Amy kicked hard at the cell bars, trying to get loose from Eggman's grip. "Let me out, Eggman!"

"And lose my excellent bait for Sonic? Not a chance, sweetie!" Eggman cackled. "I've seen his and Shadow's new powers, and I'd like to know just what's going on...and how to reverse it."

He turned and faced Amy, leaning incredibly close to the bars. "Do you know their secret, Miss Rose...?"

"Even if I did, I would never tell you...!" Amy kicked at his face, but he pulled back too fast. She growled, her knuckles white from gripping the bars.
Sonic...don't come. It's a trap...! Don't worry about me, just...keep away.

...........................................................

Sonic woke up almost eighteen hours after Leaf had knocked him out. He wasn't happy about Amy being held captive that long, but Tikal argued that he must've needed that much sleep.

He had to admit, he couldn't think of a time he'd ever felt more awake and rested.

He closed his eyes. Wind, you still there?

As present as ever. But I also think this is a trap...

"Eh, probably." Sonic stretched, then transformed into his winged form. The wound was gone, though his wings felt a little stiff. He flapped them a few times then went out to the living room. "Okay, I'm up. What's the plan?"

"You and I go to Eggman's base and get Amy. Plain and simple." Shadow answered.

"I wanna come too!" Autumn complained. "Pleeeeeeeeeease, Mr. Shadow?"

"You can barely use your powers, kid!" Charmy replied. "It'll be too dangerous for you."

"Kid!? I'm older than you!" Autumn crossed his arms. "It's so unfair! Mr. Sonic only got hurt because he told me not to go anywhere! I could've-"

"You're staying put, Autumn. End of story." Shadow answered.

Sonic could see betrayal in Autumn's eyes as they left the house. "He's gonna try to follow, you know."

"Yeah...but hopefully he's right when he said he could handle himself..."

...........................................................

Finding Eggman's "secret" base wasn't all that hard. In fact, it seemed too easy.

Does the word "trap" come to mind...? Thaw asked.

Shadow rolled his eyes. "Unfortunately, yes..."

"Hey, I've noticed Charmy and Daylight have practically merged." Sonic said, pulling out his mirror. "How does that happen?"

"It requires intense concentration, and full cooperation." Wind explained. "Your thoughts mingle and you gain full control of your Amethyst abilities..."

"Too bad we're both too old to cooperate very well." Sonic said.

Excuse me!? I mean, you're right, but-

Sonic grinned. "Having the memories of your previous partnerships would be odd, though."

"We could still merge...but-"

"Shhhh!" Shadow pointed down as the doors opened, and a couple robots stepped out.

"There are far too little guards for him not to be waiting for us...This is all my fault." Sonic whispered. "If Amy and I hadn't fought, she wouldn't have been out that night and gotten captured."

"What were you fighting about, anyway?"

"She...She wants me to quit looking for Amethysts. She thinks it's not my fight."

Shadow nodded. "Her concern for you hinders her sight...Let's get her out." He got up, unfolding his wings. "I'll distract Egghead while you find her."

"Roger." Sonic unfolded his wings, then both took off towards Eggman's base.

Sonic zipped through the doors, dodging robots and laser fire as he checked the halls.

Then he heard her voice.

"No! Go back! It's all a trap!"

"I. Don't. Care!" Sonic knocked the door open, seeing Amy locked up in a cage. "Amy!"

"Go back! It's a trap!" She cried. "He wants to remove your powers! You have to go!"

"Not without you, Miss Rose." Sonic blushed. "Any ideas where the keys are? Ah!" Sonic was knocked to the side, yelping as his attacker placed a foot on his chest. "Eggman...!"

"I'm quite intrigued by these new appendages, Sonic..." He took one of Sonic's wings in his hand as pushed more of his weight on Sonic's chest, making the hedgehog wince. "Ha! For once, my girth serves me well!"

"You'll never get me to tell you anything!" Sonic hissed, yelping as he was pushed down more. "Ergh...!" His heart pounded in his chest, and his lungs struggled to get in enough air through gritted teeth.

"Don't hurt him!" Amy cried.

Sonic glared at his adversary, then threw his free wing up, it's edge hitting the villain's jaw like another fist.
Eggman yelped, stumbling back and providing Sonic with the chance to get back up on his feet. He threw a gust at Eggman, then paused as there was a loud crash in the hall. "What the-"

The door fell down, exposing Shadow with a glowing pink hand and eyes. "Did I miss anything, Wind?" He asked.

"No. You're actually just in time."

"Oh, how nice. You saved some for me...!"

"I thought you two were enemies!" Eggman exclaimed, then smirked. "No matter, I have you both in the same room."

Both Amethysts then yelped as he pressed a lever and giant tentacles came out of the floor, wrapping around them and lifting them up off the ground, while pinning them against each other's backs. "Ah! Rrrrgh....!" Sonic struggled to get loose, but he was trapped.

He and Shadow glared as Eggman cackled evilly, and Amy stared in horror. "Rrrgh... Can you melt free?" He whispered through gritted teeth.

"Not without burning you..." Shadow replied. "But...I might be able to get backup...Rrrrraaaaugh!" He yelped as the tentacles tightened.

"Ha ha ha! I've finally got you both trapped!" Eggman cackled. "Now...what to do with you two...?"

Shadow looked down at the lock on Amy's cage, his eyes narrowing. Thaw...can I melt without touching something...!?

As long as it's in view...! Hurry...!

Shadow imagined the lock melting, transforming into molten metal that dripped like a popsicle, and smiled as it followed his command.

Amy saw it too, swinging her hammer hard and knocking the door off it's hinges. "Hah!"

Unfortunately, as soon as she was loose, the tentacles grabbed her too. "Ah! Let us down, you maniacal menace!"

"'Maniacal menace,' eh...? I like that title!"

Sonic's eyes squinted shut as the tentacles squeezed his wings tighter and tighter between his and Shadow's backs. "Rrrrgh...!"

Suddenly he saw a familiar little hedgehog sneaking in behind Eggman, grinning mischievously. If he winds up saving our butts, I'm going to be so embarrassed. But if he gets caught too, I'll never be able to forgive myself...

"Hmm...What's making your little transformations so often...?" Eggman wondered, then he suddenly fell as Autumn pulled on his shadow like a rug under his feet. "Wha-Oof! What the-"

"Put my friends down, you facial-fringed freak!" Autumn ordered. "Or else you'll be sorry!"

"Ooh... You got a little fan, huh? Tentacles-" he didn't finish his sentence before Autumn jumped onto his shoulders and tugged hard on his mustache. "Aaaaaaah! Leggo of my mustache, you pipsqueak!"

He threw his head around, and Autumn was thrown onto the console. "Aaaah!"

"Careful, Autumn!" Shadow shouted.

Autumn tumbled off the console, then squeaked as Eggman grabbed him by his arms. "Ow! That hurts!"

"You wanna be like them, pipsqueak? But you're not. You're nothing like them." Eggman jeered.

"Don't listen to him, Autumn!" Sonic shouted. "You are one of us! Just believe in yourself! And...and don't ever...ever give up on yourself...!"

"Sonic!" Autumn watched his mentor begin to slump over from being squeezed. "No...NO!!!!!"
His body suddenly transformed in a flash, the heat forcing Eggman to release him. "Emissary of Hope!"

As the light dimmed, he'd transformed into his Amethyst form. His wings were black and shiny like oil, and he wore a purple cloak, boots and gloves, along with a pair of goggles on his head, and his eyes were a bright orange. "I am Autumn Equinox!"
He held out a hand, and the tentacles transformed into dust, dropping the older hedgehogs onto the floor.

Sonic gasped for breath, then looked up at Autumn. "Nice job, kiddo..."

Autumn grinned. "I remember now...I remember who I am!" He hugged Shadow tightly. "Thank you, Shadow, Sonic..."

Eggman had mysteriously vanished, leaving the four hedgehogs alone. "Well...let's go, guys." Shadow said. "And Autumn..."

"Yes?"

Shadow held him out at arm's length. "...Ask before you hug me next time."

Autumn blushed. "Okay..."
______________________________________

Why are insults so much fun to come up with...?