Fallen Abyss

III

Blue walked out of the old building into the morning air. It was only eight am and it was already so hot.

"So, you ready to get that Chaos Emerald?" A voice suddenly boomed in his ear, making them jump.

"What the heck dude? I've only just woke up, not to mention it's still early morning!" The dragon protested, making the other annoyed.

"We've got to go if we want to save your world. Now, go get your friend and we'll-"
"Wait, what's that?" Blue cut him off, looking to the horizon.

Two robots, sneaking up on someone carrying supplies. He watched in horror as the poor Möbian was ambushed and everyone just seemed to watch.

And so, he ran out, grabbing one robot and slamming it into the other before picking the supplies up and handing them back.
"Thank you,"

Sonic had run over at that moment.
"Oh, thanks Blue." He turned to the other Möbian, "They certainly caught you off guard, huh?"

"You two!" Knuckles' voice suddenly boomed.
"Oh hey knu-" the echidna pushed the blue out the way, angrily facing Blue,

"You,"
"Me?" He pointed at himself.
"You shouldn't have done that,"

"What, and just let those thieves getaway? I may not know you personally, but I know that's not like you," the dragon fought back.
"Well, the war changed us. And right now, I'm more concerned about keeping us safe, not fighting,"

"But-" Blue was cut off by the sound of 1,000 Phantom Copies marching their way.

"Everyone get inside now!" Knuckles demanded, but Blue stood his ground.
"No! You run, me and Sonic will sort these guys out!"

Knuckles couldn't be bothered to argue with people he knew wouldn't listen.
If they get themselves killed can't say I didn't warn them.

"You ready?" Blue looked at Sonic, who nodded.
"Of course,"

***

"Darla!" Sora flew onto the beach, quickly followed by the others.
"Over there!" Puro had spotted the Chao playing in a tide pool.

"Got her!" Christmas rushed over and snatched the creature, who purred before falling asleep.
"Looks like she tired herself out," July commented, "now what?"

That was when Puro heard a familiar voice.
Vanilla the Möbian thought, walking over to the rabbit.

"Oh, hello dear," she greeted, "Can I help you?"
"You're Vanilla, aren't you?" Puro asked, and she nodded, "You must really miss Sonic,"

"Well, yeah. But I know he's fine. He always is on his little adventures. Are you worried?"
"My friend went with him. One part says that he'll be fine, the other reminds me that they don't have a brain cell," Puro explained.

"I'm sure they'll be fine, whoever he is," Vanilla comforted as a younger rabbit ran over.
That's Cream, her daughter Puro reminded herself.

"Mother, when's Sonic coming back? I miss him," he asked, and Vanilla stroked her head.
"Soon, I'm sure. We all miss him, it seems weird without him, doesn't it?" The rabbit smiled, "I can't think of how we were before he came along,"

"Puro!" Sora suddenly ran over, "We're going to get ice cream, you comin'?"
"Oh, yes. Of course." She waved to the two rabbits, "Well, nice meeting you, and thanks."

"No problem sweetie," Vanilla smiled back as she ran to join the other three.
Yeah. They're fine.

***

"Ouch," Sonic realized that something had brushed over his scar.

"Sonic!" Blue finished off the last phantom copy, "Are you okay?"
"No.. something touched my scar, it hurts..," he explained, before his eyes turned pink, his body surrounded by a weird pink and red aura, "AHHHH!"

Blue noticed Asura standing at the side, just watching them.
"Go get help!" He shouted, and the other Xtairan shrugged before flying away.

"Ok, Sonic, Sonic! Listen to me, it's ok. Calm down," they let him hold his hand, squeezing it so tight that they might lose blood flow, "just breathe, it'll be ok,"

Blue never thought he'd have to comfort his hero, but here they were, letting Sonic hold his hand while he screamed in agony, helpless.

That was when Tails rushed in, "Ok, it's ok now," he pulled out the cream he'd been working on, rubbed it into the scar, and immediately the blue went back to normal.

"You ok now," the fox smiled, the hedgehog smiling back.
"Yeah, thanks. Wow, that cream really did it. Thanks, little buddy," he held out his fist for a bump, and Tails bumped it back.

Knuckles had watched them from the balcony, and as soon as Sonic neared the building, he jumped down in front of him, grabbed him by the wrist and walked off.

"Hey, where are we going? Oof!" Knuckles sharply threw him at the concrete wall.
"What was that all about?"
"I don't know what you're talking abo-"

"DON'T PLAY DUMB WITH ME HEDGEHOG!" Knuckles bellowed, angry, "I saw it! The phantom powers! You are a spy, aren't you!"
"What..? Me.. no. Knuckles, why would you think t-"

The echidna wasn't listening. He grabbed the Ruby shard, pulling it away.
"Don't think I didn't know what this is, it's a piece of a ruby, isn't it? Well, no more,"

As he went to crush it, Blue rushed in, ramming the echidna with his horns.
"You stay away from him!" They warned, "I do know what's wrong with you, but Sonic's not a fake! Now, hand it back over,"

The echidna looked at Sonic, back at Blue, who growled.
"Fine," he sighed, handing it back over.

As the two walked off, Knuckles shouted after them.
"You know I'm only watching out for the others. We've... been through much in these three years. A lot of us died, I just want nothing else to happen to the others.."

Sonic turned back to him, sympathetic. He knew what was in the echidna's heart. He was legitimate, he could tell.
"I know. But, I'm going to make it right again, I promise. If I find the chaos emeralds, I can reverse it, and this future will never happen. You guys will no longer be at war,"

The echidna nodded.
"Go, save the world, you Blue Bastard," he chuckled, before disappearing into the hallway.

***

"Sonic!" Tails ran up to the hedgehog, "I heard you're leaving," he seemed upset.
"Will I see you again?"

Sonic was going to bend down to his level, before realizing he was almost as tall as him anyway,
"Yes." He explained as Amy walked over, "I need to go Tails, save the world. Something... strange happened. I don't know how to explain it, but this was never supposed to happen. I'm going to make it right again."

Asura seemed to be getting impatient, and Sonic sighed.
"See you after this all, little buddy?" He held out his hand for a fist bump.

"Sure thing big bro,"