Innocence by Madeon, Aquilo.
Fire For You by Cannons.
~~~

Chilling water droplets fell from the ceiling, trickling down her ear and mixing with her tears on the floor. Her legs slid closer to her shaking torso and her bruised arms circled them. There came a few thuds and she gasped, using the little energy she had to look up at an approaching nightmare. His blue form glistened under the candlelight's and his claw screeched across the wall. His red, burning, optics never left her- almost drinking up her rather pathetic condition.

How did she get here?

There was a whimper above, but she'd become so used to the sounds she didn't bother looking in that direction. The towering, blue machine squeezed her prisons bars and thrust the entrance open, forcing her to gasp and sob.

Why wasn't she saved?

She tried to scurry away, but he seemed to revel in her poor attempts and merely watched her. She didn't care. She whined as aching agony ran up her back but she continued crawling, ignoring the patches of red mixing with her pink fur.

Why didn't he come for her?

The light from beyond her prison stung her eyes, but she reached and pulled on the bars anyway. Dragging herself by them, she gasped as a claw twisted around her ankle.

He always came for her.

"No-!" She screamed, freely crying and begging as she was dragged back into her never ending nightmare.

Where was her hero?

It was dark, despite the moonlight. It was quiet, if the whines and mumbles were overlooked. It was peaceful, until a pink hedgehog shot up from her bed screaming. In a panic she wiggled and threw her blankets away, hyperventilating as tears stained her muzzle. She shoved her teddies away but froze upon finding one with green buttons for eyes. With a hiccup she scooped the blue toy close, pecking it's head and curling around it.

"I'm so sorry. Why did you...?"

Her door cracked open, allowing yellow light to seep into her very pink space. Her breath hitched and she turned to see a little bunny rubbing her eye in a pale yellow nightgown.

"Miss Amy?"

—————

"Three days ago, sights of explosions and flying aircraft's were reported around the area of the notorious Doctor Robotnik's largest factory. Hours later it was confirmed from one of G.U.N's search teams that indeed, the factory had been destroyed. From their reports, it can be concluded the factory held an unknown number of innocent mobians inside- but the exact total is yet to be discovered. Additionally, G.U.N technology is believed to have been tampered with by Doctor Robotnik himself, but further updates are still awaited. Due to it's catastrophic condition, the search party weren't able to reach the destruction close enough- for it was deemed too hazardous. Thus, it's inconclusive to say what else could still be there. In any case, the prisoners inside were reportedly in the process of being transported to other Robotnik locations, but were saved from-." A red-haired reporter glanced at her papers again, clearing her throat.

"Saved from a group who call themselves the 'Freedom Fighters.' This group is theorised to be led by the once believed, dead, Princess of the Acorn Kingdom. Her name, Princess Sally Acorn. Furthermore, a statement from Commander Abraham Towers himself states the Princess will be meeting with him sometime soon. He added Angel Island is under investigation, due to witnesses claiming to see Robotnik's 'Eggmobile' travelling to the mysterious island. Reportedly, a red plane had followed and was once again seen, unfortunately, in parts at the factory. Many believe the uprising, increasingly popular, Sonic The Hedgehog is the owner. What's more, many claim he too is a Freedom Fighter. However, G.U.N staff have stated that when the Freedom Fighters landed in a Robotnik aircraft just beyond Station Square to bring the mobians home, Sonic was not seen. This begs the question- where exactly is our recently known hero? And-." She cleared her throat.

"And, um, is he ali-?"

He grumbled and turned his black and white screened, small, television off. It sat on a table beside a bookshelf, opposing a cork board scattered with images and string. Separating the two sides of the room was his door and a black, white, blue and red rug- leading up to his desk where he sat behind. Glorious, large, windows stood almost as proudly behind him, dragging in the late morning light.

His brown and green eyes dropped to two files on his desk, a blue hedgehog and robust man both grinning back. The former's file, he disappointingly, found was far less informative than the first. For a 'hero' (as the world had begun to claim) the man found it ironic how very little Mobius knew of him. Well, there was an exception.

He looked up when hurried chatters flooded his room, briefly, but painted a pleasant enough smile when a blue eyed chipmunk entered his room. She looked exhausted, eyes drooping and dark. Her form was slumped and she appeared scattered, overwhelmed perhaps.

"And she comes back from the dead."

"Pretty easy to do when you never actually were to begin with." She shook his hand and sat opposite.

"Can I ask why you played along?"

"It was easier to attack Robotnik if he didn't know where I was. We could do more without the world's attention."

"Well, that's changed."

Sally's eyes lowered. "When you show up in the world's most wanted man's many aircraft's it's kinda hard to be discreet."

"Perhaps it was about time. Mobius seems...lighter, now that they've learned who's been behind Robotnik's obstacles. I'll give you that. But about this meeting, you reached out to me, why face to face? What's this about?"

The Princess dragged her eyes up like it was a chore. "My friend, Nicole, hasn't been...very cooperative. The most I could do was send you that request."

"Are they alright?"

"They've been better." She rubbed her eyes. "We all have."

"You look...tired. Is this meeting-?"

"It's chaotic out there." Sally stood, hands behind her back. "Ever since the world found out Robotnik can breach their highest rated military's technology, that is."

The Commander frowned. "We're working on it."

"We'd like to help. I didn't come here alone, obviously."

"Help how?"

"I've got three of the smartest people on the planet. One of them, who's soon to be eleven, can rival even Robotnik himself."

The man's brow lifted. "You don't say? For a- what-."

"Fifteen, now."

"Well, for a fifteen year old you seem to have a lot figured out."

Sally shrugged. "I've been at it a while."

"Alright, then tell me this. Why would you...assist me now? I tried to get you to stand with me before, but I was turned away."

"You wanted to use him." Her heavy eyes narrowed.

"And where is he now, Princess?"

She dropped back onto the chair.

"Hmm. Again, why?"

"I think an alliance is the most logical answer."

"No one's seen Robotnik since the factory fell. There's not much urgency."

"And his nephew?"

"That puny fool is hardly worth losing sleep over."

For a moment, Sally could see a large, robotic bug dragging two wide eyed chipmunks towards it. She could hear a little boys scream. The 'puny fools' cackle and-

"I think it's foolish to underestimate him." Her hands squeezed her knees.

"Well, admittedly, I underestimated the group who's been slowly tearing Robotnik down for years. But here we are, their leader- even more famous- sitting before me after they single-handedly took down his largest factory. So, an-."

"We just saved those innocent people."

"Right, and the factory magically burned to nothing on it's own. The world's wondering what happened."

Sally's vision glossed over.

"They celebrate, throw parties in the street. Create banners and t-shirts for the Freedom Fighters. But they're all wondering where he is. They've settled on the idea he works with you, but don't understand how he's vanished."

"I-."

The man leaned closer, eyes surprisingly carrying a hint of sympathy. "Have you told them?"

Sally's breath hitched and she looked up. "What?"

"Your group of saviours. Have you told them what he did?"

"Of course."

"I'm assuming, being who you are, you've kept yourself busy since?"

"Well I-."

The man sighed and leaned back. "Alright." He held his hand out, where a smaller one shakily, unsurely shook it.

"You have yourself an alliance, Princess."

—————

The remodelled, 'FF-ified' aircraft had dropped him off before travelling to Station Square. Sally claimed she needed to see someone, but he was too frazzled to truly comprehend her. He didn't know when, but sometime soon G.U.N was going to intrude on his peaceful home, disrupt his life, and he wanted to warn his friends beforehand.

Also, selfishly, he couldn't bare being at Knothole for much longer. He understood why he wanted to leave so badly now. Without him, Sally was stressed and snappy, Amy was more reclusive, Tails was....

Oh, Chaos, poor Tails. He frowned as he traversed between towering, full trees.

They guided those prisoners towards the main entrance of the factory. Sally was silent, but had this haunting expression. They asked, but chose to give her a minute when she gagged from their bombarding. Knuckles had turned to Tails then, but the fox's ghostly, agonisingly heartbreaking face told him all he needed to know.

And then there was an aircraft waiting for them, with little Nanites dancing around it's wings. It became clear for everyone what had transpired then.

Knuckles shook his head when his vision blurred, rubbing his face as he stumbled from the forest. Little blue creatures, which he told the Freedom Fighters were Chao, watched him at first curiously, but soon worriedly. He merely moved passed them, letting them follow. Flowers waved at him but he stared ahead, purple eyes climbing damaged stone stairs to reach a brilliant, bright, green emerald. It sparkled under the sun, radiating a usually soothing warmth, but he found the hue only served as an unwanted reminder.

Some hero he was. Throwing himself so carelessly away. He just had to be the hero. He had a tendency for pulling idiotic moves like that, Knuckles had noticed (and ruthlessly teased).

A rather curvy shape shifted within the emerald, making the guardian pause on the stairs. His eyes narrowed, fists clenching as it moved again and only then did he realise it was behind.

"Who's-?"

Heeled boots clopped slowly around the emerald, moving perfectly in front of each other. Pink, shiny hearts glistened under the sun and a black, rather tight, tracksuit led him towards sly blue eyes. Purple eyelids hung neatly over them and an ocean hued singular eyeglass rested in front of them. Wide, dark, purple wings fluttered outward and a clawed hand smoothly dragged across the glorious jewel. The bat was...striking, he found. She flashed a fanged smirk and rested her hand atop her hip, proudly blocking the Master Emerald.

"Well well, I wasn't told any handsome echidna's would be here. I would've accepted a lot faster otherwise." She winked.

Knuckles went red, veins simultaneously popping. "Who are you, Bat?"

"Why that's no way to greet a lady." She pouted. "I'm simply curious, honey, that's all."

"You're a thief." He accused and she gasped, hand over her heart.

"You shouldn't say things like that, Handsome."

He waved a fist. "Stop calling me that!"

"Well, what should I call you then?"

"None of your business."

The bat's smirk widened and she gracefully flew down, holding out her hand with her palm towards the ground. "I'm Rouge."

Knuckles, confused at her gesture, awkwardly shook her hand. Her eyelids raised and he had the creeping suspicion he hadn't done what she wanted (that made him happier than he was willing to admit).

"Knuckles. I guard the Master Emerald. The thing you were trying to take."

"I would never."

"I don't believe you."

"But you'd believe Robotnik?" She pouted, bringing her hand away. "Over little me?"

Knuckles' eyes shrunk and his shoulders raised. "How did-?"

"You haven't been keeping up with the news, darling." She began to circle him, finger sliding over his shoulder.

"I'm the mobian they hired."

"Who?"

"G.U.N. You're looking at one of their agents, who's expertly climbing the ladder mind you."

"Now I know I can't trust you."

"I'm more trusting than Ivo, sweetheart."

"Maybe, but I'm not making that mistake again. I'm guessing you've been keeping tabs on me?"

"At the risk of making you jealous, I've been looking into your little 'Freedom Fighters' group too."

"I ain't jealous, Bat. I'd rather you leave us alone, actually."

"I will. When I get what I want." She moved for the Master Emerald, but Knuckles grabbed her wrist.

"You can't take it."

"The boss gave different orders, honey."

"I protect it. I can't let you."

"It'll be much safer with me."

"Ha! Didn't think you were the joking type."

Rouge's cunning eyes narrowed and Knuckles let her go.

"Look, the island needs it."

"Why?"

"It just does."

"If you can't tell me, I guess it's not that important. So I'll-."

"The island will fall without it."

In curiosity, Rouge's eye-ridge lifted and she turned, residing her hand on her hip. "Go on."

Knuckles sighed. "I don't know the details, but the Master Emerald- as long as it's touching the island- keeps it floating. Second someone tries to remove it, the whole thing falls."

"You know why?"

"The Master Emerald is a mysterious phenomenon. Powerful, I know that, and wanted by lots of suspicious people like yourself. But like I said, I don't know the details."

"Huh. Guess I'll leave it...for now." She winked.

"Please don't make yourself a regular visitor." Knuckles grumbled.

"Isn't it nice having company? Must be lonely here."

"I have friends who visit."

"Really? Where are they?"

"Well I-." Knuckles double took. "There should be a flyin' squirrel and armadillo here."

"Yellow and black and red? I saw them, but they were off collecting berries."

The echidna's face scrunched up and he huffed. "Right."

Rouge stepped down. "Your other friends...the Freedom Fighters. One of them doesn't happen to be Sonic hmm?"

She would've smirked from how obvious his expression made it, but it was more sad than surprised. Oddly, she didn't find it in herself to tease or be cruel.

"It's not good, is it Knuckie?"

"Knu- it's Knuckles."

"Well, you gave me a nickname. I'd prefer something more classy than 'Bat', but you don't strike me as the classy type."

"Ugh. How'd you-?"

"The world knows. And someone like him, well, I doubt he'd stay away from the fight for long. He was there wasn't he? At the factory?"

Knuckles dropped a couple of steps. "I-."

Rouge followed. "I'll tell you something if you tell me."

"Ha! And what could I want from you?"

"The contents of that little document you and your friends have been after."

—————

'Oh man....'

Light. Empty, but light. And soon, far too bright. He hissed, but could no longer close his eyes. Head was light, but still too bright. Dazed. Numb. Heavy and...out of breath? Where was everything? He rolled, maybe, and still saw nothing but white. Blinding, snowy and empty.

A blink and...sandals stood before him? Bandages twisted up orange or red (the whole...phenomenon was fairly translucent) legs and stretched like wings from the knees. A white dress and lace green sleeves. He believed. A smile faded, the black from blue eyes fading.

"Yours are the same."

There was a crash, he spun (maybe) and for a blink saw something metal fall to something brown and...soft? But a hand, so light but solid, brought him back by the chin. Did he have one?

"You're connected."

Light. Kind. Worried?

"You've been chosen. Tell them."

A groan. His groan? It sounded so far. There was an even further yell.

"You're in danger."

"Wa- Arg!"

Grey. Dark. Rain. A crack of thunder. Yelling. Digging? Pain.

He gasped, like he'd finally elevated from the ocean. Bones cracked- ruined. Head still light, empty? Heart pounding, ears ringing and short breathing. Crashes and so so much rubble. Dust rising. Oil dripping. Pain.

He gulped more air (not getting enough) but cringed from the agony. Everything was spinning. Dark. Twisted.

'Hit my head too hard.'

He tried to lift up but cried from the weight crushing him. He looked, finding massive shapes of building resting on him. Breathing became more struggled. He swiftly spun his head everywhere he could. Vision swirled- headache. Wires hung from elevated, ruinous, floors and sent sparks dancing. He tried to move but felt water rush down his cheek.

'What the-?'

Panic.

He wiggled- something popped. He yelled and there came another after. An unknown voice. He blinked, washing dust away. He coughed, but red spluttered from it. Pain.

He couldn't breathe. Too much weight. Too much destruction. Too...lonely. Alone.

'Promises broken once again.'

Who?

'Shouldn't be alone.'

Eyes burned. A distant yell- two different voices following. Mind was stretched. Dark. Cold. He yelled, voice tearing, and vision twisted. Everything pale. Something moved above. Teeth stretched.

'I'll make sure you're not alone.'

Black mist danced with the dust. "HELP!"

Sunlight. Well, brighter light. Green, purple and yellow and black. Three gasps and many mutters.

"Help!"

"You...oh man. You're alright, kid!" Raspy voice, but strong and kind.

"Look at his leg." A whisper of a child.

"The rest of him isn't much better." A very low tone muttered.

"Not- ah- helping."

"Sorry!" Yellow and black colours swirled, zooming downward.

"Be careful, Ch-."

A boom and more rubble crumbled. Pain.

The purple swiftly clung to a metal pole sticking up from the ground, twisting lightly around it. The green simply jumped down. More weight! He yelled and goldenrod eyes cringed.

"Sorry, kid."

He shook his head, colours thankfully becoming more vibrant. He gasped for air, feeling a sting in his chest, and slowly took in who stared over him. A bee, wearing an orange puffer-

Where was his? Green eyes bounced around in a panic, finally landing on the visibly little of himself. It was loose, more than damaged, but brown fabric and white fluff still peaked through. His chest shook with every breath and he could feel the broken bones. Red decorated his dirty, clumpy fur. He couldn't see anything else.

"Let's get you ou-."

"No!" He looked to the croc- crocodile? He double took. A chameleon and bee towered with him.

"Who...?"

"We're The Chaotix!" The child buzzed. "I'm Charmy!"

"Espio." The chameleon nodded.

"And I'm the leader, Vector!" The crocodile saluted before getting elbowed by his purple friend.

"We should do this after. He's...not well."

The crocodile, wearing a golden chain and leather jacket, crouched beside him. Espio, in a black robe, did the same.

"You're pretty stuck."

"Really?" He exhaled tiredly. "My mistake, thought I was in bed." He deadpanned.

"He's grumpy." Charmy commented. "And his voice sounds funny."

"It's strained." Espio informed. "I think his patience too, understandably."

"Yeah um, still stuck by the way." He tried moving but merely made himself scream.

"Yeah don't do that." Vector awkwardly suggested and waved for Espio to help move the rubble away.

Charmy's weirdly bouncy mood soon vanished and he slumped to the floor, staring pretty much horrified.

"W-what is it?" His heart thundered.

"Um...nothing." Vector waved. "Just watch me."

High, so very high, above two birds fluttered towards a catastrophic landscape. The sky was stormy and the grass was gone. But amidst it all, in a fright they flew away when a shriek burst from nearby rubble.

Espio stood with a bloodied steel pole in hand, looking like he was going to be sick.

"Please don't tell me that was in my- ow!"

Large hands snuck under his back, burning many open scars. Two more slid under his arms, shifting him so he leaned against the chameleon. He swayed, feeling sick and far too dizzy, but managed to stay mostly upright. There, he looked down and bit back a gag.

It was like he'd been dipped in mud, then rolled through crushed up concrete and splattered in red...paint. Particularly his leg which, holy mother of Chaos, hurt. He definitely knew where that pole came from and pathetically whimpered, dragging his eyes over the countless scars and wounds.

"Where'd that smoke go? The black stuff?" Charmy wondered, avoiding the general direction of the damage.

"Huh?"

"We thought you'd been on fire or something, hence the smoke. But it's gone." Vector explained.

He forced a chuckle. "Oh yeah, no, the fire happened...um...how- ow- how long have I been here?"

"Three days." Espio watched in concern.

"Three-? Oh man...." He became, somehow, even more pale.

"You don't look well." Charmy swallowed.

"Where's Robotnik? Did he-?" He gasped, immediately regretting it. "I need to see my friends."

He shrugged Espio off and tried stepping forward, merely crying out as he crumbled to the ground. There, he curled and held his leg. The chameleon was quick to his side.

"Dude, you just got out from a completely destroyed factory- maybe take it slow?" Vector suggested.

"Can't. Not really my thing."

"Well duh, you're the Sonic!" Charmy buzzed, back to flying. "The world's been asking about you- many think your dead."

Sonic. Sonic. Him. Right. Jeez.

The bee hid behind his hands when the incredibly damaged hedgehog jolted and threw up, making Espio flinch away.

"Let's maybe not overwhelm him?" Vector frowned, patting the hedgehog's back.

Which made him hiss and vomit further. The crocodile held his hands up and muttered an apology.

"Knothole." Sonic croaked, throat burning. "Now."

"You need a hospital."

"No! Wasting time." He tried to stand, obviously failing.

"Let's get him outta here." Vector waved his crew over and repeatedly apologised as he lifted the now whimpering speedster.

Charmy hooked a hand under the crocodile's arm and retrieved Espio's hand, fluttering his little wings with a whine. They moved past the ditch Sonic had been found in, ascended past echoes of floors and made it away from the hazardous mess. A short distance away sat a green, well, Vector-esque car. Green and pointy teeth covering the front. Charmy set his friends down with a tired exhale, wiping his head.

Vector hadn't realised, but Sonic had scrunched himself up into a ball. A very sharp one at that. The crocodile cringed and hissed as little spines poked his arms, but he refused to drop him. The three entered the car, Espio taking the drivers seat.

"You're pointy, and small." Vector winced.

"I...regret this. Lesson: don't curl up when there's a fricken hole in your leg."

"Oh man...maybe-."

The sphere sharpened further when the car's engine roared. "If I unravel I think I'll die. Again."

"That's a bit dram- hold on again?"

—————

"When we ventured out today to check out Robuttnik- that's what you call him right? Well, when we went to see his factory I didn't think I'd meet Sonic the Hedgehog!" Charmy hopped, standing on his chair to watch the backseats.

"I wish it weren't so...humiliating." Sonic remarked, gesturing to how he lay across the cushions, bandaged legs resting atop Vectors lap.

"No way! We found you in the bottom of the biggest factory, like, ever and you survived! Which I'm really happy about by the way. Did not want to see that."

"I-." Sonic double took. "Thanks?"

"Still, how'd you pull it off? I mean you said you were at the top but, again thankful you did, you were beneath the entire thing. Alive."

"Were you?" Espio asked.

"Huh?"

"Alive. You said again, before. About dying?"

"Oh right um...." Sonic rubbed his nose.

'You're in danger.' He frowned. Like that was anything new.

"I dunno. I'm still pretty out of it. Pretty distracted by the blinding, almost torturous, agony ya know?" He awkwardly chuckled.

"What's Knothole?" Charmy asked.

"I- how'd you know that?" Sonic countered, Vector still double taking to catch up.

"You said it. Sounded all dire and serious and stuff." The bee put on a frown, lowering his voice. "Knothole. Now."

"I don't sound like that...."

"That where the Freedom Fighters live?" Espio wondered.

"How'd you-?"

"The world does." Vector patted the confused hedgehog's head. "You're all pretty famous."

"Oh no...."

"Had no idea you were working for the Princess though." The crocodile's eye ridges wiggled teasingly.

Sonic reddened, briefly. "Hey! I don't work for her-."

"But you're smitten." Charmy snickered. "The great Sonic has a crush! Oh man!" He disappeared, rolling on his chair in laughter.

"I don't- ugh." Sonic rubbed his face, hissing from stinging his scars. "I need to see her. All of them."

"Hospital first kid, sorry."

"They're gonna be worried 'bout me. And boy, Sally's gonna be mad thinking I'm dead."

"You think her seeing you like this will do her any good? You look like a zombie who'd been tossed in the rubbish, briefly drowned in oil and-."

"Yes. Thank you, Vector."

"We're coming up to Seaside City by the way. Mind Sonic, you're going to see a lot of yourself. And Sally. But don't worry- you'll look like how you do on those banners in no time." Espio nodded and the speedster groaned.

—————

It was late night, thankfully. Despite the echoes of a city party decorating the streets, it was quiet. Still, there were definitely banners of him giving a thumbs up, grinning back. Sally's face was there too, and he became less moody. They captured the magnetic affect of her eyes, but nothing could compare to the real deal. There was also a shield with an acorn and two swords crossing, separating them.

"The Freedom Fighter's symbol." Vector whispered, hoping to not wake a snoring Charmy.

"What?"

"G.U.N thought they should have something recognisable, to match their own."

"It's bland and aw- wait GUN?"

"You passed out, again, and we turned the radio on. Well, you more so fell asleep. It's kinda hard to tell. Anyway, 'radio said the FF have made an alliance with G.U.N."

Sonic gritted his teeth as he pushed himself up by the shoulders. "I die for three days and suddenly we're famous and working with the military?"

"You keep mentioning the dying thing and I-."

"Forget the hospital. I really need to see Sally."

"We'll get you there. But-."

Sonic sighed, crossing his arms and slumping down in a mood (again).

"If it helps, you've been healing up really quickly. Scarily fast, actually. It's actually really odd. Freaky-."

"Vector?"

"Yes?"

"Please stop making my body sound so grotesque."

—————

"H-he'll come after you."

"Sonic?"

"As your leader and Princess I demand for you to stay!"

"Hey, kid?"

"I need you!"

"Hey, Sleepy- woah!"

A gasp and Sonic shot up, somehow looking more tired than before. His heart thundered and he flinched when Vector touched his shoulder.

The room was white. Too bright. Very clean and smelled way too much like cleaning supplies.

"Oh Chaos, am I dead again?" Sonic fell back only to feel a pillow and mattress waiting for him.

There was beeping, and he had little tubes filled with red leading to a bag. Beside it stood a monitor, flashing green zig-zag lines. A blue, uncomfortable looking, sofa was on the other side with a sleeping Charmy and Espio. A little TV hung above them- off.

"You were muttering in your sleep." Vector whispered.

"About anything?"

"Bunch of random words strung together." He started, but Sonic was drawn towards his leg in a cast hung upward.

"For example, 'document' or 'uncle' or 'eggs' and um, oh 'blue' and 'fox'."

"Is my leg- did you say fox?"

"Yeah, why?" Vector flinched when Sonic's eyes watered.

"Oh no. I didn't-."

"Please, Vector. I need to see them."

"Fox someone you know?"

"He's not just someone." Sonic inched up, rubbing his eyes. "He's my...he's...Tails. Tails is my buddy. My Little Buddy I-." He struggled to take a breath. "He's my family. My brother a-and-."

"Alright. Okay."

"He flies the Tornado. W-where is she?"

"Th-the plane? Oh...Sonic I...it was destroyed with the factory."

For a moment, he was climbing down. For a moment he was following a taller, older hedgehog. For a moment he was excited and confused. For a moment he first lay eyes on the Tornado and for a moment his fa-

"I'm gonna be sick." He groaned, squirming only to see no brown material loosely hanging on his shoulders.

No. No no no. No! Chaos, no!

"Where is it?!" He threw the blankets off, crying out when his leg dropped onto the bed (thus waking Charmy and Espio).

His shoes and gloves were gone- replaced with bandages. His bracelet too and, oh mother of Gaia, his- the puffer coat was gone.

"Vector! Where is it?!"

"Your things? They're just here, kid." The crocodile left the bed and retrieved a tray.

Sonic snatched it and hurriedly dug through everything. Rings, glasses, blueprints (he still had those?) until he finally found the puffer-coat. Burned, torn, pretty much fluff and string.

"We were gonna throw it out-."

"Don't! Please." He brought it close, eyes shutting.

"Are you...okay?" Charmy swallowed.

"'Course. I'm Sonic."

"That's not much of an answer." Espio remarked.

"Well it's the one you're getting so...."

The TV snapped on and a sheepish Charmy awkwardly waved the remote. "I sat on it, sorry."

"Shh." The blue blur waved, glued to his own face staring back.

"Man, I'm always grinning huh?"

"Heh heh, like Robotnik."

Sonic glared at the bee. "Or not. Sorry."

"A week after the Doctor's factory was destroyed and still we have no answers on his or Sonic the Hedgehogs whereabouts. Doctor Robotnik's nephew has vanished too, along with what we now know as 'Metal Sonic.' The look-a-like of our hero-."

The television flicked to black and Vector gulped. "Y-you're referred to as a hero now. That's pretty cool huh?"

Sonic watched the ashy brown material on his lap. "A week?" He hushed. "I thought it was three days?"

"It was. But it seemed you were on some survival mode. We brought you here and you were knocked out pretty quickly. Still, your wounds healed much faster than the doctors expected." Espio explained. "Your leg doesn't even-."

Sonic looked to the three. "Robotnik and Snively haven't been found? Haven't-."

There was a roar and boom from above.
He hurried straight for the exit- straight for the flames.

His vision swirled. "I...I was the only one to go down that day." Vector swore he hiccuped. "I...failed?"

—————

"How is he?"

"Mostly repaired, Sir."

"Mostly?"

"Well...his cognitive functions are...off. It seems that connection you were really proud of and-."

Behind blue glasses, nightmarish red and black eyes glared.

"U-um, ahem, the connection has been disrupted. It's not so strong. His memories can't be accessed."

"I see. That's a shame."

"You sound like it's anything but, Sir."

Doors smoothly slid open and the pair descended steel stairs. Low red lights hummed on as they passed.

"Because I don't need them. For one, the boy's...gone- right?"

"Nobody's seen him."

"He once hid from the world for years. A week is nothing."

"You think he's alive?"

"If I am, then I'm begrudgingly sure he his too."

"So...us not being able to reach his memories is good because...?"

In the low ceiling room, he pinched his nose. "Idiot. It gives them hope. Security. To them they did something. They'll be less cautious, which is what we need."

He stopped, grumbling when a smaller man bumped into his back. The room had thick, long pipes slithering across the ceiling. It was gloomy and tight and the main illumination came from a red cylinder before them, propped up on a platform. There was a distant, continuous, beeping but neither payed it any mind.

"Plus, we have everything we need right here." He seethed, grinning.

The smaller man watched the gap between pearly teeth, finding that smile just as terrifying. "W-we do?"

"I can't believe we're related." The robust man complained, gesturing ahead.

"I, Doctor Ivo Robotnik, am the smartest breathing thing on this planet. No fox stands against me. I will overcome any obstacle. No puny hedgehog is better than me. I too, will be the greatest leader this world has ever seen. No royal chipmunk stands a chance." He approached the cylinder and knocked.

"I have all the memories I need. I know where they are, you stupid fool."

The long nosed man, despite the insults, grinned in excitement. "Where, Sir?"

Basked in shadow, the Emperors head rolled to face his nephew. His glasses glimmered and his smile stretched so far his skin could've began tearing.

"A little village we've been to before. It happens to be one of Sonic's past homes too. You remember a small place in the Great Forest?"

"You don't mean-."

"HO HO HO! I do. Snively, my nephew. The fools are back in Knothole."

"That's-."

Robotnik's fingers snapped and he stood beside the computer, which neighboured the almost sideways capsule.

"And this, Sir?"

"Our ticket to the Robotnik Empire. I will flatten Knothole with this. I will destroy G.U.N and make it's commander beg. Above all, I will make Sonic fall to his knees as his sad little world crumbles around him." He began to type.

"That document we discovered, the one the 'Freedom Fighters' have been after? I got it. It was a diary, Snively. A diary belonging to my very own grandfather." Smoke began to pour from the capsule, thus Snively stepped back.

"So I chose to have a look, obviously. Examine what he'd been working on and what would you know, a top secret military weapon! Interestingly, the very military this foolish world trusts shut down the research for they feared it!"

"F-feared, Sir?" Snively asked, only to flinch and yelp as the capsule groaned open.

Cool air poured from within and the red light disappeared. Smoke flooded the room and the little man cowered as a silhouette menacingly rose. He could make out pointy ears, how it was rather short and...quills? The smoke cleared and there, the final piece, the top secret military weapon stood.

Black and red fur shone with steely, terrifying ruby eyes glaring. It's arms were crossed beneath a tuft of damp white fur and it wore snowy gloves with golden ring attachments. It's ankles were the same and it had equipped Air Shoes. A blue ribbon was tied around it's right ankle and finally, a golden locket rested over it's chest fur.

"S-sir, what in Chaos is it?"

"He, Snively. He." Robotnik stroked his moustache, never before looking so victorious.

"And you can call him Shadow."