Sonic the Hedgehog: Rough Tides
By Jesse Nelson

        The moon shone over the shore of a beach.  Miles from it stood a large structure in
the ocean.  The top floor of the structure was an empty computer room, but not silent.
        "I have received information to enter the kelp when production is finished here,"
came a voice.  "I must warn my friend of this.  I do not want to be responsible for the
destruction of a natural wonder.  I can not allow these latest orders to be followed
through.  It must end here."
        ********
        The sky was blue, the sun was bright, and only a few clouds cover the sky.  It was
peaceful, unusual for this war.  There are those who will take advantage of it and have
some fun.  Sonic and Tails decided to spend the day fishing.  They were about ready to
leave Knothole when Sally caught up to them.
        "Sonic," called Sally.
        Sonic and Tails stopped and turned around.
        "Sonic," said Sally as she walked up to them.  Sonic felt a little uneasy, after
all it was the first time he had a talk with her in two weeks.  "Can I talk to you for a
minute?"
        "Uh sure," said Sonic.  "Tails, why don't you go ahead.  I'll catch up."
        "Okay Sonic," said Tails before walking into the forest.
        "What's up Sal?" asked Sonic.
        "Sonic," began Sally, "for the past two weeks we haven't seen much of each other."
        "Is that a problem?"  Sonic tried to sound nonchalant.
        Sally hesitated, "I might be."
        "What do you mean?"
        "Sonic is there anything I should be aware of when we were separated at
Celendridge."
        "No, just twisted my ankle."
        "Are you sure?"
        "Positive Sal.  Well, catch yuh later."  Sonic turned to follow Tails but stopped,
"Uh..."
        "What is it Sonic?"
        "Nothing."  Sonic walked into the forest following Tails.
        Sonic and Tails soon reached a deep wide river somewhere in the Great Forest, not
far from Knothole.  They both waited for hours in hopes that something would snag their
lines.  This was actually one of the few times Sonic will be patient for anything.  Fishing
though wasn't the only thing that was keeping Sonic patient.  The talk he had with Sally
was helping.  Suddenly he felt a tug on his line and turned his attention to fishing.
Sonic quickly reeled it in only to get nothing.
        "Next time," said Sonic.  Sonic cast his line back into the river the looked at
Tails.
        Tails was also in deep thought.
        "Yo Tails, what's on your mind?" asked Sonic, no response. "Tails?  Yo, Mobius to
Tails.  Come in Tails."  Sonic waved his hand across the young fox's face.
        "Wha, what Sonic?" asked Tails as he snapped out of his daze.
        "Man you were out there kid.  Whatcha thinking about?"
        "Oh nothing."
        "Was it someone you know, maybe a cat?"
        "No," said Tails quickly, "I, I wasn't thinking about anything."
        "Sure."
        Before Tails could say anything he felt a strong tug on his fishing pole, "Hey, I
got something!"
        Tails tightened his grip on his pole and pulled back.
        "Reel it in!" shouted Sonic.
        Tails did what Sonic said and began to reel in what ever he had.  Tails knew this
was a big one, his pole was arced so much it had to be a big one.  Sonic came and helped
Tails, but he soon found it hard to pull in.  Finally the fish reached the surface.  It was
huge.  Tails went and got the net and finally caught the fish.
        "Whoa Tails," shouted Sonic, "this is a whopper here."
        "That's the biggest fish I've ever seen," said Tail.
        "You ain't kidding pal."  Sonic looked at his pole and saw it wiggling, "Looks like
I caught something."  Sonic grabbed his pole and began to reel it in.  Whatever was on his
line it was heavier that what Tails got.
        "Oh man it's a big one," shouted Sonic.
        Sonic pulled and reeled as his pole arced near the point of breaking.  Sonic was
tempted to use his speed to bring his catch but didn't.  Finally Sonic saw something in the
water, he knew he had it.  Finally it came out of the water.
        Tails began to laugh as Sonic looked at what he caught.
        "A rock?" questioned Sonic.  "A rock?"  Sonic dropped his pole and grabbed the
object on his fishing line.  "It's a rock!"
        Sonic looked to the rock.  His fishing line was tied to the rock.  He carried the
rock with him disgruntle to his tackle box.  He pulled out a knife cutting the fishing
line.  Sonic didn't want to bother with untying it so he left the string on the rock.
Sonic went about putting a new hook on the returning to the bank.  Tails was still
laughing.
        "This has got to be a first Sonic," laughed Tails.
        "Yah, yah.  Yuck, yuck," said Sonic before throwing the rock back into the river.
        Sonic went and set up his fishing pole for another cast when a rock landed on his
foot.  "Hey, who threw that?" shouted Sonic.
        "I did," came a voice from the river.  Sonic looked around and saw a furred animal
in the river.  "You beaned in the head when you threw that rock."
        Sonic picked up the pick and looked at it.  It was the rock he threw into the
river.
        "Yo, sorry man," said Sonic, "I didn't you were out there."
        "Well it's nothing permanent.  My name is Jake Arthur."
        "Sonic Hedgehog, but you can call me Sonic."
        "Glad to meet yuh."
        "I don't want to sound rude, but what are you?"
        "A sea otter."
        "What are you doing all the way up river?"
        "It's a long story.  Lets just say the oceans are not longer save."
        "I know what you mean."
        "What a minute."  Jake dove into the water for a moment then came back up with a
young sea otter.
        "Who's that?" asked Sonic.
        "This is Rachel."
        "Let go," shouted Rachel as she kicked.
        "First you apologize for what you did."
        "No!"
        "What did she do?" asked Sonic.
        "Rachel," said Jake sternly.
        The little otter sighed, "I'm sorry for tying you your string to the rock."  She
turned to Jake, "There, happy?!"
        Jake dropped the pup, "She likes to make a lot of trouble."
        "She your sister?" asked Sonic.
        "No, and she ain't my kid.  She's my girlfriends kid sister."
        "Is she with you?" asked Tails finally over the what Sonic caught.
        "Uh yah," said Jake a little uneasy, "she's not what you would think."
        "What, she's roboticized?" asked Sonic.
        "Well..."
        "Yes," came a new voice.
        Sonic and Tails looked in the direction of the voice.  They saw a silver and light
blue colored robot otter.
        "Sammy," called Jake.
        "Name's Samantha West," said the robot otter.
        "Hi," said Sonic and Tails together.
        "Do you know where we could find the Freedom Fighters?"
        "Sammy!" called Jake.
        "What, they might know," said Sammy looking a Jake.
        "Hey," shouted Sonic, "we're Freedom Fighters."
        "Oh good," said Sammy.
        "What a minute," said Jake, "you're Sonic the Hedgehog, fastest thing alive."
        "You got it pal," said Sonic.
        "Don't forget Tails," said the young fox, "the two tailed flying wonder."
        "Who?" asked Jake.
        Tails gave him an angry look.
        "Jake," said Sonic, "and, uh, what was your name?"
        "Sammy."
        "Sammy, we can take you to Knothole, if you want."
        "We would like that.  Come on Jake."
        Jake sighed for a moment then swam the bank with Sammy.
        "Rachel," called Sammy, "we're leaving."
        Suddenly a little brown otter appeared on the bank of the river.
        "I'm coming," said the pup.
        ********
        Alice lucked out when she got to Knothole.  There were a few empty huts due to some
tragic incident.  Sally knowing some of  Alice's history from Rick and the others back in
Celendridge she offered her to stay.  Alice accepted.  Rick also stayed and managed to find
himself a place to live in.
        Alice was sitting in her hut with a book.  The book was open, but she wasn't
reading.  She was turning the pages slowly giving them only a glance.  As she glanced at
the pages she also thought to herself.
        "Knothole's a nice place," thought Alice, "compared to where I was living before.
Here I don't feel as lonely as before.  Casey's having fun, like a normal kid should.  She
likes Tails, and I think Tails likes her.  He even gave Casey a red ball cap.  She wears
backward, now she looks like one of the guys.  Those two have a lot in common.  There
young, unfortunately orphaned, and have special abilities.  It's amazing as how Tails flies
with his tails."
        Alice's train of thought stopped when she felt a little sting on his finger.  She
looked down and saw that she got a paper cut.  She quickly set the book and went to get
something to wipe her finger with.  She found a handkerchief and wiped off her finger, but
her finger continued to bleed.
        Alice looked out the windows of her hut to see if anyone was looking in,  no one
was.  Alice lowered her head and closed her eye.  The hand she had the cut finger on glowed
for a moment.  Alice opened her eyes and she wiped her finger again.  The blood was wiped
off and the cut was gone.
        Alice smiled and went back to her chair.
        "I wonder what I might have been like if didn't have the Keepers skills," thought
Alice.  "I would probably be dead or robod."
        Alice sighed for a moment turning her thoughts toward Sonic.  "Sonic's a reckless
person sometimes and a little rude, but he does care.  Just like Zack.  I was amazed when I
first saw him.  He looked just like Zack.  Zack, he wanted to get married when the war was
over.  We would have been probably old and gray before that happened."
        There was a knock at Alice's door, "Alice, it's Sally.  Can we talk for a minute?"
        Alice went over and opened the door revealing Sally, "What is it Sally?"
        "It's about Sonic."
        "What about him?" asked Alice letting Sally in her hut.
        "Have you seen him lately?"
        "No," Alice closed the door.  "I just walk be him once in a while, but that's it.
Why?"
        "Because, lately I haven't been seeing him either.  It all started when we got back
from Celendridge."
        "That was over two weeks ago."
        "I know.  Alice may I ask you something unofficially, as in just as a friend?"
        "Of course, what is it?"
        "Well two weeks ago when Rotor was bring me, Kathy, and Rick to hospital camp I saw
you and Sonic, close to each other.  I just want to know if anything, well,  happened
between you two?"
        Alice hesitated thinking back to the moment Sally mentioned.  "We were both in
remorse.  Sonic thought you were gone, and just seeing him reminded me of Zack."
        Sally hesitated before saying anything else.  "That's understandable.  Thank you."
Sally left.
        Alice went to a chair and sat forgetting about her salad.
        "You hide what had happen," came a voice to Alice.
        "It was still the truth, thought Alice. "Beside, it was to protect her and Sonic."
        "And yourself?"
        "I like him but so does Sally.  The question is, who does he like?
        "Only he knows."
        Alice sighed deeply wondering about Sonic.

        Outside Sonic, Tails, and their otter friends entered Knothole.  The otters had
explained to Sonic and Tails about why they want to find the Freedom Fighters.  Sonic was
feeling a little uneasy about what he was going to do.  Sonic looked around finding Sally
in the courtyard.
        "Sally," shouted Sonic as he jogged up to her.
        "What is it Sonic?" asked Sally.
        "Found some friends at the river.  They want our help."
        "Sonic," called Jake, "is this Sally?"
        "Yes, I am," said Sally.
        "Name's Jake."
        "You're a sea otter."
        "At least somebody knows who we are."
        "Your a long way from home."
        "It's a long story."  Jake felt a tap on his shoulder, "Oh, this is Sammy."
        A robot otter appeared from behind Jake.
        "Hello," said Sally not feeling a bit nervous about the robot.
        Jake looked around.
        "Let go of my tails," shouted Tails.  There was a little girl otter pulling on both
of Tails' tails.  Tails tried as best as he could to get her off.
        "That's Rachel," said Jake, "Sammy's little sister."
        Tails finally got away from Rachel and took off.
        "Whoa," shouted Jake, "how'd he do that?"
        "That another long story," said Sonic.
        "How can we help you?" asked Sally.
        "We need your help to save what's left of our home," said Jake.
        "Our home belongs to hundreds of species," said Sammy.  "Our home is a natural
paradise."
        "Where is you home?" asked Sally.
        "The Giant Kelp Forest," answered Jake.  "A part of it has been roboticized, and if
don't stop the platform refinery the entire forest will be destroyed."
        "What kind of platform refinery is it?"
        "It's a large all purpose refinery," said Sammy.  "It will refine material and/or
substance it comes across, and it is mobile.  We hoped that it wouldn't come to the kelp,
but it did.  It has been out at sea for five years dumping it toxic waste into the water.
Fortunately for the Kelp the waste was drawn out to sea.  But other the life in the ocean
are suffering from it.
        "While it refined it roboticized any creature that got near it.  They managed to
use robot crabs as mobile roboticizers.  Things started small with small fishes, crabs, and
lobsters, but they soon managed to roboticize larger creatures like sharks, whale, giant
squids and eels.  They even went as far roboticizing seagulls and pelicans.
        "Those of us in the kelp decided to try to take out the refinery.  That's how I
ended up looking like this.  One good thing came from it.  I was able to go on and off the
refinery with no trouble.
        "We had to leave the kelp when it stationed itself next to the forest.  It began to
roboticize the kelp up to a quarter mile radius.  On one of my visits to the refinery I
found out about the Freedom Fighters and how they are always beating Robotnik.  Jake an I
figure we could ask for your help.  Could you please help us?"
        "Of course we will," answered Sally.
        "Thank you.  I got some information about the refinery.  Maybe we can use it help
us."
        ********
        A new dawn has risen over Knothole.  Sonic, Sally, and Rotor, were on the edge of
the village with the otters.  They were waiting for the rest of the team to come before
leaving.
        Rotor brought a small hover pad that he managed to build from part in
Robotropolis.  On the pad were two life rafts, for obvious reasons.  There were a lot of
smaller devices.  These devices are surge bombs.  The information Sammy gave Sally said
that the sea bound robots do not react well when a jolt of electricity surge through them.
Not even herself.  They are all surge bombs it was just that they were put together
differently.  There were also a few blasters which Sally protected against.
        Finally Rick and Alice came running to the group.
        "It's about time," complained Sonic, "what took yuh."
        "Slept in," said Rick before turning to Sally, "I still think I should stay."
        "Noted," said Sally.  "What about you Alice?"
        "Who do you think woke him up?" asked Alice.
        "If were all ready," said Rotor, "then lets go."
        "Wait up guys," came a shout just the group was about to leave.  The group turned
around to see Tails flying to them carrying Casey by her arms.  "Can we come?"
        "Now Tails," said Sally as she knelt down to him, "this going to be dangerous and I
don't want you do get hurt."
        "We know it's dangerous," said Tails, "but we can take care of ourselves."
        "Your a little young to go."
        "She going," Tails pointed at Rachel.
        "Uhm..."
        "He's got you Sal," said Sonic.
        "I don't know."
        "Please," said Casey and Tails.
        "Alice, what do you think?"
        "I know Casey can take care of herself," said Alice, "but I can't vouch for Tails."
        "I know Tails can manage in this kind of situation," said Sonic.
        "Okay," said Sally, "you two can come."
        "Yes," shouted Tails and Casey.
        "But... you two have to stay on the rafts."
        "Awww," groaned the two.
        "It's either that or no go."
        "Okay," they groaned.
        The group finally trekked through the forest until they reached the river.  There
Rotor inflated the life rafts with a tube of compressed CO2 and sealant.  Rotor inflated
the rafts then loaded one of the rafts with the bombs and blaster.  Rotor, Tails, and Casey
got on the raft with the equipment. Sally, Alice and Rick, got on the other raft.  The
otters went into the water Sonic though just stood and stared.
        "Come on Sonic," called Sally.
        "Are you sure it's safe?" asked Sonic.
        "It's safe."
        "I don't know maybe I should go back.  You maybe, just in case..."
        "Sonic."
        "Okay."
        Sonic slowly stepped on the raft.  Then they all went down river.
        ********
        Antoine slowly opened his eyes only to see a metal fist coming down his head.
Antoine rolled out of his bed just before the fist slammed into his pillow.  When Antoine
got up he saw Alex stepping away from the other side of his bed.
        The raccoon was still in his sweat stained close from gardening and had his
roboticized arm.  The mechanical limb was intact and fully functional, Rotor must have
fixed it because it was something to do.
        Before Antoine could react to his presence Alex jumped over the bed at him.
Antoine quickly avoided the punch Alex threw, but the raccoon came back up with an uppercut
with his real fist.
        Antoine felt to the floor as Alex brought up his mechanical arm aiming it at the
French fox.  Antoine quickly crawled backward as the shot was fire.  The blast hit the
floor between Antoine's legs.
        Antoine quickly rolled away, but Alex continued to shoot him.  The blast hit the
floor just behind Antoine.  Antoine kept rolling until he hit his closet.  One blast hit
Antoine in the shoulder close to his neck.
        As Antoine grabbed his shoulder Alex came up and kicked him in the chest.
        "That was for the kick to my side," said Alex.  Then he knelt down driving his
metallic fist into Antoine's arm, breaking it.  "That was for busting up my arm.  An this
was when you tried to kill me, but I won't miss."
        Antoine ducked his head out of the path of Alex's metal fist.  Alex lost his
balance when Antoine ducked and fell into the closet.
        Antoine stood up as best as he could and went to the door.  Alex got out of the
closet in time to see Antoine going for the front door.  He quickly ran at him, grabbing
him around his arms and upper torso.  Both couldn't stop their forward momentum and
crashed through the hut door.
        A crowd had already form around Antoine's hut, most of them still in the close they
slept in.
        "Get off my," came a shout from under the two males.
        They both felt themselves being rolled over as the animal under them moved them.
As they fell off the broken door the animal they were on top over stood up.  It was Bunnie.
        "What the," said Bunnie when she saw Alex.
        Alex quickly got up and ran past the crowd and into the forest.  Bunnie was going
to chase him, but she saw the that Antoine's arm was broken.
        "Antoine," shouted Bunnie looking at his arm.
        A little daze Antoine looked down at his arm.  It was broken, but the bone had
broken through the skin. The sight of the exposed bone and blood caused Antoine to faint.
        ********
        The trip down river was boring.  Sonic quickly became agitated, but he didn't do
much just sighed a lot.
        "Yo Jake," called Sonic over the side of the raft.
        "What's up Sonic?" asked Jake.
        "You know anything about computers?"
        "No, do you?"
        "Not a clue."
        "Then why'd you ask?"
        "Sammy."
        "What about her?"
        "How did she get her own mind back.  I know power rings can bring them back, but
you can't get to them, and you know squat about computers."
        "It's another one of those long stories."
        "I think we got time."
        "Okay."

        It all started when the all of us in the kelp, fish and mammals decided to stop the
refinery.  Me, Sammy, and our parents joined in on the fight.  The plan was for the fish to
grab the attention of metal sea monster while we otters go and destroy the main computer.
        We didn't reach the main computer because there were so many Aquabots.  We were
beaten easily because we only had a few weapons that the fish people lent to us and a few
of our sea stone weapons.  The only electronic thing we had was a waterproof electric
pack.  We were going to use to destroy the main computer, but  instead we used it to escape
from the Aquabots.
        The otter with the electric pack decided use it on the floor to allow the others to
escape.  He knew the electric surge will go so far across the floor.  He knew he wouldn't
escape if he used it, but hoped that it will help the others.  He put the pack on the floor
and turned it on.
        Automatically the Aquabots and several other otters felt the electric surge then
collapsed.  The rest of us got away.
        We managed to get out of the refinery and jump back into the ocean.  The thing was
that all the fish were captured, left us to sea monsters.  I don't exactly know what
happened in the water.  All I knew was that Sammy was roboticized next to me by the crabs.
        I swam as fast as I could when Sammy was turned to a robot.  I was lucky that she
hadn't seen me.
        When it was all over the sea was red from all the ones that were killed.  I looked
up and saw bodies floating on the surface.  I was the only one that got away.
        The refinery was still there, but the sea monsters did see me, but let me go.  I
don't know why.
        I returned to kelp where I found Rachel waiting on the surface.  She asked what
happened.   It was hard for me to tell her.  She was only seven at the time.  She cried for
a long time.  I didn't mention anything about Sammy, because she was her older sister and I
didn't want to hear myself say it.
        For a month I have thought of ways to get Sammy.  I could think of anything,
because I didn't know where she was of have to get her back without killing myself.  One
day I began to remember an old story about a wishing stone.  The Aqua Gem.
        The Aqua Gem as far as I knew was in the kelp.  I searched the kelp for weeks until
I found it.  It was in a cave, but the entrance was covered up be kelp, sort a like a
curtain.
        The Aqua Gem was in an air pocket just under the kelp floor.  The gem sat on a rock
stand.  There was also a lot of stuff in the cave, they were all offering.
        I walked up to the gem and gave it my offering.  It was An engagement stone my dad
gave to me.  He said it is supposed to be for that special person in my life.  I put it
next to the stand  and made my wish.
        The gem glowed brightly.  I didn't know what to make of it, I just hope it granted
my wish.
        The next day one of the otter robots came to the kelp.  It was Sammy.  My wish was
granted Rachel an I got Sammy back, but was hoping that she would be an otter instead of a
robot.

        "Now the Aqua Gem is in danger of being destroyed," continued Jake. "The curtain
kelp hiding the cave entrance was roboticized."
        "Whoa," said Sonic, "but why did you have to give an offering."
        "You ever hear of wishing fountains, or wishing wells?"
        "Yah.  You toss a coin in and make a wish."
        "The Aqua Gem works the same way, but not every wish is granted.  I consider myself
lucky."
        "I must have felt awful to tell a seven year that there parents are dead," said
Sally.
        "You don't know how hard," said Jake.
        Sonic turned and saw that not only was Sally listening to Jake's story, but Alice
and Rick were too.
        By now the rafts have left the river and entered the ocean.  Next to the rafts laid
a green substance floating, swaying with the current.
        It didn't take them long to spot the platform refinery.  It was several miles from
shore and it stood out due to its red on copper colors.
        Suddenly Rotor's raft began to shake.  Suddenly a metal shark fin emerged out of
the water.
        "We got some trouble here," said Rotor watching the fin.
        The robotic shark circled around and nudged Rotor's raft again almost knocking
Rotor off.
        "Yo," shouted Sonic as he stood up on the raft, "get out of the water!  It
ain't..."  Sonic couldn't finish his remark.  He wobbled the raft too much by standing he
fell over the side.  As he fell he grabbed Rick's coat pulling him backward into the water.
        The shark quickly turned toward Rick and Sonic as they splashed around.  It moved
quickly toward them when Sammy swam just in front of it.   The shark stalled for a moment
then continued toward Rick and Sonic.  Sammy turned around quickly and rammed the shark.
This time she got its attention.  Sammy swam so that the shark was away from the rafts
        "Jake," shouted Rotor.
        "What?" said Jake as he swam to Rotor.
        "Take this and use it on the shark," said Rotor as he tossed him a surge bomb.
        "How do I use it?"
        "Just press the button and swim as fast as you can."
        "Got it."
        "And get Sammy out of the water," shouted Rotor as Jake dove into the water.
        Jake swam as fast as he could to the chase.  He got Sammy's attention and signaled
her to get to the rafts.  They both swam toward the rafts.  Just before they got there Jake
signaled to Sammy to surface, then he pressed the button on the surge bomb and threw it
back.  The shark followed quickly behind them and swallowed the bomb.
        Sammy surface just in front of Rotor's raft.
        "Sammy get out of the water!" shouted Rotor as hr reached for her.
        Sammy grabbed Rotor's hand and was quickly pulled up.  As Sammy was pulled up Jake
swam under the raft very fast.
        Rotor looked up as Sammy got on the raft.  The surge bomb finally activated sending
a pulse of electricity out.  The shark arced back for a moment then sank.
        "That was close," said Rotor.
        "What about the others?" asked Sammy.
        "Oh the surge bomb is harmless to organic tissue.  They'll only feel a little
tingle."
         "Somebody," shouted Sonic as he tried to keep above the water, "help me!"
        "Oh no Sonic can't swim," shouted Sally.
        Fortunately Sonic wasn't far from the raft.  Both Sally and Alice reached and
grabbed Sonic's arms.  They pulled Sonic in just Rick pulled himself in.
        "I knew I shouldn't have come," said Sonic sternly.
         "You're real smooth you know that Blue Boy," said Rick as he shook himself off.
        "Shove it Circus Act!"
        "At lease I can swim!"
        "I don't swim or fly, I just run!"
        "I didn't even want to come on this mission!"
        "At least we can agree on one thing."
        "Knock it off you two," shouted Sally.  "Sammy are you all right?"
        "I'm fine," replied Sammy.  "Rotor, is it safe to go back?"
        "The surge only last for a second," said Rotor, "I'm sure it's all right."
        With that Sammy jumped back into the water.
        Jake just got back when Sammy dove back into the water.  They met for a moment then
Sammy swam off as Jake surfaced.
        "Wait here," said Jake.  Then he dove back into the water after Sammy
        "I didn't know you couldn't swim," said Alice to Sonic.
        "It's something I don't brag about."
        "Why didn't you learn?"
        "Didn't need to.  I can just run across it."
        "Don't try and talk him into doing lessons," said Sally, "its been done."
        "Hey, something's coming," said Rotor as he pointed in the water.
        They saw a long and got larger object where Rotor pointed.  They managed to
identify a the color as copper and red.  Finally object reached the surface causing wave to
push the rafts away.
        "Hey," shouted Sonic.
        "What's that?" asked Sally.
        "Looks like a submarine," said Rotor.
        "Wow," awed Tails.
        Rachel dove under the raft Sally was on  to the object in the water.  Suddenly a
hatch opened  on the object.  Jake was inside.
        "You guys going to sit there or what?" asked Jake.
        Rotor and Rick moved the rafts toward the sub.  Sonic, Sally, Rick, and Alice
boarded the sub.  Rotor handed them a few guns and a bag of surge bombs.
        "Remember, these only work under water," reminded Rotor.  "As long as Sammy is not
in contact with the water with in a three meter radius of the bomb she'll be fine."
        "I'll remember," said Jake.
        Rotor stepped back on the raft with Casey and Tails.  As he did Rachel got on the
sub.
        "No Rachel," said Jake.
        "Why not?" asked the little otter.
        "It's too dangerous."
        "I went through the metal kelp before?"
        "You have?!"
        "Oops," said Rachel before jumping back in the water.
        "Trouble maker."  Jake closed the hatch and the sub went up the water.
        "I guess we wait here," said Rotor as he leaned himself on the raft and placing his
cap on his face.  "Wake me when they get back."
        "Something tell me this is going to be real boring," said Casey.
        "You ain't kidding," said Rachel from the water.

        Underwater in the submarine, Sammy piloted while the Freedom Fighters gazed through
the portholes.  The kelp outside was amazing.
        There were pillars of kelp towering from the sea floor to the surface.  Light shone
through the kelp canopy like a land forest did, except the light here shone in bright  blue
and green.
        "It's like another world down here," commented Sally.
        "It would be a lot better if there are creature living in," said Jake.
        "Have all the wildlife fled?"
        "Not all, just the ones the can move fast."
        "Entering the metal kelp," announced Sammy.
        The others looked through the portholes.  The greenish brown kelp soon changed to
metal, wires, and lights.
        "And to your right we have giant robo eel," announced Sammy.
        On the right of the sub a giant robotic eel swam by.  As the tail of the eel left
from view the Freedom Fighters an all new world appeared.  A world ravaged by Robotnik's
forces.
        The waters were cluttered with robot versions of natural wildlife.  There was not
longer the lush blue-green sea it was now a dull gray.  Suddenly a large copper pillar
strode by them.
        "Preparing to dock," announced Sammy.  "Brace yourselves."
        The shook violently then stopped.  Then they all heard the sound of latches then
air passing.
        "We're docked," said Sammy as she left the cockpit.
        Sammy opened the side hatch and walked out.  Sammy walked into an elevator cart
that was just outside the hatch.  Then and motioned the other to come.
        "I'll stay here and keep an eye on the sub," said Jake.
        "Be careful," said Sammy.
        "I will."
        The elevator doors closed and the cart moved up.  It soon stopped and the doors
opened.
        "I'll go out first," said Sammy.  "The Aquabots won't shot me."
        Sammy peek her head out of the elevator.  She saw nothing to her left, but saw two
copper-colored Aquabots walking through from the right.
        Exited the lift and closed the doors behind her.  She stood in front of the door.
Sammy waited until the Aquabots had rounded the corner.  She opened the doors to the
elevator.
        "Okay the coast is clear," said Sammy.
        The others walked out of the elevator and into the passageway.  The passageway they
were in was lit brightly, but only to show a dull gray surrounding them.
        "Robotnik doesn't have much taste," said Sonic.
        "Come this way," said Sammy directing them to the right.
        Sammy led the others walked down the corridor away from the sub.  Alice and Sonic
walked behind the robot otter followed by Sally with Rick taking up the rear.
        Sally pulled Nicole out and opened her.
        "Nicole," whispered Sally, "scan for any sign of trouble with in a twenty-five
meter radius of us."
        "Scanning Sally," said Nicole in a low tone.
        ********
        Rotor slept on the raft while Casey and Tails flew through the air.  Tails carried
Casey by her hands cruising over the ocean stopping for a breather once in a while.  Tails
would something go as low to where Casey's feet would skim the surface of the ocean.  Casey
didn't know how to swim so Tails held on tightly to Casey as he dropped that low.
        "Tails," shouted Casey, "let go over the kelp."
        "Okay," shouted Tails.  Tails knew the kelp was too far from the raft, but he
wanted to see the kelp from a bird's eye view.
        They flew over the kelp.  It was now lush green ocean instead of blue.  They flew
over and dipped on the surface every now and then. Tails spotted Rachel in the kelp.
        "Hang on Casey," shouted Tails, "I'm going for a flyby."
        Tails moved toward Rachel flying over her very fast.
        Rachel was busy eating something that she caught on the sea floor when Tails flew
by her.  The flyby caused her to roll on her belly and lose her meal.  When Rachel
resurfaced she glared at Tails.
        "That's what you get for pulling my tails," shouted Tails.
        "Lets go down one more time before going back to the raft," requested Casey.
        "Okay."
        Tails swooped down for another skim over the water.  Casey's feet skimmed the water
and kelp.  There was a small wave ahead of them.  It was low, but not to where Casey's feet
could safely go over them.  When feet hit the wave some of the kelp wrapped around her
ankle pulling her and Tails into the water.  Casey quickly hit the water hard while Tails
skipped across.
        Not far from the Rachel dove into the water and swam to Tails and Casey.  She
reached Tails first and tried to pull him to the surface.  His tails and feet were tangled
in the kelp preventing him from reaching the surface.
        Rachel thought quickly and dove to the floor.  She grabbed two rocks then returned
to Tails.  She used the rocks and clapped them on the kelp.  She repeated until the kelp
was cut loose.  She quickly moved on to another kelp cutting it.
        Tails tried to swim to the surface, but the kelp kept under.  Finally Tails felt
himself floating quickly to the surface.  Reaching the surface Tails gasped for fresh air.
        Not too far, Tails could see Casey trying to stay afloat.
        Rachel surface next to Tails, "Are you all right?"
        "Casey," shouted Tails, "she can't swim!"
        Rachel quickly dove into he water and swam to Casey.
        Tails tried to swim to her too, but the kelp was still wrapped around him.
        "Rotor!" shouted Tails towards the rafts, "Rotor!"
        Rotor wasn't fully asleep.  He let some of his senses to stay alert in case of
trouble.  He began to hear something faint.  Constantly hearing it though it became
annoying.  Rotor woke up and looked around for the sound.  As he did he noticed Casey and
Tails were missing.
        Rotor's first thought was that they were in the air.  He looked up and saw the
sky.  He looked at the other raft, but it was still empty.  Then he looked in the direction
he heard the sound from.
        In the water over the kelp Rotor saw to things moving in the water.  He listened to
the sound carefully it finally became clear.
        "I'm coming you guys," shouted Rotor as he dove into water.
        Rotor swam as fast as he could.  He reached to Tails first.
        "Tails what happened?" asked Rotor.
        "I'm stuck," replied Tails, "I can't get away."
        "Where's Casey and Rachel?"
        "Over there," Tails pointed to where Casey was.
        "Okay. I'm going to untangle them swim you out of the kelp.  You can swim the rest
of the way.  I'll go back and help Casey and Rachel."
        "Hurry, Casey can't swim."
        Rotor untangled Tails then swam him out of the kelp.  After letting Tails go he
swam back for the other two.
        Tail managed to swim back to the rafts and get on board, but he didn't stay long.
He shook off most of the water then spun his tails.  It took a little long for Tails to get
airborne, but he did.  He flew over to where Rachel, Rotor, and Casey were.
        Rotor, and Rachel managed to free Casey from the kelp, but she had stopped moving.
Knowing what had happened Tails flew down and grabbed Casey's arms and flew her back to
rafts.  Tails laid her on the empty raft Tails could see she wasn't breathing.  Tails
quickly tilted her head and began CPR.  This was one of the many things Tails has learned
since being with the Freedom Fighters.
        After a minute of CPR, Casey began to breathe on her own again.  She coughed up the
sea from her mouth and slowly sat up.
        "Tails, Tails I was so scare," said Casey as she hugged Tails.
        "I was scared too Casey," said Tails as he hugged back.
        ********
        Alice, Rick, Sally, Sammy, and Sonic managed to reach the upper levels of the
refinery.  Because of Nicole they were able to avoid any contact with Aquabots.
        "Okay everyone," said Sammy.  "These stairs will led use to the top deck.  We'll be
more exposed to surveillance."
        Alice approached the stair, but then staggered backward holding her head.  She
staggered until she ran into the wall and set herself down.
        "Alice what's wrong?" asked Sonic.
        "Slight headache," replied Alice.
        "Are you all right?" asked Sally.
        "I'll be fine
        "Warning Sally," voiced Nicole, "two Aquabots twenty meters behind us."
        Before Sally could turn to confirm what Nicole was saying blasts rang out.
        Sammy was already on the stairs when the blasts were shot.  Rick was next to the
stairs.  He reached out and pulled Sally out the line of fire.  Sonic grabbed Alice and
took her into a nearby corridor.
        The Aquabots continued to shoot as reinforcements came.  There were now five
Aquabots shooting at them.
        Rick drew out his blaster and returned fire.  He noticed that they had begun to
advance on them at a moderate pace.
        "Come on," shouted Sammy as she reached out towards Rick and Sally.
        Sally went up the stairs with Sammy.  Rick followed only after they were out of
sight.  He still fired as he went up.
        Sammy Sally and Rick were all on the top deck.  Sammy grabbed Sally's wrist and ran
to a nearby door, Rick followed.  They all quickly got in and closed the door.
        "Great now they are on full alert," said Sammy.
        "What about Sonic and Alice?" asked Sally.
        "I think they'll be safe," Sammy looks out the window on the door, "I hope."

        Under the top deck Aquabots chase two hedgehogs.  Sonic wasn't carrying Alice, but
helping her along.  Suddenly one of the blasts got under Sonic causing him to lose his
footing and fall.  Alice fell with him.
        Alice and Sonic slowly got on their feet.  Alice was first.  She stood up and stood
in the middle of the corridor and held her palms up to level to her head.  She closed her
eyes and whispered, "Reflection."
        Suddenly when the blasts from the Aquabots shot did not pass her hands instead they
bounce back hitting them.  Alice dropped her hands and opened her eyes.  There was still
one left, so she drew her gun, aimed and fired.
        Sonic had just turned to see Alice fire on the remaining Aquabot.  Alice fell
backward from the recoil on her bottom.
        "Oh man," groaned Sonic, "you got them all?"
        "Yah," replied Alice as she helped herself up, "I did."
        "Come on, we have to get back to the others."  Sonic grabbed Alice's wrist and led
back down the corridor.
        ********
        Antoine slowly woke up again, this time in the medical hut.  After sitting up he
immediately felt a pain in jaw, chest and left shoulder, but his left arm felt numb.  He
looked down at it.  A small strip of the fur had been removed apparent it was for the
stretches.  Just then Antoine noticed he was still in his undershirt.  He was about to get
off the bed when Kathy came in.
        "I wouldn't get up if I were you," said the cat doctor.
        "Kathy, what happened?" asked Antoine.
        "You don't remember how you got here?"
        "I do know, Alexander attacked me!  But what about me arm?"
        "Broken, of course you know that because you faint from seeing the bone.  It will
heal in about six to seven weeks.  I was making the plaster for the cast when I saw you
wake up."
        "What about Alexander?"
        "Still gone."
        At that moment blaster fire entered from one of the windows.  The first shot
skimmed over Antoine's head.  The other blasts were avoided as Antoine laid back down.  The
shooting stopped.  Antoine slowly raised his head up only to be induced to a lethal blast
from the window.
        Kathy had gone to her desk and opened one of the drawers.  She pulled out a hand
blaster, one that wasn't made from junk and spare parts as Antoine saw it.  She slowly
approached the window the blasts were coming from.  Then looked through.  Nothing happened.
        Thinking it was safe Antoine sat back up, but another blast rang out.  Kathy shot
at the are where she saw the blast come from.  There was a loud cry in the underbrush then
a rustling sound that slowly faded away.
        "Eez, eez it safe?" stuttered Antoine.
        "Sounds like it to me," replied Kathy.
        Antoine slowly laid back down taking a deep breath as he did.
        ********
        Lasers were fired all over the top deck of the refinery.  Rick did his best to make
sure that Sammy and Sally were safe.  He shot at anything that shot at him or them.  Sally
was forced to use the blaster she brought.
        The Aquabots weren't the only problem facing Rick, Sally and Sammy.  Roboticized
seabird did diving attacks on them.
        The three were now three stories above the top deck and had two more to go.
        "Hurry we're almost there," shouted Sammy.
        They began to run up a flight of stairs to the fourth floor.
        "Go, I'll cover yuh," shouted Rick as he lagged behind.
        Sammy and Sally managed to get to the top floor of the refinery while Rick just got
on the fourth.
        Sammy ran to a door and began to press certain buttons on the key pad next it.
Nothing happened.  Sammy pressed in another combination.  Still nothing.
        Rick was now half way up the last set of stairs.
        Sammy was frustrated.  She had tried every combination that she had in her memory
banks from the refinery's computer.
        "Damn it Com," shouted Sammy as she slammed her hand on the door, "open up!"
        Rick finally reached them and the door opened.  As the door closed all the blasting
stopped.
        "I knew I should have stayed back at Knothole," said Rick.  "Hey, why aren't they
shooting?"
        "They won't shot the at the main computer," said Sammy.  "Speaking of which," Sammy
turned to the computer, "Com, why didn't open the door when I entered the code?"
        "I waited so that your friend could be safe," came a plain voice.
        "Who's that?" asked Sally.
        "My name is Com," replied the voice, "I am the mainframe computer of the platform
refinery."
        "Sally, this is Com," said Sammy, "he is a good friend, but he can't help what he
is doing."
        "You can make a choice?" asked Sally.
        "I can," replied Com.
        "How?"
        "It happened accidentally," replied Sammy.  "Remember I said  that I come and go to
this platform refinery."
        "Yes."
        "Well on my second visit I thought about interfacing with the main computer.  I
don't know how, but Com read my memory.  He knows that what he is doing will destroy the
kelp.  He understands the way life goes he understands nature, he thinks he beautiful, but
his main program prevents him from stopping the destruction.  He gave me information about
you to stop him."
        "Doesn't he know he'll be totally destroyed?"
        "I do," said Com, "but if you do not stop me I will enter the kelp and destroy it."
        "Can't you override you main program?"
        "I have tried.  I can not."
        "Then we must stop you."  Sally pulled out Nicole.  He walked up to Com and plugged
in Nicole.  "Nicole, install surge program."
        "Installing Sally," said Nicole.
        "I'm going to miss you Com," said Sammy.
        "As will I," said Com.
        "Surge program installed, Sally," said Nicole
        "Samantha," called Com, "I have managed to seal the waste in save air tight storage
areas.  They should hold until they can be removed."
        "Good," said Sammy.  "Just make sure you fall away from the kelp."
        "I... I... I... wi... will tr... tr... try."
        "The surge program is taking affect," said Sally
        "S... s... s... Sam... m... m... me," called Com.
        Sammy walked up to console, "What Com?"
        "A g... g... gift."  Com ejected a CD.
        Sammy took the CD and followed the others out.
        ********
        Jake lounged in the sub waiting for the others to come.  Suddenly he heard and felt
a rumble.
        "What was that?" asked Jake.
        Suddenly the hatch to the sub closed.  Then he heard something outside the sub.
Then the sub began to move.
        "Hey what's going on?!"
        Jake ran to the cockpit but no one was in there.
        ********
        Alice and Sonic manage to reach to top deck of the refinery.  As they did the
refinery shook violently.
        "Hey what's going on here?" shouted Sonic.
        "Look," shouted Alice pointing up.
        Sonic looked and saw Rick, Sally, and Sammy running down a flight of stairs.
        "Come on," Sonic picked up Alice and run to the others.
        They meet on the second floor.
        "Sally, what happened?" asked Sonic.
        "Nicole put the surge program in the main computer," replied Sally, "all the
systems are going to blow."
        Suddenly the platform began to tilt.
        Refinery leaned toward the opened ocean causing anything loose on deck to slid off.
        Rick and Sonic had flipped over the guard railing, but both managed to gab the a
bar to keep from falling.  Sammy, Sally, and Alice slid on the floor into the railing, but
Alice hit the railing with her head.
        "Alice," shouted Sonic.
        All of a sudden an explosion from an overloaded system blew them off the platform,
sending them to the ocean.
        All of them floated back up to the surface except Alice.
        Just then a large object rose  to the surface of the ocean.  It was the  submarine
they were using.  The side hatch opened and Jake stepped out.
        "Everybody," shouted Jake, "swim over here!"
        Rick, Sally and Sammy swam back to the sub.  Sonic though was now trying to stay
afloat.
        "Where's Sonic?" shouted Sally.
        "He's over there," shouted Sammy pointing at Sonic.
        "He's going to drown," shouted Sally.
        The waves were rough for Sonic.  He could barely keep his head up out of the
water.  Sammy saw that Sonic would drown if someone didn't go out and save him, so she dove
into the water.
        Normally Sammy would swim using her legs and arms, but the water was too rough to
do that.  Instead she used a propeller to move in the water.  She managed to grab Sonic.
        "Are you all right?" asked Sammy.
        "I'm fine," replied Sonic, "but Alice is still out there."
        "Don't worry.  I'll take you back to the sub."
        Sammy propelled back to the sub where Sonic was help on board.  Sonic was on board,
but he didn't leave the hatch.  He watched as Sammy dove underwater to find Alice.
        Above the platform's tilt had begun to change direction.  Now it was leaning toward
the kelp away from the Freedom Fighters.
        Below, underwater Sammy weave around falling debris and other sea bound robots.
She searched Alice hoping that she was still alive.
        Being unconscience is one thing, thought Sammy, being unconscience and underwater
is another thing.
        Sammy search until she found the knocked out hedgehog.  Sammy grabbed her then
opened a panel on her body.  She pulled out a hose with a mouth piece on it.  Sammy
carefully placed it in Alice's mouth hopping she could still breathe.  She was, so Sammy
swam off carrying Alice.
        Sammy reached the surface.  The waves were fierce.  If she were a real otter she
wouldn't have been able to hold onto Alice and swim at the same time.  Sammy used her
propeller and swam to the sub.
        Sonic was waiting when Sammy came back with Alice.  He quickly pulled Alice in
while Sally and Rick pulled in Sammy.
        The platform slowly began to fall over.  One of its massive legs snapped as it
continued to fall into the kelp.  Another leg under the platform stressed, but failed to
break as the other did.  Instead the platform twisted on it legs causing another to break.
No long able to hold itself up the platform crashes into the kelp sending a tidal wave away
from it.
        "Surfs up everyone," shouted Jake as he shut the hatch.  "Hold on to your breakfast
because were in for a wild ride."
        Suddenly the sub tilt over sending everyone to the lowered wall.  The sub rocks
back over tilting to the other side.  Slowly the sub began to rock back and forth.
        Below the platform slowly sank to the sea floor.  It fell taking down anything
thing that was in the way.  A few of the large robot sea animals were caught under the
refinery.
        Below the falling structure laid a cave with it's entrance concealed by the
metallic kelp.  Slowly the platform crashed on it collapsing the cave destroying the
contents that laid in it.
        A gem glows brightly in the cave just before shattering under the weight of the
platform and rocks.  The shattered gem emitted a halo the coursed through the sea.  As the
halo came in contact with the metal form of sea creatures it slowly changed them to their
original state, living breathing creatures of the sea.  The kelp too reverted back being
organic.
        ********
        Antoine was up and about in Knothole.  He had the cast on his broken arm.  Be cause
of the cast he couldn't wear his uniform properly.  Given the situation Antoine didn't
think of it as too degrading.  The coat just hung over his arm leaving the left sleeve
empty.  Antoine had only button up the top two buttons of the coat because of the cast.
        Everyone in the village thought that it was strange for Antoine to be out in the
open especially with Alex Coon out for his head.
        Uncharacteristically Antoine seemed ignore the event that happened earlier.  In his
mind he scared senseless telling himself to hide.  Antoine fought against his thoughts.  He
just felt that he had to stand up against the raccoon assassin.  If he were a Swatbot or
any other robot then maybe he would have dropped out of sight.
        Then again he felt he had to prove something.  Antoine knew it was a long time
since he wanted to do that.
        "Hey Antoine," called Bunnie walking up to him, "whatcha doin' out here?"
        "What are you talking about?" asked Antoine nervously.
        "You know.  Why aren't yuh hidin'?"
        "Hide?  Why would I want to hide?"
        "Because you always do when there's danger."
        "You must-ed be joking, no?"
        "No, I'm not joking.  You should be in a safe place where that lunatic raccoon
can't get yuh."
        "But a coward would hid, I am captain of zee Royal Guards."
        "Last Ah check you were the only guard."
        "A minor tacticality."
        "A minor technicality, Ant?"
        "Technicality.  Anyway I am a courageous fighter, no?"
        "No you ain't, you just get lucky every now and then."
        "Not so."
        "Face it Ant, you're no Sonic."
        "Why would I want to such an incompetent, self centered, fool."
        "Self centered?  Looks who's talkin'. And don't you dare say you're not self
centered because yuh are."
        "I am not."
        "Yes you are."
        "I do not have to listen to this."  Antoine stopped and turned away from Bunnie.
        "Antoine..."
        "If all you've is to insult me zen you can leave."
        "I am not insulting you."
        "Zen if you do not mind I would like to be alone."
        "I do mind Antoine!"  At that moment Bunnie noticed that some of the villages had
stopped and were listening to her and Antoine talk.  Antoine didn't see them because he had
his back to them, but Bunnie just felt embarrassment overflow her.  "Fine Antoine, if yuh
end up six feet under it ain't my problem."
        Bunnie turned on her heels and began to walk away.
        Antoine closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
        Suddenly a blast of energy shot out and hit Antoine in the chest throwing him off
his feet.
        Bunnie quickly turned around to see what happened.  Antoine was on the ground with
a blaster burn on his chest.  Slowly though Antoine got up.  That was when more blaster
fire rang out.  They missed as Antoine avoided them as best as he could.  Bunnie though
dashed to where the blaster fire was coming from.
        Dashing between two huts she ran into the forest underbrush.  She found out that
she had landed right next to Alex.
        Alex was aware of her presence and aimed his arm at her.  Bunnie extended her legs
just as Alex fired his shot.  High above Bunnie aimed her metallic arm at Alex then the
fist along with the fore arm extended downward at Alex.  Alex dodged the incoming fist then
ran toward Bunnie.
        Holding his arm metal arm out Alex close lined one of Bunnie's legs.  Losing her
balance Bunnie fell to the ground face first.  As she hit the her arm and legs returned to
normal size.
        Alex came back and looked over the daze rabbit then aimed his arm at her.  Her
vision still blurry Bunnie did see a bright red light.
        Suddenly Alex fell to the ground unconscious behind him was Antoine.  He had a mean
look on his face as though someone had ruined one of his uniforms.  In his good hand was a
large rock.
        Dropping the rock Antoine helped Bunnie up.
        "Antoine," said Bunnie as her vision came back, "Ah didn't know yuh had it in yuh."
        "Had what?" asked Antoine.
        "To clock a guy in the back of the head."
        "I did."
        "Yes."
        "Oh."
        Antoine staggered a bit then fell to the ground.
        ********
        Night fall.  The moon has risen in the skies of Mobius.  The moon's reflection
shone up from the Giant Kelp Forest.  Nothing remained of the structure that once threaten
the kelp.  Instead it laid as part of the kelp.  Though being night the wildlife began to
return.
        Jake, Sammy, and Rachel also returned.  They were amazed at what happened.
Everything that was roboticized had changed back.  Those that didn't change back were the
ones that were damaged when the platform fell and Sammy.
        The cave that once housed a mystical gem laid in ruins.  Most of its contents
destroyed to include the gem.  Shards of the gem slowly have their glow dim away.  Once
dark they begin to dissolve into the sea, but one shard continues to glow.  Mystically it
rose off the sea floor.
        The shard now began to travel through water as like a hand was guiding it through
kelp to a feeding river.  It slowly navigated through the river avoiding driftwood fallen
trees and the fishes the swim through.  It stayed on a course that kept it in the middle of
the river.  Now the shard veered to the left coming to shore letting the tide take it to a
pebbled beach.
        On this beach was a blue figure with a lantern, tackle box and fishing pole.  The
figure may be physically blue, but he also mentally blue as well.
        "Why the long face Sonic," came a soft voice?
        "Alice," said Sonic, "how's your head?"
        "Just a bump nothing serious."
        "That's good."
        "Is there something wrong?"
        "No, nothing's wrong."
        "Then why are you out so late, fishing by yourself and bluer than your quills?"
        "Well for starters I want to catch a fish.  Yesterday I caught a rock while Tails
caught a monster fish."
        "Yes, I know Tails told everyone."
        Sonic sighed and stared at the river.
        "What about the rest of my question?" asked Alice.
        "I rather not talk about it," said Sonic.
        "Why not?"
        "Because... I don't understand it."
        "Understand what?"
        "I know myself better than anyone.  I don't know why this is happening."
        "What is happening?"
        Sonic sighed for a moment, "Alice I like you... a lot, and I'm scared.  When you
fell in the ocean I was worried for you.  I don't know why, but I wanted to go after, not
because your a friend, but..."
        "You think it's more?"
        Sonic nodded, "Two weeks ago when that apartment fall I thought my life was over.
I thought Sally was dead.  When you told me about Zack well I..."
        "You felt sorry."
        "Yes, I also felt something, towards you.  When we kissed I felt as if I had a new
life."
        "I felt the same way about you."
        "I like you a lot, I can almost say it, but I love Sally."
        "I like you too Sonic."
        Both not realizing it, but the head drew close to each other.  They kissed.  They
were cut short when Sonic felt a tug on his pole.  He quickly pulled away from Alice, and
put his attention on the fishing pole.
        Sonic reeled in his catch, but wasn't too excited about it.  He pole was arcing
greatly.  Finally his catch surfaced.  Sonic grabbed what was on his hook and gazed at it.
        "It's the same rock," said Sonic.  The rock had and old fishing line tied around
it.  That was from when Rachel tied his line to it.
        Sonic tossed the rock in his hand then threw it back into the river.  He picked up
his pole, tackle and lantern, but waits a minute before leaving.
        "Are you going to need the lantern?" asked Sonic.
        "I think I can find my way back to Knothole," said Alice.
        "Okay.  Be careful."
        "I will."
        Sonic left Alice and head to Knothole.
        Alice stood looking at the stars.  She thought to herself about Sonic.
        "He likes us both," thought Alice.
        "But he can only love one," came a voice to Alice.  It was different from the day
before.
        "He likes us both doesn't know who to love."
        "He is lost in love."
        Alice paused for a moment.  "The Aqua Gem, thought Alice, is it destroyed?"
        "It is no longer part of the seal," came another voice.
        "Then escape from limbo is easier?"
        "Yes."
        "Am I going to be the last Keeper?"
        "That is unknown."
        "It is your part to restore the gem," came a third voice.
        "How?  What remains of the gem is in the kelp."
        "It has returned to sea, but its core is near you."
        "What?" asked Alice out loud.
        She began to look around.  A dim blue glow on the ground caught her attention.  She
picked up the glowing object and looked at it.
        "The Aqua Gem," came the third voice, "you must restore it."
        "How do I restore it?"
        "You must know how.  We can't tell you how."
        "Don't I get a hint?" asked Alice.
        "Great power," came several voices at once.
        Alice thought about what she was told.  Suddenly it hit her.
        Alice held the gem tightly and wondered her way back to Knothole.  When she reached
the village nearly all the lights were out.  It didn't bother her.  She continued through
the village to the ring pool.
        Alice had remember that a power stone is used to create the power rings that Sonic
used.  She knew because Casey told her who was told by Tails.
        Alice reached the ring pool and looked at it.  She held her hand over the pool.
She opened her hand letting the gem shard fall into the pool.
        The shard hit the pool but didn't make a sound or a splash.  It just slipped into
the pool settling on the bottom next the ring generator.  Suddenly the shard glowed
brightly illuminating the pool a bright blue.
        Alice stared as the blue glow slowly return to the gem.  Alice left the pool and
returned to her hut.
        ********
        Alex was back in his cell near the vegetable garden.  His head was bandaged up and
his arm impounded again, this time in a more secured place.  Instead of one guard two were
placed.
        Bunnie walked up to the guard.
        "Ah need to talk with the prisoner," said Bunnie.
        "Go ahead," said one of the guards.
        "In private."
        "We can't do that.  Orders from the princess say that two guards must be present at
all times."
        "Then can you make sure that the conversation Ah'm about to have doesn't leave
here?"
        "What conversation?"
        Bunnie smile and walked up to the cell door.
        "Alex," called Bunnie.  "Alex."
        "I heard you the first time," said Alex.
        "Good.  Now I want you to know something."
        "What?"
        "You leave Antoine alone."
        "Why?  From what I heard about him he doesn't have too many friends."
        "Just because we talk about him behind his back doesn't mean we're not his friends."
        "What do you care about that self centered son of a..."
        "He may be self centered but he's a better person than you."
        "Yah right."
        Bunnie placed her hand on one of the window bars of the door, "Look if you come
after him again Ah'll do this to yuh."  Bunnie turned her hand bend the bar.
        Alex didn't seem to bit too intimidated by her strength.  "I've been through worse."
        Shocked by Alex's calmness Bunnie felt she got her message to him and left.  As she
walked back to her hut she never noticed a bright flash of blue light coming from the ring
pool.
        ********
        Darkness loomed over Robotropolis.  In an underground station junkyard Uncle Chuck
rested himself, before looking at his monitor.
        "Looks like Robotnik lost an oil refinery," said Uncle Chuck as he looked in on an
incoming message.
        Suddenly the entrance to his secret room opened.  He had not opened and no one
would dare come to Robotropolis at night.  The spy became nervous.
        "Hello," came a voice, "I know someone is here."  The voice paused for a moment.
"I'm a friend, you don't have to be afraid of me."  A robot entered the secret room.  "I
was never under Robotnik's control."
        Uncle Chuck turned around and stood and faced the robot that had just entered his
secret station.
        "Who are you?" asked Uncle Chuck.
        "A friend."

        THE END