Disclaimer:
Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Amy Rose, the Freedom Fighters, Knuckles, the Chaotix, Ray the Flying Squirrel, Dr. Robotnik, Metal-Sonic, Robo-Knux, Tails Doll, Chaos, Shadow, Silver Sonic etc, are (c) to Sega. Eliza, Cell, etc are (c) to me, and they may not be used without permission. Fennec is (c) to David Benjes.

Note: Eliza is pronounced é-lee-za, mispronounce, and I'll make you listen to my mom's singing.

Second Nature

By: Dr. Sipp

In Knothole, the Freedom Fighters were hard at work, repairing the damages and rebuilding the structures destroyed by the bombing. (A/N: Desert Rose) It had been a week already, and half wasn't even done. Mighty the Armadillo had come down from the Floating Island for a few days to help, but Knuckles called him back, and Mighty had to comply.


"When is it gonna end?" Miles 'Tails' Prower grunted, as he hauled a wooden beam up to Rotor. Amy was also struggling. She gritted her teeth, and lifted a thick floor board up to Bunnie's level, who took it from her. The pink hedgehog then wiped the perspiration from her brow, letting out a tired sigh afterwards. Amy was wondering when they were going to 'catch a break' from repairing the village. She and the others had been at this for hours, non-stop. It seemed as though they'd never stop working. But she then heard the two sweetest words in the world, and Amy wanted to go head over heels in love...


"Break time!" Sally called, bringing out the villagers' lunch in a crate. It was filled to the brim with hamburgers, chilly dogs, and other fast foods, that were wrapped up in their own casing. The villagers all ran to the table where Sally was, serving out the food. For people who were tired, they sure did came in a hurry. The princess was frantic serving each individual with whatever they requested.

"One at a time!" she cried. "There's enough for everybody!"

Already, Sonic and Tails already had their meals and were eating away. Sonic was nearly finished with his, as Tails was just getting halfway through his second chili dog. The hedgehog looked at his sidekick, and the others that joined them at the table.

"Man," he thought, "These guys must be worked out! I know I complain about being burned, but the others are really sweating!" He placed his chin over one hand as he took another chili dog and inhaled it.

"If only we could get an extra vibe that would keep us from getting tired..." The word 'vibe' had gave Sonic a brilliant idea: to become Super Sonic by borrowing the Chaos Emeralds from Knuckles.

"Knuckles just has to let me borrow the C-Es. I'm sure he'll understand our current dilemma once I explain it to him!" With his trademark smirk, he looked over to Tails, who was still eating.

"Hey bro!" Sonic said, and nudged his sidekick as he stuffed some more food into his mouth.

"Yeah?" Tails took a large bite out of his hamburger and chomped on a few fries.

"Y'know," the hedgehog stated. "If I was Super, this'd be a cakewalk." Sonic remarked, between bites. Tails gave him a quizzical look, knowing the conclusion that Sonic was coming to. He also know that the person involved was not too fond of sharing something so powerful... Or sharing anything, for that matter.

"You really think Knux'd let you have the C-Es?" the kitsune asked his friend, taking a sip of cola. Sonic just chuckled, and ruffled the bangs on his 'little brother's' head, then got up from his seat, armed with what looked to be half a hamburger. He glanced at his friend with a sly expression, who was thinking that he was coming to conclusions too fast.

"Only one way to find out!"

He headed for Rotor's workshop.

He turned the communicator on. A familiar echidna came into view, fiddling around with some papers.

"Hey Red!" Knuckles looked up. His face broke into a grin.

"Heya Sonic. How's it going?"

"Um.. not so good. We've been at it for a week already.. Man, if it wasn't for Mighty, we'd barely have anything done."

"Sorry to hear that, but I claim the 'dillo. You had your chance. Besides, there have been reports of a robot lurking around, and we think it may be our old pal, Metal. It's safer to keep him here."

"Yeah, yeah. Listen, I'm wondering if you could do me a favor." Sonic replied, getting impatient.

"What kind of favor?"

"Well, Knux, I was wondering if I could borrow the Chaos Emeralds, to get it done faster. The others are working like crazy, and I'm afraid some of 'em are gonna collapse from the effort. When Super, I'd be able to get it done."

Knuckles frowned.

"I'm sorry, Sonic. I can't let you."

"C'mon, Knuckles, man. I'll take good care of them." Knuckles shook his head.

"Look, Blue, I feel your pain. But I can't risk them to be out in the open, not after the last time...." (Author's note: A fic that will never happen, Metal-Sonic got hold of the Chaos Emeralds and turned Super... and I'm sure you know the rest..)

"Knuckles!" Sonic pleaded.

"No." Knuckles answered curtly, shutting the communicator off.

Sonic huffed angrily. Why wouldn't Knuckles let him have the Emeralds? He felt anger boil up inside him. He was going to get those emeralds, and no echidna would stop him! Determined, he made his way over to the Floating Island, via teleporter. He knew where the Emeralds were. In the Hidden Palace, and directly inside the Chaos Chamber. He gathered them together and headed for the surface, only to bump into Knuckles, who had just changed shifts.

"Sonic, what're y-" He stopped in mid-sentence, seeing the familiar glow of a Chaos Emerald. His eyes turned hard.

"Sonic, I told you. You can't have them!" he said icily, reaching for them. Sonic withdrew his hand.

"I worked as hard as you to get them back. I have the right to use them whenever I want to."

"Give me those Emeralds," Knuckles repeated, his voice dangerously low.

"I'm only going to-" Before he could finish, Knuckles had lunged for the emeralds, knocking them both over.

They both grappled for a while. Finally, Knuckles lost patience and socked him in the face. Furious, Sonic kicked him hard in the stomach. They both lost hold of the Emeralds, and they began to float.

"No...!" Knuckles choked. Sonic was visibly confused.

"What's going on?" They split up and shot off in different directions. Knuckles stood up, and violently hammered his fist into the hedgehog's mid-side, sending him flying.

"Look what you did!" He screeched.

"I'm... sorry." Sonic coughed, standing up.

"Sorry don't cut the mustard!" Knuckles snarled, grabbing Sonic by the shoulders and slamming him into a wall.

Sonic struggled, but Knuckles had a firm grip.

"I'll take the Freedom Fighters to find them, and bring them back." Sonic put in.

"No way! I'm not trusting you with the Emeralds, ya stinkin' little rodent! I'm taking my Chaotix to get them back."

"We'll both go. Winner takes all?"

"Fine," Knuckles spat, and dropped him, none too-gently, on the ground.

"But, if any of 'em are ticked at you, they've got the right to do what they please with you." They both walked off.

Later on...

"I'm sorry, Mighty," Sonic sighed deeply.

"Oh, that's okay, buddy. I don't mind."

Sonic blinked.

"You.. don't?"

"Nah. Besides, I'm sure all of 'em, Knuckles included, want to go an adventure. Plus, this one's not dangerous."

"I can't believe I did that. How could I have been such an idiot..? I bet Knux'll hate me now," Sonic mumbled.

Mighty patted him lightly on the shoulder.

"He'll forgive you, believe me. Just give him some time to cool down. He blew the whole thing out of proportion. Just an excuse to get off this boring island." Mighty's tone was steady and confident, and Sonic couldn't help the small grin that crept up his face.

"I hope so." It vanished.

"It will."

"The other Chaotix members are gonna want my head for this. At least Eliza will."

Mighty shook his head.

"She buried up all roots of that (Author's note: Duty Calls) long ago. Besides, she knows how stubborn and hard-headed her brother is. Anyway, even if she was mad at you, she wouldn't do anything out of respect for me."

"Respect... Eliza...? I don't think those words go together!"

"You'd be surprised." Mighty shot back.

"Oh?"

"I'm positive she respects all the Chaotix, and the Freedom Fighters."

"She.. respects.. me...?"

"Yee-up. Always, even when you were enemies. She told me. Just the thought of you going to save her after what she'd done to you, was incredible, and you won her uttermost respect by even attempting it."

Sonic stayed silent, staring in disbelief.

"You're kidding, right?"

"Nope."

Knuckles came over.

"Mighty.. we're going. And the lizards have decided that they're gonna stay to protect the Master Emerald."

"Uh... You're going to leave Espio and Vector alone together..? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Hey, I can handle the handbag," Espio remarked, walking into view, de-cloaking as he did so.

"Pffft." Mighty rolled his eyes, "I've seen."

"Want me to prove it?" Espio demanded, challengingly.

"That would be nice..."

"Fine."

"Alright Esp, I bet you a night shift you'll fight with him."

"Deal." They shook hands.

Espio marched off.

"He won't make it," Mighty mused.

Knuckles tapped Mighty on the shoulder.

"C'mon man, let's go."

"Kay. See ya, Blue." Knuckles turned to Sonic, and narrowed his eyes.

"You'd better get going," he said, snidely. Then, he left. Sonic sprinted over to the Freedom Fighters.

"We ready?" Sally questioned, looking the troupes after. All gave a nod.

"Alright, let's GO!"

The two parties set off, both eager and full of spirit.


Elsewhere…

"Enter." Shadow the Hedgehog opened the large doors, admitting a cluster of robotic beings into Robotnik's main chamber.

"Metal Sonic, sir," one reported.

"Robo Knux."

"Silver Sonic."

"Cell."

Tails Doll.

"Good." Robotnik declared, turning around to face them.

"It's time. Now that the Chaos Emeralds are loose, you may proceed to retrieve them, for Project Epsilon. If any of the Resistance get in your way, do not hesitate to kill them. "

"Mecha Bot four."

"Yes, my lord?" Robo-Knux answered, evenly. Robotnik started hard at him, for a short time.

"Make sure the Master Emerald is shattered. Shadow will see to it that the beast within, Chaos, is seen by me."

The doctor continued to analyse the impassive robot, as if trying to determine his loyalty. But he waved it away, knowing that RK had been re-programmed, and supplied with a loyalty chip, in case the former solution didn't work.

"Dismissed."

They exited.



Meanwhile, Tails poked at the fire, sighing. It was a pleasant evening, yet, he wished that Eliza and Ray were there with him. He wasn't too fond of the Sonic-Knuckles conflict, but knew it would resolve. Even Amy had gone off somewhere.

****

"You think he'll get over it?"

"Yeah, I think so. That's what Mighty said."

"Maybe we should talk to him."

"Well..."

"I'll go."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." The conversation between squirrel and echidna stopped there. Eliza stood up, and walked slowly towards Knuckles.

"Hey 'bro." She tugged on his glove.

Knuckles blinked, surprised, and looked down at her.

"How'd you get here?"

"I walked," Eliza replied, with a sly grin.

Knuckles shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"Anywho, Knux, I was thinking."

"Careful, you might hurt your brain."

Eliza sighed impatiently, and went on.

"Maybe... you should lighten up a bit. I know you're mad at Sonic, and that he was being an idiot, but it's him, what do you expect? And the CE's weren't that big a deal you know... Sonic can take care of them... I seriously think you need to calm down a bit." Knuckles stiffened.

"What's it to you?" he demanded, an edge in his voice.

"A lot."

"Listen here kiddo, I don't need some little smart-alec pipsqueak telling me what to do with MY Emeralds, and how to run MY Island. In other words, back off, runt." Eliza narrowed her eyes.

"Well," she countered, crisply, "If you don't stop acting like such a stuck-up jerk, you're going to lose YOUR friends." She sauntered off.

"That was uncalled for, Knux." Mighty frowned at his firned

"She was bugging me."

"...She was absolutely right! In fact, I was about to say the same thing!" Knuckles lowered his shoulders in self-consciousness.

"Oh."

"Well, now you have two people to make it up to." He walked away, and soon spotted Eliza.

"Hey you."

"Hi." She was sitting, arms crossed, and still miffed about her encounter with Knuckles.

Mighty sat next to her, and patted her head.

"You're a good kid." Eliza peered up at him.

"Where'd that come from?"

Mighty pulled her a bit closer with one arm, and gave her a small hug.

"I heard what went on between you and Knux."

"Yeah...."

She expected him to say "He's sorry," or something similar. But what he did say, caught her completely off-guard.

"Want me to go and punch him out?" Eliza blinked, completely surprised, but soon regained her composure.

"Yeah." She felt a grin spread across her face. "Really?" She chuckled softly.

Mighty gave her a hurt look.

"Eliza... You know I take my violence very serious," he said stiffly.

Eliza broke out into laughter.

"SILENCE!" a familiar voice roared, "I will not tolerate happiness on my island!!" It was Knuckles, and he was mock-glaring at her, abnormally large hands on hips.

"Euh... Knux… We're not on the island anymore." Knuckles paid no heed to the little echidna. Instead, he tilted his head towards Mighty.

"Might, ya mind if I steal the squirt for a while?"

"Fine, as long as you bring her back in the same minty condition."

Eliza rolled her eyes, and Knuckles easily picked her up with one hand, tucked her under his arm, and started walking. She knew he was only doing this to annoy her.

"Will do." Eliza gave an exasperated sigh, turned her eyes towards the skies, and folded her arms.

"Resistance is futile."

"Whatever." Knuckles poked her in the stomach, and Eliza instinctively snapped at his finger, but Knuckles pulled his hand back. After a short period of time, Knuckles set her down, and sat beside her.

"Eliza.. I'm sorry I was such a ja- jerk. I was just in a really bad mood, ...and you came at the wrong time. You know how I am."

Eliza hadn't expected this. After a minute of silence, her face lit up.

"I forgive you, big 'bro."

Knuckles held out his arms innocently.

"Hug?" he offered. Eliza took a step back, ready to bolt. But Knuckles was too fast for her. He gripped her in an enormous bear hug, and lifted her into the air.

"Put me down!" She squealed.

"Awww," Knuckles's face shone with every bit of mischief of an older brother, "Doncha want some family bonding time?"

"Gag me with a fork." Eliza tried to break free from his iron grip, but failed. Knuckles only pressed harder.

********

"But I wanna do a watch!" Amy protested.

"No," was the firm reply, "You're too young, and you need your sleep."

Amy seethed and slid back into her sleeping bag. It wasn't fair. They had let Tails do a watch. She hated being left out. With spontaneous determination, she stood up.

"I'll prove them I'm capable." She thought, and slinked out into the night.

"I'll find a Chaos Emerald by myself."

Our young heroine trotted off, but stopped abruptly and recoiled. Something sinister was before her. A silent gasp of horror escaped the hedgehog, and she ducked behind the bushes.


Metal Sonic.


He was standing there, in a slight crouch, and talking into his communicator.

"Yes doctor, the first Emerald should be somewhere nearby."

A pause.

"Affirmative. Will attack and neutralize the Freedom Fighters."

Amy held her breath, and slid back a little. Her heart was in her throat, and pounding like mad, as if trying to break free. She remembered what Mecha had done to her the first time they had met. (Sonic CD)

"And Cell will see to the Chaotix."

He tilted his head in Amy's direction.

"Sensors detect another presence.. scanning."

Amy ran. She ran faster than she had ever run before. She could here the consistent hum of Metal's engines behind her. She urged her legs on, concentrating on her goal. The camp was in sight.

"Everybody wake up!" She screeched, "ATTACK! Metal Sonic's here!

Freedom Fighters rose sluggishly from their sleeping bags, yawning, and rubbing their eyes. Sonic took action immediately. He spindashed into Metal. Metal Sonic, however, saw the attack coming, and activated his shield, rebounding the ball of spines into a tree.

"Pretty lights..." Sonic murmured, just before falling unconscious.

"RUN!" Sally screamed. They did just that. Bunnie picked up Sonic into her roboticized arm, and shot off.

Meanwhile...

A loud explosion woke the Chaotix up.

"Wha...?" Ray hummed, getting to his feet.

A sinister looking robot formed in front of them. He aimed his rifle at Knuckles.

"You are all to be detained.. Do not make a move, or I shall terminate you-" That was as far as he could go.

With amazing speed, Mighty sprang up, and snatched his rifle away. He then briefly snapped it in half, and tossed the two halves over his shoulder.

"Just who are you?"

"I am Cell. And you are dead, mammal."

Cell then bowled Mighty over, and a few brightly coloured beams emitted from him, hitting Mighty on the chest.

"Guys! Get out of here!" he called to the others,

"I'll hold him off."

"But..."

"GO!"

Knuckles took Ray and Eliza, and sped off. But Eliza, being the crafty little echidna she was, managed to weasel her way out of Knux's grasp, and scampered back to the battle scene.


Mighty noticed her presence, gave her a pained warning glance, and mouthed the words,

"Get out!" He pointed to the direction the others had left.

Eliza, stubborn, paid no heed to his warning, but leapt onto Cell's back. Cell twisted around, and backhanded her. Eliza went flying.


Wrong move. Mighty curled his fist, and slammed it into the Robot's chest, not only creating a fairly large dent, but the force on the blow sent Cell back about ten metes. Cell, furious, uncovered his blaster, and aimed. Mighty was one step ahead of him. He grabbed Eliza, and sped away, Cell towing behind him. Cell and Metal-Sonic herded the both parties of the Resistance towards each others, and they collided. All of them, then, headed out in different directions, and most of them ended up in small, mixed clumps.

In the Hidden Palace...

"Na, na naa... Naa.." Vector snapped his fingers, and hummed with the rhythm of the music.

Espio sat and watched, unsure whether to laugh at his friend, or punch him. Neither of them noticed the unseen enemy that crept towards them, hidden by the shadows.

"Be right back." Espio walked off.

Vector continued to dance in his own funky way. After a bit more, he sat down for a breather.


The predator watched hungrily, slowly advancing. Vector bobbed his head back and forth. Then, sensing something, he turned his music down.

"Espio? That you?"

No answer.

"Espio, c'mon."

A small noise.

"Hey, spy, where are you, man?"

Vector turned, but found nothing.

"Esp, c'mon man, you're freaking me out."

A pair of brilliant green eyes locked onto his.


That was the last thing he saw.


With one hard punch, Vector was out like a light. The predator latched onto it's prey, making it's mark on the crocodile.

"Vec?"

It jumped back into the shadows, watching the new specimen with intent.


It was Espio.

"Vector?"

He walked on, almost tripping over the sprawled carcass of his friend.
He gasped.

"V-vec!"

It lunged, but Espio had moved.


He stared at the attacker.

"Who.. are you?!"

"I," announced the stalker, "Am the one known as Mecha Bot four, or Robo Knux."

"You! I should have known.."

RK smiled, sizing the chameleon up.

"What do you want?" Espio demanded with a snarl.

"Figure it out," he rebounded.

Robo Knux sprang his attack without notice. He unsheathed his knuc-claws and slashed Espio, who staggered back, holding his arm in pain, and RK advanced. The chameleon camouflaged. RoboKnux turned his heat sensors on. Nothing.

"He's a reptile, cold-blooded," the robot chided himself silently, while turning his other tracking devices on.

Too late. Espio smashed into the robot, sending him into the wall. Robo Knuckles whirled around, and ploughed into the chameleon. Espio whipped out his tongue at the robot, who responded with a hard punch. Espio charged his enemy, but his opponent simply backhanded him into the wall. The chameleon cried out in pain, holding his bloody face with tender care. He leaned against the wall, in a sitting position. RK took a few steps forward, shadowing the chameleon. The reptile looked up at him with contempt. Their eyes locked. RK's digital green ones rippled and wavered. Espio blinked, amazed, and he concentrated on them, forgetting everything else.

How did they do that?

BAM! One final blow, and Espio slumped to the cold floor, unconscious. RK battered him up a bit more, then left, pleased with himself.

****

Once the confusion had cleared, small groups found themselves separated from the rest, with next to no idea where they were. Tails, and Amy, Mighty, Knuckles, Rotor, and Eliza, and Sally, Antoine and Bunnie.


Knuckles was still going over the events of the day. Something occurred to him. He gaped in horror.

"If Cell came after us, and MS came after the FFs... then what about.. the Master Emerald?!"

"Guys," he said suddenly, making Rotor, Mighty and Eliza look up.

"I think we should check on Espio, Vector, and the M.E."

"Alright," lead by Knuckles, they headed towards the Floating Island.

Not too far away, Sonic had just barely witnessed the spectacle, and decided to follow the small troupe.

*****

Antoine rubbed his ankle gingerly with a leaf.

"Are you okay, sugah?" Bunnie smeared some cream on it.

"When you are okay, ma chèrie, I am wonderful," he replied, with his funny accent, and a loving smile.

"Why would Mecha attack us?" Sally questioned loudly, silencing the other two.

"Zat is obvious, my princess, Metal Sonic is wishing to kill us."

"He speaks truth, honey," Bunnie added.

"And Cell?"

"Ah've nevah heard of a robot called Cell.."

"At the same time.."

"Didn't Mademoiselle Rose tell us zat zey wanted the Chaos Emeralds?"

"But why?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" came a voice. they spun around, only to find...

"CELL!"

"Honestly, Princess, I thought you would have figured it out by now.."

"What d'you want?"

"Want? Computer does not comply. Desire is not programmed. My orders are to kill you three."

"Ah don't think so, sugah!" Bunnie flexed her robotic limbs.

"Sugah? Word not identified. Closest word, is sugar, a sweet substance. You are not powerful enough to beat me, mammal!"

"We'll see about that, bolt-brain!"

"If they're after the Chaos Emeralds..." Sally contemplated, " then what about the-"

****

"-Master Emerald seems to be fine..." Knuckles inspected it.

"Espio?" His voice bounced off the walls.

"Knux!" Mighty shouted out.

"What is it? Did you find someone?"

"Knux." Mighty came into view, holding a battered Espio. The chameleon was covered with slashes and bruises. Knuckles's eyes went wide, he paled considerably, and the backpack he was holding dropped from his hands, and clattered to the ground.


There was only one being who left being that trademark.

Robo Knux.

Sirens blazed. Paramedics surrounded the two victims, and placed them into beds, quickly ushering them into an Echidnaopolis ambulance.

"Mighty, you stay here and guard the Master Emerald with Eliza." Knuckles wasn't about to take any chances. 

Eliza and the ME were quite safe with Mighty. And just in case....

"Rotor, you inspect the damages. I want to know how, and why RK attacked Espio and Vector, yet let the Master Emerald be."

"Right." The Guardian entered the ambulance, suddenly getting a nasty feeling in his stomach, as he looked at the trio, descending to their tasks. He waved it off, and the ambulance skidded away, leaving a bit of muffler smoke, and the echoes of sirens. The remaining three reached the Chaos Chamber. Rotor placed Vector's headphones on, and kneeled to where Espio's blood, and some of RK's paint, were smudged into the floor. He squinted at the few tiny gears, and got to work.

"Stay close." Mighty warned Eliza.

"I just want to get in the back a bit."

"'Kay."

She wandered off to the rest of the Hidden Palace.
Mighty twitched his ears, and sat down against the Emerald, not moving or making a sound. He sat there, for what seemed like hours, with incredible patience. His reward, a noise. He strained his ears, to find the source. Another one. A normal Mobian wouldn't have heard, but the armadillo's ears, were extremely keen.
His fist shot out, and hit something. Bingo!
RK wasn't prepared for this. He flew backwards, into a wall, but sprang right to his feet.

"You're good," he commented, slanting his eyes at the now-standing Chaotix.

"You've got some nerve to show your ugly mug after the damage you've done," he replied coldly. RK just smiled and took a few steps forward.
Mighty raised his clenched fists.

"Now tell me, why you attacked Espio and Vector, yet left the Master Emerald."

RK responded with a lopsided grin,

"I'm back for seconds."

With one arm, he pulled out a Chaos Emerald, and with the other one, got hold of Mighty. Both began to glow a violent crimson, and the light exploded, engulfing the two. Once it had subsided, Mighty collapsed to the ground, the red emerald embedded in his shell.

"Fusion does work, after all," the twisted robot laughed softly to himself.

"What was that?" Eliza blinked, at the sudden light. She sprinted back to the Master Emerald, but stopped 
dead in her tracks. Rotor was still doubled over on his workplace, head bobbing slightly to Vector's tunes, oblivious to the world around him. RK was standing over him, watching the walrus intently. Eliza let out a gasp of horror. She took a deep breath, and with all the courage she could muster, shouted out:

"ROTOR! BEHIND YOU!"

He didn't hear her. But Robo Knux did.

"Well, well," his digital eyes glinted maliciously.

Eliza flattened herself against the wall, swallowing a hoarse whimper. RK leered unpleasantly and headed towards her.

"Long time no see, my little friend."

"What do you want?!" she demanded calmly, although calm was far from what she was feeling.
He held up a motionless Mighty.

"Observe." With one fluid motion, he slashed Mighty, leaving a deep gash. Eliza felt panic well up, but stayed, rooted to the wall. Next, RK punched the helpless armadillo repeatedly.
Eliza muffled a strangled sob, and took a step back.

"Stop!"

RK grinned felinely, and rapping his knuc-claws against Mighty's head.

"Why?"

A slash.

"Stop!"

Slash.

"STOP!!"

A predatory look fixed in his eyes, he dropped Mighty, and moved forward.
Eliza moved back, suddenly feeling very small and vulnerable.
The miniscule amount of light played on Robo Knux's spikes, making them gleam.

"Come here, my little mouse," he purred, malice seeping from his tone.

Eliza whimpered again, frozen.
Without warning, RK leapt forward, and produced a small gash on her side. It hadn't been deep, but enough. Eliza took off. She ran as though the devil himself were chasing her. Leaving Mighty to the mercy of the horrible creature, Robo Knuckles, the terrified echidna rocketed away. Just as she exited the Hidden Palace, out of the corner of her eye, she was RK, delivering the finish blow onto Rotor. She couldn't think. Her mind wouldn't work. All that was happening her the quick strides of her legs, moving like a robot's, whisking her away. She couldn't stop. She didn't want to. The world froze.

*****

Sonic trudged through the surrounding foliage. He had lost all the others, and was lonely.
Somehow, Knuckles, Mighty, Rotor and Eliza had evaded him, and he didn't know his way around. His ears perked up. He heard a noise form nearby, muffled sobbing. Curious and sympathetic, the hedgehog zipped over to the source of the noise.

"Stupid Eliza.. You deserve this. It was all your fault, you worthless coward. They're dead because of you." The echidna was talking to herself. She was trapped between tree trunks, bleeding, covered in bruises and caked with muck.

"Eliza," he approached her. She looked up, tears in her eyes, then back down. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm stuck." She sniffled a bit.

Sonic was taken aback. He had never seen Eliza cry, ever.

"I'll give you a hand. Why are you crying?" Eliza didn't answer, and he sawed through the wood, then heaved it off.

"C'mon," he picked her up, "Let's get you cleaned up."

Because they were in the wilderness, there were no hospitals, or buildings around. So, Sonic brought her to a small stream, and fixed her up. Afterwards, Sonic decided to try again. Eliza was still crying, but silently.

"Why are you crying?" He looked her straight in the eye.

"I.." she avoided his glance.

"Yes?" He gently lifted her chin upwards.

"I killed Mighty..."

"What?!"

She told him about Robo Knux, and the Hidden Palace.
Sonic stood, dumbfounded.

"He's alive?"

"Yeah, unlike Mighty and Rotor."

Sonic took a deep breath, and kneeled down so that they were eye to eye.
He put his hands on her shoulders, and said in a soothing voice,

"It's not your fault, Eliza."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not. Listen to me, you did absolutely nothing wrong. There's nothing you could have done against him. 
He was beating Mighty up to hurt you, and to scare you. When you ran, there's a chance you saved him. Besides, you know that Mighty would've told you to go, anyway. Everyone was fears, and nobody expects to you to fight RK, especially after he messed with you so much.""

"I guess..." Eliza sniffled.

"Now, go and wash up. I'll be right back," and he was gone. Eliza did as she was bid. She kneeled by the nearby stream, splashing her face with water. She froze. Something cast a shadow over her. A knot formed in her stomach. Knowing, and dreading, exactly who was looming over her, the anxious echidna lowered her eyes to the water. A familiar burly red robot greeted her.

"Hello, Mizu." Eliza dived into the stream.

RK bent down, and thrust his arm under water, in an attempt to catch her. Eliza slipped through his grasp, and surfaced at the other end. Taking a mighty leap, RK landed swiftly in front of her, cutting her off. Eliza backed up a bit. She felt the stream.

"I could swim," she reflected.

"Running away, Eliza?" the robot cooed. (A/N: He's a pigeon. A fat one)

"What would Mighty think of you now?"

She tensed.

"What have you done with him, you creep?" She felt a small queasiness in her stomach.

"I killed him," Robo Knux replied with a hungry glint in his digital eyes.

"It was fun," he added, a crooked smirk on his face.

"You're sick!"

"Why, thank you!" He gave a small bow.

"What do you want?" she snapped, trying to sound brave, but it came out as a squeak.

He pointed a metallic finger at her.

"I should..." she thought, and lowered her head, "I let him kill Mighty."

She raised it.

"Only if you promise never to harm another Mobian in any way, ever again."

His hand clamped around her neck.

"Done."

He easily lifted her with one hand, then leaned forward so that they were nose to nose.

"By the way..." He pulled out his other hand from behind his back. His fingers had been crossed.

"I was lying. I didn't kill Mighty..." Eliza's eyes went wide with shock,

"But I will, don't you worry..."  he tightened his grasp, cutting off the helpless echidna's air supply. She 
spluttered, flailing her legs around, but soon was cut short.

"Put her down." A calm voice ordered.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that, Dave."

"Put her down, RK. NOW."

Robo Knuckles ignored the hedgehog.

Sonic's fists were clenched, and he was vibrating. A slight aura hung around the angry hedgehog.
Sonic shot forward, colliding with RK. His spines slashed the robot's hull, and a shock went through him. RK was sent flying back, jolts shooting off from his body. He landed in the lake, and quickly sunk to the bottom. This caused another shock, but much stronger. Desperately, he shot out of the lake and unto solid ground, a near murderous gaze on his face.

"Next time, Sonic, next time..." he uttered.

Sonic kneeled, and gently took the little echidna into his arms.

"You okay?" he asked her, softly.

"Yeah..." she responded weakly, grasping the ground for support.

"That piece of scrap didn't hurt you, did he?"

"Only.. a bit.." she coughed a bit, and with help from Sonic, sat up straight.

"I'm fine." She stood up. Sonic too, and he laced his hands on her shoulders to steady her.

"Sonic... Mighty's still alive!" she exclaimed, as realization hit her.

"Sweet! C'mon!" without a second warning, the impatient hedgehog picked up the echidna, and rocketed off in 
the direction of the Hidden Palace.
They stopped at the entrance of the Chaos Chamber. Eliza slid away from him.
He blinked.

"Hey, aren't ya coming?"

Eliza shook her head and moved away.

"Why not?"

"I.."

"This isn't about the earlier events, is it?" he interjected. Eliza gave him a slight nod. He let out an exasperated sigh.

"Get over it, girl! I'm sure he has!" Eliza said nothing, but exited. The hedgehog slapped his head, groaned, and entered.

Mighty picked himself up.

"Hey," he murmured, groggily, "What happened?"

Sonic helped him stabilize, and went through the events of the day.
When he had finished, Mighty asked,

"Where's Eliza?"

"Probably off kicking herself in the head."

"Poor kid."

Sonic nodded sympathetically.

"You'd better go talk to her... she's pretty upset."

Mighty needed no second bidding. He took off.
Sonic turned to the empty pedestal.
The Master Emerald, no doubt, had been smashed apart.

"..How'm I gonna break the news to Knux?" 

******

"Where are we?" Amy nudged her companion.

"I... have no idea," he confessed.

Amy stiffened.

"What's the matter, Ames?" Tails inquired.

"I... feel.."

In the darkness of the forest, they were being watched by two ominous eyes.

"Yes?"

"Something.."

"Lovely," the fox muttered.  

The two eyes continued to focus on them.

Not yet.

Elsewhere...

Knuckles tensed. Wasn't that Ray? He had seen a yellow blur.
He sniffed the air, despite the fact he wasn't very familiar with Ray's scent. Something! Breaking into a run, the Guardian  literally followed his nose.
He kept running, passing through bushes radically. He crashed head first into something, then sat up, rubbing his head.

"Knuckles, sugah!" Bunnie pounced on him, and hugged. 

Knuckles moaned.

"What did I hit?"

Cell stood up abruptly, making both fall down.
He screeched in fury, leaping at the echidna.

"HOW DARE YOU, MAMMAL?!"

Knuckles responded with a punch, and Cell skidded backwards into a tree.

"I never thought I'd say this," Sally smirked, "But, Knux, I'm glad you're hard headed."

"Oh, shut up," Knuckles grumbled.

"Think y'all could give us a spiked hand, sugah?"

"I'm not sugar. I'm... uh.. what does echidna taste like anyway?" He scratched his head, then slanted it, just in time to see Cell getting back up. Cell, in all his rage, lunged, but Knuckles simply stepped out of the way, thus allowing Cell to smash into another tree. The seething robot sprang to his feet, and rushed the echidna. Knuckles, completely prepared from their last encounter, coiled back his fist with all his strength, and launched it at Cell, sending him flying out of view.

"Nice," complimented Bunnie, with a few claps.

"Knux-"

He cut her off,

"No time to chat, I'm afraid. I'm hunting down a certain squirrel," and he took off.

Bunnie shrugged, nonplussed.

*******

Eliza sat down near the river, staring into space. Would Mighty be mad at her?
In any case, she wanted to avoid him. She didn't want to see his disappointment.

"Hey." Someone tapped her on the shoulder.

Eliza nearly jumped out of her skin. When she saw Mighty's face, her heart fell. She tried to edge away, but he was holding her arm.

"Um... I'm.. sorry.. I.."

Mighty seemed confused.

"For what?"

He was, for some reason, unharmed. (A/N: The reason to that is that he's fused with the red Chaos Emerald. It's not visible, but in his shell. He's now a living CE, therefore he easily healed, without even realizing it)

"For.. leaving you."

"Oh, that. It's no big deal.."

She wasn't convinced.

"Eliza... Nobody expects you to face RK, not after what he did to you. But I'm sure Sonic already told all this to you. I'm not mad. I'm not disappointed."

"You're... not?" she asked dubiously.

"Nah." he scooped her up.

"But...."

Mighty smiled, and began to scratch her behind her ear(holes?). Eliza struggled for a bit, but gave in. He rocked her a bit, then walked off.

"Where's the squirt?" 

"Right here." 

Sonic gasped in shock.

"She's fast asleep! How'd you do that?!" Mighty just grinned.

"Ah.. you prolly just knocked her out."

By night time, they hadn't found anything.
They set up camp, and the two eldest exchanged shifts, letting Eliza sleep.
She needed it.
Mighty retired, and Sonic took over, kindling the fire. He sniffed. There was a sweet smell in the air, one he had never experienced before.
The hedgehog felt his eyes beginning to droop. They seemed so heavy...
After another five minutes of struggling, and he submitted.
An unseen figure slipped silently through the camp, and  picked up the sleeping bundle known as Eliza. It took her into it's arms, and disappeared, the only trace of its visit was the missing echidna.

    Eliza opened her eyes, and tried to raise her arms to wipe the sleep out of her eyes, but she couldn't move them. They were bounded to their sides.

"Morning, sunshine." Eliza stiffened, abruptly fully awake. That voice, no it couldn't be...

Eliza tried to remove her arms from her side, but she was bound, in thin, but apparently strong, wires.

"Well hello to you, too."

"YOU! But.. it's...impossible."

RK leered unpleasantly.

"Nothing is impossible when you set your mind to it."

A low growl emitted from Eliza's throat, and she narrowed her eyes to slants.
RK was obviously in a jovial mood. He patted her on the head.
Eliza did the only thing she could do, she snapped at his fingers. This amused him.

"Now.. I have to figure out something." He studied the little echidna.

What was it that he felt for this child?
Love?
Hate?
Lust?
A combination of the three, he decided.
He leaned in, and put his arms around her. Eliza, obviously perturbed, squealed and struggled in any way she could. RK ignored her resistance, and pulled her a bit closer.
It wasn't a painful hug, but Eliza kicked out and fought like there was no tomorrow. Her efforts were in vain, however, and her energy was burning out quickly.
RK, with endless patience, waited until she was burnt out.
The feeling was plausible, but he wished Eliza would stop resisting.

"STOP!" she cried out, with the last of her energy. Once she went limp, RK pulled her even closer, so that she could feel his cold, metal chest against hers. He rubbed her back. Eliza, alarmed, started to fight again, but her struggle only lasted for 5 seconds.
RK pushed himself upwards, and also lifted Eliza, and embraced her, as if cradling her. 

"Stop.. please....." While RK was enjoying the sensation profoundly, Eliza was very disturbed. Robo Knuckles was WAY too unpredictable for her comfort, he had gone from trying to kill her, to hugging her. What was he going to do? She shivered, and pleaded him to stop.
RK ignored her, and held her up, for a few minutes, then set her down.

"That was.. interesting," He thought. He needed to be alone for a bit, to deal with this new and strange emotion.
He attached her to a large tree.

"I'll be back in a bit. Don't go anywhere, Mizu."

Eliza was still shaking, and she had no energy left to even try and escape.
For her, what RK had just done was far worse than any torture session.
A faint rustling made her freeze.
A familiar blue robot appeared, hovering over here.

"Mecha!"

He stayed silent.

"Mecha... please...." she begged desperately, "Take me away. Kill me, torture me, I don't care! Just don't leave another minute with that.. thing! I beg you."

Metal Sonic looked down at her with apprehension, a strange new feeling creeping into his data-banks.
Sympathy?
Metal, not quite aware of his actions, cut her free, and flew away with her.
She almost hugged him.

"Thank you!"

"Quiet," his voice was even.

Eliza obeyed, happy, even though she knew death awaited her. After some more flying, he dropped her on the ground.

"Go."

Eliza stared in bewilderment.

"You're.. letting.. me free?"

"Yes. Now get out my sight before I change my mind."

"But why?"

He chose not to answer that.

"Be warned, echidna. I will not be so lenient with you the next time we meet."

Eliza did hug him this time, then ran off.
Mecha watched her go, heavily questioning his decision.

"Why did I save her?"

He hated Eliza with a bitter passion.. So why did he save her?

Was it because it was the first time he saw Eliza actually terrified?

Was he going soft?

"No," he told himself, "I saved her, because I couldn't bear to see that idiot steal my prey..."

If this was true, then why did he let her free?
That, he had no answer to.

"TAILS! AMY!" Eliza cried out in joy, nearly tackling the fox.

"Eliza!" He hugged back. Eliza glomped the both of them, and they stared, open-mouthed, at her.

"Eliza, are you okay?"

"No."

"What happened to you?"

She went over her story, briefly.
Amy clenched her fists at the mention of RK.

"That creep!"

"Have you two seen Mighty, Knux or Sonic?"

"No, sorry."

"Who needs them? I'll protect you, Eliz. If that walking junkyard comes anywhere near you, I'll send him to the other end of Mobius!" he puffed his chest out. Eliza chuckled, and nodded gratefully.

"Thanks, T2."

Unpredictably, Eliza held up her hand, motioning for silence.

"What it is?" Amy whispered.

"I feel...something.."

"Chaos Emerald?" Tails suggested.

Eliza looked at him for a second, then nodded, laughing.

"That's it! You're a genius, Tails!"

"I know."

"Guys!" Amy pointed to a bulky silver robot, carrying something shiny into a ship of some sort. The three young ones ventured onto the airship, which looked  like a mixture of Flying Battery, and the Death Egg, only much, much smaller. It took off, with the trio, and the robot on board.
Once onboard, they spied on the robot.

"I know that 'bot!" Tails piped up, "That's the first Mecha Bot Robotnik made. Silver Sonic! Sonic blew that clunky thing apart, in our first ever adventure together!" (Sonic 2) His eyes shone with excitement, at the memories.

"He's huge!" Eliza remarked.

It was true. Silver Sonic was probably Vector's height.

"He's using the CE as a power source for this ship," Amy pointed out.

The two Freedom Fighters turned towards Eliza.

"Got a plan, Miss. Child Prodigy?"

"You bet!"

"Let's hear it."

"Simple, but hopefully effective. You two find the Chaos Emerald, and I'll hold Silver off."

"You up to it? He may be kinda slow, but he's really durable, and stuff."

"I can take on that overgrown toaster any day!"

So, the two left the brave echidna.
She stepped out of the shadows.

"Hey bolt-brain!"

Silver turned his eyes to her.

"Who are you, echidna, and what are you doing here?" he demanded, in a flat and synthetic voice, rearing himself to full height.

"What's it to you?" He literally towered over her.

He noted her Guardian mark.

"Eliza Echidna, Guardian and member of the Chaotix."

She slanted her eyes slightly, as Espio had done countless times, and retorted,

"Genius, aren't you?"

Eliza, being only as thick as his arm, was clearly in no position to be mocking him. Although, the former was partly because of her incredibly skinny build.

"My orders are to destroy you." 

He took a heavy step forward, vibrating the ground under Eliza's feet.
She jumped into a battle stance.

***

"Eliza!"

Sonic and Mighty had been searching for the little echidna for hours, but no results had come up.
Mighty jabbed Sonic in the elbow.

"We'd better split up."

"Right." They did just that.

Mighty squinted, and blocked out the hot mobian sun with his hand.
An echidna form was stalking towards him, fists curled into balls, and green eyes dilating with rage.

"You!" Mighty hissed, narrowing his eyes.

RK did the same.

"Where's the echidna?!" he demanded, and his digital eyes seemed to shimmer with abhorrence.

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Mighty's icy tone matched the robot's.

"Don't play stupid." RK snarled, obviously not in the best of moods. He suddenly smirked, and added,

"I know you're a very capable mobian, Mighty. You can do far better than that."

Mighty was not impressed.

"Brilliant," he said flatly.

"I try," Robo Knux smarmed.

"And in case you were wondering, yes, I did kidnap Eliza during the night. Sonic... I'm afraid...was sleeping on 
the job." RK grinned, than turned to Mighty.

"A bit blue, are we?"

"Are you hoping to kill me with lame puns?" Mighty frowned, and folded his arms. RK fiddled with his fingers, 
the sun glinting off his knuc-claws.

"Well, actually... I was hoping to.." He shot forward, tackling the armadillo. Mighty hauled the robot off, and he was sent flying back a few yards.

"Robo Knux, you've met your match," Mighty curled himself into a ball, and launched himself into the robot.

RK caught him, but the force pushed him backwards several feet.

"Are you going to marry me, Mighty?"

Mighty uncurled, with RK still holding him by the sides, and delivered a fierce punch to the Mecha Bot's shoulder, forcing RK into a tree. The tree bent to mould the robot, and RK stood up effortlessly, rocketing into the armadillo. Mighty held up balled fists. A meter away form the Islander, RK veered into another course, and slashed Mighty across the stomach in the process. Mighty looked down, as blood began to pour out. It was all RK needed. He tackled Mighty, and picked him up by the neck, slamming him against a tree.
Mighty coughed, and RK tightened his grip, his knuc-claws colliding with Mighty's forehead.
Mighty gripped RK's arm, and nearly ripped it out of it's socket.
In shock and pain, RK dropped him.

"You're strong..." he huffed, pushing his arm back into place.

It was Mighty's turn to make a quip.

"Do you want your cookie now?"

"Actually," Mecha Bot four drew out his blaster, "I prefer muffins."

Mighty fell to the ground, flattening himself while RK let loose a flurry of laser beams, every one missing, or bouncing harmlessly off his shell. He crawled towards RK, then sprang up, knocking the blaster out of RK's hand.
Robo-Knux had expected this. He thrust his knuc-claws into Mighty's chest, and swiped down, producing another gash, this one deeper.
Mighty grabbed him by the wrist, and flung him into the foliage.
He rubbed his chest gingerly, but RK was upon him on a flash.
The much heavier and bulkier robot pinned him down to the ground, like he had done with Eliza, and slapped Mighty  with the back of his hands. Mighty kicked his feet out, and RK went flying. Once in the air, RK's engines came to life. He hovered in the air, aiming. Taking out another blaster, he fired. Mighty, this time, dodged. He claimed sanctuary under a thick tree, while RK whipped his scanners out. An idea forming in his mind, Mighty examined a nearby tree. It was thick, and tall enough. He jumped onto it. Sure enough, he stayed, glued to the trunk, yet began to slip downwards. He jumped, landing ten feet higher, on the same trunk. Repeating this technique a few more times, (A/N: No, I haven't forgotten it.) he ended up at the top. RK was close by, and he had his back to the Mobian. Mighty bent his knees, and leapt, landing on RK's back. The force of the attack nearly knocked RK out of the air.
RK tried to shake him off, and even tried to slash him. It didn't work.

"Fine. You want to play it that way," Robo Knuckles uttered, darting into the sky.

"If you can't shake 'em, smash 'em." He began to spiral towards the ground at an alarming rate, and turned his person, so that Mighty was closer to the ground. Mighty shifted his weight,  and pressed down on his dreadlocks, making them switch positions. RK yelped, and flew straight into another tree, whilst the armadillo jumped off. RK smashed right through the tree, it had little effect on him, but whirled right around and rammed Mighty from behind, into another tree.
Mighty got up, and rubbed his smarting head.

"You know," remarked the crafty robot, elbowing Mighty hard, "I don't think Mother Nature likes us very much."

A memory came to the armadillo. It was Eliza, and RK, the first time they had met. He remembered what Eliza looked like after that encounter. Rage coursed through him.

"You'll... pay.. for what you did to Eliza...!"

His blood boiled at the thought. Adrenalin pumped through him, and he lunged, but missed, his fist instead encountering a sturdy oak tree.
His eyes were blazing, and RK knew fear.
The tree was ripped right out of the ground, and went flying. RK's eyes widened, and he stood frozen, as the colossal tree soared through the air. One branch caught him in the mid-side, and the force of the blow knocked him a good half a mile away. He got up, a sizeable dent in his chest. Mighty advanced.
RK let out a yelp like a wounded dog, and ran as if the devil himself were chasing him.

Meanwhile..

Silver's fist came down, narrowly missing Eliza.
Instead, it encountered a table, which promptly split in half. Eliza curled herself into a ball, and lunged forward, at the robot, who simply backhanded her into a wall. She slid down, smarting.
Shakily, she stood to her feet, but not fast enough to avoid Silver's foot encounter her stomach. She collided with the parallel wall. Silver advanced, and smashed his metallic fist into the ground. Fortunately, Eliza rolled over, and Silver's fist instead met the floor. Eliza punched him, but her fist bounced out, and she cradled it in pain.

"Oww!"

He was made out of many layers of pure steel, of course it wasn't going to hurt him. Silver socked her under the chin, and Eliza was sent back, impacting with a table.
She got up, dizzily, just in time to see Silver rocketing into her.

"C'mon guys," she thought, gritting her teeth, "I'm buying you time."

"Where is it?!"

The duo had been searching fervently for the Chaos Emerald.
Tails slapped his head.

"Of course!"

"What?" Amy questioned of her friend.

"How could I be so stupid?! C'mon, let's go to the engine room."

"Right."

They jogged down, and, sure enough, a green emerald was hovering in a tube, acting as a power source.
Tails reached out to touch it, but recoiled his hand as something large and heavy smashed through. It was Silver Sonic.
The two stepped back. Eliza bounded in, landing swiftly in front of them.

"There are more of you," he noted.

Eliza, amazingly, did not make a retort to that.

"No matter," he drawled on, "I will exterminate all of you pests."

Silver revved up the engines in his feet, and whisked towards the trio.

"Scatter!"

They did just that.
Amy unsheathed her Pico-Pico hammer, which grew to ridiculous proportions, and charged. She got one of his metallic quills, and nearly flattened it. Silver picked her up by the hammer, and hurled her out of the way.
Tails spindashed the robot in the chest, but, simply bounced off, the attack useless.
While Silver was preoccupied with the two-tailed wonder, Amy picked her hammer back up, and rushed at his back. Silver spun around, tore the monstrous thing out of her grasp, and crushed it in one hand.
Amy gasped in shock.

"YOU RUINED MY HAMMER!" she shrieked, as her crumpled toy was thrown into her chest. Amy, again, collided with the wall. Silver threw Miles beside her. He advanced on the two.

"Hey!" shouted a voice from the other end of the room.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

Silver twisted around to face her.

"I'm tired of your insolence, echidna." He dashed forward.

But Eliza was ready.
She dodged it, and Silver instead ended up in the wall.
Furious, he shoved himself to his feet, and proceeded towards her with, large, heavy steps.

"You will pay," was the only thing he said.

He curled up into a ball, and began to slowly roll in her direction. 

"Don't touch him!"

Eliza moved out of the way, and Silver picked up speed, circling her. Eliza shifted her eyes around constantly, targeting. Without warning, the deadly ball of fluorescent spikes lurched towards her. Eliza jumped up onto a wall, and glided out of harm's way. Silver barded into the wall, smashed his head in, and was forced to uncurl.
Eliza stood, a confident smirk on her face.
Silver, his eyes flashing with ire, jumped to his feet, almost making Eliza fall over.
Now, it was Eliza's turn to attack. She glided towards his head, swerved off her original course, zipped around him, kicked her feet into Silver Sonic's face. Mecha Bot 1 staggered back from the force of the blow, and rubbed his face reflectively. The glass over his eyes was broken, and one eye flickered off. Silver curled his fists into a ball, and swiped at her, slamming her to the ground. Then, with one metallic hand, picked her up, closed his fist around her waist, and squeezed, slamming her against a pipe.
Eliza coughed.

"Where's your bravado now, pipsqueak?"

Eliza's reply was a hack. Silver tightened his grip, and clenched his other fist, ready to use it.

"Any last requests, twerp?"

Eliza squirmed a bit in  his iron grip.
The pipe she was against was filled with a  liquid, most likely water.
She smiled.

"Bring it on."

"It you say so." 

He hurtled his fist forward. Eliza tilted her head, and his limb instead encountered the pike. It immediately broke open with contact. Water gushed out, hitting Silver square in the face. He fell down under the pressure, and released Eliza, then screamed out in agony as water covered him. He started fizzing and sparking.

"NO!" he screeched, and cursed.

"He's short-circuiting!"

It was true. Electric lights illuminated the room.
Then, he froze over.
The three got up, and Eliza's face lit up with pride.

"That's the problem with computers..."

"-THEY CRASH!" they ended in unison, and had a high five.

"Now, come on. Let's get out of here."

Eliza sprinted to the tube, and smashed the tube open with a well-aimed punch, quickly removing the emerald.

"If I didn't know better, " Tails commented, "I'd say you were strong. But luckily, I know better."

The ship gave a shudder.

"Self-destruct activated," came the synthesized voice.

"T minus 30 seconds."

Tails kicked the emergency escape door open, and began to twirl his namesakes.
He hoisted Amy up into his arms, and leapt out of the place. Eliza stuffed her Emerald in her knapsack, and took of on a running start, then jumped into a glide, following the other two down.

"2...1...0."

Brilliant lights filled the sky, as the mechanical monstrosity exploded into a fiery inferno. The blast was so powerful, it knocked Eliza off-course, and almost out of the air completely.
Tails landed, with Amy, safely in tow. They gazed up.

"Where's Eliza?"

The echidna in question plummeted to the round, landing on four feet, like a cat. She grimaced a bit, then stood up.
She perked up.
Voices were nearby.
Freedom Fighters!
Joyously, she broke into a run, letting her keen hearing guide her. 
She ploughed into Bunnie, then hugged her vigorously.

"Hello, sugah." Bunnie beamed down at the little echidna, and returned her hug.

"Eliza! How'd you get here?!"

"I ran," was the Espio-like counter.

Sally folded her arms.

"Be serious!" she snapped.

"Calm yourself, Sally-sweetah. Give the poor little kiddo a break."

She gave Eliza an affectionate little squeeze.

"My turn now, Bunnie."

Something yanked Eliza right out of Bunnie's grip.
A burly red robot stood there.

"You must be Robo Knux." There was enough ice in her voice to freeze Robotropolis.

RK gave a small bow.

"Pleasure."

Bunnie let loose her robotic arm, catching RK in the chest, He dropped Eliza out of surprise, and Bunnie pulled her back into safety, shielding the little Guardian with her body.

"Ah heard a great deal about you, RK. You're the one who terrorized helpless islanders, stalked, and literally ripped apart this po' little echidna here. You're sick, very sick."

RK beamed,

"I'm so proud!"

Bunnie narrowed her eyes.

"Quite a reputation I have there, hmm?" the twisted robot smirked.

"You b-" Bunnie was about to cuss him out, but remembered Eliza.

"Right then, down to business. Why don't you just give me my echidna, and I'll let the rest of you go scot-free."

"Your echidna?!" Eliza demanded, indignantly, but was quickly hushed by her companion.

"Nevah!"

Sally yanked Eliza back.

"Well then," RK remarked, "Time for me to have some fun, with my new preys."

He lurched towards her, his fist ramming into Bunnie's leg. His knuc-claws pierced it. Bunnie rebounded with a punch of her own, and with eyes, cold as ice, freed herself, and sent the echidna robot back, at the same time.
RK charged forwards, locking hands with the Rabbot.

"You can't beat me," RK declared, with an arrogant hint in his voice, "I'm stronger."

As if to prove this, Robo Knux shoved her, and the valiant Freedom Fighter slammed into a tree, collapsing onto the ground.
RK paced towards her.
Antoine couldn't bear to see his love suffer any longer. He shot towards the two combatants, stopping in between.

"You stay away from her, you fiend!" Antoine exclaimed, with unbelievable courage, and unsheathed his sword.

Sally blinked in amazement. It was out of character for Antoine to be so brave.
Robo Knuckles smiled a bit to himself, picked Antoine up by the bladed end of the sword, as if it were a branch, and flung him across the forest.

"You monster!" Bunnie screeched, jumping at the robot. RK merely kicked her. Eliza broke free of Sally's grasp, and, before the Princess could stop her, was running to Mecha Bot 4.

"Stop!" She skidded to halt, just short of the 'bot, and held up her fists in a battle stance.
RK ignored her, and advanced on Bunnie. Eliza made as if to tackle him, but Sally got hold of her, and the struggle began anew.
RK waited patiently as Bunnie got to her feet, and then moved in her direction, slashing her.
Bunnie staggered backwards from the force of the blow, a gash opening on her chest. But, she stood strong, and tried to sock Robo Knux in the stomach with her roboticized hand. RK caught it in mid-attack, and closed his larger one around hers, crushing it.
Bunnie shrieked out, more in surprise than pain.

"I told you I was stronger."

And he threw her.
He turned to Eliza, who had just slipped out of Sally's grasp again. She froze.

"Than anyone else here."

"Except for me."

RK tilted his head around, expecting Mighty. His shoulders went up in amusement when a familiar yellow squirrel landed agilely in front of Eliza.

"Nice dramatic entrance, Ray."

"I try."

RK fixed his vibrant eyes on the squirrel, and they shimmered with something between annoyance and pleasure.

"Don't look into his eyes," Eliza advised.

Behind his back, Ray gestured to Sally to get away, with Bunnie, Antoine, who was now by her side, carrying his love.
Sally's eyes widened in protest, but Antoine nodded sagely, and quickly guided the Princess away.

"The more the merrier." RK stated off-handedly, not noticing the clump of Freedom Fighters escape.

"You think you're so smart, Robo Knux. That you know everything, you see everything, and whatever. Well, let me tell you something, you're not! While you've been standing there, gawking.. you've lost what you've just recently gained. Take a look around you."

RK did as he was bid, and he was taken aback to see that the others had gone.
He then whipped his head back at the remaining two, only to find that they had also disappeared.
Mecha Bot 4's pupils contorted with rage, and he emitted a terrifying growl, one like no other, starting after the two. He was not going to let a stupid, naive little kid take his Mizu away from him.
He clenched his fists.

"I will not be outsmarted by a squirrel!" His voice was petrifying, spreading across the land like wildfire. He locked into the two, up ahead.

"He's gaining!" Eliza cried from where she was, Ray's back, "Hurry!"

Ray jumped off, diving into the scenery. RK soon followed, spreading out his arms, homing in.

"Go left, Ray!" In all his confusion, Ray swerved right.

"Go left, Ray! LEFT! No, other left!!"

Robo Knux was quickly gaining on him, his fists screwed into a ball, his digital eyes long and slight, like lightning bolts.
The engines in his dreadlocks ignited, thrusting him in their direction.
Eliza knew she was slowing Ray done, even though she weighed very little. Her body was interfering his glide.
RK powered up his blaster, aiming.

"Ray!" Eliza's voice was urgent.

"Get down!"

The squirrel swooped towards a cliff, and landed, rolling to a stop.
Eliza, who was now at the ground, pushed herself to her feet.

"I'm slowing you down..." she said slowly.

"No, you're not."

Ray could be stubborn if he wanted to, and such was the case. She was right, but he wasn't about to admit it.

"Ray.. we have to split up."

"Definitely not! I'm not allowing you to put yourself in that danger, not after what happened last time!" (A/N: Trapped)

"Ray," she pleaded, "Just trust me."

"Eliza, I'm no-"

The hum of RK's engines interrupted, and announced his presence.

"Go!" Reluctantly, Ray took off to the right, while Eliza launched herself into a glide, the opposite direction. RK headed after the echidna. Eliza knew he was behind her. She also knew he was faster than her, or atleast in the air. Plus, he could easily blow her right out of the sky. She sneaked a peek downwards, noticing a highway beneath her. An idea came to her. A dangerous one, but, Eliza lived dangerously.
She dropped into it, gliding against the traffic. RK mimicked her course, constantly gaining.
The courageous little echidna dodged the cars, determined.
RK was still on her tail, getting closer by the second. He didn't really care about the cars. They couldn't hurt him. Much.
He continued the chase, his target zooming into detailed view. Eliza, made sharp turns, and eventually reached the city, trying, and failing, to get rid of him. Soon, there were no more cars. RK pushed ahead, closing the gap between them. Eliza quickly looked back, and panicked. RK was at full speed. Only two meters separated them.
One meter.
RK could almost touch her now. He reached out his arms, his knuc-claws only a few inches away from her sneakers. RK grinned, swiping at her as his shadow cast over her.
Suddenly, Eliza veered upwards.
And RK smashed right into a wall.
The young Guardian hastily scampered up it, and reach the top, where Ray was waiting anxiously for her.
She panted, leaning against him for support.

"That... was... too close," she managed with a bit of difficulty, slumping against the squirrel.

"I'm... drained."

"Me too." Ray rubbed his stomach reflectively.

C'mon, let's refuel."

Ray gently guided her to a diner.

"What happened to Robo Knux?" he nudged his friend.

"He went slap into a wall."

"Ouch."

******

"Great, we lost her again."

"Hoy down there!" It was Knuckles. He jogged into view.

"Knux!" Amy threw herself at him, tackling him.

"Heyas, shorty."

He set her down.

"How's it going, red?"

"Meh.. not so good. I can't find Ray anywhere, and I've been searching for him days now."

"Ray?" Tails seemed puzzled.

"Yeah, you know, the lil' fuzzy yellow squirrel thing? Mighty's friend?"

"Yes, I KNOW who Ray is," Tails huffed, slightly peeved, "What I want to know is, why are you looking for him?"

"Barbequed squirrel!" Knux grinned. Tails let out an exasperated sigh and slapped his forehead.

"Knux, I think you're losing your touch." Amy put in, smirking.

"Me, lose my touch? Pfft. I'm just not familiar with his scent, thas all."

Amy rolled her eyes, and Tails folded his arms.
Knuckles turned to him.

"Wuzza matter, squirt? Lost your sense of humour?"

"Pfft."

"Well," Knuckles quipped,  "I can easily remedy that." Before Tails could move, Knuckles picked him up, and with one hand, caught him in a headlock, and clenched his other hand into a fist.

"NOOGIE!" He took his balled hand, and rubbed Tails vigorously against the young fox's noggin.

Tails let out squeals of pain, grimacing.

"PUT ME DOWN!"

Amy watched from the sidelines, giggling non-stop.
Tails struggled madly, trying desperately to break free from Knux's iron grip.

"That's nothing. You should see what he does to Eliza."

"Amy... get... him... off... me," Tails gasped, flopping uselessly around.

Those eyes traced the three.

It's time.

Tails was suddenly wrenched out of Knuckles's  grasp, and thrown into a tree. He slid down, wheezing for air. Knuckles was hurled backwards by an unseen force, bowling Amy over. Amy kicked out, hauling the heavier echidna off her.

"Sorry," Knuckles murmured sheepishly, easily pulling her to her feet.

"What happened?" she massaged her head.

Knuckles ran over to Tails, who was spluttering.

"Kid.. you okay? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so rough."

"Not...you...." he choked, as Knux supported him, patting his back.

Step back, Guardian, or I will terminate the child.

"Who said that?!" Knuckles snapped his head around.

I am here. Step back, now.

Tails continued to choke, getting worse by the second.

"Alright!"

Knuckles raised his hands in surrender, and walked backwards a few feet.
Tails's knees buckled, and he fell into the ground. Amy cried out, but quickly silenced herself. Tails pushed himself upwards, consuming the oxygen.

"I'm okay.." he coughed, sitting upwards.

"Who are you?"

A small figure hovered above the tree. It resembled Tails, and a doll. Stuffing was hanging perilously out of it's back, and he hung limp.

I am Mecha-Bot 3, The Tails Doll.

"That thing's supposed to be my Mecha Bot?! I'VE NEVER BEEN SO INSULTED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!" Tails cried, indignantly.

"Does Robotnik really think that lowly of me?!"

Silence, fleshling.

Tails felt himself floating in the air, rising without control. Then, without warning, he came down with incredible force, colliding, face first into the ground. Tails whimpered, and went limp. Knuckles curled his lips into a snarl.
Tails was just a kid.
He lunged for the doll, fists outstretched. The doll rotated to stare at him, with his large, unblinking eyes, and, as if the echidna had suddenly confronted a force field, he bounced back, losing altitude, and plunging into the branch of a tree.
Amy watched this, perplexed. She had noticed that every time the Tails Doll had attacked, he, as well as the person he attacked, was surrounded by a faint green glow. She also spotted a jewel, embedded into his head, green. (A/N: I know it was red, but red is taken)

"A Chaos Emerald," was her estimate.

She scrambled up a tree, being as quiet as possible, and edged towards the doll's unsuspecting back, whilst Knux desperately tried to land an attack. Amy crept closer, and curled her fingers around the Emerald. She yanked it out.
The Tails Doll sparked, and a high-pitched note filled their minds. Amy had to grit her teeth to stop her from crying out with pain. Then, the doll shuddered, and plummeted to his demise.

"Nice, Amy."

She hopped to the ground, and pulled Tails to his feet.

"Good work, kiddo." Knux gave her a pat on the back with his spiked hand, nearly knocking her over.

"That thing, was just freaky," Tails breathed, leaning on Knuckles  for support.

"You okay?"

"I've had worse." Tails cleared his throat, trying to look tough.

Knux chuckled a bit to himself.

"HEY!" A familiar blue figure was waving madly.

Amy's eyes lit up.

"SONIKKU!" she squealed, tacking him.

"Hey, shorty." Knux grinned.

"Rub it in, why doncha?"

Mighty walked into view, arms folded in mock-disapproval. Amy also glomped him.

"Look!" Amy held up her Chaos Emerald proudly.

"Now that we're all here, let's go find the others."

"Yeah... but how?"

"Simple, we follow Knux's nose."

Sonic was going to make a retort, but had second thoughts when he noticed his friend's death glare.

******

"Target located. Princess Sally Acorn. Locking on."

Mecha Sonic raised his blaster, locking onto the princess. With the blue Chaos Emerald in his tesla coils, powering him up, his blast could reduce an oak, to mere ashes.

"Ah don't think so, shugah."

Metal cast a sharp glance around, just in time to see a robotic foot kicking into his face.
Bunnie ripped the blue Chaos Emerald away from him, and the robot dropped, face first, into the mud. 
Bunnie giggled and ran off.
By the time Mecha had regained his composure, the Rabbot was nowhere to be seen. His blaster was also too damaged to use, for the time being.
Metal cursed and flicked his scanners on.
Nothing.
She must have been out of range.

Robotnik paced around, huffing slightly. He flopped into his chair, out of breath.

"I think I'll check in with those robots myself."

He turned the communicator on.

"Mecha Bot 1, report in."

No answer.

"Silver Sonic, report."

Nothing.

"He was probably destroyed," Shadow put in.

Robotnik twisted his mustache around his finger.

"Cell, report in."

This time, there was a buzzing sound, but nothing more.

"The idiot got his communicator destroyed."

He let go of his moustache.

"Mecha, report in."

"Yes, sire?"

"Report in."

"The got away, doctor. And the Rabbot snatched my emerald away."

Ivo clenched his fists.

"You imbecile!" he bellowed.

"Sir-"

"Sir, nothing, you worthless piece of metal! Get that emerald back immediately, or I'll reduce you to a toaster! Is that understood?!"

"Yes," Metal replied, at low volume.

The robot's voice faded.

"Tails Doll, report in."

No reply.

The Tails Doll didn't have a communicator, he didn't need it. He could easily practice telepathy.
Robotnik slammed his fist on the desk.

"Mecha Bot 4."

"Yes sir?" Came RK's smooth voice.

"Have you shattered the Master Emerald?"

"Yes, sir."

"Finally, somebody did something right!"

He quickly regained a business-like attitude.

"Good work, RK. You are free to do what you want."

"Yeah, got it."

The communicator flickered off.

"Come, Shadow. We have a beast to awaken."

Meanwhile....

Knux jolted upright.

"What is it, sparky?"

Knuckles glared daggers at the hedgehog, silencing his quip.

"I feel..."

"...Good?" The hedgehog suggested.

Knux gave him a dirty look.

"No, a Chaos Emerald."

"Oh."

The Guardian broke into a run, and dove into the bushes.

"Bad dog, Knux!" Sonic yelled after him.

There were sounds of a struggle, then..

WHAM!

Knux went flying into a tree.
He rubbed his head gingerly.

"Oww..."

"What's the big idea, shugah?"

Bunnie stepped out of the bushes, dusting her hands off.

"Didn't know it was you, Buns. Sorry."

"Auntie Bunnie!" Tails and Amy cried in chorus, leaping at her.

"Hello, sweeties." Bunnie ruffled up their bangs fondly.

"Bunnie, do you have a Chaos Emerald?"

"Right here, shugah."

She flashed him her recently gained CE.

Knux stiffened, then walked off, motioning for silence.

"Sparky's on to something."

"NASHI!!"

A small red blur rushed at him, the tackle nearly knocking him down.

"Well, hello to you to."

"What's a Nashi?" Sonic questioned.

"Oh, nothing..."

Knux grinned at the little echidna, giving her a noogie.

"What's with the battle cries?"

Eliza's eyes lit up.

"My-teeeeeeee!"

She wrenched free of Knux's grip, and dashed at Mighty, jumping into his arms.
Eliza snuggled against his chest, and let out a contended sigh.
Mighty smiled, and rubbed her head affectionately.

"Don't _I_ get a hug?"

Ray was mock-frowning, hands on hips.

Knuckles adopted a mischievous expression, picked Ray up, and also noogied him vigorously.

"Where've you been, you little furball? I've been looking for you all over the place!"

Ray squirmed out of Knux's grasp, and rubbed his head gingerly.

"You messed up my hair."

The squirrel smoothed out his fur.

"Okay, is everyone here?"

"We're here, alright!" Mighty acted as spokesman.

"Then.. let's set up camp."

Antoine pulled out a bundle from his backpack, -as did Bunnie.

"Tents."

"There's a cave over there."

Eliza pointed out.

Tails nudged some wood with his foot.

"Lookie!"

Sonic gave him a strange look, then closed his hand around the fox's shoulder.

"I can't contain myself any longer."

The other hand, he clenched into a fist, and rubbed it against his friend's cranium, grinning like a loon.

"NOOGIES FOR ALL!"

"Soniiiic!" Tails whined.

Eliza just laughed.

Tails cast her an evil glare.

Sonic turned to her, looking quite diabolical.

"Don't laugh, Eliza. You're next."

It was Tails's turn to laugh.

"NO!" Eliza protested, slinking behind Mighty.

Knuc picked her up by the waist.

"Gotcha."

"No, you don't."

Eliza kicked him in the face, darted to the ground, and took off. She didn't get very far, however, until she was lifted and seized in a headlock.

"You're mine now, squirt."

Eliza squeaked out, as the hedgehog engaged in his activity, still enjoying himself profoundly.

****

An unseen figure traces the movements of the group. They were all together now.

He was going to get his emerald back. Nobody would stop him. Nobody could stop him.
He slinked into the little cave, locking onto his target.

"My Emerald."

He let out a hiss of triumph as his sensors picked up something dark blue, shiny, and powerful nearby. He then froze. His scanners were picking up something else.
A mobian armadillo.
Mighty.

His red eyes grew brighter, with detestation.

Mighty stiffened. (A/N: Stiffening is the new fad.)

"What is it?" Eliza looked innocently up at the armadillo.

"Mecha," he growled.

Sure enough, he was standing there. His crimson eyes locked onto them.
Mighty was gripped with a hate that nearly equaled Mecha's.

"You!"

He pushed Eliza back a bit, curled his fists into balls, and paced towards the robot. Eliza tugged at his arm.

"Mighty, let him go."

Mighty blinked down at her in disbelief.

"Are you crazy?"

Metal scanned the surroundings. The only exit was behind Mighty.

"Let him go," Eliza repeated.

Mighty detached himself from the echidna, and pushed her back in the direction of the door. He advanced towards the robot.

Mecha knew from previous encounters with the 'dillo, that Mighty was not a force to be tampered with. Mighty had been the cause of his demise (A/N: Eliza's Birthday Bash)

Mecha pulled out his blaster, but stopped short when he remembered it needed to be repaired.
He muttered something incoherent as Mighty moved forwards.

The armadillo coiled his balled fists back.
Metal Sonic was going down. here and now.

He released his fist.

Metal stood there, frozen like a deer in headlights. But, instead on encountering hard metal, he felt something else take the blow. Something soft.
Eliza smashed into the wall, with a sickening 'Crunch!'.
Mighty rushed to her side.

"ELIZA! Oh my God! Are you okay?!"

Metal saw his chance to flee.

"Idiot girl!" he hissed, before zipping out of the cave.

Mighty knelt by the fallen echidna.

"Eliza! Are you crazy!?"

He was angry enough to want to hit her again. Not a hard one, mind you, but something to bring her to her senses.

"She's a little girl. Besides, she's had enough."

"You idiot! Why'd you do that?! WHY?!"

"I... had to."

Mighty left.
He had to calm down.
Eliza limped out.

She coughed, and walked, with difficulty, outside, where Sally was waiting.

"You little b-" she cut her self off, remembering her manners. But that didn't stop her from berating the echidna.

"YOU LET THAT MANIAC FREE, YOU LITTLE IDIOT!" Sally screeched shrilly. She slapped the little Guardian across the face, then stalked off. Eliza squinted, and saw a purple figure coming her way. It was Espio, and he was flushing a deep scarlet.

"Word travels fast," she breathed.

Espio picked her up by the shoulders, and slammed her violently into a tree.

"What do you think you're playing at, huh?!"

Eliza said nothing.

"Eliza, if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I'll kill you myself, d'you here?"

He punched her chest, hard.

"Mighty should've done that, not me."

He camouflaged, and was gone.

"It starts."

By the end of the hour, she had received hits from Vector, Tails, and Antoine, and near hits from Sonic, and Bunnie.

The only two who did nothing, were Ray and Amy, and Eliza still hadn't seen Knux around. She didn't want to. Knuckles had a very violent temper, and he hated Mecha Bots with a bitter passion. Especially Metal Sonic (A/N: Because, in my version, as well as many others people's, he built Mecha, with Robotnik back in Sonic 3 and Knuckles. Robotnik did most of the work, though.)

Sally stomped into the place.

"Oh great, here comes another hit."

But Bunnie placed herself between the two.

"That's quite enough." She took Eliza into her arms.

"Can't y'all see this poor echidna has had more than enough? She blow she intercepted was 10 times too much already! Is abusing her really going to change things? Mecha could have gotten away anyway. You don't even know why she did it!"

"Thanks, Bunnie."

Bunnie placed her in a bed.

"You need ta rest, sweetie."

She shot a glare at the other occupants of the room.

All left, including Bunnie.
Mighty walked in, and sat beside her.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"You didn't do anything," Eliza responded.

"I... hit you. And I almost did it again. I was mad."

"It's not your fault."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not. I blocked your punch."

"Why?"

"Why? Because Mecha saved me."

"What?! When?!"

"When RK took me. Metal freed me."

Mighty knelt beside her, and too her hands into his.

"What did RK do to you?"

"He.. hugged me."

It seemed like a stupid thing to be upset about. But it wasn't.

"That creep." Mighty murmured, and out his arms around her, rocking her gently.

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks."

"Err... how many ribs are broken?"

"3."

"Eliza-"

She cut him off.

"If you apologize one more time, _I'm_ going to hit _you_!"

"MIGHTY!" shouted Bunnie from outside.

"Got to go, before Bunnie strangles me."

He ran off.

Eliza grunted a bit, and slid out of bed. She ventured to hill, where Tails and Amy were seated.

"Hey, miss idiotic child prodigy."

Eliza gave Tails a sour look, and seated herself.

"Why'd you do that?"

"You know why. Mecha saved me form RK. I had to return the favour."

"Couldn't you have saved him some other time?"

"Tails, if Mighty had completed his attack, there wouldn't _be_ another time."

"Oh, right. But still, you're a noble idiot."

But Eliza had heard enough.

"Enough of this."

She stomped away, back into her room.

"Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the hospital bed."

******

"Where'd Eliza go?"

She wasn't at the lunch table.

"Don't tell me..." Ray hummed, cautiously entering her room. Nothing.

"Hey!" Sonic piped up, "Lookie!"

He pulled out a paper, and the others huddled closer.
The hedgehog cleared his throat.

Dear Everybody,
This idiotic echidna has decided that she's had enough, of being snapped at, hit, and threatened for doing the right thing. Do you even know why I saved Mecha? Did you even bother to ask? NO! (I apologize to the select few that did ask, this does not apply to you) For your information, he saved me from a worse maniac, much worse, Robo Knux! I bet you didn't know that. So now you know. I've decided to go look for the remaining Chaos Emeralds myself, thank you very much.

-Eliza (the moron)

"Oh geez..." Sonic passed the irony-laced letter on.

"She's right.. man.. I screwed up big time..."

The crowd was speechless.

"Um.." Sally couldn't quite figure out what to say.

"I'll go after her." Sonic supplied, "I'd never forgive myself if something happened to her."

"So will I.." Mighty added, softly.

It was then that Sonic remembered. He grabbed Knuckles by the arm, and towed him to a secluded spot.
The hedgehog was solemn.
Knux was anxious. Very. Rarely was his friend so serious.

"What's up?"

"Knux.. The Master Emerald... R.K. shattered it."

There was quiet. Then,

"When?"

"When he killed Rotor."

"Oh.."

"So you'd better gather Espio, and Vector, and to gather up the pieces. The Island's not gonna stay afloat much longer."

"Right."

"I'll find Eliza."

"So will I."

"Spying are we, Ray?" Knux shook his finger at the squirrel in mock-disapproval.

Ray snorted, but gave no intelligent reply to the statement.

"I'll do with Mighty.. in a different direction. Robo Knuckles is dead."

The two older Mobians blinked at him.

"How do you know?"

"He flew.. at high speeds, into a wall."

"Ouch."

Knuckles took a minute or so to digest the information.

"Well, keep your eyes peeled. I wouldn't be surprised if he was still alive and kicking. Never underestimate the enemy, especially R.K."

"With Robo Knux, nothing surprises me."

And the three went off to prepare for their journeys.

****

Robotnik held his hands up, chanting something in another language. Shadow, leaning idly against a tree, watched, bemused.
Just as Robotnik was losing patience, a blob of water shimmered. It wobbled, then, shot straight up. Shadow's expression of boredom, instantly transformed into awe.
Robotnik sniggered, evidently pleased with himself.
The blob continued to form, then developed more humanoid features.
It was also transparent, with a nucleus acting as brain. It had pupil less eyes, and thick arms.

"Shadow.. meet Chaos, God of Destruction."

"Can it do tricks?" Shadow smirked.

Ivo was less than amused. He ignored the comment, and continued.

"He feeds on Chaos Emeralds, getting bigger and stronger with each one it absorbs."

Chaos 0 turned to stare at them with his big, unblinking eyes.
Robotnik tossed him a Chaos Emerald.

There was a bright flash of light, and Chaos grew, three times the size he had been. His hands also enlarged, and there was now a visible skeleton in each.

Julian watched, elated and happy.

Chaos shrunk into a puddle, and slithered away.

"He's off to find more Chaos Emeralds." Robotnik announced, unnecessarily.

***

Eliza nearly tripped. She staggered, flailing her arms around, then finally, managed to steady. Under her, lay a bright green ball of fur. It shifted, grumbling, and sat up.

"Who are you, twerp?"

It was a fox, all neon green, with albino eyes.

"I'm Eliza," she answered, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

"And what are you doing lying down in the middle of nowhere?"

"Because I feel like it."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Fennec."

He stood up, then broke out into a grin.

"Shorty!" He was probably a little shorter than Tails.

Eliza folded her arms, not quite amused.
The fox sniggered, his mood turning from grumpy, to jovial.

"I'll stick around with you, kid."

"Okay.."

Fennec had decided that he liked this kid. Not only was she shorter than  him, she had spunk, too.
Secretly, Eliza was glad for his company.
They spent a few hours together, before a loud sound startled the pair.
Two luminous green eyes leered at them from the shadows.

"Hello... Mizu," purred the owner, with professional malice.

Eliza' heart nearly stopped.

"Impossible.." she choked, sliding backwards.

"You're dead.. You crashed into a wall.."

"Ah," was the smooth reply, "But I am invincible."

A pair of abnormally oversized hands flashed at them, coated with eight inch long knuc-claws.

Fennec was not a very brave soul.

He took one look at those hands, let alone the rest of the robot's body, and decided it was time for his departure.

"This is where I leave you, kid," the green canine yelped, and sped off.

Robo Knux didn't pursue him.

He sent a side-eyed glance in the direction of the fleeing individual, then turned back to his prey.
He stepped out of the shadows.

"He's in perfect condition..."

He was smiling.

Eliza shuddered.

When R.K. smiled, bad things happened. Usually to her.
Eliza backed up, fists outstretched.

"Don't come any closer.." her voice faltered.

Robo Knuckles gave a digital chuckle, and stepped forwards.

"What do you want with me?!"

No answer.

"Why don't you ever leave me alone?!"

Her fear was mingled with anger.

"Why me?! Why always me?!"

"You're special."

Without warning, she tripped, falling on her back.
Robo Knux was on her in a flash, pinning her to the ground.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes."

"Let me put it this way...."

"Get off her, you creep!"

Something rammed into the Mecha Bot with incredible speed and force, sending him reeling. Sonic stood there, looking heroic. (A/N: What else is new?)

Both echidnas were back on their feet in a second.

"Jump on."

Eliza needed no second bidding. She hopped into his backpack.

RK turned to them.

"At last, I meet the esteemed Sonic Hedgehog, face to face. Can I have your autograph?"

He ignored the sarcastic comment.

"Hold on tight, 'Leeza."

"Kay."

"The hedgehog express is underway. Time for a Sonic Boom!"

With a sudden burst of speed, the hedgehog took off, the young Guardian safe in his knapsack.

Robo Knux was not to he evaded so easily.
He followed, spreading his arms out, looking similar to an airplane.

"He's gaining!"

Sonic snapped his head around at her.

"Whaddya mean, he's gaining?!"

"I mean he's gaining!"

"Pass me a power ring, shorty."

Eliza shuffled around in the bag, and produced a golden hoop. She placed it into his outstretched hand.

"Bailin' warp ten!"

A golden aura formed around him, and he sped up considerably, with another, larger start.

"Did we lose him?"

"He's still there!" Eliza exclaimed.

"What?!"

"He's gaining again!"

The added speed of the power ring had died down. Eliza dropped into the bag. Something clawed at it. It hit home, gripping the fabric, as well as Eliza's torso. She squirmed and kicked out, trying desperately to free herself. RK's knuc-claws went through the  leather bag as it were water.

Panicking, Sonic whirled around, in a Sonic Spin.
Both RK, and Eliza, were sent flying, in different directions. He lost control, and soared through the air as well.


Gloop, gloop, gloop.

Chaos slithered around the Freedom Fighter's camp.

He could sense two emeralds.

Bingo! His liquid body touched the orange one, Amy's, and the dark blue one, Bunnie's. There was a flash of light, as they fused with him.
His body began to change, to contort. He lost his legs, the length of his body grew, and he flopped to the ground, looking somewhat like a shark. He melted into water, and was gone, leaving nothing but damp grass behind.

Mighty used his 'wall cling' ability, to reach the summit of a lofty tree. His feet latched onto the trunk, and slowly, be began to slip downwards. In a flash,  he had jumped, and attached himself to the same trunk, only a few meters higher. It was because of that process, that he was standing at the top, a minute later, scanning the land with his eyes. Just land. Nothing more.
Disappointed, he allowed himself to gently glide down the trunk, contemplating the next direction.
When he landed, his sneakers splashed.
He averted his eyes to the ground beneath him, confused.
Where had the water come from?
It rose, and engulfed him whole.

It was now that Chaos became aware that he had just absorbed a Mobian. He ripped the Chaos Emerald from the armadillo's shell, and spit him out. Mighty collided with the ground, coughed a bit, and sit still.

Again, Chaos transformed. He regained legs, and was able to stand up.

The mass of water, perplexed, fixed his unblinking eyes on the still adolescent in front of him, wondering why Mighty hadn't moved.
Realization came to him. He had control over Mighty's body! His brain sent direct orders to the armadillo's body; walk. He walked.
Chaos froze.
He could sense something nearby.
A Guardian.
As if on cue, a nearby bush shuffled, and out stepped Eliza. She didn't notice Chaos.

"Mighty?"

Nothing.
She approached.

"Mighty?"

The little echidna seemed concerned about her friend's stillness.

"Are you okay?"

No response. It was then that she noticed Chaos.
Eliza backed away. He recognized her as a Guardian.

"Who are you?"

Chaos had no way of communicating with her. Unless...

"I am Chaos." The answer came not from the blob of liquid, but from the armadillo. Eliza was on her guard.

"Do not be afraid, little one. I will not harm you."

"What do you want?"

"I want the Chaos Emeralds you have."

She tensed. How did he know about the Emeralds? Indeed, she had not only hers, gathered from Silver Sonic, but also, she had acquired Sonic's. He had found one beforehand, and Eliza had gotten hold of it when Robo Knuckles had attacked.

No use lying to him. "You can't have them."

Chaos wasn't about to be denied his power by a little girl. His watery arm shot out, tearing them both from her.
And then he transformed, again.
He resembled a scorpion, and a blob of jelly at the same time.
Eliza gasped, and backed up again.

"Do not be afraid."

She wanted Mighty back. Mighty would make everything better. He always did.

"Can I have my friend back, please?"

She looked imploringly up at him.

"Very well."

Mighty collapsed. Eliza rushed to his side.

"Mighty?"

He was a bit dazed, but unhurt.

"Uhh... Eliza? What happened?"

She threw herself into his arms, in a warm hug.
Before Mighty could completely recollect himself, a familiar voice called out to them.

"It's happy reunion time already?"

"Sonic!"

"That's my name, don't wear it out."

He paused to notice Chaos.

"Who's the blob? Some cousin of yours, Eliza?"

"That's Chaos."

Everyone was now sitting, and Eliza went into a brief explanation of Chaos, and the removal of her CEs. She was still trying to figure out to get them back.

"Does it bite?"

The hedgehog eyed Chaos wearily.

"No, but our Chaos Emeralds are still inside of him."

Sonic scrutinized him thoughtfully.

"Think he could be one of 'Buttnik's creations?"

"No, actually. He came from the Master Emerald."

The three tilted their heads towards the sound of the new, yet somehow familiar voice.

"Robo Knux!"

"The one and only."

He was above them, in the treetops.

"We outnumber you three to one," Sonic snarled, shaking his fist.

"I'm not here for a fight," RK replied, evenly.

"Oh really? Then what are you doing here, Robo-Knucklehead?!"

R.K. let out a sardonic chuckle at the insult.

"I'm here to educate you."

He pulled out something shiny.

The 7th Chaos Emerald.

"Listen here, kiddies, as RK teaches math. Six Chaos Emeralds plus Chaos plus one Chaos Emerald-"

He flung at the creature. Another explosion of light, it fused with him, and he changed, once more.

"-PERFECT CHAOS!"

The three mobians gaped in horror, at the newly deemed Perfect Chaos, an enormous monstrosity. For the inexperienced Mobian, he resembled something close to a sea dragon, an almost solid mass of water.

"Play nicely with your new friend, now. Ta ta." 

Robo Knux revved up his engines, and rocketed off into the blue.

"Come back here, ya stinkin' little coward!" Sonic bellowed after him.

He was rewarded by a tap on the shoulder.

"Uh.. Blue, we have a bigger problem."

Perfect Chaos reared his ugly head, going insane with the power of all seven Chaos Emeralds inside of him. He started ripping up trees from their roots in his mad frenzy.

Sonic spindashed him, but was sent sprawling by a beam of water.

"No use," he grunted to his two companions, who were taking cover.

Eliza was contemplating, straining her brain for useful information.

"I remember hearing about Chaos..."

The two older adolescents tilted their heads in her direction, in interest.

"Yes?"

"He was a creature that inhabited the Chaos Emeralds.. Thousands of years ago, he befriended a Guardian, named Tikal.."

"And?"

She scratched her chin.

"Um.. I think that we Guardians can somehow calm him down.."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Sonic interrupted.

Her face flushed a bit, meekly.

"I don't know how. Maybe Knux does."

Sonic opened his mouth to say something, and Eliza shot him a glare.

"Don't say anything. I didn't even know what the Floating Island was until a few months ago."

He obeyed. She dropped her eyes.

"You're right..  Sorry guys. I'm a terrible Guardian."

Sonic gave her a reassuring pat on the back.

"Don't say that, kid. You're a better Guardian than I could ever be."

"Well," said Eliza, who seemed to have moved back to the original topic at hand, "He listened to me when I asked him to release Mighty. So maybe, if I asked him nicely.."

A smile tugged at the lips of all three of them. Sonic imitated her voice.

"Excuse Mr. Perfect Chaos, sir? Could you please stop destroying the environment, it's not very nice."

He then batted his eye lashes. Eliza gave him a playful punch, her voice indignant.

"I do not sound like that! And I don't bat my eyelashes."

"Okay squirt, here's your chance."

Behind them, someone approached, silently. The person traced them with its eyes, but stopped short when they  locked onto the form of the blue hedgehog. Even Mighty's ears did not hear the soft hiss of:

"Sssonic."

Eliza took a deep breath, stepping out of the bushes, then cried out:

"CHAOS!"

Perfect Chaos let the three slip back onto the ground, and turned to the caller, completely still.

"Please stop! Be calm!"

Miraculously,  he listened. He didn't move and inch, standing out like a tower.
Sonic pumped a fist into the air.

"Go 'Leeza!"

Metal Sonic coiled back  his legs for the pounce. The creature he hated the most above anything was directly in front of him, unaware of the danger behind him.

"Get down!" Mighty yanked him, "Don't let Chaos see you!"

Two things happened at once. Mecha made a leap, and Sonic was pulled to the ground, right out of the robot's path.
So, instead of landing on his worst enemy, Metal's jump ended on top of Eliza.
Immediately, Chaos began thrashing around once more, this time worse than ever.

"It's kind of hard to control a huge, super-powerful Chaos being," Eliza yelped, "With a two hundred pound Mecha Bot on top of you!!"

Metal looked beneath him.

"You are not him," was all that he said.

Eliza was frantic, being crushed by his weight.

"No kidding, Sherlock!"

"But you will do," he finished, placing his deadly hands on top of her. He could feel her squirming to get free.

"I'll take care of this," Sonic stood up.

"Hey, ugly!"

Instantly, Metal forgot about everything else, and jumped to his feet, glaring at his organic counterpart.

"An adequate taunt, since I was modeled after you, hedgehog."

"You would have my dashing good looks," the hedgehog grinned, "If your face wasn't plastered with metal."

That was all Metal had to hear. He lunged.

"I will kill you, Sssonic!" 

Sonic dodged, sticking out his tongue.

"Catch me if you can, bolt-head!"

He ran off, Metal in hot pursuit.

Mighty ran over to Eliza, helping her up.

"You okay?"

"Yeah.."

Chaos was still insane, attacking anything he saw. Luckily, they were out of his line of sight.

"Can you try to control him again?"

"I'll try, but I don't think it will work."

"CHAOS!"

He rotated to face her, and this time, attacked. Mighty barely shoved her out of the way, as the watery arm flashed past them.

"Told ya."

Metal was still trying to catch up with his arch-nemesis, almost as crazy as Perfect Chaos.

"I'll rip you apart!" he shrieked, attempting, in vain, to do so.

Sonic spindashed him in the chest, bowling him over.

"Not today, bucko!"

Metal managed to grab hold of his arm, and twisted it, painfully.

"DIE!"

"I don't really feel like it."

"HEY!" They were both aware of Eliza's shout, but not from the direction from which it came,

"Can't you two have your final showdown thingy some other time?! We have a bigger problem on our hands!"

"No can do, shorty!"

Metal's hand soared towards his heart, producing a gash on his chest. Blood spurted out, but the wound wasn't deep enough to do any permanent or lethal damage.

Sonic cried out, more in shock than pain, and threw himself backwards, landing on his feet. Metal Sonic had decided that he had had enough of their game. He unsheathed his blasters, aiming.

Sonic was barely aware of the yell of a voice, from afar, "LOOK OUT!" As the air around him exploded with lights, and beams. He barely dodged the blasts, singing his fur in the process. Unfortunately, a few of the shots hit Chaos, and he screeched with rage, sending something similar to a tidal wave off in all directions. It missed the hedgehog, who was in the air, but the other three, Metal, Mighty and Eliza, were swept away by the powerful current, unhurt but overwhelmed.

"Oh great," thought Sonic, who had landed safely on his two legs again, "Now what am I gonna do?"

Chaos noticed him, and lashed out. He evaded it, scanning the formidable creature for any sort of weakness. His eye caught something.
The nucleus! (A/N: I don't know if PC still has a nucleus, but I don't care either. I don't have a Dreamcast, and the furthest I've gotten on SA was Red Mountain.)

He curled his person into a ball, hurling himself up at it, battling gravity. He may have been winning, but Perfect Chaos caught onto his scheme, and foiled it, by smashing him back down with a pillar of water. Sonic landed on the grass, the breath expelled from him. He didn't even know how he survived. He pawed at the ground beneath him. It was wet.
A voice greeted him.

"Hello, Sonic."

He sat up with a start, glancing furiously around him.

"Where's that voice coming from?"

"I am not there."

Realization hit him. He clasped both hands around his head, and shook vigorously.

"Whoever you are, get out of my head! Are you one of those voices?"

A giggle. The speaker was a girl.

"No, no, silly! I'm speaking telepathically with you."

"Wha? How is that possible?"

"I'm a smart little girl."

"Who are you?!"

"My name is Tikal. I'm a former Guardian of the Floating Island."

The illogic made his head pound.

"Impossible! You're dead!"

"My body may be dead, but my spirit is- was, rather, sealed inside the Master Emerald with Chaos."

"What?"

"Never mind it."

"What are you doing talking to me?"

"I'm helping you defeat Chaos."

"How?"

"Use the Chaos Emeralds."

"But Perfect Chaos has them!" 

Sonic was beginning to get irritated. You would be too, if you had the voice of a long-dead echidna speaking nonsense in your head.

"So?"

"What do you mean, SO?!"

"Listen.  There are two being in existence that can use the Chaos Emeralds, while they're in use by someone else. You are one of them."

Curiosity got the better of him,

"Who's the other one?"

"You will find out soon enough."

"But-"

"It doesn't matter, at this point."

"So, how?"

"Concentrate. It only works while they're in use. You can channel their Chaos energy to yourself."

"But how?!"

"You did it once before, Sonic."

"WHAT?!"

"How do you think you shocked R.K.?"

"I.. shocked..."

"Never mind."

He snapped his fingers.

"I remember!"

"What were you thinking when you did that?"

"Well.. I was really mad. I mean.. he was attacking a poor, little girl.."

"All right. Use all the anger against Chaos. But not just anger. Concentrate all of your emotions, and if it works, you'll go Super."

"Are you sure?"

He could almost feel a confident smile inside his mind.

"Very sure."

It was the same assured tone that Knuckles used.

"Alright.."

Reality appeared, and Chaos resumed trying to crush him. Why had he been so still during the hedgehog's conversation with Tikal? She must have frozen him or something...
But that didn't matter.
All that mattered was him, concentrating his energy, his feelings, his soul, on the monster.
All his anger, his hate, his love, his caring, his concern, happiness, sadness..

His fingers began to tingle.

Yes! That was what happened when he went Super.

He looked at his fur, no longer azure, but a rich, fiery yellow. He smirked, as the power came in waves to him.

"All right, Perfect Chaos, let's do this."

Super Sonic let his body rise, locating the nucleus once again. He lunged, like a torpedo, at Perfect Chaos's head. P.C. saw the attack coming, and blasted at him. Super Sonic, grinning to himself, cut through it as if it were water. (A/N: Waaaait...)
He continued his assault, soon hitting his target head on. A terrible sound filled the air. S.S. winced, unable to block it out. It took him a few minutes to realize that the sound was, indeed, Perfect Chaos, and he was screaming. The hedgehog slice through the red matter, and came out at the other end, quite proud of himself. It began to rain, hard. The drops pelted down like bombs, and brilliant flashes of lightning illuminated the sky. A hurricane was forming, trying to suck in everything. If there were some trees still standing, the hurricane ripped them out of the ground, drawing them into it. Super Sonic struggled against the pull of gravity, forcing himself to stay in the air. The only thing unaffected was Perfect Chaos himself. He saw his enemy's plight, and shot out an arm at him, smashing him out of the air. Super Sonic landed on the ground, hard. The water washed off him, and he lay, looking up at the disaster above him. Good thing his form protected him from injury.
His heart nearly stopped, however, when he saw his fur flicker blue. In that fleeting instant, he was normal again, vulnerable to everything. But it was only a moment.
He sat up with a start.

"I'm losing it.."

He concentrated, again. A wash of relief passed over him. But Perfect Chaos was still winning. What was he supposed to do? The hurricane was swirling his way, and in a matter of minutes, he would be sucked in. He took to the stormy skies.

"Tikal," he thought, "Help me. What am I supposed to do?"

No answer. He was on his own.

"Oh.. man.."

His brain pounded, trying to grasp the conversation he had had with the echidna earlier. And he remembered!
She had told him that, when he had shocked Robo Knux, it was Chaos channeling at work.

"If I could do the same thing to Chaos. Think, blue, think. What was I doing?"

He snapped his fingers.

"I was mad.. really mad."

He focused his thoughts on the Master Emerald creature, emotions burning into anger. Anger, for all the destruction Perfect Chaos had caused. Rage, for hurting his friends. For destroying beautiful nature.

Once again, he felt an aura hang around him. Taking this as a good sign, he launched himself, once again, at the monster. Thunder crackled, as forks of energy appeared around him. One even hit him. But he felt nothing but fury. He saw nothing but his target. Heard nothing but the pounding of his own heart, and the whispers of:

"Sonic! Sonic!" in his head, by alien voices.

Again, he was hit. Again, Chaos attempted to swat him, but in vain. Again,  he collided with the brain. Again, lightning hit. But not him. The nucleus. Another terrible scream pierced the air, louder, and worse than the first.
His hate increased.

"SHUT UP!" he bellowed. The shriek still lasted. The hurricane grew, becoming darker, and out of control. The thunder rumbled louder, the rain turned to hail, and the frequency of lighting increased tenfold. But it was not Perfect Chaos who was causing it.

It was Super Sonic.

Perfect Chaos lost his grip on the Chaos Emeralds. The power was torn from his grasp. The emeralds scattered once more, glowing insanely. They didn't go very far, however. The beast was reduced back to Chaos 0, and he flopped to the ground. Super Sonic dived at him, still in his insane frenzy. (A/N: Tribute to Fleetway's Super Sonic)
The Chaos Emeralds' glow died down. SS didn't stop. They returned to their placid, unused state. The crazy hedgehog's fur colour flickered.

"NO! NO!"

He was blue again. He was normal Sonic. He crashed, head-on, onto the ground. Maybe his Super form protected him. Or maybe It was Tikal. But, he lay, unhurt, but completely shell-shocked.

"I... I.."

"Sonic!"

"Tikal!" But, this time, the voice wasn't in his head. It was.. from outside. A hand lifted his chin. A feminine hand.

"Are you okay?"

"T-tikal?"

"That's me."

She was an echidna, peach in colour. She wore sandals, showing off her toes, as well as a small, white tank top. A multi-coloured skirt wrapped around her two, slender legs. She wore gloves, and a gold headband. Her dreadlocks, were coated with strips of white fabric.

"H-how?" He was obviously shaken.

"Too complicated for this moment. One day, you will understand."

"A-are you alive?"

"Not exactly. Relax."

"W-what happened? I-I l-lost control.. I-I don't know what h-happened."

"Shh.." she kneeled beside him, rubbing his back, as he were a scared little child.

"The rage. You should never let anger take over you in a fight. When you have such a powerful form.. the ire is intensified, and it rules your mind."

He was calming.

"I'm never going super again."

"You will need to."

He titled his head to Chaos 0, who was hunched over, staring at the ground. He made no movements.

"You did good," Tikal assured him, standing up. "Now it is time for Chaos and I to return to where we came from."

"But-"

"Another thing. The other person, who can channel Chaos energy. He calls himself the Ultimate Life form."

"Tikal-"

"Good bye, Sonic."

He could see there was no use arguing.

"Bye, Tikal. And thanks."

She smiled.

"Say hi to the current Guardian for me. I believe you refer to him as Knuckles."

He nodded.

"Come, Chaos."

Obedient as a dog, the watery creature followed the echidna. There was a bright flash of light, and they were gone.

"This'll be interesting to explain to the others."

The hedgehog gave a little side, raising his line of eyesight. His eyes caught something glint. The silver Chaos Emerald.
He trudged over to it, dejected, and scooped it up.

"May as well retrieve the CEs."

Not too far away, Shadow's communicator beeped. He brought it to his ear, fumbling around for the 'Receive' button.

"Shadow."

"Yes, sir?"
"It appears that Chaos has failed." Robotnik's voice was agitated.

Shadow made no comment, he knew it was smarter that way.
Robotnik continued.

"It's your turn. Eliminate him."

Shadow cracked his knuckles. This was the chance he was waiting for.

"With pleasure, sir."

"Go, now."

"Shadow out."

He switched the little machine off, eyes glittering.

It was time for Sonic to pay.

*****

"That's the sixth one." Sonic collected another Chaos Emerald, the green one. He continued to search, but was quite puzzled.

"Where's the 7th one?" He had spent an hour looking. The 7th one was supposed to be near the other ones. But where was it?

"Sonic the Hedgehog."

He perked up at the sound of his name. However, he couldn't recognize the voice. He turned.

"Yes?"

In front of him, was another hedgehog, this one jet black. He had red highlights in his fur.

"I found you."

In his hand, something shiny was clenched. The 7th Chaos Emerald.
Sonic was on his guard.

"Why were you looking for me?"

"To make you pay."

"Pay for what?"

"Don't play stupid with me."

"Who are you?"

"I am Shadow, the Ultimate Life Form."

So this was the person Tikal was talking about.

"-And you are dead, Sonic."

"I don't think so."

The black hedgehog tightened his grip on the emerald, and shouted out,

"CHAOS CONTROL!"

In less than a second, Shadow was on top of him. Sonic spindashed him, sending him reeling. Shadow wasn't expecting this.

"I know who you are," Sonic huffed, "You're another clone of me, aren't you?"

Shadow was outraged at the suggestion.

"A clone!? HOW DARE YOU!"

The blue hedgehog smirked.

"Definitely a clone, faker."

Sonic lunged, and, thanks to his incredible speed, caught Shadow in another spin-dash.
Shadow was more shocked than hurt, and he picked himself up.

"YOU'RE the clone, faker."

Shadow was getting more angry by the second. How dare this murderer insult him?

"I don't think so," Sonic shot back, "Faker."

"HA!" Shadow sneered, "You're not even good enough to be my fake!"

Sonic clenched his teeth.

"I'll make you eat those words!"

The fight began anew. Chaos Control vs. super speed.
Shadow matched Sonic, stride for stride.

"Time to bring out the big guns."

Shadow, as well as the emerald he was holding, both started to blaze. Sonic eyed his nemesis quizzically.

"What the-"

"CHAOS SPEAR!"

The black hedgehog pointed at the blue one. Within an instant, Sonic was hit by a series of what seemed to be lightning bolts.
(A/N: You'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge on Shadow; I never played SA2.)
He was thrown back, smoking, into a tree, where he crumpled to the ground. Shadow, proud, marched forwards.

"You'll pay for murdering Beth."

"Pah," scoffed Sonic, "I never murdered anyone. And even if I did, she deserved it."

Wrong answer.

Shadow socked him in the chest, sending him into another tree.

"How...dare.. you!"

"How dare I? Like this: Beth was a bloody traitor. I didn't kill her; if she died it was her own fault." (A/N: See Desert Rose)

"LIES! You kicked her out of Knothole-"

"So?"

"-Without her medication."

Sonic blinked.

"Wha? What medication?"

"Beth was sick."

Sonic was panicking now.

"She.. was?"

"She needed her medication to live!"

"I.. never knew.."

"YOU KILLED HER!"

"Oh my.." The blue hedgehog clutched at his chest.. "Oh.. God."

Shadow was close to tears now.

"YOU BLOODY MURDERER!"

The blue hedgehog looked up, his eyes glassy.

"I.. I..."

Shadow flicked the tears off, sorrow melting into rage.

"And now.. I'm going to kill you."

"You'll do no such thing, Shadow."

In a flash, Ray had put himself between the two adversaries.

"Ray," Shadow's voice was dangerously low, "Get out of my way. Now."

"No. Sonic is one of my closest friends, and while you may be, also, I can't let you kill him."

"Out of my way."

What did Ray know?

Ray was nothing more than a naive little child. What could he possible know about vengeance, and... love?

"No."

"Ray," this time it was Sonic who spoke, "He's right. Get out of his way. I'm no hero."

"NO! It's not your fault! You had no idea!"

"Ray, get out of my way."

"NO!"

"CHAOS SPEAR!"

Just as it had happened before, tongues of light and energy smacked Ray in the stomach, and he was propelled backwards, crashing to the ground.

"RAY!"

Sonic rushed to his side, holding his fallen friend.

"Ray.."

Shadow stood, motionless. No sound came from his lips. He was frozen, like a statue.

Sonic looked at him, eyes full of bitter pain.

"And you call me a murderer."

"I'm.. alive."

Reality snapped back to Shadow. He kneeled by Ray, cradling his head. Tears fell.

"Ray.. I'm so sorry.. I.. almost killed you. I-I.."

"No more fighting, Shadow." Ray managed to rasp, "Be at peace."

"I-I.." Now it was Shadow's turn to glance at his opponent.

"You..."

A terrible sound filled in air. All heads tilted towards the sound of Metal Sonic, the source of the noise. He was laughing.

"You idiot!"

"Metal!"

"It was not Sonic who killed that traitorous piece of-"

"BETH WAS NOT A TRAITOR!" Shadow screeched, his voice cracking, "She was kindest, best person in the world!"

"Pah," Mecha almost successfully imitated a snort, "She betrayed us all, Shadow. I had to make her pay."

Sonic's eyes widened.

"You... mean..."

"That's right. I set that bomb, not Beth. Beth was innocent."

A knot formed in the Freedom Fighter's chest. He felt sick to his stomach.

"W-why, Metal?"

"Nobody double-crosses Metal Sonic and lives to tell about it."

Shadow was somewhere between exploding, and sobbing his heart out.

"She never double crossed anyone, Metal!"

"She was a spy," snarled Metal Sonic, "For the Freedom Fighters."

Amidst his sorrow, and self-disgust, Sonic managed to speak:

"No, she wasn't."

This puzzled Metal. Sonic was honest; he didn't lie. But master had told him..

"Oh? Then why did Robotnik want her dead?"

"Because," gasped Shadow through the tears he was desperately trying to brush away, "She saw the little fox, Miles Prower, about to be roboticized. She couldn't take it.. she set him free."

Metal was silent. A new emotion entered his databanks.

Shock.

Robots could not stutter, and Metal Sonic's voice was still as flat and emotionless as ever. But there was something behind it, some feeling.

"That's it?"

It made sense. He knew that Beth was kind-hearted. She wouldn't have allowed a child to face that treatment.

"That's all she did?"

Master had lied. Master was a liar.

>Does not compute.<

Why did he care all of a sudden? He had killed people before. Even children. Babies.

Was it because.. that echidna was the only one to ever treat him as a person, and not as a worthless, feeling-less machine?

"It doesn't matter," Metal finally said, "Even if she would be alive, she would be roboticized with the rest of you."

"What?" Now it was Shadow's time to experience shock.

"You have thirty minutes. Robotnik's ship has already launched into the air."

"B-but, that's impossible! Project Epsilon needed the Chaos Emeralds."

"It was a trick," Metal supplied, "Robotnik never needed the Chaos Emeralds. He just sent out his forces to distract the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix."

"Of course," Ray thought, "We all knew we was planning a huge attack! But we thought that this was the plan!"

"This.. was all a decoy?"

"That's right. You have half an hour until the entire planet is hit with a roboticization ray."

"N-no."

"Who knew of this?" Shadow demanded.

"Myself and Robo Knuckles."

"This can't be happening."

"Have a nice life. What's left of it. Ta ta."

And before he could be stopped, Metal darted off into the sky.

"Oh.. man.."

"Robotnik betrayed me!" Shadow clenched his fists.

"We have bigger problems, Shads."

Shadow folded his arms.

"Guys, what are we gonna do?" Ray was frantic.

"That's it. There's nothing we can do."

"WHAT?!" despite his injuries, Ray's indignant voice was as loud as ever, "You're giving up?"

"Let's face it, Ray. It's the end."

"How can you talk like that?! There must be something we can do!"

"-Actually," Shadow diced their little argument in half, "There is something."

"Oh?"

He had their attention.

"I have an ability, Chaos Control. It allows me to transport from one place to another."

Their faces lit up,

"SWEET!"

"However," he frowned, "I don't have the energy to warp two people,"

"-Two people?!"

"Like I'd face him alone. He has all these security precautions, and I'm weakened from my fight with Sonic."

"And, not into space."

Ray scowled. Sonic, however, was grinning from ear to ear.

"What are you so happy about, Blue?"

"I just got this killer idea. When I was Super, and fighting Perfect Chaos, Tikal told me that there was someone else who could channel Chaos Energy. A dude who 'Calls himself the Ultimate Life Form.'"

"That'd be me."

"And we have the Chaos Emeralds right here. We could share their energy among us, Shadow can Chaos Control us, and together, we can take down 'Buttnik."

"Sonic," Ray smirked, "I never thought I'd say this.. but.."

"Yes?"

"That's an awesome plan!"

"Than- HEY!"

Shadow and Ray shared a laugh.

"But.." Shadow bit his lip, "How do I go Super?"

"It's easy," Sonic gathered the Chaos Emeralds in his arms as he spoke, "Just concentrate all of your emotions."

They both took the Chaos Emeralds.

"Here," offered Sonic, "I'll go Super first, and you'll just have to channel the Chaos Energy."

He concentrated his thoughts, his energy, his spirit, his emotions. His fingers prickled with energy, underneath his gloves.

"YES!"

Shadow looked at him in awe.

"You're.."

"Yellow." His eyes, no longer emerald, were now a cherry red, like Shadow's.

"Now you channel."

Trying to follow his rival's process, Shadow relaxed his body, as if meditating. He let the memories flow to him. Memories of Maria, of Beth, of Ray. Laughing them, crying for them, blood boiling for their killers, and for the evil of the world. Sympathy for Metal.. hate for Robotnik.

"You did it!"

His eyelids snapped open.

"Look at yourself, Shadow. You're.. Super!"

He obeyed. His fur, no longer black, was now a rich albino.

"I.. did it."

"Yes. Now, let's do this."

"Right."

"Good luck, you guys."

"CHAOS CONTROL!"

Meanwhile:

"There's another one."  Espio scooped another Master Emerald shard.

"How many do we have?" Vector queried.

"Six. Two a-piece."

"How many more do we need?"

"Six." (A/N: I don't know it there are 12 shards or not. And I don't care either)

The search dragged on.

"I don't get it," Knuckles rapped his knuc-claws against a shard, "I feel shards around here somewhere..."

"Maybe you're losing your touch."

Knuckles shot the chameleon a disdainful look.

"The shards we have are glowing, meaning they are nearby, so keep your trap shut, chameleon."

"Yessir, Captain Knucklehead."

Knux wasn't in the mood for games.

"Espio, if you don't shut up, I'll shut you up."

Espio would see that he was serious, so he stopped.

"Sorry Knux. I know you're upset."

"We have about thirty minutes until the island falls."

Both reptiles gaped.

"Thirty minutes?!"

"Yes," the echidna sighed.

"Knux, to be blunt, things aren't looking good."

A pause.

"I know."

"They were never looking good, echidna!"

"That voice..."

"-synthesized," Vector finished, with a growl.

"And who do we know that has a synthesized voice?"

"-Cell!"

The owner of the voice, stepped out.

"Perceptive."

He wasn't a Mecha Bot. Something between an android and a normal robot. (A/N: Kind of like Megaman, but all metal) Tall, and sleek. His body, a deep gray all over.
He had no nose or mouth, but a perfect sphere for a head, with two, light silver, almost white digital eyes. In his hands, was clutched the other half of the Master Emerald.

"Looking for this?"

The Guardian balled his fists.

"Give me those shards, Cell."

"No."

"They're mine."

"Not anymore."

Without even thinking, Knuckles lurched forwards, fists outstretched.

*****

"Look!" Eliza pointed ahead.

Mighty squinted.

"A hangar."

He rubbed his eyes. Eliza turned to him.

"Mighty? You okay?"

"I.. need a nap. Give me some time to rest."

"Okay.."

Without even considering the danger that could be lurking around the corner, Mighty curled up against a tree, making himself comfortable, and within a minute, was fast asleep.

Eliza sighed. That had been three hours ago. He was still catching up on his winks. Eliza didn't feel the least bit tired. She wandered around, looking for food. However, all she could find were some berries. She ate half, and trotted back to where Mighty was lying. She placed the berries next to him, but stopped short when something caught her eye.

A paper!

Indeed, it was a paper, folded neatly, with "Mighty" typed out of it.
The young Guardian bit her lip. Something didn't feel right. Who would take the time to write a letter to Mighty? And how did they know he was here?
Even though it went against the morals she was brought up with, Eliza opened the paper, and read.

"Sorry, Mighty," she whispered to the peaceful armadillo.

She coughed a little bit, then read:

"Dear Mighty,

This is, indeed the Robo Knuckles you know and love. I have one thing to ask of you-
A rematch.
However, this time around, we'll make things more interesting. How? Simple. You know that showdowns are so much more amusing with something at stake- or in this case, someone. Do you see what I'm getting at, Michael? Well, in case you don't, I propose we clash head-to-head once more, this time with Eliza hanging in the balance, no?
And before you even think about disagreeing, remember that you have no choice in the matter. If you don't comply, then I'll use her as a hostage. Fair enough?
So, after you're finished your catnap, meet me at the abandoned hangar you discovered not too long ago, at 4:30.
Be there or be circular.
-RK."

Eliza digested the letter.

"4:30.." She then glanced up at the sun, "It's about 4:10 now."

She fidgeted around, not quite happy with being a prize.
But there was something that bothered her more..
She dropped her line of sight to the ground, pensive.

"I.. I..."

The little echidna inhaled.

"I'm tired of people fighting for me. I'm tired of people getting hurt.. or dieing.."

Rotor.

"For me."

Taking a deep breath, she tore the paper to pieces.

"No more running."

And she marched off, in the direction of the hangar.

*****

"Finally.. success is in my grasp," the evil doctor cackled.

"No blasted hedgehog and his pesky team of Freedom Fighters to meddle in my plans. No-"

"Think again, Buttnik!"

"WHAT?! Impossible!"

The hedgehog stepped into the room, flanked by Shadow.

"Shadow! Get him!"

It was then that Robotnik noticed.

"You-you're both Super! But how-"

His voice turned hard.

"Shadow, get him."

"Why?"

"Because I'm your master, that's why!"

"Not anymore. You betrayed me."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I was to be roboticized along with all the other Mobians on the planet, Ivo!"

"Shadow, you see-"

"Enough excuses!" Shadow snarled, "We're going to put an end to your plot, Julian, and you too, in the process!"

"Do not.. call me Julian, HEDGEHOG!"

He slammed his robotic fist down on his control panel. Instantly, the area he was in, transformed. A dome of glass slid out from the ceiling, and it closed securely around him, and his controls. Gears rotated, and before long, he was in a mech similar to the ones he used in his first few encounters with Sonic.
"It's hedgehog proof!" Robotnik's booming laugh resonated all around them, thanks to loudspeakers.

"We'll just see about that, chrome dome!"

With that said, Mobius's greatest hero hurtled towards the monstrous machine, but bounced harmlessly off it. Robotnik hooted with laughter, annoying his two opponents.

"I'll just Chaos Cont-"

Ivo cut him off.

"No need for that, my boy. This baby is protected by a Chaos field, and you don't have enough room to land in it. Even if you try, it'll repel you, and you'll probably end up in outer space."

Shadow grit his teeth.

"Want to give it a try?"

With a yell, Shadow spin-dashed one of the apparatuses protruding from it, a mechanical arm. To his surprise, it gave a deep shudder, and bent, a large dent appearing where Shadow's body had collided with it.

"Sonic!" Shadow called out, narrowly missing a swipe from the other arm, "Hit the arms!"

The hedgehog was about to comply,  but was shot out of the air by a blaster. Not just any blaster.

"Gah! Mega muck!"

"That's right," Robotnik chuckled, "And you're stuck."

Indeed, the hedgehog found that he couldn't move at all. As much as he tried, he was planted securely to the ground. Robotnik let his arm fly at the helpless Sonic, grinning like a maniac.

"NO!"

Shadow body slammed into it, and it came clean off!

"NO!" Robotnik screeched, and tried to backhand Shadow with the other one.

However, Shadow saw it coming, and swerved out of the way. He swooped down towards Super Sonic, and grabbed him by the arms.

"Pull, Shadow!" Super Shadow strained, trying to hoist his friend into the air.

"SHADOW! LOOK OUT!"

Just as Sonic came free, Robotnik's fist came towards them at incredible speed, too fast to dodge. However..

"CHAOS CONTROL!"

They vanished, reappearing across the vast room.

"We have to hit that arm at the same time," Sonic pointed out.

"Ok. So.. let's both fly around, confuse him, then slam into the right side at the same time?"

Sonic grinned.

"Sounds like a plan, Shads!"

They split up, looping around Robotnik's mech in a crazy dance.

S.S. stuck out his tongue.

"You couldn't hit Mobius with that thing, Ro-butt-nik!"

Robotnik made a sound very much resembling a whale, and lunged at the cocky hedgehog. Shadow mimicked his partner.

"Egg breath! Over here!" He blew a raspberry at mad scientist.

Robotnik screeched something incoherent, his arm veering towards Super Shadow. He didn't see them both wink, however. Shadow ducked the blow, and whirled around, advancing on the arm. Super Sonic was at his side. Before Robotnik could switch courses, they both tackled the metallic imitation of a limb, and it was ripped out of the machine, just like the last one.

Robotnik broke out into laughter again.

"You may have disARMed me," he howled with mirth at his own stupid joke, "But you still can't penetrate my armour. So the joke's on you, really!"

The two hedgehog exchanged nervous looks. He was right.

****

"Robo Knux! I know you're there, so just come out already!"

Eliza, summoning whatever courage she could muster, marched into the hangar, ready to face her worst nightmare.

"Well, well."

Mecha Bot 4 dropped right in front of her, "What an unexpected turn of events."

She wanted to run.

"No, Eliza," she told herself sternly, "Just run head-first, and don't look back. It's too late for fear."

"It's dangerous for little echidnas to be running around alone," he lowered himself to her height, so that they were face to face, then went on, in a sinister and melodramatic voice,

"They could get hurt."

Eliza almost fell backwards, quivering like a leaf. Robo Knux chuckled, enjoying the terror he had caused. He straightened to his erect position.

"Now then, what brings you here, Eliza?"

"I-I'm here to give myself up."



If a robot could have raised his eyebrows, RK would have. He could have laughed, but he didn't.

"Oh?"

"On one condition," Eliza was gaining confidence with every word.

"And what's that, Mizu?"

"You have to beat me in a fight instead of Mighty."

RK did laugh this time, an evil sound that shook Eliza thoroughly, and made her lose whatever confidence she had gained.

"You're challenging me to a fight, little mouse?"

She took a breath before answering,

"Yes."

He chuckled.

"I commend you on your bravery, Eliza."

An unexpected response.

"But why.. is the question."

"I'm tired of running."

"Very well. Take your best shot, kid."

Eliza's attack was a sudden. A spin-dash, aimed at his upper-body. RK saw it coming, and in a flash, blocked it with his arm. Eliza bounced off it, creating nothing more than a small dent. She uncurled near a wall, and climbed to her feet. RK just watched her, idly. He had no need to attack her.

"This is hopeless. I have no chance."

You have to try.

"I know."

But what attack to use? The spin-dash was one of her strongest, and she had only managed to make a dent on his armour.
She hopped onto the wall, then back off it, in a glide.

RK froze. Someone else had entered.

Mighty.

A wicked smile formed across his metallic muzzle. His sensors searched for something suitable- Ah, yes. Behind Eliza, was a stack of equipment. He saw her coming, and waited until she was close enough. He backhanded her, and she went sailing through the air, this time in the opposite direction. She impacted with pilot's equipment, and it fell on top of her.

Robo Knux, still pleased, rotated a bit, to face the shadows.

"Ah, Mighty. I was beginning to think you weren't coming."

The armadillo stepped out of the darkness.

"Where's Eliza?" he growled.

R.K. gestured to the pile.

"And don't blame me, she came on her own."

Mighty started to run in her direction, but RK blocked his path.

"I don't think so. We have a score to settle first."

"Ego hurting?"

"Maybe. I want a re-match."

"Fine. But make it quick."

"There are no rules. If you win, you get to dig Eliza out from there. If I win, I do. Got it?"

"Bring it on."

"If you insist."

Mighty was the first to attack, as R.K. expected. He leapt onto the wall, as Eliza had done, then kicked off, the wall giving him extra speed, and force. But Robo Knux was ready. He let his fist fly, blocking Mighty's lunge, and rebounding him into a wall.

"-And that," RK commented, "Is why you can't rush head-first into things, my boy."

"Why do you care?" Mighty huffed, pushing himself upright, "Planning to take me under your wing, RK?"

RK smirked.

"Let us begin the customary villain-hero talk. Join me, Michael, and together we well wreck havoc on the world, and assault small echidnas."

"Get a life, Robo-Knucklehead."

"I already have yours." Now it was Robo Knux's turn to attack. He rushed at the armadillo, tackling him back into the wall, and giving him twin slashes across his chest. Mighty spindashed him in the chest, too swift for even Robo Knux to counter. Now it was the robotic echidna who went flying.
From under the pile, Eliza desperately struggled to free herself. She knew that there was a big fight going on, and she also knew by who. A small air hole protruded, and a thing beam of light shone on her. Rejuvenated, she fought on, swimming to it.

Mighty, wasting no time, ran at Robo Knuckles again. The Mecha Bot revved up his engines, picking himself up. Mighty came closer. Just as the armadillo was about to body-slam him, RK took to the air, his arm wrapped around the teenager's neck, bringing Mighty up with him. Mighty spluttered for air, as the plates on RK's metallic arm cut into his chin.
Robo Knux was rising.

"Like the view from up here?"

Robo Knuckles's other hand closed on Mighty's torso, and he threw the unfortunate armadillo to the ground. Mighty landed with a belly-flop, gasping for air like a beached fish. He pushed himself up. RK switched off his engines, and dropped directly on top of him, pounding him into the ground. Mighty grasped at the ground, trying to get a grasp on the floor. But Robo Knux's mass was too great, and Mighty collapsed, his lungs being pummeled.

"Well, well."

Eliza could now see the fight. She was still trapped between different articles, and frantically kicked out.

"Let's just see how strong you really are, shall we?"

Mighty's breath was being expelled at an alarming rate. He gave no answer, save his own laboured breathing.

"As I thought. You won by fluke."

Eliza wanted to scream out, "MIGHTY!" but no sounds escaped her lips.

"Well you know what?" R.K. jeered, enjoying Mighty's suffering, "After I kill you, I'm gonna take Eliza. And then I'm gonna stick her in another pyramid, hunt her down, and rip her apart. I'll leave her for a month, then I'm gonna do it again. And again. And again. Until either I get sick of it, or she dies, and the probability of either of those happening is little to none."

"No," Mighty somehow managed to choke out.

"Yes."

Eliza was almost free now. Her ankle was still jammed between a jumble of helmets.

"Any last words, requests? A cousin you want me to say 'Hi' to, someone you want me to kill for you? How about a little bravado, hm?"

Mighty's breathing was slowing to nothing. Red haze clouded his vision.

"Guess not."

"STOP IT! YOU'RE KILLING HIM!"

And before he knew what hit him, Eliza had tackled him right off Mighty.

"That's the point."

Not too far away, she could hear an engine humming. And she saw a ship, slowly rising.

"Take the bait, kid. Take the bait," RK thought. He got up, pacing towards her.

She ran. RK shot one last glance at the still armadillo.

"He's as good as dead."

And he took after his prey, with malicious intentions.

Elsewhere:

"What are we gonna do?"

Robotnik finally stopped laughing, but looked triumphantly down his nose at the two.

"Think, Sonic, think!"

He then noticed the sparking stumps.

"That's IT!"

He jabbed Shadow in the ribs, then pointed at what was left of the arms.

"Shads, you hit the left one, and I'll hit the right one."

Shadow could see his line of thinking.

"Right."

Both hedgehogs, rammed head first into the area. The sparks grew in intensity.

"NO!" Robotnik hollered, "DON'T DO THAT!"

Super Shadow rolled his eyes.

"It's called reverse psychology, tubby." And he repeated the process.

On Robotnik's screen, "Malfunction!" appeared in bold, letters.

Robotnik cursed, as the hedgehogs continued.

"Attention!" the computer's voice stated, "Damage levels critical. Eject Y/N?"

Furiously, he pounded on the 'Y' key. The windshield opened, and out shot out Robotnik's chair. Right into the ceiling. Howling with profanity, the fat doctor jumped, landing, feet first on the ground, and breaking his left foot in the process. He limped into the next room, stumbling as he did so.

"I'm going after him." 

Sonic marched after him. Shadow made as if to follow him, but Super Sonic put a restraining arm on his shoulder.

"Shadow.. this is something I need to do alone."

"I understand. Give him a broken jaw for me."

"I'll see what I can do."

And so, Robotnik's greatest enemy took off after him, fists clenched.

"You're going down, 'Buttnik. Big time."

****

The ship was rising into the air. Eliza gave a mighty jump, and pulled herself on it. Before she could sigh happily, something else landed on the ship, and it gave a jolt. Robo Knuckles. To her relief, the door closed on him. But he wasn't going down without a fight. Using his powerful arms as a lever, he managed to keep it open, and he forced himself through. A war was going on, between the mechanical doors, and Mecha Bot 4. With a triumphant grunt, RK shoved himself through, and the doors clamped shut. Eliza gave a little squeak, and scurried up the wall, trying to make it out of the storage area. (A/N: Think, a car, except the difference in levels is much higher.)
Something clutched her leg.

"I like it much more down here, Mizu."

There was a sickening crunch as Eliza's bone gave way. She clawed around her, her fingers encountering a tool box. She pulled out the first thing she could grab, a monkey wrench, and smacked RK in the face with it. RK, in surprise, let go of her, and the monkey wrench clattered to the ground. Eliza pulled herself up, and managed to stand on one leg. RK hoisted himself to her level.

"Clever." The ship was on auto pilot, and it was already in the air.

Another tool was clasped between her fingers. A pair of pliers. She hopped backwards, into a cockpit.

"Don't come any closer."

RK smirked, and stepped forwards, pronouncing every footstep in insolence.

"You're trapped."

No sooner had he said this, Eliza stumbled backwards, into the pilot's seat. Automatically, the seat belts fastened around her. Her fight to break free was in vain. RK gave a digital snicker, shadowing her.

There was a control panel on her arm rests. Feverishly, the little echidna jabbed at the buttons. A small, Plexiglass dome covered her, shielding her, for a time. 
Robo Knux grew serious.

Below them, was one of Mobius's oceans. Robo Knuckles slammed his knuc-claws into the barrier separating him from his prey. To Eliza's horror,  he was rewarded with a long crack. Eliza whimpered, pushing any buttons she could see. Her terror was catching up with her, consuming her. She didn't notice, the panel on the ceiling opening, or that the red light under 'Auto pilot' was no longer blinking. R.K., again, punched the Plexiglass. The crack grew, and multiplied, spreading across the tube-like area. Again, his fist encountered glass. This time, it penetrated, the blades of his knuc-claws now inside. Something caught Eliza's eye.

The 'Eject' button. (A/N: Gotta love the Eject Button.)

Her eyes darted upwards, as the wind whipped around the cockpit. She pressed it.
Robo Knux grabbed Eliza's wrist, not aware of her not-so-ingenious plan. The rockets under the chair switched on, and the chair shot up. Instead of being carried up with her, Robo Knux cursed as Eliza's glove came off, exposing her bare hand. The chair rocketed into the air, and parachute came up. RK went after her, and tried to jam himself through the closing panel.
It was then that he noticed.

The plane was about to crash into the ocean! 

More than ever, RK fought, swearing at low volume. (A/N: What a potty mouth.)

Eliza clutched at her chest, trembling uncontrollably.

*****

"ROBOTNIK!"

The hedgehog stamped into the abandoned room.
Indeed, the evil doctor was dragging himself backwards, his legs no longer functional.
He gave no response.

"I have dreamed of this moment every night." Sonic's voice was sharp, and cold, and Robotnik had never heard him use that tone before. He continued to steer himself away.

"I've dreamed of this moment, every time a new Mobian was transformed into a mindless slave. Ever time a family was devastated, and broken up. Every time a new victim fell prey to Robo Knux."

No response.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself, Julian?"

Ivo winced at the use of his real name. He had to buy himself time.. he had to keep dragging himself to the opposite wall.

"Have mercy on a poor soul."

"Have mercy? HAVE MERCY?! How dare you.."

Sonic heaved, with emotion.

"Did you have mercy? When you turned innocents into machines? When you destroyed families, and homes?! When you siced your twisted Mecha bots on children!? DID YOU?!"

No answer. Robotnik continued to pull himself away from the angry hedgehog.
Just a bit further...

"Answer me!"

Aha! He sprang backwards, into a capsule.

"No hedgehog, I didn't. Mercy is for the weak!" The door to the capsule closed, separating the two enemies.

"I may not have been able to fulfill my plan, thanks to you two, but, while you were ranting, I managed to escape, and now you two, so-called heroes, will be trapped in space, while I will return to Mobius, to continue my world takeover! No longer will you be a thorn in my side, Sonic the Hedgehog!" He broke into laughter, once again.

"NO!" Super Sonic hurled himself at the door, but it was too late. All he had managed to do was open a leak.  Oxygen was sucked out of the ship. He could feel his power draining.

He had left the Chaos Emeralds on Mobius.

****



Celluloid, or Cell for short imitated a laugh, and backhanded the Guardian. He flashed the complete Master Emerald, shrunken to its mini-size and the other three gaped.

"But how-"

"While you were gawking, I snatched them from you."

Knux stood up, eyes slanted.

Cell inserted it into his arm panel. It didn't entirely fit, a small patch visible to the eyes of the three.

"BEHOLD!" And he activated it.

Instantly, the three Islanders were blinded by bright flashes of light. Before them, stood Cell. He was no longer gray, but white.

"Behold... Super Cell!"

He let out something resembling a cackle, and fired his plasma cannons at them.

"DUCK!"

They all hit the ground, barely avoiding the deadly beams.

Knuckles checked the sun.

Ten minutes left.

"What am I going to do?"

Still avoiding the blasts, Knux thought furiously. He remember Archimedes, the fire ant, who had been his mentor. Sadly, he had died, shortly after the battle with Enerjak, and his Dark Legion.

"You are the Guardian of the Master Emerald, you may manipulate its power."

He snapped his fingers, eyes locking onto the protruding tip of Emerald.

"That's it!"

He leapt into a glide, circling around Super Cell like a vulture, dodging all of his attacks. Cell jumped at him in a tackle. Wrong move. Knux swerved around him, spiked fist closing onto the Master Emerald.

"You want power, tin head?  Well, it's an all-you-can-eat!"

His hand began to glow a brilliant shade of green. As did the M.E., and Cell himself.

"Noooo," Cell's speech became slurred, as Chaos Energy erupted from him, bathing the foliage in jade. Knuckles tore his prize away from the robot, and Cell shot off like a rocket, screeching,

"The poooowwwweeeerrrrr!"

Knuckles collapsed, heaving with strain.

"Knux!" Espio ran to his side, "You okay?"

"T-take the Master Emerald to the FI, you two." He placed it in Espio's hand.

"Knux," Vector's voice was broken, "It's too late."

He pointed a scaly finger at the Floating Island. It gave a shudder, and plummeted a thousand feet.

"No, it's not! There's a town nearby,  run to it. As soon as the ME's back on the Island, the fall will stop."

"Right!"

The two cold-blooded Mobians took off in a huff.

"P-please," Knuckles begged no one in particular, as the Island fell another thousand, "Don't let it be too late."

****

"Sonic!" The two hedgehogs met once again. Sonic was crestfallen.

"He got away. There's a leak, and our power is fading. We're gonna die."

"No," Shadow countered, firmly. "Not you."

Sonic looked up.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to Chaos Control you back to Mobius."

"But, you don't have the energy to Chaos Control us both!"

"I know."

"Then-"

"I said I'm going to Chaos Control you-"

Super Sonic's eyes widened pleadingly.

"Shadow! You can't!"

"I have to. You're more import-"

"DON'T SAY THAT!" The blue hedgehog's voice was rising at an uncontrollable rate.

"There must be another way!"

Shadow shook his head, sadly.

"There isn't. My original purpose- was to make the people of Mobius happy. You do a much better job then I do."

"But Shadow-"

Sonic was beyond reasoning. 

"You can't do this, Shadow!"

"There's no other way!"

"Shadow-"

"Tell Ray.. tell Ray that I'm sorry. That he was right all along. That I shouldn't have been so stubborn."

"SHADOW!"

"Take care of him for me, okay?"

Sonic clutched at him.

"SHADOW!"

This couldn't be happening. He couldn't lose Shadow. Even though they barely knew each other, Shadow felt like a brother to Sonic. A kindred spirit.

"You can't die.. you're the Ultimate Life Form."

"No, I'm not.."

"But, Shad-"

"CHAOS CONTROL!"

There was a flash of light, as the blue hedgehog disappeared.

Sonic's cry of "SHAAAAADOOOOOOW!" still hung in the air.

Shadow's fur flickered.

"I fulfilled my promise, Maria. The people will be happier this way."

There was little oxygen in the ship.

"Beth...I didn't avenge. But things are better now, because you're not sick anymore. Your death.. was not the fault of Sonic. Not even of Metal. It was Robotnik, that dirty liar. You'll be happier where you are. I'm coming to join you."

He let out a sigh. His colour flickered again.

"Ray.. I'm so sorry. You were right.. I was so stubborn.. you were right.. Take care of yourself, little buddy. You've one of the kindest people I've ever come across.. the world needs more Mobians like you."

Bond melted into ebony.

"Goodbye..."

And then he collapsed, the life being sucked out of him, along with the oxygen.

Way, way, below:

Eliza's breathing came out in sharp gasps. She placed a hand on her shaking chest, trying to restart to heart.

"It's over," she told herself, "It's over."

She allowed herself a glance downwards.

Nothing but water. She let the breeze guide her, pushing her towards land.

Something caught her attention.

A speck. No, a RED speck. The chair lowered itself, the parachute swinging in the wind.

"NASHI!"

The echidna looked up in surprise, then broke out into joyous laughter.

"Eliza!"

He waited until she was close enough, then held out his arms.

Eliza freed herself from the seatbelt, and vaulted into his outstretched arms.

"NASHI!"

She latched onto his chest, still shaking violently.
He noticed her behavior, and her wounds.

"What happened?"

"RK."

He nodded sagely, rocking her.

"KNUX!"

Sally was waving at him. Apparently, while the battles were taking place, the remaining members of the Resistance (A/N: What I call all the forces opposing Robotnik) had managed to regroup.
Knux didn't need a second bidding. He broke out into a run, soon reaching the others. Everyone was there, save Mighty, Ray, and Rotor.
Sonic's eyes were fixed on the ground, and he was looking dejected.

"Who have we lost?"

"Rotor," Bunnie put in, sighing deeply.

"And Shadow." Sonic's voice sounded far-away, and broken.

Eliza's was almost identical, when she said:

"Mighty."

They all looked at her.

"R.K. killed him." 

She buried herself in Knux's chest, finding comfort there.

There was the pattering of feet, proclaiming Ray's arrival. He was panting, and had Mighty in his arms.

"He's alive," the squirrel babbled, "Just barely."

"Nashi," Eliza raised her head from her brother's fur. Her voice was tiny, "I want to go home."

"We did it, Knux," Espio beamed, "We made it in time. The Island is rising back to its original place as we speak."

"Good."

"Ray," Sonic's head came up, "Shadow wanted me to tell you that was sorry. And that you were right all along," the hedgehog's voice cracked, and he lowered his head.

Eliza tugged at Knux's arm.

"I want to go home," she sniffed. Knux rubbed her back, gently.

"We're going home."

"Well," Sonic remarked, with a trace of bitterness in her voice, "So much for a fun little adventure."

"Eliza's right. Let's go home."

They split up, and for once, Sonic didn't run.

Eliza elbowed the bigger echidna.

"Do you think he'll be okay?"

"He'll be fine," Knux assured her, "He needs time. I.. know what's like to lose someone close to you."

And, the elated Chaotix Crew marched towards the town, or, more specifically, the teleporters (which is how Espio and Vector managed to save the Island on time), their bodies aching.

Sonic walked alone, ahead of everyone else, the Chaos Emeralds secured in his arms.

"One day, Robotnik, one day..."

*****

It sat, hunched forwards, green eyes blazing, on one of Robotnik's patrol ships. Its colour used to be a cheery red, but was now a dull gray. Scrapes were marked on it, as well as dents. Oil leaked. It said but one sentence, every word pronounced deeply.

"Next time, Mizu. Next. Time."

The End (FINALLY!)

And the moral of this story is.. always be yourself!*
*Note: the moral does not apply to you if you are a killer Mecha Bot, evil dictator, or a hamster.

Author's notes:

Praise Naka-sama! I FINISHED it! What a ride! I hope you all enjoyed it!
First of all, I'd like to give thanks to the following people:
Kiwi Wolf, for being my editor, and just for putting up with me in general. Girl, you ROCK!
David Benjes, for helping me out with the plot, and the beginning. Why aren't you online anymore? ;_;
Soul, for re-writing the beginning for me. Kitty! :D
MechaSonic2, for giving me information on Chaos, Shadow, and just for putting up with me in general!
All the people who took the time out of their lives to show me encouragement and support, and actually review my writings.
The people who put up with me, my teasers, and the parts of the fic that I show to them.
FanFiction.Net, NetRaptor, and anyone else that hosts this story.
The readers. (That means YOU! *points*)
The Spellchecker. Where would we be without it?
Food. Just because.
Um.. myself?
Anna-Mathe, and anyone else that put up with all my rambling!
Yuji Naka, for creating these awesome characters.
God.. for giving me all that I have, and also for putting up with me!
Anyone else I forgot..
Inspiration came from the fact that I needed to write a long story.. And of course, cool songs like "Live and Learn" (Leetest song ever!)

That's it for now.. Take care, all of you!

Timeline:

Here we go:

**Enter Eliza: Nursed illegally in a village controlled by ruthless and evil dogs, Mighty the Armadillo finds himself far away from home. And the only way to get back home, is to overthrow the Cellos, which is next to impossible.

**Duty Calls: Knuckles and Tails have mysteriously disappeared, and Sonic heads to the Floating Island, searching for clues. But what he does find, is far more than he bargained for. A rogue echidna, an old friend, a few friendly faces, and the infamous Metal Sonic!

**Friends 'Till the End: Tails and Eliza have been forbidden to see each other. But when Metal-Sonic threatens to blow up the island, the two know that they have to stop him, together, even if it means disobeying Mighty or even the cost of their very lives......

The Dark Vengeance Re-Write: Enerjak's back, and craving vengeance! Using Knuckles and the Chaotix as pawns in his evil scheme, the twisted echidna plans to take over the Floating Island, no, the world!

The Weak, the Strong and the Mighty: When the island is threatened by Volgo the. Stoat, an old enemy of Mighty, Mighty must go solo to stop him. However, he isn't as solo as he thinks he is.... But why is Kiibi helping Eliza, and who is that strange armadillo who saved her..?

Eliza's Birthday Bash: Eliza's tenth birthday has arrived. The Chaotix, and the Freedom Fighters are planning a surprise party. They're not the only ones who want to surprise Eliza, and this particular surprise isn't going to pleasant....

The Armour of an Echidna: Shay-lu is back, and he's geared for revenge against Mighty. The sneaky weasel's got the perfect sinister plot in mind, and he's planning to attack Mighty's 'weaker' side....

A Squirrel Walks Among us: An urgent e-mail from Axel draws Eliza into the heart of Robotropolis, and straight into Robotnik's waiting hands. (Prelude to Trapped)

Trapped: All has been quiet since Shay-lu's latest attack. Mecha still lies dead, Robotnik has calmed down, and there's no sign of Enerjak and his legion, anywhere. Now, a new enemy has come to the Floating Island, hoping to steal the Master Emerald and terrorize the islanders. However, the mayhem doesn't really start until Amy Rose finds Eliza bloodied, and literally ripped apart in Lava Reef.....

Behind Steel Doors: Metal-Sonic is back.. with a vengeance! The robot, long thought to be dead, has returned, with upgrades, an invulnerability to the resistance, and a steely rage. His first action: locking Tails, Ray, Eliza, Amy and Shamus in 
the abandoned city of Robotropolis

Desert Rose: A sick echidna girl comes to work with Shadow and Metal Sonic in Robotropolis. Metal, reminded of Knux's treachery, decides to keep an eye on her.. but things change.. The two hedgehogs find themselves growing fond of the girl.. and then, the trouble begins.. (Prelude to Second Nature)

Second Nature: A competitive treasure-hunting race, quickly turns into a nightmare for the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix when Robotnik unleashes his prize creations, instructing them with the sole purpose of collecting the Chaos Emeralds for his diabolical plan, and destroying every single mobian standing in their paths.

*Simplicity: A new girl comes to the island, claiming to be a Guardian of some sort. But things take a more nauseating twist when Robo-Knux kidnaps the girl, in an effort to manipulate her and her abilities...

*Corrosion: Robotropolis  is taken over by a mysterious being, and it becomes a base of operating for the new dictator. Mobius slowly becomes taken over by this powerful unknown. The Chaotix, and what's left of the Freedom Fighters soon learn, that they only for Mobius lies with a certain Mecha Bot...

*Hot Flashes: A wounded puppy appears on the Floating Island. A member of the Chaotix takes him in, and the puppy proves to have a thirst for destruction. Knuckles, suspicious, researches the dog's identity.. and is shocked at what he finds... (working desc)

*Sunrise: A young Guardian runs away from home, on a strange quest. Sonic decides that he wants to accompany her. And that's where the mayhem begins..

*Requiem: He's back! Dimitri strikes again, this time as a cybernetic echidna, once again backed up by the Dark Legion! But he's more than ready for Knuckles and the Chaotix this time..

*Parallel: Amy Rose's murder is just the beginning of a series of death-attempts, meant to frame Sonic. It works, and the hedgehog soon finds himself exiled from Knothole. Meanwhile, Metal is having similar problems...

*Double-Blade: A double fic. Limrik tries to sell Eliza to Robo-Knux, and his plan backfires. He soon finds himself having to rely on the echidna, if he ever wants to escape RK's wrath. While all this is happening, somebody is desperately trying to make Az lose Guardianship, and it's up to her and Knux to find out who, and stop them.

*Back to the Future: Sonic is transported five years into the future, where a new dictator rules. There is a small band of rebels, but they are losing bitterly. Can he once again bring hope amidst the despair and desolation that is Mobius?

*: Has yet to be written.
**: not finished yet, and I don't think they will be.