In the rainy night at Castle Acorn

"I specifically asked for you to report to me alone, Commander." Maximillian said to Geoffrey who's standing in front of him.

Y/N was confused on Maximillian's behavior and didn't like that while Sonic just yawn. Alicia quickly moved him back with his wheelchair.

"I'm sorry, Geoffrey. I'm afraid the weather has put Max in a bit of a mood."

"No apologies needed, your majesty. Sire, you tasked me with finding a means to restore the monarchy to proper authority, correct?"

"Yes...?"

"A Chaos Emerald would do just that, but they are difficult to collect without *ahem* acceptable losses."

Sonic and Y/N slightly offended and confused what Geoffrey mean by that.

"Ah, I see. Very pragmatic. Proceed at your discretion, Commander."

"Thank you, sire."

Sonic, Y/N, and Geoffrey then left the room as Alicia deal with Maxmillian.

"First you drag me and sis out early in the morning in the rain, and now we're an 'acceptable losses'? Care to clue us in, Stripes?"

"It's no fun that way, but if you're gonna be sissy about it... It's heart-breaking, but old Max is losing his marbles."

"Yeah, I picked up on that. He's never like that before." Y/N said, looking uncomfortable.

"He thinks he can bring back the old days, and tasked me with finding a way to make it happen." Geoffrey explained.

"So you're getting him a Chaos Emerald?" Sonic questioned as he and Y/N put on a goggles while Geoffrey hopped onto his motorcycle and put on his helmet.

"It wouldn't hurt for us to have one. He'll be happy, thinking things are changing... and be none the wiser."

"I hate to pull one over on the old man, but it's a good plan. Y'know, for you."

Sonic and Y/N ran and rocket skated and Geoffrey rode his motorcycle towards the Freedom HQ through the rain.

"How does us getting soaking wet factor in your brilliant plan, tho?"

"Builds character. Plus you've got experience in the Special Zone... and I hear you're on Feist's good side. I need you on this one."

"What does that have to do with me then? I know nothing about this 'Special Zone'." Y/N asked.

"You have a skill of power and you are connected to the Chaos Emerald with your gem."

"True."

"Aw, that's so sweet. What would Hershey think?" Sonic said in a joke tone.

"She knows you're not my type. Which is to say you're vacuous and narcissistic." Geoffrey remarked.

"Oh, good one!" Y/N snickered, making Geoffrey grin.

Sonic went to the door first and began to open it.

"Quiet, you'll make me blush—Oh! Sorry, Mina!"

"Ah?!"

Sonic stopped to see Mina, nearly hit her with the door. Ash angrily comes towards Sonic.

"Cripes, hedgehog! Knock her across the room, why don't you?"

"Geez, Ash! Calm down! He didn't know!" Y/N confronted him, getting into his face.

"She's right. I didn't know she was there, Ash. My bad." Geoffrey apologized.

"Yeah, it is your bad, you—"

Mina immediately hugged her boyfriend.

"Ash? Baby? Please, shut up."

"Yeah, shut up, Ash." Y/N glared.

Ash took a deep breath and calmed down.

"I... sure, babe. Sorry."

Sonic and Y/N noticed Mina doesn't look well and is feeling down.

"Mina? Are you okay?" Sonic asked in concern.

"Yeah. Fine. Really. Listen, I needed to... get out of the city. Needed to think on the next album. Is it cool if we brainstorm here?"

"Sure. You and your band are always welcome here. Freedom Fighter or not, you're one of us."

"...Thanks."

Geoffrey took Sonic's arm.

"C'mon, mate. Let them work it out. We've got a mission."

"Right."

Y/N though couldn't stop looking at Mina with worry, seeing as she's been scared for a while and wanted to help.

"Yo, sis! You coming?"

She turned to Sonic and Geoffrey.

"Actually, I'm gonna stay here for a while. I want to check on something. You can handle this without me."

"Oh, then, okay."

Once Sonic and Geoffrey are out of her sight, Y/N snuck in to see Ash and Mina talking as they head downstairs to the couch.

"It was the nightmares again, wasn't it?"

Mina began to sob and hugged Ash.

"Oh, Ash! I can't take it anymore!"

"Shhh! Talk it out, babe. Like we've been doing."

"It's like living the occupation all over again! The sky shut out! The people being rounded up! The public legionizing!"

They sat down on the couch with Y/N hiding in the shadows above the stairs.

"You helped though. You got people to the Warp Rings. You helped them escape."

"Not all of them! Not with the Legion and the Yagyu all over the place and Nicole! Running every single thing in the city with those little nanite-things! Beds eating people! Trees snatching you right off the street! She was everywhere! I don't care if Sonic says she's back to normal. I want to believe in Nicole like he does, but she's everywhere and everything, Ash! If she lost control again..."

"It would be our nightmares all over again. It's been rough on both of us. On a lot of people."

"And-And-And it's like the Freedom Fighters can't see the danger. They fly away for a while, save the day, and think everything is perfect again."

Y/N couldn't believe what she was hearing and felt really bad for Mina. But that is not true about Nicole becoming evil. It wasn't her fault. That Iron Queen mind controlled her.

"That's it!" Ash blurted out, surprising Mina and Y/N.

"What? What's it?" Mina asked.

"You've been saying you wanted to do something new. This is your chance to find a new voice! Produce a new sound!"

"What, like... Yeah! Make a statement! Do something with my music! Get the people to think about what's going on!"

"Bingo! We wake 'em up...! We give your stuff a new edge to really spice up the sound!"

Mina took Ash's hand as they head straight to her room. Y/N quickly ran upstairs and hid behind the wall.

"Ash, you're brillaint! C'mon! Let's start writing music!"

Once they head into Mina's room as Y/N stepped out of her hiding spot, not believing what she's hearing. Now she's completely mad as Mina doesn't realize she's bringing her fear to everyone so they could fear Nicole!!! That's outrageous! How could Mina do this? Y/N was about to march up to her room to talk to her when she heard footsteps. She quickly hide behind the wall again and saw only Geoffrey with the purple Chaos Emerald in his hand, but without Sonic? What's going on? Y/N doesn't like this as Geoffrey left the HQ and drove off in his motorcycle.

Y/N decided to follow after him to see what he was up to as she rocket skated off without being spotted. The miles wasn't too long as they stopped by the old building as Geoffrey parked his motorcycle and headed inside while fighting off the guards. Y/N hid in the shadows and once she made it, she was shocked to see Mogul and Ixis Naugus. She brought out her recorder and began to record every single conversation.

"Commander St. John, isn't it? And with a Chaos Emerald, no less. I'm not sure if we have enough chips to exchange for that." Mogul said.

"I'm not here to gamble, Mogul. I'm here to barter."

"I have retired from daily antagonism and malevolence, Commander. What need would I have for another Chaos Emerald?"

"None. This gem isn't for you. It's the key to completing my mission. You have the last thing I need."

"...Oh? What mission is that?"

Geoffrey turned to Ixis Naugus who was chained up to the wall.

"To restore the true king to the throne."

Y/N's eyes widened in shock. Have Geoffrey lost his mind? Mogul was just as shock as her.

"You'll have to excuse my caution, Commander St. John. It's not often a secret agent of my hated enemies comes to my place of business, harrass my guards, and brandishes a gemstone of unfathomable power."

"You said all that in one breath. You really are a talker."

"Do not bore me with petty insults. And you are mistaken if you believe you can woo me yet with another Chaos Emerald."

"The emerald isn't for you, Mogul. Nor is it for sale. It is to restore Ixis Naugus to his former glory."

Mogul pats Ixis Naugus' head.

"Before the last of my old order so he might challenge me? Lose my delightfully gruesome pet? I think not."

"Even with an emerald, Naugus wouldn't be a threat to you. You've already proved you're in a league of your own. And while you'd lose a pet, New Mobotropolis would get a major unheaval. The unhappy people would need a resort like yours to escape their troubles, bringing you business and I guarantee completing my mission will make Sonic and Y/N miserable."

"And there you have sold me, my good man. Naugus is all yours."

She noticed Geoffrey was about to give the emerald to Ixis Naugus and immediately saved the recording.

"That's all I needed to hear."

Y/N quickly brought out her whip and snatched the Chaos Emerald out of Geoffrey's grasp, shocking him, Ixis Naugus, and Mogul. She revealed herself as she stood out of the shadow with a hardest glare that will literally bury them deep to the ground.

"You traitor!!! We trusted you, Geoffrey! And this is how you repay us?!"

"Y-Y/N?! H-How?!"

Ixis Naugus hissed at her while Mogul had his eyes widen.

"None of your business! You do realize that bringing Ixis Naugus will bring nothing but more trouble as it already has happened!! You're trying to start a war here!!! A WAR!!!"

Y/N punched the wall, bringing out a big crack. Her body suddenly began to glow.

"H-Her power!" Mogul gasped.

"First Mina and now you?!! YOU'RE JUST AFRAID!!! YOU COWARD!! YOU SON OF A--"

Her body then blasted out power as her body turned yellowish red like fire as she fired off the building and shattering the glass windows.

Geoffrey, Mogul, and Naugus hide for cover. Everything was started to get hot until it died down as Y/N took a deep breath with smoke coming out of her skin. Once she's recovered, she looked around at the damage she has done and checked her recorder to see it all good and okay if it wasn't for her bubble she made earlier in case it breaks. She then turn to see the three looking scared, shocked, and speechless as they got out of their cover. She immediately remembered what she was here for and stomped over to Geoffrey who tried to get away from her, but she speedily caught him and had his arms behind his back.

"Ow!!"

"You're coming with me! We will see how the Castle of Acorn will hear about this! As for you..."

Y/N turned to Mogul who immediately waved his hands in defense.

"Take him! Take him! The deal is off! You win!"

Ixis Naugus added with a loud whimper like a sad puppy and hid behind Mogul. She was confused at first, but then proceed to walk away. She tied up Geoffrey behind her back while hiding the Chaos Emerald in another bubble before placing it in her pocket right next to the recorder. Y/N hopped onto Geoffrey's motorcycle and drove off, heading straight to New Mobotropolis.

"Nicole! You there?"

Nicole's face was popped out in front of her.

"Yes, Y/N? What is it do you need?"

"I need you to call the Council of Acorn for a meeting. It's important and bring King Maxmillian and Queen Alicia too. They need to know too. I don't care if he doesn't want to come out. Tell him that's an order from me or else I'll make him, and tell him to suck out of his stupid pride. Is Sonic here?"

"Yes, he just got out of the Special Zone."

"Good bring him to the council as well as Sally. Tell them it's about Geoffrey. And it's bad." Y/N said, glancing at Geoffrey who flinched.

Nicole noticed it and nodded.

"Got it. I'll see you there."

"On my way."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N couldn't be more happy, relieved, and satisfied than ever. After the meeting started and informing them about Geoffrey's betrayal with the help of the recorder she saved, everyone were completely shock and angry for what Geoffrey was trying to do. Even Sally was more mad than ever. Sonic even added about being shot in the back by Geoffrey and taking the Chaos Emerald from him and leaving him alone to rot in the Special Zone.

Geoffrey tried to tell them that they needed a true king to protect the people, blah blah blah, lies and lies, and nonsense. When she mentioned about what would Hershey say about this, he snapped and told her that she has been dead for a while. When Sally thought Geoffrey murdered her, he revealed that she was sent on a mission in Soumerca. When she didn't contact him, he went to investigate, but didn't find anything, leading him to believe that she had been killed in action. This made Y/N feel a little bad about losing someone he love, but that doesn't bring a fact that he betrayed his own people and the Freedom Fighters. If Hershey were here, she would be very disappointed in him and wouldn't want him to do something like this as Y/N brought that out too. They then agreed that Geoffrey to be arrested in jail for like 10 years for treason against the Kingdom of Acorn and betraying them and trying to bring back Ixis Naugus to power.

They thanked her for this save or else they would be in grave danger. Hamlin was actually impressed with her skills and would want her to become part of the council, but she declined the offer kindly. Sonic and Sally were proud of her as they thanked her again. They even made sure they tell their friends about this. As for the Chaos Emerald, it's safe as Nicole made a security to make sure it was guarded. Now, she was off to go talk to Mina when she suddenly heard loud music. A very loud one. Y/N headed to Mina's mother's house and went through the window and downstairs as she kept listening to the music that had gotten even louder than ever and it's hurting her ears.

Y/N looked down to see Mina and her bands as Mina sings something that gotten Y/N shook to the core. Not fear, but anger, betrayal, and disappointment. Once they were finished, Ash holding the script that must have been the lyrics of this so-called 'song' and wrote on a board 'Concert in 3 weeks'. She couldn't believe they're going to sing this in front of everyone! She's got to put a stop to this. Y/N quickly zoomed out of the house and pretend that she was just walking past by as she sees the band walking out to head home. She then saw Ash and Mina and did her play.

"Heyyy, Ash! Mina! What are you guys doing here?"

"Oh, hi, Y/N! What are you doing here?" Mina greeted back with a nervous smile.

"I was just walking past by. What's that in your hand, Ash?"

"Oh, it's the lyrics Mina is going to sing."

"Really? Oh, that's awesome!" Y/N said through her fake smile. "May I see it?"

"Sure. You're great with songs and lyrics." Mina nodded as Ash handed the lyrics to Y/N.

Y/N read it and tried not to blow up in front of them before looking back at them.

"Nice. Mind if I keep this? I want to be sure this is well taken care of. I will give it back to you tomorrow."

Ash and Mina looked at each other with hesitation for a bit and nodded.

"Great! See ya!!"

Y/N then zoomed off on her way to her treehouse and slammed the door shut, causing Kirby to be shot up awake.

"Pooteetah!!"

"Sorry, Kirby. I'm just a bit angry right now."

"Pooteetah?" Kirby asked, jumping off the bed and sliding down the ladder.

"Here. Read this."

Kirby took the paper and read it. Boy, was he mad and looked up at her.

"Pooteetah?"

"It's about Nicole. Mina doesn't seem to trust her and is trying to bring a message to everyone about her fear! She thinks that if Nicole lost control again, the entire room would eat them. Eat them?!"

Kirby growled and looked at Y/N again for permission and she nodded without hesitation. He then began to rip up the papers into shreds and pieces while growling, biting and shaking it like a dog. Y/N brought out her feather pen and an ink and a paper to make it look like it's Ash's script and began to write something that will surely change their mind about Nicole.

"You want music, Mina? I'll give you a real music that brings good message about Nicole!!"

"Pooteetah!!" Kirby nodded in agreement.

"Kirby, call out the best singers and Ken. We're going to need his and their help."