Zonerunner 5: Twilight Cage 3 of 3

ZONERUNNER IV: TWILIGHT CAGE
PART 3 OF 3

The heroes were close to the throne room, the only thing standing in their way were several Nocturni and Gizoids, the last not as dangerous as they'd fear due to their lack of sentience.

Shade: You have one chance to step aside.

Sonic: I know from experience that it never works.

The Gizoids aimed thier blasters and fired at the heroes. Sonic homing attacked several, scrapping them. however, several more repeated his moves, and the heroes barely dodged the homing attacks.

Sally: They're not bright but can still copy our moves, how do we get past that.

Nicole: Destroy their third eye, makes them unable to copy anything.

Sonic: Or we could just break them.

Sally: That's your plan for everything.

Sonic: If it isn't broken, don't fix it!

Fiona: Yeah, got to agree.

Tails: There are some cases where one can just rely on brute force, I guess.

Sonic kicks one of the drone's head off. He kicks the head up and launches it as a soccer ball, enhanced by his own strong kicks and speed to use it as a cannonball to strike down another team of drones.

Fiona: Points for style, Sonic...

The vixen drives her sword through the chest of several more.

Fiona: But you might want to be more efficient.

Sonic: How's this for efficient?

Sonic uses his boost, which knocks down some drones and Nocturni, and at the end of his boost spin-dashed, so the boost empowered it, and took out a horde of the Gizoids easily.

Fiona: Nice.

Tails: That's nothing! Watch me!

Tails did what Sonic did, first the boost, then the spin dash, but as he was at the end of it, he did a spin attack with his tails, getting more out of this move then Sonic. More destroyed Gizoids, that is.

Sally: Show-offs...

Nicole: Let's not be left out, though...

Nicole lets out the two pigtail-like plugs from the back of her head, but instead of hacking, she impaled several Gizoids on them like swiss kebaps. She then swings her head around, dragging and tossing the Gizoids around in the progress, and fires several laser blasts rapidly, completely scrapping them before they hit the ground.

Sally: You know, it's times like this when I wish I had powers too.

Sally pulled out the sword of Light and started chopping off Gizoid heads left and right. The sword of light glowed as Sally raised it, swiped, and it extended and cut through an entire batallion of Gizoids instantly.

Sally: I had no idea it could do that.

Sonic: Nice...We should take that thing on missions more often.

Sally: If the council allow it, that is.

Sonic: Oh yeah, that... I can already hear Hamlin whining about it being an important symbol that we'd just lose.

Tails: Less talk, more scrapping robots, please!

Sally: Good point.

Shade: I've been itching to vent some frustration.

Shade warped all over the battlefield, only standing still for one second each time, long enough to slice a Gizoid in half, and did it with speed and dexterity she appeared to be at different places at once. To say the least, the Gizoids never stood a chance. They were soon reduced to a pile of rubble.

Shade: That felt good! Oh, and we're at the main event, we're nearly at Ix's castle.

However, two different and stronger looking Gizoids stood near the gate of Ix's throne room. One was blue, another was red.

Shade: Oh no, not these two!

Fiona: Who are they?

Shade: Scylla and Charyb, the strongest Gizoid models, Ix's personal bodyguards. Those drones are nothing compared to them.

Scylla: You got that right, Shady-wady! Nice of you to bring new friends along for the party. I'm going to have a blast...of fire...to scorch you!

Charyb: What my bumbling brother wants to say is; you will all die for defying Lord Ix.

Scylla: But it's way more fun sounding when I say it.

Fiona: Is the red one crazy because he has a girl's name?

Scylla: Oh yeah, well you are...a girl with a stupid bow.

Sonic: Took you whole day to come up with that one, did you?

Charyb: No more stupidity, we are going to fight now, and you will lose!

Shade: Tails, Sonic, you are the adepts, you take the Emeralds and take out Ix. We will hold these two off.

Tails: Are you sure that is a good idea?

Shade: You need the strength you have now to be able to fight Ix, don't waste them on these two. and if Ix loses, no Gizoid or Nocturnus has a will to fight anymore.

Fiona: Tails, be careful...

Tails: I will... wait, are you alright?

Fiona: It's... it's just... Nevermind.

???: Wait!

The team turn around to see Emerl flying towards them.

Emerl: I need to warn you guys...Ix is not Ix. Not anymore. The real Ix is dead, the one leading the Nocturnus now is using his image. Ix is in reality Argus!

Sonic: Oh... crap.

Sally: How did you find this out.

Emerl: Theta told me, right before I turned his cranium into scrap metal.

Nicole: Would Theta be lying about something like that?

Fiona: You're missing the part where our new pal just said he decapitated the big bad guy you've been chasing.

Charyb: You are trying to confuse us, traitor! I refuse to believe that our leader is a fake!

Scylla: Liar, liar, pants on fire!

Emerl: Will you two just shut up!? Geez, I am supposed to be related to you guys?

Charyb: You are as much a traitor as the echidna girl and both shall perish in battle.

Nicole: Emerl, Sonic and Tails could use your help dealing with Argus, the three of you are probably the only ones able to inflict any harm on them. Use the Emeralds if you need to, but don't him a chance to get in our world, there's no telling what he'll do.

Emerl: I can copy powers, but I'm not sure if I am the right guy to go up against Argus.

Nicole: I know you can. You may be young, but you have exceptional skill. It's not because you're a gizoid. It's because you got serious Spark.

Emerl: Nikki, I want to tell you something before we part...we may not get another chance...

Nicole: We will meet again, you won't die. No need to say it, I know.

Emerl: Right...I'll kick some elder god ass for you!

With that the three heroes left to face Argus.

Scylla: Only these five against the two of us? Oh man, this will be too easy, there is no fun and games.

Sally: Believe me chrome dome, we are going to give you a hard time.

Charyb: Arrogant fleshlings. Time to show you the superiority of us Nocturnus machines.

Fiona: Bring it on, tin toy soldier!

In the throne room, 'Ix' sat on his throne, leaning with his head on one of his hands, drumming the fingers of his other hand as he saw the trio of heroes come in.

Argus: So, you've come.

Tails: Indeed we have...Argus.

Ix: So you know. Yes, I am Argus, I am using the image of Ix as my own image faded long ago.

Sonic: What exactly are you?

Argus: An ancient creature that was old when Mobius was young. I am of the same caliber as Chaos, Solaris and the Time Eater.

Tails: Oh, this is bad...

Argus: And I know what you are...you have slayed or defeated many of my brethern, my kin. I want to know how a couple of mortals were able to best gods!

Emerl: Yeah, how did you do that again?

Sonic: Emeralds. Oh, and most of them were arrogant jerks who thought us mortals were inferior, underestimated us, but then we showed them.

Emerl: Makes sense.

Argus: Enough bantering. I won't take risks with you.

Ix's form started to melt away as Argus molded it in a different form. It was many times bigger then they were, the size of an Eggman mecha, looking like a hybrid between a snake and a squid. Serpentine body, tentacles arranged on its upper lip, big head, spikes running down its back, and two big eyes on the side, and two smaller on his forehead.

Sonic: We're all thinking the same hentai joke, right?

Tails: Afraid so.

Emerl: Dude, I have your brain patterns.

Sonic: Only one way to find out of these Emeralds work...wonder how our new superform will look like.

Emerl: Can I even do that? Can you do that with all that voxai psychic energy in it?

Sonic: I don't think we have time for a test run before calamari god here crushes us, so we'll have to risk it.

Emerl: I just hope I don't accidenally explode or something.

The pink emeralds, flew around the three heroes, chaos energy and psychic energy alike starting to infuse them with power

Tails: My head feels kind funny...

Sonic's fur started to change colors, but instead of the normal golden color, his fur becomes a lighter shade of blue, a pastel blue, glowing with an ethereal glow. Around his arms and legs appear golden cuffs with some glowing digital outlines. His hair still spikes up, but along his quills similar markings appeared as on his new cuffs.

Sonic: Okay, this is new...I feel like I'm super, but unlike last time, I not only feel it in my body, but in my mind as well...

Tails' transformation followed suit. Like Sonic he gained some cuffs on his arms and legs, but hisHe also gained outlines on his tails.

Tails: Mh...neat.

Emerl: Guys, I'm not changing.

Sonic: Try scanning us, maybe that works.

Emerl: Ok (opens third eye) Ok, now I think I start to feel something... OKay, I can get some powers, but I can't change.

Sonic: That should be more then enough...say, how should we call these forms?

Tails: I thought about Esper form.

Sonic: Sounds cool to me.

Emerl: Whatever, let's just kill him.

Argus: Mortals and their banter...it's of no use to anyone...you mortals are full of useless traits and ideals, the more reason you all should be wiped out.

Tails: You've got serious issues.

Sonic: We kind of killed his cousins, is to be expected.

Tails: I thought they mostly lived.

Argus: You mortals start take me seriously right now! I am an Elder god!

Emerl: Give us a minute.

Argus: Wait, why am I standing around like this? I can just vaporize you right now!

Argus fired energy blasts from each of the tips of his tentacles, which the trio dodged.

Sonic: Haven't you heard it's not nice to interrupt a conversation?

Emerl: OKay, I need you two to cover me. I've got one more trick to play...

Sonic: Keep him busy...which means we can keep bashing him. Neat!

Tails: Yeah!

Tails raises his hands, firing chaos energy at Argus. The energy was pink, like the psychic energy of the Voxai. Argus stretched out his tentacles and lashed at Tails, but he flew aroudn to dodge. Argus opened his mouth and fired a steam of energy, the fox warping out of the way. He reappears behind Argus' head and kicked him, making the giant serpent squid stagger.

Sonic then rushed and raised his hands; Chunks came off the ground, including the throne were Argus said in Ix form, and tossed it at the Elder God.

Sonic: Cool, telekinesis. It's quite fun, now I know why Silver uses it.

Emerl: GUys, move!

THe two turn to see that Emerl's chestplate is open, and a squat barrel has extended from it, a huge orb of yellow energy forming at the tip. Argus wasn't stupid however and charged up an energy beam in his mouth as well.

Emerl: I'm gonna need a clear shot, and quickly. This'll overload me if I don't soon.

Sonic: On it!

Sonic rushed at Argus, hit him in the lower jaw, making Argus swallow his energy beam and explode in his throat. He then flies away, opening up for Emerl's attack.

Emerl: Take this, squidface!

The beam shot out of his chest and right at Argus, blasting the squid-like head right of his serpentine body.

Sonic: I guess he just couldn't keep his head in the game.

However, the squid-like head started to grow claws on his tentacles, and used it to stand up, as a leech-like mouth started to grow out of the neck of the serpent part, now creating two entities to fight.

Emerl: You got to be kidding me!

Tails: That's just weird...

Argus (head): You'd think it'd be that easy?

Argus (body): I am an Elder god, I am not destroyed with a mere lightshow.

Sonic: Well, it would've been nice.

Emerl: I guess we need another strategy.

Sonic: Strategy is keep hitting until it drops. That worked well enough in the past.

Emerl: I know. Let's just get this over with.

Tails and Emerl headed for the body, Sonic took on the head. The Argus head stretched out it's now stretchy clawed tentacles to try and grab Sonic. However, he curls up and cuts through them with a spindash. The tentacles grew back however. Sonic raised his hand and created a disc of psychic energy and shot it one of Argus' eyes,splattering green, slime-like blood everywhere.

Sonic: Oh, gross.

Argus' eye regenerated however.

Sonic: Oh man, how hard is it to kill a head? Wait...head.

Sonic ducked when Argus launched several more clawed tentacles, and the rushed forward, creating a blade of psychic energy and impaled it through Argus' brain.

Emerl: Really gross...

Argus roared in pain as he spazzed around, knocking Sonic off as he started to lash at anything, trying to break as much as possible.

Tails: I think you lobotomized the part of his brain that included his sapience, he's a mindless beast now.

Argus Body: No worries, my mind still lives on in my other half.

Tails: THen we have to repeat the process, I guess.

Emerl: Dude, where is the brain of this thing?

Sonic: Maybe its like with dinosaurs, having the second brain in its tail.

Tails: Technically that has proven to be incorrect. Since forever.

Emerl: Then keep hitting parts until we find it!

Sonic: Okay then!

Sonic rushed at Argus' body and slammed into his chest, knocking the wind out of him. However, the head still was berserk and advanced on Tails and Emerl. Tails cracked his tails like a whip, and sent out two energy scythes from his tail and hit the head, right in the wound Sonic had inflicted earlier.

Emerl: Oh, nice! Let's see what happens if I repeat that.

Emerl fires two energy scythes from blades he sported on his hands, adding to the injury. Argus' head spazzed about, lashing at anything, including his other half.

Argus Body: Other me, please control yourself!

Tails: Damn, he's going nuts!

Argus' head pounced at his body, and was about to claw his other half to pieces, but Argus' body impaled him with the sharp tip of his tail. Argus' head went limp.

Argus' body: See what you made me do? You made me destroy part of myself! I am going to burn you to ashes, nuke on the remains and then erase this entire zone afterwards to make sure there isn't enough of you to send to Hell!

Emerl: Aw, I was rooting for the head. He had less death threats.

Argus' body roared in rage as he charged forward with a lot more speed then his size would suggest. Emerl steps forward, forming one of his swords, and then rams it into the god's throat, before jerking it upright, causing the body to bisect itself with its own momentum.

Argus body (gurgling): It can't be...me losing to mere mortals.

Sonic: Don't mess with mortals!

Sonic and Tails charge up the remaining psychic chaos energy and channel it into one final powerful beam, shooting it at the huge exposed wound and unleashed it at full power upon it.

Emerl: Oh yeah!

The energy beam vaporized the remains of the Elder God. Despite his imminent death, Argus couldn't help but get one final remark out of the way.

Argus: Don't relish in your glory because you defeated me, there are more among the likes of me out there, even more powerful then me or the ones you've slain. One day an Elder God shall smite you!

That was the last he said, before nothing of him was left, only leaving behind the corpse of Ix he had possessed.

Sonic: Okay, let's get back to the others.

Emerl: We should drag that body along, when the Nocturni see this, there is proof of their leader being defeated. Should we tell them about the elder god inhabiting his body?

Tails: I don't know. Shouldn't matter.

Let's see how the girls have been handling the gizoid brothers while the boys were handling Argus.

Nicole: How tough are these things?

Shade: Ix's personal bodyguards! The best of the best!

Scylla: You got that right! Guess what, Shade? You're fired!

Scylla sent out a stream of flames from his hands, which both Shade and Nicole dodged. Shade used her warp belt to teleport next to Scylla, but he warped away, causing the two to warp all over the place to try and get a drop on each other. Nicole tries to lock on to Scylla but with the warping it gets hard. She fired one blast, but it missed.

Scylla: You missed me, you missed me, now you got to kiss me...seriously though, you are one cute piece of tech. How about ditching these organics and go out with a real bot? Look at me, I'm so hot!

She punches him, then fires another blast into his chest.

Nicole: i'd rather kiss a toilet cleaning bot then the likes of you.

Scylla: I came off too strong, didn't I?

Fiona: These guys are a little screwy, aren't they?

Charyb: I'm not screwy. My brother perhaps, but not me, I'm an efficient fighting machine built for the total protection of lord Ix and enforcing his will.

Sally: Marry him if you like him so much, boltbrain.

Fiona: Ooh, nice one!

Charyb: You two are worse then my brother. This is a fight for your lives, try take it seriously.

Sally: I'm sorry, I'm so used to life and death situations. It's just Tuesday to me.

Nicole: Indeed. To be honest, you're small fries compared to what we get to face.

Charyb: Then allow me to demonstrate why you are wrong!

Charyb sent out a huge burst of water from his claw. Nicole and Sally dodged, but saw the water cut through a steel wall in the background.

Sally; Ok, haven't seen that before.

Nicole: Still nothing to worry about.

Charyb fired more sharp water cutters, but the girls were agile enough to dodge. Fiona jumps in and even bats away a few water cutters with her enchanted katana and lash at Charyb, who created a shield weapon to block the attacks.

Sally: Try and hit him mentally.

Nicole: I can do that.

Nicole extended her plug pigtails, went around the shield and pierced the back of his neck and head. He was getting shocked and hacked.

Charyb: Wait, what are you doing to me?

Nicole: Shutting you down. Nighty-night!

Charyb: All...Hail...Lord...Ix (shuts down)

Scylla: Brother, no! You'll pay for that!

Scylla engulfed himself in a flaming aura, discarding his jester-like persona earlier and trading it to that of an enraged berserker. He charged at the heroes with speed not as great as Sonic but still impressive. The girls barely avoided the fiery bullet Scylla had become, and even more when flaming pillars erupted from the trail he left behind.

Fiona: Maybe we should've hit him first...

Scylla: You shall burn! Burn them all! Burn to the ground!

Scylla was about to raise his hand for a deadly fireball to toss at the heroes, but suddenly he stopped, jerked and his fiery aura died out. He turned his head to see his brother having stabbed his weapon in his back.

Scylla: Brother...how could you?

Charyb (?): I am not Charyb...

Sally: Theta...

Fiona: Okay, how did you manage this without a head?

Theta: I'm a machine, I can download myself. One body gone, I can take another one.

Theta then shocked Scylla, deleting all his programming, making him another empty shell. Then Scylla and Charyb's bodies started to shift forms, both becoming half a body without the head, then sticking togehter, one half red, another white. Theta's old body popped up behind him. It fell apart, but an essential part, the core flew out, and it placed itself on the shoulders, morphing into a head unit. Theta admired his new Gizoid hybrid body and laughed.

Theta: Yes, this is way more like it.

At that point, Sonic's group arrived,Emerl carrying the lifeless body of Ix.

Sonic: hey guys, it was a tough job but we managed and...wow, who is that guy?

Theta's armour turns blue, and his three optics illuminate in green.

Theta: Don't you recognise me?

Sonic: Theta? So you got a wardrobe change? Big deal, new looks, same results.

Theta: That is where you are wrong. This gizoid tech has made me much more powerful. And with my intellect I was able to bypass some of the gizoid's limitations...Like using only one copied ability at the same time.

Theta shows off by coating his hands in Kron rock-like material, infusing it with Scylla's flame power, giving him essentially magma gauntlets.

Sonic: Well...crap!

Emerl: Oh, not good...

Theta: Go on! Try to attack me, I dare you...make my day!

Fiona: You asked for it!

Fiona rushed at Theta, but Theta's magma gloves turned to blades and there was a single swipe...and Fiona's katana, which enchanted properties were supposed to make it indestructible...was cleaved in two.

Fiona: I-i-it can't be!

Theta: But it is...

He lashes at her, as Tails pulls her out of the way. Sonic rushed at him, but Theta warped away, and reappeared behind Sonic. Combining copied Sonic speed, Kron rock fists and leech blade tech (which made his rocky hands look black with purple outlines) he gave one powerful swift punch to Sonic that sent him flying him into a wall and almost instantly had drained all his health.

Sonic: Ungh...

Theta slowly moved towards him.

Tails: Leave him alone, you monster.

Tails rushed at Theta, but Theta sported four mechanical Argus-like tentacles form his back, and one of them wraps around Tails, glowing purple like a leechblade and draining his strength. But then Sally jumps in and cuts the one holding Tails with the sword of light. She was wearing the goggles that protected her against hypnosis.

Sally: You're going to fight me?

Theta: Oh please, fancy eyewear won't protect you anymore.

Theta didn't need to stare Sally in the eyes anymore, instead using copied Voxai powers to enter Sally's mind and force her into sleep.

Shade: Leave them alone.

Theta: I have no qualm with you...just hand over the key, and I'll leave in peace. Unlike these 'heroes', you have not antagonized me, so I'm willing to be lenient.

Shade: You have hurt my friends, and I don't know anything about a key.

Theta: You had your chance!

Theta rushed at Shade, who used her warp belt to warp behind Theta and tried striking with her leechblades, but Theta was too fast, using copied superspeed to dodge and get behind Shade, and reach inside her back, phasing through her like a phantom, pulling out the key. Like it did with Sari, she fainted.

Nicole: No, I won't let you have that key!

Theta: Oh...that reminds me, you have one inside you as well.

Emerl lands between the two of them.

Emerl: Oh, no. Not a step further.

Theta: Cute...robot love. Don't worry, I won't break the lovers apart...you both get to be scrapped.

Emerl: Not happening. I'm not exactly fond of people that get up after I've killed them.

Theta: Have you seen what I did? I have Gizoid tech, I even can copy multiple powers while you cannot! I out-Gizoid'ed you!

Emerl: Big deal. I already figured that one out.

Theta: Then why stand against me, knowing you can't win this fight?

Emerl: Because I chose to use my powers to save people, protect those who need it. You chose the dark side.

Theta: Oh please...If I had organic eyes I'd just roll them right now. But go ahead, amuse me. Try to see if you can scratch me!

Emerl: Trust me, you don't want me to really try.

Theta: What can an inferior model like you do? Make me laugh to death? I trounced the adepts in seconds. Go ahead...I dare you!

Emerl: Last warning.

Theta: Ok, you asked for it!

Theta stretched out his Argus-like tentacles...and instead of shooting them at Emerl, he shot them at Nicole, faking Emerl out. Nicole spazzed as the four tendrils pierced her chest, and then pulled the key out of her. Theta holds it in his hand, the object covered in oil and cooling liquid.

Theta: If you are going to do something, say you'll do it next time!

Emerl: Nicole!

He turns, and rushes over to her side, cradling her.

Theta: Now...

He picks Sally up, supporting her.

Theta: Could you give me the other keys?

Theta said as he reached in her pockets, finding them all tied to a keychain. He put them with the rest of the keys in his chest compartment.

Theta: Thanks, dear.

Sally mumbles a "You're welcome" in her sleep. Emerl erupted in rage, his third optic opening up, and all three optics became red.

Theta: Oh, what's this?

Emerl: The end of Theta!

He rushes forward, swinging madly at the other Gizoid. Theta was quick to avoid the blows, but he got no time to attack back. Eventually Emerl landed a punch to the face of Theta, cracking it a little around the optic.

Theta: There's nothing left to gain from this. I have the keys, I have a new body, I have new powers, and I have killed one of you.

Emerl: You are not running from me!

Theta: What would you rather do? Comfort your girlfriend in her final moments? Or have her last image be you turning into a murder-crazy berserker? Your choice, gizoid?

Emerl glares at Theta, as he warps away. Emerl's optics turned back to blue as he closes his third eye. He moves at Nicole's damaged body.

Emerl: Please Nikki...don't die on me now...I need to do something.

Emerl sees the Pink Emeralds lying around. A lot of energy was drained to fight Argus and the others had been dispatched before they could be used against Theta.

Emerl: I hope this'll work.

He places the Emeralds inside her damaged core.

Emerl: Work, damn it! Work!

The Pink emerald started to glow bright as the energy engulfed Nicole. Emerl steps back, watching her. The emeralds fused togther in her power core, her armor repaired herself, and she reshaped in a smoother form. Her optics flickered as she sat up.

Nicole: What happened?

Emerl: Theta ripped your chest open to steal your key, and took the others from Sally...  He got away...

Nicole: No! All our hard work for nothing.

Emerl: Would you really say that? We just trashed the Nocturnus empire, many races can now live in peace, and we defeated an Elder God. We saved many lives today.

Nicole: The others are hurt though. We need to take them back to the Brotherhood, they need to rest and heal.

Emerl: Well,I think we're both psychic now...Should be easier to move them.

A few moment later, the Mobian heroes awoke somewhere in a hospital of sorts. Each of them got a major headache.

Sonic: Ouch, I feel like I made friends with a Mack Truck...

Sojourner: Good thing you are awake. You have taken quite a beating.

Tails: please don't remind us...where is this place?

Thunderhawk: Nocturnus citadel. Like predicted, upon Ix' defeat the Nocturnus got demotivated and surrendered. They have impressive medical-based tech for a warrior race.

Shade: Well, we gave to keep our warriors fighting fit.

Emerl: We got some bad news...Theta has taken our keys, including the one in Nicole. I barely managed to revive her by fusing the Psychic Emeralds in her core.

Sonic: Oh great. We are back at square one. And with that Gizoid tech he's going to be even tougher.

Tails: Then we need to get stronger as well first. Too bad he broke half our arsenal.

Specter: The Kron are good blacksmiths and were able to repair your swords. We'll also provide you with some Leech Blades, which should come in useful in the future.

Sally: Thank you, Specter.

Tails: But question is what we are going to do from here.

Nicole: The best we can do. We continue the search of the keys, we prevent Theta from getting them and devise a plan to take him out. He caught us off-guard, but now we know what he can do, we can better prepare ourselves.

Sonic: Sounds good and all. But what's going to happen to the inhabitants of the Twilight Cage?

Thunderhawk: Now Argus is dead, the very being that this prison dimension was built for, crossing the barriers of dimensions is going to be easier now. The Nocturnus scientists are working on a way to return all the races to their respective home planets, and arrange our own return to Mobius. But the Nocturnus need a new leader...

Emerl: Why don't you guys do it?

Sojourner: Because we're too old. Still powerful, but old, and we are set in our ways. Comes with age. To instill change we need someone younger, more flexible...not to mention strong and wise. Someone like...Shade.

Shade: Me? But I...

Thunderhawk: ...was the first Nocturnus sensible enough to abandon the dark ideals of Ix. You are a strong warrior and very wise for your age.

Sally: I think you should a great job, Shade.

Sonic: She's a princess, she knows a leader when she sees one.

Shade: I'm honoured. Very well, I shall lead the Nocturnus, a new Nocturnus, a kinder Nocturnus.

Specter: That reminds me...Emerl. You could be a great example for the other Gizoids...perhaps you'd like to be their commander.

Emerl: I'm honored to. But I'll decline. I have grown quite attacked to Sonic's team. I think I feel better staying with them. Besides, they need all the firepower they can manage against the likes of Theta.

Fiona: And the third reason?

Emerl: I don't know what you're talking about.

Sonic: I know it's hard saying this to someone with my brain patterns, but don't be stubborn; Admit it; There is a cute piece of hardware you have your eyes on.

Sally, Nicole: Sonic!

Sonic: Just putting it in his language.

Emerl: Yes, I like her...I only know her shortly...But I immediately felt it in my spark. When Theta hurt her, I wanted to rip him apart...I knew I'd probably would have wrecked Theta and anyone stupid enough to get in my way...But saving Nikki was more important. The thought of losing her without having attempted anything...I thought clearly again, and put everything to reviving her...and when her optics again...

Emerl turns away, shoulders sagging.

Emerl: I'm a mess...

Nicole: Maybe. But you're my mess.

He perks up, turning to face her.

Emerl: Really?

Nicole: You got spark, Emerl. You're heroic and selfless...and caring. Cocky and stubborn, but a great bot...and I want to give us a chance.

Emerl hugs her, smiling.

Sonic: That's my boy...I feel old saying that.

Sally: It's something they got that Theta hasn't, never will have or ever will understand. And it's that which makes Emerl and nicole the better ones, even if Theta claims to be the technically most advanced.

Sonic: Yeah.

Nicole: However... Fiona, who are you to be playing matchmaker? Haven't you got something in that area of your own to deal with?

Fiona: I don't know what you are talking about.

Emerl: Deja Vu...

Nicole smirks at Sally, who pauses for a moment, before nodding. The lynx's smile deepens, and she uses a fraction of her psychic powers to shunt the two foxes together.

Tails: Er...Hi?

Fiona: Awkward...

Tails: Yeah, um, we kinda agreed to take it slow, guys.

Emerl: We know, we just wanted some friendly payback.

Fiona: Still, it is quite nice.

Tails: I agree.

Sonic: There seems a lot of fluff around here...don't want to be left out.

Sonic moved towards Sally and cuddled up with her.

Sally: I quite agree.

Specter: Let the lovebirds heal in peace...

Thunderhawk: Agreed.

Though the heroes had lost a battle, they hadn't lost each other. And they saved many lives in the past couple of days. But the war was far from over.

ANOTHER ZONE, ANOTHER TIME

An alternate Sonic was running away from something...Though what we couldn't see. All we knew the sun was setting.

Sonic: Just a little further...

The sun was almost down as he neared the cave he wanted to hide in, but he tripped on the way.

Sonic: Darn it...No...I still can make it.

He didn't as the sun sets and the full moon started to become visible on the night sky. he groans, his pupils shrinking to slits, as his body starts to grow.

Sonic: No! No! NO!

His fur became darker as his hands ripped through his gloves. His hands sported claws and his teeth grew into long sharp fangs. The spiky quills became more fur-like. His tail lengthened a little, as his muscles bulked up, as his legs snapped into a digitigrade stance. From this Sonic's mouth no longer came words, but a loud howl that echoed through the night.