Switched

Day 4: Raising the Stakes

"They should be here by now," Sonic muttered as he paced. It had been about a half-hour since they had separated from their younger two friends.

Shadow squatted near the edge of the mountaintop, looking down where they had come from. "They could've gotten lost."

"There's no way they got fucking lost," Sonic said with a snap, "Silver just had to fly 'em over the jungle and to the top."

Shadow didn't seem to react but continued staring down. "I know," he said quietly.

Sonic looked back at him, shame starting to take hold. Silver and Tails were Shadow's friends too, he remembered. He gave a short sigh and held out a hand to Shadow. The other boy looked at him with confusion before taking his hand. "C'mon," Sonic said, pulling him up, "Let's just get the emerald."

The sky began to turn an orangish hue, heralding the coming of sunset. Even though the darkness had not yet come, Blaze had started a small fire which both of the girls now sat around. Elise gave a tentative glance over to the other girl. "They've been gone a while," she said softly.

"They'll be fine," Blaze replied dispassionately, staring into the fire, "There's no use in worrying."

Despite her neutral tone, Elise could tell Blaze was just as worried as she was. A part of her wondered how much that statement was directed at her.

A ripple of movement was heard from the foliage behind them. Blaze stood abruptly. "Is that them?" Elise asked.

Amy's mallet materialized in Blaze's hands. "I don't think so."

Elise stood alongside her, powering up Silver's gloves. A string of robots gushed out from the trees, surrounding the two in mere seconds. The two backed into each other, facing the badniks. But before they could begin to defend themselves, a robot, slightly larger than the others, slowly approached the pair. It came to a clunky stop and from its center, a video broadcast began to play.

The screen showed Doctor Eggman himself, mid-evil laugh. He cackled for a few seconds longer, before peering into the camera. "Look here, Son-" He cut himself off, a baffled expression crossing his face. "Wait a minute. You're not Sonic. Elise and-" He moved closer to the camera. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Blaze," she said, tightening her grip on the piko-piko mallet, "What do you want, Eggman?"

"Well, I fuckin' wanted Sonic, but I guess that isn't happening." He cleared his throat. "Um, anyway. Time's up, Blaze! I told you there would be consequences if you didn't find the emeralds!"

Blaze's voice was deadpan as she spoke. "We're literally working on it right now. We've already found one, and Sonic, Shadow, Silver, and Tails are retrieving another one right now."

A devious grin crossed the doctor's mustached face. "Oh, are they?" Blaze's stomach churned uneasily. "Are you sure no one lost their way?"

"What are you talking about?" Elise asked. Blaze had a creeping suspicion that she prayed was wrong.

"While flying over the jungle, my robots picked up a couple of lost children! Sonic's little fox friend and-" He paused for a second. "Whatever the gray one's called. I've never met him."

"Silver," Blaze let out inadvertently, a pit slowly growing in her stomach.

"Is that his name?" Eggman asked, seemingly oblivious to Blaze's distress. "Fuckin' Silver? Yeah, that sounds right." He chortled evilly. "I have Tails and Silver!"

"You're bluffing," Elise said defiantly.

That malicious smile returned. "Am I? You said Sonic and Shadow went with them. See if they have the kiddos with them when they return. But know this-" His voice took a dangerous tone. "I'm not fucking around anymore. Get me those emeralds if you ever want to see your friends again." The video feed cut out and the bot backed away, the rest of the badniks following suit.