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This story is rate PG for strong language, and various sexual puns.
Reader's discretion is mildly advised.

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Legal BS: All characters herein copyrighted to Sega Enterprises. Relations to
 real life situation coincidental. Can be reproduced with a loving e-mail and
 under the condition that it’s completely copied. If you’re going to do something,
 do it right.

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Title: Sally RPG 2
Author: Justin Keck {Mobian Warrior (mobian_warrior@hotmail.com)}
Authors Notes: Be ready for anything.



>> Alert! Alert!
>> Audio sensors active... scanning...
>> Hostiles detected... Waking host...

	Tails woke with a start. A distinct electric buzzing was filing the clearing.
 "Sally, get up." She whimpered in her sleep and snuggled against him. "Damn it,
 Sally, GET UP!"
	Sally shot up suddenly, listening. "Damn it, Aerial Pursuits!"
	"Stay still, maybe they won't see us." They both stood. 
	Sally hoarsely whispered, "Bullshit." Over the clearing flew four Pursuits.
 They seemed to pass, fading into the distance. "Got a 'bot scrambler in there?"
	"I don't know yet", Tails quietly answered.
	"Take them out quick then."
	"Duh."
	A single unit was heard flying closer. Sally crossed her fingers. It
 suddenly swooped into the clearing, hitting the air brakes right in front of them.
 She swallowed, looking death in the face. Tails smiled.
	Pursuit are shaped like an oval. They have a plasma cannon on each
 'shoulder', a set of headlights, and a single electronic eye in the middle of it's
 front. They also have a set of blocky arms. The are no real challenge until they
 pull out their gattling guns.
	"DUCK!" Sally ducked as Tails ran beside the bot. He had wound up his
 tails, and used them to chop the robot in two. It began beeping a message before
 he finished it off.
	Sally glared at him, pulled a knife from her vest, and flung it at him. Tails
 ducked instinctively, and heard a crack behind him. A single black, humanoid
 SWATbot stood for a second, then toppled to the ground.
	"Duck", she said sweetly. She quickly pointed. "Behind you!"
	Tails flew straight up, dodging plasma fire. He saw her jumping to the
 side, and knew she'd be fine if he could stop these 'bots. He glared at the second
 as it finished a firing run at the clearing.
	"Not so fast, you bastard."
	He took off after it, and careened into the 'suit, but it dodged. Tails
 grabbed an arm as he shot passed, and slingshoted around. He used the
 momentum to ram his fist through the 'suit, pulled out both micro celled
 batteries, then jumped off it as it pummeled to Mobius.
	Tails looked at the two remaining 'suits. They split up, both looping
 around, and coming at him from different sides. He floated there, waiting for it.
 The one to his left beeped.
	"That one", he yelled, pointing.
	Tails continued hovering, the two 'suits moving closer. 
	Whip-whip-whip-whi-TACK!
	Tails dropped like a stone. The one on his left didn't dodge, flying
 straight into the other. They exploded grandly in midair, crashing down to the
 ground.
	"Nice throw", Tails said, landing. He moved to the pile of flaming rubble,
 and reach in.
	"Those are the Robotnik's", Sally told him.
	"There'll be more soon", Tails answered, pulling out his knife. He paused
 a second, then droplets began forming on his arm. "Here, you should be able to
 touch it." He flipped it around, and held it out to her. She gingerly touched it,
 then clasped the handle.
	"A little cold."
	"Let's see you do a better job. Hop on, we're juicin'!" Sally jumped into
 his arms as he began spinning his tails. He gently took off, and slowly broke the
 tree tops. "Time to try out the ol' afterburners!"
 	The soles of Tails' feet folded inward, exposing two exhaust ports. They
 flickered, and immediately ignited.
	"What afterburn-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRS!"
	"We're ba-ack!"
	Sally looked down, seeing only trees, and the odd Mobian through them.
 "Knothole", she sighed, relieved. They landed next to the Brook, and Bunnie
 walked grimly up to them.
	"Nice of y'all to show your ugly mugs."
	"Good morning to you too", Tails answered.
	"What do y'all think you're doing, sneaking off into the middle of the
 night?"
	"Just taking a small trip down memory lane", Sally answered. She smiled,
 and grabbed Tails lovingly. Bunnie threw her hands in disbelief. 
	"Fine, whatever! Just do whatever y'all think is hunky dorry! What're we
 all gonna do now?"
	Tails smiled inscrutably. "Listen and decide for yourself." He blinked,
 then a holo-display appeared before him. The clearing was bathed in a blue glow
 from the recorded message from Sonic. They watched Sonic again, Sally smiling
 proudly, Tails bouncing the image around, and Bunnie with her jaw on the
 ground.
	"We don't have a choice Sugars, let's get amovin'!" Bunnie started to the
 woods.
	"Sugars", Sally asked, almost picking a fight.
	"I'm in a great mood Sally-girl, don't blow it!" They started off after her.
	Tails leaned a little closer. "Save that for me." Sally giggled.
	"I will. Let's give these guys the low down on the Robotnik's 'bots, then,
 we're heading for the Floating Island."
	"Ditchin' 'em?"
	"Yes."
	"Y'all better hope we don't have to come back."

------------------------------

	They shot through the clouds at neck break speed.
	"Are we almost there", Sally asked, yelling over the wind. She was tightly
 tied onto Tails' underside. He'd been grinning like a maniac the whole time.
	"Ten more seconds", Tails answered, "Why can't Bunnie just believe
 me?"
	"She just wants to be careful", Sally said quietly.
	"I know", Tails replied. "There it is!"
	The Floating Island took form through the clouds. The majestic shoreline
 gave way to dense, lush jungles that stretched inland until it reached the foot of
 the Dragon's Spine mountain range, it's peaks breaking the tops of the clouds.
  Next was the ancient ruins and the grassy hills of Marble Gardens, and that
 gave way to the Sandopolis desert. Tails looped back to the water fall deep in
 the jungle.
	"We must be too early for Echidnopolis", Sally noted as Tails released
 her.
	"We still didn't even have End Game", Tails replied. "I'll set up a beacon
 for Knuckles, and Bunnie."
	"Just be careful, we might attract 'bot patrols."
	"Just chill, Sally", Tails answered. He clicked, then pulled off his left arm
 and stuck it into the ground. The ball joint began flashing brightly, cutting
 through the fog. "That's it." He sat down beside her. "You know, we are alone."
 He scooted closer, slowly kissed her shoulder, and looked up to her with
 passionate eyes, and that cute boyish smile he knew she loved.
	"Not for long", Sally answered, trying to ignore his advances.
	"That's what makes it so much fun." He moved from her shoulder to her
 neck.
	"Hmmm... Tails..."
	There was the charging of a blaster. Tails and Sally immediately
 crouched, and moved back to back.
	"Now, Espio. Don't y'all think that people deserve some privacy? Don't
 bother decloakin', Ah can see y'all nevertheless. Ah found yah, and Sally would
 like to talk to yah."
	"The pervert", Tails grumbled, turning back to his arm.
	"I was just scoping you guys out. Knux has been paranoid since the
 Legion."
	"We know all about Knux's problems." Bunnie came out of the fog with
 her Roboticized arm raised. Her hand was retracted, the plasma track ready for
 firing. They slowly came closer.
	"Holy", Espio declared, "She's a looker!" He decloaked, showing his
 head, nodding approvingly.
	"Knock it off", Tails growled.
	"Settle down, darling", Sally said, glaring coldly at Espio. "We need to
 talk to Knuckles. The sooner the better."
	"I could", Espio answered, unconcerned. He glanced back to Bunnie. "If
 you get that gun outta my face." Bunnie snorted, then pulled her arm back and
 extended her hand back to normal. "Thank you", Espio told her. "Now, Knux's
 on the other side of the island. I'll get him, you guys wait here."
	"Tails, go with him."
	"No, I've got other stuff to do. Outsiders can't see."
	"Y'all mean you're doin' your secret crush?"
	Espio grinned innocently, chuckling from his throat. "Se-secret crush?
 W-what secret crush?"
	"Just get Knuckles", Sally said tiredly. "The sooner you get him, the
 sooner we can fix everything."
	Espio paused, then nodded and recloaked as he ran off into the woods.
	"Say that to her face you purple splatter!" Bunnie sat down across from
 them.
	"What did he call me", Sally asked.
	"A bitch, the little pervert. I'll wind up my tails, and you push. We'll say it
 was an accident." There was a metallic clang as something hit Tails upside the
 head.
	"I'll just pull your batteries, you orange boob", Espio countered, running
 back to the woods. Tails shook his head in good nature while Bunnie giggled.
	"Geeze, is this a piece", Tails complained. "I didn't see him either time on
 radar."
	"Use the infrareds", Bunnie grumbled at his stupidity, "Radar's for 'bots."
	"Right, sure, whatever", Tails answered, not giving a damn. They waited,
 and waited, and waited. Bunnie eventually took off, and foraged for food. She
 found nothing short of a feast. She beamed proudly to them as she bragged
 about it. The sun was soon getting low on the horizon.
	"Ah'm gonna go lookin' for 'em", Bunnie said, standing. "Ah'm sick of
 waitin'."
	"I bet that they aren't even coming", Tails said, "They're just waiting for
 you to come to them..." He turned his head to the woods. "THE COWARDLY
 CHICKEN SHITS!"
	Sally snapped her fingers. "The Passcode."
	"What?"
	"The Passcode", Sally repeated. "When I was a kid, father and I
 vacationed here. I ran into Knuckles and we became fast friends."
	"Tell us somethin' new", Bunnie said tiredly. She peered over the
 immediate landscape.
	"While we were talking, Knuckles got worried about the Island. He
 suggested a passcode."
	"Your other self never used it", Tails told her.
	"Me neither, but it's worth a shot. Knuckles! Come out, come out, where
 ever you are!" They listened to the woods a moment for any sign of them, but
 soon gave up to the birds settling down to roost. "Little prick", she said under
 her breath. "We'll try again later."
	"Like hell", Bunnie muttered. "Ah'm going to find him, and drag him
 back."
	"We have to wait", Sally told her forcefully, "This isn't our island."
	"No we don't. We've been waiting all day." Three figures stepped from
 the woods behind Sally. 
	"Hello, Knux. It's been a really long time."
	"Too long", he drily noted. The red echidna's deadlocks swung in a light
 breeze. He clinched his fist and his knuckle claws grabbed slightly at the air.
 "By almost ten hours."
	A seven foot, lime green crocodile peered approvingly at Sally. He
 scratch one of the yellow bumps lining his back. "Yo Espy! You were right,
 man!"
	"Hands off, Vector", Tails growled warningly.
	"Whatever, man!"
	Sally held up her hands, silencing the children. "Knuckles, we need to
 talk to you..." She looked over his friends with a smirk. "Alone."
	Knuckles crossed his arms. "Anything you tell me, I'll tell them, so let's
 skip the bull."	
	Bunnie laughed out loud. "It's still funny no matter how many times Ah
 hear it."
	Sally shook her head. "It's not worth telling them. If they talk about us,
 then the Robotnik will kill them, and everyone on the island. Knothole's already
 doomed, Hershey never could keep her trap shut." Vector stifled a chuckle.
	"We're Knux's home boys. He wouldn't play us like that!"
	"Sally...", Knuckles began, "It doesn't matter. Accept it."
	Sally gave up, sitting back down, not bothering to explain herself, "Fine!
 Fine! You can all sit down and listen and hold your tongues until I'm finished."
 She looked over the two animals at Knuckles' sides. "That's your only option."
	"Rock on!" Vector exclaimed, bounding around Tails' arm and sitting
 beside Bunnie.
	"Y'all get away from me!" Bunnie said, pushing him away.
	"Who erased your cassette deck?" Vector asked, minding the distance.
 Knuckles and Espio sat civily, letting Sally begin her story. After the lengthy
 explanation, the two Chaotix and the single echidna sat there in silence. Slowly,
 Vector reached up and scratched the back of his head.
	"Whoa, man. That was deep."
	"Uh-huh."
	Bunnie chuckled to herself. "No matter how many times Ah hear that, it's
 still funny too!"
	"But it's not as funny as what Mighty would say." Tails chuckled too. The
 laugh reverberated inside his throat.
	"It's getting old", Sally replied. "Now, you see, Knuckles, that you're help
 is absolutely necessary. We need to find Merlin, by what Sonic had said." She
 looked at him with a sort of pleading that Bunnie hadn't seen since he died.
 "Please."
	Knuckles slowly gave his chin a rub as he thought about it. "You just
 need to find this old coot?"
	"He's a fox", Tails corrected strongly.
	"I'm glad you think so highly of him", Sally replied teasingly.
	"You're going to get yourself into a lot of trouble", Tails countered,
 poking her lightly.
	"I like trouble", Sally said coyly. She turned back to Knuckles, not
 forgetting the reason that they had came. "Are you going to help?"
	Knuckles hadn't removed his glove from his chin. "You know I'd like to
 help, but…"
	"We've already seen it", Bunnie shot off, annoyed by his continual
 persistence, "Page four has the signatures of all the guardians dat'n back to
 Edmund. Yours'll be added in a matter of a year."
	Both Vector and Espio glanced at Knuckles. 
	"Man, they seem to already know…"
	"And they have a worthwhile cause…"
	"And if you don't", Sally finished, "Even we won't be able to stop the
 Robotnik from destroying the island."
	Knuckles immediately jumped to his feet. "What do you mean destroy the
 island!?"
	"We can't stand up to the Robotnik", Tails said. He coldly stated the
 explanation, angry that it was all they could manage. "Doing pot shots, then
 running for our lives. That's it, that all. With the Robotnik's super 'bots…"
	"Even Sonic couldn't help", Bunnie said solemnly. Both Vector and Espio
 were stunned at the news, but Knuckles seemed unfazed.
	"If Sonic can't beat them", he stated flatly, "then you'll be needing
 someone just like him."
	"Duh", Tails stated, "The two tailed turbo fox has now hit the
 mainstream!"
	"We've got that covered", Sally replied, explaining what he said, "but
 that's not the point. We need to find Merlin, then he can guide us to the Gold
 Master Emerald."
	"You really think that will work?" Knuckles asked, "A Master Emerald
 that will fix everything?"
	"Considering how powerful", Sally replied, "we can only hope."
	"Hmm…" Knuckles rubbed his chin. What to do? Stay and protect the
 island? Show them the Book of the Ancients? Go with them to stop the
 Robotnik in a pre-emptive strike? 
	"All right!" Knuckles finally stated, "I'll show you the book, but you've
 got to take me with you. I'm going to stop 'the Robotnik' at the source."
	Bunnie, Sally and Tails all exchanged glances. An extra hand would be
 nice, especially in tougher battles, but his inexperience would be a burden.
	Tails took a look at his arm sticking up from the soil. "That's pretty…"
	"Good", Sally replied to everyone surprise. "That would be great. Tell
 you what though, if you do come with us, then we're going to have to teach you
 a few things."
	"You'd better", Knuckles replied. His head was still reeling from the
 story. "I'll show you the book, but I haven't got a clue as to what you're looking
 for. Vector, Espio…" The chameleon and the crocodile both stood. "You guys
 mind the island, gather up Mighty and Charmy. Don't be surprised to find all
 hell breaking lose."
	"We've got it", Espio said, cloaking as he headed off into the woods.
	"Awesome, man. We'll keep the island givin' till you get back."
	Bunnie glanced towards the woods, pausing a second to glare into the
 shadows. "Good, let's hurry up."
	"I hope you can keep up", Knuckles replied and Bunnie rolled her eyes.
	"Don't y'all ever get tired of say'n that?"
	Knuckles paused a second, not understanding her logic. Sally put a hand
 on his shoulder. 
	"She does that a lot. C'mon." Tails was standing beside them and as they
 started jogging into the woods he stopped and turned around. He grabbed his
 arm, then ran back to them.
	"I'd swear you'd forget your head if it wasn't screwed on", Sally said.
	"Don't look at me", Tails replied, "Bunnie's the one that can't remember
 anything."
	The glare from the Rabbot could have melted diamonds.
	After a flight to the other side of the island, the group found itself deep in
 thick, abundant forest. The perfume of the leaves reminded them that they were
 all in the middle of something living and that they were alive too. It's places like
 this that Sally loved, and Tails knew it. When the Robotnik was defeated, she
 was going to line her court with flowers and trees until you had to be a monkey
 to be able to move. 
	Knuckles stamped on the root of a nearby tree and a secret hole opened to
 reveal the Book of the Ancients. "Take a look." He carefully passed it to Sally.
 She quickly opened it and began flipping through the pages. "Be careful!"
	"Don't worry about page twenty", Tails said innocently.
	"I know! It's going to fall out!" Sally reached the page and began to look
 carefully at it before continuing.
	"I doubt y'all have any weapons", Bunnie asked.
	"So do I", Knuckles replied, still worried about the book, "I've only got
 the gloves on my hands and the shoes on my feet."
	Bunnie shook her head. "Ah hate kids."
	"Well, that's just too bad for you", Sally replied. Bunnie looked at her a
 second, wondering if Sally let him join for the single purpose of pissing her off.
 It was working.
	"Hold up", Tails said, and Sally turned back a page. "One more…
 There!" He pointed back to the page.
	"There's only a caption about the Great Forest."
	"Just wait", Tails said. His blue eyes began to glow for a second, and then
 a vague beam of light hit the book. Magically, as the light swirled over the pages
 a caption appeared in scientific precision.
	"What are you DOING!?" Knuckles demanded.
	Bunnie looked over Sally's shoulder and read the second caption aloud. "
 'During a quest for Gold, to find the treasures so told, look to the pond of benign
 light for the answered to your lengthy plight.' Now where the who-haw do we
 look for that?"
	"Let me see", Knuckles said. The three of them ignored him.
	"You think it might be…?" Tails asked.
	Sally glanced over, hoping it not to be. "Possibly."
	"What is it?" Knuckles asked again.
	"That sounds like the Ring Pool", Bunnie said aloud, trying to see if her
 hypothesis would be accepted.
	"It's not", Sally said softly. Bunnie scowled, having her idea shot down.
 "There's another 'pool of benign light'." Bunnie's expression didn't change, and
 she waited for Sally to give a better explanation. "I know where there's another."
	Bunnie slowly put it together. "The pool where y'all saw Sonic." Sally
 nodded slowly. Bunnie took in the look on her face, and smiled. 
	"Let's get going!" she cheerfully sang, "C'mon Tails! Lead the way!"
	Tails put an arm over Sally's shoulder. "We've got to juice."
	Sally slowly nodded. "I know."
	The flight itself wasn't all that long. Twilight had begun to set in, and
 after waiting all day for Knuckles they were all stiff. Knuckles seemed
 determined to keep going. Tails gently let Sally down once they reach the
 clearing, but Knuckles and Bunnie landed heavily, unaware of the sacredness of
 the area. Tails put his arm over Sally's shoulder, reminding her that there was
 someone there for her.
	"Seems safe enough", Bunnie hypothesized, "We should spend the night
 here, then get a-mov'n in the mornin'." Tails took the note that all of the 'bot
 from the morning's fight were gone.
	"We should go after him right away", Knuckles said, driving his fist into
 his other palm.
	"It's been a long day", Sally said, softly agreeing with Bunnie, "We
 should rest." Knuckles grumbled in complaint.
	"I'm going to find food", he explained, "I haven't eaten yet." Knuckles
 didn't hear any objections, so he strode off into the woods.
	"He's still a kit", Tails thought aloud, "Asking for permission."
	"You do too", Bunnie countered in his defense, "So don't ch'all start on
 him."
	"I don't need to get permission-!"
	"Everyone, please", Sally said, loud enough to be heard by the woods that
 sheltered them, "Not here."
	"Shucks", Bunnie said flatly, "Ah was look'n forward to ripp'n him open."
 She turned and began towards the pool. It still had a slight luminescent glow.
 "Can Ah give myself a bath, Your Majesty?"
	"Like I care", Sally replied.
	"Don't slip", Tails said, countering for her.
	"Ah tend to grab onto things as Ah fall", Bunnie warned. There was a
 small boy sitting in the nearby bushes, quietly listening. He grabbed a stick, and
 drew an arrow in the dirt. Then, he stood, his body going through the branches,
 and silently walked back through the woods, over the leaves and through the
 trunks of solid oaks.

--------------

	"Psst. Wake up, Bunnie."
	"Psst! Bunnie!"
	"Hey! Bunnie!" Tails shook his head. "She never wakes up." He stepped
 over and put a hand on her organic arm. He barely touched her fur. Bunnie was
 up in a flash, grabbing him around his robotic neck and bashing him against a
 tree. Her sudden explosion left her breathless, teeth bared and razor sharp.
	"Don't y'all EVER touch me when Ah'm asleep!"
	"SHHHH!" Tails hissed back, "Sally's asleep."
	"So was Ah!"
	"Why don't you all just be quiet?" Knuckles complained from the tree
 above. Of course, they ignored him.
	"I've got something to show you", Tails said, pulling Bunnie's hand off
 his throat. Bunnie took half a second to register his statement, then moved to lay
 back down against the tree.
	"Wake me when y'all have someth'n important to say."
	"C'mon", Tails said, grabbing her again. She just as quickly pulled herself
 from his grasp.
	"Y'all're gonna pay for this", Bunnie answered, following a step or two
 back. Tails led her to a bush and pointed.
	"Look in there."
	"Try anyth'n funny and I'll rip out cyborgenetic heart."
	Tails crossed his arms. "I'm scared. Just look."
	Bunnie muttered to herself, then peered in. It took her a second to adjust
 her eyes to the dark, but she eventually saw the arrow.
	"There's an arrow."
	"Your prize is… jack", Tails answered, applauding lightly. "What do you
 think about that?"
	Bunnie stood up from the bush and turned to him in knowing thought,
 "It's either a trap, or another one of them pointers we keep gett'n."
	"Yeah."
	"We should check it out."
	"I doubt it", Tails answered. "If it is an arrow to Merlin's, we won't be
 able to see the cabin. He's asleep. He'd never let himself get caught off guard
 like that." Tails turned back to Sally. She murmured something about it being
 rather cool. "Besides, if it is a trap, I'd rather we all die together."
	Bunnie watched him a second, and slowly realized that sleep was starting
 to pull on her eyelids. "Y'all just wanted to get me up."
	"So?"
	"Like Ah said, y'all will pay."

------

	"Good morning everyone", Knuckles said happily.
	"Y'all know where you can stick it, don'cha?", Bunnie grumbled, turning
 over to try and get more sleep. She couldn't find however it was that she was
 comfortable and the last of the night had been spent tossing and turning. The
 fact that Tails' eyes were glowing slightly didn't help any.
	"Yes, it's morning", Sally answered. She sighed slightly, leaning against
 Tails and his warmth. "How'd you sleep?"
	"I don't need to, remember?" Tails answered. "Last night. I think I found
 something."
	"What do you mean?"
	"Another one of them arrows…"
	Sally immediately looked up. "Where?" 
	"Just over-whoa!" Sally stood up and pulled Tails to his feet behind her.
 "This bush here." That's one thing he liked about her, when she wanted to be
 pushy…
	Sally parted the leaves and looked deep into bush straight at the ground.
 Her eyes met the arrow. "Looks the same as the others…"
	"I know, same curve and everything."
	"Let's go then", Sally said. She quickly came out from the bush. "OW!"
 She spun around. "BUNNIE!"
	"What the who-haw are yah gabber'n about now?" Bunnie demanded,
 sitting up.
	"You wouldn't know who this…" Sally bent down, grabbing a screw off
 the ground, "belongs to? Hmm?"
	"That ain't mine", Bunnie replied, laying back down, "Everyth'ns in one
 piece here."
	"Then how would it get here?"
	"Ask Knuckles."
	"I would never do that." Knuckles voice came from over top of the 'arrow
 bush'. He did a backflip out of the tree, and glided to a soft landing, "You know
 me. Always the angel."
	"Now that Ah don't believe", Bunnie muttered.
	Sally let the screw drop to the ground. "We're moving out. Let's go."
 Bunnie stretched and slowly got to her feet.
	"Fine y'all-" She turned around to find the clearing empty. "Hey, y'all
 wait up!"


	"I've had it up to here with her", Sally said, chopping at her neck, "I don't
 care how old or how much experience she has. If she keeps this up I'm going to
 axe her."
	"That's going to hurt", Knuckles commented. Bunnie quickly caught up
 with all of them. They all knew she heard.
	"Believe what y'all want", Bunnie exclaimed, "I don't give a d*mn." She
 then grabbed one of Knuckles' dreadlocks and pulled up on it as she whispered
 hoarsely into his ear. 
	"HEY!"
	"Y'all pull a stun like that again, and Ah'll be the one ax'n."
	"Bunnie, let go of him!" Sally snapped, "We don't need you going around
 blaming everyone to resolve your complex."
	Bunnie held up her hands and cocked her head. "I don't care anymo'."
	"If you didn't care", Sally retorted, "Then you wouldn't be here." 
	Bunnie rolled here eyes as she shook her head. "Whatever, Sally."
	"Could you let go of me, now?" Knuckles asked. Bunnie glared down to him.
	"Y'all make me!"
	"Don't make me hit a lady", Knuckles countered.
	"Never stopped you before", Sally chirped. 
	"Huh? C'mon", Bunnie taunted, "Give me your best shot." Knuckles was
 hesitant. "C'mon, right on the kisser. Y'all echidna enough?" That set Knuckles
 right off his rocker. He laid a backfist straight into Bunnie's exposed ribs the
 delivered a walloper straight to her face. Knuckles held back though, not
 drawing any blood.
	Sally and Tails glanced back a second. "You're learning already."
	Bunnie was knocked to a knee, cradling her side and moving her face to
 check if her nose was all right. She had to blink slightly to regain enough wind
 to say. "Not bad…. Next time… don't hold back."
	Knuckles gave her a funny look, then gave her a hand up. "Are you
 okay?"
	"That's someth'n else you've got to learn", Bunnie said, "Don't worry
 about anyone other than yourself. You'll only get yourself and the other killed.
 Believe me."
	"It's happened too often", Tails said regrettably. 
	"Undoubtedly", Sally agreed. "And if either of you were paying attention
 you would have seen that."
	"That what?"
	"That patrol", Tails replied, suddenly soft-voiced. Everyone looked
 around.
	"That wasn't what I meant", Sally hissed, countering Bunnie's glare.
	"It's huge", Tails informed them. He silently crossed his fingers, hoping
 against the worst. Sally held his hand, and he lovingly held tight.
	"What are you all worried about?" Knuckles asked aloud. Bunnie
 immediately clamped her hand over his mouth.
	"We keep quiet not to get caught!" she hissed. Knuckles was silent,
 suddenly realizing that this was serious. He swallowed slightly, ripping her hand
 from her mouth.
	"Run", Tails said quietly, "Run for your lives." Everyone exchanged
 glances. "NOW!" Tails began running in the direction he was facing. Sally
 hopped into his arms and the both of them were off.  Knuckles didn't
 understand, looking about him as he felt a slight rumbling through the limbs he
 called feet. Bunnie cocked her head. Suddenly the color drained from her faces
 as she bolted as fast as he robotic legs would carry her. She knocked Knuckles
 to the ground in her haste.
	"RUN FOR ALL YOU'RE WORTH, SUGAH!"
	"What from!? We can fight it!" Knuckles looked around and found
 himself completely alone. "I am NOT scare of any 'bot", he growled, turning to
 face the on coming threat. Through the leafy canopy a shadow overcame
 Knuckles. He stood his ground, the claws on his fists grabbing at the air in eager
 anticipation of turning another 'bot into titanium chow-mien. 
	Fingers three times his size broke through the canopy and parted the tree.
	"WELL, ISN'T THIS A SURPRISE, KNUCKLES?"  Giant mandibles
 clinked in front of the face of the 'bot. The skin was flawlessly polished, perfect
 and natural. "WHAT? DON'T YOU REMEMBER YOUR GOOD FRIEND
 ARACHEMDES?" The super 'bot leaned in closer, placing another two hands
 on the ground, besides the two that were parting the trees. 
	"You aren't Arachemdes!" Knuckles hurled.
	"YOU'D BE AMAZED AT HOW MANY HEDGEHOGS HAVE SAID
 THAT!" A loud, booming laugh rolled over the countryside.
	"Do I look like a hedgehog?" Knuckles countered. He realized just how
 lame it sounded the instant he said it.
	"NO, BUT SONIC WAS SMARTER! AT LEAST HE'D RUN FOR HIS
 LIFE!" Knuckles didn't see how this somewhat polite and very bad
 impersonation of Archie was something to fear until Archie lifted up his bottom
 right arm and drove it down on Knuckles. Knuckles did a back flip, trying to get
 out of the way of the hand as big as a house. There was a pounding earthquake
 as the impacted nearly fragmented Mobuis' crust. Before the dust settled
 Knuckles jumped up from in between the fingers as they closed behind him.
	"MAYBE I WAS WRONG. SONIC FELL FOR THAT EVERY TIME!"
 Again the laughter boomed as Knuckles began running as fast as he could up the
 'bot's arm. The head seemed to be the best bet to disable this thing. He never saw
 the dim stream of light float by above him as the 'bot activate its impenetrable
 force field. The super 'bots eyes began to glow black with red pupils. 
	"BUT YOU NEVER WERE MUCH SMARTER THAN SONIC!"  All
 three of the hands clasped overtop of Knuckles with near crushing weight. The
 bottom most one came out holding him so only Knuckles' head was exposed.
	"'CUZ, YOU SEE, SON, THE ROBOTNIK HAD A PLAN SO
 INGENIUS AND SO VILE THAT IT WOULD MAKE YOU BLOW YOUR
 CHUNKS LIKE YOU HAD JUST WATCHED YOUR OWN BODY DIE." 
	Knuckles struggled for all he was worth, gasping for breath in the
 compact iron grip. Now he knew how those bugs felt when he squeezed the
 juices from their bodies.  Jeez he hated bugs. He looked up, the pounding of his
 own heart banging through his head like huge symbols, never stopping for a
 second. He saw the giant mandibles clink together as he was lifted closer, one
 hundred, and then two hundred feet above the forest. He couldn't believe the
 entire size of the insect like 'bot holding him. 
	The mandibles again clinked, drawing his attention back to them.
	He bites off my head, Knuckles thought through the pain and pressure;
 I'm going to be REALLY mad.
	"DIE YOU INHUMAN MONSTER!" Knuckles thought he heard Tails
 cry. There was a blinding flash of light as Tails emitted his own force field.  He
 was in a Sonic Spin, flying towards the 'bot at inhuman speeds. Arachemdes
 scowled, whacking Tails away with two arms. Tails drilled through the first, but
 lost most of his momentum and was deflected by the second. Tails got out of the
 spin, revving up his tails and climbing back up using the jets in his hands. This
 time his arms folded out into wings and the jets in his feet fired. He streaked up
 faster than mechanically possible, ramming into Archemdes at full force.
	The behemoth of a fire ant hardly budged against Tails' tiny mass.
	Tails did a flip in the air, and began flying around Archemdes' head in the
 hopes that the 'bot would follow him around and around before exploding. 
	"Nobody talks about Sonic like that you…!" Knuckles heard as Tails
 whipped by again and again. Archemdes stood there with two hands on his
 abdomen and let a tired sigh.  "….fire ant!"
	"OH, NOW WHAT?"
	"Y'all are gonna get yourself killed real easy!" Bunnie cried, landing one
 the edge of Archemdes' hand. She quickly looked over the hand, seeing that
 there was nothing she could do while it was operational.  Tails spotted her.
	"BUNNIE!" he yelled between cupped hands, "PDQ!"
	"Don't y'all worry", Bunnie said to Knuckles. He tried to say something,
 but the added pressure of their harassment was forcing all the breath from his
 lungs. Bunnie took off from the hand, and began flying around Arachemdes'
 head like Tails had been. Again, a misty wall of light sprang up, holding Bunnie
 inside. The eyes were again black with red pupils. Tails swallowed as he heard
 whistling from the ground. He used his eyes to zoom in, seeing Sally trying to
 draw Archmedes' attention too. 
	"Good one Sally", he muttered, clenching his fists as he built up energy
 for the charge, "You're always-" There was a beep inside his mind, and he burst
 forward, straight at the back of Arachemdes' head. The super 'bot spun around
 sensing his sudden movement. There was a blood-curdling scream from Sally
 for a split second, then it stopped.
	Tails flew straight and true; though his heart dropped through his metallic
 floor plates. He released his own force field, Sonic Spinning straight at the 'bots
 face. Archemdes opened his mouth, hoping Tails to flying right through the back
 of his head for minimal damage, but Tails countered. He gave himself a
 half-twist, switching the direction of the spin. His tails dug into the throat,
 propelling him down and into the mechanical organs of the monstrous
 monstrosity. 
	There was twitching from all over Archemdes as Tails rebounded inside
 him, making small dents in the metallic skin. From somewhere inside the 'bot a
 deep screeching sound like an entire planet was screaming out in its own
 impending doom.  The screeching was louder and louder, slowly growing to the
 point where Bunnie had to cover her ears and Knuckles passed out.
	Suddenly, it stopped.
	Tails burst out of the mouth. "Is everyone all right?"
	Arachemdes was swaying slightly in the wind.
	"I'm fine", Bunnie said. Tails didn't let it register.
	"Check Knuckles!" he said, scanning the ground. "Where are you Sally?"
	Bunnie flew over to the hand, finding the limp body in the tight robotic
 grasp. She tried opening it. "It's stuck fast! Ah can't move it!"
	Tails paused his search, coming back to the hand. "Together, on three."
	Bunnie grabbed the fingers and wedged herself against the palm. Tails
 did the likewise, then stopped.
	"Are we moving?"
	Bunnie took a second and let the air move against her fur. She carefully
 chose the words: "Ah don't think-"
	"Get away from this thing!" Tails said, quickly pushing off. As he flew
 away he could see it slowly tilting forward. Bunnie noticed the list, and flew
 away too. 
	She put a hand over her heart. "It was great know'n y'all again." She
 turned away as the 'bot slowly spilt forward into the forest below.  Tails was
 flying higher, again scanning for Sally. Suddenly, he found himself slowly being
 pulled downward squeezed between the force field and the ground.
	"What the h*ll!?" he demanded. He started flying away, but again the
 field caught up as the 'bot began falling faster and faster. "Look out! The field's
 still active!"
	Bunnie pulled a screw out of her toe and threw it behind herself. The
 field grabbed it and electricity bounced it back. 
	"Dammit!" she cried, flying lower and faster and faster as the 'bot
 continued falling. "It's gonna blow! Get closer to the feet! We'll be further from
 the fission engines!" They both hit their afterburners, darting towards the feet
 and lower and lower to the ground.
	"Juice as the thing blows sky high!" Tails said, still looking for Sally,
 "The field will drop instantly!"
	"No sh*t, sugah!"
	Tails continued looking. Daring fate, just daring it to take Sally from him.
 Hopefully she was running as fast as her legs could carry her and getting as far
 away as any hedgehog could. He knew she would. She was such a genius and so
 inspirational to all of them, just like Sonic. 
	Sally was lying unconscious against a tree.
	"SAALLYYYYY!" Tails dived down, running smack into the force field.
 It dazed him, tossing his body around like a limp doll on the electrical wall. 
	"You blasted idiot!" Bunnie hurled after him, diving down to grab him
 out of midair. Suddenly, the 'bot hit and in that fraction of a second that she
 grabbed him, the 'bot exploded.
	We're too close, Bunnie thought as the heat consumed her, We're too
 d*mn close.

-------------------------

	'Sal, are you alright?'
	'C'mon, Sal. Wake up.'
	'Sal, I know you can hear me. Please. Wake up. Please, wake up.'
	'Sal. Please. Don't leave me. Don't leave me alone.'
	"You die on me I'll never forgive myself", Tails muttered, "I'm never
 going to let you go again."
	Sally breathed, trying to turn over, but the shots of pain up her spine
 caused her to whimper. The pain was sharp enough to cut the tension in Tails'
 voice.
	"Don't move Sally.You're hurt.I'm trying to work a regenerator.You'll be
 as good as new in a few minutes", he blurted out, "Don't move, okay?"
	Sally could only nod. Slowly the pain went away and she could muster
 the words: "How bad…?"
	"It's just a bit of your back", Tails said, trying to make it sound like
 nothing had happened, "It'll only take a minute."
	Slowly, the pain continued to seep into the hole it came. The breathing
 didn't seem to hurt that much.
	"What about the others?"
	"They're alive."
	Inwardly, she thanked every god she could think of.
	"How come we're alive?"
	"I don't know, Sally", Tails answered, "I don't know. How's that?" 
	Sally squirmed, only finding slight discomfort. "A lot better."
	"Thank goodness", he said. He propped himself up on his elbow beside
 her. "I was so worried." He gently reached over and pulled her bangs from her
 eyes.
	"I guess it was more than nothing."
	He had to nod. "Yeah."
	There was some rustling from bellow them. Sally looked passed her feet
 to see Knuckles waking up.
	"Ugh!" he exclaimed, "Anyone get the number of that 'bot?"
	Sally chuckled. No matter how much he denied it, he and Sonic were
 almost exactly the same.
	"They're super 'bots", Tails answered, "Ones like that. That's why we
 don't fight the Robotnik."
	Knuckles got up on his hands and knees. "We beat him."
	"One", Sally answered, "We beat one. The Robotnik would have dozens
 guarding his headquarters."
	"We don't even know where it is", Tails added.
	Sally shakily stood; it was a wonder her legs were working so suddenly.
 "We're lucky to all be alive." Knuckles gave his chin a quick rub as he thought
 of something, but shook his head as he considered the thought dumb. Sally
 stepped over to Bunnie still asleep on the cold stone floor. "She's alive?"
	"Unfortunately", Tails answered, standing too. He looked around the
 room they were in, a dark, misty cave in the early evening hours by way of the
 light coming from around the corner. Maybe it was early morning, none of them
 knew. "Hey, Knuckles, wake her up."
	"You do it", Knuckles countered. He remembered bits of the ruckus that
 morning.
	"I asked you", Tails answered sincerely, "Please." 
	Knuckles looked to Sally's face but she didn't give up any secrets as to
 why they weren't. He was somewhat cautious, but otherwise wasn't worried.
 After all, she was a lady.
	"Bunnie, you awake?" he asked, gently grabbing her shoulder and
 shaking. It took a whole second for Bunnie to wake up, grab him, and throw him
 to the ground hard.
	"AND another thing!" she angrily proclaimed, "Don't y'all EVER touch
 me when Ah'm asleep, got it!?" Knuckles didn't answer out of surprise, but did
 realize he was glaring at Sally and Tails as they just about rolled on the floor in
 laughter until Sally held her side from a sting of pain. 
	Serves her right, Knuckles almost thought aloud.
	"Ah said, y'all got it?"
	"Yeah, yeah", Knuckles answered. He stood up and dusted himself off,
 hardly getting the wind knocked out of him. All those years of his father's
 training left him as sharp as a tack and as quick as a mongoose. 
	"Where are we?" Bunnie asked, looking around. Everyone took note of
 the cave. Sally reached over, feeling the coarse, slimly rock walls. Knuckles
 stepped closer to the group, each step throwing dust up into the air and leaving
 deep footprints in the soft sediment. 
	"Looks like a cave", Knuckles thought aloud.
	"Gee, he noticed", Tails said. "I can't figure out where we are. There
 weren't any known caves around where we were for hundreds of miles, at least
 until Doomsday."
	"We'd better get mov'n", Bunnie flatly stated, "We're gonna be need'n
 some food and water soon, and the devil only knows what else is down here."
	"Why bother?" Sally asked knowingly, confident in the knowledge and
 incredible decisiveness on her part.
	"What are y'all talk'n about?" Bunnie asked, exasperated.
	"Bunnie's right", Knuckles agreed, "We need to get out of here and get
 supplies."
	"We can get provisions after we talk to Merlin."
	"What on earth are you talking about?" Knuckles demanded, "We mustn't
 waste time down here we've got to stop Robotnik."
	"The Robotnik", Bunnie corrected, then paused. She turned to Sally.
 "Y'all really think that this is one of Merlin's projections?"
	"Let's find out", Tails said. "HEY! UNCLE MERLIN! IT'S ME,
 MILES!" Tails added under his breath, "Almost me."
	Knuckles used every shred of will he had in his power to stop from
 laughing. "Miles? You're… You're name is Miles? Oh, man! It's a wonder Sonic
 didn't kill you! Ha! Ha!"
	"Shadda up!" Tails fired, "I'll beat the crap out of your little echidna *ss
 just like Sonic used to."
	"Ouuu… Tough guy."
	"Guys, stop it", Sally said, turning back to the cave walls. Tails sat back
 down on a rock. "Merlin we need your help. Please. We're looking for the Gold
 Master Emerald and need your help to find it." She looked to the ground sadly.
 "We were guided here by my late husband." Everyone was silent for a moment.
	"I think you were wrong, Sally", Bunnie answered softly. Suddenly, the
 cave walls began to shimmer giving away to a cozy log cabin. There was a
 wooden table, the center spoke of the room around which rotated a library,
 several large portraits of Merlin as a young man, the door, a stone fireplace
 (obviously handmade). Next along was an incredibly up to date and shinny
 kitchen before another open door to a bedroom and the library again. As the last
 of illusion faded Tails fell through the rock and straight to the ground.
	"Hey!"
	Bunnie looked down to him. "Nice on, putz."
	"Bite me", Tails answered sweetly.
	"Don't you bother", Sally said straight to Bunnie.  
	"I've really got to stop doing this", a voice came from the back, "But I'm a
 sucker for sappy stuff."
	"Uncle Merlin!" Tails said fondly, getting off his caboose and starting to
 the back. He suddenly turned towards the library. "You need to work on your
 ventriloquist act." 
	Merlin popped into view with a snap of his fingers. "I guess I do. What
 happened to you?"
	"You know, the usual", Tails answered, "Get caught by Robotnik,
 programmed by the Robotnik, and deprogrammed by Rotor."
	"Yeah", Merlin replied, giving his 'nephew' a hug. "Seems you're in a
 rut."
	Sally smiled, chuckling to herself. She could see where he got his sense
 of humor.
	"This is quite the crowd you've got gathered here", Merlin said, taking in
 the partially Roboticized and scarred Rabbot, the young and headstrong echidna,
 and the beautiful Queen of Acorns. "Your Majesty", he said, bowing to Sally.
 Knuckles was impressed by the look on his face. 
	"Thank you", Sally answered, "but the pleasantries aren't necessary. We
 need to find that emerald and restore what we can, or even stop the Robotnik
 before he started."
	"You can't stop the Robotnik", Merlin answered, "his presence is
 everywhere. He has so many 'bots and so many variations that every the greatest
 mathematicians couldn't figure out the number in a million years. But, your
 emerald theory might work. I'm very interested." Merlin immediately turned to
 his library. He seemed as meticulously cautious as a robot, thinking and doing at
 the same time. He quickly scanned the bookshelves, finding what he was
 looking for and muttering to himself in deep thought.  "The possibilities are
 endless. If your hypothesis is correct it could be the largest find in Mobian
 history." Quickly Merlin flipped through the pages as everyone gathered around.
 "I can't believe no one thought of this sooner. This is absolutely incredible."
	"You really think this'll work?" Bunnie asked. 
	"Considering all the wishes a person could get from any normal Master
 Emerald", Merlin said, "It would be a wonder if the Gold would be a sort of
 universal dimensioning tool."
	"Meaning?" Knuckles asked.
	"Meaning", Merlin said, continuing to flip, "That the Gold would affect
 everything. Everything to do with your wish will affect everyone that was in
 contact with it."
	"So everyth'n that's happened will never had", Bunnie asked.
	"If you ask to destroy the Robotnik before he was", Merlin answered,
 "Everything that ever happened is null and void. You will never even have an
 inspiration of what had happened."
	Bunnie looked over to Sally. "This idea of yours might just work."
	"It isn't be the first."
	"Here!" Merlin exclaimed with great excitement. "The book says that the
 Master Emeralds have the power to alter time and space by using the Time
 Stones' power and magically manipulating events at that specific instant in time.
 All the Emerald have slightly different powers based on the colors."
	"The Elemental Theorem?" Sally asked.
	"Whatever you call it", Merlin answered, "There are slightly different
 added events based on each color, true love with light blue or something like
 that."
	Sally had a slight feeling of remembrance between her and Sonic and
 some emerald and Robotnik… She dismissed it as deja vue.
	"And red would be eternal damnation", Bunnie said sweetly to all of
 them.
	"I'd like to see that too", Merlin admitted eagerly, "Anyhow, not
 important… less than interesting… cute… a kid wouldn't care… Here we go."
 Merlin moved away from the library and sat at the table.
	"What writ'n is that?" Bunnie asked as he turned the page. 
	"It's Ancient Mobian", Merlin answered shortly, "Most people don't even
 know about it."
	"What I wouldn't do for Nicole right now", Sally said.
	"Sure made things simple", Bunnie agreed.
	"You couldn't have made Sonic like her if you tried", Tails said,
 remembering slightly with a smile.
	"Now", Merlin continued, "There is a rumor to the Ancients of the Gold
 Master Emerald. Very little information is available." He continued reading to
 himself. "That doesn't make sense. It says that the emerald is in the power of the
 greatest beings, controlled by all of them at the same time. It has existed since
 the beginning of time and can never be destroyed."
	"Since the beginning of time?" Sally asked herself, "It can't be the
 Robotnik then. He only surfaced after the first Robotnik Wars."
	"Actually they're the Kintobor Wars", Bunnie corrected, "That's fat-*ss
 backwards."
	Tails looked at her from under his brow. "Isn't that Bunnie?" Bunnie
 ignored him, or else she'd have to kill him.
	"Original."
	"Of course", Tails answered sweetly. He put his hand on Sally's shoulder,
 and she smiled as she looked back to him.
	"You can't figure anything more from that?" she asked, turning back to
 the book. Merlin continued reading, turning the page and reading some more. 
	"These are all theories concerning the emeralds. Most of them are
 ludicrous: eternal life, shrinking the universe, even eternal peace. Now that's
 something I couldn't imagine."
	"That seems pretty narrow", Sally said.
	"Um", Tails said, "You might not want to tick off the only guy that can
 help us."
	"You better listen to my almost nephew", Merlin added.
	"How did you know?"
	"You're only supposed to be ten, remember?"
	"Opps", Tails said. Sally at to chuckle at his continued innocence.
	"Now who forgets everyth'n?" Bunnie asked sweetly.
	"Children", Merlin scolded. Everyone was quiet as he continued to read.
 "The Ancients ones always gave clues to where it might be found."
	"So you're send'n us on a wild goose chase", Bunnie said. She stepped
 away from the table and shook her head. "Perfect, just perfect."
	"They had found it!" Merlin exclaimed, "They had found the emerald!"
 He leaning in closer to the book, letting the words speak directly to his eyes. "It
 says here that they found the Emerald in the forbidden city and moved it to a
 more secure local! They did this at the turn of the fourth century B.A."
	"B.A.?" Knuckles asked.
	"Before Acorns", Sally answered.
	"And her head gets bigger every day", Bunnie threw in. 
	"And it can't be much bigger than yours", Sally countered, "The only
 thing bigger would be Sonic's ego." The words stung as soon as she said them.
	"You two were perfect", Bunnie rebutted. 
	"Hey! Shut up!" Tails fired.
	"Anyway", Merlin interrupted. Sally dared Bunnie to live through the
 night. "The emerald was relocated to - everything else. What the-?" He lifted the
 page, finding that bottom corner carefully ripped out, the corner with the
 emerald's location. "I can't believe this! No! These books are impossible to
 destroy!" He grabbed the cover and ripped off the hardbound cover. "What the
 hell's going on?"
	"What do y'all mean, indestructible?"
	"They're bound with the Ancient's magic", Merlin answered, getting up
 and going to his library, "They're meant to last until the destruction of the
 emeralds." He pulled out a book and tried to pull it apart, then handed it to Tails.
 "Try to wreck it."
	"I'm not going to get blasted by the magic, am I?"
	"Just try!" Merlin ordered. Tails pulled for all his robotic limbs were
 worth, but couldn't pull it apart. Merlin started babbling. "The idiots! Who could
 have taken it? What on earth does this mean? There was that damn kangaroo,
 and…" Merlin trailed off, angry at his own incompetence. "That son of a bitch! I
 thought my powers-"
	"I'm sorry," Sally sharply interrupted, "but who?"
	"That son of a b*tch, Maximum Efficiency", Merlin exploded waving his
 hands in the air, "He copied my book word for word and switched it for the real
 one leaving this crap!" He took the book and threw it into the fireplace. He
 began using a flint stone to try and light the book.
	"Let me", Tails said. He flipped open his index finger on his left hand and
 a small flame-thrower set the book alit. 
	"Thank you", Merlin quickly said, "You must retrieve my book! It is
 entirely important to the entire universe! If that information fell into the wrong
 hands-!"
	"We get the picture", Bunnie said.
	"Just the entire?" Tails asked.
	"You have no concept of the powers held within those pages!" Merlin
 hastily explained, "It could be used to destroy the planet!"
	"The Robotnik could too", Sally said, "and he doesn't want to."
	"This thing is ten times more powerful than Lazar's magic computer!"
 Merlin continued. Sally had to pause at that. That thing had reduced Sonic to
 nothing more than a normal hedgehog. "He could remove anyone one of you
 with just a thought!"
	Sally nodded to the necessity. "We'll get it", she said, "No one should be
 allowed to tamper with that thing." 
	"What if this Deficiency guy is just looking out for the Emerald?"
 Knuckles pondered aloud, rubbing his head, "I'm not even going to try to second
 guess him."
	"Let's get going", Sally said, "Wasting time won't get us anywhere."
	"Have you eaten?" Merlin asked, "I always offer a meal. Least I can do
 for dragging you out to this corner of the planet."
	"We weren't that far off", Tails answered.
	"Please sit down, rest, make yourselves at home."

-------------------------
	
	"Maximum lives up by Sanctuary Mountain", Merlin explained, sitting in
 his easy chair. Everyone could say his hospitality was superb, up until the point
 where they had to sit on the floor. All of them like children gathered around a
 librarian about to tell a story. "I've given the local to Miles." Knuckles
 snickered in laughter. 
	"Shut Up", Tails articulated.
	"Knuckles do you want to go back to the island?" Sally asked tiredly.
	"I'm not going anywhere", Knuckles said defiantly, "And you can't make me."
	"No", Sally agreed, "but I'll unleash the monster."
	"And Ah'd love to kick your li'le ass", Bunnie said.
	"I'm so, so scared", Knuckles  answered, feigning fright.
	"If I were you, Knuckles", Merlin said, "I'd mind them. If my
 counterparts tell the truth, then you wouldn't stand a chance against them."
	"Counterparts?" Sally asked, interested.
	"Yes, I can talk to other selves stretched across time-space."
	"How?" Sally asked. If they could contact other groups, their help would
 further them even more. But, what if they had lost their hedgehog too?
	"One of my many talents", Merlin mused, bragging with his simple
 posture.
	Sally thought about it for a second, and thought about other possibilities
 too.
	"This is awfully nice of you, Unc", Tails said, "You'd be amazed
 sometimes how inhospitable some people are."
	"What really surprised me is the how much you ate. For a robot you have
 an incredible appetite."
	Tails shrugged his shoulders. "I've got to live somehow."
	"Uh", Sally gently butted in, "You wouldn't be able to talk to other
 people?"
	"Like who?" Merlin asked, "You have a sweet heart from somewhere?"
	"Uncle Merlin", Tails scolded. He put his hand on Sally's. "You want to
 talk to the kids?"
	Both his line and Tails' softness embarrassed Sally. She could only nod.
	"You two?" Merlin demanded, nearly jumping out of his chair and ready
 to give the almost adult fox a firm talking to. "If you father were to hear…"
	"It's not like that" Tails quickly said, "We're not there… yet."
	Merlin was somewhat reassured by the news. "Well… good."
	"Geez!" Tails said, rolling his eyes, "I figured you'd be cooler about it
 than this." He shook his head as Merlin cooled down.
	"About the children?" Sally asked softly.
	Merlin took half a second to realize he was giving his 'nephew' a
 condescending parental look. "Oh? Yes… Yes, absolutely. It's no problem,
 except do you know which dimension your from?"
	Sally nodded slowly. "Prime. Do you need to know where they are?"
	Merlin shook his head. "You'll find them yourself. Your heart will go
 right to them, but if there are more then one it will be demanding on me; just a
 couple minutes."
	"Just a few minutes?" Sally asked.
	"That's all," Merlin replied, "sorry."
	Bunnie leaned over to Knuckles and whispered, "If Ah were her I'd be
 more than happy to talk with someone Ah know."
	"Give me your hands", Merlin said, sliding down to the floor, "Now, keep
 your eyes closed because they will be opened on the other side."
	"What is the incantation?"
	"Incantation? Ha! This isn't conjured magic, it's chaos magic. Much
 purer." Tails knelt beside her and nodded. 
	"Let's do it to it", Sally said, closing her eyes. Merlin closed his too,
 concentrating on the impossible. On the back of her eyelids, she could see colors
 so blindingly bright and yet so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.
 Slowly the world was enveloped in white, a white so hot it was cool. Sally felt
 she could reach out for it, touch it and make it part of her, but Merlin's firm
 grasp kept her anchored in reality. The light slowly came closer over taking her
 entire being.
	Suddenly, a room came into focus, dulling from the absolute light that
 had been. It was a family room. There was a couch, well worn and obviously
 comfortable beneath the few layers of blankets covering it. There were toys
 strung about on the floor a random pattern determined by what the children had
 been interested in at that moment. In the corner was an easy chair that could
 gently rock back and with the footrest just out of the way so everyone wouldn't
 trip over it. The floor was covered in carpet; a soft and cozy blue crisscrossed by
 tires marks and footprints. Beside the couch was a toy chest. Sally smiled,
 remembering the 'treasure chest.' Slowly, through all the colors she had seen
 before, the lid of the treasure chest opened seemingly by itself until a little
 squirrel also shimmered into view. She was three years old, peering thoughtfully
 into the chest for something new to do with the same old toys. She looked over
 her shoulder and said something to her brother, a blue hedgehog, also three,
 pushing around a small truck that had a wheel missing. He looked back, said
 something back, then came over, leaving the truck in the rest of the mess.
	"See?" the little squirrel said, "If we take the ruby tuck and crash it with
 your ah-cah it would be good."
	"Nah", the hedgehog said, "We did that yesterday." They were silent, still
 thinking about what to do. The hedgehog turned to his sister. "When did Mom
 say she was coming home?"
	"Nana doesn't know", she answered, looking around. Suddenly she
 spotted something. "Mom?" 
	The hedgehog spun to where she was looking. "MOM!"
	"Mom! We missed you!" the squirrel cried, rushing over. 
	"I missed both of you so much", Sally said, stepping closer and kneeling
 to receive both of them with open arms. They both wrapped their arms around
 her to find her only a projection.
	"Mom?" the squirrel asked, both scared and worried.
	"It's okay," Sally quickly reassured them, "it's okay. I'm not really here,
 but we can see each other. That's all that counts."
	The hedgehog reached up for his mother's hand, not understanding why
 he couldn't touch her.
	"Where ah you?"
	"Are, sweety, with an R."
	The squirrel quickly tried again. "Where arh you?"
	"That's better", Sally approved, "I'm with the others." She knew that the
 scarred and maimed Rabbot had scared them. They both stirred uneasily at the
 news. Suddenly, something was pinched again, sending a quick shot of pain up
 her backside.
	"You okay?" the squirrel asked.
	"I'm fine", Sally reassured.
	"Mom," he asked, "when are you coming home?" 
	"As soon as we win", Sally answered, reaching out to let the air touch his
 face, "It won't be too much longer."
	"He bit me the other day!" the squirrel burst out.
	"I did not!" he countered angrily, afraid of being ratted out.
	"Did to!"
	"Kids, don't fight. Okay? You two must be driving Nana crazy." She
 wished she could hold them, squeeze them and take a deep breath of their hair to
 cherish, enjoy the sense that of being there. 
	"No we aren't", the hedgehog answered.
	"I dew a pictu'e!" the squirrel said, turning and running from the room as
 a smaller version of her father: juicing.
	"Me too! Me too!" the hedgehog added, running like his sister. Sally
 started after them.
	'I need the rest', Merlin's voice came, 'Just wait here.'
	Sally waited, longing to follow, but knew that patience would grant her
 more time. So little time to see their bright faces light up, their amazed smiles,
 and their unbelievable impatience. 
	"Mom?" the squirrel called, "Mom?"
	"I'm in here!" Sally called back. 
	The two of them came back and began pushing to be the first.
	"Line up", Sally said, kneeling. They both stood side by side holding out
 their pictures. Sally reached out to the both of them, her fingers moving through
 the paper. "Oh. They're both terrific." The squirrel had drawn a picture of the
 family, what she remembered of her father holding hands with a tall brown blob
 with another blue and brown blob running around under their feet. The
 hedgehog had drawn a blur of color, items stretched out as he ran, as he saw it.
 "You both did such a great job."
	"Who did better?" the hedgehog asked hopefully, hoping to out do his
 sister in some way.
	"You both did great in your own special way."
	"Okay", they both said, semi-disappointed not to be out doing the other.
 The squirrel took a second to review her work. She looked at the picture, letting
 her fingers fall on the taller blue blob, feeling the wax from the crayons as the
 most understandable memory.
	"Mom?" she asked, looking up, "When's Dad coming home?"
	"Yeah", the hedgehog added, "When is he?"
	Sally was struck for a loss. She couldn't bring herself to say he was… She
 couldn't even say it to herself. How could she tell them? How could she tell
 them their father was…? She remembered the pool, the message, and the goal
 that they were now pursuing. Maybe Tails could help… explain everything. 
	"When I find him", Sally answered, "When I find him, he'll come home,
 and it will be like he never left."
	"I miss him", the squirrel replied.
	"Yeah", the hedgehog added.
	"Oh", Sally said, motioning for a hug, letting the air that touched them
 speak for her, "It's okay. I miss him too."
	They pulled away from the empty embrace that was meant to hold so
 much. "Mom!", the squirrel said, "Mom! You're fading out!"
	"Come back, Mom", the hedgehog said, reaching up for her hand in the
 hopes of his hold to be enough to keep her here, to keep her with them. 
	"Mom! Don't go!"
	"I'm sorry, sweeties," Sally said, "I could only stay for a while, and now I
 have to go. Don't worry."
	"Mom!"
	"Mom, please!"
	"I'm sorry", Sally said, feeling herself being pulled back. Too soon,
 everything was too soon, too quick. "I've got to go."
	"Mom!"
	"Mommy!"
	As the light over took her again, Sally saw Nana step through the door.
 Nana made out the fading remnants as the children cried out after their mother.
 Sally could make out the fear in her eyes, believing she saw a ghost.
	"Mommy!" the hedgehog cried, "Please don't go! Not like Dad!"
	"I'm not", Sally answered, hearing the voice with her own ears, "I'm not."
 White overtook her as she was pulled back, kicking and screaming.
	Sally blinked, opening her eyes. 
	"Sally?" Tails asked. Sally felt the tear streaks in her fur all the way down
 to her chin, the water also making its mark on her fingers. She looked over,
 seeing his soft and understanding face.
	"They've grown up so much. I've missed so much." 
	"I've got to rest", Merlin said, soaked to the bone in his own sweat.
	"There, there", Tails said. He scooted closer, and then held her tight. "It's
 alright." She ripped herself away from his grasp and found a corner to stand in.
 Tails knew better then to help her now. She needed time. It wasn't for him to
 mess around in Sonic's affairs, or with his kids. Bunnie took this chance to sit
 and relax in Merlin's chair, while Knuckles stood there. From what he had heard
 of the conversation, he couldn't help being sorry for the kids, so close to his own
 situation. He looked over to a sob from Sally, then to Bunnie as she muttered.
	"That's why Ah never had kids."
	"Shut UP!" Tails and Sally yelled. Tails continued, "Shut up! You shut up
 or you are out! Gone, history, Robotnik! I'll kick you out myself!"
	"I'd like to see y'all try!" Bunnie countered, "It will be a cold day in hell
 before y'all get rid of me! It takes everyone in the group for someone to leave."
	"Don't push your luck", Knuckles mumbled to himself, leaving the
 disarray to the wolves. "When you guys grow up, call me." He didn't fly off too
 far into the woods.
	They didn't so much as utter a sound for the rest of the evening.
	The next day, Merlin was up and as lively as ever. After an interminably
 silent breakfast Merlin wished them off.
	"Remember my book", he said, "And don't go out of your way to get
 killed."
	"See yah, Unc", Tails said. "Catch yah on the flip side."
	Merlin shrugged his shoulders. "Sure." Knuckles glided out of the woods,
 showing off with a backflip as he landed.
	"You landlubbers ready?"
	"Sh'ore, sugah", Bunnie answered as if he asked the most unreasonable
 question. "We're always ready." She shook her head in disgust.
	"Are they always like this, Miles?" Merlin silently asked.
	"This is lame", Tails answered, "Compared to the norm."
	Sally stepped out of the house behind Merlin. He turned to her light
 footsteps. 
	"Oh, Sally, perfect. I was meaning to give you this." She looked at him
 questioningly. "This is an inter-dimensional phone of sort." He handed over a
 type of crystal. 
	"A phone?"
	"Yeah, you'd never guess. Just hold it up, say my name and what you
 want. Then I'll help all I can from here."
	"I was just going to ask if you could come with us", Sally said, looking
 over the crystal that easily fit into the palm of her hand.
	"What? And leave this sort of knowledge unguarded? Are you out of your
 mind?"
	"We can tell?" Bunnie muttered.
	"It's what I miss the most", Tails answered.
	Sally didn't let anything she said phase her. "Thank you very much for
 everything, Merlin."
	"It was a pleasure having you", Merlin said, "You and everyone." He
 leaned to peer around Sally to his 'nephew'. "Nothing from you Miles?"
	"How's about a noogy?"
	"I'll pass."
	"All right everyone", Sally announced, "Let's get moving."
	"Fine by me, Sally", Bunnie agreed for the sake of agreement.
	"Anytime, anyplace", Knuckles said. Sally stepped onto Tails' shoes and
 leaned back against him. Soft straps whipped around her stomach, legs, and
 shoulders as Tails got ready to blast off, opening the ports in his feet and turning
 his hands into the engines he used the other day.
	"Kids", Merlin said in near disgust, seeing his nephew cozied-up like
 that. He never had the guts to get that close to a female. He stepped back into the
 house as Bunnie and Tails took off, driving off to the north. Knuckles hopped
 into the air after them, gliding for all he was worth.
	"Next stop", he muttered, "Some mountain nobody cares about."