Diamond in the Sky

Wait for me!

A memory flashes in Silver's mind. When he was a kid, around the time his world fell into a dystopian state, he found himself separated from his family, in the heart of the city, during a moment of chaos. He was too young to know how to manifest his powers to effectively protect himself... and war was beginning to ensue. He recollects being incredibly alone and afraid until Rouge showed up. He relives the way it felt when she swooped down, picked him up and flew him home in her arms. He felt safe and protected, important and loved. Never stolen, always free, and filled with hope as they soared through sun-lit, utopian clouds.

Rouge shares the same memory. It's so vivid it feels like a trance. She returns to the present when she hears Silver say, in the most vulnerable, little voice...

"Oh, Mother."

He lowers his head, about to cry like a baby. Heartbroken, she immediately tries to hold him.

"I'm right here, baby boy!"

...but she stumbles right through him!

"Ooof! What the hell?"

Shadow reaches for Silver, also intending to comfort him somehow, but Silver glows and hurriedly flies into the portal.

"No Silver, let me help you!"

Too late. The portal swirls shut. Just like that. Poof, Silver is gone forever. Shadow groans, defeated.

"Damn. Ugh, Sonic, this is the last thing I ever would have wanted for him. We talked last night. He's seen a lot of dark things but having her around always gave him hope. What he saw today... what a horrible memory to have to live with! I don't know how I could have prevented him from seeing her like that. After everything she did to bring him back. We can't let Eggman get away with this. Not again."

"Eggman tricked us, he caught us all off guard," Sonic replies. "Silver is right that it wasn't your fault. None of it ever was. We can't blame him for leaving. This time Eggman's gonna pay for what he's done."

They speed out of the cave, terribly upset. The space becomes uncomfortably still. Tikal tells Rouge...

"You can go with him if you want. I know how important it is for you to watch over him."

Rouge peers at her arms and legs. She's transparent and... furious!

Gasp! "How did this happen?!"

"Electrocution," Tikal replies, as she reopens the portal. "The fear, the sadness... the burns. A few years ago you might have survived but motherhood changes people. Look how you have not set your eyes on a single gemstone in this cave."

Enraged, bat-mommy stomps her feet and punches the air!

"What a pointless way to die!"

"No!" Tikal disagrees, "not at all! You turned out to be a good mother. I am going to allow you to go into the portal again. You can still be with Silver!"

Rouge looses her marbles, wagging her finger in Tikal's face.

"Ya know honey, if you really wanted to be helpful, you might have used all that chaos energy to heal me instead of opening this portal! Or better yet, ya could-ah healed Silver back when this whole nightmare started!"

Tikal shakes her head.

"It does not work that way."

With no self control left to spare, Rouge aggressively shoves Tikal, knocking the ancient princess down to the ground.

"Sonic and Shadow sounded ready to go on a killing spree! Everything I did to repair all that damage from Silver dying flushed down the toilet!"

Tikal simply doesn't understand.

"Why are you being this way, Rouge the Bat?"

Rouge explodes.

"Don't you get it?! You don't have the right to make me into a ghost that haunts my child, like a pearl he's not allowed to see or touch when he's lonely or afraid!"

Tikal tires to explain.

"I did not make you into a ghost. I do not have any control over..."

"I can't watch my baby from the sidelines again and never hold him or kiss him or... Tikal, please! I'd rather not exist at all!" Rouge begs. "I need your help again, please! Silver may be an adult but everyone becomes small again when their mommy dies! Where is he really going?! I can't let my baby run away into the darkness!"

Though youthful in appearance, her thousands of years-worth of wisdom kicks in, causing Tikal to wish to rectify the situation... even if at her own cost. She stands and brushes herself off.

"I understand. Please, calm down. Silver is in between dimensions. Go inside the portal if you wish. If you can convince him to come back, I will exchange Chaos Energy to restore life to your body, which will seal this portal eternally."

Without a second thought, Rouge nods then swoops hastily into the portal.