"You buffoons!" The cloaked shape smacked the back of the returning soldiers' heads. "Dominus will have our heads!"

"It's not our fault the Amethysts picked seasoned warriors, Morganite!" Onyx complained. "Gimme a break!"

"You, Tourmaline and Chromium are supposed to be working together! Zircon and Citrine have had more kills than you!"
Morganite pinched her nose, her long black hair draping down her back. "I try to put in good words for you, and this is what I get...!"

"Why not send Alexandrite out?" Chromium suggested, his mouth full. "He can destroy those guys, no problem!"

"Alexandrite has been in storage for a millennia. It would take weeks to train him up to code."

"Having difficulty with these slackers, Morganite?" Zircon asked.

"Yes...not that your team is doing much better. At least you got Wind down. We would be down one Amethyst if Leaf hadn't suddenly manifested. We couldn't take her out with Charge, Daylight and Thaw all there too."

"We need a better approach...attack them where they're most vulnerable..."

Morganite grinned. "Yes...and I know just the Obsidian to do it. Find Quartz for me. She has a job to do..."
______________________________________

"Aren't these roses pretty, Miles?"

Tails grinned. "Yeah. Sonic could use some of these to help his apology to Amy."

"What did he need to apologize for?"

"Oh...well, it was kind of over something stupid, but-"

Cosmo giggled. "I'm kidding, Tails! I might not be in the loop of what your friends are doing, but even I heard about that argument. I'm glad they worked it out."

Tails blushed. "Y-Yeah..." He watched as Cosmo stroked a rose bud, causing it to unfold and bloom. "Can all of your kind do that?"

"Hmm? Oh, no. Just me...Galaxina thinks I'm just closer to nature than everyone else..."

"How cute."
Tails looked up the hill, seeing an Obsidian standing on the top, a vixen with beautiful, but deceptive eyes. "Your precious little plants...!"

Tails put himself of Cosmo. "Leave her be!"

The Obsidian chuckled, tossing her red bangs out of her face. "Oh, that won't be too hard, little kitsune..." She waved her scepter. "...it's not the talking bush I'm after!"

Tails growled angrily, then gasped as he was lifted off the ground, rings of black forming around him. "Aah! Let...me...go!" He shouted, struggling to free himself.

"Oh! Tails!" Cosmo cried.

"Rrrrgh! R-Run, Cosmo!" Tails ordered.

Cosmo hesitated, but then took off towards the village.

Tails glared at the obsidian. "What do you want, you creep!?"

"Ooh...Let's not be offensive, kid. You're close to Wind's keeper, which makes you perfect for his Lordship's plan!"

"Rrrraugh! I'll never help you monsters...!" He yelped as the rings wrapped around his body tightly, gasping as the energy started to creep over him. "N-No! Rrrrgh!"

"Don't fight. It'll be over soon...!"

Tails struggled harder, "SONIIIIIIIC!!!!" he screamed as the energy washed over his face, then he fell into the deep darkness.
______________________________________

"Tails!?" Sonic sat up on his couch, where he'd been napping. He knew he'd heard his friend's cry... "Tails is in trouble!"

I agree, Wind replied. I can feel the dark energy of an Obsidian nearby...

Sonic clenched his fists. "If they've hurt Tails... Even one little hair-"

Don't let your anger cloud your judgement, Sonic. Keep your wits about you.

Sonic nodded, then transformed and took off towards the source of the cry. "Please be okay, Tails...!" He whispered.

The sounds of civilian screams pulled him towards the square, and he landed on a rooftop to observe.

The Obsidian was female, and was holding out a jeweled scepter, a strand of darkness extending from it and wrapping around the neck of a large creature that snarled and snapped it's jaws at the civilians...

...A creature with two tails.

"What did she do to you...!?" Sonic hissed.

It appears Quartz has taken control of your friend. If we can break her scepter, we might be able to snap him out of it.

Sonic nodded, then saw Thaw and Daylight flying overhead, and motioned for them to land by him. "I've got a plan."

"She's taken Tails hostage...!" Thaw reported.

"I know. Wind thinks if we get rid of her scepter, he'll return to normal. I'll try to distract Tails while you two try to get her scepter."

"You sure you wanna face him by yourself?"

"Yes...hopefully the Tails I know is still in there."

They nodded, then broke off, Sonic flying towards Tails and jumping on his muzzle before landing on the ground in front of him. "Tails! Stop!"

Tails snarled, rubbing his muzzle with a paw before baring his teeth.

"Nice try," Quartz jeered, "but he's loyal only to me...!"

Sonic held his hands out in front of him. "Look buddy, I don't wanna hurt you." He jumped out of the way as Tails swiped at him, deciding to stay airborne. "Tails, please! I know you're still inside there. Come on, snap out of it!"

Tails snarled, then yelped as his "leash" was tugged back as Daylight swooped towards Quartz.

"Augh! You little twerp!" Quartz barked. "Dark Child!"

Tails started to go after Daylight, but Sonic grabbed his muzzle, pulling him back to looking at him.

"HEY! He's your friend too!" Sonic shouted. "Think of Cosmo! Would she want you to be scaring people like this!?"
Tails' eyes widened, becoming clear for a moment as he shook his head hard. "That's it! Fight it!"

"No! You're mine!" Quartz tugged on the leash, making Tails yelp again, but this time, he growled at Quartz. "Mangy kid! Not me!"

Tails shook his head hard, whimpering and gagging as the leash tightened around his neck.

"Stop it! You're choking him!" Sonic pulled on the leash.

"FREEZE!"

Daylight's hands glowed, and the square fell into stillness, except for the Amethysts, and Tails, still fighting to get loose. "He's not frozen...why?"

He's a slumbering Amethyst! Wind replied.

Sonic finally got the leash loose, and Tails collapsed onto the ground, still and quiet as he reverted back to his original form. "Tails!" Sonic pulled Tails into his lap, holding his brother close. "Come on, buddy...don't give up on me now...!"
After what felt like an eternity, Tails gasped for breath, coughing weakly in between gulps of air. "Oh, thank Chaos...!" He hugged Tails tightly, not caring about the few tears that rolled down his cheeks.

"S-Sonic..." Tails opened his eyes slowly. "Th-Thank you...!"

Sonic smiled, holding his brother tightly. Wind...if he's another Amethyst, then which one?

I'm not sure... His energy is still dormant. But he'll manifest eventually...

Sonic nodded, "I'm just glad you're okay..."