Sonic the Hedgehog XV: Friend or Foe?
         Happy Anniversary!!

	"Where am I? Is this heaven?"
	"Go back to sleep. God, it's 8:00 in the morning."
	Sonic sat up in the bed and looked around the room. 
"Now I remember. Uncle Chuck's hotel room."
	Sally looked at him as she started to get up. "Do you 
remember anything about last night?"
	"Should I?" 
	"Stuff happened after you blacked out."
	"Like what?"
	"Let me start from the beginning..."

	"Hey, he had a nice apartment before they trashed it, 
don't you think Sal?" Sonic said, entering the musty room.
	"Wow, it looks like a hurricane swept through here!" 
	"Ahh, it feels like home, you know, since Uncle Chuck 
was here," he said, plopping on the couch.
	"Why did we come here? Tails wouldn't be here."
	"Sally, oh Sally Sally Sally! This is my roots!"
	"What?!"
	"I figured since we'd be going into town away I might as 
well stop here, just to make sure Uncle Chuck didn't come 
back."
	"God knows if he'll ever come back."
	Sonic frowned and lowered his head. "Things have 
changed Sally. If I could only have five more minutes with the 
old Freedom Fighters..."
	"Sonic, we tried our best to prevent what was going to 
happen. So many things are not explained, there are 
mysteries we haven't solved yet, and we need to start doing 
that."
	"Like what?"
	"Like, how did Binx's friends die? How did Sonic X 
manage to escape from one of the most heavily guarded 
prisons in Knothole? How long has Knuckles been a spy?"
	"Those are great questions, but we don't have time to 
answer all of them now. Not until we find Tails."
	"Sonic...I have the greatest mystery of all...."
	Sonic and Sally looked around the room and saw 
nothing. "Who's there?" Sonic demanded.
	"Why Sonic, I believe we've met before..."
	"Where is that voice coming from?" Sally asked.
	An outline of a figure appeared at the door. "Did you 
miss me? Is that why you've come for me?"
	"NOOOOO! We escaped the evil!!!" Sonic cried as Kit 
entered the room. 
	"I believe you're in my apartment. You can leave 
anytime."
	"This is my uncle's apartment, before he left. What are 
you doing here?"
	"I told you guys I'd be back. I left and got a room in this 
hotel, planning my next attack. Why are you here?"
	Sally looked out the window. "We're trying to find Tails."
	"Oh, good luck!" Kit said, laughing.
	"Why do you say that?" Sonic asked, curiously.
	Kit walked out of the door. "No reason, no reason at all," 
she said, not turning back. "Oh, and keep my apartment in 
one piece, will ya?"
	After she left, Sonic began to feel dizzy. "Sally...what's 
happening to m-" He collapsed right in front of Sally.
	"Sonic!!" she said, picking him up. She began to feel 
dizzy also. "There must be some kind of gas in here," she 
whispered, covering her nose and mouth. She walked over to 
the window and opened it up. As she breathed the fresh air, 
a note flew onto her hands. She unfolded it and read it aloud: 
"To my dearest Sonic, I have not forgotten about your friend 
Tails. He is in a peaceful environment now, don't ever expect 
to get him back very easily. Keep looking around, you should 
find a stick sticking out of the ground. Your next note will be 
there. Good luck, you'll need it." Sally gasped. "And it's 
signed Kit Panther! She has Tails!"
	
	"And that's all Sonic. So get dressed, we have to find a 
stick sticking out of the ground and pronto!"
	Sonic stretched and stood up. "Man, why do I always 
black out at the good parts?"
	"Oh be quiet! I found out that the gas was purposely 
leaked into this room."
	"Why did I go down first? Not fair at all, that's what I say. 
Let's get the heck out of here, this place gives me the 
creeps."
	They walked out the door and slammed the door. Uncle 
Chuck, gagged and tied up, was squeezed behind the door, 
unnoticed by Sally and Sonic.

			Chapter 2

	They walked down the road until Sonic became very 
thirsty. "Sally, I need a drink."
	"Sonic, you've been saying that since we left the 
apartment."
	"No, I mean I'm thirsty. I can't wait very much-THERE IT IS! 
THERE IT IS!"
	Sally looked at where Sonic was pointing, and she saw a 
stick pointing out of the ground at the end of the road. They 
ran over and pulled out the note.
	"Getting closer, still not there. One more clue, don't get 
scared. Where you stand someone sleeps, 6 feet under, so 
very deep. Go now back home, to the cabins from which you 
came, what you find may be shocking, but I'm not the one to 
blame. Love, Kit." Sally read. 
	"Who sleeps here?"
	"Sonic, someone must have died, someone we know," 
she said, throwing the note on the ground.
	"Nope, can't think of anyone, let's go."
	"Uncle Chuck!"
	Sonic gasped. "Oh no, he can't be dead!"
	"Sonic, you never know...Let's get out of here," she said, 
walking away.
	Sonic looked at the ground. "You're not dead Uncle 
Chuck, right?"

	When they reached Knothole, they saw someone sitting 
at the old lake. "Who's that?" Sonic asked Sally.
	"Binx."
	Sonic wanted to run over and hug her but remembered 
how he had told her to become bad. "I didn't mean to sound 
mean when I said it, Sally."
	"I wasn't there so I don't know what happened."
	They walked towards the cabins and saw someone else 
sitting outside the cabins. "What the heck is going on?" Sonic 
asked, getting annoyed.
	"It's Sonic X. Why is he at the cabins?"
	Sally walked up to him and smiled. "Hi Sonic X."
	He didn't look up. "Leave, you two. Don't go in there."
	Sonic ran out. "Why are you here? Why is Binx there? 
Why can't we go in?"
	"Listen, I'm doing you a favor. Don't go in."
	Sonic ignored him. He ran to his cabin's door and 
opened it. "NOOOOOO!
	The cabin was burned, everything was ash. One chair in 
the middle was in perfect condition, facing away from them. 
"Who's there?" he asked.
	The chair turned slowly to face him. Tails, smiling, was 
sitting there.
	"NOOOOOO! SAY IT ISN'T SO, TAILS!" Sonic screamed, 
collapsing onto his knees in front of him.
	"I would if I could, Sonic." Kit's voice entered him. "But 
don't blame this on me."
	Sally ran in and saw Tails. "Tails! Where have you been?" 
she said, running towards him, her hands outstretched. 
	"NO SALLY! IT'S KIT!" Sonic screamed.
	Black spikes popped out of Tail's chest. Sally kept on 
running. "Help Sonic! I can't stop!!!"

			Chapter 3

	Sonic pushed Sally away from Tails. "GET OUT OF HERE 
KIT!"
	Tails gagged as Kit left his body as black smoke. She 
then transformed into herself. "Why is this such a surprise? I 
said I'd be back."
	"I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO BURN DOWN OUR HOUSE!"
	"I told you two not to blame this on me, I didn't do it. 
Tails did."
	Sonic X walked in and frowned. "You guys have to start 
listening to me."
	Sonic looked at him and pointed at Kit. "You knew 
about this?"
	"Sonic, she threatened me with a knife. What am I 
supposed to do?"
	"COME ON! You knew! You are such a bad liar!"
	He smiled. "Your partner burned down your house, face 
it hedgehog."
	Sonic turned to Tails. "Where were you?"
	"Hiding."
	"Come on Tails, don't play games."
	"Do I have to tell you everything?"
	"I ain't in the mood, Tails."
	"Shut up! I'm sick of being your little side-kick, your little 
assistant. Let me be leader for once, Sonic. Die for Christ's 
sake so I can be in the spotlight!"
	"You already are Tails, don't shut yourself out. Without 
you there would be no Freedom Fighters."
	"Well Sonic, then maybe their shouldn't be."
	Sally stood up, puzzled. "What exactly are you trying to 
say Tails?"
	"Sonic always told me he couldn't live without me."
	Kit smiled. "This is some action. First they dominated, now 
they're turning on each other!"
	Tails got up and walked towards the door. "Goodbye 
Sonic, goodbye Sally. Goodbye Freedom Fighters."

	Binx stood up and stretched. "Man am I bored. What 
should I do now?"
	"I did it Binx, I destroyed the Freedom Fighters."
	"Tails! What are you talking about?"
	Tails sat down next to her. "I left them. I've come to join 
Robotnik."
	"Don't do it Tails. Stay how you are."
	"What, and live in Sonic's shadow? No way."
	"Tails, I've been in and out of Robotnik's castle more 
times than you have. It's rough Tails. I beg of you, don't do it."
	Tails looked at the ground. "It's really that bad, huh?" he 
said, acting like he did when he was little.
	Binx put her arm around him. "Tails, it's hell, really. Go 
home, go and talk to Sonic."
	"Binx, you don't understand. I want to join Robotnik. Plus 
I can't go home, Kit's there."
	Binx gasped. "Kit?"
	"Yeah. I can't go back. And I won't as long as Sonic's 
there."
	A voice called out from the shadows. "Binx, are you over 
here? Let's go home."
	Binx stood up. "I got to go Tails. Go home and talk to 
him."
	She walked towards Sonic X and grabbed his hand. 
	"No Binx, she couldn't have....," Tails whispered, as he followed
them.

	Sonic sat on the floor and cried, holding Tail's burned 
photo album. "Why us?"
	Sally stared out the window. "I can't believe this is really 
happening. First Knuckles, then Binx, then the cabins, and 
finally Tails. Did God really want us to come back?"
	"I don't want us to die. Freedom Fighters, I love that 
name. Why did he have to leave? WHY?"
	"Sonic, we'll get him, Binx, and Knuckles back."
	Sonic looked up. "Yeah, when is that gonna happen? Huh 
Sally? You seem to always have the answers around here, 
don't ya? Maybe I'd be better off by myself too."
	"Sonic, you don't mean that!" she said, running over 
and shaking him. "Wake up, leaving won't change a thing."
	He started to get up. "Well then what will sitting here do? 
Fighting won't do any good, if we can't beat them as a 
whole we won't beat them at all. See ya Sally, it's been 
fun."
	"Sonic, no! Sonic...please, come back....," she cried as 
he walked slowly out of the door.

			Chapter 4

	Sally stood at the doorway, looking to see if Sonic was 
coming back. He wasn't. "I have to go find him," she thought, 
picking up the photo album. "and I know just the place to 
look."
	She walked to the clearing and saw Destiny sitting on 
the rock. "Well, he wouldn't be here," Sally whispered, tip-
toeing away.
	She kept on walking until she got to the dried up lake. 
"There he is, sitting by himself. If I could only convince him 
that he's making the wrong decision..."
	Sonic turned around and saw Sally walking towards him. 
"Do I know you? I don't believe we've ever met."
	"Sonic, stop it. You're making the wrong decision, and 
you know it."
	He stood up and put his hands on her shoulders. "I've 
made too many wrong decisions, if it weren't for me Binx 
would still be good. If it weren't for me Tails would still be my 
best friend. And if it weren't for me....maybe this whole story 
wouldn't have happened, and Bunny, Antoine, and Sonette 
would be still here, laughing and carrying on."
	"We have no proof they're dead."
	"Proof? Proof?! What proof do you need, Sal? I mean, 
just look at me! I'm a walking time bomb, ready to ruin 
another person's life."
	She shoved his hands away. "You're crazy, Sonic the 
Hedgehog. Absolutely crazy."
	"Sally, you have to agree with me. I've ruined 
everyone's life."
	"Hedgehog, think about what you say," Sonic X said, 
walking into the clearing. "Stop blaming everything on 
yourself, and get back your friends."
	Sonic turned around. "Why should I listen to you? You 
killed them, my friends."
	"No I didn't, you did. Everything's your fault, 
remember?"
	"You may have killed them, but all my problems led up 
to it."
	Sonic X picked up Sonic by his neck. "I didn't come here 
to make peace with you, I just telling you to get yourself back 
together, and fast." He threw him onto the ground and 
walked away. "Oh, and about your friends, don't believe 
everything you hear..."
	Sally picked up Sonic and started to walk away. "Come 
on Sonic, let's get you home."
	"DROP HIM SALLY."
	"Robotnik!"
	"BACK TO OLD TIMES AGAIN, HUH?"
	"Please Robotnik, right now is not the time-"
	"SALLY, IF YOU AND SONIC BEAT MY CREATIONS, YOU'LL 
GET BINX, TAILS, AND KNUCKLES BACK, NO STRINGS 
ATTACHED."
	Sonic stood up and lifted his fist. "You got a deal, bring it 
on."
	"MY FIRST CREATION...BUNNICULA!"
	"Bunnicula? What kind of name is tha-"
	Bunnicula stepped into the clearing, her ears were long 
with spikes poking out. "Prepare to fight till the death 
hedgehog."
	"BUNNY BUTCHER*!" She screamed as she sped towards 
Sonic.
	"Whoa!" he said as he and Sally jumped. "Let's go 
Sally!"
	"SONIC SPINDASH*!"
	"SALLY SMASHER*!"
	Bunnicula was knocked to the ground. She got up 
quickly though, and pulled out one of Tail's claws. "One, two, 
three, four, four claws. Two for each of ya!"
	Sally fell trying to dodge the swings being thrown at her. 
Something pricked her hand behind her. She turned around 
and saw Tail's fifth claw. Hiding it behind her back, she stood 
up. 
	"Oh Bunnicula...look what I GOT!" she said, shoving the 
claw into Bunnicula's chest.
	"NOOOOO! Why? Why?!" she said, falling to the ground.
	"OH, IT AIN'T OVER! MEET FOXTON!"
	Foxton walked into the clearing, the nails on his hands 
were just like Tail's.
	"Talk about Nine Inch Nails!" Sonic joked, nudging Sally.
	"You won't be laughing when I'm done with you."
	"SONIC SPINDASH*!"
	"SALLY SMASHER*!"
	"FOXTON FURY*!"
	They all sped towards each other, Sonic and Sally 
pushed Foxton back. "FOXTON BLADE SWIPE!"
	His nails flew from his hands and nearly missed Sonic. 
"Sally, we need some help here!"
	"Don't worry Sonic, I have an idea!"
	"HEY METAL FACE!"
	"What do you want, girlie?"
	"Come over here."
	"Yeah, sure pip-squeak."
	"Come over here."
	Foxton started to walk over when Sally pulled out the 
nails he had thrown at them. "Silly metal, blood is for 
baddies!" She said, throwing the nails at his chest. 
	"NOOOO! YOU DESTROYED BOTH OF MY MONSTERS! MY 
BEAUTIFUL ROBOTS!"
	"YOU'RE NO MATCH FOR US ROBOTNIK! GIVE UP NOW!" 
Sonic screamed, swinging his fist at Robotnik.
	"I STILL HAVE ONE MORE TRICK UP MY SLEEVE 
HEDGEHOG..."
	Binx, Tails, and Knuckles appeared in the clearing.
	"Oh no....," Sally whispered to Sonic.

			Chapter 5

	"This isn't fair!" Sonic protested, pointing to them.
	"WHAT ISN'T FAIR ABOUT IT HEDGEHOG?"
	"These are my own friends!"
	"Awww, well, they don't particularly think so. Right 
guys?"
	"Binx is the only one truly one your side, Ro-butt-nik!"
	Knuckles smiled. "I just love having Binx on our side, 
don't you guys?"
	Binx and Tails didn't say anything. 
	"Well, don't just stand there, fight them!" Robotnik 
shouted.
	They didn't move.
	"KILL THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS!!!" Knuckles shouted, 
running at Sonic and Sally. Binx and Tails followed.
	Sally fell to the ground. "Move Sonic!"
	"I'm not moving. Let them kill me...I deserve it."
	"NOT IF WE CAN HELP IT SUGAR-BUNS!" Bunnicula said, 
getting up. 
	"Sugar-buns?" Sally said, strangely.
	"I DON'T LIKE TO FIGHT, BUT IF I MUST I WILL!" Foxton said, 
getting up.
	"Not liking to fight?!"
	Sonic turned around and looked at them. "What the 
heck-" 
	"NOOOO!" Sally shouted as Knuckles, Binx, and Tails 
rammed into Sonic. Sonic was thrown a couple of feet and 
fell hard onto the ground. He didn't move.
	"That's it...it's bunny and fox power!" Bunnicula shouted, 
as she and Foxton took off the metal pieces. 
	"Are you two...related to Bunny and Antoine?" Sally 
asked.
	Bunnicula grabbed Sally's hand. "We'll talk about that 
later hun! Let's take care of these stubborn donkey's butts!"
	"SALLY SCREAMER*!"
	"BUNNY BUTCHER*!"
	"FOXTON FURY*!"
	They sailed at Knuckles, hitting him in the chest. He fell to 
the ground, laying on top of Sonic.
	"Man, they're starting a wounded pile over there!" 
Robotnik shouted, grabbing Tails X and Destiny and running 
towards the castle.
	"YEAH, LEAVE YOU STUPID IDIOTS!" Sally screamed as she, 
Bunnicula and Foxton ran after them.
	Binx and Tails walked over to Knuckles. "Knuckles, are 
you okay?"
	Knuckles groaned and stood up. "Ohhhh man, we gotta 
get out of here..."
	Binx looked at Sonic. "We just can't leave, I mean, look 
at him."
	Knuckles laughed. "Binx, remember who you're working 
for."
	She looked at Knuckles and Tails. "I don't know about 
you two, but I'm changing back."
	"YOU CAN'T CHANGE BACK! WHAT ABOUT..."
	"Knuckles, I don't care about Sonic X, he won't find out 
until it's too late anyway."
	Tails helped Sonic up. "I agree with Binx. I'm changing 
back."
	"Knuckles, you have to leave them. They treat you like 
you're nothing."
	Knuckles smiled. "No way guys, no way."
	"Knuckles come on!" Tails said, trying to wake Sonic up. 
"What do you have to go for with them?"
	"I have a lot."
	"Like?"
	"Killing you guys."
	"Why Knuckles? Why must you kill us?" Binx asked.
	"I don't know."
	Tails started to walk away. "All right Binx, let's go. Leave 
the loser alone."
	"Tails, you got a lot to learn," Knuckles said, grabbing 
Binx. "You can go home by yourself."
	"Let her go!"
	"Tails...help me!"
	Tails placed Sonic onto the ground and raised his fists. 
"Come on Knuckles, me and you right now."
	"Excuse me?"
	"You heard me."
	"Awww, the big mature Tails thinks he can beat me?"
	Knuckles dropped Binx and put out his hand. "Don't act 
like a jerk Tails, you don't want to fight me."
	"No, you don't want to fight me! You just want to show 
off for Binx!"
	Binx gasped. "Knuckles!"
	Knuckles started to walk away. "No, no. You don't have 
the right idea."
	"JOIN US!" Tails cried.
	Knuckles stopped but didn't turn around. "You guys 
really want me back?"
	"Yes!"
	He turned and walked towards Sonic. "Here, I got him 
Tails." He picked him up and together they walked towards a 
couple of tents that Sally had set up. Binx turned around and 
looked at the castle.
	"Hey guys, Sally didn't come back."
	Knuckles smiled. "Let's go guys! We have to get home!"
	"All right," Tails said, stepping inside a tent. "Knuckles, 
you can put Sonic in here."
	Knuckles put Sonic down. "Give me a rest, then I'll bring 
him in."
	Binx got inside her tent and closed it. Tails turned around 
and tried to fix his pillows. No one watched Knuckles.
	Bad idea. 
	"SEE-YA SUCKERS!" Knuckles said, picking up Sonic and 
running towards the castle. 
	Binx wanted to chase after him, but Tails stopped her. 
"It's a trap, they have Sally too. Just stay here."
	Tails held Binx as she cried herself to sleep.
	
				The End

Stay tuned for Sonic the Hedgehog XVI: Confusion Strikes