Vision Quest,
Prequil to the Dead Squirrel Walking saga. 
This Story is copyright 1998 by Will 'Chaos Omega' Wells. All characters and 
concepts here in are the property of Sega, Archie Comics, and DiC productions 
with the following exceptions: C'mega and Natasha are the property of Will 
Wells, Packbell is the property of David Pistone, Jay the flying squirrel is the 
property of Dan Drazen, the gods Chaos and Order (as portrayed here in) are 
owned and created by Charles Drake. A scene from Dan Drazen's Mobius Apocalypse 
appears in this story as a vision/flashback, used without direct permission. 
Don't sell or alter this story in any way.
Send any questions, comments, flames, and (I can only hope) fan mail to me at: 
Cmega@hotmail.com 
Author Note- 
This story was ORIGINALLY part 5 of "Chaos Incarnate". However, because much of 
the info in CI 2, 3, and 4 is being used in a non-mobian story I plan to 
publish, I had to scrap CI so as to not screw up copyrights on the other story. 
However, that won't stop me from publishing part 5. 
There are some visions that might not be agreeable for younger readers... read 
at your own risk. Suggested mood music- This is your Night, by Amber, and 
anything by Alan Parson. 
This story is broken into chapters, for easier reading (I guess). The Language 
rating (see below) is for one scene with repetitive use of the F-word. My 
apologies, though I do think it's justified in the situation. 
Timeline: Three months or so after Doomsday... the year 3236. 
Violence- 7 Language- 8 Sex- 1 



Chapter 0, a Prelude.
In the year 3232, the wizard known as "Chaos Omega" was out looking for emeralds 
with his palmtop, a Plum Unit, when he stumbeled upon the Great Indigo Emerald. 
He discovered that he could tap the essence of the Emerald, thus giving him a 
near infinite source of power. And, from the acient inscriptions he found with 
that Emerald, he learned that the Essence also contained a type of Key. If he 
could locate and absorb the essence from all seven Great Emeralds, he would be 
able to unlock the power of the Master Emerald. 
With this new power and information, C'mega set out on his Emerald Quest, 
seeking out the Great Emeralds. Sometime around 3234, he discovered the Great 
Green Emerald on Floating Island. His attempt to gain its essence is chronicled 
in the story "Pasts and Future". 
Upon failing to get the Essence of the Great Green Emerald, he moved on, 
locating the Great Yellow Emerald late in the year 3237 a month or so after 
Doomsday. 
At about the same time, a Sorceress named Natasha was having some trouble on 
Floating Island. The following is an exerp from her diary. 
"If cats really do have nine lives, I could really use number two right about 
now! I recently escaped from Sir Connery, a sadistic madman who has taken it 
upon himself to "Purge" the Magic from Black Artists like myself. So, now, I'm 
stuck on Floating Island with no powers. And, the only way to get my powers back 
is to recharge on a Chaos Emerald. This in mind, I'm heading for the center of 
the Island, to the Hidden Palace where the Great Green Emerald is kept. The only 
problem... the family of Echidnas that guards the Emerald with their lives..." 
Natasha stumbeled upon an access duct leading straight to the Chaos Chamber. She 
managed to touch the Emerald before getting beaten by Knux, and transported 
herself back to the ground, to her lab... where Chaos Omega was waiting. 
"Quite by accident, actually." Chaos Omega stated to our interviewer years 
later, "I was tracking odd Emerald signatures... and her little gray Chaos 
Emerald [where she contained her spells] was emitting all kinds of odd 
radiation. And, just as I was about to leave [the small emerald having nothing 
to do with my quest], a pretty cat appeared on the floor. And, what's more, she 
had the Essence of the Green Emerald in her! So, I quickly offered to share the 
power with her, intending to double cross her once she keyed open the Master 
Emerald for me." 
Their forces joined, Natasha and C'mega quickly tracked down the remaining four 
emeralds, C'mega gathering their essences. Not a month after finding his second 
Emerald, C'mega had all seven. 
Together, the pair of Black Artists, as they like to be called, made their way 
to the chamber containing the Master Emerald. C'mega downloaded his Essences 
into it, then let Natasha download hers. 
"That was when all hell broke lose." C'mega told us, "Natasha passed out and had 
some kind of weird vision about the end of the world... the crust of Mobius 
melting, rivers of blood, stuff like that." 
Instead of controling the Master Emerald, they had awoken it. The "Essences" 
they had been carrying were actually the seven Voices of Order. Now that she had 
been reasembeled, her personality could exist seprate from the Emerald... to 
some extent. And, with her new found abilities came the true reason for the 
Quest... 
"You see, Chaos had been controling the whole thing." C'mega continued, "My 
quest, the chance encounter with Natasha... it was all a set up! I was meant to 
find that Emerald back in 3230! *chuckles* That Chaos is a devious one!" 
And, thus... our story begins. 
Chapter 1, Visions
Sally jogged past several of the robotic refugees that had been flowing into 
Knothole. After Doomsday, their main goal had been freeing as many of the worker 
bots as they could. Yet another attack on Packbell, the newest dictator of 
Robotropolis, was planned for tonight. That was the reason that Sally was 
heading to the power ring pool. 
The ring was forming as she arrived. Sally jumped, catching the glowing ring in 
mid air. She landed, a smile of satisfaction spreading across her face. Then, as 
she glanced down at the ring, it flashed... 
***
Sally was floating over the ruins of Robotropolis, like a ghost or some sort of 
small and insignificant insect. Below, a younger version of herself headed past 
the wreckage of Floating Island, which had seemingly crashed into the robotic 
city. The bodies of broken bots laid all around, attesting to the extent of the 
carnage. Her sixteen year-old counter part, however, had another destination in 
mind... the Forbidden Zone. Sally watched herself return to the place where 
Julayla's will had been hidden and open a secret passage. Minds-eye Sally 
swooped lower to get a better view, and suddenly realized that the other Sally 
was pregnant. 
The vision continued, seeming to move a little too fast. Sally watched herself 
get captured by Robotnik, have Robotnik rant at her, and be shown some sort of 
paper. Sally couldn't hear what any of them were saying, but it seemed that 
Robonik wanted her to sign it. Then, he pulled some sort of lever. 
A long stone spike shot up and impaled the young Sally, killing the embro and 
terminally wounding Sally herself. Even though she didn't feel it, minds-eye 
Sally cried out... with no apparent effect. There was a massive tremor which 
knocked Robotnik away and revealed a huge, off white Emerald. 
Suddenly, Robotnik and the other Sally were gone. Sally found herself standing 
before the Emerald, close enough to see the tiny bits of shifting color that 
gave the Emerald its off white color. Its voice sang at her, a sciren's song of 
seven tones that sounded as one. The Emerald was calling to her, telling her to 
use the ring, telling her how much she was needed, calling for her help. Sally 
reached out to touch the Emerald. 
A thousand pains, a thousand joys, a thousand desires, a thousand wishes, a 
thousand loves, a thousand ideas, a thousand lives, and a thousand memories 
blasted through Sally's mind in a fraction of a second, too fast to even try to 
comprehend. Sally stumbled back, losing all but a few words. 
'Join, my Mate, and we shall breed at last.' the voice apart said. 
'The biological components must be found.' replied the seven. 
'Not long now...' the voice apart promised. 
"The three components must converge." the seven sang aloud, "Bring the third to 
me." 
***
Sally blinked. She took a second to glance around the grotto that surrounded the 
power ring pool, but no one else was there. She was still holding the power 
ring, which was now a translucent green color. 
"Goddess Protect." she whispered, making a motion around her heart. Then she 
took off at a run for Uncle Chuck's lab... where Sonic tended to hang out. She 
kept going until she heard the Sonic boom that always preceded the Hedgehog when 
he slowed down. The moment he stopped, she threw herself into his arms. 
"Wooa, hi Sal." Sonic said suprised, "Miss me that much?" 
"This is no time to joke," Sally said, breathing hard, "We're in deep shit." 
"What's wrong?" Sonic asked, dropping the jokes. When Sally used that tone, he 
knew it was important. 
"It's calling me, Sonic. It needs me." she told him. 
"Say what?" he asked. 
"I just had a vision. The ring did it." She held up the half defunct power ring. 
Sonic's eyes went wide at the sight. Quickly, Sally described the vision to 
Sonic, causing his eyes to go even wider. "And then the Emerald said 'The three 
must converge, bring the third to me." Sally finished. 
"What does this Emerald need you For?" Sonic asked, not sounding pleased. 
"I have to help the Emerald to have a child." She replied. 
"Couldn't it just buy a crystal growing set?" Sonic suggested half heartedly. 
"Sonic." Sally scolded. The hedgehog mumbled something like an apology, so Sally 
went on. "It needs three components. I guess it's already gotten the first, I'm 
the second, and it wants me to find the third. I think I just need to give them 
the ring." 
"This sounds dangerous." Sonic said, "for you, I mean." 
"I know Sonic, but it can't be helped." Sally replied. "You and I need to work 
together on this one, Sonic. I may be to shaken to always think rationally." 
"You need me to be *rational*!?! Sonic exclaimed, "Oh man." 
***
Slowly, the vision faded from Natasha's mind. With equal slowness, she turned 
away from the Master Emerald to face C'mega. 
"The Emerald's calling me," she said, "Telling me the time has almost arrived. I 
must give of my self so that the Emerald may breed." 
"Dear Chaos," Cmega whispered, then scowled. He had unwittingly become Chaos's 
pawn, bringing the tool of the god's propagation to his celestial mate. As he 
had used others during his gambit at world domination, so he had been used. Set 
to his impossible quest, he had worked right into the Chaos's clutches. 
Not only was he screwed, his companion, who had already taken a long series of 
beatings, torture, stabbing, and other unpleasantness, was going to end up as an 
Emerald's endometrium. As black as his wizard's heart was, he cared about her. 
They were a good pair, two kick-ass black artists. Both at least part feline, 
both evil, and both alone. Besides, she was the best screw on Mobius. 
"The first is here, the second is searching, and the third is waiting." Natasha 
said. Then the black cat shook herself from the trance. "Holy Shit!" 
"You're telling me." C'mega said to her as she stumbled towards her, "This 
damnedable Emerald has screwed us both." The Master Emerald flickered slightly. 
C'mega swore that it was laughing. 
"Who," Natasha asked, "are the second and the third?" 
"We'll find out soon enough." C'mega said quietly. 


Chapter 2, The Trinity
"Nicole," Sally said, addressing her palm top computer, "Scan for entries 
concerning the legends of the god Chaos and the Three." 
"SCANNING, SALLY," the computer replied, "NO ENTRIES QUALIFY." 
"Damn," Sally cursed, "Who could the Three be?" 
"The Virgin, the Mother, and the Temptress." came a voice. Sally turned to face 
Sonic, who was smiling and escorting a young flying squirrel into the meeting 
room. Jay, the resident expert on ancient Mobian legends, sat down across the 
table from Sally and opened a book. 
"The Three Chaos seeks," Jay began, "are the Virgin, the Mother, and the 
Temptress." 
"That's it!" Sally exclaimed, "The vision said that I was the second and needed 
to find the third. That means that I'm the mother and I must find the 
temptress." 
"Ugh, you're a mother?" Jay asked. 
"I was pregnant in my vision." Sally explained quickly, blushing slightly. 
"You're probably right then." Jay confirmed. 
"Now all we need to do," Sally said confidently, "is find the Temptress." 
"How?" asked Sonic as Jay left. 
"With this." Sally said, holding the ring aloft. 
***
Totally unknown to Sally, the Temptress was standing only three yards from the 
Master Emerald. 
***
Sonic's day was getting seriously weird. After finding out what her quest was 
for, Sally had called every female, robot or not, to the mess hall and passed 
around the ring- with no results. Now Sally was having Dulcy fly them to 
Floating Island. Knuckles was an expert on his Emerald and might know who the 
Temptress was. 
Sonic, however, was more skeptical. Not only did this entire vision business 
sound crazy, it also sounded extremely dangerous. That was okay for him to mess 
with, that was his job, but for Sally? It was his job to keep her safe. If 
something were to happen to her... 
Sonic shoved such thoughts aside as they coasted in towards Floating Island. 
Dulcy dropped towards the Mushroom Hill entrance to the Hidden Palace, preparing 
to land. However, a tall mushroom with other plans caused Dulcy to meet the 
ground at a much sharper angle than intended. Sonic bailed out and caught Sally 
before she hit the ground, setting her down without ruffling more than her hair. 
After Dulcy reassured her 'Mom' that she was all right, Sally located and 
knocked on Knuckle's secret door. moments later, the door opened. 
"Princess Sally!" Knuckles exclaimed, "What are ya doin' here?" 
"I need your expertise in Emerald matters." Sally explained. 
"No problem, come on in." Knuckles made a sweeping bow, which was impressive 
with dreadlocks, and escorted Sally in. Sonic followed, feeling like a piece of 
chopped liver. He and Knuckles would never be buds, the hedgehog mused, there 
was still something between them. If he hadn't been with Sally, Knuckles 
probably wouldn't have even let him in. 
Sonic's train of thoughts derailed as a mass of pink grabbed him in a minor bear 
hug. Little Amy Rose, who wasn't so little any more, was always quite happy to 
see her big blue hero. Sonic only smiled, taking it in stride. Sally however 
looked mildly perturbed. Knuckles, Sonic noted, was chuckling. 
"Hey Amy." Sonic managed. The excited teen finally disengaged her vice lock on 
him long enough for Sonic to get a look at her. 'Wow.' he thought. Her 
white/yellow tennis shoes had been replaced by green boots, each with a yellow 
stripe matching his own. She wore a green vest, the same cut as Sally's, and had 
not bothered with the skirt. All in all, she looked a lot like Sally had a few 
years back. 
Sonic's new train of thoughts suffered a similar fate to the previous as Sally 
thwacked him lightly upside the head. They followed Knuckles and Amy into a 
small meeting room where a number of Chaotixs (or is that Chaoti?) and Chaotix 
trainees sat. Sonic and Sally sat at the far end while the others finished their 
day's business. 
"What was that all about, Sonic Hedgehog?" Sally demanded in whisper. 
"I was just thinking." Sonic began. 
"Oh, I could see that! About what, pray tell?" 
"I was wondering if the kids you and I have will look anything like Amy." Sonic 
replied, smirking. Let her try to deal with that comeback! Sally just sat there, 
slightly stunned. Sonic decided to milk that. "Amy looks a lot like you did at 
15, Sal. She's got your style, but quills like me. I was just speculatin'" 
"Save it Sonic." Sally said with, at last, a smile, "I'm not a mother yet." 
"Well," Sonic said, eyes glinting, "we could go and do something about that, you 
know." Sally kicked his shin under the table. A short foot fight later, Knuckles 
had finished with Chaotix business and gave the floor to Sally. 
"We seek the Temptress of ancient Mobian legend." Sally said, "Since you know 
about the old gods, Knux, I thought you might be able to help." 
"The Temptress as in the Chaos Trinity?" Knuckles asked. Sally nodded. "Mind 
filling me in on why?" 
"I'm not really sure myself," Sally admitted. "All I know is that I had a vision 
of the Master Emerald and that I'm supposed to seek the Temptress. When I find 
her, this ring" she held up the item in question, "should give her a vision." 
"Intriguing." an Owl that Sally had never met before said quietly. 
"Has the ring itself tried to direct you?" Knuckles asked. 
"I'm not sure, but I don't think so." Sally told him. 
"Can I take a look at it?" the Echidna asked. Sally nodded and passed the ring 
down the table to him. It never arrived. As Amy Rose took hold of the metallic 
feeling, yet translucent ring, it flashed bright gold... 


Chapter 3, The Virgin
Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... 
Beat... 
The Heart of Mobius thumped again and again, keeping a steady rhythm. 
Beat... Beat...Beat.. Beat..Beat. Beat.Beat BeatBeatBeatBeatBeatBeatBeatBeat 
The Heart quickened and the Mantle surged and grew hotter. Dead rock melted to 
live magma and joined the pumping flow of molten rock. 
And the headless dragons took to the air, flying out from Dragon's Nest to watch 
mutely as Mobius came to Mobius. Amy Rose sat on a rock and watched the Dragons 
fly, holding the Acorns in her hands. Then, the Acorns fell and she walked away. 

The Bots in the night, killing. The old wolf with the glowing red eyes came at 
her with a knife while Robotnik laughed. And she bled to death on the ground 
outside Sonic's hut while Chaos watched. Chaos and the Seven looked down at her 
and marked her... she who bleeds is the heart. 
BeatBeatBeatBeatBeatBeatBeatBeatBeat.... Gone. 
Amy stood before the Dragon with the faded metal wings and the missing head, 
which looked at her from the distance. Eyes that were Emeralds looked her over 
and called her to the place of Endings and Beginnings, the place where death and 
life touch and become one. 
The headless Dulcy with Emerald eyes took to the air, following her comrades 
towards Robotropolis. Amy stood still, watching the final dragon disappear at 
the horizon. 
The Dragons were calling her. She had to follow. "Help the second find the 
first, then the three shall become one." The voice was seven voices, all 
speaking together in a single song. And the other voice said it too, but It 
couldn't join the others. That time was yet to come. Amy heard the heart of 
Mobius again... 
Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... Beat... 
Beat... 
***
Sonic, Sally, Knuckles, and several of the others knelt over Amy's perfectly 
still form. She wasn't breathing and had no pulse. Sally had just given up on 
CPR when, very suddenly, Amy's eyes opened and the pink hedgehog sat up. 
"Dragons..." she whispered, "Follow the Dragons..." Then, taking a deep breath, 
Amy Rose stood up, picked up her chair, and sat back down at the table. The 
others, all looking extremely disturbed, found their seats as well. 
"What did you see?" Sally asked finally. 
"The death of Mobius, my death, the headless dragons, and the rebirth of Mobius. 
Then the voices said, 'Help the second find the first, then the three shall 
become one.' The voices are calling me, and you Sally." Amy Rose took another 
deep breath. Her tone had been calm, almost mesmerized. Then Sally realized that 
it was paralyzing fear that held Amy. The young girl was shivering slightly, so 
Sally put a reassuring arm around her shoulders. Amy murmured thanks. 
"But, Sal," Sonic protested, "How can little Amy be a temptress?" 
"She's not." Knuckles said, butting in, "She's the third, which means that she's 
the virgin." 
"What?" asked Sally. 
"The Trinity of Chaos is the Virgin, the Mother, and the Temptress, in order 
three, two, one." Knuckles explained, "Chaos likes weird crap like that." 
"So the temptress..." Sonic began. 
"Is already with the Emerald!" Sally proclaimed. "And we've got our Virgin. 
Thanks for your help, Knux. Let's go Amy." Amy Rose, who was looking a little 
better, nodded and stood up. 
"Wait a minute," Knuckles said, "I'm coming with you. Amy Rose became my 
responsibility when she became a Chaotix trainee." 
"Of course." Sally said, "You're welcome to join us." The Echidna bobbed his 
head and smiled at Sally, causing Sonic to frown slightly. 
Knuckles put Vector incharge and sent Mighty out on patrol before joining Sonic, 
Sally, Amy, and Dulcy outside. Amy looked almost afraid of the young dragon. 
"Okay, now we've got to go find the Master Emerald." Sally said to the group. 
"Can we trust your visions?" asked Sonic. 
"Probably not a good idea. It might be correct... but Packbell could be waiting 
on us." Sally said, recalling her vision. "I think we need to find another way. 
"How about Wolf pack?" asked Knuckles, "Their Shaman might be able to help." 
"NOT THE SHAMAN!!!" Sally and Amy Rose cried in unison. Then, Sally paused and 
considered. "...but maybe Lupee." 
"Then, to the Wolf pack camp, Dulcy." Sonic requested, helping the reluctant Amy 
Rose onto the dragon's back. Once they were all loaded, the young dragon took to 
the air. 


Chapter 4, The Search
Sally braced for impact as Dulcy dropped towards the stony ground. They were 
flying between the cliffs that the Wolf pack called home. 
At the last second Dulcy pulled out of her dive, swooped up about three yards, 
and dropped again. She repeated that several times, slowing her speed, before 
dropping too low and skidding to a stop. For Dulcy, it was a great landing. 
Sonic and Sally dropped down from her back and congratulated Dulcy on her 
landing. Knuckles and Amy Rose, however, were both a tad green. Sonic had to 
give Amy a peck on the cheek before she'd disengage her white-knuckled grip on 
Dulcy's back. Knuckles, who was only a little queasy, volunteered to stay out 
side with Dulcy while the others entered the caves. 
After a short walk they were greeted by Lupee and friends. Sally pulled the lady 
wolf aside and quickly explained the situation. Lupee listened in fascination as 
the Princess described her vision. Finally, after giving her comrades some 
parting orders, Lupee took them to an office for a more private discussion. 
"So, you need to find the Master Emerald." Lupee stated. Sally, not wanting to 
interrupt, only nodded. "I know someone," she continued, "named Salish..." 
"NOT SALISH!!!" Both Sally and Amy shouted together. Lupee nodded, knowing that 
if both of them reacted like that, there was probably a good reason. 
"The only other thing I can do is try to find a clue in your visions." Lupee 
told them, "If you could tell me more about what the Emerald told you, Sally..." 

"It told me that the three must converge and that I was to seek the third." 
"And you?" Lupee asked, turning to Amy. 
"Ummm... The Dragon said to help the second find the first." Amy replied. 
"Ahhh..." Lupee ahhed. 
"What?" asked Sonic impatiently. 
"It is her job to help Sally find the Temptress, and there by the Emerald." 
Lupee explained to the group. "Now, Amy, you mentioned a Dragon..." 
"Ya," Amy Rose confirmed, "A headless dragon with Emeralds for eyes. It looked 
like Dulcy, except it had metal wings and a man's voice." 
"Eyes but no head?" asked Sonic, "This stuff boggles the hedgehog mind." 
"That represents the ancient god Chaos." Lupee said, "What else did you see, 
Amy?" 
"Well, the old wolf, Salish I guess, was killing people... and a flock of 
headless dragons were flying from Dragon's Nest to see Mobius come to Mobius." 
Amy said. "I don't even know what that *means*!" 
"I believe it's an old metaphor..." Lupee said, uncertainly. "However, what is 
more important here is the reference to Dragon's Nest. That, I believe, is your 
best clue." 
"Then let's juice." Sonic said, jumping up. 
"I hope I was able to help." Lupee said, "And watch for signs or help from 
Chaos. He can and will be subtle, if you catch on quickly. If not, he can hurry 
you up by forcing the issue." 
"Thank you, Lupee." Sally said as they headed out, "I'll remember." 
Outside, they loaded back onto Dulcy and took off again. Soon she was win 
winging her way home... to Dragon's Nest. 
***
Several hours later, Dulcy glided into the vicinity of Dragon's Nest. In the dim 
light of early evening, the stone orifice looked even more ominous than usual. 
The young dragon's attention, however, was on her landing. 
"Steady Dulcy." Sally said reassuringly. Dulcy nodded and began back-flapping, 
slowing her glide speed. Then, after selecting her landing strip, she began her 
dive/swoop landing technique. All was going well when something odd caught her 
attention. Dulcy glanced away from the ground, focusing on an unfamiliar cave in 
the side of the cliff wall. 
"Where the hell'd that come from?" she asked herself. 
"Look out Dulcy!" Sally shouted. Dulcy faced front... and flew face first into a 
large tree. Reality blew apart, filling her mind with random images and mental 
static. All her life as a freedom fighter faded to the makings of a child's 
fantasy. All she knew for sure was that her head hurt. Her mother was probably 
worried... 
"I'm fine ma." Dulcy told her friends, still in her post-crash daze. Knuckles 
and Amy Rose had bailed out when Dulcy veered off course, the pair relying on 
the Echidna's dreadlocks to get them down safely. Sonic and Sally had held out 
until the actual crash; Sonic catching Sally in free fall. Now, all four were at 
Dulcy's side. 
"What happened, Duls?" Sonic asked. Dulcy blinked and shook her head sharply, 
apparently trying to clear it. 
"That cave." she said, "It isn't supposed to be there." 
"Which one?" Sally asked, glancing at the many caves that dotted the cliff wall. 

"This one." the Dragoness said, walking over to a ground level entrance that 
looked just like all the others. Sally stupped down to examine the rocks around 
the entrance and nodded. 
"This stone is freshly cut." she announced. The others glanced at each other for 
a moment, not really sure what to do next. Finally, Sonic stepped forward. 
"Let's check it out." he said. They all headed into the tunnel. They walked up a 
long, thin outer passage, which was barely large enough for Dulcy. Then, the 
corridor opened into a huge inner cavern. 
"Past Cool." Sonic said, marveling at the massive domed chamber. "Wow" Amy Rose 
added. Dulcy merly arched an eyebrow. Knuckles, who had lived in the emencity of 
the Hidden Palace for his entire life, seemed unimpressed. Sally, who was most 
certainly impressed, said nothing. 
They continued forward, seeing by light from some unknown source above them... 
possibly phosphorescnce or reflected from a hidden sky light. What ever the 
source, it was dim and created lots of ominous shadows. 
Sally's apprehension grew stronger with every step, every motion. There was 
something unsettling about the cavern, more than the bad lighting or the less 
than pleasant situation... something was watching them. She could feel the eyes 
cutting into her back like a pair of diamond drills... or maybe Emerald drills. 
Amy, after all, did mention a headless dragon with Emerald eyes... 
Dulcy screamed as a swirling mass of... something gray... dropped down over her. 
Sonic and Knuckles both tried to help her, and were blasted back by some sort of 
energy shield. The swirling mass covered her head, then faded out, leaving 
nothing... including no head at the end of Dulcy's neck. The dragoness, however, 
didn't seem particularly fazed. Headless Dulcy walked in front of the group, 
leading them towards one of the walls of the cavern. The Freedom Fighters 
followed, Sonic practically dragging the nearly hesterical Amy. 
When the dragon reached the wall, it turned to 'face' them, two small Emeralds 
floating where Dulcy's eyes would have been. The Emeralds were off white, with 
tiny bits of shifting color if you looked close enough. Sally recognized them 
instantly as reflections of the Master Emerald. The creature, without a doubt, 
was the god Chaos. 
"What'd you do to Dulcy?!" Sonic demanded of the god-on-Mobius. Bellow the 
glowing eyes, a mouth appeared and smiled, looking like a not so proverbial 
Cheshire cat. 
"Your little friend is fine, Hedgehog." the mouth said, "I just require her body 
for a moment." With that, the god turned to Sally and Amy, apparently done with 
Sonic. "I grow impatient, Trinity Two. Your red friend has already caused enough 
delays in my plan without you adding to them." 
Knuckles made a 'who me' gesture and tried to look sheepish, a real challenge 
for him. 
"What do you want us to do?" asked Sally. Chaos turned back to her and a stone 
door that Sally hadn't noticed before slid open, revealing a long passage. 
"Pass through here and over come the obstacles. This is as easy as I can make it 
for you." Chaos told them. 
"Why can't you just transport us there?" Sally asked. The neck swung and the 
Emerald eyes gave her a piercing glare. "If it's not a personal question." she 
added quickly. Then, Chaos smiled. 
"Because it would be a boring story if I just zapped you there." Chaos replied, 
smiling wickedly. 
"What's that supposed to mean." Sonic demanded. 
"Never mind. You have greater concerns right now." the dragon said. Then, in a 
flash of light, Dulcy's head reappeared. The no longer possessed dragoness 
collapsed on the ground. Sally found a pulse and Dulcy was breathing. After some 
scrounging, Sally found a paper and pen. Quickly, she wrote out a short note. 

-Dulcy, we've gone on into the cave. Do not follow! Return to Knothole ASAP. 
If we don't return by 48 hours after you arrive at Knothole, tell Bunnie that 
she's the new leader of the Freedom Fighters. 
I'm sorry. Good bye. 

Sally Acorn, with: Sonic, Knuckles, and Amy Rose.-

Sally left the note in Dulcy's hand. Then, Sonic, Sally, Knuckles, and Amy Rose 
entered the new cavern. After they passed through the opening the door closed 
behind them, shutting them in darkness. Then, a light came on. 


Chapter 5, Blood Fall
Amy Rose screamed. Steaming hot blood was cascading down a series of rocks, 
splattering the surrounding stone, and flowing away through a deeply cut river 
bed. The falls created a low splattering roar, like of some monstrous creature 
moaning in pain. 
"Oh my god..." Sally murmured. "Eeewww!" Sonic exclaimed. Knuckles kept silent, 
starring in disgust at the blood falls. 
"It's like another vision." Amy choked after she caught her breath. The blood 
falls was several yards in front of them, but obviously blocked their path. The 
walls of the passage, which were easily thirty feet apart, were made of some 
sort of crystalline substance that had a whitish color, except near the river 
where it had become a deep pink. 
Amy put a hand on her stomach, feeling sick. "I'm scared." she said to any one 
who might be listening... especially if it was Sonic. 
"So am I." Sally told Sonic, who hugged the Princess tightly. Amy shot a jealous 
glare at her back, but no one noticed... except maybe Knuckles who stepped over 
to her and gave her a comforting hug. For the first time ever, Amy Rose took 
notice of her Echidna instructor. Knuckles was the same age as Sonic, brave and 
heroic like Sonic, and easily as attractive... she could get used to dreadlocks. 

"Thanks Knux," she murmured into his chest. 
A few minutes later, once they were all as calm as it was possible to be in the 
situation, they began discussing how to proceed. 
"We're gonna have to wade through." Sally said, dreading the prospect. 
"No way, Sal, I can jump that little ditch easy!" Sonic protested. 
"I don't think so, Sonic," Sally said, "Try running a few feet." Sonic, looking 
confused, tried. He took two normal steps and stopped. 
"I can't juice!" he exclaimed. Knuckles tried running too, and also stalled out. 

"I can't even get enough speed up to glide." he said disgustedly. 
"It would be too easy if we could just jump it." Sally explained. 
"There's a secret passage." Amy Rose said, her eyes fixing on the river. Sonic, 
Sally, and Knuckles exchanged a glance, then looked back to Amy. "I'm not having 
a vision, just a gut feeling." she explained. The others nodded and followed her 
to the river bank. 
The sound of falling blood, which had droned into background noise, was 
reaccented by a sickly moist texture to the air as they got closer. Both Sally 
and Amy Rose shuddered, each recalling visions where they had coughed blood. The 
air felt like that moment, that horrible feeling of impending death. Both of 
them shivered again, the half memories echoing through their minds like church 
bells at a funeral. 
After a few minutes of searching, Knuckles found a plaque with an inscription in 
ancient Mobian. He read it aloud for the others. 
"'Those who call on Chaos pay a price. Those who seek Chaos must cross by the 
payments of the past. The river is time. Where time stops, you will find your 
way.'" 
"Ugh, Sal," Sonic asked, "does this make any sense to you?" 
"Not really Sonic," Sally replied, "unless..." she paused, considering. "'The 
river is time... where time stops...' Everybody, look for a place with still... 
um, blood." They all went to work, stooping unpleasantly close to the flowing 
blood. After a few minutes, Sonic called them all over to a place behind the 
rocks of the falls. 
"Right there!" Sonic shouted over the rumble of the falls, "the blood is 
perfectly still." He pointed to a motionless pool at the edge of the cavern. The 
pool didn't even ripple, but it did reflect their images, almost like a stained 
glass window. Sally stooped closer to the pool. 
"Hmmmm," she hmmed. The others waited behind her. Finally, Sally reached out and 
flicked the surface. It tinged, audible even above the noise of the falls. "It's 
glass." Sally said with a smile. 
"Way past cool, Sal." Sonic said. The others nodded. A few moments later, Sally 
found the hatch. Sonic, Sally, Knuckles, and Amy all had to pull together to get 
it open. The door was made of three inches of red glass, but swung easily once 
they got it started. Below was a new tunnel. A short walk down the passage led 
them to a set of massive stone doors. Sonic stepped up and gave the doors a 
slight push. The doors swung open and all four gasped in shock. 


Chapter 6, Check
The Master Emerald stood before them, floating in the center of the room with no 
apparent support. But, then, it didn't need support. The Emerald shown out 
brightly, making the color shifts evident. Brilliant hews of Red, Orange, 
Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet bathed the room, the Green falling 
predominately on Knuckles. He sighed audibly under the light that came from his 
Green Emerald on Floating Island. Then, very suddenly, all the beams of light 
converged to while and split into three identical beams. One fell on Amy, one on 
Sally, and one on a female cat standing on the far side of the cavern. 
All three seemed to go into a trance. Slowly, they walked forward and met before 
the Emerald. Another figure, a cloaked person with a feline face, walked over 
and joined Sonic and Knuckles. Both Knuckles and C'mega were too busy watching 
the Trinity to recognize each other. 
"I am the Virgin." Amy Rose said. 
"I am the Mother." Sally said. 
"I am the Temptress." Natasha said. 
"I am Chaos." said the voice that had possessed Dulcy. The same swirling mass 
reappeared and hovered near the Emerald. 
"And I am Order." said the Emerald in a booming yet feminine voice. The seven 
voices had molded together, truly becoming one, though there were still 
undertones of the Seven. "The Trinity has come," Order continued, "thus we are 
ready." 
The cloud nodded slightly and extended a filament of substance from itself. The 
Emerald met this with a beam of white light. A glowing bubble formed around a 
piece of swirling cloud substance, which hovered in the air by itself. Both 
filament and beam retracted back into each respective entity. 
"Virgin, approach." Amy Rose nodded, moved forward a few steps, and knelt before 
the sphere. A stone carved spike shot up from the floor, about an inch from 
Amy's right knee. Sonic, Knuckles, and C'mega jumped. Amy, however, didn't seem 
to notice. 
"You must make this choice willingly." Order said, "Thus you are free." Amy 
blinked and looked at the spike. Shivering slightly, she spoke her reply. 
"I, um, will give willingly of myself." she managed, the shiver making her voice 
crack. She took a gulp of air, looking ready to hyperventilate. 
"Thank you." Chaos and Order said together. "Prick your finger on the spike and 
give a drop of your pure blood to make our child's first heart beat a pure one." 

Amy reached out and, cringing slightly, cut her right index finger on the razor 
sharp spike. Then she reached out and let o drop of her blood fall into the 
glowing sphere. 
"You may go." Order said. "Mother," Order continued as Amy Rose stood and walked 
over to Sonic, who gave her a pat on the back, "approach." Sonic tensed slightly 
as Sally knelt before the Master Emerald on the same spot as Amy had occupied. 
Suddenly, a second spike shot up an inch from Sally's left knee. Amy yipped 
while the others jumped again. 
"You must make this choice willingly." Order repeated, "Thus you are free." 
Sally blinked and focused on the new spike. 
"I will give willingly, of course." Sally said confidently. However, from the 
way Sally looked at the spike, Sonic knew that she was scared. 
"Thank you." the two gods said. Then, the Emerald continued alone. "Prick your 
finger on the spike and give a drop of your motherly blood to me. With it I will 
learn what you know of maternal care, great mother who has raised so many not 
her own." 
Sally nodded and pricked her finger. Then, Sally stood and approached the Master 
Emerald. She reached out with her bloody left index finger and touched the 
Emerald's ever changing surface. 
Sally cried out as every maternal instinct, thought, and experience she had 
surfaced, was copied, and taken out of her. Sonic caught her as she stumbled 
back. 
"You may go." Order said to the drained squirrel. Then, "Temptress, approach." 
The cat, Natasha, knelt before the Emerald. 
"You must make this choice willingly." Order said, "Thus you are free." Natasha 
blinked and glanced at the spikes, which were about a foot in front of her. 
"I..." Natasha stammered, "will give of myself," she managed, "willingly." 
"Thank you." Chaos and Order said together, "Take hold of the two spikes." 
Natasha leaned forward to take hold of the spikes, looking very confused. Then, 
the sound of a tiny stone door sliding open echoed through the cavern. Amy Rose 
screamed as a third spike shot up under the cat's abdomen, impaling her. 


Chapter 7, ...and Mate
Natasha cried out as the stone spike plunged into her belly. She vaguely heard 
the young one scream, her entire focus on the searing pain in her abdomen. She 
could feel her blood running out and soaking her belly fur. Her grip on the 
original two spikes began to slacken, causing her to slide farther down onto the 
hellacious third spike. That was when all three spikes dropped back into the 
ground. 
Her body hit the floor, hard, causing a sickly splat as she landed in a pool of 
her own blood. Natasha wished to herself that the fucking spike would just 
fucking well finish her off. Her back began to feel cold as the puddle of blood 
spread out. Natasha could feel her life flowing out of her, and out onto the 
damned Emerald's sacrificial floor. 
Then, a beam of light came from the Master Emerald and locked onto her body. 
There was a disgusting sucking sound as she was lifted off of the ground. Blood 
continued coursing from her wound and down her legs as Order spoke again. 
"You will feed out child with your blood," Order said as the energy sphere 
floated towards her. 
*Oh god,* she thought, *I'm gonna die. Right fucking here, right fucking now. I 
don't want to die. I'm scared. I want to live long enough to settle down with 
some good looking cat, like C.M. I want a chance to live, to be, to grow old 
with someone. Fuck the universe and these gods, I just want to be something, 
somewhere.* 
"And your body," Order continued, the bubble almost upon her. 
*That must be how the Emerald feels!* she thought in a moment of realization, 
*All it wants is a child. It needs me... and it's not like I'm parental 
material. I've had centuries to settle down, but there was always some reason 
not to. With all the adventuring I did, I was probably just going to get killed 
by some phyco like Sir Connery any way. Fuck it all! If Chaos wants me, he can 
fucking well have me!* 
"You will carry him, protect him, and love him until he comes of age and can 
join us beyond the stars." Order finished. 
Natasha caught what was left of her breath as the orb entered the wound in her 
belly. Searing pain followed, as if the bubble were cauterizing the wound as it 
went. Then, as the sphere found her womb, the pain ceased... except for a mild 
upset stomach and a little headache. She looked down and saw that her wound was 
gone. 
"You may go now, but never forget who you are." Chaos and Order said together. 
Then, everything became one big mass of pure white. 
***
Sonic and Sally blinked. They were both back in Knothole... in Sally's bed. The 
pair glanced at each other. Then, Sonic grinned. 
"Was it as good for you as it was for me?" he asked. 
"Oh Pllezzzzze." Sally said, rolling to the edge. She got up and headed for the 
door. Sonic smiled again and followed Sally out the door. 
Outside, in Knothole, the other Freedom Fighters and villagers were leaving the 
mess hall, apparently having just finished the evening meal. In the pinkish sky 
at the horizon, Sonic could barely make out Dulcy's form, winging her way home. 
Sally had found Bunnie and Roter, and seemed to be filling them in on important 
events. A crowd was gathering near one of the campfires, probably waiting for a 
story. Sonic wondered if anybody but Tails would believe the day's adventures, 
even he didn't exaggerate. The hedgehog smiled at the challenge of making the 
insane believable. 
A tap at his shoulder broke his train of thought (again). Sally, the taper in 
question, was at his side and giving him an expectant look. 
"Your public, and some luke warm chow, await." she told him. 
"So Sal," Sonic said as they walked towards the fire, "how does it feel to teach 
a god how to raise kids?" 
"Scary." Sally answered. Sonic nodded and put his arm around her. Together they 
walked to their seats. 
***
"Why, oh why couldn't it have just been a blood sacrifice?" complained the 
pregnant feline. 
"What are you bitching about?" C'mega scolded, "This will cost you nine months. 
That bloody Emerald cost me five yiffing years!" 
"yup," Natasha retorted, "cause you were stupid enough to think you could 
control it." 
"Oh, shut up and eat your sundae." C'mega said, handing his mate a large bowl of 
ice cream and hot fudge. "You need to replace all that blood you've lost." She 
snarled something incoherent at him, kissing his hand where scales met fur. He 
grinned slightly and went to find his book of Old Mobian poems. 
"Hey," she called, "Once you find that book, get your scaly ass back out here. 
I'm still the best screw on Mobius, for at least a couple of months yet." 
In the other room of their recently remodeled hideout, C'mega smiled. It wasn't 
the world, but maybe being the surrogate father of a god could get him some 
power. And, even if the gods told him and Natasha to fuck off after they had 
their kid, he still had her. And, for some reason, that was enough. 
For now, any way. 
Someday, the two of them would be back, and Mobius would shake at their foot 
steps. Together, with the power of the Emeralds that they had absorbed, they 
would be invincible! No one on Mobius would be able to defeat them. He would be 
king, and Natasha his queen. 
For now, however, they'd have to settle for ice cream and poetry. 
The End
... for now.
 

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