look at the grave of Aleena Maurice, his wife.

"WHY? You ask me WHY?" Sonic told him furiously, almost foaming at the mouth. "You have no idea what you put mom through when you left!"

"Just a little more, Aleena, I promise...a little more time." NiGHTS murmured, continuing to gaze at the grave.

"Are you even LISTENING?" Sonic snapped. "You came back too late and now have no place to stay! The house was turned into ash! What the hell did you come back for?"

""You burnt down the whole house?" NiGHTS asked, looking in confusion at the horizon, in the direction of the house, a look of deep unhappiness on his face. "...the wallpaper we'd picked out together...the chairs we sat in for meals...my desk...our wedding photos..."

"We decided we didn't want to ever turn away from the path we'd chosen. If we had somewhere to duck out to it would be like getting tempted. We wanted to make sure nothing would break our resolve, so we burnt it down." Sonic told him, arms folded.

"That's not true."NiGHTS said.

Sonic's eyes shot up slightly. Now HE sounded confused. "Huh?"

"You did it so you wouldn't have to look at your biggest mistake." NiGHTS said quietly.

Sonic felt a chill going up through his body. "Y-you're wrong!"

"It's just like a kid that wets his bed and then hides the sheets." NiGHTS remarked as Sonic's eyes widened for a moment, horrified.

No, no, this couldn't be true.

"You ran away."

"Bastard!" Sonic snapped, walking off down the road, heading for Tiara's house as NiGHTS sighed softly.

"...ahhh. It's like looking into a mirror." He mused. "He's so much like me."

...

...

...

...that night, Sonic slept in one of Tiara's guest rooms, curled up in a ball, mumbling incoherently in his slumber. A tiny patch of light trailed out across the room as NiGHTS slowly opened up the door, looking down at him.

He could remember.

He could remember when he'd been able to hold Sonic in the crook of his arm...seeing their smiling faces looking eagerly up at him...

He reached out, wanting to touch Sonic's head, wanting to just pet him. But then he slowly pulled it back, leaving the room.

Sonic's eyes quickly shot open.

"You haven't changed." Tiara said softly, laughing a little as she looked over an old photograph scrapbook. It showed her in her youner days, a proud young girl working hard for a living at a diner. There she was with her best customer...with NiGHTS sitting in a booth, playing with his ice cream sundae. He didn't look a day older, though Tiara was at least 10 years younger in the photo than she was now.

"...no. Guess I haven't, have I?" he remarked, fiddling with his mashed potatoes, making a "face" out of them and smiling.

"Why didn't you come back sooner? You got any idea how long Aleena was waiting for you?" She asked. "If they'd had their father around, they wouldn't have thought about making their mother! To think, those poor kids had to see their mom die TWICE..." She whispered sadly, taking a drag of a cigarette.

NiGHTS stiffened a bit, looking like he was biting his tongue. Then he spoke up. "Tiara. What my sons did. The end result of what happened that night. I HAVE to know. Was it...her?" He asked softly.

"Eh?" Tiara tilted her head to the side. "I told you, didn't I? It was such a messy body. I don't know if, even it had lived, it would have been able to act like Aleena."

"That's not what I mean." NiGHTS said, hands folding in his lap, his voice practically a whisper. "I mean the eye color. Hair color...were they Aleena's?"

Tiara felt a horrifying, shuddering chill go through her and she slammed her gloved hands onto the table. "What's all this about? What are you saying? That it wasn't even Aleena they brought back? That they brought back something totally different and lost their bodies because of it?"

Listening from the other end of the door, Sonic found his knees quaking, his body shivering.

No. No, it couldn't be. It couldn't fucking BE.

...

...

...

... "So let me see if I have this right. You don't need to eat or sleep? You can continue moving even if, say, your head got cut off?"

"As long as the seal that Chaos put on me is unharmed, than yes." Tails told King as they sat in his hotel bedroom. "My dad would find it interesting...by the way, what about YOUR parents? What are they like?" Tails asked. "Okay I get that, technically, you've got no "dad", but what's your mother and the Metatron like?"

"My mother, Nola, is a devoted, kindly woman. She's always tried to do what's best for others and for me. As for the Metatron, well...I've..." King shrugged. "I have yet to actually have a real conversation with him."

"Oh, gee. Sorry." Tails remarked.

"It's fine, really. He has a lot to deal with. The Kingdom of Soleanna contains 500 million people. That's a lot of people to protect and care for. If one was immortal, you could have all the time in the world to protect them. And you...you really are immortal, aren't you?" King asked, looking in awe as Elise sat near him, across from Amy.

"No...I'm not. This body's like a time bomb." Tails murmured. "A body is inherently incompatible with another being's soul. If you try to force one into it, it undergoes rejection. It could be tomorrow...it could be a year from now...but eventually..." He held his hands up and let out a long "Pooooooof".

Amy's eyes widened in shock. "Wh-what?" She gasped. "We've got to get you back to your original body as soon as possible!" She realized.

"Oh my." King murmured, folding his arms. "That IS...wait. Hold on." He rubbed his chin. "Could you not transfer your soul onto something else and go on living?" He asked of Tails. "You don't feel pain, you don't need to eat, you could just keep finding "dolls" to inhabit if you tried to replicate the seal-"

"You don't understand ANYTHING!" Amy snapped furiously, stomping out of the room, leaving King confused.

"Wh-what did I say?" He asked nervously.

"Try to think about it." Elise spoke up suddenly. "A body that CAN'T sleep...or eat...or...or feel..." She realized.

King's eyes widened and then a look of deep, remorseful sorrow flickered over his features as Tails spoke up. "When I found out I couldn't sleep, I...I just sat in my room. The moon reflecting off my button eyes as I curled up. I couldn't dream...I couldn't do anything but sit. Alone." He whispered. "Before, me and Sonic, we'd...we'd talk about what Heaven might be like. We'd laugh about what God did in his spare time. We'd tell jokes...maybe sneak some snacks in...the nights were short, but...they were fun. Now...now one night...is awfully long..." Tails whispered.

"...but you'll...you'll get your original body back!...right?" King asked nervously. "...right?"

...

...

...

... "Give my brother back!" Sonic demanded of Chaos, shaking the watery being back and forth. "He's the only true family I have! Give it BACK!"

"Give it back? Why do you blame me?"  Chaos inquired softly, shaking his head.  "You were the one who chose to act like God. You bit into an apple that wasn't yours to taste. YOU'RE the one who put your brother in that body..."

"Yes, you're just like me." Gerald Robotnik said, patting Maria/Dulcy's fused chaos form on the head as he grinned devilishly. "

He held a claw up to Sonic's face.  "YOU give it back."  He said coldly.  "In fact...why don't you give half? There's somebody else who has a problem with a lack of body."

"Sonic...mommy's very, very, disappointed in you." Aleena cooed, leaning in, claws wrapping around his neck, beginning to saw through and-

Sonic awoke with a start, sweat pouring down his features as he panted heavily, sitting up in his bed. "Sonic!" Tiara called out. "Your father's leaving now!"

Sonic sat up, rubbing the sweat of his brow, panting a few times as NiGHTS looked over a clipboard on the wall which showed off photo after photo. "...can I take this?" He asked, hands feeling a particular photograph. "This is the only one with all four of us in the picture."

"Yes, by all means." Tiara said cheerily as NiGHTS headed for the door, the photograph tucked away in his vest pocket.

"There's something I need to tell you before I go." He added. "...Ther'es some very bad shit about to go down in Mobius. You've got to go. Preferably, NOW." He said, turning to gaze intently at her.

"Shit happens all the time." Tiara remarked. "And besides...there's a few people who use this place as somewhere to come home to."

"...alright." He said quietly. "...but I warned you." He added nervously, heading down the road. "...I'm sorry, Tiara. I won't be able to eat your sundaes anymore..."

...

...

...

...that afternoon, as the clouds began to roll through the sky, slowly gathering into a thick blanket of grey that smothered all the sun's rays, Sonic the Hedgehog climbed to the top of the hill where his old home had been, Tiara following after. A shovel resting on his back, a bucket of water in Tiara's hands, they stood at the top of the hill, taking in the silence...the stillness of the calm before the storm.

"...listen." Tiara spoke up. "...you really wanna dig that...that thing up?" She asked softly, eyes softening.

Sonic shivered slightly, clutching at his chest. It was like somebody was taking a hammer, swinging it into him over and over. "No, I...need to do this. I GOTTA." He insisted, holding the shovel up. "...it's gonna rain. Let's hurry this up." He said, digging into the ground. Her body was around ther somewhere...

They digged and dug and digged and dug, and slowly but surely, the ground before them became mud as the heavens opened up, pouring down onto them as if Nature itself was practically screaming for them to stop.

"Oh jeez, it's raining. We're gonna smell like wet dog." Tiara complained.

"BLUAAAGGHHHKKK!" Sonic threw up at a nearby tree, heaving the contents of his latest lunch onto the ground as Tiara's eyes widened.

"Kid, really, you shouldn't be doing this. Let's pack it in." Tiara reasoned, shaking her head as she rubbed his shoulders.

"No!" Sonic managed to gasp out. "I can't...move forward until I'm SURE!" He wiped his mouth off with the back of his hand. "Besides...that BASTARD was right. I shouldn't be running away. I CAN'T be running away..."

He continued to dig deeper and deeper into the ground. They tried spot after spot, Sonic thrusting the shovel into the soil like a man possessed, his eyes burning with a fire that befitted HIM the title of "Burning Metallurgist", not Shadow. No, he would not be using magic to do this. No, this was something only his hands could accomplish...

CLUNK.

He hit a pine box. His eyes widened and one gloved hand dug down into the earth, carefully feeling for the opening lock to the box. He opened it up, his hand reaching down and picking out some hair. It was muddy...covered in dirt and grime.

He quickly raced over to the water-filled bucket, plunging it inside and washing it clean as Tiara watched on, his shoulders moving slowly up and down as he breathed deeply.

And then his voice came out of his mouth, practically a whisper. "Tiara...my mom's hair...was dark purple, right?"

He turned around slowly, his eyes wide like saucers and almost bloodshot, his body shivering, looking a hundred years older.

"This is...GREEN." His voice whispered out.

...

...

...

...they dug up the rest of the body, looking over the bones. Tiara closely examined them all, eyes narrowed intently as she retracted her measuring tool. "The femur's too long...and the shape of the pelvis...it's a male. There's...there's not even a single trace of your mother in here." Tiara murmured, looking absolutely horrified.

Sonic stared down at the corpse's remains for what seemed to be a long, long time. But then...he began to chuckle. And then to laugh. His head reeled back, and he roared with laughter, one hand held over his eyes. "HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! It's..." he managed to get out. "Ha-ha-ha...so that's it...that's the real truth. It wasn't her body and it wasn't her soul. It was like trying to catch a train that stopped running years ago." He murmured. "We were never meant to bring her back. Never." He realized, laughing a little.

"Olgilvie Maurice, get a hold of yourself!" Tiara snapped.

"It's fine...really." Sonic managed to say quietly. "For years, this...this was a symbol of despair. Of our failure. But now...it's become a symbol of hope." He told her firmly. "Looking at this, I know...I KNOW...that I can return my brother to normal. But first thing's first. I...wanna make a proper grave." He told her.

"What're you gonna write?" She wanted to know.

"...I don't know." He murmured.

Well, in the end, he didn't put anything on the grave. But he still considered it a person. A person he had created...and yet also killed. Ensouled or not, it had been alive. And so he buried the body of his "brother" with a simple inscribing of a Hedgehog's face.

"...there's somebody I need to call. Somebody else who needs to know about what we know." Sonic told Tiara.

RIIIIING!

RIIIIING!

"Hellooooo? Nahuatl residence! Tikal speaking." Tikal answered cheerily, picking up the phone. "What can I do you-"

BLUUURK! Some blood dribbled out of her mouth as Sonic tried to keep his own mouth from letting stuff leak out of it again. "Sorry. What can I do you for?"

"It's me, Sonic." Sonic spoke from the other end.

"Oh, Sonic, how are you?" Tikal inquired. "Where are you calling from?"

"Kiritimati. Listen, Tikal...I need to ask you something important. But it might be...hurtful. So if you don't' want to answer...then you can hang up." Sonic told her.

"Just tell me." Tikal insisted. "What's wrong? You sound so...serious."

"Do you remember when you tried to bring back the child that you lost?"

"...yes. I cannot ever forget. Why?"

"...the person we brought back...it wasn't truly our mother. It wasn't even a female."

"What are you trying to s-" Suddenly it hit her as Sonic's next words came out of the receiver, biting and harsh.

"Was what you brought back truly your child?"

Tikal's eyes slowly widened, growing larger, her mouth opening in an almost silent scream. She let out a small, almost strangled gasp and then...

SLAM. She hung up on the spot, and began to cry as Sonic, biting his lip, lowered the phone slowly onto the receiver again.

CLICK.

...

...

...

... "So...my son and his wife did well." Tiara said, standing before the graves of Silver and Blaze. "...he did his mommy proud." She whispered.

"...did...did NiGHTS say where he was going?" Sonic mumbled suddenly, wishing he could stick his hands into pants pockets.

"No, he didn't say-oh. OH." Tiara slapped her forehead. "Dammit! I KNEW I forgot something! Next time you see him, could you tell him this message?" She asked.

"What's that?" Sonic asked.

Aleena sat in her bed, looking out the window, hands folded together. "Tiara, listen, I really hate to ask you for this kind of favor, but can you tell NiGHTS something for if he ever comes back?"

"Tell him yourself. You're gonna get better." Tiara insisted, arms folded, frowning a bit in stubbornness. "You're gonna BEAT this-"

"Tell him I wasn't able to keep my promise...and I'm sorry."

"Promise? What kind of promise?" Sonic wanted to know.

"Dunno. Didn't ask." Tiara said, lighting a cigarette. "He might be a mediocre wage-earner and semi-skilled flute player, but he IS your dad."

"BARELY." Sonic muttered. "But I'll tell him the message. I'll pass it along. And then I'll introduce him to my fist. REPEATEDLY."

"But first, you should head back to Central City. Tails and Amy are waiting for you." Tiara insisted.

SOME TIME LATER...

"Wait...all that happened while I was gone?" Sonic asked, eyes widening as he sat on the couch in the hotel room with King pouring a cup of tea for Elise and Amy to enjoy as Tails sat across from him in a plushy chair. "The things I miss..." He murmured.

"Yeah, it's a lot." Tails admitted.

"And this new information...the rejection of a body with an unfamiliar soul..." Sonic thought out loud. "But I said I'd get you back to normal and I'm GONNA." He swore, smacking his fist into his palm.

"You have a look in your eyes." King said suddenly, his golden eyes narrowing intently. "...you've done something. Something very big."

"...I dug up the thing that...we...we "made" that night." Sonic told Tails quietly. "When we tried to bring mom back."

"You WHAT?" Tails practically screamed as Amy gasped. King frowned a bit as Elise looked ill.

"But it wasn't Mom." Sonic said quickly. "We checked. It was actually the body of...a male hedgehog...with green hair." He said quietly.

Tails gaped at this, eyes wide. "Then...then wait...that..." He stuttered. "You did all that alone? Why didn't you call-"

"Look, there's good news. We can get your body back." Sonic told him. "But before we talk about that, Amy...I wanna ask you something." Sonic said nervously.

"Yeah?"

"Remember back when we were like 6?" Sonic spoke up nervously. "And we got into this big fight over whom you'd marry and I stormed off before I could hear who you'd pick?" He wanted to know.

"Yeah, I remember." Amy said, noticing a very visible redness to Sonic's cheeks.

"And Miles told me that she'd turned him down when he asked her. So I wanna ask you both...why?"

Amy looked at Tails, then at Sonic.

"I told him I don't like "curves"."

"AAAAAAGGGGHHHH!" Sonic sobbed, holding his head in his hands and shaking it back and forth. "Don't judge a man based solely on his weight!"

"Can we get back to the "get my body back" question?" Tails asked.

"Right, uh...your soul hasn't passed on. Your body's "out there", somewhere...the same way Scylla's body apparently was put somewhere else." He told his brother and the others. "Look at it this way. You don't have a "brain"...yet you have memories. That seal in you is just a magic symbol keeping your soul to that doll."

"Yes, the form of a person is made up of several things." King spoke up. "Your soul, that which gives you life, your heart, that which gives you emotions, a conscience...those are clearly contained in the spiritual self that inhabits that doll. But your brain...your body...your MEMORIES..." His eyes widened.

Wait...then this meant...

Tails suddenly got it. "Yes, you're right...one's spirit connects the mind and the body. The fact that my spirit is still here...this means that my mind and body haven't lost their connection. My body might have been "taken", but it didn't DIE! Mom is "dead" because her soul passed on. There was nothing waiting to be brought back. And when I reached out through the gate at what I THOUGHT was Mom, I really saw...myself!"

"Yes!" Sonic laughed. "Yes, that's it! Your physical frame's there, at the door! Still...I'm..." He hung his head. "I'm sorry. We didn't bring back anything CLOSE to Mom AND I turned you into a time bom-"

RIIIIIIING!

RIIIIIIING!

The phone to the hotel room rang and Sonic went to pick it up. "Hello?"

"Sonic." Tikal spoke up quietly. "...we...checked the remains. The child...it...it wasn't...the gender was different...the...the eye color was different from the eyes my child had when it came into the world only to be unbreathing...the size of the body...different..." She whispered from the other end. "...and...I want to thank you."

"...I..." Sonic murmured.

"Thank you so much." She said, a tear running down her cheek as she put the receiver down.

She hadn't killed her child a second time. She HADN'T.

Sonic looked over at Tails and saw that he was shaking. "...Sonic, I...when...I came back from the Other Side, and I saw...I saw IT, I thought...I thought I'd killed Mom! I thought that it was because of ME that she ended up that way...but...but it WASN'T her..." He said tearfully. "...it wasn't her..."

"We'll get your body back." Sonic promised, holding his fist up. "No matter how long it takes. We'll show Chaos just how powerful we foolish people who don't know our own place can BE!"

Amy blinked a few times, mouth opening slightly. For a brief moment, she'd thought...

"He seems so...so BIG now..." She thought

...

...

...

... "You...IDIOT!" Shadow yelled angrily from the hospital bed he was lying in, his men stationed all around him, Rouge's eyes closed in shame. "I can't believe you fell for the word of that...that BITCH." He said, shaking his head. "You never trust people like that! Don't..." He sighed. "Don't do it again."

"You got it, sir." Rouge said, nodding firmly, saluting.

"I'm going to give you another chance. Commit yourself to the cause." Shadow said dramatically, clenching his fist.

"You're one to talk, Colonel." Ray said from the next bed over. "What kind of commander just waltzes on into the Lion's Den with a plan the equivalent of "shoot first, ask questions later"?"

"SHUT UP!" Shadow snapped. "...and whya re we in the same room? And..." His eyes narrowed. "...why haven't they come to finish us off...we killed one of their own..."

"You...IDIOT!" Metal Sonic snarled furiously, shaking Eggman back and forth as they stood on some steps at their secret headquarters. "Why didn't you finish him off?"

"He burnt her to death...Sonia...she's...she..." The Bio-Lizard whimpered, head hung, tears dribbling down his reptilian cheeks and burning smoke into the air.

"Why would you allow that inferior to get away with killing one of our own? He went too far!" Metal Sonic hissed furiously.

"Soniaaaa..." The Bio-Lizard whimpered, his body shaking.

"We had him on a leash and you let him escape the backyard like the damn dog he was!" Metal Sonic furiously told Eggman, wanting to rip the old man's throat out. "He exceeded his parameters! He should-"

"We can make use of him." Dr. Eggman explained calmly, a small smile spreading over his features. "Him and the doorway. Don't worry about him. He's MY responsibility, I assure you."

"I just thought of something." Tails realized. "My body's over at the Other Side! It hasn't been getting any nutrition! It's gonna be...GOD..." he turned a little green.

Sonic pictured a very gaunt, smelly Tails trying to hug him and Amy and turned a bit green himself, trying to keep some vomit down.

"Wait...wait." Tails remarked. "...both of us used your blood to try and do that spell...this is just an idea, but..." He rubbed his chin. "Isn't there a chance that our spirits got their wires crossed when we were taken over there? A possibility that my body and yours on the other end are connected?"

"You're right! I mean, look at me!" Sonic said, slamming his fist into his palm. "For my age, I'm kinda fa...kinda..." He sweatdropped, groaning. "...fat..." He murmured.

"He ADMITTED it." Amy gasped. "Quick, call Ripley's!" She laughed. "But to be honest, that sounds silly. I mean, the idea that you're eating for Tails's body? And growing for him? Look, the reason you're not growing or getting any thinner is you don't eat your broccoli!"

"Not the broccoli thing again!" Sonic snapped.

"It's good for your heart!" Amy told him. "Along with milk! If you didn't eat so many chili dogs..."

"Amyyyyyyyy!"

...

...

...

...eventually, Sonic and Tails had arrived at the same room that Shadow and Ray were sharing, with Bomb bringing a large map for Shadow to look over.

"Based upon the number of footsteps I took, I calculated that that big door in the Third Laboratory's basement was right there." Rouge said, pointing at a spot on the map Bomb had brought.

"Wait. That place." Sonic gasped, eyes widening. "Right above it is...Dr. Eggman's home! And so close to Central City's Command Center.."

"Wait. I just thought of something! If Dr. Eggman is connected to the Golems, why did he try to slay Selfishness and his friends?"

"Why did he try to just kill them without interrogating any of them? That's REALLY suspicious." Shadow murmured, eyes narrowing. "...hmm. Whatever the case, the enemy's really high up in the military. Metal Brotherhood..." He turned to the boys. "...be careful."

With that, the boys left the room as Shadow leaned back in his bed. "Heh. Looks like we caught quite a big fish. Might almost be too big to reel in."

"We're still ready to do whatever work you need." Heavy said as he, Bomb, Vector and Rouge all saluted.

"Good. Because I plan to run you RAGGED." Shadow remarked with a bit of a wild grin, folding his arms.

"I'm afraid you'll have to count me out, sir." Ray said softly.

"...what?" Shadow asked, turning his head as the others looked at him.

"...the doctors didn't tell you because I told them not to. But...I can't feel my legs." He whispered softly.

Shadow's eyes went wider than sauce pans. The others drew in sharp breaths.

"I'm sorry. I'm...retiring." Ray told Shadow sadly, looking down and away from Shadow's horrified eyes.

...

...

...

... "Hey." Dr. Chuck Thorndyke announced as he sat in the waiting room with Shadow, who was going through a "Kant" philosophy book. "Did you and your men have a good talk?"

"...yes. We did." Shadow said as Rouge turned away to let the two men speak alone. "Why are you here?"

"My back." Chuck said, stretching his arms. "We doctors always gotta stand for a looooong time. It's killer on my back."

"...hmm."

"...when I heard it was YOU who burnt that "thing"...something clicked." Chuck said, taking out a small toothpick and using it to pick his teeth. "You were...you ARE...up to something."

"You knew that yet you still went ahead with saying that 'thing' was Wave." Shadow said quietly back. "...thanks. I knew I could rely upon you, dearest war buddy."

"We're not "war buddies"." Chuck said softly. "We're "accomplices"." Chuck said coldly. "Partners in crime." He muttered, folding his arms. "You burnt shit. I'd autopsy them. Shanazar was just one big test site, wasn't it?"

Silence for a few minutes. For quite some time. Then Shadow sighed.

"What happened to your man? The one you were talking to?" Chuck asked gently.

"Spinal injury. He can't move his legs." Shadow murmured. "So he's retiring. His family runs a general store. He can, at least, answer the phone until his request for a Zoe or Bios healer is processed. But that can take years."

Dr. Chuck was quiet. He just nodded.

"He can't get any sort of prosthetic limbs for him either. The nerves to the lower half of his body were disconnected." Shadow added.

"...well...I might be able to help you." Chuck said, passing Shadow a small piece of paper, writing some things down on it. "Have this doctor make a visit. He's got good hands, a devoted sense of right and wrong..."

Chuck then walked off as Shadow looked the note over, he and Rouge's eyes widening.

Apparently Dr. Big also had a Chaos Emerald...

"...Rouge. Get Heavy in here. I've got a job for him." Shadow said, grinning broadly. "He's going on a little trip to a nice, scenic fishing town."

Chapter 19: Walking Along Occam's Razor

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Eighteen:

Walking Along Occam's Razor!

オッカムの剃刀に沿って歩く!

In the field of science and medicine, there is a term. It's called Occam's Razor. It boils down to this: based on evidence that you've collected, the simplest solution that the evidence presents is the correct one.

So what does this have to do with our Metallurgic heroes? Well...

"Okay, what do we honestly know?" Tails mused as he scribbled down notes onto a notepad, he and Sonic sitting in the hotel room, the ceiling fan slowly twirling around overhead. "For starters, the Third Laboratory?"

"I went back and checked it out." Sonic said. "Once I showed them I was a State Metallurgist they ALL fell in line and practically kissed my big blue butt." He remarked with a grin. "...but the door to the basement. GONE."

Tails frowned a bit. "Metallurgy?"

"Oh yeah." Sonic said, nodding. "This is a big cover-up, alright."

"Okay, and what do we know about the Golems?"

"Their eyes. Way past fucked up." Sonic remarked.

"Right."

"Really fast healers."

"Right."

"Apparently they all have abilities unique to each of them too. Selfishness had a super form, Flippancy could do things with her hair..."

"And?"

Sonic rubbed his chin, pacing back and forth, back and forth on the carpet. "...and...they need us alive, apparently, as "sacrifices". The idea of killing off one of us was disgusting to that girl-wait." Sonic's eyes widened. He stopped dead in his tracks. "Killing off an important sacrifice..."

"Yes, I've got an idea." Tails said, leaning back in the couch and grinning broadly. "Occam's Razor, brother of mine. They can't have us dying. Therefore, what better way to draw them out...by putting ourselves in grave danger?" He cheerily told Sonic.

"Wait." Sonic frowned a bit. "No offense, but how are we going to do that exactly? We need an outside threat so it doesn't look like we set things up to draw them out. They can't know they're being baited..."

"True, true." Tails admitted. "...okay, let's think about this. Who hates your guts?"

Sonic scratched his head, then headed over to the table where he kept his bag, pulling out a big, thick notepad. "Hmm. Let's see..." He looked through it. "No, no, she's been dead two years, I should cross her off...he's too close to me, it would never work...I'd NEVER want to call on that one for help..." He mumbled.

At that moment, the door received some harsh, powerful knocking, and Sonic and Tails looked at each other, blinking in surprise. They then shrugged, turning and opening up the door to find Knuckles standing there, a look of deep concern on his face.

"I've got some bad news." He said quietly, holding up a sheet of paper. "This official memorandum came out this morning...it has to do with somebody you and I know all-too-well." He murmured.

Sonic and Tails read the memo over, eyes widening.

Omega was back in the city. He'd been seen by several civilians and had attacked at least 9 guards, and 3 State Metallurgists had been...well...they were in chunks. This WAS terrible news...

And yet, also great news. They now had an excuse to go out and get into grave danger. They'd go out, make a showy demonstration of Metallurgic skill, and reel in two big fish at once!

The plan laid out, Sonic turned to Tails. "There's something you should know about Omega. When I was out at Babylon, I met with some people who had seen Blaze and Silver die." He spoke softly.

Tails's eyes widened slowly as Sonic explained the story. He then sat down on the couch, putting his doll hands in his lap, eyes unblinking. "...have you told Amy?" He asked at last.

"...I can't stand the idea of making her cry." Sonic murmured, looking away and to the side, gritting his teeth, hands digging into themselves.

"Yeah. This isn't something we should just dump on her." Tails admitted. "...but we have to face Omega again. We have to find out the truth..."

"And lure out the Golems." Sonic added, grinning.

"But to be honest, this isn't enough." Tails told him. "It took that robot all of five minutes to beat us both. Yes, I've gained Metallurgic power, but even so..."

Sonic nervously sweatdropped. "Er...well...I've gotten stronger too...and we'll know what to expect...and...and..."

"And even if the Golems DID show up, how would we CATCH them? They're practically indestructible!" Tails added, frowning deeply.

"ARGH! This is givin' me a headache!" Sonic moaned, rubbing his head.

"Then how about I assist you?" A voice called out.

The brothers turned to see King and Elise sitting in, as usual, the windowsill. "I believe the appropriate term here is "Wassaaaaaap"." King remarked cheerily.

"Did I just hear you mention "indestructible"? As in...immortal?" Elise inquired.

"There is a DOOR." Tails mumbled, shaking his head.

...

...

...

... "If these Golems are involved, then I'd be happy to assist you." King told them all. "After all, the more friends you have, the better, right? Besides, Elise, David and I are from Soleanna. We might not know the art of reading the rhythm in the Earth, but we do have the skill of sensing souls." He informed them.

"Oh, really?" Tails remarked, looking intrigued.

"Yes." King said, nodding firmly. He closed his eyes, furrowing his brow slightly.

"Well, can you show-" Sonic began.

"There are three birds outside of the window." King informed them, folding his arms.

"Well, fine, but it's kind of early in the morning, it's not that unexpected that there would be-"

"Morning Doves. All female." King added. "...and they're all arguing."

Tails blinked and carefully walked over to the window, slowly opening up the window and looking at the sight of three Morning Doves that were all angrily floating around in the air, pecking at each other and shouting. "Damn. He IS good." He told Sonic.

"Duck out from the window quickly, the boyfriend they are fighting over-"

PLOP.

"...is about to come nearby."

Tails groaned and slowly brought his head back in, heading to the bathroom. "Man, this is gonna STAAAAAIN." He mumbled, disgusting white gloop dripping off his head.

"...you're serious about this?" Sonic asked, frowning a bit, raising a non-existent eyebrow as Tails cleaned off his head in the bathroom.

"The fate of my people is at stake." King said. "The possibility of Immortality is not just something I'm interested in for my own benefit." He spoke solemnly, golden eyes glittering. "I want to protect them all."

Sonic looked deep into his eyes, green into gold, for what seemed to be many, many hours. Then he grinned. "Okay, you got yourself a deal! Just don't go runnin' off with those Golems, alright?"

"Of course not! I do owe you for a meal, after all." King remarked, waving a bill in the air.

"...a meal?" Sonic nervously asked, taking the bill out of King's hand. "When did you eat a meal using..."

He then looked it over. "...room...service?"

"Well, Tails was out fighting, and you were out in the desert, and we were kind of hungry so we put it on your tab..." King told him. "Thank you for treating us." He added, bowing his head.

"Dear God, look at this! It's more than I was paid last Friday!" Sonic sobbed.

"For a vegetarian, you eat like a PIG!" Tails gasped at the sight of the bill.

"Uh...we'd best get going then." King said quickly, nervously, diving out the window with Elise following after in a move that would have made Jackie Chan proud.

"YOU MOOCHER!" Sonic roared out, shaking his fist out at the darkness of the night beyond.

"SHUT UP!" Amy screeched, kicking down their door, holding her Piko-Piko hammer up threateningly, her eyes alit with fire. "It's 5 in the freakin' morning and I need my freakin' BEAUTY SLEEP!"

"Oops. Sorry." Sonic and Tails apologized.

"You leave in the morning to take the train to Westside, right?" Sonic inquired.

"Yes. Hence the "beauty sleep" part." Amy said, giving them looks.

Sonic then thought back to how easily Omega had crushed the magic rings around his hand and pictured the robot doing something similar again.

"SAY UNCLE!"

"UNCLLLLE!"

" SAY UNCLE !"

"UUUUNNNCCLLLLEEE!"

"...er...uh...Ames...how about...you stay just a BIT longer in Central?" Sonic remarked with a nervous grin. "See the lovely lakes...take in the sights...visit the zoo with all those nice animals like the moose! I mean, I could damage my arm! Or even destroy it or...some..." He saw Amy's expression as hardening like a rock. "...thing..."

Her gaze was so foul it could have peeled paint. "I haven't have my intelligence be this badly insulted since somebody asked me to read "Eclipse"!" She hissed, holding up her hammer.

PIKO-POWER!

Sonic was now deeply embedded in the wall, groaning and moaning in pain as Amy twirled her hammer. "GOD! You two!...ugh." She shook her head. "...don't do anything too dangerous." She murmured.

Meanwhile...

Heavy knocked on the door to Big's quaint little home. "Shave-and-a-hair-cut...two-bits!"

...nothing.

"Doctor? Doctor, doctor! Gimme the news! You in there?"

Still nothing. Then an ordinary person walked by. "Oh, you've come back?" That man asked Heavy.

"Eh? BACK?" Heavy remarked, confused.

"Weren't you just here a moment ago? In a military uniform?" The man inquired.

Had Heavy been an organic being, his blood would have run cold. Instead he gasped in horror and quickly burst down the door.

The home of Big the Cat, country doctor, was in shambles. The entire place had been ransacked. There were desks and chairs overturned, the lamp was broken, and books were scattered all around the floor. "Oh no." Heavy murmured. "...oh NO."

...

...

...

... "YOU IDIOT!" A roar went out.

A car had crashed into a hot dog cart and the vendor was shaking his fist at the owner as people stood nearby, blinking in surprise. "How could you not notice the big sign that read "HOT DOG STAND"?" The owner, a pig, snapped.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The ostrich said, apologizing by bowing it's long neck down over and over.

"Hey!" A dramatic voice rang out. The crowd turned to see somebody standing atop a roof, looking triumphant and heroic. "You look like you could use some help."

A ringed set of hands shot up.

THA-BWOOOOM!

The hot-dog stand's sign was transformed before everyone's eyes into a blinking neon marvel of engineering, with a high-tech heater for the hot dogs and with the car that had crashed completely repaired as Sonic the Hedgehog clapped his hands free of imaginary dust.

"Who's that guy?"

"Who's that guy?"

"Where can I get one?"

"The name's Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog!" Sonic said, jabbing his thumb at himself. "The Blue Blur, at your service!"

"Oh sir, thank you so much! How much do we owe you for this?" The ostrich inquired.

Sonic grinned. "Nuttin'."

"Nuttin'?"

"Nuttin'."

"Hmm. Uh...sir..." A woman spoke up, holding up a Ming vase. "I was on my way to bring this to the charity store. I...kinda broke it, but...if you could fix it?" She asked nervously, holding the vase up.

A snap of the fingers. POOF!

"No problem!"

A man needed his cane repaired.

POOF!

"He did my legs! HE FIXED MY LEGS!"

A house that was half-torn down by a fallen tree? No problem! A cat in a tree? No problem! Turning that cat into the handsomest man the owner had ever met? No problem!

"Baby..." The now anthro cat asked it's former owner. "Ain't you sorry you had me fixed?"

"Did you hear?" Marine inquired as she sat in the alley with Nack looking over his gun, twirling it around on one finger. "The Blue Blur himself has been performing good deeds all around town! Ohhh, I wish I could have been there to see them..." Marine said, a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Did his picture appear in the paper?" Omega inquired, picking up a newspaper she'd brought, looking through it.

"Nah, which is too bad, really...unless, you know, he gets pan face." She said, shrugging. "Poor mate."

"Oh, yeah, pan face, that's awful." Nack admitted.

"You're welcome, you're welcome, really, I don't mind!" Sonic insisted as he walked past the dozens of adoring fans he was quickly gaining, a visible blush on his cheeks.

"Well we've never counted "humility" as one of your virtues." Tails laughed as he sipped a diet coke, the two of them sitting at an outside diner that Sonic had just done window repair at. For free, naturally. "Word of you is spreading all over town. You've turned into one heck of a good Samaritan!"

BEEP-BEEP!

They turned their heads to see none other than Shadow and Rouge in a private car. "We need to talk." Shadow announced.

...

...

...

...the four of them were now in an alley, away from the many crowds of admirers. "I heard that you sent Heavy to Dr. Big, but...he was already gone when...geez." Sonic held his head, shaking it. "That's..."

"They must been cleaning up all their "loose ends". Hopefully he isn't dead." Shadow murmured as they stood outside the car, arms folded.

"You DID hear about Omega, yes?" Rouge inquired.

"Yes, we WANT him to find us. We wanna fight him again." Sonic insisted.

Shadow gave him a look, frowning a bit. "I suspected as much. It was the simplest and obvious explanation. Have you forgotten what happened the LAST time you fought him, you big, blue IDIOT?"

"Oh, you're just upset because the last time YOU fought him you had all the effectiveness of a wet match, ya faker!" Sonic remarked cheerily, grinning like a little devil.

"Shut iiiiit!" Shadow snarled, a tic mark appearing on his forehead, clenching his fist. "It's bright and sunny today!"

"You wanna fight him? Here's your chance." Rouge said, holding up one of her throwing knives.

They turned to see Omega standing in the alley, a look of eager anticipation glimmering in it's red eyes, it's claws twitching eagerly, ready to tear. "What's with that look, Shadow?" Sonic wisecracked. "It ain't raining, but you're alright dripping."

"Rouge, on my order, I want you to perforate that-" Shadow began.

"No, wait." Tails whispered quickly. "Don't!"

"Why the hell NOT?" Rouge snapped, looking rather peeved.

"We wanna make like Shadow here and do a bit of fishin'." Sonic said with a grin as Omega slammed his claws into the ground, sending a wave of dark energy surging forward. Tails flicked one hand up, and a swirling blast of light energy shot out, canceling the attack as Sonic leapt through the air, feet flying outward, forcing Omega back slightly. The two began to dance around, Sonic slicing and punching with his feet and hands as Omega rushed out of the way.

"Brother's using Omega to lure the Golems out. If he dies, they'll be absolutely furious at losing an important sacrifice." Tails explained.

"I see." Shadow said, nodding. "Fine, I get it, but what if the police force shoots him before any Golems show up?" He wanted to know.

Tails grinned. "Well...you can do something about that, right?"

"YOU giving orders to ME?" Shadow laughed. "You sure do got spunk. Fine! Let's do this."

He and Rouge raced off as Tails jumped at Omega, slamming his own fist into the ground along with his brother as two burning-hot blasts of wind and fire energy rushed towards Omega, who spun backwards, avoiding their attack as King and Elise sat atop the roof, eagerly waiting for their chance to get moving.

"Look at them." King said, nodding and smiling in delight. "He rushes forward like an absolute fool, he and his dear brother...and yet advances so quickly."

"He's a brave one, isn't he?" Elise said, smiling. "I really admire that."

"Hmm...but the Golems sure are taking a while..." King remarked, frowning slightly. "What are they doing, I wonder? Drinking tea?" He mused with a small smile.

Elsewhere, Shadow the Hedgehog was on the phone, calling up the Provost Marshall's office...with a voice synthesizer chip embedded in the phone. "Who SAYS science doesn't bring anything to the table?" He wondered as he made the call. "This is Sector 3! We're currently engaging Omega and request IMMEDIATE backup-hey...hey, what are you do-AAAAA-"

He then shut the phone off as Rouge grinned, getting ready to make a call of her own. "And the Oscar goes to..." She remarked with a laugh, turning her own phone on, the voice coming out the other end of the line not truly her own. "This is Sector 5! Help us! Omega is...AAAA!"

"What in the name of Kentucky Fried Monkey Ass is going on?" Jet the Hawk groaned as he slammed the phone down. He was temporarily taking over control of the Provost Marshall's office whilst Bruce Banana Loboto was still in the hospital for "Extreme Testicular Torsion". "Omega's appeared in eighteen different places? Can he freakin' TELEPORT or something now?"

Dr. Eggman, who was listening from outside, narrowed his eyes behind his goggles, and slipped out of the window, unseen, cracking his knuckles as he put his gloves on, walking past a bush.

"Ignorance?" He asked calmly.

"I can SMEEEELLL him!" The Bio-Lizard whispered. "The robot that reeks of dark blood! Omegaaaa!"

King and Elise stiffened. "Did you...feel that?" King whispered, his golden eyes widening like saucers.

"Yes." She whispered back, nodding eagerly. "It felt like a thousand different people moving all at once...the Golems. It MUST be them." She said, getting into a fighting position as she and King leapt off the roof, heading in the direction of the horrible presence they were feeling.

"We've been waiting to fight you again for a long time..." Sonic said, he and Tails now on opposite ends of Omega, their fists clenched tightly. "Especially since I heard what I did from those people at Babylon..."

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" A cop yelled out, holding up a Smith and Wesson, aiming it at Omega.

"Ah, don't!" Tails yelled, quickly pushing him out of the line of fire, making him drop the gun. "You'll hit my brother! Go, go before he turns you into a meat paddy!"

"One way! Or another! I'm gonna getcha!" The Bio-Lizard sang out, leaping from roof to roof, a stupid, giddy smile on his face as he belted out the WORST rendition of "One Way or Another" in the history of the Universe. "I'm gonna getcha-getcha-getcha-get-"

THWA-THWOMP.

A harsh, powerful kick to the face sent him flying through the air and into the bell of a church. He hit it with a GA-GOOOOOONG as King nervously crossed his chest. "Forgive me, Lord!" He nervously called out, leaping into the air, his scimitar raised high.

The Bio-Lizard looked up stupidly, it's mouth gaping. "What-the-f-"

Before his next word made the conversation PG-13, King sliced his muzzle off and it fell to the ground like a rotten piece of meat. The Bio-Lizard grabbed it's face, eyes wide as pain rippled through it. "Boy, you are QUITE an unusual being. Please, tell me, how many souls are in you exactly?" King asked.

"MMMMMMM!"

"...well, when your face grows back, I mean, would you tell me?" King asked, nervously sweat-dropping.

"That huuuuuuurt! What're you tryin' ta do? Kill me?" The Bio-Lizard asked as it's muzzle slowly regrew itself.

"Well...kinda." Elise remarked apologetically, shrugging slightly. "Please die now." She asked, pulling up her knife.

"Welly-welly-WELL! Isn't THIS interesting! People that can sense a other's mere presence through souls? And here I thought only Ignorance had a monopoly on tracking down people. Is there anything people from the Far East CAN'T do?" Dr. Eggman spoke up, getting their attention as he looked up from the alley he was in at the anthro serpent and the human. "Oops. I apologize. I was almost sounding like Racism for a moment."

"The head autocrat of the empire himself?" King remarked, looking confused. "Sir, we'd really rather you didn't get involved in this fight, we can defeat this thing on...wait." He frowned a bit. "...why do you speak like you know this being personally?" He asked, his eyes narrowing to slits.

"You're pretty quick on the uptake. Let's see if your body's just as quick." Dr. Eggman said. "I'll start with her." He said, rushing at almost inhumane speed towards Elise...

INHUMANE...

Oh no.

"Elise, quick, he's one of-" King yelled out, his eyes widening in absolute horror.

SLASH!

"ELIIIIIISE!" King screamed, tears brimming in his eyes.

Elise's form hit the ground like a porcelain doll, blood dripping out from one arm as she panted, slowly getting back up as Eggman held one energy-sparkling glove up, an intrigued look on his features. "You parried just in time." He remarked, looking over at the cut-in-half knife that lay near her. "If you hadn't held it up fast enough, your head would be gone instead of just that lil' cut to your arm."

"Can I eat them?" The Bio-Lizard asked. "Or would they be too high in fat?"

"Well, I know snake doesn't taste like chicken." Dr. Eggman began. "But go ahead and enjoy the girl."

"Woohoo! I'm gonna get to eat ou-" The thing began, leaping off the roof and-

SCHA-SHLIK!

The top part of it's head and hands came flying off, cut clean from the rest of it's body. It's brain was deposited to the side of it's now-deadweight corpse and sizzled in the sun as Eggman "hmmphed" in interest, King withdrawing the scimitar, lifting Elise up gently, holding her bridal-style. "Stay with me, Elise." He whispered, eyes filled with deep concern.

She didn't cry. Good soldier, she was a good, good soldier.

"Do you REALLY think I am going to let you escape from me?" Eggman snapped, rushing forward, his goggles glinting.

King's scimitar slashed and sliced, dodging the oncoming blows that Eggman's metallic gloves rained down at him like a heavy downpour of wrath. "What the?" The autocrat remarked, his eyes widening in surprise behind the goggles as he found his blows being blocked over and over, the ringing of metal against metal echoing in the air. "You can anticipate my attacks as...AHHH. You are no stranger to fighting either."

"We are to be as innocent as doves but wise as serpents." King quoted from the Bible, eyes glinting like cold golden bullion.

"Well, I don't go to church that often." Eggman said with a bit of a sneer.

"Your left leg's making you favor your right side, turning your left side into a bit of a blind spot!" King commented as his scimitar forced Eggman back a few feet, eyes narrowing. "I imagine, Golem, that age has caught up with you and you're in need of a few repairs?"

"As I said, you are quick upon the uptake...but you forget. I'm not ALONE."

"BATTER-UP!" The Bio-Lizard announced, swinging it's tail.

THA-THWOOOM!

King and Elise were sent sailing through the air and into a nearby abandoned gun factory. King managed to shield Elise's body from the brunt of the damage and coughed as he carefully stood back up, dust filling the room he was in as Eggman and the Bio-Lizard jumped inside the room as well, Eggman's gloves held up, crackling with dark energy.

"Now then...would you be so kind as to answer a few of my questions, little dust-eater?" Dr. Eggman inquired. "Or I'll tear your family apart, from granny to GOLDFISH."

"You smell of EGG." King mumbled.

"Who are you people? How do you know what is inside of Ignorance?"

King looked to the side slightly with his eyes, shifting his weight a bit. 30 steps to the door.

"I don't believe this. Are you THAT idiotic, snake? You are ACTUALLY trying to escape even though I'm all of ten feet from you, threatening to turn you into a "Main Moon Special Number 3"." Dr. Eggman muttered, shaking his head. "You do know that if you dropped that dead weight, you'd be able to get away just fine on your own-"

"She's NOT dead weight." King hissed with venom in his voice. Had he been a cobra, his hood would have flared. Eggman gave him a "huh" expression. "You're supposed to be in charge. But the throne you sit on is only there because it's held up by others! There's no point to leading if you're not protecting the people you're in charge of, like a TRUE leader!"

Eggman sneered as King's clenched one fist. "Dr. Eggman...you will NEVER be a true ruler!"

"Stupid idiot!" Eggman snapped. "There's no such thing as a "true ruler" in this world! You are living in a delusion! Nobody truly lives for his own people, only for himself!"

King promptly stuck his tongue out as Elise tossed a flash-bang grenade through the air.

THA-BAAAAAANG!

"That was hardly mature of you." She told King as they raced out of the room.

"Neither was him calling me a "stupid idiot", was it?" King mused.

"It won't hold him for long. Him OR the other." Elise spoke up, nervously biting her lip, speaking softly, sadly. "...he'll track us down. I'll wager that fat one can do it by scent alone..."

King saw the look in her eyes. "What are you thinking about doing?" He asked, a look of deep concern in his eyes. "I WON'T abandon you. You're going to get out of this alive and in one piece as long as I can help it."

"Heh...you always want to have your cake and eat it too." Elise laughed gently. "That's why I like you so much..."

...

...

...

... "Amy..." Silver said, kneeling down on his knees and ruffling her hair. "Your mother and I are going to be going out of town. REALLY out of town. We want you to be a big girl and look after the house, alright?" He said kindly.

"Remember to wear clean underwear and don't keep letting stray dogs into the house." Blaze added as she knelt by her daughter as well. The two then hugged Amy tightly. "We'll miss you so much."

"You'll come back soon, right?" Amy asked nervously, hugging them for all they were worth, feeling as though, if she let go, they'd be gone from her sight forever.

"We'll be right back." Silver insisted.

"So you be a brave girl, alright?" Blaze added.

As their backs slowly receded into the distance, Amy felt tears springing to her eyes as Tiara gently squeezed her, but...but their heads...they were held so high, so proud of what they were doing. It made Amy feel...secure. Honored.

Her parents, the superheroes.

Amy sipped on her Orange Julius as she put away the picture of her parents back into her wallet, taking a deep sigh. It was then that she heard people speaking at the diner table behind her.

"Metallurgists are fighting with Omega right now?"

"Yes, the Metal Brotherhood themselves!"

"Oh, where the hell are the COPS when you need 'em? They're just kids..."

Amy suddenly shot up from the table and took off.

No, no, she would NOT lose another pair of people she loved and cherished. She wouldn't.

Elsewhere, Sonic and Tails were continuing their assault against Omega, with Sonic having transformed. His body shimmering with golden light, he swirled through the air, striking at Omega, who erected a shield of dark energy around him to shield himself as Sonic kept hammering away.

Tails, meanwhile, snapped his fingers as he focused on casting a metal-related spell. "Sonic, get back!" He yelled out.

Sonic shot away as Omega's claws twitched and he tried to rush forward, suddenly noticing a VERY large shadow appearing overhead.

He barely jumped out of the way in time to avoid a large "1 Ton" cartoony weight that almost crushed him. "Low quality finish, fox." He remarked coldly.

"Kiss my tails, buddy." Tails said in response.

Omega responded by holding out one hand, as a small rocket suddenly appeared in the center of his palm. "ROCKET LAUNCHERS?" Sonic gasped. "He has rocket...damn, he's GOOD." He realized.

Omega fired off the rocket and it swirled forth. Sonic quickly dived to the side and the rocket slammed into a wall, making it shatter into rubble...revealing several dogs playing poker. They all looked up, gaping at the sight.

"What're you waitin' for, RUN!" Sonic yelled at them. They all took off howling as Sonic angrily looked back at Omega. "What the heck is with you targeting us in a crowded city anyhow? Innocent people could get hurt!"

"If you had just accepted your punishment, you wouldn't be asking that question in the first place, hedgehog." Omega said simply.

"Don't talk nonsense." Tails said, frowning. "We had nothing to do with what happened to your people! You just hate all metallurgists because you think we only bring pain to the innocent!"

"Oh? You DON'T?" Omega remarked coldly. "I told you this before. You users of Magic tap into the Elements of the World, playing with powers that you are not meant to have. Playing GOD."

"You want to talk about playing God...then tell me why you killed them...why you killed that poor girl who'd been turned into a Chao!" Tails yelled furiously. "You're just trying to justify cruelty the same way the government tried to justify Shanazar! You played God when you took away her life!" He snarled, fists clenched tightly.

Omega was eerily silent. Had he had a lip, he would be biting it. Then he spoke quietly. Deliberately.

"You know, an alchemist named Whiskers told me something some time before I killed him. That I was foolish to think my power could match that of yours, you "creators" who make something out of nothing...well, that art of Creation only the God you believe in should have...the twisting of it is what turned that girl into a Chao! Or have you forgotten that?" He said darkly.

It hit them like a freight train. Like a lightning bolt tearing through their insides.

"The magic that turned that girl and her dragon into a monstrosity...is THAT the Metallurgy you admire?" Omega snarled. "People have NEVER made a weapon they have not used, and Magic is just another weapon. A weapon you use for twisting around the natural world and defying physical laws whenever it suits you."

Gerald Robotnik's voice echoed in Sonic's mind as his eyes widened in absolute horror at the realization Omega was forcing on him.

"Look at yourself, Blue Blur! AND Your brother! That was also the result of "playing around with people's lives", wasn't it?"

But...but...

"...what does your destruction create?" Sonic growled. "All you do is take away! How can you possibly think what you did was right? Where's the compassion in killing someone?" Sonic added, angry tears springing to his eyes. "What right did you have to kill her?" He demanded to know.

"Did you try and save her? Put her back to normal?" Omega asked calmly.

Tails and Sonic were nervously quiet.

"You couldn't, could you. And if you tried...it would have killed her...wouldn't it have? Even WITH Zoe there was a good chance you would have blown her into chunks." Omega said softly. "The only life she would have had left was one in a lab...not treated as a PERSON anymore."

It was true...they couldn't have helped her. And where could she have gone? Most likely, the government would have wanted to keep the talking chao under constant watch...in a laboratory...like a rat in a cage...

"It's true...people like us Metallurgists, we...we do make mistakes. But that doesn't mean what you're doing is justified. Certainly not..." Tails said.

"And even if you do believe in punishing people for what they've done to your people...how can you justify what you did..." Sonic began. "To two Mobians who were trying to save lives?"

Omega suddenly stiffened a bit, as Amy, who had been sneaking towards they alley they were now in through a side alley, stopped in her tracks.

Oh no. Could...could they be talking about-

"Two Zoe users by the name of Rose. They went to Shanazar and healed people on both sides. Even after our government ordered them to stop helping your kind, they continued healing Shanazarans..."

Omega took a small step back, his red eyes widening.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten the people who saved your life...WHO YOU THEN MURDERED, YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Sonic screamed furiously.

Amy's eyes widened in horror. She fell to her knees, the sound of the "thump" getting Sonic and Tails's attention as they gazed at her. Oh crap. Oh no, she'd heard everything, she...

Unfortunately, Omega had heard HER and turned to look right at her.

"Why didn't you...why didn't you tell me? How long have you know that..." Amy began to say, tears brimming in her eyes. "This person killed my...he..." She looked from them to Omega. "They saved your life and you...KILLED them?" She whispered, barely able to believe her eyes.

A look of deep pity flashed over Omega's normally featureless face. His eyes receded in their glow, his posture looking solemn. He felt a thousand years older now...

"What did my parents do to you that made them deserving of you killing them?" Amy wanted to know, hands digging into her knees, tears falling freely. "Give...GIVE ME BACK MY MOM AND DAD!" She screamed, grabbing ahold of her head and almost tearing hair out.

"Amy..." Sonic whispered, his lips partially open, sorrow on his features. He'd never wanted to her to find out like this...

Amy's eyes saw the gun that the cop from earlier had dropped. Her hands wrapped around it as she lifted it up.

"Amy, no, that won't work!" Tails called out.

Omega thought back to Master Bokkun's words as he saw the pain in the girl's eyes, the tears trickling down her cheeks as her shaking hands aimed the gun square at the space between his eyes.

"I can GET how you feel so pissed." He waved a finger in the air. "But going around and killing them isn't going to help things. It's not logical. It's not smart. Responding to violence with more violence? That's like trying to put out a fire by getting a BIGGER fire."

"So you were the Amy I heard those doctors discussing...their daughter." Omega said quietly. "You do have the right to shoot me." He went on. "But understand, the moment you fire, I will see you as an enemy."

"OMEGA, don't you DARE!" Tails roared.

"You sonofabitch!" Sonic yelled. "You touch her and I'll-"

"KILL me? FINE!" Omega snarled back. "The cycle of hatred won't end until BOTH sides are destroyed! But don't forget it was one of YOUR people that pulled the trigger which started everything at my homeland!"

He turned on Amy, fist raised. "So get out of my way!"

"Amy, RUN!" Sonic yelled, rushing forward as Omega threw a punch...

And now Sonic was spread-eagled, protecting Amy from a punch that was hovering an inch away from his face as Omega's red eyes widened in recognition...memory filling his mind...a familiar, dear face...

"Brother, get DOWN, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Omega hesitated...

It was for long enough. Tails shot forward, knocking Omega away and out of the alley. "Get her out of here!" He yelled at Sonic, rushing at the robot as Sonic turned to Amy.

"I couldn't shoot..." She murmured. "He killed my mom and dad and...and he might kill you too..."

"Amy, your hands gave me and Tails a second chance. Your hands have been curing and providing for us for years. These..." He knelt down and gently stroked them. "These are not the hands of a killer. They're hands that save people's lives."

Finally, Amy broke down, letting out a long, horrible cry as she sobbed into Sonic's chest, and he held her there, a single tear trickling down his cheek and onto her forehead.

Author's Note:

For those of you wondering who Omega's brother might be...and the circumstances surrounding how Silver and Blaze ended up dead, be patient. Good things come to those who wait. ;)

Chapter 20: One Golem, No Charge for Delivery

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Nineteen:

One Golem: No Charge for Delivery!

1 つのゴーレム：配信は無料！

"Damn." Dr. Eggman mumbled as he watched the snake and the human vanish into the distance. "All those fancy grenades. I feel so...OLD." He sighed. "Even if I was to keep chasing after them, my body won't keep up." He looked down at his stomach and slapped it. "Cheese is right, I have GOT to start visiting the gym again..."

"It hurts when I breathe." The Bio-Lizard announced, clutching at it's throat. "And I can't see too well..."

"It's just all the dust getting to you." Dr. Eggman chastised him. "Can you still sniff them out?"

"I...I guess..."

"Well go around from the East and follow them. Corner them at the nearest dead end and I'll follow after." Dr. Eggman said, adjusting his gloves as he headed down the stairs. "Ah, and to think, I still need to worry about that damnable ROBOT."

King, still carrying Elise as gently as he could, raced down the back alleys, his blue hair flowing freely. He couldn't' sweat, but he was panting so heavily he looked almost like a dog, his thin tongue hanging limp from his mouth as he raced past rows of flowers and door after door.

The alleys were getting smaller. "Oh no. Oh NO. I'm heading into a dead end?" King murmured as he smelled The Bio-Lizard chasing after him. "This isn't good, this isn't..." He bit his lip. "What to do? We've hit a dead end. LITERALLY!"

"King...my liege...I...can't feel my left arm anymore..." Elise mumbled out, a tear trickling down her cheek. Her voice sounded mournful.

"Well that's fine, I didn't want you fighting anymore. A gentleman's supposed to look after a lady and-" King began, his polite tone trying to desperately disguise the horror he was feeling over what had befallen his dear Elise.

"If you perish because of me...then there would be no heir to the throne of the Metatron..." The young woman went on. "If a ruler loses his people, he is no longer a ruler...and if the people lose their ruler, then they too are lost just as he is...for the sake of Soleanna and it's people you CAN'T die."

"No." King whispered, golden eyes turning to pinpricks of fear. "No. I don't want you leave me! You CAN'T! I order you to stop thinking like that! I won't throw you away!"

"For the sake of a good cause, don't people throw themselves away all the time?" Elise asked, reaching into her dress, pulling out a small knife as they approached a stray dog that was sitting by a garbage can.

"Elise, no. NO. Put-put that..." King stuttered, shaking slightly. "I can't let you-NO!"

SCHA-THLUCK!

Dr. Eggman and the Bio-Lizard had now found the alley our two Soleannan heroes had gone into. "Heh. A dead end. LITERALLY. Now I'll-hmm." He turnd, seeing an explosion far off. "Omega..."

He frowned a bit. "...Ignorance, you deal with Omega. I'll handle this."

"But I wanted the girl."

"You like girls?" Dr. Eggman asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Yes, they're easy on the gums."

"...just...go." Dr. Eggman mumbled, shaking his head. "Deal with that damnable robot."

And of course, dear friends, this begs the question "Where IS that damnable robot"? Well, at the moment Omega was standing across from Tails at an old train yard, some distance from the railroad station. "Get out of my way! Do you want me to blow you open like I did the last time I met you?"

Nope, but I don't want you blowing anyone else open even more." Tails explained calmly.

"...you're nothing more than a doll that walks and talks." Omega said, throwing a rapid series of punches at Tails, who ducked and dived, dodging them as best he could. "Isn't that also the result of Magic? I can't believe your STUPIDITY!" The robot snapped. "Your body's so pathetic, and yet you still have faith?"

Tails somersaulted away, landing expertly atop a railroad spire. "It's true, there's a lot of things wrong with this body of mine. But I'm not miserable. My brother gave up the use of his limbs to give me a chance to exist in this world again. If it wasn't for magic, I wouldn't even be talking to you right now, I'd be sitting on a shelf somewhere! Yeah, there's plenty of problems with the art, but..."

Tails smiled proudly. "I have...faith...in my brother. And in Magic. And I want to KEEP believing."

"I see." Omega said solemnly, softly, standing by a large water tank for one of the railroads.

BA-BAAAAAM! The water tank exploded open, and steam rushed out, filling the area, blocking Tails's vision. Omega's red eyes narrowed and he rushed forward to slash...

But he'd forgotten about Sonic. Sonic rushed forward from out of the steam, a good and harsh kick knocking Omega's frame backwards as Tails rushed to his side. "Is Amy alright?"

"She's safe now. But I feel like such an idiot...I made her cry..." Sonic mumbled sadly.

"Ah, you're so careless sometimes." Tails commented, shaking his head. "But that doesn't matter now. Let's do this." He said, grinning broadly.

The two got into a fighting position, but suddenly...

"Lucy! I'm HOOOOOOME!" A childish voice rang out.

They looked up and saw the Bio-Lizard come flying down from the sky, landing some distance from Omega, who turned to glare slightly at the tegu lizard. "Found you, Shanazaran!"

"The golem!" Sonic yelled out.

The Bio-Lizard lunged at Omega, mouth open wide...

And missed by a mile as Omega swerved out of the way, slamming his claws into the golem's back. Dark energy surged out and through the Bio-Lizard's frame, shaking him and making his body shudder violently as black/purple energy coursed through him. The tegu screamed over and over as his body hit the ground, blood drooling out of his mouth and nose.

"That ain't gonna kill him." Sonic commented.

"Shut iiiiit!" Omega snapped back at him. "If I wish for your opinion I-you know what? I will NEVER wish for your opinion."

Unfortunately, this momentary lapse in keeping his guard up cost him as the Bio-Lizard jumped back up, his wounds quickly healing as he slammed Omega into a nearby boxcar, laughing like a fool. "Tackled at the forty yard line!" The lizard remarked cheerily.

"Dang it, that stupid Soleannean snake was supposed to catch that Golem! Where the heck is he?" Sonic demanded.

Dr. Eggman, meanwhile, followed the trail of blood left behind by the human girl, his eyes scanning intently. There was nowhere for her or for him to go...what did they think they were-

Then he turned the corner into the dead end and saw it...lying in a bloody pool.

THA-WOOOOOSH!

A figure leapt up from a nearby manhole, spinning through the air, blue hair swirling around. Omega and the Golem looked up in surprise as Sonic and Tails gasped. King spun downward, a look in his eyes that they'd never seen before as he slammed into the Bio-Lizard, thrusting his fist into the thing's mouth. "A big boy's gotta EAT!" he roared out.

The Bio-Lizard at first tried to bite his arm off. But unfortunately he didn't even get to move one jaw as suddenly there was an intense, blinding pain and-

Something thick and pulpy and foul-smelling went flying through the air away from the Bio-Lizard and King as King pushed the body of the Bio-Lizard off of him, the thing's frame falling to the ground like a rotten fruit as the pulpy thing hit the ground nearby.

"...is that...what I think it is?" Sonic asked, turning a little green at the sight of the vaguely pink think that lay some distance from the Bio-Lizard's body.

"It's not as though he was using it much anyhow." King added, blood pooling around the grey matter. He then held up a hand. "I need a shield and fast!"

Tails nodded quickly and snapped his fingers.

POOF!

What followed was perhaps the most unusual sight they'd seen yet. A shield had been erected straight in the middle of where the exploded thing's head had been. It was unable to fully reform, and as a result, the flesh was expanding like a balloon, one part of it's being completely billowing out. The end result...it looked like somebody had crossed a big lizard with a "space hopper" toy. The thing's head was now grossly disproportionate to the rest of it's body and it's body flailed around uselessly, trying to get back on it's legs.

"That's just sad." Omega said, looking the thing over.

"Unusual solution, but surprisingly effective. I'm just glad it's mouth is facing DOWNWARD." Tails told King.

Then he saw the look on the snake's face. There was no warmth to it. No jolliness or kindness. There was cold, hard, dark intent as it gazed upon the golem like it was dirt beneath it's feet. Tails had never seen any face look so absolutely furious. It was as if King wanted to kill the thing a million times over.

"You...alright?"

"...because...of this...THING..." King whispered darkly. "...because of these THINGS..."

Sonic's eyes widened a bit and he spoke quietly. "Where's Elise?" He asked softly.

King's claws dug into his fist and he grit his teeth.

...

...

...

...Dr. Eggman slowly moved his goggles up to his forehead, clapping his hands in a slow, deliberate manner.

"Not bad at all." He admitted quietly. "Not bad at all."

Elise had tied her arm to a stray dog that had gone down the dead end instead of them. She was now in the sewers, King having performed a tourniquet on her arm to stop the bleeding, and she made her way down a pathway towards their designated meeting place, panting heavily, gasping for breath.

The important thing was that King was still alive. And they couldn't trace her through the smell of her blood, because she was walking inside of the dirty water, the stench alone enough to cover her tracks.

"Serves...you...right...monsters..." She thought to herself.

...

...

...

... "I kept my end of the bargain." King said, pulling out his scimitar and slamming the blade into the ground, bowing in a respectful manner. "One Golem. Would you like him gift-wrapped?"

"GOLEM?" Omega thought to itself. This couldn't be possible. It defied all-

BANG!

"GAAAAAAH!" Omega howled as it fell to one knee, a ferrari that had suddenly driven up to the railroad yard riding by them. "Get in, quick!" A bat wearing a labcoat, glasses and a pink bow in her hair announced to King.

"Who the he-oh." Sonic suddenly realized who it was. ROUGE? Good lord, that disguise was slapdash. How cheap was the colonel? He couldn't get a holographic inducer or something? What did he spend all his money on, GUNS?

The car took off as Sonic and Tails turned back to Omega. They'd meet up with King later. Now it was time to get even with this murderer. And with one leg injured...

THRUCKA-POW!

A harsh, heavy blow from Sonic knocked Omega back through the air. It barely righted itself in time as Tails held up a hand and a swirling surge of wind magic launched nearby loose railroad ties at the robot. Omega, who had used up much of his weaponry already, lashed out with his claws, slicing and slashing at the oncoming railroad ties.

"You've killed so many people...now it's time YOU got eliminated!" Tails roared out.

Unfortunately, he didn't get to follow up on this. Because he was kicked to the side, harshly, by a little girl.

"What...the...f-" Sonic exclaimed as a raccoon's tail whizzed at him, knocking HIM through the air. Marine then landed expertly on her feet, giving Omega a thumbs up.

"Everythin' peachy keen, mate?" She asked eagerly as her pet Koala sat nearby, giving an imitation thumbs up as it's master was doing.

"What the heck is a little girl doing here?" Sonic exclaimed, scratching his head as he stood back up.

"What were YOU up to, blue britches, hurting my savior's henchman?" Marine snapped at Sonic.

"BLUE BRITCHES?" Sonic snapped angrily.

"And it looks like you're stretching them out." She added, looking at Sonic's stomach, sniggering a bit. "Three words, mate. South Beach Diet."

"WHY I OUGHTA-!"

"What do you think you're doin'?" Tails asked, getting back up.

"Ah well, I must be off! G'day!" She laughed, tossing a small piece of paper through the air, making it land right in the middle of Sonic and Tails. The ground BULGED for a second as she leapt through the air towards Omega as Sonic and Tails gasped.

THA-BOOOOOOOOM!

Dirt and dust exploded everywhere as Marine snuck the large robot away, Tails and Sonic coughing madly. "How the heck did she do that?" Sonic exclaimed. "I didn't see her wearing any rings on her, or MAKING a ring in the ground..."

"It must be Yakin Shīru." Tails deduced as the smoke cleared. "...darn. Where'd she go?"

...

...

...

... "Ooh. Crikey, I tell ya, you got lucky." Marine looked the wound over as she, Omega and Nack sat in an alley quite some distance from the railroad station they'd been at. "The bullet went right through your leg. Taking it out would have been a pain. Luckily I can handle this."

Nack crouched down, watching as Marine took out another slip of paper she'd written on in blood, she slapped the piece onto the wound.

SCHUDDA-THWOOMBAH!

Right before their eyes brilliant greenish/blue light shone out and the wound was patched up. "Amazin'. Who needs doctors when ya got this?" Nack laughed.

"Ah, it's not quite as good as you'd think." Marine admitted nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. "It relies on rhythm. Either the rhythm that flows beneath your feet...or the rhythm that flows within a body. You're lucky you have a soul, or I wouldn't be able to cure you. And if the wound had been blown OFF, I couldn't cure it, the rhythm flowing through your leg would be cut off...dissipated."

"Oh, you can't cure a lost limb like Zoe can?" Nack inquired.

Meanwhile, Omega thought back to that girl...and the way she'd looked at him, holding up that gun.

"What did my parents do to you that made them deserving of you killing them?" Amy wanted to know, hands digging into her knees, tears falling freely. "Give...GIVE ME BACK MY MOM AND DAD!" She screamed, grabbing ahold of her head and almost tearing hair out...

"...is Hatred all that I'll encounter on this path I'm on?...is there nothing I can do but continue to kill?" He murmured.

"Okay Tabby, let's get-AHH!" Marine shrieked. "WHERE'S ME BLOODY KOALA?"

"...what the heck is THAT?" Sonic asked, pointing at the thing Tails was holding as they sat in a taxi cab.

"This belonged to the girl. It was standing with her before. It's a koala. Didn't you pay attention to those classes on Australia?"

"All I remember is the stuff related to Foster's Beer." Sonic told him.

"Yeah, that fits." Tails mumbled as Sonic looked down at the Koala, which glared at him. "But you should know that a Koala's claws are really sharp. It LOOKS harmless, but-"

"Hey little guyyyyy..." Sonic said, reaching out.

SLASH!

"OH YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Sonic roared, holding his hand. "MAJOR uncool! Tails, you gimme that thing so I can flush it down the toilet!" He snarled, the blood dribbling down.

"Hey man, you're payin' for a new seat!" The taxi cab driver snapped at him.

"Graaaaaah!" It promptly bit into Tails's "hand", but Tails just smiled kindly down at him.

"There, there." Tails said kindly. "I don't really feel any pain. Just caaaaaalm down." He crooned. "Calm down."

The koala blinked. Wait. It couldn't be bit? What the heck WAS this thing? And why did it have an oddly...polyester aroma?

Eventually, Sonic and Tails reached their destination...the hotel they continued to stay in. Amy was sitting in the lobby, and sharing a cup of coffee with-

...Dr. Eggman?

"Hello." He remarked cheerily.

", what...brings you here?" Tails asked, looking confused.

"I had heard about a large disturbance in this region and heard the whole story from the soldiers stationed here. I ALSO heard about you protecting Ms. Rose here." He smiled a bit, smirking slightly. "Quite the gentleman, aren't you, dear hedgehog?"

Sonic blushed. "Uh, um, er...well..."

"In any case, since you're here, I must be off." He stood up, nodding at Sonic and Tails. "She's a good girl. Take excellent care of her." He added, leaving the room, humming to himself.

"...well, uh..." Sonic and Tails sat down, the koala sitting on Tails's shoulder. Amy just decided not to ask why. She'd had a weird enough day. "I guess...I'd better tell you everything I learned about Silver and Blaze..."

...

...

...

...Amy had been proud to hear how her parents had died. How much good they'd truly done. And she knew that she should continue that kind of work. It was as Sonic had said...her hands were not meant for killing. They were the hands of one who helped others up, not knock them down.

And so, Amy decided to return back to Westside, to go back to working as a healer. And Sonic and Tails? Well...they kind of had a date with destiny.

And destiny happened to have taken up residence in an old shack some twenty miles from town.

"Are you SERIOUS?" Doctor Chuck Thorndyke angrily exclaimed. "Running around in the SEWERS? After you CUT YOUR OWN ARM OFF?" He slapped his own face and pulled it down slightly. "Why don't you just shoot yourself in the head while you're at it? God, you're as bad as my ex-wife." He said, standing by the panting, heavily-swearing bedridden Elise.

Rouge was standing nearby, having administered a washtowel to the girl's head and having helped her into the bed. "You sure you'll be alright?" She asked the doctor.

"I've only been working with corpses lately, so I MAY be a little rough.

"I'm accustomed to pain. It lets one know one is alive." Elise laughed slightly. "And it is a great thing to be ALIVE, isn't it?"

King sat outside of the shed. He sat Indian-style, arms folded, his mouth a taut line. His eyes not truly seeing anything around him, but through everything else, as if he was focusing on some ideal that was trying to choke him from all sides.

"I'm sorry about this." Sonic told him as he and Tails approached the snake. "It's-"

"Don't tell me. I'm keen to guess." King cleared his throat suddenly. "It's my fault I got you caught up in this". Right? That's what you'd like to say?"

Sonic was silent as the serpent anthro went on. "Please, don't misunderstand. We're in the same boat, and helping you out was MY idea. You needn't feel apologetic, my friend. I understood that..going down this road would be...hard. That I'd have to sacrifice much. I was prepared for that." He insisted. "But..."

He bit his lip. "...I do not know enough. I need MORE. I need to be stronger...I need to be better. I can't have others making sacrifices for me." His eyes flickered. "...tell me something. Your friend. Amy. She can use Zoe, can she not? I need to get Elise out of this city and to someone who can heal her."

"I'm sure Amy would love to help." Sonic said gently, as he and Tails went in to check in on Elise. Shadow the Hedgehog, who had brought Dr. Thorndyke along, walked over to King, looking him over.

"Your partner's tough."

"I'm very proud of her."

"I haven't introduced myself. Colonel Shadow at your service." Shadow said.

King bowed his head. "King of Soleanna. It's a pleasure." He said solemnly. "And thank you for finding a doctor for us." He added.

"Not a problem. But there is ONE problem we still have to deal with...that golem." Shadow remarked.

And where WAS the golem, I hear you cry? Well, they'd stuck it in a small barn some distance from the shack. Now Dr. Thorndyke, King and Shadow were looking right at the thing as it continued to flail around, trying to get back on it's arms and legs, it's head still swollen up. "That's really a golem?" Chuck asked, frowning slightly, looking disgusted.

"Yes. And it's got a Chaos Emerald at it's center, so it doesn't die easily...though if you kill it enough times, it WILL die." Shadow added, smirking. "I know from personal experience."

"Anything else I should know?" Chuck added, one eyebrow arching up.

"It's got a Chaos Emerald at it's core, which is made up of many innocent souls." Shadow said solemnly. "And these...things...have some connection to the higher-ups in the military." He went on as Sonic and Tails headed over to them to join in on the conversation.

"Wait, "higher-ups"?" King's eyes widened. "Dr. Eggman. He's a golem." He spoke up suddenly.

Eyes widened. Gasps filled the air. They all turned to look at King, scarcely able to believe what they'd just heard.

"WHAT?" they all exclaimed.

"I saw his true eyes. A string of ones and zeroes. And he was working along with that thing." King said. "He tried to attack me and Elise. He's the reason why her arm was cut off!"

"The ruler of this entire country is a golem?" Shadow murmured, a feeling of horror rising in him.

"But wouldn't his family have noticed?" Tails asked. "He DOES have a family, right?"

"Cream was born before he even met his ex-wife." Shadow added softly. "And as for his son, Cheese, I've never seen him but he's supposed to be "adopted" or something from what I've heard of the rumors."

"He's not adopted, Cheese is a Chao that he treats AS a son." Dr. Thorndyke told them. "And supposedly, he was his daughter's first birthday present. He was already with Vanilla and Cream before the doctor ever met them supposedly."

"It's true he doesn't have that horrifying aura the other Golems have. He seems to only have ONE soul inside him." King added.

"But whether he's a monster or a human, I think this information's made it much easier for me to kick him off the throne." Shadow added darkly, grinning coldly and slamming his fist into his palm. "First thing's first. We need information from this golem. And if we can get it out, we can use it's Chaos Emerald to heal my officer..."

"Hey, hold on." King said firmly. "My dear partner lost her own arm to bring this monster in. I must send it to Soleanna!"

"Woah, wait a minute!" Sonic exclaimed. "Everyone take a chill pill! Don't go sneakin' it away! Shadow, c'mon, back us up on this!"

"Don't look at me Shadow, I'm not voting along with anyone. You can't get me to add to your majority." Chuck laughed.

"Shad...ow?" The Bio-Lizard whispered, eyes widening. "...Shadow...killed...Sonia..." It whispered.

"Uh, did that thing just say something?" Tails asked, looking at the golem, who's body began to pulse, hot, bitter tears entering it's eyes.

"You...KILLED...SONIA!" It snarled at Shadow.

"What the?" Shadow exclaimed.

"SHADOOOOOOW!" The Bio-Lizard roared furiously.

At that moment it was like being plunged into a hurricane. The wind whipped around everyone, roaring like a thousand lions as it tore at their flesh, the Bio-Lizard's furious, horrifying screech filling the air, rending their eardrums to shreds.

The Bio-Lizard had one thing on it's mind.

KILL.

...

...

...

...Dr. Eggman sat inside of a computer lab, typing away as he played an online version of "Scrabble". He enjoyed being able to test his IQ by beating the crap out of unknowing players across the internet.

"Ha-HAH! Eric-San93 from Westside City...I OWN your ass." He announced, pointing at the screen.

"Ah, HeRe YoU aRe, CrUeLtY." A voice, mechanical and faintly ringing through the air like a cold bell resounded.

Dr. Eggman smiled slightly. "Ah, Despair. How are you?"

"Oh, I wAs DoInG FINE uNtIl I hEaRd ThAt OmEgA gOt AwAy."

"Oh, yes. And somebody has caught Ignorance." Dr. Eggman added.

"...wHaT?" The unknown voice said softly, dangerously. "If YoU dO nOt Do ThIs ThE WaY tHaT oUr DeSiGnEr WaNtS iT, tHeN yOu'Ll bE iN hOt WaTeR. YoU'rE lEtTiNg ThEm MeSs WiTh YoUr MiNd. YoU'rE nOt AcTiNg NoRmAlLy." Despair spoke up, sounding concerned.

"Hmm." Dr. Eggman said, shrugging.

"YoU sOuNd...HaPpY."

"I AM happy. Things aren't going right, but that makes them...interesting. One must allow for chaos theory, you see." Dr. Eggman explained. "HOW things go wrong are almost never the same."

"..."

"Years ago when I was set upon the path of "Dr. Eggman", everything was laid out for me. I've lived my life exactly the way it's been planned. There's never been any deviations from this "script" we're all following. But now...somebody's improvising."

"AnD yOu SeEm...PlEaSeD aBoUt It."

"The fact that they've pulled one over on us when we've had things planned out for so long...maybe it's the right time." Dr. Eggman mused, rubbing his chin. "Maybe it's THEIR time."

"...DoN't fOrGeT. To ThEm, We'Re "MoNsTeRs". We DoN't FiT aNoNg ThEm. NoT rEaLlY."

"Oh, I know." Dr. Eggman mumbled. "But I've made a living pretending I can."

"...YeS...aNd yOu'Re ThE bEsT aT yOuR tRaDe. ThOuGh I tHiNk I cOmE vErY cLoSe. WhAt CaN I sAy? I'vE hAd a GoOd TeAcHeR."

"..."

"I wOn'T tElL "hIm" AbOuT tHeSe InSuBoRdInAtE cOmMeNtS."

"Why thank you." Dr. Eggman said, looking pleased.

"Oh, AnD uH...dOn'T fOrGeT. YoU nEeD tO bE hOmE bY 7. YOU'RE cOoKiNg dInNeR tOnIgHt."

"...crap." Dr. Eggman tore out of the room as the other voice chuckled slightly.

Meanwhile, Big was sitting alone, in a cell, head bowed as some dogs sat nearby, slurping at some water in bowls.

"Slop time, kitty-cat." Metal Sonic announced coldly, bringing in a tray with some water and food on a plate. He was about to put it down on a nearby table that was close to the bed Big was sleeping on, but he saw another tray was still there. "You haven't eaten your last meal? Are you trying to starve yourself? We need you alive, you're a potentially excellent sacrifice for our big plans."

"...what do you plan to DO with me?" Big asked, hands gripping his knees.

"That would be a secret." Metal Sonic said, putting the tray down and sitting in a nearby chair, looking with amusement upon Big the Cat. "Why don't you cooperate us? You'll get treated to quite a show."

"Quite a SHOW?" Big exclaimed. "More like making everyone in this country a giant Chaos Emerald...you've been carving out an enormous ring out of Mobius, all to make a Chaos Emerald...and there's one spot still remaining...up in the North, at Nocturne!" He growled, looking accusingly at Metal Sonic.

Metal Sonic tilted his head to the slightly. "...hmm. CLOSE." He admitted, nodding firmly. "You're close, true, but it's not just that, you see. Still..." He shrugged. "What are you going to do? You can't do anything or the village you were living in gets wiped off the map. Just weigh it out." Metal Sonic said simply, spreading out his arms. "One village versus the suffering of a whole company."

"You cannot ADD or SUBTRACT the lives of innocent people!" Big yelled furiously, slamming his fists into his knees. "You CANNOT treat people as a means to an end! No matter WHAT the end is!"

"...ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Metal Sonic laughed, holding his head back. "Ah yes, that's so typical of you organics! You remind me of that other one. When I turned into his wife, he just couldn't attack me. Your kind are so easy to take apart..."

"Ah-HEM."

Metal Sonic and Big turned to see Dr. Eggman standing in the doorway.

"I have a bit of a favor to ask you. It seems Ignorance bit off more than he could chew..."

...

...

...

...When at last the roaring wind died down, the others took steps back, far away from the form of the Bio-Lizard as they saw dust whipping through the air, clouding it's form. "What the heck is it doing?" Sonic gasped.

As the smoke cleared away, they saw something else was standing there. Something that was not simply an ordinary lizard...

It had turned into something from out of an old "Godzilla" film. It was a hulking, ENORMOUS lizard that was now even larger than the barn it had been in. It towered over them all, drool dripping out of it's mouth, it's eyes bugged out and filled with hate, enormous tubes sticking out of it's back, filling and draining back out with some strange substance that looked like a thousand liquid faces all blended together...

Large fangs filled it's maw, and it now had brown/orange skin, with tiny fins attached to it's tail, it's eyes transformed into burning balls of green with slit black pupils. It's clawed paws dug at the ground as it gazed down at them all, snarling and hissing.

"Ho-ly-CRAP. Someone here PLEASE tell me they have the power of Heart." King exclaimed, taking a few steps back.

"Uhhhh...since it's, ya know, a fellow reptile, why don't you talk to your fellow brother in arms?" Sonic murmured nervously.

"Brother? Oh no, OHHH no. If that's a "brother", you can call me an only child!" King insisted as they all began to nervously step backwards, away from the enormous beast.

"What the heck is going on?" Rouge exclaimed as she carried Elise out to King's side as the Bio-Lizard angrily turned to glare darkly at Shadow.

And then...it happened. It's mouth opened up and split apart into four "segments", as an enormous rib-like structure of teeth formed, and a single, horrifying reptilian eye appeared in the throat. It let out a horrifying roar and launched a blast of burning pinkish/red energy at Shadow, who managed to jump out of the way in time, narrowly avoiding getting turned into a squishy little meat paddy.

"That monster had a monster INSIDE of it?" King exclaimed as he carefully held onto Elise.

"To think that magic can make such monsters..." Sonic murmured.

"Oh well, can't be helped. Guess I'll have to teach it a lesson..." Shadow said, holding up his ringed hands, clenching his fists.

SHA-THWOOM! A burning torrent of fire shot from Shadow's body towards the Bio-Lizard as Shadow's red eyes narrowed. "Burn to the ground!" He snarled at the thing.

And then, right before their eyes, the thing's mouth opened up again, and it sucked up the flame like a giant vacuum, the fire vanishing with a SCHLOOP sound into the thing's gaping maw. "It...ate...the fire?" Shadow mumbled, a sweatdrop forming on his head. "...oh shit."

SHUDDA-BOOOOM!

A burning blast was launched right back at them and they, naturally, responded in the only way that made sense.

They ran screaming.

"AAAAAAAA!" Tails screeched.

"So much for Mr. Bigshot "Burning Metallurgist"!" Sonic yelled.

"If YOU'RE soon hot, then YOU try and kill that thing!" Shadow snapped back at him as the Koala clung to Tails for dear life.

"Run for the forest and scatter!" Sonic exclaimed. All three of them took off in different directions, Shadow racing past some large oak trees, panting and heaving. He couldn't believe it. How was he supposed to fight something that could just suck up all his fire?

How?

The Bio-Lizard suddenly slammed into sight, it's enormous frame towering down and looking at the back of Shadow the Hedgehog. It had followed his scent and leapt after him, and now it's mouth opened up to-

It then blinked, noticing something. It took a closer look and poked Shadow's "head"...

Which fell off. The thing was a dummy, with Shadow's head quills attached.

"SONOFA-" The Bio-Lizard began to snarl.

"I feel so...bald." Shadow murmured as Rouge carried him towards the car where Elise was sitting in with King and Chuck. There wasn't any quills on his head anymore. They'd all been cut off to use on the dummy. He turned on Sonic and Tails. "If you tell ANYONE what I had to do to get away, I will hunt you down and GUT you."

"How about a picture for the memories?" Sonic asked, holding up a camera. Tails snatched t out of his hands and tossed it away. "Look, just get out of here. The leader of our country's a Golem. That's enough for you to worry about right now, right?"

Chuck grinned slightly as Rouge nodded. "Okay." She said. "You started this battle. Make sure you finish it." She told them. "And if need be...use this." She said, handing him one of her large throwing knives.

"I..."

"Do you know what this is?" Rouge asked quietly. "It's nothing more than a tool."

"Yes, a tool for killing..." Sonic mumbled. "...alright, I...guess I'll...borrow it." He murmured.

"Please, take care of Elise." King insisted, looking through the car window at Elise.

Meanwhile, the Bio-Lizard's cries echoed through the forest. "Where is Shadow the Hedgehog? He killed Sonia! I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG! I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" It wailed.

Chapter 21: Jonah and the Whale: Trapped in the Darkness!

The Chaos Emeralds.

It is a thing of immeasurable power. It grants joy to the suffering, victory to those on the verge of defeat, life to the dead...shining like a star in the hands of it's wielder, it possesses the power to turn one's thoughts into reality. It makes the impossible possible. Men honor it and worship what it can do. People believe it to be a gift from God.

Yet what is required to make it...

Is the work of the Devil.

Episode Twenty:

ヨナとクジラ：闇にとらわれた！

Jonah and the Whale: Trapped in the Darkness!

"Where is he...WHERE IS HE?" The Biolizard snarled furiously, his eyes pulsing with horrifying rage, slamming it's fists into the ground. It was stomping around in something of a childish rampage, but the terrifying anger and sheer size alone..

"...I know we said we'd fight this thing...but...I'm kinda up for running like a coward, if that's alright with you guys."

"I wouldn't fault you for it." King admitted nervously. "That thing is like Godzilla on steroids."

"Well, they've killed Godzilla before, right?" Tails asked as the little koala bear of Marine's sat atop his head.

"Well unless you can magic a 50 ton hyper death cannon from Japan's ministry of defense, I think we'll have to think of something else." King mumbled.

"We work with ELEMENTS, not time/space stuff. They go a different path." Sonic sighed. "You know, I didn't mind the prospect of spending my life going from town to town helping others. Or becoming a "hog of the military", defending the people. Magic has a price, that's the one thing all those who practice it have to remember..."

"But sometimes it seems the price is too high." King said softly. "As the saying goes, everything worth doing is hard."

"Does it have to be SCARY?" Tails added as the Biolizard slammed one fist into a tree, knocking down a row of them.

"Hey, you don't like the way the world works, take it up with God." King laughed.

"No way! The last time we did, he took my arms and legs!" Sonic snapped.

A snap of twigs. King whipped around, holding his scimitar up. Tails and Sonic turned to look at the thing in the distance. "Who's there?" Sonic whispered, the bushes shaking as a hulking form began to emerge from the dark recesses of...

A small wild squirrel stepped out of the bushes.

"PHEW." They all said, breathing a sigh of relief. Then King suddenly noticed something.

"...it's eyes." He said quickly.

The eyes. Pulsing red. Inhuman. Unnatural. They all frowned darkly as the squirrel began to chuckle, and then laugh coldly, high and unnatural, a mechanical ring to it's peals. "HA-HA-HA-HA! Quick on the uptake, aren't you! HEY! IGNORANCE!"

The Biolizard turned around, blinking stupidly. "Huh? Racism?" He called out.

"One of the Golems?" Tails asked.

"Well, well, well. Long time no see, bubblebutt!" The squirrel announced as it's body elongated and expanded, it's 'fur' dissolving into harsh metal as claws extended and a metal frame was made clear...

Now, before their eyes, stood Metal Sonic.

And Sonic immediately ran towards him, fist flying. "Who's...A...FATTY-FATTY-TWO-BY-FOUR-CAN'T-FIT-THROUGH-THE-KITCHEN-DOOR?" He snarled angrily, his fist BARELY missing Metal Sonic, who scrambled back a few feet.

"What? I'm just here to take Ignorance back, and I didn't say anything about a kitchen door, bubblebutt-"

"FIVE TIMES!" Sonic snapped.

"...huh?"

"Three times at the laboratory! TWICE just now you've called me "BUBBLEBUTT"!" Sonic roared out, jabbing his thumb at his chest, his eyes narrowed, teeth bared as King and Tails looked at each other, nervously sweatdropping.

"...you...kept track." Metal Sonic remarked sitting on a tree limb and making it creak, sounding scarcely able to believe what he was hearing. "...I don't know whether to applaud your excellent memory or suggest you see a psychiatrist."

King frowned slightly, looking at the ground where Metal had been standing, then at the tree limb. Hmm...

The Bio-Lizard walked up behind Metal, looking furiously at the group. "I was gonna get Shadow! SQUISH HIM! CRUSH HIM! SKIN 'EM ALIIIIVE!" He roared.

"Not that I wouldn't find it amusing for you to do that in front of his friends as they beg "oh please, please no"..." Metal Sonic commented, imitating somebody begging for help, one hand sprayed across his head. "God, you organics are so...stupidly sentimental." He sighed. "Point is, you can't go eatin' up or squishing or skinning Shadow. He's an important sacrifice, remember?"

"But-but-but..." The Bio-Lizard whined, stomping up and down. "That's not FAAAAIIIIR!" It said, crying.

"God, what a BABY." Metal Sonic mumbled.

"Well, well, well INDEED." King remarked. "You seem...different...than that one. Tell me...how many souls were used to weld that hulking metal doll you're walking around in together, golem?"

At the mention of the phrase "hulking metal doll", Metal Sonic's eyes narrowed into harsh red slits, his fists clenching slightly. Had he a face, he would have scowled.

"You're the dust-eater that crossed swords with Cruelty, eh?"

"DUST-EATER? I'll have you know I'm prince of Soleanna! I am King, who will be heir-"

"Ignorance. You up for a dish of snake? It tastes like chicken."

"No I DON'T. I taste like snaaaaaaaake!" King protested as he ran off, with Ignorance stomping after him.

"...should we help him out?" Sonic wondered out loud.

"...it appears as though the Golems can't honestly HURT us. I've got an idea." Tails told Sonic quietly. "Castling. When the rook and king switch places on the chess board."

Sonic grinned and the ring on his right wrist glittered. A huge burst of wind shot forth from his outstretched hand, sweeping through the forest and picking King up, tossing him back their way as Sonic and Tails leapt up through the air.

"Tag." Sonic said, tapping King on the shoulder as they flew towards the surprised Bio-Lizard, with King quickly shifting his weight, landing expertly on the ground before Metal Sonic, who blinked in surprise.

"Well that was...annoying." The robot said.

"You'll find this annoying too." King said, quickly slicing at the ground with his scimitar, dirt and mud getting in the robot's optic sensors, covering it up.

"GAH, YOU LITTLE!" It snarled. Unfortunately, switching to infared wasn't so easy because a moment later King kicked him square in the chest, knocking him back through the air. "You...YOU PIECE OF TRASH! I eat organics like you for BREAKFAST!" Metal Sonic hissed, wiping his eyes free of dirt.

"You eat pieces of trash for breakfast?"

"...GRRR..."

"You have no MOUTH."

"I'm going to squish you into a meat paddy and feed you to your girlfriend." Metal Sonic promised, making a gesture of squishing something in his palm.

"You mock the forces that you can't understand. DON'T LOOK DOWN ON MY KIND..." King hissed, holding his scimitar up. "YOU TRASH."

...

...

...

... One vote for "Tuna Casserole". Another vote for "Tuna Casserole". ANOTHER vote for "Tuna Casserole".

"Sorry, dad. Tonight's dinner has been voted off the table." Cream informed Dr. Eggman as Cheese the Chao and Vanilla held up pieces of paper with the words "Tuna Casserole" on them.

"Ha-ha-ha." Dr. Eggman said, rolling his eyes as he tucked his napkin into his pocket. "It's nice to be able to get together again as a family." He told Vanilla, who nodded in a polite, civil fashion. "Fine, I guess I won't make tuna casserole anymore."

"I, uh...have...a little something I made for you." Cheese nervously spoke up, rubbing the back of his head with his stubby little "hands". "It was hard to hold the pencil, but I did it! I made a poem!"

"Oh, really?" Dr. Eggman inquired. "I'd love to hear it." He said as Cream and Vanilla turned to look at Cheese the Chao, who cleared his throat before he began to read.

"My father's hands and eyes so soft,

His love it keeps our souls aloft,

For all within autocracy,

Give praise to his divinity,

And I'll one day walk the path like he,

To uphold justice, liberty.

His kindness grew in leaps and bounds,

You feel it in the sky and ground,

His smiling eyes gaze o'er our land,

O'er every woman, child and man,

And as I feel him take my hand,

I squeeze it tenderly.

He gently tucks me into bed,

And bids me rest my sleeping head,

His gentle nature seems so strong,

I pray he'll guide me all life long,

Upholding right and punishing wrong,

And one day this poem will be song

And I'll be just as he...

With hands so soft and gentle."

"Oh, it was beautiful." Vanilla said tenderly, nodding.

"That was such a wonderful poem." Cream complimented. "You sure have daddy's personality spot-on!"

"I'm glad you liked it." Cheese said.

"I didn't like it. I LOVED it." Dr. Eggman said happily. "You know I'm always here to hear you out. You're a source of absolute joy, Cheese, for all of us."

Cheese nervously blushed. "Awww, thank you, daddy." He said. "I wish half the population was nice as you. The world would be a better place!"

MEANWHILE, NOT THAT FAR AWAY...

"Ah, if only more people had the skills and training I'd had as a little dibbun." King said wistfully, slicing and slashing with his scimitar, dancing around Metal Sonic. "The world would be a better place!

"I can make the world a better place if you'll just STAND STILL!" Metal Sonic snapped, lunging at him with his claws, but missing. "Hmm. Not bad for a naïve fool!"

"Thanks for the compliment." King remarked, his sword cutting into Metal Sonic's side and...sticking.

Uhoh.

"You organics might be brave, but you sure are easy to trick." Metal Sonic commented, one arm elongating out, transforming into a thick, powerful serpent made of metal, with beady red eyes gleaming. It wrapped itself around King's neck, hissing as King frowned. "Ha! This is a trick you can't imitate. How ironic, being killed off by one of your own kind...and don't bother trying to "speak" to it in your native tongue, it's mindless."

King's golden eyes narrowed darkly as Metal Sonic held up his claws, the scimitar falling to the ground. "So, what shall it be? Bitten to death? Strangulation? Decapitation?" He wondered.

"How about "Snakes have a unique bone structure and can bend their bodies"?" King remarked, one arm twisting and hitting the "joint" of Metal Sonic's arm with a harsh CHA-THRACK, making the "snake" around his neck get disconnected as it dissolved away and King leapt back. "For somebody who enjoys mocking organics, you don't know much about them." He added, kicking the scimitar.

SCHA-SLICE! It struck through Metal Sonic's leg and cleaved it off, and the robot fell to the ground, gasping in pain as King pulled the scimitar back up, stepping back and holding it in a threatening manner. He noticed there was a loud THA-THOOOM sound as Metal Sonic fell. How...odd. Could it be?

"You...little..." Metal Sonic snarled, his arm and leg slowly regrowing before King's eyes. "That was a dirty trick...you sure know a lot of them..."

"I thought somebody like you would APPRECIATE dirty tricks." King commented. "I wish to fight fair, but I doubt you'd do the same for me." He held the scimitar up. "I've been in training since I was old enough to hold a knife. I'm skilled in the art of war. Come quietly and I will not harm you anymore. I prefer to be kind."

"Don't...you...look...down...on...ME!" Metal Sonic snarled. "You stupid organic!"

Meanwhile, The Biolizard found itself surrounded on two sides by Sonic and Tails. "What the?"

Who promptly clapped their hands, making a large hole in the ground appear below the Biolizard, who fell all the way down.

"What's that, Lassie? Timmy's stuck in a well?" Sonic wisecracked as he folded his arms, grinning...

CLOMP!-CLOMP!-CLOMP!

The Biolizard clawed it's way back to the top, turning on Sonic. "I SAW THAT EPISODE." He said, frowning.

"Eep." Sonic said as the thing snorted in his face, blowing him back.

"You should be lucky I'm not allowed to eat you! Outta the way!" The thing demanded.

"How about NO!" Sonic snapped, rising off the ground, his body glowing gold as lightning crackled around him. He raced forward, fist held high, punching the thing back. But a moment later, it's tail shot out, and it slammed Sonic and Tails through the air, and they landed with a THA-THUMPA near King.

"Oya-oya! Watch where you're landing, we're in the middle of-" King began, turning his head.

He then ducked just in time to avoid a slash from Metal Sonic, cutting through the robot's stomach. He calmly held the scimitar up, aiming for the thing's head as it lay on the ground and-

Transformed into Elise's tear-filled form. King's eyes widened, a horrified expression on his face as "Elise" sneered, a completely alien feature to her face. "Only "human", alright." Metal Sonic said coldly. "IGNORANCE, NOW!"

The Bio-Lizard turned on King, mouth opening up as Sonic rushed forward to grab him out of the way, and Metal Sonic realized his folly. He couldn't let Ignorance swallow up the bubblebutt! He reached out...

"SONIIIIIIC!" Tails screamed.

A loud roar. Suddenly Sonic felt something...it was like his hands were being covered in dark, bloody, rusted metal gunk, somebody was pouring burning hot salt into an open wound on his body, and he screamed and screamed in pain, screamed for-

...

...

...

...One leg of Metal Sonic was left behind. A large hole in the ground where they'd been. One outstretched paw/hand of Tails vanished.

But beyond that...Sonic the Hedgehog, King the Serpent and Metal Sonic the Golem...were gone.

"...no." Tails whispered, tears brimming in his eyes as he looked over at the closing segmented mouth of the Biolizard, who nervously grinned.

"I...oops. I...swallowed..." He murmured.

"YOU BIG JERK!" Tails screamed, bashing the thing on the head with his fist over and over. "BRING-HIM-BACK! BRING-HIM-BACK!"

"I can't, I swallowed." The Bio-Lizard said lamely. "...I..." He nervously bit his lip. "Oh, our designer's gonna be maaaaaaad." He mumbled.

"No...no..." Tails murmured, slowly hovering down to the ground.

And then he began to scream.

...

...

...

... "The neighborhood will get suspicious if I've got lights on all over the place. Especially considering there's a curfew in effect." Dr. Thorndyke informed Elise as she lay in his bed. "For now, you sleep here and I'll take the couch."

"I...I have to go help him, I...I need to help him." Elise murmured, sitting up in the bed.

"What can you do in your condition? Think this over." Dr. Thorndyke said firmly. "You need your rest."

"..." Elise bit her lip, feeling the spot where her arm had one been, tears brimming in her eyes as she flopped to the bed, weeping openly.

Meanwhile, Shadow had just hung up the phone, turning to Rouge. "Let's go-"

"Go where?" Thorndyke inquired, entering the room a moment later.

"I thought it was time I paid a visit to the dear old doctor and make a housecall of my own." Shadow informed him, eyes narrowed. "I have a date with Eggman, and I'm sure it'll be a date to DIE for."

"Your wounds haven't healed yet and you're already looking for trouble?"

"The head of our government could be a golem. I cannot let that slide. Besides..." Shadow folded his arms. "Think about it. We just left a bunch of young idiots on the battlefield. They might not have a prayer...but I know Sonic will give his all." He frowned slightly. "...I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I didn't try my hardest with this either."

"Yes." Rouge insisted. "We have to set good examples as adults. But you know..." Rouge laughed slightly. "If Sonic found out you're treating him like a kid, he'd kick your ass."

"I'm just paving the way forward. And besides, I..." Shadow bit his lip, thinking of Mighty's proud face. "...there are other reasons too."

...

...

...

... "Hmm." Shadow looked up at the enormous tunnel that led up to the main headquarters of the autocrat's central office. "Is this a stairway to Heaven or the steps into Hell, I wonder? Rouge-"

"I'm NOT staying behind."

"What?" Shadow said, whipping his head around as the night air chilled him to the bone. "Fine, I'll ORDER you to stay. I don't want you to put yourself in harms way."

"You're not going to win this argument, sir." She insisted with a bit of a grin. "I'm stubborn. I learned from the best."

"...ah." Shadow smiled slightly. "I promise. I'll be right back." He insisted, heading up the tunnel.

"Very well, Shadow. Give 'em hell!" Rouge called out.

Soon Shadow was sitting in a chair across from a green-feathered, curly-haired, yellow-beaked bird by the name of General Speedy Kukku. "You're Colonel Shadow, correct?" Kukku inquired, rubbing his chin. "Why haven't you reported in to these headquarters sooner? You spend so much time at your own station."

"I'm sorry, sir. I've been so busy since I was first transferred here." Shadow said, saluting. "I'm sorry that now, late at night, is the only time I'm able to come in."

"Ah, it's really not a big deal. Tell me, how's Vanilla doing? I've heard there's been talk she and Dr. Eggman wish to patch things up with each other."

"She's as spirited as always sir." Shadow informed him.

Checkmate.

"Darn. That's twelve times in a row I've lost to you." Shadow mumbled, shaking his head as Vanilla leaned back in her chair.

"Yes, but you were very close. Once you were sure you had won, you blew it. You didn't finish strongly, you see. You need to learn to be a bit more...ruthless. You're too much like Speedy."

"Speedy?" Shadow inquired, looking confused.

"General Kukku. He took over after his father's post after his father died. He's too...sentimental. Back in the war, he was always looking over his wounded men on his own, he got so concerned whenever they were hurt. He always spread his forces to thin because of that."

Shadow raised an invisible eyebrow.

"He's been riding on his daddy's coattails for years."

"WHAT? That old hag!" Speedy snapped. "I got this position because of my concern for my men, not because of my father! That...that...WIIIIITCH!" He snarled, slamming his fists into his desks. "I-oh...uh...er..." He nervously gulped.

"It's alright. He told me that if you did get irritated by this, you were still a just man, and I could depend on you."

"Heh. She can read people like a book, can't she?" Speedy said cheerfully, motioning for Shadow to follow after him. The two headed down the hallway, with Speedy leading Shadow. "We should make it in time for the meeting with the other Generals. Tell me...have you gotten used to Central, yet?"

"Unfortunately, no. I try to feel like I'm doing good for the people, but..." Shadow mumbled.

"True, true. You need to pay attention to the word on the street, not ALL of it is drivel." Speedy admitted as they approached a double set of doors.

"I've heard that Omega is keeping a bear as a pet, Sonic the Hedgehog's gained two pounds in as many days, immortal beings have popped out of nowhere...even that our autocrat is a GOLEM." Shadow said solemnly.

Speedy's head whipped over in Shadow's direction. Then the two began to laugh madly. "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! That's...actually not funny." Speedy sighed. "You didn't pick up any of Vanilla's sense of humor, did you?"

"...no."

"Too bad. But like I said, most of it's just mindless drivel." Speedy commented, pushing the door before that open. "But that last one sounds interesting. It's a funny joke, let's talk about it over...tea."

The door was pushed open, and Shadow came face to face with various Generals who were all sitting down, eating tea...and who looked as though...they'd been expecting him. Shadow felt a chill run through his body.

"Here, tell that funny joke again." Speedy asked calmly. "The one about Dr. Eggman being a Golem."

Shadow looked like he wanted to say something, but though his mouth opened slightly...nothing came out. Until he heard a voice speak up.

"Is something wrong, Colonel Shadow?"

Shadow the Hedgehog turned his head to see Dr. Eggman stepping into the room from a doorway at the end of the meeting hall. "If I WERE a Golem, what is the issue? Do you...have a problem...with that?" He inquired.

So THAT'S it. Shadow thought to himself, fists clenching. Mighty...you said that the military was in trouble, but that wasn't entirely it...it wasn't the military that was in danger...it was the military that IS the danger...looks like those truly were...the steps down to Hell...

Elsewhere, Sonic the Hedgehog awoke...

And found himself floating in a sea of blood, the skull of a human whacking him on the head as a small current pulled it along. Gasping in horror, he quickly shot to his feet, looking around, gazing at the sight of ruins scattered among piles of bones, the scrapped remains of several robots and buildings...and the blood...

Blood everywhere with a sky of black mixed with dark purple clouds, that seemed to be in a perpetual storm...the air was hot and humid like it was moments away from a thunderstorm, a salty-iron taste choking the taste buds...what was this Hell? What was going on?

"TAAAAAILS? KIIIIING?" Sonic yelled out. "GUYS? You out there?"

He waded through the blood, continuing to call out. "Hello? HELLOOO?"

"Oh, there you are! Sorry, was hard to smell you what with all this...YEEEEECHHHH." King was off in the distance, holding up a small torch he'd made from a bone and a wrapped up-ripped-off piece of his robe. "This place is disgusting. Look at all this blood." His face scrunched up as he walked over to Sonic. "See, this is why I'm glad I'm a vegetarian. Think about all the poor cows and chickens and pigs that have to get ground up into blood froth by the Mcdonalds indust-"

"King, please, I'm having a hard enough time trying to keep my lunch down with the smell alone." Sonic begged, holding one hand over his stomach, the other over his mouth. "And at least I know it's you, with the whole "vegetarian bit"."

"But how do I know you're not imitating Sonic, you metallic fake?" King remarked coldly. Then he grinned. "...tubbaguts."

"WHO YOU CALLIN' TUBBAGUTS?" Sonic yelled, leaping through the air, punching and kicking only to have King block all the strikes with one hand.

"Yes, that's definitely you, alright." King mused. "But where is this place? I know we were swallowed by the Bio-Lizard...look. See?" He pointed over to the side at a large pile of rubble. "That's the house we were in...and there's trees all around...and these fires, they're probably all the work of Shadow from when he tried to turn that huge monster into a deep-fried dish..."

"This is that thing's belly? But...how can it be this big?" Sonic murmured. Suddenly he saw something deposited nearby, floating in the water, soaked in blood...a familiar paw.

"Is that..." King began.

"It's just Tails's hand...the doll his soul is bonded to's hand. This means he wasn't totally swallowed." Sonic said with a sigh of relief, clinging to the hand.

"I do not suppose that he could perhaps, perform the Heimlich upon the Bio-Lizard?" King mused with a sad laugh.

"I don't think there's a hospital with a big enough pump to get us out of here." Sonic laughed.

Then an idea came to him and he began to speak very loudly. "BOY, I SURE WOULD BE SURPRISED IF I SUDDENLY DEVELOPED TELEKINETIC POWERS! YEAH, IT SURE WOULD BE A SURPRISE IF THAT HAPPENED!"

If there were any crickets in the belly of the beast, they would have started chirping on the spot.

"...life is full of surprises, but never when you need one." Sonic mumbled hatefully.

"Are you there, God?" King prayed. "It's me, King. Hey, listen, could you do me a favor?..."

TEN MINUTES LATER...

"This place is filled with skeletons and buildings." Sonic muttered as they continued walking around the belly of the Bio-Lizard. "...and TV sets for some reason." He mumbled, looking over at the wrecked remains of a plasma TV. "Why do you think that, whenever something doesn't work, his first response is to eat it?"

"I don't suppose you could...I dunno...make an exit out of here like you tried to make a well from before?" King mused.

"...actually that's not a bad idea. I mean, there IS some Earth of some kind beneath all this blood..." Sonic mused, clenching one fist as a loud "WHOOM" echoed through the air, and a circular hole appeared before them. "Okay, here, one moment..." He snapped his fingers and a a small chunk of rock floated up into the air from beneath the bloody sea. "Now we toss it in and wait."

He tossed the rock into the "well" he'd created and they strained over, listening intently.

...

...

...

... "...I didn't...hear it...hit bottom...did you?" Sonic mumbled nervously, slowly turning his head to look at King, who was nervously shaking.

"...no." The snake squeaked out.

"...a wall!" Sonic suddenly shouted.

"Yes, yes!" King said, practically screaming in hysteria. "No matter how big this space may be, if we keep running, eventually we'll each the edge, and then we'll find an exit!"

"Yeah, an exit!"

"EXIT!"

"AAAAAAAAAAA!" They both ran off screaming in one direction, howling like madmen.

Elsewhere, in someplace that WASN'T in somebody else's stomach...

Marine plopped down in front of the small fire that Nack the Weasel had built up in an alley as Omega sat near a trash can some distance away, a big, sorrowful expression on her face. "I couldn't find poor Johnny anywhere." She moaned. "What could have happened to him?"

"You sure he didn't get eaten by a stray dog?" Nack remarked, raising a non-existent eyebrow as he held a marshmallow over the fire.

"...stray..." Marine mumbled.

She promptly began to cry so hard that her tears produced a "sprinkler" effect, shooting everywhere and dousing out the fire. "AAA! I was kidding! KIDDING!" Nack insisted.

Marine wiped her eyes as best she could, sniffling a bit. "I hafta find him. Tabby's smaller than the average koala...and Yakin Shīru can't quite..." She sighed. "It couldn't help 'em. And least of all MY people's arts. My family, the Aussie's, we might all get cool nautical names, but none of us have any real political power...we can't do much for others."

"Is that why you wanted to help out that koala?" Nack inquired.

Marine looked up at him.

"Back when I first joined the military, I wanted to...well...show that I could have enough power to make a difference somewhere. Was that what you wanted? To make a difference to someone? Or to something?" Nack asked, sounding slightly...introspective.

"...perhaps at first I did it out of sympathy, but then...then Tabby became a part of my family. Then he made a difference to ME just as I did to him. I know if he could speak, that's what he'd say." She laughed a bit. "Strewth, Tabby's the only reason I was able tah CROSS that desert!"

"You crossed it for a silly reason. I mean, immortality?" Nack remarked, rolling his eyes.

"I GOTTA get it." Marine said solemnly. "If I don't bring it back to the Metatron, gain his trust, my people are gonna get turned into vegemite for whatever ruling family takes power! Especially if that SNAKE gets it!" She moaned, hanging her head. "And I HATE vegemite!"

"...you know...there's...not too many police out around this time of night." Omega said quietly, standing up and moving out of the alley. "Are you coming?"

"...oh, you're...helping me..." Marine beamed. "BONZAH! Oh, thank you, thank you, mate!" She said happily. "You're one hell of a bloke!"

"His own people were wiped out in a campaign some years back." Nack whispered to her as Omega turned the alley. "I think that's why he sympathizes with the survival of your family. You're both, in a sense, the "best hope of your kind"..."

...

...

...

... "I...don't...know...how long...we...can keep walking..." Sonic moaned as he and King kept walking.

"...we've been at this for what feels like HOURS..." King mumbled, holding his head in one hand. "...and there's...no sign...of an exit...and I'm so HUNGRY..."

"We get out of this...I'll buy you...your own salad bar..." Sonic promised.

"I...can't...walk...anymore..." King mumbled. "Go on." He insisted, leaning against a long pillar. "Go on without me...I'll...I'll be fine...I'm...really..."

Sonic groaned. "Don't tell me you're giving up."

"I won't tell you, but you'll figure it out eventually...if only I had something to eat..."

"Don't...you keep...green tea...in your robes?" Sonic asked.

"Yes, but I've no wa-" King's eyes widened.

Soon the two of them were sitting on a big, circular slab that had probably once been a mighty column, sipping some green tea while King cooked the belt he had which strapped his scimitar in place for them to eat on a fire Sonic had made. "Heh. Rotisserie style." He mused. "I guess I should consider myself lucky I didn't through this leather belt away. I would have gotten rid of it, but it was a gift from my grandmother, and I didn't have the heart to tell her I was a vegetarian."

The snake then nervously cut through the belt, handing Sonic a piece, and the two began eating up. "...I'm...sorry." He managed to mumble out. "This happened because you were seeking to help me."

"Ah, compared to what my teacher Tikal put me and my brother through, this is kid's stuff." Sonic insisted proudly, swallowing down his "meal". "I just wish I knew where this place is."

"...you're about to get your chance to ask somebody who might know." King whispered softly, his eyes turning to slits. "HE'S coming."

Sonic turned to look in the direction King was looking at, seeing Metal Sonic approach them. "Oh, you. You know, I was hoping maybe as you fell in, your necks would have broken. A 'bot can dream, can't it?"

"Do you know the way out?" King snapped. "I just had to eat half a leather belt for dinner. I'm in no mood for your snarky comments."

"There IS no way out." Metal Sonic said, holding it's head in one hand, sitting nearby, shaking it's head. "To think, you dragged even ME into this...don't you organics ever think things through? Trying to protect your friend, all sweet and noble and look what you do."

"This is really that big lug's belly?" Sonic inquired, frowning slightly. "What IS this place exactly."

"This is his stomach, and yet not his stomach...do you remember what you felt when you got sucked in?" Metal Sonic inquired. "...you should...you felt it before..."

Sonic's eyes widened. "...wait...could it be...this place is where I met Chaos...the Doorway to the Truth!" He whispered. "...but...but THIS doorway didn't lead me to that white area with the enormous stone door..."

"So the real place is a white abyss of some kind? Interesting." Metal Sonic inquired. "You see...Ignorance...was created by our designer, our father. He was trying to recreate the Doorway...trying to reach Chaos directly. Well...he didn't...succeed." Metal Sonic shrugged. "What can you expect, though? Ignorance is one of the sins that are tied to Faith, to Magic and to Science. Ignorance at what little power you might have, or ignorance of the laws that Magic centers around. In his ignorance he sought to act as God, and...failed."

"Your father has enough power to create a Doorway to the Truth? A defective one, true, but still..." King mumbled, looking both horrified and interested. He would want to shake this being's hand...and then stick him like a pig.

"This is something of a limbo...the imprint of his memories from where he was first born weren't enough to fully recreate the doorway, so he made something that wasn't too useful. And now we're stuck here...all we can do is wait...trapped in the darkness...rotting and rusting away..." Metal Sonic murmured.

"...that...that can't be true!" Sonic snarled.

"No...exit?" King mumbled, his body shaking slightly, one hand gripping the top of his head, claws digging in.

"Wait...if I die..." Sonic murmured, his pupils dilating, a horrified look coming onto his features as a coldness gripped his heart, slowly squeezing. "If I die...what is Tails going to do? I promised him we'd get back to normal together..."

He furiously turned on Metal Sonic. "Damn it...just who the hell is your creator anyhow? What kind of sick monster makes something like THIS?" He hissed, gesturing around at the bloody sea. "Is it Eggman?"

"Cruelty? Nah, he's just another Golem."

Sonic suddenly had a revelation and his eyes narrowed. "If the autocrat of the Eggman Empire is a Golem, then are you things behind the Shanazaran Campaign?"

Metal Sonic began to snigger madly, laughing. "Ha-ha-ha...HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Ohhh, I had such fun there! Do you remember the trigger that started the uprising?" He inquired, placing his claws together, an unmistakable look of amusement in his soulless red eyes.

"Yes, a Shanazaran child was murdered in the streets. They practically needed tweezers to pick up the pieces from what I heard." Sonic said, looking disgusted that Metal Sonic thought the campaign was "fun". "The military insisted it was a horrible accident but nobody on their side bought it."

"They shouldn't have. I'm the one who did it." Metal Sonic said proudly.

King's eyes widened, then narrowed in disgust. Sonic's fists clenched, an incomprehensible look upon his features as his body quivered with a mixture of dawning horror and fury.

"The civil war flared up right before my eyes all from just a few good punches." Metal Sonic flexed his claws, looking positively radiant. Had he a tongue, Sonic was sure he would have licked his lips.

Sonic was silent.

"Oh, and the officer that I impersonated? You wanna know what's funny? He was actually AGAINST military intervention in the region!" Metal Sonic went on. "And best of all, he got court-martialed for what he did, and EXECUTED because he couldn't give a decent alibi! Oh, you organics are so easy to manipulate!" He held his hands up. "You all dance so well for your puppet-masters, don't you?"

"So YOU'RE the one who shot that innocent child...YOU'RE the one who caused the Civil War that created a killer of metallurgists...who killed two innocent doctors and made an orphan out of my childhood friend...who turned state alchemists into killers and got innocent Shanazaran citizens slaughtered like dogs in the street..." Sonic muttered, tightly clenching his fist, a golden glow beginning to form around him.

Metal Sonic let out a harsh laugh.

"YOUUUU!" Sonic screamed furiously, his fist slamming into Metal Sonic's face, a golden sheen surrounding him as lightning crackled over his body.

SHUDDA-THWOOOM!

The blow would normally have been enough to break through the robot's cheek...at least, that's how it SHOULD have been. But Sonic was suddenly aware that the robot was not even flinching...just coldly staring at him.

"...you...little...RAT." It whispered. "You wanna fight? Fine..." He stepped back over and over, going some distance away from Sonic and King, his body pulsing. I'll show you something interesting...as a souvenir of hell!"

"Did you see his footprints when we were fighting in the forest? Or how he bent that tree branch he was standing on?" King whispered to Sonic.

"...I DID see the tree branch. Why?"

"His weight...it's not normal. That form we're used to seeing him in, I think it's a fake...I think his true form is much, much bigger...and we're about to see it right now..."

Before their eyes was a towering, hulking figure that seemed even larger than the Bio-Lizard. It had a draconic, metal-armored body with long spikes running down it's back, and a tank-esque form beneath a muscular torso, with a serpentine tail lashing back and forth. It's mouth was filled with more fangs than a shark, and it had a long, black visor slit with a single reptilian-esque red eye glaring out at them all, and a large chaos emerald clearly embedded in it's "stomach" region.

The tail itself was also spiked and rather segmented, made up of metal armor as the rest of the beast, and the thing had enormous, thick claws that were longer than trees on it's left hand, with a large, crab-like claw/cannon on the right. Several long, thick tubes hung down from the "tank" region, and most horrifying of all, the armor...

The armor was seemingly keeping in PEOPLE, made up of thousands of screaming and sobbing and laughing faces all indented into the metal, all trying to desperately crawl out to freedom. How many souls were trapped in there?

"How could you possibly call this thing a "person created from a Chaos Emerald"?" King murmured in horror, golden eyes widening in terror.

SEASON THREE ENDING CREDITS!

(Amy is sitting outside the house on the roof, watching the clouds slowly pass overhead)

Meguri megutte mo mata koko de aitai

hagurenai youni kono te wo tsunagunda...

(Amy sits up slightly, looking at a cloud that looks an awful lot like Sonic, grinning slightly at it and blowing it a kiss.)

Asahi ga noboru made katari atta ne

yuuhi ga shizumu made tsunaida te

kou yatte asu mo asatte mo tomo ni

ayumou hikari to kage!

(Now Tiara and Amy are passing around a photo album that shows embarrassing photographs of Sonic and Tails doing silly things like shooting underwear at each other, rolling around in the mud and playing with their food, laughing at the pictures.

Samishige ni mitsumeru machi no naka de

nukumori wa hitori ja mitsukara nakute

ai ga konna ni tsuyosa ni naru koto

shittanda kimi ni deaete hajimete!

(Elise is sitting in her room, taking out a small photograph of her and King and David all together at a carnival, with King holding up a large stuffed bear that he won Elise, the young dibbun grinning broadly in front of the camera.)

Meguri megutte mo mata kimi ni aitai

hagurenai youni kono te wo tsunagunda

hitori ja nemurenai yume wa mirenai kara

donna fuan mo todokanai tokoro e...

(Marine lies back on a hill, looking up at the stars, pulling out a small drawing of her "perfect man", giving it a kiss and grinning broadly at it as her pet Koala pokes it's head out over her.)

Hoshi mo nai yoru mo terashi tsuzukeyou...

(Sonic, Tails and King all sit together, passing around a photo album of their own...all of collected shots of the GIRLS doing embarrassing things. They all laugh it up.)

Doko made mo yukeru kimi to nara

hitori ja arukenai michi mo futari nara

hana uta utai nagara arukerunda

kimi ga ireba shiawase...

Chapter 22: A Strange Kind of Reunion!

Science centers around explaining how the world works in terms that all can find common.

Faith is about explaining WHY the world works in terms one cannot ignore.

The two are rarely compatible. And Magic's foundation is found in faith. The elements of the world, the manipulation of time and space, the healing of any and all wounds, these are possible with magic, as long as you remember...

All magic has a price.

Nothing...is free...

OPENING CREDITS: SEASON FOUR!

(Sonic and Tails stand together, surrounded by a large ring, in their childhood forms. A bright light flashes, and they are transformed into their adult selves, looking defiantly at the camera.)

Owari naki tabi no tochuu tachidomarisou na toki

fukai tameiki kobosu bokura wa...

(Sonic and Tails find themselves now surrounded by friends, family and enemies, who all look up at the sky, as bright light begins to shine from above...)

Tsukamikakete wa mata hanareteita

demo ima wa mou nanimo osoreru koto wa nai!

(Sonic rushes across the ground, striking through the air at the transformed Metal Sonic as Tails grabs ahold of a large, burning frame, tossing him through the air at the Bio-Lizard. Sonic manages to dodge an oncoming metallic series of spikes shot out from a shadowy figure some distance away, only to have King slice the spikes in half.)

Kokoro o tsunagu tsuyoi kizuna wa

keshite hodoke wa shinai sa

sagashitsuzukete tadoritsuita

kono basho de period ni...

(Sonic raises his fist into the sky along with Tails and the others, who raise theirs one at a time as the camera pans out to show them silhouetted against a rising sun.)

Kanashimi ikari chikara ni kaete

unmei wa sugu soba ni...

Episode Twenty-One:

奇妙な種類の再会 !

One Strange Kind of Reunion!

"Ho-ly-crap." Sonic gasped as he jumped away to avoid the strike of the large, segmented tail that this Metal Overlord now had. "That thing is..."

"This...appearance..." Metal Overlord growled, slashing at Sonic with his claws, forcing the Blue Blur back a few feet. He then raised his left arm cannon, as a swirl of dark blue energy began to form, transforming into a powerful beam. Sonic quickly jumped up through the air, a green aura of wind propelling him away. "This...appearance...don't look...don't look at me, don't look at me!" He called out in a twisted, sing-song voice.

King raced across the sea of blood, jumping over the tail as it swung towards him, diving underneath the large, hovering body and jumping up. SCHA-SCHLISH! Dark motor oil dribbled out of an enormous cut and Metal Sonic howled as King rolled away to safety, turning around, twirling his scimitar. "Sonic, now!" He called out.

"You little ANT!" Metal Sonic snarled, one claw shooting out, striking King across the chest and knocking him into a pillar with a CHUNKA-CRACK. The pillar shattered, King's eyes widening in pain as he gasped, falling into the sea of blood below.

"You think you're funny, huh?" Sonic snarled, his body shimmering with golden light as lightning crackled around him. Holding up a charged fist, he surged forth, towards the thing's back to get in a good strike that would hopefully make the thing bend in half-

"Kill...me." A voice sobbed.

Sonic's fist was now inches away not from a smooth metallic frame, but from a face pressed up against metal that was moving as smoothly as liquid, seamlessly churning and squirming, hundreds of faces all pressed up to look at Sonic. One of those faces's "eyes" gazed right at him, it's face wracked with pain, it's voice sobbing. "Kill...me...please...please...kill...me..." It begged.

"I...I..." Sonic whispered, eyes widening in absolute horror. The speaker couldn't have been much older than HE was. And then a thousand other voices began to speak along with the other face, their visages pressed up tightly, as if desperately hoping Sonic could hear them.

"Mommy, why does it hurt-"

"Come over here, please-"

"Help me, help-"

"I don't want to be here anymore-"

"HEY!" King rushed forward, grabbing Sonic by the collar and tugging him away in time, slashing at the metallic hide of the Metal Overlord, who angrily slashed at them, missing. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Those are PEOPLE in there...begging for help..." Sonic murmured, head hanging, eyes wide in horror as his hands gripped his knees.

"Those AREN'T people." King insisted, frowning at Sonic. "That thing in front of us is nothing more than a monster Come to your senses!"

"How do you like this power?" Metal Overlord laughed.

"Give me back my child-"

"Mommyyyyyy-"

"Dad, please-"

"I...want to...I want to die, I-"

"Heeeelllp uuuuusss-"

"STOP IT!" Sonic roared suddenly, gritting his teeth, rushing around the Metal Overlord as it regarded him with cold-hearted amusement.

"Hurts...it hurts-"

"Somebody please-"

"Dadddyyyyy-"

"I don't like being here-"

"I SAID STOP-" Sonic snarled, his fist raised high, sparkling with lightning.

"Brother dear..."

Sonic's fist hovered in mid-air, an all-too-familiar voice echoing through the darkness, his insides turning to ice, his body freezing. Oh no.

"Can...we...play now?"

No. Maria...

"I'm done playing around!" Metal Overlord growled, his segmented tail shooting forward, constricting around Sonic and then tossing him hard at the ground.

THA-BWAM!

"GAAAAH!" Sonic screamed, curling up into a ball, pain racking his body as the Metal Overlord stood over him, an unmistakable sneer on it's face. Sonic hit a large chunk of ruins, his face turned to gaze upon a strange piece of wall. It showed off some stars in a magic circle, all pained various colors, almost glowing in the sunlight with several symbols stationed at certain points...atop them...

No, wait. It was upside-down. Above them was a figure that seemed to be...falling, yet desperately trying to grab ahold of the stars that were around him. Cast down, and still trying to grab all it could...

Unfortunately he didn't get the time to examine it more closely, because a moment later, the Metal Overlord draped it's head down over him, fanged maw opening as it's "tongue" sloughed out...a tounge made unmistakably of the meshed-together bodies of dozens of innocents. Hands and faces and arms all squirming around, eyes wide with pain, human, fox, rabbit, hedgehog, lizard and more all reaching out, grabbing Sonic's body.

"You cannot fathom my pain-"

"It hurts so much-"

"Let's die together-

"Come over here with us-"

"SONIC! GET UP!" King yelled at him. "You big...GAH!" He rushed at Metal Overlord, but the thing batted it's tail at him, knocking him through the air, continuing it's twisted meal...

...

...

...

... "Oh, this thing?" A brown-haired human remarked, looking a picture of a little koala over.

"Yes, his name is Tabby. Have you seen him?" Marine nervously inquired, rubbing the back of her neck, tracing a small circle in the ground with her foot.

"Oh yes, I saw it." The hazel-eyed human commented, nodding his head as he sipped an Icee with his other hand. "It was over by that run-down factory a little while ago. He was with this fox that had two tails."

"Fox that had two ta-CRIKEY!" Marine gasped. It couldn't be...the one from before who'd been with that bubblebutt? The one who'd tried to hurt her benefactor?

"Thanks for helping me." She told the human.

"No problem." Nick said. "Thanks for allowing me to make an author avatar cameo."

"Huh?"

"See ya." Nick said, walking off. Marine took off herself, renewed purpose in her eyes.

"Oh, that big, insensitive JOIK!" She shouted, waving her fists in the air as Omega walked behind her, looking as nonchalant as a robot could. "That FIEND! That heartless BEAST! Kidnapping poor lil' Tabby! I'll bet he's stuffed her in his tuckah bag!"

"...tucker...bag?" Omega inquired. Marine had put the decals of some flowers over his symbols to "hide" him and had painted his red chassis green and gold, the symbols of Australia's flag.

"HE'S PROBABLY GONNA EAT HER!" She sobbed.

"He can't 'eat' anything." Omega commented. "He's...well, he doesn't eat meat, or anything el-"

"Oh, a vegetarian. Well...still..." Marine mumbled. "Kidnapping poor lil' Tabby!" She complained. "He's-"

"He's right over there." Omega said, pointing into a nearby alley. "Along with...that GOLEM?" it exclaimed, eyes wide in surprise.

Tails was standing in an alley with the Bio-Lizard by his side. The tegu lizard was nervously looking up at the koala on his shoulder. "You sure I can't just have a-"

"Nope. Not even a nibble." Tails said, shaking his head. "Now take me to your leader!" He said dramatically, pointing upward.

"A golem?" Marine inquired.

"They possess a regenerative ability that make them practically immortal." Omega whispered as he and Marine hid, watching Tails follow the Bio-Lizard through a vent entrance in the side of a building.

"Well, that sounds right up my alley!" Marine insisted. "Let's go nail 'em!"

They carefully followed them to the vent shaft, which led down a small stairway to a metal gate. And it was there that Marine halted in her path, taking in a sharp breath, eyes turning to slit pupils of fear.

"What's wrong? You seem nervous." Omega inquired.

"...I...I can feel...something's felt wrong since the moment I entered this country...a feeling that...something was out of place. But right here...at this spot...it's like hundreds of bugs are crawling round right unda my FEET..." She whispered.

Well...I don't know about bugs, but there were three people...or rather, an animal, a golem and a person, walking underneath them through a long, dark hallway. Tabby nervously clung to Tails's body with all his might, shivering.

"What's wrong? Are you cold?" Tails asked him.

The koala shook it's head. No, not cold. It felt...diseased. Like every step they took deeper into the dark recesses of the hallway was making them more and more filthy.

Tails felt odd too. Though he could not feel 'hot" or "cold", he could feel something now. An unease. A disturbance of his soul that-

They rounded a corner and Tails found himself in a sewer-esque system that was all-too-familiar. In fact, it reminded him of where Selfishness had taken him along with those chao. He turned around to get a better look at-

Skulls. Skulls and bones littering the ground.

"EEEYAAGGGH!" Tails jumped a few feet in the air, clinging to the wall tightly as the Bio-Lizard blinked up at him. "What the heck is this place?"

"Oh, that's just the Gatekeeper's work. Those things won't touch ya if you're with me, though." The Bio-Lizard said, shrugging.

Tails nervously glanced up, catching sight of many unblinking, unnaturally glowing eyes that were hiding in the darkness behind open grates above.

"...I feel so much safer..." Tails muttered, quickly dropping down from the wall and following after the tegu lizard, Tabby, shaking like a leaf. "You said this person is your designer, your "daddy", right...and he'd know where the people you swallowed go to?"

"Oh, he knows EVERYTHING." The Bio-Lizard bragged. "He's a million times wiser than the Doctor and a hundred times cooler too. Too bad he doesn't have a Sonic Screwdriver. Everything's better with a Sonic Screwdriver."

"...brother, please just be alive." Tails thought to himself.

...

...

...

...Sonic was now trapped inside of the Metal Overlord's mouth, surrounded on all sides by the wailing, sobbing, laughing faces of the souls that comprised it's "tongue", with the faces of others gazing out of the dark recesses of the thing's throat. It was hot and muggy, a stench like that of a decayed attic lingering around and filling his nostrils.

He coughed slightly, being twirled around by the tongue as the voices continued to speak in those distorted, tortured tones.

"Die together...let's die-"

"So tired, want to sleep, want to sleep-"

"Hurts...hurts..."

"I want to go home, I want to-"

Then...a light off in the distance...near the very bottom. Sonic's looked more closely, seeing a grey-colored Chaos Emerald. Yes, Golems had chaos emeralds at their core, and to think, after all his searching, there was one right there, off in the distance like a star, shining-

Off in the distance like a shining star...

Suddenly his mind made a connection. He thought back to the ruins he'd seen a short time ago...ruins of stars displayed in a circle...seen one before...at BABYLON.

BA-BAM!

"GAAAAH!" Metal Sonic howled in pain, one large pair of fangs being kicked out to the ground, gasping.

"Lemme out, you idiot! I just figured out how to get us all out of here!" Sonic roared from inside his mouth, making King and Metal Sonic blink in surprise.

Meanwhile, Marine dropped down from atop the falling body of a winged, black-scaled chao, it's form twitching slightly as it lay next to countless slayed others. Omega lowered his claws, the dark energy dripping off of them as the chao he'd just blasted fell to the ground, charred to it's bones like the others that had charged him.

"What ARE these things?" Marine inquired.

"Chao. Creatures created unnaturally through magic." Omega told her.

"GRRRRR..."

They turned their heads, seeing the sight of a huge, hulking chao with a figure like a bull, horns sticking out the side of it's cheeks, three golden eyes glinting as it flexed it's claws, rushing forth at them.

"Unnatural is puttin' it LIGHTLY!" Marine yelled out. She held out a slip of paper with blood writing on it, tossing it through the air. It stuck itself to the thing's forehead, making it blink as Marine clapped her hands.

SCHA-TWHULPA!

The head splattered open like a ripe melon, revealing a disgusting-looking "stem" left behind as the body hit the ground, Marine quivering. "Ugh...that feelin' is even stronger now, mate." She told Omega. "Something is underneath us...something that feels like...PEOPLE?"

"See, our designer made ALL of us!" The Bio-Lizard kept braggin'. "He made me and Sonia, Metal Sonic...all us Golems! He's so smart. He's a million times wiser than the Doctor and a hundred times cooler too. Too bad he doesn't have a Sonic Screwdriver..."

"...what the?" A form sat up from his desk, eyes widening slightly. He then composed himself, folding his hands in his lap, looking intrigued. "...hmm. Somebody's coming."

MEANWHILE, QUITE SOME DISTANCE AWAY...

"My grandfather, Gerald...he's the only family I ever had besides Sniveley. I don't remember the names of my parents, or their faces." Dr. Eggman said, holding his hands behind his back, looking out the window of his office, memory clouding his eyes. "I don't even remember if they're the ones who gave me my OWN name. But I remember...the white room. Yes, and I was not the only baby there. There were dozens of us.

If I was abandoned, or sold, I don't remember. But I also remember that question... "Who will be the one to take charge of this country", that's what that white-haired echidna asked of us. And his eyes...so dark..."

Dr. Eggman frowned slightly, then went on. "We were "prospective", apparently. All of us, they said, had the potential to one day be the leader of Mobius. We were all educated, trained in the arts and sciences...our bodies honed in the ways of war. Marksmanship...swordsmanship...and I excelled in battle."

The clanging of rapiers as a young, red-haired human slashed and sliced against a blond-haired one. It was a dance...in and out, back and forth. Partners, that's what they were. Partners in a dance macabre, each move had to be perfectly in sync or-

SCHA-SCHLUCK!

"AAUUGH!" The blond-haired human fell to the ground, gasping in pain as other prospective shrunk back in fear, the red-haired human nervously dropping the sword to the ground, taking a step back...

A white-haired echidna patted him on the shoulder, a glint behind his glasses, his metallic gloves feeling cool against the red-haired soldier's shoulder. "Don't worry. He was just a pawn, there to help you reach your goal." He spoke soothingly.

"I believed with all my heart that I would be the one to rule this country. So I endured all the hardships that were flung my way. And...unfortunately...I learned the hard way that before I could change...I had ONE more hardship to endure..."

He was tied down to a table, and found himself nervously sweating. "Er...what is this?" He asked, looking at the straps that held him down.

"Just make yourself comfortable." The echidna doctor insisted. "It'll all be over soon."

He turned his head. He saw the many bodies piled up within the room next door. Their guts spilled out from their mouths onto their chests, their eyes wide, never to close, some were still twitching-

He remembered a scream forming in his mouth. "What are you people doing? Those bodies!"

"You're number 12." A voice spoke up.

He turned to see a figure floating nearby...an unusual being...

"Will you be the one who accepts it? Who will take on my "Cruelty"?"

A liquid was stuck into his bloodstream, sparkling like a icy blue crystal...

"A chaos emerald contains an inordinate amount of energy, and is composed of the souls of many people. If placed within a human body or a "sapient" or "robotic" form, it can be met with rejection as it tries to take over. But luckily, my body did not die. I survived... I became the autocrat of this empire."

"..." Shadow was sitting in a chair across from Dr. Eggman, absolutely silent.

"Because I had a soul of my own when I was injected, I overcame the Chaos Emerald, you could say. Only one soul remained at the end. I "won out". There is only one spirit within me...that, and the feeling of cruelty." Dr. Eggman explained.

"Which is, of course, why you're telling me all of this, knowing that I won't be able to tell the populace the truth." Shadow commented coldly.

"I've always said to my subordinates you were a smart one." Dr. Eggman said cheerily.

"If you were originally a human, why can't you live AS a human, and not as a golem?" Shadow asked quietly.

Dr. Eggman turned to look at him. "That's impossible. This body transcends a human one. I'm much faster and stronger than an average being, and far smarter too." He walked towards Shadow, folding his arms. "Just as your kind are proud in being who you are, so is my kind. We too have pride in our abilities as Golems. Sonia, whom you killed...she too died, proud to be a Golem..."

Shadow frowned at this. "Hrrrrm..."

...

...

...

... "Here." King said, tightening the bandage on Sonic's arm. "That'll keep the blood from leaking out." He offered. "I might not know healing magic, but at least I know first aid."

"I'm just glad you didn't have to do CPR." Sonic laughed. "For all I know, you could be poisonous!"

King grinned good-naturedly. "Well, I AM venom-fanged. So the choice is between taking your chances with me or-"

"I would never do CPR on you in a million years." Metal Overlord snapped. "Now can you PLEASE explain how we are to get out of this stinkhole?"

"Fine. See the ruins around us? Like those?" Sonic pointed at the mural he'd been looking at before. "That was part of a mural I saw back at Babylon. On the mural was a dragon...traditionally, guardians of treasures, in this case, a treasure of knowledge, since there was the symbol of a book on the other one. And the stars represent Heavenly Knowledge. I thought it was much like the circle I saw in the Fifth Laboratory where they made Chaos Emeralds, but...it's different."

"Wait. The circles they used to try and create Chaos Emeralds...like...trying to imitate Life Magic? Bring somebody back from the dead?" King inquired.

"Not quite. If a person's soul is gone from this world, if it isn't lingering around, it cannot be brought back. Magic has a price...and me and my brother were trying to buy something that was reserved for somebody else. We paid a different kind of price." Sonic mumbled. "Only Bios or Zoe can bring back the dead, and even THEIR scope is limited. But this mural gave me an idea...suppose..."

He turned to Metal Overlord and King. "Suppose I tried to bring back somebody that was already alive. Performed the ritual I did to bring back my mother on myself? It would still be an attempt at reaching across to the Other Side. We would get transported to the Doorway, I'm sure of it." Sonic informed them all. "And since the Bio-Lizard is a False Doorway, this means that he'll have at least SOME connection to the real thing. We'll be double sure of success."

"So you open up the doorway and we jump through?" King asked. "You're really sure trying to bring yourself back to life when you don't need to will work?"

"What do we have to lose?" Sonic asked calmly, with a bit of a grin. "But one more thing..." He turned to look at the Metal Overlord. "There's something I want to ask you. The figure. The falling figure on the mural. Do you know what it represents?"

"No..." The thing said, frowning.

"It represents somebody that had been a "perfect being". But he was cast down from Heaven. Even so, he continues groping, seeking to grab all the power that he can, as if hoping to climb back up from Heaven on the backs of the stars he can snatch from the sky." Sonic said softly.

"What a ballsy thing." King said, frowning. "Trying to escape that kind of judgment, and taking advantage of others to regain something you don't deserve to keep!"

"It would be one thing if this was just a piece of art. But this isn't just a piece of art. Take a good look at the figure."

King and Metal Sonic gazed intently at the figure...and saw that there were words transcribed into the being. Written in many different languages, and-

"...there are...the indentations of...CHAINS around his arms and legs..." King whispered. "...no, not the links of ordinary chains, but...RINGS...rings linked together went into this thing, this was part of a magic spell?"

"A magic spell that took down an entire country!" Sonic growled, turning on Metal Sonic. "So how could a country as prosperous as Bablyon vanish overnight? Simple...the entire country got turned into one giant Chaos Emerald!" He hissed darkly.

King's eyes widened. He took in a sharp, pained breath.

"Why do you think there are these ruins here? The one responsible was trying to hide evidence of what he did! And who IS responsible, Metal?" Sonic snarled, wheeling on the robot. "Who was the one that murdered all those millions of people? Who turned an entire population into a Chaos Emerald, who tried to crawl back up to Heaven using the lives of others? Was it your designer?"

Metal Sonic was silent. He said absolutely nothing.

"Your creator made you and the other Golems to recreate the same kind of destruction that befell Babylon, isn't he?" Sonic said, pointing accusingly at Metal Sonic.

"Well, blue bubblebutt, take us out of here and I'll tell you everything." Metal Sonic said calmly, looking amused. "Now why don't you go ahead and use this to help you cast the spell? You've not got SOME mastery of the elements, but not enough to the spell, am I right? You don't have control over Time and Space which you so desperately need. Well, luckily, this will help you "cheat"..." Metal Overlord said, pointing at the chaos emerald embedded in his body.

"...all those people in you...all of them are souls of Babylonians, aren't they?" Sonic asked softly.

"Does it VEX you?" Metal Overlord said softly. "These are beings whose bodies and minds dissolved into dust eons ago. They exist only as energy to be used. They don't even remember who they used to be. Don't tell me you..." He frowned, seeing Sonic flinch. "Is that...PITY I see in your eyes? Such a typically useless organic emotion."

He shook his mighty head, speaking condescendingly. "You just want to recognize them as "people" because your brother, who's in a similar bind, is a person in your eyes. Would you hesitate to feed coal into a fire because you felt sorry for the tree that perished long ago to give you firewood? These people can't go back to being what they were!"

Sonic hung his head slightly as King turned away, folding his arms.

"Use LOGIC, not EMOTION, to delineate what measure a human is, metallurgist." Metal Overlord said coldly.

Sonic was silent for a few moments. Then he sighed, folding his arms and turning to the ground. "Let's get to work. I've got to make a circle indentation..."

He crouched down into a ball, curling up, his spines rising as he spun around and around, carving out a circle in the large stone slab he and King and the Metal Overlord were standing on. Finally he rolled out of his "Spin Dash", standing to his feet. "It's ready. Now I just add blood..."

King tossed him his scimitar and Sonic nodded. "King, listen, should anything happen to me, then tell people on the outside what THIS bunch are scheming." He said, gesturing at Metal Overlord as he cut into his finger, dribbling blood all through the ring.

"I don't care what happens to this country." King said nonchalantly, snickering slightly.

"HEYYYY!" Sonic growled.

"There are people you love waiting for you on the outside, right?" King said suddenly, his expression becoming soft, gentle. "You'll soon get a chance tell them yourself, right?" He said.

"...okay." Sonic nodded firmly, then turned to the Metal Ovelord, walking over and placing his gloved hand on it's hide, against the pulsing faces beneath. "I'm sorry. I ain't got a choice. I've gotta use you, but I'll try and be gentle about this." He spoke quietly.

"...heh." King smiled as he saw Sonic clap his hands together, the rings on his hands and wrists echoing with a ringing sound as Sonic began to pray.

"I call upon the Seven Spheres, The Seven Heavens, the Four Pillars of Light from Above to hear our prayer...Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land, thou has brought back the captivity of Jacob, You have forgiven the iniquity of your people, you have covered all their sin..."

"Look at him." King thought quietly. "A master scientist testing out a very grand theory. A sinner begging for a favor from God. People like him...they have the power to change everything...if only I had that same power..." He added sadly.

"RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL GO BEFORE HIM, AND SHALL SET US IN THE WAY OF HIS STEPS!" Sonic roared out as brilliant white light filled the air, the temperature of the area rising high as streaks of gold and silver flames whirled around and around the threesome. The blood in the ring began to sparkle with a thousand different points of light as millions of colors began to blend together before their eyes...

Then came the rebound. The color of bloody, rusted metal flooded their senses as a loud siren rippled through the air. Their hands and feet and frames began to be covered in bloody, rusted metal protoplasm, burning salt in open wounds...

"Long time no see, huh?" Sonic said softly, looking down at the ground at the gunk that was spreading out, seeing that King and Metal Overlord were disappearing, along with the many faces that had been-

A voice, whispering.

"Thank...you...sir..." Sonic heard a voice say, a look of relief in one of the faces in Metal Sonic's chest...

And then...light.

Beautiful white light filled Sonic's vision and he saw himself standing before an enormous door with beautiful, ornate designs on the front. There were dozens of languages written on the bottom that seemed to repeat the phrase "I am All, All are One".

"Helloooo." An all-too familiar form announced, a being made of water before his eyes, hands on "hips" as it stood by the door. Deeply piercing green eyes and three sharp claws for "hands", with what appeared to be some kind of brain floating above it's eyes. It had a "horn" atop it's head and two small protrusions on either side...Chaos himself. "You haven't come to get back your limbs?"

Meanwhile, The Bio-Lizard had reached a large door of his own, and was pushing it open. "You're sure he's in there?" Tails asked.

"Oh yeah!" The Bio-Lizard announced.

"...my only lead to Sonic is in here..." Tails thought out loud as the tegu lizard pushed the door open.

But where WAS Sonic? Well...

"I am guessing you did not intend to land that way." Chaos inquired, noticing that Sonic was halfway through the "ground", only his butt and legs sticking out. He sighed and walked over to Sonic, giving a hearty tug, yanking him out.

"If you tell ANYBODY about what just happened..." Sonic snapped angrily, rubbing his sore head.

"Oh yes, only Sonic the Hedgehog would have the sheer audacity to threaten a God. See, this is why I like you. You're funny." Chaos admitted, nodding his head. "Uh, by the way...notice...anything...DIFFERENT about this place?"

Sonic blinked, turning behind him and seeing...

"Why are there TWO door...ways..." He trailed off.

A form was sitting before the doorway. A very gaunt-looking, emaciated, bad-smelling form. It seemed sad...as if it had been there for a long time and that it had run out of hope. But it was a form he knew. It was...

It was his brother's true body. It turned around, it's unkempt fur almost covering his beautiful blue eyes as Miles "Tails" Prower's true body blinked slowly, as if scarcely able to believe it's own eys.

"...Miles?" Sonic whispered quietly.

The body of Miles smiled slightly, nodding slowly.

Sonic RAN, but even with his speed, he wasn't fast enough. Rows of rings shot out, hooking around him, slowly dragging him into the doorway. "MILES! Miles, c'mon, grab my hand! C'MON!"

"I can't." Miles's body said softly, shaking his head. "...you're not my spirit." He told Sonic sadly.

"I...I..." Sonic felt tears brimming in his eyes, and he let out a howl of rage and despair as the door closed, Miles slowly waving goodbye, eyes filled with mourning.

"...he'll be back." Chaos said simply, eyes closed. "...yes...he will return."

BA-BAAAAM! "You're damn right!" Sonic roared, his fist punching a hole through the door as he struggled to keep himself outside of it long enough. "I PROMISE, I'll come back for you! I ain't leaving you behind! I PROMISE!" He screamed before the rings tugged him back into the dark expanse within.

Elsewhere, Tails's eyes had widened. His mouth hung slightly open, gazing at a figure that was all-too-familiar...a figure that could not possibly BE...a figure that looked all too much like-

"NiGHTS?"

Chapter 23: Now Presenting: The Flashback Episode!

Science centers around explaining how the world works in terms that all can find common.

Faith is about explaining WHY the world works in terms one cannot ignore.

The two are rarely compatible. And Magic's foundation is found in faith. The elements of the world, the manipulation of time and space, the healing of any and all wounds, these are possible with magic, as long as you remember...

All magic has a price.

Nothing...is free...

Episode Twenty-Two:

今提示：フラッシュバックのエピソード

Now Presenting: The Flashback Episode!

Hava nagila, havaaaaa nagila,
Havaaaaa nagila, venis'meeeechaaaaa!
Hava nagila, havaaaaa nagila,
Havaaaaa nagila, venis'meeeechaaaaa!

People were singing merrily, twirling around, dancing by a fire as others raised beer kegs into the air, clinking them against each other. One jester-esque being sat on a tree stump by the large bonfire they had, looking into the flames as the dancing and merrymaking continued.

"Hey! Here." A Manx said, holding up beer keg, grinning broadly, young and cheerful, a sparkle in her eye and a spring in her step. "Say "cheers"!" She told the jester.

"Oh, Tiara." NiGHTS said, blinking his cat-esque blue eyes a few times. He took a swig of the beer with a nervous grin, then spat it out. "PFOUGH!"

"Oh, c'moooon." Tiara laughed. "Ya don't drink, you won't get taller!"

"I swear, if I EVER have a son, I'll tell him to never let this PISS pass his lips. How do you people DRINK this stuff?" He wanted to know as Tiara took a long, heart swig, pulling out something else.

"Well how about some hard lemonade instead?" She wanted to know. "Not everyone LIKES Vodka..."

Hava neranena, hava neranena
Hava neranena venis'mecha!

Hava neranena, hava neranena
Hava neranena venis'mecha!

"This is nice, isn't it?' Tiara asked as she sat near him, smiling at him as the others continued to dance. "It's good to be able to just relax once in a while. Stop and smell the-" She stopped herself, looking at NiGHTS's nostrils. "...sorry. Forgot. No nose."

"It's simply a skin condition." NiGHTS told her. "A common one amongst my kind." He added, shrugging broadly. "At least I don't have green skin. Or strange teeth like some of my friends..." He sighed. "...I do miss them." He murmured.

"They were quite the charmers, eh?" She asked.

"Oh yes, they were somethin', I tell you that!" NiGHTS told her. "And this IS good, y'know? Being able to relax. This country always seems to be at war with everyone..." He muttered, shaking his head. "The people need a break."

"Yes, the Shanazaran Campaign, the insurgencies in the East..." Tiara murmured quietly.

"Hmmmm. Dr. Snively Robotnik, eh?" Mighty remarked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he looked the newspapers before him over. The Wax nodded eagerly, placing another stack down.

"Yes, apparently he was causing a great deal of trouble by passing off magic as a kind of science that was "breaking through the barriers of human knowledge". He was suckering everybody in Knothole along." The Wax informed Mighty as the two of them sat in the library together, Mighty's eyes peering intently beyond his sunglasses at the articles before him.

"...man. With the Shanazaran Campaign and all these frickin' insurgencies...the Eastern Region's had it rough, haven't they?"

"Not just them, either. It seems there have been issues over in the North and West, too. Border skirmishes and the like." The Wax added, holding up an article in a newspaper from some several weeks ago.

"They let the bodies hit the floor, and before long, the government's gonna get thrown out the door, that's what's gonna happen." Mighty remarked, eyes flashing.

"At least Nocturne hasn't tried to kick our ass. Personally, I think they'd win. Those guys are MONSTERS." Tiara told NiGHTS as she took a sip of the vodka, NiGHTS knocking back another hard lemonade.

There are unending skirmishes at the Eastern Border, at the country of Maginary, and to the South at the Jungle Kingdom."

"And of course we can't forget Nocturne to the North." Tails added. "It's huge and icy and cold. We've got a nonaggression treaty with them at the moment, mostly because the fabled Ice Cap Mountains keep them from attacking us."

"This country is so restless. Especially ever since Baldy came to power." NiGHTS commented. He then giggled a bit, slightly drunk. "Though I can't complain. Look!" He laughed, taking his cap off, making Tiara laugh.

There was a single blond "antenna" of hair underneath. Tiara laughed so hard she fell off the log she was sitting on, legs pinwheeling in the air. "That's HILARIOUS!" She laughed.

"Hey!" A young little cat ran up to NiGHTS, holding out her hand, a red gem embedded in her forehead. "May I have the pleasure of this dance?" She asked.

"Oh, look how popular you are!" Tiara managed to laugh out as she sat back on the log. "Unfortunately, he doesn't know how to dance."

"Don't know how to dance? Aw, you STINK." Blaze said, pouting broadly, walking off. "Hey! Silver?" She called out to a silver-furred hedgehog. "Will YOU dance with me?" She wanted to know.

"Ooh, CAN I?" Silver asked, quickly grabbing her hand, twirling her around.

"...you know..." Tiara said quietly, turning to NiGHTS. "...it was around that time that those boys tried to bring back the dead."

NiGHTS's smile faded away. His mouth became a taut line.

"...you shoulda said something to them."

"...what could I have said? I probably would have done the same thing in their place. And besides, it wouldn't change what they have to atone for." He added.

"Harsh much?" Tiara asked.

"...a sin's a sin." He mumbled. "...I learned that the hard way." He leaned back, looking up at the stars in the night sky. "We live our lives trying to choose the lesser of two evils when it would be so much better just to say "no". Much more harder, I admit, but..." He held his head in his hands. "...so much can go wrong when one isn't careful..."

Miles gasped as he shot up, eyes widening. What...what was going on? What was happening? What had happened to-

He could hear his brother's horrified gasps and he turned to see what Olgilvie was staring at...and he saw, with horror, a sight he would take to his grave. It was...was it even remotely a hedgehog? It was perhaps the most horrible, foul thing he'd ever seen. The entire body seemed to be covered in some sort of pasty-white membrane of flesh with red veins running through it, and it was twitching as it lay there, it's quills falling out onto the ground. It tried to reach out to them...

And then it let out a death rattle, dying as black blood oozed out from it's mouth, it's head twisting to the side.

"...I don't...get it..." Miles whispered. "...our technique was...flawless...wasn't it?" He asked, looking over at Olgilvie, eyes widening in horror.

"It WAS flawless. But...it was us. We...we were the ones who made the mistakes." Olgilvie muttered, shaking his head. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring you back properly." He moaned.

"What do you mean?" Miles asked.

Then he looked down at his hands and saw the change that had overtaken him. Saw fur that had been replaced with seamstresses-made quilt work. Saw a small little red gem atop an antennae sticking out of his head. Saw stubby arms and legs and only TWO tails...

"...what's...happened to me?" Miles whispered, eyes widening in horror.

"...that's the only thing I could bond your soul to." Olgilvie stated, whimpering quietly as he held his head in his rusted-over hands. "A doll I found of you, one we made from Metallurgy that summer, remember?" He asked.

"Don't tell me you still blame yourself for what happened to your home? It wasn't your fault what happened at Babylon." Tiara told him.

"..."

"It WASN'T."

"This is an interesting article." Sonic said, pointing at the large tome that they were examining in their father's old office. The book was entitled "The Complete Idiot's Guide to: Metallurgy", written, interestingly, by one Nicholas ibn Geber Hayyan The Second. "It says "The shining light of God smote Babylon in one night. The powerful shine was seen for miles, and people stopped and gazed, saying "Who was like God to make Babylon vanish? Who can wage war against him"?"

Sonic then angrily shook his fist at the author. "WOULD YOU HURRY UP AND GET TO THE PART WHERE WE ACTUALLY  SEE  THIS HAPPEN?"

"I'm HURRYING, I'm HURRYING! I have OTHER fics that need my attention, y'know!"

"I'll bet Hiromu Arakawa would have gotten it done by-"

CRA-KRSSSSH!

"Good GOIN', MAURICE. Ya broke the Fourth Wall!"

NiGHTS watched as Tiara danced with the children, one hand gripping the log he was now sitting on, the other tightly digging into his own leg as the logs holding up the bonfire fell and the flames reached up higher into the night sky.

"I'm not too surprised they don't mind a bigger fire." NiGHTS said as he stood near NiGHTS, his hands folded in front of his chest. "People are afraid of the unknown. Afraid of the dark. So they don't want to confront it. They want to hide away until it's safe. Until it's light again. But..."

"Buuuuut?"

"It's a temporary solution, though." The other NiGHTS said. "Sigh. Those "naturals". They get so weak. Still...what do you say we make the most of our valued resources, eh, NiGHTS?"

"You don't mind using them for ANYTHING, do you?" NiGHTS asked. "Even when they ought to be dead and buried..."

"So this is how they made the Chaos Emeralds. Those sick, sick..." Sonic muttered.

"You don't know the half of it." A voice spoke up.

Sonic turned his head to see somebody entering the room. A robotic being of all shades of blue with a white/light tan chest and "mouth" region. He had a trident-shaped light blue helm on his forehead with a tan "egg" in the center, and three golden orbs in the center of his chest, matching the golden hue of his eyes.

"I don't know who you are. But being able to tell all that just by looking at it...not bad." The robot said, nodding his head.

"And you are?" Sonic wanted to know, raising an invisible eyebrow.

"Ah. I'm Gizoid Mark I. I serve as the "Watchdog" of this place. It is my duty to rid it of any intruders. I'm not allowed to let anybody who enters this place live." He held one fist up. "Don't think badly of me."

"...hey. Tell me somethin'. You've got a SOUL in there...don'tcha? You ain't just a robot. I doubt you're a Shanazaran...so what's the deal?"

Gizoid Mark I tilted it's head, golden eyes blinking. "Well, well. I AM impressed." He told Sonic. "So I'm not the only one who had his soul bonded to a "doll"?" He remarked, looking amused.

"I happen to spar with a "doll" a lot like you all the time." Sonic said with a grin.

"Allow me to REINTRODUCE myself." The robot said. "The name "Gizoid, Mark I" is the name of the Shanazaran that died on Death Row some years ago...according to the public. In reality, my...associate and I...put him and his brother to death by using their souls to create a Chaos Emerald. Unfortunately there was a rebound...and since we'd failed to put up a good magical barrier around ourselves..."

"You were new employees, weren't you?" Sonic asked.

"VERY. Both he and I had our souls grafted to the robotic bodies of the very people we'd just sacrificed. My true name is Charybdis." Charybdis said.

"What do you expect? Do you honestly think they'll let what happened in Babylon happen here?" NiGHTS asked of the other NiGHTS.

"Let?...HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!" The other NiGHTS laughed uproariously, holding his sides. "It's already happening!"

Mighty was off like a bullet. He opened the door to the archives, clearing aside a large clutter of books that were on a desk, and pulled out a thick pencil from off a nearby desk. Grabbing ahold of a map off the wall that showed off the continent of Mobius, he began to make circles at certain spots.

"Shanazar...the Chaos Emeralds...these skirmishes...Knothole...then...hmm. HMM." Mighty frowned darkly. "...this...this does NOT look...I need to tell Dr. Eggman about this." He muttered.

...

...

...

..."Why don't you cooperate us? You'll get treated to quite a show."

"Quite a SHOW?" Big exclaimed. "More like making everyone in this country a giant Chaos Emerald...you've been carving out an enormous ring out of Mobius, all to make a Chaos Emerald...and there's one spot still remaining...up in the North, at Nocturne!" He growled, looking accusingly at Metal Sonic.

"If you knew what happened at Babylon..." Tiara wanted to know, folding her arms, standing before NiGHTS. "...why didn't you tell anyone? WELL?"

"...even if I had...would it have changed anything?"

"What kinda talk is THAT?" Taira wanted to know.

"I've been watching for a long...long...time." NiGHTS said quietly. "...I've seen people make the same kind of mistakes over and over. Not EXACTLY the same mistakes, but...close enough." He murmured. "They're so helpless...all they can do is run as fast as they can. And they are good at running as fast as the wind..." He smiled a bit. "Like my son. Faster than a rabbit..." He whispered.

Tiara folded her arms, frowning a bit.

"People...they're very fragile...so easily hurt...on the inside and out..." NiGHTS went on.

Tails's eyes went wide in shock. "Wh-WHAT?"

"Why are you surprised? You've heard of them, right?" White told him, his pink eyes glittering like precious gems. "Golems are artificially created beings. Creations of those who were very holy and close to God. The story goes that when a very holy person strives to approach God, in that pursuit they gain some of God's wisdom and power...one of these powers being the creation of life."

"You're lying! Who could have possibly created anything like that?" Tails insisted, feeling a sense of fear running through him. It couldn't be. This wasn't POSSIBLE. Magic could do many things, but this was a matter of creating a flesh and blood person...complete with heart and soul! This wasn't healing wounds or bringing people back that had existed before, this was something much more...

What ordinary man could  DO  that?

"...I guess you're from the "Show Me" state. You won't believe until you get some proof with your eyes." The albino human snapped his fingers. "Andy!"

Andy jumped into the air, swinging an enormous hammer. SCHUDDA-CHULK!

The top half of White's head vanished, leaving only his jaw. Tails screamed in horror, but then his scream died halfway when he saw the body calmly lowered itself to show Tails the INSIDE...

It was all churning, violent pink energy swirling around, intermixed with sparks of golden dust that trickled out the open neck. No blood...no organs...just that strange, maelstrom of pink energy moving around. The pink energy dribbled onto the floor before, right on the spot, the head began to reform, first forming a skull made of pinkness, then white eyes...teeth...muscles...flesh...

White stood there, now fully returned to normal. "Okay, I died once. And OWWW." He rubbed his neck. "I'm gonna feel THAT in the mornin'."

"Even the strongest of them can die." NiGHTS went on. "I learned that for myself. Nothing lasts forever..."

"I'm gonna kill you all KINDS of dead!" White promised furiously, spitting some pink chaos energy into Eggman's face.

"Now then...I wonder...how many more times can you be killed before you die?" Dr. Eggman mused.

Elsewhere, Tails was leaning against the wall, folding his arms as Toni frowned, still buried deep inside him. "Ohhh, what's taking him so long?" She mumbled. "This isn't right. Can you see how the fight's going?" She asked Tails, who looked out into the darkness, squinting his eyes as best he could.

"...ahhhh...no." He admitted, shaking his head. "I can't see any-"

It was then that a very-injured-looking White came staggering out of the darkness, his lifeblood oozing down his chin and dribbling onto his shirt, his eyes sunken and hollow, his breath coming in ragged pants as he kept on trying to move forward.

"Mr. White, you're-" Tails began to say.

SCHLUCKA-SCHUMP! A chunk of head went soaring through the air and White gasped in agony as he fell to his knees, being kicked on his side by Eggman, who clenched and unclenched one fist, holding it up high. "I've been counting. So far, you've died...18 times. I wonder how many more it'll take?"

"Dirty old man..." White gasped out.

"Most people don't HAVE super forms...or hair that can stretch for yards...they don't have jaws that can swallow trees whole...don't have technology that's so advanced it might as WELL be magic..." NiGHTS went on. "And they get caught up in the stupidest little things, and don't notice the stuff that matters until it's...what can people do against things like the Golems?" He wanted to know.

"Not give up." Tiara said firmly. "Like HELL we'll give up!" She said, clenching her fists. "Haven't you noticed something ELSE about humans?"

"...yes." He admitted with a grin. "Something absolutely divine..."

an enormous wall of fire shot through the air, striking into Flippancy, making her cry out in horrified pain, falling to the ground.

"Well look at me. I finally got you to your knees." Shadow spoke up, standing proudly in the doorway.

"How...how did you..." She gasped out.

"I burnt Ray and my own wounds shut. Hurt like hell. Almost passed out. But I made it." Shadow informed her, holding up his fist...

A ring carved in blood made visible...a burning scar all-too-clear for Flippancy to see.

"Creating a magic ring from your own blood-"

THA-WHOOOOOM!

Another burning, horrifying torrent of flame shot forward.

"You enjoy coming back from the dead, eh?" Shadow asked coldly, his eyes like steel as he fired over and over at Flippancy's frail form as smoke spiraled around Shadow slowly, almost delicately.

With each new blast of fire, the flesh on her frame began melting off of Flippancy, chunks of bone being burnt black as the Chaos Emerald within her frame began to crack, her banshee—like screams rising into the air.

"Well then I'll have to keep killing you until it  STICKS !" Shadow snarled.

...

...

...

..."You dead, mon?" The being before him asked. One who's entire body was covered in frightening-looking darkness, it's eyes shining like a cat's. It tilted it's head to the side slightly, looking slightly annoyed, slightly confused, slightly amused and slightly interested all at once.

"Yeah...I'm dead." Sonic muttered sarcastically, managing to get back to his feet and clenching his fists, eyes glinting with burning red fire. "RAAAAHH!" He slammed his fist at this Pitch Black being, attempting an uppercut, only to feel the agonizing burn of knuckles practically shattering. He held his hand, gasping in pain, involuntary tears rising up.

"No matter how hard you try..." Black grabbed ahold of Sonic's face and tossed him hard at the wall. "You CAN'T beat me!" He snapped as Sonic slunk down to the ground, moaning in pain, legs twitching slightly.

"You're only making this harder for yourself." Black said softly, walking over to Sonic and kneeling down by him. "Why don'tcha just tell me what I want? I mean, this isn't even FUN anymore."

"...th...tha..."

"Eh?" Black leaned in more closely, eyes squinting. He held a hand up to his ear. "What was that? "Rosebud"?"

"Thanks...all this blood rushing to my head...is actually...making me think things over...I just remembered a little something that might help..."

"Help you spill the beans?" Black commented, raising an eyebrow.

Sonic smirked as he stood back up, panting slightly, wiping his mouth on the top of his hand. "Help me kick your ASS."

"There is NOTHING more cliché than last-minute heroics." Black said coldly, throwing a punch at Sonic that rushed towards his head.

THA-BLAM! Sonic caught the fist...and there was a sudden surge of burning hot energy that seared through Black's body. He staggered back, pinkish energy oozing down onto the ground from his wounded hand...

...

...

...

..."...you're nothing more than a doll that walks and talks." Omega said, throwing a rapid series of punches at Tails, who ducked and dived, dodging them as best he could. "Isn't that also the result of Magic? I can't believe your STUPIDITY!" The robot snapped. "Your body's so pathetic, and yet you still have faith?"

Tails somersaulted away, landing expertly atop a railroad spire. "It's true, there's a lot of things wrong with this body of mine. But I'm not miserable. My brother gave up the use of his limbs to give me a chance to exist in this world again. If it wasn't for magic, I wouldn't even be talking to you right now, I'd be sitting on a shelf somewhere! Yeah, there's plenty of problems with the art, but..."

Tails smiled proudly. "I have...faith...in my brother. And in Magic. And I want to KEEP believing."

"People...the things they can do in the name of protecting others..."

"What the?"

People suddenly turned their heads to look up at State Metallurgist that was standing atop a large tower, holding out his ring-wristed hands, a twisted grin on his beak, green feathers glistening in the sunlight.

Bean the  Dynamite  Metallurgist  cackled madly as he snapped his fingers, tiny red "firecracker" esque TNT bombs appearing in midair, slamming into the frames of the surprised Shanazarans, screams of pain and horror filling the air as body limbs went flying. A blue-eyed robot's eyes widened, it's red and black-armored body rushing forward on chicken legs...

"Get down!" He roared out, quickly pushing Omega away, arms held out, his chest compartment opening up as a brilliant light shone forth, enveloping himself and the dynamite that shot towards him.

A large explosion rocked Omega's vision as horrid laughter filled the air...

"Dammit..." his brother said, looking down at his brother's eyes, turning on and off, red and grey, red and grey. "He cannot last much longer. I've GOT to do something, I..."

He looked down at his chest compartment. Compared to his brother...compared to the others...he'd practically gotten off scot-free...if his brother's Life Ring wasn't so-

An idea came to him.

"...I don't even know if you're listening." The robot whispered softly, looking up into the Heavens. "I can't prove you're there. And maybe it's just because I want to believe you ARE listening that I'm doing this. But isn't that all it's supposed to take? To want to believe? Faith? Please..."

He held his black, three-digited hand up. "Give him back... he's my only brother! "

...

...

...

...

"Elise, quick, he's one of-" King yelled out, his eyes widening in absolute horror.

SLASH!

" ELIIIIIISE!"  King screamed, tears brimming in his eyes.

"King...my liege...I...can't feel my left arm anymore..." Elise mumbled out, a tear trickling down her cheek. Her voice sounded mournful.

"Well that's fine, I didn't want you fighting anymore. A gentleman's supposed to look after a lady and-" King began, his polite tone trying to desperately disguise the horror he was feeling over what had befallen his dear Elise.

"If you perish because of me...then there would be no heir to the throne of the Metatron..." The young woman went on. "If a ruler loses his people, he is no longer a ruler...and if the people lose their ruler, then they too are lost just as he is...for the sake of Soleanna and it's people you CAN'T die."

Dr. Eggman slowly moved his goggles up to his forehead, clapping his hands in a slow, deliberate manner.

"Not bad at all." He admitted quietly. "Not bad at all."

Elise had tied her arm to a stray dog that had gone down the dead end instead of them. ..

"Your kind get so noble...so brave." NiGHTS told Tiara. "And no matter how you're beaten down or hurt...time and time again you keep going on."

"And then...someday..." Tiara said.

"What, keep struggling in vain?" NiGHTS asked.

"You never know if you don't try, you big dummy!" She said, giving him a harsh, quick whack on the head. "And it's a whole lot better than just sittin' on your ass, knowing what'll happen but not doin' anything to CHANGE it! Do you HONESTLY feel alright with not trying?"

"...what're you getting so whiny about?" The other NiGHTS called out, getting Tiara's attention, making her turn around in surprise. "Even if you DO take action and help out those "naturals", they'll just die out on their own, won't they?" He wanted to know, putting his hands on his hips. "We're all just gonna wind up with nothin'. Naked we entered into this world, and naked we depart it."

"Don't you go quoting scripture at ME, buddy-boy." Tiara snapped, waving her fist in the air.

"Don't you think it's smart to only go after what's important, and just leave when you get the chance? Get the hell out of Dodge while the going's good?"

"What kind of thinking is tha-" She began. Suddenly a hand grabbed her from behind, pulling her backwards...into the arms of the other NiGHTS?

"Is that the pangs of a CONSCIENCE I see in your eyes? Such worthless sentiment from you after all these years? Eh...NiGHTS?" The figure asked, reaching up for Tiara's face, peeling away the flesh to reveal the glittering, cat-like eyes below, as NiGHTS gasped in surprise. "Whatever you might think, nobody is going to accept you now. In case you've forgotten, you've become a MONSTER..."

He grinned. "But don't take MY word for it. Guess you're from the Show Me state...you won't believe...until I SHOW you."

He held up a mirror and NiGHTS saw small, tiny faces slowly beginning to bubble up from his skin, eyes vacantly gazing, mouths stretched open in horror as tiny little hands reached out to claw their way out of his-

"GAAAAAAH!" NiGHTS awoke from his dream, grabbing the side of his head, panting as he sat up on the log he'd fallen asleep on. Just a dream...only a dream.

"People are nothing but a resource! If you leave them to themselves, they'll destroy themselves. What need have you to take any action, trying to stop the inevitable? Can you change this reality? Change how weak people are?"

"Of course we can change. We WILL change." A female hedgehog with long purple hair insisted, gently taking NiGHTS's hands, giving them a squeeze, smiling lovingly into his eyes. She brushed one lock of hair to the side as she gave him a tight hug.

"...I..." NiGHTS murmured.

"Yeah, people can be weak. But the reverse is true too. People can be so very strong. And even for those of us that ARE weak...it's for that reason that we try so hard to be stronger. In fact, we're ALWAYS trying to become better, aren't we?" Aleena asked NiGHTS. "The steps we take might seem futile, but with each step we take, we're DEFINITELY building something up, wouldn't you say?" She asked.

"...Aleena..."

"Those below me protect those below them. We're only average people. We should be able to do at least THAT." The black-furred hedgehog said, folding his arms, a deep, sorrowful expression on his features as Mighty twirled one of his knives before sheathing it back in place.

"Good goals, my friend." Mighty told him, placing his sunglasses back on, making the light reflect off in an eerie manner. "Of course, if ya wanna go about protectin' everyone in this country, you're gonna need to be at the one the buck stops at. YOU'RE gonna have to be the head honcho."

"Yeah, that's how geometric progression works." Shadow said. "...you know..." He turned to look to the far right, seeing Dr. Eggman, Autocrat of the Eggman Empire standing there with his top brass, overlooking the assembled troops, a banner displayed beneath the ledge he was on. "It must feel awfully good being in that seat. But I can't climb up to there on my own, I think."

He turned to smirk a little at Mighty. "Would you mind getting your hands dirty?"

"Ain't no thang but a chicken wang." Mighty laughed, taking off his sunglasses and dusting them off. "I'll help you go the distance, a'ight? Let's see your idealism change this country."

...

...

...

..."Don't tell me. I'm keen to guess." King cleared his throat suddenly. "It's my fault I got you caught up in this". Right? That's what you'd like to say?"

Sonic was silent as the serpent anthro went on. "Please, don't misunderstand. We're in the same boat, and helping you out was MY idea. You needn't feel apologetic, my friend. I understood that..going down this road would be...hard. That I'd have to sacrifice much. I was prepared for that." He insisted. "But..."

He bit his lip. "...I do not know enough. I need MORE. I need to be stronger...I need to be better. I can't have others making sacrifices for me."

...

...

...

... "Tails, I'm demanding you GO! Please, you have to!" Rouge sobbed.

"Why are you standing in my way?" Flippancy insisted. "The woman wants to die."

"I keep losing people...people I had the potential to save!" Tails snapped at her. "Maria. Dulcy. Mighty. Toni. I'm tired of people dying right in front of me!" Tails protested. "I WILL protect everyone I can!" He exclaimed.

...

...

...

...Sonic RAN, but even with his speed, he wasn't fast enough. Rows of rings shot out, hooking around him, slowly dragging him into the doorway. "MILES! Miles, c'mon, grab my hand! C'MON!"

"I can't." Miles's body said softly, shaking his head. "...you're not my spirit." He told Sonic sadly.

"I...I..." Sonic felt tears brimming in his eyes, and he let out a howl of rage and despair as the door closed, Miles slowly waving goodbye, eyes filled with mourning.

"...he'll be back."  Chaos said simply, eyes closed.  "...yes...he will return."

BA-BAAAAM! "You're damn right!" Sonic roared, his fist punching a hole through the door as he struggled to keep himself outside of it long enough. "I PROMISE, I'll come back for you! I ain't leaving you behind!  I PROMISE !" He screamed before the rings tugged him back into the dark expanse within.

"We can change. Yes we die, and yes we can be weak. But we struggle to get stronger as we struggle to live. And if your mind still isn't made up? Then try to remember...the days we spent together at Kiritimati." Aleena added, kissing him on the cheek.

And with that, he did wake up, as a gentle cherry blossom slipped off his cheek, falling to the ground. He smiled, rubbing his cheek as the wind gently stroked through his jester's cap, looking up at the beautiful blue sky above.

Let it all out...let it all ooouuut!

You don't have to act so brave...

Just look at me, look at meeeee!

Let it all out...let it all ooouuut!

As we write upon the wall

of things that rise and fall,

we continue to move forward,

and to chase our destiny!

Nobody knows what they can truly do

And along the roads we begin to see...

The things we tossed away or were looking for

Were always waiting there for you and me...

So I hold my head up high,

And I look intoooo theeeee staaaaaars...

I turn my anger and my fear

All the sadness all the tears,

And I lift them up and watch as they all

Turn into the staaars...

Hold up your hands and reach with me,

And we'll make stardust together,

Hold your heaaaad up high...

Till the stars fall from the sky!

The day may soon come around

When we'll have to say goodbye,

But we won't care at all,

Because we've gotten so damn faaar...

As the seasons make their rounds,

I continue to walk forward,

And to wish upon those stars...

Till they turn cold and fall from the sky...

"...I..." NiGHTS smiled warmly. "...yeah." He said to himself. "...I can believe in that." He said. "...a man feels hungry...there's such a thing as food. A man feels thirsty...there's such a thing as drink. A man feels a need, there is always something to provide for it in this world...something real...something substantial and true."

He stood up. "A man feels that there is something...someone...looking out for him..." He whispered.

Author's Note:

There's an easy-to-spot reference in here, but also a tricky one. For those of you who are confused, I'll tell you where it is, but not what it means. Now if you can figure it out, you get a cookie. You'll notice the author of that guide to Metallurgy the boys are looking through? The "Complete Idiot's Guide"? Yes, a particular person wrote it, but notice the NAMES? Well, the names are a reference to a certain famous somebody...actually TWO famous somebodies who engaged in a famous activity that helped inspire this series. ^_^

And don't worry if you don't get it, I'll post the answer in the next chappy.

Chapter 24: Founder of Our Country

Science centers around explaining how the world works in terms that all can find common.

Faith is about explaining WHY the world works in terms one cannot ignore.

The two are rarely compatible. And Magic's foundation is found in faith. The elements of the world, the manipulation of time and space, the healing of any and all wounds, these are possible with magic, as long as you remember...

All magic has a price.

Nothing...is free...

Episode Twenty-Three

我々の国の創始者 !

Founder of our Country!

Tails stood in front of the creator of the Golems, eyes wide in surprise.

This thing before them...

What...what was...

What WAS it? Was it a plant? A PERSON? What-

Then something happened that made this strange moment in time even stranger. The Bio-Lizard suddenly grabbed it's mouth, eyes bugging out, letting out a strange, liquid-y "braaaaap".

The koala laughed. But the designer of the Golems gave the Bio-Lizard a look of surprise as the thing began to quiver madly, gasping in surprise. "I think I ate somethin' that didn't agree with-" He began to say.

Unfortunately, the poor schmuck never got a chance to finish. There was a loud, horrifying, thunderclap-esque explosion as the Bio-Lizard's stomach tore itself open, rips exploding outward as muscle and flesh tore through the air, his guts spewing out onto the floor as a rip from his belly to his mouth opened up.

Tails watched in fascination and horror as the Bio-Lizard let out a half-muffled screech of pain and horror, watching as blood and flame billowed out of the stomach, followed by an ENORMOUS metallic monstrosity with red eyes and a lashing, spiked tail who stood in tank treads to gaze at two more people who were sliding out of the Bio-Lizard's stomach.

"Wow, this has turned into an ad for "Pepto Bismol"." The designer remarked with a bit of a grin as he stepped back, hands on his hips. "Hello, dear Racism."

"Wait...THAT'S Metal Sonic?" Tails exclaimed, hands flying to his head. "I mean...how in? How did he even FIT-that's...GEEZ!" He finally gasped.

"I duh 'eel tho 'ud." Sonic muttered, nursing a sore jaw as he flopped off of Metal Sonic's head along with King, who dusted himself off.

"Well at least your brother is here. Sound off, who's not dead?" King called out.

"...me." Sonic groaned.

"I'm FINE, thank you." Metal Overlord said with a sneer as he flicked King off of him, making him slam into Sonic, who then slammed into Tails, knocking them all into a dogpile.

"BROTHER!" Tails yelled happily, hugging him as tightly as he could. "Oh thank GOD you're alive, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!" He cried out happily, wishing he had the gift of tears.

"I'm just glad you're okay, lil' bro." Sonic insisted happily, hugging him back. "Good to be back, Miles. Real good to be back."

"I'm just so glad you're alive!"

"Ahh, ya worry too much!" Sonic said, giving him a playful whack on the shoulder.

"Yeah, blah-blah, disgusting show of emotion. Show some restraint before the Founder of this Country!" Metal Overlord snapped.

"Oooogh..." The Bio-Lizard moaned. "My tummy feels OOKY..." It said, rolling around on the ground.

"Oh stop whining, you..." Sonic began, turning his head to look with surprise upon the figure before him, Tails, King and the koala bear on Tails's shoulder.

WHAT THE?

"If Gods could laugh, know that I would be doing so now." A strange-eyed being said, folding his arms, claw-esque fingers digging into his arm. Though his eyes were a verrrry tiny string of ones and zeroes, when looked at from at least double arms length they appeared as a reflection of the night sky, and he had pale skin with a golden, sun-like gem in the center of his chest. He wore a cape of bluish purple with and outfit to match, though he had purple chaos emeralds on his wrists and legs, and styled, slick green hair. "I mean, really, this is like some giant cosmic joke."

"Who are YOU?" Sonic inquired.

"...did...I hear you...call that two-tailed fox doll...MILES?" The thing asked. "...as in...Miles Prower? As in the son of my sister/brother?"

"...what're...what do you mean?" Sonic asked, clearly confused.

"You DO know NiGHTS, don't you?" The thing asked.

"BAH, he's not my REAL father." Sonic muttered. "No real dad of mine would have ever left-" He began.

"My name is Void. NiGHTS is my sibling." Void explained, placing a hand on his chest, making Sonic blink in surprise. He then looked them over, rubbing his chin. "Yes, yes, you definitely have his "spirit" within you. Sparks of creativity and freedom." He said, looking Sonic over. "Ahhhh, and you." He looked Tails over. "His intelligence and loyalty. I can see it in your eyes."

"Wait...your father is a...girl?" King inquired.

"No, no. Not anymore." Void commented.

"...I'm confused and my head hurts." Sonic said suddenly, holding his head, moaning.

"Looks more like your ARM was hurt." Void said, looking Sonic's arm over.

"Oh yeah, I landed hard on it and mighta...I dunno, dislocated-"

Void snapped his fingers. There was a bright flash of purplish light and it enveloped Sonic's arm, shooting out from the chaos emeralds on Void's wrists and ankles. Right away, the pain was gone, Sonic's arm returned to as good as new. Bios? Zoe?

"Like it? I'm so good with these." Void said. "Ah, but NiGHTS, he was quite the little progenitor of amazing magical constructs back in Babylon. Simply divine!"

"Uh...in English?"

"NiGHTS used to be one very skilled magician." Tails translated.

"You see, he and I used to be brother and sister back in Babylon." Void explained. "Back before we had our bodies changed!" He went on, smiling broadly. "So he DID have children, oh that's WONDERFUL!" Void said, clapping his hands together.

King's eyes had widened as he looked Void over in horror. It wasn't just at the chaos emeralds on this thing's wrists and ankles. The texture of the outfit...no, that wasn't an OUTFIT, that was part of his body, and...

What he was feeling from this thing...the sensation was absolutely disgusting. It felt like his soul wished to vomit. But he kept his mouth shut, though his eyes betrayed clear horror.

"...uh...I don't suppose you'd...be nice and just...tell us what exactly happened to him? And...you, for that matter?" Tails wondered.

"What kind of Bond villain do you think-" King began.

"Oh, sure, sure!" Void said, sitting in his chair, leaning back and grinning broadly. "You see, it all began hundreds of years ago..."

...

...

...

...the skies of Babylon were crystal clear as gentle clouds rolled by past towering, crystalline buildings. Long tapestries hung upon nearby out of temples as large paintings were presented on the walls. Some goofballs were taking more paint to these walls, fiddling around to turn tasteful depictions of Mediterranean scenes into scenes laden with barely-hidden sexual innuendo.

"You darn kids!" An angry-looking old owl yelled as he shook his feathery fist out of the temple wall, snapping his beak. He was so furious his glasses actually slipped off his beak and he went falling out of the window trying to grab them as two people sat near a jester with an orange jester's cap. He had bright blue eyes, and yellow/orange clawed gloved hands, with...

Well, with no body. But what he DID have was an amazing mastery over magic, and was tossing a ball of glittering light around in the air.

"Okay, then!" He told the children. "I must say, you little angels have been the perfect students." He insisted with a big, broad grin. "I don't know why your parents would have abandoned you...if I was your daddy, I'd be proud of you."

The first was a young girl in pinkish armor. She had winged boots, big, glittering blue eyes, and a bright red gem in the center of her chest. Her brother Void looked her over, still barely able to believe she liked to wear so much pink. "Yeah, I guess he would have if he hadn't kicked us out of the house." Void remarked sarcastically, sniggering slightly.

"Just you wait. One day he'll reopen the keys to the kingdom." Lumina giggled, holding one hand over her mouth, her stubby little rounded "horns" on the side of her head glittering like the rest of her pink chest. She had a set of golden rings around her wrist, as did Void.

"Now, before we begin, riddle time. I sat with my love, and I drank with my love, and my love she gave me light. I'll give any man a pint of wine who'll read my riddle right!...only I can't give alcohol to minors." He added, shaking his head and showing off his shark-like grin. "So, what's the answer?"

"That's a disgusting question with an equally disgusting answer, Jackle!" Owl said, flying back inside the classroom, dusting himself off.

"But can you ANSWER it?" Jackle laughed.

"I sat in a throne made of my love's bones, drank from a cup made form her skull, and saw by the light of a candle made from her FAT." Owl said, frowning darkly.

"Ewwwwwww!" Lumina said, sticking her tongue out, shaking her head back and forth.

"Well, that's the answer. Here's your prize." Jackle said, holding up one wrist as a large, multi-colored ribbon shot out, whirling out Owl and tying him up as Jackle laughed. "Gotta be quick on the draw, boys and girls!" He told the two siblings. "But I've got news. As of today, I officially begin teaching you real magic. No more simple written tests. Today, you begin showing me what you've got."

Void and Lumina couldn't wait. They'd been removed from their home. Once they'd been "royalty". Now they were simply people who were trying to learn magic, trying to learn something that would help them get far in the world. As the class went on and finally died down, they and their teacher looked out the window at the city of Babylon, noticing the beautiful waterfalls trailing down from above, the enormous, pearly fountains...

"It's all so beautiful." Lumina said as she watched a parade go by, people holding up large streaks of colored cloth to form a beautiful rainbow in the street as people danced around, playing tambourines and singing. "And to think it's all been put together with magic. But..."

"You sure like "buts", don't you?" Jackle laughed. "And I DO mean that as a double entendre." He added with a snigger.

With a hard stomp, Void brought his foot down onto Jackle's, making his teacher shriek. "EEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"That's my SISTER you're talking about, you creep!" Void snapped.

"Sorry, sorry!" Jackle apologized nervously as Void made a fist. "But what are you so worried over, Lumina?"

"Do we...really have the right to be doing this?" Lumina asked.

"Don't you WANT fair rights? Equal treatment? Don't you want a way to be seen as somebody with worth?" Jackle asked calmly.

Lumina turned to look back at him.

"It takes a keen, intelligent mind to understand science. But it only takes a little effort and heart to understand and USE magic." Jackle went on. "Magic is a tool. How you use it is what matters. And don't you think all people deserve a chance to be able to fly?" He said, rising off the ground, levitating slightly, his mantle flapping in the wind as he grinned.

"...right..." Lumina said, smiling broadly. "...right."

...

...

...

...and so the days went on...

"So tell me...what is Magic?"

"Magic is what connects us all." Lumina said.

"Magic is not just a part of life, it IS Life. The life that all things have." Void said.

"It's a wellspring of potential that can never truly die out for it's always appearing everywhere you look. Magic is unlimited."

And on...and on...

"It always comes with a price." Lumina said, finishing up her dissertation on the board. "ALWAYS."

"And while some use the elements, others make use of time and space...making use of chaos energy..." Void said as he put the finishing touches on his diagram.

"Yes, finally, I can understand. Now..." Jackle walked over to his computer. "Time to get some serious work done!"

He let them leave his office, then cracked his knuckles, turning on the computer. "Okay, let's see...I've been to Myst Island and the Mechanical Age..."

And so, eventually, they all grew to be very comfortable...

"Come onnnn doubles!" Void exclaimed, shaking the dice in his hand. "Let's go! Big doubles! Get me outta jail! C'mon, doubles! I am thinking about doubles...I am envisioning doubles...c'mon double-icious doubles, let's go!"

"I always forget to budget enough time for these board games." Jackle mumbled as his head hit the table, his claws digging into his cap.

"Have you noticed he always wins because WE always quit?" Lumina inquired. "You're lucky you're not playing King Wizeman, I'll bet he'd have your mouth sown shut or somethin'!"

"I'm going to wash the graffiti off the temple walls." Owl said. "Let me know when it is my turn."

Time moved on...

"He's done so much for us." Lumina said as she looked out the window of the temple, resting her head in the palms of her hand. "We know so much magic now. And we can live comfortably. We really seem to have a family."

"Gah, after what happened with our Father, I've sworn off families for good." Void insisted. "They're more like...roommates to me." He laughed. "Less attachment, and it's easier to forgive Owl's smell."

"You LAUGH." Lumina insisted. "You laugh at the idea of a family. You always did even back up there."

"Well unless they form communities and breed, they can't continue their species. Be they Sapient, human or Maginary, like Jackle or King Wizeman are." Void told her.

"Oh don't say "BREED", they're not dumb ANIMALS, they're PEOPLE. And people get a lotta happiness from families and friendship, as corny as they sound." She told him, giving him a playful whack on the shoulder. "I wish I could have a family, but..." She sighed sadly. "...we angels can't ever do that..."

She hung her head as the sun began to slowly set, casting the beautiful city into a golden glow. "...but that's my hope." She admitted. "I believe that if I can somehow blend time/space magic with Zoe, I'll be able to possibly create new life. HAVE a family of my own." She turned to her brother. "And what about you?"

"Me?" Void inquired, raising a non-existent eyebrow. "Well...hmm. You see, I want to try and lead this world into paradise. To help the worthy reach their full potential." He explained. "That's my plan for Bablyon and it's beautiful skies..."

"How so?" Lumina asked.

"WAIT A MINUTE!" Sonic exclaimed.

...

...

...

...Void stopped telling the story, blinking in surprise. "Huh?"

"How could you say turning everyone-how was THAT helping them?" Sonic snapped furiously.

"...tell me. Suppose there was a woman you loved." Void asked. "One with all your heart. Yet she had a terrible disease. Day by day she suffered in agony, and at night she would lay awake, unable to be cured, always in pain. What would you do?"

"...uh..." Sonic scratched his head. He didn't understand what this had to do with him.

"Wouldn't you put your beloved out of her misery?" Void asked. "Well this world has also fallen victim to an incurable disease. Life is as a "valley of tears"...life is filled with suffering. It's absolutely unfair. But there was a cure, I realized. As your brother might know..." He gestured at Tails. "People who experience flight into space undergo a major transformation in their consciousness. They receive an enlightenment. They become "perfect beings" and become one with the world. I wished to create perfect beings...and to create a world without war...without hunger...without sickness..."

...

...

...

... "Immortality?" Void inquired as Jackle nervously paced back and forth in the temple, with Owl sitting nearby in a chair next to Lumina. "King Wizeman has all the gold and power and women he wants. Why would he want immortality? Has feeling the grasp of old age dig into him got him pissing his pants?"

"He doesn't WEAR pants, as far as I know." Jackle murmured, folding his arms. "But this is big. He's asked ALL magicians in the city to aid him in his quest."

"But IS there a way to gain immortality?" Lumina inquired. "Life is precious. If good things lasted forever, would we appreciate them nearly as much?"

"Whether there is or isn't a way, I doubt it would hurt to look for ways on PROLONGING life. Look through the tomes on Zoe and Bios." Jackle ordered them. "If you actually come up with anything, I'll be very impressed." He told them all. "After all, King Wizeman said he'd reward whomever grants him immortality, or the next best thing, whatever they want."

Void reached up for one of the tomes, looking through it, rubbing his chin. "...hmmmm. There has to be some way to...wait. " His eyes widened. An idea had hit him. "Long...life..." He realized. "...and what IS life?"

The idea was fairly simple, actually.

"Keep digging!" Wizeman ordered. He had six floating hands of metal with clawed fingernails and eyes upon each hand. These eyes had appeared to be a mixture of purple and blue, and the King of Babylon, realm of the Maginary people, wore a helmet with many twisted spikes at the top that covered the top of his face, all save his mouth. He wore a large cloaked robe of dark blue and had the appearance of royalty. Circling around his head was a golden halo of sorts as well, and his voice was very deep and slightly unnerving, as if several people were speaking as one.

People were digging large trenches all around the country, in one, giant ring. Simple enough. And then they were asked to do something else...

"This feels weeeeiiiiird." A little girl said as Owl stuck the needle into her arm, getting donations of blood along with other magicians in the city. "Can't daddy do this?"

"Sorry, but it has to be somebody with experience in this."

"Awww, but daddy's ALWAYS touchin' me!" The girl said cheerily.

"OWWWWW!" A nearly-middle-aged man howled, holding his arm as Lumina grinned darkly.

"Sorry, it's just NEVER taken me seven pricks to find a vein!" She remarked calmly.

Bit by bit, the blood was collected, and housed in large tanks. Soon King Wizeman had enough to fill the ring-like canal that surrounded Babylon...the ceremony was ready, and Void, Jackle, Owl and Lumina, who had all been the primary caretakers of this grand experiment, were brought to Wizeman's castle.

Red lights the color of blood danced about in the background like some kind of Aurora Borealis as stone columns rose up, smooth and sleek, to form a formidable temple-esque hall. In the center-back region of the hall was a large stone circle that was almost like something from a Celtic ritual, with golden lamps that held light blue flames all around the room, and a familiar painting nearby of stars...a familiar mural Sonic would see much later on in time...

"So I place my blood into here?" Wizeman asked, pointing down at the circular cup in the middle of the stone circle.

"Indeed." Void said, nodding.

Wizeman held a knife up to his finger, cutting through metallic flesh as silvery blood trickled down into the cup. "This is gonna be so COOOOOOL." Lumina thought, bouncing up and down. "I can't believe the king's gonna be immortal!"

"Don't forget to add your blood as well. You two are the best magic users in this room, we need the "spark of life", that "spark of emotion" that lies within your blood." Void told Jackle and Owl, who approached the circle as well. They held the knives up to their own fingers as Void cheerily smiled at Lumina. "You wouldn't BELIEVE what's about to happen." He told her.

That tone made Lumina blink in surprise. "...what do you mean by that?"

"See, the truth is..." Void held up a knife, quickly slicing into his own finger, unseen by the others. "You and I...WE'RE the most powerful magic users in this room...and this means the center of the hurricane...is right here." He said, pointing down at the space they were standing before he quickly grabbed her hand, slicing through it. Their blood mingled as he tossed the knife at the circle...

All time seemed to slow. Owl gasped. Wizeman's mouth opened in shock. Jackle blinked in surprise.

The knife struck the center of the circle, and there was an enormous, earth-shattering KABOOM as suddenly the top of the palace was blown open, light flooding Lumina's senses...everything became white, and then...

Then that whiteness became the darkness of space, as a million stars surrounded her, swirling galaxies rushing by her head as she looked down at a familiar blue planet, realizing that her body was glowing...that she was SOARING into the air with Void, who laughed and laughed as the stars rushed around her and her brother...

She could hear screams ringing through her ears...screams of millions of voices, all-

...darkness.

...

...

...

...Lumina blinked in surprise, returning to the land of the living...

Realizing she was now wearing white gloves...and a new outfit. A vest...a purple jester's cap...and her FACE, it...

She suddenly realized she felt something ELSE.

"OH...MY...GOD!" She shrieked. "Oh my...how the? AAAAA! GAAAAAAAAAAAH!" She shrieked over and over...or rather, HE shrieked over and over. "What...what's going on?"

Suddenly she saw something that made her blood run cold. Wizeman the Wicked lay on his face, mouth slightly open, eyes closed...by Jackle and Owl...who also were as still as dead.

No. Oh no...

"Jackle? Owl? King Wizeman?" Lumina whimpered, shaking them one after another. "...no." She realized quietly. She raced outside of the palace, looking out in horror at streets that were littered with bodies that lay still...unmoving...

...dead.

"...no." Lumina sobbed.

"Aren't you happy?" Void's voice echoed as he calmly stepped down the nearby stairs, holding onto a martini, sipping it nonchalantly. "Look at what I've done for you." He said, gesturing at her as she looked at his eyes...

His eyes that were now tiny strings of ones and zeroes...his body that now had emeralds glittering on them instead of rings.

"Their souls have been combined to create these chaos emeralds...to create the new body I have." Void explained. "And because I was so generous, I did you a favor! Now you have the body of a Maginary...the body of a being that CAN give life." He told her cheerfully. "Not merely that, but thanks to all the souls that you have within you, just like mine...your body will live forever!" He said cheerily. "You can have ALL the families you want!"

"...you...you..." His sister gasped, hand flying to her mouth, eyes widening in absolute horror.

Her scream echoed through the darkened city.

...

...

...

... "A maginary's body is so in flux on the genetic level...there's potential DNA from every animal species. So he really is BOTH your fathers. Isn't that nice?" Void asked.

"...Jesus Christ." King whispered.

"...that's..." Sonic looked at Void in absolute disgust. "You..."

Tails looked like he was on the verge of crying. What he'd just said...it had been absolutely horrifying. "How could you possibly justify something like that?" He asked.

"He should be happy." Void said. "Isn't it better to live forever with the ones you care for? She'll always have family to look after...you...your children...your children's children...

"You don't get it, do you?" Sonic asked. "There ain't no point to life if it just went on forever. That would be BORING."

"Yes, a life that ends still has meaning for those who wish to be with people who are precious to them." King agreed. "Life will one day be born anew. PEOPLE are one day born anew in the world beyond...or even in THIS world. And that's much better than walking around as a living corpse like you turned your own SISTER into...no offense." He added, looking over at Sonic.

"Dude, none taken." Sonic insisted, shaking his head.

"I see. You're 'that' breed of people, eh?" Void mused.

"C'mon, let's kick his ass." Sonic insisted, holding up his fist.

"Woah-woah-woah!" King said as Sonic rushed forward, grinning broadly. "We need to figure out how he works, Sonic! Haven't you ever heard the phrase "If you wish to down a leader, aim for his horse"?"

"That's just stupid! Over here we have a different saying..." Sonic said holding his fist up, light energy swirling around it. "JUST SHOOT HIM!"

A solid beam of light shot out from the fist towards Void...

And it just disappeared into a faintly shimmering shield around the man.

"...are you DONE?" Void asked.

"...let's take on this guy first." Sonic decided, turning on Metal Overlord, who opened up his jaws, beams of energy collecting at the front. With a mighty roar, the robotic beast unleashed a powerful blast of energy, but Sonic raced around the room, the Bio-Lizard squeaking and running for it. "Your aim SUCKS, Metal!" Sonic laughed as his feet tore across the walls, the energy beams missing him over and over.

"Stand still, you fat blue tub of lard!" Metal Overlord snarled, his spiked tail lashing at the ground.

Well THAT did it. Sonic's fists clenched as his body turned into a golden, blazing shine. With a roar, he launched himself through the air at Metal Overlord, red eyes narrowed intently. He promptly punched Metal Overlord through the air, as the robot snapped angrily.

"You think that's going to stop ME?"

"Wasn't aimin' for you." Sonic said as Metal Overlord suddenly turned around, seeing he was about to crash into Void. "HA! Now I've-"

Void calmly rolled his eyes, folding his arms as Metal Overlord bounced off the shield around him, landing on the ground nearby, his arms and treads flailing in the air like he was a giant beetle that had been placed on his back. "...done...absolutely nothing." Sonic mumbled.

"Lemme try something unorthodox!" Tails suggested, snapping his fingers as the walls began to pulse, and the metallic walls shot out in the shape of fists, aiming at Void...unfortunately these too bounced off his shimmering shield.

"You dirty rotten-" King exclaimed, shooting forward, scimitar held high.

SCHA-THWANG! A large orange light shot from Void's chest, knocking into King, lifting him up into the ceiling and slamming him hard. He let out a gasp of pain, falling to the ground, taking in deep, harsh breaths.

"He cast a spell without even using any rings?" Tails exclaimed. "Or GESTURES!"

"How in the?" Sonic gasped.

"Okay, I'm...a bit annoyed now." Void said, shaking his head. And for a brief moment, the gem on his chest glittered along with the chaos emeralds he wore.

There was a "BOINK" sound that echoed through the air, and Sonic and Tails blinked, looking at each other...

"...uh...what was that?" Tails asked.

"Don't know, don't care. FRY!" Sonic roared, holding up a hand and...

Failing to shoot a fireball through the air. He blinked, looking down at his hand. He then clenched his fists over and over, stomping on the ground slightly as the others stared at him. "C'MON!" He yelled, looking at himself. "Get GOLD, you stinkin'!" He roared.

"Did he just nullify our magic?" Tails gasped.

"...well THAT's not good." King realized.

"Watch, he's about to say something evil, and then slam them down into the ground." The Bio-Lizard whispered into King's ear.

"It's about to get worse." Metal Overlord sneered, his claws slamming Tails and Sonic into the ground.

"See? Told you." The Bio-Lizard said, now sitting on King, who angrily grumbled out a "yeah, yeah".

"Heh, you're such a typical "natural" being. The minute you get one bite of real power, you get so overeager, like a child in a candy shop. You don't even know where your true power comes from! Did you think that this country became so prosperous on the power of people like you? HA!" Metal Overlord sneered. "This country never had it so good because of us!"

"Take your fat behind off of me and we shall SEE who has the stronger ideology, you disgusting, amoral RUFFIAN!" King roared out, slamming his claws into the ground, snarling.

"Well, well. A strong body, keen mind..." Void grinned. "And quite spirited too. No need to waste a perfectly good chance like this."

He coughed slightly, and then let out a loud, hacking sound...

And then something was vomited out into his hand...

Something that was unmistakably a chaos emerald, glittering white. King's eyes turned to surprised, yet fascinated slits as Void held it up, making it catch the light. "You see...unfortunately dear "Selfishness" lost his way and I had to go and kill him. So now I have need for a new body for him to inhabit. I just pour this into you...and, well...if you're strong enough, lucky enough..."

"Oooooh, neato!" The Bio-Lizard exclaimed as Void approached King, holding the liquidy chaos emerald up, making it swirl in his hand. "You gonna pour it in his ear? In his mouth? Or what-what, up the butt?"

"I can't believe you two are related." Sonic sniggered at Metal Overlord.

"YOU can't believe it?" The robot snapped. "To think I share his blood."

"To think I helped GIVE him that blood." Void commented, rolling his eyes. "Ah well. Moving along...if you're lucky, you'll live. If not...POOF."

"...poof?" King asked.

"Your head a'splode." The Bio-Lizard explained.

"Actually Your entire body will, as my "brother" so succinctly put it, "a'splode"." Metal Overlord said, a clear and obvious grin like the work of demons on his features.

"DAMMIT! You FREAK! Let go of us!" Sonic roared, struggling around to break free.

"King, c'mon! Run for it! Let him go, you evil monster!" Tails shouted.

"I won't let you-" Sonic snapped.

"SONIC! TAILS!" King called out.

The two stopped struggling as King grinned. "Don't you worry...this is what I wanted, remember? I needed to bring the Chaos Emerald to my country...I NEED this power, remember?"

"...you WANT this blessing, this curse? Well isn't THAT interesting." Void admitted. "I really hope you DO live through this." He said, holding King's mouth open. "Past the mouth and over the gums, look out stomach, here you come." He sang out.

The liquid slipped down King's throat, and the serpent let out a howling hiss of pain, his body convulsing, white light shimmering out of his mouth. "GAAAAAAAH!"

"What is he thinking?" Sonic inquired, looking confused. "Dude, come on!" He shouted. "What're you think-"

"Stop...I'm...fine!" King gasped out, his body shuddering over and over, the indentation of the faces of others made clear on his sides and chest, his eyes growing wider and wider. "I...am the one...who will become ruler...over Soleanna...I must...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Blood poured out of his mouth onto the ground, as Sonic and Tails shuddered in horror at what they were seeing, the serpent writhing on the ground, screaming and hissing.

...

...

...

...Within his "heart", King was tossing and turning in a large bed, surrounded on all sides by pillars of gold coins and treasures, as one person sat on an enormous ivory throne, pink eyes glittering, hands folded neatly against each other. Ornate, priceless paintines and statues lined all around as the albino human smiled. "Welly-welly-WELL! What have we here?" Michael White, aka Selfishness, inquired.

King gasped, panting heavily as the gold began to pour down around him, slowly burying him in heavy, burning heat as several people, stark naked, came out to lounge around the Golem's spirit, who eagerly licked the neck of one of them. "Mmmmmm. You know, you're rather young, aren't you, newbie? Just the way I LIKE it. Mind if I take your body?" Selfishness asked.

"Go ahead! I'm GIVNG it to you!" King roared out, jabbing at his chest as the gold continued to flow over him, pulling him down, burying him deeper and deeper still.

"...what?" White asked, looking confused.

"I'm going to become ruler over the holy kingdom of God, Soleanna! As such...I need to learn to be a good host." King wisecracked.

"Well you sure do talk big." White admitted, looking amused. "Interesting sense of humor, too...glad you can joke about this even as you're buried under my selfish desires."

"I'm being given my greatest desire...to gain the Chaos Emerald! It's what I want! It's something I'm willing to sacrifice so much for..." King clenched his fist. "Something the woman I love was willing to cut off her own ARM for so I could attain it!"

And with that, White's eyes widened, the gold and the women and the treasures vanishing as he stood in the center of a white abyss...with White standing before an open door, a million eyes behind him, all containing different souls as the golem's pink eyes looked King over with clear interest.

"...you don't say." White asked softly.

"Power...I need it..." King whispered. "I want to protect everyone...I want to SAVE everyone...I WANT TO CREATE A KINGDOM FILLED WITH PEACE, WHERE NOBODY DIES! WHERE NOBODY SUFFERS! AND I CAN'T HAVE THAT IF I'VE GOT NO POWER!" King screamed, grabbing ahold of White's jacket, his golden eyes gazing intently into White's.

"..."

"So...GIVE ME YOUR POWER!" King demanded. "I'LL TAKE IT ALL! I KNEW THE RISKS FROM THE BEGINNING! I'LL ACCEPT IT! I'LL ACCEPT YOU!"

"...I LIKE your type." White admitted, patting King on the head. "I'm so glad you'd like to be inside me." He laughed.

A deep hug...and then...

...

...

...

... "...King?" Sonic asked nervously.

"The name's Michael White. My title...SELFISHNESS." King said, standing up...his eyes now glittering a bright pink, a steady stream of ones and zeroes visible in his pupils.

"Yech. To think, you'd actually accept THAT one. You disgust me." Metal Overlord said. "I mean, a SNAKE. Even THEY don't like themselves."

"You're pretty disgusting yourself, whomever you are. I don't wanna KNOW what your masturbation hand is." Selfishness said, looking Metal Overlord over. "Lemme guess...you're...Racism, right?"

"Oh yeah, and I'm Ignorance, nice ta meetcha!" The Bio-Lizard said cheerily.

"And you're my designer, my creator, my daddy dearest, eh?" Selfishness said, bowing melodramatically before Void. "Well, I think the month is December, so season's greetings!"

"White, is that really you?" Sonic inquired.

"Uh, have we met?"

"You don't remember us from before? When you took me captive at the Golden Calf?" Tails asked.

White/Selfishness/King scratched his head. "Ahhhh...no, not really. You must mean the one who preceded me. Sorry. No memories whatsoever."

BANG!

The door at the far end of the room burst open as Marine stepped inside, with Omega standing nearby. "Knock-knock! ROOM SERVICE!" She exclaimed.

"Can ANYBODY just waltz into my secret lair right now?" Void muttered. "This isn't Sector Two for Christ's sake!"

"...that...that person with the hair..." Marine whispered in horror. "...that person doesn't even remotely feel like a person!" She murmured, clinging to Omega like she was drowning in a river and he was a log.

A moment later little Tucker raced over to Marine, jumping into her arms, hugging her tightly. "Oh, Tucker, than heavens you're alright! Crikey, I was so WORRIED 'boutcha!"

"Well, this is really cute and touching and all, but what the heck is going on?" White/King inquired, tilting his head to the side.

"My sentiments exactly. Blue Blur! What is going on here?" Omega snapped.

"Huh? Sonic's here? Where?" Marine asked, her head whipping back and forth.

"There. The little tubby hog being pinned by that metal monstrosity."

"...tubby?" Sonic groaned.

Marine blinked, looking Sonic over. Her mouth promptly fell open, reaching all the way down to the floor, gaping in absolute horror and shock.

"Wow, she experienced her first unrequited love AND failed crush all in one day." Omega realized. "...if I had emotions, I imagine I'd feel sorry for you." He said as Tucker helped Marine pull her jaw back up.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAUHHHH!" Marine sobbed.

"Nice GOIN', Sonic, you made her cry!" Tails snapped.

"Insensitive jerk." White/King muttered.

"Ah! Wait! Stop! Please!" Sonic begged.

"Wait. Is that "Omega"? That Shanazaran who keeps being annoying with his dark magic? Ah, could you, well, eat him?" Void asked of the Bio-Lizard.

"Weeeeeee!" It shouted, jumping at him. "I get to eat him AND a little girl! A big meal AND dess-"

Omega's claws grabbed his head. You can guess what happened next.

"...his head a'splode." Metal Overlord sniggered, the pieces of the tegu lizard falling to the ground in squishy THUDS.

"Careful, you're starting to sound like Flippancy." Void warned him.

"He's not the only one with TRICKS, motherfuckah! Here's a "hello" from the land down unda!" Marine cried out, tossing a paper with bloody lettering through the air, a knife impaling the paper to Metal Sonic's head.

"What the-"

KRUDDA-BOOOOOM!

"Woah. Déjà vu." White/King commented as Metal Overlord's head popped off, his grip on Sonic and Tails being released.

"What...the..."

The rest of Void's surprise couldn't be verbalized as Sonic suddenly realized his chance. "HEY! OMEGA!" He shouted. "You gotta know the truth about the Shanazaran Campaign!"

"AGH!" Metal Overlord yelled, trying to reattach his head. "No, stop-"

"THESE guys started it! Racism, that big metal monster, impersonated an officer and shot a child! They know everything about what happened to Shanazar! They're the true culprits!" Tails called out.

Omega's red eyes turned to pinpricks of surprise. He suddenly felt a dark chill go through him.

His fist clenched. He stomped on the ground.

"...well...this is interesting. I shall have to ask you to refute this...did you do what he says you did?" Omega whispered dangerously, looking at Void. In response, Void gave Omega a bit of a smug smirk. Omega began to let out a low growl. "...I don't believe in un-provable concepts like God or the Devil...but right now...I feel the need..."

Omega clenched his claws. "TO SEND YOU TO HELL!"

Chapter 25: Biting the Hand that Feeds You

Science centers around explaining how the world works in terms that all can find common.

Faith is about explaining WHY the world works in terms one cannot ignore.

The two are rarely compatible. And Magic's foundation is found in faith. The elements of the world, the manipulation of time and space, the healing of any and all wounds, these are possible with magic, as long as you remember...

All magic has a price.

Nothing...is free...

Episode Twenty-Four

マスターの手を噛む

Biting the Hand that Feeds You

"You're really getting on my nerves." Void said, folding his arms, frowning deeply. "I suggest you not involve yourself."

"And I suggest that you start talking. Why did you do what you did to my country?" Omega snarled, the robot apparently unaware that the Bio-Lizard was creeping up the wall and across the roof, aiming to drop down upon him. "Answer quickly, and I'll give you a swift end."

"COWABUNGAAAAAAAA!" The Bio-Lizard roared, jumping down from the ceiling, mouth wide open...

With a harsh BAKKA-THUD, Omega delivered a powerful clawed fist into it's gut, the Bio-Lizard's teeth actually flying out of it's mouth as it gasped.

"...daaaaamn." White/King said, looking at the teeth as they embedded in the wall near his head. "One hell of a right hook."

"You know what? I've decided I'm going to peel the skin off of all of you and wear you like Heracles wore the Nemean Lion's for a CLOAK." Omega commented with a faint, cheerful tone as he tossed the Bio-Lizard away.

"Wait, even ME?" Sonic asked.

"Maybe you later." Omega said.

"...uh...THANKS, I guess?" Sonic remarked, shrugging. "Whatever." He turned to Tails as Omega raced towards Metal Overlord, claws laced with dark energy. "We'd better get a move on."

"Wow, that robot's GOOD for somebody who ain't a Golem." White/King complimented. "But he doesn't hold a candle to THIS ol' body." He said, pointing at himself...

Before suddenly wheeling at Sonic, launching a high kick that sent Sonic flying through the air, making him crash into the wall. "Not bad, huh?" He inquired.

"Ah, good boy." Void said. "Now then. Obey your designer and remove the Outsiders, if you please."

"First thing's first!" Sonic yelled, launching himself out of the wall, delivering a punch towards White/King as he leapt away. "I wanna piece of you..."

He held one hand up, sparkling lightning swirling around it. "EXTRA CRISPY!"

With a crack of thunder, lightning split across the room towards White/King, who ducked down, Matrix-Style, spinning to avoid the onslaught.

"You're making me do this, King. Just give up, alright?"

"Don't go sayin' stupid things. The NAME...is...WHITE!" White growled, clenching his fist, his stolen body transforming before Sonic's green eyes. A pitch-black darkness covered his fists and feet as he grinned darkly.

"Wait...isn't that...King? The snake from our rival clan?" Marine wondered to herself as she hid behind a pile of rubble, the cries of Metal Overlord ringing through the air as Omega made him his bitch.

"A GIIIIRL!" The Bio-Lizard howled happily. "Oooh, yummy-yummy-yummy, I'll have girl in my tummy!" It sang out, popping up from the floor where it had landed, rushing at Marine, who quickly ran for her life, screaming like a...well, like the little girl she was.

"Now, now, you're RUININ' the interior." Void said as Omega held Metal Overlord's neck region, strangling him as the mighty robot's tail crashed down against the floor over and over, sending large chunks flying everywhere. "And I just WASHED the floor."

"Silence! You will be next." Omega snapped, tossing Metal Overlord away and rushing at Void, claws extended.

"Ah, mind the hair, I just shampooed with Loreal-"

CHA-CRUNK. Omega's claws wrapped around his head and the robot's red eyes narrowed as a surge of dark energy swept through his body...

Doing...nothing.

"...what...the?" He exclaimed. "What in blue blazes is wrong with your body?" Omega gasped in disgust and horror.

"Get away, get away, get away!" Marine yelled as the Bio-Lizard kept chasing after her. The camera panned above, showing that Marine had become like a little "ghost", with the Bio-Lizard chasing her down a-la Pac-Man.

"Bloop-bloop-bloop-bloop-bloop!" The Bio-Lizard called out, mouth opening and closing rhythmically over and over, scooping up dots of rubble in his mouth. "C'mon! I eat you, I'll get an extra life!"

TRIP! He promptly fell flat on his face and down a very large pit with a cry as Marine dusted her paws off. "Years of livin' out in the bush. Ha-HA." She called out as the Bio-Lizard hit the ground below, groaning in deep pain.

"You're pretty good." White/King said as he twirled around, doing a spinning kick, knocking Sonic through the air as he held up his fists, grinning. "Too bad you don't follow the rules."

Sonic rolled his eyes as his body became encased in a golden glow, and he swirled through the air, delivering a harsh series of punches towards White/King, who held his arms up to protect himself. "Don't go playin' that game with me, dude. I saw that movie." He then grinned. "Allow me to show you HOW I OPEN COCONUTS."

The Blue Blur did a sudden sweep of his leg, knocking White/King back a few feet, and rushing forward, aiming to slam his hands on the Golem's head.

BA-BONK!

White/King blocked, a shimmering chaos shield surrounding him as Sonic was thrown backwards, gasping in surprise. "You...I didn't know you could do that!"

"Neither did I." White/King commented cheerily, holding up his fist. "But apparently I can do THIS too! CHAOS SURGE!"

He launched a pinkish wave of chaos energy through the air at Sonic, who quickly ran for it, speeding along the ground as White tossed rapid-fire blasts in his directions. "ARE WE HAVING FUN, YET!" He laughed manically.

"Obviously we underestimated King's magical potential, Sonic." Tails remarked. "I mean, WOW, that's some high-quality chaos right there." He said, examining a sizzling mark that had been burnt into the wall near his head.

"Oh, that's so considerate of you! Hey, Sonic, take a closer look!" White/King remarked.

"Really, you're only making this harder on yourself." Void said as Omega jumped away in time to avoid a sudden, harsh onslaught of energy. "I mean, really. I've provided so much for the people here. There wouldn't even BE a Mobius if not for me."

"Help like yours we could all do without!" Tails yelled as he chased after the Bio-Lizard, who was approaching Marine, leering horribly.

"I'm gonna diiiiiig iiiiiiin!" It announced, mouth opening.

"HEE-YAAAAAH!" Tails's ringed wrists glowed as his tail became encased in a metallic shine and shot forward. With rapid strikes, he impaled the beast over and over in the back, making it's body shudder horribly. It let out a rapid series of gasps, falling to the ground as Marine quickly held up a slip of paper, taking some blood from a cut on her cheek and writing on it.

The Bio-Lizard leapt up, snarling at Tails. "WILL YOU STOP THAT! I'm tired of people attacking me from be-"

SHA-SLAP. A piece of paper got stuck to his feet like toiler paper as Marine stepped back, and an enormous blast of light energy swirled up from his feet through the top of his skull, it's eyes rolling into the back of it's head, collapsing to the ground in a bloody pool as Metal Overlord snarled angrily.

"Dammit, you used up all of your Chaos Emerald, you stupid fool!" It snarled.

"Stand STILL!" White/King shouted, launching itself through the air, striking at Sonic, who slammed his fist into his opponent's.

"I can't believe you're doing this!" Sonic yelled as the two of them spun around in the air, striking at each other over and over. "What about your mission, King?"

THA-TWHUNK. A fist met arm as White/King snarled angrily. "My name is WHITE, you dumb-"

"What about David?" Sonic yelled, catching the Golem off guard with a good leg sweep.

"Wh-"

"WHAT ABOUT ELISE?" Sonic roared, his fist shooting forward.

THA-THRACK.

Sonic's fist had met with the transformed snake's "nose" region...but there was inky darkness covering it...with unmistakable cold, golden eyes glinting back as White/King backhanded Sonic across the face, knocking him through the air.

A large explosion filled the air. Omega had cracked open a large hole in the wall and smoke was everywhere. Tails felt Marine clinging to him along with her koala. "HIDE US!" She begged as Metal Overlord tried to rub rubble and dirt off his face.

"Oh my. This is unfortunate." Void said as he knelt near the unconscious, twitching Bio-Lizard. "Worry not, Ignorance. I'll recreate a new body for you soon."

He lifted Ignorance into the air, onto his shoulder, heading towards a familiar area. "Clap on, clap off...the Clapper." He sang ot himself, clapping his hands. As he clapped his hands, the others moved away enormous circular pit that was rising up from the floor...

"...that seems...familiar." White/King remarked, scratching his head for a moment.

"HEY!" Metal Overlord yelled, looking left, then right, then up. "Where'd that stupid organic go?"

"You mean the fox or the rabbit?" White/King asked. "...hey, that sounds like one of Aesop's Fables."

"Just find either one." Metal Overlord snapped.

"Fine, fine, fine, I'll find, find, find." White/King said, exiting the room, dragging Sonic behind him. "Oh, FOXYYYY! I gotta present for ya!"

"Oh my GOD, what did you DO to him?" Tails exclaimed, his attempt to sneak up a manhole halted by the sight of Sonic in a VERY bad condition.

"Oh, he'll live." White/King said, rolling his eyes. "Now you gonna come with me, or am I gonna have to hurt him some more?"

"It's okay, Tails." Sonic said, grunting out.

"...Sonic?" Tails asked.

"...he's still in there." Sonic said quietly.

...

...

...

... "Believe me, escorting you to Cruelty is not high upon my list of priorities." Metal Sonic said as he walked down a long hallway, arms folded as he hovered along, White/King mutely walking behind them, looking intently at Tails and Sonic. "Now, one day painting the walls with your digusting blood, which, by the way, clashes with my nice chassis, that's another story. Oh, and it would be so interesting to see how much fur I could peel off that fox before it finally died."

"Dear LORD, you can almost hear the erection." Sonic muttered, rolling his eyes.

"...you know...this hallways is awfully...weird." Tails thought out loud, banging on the walls. "It's like a giant, metal PIPE..."

They finally walked into an elevator, Metal Sonic transforming into a military-clothed man. As the elevator finally reached it's location, they stepped out...

Realizing they were at Central HQ...where Dr. Eggman kept shop. They looked at each other. "You know...this is...this is like something from out of some sick Twilight Zone episode." Sonic told Tails. "I half expect an alien to peek it's giant head in and say "Wayne, they're onto us"."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Tails agreed, shivering.

"HEY!" Metal Sonic snapped. "Get a move on! C'mon! You need to take a shower before you're presentable for Cruelty."

So, Sonic and Tails headed into the shower rooms, Tails sitting nearby. "Hey, you doin' okay, Marine?" He asked.

"Fine, fine." She answered, clinging tightly.

"This feels weird, letting a girl into the boy's room." Sonic admitted as he washed the space behind his ears, glistening water drops sloping down his fine body as he shook his head back and forth, his well-toned frame sending a spray of water left and right. His tight-

"...hey! Hey, I see that!"

...what?

"You're focusing the camera too close on me! I don't care how many fangirls wanna see me naked, get that thing out of here...and stop talking about how I shower!"

Sorry, sorry. Just tryin' to give the people what they want.

"Uh, movin' on. Do you think this means that the entire military has ties to these guys?" Tails inquired. "...the Golems started the Shanazaran Campaign. They're most likely causing other terrible things..."

"...there is some good news." Sonic said quietly. "...I saw your body. Your real body."

Tails's head whipped towards him. "It's alright? Really?"

"I couldn't take it back with me, since I'm not your soul, but it's there, alright. And doin' just fine." Sonic told him. "...oh, and uh...it kinda smells weird."

"Like what?"

"Kinda like...oranges."

"...really?" Marine inquired, giving Tails an interested look. "I LOVE oranges."

"HEYYYYY!" Metal Sonic yelled as he banged on the door. "Hurry up! I want you to get a move on! Get out here so I can show you somewhere private!"

"So you want me?"

"Yes, of course I want you!"

"...pffffttttt..." Sonic began to snicker madly, Marine hiding in a stall as Metal Sonic angrily kicked the door down.

"YOU...ARE...DISGUSTING!" The robot shouted, dragging him out of the shower as Tails turned to the stall Marine had hidden in.

A few minutes later, Metal Sonic had led them to a door. "Come on. He's waiting for you." Metal Sonic said. "From here, we part ways. And good riddance. I hope I never see you again." He added, walking off.

Sonic and Tails turned to each other, shrugging as they entered the room...

Seeing Shadow sitting with Dr. Eggman. They blinked in surprise, turning to each other. Dr. Eggman had been a Golem after all...but Shadow? What was HE doing here?

"What's...going on here?" Sonic asked.

"...my...fellow...troops...were unfortunately..." Shadow spoke through grit teeth, hands digging into his arms, frowning darkly. "Sent to places that better required their attention. Vector is in the North. Bomb is in the South. Heavy has been moved to the West. And my lieutenant has been granted the honor..." He said the word "honor" as if it was a racial slur. "Of being Dr. Eggman's personal assistant. The situation isn't like a wolf threatening a pack of sheep...all our fellow shepherds are wolves in disguise."

So it was that bad. The entire military was in on this, Tails and Sonic realized. Sonic frowned darkly, turning on Dr. Eggman. "To think you'd be such a DIRTBAG." He growled. "Turning them into...what's the term?"

"De-facto." Tails said.

"Right. De-facto hostages!...wow, de-facto. Is that Spanish?" Sonic asked.

"It's LATIN, Sonic." Tails said, shaking his head.

"Well I thought the term "Latin culture"-"

"Different kind of Latin, I assure you." Dr. Eggman said, taking a sip of some coffee.

"I can't believe you're really a Golem. You didn't ever seem like one. You know, I thought you were a decent person...for a self-styled dictator." Sonic muttered.

"If you just do what you're told, no harm shall come to you. Believe me, I know what's best for this country."

"I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about all those other people in Mobius..." Sonic muttered.

"The people who AREN'T "precious resources"...what'll happen to them all?" Tails demanded.

"That's on a need to know basis. And, well, you do not need to know, Metal Brotherhood." Dr. Eggman said with a hint of a condescending tone.

"The Metal Brotherhood, huh?" Sonic laughed. "That's a laugh. That title feels so disgusting now..." He turned to look to the side. "I CHOSE to work for you guys so I could get me and my brother's bodies back. But I'll bet the whole "State Metallurgist" system is just something to select sacrifices with. If you're going to use me for something even worse..."

He slammed his hand down on the ground. "Then I'll rip you to SHREDS before I'd do so much as your LAUNDRY for you, butt-nik!"

"...you wouldn't want to get me annoyed." Dr. Eggman muttered.

"Look buddy, you may be a Golem, but I DOUBT you'd be able to take all THREE of us on!" Sonic said proudly, grinning.

Dr. Eggman adjusted his goggles. "Oh, I think I could. But I don't need to." He remarked.

"Why not?"

"Let me think...what was her name?" He rubbed his chin. "Amy Rose, right?"

Sonic and Tails's eyes stiffened.

"Your childhood friend. Skilled life magic user. A sweet, charming little hog, isn't she? And I just LOVE her cute little dress." Dr. Eggman went on.

"If...you...touch...her..." Sonic snarled, his fingers digging into the table.

"You cowardly FREAK!" Shadow snarled.

"I suggest you get used to this and not disrespect your benefactors. It's the only way to survive in this world." Dr. Eggman said coldly.

"...you'll get...what's coming...to you." Sonic promised angrily.

"If you're gonna keep watch over us, can WE keep looking for a chance to get our original bodies back?" Tails inquired.

"Oh, by all means. I don't really care either way." Dr. Eggman said, shrugging. "And you, Shadow? Are you going to quit the military?"

"I'm going to become the Ultimate Life Form." Shadow said firmly. "And protect everyone in this country. I can't do that by giving up when I'm on the right path just because somebody put me on that path for reasons of their own." He said. "I'll get there...I'll get there."

"Hmm. Good. You're dismissed." Dr. Eggman said, sipping some coffee.

"But can I ask you something before we go?" Shadow asked softly.

"...yes?"

"...did you kill Mighty?" Shadow muttered.

"No." The autocrat answered simply. "And to be frank?...I hate guns."

"...good." Shadow said, getting up and leaving the room with Sonic and Tails following, Dr. Eggman scratching his head. He was SURE he'd sensed another person with them. Perhaps someone from Soleanna...but...where was she?

As Sonic and Tails and Shadow headed down the hallway, Marine shimmied around to Tails's back again. It had been hard work, hiding behind, to the side, in front of Tails every time somebody had been close to actually FINDING her, but she'd hidden herself nicely. "That guy smelled of EGG." Marine muttered.

"We'd better get going." Sonic said to Tails, and they took off with Marine quickly jumping onto Sonic, burrowing deep into his quills. "AH! Watch it!" He shouted.

"Sorry." She apologized. "Woah, you got a LOT of rings in here."

"Shhhhh!" Sonic whispered. "It's my secret, okay?" He insisted as they headed down the hall, Shadow heading the opposite way, walking outside with a quick step, intending to find Rouge...

Finding Knuckles instead, standing there, looking solemn.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"No, I was trying to find Rouge."

"Rouge happens to be right there." Knuckles said, pointing to his right. Shadow turned to see Rouge was standing right there, in front of a limousine.

"Rouge."

"I heard about...everyone else." Rouge said. "They've all been split up."

"It's a damn tragedy." Knuckles admitted.

"But I'm not leaving." Shadow insisted. "I won't give up."

"Neither will I." Rouge insisted as Knuckles opened up the door to the limousine. "...let's go for a drive."

...

...

...

... "That's my problem, Peter." Mary Jane Watson said on the television. "The reason I was vulnerable. When you live with somebody who has a double life, no matter how much you trust him, there's always that thought of "What ELSE is he keeping to himself"?"

"Preach it, sister." Amy Rose said, holding a Shirley Temple to her lips.

"Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got, I'm still, I'm still Jenny from the Block!"

"Helloooooo?" Amy laughed, picking up her cell phone. "...Sonic? Hey, whatcha doin'? I'm so glad you called! You know, there's this good documentary on TV tonight called "Capitalism: A Love"-"

"Aare you okay? Doing all right? You're not being followed by anyone suspicious are you?" Sonic whispered softly.

"Sonic, really." Amy said, giggling, rolling her eyes. "What next? You gonna tell me to be on the lookout for a man with a gold tooth?"

"...grrrrr..."

"Your concern's so cute." Aamy said happily. "It really means a lot."

"...uh...okay..." Sonic said nervously, blushing deeply. "...listen, just...just please...be careful." He said softly. "...please."

"I will." Amy said, giving him a kiss through the telephone. "Ciao!"

Sonic put the cell phone away, holding his head. "Phew. She's alright."

"You know, you gotta be more composed than that. They'll take advantage of your relationship with that girl. They're just that low." White/King said, leaning against the phone booth they were using, King's hair turned to White, pink eyes gazing at them.

"Where'd YOU come from?" Sonic exclaimed.

"Not from ABOVE." Tails muttered, rolling his eyes.

"What is it now? You wanna rumble?" Sonic growled, holding up a fist.

"No. I want you to pass on this message." White/King said, holding up a small note from his pocket. "Your friend wanted you to give it to this girl named Elise, apparently." The Golem said. "I can't read what it says, personally."

"...me neither." Tails admitted. "It LOOKS like Ancient Hebrew. I'm not good with that." He said, taking the note in his hands.

"You're not going to try and follow after us to kill Elise, are you?" Sonic asked, giving him a glare. "After all, that fat Egghead tried to take my girl...my friend who happens to be a girl..." He said quickly. "Hostage."

"What kinda asshole do you think I am? I'm not gonna fight with a girl." White/King said, looking offended. "I may lack my own soul, but I don't lack my own STANDARDS."

"And we should trust you WHY?" Sonic asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Because my motives are totally selfish...I don't believe in lying." White/King commented, shrugging as he headed off. "See you later."

"Sure...King." Sonic muttered.

"It's White." The Golem called back.

...

...

...

...meanwhile, Omega was carefully making his way through a long, metallic hallway, frowning to himself as he thought quietly, grateful he'd been able to escape.

But why...

Why had that being started that campaign? Why ravage an entire continent and make it filled with violence? It didn't make any sense.

There had to be some kind of dark ulterior motive. But...WHAT?

"Excuse me! Uh, uh, excuse me?" A fairly stupid-sounding voice called out.

Omega looked down througha grating at the sight of a purplish cat, some oil dripping down...looking red as blood. It splattered on the grating below, drizzling down slightly. "Oh, my. Yer hurt!" Big called out. "Please, please come on down."

Omega blinked.

"It's okay. The guard isn't gonna be around for a while. Plus I'm a doctor. I can look at your wounds, y'know!"

Omega would have frowned if he could have...but he needed to get a tune-up. It couldn't hurt, this man might also have some information on these strange people...and their stranger leader. He burst through the grating, landing down on the ground as Big gasped.

"That...that symbol...you're "Omega", right?" Big gasped. "The Shanazaran?"

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Omega asked.

Big blinked a few times, then bowed his head, slowly going over to his bed and sitting in it, hands holding onto his head tightly. "...my name is Big the Cat. I was a Metallurgist skilled in life magic that took part in the Shanazaran Campaign."

Omega's eyes widened to large red saucers.

"WHAT?"

Meanwhile...quite some distance away...

"She's going to be alright." Dr. Thorndyke insisted, nodding his head as Marine sipped some chicken soup. "She just hasn't been eating well lately. And all this stress has been agitating her stomach."

"Thank you, doctor. I'll have to add your soup to the "list of things I'll need to eat"." Tails said, scribbling away in his notebook.

"But the problem is that now I don't have anywhere to sleep. If SHE'S going to be on the couch, with that other girl right there on the bed-wait." Dr. Thorndyke blinked, scratching his head as Elise staggered through the doorway, panting a bit.

"Elise, you need your rest." Tails insisted. "Please, miss."

"It's fine, really." Elise insisted. "I need to be strong. For King's sake."

"This reminds me, I have a message from him." Tails said, handing her the note that White/King had given to them.

Elise looked it over. "...it reads...it reads "I've gotten what we needed". He has a Chaos Emerald, doesn't he?" She asked happily, tears brimming in her eyes as she hugged Tails with her hand still clutching the note. "Oh, THANK you, THANK you!" She laughed.

"Uhhhh...I..." Tails stuttered.

"Sorry." She said, letting go of him. "But this is wonderful news! Please, where is King, we need to get a move on right away!"

"...it's just that..." Tails murmured. "...he..."

"...he what?" Elise asked, blinking a few times in surprise, seeing Tails's pained expression. "...Tails...what aren't you telling me?"

Also elsewhere, White/King was watching as Dr. Eggman sat on a park bench. "Whatcha doin'?" He inquired, folding his arms, raising a non-existent eyebrow.

"...simply feeding the pigeons, Selfishness." The autocrat insisted, taking out handfuls of bird seed from a small brown bag, tossing it to the pigeons.

"You keep doin' that Cruelty, you know what you're gonna get?" White/King inquired. "FAT PIGEONS!" He laughed.

"So it seems you are feeling in quite high spirits. Quite the body you've got." Dr. Eggman complimented as he tossed another handful of seed out for the pigeons.

"Oh yeah, it's one HELL of a body. You wouldn't BELIEVE the magic potential in this one! He's a natural with the power of Chaos!" White/King bragged. "And he willingly let me take his body so that he could become ruler over Soleanna to boot. Ain't that something?"

"Heh." Dr. Eggman chuckled. "Stupid little idiot. He once told me that I'd never be a true ruler, because I don't CARE about my people. But if he was right and I was wrong, why is HE the one who's gone?" He laughed. "The fool doesn't know that dropping dead weight like stupid ideals and attachments to people is the only way to survive."

"But it's no way to LIVE, you fat sack of shit!" White/King snarled, his eyes glittering gold for a moment as Dr. Eggman blinked in surprise, mouth hanging open slightly.

"..."

"Catchin' flies?" White/King laughed. "You're gonna have to be careful with your words. "He's" waiting for his chance to take over. I might just let him occasionally, just to see what happens. It would be fun!"

"Heh. Willing to let even someone like YOU come along for the ride. The selfishness of naturals." Dr. Eggman remarked.

...

...

...

... "Dr. Eggman's a GOLEM?" Knuckles growled darkly, furiously as he sat with Shadow and Rouge in the limousine. "...to think...I only wanted to fight to protect the innocents in this country. And many others think the same way I do...many others want to make sure the strong can defend the weak...but to think that the military is just for...for..." He growled and punched a hole clear through the limo's door.

"OY! Watch it!" Rouge snapped. "It's a RENTAL."

"It IS disgusting, what they're doing. But if you're concerned, you could quit the military." Shadow offered.

"...no. No, I can't." Knuckles said, murmuring softly.

This wasn't right. These weren't fighters. These weren't warriors. This was a slaughter, not a fight.

"These people are CIVILIANS, sir!" Knuckles screamed, voice hoarse with sorrow and anger, holding a frail frame in his arms. "This is absolutely CRUEL!"

"You're going to disobey a direct order?" His superior snarled furiously. "Fine! We can get another State Metallurgist to replace you. Get lost!"

He walked off, leaving Knuckles alone with the body, as Knuckles howled in fury, punching the ground over and over, screaming furiously.

"All I could do back then was rage and scream after I'd run away from the fighting. I knew what they had done was wrong, but instead of turning upon them, demanding righteously that they stop, I acted like a coward and...and..." Knuckles mumbled. "...I can't run from this. If there's a chance I can stop their plans somehow...I need to take it."

"THAT'S what I want from you." Shadow said, nodding firmly. "Walk forward resolutely. Don't lose sight of your ambition, Knuckles." He folded his hands in his lap.

"Our beloved leader is a Golem. And most likey, there's somebody even more powerful BEHIND him. This is an opportunity I can't miss." He clenched his fist, eyes glittering. "I need to get stronger. I'll consider this an opportunity."

"An opportunity to do what?"

"...I need to study a new kind of magic if I'm going to defeat this new threat." Shadow said. "...do you remember who that woman was that assisted Sonic and his brother?" He asked Knuckles, who blinked a few times. "The one so skilled in Metallurgy?"

MEANWHILE...

"So it's like that?" Elise asked as she sat on the bed, looking to the side. "...he's...become one of them."

"I'm sorry. If we had tried to stop him..." Tails apologized as he sat near her, nervously hanging his head.

"Please, don't be." She insisted. "I'M the one who should be ashamed. I couldn't keep him from this. I should have been there. But it's alright...because he's still inside that "Selfishness" person, right? Waiting..."

"Yes."

"Then I can't wait any longer. I need to get my arm healed up somehow." She turned to Tails. "I need you to help me get to your friend, Amy Rose!"

"Wait, you want to get your arm healed up with life magic?" Tails asked, blinking in surprise. "...alright." He said, smiling. "I'll go call Amy up. Have her come here if she can." He said, looking up at the doorway.

"Tails?" Marine asked. "...is that woman next to you...who I THINK she is?" She asked as Tabby stood nearby her.

"Well, who do you THINK she is, Ms. Aussie?"

"...did you say...AUSSIE?" Elise asked, lifting her head up, gazing at the raccoon. "An AUSSIE, here?"

"Well, well. You know of my family!" Marine said, getting into a fighting stance. "Figures. A good watchdog of the family Rolar always knows a lot."

"This watchdog has a nasty bite." Elise said with a grin. "Let me guess. You're after the Chaos Emerald, right?"

"Aye, mate." Marine said with an equally dark grin.

"Ooh. CATFIGHT." Tabby thought to himself.

"Uh, wait, hold on..." Tails began. "Let's all calm down and-"

"WOULD YOU JUST STAY OUT OF THIS!" They shouted at him.

"...eek." Tails said, hiding behind Tabby. "Sonic was right. I can't bring logic. The only thing I can bring to a catfight is popcorn."

"Prepare yourself!" Elise growled, getting into a fighting stance as well. "Don't underestimate me simply because I've only one arm!"

"HEY!" Dr. Thorndyke announced, grabbing them by the ears and tugging them off. "What the HECK do you think you're doin', about to go bustin' up my house?"

"Hey, owwwww!" Elise whined.

"That HUUURTS, mate! Stay outta our kingdom's beeswax!"

"I don't give a rat's ASS about your kingdom! You're both guests in my house and you are going to treat each other with respect!" The doctor said, holding them up in the air, fire brimming in his eyes. "As the good book says, "Love thy neighbor as theyself or so help me, I'll SMACK you one"!" He roared.

"...he's SCARY." Marine whimpered.

With that, the doctor left the room, Tails following after. "I'm sorry they're acting like this." He apologized. "I'll bet when your family gets home, she wouldn't want to find her home a wreck."

"...my...son and daughter haven't...they haven't spoken to me in a while." Dr. Thorndyke said, sitting down in the kitchen. "...it's...it's a personal issue to me."

"...I'm sorry." Tails said sadly.

"Not your fault." The doctor said. "It's an adult issue. You're too young to be worrying about that sort of thing yet. You've got enough on your plate, believe me. Saving the world is a whole lot harder than trying to patch up relationships with estranged family members..." He sniggered a bit. "Though not by much."

Meanwhile, Sonic was sitting on a park bench, thinking to himself. "...c'mon." he mumbled. "C'mon, think."

He'd had talent. REAL talent. His mom had been so patient in bringing it out. And now he had to try and put that keen mind of his too good use.

C'mon, he thought. There had to be some way to get his and Tails's bodies back. He KNEW where Tails's body was right now.

Maybe he could sacrifice Tails's current body to...no, no, it wouldn't be a good trade. Maybe he could use a Chaos Emerald that was in one of the Golems to-

No, that was unacceptable.

He'd SWORN to not use innocent lives to get their bodies back. He couldn't treat good people as a means to an end.

He couldn't be like Void.

He frowned. "Wait. Omega...he'd been able to USE magical power. And so had Marine."

Yakin Shīru...perhaps that was the way, Sonic thought. He had to talk to them. This was a new weapon. And ANY edge they could get over these things was a welcome one.