"Some Things Never Die" A work of Sonic the Hedgehog "Fan-faction" by Ian 
Patterson A few technicalities... I've read enough fanfic to know what title 
17 (the copyright law) does and does not allow; you can't change the text in 
any way or charge anyone money to read this without my expressed written 
permission. All situations and characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog 
Saturday morning cartoon series, as aired on ABC, are copyright SEGA, DiC, 
and/or Archie Comics, and are used (or at least referred to here) without 
permission, except the characters created by yours truly, which are 
copyrighted by me.

Bookshire Draftwood created by David Pistone

***Rated R for profanity and extreme amounts of violence***



PART II
SOME THINGS NEVER DIE


CHAPTER I
REVALATIONS



	Sally looked all around her.  She seemed to be floating in some kind 
of endless abyss.  There was nothing but mist and darkness.  She didn't know 
how she got here, or what she was doing here.  She also felt as if she were 
not alone.  
	"Where are you!!", she screamed into the darkness, "What do you want 
from me?"
	Silence.  The only sound she heard was her own echo.  
	Suddenly, something grabbed her from behind.  She looked, and to her 
horror, she gazed right into the eyes of Vypryn!!  
	This wasn't right!  She'd killed him three weeks ago with his own 
shoulder cannon.  How could he still be alive?
	"I'm right here, Bitch!!", he hissed, "And as for what I want, well, 
you'll find that out soon enough, heh heh heh!!!"
	He opened his mouth, as if he were going to swallow her whole.  She 
did the only thing she could think of at that particular point in time, she 
screamed.
	"NOOOOOO!!!!!!", screamed Sally, jumping up in her bed.
	She looked around, and realized she had been dreaming.  After a few 
moments of panting, she got out of her sweat-soaked bed.  She pulled her 
soaking wet nightshirt off, and threw it in a corner.  After putting 
another one on, she changed her sheets.  She then went to the window, and 
looked out at the silent village.  
	This was the fifth dream like this she had had in the past week alone.
Vypryn just wouldn't stop haunting her.  She didn't know what was wrong 
with her.  She felt totally lost.
	"The answer is simple", said Bookshire, the next morning.
	"What?", asked Sally.
	"You are just experiencing guilt feelings for killing Vypryn", said 
Bookshire, "After all, he was the first sentient living thing you've ever 
killed."
	"I only killed him because he left me no other option, Booker", said 
Sally, "He would've killed everyone in Knothole to get to Sonic."
	"Wait a minute, Sally", he said, "I'm not saying what you did was 
wrong.  I'm only saying that you aren't a killer by nature, and you're 
having a hard time coming to terms with what you were forced to do."
	"What do you suggest I do to make the dreams go away?", she asked.
	"I really don't know, Sally", said Booksire, "This may just be 
something you have to get through on your own."
	"Thanks Booker", said Sally.
	She got up, and headed for the door.  When she got there, she turned 
and looked at Bookshire.
	"Hey Booker?", she said.
	"Yes?"
	"Do you think I did the right thing?", she asked, "Do you think I 
went to far by killing him?"
	"It's not my place to say, Sally", said Bookshire, "But remember, what 
you did, you did to protect others, not to just harm Vypryn."
	Sally walked out of Bookshire's hut, more confused then when she had 
gone to see him earlier.  She walked down the dirt street of Knothole, 
thinking.  Why couldn't she get Vypryn out of her head?  All in all, she 
really didn't feel that bad for blowing his head off.  If she had it to do 
again, she'd probably have done the same thing.  Her thoughts were 
interupted by a loud yell coming from Sonic's hut.  She ran to investigate.
	She opened the door, and saw Bunnie and Dr. Quack struggling with 
Sonic.  Bunnie was holding him down and Dr. Quack had a needle.
	"Can't you be a little more cooperative, Sonic?", asked Dr. Quack, 
"You're acting like a child."
	"The doc's right, Sugar-hog", said Bunnie, "Ya'll better settle down 
so he can stick you."
	"That makes me feel a lot better, Bunnie", said Sonic, still 
struggling.
	He looked up and saw Sally standing there with a smile on her face.
	"Sal!", said Sonic, "Would you tell the doc here to stop sticking me 
with those needles?!  My mother did not raise me to be a dart board!!"
	The moment of hesitation bought Dr. Quack the time he needed to get 
Sonic's arm still.  He stuck the needle into the arm.
	"YOUCH!!!", yelled Sonic, pulling his arm back.
	"There", he said, putting it away,  "What that so bad?"
	"YES!!!", yelled Sonic.
	"I told you not to tense your muscles up or it would hurt ten times 
worse", said Dr. Quack.
	"OUT!!", yelled Sonic, "BOTH OF YOU!!!"
	"See ya later, Sally-girl", said Bunnie, walking out of the hut.
	"Keep and eye on him", said Dr. Quack, "Don't let him out of that 
bed."
	"Gotcha", said Sally.
	After they left, Sally gave Sonic one of her world famous looks.  He 
pulled the covers up to his eyes when he saw it.
	"What was that all about?", she said, walking over to him.
	"Look at my arm, Sal", said Sonic, showing her his arm, "I've got 
needle marks all over me!"
	"You're afraid of needles, aren't you?", said Sally.
	"I am not!!", said Sonic, loudly.
	"You are too", said Sally, "So admit it."
	"Alright, I admit it!  I'm scared to death of getting shots!"
	"Scoot forward", she said.
	Sonic scooted forward, and Sally sat down behind him and started 
rubbing his shoulders.  Since he just got a shot, his muscles were real 
tight.  His head rolled forward when she started rubbing his shoulders.  
	"That feels great, Sal", he said.
	"At least one of us feels okay", said Sally.
	"Are you still dreaming about Vypryn?", asked Sonic.
	"I don't know why", said Sally, "I'm really not sorry for what I did.  
I know he was a sentient being, but he would have killed everyone in 
Knothole just to get to you."
	"Hey", said Sonic, "He was a creep who was just out-classed, that's 
all."
	Without warning, Sally dug her fingernails right into Sonic's 
shoulders, drawing blood.
	"SAL!!", yelled Sonic, pulling away.
	He grabbed his shoulders, and saw the blood running down his hands.
	"Whadja do that for?!", he said.
	"Do what?", said Sally, looking confused.
	"Whaddya mean, 'do what?'", said Sonic, "This!"
	Sally looked at the wounds on his shoulders, and felt the blood on 
her fingertips.
	"Sonic", she said, "I don't know what happened.  I don't remember 
doing that?"
	Sonic wasn't angry at Sally, he was just shocked at what she had 
done.  After he had calmed down, she left him alone so he could get some 
sleep, and walked out into the forest to the spot where they had buried 
what was left of Vypryn after they burned his body.  The only marker of his 
grave was a pile of freshly dug dirt that didn't have any grass on it.
	What was happening to her?  Why was Vypryn haunting her?  
	"What do you want from me!!", she screamed at the top of her lungs.  
	Her words echoed in the forest for a few moments.  She stopped 
breathing hard, and turned around to head back to Knothole, when everything 
started to spin.  Sally staggered around and grabbed onto the nearest tree 
she could find.  Eventually, it became to much for her, and she passed out.
	She woke up in the same place again, the infinate void of mist and 
darkness.  She heard a voice behind her.
	"There's that question again", said Vypryn, "You know, you're like a 
spoiled little kid who can't wait to open their presents on their birthday."
	"Cut the crap, Vypryn" , said Sally, "I want to know what in the hell 
you want from me!  Why won't you leave me alone?"
	"Because I you have something I want", he said, folding his arms, 
"You stole my body from me, and now I'm going to to take yours!  I've 
already gained control once so far, if even for a moment."
	"It was you who hurt Sonic!", said Sally.
	"Ya know, Princess?", mocked Vypryn, "Nothing gets by you, does it?  
Actually, I'm disapointed that you that you didn't figure this out on your 
own.  I thought you were smarter than that?"
	"I'm smarter than you give me credit for", she sneered.
	"We'll see about that when the time comes", laughed Vypryn.
	Sally opened her eyes, and saw Bunnie standing over her.
	"Are you all right, Sally-Girl?", she asked.
	"I'm fine", she said, "I must have blacked out."
	Bunnie helped Sally to her feet, and walked her back to Knothole.  
Sally never told Bunnie, nor anyone, about her experience.   
	She knew finally what was happening to her.  Vypryn had somehow 
managed to possess her body and was slowly getting stronger.  Sooner or 
later, he would be stong enough to take complete control of her body.  
She knew that there was only one thing she could do.

CHAPTER II
THE BIG GOOD-BYE

	"You're really leaving?", said Tails.
	"Yes, Honey", said Sally, hugging the little fox.
	"When are you coming back?", he asked.
	"I don't know", she said.
	Sally had made her decision the night before, after another nightmare.  
She knew that in the state that she presently was, she was a danger to 
everyone in Knothole.  If Vypryn succeeded in gaining control over her body, 
there was no telling what kind of damage he could do.
	"I wanna go with you, Sal", said Sonic.
	"I know you do, Sonic", said Sally, "But this is just something I 
have to do myself.  Ever since I killed Vypryn, I can't seem to get him out 
of my head.  I thought that maybe some time off as a Freedom Fighter would 
help.  Besides, you're going to be in charge while I'm away."
	"I still don't like it", said Sonic.
	Sally put her forehead up against Sonic's.
	"For me, Sonic", she said, running her hand up the side of his face.
	"You be careful out there, Sally-Girl", said Bunnie.
	"I will Bunnie", said Sally, hugging her.
	"You just get yourself back here in one piece, you hear me?", said 
Bunnie, trying to keep from crying.
	"Don't worry about me, Bunnie", said Sally, "I've been taking care of 
myself for a long time now, and this is no different."
	"Avoir, Moi Prinzess", said Antoine, kissing her hand, "I shall be 
mizzing you in your absence."
	"I'll miss you too, Antoine", said Sally, hugging him.
	She looked over at Rotor, whom she could tell wasn't happy about her 
leaving either.
	"Bye, Rotor", she said.
	"Promise me you'll be careful, Sally", he said, "I don't want this to 
be the last time I ever see you."
	"It won't be", she said, holding his hand, "I promise."
	He pulled something out of his belt and put it in her hand.  She 
looked, and saw that he had given her a plasma pistol!
	"Rotor!", she said loudly, "Where did you get this?"
	"I took it from a SWATbot a few months ago", he said, "I've had it in 
my hut ever since.  But I want you to take it, Sally.  Just in case."
	Sally didn't like the idea of carrying a weapon, and she was a little 
angry at Rotor for putting her in that kind of position, but she knew that 
he was just worried about her.
	"Alright, Rotor", she said.
	She walked over to her hover-bike, lifted the seat up, and stuffed 
the pistol in the compartment.  She hoped she wouldn't see it again until 
she got back.  
	After a few more moments of tearful and emotional good-byes, Sally 
mounted her hover-bike, and left Knothole, unsure when or if she would ever
be able to return.
	After Knothole was out of sight, she throddled up and lifted the bike 
above the trees.  In the distance, she could see the clouded sky over 
Robo-Tropolis.  Even from here, she could smell the stench of the pollution 
caused by Robotnik's factories.  Sally wrinkled her nose, and altered her 
course to take her safely around the city without being detected.  
	She flew on for about two hours without thinking about anything.  She 
hated this.  She hated being away from her friends, especially Sonic.  Even 
so, she knew that it was for their protection.  The last thing she wanted 
was Vypryn taking control of her while they were on a mission, or even 
worse, when she was alone with Tails or someone else that couldn't defend 
themselves.  
	While she was thinking, her eyes wandered over to the rear-view 
mirror, and she saw Vypryn's reflection staring back at her.
	"AAAHHHH!!!", she yelled, jerking the bike to the side.
	The bike started to go into a nose-dive.  Sally quickly stabilized, 
and throddled back up.  The bike lifted over the trees, and stopped shaking.  
Sally looked back in the mirror, and her own reflection looked back at her.
	"Jeez", she said, "What is happening to me?"
	After she calmed down a bit, she veered up into the sky and came into 
view of her destination, the Floating Island.

CHAPTER III
REUNION

	Sally picked a clearing on the edge of the Floating Island to land.  
She throddled down, and the bike set itself down on the grass.  Not more 
than ten yards behind her was the edge of the island.  The island was more 
than three miles up in the air.  Sally dismounted, and looked around.  
There was nothing but silence.  Sally decided to make her presence known.
	"HELLLOOOO!!!", she yelled, "KNUCKLES!!!!!"
	She listened for a moment and only hear her own echoe shout back at 
her.  Unforntunately, that was the last thing sher heard, because she 
passed out right next to her hover-bike after that.
	"Sally", said a voice.
	She opened her eyes, and looked right into the face of Knuckles the 
Echidna.  She smiled when she saw him.
	"Knuckles", she said, hugging him, "I'm so glad to see you."
 	Knuckles was shocked by this.  He had seen Sally several times 
previous to this, and she had never once hugged him.  There was only one 
thing he could think of to say.
	"Glad to see you too, Kiddo", he said, helping her to her feet.
	The real reason Sally had hugged him was because she was relieved she 
didn't wake up in the misty place with Vypryn.
	"So tell me", said Knuckles, "Why did you decide to take trip all the 
way out here and then take a nap right beside your bike?"
	"It's a long story, Knux", she said, "Is there some place we can talk 
about it?"
	"Yeah, sure", said Knuckles.
	Sally tried to walk, but stumbled.  Knuckles caught her, and put her 
arm over his back.
	"Perhaps I should help you", he said, "Please tell me you haven't 
been on the bottle, Sally."
	"No", she said, "I guess I'm still a little weak."
	After they arrived at Knuckles' hut, he sat her down on his couch, 
and began to dig through his cabinates.  
	"Would you like something to eat?", he asked.
	"No", she said, "I just need to talk to you about something."
	Knuckles was a little suprised about Sally's condition.  She seemed 
really weak, and was just not herself.  Granted, he hadn't seen very much 
of her since Robotnik took over.  Before that, she and her father had come 
to the Floating Island every summer.  The two of them had been best friends 
and practically inseperable.  Back then she was just a goofy little 5 year 
old.  He had been a year older than she was, but there were no other 
children on the island at the time and he was tickled to death to have a 
playmate, even if it was just for a few weeks out of the entire year.  
After Robotnik had taken over, they stopped coming.  Knuckles had asked his 
father what happened, but never really got a straight answer.  Over the 
years, the memories of Sally and her visits all but faded from his memories.  
That part of his past returned when Robotnik found his way to the island 
and Sonic the Hedgehog had followed him there.  He had no idea at the time 
that he was Sally's boyfriend.  He had encountered Sally when he chased 
Sonic off the island and the two had a bitter reunion.  Sally had grown up 
quickly because of the war, as had Knuckles.  
	"What is that?", he asked, sitting down.
	Sally told him the story about Vypryn.  How he came to Mobius and 
entered into a contract with Robotnik.  She then told him how Sonic beat 
him again and again.  She even added in the part where she blew his brains 
out.  Knuckles was suprised by this.  This was Sally here.  She used to 
freak out whenever she stepped on a bug.  Most of the time she would take a 
bug outside rather than kill it.  Now here she was saying she had just 
emptied a sentient being's brains all over the street?  This war had not 
been kind to his old friend.
	"You didn't, enjoy it, did you?", asked Knuckles, getting worried.
	"No, Knux", she said, "After I killed him, his eyes met mine and I 
think that's when all the weird stuff started happening.
	"Weird stuff?", asked Knuckles.
	"I started having nightmares where I met Vypryn", she said, "Every 
night."
	"It could just be guilt feelings", said Knuckles.
	"That's what everyone else has been telling me", said Sally, "But I 
know that it's more than that.  You see, Knux, I think Vypryn's spirit has 
possessed me and is getting stronger."
	Knuckles didn't know what to say.  What could he say?  His one time 
best friend had just returned to his home after almost 13 years saying that 
she had just blown somebody's head off and now his spirit was in her body.  
He considered himself pretty open-minded as far as echidnas go, but this 
was a little hard for even him to swallow.  Still, Sally was his friend and 
he had no reason not to believe her.  
	"So what do you need me for?", he asked.
	"Well", she said, "I know that the echidnas were well versed in 
ancient Mobian folklore.  I hoped you might be able to tell me how to get 
rid of him."
	Knuckles sat back in his chair.  He rested his chin on his hand, and 
thought.  He stayed like that for about ten or fifteen minutes.  Then, he 
snapped his fingers.
	"I got it!", he said, "Follow me!"
	He led Sally out of his hut and to a giant tree.  He pulled a branch, 
and the trunk opened up to reveal a hidden staircase.  Sally pulled out her 
flashlight, and they headed down the stairs.  Once they reached their 
destination, Sally looked in awe.  They were in the middle of a great 
library.  She had never in her life seen so many books.  Probably every 
fact about Mobius was down here.  If knowledge really was power, then this 
place must be the most powerful place on the entire planet.  
	"Where is it?", said Knuckles to himself.
	He began digging through the piles and piles of books.  Sally watched 
as he threw dozens of old books to the side, looking for a certain one.
	"Isn't that just so typical?", he said again to himself, "Something's 
always underfoot until you need it, then you can't find it anywhere!"
	Sally chuckled at his complaints.  It was probably the first time in 
a few weeks that she had smiled.  Then, all of a sudden, Knuckles popped 
out of the mountain of literature with an old, dusty book between his 
hands.  
	"I take it that it's been a while since you've read this one", said 
Sally, taking it out of his hands.
	"Not that long" he said, folding his arms.
	She blew on the cover, and probably three pounds of dust flew off of 
it and into Knuckles' face.  He wrinkled his nose and sneezed.  Sally 
looked at him, grinning.
	"Okay, fine!", he said, "I haven't been down here in a few years!"
	He snatched the book out of her hands and opened it.  He started 
flipping through pages.  They were so old that they crinkled when he turned 
them.
	"What book is this, anyway?", Sally asked.
	"The Chronicles of Mobius", he said, "It's a complete record by my 
people of every myth, legend, and folklore from around the planet.  If 
anyone's every been possessed before, it's sure to be in this book."
	"I'm going to have to borrow some of these, sometime", Sally said, 
looking up at the mountain.
	"Sorry", said Knuckles, not looking up from the book, "These books 
can't leave this place."
	"Why?", she asked, "Don't you trust me?"
	"It's not about trusting you, Sally", said Knuckles, looking up 
finally, "Most of these books haven't left this library in several 
centuries.  The light outside would disintegrate them."
	"Oh", said Sally.
	"Bingo!", said Knuckles, "Possession!"
	Sally looked at the page Knuckles was pointing at.  To her dismay, 
it was written in anicent Mobian, not one of her best subjects.
	"Uh, Knux?", she said, "Do you mind reading it to me?"
	"I thought all princesses of the House of Acorn were supposed to be 
fluent in ancient Mobian", mocked the echidna.
	Sally folded her arms, and glared at him.
	"Humor me", she said.
	"Uh, Sally", said Knuckles, "This doesn't look good."
	"What?", she asked.
	"According to this", he continued, "There have been a number of 
recorded possessions on Mobius in the last one thousand years.  
Unfortunately, none of the victims ever successfully removed the foreign 
spirit from their bodies.  They all either went mad and killed themselves 
or were over-come by the other mind."
	"Great", said Sally, sitting down Indian-style on the floor and 
putting her chin in her hands, "Now what do I do?"
	"Hey", said Knuckles, "I never noticed this passage before."
	He flipped a few more pages and read.  His eyes opened wide, and his 
jaw dropped.
	"What is it?", asked Sally.
	"This passage was written by, my father", he said, "Ten years ago.  
That means he wrote it only a few weeks before he died."
	"What does it say?", asked Sally.
	"My father was intrigued by the Chaos Emeralds", said Knuckles, "He 
learned everything he could about the one that keeps this island off the 
ground.  If he wrote anything in this book, it has to have something to do 
with them."
	He read on for about ten more minutes before his dropped jaw turned 
into a huge grin.
	"Bingo", he said, "In his travels before I was born, he traveled to a 
village called 'Remere'.  There he met a badger explorer named Kaylem Blior.  
He had in his possession a green Chaos Emerald.  My father recognized it 
as the Soul Chaos Emerald, one of seven other special Chaos Emeralds.  If 
it does what he wrote it does, then it should remove the invading spirit 
from the body."
	Sally jumped off the ground and wrapped her arms around Knuckles.  He 
could hear her crying tears of joy.  
	"Thank you, Knuckles", she sobbed, "Thank you so much!!"
	"Hey", he said, patting her on the back, "No problem, Kiddo."
	Sally didn't let go, she only squeezed harder.  
	"Um, Sally", he said.
	"Yes?", she said.
	"Could you let go of me, please?", he choked, "You're crushing my 
little wind-pipe."
	She immediately let go of him and fell back to her feet, since he was 
several inches taller than she was, her feet had been dangling in the air.
	"Sorry", she apologized.
	"No prob", he said, "Remere, I know where that is."
	"Do you think this Blior guy will still have the emerald?", asked 
Sally.
	"If not", said Knuckles, "Then he'll know where it is."
	"When do we leave?", asked Sally.
	"Whenever you're ready, Kid", said Knuckles, tossing the book back 
on the table.
	Sally wiped a tear away from her face and grabbed his hand.  She 
tugged him back to her hover-bike.  They mounted, and flew away from the 
island.

CHAPTER IV
EMERGENCE

	Sally and Knuckles had been flying for nearly six hours, and 
Knuckles' seat felt a little too solid under his rear-end.  He didn't ask 
Sally to stop, though.  He knew how badly she wanted to get to Remere.  He 
hadn't considered the fact that they might not find the emerald at all.  In 
that case, Vypryn would remain in Sally forever, and may even grow strong 
enough to gain total control of her body.  Knuckles knew that in that 
state, Sally remained a threat to everyone she was around.  That was 
probably the reason she had left Knothole without telling anyone what was 
really wrong with her.  She didn't want any of them following her and 
putting themselves in potential danger.  If they couldn't get Vypryn out 
of her, then she could just stay on the island with him.  He would teach 
her meditation methods that would keep her mind strong and able to resist 
Vypryn.
	"There it is!", said Sally.
	Knuckles looked, and saw a little village on the edge of a river.  
There were several animals walking around on the streets.  It amazed him 
that this village could remain untouched by the war.  It was probably so 
small that Robotnik had never noticed it.  He knew of several villages like 
that around Mobius.  They were just so small and careful enough not to 
attract attention to themselves.  Then, he saw what he was looking for.
	"Set down right in front of that building", he said.
	Sally throddled down and set the hover-bike down in front of the 
building.  She looked, and saw that it was some type of tavern.  The front 
window was tinted, so she couldn't see what was going on inside.  Knuckles 
got down, and stretched his legs.  Sally started to get down, but Knuckles 
pushed her back on the bike.
	"You wait here", he said, "I don't know what kind of scum is inside 
this place."
	"Knuckles", she objected, "I can take care of myself."
	"I'm sure you can", said Knuckles, "But I'd still feel safer if you 
waited out here for me."
	Sally folded her arms and leaned back on the bike.  She rolled her 
eyes.
	"I saw that", he said.
	"Get in there!", she said.
	Knuckles went through the doors, and saw several animals sitting at 
tables around the establishment.  They were all drinking or playing cards.  
A few of them looked up at him when he walked in.  He paid them no mind, 
and headed for the bar.  A bear was washing glasses up there.  Knuckles 
decided to ask him.
	"Excuse me, Sir", said Knuckles.
	The bear looked up at him.
	"My father liked to be called 'Sir'", he said, "I, personally, have 
never cared much for it.  Name's Chester.  What can I do for you?"
	"I'm looking for information", he said, "I'm looking for someone by 
the name of Kaylem Blior."
	"You won't find him here", said Chester.
	"What do you mean?", asked Knuckles.
	"That wacko left here about 10 years ago with that stupid green rock 
he found in the river", said Chester, "He never came back, and let me tell 
you, it's been so much quieter here without him."
	"Shit!", said Knuckles, "I need to talk to him.  Do you know where he 
went?"
	"Nope", said Chester, "But if you're really that desperate to find 
him, his daughter still lives in his old farmhouse just outside the 
village."
	"Daughter, huh?", said Knuckles.
	While Knuckles was inside, Sally was still leaning against the 
hover-bike.  She must have checked her watch a dozen times since Knuckles 
went inside.
	A group of wolves came up behind her.  
	"Hey, Sweet-Thing!", said the first one.
	She looked, and saw the three of them.  She turned her head back, and 
hoped they would go away if she ignored them.  They didn't.
	"Hey!", said Howl, "I'm talkin' to you!"
	"I know", said Sally, "And as you can see, I'm ignoring you."
	"Ooooo", said Fang, "Are you gonna take that from her, Howl?"
	Howl snarled, and grabbed Sally by the arm.  He pulled her over to 
him, and looked down at her.
	"How's about you and I go get a drink?", he suggested, "Then we can 
go back to my place, and then, who knows?"
	"Sorry", said Sally,  pulling away, "I'm waiting for someone."
	He grabbed her again.
	"That was not a request, Bitch!", he snarled.
	Sally started tugging at his grip.  He wouldn't let go, though.  She 
kicked him in the shin, and he back-handed her across the face.  She 
grabbed the side of her face that Howl had hit.  Her eyes began watering 
from the pain.  He lifted her up to his eye level, dangling her several 
inches off the ground.  
	All of a sudden, Sally began to feel faint.  She felt like she was 
having another black-out.
	"Not now!!", she moaned, before going limp in Howl's arms.
	"Can you believe it?", laughed Howl, "She passed out!"
	Fang and Tooth laughed along with Howl.  
	Sally began to twitch.  She opened her eyes again, but instead of 
being bright blue like they normally were, they were reptillian yellow.  
Vypryn had gained control of  Sally's body.
	"Aw", said Howl, "You awake again, Bitch?  Well, you'll be out cold 
again after I get done with you."
	Vypryn realized that he was restrained, and wasn't happy.  He started 
struggling.
	"I said quit squirming, ya little bitch!", yelled Howl, smacking her 
again.
	Vypryn was enraged by this.  No-one hit him, regardless of whose body 
he happen to be in at the time.
	"I think she's getting mad, Howl", laughed Fang.
	Sally brought her leg back, and kicked Howl right between the legs.  
	"Uuuhhhgg!", he groaned, dropping Sally and falling to his knees.
	Back in the bar, Knuckles was still talking to Chester.  
	"So she lives right outside the village?", he asked.
	"Yeah", said Chester, "She kind of keeps to herself.  It's just her 
and her boyfriend, Rajid, living out there."
	"Boyfriend?", asked Knuckles.
	"He wandered into town about three years ago", said Chester, "He was 
a refugee from some village to the west of here that got destroyed by 
Robotnik.  At first, nobody wanted him here, because they were afraid that 
he would lead Robotnik to us, but he never came, so everybody just forgot 
about it."
	Before Knuckles could say anything, there was a loud smash.  They 
both looked, and saw a wolf fly through the window and land on one of the 
tables, breaking it in half.  
	"What in the?", said Chester.
	Knuckles looked, and saw Sally jump in after the wolf.  She was 
squinting her eyes and had her hands balled into fists.  Knuckles knew 
right away that she had thrown the wolf through the window.  He just 
couldn't figure out how or why.
	"Sally!", he yelled, "What the hell are you doing?"
	Sally acted like she didn't hear him, and kicked the wolf in the 
stomach.  He groaned in pain.  She then picked up a bottle off of the 
floor, and slammed it against another table, breaking it in half.  The end 
she was holding onto was sharp and jagged.  She slashed at Howl with it, 
slicing his arm. Blood splattered all up her arm and on her vest.  It 
didn't even seem phase her.
	"You know that lunatic?", said Chester.
	"I thought I did", said Knuckles.
	"Then stop her before she completely demolishes my place!", he yelled.
	"Uh, right", said Knuckles, jumping onto the bar.  
	He leaped off and glided right into Sally as she was about to slash 
at Howl again.  The two tumbled to the floor.  Sally started struggling 
under Knuckles when they stopped moving.
	"Get off me!!", she snarled.
	"Sally!", said Knuckles, "It's me!  What's wrong....with....you....?"
	He stopped when he looked into her eyes and they were reptillian.  
From what Sally had told him, this "Vypryn" character was some sort of 
snake-creature.  He must have gained control of her body!
	"Sally's not in right now", she chuckled, "But I'll be happy to take 
a message!!!"
	With that, she rammed her head against Knuckles', knocking him off of 
her.  She kicked him in the stomach, and headed back for Howl, who was 
trying to escape through the window.  
	"Goin' somewhere, Lover-Boy?", said Sally, as she pulled him by his 
coat back through and threw him back on the floor.  
	She jumped on top of him, and held his shoulders down.
	"Get away from me!", he yelled, "You're insane!!"
	"Gee", she said, "Just a minute ago you couldn't keep your hands off 
of me.  However, I can respect your opinion.  Sadly, I'm not good at 
rejections.  I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you."
	With that, she dug her teeth into his throat.  He screamed at the top 
of his lungs when she bit down.  Blood started running down onto the floor.  
Sally jerked her head back, taking a hunk of Howl's throat with it.  Blood 
splurted all over Sally, who didn't even appear to notice.  She swallowed 
the piece of flesh that was in her mouth.
	"Mmmmm", she said, licking the blood off her lips, "Tastes like 
chicken."
	She turned, and saw Knuckles fly at her again.  He tackled her and 
knocked her to the ground again.
	"Sally!!", he screamed, "WAKE UP!!!"
	She closed her eyes, trying to escape, but eventually stopped 
struggling.  When she opened them, they were blue again.  Sally looked and 
saw she was covered with blood.  She also noticed the dead wolf that had 
attacked her laying a few feet away from her in a pool of his own blood.
	She started going into shock.  She was breathing real hard and got 
real cold.  Knuckles knew he had to get her out of there before any of the 
townspeople jumped him.  He knew after what she had just done, they would 
probably kill her.
	"I gotta get you outta here!", he said, picking her up.
	He jumped out of the window, and sat Sally on the back of the 
hover-bike.  He started it up, and sped out of the town.  
	"Are you alright?", he asked.
	Sally didn't say anything.  He felt her shivering.  After a few more 
moments of silence, she finally spoke.
	"Do you believe me, now?"
	Knuckles didn't answer.

CHAPTER V
AFTERMATH

	Knuckles was beginning to worry about Sally.  She hadn't said a word 
almost the entire twenty minutes it took them to get to their destination.  
She was still dripping with Howl's blood, and she was probably freezing.  
He had offered her a blanket, but she had refused.
	"There it is", he said, setting the hover-bike down a few yards away 
from the house.  
	He got off the bike, and looked around the area.  It was a small farm 
with a tiny field in the distance, a barn in the other direction, and a red 
ranch house in front of them.  These people were obviously happy with their 
lives and Knuckles hated to disturb them, but right now his friend needed 
help.  He turned and saw Sally get off the bike.  The blood was dripping 
all over the freshly cut grass.  It the evening light made it sparkle.  
	Sally was still slightly in shock, so Knuckles put his arm around her 
and helped her to the front door.  He knocked on the door and a young 
badger girl opened it.  
	"Yes?", she said, "Can I help you?"
	"Uh, hi", said Knuckles, "I was wondering if you could help us.  We 
had a little bit of a mishap back in town."
	The girl's eyes wandered over to Sally, who was dripping with blood.  
Her eyes became as wide as saucers and her jaw dropped. 
	"Oh my!", she said, "You poor thing!  Come right in!"
	Knuckles led Sally inside the house.  Another badger rose from his 
chair when he saw them come in.  
	"What in the world?", he said.
	"What happened?", asked the girl.
	"It's a long story", said Knuckles, "Is there some place she could 
clean herself off?"
	"There's a hose out back", said the girl, "I'll take her."
	She took Sally's hand, and led her out back.  The boy badger looked 
back at Knuckles after they were out of view.
	"Alright", he said, "Now, what is going on?  Who are you two?  Why 
was she covered in blood?"
	"My name is Knuckles", he answered, "That was Princess Sally of the 
House of Acorn."
	"The House of Acorn?", said the badger, "I didn't think there were 
any of them left.  Oh, pardon my rudeness.  My name is Rajid, and that was 
Jenna."
	"Pleased to meet you", said Knuckles, "And as for what happened, 
there was a fight at the tavern in town, and Sally killed someone."
	"Killed someone?", said Rajid.
	"It wasn't her fault", said Knuckles, "You see, Rajid, Sally's been 
possessed by a spirit.  That spirit gained control of her body and caused 
all the devistation."
	"You expect me to believe that?", asked Rajid.
	"You can believe what you want", said Knuckles, "Her problem is the 
reason we're even here.  We're looking for Jenna's father."
	"Then, you're wasting your time here", said Rajid, "Her father hasn't 
been seen in over 10 years.  It's a very touchy subject with her, and I'll 
thank you not to bring it up around her."
	"Not bring what up?", asked Jenna, coming back into the room.
	"I'm looking for your father, Miss Blior", said Knuckles.
	"I haven't seen my father for 10 years", she said, "I don't know 
where he is or where he went."
	"How's Sally?", he asked.
	"She's rinsing the blood off of her", said Jenna, "What happened to 
her?  I didn't see any cuts on her."
	"He said she killed somebody, Jenna", said Rajid.
	"What?", said Jenna.
	"He said that she's been possessed by an evil spirit and that's what 
killed whoever", said Rajid, folding his arms.
	"That's the reason we're here, Miss Blior", said Knuckles, "I need 
your father's emerald.  It may be the only thing that can help her."
	"My father took his emerald with him when he left", said Jenna, "He 
said that he was going to try and return it to it's 'proper place'.  He 
never came back.  Oh, Sally wanted you."
	"Excuse me", he said.
	After he walked out of the room, Rajid looked at Jenna.
	"We have to get rid of them, Jenna", said Rajid, "He must have asked 
Chester about where to find us.  If she killed someone then they're all 
going to come here looking for them.  You know the villagers don't take 
kindly to strangers coming in and killing the locals.  Who knows what that 
girlfrind of his is capable of?  Did you see her?  I don't even want to 
know how she killed someone and got that much of their blood on her.
	"I think he's telling the truth, Rajid", said Jenna.
	Rajid couldn't believe his ears.
	"What!?, he said, "You can't be serious."
	"I talked with her while we were outside, Rajid", she said, "She was 
scared out of her mind.  There is no way she could have done something like 
that."
	He put his hand on the side of her head.
	"I just don't want anything to happen to you, that's all", he said.
	"I know that", she said, "But you're going to have to learn to trust 
people.  I know that it's hard for you since someone you really trusted was 
the one who sold your entire village out to Robotnik.  Who is she, anyway?"
	"He said she's King Acorn's daughter", said Rajid.
	"Princess Sally?", said Jenna, "I met her once before the coup.  We 
were only children then, but I do remember what she looked like."
	"Were you in Mobo-Tropolis?", asked Rajid.
	"Yes", said Jenna, "My father was buying some books on his stupid 
emerald, and Sally and some blue hedgehog ran right into us.  She yelled at 
him and apologized to us.  Then, they ran off."
	"If you say so, Love", said Rajid.
	Outside, Sally had taken her vest and boots off, and was rinsing the 
blood off of her.  Knuckles came out.
	"How are you doing, Sally?", he asked.
	"How do you think I'm doing?", she said, sarcastically, "What did I 
do, Knuckles?"
	"Vypryn gained control of you and you killed that wolf", said 
Knuckles, "You kicked the crap out of me, too."
	"I don't remember anything after passing blacking out and waking up 
covered in blood", said Sally, "You know now that I'm not making this up, 
Knuckles.  Did they say anything useful?"
	"The girl doesn't know where father is", he said.
	"What about the emerald?", said Sally.	
	"Apparently, he took it with him when he left", finished Knuckles.
	"Oh no", said Sally, trying to fight back the tears, "Knuckles, the 
only reason Vypryn was able to emerge was because I got scared and angry at 
that wolf.  If we can't find that emerald, then every time I get scared or 
pissed off, he's going to gain control!"
	"I know meditation methods that would prevent that", said Knuckles, 
"Granted you don't put yourself in situations where that kind of emotional 
response would be inevitable."
	"Knuckles", said Sally, "You know the kind of life I lead.  I can't 
do that.  We're just going to have to find another way."
	"There is no other way, Sally", said Knuckles, "I think you wanted 
this emerald so much that you didn't think this through logically."
	"Excuse me?", said a voice behind them.
	They looked, and saw Jenna standing there.
	"I was just about to fix dinner", she said, "Would you two like to 
join us?"
	Sally and Knuckles looked at each other.
	They all sat around a round table.  Jenna was very intrigued at 
Sally's life.  She wanted to hear all about the Freedom Fighters and their 
struggle for freedom against Robotnik's tyranny.  Rajid said that he didn't 
want to hear about Robotnik, for the fiend had caused him enough pain as it 
was.  Rather than get into a huge debate, Sally decided to get back on task.
	"Jenna", she said, "Are you sure your father didn't leave behind any 
maps or charts of where he was going?  If he was going to plan such a 
venture, I'm certain he would have needed a travel route."
	Jenna sat back and thought about what Sally had said.  All of a 
sudden, her eyes opened wide, and she stood up.
	"I'll be right back!", she said, rushing off.	
	She ran outside to a shed behind the house.  They heard a lot of 
noise, like she was throwing things around in there.  A few moments later, 
she came back with her arms loaded with papers.  She told Sally to clear 
the table off, which she did.  The two of them began going through her 
father's old charts.  Since Jenna never understood any of them, they never 
meant anything to her and she had just piled them up in the shed and forgot 
about them.  Sally, on the other hand, could read them.  She found them to 
be maps and records of possible Chaos Emerald Temples.  There were seven 
emeralds altogether, but Jenna's father had only verified the existence of 
one temple.  
	While the two girls were inside, going over the maps, Knuckles and 
Rajid went outside.  They were sitting out in front of the house, talking 
about Mobius before Robotnik.  Rijid was amazed by Knuckles' Floating 
Island.
	"A single Chaos Emerald holds the island up?", asked Rajid.
	"Yes", said Knuckles, "I lived there in peace for many years.  Then 
Robotnik found the island.  Since I'd been on the island the entire war, I 
had no idea who he was.  He convinced me that Sonic the Hedgehog was the 
bad guy.  While I fought with him, Robotnik tried to steal my Chaos Emerald.  
Luckily, the hedgehog knocked some sense into me and we beat Robotnik 
together."
	"Sounds interesting", said Rajid.
	"So tell me", said Knuckles, "How'd you end up here?  From what I 
gather, you've had a run-in with Robotnik before."
	"Yeah", said Rajid, "I used to live in a village about three days 
from here.  The name isn't important, since it doesn't exist anymore.  We 
maintained a low profile and Robotnik never noticed us.  Then, one of my 
best friends sold the entire village out to Robotnik.  Everyone in the 
village was captured and roboticized.  I was out in the woods the day it 
happened.  I watched it all from the bushes."
	"What happened to your friend?", asked Knuckles.
	"Robotnik double-crossed him and roboticized him too", said Rajid.
	"Hmph", said Knuckles, "If you can't trust a sadistic doctor, then 
whom can you trust?"
	Rajid laughed, and looked into the distance.  He stopped laughing, 
and stood up.  Knuckles looked as well, and saw half the town heading their 
way with torches and weapons.  It was an honest-to-goodness angry mob.

CHAPTER VI
THE ESCAPE

	"Get inside!", said Rajid, "JENNA!!!"
	Jenna came to the door and gasped when she saw what was happening.
	"Knuckles", said Rajid, "You and Sally go hide in the bedroom.  We'll 
tell them we haven't seen you."
	Knuckles reluctantly took Sally and went back to the bedroom.  He 
stood right by the door-way, so he could hear what was happening.
	The mob reached the front porch.  Jenna and Rajid were waiting for 
them.  Fang, carrying a torch, walked up to them.
	"Alright, Rajid!", he said, "Where are they?"
	"Who?", asked Rajid.
	"The two strangers who killed Howl!", he yelled, "Chester told us 
they were looking for you and Jenna, and when they flew out of town, they 
headed this way.  Now, where are they!?"
	"Oh, them", said Rajid, "They came looking for Jenna's father, and we 
said that we couldn't help them, so they left about three hours ago.  I 
think they headed that way."
	"Hey Fang!!", yelled one of the villagers.
	Fang looked, as a beaver came out from behind the house.
	"Their hover-bike is in the back, with a tarp over it."
	Fang looked back at Rajid and Jenna, who knew they'd been found out.  
Fang motioned, and several of the villagers grabbed the two and pulled them 
out onto the grass.  Fang punched Rajid in the face.
	"You tell me where they are right now, or I'll burn your little farm 
right to the ground!", he snarled.
	"Go to hell!", said Rajid, and spit in Fang's face, "I won't be 
bullied by you, or anyone!"
	"I knew he was gonna be nothing but trouble from the day he hauled 
his worthless butt into town!", said Tooth.
	Knuckles couldn't stand it any longer.
	"Sally", he said, "Get under the bed, now."
	"But, Knux", she said.
	"Do it!", he said, "And above all, stay calm!"
	Sally crawled under the bed, and Knuckles ran to the front door.  He 
leaped out, and tackled Fang.  The two wrestled around on the ground for a 
few minutes, before three other villagers pulled him off of Fang.  The wolf 
got up, and looked right into Knuckles' eyes.
	"You and your girlie-friend made a big mistake coming here and 
starting trouble", he said.
	Knuckles just glared back at him.  Fang punched the echidna in the 
stomach, and looked at the others.
	"If he's in there, the bitch who killed Howl must be, too!  Maxie, 
Tyrel, go get her!  Tear the place apart until you find her!"
	A pig and a racoon ran into the house.  They started throwing things 
around, looking for Sally.  Jenna heard some things break, and tears came 
to her eyes.  They were destroying her home!  She tried to move, but 
several other villagers had her pinned as well.
	Sally heard the two ransacking the house looking for her, but she 
stayed quiet.  She felt her heart start pounding when she saw two pairs of 
feet walk into the room.  They started pulling things off of shelves and 
throwing things out of the closet.  Then, Sally saw their feet turn to face 
the bed she was laying under.
	"Hey, Tyrel!", said Maxie, "Let's flip the bed over."
	Sally was breathing very hard now.  She knew that she couldn't fight 
off both of them.  She started hyperventilating, and then started to get 
dizzy.
	"NO!", she said to herself.
	With that, she passed out.  Seconds later, she opened her reptillian 
yellow eyes.
	"Here", said Tyrel, "Grab that end."
	The two lifted the bed up, and threw it against the window, 
shattering it.  Several pieces of glass fell near Sally, who was huddled in 
a little ball.  They didn't notice her pull a long piece of broken glass 
under her.
	"There she is!", said Tyrel, moving near her, "Alright, Girlie, Fang 
wants to see you.  C'mon, get up!"
	She didn't move.  The pig got annoyed, and walked up to her.  When he 
got close enough, Sally rolled over, and slashed his throat with the piece 
of glass.  A waterfall of blood ran down Tryel's chest, and he fell over, 
choking on his blood.  A few seconds of spasms, and he went limp.  
	"Tyrel!", yelled Maxie.
	Sally got up, and before Maxie could react, she cut his throat too.  
He fell to the ground and died the same way Tyrel had.  Sally stood for a 
moment, to admire her handiwork.  She looked at the blade, which was 
dripping with blood.  She licked it, and giggled.  
	"Let's see if we can find some more, hee hee hee."
	All of a sudden, she smelt something burning.  She looked, and saw 
that one of the idiots she just killed had dropped his torch onto the bed, 
which was now ablaze.
	"Crap", she said, "It's always something, isn't it?"
	Sally picked up a chair, and threw it through the window.  She then 
jumped after it.  She did a flip and landed behind the house.  She looked, 
and saw a frog checking out the hover-bike.  She sneaked up behind him, and 
buried the piece of glass in the back of his skull.  He fell over the seat,
and went limp.  Sally wiped her bloody hands on his shirt, and kicked the 
body off of the bike.  She lifted the seat up, and pulled the plasma pistol 
that Rotor had given her out.  She cocked it, and strolled to the front of 
the house to see what other fun things she could find to do.
	Out front, Knuckles was struggling with Tooth.  Two other villagers 
were holding his arms, and Tooth was punching him in the stomach.  He 
already had the wind knocked out of him and was having trouble breathing.  
He didn't know how long it would be before he passed out.
	"Now, take this, you stupid little prick!", yelled Tooth.
	He pulled his fist back, to punch again.  Knuckles closed his eyes, 
trying to mentally ready himself for the blow.  All of sudden, he heard a 
loud "ZAP".  He opened his eyes, and saw smoke rising from Tooth's back.  
He dropped to his knees, and fell flat on his face.  Knuckles saw the huge 
blaster wound in his back.  He looked up, and saw Sally standing there with 
a plasma pistol.  
	"Sally!", he yelled, not realizing that Vypryn was in control, "Help!"
	The corner of her mouth smiled, and she fired again.  
	"WHOA!!", yelled Knuckles, ducking.
	The blast sizzled past him, frying one of his dreadlocks.  He 
realized then that Vypryn must be in control again.  The bad thing was 
that there were a whole bunch of innocent people here that were going to 
get killed if he didn't do something.
	Sally was having a grand time shooting at all the villagers.  None of 
them had brought anything more than torches.  They weren't expecting anyone 
to have a plasma weapon.  They were all running and screaming as she shot 
one, then another, and another.  She was laughing pretty hard by now.  
	"That's right!", she laughed, "Run, you weak pathetic nothings!"
	She looked to her right, and saw Jenna and Rajid laying on the 
ground.  Killing them would be the ultimate insult.  She walked up to them 
casually, and looked at the both of them. Jenna saw her.
	"Sally!", she said, "Help us!"
	"It would be my pleasure", she said, raising the pistol.	
	"W-W-What are you doing?", she said.
	Sally just smiled, as she cocked the pistol.  It's laser sight 
appeared right on Jenna's forehead.  She started shaking from fear.  What 
was Sally doing?  Just a few moments ago they'd been jabbering on like 
they'd been friends their whole lives, and now she was aiming a plasma 
pistol at her, ready to kill her.  What the hell was going on!!?
	For some reason, Sally's arm jerked  just as she fired, and she hit 
Jenna right on her right shoulder.  
	"AAHHHH!!!", screamed Jenna.
	Sally fell to her knees, trying to aim the gun back at Jenna with one 
arm, and pushing it away with the other one.  Sally eventually aimed the 
gun at her chest, flipped it on stun mode, and fired.
	"Uhhhhh", she said, and fell to the ground.
	Both Jenna and Rajid were awe-struck.  They had no idea what had just 
happened.  
	Meanwhile, Knuckles was fighting off Fang, when he saw Sally shoot 
herself.  He knew that they had to get out of here, quick.  Fang, on the 
other hand, wasn't going to let him go so easily.
	"I'm gonna kill you", said Fang, punching Knuckles in the stomach.
	"Dream on, Jerk!", yelled Knuckles.
	He slammed his fist right into Fang's chin, knocking the wolf off of 
him.  He staggered to his feet, and rushed over to Sally, who was out cold.  
He saw the pistol laying by her hand.  He had no idea where she got it, but 
he wasn't taking it with him. Knuckles kicked it away, and picked Sally up.            
He saw Jenna and Rajid on the ground a few feet away from him.  He didn't
notice Rajid pick the pistol up and put it in his pocket.
	"C'mon!", he said, "We've got to get out of here!"
	Rajid agreed.  He helped Jenna to her feet, and they all ran around 
the burning house to the hover-bike.  Jenna cringed when she saw the dead 
body back there.  Knuckles tried not to pay it any mind as he handed Sally 
to Rajid, and started the hover-bike.  They all crammed onto the seat, and 
Knuckles gave it some gas.  
	The bike sped away from the house.  Jenna looked back, and saw the 
house she had spent her entire life in, burn to the ground.  Tears filled 
her eyes, and she wept silently.  Rajid had hoped he had left his violent 
life behind, but tonight showed him that he could never escape violence.
	Back at the massacre, Fang stood up.  He looked around at the dead 
bodies everywhere.  He also saw his friend, Tooth, among the dead.  He had 
lost two of his best friends to the same person today, and that person 
would pay with her life.  He let loose a howl so loud that the entire 
valley heard it.
	
CHAPTER VII
THE QUEST

	Several hours later, Knuckles set the hover-bike down beside a lake 
enclosed by a bunch of trees.  Sally had woken up an hour or two before.  
She had said nothing.  Once Knuckles stopped the bike, she simply got off, 
and walked to the side of the lake.  Knuckles started to go after her, when 
Rajid grabbed his arm.
	"You mind telling us what the hell happened back there?", he said, 
"That friend of yours killed half the village back there and shot Jenna!  
Now she's acting like she doesn't even remember doing it!"
	Knuckles yanked his arm back, and looked Rajid right in the eye.
	"I told you before", said Knuckles, "She has the spirit of a murderer 
inside her body, and he's growing stronger.  She managed to stop him before 
he blew your girlfriend's brains all over the ground.  You ought to thank 
her for that."
	"This is all your fault", said Rajid, "If you two hadn't come to 
Remere, none of this would've happened.
	"Look", said Knuckles, "I'm sorry about all of this.  If I could 
change it, I would, but I can't.  Blaming me isn't going to make it any 
better, either."
	With that, Knuckles turned, and walked over to where Sally was 
standing.  He looked, and saw her eyes were full of tears.
	"Are you alright?", he asked.
	"No!", she said, loudly, "I'm not.  It happened again.  I don't think 
I can handle this, Knuckles.  I don't think I'm strong enough to resist him 
for much longer."
	"Yes you are, Sally Acorn", said Knuckles, taking her hand, "You are 
one of the strongest people I've ever known.  If anyone can beat this 
thing, you can."
	"I'm just so scared, Knuckles", she said, "When he takes over, I have 
absolutely no control.  I can't even see what's going on.  I just black out 
until he retreats again.  I know that one of these times, he won't retreat 
and my body will be his."
	"I think you better relax", said Knuckles, "Sit down, and cross your 
legs."
	She did as he said, and he put her hands on her knees.
	"Now", he said, "Close your eyes, and clear your mind."
	Sally did, and began meditating.  
	Rajid watched Sally meditate.  He mumbled to himself in a low tone,
	"We're all gonna die."
	Sally opened her eyes, and found herself deep within her own mind.  
She was back in the darkness with the smoke and mist, but for som reason, 
it didn't seem so frightening to her.  Was it because she had come here on 
her own rather than Vypryn pulling her here?  She decided it was time to 
have a word with her "guest".
	"VYPRYN!!!", she yelled into the darkness.
	For a moment, all Sally heard was her own voice in the darkness.  
Then, the mist started to swirl, and formed the shape of Vypryn.  He opened 
his eyes, and grinned at her.
	"Thank yo for letting me out back there, Princess", he chuckled, "It 
was most, exhilarating."
	"I want you out of my body, and I want you out NOW!!!", screamed 
Sally, "Those people back there didn't deserve to die!!"
	"What about the one who attacked 'us'?", asked Vypryn, "He above all 
deserved his fate."
	"Who made you judge, jury, and executioner?", said Sally, "You're a 
murderer, Vypryn, and I want no part of you!"
	"Awwwww", whined Vypryn, "And I thought we made such a cute couple, 
hee hee hee."
	"Shut up!", yelled Sally, "I know how you escape.  If I just keep my 
emotions under control, you're stuck right here."
	"You really think you can keep a cool head for the rest of your 
life?", asked Vypryn, "Maybe if you became a nun, but you know, Sally?  I 
just don't think that's your style."
	"Once I find the Soul Emerald", said Sally, "You won't be laughing 
for long."
	"WRONG!!!", yelled Vypryn, "You're bound to slip up sooner or later, 
Bitch!!  When you do, I'm going to take control of that cute little body of 
yours.  Even now, I'm strong enough to stay in control indefinately.  If I 
kill your three friends out there, no one will ever know of my existence.  
That means I can kill Robotnik with the help of your Freedom Fighters, then 
get rid of them when they're no longer useful.  Then, the Acorns will rule 
Mobius once again, and no one will be the wiser."
	"I'll stop you before you can do any of that, Vypryn", said Sally, 
"Count on it."
	Vypryn smiled, and held up his six fingers.
	"I'm counting", he chuckled.
	Sally closed her eyes, and willed herself back to her body.  She 
awoke, and saw that Jenna and Knuckles were sleeping by the fire, but Rajid 
was still sitting up.  She got to her feet, and walked over to him.  He 
glared at her when she approached.
	"Are you insane or something?", he asked, "One minute you're acting 
like the nicest person in the world, and the next, you're slaughtering 
people."
	"How many times do I have to tell you the same story, Rajid?", she 
asked, sitting down, "I have the spirit of a killer inside me, fighting to 
gain total control of my body.  Whenever I get frightened, he can break 
loose.  I black out until he receeds.  I don't remember anything about what 
happened in Remere after they found me in your room.  I hate this just as 
much as you do, Rajid, and I don't blame you for being scared of me.  Hell, 
I'm afraid of me too!  That's why I need to find the Soul Emerald.  It will 
cure me of this.  Right now, I'm the most dangerous creature on the face of 
Mobius.  Robotnik doesn't even come close."
	"Fine", said Rajid, "We'll find your emerald.  Then, we'll see if 
you're telling the truth or not."
	"Agreed", said Sally.
	When morning broke, Sally and Rajid were still sitting up.  Knuckles 
was the first to wake up.  He saw the two just sitting there, glaring at 
each other.
	"What exactly are you two doing?", he asked.
	"I don't trust her", said Rajid, "And I wasn't about to fall asleep 
like you two did, and have her kill us all."
	Sally sighed very loudly, got up and streteched.  After cracking 
several of her bones, she looked over at Knuckles.
	"When Jenna wakes up", she said, "We go."
	"Where?", asked Knuckles, "The maps got burned in the house."
	"I remember where the coordinates are", said Sally, "Out in the Great 
Unknown."
	"That's just swell", said Rajid, "Let's go out there, that way she 
can kill us and no one will ever find our bodies."
	Knuckles got right up in Rajid's face.  The two were eye to eye.
	"If you don't shut up", said Knuckles, "I'm going to knock you all 
the way back to Remere!!"
	"Quiet, both of you!", yelled Jenna, standing up, "I'm sick of your 
fighting!  Rajid, Sally needs our help and we're going to give it to her.  
Do you understand?"
	Rajid grunted, and looked at Jenna.
	"Fine", he said, "But I won't be turning my back on her."
	After Knuckles caught several fish out of the pond, they had a hearty 
breakfast.  After they were all pleasantly stuffed, they took off on the 
hover-bike.  Their destination, the Great Unknown.

CHAPTER VIII
PAST REVEALED

	The Great Unknown was the largest land mass on Mobius.  Since it 
consisted of mostly desert and moutain ranges, it was relatively uncharted.  
Only about 5% of it was mapped out.  Before the coup, King Acorn was 
gathering Mobius' finest map makers to go out and chart the entire region.  
Unfortunately, Robotnik had taken over before any results were produced.  
Robotnik wasn't exactly into charting new territory.  The Great Unknow had 
almost no natural resources for him to plunder, so he had pretty much 
stayed away from it.  
	The hover-bike shot through the desert at about 60 mph.  They had 
been riding for about half the day.  Knuckles had filled several pouches 
full of water from the lake, since there were no rivers, lakes, other water 
sources.  They had had to stop several times to keep the hover-bike from 
over-heating, since the temperature was reaching in the high 90's.
	"There's the mountain!", pointed Sally.
	She was pointing at a huge mountain tha rose high into the blue 
Mobian sky.  Built right into the mountain was a huge door, with two stone 
gargoyles standing guard.  
	They all dismounted, and walked up to the door.  There was ancient 
Mobian writing on it, but the sun and age had deteriorated it to a point 
that it was unreadable.  
	"We'll never get this door open", said Rajid.
	"Wanna bet?", said Knuckles.
	He slammed both of his fists into the door, and they crumbled into 
dust.  
	"I eat ancient doors for breakfast", said Knuckles.
	Sally pulled a flash-light out of the hover-bikes leather bags on the 
sides.  She turned it on, and the four ventured into the cave.  
	"I don't like it in here", said Jenna, clutching onto Rajid's arm, "I 
feel like we're being followed."
	"Relax", said Knuckles, "No one's been in this cave probably for 
centuries.  You saw how old that door was."
	"I'm still nervous", said Jenna.
	"Look!", said Sally, wiping some dust off of a wall, "This is still 
legible!"
	Knuckles, being the only one who could read ancient Mobian, looked at 
the writing.  
	"It tells about the origin of the Chaos Emeralds!", he said.
	"What does it say?", asked Sally.
	"It says that one thousand years ago", he began, "The over-landers 
ruled Mobius.  The planet was called something else back then, but I can't 
make out what the word is."
	"Go on", said Sally.
	"Anyway", said Knuckles, "One thousand years ago, a crystal meteorite 
crashed on the planet.  Upon impact, it shattered into thousands of pieces.  
The meteor was made of some magical substance.  Each shard had a piece of 
that power.  The over-landers began fighting over control of these pieces.  
They waged huge wars against each other.  Eventually, they were all 
destroyed.  Only a handful of their race still exist.  From what I can tell, 
Robotnik and Snively are of that race."
	"So humans dominated Mobius long ago", said Sally, "Amazing."
	"After they destroyed themselves", said Knuckles, "The ones that did 
remain learned from the others' mistakes, and built these temples to guard 
the newly named Chaos Emeralds.  They were named that, because, despite 
their awsome powers, they seemed to bring nothing but chaos.  Without human 
interferance, other races evolved into intelligent species, namely, us."
	"That's amazing", said Sally, "This one wall shows how most life on 
Mobius began."
	"Uh, guys?", said Rajid.
	They both turned their heads, and saw the two stone gargoyles 
standing there, eyes glowing dark green.
	"I think we are in trouble", said Sally, backing up against the wall.
	"That", said a dark voice from behind them, "You are."
	They looked, and saw a figure in a tattered old cloak standing on an 
altar a few yards away from them. 
	"Who are you?", said Sally.
	He pulled his hood down, and Jenna gasped.
	"Daddy?", she said.

CHAPTER IX
THE SACRIFICE

	They all stood in awe, as Kaylem Blior lowered his tattered hood.  
Time had not been kind to the old badger.  He was only 45, but he looked 
twice that age.  There was also an emptiness in his eyes that Jenna had 
never seen before.
	"Is that you?", she said.
	"I am the guardian of the Soul Emerald", he said, coldly, "You have 
trespassed into its sacred temple.  The sentence is death."
	"Daddy!", said Jenna, "Don't you recognize me?  It's me, Jenna, your 
daughter."
	Kaylem acted as though he didn't even hear her.  He sent some unseen 
signal to the gargoyles, and they reacted by grabbing the four.  They were 
all lifted up in the air, and carried into another chamber.  The new 
chamber was magnificant.  A perfect shrine had been carved out of the 
inside of the mountain.  There was a huge altar in the back of the temple, 
and the Soul Emerald was sitting in a stone statue's hand, glowing green.
	"Look", said Sally, "There's the emerald!"
	"Why doesn't my father know me?", said Jenna, confused.
	"The power of the emerald must have possessed him", said Knuckles, 
"It must have made him forget his former existance and made him live only 
to guard the emerald against thieves."
	"We'd better do something", said Sally, "And quick, before he 
executes us."
	Kaylem walked up the several steps to the altar.  He turned, and 
raised his hands into the air.  
	"Let this be a lesson to you all", he said, "No one will ever remove 
this emerald from its resting place again.  The penalty for such an attempt,
is death."
	"We don't want to steal it", said Sally, "We just want to use it for 
a minute.  Then, we'll leave and you can have it."
	"The emerald can only be used by the gods of chaos!", yelled Kaylem, 
"And they are whom you will be sacrificed to.  Bring her forward!"
	The gargoyle that was holding Sally and Jenna lumbered forward.  It 
dropped Jenna on the ground, and put its foot on top of her to keep her 
from running away, and then proceeded to tie Sally to the altar.  Once it 
had finished its task, it lifted Jenna back up, and rejoined its twin.
	"Now", said Kaylem, pulling a huge sword out from a holster on the 
wall, "The gods will receive their tribute!"
	"SALLY!!!", yelled Knuckles, trying desperately to break loose.
	Kaylem raised the sword above his head, and began chanting something 
in Ancient Mobian.  Sally felt the sweat start pouring down her head and 
wetting her hair.  
	"Oh no", she whispered to herself, "Calm down, Sally-Girl.  Just calm
down."
	But it was too late.  Her eyes morphed from blue to reptiallian.
	"Crap!", said Knuckles, realizing the change, "We have to get loose."
	The other two started struggling too, but the gargoyles were just too 
strong.  Kaylem finished his chant, and looked down at Sally.
	What none of them knew, was that when Vypryn gained control of 
Sally's body, massive amounts of adrenaline began to run unchecked through 
her veins.  That gave her augmented strength.  With this knowledge, Sally 
managed to snap the ropes that binded her, and get her hands free just as 
Kaylem swung the sword down at her.
	Sally clapped her hands together, and caught the blade on the flat 
ends.  It stopped inches away from her throat.  
	"This cannont be!", yelled Kaylem in disbelief.
	"Sure it can!", laughed Sally.
	She jabbed the sword back at Kaylem, and the handle of it struck him 
right in the face.  He slammed against the wall, and slid down it.  Sally 
got off of the table, and grabbed the sword by the handle.  She looked over 
at the other three.
	"Ooooo", she laughed, "What a predicament!  You know what?  I think 
I'll just shatter this stupid emerald.  I'm powerful enough now that Sally 
can't resurface unless I allow it.  Besides, I think letting the bunch of 
you watch as her only chance is shattered before you is cruel enough."
	Sally lifted the sword above her head, and swung.
	The sword clanged against the emerald, and shook violently from the 
shock.  Sally struggled to stop it.  She didn't notice that the gargoyles 
shivered when that happened.
	"What's happening?", said Rajid.
	"The emerald", said Knuckles, "Kaylem must have used it to bring 
these rock-heads to life.  They just might let go if Sally hits that 
emerald enough."
	"Won't she shatter it?", said Jenna.
	"No", chuckled Knuckles, "Chaos Emeralds are indestructable.  The 
worst she'll do is tire herself out."
	"Oh", she said, "Not going to break, eh?"
	She hit it several more times, and didn't leave a mark on it any of 
the times.  Everytime she did, the gargoyles' grip loosened just a bit.  The 
last time, however, she snapped the sword blade in two.  Enraged, she threw 
the piece she had in her hand on the floor, and stomped it.   
	"Well", said Sally, "I guess I can just leave you here and let him 
take care of you when he wakes up."
	She looked over at the emerald.
	"Stupid rock", she said, hitting it.
	Sally walked up to Rajid, and shoved her hand into his shirt, pulling
out the plasma pistol.
	"Thanks for holding onto this for me, Sucker!", she cackled.
	After that, she ran out of the chamber and back outside the cave, 
where she mounted the hover-bike and took off.  
	Back in the cave, Knuckles was pleased.  When Sally hit the emerald 
the last time, the gargoyle holding him released its grip enough for him to 
get his arms free.  He slapped his fists together.
	"Let's rock!!", he said.
	He slammed his fists into the gargoyle's hand, turning them to dust.  
The creature moaned with pain as he fell to the floor.  It started to back 
away.
	"Oh no you don't!", he yelled, spinning his arms so fast that they 
looked like Sonic's feet when he was running.
	He ran through the gargoyle's legs, and the torso fell to the ground, 
and shattered as well.  Rajid lifted himself up, covered with dust.
	"Thanks a lump, Knux", he said.
	"Hey", said Kuckles, "You're loose.  Does nothing please you?"
	They both looked, and saw the second gargoyle standing next to 
Kaylem, who was rubbing the sore spot on his head.
	"Kill her!", he ordered the gargoyle.
	"Jenna!", yelled, Rajid, "NO!!!"
	Knuckles knew that he couldn't run fast enough to get to Jenna before 
the beast crushed her.  He improvised by slamming his fist against the 
wall, and the giant stalagmite over the gargoyle broke off, and crashed 
right into him.  When the dust settled, Jenna was still in the gargoyle's 
hand, but the arm and hand were all that remained of the beast.  
	"Jenna!", yelled Rajid, running to her and hugging her, "I thought I 
was going to lose you."
	She hugged him back, "You'll never lose me."
	"YOU FOOLS!!!", thundered Kaylem, holding his broken sword, "You dare 
defy the gods of chaos?  They will destroy you all!!"
	Somebody tapped him on the shoulder.  He turned, and saw Knuckles 
standing there.
	"Shut up!", said Knuckles.
	The next thing Kaylem saw was a huge spiked fist slamming into his 
face, and then, darkness.  The old man slumped to the floor again.  Only 
this time, he wasn't going to wake up for some time.  
	"Daddy!", said Jenna, running to her father.
	"We've got to get him out of here", said Rajid, "This place is 
probably what's doing this to him."
	"We've also got to catch Sally", said Knuckles.
	"What are you talking about?", said Rajid, "We don't even know where 
she went."
	"I do", said Knuckles, picking up the Soul Emerald and shoving into 
a pouch on Rajid's belt, "Come on."
	
CHAPTER X
HOMECOMING

	Sally flew through the Great Forest as fast as the hover-bike would 
take her.  She was very impatient.  She wanted to get to Knothole Village 
and burn it to the ground.  After she spit on its ashes, she would turn her 
attention to Robotnik.  If all went as she planned, she would be ruler of 
Mobius by the end of the day.  She stepped on the accelerator, and the bike 
shot ahead even faster.
	"Hello", she said to herself, "What have we here?"
	Up ahead, there was a Freedom Fighter waving at her.  It appeared to 
be a bird of some kind.  It was no one important, she knew that.  
	"Ah", she said, smiling, "No one's going to miss him."
	She veered the bike off course, and right into the then stunned 
Freedom Fighter.  There was a loud 'THUMP' as the hover-bike slammed into 
him at well over 80 mph.  The Freedom Fighter's broken body was thrown into 
the foliage, where Sally doubted it would ever be found.  There was also a 
huge blood stain on the front of the bike.  No matter.  Knothole was in 
view now.
	Sally slowed to a halt in the middle of the street.  Her mouth hung 
open.  There were so many damned huts here, how was she ever to find the 
one Sonic was in?  
	"Shit!", she said out loud.
	While Sally was staring at the huts, Tails, who was playing hockey, 
saw her.  He ran over to meet her.
	"Sally!", he said, hugging her, "You're back!!"
	Vypryn remembered the little two-tailed fox.  He probably knew where
teh hedgehog was as well.  Showing no signs of kindness, Vypryn demanded to 
know where Sonic's hut was.
	"What?", said Tails, "That's funny, Sally, hee hee hee."
	Sally was very annoyed now.  She had no time for this foolishness.  
She grabbed Tails by his neck and lifted him off the ground so they were 
eye to eye.
	"Sally-ugh-what are you-gag-doing?", he choked.
	"Tell me where that infernal hedgehog is", she hissed, "Or I will 
kill you right here!"
	Something metal grabbed Sally's hand and squeezed it so hard that she 
had to let go of Tails.  He thumped to the ground, and rolled away.  
	Sally glared right into the eyes of Bunnie Rabbot.
	"Would ya mind tellin' me what in the hoo-haw ya think yer doin'?", 
she said.
	Sally didn't answer.  Instead, she did a foot sweep, and knocked 
Bunnie off of her feet.  She then rolled back and picked up Tails' hockey 
stick.  Bunnie got back to her feet, and dropped into her fighting stance.  
She didn't know what was wrong with Sally, but she did know that it wasn't 
anything good.
	Sally started spinning the hockey stick around her body with great 
skill.  She did this for a few moments, and then stopped, with the hockey 
stick pointed right at Bunnie.
	"Alright, Cyber-Bitch", she snarled, "Let's cha-cha."
	Bunnie realized then that this wasn't Sally.  Ever since she had come 
back from Robo-Tropolis half roboticized as a child, Sally had always stood 
up for her when others made fun of her limbs.  Sally would never say 
something like that to her.  Armed with this knowledge, she decided to beat 
this imposter into the ground.  She balled both of her fists up, and 
charged at Sally.
	"AHHHHH!!!", she yelled, runnning at Sally.
	Sally twisted, and Bunnie's robotic fist went right by her.  Sally 
jabbed with her elbow, and rammed it right into the back of Bunnie's skull.
	"Ugh!", grunted Bunnie, staggering forward, rubbing her head.
	She looked back at Sally, who was still grinning maliciously.  	
	"Can't you do any better than that?", said Sally.
	Bunnie gritted her teeth, and charged at Sally again.  She chopped at 
Sally, who blocked it with the hockey stick.  
	"Come on, you metallic automoton!", yelled Sally.
	Bunnie reacted by punching Sally in the gut with her normal hand.  
	"Ooof!", grunted Sally, stepping back, trying to breathe.
	Bunnie didn't wait for Sally to recover, instead, she pressed on the 
attack.  She stepped towards Sally, who lifted the hockey stick up in a 
blocking defense.  Bunnie raised her right foot up in the air, and brought 
it down right on the hockey stick, snapping it in half.
	"What the?", said Sally, looking at the stick.
	Bunnie grabbed Sally by the vest, and slammed her head into Sally's.
	"Ahhhh!!", yelled Sally, falling onto her back.
	Bunnie lunged at Sally again.  
	"Uh oh", said Sally, knowing she had to think fast.
	When Bunnie got close enough, Sally grabbed her shoulders, rammed her 
foot into her stomach, and flipped her over.  Bunnie landed flat on her 
back, several feet away.  Both of them just laid there for a few moments 
before they got up.  Slowly, they both rose.  
	"Is that all you've got?", said Sally.	
	Several people had already gathered around to watch the fight, none 
of them having any idea as to what was going on.  Bunnie nor Sally paid any 
attention to their audience.  They both just glared at each other.  All of 
a sudden, a voice came from the background.
	"Hey!", yelled Sonic, limping to the front of the crowd, "What's 
goin' on out here!  How am I supposed to sleep with all this noise?"
	He stopped when he saw Bunne and Sally facing each other, both of 
them bleeding and covered with bruises.
	"Hey!", he said, "What's goin' on here?"
	"Ah just came out here and Sally was stranglin' the life outta poor 
Tails", said Bunnie.
	Sonic looked over, and saw Tails, still gagging.  He didn't notice 
Sally's eyes glaring at him.
	"Hedghog", she said, quietly.
	She stood there for a few more moments, just gazing at the hedgehog.  
Then, it was as if something just snapped.  She gritted her teeth, and 
screamed louder than anyone in Knothole had ever heard Sally scream.
	"HEDGEHOG!!!!!", she screamed at the top of her lungs.
	She lunged at Sonic for all she was worth.  Sonic, too shocked to 
move, just stood there as Sally ran right at him.  Sally did a flip in the 
air and slammed both of her feet into Sonic's chest.  The injured hedgehog 
flew back and skidded to a halt.
	"Oh, man", he moaned, lifting his head up, just in time to see Sally 
jump on top of him.
	"Now, Hedgehog!", she hissed, "I'm going to finish what I 
started!!!"
	"What are you talking about, Sally?!", said Sonic, still not having 
a clue as to what has happening.
	"Look into my eyes, hedgehog", she said, "And tell me who you see."
	Sonic gazed into Sally's reptiallian eyes, and his heart missed a 
beat.
	"Vypryn", he whispered.
	"You hit the nail right on the head, didn't you, Rodent!", she said, 
pulling the blaster pistol out from inside her vest, "Now, prepare to die!"
	Sonic looked right down the barrel of the pistol.  He was far too 
weak from his previous encounter with Vypryn to fight Sally off.  He closed 
his eyes, and waited for oblivion.  
	All of sudden, there was a loud sonic boom.  Sonic looked up, as did 
Sally. 
	"What the hell?", said Sally, looking.
	A red blur shot into Knothole at a speed that almost matched Sonic's.  
Three people dropped off of the blur, and it sped right towards Sally.
	"It's that damned echidna!", she screamed, firing wildly at the blur, 
but unable to hit it.  
	"Knuckles?", said Sonic, totally confused.
	The blur slammed into Sally, and knocked her off of Sonic.  She landed 
about 20 feet away from him.  Knuckles slammed on the brakes, and skidded 
to a halt right in front of Sally.  
	"How did you get away from the gargoyles?!", she screamed.
	Knuckles just slammed his fists together.  He lifted Sally up by her 
vest, and she hissed at him.
	"I am getting really sick of your attitude, Vypryn!", he said.
	"And what are you going to do about it?", she laughed, "You can't 
hurt me without hurting her!!"
	"I'm sure she'll understand", he said, balling his hand into a fist.
	"Wha.....?", said Sally.
	Knuckles slammed his fist into Sally's face.  The blow sent her 
flying another several feet away.  She hit the ground, out cold.  
Meanwhile, Sonic managed to get himself to his feet.  He walked up to 
Knuckles, and hit him on the shoulder.
	"HEY!!", he yelled, "Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on 
here?  How did Vypryn get inside Sally?"
	"Tell you about it later, Blue", said Knuckles, "Rajid!  Bring me the 
emerald!"
	Rajid ran over to Knuckles, and pulled the green emerald out of his 
pouch.  He handed it to Knuckles.  Knuckles knelt down beside Sally, and 
held the emerald over her.
	"Let's just pray this works", he said.
	Sally's eyes shot open.  She saw the emerald hovering over her.
	"NOOOOO!!!!", she screamed, "I won't let you!!"
	"Hold her down!!", yelled Knuckles.
	Several others came over to help.  They held Sally's arms and legs 
down.  Sonic held her head down on the ground as best he could.  Knuckles 
let go of the emerald, and it started floating on its own.  All of a sudden, 
it shot a green beam of light that totally covered Sally.
	"AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!", she screamed at the top of her lungs.
	A spectral form rose out of Sally's body, and was sucked into the 
emerald.  When it did, Sally went limp, and the emerald fell onto her 
chest, violently flashing green.  Sally opened her eyes.  Everyone looked 
at her.
	"Sal?", asked Sonic, "Is that you?"
	"Yeah", she said, "He's gone."
	Everyone let go of her appendages, and Knuckles helped her to her 
feet.  She stood there, holding her head for a few seconds, before she 
looked at everyone.
	"I'M FREE!!!", she yelled, jumping into Sonic's arms, and almost 
knocking him over.
	"Hey!", he said, struggling to stay on his feet, "Easy, Sal!"
	She kissed him about six or seven times before she let go of him.  
She then went over to Knuckles, and kissed him, too.
	"Thank you so much, Knuckles", she said, "I owe all of this to you."
	"Hey", he said, patting her on the head, "What are friends for?"
	"What are you going to do with that thing?", she asked.
	"I'm taking it back to the Floating Island", he said, "I'll make sure 
it never leaves there again."
	"Could someone please tell me what happened?", asked Sonic.
	"I'll tell you later, Sonic", said Sally, hugging him again.	
	Rajid and Jenna walked over.  Sally walked up to them.
	"Thank you, too", she said, hugging them both, "I'm real sorry you 
guys got drug into this."
	"You have nothing to apologize for, Sally", said Jenna, "If it 
weren't for you, I never would have found my father.  If anything, I should 
be thanking you."
	"Where are you going to go, now?", she asked.
	"Back to Remere", said Rajid, "Once we have a chance to explain what 
happened, I'm sure they'll be willing to let us back in."
	"I'll be happy to give you a lift", said Knuckles, "Hop on."
	"Good-bye, Knuckles", said Sally, hugging him again, "And thank you 
so much."
	"Don't mention it, Kid", he said, smiling.
	Sonic walked up to Knuckles, and whispered something in his ear.
	"Good job, Knux", he said, "But this doesn't mean that I like you."
	Knuckles looked at him.  Sonic had an ear to ear grin on.
	"Take good care of her, Sonic", said Knuckles.
	"You can count on it", said Sonic.
	Knuckles picked up Kaylem, while Jenna and Rajid climbed onto his 
back.  He then took off with a huge gust of wind, and disappeared into the 
forest.  
	Later that day, after everyone's wounds were tended to, Sally was 
sitting in Sonic's hut.  She was so happy to be back to normal again.  
	"So", said Sonic, "That's the reason you left, huh?"
	"Yeah", she said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I only did it for 
your own safety.  I won't go into what happened the few times that Vypryn 
did gain control of me."
	"What do you mean?", he asked.
	"Let's just say that a lot of people got killed who didn't deserve 
it", she said.
	"Are you going to be alright?", he asked, putting his arm around her.
	"Yeah", she said, "In time.  The important thing is that Vypryn can 
never hurt anyone again."
	"Ain't that the truth", said Sonic.
	The day ended a lot better than it had begun.  Vypryn was imprisoned 
forever within the Soul Emerald, Sally was free of his evil, and Jenna had 
her father back.  Yet, all of them forgot that while many happy things came 
out of this adventure, some things never die.

TO BE CONCLUDED....