From Ashes to Ashes, Chapter 5

	In another area of Robotropolis

	"I don't, like, like this place Laura."
	"Quiet Mary," Knock says, looking over a corner of one of the many buildings in Robotroplis.  "The cost's clear."  Knock takes her hand-held computer, Sarah, and whispers to her, "Sarah, scan for Nack"
	"Scanning"
	"Quiet Sarah."
	"Volume level decreased by fifty percent.  'Nack' Weasel found, four miles east of current location."
	"Four miles?" said Marigold, "But, I'm wearing my good shoes."
	"Come one Mary, and stop chewing that gum."
	Marigold swallows her gum.

	Four miles east of Knock and Mary, Wesley is closely monitoring Nack from a distance.
	"SWATbots, on my signal, grab him."
	Wesley sneaks past Nack, jumping out in from of him.
	"Hello, brother?"
	"Nick, you've changed," Nack commented about his brother robotic enhancements
	"IT'S WELSEY!!!" he screamed, "There is no more Nick and Nack, our partnership ended long ago.  I am in business for myself now."
	"You're in business with Robotnik."
	Wesley snapped his fingers.  Two SWATbots grabbed Nack.
	"You were always the better thief, Nack."  Wesley transform his arm into a laser cannon and pointed at his brother. "But with you dead, I'll be the best thief on Mobius."

	A raven's call is then heard in the distance.  It perches down on one of the nearby rooftops.

	"SWATbots," Wesley called, a team of ten or so SWATbots approach, "be on your guard, I think she's back again."
	"Who?" asked Nack

Ashes to Ashes, Chapter 6

	The two SWATbots holding Nack were disposed of quickly.  Nack made a run for it.  Wesley and his team of SWATbots fire in Nack's general direction.
	"SWATBOTS!!!  STOP HIM!!" screamed Wesley.
	One by one, Wesley's team of SWATbots fell down before him in a pile of mangled metal and wires.  The raven flies from his rooftop down to the ground, in front of Wesley, who was now gripped in fear.
	"She's going to KILL me!" he screamed. Wesley then ran for cover as fast as he can.

	Wesley didn't get far, a black female echidna drops down in front of him.  She tackles Wesley to the ground, ready to land the death blow.
	"NO, please NO!!!" Wesley's screams for mercy at the top of his lungs.

	Nack hears his brother screams, and as much as he hates his brother, he turns around, and decides to help him.  He tackles the black echidna.  The black echidna lands on vicious blow to the center of Nack's chest.  Nack is now unconscious.

	Wesley is fumbling to run away, but the black echidna again jumps in front of him, tackles him. With her fist in the air, she is ready to kill Wesley.

	Back in the throne room of Doctor Robotnik

	"Sir?"
	"What is it Snively?"
	"She's back again sir."
	"Who, Snively?"
	Snively punches a couple button on a nearby terminal.  Displayed on the screen above him is a picture of the black echidna, ready to kill Wesley.  Robotnik is somewhat upset at this image.  He pounds his robotic fist into the right arm of his throne, knocking his pet robotic chicken off.
	"Sir?"
	"Snively, leave me."
	Snively leaves the throne room.
	"Sebrina," Robotnik calls out.  The throne room fades to white, then fades back.  A blue fox is standing in front of Robotnik's throne.
	"What is your bidding?" Sebrina asks
	"Turn around."
	Sebrina turns around, her normally cheerful face turns into one of extreme hate and dismay.  "Erica," she says under her breath.
	"I take it you know her?"
	"All to well," said Sebrina.  Sebrina thought back to when she was a mercenary under the NiGHTS of Mobius.  She was their best, until Erica came along.  Sebrina fled the NiGHTS in fear of being replaced, of fear of her termination.
	"She's in Sector 96."
	"I know, I know."
	With that the room again fades to white, then back.  The blue fox is then seen on the screen, behind Erica.

	"Bolt!" screams Sebrina.  Erica turns her head.  Sebrina's hand start to crackle like electricity.  A lighting bolt is discharge from her hands, knocking the echidna of Wesley.  Sebrina runs up to Wesley and lays her hands upon him.  "Egress!"  she screams.  Wesley body begins to fade; he has be transport to his room in Robotroplis.

	"Now," says Sebrina, "it's you and me, Erica.  I've have waited a long time for this."
	"What are you talking about?" Erica says under her breath.
	"Bolt!" Sebrina screams again, slamming Erica into a nearby wall.  "You know all to well."
	Erica pushes herself from the wall, thinking back into her past, trying to recall what this fox was talking about.  Her memories are blurs of black and red.  She can't remember anything, except why she's here.  The raven reminds her of that everyday.  She's has come back from the dead to kill Robotnik, to avenge her son's death.
	"I don't know what you're talking about," Erica said.
	"Give me a break.  Bolt!"  Erica is slammed into the wall again.  Sebrina walks up to her.  "Today is the die you die Erica."
	"But I’m already DEAD!!!" Erica screams, lunging at Sebrina.  She pins Sebrina to the ground, holding her head between her hands.  Sebrina screams in pain, "What are you DOING?!?"
	Erica is bonding with Sebrina's mind.  She is not only learning of her past, but Sebrina is learning of Erica's; their minds are one for the moment.
	Erica lets go of Sebrina.  Sebrina lies unconscious, but Erica is merely drained.  She can't believe what she had saw in Sebrina's head, her life as a mercenary, a killer.  The raven then perches in front of Erica.
	"How did I, how could I forget this?" she asks the raven.
	The raven just stood there silently.

	Footsteps are heard in the distance.  Erica and the raven leave.  Laura and Marigold arrive.
	"Nack, NACK!!!"  Laura screams, running up to Nack.  Nack moans, "Nick, Nick."
	"It's Knock sweety, snap out of it."
	Nack slowly regained conscience.  "Where's Nick?  WHERE'S NICK?!"
	"Calm down sweety, Nick's not here."
	Nack sits up and looks around.  "Is he dead?"
	A moan is then here not to far from them.  Marigold walks over and finds Sebrina.
	"What happened?" Sebrina says.
	"Like, maybe you can't tell us or something," says Marigold.
	Sebrina shakes her head.  "Who are you?  Where am I?  Who am I?"  It appears that Erica's bonding with her mind as left her with a slight case of amnesia
	"I'm, like, Mary, May Gold, and you're in, like, where are we Laura?"
	"We're in Robotroplis."
	"Right, we're in Robotroplis, and you are," Marigold pauses, "Like, don't know who you are.  Are you lost or something?"
	"I don't know," Sebrina replies.  "It was her."
	"Who?" Nack, Laura, and Marigold say in unison.
	"That black echidna.  She's dead, but she was here."
	Laura whispers to Nack, "I think she a knock short of a knock, knock joke."
	"Bolt!" Sebrina screams, sending Laura flying a couple feet.  "What was that?"
	Laura shakes her head from the blow and walks back up to Sebrina. "It's magic," Laura says, "you foxes have a way with it."
	"Magic?" Sebrina says.
	"Cool!" says Marigold, "can I, like, do that?  Bolt!"  Marigold's hands crackle, then fade.  "Nuts."
	Laura pats Marigold on the back. "Nice try."
	"Whatever," says Marigold.  "So, you, like, can't remember your name?"
	Sebrina shakes her head, "It's Seb, Seb, Seby."
	"Well, like, hi, Seby, like you want to come with us or some junk."
	Laura and Nack look at Marigold.  Laura pulls Marigold over and whispers to her, "Are you sure that's a good idea Mary?"
	"Like, why not?"
	"Well, like," Laura speaks to Marigold, imitating her, "she's dangerous with that, like, magic."
	"So, like, it's can't be all that bad, right?"
	Laura and Nack look at each other.  Nack nods.
	"OK, she can come along, but only until she regains her memory.  Nack, let's go home."
	"No, I need that Emerald."
	"Nack, sweety, in case you haven't noticed, you got the life beat out of you.  You need some rest."
	Nack sighs, "OK, fine, have it your way."
	Laura give Nack a kiss on the lips. "Thanks sweety."

	Nack, Laura, Marigold, and Sebrina head back to there hideout on the Floating Island

	Meanwhile, back at Knothole

	"Sally girl, you're back!" Bunny runs up to Sally and gives her a hug.  "Did ya find the vixen?"
	Sally sighs.  "No Bunny, we didn't, but Knuckles is looking for her.  He said he'll find her by tomorrow."
	Bunny sees Sonic is his exhausted condition.  "What happened to my little sugah hog?'
	"Well," Ashe said, "it wasn't something he ate, that's for sure."
	Sally and Ashe explain to Bunny and the rest of the Freedom Fighters about what happened on the Floating Island.
	"Zo Zonic iz pzycho?"
	"Pretty much, Ant’." replied Ashe
	"Ant’, I want you to keep an eye on Sonic, just in case" said Sally
	"Moi?  But, what if he'z goez crazy again?"
	Ashe pats Antoine on the back, "Don't worry, if he goes loco, I'm sure you'll think of something."
	Antoine gulps.  He, Amy, Bunny, and Tails help Sonic into his room.  Antoine sit down in a chair in Sonic's room, knees knocking.  Amy, Bunny, and Tails leave, giggling at Antoine.
	"It iz not funny!"

	Back outside of Sonic's room
	
	"Has there been any word from Uncle Chuck since we were out guys?" Sally asks
	"Yes," says Rotor, "in fact, he's in my workshop right now."
	Amy, Sally, Ashe, Bunny, Tails, and Rotor go to Rotor's workshop.
	"Hi Uncle Chuck!" Tails runs up to him and hugs him.
	"Hi Tails.   Where's Sonic?"
	"He's out," said Ashe, "way out."
	"I see," said Uncle Chuck, appearing to know what has happened.
	"Uncle Chuck, have you gotten any more information on what's being going on lately?" asks Sally
	"Yes.  It appears Robotnik is working on a teleportation device.  He has had this device for a long time, even before he came to rule Mobius.  It's would seem Robotnik is not from Mobius, but from another planet."
	"Earth?" asked Ashe.
	"That I am not sure of.  Anyway, the device was severely damaged when he arrived on Mobius.  He has been trying to repair this device.  Unfortunately, while working out the flaws on his teleportation device, many strange things have happened.  These, anomalies, has he records them, started out small due.  As Robotnik's power grew, so did these anomalies."
	"Do you have a record of these anomalies?" Sally asked.
	"Yes."  Uncle Chuck slips a disc out of his arm.  Sally takes the disc and places into Nicole.  Nicole displays the following list of anomalies.
	
	"Light electrical storm, mutation, fox given extra tail."
	"That's me!"  said Tails.
	"Light electrical storm, mutation, fox given exotic accent."
	"Antoine," everyone says in unison.
	"Heavy electrical storm, mutation, hedgehog, given telepathy."
	"Sounds like you," Ashes point at Amy.  Amy smiles.
	"Severe electrical storm."
	"Nicole, elaborate." Sally says
	"Severe electrical storm on the Floating Island, no record of mutation or teleportation, fatalities recorded, one Erica Draven, echidna, age 20, one Damiem Dravem, echidna, age 5."
	Sally sighs in dismay, "Nicole, continue."
	"Severe electrical storm, teleportation, human male from Earth, mutation, hedgehog"
	"Sounds like you," Amy points at Ashe.  Ashe sticks his tongue out at her.
	"Severe electrical storm, teleportation, human female from Earth, mutation, fox"
	"That would be that fox," said Sally.
	"Severe electrical storms, teleportations, two human males from Earth, mutations, one wolf, given fire breathing, one bear, one unidentified mutation."
	"Nicole, elaborate."
	"Unidentified mutation, Sonic Hedgehog.  End of record."
	"What an elaboration," Ashe remarks sarcastically.
	"So this is all Robotnik's doing." Sally remarks.
	"Yes," says Uncle Chuck, "Also I found another item of interest.  Robotnik is stealing Chaos Emeralds again."
	"WHAT!?" screams Sally.
	"Yes, he has figured a way to generate electricity from them."
	"Just great, Chaos Emeralds, electricity, bigger storms, weirder mutations." Sally rambles on.
	"OK," Ashe stopped Sally's rambling, "here's what will do.  First, Knuckles finds the fox, second, we find the bear and the wolf.  Uncle Chuck, where were they?"
	"Records show they we're last seen in the Forbidden Zone."
	"OK, find, then, when blow the generator, and steal the teleportation thing and send me and everyone home, cool?"
	"Ashe, you are thinking way ahead of yourself," said Uncle Chuck.
	"Why?"
	"First, the Forbidden Zone.  No one yet has come out of there alive.  Second, you can't just walk into Robotroplis and blow and steal stuff."
	"Well, any one else have any bright ideas?"

	Nicole beeps.
	
	"What is it Nicole?" Sally asks
	"The name's not Nicole, it's Knuckles, and I found your vixen."
	"Like, hi." Marigold says, talking into the communicator.
	"Great Knuckles, we'll be right up there!"

	Sally, Ashe, Uncle Chuck, and Rotor leave for the Floating Island.

	"DOWN HERE!!!"  screams Knuckles, guiding the plane to a clearing.
	The plane lands, Sally, Ashe, Uncle Chuck and Rotor step out and introduced themselves to the fox.
	"Hello, I'm Sally, this is Ashe, Uncle Chuck, and Rotor.  And you are?"
	"I'm Mary, Mary Gold."
	"Mary," Sally continues, "do you know how you got here?"
	"Like, no."
	With that Sally and Uncle Chuck explain what has been happening the last couple days, and who Marigold came to Mobius.
	"Like, what I trip!" said Marigold, "So, like, how am I getting back home?"
	"We'll have to steal something from Robotroplis," Ashe says.
	"Yes," said Uncle Chuck, "but it's going to be extremely hard to get the teleportation device out of Robotroplis without anyone noticing."
	"Like, I know someone who can help!" says Marigold.
	"Who?" the Freedom Fighters ask.
	
	Marigold walks into a deep wooden area of the Mushroom Hills.  She pushes down on a mushroom and a doorway open on the side of one of the hills.  "follow me," she says.

	The Freedom Fighters, Knuckles, and Marigold enter the hideout of Nack and Knock.

	"Who is it?" Laura asks from her chair in front of the fireplace, sipping a drink.
	"It's me Laura, and I brought some friends."
	Laura drops her drink and gets up from her chair. "WHAT?!  Mary, I told you no one suppose to know about."  Laura stops herself as she see Knuckles.  "Welcome, welcome to my home."
	"Laura, this is Knuckles, Sally, Uncle Chuck, Rotor, and Ashe.  They need some help."
	Laura grabs Marigold by the arm, "What are you doing, bringing them in here?"
	"Is, like, something wrong?" asks Marigold.
	Laura sighs, "Nevermind.  So," Laura raises her voice, "what's do you need?"
	"We need someone to help steal something from Robotroplis," Uncle chuck explained.
	"Sure, no problem, how much are you paying us?"
	"Who's us?" asked Uncle Chuck
	"Me, Nack, Mary, and Seby, of course."
	"Say," Uncle Chuck catches his eye on the Power Ring hung above the fireplace, "that looks awfully familiar."
	Laura laughs nervously, "OK, we have a special today, buy one get one free, you get the free one first.  So, what do you need us to steal?"
	"A teleportation device."
	"OK, you have any idea where in Robotroplis it is?"
	"It's in Robotnik's main project building."
	Luara shakes her head, "No, can't do it."
	"What?"
	"It's way too risky, Nick was snooping around there today and got the life beat out of him."
	"But Laura?" Marigold whispers to Laura, about how this teleportation device could take her back home.
	"OK, OK, we'll do it, for Mary's sake."
	"Great," said Sally, "I suggest we go back to Knothole and plan this whole thing out."
	
	With that, Laura leaves to wake up Nack and Seby.  They return and follow the Freedom Fighter's plane back to Knothole in there own plane.  By the time they return, it's late, everyone gets acquainted and are given rooms for the night; Marigold is staying with Tails, Sebrina and Amy are staying with Sally, Ashe is staying with Rotor, Nack and Laura have beds set up in Rotor's workshop.

	In Tails' room

	"I can't sleep," Tails says to himself, "Mary?"
	"Like, what is it?"
	"Could you read me a bedtime story?"
	"Like, sure, if it helps."
	Tails gets a dusty old book from under his bed.  "Read this."
	"Like, OK."  Mary starts reading the book out loud to Tails.  Tails soon falls asleep, but she can't stop reading the book.  It was fascinating to her.  It was a book about the magic of the fox, and contained stories of great fox wizards and spells.  She spent the whole night study this book, making little sparks from her hands and levitating small objects.

	In Sally's room

	Sebrina is sitting on one the extra bed made for her, staring outside the window, looking at the stars.
	"What's wrong, Sebrina?" Amy asks
	"Who, what?"
	"That is your name, right?"
	"I don't know," Sebrina says, confused.  "How, how did you read my thoughts?"
	"I don't know, it just happens."
	"Then, tell me, tell me about me."
	"OK, I guess," Amy goes on reading Sebrina's mind and telling her about her past.
	Sebrina shakes her head "It's not true, it's can't be."
	Amy sighs, "It is."
	Sebrina screams, "EGRESS!"  Sally wakes up only to see the room flash, with Sebrina gone.
	"What happened?" Sally asks.
	"She went home Sally, she went home."

	To be continued

Sonic, Rotor, Antoine, Bunny, Amy, Snively, Tails, Sally, Robotnik, Knuckles and Nack are copyrighted Sega/DiC/Archie/Fleetway
Psycho is copyrighted by Bryan/Psycho
Sebrina is copyrighted by Megan/Sebrina
Ashe, Mary Gold/Marigold, Laura 'Knock' Lemon, Erica 'The Raven' Draven, Dante, 'Silent Bob', and Wesley Nicholas 'Nick' Weasel are copyrighted by Thomas/Ashe

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