Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are copyright SEGA Enterprises, LTD. and Archie Comics Publications. Nights and related characters are copyright SEGA Enterprises LTD. Delphine, Dimitria, and related characters are copyright Delphine Kiminsu. All the V'Pirians and V'Pury are copyright Delphine Kiminsu. Jim Doe is copyright Roland Lowery. ANNNNND... Many thanks to Jim Doe. He wrote that part 'bout Jim. Make sense? Good. Now enough with this legal schmutt. Read the story for Pete's Sake! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Our memories, they can be inviting, but somewhat altogether mighty, frightening. --No Doubt, "Don't Speak" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Red Silk, Part Six Shadows of the Future -- Delphine Kiminsu Earth The United States of America: New York: Thendara, June 29, 1:32 AM EST Peter toyed with the small machine. He frowned. All the lights were out except the green one. "None of them work except the one that takes us to Mobius." "Let's go back now." "No-- we need the silk," Peter said. Snively eyed him. "I don't want to tell you again...." "Then don't." Peter looked around. "They destroyed all our 'bots," He murmered. "That's why I want to leave," Snively said quietly. Peter looked at him. Then he looked around the room. Snively did the same. He saw something, looked at it a moment, then did a double take. He walked towards it. "What is it?" Peter asked. Snively didn't answer. Instead, he picked up something red... silky. "The Red Silk," Snively breathed. "What?" Peter asked. "Let me see; what is it?" But before he could say anything else, there was a flash of red, and they were gone. "So. We finally meet all of you. It's been a pleasure, really. I'd hope we'd all meet again if I didn't know that we wouldn't." "You're an asshole," Knuckles told him. "Perhaps. But at least I'm not a dead asshole," The Master said with a chilling grin. He looked at Delphine, who was unconscious in Knuckles arms. "I think we'll kill her first." "Over my dead body," Knuckles growled. "Count me in." Jared glared at the Master. The Master looked at them. "Very well." He raised his arms, and the v'pires attacked. "YAAAAAAAAH!" "HE-YA!" "AHH!" "DIE!" "BASTARDS!" "ASSHOLES!" "SHITHEADS!" "BLOOD HEADS!" "JERKS!" "DORKS!" "IDIOTS!" "AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Knuckles fell back against the wall. He looked at Delphine to make sure she was okay. "This is shit... there's no way we can beat them... damnit, wake up!" As if on cue, Delphine moaned and blinked. Knuckles blinked himself. "You rang?" she muttered as she put a hand to her head. Knuckles sighed. "Everything's gone to hell. We have to get out of here NOW." "I see that," Delphine said, looking around. "But how? All the exits are blocked. The only way out is to destroy them all." "Tell me about it. We're all lucky we've lived this long..." he was interupted by a loud shriek. Someone had thrown Ali into a wall. She didn't move. "You were saying?" Delphine said grimly. She stood up and blasted the nearest v'pire. It slumped to the ground. Delphine shook her head, still groggy. "Let's get going... I don't think you'd want us to go down without a fight." "No way JoseĢ. Let's throw out the trash." The low-fived, then joined in once again. Sonic hid Sally behind a few boxes, then jumped at the v'pires. "We have to... oof!... get out of here before they kill us," Dimitria told him. Sonic kicked a v'pire that was about to smash a lead pipe into Dimitria and said, "Now way! We can fight them off. I'm not letting them beat us!" "There not beating us! They're KILLING us!" She shrieked as a v'pire kicked her and she fell over. It pinned her to the floor and was about to do it's job. Suddenly there was a flash of green and the v'piren was lying on the ground a few feet away. Delphine came over and helped Dimitria up. "Welcome back to the world of the living," she said. "Thanks, but I think I prefered it where I was." Delphine shot another v'pire and kicked one that had tried to sneak up behind her. "This isn't exactly fun." "Hear, hear." "JARED!" The v'pirian was on the floor. "You called?" "Thanks." "No big deal. From what I hear, getting killed isn't everything it's cracked up to be." "Haha." "I thought so." "I bet you did." Lisa kicked a v'piren in the chest and Jared punched one out. "You know, if we had run away a day earlier, or gone somewhere else, this wouldn't have happened." "That's all hypothetical. Everything happens for a reason." "Maybe." He kicked two v'pires and whacked the back of his fist into another. "If you could change anything about this, would you?" "As in if I knew about this would I have gone somewhere else?" "Yes." "Nope." "Me neither." The Watcher's Spot, No Date, No Time ^This has to be done. There's no way around it.^ Earth The United States of America: New York: Thendara, June 29, 1:57 AM EST There was a cough. Then a sputter. Then a gasp. He looked around himself. He seemed to be in a small wharehouse of sorts. He thought over what happened. "We were chasing her,... and..." he stopped. "I WAS DEAD! HOLY SHIT I WAS DEAD!" Devon stood up. "I WAS DEAD! How the hell... I'm dead! This must be Heaven... or hell... but nothing's different... I'm NOT dead?!" He stared at his hands. "But I'm supposed to be DEAD!" "What the heck was THAT?!" He shook his head. "That's it, I'm nuts... I's probably in a hospital somewhere 'cause my dad whacked me to hard..." Devon felt someone give him a small push. He whirled around, but saw no one. Then he felt a tug on his arm, but again saw nothing. "Man, I'm really whacked.... guess I better follow myself." Devon slowly started walking towards the wharehouse... He walked faster... He started running. 2:17 AM EST "Damnit... we can't fight them all! We have to get ourselves out of here!" "Affirmative, captain. Let's book it." "Wait! We have to make sure everyone's with us!" "I know! I'm waiting! Does it look like I'm going anywhere?" "Nope." Delphine said. She turned to where most everybody was and screamed, "RETREAT!!" Then she and Jared ran out of there, and those who could follow did. "Oh damn... oh shit... oh frig it. Who do we have left?" "Me, Jared, Knux, Dimi, Marco, Nights, and you," Sonic told her. "So Sal, Lisa, and Ali were left behind...?" "Yes." "This is *@#&ed-up." "Yeah, well, this is your life. You've been living it for sixteen years, get used to it." "Sarcasm'll get you nowhere.." "Damnit, where's Lisa?!" Jared demanded. "I don't know... maybe she got away, maybe not..." "Whatdaya mean MAYBE?! You mean she's still BACK THERE?!" "I DON'T KNOW! SO DON'T GET ON MY CASE ABOUT IT! SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE!" "I'M NOT! I JUST WANTED TO KNOW! I'M IN A BAD AS MOOD AS YOU ARE SO DON'T TAKE ANYTHING OUT ON ME!" Jared whirled around and stomped off. "Shit, he's right..." "It's okay. I'm sure he'll forgive you later..." "Yeah, I know, but that's not the point..." "We're all pissed off. Sally's there too, remember? I'm surprised I'm not jumping all over people to get them to hurry up and get her back..." "I'm not. If you were, I'd kill you. And that wouldn't be good, because then we'd be short yet another, outnumbered even more, and if we ever get back, I'd be tried for murder.' "Oh, okay, I guess that makes sense then." Sonic and Delphine shared a small laugh. Dimitria and Nights walked over. "What's the plan?" Dimitria asked. Delphine gave a small, nervous laugh. "I don't have a clue. There is no plan. Plan A through *&^%ing Z have been used. There is NOTHING LEFT. There's too many of them. There's nothing we can do. I'm all out. Kappot, zero, zilch, nothin. Dead." "It can't be THAT hopeless... wait, it is," Nights said morbidly. "We don't have anything left?" "Unless you've got something left in that bag o' tricks of yours..." "No. I didn't bring anything. I wasn't prepared for this..." "You can never be too prepared," Delphine said. Dimitria raised an eyebrow at her. "Someone very smart and extremely cool once told me that." Dimitria smiled. "Can't be too paranoid either." Delphine looked behind her. "WHAT THE--?!" "Miss me?" "HOLY (*^&ING SHIT!" "Yup. Back from the dead. Literally... I think..." Devon shook his head. "Anyway,... 'sup? What happened?" "I-I-I-I- uuhhhh,..." Delphine stuttered. Jared didn't notice that Devon was back. He was too busy muttering to himself with his back to everyone. Marco didn't notice either. He was too busy being in pain. "The world exploded," Dimitria told him. "What?" "We were attacked. Sally, Lisa and Ali were left behind... condition unknown. Jared's pissed, Marco's in a lot of pain, you're suddenly back from the dead, and the rest of us are generally waiting for everything to blow up." "Oh, cool. That explains everything." Devon gave a twisted smile. "Is there a plan?" "We already discussed this." "Nota. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Goose egg. Dead." "That's pretty close to what you said, Del..." "I know speedy. That was the point. A little bit of humor on our last day as living beings." "Don't you DARE start being pessimistic. When that happens, we're as good as dead." "We're not as good as dead now?" "No. There's still a chance. You know that as well as I do." "No we don't. You know we don't." "Damnit, shutup Kiminsu," Dimitria said. Delphine looked at her. "You know better than this. If you're going to be stupid, just shutup." There was an awkward silence. "Well, *I* have a plan, if ya want ta hear it." Everyone looked at Devon. "Well, it's all we have, I guess. So let's here it," Nights said. First Devon called Jared and Marco over. Then he began. 2:20 AM EST As Delphine and Jared where yelling, the v'pires where discovering Sally. "Aww, poor thing, they left her behind. What a shame." Aknar picked her up and brought her over to the Master. Lisa was being held by three v'pirens and Ali was unconscious on the floor in front of him. "Well well. Another one. Put her down next to this one." Aknar obliged. The Master turned to Lisa. "You know how devastating it would be for them to find their friends dead." "It won't work. They won't let their feelings get in the way of survival. So give it up." "Well then! I guess killing you won't work, will it?" "No, it won't." "I guess we'll just have to make you one of us then." Lisa gasped. The Master lowered his mouth to her neck. Lisa screamed. 2:30 AM EST Jared heard the scream. "Oh shit-- that was Lisa." "Great. Just what we need. She's either dead or beyond hope," Delphine muttered. "Don't worry. I don't think they can do anything to her," Devon said. "Good. I was hoping that," Dimitria said. "Are you sure? It's not like we have..." "I'm sure," Devon told Knuckles. Knuckles looked at him a moment, then nodded. Delphine stopped. "What?" "It's here... right Dev?" "Yup. It's there somewhere." "Thought so... it's pratically pulsating." "Yeah... it feels weird in here..." Knuckles spotted it right away. "There it is." He pointed. Delphine sighed with relief. Devon walked over and picked it up. Everyone waited for something weird to happen. Nothing did. Devon frowned. Devon smiled. "It's cool. It's not supposed to be workin' yet." "Devon, you are acting really weird..." "I know. I'm always weird, cool?" "Whatever. Let's just get this over with, okay?" Marco said bitterly. Dimitria patted him on the back. "She'll be okay." Marco looked at her. "You're strange..." "Why?" "Everyone's either pissed or annoyed or pessimisstic about the whole thing... you just keep getting better." "It's a habit of mine... we're taught that where I come from." She paused. "But I don't belong there anymore..." She shook her head. "Let's go kick some v'pire butt!" "Yeah! All right!" 2:43 AM EST Lisa passed out. "Uh, sir? If I may, why is she not,... one of us?" one of the v'pirens asked. "FOOL!" The Master punched him in the head. No one said anything. "She's not one of us because... because I changed my mind. so don't worry about it. Get one of the others ready." He walked away from the group. Aknar followed. "Sir, if I may ask, what is wrong?" The Master sighed. "I am not sure... it did not work, is all I know." "Interesting... I am sure that it is not you. It must be something with her." "I hope so... what kind of leader would I be if I cannot even convert one into a v'pire?" "I do not know. I just know that over half the population is converted by yourself. Only one human remains on our planet, and he can't last long. When he is caught, you will go down in history as the v'pire who converted the last one. And then you will be our leader forever." Aknar finished. Then he walked back over to the rest. The Master stood there and thought a moment, then walked back as well. 3:03 AM EST "All right everyone, this is it..." Everyone murmered an agreement or a thank you or a see-ya later. "See-ya on the other side, Del," Sonic said. "Likewise. Watch yourself. This isn't going to be easy." "Yes it will. We're the best of the best of the best. We can do it." They smiled at each other, low-fived, and then Delphine went off with Jared, Sonic went with Knuckles, Dimitria with Nights, and Marco with Devon. "There they are..." "I'm gonna kill him," Jared whispered. "No. That's Devon's job. C'mon cowboy, stick to the plan." "But... Lisa..." "She's going to be okay. Remember what Devon said? They can't hurt her." "How does Devon suddenly know everything?" "He had a near-death exp... forget that. He was DEAD. If he came back from the dead, then he probably DOES know everything, or at least a lot more then we do. So stick with it. It's not going to last long, I don't think. So ride it through and don't freak on me." "I wasn't going to..." "I know." There was silence for a while. Delphine saw a red glint, one, two, three times. She took out her dagger and made the light glint off of it one, two, three times. The red glint blinked once, paused, then blinked twice. The light bounced off her dagger twice, paused, then one more time. She put her dagger away, and her hands became illuminated a green color. "Ready?" "Ready as I'll ever be." Delphine blastes a large piece of cement, then jumped down into the circle of v'pirians. Jared followed. The v'pires were so suprised that for a moment they didn't even move. Then Delphine shot Aknar. The v'pires started fighting. "Okay... you know your part, right?" "Yes. Don't be so paranoid, I remember." "Good. As soon as Sonic and Knuckles get out there, you get Lisa. Then I'll get Sally, and Marco gets Ali. And then..." "I know, I know." "I'm sorry, I'm just..." "Worried. I know. So am I." "Three... two... ONE!" Sonic and Knuckles jumped into the fray. They were still greatly outnumbered, but the best of them were fighting. They could keep themselves alive long enough for Devon's plan to climax. "All right... NOW!" "GO!" Nights flew out and scooped up Lisa. A few v'pirens went after him. Dimitria teleported, picked up Sally, and teleported away. The v'pires that saw were to supprised to bother looking. Marco ran out and picked Ali up. A few v'piians were almost on him instantly, but he jumped out of the way. He levetated a large beam, and dropped t on te v'pires that were trying to get him. Then he ran after Nights. Nights, Dimitria, and Marco met up. "Did everyone get everyone?" "Yes." "Yes." "Me too..." Dimitria put Sally down. "Now we wait..." "You forgot one part..." "Oh, yes. Be careful." "I will." Nights dashed back and helped fight the v'pirians. Devon watched from behind a large box. "I can't be brave. I'm scared as hell." "Really? That's not what my father said..." "He's not?" "Okay. I'm ready now." Devon looked at the red silk in his hand. The silk started glowing. The glow spread onto Devon's hand, then his arm, then the rest of him. Devon smashed through the box and slammed into a v'piren, who dissapated at his touch. Delphien saw Devon and nodded at him. "LET'S GO! LET HIM DO HIS JOB!" Jared, Sonic and Knuckels unwillingly drew away from the fighting, and the four of them ran. Devon looked looked at the v'pires. The v'pires looked at him. The Master knew what was happening. He looked around. The Master didn't ask anymore. He ran. Aknar woke up. He had heard the voice too. He ran. Devon didn't notice this. He felt a burst of power, and the place exploded with an awesome red light. Devon lowered to the ground. Somehow, for some reason, he had been floating. He looked around. The room was empty. He looked at himself. He was still pulsating, but the red glow was diminishing. He looked at the silk in his hand. he thought. "What?" Devon asked aloud. The silk exploded in his hand. Devon felt a monstrous pain flow up his arm and into him. He screamed and blacked out. Everything was dark. A red light glowed, origin unknown. It grew brighter. The wharehouse exploded. Mobius: The Great Forest "WHOA!" Delphine blinked and woke up. "HOLY SHIT!" She looked around. Then her eyes widened. "The forest... the Great Forest..." she murmered. "Del?!" Delphine looked up to a very confused and bewildered Jared. "Jared..." she stood up. "What the hell happened? Where are we? What's going on?" "I don't know. Mobius, my home planet. I don't know." "Waitaminnit... I'm on a different PLANET?!" "Yeah... kinds strange, huh?" "You can say that again..." "I wonder what happened to everyone else..." "Oooooooohhhh," someone groaned. Sonic sat up and put a hand to his head. "Damn purple flowers..." Delphine heard him and walked over. "Sonic? Are you okay?" Sonic looked up at her, confused a moment. Then his eyes recognized her. "I'm not sure... what happened to the flowers?" "Uuuuuhh Sonic?" Sonic shook his head. "I think you're nuts... but otherwise okay." She helped him stand up. "Do you know where Knuckles went?" "The purple flowers must've taken him..." Delphine laughed, and resisted an urge to whack him on the back of the head. "Wake up! There are no damn purple flowers!" "Yes there are. They caused all this..." This time Delphine did whack him on the back of his head. "HEY! What the hell did you do that for?" "Because of the damned purple flowers you're talking about..." Sonic gave her a confused look. "Oh... I was dilusional..." "Really? I didn't notice..." "Is he all right?" Jared asked. "I think so. All though the... nevermind." She smiled at Sonic. "On word to anyone about the purple flowers and dig your own grave," Sonic murmered. "Only if you find out about it," Delphine murmered back. Sonic gave her a look. She laughed. "C'mon you two. Let's go find everyone else." Devon woke up and looked around. He felt a pounding in his head. "What happened... where am I?" He felt panic well up inside of him. "Where am I?" "Why? Why can't we go back?" "But..." Devon fell asleep. "Knuckles." Knuckles whirled around. "Oh. There you guys are." "There WE are? Where have you been?" "Looking for you!" Delphine laughed. "Oh well. Are you okay?" "Yeah. What happened?" "Dunno. Something. Hopefuly we'll find out." Delphine walked over and gave Knuckles a hug. Jared glanced at the ground. Knuckles saw this. He looked at Delphine. "Have you been ignoring certain indivisuals?" "Hmm?" "You know," Knuckles said. "Wh... oh." Delphine looked at Knckles. "You won't be jealous?" "It's your choice, not mine..." Delphine gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "Uh oh..." "What uh oh?" "I think you're becoming mature." "OH NO!!!!" Delphine looked at Sonic. He winked at her. "Now I'm the only imature one... whatever shall I do? Oh woe is me!" Delphine doubled over with laughter. "Oh p-p-poor Sonic! The ony one of his kind left. S-s-such a shhhhame!" Sonic burst into laughter with her. Knuckles grinned at them. Jared shook his head. "Let's go find the others." Lisa walked away from everyone. She needed to find whoever it was, and fast. She walked up a small hill, and could just see the sun peaking over the horizon. She sighed. she sighed. Rick saw a human girl on top of a small hill. He wondered who it was. It couldn't be Delphine. This girl was a little taller, and Delphine didn't stand like that. He watched her look around, and then look in his direction. Lisa saw the person she was supposed to talk too. She ran down the hill towards him. Rick watched the girl run towards him. He wondered what she was doing, and what she wanted with him. She walked up to him. Lisa walked up to him. "Who're you?" he asked. "My name's Lisa. And I need to talk to you... Rick?" "...Yes." "Why me?" "I don't know." "This is really weird." "It's just as weird for me as it is for you." "Okay.. I guess..." "Do you except? Think hard and long before you answer this." "Yes. I except." There was a blinding flash. Lisa blinked. "What was that?" she asked no one in particular. "The switch." Lisa whirled around. She saw a tall deer, with light brown fur and green eyes. He was wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans, along with yellowish-brown boots. "Who're you?" "No one in particular. Take care of Devon." The deer picked up his backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and walked away. "Who.. what... how...?" "Perhaps you should explain." Lisa whirled around again. "Sally..." Sally Alicia Acorn looked at her, with one hand on her hip and a bumb on her head. "Just what is going on?" "I don't really know... but what I do know... I can't tell you," Lisa said. She bit her lip. Sally sighed. "I'm too tired to deal with this now -- we'll talk later. Now c'mon, we might as well find out where we are." Sally smiled at her. Lisa smiled back. "Ah, well," Jim Doe said to himself as he walked deeper into the forest, and farther away from his life as a Walker. "At least things are back to normal." He stopped a second as a rumble sounded from his stomach. "Oh, yah. Forgot about that little inconvenience," he said. "Time to check and see if the OLD powers still work." With a bit of concentration, Jim felt the once-familiar warmth of his power discharge from his hand in a flash of pinkish-purple light. Almost immediately, an apple fell from the tree above him and right into his waiting palm. "Jim, ol' deer," he thought as he bit into the fruit, "you still got it." Delphine looked through the trees. "There they are." "There who are?" "Don't get wise with me, I'm too stressed t--" "I'm just kidding." "I know." The four of them walked over to Nights, Dimitria, Ali, and Marco. "There you are! We were just gonna go looking for you." "Well we WERE looking for YOU, but since WE found YOU, I guess we're not looking anymore," Delphine told her with a grin. "Makes sense," Ali said. Dimitria rolled her eyes. "Does anyone know where Sally and L--?" Sally and Lisa arrived just as Ali said that. "You were saying?" Nights said. "Okay, two down, one to go... where's Devon?" Murmers were passed, but no one knew where he was. "Guess it's search party time again?" Sonic asked. Sally nodded. "Delphine and Nights, Sonic and Knuckles." The four nodded, then went off. "This has been the strangest couple of days in my life." "Same here. Everything's just so... you look at it in a different way, you know?" "Yeah... I'm not sure I'll be able to contain myself back at Nightopia," Nights said. Delphine grinned. "You could try forgetting everything." "Oh yes, that's going to happen." Nights grinned back. "Hmm... but now that I know that... all this stuff is going on, I just... want to be part of something bigger. I mean, yeah, I still want to be part of the Freedom Fighters and all, -- heck, I couldn't live... wouldn't be ALIVE without them, -- but... it just bothers me that this is all I'm doing... all thoough it IS alot... not that it's all I ever want to do..." she stopped, not sure herself what she was talking about. "Not me. I'm quite satisfied with my responsability back home. Besides, I'm the general of the army. They need me." He sighed. "What?" "Nothing." "Afraid we won't be able to figure out how to get you back?" "Yeah, I guess..." Delphine smiled at him. "Don't worry. If Peter could do it, OUR guys can do it. They're the best on the planet." Nights gave her a sideways grin. "From what I here, they're next to the ONLY on the planet." "Details, details." "Can you believe everything that's just happened?" "I can't believe what happened about five minutes ago, forget the past few days," Knuckles said. "Is that supposed to mean somthin'?" "Nope." They sped on in silence, until Knuckles shouted, "Stop!" Sonic obliged. "What?" Knuckles didn't answer. He walked back aways a few feet, then looked through the brush. "Over here," he called out. Sonic walked over. "There he is." <*Del! We found 'im.*> <*You did? Good! Where are you?*> Delphine answered after a moment. "Where are we?" "About half a mile west of the willow tree." "What?" "She'll understand." "Whatever." <*About half a mile west of the willow tree, Sonic says. Whatever that means.*> <*Okay. We'll be there in a minute.*> "Okay... now what's this about a willow tree?" "Just somethin'." "Thanks for clearing that up." "You're welcome." Devon moaned. Sonic knelt down, and took a pulse. He nodded to himself, then snapped his fingers, fanned Devon's face, and yelled in his ear, but Devon still didn't wake up. "He's out. We'll have to wait." Sonic stood up and started pacing. "Will you quit doin' that?" "Why?" "It's annoying." Sonic stopped pacing and started tapping his foot impatiently. Knuckles sighed. "Annoying?" "Yes." "Good." Sonic started pacing again. Knuckles groaned. "There they are." Nights pointed. "Oh, good." The two of them flew down and landed behind Sonic and Knuckles. "About time!" "Oh wow, we've taken almost five minutes." "It was longer than that." "Was not." "Was too." "No it wasn't." "Yes it was." "It was." "No, it wasn... hey, wait a minute!" Delphine laughed. Sonic gave her a look. "All right, that's quite enough... where is he?" "Asleep." "And you left him that way. Bravo." "He wouldn't wake up, okay? He's totally out." "Yeah, yeah." Delphine knelt beside him. She tried everything she knew, but nothing worked. "See? Told you." "Oh, don't be such a two-year old." "You were about two seconds ago." "Whatever." She looked around. "Wonder what heppened to the red silk," she murmered. "Who cares. Good bye bood ridance don't come back!" the voice in said to itself. The newly named Pitopolis Snively looked over the familiar controls. "Ahhh," he sighed. Somewhere behind him, a SACCbot that had been left behind was acting as security, watching the monitors(which wouldn't be needed once all the other SACCbots were built and in working order). Peter was in another room, making himself "at home". "At home indeed," Snively murmered. The Dream World Nightmare Reala flew through the seldom used hallways, nursing a few new bruises. he sighed. he thought, but didn't continue it. Mobius, The Knothole infirmiry Devon slowy ascended from sleep. He looked around himself with slight alarm. Dr. Quack looked over. "Oh, good, I was hoping you'd wake up soon." Devon looked at Dr. Quack in alarm. "Who're you?" he asked with the slightest hint of nervousness. "Its okay. You're among friends." The voice laughed to itself. "Where am I?" "The Knothole infirmiry." "Where?" "Knothole is where the Freedom Fighters reside; an infirmiry is a place where doctors work." "I knew the last part," Devon said with a small grin. "Oh, good." The doctor grinned back at him. The door opened, and in walked Princess Sally, who was sporting a new bandage around her forehead and a mini-cast on her arm. "Hi there. It's good to see you're awake." "I'm not entirely sure I am..." Sally grinned at him. "What happened?" "Well... I can't tell you how we got back here, because I myself don't know. I CAN tell you what happened AFTER we got back." "We? Is Jared and Lisa here?" "Yes. They're both here." Devon sighed and relaxed. "Anyway, we found you in the woods, out like a light. We brought you back here and you've been here since then. Meanwhile, Rotor and Charles -- you'll meet them later -- worked on a portal opener to send Nights back -- and succeded. So he's back home. And that's prettty much it." "This is really whacked..." "Yes. It's strange for everyone... but when you're back to health, we'll..." "I am now." Devon jumped out of bed, whole-heartedly and without flaw. He was fine. "But... you were out only a few minutes ago!" Dr. Quack exclaimed. Devon shrugged. "I'm okay now." Sally cocked her head and looked at Devon curiously. "Interesting." Devon looked at her. She smiled. "C'mon. I'm sure eeveryone will be happy to know you're okay." Delphine and Knuckles sat next to each other on a hill overlooking the distant ocean. It was nighttime, and the moon had risen and was reflecting off the water. Knuckles sighed. "What?" "I dunno... it just seems that everything's changin'. Nothin's the same anymore." "I know what you mean... everything's just gotten weird." Knuckles put an arm around her. "Look... what happened... I know I wasn't exactly behaving... I'm sorry." "It's okay. Neither was I. It doesn't help that Jared is extremely cute..." "What?!" Delphine smirked. "That's not funny." "Yes it is." "Why?" "Because you get all worked up about it when you know I wouldn't just brush you off like that. I mean, sure, he's nice, and cute, and sweet and..." "That's quite enough of that." Delphine let out a small laugh. Knuckles moved away from her. She looked over at him. He glared at the air in front of him. She sighed. "You don't trust me," she whispered sadly. He looked over at her. She stared at the ground. "What?" She ignored him. He moved closer to her. "Leave me alone," she said quietly. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Go away." "Please. Don't do this. I'm sorry." "You keep saying that but I don't think you mean it." Knuckles grimaced. "I... we... you..." "Don't." "Delphine, I love you." She stopped. She looked him right in the eyes. He looked right back. She smiled at him. "You do, don't you." He smiled. "Bunnie, do... do you know where Rick is?" "I dunno, sugah. I haven't seen him since yestahday." "...Oh." Ali leaned against a tree. "Yah know, sugah, yah'all don't really belong with him. He don't desahve yah." "Please, Bunnie. I know what everyone says. I'll go my own way, okay?" "All right sugah, I just thought yah'all might..." "Excuse me... I'm not interupting or anything, am I?" Ali looked up. "Marco." Bunnie turned. "Hiya, sugah. Were yah'all been?" "I was just hangin' out with Tails... before I left." "Yah'all are leavin'?" "Yeah. I don't really belong here." "Well, sho-a yah do. You're one of us now." "No I'm not. I mean, it's a nice thought and everything, but it's just not my place." "I don't think--" "No, he's right. He doesn't belong here. And neither do I. I have to go back to the caves." Ali walked up to Marco and gave him a hug. :It's been nice knowin' ya, kid." She smiled at him. "Same here, Ali. See ya." "Bye." Ali walked away. Marco walked over to Bunnie. "Well... I guess... this is it..." "I'all guess it is." "See ya Bunnie." He kissed her cheek, then walked off into the forest. "See yah." "Del!" Delphine turned and saw Ali. "Hey. What's up?" "Well... I'm leaving, and I just wanted to say good-bye first." "You're leaving? What about Rick? What about Marco?" "Rick... disapeared. Marco already left." "Oh." "So... bye." "Waitaminute... I have to apologize. I'm sorry about everything I said, back there. I don't really have an excuse, and--" "I know. It's okay. You're still my friend." "Good. You're still my friend, too." "Good." They smiled at each other. Then Ali walked away from Delphine, away from Knothole, and away from civilization. Lisa fiddled with her ring. "This... thing... is useless. Dimitria said it's majik, but... what good did it do? It glowed a little, that's what it did." Lisa stood up. She was in front of the ring pool. "Goodbye, worthless piece of junk." She threw it in, then walked back into Knothole. "Delphine!" Delphine turned once again and found Sally in front of her this time. "Hi Sal." "Where's Knuckles?" "He left. He said he couldn't leave the Chaotix alone on the island any longer." "I don't blame him." Sally grinned. "And Ali, Marco and Rick are gone too." "Oh." "We're droppin' like flies, Sal." "Indeed we are." They grinned at each other. "How's Sonic?" "He's... okay." "Okay?" "Yes. I think he's in his hut." "All alone? You left Sonic Hedgehog all alone on this beautiful --romantic-- night?" "Delphine Kiminsu, I don't think I should be..." "Seize the moment, Sally." "Delphine!" "All right, all right." She shook her head. "Anyway... I just wanted to tell you, you don't need to write a report. I think I have an understanding of what happened." "Really? I wouldn't've guessed." Delphine grinned. "But... I always write a report of everything that happens." "Why? Even Bunnie doesn't like writing reports." "Oh, I dunno... maybe, someday when the historians write about the famous Freedom Fighters and we go down in history, they might want some sort of written proof. You know, a way to see if they're right or not." "Uh huh. Written proof. Why would you want to give them written proof when the fact that Robotnik is gone is proof enough? And you know that someday, we WILL take down Peter. No matter what." "Well, maybe someone on a different planet will somehow read one of my reports and... I don't know, have some hope. Maybe something like this will happen, or has happened, and this is what they need... hope." "Maybe. Someday... maybe." Sally turned and walked back to her hut. "Yeah. Maybe." Jared stood on a small cliff, which was also looking over the same ocean with the same full moon that Delphine and Knuckles' hill had. "Hey man." Jared turned. He forced a smile. "Hey Dev." "S'up? You look like you ate sumpin' outa my garbage bag." "Nothin'." Jared turned back to the ocean. "It's wired... everythin' that's happened. It's like, we all run away on the same day, and end up on a different sphere..." "I can handle that." "Then what's eatin' at ya?" "Something... else." "I figured that on my own, man." Devon shrugged. "Later, man." He walked down the hill and back to the village. "Much, much later," Jared murmered to himself. --The End-- For now.