The Ruby Eyes of Affection

What did I do to deserve this?

Sonic rapidly marched through Angel Island looking for any signs of the Master Emerald alter.

"It has to be around here somewhere..." He wondered out loud as he continued to huff and puff after searching for almost half an hour.

"Man, I haven't been here in forever! No time to sightsee though. I must find the location quick before..." Sonic stopped as his face became somewhat fearful and enraged.

(Before Shadow gets hurt... or worse killed.) His mind added as he pushed a tree branch out of his way before noticing a familiar red color emanating in the distance.

(That must be Knuckles. I wonder if he ever comes down from Angel Island. Well I do see him occasionally still it's very rare.) He thought as he walked passed the shrub and towards the altar steps.

(Poor Shadow. My sweet beautiful Shadow... Probably cold and hungry. He's already skinny enough as it is. I don't want him to die of starvation! Man, when I get myhands on Egghead... I don't care if he saved my life, he's going to get the worst of me!) He took a few large steps up the stone stairs as his mind wanted nothing more than to lock up Shadow for the rest of eternity where nobody could possibly harm him.

His mind, still filled with vicious motivation and ferocity, couldn't imagine the amount of torture his sweetheart was being put through. He knew the ebony hedgehog could probably protect himself, but something inside him yearned to do everything and anything to find him. He couldn't really explain where the feeling came from. It was located very deep inside his soul. He could even feel his body starting to react to the immense amount of stress as he almost tripped over his own feet.

"Hay Knux! I need to borrow some of the energy stored in that emerald of yours to power this here contraption!" Sonic yelled as he raced up the steps to where the echidna was located who happened to be gently resting against the huge Master Emerald.

"First of all, the hell are you doing here? Second of all, what in that good-for-nothing brain of yours assumes I would allow you to use one of the most powerful weapons in the entire world for a stupid machine?" Knuckles responded as he approached the azure hedgehog quickly striking a provoking stance in order to show his authority.

Sonic's face quickly changed from his friendly everyday expression to dark and sinister as he realized there was no point in pretending to be nice.

"Knuckles, I'm in a horrible mood right now. Do NOT underestimate me. I need that power for this device NOW. Unquestionably no exceptions." Sonic replied glaring coldly at the crimson echidna with a face of uncontrollable frustration.

"What in the world happened? You look as if you're about to snap! That isn't like you and ABSOLUTELY not. The Master Emerald's power is to only be used in emergency situations, like if the world is in danger."

"The world will be in danger, Knuckles." He approached the echidna slowly as he grabbed his neck ferociously and held him up preventing him from running away.

"Don't think for a second that just because I'm a hero or a good guy means I can't kill. Give me the power or you can kiss your sorry ass goodbye." Sonic's eyes were stone cold as he tightened his grip a little to make a very serious point that he was not afraid to destroy anything in his path.

"What in the world has gotten... into you and I can't... without... the... permission... of..." His face started to turn blue as he attempted to speak some sense into the azure hedgehog who happened to be showing a slight smile as he watched him struggle.

"Give it to me... Now." Sonic glared closely into his purple eyes as he started to sense an odd feeling boil inside him.

It grew stronger and stronger as his desire to protect and find Shadow grew more desperate. And finally as Sonic assumed he would probably explode out of pure anger.

ZAP~~~~~~

The crimson echidna screamed as he was catapulted across the altar as a huge surge of Chaos Energy erupted around the cobalt hedgehog while glowing yellow and white energy quickly swirled around him. His eyes grew stern as he walked over to the Master Emerald before removing his glove and gently placing it on the jewel.

Knuckles looked passively in complete surprise as he noticed how different Sonic looked. He appeared much older and more mature as he stood confidently as if he was about to rush into battle.

"Chaos liberation!!!" He yelled abruptly as pure light energy surged from his body and around the emerald creating a bright ring of uncontrollable Chaos energy.

The intense disc of power circled around the emerald for a bit before bolting into device. The excess energy immediately went back into Sonic's body as he fell feebly to the ground.

The red echidna quickly rushed over to the barely conscious hedgehog in pure amazement as he shook him attempting to keep him from passing out but to no avail. Sonic's eyes closed tightly as he didn't have quite enough energy to keep himself from falling into a deep sleep.

"Voziti has awoken..." A womanly voice echoed from the Master Emerald completely shocking Knuckles in the process.

"What the hell just happened...?" He replied as he still couldn't believe what he'd just witnessed.

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Light enveloped blurry eyes as a young azure hedgehog sat in a pool of crimson red. His face expressing disgust and shock as he looked upon the bodies of five lifeless animal-like creatures. He slowly started to stand as he released a scream of sheer terror before sitting cowering in complete fear as collection of Mobian police officers surrounded his miserable whimpering body. They hesitantly approached the child before realizing their deceased brethren's morbidly mutilated corpses.

"Oh my Chaos..." One of the police officers spoke as he quickly placed his hand over his mouth.

A solitary palm was placed on the cobalt hedgehog's shoulder as tears erupted from his eyes.

"Be careful... You might be next, Ivo." One of the voices spoke fearfully as most of the officers took a few steps away from the horrible scene.

"He's just a child... Maybe he was framed." Ivo responded calmly as he recognized the sheer guilt arising from the child's body.

"I didn't do it!!! It wasn't me!!! Im... Im..." The adolescent's face started to turn white as he hoped with every fiber of his being that this was some crazy awful nightmare.

His weeps became more desperate as the only human on the planet dragged him away from the pond of partially dried blood before placing him on the bench outside the building. He looked very closely at the ferociously sobbing and shaking hedgehog as he placed his hand on his head.

"Do you know what happened here?" He asked steadily in an attempt to maybe compose the insane whimpers emanating from the child's voice.

"I don't.... I..." The shuddering became more violent as the sapphire hedgehog looked as if he was about to vomit.

"Please, if you tell us the truth there will be no more pain, okay?" The chubby officer reassured as he gently stroked the top of his head.

"I DON'T KNOW! I DON'T REMEMBER!!!" He screamed frantically while holding his head tight, gently swaying back and forth in an attempt to cope with the situation.

His cries of incredible regret and denial continued as his mind was roaring with many terrifying questions.

(Why me.... Why did I deserve this? What did I do...? Who am I?!?!) His thoughts started to overcome his sense of reality as his heart snapped shut. No longer allowing any sense of guilt to vent from his fearful emerald eyes.

(Why... Why.... Why...?)

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