Jayde the Hedgehog • Negative Rebound [4]

30 • Let It Begin ✔️

Music: The Catalyst - Linkin Park

Tails' Workshop

Tails held the crystal in his hands, analyzing it carefully. Nothing he had ever seen before replicated this and it was far beyond any technology he had ever seen. The red echidna frowned, "Are you sure this will work?"

Raiden sighed, shrugging slightly, "It's the best chance we've got. I went to visit the elders and received that."

"What happens to it after?" Rouge asked.

"I take it back to the elders and they will... terminate it." Raiden answered, taking the crystal back and handing it towards the ebony male. He smiled tightly, "I know you'll want to be the one to end it."

Shadow stared at him for a moment before taking the crystal from him and holding it. It reeked of negative energy, making his body tense in disgust the closer it got to him. He nodded to the red fox, not saying a reply.

"How will we... you know." Manic asked.

"I think it's best to go for a full-on attack," Tails spoke up, looking up from his computer, "That way, we can have more of us on one of them."

"Isn't that what they expect?" Rouge asked.

"Isn't what they expect something that they don't expect, so we should attack the expected way, so they won't expect it?" Mitzy muttered, frowning at her own comment.

Manic pointed to the young rabbit, "Am I the only one who got that?"

"Yes!" they all responded with a chuckle.

"I want to fight."

Everyone tensed and turned to see the blue hedgehog sit up, placing a hand on his head. Emerald eyes brightened as he weakly gave his signature smirk to them. The rose female was the first to respond, trying to push him back to lay down, "No, Sonic. You're not healed."

"That doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does." Silver butted in, "Raven has probably reached her full potential by now – you need to be at your max strength to fight her."

"I am." Sonic nodded.

"No, you're not." Amy told him, "You've just been knocked unconscious from her. You haven't rested long enough."

"Then, who is ready to fight her?" Sonic questioned, pushing himself up, "Who, right now in this room, wants to fight and potentially injure Jayde?" Everyone fell silent at his anger, "See, no one here does. Shadow is still weak from being hit by Eggman. Knuckles is still hurt from hitting the Master Emerald, Cleobella's mind has been messed up because of Jaylee – none of us are ready to face Jayde – to face Raven."

It was clear the hedgehog's mind was made up and no one could change it. Sonic sighed, "I know I'm injured. I can feel the negative energy all around me, as does Shadow and Knuckles – but that still won't stop me. Jayde needs our help, and nothing is going to stop me from helping a friend in need."

Shadow nodded at the blue blur, "Fine. But no one is going after Raven," he held up the crystal, scanning it with his crimson orbs, "I'll stop her."

Wave stepped forwards, "What happens after?" She asked, "You said last time she blamed herself and was distant – if this time is worse...?" she slowly faded off, noticing the tension start to grow in the silence.

Tails sighed, "I'll need to scan her while she's unconscious to see for definite that all of the negative energy is gone. She won't like me for doing so, but I've no other choice under these circumstances."

"When do we leave?" Jet asked, grabbing his board, followed by his fellow Babylon's.

Shadow held on to the crystal, tightly clenching it in his fist, "We move now."

*1 hour later*
Someplace Near Eggman's Lair

Shadow was up front, fists clenched by his sides as he walked. No one spoke, then again, no one knew what to stay.  It was time for them to face the enemy – and that enemy was Jayde. Their friend was the enemy.

Sonia and Manic had only known the grey female for a few days before she turned evil. Even so, in that time, she had spent time with them, got to know them, and raced against the green hedgehog. Manic wouldn't admit she was better than him on her board. She was faster, more reckless, and overall, the whole experience was enjoyable and challenging.

Raiden and Mitzy had only just found their friend, and they couldn't bare the thought of losing her again. They were determined to help in any way, shape or form. Jayde had been there for them both. She fought off bullies from Mitzy when she was younger. Her parents gave Raiden a home. The least they both could do was fight back to save her.

Silver sighed, staring at the ground. He hadn't known Jayde for very long before he left, but then again, he did. He knew Jayde more than she could possibly know, "Blaze," he whispered quietly, wanting to avoid the attention of the others, "What happens if we don't get her back?"

The felines looked at her friend with a sad smile, "You know we can't think like that."

"The whole future would be changed," Silver mumbled, "It may be in more ruin than it is now."

"Silver, nothing would change!" Blaze turned to him, catching everyone else's attention, "You know why? Because we will get Jayde back. I for one, will not give up on her because she is important. We can't give up on her, no matter how much she puts us through, no matter how long this battle goes on-"

Slow, almost sarcastic, clapping was heard, and a small chuckle, familiar to Sonic and Knuckles, was heard, causing everyone to tense. All eyes looked up, connecting with the sharp, ice ones of the enemy they've come fear. But they couldn't show it – that would only spark her amusement.

"What a magnificent speech." Raven snickered, landing on the ground ten feet in front of them, "I hope it didn't make any of you cry because I want to be the one who does that." She grinned deviously. Behind her, the four Moebians and Torrent appeared. Above them all, Eggman floated on his eggcarrier, a familiar metallic lookalike by his side, "How many times do I have to say it? Jayde is gone."

Silver stepped forward, fists clenched, "You say that you aren't Jayde, and yet, you contradict yourself by saying that you're her superior form."

"I am her superior – my power is far beyond hers. But that grey hoglet you all knew is gone."

"Enough talk," Eggman glared at them, "This is your fate, you blue delinquent. After all the years, you're going to be destroyed by the one you used to call your friend."

"In all honesty, I'm surprised you can walk after to beat down you received from Raven." Scourge spoke, looking towards his Mobian lookalike.

Sonic held his signature smirk on his face, her emerald orbs twinkling slightly, hiding the real pain behind them, "It takes a lot more than a few minor punches to take me down."

"Is that so?" Scourge grinned before bolting towards the blue blur, and soon, the green and blue bolts rolled around everyone, a hurricane that started the battle.